West Virginia celebrity connections
The following people have all called West Virginia home.
Karen Austin (actress)
Connection: Born in Welch (McDowell County)
Work: “Battlestar Galactica,” “Star Trek: Voyager”
Bernie Casey (actor)
Connection: Born in Wyco (Wyoming County)
Work: “Gargoyles,” “Revenge of the Nerds”
Ted Cassidy (actor)
Connection: Born in Pittsburgh PA; raised in Philippi (Barbour County)
Work: Played Lurch and Thing in “The Addams Family,” “Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All,” “The Godzilla Show”
John Corbett (actor)
Connection: Born and raised in Wheeling (Ohio County)
Work: “Ramona and Beezus,” “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” “Raising Helen”
Bob Denver (actor)
Connection: Born in New Rochelle NY; retired to Princeton (Mercer County)
Work: “Gilligan’s Island”
Joyce DeWitt (actress)
Connection: Born in Wheeling (Ohio County)
Work: “Nick at Night Holiday Special,” “Three’s Company”
Paul Dooley (actor)
Connection: Born and raised in Parkersburg (Wood County)
Work: “Popeye,” “Sixteen Candles,” “Runaway Bride,” “Hairspray,” “Bedtime Stories,” voice of Sarge in “Cars”
Brad Dourif (actor)
Connection: Born and raised in Huntington (Cabell County)
Work: “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”
Conchata Ferrell (actress)
Connection: Born in Charleston (Kanawha County)
Work: “Mr. Deeds,” "Two and a Half Men"
Jennifer Garner (actress)
Connection: Born in Houston TX; raised in Charleston (Kanawha County)
Work: "Alias," “13 Going on 30,” “Juno,” “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past,” “Valentine’s Day”
Steve Harvey (comedian and actor)
Connection: Born in Welch (McDowell County)
Work: Voice of Buzz in “Racing Stripes,” guest host for “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”
John Hendricks (actor)
Connection: Born in Matewan (Mingo County)
Work: Founder of Discovery Communications and Discovery Channel
Lawrence Kasdan (director, producer, writer)
Connection: Born in Miami FL; raised in Morgantown (Monongalia County)
Work: “Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi”
Don Knotts (actor)
Connection: Born and raised in Morgantown (Monongalia County)
Work: "The Andy Griffith Show," Voice of Sniffer for “Air Buddies,” “The Incredible Mr. Limpet,” voice of Mayor Turkey Lurkey for “Chicken Little,” “Scooby-Doo: Night of 100 Frights”
Lou Myers (actor)
Connection: Born and raised in Charleston (Kanawha County)
Work: “The Wedding Planner”
Brad Paisley (musician and actor)
Connection: Born and raised in Glen Dale (Marshall County)
Work: Voice of Daddy Armadillo in one episode of “The Wonder Pets,” “CMT Top 20 Countdown”
Ed Rabel (broadcast journalist)
Connection: Born in Nitro and raised in St. Albans (Kanawha County)
Work: NBC News, CBS Evening News, CBS Reports, CBS Sunday Morning
Soupy Sales (comedian and actor)
Connection: Born in Franklinton NC; raised in Huntington (Cabell County)
Work: “The Soupy Sales Show”
Chris Sarandon (actor)
Connection: Born and raised in Beckley (Raleigh County)
Work: “The Princess Bride,” voice of Jack Skellington in the “Kingdom Hearts” video game
David Selby (actor)
Connection: Born and raised in Morgantown (Monongalia County)
Work: "Dark Shadows," "Falcon Crest," “D3: The Mighty Ducks”
Morgan Spurlock (director and producer)
Connection: Born in Parkersburg (Wood County); raised in Beckley (Raleigh County)
Work: “Super Size Me,” “The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special: In 3D! On Ice!”
Robert Tinnell (director, producer, writer)
Connection: Born and raised in Fairmont (Marion County)
Work: “Kids of the Round Table,” “Frankenstein and Me,” “Airspeed”
Clyde Ware (director and screenwriter)
Connection: Born and raised in West Union (Doddridge County)
Work: “No Drums, No Bugles,” “The Hatfields and the McCoys”