What do Anakin Skywalker, Napoleon Dynamite, and Eric Cartman all have in common? If you answered that they’re all fictional characters, you’d be correct…but did you also know that the people behind these well-loved characters are all Colorado natives? Here are 9 famous people from Colorado that you may not have known were from the Centennial State.
This may come as no surprise to you if you watch Trey Parker's hit show "South Park." It's based on the little town of Fairplay, Colorado. Parker is one of the best-known celebrities in Colorado; he even graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Some of his other hits include "Team America" and "The Book of Mormon."
You probably know him better as Dog the Bounty Hunter, but he was born Duane Chapman in Denver. He's had an interesting life that includes a conviction for a felony charge of first degree murder. His original "Dog the Bounty Hunter" show was the biggest hit, but he's starred in several spin-off shows and has also written a book.
Before she had a 212 area code as Charlotte in "Sex and the City," she was a 303 girl from Boulder. She starred in both the hit series and both the films. She is also well-known for her philanthropic work, and has appeared in a few movies.
Jake Lloyd retired from acting in 2001, but he's still beloved by an army of fans. He played young Anakin Skywalker in 1991's "Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace."
While he's probably more closely associated with Massachusetts (he served as a U.S. Senator there for nearly 30 years), John Kerry was born in Aurora. His father was in the military, so he spent his childhood moving throughout the country. He had a distinguished military career himself and has become nationally famous for his political service.
Moving to the other side of the political spectrum, Karl Rove is one of the biggest names in the Republican party. He is a former White House Deputy Chief of Staff and was also a Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush.
Funnyman Tim Allen was born in Denver but moved to Michigan as a teenager. He became beloved all over the country when starring in the hit series "Home Improvement," and is also the voice of Buzz Lightyear in the "Toy Story" films.
It's no wonder that Mikaela Shiffrin has won two Olympic gold medals in alpine skiing: she's from Vail! She is one of only five Americans to ever win the World Cup title in alpine skiing.
Do you know of any other famous people from Colorado? Share your favorites in the comments; we love to learn new Colorado trivia!
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
More to Explore
Fun Facts About Colorado
Lisa Sammons|July 30, 2021
What are some more fun facts about Colorado?
Did you know Leadville is the highest incorporated city in the United States? (It's at 10,430 feet!) Or that Colorado is home to almost as many ghost towns as live ones? Check out some more fun facts in this article!
