These 7 Celebrities Hail From Some Of Greater Cleveland's Most Charming Small Towns
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
There’s something about Northeast Ohio that produces in incredible, noteworthy human beings. Aside from friendly, intuitive individuals like you and me, this area has also produced some big-time celebrities. Seriously! Even before the Jazz Age introduced the world to the first talkies, celebrities from Cleveland, Ohio, were keeping the world entertained. Today, we’re going to look at some of the biggest names past and present to come out of small towns in the Greater Cleveland area. How many of these famous people from Cleveland, Ohio, do you recognize?
1. Catherine Bach
Today, the name Daisy Duke is often associated with short jean shorts, and we have Catherine Bach's character in Dukes of Hazzard to thank for that. This Jeep-drivin' farm girl was pure Southern Belle, and she captured the hearts of viewers. But like Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind, there was something surprisingly inauthentic about Daisy Duke... her accent!
Catherine Bach was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and she grew up just beyond the metropolitan area in Warren. Despite this, she spent much of her childhood in South Dakota, but her Northern Ohio roots weren't forgotten. She brought a classically Great Lakes attitude to the screen, and she famously brought her own outfit to the set for her first moments as Daisy Duke. While the production team was reluctant to let her wear the super-short denim shorts, they became an iconic piece of media history.
Catherine Bach was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and she grew up just beyond the metropolitan area in Warren. Despite this, she spent much of her childhood in South Dakota, but her Northern Ohio roots weren't forgotten. She brought a classically Great Lakes attitude to the screen, and she famously brought her own outfit to the set for her first moments as Daisy Duke. While the production team was reluctant to let her wear the super-short denim shorts, they became an iconic piece of media history.
2. Langston Hughes
One of my favorite Clevelanders of all time is none other than Langston Hughes of Harlem Renaissance fame. While he is most famous for his work in New York City, he started his career in a modest way at a local Cleveland high school. Though he was born in Missouri in 1901, his family moved to the Fairfax neighborhood when he was young. There, he attended Cleveland's Central High School, where he worked for the school newspaper and wrote his first piece of jazz poetry.
You may be wondering why Hughes came to Cleveland. It's because his family had far-reaching roots in the area, and they, too, contribute to Northeast Ohio's rich history. His maternal grandmother, Mary Patterson, attended Oberlin College (one of the first women to do so), and his maternal grandfather, Charles Henry Langston, was active in the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society. Before Patterson and Hughes met, she was actually married to a man who was fatally wounded John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry. This well-educated and politically active family was bound to produce someone as eloquent as Langston Hughes!
You may be wondering why Hughes came to Cleveland. It's because his family had far-reaching roots in the area, and they, too, contribute to Northeast Ohio's rich history. His maternal grandmother, Mary Patterson, attended Oberlin College (one of the first women to do so), and his maternal grandfather, Charles Henry Langston, was active in the Ohio Anti-Slavery Society. Before Patterson and Hughes met, she was actually married to a man who was fatally wounded John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry. This well-educated and politically active family was bound to produce someone as eloquent as Langston Hughes!
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3. Margaret Hamilton
This one may sound totally made up, but the Wicked Witch of the West herself was born in Cleveland. In fact, she started her acting career here, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Truly, her story begins in the petite neighborhood of Hough, where the friendly, enthusiastic Hamilton was a teacher at Hough Elementary School. If you recognize her on-camera persona, you may think I'm kidding, but Hamilton famously adored children. Here in Cleveland, she started her career in children's theater, and she'd spend her future engaging in philanthropy to benefit children. She was so worried that her bewitching performance would scare kids that she actually appeared on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood to explain that she was only wearing a costume, and that she was actually friendly and kind.
Despite her over-the-top persona, Hamilton also operated a nursery at the Cleveland Heights Presbyterian Church while she lived in town. From a goodly churchgoer and kindergarten teacher to the Wicked Witch of the West, Margaret Hamilton is arguably the most interesting Clevelander ever.
Despite her over-the-top persona, Hamilton also operated a nursery at the Cleveland Heights Presbyterian Church while she lived in town. From a goodly churchgoer and kindergarten teacher to the Wicked Witch of the West, Margaret Hamilton is arguably the most interesting Clevelander ever.
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4. Bill Watterson
You may not recognize Bill Watterson's name, but you know his two biggest characters: Calvin and Hobbes! The comic strip of the same name is considered by many to be the last great American newspaper comic, elevated to great heights by the high energy levels of its titular six-year-old protagonist. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the antics of young Calvin and his stuffed tiger sidekick captured the hearts of eager readers.
What many do not know, however, is that Watterson was a Chagrin Falls resident. In fact, the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop has been featured in the comics. The ambiance of his hometown sets the scene for the adventures of Calvin and Hobbes, and the character names are a nod to Watterson's studies at Kenyon College in Ohio. (He majored in political science, and the characters' names celebrate the impact of college's poli-sci department.) Today, Watterson calls Cleveland Heights home, but he's media shy and rarely makes public appearances or statements. Nonetheless, we Clevelanders are happy to have this iconic illustrator as one of our own!
What many do not know, however, is that Watterson was a Chagrin Falls resident. In fact, the Chagrin Falls Popcorn Shop has been featured in the comics. The ambiance of his hometown sets the scene for the adventures of Calvin and Hobbes, and the character names are a nod to Watterson's studies at Kenyon College in Ohio. (He majored in political science, and the characters' names celebrate the impact of college's poli-sci department.) Today, Watterson calls Cleveland Heights home, but he's media shy and rarely makes public appearances or statements. Nonetheless, we Clevelanders are happy to have this iconic illustrator as one of our own!
5. Ettore Boiardi
Unbeknownst to many, the charming character on Chef Boyardee products is not just a casual spokesperson. His name was Ettore Boiardi, and he lived and died in Cleveland, Ohio. (Seriously! He's buried in Chardon, but you'll have to click the link to get all the details.) He spent time residing in Shaker Heights, and he finished his days in a Parma nursing home. But that's just where the story ends... where it began is a story worthy of the big screen.
An immigrant from Piacenza, Italy, Boiardi came to the United States with one thing in mind: cooking! He'd had an apprenticeship in the kitchen at just 11 years of age, but he eventually found his way to the Hotel Winton in Cleveland. There, he fell in love with Helen Wroblewski, and the pair opened a restaurant together at East 9th Street and Woodland Avenue. Their food was so popular that it exploded into an internationally-beloved brand. What a true Cleveland success story!
An immigrant from Piacenza, Italy, Boiardi came to the United States with one thing in mind: cooking! He'd had an apprenticeship in the kitchen at just 11 years of age, but he eventually found his way to the Hotel Winton in Cleveland. There, he fell in love with Helen Wroblewski, and the pair opened a restaurant together at East 9th Street and Woodland Avenue. Their food was so popular that it exploded into an internationally-beloved brand. What a true Cleveland success story!
6. Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl is famous for both his music and for his famously friendly attitude. However, here in Northeast Ohio, he's a bit of a local bragging right. Dave Grohl was born just 50 miles outside of Cleveland, and his family calls the area home to this very day. Though he eventually moved to Virginia as a youngin', he kept roots in the area, and an alleyway is filled with art dedicated to him.
In his professional career, Grohl has played in Nirvana, Scream, Foo Fighters, and other iconic projects. When the David Grohl Alleyway was unveiled in Warren, he even appeared at the celebration to perform. Famously, he took out a page in the local newspaper to thank the locals of Warren for making him an iconic part of the community.
In his professional career, Grohl has played in Nirvana, Scream, Foo Fighters, and other iconic projects. When the David Grohl Alleyway was unveiled in Warren, he even appeared at the celebration to perform. Famously, he took out a page in the local newspaper to thank the locals of Warren for making him an iconic part of the community.
7. Yvette Nicole Brown
A true American sweetheart, Yvette Nicole Brown has had roles in Drake & Josh, That '70s Show, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, The Office, and so much more. But she and I share something in common: we're both graduates of the School of Communications at the University of Akron!
Brown was born in East Cleveland, and she graduated from Warrensville Heights High School. Her big break in Hollywood came around 2000, and since then, she's been in various entrancing films and television series. While her signature brand of Cleveland sass makes her an iconic figure on the big screen, one of her proudest achievements was likely being inducted into the Warrensville Heights High School hall of fame in 2009. What a true Cleveland success story!
Brown was born in East Cleveland, and she graduated from Warrensville Heights High School. Her big break in Hollywood came around 2000, and since then, she's been in various entrancing films and television series. While her signature brand of Cleveland sass makes her an iconic figure on the big screen, one of her proudest achievements was likely being inducted into the Warrensville Heights High School hall of fame in 2009. What a true Cleveland success story!
These celebrities from Cleveland, Ohio have long kept us entertained, but this list barely scratches the surface when it comes to famous Clevelanders. The list could be expanded to include past icons like Alan Freed – who coined the term “rock ‘n roll” right here in town – and John D. Rockefeller, but we’d be here all day! Which of these famous Clevelanders were you most surprised to learn about?
Love learning about Cleveland history? Explore the region’s lineup of incredible Ohio-based inventors to learn more about locals who never failed to shoot for the stars.
Or check out one of these tours around Cleveland that will take you on adventures unlike any other.
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