Ohio State celebrities: Most famous fans and alumni
Seemingly every college fan base has them. Celebrity fans. Matthew McConaughey seems to be at almost every Texas Longhorns’ football game, Ashley Judd has seen cheering on her Kentucky Wildcats from stands, and Will Ferrell is known to be a huge USC fan.
It’s the same with Ohio State too. With being such an iconic brand, and with the rich tradition of the football and basketball programs, there are also a ton of celebrity Buckeye fans and alumni. But who are they? Some, Like LeBron James, you know, while others may raise a human eyebrow or two.
Here are some of the most recognizable celebrity fans and alumni that also just so happen to be big Ohio State fans (in no particular order).
Kelly Pavlik
Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Best Known For
Boxing champion
Ties To Ohio State
The former WBC, WBO, Ring Magazine, and lineal middleweight boxing champion actually wore his Buckeye pride into the ring in a lot of cases. He hailed from the same hometown of Jim Tressel and Maurice Clarett (Akron) and had special trunks that show off the OSU colors.
Richard Lewis
HOLLYWOOD, CA – JUNE 06: Actor/comedian Richard Lewis attends AFI’s 41st Life Achievement Award Tribute to Mel Brooks at Dolby Theatre on June 6, 2013, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for AFI)
Best Known For
Comedian/Actor
Ties To Ohio State
The famous comedian turned actor — still comedian — has been seen in multiple movies and television shows. He graduated from Ohio State in 1969 and has been a huge Ohio State fan, even allegedly canceling a show one time to attend a homecoming game in Columbus.
George Steinbrenner
Jun 14, 1997; Miami, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner signs autographs before their game with the Florida Marlins at Dolphin Stadium. Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Best Known For
Owner of the Yankees
Ties To Ohio State
“The Boss.” The late, great George Steinbrenner was the long-time owner of the New York Yankees, but also an Ohio State alum and fan. He was an OSU donor and had a luxury sweet at the ‘Shoe for years. He is a native of Ohio and made no secret of his rooting interests for the Buckeyes. Heck, the Yankees Triple-A affiliate was in Columbus for years.
Gary Levox
June 6, 2019; Nashville, TN, USA; Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts performs during the 2019 CMA Fest Thursday, June 6, 2019, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn. Credit: Larry McCormack/The Tennessean via USA TODAY NETWORK
Best Known For
Lead singer and songwriter of the country pop band Rascal Flatts
Ties To Ohio State
The Rascal Flatts lead singer graduated from Olentangy High School, a suburb of Columbus, and loves his Ohio State Buckeyes. He is an Alum and often gets his band-mates to make the O-H-I-O formation, especially when he is back in the Buckeye state. If you’ve ever gone to the band’s concerts in Ohio, there’s no doubt where his priorities are.
J.K. Simmons
Mar 7, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; J.K. Simmons who earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role in “Being the Ricardos”, arrives at the 94th Oscars Nominees Luncheon on Monday, March 7, 2022, at Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. Credit: Dan MacMedan-USA TODAY
Best Known For
Movie, commercial, and television actor
Ties To Ohio State
The well-known actor from Law & Order, Spiderman, and other successful movies is also a huge Ohio State fan. He’s been seen gloating in front of famous Michigan alum Rich Eisen on sports radio shows after almost every Ohio State win over TTUN.
Vince Vaughn
Feb 22, 2015; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; Movie actor Vince Vaughn prior to the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Best Known For
Movie and television actor
Ties To Ohio State
The actor has been known to sport Notre Dame and Chicago Cubs gear, but many don’t know the lifelong Midwesterner is also an Ohio State fan. His parents and extended family are from Ohio and he was born into being a big Buckeye fan.
Kirk Herbstreit
Kirk Herbstreit records a segment of College GameDay on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, on Beale Street in downtown Memphis. Credit: USA TODAY Sports Network
Best Known For
ESPN analyst/commentator
Ties To Ohio State
Herbie might catch a lot of grief from Buckeye Nation because he’s not a homer, but he bleeds scarlet and gray through and through, having played quarterback and graduating from Ohio State back in 1993. He may have moved to Nashville now and have a couple of sons that made their way to Clemson (one has transferred to OSU), but he’s still a big OSU fan. He’s one of the best in the business as the main analyst for ESPN, and the modern-day voice of college football.
Bryce Harper
Sep 4, 2019; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Philadelphia Phillies’ right fielder Bryce Harper (3) stands in the dugout as he wears an Ohio State football headband prior to the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Best Known For
ESPN analyst/commentator
Ties To Ohio State
I’ll admit, I didn’t know the Phillies’ slugger was a Buckeye fan until I saw him as a celebrity guest picker on ESPN College Game Day. He didn’t grow up an Ohio State fan, but married into the fandom when he tied the knot with former Ohio State soccer player Kayla Varner. Now, he’s a big part of Buckeye Nation and isn’t afraid to flaunt all things scarlet and gray.
John Legend
John Legend plays at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre this summer, in a show postponed from 2020.
Credit: News Democratic National Convention
Best Known For
American singer, songwriter, actor, and producer
Ties To Ohio State
The extremely talented singer/songwriter grew up in Springfield, Ohio, and is also a pretty big huge Ohio State fan. “Legend” has it that he has Buckeye stickers all over his piano in his apartment. He doesn’t get to attend many games, but make no mistake on where his allegiances lie.
Jack Nicklaus
Oct 28, 2006; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes golfer Jack Nicklaus dots the ‘i’ for “Script Ohio’ during halftime against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports © copyright Matthew Emmons
Best Known For
Yeah, he’s a pretty good golfer
Ties To Ohio State
Nicklaus is a huge Ohio State fan. He grew up in Columbus and was a member of the Buckeye golf team from 1957 to 1961 before turning professional. His Memorial Tournament is still in central Ohio on a yearly basis, and he’s even one of a few non-band members to “Dot the I” in Script Ohio. He’s even been known to take a jab at Michigan from time to time.
Lebron James
Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers player LeBron James plays catch with the Ohio State Buckeyes team before the game against the Michigan Wolverines at Ohio Stadium. Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Best Known For
He can shoot (and dunk) a basketball fairly well
Ties To Ohio State
Perhaps the most famous Ohio State celebrity and/or fan, the globe’s best basketball player never attended the university but said he would have if he wasn’t permitted to go straight to the NBA out of high school. He has a locker in Ohio State’s locker room and frequently sends his shoes to the team. The program has a Lebron wall of those same shoes in his honor.
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