Sometimes celebrities are born into stardom, like Angelina Jolie for example, but most of our favorite stars were born to “regular Joe” parents. Many celebs actually come from normal, hardworking, small-town folk just like you and me.
And it’s these normal parents that this list is dedicated to. And we’re gonna make it fun too, where you have to guess who the celebrity is that these parents belong to!
Can you guess them all?
Patricia and Bill: Parents of…
These parents got all dolled when they walked the red carpet of the Emmy Awards back in 2003. They got to experience the life of the rich and famous, but they’re not celebrities by any means.
Actually, their daughter is the big movie star. These parents are from Houston; Mom Patricia is an English teacher, and Dad Bill is a chemical engineer.
Can you guess who their “daredevil” of a daughter is?
Jennifer Garner
That’s right! I kind of gave it away with the “daredevil” hint, but yes, their daughter is Jennifer Garner. Patricia and Bill Garner are the happy grandparents to Jennifer’s kids.
After her supporting role in ‘Pearl Harbor,’ Garner got lots of recognition for her performance as CIA officer Sydney Bristow in the spy-action thriller ‘Alias,’ which was on TV from 2001 to 2006.
William and Jane: Parents of…
These parents went to the Oscars with their over the top high-profile son (as well as his now ex-wife). Their son was nominated but didn’t get the gold. His mom, Jane, is a high school counselor.
Dad William is a truck company owner. The two always make “pit stops” away from their low-key life to visit their son.
Do you know who their famous son is?
Brad Pitt
Yup! William Alvin and Jane Pitt are the proud parents of Brad Pitt. They moved the family to Springfield, Missouri after baby Brad was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
Brad Pitt’s latest movie appearance was in Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.’ And if you’re a Tarantino fan, then I can only imagine what you thought of the movie…
Martin and Kathleen: Parents of…
Coming from Toledo, Ohio, Kathleen, a homemaker and philanthropist, and Martin, a divorce attorney, are parents to a famous starlet who went on to become a big Hollywood star. She even married (and divorced) and even bigger one.
While she didn’t grow up on a “creek,” she certainly spent a fair amount of time there breaking into the TV and movie business.
Can you guess who the actress is?
Katie Holmes
Martin and Kathleen are parents to sweetie pie Katie Holmes. Mom and dad made their way to Beverly Hills for the 2011 Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards.
Martin, the divorce attorney, reportedly guided Katie through her high-profile divorce from Tom Cruise back in 2012. Katie is now dating talented funnyman Jamie Foxx, but rumors are stirring of a possible break-up.
Mother of…
Judith Ann was a nurse, and her ex-husband, Jerome Jesse, was a bus driver. But together they produced one of Hollywood’s A-list actresses and leading ladies. Here’s a big hint…
Their daughter was the first African-American actress to win an Oscar for Best Actress. Her speech was quite memorable. Also, the cameras panned to Mom and everyone was a tad confused.
Can you who the actress is?
Halle Berry
Yes, that’s Halle Berry with her mom, who’s enjoying the limelight! According to Biography, in the early 70s, Jerome Berry abandoned the family. Judith moved the kids to a predominantly white Cleveland suburb of Bedford.
Berry went to a nearly all-white public school and was subjected to discrimination at quite an early age. And she says it was her early bouts with racism that really influenced her desire to go beyond.
Mother of…
Mary Kathleen is the mother to a very popular Hollywood actor that just couldn’t get rid of his Texas twang. His father James Donald passed away quite a while back, in 1992.
Her son was in more than just a few major box office movies, and you could even say that one was more than alright, alright, alright!
Can you take a guess at who this bright-eyed actor is?
Matthew McConaughey
It looks like Matthew McConaughey, known as K-Mac to his friends and family, from his mama. Mary Kathleen actually had a small yet memorable role in Matthew’s 2011 movie, ‘Bernie.’
McConaughey is a known name now, but he was first noticed for his supporting performance in the 1993 movie ‘Dazed and Confused,’ the coming-of-age comedy which turned out to be his breakout role.
Mother of…
Pattie Mallette got pregnant with her son and future pop superstar when she was only a teenager. Mallette told Access Hollywood about her fear and anxiety over having a child at the age of 18.
Mallette also revealed that her son actually sounded like he was singing when he would cry as a baby, which she said was literally music to her ears. And she would have no idea how huge he would end up becoming.
Do you know who the superstar is?
Justin Bieber
Mallette was a notable presence alongside Justin Bieber during his rise to fame. But they hit a bump in the road; Justin told Billboard that he and his mom hadn’t spoken in a while.
But things looked up when on Mother’s Day in 2016, Mallette tweeted, “Yes @justinbieber was a good boy and called to wish me Happy Mother’s Day! I love that y’all are so concerned!! xoxo.”
Mother of…
You know that cheesy thing guys say when they first meet a girl’s mom – when they, “I didn’t know she had a sister!” Well, in this case, that cheesy line would actually be more realistic.
The mother of an Oscar-winner blonde bombshell is Gerda Maritz. If you want a hint as to who her daughter is, just look at her! I can also tell you that they’re from South Africa. But that might give it away too much.
Who’s her talented daughter?
Charlize Theron
Unfortunately, Charlize Theron had to endure a more than traumatic event when she was a child. She had to witness her mother take the life of her father in self-defense, as her father repeatedly threatened to shoot them both.
Theron was later sent away to avoid the chaos of the investigation, which was a wise and brave decision on her mother’s part. “Those are the sacrifices, you know, that I think you do for your children, and she always did that. She always put me first,” Theron said.
Mother of…
Another similar mother/daughter combo is this mom, Tina. The two are basically doppelgangers, but people don’t know how much Tina is responsible for her daughter’s style.
Tina was the original wardrobe designer for her daughter’s first girl group. But her passion for design never faded as her larger than life daughter started wearing clothes by top designers. Tina launched lines of her own, such as House of Deréon, Deréon, and Miss Tina.
Can you tell by her face who her daughter is?
Beyoncé
For Beyoncé, wearing her mother’s designs meant more to her than just being fashionable. In a speech at the 2016 CFDA Fashion Awards, Beyoncé had this to say and she said it directly to her mom…
“Thank you for showing me that having a presence is more than the clothes you wear or your physical beauty. Thank you for showing me how to never take no for an answer. Thank you for showing me how to take risks, work hard, and live life on my own terms.”
Mother of…
Mama Lynne is never photographed without her pop star daughter. But the two had a rocky relationship throughout her daughter’s fame. Lynne spoke to The Daily Mail in 2008 about their relationship.
She told them that although she supported her daughter’s early career, everything changed when her pop stardom really took off. “When her life was such a success, what did she need me for?” Lynne said.
Do you wanna guess who she is?
Britney Spears
Lynne Spears also admits to not preparing Britney for life’s real and stressful moments. She even partially blames herself for her daughter’s infamous public meltdown. You know, that moment when Britney Spears shaved her head?
She felt as though she didn’t give her the skills to handle those hard times. “Maybe I sheltered her too much from the realities, and sometimes that’s not a good thing,” Lynne said.
Parents of…
This actress’ mom and pops look a bit out of place while strolling through Los Angeles. Her mom Jackie Sue is a psychologist, and her father Robert worked for the United States Forest Service.
Her dad might look a little “mad,” but he’s from Birmingham, England, where those glasses might even be considered cool. Their daughter was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, which is far from her Madison Avenue TV character.
Do you know who it is?
Christina Hendricks
Yup, it’s “Mad Men” star Christina Hendricks. Although born in Tennessee, Christina was raised in Portland, Oregon as well as Twin Falls, Idaho. It was in Idaho that she became active in the local theater.
Hendricks moved to New York City to start a career in modeling following her entry into a Seventeen cover contest. She worked as a model for over a decade before turning to act.
Mother of…
You don’t even have to look closely to see just how much Shayna Saide looks like her son, the controversial yet talented actor who started his career quite “evenly” at a young age.
The family is from Los Angeles, but he grew up in lower-class conditions. Shayna is Jewish and his father Jeffrey is of Cajun French descent. Their son has been in many films, yet can’t seem to break a rather unfortunate reputation.
Can you guess who the child star turned big star is?
Shia LaBeouf
Yes, it’s Shia LaBeouf, who is seen with his mom, the former dancer, and designer. Shia is also a performance artist and filmmaker. But he became famous from his role as Louis Stevens in the Disney Channel show ‘Even Stevens.’
Shia has had some issues with the law, for instance in June 2014, he was charged with disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing at the Studio 54 Theater in New York. He was reported as “acting disorderly, yelling and being loud.”
Parents of…
This actress’ parents came all the way from Israel for her to have the opportunity of becoming a big star. Her mother, Shelley, was a housewife before deciding to take over as her daughter’s agent.
Her father, Avner, is a fertility specialist and a gynecologist. Their super talented and ever sweet daughter just gave these two parents the gift of being grandparents.
Can you guess who she is?
Natalie Portman
These two parents who met at Ohio State University are mom and dad to Natalie Portman. Did you know that she graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology?
Funnily enough, she was quoted in 2002 as saying, “I don’t care if [college] ruins my career. I’d rather be smart than a movie star.” She was acting way before going to college, though. She was in ‘Leon: The Professional’ at the age of 13.
Parents of…
Denise and Paul are parents who really hit it big when their boys became a boy band, who even grew up watching Disney shows before they eventually starred in them. And it looks like their parents raised them right.
Their religious and clean-cut upbringing has kept their boys out of trouble, which is definitely a rare sight in the youth of Hollywood.
Can you guess who their boys are?
The Jonas Brothers
I mean, you probably guessed who it was as soon as you read “boy band,” but it’s still fun to play the game, no? Kevin Jonas Sr. and Denise Jonas are proud parents to the Jonas Brothers.
And they really did come a long way from their more than humble beginnings. Denise told Good Housekeeping that after Kevin and she got married, they had to rely on food stamps to help make ends meet.
Parents of…
Michael was a flight dispatcher for British Airways, and Carole was a flight attendant before they founded the company Party Pieces, a multimillion-dollar establishment that boosted their status in London.
These parents found their way into royalty as their daughter; already a popular gal entered the family into another one that is considered the royalist of them all.
Do you know who it is?
Kate Middleton
Carole and Michael Middleton are the proud parents of the beautiful Duchess Kate. She sprung onto the royal scene back in 2011 when she married Prince William. Her net worth is $7 million compared to his $40 million.
— NOTE — If you’re a fan of Kate, or just love to see all of her amazing outfits, check out our piece on everything, Kate!
Parents of…
Jim, a food wholesaler, and Tammy, a retail salesperson are from Vancouver, Canada. You can say that many are green with envy at how things worked out for their actor son.
You know him as a big movie star, but he actually started out as a comedic TV actor on ‘Two Guys and a Girl’ in the years 1998 to 2001.
Do you think you know who it is?
Ryan Reynolds
The “Green Lantern” and “The Change-Up” star Ryan Reynolds is seen with his parents who couldn’t be more proud of him. Reynolds is married to Blake Lively, to whom he met on the set of ‘Green Lantern.’
They have two daughters, and early this year, they revealed that they’re expecting their third child. They also chose to raise their kids in Pound Ridge, New York. Forget Hollywood!
Mother of…
Krista and Jeff are the parents of a daughter who couldn’t be luckier to get all the best roles alongside all the best actors. The Oscar-winner and Golden Globe-winning actress was born in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Krista Jean was a homemaker, and Jeffrey Charles was the founder and CEO of a general contracting company. The family lived on the grounds of the Camelback Inn resort in Arizona when their daughter was 12.
Who is their fiery-haired daughter?
Emma Stone
“The Help” star Emma Stone is going to be Cruella De Vil in the upcoming film ‘Cruella,’ which if you see her in character, looks really promising! It’s going to be nothing like ‘101 Dalmatians.’
Unlike the ‘101 Dalmatians’ movies we know and love, Cruella is a prequel set in the 1970s that centers on a young and punky Cruella. Stone revealed that the movie is set in London during the height of the punk-rock era.
Mother of…
Shelley Loraine and Fausto Xavier are mom and dad to their pop star daughter. Shelley was a Spanish teacher and her ex-husband Fausto was a sergeant in the U.S. Army. But everything changed when they heard the voice of their daughter.
They moved from Staten Island, New York to Los Angeles when she was a young age. The girl went on to become a star and has never looked back, even from the judge’s seat…
Can you guess who this singer is?
Christina Aguilera
Their talented daughter is “The Voice” judge and superstar Christina Aguilera, who actually didn’t have a great relationship with her parents when she was a child. She did, however, reconcile with her mother.
Christina marked the 20th anniversary of her debut album with a tweet: “Guys… Today is the 20th anniversary of my debut album!!!! AHHHH! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!!!??!!,” she posted for her 17 million Twitter followers to see.
Parents of…
Karen Faris, her mother, is a former special education teacher and her father, Jack, is a sociologist. The two produced one of the funniest ladies in Hollywood. She plays dumb in many of her films and TV roles, but she’s nowhere near it.
The “dumb blonde” is actually one smart cookie, who has “screamed” her way through Hollywood.
Do you think you can guess who she is?
Anna Ferris
“Scary Movie” star and Baltimore native Anna Faris is not just an actress, but a voice artist, producer, podcaster, and author. Faris became known for her work in comedic roles, especially the lead part as Cindy Campbell in the ‘Scary Movie’ films.
And if you’re anything like me, you’ll mostly appreciate her for the role of Erica she played on ‘Friends.’ She was the one who gave our dear Monica and Chandler their set of twins!
Father of…
Greg, who was a firefighter, and his wife, Gina, held down several office jobs while their daughter sang her way throughout high school and well into the hearts of young fans everywhere.
Their daughter was born in Salinas, California, and the family along the West Coast, from Oregon to Southern California. Her father, Greg, is Irish and her mother is Native American and Pilipino.
Do you know who their daughter is?
Vanessa Hudgens
It’s Vanessa Hudgens, whose grandparents were musicians. So that can explain her source of talent. Hudgens is dating ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ actor Austin Butler, who played the role of Tex Watson.
The two have been dating for 7 years now, which is a lot to say for a young and attractive Hollywood couple! We all know how short attention spans are these days!
Parents of…
Mom Catherine is Danish and French-Canadian, and her father is Mexican-American. This makes sense when you see how beautiful and unique their daughter turned out.
Their daughter has a few “Little Fockers” of her own. The family moved a lot when her father was in the Air Force. She grew up in a conservative home, away from the sin city life.
Can you guess the actress?
Jessica Alba
Yes, you got enough hints by the end there. Jessica Alba eventually landed in California when she was only 9 years old and she has never looked back.
She began her TV and film appearances at the age of 13 in ‘Camp Nowhere’ and ‘The Secret World of Alex Mack,’ but became famous at 19 when she was the lead actress of ‘Dark Angel.’