Top 10 Most Famous People from Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. It borders Texas on the south and Kansas on the north. The state is informally known by its nickname The Sooner State which is about the settlers who took lands before the official opening date of lands was reached.
The state has a diverse economic base ranging from telecommunications, biotechnology, energy and aviation. This means that there is a diverse population as people are in different fields. Therefore, this article will explore some ten famous people from the state that have made an impact in the fields that they are in.
1 Blake Shelton
Recording artist Blake Shelton perfoming. Photo by EJ Hersom-Wikimedia
The American singer was born in Ada, Oklahoma in 1976. He has had a successful music career and has sold more than 10 million copies globally. Therefore, it is no surprise that he is well known. Blake has earned the top spots on the Hot Country Songs Chart which has led to him winning several awards throughout his career. He is among the most respected singers of country singers.
2 Brad Pitt
The actor was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma in 1963. While starting his career, he was given insignificant roles in Hollywood movies. Having shown an interest in acting since a young age, the actor dropped out of college to pursue a career in show business. After minor roles in films such as ’21 Jump Street,’ ‘Cutting Class,’ and ‘Happy Together,’ he landed his big break in ‘Legends of the Fall.’ His performance as the lead in a talented ensemble cast that included the famous Anthony Hopkins was well-received. He then appeared in the Morgan Freeman film ‘Seven,’ gradually establishing himself in the film industry.
His acting career has been filled with ups and downs, but he has proven his mettle to the world over the years and is now a sought-after actor. Movies such as ‘Fight Club’ and ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ have been among his biggest successes.
3 Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris. Picture by Tony Foster-Wikimedia
Born Carlos Ray Norris was born in Ryan, Oklahoma. He is a martial artist who appeared in several television series and action films. He founded his school of martial arts known as Chun Kuk Do but while growing up he was not athletically inclined.
While serving in the air force, he became interested in martial arts and started training in Tang Soo Do and proceeded to earn black belts. After being discharged from the army, the martial artist opened his martial arts school. Chuck Norris has had several victories throughout his career like winning the Professional Middleweight Karate Champion Title.
4 Phil Mc-Graw
The TV personality is from Vinita, Oklahoma. He is a well-known author and mental health professional. Phil got his PhD from the University of North Texas and went on to join his father’s private psychological practice. He gave up on it after some years and started a self-motivation seminar known as Pathways and a company called Courtroom Sciences.
He also used to appear on Oprah Winfrey’s show until he started his show, ‘Dr. Phil,’ in 2002. While the show is extremely popular, it has also received some criticism. McGraw has also written several best-selling self-help books. In addition to hosting his show, he has appeared as a guest star in several TV shows and films.
5 Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood by Capitol Records-Wikimedia
Carrie Underwood grew up in a town called Checotah in Oklahoma. The singer sprang to fame after she became an American Idol winner. She produced a single titled ‘Inside Your Heaven’ which was well received by the audience and thus made her a household name. Since then, the singer has made the state proud by producing chart-topping music that is well-liked by the general public.
6 Jeanne Tripplehorn
The American actress was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1953. Her career began in the 1990s when she began acting in various plays. She got into the film scene after playing the role of a police psychologist in an erotic thriller known as Basic Instinct in 1992. Some of the other films that she has starred in include, Waterworld, The Firm which was aired in 1993 and Sliding Doors in 1998. She then starred in television dramas like Big Love which ran from 2006 to 2011 and Criminal Minds and Grey Gardens which earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination.
7 Bill Hader
His full name is William Thomas Hader Jr. He was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1978. Bill is a comedian, actor, producer and writer. He even created, wrote and produced the HBO comedy series known as Barry which started in 2008band it is still running. The series got nominated for eight Emmy Awards and won two of them.
His success in the acting industry can be attributed to his role in the NBC series, Saturday Night Live where he received a Peabody Award and four Primetime Emmy Award nominations. This shows that the actor is good at what he does as he has been nominated several times for the award.
8 Matt Kemp
Matt Kemp at Petco Park. Photo by Dirk Hansen-Wikimedia
He is a baseball outfielder born in Midwest City Oklahoma. The player is currently a free agent but he started his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played in Major League Baseball from 2006 to 2014 and then went to the San Diego Padres for a year. He also played for the Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and the Colorado Rookies. Furthermore, the player was named to three all-star teams and he also won two Silver Slugger Awards and two Gold Glove Awards.
9 Lee Pace
The actor was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma in 1979. He is well known for playing the character Thranduil the Elvenking in the Hobbit trilogy. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he has also made an appearance as Ronan the Accuser, a part he first played in Guardians of the Galaxy and later returned in Captain Marvel. Pace’s performance of Ned on the ABC comedy-drama Pushing Daisies garnered him an Emmy nod in 2008. He has been a featured actor in the television series Foundation, based on the stories of Isaac Asimov, since 2021. He plays the galactic monarch, Brother Day.
10 Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Griffin was drafted first overall by the Clippers in 2009. He has also played with the Detroit Pistons and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Griffin has been an All-Star in each of his five NBA seasons, and he won back-to-back Slam Dunk Contest titles in 2010 and 2011. He was named to the All-NBA Third Team in 2013 and 2014 and was named co-Chris Paul Player of the Year in 2016. Griffin is a two-time All-Star Game MVP; he won the award in 2013 and 2015.
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