SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) – Over the past 20 years the state of Georgia has become a hot spot for the creation of new cinema. It seems like every week a new crew is somewhere in the state to film for an upcoming project. The state is perhaps best known for being a background for a majority of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
So we thought we would bring up the names of a few individuals who you may or may not know are from The Peach State.
Robert Patrick – Though he has appeared in over 170 on-screen projects Patrick will forever be known as the T-1000 villain in the 1992 action classic “Terminator 2: Judgement Day” opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger. While he moved around quite a bit as a child, Patrick is originally from Marietta, Ga. He would also live in Massachusetts, Michigan, and Ohio. He graduated from Farmington High School in Farmington, MI before attending Bowling Green University where he began acting.
Jeff Daniels – While Daniels has spent his career proving there is not a genre, he cannot play in he will always be known to the masses as Harry Dunne opposite Jim Carrey’s Lloyd Christmas in 1994’s “Dumb and Dumber”. Though he has spent the past 68 years and some change as a resident of Michigan, he was originally born in Athens, Ga. Daniels has appeared in over 90 different on-screen projects over his career. In addition to his appearance in Dumb and Dumber, he is also known as anchor Will McAvoy on the Aaron Sorkin political drama “The Newsroom”.
Spike Lee – Honestly after a filmmaking career that spans over 40 years it is hard to imagine Spike Lee ever living anywhere other than New York. The director of “Malcolm X”, “School Daze”, “BlacKkKlansman” and “He Got Game” was born in Atlanta, Ga. His family relocated to Brooklyn when he was a child, but Lee would return years later when he attended Moorehouse College to study film.
Danny McBride – The “Eastbound and Down” star is a native of Statesboro, Ga. McBride and his family relocated to Virginia when he was a child. McBride is known throughout film and television as one of the top comedy actors and writers. He is also an accomplished horror writer having co-written “Halloween”, “Halloween Kills”, “Halloween Ends” and “The Exorcist: Believer”.
Laurence Fishburne – Long before entering the Matrix, Laurence Fishburne was born in Augusta, Ga. Following the separation of his parents Fishburne moved with his mother to Brooklyn, NY. He has over 140 credits to his name since beginning his career in 1972. He is most recognized for playing the role of Morpheus in “The Matrix” trilogy. He has also joined Matrix costar Keanu Reeves to star as ‘The Bowery King’ in the “John Wick” series.
Brittany Murphy – The “Clueless” and “8 Mile” actress was born in Atlanta, Ga. When she was three years old Murphy moved with her mother to Edinson, New Jersey. The actress made her on-screen debut in a 1991 episode of Murphy Brown. Over the next 18 years, she would go on to appear in 68 projects. Murphy passed away in December of 2009 at the age of 32.
Dakota and Elle Fanning – With careers that span a combined 45 years in the film and television industry, the Fanning sisters are well-established. Both girls were born in Conyers, Ga. The duo shared the screen as child actors both playing the same role of Lucy Dawson in 2001’s “I Am Sam” opposite Sean Penn. Dakota appeared on the big screen early on when she found recognition for her role as a kidnapped girl in Tony Scott’s “Man on Fire” starring Denzel Washington. Elle had her big break in 2016 playing Princess Aurora opposite Angelina Jolie in “Maleficent”.
Hulk Hogan – Long before he was considered the most recognizable wrestler on the planet, Hollywood Hogan was born in Augusta, Ga. When he was just over a year-old Hogan and his family moved to Port Tampa, Florida. Hogan joined the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1979 and has been wrestling professionally in some capacity ever since. He made his big screen debut as Thunderlips in “Rocky III” and has since gone on to appear in 35 movies or television shows. Hogan’s likeness has been used in over 40 wrestling video games throughout his career.
