They say everything’s bigger in Texas, and that includes the talent! Before they were big-name performers, many of the industry’s best actors got their start in the Lone Star State. Here are some of the best-known actors from Texas.
Jensen Ackles
Acting runs in the family for Dallas native Ackles, who is known for his roles in “Dawson’s Creek,” “Smallville,” “Dark Angel,” “Supernatural,” and “The Boys.”
Alexis Bledel
Before she was known as Rory Gilmore, Bledel’s parents suggested she try theater in Houston to overcome her shyness. Now recognized for a career spanning film, television, and theater, Bledel can be seen in “Tuck Everlasting,” “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” “Mad Men,” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
Chace Crawford
Crawford is a former Hollister model from Lubbock who launched his television career playing Nate Archibald on “Gossip Girl.” He would go on to star in “Mountain Men,” “Blood & Oil,” and “The Boys.”
Jennifer Garner
Garner grew up in Houston as a ballet dancer. After graduating from Denison University with a drama degree, she moved to New York to pursue acting. She gained recognition and accolades for her leading role on the ABC series “Alias,” and also appeared in the Oscar-winning films “Dallas Buyers Club” and “Juno.”
How to Become an Actor in Texas Selena Gomez
Before moving to L.A. and landing a part on Disney’s “Wizards of Waverly Place,” Gomez hailed from Grand Prairie, where she made appearances in the Texas-based films “Spy Kids 3D” and “Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial By Fire.” She has had a prolific career as a singer—for which she was named Billboard’s Woman of the Year in 2017—and does double duty as both star and executive producer on Hulu’s hit series “Only Murders In The Building.”
Ethan Hawke
Although he spent much of his life in New Jersey, Hawke was born in Austin. He gained notoriety after starring in “Dead Poets Society,” and has since had memorable roles in “Boyhood,” “The Purge,” “Sinister,” and multiple Broadway productions.
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Born in Waco, Hewitt started her acting career as a child on Disney’s “Kids Incorporated.” Her roles in “I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Party of Five” made her a ’90s pop culture icon. Since then, she’s starred in “The Ghost Whisperer” and “The Client List.”
Caleb Landry Jones
Jones was born in Garland and raised in Richardson, where he took on smaller roles before moving to L.A. to pursue his acting career. He’s best known for “X-Men: First Class” and “Nitram.”
Eva Longoria
Longoria was born in Corpus Christi and obtained a degree in kinesiology at Texas A&M University before moving to L.A. and landing a spot on the TV series “The Young and the Restless.” It preceded her breakout role on the eight season juggernaut “Desperate Housewives” as Gabrielle Solis. She continued her successful TV career with “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”
Steve Martin
This superstar funnyman may have relocated to southern California at age 5, but he was born in Waco. Today, he is a household name, known for films like “The Jerk” and “Shopgirl” (based on his own novel), in addition to headlining shows like “Only Murders in the Building” (alongside fellow Texan Selena Gomez).
Matthew McConaughey
McConaughey was born in Uvalde and attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he changed his major from law to film. After graduating, he worked on a number of student and short films in Texas before finding commercial success after landing a role in “Dazed and Confused.” McConaughey went on to win an Oscar for “Dallas Buyers Club,” and has performed in many iconic productions including “Interstellar” and “True Detective.”
Jim Parsons
Before winning multiple Emmys and a Golden Globe for his role as Sheldon Cooper on “The Big Bang Theory,” Parsons was a theater student at the University of Houston. Having spent time living in both California and New York, Parsons worked on several commercials and television series before finally landing the role of Sheldon, which led to his role in HBO’s Emmy–winning film “The Normal Heart” and multiple Broadway turns.
Jesse Plemons
Plemons was born in Dallas and raised in Mart, commuting to L.A. for auditions as a young actor. After his breakthrough performance in “Friday Night Lights,” he appeared in hit shows including “Breaking Bad,” “Fargo,” “Black Mirror,” “Love & Death,” and movies including “I’m Thinking of Ending Things,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and “The Power of the Dog” alongside his wife, Kirsten Dunst.
Rico Rodriguez
Born in College Station, Texas, the “Modern Family” actor moved to L.A. when he was 6 to help his sister pursue her acting career. After getting bitten by the acting bug, Rodriguez enrolled in acting classes and made appearances on a number of TV shows before his breakout role as Manny Delgado, for which he received several Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Owen Wilson
This Dallas native’s acting career kicked off after he attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he met and collaborated with Wes Anderson. The two eventually moved to Los Angeles together, and collaborated to write “Bottle Rocket,” “Rushmore,” and “The Royal Tenenbaums.”
Renée Zellweger
Born in Katy, Zellweger is a Lone Star success story. After taking an acting class at the University of Texas at Austin, Zellweger auditioned around Houston, where she built up her acting résumé with credits including “Reality Bites” and “Empire Records.” She went on to play the iconic titular character in “Bridget Jones’s Diary.” Zellweger won her first Oscar for her performance in “Cold Mountain” and her second for portraying Judy Garland in “Judy.”
