You’ve seen them everywhere. One is shaving her head for an Emmy-nominated role as Gypsy Rose Blanchard, and the other is winning back-to-back Daytime Emmys before becoming the face of modern Hallmark romances. Joey King and Hunter King are kind of an anomaly in Hollywood. Usually, when you have two sisters this successful in the same industry, there’s some manufactured tabloid drama about a "bitter rivalry" or who makes more per episode.
But with these two? It’s basically just a constant stream of IBS jokes and baguette-eating contests in Paris.
If you’re looking for the typical "starlet vs. starlet" story, you aren’t going to find it here. Instead, what you have is a weirdly wholesome, high-stakes success story involving three sisters (shout out to the eldest, Kelli King, who also acts but keeps a lower profile) who managed to conquer different corners of the entertainment world simultaneously.
How Joey King and Hunter King Actually Grew Up
Acting wasn't just a hobby for these two; it was more like a family trade. Growing up in Agoura Hills, California, they weren't your typical "stage kids" with pushy parents. Hunter, being about six years older than Joey, was the one who first caught the bug. She was doing theater as a kid, and little Joey—who honestly seems like she was born with a professional work ethic—just followed suit.
Hunter’s path was a bit more of a slow burn initially. She started with guest spots on shows like Roswell and Hannah Montana before landing the role of Summer Newman on The Young and the Restless. That’s where things got serious. Soap operas are a grind. You’re filming a ridiculous amount of pages every day. Hunter didn't just survive it; she thrived, snagging two Daytime Emmys.
Meanwhile, Joey was the kid in Ramona and Beezus and that one girl who survived the scary house in The Conjuring. She stayed in the film lane for a long time, while Hunter dominated TV. It’s probably why they never felt like they were competing for the same roles. They were playing different games on the same field.
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The "Same Face" Confusion
Honestly, the internet gets them mixed up all the time. It’s understandable. They have that same wide-eyed, expressive look. But their career trajectories couldn't be more different. Joey became a household name through Netflix’s The Kissing Booth trilogy—a series people love to hate but everyone definitely watched—and then pivoted hard into prestige drama with The Act.
Hunter, on the other hand, found her niche in the sitcom world with Life in Pieces and more recently has become a literal queen of the Hallmark Channel. If you’ve watched a Christmas movie in the last three years, there’s a 40% chance Hunter King was in it, wearing a very nice scarf and falling in love with a guy who owns a local cider mill.
That One Time They Worked Together
For years, fans were asking when we’d see Joey King and Hunter King on screen at the same time. It finally happened in 2019 on Life in Pieces. Hunter was a series regular playing Clementine, and Joey came on for a multi-episode arc as a pregnant teen named Morgan who was considering giving her baby to Hunter’s character.
It was meta. It was weird. And according to them, it was a nightmare for the director because they wouldn't stop laughing.
Joey once told Entertainment Weekly that they are "best friends" who "don't really fight ever." Which, if you have a sister, sounds like a lie, but they seem to actually mean it. They spent their time on set pitching the most "absurd and crazy things" for their characters to say to each other. It wasn’t about who got the most lines; it was about how much they could mess with each other while the cameras were rolling.
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Paris Fashion Week and the Reality of Fame
Fast forward to early 2025, and the sisters are still inseparable. They recently hit up Paris Fashion Week together for the Miu Miu show. You’d think it would be all glam and green juice, but Joey’s Instagram caption from the trip was a reality check. She joked about how their "sister getaway" was basically a contest of who could pack the most cold medicine and who could eat the most food that would trigger their IBS.
That’s the thing about Joey King and Hunter King. They don’t really do the "enigmatic celebrity" thing. They’re very loud about their flaws, their digestive issues, and their obsession with their dogs.
Where They Stand in 2026
Joey is currently at the top of her game. Between her production company, All the King's Horses, and her recent roles in big-budget stuff like A Family Affair and the dystopian Uglies, she’s moved into that "producer-actor" tier where she has real power. She also got married in 2023 to director Steven Piet in a wedding in Spain that looked like a Pinterest board come to life.
Hunter is also thriving, but in a way that feels more sustainable and less "paparazzi-heavy." She’s become a staple of the Hallmark brand, which—let’s be real—is one of the most stable jobs an actor can have. She’s also been open about her engagement to Chris Copier and seems to be enjoying the balance of working hard without the intense scrutiny that Joey sometimes faces.
Why the "King Sisters" Brand Works
A lot of people think having a famous sibling is a shortcut. Sure, it helps with connections, but it also creates a permanent comparison. If Joey wins an award, people look at Hunter. If Hunter gets a new series, people ask Joey for a comment.
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They’ve managed to avoid the "jealous sibling" trope by being each other’s biggest fans. When Joey got married, Hunter’s tribute was genuinely moving. When Hunter wins an Emmy, Joey is usually the one screaming the loudest in the front row.
Surprising Facts You Probably Didn't Know:
- They live together (sometimes): At one point, Joey, Hunter, and their mom all lived in the same house even after they were famous. Joey actually begged Hunter not to move out when Hunter got engaged.
- The Jewish Heritage: Joey has been vocal about being "part Jewish and part Christian, but mostly Jewish." It’s a part of her identity that she’s explored more as she’s gotten older.
- Voice Acting: They’ve both done it. Hunter was the voice of Tiny Kong in Diddy Kong Racing back in the day, and Joey has voiced characters in everything from Horton Hears a Who! to Despicable Me 4.
What We Can Learn From Them
Looking at the careers of Joey King and Hunter King, the takeaway isn't just about "making it." It's about diversification. Hunter found a niche where she is beloved and works constantly. Joey took risks on transformative roles that changed her public perception from "teen star" to "serious actor."
They’ve also shown that you don't have to sacrifice your family relationships to be successful in a cutthroat town. They’ve turned their sisterhood into a secondary brand without it feeling forced or "corporate."
If you're following their careers, the best thing you can do is look at their filmographies as two separate entities that occasionally collide for the sake of a good laugh (and maybe some French bread).
Your Next Steps
- Check out The Act on Hulu: If you’ve only seen Joey in romantic comedies, her performance as Gypsy Rose Blanchard will genuinely shock you. It’s a masterclass in physical acting.
- Watch Life in Pieces (Season 4): It’s the best way to see their natural chemistry. The episodes where they share the screen are easily some of the funniest in the series.
- Follow them on social media for the "unfiltered" version: Both sisters are refreshingly honest about the less glamorous parts of being an actor, from long hours to the aforementioned IBS flares.
- Keep an eye on Hunter’s Hallmark slate: If you need a "cozy" watch, she’s consistently the best part of every movie she’s in.