20 of Our Favorite Celebrities from Utah
Several celebrities impacting the world share a bond with Utah as their hometown. From footballer Steve Young to actor James Woods, these are but a few stars who have made citizens of Utah proud. Utah has been the 45th state in the USA for more than ten decades. Utah’s capital city is Salt Lake City, which is well known for holding the record for hosting the Winter Olympic Games.
The town is not only a cradle for some of the world’s most talented individuals, but it’s also the home of the largest saltwater lake in the whole of the southern hemisphere. Surprisingly, Utah also performs well economically.
A report from the American Legislative Exchange Council ranked the town at number four in economic performance, making it one of the best cities for investment. With great weather, Utah is one of the safest states to live in. It is also among the most densely populated states in the US. In this article about our favorite celebrities from Utah, we will look at some stars born in this state, those who grew up here, and those who have settled here from other states. Here are our 20 favorite celebrities from Utah.
20. Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Barr started her career journey as a stand-up comedian before landing a role in Roseanne’s television sitcom, which brought her into the limelight. Barr was born to a Jewish family in Salt Lake City, Utah. Roseann Barr won an Emmy and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her hard work and resilience on the show. In addition to her being an actress, writer, comedian and producer, Barr was also a politician, and a presidential candidate. Her active role in politics and outspoken personality got her the nomination as the presidential nominee of the left-wing Peace and Freedom Party in the 2012 general election. Holding and managing all these roles proves that Barr is extremely accomplished.
19. Wayne Sermon
Wayne’s musical career kicked off when he first met Dan Reynolds, performing at a club in Utah. After Reynolds’ performance, Wayne approached him concerning his musical interests. Dan Reynolds invited him to join his band, Imagine Dragons, as the lead guitarist, and they moved to Las Vegas. Wayne’s songwriting skills are also on top of the bar. In 2012, the band’s debut album, Night Visions, was a huge success, peaking at number 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and winning the Billboard Music Award for Best Rock Album.
18. Tony Finau
Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, Tony Finau is regarded as one of the best golf players of all time. Finau is currently playing on the PGA Tour. In 2006, Tony Finau won the Utah State Amateur Championship while defending Daniel Summerhays in the 36-hole championship. Finau is not only a great player; he also empowers the youth and their families in his local community through his foundation, the Tony Finau Foundation.
17. Lucky Blue Smith
Having begun his fashion and modeling career at a very young age, many people have watched him rise through the ranks of fashion and modeling. By the age of 12, Lucky was already a seasoned model in the fashion industry. Several international fashion magazines, including “Vogue,” have recognized Lucky Smith, some of them having him on their cover pages. Lucky is well known for his killer looks and pretty blue eyes. Some of the highlights in his career are: working with the largest fashion brands and walking at prestigious fashion weeks around the world. Lucky Blue Smith fits the bill as one of our favorite celebrities from Utah.
16. Jaime Bergman
Since childhood, she has seen herself on the screen, and it has always been Jaime Bergman’s dream. Jaime Bergman was born and raised in Utah. She started her modeling career right after graduating high school and has worked with some of the top modeling agencies in the US since then. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaime_Bergman) Jaime Bergman was featured as Playboy magazine’s Playmate of the Month. She also made appearances in some Playboy videos. Bergman is not only a legend in modeling, but she is also an actor, and she managed to make her film debut
15. Zach Wilson
Born in Draper, Utah, Zach Wilson attended Corner Canyon High School, where his football career began. While playing high school football, he managed to pass for 2,986 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior. Later on, he joined Brigham Young University, where he also played college football. Wilson was a two-time bowl game MVP in college football, and he was selected second by the Jets in the 2021 NFL Draft.
14. Matthew Davis
We all know Matthew Davis for how he portrayed Warner Huntington III in the 2001 film, Legally Blonde, What About Brian as Adam Hillman, and Alaric Saltzman in American drama hit series, Vampire Diaries. He also starred in the CW mystery and horror drama “Cult” as Jeff Sefton and Sean Yeager on the CBS police drama “Crime Scene Investigation.” Matthew Davis is also featured in the CW series Legacies, a spin-off of The Originals, as Alaric Saltzman.
13. Witney Carson
Witney Carson was a natural dancer who became a great professional dancer within a very short period. Born and raised in Utah, Witney started nurturing her dancing skills by attending dance classes at three. At 18, Carson gained popularity when she became the second runner-up in the ninth season of “So You Think You Can Dance.” Carson features as a troupe dancer in the 16th and 17th seasons of “Dancing with the Stars.” Her excellent performance and perfect choreography earned her an “Emmy” nomination.
12. Merlin Olsen
Merlin Olsen is well known for playing as a defensive tackle in the National Football League with the Los Angeles Rams for 15 years. Olsen got the honor of being selected to the Pro Bowl 14 consecutive times, only missing selection in the last year of his career. Born in Logan, Utah, he is one of the best male footballers from Utah. Merlin Olsen received the 1961 Outland Trophy for best lineman in college football and he is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and also the College Football Hall of Fame.
11. Elizabeth Smart
Her name did trend all over the news when she was 14 years old during her kidnapping by Brian David Mitchell. She is one of the greatest child safety activists and TV commentators in Utah, working against sexual abuse and helping the cause of missing people. Elizabeth became a public figure, appearing in several TV interviews and films.
10. Jewel Kilcher
Utah is home to some great talent, Jewel Kilcher being one of them. She grew up singing with her father, a local musician. Atlantic Records offered Jewel a recording contract. The label released her debut album, Pieces of You, in 1995. The album became her best-selling debut album of all time, going platinum 12 times. The hit single from the album, Who Will Save Your Soul, charted at # 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. Jewel Kilcher is one of Utah’s finest talents. She’s been nominated for four Grammy Awards and her albums have sold more than 30 million copies around the world.
9. Derek Hough
Corky and Shirley Ballas offered dancing guidance to Derek Hough throughout his learning at the start of his dancing career. Derek’s mother introduced him to the fine arts at an early age. Derek is a specialist in ballroom and Latin dance. In addition, he is a director, actor, choreographer, songwriter, and singer. Derek Hough is known for appearing in ABC network’s reality dance series “Dancing with the Stars.” His outstanding dance performances have earned Derek esteemed awards like the “Primetime Emmy Awards.”
8. Donny Osmond
Donald Clark Osmond is a former teen idol who has played other roles like a dancer, singer, actor, and television host. Donny Osmond initially started by performing with his elder brothers as the Osmonds, which earned him popularity. The Osmonds had several top ten hits and gold albums. He was later featured in the variety series “Donny & Marie,” which was successful.
7. Marie Osmond
Born into a family of nine, Marie Osmond is a successful country music artist who grew up in Ogden, Utah. She is also an author, actress, philanthropist, talk show host, and member of the Osmonds’ popular family business. Marie co-hosted the TV variety show “Donny & Marie” with Donny Osmond.
6. Julianne Hough
Julianne Hough is a renowned dancer and choreographer. In the 2011 film “Footloose,” Julianne played the lead role. Going through highs and lows in her dance and acting careers did not stop her from establishing herself as the best in the industry. Julianne is also a two-time professional champion of the well-known dance reality show, “Dancing with the Stars.” To top all this off, she has won a number of competitions and awards. Julianne became the first former competitor of “Dancing with the Stars,” to judge.
5. Brenden Urie
Brenden Urie is the lead vocalist in “Panic! At the Disco.” He remains to be the only remaining original member of the band. He joined the music industry in 2004, and he has been active since then. He is one of the celebrities born in Utah but moved to other states, in this case, Las Vegas. The band’s debut album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, was successful, appearing on the Top 40 Emo Albums list by Rolling Stones Magazine. Urie is also doing well on the different social media platforms, with a massive following.
4. Steve Young
The former professional American football quarterback, Jon Steven Young, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He comes in at number four on our list of the most famous celebrities from Utah. He spent 15 years in the National Football League. Before his NFL career, he was a member of the Los Angeles Express in the United States Football League (USFL) for two seasons. While playing college football for Brigham Young University, Young managed to set school and NCAA records en route to being runner-up for the 1983 Heisman Trophy
3. John Warnock
John Warnock was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, as one of the city’s most renowned computer scientists and people in business. He is the co-founder of AdobeSystems, Inc., a graphics and publishing software company. Warnock served as Adobe president for his first two years and later served as chairman and CEO for 16 years before his retirement.
2. James Woods
Born in Utah, James Howard Woods grew up in Rhode Island and graduated as one of the top students in his high school class. James Woods earned himself a scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Woods later quit school to pursue his love for acting. He started in the theaters before engrossing himself in films. In the movie “The Onion Field,” a ruthless cop-killer makes the jump into the spotlight. James Wood got several opportunities to do voice-overs for several animation series. His theater and film acting exploits have seen him receive numerous accolades, including an Oscar nomination, the “Emmy” and the “Golden Globe” Awards.
1. Chrissy Teigen
Chrissy is a model born and raised in Delta, Utah and a well-known personality in the entertainment industry. She is also an author, and food blogger. She made her first appearance in 2010 in the “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.” In addition to being featured on the cover of the annual swimsuit issue, Chrissy appeared in other popular magazines like “Vogue,” “Glamour,” and “Esquire.” Her love for food led her to create her blog where she writes down her knowledge of food and nutrition. Chrissy’s cookbook, “Cravings,” was ranked as a New York Times bestseller. Her popularity is reflected even on her social media platforms, particularly on Instagram and Twitter.
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