# Talentless people riding on a family member's fame. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 3, 2002, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202 "2002-06-03T17:48:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/1 "2002-06-03T17:48:24Z")
So I am sitting there,waiting for my sandwich to be made. This song comes on. It sounds like “Papa don’t Preach” except worse (if that is possible). Mr. Baboon informs me that it is Kelli Osborne. gesh, what a talentless hack. I wonder how she got her record deal. hmmmmmmm. anyway, we got into a discussion about talentless people that ride on Mom and Dad’s (or brother or sister’s)coat tails. there are some that are genuinely talented, but can’t think of any off the top of my head (it _is_Monday). here is my partial list of people, in no order: Kelli Osborne Enrique Iglesias Liza Minelli Kate Hudson Cher’s kids Talia Shire (am undecided on her son. I have only seen Rushmore) Nick Cage The Arquettes The Baldwins Melanie Griffith The Culkins ---
**Author:** ![auntie\_em](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@auntie\_em](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auntie_em)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/2 "2002-06-03T18:01:39Z")
Well, the other day my mother made this exact comment about Jim Belushi. I’d also say that there are a few too many Wayans Brothers out there. And let us not forget Tori Spelling… ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/3 "2002-06-03T19:37:54Z")
I’d have to disagree about the talentedlessness of Nicholas Cage. Humina! Who’s child/sibling is Talia Shire? StG ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/4 "2002-06-03T19:57:46Z")
Talia Shire is Nic Cage’s aunt, and both are Francis Ford Copolla’s relations – I think Talia’s a sister, which would make Cage a grandchild. The Culkin’s aunt is Bonnie Bedelia, right? Not sure how talented I think she is herself. On the other hand, I kinda like Kate Hudson. I think Jakob Dylan is MORE talented than his dad. I think Julian Lennon is AS talented as his dad. I think the gals that made up the Wilson/Phillips group had to be smokin’ something to think they had one billionth of their parents’ talents. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/5 "2002-06-03T19:58:59Z")
Talia Shire and Nicholas Cage are both members of the Coppola family. But both are perfectly decent actors, so while brother/uncle Francis definitely helped both out, I don’t think it’s fair to say they’re pure gravy trainers. Nepotism is common is ALL walks of life, not just show biz. My next-door neighbor was a steamfitter who pulled strings to get his son into the union. Did Henry Fonda do anything more immoral than that, in getting children Jane and Peter into show biz? I think not. And then there are celebs who’ve managed to make decent careers for themselves, though they never became huge stars like their relatives. You may not like Jim Belushi, but he HAS starred in numerous films, and a TV series. You may not like Debby Boone, but she DID have a huge hit record to her credit. Like them or not, at least we all know what they’ve accomplished and what they’re famous for. But some people come to mind who have NOTHING going for them EXCEPT a famous relative… and that alone seems to be enough to keep them in the public eye. Some celebs make you wonder, “Umm… what are you famous for, anyway?” Examples? 1. Jackie Stallone, Sylvester’s Mom. I mean, she’s not an actress or singer or writer… she’s NOTHING except Sylvester Stallone’s mother. Why is this woman a celebrity? 2. LaToya Jackson. Again, what is she famous for, except her family? ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/6 "2002-06-03T20:06:22Z")
No Talents: Lucie Arnez Lorna Luft Frank Sinatra Jr. Nancy Sinatra All Kennedy’s alive today All of Dick Van Dyke’s kids and grandkids Prince Charles Freddie Prinz Jr. Talents: Michael Douglas Jane Fonda Enrique Inglesis Prince William Ben Stiller Natalie Cole Kiefer Sutherland ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/7 "2002-06-03T20:22:12Z")
How about Lisa Marie Presley? She’s famous for being Elvis’ daughter and Jacko’s “wife”, and that’s it. Famous for being related to famous people. Melissa Rivers goes here too. She’s riding her mom’s surgically enhanced coattails, and her mom isn’t even talented. ---
**Author:** ![shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/8 "2002-06-03T20:37:39Z")
I also have to disagree about Nick Cage. He deserves his own props, even if it’s just for _Raising Arizona_ and _Moonstruck_. someone who deserves her family relations: Mira Sorvino. I think she’s great. ---
**Author:** ![shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/9 "2002-06-03T20:45:58Z")
Charlie Sheen. ---
**Author:** ![Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5fc32e/32.png) [@Bad\_News\_Baboon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bad_News_Baboon)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/10 "2002-06-03T20:45:59Z")
StGermain: Her son is Jason S-something. can’t remember off the top of my head. he was Max Fischer in the movie Rushmore. LifeOnWry: I thought Cage was Copla’s Nephew. I was refering to Macolly (sp?) Culkin and his brothers. astorian: Of course Nepotism is in ALL walks of life. I was specifically mentioning show biz types, mainly because if someone posted up: my neighbor’s aunt’s brother’s butcher’s son Fred…well, who knows who he is! 😉 and as for Jim Belushi, Nick Cage\*, Jane Fonda: it doesn’t matter if they stared in movies, etc. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t talentless. Tiffany had a few hits in the 80’s, after all… Regardless, I may think they are talentless, but you may not. That’s why I put this in this forum (“In my Humble Opinion”). but… but you are right on the mark with Jackie and LaToya. It will be hard to top those two. 🙂 DMark: who is Lorna Luft? New person to my list: Sean Lennon. slight exception to the rule: Kato Kaylin. - I realize most here like his acting. I don’t at all. ---
**Author:** ![shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/11 "2002-06-03T20:50:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by LifeOnWry \* > I think Jakob Dylan is MORE talented than his dad. I think Julian Lennon is AS talented as his dad. You got moxy, kid. ---
**Author:** ![Lyllyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@Lyllyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lyllyan)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/12 "2002-06-03T21:08:05Z")
**Bad News Baboon** Lorna Luft is Judy Garland’s other daughter. Most of her filmography revolves around her famous mom. ---
**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/13 "2002-06-03T21:09:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by shrew \* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by LifeOnWry \* > > I think Jakob Dylan is MORE talented than his dad. I think Julian Lennon is AS talented as his dad. > > You got moxy, kid. Fer sure. I think Jakob is a better _singer_ than Bob (but then, who isn’t?), but not a better songwriter. But Julian better than John? Shirley Uje…er, surely you jest! ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/14 "2002-06-03T21:29:58Z")
Regarding some of those like Nick Cage, et al: I think the key is, when you think of that person, do you think, “Is that so-and-so’s brother/sister/kid/etc.?” Or do you think, “That’s the guy in X movie, right?” If it’s the first, then the person is definitely riding their family member’s famewagon, but the second would imply that the person at least has a modicum of talent. For example, I think of Jakob Dylan for his singing, but Lisa Marie Presley as Elvis Presley’s daughter. Kelly Osbourne said this on MTV’s site: “I didn’t choose the song. My mom did and asked me to do it. I’m kind of crapping myself because I don’t think I’m a very good singer.” So who knows. Maybe she doesn’t really want to do it. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/15 "2002-06-03T21:38:15Z")
other no talent relatives: Patrick Wayne (son of the DUke) CHris Mitchum (son of Robert) DeeDee Pffifer (sister of Michelle) I think Nancy Sinatra deserves more mention than just once. Other exceptions: The Bridges Family (Beau & Jeff both great) ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/16 "2002-06-03T21:44:04Z")
How could you all forget the two generations of untalented hacks that sprang forth from Hank Williams? I mean, the true Hank Williams didn’t have a perfect singing voice by any stretch, but he was a brilliant songwriter and used the voice he had to great effect, lending his songs a lonlieness and pleading quality that fit the subject matter. His son, Hank Williams Jr, is a shouting buffoon who is now mostly famous for asking if we’re “ready for some fooooootbaaaaaal?” His grandson, Hank Williams III, is even worse, and hopefully has seen his fifteen minutes finally slip through his fingers. And then there are the Zappa brothers, Dweezil and Ahmet, who are the perfect example of both sides of this coin. Dweezil is a talented guitarist and a witty talkshow guest. Ahmet has no discernible skills. ---
**Author:** ![Shade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2bfe46/32.png) [@Shade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shade)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/17 "2002-06-03T22:39:26Z")
Joseph, Lucien, Elisa, Louis, Pauline, Caroline and Jerome Bonaparte? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/18 "2002-06-03T22:44:06Z")
place my vote for all the Osbournes. His kids are in for a big shock when this crap falls off the radar scope of public attention and they find out they are just pasty, fat, untalented, foul-mouthed idiots with the employabity of a high-school dropout. The only smart one in that family is the daughter who refuses to have anything to do with that show. does anyone else get a mental picture of Dale Dribble from “King of the Hill” when they hear Hank Williams III sing? Michael Andretti was a complete failure in Formula One, but has had some real success in the “minor leagues” of racing, so I guess he really doesn’t belong in this group. * * * Jesus was in a coma. ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/19 "2002-06-03T23:15:12Z")
The remaining Kennedy clan, just as annoying as the VJ of the same name ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2002, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202/20 "2002-06-04T00:36:18Z")
Joe Estevez. 'Nuff said. jayjay [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talentless-people-riding-on-a-family-members-fame/112202.md?page=2)