Famous People from Wisconsin. Have you ever noticed how no matter where you go, you almost always run into people who are originally from Wisconsin? It’s either that – or you meet folks with a direct connection to our state. It seems to be the same story in Hollywood circles. You’ll find screen legends as well as D- list celebrities who have been touched by the Badger State. Some of them you probably knew about, others will surprise you. This is just wrong by any standard by the worst kind of offenders. With cowards and sicko's like these, there should be tougher laws. If a person is violated why is.Let’s take a look. Heather Graham – Milwaukee. This blonde starlet was born in the Brew City – but she wasn’t exactly raised there. Heather Graham’s daddy was an FBI agent and the family moved around because of that. By the time Heather turned nine, the Graham fam had made a home in Agoura Hills, California where she would eventually find her way into acting. After a few smaller, yet memorable parts, Heather Graham started landing bigger roles starting with Gus Van Sant’s Drugstore Cowboy in 1. Another early recognizable role was in the 1.
Swingers, in which she played Lorraine, the final dating prospect for Jon Favreau’s character, Mike. In the movie, Lorraine happened to have recently moved to Los Angeles from Wisconsin. Of course she’s played other unforgettable characters including Roller Girl in Boogie Nights, Felicity Shagwell alongside Austin Powers himself in The Spy Who Shagged Me and most recently Jade, the stripper from The Hangover. Despite the sassy roles, Heather Graham is generally viewed as a very all- American girl- next- door kind of actress. We like to think her time in Wisconsin had something to do with that. Mark Ruffalo – Kenosha. Geneva Club A new amenity with exclusive access. Join us for the latest service enhancement exclusive to Grand Geneva Resort & Spa guests only. We are proud to. Mark Ruffalo doesn’t really give off a Wisconsiny vibe, but calls his birthplace, Kenosha, Wisconsin a “very special place” from which he draws comfort. Ruffalo recently landed the role as the latest actor to play Bruce Banner/The Incredible Hulk in The Avengers, and it sounds like he’ll actually stick with it as he’s signed on for the sequels. He was also nominated for an Oscar in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role in The Kids are Alright. On a visit to his hometown during a charity event a few years ago, Ruffalo told the Kenosha News about his warm and fuzzy feelings for Kenosha.“You leave a place and you want to go see the world. And then you see the world and you want to go back to that place. You have a sentimental connection to the past. It’s comforting.”3. Willem Dafoe – Appleton. I’ve heard that Willem Dafoe can’t stand his hometown of Appleton, Wisconsin. But that has to be a rumor, because what’s not to love about Appleton? Of course, you can’t blame anyone for wanting to bail from the place where they grew up. Willem Dafoe told USA Today that he had to “get out of town.” That was in 2. Milwaukee visiting old pals and having a great time. He talked about how old ties are important.“That’s what started the most important, and then I think everybody goes away from that for a little while. And then they come back to that. It’s like a primitive impulse.”USA Today said Dafoe left home after graduating from Appleton East, but a high school friend of his tells us Willem actually dropped out and left for Milwaukee. Soldier in Vietnam (Platoon) and Nosferatu (Shadow of the Vampire). Check out the video below. It’s a Jim Beam commercial based on and starring Willem Dafoe. It has him watching a young version of himself in Appleton and imagining the different paths his life could have taken. The ad might make you think he chose New York over Milwaukee. In reality, Dafoe went to Milwaukee first where he studied acting at UWM and was part of Theater X, which closed in 2. Tony Shalhoub – Green Bay. Emmy- winner Tony Shalhoub got his start acting as a young kid at Green Bay East High School when he landed a spot in the school’s production of The King and I, thanks to help from his big sister. He would go on to graduate from GB East where classmates voted him Most Likely to Succeed. But the best story about Tony Shalhoub’s time at Green Bay East High School is about how he literally broke a leg while on stage. He fell into the orchestra pit during a rehearsal, but recovered in time to perform in the production. Shalhoub came from a big Lebanese- American family and had 9 brothers and sisters. His parents started a downtown grocery store in Green Bay, and still live in Titletown. Tony Shalhoub is a Packers fan, and I remember seeing him sport a black cheesehead on Sharon Osbourne’s short- lived daytime talk show following a playoff loss. While he’s an accomplished character actor in many films – he’s known best for playing an OCD private eye on the USA show Monk. Others will remember his character, Antonio Scarpacci from Wings. And not long ago, Shalhoub came to Door County, Wisconsin to appear in the film Feed the Fish. Chris Farley – Madison. Chris Farley is arguably one of the funniest people to come out of Saturday Night Live. Many of the guys who worked with him on SNL, including Adam Sandler, Chris Rock and David Spade admit he had them beat. He was also a huge Wisconsin sports fan. Farley grew up in Madison and went to college at Marquette University. He eventually joined Second City in Chicago, where he was discovered by Lorne Michaels. Farley died of an apparent drug overdose in December 1. For me, it’s one of those instances where you always remember where you were when you found out. I was with my high school jazz band going to perform Christmas music for middle- schoolers. The Tommy Boy quotes were flowing in his honor. It’s a shame Chris Farley’s life and career ended so early. We can only imagine what kind of hilarity would have occurred. But at least he got to see his Green Bay Packers win a Super Bowl. Check out the Tonight Show appearance below. Gene Wilder – Milwaukee. The man most of us know as the original movie- version of Willy Wonka and the hilarious young Dr. Frankenstein was born in Milwaukee in 1. His birth name was actually Jerome Silberman, and he picked Gene Wilder as a professional name based on some of his favorite literary influences. Wilder caught the acting bug when a doctor encouraged him to try and make his sick mother laugh. She noticed his talent and sent him away to an acting school in California. Things didn’t go well there. Wilder says he was bullied and assaulted. So he moved back home to Wisconsin and continued acting in local theater. Wilder is also known for his films with comedian Richard Pryor and his relationship with legendary comedienne Gilda Radner. She died of ovarian cancer while the two were married, and Wilder became co- founder of Gilda’s Club – a cancer support group. Kathy Kinney – Stevens Point. This one is no surprise. Kathy Kinney – best known as Mimi from The Drew Carey Show – is most definitely from Wisconsin. It’s not just her good- looks and style though, it’s that trademark, biting sarcasm – which Wisconsin women tend to have. Kinney went to UW Stevens Point before heading off to New York City where she got a job as a secretary at the CBS Television affiliate. Her relationship with her boss was the inspiration for the character of Mimi. She told The Pet Press that she left Wisconsin to seek adventure in the Big Apple. But she never really intended to become an actress. That happened because of a friend who did have acting aspirations. According to Kinney, the friend “didn’t like to do things by herself.”“One time she had to take an improvisation class, so I decided to take it with her. Bob Uecker – Milwaukee. Bob Uecker is a Wisconsin treasure. We know him best as the radio voice of the Milwaukee Brewers. He’s been calling games since 1. Uecker also played for the Milwaukee Braves during his not- so- stellar Major League career. But he follows in the footsteps of baseball- great Casey Stengel. Neither were outstanding players, yet their senses of humor are top- knotch. Uecker got the nickname “Mr. Baseball” from none other than Johnny Carson. His acting career had him starring as George Owens in the 1. Mr. Belvedere, and he played a hilarious play- by- play broadcaster in the Major League movies. There’s a bronze statue of Uecker outside Miller Park, and he’s already in the National Radio Hall of Fame. But his “greatest honor” might be the fact that he’s been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for his appearances in Wrestlemania III and IV. Frank Caliendo – Waukesha. Frank Caliendo was born in Chicago, but grew up in Waukesha and went to the University of Milwaukee. Caliendo started out working comedy clubs in Milwaukee and quickly became known for his impressions. He found fame after becoming a cast member on FOX’s MADtv sketch comedy show and later was a popular comedic commentator for FOX’s NFL Sunday. Of course, one of his most popular impressions is retired sportscaster Jon Madden, who Caliendo likes to portray as having an undying love for former Packers’ quarterback Brett Favre. Here’s a quick taste. Jessica Szohr – Menomonee Falls. Jessic Szohr of Gossip Girl fame calls her hometown of Menomonee Falls a “family- oriented small town.”She started modeling at just six years old. That included print ads for Wisconsin’s own Kohl’s department store, which is based in her hometown. She was also a cheerleader and student council member in high school. On Gossip Girl, Szohr played the role of Vanessa Abrams. Jessica describes the character, who is an independent filmmaker, as a “badass girl from Brooklyn” who doesn’t exactly fit in with the other wealthy kids. However, the author of the books the show is based on says the character was ruined on television. Vanessa was apparently more goth and less Bohemian hippie in the books. Jessica Szohr made People magazine’s list of “Most Beautiful People” in 2. And you can catch her in the upcoming Vince Vaughn/Owen Wilson comedy, The Internship. Richard Riehle – Menomonee Falls. He probably won’t ever make People magazine’s list of beautiful people, but he’s also from Menomonee Falls.
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