René Auberjonois, 1940-, actor. Born in New York, spent part of his childhood in Paris. Back in New York the family moved into an artists' colony. He studied theater at Carnegie-Mellon University. He won a Tony for his first Broadway appearance, in "Coco" (1969) with Katherine Hepburn. He has acted with numerous theater companies, and in film and television, most notably in "Star Trek", where he played Odo. His grandfather of the same name was a well-known post-impressionist painter from Lausanne. His Swiss-born father, Fernand, arrived in the US in 1933 and later became a US citizen. He was a highly respected foreign correspondent,.who worked for the Toledo Blade, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, NBC and the Voice of America among other outlets. Rene's mother was French: Princess Laure of Murat, a descendant of Napoleon's sister Caroline Bonaparte and her husband Joachim Murat, King of Naples.

Daniel Bernhardt, 1966-, action film star. Born in Worblaufen, near Bern. Began martial arts training in 1983. Studied architectural design in Bern, while simultaneously running a martial arts school. After completing his degree he moved to Paris where he worked as a model for a number of top designers. He moved to New York to appear in a TV commercial for Gianni Versace with Jean-Claude Van Damme. He was then cast to appear in “Bloodsport II” (1995). His best known film is "The Matrix: Reloaded" (2003) in which he played Agent Johnson.

Yul Brynner, 1920 - 1985

Jim Caviezel, 1968-, actor. Born and grew up in Mount Vernon, Washington. He has Swiss, Irish,and Slovak roots; his  surname is Rumantsch, from Canton Graubünden. His film appearances include "The Thin Red Line" (1998) and "The Passion of the Christ" (2004).  

Eliane Cat Tuong Chappuis, 1978-, actress and model. Born in Hollywood to a Swiss father and Vietmamese mother, but grew up in Bern. She has dual US/Swiss nationality. She appeared at the City Theater in Bern at the age of 12 in the musical “Oliver Twist.” She returned to Hollywood at the age of 18, and has acted in several films, including “Gangs of New York” (200   ) She is also dancer and violinist, and has modeled for Christian Lacroix in Paris and Vivienne Westwood in London.  

Arthur Cohn, 1929-

Claudio Fäh, 1975-, movie director. Born in canton Uri, began making films at the age of 14. Went to film school in Los Angeles. His first major feature was the low-budget independent action film Coronado (2003), for which many of the background scenes were shot in Switzerland, although the actors themselves never crossed the Atlantic. 

Marc Forster, 1969-

Sandra Hess, 1968-, model and actress. Born in Zurich, began modeling at the age of 15. Started a law course at the University of Zurich, but broke off her studies and moved to Los Angeles in 1988, where she started making TV commercials before being offered guest parts in TV shows, including “Lois and Clark” (1995), “SeaQuest SSV” (1995), "Highlander" (1998). She has also appeared in several films, including “Mortal Kombat: Annihilation” (1997).

Q'Orianka Kilcher, 1990-

George Lucas, 1944-

Victor Mature, 1916-1999, movie actor. Born in Louisville, Kentucky. His mother, Clara, was a Swiss American, while his father came from the Trentino area of what is now Italy but was then Austria. He studied acting in California. His career took off after the war. In particular he became associated with biblical-style epics, and he also made several westerns. Among his films were “My Darling Clementine” (1946), “Kiss of Death” (1947) and “The Robe” (1953). During the 1960s he took fewer roles, preferring golf to acting.

Carl Schenkel, 1948-2003, movie director. Born in Bern, moved to Frankfurt, Germany and became a journalist while studying for a degree in sociology. While in Frankfurt he also gained film experience by shooting commercials. Some of his early movies were made under the name Carlo Ombra. His work includes “The Mighty Quinn” (1989) and “Tarzan and the Lost City” (1990). He also made a number of films for television, including “Murder on the Orient Express” (2001). He died in Los Angeles of heart failure.

Ueli Steiger, ca. 1960-, cameraman. Grew up in Uerikon near Lake Zurich, studied at the University of Zurich, and at the London International Film School. His first job in Hollywood was on “Promised Land” (1987) with Dennis Hopper; his movies include "Godzilla" (1998), “Austin Powers” (1999), “The Day After Tomorrow”.

William (Willy) Wyler, 1902-1981

Catherine (Cathy) Wyler, 1939 - , movie producder. Born Los Angeles, daughter of Willy Wyler. Her output includes a documentary on her father "Directed by William Wyler" (1986). As a child she had uncredited roles in two of her father's movies, "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946) and "Roman Holiday" (1953), and has also appeared in several documentaries about movie making.

Eugenio Zanetti, 1949-, film production designer. Born and grew up in Cordoba (Argentina); father from Poschiavo, Canton Graubunden. Self-taught, he began designing for the theater when he was only 16, working in Argentina and Europe before arriving in the US. The movies he has worked on include "Flatliners" (1990), "Last Action Hero" (1993) and “Restoration” (1995), for which he won an Academy Award. He is also a theater and opera director.

Renee Zellweger, 1969-