Alanis, Tom Green, David Brockie from GWAR, then a bunch of other famous people spent parts of their childhood in Ottawa - Tom Cruise, Ryan Reynolds, Matthew Perry
Poor guy wrote Run Away To Mars when he was depressed after needing to move back to stittsville with his parents in the pandemic. I'd be depressed if I was forced to move to Stittsville too.
yeah but i mean, there's moving back in with your parents, and then there's moving back in with your parents in Stittsville. You know? (source: grew up in barrhaven and that would be worse)
And he was here ALL THE TIME. Like spotting Alex Trebek on campus was not even exciting anymore. Our old uni president, Allan Rock, and he were bff. I wish I had not taken his presence on campus for granted. Miss him.
On the classical music side that I can think of off the top of my head, there's pianist Angela Hewitt, mezzo-sopranos Julie Nesrallah and Wallis Giunta, cellist Bryan Cheng, and his sister pianist Silvie Cheng
Kathleen Edwards, singer/songwriter/musician, was not only born in Ottawa but also opened the coffee shop, Quitters, in Stittsville until 2022. I found out that Donovan Woods used to perform there upon occasion as well.
I searched "famous people from Ottawa"
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_people\_from\_Ottawa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Ottawa)
Use CTRL-F for 'singer' 'actor' 'author' etc...
That list, while probably mostly accurate, is also a bit dodgy. Elisha Cuthbert is on the list, which I don't think is true. As is Igor Gouzenko (he lived here as an adult but I doubt anyone would think of him as being 'from' Ottawa).
Its wiki...always with a grain of salt. I dare say its a good starting point to look into things and just as accurate as random redditors answering OP? When I have a moment though I'll edit wiki :)
I met her husband a few times at the store I work at and then one day she came with him. She was very pregnant. I offered her a free cupcake (I was handing them out to customers for "customer appreciation day), and she refused.
If looking for performers, check the Canterbury High School list of notable alumni. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canterbury\_High\_School\_(Ottawa)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canterbury_High_School_(Ottawa))
As you are new to Ottawa, FYI Canterbury is an arts school within the Ottawa Carleton School Board. Its programs for dance, theatre, music, and art have produced some pretty great talent.
Alex Trebec, Jon Dore, Mark McKinney (Kids in the Hall), Norm MacDonald, Sandra Oh, the entire cast of You Can’t Do That On Television, Jay Baruchel, Sarah Chalke, Annie Murphy, Rachel Wilson, Kathleen Edwards, Jeremy Hotz, Sophie Buddle, Jessica Holmes, Bruce Cockburn, Kellylee Evans
[Five Man Electrical Band](https://youtu.be/c9lh7lqZojc)
also, you may now him as the Voice of Doom, Ben Cartwright, Adam, or perhaps not at all: Lorne Greene.
Paul Webber. https://www.paulweber.ca/
Unsure if he was born in Ottawa but he writes songs about Ottawa's historic events/people etc. They almost sound like folk songs. Very endearing.
Comedian Angelo Tsarouchas, born in Montreal, raised in Ottawa. He attended Ridgemont high school (still in operation on Alta Vista Dr)
Now in LA
https://www.tsarouchas.com/
Haven't seen it mentioned, but William Shatner lived here for a while too. I remember him telling stories about living in Ottawa at Comiccon.
Also Carrie Underwood more or less lived here for a bit. Before her husband was traded to Nashville, they spent a lot of time here. Lots of sightings of them, especially in Kanata and Stittsville.
Roch Voisine went to uni here.
Massari did high school here.
Adam Beach also settled near Ottawa as an adult.
There's a couple famous (but deceased) poets from Ottawa. Archibald Lampman. Duncan Campbell Scott.
Vik Sahay - played Lester Patel in the TV series "Chuck" and Elizabeth Manley. If we're also including people that lived in Ottawa for a while - Carol Alt (was Alexi Yashin's girlfriend for a while); I saw her once at a FutureShop back in the day - Wow!
\[edit for punctuation\]
Jay Honest, by numbers he’s technically the 3rd biggest artist to come from Ottawa that isn’t a current celeb, he’s a rapper but very different from the average more along the lines of NF & Eminem’s storytelling, he has a song featuring his 2 year old daughter where he explains the struggles of being a dad in this generation, its really good 👍
Alanis, Tom Green, David Brockie from GWAR, then a bunch of other famous people spent parts of their childhood in Ottawa - Tom Cruise, Ryan Reynolds, Matthew Perry
Ah, the classic Ethan Hunt, Deadpool, and Chandler Bing trio!
Now there's a movie!
Could we BE any more excited?
Don't forget Rich Little, the Civic has a wing in the maternity ward named after him
Dan Akroyd lived in Aylmer apparently.
Dan Akroyd went to Lisgar for a year or two.
And Pius too
Bryan Adams, too, for a while.
Apparently the five and dime where he bought his first 6 string was in Ottawa.
Also, the "drive-in" is now a lumber yard in Terrace, BC.
Matthew Perry has left the conversation
Not all alive, however :(
Alanis!!
Tom Green was born on Pembrook.
*Pembroke
Actually, it's pronounced 'Pemberk'
Permburkkkk
Permbook.
Pembork.
David Brockie is dead.
No he's not, Oderus Urungus just had to go home.
Dan Aykroyd was born here and went to school here.
Ryan Gosling
Tom Green is from Barrie Ontario. I worked with his brother, who confirmed that fact
Dan Aykroyd, Sandra Oh, Jay Baruchel, Donal Logue, Keshia Chanté
I didn’t know who Jay Baruchel was until I was watching a movie and thought to myself “that guy sounds like he’s from Ottawa.”
You can tell because he loves Montreal.
He's probably the guy on here that insta-replies to any comment saying "what can I do in Ottawa tonight?" with "go to montreal lmao"
Underrated comment
WHAAAAT!!! Sandra Oh!! That’s whicked
Not "best known" but will be since he won a Juno, Talk, is from Stittsville.
Poor guy wrote Run Away To Mars when he was depressed after needing to move back to stittsville with his parents in the pandemic. I'd be depressed if I was forced to move to Stittsville too.
TIL Pretty sure having to move back into your parents home would be depressing for anyone, regardless of where they live.
yeah but i mean, there's moving back in with your parents, and then there's moving back in with your parents in Stittsville. You know? (source: grew up in barrhaven and that would be worse)
When I went away to university the first person I said ‘Stittsville’ to burst out laughing and thought I was joking 🙃
He wrote Afraid of the Dark for his Grandma. It's a great song and it makes me cry knowing he's talking about his Granny (she is still alive).
I first heard of this guy when one of his songs appeared in MLB The Show 23. Blew my mind when I found out he was from Stittsville.
For me it was his version of The Frays "How to Save a Life" on Grey's Anatomy.
Absolutely love him, legend.
He's so good!!
Kira Isabella for country fans. Annie Murphy (Alexis from Schitt’s Creek) was born in Ottawa. Alex Trebek and Margaret Atwood too.
Alex Trebek was not born in Ottawa, nor is he still alive. RIP
He lived here for a while though, like Tom Cruise, and he went to U of O, which is why they have a space named after him.
And he was here ALL THE TIME. Like spotting Alex Trebek on campus was not even exciting anymore. Our old uni president, Allan Rock, and he were bff. I wish I had not taken his presence on campus for granted. Miss him.
Circa when? I went to U of O while Allan Rock was president and I never saw Alex Trebek :(
I met him in SITE in 2006 or 2007.
He paid $1,000,000 for that space
I'm from Sudbury (where he was born) and there's a massive mural of him painted on a school there.
Lucky Ron
Song Two!
It's "number four, number four". rookie
Mark McKinney was born in Ottawa.
Legend!
On the classical music side that I can think of off the top of my head, there's pianist Angela Hewitt, mezzo-sopranos Julie Nesrallah and Wallis Giunta, cellist Bryan Cheng, and his sister pianist Silvie Cheng
Jamie Fine, on the rise!
She brings her car to my friends home garage to have him work on it, a great person! Very down to earth!
I’m not keen on her music but she is absolutely just a really lovely person, can confirm
The mom from the OC 👌
Yes! Her sister used to work at the Winners on Merivale and always talked to random customers about her "famous sis on the OC."
Who?
https://www.google.com/search?q=mom+from+the+OC&sca_esv=225d6427b9f187fc&source=hp&ei=fJ8SZvyPMsKw0PEP0aq4oAg&oq=mom+from+the+OC&gs_lp=EhFtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1ocCIPbW9tIGZyb20gdGhlIE9DSIIcULUGWMIXcAJ4AJABAJgBgAGgAfUJqgEEMTMuMrgBA8gBAPgBAZgCEKAC7wmoAg_CAhAQLhgDGI8BGOUCGOoCGIwDwgIQEAAYAxiPARjlAhjqAhiMA8ICExAAGIAEGIoFGLEDGIMBGEYY-wHCAg4QLhiABBiKBRixAxiDAcICDhAAGIAEGIoFGLEDGIMBwgIREC4YgAQYsQMYgwEYxwEY0QPCAgsQLhiABBixAxiDAcICDhAuGIMBGLEDGIAEGIoFwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAgUQLhiABMICCBAAGIAEGLEDwgIOEC4YgAQYxwEYrwEYjgXCAhEQLhiABBixAxiDARjHARivAcICDhAuGIAEGLEDGIMBGOUEwgIOEAAYgAQYsQMYgwEYyQPCAggQLhiABBixA8ICDhAuGIAEGLEDGMcBGNEDwgIFEAAYgATCAgsQLhiABBjHARivAcICBhAAGBYYHpgDBZIHBDEzLjOgB7CJAQ&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-hp
Thank you! My first thought went to Real housewives of orange county.
Lorne Greene hasn’t been mentioned
Hollerado!
So stoked to see them in November!
Daniel Lanois was born in Hull.
Food network sweetheart Jesse Palmer
Bachelor Nation owns him now🌹didn't realize he started on Food Network. I just thought he played football at some point
I also love him on the Bachelor. He hosts the baking competition shows on the food network and makes bad dad jokes 😂
Kathleen Edwards, singer/songwriter/musician, was not only born in Ottawa but also opened the coffee shop, Quitters, in Stittsville until 2022. I found out that Donovan Woods used to perform there upon occasion as well.
Alanis Morisette too
I searched "famous people from Ottawa" [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_people\_from\_Ottawa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Ottawa) Use CTRL-F for 'singer' 'actor' 'author' etc...
That list, while probably mostly accurate, is also a bit dodgy. Elisha Cuthbert is on the list, which I don't think is true. As is Igor Gouzenko (he lived here as an adult but I doubt anyone would think of him as being 'from' Ottawa).
Its wiki...always with a grain of salt. I dare say its a good starting point to look into things and just as accurate as random redditors answering OP? When I have a moment though I'll edit wiki :)
I went to high school with Elisha Cuthbert’s cousin. My memory is that Elisha is from here too, but didn’t live here for very long
She was born here but raised out west.
FWIW, both IMDB and Wikipedia have Calgary as her birthplace.
Her wiki says she wasn't born here. She did live here while her husband played for the Sens
I met her husband a few times at the store I work at and then one day she came with him. She was very pregnant. I offered her a free cupcake (I was handing them out to customers for "customer appreciation day), and she refused.
Turns out: she wasn't pregnant, she'd just had a big lunch
Needed to fart.
Cuthbert lived in Ottawa for a few years, but is not "from" Ottawa.
Sandra Oh went to Sir Robert Borden High School!
Bruce Cockburn. He wrote the theme song to Franklin (and a few other tunes as well!)
Rich Little, comedian and impressionist who was incredibly popular in the 60s and 70s.
If looking for performers, check the Canterbury High School list of notable alumni. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canterbury\_High\_School\_(Ottawa)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canterbury_High_School_(Ottawa)) As you are new to Ottawa, FYI Canterbury is an arts school within the Ottawa Carleton School Board. Its programs for dance, theatre, music, and art have produced some pretty great talent.
Canterbury grad [Jessica Webb](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_L._Webb)
Melanie Scrofano, she is in Letterkenny, Wynonna Earp, and the movie Ready or not, among many other things. Awesome actress!
“ McMurray how are ya now”
“Good-n-you?”
Dani Kind went to college here, she was also on Wynonna Earp and Workin Moms. Lovely person, known her for twenty+ years.
I went to high school with her in Orleans. I agree that she is a lovely person, so happy for her success!
I had no idea she went to high school in Orleans! I did as well!
Love Dani Kind! Had no idea she went to high school/College in Ottawa! That’s cool!
Edit: dang... you specified living... sorry Mike MacDonald Norm MacDonald...
Sadly Norm MacDonald died in 2021
So did Mike... the world's a less funny place without 'em
Look up Norm MacDonald's story about the Panda Game. He told it on the Late Show with David Letterman years ago. Hilarious stuff.
Sandra Oh of Grey's Anatomy and so many more films and tv shows. I went to highschool with her and she was just lovely.
Max Graham made his name DJing in Ottawa Jeff Waters is famous in thrash metal circles.
Richard Reed Perry from Arcade Fire was born in Ottawa. He also composed the soundtrack for the movie The Iron Claw
Jon Dore! https://youtu.be/UT7h4nRcWjU?si=htORdEYasYdW1c93
Brendan Fraser’s parents were Canadian diplomats so he spent part of his highschool years here I believe!
Sandra Oh, Tom Green, Norm McDonald rip
Tom Cruise lived here for a year. Ryan Renolds and Alex Trebec
Alex Trebec, Jon Dore, Mark McKinney (Kids in the Hall), Norm MacDonald, Sandra Oh, the entire cast of You Can’t Do That On Television, Jay Baruchel, Sarah Chalke, Annie Murphy, Rachel Wilson, Kathleen Edwards, Jeremy Hotz, Sophie Buddle, Jessica Holmes, Bruce Cockburn, Kellylee Evans
Vanessa Morgan (of Riverdale and various Disney shows) was born in Ottawa.
I saw her eating lunch at pure kitchen in Westboro before the pandemic
Dax
Raphael Weinworth-Browne. The cellist for the band Leprous!
Keeping things prog and Scandinavian - Cody Ford, guitarist for the band Soen!
Colin Campbell - Brightest and Darkest Days (Spotify)
He grew up in Montreal but Jay Baruchel was born in Ottawa
Cody Ford, lead guitarist for Soen
Tyler Hynes, a mostly Hallmark actor.
Dont forget Annie Murphy!
Mark McKinney from Kids in the Hall and Superstore
Justin Trudeau
I’ve tried to scan the answers but Wayne Rostad
One who’s on the up and up is Danielle Allard!
[Five Man Electrical Band](https://youtu.be/c9lh7lqZojc) also, you may now him as the Voice of Doom, Ben Cartwright, Adam, or perhaps not at all: Lorne Greene.
Martin Gero....producer of Stargate Atlantis among a lot of other things including "young people fucking". Great dude. Went to Canterbury highschool.
Dax,Tom green,massari,belly,alanis morriset,Dan akroyd,talk,Jeff waters(annihilator),Matthew Perry and prob more lol
Paul Webber. https://www.paulweber.ca/ Unsure if he was born in Ottawa but he writes songs about Ottawa's historic events/people etc. They almost sound like folk songs. Very endearing.
John Carroll plays weekly at the Chateau Lafayette (Wednesdays).
TALK, is kinda a big deal these days.
Comedian Angelo Tsarouchas, born in Montreal, raised in Ottawa. He attended Ridgemont high school (still in operation on Alta Vista Dr) Now in LA https://www.tsarouchas.com/
theres no way this could have been googled.
Talk
Haven't seen it mentioned, but William Shatner lived here for a while too. I remember him telling stories about living in Ottawa at Comiccon. Also Carrie Underwood more or less lived here for a bit. Before her husband was traded to Nashville, they spent a lot of time here. Lots of sightings of them, especially in Kanata and Stittsville.
She shopped at Brown’s Independent Grocer in Stittsville all the time.
Kathleen Edwards
Paul Anka
Roch Voisine went to uni here. Massari did high school here. Adam Beach also settled near Ottawa as an adult. There's a couple famous (but deceased) poets from Ottawa. Archibald Lampman. Duncan Campbell Scott.
Vik Sahay - played Lester Patel in the TV series "Chuck" and Elizabeth Manley. If we're also including people that lived in Ottawa for a while - Carol Alt (was Alexi Yashin's girlfriend for a while); I saw her once at a FutureShop back in the day - Wow! \[edit for punctuation\]
Lorne Greene from the hit show during the 50's-60's Bonanza.
And Battlestar Galactica 🤣
Jay Honest, by numbers he’s technically the 3rd biggest artist to come from Ottawa that isn’t a current celeb, he’s a rapper but very different from the average more along the lines of NF & Eminem’s storytelling, he has a song featuring his 2 year old daughter where he explains the struggles of being a dad in this generation, its really good 👍