Fans tend to love celebrities most when the celebs are relatable. In other words, when the celebs drop the mask of fame and fortune and go through the same struggles that we go through.
And one of the most relatable struggles for any celebrity is raising children. Will the kids grow up to be like their famous parents? Or will they ultimately go their own way?
To learn the answer, we need to look at celebrity kids then versus celebrity kids now. Keep reading to discover what your favorite celebs’ children looked like in years past and what they look like today!
Alec Baldwin’s daughter Ireland Baldwin
Alec Baldwin is often in the news for all the wrong reasons. But on the left, we can see he is all smiles when posing with daughter Ireland Baldwin at the Public Theatre’s Summer Gala in 2005, where the two watched Shakespeare’s As You Like It.
On the right, we can see that Ireland is all grown up and ready to watch her dad take his lumps. After all, she was Alec Baldwin’s guest to his own Comedy Central roast in Beverly Hills in 2019.
Paul Rudd’s son Jack Rudd
Paul Rudd is always great at making audiences laugh. It should be no surprise, then, that he’s keeping his son Jack entertained as they watch the Milwaukee Bucks square off against the New York Knicks in 2013.
On the right, we can see that the family loves football as much as basketball. We can see the two (including a very grown up Jack) smiling at the Super Bowl LIV in February 2020.
Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker’s son James Broderick
Matthew Broderick became famous for playing slacker Ferris Bueller, but it looks like he wanted to give his son James Wilkie Broderick a better role model. Maybe that’s why he and wife Sarah Jessica-Parker took James to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 in 2010.
It seems the real magic, though, might be on the basketball court. On the right, we can see father and son at the New York Knicks game in New York City in February 2019.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s son Maddox Jolie-Pitt
When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are your parents, it’s tough to have a normal life. On the left, we can see adopted son Maddox Jolie-Pitt in his mother’s arms when he was just two years old.
Eventually, Maddox gave up on “normal” life and decided to follow his parents into show business. On the right, we can see him with his mother at the Tokyo premiere of Maleficent: Mistress of Evil in 2019. When he’s not attending college, Maddox has served as a production assistant, actor, and producer on several different movies.
Brooke Shields’ daughters Rowan and Grier Henchy
It looks like Brooke Shields wanted to show off her beautiful children very early on. On the left, we can see her striking a pose with daughters Rowan and Grier Henchy in 2006. The family was attending the Promises Foundation’s First Annual Family Fun Festival and Polo Match.
And on the right, we can see that family outings remained a major tradition. Shields brought her children (now grown) to the a benefit for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance in 2017 in Watermill, New York.
Laura Dern’s son Ellery Harper
Laura Dern has a history of playing quirky roles, and she really won audiences over with very different characters in Marriage Story and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. On the left, we can see her with son Ellery Harper (her ex-husband is singer Ben Harper) at the CNN Heroes event in Los Angeles on Dec. 11, 2011.
On the right, we can see Dern posing with a grown Ellery, at his runway debut as a model at the Calvin Klein Show at Fashion Week 2018.
Spike Lee’s children Satchel and Jackson Lee
When he’s not busy creating legendary movies, Spike Lee helps other filmmakers. On the left, we can see him, his wife Tonya Lewis Lee, and their two children, daughter Satchel and son Jackson in 2004. They are attending the 61st Venice Film Festival in Italy where Spike Lee was a jury member.
To the right, you will see Spike Lee and his grown children posing at the 2019 Golden Globe Awards. The kids must have made a good impression: they were each selected to be Golden Globe ambassadors in 2021.
John Travolta and Kelly Preston’s daughter Ella Travolta
Some parents try to insulate their children from their work. But John Travolta and Kelly Preston were quite happy to take daughter Ella to the 2009 premiere of their movie Old Dogs at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.
Ella is all grown up now, but she still has a real passion for entertainment. On the right, we can see her with her father at an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2019.
Julianne Moore’s children Liv and Caleb Freundlich
Juliane Moore knows the value of keeping things simple. Here, we can see her entertaining her children, Liv and Caleb Freundlich, with a walk through New York City’s West Village in 2007.
When the kids grew up, though, Moore wasn’t afraid to bring them to “work.” On the right, we can see her grown children at a cast dinner party for the 2019 movie After the Wedding.
Al Pacino and Beverly D’Angelo’s twins Olivia and Anton Pacino
On the left, Al Pacino and Beverly D’Angelo are out for a stroll with their toddler twins Olivia and Anton Pacino. To the right, you can see the twins all grown up with their dad on the Oscars red carpet in Feb. 2020. The legendary actor was nominated for his role in The Irishman.
Michael Jackson’s children Prince Michael, Paris, and Blanket Jackson
First, you can see Michael Jackson’s children Prince Michael, Paris, and Prince Michael II (“Blanket”) making an appearance on The X-Factor in 2011, when they were 14, 13, and 9, respectively.
Below that are the Jackson kids all grown up today.
Vincent D’Onofrio’s daughter Greta Scacchi
These particular photos show big changes for both father and daughter! On the left, we can see a very casually-dressed Vincent D’Onofrio take his daughter Greta Scacchi to the premiere of his film Steal This Movie in 2000.
And on the right, we can see a much more stylish D’Onofrio posing with a grown Greta. Here, they are attending the 2019 premiere of the movie The Kid (a movie that Greta starred in and her father directed).