10 Celebrities Whose Parents are Criminals

For many celebrities, life has not always been cameras and red carpets.  Despite the fact that they have achieved success in their careers, some of the most well-known stars have had to overcome challenges stemming from their parents poor choices.  Although we have all been momentarily embarrassed by our parents, these celebrities have had to face something worse. While some celebrities have had to deal with selfish, greedy, and neglectful parents, others have had to deal with parents who are criminals, thieves, and drug users.  Sadly, many in the latter group have also been forced to go through life without sharing a strong bond with the people who brought them into the world.  Here are 10 celebrities whose parents are criminals.

 10. Lindsay Lohan

Actress Lindsay Lohan has made several poor decisions throughout the course of her career.  However, it seems that she may not have had the best example to follow. Lohan’s father, Michael Lohan, has had several run-ins with the law over the last two and half decades. In 1990, Michael Lohan served a three-year prison sentence after he was convicted on criminal contempt of court. He was arrested again in 1997 for violating his probation,  in 2004 for failing to pay for suites he had rented, and again in 2011 on suspicions of domestic violence.

 (Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images)

9. Lily Allen

Singer/songwriter Lily Allen, the daughter of actor, Keith Allen, was introduced to criminal activity at a very early age.  Allen’s father, Keith Allen, began committing crimes as a very young age, and at just 15 he was sent to a youth detention center for repeatedly stealing.  Allen also has a history of illegal drug use and even used his children as a marketing ploy to sell drugs.

 (Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

8. Demi Moore

Over the years, actress Demi Moore has had a very rocky relationship with her mother, Virginia Guynes. Unfortunately, Guynes has racked up a rap sheet almost as long as Moore’s resume, and her list of arrests include drunk driving and arson.

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

7. Kellie Pickler

Country musician Kellie Pickler has worked hart to establish a successful career in the music industry.  However, Pickler’s rise to fame was certainly not without its personal challenges.  In 1998 when Pickler was just two years old, her mother, Cynthia Morton, was convicted for filling a forged Valium perception. Over the years, Morton would continue to break the law and serve time in prison. Pickler’s father, Bo Pickler, also had several run-ins with the law, and served several years in prison on an armed robbery charge.  However, despite her parents’ trouble pasts, Pickler remains a proud daughter.

 (Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images)

6. Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore rose to fame as a child for her appearance in the popular Steven Spielberg film, E.T. As a young star, Barrymore struggled to cope with life in the spotlight, and entered rehab at just 14 years-old.  However, Barrymore isn’t the only person in her family who has had to deal with addiction.  Barrymore’s estranged father, John Drew Barrymore, was a known alcoholic, drug user, and criminal before his death in 2004.

 (Photo by David Buchan/Getty Images)

5.  Jackie Chan

Action movie star Jackie Chan’s parents have a love story almost as incredible as some of his most dangerous stunts.  Chan’s parents met after his mother, Lee-Lee ‘Lily’ Chan, purchased opium and was caught and arrested by Chan’s father, Charles, who worked for the Chinese embassy.  However, after arresting Lily, Charles let her go and decided to marry her.

(Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

4. Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson’s father, Charles Harrelson, is one of the most notorious hit men in American history.  Over the course of his life, Charles Harrelson was charged and convicted of several murders before dying in his cell in 2007.  Most famously, Harrelson was convicted of the murder of John H. Wood Jr., the first United States federal judge to be killed in the 20th century.  Rumors have also circulated that Harrelson may have been involved in the assassination of president John F. Kennedy Jr.

(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

3. Tobey Maguire

Award-winning actor, Tobey Maguire is well-known for his role as do-gooder super hero, Spider-Man. And, just like his on-screen persona, Maguire’s real life has been effected by crime.  Maguire’s father, Vincent Maguire, is a convicted bank robber who was arrested shortly after robbing a bank in broad day light with no disguise.  Vincent Maguire served a two-year prison sentence, and has reportedly been a “model citizen” ever since.

(Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

2. Leighton Meester

Leighton Meester, best-known for her role as Blair Waldorf on the popular series, Gossip Girl, has had a very different upbringing than her on-screen character.  When Meester was born, her mother, Constance Meester was serving a prison sentence for her involvement in a drug ring that brought marijuana to the United States from Jamaica.

(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

1. Terrance Howard

Terrance Howard’s father, Tyrone Howard, was involved in one of the most nationally publicized crimes to come out of Cleveland.   In 1971, while waiting in line to see Santa, Tyrone Howard was involved in an altercation with another guest which resulted in Howard being convicted of murder.  The incident, which was dubbed “The Santa Line Slaying,” quickly made headlines around the country with many believing the event was racially motivated (Howard is black; the victim, white). As a result, Howard was sentenced to serve a 1 to 25 year prison sentence; however, after just 11 months, he was paroled on good behavior.  In the early 2000s, while promoting the film Crash, Terrance Howard, who was present at the time of the slaying, appeared on the Oprah Show and discussed his father’s incident.  Howard claimed that the altercation began after the victim, Jack Petro, made negative racial remarks.  However, Tyrone Howard has maintained that race was not a factor.

 (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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