KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) \u2014 From country superstars to championship athletes and Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, Knoxville<\/a> has been the birthplace of many notable people. While you\u2019re probably familiar with Knoxville greats like Kenny Chesney<\/a> or Cormac McCarthy<\/a> , here are six celebrities you may not have known are from Knoxville.<\/p>\n Mary Costa Courtesy Cynthia Moxley_1551062062934.jpg.jpg<\/p>\n Born in Knoxville in 1930, Costa is best known as the voice of Princess Aurora in the 1959 Disney animated film \u201cSleeping Beauty.\u201d Of the three Disney Princesses created in Walt Disney\u2019s lifetime, she is the last surviving voice actress. She was named a Disney Legend in 1999 and she was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Donald Trump in 2020.<\/a><\/p>\n The reigning Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year was born in Knoxville but moved at a young age on account of his father\u2019s career as an FBI agent. O\u2019Connell spent several seasons as a backup quarterback in the NFL before joining the coaching ranks in 2015 and won a Super Bowl as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Rams.<\/p>\n He has been the Vikings\u2019 head coach since 2022, where he coaches another notable Knoxville native, six-time Pro Bowl defensive back Harrison Smith<\/a> .<\/p>\n Born in Knoxville and raised in Missouri, Spaeny garnered critical acclaim and a Golden Globe Award nomination for her portrayal of Priscilla Presley in Sofia Coppola\u2019s 2023 biographical film \u201cPriscilla.\u201d Other notable films she has appeared in include \u201cPacific Rim Uprising,\u201d \u201cVice,\u201d \u201cCivil War,\u201d and \u201cAlien: Romulus.\u201d<\/p>\n Cailee Spaeny poses for photographers upon arrival for the premiere the film \u2018Priscilla\u2019 at the 2023 London Film Festival in London, Monday, Oct. 9, 2023. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer\/Invision\/AP)<\/p>\n Randy Orton during WrestleMania XXVII in Atlanta, Georgia on April 3, 2011. (Paul Abell\/AP Images for WWE)<\/p>\n While Orton spent most of his youth in St. Louis, the WWE Hall of Famer was born in Knoxville in 1980.<\/p>\n He\u2019s widely considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and one of the most popular performers in the history of WWE.<\/p>\n He set a WWE record for most matches on pay-per-view events in 2021. The previous record was held by Kane, who has served as Knox County Mayor since 2018.<\/a><\/p>\n Actor David Keith walks the red carpet at the entrance to a Louis Boston party, Wednesday, July 28, 2004 in Boston. (AP Photo\/Lisa Poole)<\/p>\n The Knoxville native graduated from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor\u2019s degree in Speech and Theater in 1985. He first rose to prominence in the 1982 movie \u201cAn Officer and a Gentleman.\u201d<\/p>\n He starred in the 1984 adaptation of Stephen King\u2019s novel \u201cFirestarter\u201d and appeared in numerous supporting roles in films like \u201cMajor League II,\u201d \u201cU-571,\u201d and \u201cDaredevil.\u201d<\/p>\n His cousin Mike Keith is set to begin his first season as the play-by-play announcer for the University of Tennessee football and basketball teams.<\/a><\/p>\n Brian Bell of the rock band Weezer performs in concert at The Sands Event Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013, in Bethlehem, Pa. (Photo by Owen Sweeney\/Invision\/AP)<\/p>\n Bell\u2019s father was a geography professor at the University of Tennessee. He credits an Elvis Presley concert at the Stokley Athletic Center in Knoxville with sparking his early interest in music.<\/p>\nActor\/singer Mary Costa<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Kevin O\u2019Connell<\/span><\/h2>\n
Actress Cailee Spaeny<\/span><\/h2>\n
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WWE Superstar Randy Orton<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Actor David Keith<\/span><\/h2>\n
Weezer guitarist Brian Bell<\/span><\/h2>\n
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