6 famous celebrities that you probably didn't know were born in Vancouver
B.C. is star-studded!
Cobie Smulders. Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott.
Canada has its fair share of claims to fame when it comes to big-name celebrities, and lots of them hail from the West Coast. Known as the "Hollywood of the North" it might not come as a surprise that Vancouver is the hometown of many a famous face, with many popular shows and movies filmed in the city.
Maybe you're in Vancouver and wondering which celebrities roamed the same streets as you (and perhaps still frequent the city), or perhaps you're just a curious Canadian looking at home-grown talent. Either way, it's interesting to see just how many stars once called Vancouver home (and which ones that still that do).
The Scott Brothers
This famous duo — known for their iconic home renovation show, big personalities, and charm — was born and raised in Vancouver.
Jonathan and Drew Scott are well-known for their HGTV series, and although they are now based in L.A., they still have ties to their Canadian home. The HGTV website says that the twins were raised on a ranch in Vancouver and bought their first house 17 years old and got flipping.
In a chat with Narcity, Jonathan Scott shared the spots in Vancouver where he wants to take his fiancée — celebrity Zooey Deschanel. Stanley Park, Maple Ridge (where they grew up), and Granville Island hold a special place in his heart.
Cobie Smulders
True How I Met Your Mother will know that Smulders is a Vancouverite. In an interview with Elle Canada she said (in true Canadian fashion) that Tim Hortons is a first stop when she comes home. She also said that her childhood in the city involved lots of outdoor adventures, with visits to Pender and Mayne Island and time spent exploring nature.
The Canadian Encyclopedia said that Smulders was born in White Rock and moved to Vancouver in her teens. While she's since moved away, she still makes her way to B.C. sometimes and is spotted out and about.
She may have headed across the border, but she still makes her Canadianness known. Her Instagram bio reads, "A Canadian girl living in 🇺🇸."
Finn Wolfhard
Finn Wolfhard is known best for his role on Stranger Things, which launched him into stardom. His roots are in Vancouver, though, where he was born and raised. He went to high school in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, and he's still spotted around town sometimes — including last year he stopped by Wak Wak Burger, a food truck in the city.
He also gave his hometown a shout-out on the popular interview show, Hot Ones. "Vancouver, I feel like is a place where I can get bored and just go out in nature and walk around and it's very inspiring," Wolfhard said on the show.
Wolfhard also shouted out some local faves like Science World and the Britannia Mines — both top-tier school field trip destinations.
Seth Rogen
You may remember a time when Seth Rogen was the voice over the SkyTrain speakers, or perhaps when the Vancouver Aquarium named an octopus after him (gotta love Ceph Rogen) — that's all thanks to his Vancouver roots. Rogen grew up in the city and still visits, popping by local restaurants.
Rogen also appeared on Hot Ones, and apparently, Sean Evans loves some Vancouver talk. While facing the heat of the spicy wings, he was forced to reminisce on a day spent in Tsawwassen when they brought Evan Goldberg to ask him a question. Long story short, Rogen abandoned his bestie when some older kids ambushed them at a paintball spot in town.
"I run off into the woods as literally all my friends get annihilated," he admitted.
Anna Cathcart
You might recognize Anna Cathcart from the beloved To All the Boys movies, or the spin-off series, XO, Kitty — both of which she plays the role of Kitty in.
The actress still calls Vancouver home, and even took on the tour-guide role when she got to film All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You in the city. Cathcart told Narcity in an interview that she showed the cast around Vancouver, taking them to hot spots like Science World and Granville Island.
Ryan Reynolds
A B.C. celebrity list can't go without mentioning arguably the most recognizable name to come out of the city.
Reynolds is a well-known Canadian who grew up in Vancouver. This may not come as a surprise since his Instagram handle is an ode to his hometown (hey, @vancityreynolds), but it is still worth a mention.
There's been loads of public references to his childhood in Vancouver, including a story he told on Jimmy Fallon's 'The Tonight Show' about a local newspaper publishing a picture of him at Kits Community Centre.
Another fun fact about his Vancouver life is that he was a paperboy for the Vancouver Sun. He posted about his first job on Instagram, sharing a painting of him at work. He also worked at Safeway when he was 19, and wrote on X (formally known as Twitter) that he bagged groceries for Sarah McLachlan there.