Lana Condor
This young rising actress has made America fall in love with her on the movie To All The Boys I've Loved Before. In a Teen Vogue interview, Condor spoke of her own background and how it helped her relate to her character.
"I was born in Vietnam and I was adopted by an Irish lady and a Hungarian man, and then I moved to America." Her personal experience helped her relate to her character, Lara Jean, and her mixed heritage. "So, in a way, I grew up in a mixed household because my brother and I are Asian, and our parents are white," she shared.
Discover which celebrities were adopted as kids!
Steve Jobs
The legendary Steve Jobs came from a complicated home situation. His biological parents, an interracial couple, met in college. They were unmarried when his biological mother, Joanna Schielbe, became pregnant in 1954.
Jobs' biological father, Abdulfattah Jandali, was a Syrian Muslim immigrant, and Joanna's parents didn't approve of the relationship. And so the child was given up for adoption and taken in by his adoptive parents Paul and Clara Jobs.
Tiffany Haddish
The hilarious Tiffany Haddish does not shy away from discussing her difficult past. Her biological father left the family at a young age and tampered with the brakes on her mother's car, leading to an accident in which her biological mother suffered severe brain damage.
Haddish soon found herself in the foster care system and was taken in by multiple adoptive parents throughout her young life. Though she undoubtedly had her hardships, Haddish maintains a humorous outlook and often shares stories from that period during her stand-up acts.
Skrillex
The successful dubstep musician hasn't elaborated much on the topic in public, but he is also adopted.
He reportedly accidentally discovered that he was adopted at 16. Not only that, but he also found out that his biological mother was a friend of the family he'd known for years.
Marilyn Monroe
Up until the age of 7, Marilyn Monroe lived with adopted parents and did not know who her real mother was, although they did maintain limited contact.
At 7, she returned to her biological mother, Gladys Pearl Baker, shortly before Baker was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and committed to a mental hospital.
In spite of being adopted by Baker's best friend, Marilyn Monroe lived in a series of nine more foster homes and an orphanage. She had a tragically difficult childhood but reached immense fame and success despite it all.
Jamie Foxx
Shaheed Abdullah and Louise Annette Talley were very young when they had their son Jamie Foxx. And so they transferred custody to Mark and Esther Talley, his grandparents.
Foxx was just seven months old he was officially adopted and has spoken fondly of his grandparents. Specifically, Foxx considers Ester Talley his greatest inspiration.
Liz Phair
The talented rock singer Liz Phair was adopted as a baby. She and her brother were adopted into a well-to-do family and had a conventional childhood, but deep down, the fact that she was adopted still affects her.
"I don't think you can be adopted without being a little bit screwed up," she has admitted. "All I have is my birth certificate, and I get chills just looking at it because that document was the last contact I had with my mother. It represents the moment at which the person who gave birth to me and I parted, right there, boom."
John Lennon
The frontman of The Beatles has had a complex childhood. In 1944, John Lennon's father, Alfred Lennon, went WOL from the military. John was just five years old at the time. When Alfred returned, John's mother, Julia, was already pregnant with another man's child. An ugly custody dispute ensued between Lennon's parents.
In the end, Julia's sister, Mimi, received custody of the young John Lennon. He lived with his aunt and uncle, George, through most of his childhood and adolescence.
George Lopez
At the tender age of 2 months, George Lopez's father had deserted his family. Tragically, his mother abandoned them too, when Lopez was 10 years old.
The American comedian and talk show host was then adopted by his maternal grandmother, Benita Gutierrez, and her husband, Refugio. He grew up at their home in LA.
Nicole Richie
Reality TV star and fashion mogul Nicole Richie was born to Peter Michael Escovedo and Karen Moss. But from age 3 onwards, Nicole was raised by her parents' friends, Lionel, and Brenda Richie, as her biological parents were unable to care for her financially.
She was legally adopted by the singer Lionel Richie and his then-wife Brenda when she was 9 years old. She has said, "My parents were friends with Lionel. They trusted that they would be better able to provide for me."
JC Chasez
Former *NSYNC member JC Chasez was born in 1976 and adopted by Roy and Karen Chasez, the foster parents of his biological mother.
She handed him over to them in the hopes that they could give him a better home life than she could provide. At age 5, he was officially adopted by the pair.
Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson's mother gave birth to him when she was only 16. Her mother, Jack's grandmother, decided to adopt the boy and raise him as her own.
It was only after both of them passed away that the iconic actor discovered that his sister was actually his mother and his mother was really his grandmother.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt was born to a wealthy and prominent New York family. But when she was 8, her mother died, and two years later her alcoholic father passed away, too.
She and her brother were then adopted by their emotionally distant grandmother and Eleanor was sent to a boarding school in England. In 1905 she married Franklin Roosevelt, her cousin, who became the longest-serving president in US history.
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton grew up believing that his mother, Patricia Molly Clapton, was his sister and that his grandparents were his parents.
Patricia had Eric when she was just 16, and so she decided to hand him over to her parents so that he would have a more stable home situation.
Ingrid Bergman
Classic Hollywood actress Ingrid Bergman became an orphan at a young age. Her mother died when she was two and her father died when she was 12. She was then adopted by her aunt, who died six months later. Finally, she was taken in by her uncle.
Despite her difficult family life, Bergman has found stability and happiness through acting. The talented actress has said “I have had my different husbands, my families. I am fond of them all and I visit them all. But deep inside me, there is the feeling that I belong to show business.”
Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford was born Leslie Lynch King Jr. to Dorothy Ayer Gardner and Leslie Lynch King Sr. But only 16 days after his birth, his parents separated. He was then raised and adopted by his stepfather, Gerald Rudolff Ford, from the age of 2.
His mother consequently changed his name to Gerald Rudolff Ford, Jr. Gerald Ford went on to become the 38th president of the United States.
Kristin Chenoweth
Actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth was adopted when she was just five days old by chemical engineers Jerry Morris Chenoweth and Junie Smith Chenoweth. In honor of National Adoption Day, she wrote about her experience as an adopted child for People magazine.
She wrote, Growing up, my parents explained my adoption by telling me, 'We chose you.' It was a wonderful way to put it to an adopted child. And I think it’s true. Adoption is a full-circle blessing.
Debbie Harry
When she was only a few months old, Debbie Harry was given up for adoption. Her adoptive parents, Catherine and Richard Harry, told her she was adopted when she was four years old.
During her teenage years, Debbie would daydream about being the lost daughter of Marilyn Monroe. "They explained it to me in a really nice way," Harry has said of her parents, "it made me feel quite special somehow. I sometimes attribute my, uh, adventurous nature to that..."
Malcolm X
Malcolm X grew up in the foster care system, and an orphanage. When Malcolm was six years old, his father Earl, an activist, died in a suspicious streetcar accident. His mother Louise believed that Earl had been assassinated by the Black Legion.
In 1938, Malcolm X's mother was committed to Kalamazoo State Hospital following a nervous breakdown. Consequently, he and his siblings were placed in foster care.
Kristin Davis
On Sex and the City, Kristin Davis's character Charlotte has adopted a baby girl, Lily, from China.
And in real life, Kristin Davis herself was adopted by her stepfather at the age of five. Davis has even gone on to adopt two children herself, both of African-American descent. She has recently opened up about the painful racism her own children face.
Keegan-Michael Key
The talented comedian and actor Keegan-Michael Key of the duo Key and Peele shared his personal experience, growing up as an adopted child. He met his biological mother for the very first time at age 25.
"In 1996 I found my biological mother. I am adopted," he said. "Finding her was something that had always been in my mind. My parents always said, 'That's a possibility for you.' At age 25, I found her. That was one of the most unexpected and crucial and significant and foundational things that has happened in my life."
Pom Klementieff
Pom Klementieff is a French actress and model best known for playing the character Mantis in the Marvel movies Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.
Klementieff was born to a Korean mother and French-Russian father in Quebec City. When she was 5, her father died of cancer while her mother was suffering schizophrenia which rendered her unable to take care of her children. Thus, her uncle adopted her.
She has described him as her "second father".
Tim McGraw
Country singer Tim McGraw was raised by his mother and stepfather. It was only at age 11 that Tim found his birth certificate and discovered that he had been adopted by his stepfather. Until that time, his name had been Tim Smith.
Tim's mother took him to meet his biological father, Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw, Jr., a minor league baseball pitcher.
But Tug McGraw denied paternity for seven years, until Tim's 18th birthday, when the two finally formed a relationship and Tim decided to change his name legally to Tim McGraw.
Faith Hill
Perhaps Tim McGraw and his wife, Faith Hill, bonded over their shared experiences as adopted children? When Faith was just a baby, she was given up for adoption and taken in by Edna and Ted Hill.
Her parents told her that her mother gave her up because she was having an affair with a married man. But that turned out to be a lie.
When Faith finally met her biological mother, she discovered the truth about the circumstances of her adoption. Her biological mother was unable to care for her when she had her but went on to marry Faith's biological dad and even had a son with him. After the emotional mother-daughter reunion, the two remained very close.
Bill Clinton
Born to a widowed mother and sent to live with his grandparents as a child, Bill Clinton is a surprising addition to this list. Even presidents come from tumultuous childhoods.
Clinton is in fact the second president in the United States' history to have been adopted, following in the footsteps of former US President Gerald Ford.
Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi
We all know and love Nicole Polizzi as "Snooki" from the hit reality MTV show Jersey Shore. But you may not have known that Snooki, too, was adopted as a young child.
Snooki was adopted from Santiago, Chile when she was just 6 months old. Her birth parents had other children and gave her up for adoption because they couldn't afford another child.
Nelson Mandela
When the peace activist and former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, was 9 years old, his father passed away.
His mother then took him to the "Great Place" palace at Mqhekezweni. He was consequently raised by tribe Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo and his wife and treated as one of their own children.
Eartha Kitt
An accomplished singer, actress, dancer, comedian, activist, songwriter, and author with a dark personal past. There was virtually nothing Eartha Kitt couldn't do - and her personal strength may stem from a particularly challenging childhood.
Kitt was born to Annie Mae Keith in 1927. Eartha was conceived by rape and shunned by her family due to her lighter skin. She was consequently raised by a relative called Aunt Rosa, who was abusive towards her. After Rosa's death, Kitt was sent to live with another family member called Mamie Kitt, who some claim was her actual biological mother.
Truman Capote
Novelist, screenwriter, and actor Truman Capote was born to 17-year-old Lillie Mae Faulk and Achulus Person in New Orleans, Louisiana. The pair divorced when he was just four years old.
As a result, Truman was sent to live with his mother's relatives for several years after that. Themes of family struggles can be seen throughout his work.
Ice-T
The rapper and actor we all know and love from his iconic performance on Law and Order had a difficult childhood. When he was 8, his mother had an unexpected heart attack and tragically passed away.
And just four years later, his father suffered a heart attack, too. His aunts took him in and raised him as their own, and later adopted him.
Ray Liotta
At the tender age of six months, this Goodfellas star was taken in by his adoptive parents. They were unable to give him any information about his biological parents, and so he had to take matters to his own hands.
Over 40 years after his adoption, Ray hired a private investigator in order to identify and locate his biological parents.
Trace Cyrus
Trace Cyrus is the step-brother of musician and superstar Miley Cyrus. He got fame and recognition in his own right as the guitarist and backing vocalist of the band Metro Station.
He was born Neil Timothy Helson to Leticia "Tish" Cyrus and Baxter Neal Helson. At age 4, Trace Cyrus was adopted by his stepfather Billy Ray Cyrus. His name was then changed to Trace Dempsey Cyrus.
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr., better known as the iconic baseball player Babe Ruth, was born in 1895. He and his sister were sent to orphanages by their own parents when he was seven years old.
His tavern-owning taverns decided that he'd be better off raised by the teachers at St. Mary's Industrial School for Boys. There, he met Brother Matthias, who taught him how to play baseball. And the rest is history.
Frances McDormand
The Fargo star was in fact born as Cynthia Ann Smith in Gibson City, Illinois. But at the age of one and a half years, she was adopted by Noreen and Vernon McDormand, who renamed her Frances Louise McDormand.
McDormand's adoptive parents were a Canadian pair - a Disciples of Christ pastor and a nurse. Frances has proudly referred to her biological mother, along with herself, as "white trash". But this widely celebrated, the standout actress is far from "white trash".
Edgar Allan Poe
A poet famous for his dark, depressing themes, Edgar Allan Poe certainly experienced his share of hardships from a very young age. He was born in 1809, and his mother died a year after his birth.
Soon, his father decided to abandon the family, leaving Edgar to be adopted by another family in Virginia. With such experiences of death and betrayal at a young age, it's no wonder his writings are so famously dark.
Michael Bay
Michael Bay is an accomplished director behind the Transformers universe. Being an adopted child, he has often joked that Steven Spielberg and Jerry Bruckheimer share his "creative DNA".
Bay was adopted as a child and as a young man, he spent many years looking for his biological mother. He's still not sure who his real father is.
Jesse Jackson
Reverend Jesse Jackson is an American civil rights activist, politician, and Baptist minister. In 1984 and 1988, he was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination. And from 1992 to 2000, he was the host of CNN's political commentary show, Both Sides with Jesse Jackson.
Jackson was born to Helen Burns, a 16-year-old high school student, and her 33-year-old married neighbor, Noah Luis Robinson. A year after his birth, he was adopted by his stepfather, Charles Henry Jackson, the man his mother married.
Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong is a former professional road racing cyclist who gained infamy when the biggest doping scandal in cycling history broke out.
He was born in 1971 to Linda Gayle, a secretary, and Eddie Charles Gunderson, a route manager for the Dallas Morning News. When Armstrong was two years old, his parents divorced, and his mother remarried the next year. Lance was adopted by Terry Keith Armstrong that year.
Andy Dick
Comedian Andy Dick is known for his many movie appearances, TV shows, and credits as a producer. He is also remembered for his erratic public misconduct and various arrests.
He was born in Charleston, South Carolina, as Andrew Thomlinson. When Allen and Sue Dick adopted him, they renamed him, Andrew Roane Dick. They raised him in a Presbyterian household and the family moved around between Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New York, and Yugoslavia before settling in Chicago, where he excelled in the thespian art at a local high school.
Louis Armstrong
To this day, people all over the world enjoy Louis Armstrong's music. His career spanned an impressive five decades, and he is considered one of the most influential figures in jazz.
Mary Albert, then a sixteen-year-old, gave birth to him in 1901 in New Orleans. His father, William Armstrong, abandoned the father shortly after. Thus, Louis's grandmother raised him in a poverty-stricken neighborhood known as The Battlefield.