15 People You Didn’t Know Were From Orlando, Florida

Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, Alexander James “AJ” McLean moved to Orlando as a teenager in 1990 with his grandmother and mother to pursue his singing and acting career. He became one of five members of the famous vocal group the Backstreet Boys, and he is now working on his solo career.

World-famous actor, author, martial artist, and producer Wesley Snipes was born in Orlando, Florida. Snipes is best known for his roles in New Jack City (1991), White Men Can’t Jump (1992), and the Blade film trilogy (1998–2004).

Though born in Massachusetts, you probably didn’t know that Jack Kerouac, an American poet and novelist, spent part of his life in Orlando. He wrote his famous work The Dharma Bums while living in a house in the College Park neighborhood of the city.

American actor, author, and musician Jonathan Jackson was born in Orlando. He is best known for his work in the film Tuck Everlasting (2002) and television shows General Hospital and Nashville.

Former National Football League (NFL) defensive tackle/lineman Warren Sapp was born in Orlando, though he grew up in Plymouth, Florida, with his mother. Sapp is a Hall of Famer, Pro Bowl alum, and 2002 Super Bowl champion who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders from 1995–2007.

Daniel Tosh is a famous comedian and host of Comedy Central’s Tosh.0, but you may not have known that he spent time living in Orlando. Tosh was born in Germany but grew up in Florida, and he attended the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

Amanda Leigh “Mandy” Moore was born in New Hampshire. However, when the actress-songstress was just two months old, her family moved to a neighborhood just outside of Orlando where she grew up and launched her career.

Wayne Brady was born in Columbus, Georgia, but was raised in Orlando by his aunt and grandmother. Brady got his start at the Orlando SAK Comedy Lab and is best known for his work hosting the game show Let’s Make a Deal and as an improv actor on the comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Actress Traylor Howard, who is best known for her television roles in Two Guys and a Girl and Monk, was born and raised in Orlando.

American model and actress Charlotte McKinney was born in Orlando, and she is well-known for her appearance in the 2015 Carl’s Jr. Super Bowl commercial.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BeBly6BnrZe/?hl=en&taken-by=charlottemckinney

Country musician John Anderson was born and raised in Apopka, an outer suburb of Orlando.

Kirsten Storms, a famous actress and voice actress, was born in Orlando. She is best known for her roles in television soap operas and as Zenon Kar in the Zenon trilogy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXQuW9Yh2pU/?hl=en&taken-by=kirstenstorms

Nobel Prize-winning biochemist and geneticist Marshall Warren Nirenberg was born in New York City, but his family moved to Orlando after a teenage Marshall developed rheumatic fever.

Howie Dorough is another member of the Backstreet Boys who is originally from Orlando.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcytSN8ljeE/?hl=en&taken-by=howie_dorough

Beauty queen Ericka Dunlap was born and raised in Orlando before going on to win the Miss Florida 2003 pageant and being crowned Miss America 2004.