20 of Our Favorite Celebrities From Maryland
Maryland is a small but famous state that has a rich and storied history. The state goes back to 1634 when it first became a British Colony. It’s gone through many transitions as it moved from colonial status to statehood. It’s the state where the National Anthem of the United States was written, and the first long-distance telegram ever sent was received in Baltimore. Maryland has also produced its share of famous people. It’s the home state of many famous writers, politicians, scientists, and celebrities in the entertainment industry. Here are twenty of our favorite celebrities that called Maryland their home.
1. Cass Elliott
Wikipedia confirms that Cass Elliot, singer with the Mamas and the Papas was a native of Maryland. She was born on September 18, 1941, in Baltimore, Maryland. Her parents named her Ellen Naomi Cohen. She adopted the stage name Cass Elliott and was also known as Mama Cass. Cass struggled for years with obesity, and she succumbed to health issues, dying on July 29, 1974, in England.
2. Bess Armstrong
Actress Bess Armstrong was born on December 11, 1953, in Baltimore, Maryland. Her birth name is Elizabeth Key Armstrong. Bess performed on stage, on television, and in film. She is best known for her appearances in the blockbuster films “Jaws d-D,” “High Road to China,” “The Four Seasons,” and “Nothing in Common.” Her biggest years in the acting industry were during the early to mid-1980s. She appeared in a recurring role in the drama series “My So-Called Life.”
3. Bill Calahan
Bill Calahan is another famous Maryland native. He was born William Rahr Callahan on June 3, 1966, in Silver Spring, Maryland. Bill also went by the name Smog from 1990 through 2007. He is a famed musician who adopted the band name Smog and it stuck as a nickname. He launched his career in lo-fi underground rock, recording his tapes at home. He hooked up with the Drag City label and has been with them ever since. Callahan is known as an experimental artist. His music didn’t catch on for many years as he relied on poor resources that didn’t generate pleasing sounds. As Bill continued to experiment and perform, his music matured with him, and he settled into a rhythm that attracted audiences. You have to give him credit for hanging with it until things panned out.
4. Toni Braxton
Singer Toni Braxton was born in Severn, Maryland on October 7, 1967. Braxton is currently 54 years old. She started her career as a singer, applauded for her powerful singing voice. She is also a songwriter. Toni released her album “Secrets” in 1996, which included the number one hit single “UnBreak My Heart,” and “You’re Makin’ Me High.” Toni has enjoyed numerous songs that have charted at number one and number two. She was intensely popular during the late 1990s and the early 2000s. She won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 2015. Toni also tried her hand at acting and found that the audience loved her. She is a television executive producer and star. She stars in her production of “Braxton Family Values,” which is a reality television series. The show has been on the air since 2011. Braxton is also a producer for “Tamar & Vince.” She has also appeared on “Dancing with the Stars.”
5. Bossman
Bossman is a famous hip-hop artist who is also known as Jimmy Hash. He is a rapper who was born in Baltimore, Maryland on November 23, 1984. His birth name is Travis Holifield. Bossman has appeared in numerous mixtapes. he’s a regular at Baltimore Club music. Bossman started rapping at Northeast Kings under the stage name Jimmy Hash. His group became popular in Baltimore. His debut album “Law and Order” came out in 2004, along with many other mixtapes. Bossman has made a name for himself in the hip-hop and rap communities.
6. Julie Bowen Luetkemeyer
Julie Bowen Luetkemeyer is an American actress who is best known for her appearances on the sitcom “Modern Family” in the role of Claire Dunphy. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland on March 3, 1970. Julie attended Brown University, where she received her early training in the fine arts. Julie has been nominated for six Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Although the nominations were proof of her popularity, she won the nominations for two years consecutively in 2011 and 2012. You might remember her from her appearances in”Lost” as Sarah Shephard, or from “Boston Legal” as Denise Bauer. She has also appeared in numerous other series including “ER,” and “Ed.” Bowen also appeared in numerous films including “Jumping the Broom,” “Horrible Bosses,” “The Fallout,” “Happy Gilmore,” “Joe Somebody,” Sex and Death 101,” and dozens more.
7. Kimberly J. Brown
Kimberly J. Brown is an American actress who is best known for her role in the daytime soap opera “The Guiding Light.” She played the part of Marah Lewis. She also appeared in the “Rose Red” miniseries, written by Stephen King, in the role of Annie Wheaton. Kimberly was also the teenager Marnie Piper in the epic holiday movie “Halloweentown,” with the late Debbie Reynolds. Kimberly was born in Gaithersburg, Maryland on November 16, 1984. She is currently 37 years old and is still acting.
8. Wendy Davis
Wendy Davis is an American actress who is best known for her appearance in the TV drama series “Army Wives.” She played the role of Colonel Joan Burton from the middle 2000s to 2013. Her role was so powerfully moving that the NAACP granted her three Image Award nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series. Wendy was born in Joppatowne, Maryland, on June 20, 1966. She is currently 55 years old and is still active in the acting profession.
9. Kevin Chamberlin
Famous Birthdays reports that television actor Kevin Chamberlin is also a native of Maryland. He was born in Baltimore on November 25, 1963. Kevin’s family moved to Moorestown Township, New Jersey before he reached the age of ten. Kevin came out as gay and has been open about his sexual orientation. He attended the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutger’s University, where he studied acting. He graduated from the prestigious institution with his bachelor of arts degree. Chamberlin became famous after appearing in the Disney Channel series “Jessie,” playing the role of Bertram the butler. Kevin also appeared on Broadway in the role of Fester in “The Addams Family,” earning an Audience Award for his performance. Kevin has also received nominations for Tony Awards and Drama Desk awards for his roles in “The Addams Family,” Seussical,” and “dirty Blonde.” Kevin Chamberlin is yet one more famous person born in the state of Maryland.
10. Harriet Tubman
Although Harriet Tubman is a historical figure who passed away in the early 1900s, she is another famous person from Maryland. Harriet Tubman was made a slave owned by James Cook. She escaped her captors and made her way to the North. She was a political activist and abolitionist of her time. She also served as a Union spy during the Civil War in America. Harriet Tubman used the Underground Railroad to help people escape slavery. She helped more than three hundred people make their way to freedom through the networks of safe houses and secret routes. Harriet was also a proponent of the women’s suffrage movement that emerged after the Civil War. Before Harriet became a political activist, she was the property of James Cook. He made her go into the marshes to check muskrat traps as part of her duties. Harriet was born in Maryland on March 6, 1820, and lived to the ripe old age of 93, passing away on March 10, 1913. She is one of the most famous people to come out of the state of Maryland
11. Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps is an internationally known Olympic swimmer. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on June 30, 1985. Michael started swimming when he was seven years old. He had excessive amounts of energy. Swimming helped him to burn off some of the extras. When Phelps was ten years old, doctors diagnosed him with ADHD, which helped explain why he would get bursts of energy. Michael didn’t let the diagnosis stop him from becoming the best swimmer in the world at the 2004 Olympic games. He took six gold medals at the competition, then turned around and doubled the number in the 2008 Olympics. he followed up with four more gold medals at the 2012 games. Michael Phelps has won 28 medals in his Olympic career, and 23 of them are gold.
12. Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith is an American television actress who is best known for her recurring role in the television series A Different World.” Her career exploded when she appeared in “The Nutty Professor,” followed by “The Matrix.” Jada Pinkett-Smith is a talented actor who also lent her voice to the “Madagascar” animated film franchise. She also appeared in “Magic Mike XXL” and “Gotham.” Jada attended the Baltimore School for the Arts. She graduated with a major in Theater and Dance. She was a classmate of Tupac Shakur at the school. Jada was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 18, 1971. She is married to actor Will Smith of “The Fresh Prince” fame.
13. Jeff Kinney
Jeff Kinney is a celebrated children’s book author. His first work was a comic strip in a college newspaper called Igdoof. He also worked as a designer and an online game writer. Jeff is also a cartoonist. He created the famous children’s book series “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” which evolved into a television series. The books have sold more than fifty million copies throughout the world. He also founded Poptropica, a children’s website. Jeff Kinney was born in Fort Washington, Maryland, on February 18, 1971.
14. Anna Faris
Actress Anna Faris is best known for her role in the “Scary Movie” franchises. She appeared as Cindy Campbell in the comedy spoof of the blockbuster hit film “Scream.” Faris launched her acting career while still a teenager attending high school. Her first gig was in a commercial for frozen yogurt. She appeared in the last season of the television series “Friends” as Erica. She also appeared in “The House Bunny,” “Mom,” and in “The Dictator.” Anna was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on November 29, 1976.
15. David Hasselhoff
David Hasselhoff is an American actor best known for his appearance as the star of the television series “Knight Rider.” He went on to play another role as Mitch Buchannon on the insanely popular television series “Baywatch.” Hasselhoff switched from acting to music in the 1980s. He became successful in Wet Germany with his hit single “Looking for Freedom.” Hasselhoff was athletic from an early age. In High school, he played volleyball and was team captain. David was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 17, 1952.
16. Edward Norton
Only In Your State confirms that actor Edward Norton is another famous person from Maryland. Norton was born in Boston, Massachusetts but his family moved to Columbia, Maryland, when he was young. He attended Wilde Lake High School and graduated in 1987. Norton went on to star in nearly fifty television shows and films. He is an actor, voice actor, and producer.
17. Montel Williams
Montel Williams is a popular talk show host. He is best known for hosting his daytime talk show, “The Montel Williams Show.” Montel was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His parents moved the family to Linthicum, where he grew up and attended schools before achieving fame.
18. Mike Rowe
Mike Rowe is a celebrity with many talents. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and grew up in the city. Before fame, he was a professional singer with the Baltimore Opera. His most recent and current acting job is as the star of the series “Dirty Jobs.”
19. Spike Jonze
Famous film director Spike Jonze is another celebrity personality from Maryland. Spike was born in Rockville, Maryland. His parents moved the family to Bethesda, where he grew up, attending Whitman High School before establishing a brilliant career as a film director.
20. Penn Badgley
Penn Badgley is an American actor and musician known for the Netflix series “You.”He also appeared in the CW series “Gossip Girl.” Penn is a native of Maryland, born in Baltimore on November 1, 1986.
You can also read:
ncG1vNJzZmiblaGyo77IrbCtp5%2BXe6S7zGidmq6fp7a1sYycnKWdkqe2tbXErGSfqp%2Bieq6t0bKjmqaUZA%3D%3D