Celebrities from KC and Facts

Meet The Talented List of TV and Film Celebrities Who Have Called KC Home

From an actress who made her name dancing backwards in heels to the voice of Yoda, Kansas City is home to household names, blockbuster stars and talented voice actors.

Robert Altman, Oscar-winning director and KC native whose films included M*A*S*H, Kansas City and many others

Joseph Lee Anderson, a favorite KC actor in the series Smoke Break, and films Jayhawkers and (soon to be released) Belong To Us, a rising star in The Ballad of Lefty Brown and on the NBC television show Timeless

Ed Asner, Emmy-winning actor and KC native most known for his roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Roots

Wallace Beery, Oscar winning actor, Wallace is known for his role in The Champ, for which he won the Oscar for Best Actor, born in Clay County, MO

Trai Byers, actor born in KC and known for his roles in Empire and Selma

Don Cheadle, Oscar-nominated star of Hotel Rwanda and Crash who was born in KC

David Cook, KC native and winner of season seven of American Idol

Chris Cooper, Oscar-winning actor and KC native whose films include Adaptation, American Beauty and The Bourne Identity

Joan Crawford, KC native, Oscar-winning actress and icon of Hollywood’s Golden Age, known for her roles in Mildred Pierce and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane

Walt Disney, beloved animator and director who opened Laugh-O-Gram Studios, his first, in Kansas City. Disney fed a friendly rodent in the building, which was said to have inspired the character Mickey Mouse

Isadore “Friz” Frelengoften credited as I. Freleng, Friz was an animator, cartoonist, director, producer, and composer famously known for his work on the Warner Bros. Looney Tunes, KC native

Gillian Flynn, author/screenwriter and KC native whose works include Gone Girl, Sharp Objects and Dark Places

Eddie Griffin, widely known comedian and actor, KC native

Jean Harlow, film actress and KC native famously known as the “Original Blonde Bombshell”

Paul Henning, producer and screenwriter known for The Beverly Hillbillies, born in Independence, MO

Elaine Joyce, made her film debut in 1961 in West Side Story, also known for The Music Man and Bye Bye Birdie, KC Native

Tom Kane, voiceover artist from Overland Park, KS. known for his roles in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and The Wild Thornberrys. The voice of Yoda

Ellie Kemper, film and TV actress born in KC and best known for her leading role in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and other roles in The Office and Bridesmaids

Barbara Lawrence, Oklahoma native, but moved to KC as a child, she now has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Sarah Lancaster, KC born actress known for her long-running roles in NBC’s Saved by the Bell: The New Class and Chuck

Betty Lynn, former actress known for her role as Thelma Lou on The Andy Griffith Show, KC Native

Edie McClurg, stand-up comedian, actress, singer, and voice actress, Edie is known for her ‘midwestern accent’, KC born and UMKC alma mater

Michael McMillian, writer and actor born in Olathe, KS. and known for his roles in Dorian Blues and True Blood

Katherine McNamara, actress known for her role as Clary Fray on the hit Freeform show Shadowhunters

Janelle Monáe, singer and actress born in Kansas City, Kansas, star of Hidden Figures and Moonlight

Tosin Morohunfola, a favorite KC actor who can be seen in Showtime’s The Chi, NBC’s Chicago Med and OWN’s upcoming series Love Is

Ashleigh Murray, KC native and actress known for her roles in TV and film including the CW’s Riverdale and Deidra & Laney Rob a Train

Dayna Lynne North, producer and writer from KC known for her work on shows like Veronica Mars and Insecure

Gordon Parks, photographer, musician, writer and film director, known for directing Shaft, born in Ft. Scott, KS

Rob Riggle, comedian and actor who grew up in Overland Park, KS. and is famous for his roles in The Hangover and 21 Jump Street

Ginger Rogers, Broadway performer and Oscar-winning actress who was born in Independence, MO

Paul Rudd, comedic actor in Role Models and I Love You, Man who was raised in Overland Park, KS

Lori Saunders, known for her role as Bobbie Jo Bradley in the TV series Petticoat Junction, KC born

Eric Stonestreet, actor and comedian, best known for playing Cameron Tucker in the ABC sitcom Modern Family, two time Emmy award winner and KC native

Jason Sudeikis, actor who grew up in Overland Park, KS. and is famous for his roles in We’re the Millers and Horrible Bosses

Aaron Rahsaan Thomas, writer and producer from KCK known for his work on Friday Night Lights, S.W.A.T. , The Get Down, and Sleepy Hollow

Dee Wallace, actress and KC native known for her roles in films including E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and The Hills Have Eyes

Tuc Watkins, KC native and actor known for his roles in One Life to Live, The Mummy and Desperate Housewives

Dianne Wiest, Oscar-winning actress and KC native, known for her roles in Edward Scissorhands, I Am Sam and Hannah and Her Sisters

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