Notable film and television stars who grew up on farms

Hollywood celebrities may attend movie premieres and other red carpet events filled with big city lights. Still, a few grew up on several acres surrounded by animals and rolling fields. Here are eight notable figures in film and television who grew up on a farm.

midwest sunset farm stock photo_adobe stock.png

Adobe Stock

Melissa McCarthy

McCarthy is a comedian, producer, and actress. Some of her most notable roles are in Bridesmaids, Mike and Molly, and Gilmore Girls. She was born in rural Illinois and grew up on her family’s corn and soybean farm. In an interview, she stated that it was the best way to grow up.

Jennie Garth

This actress was a star on the hit franchise Beverly Hills 90210. She has also appeared on many other television shows, including Dancing with the Stars. She also had her own show on both HGTV and CMT. Garth grew up on a horse farm in Illinois.

Garrett Hedlund

You may know Hedlund from movies such as Friday Night Lights, Georgia Rule, Tron: Legacy, or perhaps Country Strong. Hedlund may be considered country strong in his own right because he grew up and worked on a 400 acre cattle ranch outside of Roseau, Minnesota.

Krysten Ritter

Ritter is a model, musician and an actor, who became a part of the Marvel Universe when she stared in the Netflix series Jessica Jones. She grew up on a 100 acre cattle farm in rural Pennsylvania. On the farm, she helped raise a calf whom she named Jake. As Jake grew, she would ride him around the farm.

Matthew Fox

This Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actor grew up raising longhorns and horses on a ranch in Wyoming. He is best known for his role as Jack Shephard in the hit drama Lost.

Charlize Theron

Theron was born in Benoni, South Africa. Since she has been in Hollywood, she has won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe; she was also named one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World.” Her filmography consists of Mad Max: Fury Road, Monster, The Fate of The Furious, Bombshell, and the American remake of The Italian Job. However, before all of that, Theron grew up on a farm in South Africa, where she loved feeding and taking care of the livestock.

Eva Longoria

Longoria has appeared in shows like Beverly Hills 90210 and General Hospital; she also had a regular role on The Young and The Restless and was a lead in Desperate Housewives. Longoria was born and raised on a ranch near Corpus Christi, Texas, where she was no stranger to the outdoors.

Tom Wopat

Wopat is best known for his starring role as Luke Duke in the series The Dukes of Hazard. This “good ol boy” may not have been from Hazard County, Georgia in real life, but he does know what the farm life is about, as he grew up on a dairy farm in Lodi, Wisconsin.

Also, check out which celebrities wore the iconic blue and gold FFA jacket.

Related Stories
Gary Hall, co-founder of Hollywood Impact Studios Rehabilitation, joined the program to discuss using agriculture to provide opportunities and mentorship for at-risk youth in Southern California.
Team Ferguson closed out a tense, back-and-forth battle with a total of 30 pounds, 5 ounces on 18 scorable bass to overtake a tight field in the closing stretch and secure the win.
Singer-songwriter Shea Fisher joined the program to discuss her latest projects and her appearance on the Dirt Diaries podcast.
CattleCon 2026 kicks off February 3 in Nashville. Kristin Torres with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association joined RFD-TV to share more about what’s ahead at this year’s event.
Team B&W Trailer Hitches delivered a historic performance on Louisiana’s Cypress Bayou, posting a jaw-dropping total of 139 pounds, 15 ounces on 77 scorable bass to win Knockout Match 1 of the Bass Pro Shops Summit Cup Presented by Zenni.

Rural Lifestyle & Entertainment Shows
Hosted by Agriculture Broadcaster Brian Baxter, RFD-TV’s popular series “Classic Tractor Fever” is a must-see for any tractor enthusiast. It’s the place to find the history, stories, and passion of collectors who preserve these beautiful and amazing pieces of our agricultural past.
This half-hour program showcases the finest traditional country music that America has to offer. Recorded live at the four-acre Circle T Arena in Hamilton, Texas, each episode of TruCountry features live performances by some of the nation’s most authentic country music artists, playing good-time songs to a jam-packed dance floor.
One of RFD-TV’s many efforts to showcase stellar American musical craftsmanship, “The Bluegrass Trail” showcases the greatest Bluegrass artists across the USA performing time-honored songs—many presented for the very first time. It’s a celebration of this nation’s musical roots right here on our Nashville stage!
“America’s Gospel Music” presents the nation’s premiere Gospel Music artists live in concert from The Wonders Center in Dickson, Tennessee.
This hour-long show explores the trains and locomotives that aided the growth of travel, further settlement, and the development of a variety of American industries and agricultural ventures.