On Instagram, it’s simple to admire and feel envious of the biggest stars in the world. There is no shortage of proof of how wonderful the high life can be, from A-list actors and well-known musicians to professional ball players and comedians who have their own comedies. On rooftop bars, at exclusive clubs, at backstage events, and at restaurants where average people can’t get a reservation, they publish photos of themselves with other celebrities.
However, the great majority of these celebrities grew up outside of Hollywood, rising from modest beginnings in typical little towns or cities across the nation to the bright lights and large bucks of superstardom.
Stacker took the most popular list on IMDb and created a list of actors that were born in West Virginia. We included a movie poster image from a well-known film for each actor (all images sourced from OMDb). See which of your favorite actors are from your state by continuing to read.
Brad Dourif
– Born: Huntington, West Virginia (3/18/1950)
– Known for:
— Billy Bibbit in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975)
— Wormtongue in “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” (2002)
— Piter De Vries in “Dune” (1984)
Chris Sarandon
– Born: Beckley, West Virginia (7/24/1942)
– Known for:
— Jack Skellington in “The Nightmare Before Christmas” 1993
John Corbett
– Born: Wheeling, West Virginia (5/9/1961)
– Known for:
— Ian Miller in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” (2002)
— Chris Stevens in “Northern Exposure” (1990-1995)
— Burwell in “The Messengers” (2007)
Josh Stewart
– Born: Diana, West Virginia (2/6/1977)
– Known for:
— CASE in “Interstellar” (2014)
— Barsad in “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012)
— Arkin in “The Collector” (2009)
Ryan Dorsey
– Born: Chesapeake, West Virginia (7/19/1983)
– Known for:
— Rand Kleinsasser in “Big Sky” (2021)
— Dime Bag in “Ray Donovan” (2017)
— Earl in “Justified” (2015)
David Selby
– Born: Morgantown, West Virginia (2/5/1941)
– Known for:
— Richard Channing in “Falcon Crest” (1982-1990)
— Gage in “The Social Network” (2010)
— Dean Buckley in “D3: The Mighty Ducks” (1996)
Paul Dooley
– Born: Parkersburg, West Virginia (2/22/1928)
– Known for:
— Mr. Spritzer in “Hairspray” (2007)
— Ray Stohler – Dad in “Breaking Away” (1979)
— Wimpy in “Popeye” (1980)
Bobby Campo
– Born: Wheeling, West Virginia (3/9/1983)
– Known for:
— Nick in “The Final Destination” (2009)
— Yolo in “Justified” (2013)
— Seth Branson in “Scream: The TV Series” (2015-2016)
Aaron Staton
– Born: Huntington, West Virginia (8/2/1980)
– Known for:
— Cole Phelps in “L.A. Noire” (2011)
— Ken Cosgrove in “Mad Men” (2007-2015)
— John in “The Nanny Diaries” (2007)
Sam Pancake
– Born: Romney, West Virginia (5/10/1968)
– Known for:
— Carter French in “A Million Little Things” (2018-2021)
— Dale in “Dumplin’” (2018)
— Patrick in “Search Party” (2020-2021)
Steve Harvey
– Born: Welch, West Virginia (1/17/1957)
– Known for:
— Producer in “The Steve Harvey Show” (1996-2002)
— Mr. Rad in “You Got Served” (2004)
— Self – Host in “Family Feud” (2010-2021)
John Davis Chandler
– Born: Hinton, West Virginia (1/28/1935)
– Died: 2/16/2010
– Known for:
— Bleak in “Adventures in Babysitting” (1987)
— First Bounty Hunter in “The Outlaw Josey Wales” (1976)
— Hymie Weiss in “Capone” (1975)
Joe Chrest
– Born: St. Albans, West Virginia (not available)
– Known for:
— Ted Wheeler in “Stranger Things” (2016-2022)
— David Schmidt in “21 Jump Street” (2012)
— Lawrence in “Assassination Nation” (2018)
Bernie Casey
– Born: Wyco, West Virginia (6/8/1939)
– Died: 9/19/2017
– Known for:
— Mr. Ryan in “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” (1989)
— U.N. Jefferson in “Revenge of the Nerds” (1984)
— Leiter in “Never Say Never Again” (1983)
Rob Garrison
– Born: Wheeling, West Virginia (1/23/1960)
– Died: 9/27/2019
– Known for:
— Tommy in “The Karate Kid” (1984)
— Tommy in “The Karate Kid Part II” (1986)
— Sayer in “Prom Night” (1980)
Sam Ball
– Born: Bunker Hill, West Virginia (6/29/1973)
– Known for:
— Alex Carlson in “13 Going on 30” (2004)
— Kent Woodlands in “Pumpkin” (2002)
— Duffy in “The Last Castle” (2001)
Walter Barnes
– Born: Parkersburg, West Virginia (1/26/1918)
– Died: 1/6/1998
– Known for:
— Sheriff Sam Shaw in “High Plains Drifter” (1973)
— Tank Murdock in “Every Which Way but Loose” (1978)
— Porthos in “D’Artagnan contro i 3 moschettieri” (1963)
Charlie Barnett
– Born: Bluefield, West Virginia (9/23/1954)
– Died: 3/16/1996
– Known for:
— Tyrone in “D.C. Cab” (1983)
— Neville ‘Noogie’ Lamont in “Miami Vice” (1984-1988)
— Actor-Comedian-Educator in “Charlie Barnett’s Terms of Enrollment” (1986)
Morgan Paull
– Born: West Virginia (12/15/1944)
– Died: 7/17/2012
– Known for:
— Holden in “Blade Runner” (1982)
— Captain Richard N. Jenson in “Patton” (1970)
— Philip Wendell as Adult in “Centennial” (1979)
Douglas Dick
– Born: Charleston, West Virginia (11/20/1920)
– Died: 12/19/2015
– Known for:
— Kenneth in “Rope” (1948)
— Writer in “The Second Hundred Years” (1967-1968)
— Reporter in “Bracken’s World” (1970)
Robert R. Shafer
– Born: Charleston, West Virginia (4/10/1958)
– Known for:
— Dick Dickster in “Dick Dickster” (2018)
— Officer Joe Vickers in “Psycho Cop Returns” (1993)
— Krieger in “Stiletto” (2008)
Joshua Harto
– Born: Huntington, West Virginia (1/9/1979)
– Known for:
— Reese in “The Dark Knight” (2008)
— Bates in “Bridge of Spies” (2015)
— John in “The Lifeguard” (2013)
Lou Myers
– Born: Cabin Creek, West Virginia (9/26/1935)
– Died: 2/19/2013
– Known for:
— Burt Weinberg in “The Wedding Planner” (2001)
— Pastor Lake in “Volcano” (1997)
— Clint in “Tin Cup” (1996)
Jack Erdie
– Born: West Virginia (not available)
– Known for:
— Abel in “Outsiders” (2016)
— Meth Guy in “Out of the Furnace” (2013)
— Flat Nose Louis in “One for the Money” (2012)
Tom McBride
– Born: Charleston, West Virginia (10/7/1952)
– Died: 9/24/1995
– Known for:
— Mark in “Friday the 13th Part 2” (1981)
— Jim’ in Soap Opera in “Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins” (1985)
— Pilot in “As the World Turns” (1989)
Kevin Sizemore
– Born: Princeton, West Virginia (4/30/1972)
– Known for:
— Michael Willard in “Chicago P.D.” (2019)
— Colonel Ryerson in “Timeless” (2018)
— Anthony in “Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462” (2015-2016)
Robert V. Barron
– Born: Charleston, West Virginia (12/26/1932)
– Died: 12/1/2000
– Known for:
— Abraham Lincoln in “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” (1989)
— Additional Crew in “Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro” (1979)
— Admiral in “Robotech” (1985)
Eddie Baker
– Born: Davis, West Virginia (11/17/1897)
– Died: 2/4/1968
– Known for:
— Her father in “Rough on Romeo” (1922)
— Orange Blossom – the boss in “Oranges and Lemons” (1923)
— Director in “Turn Him Loose” (1929)
Will Hare
– Born: Elkins, West Virginia (3/30/1919)
– Died: 8/31/1997
– Known for:
— Pa Peabody in “Back to the Future” (1985)
— Grandpa in “Silent Night, Deadly Night” (1984)
— Team Doctor in “Heaven Can Wait” (1978)
Robert McQuain
– Born: Elkins, West Virginia (6/12/1934)
– Died: 12/26/1999
– Known for:
— Joe Waters in “The Andy Griffith Show” (1961-1963)
— Brad Shelby in “Perry Mason” (1962)
— Sud Pribble in “The Magical World of Disney” (1964)
Leonard Barr
– Born: West Virginia (9/27/1903)
– Died: 11/22/1980
– Known for:
— Shady Tree in “Diamonds Are Forever” (1971)
— Burlesque House Comedian in “The Sting” (1973)
— Soundtrack in “Gangster Story” (1959)
Thom Carney
– Born: Charleston, West Virginia (5/16/1923)
– Died: 5/4/1982
– Known for:
— Manager in “Columbo” (1974)
— Joe Kienholz in “It! The Terror from Beyond Space” (1958)
— Actor in “Tales of Tomorrow” (1952)
Chuck Yeager
– Born: Myra, West Virginia (2/13/1923)
– Died: 12/7/2020
– Known for:
— Fred in “The Right Stuff” (1983)
— Party Guest in “Smokey and the Bandit II” (1980)
— Actor in “Goodyear Playhouse” (1953)
Wylie Draper
– Born: West Virginia (5/5/1969)
– Died: 12/20/1993
– Known for:
— Michael Jackson in “The Jacksons: An American Dream” (1992)
— Wylie in “The Disappearance of Christina” (1993)
— Dancer in “Red Shoe Diaries” (1994)
Fuzzy Knight
– Born: Fairmont, West Virginia (5/9/1901)
– Died: 2/23/1976
– Known for:
— Bosco O’Toole in “Gunman’s Code” (1946)
— Stuff Oliver in “Horror Island” (1941)
— Mortimer P. Rockabye Jones in “Bad Men of the Border” (1945)
Rex Lease
– Born: Central City [now part of Huntington], West Virginia (2/11/1903)
– Died: 1/3/1966
– Known for:
— Eddie Haskins in “Troopers Three” (1930)
— Ned Logan in “Cannonball Express” (1932)
— Jerry Thornton in “The Speed Classic” (1928)
Rubby Cordelia is a finance journalist for WVPrepBB.com, bringing expertise and clarity to her reporting on financial news. With a passion for demystifying complex economic issues, Rubby delivers insightful analysis and up-to-date information on the latest market trends, financial policies, and economic developments. Her work on WVPrepBB.com is essential reading for anyone looking to stay informed about the ever-changing world of finance.
