by Rana Williamson

Created on: March 01, 2009   Last Updated: March 04, 2009

Well-known for cattle, cowboys, wide-open spaces, oil, and the Dallas Cowboys, Texas has also given the film industry six Academy Award-winning actors and actresses.

Joan Crawford - Named Best Actress for her 1945 leading role in "Mildred Pierce," Crawford is perhaps best remembered for her adopted daughter Christina's tell-all book "Mommie Dearest." The work forever cast Crawford as the quintessential domineering, controlling, and abusive mother screaming, "No wire hangars." Crawford was born in San Antonio on March 23, 1905.

Jamie Foxx - The comedian and actor Jamie Fox received the Academy's Best Actor nod in 2004 for his uncanny performance as singer / songwriter Ray Charles in the film "Ray." To enhance the authenticity of his portrayal, Foxx wore prosthetic eyelids that made him virtually blind. He was born in Terrell, December 13, 1967.

Tommy Lee Jones - The craggy-faced Jones, an Oscar winner in 1994 for Best Supporting Actor in "The Fugitive," was born in San Saba on September 15, 1946. Fluent in Spanish, Jones maintains a ranch in Texas and often plays laconic cowboys like Woodrow Call in the 1989 television mini series adaptation of the Larry McMurty novel, "Lonesome Dove."

Sissy Spacek - The recipient of the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1980 for her role as country singer Loretta Lynn in "Coal Miner's Daughter," Spacek was born on December 25, 1949 in Quitman. Lynn personally chose Spacek for the role and the actress performed all of Lynn's songs in the film herself, with no dubbing.

Forest Whitaker - Named Best Actor in a Leading Role by the Academy in 2006 for "The Last King of Scotland," Whitaker was born in Longview on July 15, 1961. Although standing 6'2" in height, Whitaker often plays characters that could be characterized as "gentle giants."

Renee Zellweger - In 2003, Zellweger won the Best Supporting Actress in a Supporting Role award for her work in the Civil War film "Cold Mountain." Zellweger was born in Katy on April 25, 1969. She first became widely known to audiences in 2001 for her work in "Bridget Jones' Diary," a film for which she gained 20 lbs.

While these six carried home the coveted gold statue from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, many fine actors call the Lone Star state home, including: Debbie Allen, Powers Boothe, Betty Buckley, Carol Burnett, Gary Busey, Kate Capshaw, Cyd Charisse, Dabney Coleman, Barry Corbin, Linda Darnell, Sandy Duncan, Shelley Duvall, Morgan Fairchild, Farrah Fawcett, Larry Hagman, Angie Harmon, Woody Harrelson, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kris Kristofferson, Eva Longoria, Matthew McConaughey, Annette O'Toole, Bill Paxton, Mary Kay Place, Dennis Quaid, Debbie
Reynolds, Ann Sheridan, Jaclyn Smith, Patrick Swayze, Rip Torn, JoBeth Williams, and Owen Wilson among others.

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