Famous celebrities born/raised in your town

[Hector]

The vast majority were born in Oakland...a few were not...but all were indeed raised in Oakland...

Jack London (Author), Tom Hanks (Actor), Clint Eastwood (Actor), Mark Hamill (Actor), Bill Russell (Athlete), Jason Kidd (Athlete), Ricky Henderson (Athlete), Andre Ward (Athlete), Huey P. Newton (Black Panthers), Keyisha Cole (Singer), Pete Escovedo (Musician), Sheila E. (Musician), Amy Tan (Author of Joy Luck Club), Billy Joe Armstrong (Green Day), Mac Dre (Rapper), Shermar Moore (Actor), Michael Franti (Singer), Steven Jenkins (Third Eye Blind), Timothy Schmidt (The Eagles), The Pointer Sisters (Singing Group), Tower of Power (Music Group), En Vogue (Singing Group), Tony Toni Tone (Singing Group), MC Hammer (Rapper), Souls of Mischief (Music Group), Digital Underground (Rap Group), Pebbles (Singer), Y&T (Rock Group)--there are lots of others.

Bruce Lee had a martial arts school in Oakland early in his career...but he was not an Oaklander.

Ok...your turn...

[starsky]

actually bruce lee was born in san francisco and came back to san francisco for a few months when he was 18 yrs old before heading up to seattle to study at u dub. and then he came back to oakland and opened up his martial arts school.

the town that i currently live in although i did not grow up here - include tom brady (football player), merv griffin (the late talk show host/producer) and barry bonds.

[Hector]

actually bruce lee was born in san francisco and came back to san francisco for a few months when he was 18 yrs old before heading up to seattle to study at u dub. and then he came back to oakland and opened up his martial arts school.

I'm so honored Bruce Lee left an impression in Oakland...how cool is that...

[Mikey]

I live in the sticks bigtime so the closest I can get is the the town next to mine .......



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[HardyGirl]

Hey Hec, don't forget Ted Lange (Junior from "That's My Mama" and Issac from "Love Boat") and Mark Curry (Hangin' W/ Mr. Cooper).

[HardyGirl]

BTW...being originally from NYC, more specifically Washington Heights, Freddie Prinze (Chico & The Man) reportedly grew up in the next block from where I used to live. (157th St. between Amsterdam and Broadway, I lived on 158th) I may have bumped into him when I was really little and never knew it! I miss you, Freddie.

[Hector]

Hey Hec, don't forget Ted Lange (Junior from "That's My Mama" and Issac from "Love Boat") and Mark Curry (Hangin' W/ Mr. Cooper).

You are right...

Tough to name them all...

[Spawn67]

John Waters! Baltimore pride right here!

[Adam West]

I won't include any big towns that I live near but the burbs. Attended High School with two members from Hootie and the Blowfish (they both graduated one year ahead of me). In the current town I live in, I think think the two biggest names are Francis Scott Key (writer of the Star Spangled Banner and buried about 10 minutes from my house) and probably Barbara Fritchie (made famous by a Walt Whitman poem for standing up to the Confederate troops with her American flag when they invaded our town...also buried in the same cemetery as FSK). The only other person I can think of off the top of my head is Walter Johnson...pro baseball player for the Washington Senators back in the '50's grew up on a farm 5 minutes from my childhood home.

[Bizarro Amy]

My current town? I don't think there's anyone. But I grew up in York, and the band Live went to my high school(years before me, of course). Our band director was in the MTV special they filmed. I know that at least some of the members of Poison were from across the river. And the Bud Dwyer incident happened in Harrisburg, which is the closest large city.

[david_b]

A few folks from the Milwaukee area, like Harrison Ford, who went to college and spent a lot of time here but actually grew up in a suburb.

The one I'm more fond of is Fred MacMurray ("My Three Sons"), who grew up with my step-dad in my hometown of Beaver Dam, WI.

Loved that show!

[Brad]

Here are two lists. One is more comprehensive then the other. I actually know a few of the names on there too. I think they left Ginger Lynn off the list. I have met here and she is a sweetheart. If you don't know who she is I'll just say that it's best to Google her name.


Notes in the Key of Life: Thursday Thirteen! 13 Famous People from Rockford, IL

IMDb: Most Popular People Born In "Rockford/ Illinois/ USA"

[megoapesnut]

Well, if you consider sports figures celebrities, then I have two for you. Sam Bowie is not only from my home town, he and his sister were also my babysitters when I was a wee tot. Most people probably don't even know who he is. I guess he is most famous for getting picked ahead of Michael Jordan in the draft. Kerry Collins and I also share the same home town.

Writer Dean Koontz is from this area as well.

[Wee67]

BTW...being originally from NYC, more specifically Washington Heights, Freddie Prinze (Chico & The Man) reportedly grew up in the next block from where I used to live. (157th St. between Amsterdam and Broadway, I lived on 158th) I may have bumped into him when I was really little and never knew it! I miss you, Freddie.

Did you know 1 in 39 Americans are either origianally from or have lived in NYC. I can't even begin to list the celebrities from here, so I'll just mention a few I've seen with Mego/nerd-related ties-
-Annette O'Toole sat next to me in the movies with her boyfriend, David McKeon (Lenny from Laverne & Shirley))
-Kirsten Dunst let my dog lick her face near Central Park

[Mikey]

Another personality that grew up in the town next to mine was Admiral John Duncan Bulkeley.

He was a WW2 war hero (Medal of Honor) and even had a movie made about him starring Robert Montgomery as Bulkeley and John Wayne (They Were Expendable).

Many streets and places around the area are named after him.