Being a member of the British royal family has nothing to do with being talented. They are both famous for being part of the royal family.
I think this is not the same as using a family member’s name to get ahead in a career. They were born into the royal family. Being royal is not a career choice, unlike an actor, who chooses to be one. I will admit, however, that certain other members of the royal family have used their name to advance their (or their spouse’s) career in another field.
Rick
Rather obvious with Fergie (though not born into it). I read the book to a couple of kids: they were underwhelmed.
Well, I liked Dino, Desi and Billy.
Oh yeah, as to the coat-tailers. While no fan of his brother, I’ve got to admit said brother had certain talents, but Roger Clinton, when he appears in the news, is described as a rock musician. Has anybody ever heard anything he’s done?
Ah, thanks for the straightening-out re: Nic Cage. Nephew, then. He used to be billed as Nicolas Coppola in his early movies, and I believe he said he changed the name just because it was so familiar to people. I guess he would prefer not to ride on coat tails.
I didn’t say Julian was MORE talented than John Lennon. I said he was AS talented. He’s one who suffers for his family name, though, no? I mean, he looks, sounds and writes like his dad. I kinda feel for the guy. It must suck to think that no matter what you do, NO ONE is going to think it’s as good as what your dad did, even if it is.
How did this thread get so far without a mention of Tom Arnold? (Or are we not counting marriage coat-tails?)
Tito, Marlon, Jackie, and Jermaine.
Personally, I like Hank Williams III. To me, and to a lot of others, he’s a MUCH better singer than his father, III’s death metal set notwithstanding. Sometimes talent skips a generation, you know.
LOVE- Kelly Osbourne (she is fun! and i like her voice)
HATE- Tori Spelling (she is awful!)
Don’t forget George W. Bush! 
(Hey, if JohnBckWLD can toss in the Kennedys, then politicians are fair game)
I’d have to disagree on Liza Minelli. She’s a talented singer and has been one for many years. I especially like her older stuff.
I’d say Jamie Lee Curtis has pretty much held her own, despite having two famous parents.
Balthazar Getty might count; he hasn’t been stellar in anything I’ve seen him in.
As for the Arquettes, the only one I feel I might have to redeem is Alexis, because he’s so wonderfully bitchy in Wigstock and hysterical in The Wedding Singer.
I’d like to throw–literally–Casey Affleck–in the ring for talentless person riding on a relative’s fame.
And it’s Jason Schwartzmann; after appearing in Rushmore he did Slackers (not to be confused with Richard Linklater’s Slacker) and plays what–drums?–for the band Phantom Planet, which he co-founded.
I reiterate: a LOT of celebs in every area of show biz owe much of their success to their famous relatives… but even if Daddy (or Mommy, or Grandpa, or whoever) pulled a few strings to get them their big break, the fact remains, MOST of them made a hit record or a hit movie or two.
Did the Bee Gees help their little brother Andy Gibb get a record contract? Of course! But they didn’t make millions of people buy “Shadow Dancing.” You and I may think that was a lame song, or that Andy was a terrible singer, but the fact remains, he made numerous hit records. That’s no small or easy feat for anyone.
Hank Williams Jr. may owe a lot of his success to his parentage, but he HAS had numerous big hits of his own. Freddie Prinze Jr. has starred in several successful films, whether you like him or not.
Even if you don’t like Liza Minelli, Julian Lennon, Jakob Dylan, etc., at least you generally know what they’re famous for. You can generally name hit songs they’ve recorded, movies and TV shows they’ve starred in.
But the annoying celeb relatives are those who are famous SOLELY because of their relatives. I mentioned Jackie Stallone and LaToya Jackson earlier, because they’re perfect examples of surprisingly famous “celebrities” who’ve NEVER had hit songs or popular movies or successful books of their own, who are celebs ONLY because they’re related to famous people. And there are others like them. Like…
Frank Sinatra Jr. I mean, can anybody name a hit song he’s recorded? Nope, because he never HAD a hit record! If he’s famous, his fame is COMPLETELY due to his father. At least Nancy had a few hits of her own, like “These Boots Are Made for Walking.” What the heck is Frank Jr. famous for?
Jaid Barrymore is another good example. WHY is she famous? What has she ever done on her own? She’s famous solely because of her family, especially her daughter Drew.
“Princess” Lee Radziwill. She was a staple of gossip columns for decades, but what the heck was she “princess” of? And would anyone know her name, if she weren’t Jackie Kennedy’s sister?
You ain’t just whistlin’ Dixie, my cyber friend!
Talented, if somewhat scary, daughter of John Voight: Angelina Jolie
Extremely talented ex-wife of Andrew Lloyd Webber (and vocal inspiration for Phantom of the Opera): Sarah Brightman
Talented brother of doomed 80s kid actor: Joaquin Phoenix
Can’t think of any untalented ones right now - the obvious ones have been mentioned!
Wow, astorian, you summed it up like crazy. Great thread BNB.
Talia Shire has proven herself. It’s not hard to become lost in the scenery up there with Pacino, Brando, Duvall, Caan, Keaton et al, but she was fabulous as Connie in The GF. And GF II. She was also terrific as Adrian in the first Rocky movie (the good one).
Nick Cage? Awesome talent. From Raising Arizona (as mentioned above) to a dizzyingly great turn in Leaving Las Vegas. He’s his own star.
NOBODY MENTIONS Sofia Coppola? When Wynona Ryder got sick (mono, I believe), Francis swapped in his doe-eyed daughter in GF III. The sucking sound coming from the screen was audible, even with the volume turned down. Opposite Andy Garcia (who is quite good IMHO), she looked like a scared runaway in juvie hall. Just bloody awful.
RE: Sheen/Sheen/Estevez: Martin is terrific, Charlie is fun in a spoof or a buddy action flick, Emilio is Repo Man. None is Olivier. All 3 can carry a movie with their name above the title, and have done so many times.
I agree with the Bridges brothers mentioned above, and will throw in Warren Beatty and his sister Shirley MacLaine (many folks don’t know they’re sibs, though). Both can (could) carry a film on name alone.
Ryan O’Neal’s little girl got a purty gold statue of her own. Tatum earned it, great film (Paper Moon).
Sean Penn may be (arguably) the best actor of this generation, and his brother Chris was astonishingly good in Reservoir Dogs and several other films. Their brother Michael can write a pretty darn good pop song, too. PS: Sean is a lousy director. Cite: The Crossing Guard.
RE: Jaid Barrymore… I think Drew got her fame from Lionel and John, and now Jaid’s trading on 3rd hand fame from Drew. I don’t WHAT the hell she is, except Jackie Stallone with a little less class and poise. Ouch.
Baldwins: A likeable bunch, overall. See Alec in Glengarry Glen Ross, and you’ll know why he’s a star. The others are mostly for looks (except Stephen (?) in The Usual Suspects).
Quaids: Can act
Carradines: Can act
Roberts: Can act, but Julia’s choosing some truly lightweight stuff now and Eric sort of fell into his own pit during the coke-fueled 80’s. Both have the talent, looks and ability to do it right.
Keachs: Can act
Raitts: Bonnie certainly didn’t ride John’s coattails to fame.
Gibbs: Nobody can say ANY of them can’t sing - well, Andy can’t NOW. IIRC, Barry wrote all of Andy’s hits.
Mary Martin and her son Larry Hagman - both accomplished and successful without charges of nepotism.
Master P’s little son Lil’ Bow Wow is certainly burning up the charts. I doubt he produced the thing himself 
Anjelica Huston has done pretty well, her dad was director John Huston.
My point? I have no idea, except to say that the sword swings both ways.
I see thread title and think “Natalie Cole”. I do a quick text-search and discover that the only person who has posted her name claims she doeshave talent.
Maybe she knits or waterskis proficiently?
That’s so weird…because I think of Ben Affleck as Casey Affleck’s less talented older brother. I think Casey rocks.
Is it true that Hank Williams III isn’t his real name?
if so, he gets extra boos from me.
Lee Radziwill: There is a whole slew of socialites that fit this description.
the Hilton sisters
the three sisters whos name I can’t recall at all but seem to be in every fashion mag but have done nothing more than to be blonde successfully.
shrew–okay, maybe not completely talentless but kind of doubt Casey would have a career if Ben weren’t his older brother. His filmography reveals nothing of particular note, and on the imdb under trivia it says “Brother of Ben Affleck.”