10 Celebrities You Had No Idea Were Cousins

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Family is the most important thing to a lot of people.  In a world where it’s hard to trust people, sometimes family is all anyone has.  In fact, most people would assume that when a person makes it big – they’d definitely take their family along for the ride. However, something you may not know is that there are several stars who are actually related.  Yup, that’s right – keeping it in the family is an actual thing. Although these celebrities may be close behind the scenes, you’d never know that just by following their career. Apparently talent really does run in families, and the world is officially a lot smaller than you thought.  Here are 10 celebrities you had no idea were cousins.

Jenny and Melissa McCarthy

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Just because these two share a last name, you may not have automatically assumed that they’re cousins. However, not only are these two stars cousins, but they’re first cousins.  Their fathers are brothers and they’re actually a pretty close family.  Jenny has been very vocal in supporting her cousin and also defending her from critics.  That’s what family is for!

(image via https://twitter.com/PopCrush)

Brandy, Ray J, and Snoop Dogg

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Sibling duo Brandy and Ray J Norwood aren’t the only stars in the family.  Apparently, their cousin is the legendary rapper Snoop Dogg and according to some sources they’re actually first cousins. However, although they have confirmed that they are in fact cousins, they have not directly stated how exactly they are related.

(image via https://twitter.com/Swaggaboylz)

Gwyneth Paltrow and Katherine Moennig

VENICE, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 03:  Actress Gwyneth Paltrow (Earring Detail) attends the "Contagion" premiere during the 68th Venice Film Festival at Palazzo del Cinema on September 3, 2011 in Venice, Italy.  (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

This is one you probably never saw coming, but superstar actress, Gwyneth Paltrow and L-Word star, Katherine Moennig are cousins.  Paltrow’s mother and Moennig’s father are half siblings, but the cousins don’t seem to be particularly close.  In fact, it almost seems as though Moennig doesn’t appreciate being connected to her cousin because she would like her career to stand on its own two feet.  During an interview, Moennig stated, “We’re totally different people. We look very different, too … No one’s judging me solely on the fact that I am her cousin.”

 (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Nicolas Cage and Sophia Coppola

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Nicolas is actually more closely related to the Coppola family than most people known.  Born Nicolas Kim Coppola, Cage’s uncle is the legendary film director, Francis Ford Coppola – meaning that Academy Award winning actress, Sofia Coppola is his cousin. This family definitely doesn’t mess around when it comes to success.

(Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

Brooke Shields and Glenn Close

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Brooke Shields and Glen Close have both found success in their careers.  Close has won three Emmy Awards, three Tony Awards, and has become one of the most respected actresses of her generation.  Shields, a model turned actress, has been working in the industry since childhood.  However, while you may be familiar with both of these women, you probably didn’t know that they’re second cousins, once removed.

(Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images)

Al Roker and Lenny Kravitz

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Al Roker and Lenny Kravitz have a very unique situation.  During an interview, Roker stated that he and Kravitz are distant cousins although he couldn’t be sure exactly how, and shortly after, Kravitz confirmed saying, “We both have Roker. My mother was Roxie Roker, my grandfather, Albert Roker from the Bahamas. Has to be.”  Although they have yet to find the specific connection, it does seem to make sense that they’re related.

(image via https://twitter.com/subredditsbot)

Peyton, Eli, and Taryn Manning

As you may know professional football stars, Peyton and Eli Manning, are brothers. However, what you may not have known is that they’re also related to Orange is the New Black star, Taryn Manning.  Taryn’s father is the first cousin of Peyton and Eli’s father, Archie, who was also a professional football player.

(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

Bill Bellamy and Shaquille O’Neal

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Actor/comedian Bill Bellamy and former NBA superstar, Shaquille O’Neal are second cousins who grew up together.  Although they aren’t photographed together often, it seems they do have a pretty close relationship, and Bill Bellamy says that he speaks to Shaq on a regular basis.  However, while they both have great senses of humor, it seems that the tall gene didn’t come from the side of the family that they share.

(Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for John Varvatos)

Damon and Stacy Dash

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For years everyone thought that hip-hop mogul, Damon Dash, and actress, Stacy Dash were brother and sister.  However, it appears that while they are not siblings – they do share a connection as cousins. Although the two grew up together, and were once close, it seems that in light of Stacy Dash’s political comments, Damon has chosen to distance himself from his cousin.  Hey, if you heard some of the things she’s been saying recently you might not blame him!

(Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Brad Pitt and Barack Obama

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Admit it, it’s never even occurred to you that Barack Obama and Brad Pitt look nothing alike. However, as you probably know – looks can be deceiving.  According to research, Obama and Pitt are actually ninth cousins, related through an ancestor who passed away in the 1700s.  Of course, if you trace back far enough, you’re likely to find that most people are actually related somehow, but there’s no denying that this is one pretty cool connection.  Kudos to Brad Pitt for not bragging about how he’s related to the POTUS!

(image via https://twitter.com/KissFMUK)

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