Cillian Murphy's Sons Walked The Oscars Red Carpet & They Share A Distinct Feature With Their Dad

Cillian Murphy’s sons Malachy, 18, and Aran, 16, made a rare appearance last night, walking the Oscars red carpet with their dad before he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. And you could say that there are several ways they matched (see the photos below).

There was the way they were twinning … but that comes with the tuxedo territory. And their closely copied haircuts … but don’t barbers run in families?

There was one thing, though, that was purely genetic: Murphy’s teens totally have his smile. Malachy especially (left) has the same effortless and endearing smile as the Inception star. Their lips are closed, their cheekbones are high, and it’s clear they’re a friendly trio.

“I love you so much,” Murphy said to his sons and wife Yvonne McGuinness in his Academy Award acceptance speech, “and I’m a very proud Irish man standing here tonight.”

Earlier this year, at the Palm Springs International Film Awards, Murphy gave his family another shoutout when accepting the Desert Palm Achievement Award.

“I want to say thanks to my family,” he said. “Two-thirds of them are sitting down there. We had to leave one of them at home doing exams. But just thanks for putting up with me — putting up with the half me and the shadow me and the absent me, the remains of me when I’m doing a film like this or work in general. You’re always there. I love it. So thanks, guys.”

Following In Dad’s Footsteps

The teens aren’t just literally trailing their dad on the red carpet. Aran is also following in his dad’s footsteps in the acting industry.

At age 11, Aran starred in a world tour of Hamnet, a live production about Shakespeare’s son. It’s an achievement he was apparently very chill about. He would come off stage and ask what the score was in the Liverpool game,” Murphy told The Guardian in 2021. “And, again, you’re slightly jealous of that!  There’s the danger that over analyzing everything can erode the simplicity.”

Then, in 2022, he appeared alongside Emma Appleton in Lola. Up next, he will star in Klara and the Sun alongside Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams. So prepare to see a very familiar smile on the silver screen once again.

Before you go, check out these celebrities who showed off their families on the red carpet.