Meet the 10 Biggest Movie Stars From Kansas

When you think of Kansas, you probably imagine long, lonesome prairies. You would be right, too, as The Sunflower State is one of the most productive agricultural states in the country. But beyond crops, many an acting career has bloomed here too. As such, let’s meet the 10 biggest movie stars from Kansas. Some may surprise you.

To compile a list of the 10 biggest movie stars from Kansas, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of celebrity and Kansas tourism websites including The Famous People, Visit KC, Kansas Tourism, and the Kansas City Star. Next, we selected movie stars from different eras with the biggest cultural impact. After that, we consulted sites like Biography and Britannica for specific biographical information.

Paul Rudd

• Hometown: Lenexa

One of the biggest movie stars from Kansas is Paul Rudd. Though born in New Jersey, he spent his formative years in Johnson County, Kansas. Rudd first rose to prominence with a role in the classic 90s teen comedy “Clueless.” After that, he began appearing in other hit films like “Wet Hot American Summer,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” and “Knocked Up.”

Rudd has also had a lengthy television acting career. Some of his notable TV roles include “Friends,” “Reno, 911!” and “Parks and Recreation. Throughout his lengthy career, he has earned numerous accolades for his work. These include an American Film Institute Award, a Critics’ Choice Television Award, and a Streamy Award.

Kirstie Alley

• Hometown: Wichita

Another one of the biggest movie stars from Kansas was Kirstie Alley. Born Kirstie Louise Alley, she first rose to acting fame with a breakout role on the television show “Cheers.” This led to a successful film career with roles in films like “Look Who’s Talking,” “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,” and “Drop Dead Gorgeous.”

After a lengthy movie career, Alley returned to form in various television roles. Some of these include “Scream Queens,” “Celebrity Big Brother,” “The Masked Singer,” and the eponymously named “Kirstie.” For her success, Alley won two Emmy Awards, two People’s Choice Awards, and a Golden Globe Award. Tragically, Alley passed away from colon cancer in late 2022.

Annette Bening

• Hometown: Topeka

Annette Bening is another movie star who was raised in Kansas. Born Annette Carol Bening, she began her career as primarily a stage actor with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. This led to larger Broadway productions which earned her multiple Tony Award nominations. After that, Bening transitioned to film, appearing in “American Beauty,” “Richard III,” and “Postcards from the Edge.”

Besides her varied acting career, Bening is also Vice Chair on the board of trustees for The Actors Fund, a charitable organization that supports working actors. For her standout roles, she has also earned numerous accolades. Some of these include 17 awards from various Critics Associations, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Since 1992, she has been married to fellow actor Warren Beatty.

Dennis Hopper

• Hometown: Dodge City

Another one of the biggest movie stars from Kansas is undoubtedly Dennis Hopper. Born Dennis Lee Hopper, he first rose to prominence with roles in James Dean’s vehicles “Giant” and “Rebel Without a Cause.” This led to roles in classic films like “True Grit,” “Cool Hand Luke,” and “Easy Rider,” which he wrote with co-star Peter Fonda.

A symbol of the 60s counterculture, Hopper found himself increasingly typecast as a rebel or outsider. This led to roles in more classic films like “Apocalypse Now,” “Blue Velvet,” and “Waterworld.” For his decades-long career, Hopper won numerous awards including awards from the Cannes Film Festival, The National Society of Film Critics Awards, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. Hopper died from prostate cancer in May 2010.

R. Lee Ermey

• Hometown: Emporia

Another one of the biggest movie stars from Kansas, however unlikely, was R. Lee Ermey. Born Ronald Lee Ermey, he started as a drill instructor and staff sergeant in the Marine Core. This led, first, to consultation roles in films before being cast as a drill instructor in the seminal war movie, “Full Metal Jacket.”

From there, Ermey acted in many classic movies, often as a character actor in an authority-type role. Some of these films include “Mississippi Burning,” “Se7en,” and the first three films of the “Toy Story” franchise. Later in his career, Ermey hosted two shows on the History Channel related to military issues, “Mail Call,” and “Lock n’ Load with R. Lee Ermey.” He died from complications related to pneumonia in 2018.

Buster Keaton

• Hometown: Piqua

Another one of the biggest movie stars to hail from Kansas was actor, director, and comedian Buster Keaton. Born Joseph Frank Keaton, he rose to prominence early as a vaudeville child star. This led to a career as a movie actor and filmmaker with short comedy reels like “Cops,” “The Electric House,” and most notably, “The General.”

Though his career began to decline due to a descent into alcoholism, Keaton bounced back, making cameos in classic films like “Sunset Boulevard,” “Limelight,” and even an episode of “The Twilight Zone.” For his physical comedy prowess, Keaton was awarded an Academy Honorary Award.

Ed Asner

• Hometown: Kansas City (Kansas)

Another one of the biggest movie stars from Kansas, no doubt, was Ed Asner. Born Eddie Asner, he first rose to acting prominence playing Lou Grant on the long-running “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” This led to a decades-spanning career in film, with roles in movies like “El Dorado,” “JFK,” “Elf,” and “Up.”

Besides acting, Asner was also a noted activist. Besides playing a prominent role in the 1980 Screen Actors Guild Strike, he was also on the Entertainment Board of Directors for The Survivor Mitzvah Project, an advisor for the Rosenburg Fund for Children, and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. For his acting success, Asner is the most decorated male performer in Emmy history, having won seven Emmy Awards over the years. He died at the age of 91 in August 2021.

Eric Stonestreet

• Hometown: Kansas City (Kansas)

Another one of the biggest stars from Kansas is actor Eric Stonestreet. Born Eric Allen Stonestreet, he rose to prominence with a litany of television roles in shows like “Malcolm in the Middle,” “ER,” and “The West Wing.” His breakout role, however, would come as Cameron Tucker on ABC’s “Modern Family.”

Since then, Stonestreet has transitioned to film. Some of his notable film appearances include roles in “Bad Teacher,” “Identity Thief,” “The Loft,” and “Confirmation.” For his acting success, particularly on “Modern Family,” Stonestreet won two Emmy Awards and received a Golden Globe nomination.

Louise Brooks

• Hometown: Cherryvale

Though relatively unknown in modern times, another one of the biggest movie stars from Kansas was Louise Brooks. Born Mary Louise Brooks, she first rose to fame as a Broadway dancer in shows like “George White’s Sandals” and “Ziegfeld Follies.” This led to a film career with roles in movies like “Beggars of Life.”

Though an icon of what’s now called the 1920s flapper culture, Brooks became dissatisfied with her film roles in America so she began appearing in European films like “Pandora’s Box,” “Diary of a Lost Girl,” and “Miss Europe.” Though she faded into obscurity, her career was enlivened again when she began writing essays on film as well as publishing her memoir “Lulu in Hollywood.”

Chris Cooper

• Hometown: Kansas City

Another one of the biggest movie stars from Kansas is Chris Cooper. Though he was born Christopher Walton Cooper on the Missouri side of Kansas City, he was raised for good portions of his childhood in Leavenworth, Kansas. He first rose to prominence as Sheriff July Johnson on the long-running western miniseries “Lonesome Dove.”

After that, Cooper scored roles in classic films like “A Time to Kill,” “American Beauty,” “The Bourne Identity,” “October Sky,” and most recently, “Little Women.” For his acting success, Cooper has won a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award. (These are some of the most egregious snubs in Oscars history.)