These celebrities were spotted in SLO County in 2019. Did you see them?
From movie stars to musicians, celebrities love San Luis Obispo County.
Here are some of the famous folks we spotted on the Central Coast in 2019.
Did we miss a celebrity sighting? Let Tribune entertainment editor Sarah Linn know at slinn@thetribunenews.com.
Seth Green
Seth Green of “Austin Powers” fame joined pals including “Guardians of the Galaxy” director James Gunn and “Guardians” actor Steve Agee at San Luis Obispo’s Madonna Inn for Agee’s birthday bash.
Agee, who turned 50 in February, used the hotel’s colorful rooms as backdrops for portraits of his friends, sharing the snaps via Instagram. He also soaked up sunshine in Pismo Beach and frolicked in the hills overlooking San Luis Obispo.
Tom Hanks
A sharp-eyed Santa Maria teenager spotted Tom Hanks at a Chevron gas station in May.
When Nerissa Arellano asked the familiar-looking man if he was Tom Hanks, “He looked over his sunglasses at her and said, ‘Yes, I am,’ just like Woody,” her mom, Brenda, told KSBY.
The “Toy Story 4” star reportedly told the teen that he and his wife, actor Rita Wilson, were in town for the weekend and planned to attend a play at PCPA-Pacific Conservatory Theatre. The three even snapped a photo together.
Chris Hardwick
Continuing a tradition that his wife, Lydia Hearst, started in 2018, “Talking Dead” host Chris Hardwick took a festive “holiday trek” to the Cambria Christmas Market in December.
Hearst, the great-granddaughter of William Randolph Hearst, joined Hardwick on the trip, along with friends including photographer Tyler Shields and “Star Trek: The Next Generation” actor Wil Wheaton.
Hardwick shared photos of their North Coast vacation via Instagram, calling Cambria “an ADORABLE little town to visit.”
Paris Jackson
The daughter of pop music icon Michael Jackson popped into a Paso Robles brewpub in November.
Paris Jackson performed with her boyfriend, Gabriel Glenn, at The Pour House while on tour as The Soundflowers. According to Glenn’s Instagram page, the couple also stayed in Morro Bay for a night.
Brie Larson
“Captain Marvel” star Brie Larson made the most of of her visit to San Luis Obispo County in December.
Larson took to Instagram to share photos and videos from the trip, which included stops at San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre, Gopher Glen Organic Apple Farm in Avila Beach and the Piedras Blancas elephant seal rookery near San Simeon. She also enjoyed some sweet treats at Brown Butter Cookie Co., although it’s not clear which location she visited.
Jay Leno
A stroll on the beach led to a celebrity encounter for two Arroyo Grande women in December.
Holly Leighton said she and a friend were walking near Fin’s Seafood Bar & Grill in Grover Beach when they saw a silver Land Rover with a familiar-looking passenger: former “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno, Leighton said.
Leighton and her friend, Christy Olmstead, later bumped into Leno near the restrooms at the end of West Grand Avenue. “Jay was very kind and happy to take a photo with us,” Leighton said.
It’s not the first time Leno has been spotted in south San Luis Obispo County. He filmed an episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage” at the Oceano Dunes in 2017.
Kacey Musgraves
Country star Kacey Musgraves stopped by the Madonna Inn in April between sets at Coachella.
Via Instagram stories, the “Follow Your Arrow” singer shared photos of the San Luis Obispo hotel and its popular pink champagne cake as well as a video of the Madonna Inn’s Gold Rush Steak House, calling it “the most magical place.”
Sean Penn
Actor Sean Penn was spotted in September at the Piedras Blancas elephant seal viewing area off Highway 1 north of San Simeon.
The “Mystic River” star was accompanied by a small camera crew that captured footage of “a very spectacular whale show,” according to a docent with Friends of the Elephant Seal. Penn told docents that he was filming footage for his upcoming movie “Flag Day.”
Pink
Pop star Pink and her husband, former professional motocross racer Carey Hart, enjoyed some fun in the sun at Lake Nacimento in June.
Hart took to Instagram to share photos of his family on their trip, which featured plenty of time spent aboard a MasterCraft X46 boat. He included a shot of himself wakeboarding with his wife mugging for the camera in a Naci Drinking Team hat.
This story was originally published December 27, 2019 at 5:00 AM.
