Sydney Sweeney and Marilyn Monroe Discovered as Distant Cousins
A MyHeritage study found that Sydney Sweeney and Marilyn Monroe are ninth cousins once removed. The connection runs through Sweeney's father and Monroe's biological father, with both linked to an ancestor named Ezra Perry. The research was prompted by fans who have long compared the two actresses.
The MyHeritage study identifies Monroe as Sweeney’s ninth cousin once removed. The link runs through Sweeney’s father, Steven Sweeney, and Monroe’s biological father, Charles Stanley Gifford; both connect to Ezra Perry, an early settler of Sandwich, Massachusetts. MyHeritage’s research director said fans’ long-running comparisons prompted the archive search.
Sweeney has not publicly responded to the genealogy report. She has, however, worn Monroe-inspired looks: a white Ceil Chapman gown at the Santa Barbara Film Festival and a white Galia Lahav design at The Housemaid premiere. In 2022, Sweeney described growing up without industry connections and credited her parents’ support.
This genealogy story may deepen public fascination with celebrity lineage and resemblance, especially among fans of Sweeney and Monroe. It could fuel online discussions about family history and how ordinary people might be distantly connected to famous figures. For Sweeney, the added Monroe comparison may shape media narratives around her image and career, while Monroe’s legacy could reach younger audiences. Genealogy companies may see renewed interest, though such findings are best understood as archival research rather than definitive identity.