Here's a look at celeb news tied to the Dayton area in 2015. (Think there's something else that should be on the list? Email contact@dayton.com and let us know.)
1. Kettering native Rob Dyrdek, pro skateboarder, reality TV star (remember Rob & Big?), entrepreneur, etc., got hitched to model Bryiana Noelle Flores and broke the internet. He also continued to keep his local ties strong, purchasing an underground bunker in Miamisburg at the Mound Advanced Technology Center (a former Department of Defense compound known for its privacy). He'll use it to support his skateboard and clothing design work.
2. The folks from MTV's Catfish: The TV Show came to Dayton in October to film for one of their episodes (no word yet on when the episode airs, or who is involved locally). For those unfamiliar, the premise of Catfish is basically to find out if folks involved in an online relationship are really who they say they are. "I can say they are in the city and will be shooting in off hours in the city and in a home in a south Dayton suburb," Shelly Hulce, a film commissioner who works independently in the Dayton film and television industry, told us.
3. Bryan Cranston of "Breaking Bad" fame came to Dayton to learn more about his family history., which is pretty fascinating (long story short: Cranston's dad abandoned his family when Cranston was just 11 years old -- just one example in an extended pattern of paternal abandonment). The Dayton tie was to his great-great grandfather Joseph Henry Cranston. We were tipped off to his presence in our fair city by a photo posted to Facebook, where Cranston was spotted dining at Thai 9 in the Oregon District. He was even cool enough to pose with some Thai 9 employees.
4. Speaking of celeb spottings around town, Melissa Etheridge was spotted eating lunch at Meadowlark prior to her show at the Rose Music Center, where she posed for a photo with restaurant owner Elizabeth Wiley.
5. Rob Lowe and his father Chuck Lowe, a Dayton-area attorney, have more in common than good looks. Chuck talked to Dayton.com about Rob's new role as lawyer Dean Sanderson in "The Grinder," a Fox network comedy about, well, law. "It is sort of in my veins a little bit," Rob Lowe said after mentioning his dad practices law in Dayton.
6. Speaking of the Lowes, actor Chad Lowe, Rob's brother, returned to Dayton to throw a pitch at a Dayton Dragons game in July. The Emmy award-winner talked to us about his favorite things in Dayton -- including his must-have foods when he's back in town.
7. Speaking of other heavy hitters, the award-wining actor Martin Sheen received an honorary degree from the University of Dayton in May and came to the graduation ceremony to accept it. Born in Dayton in 1940, Sheen grew up on Brown Street in the historic South Park neighborhood.
8. In May, James Franco filmed "The Long Home" in several locations in southwest Ohio, including Hamilton, and their cast stayed in Butler County during the several-week shoot (you can see photos here). "The first few days of shooting have been just outstanding," said Hamilton native Jay Davis, a producer for Rabbit Bandini, Franco's production company that is making the film. Franco and other cast members posted some of their whereabouts on social media, using the hashtag #thelonghome.
9. Dayton area grad Allison Janney, of CBS' "Mom," took home her 7th Primetime Emmy Award this year, tying Ed Asner for second in most acting Primetime Emmys. Whew! Janney was raised in Oakwood. Currently she plays the no-holds-barred Bonnie Plunkett on CBS' "Mom."
10. Springfield, Ohio native John Legend had a bang-up year, launching with an Oscar win for "Glory," which he followed up with a fantastic Super Bowl performance (I mean, he really nailed it). Then, he proceeded to be perpetually cute with his wife, supermodel/TV star/fantastic cook Chrissy Teigen (who is now pregnant with the couple's first child), "officiated" a marriage between two bulldogs to raise money for Springfield's South High School auditorium through his Show Me Campaign, collaborated with The Raymond Vineyard on a bottle of wine called "Legend Vineyard Exclusive," and then donated $500,000 to Springfield City School District to renovate the 700-seat auditorium at the Springfield Center. No wonder his dad's so proud of him.
Did we miss something? Email contact@dayton.com and let us know.
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