You’ve likely heard of or read about some of Hollywood’s most famous people and the Massachusetts towns from which they hail. We all know about Matt Damon and Ben Afflect being from Cambridge. But what about the charming small towns in our state. What actors, athletes, singers, and comedians come from some of the sweet suburban sanctuaries? Well, these 8 celebrities are from lovely little Massachusetts towns.
From Stoneham to Canton, these acclaimed actors and athletes have called some of our state’s most adorable towns home. They were born here or grew up here. Where you come from says a lot about who you are. Many songs have been sung, and movies have been made about the budding star wanting to leave their hometown for the lights and action of big cities. But in the end, we all appreciate where we grew up, and the effect it had on our path in life. Take and look at these 8 celebrities and the lovely little Massachusetts towns they are from.
With the help of IMDB, Wikipedia, Only in Your State, and the celebrity’s websites, I have put together their hometown information for you.
1. Steve Carell
Best known for his role as Michael Scott on TV’s The Office, actor Steve Carell was born in Concord and raised in Acton, Massachusetts.
According to IMDB, Carell’s mom, Harriet is a psychiatric nurse, and dad, Edwin A. Carell, an electrical engineer. Clearly brains run in the family. Steve initially went to an all boys private school in Concord, The Fenn School, and then attended Middlesex School in Concord, where he played ice hockey and lacrosse. He still has ties to New England, as his wife, actress Nancy Carell grew up in Cohasset, and they now own a home in Marshfield. They also own a business there, the quaint and historic Marshfield Hills General Store.
(Photo by Tim P. Whitby/Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for BFI)
2. Meghan Trainor
Singer Meghan Trainor of “All About That Bass” fame was born on the Island of Nantucket, and moved to the “mainland” of Cape Cod in 8th grade. She lived in North Eastham, MA on the Cape, and attended Nauset Regional High School. There, she learned to play guitar, trumpet. She also sang in a jazz band and took guitar lessons from a former member of the rock band, NRBQ, Johnny Spampinato.
(Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for dcp)
3. Chris Evans
Captain American’s Chris Evans grew up in the small town of Sudbury, MA. His mom,Lisa, is an artistic director at the Concord Youth Theatre and dad, Bob, is a dentist. The actor spent summers at theater camp, so he got the bug early. Chris and his 3 siblings would perform in front of their family for Christmas.
(Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures UK)
4. Nancy Kerrigan
Olympic Bronze and Silver Medal Champion figure skater Nancy Kerrigan grew up in Stoneham, Mass. She is the youngest of three and only daughter of homemaker Brenda Kerrigan and welder Daniel Kerrigan. Her brothers played hockey and Nancy started figure skating when she was 6 years old. She won her first competition at age 9.
(Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images for Emerson Colonial Theatre)
5. John Cena
West Newbury, Massachusetts is where wrestler and actor John Cena grew up. It’s a tiny town north of Boston, population 4,500. His dad, John Joseph Cena was a ring announcer, and his grandfather, Tony Lupien was a baseball player. Joh played football at Springfield College. Later, he became bodybuildee and limo driver, before his career in the WWE and in acting.
(Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
6. Bill Burr
He’s a seriously funny guy, and totally Boston. The stand-up comedian, actor, and filmaker, Bill Burr started his life in Canton, Mass. His mother Linda is a nurse and dad Robert a dentist. After Canton High School, Bill went to Emerson College in Boston where he earned bachelor’s degree in radio! He did put the degree to good use, because he is also now a podcaster.
(Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
7. Jennifer Coolidge
Emmy Award winning actress Jennifer Coolidge also went to Emerson College. But she was raised in the lovely little South Shore town of Norwell, Massachusetts. She went to Norwell High, where she played clarinet and even went to orchestra camp for three summers. Her dad Paul is a plastics manufacturer and her mom Gretchen, a homemaker.
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
8. Bo Burnham
Comedian, actor, musician and filmaker. Bo Burnham wears a lot of hats, and he wears them well. He was one of the early Youtubers who found great success online. The star of MTV’s Zach Stone Is Going To Be Famous mockumentary, and star of the Academy Award winning comedy-thriller film Promising Young Woman was born and raised in the charming North Shore town of Hamilton, Massachusetts. His mom Patricia is a hospice nurse and dad, Scott, a construction company owner. He got a free ride at St. John’s Prep in Danvers because his mother was a nurse there. That’s where Bo started doing theater.
(Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)
