History Main / LukeIAmYourFather

** The original [[WesternAnimation/XMen 90s cartoon]] also did this with Nightcrawler and Mystique, but with the added twist that BigBad leader of the [[PathOfInspiration Friends of Humanity]] Grayden Creed, Jr. (who was already exposed in an earlier episode as being Sabertooth's son) was Mystique's son and Nightcrawler's half-brother (Just like in the comics).

In cases when villain and hero turn out to be parent and child, count on at least one scene where the hero worries that he or she will eventually [[VillainousLineage end up like the parent]].

** Gilgamesh Wulfenbach, the Baron's son, may also be the son of a woman from the lost city of Skifander. This may or may not be related to reports that a princess of Skifander is in Baron Wulfenbach's domains and according to the Baron wants Gil dead. Said princess may be the Baron's daughter and thus Gil's sister (probably twins).

* The biggest real life example is the revelation that birds are the direct descendants of non-avian dinosaurs, essentially making th dinosaurs in everything but name.

* The biggest real life example is the revelation that birds are the direct descendants of non-avian dinosaurs.

The subversion is RefusedReunion if the character, after being discovered and confronted by their offspring, denies parentage.

* ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'': This makes up the bulk of the plot of the episode "Big Reveal". Carol casually reveals to K.O. that Laserblast was his father. Later on, Professor Venomous reveals to K.O. that ''he'' was Laserblast, and thus is K.O.'s father, in a scene referencing the TropeNamer - complete with BigNo, which Carol hears, prompting her to rush in and discover that her ex is now a villain.

* In the furry adult comic, ''[[http://www.theduckwebcomics.com/Tinas_Story/5416521/ Tina's Story]]'', Tina is told that the man she thought was her stepfather was actually her biological father. Tina's mother was underage when she became pregnant, so they made up about her being raped by a human to cover it up. Stan (the dad) confessed to Tina because she was getting married to a human, and he didn't want to take the chance that Georgette's grudge against humans (over the years [[BelievingTheirOwnLies she'd taken to heart that humans had hurt her]]) would taint her marriage. This turns out to be fortunate timing, since Tina not long after after gave birth to triplets, one of whom looked just like Stan.

[[folder:Myts & Religion]]

* Parodied brilliantly in ''ComicStrip/FoxTrot''. [[{{Geek}} Jason]] is wearing his Darth Vader helmet to see [[Franchise/StarWars Episode III]], but gets stuck in his helmet. His father helps him get free, commenting that he had that problem with his Vader helmet when he was Jason's age.

* Parodied in ''ComicStrip/{{Mafalda}}''. Remember, the protagonists are all little children.

[[folder:Mythology]]

* The [[Myth/IrishMythology Irish mythological]] hero Cuchulainn accidentally kills his son, thinking he is an intruder, only to find out that his son is the victim when it's too late.
* OlderThanFeudalism: Oedipus, in ''Theatre/OedipusTheKing'', finding out that the woman he married is his biological mother, and that guy he killed years ago on the road was his biological father. Oh, and then he had to tell his daughters "I am your brother." ''Ouch''. He [[EyeScream puts out his eyes]] after that... [[Music/TomLehrer A tragic end to a loyal son who loved his mother.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'': Number 1 learns in TheMovie that the series' BigBad Father is his uncle (and by extension, that the movie's BigBad Grandfather is ''his grandfather''). [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] in the same movie with the Delightful Children, for whom it is revealed aren't actually Father's children but former KND operatives whom he kidnapped and {{Brainwashed}}.

* Parodied, once again, in ''WebVideo/CollegeSaga''. The DarthVaderClone Diculous tries to pull this on the hero, only to have two of the party members inform him that "*We* are your parents!". Perhaps the reason the hero doesn't fall for it is that he was already revealed to be the son of Willie Wonka. The final twist is Diculous is their ''daughter''.

Whether or not this is a good thing or a bad thing for whoever is being given the reveal mainly depends on who is giving the reveal in question. Sometimes an ally, a {{Mentor|s}} or a non-romantic MysteriousProtector will turn out to be the parent of the person being given the reveal, but other times, the reveal of who a character's parent is will be [[UnpleasantParentReveal cause for serious anguish]], such as someone who just [[HeroicSacrifice gave his or her life for him]], [[SurpriseIncest someone who could have been]] a LoveInterest, or worst of all a villain (maybe even the BigBad, as in the most infamous ''Franchise/StarWars'' example].

Whether or not this is a good thing or a bad thing for whoever is being given the reveal mainly depends on who is giving the reveal in question. Sometimes an ally, a {{Mentor|s}} or a non-romantic MysteriousProtector will turn out to be the parent of the person being given the reveal, but other times, the reveal of who a character's parent is will be [[UnpleasantParentReveal cause for serious anguish]], such as someone who just [[HeroicSacrifice gave his or her life for him]], someone who could have been a LoveInterest, or worst of all, a villain working for the BigBad or even the BigBad himself, as in the most infamous ''Franchise/StarWars'' example.

* Said word for word, in ''WesternAnimation/{{Ultimate Spider-Man}}'', when Spider-Man heard that Power Man's parents are working for Scorpio, Spidey's [[ImagineSpot imagines]] Dr Doom saying this to Luke Cage.

* A variation in ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'', when Bob [[http://bobadventures.comicgenesis.com/d/20061007.html first tells Molly]] that he ''considers'' her to be his daughter, even though they are not related.
** Still later, Jean [[http://bobadventures.comicgenesis.com/d/20080503.html reveals that]] because Molly shares some of her DNA, Jean ''is'' her mommy, "just a little bit."

->'''Darth Vader:''' [[TheObiWan Obi-Wan]] never told you what happened to [[DisappearedDad your father]].\\
'''Luke Skywalker:''' He told me enough! He told me [[YouKilledMyFather you killed him!]]\\

->'''Darth Vader:''' Obi-Wan never told you what happened to your father.\\
'''Luke Skywalker:''' He told me enough! He told me ''you'' killed him!\\

This is a specific variety of TheReveal. The flip-side is LukeYouAreMyFather. Compare LongLostRelative, LukeIMightBeYourFather, EveryoneIsRelated. Contrast with IAmNotYourFather. Subtrope of ConnectedAllAlong. Frequently occurs alongside ArchnemesisDad.

[[folder:Film -- Animated]]
* In the direct-to-video sequel ''WesternAnimation/AladdinAndTheKingOfThieves'', Aladdin discovers his father is the leader of the Forty Thieves.
* ''WesternAnimation/HowToTrainYourDragon2'' has Hiccup learn of a mysterious dragon rider who has been stealing dragons from another tribe of dragon riders; when he winds up captured by this person, he discovers that it's his long-lost and presumed-dead mother.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Coco}}'': Miguel discovers that his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz, is actually [[spoiler: a fraud who murdered his ''real'' great-great-grandfather, Héctor]], and that his family banned music because [[spoiler:Héctor]] walked out on them to become a famous musician all those years ago. [[spoiler: Unbeknownst to them, Héctor had every intention of coming back.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'':
** [[TheParody Parodied]] with a Buzz Lightyear action figure (not the main one) and his archnemesis Evil Emperor Zurg reenacting a [[BeamMeUpScotty slightly modified]] version of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' reveal.
--->'''Zurg:''' Surrender, Buzz Lightyear! I have won!\\
'''Buzz:''' I'll never give in! YouKilledMyFather!\\
'''Zurg:''' No, Buzz. I ''am'' your father.\\
'''Buzz:''' [[BigNo NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!]]
** Later on, you see Buzz and Zurg having [[PlayingCatchWithTheOldMan a father-and-son game of Catch]].
--->'''Zurg:''' Go long, Buzzy!\\
'''Buzz:''' Oh, you're a great dad!

[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
* The big reveal in ''Film/AngelHeart'' where Harry Angel is revealed to be Johnny Favorite, and therefore the father of Epiphany Proudfoot, who he has been having sex with, and has just murdered during a blackout, in a rather bizarre set of supernatural circumstances.
* [[TheParody Parodied]] in ''Film/AustinPowersTheSpyWhoShaggedMe'' with Dr. Evil claiming to be Austin's father (in an exaggerated voice akin to Vader's) and then admitting almost immediately that he was just making it up. [[spoiler: In a twist, the third movie features the revelation that Austin and Dr. Evil were in fact brothers, separated as infants.]]
* In the parody ''Backfire!'', the Most Evil Man reveals this to the heroes, complete with Darth Vader voice.
* Near the end of ''Film/BigMoneyRustlas'', before dying of a gunshot wound inflicted onto him by Sugar Wolf, the film's villain, Big Baby Chips, reveals to Sugar Wolf that he is actually his father, Grizzly Wolf, prompting Sugar Wolf to rub off his face paint to see if he was telling the truth. He was.
* In ''Film/BlackAngelVol1'', Ikko discovers fairly late that Chiaki, the woman she is trying to kill is, is not her half-sister but actually her mother. In this case, neither woman knew this initally because Ikko was a ChildByRape and Chiaki's father removed the child at birth, telling Chiaki the child had died, and gave it to his mistress to raise.
* In the movie ''Film/TheBoondockSaints'', the hitman known as Il Duce, who previously gave the [=MacManus=] brothers the fight of their lives, is revealed to be their long-lost father when he walks in on them delivering the family prayer to their fallen comrade Rocco (whom he had previously been hired to kill) and finishes the prayer himself. And then much ass was kicked.
* ''Film/CandymanFarewellToTheFlesh'' has the main protagonist Annie discover that she is the great-great-granddaughter of the Candyman.
* In the 2003 film version of the Filipino superhero ''Captain Barbell'', the BigBad [[PlayingWithFire Lagablab]], reveals he is Enteng's (Captain Barbell's mortal alter-ego) DisappearedDad. Captain Barbell is shocked but defeats him anyway.
* ''Film/{{The Count of Monte Cristo|2002}}'' has Albert revealed as the son of Edmond, conceived right before Edmond is framed for treason and shipped off to prison 16 years earlier.
* Taken to ridiculous extremes in ''Film/DirtyWork''. Mitch and Sam are talking to Sam's father, Pops, who reveals he's also Mitch's father. They don't believe him; so he pulls out a locket:
-->'''Mitch:''' That's you and my Mom!... having sex!\\
'''Sam:''' You were unfaithful to my mom!\\
'''Pops:''' No I wasn't. Who do you think took the picture?\\
''(later)''\\
'''Sam:''' Hey, Mitch, remember when you had sex with my sister?
* It is [[SpoilerTitle pretty obvious]] in the French 1961 film ''Le Fils de Caroline Chérie'' that Juan is the son of Caroline and Gaston de Salanches, but the characters themselves don't find this out until the last fifteen minutes.
* Ego says tells this to Star-Lord after they first meet in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2''.
* Near the beginning of ''Film/KingdomOfHeaven'', Godfrey reveals to Balian that Balian is his illegitimate son. The theatrical cut has him outright saying, "Balian, I'm your father"; the director's cut drops the line and lets the implication speak for itself.
* Parodied in ''Film/LooneyTunesBackInAction'' when the ACME Chairman unzips to reveal he is actually Damian Drake, DJ's father, in a LatexPerfection disguise. When DJ insists this can't possibly be true, Damian admits, "You're right, it isn't!" and unzips again to reveal [[Film/SpaceJam Michael Jordan]], [[RuleOfThree then unzips once more]] to reveal [[TheUnreveal he really was just the ACME Chairman all along]].
-->'''ACME Chairman''': Well, who's laughing now? [''{{beat}}''] ...apparently, no-one.
* ''Film/TheManFromEarth'': in the end what confirms that John wasn't lying about his claims to be an ageless immortal was when Gruber (a colleague of John's who appears to be about twice John's age) realized that John is his father. (John had suddenly left his family at the time when Gruber was just a few years old.) The shock ends up giving Gruber a heart attack and he dies shortly after.
* Before dying at the end of ''Film/TheManInTheIronMask'', D'Artagnan barely has the time to reveal to Philippe (and Louis) that he is their father.
* The climax of ''Film/MortalEngines'' offers the heavy implication that, like in [[Literature/MortalEngines the books]], [[spoiler:Thaddeus Valentine is Hester Shaw's biological father, showing that he and her mother Pandora were romantically involved in the past, as well as him directly comparing her own personal drive and determination to his]].
* In ''Film/MrDeeds'', it's revealed that [[spoiler: the family butler, Emilio]] is Preston Blake's son [[spoiler: by way of Blake's cleaning lady]], and thus heir to his company and fortune.
* Subverted masterfully in the movie ''[[Film/TheBoatThatRocked Pirate Radio]]'', throughout most of which it is implied that Quinten is Young Carl's father, only for it to be revealed by Young Carl's mother that Bob, the 3-6 am DJ is his father instead. Quaintly enough, Young Carl's reaction is eerily similar to that of the trope namers.
* ''Film/{{Scanners}}'': Darryl Revok, the villain, reveals that he and Cameron Vale, the hero, [[CainAndAbel are the sons]] of Dr. Paul Ruth, the BrokenPedestal mentor.
* In ''Film/{{Shocker}}'', the main villain reveals himself to be the protagonist's father before he is executed in the electric chair and is turned into a PsychoElectro.
* In ''Film/TheSmurfs2'', Gargamel quotes the full line to Smurfette: "I am your father. Search your feelings, you know it to be true".
* ''Film/{{Sorceress}}'': Traigon tells Mira his name when she's brought before him. She reacts violently, knowing that he's the one who killed her mother, but then is shocked when he reveals that he's her father.
* [[TheParody Parodied]] in ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}'':
-->'''Dark Helmet:''' I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate!\\
'''Lone Starr:''' What does that make us?\\
'''Dark Helmet:''' Absolutely nothing, which is what you are about to become!
** That would make him either Lone Starr's former roommate, his cousin's former roommate or Lone Starr's brother's former roommate (assuming he has one).
* In ''Film/{{Stardust}}'' the servant Una is revealed to be Tristan's mother, and long-lost princess of Storrmhold, making him the heir and king.
* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
** TropeNamer. This is TheReveal from [[Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack the second part]] of the original trilogy.[[note]]The line as it's frequently quoted is actually BeamMeUpScotty; the [[Radio/StarWarsRadioDramas radio]] and [[ComicBook/StarWarsMarvel1977 Marvel Comics]] adaptations ''do'' render it as "No, Luke, I '''am''' your father", however.[[/note]] The reason that this reveal worked and a lot of the imitators fell flat was that a big part of Luke's story revolved around his [[TellMeAboutMyFather Jedi Knight father]], whom he sought to emulate as a Jedi himself, which was ''why'' Luke let out the BigNo in response to the AwfulTruth about said father being revealed. In addition to that, this also means that both Obi-Wan and Yoda had been lying to him ever since they met. It also gives new light to Uncle Owen's reasons for refusing to let Luke accept the CallToAdventure, in particular Aunt Beru's assessment that "he's got too much of his father in him" and Owen's response "That's what I'm afraid of". Also, the reveal in ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' is that Leia is Luke's sister.
** According to Wiki/TheOtherWiki, this was meant to be played again in ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', where Palpatine would tell Anakin that he created him from midichlorians, before Lucas heavily changed the script, although the implication that Plagueis created him was nonetheless present. It was nonetheless implied that Palpatine was at least somewhat involved alongside Plagueis in manipulating the midichlorians into creating him in the Legends novel ''Literature/DarthPlagueis'', although Anakin's creation was actually not just an accident (they were intending to manipulate them into creating a Sith weapon), but they [[TheDogBitesBack struck back]] and [[NiceJobFixingItVillain created the very means to destroy them]].
** Happens yet again in ''Film/TheForceAwakens''. This time, [[spoiler:Han Solo and Leia Organa are Kylo Ren's parents, although this is only a surprise to the audience, not the characters]].
** A subversion happens in ''Film/TheLastJedi'', where for the entire movie and the one previous, it was hinted that Rey had some familial connection to someone important (perhaps even a prominent character in the series). In the end, though, Kylo Ren reveals to Rey her parents' true identity: [[spoiler:They were "nobodies", just lowly junk traders who sold her for drinking money and are long dead by now.]]
*** Ultimately played straight by ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker'', where [[spoiler:Rey is Palpatine's granddaughter, via her father. Rey's parents being nobodies was an attempt to hide her from him.]]
* ''Film/TheTerminator'': Kyle Reese, John Connor's friend is actually John's father by TimeTravel.
* ''Film/{{Transamerica}}'': when Toby, a teen runaway who had made a living as a hustler and who seems to only show affection sexually, attempts to seduce the {{Transgender}} woman, Bree, who is adopting him, her only recourse is explain him that she was, in fact, his ''father'' before transitioning. She'd kept it secret from him because she knew he thought his father was a famous actor and didn't want to disillusion him. The fact that the audience already knows this is a considerable source of {{Squick}} in the scene.
* {{Inverted|Trope}} in ''Film/TronLegacy'' when Sam Flynn seems to finally find his [[DisappearedDad lost father]] on [[{{Cyberspace}} the Grid]]; it turns out only to be a program written by Dad, though the dialog is almost verbatim.
-->'''CLU:''' I'm not your father, Sam. But I'm very, very happy to see you.
* In the film ''Film/{{Wanted}}'', this is used as the twist about 3/4ths of the way through the film. It actually makes sense, because it's the only reasonable explanation for why Cross never seems to be able to hit Wesley despite his improbable superpowered gun skills; turns out he was never trying to kill him in the first place.
* {{Implied|Trope}} in ''Film/{{Warcraft}}''. Garona, a half-orc, talks about her orc mother dying shortly after giving birth to her. Later, the human Medivh talks to Garona about love and drops some heavy hints that he fell in love with her mother and is her father.

[[folder:Music]]
* In the song "The Mayor of Candor Lied", the narrator is in love with the mayor's daughter, but the mayor won't hear of it. In the end we learn why:
-->''As I look into his leering aged wrinkled mirror of my own face''\\
''He laughs and sneers and says -- Of course dear son --''\\
''Where do you think you came from in the first place?''

[[folder:Mythology]]
* The {{Tragedy}} of Sohrab and Rostam from UsefulNotes/{{Persian myth|ology}}s, found in ''Literature/TheShahnameh''. Rostam's son is raised without meeting his father for years. The young Sohrab decides to become a hero and gathers up a force. Rostam is the Persian equivalent of [[Characters/ClassicalMythology Hercules]] and is meanwhile ordered to subdue the marauding enemies. In the final battle, the father and son engage each other in battle, as no one else is a match for either of them. Although Rostam notices similarities between himself and his enemy, it is not until it is too late when he discovers that he has killed his own son.
* The [[Myth/IrishMythology Irish mythological]] hero Cuchulainn accidentally kills his son, thinking he is an intruder, only to find out that his son is the victim when it's too late.
* OlderThanFeudalism: Oedipus, in ''Theatre/OedipusTheKing'', finding out that the woman he married is his biological mother, and that guy he killed years ago on the road was his biological father. Oh, and then he had to tell his daughters "I am your brother." ''Ouch''. He [[EyeScream puts out his eyes]] after that... [[Music/TomLehrer A tragic end to a loyal son who loved his mother.]]

[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
* In the late 1990s, after Wrestling/TheUndertaker's brother, Wrestling/{{Kane}}, came to the Wrestling/{{WW|E}}F, it was revealed that Kane's biological father was Wrestling/PaulBearer, the Undertaker's manager until 1996. The story was Bearer worked in the funeral home run by Taker's parents (Bearer was a licensed mortician/funeral director in real life) and the mother made a pass at him, resulting in a one-night stand ... and Kane 9 months later.
* The 2005 feud between Wrestling/EddieGuerrero and Wrestling/ReyMysterioJr included an angle where Rey's real-life son Dominick was revealed to be the (kayfabe) biological son of Guerrero.
-->'''Guerrero:''' I'M YOUR ''PAPI!''
* WWE did a story line in 2007 where it was revealed that Wrestling/{{Vince|McMahon}} had fathered a child out of wedlock years ago, and his illegitimate offspring was a member of the current WWE roster. In the end, the child was revealed to be [[spoiler: Wrestling/{{Hornswoggle}}]].[[note]]This was a clumsy AuthorsSavingThrow, after the Vince's limo exploding[=/=]Vince [[AttendingYourOwnFuneral appearing at his own "funeral"]] angle had to be abandoned [[RealLifeWritesThePlot due to the]] Wrestling/ChrisBenoit tragedy.[[/note]]
** Originally, it was planned for [[Wrestling/KenAnderson Mr. Kennedy]] to be Vince's long-lost son.
* During the 2016 ''[[Wrestling/RingOfHonor Road To Best In The World]]'' Wrestling/DaltonCastle was reminiscing about meeting Bobby Fish's children, to which Fish dropped the bombshell that he was Castle's father...[[{{troll}} he was lying.]]

[[folder:Radio]]
* Spoofed in ''Mitch Benn's Crimes Against Music'' when, after a series-long RunningGag about Mitch's rivalry with fellow musical satirist Richard Stillgoe, the final episode features him as a special guest, and a showdown between the two performers.
-->'''Stillgoe:''' Punt and Dennis never told you what happened to your father.\\
'''Benn:''' You're not my father!\\
'''Stillgoe:''' No, of course I'm not. Whatever gave you that idea?
* The ''Star Wars'' example is spoofed at the end of ''Radio/BleakExpectaions'''s fourth season finale, when BigBad Mr. Benevolent says this to Pip Bin, claiming "your father liked to delegate. A lot." He then follows up by doing the WeCanRuleTogether offer, which Pip actually takes. [[spoiler:When The Creator takes Pip to task, he explains that Mr. Benevolent is and ''is not'' Pip's father. Everyone has alternative pasts. Something to do with String Theory apparently. Worth noting The Creator is a particularly ditzy god, by His own admission.]]

[[folder:Roleplay]]
* Two of the cultists in ''RolePlay/YuGiOhEastAcademy'' are revealed to be Denero's parents.

[[folder:Stand-up Comedy]]
* Comedian Gad Elmaleh parodied this in his stand-up show. His mother, he said, used to tell him that "your father is no Rothschild", i.e. "he's no millionaire, we can't waste money." He then says that he later met Rothschild, only to scream at him: "I know! You're not my father!"
* There's an old joke about a boy who figures out that he can get adults to give him stuff simply by saying a sly "I know the truth..." and leaving it at that, allowing their minds to jump to "What could he know?" and pay him off without confirming what it is he "knows". Then he tries this on the milkman, who, rather than paying him off, drops down in tears of joy and exclaims "SON!" as he hugs him.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* Invoked in ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'', where the Sidereal Exalted have a power, Brother and Sister Revelation, which allows them to ''invent'' any sort of blood relationship between two characters and make it metaphysically true.
[[/folder]]

* At the end of ''Theatre/HeadOverHeels'', Pythio, the nonbinary-gendered oracle, is revealed as Mopsa's ostracized mother.

In cases when villain and hero turn out to be parent and child, count on at least one scene where the hero worries that he or she will eventually [[InTheBlood end up like the parent]].

* Recent evidence has backed claims that a Frenchman, Jean-Marie Loret, was the product of an affair between UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler, who was a German soldier in World War I, and his mother when she was 16 in 1917.