The number of mega movie stars who were born and raised in Texas is quite surprising. Since the population of Texas surpasses 29.5 million residents, this number really shouldn’t be too much of a shock. Although plenty of movie lovers might assume most major actors come from California in the Hollywood area, that just isn’t true. There are loads of talented stars who were born and raised in the Lone Star State. Meet 10 of the biggest actors to come from California!
To gather this list of the biggest movie stars from Texas, 24/7 Tempo consulted several entertainment websites and Texas-centered publications. These include IMDb, Backstage, and Texas Heritage for Living.
Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey is a Texas-born actor,
- Hometown: Uvalde
Matthew McConaughey was born on November 4, 1969, in Uvalde, Texas. The American actor stole everyone’s hearts in his breakout performance back in 1983. It was a high school comedy called “Dazed and Confused.” Before that, McConaughey was slowly starting to build up his résumé as an actor by starring in small commercials.
After the success of “Dazed and Confused,” things really took off for him and his aspirations for a life in the limelight. Some of the biggest movies he’s starred in include “Interstellar,” “Dallas Buyers Club,” and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.”
He’s shared a screen time with major actors like Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, and Idris Elba. Some of the impressive awards he’s taken home over the years include the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama, and the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Actor.
Owen Wilson
Owen Wilson is a movie star from Texas.
- Hometown: Dallas
Owen Wilson is another noteworthy actor who comes straight from Texas. To be more specific, he was born on November 18, 1968, in Dallas, Texas. The first time moviegoers saw Wilson make his film debut was in a short film called “Bottle Rocket” in 1994. The success of the short film spoke volumes.
It expanded into a feature-length film of the same name a couple of years later in 1986. Some of Wilson’s biggest movies to date include “Zoolander,” “Wedding Crashers,” “Marley and Me,” and “Night at the Museum.” He’s had the honor of sharing screen time with big names like Ben Stiller, Will Ferrell, Vince, Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston, and Rachel McAdams.
Wilson’s career has resulted in a handful of awards including the MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss, the People’s Choice Award for Favorite On-Screen Chemistry, and the Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award.
Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria was born in Texas.
- Hometown: Corpus Christi
Although one of Eva Longoria’s most noteworthy roles was on a TV show, she’s still considered a talented movie star from Texas worth mentioning. She took on the role of Gabrielle Solis in “Desperate Housewives” for eight seasons from 2004 until 2012. The show put her on the map as being one of the best drama TV actresses of this generation.
Her list of movies is worth exploring also, though. Some of those titles are “Flamin’ Hot,” “Dora and the Lost City of Gold,” and “Overboard.” She also starred in movies like “Over Her Dead Body,” “John Wick,” and “The Sentinel.” Longoria filmed these movies with the likes of Anna Faris, Michael Peña, Paul Rudd, and Michael Douglas.
Some of her awards include the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Female TV Performer, and the Glamour Award for Inspiration.
Renée Zellweger
Texas is where Renee Zellweger was born.
- Hometown: Katy
Renée Zellweger was born on April 25, 1969, in Katy, Texas. The first credit she earned was in a 1984 movie called “Reality Bites,” which was directed by Ben Stiller. After that, she went on to star in the “Bridget Jones Diary” franchise from 2001 until 2016. She reprised the role twice after the original movie in 2004 and 2016. The franchise earned national admiration from viewers who found her to be relatable, sweet, and engaging.
Other major movies Zellweger has been part of include “Jerry Maguire,” “Chicago,” and “Judy.” She’s successfully taken on these epic roles alongside other major stars like Patrick Dempsey, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, and Tom Cruise. Zellweger can claim several awards thanks to her long-standing career as an actress. A few of those would be the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role.
Jensen Ackles
Jensen Ackles is a Texas-born movie star.
- Hometown: Dallas
The biggest project Jensen Ackles was arguably ever attached to was “Supernatural.” He snagged one of the leading roles in that show from 2005 until 2020, alongside Jared Padalecki. The show was so successful that it went on for 15 seasons with loads of devoted viewers holding on hope for more storylines to come.
Ackles lands on this list as a movie star because there are also a handful of movies he’s been part of beyond that TV show. Ackles was born on March 1, 1978, in Dallas Texas. Some of his biggest films include “My Bloody Valentine 3D,“ “Devour,” and “Buddy Games.”
He lent his voice to a few animated flicks in the DC realm like “Justice League: Warworld.” Some of the stars Ackles has worked with on screen include Jamie King, William Sadler, Josh Duhamel, and Olivia Munn. As far as awards go, Ackles has taken home the Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Chemistry, the People’s Choice Award for Favorite TV Bromance, and the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV actor.
Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Garner is a Texas-born star.
- Hometown: Houston
Jennifer Garner is a beloved actress who has a lot to be proud of regarding her long-standing career. She was born on April 17, 1972, in Houston, Texas. Before diving into the movie world, she landed a role in a teen TV show called “Time of Your Life.” The show went on for two years.
In 2001, she snagged a supporting role in the “Pearl Harbor” movie. A year later in 2002, she was invited to be part of “Catch Me if You Can” with Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, and Christopher Walken. Some of Garner’s biggest movies are “13 Going on 30,” “Elektra,” and “Family Switch.”
She’s shared screen time with stars like Brie Larson, Mark Ruffalo, Judy, Greer, and Jenna Ortega. If you’re curious to know a little more about Garner’s awards list, she’s taken home several including the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama, the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series, and the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Female TV Performer.
Tommy Lee Jones
Texas is where Tommy Lee Jones was born.
- Hometown: San Saba
Tommy Lee Jones is one of the more established actors to be included on this list. He was born on September 15, 1946, in San Saba, Texas. His career has been in motion for decades following his film debut in 1970. He starred in a movie called “Love Story” back then. It was merely just the start that opened the doors of Hollywood for him.
These days, he’s mainly recognized for his time filming major flicks like the “Men in Black” franchise, “The Fugitive,” and “The Burial.” The first “Men in Black” movie he filmed was back in 1997. He reprised the role in two additional sequels in 2002 and 2012.
Lee Jones has worjed alongside other talented stars like Will Smith, Harrison Ford, Julianne Moore, and Jamie Foxx – just to name a few. Some of his biggest awards include the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture.
Chace Crawford
Chace Crawford was born in Texas.
- Hometown: Lubbock
When you think of an actor like Chace Crawford, his time starring in a hit teen drama like “Gossip Girl” might come to mind. He took on the role of Nate Archibald from 2007 until 2012, which certainly put him on the map in the eyes of viewers who enjoy young adult fiction played out on screen.
“Gossip Girl” was based on a series of novels of the same name that were wildly popular in the early 2000s. As fabulous as his time on “Gossip Girl” was, Crawford is only part of this list for his movie roles. After being born on July 18, 1985 in Lubbock, Texas, he decided to pursue a career in the limelight.
Some of his most noteworthy movies are “The Inheritance,” “Nighthawks,” “Charlie Says,” and “All About Nina.” He’s starred in movies with actors like Lily Collins, Patrick Warburton, Matt Smith, and Ed Helms. As far as awards go, Crawford’s been nominated for several Teen Choice Awards and People’s Choice Awards. Between 2008 and 2011, he won four of those Teen Choice Awards in total.
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer Love Hewitt is a star born in Texas.
- Hometown: Waco
Jennifer Love Hewitt was born on February 21, 1979 in Waco, Texas. She got her start as a child star on a show called “Disney’s Kids Inc.” She tried her hand at singing also when she released an album called “Love Songs” in 1992. A few years later in 1995, Love Hewitt landed the role of Sarah in a TV drama called “Party of Five.”
Later on, it became clear that Love Hewitt was better suited for feature films on the big screen. Some of her biggest movies are “I Know What You Did Last Summer,“ “The Client List,” and “Heartbreakers.” She’s filmed movies alongside Freddie Prinze Junior, Sarah, Michelle Gellar, Jackie Chan, and Sigourney Weaver.
The films she’s been part of prove that she’s a versatile star with a wide range under her belt. She’s successfully managed horror movies, comedies, and dramas. Love Hewitt is an award-winning actress who’s taken home the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Actress in a New TV Series, the Saturn Award for Best Actress on Television, and the Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actress.
Alexis Bledel
Alexis Bledel was born in Texas.
- Hometown: Houston
Alexis Bledel was born on September 16, 1981, in Houston, Texas. The biggest project Bledel has ever been part of is “Gilmore Girls.” She filmed the original TV series from 2000 until 2007 with Lauren Graham playing the iconic role of her mother. In 2016, she and Graham reprised their roles for “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.”
Unfortunately, the rebooted series didn’t make it past a single season. Bledel’s time filming “Gilmore Girls” isn’t the reason she’s part of this list, though. Her extensive list of films proves that she’s a bona fide movie star. Some of those movies include “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” and its sequel, “Tuck Everlasting,” and “Remember Sunday.”
Bledel has had the chance to film movies with mega stars like Blake Lively, America Ferreira, Sissy Spacek, and Katherine Heigl. A couple of her notable awards include the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series and the Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress: Comedy. Texas isn’t the only state where movie stars are born. Meet the 10 biggest movie stars to come straight out of Nevada.