Notable People From Winnipeg

Winnipeg may not be the biggest city in the world, but the 204 has produced some world-class folks. From Academy Award-winning actors like Anna Paquin to cutting-edge philosophers like Marshal McCluhan and beyond, there have been plenty of Winnipeggers who have left their mark on this world.

 

Today, we at Rumor’s Comedy Club tip our hats to Winnipeg’s biggest success stories. So, grab yourself a slurpee and a piece of Jeanne’s cake — here are the best of Winnipeg’s famous faces.

 

TV and movie stars from Winnipeg 

 

The YWG is no stranger to the big screen. From Tinkertown to Tinseltown, here are the best TV and film stars from Winnipeg.

 

Anna Paquin - In 1993 Winnipeg-born Anna Paquin became the youngest actor in history to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, bringing home the Oscar for her performance in The Piano. Paquin has gone on to star in several big-budget Hollywood films including a recurring role in Marvel’s X-Men franchise and Martin Scorsese’s dramatic opus, The Irishman.

 

Nia Vardalos - In 2002, Winnipeg native Nia Vardalos burst onto the international scene with her hit movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Vardalos wrote and starred in the independent film, which grossed over $368 million, making it the most successful romantic comedy of all time. The film’s sequel was also quite successful, grossing $90.6 million, and the third installment, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3, is set to be released this September.

 

Monty Hall - The original host of Let’s Make a Deal, this Winnipegger has his own star on both the Canadian and Hollywood Walk of Fame.

 

David Steinberg - Hailing from Winnipeg’s North End, David Steinberg made over 130 appearances on the Tonight Show before turning his attention to directing. Steinberg has directed several films and TV shows including episodes of Seinfeld, Friends, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and The Golden Girls.

 

Kevin McDonald - Although born and raised in Toronto, Kids in the Hall allum Kevin McDonald now calls Winnipeg home. The sketch comedy legend has appeared in a number of films and TV shows including memorable guest appearances on Seinfeld, Friends, and That 70s Show.

 

More: Movies filmed in Winnipeg

 

Athletes from Winnipeg

 

Winnipeg has produced some world-class athletes from cyclists to professional wrestlers, and, of course, dozens of hockey players. Here are the gladiators that have brought honor and glory to the River City.

 

Clara Hughes - Born and raised in Winnipeg’s Elmwood neighbourood, Clara Hughes is arguably the greatest olympic athlete of all time. A recipient of the Order of Canada, Hughes is the only athlete, male or female, to win multiple medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. In 2006, Clara Hughes brought home the Olympic gold medal in the Women’s 5000 meter speedskating event.

 

Terry Fox - His name is synonymous with determination and perseverance, and he was born right here in Winnipeg. Terry Fox captured the hearts of Canadians back in 1980 when he struck out on his Marathon of Hope, in which he pledged to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research after losing his right leg to cancer. Fox ran the equivalent of a marathon per day for 140 days until he was forced to quit when his cancer returned.

 

Terry Fox’s bravery and determination made the Winnipeg native a household name across Canada and inspired thousands of annual Terry Fox Run cancer fundraisers.

 

Jonathan Toews - When you think about hockey players from Winnipeg, you think about Jonathan Toews. A three-time Stanley Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist, Toews is considered to be one of the greatest hockey players of his generation.

 

Cindy Klassen - North Kildonan speedskating phenom, Cindy Klassen, holds the record for most medals in one Olympiad by a female speedskater winning one gold medal, two silver medals, and two bronze medals at the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy.

 

Chris Jericho - Before he was body slamming his way to the WWE heavyweight championship, Chris Jericho lived in Winnipeg, where he graduated from Red River College in 1990 with a diploma in Creative Communications.

 

More: Comedians Winnipeg saw before they were famous

 

Musicians and bands from Winnipeg

 

Winnipeg is known for its legendary local music scene. The combination of cold winters and cheap rent makes it easy for aspiring musicians to find the time and space to jam. Here are some famous Winnipeggers from the world of music.

 

Neil Young - Although not born in Winnipeg, Neil Young spent his formative years in the Peg, moving to the Manitoba capital at the age of fourteen. It was deep in the bowels of Fort Rouge

Young formed his first band, The Jades. Young has gone on to an incredible career, releasing 45 studio albums, and collecting three Grammy awards, and seven Junos. In 2021, the rock legend sold 50% of his song catalog rights for a whopping $150 million.

 

The Guess Who - One of the biggest rock bands of all time, The Guess Who burst onto the scene in 1965. The band has had 14 Top 40 hits in the US and more than 30 in Canada, including their biggest track, American Woman, which reached number one on the Billboard charts in 1970.

 

Bachman-Turner Overdrive - The Takin’ Care of Business singers formed following Randy Bachman’s departure from The Guess Who. There was even once a petition circulating to change the name of the Disraeli Overpass to the Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

 

Crash Test Dummies - Known for the deep baritone vocals of frontman Brad Roberts, the Crash Test Dummies rose to international acclaim in the mid 1990s. They’re hit Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm was parodied by Weird Al Yankovic in 1994, and in 1995 two of their tunes were featured on the Dumb and Dumber soundtrack.

 

Fred Penner - Many people’s childhood was scored by Winnipegger, Fred Penner, with hits like The Cat Came Back and Sandwiches. He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1991.

 

More: Comedians coming to Winnipeg in 2023

 

Academics from Winnipeg

 

While many Winnipeggers have been called smartasses, some are actually smart and have contributed to Humanity’s collective knowledge in major ways. Here are some Winnipeg academics that have changed the way the world thinks.

 

Marshall McCluhan - The 1960s was a time of deep thought and experimentation, and Marshall McCluhan was right in the middle of it all. The Winnipeg-raised philosopher became an important thread in the cultural fabric with his groundbreaking work Understanding Media, where he argues that a medium influences a society by the properties and of the medium itself rather than the content that the medium provides. His thesis is summed up by the famous quote, “the medium is the message”.

 

Jim Peebles - The current Albert Einstein Professor in Science at Princeton University, Jim Peebles is a major contributor to the Big Bang Theory, as well as to theories of dark matter and dark energy. In 2019, Peebles shared the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions in the field of physical cosmology. Jim has been on a life-long journey to find the beginning of the Universe, and it all started in St. Vital back in 1935.

 

More: 10 things to do this spring in Winnipeg

 

Catch a future star at Rumor’s

 

Clearly Winnipeg’s got talent. And that extends to comedy, too. There is a growing list of Winnipeg-born comedians making good, including appearances on Last Comic Standing, The Tonight Show, CBC, CTV, and more.

 

You can find the best up-and-coming comedians from Winnipeg and around the world at Rumor’s Comedy Club. In fact, Rumor’s has hosted many famous comedians before they became famous. Take a look at our event listings for up-coming acts, and take advantage of some of our weekly deals.

 

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