The Red Sox are on now, and Beantown boy, Ben Affleck is sitting in on the announcer's booth. He and Matt Damon do this periodically. They're always taking part in Boston's sports and charity events.

Denis Leary has never left his Boston roots far behind either. He makes frequent Boston references on talk shows.

This got me to thinking about famous people staying close to their hometowns. Can you think of anyone famous from your hometown who still comes back for commencement addresses, charity work, sporting events, etc?

Dick and Jerry Van Dyke are from Danville, Illinois. On both The Dick Van Dyke Show and Coach, their characters were from Danville as well. It was a nice personal touch. On one episode of Coach, Luther Van Dam even went home to Danville.

Originally posted by Janice


This got me to thinking about famous people staying close to their hometowns. Can you think of anyone famous from your hometown who still comes back for commencement addresses, charity work, sporting events, etc?

Dick and Jerry Van Dyke are from Danville, Illinois. On both The Dick Van Dyke Show and Coach, their characters were from Danville as well. It was a nice personal touch. On one episode of Coach, Luther Van Dam even went home to Danville. *claps for Illinois*

Well let's seeeeeee....Andy Dick went to my school. I think he came back a few years ago....Lionel Richie went to one of our "sister schools" that got closed and I personally think he's ashamed of our little screwed up town cuz he never comes back. Cathy Boswell (WNBA basketball player)'s mom goes to my church. She comes back all the time....yah.

Famous New Jersey rockers Bruce Springsteen, who is the Boss, by the way, and Jon Bon Jovi participate in numerous benefit concerts and charity events in the Garden State.

Both remain firmly attached to their Jersey routes. As do I.

Although no one asks me to play at any charity concerts.

;)

Kevin Millwood went to my school. He comes back occasionaly and talks to the students. He donated money to the school and there is a park here named after him.

Well, I know one person who ain't staying true to HER roots.

Lil Miss Jenny from the Block.

Becoming a Red Sox fan b/c Benny Boy is? Puh-lease. Yeah...SHE'S still Jenny from the Block. :rolleyes:

Regis Philbin went to Notre Dame, but never made the football team. He attends many of their games nowadays......at least that's what they said on "Biography"

Originally posted by Ewan's My Man
Well, I know one person who ain't staying true to HER roots.

Lil Miss Jenny from the Block.

Becoming a Red Sox fan b/c Benny Boy is? Puh-lease.
Not according to Ben. Tonight he was telling the announcers that he's trying to convert Jenny into a Sox fan but isn't having much success.

When they were interviewed on PrimeTime Live last month, they were asked about the New York/Boston baseball thing and how they would raise their kids. Ben said they'll be raised as Sox fans, but Jennifer protested. Ben joked that no pinstipes will be allowed in their home.
Jennifer stated that her family is split between the Yankees and the Mets.

Originally posted by Janice
Not according to Ben. Tonight he was telling the announcers that he's trying to convert Jenny into a Sox fan but isn't having much success.

When they were interviewed on PrimeTime Live last month, they were asked about the New York/Boston baseball thing and how they would raise their kids. Ben said they'll be raised as Sox fans, but Jennifer protested. Ben joked that no pinstipes will be allowed in their home.
Jennifer stated that her family is split between the Yankees and the Mets.

That's a relief...

Originally posted by Ewan's My Man
That's a relief...
That's good, lol. Although, I have seen them together at Sox games. Ben's such a fanatic about the Sox and she's so nuts about him, that it really wouldn't surprise me if she finally gives in.

hahah ya I caught the end of ben in the booth, he looks weird with a goatie, but thats not the topic...but umm when I get famous Ill stay true to beantown as well ;)

Phyllis Frelich (famous deaf actress) graduated from my school in 1962 and both her parents are still alive (the dad graduated from the same school in 1936 and the mom, also from the same school, in 1942) and still live here in town. Phyllis comes to my school when she can and visit with each one of us. I even correspond with her via email when she can. :)

:lol: if ben & J-ho get married and she takes his name is she gonna go by J-Af :lol:

Originally posted by TJL
Although no one asks me to play at any charity concerts.

The nerve. Don't they know who you think you are? ;)

Scott Leonard is from Indianapolis but lives in Tampa Bay, but Rockapella's tour frequently brings him through there. He goes home every once in a while, when his schedule permits him. I imagine he's there right now, as Rockapella has all of August and part of September off from touring.

Jeff Thacher, Sean Altman, Barry Carl and Elliott Kerman are always in NYC.

Kevin Wright still lives in Winter Haven, FL.

George, however, lives in FL. I haven't heard of him visiting Philly recently.

Tony Shalhoub is never here in Green Bay. He's the uncle of my brother's ex-gf.

Mark Rypien and John Stockton are two Spokane athletes that have returned home after finishing their professional careers. Bing Crosby only came to visit a few times (sometimes coming for the sole purposes of using our golf courses to tee off with Bob Hope), but he donated to local causes quite a bit.

There's not alot of famous people from my hometown of Portland, Oregon, but during the offseason of the NFL, Joey Harrington came back here and spent most of his break with his family. He said on our local news that it was great for him to be home. Since becoming an NFL star he has also been doing alot for local charities, including after school programs and stuff. He seems to be a really good guy. Hopefully he'll continue to stay true to, and represent his hometown.

Originally posted by Janice
The nerve. Don't they know who you think you are? ;)

All I know is I have never been appreciated for my skills on the autoharp.

Another guy stil in touch with his Jersey roots is Bruce Willis.

He just threw a big reunion party for his high school class in Atlantic City.

Originally posted by AKA
Mark Rypien and John Stockton are two Spokane athletes that have returned home after finishing their professional careers. Bing Crosby only came to visit a few times (sometimes coming for the sole purposes of using our golf courses to tee off with Bob Hope), but he donated to local causes quite a bit.
I know that my hottie, lol, Craig T. Nelson is from Spokane. Do you know if he ever looked back?

Originally posted by Janice
I know that my hottie, lol, Craig T. Nelson is from Spokane. Do you know if he ever looked back?

Hey, Janice, I'm answering your post six months late.

Yes, he is from Spokane, but I'm not sure if he's been back recently.

Originally posted by AKA
Hey, Janice, I'm answering your post six months late.

Lol, better late than never. I think I've read since this that Craig has a cabin and a lot of land in Spokane.

Originally posted by Janice
The Red Sox are on now, and Beantown boy, Ben Affleck is sitting in on the announcer's booth. He and Matt Damon do this periodically. They're always taking part in Boston's sports and charity events.

Denis Leary has never left his Boston roots far behind either. He makes frequent Boston references on talk shows.

This got me to thinking about famous people staying close to their hometowns. Can you think of anyone famous from your hometown who still comes back for commencement addresses, charity work, sporting events, etc?

Dick and Jerry Van Dyke are from Danville, Illinois. On both The Dick Van Dyke Show and Coach, their characters were from Danville as well. It was a nice personal touch. On one episode of Coach, Luther Van Dam even went home to Danville.



My husband has an Army buddy who has lived in Danville, Illinois his whole life. He even knows where the Van Dyke house is!:D

The late Alex Haley was born in Tennessee and lived there and my brother's mother in law used to be pretty good friends with him. He never had any and/or no entourage with him at all when he went and got his mail and was just a polite and sweet person amid when people get famous and are hot commoditties, they become too big for their bridges!! But the Roots author is an exception!!

Originally posted by Janice
The Red Sox are on now, and Beantown boy, Ben Affleck is sitting in on the announcer's booth. He and Matt Damon do this periodically. They're always taking part in Boston's sports and charity events.

Denis Leary has never left his Boston roots far behind either. He makes frequent Boston references on talk shows.

This got me to thinking about famous people staying close to their hometowns. Can you think of anyone famous from your hometown who still comes back for commencement addresses, charity work, sporting events, etc?

Dick and Jerry Van Dyke are from Danville, Illinois. On both The Dick Van Dyke Show and Coach, their characters were from Danville as well. It was a nice personal touch. On one episode of Coach, Luther Van Dam even went home to Danville. Danville!! Given its not the same state, but still. :o

Denis Leary! :eyes:

Jay Leno mentions Andover (or was it North Andover..) every once in a while. Conan always mentions Boston and his family.

Ashanti puke:

Not my home town, but Lisa Marie Presley comes to mind..She didn't ditch Memphis/Graceland, or the Presley name.

Originally posted by Nirvana
Not my home town, but Lisa Marie Presley comes to mind..She didn't ditch Memphis/Graceland, or the Presley name.
Lisa could marry 20 more times, yet she will hold on to that Presley name forever as her mother Priscilla has. Can't say I blame them.

Graceland turned into Lisa's cash cow due to her mother's good business sense.

Originally posted by Janice
Lisa could marry 20 more times, yet she will hold on to that Presley name forever as her mother Priscilla has. Can't say I blame them.

Graceland turned into Lisa's cash cow due to her mother's good business sense.

She only kept Presley since shes the only living Presley that rightfully bares the name. She said she regrets not giving her kids the name, since there is no one to pass it on now. But I meant she hasn't tried to disown her DNA.

Originally posted by Nirvana
She only kept Presley since shes the only living Presley that rightfully bares the name. She said she regrets not giving her kids the name, since there is no one to pass it on now. But I meant she hasn't tried to disown her DNA.
Of course she hasn't. She's the only child of a legend. Lisa would be nuts if she tried to distance herself from her father and his legacy. She adored him too. I saw her get teary-eyed (unusual for her) during an interview while looking at footage of her and her father.

I'll bet she could change her kid's name if she wanted to. Not sure about that, but I think it can be done. Her ex might have a thing or two to say about that though.

Tim Allen- Home Improvement was based entirely around The Detroit area. He always wore sweatshirts with the names of Michigan colleges/universities on them. Also he would mention some local businesses now and then like Damon Hardware. He did episodes where he had gone to Alpena and Traverse City. And he also had some Detroit Pro team members on his show.


Tom Selleck wore a Detroit Tigers ball cap often on Magnum PI and mentioned the players. I think that Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker appeared on his show once.