Debra Messing

While she may not be a native to Rhode Island, Debra Messing is a transplant from Brooklyn, New York. She moved to East Greenwich and graduated from the town's namesake high school in 1986, the same year she was crowned Rhode Island's Junior Miss. 

Best known for her roles in sitcoms like Will and Grace (1998), USA's miniseries The Starter Wife (2007), and her most recent role as Detective Diamond The Mysteries of Laura (2014). 

Laura Linney

Laura Linney obtained her BFA in 1986 from Brown, and has had roles in both television and film including: The Truman Show (1998), Mystic River (2003), Frasier (1993), and Showtime's The Big C (2010).

She was also nominated for a Tony award for her performance as Elizabeth Proctor in the Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible"(2002), and won her second Emmy for her role in Frasier (2004). 

John Krasinski

John Krasinski is "best known" from his role as Jim Halpert on The Office (2005)". He has also done some voice acting for "Shrek the Third" (2007), and starred in films including Jarhead (2005), and License to Wed (2007). 

Krasinski attended Brown University (which he still visits) and obtained a degree in theatre arts in 2001. He also coached youth basketball at The Gordon School in East Providence throughout college. 

John is also the brother of GoLocal's co-founder and board member - and fellow Brown alumni - Paul Krasinski. 

Viola Davis

Viola Davis grew up in Central Falls, and attended Rhode Island College where she earned a BA in theatre in 1988.  She also holds and honorary degree from Providence College as a Doctor of Fine Arts.

She currently stars in the hit ABC series How to Get Away with Murder (2014). Davis is also well-known for her roles in films like The Help (2011), and was included in the TIME 100 list in 2012 as "one of the most influential people in the world".

Meredith Vieira

The 14-time Emmy award winner has hosted many a daytime show. From "The View" to her newly syndicated "Meredith Vieira Show" and a few news programs in between ( "Today", and "NBC Nightly News", "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?").

Vieira is an East Providence native who now resides in both New York City and the Cape where she feels she "belongs".   

Farrelly Brothers

The Farrelly Brothers hail from Cumberland and both attended Providence College. Peter ('79) even showed support for his alma mater by participating in a program to teach students about show business.

The duo is noted for directing "can't miss" films such as Dumb and Dumber (1994), There's Something About Mary (1998), and Shallow Hall (2001). 

Seth MacFarlane

Seth MacFarlane has many occupational titles including: producer, singer, actor, and comedian. He created popular animated shows like Family Guy (1999), American Dad! (2005), and The Cleveland Show (2009). 

His career has also extended into film with the creation of  Ted (2012), and A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014) in recent years. Although Seth was born in Connecticut, he graduated from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).   

Sarah Ruhl

Sarah Ruhl is an American playwright who holds both a BA in English and a MFA in playwrighting from Brown. 

She is also the recipient of the PEN American Award, Fourth Freedom Forum Playwriting Award, and the Whiting Writers’ Award. Her plays have been produced internationally, including "In the Next Room" which she ws nominated for both a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award for "best new play". 

Josh Schwartz

Josh Schwartz created and produced the "cultural phenomenon" known as The O.C. (2003). He also known for his work on shows like Gossip Girl (2007), and Chuck (2007). 

Born and raised in Providence, Schwartz graduated from The Wheeler School in 1994.

Michael Corrente

Michael Corrente, who hails from Pawtucket, directed and produced films like Outside Providence (1999) and Federal Hill (1994).

A high school field trip to Providence's Trinity Square Repertory Company "convinced him to pursue a career in the arts". Oh, and aside from organizing an anti-Buddy Cianci effort, he is a defendant in a $5.8 million lawsuit.

Matt Lauer

When this television journalist is not getting paid to ride a helicopter to work, Matt Lauer co-hosts NBC's The Today Show.  

Lauer worked on various shows in Providence before he began a career on syndicated television. 

James Woods

James Woods grew up in Warwick with his mom and step-father and is a graduate of Pilgrim High School. He earned a scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) only to drop out in 1967. 

Early in his acting career, he was in lead and supporting roles on Broadway before turning to film. He has starred in Boost (1988), and won an Emmy in the miniseries Promises (1987).

Richard Jenkins

Richard Jenkins has starred in films ranging from the the comedic - Step Brothers (2008) - to the thrilling: White House Down (2013). 

Jenkins, a native of Illinois, used to work at Trinity Repertory Company before beginning his professional acting career in 1985 with the release of his first films: Silverado, The Falls, and The Beast Must Die. 

Taylor Swift

While Taylor may not be a native of Rhode Island, she recently purchased a $17.75 million home in Westerly's Watch Hill neighborhood. 

She has won seven Grammys to date and is "the best selling digital music artist of all-time". 

Elisabeth Hasselbeck

Hasselbeck, was born in Cranston and had her first television appearance in 2001 on Survivor. 

The now television personality has hosted shows like The Look for Less (2002) and is an alumni of the "popular" daytime talk show The View. 

Olivia Culpo

Also hailing from Cranston is Olivia Culpo, who won and then relinquished the Miss Universe crown.

When she is not getting in trouble for taking pictures of the Taj Mahal, she is credited as the first American to capture the Miss Universe crown since 1997.

Ruth Buzzi

Ruth Buzzi is an American actress who was born in Westerly. 

She is a member of the Screen Actor's Guild and has apeared in various films and television shows including: Sesame Street (1993), and I Yabba-Dabba Do! (1993). 

Charlie Day

Charlie Day is "best known" for his portrayl of Charlie Kelly on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. 

Day moved to Middletown early in life, and attended both Pennfield School and Portsmouth Abbey School. 

Janeane Garofalo

Stand-up comedian Janeane Garofalo was born in Newton, New Jersey but majored in history at Providence College.

She has appeared in many films including: Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion, and The Cable Guy.  She is also an alumni of Saturday Night Live. 

Chris Van Allsburg

Chris Van Allsburg is an author and illustrator who still lives in Providence with his family today. He is best known for his book "The Polar Express" which later was adapted into a blockbuster film.

He continued to study sculpture at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) after graduating from the University of Michigan.

George M. Cohen

George M. Cohan is an inductee of the Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame and was born on Wickenden St. in Providence. 

He is credited with penning “You're a Grand Old Flag" and "Give My Regards to Broadway".

Pauly D

Born in Providence and raised in Johnston, Pauly D (Paul DelVecchio) got his start on MTV's reality series Jersey Shore (2009). 

He is now focusing on his career as a DJ and has recently been involved in a custody battle with the mother of his child. 

Billy Gilman

Billy Gilman's single "One Voice" (2000) allowed him to break a Guinness World Record as the "youngest singer to ever reach #1 on the Billboard Top Country Album charts".

Gilman was born in Westerly in 1988, and raised in Hope Valley.  

Richard Hatch

Richard Hatch is a reality television personality who has appeared on shows like Survivor, and The Apprentice.

Hatch, a convicted tax evader from Newport, was included in an Entertainment Weekly list of "The 12 Biggest Reality-TV Villains".

Shanna Moakler

Shanna Moakler was born in Providence and attended Barrington High School. She represented Rhode Island at Miss Teen USA at age 17 and was crowned Miss New York USA at age 19.

She also has famous exes including blink-182's Travis Barker and Oscar De La Hoya.

Ted Knight

Ted Knight is an American actor and high school drop-out who became famous for his work in films such as Psycho (1960) and Get Smart (1965). 

He got his start on a children's radio show (WJAR) in Providence and was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1985.

Christopher Walken

Often known as the "bad guy" in film, Christopher Walken has a vacation home in Block Island when he is not living in Connecticut. 

He also frequents Saturday Night Live as a guest host, and has had roles in comedies like Joe Dirt (2001), and Wedding Crashers (2005). 

Brian Williams

Brian Williams has been an NBC Nightly News anchor since 2004. When he is not at his vacation house in Block Island, he occasionally likes to bust a rhyme and post it online.  

James Franco

James Franco is an "overachiever" who has studied at both Yale and RISD in the past few years. 

He is known for his work in movies such as: 127 Hours, and Flyboys and earlier roles on Freaks and Geeks and General Hospital in television.  

Kevin Lima

Kevin Lima is an American producer and director known for his work on animated films like Enchanted (2007), A Goofy Movie (1995), and Tarzan (1999). 

Kevin Lima was born in Pawtucket and graduated from Tolman High School in 1980. 

Conan O’Brien

Conan has hosted his own late night show since 2001 and was a writer for Saturday Night Live at the beginning of his career. 

Conan O'Brien recently avoided a home auction after paying back taxes on his Westerly residence. 

Harry Anderson

The "magician turned actor" Harry Anderson got his start on "Saturday Night Live" in 1975 and later appeared on shows like "Cheers".  

The Newporter suffered from "severe stage fright" despite his career as a performer. 

Mena Suvari

Born in Newport, Mena Suvari has starred in very "American" films: American Pie (1999), American Pie 2 (2001) , American Reunion (2012), and American Beauty (1999) to be exact. Oh, and she was in a few episodes of "American Horror Story" (2011), too. 

Tim Daly

Timothy Daly is featured on People Magazine's list of "50 Hot Guys from 50 States" representing Vermont. However, he is "best known" for his role on "Wings" (1990) as Joe Hackett.

He currently lives in Providence with his family. 

Nicholas Colasanto

Nicholas Colasanto, or "Coach" to "Cheers" fans, was born in Providence and graduated from Bryant in 1949.

Nadia Bjorlin

Nadia Björlin or Chloe Lane from "Days of our Lives" grew up in Sweden but was born in Newport.

Björlin also models and sings and has described Wonder Woman as her "dream role". 

Christopher Stanley

Stanley was born and raised in "working class" Providence and was encouraged by his father to pursue acting.

He later had roles on "Mad Men", Argo (2012), and Zero Dark Thirty (2012). 

Caroline McWilliams

The "accomplished" actress and director grew up in Barrington and had starring roles on "Soap", and "Beverly Hills 90210". 

Spalding Gray

Spalding Gray's "most famous" film is Swimming to Cambodia, one of about 50 films the writer and performer worked on. 

Gray grew up in Barrington and wrote an "autobiographical trilogy of plays about life in Rhode Island".

John Cafferty

John Cafferty recently played at Mohegan Sun with the band he formed in Narragansett in the 1960's. Aptly named: John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, they have been described as "one of the greatest and most successful acts in Rhode Island music history".

Cafferty, himself, is a North Providence native. 

The Cowsills

The Cowsills are a musical family that is credited with inspiring the television series "The Partridge Family (1970)".  

The Cowsills had their earliest gigs at school dances and churches in Newport. 

Jason Marsden

Jason Marsden has done voice and television acting and is best friends with fellow "Boy Meets World" alumni Will Friedle.

Marsden has directed "numerous music videos as well as several short films" and is a native Rhode Islander who spent his childhood in Warwick.  

Robert Aldrich

Aldrich, a Cranston local, is the director credited with the "mega-hit" The Dirty Dozen (1967) among other films. 

David Angell

David Angell was the creator and executive producer of "Frasier" after years of being a staff writer on the show "Cheers".

He was born in West Barrington and earned a BA in English from Providence College. 

Ruth Hussey

Ruth Hussey was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in  The Philadelphia Story (1940), and was the "leading lady in MGM's 'B' unit". 

The Providence native graduated from Pembroke Women's College at Brown University.

Blu Cantrell

The "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)" singer's debut album "So Blu" (2001), was featured on the Top Ten album charts.

She grew up in Providence and has recently been under "psychological evaluation". 

Julie Bowen

Julie Bowen is known as Claire Dunphy on "Modern Family".

Bowen attended St. George's School in Newport before graduating from Brown with a BA in Renaissance Studies.

Mat Franco

Artist and magician Mat Franco recently won on the million dollar grand prize for his act on the latest season of America's Got Talent. 

Franco grew up in Rhode Island and obtained a marketing degree from URI in 2010. 

Will Mackenzie

Mackenzie has directed many sitcoms including "Reba", and "Scrubs". 

He was born in Providence and was nominated for two Emmys; winning one for his work on "Everybody Loves Raymond". 

Matt McCarthy

Matt McCarthy is a comedian, writer, and actor had a recurring role on the "Pete Holmes Show" (2013) and he also released a comedy album called "Come Clean" in 2010. 

He was born at Women and Infant's Hospital, grew up in Rumford and attended both St. Margaret's School and La Salle Academy - how Rhode Island!