You May Be Surprised to Learn These 13 Famous People Are From Delaware

Delaware may be the smallest state, but its cultural influence stretches far beyond its borders. Several cool inventions were made right here in Delaware, and surprisingly, many celebrities hail from the First State, too. Whether they were simply born here or born and raised, these larger-than-life stars have called Delaware home at some point. Looking at this list, it's hard to imagine so much talent coming from one little state!

From TV stars to world-famous athletes, these famous people from Delaware have made a huge impact not just in the mid-Atlantic but around the world. Several of them are also responsible for accomplishing many historic Delaware firsts, including starting a band named after the state. Think you know who we're talking about? Test your knowledge by reading the following 13 celeb profiles below.

1. Actress Aubrey Plaza

You probably know this queen of deadpan as a longtime resident of the (fictional) town of Pawnee, Indiana, from her iconic long-running role as April Ludgate on Parks and Recreation. But Aubrey Plaza was born right here in Wilmington, Delaware. She grew up going to Ursuline Academy—a private Catholic school in the state—where she participated in drama clubs and theater.

Besides Plaza's most famous role, she's also played in several major films, like Funny People, the cult classic Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Dirty Grandpa, and the hit series The White Lotus. She has received several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations over the years.

2. Actor Ryan Phillippe

Actor Ryan Phillippe is from New Castle, Delaware, a historic town just miles from Wilmington along the Delaware River. Phillippe began his career in modeling at Barbizon, which had a location in Wilmington. From there, the Delaware heartthrob skyrocketed to acting fame in the late 1990s. He's best known for playing Billy Douglas in the soap opera One Life to Live in 1992, and for starring in the 1995 film Crimson Tide. But starring roles in the movies I Know What You Did Last Summer and Cruel Intentions made him a household name.

3. Basketball Star, Elena Delle Donne

Elena Delle Donne is a decorated former basketball star from Wilmington, Delaware. She played college basketball for the Delaware Blue Hens from 2009 to 20113, and was promptly drafted to the WNBA by the Chicago Sky. From there, she was acquired by the Washington Mystics and led the team to its first championship in 2019. Most notably, she was named the WNBA Most Valuable Player in 2015 and 2019, and to the WNBA's 25 greatest and most influential players in league history in 2021. She officially retired in 2025.

4. Actor Judge Reinhold

Eighties actor Judge Reinhold may have been raised in Virginia, but he was born in Wilmington, Delaware. So he's a Delaware native in our hearts! His debut role was Brad Hamilton in the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High, but he truly became a household name from classics like Beverly Hills Cop and Gremlins. However, younger generations may know him better for roles in The Santa Clause film trilogy and his appearance on the hit TV show Arrested Development with Jason Bateman and Will Arnett.

5. Professional Baseball Player, Delino DeShields

Former baseball star and current coach, Delino DeShields, was born in the riverside city of Seaford. He played baseball and basketball at Seaford High School and was supposed to play college basketball. But after an offer from the MLB in 1987, he chose to forge a path in the professional baseball world. DeShields went on to play for five different teams, and his stellar reputation led to getting inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 2006.

Since his retirement from play, DeShields, aka "Bop," co-founded the Urban Baseball League and has managed several minor league teams, including the Pensacola Blue Wahoos in 2013. Talk about an interesting Delaware fact!

6. Former President Joe Biden

Okay, so Joe Biden wasn't technically born in Delaware. Our nation's 46th president was actually born in Pennsylvania. But he moved to Claymont, Delaware, at the age of 10. He also graduated from the University of Delaware in 1961, where he played football and received his degree in history and political science. President Biden has a long history of representing Delaware in the Senate, starting with his first term in 1973. He was then elected as Vice President in 2009 under President Barack Obama, and was inaugurated as U.S. President in 2021.

To this day, former President Biden and his wife, Jill, reside in Delaware and have two homes: one in Greenville (an affluent suburb of Wilmington) and one in Rehoboth Beach, which is considered their vacation home. His childhood home is considered a historic place in Delaware.

7. Singer-Songwriter Chuck Wicks

Country singer Chuck Wicks is as Delaware as they come. He was actually raised on a Delaware potato farm in Smyrna, a mid-sized suburb located in the middle of the state. The singer-songwriter gained more fame when he participated in the eighth season of Dancing With the Stars with then-girlfriend Julianne Hough, and then married singer Jason Aldean's sister, Kasi Williams Morstad, in 2019. He's best known for his debut album Stealing Cinderella and his EP titled Rough.

8. Actress Valerie Bertinelli

Despite moving several times in her childhood, Valerie Bertinelli was born in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1960. Her family spent some time in Claymont, as well, before moving to Michigan for her father's job. Later, the family moved to Van Nuys, California, where Bertinelli enrolled in a school to study acting. Since then, she's had a long, successful career in both TV and movie acting. She's known for her long-running roles in One Day at a Time and Touched by an Angel. But she also starred in TV hit Hot in Cleveland, and had her own cooking show on The Food Network.

9. Baseball Star, Paul Goldschmidt

Paul Goldschmidt, aka "Goldy," is a professional baseball player and first baseman who was born right here in Wilmington, Delaware. Shortly after, his family moved to Texas, so while he didn't spend much time in the First State, we still claim him as one of our own. Goldschmidt's first MLB team was the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009, but he went on to play with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2018. He was named the MLB's Most Valuable Player in 2022 and signed a contract with the New York Yankees in 2024.

10. Actor Sean Patrick Thomas

Sean Patrick Thomas is another honorary Delawarean. He was born in Washington, D.C., but spent much of his childhood in Wilmington, Delaware. He even graduated from Brandywine High School right in town. His career skyrocketed when he played opposite Julia Stiles in the 2001 hit film Save the Last Dance. He's also known for playing Detective Temple Page in The District, and as a superhero in the TV spinoff of The Boys called Gen V.

11. Musician George Thorogood

George Thorogood is another acclaimed musician who hails from Delaware. The boogie blues singer-songwriter was born in Wilmington, Delaware, and attended Brandywine High School, where he met his future bandmate, Jeff Simon. He learned to play slide guitar as a kid, and went on to release more than 20 albums with his band, the Delaware Destroyers, also known as "The Destroyers." Thorogood is most well-known for 1980s rock-blues hits like Bad to the Bone and One Bourbon, One Scotch, and One Beer. We love a proud Delawarean!

12. Actress Elisabeth Shue

Elisabeth Shue is yet another Wilmington-born celebrity, but she spent most of her childhood in New Jersey. She went to Wellesley College and eventually Harvard University in 1985 before kickstarting her acting career. She became famous for her roles in films like The Karate Kid, Adventures in Babysitting, and the second and third installments in the Back to the Future trilogy. Recently, she starred in The Boys in 2019 and Cobra Kai, a spinoff of the original Karate Kid.

13. Musician Stephen Marley

While Stephen Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley, was raised in Kingston, Jamaica, he was actually born right here in Wilmington! He's a member of his older brother's band, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. He has won nine Grammy awards, including three as a solo artist and five with his siblings, either as a producer or band member. While his legacy belongs to Jamaica, we'll always be proud of his connection to Delaware!

Did you know that all these famous people are from the First State? Chalk it up to more fun facts about Delaware you might not even know as a local! To discover more things Delawareans love, why not plan a summer road trip through our gorgeous state? You'll encounter our beach boardwalks, our scrapple breakfasts, and our exciting festivals.