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Community Corner

Fairfield County's Ties to Tinseltown

Southwest Connecticut has had plenty of brushes with Oscar gold and other glimmering awards over the years.

From Kate Bostworth to Mel Gibson, from Ron Howard to George C. Scott, many entertainment industry standouts have close ties to Fairfield County. Some are natives, while others have chosen it as a sanctuary to get away from the whirlwind of Hollywood. Collectively, they have produced a bevy of well-known works and influenced countless productions from both sides of the camera.

With the 83rd annual Academy Awards set for tonight, Patch highlights a few of the biggest names on that illustrious list:

Richard Belzer, actor and comedian, was born in Bridgeport, grew up in Fairfield and worked as a reporter for The Bridgeport Post. Notable Works: Law & Order: SVU, Homicide: Life on the Street.

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Kate Bosworth, though born in Los Angeles, spent much of her youth in Darien. The television and film star's notable works include Young Americans, Wonderland, Superman Returns, and 21.

Glenn Close, nominated for five Oscars, was born in Greenwich and attended the private girls school Rosemary Hall, now the campus for the Japanese School. Notable Works: Fatal Attraction, Damages, Dangerous Liaisons, 101 Dalmatians.

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Bette Davis, the legendary actress in her later years, lived on Crooked Mile Road in Westport. She sought her Connecticut retreat in 1985 to work on her memoirs. Davis is in an elite group of actors who have been nominated for at least ten Academy Awards (she won two). Notable Works: Jezebel, All About Eve, The Little Foxes.

Brian Dennehy, the film, stage and screen actor, was born in Bridgeport and currently resides in Woodstock. He also appears regularly on stage throughout Connecticut. Notable Works: Best Seller, Death of a Salesman, Long Day’s Journey into Night.

Colleen Dewhurst, an award-winning stage actress both on the stage and on camera, lived in Greenwich during her marriages to actor George C. Scott. Notable works: Annie Hall, Anne of Green Gables.

Keir Dullea, perhaps most famous for his role as Astronaut David Bowman in Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, lives in Fairfield.

Mel Gibson, the actor and director known for his Mad Max and Lethal Weapon movies, lived for many years with his former wife and their seven children on a farm in backcountry Greenwich. Other notable works: Braveheart, Apocalypto, and What Women Want.

Topher Grace, though born in New York, grew up in Darien, brushing elbows with Kate Bosworth and Chloë Sevigny. Notable works: That '70s Show, In Good Company, Spider-Man 3.

Katherine Heigl, model-turned-actress, was born in Washington D.C., but spent most of her childhood in New Canaan. Notable Works: Grey’s Anatomy, Knocked Up, 27 Dresses

Ron Howard, the actor, director and producer, was born in Oklahoma but lives with his high school sweetheart and their four children on a 35-acre estate in Greenwich. Notable Works: Happy Days, Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind.

Christopher Lloyd was born in Stamford and raised in New Canaan and Westport. His family donated their family's ancestral home, Waveny Park, to the town of New Canaan. Notable Works: Back to the Future Trilogy, Taxi, Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Paul Newman, the classic American heartthrob, was born in Ohio but escaped the Hollywood hills along with his wife and three daughters to make their home in Westport. He died in his home there in 2008. Notable Works: The Color of Money, Cool Hand Luke, The Hustler.

Christopher Plummer, an actor of both stage and screen, calls Weston home. Plummer grew up in Canada, and is perhaps best known for his role as Captain von Trapp in The Sound of Music. He is currently filming an adaptation of Stieg Larsson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Other notable works: The Silent Partner, The Insider, Inside Man, The Last Station.

Jason Robards, who was featured in numerous films and whose work was recognized with an Academy Award, lived in Fairfield before his death.

Diana Ross, the Motown diva may have been born in Detroit, but she lives part time in her multi-million dollar mansion in Greenwich. Notable works: Lady Sings the Blues.

Meg Ryan, America’s sweetheart, was born and raised in Fairfield. Notable Works: When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail.

Christopher Sarandon, who lent his voice to A Nightmare Before Christmas and who was featured in The Princess Bride, calls Fairfield home.

George C. Scott was best known for his stage work as well as his portrayals of General George S. Patton in Patton and General Buck Turgidson in Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove. He lived in Greenwich with his actress wife Colleen Dewhurst (whom he married and divorced twice).

Chloë Sevigny, who won an Oscar for her performance in Boys Don't Cry, grew up in Darien. She appeared in high school plays with television actor Topher Grace, who knew Kate Bosworth when she also lived in town. Other notable works: American Psycho, Party Monster, The Brown Bunny.

Meryl Streep, the multiple award winner and nominee, was born in New Jersey, but she and her husband were wed on Masons Island and make Greenwich their primary residence. Notable Works: The Deer Hunter, Julie & Julia, Mamma Mia!

Christopher Walken, whose career includes more than 100 movies and shows, was born in Queens, NY, but he and his wife, Georgianne Walken, reside in Wilton. Notable Works: The Deer Hunter, Pulp Fiction, Catch Me If You Can.

Gene Wilder, who starred in classics such as Bonnie and Clyde, Young Frankenstein and Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory, was born and raised in Milwaukee but bought an eighteenth century farmhouse in Stamford in 1981 and shared it with his late wife Gilda Radner. Wilder continues to live in the home with his fourth wife Karen Boyer.

Andrew Brophy, David Gurliacci, Chandra Johnson-Greene, Barbara Heins and Justin Reynolds contributed to this report.

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