We may just be a small, 1,920 square-mile area with a population of just around 130,700, but Skagit County can claim some very famous people – including movie stars – that were born here or call the county home. Wondering what famous people may have walked the same street as you? Check out this list of celebrities born in Skagit County.
Jim Caviezel
Jim Caviezel was born in Mount Vernon in Skagit County on September 26, 1968. He had four other siblings born to Margaret Lavery and James Caviezel. He stayed in the area until half way through high school, when he transferred from Mount Vernon High School to O’Dea High School and then Burien Kennedy High School. Although the 6-foot-2-inch actor originally dreamed of playing basketball professionally, a foot injury in college ended his career before it started.
It was then that he turned to acting, and thank goodness he did! Caviezel is best known for his roles in “The Passion of the Christ” (2004), “The Thin Red Line” (1998) and “The Count of Monte Cristo” (2002).
Chad Lindberg
Chad Lindberg was born on November 1, 1976 in Mount Vernon. Born to Luwana and Pete Lindberg, he has one sibling, Brandi. He graduated from Mount Vernon High School. Lindberg got his acting start in a Sundance Film Festival movie in 1997 called “Black Circle Boys.”
He is best known for his roles in “October Sky” (1999), “The Fast and the Furious” (2011) and on TV shows including “Supernatural” and “The X-Files.”
Ross Mathews
Ross Mathews was born on September 24, 1979 in Mount Vernon and was raised in Skagit County before coming a famous TV personality, including acting and producing credits. He is most famous for his roll as Ross the Intern on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Aside from “The Tonight Show,” he is known for “Days of Our Lives” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
Amberleigh West
Amberleigh West was born in Mount Vernon on September 4, 1991. Before becoming a model, she was a paralegal.
But the 5-foot-6-inch knockout from Skagit County found fame quickly when she was chosen as Playboy’s Playmate of the Month for January 2016. After that, she also starred in a couple roles: “The Last Movie Star” (2017) and “Kill her Goats” (2023).
Jake Anderson
If you are a fan of the “Deadliest Catch,” then you will be excited to know that Jake Anderson was born in Anacortes on September 16, 1980. As you can imagine, in order to be on that show you need some real skills. Anderson is a fourth-generation crab fisherman! He was hired onto the Northwestern and in May of 2007 he made his debut on the “Deadliest Catch.”
Anderson, his wife and three children now live in Seattle. Aside from fishing he loves skateboarding and has his own signature skateboard shoe released through DVS Shoes. He also wrote an autobiography, “Relapse.” Published in 2014, it is a best seller.
