Who Is California's Best Actor?

LOS ANGELES, CA — Sometimes it feels like in everyone in Los Angeles is a celebrity. Jamie Lee Curtis takes her dog to the same vet as I. Cameron Diaz and I share a gardener. So when the Missoulian and Thrillist came out with their lists of the best and most famous actors from every state, we here at Patch were skeptical.

Sure, Matt Damon is the most famous actor from Massachusetts. Of course, Robert De Niro is the best actor from New York. We didn’t realize Marlon Brando was from Nebraska, but he has to be the most famous person ever born there. Oprah Winfrey is one of the most famous people on the planet, so, naturally, she takes the title for Mississippi. Aaron Paul and Cloris Leachman aren’t exactly household names, but they are from Idaho and Iowa, respectively, so we are willing to concede they might be the most famous actors from their states.

But this is California. The bar for famous and great actors is pretty high. After all, this is the state where Sean Penn grew up playing with Martin Sheen’s kids. Steve Martin and Diane Keaton grew up in the same Orange County neighborhood. The Golden State’s native sons and daughters include acting greats such as Robert Redford, Clint Eastwood, Jodie Foster, Marilyn Monroe, Carrie Fisher and Adam Driver. So who gets to be the best and most famous actor from California?

According to the Missoulian, Leonardo DiCaprio, a Los Angeles native, is the most famous actor from California. DiCaprio won his Best Actor award in 2016 for the "The Revenant," but he’s been making his case for the title ever since he starred in “Titanic” and the likes of “The Departed,” “Catch Me if You Can” and “Blood Diamond.”

Thrillist, went a different route, choosing Concord native Tom Hanks as the best actor to emerge from California. The man carried a movie all by himself in “Cast Away,” and won two Best Actor Oscars for “Philadelphia” and “Forrest Gump,” so it’s hard to argue with their logic.

Who did these acting greats have to climb over to get to the top of the heep? We put together a list of the biggest actors from California Patch towns so you can decide for yourself.

TELL US IN THE COMMENTS: Who do you think is the best actor or actress from California?

California-Born Actors and Actresses:

• Robert Redford - Santa Monica
• Carrie Fisher - Beverly Hills
• Josh Brolin - Santa Monica
• Bryan Cranston Hollywood
• Sam Rockwell San Mateo
• Ben Affleck - Berkeley (believe it or not this famous Massachusetts kid was actually born in the Bay Area)
• Jodie Foster Los Angeles
• Adam Driver - San Diego

• Dwayne Johnson Hayward
• James Franco Palo Alto
• Chris Pine Los Angeles
• Michelle Pfeiffer Santa Ana

• Tom Hanks Concord
• Jennifer Jason Leigh Los Angeles
• Will Ferrell Irvine
• Jake Gyllenhaal Los Angeles
• Jamie Lee Curtis Los Angeles
• Clint Eastwood San Francisco
• Kevin Costner Lynwood
• Alicia Silverstone San Francisco
• Drew Barrymore Culver City
• Natalie Wood San Francisco
• Jonah Hill Los Angeles
• Laura Dern Los Angeles
• Jeff Bridges Los Angeles
• Gwyneth Paltrow Los Angeles
• Donald Glover Edwards Air Force Base
• Andy Samberg Berkeley
• Sean Penn Los Angeles
• Marilyn Monroe Los Angeles
• Keri Russell Fountain Valley
• Ted Danson San Diego
• Diane Keaton Los Angeles born, Orange County raised
• Lisa Kudrow Encino
• Robert Duvall San Diego
• Dustin Hoffman Los Angeles
• Anjelica Huston Santa Monica
• Tim Robbins West Covina
• Edward James Olmos Los Angeles
• Bruce Lee San Francisco
• Gregory Peck La Jolla
• Mia Farrow Los Angeles
• Danny Glover San Francisco
• Alison Lohman Palm Springs
• John Stamos Cypress
• Janet Leigh Merced
• Gene Hackman - San Bernardino

Photos:

Tom Hanks speaks onstage during the 31st Annual American Cinematheque Awards Gala at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on November 10, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Adam Driver arriving at the 'Logan Lucky' UK premiere held at Vue West End on August 21, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

Michelle Pfeiffer attends the Variety's Power Of Women at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on October 13, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Actor Gene Hackman pauses for a moment while signing copies of his first novel, 'Perdido Star' at a Borders book store in Chicago April 28, 2000. Hackman was autographing his book with co-author, underwater archeologist Daniel Lenihan. (Photo by Tim Boyle/Newsmakers)