Kenosha, Wisconsin is a beautiful city near the edge of Lake Michigan which is full of small-city charm. The people also bring charm to the area. There are even a few celebrities that have been a part of the Kenosha community and have been making it big.
Keep reading to find out more!
1. Mark Ruffalo
Mark Ruffalo was born on November 22, 1967, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He grew up in a happy household and enjoyed his time in Kenosha. When he was a teenager, he went back and forth between Wisconsin and Virginia for wrestling. He acted in high school and his love of acting grew. He went on to study at the Stella Adler Conservatory and even co-founded a theatre company called Orpheus’ Theatre Company. He wrote plays, and scripts, and was a big part of the company for a time.
After his time in local theatre, he began to guest star in some shows like Summer Playhouse, Due South, the Dentist, and more. His big break came when he took a role in the play called This is Our Youth. Through this show, he met a writer named Kenneth Lonergan. He was cast in You Can Count on Me, an academy-award-winning production that was written by Lonergan. This caused him to become a big name in the acting world.
The role he is most known for is Dr. Bruce Banner/Hulk in the Avenger films. He has reprised his role in many different films. Another role he is well known and accredited for was The Normal Heart. He has received high praise for his role and treasures his experiences with that story. He has also become an activist and speaks out against unfair policies, environmental issues, and case rulings. He is known for having a big heart and for being a talented actor, regardless of the genre of film he is in.
2. John Stevenson
John Stevenson is a voice actor who grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He was born on August 9th, 1923. While he was in high school nearby, he participated in acting. He also went on to serve in the army as a radio operator and a gunner. He went on to graduate in with a master’s degree in Speech and Drama from Northwestern University. After graduating, he was able to become a voice actor for many different shows. He is most known for his roles in the Flintstones franchise, his roles in the Scooby Doo franchise, and his continuous mark on the voice acting world. However, he sadly passed away in 2015 at the age of 91. Regardless, many remember this man and his impact on them as children through the art of voice acting.
3. Kendra Scott
Kendra Scott was born on March 27th, 1974, in Kenosha, Washington. She lived in the area until she was 16 years old. She then moved to Texas and ended up going to Texas A&M University for a year. She ended up having to drop out to help her ill stepfather. However, in a time of uncertainty, she began a business that is now booming and incredibly successful.
She began small. Her first business was called Hat Box, a business that made hats for people who are going through chemotherapy. She donated a part of the profit to cancer foundations. She then progressed by making 500 dollars’ worth of jewelry and selling them to little boutiques. She eventually was able to open her own stores. Due to the economic crises of 2007-2008, she nearly lost her business. However, she was approached by Nordstrom and was able to sell a ton of products to them.
Now, she owns a billion-dollar company and continues to donate and support others. She has made big leaps and bounds for women in business by donating a large sum of money to The University of Texas so they could build and start up the Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute. Her work as an entrepreneur is incredible!
4. Trae Waynes
Trae Waynes were born on July 25th, 1992, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He is known for his incredible athletic skills in many sports. While he was at Mary D. Bradford High School, he was a part of the baseball, football, and track teams. He was remarkable in each sport. In baseball, he was awarded First-Team All-County Honors for being an outfielder. He also led in home runs, doubles, and triples. In football, he got an astonishing number of awards as well. He broke his fibula and tore ligaments throughout his leg, which could have spelled bad news for him. However, he still managed to get 38 tackles, 4 pass breakups, and two interceptions.
He was scouted and signed to play for Michigan State University. He played as a cornerback for three years. Now, he plays professionally. The teams he has been on include the Minnesota Vikings and the Cincinnati Bengals. He was first drafted in 2015 and was the highest-ranked cornerback for the Vikings ever. Dewayne Washington was the next closest cornerback. He went on to play wonderfully for them for four years and then went to the Cincinnati Bengals. He continues to play and make an impact in football.
5. Scott Glenn
Scott Glenn was not born in Kenosha but began his career as a newscaster for Kenosha News. He originally wanted to become a writer, but soon found he lacked some skills he needed to become successful. So, he wanted to learn how to act so he could gain a better understanding of how to write realistic and engaging dialogue. He studied under George Morrison and made money by helping direct student plays and acting onstage. His first Broadway debut was for the play The Impossible Years.
After this, he joined The Actors Studio and began his full-time career on stage and on film. He took a short break when he went to Ketchum, Idaho, and worked in other professions. However, he came back in the 80s and played a variety of roles in shows and movies such as The Keep, Silverado, The Challenge, and The Right Stuff. In the ’90s, he truly hit his peak. He was a huge part of movies such as The Hunt for Red October, The Silence of the Lambs, The Player, and Backdraft. His most recent role was Stick in the Netflix adaptation of Daredevil and in The Defenders. He still continues to make a big impact in acting through his past and current performances.
And who knows? His time in Kenosha might have been what led him to act.
6. Charles Siebert
Charles Alan Siebert was born on March 9th, 1938, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He grew up in the area and went on to study acting at Marquette University and at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. After his time studying, he went on to act. He toured the United States with many different troupes and companies, such as the Lincoln Center Repertory Company, Shakespeare in the Park in New York, and Baltimore’s Center Stage. He even was a charter member of the American Conservatory Theatre.
He also performed on Broadway in a variety of shows such as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Changing Room, and Sticks and Bones. On-screen, he is known for his directing more than his acting. He directed many shows and movies including Trapper John, MD, Xena, Warrior Princess, and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. His impact was largely felt, especially as he passed in May of 2022. His artistic voice has made a difference in acting, both on and off stage.
7. John Cooper
John Cooper is one of the members of Skillet, a massively famous Christian-Rock band. He was born in Tennessee but now lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He is the only consistent member of the band, being a lead vocalist and bassist. Although he was not born in Kenosha, he loves the area and so does his family. He actually spoke out against riots in Kenosha in 2020 and is known for standing up for what he feels is right. He wanted to protect the city and promote love amongst all people and continually uses his fame to do so.
8. Tom Goss
Tom Goss was raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He is known for his music and for his activism for LGBTQA+ rights. He worked in Washington, D.C., and there met his husband. His music centers around what it means to be gay, what the culture is and what his experiences have been, spirituality and God, and even activism about policies such as Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. His music has gotten him awards such as Best Gay Musician, Favorite Male Musician, and Album of the Year.
9. Jim Rygiel
Jim Rygiel was born on February 17th, 1955, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He was raised in the area and went to St. Joseph Catholic High School. After graduating, he went to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and graduated with a degree in Fine Arts. Then, he went on to study at Otis College of Art and Design and got his master’s in fine arts.
His abilities in special effects have been incredible. He worked on the Lord of the Rings trilogy and won three consecutive academy awards for his work. Other famous works of his include Godzilla, The Parent Trap, and 102 Dalmatians. These showcase how impressive his ability to animate has become throughout his career.
These nine celebrities are just a few of the reasons that people love Kenosha. This beautiful little city allows people to truly love and enjoy the different aspects of life.
