20+ Age-Defying Parent-Child Castings From Blue Bloods, ER, Ginny & Georgia, Golden Girls, Supernatural And More

As TV fans, we're no strangers to suspending our disbelief when it comes to embracing fantastical or implausible storylines from our favorite shows.

But sometimes, it can be an equally enjoyable exercise to fall down a rabbit hole of reason. And that's what we're doing here today, embarking on a journey to answer the age-old question: Could this actor really be their co-star's parent in real life?

The list below rounds up the 20 weirdest, wackiest, most bizarre parent-child castings due to unbelievable age gaps. So if you, too, just watched the Season 2 premiere of Apple TV+'s The Buccaneers and thought, "Leighton Meester is playing mom to a 19-year-old woman?!," you're in the right place.

Our list has it all, from a Family Ties father who had only 14 years on his on-screen son, to a Golden Girl who defied all logic by actually being younger than her daughter. We've also got age-defying pairings from Six Feet Under, Supernatural, The Good Place, Blue Bloods, Orange Is the New Black, Schitt's Creek, The Cosby Show, George Lopez and more.

But before you get scrolling, some housekeeping: Our round-up is sorted from widest to smallest age gap, and we're sharing how old the actors were at the time they first appeared alongside each other — not how old they are today. Also, we've steered clear of soap operas and timey-wimey time travel shows. (We are in a rabbit hole of reason, remember?!)

Without further ado, it's time for you, dear reader, to fly the coop and review our sampling of TV's most bizarre parent-child castings — and as always, feel free to nominate others that come to mind!

Meredith Baxter (35) and Michael Gross (35) played parents to Michael J. Fox (21)

Age Gap: 14 years

Michael Sheen (50) and Bellamy Young (49) played parents to Tom Payne (36)

Age Gap: 14 and 13 years

Frances Conroy (48) played mother to Peter Krause (35)

Age Gap: 13 years

Belita Moreno (52) played mother to George Lopez (40)

Age Gap: 12 years

Jeffrey Dean Morgan (39) played father to Jensen Ackles (27)

Age Gap: 12 years

Earle Hyman (58) played father to Bill Cosby (47)

Age Gap: 11 years

Janet Hubert (34) played mother to Karyn Parsons (23)

Age Gap: 11 years

Brian Cox (72) played father to Alan Ruck (61)

Age Gap: 11 years

Leighton Meester (39) plays mother to Kristine Frøseth (29)

Age Gap: 10 years

Mo'Nique (31) played mother to Countess Vaughn (21)

Age Gap: 10 years

Leslie Grossman (45) played mother to Kristen Bell (36)

Age Gap: 9 years

John Marshall Jones (34) played father to Essence Atkins (25)

Age Gap: 9 years

Gretchen Mol (37) played mother to Michael Pitt (29)

Age Gap: 8 years

Brianne Howey (31) plays mother to Antonia Gentry (23)

Age Gap: 8 years

Adina Porter (37) played mother to Rutina Wesley (29)

Age Gap: 8 years

Jane Curtin (75) played mother to Katey Sagal (68)

Age Gap: 7 years

Len Cariou (70) played father to Tom Selleck (65)

Age Gap: 5 years

Frances Fisher (52) played mother to Laura Innes (47)

Age Gap: 5 years

Jennifer Robertson (43) played mother to Tim Rozon (38)

Age Gap: 5 years

Elizabeth Rodriguez (32) played mother to Dascha Polanco (30)

Age Gap: 2 years

Estelle Getty (62) played mother to Bea Arthur (63)

Age Gap: -1 year!

Which parent-child castings surprised you the most? And which did we miss? Hit the comments with your thoughts!