Famous child stars who were outshined by their younger siblings including Kieran Culkin and Macaulay Culkin

Everyone knows the Fanning sisters. With their signature blonde hair and shared film credits, it's easy to see why people get confused between the two. Dakota is the eldest, and at age 32 she was the first to put the now-infamous Fanning name on the map. She received recognition at age seven for her role in I Am Sam (2001) and cemented her child-star status in classics such as Charlotte's Web (2006) and The Secret Life of Bees (2008).

However, her 28-year-old sister, Elle, was the first of the pair to receive an Oscar nomination for Sentimental Value, moving far beyond her child-star roots. Her career continues to rise, with upcoming projects including the highly anticipated The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, in which she plays Effie Trinket. Both sisters will also star together in The Nightingale in 2027. Elle previously addressed comparisons between herself and Dakota in Vanity Fair in September 2025, calling herself a "nepo sister": "I’m a nepo sister. Of course I got opportunities because people are like, 'Oh, it’s Dakota Fanning’s sister. We’ll see her audition.'" In everyone else's eyes, while she did start out alongside Dakota, she has now blossomed into her own distinct lane which is rather heartwarming to see.

Back in the '80s, Robyn Lively was a recognisable teen star in cult-favourite films such as Teen Witch and The Karate Kid Part III. Plus, she had TV roles in popular shows like Twin Peaks. However, her younger sister, Blake Lively, burst onto the screen starring in Gossip Girl as Serena van der Woodsen, going on to become one of Hollywood's biggest stars. Her resume now includes films such as A Simple Favour and It Ends with Us (which featured a cameo from Robyn), along with her high-profile relationship with Ryan Reynolds.

Her sister Robyn has had a quieter career, making appearances in popular TV shows such as High Potential and NCIS: Origins. Yet, it's Blake who possesses more of that leading-lady quality. While her 54-year-old sister isn't as big of a household name, she has still appeared on the red carpet with Blake a few times.

Despite their 16-year age difference, Robyn told Fox News in August 2022: "There’s a significant age gap, which feels almost nonexistent because she’s now a mom. We have so many similarities. Our relationship is on a deeper level." Goals.

Eric Roberts was the breakout talent first, earning a Golden Globe nomination and an Oscar nod in the 1980s after roles in Runaway Train and Star 80. For a time, he was considered one of Hollywood’s most promising young actors. But it was his younger sister, Julia Roberts, who became a global phenomenon. After Pretty Woman turned her into America’s sweetheart, she went on to win an Academy Award and become one of the highest-paid actresses in the world. 

In 2018, Eric told Vanity Fair that he believed he had paved the way for not only his sister, but his daughter, Emma Roberts. "If it wasn’t for me, there would be no Julia Roberts and no Emma Roberts as celebrities, as actresses, and I’m very proud of that," he said. However, in his 2024 memoir, Runaway Train: Or the Story of My Life So Far, he walked back his comments, writing: "I hope Julia will accept this public apology. It was an asinine thing to have said." 

During an appearance on the Still Here Hollywood podcast, Eric revealed that Julia does not want him talking about her. "I love my sister, but I can’t talk about her. She [doesn’t want me] to talk about it," he said. Eric’s 2024 apology was the 'unsend' button we all wish we had. Julia, meanwhile, has mastered the art of the 'silence is golden' response – proving sometimes the best way to handle family drama is with an Oscar and a megawatt smile.

Justine Bateman became a bona fide 1980s teen star at just 16, earning Emmy nominations and household recognition as Mallory Keaton on Family Ties. Meanwhile, her younger brother Jason was carving out his own early résumé, breaking out at 11 as James Cooper Ingalls on Little House on the Prairie.

Both found fame young – but it was Jason who would ultimately redefine his career. After years of steady work, he staged a major reinvention with Arrested Development before pivoting again into prestige drama with Ozark. His career has since expanded into directing and producing, alongside his hit podcast SmartLess, cementing his A-list status. Meanwhile Justine has built a respected second act as a writer and filmmaker.

Despite their shared Hollywood roots, the siblings have an unconventional but mutually respectful bond. In an interview with Esquire, Jason said he and Justine "don’t see each other a ton" but still "hang out" occasionally. "Our conversations are the rich conversations you would have with an adult friend," he explained, adding that they’re "nice to each other because we respect one another as individuals regardless of the blood thing." Different trajectories, different spotlights – but no rivalry required.

Macaulay Culkin defined early ’90s child stardom with Home Alone, becoming one of the most recognisable kids on the planet. While Macaulay stepped back from the spotlight to recalibrate and find normalcy, Kieran quietly built a reputation for sharp, offbeat performances in indie movies like Igby Goes Down, before exploding onto prestige television as the sharp-tongued, strangely enigmatic Roman on Succession. 

His portrayal of the troubled youngest son of patriarch Logan Roy earned him awards recognition and critical adoration, cementing him as a serious adult actor – a second act that arguably outshone his brother’s early megastar status. It’s the ultimate sibling plot twist. We spent the '90s thinking Kieran was 'the other one,' only for him to grow up and have deliver the most complex, twitchy, and award-sweeping performance of the decade.

Despite the inevitable comparisons, the brothers remain famously close, rooted in a shared experience of a Hollywood childhood that Kieran describes as more of a hurdle than a head start. "Poor f***ing guy," Kieran said bluntly about Macaulay in an interview with Esquire. "He was little and having to try to accept that level of fame as reality. Even at that time, as a kid, I remember thinking, 'That sucks for him.'"

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were global sensations before they could spell "licensing deal," building a billion-dollar brand from their Full House beginnings. But it was their younger sister Elizabeth who ultimately eclipsed them in mainstream Hollywood fame. While the twins pivoted quietly into luxury fashion with The Row, Elizabeth became a bona fide blockbuster star, thanks to her role as Wanda Maximoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Elizabeth has credited the twins with helping her navigate that level of scrutiny. Speaking to Modern Luxury, she admitted she once underestimated the reach of her interviews. "I was not caring what I was saying [in interviews] because I’d assumed no one would read it," she said. Her sisters warned her otherwise: "You know, even if you don’t think anyone’s going to read this article, someone might pull the quote later for [something else]." While Mary-Kate and Ashley were busy perfecting the 'oversized sunglasses and venti latte' aesthetic, Elizabeth was quietly becoming the most powerful witch in the Marvel Universe. It’s the ultimate 'middle child' victory.

Emilio Estevez was one of the defining faces of the 1980s Brat Pack, cementing his place in pop culture with films like The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo’s Fire. But it was Charlie who ultimately soared to even greater mainstream fame. From big-screen hits to television dominance on Two and a Half Men, Charlie became one of the highest-paid actors on TV – and one of Hollywood’s most headline-making figures. 

Ironically, there was a time when the dynamic was reversed. Speaking on Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Charlie admitted that watching Emilio’s early success was tough. "It felt awful," he said. "I felt like I was just taking up the rear. I felt like a valet on certain nights." Imagine being at a party in 1985 where your brother is the King of the Brat Pack and you're just 'the other one.' However, despite the early rivalry, the brothers remain close, and Charlie has publicly credited both Emilio and their father, Martin Sheen, with supporting him through his sobriety journey. 

It’s hard to remember a time when Mark was 'The Guy from the Funky Bunch' and Donnie was the global heartthrob. But after shedding his early "Marky Mark" persona, the younger Wahlberg reinvented himself as a serious actor, landing an Oscar nomination and fronting major box-office franchises. While Donnie built a solid career in television and producing, Mark’s transition into a Hollywood heavyweight cemented him as the family’s standout star.

Still, fame hasn’t always made family time easy. In an interview with Variety, Donnie, who is one of nine siblings, admitted: "It’s not that I’m not committed to my family, but I live in a different state than my siblings… my career has taken me all over the world." He revealed his sister often urges everyone to reunite in Boston, but after constant travel he sometimes just wants to "sit at home and put on the fireplace and be with my wife and my dogs," before conceding, "Maybe I need to hop on a plane… and encourage Mark to do the same." Yes, Donnie, make that family get-together happen.

Rain Phoenix began acting and performing music alongside her siblings in the 1980s, earning early recognition as part of one of Hollywood’s most unconventional families. But it was her younger brother Joaquin who would ultimately rise to extraordinary heights. With transformative performances in Gladiator, Walk the Line and his Oscar-winning turn in Joker, Joaquin became one of the most acclaimed actors of his generation. While Rain continues to create in music and film, Joaquin’s career trajectory has firmly placed him among Hollywood’s most respected – and enigmatic – leading men.

Despite his intensely private reputation, family remains central to him. While accepting an acting award at the Toronto International Film Festival, Joaquin revealed that watching clips from his films prompted reflection. "When I was watching those clips, I thought about my family. My sisters Rain and Liberty and Summer, who are still my best friends," he said, before joking: "I don’t talk to them or see them." It’s peak Joaquin energy – enigmatic, slightly awkward, and deeply funny.