10 Famous People You Didn't Know Were From SC
While South Carolina is no Los Angeles, you’d be surprised how many of your favorite personalities come straight from the Palmetto State. Most of these celebrities are known from TV, music, and athletic industries. One was even influential enough to win a presidential election! Here are the 10 celebrities you didn’t know were from South Carolina.
Kristin Davis
Early in her childhood, Kristin Davis moved to Columbia, South Carolina so her father could serve as provost for the University of South Carolina. Davis got a degree in Acting from Rutgers University and then began getting roles. In 1998, she was cast as Charlotte York in Sex and the City. She was on the show until 2004. Today, she and her family—her two adopted children—reside in Los Angeles but her roots will forever be in South Carolina.
Chadwick Boseman
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons / Cropped
Are you a fan of Marvel’s Black Panther movies? You should be! Chadwick Boseman kills it in these, and he was born and raised in Anderson, South Carolina. Boseman first started out in television roles. Think Third Watch, Law & Order, CSI: NY, ER, and Lincoln Heights. His first feature film was in The Express. In 2016, he secured the role as T’Challa/Black Panther for a five-picture deal.
Update: Very sadly, Chadwick passed away on August 28, 2020 after a four-year battle with cancer.
Shawn Crawford
Born in Van Wyck, South Carolina, Shawn Crawford is a retired American Olympic athlete. He competed in the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics games in Athens and Beijing, respectively. Crawford attended Clemson University where he competed before heading to the Olympics. He’s the proud recipient of two silver medals and a gold medal.
James Brown
James Brown was born in Barnwell, South Carolina and had a music career that lasted over 50 years. Although he began his career as a gospel singer, Brown also experimented with funk, soul, and rhythm and blues. He was incredibly successful in his career. He recorded 17 singles that reached number 1 on the Billboard R&B chart and also holds the record for the most singles listed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart even if they didn’t reach number 1. For greatest artists of all time, he ranks number 7 out of 100 on Rolling Stone’s list. And to think – it all started right here in South Carolina!
Vanna White
If you’ve ever watched Wheel of Fortune, you know exactly who Vanna White is. She’s been a household name since 1982 when she began to host the show. This television personality got her start in Conway, South Carolina. Although her parents divorced when she was just a baby, her mother remarried, and she took her stepfather’s last name. She became Vanna White and the woman famous around the country today for revealing the letters on the Wheel of Fortune.
Aziz Ansari
Born in Columbia and raised in Bennettsville, South Carolina, Aziz Ansari is best known for his role on Parks and Recreation. He attended New York University and began to perform stand-up comedy. He has hosted Saturday Night Live and starred in a variety of other TV shows. Time Magazine included him in their list of the 100 most influential people of 2016.
Candice Glover
From Beaufort, South Carolina, Candice Glover is known for her win of American Idol’s 12th season. She graduated from Beaufort High School in 2008. Following her win, she has released studio albums and sung on Broadway. Her genres are R&B, jazz, pop, and soul.
Thomas Gibson
Thomas Gibson was born in Charleston, South Carolina and attended the College of Charleston before heading to the Juilliard School. He is an actor and film director. He is best known for his portrayal of Aaron Hotchner on Criminal Minds for 11 years. He now resides in San Antonio, Texas.
Monique Coleman
Monique Coleman was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina before she became an actress at a young age in Columbia. She is best known for her work in a variety of Disney productions such as High School Musical and the Suite Life of Zack & Cody. She has also competed on Dancing with the Stars. In recent years, she has worked to raise awareness for youth challenges and was named the first UN Youth Champion of the International Year of Youth.
Andrew Jackson
Not all states can say that they’re home to a U.S. president. Resident celebrity Andrew Jackson—president number seven in the nation’s history—was born in the Waxhaws region on the border of the Carolinas. While the country has changed quite a bit since then, this location is near Lancaster, SC. President Jackson served two terms as the leader of America and is the friendly face on the twenty-dollar bill.
Although South Carolina might not be the state most populated with celebrities, it has a pretty good showing for the South! These 10 individuals are well-known and well-regarded in their fields. They started out in South Carolina and made a name for the state as they progressed in their career. Next time you see them on TV or hear one of their songs on the radio, you’ll know exactly where they got their start!
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