So many stars have walked Spokane streets

Spokane has been the location for a number of movies. And some pretty big stars have walked the city's streets while making those movies.

Take "The Basket," for example, which will screen Friday at The Bing Crosby Theater as the Opening Gala film of the 19th Spokane International Film Festival. It stars Peter Coyote and Karen Allen, the latter of whom is famous not only for "Raiders of the Lost Ark" but also for "Animal House."

Truth is, they are just two of many actors who have made movies here. As a way of honoring all of them, I offer the following short list of some of the more famous screen stars (mentioned in no particular order):

Samuel L. Jackson: The ubiquitous Jackson starred in "Home of the Brave" (2006).

Johnny Depp: Known better as Capt. Jack Sparrow, Depp starred as Benny in "Benny & Joon" (1993).

Julianne Moore: The future Oscar winner played a supporting role in "Benny & Joon."

Chuck Norris: The man who fought Bruce Lee (and lost) starred in the low-budget crime caper "The Cutter" (2005).

Aidan Quinn: Co-starred in "Benny & Joon."

Mary Stuart Masterson: Played Joon in "Benny & Joon."

Jessica Biel: Co-starred with Jackson in "Home of the Brave." Also, Christina Ricci and 50 Cent.

Mathew Modine (pictured above): He played Louden Swain in Harold Becker's 1985 adaptation of Terry Davis' novel "Vision Quest," a film that to this day reigns as the quintessential Spokane movie.

Linda Fiorentino: Co-starred in "Vision Quest." (Note: Though Madonna was featured in Becker's movie, I'm pretty sure she never visited Spokane.)

Forest Whittaker: Another future Oscar winner, Whittaker had a small role in "Vision Quest.

William H. Macy: Played supporting role in "Benny & Joon."

Josh Hartnett: Once a near-A-list actor, Hartnett starred in "Mozart and the Whale" (2005). Also, Radha Mitchell and Gary Cole.

Cuba Gooding Jr.: Still another Oscar winner (Supporting Actor), Gooding Jr. had parts in several smaller movies shot in Spokane, including "The Hit List" (2011), "Lies and Illusions" (2009) and "End Game" (2006).

Burt Reynolds: The one-time box-office leader co-starred in "The End Game," along with James Woods, Angie Harmon and Anne Archer.

Ving Rhames: The great Rhames, best known as Marsellus Wallace in "Pulp Fiction," starred with Thomas Jane in "Give 'em Hell, Malone" (2009).

Peter Dinklage: The "Game of Thrones" was a cast member in "Knights of Badassdom" (2013), which also included Steve Zahn and Summer Glau.

So … the list could go on and on. But I think this is enough to complete my task — to those who are mentioned and the many who are not.