When we think of Hollywood celebrities, we tend to imagine them as from, well Hollywood, or maybe New York City. Oregon is typically not the first place that comes to mind when thinking of famous personalities. However, we’re actually home to quite a few high profile stars! Here’s a small selection of famous people from Oregon: some of them may surprise you.

1. River Phoenix (Madras)
"River Phoenix - hi res scan (cropped)" by photo by Alan Light. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
River Phoenix was on the up-and-up as a successful young actor in the early 1990s. He was one of the youngest ever Academy Award Best Supporting Actor nominees for his role in "Running on Empty." Unfortunately, he passed away at a young age from a drug overdose, so his career was never seen to fruition. His brother Joaquin Phoenix is now a successful actor in his own right.
2. Matt Groening (Portland)
Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons
Matt Groening is the creator of legendary animated series "The Simpsons" and "Futurama." In 2012, he revealed that Homer Simpson's hometown of Springfield was named and modeled after the one in Oregon.
3. Holly Madison (Astoria)
By Luke Ford [CC BY-SA 2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
This former Playboy Bunny was born in Astoria, the oldest city in Oregon. At age two, her family moved to Alaska, but they returned to Oregon when she was a teenager. She attended Portland State University for a couple of years.
4. Ndamukong Suh (Portland)
"Ndamukong Suh NFL" by Jeffrey Beall - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Super Bowl champion Ndamukong Suh was born in Portland. He got his start in football right at Grant High School. He has won many awards and has made the news on several occasions for his high-paying signings.
5. Ty Burrell (Grants Pass)
By https://www.flickr.com/people/evarinaldiphotography/ [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Best known for his role as the quirky dad on Modern Family, Burrell is an Oregonian.
6. Lisa Rinna (raised in Medford)
Loren Javier/Flickr
You may remember this television star from "Melrose Place" or "Days of Our Lives." She was actually born in Newport Beach, but her family moved to Medford when she was young and she was raised there. For the last few years, she's been a star on "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."

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7. Kaitlin Olson (Portland)
Angela George [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Kaitlin Olson is closely associated with Philadelphia thanks to her role on "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" as Sweet Dee. You may be surprised to see her on a list of famous people from Oregon, but she was actually born in Portland. She graduated from the University of Oregon.
8. Sally Struthers (Portland)
"Sally Struthers" by photo by Alan Light. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Sally Struthers is best-known for her Emmy-winning role as Gloria on "All in the Family." She also played Babette on "Gilmore Girls." She was born in Portland and raised in the city's Concordia neighborhood.
9. Jane Powell (Portland)
"Jane Powell in Three Daring Daughters trailer" by Trailer screenshot - Three Daring Daughters trailer. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
This silver screen darling starred in "Royal Wedding" with Fred Astaire and "A Date With Judy" with Elizabeth Taylor. She was born in Portland and as a child, toured the state as an Oregon Victory Girl selling war bonds.
10. Ann Curry (raised in Ashland)
"Ann Curry 2012 Shankbone" by David Shankbone - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
This award-winning broadcast journalist worked as an anchor and correspondent for NBC. She was born in Guam to her Japanese mother and U.S. Navy sailor father. She attended school in Japan as a child, but her family eventually settled in Ashland. She attended from high school there and graduated from the University of Oregon.
11. Courtney Love (raised in Portland and Eugene)
"Courtney Love Public Assembly Crop" by Amanda Farah - File:Courtney Love Public Assembly 04-2012.jpg. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Courtney Love had a tumultuous upbringing that involved a lot of moving, but much of it was in Oregon. She even lived at a commune in Marcola for some time. Her mother moved the family to New Zealand, but after Love was expelled from her all-girls' school, she was sent back to Oregon to live with her stepfather. She has gained fame as an actress, model, lead singer of the alternative grunge group Hole, and as wife of Kurt Cobain.
12. Tommy Thayer (Portland)
"Tommy Thayer live2012" by Ash Newell - sent to me personally. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikipedia
Tommy Thayer, the lead guitarist for the rock group Kiss, was born in Portland and grew up in suburban Beaverton. Kiss fans may know him better by his on-stage persona of The Spaceman.

These are obviously not all the famous folks who call Oregon their home state. There are a number of other actors, athletes, authors, and politicians who hail from here. Who are your favorite famous people from Oregon? Tell us in the comments!

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Oregon Trivia

Lisa Sammons | July 22, 2021

What are some fun facts about Oregon?

Looking for more fun facts and trivia tidbits about Oregon?

  • Each year, we host one of the largest nude bike rides in the world.
  • Shoes that were discovered in a cave in 1938 have since been proven to be the oldest pair of shoes in the world, at over 10,000 years old.
  • We may not be as known for cheese as Wisconsin, but each day, the Tillamook Cheese Factory produces over 175,000 pounds of it.
  • Oregon is home to the smallest park in the world.
  • The last remaining Blockbuster in the entire world is in Oregon!

 

Check out more wacky facts about Oregon.

What are some natural wonders in Oregon?

Oregon is a beautiful state. We have a number of amazing waterfalls, one of our favorites is Multnomah Falls. And with 254 state parks, there's always somewhere new to explore! Check out this list of natural wonders in Oregon.

What are some of the best cities in Oregon?

There's so many good ones! It's tough to not love Portland, especially if you're into the artsy scene. Ashland is a beautiful place and it hosts the Oregon Shakespearean Festival each year. And West Linn is incredible!

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