CLEVELAND (WJW) — The state of Ohio has produced presidents, Oscar winners, music chart toppers, astronauts and best selling authors. But what about Northeast Ohio specifically?
Looking at FOX 8’s coverage area, we set out to mention some of the most famous people to come out of these parts (many of whom you’ll be familiar, but perhaps not all). Some were merely born here before moving along, others grew up here before heading out and a smaller set, stayed around.
Enjoy.
ACTORS
Drew Carey
The comedian and current “The Price is Right” host grew up in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland. He let everyone know just how much Cleveland rocks during his tenure on “The Drew Carey Show.”
Halle Berry
She won an Oscar for “Monster’s Ball,” but is also a graduate of Bedford High School (after being born in Cleveland).
Paul Newman
An icon in every sense, Oscar winner/philanthropist/husband-husband/race car driver Paul Newman grew up in Shaker Heights.
Vanessa Bayer
She made “SNL” funnier during her tenure there from 2010-2017, but got her start growing up in Moreland Hills. She also appeared in “Office Christmas Party” and “Trainwreck.”
Alan Ruck
Finding a recent resurgence on the show “Succession,” the Cleveland-born Parma native is still probably most well-known for his portrayal of Cameron Frye in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
Lili Reinhart
This actress grew up in Bay Village and rose to fame playing Betty Cooper on the CW teen series “Riverdale.”
Ed O’Neill
The dad on “Married… with Children” and “Modern Family” grew up in Youngstown and eventually graduated from Youngstown State University.
Luke Perry
Playing teen heartthrob Dylan McKay on “Beverly Hills, 90210” for the better part of a decade, the actor was born in Mansfield and grew up in Fredericktown. He died in 2019 at age 52.
Molly Shannon
The Shaker Heights native and Hawken School alum is most known for bringing the hilarity on “SNL” but has appeared in plenty of films and TV shows since.
Patricia Heaton
Patricia Heaton and her brother Michael (who’d go on to be a prominent journalist in the area), along with their other siblings, grew up in Bay Village. She was the mom on “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “The Middle.”
Yvette Nicole Brown
The East Cleveland native who later graduated from University of Akron was a bright star on the show “Community.” She was nominated for an Emmy for “A Black Lady Sketch Show.”
Monica Potter
A Euclid High School graduate, this actor got her start at Cleveland Play House. She’s known for her roles in “Patch Adams,” “Saw” and “Con Air.” She was also on the TV show “Parenthood.”
Fred Willard
Character actor Fred Willard, who grew up in Shaker Heights, died in 2020. He was known for his work in multiple Christopher Guest movies and also appeared in many TV shows, including “Roseanne” and “Modern Family.”
Carrie Coon
This actor’s been nominated for an Emmy and a Tony and also grew up in Copley. She later graduated from University of Mount Union in Alliance, before going on to star in cable shows like “Fargo” and “The Leftovers” and “The Gilded Age.” You may have also seen her in the new Ghostbusters movies.
Gates McFadden
She’ll forever be known as Dr. Beverly Crusher from “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and other “Star Trek” entities, but she grew up in Silver Lake after being born in Akron.
Dorothy Dandridge
She was born in Cleveland and grew up performing all over the country. Dandridge was the first African-American to be nominated for a best actress Oscar for her performance in the 1954 film “Carmen Jones.” She died at 42 years old.
MUSICIANS
MGK
He wasn’t born here, but rapper/singer/actor Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly, now MGK) did attend Shaker Heights High School and often speaks highly of Cleveland. He even has a coffee shop in the Flats: 27 Coffee Shop.
Kid Cudi
Another Shaker Heights HS attendee (and Solon High School attendee), Scott Mescudi went on to sell millions of records and won two Grammy Awards. In recent years, he’s gotten into acting.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
There’s no way you don’t know about this old-school hip-hop group, comprised of Layzie Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Bizzy Bone, Krayzie Bone and Wish Bone — they’ve got a street named after them in Cleveland, after all. They started in the city back in 1991.
Chrissie Hynde
Essentially one of the coolest women in rock ‘n’ roll, Chrissie Hynde grew up in Akron and attended Kent State University before hopping across the pond to help found the Pretenders.
Tracy Chapman
A new generation learned about Tracy Chapman after Luke Combs’ recent cover of “Fast Car” took the country charts by storm. She was born and raised in Cleveland before moving east.
DEVO
Time to put on your Energy Dome Hat, we’re here to discuss DEVO. The band formed in Akron in 1973, with ties to Kent State University. Thought of as a joke band by some who didn’t quite get it, the new wave group would go on to have a Top 20 hit in 1980: “Whip It.”
The Black Keys
Is there something in the water in Akron? Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney met at Firestone High School and went on to create one of the most popular rock bands of the 2000s. They now reside in Nashville.
Eric Carmen
Anytime you’re alone and the song “All By Myself” comes to your head, you have Cleveland/Lyndhurst native Eric Carmen to thank. The singer-songwriter, also known for his work with the Raspberries, died in March at age 74.
Ric Ocasek
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted The Cars got somewhat of a start right here in Cleveland. Frontman Ric Ocasek moved to the area with his family at 16 and eventually graduated from Maple Heights High School. He originally met bassist Benjamin Orr in Cleveland, before moving on to Columbus, Ann Arbor and Boston. He died in 2019.
Marilyn Manson
The controversial musician, who has been accused of abuse, was born and raised in Canton and graduated from GlenOak High School.
Dave Grohl
He doesn’t even remember his time being born in Warren, but one of the most famous drummers/frontmen in the world really came into the world in Northeast Ohio before making moves to the West Coast and later musical stardom.
INSANELY FAMOUS ATHLETES
Jesse Owens
One of the world’s great Olympic champions moved to Cleveland when he was 9 years old, going on to meet the love of his life in junior high and graduating from East Tech High School. Owens (whose middle name was Cleveland) was an absolute track and field star at Ohio State University and eventually won four gold medals in Nazi-run Germany in 1936.
Stephen Curry
Sure, he was the bane of Cavs fans’ existence for years, but the truth is, he was born in the same hospital as LeBron James (now called Summa Akron City Hospital) while his father Dell Curry was playing for Cleveland. He is known for his stunning three-pointers and his annoying habit of chewing on his mouthpiece during a game.
LeBron James
His name is LeBron Raymone James and he was born and raised in Akron. He not only is one of the best basketball players of all time; he helped end a decades-long championship drought for Cleveland teams when the Cavaliers won the NBA Championships in 2016. Following that life-changing game, he famously said, “Cleveland, this is for you.”
Jason and Travis Kelce
These brothers are two of the most famous athletes on the planet right now, due to their charismatic nature and excellent skills on the football field (although Jason has recently retired). While they weren’t born in the Cleveland area, they came up in Cleveland Heights and graduated from high school there.
OTHERS
Michael Symon
He’s a famous Iron Chef/TV show host/cookbook author who loves Cleveland. Not because he stumbled upon it or anything, but because he grew up in the area and has worked hard over the decades to help bring the culinary scene here to new heights. Downtown’s Mabel’s BBQ even features Cleveland-style barbeque.
Russo Brothers
Heard of the billion-dollar grossing “Avengers” movies? Brothers Anthony and Joseph Russo directed them and also “Captain America” installations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They grew up in Cleveland, graduating from Benedictine High School.
Bill Watterson
Comic strips may seem simple, but it’s in their simplicity that we learn about ourselves. That’s what we gleaned from “Calvin and Hobbes,” about a 6-year-old and his tiger friend, created by Chagrin Falls’ Bill Watterson. The artist now lives in Cleveland Heights.
Steve Harvey
In recent years, he’s brought the longtime game show “Family Feud” to new hilarity, but the famous standup comedian grew up in Cleveland, eventually graduating from Glenville High School. For a time he attended Kent State University.
Wes Craven
Did you have nightmares after watching films like “Scream” and “Nightmare on Elm Street?” You have director Wes Craven to thank. He was born and raised in Cleveland and died in 2015.
Bob Hope
The consummate entertainer who would go on to have four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, moved to Cleveland with his family from England when he was 4 years old. He was known for hosting the Oscars 19 times, appearing in dozens of films and multiple comedy USO Tours.
James Garfield
He wasn’t in the highest office for long, after being assassinated less than year into his first term, but James Garfield was the 20th president of the United States and he was from Northeast Ohio (born in a log cabin in Moreland Hills and attended Hiram College). There is a memorial to him at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland.
Rich Paul
In recent years he’s gained even more fame for being Adele’s partner, but Rich Paul, who grew up on Cleveland’s east side, is one of the most well-known sports managers in the country. Through his Klutch Sports Group, he has represented the likes of LeBron James, Myles Garrett, Darius Garland and many more.
Toni Morrison
One of the great American authors of all time was born and raised in Lorain, Ohio. Although she passed away in 2019 at age 88, Toni Morrison’s award-winning works like “Song of Solomon” and “Beloved” live on.
