American accents

[AllYourBase]

In the UK, I can tell most peoples regional dialect quite easily.

In the US, we all know the classic New York dialect, like Robert De Niro has, and the texan drawl that Jerry Hall has. Can anyone identify other well known celebrities that have other distinct regional American accents so I can get a better idea of the different accents Americans have. In simple terms, which well known Americans have good examples of specific regional accents?

For example, Roz from Frasier and Dr Lewis from ER have a similar sounding accent - is that from a particular part of the country?

[THECORBYLOON]

The late President Kennedy had a Boston/New England accent.

[HAnn521]

Hey AllYourBase: I am an American, currently living in Alabama, born in Tennessee. The great, well-known Southern accent here is best demonstrated by Reese Witherspoon in the film Sweet Home Alabama. Reese is also an authentic southerner...I'd like to think mine is not that thick, but she gets pretty close...

Also, I believe Marisa Tomei has a great New York accent...she demonstrates it the best in the film My Cousin Vinny...

[don1]

Roz I'm pretty sure is a lancashire lass.

[don1]

Forget that I'm thinking of the wrong actress

[don1]

Roz is from Waco Texas

Dr. Lewis was raised in Spring Texas

Hence the similarity of accent. well spotted AllYourBase

[Ouisch]

Although Roz and Dr Lewis are both from Texas, they don't currently speak with a Texas accent.  I guess they sound similar because they both studied to lose their Texas drawl.  :)

 

If you've ever seen "Designing Women", Julia Sugarbaker has a typical Atlanta, Georgia, accent (even though the actress is from Tennessee).    The four main stars on "Designing Women" have different types of Souther accents, actually, but Julia's is closest to that of Atlanta (where the show is set).  Tim Allen from "Home Improvement" was born and raised in the Detroit area, so his manner of speech is typical of the Midwest.  David Letterman also has a Midwestern speech pattern.  (Being from the Midwest myself, I don't call it an "accent", LOL)

[WaldoMcFroog]

The psychiatrist Oliver Sacks (author of 'The man who mistook his wife for a hat') has a classic New England accent - I think he might be from Maine. In fact, it's very difficult to tell that he isn't English, though I think I'm right in saying the rural accent of Maine is more drawled - in Stephen King novels at least, they're always saying 'a-yuh' for 'yes'.