Famous People From Oklahoma & Celebs Born In Oklahoma.

Oklahoma is a state rich in culture and diversity. Having derived its name from the Choctaw word which literally translates to ‘red people’, Oklahoma is often referred to as ‘The Land of the Red’ and ‘Native America’. Oklahoma is home to various European languages and over 23 Native American languages and is also commonly known as ‘The Sooner State’. The geographical terrain of the lands in Oklahoma comprises of The Great Plains, Cross Timbers and Interior Highlands which often result in extreme weather conditions. Many globally famous people are born in Oklahoma and proudly call it their home. Great musicians such as Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Gareth Brooks and Toby Keith, were all born in the state of Oklahoma. The state has also produced some mind-blowing actors such as the Academy Award winning actor Brad Pitt, the popular and versatile Chuck Norris, and award winning director Ron Howard. Oklahoma has also been responsible for creating some talented athletes and sportsmen such as baseball player Matt Kemp, basketball star Blake Griffin and professional wrestler Bill Goldberg. You will be quite surprised by the complete list of celebrities who are from Oklahoma.

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Brad Pitt

(American Actor Who is Known for His Good Looks and for His Portrayal of Unconventional Characters)

Birthdate: December 18, 1963

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Counted among the most influential and powerful people in the American entertainment industry, Brad Pitt is an actor and film producer who has appeared in many big-budget productions. He was cited as the world’s most attractive man for several years. He is also involved in various philanthropic and humanitarian endeavors.

Chuck Norris

(Martial Artist and Actor Best Known for His Action Movies)

Birthdate: March 10, 1940

Sun Sign: Pisces

A black belt in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu jitsu and Judo, Chuck Norris is an American martial artist, screenwriter and a popular action film star. He has won many martial arts championships. He later founded his own discipline, Chun Kuk Do. He has also written books on martial arts, philosophy, politics, Christianity, plus Western novels and biography.

Ron Howard

(Director, Producer and Former Child Actor)

Birthdate: March 1, 1954

Sun Sign: Pisces

Ron Howard started his career in the show business as an actor, but it was in direction that he found his true calling. He is highly respected for his craft and films like Solo: A Star Wars Story, Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind. He won the Academy Award for the Best Director for A Breautiful Mind.

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Reba McEntire

(One of the Most Popular Female Country Vocal Artists of the Late 20th Century)

Birthdate: March 28, 1955

Sun Sign: Aries

The Queen of Country Reba McEntire initially performed with the family band the Singing McEntires. She was discovered by Red Steagall and has since delivered 24 number one singles and 16 number one albums. She has won 12 American Music Awards for Favorite Country Female Artist, the highest to date.

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Bill Goldberg

(Four-time World Champion in His Professional Wrestling Career (WWE & WCW))

Birthdate: December 27, 1966

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Professional wrestler and former football player. Bill Goldberg, is currently signed to WWE on a part-time deal. A very popular figure in the late 1990s/early 2000s, he has wrestled for many promotions and is best known for his stint with World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Also an actor, he has appeared in numerous films and TV shows.

Troyal Garth Brooks

(Only Best-Selling Music Artist in History to have Nine Albums That Achieved Diamond Status in the US)

Birthdate: February 7, 1962

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Troyal Garth Brooks is an American singer-songwriter. Having sold over 170 million records worldwide, Brooks is one of the best-selling musicians in the world. He is also the best-selling solo albums musician in the US. Also known for his charitable activities, Garth Brooks established the Teammates for Kids Foundation in 1999, which provides financial support to charities for kids.

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Jim Thorpe

(American Athlete and Olympic Gold Medalist)

Birthdate: May 28, 1887

Sun Sign: Gemini

Died: March 28, 1953

Jim Thorpe was an American athlete who was counted among the most versatile athletes of the modern era. Jim Thorpe won two gold medals at the 1912 Olympics and became the first Native American to give the United States an Olympic gold. He also played American football, professional baseball, and basketball. He was memorialized in the 1951 film Jim Thorpe – All-American.

Olivia Munn

(Actress)

Birthdate: July 3, 1980

Sun Sign: Cancer

Height: 5'4" (163 cm)

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Mickey Mantle

(One of the Greatest Switch Hitters in Baseball History)

Birthdate: October 20, 1931

Sun Sign: Libra

Died: August 13, 1995

Professional baseball player Mickey Mantle played his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees. He played as a center fielder, right fielder, and first baseman. Regarded by many as the greatest switch hitter in baseball history, he won the Triple Crown in 1956 and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.

Birthdate: June 18, 1976

Sun Sign: Gemini

A nine-time Grammy Award nominee, Blake Shelton is a popular American country music singer. Described as one of the biggest stars of country music over the past decade, Blake Shelton was made an Oklahoma Hall of Fame inductee in 2014. Prominent singer-songwriters, such as Sheryl Crow, have named Blake as their inspiration. Blake Shelton is also a well-known philanthropist.

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Birthdate: September 18, 1973

Sun Sign: Virgo

James Marsden is an American former model, actor, and singer. His portrayal of Cyclops in the X-Men superhero film series played a major role in the overall success of the franchise. Refusing to fall prey to stereotypes, James Marsden transitioned to comedy films before working in independent films. He has also had a successful career in music.

Birthdate: March 29, 1918

Sun Sign: Aries

Died: April 5, 1992

Sam Walton, founder of the retail chain Walmart and Sam's Club, was the richest man in the U.S. at one point. He made Walmart the world’s largest private employer. One of Time’s 100 most influential people of the 20th Century, he had also earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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Birthdate: March 10, 1983

Sun Sign: Pisces

Carrie Underwood is an American singer-songwriter and one of the best female country music singers of all time. Dubbed Country Music's reigning Queen, Underwood has influenced several other singers, such as Kelsea Ballerini, Lucy Hale, Lauren Alaina, Mollie King, and Danielle Bradbery. In 2014, she was named on Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people in the world.

Birthdate: July 24, 1968

Sun Sign: Leo

Kristin Chenoweth studied opera before stepping into musical theater. The Emmy- and Tony-winner has worked in Broadway plays and is mostly known for her character roles in movies. The Pushing Daisies actor had her own sitcom, has written a memoir, has done voice roles, and has released an album, too.

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Bill Hader

(Best Known for His Work as a Cast Member on 'Saturday Night Live')

Birthdate: June 7, 1978

Sun Sign: Gemini

Bill Hader is an American actor and comedian. He is credited with creating the popular HBO series Barry. A product of Saturday Night Live, Bill Hader's journey from being a below-average student at school to becoming a popular personality in the American film and TV industry continues to serve as an inspiration to many.

Vince Gill

(Country Music Singer, Songwriter and Musician)

Birthdate: April 12, 1957

Sun Sign: Aries

Vince Gill is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. He currently holds the record for the most number of Grammy Awards won by a male country music artist with 22 awards under his belt. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007. Vince Gill also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

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Birthdate: July 14, 1912

Sun Sign: Cancer

Died: October 3, 1967

Legendary folk singer Woody Guthrie is best remembered for his songs such as This Land Is Your Land and Cocaine Blues, and the concept album Dust Bowl Ballads. He inspired artists such as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, and performed with a guitar labeled “This machine kills fascists.”

James Garner

(Actor and Producer Best Known for His Role as ‘Bret Maverick’ in the Western ABC Series ‘Maverick’)

Birthdate: April 7, 1928

Sun Sign: Aries

Died: July 19, 2014

James Garner was an American actor and producer. He is credited with mentoring fellow actor and producer Tom Selleck. He is also credited with helping celebrities like Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood establish themselves in the film industry. He was also an avid golfer and racing enthusiast; he owned the American International Racers racing team for a couple of years.

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Birthdate: September 1, 1950

Sun Sign: Virgo

Phil McGraw, or Dr. Phil, is a well-known psychologist and TV personality. He gained fame with his frequent appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show and then launched his advice show Dr. Phil. He owns the charity Dr. Phil Foundation and has a “star” on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Blake Griffin

(American Professional Basketball Player Who Plays as a Power Forward)

Birthdate: March 16, 1989

Sun Sign: Pisces

Six-time NBA All-Star Detroit Pistons power forward Blake Griffin began his career playing for the Oklahoma Sooners, becoming the Consensus National Player of the Year. He was then drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers and won the Rookie of the Year award and the Slam Dunk Contest in 2011.

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Rue McClanahan

(Actress and Comedian Best Known for Her Role as Blanche Devereaux on TV Sitcom ‘The Golden Girls’)

Birthdate: February 21, 1934

Sun Sign: Pisces

Died: June 3, 2010

Rue McClanahan was an actress and comedian. Apart from being an actress, McClanahan was also an animal welfare advocate and one of the first celebrity patrons of the popular animal rights organization, PETA. She also supported nonprofit organizations, such as Alley Cat Allies. A woman ahead of her time, Rue McClanahan was a supporter of same-sex marriage and gay rights.

Stephen Hillenburg

(American Creator of the Nickelodeon Animated TV Series ‘Spongebob Squarepants')

Birthdate: August 21, 1961

Sun Sign: Leo

Died: November 26, 2018

Stephen Hillenburg is best known as the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants, the fifth-longest-running animated series in the U.S, which earned him two Emmys and six Annie Awards. He was initially a marine biologist and an instructor at the Orange County Marine Institute. He died of ALS, a neurodegenerative disease.

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Lee Pace

(Actor Known for His TV Series ‘Pushing Daisies’ and Films: ‘Soldier's Girl’ and ‘The Good Shepherd’)

Birthdate: March 25, 1979

Sun Sign: Aries

Lee Pace is best known for his Emmy-nominated role in Pushing Daisies and his Golden Globe-nominated performance in Soldier's Girl. Fans also loved him as Garrett in the Twilight franchise and as Thranduil in The Hobbit trilogy. The queer actor has won the Berlinale Silver Bear for The Good Shepherd.

Birthdate: March 2, 1919

Sun Sign: Pisces

Died: December 17, 2009

Jennifer Jones is best remembered for her Academy Award- and Golden Globe-winning role in the film The Song of Bernadette. A former model, she also starred in movies such as Love Letters and Duel in the Sun. She survived a suicide attempt once and became a mental health advocate later.

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Blake Edwards

(American Film Director, Producer and Screenwriter)

Birthdate: July 26, 1922

Sun Sign: Leo

Died: December 15, 2010

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

Birthdate: June 10, 1963

Sun Sign: Gemini

Jeanne Tripplehorn is an American actress who started her acting career in theatre. Despite having a difficult childhood, which involved the legal separation of her parents at the age of two, Tripplehorn went on to attend the Juilliard School. She later played an important role in the success of TV series, such as Big Love and Criminal Minds.

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Alfre Woodard

(Best Known for Her Roles in the Films ‘Annabelle’ and the Remake of ‘The Lion King’)

Birthdate: November 8, 1952

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Alfre Woodard is an American actress. Considered one of the most accomplished and versatile actresses of her generation, Woodard was named in The New York Times' The 25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century list in 2020. Also a political activist, Woodard is credited with founding Artists for a New South Africa, which aims at advancing equality in South Africa.

B. J. Thomas

(Singer)

Birthdate: August 7, 1942

Sun Sign: Leo

Died: May 29, 2021

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Ree Drummond

(American Blogger, Author and Television Personality)

Birthdate: January 6, 1969

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Ree Drummond is an American author, blogger, food writer, television personality, and photographer. In 2010, she was named in Forbes magazine's Top 25 Web Celebrities list. Riding on the success of her blog The Pioneer Woman, which was adjudged Weblog of the Year for three consecutive years at the Weblog Awards, Drummond went on to present her own television program.

Chet Baker

(Trumpeter and Vocalist Known for Major Innovations in 'Cool Jazz')

Birthdate: December 23, 1929

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Died: May 13, 1988

Chet Baker was an American vocalist and jazz trumpeter. He achieved recognition during the 1950s and his innovations within cool jazz, a style of modern jazz music, earned him the nickname prince of cool. However, his drug addiction overshadowed much of his professional achievements. His life and work inspired the 2015 drama film Born to Be Blue.

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Johnny Bench

(Baseball player)

Birthdate: December 7, 1947

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

Toby Keith

(Country Music Singer Known for His Rousing Anthems to the U.S. Soldiers Serving in the Middle East)

Birthdate: July 8, 1961

Sun Sign: Cancer

Toby Keith is a record producer, country music singer, songwriter, and actor. He is credited with founding a record label named Show Dog Nashville which was renamed Show Dog-Universal Music in 2009 after merging with Universal South Records. Also a philanthropist, Keith supports many non-profit organizations like Ally's House. In 2021, he was honored with the National Medal of Arts.

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Vera Miles

(Retired Actress Best Known for Her Role as ‘Lila Crane’ in the Film ‘Psycho’ and ‘Psycho II’)

Birthdate: August 23, 1929

Sun Sign: Virgo

Retired actress Vera Miles is best known for her role in the classic 1960 film Psycho and its sequel. Crowned Miss Kansas in 1948, she ended up becoming the third runner-up in the Miss America contest. She started acting soon after and formed a close professional relationship with Alfred Hitchcock, appearing in many of his films.

Wes Welker

(American Football player)

Birthdate: May 1, 1981

Sun Sign: Taurus

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

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Ryan Tedder

(Singer-songwriter)

Birthdate: June 26, 1979

Sun Sign: Cancer

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

Birthdate: November 4, 1879

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Died: August 15, 1935

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St. Vincent

(Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who was a member of the Polyphonic Spree as well as a collaborator with Andrew Bird, Arcade Fire, and Kid Cudi)

Birthdate: September 28, 1982

Sun Sign: Libra

Johny Hendricks

(American Former Mixed Martial Artist)

Birthdate: September 12, 1983

Sun Sign: Virgo

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

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Tim Blake Nelson

(Actor)

Birthdate: May 11, 1964

Sun Sign: Taurus

Height: 5'5" (165 cm)

Ben Johnson

(Canadian Sprinter Who was the World's 'Fastest Man' During the 1987-88 Season)

Birthdate: December 30, 1961

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Ben Johnson is a Canadian retired sprinter who was adjudged the world's fastest man during the 1987–88 season after he broke the 60m and 100m indoor world records. He is best known for his performance in the 1984 Olympic Games, where he won two bronze medals. Ben Johnson also won a gold medal at the 1985 World Indoor Championships.

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Birthdate: February 26, 1920

Sun Sign: Pisces

Died: May 17, 2004

Tony Randall is best remembered as Felix Unger from the sitcom The Odd Couple, based on the 1965 play of the same name, also winning an Emmy for the role. He also appeared in series such as Love, Sidney and delivered Golden Globe-nominated roles in films such as Pillow Talk.

Wes Studi

(Actor)

Birthdate: December 17, 1947

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

Hoda Kotb

(Journalist and Co-Anchor of The NBC Show 'Today')

Birthdate: August 9, 1964

Sun Sign: Leo

Egyptian-American TV journalist Hoda Kotb is best known as the co-host of the shows NBC Morning Show, Dateline NBC, Today. Named to Time 100, she has also authored several books, including a bestselling autobiography. A breast cancer survivor, she now also works to raise awareness about the disease.

Leon Russell

(American Musician and Singer-Songwriter)

Birthdate: April 2, 1942

Sun Sign: Aries

Died: November 13, 2016

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

Cleavon Little

(Known for His Role as ‘Dr. Jerry Noland’ in the TV Series ‘Temperatures Rising’)

Birthdate: June 1, 1939

Sun Sign: Gemini

Died: October 22, 1992

Cleavon Little was an American actor best known for his performance in a musical titled Purlie, for which he received a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award. Also known for his work in TV, Little received a Primetime Emmy Award in 1989 for appearing in one of the episodes of the NBC sitcom Dear John.

Birthdate: March 9, 1965

Sun Sign: Pisces

Brian Bosworth is an American actor known for playing important roles in films like Stone Cold and One Man's Justice. A former football player, Bosworth played for the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. Renowned for making controversial comments and his flamboyant personality, Brian Bosworth discusses his internal conflict in a documentary film titled Brian and The Boz.

Huda Kattan

(American Makeup Artist, Beauty Blogger and YouTuber)

Birthdate: October 2, 1983

Sun Sign: Libra

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Sam Bradford

(American football player)

Birthdate: November 8, 1987

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Height: 6'4" (193 cm)

Rance Howard

(Actor)