Famous people from Arkansas

Born January 9, 1968 in North Little Rock, Arkansas

Actress & Director, best known for her role in Chasing Amy.
She has appeared in over 30 films.
Years active: 1991-present

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joey_Lauren_Adams

Born Mary Nell Steenburgen
February 8, 1953 in Newport, Arkansas

Actress, she won the Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for the 1980 film Melvin and Howard, her third film.
Years active: 1978–present

She also starred in Time After Time (1979) alongside Malcolm McDowell.

Some of her other movies include Back to the Future III (1990), Powder (1995), Step Brothers (2008), The Proposal (2009), and The Help (2010).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Steenburgen

Born Joshua Lucas Easy Dent Maurer
June 20, 1971 in Little Rock, Arkansas

Actor, best known for his roles in Glory Road, A Beautiful Mind, and Stealth. He also starred in The Firm, a 2012 TV series on NBC.
Years active: 1990-present

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Lucas

Born August 4, 1955 in Hot Springs, Arkansas

Actor, screenwriter, director, and musician, best known for his roles in Sling Blade, Armageddon, A Simple Mind, and Friday Night Lights.
Years active: 1986-present

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Bob_Thornton

Born Gilbert C. "Gil" Gerard
January 23, 1943 in Little Rock, Arkansas

Actor, best known for playing the lead role in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, a 1979-1981 tv series on NBC.
Years active: 1970-present

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_Gerard

Born William Jefferson Blythe III
August 19, 1946 in Hope, Arkansas

50th Attorney General of Arkansas (1977-1979)
40th and 42nd Governor of Arkansas (1979-1981, 1983-1992)
42nd President of the United States (1993-2001)

Author of My Life, his autobiography, published in 2004

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_clinton

Born Michael Dale Huckabee
August 24, 1955 in Hope, Arkansas

Baptist preacher (1980-1992)
Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas (1993-1996)
44th Governor of Arkansas (1996-2007)
2008 Presidential Candidate
Author of several books
Musician, bass player for rock band Capitol Offense
Host of The Mike Huckabee Show

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_huckabee

Born January 9, 1959 in Batesville, Arkansas

Stock car driver, He currently drives #55 Aaron's Toyota for Michael Waltrip Racing in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series on a part-time basis.
Years active: 1977-1981 (Pre-NASCAR),
1981-present (NASCAR)

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Martin

Born Laurell Kaye Hamilton
February 19, 1963 in Heber Springs, Arkansas

Author, best known for her New York Times–bestselling Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series.
Years active: 1993–present

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurell_K._Hamilton

Born John Ray Grisham, Jr.
February 8, 1955 in Jonesboro, Arkansas

Lawyer and author, best known for his legal thrillers like A Time to Kill and The Firm.
Years active: 1989–present

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Grisham

Born Glen Travis Campbell
April 22, 1936 in Delight, Arkansas

Musician, songwriter, actor
Years active: 1958-present

He has released over 70 albums in his 50 year career in show business, selling over 45 million records.

In 1969, he was hand picked by John Wayne to play the role of La Boeuf, in True Grit, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Most Promising Newcomer. He also sang the title song which was nominated for an Academy Award.

He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Campbell

The Man in Black

Born John R. "Johnny" Cash
February 26, 1932 in Kingsland, Arkansas
Died September 12, 2003 in Nashville, Tennessee

Singer-songwriter, Musician, Actor, and Author
Years active: 1955–2003

He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (1977), the Country Music Hall of Fame (1980), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1992), and Gospel Music Hall of Fame (2010).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Cash

Born Kristopher Neil Allen
June 21,1985 in Jacksonville, Arkansas
American Idol season 8 winner, musician, singer-songwriter
Years active: 2007-present

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kris_allen

Born Albert Green
April 13, 1946 in Forrest City, Arkansas

Reverend, vocalist, producer, songwriter
Years active: 1967–present

Sold more then 20 million records
He was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1995), The Songwriters Hall of Fame (2004), and the Gospel Music Hall of Fame (2004).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_green

Born Shaffer Chimere Smith
October 18, 1979 in Camden, Arkansas

Singer–songwriter, record producer, dancer, actor
Years active: 1997–present

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ne-Yo

Born Priest Anthony Holmes
October 7, 1973 in Fort Smith, Arkansas

Professional football player (NFL), running back
Years active: 1997-2007
Baltimore Ravens (1997–2000)
Kansas City Chiefs (2001–2007)

Career NFL statistics as of 2007
Rushing yards 8,172
Rushing average 4.6
Touchdowns 94

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priest_Holmes

(Bryant with trademark houndstooth hat)

Born Paul William "Bear" Bryant
September 11, 1913 Fordyce, Arkansas
Died January 26, 1983 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Football player and coach, best know for his 25 year tenure as the head coach for the University of Alabama's football team. During this time, he won 6 national championships (1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, and 1979) and 13 SEC championships.

Throughout his 38 years as a head coach, 37 were winning seasons. His all-time record as a coach was 323-85-17.
Years active: 1936-1982

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bear_Bryant

Born January 26, 1880 in Little Rock, Arkansas
Died April 5, 1964 in Washington, D.C.

General of the U.S. Army
Years of service: 1903-1964

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_MacArthur

Born Harry Z. Thomason
1940 (could not find an exact date)
Hampton, Arkansas

Film and tv producer, writer, director, best known for the television series Designing Women, Hearts Afire, and Evening Shade. His wife, Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, was also a writer and producer of these shows.

Years active: 1983-present