On television it doesn't seem to matter too much if family members resemble each other; usually they don't.

Some of the best examples I've seen of realistic casting are:

Golden Girls: Nancy Walker as Sophia's sister (hilarious) and Lynnie Greene as young Dorothy

Roseanne: Michael Fishman looks like Roseanne and Ned Beatty could be Dan's dad

Little House on the Prairie: Charles Bloom as Almanzo's brother Perley Day

Frasier: David Hyde Pierce as Niles-perfect brother for Frasier

Everybody Loves Raymond: Jeffrey, Michael and Allie are siblings in real life

In an episode of "Too Close for Comfort," Robert Mandan (Chester Tate from "Soap") played Ted Knight's brother. They both remind me of each other and I thought it was very realistic casting.

Life Goes On: Patti LuPone and Kellie Martin certainly looked like mother and daughter, and even starred again as mother and daughter in a 1996 TV movie.

The Brady Bunch: Florence Henderson resembled the actresses playing her daughters and Robert Reed resembled the actors playing his sons. Good casting!

Bewitched: Elizabeth Montgomery and Erin Murphy also looked like they could really be mother and daughter. Erin, as an adult, still looks like Liz! :D

On television it doesn't seem to matter too much if family members resemble each other; usually they don't.

Some of the best examples I've seen of realistic casting are:

Golden Girls: Nancy Walker as Sophia's sister (hilarious) and Lynnie Greene as young Dorothy

Roseanne: Michael Fishman looks like Roseanne and Ned Beatty could be Dan's dad

Little House on the Prairie: Charles Bloom as Almanzo's brother Perley Day

Frasier: David Hyde Pierce as Niles-perfect brother for Frasier

Everybody Loves Raymond: Jeffrey, Michael and Allie are siblings in real life
David Hyde Pierce was cast as Frasiers brother for his physical resemblance to Kelsey Grammar. Even Davids wife said how much they look alike during an episode of "Cheers" once; and she suggested that he ask to be in some episodes as Frasiers cousin or something.

David Jansenn was PERFECT for the lead in "The Fugitive".

I Love Lucy: Richard Keith was perfectly cast as Little Ricky, he resembled Desi Arnaz.

Hope & Faith: Faith Ford and Kelly Ripa resemble each other enough to make them believable as sisters.

I agree, Frasier and Niles are very convincing brothers. Thats really the only comparison I can think of. Because sitcoms often do go all out with casting, some kids have blonde hair while both parents have brown hair, etc...

Jenny favored Helen somewhat in looks on The Jeffersons.

Jean Stapleton was great as Marie Barrone's sister on Everybody Loves Raymond.

Nancy Walker is great as Rhoda Morgenstern.

In an episode of "Too Close for Comfort," Robert Mandan (Chester Tate from "Soap") played Ted Knight's brother. They both remind me of each other and I thought it was very realistic casting.
Jack Cassidy played Ted's brother on an MTM episode. Good catch, as the two really did look and sound alike.

Buddy Ebsen, Donna Douglas, Irene Ryan & Max Baer were all perfect as THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES, and Raymond Bailey was perfectly cast as Milburn Drysdale.

Frasier: David Hyde Pierce as Niles-perfect brother for FrasierBoy is THAT ever true!

Corner Gas: Janet Wright (Emma) looks SO much like star Brent Butt that she totally looks as if she was his real-life Mom.

I agree, Frasier and Niles are very convincing brothers. Thats really the only comparison I can think of. Because sitcoms often do go all out with casting, some kids have blonde hair while both parents have brown hair, etc...

I agree. They are PERFECT bothers.

I know that Vicki Lawrence was chosen to appear on THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW because of her uncanny resemblance to Carol Burnett.

Everybody Loves Raymond: Jeffrey, Michael and Allie are siblings in real life
Let me say, casting those blonde children as the kids of two BRUNETTE PARENTS, with no other blondes in the family (no Marie is brunette, her hair is dyed :rofl:) to me is totally unrealistic. :lol:

Same thing with the twins of Jessie on Full House. He and his wife were brunettes and they had blonde twins. :lol:

WHO'S YOUR DADDY? :lol:

not a sitcom, but on One Tree Hill, Paul Johannsen and James Lafferty are believable as father and son.

However, that's where it stops on that show. We're lead to believe Lucas (blonde) is the product of two brunettes, while Nathan (brunette) had a blonde mother? I think there was a switched at birth scenario there on that show.