The famous faces of Maine

We all know why Maine is a great place to live, with its natural beauty, quiet lifestyle and friendly folk. Naturally, some very famous people have, over the years, been drawn to the Pine Tree State’s charms — and some very famous people have come out of the state itself. Some you probably already know about, such as Martha Stewart and Stephen King. Others may come as a surprise. Here’s our as-complete-as-possible list of celebrities that were either born in Maine, still live in Maine or have come here to visit. If you know of any others, be sure to tell us. We’d love to add them to the list.

Actors

John Travolta and Kelly Preston, Islesboro: This Hollywood power couple has owned a house on the Knox County island for decades now.

Glenn Close, Scarborough: The five-time Academy Award nominee and star of “Damages” lives part of her summer in the Cumberland County town.

Willem Dafoe, Otisfield: The “Spider-Man” star owns a winter retreat on Thompson Lake in Oxford County; watch his turn in the ice fishing in Maine segment in the cult classic “Fishing With John.”

Bob, Chris and Abby Elliott, Harpswell: Former “Saturday Night Live” cast member and comedy writer Chris Elliott and his daughter Abby, also an SNL cast member, summer in Maine, along with Chris Elliott’s father, Bob, of the famous radio comedy duo Bob and Ray.

Stockard Channing, Georgetown: The star of everything from “Grease” to “The West Wing” summers in the Cumberland County town.

Genie Francis and Jonathan Frakes, Belfast: The couple — she known for her work on “General Hospital,” he as Commander Riker on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” — own a house and business in Belfast.

David Morse, Bar Harbor: Morse, who has starred in everything from “The Green Mile” and “12 Monkeys” to “House” and “Treme,” has summered in Bar Harbor for years.

Gunnar Hansen, Northeast Harbor: The man who played Leatherface in the 1970s horror classic “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” maintains a low profile in Northeast Harbor.

Patrick Dempsey, Harpswell: McDreamy from “Grey’s Anatomy” is a born and bred Mainer — born in Lewiston, grew up in Buckfield — who now has property in the picturesque Cumberland County town of Harpswell.

Kirstie Alley, Islesboro: Though it appears she has now sold her home, the star of “Cheers” owned a palatial estate on the Penobscot Bay island, along with her friends John Travolta and Kelly Preston.

Anna Kendrick, Portland: The 28-year-old Academy Award nominee for “Up in the Air” and star of the “Twilight” series was born and raised in Portland; her parents still live there.

Susan Sarandon, Bar Harbor: The Oscar winner has spent a number of summers on Mount Desert Island.

Judd Nelson, Portland: The Portland native and star of a number of John Hughes movies, including “The Breakfast Club” and “St. Elmo’s Fire,” most recently was invited to read stories at a Portland Symphony Orchestra event.

Linda Lavin, Portland: The star of television (including the 1970s series “Alice”) and Broadway was born and raised in Portland.

Anna Belknap, Damariscotta: The actress who plays Detective Lindsay Monroe on “CSI: NY” grew up in Damariscotta.

Liv Tyler, Portland: Though she was born in New York, Tyler grew up in Portland and attended Portland area schools as a youngster. Her mother, Bebe Buell, still lives there.

Andrea Martin, Portland: The American-Canadian comedian and star of “SCTV” and numerous Broadway shows was born in Portland.

Victoria Rowell, Portland: “The Young and the Restless” and “Diagnosis Murder” star was born in Portland.

Bob Marley, Portland: Maine’s favorite stand-up comedian was born in Falmouth and now lives in Portland.

Oliver Platt, North Haven: Platt has been seen in everything from “Frost/Nixon” to “X-Men: First Class,” as well as on “The West Wing,” and has summered on North Haven for years.

Rock Anthony, Presque Isle: This up-and-coming “Glee” actor grew up in Presque Isle.

Sally Struthers, Ogunquit: The star of “All In the Family” maintains a home in the southern Maine resort town of Ogunquit.

John O’Hurley, Kittery: J. Peterman on “Seinfeld” and a memorable competitor on “Dancing With Stars” is also a Kittery resident.

Kurt Russell, Rangeley: Kurt Russell, aka Snake Plisskin, has quietly owned a home in the western Maine mountains for a number of years.

Writers and artists

Stephen King, Bangor: The Queen City’s most famous resident is continually inspired by the city in his novels; let’s hope Bangor isn’t quite as terrifying as Derry.

David McCullough, Camden: Beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning American history biographer McCullough has long summered in Knox County.

Tess Gerritsen, Camden: Well-known as the mind behind the “Rizzoli and Isles” series of books (now with its own TV show), Gerritsen lives year-round in Camden.

Robert Indiana, Vinalhaven: The pop art icon has made a summer home on Vinalhaven for years.

Richard Russo, Camden: The Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Colby College professor now makes his home in Knox County.

Michael Chabon, Brooklin: Pulitzer Prize-winner Chabon, author of “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay,” and his wife, writer Ayelet Waldman, summer in the Hancock County town of Brooklin.

Jonathan Lethem, Berwick: Acclaimed author and MacArthur fellow Lethem, author of “Motherless Brooklyn,” lives in southern Maine part-time.

Lois Lowry, Portland: The author of “The Giver” and the Anastasia books attended the University of Southern Maine and still lives here.

Annie Proulx, Portland: The author of “The Shipping News” and “Brokeback Mountain” lives in Portland.

Angela Adams, Portland: Popular fashion and home designer, made famous by “Sex in the City,” has her signature store in Portland.

Kevin Eastman, Springvale: The creator of the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and comic book royalty, Eastman is from the York County town of Springvale.

John Cariani, Presque Isle: The author of the play “Almost, Maine” writes lovingly about his hometown of Presque Isle.

Mike Daisey, Fort Kent: Daisey’s one-man shows, including “The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs” and “21 Dog Years,” are highly acclaimed on the stage; he’s also a Fort Kent native.

Alex Katz, Lincolnville: Figurative and pop artist Katz splits his time between New York and Lincolnville.

Terry Goodkind, Mount Desert Island: The famed fantasy writer built his own home on Mount Desert Island before hitting it big with his first book “Wizard’s First Rule.”

Elizabeth Strout, Harpswell: Yet another Pulitzer Prize winner, Strout, author of “Olive Kittridge,” grew up in Maine and attended Bates College; she splits her time between Maine and New York.

Musicians

Win Butler, Mount Desert Island: Win Butler, lead singer for Grammy winners the Arcade Fire, spent summers on Mount Desert Island; the band’s video for “Rebellion (Lies)” was filmed there and his mother still lives there.

Ray Lamontagne, Wilton: One of Maine’s most famous musical sons lived in western Maine for a long time; he got his start playing at the Oddfellow Theatre in Buckfield. He now lives in western Massachusetts.

Nick Noonan, Old Town: The up-and-coming pop duo Karmin features Old Town native Nick Noonan.

Patty Griffin, Old Town: The acclaimed songwriter and Robert Plant collaborator grew up in Old Town.

John Fishman, Lincolnville: The drummer for jam band legend Phish lives the quiet life in midcoast Maine.

Noel Paul Stookey, Blue Hill: The “Paul” of Peter, Paul and Mary has been a part of the Blue Hill community for decades.

Jonathan Edwards, Cape Elizabeth: The “Sunshine” singer has lived and performed throughout Maine for many years.

Don McLean, Camden: You know him as the man behind “American Pie,” but he’s also lived in Camden year-round for a very long time.

Darryl Hall, Kittery: We can totally go for the fact that Darryl Hall of Hall & Oates owns a beautiful 17th century home in Kittery.

Howie Day, Brewer: A native son of Brewer, the “Collide” singer’s family runs Nicky’s Cruisin’ Diner in Bangor.
Kara DioGuardi, Prospect Harbor: The songwriter, music business power player and former “American Idol” judge lives part-time with her husband in the Hancock County town where they met while she was on vacation.

Juliana Hatfield, Wiscasset: The ’90s singer-songwriter was born in coastal Maine.

Bob Ludwig, Portland: The mastermind behind Gateway Mastering cleans up albums from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, U2 and many more from his Portland studio.

Chuck Winfield, Augusta: This former member of Blood, Sweat and Tears teaches jazz at the University of Maine at Augusta.

Adam Gardner, Portland: The lead guitarist for Guster lives in Portland, where he runs his ecofriendly touring company, Reverb.

Vince Clarke, Damariscotta: Clarke, a member of ’80s new wave bands Yaz and Erasure, makes his home in the Lincoln County town.

Ellis Paul, Presque Isle: The singer-songwriter went to Presque Isle High School, where he ran cross country.

David Mallett, Sebec: The “Garden Song” writer has lived in central Maine for decades; his sons Will and Luke are in the Mallett Brothers Band.

Reality television stars

Bob Crowley, South Portland: The winner of “Survivor: Gabon” lives in South Portland and taught high school science in nearby Gorham.

“Timber” Tina Scheer, Ellsworth: The timber sports champion was on “Survivor: Panama” in 2005, and now runs the Great Maine Lumberjack Show in Ellsworth.

Ashley Hebert, Madawaska: Hebert, a St. John Valley native, was on the 2011 season of “The Bachelorette,” and plans to wed her suitor, J.D. Rosenbaum.

Ashley Underwood, Benton: The former Miss Maine and University of Maine basketball player came in second place on “Survivor: Redemption Island.”

Producers, politicians and moguls

Martha Stewart, Seal Harbor: The domestic goddess’ second home is in Seal Harbor, in a beautiful, well-kept estate.

Justice John Roberts, St. George: Justice Roberts has a home on an island in the Lincoln County town of St. George.

David E. Kelley, Waterville: The producer of everything from “Ally McBeal” to “Boston Legal” grew up in Waterville; he is married to Michelle Pfeiffer.

George and Barbara Bush, Kennebunkport: The 41st president of the United States has summered in Kennebunkport for decades.

JJ Abrams, Camden: Abrams, producer of “Lost” and “24” and director of “Super 8,” has a home in Camden with his family; his wife, Katie McGrath, is from Brewer.

Zbigniew Brzezinski, Northeast Harbor: The foreign policy adviser, who has served under President Carter and advised other U.S. presidents, maintains a home on the island. His daughter is MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” co-anchor Mika Brizienski,

Neil Clark Warren, Kennebunkport: The co-founder of dating website eHarmony lives in Kennebunkport.

F. Lee Bailey, Yarmouth: Star lawyer F. Lee Bailey lives in Yarmouth and engages in a number of speaking appearances throughout the state.

Joan Lundun, Naples: This journalist and author runs a women’s fitness and lifestyle camp in Naples called Camp Reveille.

Athletes

Joan Benoit Samuelson, Cape Elizabeth: This women’s marathon running Olympic gold medalist lives in Cape Elizabeth, and held the record in the women’s division at the Boston Marathon for 28 years.

Seth Wescott, Carrabassett Valley: This two-time snowcross snowboarding Olympic champion lives and trains at Sugarloaf.

Ian Crocker, Portland: This Portland native has won three gold, two silver and one bronze medal at the Olympics, for swimming.

Marcus Davis, Houlton: This Ultimate Fighting Championship star, the “Irish Hand Grenade,” is a hero in his home state of Maine.

Mike Bordick, Winterport: This baseball shortshop was most famous for playing for the Oakland Athletics and Baltimore Orioles, where he replaced legend Cal Ripkin.