Indiana has plenty of cornfields and expansive farmlands. Yet, the notability of Indiana goes far beyond producing corn and soybeans. This flyover state is also the birthplace of several talented and famous actors and actresses. The list below takes a look at the biggest movie stars from Indiana.
To compile a list of the biggest movie stars from Indiana, 24/7 Tempo consulted numerous sources, including IMDb and biography.com. Now, let’s meet the 10 biggest movie stars from Indiana. (Click here to learn more about the most popular action stars of all time!)
1. James Dean
When it comes to movie stars from Indiana, James Dean is one of the most notable faces. Dean was born in 1931 in Marion, Indiana. After his mother’s death, he was raised on a farm by his aunt and uncle. James Dean is forever burned into audiences’ minds as the bad boy due to his performance as Jim Stark. His brooding appearance made audiences everywhere fall in love. (Here is a list of actors who are always typecast.)
Tragically, Dean’s acting career was cut short after only three big hits, “East of Eden,” “Rebel Without a Cause,” and “Giant.” It was during the end of “Giant” when Dean was killed in a car accident. He crashed into another car and died immediately from a broken neck.
Although Dean had a relatively short career and died at 26, his legacy lives on decades later. Only one actor has been given more than one Oscar nomination after his death — James Dean.
2. Steve McQueen
On March 24, 1930, Steve McQueen was born in Beech Grove, IN. Throughout the 1960s, he sealed for himself the image of being a cool actor. McQueen appeared in several acting films which involved stunts. These include “The Blob,” “Never So Few,” “The Magnificent Seven,” and “Hell is for Heroes.”
McQueen starred in numerous hits and a few disappointing movies for several decades. However, his last movie was “The Hunter” as Ralph ‘Papa’ Thorson. It was after this film that he was diagnosed with a rare lung cancer, mesothelioma. McQueen’s life was cut short at the age of 50 after having surgery to remove tumors. He passed away from a heart attack.
3. Vivica A. Fox
RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 21, Vivica A fox during the SA Sports Awards from Sun City Superbowl on August 21, 2011 in Rustenburg, South AfricaPhoto by Frennie Shivambu / Gallo Images
In 1964, Vivica A. Fox was born in South Bend, IN. After high school, Fox traveled to California for school. She earned an Associate Arts degree in Social Sciences; however, Fox began acting during her time in California.
Her first acting appearances were in soap operas like “Days of Our Lives” and “The Young and the Restless.” She also starred in “Out All Night” as Charisse Chamberlain. In 1996, Fox starred in the movie “Independence Day” with Will Smith. More acting accolades include:
- “Set it Off”
- “Soul Food as Maxine”
- “City of Angels” as Dr. Lillian Price
- “Teaching Mrs. Tingle”
- “Two Can Play That Game”
- “Kill Bill: Vol. 1”
- “1-800-Missing”
- “Dancing with the Stars”
4. Brendan Fraser
Another one of the most famous movie stars from Indiana is Brendan Fraser. In 1999, “The Mummy” movie hit the big screen, solidifying Fraser’s persona as the adventurer and tough man. However, even before the Mummy trilogy, Fraser acted in films such as “Dogfight,” “School Ties,” and “Encino Man.” His appearance as George in “George of the Jungle” tipped him towards the adventurer actor appearance closely associated with his name today.
Fraser was born in Indianapolis, IN in 1968. While his acting career seemingly took off in the late 90s and early 2000s, poor physical and mental health halted his career.
Fraser came forward in 2018 about a sexual assault incident. However, Phillip Berk remained adamant that he did nothing wrong. The years between the Mummy trilogy and 2022 saw minor roles for Fraser. In 2022, Fraser made a comeback with the movie “The Whale” for which he won an Oscar.
5. Jenna Fischer
Jenna Fischer was born in Fort Wayne, IN in 1974. She is known for her role as Pam Beesly in “The Office.” Her love for acting started at a young age.
After “The Office,” Fischer starred Off-Broadway in “Reasons to Be Happy” and in the play “Meteor Shower.” Apart from acting, Jenna Fischer also started her podcast with Angela Kinsey entitled “Office Ladies,” which won IHeart Radio’s Podcast of the Year award. Fischer is also an author who has written two books titled “The Actor’s Life: A Survival Guide” and “Office BFF’s: Tales of The Office from Two Best Friends Who Were There.”
6. Dean Norris
Dean Norris was born in South Bend, IN, in 1963. His most notable role is as Hank Schrader in “Breaking Bad.” More roles of Norris’s include “Under the Dome” as James Rennie and “Claws” as Clay Husser.
Norris has had a successful and long career in television and movies. These roles include “Hard to Kill,” “The Firm,” “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Evan Almighty,” and “Sons of Liberty.” His acting success doesn’t stop there; Norris has starred in over 100 television shows and almost 50 movies.
7. Anne Baxter
In 1923, the birth of actress Anne Baxter took place in Michigan City, IN. She began acting on the New York stage as a young girl, and at 17, she starred in her first movie, “20 Mule Team.” Baxter went on to star in movies such as “All About Eve,” “Mother Wore Tights,” “Blaze of Noon,” and “The Ten Commandments.”
Movies were not her only forte. Baxter also starred in television shows such as “East of Eden,” “Hotel,” “Sherlock Holmes,” and “The Masks of Death.” Anne Baxter passed away at the age of 62 after a stroke.
8. Sydney Pollack
DEAUVILLE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 09: Sydney Pollack poses at his photocall at the 32nd Deauville Festival Of American Film on September 9, 2006 in Deauville, France. The Deauville film festival paid hommage to Sydney Pollack and his contribution in film by presenting him with an award. (Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images)
When it comes to famous movie stars from Indiana, Sydney Pollack is one of the most talented. Pollack was born in 1934 in Lafayette, IN. Throughout his life, Pollack earned many accolades. He was not only an actor but also a producer, writer, and Academy Award-winning director. His portfolio includes producing more than 40 movies.
Sydney Pollack’s first film was “War Hunt” in 1962. In 1982, he acted and directed “Tootsie.” His directing successes include “Sabrina,” “Out of Africa,” “The Way We Were,” and “The Firm.” As a producer, Pollack saw success with “The Interpreter” and “Cold Mountain,” among many more. Sydney Pollack passed away in 2008 after a long and successful career.
9. Katy M. O’Brian
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 28: Katy M. O'Brian attends the Mandalorian special launch event at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California on February 28, 2023. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Katy M. O’Brain was born in Indianapolis, IN in 1989. She is best known for her role as George on “Z Nation.”
Before landing this role, O’Brian appeared in “The Walking Dead,” “Halt,” “Catch Fire,” and “How to Get Away with Murder.”
Television shows are not the only acting credits Katy has earned. Movies she has starred in include “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantunmanioa,” “Ant-Man,” “Twisters (2024),” and “Sweet Girl.”
10. Embeth Davidtz
Embeth Davidtz was born in Lafayette, IN, in 1965. At the beginning of her acting career, she starred in the National Theatre Company’s “Romeo & Juliet.”
From there, Davidtz starred in several minor roles, beginning with the horror film “Mutator” and moving on to “Army of Darkness.”
Although Davidtz’s film portfolio includes roles in “Schindler’s List,” “Bicentennial Man,” and “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” her most notable role was as Miss Honey in “Matilda.”