Famous Twins - The Top Ten List of the Most Famous and Not So Famous Twins of All Time
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This is a list of the top ten most famous and not so famous twins of all time. Some of these twins you will recognize. And in some cases both of twins are both famous, while in other cases only one twin is famous and the other is so little known that you probably didn't even know they had a twin.
1. Romulus and Remus
These legendary founders of Rome were said to have been the sons of the Roman god of war, Mars, and to have been raised by wolves. If that wasn't enough, they went on to found the City of Rome which grew into the greatest empire that the world has ever seen.
Unfortunately a dispute between the two twin brothers led to Romulus killing Remus. Which apparently is why the city was afterwards called Rome and not Remulus.
Elvis - Jailhouse Rock Music Video
2. Elvis Presley
What?! You mean Elvis had a twin brother?!
Yes, it's true. Elvis had a twin brother. Unfortunately, his twin brother Jesse Garon died at birth. I bet the guy would have made the ultimate Elvis impersonator.
Of course, if you believe the conspiracy theories that Elvis is still alive ... maybe Elvis's brother didn't die at birth but instead lived on into adulthood and is now buried in Elvis's place, allowing Elvis to enjoy his retirement.
3. Ann Landers and Abigail Van Buren
These twin sisters both became advice columnists and gave out advice for over fifty years, suggesting that their genes may have had something to do with their career choice.
4. Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen started their careers on the 1980's sitcom "Full House" where they each played the same character. Because of laws limiting the hours that children their age could work, the producers hired twins and got the laws by having the twins split the acting between them. As a result, in a move guaranteed to create an identity crisis and require years of therapy, both Olsen twins played one half of the same character.
Now all grown up, Mary-Kate Olsen apparently knows how to help drug overdose victims because she was the first person that Heath Ledger's housekeeper thought of calling when she discovered Ledger unconscious. Calling 911 apparently was not her first choice.
Did You Know?
Did you know that ...
- the word "twin" comes from the Anglo-Saxon getwinn, which means "that which is divided"
- twins born to members of the Galoa, an African tribe, are always named Wora and Yeno. Wora means "first born" and Yeno means "second born"
- identical twins do not have identical fingerprints
- According to the Guinness Book of Records Twins Days in Twinsburg, Ohio is the largest annual gathering of twins in the world.
- You have a Google Twin.
5. Jaroslaw and Lech Kaczynski
Jarosław and Lech Kaczyński - hardly household names in this country but they are quire famous in their native Poland where they started as child actors and then became its Prime Minister and President (at the same time). There is hope for the Olsen twins too.
Tegan and Sara - Back in Your Head Video
6. Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara Quin are identical twins and indie singer-songwriters. Although not superstars, their albums and songs have been praised in the music media and fellow musicians. Their CDs have been featured on several influential "best of" lists. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine named their album So Jealous as one the best 50 albums of the year.
7. The Kray Brothers
The Kray Brothers (Reggie and Ronnie Kray) were notoriously violent underworld bosses that dominated London's East End in the 1950s and 60s. They were implicated in arsons, extorsion schemes, and the murder and torture of rivals. These gangsters were eventually caught and convicted in 1969 and sentenced to life in prison.
8. The Siamese Twins
Chang and Eng Bunker were two conjoined twins from Thailand (formerly known as Siam) that emigrated to the Southern United States. They became world-famous. Their condition and birthplace (Siam) gave rise to the term "Siamese Twins".
Despite being joined together, the original Siamese twins enjoyed successful lives. They became rich farmers, married (two non-identical sisters), had children. Incredibly, the Siamese twins were accepted as respected members of White pre-Civil War society and were even slave owners.
Their conjoined status created some oddities in their personal lives. When the twins first married they set up a communal household but their wives did not get along and so the twins set up separate homes, with the twins dividing their time between each home.
9. Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake had a twin sister Laura Katherine who died shortly after birth. He sometimes mentions her in the liner notes of his CDs.
10. Patty and Selma Bouvier
These gorgeous ladies are the surprisingly single twin sisters of Marge Simpson, on the cartoon show the Simpsons. If any twins out there are looking for love, these gals are a great catch!
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8. The Siamese Twins - Interesting tidbits... thanks for the great info!
Peter
I didn't know about the crime bosses in London. Great information. I read all of The Toff crime mysteries by John Creasey, set in the East End.
Fascinating! As the mom of twins, the whole idea of one dying at birth (or before) was terrifying. I had no idea about Elvis and JT. Thanks for a great hub!
Thanks everyone for the feedback! I enjoyed writing this hub.
Great HUB. What about The Thompson Twins? LOL
Thanks for the comment DJ - but actually the Thompson Twins weren't twins at all. The three band members were not related, although Tom and Allanah of the Thompson Twins did get married to each other and later divorced. Your question brought back some memories so I looked the Twins up. Here is a link to a site you might find interesting: http://www.thebubbleburst.co.uk/bb.php?entry=Thomp
Thanks quotation! I was kidding about them actually. If you like 80s nostalgia check out http://hubpages.com/hub/The-250-Greatest-80s-New-W
Great hub,! very interesting and a double thubs up;)
I can remember seeing a picture of Chang and Eng when I was small and being so inspired by how they took life by storm.
Beyond that, I have always wondered about and admired the skills of tailors and dressmakers who plan and sew the clothing for conjoined twins!
Cool!
Thank you for mentioning Patty and Selma.
hey - i'm a twin! nice to read your hub. are u a twin too?
so coollllllllllllllllllllllll!
what about tia and tamera?
Wow, you don't like the Olsen twins: do you? Some very tacky rude comments.
what about dylan and cole sprouse?
where's all the rest??
Great hub quotation! Was wondering where you got most of this info from? I have to write a report.
i'm a twin, i remember my mum was terrifed when she found out she was having twins, as her mums twin was still born, and so was hers nanas and so was m dads mums. but we both lived, i'm relieved to know :)
Your forgot the Kaulitz twins :)
Hello, quotations. when I was editing my hub on Raising Twins, your post appeared. I was looking for famous twins, then. Thanks for your hub. I've linked it.
I have twin dogs
cool what about the rousos
What about my brothers the Witkin twins? Joel-Peter Witkin artist, and Jeroma Witkin , painter.
The first black twins to be born in Crystal City Tx. Bertha Fay McNeil and Brenda McNeil. 49 years old. We were the second set to be born to my DaD. My Mom had two sets. My brother had a set of twins to they were the first black twins to be born in Carrizo Springs we were all in the news paper. They are 42 years old now.
No Dylan and cole sprouse.. =(
HELLO!
They're missing the Kaulitz twins!
They are the best twins ever! They're both in a band, both gorgeous, and their styles are so different. One's goth/scene and the other is gangster... with a lip ring!
And their accents are totally adorable.
What about The Psychic Twins who predicted 9/11 on national radio?
They were Tyra Banks' top two shows last year! You should check them out.
Amazing!!!
i want to know if i have a famous twin............
i really love this twins they are wonderful despite the fact that the conjoined twins they are still doing well..that nice,amazing justin timberlake is a twins wao thats cool
i really love this twins they are wonderful despite the fact that the conjoined twins they are still doing well..that nice,amazing justin timberlake is a twins wao thats cool
i don't get how the siamese twin get to get married.................what kind of married life were they having..
WOW!!!!!!!!!
I didn't know Elvis Presley had a twin!!!! :)
What about the Bush twins (Pres. George and Laura's daughters)
Who would add the most to the world if they had a twin just like them? I'm thinking of Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba, Lucy Liu and Halle Berry.
Yea. What about Tia & Tamara?
what about the bella twins?
Jayne, Joan, and Jane Boyd Knoerzer - three of the most gifted ladies of the Chicago Social Scene and Television Commercial Industry. Art Knoerzer was a smart man when he married Jane Boyd and together they brought Jayne and Joan to this world. Hammond Bishop Knoll HS Cheer Leaders, Members of the Indiana Un. Bells, Doublemint TV Twins. They brightened The Un. of Notre Dame Campus when both attended the Military Ball and Jayne was one of the high lites of the Senior Prom.
How did the Siamese twins have kids???
Winklevoss
The Olsen twins were nice at one time, but yet when one got strung out on drugs and beside they both look scary. What a waste!
what about me and my twin sister, Pearl.
Guess we're on the 'not so famous' list. lol
where r the sprouse twins :D
no mention of the Mowry twins(tia and Tamara)?
Don't forget Linda Hamilton. Her identical twin sister Leslie Hamilton Gearren was Linda's double in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). Leslie is seen when Sarah is remembering playing with John at the park and when the T-1000 is impersonating her.
AND the most famous conjoined twin in the world is Andy Garcia(famous for the Godfather2). He was born as a conjoined twin. His twin was no bigger than a tennis ball and was surgically removed. All that remains is a scar on his shoulder.
And most of all don't forget that Linda Hamilton is a timeless beauty and talent
Great Hub! Now that I have twin girls I am now more aware of people that are twins and people that are having twins! There are a lot of us out there!
Tabatha
What about the kelly twins? Mark and Scott?
Wow to all of you
I never knew about most of these. Some of this information is sure sad and some is incredible and some is incredibly sad.
You should build on this one. There certainly are more and this is a great subject. Two of my friends have identical twin boys. In both cases, those little guys are "double trouble"! So much fun. Thanks for the fun.
Quin twins are the best!
Great article but I find it funny that the title is Famous IDENTICAL Twins and they list Justin Timberlake and his SISTER. I am the mother of 2 sets of faternal twins so I'm sometimes amused that people sometimes forget there are several types of twins that are not identical
How did the Siam Twins have kids if they are conjoined and have two different wives. WOW! imagine that! haha i wanna know more about them... but not really....it is kinda gross.
Fascinating. Truly needs to be updated. I did not know that Linda Hamilton had a twin. It is extra hard on a twin that looses their twin at birth. Life is a bit lonely and they require more closeness from their family. My first grandson was a twin.
Great topic and very interesting,would like to know more.
I'm the mom of identical twins. What about Ricky Nelson's twin sons.
? The musicions.
Don't forgot the Nelson twins Matthew and Gunnar. They have rock band named Nelson and they're rocking.
this stuff is hilarious
You lot are crazy! You're naming twins that nobody knows, like yourself. Hilarious! Anyway, like a few others have said, what about Tia and Tamara Mowry. They had their own show, "Sister, Sister". C'mon, give them their props. Not to mention, they never got strung out on drugs either! They are two respectable women, unlike those Olsen twins...
What about Karl and Groucho Marx?
I think the twin dogs are called litter mates! :)
How about the twins on Antique Roadshow?
Ashton Kutcher has a twin brother. They seem to have a sweet relationship. I'd like to know more...
Ashton Kutcher is a twin.
It's nice to know so much about other twins. I too was a twin whose partner died at birth. I always feel this odd sense of loneliness in the midst of the most joyous occasions. Also in my dreams, there is always a small child leading me or helping me.
Recently I mentioned this to my sister, and to my surprise she said it probably is my twin. I had never thought about this before, but somehow I think she is correct.
Hi Cathy I - I am sorry to hear about the loss of your twin. I think it is certainly possible that you have a connection with your twin that survives death.
There's always Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush. They played Carrie on Little House on the Prairie.
Here's a link for the world's oldest living twins....100 years old! http://www.knoxvilledailysun.com/lifestyle/2011/wo
Jayne Seymore (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman) has twins, Johnny and Kris
As a mother of idential twins, one of the most fascinating events for multiples that we have ever participated in was Twins Days in Twinsburg, OH. We went one year when the girls were about 8 and there were 3000 set of multiples registered at that time. It was awesome!
Then there is Tia and Tamera Mowry.
Remember Jacob & Esau from the Old Testiment?! Those twins had more of an impact on the world than any others mentioned.
How many twins have been born to Hollywood actors, say, the last five years? There's been alot! Maybe it is in the water. But that is a baby boom!
What about Jedward :O
John Elway had a twin sister
i am an identical twin it would be amazing to find a talent we could share with the world
Very interesting article. I came to read about Tegan and Sara and stayed for the Siamese twins.
I was seriously hoping to see the Kaulitz twins (Bill and Tom) on this list..
They're the lead singer (Bill) and guitarist (Tom) of the German band Tokio Hotel. (AMAZING band, btw. Definitely my favorite ^-^ )
They're identical, but they're styles are so different you'd never guess it!
An interesting hub with an equally interesting title & information! Vote Up!
l first saw Chang and Eng Bunker in a Guiness Book of World Records about over 50 years ago. A shame they could have no privacy.
KOOL
I think the most talented twins of all time is Maurice and Robin Gibb
what about phil and lil from the rugrats?
Phillip and Lillian DeVille should have been up there as well. Fred and George Weasly from Harry Potter, Tia and Tamara Mowry from Sister Sister, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum from Alice and Wonderland, Dylan and Cole Sprouse from The Suite Life.
An extra tidbit: Twins consisting of different sexes CAN'T be identical. :D
Very cccoooollllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this is pretty interesting. i mean really what if you could clone some of them and than they could have there twin back? how cool would that be.
This is very intresting, I Also am a twin and I Am Very Intersted with all of this... We are Fraternal twins.. we were born in New martinsville, we are at the age of 12 now.
Leah and Luke Skywalker?
@Leah - maybe this will the topic of a new hub on famous movie twins.
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Maddie Ruud Level 5 Commenter 4 years ago
Great hub! I had no idea Justin Timberlake and Elvis both had twins who died at birth!