This is a list of people who were born, were raised, or have lived in Houston, Texas.

Entertainment, arts, and media personalities

Jennifer Garner at the Fast Company Innovation Festival - 44972951114 (cropped)

Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top performing in San Antonio, Texas 2015

Patrick Swayze - 1990 Grammy Awards (cropped)

Mark Aguhar Mark Cagaanan Aguhar (May 16, 1987 – March 12, 2012) was an American activist, writer and multimedia fine artist known for her multidisciplinary work about gender, beauty and existing as a racial minority, while being body positive and transgende ...

, multidisciplinary fine artist * Debbie Allen, choreographer, actress * Lauren Anderson, ballet dancer *

Wes Anderson Wesley Wales Anderson (born May 1, 1969) is an American filmmaker. His films are known for their eccentricity and unique visual and narrative styles. They often contain themes of grief, loss of innocence, and dysfunctional families. Cited by ...

, film director *

Archie Bell and the Drells Archie Bell & the Drells was an American R&B vocal group from Houston, Texas, and one of the main acts on Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records. The band's hits include " Tighten Up", "I Can't Stop Dancing" (both 19 ...

, Soul/R&B music group *

Mark Ballas Mark Alexander Ballas Jr. (born May 24, 1986) is an American dancer, choreographer, singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. Ballas is a professional ballroom dancer on the ABC program ''Dancing with the Stars''. He began competing on the show ...

, ballroom dancer and choreographer from '' Dancing with the Stars'', actor, singer-songwriter and musician (member of duo Alexander Jean) *

Kirko Bangz Kirk Jerel Randle (born August 20, 1989), better known by his stage name Kirko Bangz, is an American rapper from Houston, Texas. He is best known for his single, " Drank in My Cup" which was released in 2011 and peaked at number 28 on the US ' ...

, rapper * Bun B, rapper, one half of the rap duo

UGK UGK (short for Underground Kingz) was an American hip hop duo from Port Arthur, Texas, formed in 1987, by Chad "Pimp C" Butler and Bernard "Bun B" Freeman. They released their first major-label album, ''Too Hard to Swallow'', in 1992, followe ...

(Underground Kingz), raised in Houston *

Donald Barthelme Donald Barthelme (April 7, 1931 – July 23, 1989) was an American short story writer and novelist known for his playful, postmodernist style of short fiction. Barthelme also worked as a newspaper reporter for the ''Houston Post'', was managing ...

, journalist *

Skye McCole Bartusiak Skye McCole Bartusiak (September 28, 1992 – July 19, 2014) was an American child actress and child model. She appeared in '' The Patriot'' (2000), ''Don't Say a Word'' (2001), as Rose Wilder in '' Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura In ...

, actress *

Baby Bash Ronald Ray Bryant (born October 18, 1969), better known by his stage name Baby Bash (formerly Baby Beesh), is an American rapper. From 1995 until 1998, as part of Dope House Records, after which he changed the last part of his stage name to "Bas ...

, rapper *

Texas Battle Texas Quency Battle (born August 9, 1980) is an American film and television actor, known for his role as Marcus Forrester on the CBS soap opera, ''The Bold and the Beautiful''. He also established Texas Battle Foundation in order to help unpriv ...

, actor * Frank Beard,

percussionist A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Ex ...

for

ZZ Top ZZ Top is an American rock band formed in 1969 in Houston, Texas. For 51 years, they comprised vocalist-guitarist Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard and vocalist-bassist Dusty Hill, until Hill's death in 2021. ZZ Top developed a signature sou ...

* Jeff Bennett, voice actor *

Melissa Benoist Melissa Marie Benoist ( ; born October 4, 1988) is an American actress, singer and producer. Her first major role was Marley Rose on the Fox musical comedy drama '' Glee'' (2012–2014), where she was a series regular during the fifth season. ...

, actress * Michael Berry, from

Orange Orange most often refers to: *Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' ** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower *Orange (colour), from the color of an orange, occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum * ...

, lawyer and radio talk show host * Beyoncé, singer, songwriter, and actress *

Clint Black Clint Patrick Black (born February 4, 1962) is an American country music singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. Signed to RCA Nashville in 1989, Black's debut album '' Killin' Time'' produced four straight number one singles on the ...

, musician *

Lisa Hartman Black Lisa Hartman Black is an American actress and singer. Career After some minor television appearances, Hartman starred on the short-lived ''Bewitched'' spin-off, ''Tabitha'' during 1977–78. She subsequently appeared frequently on television in ...

, singer and actress * B L A C K I E (born Michael LaCour), rapper *

Alexis Bledel Kimberly Alexis Bledel ( ; born September 16, 1981) is an American actress and model. She is known for her role as Rory Gilmore on the television series ''Gilmore Girls'' (2000–2007), and Emily Malek in ''The Handmaid's Tale'' (2017–2021). ...

, actress *

Maggie Blye Margaret Jane Blye (October 24, 1942 – March 24, 2016) was an American actress, also sometimes billed as Margaret Bly. She was best known for playing Michael Caine's girlfriend in ''The Italian Job'' (1969). Early years Her sister was casti ...

, actress *

Craig Bohmler Craig Bohmler (born April 7, 1956)Hansen, Niels-Henning."En tilgang til den klassiske Musik" NielsHenning.dk. p. 145. Retrieved August 12, 2019. is an American composer who specializes in opera and musical theater. His musicals include ''Gunmetal B ...

, composer *

Matt Bomer Matthew Staton Bomer (born October 11, 1977) is an American actor. He is the recipient of accolades such as a Golden Globe Award, a Critics' Choice Television Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. In 2000, he made his television debut o ...

, from

Spring Spring(s) may refer to: Common uses * Spring (season) Spring, also known as springtime, is one of the four temperate seasons, succeeding winter and preceding summer. There are various technical definitions of spring, but local usage of ...

, actor * Booker T (born Booker Huffman Jr.), wrestler *

Danielle Bradbery Danielle Simone Bradbery (born July 23, 1996) is an American country pop singer. She won season 4 of NBC's ''The Voice'' in 2013, becoming the youngest artist to win the competition at age 16. Bradbery's record has since been eclipsed by Sawyer ...

, from

Cypress, Texas Cypress is an unincorporated community in Harris County, Texas, United States, located completely inside the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Houston. The Cypress area is located along U.S. Highway 290 (Northwest Freeway) is twenty-f ...

, season 4 winner of ''

The Voice The Voice may refer to: Fictional entities * The Voice or Presence, a fictional representation of God in DC Comics * The Voice (''Dune''), a fictional ability in the ''Dune'' universe * The Voice, a character in the American TV series ''Cleo ...

'' *

Jonathan Breck Jonathan Raymond Breck (born February 17, 1965) is an American actor. Beginning his career as a stage actor, Breck is best known for his role as the Creeper in Victor Salva's horror film '' Jeepers Creepers''. He has also appeared in numerous ot ...

, actor, best known as The Creeper in '' Jeepers Creepers'' *

Berkeley Breathed Guy Berkeley "Berke" Breathed (; born June 21, 1957) is an American cartoonist, children's book author, director, and screenwriter, known for his comic strips ''Bloom County'', '' Outland'', and '' Opus''. ''Bloom County'' earned Breathed the Pu ...

, born in

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

, cartoonist *

Jean Brooks Jean Brooks (born Ruby Matilda Kelly; December 23, 1915November 25, 1963) was an American film actress and singer who appeared in over thirty films. Though she never achieved major stardom in Hollywood, she had several prominent roles in the ea ...

, actress *

Karamo Brown Karamo Karega Brown (born November 2, 1980) is an American television host, reality television personality, author, actor, and activist. Brown began his career in 2004 on the MTV reality show '' The Real World: Philadelphia'', becoming the first ...

, television personality and activist *

William Broyles Jr. William Dodson Broyles Jr.
Filmreference.com. Accessed November 28, 2022. (born October 8, 1944) is an A ...

, screenwriter *

Ingrid Burley Ingrid Burley (born December 19, 1986), known professionally as Ingrid (formerly IB3), is an American singer, rapper and songwriter. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Burley's mother was close to Tina Knowles and Mathew Knowles, who signed Burle ...

, rapper and songwriter *

Burnie Burns Michael Justin "Burnie" Burns (born January 18, 1973) is an American writer, actor, producer, comedian, host, and director previously based in Austin, Texas. He is a co-founder, former chief executive officer, and former chief creative offic ...

, filmmaker *

Johnny Bush John Bush Shinn III (February 17, 1935October 16, 2020) was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Nicknamed the "Country Caruso", Bush was best known for his distinctive voice and for writing the song "Whiskey River", a t ...

, country singer * William Butler, born in California; raised in The Woodlands; musician *

Win Butler Edwin Farnham Butler III (born April 14, 1980) is an American-Canadian singer, songwriter, musician, and multi-instrumentalist. He co-founded the Montreal-based indie rock band Arcade Fire with his wife Régine Chassagne. Early life Butler was ...

, born in California; raised in The Woodlands *

Peter Cambor Peter Cambor (born September 28, 1978) is an American actor, writer, and producer. He is best known for his portrayal of Barry on ''Grace and Frankie'' and operational psychologist Nate Getz on the CBS show '' NCIS: Los Angeles''. Cambor appear ...

, actor *

Chandler Canterbury Chandler Canterbury (born December 15, 1998) is an American former child actor. Life and career Canterbury was born in Houston, Texas, the son of Kristine and Russell Canterbury. He has an older brother, Colby, who is also an actor, and a younge ...

, actor *

Jonathan Caouette Jonathan Caouette (born November 26, 1972) is an American film director, writer, editor and actor. Film career Caouette is the director and editor of '' Tarnation'' (2003), an autobiographical documentary, that premiered at the Sundance and Ca ...

, filmmaker * Chamillionaire (born Hakeem Seriki), rapper *

Machine Gun Kelly (musician) Colson Baker (born April 22, 1990), known professionally as Machine Gun Kelly (MGK), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. He is noted for his genre duality across alternative rock with hip hop. Machine Gun Kelly released f ...

, Singer, Rapper, and actor born in Houston, Texas *

Lois Chiles Lois Cleveland Chiles (born April 15, 1947)Profile
entertainment.msn.com; accessed April 9, 2016. ...

, actress * Imani Chyle, singer-songwriter and rapper *

Lynn Collins Viola Lynn Collins (born May 16, 1977) is an American actress. She has made television appearances in ''True Blood'' (2008), '' Manhunt: Unabomber'' (2017) and '' The Walking Dead'' (2021–2022), and is recognized for her roles in films such a ...

, actress *

Chedda Da Connect Courtney A. Milburn, (born January 18, 1986) better known by his stage name Chedda Da Connect, is an American hip hop recording artist from Houston, Texas. He is best known for his 2015 single " Flicka Da Wrist" which was one of the biggest hi ...

, rapper *

Dan Cook Daniel John Cook Jr. (August 12, 1926 – July 3, 2008) was a sports writer for the '' San Antonio Express-News'' for 51 years. He is most notable for making the phrase " the opera ain't over 'til the fat lady sings" into common use. Described a ...

, sportswriter * Peter James Cooper, screenwriter, film producer and businessman * Nichole Cordova, singer for girl group

Girlicious Girlicious was an American girl group originally formed by Robin Antin, creator of the Pussycat Dolls, from The CW reality TV show '' Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious''. The group was originally signed to Geffen Records and composed of membe ...

Walter Cronkite Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. (November 4, 1916 – July 17, 2009) was an American broadcast journalist who served as anchorman for the ''CBS Evening News'' for 19 years (1962–1981). During the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the mo ...

, television journalist *

Rodney Crowell Rodney Crowell (born August 7, 1950) is an American musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music. Crowell has had five number one singles on Hot Country Songs, all from his 1988 album '' Diamonds & Dirt''. ...

, musician * Peter Brett Cullen, actor *

Willie D William James Dennis is an American rapper, best known as a member of the Houston rap group the Geto Boys, alongside Bushwick Bill and Scarface. He maintains and regularly uploads to his YouTube channel, posting social commentary videos. As o ...

, rapper *

Alexandria DeBerry Alexandria Danielle DeBerry is an American actress and model. She is best known for her roles in '' A.N.T. Farm'' as Paisley Houndstooth, '' Shake It Up'' as Destiny, ''Lazer Team'' as Mindy and ''True Jackson, VP'' as Cammy. Early life DeBerr ...

, actress *

Loretta Devine Loretta Devine (born August 21, 1949) is an American actress, singer and voice actor. She is known for numerous roles across stage and screen. Her most high profile roles include Lorrell Robinson in the original Broadway production of '' Dreamg ...

, actress * DhoomBros, YouTube personalities, actors, dancers, entertainers, and DJs *

Ryan Donowho Ryan Wayne Donowho (born September 20, 1980) is an American actor and musician. Early life Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Donowho appeared as an uncredited extra in "Varsity Blues (film)", a film shot in his home state of Texas. Donowho mov ...

, actor and musician *

Allen Drury Allen Stuart Drury (September 2, 1918 – September 2, 1998) was an American novelist. During World War II, he was a reporter in the Senate, closely observing Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman, among others. He would convert ...

, author *

Haylie Duff Haylie Katherine Duff (born February 19, 1985) is an American actress, singer and songwriter, and the older sister of American singer and actress Hilary Duff. She is best known for her roles as Sandy Jameson in the television series '' 7th Heave ...

, actress *

Hilary Duff Hilary Erhard Duff (born September 28, 1987) is an American actress and singer. She is the recipient of various accolades, including seven Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, four Teen Choice Awards and two Young Artist Awards. She began her acti ...

, actress and singer *

Shelley Duvall Shelley Alexis Duvall (born July 7, 1949) is an American actress and producer who is known for her portrayals of distinct, often eccentric characters. She is the recipient of several accolades, including a Cannes Film Festival Award and a Peab ...

, actress *

Ike Eisenmann Ike Eisenmann (born July 21, 1962) is a former American actor, producer, and sound effects specialist who has been active in the entertainment industry since childhood. Early life and education Eisenmann was born in Houston, Texas, the son of Rut ...

, sound effects *

Dorian Electra Dorian Electra Fridkin Gomberg (born 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, and performance artist. Their debut studio album, ''Flamboyant'', was released in 2019, followed by their second studio album, ''My Agenda,'' in 2020. Electra is know ...

, singer *

Shannon Elizabeth Shannon Elizabeth Fadal (born September 7, 1973) is an American actress, conservationist, animal activist, model and poker player. A popular sex symbol and teen idol of the 1990s and 2000s, Elizabeth is best known for her roles in the films '' A ...

, actress *

Terry Ellis Terry is a unisex given name, derived from French Thierry and Theodoric. It can also be used as a diminutive nickname for the names Teresa or Theresa (feminine) or Terence or Terrier (masculine). People Male * Terry Albritton (1955–2005), A ...

, singer for R&B girl group

En Vogue En Vogue is an American vocal girl group whose original lineup consisted of singers Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones. Formed in Oakland, California, in 1989, En Vogue reached No. 2 on the US Hot 100 with the single ...

* Robert Ellis, country singer *

Kelly Emberg Kelly Kay Emberg (born July 2, 1959) is an American former model who appeared in the ''Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue'' and in advertisements for Cover Girl cosmetics, Napier Jewelry, and Calvin Klein. Career Emberg was born in Houston, Tex ...

, model *

Sean Faris Sean Faris (born March 25, 1982) is an American actor and model. He is known for his roles as Jake Tyler in ''Never Back Down'', Kyo Kusanagi in ''The King of Fighters'', and Rick Penning in '' Forever Strong''. He also played Tom in ''Ghost M ...

, actor *

Fenix TX Fenix TX (styled as Fenix*TX) is an American pop punk band. The band originally formed as Riverfenix in 1995 in Houston, Texas. They released an Extended play, EP, ''G.B.O.H.'', and an album, ''Riverfenix (album), Riverfenix'', on independent rec ...

, band *

Ashley Fink Ashley Rae Fink (born November 20, 1986) is an American actress and singer. She is known for her roles as Lauren Zizes in the television series '' Glee'' and as Carter McMahon in ''Huge''. Personal life Ashley Rae Fink was born in Houston, Tex ...

, actress of ''

Glee Glee means delight, a form of happiness. Glee may also refer to: * Glee (music), a type of English choral music * ''Glee'' (TV series), an American musical comedy-drama TV series, and related media created by Ryan Murphy * ''Glee'' (Bran Van 30 ...

'' *

Suzanne Finstad Suzanne Finstad (born Suzanne Elaine Finstad September 14, 1955 in Minneapolis, Minnesota) is a bestselling American author, biographer, journalist, producer, and lawyer. Work pre-1990 Finstad received the Frank Wardlaw Prize in 1984 for liter ...

, author *

Sean Patrick Flanery Sean Patrick Flanery (born October 11, 1965) is an American actor, author, and martial artist. He is known for playing Connor MacManus in ''The Boondock Saints'' (1999) and its sequel ''The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day'' (2009), Greg Still ...

, actor; from

Sugar Land Sugar Land is the largest city in Fort Bend County, Texas, United States, located in the southwestern part of the metropolitan area. Located about southwest of downtown Houston, Sugar Land is a populous suburban municipality centered around ...

* Mark Flood, artist *

Jake Flores Jake Flores is an American stand-up comedian and podcaster from Texas now living in New York City. He has released two albums on Stand Up! Records: 2014's ''Humours'', and 2021's ''Bad Omen''. Flores was born in San Antonio, Texas, and grew u ...

, comedian *

Tom Ford Thomas Carlyle Ford (born August 27, 1961) is an American fashion designer and filmmaker. He launched his eponymous luxury brand in 2005, having previously served as the creative director at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. Ford wrote and direct ...

, designer *

A. J. Foyt Anthony Joseph Foyt Jr. (born January 16, 1935) is an American retired auto racing driver who has raced in numerous genres of motorsports. His open wheel racing includes United States Automobile Club Champ cars, sprint cars, and midget cars. H ...

, auto racer * Justin Furstenfeld *

Jennifer Garner Jennifer Anne Garner (born April 17, 1972) is an American actress. Born in Houston, Texas, and raised in Charleston, West Virginia, Garner studied theater at Denison University and began acting as an understudy for the Roundabout Theatre Compa ...

, born in Houston; raised in Charleston,

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the B ...

; actress *

Greg Germann Gregory Andrew Germann ( ; born February 26, 1958) is an American actor who is known for playing Richard Fish on the television series '' Ally McBeal'', which earned him a Screen Actors Guild award. He also is known for his roles as Eric "Rico" ...

, actor * Geto Boys members *

Billy Gibbons William Frederick Gibbons (born December 16, 1949) is an American musician who is the guitarist and lead singer of the rock band ZZ Top. He began his career in the band the Moving Sidewalks, which recorded a full-length album entitled, ''Flas ...

, guitarist and singer for

Robert Glasper Robert Andre Glasper (born April 6, 1978) is an American pianist, record producer, songwriter, and musical arranger with a career that bridges several different musical and artistic genres, mostly centered on jazz. To date, Glasper has won fou ...

, musician *

Olivia Gonzales Olivia "Chachi" Hildén (née Gonzales) is an American dancer, choreographer and actress. She was a member of the dance crew I.aM.mE, which won the sixth season of ''America's Best Dance Crew'' in 2011. Life and career Hildén was born Oli ...

, dancer * Neal Hamil, talent agent * R.W. Hampton, singer *

Lisa Hartman Lisa Hartman Black is an American actress and singer. Career After some minor television appearances, Hartman starred on the short-lived '' Bewitched'' spin-off, ''Tabitha'' during 1977–78. She subsequently appeared frequently on television i ...

, actress *

Bill Hicks William Melvin Hicks (December 16, 1961 – February 26, 1994) was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, satirist, and musician. His material—encompassing a wide range of social issues including religion, politics, and philosophy—wa ...

, comedian *

Dusty Hill Joe Michael "Dusty" Hill (May 19, 1949 – July 28, 2021) was an American musician who was the bassist of the rock band ZZ Top for more than 50 years. He also sang lead and backing vocals and played keyboards. Hill was born in Dallas, Texas, an ...

, bassist and singer for ZZ Top * Jay Hooks, blues musician * Larry Hovis, actor *

Stevie Ray Lash Steven Huffman (born August 22, 1958) is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Stevie Ray. Stevie Ray is best known for his seven-year tenure with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from 1993 to 200 ...

Huffman, Professional Wrestler * Irene Dubois, drag performer *

Molly Ivins Mary Tyler "Molly" Ivins (August 30, 1944 – January 31, 2007) was an American newspaper columnist, author, political commentator, and humorist. Born in California and raised in Texas, Ivins attended Smith College and the Columbia Univers ...

, journalist *

Cassandra Jean Cassandra Jean Whitehead (born October 5, 1985), also known as Cassandra Jean Amell, is an American actress, model, and beauty pageant queen from Houston, Texas. Jean attended Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. Beauty pageants Jean competed in ...

, actress, model *

Mickey Jones Mickey Jones (June 10, 1941 – February 7, 2018) was an American musician and actor. He played drums with acts such as Trini Lopez and Bob Dylan, with whom he played on his 1966 world tour. He became a founding member of The First Edition ...

, musician * Mike Jones, rapper *

Nicky Jones Nicholas Payne Jones (born July 16, 1996) is an American former child actor. He is best known for voicing the title character in '' Chowder'' (2007-2010). Early life Jones was born on July 16, 1996 in Houston, Texas to Dallas Jones and Terri Yv ...

, voice actor * Bradley Jordan, rapper *

Robert Earl Keen Robert Earl Keen (born January 11, 1956) is an American singer-songwriter and entertainer. Debuting with 1984's ''No Kinda Dancer'', the Houston native has recorded 20 full-length albums for both independent and major record labels. His songs ha ...

, singer * Ruth Kelley, one of the first women to fly to Antarctica * Candice King, actress and singer *

Solange Knowles Solange Piaget Knowles (; born June 24, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter, performance artist, and actress. Expressing an interest in music from an early age, Knowles had several temporary stints as a backup dancer for Destiny's Child, whi ...

, singer and songwriter *

Liza Koshy Elizabeth Shaila "Liza" Koshy (born March 31, 1996), is an American media personality and actress. Her main YouTube channel has amassed more than 17 million subscribers, and her two channels have a combined total of over 3 billion views. She ha ...

, actress and YouTube personality *

Eric Ladin Eric Steven Ladin (born February 16, 1978) is an American actor. Early life and education Ladin studied at the USC School of Dramatic Arts. Career Ladin has guest starred as William Hofstadt on multiple episodes of the AMC show ''Mad Men'' a ...

, actor *

Hubert Laws Hubert Laws (born November 10, 1939) is an American flutist and saxophonist with a career spanning over 40 years in jazz, classical, and other music genres. Laws is one of the few classical artists who has also mastered jazz, pop, and rhythm- ...

, jazz musician * Johnny Lee, singer * Richard Linklater, film director *

Lizzo Melissa Viviane Jefferson (born April 27, 1988), known professionally as Lizzo, is an American singer, rapper, and flutist. Born in Detroit, Michigan, she moved to Houston, Texas with her family when she was 10 years old. After college she ...

, singer * Lyle Lovett, from Klein, musician and actor *

Todd Lowe Todd Lowe (born May 10, 1977) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Terry Bellefleur, a PTSD-suffering Iraq War veteran who works as a short order cook at Merlotte's Bar & Grill on HBO's ''True Blood'' and as Zack Van Gerbig o ...

, actor *

Mark Lowry Mark Alan Lowry (born June 24, 1958) is an American singer, comedian, minister and songwriter. He is best known for co-writing the song " Mary, Did You Know?" and being a member of the Gaither Vocal Band from 1988 to 2001, and 2009 to 2013, al ...

, Southern gospel vocalist, songwriter and comedian. Formerly sang with the Gaither Vocal Band *

LeToya Luckett LeToya Nicole Luckett (born March 11, 1981) is an American R&B singer and actress. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as a founding member of the R&B girl group Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. As a me ...

, singer *

Debra Maffett Debra Sue Maffett (born November 9, 1956) is an American beauty pageant titleholder from Cut and Shoot, Texas and was named Miss America 1983. Early life and education Maffett graduated from S.P. Waltrip High School in Houston, Texas, in 1975. P ...

, Miss America 1983 *

Barbara Mandrell Barbara Ann Mandrell (born December 25, 1948) is an American country music singer and musician. She is also credited as an actress and author. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, she was considered among country's most successful music artist ...

, singer * Ayanna Jolivet McCloud, visual artist *

Maxine Mesinger Maxine Mesinger, born Maxine Ethel David (December 19, 1925 - January 19, 2001Pugh, Clifford. (). ''Houston Chronicle'' at the ''Fort Worth Star-Telegram''. Friday January 19, 2011. Retrieved on November 20, 2011.) was a celebrity gossip columnist ...

, columnist * Angelbert Metoyer, artist *

Mitchelle'l Mitchelle'l Sium is an American singer and songwriter from Houston, Texas. He was discovered on Myspace.com and brought to Grand Hustle Records by general manager, Hannah Kang. In 2008, Sium signed a record deal with Atlanta-based record lab ...

, singer-songwriter *

Farrah Moan Cameron Clayton, better known by the stage name Farrah Moan, (born September 11, 1993), is an American drag queen, model, actor, make-up artist and internet personality best known for participating in the ninth season of the reality TV show ''RuP ...

, drag queen and entertainer * Cole Mohr, model * Jason Moore, Wikipedia editor and organizer *

Jason Moran Jason Moran may refer to: * Jason Moran (criminal) (1967–2003), Australian mobster * Jason Moran (musician) Jason Moran (born January 21, 1975) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and educator involved in multimedia art and theatrical inst ...

, pianist * Cory Morrow, country singer *

Lecrae Moore Lecrae Devaughn Moore (born October 9, 1979), mononymously known as Lecrae, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record and film producer, record executive, actor, and entrepreneur. He is the president, co-owner and co-founder of the ind ...

, Christian rapper, co-founder of Reach Records *

Johnny Nash John Lester Nash Jr. (August 19, 1940October 6, 2020) was an American singer-songwriter, best known in the United States for his 1972 hit " I Can See Clearly Now". Primarily a reggae and pop singer, he was one of the first non-Jamaican artists ...

, singer *

Edwin Neal Edwin Neal is an American actor and voice actor, perhaps best known for his role as the hitchhiker in ''The Texas Chain Saw Massacre''. He has been a voice talent and actor for years appearing on screen and off, including three voices in Wii's '' ...

, actor *

Michael Nesmith Robert Michael Nesmith or Mike Nesmith, (December 30, 1942 – December 10, 2021) was an American musician, songwriter, and actor. He was best known as a member of the pop rock band the Monkees and co-star of the TV series ''The Monkees'' (1966� ...

, musician, singer for

The Monkees The Monkees were an American rock and pop band, formed in Los Angeles in 1966, whose lineup consisted of the American actor/musicians Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork alongside English actor/singer Davy Jones. The group was con ...

* Iceman Nick, jeweler and jewelry designer *

Renee O'Connor Evelyn Renee O'Connor (born February 15, 1971) is an American actress, producer, and director, known for the role of Gabrielle on the television series '' Xena: Warrior Princess''. Early life Born in Houston, and raised in suburban Katy, Texas, ...

, actress * Mary-Jean O'Doherty, opera singer *

Tony Oller Anthony Michael Oller (born February 25, 1991) is an American singer, songwriter and actor. He had roles as Walt Moore on the TeenNick TV show '' Gigantic'', and as Danny on Disney Channel's '' As the Bell Rings''. He appeared in the films ''Ben ...

, actor * Annette O'Toole, actress *

Jim Parsons James Joseph Parsons (born March 24, 1973) is an American actor. From 2007 to 2019, he played Sheldon Cooper in the CBS sitcom '' The Big Bang Theory''. He has received various awards, including four Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead ...

, actor * David Phelps, Christian singer *

DJ Premier Christopher Edward Martin (born March 21, 1966), known professionally as DJ Premier (also known as Preemo), is an American record producer and DJ. He is considered one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time. He was half of the hip hop du ...

(born Christopher Edward Martin) * Billy Preston, keyboardist, and singer* *

James Prince James L. Smith (also referred to as James Prince, J. Prince, or Lil J.) (born October 31, 1965) is an American music executive, promoter and manager. He is the CEO and co-founder of the Houston based record label Rap-A-Lot. Smith and his son ...

, CEO & music executive of

Rap-A-Lot Rap-A-Lot is a hip hop record label co-founded by James Prince and Cliff Blodget in 1986. Smoke-a-Lot Records is a subsidiary. Rap-A-Lot was first distributed by A&M Records with the release of Raheem's 1988 debut ''The Vigilante''. The label w ...

P. J. Proby P. J. Proby (born James Marcus Smith; November 6, 1938) is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. Proby recorded the singles " Hold Me", " Somewhere", and "Maria". In 2008, EMI released the greatest hits album '' Best of the EMI Years 1961 ...

, singer *

Dennis Quaid Dennis William Quaid (born April 9, 1954) is an American actor known for a wide variety of dramatic and comedic roles. First gaining widespread attention in the late 1970s, some of his notable credits include '' Breaking Away'' (1979), '' The ...

, actor *

Randy Quaid Randy Randall Rudy Quaid (born October 1, 1950) is an American actor known for his roles in both serious drama and light comedy. He was nominated for an Academy Award, BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe Award for his role in '' The Last Detail'' ...

, actor *

Leven Rambin Leven Rambin is an American actress. She is known for playing look-alike half-sisters Lily Montgomery and Ava Benton on '' All My Children'', and for her recurring roles on ''Grey's Anatomy'' and '' Gone'', as well as '' Terminator: The Sarah Co ...

, actress *

Cierra Ramirez Cierra Alexa Ramirez (born March 9, 1995) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for playing Mariana Adams Foster in the Freeform television series '' The Fosters'' and reprising her role in the spin-off series '' Good Trouble'', w ...

, actress * Phylicia Rashad, actress * Dan Rather, from Wharton, Texas, Wharton, television journalist * Prudencesa Renfro, singer * Riff Raff (rapper), Riff Raff (born Horst Christian Simco), rapper * LaTavia Roberson * Charlie Robison, singer * Charlie Robinson (actor), Charlie Robinson, actor * Kenny Rogers, singer * Roger Rohatgi, independent film producer and screenwriter, motivational speaker, actor and ordained minister * Kelly Rowland, singer * Joshua Rush, actor *San Kim Sean - martial artist * Scarface (rapper) (born Brad Terrence Jordan) * Travis Scott (musician), Travis Scott, Grammy nominated artist, rapper, singer, songwriter, producer * DJ Screw (born Robert Earl Davis, Jr.) * Joan Severance, actress * Guitar Shorty * Anna Nicole Smith, born in Houston; raised in Mexia, Texas, Mexia, model and actress * Jaclyn Smith, actress * South Park Mexican (born Carlos Coy) * Brent Spiner, actor * Megan Thee Stallion, rapper * Matt Stone, co-creator of ''South Park'' * Patrick Swayze, actor * Susan Swift, actress * Amir Taghi, fashion designer * B. J. Thomas, singer * Larry D. Thomas, 2008 Texas State Poet Laureate * Slim Thug (born Stayve Jerome Thomas), rapper * Gary Tinterow, art historian and curator * Don Toliver, rapper * Allison Tolman, actress * Nephew Tommy, actor * Rigo Tovar, emigrated from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico * Trae tha Truth (born Frazier Othel Thompson), rapper * Tommy Tune, dancer and choreographer * Steve Tyrell, singer and music producer * Ngozi Ukazu, author * The Undertaker (born Mark William Calaway), wrestler * Brooke Valentine, singer * Ameer Vann (former member of Brockhampton (band), Brockhampton), rapper * Jaci Velasquez, singer * Sauce Walka, rapper * Paul Wall, rapper * Isaiah Washington, actor * Watermark (band), Watermark, band * Waterparks (band), Waterparks, band * William Ward Watkin, architect * Johnny Guitar Watson, musician, singer, and songwriter * Alicia Webb, wrestling personality * Wesley Weston, Jr., rapper * Al White, actor * JoBeth Williams, actress * Chandra Wilson, actress * Harris Wittels, actor, writer, comedian, musician * Z-Ro (born Joseph Wayne McVey) * Renée Zellweger, from Katy, Texas, Katy, actress * Gwendolyn Zepeda, author * Trevor Daniel (singer), Trevor Daniel, singer * Will Flanary, ophthalmologist and comedian

Business, government, law, and military

* Elsa Alcala, judge since 2011 of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals * Monroe Dunaway Anderson, banker; cotton trader; co-founder of Anderson, Clayton and Company; philanthropist; namesake of University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center * Mary Kay Ash, cosmetics mogul * James A. Baker (born 1821), lawyer and founder of the law firm now known as Baker and Botts. * James A. Baker (born 1857), lawyer for William Marsh Rice and trustee for Rice University. * James A. Baker Jr., a lawyer for the law firm now known as Baker and Botts, banker, and real estate developer. * James Baker, James A. Baker III, White House chief of staff, Secretary of State * Nandita Berry, Houston lawyer and 109th Secretary of State of Texas * Paul Bettencourt, member of the Texas State Senate from Texas Senate, District 7, District 7 * Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com * Bill Blythe, Houston realtor and former state representative * Paul Bremond, merchant and railroad developer. * George H. W. Bush, 43rd Vice President of the United States, Vice President and 41st President of the United States; father of George W. Bush * George W. Bush, former Governor of Texas (1995–2000) and 43rd President of the United States; son of George H.W. Bush * Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida (1999–2007), and former 2016 United States presidential election, 2016 presidential candidate; brother of George W. Bush * Briscoe Cain, Republican member of the Texas House * William L. Clayton, cotton trader; cofounder of Anderson Clayton Co., government official * Ted Cruz, U.S. senator from Texas; former 2016 Republican presidential candidate * Michael Dell, founder and CEO of Dell Inc. * Richard W. Dowling, Civil War officer * Anna Johnson Dupree (1891–1977), business owner and philanthropist * Les Eaves, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for White County, Arkansas, White County; former Houston resident * Gary Elkins (Texas politician), Gary Elkins, politician * Tilman J. Fertitta, businessman and reality TV personality * Nobia A. Franklin (1892–1934), African American beauty mogul * Jay F. Honeycutt, former director of the Kennedy Space Center; began career in Houston in 1966 as engineer at Johnson Space Center * Edward Mandell House, diplomat, a commissioner of the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, and advisor of Woodrow Wilson. * Joan Huffman, politician * Howard Hughes, billionaire aviator, film producer * Thad Hutcheson, politician * Jesse H. Jones, politician * Barbara Jordan, U.S. Representative * Mickey Leland, politician * James E. Lyon, banker * Gray H. Miller, Senior United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas * Steve Munisteri, politician * David Newell (Texas judge), David Newell, judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 9 * Tom Oliverson, Anesthesia, anesthesiologist and incoming state representative for District 130 * Dan Patrick (politician), Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor of Texas, outgoing member of the Texas State Senate * Dennis Paul, state representative from District 129 in Harris County * Gilbert Pena, incoming 2015 Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from Pasadena, Texas, Pasadena, lived in Houston prior to 1992 * Homa J. Porter, Jack Porter, U.S. Senate candidate in 1948 and a builder of the modern Texas Republican Party * Leighton Schubert, state representative from Caldwell, Texas, Caldwell, Texas; former Houston resident * Jim Sharp (justice), Jim Sharp, state court judge, 2009–2014 * Stephen Susman (1941–2020), plaintiffs attorney and a founding partner of Susman Godfrey * Kathryn J. Whitmire, first female Mayor of Houston; served five terms * Jared Woodfill, Houston attorney and former chairman of the Harris County Republican Party * Kevin Patrick Yeary, judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, based in San Antonio; former assistant district attorney for Harris County

Religion

* Yolanda Adams * Charles L. Allen * Kim Burrell * Finis Alonzo Crutchfield * Rafael Cruz * Yusuf Estes * Jerry Johnston * David Koresh * Hal Lindsey * Joel Osteen * Paul Pressler (Texas politician), Paul Pressler * Hyman Judah Schachtel * Marianne Williamson

Science

* Red Adair, oil-well firefighter * Denton Cooley, heart surgeon * Michael DeBakey, heart surgeon * James "Red" Duke, trauma surgeon * Bonnie J. Dunbar, astronaut, professor, Director of Aerospace Engineering and Director of STEM Center at the University of Houston * Mary K. Estes, Ph.D., professor in molecular virology and microbiology and in medicine-gastroenterology at Baylor College of Medicine, founding director of the Texas Medical Center]
Digestive Diseases Center
* William V. Houston, physicist and president of Rice University * Lydia Kavraki, Ph.D., computer scientist * Ellen Ochoa, Dr. Ellen Ochoa, Director of NASA Johnson Space Center, veteran astronaut * Richard Smalley, chemist, physicist and astronomer; recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1996) * Robert Woodrow Wilson, astronomer; born in Houston and graduated from Rice University (1957); recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics (1976)

Athletics

* Cammile Adams, Olympic Swimming (sport), swimmer * Sam Adams (American football), Sam Adams, football player * Lance Alworth, football player * Heather Armbrust, IFBB professional bodybuilder * Tim Atchison, former American football player * H. B. Bailey, auto racer * Harold Bailey (gridiron football), Harold Bailey, football player * Keith Baldwin, football player * Joey Banes, football player * Daniel Bard, Major League Baseball (MLB)) pitcher * Pat Batteaux, football player * Shane Baz (born 1999), MLB pitcher * Simone Biles, gymnast * Michael Bishop (gridiron football), Michael Bishop, football player * Booker T (born Booker Tio Huffman, Jr.), professional wrestler * Jason Bourgeois, baseball player * Michael Bourn, former MLB outfielder who played for the Houston Astros * Jeff Bourns, tennis player * Joe Bowman (marksman), Joe Bowman, marksman of the American West * Ken Bradshaw, big wave surfer * Jimmy Butler, NBA basketball player * Mark Calaway, professional wrestler * Tina Chandler, IFBB professional bodybuilder * Jermall Charlo, boxer * Roger Clemens, former MLB pitcher who played for the Houston Astros * Brad Coleman, auto racer * Carl Crawford, baseball player * Dalip Rana (The Great Khali), professional wrestler, promoter, model and actor * Sedrick Curry, football player * Andy Dalton, football player, from Katy, Texas, Katy, Texas * Santia Deck, athlete * Jimmy Demaret, golfer * Gerald Dockery, football player * Karl Douglas (quarterback), Karl Douglas, football player * Clyde Drexler, basketball player * Donald Driver, retired football player * Tyler Duffey, Baseball Player * Adam Dunn, baseball player * Aaron Durley, basketball player * George Foreman, boxer * Eddie Foster (American football), Eddie Foster, NFL player *

, auto racer * Andrew Friedman, MLB executive * Zina Garrison, tennis player, born in Houston; resident of Missouri City, Texas, Missouri City, Texas * Donovan Greer, football player * Brittney Griner, basketball player * Ben Guez, baseball player * Charlie Haas, retired professional wrestler * Brede Hangeland, soccer player * Lindsey Harding, basketball player * Will Harris (baseball), Will Harris, MLB relief pitcher who played for the Houston Astros * D. J. Hayden, professional football player currently on the Oakland Raiders * Warrick Holdman, football player * Jonathan Horton, gymnast * Jalen Hurts, football player * Germain Ifedi, football player * Steve Jackson (defensive back), Steve Jackson, former defensive back who is currently the senior offensive assistant for the Atlanta Falcons * Craig James (running back), Craig James, football player * Brandon Jordan (defensive lineman), Brandon Jordan, football player * DeAndre Jordan, basketball player * Kaitlyn (wrestler), Kaitlyn, wrestler * Joshua Kalu, football player * Scott Kazmir, MLB pitcher who played for the Houston Astros * Greg Kindle, football player * Gary Kubiak, football coach * Iris Kyle, ten-time overall Ms. Olympia professional bodybuilder * Rashard Lewis, basketball player * Tara Lipinski, figure skater, Olympic gold medalist, from

* Denzel Livingston (born 1993), basketball player for Hapoel Kfar Saba of the Israeli Liga Leumit (basketball), Liga Leumit * James Loney, baseball player * Andrew Luck, football player * Marie Mahoney, outfielder, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player * Guy Mezger, mixed martial artist * Tyler Myers, ice hockey player *Josh Nebo (born 1997), basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C., Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier Basketball League * Chiney Ogwumike, basketball player * Emeka Okafor, basketball player * Yaxeni Oriquen-Garcia, IFBB professional bodybuilder * Josh Pastner, college basketball coach * Andy Pettitte, former MLB pitcher from Deer Park, Texas, Deer Park, Texas, who played for the Houston Astros * Gene Phillips (basketball), Gene Phillips, basketball player * Mel Renfro, football player * Mary Lou Retton, gymnast, 1984 Olympic gold medalist * Cody Risien, football player *Taylor Rochestie (born 1985) American-Montenegrin player in the Israel Basketball Premier League * Michael Russell (tennis), Michael Russell, tennis player * Kevin Schwantz, motorcycle racer * Bob Smith (fullback), Bob Smith, football player * David Starr (racing driver), David Starr, auto racer * Kohl Stewart, professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins * Michael Strahan, American-German retired football player, actor, and television personality; currently hosts ''Good Morning America'' and ''NFL on FOX''; born and raised in Houston before moving to Mannheim, (West Germany, West) Germany * Mike Swick, UFC fighter * Thurman Thomas, football player from Missouri City, Texas, Missouri City, Texas * Tyler Thornburg, baseball player * Justin Tucker, football player (kicker) *Will Vest, Professional Baseball Player * Billy Wade (racing driver), Billy Wade, auto racer * Bones Weatherly, football player * Kaitlyn Weaver, Olympic ice dancer * Ruston Webster, Scout for the Atlanta Falcons * Kip Wells, baseball player * Billy Welu, professional bowler * Reggie White (running back), Reggie White, football player * Alfred Williams, football player * Willie Williams (offensive tackle), Willie Williams, football player * Woody Williams, former MLB pitcher who played for the Houston Astros * George Wright (defensive lineman), George Wright, football player * James Young (American football), James Young, football player * Joe Young (basketball), Joe Young, basketball player * Vince Young, football player

References

{{Houston, Texas, state=collapsed Lists of people by city in the United States, Houston, Texas People from Houston, Lists of people from Texas, Houston Houston-related lists, People

Entertainment, arts, and media personalities

Business, government, law, and military

Religion

Science

Athletics

See also

References