13 Famous People From Kansas City, Missouri

Celebrities and actors from Kansas City:

Introduction

Kansas City, Missouri, the largest city in the state and the 29th most populated metropolitan area in the United States, is not just known for its barbecue and jazz heritage.

It has also been the birthplace and nurturing ground for several famous personalities who have left their indelible marks in various fields, from acting to music and beyond.

List Of 13 Famous People From Kansas City, Missouri

#1 Chris Cooper

Cooper is an American actor who won both the Golden Globe Award and Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film Adaptation. He also had the role of Sheriff July Johnson in one of the most successful Westerns in history, Lonesome Dove.

Chris has also performed in the following films – Little Women, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, The Muppets, The Town, The Kingdom, Syriana, The Bourne Identity, and American Beauty.

He was born on July 9, 1951, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Charles and Mary Ann (Walton) Cooper.

#2 Don Cheadle

Cheadle is an American writer and actor who performed in Avengers: Endgame, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Infinity War, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Iron Man series.

Don won a Golden Globe Award in 2013 for his role as Marty Kaan on the Showtime comedy series House of Lies.

For his lead role as Rwandan hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina in the drama film Hotel Rwanda, Cheadle was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor.

He was born on November 29, 1964, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Donald Frank Cheadle Sr. and Bettye Cheadle (née North).

#3 Burt Bacharach

Bacharach is an American singer, pianist, record producer, songwriter, and composer who co-wrote many of the Billboard Hot 100 songs, including – That’s What Friends Are For, Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do), (They Long to Be) Close to You, Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head, and This Guy’s in Love with You.

His songs have been recorded by over 1,000 different artists.

Burt was born on May 12, 1928, in Kansas City, Missouri.

#4 Mancow Muller

Muller is an American actor and television personality who is best known for Mancow’s Morning Madhouse radio show. During the 2000 presidential election, he was an outspoken supporter of George W. Bush.

Mancow was born on June 21, 1966, in Kansas City, Missouri.

#5 Eric Stonestreet

Stonestreet is an American comedian and actor who provided the voice of Duke in The Secret Life of Pets film franchise. Eric has appeared in telefilms and films such as – Confirmation, The Loft, Identity Thief, and Bad Teacher. He first gained fame for his role in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. 

Eric received two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance in the ABC sitcom Modern Family where he portrayed Cameron Tucker.

Stonestreet was born on September 9, 1971, in Kansas City.

#6 Dee Wallace

Wallace is an American actress who is known for starring in Critters, Cujo, The Howling, and The Hills Have Eyes. The American actress is best known for her role as Mary in the film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Dee was born on December 14, 1948, in Kansas City, to Robert Stanley Bowers and Maxine (née Nichols).

#7 Ed Asner

Asner is an American actor who won for Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in a TV series for his role in Roots. In addition, Ed won Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Performance in a TV series for his performance in the 1970s: Rich Man, Poor Man.

Ed is best known for his role as Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

He was born on November 15, 1929, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Morris David Asner and Lizzie (née Seliger).

#8 Dianne Wiest

Wiest is an American actress who won the 2008 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for In Treatment and the 1997 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for Road to Avonlea.

Dianne has also won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for the Woody Allen films ”Bullets over Broadway” and ”Hannah and Her Sisters.”

Some of her film and television series credits are Life in Pieces, Law & Order, Sisters, Rabbit Hole, Synecdoche, New York, Dan in Real Life, Practical Magic, The Birdcage, September, Little Man Tate, Edward Scissorhands, Radio Days, Big City, Bright Lights, The Lost Boys, Footloose, and The Purple Rose of Cairo.

Dianne was born on March 28, 1946, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Bernard John Wiest and Anne Stewart (née Keddie).

#9 Charlie Parker

Parker was an American jazz saxophonist and composer, and an icon for the hipster subculture. He is the leading figure in the development of bebop, a type of jazz characterized by advanced harmonies, virtuosic technique, and fast tempos.

In 1953, he performed at Massey Hall in Toronto. Miles Davis once said, “You can tell the history of jazz in four words: Louis Armstrong. Charlie Parker.”

Charlie was born on August 29, 1920, in Kansas City, Kansas, USA.

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#10 Katherine McNamara

McNamara is an American actress who joined the cast of Arrow, starting with its 7th season. Katherine also played Clary Fray on the 2016–2019 Freeform fantasy series Shadowhunters and Harper Munroe on the MTV comedy series Happyland.

She was born on November 22, 1995, in Kansas City, to Ursula and Evan McNamara.

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#11 Chely Wright

Wright is an American country music singer who became one of the first major country music performers to publicly come out as a lesbian. She is the founder of the charity Reading, Writing and Rhythm.

Her singles had sold more than 1,500,000 copies. In 1995, the Academy of Country Music named her Top New Female Vocalist. Wright announced the release of her eighth studio album, I Am the Rain, in 2016. 

She was born on October 25, 1970, in Kansas City.

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#12 Earl Cole

Cole is a philanthropist, producer, and entrepreneur. He won $1 million on the reality TV series Survivor: Fiji.

Earl was born on April 9, 1971, in Kansas City.

#13 Robert Altman

Robert Altman was born on February 20, 1925, in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. He grew up in a wealthy family, but his passion for cinema led him away from the corporate world and into the creative sphere.

Altman’s career in the film industry spanned over five decades, during which he directed more than 30 feature films.

Here is a quick recap of the celebrities from Kansas City, Missouri:

1. Chris Cooper
2. Don Cheadle
3. Burt Bacharach
4. Mancow Muller
5. Eric Stonestreet
6. Dee Wallace
7. Ed Asner
8. Dianne Wiest
9. Charlie Parker
10. Katherine McNamara
11. Chely Wright
12. Earl Cole
13. Robert Altman

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References

https://www.kansascity.com/article239091198.html
https://ew.com/arrow-kat-mcnamara-spin-off-backdoor-pilot/