Celebrity States Trivia Quiz

Answer: California

Snoop Dogg was born in Long Beach, California, on October 20, 1971. Of course, 'Snoop Dogg' is his rapper name; his birth name was Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr.

Snoop came by his showbiz name honestly, as he earned the nickname 'Snoopy' from his parents as a child, due to his love of the "Peanuts" character of the same name. He kept up with the theme, starting out as 'Snoop Doggy Dogg' and worked with the hip hop duo, 'The Dogg Pound', in producing his first album, "Doggystyle" in 1993.

Answer: California

Tiger Woods was born in Cypress, California, on December 30, 1975. His birth name was Eldrick Tont Woods. His parents called him 'Tiger' in honour of his father's friend, South Vietnamese Colonel Vuong Dang Phong, who was nicknamed Tiger, as well.

Tiger was a child prodigy golfer, being featured in tournaments and television appearances for his skill. He became the youngest Junior Amateur Champion at age 15 (a record since broken), and went on to win it three years in a row (the first person to do so).

After going pro at the age of 20, Tiger won his first major - The Masters - at the age of 21, and rocketed up to Number 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking just two months later. At age 24, he became the youngest golfer to achieve the 'Career Grand Slam' (winning the four major tournaments). A couple of years later, he won four major championships in a row (albeit not in the same calendar year). This feat now bears his name as a new goal to be achieved: the 'Tiger Grand Slam.'

Answer: California

Kevin Michael Costner was born in Lynwood, California, on January 18, 1955, and moved around a bit (all in California) in his formative years, graduating from high school in Villa Park. While attending California State University (for marketing and finance), he became interested in acting, and following his graduation in 1978, he made his film debut with "Sizzle Beach, U.S.A.," which was released in 1981.

After a number of smaller roles, Kevin had his breakthrough role as Eliot Ness in "The Untouchables" in 1987. In 1991, he received two Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director for his 1990 film "Dances With Wolves," missing out on the accompanying nomination for Best Actor.

After a long career with many significant films, Kevin made a successful move to television, starring in the acclaimed series "Yellowstone," that debuted in 2018. He won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Series Drama in 2023.

Answer: Illinois

Betty Marion White was born in Oak Park, Illinois, on January 17, 1922. Her time in Illinois was short-lived, however, as her family relocated to California when she was just one year old.

Betty began her entertainment career shortly after graduating high school, singing on television, working as a model, and acting in the theatre. Her career took a pause during World War II as Betty joined the American Women's Voluntary Services. After the war, she found work in radio, and eventually moved into television, producing and starring in "Life with Elizabeth" (1953-1955), which was a huge milestone for the industry, as Betty became the first woman to produce a sitcom.

Perhaps best known for her roles on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Golden Girls," Betty was also the first woman to win a Daytime Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Game Show Host, for the NBC entry "Just Men!"

Betty saw a resurgence in her career late in life, popularly hosting "Saturday Night Live!" in 2010 at the age of 88, and starring in the sitcom "Hot in Cleveland" from 2010 until 2015. Sadly, Betty passed away on December 31, 2021, just 17 days before her 100th birthday.

Answer: Illinois

Robin McLaurin Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 21, 1951. At the age of 12, his family relocated to Detroit, Michigan, and then when he was 16 his father retired and they moved to California. In 1969, Robin graduated from high school where he was voted "Most Likely Not to Succeed" and "Funniest" by his classmates.

After some community college studying drama, Robin received a full scholarship to attend the prestigious Julliard School in New York City. Eventually, he left the program early to pursue his career in earnest, beginning with stand-up comedy in San Francisco and Los Angeles. He made his first television appearance in 1977 on "Laugh-In," and in the same year his first film role was a bit part in "Can I Do It... 'Til I Need Glasses?" Starring roles soon followed with the television series "Mork and Mindy" (1978-1982) and his first starring movie role "Popeye" in 1980.

In spite of a successful career for the next three and half decades, Robin suffered from addiction and depression, eventually tragically taking his own life on August 11, 2014.

Answer: Illinois

Miles Dewey Davis III was born in Alton, Illinois, on May 26, 1926. While still a baby, the family moved to East St. Louis, where Miles spent his formative years, and the gift of a trumpet at the age of nine was when it all started.

In 1944, Miles moved to New York City, where he attended the Julliard School of Music, dropping out after three semesters to pursue a full-time performing career. Miles made a name for himself in the world of jazz, pioneering new styles like cool jazz, bebop and hard bebop. In 1959, he recorded the studio album "Kind of Blue," which has become one of the bestselling jazz albums of all time.

Miles passed away on September 28, 1991. Over his career, Miles won eight Grammy Awards out of 32 nominations. He posthumously received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1998, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

Answer: Georgia

Julia Fiona Roberts was born in Smyrna, Georgia, on October 28, 1967. She grew up there and after graduation briefly attended Georgia State University before moving to New York City to pursue a career in acting.

It did not take Julia long to reach stardom. Her first television appearance was in 1987, and the next year she had a breakthrough role with "Mystic Pizza," which was quickly followed by 1989's "Steel Magnolias." But true stardom arrived with 1990's "Pretty Woman," and she did not look back, becoming one of the most bankable A-lister stars.

Answer: Georgia

Wrestler Hulk Hogan was born in Augusta, Georgia, on August 11, 1953. Actually born with the name Terry Gene Bollea, he didn't take on the moniker 'Hulk Hogan' until he had been wrestling for a few years. At one point, sitting next to Lou Ferrigno of "The Incredible Hulk" fame, it was noted that Terry Bollea was much bigger, and dwarfed "The Hulk."

He began to wrestle with the name Terry "The Hulk" Boulder, but after joining the WWF, the company owner suggested a new persona, based off an Irish theme. Thus, "Hulk Hogan" was born. In 1991, he became the first wrestler to win two consecutive Royal Rumble matches. His stellar career lasted until his retirement in 2012, although he did not stop making appearances in the field in a non-wrestling role.

Answer: Georgia

Ray Charles Robinson Sr. was born in Albany, Georgia, on September 23, 1930. While he was still a baby, his mother moved them back to be with her adoptive family in Florida. Ray grew up there, but had two tragedies in his life during these formative years when his younger brother drowned at the age of four, and when his mother died while he was just 14 years old.

Ray was not born blind, but by the age of seven, he had lost his sight, likely due to glaucoma. He had begun learning piano before this happened, and continued through his schooling years. After his mother died, he left school and began to make a name for himself as a pianist in Jacksonville and Tampa Bay. In 1948, he decided to move to Seattle, Washington, forming his first trio and beginning a recording career.

Ray had a profoundly impactful career, influencing many singers and musicians who followed. Over more than 50 years, 'The Genius' won 17 Grammy Awards out of 37 nominations, was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1981, and was inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at its inaugural ceremony in 1986. Ray Charles passed away in 2004 of complications from liver failure.

Answer: New York

Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 17, 1963. When Michael was five years old, his family moved to North Carolina where he finished high school and won a basketball scholarship to the University of N.C. After a stellar college career, Michael entered the NBA draft in 1984, and was selected by the Chicago Bulls 3rd overall.

Michael Jordan played the bulk of his career with the Bulls, retiring once in 1993, and returning for another stint from 1995 until 1999. After his second retirement, Michael returned to the NBA with the Washington Wizards from 2001 to 2003. In 2006, he became part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Charlotte Hornets), and bought a controlling interest in the team in 2010.

Michael led the NBA in scoring for 10 seasons during his career, led his team to six NBA championships (and was the MVP for each of them), and was named the regular season MVP five times.

Answer: New York

Thomas Cruise Mapother IV was born in Syracuse, New York, on July 3, 1962. He moved around a lot as a child, attending 15 different schools (even in Canada) before finally graduating from high school in New Jersey. At 18 years of age, Tom moved to New York City to pursue his acting career, but quickly relocated to Los Angeles.

Tom Cruise's first film role came with 1981's "Endless Love," and was followed by a more prominent role in "Taps" the same year. In 1983, he joined the cast of "The Outsiders" and got starring roles with "Risky Business" and "All the Right Moves." The rise to stardom was completed with "Top Gun" in 1986.

Over the first 40 years of his career, Tom earned three Academy Award nominations, and won three Golden Globes. He received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 1986.

Answer: New York

Lady Gaga was born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta in New York City, New York on March 28, 1986. She grew up there, and at the age of 17 was accepted into the Collaborative Arts Project 21, a music school at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Just two years later, in 2005, she withdrew from the program to concentrate on her singing career.

Lady Gaga took on her stage name in 2006 as a reference to Queen's song "Radio Gaga," purportedly suggested by music producer Rob Fusari. Her breakthrough came with her debut studio album "The Fame" in 2008, which featured the singles "Poker Face" and "Just Dance."

By the year 2022, Lady Gaga had won thirteen Grammy Awards and one Academy Award (for Best Original Song in 2018's "A Star is Born").

Answer: Texas

Janis Lyn Joplin was born in Port Arthur, Texas on January 19, 1943. She grew up there and attended college in Beaumont and university in Austin, although she did not complete her studies. In 1962 she recorded her first song "What Good Can Drinkin' Do" and promptly relocated to San Francisco. Her first stint there ended badly, and she returned home to Texas for a time.

Janis was recruited by Chet Helms to join the group Big Brother and the Holding Company, and she performed with them for the first time in 1966. In 1968 she left the group to pursue a successful solo career. Tragically, her life was cut short in 1970 when Janis died from a heroin overdose.

Answer: Texas

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin was born in Austin, Texas, on December 18, 1964. His birth name is Steven James Anderson, but when his mother remarried he took his adoptive father's name Williams.

Steve played football in college, and got into wrestling in 1989, doing his training in Dallas. When he began professional bouts, he initially used his real name Steven Williams, but his promoter changed his name to Steve Austin to avoid confusion with another wrestler with the same name. He started with the WCW as 'Stunning' Steve Austin, but when he moved over to the WWF in 1995, he was rebranded as 'Stone Cold.'

Steve won many championship matches both with the WCW and with the WWF before he retired in 2003. He continued to make appearances in the years that followed, and hosted his own wrestling podcast "The Steve Austin Show," which he began in 2013.

Answer: Texas

Matthew David McConaughey was born in Uvalde, Texas, on November 4, 1969. He grew up in Longview and spent a year on a Rotary exchange in Australia before graduating high school. He then attended the University of Texas in Austin, graduating in 1993. After getting some work in commercials, Matthew landed a role in 1993's "Dazed and Confused," which was being filmed in Austin, which kickstarted his career.

In the 30 years since his career began, Matthew established himself as a bankable actor, and even won the both the Golden Globe and Academy Awards for Best Actor for 2013's "Dallas Buyers Club." He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2014.