does hollywood have a nepotism problem?

We should have, imo, an inherent bias against inherited advantage, as a conviction in favor of basic fairness. I do think there a good number of very talented actors born into the business, without naming a bunch of names.

To the extent mediocrities born of hollywood stock take rice out of the bowls of equally worthy nobodies, its regrettable. They already have the advantage of not having to scrape for a living while auditioning for roles, had their schooling paid for, etc.

Elitism is a natural tidal flow in society - an enlightened society takes active measures to encourage a significant counter-flow. The SAG might do something along those lines, who knows - its not like we are an enlightened society anyway.

It’s kind of a mixed bag. I like Tom Hanks a ton but I don’t see very much charisma in his son, he kind of ruined that season of Dexter imo... I don’t want that to sound mean, but he’s just average. Then again Eastwood’s son and daughter have done some really decent movies. His son looks strikingly like him and he can certainly pull off a tough guy role convincingly. Sofia Coppola is a poor actress (The Godfather III…SHEESH!) but she a respected, award winning director so there’s that. The Barrymore and Skarsgard
clans have produced a good number of respected, professional performers.

My knee jerk reaction to nepotism is that it’s unfair bullshit but some good work does come of it.

Nepotism has to be constantly guarded against and no-one has been doing that for quite some time so it is quite prevalent. Daniel Radcliffe got the Harry Potter gig because Maggie Smith ( English acting Royalty you might say ) recommended him. Apparently she liked him having worked with him before. Never mind that the kid couldn't act and that other boys who could act and auditioned for HP missed out.

Having said that Maggie Smith's son Toby Stephens is an excellent actor so I wouldn't want to have seen him shut out just because he was her son. So it's horses for courses.

Then you have Max Irons who is Jeremy Irons' ( a great actor ) son. Max can't act his way out of a wet paper bag yet he has a career in acting because of nepotism. The one thing Max has in his favour is that he's very good looking.

Then there is Eddie Redmayne who is an atrocious actor. He can ruin a production single-handedly he is that bad. In spite of that the guy is a big name and even has an Oscar under his belt. He went to Eton with Prince William dontcha know.

It may not be fair...but some of the best had a parent who was an actor/actress.

The list is a mile long.

The world has a nepotism problem. I think you may find fewer children of celebrities involved in the industry than in other types of businesses. How often were children supposed to take over the family business from their parents? Even today you get ahead by knowing the right people and having the right connections. It doesn't matter the industry. Even getting into the right school can be easier if a person's parents know someone, or are in the field. They may not buy the degree like some people did (Lori Loughlin), but if they know what it takes to get into the school they can help with the prep, they can help with the essay, and even knowing the profs or the dean. How many parents help their kids get a foot in the door? I think at least in Hollywood, they have to have some sort of ability to stay there.

IT'S ABOUT 50/50...AT LEAST HALF THAT LIST TURNED OUT TO BE TALENTED IN THEIR OWN RIGHT...COLIN HANKS MIGHT NOT HAVE GOTTEN NOTICED MINUS HIS FATHER...BUT HE IS AN EXCELLENT ACTOR WHO I HAVE ENJOYED IN MANY FILMS.

What about Clint Howard? The dude is way better than Ron. 😀

You know it's funny, I remember thinking Dakota Johnson always looked so normal, like mediocre. Didn't really have that special Hollywood look. Now I realize why she's in the movies