Michael Douglas’ kids are part of a Hollywood dynasty, just don’t call them ‘nepo babies’
Michael Douglas was born into a Hollywood dynasty and his children have enjoyed the same privileged upbringing and all the career opportunities that come with it – but don’t call them “nepo babies”.
The Basic Instinct actor – and son of screen legend Kirk Douglas – lashed the label in an interview with The Sunday Times, saying it has a “snotty tone to it I really kind of resent”.
Michael Douglas poses with his famous father Kirk Douglas, and his eldest son Cameron Douglas. Getty
“For the number of so-called ‘nepos’, there were very few people I could think of that had the kind of career my father and I had,” Michael, 82, told the outlet.
Kirk appeared in more than 90 films before his death in 2020, and Michael received his first Academy Award for producing One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest after his dad gave him the rights to the novel.
The Douglas name opened plenty of doors for Michael and has done the same for his children – Cameron Douglas, 47, Dylan Douglas, 26, and Carys Douglas, 23 – all of whom have pursued acting careers.
But don’t let Michael hear you call them nepo babies.
“In every other business, every mother and father helps their kids. We all know the companies, the names are ‘so-and-so and son’, or daughter,” he told the Sunday Times.
“In every other business everybody else, in relation, is required to have the same success or continuity. Whereas in this one, you’re criticised for being the same.”
Some Australians might disagree.
Mia Freedman faced nepotism accusations in July when her 28-year-old son Luca Lavigne was named chief executive of Mamamia, the women’s media company she started as a blog in 2007.
But this isn’t the first time a member of the Douglas dynasty has spoken out about the nepo baby label.
Don’t let Michael Doulgas hear you call his kids Carys Zeta Douglas and Dylan Douglas ‘nepo babies’. nna\april.glover
Just a few weeks ago, Michael’s wife Catherine Zeta-Jones called it “horrific” while defending their children Dylan and Carys’ attempts to break into Hollywood.
(Michael’s eldest son Cameron is from his first marriage to Diandra Morrell.)
“This horrific phrase ‘nepo baby’ is horrible because these kids didn’t ask to be born into this, they’re finding their own way in life,” she told the same outlet.
“But they love it, and they’re good. Otherwise, Michael and I would be the first to go, ’You know what? Maybe law school looks really good.”
The Douglas dynasty is far from the only Hollywood family empire that has copped backlash for apparent nepotism.
Nicole Kidman’s daughters Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret, whom she shares with ex Keith Urban, were slapped with nepo baby labels when they made their modelling debuts in 2024.
Nicole Kidman’s daughters have copped plenty of nepo baby allegations. Getty
Actress and model Kaia Gerber, daughter of iconic ’90s supermodel Cindy Crawford, has also been called a nepo baby.
Nepotism in the film, fashion and entertainment industries is nothing new (Michael Douglas is proof of that) but it has become more visible and more widely questioned in the last decade.
