One Of The Biggest Names In TV And Film Grew Up In One Of The Smallest Towns In Texas
By Katie Lawrence|Published May 16, 2023
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
There are lots of famous people from Texas (our state is huge, after all!), but many were born and grew up in big cities like Houston, Austin, and Dallas. One notable exception, however, is the incredible Sissy Spacek. This world-famous, award-winning actress grew up in Quitman, a teeny tiny town with a population of under 2,000. It’s often said that the best things come in small packages, and this is proof that they often come from small packages (or small towns, in this case), as well.
With a population of under 2,000, most people have never heard of Quitman, Texas.
Located about 90 miles east of Dallas, this idyllic town features glittering lakes, lush greenery, friendly locals, and a slow-paced lifestyle...and it just so happens to be the birthplace of one of the biggest stars in TV and film history.
World-famous actress Sissy Spacek was born in nearby Tyler on Christmas Day 1949 and spent her childhood in Quitman.
She is most famous for playing the lead in one of my favorite films, Brian De Palma's 1976 horror film Carrie - a performance which led to a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actress. While she did not win the award for that particular film, her portrayal of country music star Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner's Daughter (1980) was a different story. This was her first and only Academy Award for Best Actress (although she has received numerous other accolades, including Golden Globe, Primetime Emmy, and Screen Actors Guild Awards).
Today, if you visit Quitman, you can drive down a street named in Spacek's honor.
She is, after all, the most famous person to come from the little town!
Did you know Sissy Spacek grew up in Quitman? Are there any other famous people from Texas who hail from our state’s tiniest towns? Tell us in the comments! To keep the celebrity theme going, check out our previous article to learn about a celebrity-owned brewery in Texas that’s so cool, it’s almost *supernatural* (pun intended).
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