Where are the top stars born? NJ ranks sixth among states in new study

Tamara Walker, Asbury Park Press
·2 min read

Everyone knows the musical talent that reps New Jersey.

And according to a new study from TicketSource, a free online ticketing platform, the Garden State should be known for their on-screen talent, too.

TicketSource looked at where celebrities were born in each state. Out of 26,150 U.S. birthplaces, New Jersey placed sixth, with 520 actors and 390 actresses. You can see the complete list of "Talented States" online.

The top three spots? California, New York and Illinois.

Danny DeVito, shown in July, is just one of the actors with New Jersey roots.
Danny DeVito, shown in July, is just one of the actors with New Jersey roots.

Top actors from New Jersey

  • Danny DeVito of Asbury Park, who starred in the TV shows "Taxi" and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," as well as in the films "Twins" and "Batman Returns."

  • John Travolta of Englewood, who gained success in the 1970s with "Saturday Night Fever" and "Grease."

  • The late Ray Liotta of Newark, best known for "Goodfellas" and "Field of Dreams."

  • Joe Pesci of Newark, best known for "Goodfellas" and "Home Alone."

  • Jack Nicholson of Neptune, known for "The Shining," "Batman," "A Few Good Men" and "The Departed."

  • The late James Gandolfini of Westwood, best known for playing Tony Soprano on "The Sopranos."

Jack Nicholson, shown in 2018, went to Manasquan High School.
Jack Nicholson, shown in 2018, went to Manasquan High School.

Top actresses from New Jersey

  • Meryl Streep of Summit, who has been nominated 21 times for an Academy Award, winning for "Kramer vs. Kramer," "Sophie's Choice" and "The Iron Lady."

  • Zoe Saldana of Passaic, best known for her roles in "Avatar" and "Avengers"/"Guardians of the Galaxy" films.

  • Queen Latifah of Newark, whose roles on film and television include "Jungle Fever," "Chicago," "Hairspray" and "The Equalizer." She may be best known for TV's "Living Single."

  • Jane Krakowski of Parsippany-Troy Hills, best known for her starring role as Jenna Maroney in the NBC satirical comedy series "30 Rock."

  • Vera Farmiga of Clifton, known for her portrayal of Lorraine Warren in "The Conjuring" franchise.

  • Kirsten Dunst of Point Pleasant, who gained recognition for her role as child vampiress Claudia in "Interview with the Vampire." She is best known for her roles in "Bring it On" and for the "Spider-Man" films with Tobey Maguire.

When you add music, sports and comedy to the list, New Jersey ranked ninth, with 3,854 stars. See the TicketSource chart for Talented stars across the state for more information.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Famous people: New Jersey is home to many well-known actors

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