Dallas is one of America’s largest and most modern cities, having launched a wealth of talent onto the global stage—from actors and singers to athletes and more. Learn more on dallaski.
Usher
Usher Terrence Raymond IV was born in Dallas in 1978 but moved with his family to Chattanooga, Tennessee, before settling in Atlanta to nurture his musical gifts. At age nine, he joined his church’s youth choir. In 1994, he released his self-titled debut album, and by the late ’90s, his second album, My Way, had solidified his fame. His third album, 8701 (2001), sold eight million copies worldwide, earning him two Grammy Awards for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 2002 and 2003.
Holland Roden
Dallas-born Holland Roden initially intended to pursue science and surgery after high school but instead launched her acting career on HBO’s 12 Miles of Bad Road. In 2008, she joined the cast of Lost as Emily Locke. She is best known for her breakout role as Lydia Martin—a teen with supernatural abilities—on MTV’s hit series Teen Wolf.
Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 and played his first preseason game against the Denver Broncos that same year. He retired from the NFL in 2000 and went on to serve as a commentator for Monday Night Football.
Owen Wilson
Actor, screenwriter, and producer Owen Wilson was born and raised in Dallas. While in college, he co-wrote and starred alongside his brother Luke in the indie comedy Bottle Rocket. He also co-wrote The Royal Tenenbaums, which earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay. His on-screen highlights include Night at the Museum, Shanghai Noon with Jackie Chan, Zoolander, Starsky & Hutch, Wedding Crashers, and the family favorite Marley & Me.
Robin Wright
Robin Wright got her start as Kelly Capwell on the daytime soap Santa Barbara, earning three Daytime Emmy nominations. She achieved worldwide acclaim starring opposite Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump, winning a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. In 2013, she earned another Emmy nomination and won a Golden Globe for her commanding role as Claire Underwood in Netflix’s House of Cards. Her other notable films include Message in a Bottle, Unbroken, Nine Lives, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Everest, and Wonder Woman, as well as the sci-fi epic Blade Runner 2049.
Jensen Ackles
Jensen Ackles made his TV debut in 1997 as Eric Brady on Days of Our Lives, but he rose to global fame as Dean Winchester on The CW’s Supernatural, appearing in all fifteen seasons. Behind the camera, he directed six episodes of the series. In 2020, he joined the cast of Amazon’s superhero drama The Boys Season 3 as the antagonist Soldier Boy.
Josh Henderson
Actor, model, and singer Josh Henderson is best known for his role as John Ross Ewing III on the soap opera Dallas. He also starred as Austin McCann on Desperate Housewives and appeared in the dance drama Step Up.
Nick Jonas
Born into a musical family in Dallas, Nick Jonas released his debut single in 2002, earning a contract with Columbia Records. He formed the Jonas Brothers with his brothers Kevin and Joe. Their debut single “Mandy” (December 2005) and frequent performances on Disney Channel—appearing on Hannah Montana to perform “We Got the Party” with Miley Cyrus—catapulted them to fame. In 2008, they starred in their own series and the Disney Channel movie Camp Rock. After the group’s 2013 hiatus, Nick launched a solo career.
Brooke Burns
Model, actress, and TV host Brooke Burns began her screen career in 1995 as Peg on the teen sitcom Out of the Blue. In 1998, she joined Baywatch, appearing in 33 episodes before taking maternity leave. She returned to television as the lead on the soap North Shore and went on to host NBC’s game show Dog Eat Dog (2002–2003), Fox’s Hole in the Wall, and GSN’s The Chase. She earned a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Game Show Host.
Gina Carano
Dallas‐born Gina Carano left college to pursue a career in mixed martial arts, remaining undefeated for three years and earning the nickname “the face of women’s MMA.” After her first world-title defeat, she transitioned to acting and modeling. Her work has appeared in Maxim, Big Biz Magazine, and ESPN. She starred in films such as Haywire, Fast & Furious 6, and Deadpool, and played Cara Dune in Disney+’s The Mandalorian.
Erykah Badu
Soul and R&B singer Erykah Badu first took the stage at age four at the Dallas Theater Center. Her 1997 debut album soared to No. 2 on the Billboard charts and garnered multiple awards. She has won four Grammy Awards for her pioneering work.
Vanilla Ice
Robert Matthew Van Winkle—better known as Vanilla Ice—got his nickname as the only white member of a local breakdance crew. By 16, he wrote “Ice Ice Baby,” which appeared on his debut album To the Extreme and became the first rap single to top the Billboard Hot 100.