20 of Our Favorite Celebrities from Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is sometimes called the City of Bridges, as it has 446 bridges, which is more than any other city in the world. It is also known as the city of steel, as the steel industry plays a huge role in the city’s economy, and there are more than 200 steel-related cities. Pittsburgh is also the birthplace of many famous people. Here are 20 of our favorite celebrities from Pittsburgh.
20. Julie Benz
Actress Julie Benz was born in Pittsburgh, although she grew up in Murrysville. She is probably best known for portraying Darla in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and ‘Angel.’ Benz is also known for playing Rita Bennett in ‘Dexter’ from 2006 to 2010. Other television series in which she has starred include ‘Desperate Housewives,’ ‘Love, Victor,’ ‘Defiance,’ ‘Roswell,’ ‘Training Day,’ ‘Hawaii 5-0,’ No Ordinary Family,’ and ‘Defiance.’ Benz has also had roles in multiple films, including ‘Rambo,’ ‘The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day,’ and ‘Saw V.’
19. Billy Porter
Billy Porter is an actor, singer, and author who was born in Pittsburgh in 1969. He began his career performing in Broadway productions before landing roles in film and television. Porter rose to prominence when he starred in the first three seasons of ‘Pose,’ and his performance led to him winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. It was the first time a gay black man had won a lead acting award at the Primetime Emmys. One of his most recent roles was playing the Fabulous Godmother in the 2021 film ‘Cinderella.’
18. Adoni Maropis
Adoni Maropis was born in Pittsburgh in 1963. The actor is probably best known for playing Quan Chi in the martial arts television series ‘Mortal Kombat: Conquest.’ Maropis is also known for playing Sakr in ‘Hidalgo,’ Abu Fayed in ’24,’ and General Hassan in ‘Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun.’
17. Mark Deklin
Born in Pittsburgh in 1967, actor Mark Deklin began his career in 1994. He is known for his performances in television series including ‘Designated Survivor,’ ‘Lone Star,’ and ‘Devious Maids.’ Deklin has also provided voices for several video game characters, including Warden in ‘Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Seige’ and Deimos in ‘God of War: Ghost of Sparta.’ Most recently, Deklin appeared in the 2021 television film ‘Sister Swap: A Hometown Holiday’.
16. Bobby Blotzer
One of the best-known musicians to hail from Pittsburgh is Bobby Blotzer. Although he has played for several bands and supported various artists, he is best known as the drummer of the metal band Ratt. He joined the band in 1882, and the band was at the height of its popularity during the 1980s, and they released five consecutive platinum albums during this period.
15. Shanice
Shanice is a singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer from Pittsburgh, and she began her career in the music industry in 2014. She was at the height of her fame during the 1990s when she released successful singles such as ‘I Love your Smile,’ ‘Silent Prayer,’ ‘When I Close My Eyes,’ and ‘Saving Forever for You.’ Shanice has had minor acting roles in various television series, and she stars alongside her husband, comedian Flex Alexander, in the reality series ‘Flex & Shanice.’
14. Charles Esten
Charles Esten, also known as Chip Esten, was born in Pittsburgh on September 9, 1965. He is an actor, comedian, improviser, and musician. He is probably best known for his role as Deacon Claybourne in ‘Nashville’ from 2012 to 2018. It was starring in this drama series that launched Esten’s music career. Some people may also know him for his appearances on ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ Esten was a regular on the series from 1999 to 2005, then returned as a regular in 2019. Although he hails from Pittsburgh, Estennow lives in Nashville with his wife and three children.
13. Beth Ostrosky Stern
Another celebrity who started out in Pittsburgh is Beth Ostrosky Stern. She is an actress, author, and model. Stern has had roles in films such as ‘Flirting with Disaster’ and ‘Whipped.’ On television, she has appeared in ‘Filter’ and ‘Casino Cinema.’ As a model, Stern has appeared on various magazine covers, including three issues of FHM. She has also co-authored the book ‘Oh My Dog: How to Choose, Train, Groom, Nurture, Feed, and Care for Your New Best Friend.’ Stern is married to radio personality Howard Stern, and they live in the Town of Southampton on Long Island.
12. Gillian Jacobs
Gillian Jacobs is an actress and director who was born in Pittsburgh in 1982. On television and online platforms, Jacobs is known for playing Britta Perry in the comedy series ‘Community, Atom Eve in ‘Invincible,’ and Mickey Dobbs in ‘Love.’ Jacobs also had a recurring role in ‘Girls’ from 2012 to 2017. Her films include ’Ibiza,’ ‘Life of the Party,’ ‘Life Partners,’ ‘I Used to Go Here,’ ‘Don’t Think Twice,’ ‘Hot Tub Time Machine 2,’ ‘Brother Nature,’ and the ‘Fear Street’ trilogy. She has also directed some short films and documentaries. According to Everything What, Gillian Jacobs now lives in Los Angeles, California.
11. Zachary Quinto
Although he now lives in Manhattan, actor Zachary Quinto was born in Pittsburgh in 1977. In his television career, Quinto is probably best known for playing Sylar in the science-fiction drama series ‘Heroes.’ He is also known for playing Dr. Oliver Thredson in ‘American Horror Story: Asylum’ and Charlie Manx in ‘NOS4A2.’ Other television series in which he has had smaller roles include ’24,’ ‘So Notorious,’ and ‘The Slap.’ In films, Quinto is best known for playing Spock in the films ‘Star Trek,’ ‘Star Trek into Darkness,’ and ‘Star Trek Beyond.’ His other films include ‘Hitman: Agent 47,’ ‘Hotel Artemis,’ ‘Snowden,’ ‘Margin Call,’ and ‘What’s Your Number?’
10. Daya
Another celebrity from Pittsburgh is Daya, says Famous Birthdays. Daya, whose real name is Grace Martine Tandon, was born in Pittsburgh in 1998, and she grew up in the suburb of Mount Lebanon. She began her career in music in 2015, releasing her self-titled EP in the same year. A year later, Daya released her debut studio album ‘Sit Still, Look Pretty.’ In 2021, she released her second EP ‘The Difference.’
9. Corey Graves
Corey Graves is a wrestling color commentator and a retired professional wrestler. His real name is Matthew Polinsky, and he was born in Pittsburgh on February 24, 1984. He began his career as a professional wrestler in 2000, and he retired from the ring in 2014. Graves has since worked as a commentator for WWE. In addition to his media career, Graves is a professional piercer. He remains living in the Pittsburgh area.
8. Wiz Khalifa
Wiz Khalifa was born in Pittsburgh on September 8, 1987. He is a rapper, singer, and songwriter who began his career in 2005 and released his debut single ‘Show and Prove’ the following year. After signing to Warner Bros. Records in 2007, Wiz Khalifa released his second album, ‘Deal or No Deal,’ in 2009. In total, the artist has released six studio albums, three EPs, one soundtrack album, one compilation album, 24 mixtapes, and 84 singles. Wiz Khalifa was married to model Amber Rose from 2013 to 2014. Their son, Sebastian Taylor, was born in 2013.
7. Dennis Miller
Dennis Miller is a talk show host, political commentator, sports commentator, comedian, and actor who was born in Pittsburgh in 1953. Although he began his career in 1978, he did not rise to prominence until 1985 when he joined the cast of ‘Saturday Night Live,’ and he featured on this series until 1991. It led to him hosting various talk shows, and he also hosted a self-titled daily radio program. Miller now lives in Santa Barbara, California, with his wife, with whom he has two sons.
6. Joe Montana
Former professional football player Joe Montana was born in New Eagle, which is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. He began his career in 1979, and he played from then until 1992 for the San Francisco 49ers. From 1993 until his retirement from professional football in 1994, Joe Montana played for the Kansas City Chiefs. Montana lives in San Francisco, and he has produced wine under the label Montagia and kept horses since his retirement. He has been married three times and has four children with his third wife. In 2021, Joe Montana bought a Malibu beach home for $7.4 million, says Dirt.com.
5. Dan Marino
Dan Marino is a retired American football quarterback who was born in Pittsburgh in 1961. He had a successful college career in Pittsburgh, then was named First-team All-American in 1981. Marino spent his entire career as a professional football player playing for the Miami Dolphins from 1983 to 1999. After his retirement, he continued to work with the Miami Dolphins as a special advisor, which is a position he still retains. Due to his career in Florida, Marino left Pittsburgh to live in Florida. Dan Marino has been married to Claire D. Veazey since 1985, and the couple has six children together. He also fathered an illegitimate child in 2005 with CBS employee Donna Savattere, but he paid several million dollars for Savattere to keep their daughter out of the public.
4. Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban is a billionaire entrepreneur, media proprietor, and television personality. He became a millionaire after founding and then selling MicroSolutions. Cuban was then a partner in AudioNet, which later became Broadcast.com. Now, he is the co-owner of 2929 Entertainment. By 2018, it was estimated that Cuban was worth $39 billion. In addition to his media business interests, Cuban is also the owner of the Dallas Mavericks. However, most people know him as one of the shark investors on the reality television series ‘Shark Tank.’ Cuban was born in Pittsburgh in 1958, but he now lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife and their three children. Their home is a 24,000-square-foot mansion in Preston Hollow.
3. Joe Manganiello
Only In Your State lists Joe Manganiello as one of the most famous people from Pittsburgh. The actor rose to prominence when he played Flash Thompson in ‘Spider-Man,’ and his breakout role was playing werewolf Alcide Herveaux in ‘True Blood.’ He is also known for his roles in ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting,’ ‘Magic Mike,’ ‘Magic Mike XXL,’ ‘Sabotage,’ and ‘Pee-Wee’s Big Holiday. Manganiello is a fan of sports teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the West Tigers.
2. Jeff Goldblum
Actor Jeff Goldblum was born in Pittsburgh on October 22, 1952. He began his career in 1974 but did not receive wide recognition until the 1980s when he starred in films such as ‘The Fly,’ ‘The Tall Guy,’ ‘The Big Chill,’ and ‘The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension.’ During the 1990s, Goldblum’s films included ‘Powder,’ ‘The Prince of Egypt,’ ‘Jurassic Park,’ and ‘Independence Day.’ He is also known for his roles in later films, such as ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park,’ ‘Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,’ ‘Independence Day: Resurgence,’ ‘Cats & Dogs,’ ‘Adam Resurrected,’ and ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel.’
1. Michael Keaton
Visit Pittsburgh includes Michael Keaton in their list of celebrities from Pittsburgh. He was born in Kennedy Township, a Pittsburgh suburb, on September 5, 1951. The actor is probably best known for playing Bruce Wayne/ Batman in the films ‘Batman’ and ‘Batman Returns.’ He will resume the role in the upcoming films ‘The Flash’ and ‘Batgirl.’ Keaton is also known for films including ‘Mr. Mom,’ ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming,’ ‘Beetlejuice,’ and ‘Morbius.’ Keaton was married to Caroline McWilliams from 1982 to 1990, and they have a son, Sean. He also had a long-term relationship with actress Courtney Cox. Michael Keaton remains a resident of Pittsburgh, although he also owns a ranch near Big Timber, Montana.
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