People are often fascinated with celebrities, especially movie stars. They not only look to them for entertainment, but also for cultural leadership and even sometimes for political guidance, evident by how often they appear in political ads. In many ways, actors have an inordinate amount of influence in our society.
For the most part, that influence comes from Los Angeles and New York City — the two main hubs of the entertainment industry in the U.S. Yet only a fraction of actors actually come from these cities. The pool of A-listers in Hollywood is very diverse when it comes to actors’ origins.
24/7 Wall St. has identified the most famous actor from each state. Each actor’s level of fame was determined by creating an index based Internet Movie Database popularity, Wikipedia page views, and audience ratings of the actor’s work.
Many of the famous actors on the list owe their fame to iconic characters they’ve played — Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones and Kirsten Bell is Veronica Mars. Interestingly, some of these actors weren’t always the first choice to play in some of their more memorable movies — these are actors who turned down blockbuster roles.
Many of the country’s most famous actors have earned their status through years of hard work. John Goodman — who was born in Affton, Missouri — has been working steadily for about 45 years. He currently has 162 acting credits to his name and is the most famous actor to originate in Missouri. Two of the actors on this list, Chadwick Boseman and River Phoenix, are no longer alive but remain the most famous actors born in South Carolina and Oregon, respectively.
Still, an entertainer’s level of fame is not directly correlated with how prolific or formally accomplished they are. A number of actors on the list are younger and have had shorter careers.
Click here to see the most famous actor from each state.
Methodology
To determine the most famous actor from each state, 24/7 Tempo created an index based on each actor’s STARmeter ranking on the Internet Movie Database, the number of audience user ratings of all films and television shows in which the actors appear, and the number of page views of each actor’s Wikipedia pages from Nov. 16, 2018 to Nov. 15, 2020. To be considered, each actor had to appear in the top 10,000 rankings on IMDb’s STARmeter.
Each actor’s place of birth was the reference point for determining where they are from. Actors who have gained the majority of their fame for reasons other than acting, such as Meghan Markle, were excluded from consideration.
Alabama
> Actor: Octavia Spencer
> Born in: Montgomery
> Total acting credits: 138
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 2,902,511
> Known for: “Hidden Figures” (2016), “The Help” (2011)
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Alaska
> Actor: Darby Stanchfield
> Born in: Kodiak
> Total acting credits: 49
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 544,752
> Known for: Scandal (2012-2018)
Arizona
> Actor: Emma Stone
> Born in: Scottsdale
> Total acting credits: 48
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 7,191,196
> Known for: “La La Land” (2016), “The Help” (2011)
Arkansas
> Actor: Billy Bob Thornton
> Born in: Hot Springs
> Total acting credits: 98
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 3,908,147
> Known for: “Sling Blade” (1996), “Monster’s Ball” (2001)
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California
> Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio
> Born in: Los Angeles
> Total acting credits: 58
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 15,028,146
> Known for: “Titanic” (1997), “The Departed” (2006), “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013)
Colorado
> Actor: T.J. Miller
> Born in: Denver
> Total acting credits: 76
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 2,380,102
> Known for: Silicon Valley (2014-2017), “Deadpool” (2016)
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Connecticut
> Actor: Meg Ryan
> Born in: Fairfield
> Total acting credits: 51
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 4,801,308
> Known for: “When Harry Met Sally” (1989), “You’ve Got Mail” (1998), “Sleepless in Seattle” (1993)
Delaware
> Actor: Aubrey Plaza
> Born in: Wilmington
> Total acting credits: 76
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 6,463,880
> Known for: “Safety Not Guaranteed” (2012), “Ingrid Goes West” (2017)
Florida
> Actor: Bella Thorne
> Born in: Pembroke Pines
> Total acting credits: 110
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 8,337,336
> Known for: “Shake Up” (2010), “The DUFF” (2015)
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Georgia
> Actor: Chloë Grace Moretz
> Born in: Atlanta
> Total acting credits: 74
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 5,768,937
> Known for: “Let Me In” (2010), “Carrie” (2013)
Hawaii
> Actor: Jason Momoa
> Born in: Honolulu
> Total acting credits: 37
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 22,724,764
> Known for: “Aquaman” (2018), Game of Thrones (2011-2012)
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Idaho
> Actor: Aaron Paul
> Born in: Emmett
> Total acting credits: 80
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 4,025,787
> Known for: Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
Illinois
> Actor: Harrison Ford
> Born in: Chicago
> Total acting credits: 83
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 7,981,329
> Known for: Indiana Jones and Star Wars franchises, “The Fugitive” (1993)
Indiana
> Actor: Jenna Fischer
> Born in: Fort Wayne
> Total acting credits: 46
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 5,378,473
> Known for: The Office (2005-2013), “Blades of Glory” (2007)
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Iowa
> Actor: Michelle Monaghan
> Born in: Winthrop
> Total acting credits: 49
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 3,017,413
> Known for: “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” (2005), “Gone Baby Gone” (2007)
Kansas
> Actor: R. Lee Ermey
> Born in: Emporia
> Total acting credits: 126
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 2,057,535
> Known for: “Full Metal Jacket” (1987), “Mississippi Burning” (1988)
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Kentucky
> Actor: Johnny Depp
> Born in: Owensboro
> Total acting credits: 92
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 13,973,523
> Known for: Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” (2007)
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Louisiana
> Actor: Reese Witherspoon
> Born in: New Orleans
> Total acting credits: 61
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 8,860,768
> Known for: Legally Blonde movies, “Wild” (2014), “Walk the Line” (2005)
Maine
> Actor: Anna Kendrick
> Born in: Portland
> Total acting credits: 57
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 7,751,688
> Known for: “Up in the Air” (2009), Pitch Perfect franchise
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Maryland
> Actor: Anna Faris
> Born in: Baltimore
> Total acting credits: 52
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 6,358,837
> Known for: “The House Bunny” (2008), Scary Movie franchise, Mom (2013-2020)
Massachusetts
> Actor: Matt Damon
> Born in: Boston
> Total acting credits: 86
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 6,790,121
> Known for: “Good Will Hunting” (1997), “The Martian” (2015), The Bourne franchise
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Michigan
> Actor: Kristen Bell
> Born in: Huntington Woods
> Total acting credits: 98
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 9,023,919
> Known for: Frozen movies, Veronica Mars (2004-2019)
Minnesota
> Actor: Chris Pratt
> Born in: Virginia
> Total acting credits: 60
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 10,448,428
> Known for: Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, Parks and Recreation (2009-2020)
Mississippi
> Actor: Lacey Chabert
> Born in: Purvis
> Total acting credits: 155
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 3,355,751
> Known for: “Mean Girls” (2004), “Lost in Space” (1998)
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Missouri
> Actor: John Goodman
> Born in: St. Louis
> Total acting credits: 162
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 3,459,161
> Known for: “10 Cloverfield Lane” (2016), Roseanne/The Conners, “The Big Lebowski” (1998)
Montana
> Actor: Michelle Williams
> Born in: Kalispell
> Total acting credits: 51
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 29,021
> Known for: “Blue Valentine” (2010), “My Week with Marilyn” (2011), “Manchester by the Sea” (2016)
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Nebraska
> Actor: Jaime King
> Born in: Omaha
> Total acting credits: 59
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 2,184,017
> Known for: “White Chicks” (2004), “Sin City” (2005)
Nevada
> Actor: Jena Malone
> Born in: Sparks
> Total acting credits: 79
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 1,726,776
> Known for: The Hunger Games franchise, “Contact” (1997)
New Hampshire
> Actor: Mandy Moore
> Born in: Nashua
> Total acting credits: 78
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 5,528,159
> Known for: “A Walk to Remember” (2002), This Is Us (2016-2020)
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New Jersey
> Actor: Zoe Saldana
> Born in: Passaic
> Total acting credits: 68
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 6,206,336
> Known for: “Avatar” (2009), Star Trek, Guardians of the Galaxy franchises
New Mexico
> Actor: Demi Moore
> Born in: Roswell
> Total acting credits: 67
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 7,181,661
> Known for: “G.I. Jane” (1997), “Ghost” (1990), “Striptease” (1996)
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New York
> Actor: Scarlett Johansson
> Born in: New York City
> Total acting credits: 68
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 18,440,258
> Known for: The Avengers franchise, “Her” (2013), “Marriage Story” (2019)
North Carolina
> Actor: Evan Rachel Wood
> Born in: Raleigh
> Total acting credits: 61
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 5,457,149
> Known for: Westworld (2016-2020), Thirteen (2003)
North Dakota
> Actor: Leslie Bibb
> Born in: Bismarck
> Total acting credits: 74
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 2,702,082
> Known for: Iron Man franchise, “Law Abiding Citizen” (2009)
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Ohio
> Actor: Maggie Grace
> Born in: Columbus
> Total acting credits: 50
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 1,822,282
> Known for: “Taken” (2008), Lost (2004-2010)
Oklahoma
> Actor: Brad Pitt
> Born in: Shawnee
> Total acting credits: 81
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 14,071,208
> Known for: “Moneyball” (2011), “Fight Club” (1999), Ocean’s Eleven franchise
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Oregon
> Actor: River Phoenix
> Born in: Madras
> Total acting credits: 25
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 10,827,550
> Known for: “My Own Private Idaho” (1991), “Stand By Me” (1986)
Pennsylvania
> Actor: Will Smith
> Born in: Philadelphia
> Total acting credits: 84
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 12,501,268
> Known for: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990-1996), Men in Black movies, Bad Boys franchise
Rhode Island
> Actor: Mena Suvari
> Born in: Newport
> Total acting credits: 81
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 1,709,812
> Known for: “American Beauty” (1999), American Pie movies
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South Carolina
> Actor: Chadwick Boseman
> Born in: Anderson
> Total acting credits: 33
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 18,852,999
> Known for: “Black Panther” (2018), “42” (2013), “Get on Up” (2014)
South Dakota
> Actor: January Jones
> Born in: Sioux Falls
> Total acting credits: 32
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 3,090,171
> Known for: Man Men (2007-2015), “X-Men: First Class” (2011)
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Tennessee
> Actor: Morgan Freeman
> Born in: Memphis
> Total acting credits: 129
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 5,797,783
> Known for: “Se7en” (1995), “Driving Miss Daisy” (1989), “Million Dollar Baby” (2004)
Texas
> Actor: Woody Harrelson
> Born in: Midland
> Total acting credits: 104
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 5,993,514
> Known for: “The People vs. Larry Flynt” (1996), “Natural Born Killers” (1994)
Utah
> Actor: Roseanne Barr
> Born in: Salt Lake City
> Total acting credits: 29
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 1,937,021
> Known for: Roseanne (1988-1997, 2018), “She-Devil” (1898)
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Vermont
> Actor: Damon Wayans Jr.
> Born in: Huntington
> Total acting credits: 37
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 1,827,481
> Known for: “Big Hero 6” (2014), “Dance Flick” (2009)
Virginia
> Actor: Sandra Bullock
> Born in: Arlington
> Total acting credits: 57
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 9,515,914
> Known for: Miss Congeniality movies, “Gravity” (2013), “The Proposal” (2009)
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Washington
> Actor: Jeffrey Dean Morgan
> Born in: Seattle
> Total acting credits: 73
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 4,696,890
> Known for: The Walking Dead (2016-2021), “Watchmen” (2009)
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West Virginia
> Actor: Brad Dourif
> Born in: Huntington
> Total acting credits: 173
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 1,525,809
> Known for: “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975), The Lord of the Rings movies
Wisconsin
> Actor: Mark Ruffalo
> Born in: Kenosha
> Total acting credits: 69
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 5,124,447
> Known for: “Spotlight” (2015), The Avengers franchise, “The Kids Are All Right” (2010)
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Wyoming
> Actor: Jim Beaver
> Born in: Laramie
> Total acting credits: 149
> Wikipedia pageviews Nov. 16,2018 – Nov. 15, 2020: 516,812
> Known for: Deadwood (2004-2006), Supernatural (2006-2020)
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