Famous Canadians

Canada is the birthplace of many global icons. Whether in film, music, science, sports, or activism, Canadians continue to shine brightly on the world stage. Here's a short list of some famous Canadians you may have heard of.

Ryan Reynolds – Witty and charming star of Deadpool, business owner, and philanthropist from Vancouver.

Rachel McAdams – Ontario-born star of The Notebook, Mean Girls, and Spotlight.

Keanu Reeves – Toronto-raised action legend known for The Matrix and John Wick.

Catherine O’Hara – Beloved comedic actress from Home Alone and Schitt’s Creek.

Dan Levy – Emmy-winning co-creator and actor of Schitt’s Creek.

Sandra Oh – Ottawa-born actress acclaimed for Grey’s Anatomy and Killing Eve.

Mike Myers – Creator of Austin Powers and Wayne’s World, born in Scarborough, Ontario.

Seth Rogen – Vancouver comedian, writer, and actor in films like Superbad and Pineapple Express.

Ryan Gossling – Born in London, Ontario, known for films like The Notebook, Drive, La La Land, and Barbie.

Kiefer Sutherland – Emmy-winning actor of 24, born in London, UK but raised in Toronto.

Pamela Anderson – Baywatch star and animal rights activist from Ladysmith, BC.

Tatiana Maslany – Regina-born actress best known for her Emmy-winning work in Orphan Black.

Eugene Levy – Comedy legend and star of American Pie and Schitt’s Creek.

James Cameron – Director of Titanic and Avatar

Celine Dion – Quebec-born global icon, known for My Heart Will Go On.

Drake – Toronto rapper and global music megastar.

Shania Twain – Country-pop legend from Timmins, Ontario.

Justin Bieber – Global pop phenomenon from Stratford, Ontario.

Joni Mitchell – Folk legend and poetic songwriter from Alberta.

Neil Young – Influential singer-songwriter and activist.

The Weeknd – Toronto-born R&B innovator and Super Bowl performer.

Bryan Adams – Rock singer behind hits like Summer of ’69, from Kingston, Ontario.

Alanis Morissette – Ottawa-born voice of 90s angst with Jagged Little Pill.

Michael Bublé – Smooth-singing crooner from Burnaby, BC.

Avril Lavigne – Punk-pop princess from Napanee, Ontario.

Leonard Cohen – Poet, novelist, and legendary songwriter from Montreal.

Shawn Mendes – Pop star from Pickering, Ontario, known for his acoustic love ballads.

Gordon Lightfoot – Folk legend behind The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Feist – Indie pop artist who gained international fame with 1234.

Wayne Gretzky – “The Great One,” and arguably the greatest hockey player ever.

Sidney Crosby – NHL superstar and Olympic gold medal hero from Nova Scotia.

Christine Sinclair – The world’s top-scoring international soccer player—male or female.

Bianca Andreescu – First Canadian to win a Grand Slam singles title.

Donovan Bailey – Olympic gold medal sprinter and world record holder in 1996.

Clara Hughes – The only athlete to win multiple medals in both the Summer and Winter Olympics.

Penny Oleksiak – Canada’s most decorated Olympian (swimming).

Margaret Atwood – Author of The Handmaid’s Tale and a literary force in dystopian fiction.

Alice Munro – Nobel Prize-winning short story writer.

David Suzuki – Environmental scientist and longtime host of The Nature of Things.

Roberta Bondar – Canada’s first female astronaut and neurologist.

This list is just a glimpse of the incredible talent that’s come out of Canada. From actors and athletes to musicians and innovators, Canadians continue to help shape culture and inspire people around the world.