Louisiana is known for a lot of things: food, festivals, zydeco, and Cajun music. However, this state introduced the world to great actors, actresses, theater and film directors. What's more, hundreds of movies have been filmed in the great state of Louisiana.
What's more, New Orleans isn't the only city in Luiana with famous residents. Believe it or not, SWLA is also home to some of Hollywood's biggest names. Below, take a look at famous people from Lake Charles that you probably don't know about.
1.) Zachary Levi
Shazam! Zachary Levi is from Lake Charles, Louisiana. Yeah! He was born Zachary Levi Pugh on September 29, 1980 and uses his middle name as his stage name as his real name is “Pugh”. (Pronounced “pew.”) When Zachary was six years old, he began acting, singing, and dancing in school and local theater performances.
After graduating from Buena High School, he aspired to become an actor. Zachary began playing roles in regional theater productions such as “Grease,'' “The Wizard of Oz,'' “The Outsiders,'' “Oliver,'' and “Big River.'' Ironically, he gained Hollywood attention after playing Jesus in Godspell of Ojai. The rest, as they say, is history!
The Shazams appeared in various films and series on television, including The Big Shot: Confessions of a Campus Bookmaker (2002) and Less Than Perfect (2002).
He appeared in the WB television movie She Jane Date (2003) with Charisma Carpenter, Holly Marie Combs, Linda Dano, and Rachelle Lefebvre. In his free time, Zachary enjoys skateboarding, snowboarding, skydiving, and various other sports. After living in Los Angeles for the better part of a decade, he recently moved to Austin, Texas.
In 2019, he starred in the action comedy film “Shazam!” (2019), in which he plays the titular superhero. An older version of the magically created teenager Billy Batson, played by Asher Angel. The film and his comic hero performance received positive reviews.
2.) Matte Forte
A graduate of Tulane University, he spent 10 seasons in the NFL. Forte was drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bears in 2008. The former pitcher from Lake Charles is one of only three players on the “1,000-yard rushing, 100-catch season'' club. He spent eight seasons with the Bears and then played two seasons with the New York Jets before his retirement.
Forte further developed his acting skills and is known for his performances in the hit TV series “Chicago Fire” (2012), “The League” (2009), and “My Time” (2020).
3.) Travis Quentin Young
A music major, Travis graduated from McNeese State University and continued his formal musical training at Berklee College before finding great success in Hollywood. His career took off when he was cast in The Replacement Child (2007).
Travis has significant talent. The singer/songwriter/musician/actor has appeared on ABC Family's Teen Spirit (2011), Lifetime's Devious Maze (2013), Automatic Hate (2015), and HBO. He has appeared in several films and television series, including Vinyl (2016). He has also done voice acting work in films such as Happy Feet (2006), There Will Be Blood (2007), and No Country for Old Men (2007).
Travis Young won the Outstanding Actor Award at the Winnipeg International Film Festival and the Best Actor Award at the Barbados International Film Festival. By the way, my man likes to get down with the blues in his off time. Travis plays mean guitar!
4.) Lucinda Williams
Lucinda Williams is a singer/songwriter/guitarist/actress from Lake Charles. She has a discography of 16 albums under her belt. Lucinda released her first album Ramblin' on My Mind in 1979 and has enjoyed her successful music career ever since.
She is a three-time Grammy Award-winning artist who still dominates in her art more than 40 years later. This year, she released her new LP, Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart, and she is currently touring the world in support of her new project.
lucindawilliams.com
This Lake City songstress is a musical superstar, trained to the bone. But just like the guys, she's a jack of all trades and a great actress as well. Lucinda has also appeared in a number of blockbuster films, including X-Men (2000), Wild (2014), and Transamerica (2005).
5.) Jared Bankens
Jared Bankens is an actor and producer born in Westlake, Los Angeles, where his love for theater and film grew straight up. From his early childhood, Bankens showed an interest in art and acting. While he was in high school, he also appeared in theater productions. Born in 1987, Bankens is only 35 years old, but he has made a name for himself in Hollywood and has an extensive career in the film industry.
His acting career includes films such as Venom, The Purge, Roots, Dark Places, The Haunted, Mississippi Grind, 2015's Brothers Keeper, Perfect Date, Inherit the Viper, and Looking for Alaska. He has starred in blockbuster movies and has been incredibly successful. Peripherals, just to name a few.
His latest project, a long-awaited television series starring fellow Louisiana man Mr. Martin, is scheduled to premiere on Peacock on July 27th. anthony mackie. The Bankens are set to star in the highly anticipated American post-apocalyptic action comedy television series based on the iconic video game Twisted Metal.
6.) Amy Brassett
Amy is an actress, television host, voice actress, and comedian. She does everything! Brasset was hugely influential in the world of comedy with his amazing range of characters, landing him a job as the iconic King of Comedy, Cedric the Entertainer. Amy was a regular on the FOX sketch comedy series “Cedric the Entertainer Presents!''.
The accomplished actor also starred in the HBO drama series True Detective, co-starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. Amy's talent led her to host the New Orleans dating show My Amazing Cheap Date (12 episodes, 2021-2022). By the way, this is currently available on streaming platforms Apple TV, ROKU, Google Play, and Amazon Fire TV.
This SWLA songstress started her career as a teenage sketch comic and improv performer. At age 19 she moved to LA and auditioned on her self-produced VHS, which included 24 original characters. Today she will introduce more than 50 characters and her impressions. She has voiced characters in the Warner Bros. cartoon “Duck Dodgers'' and the Sony video game “EverQuest 2.''
Amy, who has amazing shape-shifting abilities, was unrecognizable in the horror comedy Smothered (2016) as a white-haired, rotten-toothed, cigar-smoking backwoods psychopath.
7.) Roderick D. Collins
MGM's “Respect” Los Angeles Premiere – Arrivals
A country boy from Lake Charles, Rodrick is making a name for himself in Hollywood and on the big screen. He discovered his love for acting during an elementary school audition and appeared in various theatrical productions. After he served his country in the Marine Corps, he moved to New York to study, pursuing his dream of acting.
“2022 Soul Train Awards” sponsored by BET – Arrival
Working on and off stage in Broadway productions, he honed his skills and received critical acclaim in such famous roles as “General Hannibal Barca'' (Massanissa) and “Bellone'' (Loving the Lost Workers). Rodrick starred as Smokey Robinson in the blockbuster film Respect, co-starring Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Queen Latifah, Mary J. Blige, and Marlon Wayans.
In addition to playing Donald Winthrop in Tyler Perry's soap opera The Oval. The film is available to stream on his BET, FuboTV, and Philo. The sky is the limit and we are keeping an eye on Rodrick!
8.) Dempsey Papion
Dempsey Papion was born in Lake Charles in 1979 and graduated from St. Louis Catholic High School. He is a world-renowned film casting director and also an accomplished actor. He started his acting career in 1999 with his acting role in the television series 'Undressed'. His first leading role was in the movie “Red Sneakers”. Since then, his Hollywood star has really shined.
His most recent work was portraying Reign in Mortal Kombat. He has starred in War of the Worlds (2005), La La Land (2016), The Lorax (2012), Cold Case, NCIS, That's So Raven He is known for his acting and casting director skills in countless television shows, series, and blockbuster films, including: (2003). Dempsey has also appeared in numerous commercial ads for Papa John's Pizza, Taco Bell, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Honda Civic, and T-Mobile, just to name a few.
9.) Choppy Guillot
The Lake Charles native earned his bachelor's degree from McNeese State University, where he studied biology, marketing and theater. Choppy is a famous actor with a resume of stage, various films, and television movies and series. There is no doubt that this MSU Cowboy made his mark in Hollywood.
If you're a movie buff, you'll love the starring roles in Antebellum, Left Behind, Strange Weather, Doom Patro, Leverage: Redemption (2011), First Man (2018), and more. You may have seen him in the movie. His latest film, Mayfair Witches (2023), also approves. Many other.
10.) Taja V. Simpson
Taja V. Simpson
Taja V. Simpson fell in love with acting at the age of seven. She and her cousins watched their favorite shows and played their favorite characters. She graduated from McNeese State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication and Broadcast Journalism. After her college graduation, she moved to Houston, Texas to pursue her acting career and she attended various acting workshops.
Taja's breakout role was as Adele on Soap, The Bold and the Beautiful. Since then, she has starred in everything from the TV movies Grey's Anatomy, NCIA, The Thundermans, KC Undercover, and NCIS: LA to blockbuster films like Soul Man and Lethal Weapon. , has appeared in all sorts of productions.
However, this talented Lake Charles actress is widely known for her role in Tyler Perry's Boo2! She has appeared on BET's latest drama, Priscilla Owen in Perry's “The Oval”.
Taja V. Simpson
Taja is also a film director, with over 40 productions ranging from stage plays to music videos and short films. Next is the TV production. She can be seen in Christopher Nolan's “My Online Valentine'', a Christmas movie, and “London Mitchell's Christmas'' on Amazon. Be sure to check out three additional movies starring Tarja coming soon to stream on Netflix, Amazon, and iTunes.
See more famous people from Lake Charles here
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Gallery credit: Aine Givens
