Montana has only one million people and is best known for its agriculture, the Rocky Mountains, paleontology, and outdoor recreation.
But did you know that renowned film director David Lynch hails from Montana? What about NBA coach Phil Jackson? And Michelle Williams? That’s right, they all call Montana their home state.
Which other famous people are from Montana?
Skim through this list of 15 of the most famous people from Montana and discover the dazzling stars that were born in the state – TV stars, musicians, athletes, and even a few fictional characters from shows like Star Trek and CSI.
What famous people are from Montana?
- Phil Jackson
- Dana Carvey
- Brad Bird
- David Lynch
- Gary Cooper
- Jeff Ament
- Dirk Benedict
- Michelle Williams
- Bud Luckey
- Jesse Tyler Ferguson
- Scot Schmidt
- Patrick Duffy
- Phillip Winchester
- Jeannette Rankin
- Adam Morrison
1. Phil Jackson
Phil Jackson is one of the most famous people from Montana. He is a renowned professional NBA player who later became one of the top 10 NBA coaches in league history.
His career began as a power forward for 12 seasons in the NBA, where he played for the New York Nicks during their NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. After his career as an athlete ended, he became head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 1989 to 1998, leading them to six NBA championships. He later coached the Los Angeles Lakers, from 1999 to 2004 and 2005 to 2011, leading them to five league titles.
He is known for his holistic approach to coaching, which is influenced by Eastern philosophy, and he applied Native American spiritual practices in his coaching techniques. What a wonder this famous person came from Montana!
Quick facts
- Birthplace: Deer Lodge, Montana
- Occupation: Former NBA player, former NBA coach
- Known for:
- As player: 2x NBA Champion
- As coach: 11x NBA Champion; Top 10 coaches in NBA history
2. Dana Carvey
Dana Carvey is one of the most famous people from Montana. Anyone who watched comedy acts, comedy TV shows, or comedy films throughout the nineties and early 2000s knows Dana Carvey’s name as a staple in the industry and maybe even as one of the celebrities from Montana.
Carvey had a series of notable performances throughout the eighties in multiple TV shows, such as One of the Boys and Blue Thunder, and in films such as Tough Guys and This is Spinal Tap. Carvey then landed a spot on Saturday Night Live and remained there for the next seven years, which cemented him as a household name in comedy.
Dana Carvey is not only one of the most famous people from Montana, but Comedy Central ranked him as #90 on their 2004 list of the greatest 100 comedians of all time.
Quick facts
- Birthplace: Missoula, Montana
- Occupation: Stand-up comedian, actor, impressionist, screenwriter, producer
- Known for:
- Nominations: Five consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations
- TV: Seven seasons as a cast member on Saturday Night Live (1986 – 1993)
- Film: Tough Guys, Opportunity Knocks, Wayne’s World, Trapped in Paradise, The Master of Disguise
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3. Brad Bird
Brad Bird is a staple filmmaker, and if you haven’t heard his name, there is a good chance you’ve watched one of his incredible movies. While you may not consider him a celebrity from Montana, he’s certainly a well-known person from Montana and has created multiple highly impactful films.
After completing his first animated film at the age of 14, Bird submitted it to Disney, which lead to an apprenticeship under Disney’s Nine Old Men animator team. He worked on several notable projects throughout the nineties and early 2000s, including developing two episodes of Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories.
He eventually moved to Pixar, where he wrote and directed The Incredibles and Ratatouille, which earned him two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature and a nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Brad Bird is one of the most famous people from Montana.
Quick facts
- Birthplace: Kalispell, Montana
- Occupation: Animator, director, producer
- Known for:
- Awards: Multiple, including two Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature
- Nominations: Two Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay; Academy Award nomination for Best Animated Feature
- Film: The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Tomorrowland, 1906
4. David Lynch
If you haven’t heard of David Lynch, you may be familiar with his work. His unique and distinguished approach to filmmaking paired with his abilities for visual storytelling have garnered him a strong following. He is now one of the most famous people from Montana.
David Lynch is a celebrity from Montana who started out studying painting before moving on to create several short films and, eventually, his well-known feature film Eraserhead. He is also well known for the TV series Twin Peaks.
David’s fascinating approach to filmmaking and art, in general, involves transcendental meditation. His colorful career has made him one of the most famous people from Missoula, Montana.
Quick facts
- Birthplace: Missoula, Montana
- Occupation: Filmmaker, visual artist, actor
- Known for:
- Awards: Palme d’Or; Golden Lion
- Nominations: Three Academy Award nominations for Best Director
- TV: Twin Peaks (1990 – 1991; 2017)
- Film: Eraserhead, The Elephant Man, Dune (1984), Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart, Lost Highway, Mulholland Drive, and Inland Empire
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5. Gary Cooper
Gary Cooper is another one of the most famous people from Montana who worked in the film and entertainment business. During high school, Cooper attended three art courses at the Montana Agricultural College in Bozeman, Montana, and his first interest in art was sparked by the paintings of Charles M. Russell, a renowned painter of the late 19th century who resided in Montana.
Gary Cooper is a celebrity from Montana who began his career as a stuntman and film extra and eventually landed some acting roles. He played a range of characters with a strong but understated acting style. In each character he played, he portrayed pieces of his own personality, which gave them a natural appearance on screen.
His 36-year career (1925 to 1961) spanned from the end of the silent film era through the Hollywood golden age of classics.
Quick facts
- Born: Helena, Montana
- Occupation: Actor
- Known for:
- Strong, quiet screen presence and understated acting style
- One of the top-10 film personalities for 23 consecutive years
- Awards: Two Academy Awards for Best Actor; Academy Honorary Award in (1961)
- Nominations: Three Academy Awards
- Film: The Virginian, A Farewell to Arms, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, Meet John Doe, Sergeant York
6. Jeff Ament
Jeff Ament is the bassist for the renowned rock band Pearl Jam and is one of the most famous people from Havre, Montana – perhaps the most famous person from Havre.
Ament is a celebrity from Montana who played in several bands, such as Green River, before forming Pearl Jam in 1990 with bandmembers Stone Gossard and Mike McCready. They toured for decades, releasing 11 highly successful studio albums. Pearl Jam has received Grammy nominations for Album of the Year and Best Rock Album and their song Spin the Black Circle won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1996.
Jeff Ament is one of the most famous people from Montana who is still alive today. He maintains a relationship with Montana and has helped build 25 skateparks throughout the state.
Quick facts
- Born: Havre, Montana
- Occupation: Bassist
- Known for:
- Bassist of Pearl Jam
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Pearl Jam on April 7, 2017
- One of the top hard rock/metal bassists of all time by Loudwire in 2016
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7. Dirk Benedict
Dirk Benedict is another one of the most famous people from Montana whose career is in film, TV, and entertainment. Dirk Benedict was born in Helena, Montana.
He is a celebrity from Montana who had roles in various films and TV series throughout the seventies. He eventually earned a role as Lieutenant Starbuck in the TV series Battlestar Galactica in 1978, which became his most well-known role.
His career has continued since then, through the eighties, nineties, 2010s, and onwards. He has performed in several TV shows, such as The A-Team and Walker, Texas Ranger, and films such as Blue Tornado and Alaska.
Quick facts
- Born: Helena, Montana
- Occupation: Actor, author
- Known for:
- TV: Lieutenant Templeton “Faceman” Peck in The A-Team TV series (1983 – 1987)
- Film: Lieutenant Starbuck in the original Battlestar Galactica
- Books: Confessions of a Kamikaze Cowboy, And Then We Went Fishing
8. Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams was born in Kalispell, Montana, and made a career as an actress in TV and film. She is a celebrity from Montana who started out with roles on several TV shows before making her film debut in Lassie in 1994. She eventually landed a leading role in Dawson’s Creek in 1998.
She continued to act in several films throughout the nineties and early 2000s before landing a role in the popular film Brokeback Mountain in 2005. She went on to give stunning performances in many films, such as Wendy and Lucy and Manchester by the Sea, and won two Golden Globes for playing Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn.
She has also received a Primetime Emmy Award and has been nominated for five Academy Awards and a Tony Award. She is one of the most famous people from Montana who is still alive today.
Quick facts
- Born: Kalispell, Montana
- Occupation: Actress
- Known for:
- Awards: Two Golden Globe Awards; Primetime Emmy Award
- Nominations: Five Academy Awards; Tony Award
- TV: Dawson’s Creek (1998 – 2003)
- Film: Lassie, Brokeback Mountain
9. Bud Luckey
If you don’t know Bud Luckey, chances are you’ve seen a number of the characters he designed for Disney and Pixar animated movies throughout the nineties, 2000s, and 2010s.
Bud Luckey is one of the most famous people from Montana, known for working as a character designer on Toy Story, Boundin’, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Cars, and many other animated films. He is also known as the voice of Rick Dicker in The Incredibles, Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, and Chuckles the Clown in Toy Story 3.
He was born in Billings, Montana, and his storied career working as a cartoonist, illustrator, musician, singer, and voice actor on dazzling films and various other projects made him one of Montana’s most famous people.
Quick facts
- Born: Billings, Montana
- Occupation: Artist, cartoonist, illustrator, musician, singer, voice actor
- Known for:
- A character designer for many films, such as Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, and many others
- The voice of Rick Dicker in The Incredibles, Chuckles in Toy Story 3, and Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh
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10. Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Jesse Tyler Ferguson is well known for his role as Mitchell Pritchet on the popular TV Show Modern Family from 2009 to 2020. This role earned him five consecutive nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series at the Academy Awards.
He is a celebrity from Montana who has also become a key figure on Broadway, with multiple award-winning performances. He received a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance for his role in the 2016 Broadway show Fully Committed and a Tony Award for his performance in a 2022 revival of Richard Greenberg’s Take Me Out Broadway show.
As a native of Missoula, Montana, Jesse Tyler Ferguson is one of Montana’s famous people.
Quick facts
- Born: Missoula, Montana
- Occupation: Actor
- Known for:
- Awards: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Cast Ensemble; Tony Award
- Nominations: Five consecutive nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
- TV: Mitchell Pritchett on the sitcom Modern Family (2009 – 2020)
- Broadway: On the Town (1998 – 1999); original Broadway cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (2005 – 2006)
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11. Scot Schmidt
Scot Schmidt is a pioneer professional extreme skier and one of Montana’s most famous people. To many people in the ski industry he is the first professional freeskier, and many in the industry today believe he paved the way for subsequent careers in freeskiing.
He is notable for his explosive and floating style, depicted in photographs and film segments where Schmidt makes sharp, floating turns down steep backcountry peaks and descends off large cliffs. Multiple professional freeskiers followed in the footsteps of Scot Schmidt, and the industry has grown several times over since the first days of his career.
Today, Scot Schmidt is one of the most famous people in Montana.
Quick facts
- Born: Helena, Montana
- Occupation: Extreme skier
- Known for:
- Explosive and suspended skiing style
- Over 40 ski films, including the Warren Miller films
- Designer and technical consultant for The North Face
- US Ski Hall of Fame 2014
12. Patrick Duffy
Patrick Duffy is a household name for those who grew up in the eighties or nineties and is another one of the most famous people from Montana with a career in television. His career spans 70+ TV shows and films from 1974 onward.
If you grew up in the eighties, you may know him best as Bobby Ewing in the hit TV show Dallas, which ran from 1978 to 1991. If you grew up in the nineties and followed several of the wonderful TV shows of that decade, such as Home Improvement, Full House, and Family Matters, you may best know Patrick Duffy as Frank Lambert, the father on Step by Step.
Quick facts
- Born: Townsend, Montana
- Occupation: Actor, director
- Known for:
- Bobby Ewing in the CBS primetime soap opera Dallas (1978–1985; 1986–1991)
- Frank Lambert in the ABC sitcom Step by Step (1992 – 1998)
- Stephen Logan on the CBS daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful (2006 – 2011)
- Lead character’s father in the 2014 NBC sitcom Welcome to Sweden (2014 – 2015)
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13. Phillip Winchester
Phillip Winchester has had a wonderful career as an actor, playing in a variety of TV shows and films over the past three decades, such as Thunderbirds, CSI: Miami (2005), and King Lear (2008).
He is a celebrity from Montana who is perhaps most well-known as Peter Stone in the TV shows Chicago Justice (2017) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2018 – 2019).
Phillip Winchester is one of the most famous people from Montana who’s had a phenomenal career as an actor, and we look forward to his yet-to-be-seen characters.
Quick facts
- Born: Belgrade, Montana
- Occupation: Actor
- Known for:
- TV: CSI: Miami (2005), Strike Back (2011 – 2018), and Peter Stone in Chicago Justice (2017) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2018 – 2019)
- Film: The Patriot, The Hi-Line, Flyboys, In My Sleep, The Heart of the Earth, and Shaking Dream Land
14. Jeannette Rankin
You may remember Jeannette Rankin’s name from your high school history books. She was the first woman elected to congress in 1916. She served a single term before being reelected in 1940.
Rankin is a notable pacifist and voted against the declaration of war on Germany in 1917 as well as the declaration of war on Japan after the Pearl Harbor attack. She is also a suffragist, who fought for women’s voting rights throughout her career. Rankin introduced much of the original legislation that later became the 19th amendment to the United States Constitution, granting women nationwide the right to vote.
Jeanette Rankin has had an enormous impact on many people’s lives in the U.S. and beyond. Her storied career makes her one of the most famous people in Montana’s history.
Quick facts
- Born: Missoula County, Montana
- Occupation: American politician, women’s rights advocate
- Known for:
- First woman to hold federal office in the U.S. (1917), in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican from Montana
- As of 2022, the only woman from Montana elected to Congress
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15. Adam Morrison
Adam Morrison is a renowned professional NBA player who hails from Glendive, Montana. After finishing high school, Morrison went on to play for Gonzaga University, where his career blossomed. In 2006, he was signed to the Charlotte Bobcats and in 2009, he was signed to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Adam Morrison is a celebrity from Montana with a storied career involving stints on several national teams and later roles as a broadcaster and coach. Adam Morrison shot straight to the front lines of the basketball world after finishing high school, and today he is one of the most famous people from Montana.
Quick facts
- Born: Glendive, Montana
- Occupation: Former NBA player
- Known for: Played in the NBA for the Charlotte Bobcats (2006 – 2009) and L.A. Lakers (2009 – 2010)
Fictional Montanans (Famous fictional characters born in Montana)
16. Violet Beauregarde
Violet Beauregarde is one of the beloved characters from the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) and its reboot Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).
She is a skilled young kid who infamously chews bubblegum nonstop. During her tour of the factory, she grabs a piece of special gum, chews it, and inflates into an enormous purple blueberry.
A harrowing, and unforgettable scene.
Violet hails from Miles City, Montana in the 1971 film. She is one of the most famous people from Montana from a fictional world.
Quick facts
- Born: Miles City, Montana
- Occupation: Chewing gum
- Known for: Obsessively chewing gum and later inflating into an enormous blueberry in the film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
17. Zefram Cochrane
Zefram Cochrane is famous for multiple historic achievements. He was the first to invent a warp drive system, which allowed humans to travel faster than the speed of light. A flight in 2063 led to contact with the Vulcans, humanity’s first contact with an alien race.
According to Fandom, Cochrane “was” born in the 2030s in Montana, North America, planet Earth.
While his life and achievements exist within the fictional realm of Star Trek, he and many of the other characters of this universe have been a part of many people’s lives for more than five decades. He is one of the most famous people from Montana from a fictional universe.
Quick facts
- Born: 2030s, Montana, North America, Earth
- Occupation: Human scientist
- Known for: A genius human who invented the warp drive system and traveled faster than the speed of light, which lead to humanity’s first official contact with the Vulcans
18. Adam Carrington
If you watched the TV show Dynasty throughout the 1980s, then you may quickly recognize the image above of actor Gordon Thomson, who played Adam Carrington in the show. Fandom notes that Carrington was born in Atlanta, Georgia, though was kidnapped at birth and raised by his foster mother in Billings, Montana.
He is a primary character throughout the show who has a tumultuous past and experiences conflict with multiple other characters, such as his parents, brother Steven, and brother-in-law Jeff.
Though fictional, Adam Carrington is one of the most famous people from Montana.
Quick facts
- Born: Atlanta, Georgia (raised in Billings, Montana)
- Occupation: Veterinarian
- Known for: A physician-turned-veterinarian in the TV series Dynasty who has conflicts with other characters, such as his family members.
Famous people from Montana – FAQ
Below are answers to commonly asked questions about famous people from Montana.
Famous singers from Montana
Montana is the birthplace of many famous singers, such as Colin Meloy of The Decemberists, Nicolette Larson, Wylie Gustafson, and Maria Montana.
Bozeman, Montana famous residents
Several well-known figures have lived in Bozeman, Montana, such as professional rock climber, mountaineer, author, and former leader of The North Face climbing team Conrad Anker. Many famous people from Montana have lived in Bozeman at one point, but Anker is one of the few famous people who currently reside there.
Famous people who graduated from the University of Montana
Many famous people graduated from the University of Montana, including authors, scientists, musicians, actors, and others. Below is a brief list of the University of Montana’s famous alumni:
- Colin Meloy. The frontman of the indie rock group The Decemberists. He was born in Helena, Montana, and graduated from the University of Montana in creative writing.
- Jeannette Rankin. The first woman to be elected to the United States Congress in 1916, and a suffragist who introduced legislation that would later become the 19th constitutional amendment, granting women nationwide the right to vote.
- J.K. Simmons. An eminent character actor who has appeared in over 200 roles in film and TV. He has an Academy Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, British Academy Film Award, and Golden Globe Award. He graduated from the University of Montana with a BA in music.
Other famous people from Montana who graduated from the University of Montana include NFL player Aldo Forte, actor Carroll O’Connor, and chemist Harold Urey.
Famous people who graduated from Montana State University
Many famous people graduated from Montana State University, including celebrities and scientists. Below is a brief list of Montana State University’s famous alumni:
- Craig Kilborn. A comedian, actor, and former talk show host who played basketball at Montana State University in Bozeman.
- Loren Acton. A scientist who worked at the Space Science Laboratory and was part of a team that flew on the STS-51-F. He was born in Lewistown, Montana, and graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman, where he later became a professor.
- Jack Horner. Jack Horner is a well-known paleontologist who discovered the first dinosaur eggs in the Western Hemisphere, a new genus of dinosaur he named Maiasaura, and the first evidence of parental care among dinosaurs. He grew up in Bozeman, Montana, attended Montana State University, and received an honorary Doctorate degree from Montana State University in 1986.
Other famous people from Montana who graduated from Montana State University include newscaster Chet Huntly, NFL player Sam McCullum, and artist Peter Voulkos.
How many famous people have graduated from Montana State University?
More than 60 famous people have graduated from Montana State University, including scientists, actors, and athletes. Montana State University alumni include comedian and actor Craig Kilborn, scientist Loren Acton, and paleontologist Jack Horner.
Famous people who grew up in Bozeman, Montana
Many well-known scientists, actors, mountaineers, and notable people from other professions spent their childhood in Bozeman, Montana. Below is a non-exhaustive list of famous people who grew up in Bozeman, Montana:
- Brannon Braga. Television producer, director, and screenwriter Brannon Braga was born in Bozeman, Montana. He is well known for working as a writer for the Star Trek franchise.
- Gary Cooper. An Academy Award-winning actor who spent much of his childhood in Bozeman and graduated from Bozeman’s Gallatin County High School.
There are many famous people from Montana who have lived in Bozeman, but Braga and Cooper are of the few who spent their childhoods there.
