[[quoteright:325:[[Series/{{Glee}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Glee-Kurt-young-actor_400_723.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:325:Adam Kolkin and ChrisColfer. No, they're not related.]]

Sometimes, casting directors are called upon to cast, say, a father and son, or two brothers, or a younger and older version of the same character. And sometimes, they find someone that looks so uncannily like the original actor that it comes as a surprise to the viewers that the two aren't actually related.

Not to be confused with RealLifeRelative, which is when the actors actually are related, and playing relatives.


[[folder: Advertising]]
* In the Kia commercials with Blake Griffin {{time travel}}ing to his childhood selves, the childhood versions of him look a lot like him. This is especially strange because Blake Griffin is somewhat of an unusual looking person, being a biracial guy with brownish red hair and freckles.

* In ''Film/BigFish'', Alison Lohman was cast (assisted by makeup) as the young version of Jessica Lange.
** Supposedly, Ewan [=McGregor=] was cast by Creator/TimBurton because he uncannily resembled Albert Finney when he was younger.
*** By [=McGregor=]'s own recollection he saw a photo in Tim Burton's office of [[http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1094957824/nm0001215 Albert Finney in ''Tom Jones'']] and was trying to remember which photoshoot of his it was taken from before he realised that it wasn't a photo of him at all.
* [[Series/{{Blossom}} Mayim Bialik]] as the younger version of Bette Midler's character in ''Beaches''.
* Creator/HarrisonFord recommended Creator/RiverPhoenix for young Indiana Jones in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'' specifically because he reminded him of himself at that age. It helped that they previously played father and son in ''Film/TheMosquitoCoast.
** Although it's generally a good idea to have stunt doubles resemble the actors they replace, Ford's stunt double, Vic Armstrong, looked so much like him that the two were often confused on-set, even by Ford's own son. At one point while filming ''Temple of Doom'', Ford injured his back and was out of commission for a few weeks, so Armstrong filmed in place of Ford for several scenes during that time that didn't show his face. Close-ups of Ford were added later to make it more convincing.
* Creator/RachaelLeighCook as the young Creator/ParkerPosey in the movie adaptation of ''Film/TheHouseOfYes''.
* The boy chosen to be a young Creator/JohnCusack in ''Film/HotTubTimeMachine''.
* ''Film/TenaciousDInThePickOfDestiny'': Young [[Creator/JackBlack JB]].
* Apparently, though he's pretty much an extra in ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', Tarkin appears largely due to the fact that they found an actor (Wayne Pygram, most well known as Scorpius from ''Series/{{Farscape}}'') with an astonishing resemblance to Creator/PeterCushing and couldn't bear to ''not'' cast him!
** Similarly, actress Genevieve O'Reilly was cast as Mon Mothma due to bearing a striking resemblance to Caroline Blakiston. Sadly, as her speaking role was cut, she too is largely an extra.
** Also from the prequels, ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'' would just have Creator/NataliePortman ActingForTwo. Then they discovered Creator/KeiraKnightley and [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_natalie_vs_kiera_4928.jpg put her as the queen's decoy]]. Supposedly, even their own mothers couldn't tell them apart with the makeup on.
** All potential actors for Obi-Wan in the prequels had their pictures compared with young Alec Guinness. Of course EwanMcGregor fit this even more once [[http://l.yimg.com/ea/img/-/121108/obi_wan_kenobi_ewen_mcgregor_alec_guinness_189mjpd-189mjpv.jpg?x=450&q=80&n=1&sig=NUPvC5zFG6ck_nuJxO7E6g-- he had to grow Obi-Wan's beard.]]
* Creator/MilaKunis portrays a young Creator/AngelinaJolie in ''Film/{{Gia}}''. It's downright freaky.
* While filming ''Literature/WaterForElephants'', actor Hal Holbrook (who plays an older version of the character Jacob Jankowski) came up to RobertPattinson and told him "My God, you look like me as a young man!"
* Aside from the various wigs and prosthetics, both OrlandoBloom and Lee Pace have strikingly similar facial features, so this is definitely the case in ''Film/TheHobbit'' films.
* In ''Film/NeverLetMeGo'', the kids who play the young version of Cathy, Ruth, and Tommy look eerily like the older actors, particular KeiraKnightley.
* In ''Film/{{Thor}}'', Dakota Goyo and Ted Allpress, who play the young Thor and Loki, strongly resemble the actors who play their adult versions, Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston.
* Creator/ReubenLangdon has been GideonEmery's stunt double on multiple occasions, such as in the movie ''Takers''. They look like they [[http://justanotheractorinla.blogspot.com/2008/10/real-doppelganger_8876.html could be twins]]!
* Christa B. Allen looks so much like a young Creator/JenniferGarner that she has played a younger version of her in two movies, ''Film/ThirteenGoingOnThirty'' and ''Ghosts of Girlfriends Past''.
* Josh Brolin as a young TommyLeeJones in ''Film/MenInBlack 3''. He even copied Jones' voice to an uncanny level.
* ThoseTwoGuys who played the part of young JimCarrey and Jeff Daniels in the ''Film/DumbAndDumber'' prequel.
* Creator/ZacharyQuinto was said to [[http://i.imgur.com/kdu5a4t.jpg look like]] a young Creator/LeonardNimoy, so it was hardly a surprise when he was cast as Spock in the ''Film/StarTrek'' reboot. In fact, Creator/JJAbrams joked at a Comic-Con panel that when the two first met, Leonard's wife had found the resemblance unsettling.
** Creator/ChrisPine, who played James Kirk, and Creator/ChrisHemsworth, who played his father George towards the beginning, looked so much alike that according to Abrams, some viewers mistakenly believed Pine played both characters.
* Kimberly Elyse and Cicely Tyson as Helen & Myrtle in ''DiaryOfAMadBlackWoman'' are this.
* JenniferLawrence and Julia Stiles as sisters in ''Film/SilverLiningsPlaybook''.
* Benjamin Walker (of ''Film/AbrahamLincolnVampireHunter'' fame) played a teenage version of LiamNeeson in ''{{Kinsey}}''. The resemblance is uncanny.
* Julia Roberts and Kyra Sedgwick as sisters in ''Something to Talk About''.
* BenKingsley [[http://setimacena.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Ben-Kingsley-e-Georges-Melies.png as]] GeorgesMelies in ''{{Hugo}}''.
* David Wenham and Sean Bean as brothers Faramir and Boromir in ''TheLordOfTheRings''.
* In ''{{Film/Stardust}}'', [[http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4140468480/nm1602660 Ben Barnes]] plays [[http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4058487040/nm0662511 Nathaniel Parker's]] younger self.
* Jake Abel and Boyd Holbrook as Ian and Kyle O'Shea in [[FilmOfTheBook the film adaptation]] of ''Literature/TheHost''.
* Vince Vaughn and Vincent D'Onofrio have been mistaken for each other for years, so it naturally made sense to cast them as brothers in Vaughn's film ''TheBreakUp''.
* In the DVD commentary for ''ThePerksOfBeingAWallflower'' writer/director Stephen Chbosky said he made a conscious effort to cast members of his protagonist Charlie's family with actors that look related.
* ''StuckInLove'' has JenniferConnelly as LilyCollins's mother.
* Dave Stevens drew himself as the face of the Cliff Secord, the Rocketeer, in the comic book of that title. For [[Film/TheRocketeer the film adaptation]], Bill Campbell, who was cast as Cliff, bore such a resemblance that Stevens' friend HarlanEllison said [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMnDPVWW1sw "It was uncanny, he could have been Dave's brother."]]
* Hugo Blick as Jack Napier aka "Young [[TheJoker Joker]]" in ''Film/{{Batman}}'', apparently [[http://www.batman-online.com/features/2009/4/24/hugo-blick-interview-young-jack-napier#sthash.5W94Ry3P.dpbs following a recommendation]] by JackNicholson himself.

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* On ''Series/{{Glee}}'':
** A flashback depicted Kurt as a young adolescent. The actor chosen to portray Chris Colfer's character Kurt bears an uncanny resemblance to a younger Chris Colfer (as pictured above right).
*** Adam Kolkin is set to play young Colfer again in ''Struck by Lightning''.
** The character of Shelby Corcoran (portrayed by actress Idina Menzel) is the mother of the character Rachel Berry (portrayed by actress LeaMichele). Menzel was presumably cast due, in part, to [[http://ll-media.tmz.com/2009/09/15/0910_lea_idina-1.jpg her striking resemblance to Michele.]]
* Younger versions of Sam and Dean of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' [[http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/14400000/Weechester-the-weechesters-14402373-600-395.jpg nicknamed the Weechesters]] tend to look quite a bit like them, especially when the age gap is smaller. It's not incredibly hard to find a mop-top and [[AscendedMeme chisel-chest]], but it helps when they actually get the demeanors down too.
* The character of Niles on ''Series/{{Frasier}}'' was created after producers noticed David Hyde Pierce's uncanny resemblance to KelseyGrammer.
** While not necessarily intentional, John Mahoney bears a resemblance to the two as well.
* Creator/AntAndDec have Little Ant and Dec (their variety show ''Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway'' had trotting out "little [insert name here]" versions of various guests as a feature, including [[TastesLikeDiabetes Little Little Ant And Dec]]).
* The Mitchell brothers in ''EastEnders''.
* Jamie Walters as the younger version of Dean Stockwell's character in ''Series/QuantumLeap''.
* In the made-for-tv film ''Hawking'', StephenHawking (Creator/BenedictCumberbatch) and the actors who play his parents seriously look like they could actually be related.
* Lori Loughlin and Shenae Grimes on ''[[BeverlyHills90210 90210]]'' play a mother and daughter that actually look alike.
* GeneWilder had a short-lived sitcom called "Somehing Wilder" in the mid-Nineties where he played father to two little boys. One of whom was virtually a miniature clone of him.
* The brothers Hank and Evan Lawson on ''Series/RoyalPains''. They're supposed to be New York Jews; while Mark Feueurstein is Jewish and from NYC, Paulo Costanzo is from Toronto and is of Italian descent.
* Malese Jow looks so much like Music/MirandaCosgrove that Malese was chosen to play [[Series/ICarly Carly's]] lookalike in "iLookalike".
* Lachlan Nieboer, who played Gray, Jack Harkness's brother on ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'', looked and sounded like a younger version of John Barrowman, despite not being related.
* ''Series/OnceUponATime'' does this excellently.
** Ginnifer Goodwin from ''Series/BigLove'' and Jennifer Morrison from ''Series/{{House}}'', two actresses who for years people have said shared a resemblance and have often been confused with each other, are now playing mother and daughter.
*** [[CrowningMomentOfFunny Hilarious note:]] In commentary on a season one [=OUaT=] episode, Ginnifer Goodwin said that they were mistaken for each other so often that they both, completely independently of each other, just gave up and started signing autographs and giving interviews as each other.
** Whatever features Morrison doesn't share with Goodwin, she seems to share with Josh Dallas, her onscreen father.
** Bailee Madison played Goodwin's character as a child and the actress could easily pass for Goodwin's daughter or young sister. She also nailed some of her mannerisms.
** And when Rena Sofer was cast as Snow's mother, it's easy to note how much she looks like Goodwin.
** Rose [=McGowan=] played Young Cora and bears a striking resemblance to Barbara Hershey, as well as nailing Cora's haughty demeanor.
* The boys playing a young Earl and Randy on ''Series/MyNameIsEarl''.
* Victor Garber and Jennifer Garner as father and daughter on ''Series/{{Alias}}''.
* Creator/CharismaCarpenter and Alexandra Chando on ''Series/TheLyingGame''.
* Andrea Brooks, who plays the teenage version of Amelia on ''Series/TheSecretCircle'', looks likes she could be Britt Robertson's twin.
* Elizabeth Penn Payne, the Masked Woman (aka [[spoiler: Alexis Meade]]) on ''Series/UglyBetty'' has nearly the exact same eyes as [[spoiler: Rebecca Romijn]].
* On ''Series/EightSimpleRules'', Martin Spanjers and Amy Davidson, who play brother and sister, look like they actually could be (contrast Kaley Cuoco as their other sibling, who looks nothing like them ''or'' either of the parents: JohnRitter and Katey Sagal).
* Creepily averted on ''Series/FullHouse''; here all three kids look more like Dave Coulier, who plays the unrelated Joey, than either Danny (their father) or Jesse (their uncle).
** Continued as when Jesse's kids are born, again, they look like Joey.
** However, played straight by Candace Cameron (DJ) and Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie) who resemble each other enough that they easily pass for sisters.
* When Teri Garr guest-starred on ''Series/{{Friends}}'', the producers took advantage of her resemblance to Lisa Kudrow by casting her as Phoebe's birth-mother.
** Christina Applegate portrayed one of Rachel's sisters on the show, and the resemblance to Jennifer Aniston is hard to ignore.
* Sal Barone, the original actor for D.J. on ''Series/{{Roseanne}}'', left the show after the pilot, for various reasons; but what sealed the deal in casting Michael Fishman as his replacement was that he looked just like Roseanne Barr. (In fact, in one episode, Dan even remarks, clearly gobsmacked, how D.J. looks exactly like his mother when he gives him a dirty look.
* The actor for Al's twin brother in ''Series/HomeImprovement'' is actually of no relation to Richard Karn. The producers looked ''long and hard'' for a nigh-identical guy.
* From ''Series/{{Merlin}}'', the mother/son duos of ColinMorgan and Caroline Faber (Merlin/Hunith) and Creator/BradleyJames and Alice Patten (Arthur/Ygraine) are jaw-droppingly similar in facial structure and eye colour. John Lynch was also the perfect choice to play Merlin's father. See the [[{{Characters/Merlin}} Character Sheet]] for pictures.
* The actresses who play Tim Allen's three daughters on ''{{Series/Last Man Standing}}'' all look alike.
* From ''Series/{{NCIS}}'', Abby (Pauley Perrette, who apparently invokes this trope) and her brother (Daniel Rivas) were literally separated at birth in-universe.
* Eliza Coupe and Elisha Cuthbert as sisters Jane and Alex Kerkovich on ''Series/HappyEndings''.
* ''Series/DowntonAbbey'' is noted for its excellent casting in this respect:
** The resemblance between Lady Cora Crawley and her on-screen daughter Lady Mary is quite strong, especially considering that Elizabeth [=McGovern=] is American with no recent British relations while Michelle Dockery is English (although her father is Irish).
** Tom Branson and his older brother Kieran have the same hair and similar facial features; Allen Leech and Ruari Conaghan are not related.
* Scrubs: Zach Braff and Tom Cavenaugh look so alike that it is easy to believe them as brothers.
* Exploited on ''Series/GilmoreGirls'' as Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel play mother and daughter. Lorelai and Rory have been mistaken for sisters in-universe.
* ''{{Lost}}'': Sterling Beaumon, who play young Ben Linus, bears an uncanny resemblance to MichaelEmerson.
* Ray Romano and Brad Garrett on ''EverybodyLovesRaymond'' could so easily be brothers in real life. It helps that both stand well over six feet tall, Garrett (Robert Barone) exceptionally so. In an episode where Romano plays a younger version of the Barones' father in a "flashback" scene, he is exceptionally convincing as a younger version of the actor playing Barone senior.
** Fred Stoller who plays Ray's cousin Gerard looks and sounds like him which was a plot point to the episode where he first appears.
* Sarah Hyland and Ariel Winter, otherwise known as the Dunphy sisters on ''{{Series/Modern Family}}'' both bear a strong resemblance to Ty Burrell, their on-screen dad.
** Also subverted, as while Hyland and Winter don't look that much alike (mostly due to Hyland's darker skin tone), they ''sound'' nearly identical
** Likewise, Ty Burrell bears a strong enough resemblance to Fred Willard that they can realistically portray a father and son.
* Not only does GrowingPains' Tracey Gold look like she could believably be Kirk Cameron's sister, she looks like Kirk's actual sister, Candace Cameron.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** Natalie Dormer looks enough like a young Diana Rigg that they could realistically play [[http://thebacklot.mtvnimages.com/uploads/2013/04/nataliedormerdianarigg.jpg grandmother and granddaughter]] on the show.
** Likewise, Finn Jones and Natalie Dormer could pass for [[http://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10267764_10154158695895501_1624855977050887037_n.jpg brother and sister]] in real life, despite not being related.
** Emilia Clarke and Harry Lloyd as siblings Daenerys and Viserys Targaryen have an uncanny similarity.
* The casting department on ''PeakyBlinders'' really must be commended. Creator/CillianMurphy, Paul Anderson, and Joe Cole as the three eldest Shelby brothers all share the same blue eyes and jawline, and Anderson in particular is a dead ringer for a younger Tommy Flanagan, who plays their father. Among the ladies, Helen [=McCrory=] and Sophie Rundle could play mother and daughter, not aunt and niece, and they both share similar features with the men of the family. Youngest Shelby brother Finn as played by Alfie Evans-Meese wasn't as close a fit, resemblance-wise, but [[http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/schoolboy-harry-kirtons-delight-peaky-6802957 Harry Kirton]] as the teenaged Finn looks ''exactly'' like Cole.

[[folder: Web Original]]
* ''TheLizzieBennetDiaries'', a setting update of ''PrideAndPrejudice'':
** The Bennet sisters, Jane, Lizzie and Lydia. Jane's actress in particular is very similar to both her sisters.
** William Darcy and his sister, Gigi, are two peas in a pod. It's hard to believe they are not related in real life.