Sunday, October 21, 2001
41 Celebrities
Guess who went to high school around here:
Amy Acuff: Olympic high jumper, poster and calendar model, 1993 graduate of Calallen High School who excelled in basketball and track.
Barbara Barrie (formerly Barbara Berman): graduated from Miller High School, and has played roles on ''Barney Miller" and more recently ''Suddenly Susan." Best actress, Cannes, 1964. Film credits include "One Potato, Two Potato," "Breaking Away," "Judy Berlin."
Johnny Canales: television host of the ''The Johnny Canales International Show," Robstown native.
Peggy Cleaves: a romance writer who goes by the pseudonym of Ann Major, Ray High School graduate.
Dabney Coleman: actor, Corpus Christi High School graduate, career distinguished by roles in which his character is a jerk. Films include "Nine to Five," "On Golden Pond." Television credits include title roles in "Buffalo Bill," "Slap Maxwell."
Farrah Fawcett: actress, sex symbol, poster girl. Born here Feb. 2, 1947, original "Charlie's Angel," won acclaim for "Extremities," "The Burning Bed." Now on ABC's "Spin City" as a divorcee judge with whom the mayor has fallen in love.
Freddie Fender: singer, longtime Corpus Christi resident, popularity spans English and Spanish language audiences.
Tommy Habeeb: actor, grew up in Corpus Christi, acts as Tommy Grand on the syndicated reality show "Cheaters" shown locally on KIII and KWDB, formalwear designer, competitive foosball player, worked in his family's jewelry shop, Habeeb's Jewelers.
Burt Hooton: former Major League Baseball pitcher, took King High School to state title in 1967, former Chicago Cub, Los Angeles Dodger and Texas Ranger.
Terry and Bobby Labonte: longtime stars of the NASCAR racing circuit, graduates of Carroll High School, just had a local park named after them.
Danny Lohner: 1989 King High School graduate, guitarist for Nine Inch Nails.
Eva Longoria: actress, Miller High School graduate, Texas A&M University-Kingsville graduate, stars on "The Young and the Restless" at least through 2004 as troublemaker Isabella.
Allen Ludden: the late television game show host of ''Password" who was married to actress Betty White, was a 1934 Corpus Christi High School graduate.
Terrence McNally: Tony Award-winning playwright, Corpus Christi native, 1956 graduate of Ray High School. Work includes "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune," "Love! Valour! Compassion!" and "Master Class." His play, "Corpus Christi," opened to much controversy in 1998. Set in Corpus Christi, it is a contemporary retelling of Christ's life with homosexual characters.
Dat Nguyen: 1993 Rockport-Fulton High School graduate, played at Texas A&M, won Lombardi Trophy, now starting middle linebacker for Dallas Cowboys, rarity as a pro football player of Vietnamese heritage.
Riley Odoms: former Denver Broncos tight end, 1968 graduate of West Oso High School.
Todd Oldham: clothing designer born in Corpus Christi, recognizable from his "Todd Time" segments on MTV's "House of Style."
Jennifer Pena: Tejano singer, Corpus Christi resident.
Lou Diamond Phillips: actor, 1980 graduate of Flour Bluff High School, first big break was role of Ritchie Valens in "La Bamba." Other movies include "Stand and Deliver," "Young Guns." Recently won acclaim for redefining the role of the King of Siam in "The King and I" on Broadway.
Selena Quintanilla-Perez: Tejano singer grew up here, brought mainstream notice to Tejano music, was killed here in 1995, memorialized by renaming of auditorium at Bayfront Plaza, placement of statue on seawall. Her life story became a hit movie that brought fame to actress Jennifer Lopez.
Johnny Roland: former NFL running back, current running backs coach with the Arizona Cardinals, led Miller High School to 1960 state football championship.
Pepe Serna: actor, 1963 graduate of Ray High School, a scene-stealer in "Scarface," also memorable in "American Me," lots of bad-guy roles.
Gene and Marvin Upshaw: former NFL players, Robstown natives. Gene, longtime executive director of the NFL Players Association, was a Hall of Fame offensive lineman. Marvin was a defensive lineman with the Cleveland Browns and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Don Williams: country singer (1981 Country Album of the Year - ''I Believe in You"), graduate of Gregory-Portland High School.