Brad Pitt - Our Shared Ancestry

Did you know Brad Pitt is my 23rd cousin once removed? Yes, the Hollywood icon shares more than just screen time with the stars — he shares a distant family connection with me!

Not only do we have shared DNA, but we also share similar names — we’re both William Bradleys, though we go by “Brad.” Unfortunately, the resemblance ends there. I could definitely use his looks and acting chops!

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Our Common Royal Ancestor: King Edward I

Brad Pitt and I both descend from King Edward I of England, also known as "Longshanks."

• My lineage: Edward I is my 22nd great-grandfather.

• Brad’s lineage: Edward I is his 23rd great-grandfather.

• Brad descends through Elizabeth Plantagenet (my 22nd great-aunt).

• I descend through King Edward II, Edward I’s son.

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Brad Pitt & Hollywood

I first saw Brad Pitt in the early 1990s in the film "Thelma & Louise", where he played a charming drifter. That role put him on Hollywood’s radar — and mine. Since then, he’s starred in numerous blockbuster films and become a household name.

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"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" — A Strange Family Connection?

In 2019, Brad Pitt starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Quentin Tarantino’s film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The story, set in 1969 Los Angeles, follows:

• DiCaprio’s character: A fading TV actor struggling to adapt to the changing film industry.

• Pitt’s character: A stuntman who gets unknowingly entangled with the Manson Family.

What makes this particularly intriguing is a potential real-life family connection between Brad Pitt and Abigail Folger, one of the Manson Family's victims.

Did Brad Pitt Know He Was Related to Abigail Folger?

• Abigail Folger was Brad Pitt’s 17th cousin, 3 times removed.

• She’s also my 21st cousin, 2 times removed.

It’s chilling to think that Brad portrayed a character so closely tied to a real-life event involving a distant relative. I've often wondered if he knows that he is distantly related to one of the victims of the Manson Family, especially since he played such an integral role in the fictionalized movie about the Manson family?

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I first watched Once Upon a Time in Hollywood on a flight to Shanghai in November 2019. Jetlag got the best of me, and I fell asleep about ¾ through the movie. But once home, I rewatched it in full — and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Brad’s performance stood out. Although a supporting role, he brought depth, charisma, and calm intensity to the screen. The Academy clearly agreed, awarding him the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2020.

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My Take on Brad Pitt as an Actor (and Cousin)

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Brad Pitt has a gift: he brings something unique to each role. He doesn’t recycle characters — he reinvents himself with every performance. That versatility is rare in Hollywood and is something I admire, cousin or not.

Even though I’ll likely never meet him in person, it’s still fun to know I share a long line of royal ancestors and historical figures with one of the world’s most famous actors.

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Final Thoughts

While Brad Pitt and I will never share a red carpetmoment, we do share a fascinating and royal family tree. And in a way, that connection makes watching his movies even more enjoyable.

He may be just another distant cousin, but in the grand narrative of history — from medieval kings to modern movie stars — our shared lineage adds a fun, personal twist to the story of celebrity genealogy. Brad Pitt, another example of the many incredible distant relatives with whom I share my lineage...and another reason to wonder how so many people that have - and still are - shaping our world history have come from the same ancestors.