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Time Out
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The 50 greatest gangster movies of all time
'They only live to get radical.' Does Kathryn Bigelow's high-octane, highly radical action-thriller technically count as a 'gangster movie'? On the one hand, Patrick Swayze's crew of bank-robbing surfer brahs are pretty much the polar opposite of mafiosi, and they operate in a completely different region of LA from the street gangs of Boyz n the Hood and Menace II Society. But then again, they are highly organised, and live by a certain code of conduct – as Swayze's criminal zen master explains to Keanu Reeves' undercover FBI agent: 'If you want the ultimate, you've got to be willing to pay the ultimate price'. Anyway, we're counting it, because frankly, we'll take any opportunity to celebrate Point Break, one of the most rewatchable crime thrillers of the '90s, or any decade.
Newsweek
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
How 'Friday' Gave A Refreshing Sense of Humanity of Working-Class Black Neighborhoods
Throughout the late '80s and early '90s, young, Black, coming-of-age films followed the blueprint pioneered by the late and great John Singleton's Boyz n the Hood. A litany of compelling dramas about being a young Black man or boy growing up fast in divested, inner-city neighborhoods were depicted in films like South Central (1992), Juice (1992), Menace II Society (1993), and Fresh (1994)—later projecting a popular narrative. These predominantly lower- and working-class Black communities in film were hyper-violent zones where the only thing destined for young Black males was constant tragedy. These movies spoke to a close-to-home reality for many, especially as some showed the horrible impact left behind by the crack epidemic and gang violence of the late '80s and early '90s. However, what stood out about these culturally defining "hood" movies compared to many coming of age films centering young white males in the '90s (1994's Clerks, 1995's Kids, et cetera) is that very rarely were Black kids allowed to learn from mistakes without learning the hard way, often fatally. And the narrative of all these neighborhoods were flattened as violent, war-torn areas, rather than ordinary, nuanced, and closely-knit communities where people went to work every day, owned their homes for decades, and laughed more than they cried. Ice Cube speaks onstage during the hand and footprint in cement ceremony for Ice Cube at TCL Chinese Theater on April 15, 2025, in Hollywood, Calif. Ice Cube speaks onstage during the hand and footprint in cement ceremony for Ice Cube at TCL Chinese Theater on April 15, 2025, in Hollywood, Ice Cube and legendary California hip hop producer DJ Pooh wrote and created the hilarious stoner comedy Friday (1995) 30 years ago, they practically broke the mold on what a "hood" film could be. With fellow Los Angeles native and director F. Gary Gray at the helm, Friday showed audiences the nuanced, lighthearted parts of Black communities that made these places home. The fullness of blue collared Black Americana was hilariously depicted via the Jones Family, the iconic weed head drug dealer Smokey, and its West Athens neighborhood. Friday showed Black families in an authentically humane way without leaning into tragedy or stereotypes. In a 2024 interview on the Joe Rogan Experience, Ice Cube explained how Friday was the antithesis of films about the hood that were coming out beforehand, though impactful in their own ways. "Everything that was coming out was depressing. Colors, Boyz n the Hood, Menace II Society, South Central. Yo, this is a hell zone. I was like ... did you remember it like that? Don't we laugh around here all the time? Let's show how it really is for us around here," Ice Cube said. Growing up in Chicago and having lived in South Jackson, Miss. throughout my college years, Craig Jones' life was miles closer to my reality than Doughboy's was (ironically, both played by Ice Cube). Craig was a regular 22-year-old in L.A. who unfairly lost his job, and needed to figure it out quickly before his parents, who were homeowners, kicked him out. His neighborhood was similar to my childhood South Shore neighborhood—homeowners, working class and poor people living among each other in harmony and hijinks. People who were addicted to drugs, due to residual effects of the crack epidemic, were still lovable people like Friday's Ezal (played by the late A.J. Johnson), despite being responsible for why Craig lost his job in the first place (see director's cut). One could even argue that Friday closely resembled Ice Cube's own childhood upbringing in South Central L.A. While even Friday has its moments of unsettling danger, like the well-executed omnipresence of Big Worm (played by Faizon Love), who was owed $200, and the menacing threat from the neighborhood bully Deebo (played by the late Tommy "Tiny" Lister Jr.), it showed that even dangerous moments can lead to growth without dire consequences. Craig's beatdown on Deebo was a meditation on manhood and levelheaded decision-making as he could have easily altered his life by pulling the trigger, instead of, wisely, handing the gun to his father, Willie Jones (played by the late, great John Witherspoon). And the climatic drive-by scene, soundtracked by E A Ski's Blast If I Have To, could have ended in tragedy, but resulted in some of the film's funniest moments. It perfectly captured that strange sense of humor gained from surviving a near death experience. Thankfully, this formula proved to be a box office success. Friday went on to gross $6,589,341 during its opening week, double its $3.5 million budget, according to IMDb. Beyond its two sequels, Next Friday (2000) and Friday After Next (2002), its influence was impactful throughout Black film and television. Shows like canceled HBO Max sitcom South Side (2019) and Atlanta (2016) showed predominantly Black neighborhoods in Chicago and Atlanta for their lighthearted, but grounded portrayal of their respective neighborhoods. And the buddy chemistry between Craig and Smokey in Friday, for all their contrasts, paved the way for the type of seamless pairing (and money woes) we see in Dreux (Keke Palmer) and Alyssa (SZA) in 2025's One of Them Days. What makes Friday special in the pantheon of Black cinema was that it was one of the first "hood" films of its kind in the '90s that showed and humanized working-class Black communities. It's a timeless, culturally rich, and outrageous comedy that has passed itself down to generations of Black movie fans. It showed the world that no matter what neighborhood you're from, all it takes is one random Friday to spark a lifetime of memories. Mark P. Braboy is an award-winning music and culture multimedia journalist from Chicago. Through his writing and photography, he documents music culture and the world that shapes it. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
Los Angeles Times
22-04-2025
- Los Angeles Times
L.A.'s Rollin' 60s Crips: The rise of a notorious gang and its reputed boss ‘Big U'
Even in the cutthroat world of Los Angeles street gangs, the saying associated with one Crips faction stands out as cold-blooded: 'You ain't a Rollin' 60 'til you kill a 60.' The Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips — which is said to be named for West 60th Street that rolled through its territory in South Los Angeles — have a reputation for violence, sometimes even against fellow members. But that hasn't stopped them from growing into one of the largest and most notorious street gangs in the city, if not the country. The gang's foot soldiers and shot callers have been many over the years, but one name has seemingly remained constant: Eugene 'Big U' Henley. Henley came up around the time that Hollywood turned gang life in the City of Angels into the stuff of legends. By the time the Rollin' 60s were name-dropped in the 1991 classic 'Boyz n the Hood,' he had already risen through the ranks. Much has changed since then. Gang-related shootings have plummeted from the historic highs a generation ago. Along the way, Henley has seen his own ups and downs — serving time in prison, emerging to build himself up as a community leader and music industry honcho, and now once again facing charges in a sprawling criminal case with 18 other alleged members and associates of the 60s. Federal prosecutors paint the picture of a gang whose fearsome reputation allowed Henley to intimidate businesses and people throughout L.A. for decades, touching the lives of NBA superstars and a Grammy-winning producer. Indicted last month on charges including fraud, robbery, extortion and a racketeering conspiracy that involved the murder of an aspiring rapper, Henley has pleaded not guilty. His court-appointed lawyer told The Times last month that his client 'maintains his innocence.' More details about Henley's alleged gang activities could emerge at a detention hearing set for Tuesday. But so far, the case against him has been met with skepticism in his old neighborhood. Gang interventionists and others who do outreach on South L.A.'s west side describe the Rollin' 60s as a loosely structured group with no real leader. Some argue that only a few of those arrested with Henley have actual ties to the gang. To his supporters, Henley has remained a larger-than-life figure who achieved their version of the American dream: A successful businessman who managed to rise out of a neighborhood battered by years of unemployment, over-policing and government neglect — but never forgot his roots. It's an image Henley worked hard to cultivate, and one he defended amid the latest charges. 'I ain't been nothing but a help to our community,' Henley said in a video. 'This the price of being Black and trying to help somebody, trying to help your community and do what you can.' The FBI began investigating the Rollin' 60s in August 2020, according to the federal complaint charging Henley and others. The following year, the agency launched an investigation into the so-called 'Big U Enterprise,' a term coined by investigators to describe Henley's alleged Mafia-like organization. Federal authorities said Henley was regarded as an 'original gangster,' or 'OG,' who had earned standing with fellow gang members over decades. 'He has been able to use that standing to intimidate businesses and individuals and to commit various forms of violence,' Ted Docks, FBI special agent in charge of the criminal division in Los Angeles, said at a news conference last month. After news of the raid on Henley's home hit social media, some commentators dredged up years-old rumors about Henley's supposed ties to the killing of Nipsey Hussle, a rap star, activist and entrepreneur who was shot to death in front of his South Los Angeles clothing store. Another 60s member was convicted of Hussle's murder, and multiple law enforcement sources familiar with the case — who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly — said they found no evidence tying Henley to the crime. The slaying led to a temporary ceasefire between rival Black gangs. Henley was in the middle of the effort, organizing a vigil attended by gang members of all stripes. Those who know Henley said that over the years they witnessed his transformation from tough-nosed street brawler to businessman and — at least outwardly — advocate for peace. 'As far as anything outside his work for his organization and his work in the music industry, I didn't see anything,' said Skipp Townsend, a prominent gang interventionist in L.A. 'Never nothing criminal.' But according to federal authorities, behind the veil of redemption Henley lived a double life as a ruthless gang boss. When famous athletes and musicians visited L.A., authorities say, Henley required them to 'check in' — and sometimes pay — to guarantee their safety around town. He allegedly helped collect a debt owed by a current NBA All-Star, whose name was withheld in court filings. Henley also allegedly extorted tens of thousands of dollars from an unlicensed marijuana dispensary and directed underlings to carry out robberies. But before building his alleged criminal empire, he was just a kid from South L.A. When Henley was born in 1966, the Crips didn't yet exist. It was three years later, as the story goes, when Raymond Washington, a teenager, formed the gang. Washington is the focus of an upcoming documentary, 'Crip: The Boy Who Built An Army' — for which Henley sat for interviews. 'It's not a roses story: it has some bad points, but it started out positive,' said Kenya Ware, who created both the documentary and a planned TV series called 'The Birth of a Crip.' 'Things change, in the midst of it, but the intention was good.' Steeped in the Black Panther Party teachings of self-pride and community control, historians say, the first generation of Black gang members in the 1960s banded together to defend against outsiders from neighboring communities, as well as police harassment. Over time, more and more crews sprouted, forging alliances and becoming rivals. 'Before it was killing and all that it was just hand fighting, like fistfights,' said Ronald 'Ron Ron' Thompson, Washington's nephew. After his uncle went to prison on a robbery charge, Thompson said, 'the 'hoods started forming.' The 60s were one of the first cliques — or 'sets' — of the Crips to take root in the western fringes of South L.A. in the mid-1970s. 'Crippin' was almost like a religion,' said Donald Bakeer, a former schoolteacher in South L.A. who wrote a historical novel on the gang's early history. Among his students was Henley, who Bakeer said he met while teaching at Horace Mann Junior High School. Even then, he said, Henley 'was a natural leader.' 'He was not the back-down kind of youngster,' Bakeer said. In 'Hip Hop Uncovered,' a six-part documentary series, Henley said he and several other kids formed the Arlington Gang and that it eventually morphed into 'our section of what was the Rollin' 60s.' 'I'm not the one that started it or gave it the name,' Henley said in the documentary, which credited him as an executive producer. 'I'm just in the first generation of it becoming Rollin' 60s. We the babies in that.' In 1981, police raided the homes of suspected Rollin' 60s members. One prosecutor at the time boasted in The Times that the raid had 'effectively wiped out' the gang. But Henley and the gang were just getting started. Henley recounted in his documentary series helping rob cars and making tens of thousands of dollars in the early 1980s. When he finally got caught, he said, he went to juvenile detention and had so many cases tied to him that authorities refused to release him to his mother. At her wit's end, she sent him to live with his father in Chicago to keep him from getting into more trouble, Henley said. After Henley left L.A., the 60s also began making their mark elsewhere. The crack epidemic had taken hold of South L.A., and it would soon spread across the country, bringing gang violence with it. In 1988, two men identified by police as members of the 60s were accused of shooting someone in the head several times in a heavy drug-trafficking area in Tacoma, Wash. The next year, a Kansas newspaper with the headline 'L.A. gangs make Midwest entry' detailed the spread of the Bloods and Crips across the country and their arrests for cocaine and crack possession. In 'Hip Hop Uncovered,' Henley described selling drugs in Minnesota, Atlanta and Chicago — where they would fetch a higher price — and being in L.A. for only a week or two at a time. 'We was really landing in cities, taking over blocks,' he said. In a confidential LAPD report prepared in 1989, detectives identified 459 hard-core members of the 60s, who had been arrested a total of 3,527 times, according to a Times article. There were convictions for murder, attempted murder, assaults with a deadly weapon, robberies, burglaries and other crimes. Apart from two cliques devoted to drug trafficking, the report said, most of the gang members commit crimes for their personal gain and 'hold no allegiance to any organization and do not act at the direction of a recognized leader.' Thompson, the nephew of the reputed Crips founder, recalled joining the gang around 1986 almost of necessity. People used to assume he was a member based on where he lived and would jump him anyway, he said, so he figured he might as well be part of the gang. 'These dudes are my friends anyway,' said Thompson, now a former member. 'They had my back like I had they back and that's just how it was.' A series of brazen bank robberies landed the gang on the radar of the LAPD and the FBI. In 1988, the murder of Karen Toshima, a 27-year-old graphic artist shot in the head by crossfire in a gang dispute as she walked along a street in Westwood Village. Until then, many of those living outside South L.A. assumed that gangs were confined to those neighborhoods, said Alex Alonso, a gang historian. Toshima's killing was one of several gang slayings that led to a large-scale show of law enforcement muscle called Operation Hammer, in which then-LAPD Chief Daryl F. Gates vowed to 'eradicate' gangs by flooding streets with officers. The crackdown rounded up hundreds of people — many for minor crimes — and sowed resentment in wide swaths of South L.A. 'In hindsight I was glad Gates did that because it just showed that massive suppression, sending everything you have, spending all kinds of money, didn't really put a dent in the gang problem in L.A.,' Alonso said. 'It just proves that you cannot arrest your way out of the problem.' After a string of arrests in the late 1980s, Henley went away for his longest prison stretch. Busted trying to rob an undercover sheriff's deputy of 33 pounds of cocaine, he was convicted and sentenced in 1992 to 23 years. Eight years after Henley's arrest, David Ross, now a retired LAPD detective, landed at 77th Division, where he worked multiple gangs at a time. But in January 2002, he recalled being assigned only one: the 60s. He called them 'the largest Black criminal street gang in Los Angeles by far.' They claim various logos — including the Rolls-Royce symbol and the baseball hats of the White Sox and Mariners — and count a number of Crips factions as enemies in addition to their traditional rivals, the Bloods. 'There's no real hierarchy, it's not like the Mafia, for example, where it's really, strictly tightly controlled and people are really disciplined because they don't want to lose their life by crossing the boss,' Ross said. 'There's a lot of this jealousy and rivalry that goes on if somebody has something good going on and getting money.' Around 2004, a fellow LAPD officer told Ross that Henley would soon be released. 'I did hear that Big U had quite a reputation,' Ross recounted. 'I can't see very many Rollin' 60s of any age that would cross him or go against something that he said.' But Henley said his mentality had shifted by the time of his release. During his last stint behind bars, he said, he began a transformation, which included converting to Islam. He described in one interview how he gradually distanced himself from the gang lifestyle that earned him respect and fear on the streets. 'You spend the front part of your life destroying a community and when I came home, it was about being known as somebody who has helped to heal it and bring it to a better place,' Henley said in his 'Hip Hop Uncovered' interview. 'I know I want to help people. I want to be able to effect change.' After getting out of prison, Henley created Developing Options, dedicated to gang intervention work and offering sports programs for kids. The work eventually drew major backing from the city. Authorities have accused Henley of fraudulently obtaining $2.35 million from the Gang Reduction and Youth Development program from 2018 to 2023. Henley's organization is one of more than 20 involved in the program overseen by the L.A. mayor's office, the city said last month. The tax dollars were allocated at a time when Henley was thought to be a positive force in Los Angeles, but federal authorities say behind the scenes he was a ruthless killer. Federal authorities have accused Henley of kidnapping and fatally shooting a young rapper in the face over perceived disrespect and leaving his body in the Las Vegas desert. Henley's supporters refuse to believe the charges. Shamond 'Lil AD' Bennett, 46, joined the Rollin' 60s when Henley was already an established figure. The two didn't meet until Henley's latest release from prison, but Bennett said he'd heard 'just the great person he was, been there for his community.' 'I thought the world of him, he was a great dude,' he said. 'I still hope to God he beat that s—.' Bennett, who has each letter of 'Rollin' tattooed down the side of his face, said many of those arrested with Henley were not tied to the 60s. He argued that authorities 'try to paint a picture to make us look bad' — pointing to what he said was law enforcement's long history of targeting Black men of influence. And as far as Henley being a gang leader? 'Ain't no leaders in 60s,' Bennett said. 'Ain't none. Not one.'
Buzz Feed
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
15 Celebrities You Genuinely Didn't Know Dated
Some celebrity couples were together for so long or were so public with their romance that everyone knew they were an item. However, others might have only dated briefly or in private, making it difficult to know they were ever together. Here are 15 celebrities you didn't know dated. 1. In the '90s, Tyra Banks dated director John Singleton. His credits include the critically acclaimed movie Boyz n the Hood, the cult classic Baby Boy, and the TV show Snowfall. The pair met in 1993 when John approached her to appear in his 1995 movie Higher Learning and soon began dating. "When I read for the part, I had been dating John for four months," Tyra confessed to WWD, denying speculation that she got the part because they were in a relationship. Their romance is said to have ended in 1996, but Tyra seemed to still hold John in high regard, even paying tribute to him after he died in 2019. 2. The same year of their reported breakup, Tyra had a brief romance with singer Seal. While little is known about their relationship, Seal says they've remained friendly since the split. "We bump into each other every now and then," he told Andy Cohen in 2016, adding he and Tyra have "no" drama. 3. In 2023, Victoria Monét confirmed longstanding rumors that she'd dated Kehlani — and that her 2020 song "Touch Me (Remix)" was inspired by their relationship. Although she didn't go into great detail about the romance, she did say she and the "After Hours" singer remain on good terms. "[We're] friends," she said on the High Low podcast with Emily Ratajkowski. "I kind of am like that with all of my past relationships." According to Victoria, she tries to stay on cordial terms with all of her exes because it takes too much "energy to try to avoid people" and "hate them." 4. Nia Long and Chris Rock were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend. "He was on Saturday Night Live," Nia recalled to Uncensored, placing the time between 1990 and 1993. "We went out. We hated each other. I was like, 'This dude is not even that fucking funny.'" On top of that, Chris gave her a fake number. Chris said he did so "purposely" because Nia was kind of "obnoxious." As an example, he pointed to one part of their conversation when he asked whether Nia was dating anyone, recalling that she replied, "No, but I know where to get some dick if I need it." Although it made Chris not want to go out with her again, they still managed to form a friendship, even laughing at the ordeal during a 2009 appearance on The Wendy Williams Show. 5. Taraji P. Henson and Hill Harper dated for two years. According to Hill, it was a "wonderful relationship" — it just didn't work out. "Just because you're in a healthy, great relationship that ends doesn't mean it wasn't successful or it was a failure," he told Unsung Hollywood. "Not all relationships are meant to end in marriage." However, Hill admitted that some of his relationships had also been impacted by his "fear of commitment," which he said "probably" stemmed from his parents' divorce. 6. In 2020, Bow Wow reportedly revealed that Lil Wayne and Solange had allegedly secretly dated. According to Uproxx, he was on Clubhouse when he "let [it] slip," apparently, thinking it was already public knowledge. While Bow Wow didn't say when the romance occurred, Lil Wayne has been a close collaborator of the Knowles family in the past. He notably featured on and appeared in the video for Destiny's Child's 2004 single "Soldier" alongside Solange. He and Solange also collaborated on her 2016 single "Mad" from her magnum opus, A Seat at the Table. 7. Before his marriages to Sheree Zampino and Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith dated Pepa from the iconic '80s rap group Salt-N-Pepa. According to Will, it happened "sometime in early '88" and came after Will had been crushing on her for some time. They went on one date, and from there, things just kind of fizzled. "I really wasn't feeling him," Pepa reportedly told Global Grind. "I guess I couldn't appreciate a nice guy like Will Smith. He wasn't thug enough. I was attracted to thugs and hoodlums. Will was too nice to me." 8. Garcelle Beauvais started dating Will after meeting him on the set of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. She said it wasn't a "long-lasting" relationship — and that she ended it after learning Will was getting serious with his now-wife Jada Pinkett Smith. "I remember one day calling him, and he was in the car. And his son, with Sheree, [they] were in the back," she recalled, referencing Will's first son, Trey. "So you know, he picked up on the car or Bluetooth or whatever it was back in the day, or speakerphone — whatever it was — and he said, 'Hey, how are you doing?' And I said, 'I'm great.'' That's when she heard Trey ask Will if he was talking to Jada. "That's when I was like, okay — I'm not the only one. Exit stage left," she laughed. 9. Janet Jackson and Q-Tip first collaborated on 1993's Poetic Justice and again on Janet's 1997 song "Got 'Til It's Gone." "We started dating after that," Q-Tip said in an interview with rapper Math Hoffa. "It'd be cool and shit. She be making eggs and shit, and I'll be chilling like, 'Yo, that's Penny!' to myself," he said, referring to Janet's iconic Good Times character. "We're still friends. I love her to death." 10. In 2024, Joyner Lucas revealed that he had privately dated Ashanti for two years. While he wouldn't say when the romance occurred, he did say, "She's an amazing person." He described their relationship as "dope" and said the breakup resulted from them being in two different places. "I don't feel like I could've fulfilled [her needs] at that time," he told Jason Lee. "[She's] been in the game for 25 years; I just got in the game. I know what she wanted and what she needed. I don't feel like I was in a place in my life where I could commit to that. ... But, you know, I'm happy she got [her] way. I'm happy she spun the block with Nelly, and now she's having a baby. I'm super proud of her … She's gonna be an amazing mom. I would tell her that all the time." 11. Bad Boy rapper Shyne dated Brandy in the late 1990s. He said the relationship caused friction with Diddy because Brandy had also been dating fellow Bad Boy rapper Ma$e — and blew up after one particularly heated disagreement. He told The Breakfast Club, "We had an argument and she said, 'Yo, you're nobody. You ain't sell one record. You think you stylin', you think you're that, you're nothing. You haven't sold a record,' and that hit me like the hand of God, because she was right.'" He'd later have a hit with his 2000 song, " Bad Boyz." 12. In 2022, The Game reportedly revealed that he'd dated Mýa, claiming he "manifested" the romance after shouting her out in his 2005 song, "Dreams." Apparently, it ended when he stood her up on a date for another woman. "We were supposed to spend Valentine's Day together in Miami," he said. "On that day, I pulled up on my [now] baby mama ... I'm in my Bentley, and she was in a Benz, and she looked good," so, "we kicked it with each other." According to him, Mya rightfully "dumped the fuck" out of him when she found out. 13. In 2012, while addressing speculation about his relationship with Lauren London, Trey Songz confirmed they had been "lovers" before. "I'm gonna say this right now, Lauren London is a very important person to me. I love her to death," he said on radio station 106KMEL. "Is she my woman? No. We are great friends and, yes, we have been lovers before. And I'm saying this right now 'cause I'm tired of people asking me about that shit." 14. In 2013, Drake told Ellen he once went out with Tyra Banks. "We went to Disneyland in disguise actually," he shared, "which was fun." Drake said they remained "close," and in 2016, Tyra even appeared in his "Childs Play" music video. 15. Finally, in 2001, Kamala Harris dated TV host Montel Williams. Neither of them has ever extensively talked about their romance, but here they are at a rare outing, attending a benefit together.
Buzz Feed
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
19 Times Actors Played Parents To Other Actors Even Though They Were Basically The Same Age
There are times when you're watching a movie or TV show and you think, no way is that actor old enough to be that person's parent. Then there are times you're just randomly lost in a Wikipedia spiral and discover that actors who do look the appropriate age are actually not much older than their onscreen children. BuzzFeed 1. Golden Girls NBC Estelle Getty was 62 when she started playing 80-year-old Sophia — the mother of 54-year-old Dorothy, who was played by 63-year-old Bea Arthur. Yep, Sophia was younger than Dorothy IRL! 2. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again Universal Pictures Cher played Ruby, the mother of Meryl Streep's character Donna — despite the fact that Cher is only three years older than Meryl in real life. 3. House of the Dragon HBO Olivia Cooke is just 31 and already playing a grandmother — and her onscreen children are not much younger than her. Aegon II actor Tom Glynn Carney is 30, Aemond actor Ewan Mitchell is 27, and Halaena actor Phia Saban is 26. 4. Boyz n the Hood Columbia Pictures Lauren Fishburne is only seven years old than Cuba Gooding Jr. but played his father in Boyz n the Hood. 5. Alexander Warner Bors Angelina Jolie was 29 — just one year old than her onscreen son in Alexander, 28-year-old Colin Farrell. 6. Riding in Cars with Boys Columbia TriStar Drew Barrymore was 26 when she played Beverly from the ages of 15 to 35, while Adam Garcia played her son, Jason, at age 20 — when he was older than Drew himself, at 28 years old. 7. The Nanny CBS Ann Morgan Guilbert played Yetta on The Nanny, although she was only five years older than her onscreen daughter, Renee Taylor, who played Sylvia. 8. Bye Bye Birdie Columbia Pictures Maureen Stapleton played Dick Van Dyke's mother in Bye Bye Birdie — even though she was only six months older than him. 9. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang United Artists Dick Van Dyke was a repeat offender — Lionel Jeffries was one year younger than him, but played his father "Grandpa" Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. 10. Orange is the New Black Netflix Although Aleida was only 14 years older than her daughter Daya, in real life the actor who plays her, Elizabeth Rodriguez, is actually only two years older than Dascha Polanco. 11. True Blood HBO Adina Porter played Lettie Mae, Tara's mother, and she is only seven years older than Rutina Wesley, who played Tara. 12. Gone With the Wind MGM Barbara O'Neill played Ellen, the mother of Vivien Leigh's Scarlett O'Hara, despite only being three years older than her. 13. Selena The real-life age gap is only four years between Constance Marie and Jennifer Lopez but they played mother and daughter in Selena. 14. Schitt's Creek CBC It's no wonder Alexis believed Jocelyn and Mutt were having an affair — they turn out to be mother and son, but the actors who play them, Jennifer Robertson and Tim Rozon, are only five years apart in real life. 15. Jane the Virgin The CW While Xo did have Jane as a teen, the actors who play the mother/daughter duo, Andrea Navedo and Gina Rodriguez, are only seven years apart. 17. Mean Girls Paramount Pictures Rachel McAdams was 26 when she played 17-year-old Regina George, while Amy Poehler was just seven years older, playing her mom at 33. 18. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air NBC Janet Hubert is only 10 years older than Karyn Parsons and they played mother and daughter as Aunt Viv and Hilary Banks. 19. Brokeback Mountain Focus Features Brokeback Mountain takes place over a 20-year period, and Heath Ledger in aged-up makeup still looks too young to play Kate Mara's father — offscreen, he was only four years older than her.
