Nine famous actors you probably didn't realize once lived in Pueblo County

You've seen them on your television set, on the big screen and maybe even in your neighborhood at some point.

These actors and actresses have starred in everything from musical comedies to horror anthologies. Some of them reached the height of their fame during Hollywood's "Golden Age," while others continue to land roles.

Some were born in Pueblo, some attended high school here, and one of them held a job at a local news station. Here are nine well-known actors and actresses with Pueblo ties.

Connie Sawyer

Connie Sawyer's acting career spanned over 80 years. The 105-year-old actress was the oldest member of the Academy and Screen Actors Guild at the time of her 2018 death.

Born Rosie Cohen on Nov. 27, 1912, Sawyer lived the first seven years of her life in Pueblo. She performed on comedian Al Pearce's radio show following her high school graduation, ventured into television in the 1950s and acted alongside Frank Sinatra in the 1959 film, "A Hole in the Head."

Sawyer played the "sweet old lady on a motorized cart" that robs Lloyd, played by Jim Carrey, in "Dumb and Dumber" and was the grandmother of Michael Scott, played by Steve Carrell, in the U.S. version of "The Office."

Other titles Sawyer has appeared in include, "The Andy Griffith Show," "Bonanza," "All in the Family," "Good Times," "Hawaii Five-O," "Laverne & Shirley," "That 70s Show," "How I Met Your Mother," "Pineapple Express" and "NCIS: Los Angeles" among many others.

Grant Withers

Grant Withers' acting career dates back to the era of silent films. The 6-foot-3 actor was born in Pueblo and starred in over 200 films and television series before his 1959 suicide, according to a short biography by Ed Stephan on IMDb.com.

Withers comprised the leading role of reckless womanizer Bill White in the 1931 drama, "Other Men's Women." He also appeared alongside John Wayne, Henry Fonda and Shirley Temple in the 1948 Western, "Fort Apache" as Silas Meacham.

Withers' grandfather Granville Gustave "Gus" Withers was one of the Chieftain's longest serving employees, working for the Chieftain for over 60 years, according to a Chieftain article published in 1993. Gus began as a printer's apprentice in 1870 and became the Chieftain's president later in his career.

The death of Ernst Edmund Withers, Gus's firstborn son and Grant's father, coincided with the Great Pueblo Flood of 1921. On June 6, 1921, Ernst was driving toward Downtown Pueblo when he was fatally shot by a night watchman. The watchman had mistaken Ernst for a looter.

Dan Rowan

Dan Rowan was famous for co-hosting the sketch comedy program, "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" with fellow comedian Dick Martin.

Rowan's classmates from the Pueblo Central High School Class of 1940 knew him as Daniel Hale David — a reporter for the school paper and a backup end on the Wildcats' 1938 state championship-winning football team, according to a 1966 Chieftain article.

Born to traveling carnival performers in Oklahoma, Rowan was orphaned at age 7. He lived at the McClelland Orphanage, 415 E. Abriendo Ave., for much of his childhood before living two years in the Pueblo home of Frank and Josephine Foley.

As co-host of "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In," Rowan won a primetime Emmy in 1969 for "Outstanding Variety or Musical Series." Rowan and Martin also share a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, according to IMDb.com. Rowan died in 1987 at the age of 65.

Rose Siggins

Rose Siggins, born Rosemarie Homan, starred as "Legless Suzi" in the "American Horror Story" and the "American Horror Story: Freak Show" television series.

Born with sacral agenesis, Siggins' legs were amputated when she was two years old. She was soon fitted for devices to assist with mobility and even learned to walk with her hands. As a student at Highland Park Elementary School, she enjoyed activities like tackle football, swimming and riding horses.

Siggins' courage and self-determination was profiled in the Chieftain after she won the 1984 Handicapped Children's Program award from the Colorado State Department of Health. In adulthood, Siggins worked as a mechanic before marrying Dave Siggins and giving birth to two children.

In addition to her appearances as "Legless Suzi," Siggins made appearances as herself on "Ripley's Believe it or Not!" in 2000 and "Extraordinary People" in 2005.

Lise Simms

Lise Simms played Barbara Diffy, mother of Phil Diffy, on the "Phil of the Future" television series that ran on Disney Channel from 2004 to 2006.

Fans of the famous sitcom"Friends," may recognize Simms as Kara — the wife of Chandler Bing's boss Doug in the season five episode "The One with Chandler's Work Laugh." Simms also appears in the 1996 thriller, "The Dentist" and in the 2002 drama "Dragonfly" starring Kevin Costner.

While growing up in the Steel City, Simms danced with the Pueblo Civic Ballet Company and attended Centennial High School. In addition to her acting and dancing talents, Simms demonstrated an ability to sing, according to a 1994 Rocky Mountain News review of her performance in "Anything Goes."

"Few can sing them like Lise Simms at the Country Dinner Playhouse... Whenever possible director (Bill) McHale has spotlighted (Simms) like Miss America," theater critic Jackie Campbell wrote in the review. "She knows how to make an entrance and make it count."

E.J. Peaker

Ever seen "Hello Dolly!" starring Barbara Streisand and Walter Matthau? Former Pueblo resident Edra Jean "E.J." Peaker played Minnie Fay.

Peaker also starred as Gloria Quigley Dickson, a leading role, in "That's Life" — a musical comedy series that was nominated for two primetime Emmys in 1969. Other television shows in which Peaker has appeared include "The Odd Couple," Rod Serling's "Night Gallery" and the "Rockford Files."

By the time of her 1989 induction into the Centennial High Hall of Fame, Peaker had appeared in over 500 Broadway shows, commercials, movies and variety specials, according to a 1989 Chieftain article.

Peaker continued to make television and film appearances after her induction, including as actress Natalie Schafer in the 2001 TV movie, "Surviving Gilligan's Island: The Incredibly True Story of the Longest Three Hour Tour in History."

Charles Rocket

A 1980s cast member on "Saturday Night Live" was once a news anchor in Pueblo.

Charles Adams Claverie, better known as Charles Rocket, was hired by KOAA-TV in May 1977 and worked at the station for 10 months before moving to WTVF in Nashville, according to a 1980 Chieftain story. However, March 1978 wouldn't be the last time Pueblo residents would see Rocket on television.

Plenty of Puebloans saw Rocket reprise his role of anchorman on SNL's "Weekend Update" segment between 1980 and 1981. On SNL, Rocket also played characters like game show host Phil Lively and impersonated public figures like President Ronald Reagan.

On Feb. 21, 1981, Rocket infamously uttered an obscenity while acting in an SNL parody of the soap opera "Dallas." In the recording of the live incident, fellow cast members — including a young Eddie Murphy — can be seen in the background gasping and laughing in response to Rocket's utterance.

Kosha Patel

The youngest performer to be featured on this list, Kosha Patel has most recently appeared as Sunita in the Hulu series "Saint X" and as a multi-talented voice actress on the 2022 reboot of "Beavis and Butt-head" on Paramount+.

Born in Pueblo to Ken and Rossi Patel, Kosha participated in several camps as a child with her favorite being theater camp, according to a 2017 Chieftain story. After graduating from Fountain Valley High School, she attended Ithica College and the University of Southern California.

One of Kosha's earliest acting roles came on "Criminal Minds" in 2008. She also appeared on "Grey's Anatomy" as "Tia" in the season eight episode "What Is It About Men." Other shows she has appeared in include "Rizzoli & Isles," "Girlboss," "The Newsroom," "Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce" and "Mary + Jane."

"I miss Pueblo all the time," Kosha told the Chieftain in 2017. "I love Pueblo. It's very beautiful (here) and what I love most is the people. Everyone is friendly and nice and wants to be helpful."

Kelly Reno

Kelly Reno was only 10 years old when he landed the role of Alec Ramsey in "The Black Stallion." The film was released three years later, when Reno was a 13-year-old student at Pleasantview Middle School, according to a 1979 Chieftain story.

In the film, Reno's character forms a special bond with a horse he survived a shipwreck with. Several scenes in the film feature Reno riding horseback — a skill Reno learned on his father Bud's 8,000-acre ranch south of Pueblo.

Reno would appear in two more films, "The Black Stallion Returns" and "The Long Ride" before graduating high school in 1984. In 1985, his pickup truck was hit by an 18-wheeler on Interstate 25 about 6 miles from Pueblo. Despite suffering a broken leg and a collapsed lung, Reno survived the accident.

Reno continued to work as a rancher and eventually became a certified truck driver, according to IMDb. He made an appearance in the film "Monster Grizzly" this year.

Presidential Visits to Pueblo: Joe Biden joining long list of presidents who've visited Pueblo while in office

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Kelly Reno, Grant Withers, Lise Simms, and more actors with Pueblo ties