Famous People From Bellingham, WA
Bellingham is a small city, but it’s produced or hosted a surprising number of notable people across film, television, and music. Here’s who’s connected to the area — a fun piece of local identity worth knowing whether you’re moving here or just curious about the place.
Ryan Stiles
Known for his improv work on Whose Line Is It Anyway? and his role on The Drew Carey Show, Ryan Stiles has a property near Lake Samish and founded Bellingham’s Upfront Theatre, a local improv venue.
Hilary Swank
The two-time Academy Award-winning actress, known for Boys Don’t Cry and Million Dollar Baby, spent her formative years in Bellingham.
Ben Gibbard
The singer-songwriter co-founded the Grammy-nominated indie band Death Cab for Cutie in Bellingham in 1997, giving the city a genuine claim in the indie music scene’s history.
Billy Burke
Known for playing Charlie Swan in the Twilight film series and for his role in Fire Country, Billy Burke was born and raised in Bellingham.
Misha Collins
Known for playing the angel Castiel on The CW’s Supernatural, Misha Collins moved to Bellingham specifically for its smaller, coastal atmosphere.
Why this matters if you’re moving here
Beyond trivia value, it’s a small signal of what Bellingham actually is: a city small enough to have a distinct, close-knit identity, but with genuine cultural output — music, film, television — connected to it. It’s part of what gives the city its particular character compared to a purely residential or purely tourist-driven small town.