From longtime cottage owners to frequent visitors staying with friends, Muskoka has quietly attracted an impressive roster of celebrities for decades. Drawn by the region’s natural beauty, privacy, and laid-back luxury, everyone from Hollywood actors and professional athletes to musicians and supermodels have spent time enjoying life at the lake. While celebrity sightings are never guaranteed, these famous faces have all been linked to Muskoka over the years—whether as seasonal residents, repeat visitors, or guests discovering cottage country for the first time.
Martin Short
One of Canada’s most beloved comedians, still lauded for his SCTV and Saturday Night Live days, is Martin Short. To get away from it all, he heads to Ontario’s Lake Rosseau, a location he’s called “staggeringly beautiful.” In fact, he loves the region so much that last year he partnered with artist Tony Bianco and the Royal Canadian Mint to design a commemorative coin showcasing Lake Rosseau. The “Martin Short Presents Canada” coin is a $3 silver collector coin that features an image of his cottage, a sailboat, and two Muskoka chairs.
Steven Spielberg, Lake Muskoka
Ontario’s Muskoka region has frequently been called the “Malibu of the North” or the “Hamptons of the North” because of the many celebrities often spotted there, including those along Lake Rosseau’s “Millionaire’s Row” and Lake Joseph’s “Billionaire’s Row.” Among them is one of the biggest movie names of all, director Steven Spielberg. The man who made movies like E.T., Jaws, Schindler’s List, Jurassic Park, and the Indiana Jones series is said to spend his summers in Ontario.
Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, Lake Rosseau
One of the most beloved (and long-lasting) Hollywood couples, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell are also one of the most well-known summer residents of the Muskokas—Goldie has frequently been spotted shopping in Gravenhurst. Their mansion-like cottage sits in a quiet bay on Ontario’s Lake Rosseau, offering a peaceful retreat for the former Laugh-In and Disney stars.
Kate Hudson, Lake Muskoka
Since her mom, Goldie Hawn, calls Muskoka her summer home, it’s no surprise that Kate Hudson is also regularly spotted in the region. She’s even been the victim of some paparazzi shots while trying to get away from it all, most notably in 2007 when the Toronto Sun ran front-page shots of the Almost Famous star and her then-boyfriend Dax Shepard getting cozy on a Muskoka dock.
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Tom Hanks, Lake Muskoka
Another resident of Ontario’s cottage country is one of the biggest names in Hollywood. Tom Hanks, famed for movies such as Forrest Gump, Captain Phillips, The Green Mile, Catch Me If You Can, and Toy Story, is said to have a summer home in Muskoka, a purchase he made after friends Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn moved into the area.
Justin Bieber, Lake Muskoka
Whether or not you are a Beliber, you know Justin Bieber. And like you, Justin Bieber knows Muskoka! Rumored to be quite a pest on a jet-ski, Ontario-native Justin Bieber is not stranger to the Malibu of the North. Whether he’s ripping down Lake Muskoka on one of his many water toys, or throwing a massive dock party complete with fire performers and the best catered patio, Justin may not own his own Muskoka mansion, but he’s certainly rented.
Drake, Lake Rosseau
Toronto’s own Drake has also spent time in Muskoka. In 2023, the Grammy Award-winning rapper reportedly rented Rosseau Manor, where he left his mark by signing the guest book and sharing photos from his stay on social media.
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Cindy Crawford & Rande Gerber, Lake Joseph
Supermodel Cindy Crawford and entrepreneur Rande Gerber are longtime Muskoka visitors, spending summers at their Lake Joseph cottage with family and friends. Their daughter, model Kaia Gerber, has also become a familiar face in the region. In 2015, Vogue travelled to Muskoka to feature the family enjoying life at the lake.
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Lisa Rinna & Harry Hamlin, Lake Joseph
Actor Harry Hamlin and his wife, television personality and entrepreneur Lisa Rinna, have long enjoyed summers in Muskoka. The couple own a cottage on Lake Joseph and have frequently shared glimpses of lake life with their followers over the years.
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David & Victoria Beckham
Global power couple David and Victoria Beckham have become some of Muskoka’s most talked-about recent celebrity visitors. The former football superstar and Spice Girl have shared photos and videos from their cottage-country getaways, including a viral clip of David, son Cruz, and actor Austin Butler helping clear a fallen tree from a cottage road after a storm.
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Simu Liu
Canadian actor Simu Liu, best known for Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and his role in Barbie, has spoken openly about his love for Muskoka. In a social media post, Liu referred to Muskoka as “the cottage that raised me,” sharing photos of waterskiing, boating, and spending time at the lake with friends and family.
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Mark Wahlberg
Actor and entrepreneur Mark Wahlberg has also spent time enjoying Muskoka. In 2022, the Ted and The Departed star shared a photo on Instagram alongside hockey legend Tie Domi and David Beckham, captioning it: “Had a great weekend with these 2 guys in MUSKOKAAA.”
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Shaquille O'Neal
NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal has made several visits to Muskoka in recent years. The basketball legend was photographed in Port Sandfield in 2023, where he graciously stopped for photos with local fans. Standing over seven feet tall, Shaq tends to be one of the easier celebrities to spot around cottage country.
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Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds
Hollywood stars Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have also been linked to Muskoka in recent years. In the summer of 2025, the couple made an unannounced stop at the Gravenhurst drive-in theatre, where Reynolds happily posed for photos and chatted with staff, delighting moviegoers and locals alike.
While some celebrities have been spending summers in Muskoka for decades, new famous faces continue to discover the region every year, and for good reason. With its breathtaking scenery, private waterfront estates, and relaxed pace of life, Muskoka offers a rare opportunity to truly disconnect, enjoy nature, and escape the spotlight.
