When you think of an American state like Kentucky, the Appalachian Mountains and Kentucky Derby might come to mind. Although it’s easy to assume there are more things to do on the West Coast or the East Coast, Kentucky is still a special state to visit or live in.
Several talented movie stars were born and raised in Kentucky before deciding they wanted to pursue careers in the Hollywood industry. With so many dedicated actors, it’s safe to assume there are also big-name musicians from Kentucky as well. Meet the 10 biggest musicians who came straight from the state of Kentucky.
To compile this list of the biggest movie stars from Kentucky, 24/7 Tempo consulted several entertainment websites including IMDb, Bet Kentucky, and The Famous People.
Johnny Depp
- Hometown: Owensboro
Johnny Depp is one of the most buzzworthy movie stars to come from the Bluegrass State. He was born on June 9, 1963, in Owensboro, Kentucky. The first blockbuster movie Depp starred in was “A Nightmare on Elm Street” in 1984. That was when he made his film debut and became the household name the world recognizes him as today.
Some of his other major movies include the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” and “Edward Scissorhands.” Depp has filmed movies alongside actors like Forest Whitaker, Robert Pattinson, and Keira Knightley. To top it off, his list of accolades as an actor is extensive.
Depp’s taken home the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, and the People’s Choice Award for Favorite On-Screen Chemistry.
George Clooney
- Hometown: Lexington
George Clooney is another massive movie star who was born in Kentucky. His star power says it all since he’s such a widely recognized actor. It’s all thanks to the long list of major movies he’s agreed to be part of. He was born on May 6, 1961, in Lexington, Kentucky.
He snagged his first major acting role in 1984 in a CBS drama called “E/R.” Things really took off for Clooney when he ventured into the movie scene, though. The “Ocean’s 11″ franchise wouldn’t exist the way it does today without Clooney leading the way. Some of his other major movies include “Up in the Air,” “The Flash,” and “The Descendants.”
Clooney’s filmed movies alongside Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Matt Damon, and Don Cheadle. This movie star is no stranger to awards rolling in for his talent as an actor. He’s won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, and the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Actor.
Josh Hutcherson
- Hometown: Union
Josh Hutcherson played Peeta Mellark in the “Hunger Games” franchise, and his career skyrocketed from there. His career spans far beyond those fantasy drama films, though. Hutcherson was born on October 12, 1992, in Union, Kentucky. He was a child actor who started pursuing his dreams of making it in the Hollywood industry at the young age of nine.
His first movie role was in a TV film in 2002 called “House Blend.” Other films he’s starred in are “Bridge to Terabithia,” “The Beekeeper,” and “Little Manhattan.” Hutcherson has starred in movies alongside Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, and Elizabeth Banks.
Some of the impressive awards Hutcherson’s won over the course of his career include the Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie: Liplock, the Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film Young Ensemble Cast, and the MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance.
Jennifer Lawrence
- Hometown: Indian Hills
Plenty people recognize Jennifer Lawrence from her time playing the leading role of Katniss Everdeen in the “Hunger Games” franchise. She led the way as a fierce heroine doing everything she could to survive in a deadly competition. Lawrence was born on August 15, 1990, in Indian Hills, Kentucky.
Her first major role wasn’t a movie, but rather a TV sitcom called “The Bill Engvall Show.” Her film debut didn’t happen until 2008, when she landed a supporting role in “Garden Party.” She went on to film other iconic films like “Red Sparrow,” “Silver Linings Playbook,” and “Don’t Look Up.”
Lawrence has filmed movies with actors like Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Christian Bale, and Robert De Niro. She has plenty of accolades to back up her talent on screen. Some of those awards include the Academy Award for Best Actress, the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture.
Chrishell Stause
- Hometown: Draffenville
Reality TV lovers are greatly familiar with Chrishell Stause ever since she joined the cast of “Selling Sunset” on Netflix. The reality TV star also happens to be a movie actress as well. Some of the movies Stause has starred in include “Eve of Abduction,” “You’re Not Supposed to Be Here,” and “Another Time.”
While it’s true that Stause’s career as a soap opera actress is more expansive than her career as a movie star, she’s still someone who’s filmed feature-length movies after being born in Kentucky. When it comes to her soap operas, Stause spent several years filming episodes of shows like “Days of Our Lives,” “The Young and the Reckless,” and “All My Children.”
Movie lovers who appreciates Stause’s talent can also catch her in music videos. She dedicated time to film scenes for a music video with her partner called “Get Me Outta Here” in 2022.
Billy Ray Cyrus
- Hometown: Flatwoods
One of the biggest roles fans recognize Billy Ray Cyrus from is a show called “Hannah Montana” on Disney Channel. The kid-friendly sitcom ran for four successful seasons starting in 2006. He agreed to do the show with his daughter, Miley Cyrus, who took on the titular role in the show.
Cyrus was born on August 23, 1961, in Flatwoods, Kentucky. Some of the movies he’s starred in are “Like a Country Song,” “The Spy Next Door,” and “Sharknado 2: The Second One.” He also filmed “Hannah Montana: The Movie” with Miley as a way of closing that chapter.
Cyrus has shared screen time with actors like Naomi Watts, Justin Theroux, and Tara Reid. He’s an award-winning star, but the bulk of his accolades come from his career as a musician rather than his list of movies.
Jack Harlow
- Hometown: Louisville
Although Jack Harlow is recognized for being a talented rapper in the hip-hop music scene, he’s also a movie star. Harlow was born on March 13, 1998, in Louisville, Kentucky. Pursuing a career in music has always been a big deal for Harlow who started rapping at the age of 12.
When he landed a role in a 2023 movie called “White Men Can’t Jump” it gave his fans the chance to see him from a new perspective. The movie is about two amateur basketball players who come from completely different worlds. After interacting with each other a few times, they quickly realize they have much more in common than both would have ever would’ve guessed.
Along with Harlow, Sinqua Walls, Laura, Harrier, and Teyana Taylor were part of the cast. Harlow is an award-winning star, but the all of his awards are dedicated to his music career instead than his acting career for now. With catchy songs like “First Class,” “What’s Poppin,” and “Tyler Herro” on his tracklist, it’s not surprising that Harlow has been granted so many awards as a musician. As his career as a movie star expands, movie-centered awards will undoubtedly come his way.
Michael Shannon
- Hometown: Lexington
Michael Shannon was born on August 7, 1974, in Lexington, Kentucky. The first movie Shannon starred in was “Groundhog Day” in 1993. He played an unnamed groomsman in the movie, but it wasn’t exactly a groundbreaking role for his career. In 1997, he landed parts in two more movies called “Chicago Cab” and “The Ride.”
By the time in the 2000s rolled around, Shannon’s career began taking off in full swing. Some of his most noteworthy movies to date are “Bullet Train,” “Man of Steel,” and “The Shape of Water.” Choosing to star in a movie like “The Shape of Water” was a brilliant move on Shannon’s part. It has a score of 92% on rotten tomatoes with loads of positive reviews from critics. The heartbreaking movie tells the story of a mute custodian who falls in love with a creature being held captive inside a government laboratory.
Shannon plays the role of the main antagonist and portrays a believable level of corruption and wickedness. The movie star has worked with actors like Joey King, Henry Cavill, Ray Liotta, Winona Ryder, and James Franco. As far as awards go, Shannon can claim a handful of those for himself. He’s taken home the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, the Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award, and the Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Kelly Rutherford
- Hometown: Elizabethtown
Kelly Rutherfords was born on November 6, 1968, in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. One of Rutherford’s biggest roles ever is as Lily van der Woodson in the hit teen drama “Gossip Girl.” Despite the show’s notoriety, Rutherford is also a movie star beyond her career as a TV actress.
Some of the movies she’s filmed are “Scream 3,” “Christmas Wedding Planner,“ and “A Sister’s Nightmare.” Rutherford has worked with big Hollywood stars like Parker Posey, David Arquette, Courtney Cox, and Patrick Dempsey throughout the course of her career.
“Gossip Girl” and Rutherford’s list of movies are solid reasons why she’s reached her current level of success. Her time filming soap operas like “Generations” and “Melrose Place” in the 90s should also be mentioned when highlighting Rutherford’s best moments as an actress – even though they weren’t feature-length films.
Josh Dallas
- Hometown: Louisville
Josh Dallas was born on December 18, 1978, in Louisville, Kentucky. The American actor stole the hearts of many after landing the role of Prince Charming in a fantasy TV series called “Once Upon a Time.” He later went on to star in a sci-fi drama that’s available for streaming on Netflix called “Manifest.”
Dallas’s TV shows aren’t the reason he’s part of this list, though. He’s a movie star because he’s been starred in several blockbuster films like “Red Tails,” “Thor,” and “The Last Days of Lehman Brothers.” Dallas has worked with A-list actors like Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, Michael B. Jordan, and Bryan Cranston.
This movie star has been nominated for a small handful of awards based on his talent and dedication as an actor including the People’s Choice Award for Favorite TV Duo and the Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Fantasy/Sci-Fi. Shannon and the rest of these actors come from Kentucky, which is a southern state full of small towns. Click here to find out about small towns where the loads of famous people come from.