Famous People From Utah

Singer, songwriter, and musician Brendon Urie is best known as the lead vocalist of the pop-rock band Panic! at the Disco. He started taking guitar classes while in high school and also joined a band. He has enjoyed considerable success with Panic! and also takes up projects as a solo artist. He launched the Highest Hopes Foundation in 2018.

Derek Hough is an American Latin and ballroom dancer and choreographer. After winning the dance competition TV series, Dancing with the Stars, for a record six times, Hough used his popularity to launch his acting and singing career. Also a writer, his book Taking the Lead was featured in The New York Times Best Seller list.

Marie Osmond is an American singer, talk show host, author, actress, and philanthropist. A multi-talented individual, Osmond has been equally successful as a singer and actress. She is also credited with co-founding a non-profit organization called Children's Miracle Network which aims at improving the lives of children by raising money for children's hospitals across North America.

Mostly known for playing real-life characters, Emmy Award-winner James Woods began his career on stage. Fans adore him for his performances in the play Moonchildren, the series Holocaust, and the TV movie Too Big to Fail. He also played a significant voice role in the animated feature Hercules.

A stint at U.S. Marine Corps and a variety of jobs later, Wilford Brimley finally entered the world of acting, albeit as an extra. He established himself as a character actor and bagged his first leading role at the age of fifty. His notable work include Cocoon, The Natural and Our House. He is known for Quaker Oats commercials too.

Elizabeth Smart is a child safety activist who gained national attention when she was kidnapped from her home at the age of 14. She was held captive for nine months before she was rescued by the cops. Smart went on to become an activist and works against human trafficking and abduction. In 2011, she became the founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation.

Loretta Young began as a child actor. She later won an Academy Award for her portrayal of Katrin "Katy" Holstrum in The Farmer's Daughter and earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in Come to the Stable. Fans also loved her in the Emmy-winning series The Loretta Young Show.

Tony Finau is an American professional golfer who has won two PGA Tours and one Korn Ferry Tour so far in his career. In September 2021, Tony Finau participated in the 2021 Ryder Cup in Kohler, Wisconsin, where he represented the U.S. team. Although he lost his match against English golfer Ian Poulter, the U.S. team went on to win.

Kim Peek was a savant who suffered from the rare genetic syndrome, FG syndrome. Often called a “megasavant,” he had an exceptional memory and appeared in many documentaries. He was the inspiration for the character of Raymond Babbitt in the film Rain Man. He was born with macrocephaly and damage to the cerebellum and experienced considerable social difficulties. 

Former wrestler and Olympic gold medalist Cael Sanderson, who now coaches the wrestling team of Penn State University, has also coached Iowa State. Born to BYU wrestler Steve Sanderson, he grew up with his three brothers, who are also wrestlers. He became the second wrestler to win four NCAA championships.

Lola Van Wagenen is an American historian who is credited with co-founding non-profit educational organizations like Consumer Action Now (CAN) and Clio Visualizing History, Inc. Consumer Action Now went on to establish several environmental education and consumer-oriented programs in an attempt to raise awareness about the effects of consumers' buying habits on the environment.

Model/actor Jaime Bergman was featured as the Playboy Playmate of the Month in the magazine’s 45th anniversary issue. She also gained fame for her performance as BJ Cummings in the Baywatch spoof series Son of the Beach. She also co-owns a nail polish line with her husband, actor David Boreanaz.

Craig Venter biotechnologist and businessman best known for leading the first draft sequence of the human genome. He is the founder of Celera Genomics and the Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) and the co-founder of Human Longevity Inc.  He received the Dan David Prize for his contribution to genome research and is a member of the American Philosophical Society. 

Christine Teigen, the American model, television personality, author and entrepreneur, has been the face of Gillette Venus, Olay, Nike, Gap Factory and a host of other such campaigns. She has also hosted shows for TMZ, MTV and others and has appeared in TV series like the ‘The Mindy Project’. Plus, she has written recipe books and has released a clothing line.