Hollywood celebrities tend to have creative names—ranging from Beyonce to Cher and more. When you hear their name, you know who they are. Celebrities often have to create a stage name to stand out from the crowd, but some names are more similar than others.
There are plenty of famous families in Hollywood, including the Kardashians, the Clooneys, the Barrymores, the Fondas, and others. However, there are several celebrities who share surnames, but they’re not related. Fans might think they’re related, at first, but the only thing they share is a surname and some talent. Take a look at 10 pairs of Hollywood stars who have the same last name, but they’re definitely not related.
Gaten Matarazzo And Heather Matarazzo
Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo is related to Heather Matarazzo, but it’s not the Heather who starred as Lilly Moscovitz in The Princess Diaries. Instead, Gaten’s real-life mother is also named Heather, which makes things confusing for the young actor.
Gaten has commented several times that people ask him if he’s related to Heather Matarazzo, and he has to say that he is, in fact, related to a Heather Matarazzo, but not the same one everyone else knows. Gaten has often had to clear up the confusion, even to the media, as fans saw in his tweet to International Business Times.
Jessica Simpson And Cody Simpson
It’s easy to assume that Jessica Simpson and her younger sister, Ashlee Simpson-Ross, are related to Australian singer Cody Simpson. They’re all talented performers and Cody closely resembles Jessica, with the same bleached blonde hair.
Despite these similarities, they’re most definitely not related to each other. However, Cody is related to model, dancer, and singer Alli Simpson. There are more Simpsons in show business than one may realize!
Kristen Bell And Drake Bell
Contrary to what some fans think, Drake Bell is not Kristen Bell’s younger brother. The former Nickelodeon star (best known for Drake & Josh) shares many traits with Kristen, including acting and singing.
They’re also both hilariously relatable. Kristen, best known for Veronica Mars, The Good Place, and voicing Anna in Frozen, isn’t afraid to be herself on social media. At the same time, Drake is also sarcastic on social media. They could be siblings if you didn’t know any better.
Diane Keaton And Michael Keaton
It might be easy for people to think that Diane Keaton is Michael Keaton’s older sister, but they’re not related. Michael, best known for Batman, is known professionally as Michael Keaton, but his birth name is Michael Douglas.
If Michael kept his birth name, he would easily be confused with Kirk Douglas’ son, fellow actor Michael Douglas. This couldn’t happen, so he adopted his stage name. However, he repeatedly is asked if he chose his new surname due to an attraction to Diane Keaton, or perhaps a tribute to silent film star Buster Keaton, but Michael has commented that it had nothing to do with these coincidences.
Demi Moore And Mandy Moore
Demi Moore could easily be Mandy Moore’s mother, if only based on shared surname. Demi, best known for Ghost and A Few Good Men, is 22 years older than Mandy, and the two are incredibly talented actresses.
It would be cool if Demi was related to Mandy, best known for This Is Us. Both women seem to share similar personality traits. Even if they’re not related, they would be great friends.
Denzel Washington And Kerry Washington
Denzel Washington could also pass for Kerry Washington’s father. The Remember the Titans star is 23 years older than the Scandal actress. They’re both considered two of the greatest actors of the current generation and always deliver stand-out performances.
Except for their profession, surname, and their gentle, kindhearted personalities, the stars have nothing else in common. Regardless, it would be interesting to see them star in a movie together.
Kristen Stewart And Martha Stewart
Kristen Stewart and Martha Stewart are almost like “night and day.” They’re nothing alike, but they share a surname, and that’s perhaps the only thing they have in common.
Kristen, who became a household name as Bella Swan in Twilight, is a tomboy, and her personality clashes with Martha, who is still the authority voice of do-it-yourself crafts, home decorating tips, and recipes. If you want to watch a vampire romance story, watch Kristen. If you’re more interested in learning how to throw a formal party, stick with Martha.
Jennifer Lopez And Mario Lopez
Fans might think Jennifer Lopez and Mario Lopez are siblings, but that’s not true. They’re not related and have a different background, even though they share a surname. Mario is Mexican-American and Jennifer is Puerto Rican-American.
Mario, best known for portraying A.C. Slater in Saved by the Bell and as an entertainment host for Extra, seems to have inherited Jennifer’s famous dance moves, even though they’re not related. They both know how to be the life of a party.
Paul McCartney And Jesse McCartney
Jesse McCartney probably wishes he was related to The Beatles legend Paul McCartney. The iconic vocalist and bassist wrote some of the best songs in the 1960s and 70s with his musical partner, John Lennon.
Most people will always associate the surname with Paul. While Jesse is a talented singer and actor in his own right, his name will always be in Paul’s shadow.
Audrey Hepburn And Katharine Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn and Katharine Hepburn are both icons of Hollywood’s Golden Age of film. Audrey starred in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Roman Holiday, while Katharine was a leading lady in Bringing Up Baby and The Philadelphia Story. The actresses had many similarities, including their surname.
Audrey’s birth name was Audrey Ruston, but she chose her stage name after World War II when her father found documents that proved his ancestors had the name, Hepburn. He added the surname to his own name, and Audrey followed in his footsteps. At the time, Audrey couldn’t have dreamed she would be a successful star. She wasn’t related to Katharine, despite what many people think, but they were both impeccable actresses that helped revolutionize film history.