Uniquely Minnesota: Minnesotan Celebrities
Photo by Erica Loeks
These iconic people got their start in Minnesota. From Judy Garland to Prince, Minnesota is the homeland of many of America’s household names.
Amy Adams
The actress made her professional debut on the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres’ stage, the largest dinner theater in the country.
Amy Adams at the Toronto International Film Festival 2012
Bob Dylan
The iconic singer-songwriter was born in 1941 in the lakeshore town of Duluth.
Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin’ LP
Chris Pratt
The crowd-pleasing comedian in “Parks and Recreation,” star of “Jurassic World,” and “Guardians of the Galaxy” superhero was born in the iron-range city of Virginia.
Chris Pratt speaking at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International, for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Visit F. Scott Fitzgerald’s home on Summit Avenue in St. Paul.
The first page of “The Great Gatsby”, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Garrison Keillor
The previous host of Minnesota Public Radio show, “A Prairie Home Companion,” calls Minnesota home, and you can pick up one of his favorite volumes at his Common Good Books in St. Paul.
Garrison Keillor at the Wilshire Theatre in Los Angeles
Josh Hartnett
Everyone’s favorite heartthrob from the early 2000s hails from St. Paul and lived on South Minneapolis’ Lake of the Isles for a brief stint.
Josh Hartnett speaking at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con International, for “Penny Dreadful”
Judy Garland
Somewhere over the rainbow Judy Garland was born. No, it was actually Grand Rapids in northern Minnesota.
Screenshot of Judy Garland from the trailer for the film “The Wizard of Oz”
Laura Ingalls Wilder
While the famous pioneer girl and author of Little House on the Prairie series traveled around the Midwest during her life, Walnut Grove, a small community in southern Minnesota, became the memorable setting of the popular TV show based on her books.
Little House on the Prairie Book at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, Pepin Wisconsin
Prince
Shrouded in mystery and a cult-like following, Prince’s impact on Minnesota was immense. Schedule a tour at Paisley Park, Prince’s personal residence and recording facility in Chanhassen, for a glimpse into the late artist’s life.
Sinclair Lewis
The first U.S. writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature was born in Sauk Centre.
“Babbitt”, by Sinclair Lewis
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