Arizona is on the southwestern side of America with a fabulous reputation for all that it has to offer. For starters, the Grand Canyon is believed to be one of the most beautiful places to visit on the entire globe! People around the world already appreciate and respect Arizona for its natural wonders and visual beauty. What about all the movie stars that were born there?
Tons of talented people were born in Arizona including singers, rappers, and folks who can play instruments. (Meet the 10 biggest musicians from Arizona.)
To come up with this list of the biggest movie stars from Arizona, 24/7 Tempo consulted several entertainment websites, including IMDb, Famous Birthdays, and AZ Big Media.
Emma Stone
- Hometown: Scottsdale
Emma Stone was born on November 6, 1988, and Scottsdale, Arizona. The movie that put her on the map was “Ghost of Girlfriend’s Past” in 2009. She didn’t become overwhelmingly successful until she snagged a role in the “Zombieland” franchise, though. Some of her other big movies include “La La Land,” “Easy A,” and “Superbad.”
Starring in movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a big deal, and it’s something Stone can claim. She filmed “The Amazing Spider-Man” franchise in 2012 and 2014. Some of her biggest awards she’s won include the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
Asher Angel
- Hometown: Phoenix
Asher Angel was born on September 6, 2002, in Phoenix, Arizona. He’s certainly one of the youngest actors on this list, but that doesn’t take away from the impressive career he’s already started for himself. In 2008, he filmed the movie “Jolene” with Jessica Chastain.
In 2017, he landed a role on a Disney Channel original series called “Andi Mack” playing a character named Jonah Beck. Angel’s career took a turn for the better in 2019 when he filmed “Shazam!” He reprised his role in “Shazam! Fury of the Gods” in 2023. Angel is doing well for himself among his GenZ-aged fan base with more than 4.5 million followers on Instagram.
Lynda Carter
- Hometown: Phoenix
Lynda Carter was born on July 24, 1951, in Phoenix, Arizona. Action movie lovers likely recognize her from her time playing Wonder Woman in DC movies from the 70s. Wonder Woman is considered one of the most important fictional characters in history since she’s a symbol of feminism and female empowerment.
More recently, Carter starred in movies like “Cleaner,” “Super Troopers 2,” and “The Dukes of Hazzard.” In 2020, she appeared in “Wonder Woman, 1984” alongside Gal Gadot who took on the titular role.
Danielle Fishel
- Hometown: Mesa
Plenty of people relate Danielle Fishel to her time as a TV actress in the show “Boy Meets World” from 1993 until 2000. Her career expands beyond television, though. For some background, she was born on May 5, 1981, in Mesa, Arizona. Some of the movies she’s starred in are “National Lampoon Presents Dorm Daze,” “Gamebox 1.0,” and “Longshot.”
Fishel returned to television acting in 2014 to reprise her role as Topanga Lawrence in “Girl Meets World.” The lighthearted sitcom lasted for three seasons. Some of the actors she is filmed movies with include Justin Timberlake Patrick Casey, Patrick Kilpatrick, Scott, Hellenbrand, and Dwayne Johnson. She’s also done voice acting in an animated 2008 comedy action movies called “the chosen one“
Joe Jonas
- Hometown: Casa Grande
Although many people automatically think of Joe Jonas as a musician, the truth of the matter is that he’s also a movie star. Jonas was born on August 15, 1989, in Casa Grande, Arizona. He rose to fame alongside his brothers, Kevin and Nick Jonas. Kevin and Nick were born in different states.
The trio released their debut studio album in 2006 and attracted tons of devoted fans. Some of the actors she’s filmed movies with include Justin Timberlake, Patrick Casey, Patrick Kilpatrick, Scott Hellenbrand, and Dwayne Johnson. Fishel’s also done voice acting in an animated 2008 comedy called “The Chosen One.”
Barbara Eden
- Hometown: Tucson
Barbara Eden was born on August 23, 1931, in Tucson, Arizona. Her first movie role was in 1956 in a flick called “Back From Eternity.” Interestingly enough, Eden wasn’t even credited for her part in the movie. Things really took off for her career as an actress when she landed the titular role in a sitcom called “I Dream of Jeannie” in 1965.
The sitcom went on for five seasons. The reason Eden classifies as a movie star is due to her involvement in films like “Flaming Star,” “The Brass Bottle,” and “Ride the Wild Surf.” Eden has shared screen time with actors like Denise Richards, Dean McDermott, Julia Stiles, Jennifer Coolidge, and Gary Cole over the years.
Ambyr Childers
- Hometown: Cottonwood
Ambyr Childers was born on July 18, 1988, in Cottonwood, Arizona. One of the biggest rules people recognize her from is NBC’s crime drama “Aquarius” where she played Susan Atkins. Another TV role that was noteworthy for Childers’s career was Netflix’s “You” alongside Penn Badgley.
Ambyr is a bona fide movie star for roles she’s taken on the silver screen, though. Some of her biggest movies include “Vice,” “2 Guns,” and “Broken City.” She filmed these movies alongside actors like Bruce Willis, Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, and Russell Crowe.
Alexandra Shipp
- Hometown: Phoenix
Alexandra Shipp was born on July 16, 1991, and Phoenix, Arizona. She started acting at the age of 10 in the youth theater, but she didn’t snag her debut role in a movie until she was 17 years old. She starred in a kid-friendly flick called “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel” in 2009. Some of her other noteworthy movies have been “The Good Half,” “Space Oddity,” and “Asking For It.”
Shipp filmed some of these movies alongside actors like Vanessa Hudgens, Ezra Miller, Kevin Bacon, Brittany Snow, and Matt Walsh. The most talked-about movie she starred in recently was “Barbie” alongside Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. As a GenZ-aged actress, her following on social media says a lot about her success. She currently has 469,000 followers on Instagram.
Jack Elam
- Hometown: Miami
Jack Elam was born on November 13, 1920, in Miami, Arizona. The first movie he ever filmed was called “Wild Weed” in 1949. Elam embarked on a long-lasting career filming Western films for several decades. Some of the movies he filmed that weren’t directly connected to Western themes were “The Giant of Thunder Mountain,” “Creature from Black Lake,” and “Never a Dull Moment.”
He did an amazing job, taking on villainous characters in a believable manner. The late 40s is when Elam got his start, but he continued filming projects until 1993. The last movie he starred in was called “Uninvited.” Elam died on October 20, 2003, in Ashland, Oregon.
Haley Lu Richardson
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 07: Haley Lu Richardson attends the Soho House Awards at DUMBO House on September 07, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
- Hometown: Phoenix
There’s a lot to be said about Haley Lu Richardson’s career, even though she’s considered a newer addition to the Hollywood industry. She was born on March 7, 1985, in Phoenix, Arizona. Before making it to the silver screen, she filmed several television projects like Disney Channel’s “Shake it Up” and ABC’s “Ravenswood.” The movies that have cemented Richardson as a serious actress are “5 Feet Apart,” “Love at First Sight,” and “The Edge of 17.”
She filmed these movies alongside actors like Woody Harrelson, Hailee Steinfeld, James McAvoy, Cole Sprouse, and Parker Posey. The award-winning actress has taken home the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series so far. Coming of age movies filled with drama are definitely her cup of tea. Click here to discover the 20 best drama films of all time.