List of people from Virginia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of notable people who were born in the U.S. state of Virginia, were raised or lived in Virginia, or for whom Virginia is a significant part of their identity. Those not born in Virginia are marked with §.
Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
[edit] A
- Alden Aaroe - WRVA talk show host
- Caroline Aaron - actress and producer
- John Aboud - writer, comedian and regular commentator on Best Week Ever and other VH1 shows
- Hunter "Patch" Adams § - doctor, author, and social activist
- Chris Adler - drummer (Lamb of God)
- Willie Adler - guitarist (Lamb of God) who go
- David Arquette - born on a commune in Winchester (raised there for 2 years)
- Arthur Ashe (1943-1993), tennis star and social activist who go
- Kevin Aviance - [[ dancer]]
[edit] B
- Diedrich Bader - actor
- Pearl Bailey - Tony award winning actress and singer
- David Baldacci - author
- Ronde Barber (1975-) - Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback
- Tiki Barber (1975-) - Sportscaster and former New York Giants running back
- Joey Baron - musician
- Lauren Barnette - Beauty pageant winner and model
- Samuel Barton § (1749-1810) - explorer, pioneer, Patriot, early settler of Nashville, Tennessee
- Viola Baskerville (1951-) - Virginia Secretary of Administration
- Dave Batista - professional wrestler
- Warren Beatty (1937-), actor
- Antoine Bethea - professional football player for the Indianapolis Colts
- Rainey Bethea (1909–1936) - last person publicly executed in the United States
- Larry Bethea § - late professional football player for the Dallas Cowboys
- Leslie Bibb § - actress, plays Carley Bobby in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
- Jim Bibby - former Major League pitcher, from Madison Heights
- Adam Birch - former professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment's SmackDown!
- Tom Bliley - member of the United States House of Representatives representing the 3rd then 7th District
- Dré Bly - professional football player with the Detroit Lions
- Randy Blythe - singer of metal band Lamb of God
- Rudy Boesch § - third place finalist on Survivor: Pulau Tiga (first season)
- Bill Bolling § - Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
- Gary U.S. Bonds § - singer and songwriter
- J. Evan Bonifant - actor
- Maria Boren - contestant on the television show The Apprentice
- Wes Borland - guitarist for Limp Bizkit and other rock bands
- Mary Bowser - freed slave who worked as a Union spy during the Civil War and was admitted to the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame
- Karen Briggs § - violinist
- Connie Britton § (1968-) - actress, born in Boston but raised in Lynchburg
- Dave Brockie - founder of GWAR
- Aaron Brooks - professional football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders
- Chris Brown (1989-) - singer and actor
- Ruth Brown - Grammy-award winning singer and entertainer
- Bebe Buell - fashion model, famous groupie and mother of Liv Tyler
- Joyce Bulifant - television actress
- Sandra Bullock (1964-) - actress
- Plaxico Burress (1977-) - professional football wide receiver for the New York Giants
- Curtis Bush - world champion kickboxer and actor
- Jeff Burton (1967-) - NASCAR driver
- Ward Burton (1961-) - NASCAR driver
- Charlie Byrd - jazz guitarist
[edit] C
- James Branch Cabell - author of fantasy fiction and belles lettres
- John Campbell - bassist (Lamb of God)
- Eric Cantor - Member of the United States House of Representatives representing the 7th District
- A. P. Carter - Musician, singer, songwriter, member of the Carter Family
- Maybelle Carter - Guitar player, singer, member of the Carter Family, mother of June Carter Cash
- Robert "King" Carter I (1663-1732) - wealthy colonist businessman
- June Carter Cash (1929-2003) - singer, songwriter, actress and comedian, member of the Carter Family, and second wife of singer Johnny Cash
- George Rogers Clark (1752-1818), Revolutionary War military leader
- Lott Carey - early African-American colonist and missionary to Liberia
- Anthony Clark - actor (Yes Dear!, Boston Common), Lynchburg
- William Clark (1770-1838) - explorer (Lewis and Clark Expedition); brother of George Rogers Clark
- Henry Clay (1777-1852) - nineteenth-century American statesman
- Clarence Clemons - saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and former player for the Norfolk Neptunes football team
- Patsy Cline (1932-1963) - singer
- Coko - former member of SWV and now gospel music singer
- Stacy Compton - NASCAR driver/team owner, Grit, VA
- Leanza Cornett - Former Miss America, actress, TV commentator
- Alex Cosmidis - Minor League baseball player and manager and Major League scout
- Joseph Cotten (1905-1994) - actor
- Katie Couric (1957-) - anchor, CBS Evening News
- Patricia Cornwell § - novelist
- Henry Creamer - vaudeville song lyricist of the early 20th century
- Adrian Cronauer § - disc jockey
- Dell Curry (1964-) - former NBA basketball player.
[edit] D
- Chris Daniel - President of Torrid
- D'Angelo - R&B musician
- Colgate Whitehead Darden, Jr. - U.S. Representative, Governor of Virginia, Chancellor of the College of William and Mary and the third President of the University of Virginia
- Wendy Dascomb - Miss USA 1969
- Chris Daughtry § (1979-) - American Idol finalist, attended high school in Charlottesville. Born in North Carolina and relocated to Greensboro.
- Jimmy Dean - singer and "sausage king"
- Junie Donlavey - owner and namesake of the NASCAR "Donlavey" racing team
[edit] E
- Missy Elliott (1971-) - rapper
[edit] F
- Frankie Faison - film actor
- Jerry Falwell (1933–2007) - Christian minister, televangelist, and political leader
- James Farrior - NFL linebacker
- William Faulkner § (1897-1962) - Writer-in-Residence at The University of Virginia from 1957 until his death
- Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) - legendary jazz singer
- Chip Franklin - comedian and talk show host
- Jon Foreman - lead singer for rock band Switchfoot
- Tim Foreman - bass player for rock band Switchfoot
[edit] G
- Forrest Gander § (1956-) - poet, essayist and translator
- Jim Gilmore - former governor of Virginia
- Ellen Glasgow - early 20th century novelist
- Lauren Graham - actress, comedy-drama series Gilmore Girls
- Samuel Gravely - African-American officer who broke many racial barriers while serving in the U.S. Navy
- David Grohl - Foo Fighters (born in Ohio, moved to Virginia at age 3)
- Wayne Grubb - NASCAR crew chief and former driver
- Kevin Grubb - NASCAR driver
- Johnny Grubb - Major League Baseball player
[edit] H
- DeAngelo Hall (1983-) - Washington Redskins cornerback
- Charles Haley - pro football player Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Naruna, VA
- Mark Hamill § - (1951-) - actor (attended high school in Annandale)
- Denny Hamlin (1980-) - NASCAR driver of the #11 FedEx Chevrolet, 2006 rookie of the year (born in Tampa, FL, but grew up in Chesterfield)
- Benjamin Harrison V - signer of the Declaration of Independence, father of President William Henry Harrison
- Benjamin Harrison - President of US, grandson of William Henry Harrison
- William Henry Harrison (1773-1841) - 9th President of the United States
- Bryan Harvey - musician, noted for his fronting role in House of Freaks, who was brutally murdered with his family in 2006
- Earl Hebner - professional wrestling referee
- William Henderson - NFL fullback
- Ray Hendrick - NASCAR driver
- Rick Hendrick - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team owner for Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Casey Mears; born in South Hill
- Patrick Henry (1736-1799) - American Revolution figure and first Governor of Virginia after American independence
- Kate Higgins (1969-) - anime voice actor
- Grant Hill § (1972-) - NBA star
- Bruce Hornsby (1954-) - musician
- Chad Hugo (1974-) - musician and music producer, one-half of The Neptunes
[edit] I
- Brandon Inge - Major League Baseball player, Detroit Tigers, from Lynchburg
- Allen Iverson (1975-) - NBA star
[edit] J
- Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson (1824-1863) - Confederate military leader, born and raised in a part of Virginia that is now West Virginia
- Mickie James (1979-) - WWE Diva
- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) - 3rd President of the United States, author of the Declaration of Independence, founder of the University of Virginia
- Jim Jinkins - cartoonist
- Nicole Johnson (c. 1974-) - Miss America 1999
- Julius Jones (1981-) - NFL football player, Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks
- Thomas Jones (1978-) - NFL football player, Chicago Bears, New York Jets
- Orlando Jordan - professional wrestler
- Samuel Jordan ( -1621) - earliest Virginia leader at the Jamestown Settlement
[edit] K
- Tim Kaine § (1958- ) - current Governor of Virginia
[edit] L
- Jeffrey M. Lacker - chief executive of the Fifth District Federal Reserve Bank at Richmond
- Jake E. Lee (1957-) - guitarist for Ratt, Rough Cutt, Ozzy Osbourne, Badlands, and others
- Robert E. Lee (1807-1870) - Confederate States of America military leader, commander of Army of Northern Virginia
- Tim Legler - ESPN NBA analyst
- Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809) - explorer with the Lewis and Clark Expedition
- Shaquan Lewis - aka "Skillz" from the Supafriendz, African-American rapper
- David Lowery - lead singer of Cracker and co-founder of Sound of Music Studios
[edit] M
- Douglas MacArthur § (1880-1964) - World War II and Korean War military leader, mother from Norfolk §. MacArthur, born in Arkansas, always considered Norfolk his home town because he spent more time there as a child than anywhere else and it was a stable force in his life. He and his wife are buried in downtown Norfolk.
- Shirley MacLaine (1934-) - actress and author
- James Madison (1751-1836) - 4th President of the United States, co-author of Federalist Papers, "father of the United States Constitution"
- William Mahone (1826-1895) - Confederate States of America general, founder of Norfolk and Western Railroad, now Norfolk Southern
- John Maine (1981-) - Pitcher for the New York Mets, Born in Fredericksburg, graduated from North Stafford High school
- Moses Malone (1955-) - former NBA star, Basketball Hall of Famer
- Aimee Mann - musician (Midlothian / Richmond area)
- Sally Mann (1951-) - photographer (Lexington)
- Chris Marion § (1962-) - musician, member of classic rock band Little River Band
- George Marshall § (1880-1959) - World War II military leader, winner of Nobel Peace Prize for developing the Marshall Plan (graduate of Virginia Military Institute)
- John Marshall - lawyer, statesman, and third Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court
- Sean Marshall - professional baseball player; starting pitcher, Chicago Cubs
- George Mason (1725-1792) - politician, author of Virginia Declaration of Rights, model for the US Bill of Rights
- Debbie Matenopoulos - television co-host
- Dave Matthews § (1967-) - musician, frontman of Dave Matthews Band (has lived most of his adult life in Charlottesville)
- Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806–1873) - USN national observatory, naval observatory, astronomer, astrophysicist, historian, oceanographer, meteorologist, cartographer, author, geologist, educator
- John McCargo (1983-) - NFL defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills
- Michael McGlothlin (1951-) - former President of the [University of Appalachia] School of Pharmacy, politician, and activist
- William Holmes McGuffey § (1800-1873) - creator of McGuffey Readers (spent his later years as a professor at the University of Virginia)
- Billy McMullen - UVA standout football player now playing for the Minnesota Vikings
- Jesse McReynolds - Bluegrass musician, mandolin player
- Joseph Meek (1810-1875) - explorer and fur trader
- Philip B. Meggs - internationally-recognized scholar and design historian, author of the seminal work on graphic design history, Meggs' History of Graphic Design
- Joey Mercury (1979-) - former WWE Superstar
- Heath Miller (1982-) - NFL tight end for Pittsburgh Steelers
- James Monroe (1758-1831) - 5th President of the United States, namesake of Monroe Doctrine
- Lottie Moon (1840-1912) - Christian missionary to China
- Jim Morrison § (1943-1971) - singer and songwriter, frontman of The Doors ((born in Melbourne, Florida; attended and graduated from high school in Alexandria)
- Mark Morton - guitarist (Lamb of God)
- Matt Moses - Minnesota Twins baseball player and first-round draft pick in 2003
- John Most (1977- ) - poet
- Alonzo Mourning (1970- ) - NBA star
- Jason Mraz (1977- ) - musician
- Remy Munasifi (1980- ) - parody musician and video artist known as GoRemy on YouTube
[edit] N
- Thomas Nelson, Jr. - Governor of Virginia, signer of Declaration of Independence
- Diandra Newlin - singer, actor, and model
- Johnny Newman (1963-) - former NBA star
- Wayne Newton (1942-) - singer, entertainer, and occasional actor
[edit] O
- Texas Jack Omohundro (1846-1880) - American frontier scout, actor, and cowboy
- Uncle Charlie Osborne (1890-1992) - musician
- Patton Oswalt (1969-20-) - actor and comedian
[edit] P
- George Patton § (1885-1945) - World War II military leader, family was from Fredericksburg, attended Virginia Military Institute
- James Spriggs Payne - fourth and eighth president of Liberia
- Tom Peloso - a former member of the Hackensaw Boys, and a current member of Modest Mouse
- Pocahontas (1595-1617) - princess of Powhatan tribe
- Lewis F. Powell - Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court
- Chief Powhatan (1547-1618) - ruler of Eastern Virginia at the time of the founding of Jamestown
- Faith Prince § (born 1957) - TV and film actress, played Kelly Knippers in Showtime's Huff and Claudia Lassiter in Spin City
[edit] Q
[edit] R
- Edmund Randolph (1853-1813) - Gov of Virginia, United States Attorney General, United States Secretary of State
- Peyton Randolph - 1775 President of the Continental Congress
- J. J. Redick § (1984-) - shooting guard for the Orlando Magic
- Chris Richardson § (1984-) - American Idol finalist
- Pat Robertson (1930-) - Christian televangelist and political leader
- Bill "Bojangles" Robinson - dancer
- David Robinson § (1965-) - former NBA star
- John Rolfe § (c.1585-1622) - settler at Jamestown Settlement, first developer of cultivated tobacco for the European market
- J. Sargeant Reynolds - businessman, statesman, and Virginia Lieutenant Governor
- Tom Robbins - author, studied art at Richmond Professional Institute (now VCU) and worked for the Richmond Times Dispatch
- Felipe Rose § - founding member of the Village People
- Bobby Ross § - American football coach
[edit] S
- Elliot Sadler (1975-) - NASCAR driver
- Seka (1954- ) Legendary International Adult Film Star
- George C. Scott (1927-1999) - actor who won an Oscar for portraying George Patton
- Wendell Scott (1921-1990) - Danville, first African-American to race in NASCAR. He won a race in Jacksonville in 1963.
- Willard Scott (1934-) - former weather reporter on The Today Show; earlier, was the original Ronald McDonald
- Winfield Scott (1786-1866) - United States Army general
- Darren Sharper - safety for the Minnesota Vikings
- Meghann Shaughnessy - professional tennis player
- Deborah Shelton - actress, Miss USA 1970
- Ricky Van Shelton- country music/gospel singer, Altavista
- Sam Sloan (1944-) - political prisoner, kidnapping victim
- Bruce Smith (1963-) - former NFL star and career sack leader
- John Smith of Jamestown § (1580-1631) - co-founder of Jamestown Settlement, 1st English colony in America (1607)
- John W. Snow - former United States Secretary of the Treasury and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CSX Corporation
- Trey Songz (1984-) - singer
- Ralph Stanley (1927-) - musician
- Jessica Mae Stover - actor, filmmaker, author
- J.E.B. Stuart (1833-1864) - Confederate military leader
- William Styron (1925-2006) - novelist
- Hidetaro Suzuki § (1937-) - violinist and former concertmaster of Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
[edit] T
- Fran Tarkenton - American football player
- Lawrence Taylor (1959-) - former NFL star, Football Hall of Fame
- Peter Taylor (1917-1994) - writer; born in Tennessee but spent most of his career teaching at the University of Virginia
- Zachary Taylor (1784-1850) - 12th President of the United States
- Lewis Temple - escaped African American slave who invented a new kind of harpoon known as "Temple's Toggle"
- David Terrell - football player
- Scottie Thompson (1981-) - television and film actress
- Timbaland (1974-) - music producer/rapper
- Randy Tomlin - former Major League pitcher from Madison Heights
- Scott Travis (1961-) - drummer for Judas Priest and Racer X
- Adriana Trigiani - writer, author of novel "Big Stone Gap"
- Cy Twombly (1928-) - American abstract artist
- Nat Turner (1800-1831) - leader of famous slave rebellion
- John Tyler (1790-1862) - 10th President of the United States
[edit] U
- Skeet Ulrich - actor, starred in Scream, The Newton Boys, and currently the drama series Jericho on CBS
[edit] V
- Phil Vassar - country music singer/songwriter, Lynchburg
- Justin Verlander (1983-) - Major League Baseball pitcher, currently playing for the Detroit Tigers
- Marcus Vick (1984-) - Miami Dolphins wide receiver/punt return/quarterback specialist
- Michael Vick (1980-) - former Atlanta Falcons quarterback
[edit] W
- Bobby Wadkins - professional golfer
- Lanny Wadkins - professional golfer
- Amina Wadud - controversial female Islamic VCU professor who led over 100 Muslims in prayer in New York on March 18, 2005
- Billy Wagner (1971-) - MLB pitcher, currently playing for the New York Mets
- Richard Wagoner - President of General Motors
- Maggie L. Walker - first woman to found a bank in the United States
- Travis Wall (1971-) - reality TV star from So You Think You Can Dance: Season 2
- Ben Wallace - NBA basketball player
- Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) - educator, activist, founder of Tuskegee Institute
- George Washington (1732-1799) - 1st President of the United States, commander-in-chief of Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War
- Kelley Washington-New England Patriots (Stephens City, VIrginia-born and raised)
- Paul Wellstone § (1944-2002) - member of the United States Senate from Minnesota
- Jason White - NASCAR driver
- L. Douglas Wilder (1931-) - first elected African American governor of a U.S. state (Governor of Virginia, 1990-1994) and former Richmond City Mayor
- Jenny Wiley § (1760-1831) - pioneer, Native American captive
- Keller Williams (1970-) - musician
- Kiely Williams - member of 3LW
- Pharrell Williams (1973-) - musician and music producer, one-half of The Neptunes
- Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) - 28th President of the United States
- Stan Winston - film special effects designer
- Tom Wolfe (1931-) - journalist and novelist and father of the "New Journalism"
- David Wright (1982-) - MLB 3rd baseman, currently playing for the New York Mets
[edit] X
[edit] Y
- Elliott Yamin § (1978-) - American Idol finalist
[edit] Z
[edit] Bands from Virginia
- Alabama Thunderpussy, Southern Metal band (Richmond)
- Arsis, Death/Thrash Metal band (Virginia Beach)
- Avail, Punk Rock band (Richmond)
- Carbon Leaf, Pop-Rock/Folk Rock band (Richmond)
- Clipse, rap group (Virginia Beach)
- Dave Matthews Band, Alt. Rock band (Charlottesville)
- dc Talk, Christian rapcore band (Lynchburg)
- Deceased, Death/Thrash Metal band and first band to sign with Relapse Records (Arlington)
- Far-Less, Post-hardcore (Marion, Pulaski, Blacksburg)
- GWAR, shock rock punk thrash band (Richmond)
- The Hackensaw Boys, bluegrass band (Charlottesville)
- HURT, Art Rock/Hard Rock band
- Lamb of God, contemporary extreme metal band (Richmond)
- Mae, Indie/Indie rock band (Virginia Beach)
- Pig Destroyer, deathgrind band (Northern VA)
- Twisted Tower Dire, Power metal band (Chantilly)
- Winter Solstice, Christian Metalcore band (Lynchburg)
- While Heaven Wept, Doom metal band (Dale City)
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