All cities take pride in those that make it big from their city. But in Cleveland, we seem to hold a special place for all those that become famous from our city. We sing their accolades and shut down their critics. These 35 people were all either born or raised in Cleveland and the suburbs of Cleveland and we’ll claim them forever.
All cities take pride in those that make it big from their city. But in Cleveland, we seem to hold a special place for all those that become famous from our city. We sing their accolades and shut down their critics. These 35 people were all either born or raised in Cleveland and the suburbs of Cleveland and we’ll claim them forever.
Halle Berry
Berry, who grew up in Oakwood and attended Bedford High School and Cuyahoga Community College, won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2002 for her work in the film Monsters Ball. She’ also has starred in many other films like Swordfish, multiple X-Men films, and the Bond film Die Another Day. In 2003, she was named number one on People Magazine’s Most Beautiful People In The World list.
Photo via Wikimedia/Gage SkidmoreVanessa Bayer
A comedic actress, Bayer starred on Saturday Night Live from 2010 to 2017 and has also starred in the films Trainwreck, Office Christmas Party, Ibiza and more. She was born and raised in the eastern suburb of Orange and attended Orange High School.
Photo via Wikimedia/Behind The Velvet Rope TVThe Miz
Michael Mizanin, a Parma native, first gained fame by appearing on MTV’s The Real World in 2001 and followed it up by appearances on spin-offs like The Gauntlet and Real World/Road Rules Challenge. Mizanin, who attended Normandy High School, turned that fame into becoming one of the biggest WWE stars. Known as The Miz, he has held the WWE Championship and Intercontinental Championship belts.
Photo via Wikimedia/Shamsuddin MuhammadKing
Born in Cleveland, King graduated from John Adams High School and briefly attended Kent State University. He’s known for being a boxing promoter, getting his big break when he promoted the “Rumble in the Jungle” between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. The man with the crazy hair later managed Mike Tyson and was often seen at his side. Tyson ended up suing King for $100 million.
Photo via Wikimedia/U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Sheila DeVeraStipe Miocic
The current pride of Cleveland recently lost his UFC Heavyweight Title, but not before defending it more than any fighter in the history of the sport. Multiple times, the Euclid native, who went to Eastlake North High and Cleveland State, has been called the best heavyweight in the history of UFC.
Photo via Scene ArchivesToni Morrison
One of the most decorated writers in American history, Morrison grew up in Lorain. In 1988, she won the Pulitzer Prize for her novel Beloved. In 1993, she was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. Then, in 2012, former President Barack Obama awarded Morrison the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Photo via Wikimedia/The White HousePhil Donahue
The white-haired talk show host grew up in the city of Cleveland, with his family living in West Park. He graduated from St. Edward High School as part of the first graduating class. In 1996, Donahue, who began his career as a production assistant at KYW radio and television in Cleveland in 1957, was ranked #42 on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.
Photo via Wikimedia/JBachTerrence Howard
Although he was born in Chicago, Terrence Howard was raised in Cleveland. This famous actor has starred in many films and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in the film Hustle and Flow. He currently stars as the lead actor in the hit television series Empire. Howard has been involved in multiple domestic violence incidents.
Photo via Wikimedia/Master Sgt. Jack BradenTracy Chapman
This singer/songwriter grew up in the city of Cleveland. She is known for her hits “Fast Car”, “Talkin’ Bout A Revolution”, and many more. Her albums have gone multi-platinum four times and she’s won four Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist, Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her single “Fast Car” and Best Rock Song for “Give Me One Reason.”
Photo via Wikimedia/Hans HillewaertAnthony and Joe Russo
These film director brothers got their directing start as graduate students at Case Western Reserve. The Cleveland natives, who attended Benedctine High School, started with the indy film Welcome to Colinwood, based in Cleveland. They are best known for directing the superhero films Captain America: Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: End Game. They also won an Emmy for their directing on the television comedy Arrested Development.
Photo via Wikimedia/Gage SkidmoreYvette Nicole Brown
Born in East Cleveland, Brown graduated from Warrensville High School and The University of Akron. She’s best known for her role as Shirley on the NBC comedy Community and has also had recurring roles on the television programs Drake and Josh and The Odd Couple.
Photo via Wikimedia/Gage SkidmoreSteve Harvey
Harvey, who grew up in the city of Cleveland, graduated from Glenville High School and Kent State University. As a celebrity, he really does it all. He started as a stand-up comedian at Hilarities in Cleveland in 1985. He’s also written books, hosted talk shows, and acted. Harvey has won six Daytime Emmys and currently hosts Family Feud.
Photo via Wikimedia/DideoPatricia Heaton
This actress and Bay Village native broke out on the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, and was awarded with two Emmys for her role. She won another Emmy for her Food Network program Patricia Heaton Parties. Heaton, who graduated from The Ohio State University, is the daughter of Chuck Heaton and the sister of Michael Heaton, both Plain Dealer writers.
Photo via Wikimedia/MattMonica Potter
This actress known for her role on the hit television drama Parenthood, along with starring in films Con Air, Patch Adams, and Along Came A Spider. Potter, who grew up in Colinwood, still maintains a strong connection to Cleveland, and purchased her childhood home in 2014 in order to open a business with her mother and sisters called Monica Potter Home.
Photo via IMDB/ParenthoodMolly Shannon
Shannon starred on Saturday Night Live from 1995 to 2001 and was best known for her Spartan Cheerleader skit with Will Farrell. She grew up in Shaker Heights and attended the Hawken School. The actress has starred in numerous other television series and films, most notably playing Kath in the sitcom Kath and Kim and currently stars in HBO’s Divorce.
Photo via Wikimedia/David ShankboneMichael Symon
The pride and joy of the Cleveland food scene grew up in North Olmsted attended St. Edward High School. Symon currently owns and operates multiple B-Spots, Lola and Mabels in the Cleveland area and recently opened a Mabels in Las Vegas. He is known nationwide for his many appearances on television, including winning an Iron Chef competition on Food Network and co-hosting the recently defunct daytime talk-show The Chew.
Photo via Scene ArchivesMGK is the best musical act to come out of Cleveland. Credit: Scene ArchivesLeBron James
We tried to keep Akron, Canton and Youngstown off the list and stick to Cleveland and suburbs of Cleveland (sorry, Jim Jarmusch, Ed O’Neill, Macy Gray, The Black Keys, and Chrissie Hynde.) But we couldn’t keep The King off the list, even if he claims Akron as his hometown, we’ll always say he’s one of our own.
Photo via Scene ArchivesDr. Mehmet Oz
Now known as a television doctor, Doctor Oz was born in Cleveland to Turkish immigrants. He began his career as a famous doctor by appearing on Oprah Winfrey’s show as a medical expert. While he now has his own very popular television show, he has also been heavily criticized for promoting junk science and unproven medical information.
Photo via Wikimedia/World Economic ForumLili Reinhart
This actress was born and raised in Bay Village and graduated from Bay High School. She moved to Hollywood when she was 18 and quickly gained notoriety after being cast in the CW hit television series Riverdale (which is based off the Archie comics) as Betty Cooper, one of the lead characters on the program.
Photo via Wikimedia/Gage SkidmoreKid Cudi
Scott Mescudi, better known under his hip-hop moniker of Kid Cudi, the Shaker Heights native burst onto the scene with his debut album Man on the Moon:The End of Day in 2009, which was named Complex’s best album of 2009 and Entertainment Weekly’s best hip-hop album of that year. Cudi has gone on to make five more albums and has also starred in television shows and films.
Photo via Wikimedia/BrinsknapsKathryn Hahn
Hahn grew up in Cleveland Heights and attended the Beaumont School and got her start on the local television program Hickory Hideout, a puppet show for kids that was on WKYC. As an actress, she has had roles in many popular shows and films including on Amazon’s Transparent and in the NBC drama Crossing Jordan. She’s also starred in the films Afternoon Delight, Private Life, Step Brothers, Our Idiot Brother and Bad Moms.
Photo via Wikimedia/T’Ruah 2016 Benefit GalaJerry Lawler
Known to professional wrestling fans as “The King”, Jerry Lawler wasn’t born in Cleveland, but he a good chunk of his childhood in Amherst and remains a diehard Cleveland sports fan. Lawler was a popular wrestler in the WWF, but really came to fame as an announcer. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007.
Photo via Wikimedia/NightscreamJake and Logan Paul
These brothers are two of the biggest Youtube stars in the world. While the two make separate comedic videos, they combine to have close to 40 million subscribers for their videos that have been viewed close to 10 billion times. They grew up in Westlake.
Photo via YoutubeFred Willard
Willard grew up in Shaker Heights and moved to Chicago in his twenties and became apart of the Second City improv troupe. As a comedic actor, Willard is best known for his roles in the Christopher Guest mockumentary films Waiting For Guffman and Best in Show and also had roles in This Is Spinal Tap and Anchorman. He’s received multiple Emmy nominations for his recurring role in sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond and for his guest appearances on Modern Family.
Photo via Wikimedia/Guy ViauEric Carmen
A singer/songwriter and guitarist, Carmen grew up in Lyndhurst and graduated from Brush High School and John Carroll University. He gained fame as the lead singer of The Raspberries and followed it up with a very successful solo career.
Photo via Scene ArchivesDolph Ziggler
This WWE superstar attended St. Edward High School in Lakewood, where he lead his wrestling team to two National Champions and he still holds the school record for most pins with 82. He went on to wrestle at Kent State University. In the WWE, he has held the World Heavyweight Championship twice, the Intercontinental Championship six times, and the United States Championship twice.
Photo via Wikimedia/Shamsuddin MuhammadDebra Winger
Winger is an actress that grew up in Cleveland Heights, whom during the late ‘80s and early ‘90s was one of the most famous actresses in the world. During that period, she was nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards three times, for her roles in An Officer and a Gentleman, Terms of Endearment and Shadowlands.
Photo via Wikimedia/Alice AttieDavid Wain
Wain, who acts, directs and writes films, first came to prominence with his debut film Wet Hot American Summer. The Shaker Heights native has created, wrote and directed other cult hits like the Adult Swim series Childrens Hospital, and the films Wanderlust and Role Models.
Photo via Wikimedia/Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffBone Thugs N’ Harmony
The most famous hip-hop artists from Cleveland grew up in the city, East 99th, of course. The group, featuring the rappers Wish Bone, Bizzy Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Krayzie Bone and Layzie Bone, won a Grammy in 1997 for their hit “Tha Crossroads” and were nominated for best album for their 1995 relase E. 1999 Eternal, which sold over six million copies.
Photo via Scene ArchivesArsenio Hall
Hall, who was born in Cleveland and graduated from Warrensville Heights High and Kent State University, is best known for hosting the Arsenio Hall Show, a late-night talk show that ran from 1989 until 1994, and again from 2013 to 2014. He also starred in the acclaimed Eddie Murphy film Coming to America.
Photo via Scene ArchivesAnne Heche
This actress was born in Aurora and live in the area until she was 12. She has starred in the remake of Psycho and films Donnie Brasco, Six Days Seven Nights, Volcano and Return to Paradise, amongst many. Heche received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the Lifetime movie Gracie’s Choice, and a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play for her work in Broadway’s Twentieth Century. She’s also known for dating comedienne and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres, which was one of the first open same-sex relationships in Hollywood.
Photo via Wikimedia/Roy CevallosAlan Ruck
This actor was born in Cleveland and graduated from Parma High School. He’s best known for his role as Matthew Broderick’s best friend Cameron in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and his role on the 90s’ sitcom Spin City. He currently stars as a family member of the eccentric media mogul family the Roys on the HBO drama Succession.
Photo via Wikimedia/Corey BondDrew Carey
Because his sitcom the Drew Carey Show was based in Cleveland, Carey is one of the celebrities most associated with the city. He grew up in Old Brooklyn and graduated from James Ford Rhodes High School and Kent State University. Carey has hosted multiple game shows, including the improv show Whose Line Is It Anyway, and he currently hosts The Price Is Right, taking over the iconic game show after Bob Barker in 2007.
Photo via Wikimedia/Mercy for Animals (MFA)Susan Orlean
As a writer, Orlean has been employed on the staff of The New Yorker since 1992. During that time, Orlean, who grew up in Shaker Heights, has written bestsellers The Orchid Thief, which was the basis for the Nicolas Cage-starring film Adaptation, and Rin Tin Tin: The Life and Legend.
Photo via Wikimedia/Larry D. Moore
