Famous People From Nebraska

An African-American leader of the civil rights movement, Malcolm X was a vocal spokesman of the Nation of Islam and called upon the blacks to protect themselves from the white, even if it meant adopting violence. His radical views and preaching later evolved and he accepted the possibility of peaceful resolution of racial issues in America.

American investor, business tycoon and philanthropist Warren Buffett is considered one of the most successful investors in the world by the media. The chairman and largest shareholder of the firm, Berkshire Hathaway, he is often called as the ‘Oracle’ or ‘Sage’ of Omaha. Notably, he has pledged to give away a sizable portion of his wealth to philanthropic causes.

One of the greatest movie actors of all time, heartthrob of millions of women around the world, and a cultural icon, who had immense influence on actors of future generations, there are very few like Marlon Brando. In a career spanning six decades, Marlon Brando delivered critical and commercial successes in movies like A Streetcar Named Desire and The Godfather.

The recipient of two Golden Globes and two Academy Awards, Hilary Swank is known for her dedication to her craft. To prepare for her role in Boys Don't Cry, she reduced her body fat and pretended to be a man for a month. Later, she gained 19 pounds of muscle and underwent extensive training to play a boxer in Million Dollar Baby.

Fred Astaire was an American actor, television presenter, dancer, choreographer, and singer. Widely regarded as the most influential dancer in film history, Astaire was known for his innovation, perfectionism, and an uncanny sense of rhythm. Also known for his fashion sense, Fred Astaire remained a male fashion icon throughout his career, which spanned more than seven decades.

Gerald Ford Jr served as the 38th president of US from August 1974 to January 1977. His 895 day-long stint as the American president is the shortest in US history for any president who did not die in office. In a controversial act, he granted a presidential pardon to his predecessor Richard Nixon for his role in the Watergate scandal.

A popular American actress, Gabrielle Union has been vocal about violence against women and issues pertaining to women's health. Also a writer, she has released a memoir and a children's book. In 2020, she was named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list. Gabrielle Union has been an inspiration for women like Oprah Winfrey.

Nick Nolte, once a model, was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1992. He is known for his Golden Globe-winning and Academy Award-nominated role in The Prince of Tides. Fans adored him as Kuiil in The Mandalorian and in the films Affliction and Warrior. He has struggled with substance abuse.

Montgomery Clift was an American actor whose decision not to sign a contract in Hollywood for the first couple of films went on to help establish the structure of the star-studio relationship from the 1950s to the '80s. One of the original American method actors, Clift was the subject of a documentary named Making Montgomery Clift, which released in 2018.

James Coburn was an American actor who played the quintessential tough guy roles in action and Western films throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was characterized by his lanky physique and toothy grin. A martial arts student, Coburn was a close friend of Bruce Lee; he was one of the pallbearers at Bruce Lee's funeral in 1973.

Marg Helgenberger is best known for her Emmy-winning role as K.C. Koloski in the ABC series China Beach. Fans also loved her as Siobhan Ryan in the soap Ryan's Hope and as Catherine Willows in the series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. She is also associated with a breast-cancer-related philanthropic venture.

Dick Cavett is an American comedian, television personality, and former talk show host. For five decades, Cavett made frequent appearances on the United State's nationally broadcast television. In 2020, Stephen Colbert on his TV show, Late Show with Stephen Colbert, acknowledged that Dick Cavett had served as a major influence due to his conversational style. 

Charlie Munger is an American businessman, investor, architectural designer, and former real estate attorney. Over the years, he has played an important role as the vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. A well-known philanthropist, Charlie Munger has donated millions of dollars to universities and schools.

Actor and comedian, Jorge Garcia, is best known for his portrayal of Hugo "Hurley" Reyes in the TV series, Lost. An alumnus of the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), he also studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse acting school. Besides acting in TV shows and films, he performs as a stand-up comedian as well.

Swoosie Kurtz is an American actress who has received prestigious awards, such as Tony Awards and Primetime Emmy Award in a career spanning more than half a century. Over the years, she has contributed immensely to the success of several popular TV series, such as Carol and Company.

Best known for works such as the Mistborn trilogy and The Emperor's Soul, sci-fi and epic fantasy author Brandon Sanderson had initially studied biochemistry and then switched to literature. He has also worked as a missionary in South Korea and now teaches creative writing at his alma, Brigham Young University.

Dick Cheney was the vice president of the US from 2001 to 2009. He is considered to be one of the most powerful vice presidents ever and also one of the most unpopular politicians in the history of the US. He played an important role in America’s response to the September 11 attacks and backed the US invasion of Iraq.

Mina Kimes is an investigative journalist who has contributed for publications like ESPN The Magazine and Fortune. As someone who specializes in sports reporting and business, Kimes has been serving as a senior writer at ESPN for many years now. In 2019, she was hired to be a color commentator by the Los Angeles Rams for their preseason football games.