Iowa may not be Hollywood, but there are a surprisingly large number of famous people from Iowa. This humble Midwest state boasts a lot of celebrities. This list of high-profile individuals from Iowa will shock you and definitely make you a contender at Iowa trivia nights at your local bar!
1. Brandon Routh (Des Moines)
Iowa is so super that we produced Superman himself! Brandon Routh portrayed Clark Kent (and his alter ego) in the 2006 film "Superman Returns." He also portrayed The Atom in "Arrow." He was born in the state capital, but raised in nearby Norwalk and attended high school there. Interestingly, Jason Mamoa (who would later star in "Aquaman" and "Game of Thrones") was in his high school class.
2. Johnny Carson (Corning)
Johnny Carson's name is practically synonymous with the early years of television. Who would've thought he was from the Hawkeye State? He was born in Corning and moved throughout southwest Iowa in his childhood before leaving the state for Nebraska. His "Tonight Show" was a major cultural institution that launched the entertainment careers of many.
3. Danai Gurira (Grinnell)
This one's interesting: who would've thought the katana-wielding Michonne from "The Walking Dead" was from Iowa? She lived in Grinnell in her early years before moving to Zimbabwe with her family.
4. Chris Soules (Arlington)
This star of "The Bachelor" had women across America swooning over him in the 19th season of the hit reality show. The proud country boy has roots in Arlington. He still lives there today and works on a farm.
5. Kurt Warner (Burlington)
Kurt Warner was a star quarterback for the Rams, Giants, and Cardinals. He was raised in Iowa and played college football for Northern Iowa. He was not initially named to an NFL roster, so he played in the Arena Football League for the Iowa Barnstormers. He was eventually signed into the NFL and the rest is history!
6. Shawn Johnson (Des Moines)
Shawn Johnson was a world champion Olympic gymnast. She was born and raised in Des Moines, attending public high school there. There must be something in the water, because Iowa has produced nearly 20 Olympic athletes!
7. Lolo Jones (Des Moines)
Lolo Jones is another Olympic athlete born in Des Moines. During her career, she competed in hurdle events. Her family struggled when she was a child and for a while, they lived in the basement of a Des Moines Salvation Army.
8. Elijah Wood (Cedar Rapids)
Elijah Wood, most famous for portraying ring-bearing hobbit Frodo Baggins in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, was born and raised in Cedar Rapids. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was eight so as to pursue his acting career.
9. Tom Arnold (Ottumwa)
Tom Arnold was born in Ottumwa in southeast Iowa. He's best known for his roles in "Roseanne" and "Soul Plane."
10. Herbert Hoover (West Branch)
The first (and thus far, only) United States President to be born in Iowa, Herbert Hoover was born in the little town of West Branch.
11. Ashton Kutcher (Cedar Rapids)
Ashton Kutcher was born and raised in Cedar Rapids. He hit it big on "That 70s Show" and has been in many films and television series since then.
12. John Wayne (Winterset)
Long before The Duke was dueling in the Wild West, he spent his early years living in small town Iowa. His birthplace in Winterset has been preserved as a historic site.
Next time someone tries to tell you that there are no famous people from Iowa, just show them this list. Are there any more celebrities from Iowa that you can think of? Share them in the comments.
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