List of people from New Orleans, Louisiana

This is a list of individuals who are or were natives of, or notable as residents of, or in association with the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Academia

• Stephen Ambrose, historian and University of New Orleans professor
• Ginette Bone, design critic, Tulane Professor of Practice
• Douglas Brinkley, historian, author and former University of New Orleans and Tulane professor
• Marietta LeBreton, Louisiana historian
• Harry V. Sims, surgeon, hospital administrator, gynecological researcher
• Jeffrey Vitter, computer scientist and Purdue University dean
• Michael DeBakey, world-famous pioneer in heart surgery

Arts and literature

• Enrique Alferez, sculptor
• E. J. Bellocq, photographer
• Skip Bolen, photographer
• James Belton Bonsall, painter
• Poppy Z. Brite, writer
• George Washington Cable, writer
• Truman Capote, writer
• Kate Chopin, writer, feminist
• Ben Claassen III, illustrator and comics artist DIRTFARM
• Andrei Codrescu, writer
• Edgar Degas, artist
• George Washington Dixon, newspaper editor
• William Faulkner, writer
• Shirley Ann Grau, writer
• Lafcadio Hearn, writer
• Knute Heldner, artist.
• Lillian Hellman, writer
• George Herriman, Krazy Kat cartoonist
• Caroline Hill, artist
• Walter Isaacson, writer, journalist, public policy analyst
• Elmore Leonard, author
• Michael Lewis (author), writer
• Matthew Randazzo V, writer
• Anne Rice, writer of vampire tales and other Gothic fiction
• Christopher Rice, author
• Stan Rice, poet
• John Kennedy Toole, writer of A Confederacy of Dunces
• Tennessee Williams, playwright
• Tyler Perry, playwright

Business and economics

• Daniel Henry Holmes, 19th century businessman
• Chris Owens; Burlesque performer and entrepreneur
• Clay Shaw, businessman
• Martin de Villamil or Martin Villamil (1783-1843), businessman

Cuisine

• John Besh, Chef
• Owen Brennan, Restaurateur
• Leah Chase, Chef
• Al Copeland, restaurateur, Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits and Copeland's restaurants
• Ruth Fertel, restaurateur, Ruth's Chris Steak House
• Emeril Lagasse, chef; restaurateur; television personality
• Austin Leslie, Chef
• Paul Prudhomme, Chef

Crime

• Axeman of New Orleans, mysterious mass murderer
• Sylvestro Carolla, mafia boss
• Antoinette Frank, former New Orleans Police Officer, convicted murderer
• Francis Grevemberg, crime-busting superintendent of the Louisiana state police, 1952-1955
• Jean Lafitte, pirate
• Pierre Lafitte, pirate and brother of Jean Lafitte
• Delphine LaLaurie, socialite and sadist
• Carlos Marcello, businessman and mafia boss
• Lee Harvey Oswald, presidential assassin
• Ronald A. Williams II, murdered New Orleans Police Officer
• Ivory Harris, drug trafficker and murderer

Film and Television

• Blake Nelson Boyd, experimental film maker, actor
• Kitty Carlisle, entertainer
• John Carroll, actor and singer
• Patricia Clarkson, actor
• Ellen DeGeneres comedienne, talk show host
• Raquel Diaz better known as Rocsi, american television host and personality on BET's 106 and Park
• John Goodman, actor
• Cheryl Holdridge, actress and Mouseketeer
• Leatrice Joy, actress
• Dorothy Lamour, actress
• John Larroquette, actor
• Eddie Jemison, actor
• Anthony Mackie, actor
• Adah Isaacs Menken, actress
• Taylor Miller, actress
• Morgus The Magnificent
• Garrett Morris, comedian
• Arthel Neville, journalist
• Chris Owens, burlesque performer and entrepreneur
• Tyler Perry, actor, director
• Wendell Pierce, actor, Detective Bunk Moreland in The Wire
• Godfrey Reggio, experimental filmmaker/documentarian (Qatsi trilogy)
• Richard Simmons, entertainer
• Ben Turpin, silent film comedian
• Ray Walston, actor
• Carl Weathers, actor, football player
• Walter Williams, Creator of Mr. Bill
• Reese Witherspoon, actress

Journalism

• James Carville, Democratic Party political consultant and pundit
• Buddy Diliberto, sports journalist
• Bryant Gumbel, television anchor
• Greg Gumbel, television sportscaster
• Hoda Kotb, television anchor
• Mary Matalin, Republican Party political consultant
• Cokie Roberts, television journalist
• Garland Robinette, investigative journalist
• Howard K. Smith, television anchorman
• Blaine Stewart, television journalist

Law, politics, and military

• Reverend Avery Alexander, civil rights leader, state legislator
• Ben Bagert, attorney and member of both houses of state legislature
• P.G.T. Beauregard, general & inventor
• Hale Boggs, former U.S. Representative
• Lindy Boggs, former U.S. Representative and retired U.S. Ambassador to The Vatican
• Tom Boggs, prominent Washington, D.C. lobbyist
• Peppi Bruneau, attorney and former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
• Pascal F. Calogero, Jr., Chief Justice Louisiana Supreme Court
• James Carville, political consultant, political science professor
• Harry Connick, Sr., district attorney, father of singer Harry Connick, Jr.
• Rob Couhig, businessman, attorney, politician
• Humberto Fontova, Cuban-American conservative author
• C.B. Forgotston, attorney, political activist, state government watchdog
• Garey Forster, radio host, former state representative and state labor secretary
• Jim Garrison, district attorney
• Gerry E. Hinton, state senator from St. Tammany Parish
• Moon Landrieu, judge and politician
• Mary Landrieu, U.S. senator
• Mitch Landrieu, lieutenant governor
• Hank Lauricella, former professional football player; state senator from Jefferson Parish, 1972-1996
• Art Lentini, Metairie attorney who succeeded Hank Lauricella in the state senate (1996-2008)
• Bob Livingston, former Republican congressman
• Lt. Gen. James Longstreet, a Confederate general
• Virginia Martinez, late Republican national committeewoman from Louisiana; treasurer of the 1980 and 1984 Republican National Conventions
• Danny Martiny, state senator from Jefferson Parish, was born in New Orleans.
• P.J. Mills, politician, retired businessman
• Ernest Nathan Morial, American political, legal, and civil rights leader
• Marc Morial, former mayor, son of Ernest Nathan Morial
• deLesseps Story Morrison, former mayor and ambassador to the Organization of American States
• deLesseps Morrison, Jr., late state representative
• Ray Nagin, current mayor of New Orleans
• Alton Ochsner, physician
• P.B.S. Pinchback, politician
• Cokie Roberts, journalist, daughter of Hale and Lindy Boggs
• Tom Schedler, former state senator
• Pat Screen, Louisiana State University quarterback, lawyer, and Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish
• José de Villamil (or José Villamil), father of the independence of Ecuador
• Roger F. Villere, Jr., politician
• David Vitter, U.S. Senator
• Robert Wilkie, Defense Department Leader and National Security Assistant to the President
• John Minor Wisdom, judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
• Andrew Young, politician

Math, science, and invention

• Ruth Benerito, inventor of wrinkle-free cotton
• Alfred H. Clifford, mathematician
• Jan Hamer, organic chemist
• Andrew Higgins, ship builder & inventor
• Emile Lamm, inventor
• Mark Plotkin, ethnobotanist
• Norbert Rilleaux, inventor, engineer
• William Seemann, inventor of SCRIMP & engineer
• A. Baldwin Wood, inventor & engineer

Music

• Phil Anselmo, musician
• Louis Armstrong, musician & entertainer
• Baby Boy Da Prince, rapper
• Achille Baquet, musician
• George Baquet, musician
• Paul Barbarin, musician and composer
• Dave Bartholomew, musician, composer, promoter
• Sidney Bechet, musician
• Better Than Ezra, rock group
• George Brunis, jazz trombonist
• Terence Blanchard, musician & composer
• B.Gizzle, rapper AKA. B.G.
• Buddy Bolden, musician, "inventor of jazz"(?)
• James Booker, musician
• Jimmy Bower, guitarist, drummer, (eyehategod, down...)
• Alton "Big Al" Carson, blues singer
• C-Murder, rapper
• Choppa, rapper
• Jon Cleary, funk and R&B musician
• Lee Collins, jazz trumpeter
• Collie Buddz, Reggae/Dancehall artist
• Harry Connick, Jr., musician and entertainer
• Barry Cowsill, musician
• Cowboy Mouth, band
• Currency, rapper
• DJ Khaled, DJ
• Piggy D. Bassist
• Edmond Dede musician, composer
• Monica Dillon musician, singer, composer
• Johnny Dodds, jazz clarinetist and saxophonist
• Ernie K. Doe, singer, "Emperor of the Universe"
• Fats Domino, musician
• Lee Dorsey, singer
• Tom Drummond, bassist of Better Than Ezra
• Dr. John, musician
• Jay Electronica, rapper & producer
• Frankie Dusen, jazz trombonist
• Frankie Ford, singer, entertainer
• Pete Fountain, musician
• George Girard, musician
• Victor Goines, jazz musician, dean of jazz at the Juilliard School
• Louis Moreau Gottschalk, pianist & composer
• Daniel Gray, musician, writer, actor
• Kevin Griffin, musician lead singer for Better than Ezra
• Donald Harrison, musician
• Clarence "Frogman" Henry, singer & musician
• Al Hirt, musician
• Noah Howard, jazz musician
• Mahalia Jackson, gospel singer
• Juvenile, rapper
• Freddie Keppard, jazz cornetist
• Earl King, musician
• Papa Jack Laine, bandleader
• Nick LaRocca, self-proclaimed "inventor of jazz"
• Mack Maine rapper
• Lil Romeo, rapper
• Birdman (rapper)/Baby rapper
• Lil Wayne, rapper
• DaVonte' Kirksey/Maniac, rapper, DJ
• Lloyd, singer
• Mac (rapper), rapper
• Magic (rapper), rapper
• Mannie Fresh, rapper, producer, disc jockey
• Master P, Rapper, business man, & mogul
• Partners-N-Crime, rap duo
• Professor Longhair, musician
• Wingy Manone, jazz trumpeter, and singer
• Branford Marsalis, musician
• Ellis Marsalis Jr., musician & educator
• Ellis Marsalis Sr., musician & advocate
• Fernando del Valle, operatic tenor
• Jason Marsalis, musician
• Wynton Marsalis, musician
• Irvin Mayfield, musician
• The Meters, musicians and singers
• Lizzie Miles, singer
• Charlie Miller, jazz musician
• Deacon John Moore, musician & bandleader
• Jelly Roll Morton, musician & composer, self-proclaimed "inventor of jazz"
• Mr. Quintron, organist
• Mystikal, rapper
• The Neville Brothers, musicians & singers
• Randy Newman, musician
• Joe "King" Oliver, musician
• Nicholas Payton, musician
• Earl Palmer, musician
• Marguerite Piazza, operatic soprano
• Kellie Pickler, country singer
• George Porter, Jr., musician
• Louis Prima, musician & entertainer
• The Radiators, band
• Mac Rebennack "Dr. John"
• Trent Reznor, musician, producer
• Dawn Richards, Danity Kane member
• Jason Ross, Seven Mary Three frontman
• Kermit Ruffins, jazz trumpeter, singer and composer
• Silkk the Shocker, rapper
• Skull Duggery, rapper
• Soulja Slim, rapper
• Supagroup, rock band
• Irma Thomas, rhythm and blues singer, "Soul Queen of New Orleans"
• Allen Toussaint, musician, composer, record producer
• Turk (rapper), rapper
• Birdman AKA Baby, rapper
• Young Money Entertainment
• Young V, rapper
• Linnzi Zaorski
• Zebra, band

Sports

• Blair Barbier, former baseball player for the Chicago Cubs organization
• Tom Benson, current owner of the New Orleans Saints
• Will Clark, former Major League Baseball star, Infielder
• David Dixon, father of the New Orleans Saints, the Louisiana Superdome, the USFL and World Championship Tennis; member of the Tennis Hall of Fame
• Scott Dohmann, pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays
• Clyde Drexler, former NBA star, Member of the Basketball Hall of Fame
• John Fourcade, former National Football League quarterback
• Marshall Faulk, football star (St. Louis Rams)
• Danny Granger, forward for the Indiana Pacers
• Chris Horton , Safety, Washington Redskins
• Tory James, cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals
• Avery Johnson, former National Basketball Association player, former coach of the Dallas Mavericks
• Kerry Kittles, former National Basketball Association player for the New Jersey Nets
• Michael Lewis, former New Orleans Saints Wide receiver, Kick Returner
• Archie Manning, former New Orleans Saints quarterback, father of Peyton and Eli
• Eli Manning, New York Giants quarterback
• Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts quarterback
• Sammy Martin, former New England Patriots running back
• Greg Monroe, college basketball player for Georgetown University
• Paul Morphy, world chess champion
• Mel Ott, Major League Baseball hall of famer
• Nate Singleton, former wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers
• Neil Smith, former Defensive End Kansas City Chiefs
• Kordell Stewart, quarterback
• Ron Swoboda, former New York Mets outfielder
• Ike Taylor , Cornerback, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Reggie Wayne, wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts
• Aeneas Williams, former corner back for the St. Louis Rams

Other

• David Ferrie, Pilot investigated in the assassination of President Kennedy
• Francis L. Hawks, Reverend
• Marie Alice Heine First American Princess of Monaco
• Marie Laveau, Voodoo Queen
• Babe Stovall, Entertainer "Mr. Bojangles"
• Allison ‘Tootie’ Montana, Mardi Gras Indian, "chief of chiefs"
• Paul Morphy, chess genius
• Eugene Grace, American Geospatial Analyst 2003-2005 University of New Orleans- Associated Press All American 2004-2005
• Dane Geraci, Mexican American Butt Pirate 2003- Present and Part-Time Goalkeeper
• Angelica Maria, Mexican entertainer "La Novia de Mexico"

See also

New Orleans portal

• List of people from Louisiana
• List of Tulane University people