Celebrities from Michigan

Though I wasn't born in the state, Michigan is where I've spent most of my life. The place I call home was once shared by a number of celebrities. This is not a comprehensive list, only featuring a handful of names. Many more are out there.

Did you recognize the voice in the Pure Michigan commercial? Tim Allen voices these commercials because he once grew up in the beautiful state.

Tim Allen wasn't from Michigan originally. He was actually born in Colorado. At the age of 11, Tim's dad sadly passed away in a car accident. Once his mother remarried, she moved her family to Michigan. Her new husband had three children while she had five, including Allen. He grew up with a large family.

The area was near Detroit. Allen eventually attended Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant. He then transferred to Western Michigan in Kalamazoo. He got his start in comedy at Detroit's Comedy Castle. He performed as Tim Dick. His true name is Timothy Alan Dick.

He was eventually offered a job on a talk show, where he changed his name to what we know him as today - Tim Allen. He switched from comedy to acting, though he typically takes on comedic roles.

Marshall Bruce Mathers III was born in Missouri. He mainly talks about Detroit as where he grew up though. His movie 8 mile was influenced by his life living north of 8 Mile Road on the wrong side of the tracks. He attended Lincoln High in Warren, Michigan, where he repeated the 9th grade twice due to truancy before finally dropping out. The rapper began using MM (for Marshall Mathers) as a stage name when he was a teenager, which later changed to Eminem.

Kristen Anne Bell, known for her roles in the TV series Veronica Mars, Gossip Girl, and The Good Place, as well as the movies Frozen and Frozen II, was born in Michigan. She grew up in Huntington Woods, which is a suburb of Detroit. She left for New York to study musical theater and got her start in Broadway.

Actor, Dax Shepard, was born in Milford, Michigan. His mom worked at General Motors. He attended Walled Lake High before leaving for California. He played in the series Parenthood, The Ranch, and Bless This Mess, plus many movies.

Shepard is actually married to Bell, and Michigan remains dear to their hearts. They vacation in the state with their kids every year. Bell has said she wants her kids to experience life on a Michigan lake like she did growing up. Part of why they bonded was because of their love for the Red Wings -- Detroit's hockey team.

Robert James Ritchie is the true name of Kid Rock, the rocker born in Romeo, Michigan. His father owned a car dealership and they grew up in a 5,000+ square foot home with more than 5 acres of land.

Lizzo was born Melissa Viviane Jefferson in Detroit, Michigan. The rapper lived in the state until she was about 10 years old until her family moved to Texas.

Actor, Taylor Lautner, known by many for his role in the Twilight franchise, was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He lived in the state on and off, typically around the Hudsonville/Jamestown area, when he was younger. He attended Jamestown Elementary. I actually attended school less than 10 minutes away at a nearby location.

Actress, Crystal Reed, was born in Detroit, Michigan. She grew up around Roseville, Michigan, attending Roseville Junior High and Roseville High. She then attended Wayne State University back in Detroit, before quitting to head to Chicago instead.

Her most major roles have been on Teen Wolf, Gotham, and Swamp Thing.