History on the Strip: From Red Clay to the Red Carpet The Golden Strip’s Surprising Hollywood Roots

Think Hollywood glamour only belongs on the West Coast? Think again. Grab your sweet tea, because our little corner of the Upstate has some serious bragging rights when it comes to the silver screen.

If you asked the average person what puts the Golden Strip on the map, you’d probably get a laundry list of hometown favorites: Friday night lights, cozy Main Streets, community festivals, peach stands, and maybe our collective obsession with local barbecue and boiled peanuts.

What most folks don’t realize, however, is that long before our towns were filled with bustling new subdivisions, trendy coffee spots, and thriving arts centers, this soil was quietly growing world-class talent that made its way straight to Hollywood.

From 1970s cinema grit and laugh-out-loud comedy classics to the iconic Disney ballads you can’t help but sing along to in the car, our corner of the Upstate has left a massive footprint on pop culture.

So let’s take a little trip through local history and talk about the hometown stars who proved that big dreams really can start right here.

The Pharaoh of Cool: Bo Hopkins (William Mauldin Hopkins)

Before he was trading lines with Hollywood royalty like Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen, and Harrison Ford, legendary character actor Bo Hopkins was born William Mauldin Hopkins right here in Greenville County.

If you grew up watching classic television or 1970s cinema, you know his face instantly. Hopkins brought that unmistakable Carolina grit, swagger, and authentic Southern charm to legendary films like The Wild Bunch and The Getaway. But for millions of movie lovers, he cemented himself into pop culture history as “Little Joe”—the smooth-talking, leather-jacket-wearing leader of the Pharaohs gang in George Lucas’s 1973 coming-of-age masterpiece, American Graffiti.

Hopkins carved out a five-decade-long career in an industry that eats newcomers alive, all while carrying that quiet Carolina backbone with him until his passing in 2022.

The Soundtrack of Our Childhoods: Peabo Bryson

Now, let’s talk about a voice that is practically pure magic. If you were within earshot of a television, radio, or cassette player in the 1990s, there is a 100% chance your life was serenaded by Mauldin’s own Robert Peabo Bryson.

Born and raised right here, Bryson cut his musical teeth in local church choirs and regional soul revues before exploding onto the national R&B charts. He racked up hits, sold out arenas, and delivered chart-topping duets with legends like Roberta Flack and Natalie Cole.

Then came Disney.

Bryson lent his rich, silky vocals to two of the most iconic love songs in cinematic history: the title track for Beauty and the Beast with Céline Dion (1991) and the sweeping anthem “A Whole New World” with Regina Belle for Aladdin (1992). Both swept the Oscars for Best Original Song and earned Grammy Awards, putting a homegrown Mauldin kid at the center of global musical royalty. The next time you find yourself belting out those songs with your kids or grandkids, you can proudly tell them: That incredible voice came straight from our backyard.

Laughs, Charisma, and Pure Range: Orlando Jones

Fast forward to modern comedy and drama, and Mauldin’s creative imprint strikes gold again with actor, writer, and comedian Orlando Jones.

Growing up right here in Mauldin, Jones honed his lightning-fast wit and effortless stage presence long before he stepped into a television studio. When he hit Hollywood, he quickly established himself as an original, scene-stealing force on the hit sketch comedy show MADtv.

From there, the big screen called. Who could forget him as the sticky-handed, hilarious wide receiver Clifford Franklin alongside Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman in The Replacements? Or his roles in cult favorites like Drumline, Evolution, and Office Space?

Jones didn’t stop at comedy, either. In recent years, he has completely captivated audiences with powerhouse dramatic performances, earning critical acclaim as Mr. Nancy in American Gods and Captain Frank Irving in Sleepy Hollow.

Red Clay to the Red Carpet

Looking back at Bo, Peabo, and Orlando, it’s a wonderful reminder of something we often forget when we’re caught up in the rush of daily life: the Golden Strip has never been just a sleepy dot on the map. It has always been a place where talent, grit, and imagination take root.

And seeing our community rally around the arts today—whether it’s local youth taking the stage at the Mauldin Cultural Center or regional bands rocking downtown parks—it’s impossible not to wonder who’s next.

Keep an eye on the kid practicing guitar in the garage next door, or the high schooler pouring their heart into the fall play. If history tells us anything, their next stop might just be the red carpet.