GREENVILLE, N.C. (Stacker.com) — Admiring and envying the world’s biggest stars is easy to do on Instagram.

From A-list movie stars and major musicians to pro ball players and comedians who landed their own sitcoms, there’s no shortage of evidence of just how good the good life is. They post pictures of themselves with other big shots on rooftop bars, at exclusive clubs, at backstage parties, and at restaurants where regular people can’t get a reservation.

Kinston’s Jaime Pressly leads group of famous actresses from NC; three others may surprise you

But the vast majority of these celebrities were born and raised outside of Hollywood, finding their way to the bright lights and big money of superstardom from obscure beginnings in regular small towns or cities across the country.

Stacker compiled a list of actors that were born in North Carolina from IMDb’s most popular list. For each actor, we included a movie poster image from a film he is known for (all movie poster images from OMDb). Keep reading to see which favorite actors are from your home state.

1 / 40OMDb

Michael C. Hall

– Born: Raleigh, North Carolina (2/1/1971)
– Known for:
— Dexter Morgan in “Dexter” (2006-2013)
— Ken Castle in “Gamer” (2009)
— David Fisher in “Six Feet Under” (2001-2005)

2 / 40OMDb

Brian Tyree Henry

– Born: Fayetteville, North Carolina (3/31/1982)
– Known for:
— Jefferson Davis in “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018)
— Daniel Carty in “If Beale Street Could Talk” (2018)
— Jamal Manning in “Widows” (2018)

3 / 40Phillip Faraone // Getty Images

Zach Galifianakis

– Born: Wilkesboro, North Carolina (10/1/1969)
– Known for:
— Alan in “The Hangover” (2009)
— Jake in “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” (2014)
— Ethan Tremblay in “Due Date” (2010)

4 / 40OMDb

Aldis Hodge

– Born: Onslow County, North Carolina (9/20/1986)
– Known for:
— Levi Jackson in “Hidden Figures” (2016)
— Jim Brown in “One Night in Miami…” (2020)
— Raymond in “Die Hard with a Vengeance” (1995)

5 / 40OMDb

Nick Searcy

– Born: Cullowhee, North Carolina (3/7/1959)
– Known for:
— General Hoyt in “The Shape of Water” (2017)
— Father Montgomery in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (2017)
— Art Mullen in “Justified” (2010-2015)

6 / 40OMDb

J.B. Smoove

– Born: Plymouth, North Carolina (12/16/1965)
– Known for:
— Mr. Dell in “Spider-Man: Far from Home” (2019)
— Cabbie in “Date Night” (2010)
— Flats in “Hall Pass” (2011)

7 / 40OMDb

Jim Rash

– Born: Charlotte, North Carolina (7/15/1971)
– Known for:
— Lewis in “The Way Way Back” (2013)
— Dean Pelton in “Community” (2009-2015)
— Writer in “The Descendants” (2011)

8 / 40OMDb

Paul Schneider

– Born: Asheville, North Carolina (3/16/1976)
– Known for:
— Gus in “Lars and the Real Girl” (2007)
— Paul in “All the Real Girls” (2003)
— Mr. Brown in “Bright Star” (2009)

9 / 40IMDB

Andy Griffith

– Born: Mount Airy, North Carolina (6/1/1926)
– Died: 7/3/2012
– Known for:
— Andy Taylor in “The Andy Griffith Show” (1960-1968)
— Larry ‘Lonesome’ Rhodes in “A Face in the Crowd” (1957)
— Old Joe in “Waitress” (2007)

10 / 40OMDb

Matthew Settle

– Born: Hickory, North Carolina (9/17/1969)
– Known for:
— Jacob Wheeler in “Into the West” (2005)
— Will Benson in “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” (1998)
— Larson in “U-571” (2000)

11 / 40OMDb

Robert Duncan McNeill

– Born: Raleigh, North Carolina (11/9/1964)
– Known for:
— Kevin Corrigan in “Masters of the Universe” (1987)
— Lt. Tom Paris in “Star Trek: Voyager” (1995-2001)
— Producer in “The Battery” (1998)

12 / 40OMDb

Christoph Sanders

– Born: Hendersonville, North Carolina (4/21/1988)
– Known for:
— Kyle Anderson in “Last Man Standing” (2011-2021)
— Hoyt in “Faith Based” (2020)
— Wooden’s Boy in “Hounddog” (2007)

13 / 40OMDb

Murray Hamilton

– Born: Washington, North Carolina (3/24/1923)
– Died: 9/1/1986
– Known for:
— Vaughn in “Jaws” (1975)
— Mr. Robinson in “The Graduate” (1967)
— Alphonse Paquette in “Anatomy of a Murder” (1959)

14 / 40OMDb

John Newton

– Born: Chapel Hill, North Carolina (12/29/1965)
– Known for:
— Antonio ‘Tintín’ Vizintín in “Alive” (1993)
— Sgt. Cody Cullen in “The Christmas Card” (2006)
— Ryan McBride in “Melrose Place” (1998-1999)

15 / 40OMDb

Geno Segers

– Born: Winston-Salem, North Carolina (11/28/1976)
– Known for:
— Dwayne in “Perfect Harmony” (2019-2020)
— Danny Trudeau in “Yellowstone” (2018)
— Chayton Littlestone in “Banshee” (2014-2016)

16 / 40OMDb

Lee Norris

– Born: Greenville, North Carolina (9/25/1981)
– Known for:
— Young Mike Mageau in “Zodiac” (2007)
— Officer in “Gone Girl” (2014)
— Marvin ‘Mouth’ McFadden in “One Tree Hill” (2003-2012)

17 / 40OMDb

Drew Starkey

– Born: Hickory, North Carolina (11/4/1993)
– Known for:
— Garrett in “Love, Simon” (2018)
— Cop 115 in “The Hate U Give” (2018)
— Rafe in “Outer Banks” (2020-2021)

18 / 40OMDb

Edwin Hodge

– Born: Onslow County, North Carolina (1/26/1985)
– Known for:
— Dorian in “The Tomorrow War” (2021)
— Basketball Teen #1 in “Big Momma’s House” (2000)
— Bloody Stranger in “The Purge” (2013)

19 / 40OMDb

Brandon W. Jones

– Born: Greensboro, North Carolina (5/7/1988)
– Known for:
— Andrew Campbell in “Pretty Little Liars” (2013-2015)
— Charlie Russell in “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (2011-2012)
— Liam in “Lie to Me” (2010-2011)

20 / 40OMDb

Lachlan Watson

– Born: Raleigh, North Carolina (4/12/2001)
– Known for:
— Theo Putnam in “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” (2018-2020)
— Sasha in “Electric Easy” (2021)
— Make-Up Department in “Passing” (2019)

21 / 40OMDb

Sean Bridgers

– Born: Chapel Hill, North Carolina (3/3/1968)
– Known for:
— Old Nick in “Room” (2015)
— Chris Cleek in “The Woman” (2011)
— Will Sumrall in “Free State of Jones” (2016)

22 / 40OMDb

Burgess Jenkins

– Born: Winston-Salem, North Carolina (10/24/1973)
– Known for:
— Ray Budds in “Remember the Titans” (2000)
— Dr. Todd Lowry in “Chicago Med” (2021)
— Beau in “Uncle Frank” (2020)

23 / 40OMDb

Tequan Richmond

– Born: Burlington, North Carolina (10/30/1992)
– Known for:
— Bryson Broyer in “Boomerang” (2019-2020)
— Drew in “Everybody Hates Chris” (2005-2009)
— T.J. Ashford in “General Hospital” (2012-2018)

24 / 40OMDb

Brian Huskey

– Born: Charlotte, North Carolina (9/8/1968)
– Known for:
— Leon West in “Veep” (2012-2019)
— Victor Schmemmerhorn-Fish V in “Another Period” (2013-2018)
— Regular Sized Rudy in “Bob’s Burgers” (2013-2021)

25 / 40OMDb

Isaac Powell

– Born: Greensboro, North Carolina (12/30/1994)
– Known for:
— Actor in “Cat Person”
— Rhys in “Dear Evan Hansen” (2021)
— Troy Lord in “American Horror Story” (2021)

26 / 40OMDb

Christian Jules Le Blanc

– Born: Fort Bragg, North Carolina (8/25/1958)
– Known for:
— Patrolman Junior Abernathy in “In the Heat of the Night” (1988)
— Michael Baldwin in “The Young and the Restless” (1991-2021)
— Sheriff in “Perry Mason: The Case of the Killer Kiss” (1993)

27 / 40OMDb

Torrey B. Lawrence

– Born: Rocky Mount, North Carolina (3/18/1974)
– Known for:
— Saloon Hardcase in “The Harder They Fall” (2021)
— Joe in “Aquarium of the Dead” (2021)
— Gabriel in “The Annunciation” (2018)

28 / 40OMDb

Yusuf Gatewood

– Born: Hillsborough, North Carolina (9/12/1982)
– Known for:
— Doug in “The Interpreter” (2005)
— Howard in “Wonder Boys” (2000)
— Vincent Griffith in “The Originals” (2014-2018)

29 / 40OMDb

Randy Boone

– Born: Fayetteville, North Carolina (1/17/1942)
– Known for:
— Randy Benton in “The Virginian” (1964-1966)
— Easy in “Terminal Island” (1973)
— Francis in “Cimarron Strip” (1967-1968)

30 / 40OMDb

George Grizzard

– Born: Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina (4/1/1928)
– Died: 10/2/2007
– Known for:
— John Bradley in “Flags of Our Fathers” (2006)
— Ed Thompson in “Bachelor Party” (1984)
— Senator Fred Van Ackerman in “Advise & Consent” (1962)

31 / 40OMDb

James McEachin

– Born: Rennert, North Carolina (5/20/1930)
– Known for:
— Victor Milson in “2010: The Year We Make Contact” (1984)
— Al Monte in “Play Misty for Me” (1971)
— Det. Arthur Brown in “Fuzz” (1972)

32 / 40OMDb

Ben Cook

– Born: Eden, North Carolina (12/11/1997)
– Known for:
— Aaron Fisher in “Paterno” (2018)
— Mouthpiece in “West Side Story” (2021)
— Adam Turner in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (2017)

33 / 40OMDb

Jack Hogan

– Born: Chapel Hill, North Carolina (11/25/1929)
– Known for:
— Kirby in “Combat!” (1962-1967)
— Chief Ranger Jack Moore in “Sierra” (1974)
— Billy Riker in “Sea Hunt” (1958-1959)

34 / 40OMDb

Gregory Walcott

– Born: Wendell, North Carolina (1/13/1928)
– Died: 3/20/2015
– Known for:
— Jeff Trent in “Plan 9 from Outer Space” (1957)
— Pope in “The Eiger Sanction” (1975)
— Potential Backer in “Ed Wood” (1994)

35 / 40OMDb

Sidney Blackmer

– Born: Salisbury, North Carolina (7/13/1895)
– Died: 10/6/1973
– Known for:
— Roman Castevet in “Rosemary’s Baby” (1968)
— Seth Lord in “High Society” (1956)
— Fernand Mondego in “The Count of Monte Cristo” (1934)

36 / 40OMDb

Eric Freeman

– Born: Raleigh, North Carolina (7/13/1965)
– Known for:
— Ricky Caldwell in “Silent Night, Deadly Night Part 2” (1987)
— Bones in “In Living Color” (1990-1992)
— Jeff in “Murder Weapon” (1989)

37 / 40OMDb

Jareb Dauplaise

– Born: North Carolina (3/18/1979)
– Known for:
— Frat Guy in “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (2009)
— Nacho Libre in “Epic Movie” (2007)
— Jareb in “Drillbit Taylor” (2008)

38 / 40OMDb

Michael Johnston

– Born: Rutherfordton, North Carolina (2/22/1996)
– Known for:
— Corey in “Teen Wolf” (2015-2017)
— Adam in “Supergirl” (2018)
— Neil in “Slash” (2016)

39 / 40OMDb

Loudon Wainwright III

– Born: Chapel Hill, North Carolina (9/5/1946)
– Known for:
— Beamen in “Big Fish” (2003)
— Grandpa Goodman in “G-Force” (2009)
— Uncle Dale in “Elizabethtown” (2005)

40 / 40OMDb

David Aaron Baker

– Born: Durham, North Carolina (8/14/1963)
– Known for:
— Millroy in “Edge of Darkness” (2010)
— Man Getting into Cab in “Two Weeks Notice” (2002)
— Dan Stein in “Kissing Jessica Stein” (2001)