In recent years, Philadelphia has become a city of celebrity love—rather than just brotherly love. Now known as one of the newer talent hotspots, Philadelphia has been attracting many celebrity residents. Read on to discover the most famous celebrities that live in Philadelphia.
Most Famous Celebrities Who Live in Philadelphia
- Will Smith
- Wilde Tuna
- Terrence Howard
- M. Night Shyamalan
- Patti LaBelle
- Bam Margera
- Meek Mill
- Marc Lamont Hill
- Bernard Hopkins
- Bill Crosby
Will Smith
The Fresh Prince himself is famous for his opening credits rap in his breakout hit TV show, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Since his stint from the 90s, he’s been known for his love of Hollywood and Florida, but don’t ever think he stopped loving Philadelphia.
Even today, Will Smith keeps a home in the Bryn Mawr area, right outside of Philadelphia. He still likes to visit the old neighborhood from time to time.
Wilde Tuna
Wilde Tuna is another one of the most famous celebrities who lives in Philadelphia. He is perhaps one of the biggest upcoming rappers to come out of Philly, and is now an online social media sensation, owner of Hip Hop Since 1987, and acts as a regular media personality in the tri-state area.
The rapper currently lives in Philadelphia in an undisclosed location. He’s an active member of the community and makes a point of bringing Philadelphia’s reputation up in the music world through various opportunities.
Terrence Howard
Known for his wild wit and incredible action movie-ready stare, Terrence Howard is a favorite of almost anyone who enjoys a good drama flick. He’s made a fortune working in the entertainment industry and remains a favorite for both drama and action casting directors.
Howard travels quite a bit for work, but make no mistake about it. He’s a Philly guy through and through. He owns not one but multiple properties in the area just to ensure he can stay around his family as much as he possibly can.
M. Night Shyamalan
What a twist! The guy who turns Hollywood on its ear with his spellbinding movies doesn’t actually prefer the West Coast…or any Coast, per se. He actually prefers to live on the outskirts of Philadelphia in a massive private mansion-compound hybrid.
The compound’s name, Ravenwood, is a rather spooky name. However, the interior is actually quite inviting. It’s fairly famous for being a great place to throw parties, which is why it’s become a celebrity hangout in its own right.
Patti LaBelle
Who can forget the amazing pipes on Patti LaBelle? The disco queen with a soulful voice became one of the most iconic singers of the 1970s. While many would expect LaBelle to stay on the West Coast or retire in Florida, the truth is she didn’t want that.
Patti originally hailed from Philadelphia. Now that she has slowed down her touring schedule, she remains a fan of the area. She’s more of a homebody, and she prefers to continue living the good life right on the outskirts of Philly proper.
Bam Margera
Do you remember Viva La Bam? Or, really, any part of the 2000s? If so, do you remember that daredevil prankster Bam Margera was once considered to be one of the most attractive men on MTV? Admittedly, he hasn’t been doing too well lately.
Considering everything that happened to him, it’s not surprising to hear that he doesn’t really want to be around California or any other celebrity hotspot. He lives on the outskirts of Philadelphia in a mansion that is now known as Castle Bam.
Meek Mill
Another one of the most famous celebrities that lives in Philadelphia is Meek Mill. A major name in the world of hip-hop, Meek Mill was raised in Philadelphia. Mill regularly finds himself featured on social media and collaborates on major tours with heavy hitters in the music scene.
While you might think he would be willing to move to Los Angeles, the truth is that Meek Mill doesn’t want that for himself. He’s still thriving and living it up in his hometown of Philadelphia—much to his fans’ joy.
Marc Lamont Hill
Where do we begin with Hill’s work? On one hand, he’s an academic with recognition from Penn State and Temple University. On the other hand, he’s also a well-known TV personality who hosted dating reality shows, talk panels, and more.
For an academic, he’s very glitzy. Though fame definitely helped him out, his regular daily life is spent in Philadelphia. He owns a local book and coffee shop, so you might actually see him around if you keep an eye out.
Bernard Hopkins
Bernard Hopkins is one of the more popular boxers of the 20th century. He started off with very humble roots—an arrest for robbery. However, he used his fists to fight the good fight in the ring, which quickly gained him an audience and a lot of fame for his athleticism.
After his tenure of boxing from the ’90s through the 2010s, Hopkins was able to retire with the blessing of major promoters like Don King. So, you might wonder what he’s been doing since his official retirement in 2016. That’s simple. Hopkins has been living in Philadelphia.
Bill Cosby
It’s true. Cosby went from being America’s Dad to being one of the most notorious serial rapists in Hollywood history. While he may be living out the rest of his years behind bars, it’s worth noting that Cosby’s been an official part-time resident of Philadelphia since the late 80s.
Cosby still owns an estate on the outskirts of the city. It has not been seized by officials.