Greenwood Calendar’s Celebrity Hall of Fame
Almost 35 years ago, I wrote an article for the Index Journal about actors from the upstate. It began:
The fertile grounds of upstate South Carolina are yielding more than produce. Actors also are an abundant crop. Such names as Richard (W.K.R.P. in Cincinnati) Sanders, Bo (Dynasty) Hopkins and Carl Anthony (The Cosby Show) Payne are planting a little of the Piedmont in living rooms across America.
Now there’s a new crop of actors, whose roots are planted in Greenwood.
The following is a partial list of actors from Greenwood, SC. The information and photos for this post were generated from the actor’s bio on IMDB.com.
Grainger Hines has had a long career in film television and theatre. His first play in New York City was at the HB Studios in 1980, Valentine’s Day, written and directed by one of America’s greatest playwrights, Horton Foote. The cast included, Hallie Foote, Matthew Broderick, James Broderick and Paul Gleason. In Los Angeles, he appeared in the US premier of, Loleh Bellon’s, “Thursday’s Girls”, with Lynn Redgrave at the Cornet Theatre. Other productions in New York and Los Angeles include, “Fool for Love,” “Hedda Gabler,” “A Rainbow in the Night,” “One Last Ride,” “Geography of a Horse Dreamer.” Some regional productions include, “Summer and Smoke,” “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” “Inherit the Wind,” “Darrow,” “Mr. Roberts” and “The Rainmaker.” Grainger started his career in Atlanta at the Alliance Theatre and was part of their Studio Ensemble Company. In Los Angeles Grainger studied with Milton Katselas and later with Peggy Feury at the Loft Studio and The Tim Phillips Studio. A long career in episodic television. Grainger has guest-starred in over one hundred episodes. Some recent television guest-star appearances include, Earl Burke, in “Dr. Death,” the eight-part series from in NBC/Universal’s on, The Peacock Network. Hines appears in five of the eight episodes. He was Captain Henry Clay Pate in “The Good Lord Bird,” from James McBride’s novel, directed by Albert Hughes for Showtime. “NCIS New Orleans,” “Bull,” “Blue Bloods.” Hines was a series regular for two seasons on Steven Soderbergh’s, The Knick (2014) “The Knick,” and recurred on AMC’s western saga, as Doc Whitehead in AMC’s [link=tt1699748 “Hell on Wheels.” Hines played, Mr. Arthur in “The Gal Who Got Rattled,” in Joel and Ethan Coen’s anthology western film, “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.” Gideon Welles, the Secretary of the Navy was the character Grainger played in Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln (2012), “Lincoln.” He recently completed “Martin Eden” directed by Jay Craven which will be coming out in early 2022. The film won, Best Film and Best Director Awards at the 2021 Boston Film Festival. Some of the other films include, Jason Bateman’s The Family Fang (2015), “The Family Fang” and Fred Vogel’s The Final Interview (2018) ,” The Final Interview.” Grainger has two son, Austin Hines and Gray Hines.
Sandy-haired American actor Bo Hopkins was born William Mauldin Hopkins in Greenville, South Carolina, and was raised by his mother and grandmother after his father died when Bo was only nine years old. He joined the US Army at the age of 16. After serving his hitch he decided on acting as a career and gained experience in summer stock productions and guest spots in several TV episodes.
Hopkins broke into feature films as the ill-fated “Crazy Lee” in the Sam Peckinpah landmark western The Wild Bunch (1969), and was subsequently hired by Peckinpah for another none-too-bright role as a bank robber in The Getaway (1972) and then as a hired killer pairing up with CIA agent James Caan in The Killer Elite (1975). He was busy on television during the 1980s and 1990s, guest-starring on The Rockford Files (1974), Charlie’s Angels (1976), The A-Team (1983), Hotel (1983) and Matt Houston (1982), and was featured on Dynasty (1981). In addition, he starred in dozens of feature films, such as Midnight Express (1978), American Graffiti (1973), The Bounty Hunter (1989), U Turn (1997) and Shade (2003). With his “good old boy” persona and Southern drawl, Hopkins often played lawmen, psychos, or oily villains.
Darlene Mann was born on November 17, 1969 in Greenwood, South Carolina, USA. She is an actress, known for East Side Story (2006), Murder in the Mirror (2000) and Wishbone (1995) and Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)..
Paige Rowland was born on May 27, 1967 in Greenwood, South Carolina, USA. She is an actress, known for Days of Our Lives (1965), Lands of Lore: Guardians of Destiny (1997) and The Glimmer Man (1996). She has been married to Michael Dietz since April 6, 2002. They have one child.
Sylvia Jefferies was born on August 14, 1969 in Greenwood, South Carolina, USA as Sylvia Webster Jefferies. She is known for her work on Shaft (2019), Nashville (2012) and Christmas in Homestead (2016). She has been married to Charles Staples since December 2020..
Chantell D. Christopher is a Greenwood Native, known best for 50 First Dates (2004), Madea Goes to Jail (2006) and Daddy’s Little Girls (2007).
Alvetta Smith was born on June 11, 1977 in Greenwood, South Carolina, USA. She is an actress, known for Lonely Children (2007), Performance (2008) and Confessions of a Thug (2005).
Shelley Reid was born on November 25, 1957 in Greenwood, South Carolina, USA as Ronald Shelley Reid. He is known for his work on Dear John (2010), Radio (2003) and Love Field (1992). He also wrote the stage drama, “See You In Saint-Lo” which premiered at the Abbeville Opera House – The State Theater of South Carolina, in September of 2018.
Reynaldo Rosales was raised in Greenwood, SC as Reynaldo Raul Rosales. He is an actor and editor, known for House (2008), Fidel (2002) and She Hate Me (2004).
Gilland Jones began acting in the Greenwood, South Carolina Community Theater production of The Sound of Music at the age of four. She now lives in Los Angeles with her family and is pursuing acting full time. She has appeared in episodes of The Suite Life on Deck and has a recurring role as Jenny Majorheely in The Wizards of Waverly Place. Gilland is related to the actor Bo Hopkins, also from South Carolina.
Jesse Clint Jennings was born in greenwood south Carolina December 8th 1983 and got discovered during a festival in a local southern town He has been acting on and off for years traveling out of the country for theatre. He now resides in Atlanta Georgia where his family currently resides. He continues to pursue acting and hope to work on more projects.
We all know Greenwood’s Great, but did we all know these Greats were all from Greenwood?
Courtney Khondabi QVC personality See More
Gaines Adams, former defensive end for the NFL’s Chicago Bears. See More
Pinky Babb, coached Greenwood High School for 39 years, is among the top 20 nationally in high school football victories See More
Robert Brooks, former NFL wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos. See More
Ben Martin, PGA golfer See More
Ernest Dye, NFL See More
Ben Coates, starting tight end for the New England Patriots, ranked fourth in receptions at the tight end position in the NFL all time See More
William Jennings Bryan Dorn, former U.S. and state representative See More
Armanti Edwards, starting quarterback for the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team, and winner of the 2008 Walter Payton Award, given to the top Football Championship Subdivision offensive player; drafted by the Carolina Panthers with their 3rd round, 25th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft See More
Kelcy Quarles, NFL See More
John Gilliam, former NFL wide receiver, four-time Pro Bowler See More
Nat Chandler, Actor Singer See More
Keith Harling, country music artist See More
William “Hootie” Johnson, former chairman of the Augusta National golf course See More
Gregg Marshall, head coach of Wichita State University’s men’s basketball program See More
Benjamin Mays, minister, educator, scholar, social activist, mentor to Martin Luther King Jr, and president of Morehouse College See More
John McKissick, national high school football leader in coaching victories (Summerville, S.C., High School) See More
Sam Montgomery, drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft after several seasons with the LSU Tigers See More
Mark Riddle, Creator Dooley and Pals Show See More
Josh Norman, drafted by Carolina Panthers in 2012 as a cornerback out of Coastal Carolina University See More
Jay Siltzer, WLOS TV Anchor See More
Keith Jameson, Tenor See More
Marrio Norman, football player See More
Ben Johnson, MLB pitcher See More
George Singleton, author See More
Jerome Singleton, Paralympic athlete See More
Chino Smith, former Negro League player, named one of S.C.’s top 100 athletes by Sports Illustrated See More
D.J. Swearinger, all SEC conference safety for the South Carolina Gamecocks, drafted by the Houston Texans See More
The Swingin’ Medallions, 1960s beach music group best known for their hit Double Shot (Of My Baby’s Love) See More
Jack Childress, ACC referee See More
Neil Chrisley, MLB outfeilder See More
Bill Voiselle, professional baseball player See More
Alvetta, Smith, actress See More
Did we miss anyone? Send your submission to “notable greenwoodians” at gwdcal@gmail.com
