20 Of Our Favorite Celebrities From Arizona
The southwestern state of Arizona is known for its desert climate and the Grand Canyon. It shares the Four Corners location where the state borders Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. It’s the place where many go to retire and live out their golden years. It’s also the state where many celebrities were born and spent their formative years.
1. Barry Goldwater
Politician and Air Force Officer Barry Goldwater was born January 2, 1909 and grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. Goldwater fought in World War II and became a politician after the war. He was elected to the United States Senate representing Arizona in 1952 and served until 1987, Goldwater was the Republican nominee for United States President in 1964. The conservative Republican became a Libertarian during the later years of his life. Goldwater supported causes including allowing homosexuals into the military, environmental issues, abortion rights, and legalized medical marijuana.
2. Emma Stone
Actress Emma Stone was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona. The Oscar and Golden Globe winning actress wanted to act at the age of four years old. She worked in theater and improvisational groups throughout her childhood and teenage years. In 2000 Emma performed in The Wind and the Willows. In 2004 she moved to Los Angeles and landed a part in the reality show In Search of the Partridge Family. She’s starred in The House Bunny, Zombieland, Easy A, The Help, The Amazing Spiderman and its sequel, The Croods, Birdman, LaLaLand, and Cruella. Stone has appeared on Broadway including her role as Sally Bowles in Cabaret.
3. Stevie Nicks
Singer, songwriter, and producer Stevie Nicks grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. She began writing and singing music with her high school classmate Lindsey Buckingham. They wrote psychedelic rock music and sang with perfect harmony. They joined the band After Fritz in 1967 and later joined the band Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood Mac included Mick Fleetwood, John and Christine McVie, Jeremy Spencer, and Peter Green. They would become one of the most successful bands during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Their hits include Rumours, Dreams, and Tusk. Nicks went on to have several popular collaborative songs including Whenever I Call You Friend and Leather and Lace.
4. Joe Jonas
Singer, songwriter, and actor Joe Jonas grew up in Casa Grande. In 2006 Joe and his brothers Nick and Kevin formed the band The Jonas Brothers and released their first album. Joe was the lead singer of the band. Joe and his brothers appeared in the Disney Channel’s Camp Rock and The Final Jam. They also starred in the series Jonas Brothers: Living the Dream and Jonas. Joe also starred in Baz Luhmann’s Broadway hit La Bohème. Joe formed the band DNCE whose hit song Cake By the Ocean topped charts. He is married to The Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner and they have one child and are expecting a second child.
5. Barbara Eden
Barbara Eden was born on August 23, 1931 in Tucson, Arizona. Growing up she sang in her church choir and later in local bands. She had roles in episodes of several television series through the 1950’s and got a contract with Twentieth Century Fox. In 1965 she was cast as Jeannie in Sidney Sheldon’s television series I Love Jeannie. Later, Eden starred in the television series Harper Valley PTA. She appeared in several episodes of Dallas with her I Dream of Jeannie co-star Larry Hagman. Eden appeared in theater in Same Time, Next Year with Wayne Rogers and in Last of the Red Hot Lovers with Don Knotts. Eden published a memoir, Jeannie Out of the Bottle.
6. Lynda Carter
Actress Lynda Carter was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She graduated from Arizona State University, and in 1972, won Most Talented in the state’s beauty contest. In 1975 Carter played Diane Price in thee television series Wonder Woman which was based on the 1941 DC Comic. She appeared as a guest in several television shows through the 198’s and 1990’s. Carter was married to Robert Altman who passed away in 2021. They had two children together.
7. Ty Murray
Professional Rodeo performer Ty Murray was born on October 11, 1969 and grew up in Phoenix. He won nine rodeo world championships during from the 1980’s through the early 2000’s. He was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs. Murray, whose father competed in rodeos, rode his first bull when he was just nine years old. He began competing when he was thirteen. Murray graduated from Odessa College in Texas. His pro rodeo career included bareback riding, bronc and bull riding. Murray was married to singer Jewel. The two divorced. He’s currently married to Paige Duke.
8. Mare Winingham
Actress Mare Winningham was born and grew up in Phoenix. Her breakout role was Wendy in St. Elmo’s Fire. She starred in several other movies including Turner and Hooch and Mildred Pierce. She appeared in the television series Hatfield and McCoys in 2012. Winningham appeared in the Off Broadway production of 10 Million Miles and in the Broadway production of Picnic and Casa Valentina. Winningham recently married actor Anthony Edwards.
9. Dirks Bentley
Country music singer Dirks Bentley was born and grew up in Phoenix. He signed with Capitol Nashville Records and released his debut album that year. Bentley has released ten studio albums including the 2020 hit album recorded with Hot Country Knights. Twenty-five of Bentley’s singles have hit the Hot Country Songs and Country Air Play charts. Bentley has toured regularly since 2006 including tours with Kenny Chesney and Brad Paisley. Bentley graduated from Vanderbillt University. He has a private pilot’s license. Bentley is married to Cassidy Black and they have three children.
10. Cindy McCain
Senator John McCain’s widow Cindy McCain was born ion May 20, 1954 in Phoenix and has lived there most of her life. Cindy McCain graduated from the University of Southern California with Bachelor of Arts and Master’s degrees and worked as a Special Education Teacher. In 1980, Cindy married John McCain who was a Vietnam Prisoner of War and served in the United States Congress and Senate. He ran for President as well. The couple have four children together. Cindy McCain founded the non-profit group American Voluntary Medical Team in 1988. In 2000 she inherited her father’s position as Chair of Hensley and Company, a major beer distributor. Cindy currently sits on the boards of Operation Smile, Eastern Congo Initiative, CARE, and HALO Trust. Cindy was appointed by President Biden as the US Ambassador to the United Nations Agency for Food and Agriculture.
11. Hailey Bieber
Hailey Baldwin, daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin, was born and grew up in Tucson and New York City. She worked with New York City’s American Ballet Theater as a teenager and signed with Ford Models. Hailey worked as a model for Guess, Ralph Lauren, and Tommy Hilfiger. She later signed with IMG Models and walked the runway for Top Shop. Hailey modeled for the clothing brand French Connection. She appeared in advertisements for Vogue, Glamour, H & M, Self Magazine, Ugg, and Levi Jeans. Hailey married singer Justin Bieber in 2018.
12. Aidy Bryant
Actress Aidy Bryant was born and grew up in Phoenix. She was drawn to theater in middle school. She later studied improvisational comedy at Chicago’s renowned Second City. Lorne Michaels discovered Bryant and offered her to join NBC’s Saturday Night Live in 2012. Since, Bryant has become a major player on the late night sketch comedy show. In 2017 Bryant did a voice role for the animated Danger and Ages. From 2019 through 2012 Bryant starred, wrote, and produced the sitcom Shrill which streamed on Hulu. Bryant is married to comedian Connor O’Malley who writes for Seth Meyers.
13 Linda Ronstadt
Singer Linda Ronstadt was born and grew up in Tucson. The rock, country, Latin and light opera singer got achieved her first Grammy nomination in 1971. She went on to win eleven Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, and one Emmy Award. Ronstadt released twenty-five studio albums and several collaborative albums. Growiing up Ronstadt was influenced by Mexican Music. She formed a folk rock band with her brothers when she was fourteen years old. They performed at local coffee houses during the 1960’s. She later performed with the band The Stoney Ponies before becoming a solo artist. Ronstadt toured in 1975 with Jackson Brown and The Eagles. By 1978, Ronstadt was the highest paid singer in rock and pop.
14. Josh McDermitt
Actor Josh McDermitt was born and grew up in Phoenix. McDermitt is most famous for his role in AMC’s The Walking Dead as Eugene Parker, a false scientist who promised to end the zombie pandemic. McDermitt began calling into local Phoenix radio shows as a teenager using different voices. He later was hired as a producer at stations KNLX and KMLE. McDermitt was a semi-finalist on Last Comic Standing. MpcDermitt played a role in the 2009 television movie Rehab for Rejects. He starred in Retired at 35 from 2011 through 2012. McDermitt has appeared on television shows and movies Mad Men, Middle Man, Robot Chicken, The Kids Alright, and Creepshow.
15. Kerri Strug
Gymnast and Olympic champion Kerri Strug was born on November 19,1977 in Tucson. Strug is best remembered for winning in the 1996 Summer Olympics where she was one of what was dubbed the “Magnificent Seven” representing the United States of America at the Games. Strug injured her ankle during a competition but powered through and performed a vault with the injured ankle. The event is most remembered for her coach Béla Károlyi carrying her to the podium to collect her medal. Strug was later inducted into the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, performed in the Ice Capade’s Disney On Ice and served on several student and juvenile offices for the White House and the Treasury Department. Strug was a correspondent for Yahoo! in the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Strug is married to attorney Robert Fischer and they have two children.
16. Savannah Guthrie
Journalist Savannah Guthrie was born in Australia on December 27, 1971 when her father was working there. When she was two years old, her family returned to their native Tucson, Arizona. Guthrie graduated from the University of Arizona and received her law degree from Georgetown University. She worked in a law firm and as a broadcast journalist for AB and NBC affiliated stations. She was a correspondent for Court TV and, in 2007, joined NBC News. In 2012 Guthrie became co-anchor of NBC’s Today Show.
17. Gabrielle Giffords
Retired congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is from Tucson. She graduated from Scripps College and Cornell University. Giffords worked in New York City as a regional economic developer for Price Waterhouse before she was elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2001 and to the state Senate in 2003. Giffords was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 2007 and served until she was forced to retire in 2012 after being shot in an assassination attempt in 2012. Giffords serves as the CEO for El Campo Tire Warehouses and is an advocate for gun control. She is married to astronaut Mark Kelly.
18. Jordan Sparks
Singer, songwriter, and actress Jordan Sparks was born and grew up in the Phoenix area. She is the daughter of professional football player Phillipi Sparks. When she was just 17 years old, she won American Idol’s sixth season. The pop and R & B singer’s debut album included hit singles Tattoo and No Air, a duet with Chris Brown. In 2010 Sparks was in the Broadway musical In the Heights, and in 2012 she appeared in the movie Sparkle. Sparks continues to make music and is a spokesperson for Avon cosmetics. She developed perfumes including Because of You…, Fascinate, and Ambition. Sparks is married to Dana Isaiah, and they have a son.
19. Gabrielle Carteris
Gabrielle Carteris was born and spent her early years in the Scottsdale area. As a child she learned ballet and mime. As a teenager, Carteris acted in ABC Afterschool Specials and later, the soap opera Another World. Carteris appeared in episodes of NYPD Blue, JAG, Touched By An Angle, and voiced a character on King of the Hill. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Lawrence College. Her breakout acting role was as Andrea Zuckerman in the 1990’s hit teen sitcom Beverly Hills 90210. Carteris had a talk show that ran for one season. In 2012 Carteris was elected as Vice President of the Screen Actors guild which represents 100,000 American actors. In 2016 she became President of SAG.
20. Danielle Fishel
Model and actress Danielle Fishel ws born and grew up in Mesa, Arizona. She began her career working in community theater including appearing in The Wizard of Oz and Peter Pan. She appeared as a guest on Full House and Harry and the Hendersons. In 1993 Fishel got the role of teenager Topanga Lawrence on the ABC series Boy Meets World. She reprised her role as an adult in the Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World from 2014 through 2017. Fishel hosted the Style Network’s The Dish and has been a reporter for Pop Sugar and a spokesperson for Nutrisysteem. She is married to pod caster Jensen Karp, and they have two sons.
