In 1992, the Ms. Foundation for Women created a new national event called Take Our Daughters to Work Day. The program (which was later changed to Take Our Children to Work Day to be more inclusive) was designed to help kids get a glimpse into the working world and to better understand what their working parents do all day. While lots of companies and offices have participated in this program, the truth is that celebrity parents have been basically doing this for decades.
Actors can have long stretches of time away from their families when they are filming movies and TV shows, so it makes sense that they would want their kids to visit them on set. And while they are on set, why not have them film a quick scene or two? We imagine that it’s fun for the kids to get a chance to see what the whole acting thing is all about, and it can turn a film or TV show into a family memory. And for some future nepo babies, that first cameo can also be the start to a longer acting career of their very own.
Cute celebrity kid cameos can even become a family tradition — just ask stars like Angelina Jolie and Will Smith, whose children have made multiple cameos in their long careers. Scroll on for more examples of the moments when acting was a family business.
Willow Smith in 'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa'
Vivienne Jolie-Pitt in 'Maleficent'
Angelina Jolie is always gorgeous, but she was a little scary in the 2014 movie Maleficent, so it was reportedly a bit of a challenge to find a toddler child actor who wouldn’t get timid around her. The obvious solution? Cast a kid who is already very comfortable around her: Angelina’s own daughter Vivienne.
Elizabeth Hanks in 'Forrest Gump'
There are many scenes in the classic movie Forrest Gump that tug on our heartstrings. One of them is the moment in the school bus when a little girl refuses to let a young Forrest sit next to her. Fun fact: That girl was played by star Tom Hanks’ own daughter, Elizabeth.
Mark Hamill's Kids in 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'
Mark Hamill is the proud father of three adult children, and fans got to see a quick glimpse of the trio in the 2017 movie Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Nathan, Chelsea, and Griffin Hamill all played rebel soldiers in that installment of the film franchise that made their dad famous.
John David Washington in 'Malcolm X'
Another rising star in his own right is John David Washington, son of Denzel Washington. John David — who has now appeared in 13 movies including a starring role in Tenet — got his first credit as “student in Harlem classroom” in his father’s iconic 1992 film Malcolm X.
Gia Lopez in 'Holiday in Santa Fe'
Actor and TV host Mario Lopez got the chance to share the screen (and a bit of choreography) with his preteen daughter, Gia. The two busted a movie in the Lifetime Christmas movie Holiday in Santa Fe, where she played the role of niece to Mario’s lead character.
Harley Quinn Smith in 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'
Harley Quinn Smith is the daughter of actor and director Kevin Smith. Kevin is perhaps best known for his role as Silent Bob in several films including Clerks, Mallrats, and Chasing Amy. Harley Quinn appeared as the baby version of Silent Bob in the 2001 movie Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, and now she has a budding acting career of her own.
