# Which (unrelated) actors could plausibly play close relatives? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 16, 2002, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020 "2002-11-16T13:56:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/81 "2003-03-02T08:39:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enola Straight \* > **Take a good look at Malcolm McDowell in A Clockwork Orange and tell me he dosen’t look like Mark Hamill.** OK. [Malcolm McDowell](http://www.theasc.com/magazine/oct99/violence/img1.jpg) in **A Clockwork Orange** does not look like [Mark Hamill](http://www.triviatribute.com/images3/markhamill1.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/82 "2003-03-02T10:23:01Z")
Ben Affleck should play a young Bruce Springsteen in a biopic. Matt Le Blanc and Robert Vaughn could play father and son. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Improved\_Scott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f17d59/32.png) [@New\_Improved\_Scott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Improved_Scott)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/83 "2003-03-02T11:16:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mjollnir \* > \*\* > Helen Hunt and Leelee Sobieski. > \*\* Beat me to this pairing. Bruce Campbell and Nicholas Brendon. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/84 "2003-03-02T11:31:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by knarf \* > \*\*My best example of poor casting by appearance is **Family Business** with Sean Connery, Dustin Hoffman and Matthew Broderick as three generations. They even had a discussion about the ethnicity/background of Sean and Dustin’s wives to try to explain it. \*\* IIRC, the various ethnicities of those characters came from the novel the film was based on. In fact, the backgrounds of the actors didn’t match those of the characters–Connery’s was Irish, Hoffman’s Irish/Sicilian, and Broderick’s half-Jewish. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/85 "2003-03-02T11:34:16Z")
In the 80’s there was a lot of confusion between **Margot Kidder** , **Karen Allen** , and **Brooke Adams**. Also, apparently **Vanessa Redgrave** and **Maggie Smith** occasionally get mistaken for one another, although I suspect typecasting has something to do with that. ---
**Author:** ![Short\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Short\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Short_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/86 "2003-03-02T13:55:41Z")
Since Kelsey Grammar’s name keeps popping up, I’d like to nominate him and Robert Picardo, the guy who played the doctor on Star Trek: Voyager. They could play brothers. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/87 "2003-03-02T16:00:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dr. Rieux \* > \*\*In fact, the backgrounds of the actors didn’t match those of the characters–Connery’s was Irish, Hoffman’s Irish/Sicilian, and Broderick’s half-Jewish. \*\* Matthew Broderick’s mother is Jewish. He’s been cast in Jewish roles several times, including Neil Simon’s _Brighton Beach Memoirs_ and _Biloxi Blues_. ---
**Author:** ![Hamadryad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6de8d8/32.png) [@Hamadryad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamadryad)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/88 "2003-03-02T16:28:27Z")
Every time I see a thread like this, I’m stunned when no one has mentioned **The Rock** and **Rob Schneider**. I would love to see a remake of _Twins_ starring these two, because they really do look like truly fucked-up twins, man. Recommended reading: “The Hollywood Gene Project” entries under “Blue Moons” on [Fametracker](http://www.fametracker.com). ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/89 "2003-03-02T17:14:14Z")
I agree with Tangent: Hugh Jackman and Clint Eastwood. Also that kid from Home Improvement and Val Kilmer. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/90 "2003-03-02T19:20:20Z")
How about [Frances McDormand](http://us.imdb.com/EGallery?source=ss&group=0269095&photo=Ss/0269095/C91-19.jpg&path=pgallery&path_key=McDormand,%20Frances) as the mother and [Emma Caulfield](http://us.imdb.com/EGallery?source=ss&group=0282209&photo=Ss/0282209/EmmaHeadshot.jpg&path=pgallery&path_key=Caulfield,%20Emma) as the daughter? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/91 "2003-03-02T19:53:01Z")
I always thought that Harrison Ford and Dennis Quaid could play brothers. ---
**Author:** ![stylize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@stylize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stylize)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/92 "2003-03-02T20:28:42Z")
Sandra Bullock and Sarah Michelle Gellar both have that (in my opinnion) ugly box-nose thing going on. It is square at the tip. ---
**Author:** ![toomuchtv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/96bed5/32.png) [@toomuchtv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toomuchtv)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/93 "2003-03-03T01:15:59Z")
There was an episode of L.A. Law that played on this, back in the 80s. In this (humorous) story arc, one of the lawyers learns that his deceased father not only played around like crazy, but left a string of illegitimae sons in his lake, all of whom are about the lawyer’s age, and all somewhat resembling him. The lawyer was played by Alan Rachin (he later played Dharma’s dad), who was bald, with a fringe of black hair. He looked then like Dr. Phil today, only thinner. To pull this off, they basically rounded up every character actor who met this description. One of them was Jeffrey Tambor (Hill Street Blues, The Larry Sanders show). I don’t remember the others, but you would have known them; they weren’t nobodies. There were about six of them in total, all character actors that you would have recognized (at least back then), and once they were all in the same scene, you thought, damn, they DO all look alike! ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/94 "2003-03-03T01:33:29Z")
Bruce Willis and Mickey…uh… from 9 1/2 Weeks? (I’ll remember his name the second I hit "submit, I just know it.) John Goodman and Norm from Cheers. Agreed on Redford and Pitt - Pitt’s resemblance to Redford in A River Runs Through It was almost breathtaking. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/95 "2003-03-03T01:39:45Z")
ROURKE! (On the very second I hit submit, I swear.) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/96 "2003-03-03T02:00:49Z")
> [@](#): > > every character actor who met this description I didn’t see this, but I can imagine that Herb Edelman was another one. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/97 "2003-03-03T02:02:54Z")
Oh, one more. The late Dick Sargent and Ronny Cox. The ironic thing is that either Sargent’s real last name was “Cox,” or Cox’s real last name is “Sargent.” ---
**Author:** ![lindarielle13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3bc359/32.png) [@lindarielle13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindarielle13)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/98 "2003-03-03T02:17:54Z")
Luke Wilson, Alec Baldwin, and David Duchovny could play brothers or something… I’ve heard some disagreement on this, though, so maybe it’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Kezermezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b487fb/32.png) [@Kezermezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kezermezer)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/99 "2003-03-03T04:50:28Z")
Sean Penn and Adam Storke Christian Bale and Ethan Hawke Julia Roberts and Kyra Sedgewick ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2003, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020/100 "2003-03-03T06:36:31Z")
**elfkin477** : Funny you should mention Nick Brendon…he actually has a twin brother in real life, who usually works as his stand-in on _Buffy_. They did an episode with the two of them in the fifth season – it turned out pretty good. Speaking of _Buffy_ people: Amber Benson could easily play Angelina Jolie’s sister. Actually, if you wanted to have Gwyneth Paltrow and AJ to be sisters, Amber could help make the connection, because she kinda looks like both of them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-unrelated-actors-could-plausibly-play-close-relatives/137020.md?page=6)