Jaafar Jackson & 5 Other Actors Who Played Their Own Relatives
2026 has delivered another huge biopic about a legendary musician: Michael, which tells the story of the King of Pop.
Obviously, Michael Jackson himself isn’t here to be involved in the project, but thankfully, his nephew was able to step into the titular role. Jaafar Jackson isn’t the first actor to portray a family member on-screen, and he certainly won’t be the last. He is, however, one of the best yet and deserves a lot of credit for successfully capturing the essence of his uncle – something he may do at least one more time.
Before we get ahead of ourselves speculating about what’s to come in the proposed sequel, let’s take a look at Jaafar’s performance, as well as five other actors who played their own relatives in movies or TV shows, and how successful they were at it.
Jaafar Jackson in Michael
While Michael has a few technical issues – the editing is very jarring, while some of the visuals are subpar – there is no denying that the acting is high-quality. Colman Domingo and Nia Long are great as Jackson’s parents, but the whole thing rides on Jaafar’s shoulders, and he does not disappoint.
It’s truly incredible the way he mimics the voice and mannerisms of his uncle. Jaafar not only nails the lighter, more uplifting moments, but really thrives in the more emotionally complex scenes, too. From subtle facial expressions to nuanced line delivery, it’s astounding that he’s this good in his acting debut.
O’Shea Jackson Jr. in Straight Outta Compton
Speaking of musical icons, Ice Cube was a central figure in the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton. The real Ice Cube was too old to play a younger version of himself, obviously, but luckily, his son, O’Shea Jackson Jr., was the perfect fit for the role.
Taking us back to the rise of N.W.A. in the late ‘80s, this biopic packs a real punch both thematically and with the musical backdrop it hinges on. Jackson Jr. is the lynchpin of it all, and he’s been reaping the rewards ever since, putting together a relatively impressive career off the back of this project.
Shia LaBeouf in Honey Boy
One of the murkier instances of an actor portraying a family member is Shia LaBeouf’s turn as his father in Alma Har'el’s gripping, poignant study of parent-child relationships and the damaging impact of fame, Honey Boy. However, it is worth noting that LaBeouf admitted to fabricating the tales of his father’s abuse, describing his recollection of his childhood as “nonsense.”
Still, it’s a superb performance from LaBeouf. It’s raw and chaotic and unpredictable, as any great performance should be. The film itself is fantastic, too. It looks amazing, for a start, but this is not a case of style over substance; Honey Boy blends different tones, switching expertly between playful and poignant to keep the audience on its toes.
Geraldine Chaplin in Chaplin
The 1992 biopic Chaplin earned Robert Downey Jr. an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of the legendary comedy actor, but it’s Geraldine Chaplin who did something really special in this film: she played her grandmother, Hannah Chaplin. The daughter of Charlie and mother to Avatar: Fire and Ash actor Oonah Chaplin, Geraldine has had a long and successful acting career, but it is this role that carries the most weight.
It’s one thing to play a mentally fragile character like this in a fictional story, but to portray a family member going through the things Hannah Chaplin did demands unthinkable commitment. The acting is excellent, and the technical elements are really strong, which more than makes up for some of the flaws in the pacing and narrative flow.
Melissa Rivers in Joy
She only has a relatively small part in Joy, but Melissa Rivers does a wonderful job of embodying the spirit of her late mother, Joan. Given that Melissa actually managed Joan’s career, it’s not surprising that she knew how to bring all of the comedian’s eccentricities and quirks to the fore in this Jennifer Lawrence-led film.
As far as David O. Russell movies go, I wouldn’t say Joy is the most entertaining – American Hustle and Silver Linings Playbook have far more compelling, exciting stories. However, as she so often does, Lawrence elevates an average project into something pretty special.
Dwayne Johnson in That ‘70s Show
We move to the small screen for this last entry, and go way back to 1999 for an episode of That ‘70s Show, featuring Dwayne Johnson playing his father, Rocky. With an outlandish afro, huge sideburns, and an old-school moustache, Johnson certainly looks the part, and it’s safe to say he throws himself into the role and has a lot of fun with it.
I’ll be honest, I was never really a fan of That ‘70s Show. The humour doesn’t always land, and the characters are not the most endearing. However, if you enjoy Johnson’s work in films like Central Intelligence, it’s well worth checking him out in this particular episode (Season 1, Episode 15) of the popular sitcom.
