The Truth About Blake Lively's Famous Family

Blake Lively may be known for her breakout role in the teen drama series "Gossip Girl," and like her character in the show, Blake's family in real life is also very well-known. Blake starred in the hit series, which aired from 2007 to 2012, as Serena van der Woodsen, a teenage socialite at the fictional Constance Billard private school. Since her time on the CW show, Blake has gone on to amass a successful career as a television and movie actor. Immediately following her time on "Gossip Girl," Blake married her "Green Lantern" co-star, Ryan Reynolds.

And while Blake seemingly had a sudden rise to fame due to her time on "Gossip Girl," she has always been surrounded by fellow entertainers. Her parents, Ernie and Elaine, and her siblings Lori, Robyn, Jason, and Eric, have all worked in the entertainment industry. And for those not familiar with Blake's famous family, the truth may be surprising.

Blake Lively is no stranger to Hollywood, partially thanks to the career paths of her famous family members. Blake's late father, Ernie, was an actor and film producer, according to IMDb. His acting credits even include starring as Blake's father in 2005's "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and its sequel. Blake's mother, Elaine, is best known for voicing the character Molly Moodock, in the adventure game "Return to Zork," which also featured a number of Blake's siblings. 

Similarly, Blake's four siblings — Lori, Robyn, Jason, and Eric — have all ventured into different areas of entertainment. Lori works as an acting coach according to her Instagram account, but previously appeared in productions like "The Bold and the Beautiful," "Two and a Half Men," and more. Robyn's career took off after she landed the starring role in the 1989 film, "Teen Witch." She has since appeared in a host of TV shows and movies.

Blake's brothers are equally as successful. After appearing on "The Dukes of Hazzard," Jason starred as Rusty Griswold in "National Lampoon's European Vacation." Eric, has since retired from acting, but not before scoring roles in "The Butterfly Effect 2," "Speak," and "The L Word."

While Blake Lively may be the most recognizable member of her family today, the actor has previously credited her brother, Eric, with inspiring her career. She revealed to Interview Magazine, that her sibling lovingly pushed her to pursue her interests. Blake told the outlet that while on a trip to Paris when she was 15 years old, Eric constantly questioned her about her life goals.

"Every time we sat down for a meal, he would start questioning me, saying, 'What are you going to do for a living? What do you think you want to do?'" Blake said. "He was just being a good big brother. Because of my interests, he decided that I should be a film producer." Blake goes on to explain that while she eventually chose to pursue an acting career but was hesitant because her "whole family did it." Thankfully she did, as she landed her "first job" — the role of Bridget Vreeland in "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" — after hustling through a number of auditions.