Patrick Schwarzenegger is taking credit for his own accomplishments.
After the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver made his debut in The White Lotus season three, some fans were left wondering if he landed the role solely because of his father’s iconic last name. And in response, all he could do was shed light on the long journey that led him to joining HBO show.
“I know there are people who’ll say I only got this role because of who my dad is,” Patrick told The Sunday Times in an interview published Feb. 23. “They’re not seeing that I’ve had 10 years of acting classes, put on school plays every week, worked on my characters for hours on end or the hundreds of rejected auditions I’ve been on.”
And despite the inevitability of having to forge his own path in Hollywood while stuck in his father’s shadow, the 31-year-old wouldn’t change a thing.
“Of course, it’s frustrating,” Patrick explained, “and you can get boxed in, and you think at that moment, I wish I didn’t have my last name. But that’s a small moment.”
“I would never trade my life with anyone,” he continued. “I’m very fortunate to have the life and family that I have, the parents I have and the lessons and values they’ve instilled in me.”
After all, both of his parents shaped who he is today in their own special ways.
“My dad was always a believer that you don’t need to fit into one box, that there are ways to let various worlds collide,” the Midnight Sun actor shared. “His advice is always on the side of working hard and vision and career. My mom is deeper with her advice, setting values of respect and kindness and manners, and always finding ways to give back.”
And though Patrick—whose sister Katherine Schwarzenegger is married to fellow actor Chris Pratt—proudly wears the Schwarzenegger name, the Terminator star’s youngest son Joseph Baena—who he shares with Mildred Baena—chose to favor his mom’s surname instead to avoid the added pressures.
“I think the main thing is I’m trying to do things on my own,” Joseph told Good Morning Britain last March. “My family is very big in supporting from a far and not being so hands-on, I really appreciate that. I think it’s really important growing up as a man to do things on your own. To figure it out, that’s what I’ve been doing.”
But even so, he knew all too well the trials and tribulations that would come from following in his father’s footsteps.
“I think with anyone that’s had a high-succeeding parent, it’s just going to be difficult,” the 27-year-old told E! News in 2023. “People always discredit them, say, ‘You only got that because of your parents, you only got that because of X, Y and Z.’ It’s hard, but it’s just something that you have to live with. Know within yourself that if you’re putting in the work and you’re actually doing it, then none of that should matter.”
The Predator actor isn’t the only one with kids that are breaking into the acting and modeling game. Keep reading to see which other celeb kids are taking inspiration from their parents on the runway…
Julez Smith
Beyoncé’s nephew, whose mom is Solange Knowles, made his fashion debut April 2024 at Luar’s Fall 2024 runway. Two months later, he debuted at Paris Fashion Week for the Bluemarble Spring 2025 show.
Henry Samuel
Heidi Klum and Seal’s son made his runway debut at the Lena Erziak Haute Couture Spring-Summer 2025 Show during Paris Fashion Week in January 2025.
Kylie Jenner
The youngest daughter of Kris Jenner and Caitlyn Jenner first made her runway debut at age 14 modeling for Abby Dawn—designed by her half-brother Brody Jenner’s then-girlfriend Avril Lavigne—during New York Fashion Week in 2011. After then spending many years off the catwalk, she modeled for the first time at Paris Fashion Week to close the Coperni Spring/Summer 2025 show at Disneyland Paris in October 2024.
Alana Hadid
Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid’s older sister—whose parents are Mohamed Hadid and Mary Butler—hit the runway for the first time in August 2023 at the Saks Potts Spring 2024 show during Copenhagen Fashion Week in Denmark.
Sunday Rose
The eldest daughter of Nicole Kidman and country singer Keith Urban made her fashion debut in October 2024 during the Miu Miu Paris Womenswear Spring-Summer 2025 Show.
Dream Kardashian
Rob Kardashian and ex Blac Chyna‘s daughter made her runway debut at age 7 at the Zeus & Lexi Kids show during New York Fashion Week in September 2024.
Paris Jackson
The daughter of the late Michael Jackson signed with ING Models in 2017.
Corinne Foxx
Jamie Foxx‘s daughter walks the runway at Dolce & Gabbana’s show during Milan Fashion Week in 2017.
Natalia Bryant
The eldest daughter of the late Kobe Bryant and wife Vanessa Bryant made her runway debut at Versace’s spring/summer 2024 show during Milan Fashion Week in September 2023.
Grace Burns
The daughter of supermodel Christy Turlington and filmmaker Ed Burns made her runway debut in the British Vogue X LuisaViaRoma show in Florence, Italy in June 2023.
Jasper Polish
As part of the Race to Erase MS: Drive-In Gala, Michael Polish’s daughter sports Alice + Olivia in a star-studded fashion show.
Hailey Bieber
The wife of Justin Bieber and daughter of Stephen Baldwin (and niece of Alec Baldwin) has graced many a runway, including Tommy Hilfiger’s.
Lily-Rose Depp
Before she starred on Max series The Idol, Johnny Depp and VanessaParadis‘ daughter took the modeling world by storm, walking for Chanel at Paris Fashion Week 2017.
Dakota Lohan
Lindsay Lohan‘s little bro is a well-seasoned model in the fashion world, having signed with IMG models and modelling for brands like Gucci.
Sofia Richie
Lionel Richie‘s daughter said “Hello” to high fashion, walking in NYFW 2016.
Kaia Gerber
Cindy Crawford‘s mini-me became the face of Young Versace in 2012 and has since gone on to walk the runway for numerous designer labels.
Kendall Jenner
The second-to-youngest of the Kardashian-Jenner clan had a whirlwind few years in the modeling world: From Dolce & Gabbana to Chanel, Kendall dominates some of the most exclusive catwalks in fashion. (And let’s not forget that little Estée Lauder deal, shall we?)
Gigi Hadid
Yolanda Foster‘s eldest daughter has followed in mom’s footsteps by making her mark in the modeling world. Campaigns under Gigi’s belt include an ultra-hot nude spread for Tom Ford’s Velvet Orchid fragrance and her own clothing line under Tommy Hilfiger.
Bella Hadid
The little sister of Gigi Hadid has proven to be a force to reckon with in the modeling world.
Kenya Kinski-Jones
Quincy Jones has created quite the family dynasty, with daughter Rashida Jones being a well-recognized actress and Kenya being a fashion model.
Christian Combs
Diddy’s son walked the runway at the Dolce & Gabbana show during Milan Men’s Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018 on June 17, 2017 in Italy.
Roberto Rossellini
Isabella Rossellini‘s son takes to the catwalk at the Dolce & Gabbana show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on Jan. 14, 2017 in Milan, Italy.
Levi Dylan
Jakob Dylan‘s son (and Bob Dylan‘s grandson) struts his stuff at the Dolce & Gabbana show during Milan Menswear Fashion Week on Jan. 14, 2017 in Milan, Italy.
Patrick Schwarzenegger
The son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver has modeled for several years.
Ava Phillippe
Ryan Phillippe and Reese Witherspoon‘s daughter made her modeling debut at age 18 the Rodarte fall/winter 2018 show.
Jack Marsden
James Marsden’s son wears a colorful ensemble when he makes his Dolce & Gabbana debut on Jan. 13, 2018 in Milan.
Karsen Liotta
Shades of Blue star Ray Liotta‘s daughter took to the runway during the Chanel Collection des Metiers d’Art 2016/17 show at Hotel Ritz on Dec. 6, 2016 in Paris, France.
Mathilda Ereni Gianopoulos
Molly Ringwald and Panio Gianopoulos‘ daughter poses during the J.Crew presentation at New York Fashion Week at Spring Studios on Feb. 12, 2017 in New York City.
Liv Freundlich
Julianne Moore‘s daughter posed during the J.Crew presentation at New York Fashion Week at Spring Studios on Feb. 12, 2017 in New York City.
Myles O’Neal
Shaquille O’Neal’s son took to the runway at the Dolce & Gabbana show during Milan Men’s Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018 on June 17, 2017 in Italy.
