As I was getting ready for work the other day, one of the local morning radio shows was talking about the upcoming reunion tour of The Go-Go’s and that Kathy Valentine (bassist) lives in Austin. I started thinking about all the different celebrities that call Austin home and realized it’s a pretty long list. The conventional wisdom is that celebrities like living in Austin because we’re so laid back – they can go shopping at the IKEA without getting harassed (more on that in a second).
So: here are some celebrities that call Austin home (either full- or part-time). You might see them around downtown while you’re here for ACE.
Lance Armstrong – his bike shop, Mellow Johnny’s, is about 9 blocks west of the Hilton. He’s also been sighted riding his bike out on Loop 360/Capitol of Texas Hwy in West Austin.
Sandra Bullock – Sandy has a home here and owns a couple of businesses, including Bess Bistro (an easy bus ride – with no transfers – from the Hilton). I think she lives in LA most of the year, but she just filed for divorce here in Austin. Come on home, Sandy, and bring that precious baby with you. We’ve got your back, girl.
Cast of “Friday Night Lights” – I’ve heard of lots of sightings around South Congress when the show is in production (look here if you want to try to be an extra while in town). Once, at the airport, I saw this really beautiful woman walking arm-in-arm with a really scruffy looking guy. I thought, “Wow – she is way too hot for him.” As they got closer, I realized it was Connie Britton (Tami Taylor) and I thought, “That’s Connie Britton! She is DEFINITELY too hot for him!”
Shawn Colvin – singer of “Sunny Came Home”
Richard Linklater – filmmaker (“Dazed and Confused”, “The School of Rock”, “Before Sunrise”)
Michael Dell – founder of Dell Computers. If you are out on Loop 360 and see a blonde woman biking with a very large, very black SUV following along behind her, you’ve just spotted his wife Susan Dell.
Dixie Chicks – I’m not sure which of the group lives in Austin right now, but there’s always a Chick in town.
Roky Erikson – lead singer of the 1970s psychedelic rock band 13th Floor Elevators – making a comeback after a long period of mental illness (see the documentary “You’re Gonna Miss Me”).
Alex Jones – conservative talk radio host
Matthew McConaughey – I don’t think he lives here any more, but he sure loves Austin. You never know when he’ll pop up.
Willie Nelson – the Red Headed Stranger is no stranger to Austin (see what I did there?). He has some property out in West Austin that includes a nine-hole golf course. Rumor has it that he built the golf course because the other courses in town made him wear a shirt when he played.
Turk Pipkin – now he runs The Nobelity Project, but he’s most famous for playing Aaron Arkaway on “The Sopranos.”
Dennis Quaid – a native Texan, he and his family have relocated permanently to Austin
Bruce Robison – a tall drink of Texas water who has written huge hits for other people (“Travelin’ Soldier”, “Angry All the Time”, “Desperately”) but is a good singer in his own right. My favorite: the Gary Allen hit “What Would Willie Do?” (the video is pretty jumpy, but the performance is great).
Andy Roddick – tennis superstar and Elton John BFF (he brought Elton to town to sing at his wedding to Brooklyn Decker).
Robert Rodriguez – director of the “El Mariachi” trilogy (EXCELLENT movies, by-the-way. Be sure to watch the special making-of features on the DVDs), “Spy Kids” franchise and “Sin City”. Once, I spotted him in the parking lot at Central Market, a local gourmet grocery store, walking back to his yellow Hummer (Me: “OMG! IT’S ROBERT RODRIGUEZ!!” Friend: “Who?” Me: *sigh*). He was wearing his trademark cowboy hat, even to make a grocery run.
Chuck Woolery – game show host extraordinaire. I’ve seen Chuck three times in the last five years: the first time at IKEA (Me: “That guy looks like Chuck Woolery.” Friend: “Because it is Chuck Woolery.”), again on the long-term parking shuttle at the airport and most recently at Central Market. You can have your Norris – my Chuck of choice is Woolery.
Others that call the Austin-San Marcos area home:
- Ray Benson – another tall drink of Texas water and lead singer of Asleep at the Wheel
- Mehcad Brooks – actor (Eggs in “True Blood”)
- Kevin Costner – his status as an Austinite could be only a rumor
- Ben Crenshaw – pro-golfer
- Laura Lane – actress (CC Babcock, “The Nanny”) and faculty member at Texas State
- Eugene Lee – actor and artist-in-residence at Texas State
- Ben McKenzie – actor (“Southland”)
- James McMurtry – son of author Larry McMurtry and a singer-songwriter
- Tim O’Brien – award-winning author (If I Die in a Combat Zone) and faculty member at Texas State
- Wiley Wiggins – actor (the kid who touched his nose all the time in “Dazed and Confused”)
- Kelly Willis – wife of Bruce Robison and a wonderful singer-songwriter (she and Bruce starred in a Claritin commercial a couple of years ago)