When you think of a state like Michigan, do famous movie stars come to mind? If not, that’s about to change.
Several talented actors were born and raised in Michigan before deciding they were ready to pursue careers in the limelight. Michigan is an upper Midwestern state that allows residents access to Lakes Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Superior.
For nature lovers who enjoy the great outdoors, Michigan is a great place to live. Since it’s full of small towns where talented movie stars are born, this state deserves more recognition. Click here to find out about small towns across America where the most famous people come from.
To gather this list of the biggest movie stars from Michigan, 24/7 Tempo consulted several entertainment-centered websites including IMDb, iHeart, and Famous Fix.
Tom Selleck
- Hometown: Detroit
Tom Selleck was born on January 29, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan. The first movie he starred in was back in 1972, and it was a low budget horror film called “Daughters of Satan.” His career has gone in a positive direction since then, because he was able to snag parts in much bigger films in the years to follow.
Some of his noteworthy movies are “Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise,” “Killers,” and “Thin Ice.” He’s shared screen time with actors like Catherine O’Hara and William H. Macy.
A small handful of the awards Selleck has under his belt include the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series Drama, the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Actor in a New TV Series, and the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
David Spade
- Hometown: Birmingham
David Spade was born on July 22, 1964, in Birmingham, Michigan. Along with being an actor, Spade is known for being a standup comedian, TV host, producer, and writer. Stand-up comedy was how he got his foot in the door on the sketch comedy series “Saturday Night Live.”
He stayed with “SNL” from 1990 until 1996. That stretch of time was solid enough to place Spade on the map as an actor. Now, movie goers recognize him in flicks like “The Wrong Missy,” “Father of the Year,” and “Warning Shot.”
Some of the actors Spade has worked with professionally include Adam Sandler, Kevin, James, and Rob Schneider. Spade took home the MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo for the movie “Tommy Boy,” which premiered in 1995. It’s considered one of the most iconic 90s comedies.
Dax Shepard
- Hometown: Milford
Dax Shepard was born on January 2, 1975, in Milford, Michigan. Early on in his acting career, he was offered the opportunity to work with the Sunday Company of The Groundlings. This group included other actors on the rise like Tate Taylor , Nat Faxon, and Melissa McCarthy. Shepard grew popular among audiences when he started filming episodes of “Punk’d” with Ashton Kutcher.
He’s classified as a movie star thanks to his roles in movies like “Employee of the Month,” “Idiocracy,” and “When In Rome.” Shepherd filmed movies alongside stars like Jessica Simpson, Dane Cook, and Luke Wilson. He’s even filmed projects with his wife, Kirsten Bell. Shepherd is an actor who’s been nominated for iHeartRadio awards, Teen Choice Awards, and People’s Choice Awards.
Taylor Lautner
- Hometown: Grand Rapids
Taylor Lautner is a movie star best known for his role in the Twilight saga. Lautner was born on February 11, 1992, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A few years before becoming America’s most beloved werewolf, Lautner starred movies like “Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl” and “Cheaper by the Dozen 2.”
He’s acted alongside stars like Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Lily Collins, and Sigourney Weaver. Lautner is no stranger to awards and has a long list of them under his belt so far. He’s been given the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Breakout Movie Actor, the MTV Movie Award for Best Shirtless Performance, and the Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor: Action/Adventure.
Robert Wagner
- Hometown: Detroit
Robert Wagner is a seasoned actor who was born on February 10, 1930, in Detroit, Michigan. The first movie he starred in was “Happy Years” in 1950. Although it was his film debut, he wasn’t actually credited for the part. He was only 19 years old at the time and simply trying to make his mark.
Now, Wagner is recognized for starring in movies like “The Pink Panther,” “Broken Lance,” and “The True Story of Jesse James.” He’s acted in movies alongside Elizabeth Hurley, Mike Myers, Seth Green, and Peter Sellers. One of the major awards he’s taken home for his career as an actor is the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Actor in a New TV Series.
Terry Crews
- Hometown: Flint
Terry Crews born on July 30, 1968, in Flint, Michigan. In the year 2000, Crews made his movie debut in “The Sixth Day.” That movie was all he needed to get started, because his career took off from there. In the early 2000s, Crews went on to land roles in flicks like “White Chicks,” “Norbit,” and “The Longest Yard.”
Later on, he took on a leading role in “The Expendables.” The action-packed franchise gave Crews the opportunity to work alongside the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, and Jet Li. Regarding accolades, Crews is the winner of the Phenom Award and the Audie Award for Business/Personal Development.
JK Simmons
- Hometown: Grosse Pointe
JK Simmons is a movie star who was born on January 9, 1955, in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Altogether, Simmons has appeared in more than 200 television and film roles. This is an actor who knows how to stay busy! Some of the most talked-about movies he’s starred in include the early 2000s “Spider-Man” franchise, “Whiplash,” “La La Land,” and “Juno.”
He’s taken on roles alongside actors like Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Ryan Gosling, and Emma Stone. As far as awards go, Simmons is the winner of the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Actress In A New TV Series and the Critic’s Choice SeeHer Award, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, and the BAF.TA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
Kristen Bell
- Hometown: Huntington Woods
Kristen Bell was born on July 18, 1980, in Huntington Woods, Michigan. The actress got her start in live stage productions while she was enrolled as a student at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. In 2001, she snagged her first credited role in a movie called “Pootie Tang.”
Unfortunately for her, the scene was cut before it made it to theaters. Bell clearly didn’t let that get her down because she went on to star in several blockbuster movies. Some of her biggest movies to date include “Bad Moms,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” and “Couples Retreat.” sShe lent her voice to both “Frozen” movies from the Disney corporation in 2013 and 2019.
She’ll be voicing the character of Anna again in the third “Frozen” movie when it premieres in 2025 as well. Bell’s filmed movies alongside Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Paul Rudd, and Jason Segel. A couple of the awards she’s taken home are the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Actress In A New TV Series and the Critic’s Choice SeeHer Award.
Keegan-Michael Key
- Hometown: Southfield
Many people would say that the world of comedy has benefited greatly from Keegan-Michael Key’s sense of humor. He was born on March 22, 1971, in Southfield, Michigan. He relocated to Chicago to get involved with the improv scene before crossing paths with Jordan Peele.
Together, they created a series called “Key and Peele” that helped them both skyrocket to notoriety. Some of the biggest movies Key’s filmed include “Wonka,” “All the Bright Places,” and “Playing With Fire.”
He’s also spent tons of times voice acting in animated movies like “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” “Wendell and Wild,” and “Migration.” The Emmy Award-nominated movie star has shared screen time with stars like Cobie Smulders, Timothée Chalamet, James Franco, and Bryan Cranston.
Selma Blair
- Hometown: Detroit
Selma Blair was born on June 23, 1972, in Detroit, Michigan. Before pursuing her career as an actress, she graduated from the University of Michigan in 1995. She didn’t practice theater as a college student! As a young adult, she was focused on earning degrees in Psychology and English.
After that, she realized she wanted to star in movies so she relocated to New York City. Some of the more well-known flicks Blair’s starred in include “Cruel Intentions,” “Legally Blonde,” “The Sweetest Thing,” and “Hell Boy.” She’s worked alongside big names like Cameron Diaz, Reese Witherspoon, and Jennifer Coolidge.
Some of the awards Blair has taken home include the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Competition Contestant, the Glamour Award for Daring to Disrupt Award, and the Young Hollywood Next Generation Award. Blair has starred in her fair share of action movies, comedies, and romances. Read up on the 20 romance films everyone should watch at least once.