Famous actors from Pennsylvania

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July 21, 2022
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Famous actors from Pennsylvania

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 Pennsylvania 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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James Stewart

- Born: Indiana, Pennsylvania (5/20/1908)
- Died: 7/2/1997
- Known for:
--- Paul Biegler in "Anatomy of a Murder" (1959)
--- John 'Scottie' Ferguson in "Vertigo" (1958)
--- Jefferson Smith in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939)

Will Smith

- Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (9/25/1968)
- Known for:
--- Producer in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (1990-1996)
--- Robert Neville in "I Am Legend" (2007)
--- Jay in "Men in Black" (1997)

Kevin Hart

- Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (7/6/1979)
- Known for:
--- Ben Barber in "Ride Along" (2014)
--- Calvin Joyner in "Central Intelligence" (2016)
--- Dante Slate, Jr. in "Grudge Match" (2013)

Jason Spisak

- Born: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (8/29/1973)
- Known for:
--- Wally West in "Young Justice" (2010-2019)
--- Ivan in "Time Lapse" (2014)
--- Deputy Taylor Roberts in "Piranha 3D" (2010)

Bradley Cooper

- Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1/5/1975)
- Known for:
--- Jack in "A Star Is Born" (2018)
--- Pat in "Silver Linings Playbook" (2012)
--- Chris Kyle in "American Sniper" (2014)

Michael Keaton

- Born: Coraopolis, Pennsylvania (9/5/1951)
- Known for:
--- Riggan in "Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)" (2014)
--- Walter 'Robby' Robinson in "Spotlight" (2015)
--- Ray Kroc in "The Founder" (2016)

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Jeff Goldblum

- Born: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (10/22/1952)
- Known for:
--- Malcolm in "Jurassic Park" (1993)
--- Seth Brundle in "The Fly" (1986)
--- Deputy Kovacs in "The Grand Budapest Hotel" (2014)

David Dastmalchian

- Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (7/21/1975)
- Known for:
--- Joker's Thug in "The Dark Knight" (2008)
--- Piter de Vries in "Dune" (2021)
--- Polka-Dot Man in "The Suicide Squad" (2021)

Joe Manganiello

- Born: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (12/28/1976)
- Known for:
--- Deathstroke in "Zack Snyder's Justice League" (2021)
--- Alcide Herveaux in "True Blood" (2010-2014)

Jonathan Groff

- Born: Lancaster, Pennsylvania (3/26/1985)
- Known for:
--- Kristoff in "Frozen" (2013)
--- King George in "Hamilton" (2020)
--- Holden Ford in "Mindhunter" (2017-2019)

Kevin Bacon

- Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (7/8/1958)
- Known for:
--- Ren in "Footloose" (1984)
--- Walter in "The Woodsman" (2004)
--- Sebastian Caine in "Hollow Man" (2000)

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Jonathan Taylor Thomas

- Born: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (9/8/1981)
- Known for:
--- Young Simba in "The Lion King" (1994)
--- Randy Taylor in "Home Improvement" (1991-1999)
--- Tom Sawyer in "Tom and Huck" (1995)

Miles Teller

- Born: Downingtown, Pennsylvania (2/20/1987)
- Known for:
--- Sutter in "The Spectacular Now" (2013)
--- Andrew in "Whiplash" (2014)
--- Reed Richards in "Fantastic Four" (2015)

Craig Sheffer

- Born: York, Pennsylvania (4/23/1960)
- Known for:
--- Norman Maclean in "A River Runs Through It" (1992)
--- Hardy Jenns in "Some Kind of Wonderful" (1987)
--- Aaron Boone in "Nightbreed" (1990)

Marc Blucas

- Born: Butler, Pennsylvania (1/11/1972)
- Known for:
--- Rodney in "Knight and Day" (2010)
--- John Hawkes in "Underground" (2016-2017)
--- Riley Finn in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1999-2002)

Dane DeHaan

- Born: Allentown, Pennsylvania (2/6/1986)
- Known for:
--- Andrew Detmer in "Chronicle" (2012)
--- Lucien Carr in "Kill Your Darlings" (2013)
--- Green Goblin in "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" (2014)

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Richard Gere

- Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (8/31/1949)
- Known for:
--- Billy Flynn in "Chicago" (2002)
--- Edward Lewis in "Pretty Woman" (1990)
--- Declan Mulqueen in "The Jackal" (1997)

Matthew Lawrence

- Born: Abington, Pennsylvania (2/11/1980)
- Known for:
--- Chris Hillard in "Mrs. Doubtfire" (1993)
--- Billy in "The Hot Chick" (2002)
--- Matt Roman in "Brotherly Love" (1995-1997)

Taylor Kinney

- Born: Lancaster, Pennsylvania (7/15/1981)
- Known for:
--- Phil in "The Other Woman" (2014)
--- Aiden in "The Forest" (2016)
--- Jared - DEVGRU in "Zero Dark Thirty" (2012)

Mark Margolis

- Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (11/26/1939)
- Known for:
--- Sol Robeson in "Pi" (1998)
--- Shickadance in "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective" (1994)
--- Mr. Rabinowitz in "Requiem for a Dream" (2000)

Charles Bronson

- Born: Ehrenfeld, Pennsylvania (11/3/1921)
- Died: 8/30/2003
- Known for:
--- Harmonica in "Once Upon a Time in the West" (1968)
--- Paul Kersey in "Death Wish" (1974)
--- Danny 'Tunnel King' in "The Great Escape" (1963)

Zachary Quinto

- Born: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (6/2/1977)
- Known for:
--- Spock in "Star Trek" (2009)
--- Peter Sullivan in "Margin Call" (2011)
--- Commander Spock in "Star Trek Beyond" (2016)

Mike Vogel

- Born: Abington, Pennsylvania (7/17/1979)
- Known for:
--- Johnny Foote in "The Help" (2011)
--- Jason Hawkins in "Cloverfield" (2008)
--- Jack in "She's Out of My League" (2010)

Kyle Gallner

- Born: West Chester, Pennsylvania (10/22/1986)
- Known for:
--- Goat-Winston in "American Sniper" (2014)
--- Andy Fitzgerald in "The Finest Hours" (2016)
--- Kurt Fletcher in "Dear White People" (2014)

Gene Kelly

- Born: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (8/23/1912)
- Died: 2/2/1996
- Known for:
--- Don Lockwood in "Singin' in the Rain" (1952)
--- Jerry Mulligan in "An American in Paris" (1951)
--- E. K. Hornbeck in "Inherit the Wind" (1960)

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Scott Glenn

- Born: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1/26/1939)
- Known for:
--- Bart Mancuso in "The Hunt for Red October" (1990)
--- John Adcox in "Backdraft" (1991)
--- Jack Crawford in "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991)

Peter Boyle

- Born: Norristown, Pennsylvania (10/18/1935)
- Died: 12/12/2006
- Known for:
--- Frank Barone in "Everybody Loves Raymond" (1996-2005)
--- Lou Donnelly in "Red Heat" (1988)
--- The Monster in "Young Frankenstein" (1974)

Michael Rady

- Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (8/20/1981)
- Known for:
--- Kostas in "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" (2005)
--- Kostos in "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" (2008)
--- Nick Zingaro in "The Guardian" (2006)

F. Murray Abraham

- Born: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (10/24/1939)
- Known for:
--- Mr. Moustafa in "The Grand Budapest Hotel" (2014)
--- Antonio Salieri in "Amadeus" (1984)
--- Leader in "Mighty Aphrodite" (1995)

Scott Patterson

- Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (9/11/1958)
- Known for:
--- Agent Strahm in "Saw V" (2008)
--- Agent Peter Strahm in "Saw IV" (2007)
--- Luke Danes in "Gilmore Girls" (2000-2007)

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Patrick Fabian

- Born: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (12/7/1964)
- Known for:
--- Cotton Marcus in "The Last Exorcism" (2010)
--- Howard Hamlin in "Better Call Saul" (2015-2022)
--- Donald in "Must Love Dogs" (2005)

Jaeden Martell

- Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1/4/2003)
- Known for:
--- Oliver in "St. Vincent" (2014)
--- Bill Denbrough in "It" (2017)
--- Jacob Thrombey in "Knives Out" (2019)

Dan Cortese

- Born: Sewickley, Pennsylvania (9/14/1967)
- Known for:
--- Taco Bell Entertainer in "Demolition Man" (1993)
--- Vic Meladeo in "What I Like About You" (2003-2006)
--- Perry Rollins in "Veronica's Closet" (1997-2000)

Matthew Fox

- Born: Abington, Pennsylvania (7/14/1966)
- Known for:
--- Brooder in "Bone Tomahawk" (2015)
--- Dr. Jack Shephard in "Lost" (2004-2010)
--- Racer X in "Speed Racer" (2008)

Eric Mabius

- Born: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (4/22/1971)
- Known for:
--- Matt in "Resident Evil" (2002)
--- Steve Rodgers in "Welcome to the Dollhouse" (1995)
--- Greg McConnell in "Cruel Intentions" (1999)

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Joey Lawrence

- Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (4/20/1976)
- Known for:
--- Joey Russo in "Blossom" (1990-1995)
--- Oliver in "Oliver & Company" (1988)
--- Joe Roman in "Brotherly Love" (1995-1997)

Ed Wynn

- Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (11/9/1886)
- Died: 6/19/1966
- Known for:
--- Mad Hatter in "Alice in Wonderland" (1951)
--- Uncle Albert in "Mary Poppins" (1964)
--- Toymaker in "Babes in Toyland" (1961)

Bruce Davison

- Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (6/28/1946)
- Known for:
--- Howard Finnigan in "Short Cuts" (1993)
--- Reverend Parris in "The Crucible" (1996)
--- Senator Kelly in "X-Men" (2000)

Josh Cooke

- Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (11/22/1979)
- Known for:
--- Louis Greene in "Dexter" (2011-2012)
--- Nate Solomon in "Committed" (2005)
--- Alan (Bench Press Guy) in "I Love You, Man" (2009)

Thomas F. Wilson

- Born: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (4/15/1959)
- Known for:
--- Buford 'Mad Dog' Tannen in "Back to the Future Part III" (1990)
--- Biff Tannen in "Back to the Future" (1985)
--- Biff Tannen in "Back to the Future Part II" (1989)

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Charlie McDermott

- Born: West Chester, Pennsylvania (4/6/1990)
- Known for:
--- T.J. in "Frozen River" (2008)
--- Ty in "Unbelievable" (2019)
--- Stewart in "Instant Family" (2018)

Jonathan Frakes

- Born: Bellefonte, Pennsylvania (8/19/1952)
- Known for:
--- Riker in "Star Trek: First Contact" (1996)
--- Riker in "Star Trek: Insurrection" (1998)
--- Riker in "Star Trek: Generations" (1994)

Billy Porter

- Born: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (9/21/1969)
- Known for:
--- Pray Tell in "Pose" (2018-2021)
--- Fabulous Godmother in "Cinderella" (2021)
--- Taylor in "The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy" (2000)

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