Wikipedia:
List of people from Virginia
- Revisions and sourced additions are
welcome.
State Flag of Virginia
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
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)
- David Arquette - Born on a commune in Winchester, VA (raised there for 2 years)
- Arthur Ashe (1943-1993), tennis star and social activist
- Kevin Aviance – dancer
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-), New York Giants running back
- Joey Baron – musician
- Samuel Barton § , (1749-1810), Explorer, pioneer, Patriot, early settler of Nashville, TN
- Viola Baskerville (1951-), Virginia Secretary of Administration
- David Batista – professional wrestler.
- Warren Beatty (1937-), actor
Pat Benatar § – 1980s singer- 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
- 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 –
American 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
- 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.
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
- 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 Cary – early African-American colonist and missionary to Liberia
- 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
- Alex Cosmidis - Minor League baseball player and manager and Major League scout.
- Katie Couric (1957-), anchor, CBS Evening News
- Patricia Cornwell § – novelist
- Henry Creamer – an American Vaudeville song lyricist of the early 20th century
- Adrian Cronauer § – disc jockey.
- Dell Curry (1964-) - former NBA basketball player
D
- Chris Daniel – President of Torrid
- D'Angelo – R&B musician
- Colgate Whitehead Darden, Jr. - U.S. Representative,
Governor of Virginia , Chancellor of theCollege of William and Mary and the third President of the University of Virginia. - Chris Daughtry § (1979-) , American Idol finalist, attended high school in Charlottesville. Born in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina and relocated to Greensboro.
- Jimmy Dean – singer and, "sausage king"
- Junie Donlavey – owner and namesake of the NASCAR "Donlavey" racing team
E
- Missy Elliott (1971-), rapper
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.
G
- Forrest Gander § (1956-) poet, essayist and translator
- Jim Gilmore, former governor of Virginia
- Ellen Glasgow – an early 20th century novelist who was born and lived there
- Lauren Graham - Gilmore Girls
- Samuel Gravely – an African-American Officer who broke many racial barriers while serving in the U.S. Navy
- Wayne Grubb – NASCAR crew chief and former driver
- Kevin Grubb – NASCAR driver
H
- DeAngelo Hall (1983-), Atlanta Falcons cornerback
- Mark Hamill § - (1951-), actor
- Denny Hamlin (1980-), NASCAR driver of the #11 FedEx Chevrolet, 2006 rookie
- 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
- 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
I
- Allen Iverson (1975-), NBA star
J
- Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson (1824-1863), Confederate military leader (note: Jackson was born and raised in a part of Virginia that is now in 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
- Julius Jones (1981-), NFL football player, Dallas Cowboys
- Thomas Jones (1978-), NFL football player, Chicago Bears, New York Jets
- Orlando Jordan – professional wrestler
K
- Tim Kaine § , (1958- ), current Governor of Virginia
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 military leader, commander of Army of Northern Virginia
- Tim Legler, ESPN NBA Analyst
- Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809), explorer (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
M
- Douglas MacArthur § (1880-1964), World War II and Korean War military leader, mother from Norfolk § , MacArthur 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 General, founder of Norfolk and Western Railroad, now Norfolk Southern
- Moses Malone (1955-), former NBA star, Basketball Hall of Famer
- Aimee Mann, composer
- 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-), Appalachian Leader, 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
- 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-), WWE Superstar
- 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 (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
N
- Diandra Newlin – singer, actor, and model
- Johnny Newman, (1963-), former NBA star
O
Patton Oswalt - (1969-20??) Actor and Comedian
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- Edgar Allan Poe § (1809-1849), poet and author
- 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.
Q
R
- JJ 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 § (c1585-1622) settler at Jamestown, 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
S
- Elliot Sadler (1975-), NASCAR driver
- George C. Scott (1927-1999), Actor, Won an Oscar for portraying George Patton in Patton (film)
- Willard Scott (1934-), former weather reporter on The Today Show; earlier, was the original Ronald McDonald
- Winfield Scott (1786-1866), Military leader
- Darren Sharper – safety for the Minnesota Vikings
- Meghann Shaughnessy – professional tennis player.
- 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 Jamestown, 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
- J.E.B. Stuart (1833-1864), Confederate military leader
- William Styron (1925-2006), novelist
T
- William Taptico (-1719), King of Wicomicco Indians
- Fran Tarkenton, American football player
- Lawrence Taylor (1959-), former NFL star, Football Hall of Famer
- 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
- Timbaland (1974-), music producer/rapper
- Scott Travis (1961-), drummer for Judas Priest and Racer X
- 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
U
- Skeet Ulrich, actor, starred in Scream (film), The Newton Boys, and currently the drama series Jericho (TV series) on CBS
V
- Justin Verlander (1983-), MLB pitcher, currently playing for the Detroit Tigers
- Michael Vick (1980-), Atlanta Falcons quarterback
- Marcus Vick (1984-), Miami Dolphins wide receiver/punt return/quarterback specialist
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 Revolutionary War
- Mac Watson – WRVA talk show host
- Paul Wellstone § (1944-2002), U.S. Senator 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 current Richmond City Mayor
- 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
X
Y
- Elliott Yamin § (1978-), American Idol finalist
Z
Bands From Virginia
- 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)
- GWAR, shock rock punk thrash band (Richmond)
- The Hackensaw Boys, bluegrass band (Charlottesville)
- Lamb of God, contemporary extreme metal band (Richmond)
- Mae, Indie/Indie Rock band (Virginia Beach)
- Pig Destroyer, death metal band (Northern VA)
- Winter Solstice, Christian Metalcore band (Lynchburg)
