Did you know that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are not identical twins? They’re fraternal twins from separate eggs, not from the same split egg. As much as they look alike, you can still tell them apart – even without noting Mary-Kate’s lamentable anorexia. Mary-Kate’s smile hooks up to her right (our left, when looking at a photo), and Ashley’s hooks toward her left.

There are plenty of other famous twins: Ann Landers and Dear Abby, Robin and Maurice Gibb, Jose and Ozzie Canseco, etc. But here’s a list of a few well-known people who are twins, but are not necessarily known for the distinction…

Mario Andretti, racing car driver (twin brother Aldo)
Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary-General (twin sister Efua)
Conrad Bain, “Maude” and “Diff’rent Strokes actor (twin brother Bonar)
Nicholas Brendon, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” actor (twin brother Kelly)
Jim Broadbent, “Harry Potter” actor (twin sister died at birth)
Justin Chambers, “Grey’s Anatomy” actor (twin brother Jason)
Montgomery Clift, film actor (twin sister Roberta)
Ann B. Davis, “The Brady Bunch” actress (twin sister Harriet)
Philip K. Dick, American writer (twin sister Jane died after birth)
Vin Diesel, American actor (fraternal twin brother Paul Vincent)
John Elway, NFL quarterback (twin sister Jana)
Joseph Fiennes, “Flash Forward” actor (twin brother Jacob)
Max Gail, “Barney Miller” actor (twin sister Mary)
Andy Garcia, film actor (parasitic twin brother died soon after being removed from Andy’s shoulder)
Jerry Hall, American model and actress (twin sister Terry)
Linda Hamilton, “Terminator” actress (identical twin sister Leslie played the “T-1000 Sarah” in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”)
William Randolph Hearst, newspaper magnate (twin died as an infant)
Jill Hennessy, “Crossing Jordan” actress (appeared with twin sister Jacqueline in the movie “Dead Ringers”)
Marilu Henner, “Taxi” actress (twin sister Crystal)
John Hensley, “Nip/Tuck” actor (fraternal twin sister)
Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman (twin brother Corey)
Marlon Jackson, “Jackson 5″ brother (twin brother Brandon died at birth)
Scarlett Johansson, “The Horse Whisperer”actress (twin brother Hunter)
Ashton Kutcher, actor (fraternal twin brother Michael)
Liberace, impresario (twin died as an infant)
John Maine, Major League Baseball pitcher (fraternal twin brother)
Shawn Marion, NBA basketball player (twin sister Shawnett)
Kim Mathers, the former Mrs. Eminem (fraternal twin Dawn)
Alanis Morissette, Canadian rock singer/songwriter (twin brother Wade)
Elvis Presley, (twin brother Jesse Garon died at birth)
Parker Posey, actress (twin brother Chris)
Richard Quest, CNN anchor (twin sister Caroline)
Dack Rambo, American actor (twin brother Dirk)
Judy Reyes, “Scrubs” actress (twin sister Joselin)
Marty Robbins, Country Music singer (twin sister Mamie)
Isabella Rossellini, actress (twin sister Isotta Ingrid)
Giovanni Ribisi, actor (twin sister Marissa)
Sab Shimono, Japanese-American actor (twin brother Dr. Jiro Shimono)
Lori Singer, actress (twin brother Gregory)
Curtis Strange, professional golfer, (twin brother Allen)
Ed Sullivan, TV host (twin died as an infant)
Kiefer Sutherland, actor (twin sister Rachel)
Amanda Tapping, actress (twin brother Chris)
Jim Thorpe, American athlete (twin brother Charlie)
Paul Tsongas, American politician (twin sister Thaleia)
Ronan Tynan, “Irish Tenors” singer (twin brother died as an infant)
Billy Dee Williams, actor (twin sister Loretta)
Will Young, British singer (fraternal twin brother Rupert)

O.C. DeeDee

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