It’s safe to say that some celebrities in Michigan are well-associated with their home state. Most people know famous people from Michigan like Eminem, Kid Rock, and Madonna hail from the Great Lake State. But there are a number of other celebrity powerhouses that are from here as well. Here’s a small sampling of various famous people from Michigan: at one time or another, they all called the Wolverine State home.

  1. Kristen Bell (Huntington Woods)

By ravend (IMG_4165) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Kristen Bell is known for roles in “Veronica Mars,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” and “Frozen. She was born in Huntington Woods, a small northern suburb of Detroit. She graduated high school in nearby Royal Oak and then moved to New York City to pursue her acting career.

  1. Francis Ford Coppola (born in Detroit)

Francis Ford Coppola, film director and screenwriter, The Godfather trilogy, Finian’s Rainbow, The Conversation, Apocalypse Now (born in Detroit) Considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Francis Ford Coppola has won numerous Academy Awards for films he has directed. He’s had successes like the epic “Godfather” films and “Apocalypse Now.” He was born in Detroit, the son of a flutist in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. His middle name is an homage to Henry Ford.

  1. Jerry Bruckheimer (born in Detroit)

By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America (Jerry Bruckheimer) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Yet another filmmaker born in Detroit, Jerry Bruckheimer is one of the most well-known film producers of all time. He has produced many hits, including the box office sensation “Pirates of the Caribbean” film series, the “CSI” family of television shows, and other films like “Pearl Harbor” and “Remember the Titans.” He began his career in Detroit as a producer of television commercials.

  1. John Hughes (born in Lansing)

“JohnHughes” by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia Hughes is behind some of the most beloved films for kids of the 80s and 90s, including Home Alone, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Pretty in Pink. He also happens to be from Lansing.

  1. Michael Moore (born in Davison)

By David Shankbone (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons The provocative documentary filmmaker got an early break with Roger and Me, set in his hometown of Flint.

  1. Tim Allen (grew up in Birmingham)

By David Shankbone (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons If you love the Pure Michigan ads, you know Tim Allen is a proud Michigander. Tim Allen was actually born in Colorado, but moved to Birmingham when he was a kid. He graduated high school there and attended Central Michigan University and West Michigan University. He would gain fame on the hit series “Home Improvement.”

  1. Elizabeth Berkley (born in Farmington Hills)

vwilsonroberts/Wikimedia Commons Known as Jessie Spano from the 1990s cult classic series “Saved by the Bell,” Elizabeth Berkley was born in Farmington Hills. She graduated high school in Michigan before moving to New York City to pursue a career in dance.

  1. Selma Blair (born in Southfield)

“Selma Blair, May 2010 cropped” by Selma_Blair,_May_2010.jpg: LGEPRderivative work: Nymf (talk) - Selma_Blair,_May_2010.jpgThis file comes from LG Electronics’s official Flickr.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing for more information.. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons Selma Blair wanted to be a horse trainer and ballerina as a child! Thankfully for us, she ended up being one of the most famous people from Michigan as an actress instead. She had a number of successes in the late 90s and 00s, with roles in “Cruel Intentions” and “Hellboy.”

  1. Bob Eubanks (born in Flint)

Card Sharks Fandom Bob Eubanks is one of the most beloved game show hosts of all time. He popularized “The Newlywed Game” and “Card Sharks.” He also served as a manager for several popular country music artists, including Dolly Parton and Merle Haggard.

  1. Casey Kasem (born in Detroit)

Alan Light/Flickr Probably the most famous radio DJ of all time, Casey Kasem was born in Detroit. He got his start in the medium by covering sports for Northwestern High School in Detroit. His work on Top 40 radio really popularized the idea of a “top hits” chart for popular music.

  1. Taylor Lautner (born in Grand Rapids)

By Dalboz17 [CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons This clean-cut heartthrob got his big break in the “Twilight” series as werewolf Jacob. He was born in Grand Rapids and grew up in nearby Hudsonville.

  1. Dave Coulier (born in St. Clair Shores)

“Wikicoulier” by Original uploader was ComedyLiker23 at en.wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Wouterhagens using CommonsHelper.. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons Born in St. Clair Shores, Davie Coulier was Uncle Joey on the popular TV series “Full House.” He attended the University of Michigan (go Blue!) but dropped out to pursue his comedy career.

  1. Ed McMahon (born in Detroit)

Christa Chapman [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Ed McMahon received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work as a sidekick to Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show.” He traveled all over in his early years, working as a carnival barker in Maine and later a pitchman for vegetable slicers in New Jersey.

  1. James Lipton (born in Detroit)

David Shankbone/Wikimedia Commons James Lipton asked the tough questions for his “Inside the Actor’s Studio” series. Born in Detroit, his family struggled financially in his youth and he had to start working at age 13. He acted in the Catholic Theater of Detroit and was a copy boy for the “Detroit Times.”

There you have it: some of the most famous people from Michigan. Can you think of any other celebrities in Michigan we forgot? Share them in the comments; we love to hear Michigan trivia!

By ravend (IMG_4165) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Kristen Bell is known for roles in “Veronica Mars,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” and “Frozen. She was born in Huntington Woods, a small northern suburb of Detroit. She graduated high school in nearby Royal Oak and then moved to New York City to pursue her acting career.

Francis Ford Coppola, film director and screenwriter, The Godfather trilogy, Finian’s Rainbow, The Conversation, Apocalypse Now (born in Detroit)

Considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Francis Ford Coppola has won numerous Academy Awards for films he has directed. He’s had successes like the epic “Godfather” films and “Apocalypse Now.” He was born in Detroit, the son of a flutist in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. His middle name is an homage to Henry Ford.

By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America (Jerry Bruckheimer) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Yet another filmmaker born in Detroit, Jerry Bruckheimer is one of the most well-known film producers of all time. He has produced many hits, including the box office sensation “Pirates of the Caribbean” film series, the “CSI” family of television shows, and other films like “Pearl Harbor” and “Remember the Titans.” He began his career in Detroit as a producer of television commercials.

“JohnHughes” by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia

Hughes is behind some of the most beloved films for kids of the 80s and 90s, including Home Alone, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Pretty in Pink. He also happens to be from Lansing.

By David Shankbone (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The provocative documentary filmmaker got an early break with Roger and Me, set in his hometown of Flint.

If you love the Pure Michigan ads, you know Tim Allen is a proud Michigander. Tim Allen was actually born in Colorado, but moved to Birmingham when he was a kid. He graduated high school there and attended Central Michigan University and West Michigan University. He would gain fame on the hit series “Home Improvement.”

vwilsonroberts/Wikimedia Commons

Known as Jessie Spano from the 1990s cult classic series “Saved by the Bell,” Elizabeth Berkley was born in Farmington Hills. She graduated high school in Michigan before moving to New York City to pursue a career in dance.

“Selma Blair, May 2010 cropped” by Selma_Blair,_May_2010.jpg: LGEPRderivative work: Nymf (talk) - Selma_Blair,_May_2010.jpgThis file comes from LG Electronics’s official Flickr.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing for more information.. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Selma Blair wanted to be a horse trainer and ballerina as a child! Thankfully for us, she ended up being one of the most famous people from Michigan as an actress instead. She had a number of successes in the late 90s and 00s, with roles in “Cruel Intentions” and “Hellboy.”

Card Sharks Fandom

Bob Eubanks is one of the most beloved game show hosts of all time. He popularized “The Newlywed Game” and “Card Sharks.” He also served as a manager for several popular country music artists, including Dolly Parton and Merle Haggard.

Alan Light/Flickr

Probably the most famous radio DJ of all time, Casey Kasem was born in Detroit. He got his start in the medium by covering sports for Northwestern High School in Detroit. His work on Top 40 radio really popularized the idea of a “top hits” chart for popular music.

By Dalboz17 [CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

This clean-cut heartthrob got his big break in the “Twilight” series as werewolf Jacob. He was born in Grand Rapids and grew up in nearby Hudsonville.

“Wikicoulier” by Original uploader was ComedyLiker23 at en.wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Wouterhagens using CommonsHelper.. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Born in St. Clair Shores, Davie Coulier was Uncle Joey on the popular TV series “Full House.” He attended the University of Michigan (go Blue!) but dropped out to pursue his comedy career.

Christa Chapman [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Ed McMahon received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work as a sidekick to Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show.” He traveled all over in his early years, working as a carnival barker in Maine and later a pitchman for vegetable slicers in New Jersey.

David Shankbone/Wikimedia Commons

James Lipton asked the tough questions for his “Inside the Actor’s Studio” series. Born in Detroit, his family struggled financially in his youth and he had to start working at age 13. He acted in the Catholic Theater of Detroit and was a copy boy for the “Detroit Times.”

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Address: Michigan, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Michigan Trivia August 10, 2021 Lisa Sammons What are some fun facts about Michigan? Did you know that the J.W. Westcott II is the country’s only floating post office? It is used to deliver mail to ships. At 116, Michigan has the most lighthouses and navigational lights of anywhere in the U.S. Grand Rapids has the largest equestrian statue in the country, the 24-foot-tall American Horse. Check out more interesting facts about Michigan in this article. What are some good things about living in Michigan? We are such a unique state! It’s basically like two states in one between the UP and lower peninsula. We are filled with fantastic towns, like Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor. Our food is great, our people friendly, and our towns have fun names like Charlevoix and Kalamazoo. What are some good day trips in Michigan?

Ann Arbor is such a delightful little town in Michigan! It’s home to the University of Michigan, so it has a great college town atmosphere. Looking for more places? Check out this list of unique road trips in Michigan.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Michigan Trivia

August 10, 2021

Lisa Sammons

What are some fun facts about Michigan? Did you know that the J.W. Westcott II is the country’s only floating post office? It is used to deliver mail to ships. At 116, Michigan has the most lighthouses and navigational lights of anywhere in the U.S. Grand Rapids has the largest equestrian statue in the country, the 24-foot-tall American Horse. Check out more interesting facts about Michigan in this article. What are some good things about living in Michigan? We are such a unique state! It’s basically like two states in one between the UP and lower peninsula. We are filled with fantastic towns, like Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor. Our food is great, our people friendly, and our towns have fun names like Charlevoix and Kalamazoo. What are some good day trips in Michigan?

Ann Arbor is such a delightful little town in Michigan! It’s home to the University of Michigan, so it has a great college town atmosphere. Looking for more places? Check out this list of unique road trips in Michigan.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

Did you know that the J.W. Westcott II is the country’s only floating post office? It is used to deliver mail to ships. At 116, Michigan has the most lighthouses and navigational lights of anywhere in the U.S. Grand Rapids has the largest equestrian statue in the country, the 24-foot-tall American Horse. Check out more interesting facts about Michigan in this article.

What are some good things about living in Michigan?

We are such a unique state! It’s basically like two states in one between the UP and lower peninsula. We are filled with fantastic towns, like Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Ann Arbor. Our food is great, our people friendly, and our towns have fun names like Charlevoix and Kalamazoo.

What are some good day trips in Michigan?

Ann Arbor is such a delightful little town in Michigan! It’s home to the University of Michigan, so it has a great college town atmosphere. Looking for more places? Check out this list of unique road trips in Michigan.