The following is a list of notable people who were born, raised, or closely associated with the

Hampton Roads Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water in the United States that serves as a wide channel for the James River, James, Nansemond River, Nansemond and Elizabeth River (Virginia), Elizabeth rivers between Old Point Comfort and Sewell's ...

metropolitan area.

Chesapeake

James Anderson James Anderson may refer to: Arts *James Anderson (American actor) (1921–1969), American actor *James Anderson (author) (1936–2007), British mystery writer *James Anderson (English actor) (born 1980), British actor * James Anderson (filmmaker) ...

–

Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL), as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. T ...

linebacker and 88th overall pick in the

2006 NFL Draft The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City, New York, at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with ad ...

* Ed Beard (b. 1939) – professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...

player for the

San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National ...

Dré Bly Donald André Bly (born May 22, 1977) is a former American football cornerback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons. He played college football for the University of North Carolina (UNC), and earned All-American ...

(b. 1977) – professional football player with the

Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquart ...

Randy Blythe Randy is a given name, popular in the United States and Canada. It is primarily a masculine name. It was originally derived from the names Randall, Randolf, Randolph, as well as Bertrand and Andrew, and may be a short form (hypocorism) of them ...

(b. 1971) – vocalist and lyricist for

groove metal Groove metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that began in the early 1990s. The genre achieved success in the 1990s and continued having success in the 2000s. Inspired by thrash metal and traditional heavy metal, groove metal features raspy ...

band

Lamb of God Lamb of God ( el, Ἀμνὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, Amnòs toû Theoû; la, Agnus Dei, ) is a title for Jesus that appears in the Gospel of John. It appears at John 1:29, where John the Baptist sees Jesus and exclaims, "Behold the Lamb of God wh ...

Michael Copon Michael Copon is an American actor and producer. He is known for playing Felix Taggaro in the television series ''One Tree Hill'', Vin Keahi in the television series '' Beyond the Break'', and Lucas Kendall in ''Power Rangers Time Force''. Ea ...

(b. 1982) – star of ''

One Tree Hill One Tree Hill may refer to: * "One Tree Hill" (song), a 1987 song by U2 referencing One Tree Hill, New Zealand volcanic peak * ''One Tree Hill'' (TV series), a 2003–2012 American drama series named for the U2 song ** ''One Tree Hill'' (soundtr ...

'' and winner of VH1's '' But Can They Sing?'' *

Chris Crocker Cara Cunningham (formerly Chris Crocker; born December 7, 1987), is an American transgender Internet personality, songwriter, recording artist, YouTuber, and former pornographic film actor. , Cunningham's videos had received a combined 50 m ...

(b. 1980) – professional football player with the

Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. The Falcons joined th ...

Michael Cuddyer Michael Brent Cuddyer (; born March 27, 1979) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, and New York Mets. He batted and threw right-han ...

(b. 1979) – professional baseball

right fielder A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound. In the ...

for the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

Ras-I Dowling Ras-I Luis Dowling ( ; born May 9, 1988) is a former American football safety who is currently the cornerbacks coach for William & Mary Tribe football. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He play ...

–

New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East divisio ...

cornerback 2011–present *

Deon Dyer Deon Joseph Dyer nickname "Gunsmoke" (born October 2, 1977 in Chesapeake, Virginia) is a former American football fullback in the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL Draft ...

–

Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member team of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team pla ...

running back 2003–2004 *

Kenny Easley Kenneth Mason Easley Jr. (born January 15, 1959) is an American former professional football player who was a strong safety in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons during the 1980s. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins ...

(b. 1959) – professional football player with the

Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) West, which they rejoined in 2002 as ...

and Pro-Football Hall of Fame Member *

Jeff Falk Jeff Falk (born in Chesapeake, VA) is a former NASCAR driver. He ran four races in the Busch Series during 2001. Those four races all came in the #8 Chevy owned by Armando Fitz. He started the #8 Chevy in 40th position at Richmond, but peaked at ...

–

NASCAR The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. The privately owned company was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948, and hi ...

driver *

DeAngelo Hall DeAngelo Eugene Hall (born November 19, 1983) is a former American football defensive back who played 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Virginia Tech and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons eighth ov ...

(b. 1983) – professional football

cornerback A cornerback (CB) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in gridiron football. Cornerbacks cover receivers most of the time, but also blitz and defend against such offensive running plays as sweeps and reverses. They create tur ...

for the

Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) N ...

Grant Holloway Stanley Grant Holloway (born November 19, 1997) is an American hurdler and sprinter. He is the 2019 and 2022 world champion in the 110 meters hurdles, 2020 Olympic silver medalist in the same event, and current world record holder in the indoo ...

(b. 1997) - from Chesapeake (Grassfield Highschool) and University of Florida; won silver in the 2020 Olympics * The Last Bison – indie folk group * Ashton Lewis (b. 1972) – NASCAR driver *

Alonzo Mourning Alonzo Harding Mourning Jr. (born February 8, 1970) is an American former professional basketball player who has served as vice president of player programs and development for the Miami Heat since June 2009. Mourning played most of his 15-year ...

(b. 1970) – professional basketball player for the

Miami Heat The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern Conference Southeast Division (NBA), Southe ...

Darren Perry Darren Perry (born December 29, 1968) is a former professional American football player in the National Football League (NFL) and current defensive backs coach for the Vegas Vipers of the XFL. He was drafted into the NFL in 1992 by the Pitts ...

(b. 1968) – football player with the

Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Founded in , the Steel ...

Jay Pharoah Jared Antonio Farrow (born October 14, 1987), better known by his stage name Jay Pharoah, is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and impressionist. Pharoah was a cast member on NBC's sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' from 2010 to 201 ...

(b. 1987) – actor, comedian, cast member of ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock. Michaels currently serves a ...

'' *

Chris Richardson Christopher Michael Richardson (born February 19, 1984) is an American singer-songwriter who was the fifth-place finalist on the sixth season of ''American Idol''. Personal life Richardson was born in Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe ...

(b. 1984) – ''

American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...

'' season 5 top 5 finalist *

Ricky Rudd Richard Lee Rudd (born September 12, 1956), nicknamed "The Rooster", is an American former racing driver. He is the uncle of actor Skeet Ulrich and former NASCAR Busch Series driver Jason Rudd. He retired in 2007 with 23 career wins. He was named ...

(b. 1956) – professional NASCAR race car driver *

Josh Rupe Joshua Matthew Rupe (born August 18, 1982) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals, and Baltimore Orioles. Career D ...

(b. 1982) – professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers *

Elton Sawyer Elton Everett Sawyer (born November 5, 1959) is a former NASCAR driver. He is married to former NASCAR driver Patty Moise. Sawyer is currently the Vice President, Officiating and Technical Inspection of NASCAR. Career Start Sawyer began his caree ...

(b. 1959) – NASCAR driver *

Donald Spitz Donald Spitz is an anti-abortion Christian terrorism, Christian terrorist in the United States. He lives in Chesapeake, Virginia, where he runs the websites of and is a spokesperson for Army of God (Terrorist Organization), Army of God, an anti-ab ...

Controversial Christian anti-abortion activist *

Eric Stanley __NOTOC__ Eric Gerald Stanley, FBA (19 October 1923 – 20 June 2018) was a German-British Anglo-Saxonist; he was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon and Fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford, from 1977 to 1991 and was emeritus profe ...

(b. 1991) – violinist and composer * Darryl Tapp –

player and 63rd pick overall in the

B. J. Upton Melvin Emanuel Upton Jr. (born August 21, 1984), known as B. J. Upton, is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays / Rays, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Pad ...

(b. 1984) – professional baseball

shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Historically the position was assigned to defensive specialists who ...

for the

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. Since its inception ...

; drafted #2 overall in 2002 *

Justin Upton Justin Irvin Upton (born August 25, 1987) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. Nicknamed "J-Up", he has previously played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, Detroit Tig ...

(b. 1987) – professional baseball player drafted #1 overall in 2005 by the Arizona Diamondbacks *

Adrienne Warren Adrienne Warren (born May 6, 1987) is an American actress, singer and dancer. She made her Broadway debut in the 2012 musical ''Bring It On'', and in 2016 received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical nomination for her performance ...

(b. 1987) – professional singer, actress and dancer. Portrays Lorrell Robinson in the 2010 National Tour of '' Dreamgirls''; singer for

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) is an American rock band founded in 1996 by producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neill, who brought together Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli (both members of Savatage) and keyboardist and co-producer Robert Kinkel to ...

David Wright David Allen Wright (born December 20, 1982) is an American former professional baseball third baseman who played his entire 14-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career for the New York Mets. He was drafted by the Mets in 2001 MLB draft and made ...

(b. 1982) – professional baseball starting third baseman for the

Hampton

Xavier Adibi Xavier Oyekola Adibi (born October 18, 1984) is an American football coach and former player. He is a defensive analyst at Virginia Tech, and was previously the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M University–Commerce. He played college football ...

– linebacker with the

Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division, and play their home ga ...

* Robert Banks – NFL defensive end * Nick Bodale (b. 2002) – local legend, former model, musician, and martial artist best known for his role as Rocky DeSantos in ''

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers ''Mighty Power Rangers'' (''MMPR'') is a superhero television series that premiered on August 28, 1993, on the Fox Kids programming block. It is the first entry of the ''Power Rangers'' franchise, and became a 1990s pop culture phenomenon along ...

'' and ''

Power Rangers Zeo ''Power Rangers Zeo'' is a television series and the fourth season of the ''Power Rangers'' franchise, based on the 19th Super Sentai series ''Chouriki Sentai Ohranger''. It is the continuation of ''Mighty Morphin Power Rangers'', which aired in ...

'' *

Macey Brooks Barry Macey Brooks (born March 2, 1975) is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears. He was also a co-owner and wide receivers coach for the Kane County Dawgs o ...

– wide receiver for the

Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divisi ...

and

Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) North division. The Bears have won nine NF ...

Elton Brown Elton Gillett Brown (born May 22, 1982) is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons. He played college football for the University of Virginia, and was recognized ...

(b. 1982) – former professional football player for the Arizona Cardinals *

Ronald Curry Ronald Antonio Curry (born May 28, 1979) is an American football coach and former wide receiver who is the quarterbacks coach for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for the S ...

(b. 1979) – professional football player for the

Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team that played in Oakland from its founding in 1960 to 1981 and again from 1995 to 2019 before relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan area where they now play as the Las Vegas Raide ...

DRAM Dynamic random-access memory (dynamic RAM or DRAM) is a type of random-access semiconductor memory that stores each bit of data in a memory cell, usually consisting of a tiny capacitor and a transistor, both typically based on metal-oxid ...

(b. 1988) – musician *

Steve Earle Stephen Fain Earle (; born January 17, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, author, and actor. Earle began his career as a songwriter in Nashville and released his first EP in 1982. Initially working in the country music g ...

(b. 1955) – popular country-rock musician and songwriter * Chris Ellis – practice team member for the

La'Keshia Frett La'Keshia Frett (born June 12, 1975) is a former collegiate and professional basketball player. She is currently an assistant coach for the women's basketball team at Auburn University. High school Born in Carmel, California, Frett attended Phoeb ...

– professional basketball player and coach *

Shaun Gayle Shaun Lanard Gayle (born March 8, 1962) is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League (NFL). He played twelve seasons, eleven for the Chicago Bears (1984–1994), and one for the San Diego Chargers (1995). He was a m ...

(b. 1962) – professional football player with the

San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team that played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating to Los Angeles, where the franchise had played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now ...

Chris Hanburger Christian G. Hanburger, Jr. (born August 13, 1941) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played his entire 14-year career with the Washington Redskins, from 1965 through 1978, and was elected to t ...

(b. 1941) – popular

player in the 1970s *

Dwight Hollier Dwight Hollier (born April 21, 1969) is a former American football linebacker who played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) with the Miami Dolphins and the Indianapolis Colts. He was drafted by Miami in the fourth round of the 1 ...

(b. 1969) – professional football player with the

and the

Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Since the 2008 ...

* Mike Husted (b. 1970) – former kicker for the

Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South divisio ...

, and

Weldon Irvine Weldon Jonathan Irvine Jr. (October 27, 1943 – April 9, 2002), also known as Master Wel, was an American composer, playwright, poet, pianist, organist, and keyboardist. Biography Irvine, an African American, was born in Hampton, Virginia, on ...

(1943–2002) – musician *

Allen Iverson Allen Ezail Iverson (; born June 7, 1975) is an American former professional basketball player. Nicknamed "the Answer", he played 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) at both the shooting guard and point guard positions. Iver ...

(b. 1975) – former professional basketball player *

John P. Jumper John Phillip Jumper (born February 4, 1945) is a retired United States Air Force general, who served as 17th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force from September 6, 2001 to September 2, 2005. He retired from the Air Force on November ...

(b. 1945) – former Chief of Staff of the US Air Force *

Jerod Mayo Jerod Mayo Sr. (born February 23, 1986) is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the inside linebackers coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Mayo played college football for the University ...

(b. 1986) – professional football player with the

drafted 10th overall in 2008 *

Francena McCorory Francena Lynette McCorory (born October 20, 1988) is a retired American track and field athlete, known primarily for running the 400 meters. She was the 2011 World bronze medalist in the 400 meters and was a member of the gold medal-winning 201 ...

(b. 1988) – member of 2012 gold medal Olympic women's 4x400 team *

Dwight Stephenson Dwight Eugene Stephenson (born November 20, 1957) is an American former professional football player who was a center for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL) from 1980 to 1987. He played college football for the Alabama Crim ...

(b. 1957) – professional football player for the

and member of the

Pro Football Hall of Fame The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, , the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of professional football, including players, coach ...

Tyrod Taylor Tyrod Diallo Taylor (born August 3, 1989) is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Virginia Tech, leading the Hokies to the 2009 Orange Bowl as a Sophomore ...

(b.1989) – NFL quarterback for the

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...

Dwight White Dwight Lynn White (July 30, 1949 – June 6, 2008) was an American football defensive end who played for ten seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL) and was a member of the famed Steel Curtain defense. Life an ...

(1949–2008) – defensive end on the

during their 1970s glory years *

Jimmy F. Williams James Franklin Williams, Jr. (born March 8, 1984) is a former American football cornerback who previously played for the Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Virginia Tech, ...

(b. 1984) – professional football player with the

* Steve Wilson – jazz musician, alto and soprano saxophones, flute; composer *

Antwoine Womack Antwoine Womack (born March 20, 1978) is an American football running back. He played college football at Virginia. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL draft by the New England Patriots. Early life and education Womack's football ...

– drafted by

in 2002 * Roy "Future Man" Wooten (b. 1957) – musician

Newport News

* Willie Armstead (b. 1952) – former professional football player in the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...

Keith Atherton Keith Rowe Atherton (born February 19, 1959), is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily in relief, from –. Atherton played for the Oakland Athletics (–), Minnesota Twins (–), ...

(b. 1959) - former pitcher for the

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...

and the

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The te ...

. *

Pearl Bailey Pearl Mae Bailey (March 29, 1918 – August 17, 1990) was an American actress, singer and author. After appearing in vaudeville, she made her Broadway debut in '' St. Louis Woman'' in 1946. She received a Special Tony Award for the title role i ...

(1918–1990) – Tony Award-winning actress and singer * Antoine Bethea (b. 1984) – professional football

strong safety Safety is a position in gridiron football on the defense. The safeties are defensive backs who line up ten to fifteen yards from the line of scrimmage. There are two variations of the position: the free safety and the strong safety. Their dut ...

for the

Larry Bethea Larry Bethea (July 21, 1956 – April 24, 1987) was an American football defensive lineman in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He also was a member of the Michigan Panthers, Oakland Invaders and Houston Gamblers of the United ...

(1956–1987) – late professional football player for the

Darryl Blackstock Darryl Tyger Blackstock (born May 30, 1983) is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia. He also played for the Cincinnati Be ...

(b. 1983) – professional football player for the

Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The c ...

* Blind Blake (1896–1934) – blues and ragtime musician (not officially confirmed he was born in Newport News) * John Ian Bobbitt (b. 1984) - Photorealistic Artist with contributions to Film, Music, Custom Automotive Art, and Tattoo Culture * Percy “Bud” Bobbitt (1927-2019) - Aeronautical Engineer & Admin. for

NACA The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) was a United States federal agency founded on March 3, 1915, to undertake, promote, and institutionalize aeronautical research. On October 1, 1958, the agency was dissolved and its assets ...

and

NASA The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research. NASA was established in 1958, succeeding t ...

; primary contributor to the development of

supersonic flight A supersonic aircraft is an aircraft capable of supersonic flight, that is, flying faster than the speed of sound (Mach number 1). Supersonic aircraft were developed in the second half of the twentieth century. Supersonic aircraft have been us ...

* Aaron Brooks (b. 1976) – former professional football

quarterback The quarterback (commonly abbreviated "QB"), colloquially known as the "signal caller", is a position in gridiron football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive platoon and mostly line up directly behind the offensive line. In modern Ame ...

for the

; land developer *

Joyce Bulifant Joyce Collins Bulifant (born December 16, 1937) is an American actress and author. In addition to recurring roles on television, including ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' as Marie Slaughter, Bulifant is recognized for film roles in ''The Happiest ...

(b. 1937) – television actress *

Robert Cray Robert William Cray (born August 1, 1953) is an American blues guitarist and singer. He has led his own band and won five Grammy Awards. Early life Robert Cray was born on August 1, 1953, in Columbus, Georgia, while his father was stationed at ...

(b. 1953) –

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afr ...

guitarist *

Will Crutchfield Will Crutchfield (born 1957) is an American conductor, musicologist, and vocal coach. He is the founding Artistic and General Director of Teatro Nuovo, a company that presented its inaugural season in the summer of 2018 at State University of Ne ...

(b. 1957) – opera conductor *

Scott Darling Scott Darling (born December 22, 1988) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes. Darling was selected by the Phoenix C ...

(b. 1988) – professional ice hockey goaltender for the

Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes (colloquially known as the Canes) are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, ...

* Ben Edwards (b. 1992) – American football player * Frankie Faison (b. 1949) – film actor *

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...

(1917–1996) –

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

singer *

The Five Keys The Five Keys were an American rhythm and blues vocal group who were instrumental in shaping this genre in the 1950s. They were formed with the original name of Sentimental Four in Newport News, Virginia, US, in the late 1940s, and initially consi ...

– popular soul and doo-wop act in the 1950s; featuring Newport News locals Ripley Ingram, Bernie West, Dickie Threat and Rudy West *

Johnny Gilbert John Lewis Gilbert III (born July 13, 1928) is an American show business personality who has worked mainly on television game shows. Originally a nightclub singer and entertainer, he has hosted and announced a number of game shows from various e ...

(b. 1924) – announcer for the television quiz show ''

Jeopardy! ''Jeopardy!'' is an American game show created by Merv Griffin. The show is a quiz competition that reverses the traditional question-and-answer format of many quiz shows. Rather than being given questions, contestants are instead given genera ...

'' *

Marques Hagans Marques Hagans (born December 29, 1982) is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia. Hagans was also a member of the Kansas C ...

(b. 1982) – NFL player *

Henry Jordan Henry Wendell Jordan (January 26, 1935 – February 21, 1977) was an American football defensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers during his 13-year National Football League (NFL) career. He played in the NFL from 1957 to 1 ...

(1935–1977) – former professional football player for the

Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. It ...

; member of the

* Richard Kelly (b. 1975) – film director and writer; films include '' Donnie Darko'' and '' Domino'' *

Leroy Keyes Marvin Leroy Keyes (February 18, 1947 – April 15, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a running back and safety for five seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chie ...

(1947–2021) – professional football

running back A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive American football plays#Offensive terminology, handoffs from the quarterback to Rush (American football)#Offen ...

for the

Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team plays ...

J. J. Lankes Julius John Lankes (1884–1960) was an illustrator, a woodcut print artist, author, and college professor. Early life and education Lankes was born on August 31, 1884 in Buffalo, New York to parents of German heritage. His father worked in a l ...

(1884–1960) –

woodcut Woodcut is a relief printing technique in printmaking. An artist carves an image into the surface of a block of wood—typically with gouges—leaving the printing parts level with the surface while removing the non-printing parts. Areas that ...

artist, lived for many years in the

Hilton Village Hilton Village is a planned English-village-style neighborhood in Newport News, Virginia. Recognized as a pioneering development in urban planning, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The neighborhood was built between 1918 ...

neighborhood *

Kwamie Lassiter Kwamie Lassiter (December 3, 1969 – January 6, 2019) was an American football Safety (American football position), safety. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 1995. He played college football at Kansas Jayhawks ...

(b. 1969) – former football

safety Safety is the state of being "safe", the condition of being protected from harm or other danger. Safety can also refer to risk management, the control of recognized hazards in order to achieve an acceptable level of risk. Meanings There are ...

for the

Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division, and play t ...

David Macklin David Thurman Macklin (born July 14, 1978) is a former American football cornerback. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Penn State. Macklin has also been a member o ...

(b. 1978) – professional football player for the

* Michael Maguire (b. 1955) –

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cer ...

-winning actor *

Queen Esther Marrow Queen Esther Marrow (born February 12, 1941) is an American soul and gospel singer. Biography Queen Esther Marrow was born in Newport News, Virginia. She began her career at the age of 22, when her vocal gifts were discovered by Duke Ellington a ...

(b. 1941) – soul and gospel singer *

Masego (musician) Micah Davis (born June 8, 1993), known professionally as Masego (), is a Jamaican-American musician and singer known for incorporating the saxophone into his music. Masego released two EPs in 2016, ''The Pink Polo EP'' with Medasin, and ''Loose ...

(b. 1993) – R&B and traphouse jazz artist * Lightfoot Solomon Michaux (1885–1969) – evangelist, early radio and television pioneer *

J. Clyde Morris James Clyde Morris (July 4, 1909 – September 21, 1987) was an American civic leader in the Hampton Roads region of southeastern Virginia. His career spanned 32 years of public service. Morris served as the only city manager of the short-live ...

(1909-1987) – first executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel; former city manager of the

City of Warwick The City of Warwick was a local government area administering the regional centre of Warwick in the Darling Downs region of Queensland. The City covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1861 until 1994, when it was dis ...

Hazel R. O'Leary Hazel Reid O'Leary (born May 17, 1937) is an American lawyer, politician and university administrator who served as the 7th United States secretary of energy from 1993 to 1997. A member of the Democratic Party, O'Leary was the first woman and fi ...

(b. 1937) – former

Secretary of Energy The United States secretary of energy is the head of the United States Department of Energy, a member of the Cabinet of the United States, and fifteenth in the presidential line of succession. The position was created on October 1, 1977, when Pr ...

under President

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...

and President of

Fisk University Fisk University is a private historically black liberal arts college in Nashville, Tennessee. It was founded in 1866 and its campus is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1930, Fisk was the first Africa ...

Tommy Reamon Tommy Reamon (born March 12, 1952) is a retired African-American professional football player, who has worked as an actor, and is currently an educator in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. As a high school football coach, Reamon has had som ...

(b. 1952) – former pro football player and coach *

Austin Roberts Austin Roberts may refer to: * Austin Roberts (American football) (born 1995), American football tight end *Austin Roberts (singer) (born 1945), American singer and songwriter *Austin Roberts (zoologist) Austin Roberts (3 January 1883 – 5 May ...

(b. 1945) – singer and songwriter *

Norm Snead Norman Bailey Snead (born July 31, 1939) is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. He played coll ...

(b. 1939) – former professional football quarterback for the

Sonja Sohn Sonja Denise Plack (' Williams; born May 9, 1964), known professionally as Sonja Sohn, is an American actress, activist and filmmaker, best known for portraying Baltimore detective Kima Greggs in the HBO drama ''The Wire'' (2002–2008). She is ...

(b. 1964) – actress, ''The Wire'', ''Body of Proof'' *

Jon St. John Jon St. John (born December 19, 1960) is an American voice actor, former radio personality and ordained minister. He is best known for his voice roles such as Duke Nukem in the ''Duke Nukem'' video game series and Big the Cat and E-123 Omega i ...

(b. 1960) – voice actor and singer, best known as the voice of

Duke Nukem ''Duke Nukem'' is a video game series named for its main character, Duke Nukem. Created by the company Apogee Software Ltd. (now 3D Realms) as a series of video games for personal computers, the series expanded to games released for various co ...

William Styron William Clark Styron Jr. (June 11, 1925 – November 1, 2006) was an American novelist and essayist who won major literary awards for his work. Styron was best known for his novels, including: * '' Lie Down in Darkness'' (1951), his acclaimed fi ...

(1925–2006) – author of ''

The Confessions of Nat Turner ''The Confessions of Nat Turner'' is a 1967 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by American writer William Styron. Presented as a first-person narrative by historical figure Nat Turner, the novel concerns Nat Turner's slave rebellion in Virginia in 18 ...

'' and ''

Sophie's Choice ''Sophie's Choice'' may refer to: * ''Sophie's Choice'' (novel), a 1979 novel by American author William Styron ** ''Sophie's Choice'' (film), a 1982 American drama film directed by Alan J. Pakula ** ''Sophie's Choice'' (opera), an opera by the ...

'' * Nick "The Goat" Thompson (b. 1981) – professional mixed martial arts fighter; Bodog Fight Welterweight Champion *

Mike Tomlin Michael Pettaway Tomlin (born March 15, 1972) is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Since joining the Steelers in 2007, he has led the team to ten playoff runs, se ...

(b. 1972) – head coach of the

Al Toon Albert Lee Toon Jr. (born April 30, 1963) is a former professional American football wide receiver who played for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons. A two-time First-team All-Big Ten pick at the Univers ...

(b. 1963) – former professional football player for the

New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The J ...

Marcus Vick Marcus Deon Vick (born March 20, 1984) is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at Virginia Tech, following the career path of his older brother Michael. However, several legal infractions and unsportsmanlike play le ...

(b. 1984) – former NFL player, quarterback for

Virginia Tech Virginia Tech (formally the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and informally VT, or VPI) is a Public university, public Land-grant college, land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. It also ...

Michael Vick Michael Dwayne Vick (born June 26, 1980) is a former American football quarterback. Regarded as having transformed the quarterback position with his rushing abilities, he is the NFL leader in quarterback rushing yards and was the league's firs ...

(b. 1980) – NFL quarterback,

Victor Wooten Victor Lemonte Wooten (born September 11, 1964) is an American bassist, songwriter, and record producer. He has been the bassist for Béla Fleck and the Flecktones since the group's formation in 1988 and a member of the band SMV with two other ...

(b. 1964) – musician

Norfolk

* Adam Anderson – driver of the Taz and

Grave Digger A gravedigger is a cemetery worker who is responsible for digging a grave prior to a funeral service. Description If the grave is in a cemetery on the property of a church or other religious organization (part of, or called, a churchyard), ...

Monster Trucks, and son of Monster Truck driver * Dennis Anderson – driver of the

Monster Truck in the

Monster Jam Monster Jam is a live motorsport event tour operated by Feld Entertainment. The series began in 1992, and is sanctioned under the umbrella of the United States Hot Rod Association. Events are primarily held in North America, with some additional ...

series *

Mason Andrews Mason Cooke Andrews (April 19, 1919, in Norfolk, Virginia – October 13, 2006, in Norfolk, Virginia) was a Virginia politician and physician, known for delivering America's first in vitro baby. A president of the American Gynecological ...

(1919–2006) – physician who delivered America's first in vitro baby; visionary leader of Norfolk's late 20th century renaissance * Anhayla (b. 1988) – singer-songwriter *

Gordon Banks Gordon Banks (30 December 1937 – 12 February 2019) was an English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, he made 679 appearances during a 20-year professional caree ...

(b. 1955) – guitarist and music director for

Marvin Gaye Marvin Pentz Gay Jr., who also spelled his surname as Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984), was an American singer and songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo ar ...

* Al Barks (b. 1936) –

Negro league baseball The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams of African Americans and, to a lesser extent, Latin Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be ...

player * Benny Blanco (b. 1988) – record producer, DJ, songwriter, and record executive * Gary "U.S." Bonds (b. 1939) – singer-songwriter *

Plaxico Burress Plaxico Antonio Burress (born August 12, 1977) is a former American football wide receiver who played 12 seasons in the National Football League. He played college football at Michigan State, and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers eighth ove ...

(b. 1977) – professional football wide receiver for the

William Harvey Carney William Harvey Carney (February 29, 1840 – December 9, 1908) was an American soldier during the American Civil War. Born enslaved, he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1900 for his gallantry in saving the regimental colors during the Battle of F ...

(1840–1908) – African-American soldier of the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

;

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

recipient for his part in the

54th Massachusetts Infantry The 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment that saw extensive service in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit was the second African-American regiment, following the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry ...

's assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina *

Kam Chancellor Kameron Darnel Chancellor (born April 3, 1988), nicknamed "Bam Bam", is an American former football strong safety who played for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Virginia Tech prior t ...

(b. 1988) – professional football safety for the

Clarence Clemons Clarence Anicholas Clemons Jr. (January 11, 1942 – June 18, 2011), also known as The Big Man, was an American musician and actor. From 1972 until his death in 2011, he was the saxophonist for The E Street Band. Clemons released several s ...

– saxophonist for

Bruce Springsteen Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen (born September 23, 1949) is an American singer and songwriter. He has released 21 studio albums, most of which feature his backing band, the E Street Band. Originally from the Jersey Shore, he is an originat ...

's E Street Band *

Alex Cosmidis Alexander Nicholas Cosmidis (September 22, 1928 – June 26, 2019) was an American professional baseball player, manager, and scout. He spent 11 seasons as an infielder and eight seasons as a manager, all in Minor League Baseball. He later served ...

– Minor League baseball player and manager and Major League scout * William Couper (1853–1942) – sculptor * Colgate Whitehead Darden, Jr. (1897–1981) –

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

;

Governor of Virginia The governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia serves as the head of government of Virginia for a four-year term. The incumbent, Glenn Youngkin, was sworn in on January 15, 2022. Oath of office On inauguration day, the Governor-elect takes th ...

;

Chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...

of the

College of William and Mary The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William III a ...

; third President of the

University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a Public university#United States, public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United S ...

Mike D'Orso Mike D'Orso (born October 12, 1953) is an American author and journalist based in Norfolk, Virginia. He wrote ''Like Judgment Day: The Ruin and Redemption of a Town Called Rosewood'' (1996), ''Plundering Paradise: The Hand of Man on the Galapag ...

(b. 1953) – author, journalist * Charles "Lefty" Driesell (b. 1931) – basketball coach at

Davidson College Davidson College is a private liberal arts college in Davidson, North Carolina. It was established in 1837 by the Concord Presbytery and named after Revolutionary War general William Lee Davidson, who was killed at the nearby Battle of Cowan� ...

, the

University of Maryland, College Park The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland. Founded in 1856, UMD is the flagship institution of the University System of Mary ...

James Madison University James Madison University (JMU, Madison, or James Madison) is a public research university in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the institution was renamed Madison Coll ...

, and

Georgia State University Georgia State University (Georgia State, State, or GSU) is a Public university, public research university in Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 1913, it is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities. It is also the ...

Rob Estes Robert Estes (born July 22, 1963) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Harry Wilson on the teen drama series '' 90210'', as Sgt. Chris Lorenzo on the crime drama series '' Silk Stalkings'', and as Kyle McBride on the primetime soap ...

(b. 1963) – actor * Samuel Face (1923–2001) – inventor *

Ryan Farish Ryan Farish is an American artist, composer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentist. Hailing from Norfolk, Virginia, and based in Los Angeles, California, Ryan is known for his downtempo electronica, chillout, and uplifting dance music. His ...

(b. 1974) – music composer, artist, publisher, and record executive of Rytone Entertainment *

Florian-Ayala Fauna Florian-Ayala Fauna is an American artist, musician, poet, and music producer. Fauna is the main member of the post-industrial music project uncertain. Personal life Florian-Ayala Fauna was born in Norfolk, Virginia. At age 5, Fauna moved to ...

– artist musician *

Hank Foiles Henry Lee Foiles Jr. (born June 10, 1929) is an Americans, American former professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball between and . He had an eleven-year career for seven different teams in Major League Basebal ...

, from Norfolk, Major league All-Star in 1957; played for seven teams; finished his career in 1964 with the expansion Los Angeles Angels * William Fuller (b. 1962) – professional football

defensive end Defensive end (DE) is a defensive position in the sport of gridiron football. This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formation (American football), formations over the years have substantially ...

for the

Houston Oilers The Houston Oilers were a professional American football team that played in Houston from its founding in 1960 to 1996 before relocating to Memphis, and later Nashville, Tennessee becoming the Tennessee Titans. The Oilers began play in 1960 as ...

and

Stephen Furst Stephen Furst (born Stephen Nelson Feuerstein; May 8, 1954 – June 16, 2017) was an American actor, director and producer. After gaining attention with his featured role as Kent "Flounder" Dorfman in the comedy film ''National Lampoon's An ...

(1954–2017) – television actor *

Grant Gustin Thomas Grant Gustin (born January 14, 1990) is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his roles as Barry Allen (Arrowverse), Barry Allen / The Flash on The CW series ''The Flash (2014 TV series), The Flash'' as part of the Arrowver ...

(b. 1990) – television actor *

Henry Howell Henry Evans Howell, Jr. (September 5, 1920 – July 7, 1997), nicknamed "Howlin' Henry" Howell, was an American lawyer and politician from the Commonwealth of Virginia. A progressive populist and a member of the Democratic Party, he served in ...

(1920–97) –

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

Lieutenant Governor of Virginia The lieutenant governor of Virginia is a constitutional officer of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The lieutenant governor is elected every four years along with the governor and attorney general. The office is currently held by Winsome Earle S ...

* Lawrence "LoJo" Johnson (b. 1974) – Olympic pole vaulter, silver medalist in 2000 *

General Norman Johnson General Norman Johnson (May 23, 1941 – October 13, 2010) was an American R&B singer, frontman of the Chairmen of the Board, songwriter, and record producer. Biography Johnson made an early start in music when he began singing in his church ...

(b. 1943) – R&B musician *

Kishi Bashi Kaoru Ishibashi (born November 4, 1975), who performs as Kishi Bashi, is an American singer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter currently based in Athens, Georgia. He was a founding member of Jupiter One and, for a few years, was a member of t ...

(b. 1975) –

indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the mu ...

violinist; solo musician; tour member of Of Montreal and

Regina Spektor Regina Ilyinichna Spektor (russian: Регинa Ильинична Спектор, ; born February 18, 1980) is a Russian–born American singer, songwriter, and pianist. After self-releasing her first three records and gaining popularity in ...

* Naomi Long Madgett (b. 1923) – poet *

Mae Mae is an American rock band that formed in Norfolk, Virginia in 2001. The band's name is an acronym for "Multi-sensory Aesthetic Experience", based on a course taken by drummer Jacob Marshall while a student at Old Dominion University. Histor ...

–

band * Thomas W. Moss, Jr. (b. 1928) – Democratic Speaker of the

Virginia House of Delegates The Virginia House of Delegates is one of the two parts of the Virginia General Assembly, the other being the Senate of Virginia. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-numbe ...

, 1992–2000 *

Wayne Newton Carson Wayne Newton (born April 3, 1942) is an American singer and actor. One of the most popular singers in the nation from the mid-to-late 20th-century, Newton remains one of the best-known entertainers in Las Vegas. He is known by the nicknam ...

(b. 1942) – aka "Mr. Las Vegas"; singer and songwriter *

Tim Reid Timothy Lee Reid (born December 19, 1944) is an American actor, comedian and film director best known for his roles in prime time American television programs, such as Venus Flytrap on ''WKRP in Cincinnati'' (1978–82), Marcel "Downtown" Brown ...

(b. 1944) – television actor, director, and film executive *

Jodi Rell Mary Carolyn "Jodi" Rell (née Reavis; born June 16, 1946) is an American former Republican politician and the 87th governor of Connecticut from 2004 until 2011. Rell also served as the state's 105th lieutenant governor of Connecticut. Rell was C ...

(b. 1946) –

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

Governor of Connecticut The governor of Connecticut is the head of government of Connecticut, and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Connecticu ...

, 2004–2011 *

Joseph Jenkins Roberts Joseph Jenkins Roberts (March 15, 1809 – February 24, 1876) was an African-American merchant who emigrated to Liberia in 1829, where he became a politician. Elected as the first (1848–1856) and seventh (1872–1876) president of Lib ...

(1809–1876) – first

President of Liberia The president of the Republic of Liberia is the head of state and government of Liberia. The president serves as the leader of the executive branch and as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia. Prior to the independence of Liberia ...

* Dave Robertson (1889–1970) – from Norfolk, two-time National League home run leader; hit .500 in 1917 World Series. He hit .287 over nine seasons with the Giants, Cubs and Pirates. A product of Norfolk Academy, he played four sports at Wake Forest and N.C. State and managed the minor league Norfolk Tars for several years in the 1920s. *

Larry Sabato Larry Joseph Sabato (; born August 7, 1952) is an American political scientist and political analyst. He is the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, where he is also the founder and director of the Center for Po ...

(b. 1952) – political pundit and professor at the

* Ed Schultz (1954–2018) –

pundit A pundit is a person who offers mass media opinion or commentary on a particular subject area (most typically politics, the social sciences, technology or sport). Origins The term originates from the Sanskrit term ('' '' ), meaning "knowledg ...

and TV personality for

MSNBC MSNBC (originally the Microsoft National Broadcasting Company) is an American news-based pay television cable channel. It is owned by NBCUniversala subsidiary of Comcast. Headquartered in New York City, it provides news coverage and political ...

Deborah Shelton Deborah Dale Shelton (born November 21, 1948) is an American actress, beauty queen, and songwriter who was Miss USA and appeared on ''Dallas'' for three seasons and a special guest return in 2013. Pageants In 1970, Shelton competed in the Miss V ...

(b. 1948) – actress;

Miss USA Miss USA is an American beauty pageant that has been held annually since 1952 to select the entrant from United States in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operated both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA, until 2020, ...

1970, first runner-up in

Miss Universe Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by a United States and Thailand based Miss Universe Organization.Natalie Tadena (July 2, 2015"Donald Trump's Miss USA Pageant Lands on Reelz Cable Channel". ''The Wall Stre ...

contest *

John Wesley Shipp John Wesley Shipp (born January 22, 1955) is an American actor known for his various television roles. He played the lead Barry Allen on CBS's superhero series ''The Flash'' from 1990 to 1991, and Mitch Leery, the title character's father, on ...

(b. 1956) – television actor * Bruce Smith (b. 1963) – Pro Football Hall of Fame player for the

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. ...

and

* Joe Smith (b. 1975) – professional basketball player for the

Philadelphia 76ers The Philadelphia 76ers, colloquially known as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eas ...

Keely Smith Dorothy Jacqueline Keely (March 9, 1928The reference work ''The Encyclopedia of Native Music: More Than a Century of Recordings from Wax Cylinder to the Internet'' gives Smith's date of birth as March 9, 1932. – December 16, 2017), profession ...

(b. 1932) – nightclub singer, wife and stage partner of

Louis Prima Louis Leo Prima (December 7, 1910 – August 24, 1978) was an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and trumpeter. While rooted in New Orleans jazz, swing music, and jump blues, Prima touched on various genres throughout his career: he forme ...

Margaret Sullavan Margaret Brooke Sullavan (May 16, 1909 – January 1, 1960) was an American stage and film actress. Sullavan began her career onstage in 1929 with the University Players. In 1933, she caught the attention of film director John M. Stahl and had ...

(1909–1960) – actress and wife of

Leland Hayward Leland Hayward (September 13, 1902 – March 18, 1971) was a Hollywood and Broadway agent and theatrical producer. He produced the original Broadway stage productions of Rodgers and Hammerstein's '' South Pacific'' and ''The Sound of Music''. ...

Chuck Swirsky Chuck Swirsky (born January 30, 1954) is an American–Canadian radio sports announcer. He is the play-by-play voice of the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Swirsky's association with Chicago sports started in 1979 with ...

– Chicago Bulls radio play-by-play announcer, previously with

Toronto Raptors The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto. The Raptors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. They play their home games a ...

Littleton Waller Tazewell Littleton Waller Tazewell (December 17, 1774May 6, 1860) was a Virginia lawyer, plantation owner and politician who served as U.S. Representative, United States Senate, U.S. Senator and the List of Governors of Virginia, 26th Governor of Virginia ...

(1774–1860) –

U.S. Senator The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

and

Antoine Thompson Antoine Maurice Thompson (born March 1, 1970) is an American politician from Buffalo, New York. A Democrat, Thompson represented the 60th District in the New York State Senate from 2007 to 2011. Thompson previously served as the Masten Distr ...

– cornerback with the

St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams were a professional American football team of the National Football League (NFL). They played in St. Louis from 1995 to the 2015 season, before moving back to Los Angeles, where the team had played from 1946 to 1994. The arri ...

Scott Travis Mark Scott Travis (born September 6, 1961) is an American metal musician, best known as the drummer for the English heavy metal band Judas Priest, the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy and the supergroup Elegant Weapons. He was also a longtime member ...

(b. 1961) – drummer for rock band

Judas Priest Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in Birmingham in 1969. They have sold over 50 million albums and are frequently ranked as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Despite an innovative and pioneering body of work in th ...

John Paul Vann John Paul Vann (born John Paul Tripp; July 2, 1924 – June 9, 1972) was a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army, later retired, who became well known for his role in the Vietnam War. Although separated from the military before the Vietnam ...

(1924–1972) – U.S. soldier and civilian active in Vietnam *

Marc Vann Marc Vann (born August 23, 1954) is an American actor. He is known for his role as Conrad Ecklie in the CBS television series ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation''. He also had notable roles in ''Angel'' and ''Early Edition''. Vann was born in Nor ...

(b. 1954) – actor *

Brandon Vera Brandon Michael Vera (born October 10, 1977), or also known by his ring name as The Truth, is a Filipino-American (of Italian heritage) retired mixed martial artist where he was the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Champion and the 2005 WEC Heavyweigh ...

(b. 1977) – mixed martial artist, currently signed to

UFC The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

Gene Vincent Vincent Eugene Craddock (February 11, 1935 – October 12, 1971), known as Gene Vincent, was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rockabilly and rock and roll. His 1956 top ten hit with his backing band the Blue Caps, " Be-Bop-a-Lula ...

(1935–1971) – rock-a-billy artist recorded the hit " Be-Bop-a-Lula" * Ben Watson (b. 1980) – football player for the

Ernie Watts Ernest James Watts (born October 23, 1945) is an American jazz and rhythm and blues saxophonist who plays soprano, alto, and tenor saxophone. He has worked with Charlie Haden's Quartet West and toured with the Rolling Stones. On Frank Zappa's ...

(b. 1945) – composer,

saxophonist, and long-time touring member of The Rolling Stones *Joe Weatherly (1922–1964) – NASCAR driver *Pernell Whitaker, Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker (b. 1964) – Boxing, boxer; Boxing at the 1984 Summer Olympics, 1984 Olympic gold medalist, professional champion in four weight classes * Thomas Wilkins (conductor), Thomas Wilkins (b. 1954) – orchestra conductor, music director of the Omaha Symphony Orchestra *Patrick Wilson (American actor), Patrick Wilson (b. 1973) – actor *

(b. 1982) – professional baseball player for the

David Wright: Bio & Stats
" ''

.'' Retrieved on March 15, 2007.

Portsmouth

*V. C. Andrews (1923–1986) – mystery and horror writer *Marty Brennaman (b. 1942) – sportscaster for the Cincinnati Reds *Karen Briggs (musician), Karen Briggs (b. 1963) – violinist *Ruth Brown (1928–2006) – Grammy Award-winning singer and entertainer *Bebe Buell (b. 1953) – fashion model, famous groupie and mother of Liv Tyler *Mahlon Clark (1923–2007) – musician *LaTasha Colander (b. 1976) – track and field sprint star, 2000 Olympics, 2000 Olympic gold medalist (4 × 400 m) *Jamin Elliott (b. 1979) – former NFL wide receiver for the Chicago Bears, New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons *Missy Elliott (b. 1971) – rapper *Perry Ellis (1940–1986) – fashion designer *John Facenda (1913–1984) – WCAU news anchor from 1948 to 1973; known as the "Voice of NFL Films" until his death in 1984 *Clifton C. Garvin (b. 1922) – President and CEO of Exxon *Chandler Harper (1914–2004) – golfer *Chad Hugo (b. 1974) – musician and producer in the Neptunes and N.E.R.D. *Ben L. Jones (b. 1941) – actor and politician *T. J. Jordan (b. 1986) – basketball player *LaShawn Merritt (b. 1986) – 2008 Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter *Shadow Morton, George "Shadow" Morton (b. 1944) – record producer and songwriter *Bismarck Myrick (b. 1940) – U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia, U.S. Ambassador to Lesotho *Tommy Newsom (1929–2007) – musician featured in Johnny Carson's ''The Tonight Show'' band with Doc Severinsen *Patton Oswalt (b. 1969) – comedian and television actor *Ace Parker (b. 1912) –

quarterback; also played baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics *William Russ (b. 1950) – actor *Bill Schneider (journalist), Bill Schneider (b. 1944) – political commentator for CNN *Dorian Finney-Smith – basketball player for the University of Florida and Dallas Mavericks *Dorin Spivey – NBA World and NABA Lightweight Boxing Champion *Wanda Sykes (b. 1964) – actress, comedian, and comedy writer *Bishop Ted Thomas, Sr., Ted Thomas, Sr. (b. 1935) – Pentecostalism, Pentecostal preacher and pastor of the New Community Temple Church of God in Christ; General board member of the Church of God in Christ, Church of God in Christ, Inc. Denomination (Christianity), denomination *Mike Watt (b. 1957) – musician, founding member and bassist of SST Records, SST hardcore punk band Minutemen (band), Minutemen; current bassist for recently reunited 60s band The Stooges *Nicole Wray (b. 1980) – rapper and protégé of Missy Elliott

Suffolk

* James Avery (actor), James Avery (1955–2013) – actor best known for his portrayal of the patriarch and attorney (later judge) "Philip Banks", in the TV sitcom ''The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'' *Johnnie Barnes (b. 1968) – graduate of Hampton University; former football player for the

and the

*Charlie Byrd (1925–1999) –

guitarist *Mills Edwin Godwin, Jr. (1914–1999) – two time

*Lex Luger (producer), Lex Luger (b. 1991) – hip-hop music producer; produced tracks on Rick Ross (rapper), Rick Ross's ''Teflon Don (album), Teflon Don'', Waka Flocka Flame's ''Flockaveli'', Slim Thug's ''Tha Thug Show'', and Kanye West and Jay-Z's ''Watch the Throne'' *Joe Maphis (1921–1986) – country music singer and songwriter *Terrence Warren (b. 1969) – former National Football League, NFL player and All-American sprinter at Hampton University

Virginia Beach

Gabby Douglas 2016 Summer Olympics Gold Medal

Pharrell Williams at The Lion King European Premiere 2019

* Corey Ashe (b. 1986), professional soccer player for the Houston Dynamo * Wade Barrett (soccer), Wade Barrett (b. 1976), professional soccer player for the Houston Dynamo * Felicia Barton, semi-finalist on ''American Idol (season 8), American Idol'' * Kharlton Belmar, professional soccer player for Portland Timbers 2 * Rudy Boesch, retired United States Navy SEALs, Navy SEAL and contestant on ''Survivor: Borneo, Survivor'' * Jamelle Bouie, journalist, ''New York Times'' columnist, and political analyst * Bill Bray, MLB player * Jon Busch, Hampton Roads Mariner; Major League Soccer * Curtis Bush, kickboxer * Darren Caskey, Hampton Roads Mariner; Tottenham Hotspur; Reading * Gabby Douglas, Olympic gymnastics gold medalist * D.J. Dozier, football / baseball from Virginia Beach; Penn State All-American, first-round NFL draft 14th pick by Minnesota Vikings who was also drafted by major league baseball by the Detroit Tigers in the 18th round in 1983 (459th overall) * Jason Dubois, MLB player * Genesis the Greykid, artist, creative, poet, writer * Percy Harvin, National Football League, NFL player * Michael Hearst, author, musician, and composer * Angela Hucles, sports executive and former professional soccer player * Daniel Hudson, MLB player * Jay Hoffman (soccer), Jay Hoffman, coached Hampton Roads Mariners; played professionally in the Canadian National Soccer League * Bubba Jenkins, NCAA Division I wrestling national champion and MMA fighter * Roy Lassiter, Hampton Roads Mariner; Major League Soccer; USA National Team * B. J. Leiderman, composer of themes for NPR shows * Marc Leishman, professional golfer * Darin Lewis, Hampton Roads Mariner; MLS New York MetroStars * EJ Manuel, NFL quarterback for the

* Evan Marriott, actor in ''Joe Millionaire'' * Bob McDonnell, former Governor of Virginia * Shane McFaul, Hampton Roads Mariner; Republic of Ireland U21 * Ryan McGinness, artist * Darryl Monroe, professional basketball player, 2016 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP * Shawn Morimando, MLB player * Guy Morgan (basketball), Guy Morgan, former NBA player * Lenda Murray, IFBB professional bodybuilder * Jamia Nash, singer, actress * Juice Newton, singer, songwriter * Derrick Nnadi, NFL defensive tackle * Pusha T, rapper * David Robinson, 10x All-star, NBA MVP, 2x NBA Champion, 2x Olympic Gold medalist, Member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, briefly grew up in Virginia Beach * Neil Ramírez, MLB player * J.R. Reid, NBA player * Mark Reynolds (baseball), Mark Reynolds, third baseman/first baseman for the Baltimore Orioles from Virginia Beach; drafted in 2004 by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 16th round (476th overall) * Pat Robertson, television preacher * Aaron Rouse, NFL Player * Mark Ruffalo, Oscar-nominated actor; raised in Virginia Beach * Todd Schnitt, radio personality * Herbert Scott – Kellam High School, Virginia Union University,

offensive lineman in NFL for 10 seasons, 3× Pro Bowl, 2× First-team All-Pro, winner of Super Bowl XII * Rhea Seehorn, actress known for role as Kim Wexler in ''Better Call Saul'' * Julie Shiflet, professional tennis player * Scott Sizemore, Major League Baseball, MLB player * Chris Taylor (baseball), Chris Taylor, Major League Baseball, MLB player * Ian Thomas (baseball), Ian Thomas, MLB player * Shamarko Thomas –

safety and 111th pick overall in the 2013 NFL Draft; starred at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach * Timbaland, music producer * Lil Tracy, rapper, singer and songwriter * Turnover (band), Turnover, indie rock band * Travis Wall, choreographer and contestant on ''So You Think You Can Dance'' * Elizabeth Williams (basketball), Elizabeth Williams, played college basketball at Duke University, WNBA player for Atlanta Dream * Matthew E. White, songwriter and producer * Matt Williams (left-handed pitcher), Matt Williams, MLB player * Pharrell Williams, rapper, singer, record producer, composer and fashion designer * Glenn Yates Jr., architect snd Virginia state legislator * Hunter Yeany, racing driver * Glenn Youngkin, elected governor of Virginia in 2021 * Ryan Zimmerman, Major League Baseball, MLB player

Williamsburg

*Jimmy Fortune (b. 1955) – vocalist with the Statler Brothers *Mel Gray (return specialist), Mel Gray (b. 1961) – professional football player and member of NFL all decade team of 1990s *Bruce Hornsby (b. 1954) – singer and songwriter *Linda Lavin (b. 1937) – actress *Seven Mary Three – alternative rock band *Canaan Smith (b. 1984) – country music artist *Ron Springs (b. 1956) – running back for the

and the

*Shawn Springs (b. 1975) – football player for the

*Lawrence Taylor (b. 1959) – former professional football player for the

; professional wrestler; member of the

*George Wythe (1726–1806) – first professor of law at The College of William & Mary, William and Mary; taught future presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe, and future Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Supreme Court John Marshall; signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, Declaration of Independence

York County

*Terry Kirby (b. 1970) – professional football player for the

and

*Wayne Kirby (b. 1964) – Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Indians *Thomas Nelson, Jr. (1738–1789) – signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, Declaration of Independence *Bryan Randall (b. 1983) – 2005 ACC Football Player of the Year *Chris Slade (football player), Chris Slade (b. 1971) – professional football player for the

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:people from Hampton Roads, Virginia Lists of people by city in the United States, Hampton Roads Lists of people from Virginia, Hampton Hampton Roads