How many movie stars come straight from the heart of Ohio? Interestingly enough, more movie stars call Ohio their hometown than you might’ve ever guessed. Ohio is a Midwestern state with more than 11.8 million residents living there today.
There are tons of fun things to do in the Buckeye State including visiting museums, walking through botanical gardens, and attending sporting events full of talented athletes. Click here to meet the 10 biggest sports stars from Ohio.
To compile this list of the biggest movie stars born in Ohio, 24/7 Tempo consulted several entertainment websites. These include IMDb, The Famous People, and Cinema Blend.
Halle Berry
- Hometown: Cleveland
Halle Berry was born on August 14, 1966, in Cleveland, Ohio. Her big break was in a movie called “Jungle Fever” directed by Spike Lee in 1991. Since then, her career has certainly expanded in an impressive direction. Some of her most notable roles were in movies like “Monster’s Ball” and “X-Men.”
The award-winning actress has taken home the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role.
Ed O’Neill
- Hometown: Youngstown
A show like “Modern Family” was liable to put anyone on the map. The sitcom was so popular that it helped turn the main cast members into household names! That includes Ed O’Neil, who was already highly recognized from his time filming “Married… With Children” between 1987 and 1997.
Ed O’Neill was born on April 12, 1946, in Youngstown, Ohio. Aside from his career as a TV actor, O’Neill is a movie star as well. Some of his movies are “The Bone Collector,” “Sun Dogs,” and “The Last Shift.” He’s also done some voice acting in animated movies like “Finding Dory” and “Wreck-It Ralph.”
Martin Sheen
- Hometown: Dayton
Martin Sheen was born on August 3, 1940, in Dayton, Ohio. He didn’t start out as a movie star since his earlier roles happened to be on TV shows. He landed guest spots on “The Defenders” from 1961 until 1965. He also starred on “Route 66″ from 1960 until 1964. The movies you might recognize him from include “The Departed,” “Catch Me if You Can,” and “Apocalypse Now.”
He filmed these movies alongside actors like Laurence Fishburne, Harrison Ford, Tom Hanks, and Christopher Walken. Some of the awards he can clean for himself, include the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series Drama, and the Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Series Drama Genre.
Lily Reinhart
- Hometown: Cleveland
It’s easy for people to associate Lili Reinhart with her role on “Riverdale,” but her career as an actress goes far beyond that. Reinhart was born on September 13, 1996, in Cleveland, Ohio. Some of her most noteworthy movies are “Look Both Ways,” “Hustlers,” and “Chemical Hearts.”
She’s shared screen time with actors like Keke Palmer, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, and Kristen Stewart. A couple of the awards she’s taking home so far are the Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress in a Drama, Action, or Adventure and the Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Breakout Star.
Katie Holmes
- Hometown: Toledo
Katie Holmes was born on December 18, 1978, in Toledo, Ohio. She made her film debut in a movie called “The Ice Storm” in 1997. Not long after that, she landed a role in “Dawson’s Creek” as Joey Potter from 1998 until 2003. The teen drama worked wonders in paving the way for the rest of her career.
Some of her biggest movies include “Batman Begins,” “First Daughter,” and “Miss Meadows.“ She’s filmed movies alongside Christian Bale, Cillian Murphy, and Liam Neeson. She also shared screen time with Richard Kind, Luke Wilson, and Patrick Stewart. Some of her most recent projects include “Brahms: The Boy II,” “Alone Together,” and “The Secret: Dare to Dream.”
Sarah Jessica Parker
- Hometown: Nelsonville
“Sex and the City” is arguably one of the biggest shows of the late 90s and early 2000s. It ran for six successful season starting in 1998. Sarah Jessica Parker took the lead as Carrie Bradshaw, a brilliant journalist doing her best to find love in New York City. Parker was born on March 25, 1965, in Nelsonville, Ohio. “Sex in the City” isn’t the reason she’s landed on this list, though.
She’s a movie star because she’s filmed flicks like the “Hocus Pocus” franchise, “I Don’t Know How She Does It,” and “Did You Hear About the Morgans?” Parker is no stranger to awards in any capacity. Some of the accolades she’s been given include the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Premium Series Actress, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Performing Actress in a Musical or Comedy TV Series.
Fred Willard
- Hometown: Shaker Heights
Fred Willard was born on September 18, 1933, in Shaker Heights, Ohio. Some of his biggest movies to date include “Best in Show,” “Waiting for Guffman,” and “A Mighty Wind.” TV lovers may also recognize him from his time filming “Modern Family.” While filming that hit sitcom, he worked alongside Ty Burrell, Julie Bowen, and Sarah Hyland.
In movies, he worked with Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Fran Drescher, and Rob Reiner. Willard was an award-winning actor who can claim the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series for himself. Willard died on May 15, 2020, and Los Angeles, California.
Luke Perry
- Hometown Mansfield
The show that turned Luke Perry into a household name was “Beverly Hills, 90210.” Perry played the role of Dylan McKay on the Fox television series from 1990 until 1995. The reason he’s considered a movie star is because he also filmed movies like “Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood,” “Eight Seconds,” and “The Fifth Element.”
Some of his other big movies include, “ The Beat Beneath My Feet,” “Alice Upside Down,” and “Love In Paradise.” Before he died, he worked alongside Margot Robbie, Austin Butler, Dakota Fanning, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margaret Qualley, and several other big names in the Hollywood industry. Perry was born on October 11, 1966, in Mansfield, Ohio. He later passed away in Burbank, California on March 4, 2019.
Drew Carey
- Hometown: Cleveland
Plenty of people who keep up with Drew Carey think of him as a stage comedian more than a movie star. That’s because he made waves on “The Drew Carey Show” from 1985 until 2004. The sitcom ran for nine successful seasons, telling the story of a fictional version of Carey doing his best to be a successful individual in the workforce.
The movies Carey’s filmed in the past include “Coneheads,” “The Good Life,” and “The Aristocats.” A couple of awards he’s won are the Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Television Series Musical or Comedy and the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Male TV Performer.
Steven Spielberg
- Hometown: Cincinnati
Steven Spielberg was born on December 18, 1946, and Cincinnati, Ohio. Although he’s widely recognized for being a screenwriter, producer, and film director, he’s also appeared in plenty of the movies he’s worked on as well. In other words, he doesn’t just keep it talents behind the scenes.
Some of Spielberg’s most memorable cameos were in “Vanilla Sky,” “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” and “Jurassic Park.” He’s worked with actors like Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Harrison Ford over the years. Spielberg has a reputation for creating movies that earn tons of money at the box office. He knows how to make movies that will resonate well with audiences. Click here to discover the highest grossing R-rated movies of all time.