Actors and Actresses with Kentucky Ties
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American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter, George Clooney was born George Timothy Clooney on May 6, 1961 in Lexington, Kentucky. He graduated from Augusta High School in 1979, (Bracken County, Kentucky) and attended Northern Kentucky University from 1979-1981. Clooney, pictured at left, first became popular in the entertainment world for his role in the television drama "ER". He won a Golden Globe Award for "Best Actor" for his role in the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou? and an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for "Best Supporting Actor" in the 2005 film Syriana. Other popular movies George Clooney has starred in, include Batman & Robin, in 1997; Ocean's Eleven, in 2001; Ocean's Twelve in 2004 and Ocean's Thirteen in 2007. Ocean's Eleven, which also starred Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Bernie Mac, Brad Pitt, and Julia Roberts; is to date, Clooney's highest earning film. You can review George Clooney's complete filmography at The Internet Movie Database. |
Award-winning actor Johnny Depp was born John Christopher Depp II in June of 1963 at Owensboro, Kentucky. Depp became a teen idol in the late 1980s after his role on the television series, "21 Jump Street". His first major film role was in the 1984 movie A Nightmare on Elm Street. Other films include: Edward Scissorhands, (1990); Ed Wood, (1994); Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, (1998); Sleepy Hollow, (1999); and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, (2005).
One of the best known and loved characters of movie goers that Johnny Depp has portrayed is Captain Jack Sparrow, who was introduced in the 2003 film, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, for which the actor was nominated for an Academy Award. (He was also nominated for the 2004 film, Finding Neverland.) Depp returned to the role of Captain Jack Sparrow in the sequels Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. You can read his complete filmography at The Internet Movie Database.
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American actress, Ashley Judd, pictured at right, was born Ashley Tyler Ciminella, in California in April of 1968, but grew up in, and claims Kentucky as her home. Her mother is Naomi Judd, Kentucky native and a country music singer. Ashley is a sister to the country music star, Wynonna Judd. Ashley Judd attended the University of Kentucky and is outspoken and highly visible in her support of the Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team. Judd's early acting jobs included two episodes of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" in 1991. Her movie roles have included parts in the films: Kuffs; Ruby in Paradise; Heat; Smoke; The Passion of Darkly Noon; A Time to Kill; Norma Jean & Marilyn; Normal Life; Kiss the Girls; Simon Birch; Double Jeopardy; Where the Heart Is; Eye of the Beholder; Someone Like You; Frida; Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood; High Crimes; De-Lovely; Twisted; Come Early Morning; and Bug. You can review Ashley Judd's complete filmography and find links to more information at The Internet Movie Database. |
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Harry Dean Stanton, pictured at left,was born on July 14, 1926 at West Irvine, Kentucky. He would go on to attend the University of Kentucky and serve in the United States Navy in World War II before becoming a prolific actor, appearing in dozens of indie and mainstream films and television shows over the years. You can review his extensive filmography at The Internet Movie Database. Irene Dunne, actress and singer, born in Louisville, in 1898 appeared in dozens of major films and was nominated for a "Best Actress" Academy Award five times, for her performances in Cimarron, (1931); Theodora Goes Wild, (1936); The Awful Truth, (1937); Love Affair, (1939); and I Remember Mama, (1948). You can review her career at The Internet Movie Database. |
Other Kentuckians in film and television include: Ned Beatty, Kassie DePaiva, Rebecca Gayheart, Josh Hopkins, Patricia Neal, and Kelly Rutherford, among many others.
