Famous Adoptions

Visit our blog to share your thoughts about your favorite celebrity who has been adopted or involved in adoption or view our Famous Adoptees Infographic.

Many people are interested in famous adoptions. Whether these people were already famous when adoption touched their lives or entered the limelight afterward, they've all done something notable with their lives. So have a look at following list of celebrity birth parents, adopted children and adoptive parents:

Faith Hill

Country music singer

Adopted Child

Having been adopted, I really have a strong sense- a necessity almost- for stability, a foundation where my family is concerned. [Success] would be meaningless without anyone to share it with.

I have a lot of respect for my birth mother… I know she must have had a lot of love for me to want to give what she felt was a better chance.

Daunte Culpepper

Professional football player

Adopted Child

I am a living testament you can be adopted and successful.

Sheryl Crow

Singer

Adoptive Parent

I’ve always wanted to adopt. Even if I’d had my own kids, I would have adopted. I love the idea of adopting. I always had an immense amount of love to give.

Tom Cruise

Actor

Adoptive Parent

And I feel as a parent, my job is to educate them and give them the ability to make good decisions and learn about the world. And they have an opportunity that I never had. They get to see the world. So they have a great life, you know. I want to be my kids.

Nicole Kidman

Actress

Adoptive Parent

Somehow destiny comes into play. These children end up with you and you end up with them. It’s something quite magical.

Bill Clinton

Former U.S. President

Adopted Child

We must work tirelessly to make sure that every boy and girl in America who is up for adoption has a family waiting to reach him or her. This is a season of miracles, and perhaps there is no greater miracle than finding a loving home for a child who needs one.

Oprah Winfrey

Celebrity

Advocate for Adoption

Winfrey did not learn till recently that she had a half-sister who was placed for adoption as an infant.

My wish is that children be treated as people, and not as property; that their rights as human beings on the planet, to food, shelter, education, and health, be taken seriously.

Angelina Jolie

Actress

Adoptive Parent

Maddox is my baby, he’s by my side all the time, and I think I can give him so much. I can no more than imagine living without him, than not breathing.

Brad Pitt

Actor

Adoptive Parent

They’re as much my blood as I am theirs. And they are brothers and sisters. One came from Ethiopia, one from Vietnam, one from Cambodia, and one was born in Namibia. And they are brothers and sisters, and they have fun and they squabble and they fight, just like any other family. And it makes me so proud.

Dave Thomas

Founder of Wendy's

Adopted Child

Everyone’s got to be for a child to have a home and love. I mean I don’t know anyone who would be against that.

Bruce Willis

Actor

Advocate for Adoption

Sandra Bullock

Actress

Adoptive Parent

He’s just perfect, I can’t even describe him any other way… It’s like he’s always been a part of our lives.&rdquo

Babe Ruth

Professional Baseball Player

Adoptive Parent

He and his wife had one adopted daughter, Dorothy.

Diane Keaton

Actress

Adoptive Parent

She quotes that motherhood, is the most humbling experience I've ever had...

Jesse Jackson

Minister

Adopted Child

Charlie Henry (Jackson) adopted me and gave me his name, his love, his encouragement, discipline and a high sense of self-respect.

Joni Mitchell

Singer

Birth Mother

She has recently reunited with the daughter she placed for adoption when she was 20 years old.

Andy Kaufman

Actor

Birth Father

He and his girlfriend placed their daughter for adoption when they were young college students.

Kate Mulgrew

Actress

Birth Mother

Life is sacred to me on all levels. Abortion does not compute with my philosophy.

David Crosby

Singer

Birth Father

His biological son quotes, He was worried about me being this angry young man-'You abandoned me,' that sort of thing. That wasn't even an issue.

Jamie Lee Curtis

Actress/Author

Adoptive Parent

We look at adoption as a very sacred exchange. It was not done lightly on either side. I would dedicate my life to this child.

Roseanne Barr

Actress

Birth Mother

Hugh Jackman

Actor

Adoptive Parent

I think adoption is a blessing all around when it’s done right.

Snooki

Celebrity

Adopted Child

Meg Ryan

Actress

Adoptive Parent

I am convinced, completely convinced, that there was nothing random about [the adoption], she is the daughter I should have.

Rachel Crow

Adopted Child

It is crazy because everybody is like, ‘she is not your real mom.’ And I am like, ‘yeah, she is!’

Nia Vardalos

Actress

Adoptive Parent

There is no limit to the amount of attention, kindness and warmth our families and friends - the "aunties" and "uncles" - shower on our daughter. Over a year later, she is thriving in an environment of love and care.

Vardalos, who admits she is now a "giddy idiot" on Mother's Day asks, Please, on Mother’s Day, have some compassion. If you see someone without kids, do not ask them why they don’t have children, why they don’t just adopt, or if they are pregnant. Please be kind. Be quiet and pass the dip.

Famous Birth Parents

Roseann Barr (actress)
David Crosby (musician)
Faith Ireland (state judge)
Andy Kaufman (comedian)
Jackie "Moms" Mabley (comedienne)
Tug McGraw (professional baseball)
Joni Mitchell (singer)
Kate Mulgrew (actress)
Mercedes Ruehl (actress)
Jack Wagner (actor)

Famous Adopted Children

Kate Adie (journalist)
Edward Albee (playwright)
Maya Angelou (poet and author)
John J. Audubon (naturalist)
Michael Bay (director)
Tallulah Bankhead (actress)
Layne Beachley (surfer)
Lynda Bellingham (actress)
Ingrid Bergman (actress)
Andy Berlin (co-founder of ad agency Berlin Camerson & Partners)
James Best (actor)
Les Brown (motivational speaker)
Surya Bonaly (professional skater)
Richard Burton (actor)
Senator Robert Byrd
Augustus Caesar (emporer of Rome)
Truman Capote (author)
Harry Caray (baseball broadcaster)
Peter Carruthers (professional skater)
Kitty Carruthers (professional skater)
Kristin Chenoweth (actress)
Eric Clapton (singer)
President Bill Clinton
Lynette Cole (Miss USA 2000)
Nat King Cole (singer)
Gary Coleman (actor)
Daunte Culpepper (professional football)
Rachel Crow (X Factor contestant)
Faith Daniels (TV news personality)
Ted Danson (actor, adopted child and adoptive father)
Tommy Davidson (comedian)
Toby Dawson (professional skier)
Eric Dickerson (professional football)
Bo Diddley (musician)
Carl Theodore Dreyer (filmmaker)
Larry Ellison (co-founder and CEO of Oracle)
Clarissa Pinkola Estes (poet)
President Gerald Ford
Jamie Foxx (singer, actor)
Scott Fujita (professional football)
Tim Green (professional football)
Jonathon Gilbert (actor)
Melissa Gilbert (actress)
Newt Gingrich (politician)
Faith Hill (singer)
Scott Hamilton (professional skater)
John Hancock (U.S. Founding Father)
Debbie Harry (singer)
Reese Hoffa (Olympic shot putter)
Jesse Jackson (politician)
Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple)
Eartha Kitt (singer, actress)
Matthew Laborteaux (actor)
Patrick Laborteaux (actor)
John Lennon (singer)
Representative Jim Lightfoot
Allan "apl.de.ap" Pineda Lindo, jr. (singer, member of Black Eyed Peas)
Art Linkletter (TV personality)
Ray Liotta (actor)
Charlotte Lopez (actress and Miss Teen USA 1993)
Greg Louganis (Olympic Gold Medal Diver)
Malcolm X (human rights activist)
Lee Majors (actor)
Nelson Mandela (human rights activist)
Nimmy March (actress)
James MacArthur (actor)
Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels (musician)
Frances McDormand (actress)
Tim McGraw (singer)
Sarah McLachlan (singer)
James Michener (author)
Tom Monaghan (founder of Domino's Pizza, owner of Detroit Tigers)
Lucy Maud Montgomery (author)
Marilyn Monroe (actress)
Moses (biblical leader)
Mother Teresa (humanitarian)
Alonzo Mourning (professional basketball)
Dan O'Brien (Olympic gold medalist, decathalon)
Hugh O'Connor (actor)
Michael Oher (professional football, story inspired The Blind Side)
Jim Palmer (professional baseball)
Aaron Parchem (Olympic figure skater)
Lorraine Pascale (model, author and chef)
Dana Plato (actress)
Edgar Allen Poe (author)
Nicole "Snookie" Polizzi (TV personality)
Priscilla Presley (actress)
Michael Reagan (President Reagan's son)
First Lady Nancy Reagan
Nicole Richie (TV personality)
Wilson Riles (educator)
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt
Victoria Rowell (actress)
Buffy Sainte-Marie (singer)
Paull Shin (state senator)
Dave Thomas (founder of Wendy's, children's advocate)
Leo Tolstoy (author)
Dr. Ruth Westheimer (media personality, sex therapist)
Mayor Anthony Williams (Washington, D.C. politician)
Jett Williams (singer)

Famous Adoptive Parents

Babe Ruth (professional baseball)
Brooke Adams (actress)
Gracie Allen (comedienne)
Woody Allen (director)
Kirstie Alley (actress)
Loni Anderson (actress)
Julie Andrews (actress)
Eve Arden (actress)
Rodney Atkins (singer)
Josephine Baker (actress)
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Pearl Bailey (singer/actress)
John Battle (professional baseball)
Harry Belafonte (singer)
Regina Belle (singer)
Secretary of Treasury Lloyd Bentsen
Milton Berle (actor)
Larry Bird (professional basketball)
Taurean Blacque (actor)
Erma Bombeck (humorist)
May Britt (actress)
Connie Britton (actress)
Charles Bronson (actor)
Denise Scott Brown (architect)
Governor Sam Brownback
Art Buchwald (humorist)
Sandra Bullock (actress)
George Burns (comedian)
Ellen Burstyn (actress)
Kirk Cameron (actor)
Roy Campanella (professional baseball)
Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Kate Capshaw (actress)
Kitty Caruthers (professional skater and adopted child)
Joelle Carter (actress)
Nell Carter (actress)
Billy Casper (professional golf)
Jim Caviezel (actor)
Steven Curtis Chapman (singer)
Rt. Hon. Jean and Aline Chretien (Prime Minister of Canada)
Connie Chung (TV personality)
Joan Crawford (actress)
Sheryl Crow (singer)
Tom Cruise (actor)
Jamie Lee Curtis (actress0
Ted Danson (actor and adopted child)
Linda Darnell (actress)
Bette Davis (actress)
Kristin Davis (actress)
Sammy Davis, Jr. (entertainer)
Viola Davis (actress)
John Denver (singer)
Bill Delahunt (state senator)
Oscar de la Renta (fashion designer)
Delilah (radio personality)
John DeLorean (industrialist)
Cecil B. DeMille (director)
Joan Didion (author)
Walt Disney (creator of Disney)
Patty Duke (actress)
Faye Dunaway (actress)
John Gregory Dunne (author)
Christine Ebersole (actress)
Dale Evans (actress)
Edie Falco (actress)
Peter Falk (actor)
Mia Farrow (actress)
Joely Fisher (actress)
Calista Flockhart (actress)
Henry Fonda (actor)
Jane Fonda (actress)
Joan Fontaine (actress)
Connie Francis (singer)
Dawn French (actress)
Robert Fulghum (author)
Teri Garr (actress)
Willie Garson (actor)
Andy Griffith (actor)
Christopher Guest (screenwriter)
Lou Gossett, Jr. (actor)
Karen Grassle (actress)
Mariska Hargitay (actress)
Valerie Harper (actress)
Helen Hayes (actress)
Katherine Heigl (actress)
Senator Jesse Helms
Tony Hillerman (author)
Bob and Delores Hope (comedian/singer)
Cindy Hsu (TV personality)
Senator Gordon Humphrey
Al Hunt (journalist)
Jill Ireland (actress)
Hugh Jackman (actor)
Kate Jackson (actress)
Magic Johnson (professional basketball)
Angelina Jolie (actress)
Diane Keaton (actress)
David Kelley (TV producer)
Josh Kelley (musician)
Nicole Kidman (actress)
Jill Krementz (author)
Kris Kristofferson (singer)
Patti LaBelle (singer)
Hedy Lamarr (actress)
Michael Landon (actor)
Senator Mary Landrieu
Representative Jim Leach
Jerry Lewis (entertainer)
George Lucas (director)
Charles MacArthur (actor)
Madonna (singer)
Dan Marino (professional football)
Harpo Marx (comedian)
Willie Mays (professional baseball)
Senator John and Cindy McCain
Ewan McGregor
Ed McMahon (TV personality)
Richard King Mellon (president of Mellon Bank)
Gary Merrill (actor)
Donna Mills (actress)
Representative Connie Morella
Al Neuharth (journalist)
Paul Newman (actor)
Wayne Newton (singer)
Chelsea Noble (actress)
Representative Anne Northrup
Carroll O'Connor (actor)
Rosie O'Donnell (actress and TV personality)
Ozzy Osbourne (singer)
Sharon Osbourne (TV personality)
Marie Osmond (singer)
Mary-Louis Parker (actress)
Estelle Parsons (actress)
Michelle Pfeiffer (actress)
Brad Pitt (actor)
Representative Earl Pomeroy
Paula Poundstone (comedienne)
Maury Povich (TV personality)
Kirby Puckett (professional baseball)
Sarah Purcell (TV personality)
Sally Jessy Raphael (TV personality)
President Ronald Reagan
Burt Reynolds (actor)
Denise Richards (actress)
Lionel Richie (singer)
John G. Roberts (Supreme Court Justice)
Roy Rogers (actor)
Al Roker (TV personality)
Linda Ronstadt (singer)
Isabella Rossellini (model, actress)
Susan Ruttan (actress)
Meg Ryan (actress)
Tony Shaloub (actor)
Gail Sheehy (author)
Senator Paul Simon
Brooke Smith (actress)
Joe Spano (actor)
Steven Spielberg (director)
Ben Stein (TV personality)
Parker Stevenson (actor)
Sharon Stone (actress)
Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Sr. (newspaper publisher)
Gloria Swanson (actress)
Elizabeth Taylor (actress)
Charlize Theron (actress)
Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy (story inspired the film The Blind Side)
Robert Urich and Heather Mezies (actor)
Nia Vardolos (actress)
Robert Venturi (architect)
Kurt Vonnegut (author)
Jane Wallace (TV personality)
Maria Wallace (actress)
Karl Wallenda (performer)
Barbara Walters (TV personality)
DeMarcus Ware (professional football)
Jann Wenner (magazine publisher)
Dianne Wiest (actress)
JoBeth Williams (actress)
Natalie Williams (professional basketball)
Brian Wilson (musician)
Dan Wilson (professional baseball)
Alfre Woodard (actress)
Judy Woodruff (TV personality)
Jane Wyman (actress)

Famous Adoption Quotes

Time and experience have taught me a priceless lesson. Any child you take for your own becomes your own if you give of yourself to that child. I have borne two children and had seven others by adoption, and they are all my children, equally beloved and precious.

Dale Evans, Actress and Adoptive Parent

Both the courage and trust of those who place their babies for adoption and the enthusiasm of those who adopt them are overwhelmingly vindicated by the tens of thousands of successful adoptions that take place in this country every year.

The New Yorker, Editorial