The shocking real-life age differences between 32 fictional parents and their children

Gabbi ShawJun 22, 2020, 23:08 IST

Meryl Streep is 71. Her on-screen mother, Cher, is just 74.Universal Pictures

On-screen teenagers are usually played by actors who are adults — and their parents are frequently way too close in age to make sense.
This doesn't only apply to teenagers, however. In the case of "Glass," Charlayne Wood is five years younger than her on-screen son, Samuel L. Jackson — both are full-grown adults.
We've found 32 pairs of on-screen children and parents that are way too close in age, and some parents that are younger than their kids.

More often than not, kids on TV and in movies are actually played by actors who have left childhood behind years before — and their real ages aren't taken into account when casting their parents. But this problem isn't limited to children. Tom Selleck and his TV dad Len Cariou on "Blue Bloods" are just six years apart in real life.

These 32 pairs of on-screen parents and their offspring are just too close in age to be realistic — in a few cases, the "kids" are even older than their "parents."

Keep scrolling to see how much older your favorite fictional parents are than their "kids."

Cher, a legend, plays the mother of fellow legend Meryl Streep in "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again," but they're only three years apart.

They're close in real life. Universal Pictures

In the 2019 film "Glass," Charlayne Woodard plays the mother of Samuel L. Jackson's character, Elijah (aka Mr. Glass). The only problem is that, at 66, she's five years younger than 71-year-old Jackson.

They both reprise their roles from the 2000 movie "Unbreakable." Universal Pictures

In the 2019 film "Glass," Charlayne Woodard plays the mother of Samuel L. Jackson's character, Elijah (aka Mr. Glass). The only problem is that, at 66, she's five years younger than 71-year-old Jackson.

The mother-daughter duo of Amy Poehler and Rachel McAdams is only seven years apart. McAdams was 26 when she starred as high school junior Regina George in "Mean Girls."

"Mean Girls" was released in 2004. Paramount Pictures

The mother-daughter duo of Amy Poehler and Rachel McAdams is only seven years apart. McAdams was 26 when she starred as high school junior Regina George in "Mean Girls."

Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful women on Earth, a 29-year-old Angelina Jolie played 28-year-old Colin Farrell's mother in notorious flop "Alexander."

They look like they could be siblings. Warner Bros.

Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham are intentionally close in age — just 15 years apart. In "Gilmore Girls," Lorelai was a teen when she gave birth to Rory.

The two characters act more like friends. The CW

Stefan Salvatore and his mother, Lily, both play vampires who don't age on "The Vampire Diaries," so it's somewhat realistic that the two actors that played them (Paul Wesley and Annie Wersching) are only six years apart.

They're both well over 100 years old at this point. The CW

Stefan Salvatore and his mother, Lily, both play vampires who don't age on "The Vampire Diaries," so it's somewhat realistic that the two actors that played them (Paul Wesley and Annie Wersching) are only six years apart.

Fans were confused when it was announced that Winona Ryder would be playing Zachary Quinto's mother in the 2009 reboot of "Star Trek" — she's only six years older than him.

Ryder was aged up with makeup. Paramount Pictures

Fans were confused when it was announced that Winona Ryder would be playing Zachary Quinto's mother in the 2009 reboot of "Star Trek" — she's only six years older than him.

Lesley Fera is only 14 years older than her TV daughter Troian Bellisario on "Pretty Little Liars." Bellisario was 24 in the show's first season, when her character was supposed to be a junior in high school.

Bellisario is the oldest of the "Liars." ABC Family

Lesley Fera is only 14 years older than her TV daughter Troian Bellisario on "Pretty Little Liars." Bellisario was 24 in the show's first season, when her character was supposed to be a junior in high school.

Blake Lively and Kelly Rutherford (aka Serena and Lily van der Woodsen) are only 19 years apart on "Gossip Girl."

This won't be the last time "Gossip Girl" appears on this list. The CW Network (The CW)

Drew Barrymore is two years younger than Adam Garcia, who played her son in "Riding in Cars with Boys."

Barrymore and Garcia look like peers. Columbia Pictures

In "Footloose," a movie about a town that outlawed dancing, the stodgy reverend upholding the ban, played by John Lithgow, is only 12 years older than his fictional daughter, played by Lori Singer.

"Footloose." Paramount Pictures

In "Footloose," a movie about a town that outlawed dancing, the stodgy reverend upholding the ban, played by John Lithgow, is only 12 years older than his fictional daughter, played by Lori Singer.

Johnny Depp is five years older than movie mom Rachel Griffiths in "Blow."

They co-starred in "Blow." New Line Cinema

Michael J. Fox and Lea Thompson are the same age — even though Fox's character in "Back to the Future" is Thompson's son. Her older look was achieved with facial prosthetics.

This choice was intentional. Universal Pictures

Michael J. Fox and Lea Thompson are the same age — even though Fox's character in "Back to the Future" is Thompson's son. Her older look was achieved with facial prosthetics.

Merrilee McCommas is just 10 years older than Minka Kelly, who plays her daughter Lyla Garrity on "Friday Night Lights." Kelly was supposed to be a high school sophomore, but was 26 when the show premiered.

They do look similar. The 101 and NBC

Merrilee McCommas is just 10 years older than Minka Kelly, who plays her daughter Lyla Garrity on "Friday Night Lights." Kelly was supposed to be a high school sophomore, but was 26 when the show premiered.

Even though Sophia looked decades older than her daughter Dorothy on "The Golden Girls," Bea Arthur and Estelle Getty are only one year apart — and Arthur was older.

Two of "The Golden Girls." NBC

Even though Sophia looked decades older than her daughter Dorothy on "The Golden Girls," Bea Arthur and Estelle Getty are only one year apart — and Arthur was older.

Karen Roe was a teen mom on "One Tree Hill." In real life, Moira Kelly is only 14 years older than Chad Michael Murray.

The Scott-Roe family dynamic was complicated. The CW Network (The CW)

Lea Michele and Idina Menzel look remarkably alike, which is why Menzel was cast to play Michele's birth mother on "Glee." Menzel is only 15 years older than Michele.

Fans lobbied for the Broadway legend to be cast. Fox Network

Even though Al Lewis played Grandpa on "The Munsters," he was a year younger than his TV daughter Lily, played by Yvonne De Carlo.

"The Munsters" ran for only two seasons. CBS

Gregg Sulkin and his TV mom Ever Carradine on "Runaways," the latest in a line of Marvel TV shows, are only 18 years apart.

They starred on Hulu's "Runaways." Hulu

"Flicka's" main character, Katy, is supposed to be a teenager who has a fraught relationship with her father. But the actress who played Katy, Alison Lohman, was 27 at the time — making her just 13 years younger than her movie dad (Tim McGraw).

"Flicka" came out in 2006. Twentieth Century Fox

"Flicka's" main character, Katy, is supposed to be a teenager who has a fraught relationship with her father. But the actress who played Katy, Alison Lohman, was 27 at the time — making her just 13 years younger than her movie dad (Tim McGraw).

Kelsey Grammer and John Mahoney of "Frasier" only had a 15-year age difference, even though Mahoney's character always seemed much older.

The Crane men. NBC

"Blue Bloods" father and son duo Tom Selleck and Len Cariou have a small age difference of just six years.

Selleck and Cariou. CBS

This is an extreme case of an actor playing someone much younger than he is — Jason Earles was 29 when he began playing 16-year-old Jackson Stewart on "Hannah Montana." His dad, played by Billy Ray Cyrus, is only 16 years older than him.

Earles is 15 years older than co-star Miley Cyrus in real life. Disney Channel

This is an extreme case of an actor playing someone much younger than he is — Jason Earles was 29 when he began playing 16-year-old Jackson Stewart on "Hannah Montana." His dad, played by Billy Ray Cyrus, is only 16 years older than him.

Matthew Settle and Penn Badgley, who played Rufus and Dan Humphrey on "Gossip Girl," only had a 17-year age difference.

The Humphrey men. The CW Network (The CW)

Kelly Rowan and Benjamin McKenzie starred in "The OC," where Rowan played McKenzie's adoptive mother. While Kirsten and Ryan weren't biologically related, Kirsten's biological son Seth and Ryan were the same age — so it's still ridiculous that she's just 12 years older than McKenzie.

They look like they could be related. Fox

Kelly Rowan and Benjamin McKenzie starred in "The OC," where Rowan played McKenzie's adoptive mother. While Kirsten and Ryan weren't biologically related, Kirsten's biological son Seth and Ryan were the same age — so it's still ridiculous that she's just 12 years older than McKenzie.

Mulder's mother on "The X-Files" was played by Rebecca Toolan, who in reality is just one year older than David Duchovny.

Toolan appeared infrequently. Fox

Aunt Viv in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" was played by two different actresses during the show's six seasons, neither of whom were much older than their TV daughter, Hilary.

Aunt Viv was originally played by Janet Hubert, and then Daphne Maxwell Reid. NBC

Aunt Viv in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" was played by two different actresses during the show's six seasons, neither of whom were much older than their TV daughter, Hilary.

The eldest Cosby child, Sondra, played by Sabrina Le Beauf, is only 10 years younger than Huxtable family matriarch Clair, played by Phylicia Rashad.

Sondra was the least-seen member of the Huxtable clan. NBC

"Pretty Little Liars" co-stars Holly Marie Combs and Lucy Hale are 16 years apart — Hale was 20 years old when she started playing high school junior Aria.

Hale is still playing a high schooler almost a decade later. ABC Family

Even though Carla Gugino appeared much older than her "Watchmen" co-star and on-screen daughter Malin Åkerman, they're only seven years apart.

Gugino was aged with special effects. Columbia Pictures

Melissa Leo is only 11 years older than her "The Fighter" co-star Mark Wahlberg.

"The Fighter." Paramount Pictures

Nell Hudson, who has played Laoghaire since the first season of "Outlander," is only two years older than her daughter, played by Lauren Lyle.

"Outlander." Starz!

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The shocking real-life age differences between 32 fictional parents and their children

Cher, a legend, plays the mother of fellow legend Meryl Streep in "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again," but they're only three years apart.

In the 2019 film "Glass," Charlayne Woodard plays the mother of Samuel L. Jackson's character, Elijah (aka Mr. Glass). The only problem is that, at 66, she's five years younger than 71-year-old Jackson.

The mother-daughter duo of Amy Poehler and Rachel McAdams is only seven years apart. McAdams was 26 when she starred as high school junior Regina George in "Mean Girls."

Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful women on Earth, a 29-year-old Angelina Jolie played 28-year-old Colin Farrell's mother in notorious flop "Alexander."

Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham are intentionally close in age — just 15 years apart. In "Gilmore Girls," Lorelai was a teen when she gave birth to Rory.

Stefan Salvatore and his mother, Lily, both play vampires who don't age on "The Vampire Diaries," so it's somewhat realistic that the two actors that played them (Paul Wesley and Annie Wersching) are only six years apart.

Fans were confused when it was announced that Winona Ryder would be playing Zachary Quinto's mother in the 2009 reboot of "Star Trek" — she's only six years older than him.

Lesley Fera is only 14 years older than her TV daughter Troian Bellisario on "Pretty Little Liars." Bellisario was 24 in the show's first season, when her character was supposed to be a junior in high school.

Blake Lively and Kelly Rutherford (aka Serena and Lily van der Woodsen) are only 19 years apart on "Gossip Girl."

Drew Barrymore is two years younger than Adam Garcia, who played her son in "Riding in Cars with Boys."

In "Footloose," a movie about a town that outlawed dancing, the stodgy reverend upholding the ban, played by John Lithgow, is only 12 years older than his fictional daughter, played by Lori Singer.

Johnny Depp is five years older than movie mom Rachel Griffiths in "Blow."

Michael J. Fox and Lea Thompson are the same age — even though Fox's character in "Back to the Future" is Thompson's son. Her older look was achieved with facial prosthetics.

Merrilee McCommas is just 10 years older than Minka Kelly, who plays her daughter Lyla Garrity on "Friday Night Lights." Kelly was supposed to be a high school sophomore, but was 26 when the show premiered.

Even though Sophia looked decades older than her daughter Dorothy on "The Golden Girls," Bea Arthur and Estelle Getty are only one year apart — and Arthur was older.

Karen Roe was a teen mom on "One Tree Hill." In real life, Moira Kelly is only 14 years older than Chad Michael Murray.

Lea Michele and Idina Menzel look remarkably alike, which is why Menzel was cast to play Michele's birth mother on "Glee." Menzel is only 15 years older than Michele.

Even though Al Lewis played Grandpa on "The Munsters," he was a year younger than his TV daughter Lily, played by Yvonne De Carlo.

Gregg Sulkin and his TV mom Ever Carradine on "Runaways," the latest in a line of Marvel TV shows, are only 18 years apart.

"Flicka's" main character, Katy, is supposed to be a teenager who has a fraught relationship with her father. But the actress who played Katy, Alison Lohman, was 27 at the time — making her just 13 years younger than her movie dad (Tim McGraw).

Kelsey Grammer and John Mahoney of "Frasier" only had a 15-year age difference, even though Mahoney's character always seemed much older.

"Blue Bloods" father and son duo Tom Selleck and Len Cariou have a small age difference of just six years.

This is an extreme case of an actor playing someone much younger than he is — Jason Earles was 29 when he began playing 16-year-old Jackson Stewart on "Hannah Montana." His dad, played by Billy Ray Cyrus, is only 16 years older than him.

Matthew Settle and Penn Badgley, who played Rufus and Dan Humphrey on "Gossip Girl," only had a 17-year age difference.

Kelly Rowan and Benjamin McKenzie starred in "The OC," where Rowan played McKenzie's adoptive mother. While Kirsten and Ryan weren't biologically related, Kirsten's biological son Seth and Ryan were the same age — so it's still ridiculous that she's just 12 years older than McKenzie.

Mulder's mother on "The X-Files" was played by Rebecca Toolan, who in reality is just one year older than David Duchovny.

Aunt Viv in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" was played by two different actresses during the show's six seasons, neither of whom were much older than their TV daughter, Hilary.

The eldest Cosby child, Sondra, played by Sabrina Le Beauf, is only 10 years younger than Huxtable family matriarch Clair, played by Phylicia Rashad.

"Pretty Little Liars" co-stars Holly Marie Combs and Lucy Hale are 16 years apart — Hale was 20 years old when she started playing high school junior Aria.

Even though Carla Gugino appeared much older than her "Watchmen" co-star and on-screen daughter Malin Åkerman, they're only seven years apart.

Melissa Leo is only 11 years older than her "The Fighter" co-star Mark Wahlberg.

Nell Hudson, who has played Laoghaire since the first season of "Outlander," is only two years older than her daughter, played by Lauren Lyle.