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Read more about Tennessee actors.
Dixie Carter was born and raised in McLemoresville, Tennessee. After her graduation from Southwestern University in Memphis, Carter moved to New York and appeared on stage.
She later appeared in television shows, most notably Designing Women. Carter donated money and performed in a fundraiser for a new arts center in Huntingdon, Tennessee. That center, now built, is named after her.
Cybill Shepherd was born in Memphis and went to high school there. In 1966 she won the “Miss Teenage Memphis” contest, and then worked as a fashion model, later earning the 1968 “Model of the Year” title.
This exposure won her a role in the movie The Last Picture Show, which led to other film roles. She later turned to television in the highly popular Moonlighting series, winning two Golden Globe awards.
Kathy Bates was born in Memphis and graduated from White Station High School there. She appeared in several movies and on stage. Her greatest success came in 1990 when she won an Academy Award for the movie thriller Misery.
She was also nominated for Academy Awards for roles in the 1998 film Primary Colors and in the 2002 film About Schmidt, although she didn’t win either year. Bates has also directed both television shows and movies.
Reese Witherspoon was raised in Nashville, and graduated from Harpeth Hall High School. She pursued an acting career and was cast in a lead role for The Man in the Moon. She appeared in several movies including the widely popular Legally Blond.
In 2004 she was chosen to play country music singer June Carter Cash in the movie Walk the Line. She received an Academy Award for her performance in that movie.
Other actors and directors with Tennessee backgrounds include Quentin Tarantino, Michael Jeter, Morgan Freeman, David Keith, Brad Renfro, and Samuel Jackson who graduated from Riverside High School in Chattanooga.
Picture Credits:
- Photograph of Samuel L. Jackson. This photo was taken in 2008 at the San Diego ComicCon festival. Wikipedia.
- Photograph of David Keith. This photo was taken in 2009 on the set of Unrequited. Flickr.com, Unrequitedthemovie.
- Photograph of Brad Renfro. This photo was taken in 2005. Wikipedia.
- Photograph of Quentin Tarantino. This photo was taken in 2007 at the Scream Awards.
- Photograph of Morgan Freeman. This photo was taken in 2006 and provided by “SGK.” Flickr.com.
- Photograph of Michael Jeter. This photo was taken in 1992 at the 44th Emmy Awards and provided by Alan Light. Wikipedia.
- Photograph of Kathy Bates. This photo was released in 1990. It shows Bates as Annie Wilkes in the movie Misery. Metro Goldwyn Mayer.
- Photograph of Reese Witherspoon. This photo was released in 2005. It shows Witherspoon as June Carter. Suzanne Tenner, 20th Century Fox.
- Photograph of Cybil Shepherd. This photo was sometime between 1985 and 1989. It shows Shepherd as Madeline Hayes standing next to Bruce Willis as David Addison for the television show Moonlighting. Buena Vista Television, American Broadcasting Company.
- Photograph of Dixie Carter. This photo was taken between 1986 and 1993. It shows Carter, dressed in red as Julia Sugarbaker, and sitting alongside members of the cast for the show Designing Women.
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