Several creative geniuses and talented performers started in the Heart of It All -- and their skills have stretched far beyond Ohio. From modern-day musical sensations and movie stars to renowned inventors that literally changed the course of history, Ohio has given us a gifted batch of individuals throughout the years. Here are 15 famous people from Ohio who call Ohio home:
1. Steven Spielberg
Would we really know what makes a movie iconic without his example? Probably not!
2. Halle Berry
Ohioans have Cleveland to thank for this Academy Award-winning, all-around amazing star.
3. Thomas Edison
You tell us where we’d be without Thomas Edison's contributions to the world. (In the dark, perhaps?)
4. Maya Lin
There’s a reason most of us don’t graduate from finger painting and coloring books. Maya Lin shows us that design and architecture requires a lot more than just an idea and some crayons.
5. Drew Carey
An Ohio treasure, Drew Carey is the man who taught many of us what it means to laugh. He also put Cleveland on the map in a big way!
6. Sarah Jessica Parker
From the small town of Nelsonville to the bright lights of New York City, came the incomparable Sarah Jessica Parker. It's hard to believe this "Sex In The City" star came from such small-town roots!
7. Nancy Cartwright
You might have known that the voice of Bart Simpson was actually a woman’s voice, but you might not have known that she hailed from Dayton!
8. Justin Chambers
We'd like to offer a sincere thank you to Springfield, Ohio, for the gift of Justin Chambers and "Grey’s Anatomy."
9. Bow Wow
Ohioans can take credit for this rap legend.
10. Katie Holmes
Katie Holmes was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. If you were a teenager in the 1990s, Joey Potter was everything.
11. Josh Radnor
The likable protagonist of "How I Met Your Mother" hails from the likable city of Columbus, Ohio.
12. LeBron James
No matter how you feel about this basketball star, he's one of the most famous athletes to be born and raised in Ohio - Akron, to be exact.
13. Macy Gray
Her singing career has taught Ohioans about more than life, love, and lessons learned -- she’s taught us what it means to have soul.
14. Rob Dyrdek
Dyrdek's skateboarding talent and hit reality TV shows have put Kettering on the map -- and offered a lot of laughs.
15. Neil Armstrong
Maybe it’s common knowledge, but it’s pretty mind-blowing to say that Ohioans were technically the first people to ever step foot on the moon. When it comes to notable individuals making their mark in America -- and the world -- Ohioans undeniably hold their own.
Did we leave any famous people from Ohio out? Let us know in the comments below! And for more noteworthy celebs from The Buckeye State, be sure to check out these 12 famous people who hail from Cleveland!
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!