Hollywood , California isn’t the only place where celebrities get their start. Missouri may not be at the epicenter of the entertainment world, however, it has been the birthplace to many famous icons and celebrities. Here is a list of some of those names, where they were born, and what they have achieved in the spotlight.
Robert Altman: Robert Altman was a movie director, born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1925. His fame came not only from directorial work on hit television shows such as M.A.S.H., but also in feature films with his later ensemble type work getting rave reviews. Many found his work to be drawn out and dull periods of time, however, one cannot deny that he must have found some sort of audience with Gosford Park and A Prairie Home Companion. Altman died in November of 2006.
Sheryl Crow: A singer that seems to gain more beauty with age, Sheryl Crow was born in Kennett, Missouri. Growing up in Missouri she went to MU college and even gained a job as a music teacher at one point in Fenton, Missouri. She started her professional music career selling jingles to Saint Louis businesses for commercial use and then expanded to writing music for places such as McDonalds for use in commercials. Eventually she landed the gig of a Michael Jackson back up singer then worked her way to where she is today as a mega selling musical artist.
Maya Angelou: She was born in Saint Louis, Missouri and has become an iconic figure in not only the field of poetry, but also as a Civil Rights leader for not just women or black people, but anyone in need of life inspiration. She has had quite a successful career in selling her books.
Scott Bakula: This actor was born in Saint Louis, Missouri and though you may not be familiar with his name right off the bat; if you’re a pop culture fan and television watcher you know who he is. The original leading role that shot his star into the sky would probably be considered Quantum Leap where he would travel through time trapped in the bodies of other people. He also went on to star in the Star Trek show Enterprise. If you want my personal Bakula film recommendation I say find a copy of Clive Barker’s movie Lord of Illusions.
Yogi Berra: Lawrence Peter Berra was better known as Yogi and played baseball. Most of his career was with the New York Yankees, but he was born in Saint Louis, Missouri in 1925.
Eminem: This rapper who came to fame as a white boy trying to survive in the black dominated world of urban music, spent a lot of time living in and around Detroit, Michigan. However, it may come as a surprise to some folks accustomed to his Detroit based lyrics, but he was actually born in Saint Joseph, Missouri.
Chuck Berry: He is considered to be one of the pioneers of rock music and is a Hall of Fame singer and songwriter. Chuck Berry was born in Saint Louis, Missouri in 1926.
Samuel Clemens: Better known as Mark Twain, this book author was born in Florida, Missouri. His stories, such as Tom Sawyer, are still considered amongst the most popular classics.
Kathleen Turner: Born in Springfield, Missouri this actress is an Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner. She became quite popular from her roles in Romancing the Stone and Jewel of the Nile, with works such as Serial Mom and the voice of Jessica Rabbit (Who Framed Roger Rabbit) also gaining her notoriety.
James Cash Penney: He was born in Hamilton, Missouri and if you aren’t too quick just look at his first two initials with the last name and you’ll realize why he is on this list. Yes, this business man founded the store JC Penney.
Harry S. Truman: The 33rd President of the United States of America was born in Lamar, Missouri.
Jesse and Frank James: These brothers and outlaws were born in Clay County, Missouri.
Rush Limbaugh: In 1951 he was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri and eventually his career path took him into talk radio. He has gone on to become one of the most recognized political talk radio show hosts as well as having been involved in a pain medication scandal involving his addiction. He is also a successful book author.
T.S. Eliot: Born in Saint Louis, Missouri, T.S. Eliot won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948. He was famed for being an author (poetry and otherwise) as well as a critic.
Linda Blair: She played the possessed child in the legendary horror film The Exorcist; perhaps one of the most psychologically disturbing child performances ever. She was born in Saint Louis, Missouri in 1959.
Bill Bradley: This basketball Hall of Fame player was born in Crystal City, Missouri. Sports weren’t his only field of interest, however, as he also was a senator for New Jersey and ran for President in 2000; a democrat against Gore.
William Burroughs: William S. Burroughs was born in 1914 in Saint Louis, Missouri. His works have been considered quite influential. He spent the last years of his life in Kansas.
George Washington Carver: He was born into slavery in what is now known as Diamond, Missouri. He became too sickly to do hard labor and soon found he was able to learn about various plants. He became a respected botanist and to this day is known as the guy who invented so many uses for peanuts; though often times people misquote what he had actually invented.
Walter Cronkite: In 1916 Walter Cronkite was born in Saint Joseph, Missouri. His career of choice was journalism and he is most know for having been the new anchor on CBS news for many years.
Don Cheadle: The talented actor was born in Kansas City, Missouri. You probably know him from films such as Boogie Nights, Talk To Me, Hotel Rwanda, The United States of Leiland,Traffic, and Crash.
Chris Cooper: Born in 1951 this actor is considered to be quite diverse and talented. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri and you may have seen him in such films as: Adaptation, Breach, The Patriot,The Bourne Identity, and The Kingdom.
John Goodman: This big man is a big name actor when it comes to needing talent for parts small or large and was well known for an extended stint as a television father on Rosanne. John Goodman was born in Affton, Missouri in 1952.
Betty Grable: She was born in Saint Louis, Missouri in 1916 and died from lung cancer in 1973. Before her death, however, she was ale to secure herself a start on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for such roles as Loco Dempsey in How To Marry A Millionaire.
Eddie Griffin: Born in Kansas City, this comedian turned actor is know for playing fast talking characters in such films as: Undercover Brother, The New Guy, and the Deuce Bigalow series. He also starred on his own sitcom Malcolm and Eddie from 1996 to 2000.
James Gunn: James Gunn is a screenwriter and movie director born in Saint Louis. He started out his film career working with Troma studios, known for their slapstick style horror movies. His writing credits involve both live action Scooby doo movies as well as the sci-fi horror comedy Slither. Gunn also directed Slither.
Jean Harlow: This woman became not only a famous actress, but was also dubbed a nationwide sex symbol in the 1930’s. Her big break came in the Howard Hughs movie Hell’s Angels, but after a string of successes her life was cut short at the age of 26 due to disease.
Don Johnson: This actor was born in Flat Creek, Missouri and rose to success via a starring role in the television series Miami Vice. He later achieved more in the realm of television with his show Nash Bridges. His transition to feature films hasn’t paid out as well, but he still gets roles in projects such as the golf movie Tin Cup with Kevin Costner.
Kevin Kline: This actor one the Oscar for Best Supporting in 1988 for the movie A Fish Called Wanda. He has gone on from that role to star in a wide variety of things from dramas to comedies. If I were going to pick a single work from this Saint Louis born actor’s resume to suggest checking out I would pick the 2001 movie: Life As A House.
Vincent Price: The bread and butter of this actor’s career were horror movies, spanning all the way back to 1938. Born in Saint Louis in 1911 he perished via lung cancer in 1993, having worked all the way up until that time. Perhaps you recall him as the inventor in the Tim Burton classic Edward Scissorhands?
Ginger Rogers: This dancing, singing actress was born in Independence, Missouri. She migrated, naturally, to California and the move paid off with awards such as The Oscar and The Golden Globe.
Dick Van Dyke: Dick Van Dyke was born in West Plains, Missouri and became a favored actor in both television and feature films. One of his most beloved characters was featured in Mary Poppins.
Cedric The Entertainer: The capital of Missouri, Jefferson City, was the birthplace for Cedric The Entertainer or Cedric Kyles. Another man known for being part comedian he has found great success in both films and television with his loud roles in the Barbershop series being amongst his fans favorites.
Redd Foxx: This Saint Louis born comedian became best known for his role as Sanford in Sanford And Son.
Sara Evans: This country music singer was born in New Franklin, Missouri in 1971. At the age of 8 she was hit by an automobile and had to recuperate in a wheelchair thanks to some serious fractures. To help pay the medical bills it is said that she would take on singing gigs, with her singing ambitions having started around the age of 5.
Robert A. Heinlein: He is best known as the author of science fiction stories, including: Stranger In A Strange Land and Starship Troopers. He was born in Butler, Missouri.
Kimora Lee Simmons: You have probably seen this fashion designer, model, and author on television at some point or another. She tends to pop up on the E! channel. She was born in Saint Louis.
Calamity Jane: This lady was known in the Wild West to be as tough as any man. Born in Princeton, Missouri she traveled with and was known as a friend of Wild Bill Hickok.
Race Car Drivers: NASCAR is a popular sport in the Midwest, so it comes as no surprise that many race car drivers were born in the “Show Me State.” Her are a few of the notable names:
Carl Edwards – Columbia
Jamie McMurray – Joplin
Rusty Wallace: Fenton
Kenny Wallace: Saint Louis
SOURCES USED:
www.wikepedia.com
www.imdb.com
