Famous actors from Oregon
Admiring and envying the world's biggest stars is easy to do on Instagram. From A-list movie stars and major musicians to pro ball players and comedians who landed their own sitcoms, there's no shortage of evidence of just how good the good life is. They post pictures of themselves with other big shots on rooftop bars, at exclusive clubs, at backstage parties, and at restaurants where regular people can't get a reservation.
But the vast majority of these celebrities were born and raised outside of Hollywood, finding their way to the bright lights and big money of superstardom from obscure beginnings in regular small towns or cities across the country.
Stacker compiled a list of actors that were born in Oregon from IMDb's most popular list. For each actor, we included a movie poster image from a film he is known for (all movie poster images from OMDb). Keep reading to see which favorite actors are from your home state.
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Justin Kirk
- Born: Salem, Oregon (5/28/1969)
- Known for:
--- Prior Walter in "Angels in America" (2003)
--- Andy Botwin in "Weeds" (2005-2012)
--- Miles Morgan in "Last Love" (2013)
River Phoenix
- Born: Madras, Oregon (8/23/1970)
- Died: 10/31/1993
- Known for:
--- Mike Waters in "My Own Private Idaho" (1991)
--- Chris Chambers in "Stand by Me" (1986)
--- Charlie in "The Mosquito Coast" (1986)
Michael Cassidy
- Born: Portland, Oregon (3/20/1983)
- Known for:
--- Dylan West in "Zoom" (2006)
--- Jimmy Olsen in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" (2016)
--- Zach Stevens in "The O.C." (2004-2005)
Ty Burrell
- Born: Grants Pass, Oregon (8/22/1967)
- Known for:
--- Phil Dunphy in "Modern Family" (2009-2020)
--- Jean Pierre Napoleon in "Muppets Most Wanted" (2014)
--- Leonard in "The Incredible Hulk" (2008)
Howard Hesseman
- Born: Lebanon, Oregon (2/27/1940)
- Known for:
--- Dr. Johnny Fever in "WKRP in Cincinnati" (1978-1982)
--- Charlie Moore in "Head of the Class" (1986-1990)
--- Dr. Louis Faraday in "Flight of the Navigator" (1986)
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Eric Christian Olsen
- Born: Eugene, Oregon (5/31/1977)
- Known for:
--- Lloyd Christmas in "Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd" (2003)
--- Nick Brady in "Fired Up!" (2009)
--- Chad in "Cellular" (2004)
David Anders
- Born: Grants Pass, Oregon (3/11/1981)
- Known for:
--- Bart Gregory in "The Revenant" (2009)
--- Julian Sark in "Alias" (2002-2006)
--- Adam Monroe in "Heroes" (2007-2010)
Austin O'Brien
- Born: Eugene, Oregon (5/11/1981)
- Known for:
--- Danny in "Last Action Hero" (1993)
--- Nick Zsigmond in "My Girl 2" (1994)
--- Josh Greene in "Promised Land" (1996-1999)
Preston Bailey
- Born: Portland, Oregon (7/25/2000)
- Known for:
--- Cody Bennett in "Dexter" (2007-2012)
--- 12 Year Old Albert in "A Million Ways to Die in the West" (2014)
--- Young Mac in "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" (2009)
Mitch Pileggi
- Born: Portland, Oregon (4/5/1952)
- Known for:
--- Internal Affairs Investigator in "Basic Instinct" (1992)
--- Walter Skinner in "The X-Files" (1994-2018)
--- Horace Pinker in "Shocker" (1989)
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Thomas Mann
- Born: Portland, Oregon (9/27/1991)
- Known for:
--- Greg in "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" (2015)
--- Thomas in "Project X" (2012)
--- Ben in "Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters" (2013)
Joel David Moore
- Born: Portland, Oregon (9/25/1977)
- Known for:
--- Norm Spellman in "Avatar" (2009)
--- Norm Spellman in "Avatar 2" (2022)
--- Owen in "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" (2004)
Ryan Potter
- Born: Portland, Oregon (9/12/1995)
- Known for:
--- Hiro in "Big Hero 6" (2014)
--- Gar Logan in "Titans" (2018-2021)
--- Mike Fukanaga in "Supah Ninjas" (2011-2013)
Bill Hudson
- Born: Portland, Oregon (10/17/1949)
- Known for:
--- Frederic Lansing in "Hysterical" (1983)
--- Camera and Electrical Department in "What The" (2011)
--- Dad in "Big Shots" (1987)
Craig Wasson
- Born: Ontario, Oregon (3/15/1954)
- Known for:
--- Neil Gordon in "A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors" (1987)
--- Jake in "Body Double" (1984)
--- Danilo in "Four Friends" (1981)
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Jason James Richter
- Born: Medford, Oregon (1/29/1980)
- Known for:
--- Detective Williams in "The Little Things" (2021)
--- Saville in "Last Call" (2021)
--- Corporal Erastus Winters in "Remember the Sultana" (2018)
David Meunier
- Born: Woodburn, Oregon (2/5/1973)
- Known for:
--- Johnny Crowder in "Justified" (2010-2015)
--- Slavi in "The Equalizer" (2014)
--- Roy Kovic in "Aquarius" (2015-2016)
Bret Harrison
- Born: Portland, Oregon (4/6/1982)
- Known for:
--- Lonny in "Orange County" (2002)
--- Scottie Smith in "Mardi Gras: Spring Break" (2011)
--- Danny in "The O.C." (2004-2005)
Dan Gauthier
- Born: Prineville, Oregon (12/2/1963)
- Known for:
--- Lt. John McKay in "Tour of Duty" (1989-1990)
--- Brad Powell in "Teen Witch" (1989)
--- Kevin Buchanan in "One Life to Live" (2002-2010)
Eli Brown
- Born: Oregon (8/13/1999)
- Known for:
--- Tristan Voy in "Run Hide Fight" (2020)
--- Dougie in "Wrath of Man" (2021)
--- Dylan Walker in "Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists" (2019)
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Isaiah Mustafa
- Born: Portland, Oregon (2/11/1974)
- Known for:
--- Mike Hanlon in "It Chapter Two" (2019)
--- Luke Garroway in "Shadowhunters" (2016-2019)
--- Officer Wilkens in "Horrible Bosses" (2011)
Bob Steele
- Born: Portland, Oregon (1/23/1907)
- Died: 12/21/1988
- Known for:
--- Lash Canino in "The Big Sleep" (1946)
--- Jenkins in "Hang 'Em High" (1968)
--- Curley Jackson in "Of Mice and Men" (1939)
Kelly AuCoin
- Born: Hillsboro, Oregon (2/14/1967)
- Known for:
--- Dollar' Bill Stearn in "Billions" (2016-2021)
--- Pastor Tim in "The Americans" (2014-2018)
--- Agent Cacioppi in "The Wizard of Lies" (2017)
Cole Escola
- Born: Clatskanie, Oregon (11/25/1986)
- Known for:
--- Chassie Tucker in "At Home with Amy Sedaris" (2017-2020)
--- Writer in "The Other Two" (2019)
--- Producer in "Hacks" (2021)
Max Records
- Born: Portland, Oregon (6/18/1997)
- Known for:
--- Max in "Where the Wild Things Are" (2009)
--- John Wayne Cleaver in "I Am Not a Serial Killer" (2016)
--- Young Stephen in "The Brothers Bloom" (2008)
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Bruce Abbott
- Born: Portland, Oregon (7/28/1954)
- Known for:
--- Dan Cain in "Re-Animator" (1985)
--- Swan in "Interzone" (1989)
--- Dr. Dan Cain in "Bride of Re-Animator" (1990)
John Robinson
- Born: Portland, Oregon (10/25/1985)
- Known for:
--- Stacy in "Lords of Dogtown" (2005)
--- John McFarland in "Elephant" (2003)
--- Miles in "Transformers" (2007)
Dal McKennon
- Born: La Grande, Oregon (7/19/1919)
- Died: 7/14/2009
- Known for:
--- Toughy in "Lady and the Tramp" (1955)
--- Bear in "Bedknobs and Broomsticks" (1971)
--- Gumby in "Gumby: The Movie" (1995)
Zayne Emory
- Born: Oregon (6/3/1998)
- Known for:
--- Henry Nolan in "The Rookie" (2018-2021)
--- JC Spink in "The Goldbergs" (2015-2021)
--- Brendan Proctor in "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" (2015-2018)
Jeff Richards
- Born: Portland, Oregon (11/1/1924)
- Died: 7/28/1989
- Known for:
--- Benjamin Pontipee in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (1954)
--- Mark Bradley in "Island of Lost Women" (1959)
--- Lt. Ross Pendleton in "Don't Go Near the Water" (1957)
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George 'Buck' Flower
- Born: Milton-Freewater, Oregon (10/28/1937)
- Died: 6/18/2004
- Known for:
--- Bum in "Back to the Future" (1985)
--- Drifter in "They Live" (1988)
--- Cook in "Starman" (1984)
Leonard Stone
- Born: Salem, Oregon (11/3/1923)
- Died: 11/2/2011
- Known for:
--- Mr. Beauregarde in "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" (1971)
--- Charles in "Soylent Green" (1973)
--- Charlie in "I Spy" (1968)
Bradley Stryker
- Born: Eugene, Oregon (6/29/1977)
- Known for:
--- Sheriff Nevelson in "Let Him Go" (2020)
--- Limbo in "Cold Pursuit" (2019)
--- Shifty Man in "Altered Carbon" (2020)
Birkett Turton
- Born: Portland, Oregon (4/4/1982)
- Known for:
--- Mitch in "Saved!" (2004)
--- Vel in "Firewall" (2006)
--- Dingo in "Blade: Trinity" (2004)
Kirk Thornton
- Born: Portland, Oregon (5/13/1956)
- Known for:
--- Yamashiro in "Perfect Blue" (1997)
--- Hanza in "Ninja Scroll" (1993)
--- Additional Crew in "Infinite" (2021)
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Matt Lattanzi
- Born: Portland, Oregon (2/1/1959)
- Known for:
--- Trent in "Roxanne" (1987)
--- Brad in "Grease 2" (1982)
--- Young Danny McGuire in "Xanadu" (1980)
Patrick Page
- Born: Monmouth, Oregon (4/27/1962)
- Known for:
--- Pike Phillips in "In the Heights" (2021)
--- Sergei Zelenkov in "Flesh and Bone" (2015)
--- Horton Baker in "The Good Wife" (2012)
Alex Frost
- Born: Portland, Oregon (2/17/1987)
- Known for:
--- Alex in "Elephant" (2003)
--- Filkins in "Drillbit Taylor" (2008)
--- Jake in "Flight 7500" (2014)
Tom Everett
- Born: Portland, Oregon (10/21/1948)
- Known for:
--- Sergeant Pepper in "Dances with Wolves" (1990)
--- NSA Advisor Jack Doherty in "Air Force One" (1997)
--- Benjamin 1935-37 in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (2008)
Jack Pennick
- Born: Portland, Oregon (12/7/1895)
- Died: 8/16/1964
- Known for:
--- Pete in "Way Out West" (1930)
--- Sgt. Daniel Schattuck in "Fort Apache" (1948)
--- Busch in "Tripoli" (1950)
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Scott Beach
- Born: Portland, Oregon (1/13/1931)
- Died: 2/13/1996
- Known for:
--- Mayor Grundy in "Stand by Me" (1986)
--- Mr. Gordon in "American Graffiti" (1973)
--- Chief Scientist in "The Right Stuff" (1983)
Ahmad Rashad
- Born: Portland, Oregon (11/19/1949)
- Known for:
--- Ahmad Rashad in "Space Jam" (1996)
--- Sergeant Kenner in "Monsters" (1990)
--- Ahmad Rashad in "Like Mike" (2002)
Robert Cornthwaite
- Born: St. Helens, Oregon (4/28/1917)
- Died: 7/20/2006
- Known for:
--- Dr. Arthur Carrington in "The Thing from Another World" (1951)
--- Dr. Shelby in "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" (1962)
--- Dr. Pryor in "The War of the Worlds" (1953)
Gordon Scott
- Born: Portland, Oregon (8/3/1926)
- Died: 4/30/2007
- Known for:
--- Tarzan in "Tarzan the Magnificent" (1960)
--- Tarzan in "Tarzan and the Lost Safari" (1957)
--- Tarzan in "Tarzan's Greatest Adventure" (1959)
Connor Weil
- Born: Portland, Oregon (not available)
- Known for:
--- Young Phil in "Roadies" (2016)
--- Will Belmont in "Scream: The TV Series" (2015)
--- Brady in "K.C. Undercover" (2017-2018)
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Don Barclay
- Born: Ashland, Oregon (12/26/1892)
- Died: 10/16/1975
- Known for:
--- Mr. Binnacle - Admiral's Servant in "Mary Poppins" (1964)
--- Doorman in "Cinderella" (1950)
--- Lefty in "The Falcon's Brother" (1942)