Missouri is known for many things. For one, it played a pivotal role in the expansion of the Western United States. Beyond that, the state is known as the birthplace of many American music forms including Ragtime, Kansas City Jazz, and the St. Louis Blues. As such, it’s not surprising that so many talented people hail from the Show Me State. What is surprising, however, is how many great actors got their start in the state. Let’s meet the 10 biggest movie stars from Missouri.
To compile a list of the 10 biggest movie stars from Missouri, 24/7 Tempo consulted a range of celebrity, lifestyle, and tourist publications including Missouri Legends, and The Famous People. Next, we selected actors from a range of eras with the biggest cultural impact. After that, we confirmed biographical details using sites like Biography and Britannica.
Jon Hamm
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 08: Jon Hamm attends the Global Premiere of Mean Girls at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater on January 08, 2024, in New York, New York. (Photo by John Nacion/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
- Hometown: St. Louis
One of the biggest movie stars from Missouri is, no doubt, Jon Hamm. Born Jonathan Daniel Hamm, he first rose to prominence with roles in the television show “Providence,” and in movies like “Space Cowboys.” His breakout role, however, would come as Don Draper on the critically-acclaimed “Mad Men.”
Some of his other well-known roles include “Beruit,” “Baby Driver,” “Bridesmaids,” and “Top Gun: Maverick.” He has also continued acting on television with roles in shows like “Good Omens,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” and “Parks and Recreation.” For his acting success, Hamm has won two Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and an Emmy Award.
Brad Pitt
- Hometown: Springfield
Another one of the biggest movie stars to come from Missouri is Brad Pitt. Though he was born in Oklahoma, Pitt spent his formative years in Springfield, Missouri. He first rose to prominence playing a mysterious but charming cowboy in “Thelma & Louise.” After that, Pitt went on to become a leading man and A-list actor.
Some of his notable roles include “A River Runs Through It,” “Interview with a Vampire,” “Fight Club,” and “Seven.” In recent years, Pitt started his own production company, Plan B Entertainment, which produced numerous Oscar winners including “The Departed,” and “12 Years a Slave.” For his acting success, Pitt has won two Academy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. (For other great Brad Pitt roles, explore the best war movies of all time.)
John Goodman
- Hometown: Affton
Another one of the biggest movie stars from Missouri is actor John Goodman. Born John Stephen Goodman, he first rose to prominence with his role on the long-running and popular sitcom “Roseanne.” After that, Goodman became known for his collaborations with the directors Joel and Ethan Coen.
Some of these collaborations include “Raising Arizona,” “The Big Lebowski,” and “Inside Llewelyn Davis.” Beyond that, Goodman has gained a reputation as one of the finest living actors, appearing in numerous other film roles as well as stage productions. For his acting success, Goodman has won a Primetime Emmy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe Award.
Steve McQueen
- Hometown: Slater
Another one of the biggest movie stars to come from Missouri is acting legend Steve McQueen. Though he was born Terrence Stephen McQueen in Indiana, he spent his formative years in Slater, Missouri. He first rose to acting prominence with a role in the television series “Tales of Wells Fargo.”
From there, McQueen would go on to have a successful film career appearing in movies like “The Sand Pebbles,” “Papillon,” “The Magnificent Seven,” and “The Great Escape.” In the process, he became a counterculture hero of the ’60s and was nicknamed the “King of Cool.” For his acting success, he was nominated for an Academy Award and four Golden Globe Awards.
Ellie Kemper
- Hometown: Kansas City
Ellie Kemper is an actress, comedian, and one of the biggest movie stars to come from Missouri. Born Elizabeth Claire Kemper, she appeared in various sketch comedy shows and troupes before rising to prominence with her role on NBC’s hit television show “The Office.”
From there, Kemper began appearing in movies and other television shows. These include the show “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” as well as movies like “Bridesmaids,” “21 Jump Street,” and “Home Sweet Home Alone.” What’s more, in 2018, she released an autobiographical comedy book called “My Squirrel Days.” For her acting success, Kemper has been nominated twice for a Primetime Emmy Award and won an MTV Movie Award.
Kevin Kline
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 11: Kevin Kline accepts the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for Present Laughter onstage during the 2017 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 11, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions)
- Hometown: St. Louis
Another one of the biggest movie stars to come from Missouri is Kevin Kline. Born Kevin Delaney Kline, he first rose to prominence as a stage actor with The Acting Company and the New York Shakespeare Festival. For his stage acting, Kline won four Tony Awards. After that, he transitioned to a film career which saw him become a leading man.
Some of his notable movie appearances include “Sophie’s Choice,” “Soapdish,” “Dave,” and “Wild Wild West.” Over his five-decade career spanning various mediums, Kline has received many accolades for his acting work. These include an Academy Award, two Primetime Emmy Awards, two British Academy Film Awards, and five Golden Globe Awards. In 2003, Kline was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame. (For more breakout roles, explore movies that launched the careers of Hollywood’s biggest stars.)
Don Johnson
- Hometown: Flat Creek
Another one of the biggest movie stars to come from Missouri is actor Don Johnson. Born Donnie Wayne Johnson, he first rose to acting prominence after scoring the leading role in the television series “Miami Vice.” After that, Johnson continued on television, appearing in shows like “Nash Bridges,” and “Just Legal.”
After that, Johnson began appearing in film roles. Though early in his career he appeared in movies like “A Boy and His Dog,” and “Tin Cup,” he became known to contemporary audiences with roles in films like “Machete,” “Django Unchained,” and “Knives Out.” For his acting success, Johnson has won a Saturn Award, a Golden Globe Award, as well as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Vincent Price
Actor Vincent Price (1911 - 1993) as he appears in the horror film The Bat, 1959. (Photo by Allied Artists/Archive Photos/Getty Images)
- Hometown: St. Louis
Another one of the biggest actors from Missouri, although less known today, is actor, art historian, and gourmet cook Vincent Price. Born Vincent Leonard Price Jr., he first rose to prominence in the 1938 comedy film “Service de Luxe.” This led to a wildly successful film and television career spanning nearly fifty years.
Some of his best-known roles were in films like “The Ten Commandments,” “The Fly,” “The Last Man on Earth,” and “The Great Mouse Detective.” Besides acting, Price was also a gourmet cook, art collector, and art historian. What’s more, the Vincent Price Art Museum in Los Angeles is named in his honor. Besides the many accolades and awards he won for his work, Price is one of the few performers to have two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Jean Harlow
- Hometown: Kansas City
Another one of the biggest movie stars from Missouri who’s not well known in the modern era is actress Jean Harlow. Born Harlean Harlow Carpenter, Harlow first came to prominence with a role in the film “Hell’s Angels.” From there, she became known as a sex symbol and a pivotal figure in the pre-Code era of American movies.
Some of her notable roles include “Red-Headed Woman,” “Red Dust,” “Dinner at Eight,” and “Suzy.” Though she was only in the film industry for nine years, she became one of the leading actresses known for her beguiling acting persona. Tragically, Harlow died of kidney failure at the age of 26. Nevertheless, she is still ranked as one of the greatest actresses to have ever graced the screen.
Doris Roberts
SANTA MONICA, CA - APRIL 28: Actress Doris Roberts (L) and actor Peter Boyle attend the Everybody Loves Raymond Series Wrap Party at Hanger 8 on April 28, 2005 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
- Hometown: St. Louis
Another one of the biggest movie stars to come from Missouri is actress Doris Roberts. Born Doris May Green, she first rose to acting prominence in the early 1960s. During that time, she appeared in films like “The Honeymoon Killers,” “Little Murders,” and “Number One with a Bullet.”
After that, Roberts transitioned to a successful television career. During this time, she appeared in shows like “Remington Steele,” “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and “The Middle.” Besides acting, Roberts was a noted animal rights activist. For her acting success, she won five Primetime Emmy Awards. Roberts died in 2016 at age 90 due to complications from a stroke. (For a more eastern state, discover the biggest movie stars from North Carolina.)