2025 Great Ohioans are movie stars
The Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board (CSRAB) and the Capitol Square Foundation announce the 2025 Great Ohioan Award recipients. The Capitol Square Foundation presented the selected individuals from nominations submitted by citizens and organizations across Ohio.
The 2025 Great Ohioan awardees are legendary movie stars Dorothy Dandridge, Clark Gable and Paul Newman.
Dorothy Dandridge was an actress, singer and dancer, born Nov. 9, 1922, in Cleveland, Ohio. Notable for her work in the 1945 film musical “Carmen Jones,” she became the first African American to be nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award. Dandridge continued to break barriers as the first Black woman featured on Life magazine’s cover and the first Black performer to headline the Waldorf-Astoria’s prestigious Empire Room in 1955.
Clark Gable was born in Cadiz, Ohio on Feb. 1, 1901. After landing a role in “The Painted Desert,” MGM offered him a contract where he went on to star in “Dance, Fools, Dance” and eventually win an Academy Award for “It happened One Night.” Known for his charm and charisma, he quickly became one of the largest names in Hollywood after appearing in many films during Hollywood’s Golden Age. During World War II, he served as a pilot in the Air Force, where he achieved the rank of major.
Paul Newman was an actor, philanthropist and film director raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio. After serving in the Navy, Newman attended Kenyon College and played football before majoring in theatre. After beginning a family, Newman found success on television and film. He went on to win multiple Academy Award nominations, and one Academy award for “The Color of Money.” He later began his own food company that has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for charity, and was a race car driving enthusiast.
“Ohio has an extensive list of incredible film and television stars,” said Capitol Square Foundation Chairman Charles Moses. “Ohio’s contribution to the arts should be appreciated, and we are proud to recognize these three Ohioans for their work.”
The movie stars were recommended by Molly P. Kreuzman. She is the Program Director of Ohio Goes to the Movies, a 2026 signature event of the America 250-Ohio Commission. To celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday next year, movies will be presented in all 88 counties to celebrate Ohio’s actors, directors, writers, composers, animators and more.
The award's selection criteria rely on whether the nominee was born in Ohio or lived in Ohio for at least five years and whether the commemorated event the nominee participated in took place 25 years ago.
“The Ohio Statehouse is excited to add three stars to the Great Ohioans exhibit,” said Phil Miller, CSRAB Assistant Director, “We welcome visitors to learn about these and all the Great Ohioans who made an impact in people’s lives.”
There have been 62 Great Ohioans previously recognized for this award for their essential contributions to history, ranging from politicians, astronauts, healthcare pioneers, writers, athletes, abolitionists and more. To learn about the other awardees, visit https://www.ohiostatehouse.org/galleries/great-ohioans.
The Ohio Statehouse Museum exhibit allows visitors better to understand the recipients of the Great Ohioan Award and discover how they affected local, national, and world history. The exhibit uses videos, photos, facts and web-based technology to explore the life and legacy of each Great Ohioan. The Ohio Statehouse Museum is open every day of the week except on state holidays.
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