Toronto has birthed hundreds of notable artists, authors, athletes, musicians, intellectuals and bonadife comedic superstars. After some internal debate - would they be just as likely to know this person in Paris? - we rounded up the biggest, 6ix-born household names. Here's a short list of some of the most famous people from Toronto. Drake Before he was winning Grammys and ruling the world of pop culture, Aubrey Graham lived on Weston Road and in Forest Hill. He also played a wheelchair-bound teen on Degrassi. Our beloved 6ix God is still very much connected to – and proud of – his hometown. Jim Carrey The A-list comedian grew up inside and around the GTA, with stints in Scarborough and North York, and came up in the Toronto comedy scene in the late '70s. Carrey moved to LA by the time he was 21, but apparently, he still loves the Leafs. Margaret Atwood Atwood, arguably Toronto's greatest contribution to the field of literature (and now television, with the success of Handmaid's Tale) grew up between the city, Ottawa and Quebec before settling in Toronto during high school. She's lived in the Annex since the mid-'80s. Mike Myers Between Wayne's World, Saturday Night Live, Austin Powers and everything else he's done, Myers is known worldwide for his comedy chops. The Scarborough-born Second City alumn was named an Officer of the Order of Canada for his extensive body of work. Samantha Bee She may be famous for her clever take on American politics, but the former Daily Show correspondent was born and raised right here in Toronto. Bee, who was named one of Time Magazine's most influential 100 people, is also the first woman ever to host a late-night show. Kiefer Sutherland The veteran actor, best known for his starring turn in 24, moved to Toronto at age nine from California and attended a whopping nine elementary and high schools over the course of his youth. Bonus Canadian fact: He's the grandson of Tommy Douglas. Frank Gehry Considered one of the world's greatest architects, Gehry was born in Toronto in 1929. His grandfather's Queen West hardware store was reportedly a launching pad for his earliest interests in construction and architecture. He lives in California now, but is undoubtedly a local hero. Keanu Reeves Before he was Neo or Ted "Theodore" Logan, Keanu Reeves lived in Toronto. He attended four local high schools in five years, including De La Salle College and Etobicoke School for the Arts (who, at one point, expelled him.) Deadmau5 When he's not touring the world, the mouse-eared DJ (aka Joel Zimmerman) lives downtown, and his fleet of luxury cars occasionally make appearances around the city (including a McLaren and the Nyan Cat-themed, dearly-departed Purrari). Rob Ford Fame lasts 15 minutes, to borrow a phrase, but infamy lasts far longer. Thanks to an infinitely-publicized crack-cocaine scandal, the late former mayor appeared on Kimmel, was parodied on Saturday Night Live, and made daily headlines in papers around the world for years - how many people from Toronto can say that?
by Lauren O'Neil via blogTO
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