All the White Lotus actors you didn’t realise are actually ‘Nepo Babies’

The White Lotus has returned for a third instalment set in Thailand and another star-studded cast that includes a few actors with famous parents.

You're all thinking of Patrick Schwarzenegger, who plays douch-y Saxon Ratliff on the show and, as the unique last name suggests, is Arnold's son.

But Patrick, whose other recent acting credits are TV series The Staircase and sci-fi movie Stowaway, isn't the only one on this season of The White Lotus who comes from a family working in the entertainment business. There are at least four cast members who had well-known parents and were born with one foot into stardom.

While many branded as 'nepo babies' dismiss having had a leg up to enter showbiz, others, like Girls star Allison Williams and The Boys' Jack Quaid, have been very upfront about it.

Back to The White Lotus, Patrick Schwarzenegger is surely the most famous nepo baby of the Thailand lot, but he's not the only one.

Patrick Schwarzenegger

Patrick stars as obnoxious Saxon. (HBO)

Patrick is the son of Arnold, actor and former California Governor, and Maria Shriver, an author and journalist with ties to the Shriver and Kennedy families. His brother-in-law is Marvel star Chris Pratt.

After being cast on The White Lotus, Patrick hit back at claims he'd only got the role because of his famous parents and wanted everyone to know he's had ten years of acting classes.

“I know there are people who’ll say I only got this role because of who my dad is,” he told The Sunday Times. “They’re not seeing that I’ve had ten years of acting classes, put on [high] school plays every week, worked on my characters for hours on end or the hundreds of rejected auditions I’ve been on.

“Of course, it’s frustrating 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. 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.”

Sam Nivola

Sam plays Lochlan, who appears to be questioning his sexuality. (HBO)

Sam plays Lochlan, Saxon's little brother who's shy and quiet... until he experiences a queer awakening when glancing upon a naked Saxon, but that's another story.

Nivola is the son of actors Alessandro Nivola and Emily Mortimer, who boast a long list of acting credits and award nominations.

An American actor of Italian descent, Alessandro made his acting film debut in Face/Off opposite John Travolta and Nicolas Cage and went on to star in several movies, more recently the Oscar-nominated The Brutalist and Marvel's Kraven the Hunter.

English actress Mortimer starred in acclaimed HBO series The Newsroom as well as featuring in Scream 3, Shutter Island and more, and recently replaced Sally Hawkins in Paddington in Peru.

Speaking about his parents, Sam shared that they weren't thrilled about their children getting into acting.

Sam and his younger sister May starred as siblings in Noah Baumbach's White Noise in 2022, with Sam telling The New Yorker: “My parents had always been really adamant about us not getting into that industry. They were kind of pissed off. But they were, like, ‘Noah Baumbach is a legend.’”

Charlotte Le Bon

Charlotte portrays Chloe, a mysterious model who befriends Chelsea, played by Aimee Lou Wood. (HBO)

Canadian actress and director Charlotte Le Bon plays this season's resident diva Chloe, a French-Canadian model and the current partner of Greg — Tanya McQuoid's murderous ex-husband who now goes by Gary.

Le Bon is the daughter of Canadian actor Brigitte Paquette, while her stepfather Frank Schorpion is also an actor known for starring in Arrival, Moonfall, The Hummingbird Project and Pieces of a Woman.

Jon Gries

Greg is back, except now he goes by Gary. (HBO)

Gries' Greg Hunt aka Gary holds the title of the most hated character of The White Lotus after he orchestrated the murder of his wife Tanya, played by Jennifer Coolidge.

His shocking return in season three spells trouble for Belinda, the optimistic spa therapist played by Natasha Rothwell, who's aware of his wrongdoings.

Gries also comes from a family working in the Hollywood business. His dad was director and producer Tom Gries, who directed several TV episodes of popular 1950s shows such as East Side/West Side, Route 66, Mission: Impossible, and Batman.

Credited as Jon Francis, 11-year-old Jon began his career in Western movie Will Penny, written and directed by his father and starring legend Charlton Heston.