Acadiana is known for its good food and good times, but did you know it’s also home to some famous folks?
Known as the “Cajun Heartland,” Acadiana is made up of 22 various parishes: Acadia, Ascension, Assumption, Avoyelles, Calcasieu, Cameron, Evangeline, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Vermilion and West Baton Rouge.
From famous athletes, musicians, actors and more, here are some of the most famous folks that come from Acadiana.
Cupid
Bryson Bernard, better known as musician “Cupid,” is an R&B singer and songwriter from Lafayette. Cupid rose to fame in 2007 with his hit single “Cupid Shuffle,” a famous song that has an iconic line dance.
In 2012, Cupid auditioned in the third season of “The Voice,” by performing “Cupid Shuffle.” And though he failed to make it any further, Cupid represented his hometown.
George Stanley
Mar 9, 2024; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A large Oscars statue is seen on the red carpet as preparations continue for the 96th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles. Mandatory Credit: David Baratz-USA TODAY ORG XMIT: USAT-873395 ORIG FILE ID: 20240309_xf9_nbr_022.JPG
George Stanley was a sculptor from Iota who designed the famous Oscar statuette in 1928. The statuette is given to actors every year at the Oscars. Stanley’s work has been immortalized with more than 3,000 statues.
Throughout his life, Stanley designed various projects, including a statue of Sir Isaac Newton at the Griffith Observatory in 1934, as well as the Muse of Music, Dance, Drama at the Hollywood Bowl, which serves as the gateway to Hollywood.
Wayne Toups
Wayne Toups is a musician, accordionist and singer from Crowley. Throughout his career, Toups has toured all over the world, performing in 26 countries. From South America, Canada, Europe, and the Far East, he has seen it and played it all.
Toups’ work has been recognized with accolades, including being a member of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, Gulf Coast Hall of Fame, and Cajun French Music Hall of Fame, as well as the 55th annual Grammy Award winner.
Danneel Ackles
Danneel Ackles is an actress best known for her role as Rachel Gatina on “One Tree Hill.” She played in 51 episodes. Ackles was born in Lafayette but moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in modeling and acting.
Ackles continues to stay busy in acting, working in various roles through the years. She’s married to actor Jensen Ackles, and the couple have three children.
J.D. ‘Jay’ Miller
J.D. “Jay” Miller was a record producer and songwriter from Lota. Miller’s work with Cajun, swamp blues, and swamp pop recordings influenced American popular culture. Miller mostly lived in Crowley, where, in the late 1930s, he played guitar with several Cajun bands, including the Four Aces, the Rice City Ramblers, and the Daylight Creepers.
Miller passed away in 1996. The Jay D. Miller Award, granted by the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame, is named for him.
Kevin Faulk
Kevin Faulk, shown here at a Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame function.
Kevin Faulk, a Lafayette native, played football for LSU as a running back. Known as an LSU legend, Faulk went on to play professionally for the New England Patriots from 1999 to 2011.
As a Patriot, he won three Super Bowls. Following his retirement from playing, Faulk worked as a coach for Carencro High School, then at LSU.
Faulk is currently the running backs coach for the New York Giants.
Ali Landry
Ali Landry is an actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss USA 1996.
Following her Miss USA win, she was named by People magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world.
Born in Cecilia, Landry played Rita Lefleur on the UPN sitcom “Eve,” as well as being the new face and spokesmodel of Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula in 2012.
Landry is married to film director Alejandro Gómez Monteverde. The couple have three children.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Who are some famous people from Acadiana?
