20 of Our Favorite Celebrities from Baltimore
The town of Baltimore has been long-known as a place for culture, entertainment, and historical significance. Although our nation’s capital city often overshadows it to the north, Baltimore City is full of life with plenty to offer visitors and its share of sightings on the silver screen. Baltimore was once, as well as currently is, known for its distinct blue crabs and steel.
Unfortunately, due to political and social issues in the city, many positive things about Baltimore are often overlooked. Baltimore was founded on July 30, 1729, by Charles Carroll of Annapolis. He wanted to create a town upon which he could leave his legacy and named it after Lord Baltimore, who permitted him to do so.
The name Baltimore directly translates to “Town of the Great House.” The origins of this name come from John Smith’s 1624 map, which refers to a village as “the great house among the Indians.” This village was later renamed and is now known as Baltimore. Baltimore is home to 621,342 citizens. This makes Baltimore the 20th most populous city in the United States. And now, this post highlights 20 of our favorite celebrities who call Baltimore home, from sports stars to political journalists.
It includes actors, musicians, filmmakers, athletes, and some of the biggest names in journalism. The majority are identifiably African-American, while others are well known worldwide in countries that don’t even border America. Whether they’re born-and-bred Bawlmerese or took residency in Charm City after achieving fame, these celebrities have proven themselves to be among the elite, and they stand as a testament to Baltimore’s place among America’s premier cities.
20. Josh Roenicke (Pro Baseball Player)
Roenicke was born on August 4, 1982. He attended the University of North Carolina before playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Minnesota Twins, and the Colorado Rockies. Roenicke currently pitches for the New York Mets.
19. Martin Rodbell (Chemist)
Rodbell was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on December 1, 1925. He would later attend Johns Hopkins University with interests in French existential literature and biology. Rodbell was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine with Alfred G. Gilman to discover G-proteins.
18. Thomas David Jones (Astronaut)
Jones was born on January 22, 1955, in Baltimore, Maryland. He attended the prestigious Kenwood High School before moving on to the United States Air Force Academy, where he graduated with a degree in Basic Sciences. After graduating, he would attend the University of Arizona to pursue a Doctorate in Planetary Science. He has recorded a mission time of 53 days, 48 minutes in total.
17. Lance Reddick (Actor)
You may recognize Lance Reddick as Cedric Daniels in “The Wire” and Phillip Broyles in “Fringe.” In Baltimore, Maryland, Reddick was born where he attended the prestigious all-boys Catholic school, Calvert Hall College. He later went on to major in filmmaking at Towson University. Reddick’s breakout role came as the Baltimore Police Department spokesman, William Rawls, in “The Wire.” He is currently a regular on “Legends,” alongside friend and fellow Baltimore native Sean Bean.
16. Hasim Rahman (Boxer)
You may recognize Hasim Rahman from his 2001 win against Lennox Lewis to become the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World. Rahman was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on November 7, 1972, where he would later train to become a professional boxer. He is one of only four boxers in history to win a heavyweight world title, defeating the legendary Lennox Lewis.
15. Barry Levinson (Director, Producer)
Barry Levinson is a Jewish American writer and director born in Baltimore, Maryland, on April 6, 1942. Levinson’s interest in film began at 19 when he started creating short films. He would later go on to direct films including “Diner,” “Good Morning, Vietnam,” and “Rain Man.” Levinson also wrote the popular television series “Homicide: Life on the Street.”
14. Greg Puciato (Musician)
You may recognize Greg Puciato from the band The Dillinger Escape Plan. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland but moved to Pennsylvania at a young age after his father got a new job. Puciato grew up learning different instruments, including the guitar, piano, and drums. He continued to pursue music in college before eventually finding his way into The Dillinger Escape Plan.
13. Parker Posey (Actress)
You may recognize Parker Posey from films like “Dazed and Confused” or “Best in Show.” She was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and is the daughter of Mary Cain (née Schmir) and Christopher Posey. The family eventually moved to nearby Sparks, Maryland, where she grew up. Posey’s love of acting began in her childhood when she took part in a community theatre play after a friend of her parents suggested it. She is married to actor key Kyle Labine.
12. Jada Pinkett Smith (Actress)
You may recognize Jada Pinkett Smith from her role as “Fish Mooney” in the Batman series “Gotham.” In addition to acting, she is also a singer and businesswoman. She was born on September 18, 1971, in Baltimore, Maryland. Pinkett Smith had her first breakthrough role in the 1995 film “Menace II Society.”
11. Anna Faris (Actress)
On November 29, 1976, she was born in Baltimore, Maryland, to Karen and Jack Faris. The family eventually moved to Edmonds, Washington. Her parents worked in news publishing and broadcasting, which led Faris to pursue acting at 14. She is best known for her roles in “Scary Movie,” “The Hot Chick,”
10. Nicole Ari Parker (Actress)
Nicole Ari Parker is an actress who was born in Baltimore. You may recognize her from her work on “Soul Food” or “The Playboy Club.” She also received critical praise for her role in “Barbershop 2: Back in Business” alongside Ice Cube and Eve. Parker has been married to actor Boris Kodjoe since 2005.
9. Ric Ocasek (Musician)
Most people recognize Ric Ocasek as the lead singer of The Cars. However, many are surprised to find out that The Cars are initially from Baltimore. Ric and keyboardist Ben Orr formed the group at the University of Maryland, where they would become the most influential new wave band of the 1980s. The group’s most popular hits include “Just What I Needed” and “Bye Bye Love.” and “Brokeback Mountain.”
8. Michael Phelps (Athlete)
Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian, is originally from Baltimore. You probably know this, but there is much more to the story. Phelps started swimming at seven years old and continued with middle school. He ended up attending Towson High School, where he was named “Swimming World’s High School Swimmer of the Year” in 2000. Phelps is s of 2022 worth an estimated $80 million.
7. Kevin Chamberlin (Actor)
You may recognize Kevin Chamberlin from his work in “Seussical” and “The Addams Family” as Uncle Fester. This actor started as a boy soprano in Baltimore’s Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. After graduating from high school, he made the switch to acting and even worked with the Baltimore Opera Company before making it big in New York. Chamberlin also appeared in Disney’s “Pixel Perfect” alongside Brittany Murphy.
6. Anna Saccone-Joly (YouTube Star)
Interestingly, you may not know about Anna Saccone-Joly because she was born in Baltimore. Anna is one half of the YouTube couple that runs “Joly” and her husband, Jonathan Joly. They are both currently raising two kids together in London. The vlogging couple’s most popular video is about dealing with a pregnant wife. Saccone-Joly’s husband Jonathan is also from Baltimore, born at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
5. Babe Ruth (Baseball Player)
Babe Ruth was a professional baseball player for those of you who don’t know. That part may be evident to some, but there is much more to this story. George Herman Ruth, Jr. was born in 1895 in Baltimore, and his father owned a local saloon. Ruth worked in his father’s bar before playing professional baseball. He would eventually become one of the greatest athletes with 714 home runs. Babe Ruth was so famous that the New York Yankees stadium was named after him.
4. Sierra Capri (Actress)
Baltimore native Sierra Capri is making a name for herself as an actress and model. She grew up in Northern Baltimore County, taking dance classes at Towson Dance Academy. She is most known for her roles in On My Block, American Skin, and Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising. Capri was recently on the cover of Cosmopolitan Philippines, which also featured an interview about her acting career. Capri also made headlines for having a passionate make-out session with Paris Jackson on the red carpet of the 2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards.
3. Penn Badgley (Actor)
Although he was born in Baltimore, Penn Badgley moved to New York City. As an actor, Badgley received critical praise for his role in “Easy A” alongside Emma Stone. His other notable credits include the television series “Gossip Girl” and “Margin Call.” Badgley is now forging his path with a music career. He has released several singles and covers under “Mister Badgley.”
2. David Hasselhoff (Actor)
Before David Hasselhoff patrolled the waters in “Baywatch,” he played Dr. Snapper Foster on the primetime soap opera “The Young and the Restless.” Hasselhoff was born in Baltimore, Md., and attended Washington College, where he studied business. He began his career as a singer and actor in Germany, becoming a pop sensation. Hasselhoff is enjoying a successful career as an actor and talent show judge. He was also the voice of Lightning McQueen in Disney-Pixar’s “Cars.”
1. Julie Bowen (Actress)
Remember when Claire Dunphy (Julie Bowen) was pregnant and crapped her pants in an episode of “Modern Family?” She probably didn’t realize at the time that it would be a part of pop culture history, and neither did we, but Bowen is from Baltimore. The “Modern Family” star spent her formative years attending Brown University. At age eight, she started appearing in TV commercials and even had a small role in the 1990 film “Fried Green Tomatoes.” Bowen’s character shouted, “Nice tits!” to Mary-Louise Parker’s character before being chased away by Jessica Tandy. Most recently, Bowen took home the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her work in “Modern Family.”
Why Baltimore is called “Charm City?”
Baltimore received the nickname “Charm City” due to an ad campaign in the 1970s which was titled as such. This campaign aimed to improve the city’s image and promote tourism by highlighting its history and attractions. The American iteration of these ads used picturesque harbor images and historical buildings to help promote Baltimore.
Does Baltimore have a professional baseball team?
Yes! The Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball play in Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
What is the official bird of Baltimore?
Baltimore’s official bird is the oriole (Icterus galbula). The oriole is native to the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
What is Baltimore’s official flower?
Baltimore’s official flower is the black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta). Rudbeckia means “little red hat” in honor of Swedish botanist Olaus Rudbeck who discovered it in the New World in 1654.
What is Baltimore’s official tree?
Baltimore’s official tree is the white oak (Quercus alba). White oaks are known for their spreading canopy and deep taproots, which allow them to withstand strong wind gusts. These trees were once used in shipbuilding because they grow incredibly tall with wide trunks.
What are Baltimore’s two nicknames?
The two nicknames for Baltimore are “Charm City” and “Mob Town.” Despite the negative connotation which Mob Town has, it was coined by a journalist in 1971. There were many mobsters in the city, which led to an increase in crime rates. However, Baltimoreans have embraced this nickname and declared it a badge of honor.
How many attractions does Baltimore have?
There are many places of interest in Baltimore, such as Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine, Fort Carroll, The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, National Aquarium in Baltimore, and the Oriole Park at Camden yards.
What does “Mobtown” mean?
“Mobtown” is another nickname for Baltimore, given because of its high crime rates during the Mob era. The term seemed to have emerged around 1971.
Where is Baltimore located?
Baltimore is located right on the Patapsco River between Washington D.C. and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is about an hour away from New York City as well!
What are some fun facts about Baltimore?
Some fun facts about Baltimore include that it was once home to Edgar Allan Poe’s famous poem, “The Raven.” Baltimore is also home to the first professional baseball team, Baltimore Orioles. Lastly, it is known for being the birthplace of Babe Ruth.
Conclusion
Baltimore, Maryland, has produced some of the most well-known actors, directors, and athletes in history. With Baltimore natives like Barry Levinson and Lance Reddick making their mark on television screens worldwide, it’s no wonder that people continue to flock to the area. Whether you’re looking for a place to escape or enjoy writing about celebrities, Baltimore has a little bit of everything for everyone.
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