Toronto is a vibrant and unique city that is comprised of a variety of people from all different walks of life. It’s no wonder that such a special city has produced a number of world-famous celebrities including musicians, authors, artists, comedians, and more. Here’s a list of the top 10 most famous people who call Toronto home.
As a Toronto real estate agent, I find it fascinating when famous people decide to come back and reside in the city they originally called home. If you haven’t read Danielle Demerino’s blog about Drake’s mega-mansion in the Bridal Path, check it out!
- Drake: Arguably one of the biggest rappers in the world right now, Drake was born and bred in the Forest Hill area of Toronto. Drake still has strong ties to his hometown as he currently owns an impressive piece of Toronto real estate in the affluent Bridle Path neighbourhood.
- Mike Myers: The comedic mastermind behind Austin Powers, Wayne’s World, and countless other movies and SNL skits grew up in Scarborough. Yeah, baby! Myers was born to English immigrant parents. He still loves to represent the city and you can catch him in the stands at Raptors, Leafs, and Jays games.
- The Weeknd: Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, is a best-selling singer, songwriter, record producer and actor from Scarborough. As a young adult, The Weeknd lived in the Parkdale area of Toronto. Did you happen to catch the 2021 Super Bowl halftime show? Yeah, that was him. No big deal.
- Jim Carrey: Jim Carrey is a beloved actor who ruled the 90s comedy genre by starring in many of our favourite films including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, The Cable Guy, and Liar Liar. He’s gone on to star in countless other films from the 2000s to today and even won our hearts over with dramatic roles including Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The actor was born in Newmarket and spent his early years in Scarborough and North York.
- Lorne Michaels: Born in Toronto, Lorne Michaels is best known as the creator and producer of a little show called, “Saturday Night Live (SNL)”. He has also produced Late Night, The Kids In The Hall, and The Tonight Show.
- Margaret Atwood: A world-renowned author, activist, and teacher, Margaret Atwood is best known for penning the best-selling book, The Handmaid’s Tale. While born in Ottawa, Atwood travelled between Quebec, Toronto, and Ottawa as a child. As a teen, she lived in Toronto and attended Leaside High School. Atwood has lived in the Annex neighbourhood with her family since the 1980s.
- Shawn Mendes: Born and raised in Pickering, Shawn Mendes is a highly successful recording artist with hit songs such as “Treat You Better” and “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back”. In 2017, Mendes worked with a Toronto real estate agent to purchase a downtown penthouse condo for $1.75 million.
- Howie Mandel: Howie Mandel is a comedian, tv personality, producer, and voice actor best known as a judge on America’s Got Talent and the former host of Deal or No Deal. He was born in Toronto and grew up in the Willowdale area.
- John Candy: A household name in the 80s, John Candy starred in comedic films such as The Great Outdoors, Uncle Buck, and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (amongst many others). He was born in Toronto and grew up in Newmarket.
- Frank Gehry: A world-renowned architect who has designed buildings in cities all over the world, Frank Gehry was born in Toronto. Some of his most notable designs include the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
Honourable Mention: Justin Bieber: The Biebs wasn’t born and raised in Toronto, but rather in London, Ontario and grew up in Stratford. Regardless, this internationally known pop superstar loves all things Toronto and can often be seen at Toronto Maple Leafs games. Hey, he even designed one of the Leafs’ alternate jerseys!
While there are many more famous celebrities from Toronto, these stood out as our top ten most famous. In a city populated with over 2.93 million people, we can’t wait to see what future stars hail from The Six.
Sources:
https://www.blogto.com/arts/2014/11/the_10_most_famous_people_from_toronto/
Each person’s Wikipedia
