These actors, writers and talk show hosts have ties to Bellingham area. See who
Celebrities — they’re just like us!
They go grocery shopping, walk their dogs and pick up their kids from school.
Some of them even hail from Whatcom County.
Here are just a few of the celebrities with connections to the Bellingham area:
Which famous actors lived in Bellingham area?
Hilary Swank
Born in Nebraska, Oscar-winning actor Hillary Swank moved to Bellingham from Spokane with her family at age 6 and lived in a trailer park just outside the city, according to the Academy of Achievement.
She discovered her love of acting in Bellingham, even winning the Best Junior Actress Award from the Bellingham Theatre Guild. Swank and her mother, Judy, later moved to Los Angeles so she could pursue her career.
Swank has two Academy Awards for best actress, taking home statuettes for “Boys Don’t Cry” and “Million Dollar Baby.” Her other screen credits include “The Homesman” and “P.S. I Love You.”
Billy Burke
“Fire Country” cast member Billy Burke, who played Charlie Swan in the “Twilight” movie series, was born and raised in Bellingham, according to IMDb.
Burke pursued a music career in Seattle before pivoting to acting.
Ryan Stiles
Born in Seattle, comedian and actor Ryan Stiles is best known for his roles in “The Drew Carey Show” and “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”
Stiles, who lives near Lake Samish, established Bellingham’s Upfront Theatre in 2004.
Misha Collins
Born in Boston, actor Misha Collins found fame playing the angel Castiel on the long-running CW show “Supernatural.” He’s also the founder of the nonprofit organization Random Acts.
Collins moved to Bellingham in 2014 because he wanted to “live in a smaller city,” the actor told Bellingham Alive in 2016. “Bellingham is lovely. It is like a hidden magical gem on the coast.”
Which musicians are from Bellingham?
Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow
Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow, founders of rock band The Posies, met as student at Sehome High School in Bellingham, according to the Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music.
In fact, Auer mixed and recorded the band’s first album, “Failure,” in his father’s home studio, according to The Posies’ official website.
Ben Gibbard
Singer-songwriter Ben Gibbard helped form the Grammy Award-nominated rock band Death Cab for Cutie in Bellingham in 1997.
See political commentators from Whatcom County
Glenn Beck
Conservative talk show icon Glenn Beck, host and star of “The Glenn Beck Program,” grew up in Mount Vernon and attended Sehome High In Bellingham, NBC News previously reported.
The Blaze Media CEO even received a ceremonial key to the city of Mount Vernon in 2009.
Brett Cooper
Brett Cooper, the conservative podcaster and actor behind “The Brett Cooper Show,” was born in Bellingham, according to IMDb.
Cooper previously hosted the podcast “The Comments Section,” Her acting credits include “Heathers” and “Lady Ballers.”
Which famous writers lived in Bellingham?
Dan Erickson
Dan Erickson, the creator and lead showrunner of Emmy Award-winning show “Severance,” hails from Olympia.
Erickson got the idea for the show during his time in Bellingham, where he attended Western Washington University, according to WWU Windows, the university’s alumni newsletter.
Steve Martini
Best-selling novelist Steve Martini, a California native, has lived in Bellingham since the 1990s, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported in 2003.
The former attorney is known for legal thrillers including “The Judge” and “Prime Witness.”
See celebrities with ties to Bellingham area
These notable people also have ties to Whatcom County:
- Stephen Oswald, NASA astronaut
- George “Pinky” Nelson, NASA astronaut, astrophysicist and Western Washington University professor
- Steve Baker, professional motorcycle racer
- Erik Larsen, comic book artist, writer and publisher
- Thom Bell, Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter