Top Hollywood Actors and Their Home States
Hollywood draws talent from every corner of the United States. Many stars built their early lives far from studio lots, then carried that sense of place into training, first jobs, and the roles that introduced them to audiences. Knowing where they come from helps explain early opportunities and the paths they took to reach the screen.
Below are 25 top actors paired with the state they call home by birth, along with key background details and the projects that first put them on the map. Each entry notes birthplace and early steps before spotlighting a handful of titles that show how their careers grew over time.
Denzel Washington
Born in Mount Vernon, New York, he attended Fordham University in the Bronx and launched his career on New York stages. His first wide attention on television came with ‘St. Elsewhere’, which led to steady film work and a long run of leading roles.
His filmography features acclaimed dramas and thrillers, with credits that include ‘Glory’ and ‘Training Day’. He has also directed features such as ‘Antwone Fisher’ and ‘Fences’, expanding his work beyond acting.
Meryl Streep
Born in Summit, New Jersey, she grew up in Bernardsville and studied at Vassar College before earning a graduate degree from the Yale School of Drama. Early stage work in New York quickly moved her into film.
Her screen career spans a wide range of roles with titles such as ‘Kramer vs. Kramer’, ‘The Devil Wears Prada’, and ‘Doubt’. She continues to appear in both films and limited series, including ‘Big Little Lies’.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Born in Los Angeles, California, he started with commercials and television work in his hometown. Early visibility on ‘Growing Pains’ helped him transition to film.
He has headlined major releases such as ‘Titanic’, ‘The Aviator’, and ‘The Revenant’. He also collaborates frequently with top directors and supports environmental documentaries like ‘Before the Flood’.
Tom Hanks
Born in Concord, California, and raised around the San Francisco Bay Area, he studied theater at local colleges before working in regional productions. Television work on ‘Bosom Buddies’ set up his shift to films.
He built a career across comedy and drama with titles such as ‘Splash’, ‘Forrest Gump’, and ‘Saving Private Ryan’. He has also produced and written projects including the miniseries ‘Band of Brothers’.
Brad Pitt
Born in Shawnee, Oklahoma, he grew up in Springfield, Missouri, and attended the University of Missouri before moving to Los Angeles near the end of his studies. Early small roles led to a breakthrough supporting turn.
His body of work includes ‘Thelma & Louise’, ‘Fight Club’, and ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’. He also produces films through Plan B Entertainment, including ’12 Years a Slave’.
Robert Downey Jr.
Born in New York City, New York, he appeared in his father’s independent films and split childhood years between New York and Los Angeles. He joined ‘Saturday Night Live’ for a season before his feature leads.
His credits range from ‘Chaplin’ to ‘Zodiac’. He also helped launch the modern superhero era with ‘Iron Man’ and returned to prestige drama with ‘Oppenheimer’.
Scarlett Johansson
Born in New York City, New York, she attended the Professional Children’s School in Manhattan and began acting as a child. Early features established her as a rising performer.
Her notable titles include ‘The Horse Whisperer’, ‘Lost in Translation’, and ‘Marriage Story’. She also played Black Widow across multiple entries in the ‘Avengers’ series.
Jennifer Lawrence
Born in Indian Hills in the Louisville area of Kentucky, she was discovered during a visit to New York and began booking television and film roles as a teenager. Independent projects built early momentum.
Her feature highlights include ‘Winter’s Bone’, ‘The Hunger Games’, and ‘American Hustle’. She has also starred in the ‘X Men’ franchise and continues to produce through her company.
Matthew McConaughey
Born in Uvalde, Texas, and raised in Longview, he studied at the University of Texas at Austin before entering the industry. A small role in a coming of age film brought early attention.
His film and television work includes ‘Dazed and Confused’, ‘Dallas Buyers Club’, and ‘True Detective’. He remains closely connected to Texas through philanthropic and university initiatives.
Viola Davis
Born in St. Matthews, South Carolina, she moved to Central Falls, Rhode Island, during childhood and studied at Rhode Island College followed by Juilliard. Stage work led to film and television opportunities.
Her screen credits include ‘Doubt’, ‘Fences’, and the series ‘How to Get Away with Murder’. She has completed the rare achievement of winning the four major performance awards known as an EGOT.
Morgan Freeman
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, he spent much of his youth in Mississippi and served in the United States Air Force before acting full time. Stage and television roles preceded major film parts.
His films include ‘Driving Miss Daisy’, ‘Se7en’, and ‘The Shawshank Redemption’. He also narrates documentaries such as ‘March of the Penguins’ and works as a producer.
Julia Roberts
Born in Smyrna, Georgia, she moved to New York after high school and studied acting while working part time. Early roles in independent films led to studio features.
Her credits include ‘Pretty Woman’, ‘Erin Brockovich’, and ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding’. She has also appeared in limited series such as ‘Gaslit’ and ‘Homecoming’.
Sandra Bullock
Born in Arlington, Virginia, she spent part of her childhood in Germany and later studied at East Carolina University. After moving to New York, she booked theater and small film roles.
Her films include ‘Speed’, ‘Gravity’, and ‘The Blind Side’. She has produced projects for film and television, including ‘George Lopez’.
Will Smith
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he first found success in music as The Fresh Prince with DJ Jazzy Jeff. Television stardom followed with a sitcom named for his stage persona.
He transitioned into film with roles in ‘Bad Boys’, ‘Men in Black’, and ‘Ali’. He has also produced features and series through Overbrook Entertainment and Westbrook.
Halle Berry
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, she entered pageants and modeling before moving into acting. Early television roles helped her build experience before leading parts in film.
Her notable titles include ‘Monster’s Ball’, ‘Die Another Day’, and the ‘X Men’ series. She has also directed with ‘Bruised’ and continues to appear in action and drama projects.
George Clooney
Born in Lexington, Kentucky, he split time between Kentucky and Ohio during childhood and worked on regional television before larger roles. A hospital drama series made him widely known.
His subsequent films include ‘Ocean’s Eleven’, ‘Syriana’, and ‘Michael Clayton’. He also directs and produces through Smokehouse Pictures and frequently collaborates with longtime partners.
Chris Evans
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in Sudbury, he began acting in school and summer theater programs. Early television work came before his first leading roles in features.
His filmography includes ‘Fantastic Four’, ‘Captain America The First Avenger’, and ‘Knives Out’. He has also appeared on Broadway and lends his voice to animated features such as ‘Lightyear’.
Emma Stone
Born in Scottsdale, Arizona, she acted in local theater and created a presentation to convince her family to move to Los Angeles for auditions. Teen television work led to her first films.
Her credits include ‘Easy A’, ‘The Favourite’, and ‘La La Land’. She also starred in ‘Poor Things’ and produces through Fruit Tree with frequent collaborators.
Dwayne Johnson
Born in Hayward, California, he spent years in Hawaii and Pennsylvania while growing up in a wrestling family. He transitioned from a sports entertainment career to acting.
His titles include ‘The Scorpion King’, ‘Jumanji Welcome to the Jungle’, and entries in the ‘Fast and Furious’ series. He produces films and series through Seven Bucks Productions.
Nicolas Cage
Born in Long Beach, California, he changed his surname from Coppola to Cage early on. He trained intensively and took varied roles to avoid typecasting.
His films include ‘Leaving Las Vegas’, ‘Adaptation’, and ‘National Treasure’. He has continued to work across independent and studio projects with a steady output.
Matt Damon
Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he attended Harvard University before focusing fully on acting and writing. A screenplay co written with a childhood friend opened doors across the industry.
His work includes ‘Good Will Hunting’, ‘The Bourne Identity’, and ‘The Martian’. He also produces films and co founded the company Artists Equity to back creator led projects.
Harrison Ford
Born in Chicago, Illinois, he worked as a carpenter while seeking acting jobs in Los Angeles. Supporting parts led to collaborations that changed the course of his career.
His credits include ‘Star Wars’, ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’, and ‘Witness’. He continues to appear in both film and television, including ‘1923’.
Reese Witherspoon
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, she grew up in Nashville and began acting as a teenager. Early roles in independent projects brought critical attention.
Her films include ‘Legally Blonde’, ‘Walk the Line’, and ‘Wild’. She produces television hits such as ‘Big Little Lies’ and ‘The Morning Show’ through Hello Sunshine.
Michael B. Jordan
Born in Santa Ana, California, he grew up in Newark, New Jersey, and worked as a child model before television roles. Early notices on ‘The Wire’ and ‘Friday Night Lights’ led to feature leads.
His films include ‘Fruitvale Station’, ‘Creed’, and ‘Black Panther’. He has directed and produced entries in the ‘Creed’ series and runs Outlier Society to develop new projects.
Zoe Saldaña
Born in Passaic, New Jersey, she spent several formative years in the Dominican Republic before returning to Queens. Dance training aided her early screen work.
Her credits include ‘Avatar’, ‘Star Trek’, and ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’. She also appears in limited series such as ‘From Scratch’ and continues to balance science fiction and drama roles.
Have a favorite hometown star we did not cover here, or a title you think best represents your state, share your picks in the comments.