Most people know that movies like Field of Dreams and The Bridges of Madison County take place in Iowa, but did you know the main guy in Office Space was from Iowa? From Jason Momoa to Duke, we’ve rounded up a list of some of the most famous actors and actresses with Iowa ties and some of their top shows and movies to binge-watch. After all, there’s only so many times you can rewatch Tiger King.

Jason Momoa  

Born: Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, raised in Norwalk, Iowa. Attended Des Moines Area Community College.  

Known For: Making DC Comics’ corniest superhero uber cool; his insatiable love for Tasty Tacos; guy we’d most like to have a virtual happy hour with.  

Must see: Aquaman – HBO Go, Vudu (Rent), Amazon Prime (Rent) 

Also stream: 

  • Game of Thrones – HBO Now 
  • See – Apple TV  
  • Justice League – Vudu (Rent), Amazon Prime (Rent) 
  • Frontier – Netflix  
  • Conan the Barbarian – Netflix  
  • The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part – HBO Now, Hulu 
  • Braven – Amazon Prime 

Ashton Kutcher  

Born: Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Attended The University of Iowa.  

Known For: Being Iowa’s biggest advocate; his insatiable love for Casey’s pizza and the Iowa Hawkeyes; segueing his modeling career into pretty boy Kelso on That 70’s Show. 

Must see: That 70’s Show – Netflix 

Also stream: 

  • Two and a Half Men – Paramount Network, TV Land 
  • No Strings Attached – Amazon Prime, Hulu, Epix 
  • The Ranch – Netflix  
  • Cheaper by the Dozen – Disney Plus  
  • Guess Who? – Netflix  
  • Jobs – HBO Now 
  • Dude, Where’s My Car? – Starz 
View this post on Instagram

Love you Iowa

A post shared by Ashton Kutcher (@aplusk) on

Michelle Monaghan 

Born: Winthrop, Iowa  

Known For: Starring in the best season of True Detective; having roles in pretty much all of your favorite action movies of the 2000’s.  

Must see: Mission Impossible: Fallout – Amazon Prime, Hulu, Epix 

Also stream: 

  • True Detective – HBO Now 
  • Gone Baby Gone – Starz  
  • Kiss Kiss Bang Bang – Vudu (Rent), Youtube (Rent) 
  • Mr. and Mrs. Smith – HBO Now 

Kate Mulgrew  

Born: Dubuque, Iowa  

Known For: Being a prison cook who you don’t want to mess with; the only female captain to serve as a central character in a Star Trek series.  

Must see: Orange is the New Black – Netflix  

Also stream: 

  • Star Trek Voyager – Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, CBS 
  • Star Trek Nemesis – CBS  
  • Throw Momma From the Train – Vudu 
  • Camp Nowhere – Disney+  

Danai Gurira  

Born: Grinnell, Iowa 

Known For: Being a part of a few low budget indie movies called The Avengers; giving zombies nightmares (do zombies sleep?) with her sword-wielding prowess.  

Must see: Black Panther – Disney+  

Also stream:  

  • Avengers: Infinity War – Netflix 
  • Avengers: Endgame – Disney+ 
  • Walking Dead – Netflix, AMC  
  • The Visitor – Vudu (Rent), Youtube (Rent) 

Brandon Routh  

Born: Born in Des Moines, raised in Norwalk, Iowa. Attended the University of Iowa. 

Known For: Following in the footsteps of Christopher Reeve as The Man of Steel; his bass battle with Michael Cera in the underrated Scott Pilgrim vs the World. 

Must see: Superman Returns – Vudu (Rent), Amazon Prime (Rent), Youtube (Rent) 

Also stream: 

  • Scott Pilgrim vs the World – Netflix  
  • DC’s Legends of Tomorrow – Netflix  
  • Zach and Miri Make a Porno – Netflix  

Kumail Nanjiani 

Born: Born in Karachi, Pakistan. Attended Grinnell College. 

Known For: His role as Dinesh in Silicon Valley; co-writing and starring in the (somewhat) autobiographical rom-com The Big Sick, and being named to Time magazine’s “100 most influential people in the world 

Must see: The Big Sick – Amazon Prime, Vudu (rent) 

Also stream: 

  • Stuber – HBO Now 
  • Silicon Valley – HBO Now, Amazon Prime 
  • Hot Tub Time Machine 2 – Amazon Prime (rent), Vudu (Rent) 

Elijah Wood  

Born: Cedar Rapids, Iowa  

Known For: Keeper of “my precious”; voice of Mumble the penguin in the penguin movie that isn’t March of the Penguins. 

Must see: The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring – Vudu (Rent), Amazon Prime (Rent), Youtube (Rent) 

Also stream:  

  • The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Vudu (Rent), Amazon Prime (Rent), Youtube (Rent) 
  • The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King – Vudue (Rent), Amazon Prime (Rent), Youtube (Rent) 
  • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – Starz  
  • I Don’t Feel Alone in this World Anymore – Netflix  
  • Sin City – Netflix  
  • Wilfred – Hulu  
  • Happy Feet Two – HBO Now, Hulu 

Catch Des Moines - Elijah Wood

John Wayne  

Born: Winterset, Iowa (the museum is there too) 

Known For: Having his own museum in Winterset; starring in your Dad’s favorite old Western; being one of the most iconic human beings ever.  

Must see: True Grit – Netflix, Amazon Prime  

Also stream: 

  • The Man Who Shot Liberty Vance – Amazon Prime  
  • Red River – Starz  
  • The Shooter – Starz  
  • The Sons of Katie Elder – Amazon Prime  
  • Rio Grande – Amazon Prime  

Catch Des Moines - John Wayne

Adam DeVine  

Born: Waterloo, Iowa  

Known For: Part of the stoner trio in Workaholics; the egotistical leader of the Treblemakers in the Pitch Perfect movies; reminding us of a young Jack Black. 

Must see: Pitch Perfect – Vudu (Rent), Amazon Prime (Rent), Youtube (Rent) 

Also stream:  

  • Pitch Perfect 2 – Vudu (Rent), Amazon Prime (Rent), Youtube (Rent) 
  • Workaholics – Amazon Prime, Hulu 
  • Isn’t it Romantic – HBO Now, Hulu 
  • Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates – FX  
  • When We First Met – Netflix  
  • Adam DeVine: Best Times of Our Lives – Netflix  
  • Game Over, Man! – Netflix  

Catch Des Moines - Adam DeVine

Ron Livingston  

Born: Cedar Rapids, Iowa  

Known For: Starring in the most popular office comedy not named The Office; helping launch the neo-swing music movement that lasted a hot second with Swingers. 
Must See: Office Space – Vudu (Rent), Amazon Prime (Rent), Youtube (Rent) 

Also stream: 

  • Swingers – Vudu (Rent), Amazon Prime (Rent), Youtube (Rent) 
  • Band of Brothers – HBO Now, Amazon Prime 
  • The Cooler – Amazon Prime, Hulu 
  • Drinking Buddies – Hulu 
  • Dinner for Schmucks – Netflix  

Catch Des Moines - Ron Livingston