Arizonans are a proud bunch and for good reason. We have some of the most stunning landscapes in the country and, as you’ll see below, our state is also home to quite a number of celebrities. Whether they were born here or grew up in Arizona, it’s no surprise why many of them continue to live here. We bet you didn’t know about these famous people from Arizona:

1. Chester Bennington, Phoenix
Kristina Servant/Flickr
Millenials and other younguns may recognize Bennington as the frontman for the rock band Linkin Park. He attended both Centennial and Greenway High School. Sadly, he passed away in 2017, but Arizona is still immensely proud of him and his contribution to alternative rock music.
2. Lynda Carter, Phoenix
Tom Simpson/Flickr
Who would have thought Wonder Woman was from Phoenix? Carter was born in Phoenix and later attended Arizona State University before dropping out to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Needless to say, we're glad she did!
3. Cesar Chavez, Yuma
Korean Resource Center 민족학교/Flickr
A labor leader and civil rights activist, Chavez was born and raised in Yuma before his family moved to California after losing their home during the Great Depression.
4. Alice Cooper, Phoenix
Jan Kjellin/Flickr
Although he was actually born in Detroit, Cooper is an Arizona icon who moved here as a child. He later attended Cortez High School, and Grand Canyon University even presented the shock-rocker with an honorary doctorate. Metal.
5. Ted Danson, Flagstaff
tobin.t/Flickr
Danson was born in San Diego, but his family later moved to beautiful Flagstaff. He was raised in the mountain town until he left to attend a boarding school in Connecticut.

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6. Diana Gabaldon, Flagstaff
Howard County Library System/Flickr
This scholar-turned-fiction-writer is best known for her popular Outlander series, which eventually became a miniseries on Starz. Before turning to historical fiction, she taught environmental science at Arizona State University and was the editor for Science Software Quarterly. Nice! Brilliance and talent go well together.
7. Linda Ronstadt, Tucson
JD Lasica/Flickr
You'll recognize her 1975 rendition of "You're No Good," which rephrased the song from R&B to rock. It's one of those amazing covers that make you forget it isn't the original.
8. Nate Ruess, Glendale
Dan Cox/Flickr
Now part of the band "Fun.", Ruess originally got his start in the music industry as one half of the band The Format. Listen to their songs and you'll hear plenty of local references! Ruess was born in Iowa, but he grew up in Glendale and attended Deer Valley High School.
9. Sandra Day O'Connor, Duncan
The Aspen Institute/Flickr
The former Supreme Court justice spent a significant amount of her childhood on a ranch outside of Duncan, Arizona. She later graduated from Stanford University and served as Assistant Attorney General within the Arizona Court of Appeals before she was appointed to the Superior Court. Arizona is beyond proud to call her one of our own.
10. Emma Stone, Scottsdale
Gage Skidmore/Flickr
You've probably seen this famous actress in a string of popular movies, including: "Crazy, Stupid, Love," "The Amazing Spiderman," and "The Help." She grew up in Scottsdale, participated in the Valley Youth Theatre, and began attending Xavier College Preparatory in Phoenix before dropping out to pursue a career in acting.

Have you seen these folks or any other celebrities from Arizona while exploring The Copper State? Let us know in the comments section below!

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Famous People From Arizona

Tori Jane | July 16, 2021

What are some interesting fun facts about Arizona?  

Believe it or not, there are plenty of fun facts about Arizona. Did you know that Arizona is one of the only places in the world where the Joshua Tree, a relative of the yucca, grows? That, and it only grows in very, very specific parts of the state. Arizona is also the primary home of the almighty saguaro cactus; it doesn’t grow in many parts of the world, but it calls the Copper State its favorite place. These incredible cacti live for hundreds of years and as adults end up weighing several tons. Arizona is also the home of one of the Seven Wonders of the World – the Grand Canyon. Trust us: it’s so much more than just an epic hole in the ground.  

Are there any celebrities from Arizona?  

Arizona is in close proximity to California, and there are lots of famous folks who call it home. Rock n’ roll legend Alice Cooper has called Arizona home for most of his life, and Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac fame also lives here. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps is here, and so is TV star Frankie Muniz (remember Malcolm in the Middle? Ah, good times). Author Stephanie Meyer lives here (and her most famous character, Bella Swan, hailed from Phoenix). Kurt Warner, a professional football player, also calls Arizona home. We could go on – there are lots! We don’t blame them – other than our sweltering summers, Arizona is a beautiful place to live.  

What’s some fun Arizona trivia? 

Did you know that Arizona was officially named a state on February 14, 1912? We’re called the Valentine State by some because of that. We’re known more famously as the Copper State, and here’s why: 60% of the copper in the United States comes from here. Amazing, right? Hundreds of thousands of metric tons of copper have been mined here, and as such, we got a pretty cool nickname. Arizona was also the quintessential “wild, wild west”, being home to towns like Tombstone, where infamous outlaws were frequently found. Arizona is also wine country: there are more than 100 wineries scattered throughout the state, most notably in beautiful Jerome, Arizona, and down near Sonoita, Arizona. For some more fun Arizona trivia, check out our previous article.

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