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Utah may be known for its national parks, snow-covered slopes, and small-town charm—but it's also produced a surprising number of well-known figures across film, sports, music, politics, and business. From Hollywood actors to Olympic athletes, here are some of the most notable famous people who came out of Utah.
Actor James Woods was born in Vernal, Utah and spent much of his youth in Vernal. Known for Salvador, Casino, and Videodrome, he’s a two-time Academy Award nominee.
Best known for her role on Grey’s Anatomy and rom-coms like 27 Dresses, Heigl moved to Utah and made it her permanent home. She lives with her family on a ranch outside Park City.
Davis, who played Warner in Legally Blonde and Alaric in The Vampire Diaries, is a native of Salt Lake City.
This famous musical family—Donny, Marie, and the rest—came out of Ogden, Utah. Their variety shows and chart-topping hits made them a household name in the 1970s.
Lead singer Dan Reynolds hails from Las Vegas, but the band formed in Provo while attending Brigham Young University.
The American Idol Season 7 runner-up is originally from Murray, Utah. He continues to perform and has a loyal fanbase.
Born in Salt Lake City, Chen is an Olympic gold medalist in figure skating and widely regarded as one of the sport’s most technical skaters.
NFL Hall of Fame quarterback and Super Bowl MVP, Young is a native of Salt Lake City and attended BYU.
While born in Ghana, U.S. Olympic speed skater Maame Biney trained and competed in Utah, where many Olympic hopefuls hone their skills.
This violinist and YouTube sensation grew up in Gilbert, Arizona but studied at BYU and credits Utah’s arts scene with helping her career grow.
These twin YouTubers, originally known from their mother’s “Cute Girls Hairstyles,” grew their massive online presence while based in Utah.
One of the early YouTube vloggers, Shay Carl grew up in Logan, Utah, and helped pioneer family-style vlogging.
Former governor of Massachusetts and Republican U.S. Senator from Utah, Romney has deep ties to the state through both business and politics.
Former Utah Governor, U.S. Ambassador to China and Russia, and 2012 presidential candidate.
Owner of the Utah Jazz and widow of Larry H. Miller, she’s one of the most influential businesswomen in the West.
Utah might not be the first place you think of when it comes to celebrities, but the Beehive State has helped launch the careers of actors, athletes, musicians, and more. Whether they were born here or chose to settle down in Utah, these famous names prove that the state’s influence stretches far beyond its borders.
