This is topic Is anyone famous from the town you grew up in? in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.


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Posted by Stephen Frazza (Member # 2320) on 03-24-2005, 01:25 PM:
 
Watching the news made me think of this-

I grew up and went to High School in Nutley,NJ
The only famous people I know of from there are,

Robert Blake & Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart was actually inducted into the Nutley Hall of Fame.(Pre-legal troubles)

Yes I am serious about that. Nutley Hall of Fame

To think I played on the same playgrounds as a Little Rascal and
sat in the same classrooms as Martha Stewart.
 

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Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 03-24-2005, 02:05 PM:
 
Angola, New York:

William Carrier, who developed modern air conditioning (HVAC) and founded the Carrier Corporation.

Clint Holmes, perennial Las Vegas entertainer.

Christian Laettner, NBA basketball player with the Miami Heat who played on the Duke NCAA Championship team of 1992.

John Pytlak, honored with an Academy Technical Achievement Award in 2001, the 2003 EPA Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award, and Fellowship in the SMPTE in 1982.
 

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Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 03-24-2005, 02:18 PM:
 
Elmira, New York:

Hal Roach, motion picture pioneer, producer of the "Our Gang" and "Little Rascal" shorts.

Ernie Davis, Heisman trophy winner

Tommy Hilfiger, fashion designer (who I knew briefly when he and his brother were just getting started, they had a store downtown that I still have a pair of bell-bottom jeans from, circa 1970).

Brian Williams, NBC Nightly News anchorman

Eileen Collins, first female captain of the space shuttle.
 

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Posted by John Lasher (Member # 968) on 03-24-2005, 02:31 PM:
 
Newark, DE

Sean Patrick Thomas (Save the Last Dance, Barbershop 1 & 2, Dracula 2000)

George Thorogood (Singer of "Bad to the Bone", used to live right down the street from where my house is (i.e. we never lived on that street at the same time))

Elizabeth Shue (The Karate Kid, Back to the Future 2 & 3...okay she's from Wilmington, but it's only a 20-30 minute drive from Newark, only 10-15 minutes by bus or rail...there's a middle school in the greater Newark area named after her)
 

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Posted by Kyle Caudill (Member # 1252) on 03-24-2005, 04:01 PM:
 
Flatwoods, KY

Billy Ray Cyrus.....mullet man and country music singer/actor
 

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Posted by Jeff Stricker (Member # 224) on 03-24-2005, 04:20 PM:
 
Strother Martin ("What we have here is a failure to communicate" - warden "boss" from Cool Hand Luke)was born here. Great character actor, who left us at too young an age.
 

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Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 03-24-2005, 04:30 PM:
 
Bethesda, MD

Jim Hensen

Mark Halperin (VP of ABC news on the political desk...most recently noted for his memo on the Kerry/Bush election thing)...he was in my class in Jr. High and High School.

Anthony Delwig...was QB of Greenbay Packers for a season or two in the '80s.

I'm sure there are many others that are just not coming to mind at the moment.
 

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 03-24-2005, 04:33 PM:
 
Wimbledon (suburb of south London, as in the tennis):

William Wilberforce (anti-slavery pioneer)
Neville Heath - aka the 'brides in the bath' murderer
Jessie Matthews (British film star in the '30s)

Now you get into arguments about the definition of 'from there'. Wilberforce, Heath and Matthews are the only celebs I know of who (like me) were born and spent most of their childhood in Wimbledon. Others associated with the place are:

Tennis players associated with the championships there;
Football (soccer) players associated with the Wimbledon team between its spectacular F.A. Cup win in 1988 and the start of its decline in the late '90s, Vinnie Jones being an obvious example;
Julius Caesar encamped on what is now Wimbledon Common;
The former Prime Minister John Major attended Rutlish High School, as did Heath and Yours Truly. Don't worry, though - I have no intention of following in the footsteps of either!

Fictitious Wimbledonians:

The Wombles
Characters in Nigel Williams' novels, e.g. The Wimbledon Poisoner.
 

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Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 03-24-2005, 05:22 PM:
 
Let's see, born in Malibu and grew up in and around Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Lots of celebrities come to these places, but can't think of too many that are from these places.
 

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Posted by Greg Mueller (Member # 17) on 03-24-2005, 05:28 PM:
 
Everett, Washington

Patrick Duffy
....although he claims he's from Montana. He was a cheerleader at Cascade HS in Everett. (and I have the yearbook to prove it)
 

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Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 03-24-2005, 05:54 PM:
 
Winchester, KY:

-- Some kid named Matt Long, who's a principle in "Jack and Bobby" on TV.
-- Old bag newspaper reporter and press corps hanger-on Helen Thomas.
-- Tim Reed, trailer producer/director.
-- an NBC announcer, whose name I forgot in the 60s, who v/o'd "Concentration".
 

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Posted by Jim Ziegler (Member # 86) on 03-24-2005, 06:32 PM:
 
I grew up in Topeka, KS.. Famous residents include Vice President Charles Curtis, Karl Menninger, and the local nut case, the Rev. Fred Phelps...
 

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Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 03-24-2005, 06:40 PM:
 
For Tim, Hugh Downs?
 

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 03-24-2005, 06:53 PM:
 
I don't know how famous he is outside of art circles, but premier western sculptor Bill Rains grew up in Forsyth.

www.billrains.com
 

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Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 03-24-2005, 07:55 PM:
 
Paul, it wasn't Hugh Downs. I'm thinking it was either Bob Clayton, who was announcer on the show before becoming the host, or his announcer.
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 03-24-2005, 09:01 PM:
 
Not many famous people from my home town, Artesia, New Mexico. As far as performers go, the only one I could find in an Internet search was Alexa Havins, an actress currently on the daytime soap, "All My Children." Robert O. Anderson is one of the most influential people to have lived in Artesia. He started an oil company there that eventually turned into the Atlantic Richfield Oil Company, ARCO for short. Artesia is an oil company town. With gas prices being what they are currently, that small New Mexico town is rolling in some cash.

Artesia also has one hell of a high school football team. They've only won the state AAA football championship like 20 someodd times, including this past season.

Roswell, 30 miles to the north, has more famous people from there. Demi Moore was born there.
 

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Posted by Brandon Willis (Member # 2345) on 03-24-2005, 09:35 PM:
 
Richmond, Virginia:

Arthur Ashe
Edgar Allan Poe
Bill "Bojangles" Robinson
D'Angelo
 

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 03-24-2005, 10:42 PM:
 
There has been nobody famous from Denver, Colorado.
 

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Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 03-24-2005, 11:39 PM:
 
Same here, Joe. Nobody famous from here; Hollywood, California.
 

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Posted by Adam Fraser (Member # 1074) on 03-25-2005, 12:16 AM:
 
Lake City/Houghton Lake, MI

Burt Reynolds- Spent at least a few years growing up here, may just be town lore though.

Charlton Heston- Grew up near Houghton Lake, and still owns several thousand acres up here. But a few years ago (maybe 10) someone burnt down his house and I dont think he's been back since. We have pictures of him when he visited our theatre in the mid 70's to see one of his films.
 

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Posted by Will Kutler (Member # 770) on 03-25-2005, 12:33 AM:
 
Well, lets see....

Both Rodney Peete and Brooke Burke were classmates at Sahuaro High School in Tucson, AZ. And Brooke was one of my frineds.

Other famous native Tucsonans that I know of...Barbara Eden and of course Linda Ronstadt, whose family are Southern AZ pioneers and still heavily involved in the community.

Cheers

K.

[ 03-25-2005, 03:33 AM: Message edited by: Will Kutler ]
 

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Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 03-25-2005, 12:59 AM:
 
Harry Kellar, a magician from the 1900's, was born in Erie. He blew a hole in the floor of Carter's Drug Store, the place where Carter's Liver Pills originated. He ran away from home, later to become famous and never to return to Erie but for one brief visit later in life.

General "Mad" Anthony Wayne died in Erie during 1796. His body was dismembered and the flesh was boiled from his bones so that they could be easily returned to his hometown of Radnor, PA. My wife works in the Erie Historical Museum, which still owns the pot he was boiled in. The local brewery makes a beer named after him. "Mad Anthony's Red".

Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, fought the British in the War of 1812 during the Battle of Lake Erie. Outnumberd, 9 British ships to Perry's 6, he beat the shit out of the British Fleet. Perry was the original author of the phrase, "We have met the enemy and they are ours: two ships, two brigs, one schooner, and one sloop." The flagship of Perry's fleet, the brig Niagara (or a reconstruction thereof, depending on who you talk to) is docked near the foot of State Street. Visitors can go on board and occasionally get to sail on her.

On May 1, 1898, Erie resident Captain Charles Gridley was given the order to "Fire when ready" at the Battle of Manila Bay. His ashes are interred at Lakeside Cemetary in Erie. There are four cannons marking the gravesite.

Fred Biletnikoff, wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders, was born in Erie. He was named MVP of SuperBowl XI after setting up three touchdowns on four receptions in the Oakland Raiders 32-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings.

Sharon Stone went to college at Edinboro College in Edinboro, PA. From the legends people tell, she was quite the party girl. Also, the legend says, she doesn't like to admit going to Edinboro.

Anne B. Davis of Brady Bunch fame, was born in Schenectady, NY but, after retiring from TV acting, she now lives in New Harmony, PA which is only a few hours' drive south of here.
 

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Posted by R. Andrew Diercks (Member # 1725) on 03-25-2005, 01:02 AM:
 
Adam Timmerman, lineman for the Rams now but earned 2 Super Bowl rings with the Packers. At one time he was the highest paid lineman in the NFL, but I bet he's beat by now.

Very nice man. My hometown was only 5000 ppl. so I actually know him. He bought all cars from my dad until 3 years ago when he got out of the car business.
 

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Posted by Pete Naples (Member # 761) on 03-25-2005, 03:42 AM:
 
Lemme see.

Andrew Carnegie, philanthropist. He of Carnegie Hall fame. There is a Carnegie Hall here in town, slightly smaller than the New York version.

Barbara Dickson, singer.

Stuart Adamson, singer/musician. Guitartist with punk band 'the Skids', frontman with 'Big Country'. RIP

Rock band 'Nazareth'. Famous some years back, still live in the area.

There are more, but I've kept it to people the mainly US users of Film Tech might have actually heard of!
 

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Posted by Thomas Dieter (Member # 2507) on 03-25-2005, 03:59 AM:
 
Lets see:

Philadelphia, PA: Will Smith, Boyz II Men, Bill Cosby (I was born in Philly, brotherly love all around.) I'm sure that I'm forgetting others, but those are the ones off hand.

Union Gap, WA: Gary Puckett- lead singer and founder of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap back in the 50's and 60's. (My first job was in Union Gap at the Mercy 6-plex.)

Orlando, FL: Don't know, haven't lived here long enough, nor have I paid much attention.
 

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Posted by Dean Kollet (Member # 1789) on 03-25-2005, 10:06 AM:
 
Pittsburgh, PA

Andy Warhol
Andrew Carnegie - steel
H.J. Heinz - ketchup
Kurt Angle - Olympic Wreslter, now WWE Wrestler
Joe Montana
Dan Marino - my grandma almost married his father
Jeff Goldblum
Michael Keaton
Gene Kelly
Jimmy Stewart
Sharon Stone
...and some others I forgot
 

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Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 03-25-2005, 10:14 AM:
 
Dean, don't forget Mister Rogers. George Romero, Tom Savini.
Half the NFL Hall of Famers. heh. (Namath, Dorsett, Ditka and on and on ).
 

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Posted by Lyle Romer (Member # 1266) on 03-25-2005, 11:25 AM:
 
Don't know if this counts for this thread but Brad Gilbert from the band "Newfound Glory" worked as an usher when I was an assistant manager in Coral Springs, FL.

The reason I don't know if it counts for the thread is that I didn't live in Coral Springs but I worked there.
 

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Posted by Aaron Mehocic (Member # 15) on 03-25-2005, 02:45 PM:
 
George Washington came through this area while on a diplomatic mission to French forts up near Lake Erie in 1753. Local legend says he fell into the Slippery Rock Creek, but if you do the research, it was actually the Allegheny River near what is now the 40th Street Bridge in Pittsburgh.

Louisa Tredwell was a desendant of one of the first settlers in New Castle. She maried actor Spencer Tracy, but I think they got a divorice.

Chuck Tanner, manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates during the glory years of the late 1970's is from here too. If ever in town, I do recomend eating at the restaurant that bears his name on Wilmington Ave. Good food and CHEAP.

quote: Randy Stankey

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His body was dismembered and the flesh was boiled from his bones so that they could be easily returned to his hometown of Radnor, PA.

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quote: Randy Stankey

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Outnumberd, 9 British ships to Perry's 6, he beat the shit out of the British Fleet.

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Most of the ironwork that went into Perry's Lake Erie Squadron was produced in Pittsburgh forges and shipped north on what would become US Route 19 at all possible speed. When the teams arrived in the village of Harlansburg, just east of New Castle, a group of men and boys were recruited to accompany the shipment. They served with Perry at the Battle of Sandusky in September, 1814.
 

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Posted by Andrew McCrea (Member # 674) on 03-25-2005, 05:02 PM:
 
From Winnipeg, where I was born and grew-up and am no longer living:
Remy Shand (Embarrassing)
Crash Test Dummies
The Waking Eyes
Homer Simpson (For real, Matt Groening has said numerous times that Homer is from Winnipeg)
One girl (Maiko Watson?) from Sugar Jones (Canada's rip off of the Spice Girls)
Chantel Kreviazuk
Randy Bachman
Burton Cummings (Now has a live venue named after him)

That's all I can think of right now... Hopefully, possibly in the future I can add my name, and all my friend's names along side our band name!
 

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Posted by Christian Volpi (Member # 2370) on 03-25-2005, 06:38 PM:
 
Born in Chicago, raised there until I was 10...too many famous people to list them all but here are a few off the top of my head-
Gary Sinise
Dennis Franz
John and Jim Belushi
Dan Akroyd
Buddy Guy
Jack Benny
Bernie Mac
Marlon Brando (born in Omaha, moved to Chicago as a young child)
Billy Corgan
John Cusack
Styx
Cheap Trick
Walt Disney
John Malkovich
I could go on and on

Fremont, Nebraska- Lived there from age 10-23

Marg Helgenberger (she still comes back to town on a regular basis)
Zach Wiegert (St. Louis Rams, still lives in Fremont, I'm best friends with his cousin)

Sioux City- I've lived here for 7 months

Jerry Mathers (Leave it to Beaver)
Lori Petty (went to high school here)
Ann Landers (and her sister Dear Abby)
 

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Posted by John T. Hendrickson, Jr (Member # 849) on 03-25-2005, 06:39 PM:
 
Red Bank, NJ

Count Basie, bandleader
Kevin Smith, filmmaker
 

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Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 03-25-2005, 08:24 PM:
 

quote: Aaron Mehocic

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Sorry Randy, but the beer taste like ass . . .

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quote: Aaron Mehocic

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Most of the ironwork that went into Perry's Lake Erie Squadron was produced in Pittsburgh forges...

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quote:

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According to our accounts, the wagon team charged with taking the bones back to Radnor spent the night at a tavern [here]...

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Then you must be familiar with the OTHER part of the legend that says Wayne's ghost rises from the grave where his flesh was reintered, at the foot of the flagpole to the Block House and travels the roads back to his hometown, looking for his lost bones and to smyte those who have wronged him. No?

Oh! One person I forgot: Marc Brown, the author of the children's books "Arthur the Aardvark" is from Erie. His illustrations have been exhibited at the Erie Art Museum.
 

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Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 03-25-2005, 08:44 PM:
 
Lexington, Kentucky

George Clooney
Jim Varney
Brian Litrell of Backstreet boys fame. His cousin lives down the street from me.
The then rock now country band Exile.
 

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Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 1016) on 03-25-2005, 08:48 PM:
 
I was born in Gloucester, MA but spent alot of my childhood in Salem, MA as well.

Paula Cole
Rockport/Gloucester: Performing Artist

Alexander Graham Bell
Salem: Inventor of the Telephone

Nathaniel Hawthorne
Salem: Author

Fitz Hugh Lane - From Chelsea but most of his work was done in Gloucester.
Chelsea: Painter
 

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Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 03-25-2005, 11:43 PM:
 
The House of Seven Gables is pretty cool but the majority of the rest of Salem, MA has turned into commercialized witchcraft schlock.

They have a good brew pub there. That made up for it, though!
 

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Posted by Chris Brown (Member # 2800) on 03-26-2005, 01:59 AM:
 
Actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman graduated from my high school in Fairport, NY. He's not exactly a household name but he's done lots of supporting roles in some big movies.
 

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Posted by Jennifer Pan (Member # 2035) on 03-26-2005, 02:39 AM:
 
Long Beach, California... people who at least were born here(not exactly sure if they grew up in Long Beach though):

James Blaylock: fantasy/science fiction author
Nicolas Cage: actor
Eva LaRue Callahan: soap opera actress
William E. Dannemeyer: Orange County politician
Zack de la Rocha rapper
Bo Derek: actress
Nate Dogg: rapper
Snoop Dogg: rapper
John Dykstra: 1978 Visual Effects Oscar Winner (for Star Wars)
Spike Jones: bandleader and comedian
Sally Kellerman: actress
Billie Jean King: tennis player
Dan Lungren: Republican politician
Michelle Phillips: singer and actress
Sheldon Rampton: editor of PR Watch
Kurupt: rapper
Daz Dillinger: rapper
 

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Posted by Christian Volpi (Member # 2370) on 03-26-2005, 10:07 AM:
 
"All the people in the dance will agree that we're well qualified to represent the LBC"

Sublime's from Long Beach
 

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Posted by Bob Peticolas (Member # 328) on 03-26-2005, 12:44 PM:
 
El Paso, Texas

Debbie Reynolds
 

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Posted by Sean M. Grimes (Member # 445) on 03-26-2005, 12:51 PM:
 
Syracuse, NY

Tom Cruise
Richard Gere
Alec Baldwin & Baldwin brothers
Bobcat Goldwait
Rod Serling

off the top of my head...
 

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Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 03-26-2005, 01:01 PM:
 
St. Louis, Missouri
Some of the names I recognized from an IMDb search:

Scott Bakula
Yogi Berra
Chuck Berry
Harry Caray
T.S. Eliot
Max Factor
Redd Foxx
Joe Garagiola
John Goodman
Robert Guillaume
Al Hirschfeld
Eddie Kane
Kevin Kline
Michael McDonald
Kevin Nealon
Vincent Price
Leon Spinks
Michael Spinks
Rusty Wallace
Josephine Baker
Linda Blair
Betty Grable
Wendy Whoppers (!)
 

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Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 03-26-2005, 02:03 PM:
 
Gary Sinese.... was in my High School auto Shop class, was somewhat of a greaser in his younger days. Was also in many High school plays.

Mark
 

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Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 03-26-2005, 04:13 PM:
 
My little suburb of Upper Arlington Ohio claims a pretty fair golfer by the name of Nicklaus.
 

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Posted by Andrew McCrea (Member # 674) on 03-26-2005, 10:12 PM:
 
Also from Winnipeg;

One young girl who has made it as a very successful actress:
Anna Paquin
 

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Posted by Bruce McGee (Member # 131) on 03-27-2005, 08:42 AM:
 
Asheville, NC

Thomas Wolfe, the writer. The state just spent several million dollars restoring his mothers boarding house after a devastating fire in 1998.
 

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Posted by Phil Hill (Member # 371) on 03-27-2005, 11:45 PM:
 
A T-Shirt for all you name-droppers...


 

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Posted by Brandon Willis (Member # 2345) on 03-28-2005, 09:19 AM:
 
I can't forget these cool musicians/bands from Richmond:
GWAR
Avail
Strike Anywhere
Firehouse
Dave Matthews (actually from Charlottesville but close enough)
Fighting Gravity
 

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Posted by Jesse August (Member # 1798) on 03-31-2005, 09:39 PM:
 
Monty Hall from Lets Make A Deal and magic man Doug Henning.
 

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Posted by Scott D. Neff (Member # 185) on 03-31-2005, 09:54 PM:
 
The most famous person from Petaluma, CA is Winona Ryder.

Elijah Wood also lived here for a short while. He came to my theatre once and all my employees fawned over him.
 

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Posted by Aaron Sisemore (Member # 145) on 04-01-2005, 01:42 AM:
 
I have sold tickets to Winona (then Horowitz) Ryder when I worked at the Phoenix in the early 80s.

The late actor Lloyd Bridges is also from Petaluma.

-Aaron
 

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Posted by Don Sneed (Member # 955) on 04-02-2005, 05:20 PM:
 
Galveston Texas:

Berry White...

Can't remember the actress name, the Lady who played the mother on the TV series "SOAP"...

an unknow bit actor that was starting to rise but died to early in life (went to school with him) Ron Taylor...
 

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Posted by Tim Reed (Member # 137) on 04-02-2005, 10:00 PM:
 
Katherine Helmond?

Btw, Don, did you get my email?
 

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Posted by Tom McGill (Member # 3075) on 04-03-2005, 01:52 PM:
 
Regina, Saskatchewan

Leslie Nielson
 

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Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 04-03-2005, 02:32 PM:
 
Since I grew up in a small town in Northern Michgian no one really famous was born there. But in the town next to us...even smaller mind you, Tom Selleck grew up there. Then in a town just a hair larger...James Earl Jones grew up there. So I guess you could say some one grew up famous in the "town" I did.
 

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Posted by James Faber (Member # 2796) on 04-03-2005, 07:43 PM:
 
The band Slipknot is from here. If you haven't heard of them, good. Their music is known to promt suicide...Well, I that's probably just me. Also, Elijah Wood was born in Cedar Rapids, IA, which is about an hour and a half from here.
 

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Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 04-04-2005, 01:38 PM:
 
Corpus Christi, Texas

Dabney Coleman, My Grandfather was his elementary school principal
Farrah Fawcett, Alumini of my High School
Paul "Pepe" Serna Also an Alumini of my High School
Louise Mandrell of the Madrell sisters was born in Corpus Christi at Spohn Shoreline Hospital.
Burt Hooten, Picther for the L.A. Dogers went to King High School graduating in '76
Reverand Horton Heat was born in Corpus in 1959
Terry and Bobby Labonte of Nascar were born in and Graduated High school. Mary Carroll High School that is.
Eva Longoria born and raised.
Clint Culp, Actor. Grandfather owned Nolans resturaunts
Selena, Grew up in Corpus.

Is that enough?

[ 04-04-2005, 03:57 PM: Message edited by: William T. Parr ]
 

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Posted by Jeremy Fuentes (Member # 2135) on 04-04-2005, 01:48 PM:
 
You forgot to put me on your list!!
 

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Posted by Christian Volpi (Member # 2370) on 04-04-2005, 02:53 PM:
 
Greatest Band Ever!

Reverend Horton Heat is from Corpus! I saw them, for the upteenth time, at the House of Blues in Vegas while I was there for ShoWest.
 

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Posted by William T. Parr (Member # 677) on 04-05-2005, 04:27 PM:
 
Add Lou Diamond Phillips to the List GRew up there attended Flour Bluff High School. Mom still lives in town and he still makes regular trips back:

Flour Bluff ISD students get lessons in acting, life
Lou Diamond Phillips shares Hollywood tales, support for education

By Jaime Powell Caller-Times
April 5, 2005

Budding actors at Flour Bluff High School got tips from a pro when veteran stage and screen actor Lou Diamond Phillips visited the school district Monday.

Phillips, a Flour Bluff alum famous for his starring role in the 1987 movie "La Bamba" and more recently for his Tony Award nominated performance in "The King and I," had planned to be the speaker at the Founding Donor Dinner on Saturday night for the Flour Bluff ISD Foundation for Educational Excellence.


Advertisement



But work kept him in Houston shooting a television pilot, so he called the dinner from his cell phone promising a meet-and-greet with local residents Sunday to help raise funds for the foundation, which will provide money for student enrichment, teacher grants for classroom supplies and continued training.

As an added bonus, Phillips, 43, spent time Monday at the district's campuses.

When he graduated in 1980, Phillips was fourth in his class. His teachers expected him to be a doctor or lawyer, but he said acting was in his blood. However, he didn't head for Los Angeles immediately after graduation. He knew he needed college and the discipline it would teach him, he said, and went on to the University of Texas at Arlington to major in theater.

"You are an actor or you aren't," he said. "You are just waiting for somebody to pay you for it."

For the about 20 students who sat enthralled while Phillips told tales of Hollywood and what it takes to make it, there were lessons to be learned.

"I learned what I needed to hear about successful screenwriting," said James Saenz, 16, said. "I've seen his movies and I like what he's done, so it was good to hear from him."

The education lesson also was helpful, Ingrid Barrios, 16, said.

When she goes to college, she wants to continue acting, but she also will pursue another field, such as political science.

"What I learned from him today is that you never take no for an answer," she said. "There will always be people who will criticize you and tell you you can't do it versus the ones who will say you can. He made us feel like we can."

Theater arts teacher Elena Gomez said Phillips' hour-long visit was beneficial for her students.

"I think those interested in pursuing something in this field beyond high school learned a lot," Gomez said. "Also, the fact that he went to college, I think that's important so that they don't run off to L.A."

Contact Jaime Powell at _886-3716 or powellj@caller.com
 

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Posted by Robert John Jeromson (Member # 2559) on 04-06-2005, 10:05 PM:
 
Supermodel Rachel Hunter went to my school, Glenfield College (Auckland, NZ).
 

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Posted by Kelly Skaggs (Member # 1780) on 04-09-2005, 06:28 PM:
 
George Clooney was born in Lexington, but grew up in the small town of Augusta, Ky. The same town that Former Miss America Heather French was born.

Heather grew up in the town that I am from Maysville, Ky.

George Clooney's Father Nick and Aunt Rosemary grew up 3 houses away from the house that I grew up in, and he calls his Production company Maysville Pictures.

Not that he would remember but I played basketball, and worked on a community theater production of Lil' Abner with George.
 

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