From Beyoncé to Dennis Quaid: 10 Texas celebrities you didn’t know were from Houston

Did you know there are quite a few celebrities from Houston? From Beyoncé to Megan Thee Stallion to Dennis Quaid, here are 10 you should know.

Certain celebrities are open about sharing details of their upbringings, including where they grew up and how living in that area influenced them as individuals and artists. However, others might not be as forthcoming with this type of personal information, so you’d be forgiven for not knowing that some celebs are actually from Houston.

Notable names like Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion are more obvious, but a few of these individuals may come as a surprise, just as they did to me when I was researching this piece. I’ve been a fan of Wes Anderson’s movies for almost 20 years now, but I had no idea he grew up in Houston. The more you know!

1 & 2. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter & Solange Knowles

First on the list is Queen Bey herself, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. Beyoncé and her little sister, Solange, grew up in Houston in the 1980s and ‘90s. Beyoncé performed in the school choir at Parker Elementary School, as well as the choir at St. John’s United Methodist Church, which is where she sang her very first solo. She went on to attend the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in downtown Houston, as well as Alief Elsik High School. As a member of Girl’s Tyme, Beyoncé performed around the talent show circuit in the city before eventually moving to California and securing her big break. Solange served as a backup dancer for Destiny’s Child before going on to have her own career in the music industry, winning a Grammy Award in 2017.

3. Wes Anderson 

Screenwriter, director, and producer Wes Anderson was born and raised in Houston, along with his brothers Mel and Eric. In 1987, Wes graduated from St. John’s School, which became the location inspiration for one of his first films, “Rushmore.” While attending the University of Texas at Austin, he worked as a part-time cinema projectionist at the Hogg Memorial Auditorium, which further fueled his love for film.

4. Megan Thee Stallion 

Megan Thee Stallion may have been born in San Antonio in 1995, but she’s a Houston girl at heart. Her mother moved her to the city shortly after she was born, and Megan was primarily raised in the South Park and Pearland neighborhoods. She graduated from Pearland High School in 2013, but began her rap career around the age of 14 when she started writing her own lyrics. In the midst of her mainstream career, she graduated from Texas Southern University in 2021.

5. Alexis Bledel 

I feel like a fake “Gilmore Girls” fan because I was not aware of the fact that actor Alexis Bledel is from Houston. Before she was cast as Rory Gilmore on the immensely popular television show at the age of 18, Alexis attended Lutheran and Baptist schools in the city before graduating from Houston’s Catholic St. Agnes Academy in 1999.

6. Matt Bomer

Actor Matt Bomer, who you may know from his long-running starring role as Neal Caffrey on “White Collar,” was born in Missouri but raised in Spring, Texas. He went to Klein High School with fellow actors Lee Pace and Lynn Collins. Matt played defensive back and wide receiver for his high school’s football team before deciding that he wanted to step away from sports in order to focus on his acting abilities instead.

7. Hilary Duff 

Singer and actress Hilary Duff, who’s perhaps best known for her hit Disney show “Lizzie McGuire,” was born and raised in Texas alongside her older sister, Haylie Duff. The Duff sisters split their time between Houston and San Antonio, as their father owned a chain of convenience stores and would often have to travel for work. Hilary became an actress at a young age and was homeschooled by her mother as a result of this.

8 & 9. Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen 

Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen may be sisters, but they’re both household names in their own right. They were born in Houston alongside their siblings, Tex and Hugh.

Phylicia is a celebrated actress on both the screen and stage. She’s best known for playing Claire Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” and she received Emmy award nominations for her roles in “A Raisin in the Sun” and “This Is Us.” She most recently served as the dean of Howard University’s College of Fine Arts until May 2024.

Debbie is an actor, dancer, choreographer, and singer. She has won numerous awards for her time working on the popular television series “Fame.” She directed her sister, Phylicia, in a production of Tennessee Williams’ play “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” in 2008.

10. Dennis Quaid

Dennis Quaid and his brother, Randy Quaid, were born and raised in Houston. Dennis attended Paul W. Horn Elementary School in Bellaire before going on to attend Houston’s Pershing Middle School. He studied drama at the University of Houston under coach Cecil Pickett. Dennis is known for his numerous starring roles, including those in “The Parent Trap” and “Breaking Away.” His brother, Randy, is an actor and a comedian.