17 Directors who cast their family members in their own movies

Modified Jan 20, 2025 07:39 ET

BAM Hosts Barbie Screening and Q & A With Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach, and Tony Kushner - Source: Getty

4. Richard Linklater

27th SCAD Savannah Film Festival - Signature Screening Of "Hit Man" And Award Presentation To Richard Linklater (Lifetime Achievement In Screenwriting Award) - Source: Getty

Boyhood (2014) was a film Richard Linklater shot for over 12 years, and his daughter, Lorelei Linklater, was featured in it. Lorelei portrayed Samantha, Mason's older sister, throughout her childhood to her teenage days. The film is popular for capturing actual life growth and change, and having his daughter in the role added a private layer to the storytelling. Seeing how Lorelei progressed in real-time was an exceptional experience that captured Linklater's connection to his family.