EastEnders star Jake Wood has shared a heartfelt birthday tribute to his son Buster, who has just turned 18, with fans quick to note the uncanny family resemblance. The actor, best known for playing Max Branning in the long-running BBC soap, posted a gushing Instagram message to mark his rarely-seen son's milestone birthday.
Fans Spot Striking Likeness in Birthday Snap
In the Instagram post shared on Saturday, Jake Wood celebrated his son Buster's 18th birthday with an emotional caption. The 53-year-old actor wrote: 'HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY BUSTER!!!! Everyone loves you so much!!! Keep doing what you are doing, stay true to yourself and continue being the thoughtful, funny, caring, talented and amazing young man you have grown up to be and who we are so incredibly proud of always ❤️❤️❤️'.
Fans were immediately struck by how much Buster resembles his famous father, with many commenting on the similarity. One fan joked that Buster looked like 'a young Max Branning', referencing Jake's iconic EastEnders character. Other comments included observations like 'Wow he looks like your twin!' and 'No DNA test required! You are like copy and paste!'.
Family Life and Recent EastEnders Return
Jake Wood shares two children with his wife Alison Murray, whom he married in 2001. Their daughter Amber is 20 years old, while Buster has now reached adulthood at 18. The birthday celebration comes at an interesting time for the actor, who recently returned to EastEnders after a four-year absence.
Wood's character Max Branning was last seen on screens in February 2021, when he departed Walford after his affair with Linda Carter was exposed. The storyline saw Max being encouraged by his brother Jack to move on with his life, leading him to leave for New Zealand to be with his daughter Lauren. The character made a surprise return to the Square in a September 2025 episode, much to fans' delight.
Branning Family Gatherings Beyond the Screen
The Wood family celebration follows recent real-life gatherings of the EastEnders Branning clan. Last year, the actors who portray the popular soap family enjoyed a festive night out together, sharing playful photographs from their meal at a London restaurant.
The gathering included Jacqueline Jossa (who plays Lauren Branning), Scott Maslen (Jack Branning), Ellie Dadd (Amy Mitchell), Kitty Castledine (Penny Branning), and Pierre Moullier (Oscar Branning). The group were seen enjoying each other's company, singing along to music and posing for photographs, demonstrating the strong bonds that have formed between the cast members who play the fictional family on screen.
Within the EastEnders universe, Jake Wood's character Max serves as father to Lauren and Oscar Branning, while Scott Maslen's Jack is Max's brother, making his daughters Penny and Amy cousins to Lauren and Oscar. These off-screen gatherings show how the actors maintain connections beyond their professional roles on the popular television programme.
