Montclair has long been a magnet for members of the arts and media communities who want a quieter lifestyle while maintaining a sense of urban sophistication and close ties to New York City. Celebrities who have grown up in or lived in this Essex County enclave include actress Christina Ricci, former Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, Fountains of Wayne bassist Adam Schlesinger and astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
Here are some of the big names who currently call Montclair home.
Stephen Colbert
Late Show host Stephen Colbert has been living in town with his wife, Evelyn McGee Colbert, for many years; they raised their children here. Both were founders of the annual Montclair Film Festival (now part of Montclair Film), which will celebrate its 15th year this fall.
Evelyn is the president of Montclair Film’s board of trustees. “I joke all the time that Montclair is New Jersey’s Hollywood,” Evelyn said in an in an interview with New Jersey Monthly, noting that the town is home to many filmmakers, producers, entertainers and industry executives. “It’s the perfect place to host a film festival.”
Patrick Wilson
Actor, director and singer Patrick Wilson, who has starred in Watchmen, Little Children and The Conjuring franchise, lives in Montclair with his wife, actress and writer Dagmara Dominczyk, who appeared in the hit TV show Succession. Wilson has been nominated for Golden Globes and Emmys, including for his role in the HBO miniseries Angels in America. He filmed part of his directorial debut, Insidious: The Red Door, in New Jersey.
Laura Benanti
Broadway, film and TV actress Laura Benanti lives in Montclair with her husband, Patrick Brown. She’s a five-time Tony Award nominee, and a winner for her 2008 portrayal in the Broadway revival of Gypsy. She has also appeared in TV shows like The Gilded Age and films like No Hard Feelings.
A Kinnelon native, Benanti says she is a Jersey girl through and through. During the pandemic, she moved from New York City back to the Garden State, citing her family’s well-being. “I had told myself we would never live in New Jersey ever again,” she told New Jersey Monthly in 2023. “I’ve grown to love it.”
Bobbi Brown
Makeup mogul Bobbi Brown, who launched Jones Road Beauty in 2020, has lived in town with her husband, developer Steven Plofker, for decades. She got her start as a makeup artist and rose to prominence with Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, which she later sold. Entrepreneur magazine has said she “revolutionized” the beauty industry.
“Montclair has been my home for 37 years,” Brown told New Jersey Monthly in 2025. “I raised my family here, and it’s where I’ve launched all of my latest business ventures: the HQ and flagship Jones Road Beauty store that carries the full collection of the line, and the George, a 31-room boutique hotel on North Mountain Avenue that my husband, Steven Plofker, and I designed together. This vibrant town has it all–culture, art, great food, shopping and, above all, an eclectic mix of amazing people. It’s the most incredible place to live and work.”
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