Famous Twins - The Top Ten List of the Most Famous and Not So Famous Twins of All Time

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Twins
Twins

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.


Twin Partners in Crime
Twin Partners in Crime

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.


Siamese Twins
Siamese Twins

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!

Comments

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Maddie Ruud profile image

Maddie Ruud  says:
2 years ago

Great hub! I had no idea Justin Timberlake and Elvis both had twins who died at birth!

PCaholicDotCom profile image

PCaholicDotCom  says:
2 years ago

8. The Siamese Twins - Interesting tidbits... thanks for the great info!

Peter

Patty Inglish, MS profile image

Patty Inglish, MS  says:
2 years ago

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.

stephhicks68 profile image

stephhicks68  says:
2 years ago

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!

quotations profile image

quotations  says:
2 years ago

Thanks everyone for the feedback! I enjoyed writing this hub.

DJ Funktual profile image

DJ Funktual  says:
2 years ago

Great HUB. What about The Thompson Twins? LOL

quotations profile image

quotations  says:
2 years ago

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

DJ Funktual profile image

DJ Funktual  says:
2 years ago

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

compu-smart profile image

compu-smart  says:
2 years ago

Great hub,! very interesting and a double thubs up;)

Sheila Martin profile image

Sheila Martin  says:
2 years ago

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!

MOmmagus  says:
2 years ago

Cool!

Maylinda Arons profile image

Maylinda Arons  says:
17 months ago

Thank you for mentioning Patty and Selma.

dawei888 profile image

dawei888  says:
13 months ago

hey - i'm a twin! nice to read your hub. are u a twin too?

sean  says:
13 months ago

so coollllllllllllllllllllllll!

keKe  says:
12 months ago

what about tia and tamera?

era_smart  says:
10 months ago

what about dylan and cole sprouse?

Stephanie   says:
4 months ago

Great hub quotation! Was wondering where you got most of this info from? I have to write a report.

beth  says:
3 months ago

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 :)

Courtney  says:
2 months ago

Your forgot the Kaulitz twins :)

travel_man1971 profile image

travel_man1971  says:
2 months ago

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.

fred  says:
6 weeks ago

I have twin dogs

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