When considering a state like Louisiana, movie stars might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Louisiana is located on the southeastern side of America, and it’s thought of as a wonderful melting pot of different cultures. Louisiana is the state where you’ll come across tons of jazz music, Renaissance-style art, and delicious food. On the subject of food, click here to uncover the best Italian restaurants in every state – including Louisiana.
To gather this list of the biggest movie stars born in Louisiana, 24/7 Tempo consulted several entertainment websites. These include IMDb, The Famous People, and Stars Insider.
Zachary Levi
- Hometown: Charles
Zachary Levi was born on September 29, 1980, in Charles, Louisiana. As of today, his biggest movie roles have been in the “Shazam!” franchise. The first movie premiered in 2019 and the sequel hit theaters in 2023. Some of the other movies Levi’s starred in are “American Underdog,” “Spy Kids: Armageddon,” and “Thor: The Dark World.”
As a voice actor, Levi has worked on projects like “Tangled,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel,” and “Chicken Run: Donald the Nugget.” He’s filmed movies alongside talented stars like Lucy Liu, Rachel Ziegler, and Dennis Quaid.
Reese Witherspoon
- Hometown: New Orleans
Reese Witherspoon was born on March 22, 1976, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The first movie role she ever landed was in 1991. The film was called “The Man in the Moon,” and it opened the doors of her long-lasting career. She moved on to star in the iconic “Legally Blonde” franchise, “Cruel Intentions,” and “Sweet Home Alabama.”
Some of the A-listers Witherspoon has worked with on screen include Patrick Dempsey, Vince Vaughn, and Mark Ruffalo. Witherspoon is an award-winning star with much to be proud of. Some of her accolades include the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, and the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Actress.
Ellen DeGeneres
- Hometown: Metairie
Plenty of people think of Ellen DeGeneres as a talk show host instead of a movie star. That’s because her talk show lasted for 19 seasons before coming to an end in 2022. Interestingly enough, DeGeneres does actually classify as a movie star. She appeared in “Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase” and “If These Walls Could Talk 2.”
Some of the awards DeGeneres has taken home over the years include the Glamour Woman of the Year Award, the Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production, and the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Humanitarian. She was born on January 26, 1958, in Metairie, Louisiana.
Jared Leto
- Hometown: Bossier City
Jared Leto was born on December 26, 1971, in Bossier City, Louisiana. The first big movie he ever found was in 1995, and it was called “How to Make an American Quilt.” It was based on a novel of the same name. Leto had the opportunity to film the project with Winona Ryder, Anne Bancroft, and Gene Simmons.
Some of the more recent movies Leto’s starred in include “Morbius,” “Suicide Squad,” “House of Gucci,” and “Dallas Buyers Club.” Working alongside actors like Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Lady Gaga, Al Pacino, and Margot Robbie has been the norm for Leto.
Addison Rae
- Hometown: Lafayette
Addison Rae was born on October 6, 2000, in Lafayette, Louisiana. The 23-year-old social media influencer rose to fame on TikTok. As of now, she has more than 88.7 million people following her booming TikTok channel. After making a name for herself on social media, she expanded her career into the Hollywood industry.
Rae classifies as a movie star since she filmed “He’s All That” in 2021 and “Thanksgiving” in 2023. She also served as a voice actor in a 2018 animated flick called “Marnie’s World.”
Ian Somerhalder
- Hometown: Covington
Ian Somerhalder was born on December 8, 1978, in Covington, Louisiana. Somerhalder’s fan base often notes his time filming “The Vampire Diaries” as a highlight of his career. He starred in the dramatic series from 2009 until 2017 as Damon Salvatore.
“The Vampire Diaries” was a wildly popular success thanks to the vampire craze of the 2000s. Somerhalder is a movie star beyond that iconic TV role, though. Some of his movies are “V Wars,” “Common Ground,” and “The Anomaly.” He’s worked professionally alongside actors like Nikki Reed, Jason Momoa, Donald Glover, and Woody Harrelson.
Patricia Clarkson
- Hometown: New Orleans
Patricia Clarkson was born on December 29, 1959, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her career as an actress spans across multiple decades since her film debut was back in 1987. She landed a role in “Untouchables“ alongside Kevin Costner. Clarkson went on to film other interesting movies like “Easy A,” “The Bookshop,” “Friends With Benefits,” and “Learning to Drive.”
She’s shared screen time with noteworthy actors like Emma Stone, Mila Kunis, Sean Connery, and Robert De Niro. Clarkson is an actress who’s claimed several impressive awards as well. These include the Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Musical, the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress, and the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries.
Tyler Perry
- Hometown: New Orleans
Tyler Perry was born on September 13, 1969, in New Orleans, Louisiana. His first major movie was “Diary of a Mad Black Woman,” which premiered in 2005. The film debuted in the number one spot across the nation. Perry made a great impression on viewers after successfully pulling off the roles of three different character personas in the movie.
Other films starring Perry include “Madea Family Funeral,” “Madea Goes to Jail,” and “Why Did I Get Married.” Some of the buzzworthy actors he’s worked with include Janet Jackson, Blair Underwood, and Keke Palmer. Perry has several awards under his belt as well such as the Quill Award for Humor, the People’s Choice Award for People’s Champion, and the BET Honors Media Award.
Anthony Mackie
- Hometown: New Orleans
Anthony Mackie was born on September 23, 1978, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The movie that made him famous was “8 Mile” in 2002. He starred in that flick alongside Eminem, Brittany Murphy, and Kim Basinger. After that, Mackie went on to have a successful career by making his way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Some of the movies he’s filmed for the MCU include “The Avengers,” “Avengers: Endgame,” and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.” Just like several other talented stars on this list, Mackie is no stranger to awards and accolades. He’s taken home the MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo, the Black Reel Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor, and the Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Performance.
Angela Kinsey
- Hometown: Lafayette
When people think of Angela Kinsey, they often recall her role in “The Office.” She took on the persona of Angela Martin from 2005 until 2013. Kinsey was born on June 25, 1971, in Lafayette, Louisiana. Her resume as an actress outside of “The Office” is the reason she is part of this list.
Some of the movies she’s starred in include the “Tall Girl” franchise, “Half Magic,” “Laid in America,” and “Struck by Lightning.” Kinsey filmed these movies alongside other major actors like Heather Graham, Robin Williams, and Mandy Moore. Kinsey and the rest of the Louisiana-born actors on this list are always coming out with awesome new movies. Click here to learn about the most highly anticipated movies of 2024.