20 celebrities you might not know are originally from Vancouver

Known as Hollywood North, many of your favourite celebrities were actually born and raised right here in British Columbia.

While they may not live here anymore, nothing beats home sweet home, and you never know when these celebs might pop in for a hometown visit!

Here are 2o celebrities who are from Vancouver and the surrounding cities.

Michael Bublé

Michael Bublé is a Canadian singer who was born in Burnaby, BC and rose to worldwide fame in 2005 with his It’s Time album.

Seth Rogen

Seth Rogen is a Vancouver native, and was even spotted recently at a local coffee shop in Yaletown. This comedy star grew up performing stand-up as a teenager and landed his first gig on Freaks and Geeks while he was living in Vancouver.

These days Rogen is busy working on the movie Game Over, Man! which he signed on produce alongside Scott Rudin and others from his team at Point Grey Pictures.

Michael J. Fox

Best known as Marty McFly from the Back To The Future films or Mike from the ABC sitcom Spin City, Michael J. Fox was originally born in Edmonton, AB but moved to Burnaby, BC with his family because of his father’s job. He attended Burnaby Central Secondary school in his younger days and even has a theatre named after him as part of Burnaby South Secondary.

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds will be returning to Vancouver to film Deadpool 2, which is set to begin production in spring / summer 2017. Reynolds grew up in Vancouver and attended Kitsilano Secondary School, and then Kwantlen Polytechnic University before dropping out to move to LA to further pursue acting. Reynolds still holds a certain pride for his hometown though, as he goes by ‘VancityReynolds’ on both his Instagram and Twitter.

See also

• 12 celebrities you can spot in Vancouver in May
• What's filming in Vancouver in May

Jessica Lowndes

Jessica Lowndes is best known for her role as the beautiful drama starter Adriana Tate-Duncan on the hit show remake of 90210. Lowndes started her career at only 16 years old when she moved to LA, but before that she was born and raised in Vancouver. She often visits and has been spotted many times in and around the city with her friends and family – and she’s usually willing to stop and snap a pic with her fans!

Hayden Christensen

This Canadian cutie started acting at 13 years old and was born in Vancouver, before moving to Thornhill, ON where he was raised. Christensen made appearances as a child on television shows like Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark? He gained international recognition when he played Anakin Skywalker, aka Darth Vader, in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. 

Pamela Anderson

You may remember her best from her stint on Baywatch, or perhaps you saw her in Playboy magazine once upon a time, and who could forget when she was married to Tommy Lee.

But did you know that Pamela Anderson was born in Ladysmith, BC? She even attended Highland Secondary School in Comox, BC and after finishing school she lived in Vancouver before going off to pursue a career in modelling and acting.

Cobie Smulders

Born and raised in Vancouver, Cobie Smulders is best known for playing Robin Scherbatsky on How I Met Your Mother. The sitcom, and her co-stars, often poked fun at her for being a Canadian in many of the show’s episodes – kind of funny, eh?

Recently Smulders and fellow co-star Neil Patrick Harris have reunited in Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, in which Smulders snagged the role of Mother. And you never know, with a recent home purchase in Vancouver by NPH, maybe Smulders will return to her hometown sooner then we think!

Pablo Schreiber

This actor is known by his nickname of ‘Pornstach’, aka George Mendez, from Netflix’s Orange is the New Black. But did you know that Pablo Schreiber was born in Ymir, BC and then lived in Winlaw, BC? He eventually moved to Seattle aged 13 when his parent’s separated.

Taylor Kitsch

You may remember him with much longer hair, a country twang to his voice, and a beer in his hand when he played the role of Tim Riggins on Friday Night Lights. Or maybe his more recent movie work in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Battleship, John Carter and Savages. Or, if you grew up in Kelowna you may remember Taylor Kitsch from his time growing up in BC. The actor even played junior ice hockey for the Langley Hornets, before suffering a knee injury which caused him to stop playing, and instead pursue a career as a model / actor.

Carrie-Ann Moss

Born in Burnaby, Carrie-Anne Moss got her big break after landing the role of Trinity in The Matrix trilogy. She is also known for her roles in Chocolat, Disturbia and most recently for playing Jeri Hogarth in Marvel’s Jessica Jones.

Alexander Ludwig

Born in Vancouver, Alexander Ludwig started his career in acting at the age of eight, when he appeared in a Harry Potter toy commercial. He continued to act, starring in Air Bud: World Pup, and The Seeker: The Dark is Rising before landing his most recognizable role as Cato in The Hunger Games. Currently, Ludwig is starring in the History Channel series Vikings.

Emily Bett Rikards

Actress Emily Bett Rickards was born and raised in Vancouver, and attended the Vancouver Film School for acting. Rickards got her first glimpse of the spotlight when she appeared in Nickelback’s video “Never Gonna Be Alone”, and after a few small parts eventually landed the role of Felicity on Arrow. 

Noel Fisher

Born in Vancouver, Noel Fisher started acting at 14 years old. You may remember him as Mickey Milkovich from Shameless, or maybe you remember his voice as Michelangelo in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and its sequel. 

Justin Chatwin

Another Shameless star, Justin Chatwin played Emmy Rossum’s love interest in the show. Chatwin is originally from Nanaimo, BC and attended the University of British Columbia. He moved to LA to further pursue his acting career and apparently at one point he lived with his Shameless co-star Noel Fisher in a small apartment before the show began. Most recently, Chatwin has starred in the CBS series American Gothic. 

Meghan Ory

Meghan Ory is a Victoria native that is known for her portrayal of Red Riding Hood or Ruby on ABC’s Once Upon A Time, which is filmed right here in town in Steveston Village, known as Storybrooke in the show.

Kristin Kreuk

Born in Vancouver, Kristin Kreuk played the role of Lana Lang in Smallville, and also starred in the teenage soap opera Edgemont which was filmed in Vancouver. Most recently she played Catherine Chandler in The CW series Beauty & the Beast.

Amanda Crew

Born in Langley, BC, Amanda Crew started acting at 19 years old in ABC’s teen drama Life as We Know It. Her first motion picture debut was as Julie in Final Destination 3. Crew then went on to star in Sex Drive, Charlie St. Cloud and currently HBO’s Silicon Valley.

Her latest role this year is The Wanting, a new horror movie which she plays the main character alongside Adam Brody.

Molly Parker

Better known as Jackie Sharp from Netflix’s House of Cards, Molly Parker is from Maple Ridge, BC. She grew up on a farm in Pitt Meadows and acted in local productions from a young age. Most recently, she has landed the lead role of Maureen Robinson in the 1960’s remake of Lost in Space, which is filming in Vancouver till June.

Joshua Jackson

‘I don’t want to wait, for our lives to be over’ *sigh* who could forget good ol’ Pacey from Dawson’s Creek?!

Going by ‘VancityJax’ on his Instagram account, Joshua Jackson was raised in Vancouver and started his career starring in The Mighty Ducks films as Charlie Conway. Jackson also starred in the television series Fringe until 2013, and films like Cruel Intentions, The Affair and One Week.