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From these simple roots, the Clooney family moved into politics and showbiz. Clooney's grandfather, Andrew J. Clooney, became mayor of Maysville, Ky. He campaigned with the help of George's singing aunts — Rosemary and Betty — who were radio stars. Clooney's dad became a news anchorman in Cincinnati. Put it all together and we have the star who directed, co-wrote and co-starred in "Good Night, and Good Luck."

Oprah Winfrey — The color "purple" figured into the talk show queen's past more than a century before she co-starred in "The Color Purple." Winfrey's great-great-great-grandmother, born in 1839, was Violett Winfrey. Like the lead character in that landmark film, based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize winning story, she was born in the South. Winfrey recently produced a stage version of "The Color Purple," now on Broadway.

Elvis Presley — Presley developed a love of gospel music listening to the radio, and from that, learned to incorporate black and white musical styles to become America's first crossover radio star. According to the 1930 Census, in the years before his birth, Presley's family didn't even own a radio. Presley did have an aunt "Nashville Lorene," and with that sort of name, the family seemed to already have its eye set on country music fame.

Julia Roberts — Roberts' all-American smile has all-American roots. Only one of her great-grandparents — Eleanor Johnson of Sweden — was born overseas. Her other great-grandparents include John Pendleton Johnson, who managed a cafe, and wife Jimmie, who was listed in the 1930 Census as her husband's "helper."

Susan B. Anthony — Raw Census data underscores women's subordinate role in society. Feminist hero Susan B. Anthony was 30 years old and living with her parents when the 1850 Census was taken. She later campaigned for women's suffrage in Kansas, where her brother served as postmaster and mayor of Leavenworth. She was arrested, tried and fined for attempting to vote in 1872 — and vowed never to pay the fine. By the 1880 Census, it was noted that she was employed as a "lecturer." Twenty years later, for the 1900 Census, she described her job as "Woman's Suffrage." She died six years later, 14 years before women gained the right to vote.

Hillary Rodham Clinton — Political candidates relish their humble immigrant roots, and if Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton makes a run for the Oval Office, she, too, will have an American tale to tell. Her great-grandfather left the coal mines of England for the coal mines of Pennsylvania. He later worked as a police officer (1900 Census) and a florist (1910 Census), living with a wife and nine children under one roof.

Buck Wolf is entertainment producer at ABCNEWS.com. "The Wolf Files" is published Tuesdays.