Bet You Didn’t Know These 14 Hollywood Stars Are From Michigan
It’s safe to say that some celebrities in Michigan are well-associated with their home state. Most people know famous people from Michigan like Eminem, Kid Rock, and Madonna hail from the Great Lake State. But there are a number of other celebrity powerhouses that are from here as well. Here’s a small sampling of various famous people from Michigan: at one time or another, they all called the Wolverine State home.
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Kristen Bell is known for roles in "Veronica Mars," "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," and "Frozen. She was born in Huntington Woods, a small northern suburb of Detroit. She graduated high school in nearby Royal Oak and then moved to New York City to pursue her acting career.
Considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Francis Ford Coppola has won numerous Academy Awards for films he has directed. He's had successes like the epic "Godfather" films and "Apocalypse Now." He was born in Detroit, the son of a flutist in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. His middle name is an homage to Henry Ford.
Yet another filmmaker born in Detroit, Jerry Bruckheimer is one of the most well-known film producers of all time. He has produced many hits, including the box office sensation "Pirates of the Caribbean" film series, the "CSI" family of television shows, and other films like "Pearl Harbor" and "Remember the Titans." He began his career in Detroit as a producer of television commercials.
Hughes is behind some of the most beloved films for kids of the 80s and 90s, including Home Alone, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Pretty in Pink. He also happens to be from Lansing.
If you love the Pure Michigan ads, you know Tim Allen is a proud Michigander. Tim Allen was actually born in Colorado, but moved to Birmingham when he was a kid. He graduated high school there and attended Central Michigan University and West Michigan University. He would gain fame on the hit series "Home Improvement."
Known as Jessie Spano from the 1990s cult classic series "Saved by the Bell," Elizabeth Berkley was born in Farmington Hills. She graduated high school in Michigan before moving to New York City to pursue a career in dance.
Selma Blair wanted to be a horse trainer and ballerina as a child! Thankfully for us, she ended up being one of the most famous people from Michigan as an actress instead. She had a number of successes in the late 90s and 00s, with roles in "Cruel Intentions" and "Hellboy."
Bob Eubanks is one of the most beloved game show hosts of all time. He popularized "The Newlywed Game" and "Card Sharks." He also served as a manager for several popular country music artists, including Dolly Parton and Merle Haggard.
Probably the most famous radio DJ of all time, Casey Kasem was born in Detroit. He got his start in the medium by covering sports for Northwestern High School in Detroit. His work on Top 40 radio really popularized the idea of a "top hits" chart for popular music.
Born in St. Clair Shores, Davie Coulier was Uncle Joey on the popular TV series "Full House." He attended the University of Michigan (go Blue!) but dropped out to pursue his comedy career.
Ed McMahon received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work as a sidekick to Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show." He traveled all over in his early years, working as a carnival barker in Maine and later a pitchman for vegetable slicers in New Jersey.
James Lipton asked the tough questions for his "Inside the Actor's Studio" series. Born in Detroit, his family struggled financially in his youth and he had to start working at age 13. He acted in the Catholic Theater of Detroit and was a copy boy for the "Detroit Times."
There you have it: some of the most famous people from Michigan. Can you think of any other celebrities in Michigan we forgot? Share them in the comments; we love to hear Michigan trivia!
Address: Michigan, USA
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Michigan Trivia
August 10, 2021
Lisa Sammons
What are some fun facts about Michigan?
Did you know that the J.W. Westcott II is the country’s only floating post office? It is used to deliver mail to ships. At 116, Michigan has the most lighthouses and navigational lights of anywhere in the U.S. Grand Rapids has the largest equestrian statue in the country, the 24-foot-tall American Horse. Check out more interesting facts about Michigan in this article.
What are some good things about living in Michigan?
We are such a unique state! It’s basically like two states in one between the UP and lower peninsula. We are filled with fantastic towns, like Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor. Our food is great, our people friendly, and our towns have fun names like Charlevoix and Kalamazoo.
Serena Maria Daniels is an award-winning freelance journalist in Detroit, by way of Chicago, by way of the West Coast. She writes about Michigan for OIYS. Serena enjoys learning about language and culture and taking road trips with her beagle Ralph.
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