List Of People From North Carolina on:
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The following is a list of notable people who were born, raised, or closely associated with the U.S. state of
* Graham Allison (born 1940), political scientist and professor at the
*
* Sidney Blackmer (1895–1973), actor (
*
The following is a list of notable people who were born, raised, or closely associated with the U.S. state of North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...
.
Academia
* Graham Allison (born 1940), political scientist and professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government
The Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), officially the John F. Kennedy School of Government, is the school of public policy and government of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school offers master's degrees in public policy, public ...
at Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of high ...
(Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Dorothy Hansine Andersen
Dorothy Hansine Andersen (May 15, 1901 – March 3, 1963) was an American physician, pediatrician, and pathologist who was the first person to identify cystic fibrosis, the first to describe the disease, and the one to name it. in 1939, she was a ...
(1901–1963), pathologist and pediatrician, first physician to identify cystic fibrosis as a disease (Asheville
Asheville ( ) is a city in, and the county seat of, Buncombe County, North Carolina. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the state's 11th-most populous ci ...
)
*Fred Brooks
Frederick Phillips Brooks Jr. (April 19, 1931 – November 17, 2022) was an American computer architect, software engineer, and computer scientist, best known for managing the development of IBM's System/360 family of computers and the O ...
(born 1931), computer architect, software engineer, and computer scientist (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
* Carrie Lougee Broughton (1879–1957), librarian and first woman State Librarian (Raleigh
Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southeas ...
)
* John Chavis (1763–1838), African American educator and theologian (Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
)
* Anna J. Cooper (1858–1964), prominent African American scholar, author, sociologist, and educator (Raleigh)
*Elson Floyd
Elson S. Floyd (February 29, 1956 – June 20, 2015) was an American educator who served as the 10th president of the four-campus Washington State University from May 21, 2007 to June 20, 2015. Floyd was also the first African American to be nam ...
(1956–2015), 10th president of Washington State University
Washington State University (Washington State, WSU, or informally Wazzu) is a public land-grant research university with its flagship, and oldest, campus in Pullman, Washington. Founded in 1890, WSU is also one of the oldest land-grant uni ...
, former president of University of Missouri System
The University of Missouri System is an American state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, and ten research and technology parks. Nearly 70,000 students are cu ...
and of Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University (Western Michigan, Western or WMU) is a public research university in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It was initially established as Western State Normal School in 1903 by Governor Aaron T. Bliss for the training of teachers ...
( Henderson)
* Phillip Griffiths (born 1938), mathematician, known for work in the field of geometry (Raleigh)
* Jay U. Gunter (1911–1994), pathologist and amateur astronomer ( Sanford)
* John Kuykendall (born 1938), served as 15th president of Davidson College (Charlotte)
*Daniel McFadden
Daniel Little McFadden (born July 29, 1937) is an American econometrician who shared the 2000 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences with James Heckman. McFadden's share of the prize was "for his development of theory and methods for analyzi ...
(born 1937), economist, winner of 2000 Nobel Prize in economics (Raleigh)
* Kary Mullis (1944–2019), biochemist, inventor of polymerase chain reaction
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a method widely used to rapidly make millions to billions of copies (complete or partial) of a specific DNA sample, allowing scientists to take a very small sample of DNA and amplify it (or a part of it) ...
(PCR) technique ( Lenoir)
* James E. Shepard (1875–1947), pharmacist, civil servant and educator, founder of what became North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University (NCCU or NC Central) is a public historically black university in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by James E. Shepard in affiliation with the Chautauqua movement in 1909, it was supported by private funds from ...
(Raleigh)
*Thomas Sowell
Thomas Sowell (; born June 30, 1930) is an American author, economist, political commentator and academic who is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. With widely published commentary and books—and as a guest on TV and radio—he becam ...
(born 1930), economist, social critic, political commentator, and author ( Gastonia)
*Martin Wohl
Martin Wohl (13 July 1930 – 21 July 2009), was a transportation economist. He was born in Greensboro, North Carolina and grew up in the District of Columbia.
During his youth, Wohl worked as a Senate page and was then appointed to the U.S. Mil ...
(1930–2009), transportation economist and professor (Greensboro
Greensboro (; formerly Greensborough) is a city in and the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, third-most populous city in North Carolina after Charlotte, North Car ...
)
* Anne D. Yoder, biologist
A biologist is a scientist who conducts research in biology. Biologists are interested in studying life on Earth, whether it is an individual Cell (biology), cell, a multicellular organism, or a Community (ecology), community of Biological inter ...
, researcher, and professor in the Department of Biology at Duke University (Charlotte)
Artists
*Charles Alston
Charles Henry Alston (November 28, 1907 – April 27, 1977) was an American painter, sculptor, illustrator, muralist and teacher who lived and worked in the New York City neighborhood of Harlem. Alston was active in the Harlem Renaissance; A ...
(1907–1977), painter, illustrator, muralist, and sculptor (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Murphy Anderson
Murphy C. Anderson Jr. (July 9, 1926 – October 22, 2015) was an American comics artist, known as one of the premier inkers of his era, who worked for companies such as DC Comics for over fifty years, starting in the Golden Age of Comic Books in ...
(1926–2015), comics artist (Asheville
Asheville ( ) is a city in, and the county seat of, Buncombe County, North Carolina. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the state's 11th-most populous ci ...
)
*Ernie Barnes
Ernest Eugene Barnes Jr. (July 15, 1938 – April 27, 2009) was an American artist, well known for his unique style of elongated characters and movement. He was also a professional football player, actor and author.
Early life
Childhood
E ...
(1938–2009), Neo-Mannerist artist and former professional football player (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
* James Barnhill (born 1955), sculptor (Asheville)
*Romare Bearden
Romare Bearden (September 2, 1911 – March 12, 1988) was an American artist, author, and songwriter. He worked with many types of media including cartoons, oils, and collages. Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bearden grew up in New York City a ...
(1911–1988), artist (Charlotte)
* John T. Biggers (1924–2001), painter and muralist ( Gastonia)
*Elizabeth Bradford
Elizabeth Bradford is an American artist living in Davidson, North Carolina, best known for her large-scale paintings of landscapes. Her works have been widely exhibited throughout the southeastern United States and are collected in museums and ...
(born 1950), painter ( Huntersville)
* Selma Burke (1900–1995), sculptor and ceramicist ( Mooresville)
* Amanda Crowe (1928–2004), woodcarver (Cherokee
The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...
)
* Minnie Evans (1892–1987), folk artist ( Pender County)
* Herb Jackson (born 1945), painter, given North Carolina Award by governor in 1999 (Raleigh
Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southeas ...
)
* John Littleton (born 1957), glass artist with collaborative partner Kate Vogel, based in ( Bakersville)
* Beverly McIver (born 1962), contemporary artist, mostly known for self-portraits (Greensboro
Greensboro (; formerly Greensborough) is a city in and the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, third-most populous city in North Carolina after Charlotte, North Car ...
)
*Kenneth Noland
Kenneth Noland (April 10, 1924 – January 5, 2010) was an American painter. He was one of the best-known American color field painters, although in the 1950s he was thought of as an abstract expressionist and in the early 1960s he was though ...
(1924–2010), painter (Asheville
Asheville ( ) is a city in, and the county seat of, Buncombe County, North Carolina. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the state's 11th-most populous ci ...
)
* Mabel Pugh (1891–1986), painter ( Morrisville)
* Isaiah Rice (1917–1980), photographer (Asheville)
* Bob Timberlake (born 1937), realist artist, known for watercolor paintings and home furnishings ( Lexington)
* Kate Vogel (born 1956), glass artist with collaborative partner John Littleton, based in (Bakersville)
Business
*Louis Bacon
Louis Moore Bacon (born July 25, 1956) is an American investor, hedge fund manager, and philanthropist. He is the founder and chief executive of Moore Capital Management.
''Forbes Magazine'' estimates his net worth to be US$1.81 billion, mak ...
(born 1956), hedge fund
A hedge fund is a pooled investment fund that trades in relatively liquid assets and is able to make extensive use of more complex trading, portfolio-construction, and risk management techniques in an attempt to improve performance, such as s ...
manager, trader and founder of Moore Capital Management (Raleigh
Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southeas ...
)
*Maria Beasley
Maria E. Beasley (''née'' Hauser; 1836–1913) was an American entrepreneur and inventor. Born in North Carolina, Beasley grew up with a strong interest in mechanical work and learned about the profession of barrel-making from her grandfather. ...
(1836–1913), entrepreneur and inventor
*Caleb Bradham
Caleb Davis Bradham (May 27, 1867 – February 19, 1934) was an American pharmacist, best known as the inventor of soft drink Pepsi.
Early life
Bradham was born Caleb Davis Bradham on May 27, 1867, in Chinquapin, North Carolina to George Washi ...
(1866–1934), inventor of Pepsi-Cola (New Bern
New Bern, formerly called Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 29,524, which had risen to an estimated 29,994 as of 2019. It is the county seat of Craven County and t ...
)
* James Edgar Broyhill (1892–1988), industrialist, founder of Broyhill Furniture Industries, Inc. ( Wilkes County)
* Charles Albert Cannon (1892–1971), textile executive, president of Cannon Mills (Concord
Concord may refer to:
Meaning "agreement"
* Pact or treaty, frequently between nations (indicating a condition of harmony)
* Harmony, in music
* Agreement (linguistics), a change in the form of a word depending on grammatical features of other ...
)
* Benjamin Newton Duke (1855–1929), tobacco and electric power industrialist, co-founder of Duke Energy (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*James Buchanan Duke
James Buchanan Duke (December 23, 1856 – October 10, 1925) was an American tobacco and electric power industrialist best known for the introduction of modern cigarette manufacture and marketing, and his involvement with Duke University. ...
(1856–1925), tobacco and electric power industrialist, founder of American Tobacco Company
The American Tobacco Company was a tobacco company founded in 1890 by J. B. Duke through a merger between a number of U.S. tobacco manufacturers including Allen and Ginter and Goodwin & Company. The company was one of the original 12 members ...
, co-founder of Duke Energy (Durham)
*Richard Jordan Gatling
Richard Jordan Gatling (September 12, 1818 – February 26, 1903) was an American inventor best known for his invention of the Gatling gun, which is considered to be the first successful machine gun.
Life
Gatling was born in Hertford County, Nort ...
(1818–1903), inventor of the Gatling gun ( Hertford County)
*James Goodnight
James Howard Goodnight (born January 6, 1943) is an American billionaire businessman and software developer. He has been the CEO of SAS Institute since 1976, which he co-founded that year with other faculty members of North Carolina State Univer ...
(born 1943), software developer, CEO of SAS Institute
SAS Institute (or SAS, pronounced "sass") is an American multinational developer of analytics software based in Cary, North Carolina. SAS develops and markets a suite of analytics software ( also called SAS), which helps access, manage, ana ...
( Wilmington)
* William B. Harrison Jr. (born 1943), former CEO of JPMorgan Chase
JPMorgan Chase & Co. is an American multinational investment bank and financial services holding company headquartered in New York City and incorporated in Delaware. As of 2022, JPMorgan Chase is the largest bank in the United States, the ...
( Rocky Mount)
* E. Lee Hennessee (1952–2016), pioneer hedge fund manager (Raleigh)
*Chris Hughes
Chris Hughes (born November 26, 1983) is an American entrepreneur and author who co-founded and served as spokesman for the online social directory and networking site Facebook until 2007. He was the publisher and editor-in-chief of ''The New R ...
(born 1983), co-founder of Facebook
Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin Mosk ...
( Hickory)
* Richard Jenrette (1929–2018), co-founder of investment bank Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (Raleigh)
* Ralph Ketner (1920–2016), founder of Food Lion
Food Lion is an American regional grocery store chain headquartered in Salisbury, North Carolina, that operates over 1100 supermarkets in 10 states of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States (Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North ...
(Salisbury
Salisbury ( ) is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England with a population of 41,820, at the confluence of the rivers Avon, Nadder and Bourne. The city is approximately from Southampton and from Bath.
Salisbury is in the southeast of ...
)
* Kelly King (born 1948), Chairman and CEO of BB&T
BB&T Corporation (previously known as the Branch Banking and Trust Company) was one of the largest banking and financial services firms in the United States, based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In 2019, BB&T announced its intentions to merge ...
(Raleigh)
*Herman Lay
Herman Warden Lay (March 6, 1909 – December 6, 1982) was an American businessman who was involved in potato chip manufacturing with his eponymous brand of Lay's potato chips. He started H.W. Lay Co., Inc., now part of the Frito-Lay corporati ...
(1909–1982), businessman, founder of Lay's
Lay's is a brand of potato chips, as well as the name of the company that founded the chip brand in the United States. The brand is also referred to as Frito-Lay because both Lay's and Fritos are brands sold by the Frito-Lay company, which ha ...
potato chips (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
* Debra L. Lee (born 1954), CEO of BET
Black Entertainment Television (acronym BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting African-American audiences. It is owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global via BET Networks and has offices in New York City, Los ...
(Greensboro
Greensboro (; formerly Greensborough) is a city in and the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, third-most populous city in North Carolina after Charlotte, North Car ...
)
* Leon Levine (born 1937), businessman and philanthropist, founder of Family Dollar
Family Dollar Stores, Inc. is an American variety store chain. With over 8,000 locations in all states except Alaska and Hawaii, it was the second largest retailer of its type in the United States until it was acquired by Dollar Tree in 2015 and i ...
( Wadesboro)
* Ann Livermore (born 1958), former Executive Vice President at Hewlett-Packard (Greensboro)
*Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy McMahon (; born August 24, 1945) is an American media proprietor and retired professional wrestling promoter, executive, and performer. From 1982 to 2022, he served as the chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of WWE, the ...
(born 1945), Chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., d/b/a as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and vari ...
) ( Pinehurst)
* Dalton L. McMichael (1914–2001), textile executive (Wentworth Wentworth may refer to:
People
* Wentworth (surname)
* Judith Blunt-Lytton, 16th Baroness Wentworth (1873–1957), Lady Wentworth, notable Arabian horse breeder
* S. Wentworth Horton (1885–1960), New York state senator
* Wentworth Miller (born 1 ...
)
* John Merrick (1859–1919), businessman, founder of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company ( Clinton)
*Ricky Moore Ricky Moore may refer to:
* Ricky Moore (American football) (born 1963), American former football running back in the National Football League (NFL)
* Ricky Moore (basketball) (born 1976), American retired basketball player and coach
* Ricky Moore ...
, chef and restaurant owner
* James Owens (born 1946), former Chairman and CEO of Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc. (stock symbol CAT) is an American ''Fortune'' 500 corporation and the world's largest construction-equipment manufacturer.
In 2018, Caterpillar was ranked number 65 on the ''Fortune'' 500 list and number 238 on the Global ''Fo ...
(Elizabeth City
Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 18,629. Elizabeth City is the county seat and largest city of Pasquotank County. It is the cultural, economic and educ ...
)
*Ronald Perelman
Ronald Owen Perelman (; born January 1, 1943) is an American banker, businessman and investor. MacAndrews & Forbes, MacAndrews & Forbes Incorporated, his company, has invested in companies with interests in groceries, cigars, Liquorice (confect ...
(born 1943), businessman, investor, CEO of MacAndrews & Forbes
MacAndrews & Forbes Incorporated is an American Conglomerate (company), diversified holding company wholly owned by billionaire investor Ronald Perelman.
Current investments include leading participants across a wide range of industries, from co ...
(Greensboro)
* John Henry Phelan (1877–1957), oil producer and philanthropist (Charlotte)
* R. J. Reynolds (1850–1918), founder of R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
* Julian Robertson (born 1932), hedge fund manager (Salisbury)
*Charles Clinton Spaulding
Charles Clinton Spaulding (August 1, 1874 – August 1, 1952) was an American business leader. For close to thirty years, he presided over North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company, which became America's largest black-owned business, with ass ...
(1874–1952), served as president of NC Mutual Life Insurance Company (Columbus County
Columbus County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina, on its southeastern border. Its county seat is Whiteville. The 2020 census showed a loss of 12.9% of the population from that of 2010. As of the 2020 census, the popula ...
)
* Stanley Tanger (1923–2010), founder of Tanger Factory Outlet Centers
Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, Inc. ( ) is a real estate investment trust headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina that invests in shopping centers containing outlet stores in the United States and Canada.
As of December 31, 2019, the com ...
(Greensboro)
* David S. Taylor (born 1958), Chairman and CEO of Procter & Gamble
The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) is an American multinational consumer goods corporation headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble. It specializes in a wide range of personal health/consumer he ...
(Charlotte)
Entertainers
;A–L
* Sidney Blackmer (1895–1973), actor (Salisbury
Salisbury ( ) is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England with a population of 41,820, at the confluence of the rivers Avon, Nadder and Bourne. The city is approximately from Southampton and from Bath.
Salisbury is in the southeast of ...
)
* Randy Boone (born 1942), actor and singer ( Fayetteville)
*Alicia Bridges
Alicia Bridges (born July 15, 1953) is an American singer and songwriter who co-wrote and performed her international hit " I Love the Nightlife (Disco 'Round)" in 1978.
Early years
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina and raised in the small Cle ...
(born 1953), singer-songwriter ("I Love the Nightlife
"I Love the Nightlife (Disco 'Round)" is a popular disco song recorded by American singer Alicia Bridges in 1978. It went to number two on the US ''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' Dance Club Songs, National Disco Action Top 30 (now the Dance Clu ...
") (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
* Doug Brochu (born 1990), actor ( Fayetteville)
*Ben Browder
Robert Benedict Browder (born December 11, 1962) is an American actor, writer and film director, known for his roles as John Crichton in ''Farscape'' and Cameron Mitchell in '' Stargate SG-1''.
Early life
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Browder ...
(born 1962), actor (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
* Cliff Cash (born 1981), stand-up comedian ( Gastonia)
* Jim David, stand-up comedian, actor (Asheville
Asheville ( ) is a city in, and the county seat of, Buncombe County, North Carolina. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the state's 11th-most populous ci ...
)
*Cecil B. DeMille
Cecil Blount DeMille (; August 12, 1881January 21, 1959) was an American film director, producer and actor. Between 1914 and 1958, he made 70 features, both silent and sound films. He is acknowledged as a founding father of the American cine ...
(1881–1959), film director and producer (Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
)
*Tom DiCillo
Thomas A. DiCillo (born August 14, 1953) is an American film director, screenwriter and cinematographer.
Early life
He was born in Camp Le Jeune, North Carolina. His father was Italian and his mother was from New England. He studied creative wr ...
(born 1953), film director ( Camp Le Jeune)
* Jimmy Donaldson (born 1998), better known online as MrBeast; YouTuber, entrepreneur, and philanthropist ( Greenville)
*Jennifer Ehle
Jennifer Anne Ehle (; born December 29, 1969) is an American actress, the daughter of English actress Rosemary Harris and American author John Ehle. She gained fame for her role as Elizabeth Bennet in the 1995 BBC miniseries '' Pride and Prejudi ...
(born 1969), actress (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
* Mike Evans (1949–2006), actor (Salisbury
Salisbury ( ) is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England with a population of 41,820, at the confluence of the rivers Avon, Nadder and Bourne. The city is approximately from Southampton and from Bath.
Salisbury is in the southeast of ...
)
*Ian Flynn
Ian Flynn (born May 31, 1982), also known by his Internet pen name Ian Potto, is an American comic book writer. He was chief writer for Archie Comics's ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' since issue #160, after the departure of the previous chief writer Ken P ...
(born 1982), comic book writer (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Penny Fuller
A penny is a coin ( pennies) or a unit of currency (pl. pence) in various countries. Borrowed from the Carolingian denarius (hence its former abbreviation d.), it is usually the smallest denomination within a currency system. Presently, it is th ...
(born 1940), actress (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Mark Freiburger
Stephen Mark Freiburger (born July 16, 1983) is an American filmmaker.
Early life and education
* Graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in 2005.
Film work
* Writer/Director of the upcoming feature film ''Follow By ...
(born 1983), filmmaker (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Zach Galifianakis
Zachary Knight Galifianakis (born October 1, 1969) is an American actor and comedian. He appeared in ''Comedy Central Presents'' special and presented his show '' Late World with Zach'' on VH1.
Galifianakis has starred in films including ''T ...
(born 1969), comedian, actor, writer ( Wilkesboro)
* Gallagher (born 1947), comedian ( Fort Bragg)
*Ava Gardner
Ava Lavinia Gardner (December 24, 1922 – January 25, 1990) was an American actress. She first signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1941 and appeared mainly in small roles until she drew critics' attention in 1946 with her perform ...
(1922–1990), actress ( Smithfield)
*Kathryn Grayson
Kathryn Grayson (born Zelma Kathryn Elisabeth Hedrick; February 9, 1922 – February 17, 2010) was an American actress and coloratura soprano. Ronald Berganbr>Obituary '' London Guardian'', February 19, 2010.
From the age of twelve, Grayson trai ...
(1922–2010), actress and singer (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
* Paul Green (1894–1981), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, author of ''The Lost Colony
The establishment of the Roanoke Colony ( ) was an attempt by Sir Walter Raleigh to found the first permanent English settlement in North America. The English, led by Sir Humphrey Gilbert, had briefly claimed St. John's, Newfoundland, in ...
'' ( Lillington)
* Hayes Grier (born 2000), internet personality ( Davidson)
*Nash Grier
Hamilton Nash Grier (born December 28, 1997) is an American Internet personality. He became known for his online videos on the now-defunct video sharing service Vine in early 2013. By 2015, Grier was the second most-followed user on the platfo ...
(born 1997), internet personality (Davidson)
*Pam Grier
Pamela Suzette Grier (born May 26, 1949) is an American actress and singer. Described by Quentin Tarantino as cinema's first female action star (although, there are some who dispute that claim and believe Cheng Pei-pei actually holds that distinc ...
(born 1949), actress (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Rhoda Griffis
Rhoda Griffis (born January 9, 1965) is an American actress who has played supporting roles both in independent and mainstream films and television.
Life and career
Griffis appeared onstage in ''Angels in America'', '' Proof'', '' Collected Sto ...
(born 1945), actress (Raleigh)
*Andy Griffith
Andy Samuel Griffith (June 1, 1926 – July 3, 2012) was an American actor, comedian, television producer, southern gospel singer and writer whose career spanned seven decades in music and television. Known for his Southern drawl, his character ...
(1926–2012), actor, singer, director ( Mount Airy)
*George Grizzard
George Cooper Grizzard Jr. (April 1, 1928 – October 2, 2007) was an American stage, television, and film actor. He was the recipient of a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Tony Award, among other accolades.
Life and career
Grizzard ...
(1928–2007), Emmy- and Tony-winning actor (Roanoke Rapids
Roanoke Rapids () is a city in Halifax County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,754 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Roanoke Rapids Micropolitan Statistical Area, and is also an anchor city of the Rocky Mo ...
)
*Julianna Guill
Julianna Guill (born 1987) is an American actress. She is known for her roles as Bree in the 2009 film ''Friday the 13th'', Madison Penrose in ''My Super Psycho Sweet 16'', Scarlet Hauksson in the web series ''My Alibi'', Becca Riley in Bravo's ...
(born 1987), actress (Winston-Salem)
*Jester Hairston
Jester Joseph Hairston (July 9, 1901 – January 18, 2000) was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor and actor. He was regarded as a leading expert on black spirituals and choral music. His notable compositions include " ...
(1901–2000), actor ( Belews Creek)
* Michael C. Hall (born 1971), actor (Raleigh)
* Murray Hamilton (1923–1986), actor (Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
)
* Shirley Hemphill (1947–1999), stand-up comedian, actress (Asheville)
* Jackee Harry (born 1956), actress (Winston-Salem)
*Molly Haskell
Molly Clark Haskell (born September 29, 1939)Aitken, Ian, ed. (2006)''Encyclopedia of Documentary Film, Volume 2'' New York: Routledge. p. 541. . is an American feminist film critic and author. She contributed to ''The Village Voice''—fir ...
(born 1939), film critic (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
* Ed Hinton (1927–1958), actor ( Wilmington)
* Edwin Hodge (born 1985), actor (Jacksonville
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...
)
* Gill Holland (born 1964), film producer ( Davidson)
* Skip Hollandsworth (born 1957), screenwriter ( Kannapolis)
*Laurel Holloman
Laurel Lisa Holloman is an American Painting, painter and actress. She is best known for playing Tina Kennard in ''The L Word''.
Early life
Holloman is the youngest child in her family. She has two older brothers. She graduated from Saint Mary ...
(born 1971), actress ( Chapel Hill)
*Brian Huskey
Brian Huskey (born September 8, 1968) is an American character actor, comedian, and writer. He is best known for his roles in comedy programs such as ''People of Earth'', '' Childrens Hospital'', ''Veep'', and ''Another Period''. He also provides ...
(born 1968), actor, comedian (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Earle Hyman
Earle Hyman (born George Earle Plummer; October 11, 1926 – November 17, 2017) was an American stage, television, and film actor. Hyman is known for his role on '' ThunderCats'' as the voice of Panthro and various other characters. He also ap ...
(1926–2017), actor ( Rocky Mount)
*Anne Jeffreys
Anne Jeffreys (born Annie Jeffreys Carmichael; January 26, 1923 – September 27, 2017) was an American actress and singer. She was noted as the female lead in the 1950s TV series '' Topper''.
Career
Jeffreys was born Annie Jeffreys Carmichae ...
(1923–2017), actress ( Goldsboro)
*Burgess Jenkins
Burgess Jenkins (born October 24, 1973) is an American actor. He is known for work in the film '' Remember the Titans'' opposite Academy Award winner Denzel Washington; and as Hilary Swank's husband David Winter in '' The Reaping'' (2007).
...
(born 1973), actor (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Ken Jeong
Kendrick Kang-Joh Jeong (, ; born July 13, 1969) is an American actor, stand-up comedian, producer, writer and licensed physician. He rose to prominence for playing Leslie Chow in ''The Hangover'' film series (2009–2013) and Ben Chang in the ...
(born 1969), comedian, actor (Greensboro)
* Star Jones (born 1962), television personality ( Badin)
* Darwin Joston (1937–1998), actor (Winston-Salem)
*Allyn King
Allyn S. King (February 1, 1899 – March 31, 1930) was an American stage and film actress and singer who began her career in vaudeville, and later as a Ziegfeld Follies performer.
Early life
King was born in North Carolina to Allen S. and ...
(1899–1930), actress
* Tim Kirkman (born 1966), film director ( Monroe)
*Sharon Lawrence
Sharon Elizabeth Lawrence (born June 29, 1961) is an American actress who played Sylvia Costas Sipowicz in the ABC drama series '' NYPD Blue''. The role garnered her three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in ...
(born 1961), actress (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
/ Raleigh)
* Beth Leavel (born 1955), actress (Raleigh)
* Chyler Leigh (born 1982), actress (Charlotte)
* Barbara Loden (1932–1980), actor and film director (Marion Marion may refer to:
People
*Marion (given name)
*Marion (surname)
*Marion Silva Fernandes, Brazilian footballer known simply as "Marion"
*Marion (singer), Filipino singer-songwriter and pianist Marion Aunor (born 1992)
Places Antarctica
* Mario ...
)
Connor Paul (2008-) Comedian
;M–Z
*James McEachin
James McEachin (born May 20, 1930) is an American author and retired actor.
Military career
McEachin served in the United States Army before, and then during, the Korean War. Serving in King Company, 9th Infantry Regiment (United States), 2nd I ...
(born 1930), actor ( Rennert)
* Jane McNeill, actress ( Whiteville)
*Robert Duncan McNeill
Robert Duncan McNeill (born November 9, 1964) is an American director, producer, and actor. As an actor, he is best known for his role as Lieutenant Tom Paris on the television series '' Star Trek: Voyager''. He has also served as an executive ...
(born 1964), actor, director (Raleigh)
* Eddie Mills (born 1972), actor ( Kannapolis)
* Rogelio Mills, television personality, author, and recording artist (Charlotte)
*Julianne Moore
Julie Anne Smith (born December 3, 1960), known professionally as Julianne Moore, is an American actress. Prolific in film since the early 1990s, she is particularly known for her portrayals of emotionally troubled women in independent films, ...
(born 1960), actress ( Fort Bragg)
*Anita Morris
Anita Rose Morris (March 14, 1943 – March 2, 1994) was an American actress, singer and dancer. She began her career performing in Broadway musicals, including ''Jesus Christ Superstar'', ''Seesaw'' and ''Nine'', for which she received a Tony Awa ...
(1943–1994), actress (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Anna Mercedes Morris
Anna Mercedes Morris (born November 6, 1978) is a professional Hollywood stuntwoman and actress. She also goes by the alias Michelle Diamond.
Career
She has performed stunts on various shows and films including ''The Shield'', ''Wizards of Wave ...
(born 1977), stuntwoman (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
* Laura Moss (born 1973), actress ( Kings Mountain)
*Frankie Muniz
Francisco Muniz IV (; born December 5, 1985) is an American actor. He is best known for playing the title character in the Fox sitcom ''Malcolm in the Middle'' (2000–2006), which earned him an Emmy Award nomination and two Golden Globe Award ...
(born 1985), actor, best known as the star of the popular television series '' Malcolm in the Middle'', spent childhood in North Carolina ( Knightdale)
*Mike Muscat
Mike Muscat (born May 22, 1952) is an American actor. He has played an assortment roles in various television shows, including ''Totally Outrageous Behavior'' and '' The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde''.
Career
One of Muscat's earliest ...
(born 1952), actor ( Fort Bragg)
* Link Neal (born 1978), internetainer (Buies Creek
Buies Creek is a long 3rd order tributary to the Cape Fear River in Harnett County, North Carolina, United States.
Course
Buies Creek rises about 1.5 miles southeast of Angier and then flows south to join the Cape Fear River about 1 mile south ...
)
*John Haymes Newton
John Haymes Newton (born December 29, 1965) is a former American actor. He is known for his regular roles on the television programs ''Superboy'' as Clark Kent in the show's first season and as Ryan McBride on the soap opera ''Melrose Place''. ...
(born 1965), actor ( Chapel Hill)
*Lee Norris
Lee Michael Norris (born September 25, 1981) is an American actor, best known for his roles as Stuart Minkus on ''Boy Meets World'' and its spin-off '' Girl Meets World'', as well as Marvin "Mouth" McFadden on ''One Tree Hill One Tree Hill ma ...
(born 1981), actor ( Greenville)
* J.T. Petty (born 1977), video game maker (Raleigh)
*Jaime Pressly
Jaime Elizabeth Pressly (born July 30, 1977) is an American actress, fashion designer, and model. Best known for her role as Joy Turner on the NBC sitcom '' My Name Is Earl'', she won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in ...
(born 1977), actress, model ( Kinston)
* Emily Proctor (born 1968), actress (Raleigh)
*Jim Rash
James Rash (born July 15, 1971) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He portrayed the role of Dean Craig Pelton on the NBC sitcom ''Community'' (2009–2015), for which he was nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Bes ...
(born 1970), actor, comedian (Charlotte)
*Peyton Reed
Peyton Tucker Reed (born July 3, 1964) is an American television and film director. He directed the comedy films '' Bring It On'', '' Down with Love'', '' The Break-Up'', and '' Yes Man'', as well as the superhero film ''Ant-Man'' and its sequel ...
(born 1964), film and television director (Raleigh)
* Jon Reep (born 1972), stand-up comedian ( Hickory)
* Nina Repeta (born 1967), actress ( Shelby)
*Tequan Richmond
Tequan Richmond (; born October 30, 1992), also known as T-Rich, is an American actor best known for playing Drew Rock on the UPN/ CW sitcom ''Everybody Hates Chris''. Richmond played Ray Charles Jr. (son of singer and musician Ray Charles) in ...
(born 1992), actor ( Burlington)
*Britt Robertson
Brittany Leanna Robertson (born April 18, 1990) is an American actress. She is known for her lead role in '' The First Time'' (2012), and has appeared in the films ''Tomorrowland'' (2015), '' The Space Between Us'' (2017), ''A Dog's Purpose'' ...
(born 1990), actress (Charlotte)
* Marcy Rylan (born 1980), actress ( Providence Township)
*Soupy Sales
Milton Supman (January 8, 1926 – October 22, 2009), known professionally as Soupy Sales, was an American comedian, actor, radio-television personality, and jazz aficionado. He was best known for his local and network children's television serie ...
(1926–2009), comedian ( Franklinton)
* Christoph Sanders (born 1988), actor ( Arden / Hendersonville)
* Hunter Schafer (born 1999), actress (Raleigh
Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southeas ...
)
* Paul Schneider (born 1976), actor (Asheville)
* Judith Scott, actress ( Fort Bragg)
*Nick Searcy
Nicholas Alan Searcy (born March 7, 1959) is an American character actor best known for portraying Chief Deputy United States Marshal Art Mullen on FX's '' Justified''. He also had a major role in the Tom Hanks–produced miniseries ''From the ...
(born 1959), actor (Cullowhee
Cullowhee
, from the North Carolina Collection website at the ) *
* Alma Adams (born 1946), U.S. Congresswoman 2014–present ( High Point)
* John Ashe (1725–1781), Brigadier General during the 
*
*
*Ryan Adams (born 1974), singer-songwriter (
*Anthony Hamilton (musician), Anthony Hamilton (born 1985), soul music, soul artist (
*Dustin Ackley (born 1988), second baseman and outfielder for New York Yankees (
*Brian Canter (born 1987), professional bull rider on Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series tour (Randleman, North Carolina, Randleman)
*Chris Canty (defensive lineman), Chris Canty (born 1982), defensive lineman for the New York Giants (
*Bill Haas (born 1982), professional golfer (
*Corey LaJoie (born 1991), NASCAR driver (Concord)
*Mike LaValliere (born 1960), former MLB catcher who played with Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates (
*Matt Osborne (1957–2013), professional wrestler (
*Brian Vickers (born 1983), NASCAR driver (Thomasville, North Carolina, Thomasville)
*Fred Vinson (basketball), Fred Vinson (born 1971), NBA player, assistant coach for New Orleans Hornets (Rube Walker
''The Baseball Cube''. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
*Adam Warren (baseball), Adam Warren (born 1987), relief pitcher for New York Yankees (
*Jason V. Brock (born 1970), author, artist, editor, filmmaker (
*Sam Beddingfield (1933–2012), test pilot and NASA employee ( Clayton)
*Curtis Brown (born 1956), former NASA astronaut and United States Air Force (USAF) colonel (Elizabethtown, North Carolina, Elizabethtown)
*Myrtle Cagle (1925–2019), pilot and flight test instructor, one of the Mercury 13 female astronauts group
*Charles Duke (born 1935), Apollo 16 astronaut; tenth and youngest person to walk on moon (
*Ernest Angley (1921–2021), Christian evangelist and pastor of Grace Cathedral ( Gastonia)
*Leonard Bolick, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and served as the bishop of the List of ELCA synods, North Carolina Evangelical Lutheran Synod from 1997 to 2015 ( Lenoir)
*Casey Cole, American Franciscans, Franciscan friar, Catholic priest, writer, and blogger (
*Harry Anderson (1952–2018), actor best known as Judge Harry Stone from the television series ''Night Court'', 1984–1992 (Asheville)
*Maya Angelou (1928–2014), poet, historian, author, actress, playwright, producer, director, and professor at Wake Forest University (
*Wilmer Mizell (1930–1990), Major League Baseball pitcher and NC congressman (Midway, North Carolina, Midway)
*Sue Myrick (born 1941), Mayor of Charlotte 1987–1991; U.S. Congresswoman from North Carolina 1995–2013 (
, from the North Carolina Collection website at the ) *
Amy Sedaris
Amy Louise Sedaris (; born March 29, 1961) is an American actress, comedian, and writer. Most recently, she has appeared in both ''The Mandalorian'' (2019–2020) and '' The Book of Boba Fett'' (2022) as Peli Motto. She played Jerri Blank in the ...
(born 1961), actress and comedian, spent childhood in NC, best known as the star of the television series ''Strangers with Candy
''Strangers with Candy'' is an American comedy television series produced by Comedy Central. It first aired on April 7, 1999, and concluded its third and final season on October 2, 2000. Its timeslot was Sundays at 10:00 p.m. ( ET). A pr ...
'' (Raleigh)
*David Sedaris
David Raymond Sedaris (; born December 26, 1956) is an American humorist, comedian, author, and radio contributor. He was publicly recognized in 1992 when National Public Radio broadcast his essay " Santaland Diaries.” He published his first c ...
(born 1956), author and essayist (brother to Amy), spent childhood in NC (Raleigh)
*Matthew Settle
Jeffrey Matthew Settle (born September 17, 1969) is an American actor. He is known for playing Captain Ronald Speirs on the HBO miniseries '' Band of Brothers'' and Rufus Humphrey on the CW teen drama series ''Gossip Girl''.
Early life
Settl ...
(born 1969), actor ( Hickory)
*J. B. Smoove
Jerry Angelo Brooks (born December 16, 1965), commonly known by his stage name J. B. Smoove, is an American actor, comedian and writer. After beginning his career in 1995 on ''Def Comedy Jam'', he was a writer and performer on NBC's ''Saturday Ni ...
(born 1964), actor ( Plymouth)
* Arthur Smith (1921–2014), musician, composer, radio and television producer (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Josef Sommer
Maximilian Josef Sommer (born June 26, 1934) is a retired German-American stage, television, and film actor.
Early life
He was born in Greifswald, Germany, and raised in North Carolina, the son of Elisabeth and Clemens Sommer, a professor of Art ...
(born 1934), character actor, appeared in movies such as '' X-Men: The Last Stand'', '' The Sum of All Fears'', and '' Patch Adams'' (raised in North Carolina)
* Margo Stilley (born 1982), actress ( Bear Creek)
* Jessica Stroup (born 1986), actress (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Skeet Ulrich
Skeet Ulrich (; born Bryan Ray Trout on January 20, 1970) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in popular 1990s films, including Billy Loomis in '' Scream'' (1996), Chris Hooker in '' The Craft'' (1996) and Vincent Lopiano in '' ...
(born 1970), actor (Concord
Concord may refer to:
Meaning "agreement"
* Pact or treaty, frequently between nations (indicating a condition of harmony)
* Harmony, in music
* Agreement (linguistics), a change in the form of a word depending on grammatical features of other ...
)
*Liz Vassey
Elizabeth Leigh Vassey (born August 9, 1972) is an American actress. Her most notable roles include Emily Ann Sago on ''All My Children'', Captain Liberty on ''The Tick'', Wendy Simms on ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', Lou on '' Brotherly L ...
(born 1972), actress (Raleigh)
*Reginald VelJohnson
Reginald VelJohnson (born Reginald VelJohnson; August 16, 1952) is an American actor. He is best known for playing police officer characters, such as Carl Winslow on the sitcom ''Family Matters,'' which ran from 1989 to 1998, and LAPD Sergeant ...
(born 1952), actor (Raleigh)
* Briana Venskus (born 1987), actress ( Wilmington)
*Ben Vereen
Benjamin Augustus Vereen (born October 10, 1946) is an American actor, dancer and singer. Vereen gained prominence for his performances in the original Broadway productions of the musicals '' Jesus Christ Superstar'', for which he received a T ...
(born 1946), actor, entertainer (Laurinburg
Laurinburg is a city in and the county seat of Scotland County, North Carolina, Scotland County, North Carolina, United States. Located in southern North Carolina near the South Carolina border, Laurinburg is southwest of Fayetteville, North Car ...
)
*Jill Wagner
Jill Suzanne Wagner (born ) is an American actress and television personality. She was the on-field host for the ABC game show '' Wipeout'' from 2008 to 2014. Since then, Wagner has starred in several made-for-television films for the Hallmark ...
(born 1979), actress, model (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
* Gregory Walcott (1928–2015), actor ( Wendell)
* James Harvey Ward (born 1978), actor ( Greenville)
* Lachlan Watson (born 2001), actor (Raleigh)
* Kevin Williamson (born 1965), screenwriter (New Bern
New Bern, formerly called Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 29,524, which had risen to an estimated 29,994 as of 2019. It is the county seat of Craven County and t ...
)
*Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Mary Elizabeth Winstead (born November 28, 1984) is an American actress and singer. Her first significant role was that of Jessica Bennett on the NBC soap opera ''Passions'' (1999–2000). She went on to appear in series such as ''Tru Calling' ...
(born 1984), actress ( Rocky Mount)
*Evan Rachel Wood
Evan Rachel Wood (born September 7, 1987) is an American actress and activist. She is the recipient of a Critics' Choice Television Award as well as three Primetime Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe Award nominations for her work ...
(born 1987), actress (Raleigh)
*Bellamy Young
Bellamy Young (born Amy Maria Young; February 19, 1970) is an American actress, producer and singer, best known for her role as Melody "Mellie" Grant in the ABC drama series'' Scandal'' (2012–2018). In 2014 for her portrayal of Mellie, she won ...
(born 1970), actress (Asheville)
Government, military, and public figures
;A–I
* Alma Adams (born 1946), U.S. Congresswoman 2014–present ( High Point)
* John Ashe (1725–1781), Brigadier General during the American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
, in charge of North Carolina militia and state troops from 1776 to 1779 ( New Hanover County)
*William Blount
William Blount (March 26, 1749March 21, 1800) was an American Founding Father, statesman, farmer and land speculator who signed the United States Constitution. He was a member of the North Carolina delegation at the Constitutional Convention o ...
(1749–1800), first North Carolina signatory of United States Constitution; played a role in the creation of the State of Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
(Windsor
Windsor may refer to:
Places Australia
* Windsor, New South Wales
** Municipality of Windsor, a former local government area
* Windsor, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland
**Shire of Windsor, a former local government authority around Wi ...
)
*Erskine Bowles
Erskine Boyce Bowles (born August 8, 1945) is an American businessman and political figure from North Carolina. He served from 2005 to 2010 as the president of the University of North Carolina system. In 1997–98 he served as White House Chi ...
(born 1945), White House Chief of Staff under 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 ...
, president of University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina is the multi-campus public university system for the state of North Carolina. Overseeing the state's 16 public universities and the NC School of Science and Mathematics, it is commonly referred to as the UNC Sy ...
system (Greensboro
Greensboro (; formerly Greensborough) is a city in and the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, third-most populous city in North Carolina after Charlotte, North Car ...
)
* William G. Boykin, Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence under George W. Bush
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...
, retired lieutenant general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
for U.S. Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...
(New Bern
New Bern, formerly called Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 29,524, which had risen to an estimated 29,994 as of 2019. It is the county seat of Craven County and t ...
)
*Braxton Bragg
Braxton Bragg (March 22, 1817 – September 27, 1876) was an American army officer during the Second Seminole War and Mexican–American War and Confederate general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, serving in the Western ...
(1817–1876), General in Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...
; led Confederate Army of Tennessee
The Army of Tennessee was the principal Confederate army operating between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River during the American Civil War. It was formed in late 1862 and fought until the end of the war in 1865, participating i ...
in battles of Perryville, Stones River
The Stones River (properly spelled Stone's River) is a major stream of the eastern portion of Tennessee's Nashville Basin region. It is named after explorer and longhunter Uriah Stone, who navigated the river in 1767.
Geography and hydrography
T ...
, Chickamauga Chickamauga may refer to:
Entertainment
* "Chickamauga", an 1889 short story by American author Ambrose Bierce
* "Chickamauga", a 1937 short story by Thomas Wolfe
* "Chickamauga", a song by Uncle Tupelo from their 1993 album ''Anodyne''
* ''Chic ...
, and Third Battle of Chattanooga against Union General Ulysses Grant
Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant ; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. As Commanding General, he led the Union Ar ...
( Warrenton)
*Jim Broyhill
James Thomas Broyhill (born August 19, 1927) is an American former businessman and United States Republican Party, Republican United States House of Representatives, U.S. Representative and United States Senator, Senator from the state of North ...
(born 1927), former 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 ...
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 ...
and Senator
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
from North Carolina; son of furniture magnate J. E. Broyhill ( Lenoir)
* James Burnley (born 1948), U.S. Secretary of Transportation
The United States secretary of transportation is the head of the United States Department of Transportation. The secretary serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all matters relating to transportation. The secre ...
under President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...
(Greensboro)
*Robert Byrd
Robert Carlyle Byrd (born Cornelius Calvin Sale Jr.; November 20, 1917 – June 28, 2010) was an American politician and musician who served as a United States senator from West Virginia for over 51 years, from 1959 until his death in 2010. A ...
(1917–2010), U.S. Senator from 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 Bur ...
; longest-serving Senator in American history (North Wilkesboro
North Wilkesboro is a town in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States, approximately 80 miles north of Charlotte. The population was 4,131 at the 2020 US Census. North Wilkesboro is the birthplace and original home of Lowe's Home Improvemen ...
)
*Lee Carter Lee Carter may refer to:
* Lee Carter (baseball), American baseball player
*Lee Carter (comics), British fantasy artist
* Lee Carter (''EastEnders''), fictional character
* Lee J. Carter (born 1987), member of the Virginia House of Delegates
* Vipe ...
, elected delegate for 50th House district of Virginia and retired U.S. Marine
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through com ...
veteran as IT specialist (Elizabeth City
Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 18,629. Elizabeth City is the county seat and largest city of Pasquotank County. It is the cultural, economic and educ ...
)
* Julius L. Chambers (1936–2013), civil rights attorney who successfully argued 1971 '' Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education'' school busing case before U.S. Supreme Court ( Mount Gilead)
*Levi Coffin
Levi Coffin (October 28, 1798 – September 16, 1877) was an American Quaker, Republican, abolitionist, farmer, businessman and humanitarian. An active leader of the Underground Railroad in Indiana and Ohio, some unofficially called Coffin the " ...
(1798–1877), abolitionist
Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the movement to end slavery. In Western Europe and the Americas, abolitionism was a historic movement that sought to end the Atlantic slave trade and liberate the enslaved people.
The British ...
and educator known as "President" of the Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was a network of clandestine routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century. It was used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and Canada. T ...
; credited with helping over 2,000 slaves escape to freedom before Civil War (Greensboro)
*Roy Cooper
Roy Asberry Cooper III (born June 13, 1957) is an American attorney and politician, serving as the 75th governor of North Carolina since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 49th attorney general of North Carolina from 20 ...
(born 1957), 75th governor of North Carolina
The governor of North Carolina is the head of government of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The governor directs the executive branch of the government and is the commander in chief of the military forces of the state. The current governor, ...
(Nashville
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and the ...
)
* Jerry K. Crump (1933–1977), U.S. Army soldier; 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 (Charlotte)
* Josephus Daniels (1862–1948), U.S. Secretary of the Navy
The secretary of the Navy (or SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department (component organization) within the United States Department of Defense.
By law, the se ...
1913–1921 under President Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...
; journalist and founder of ''Raleigh News and Observer
''The News & Observer'' is an American regional daily newspaper that serves the greater Triangle area based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The paper is the largest in circulation in the state (second is the ''Charlotte Observer''). The paper has bee ...
'' newspaper (Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
)
* William Dodd (1869–1940), U.S. ambassador to Nazi-Germany
Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
1933–1938 under Franklin Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...
( Clayton)
*Elizabeth Dole
Mary Elizabeth Alexander Hanford Dole (née Hanford; born July 29, 1936)Mary Ella Cathey Hanford, "Asbury and Hanford Families: Newly Discovered Genealogical Information" ''The Historical Trail'' 33 (1996), pp. 44–45, 49. is an American attorn ...
(born 1936), U.S. Senator and Secretary of Transportation
A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a wh ...
under President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...
; wife to former Republican Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole
Robert Joseph Dole (July 22, 1923 – December 5, 2021) was an American politician and attorney who represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996. He was the Republican Leader of the Senate during the final 11 years of his te ...
(Salisbury
Salisbury ( ) is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England with a population of 41,820, at the confluence of the rivers Avon, Nadder and Bourne. The city is approximately from Southampton and from Bath.
Salisbury is in the southeast of ...
)
*Sam Ervin
Samuel James Ervin Jr. (September 27, 1896April 23, 1985) was an American politician. A Southern Democrats, Democrat, he served as a United States Senate, U.S. Senator from North Carolina from 1954 to 1974. A native of Morganton, North Carolina, ...
(1896–1985), four-term U.S. Senator and Chairman of Senate Watergate
The Watergate scandal was a major political scandal in the United States involving the administration of President Richard Nixon from 1972 to 1974 that led to Nixon's resignation. The scandal stemmed from the Nixon administration's continual ...
Investigation Committee; began legislative process which led to resignation of President Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...
( Morganton)
*Virginia Foxx
Virginia Ann Foxx ( Palmieri;Foxx, Virginia Ann
. ''Biographical Directory of ...
(born 1943), U.S. Congresswoman 2005–present; graduated from the . ''Biographical Directory of ...
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States ...
( Crossnore)
*Charles A. Gabriel
Charles Alvin Gabriel (January 21, 1928 – September 4, 2003) was the 11th Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force. As chief of staff, Gabriel served in a dual capacity. He was a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff which, as a body, acts as ...
(1928–2003), U.S. Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sign ...
General, 11th chief of staff of U.S. Air Force ( Lincolnton)
*Nick Galifianakis Nick Galifianakis may refer to:
*Nick Galifianakis (politician) (1928–2023), American congressman
*Nick Galifianakis (cartoonist)
Nick Galifianakis () is an American cartoonist and artist. Since 1997, he has drawn the cartoons for the national ...
(born 1928), U.S. Congressman from North Carolina 1967–1973 (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Richard Jordan Gatling
Richard Jordan Gatling (September 12, 1818 – February 26, 1903) was an American inventor best known for his invention of the Gatling gun, which is considered to be the first successful machine gun.
Life
Gatling was born in Hertford County, Nort ...
(1818–1903), physician and inventor of Gatling gun ( Hertford County)
*John Gibbon
John Gibbon (April 20, 1827 – February 6, 1896) was a career United States Army officer who fought in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars.
Early life
Gibbon was born in the Holmesburg section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the fourt ...
(1827–1896), Union Army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...
general in American Civil War and colonel in the American Indian Wars
The American Indian Wars, also known as the American Frontier Wars, and the Indian Wars, were fought by European governments and colonists in North America, and later by the United States and Canadian governments and American and Canadian settle ...
(Charlotte)
* The Greensboro Four, male African-American students at North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (also known as North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina A&T, N.C. A&T, or simply A&T) is a public, historically black land-grant research university in Greensboro, North Caro ...
who in 1960 started first civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private individuals. They ensure one's entitlement to participate in the civil and political life of ...
sit-in
A sit-in or sit-down is a form of direct action that involves one or more people occupying an area for a protest, often to promote political, social, or economic change. The protestors gather conspicuously in a space or building, refusing to mo ...
; led to restaurants being desegregated throughout Southern U.S.
*John H. Hager
John Henry Hager (August 28, 1936August 23, 2020) was an American politician who served as the 37th Lieutenant Governor of Virginia from 1998 to 2002. He was the first person with a disability to be elected to that office. He proceeded to act as ...
(1936–2020), Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
* William D. Halyburton Jr. (1924–1945), United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
hospital corpsman; posthumously awarded Medal of Honor ( Wilmington)
*Jesse Helms
Jesse Alexander Helms Jr. (October 18, 1921 – July 4, 2008) was an American politician. A leader in the conservative movement, he served as a senator from North Carolina from 1973 to 2003. As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee ...
(1921–2008), retired five-term Senator
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
from North Carolina and national spokesman for right-wing causes ( Monroe)
*James Pinckney Henderson
James Pinckney Henderson (March 31, 1808 – June 4, 1858) was an American and Republic of Texas lawyer, politician, and soldier, and the first governor of the State of Texas.
Early years
He was born in Lincolnton, North Carolina, on March 31, ...
(1808–1858), lawyer, politician, soldier, and first Governor of Texas ( Lincolnton)
*Robert Hoke
Robert Frederick Hoke (May 27, 1837 – July 3, 1912) was a Confederate major general during the American Civil War. He was present at one of the earliest battles, the Battle of Big Bethel, where he was commended for coolness and judgment. Wo ...
(1837–1912), Major General in Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...
, director of North Carolina Railroad
The North Carolina Railroad is a state-owned rail corridor extending from Morehead City, North Carolina to Charlotte, North Carolina. The railroad carries over seventy freight trains offered by the Norfolk Southern Railway and eight passenger t ...
( Lincolnton)
*William Woods Holden
William Woods Holden (November 24, 1818 – March 1, 1892) was an American politician who served as the List of Governors of North Carolina, 38th and 40th governor of North Carolina. He was appointed by President of the United States, President ...
(1818–1892), prominent Southern Unionist
In the United States, Southern Unionists were white Southerners living in the Confederate States of America opposed to secession. Many fought for the Union during the Civil War. These people are also referred to as Southern Loyalists, Union Lo ...
, served as 38th and 40th Governor of North Carolina
The governor of North Carolina is the head of government of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The governor directs the executive branch of the government and is the commander in chief of the military forces of the state. The current governor, ...
( Hillsborough)
*Jim Hunt
James Baxter Hunt Jr. (born May 16, 1937) is an American politician and retired attorney who was the List of governors of North Carolina, 69th and 71st Governor of North Carolina (1977–1985, and 1993–2001). He is the longest-serving governo ...
(born 1937), Governor of North Carolina
The governor of North Carolina is the head of government of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The governor directs the executive branch of the government and is the commander in chief of the military forces of the state. The current governor, ...
for a record four terms; opposed Jesse Helms
Jesse Alexander Helms Jr. (October 18, 1921 – July 4, 2008) was an American politician. A leader in the conservative movement, he served as a senator from North Carolina from 1973 to 2003. As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee ...
in 1984 Senate race ( Wilson)
;J–Z
*Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was an American lawyer, planter, general, and statesman who served as the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before being elected to the presidency, he gained fame as ...
(1767–1845), 7th President of the United States, 1829–1837 ( Waxhaw) (It should be noted his birth records are unclear and he may be from South Carolina side of border.)
* Lawrence Joel (1928–1984), United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
soldier; 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 (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson (December 29, 1808July 31, 1875) was the 17th president of the United States, serving from 1865 to 1869. He assumed the presidency as he was vice president at the time of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Johnson was a Dem ...
(1808–1875), 17th President of the United States, 1865–1869 (Raleigh
Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southeas ...
)
* Henry Johnson (1892–1929), United States Army soldier in World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
; posthumously awarded Medal of Honor (Winston-Salem)
*Joseph Lane
Joseph "Joe" Lane (December 14, 1801 – April 19, 1881) was an American politician and soldier. He was a state legislator representing Evansville, Indiana, and then served in the Mexican–American War, becoming a general. President James K. ...
(1801–1881), United States Army general and member of U.S. Senate
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 ...
from Oregon
Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...
(Buncombe County
Buncombe County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is classified within Western North Carolina. The 2020 census reported the population was 269,452. Its county seat is Asheville. Buncombe County is part of the Ashevill ...
)
* William Lenoir (1751–1839), American patriot
A patriot is a person with the quality of patriotism.
Patriot may also refer to:
Political and military groups United States
* Patriot (American Revolution), those who supported the cause of independence in the American Revolution
* Patriot m ...
, served in the Battle of Kings Mountain
The Battle of Kings Mountain was a military engagement between Patriot and Loyalist militias in South Carolina during the Southern Campaign of the American Revolutionary War, resulting in a decisive victory for the Patriots. The battle took pla ...
and several other skirmishes during the American Revolution
The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...
, also the first President of the board of trustees of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States ...
( Wilkes County)
*Dolley Madison
Dolley Todd Madison (née Payne; May 20, 1768 – July 12, 1849) was the wife of James Madison, the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. She was noted for holding Washington social functions in which she invited members of bo ...
(1768–1849), wife of President James Madison
James Madison Jr. (March 16, 1751June 28, 1836) was an American statesman, diplomat, and Founding Father. He served as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. Madison is hailed as the "Father of the Constitution" for hi ...
(Guilford County
Guilford County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population is 541,299, making it the third-most populous county in North Carolina. The county seat, and largest municipality, is Greensboro. S ...
)
*Linda McMahon
Linda Marie McMahon (née Edwards; October 4, 1948) is an American political executive, retired professional wrestler, executive, and performer. She served as the 25th administrator of the Small Business Administration from 2017 to 2019.
McMahon ...
(born 1948), Administrator of the Small Business Administration
The administrator of the Small Business Administration is the head of the Small Business Administration of the United States Government. President Barack Obama announced in January 2012 that he would elevate the SBA administrator into the Cabine ...
under President Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...
(New Bern
New Bern, formerly called Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 29,524, which had risen to an estimated 29,994 as of 2019. It is the county seat of Craven County and t ...
)
*Solomon Meredith
Solomon Meredith (May 29, 1810 – October 2, 1875) was a prominent Indiana farmer, politician, and lawman who became a controversial Union Army general in the American Civil War. One of the commanders of the Iron Brigade of the Army of the ...
(1810–1875), Union Army
During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union (American Civil War), Union of the collective U.S. st ...
general, one of the commanders of the Iron Brigade
The Iron Brigade, also known as The Black Hats, Black Hat Brigade, Iron Brigade of the West, and originally King's Wisconsin Brigade was an infantry brigade in the Union Army of the Potomac during the American Civil War. Although it fought ent ...
of the Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the principal Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was created in July 1861 shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run and was disbanded in June 1865 following the surrender of the Confedera ...
(Guilford County
Guilford County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population is 541,299, making it the third-most populous county in North Carolina. The county seat, and largest municipality, is Greensboro. S ...
)
*Mick Mulvaney
John Michael Mulvaney (born July 21, 1967) is an American politician who served as director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from February 2017 until March 2020, and as acting White House Chief of Staff from January 2019 until March ...
(born 1967), South Carolina
)''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no)
, anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind"
, Former = Province of South Carolina
, seat = Columbia
, LargestCity = Charleston
, LargestMetro = ...
Congressman, Director of Office of Management and Budget
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is the largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). OMB's most prominent function is to produce the president's budget, but it also examines agency programs, pol ...
under President Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.
Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pe ...
(Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Hardy Murfree
Hardy Murfree (June 5, 1752 – April 6, 1809) was a lieutenant colonel from North Carolina during the American Revolutionary War.
Early life
Murfree was born on June 5, 1752 at Murfree's Landing, North Carolina, later renamed Murfreesboro.
...
(1752–1809), Lieutenant Colonel from North Carolina during the American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...
(Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro is a city in and county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 152,769 according to the 2020 census, up from 108,755 residents certified in 2010. Murfreesboro is located in the Nashville metropol ...
)
* Charles P. Murray Jr. (1921–2011), United States Army officer; 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 during World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
(Wilmington)
*Walter Hines Page
Walter Hines Page (August 15, 1855 – December 21, 1918) was an American journalist, publisher, and diplomat. He was the United States ambassador to the United Kingdom during World War I.
He founded the ''State Chronicle'', a newspaper in Rale ...
(1855–1918), U.S. ambassador to Britain during First World War (Cary
Cary may refer to:
Places
;United States
* Cary, Illinois, part of the Chicago metropolitan area
* Cary, Indiana, part of the Indianapolis metropolitan area
* Cary, Miami County, Indiana
* Cary, Maine
* Cary, Mississippi
* Cary, North Carolina ...
)
*William Dorsey Pender
William Dorsey Pender (February 6, 1834 – July 18, 1863) was a general in the Confederacy in the American Civil War serving as a brigade and divisional commander. Promoted to brigadier on the battlefield at Seven Pines by Confederate President ...
(1834–1863), Major General, one of youngest generals in Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...
, mortally wounded at Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg () was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, by Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. In the battle, Union Major General George Meade's Army of the Po ...
(Edgecombe County
Edgecombe County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 48,900. Its county seat is Tarboro.
Edgecombe County is part of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Metropolitan Statistical Area ...
)
*James K. Polk
James Knox Polk (November 2, 1795 – June 15, 1849) was the 11th president of the United States, serving from 1845 to 1849. He previously was the 13th speaker of the House of Representatives (1835–1839) and ninth governor of Tennessee (183 ...
(1797–1849), 11th President of the United States, 1845–1849 ( Mecklenburg County)
*Eliza Jane Pratt
Eliza Jane Pratt (March 5, 1902 – May 13, 1981) was a U.S. Representative from North Carolina, the first woman to represent her state in the U.S. Congress.
She was the only woman elected to the U.S. House from North Carolina until the 1992 ele ...
(1902–1981), U.S. Congresswoman 1946–1947 (Anson County
Anson County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,055. Its county seat is Wadesboro.
History
The county was formed in 1750 from Bladen County. It was named for George Anson, Ba ...
)
*Stephen Dodson Ramseur
Stephen Dodson Ramseur (May 31, 1837 – October 20, 1864) was a Confederate general in the American Civil War, at one point the youngest in the army. He impressed Lee by his actions at Malvern Hill and Chancellorsville, where his brigade led S ...
(1837–1864), Major General in Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...
; mortally wounded at the Battle of Cedar Creek
The Battle of Cedar Creek, or Battle of Belle Grove, was fought on October 19, 1864, during the American Civil War. The fighting took place in the Shenandoah Valley of Northern Virginia, near Cedar Creek, Middletown, and the Valley Pike. Du ...
Virginia ( Lincolnton)
* William Cary Renfrow (1845–1922), 3rd
Third or 3rd may refer to:
Numbers
* 3rd, the ordinal form of the cardinal number 3
* , a fraction of one third
* Second#Sexagesimal divisions of calendar time and day, 1⁄60 of a ''second'', or 1⁄3600 of a ''minute''
Places
* 3rd Street (d ...
Governor of Oklahoma Territory
The governor of Oklahoma is the head of government of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Under the Oklahoma Constitution, the governor serves as the head of the Oklahoma executive branch, of the government of Oklahoma. The governor is the ''ex officio ...
, 1893–1897 ( Smithfield)
* Hiram Revels (1822–1901), first African-American member of United States Senate
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 pow ...
( Fayetteville)
*Jennifer Roberts Jennifer Roberts may refer to:
* Jennifer Roberts (judge), judge of the High Court of England and Wales
* Jennifer Roberts (politician)
Jennifer Roberts is an American politician, businesswoman and former diplomat who served as the 58th mayor ...
(born 1960), served as the 58th Mayor of Charlotte (Charlotte)
*Hugh Shelton
Henry Hugh Shelton (born January 2, 1942) is a former United States Army officer who served as the 14th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1997 to 2001.
Early life, family and education
Shelton was born in Tarboro, North Carolina and g ...
(born 1942), retired U.S. Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...
General, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is the body of the most senior uniformed leaders within the United States Department of Defense, that advises the president of the United States, the secretary of defense, the Homeland Security Council and the ...
1997–2001 ( Tarboro)
*Edward Snowden
Edward Joseph Snowden (born June 21, 1983) is an American and naturalized Russian former computer intelligence consultant who leaked highly classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA) in 2013, when he was an employee and su ...
(born 1983), NSA
The National Security Agency (NSA) is a national-level intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense, under the authority of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). The NSA is responsible for global monitoring, collecti ...
contractor who leaked top-secret documents regarding worldwide spying program (Elizabeth City
Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 18,629. Elizabeth City is the county seat and largest city of Pasquotank County. It is the cultural, economic and educ ...
)
* Richard Dobbs Spaight Sr (1758–1802), second NC signatory of U.S. Constitution and eighth Governor of North Carolina
The governor of North Carolina is the head of government of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The governor directs the executive branch of the government and is the commander in chief of the military forces of the state. The current governor, ...
(New Bern
New Bern, formerly called Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 29,524, which had risen to an estimated 29,994 as of 2019. It is the county seat of Craven County and t ...
)
*Edgar V. Starnes
Edgar Vance Starnes is a North Carolina politician and an investor in real estate. He served as a Republican member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for a total of approximately 20 years, from 1987 to 1988 and from 1997 through J ...
(born 1956), served in the North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the Bicameralism, bicameral legislature of the Government of North Carolina, State government of North Carolina. The legislature consists of two chambers: the North Carolina Senate, Senate and the North Ca ...
( Granite Falls)
*Blake Wayne Van Leer
Blake Wayne Van Leer (January 13, 1926 – October 3, 1997) was a United States Navy officer who commanded the naval construction Battalion Seabees during World War II and the Vietnam War. He led the expansion of submarine-launched ballistic ...
(1926–1997), Commander and Captain in the U.S. Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...
, led SeaBee
United States Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the Navy Seabees, form the U.S. Naval Construction Force (NCF). The Seabee nickname is a heterograph of the initial letters "CB" from the words "Construction Battalion". Depending upon ...
program and lead the nuclear research and power unit at McMurdo Station
McMurdo Station is a United States Antarctic research station on the south tip of Ross Island, which is in the New Zealand-claimed Ross Dependency on the shore of McMurdo Sound in Antarctica. It is operated by the United States through the Unit ...
during Operation Deep Freeze
Operation Deep Freeze (OpDFrz or ODF) is codename for a series of United States missions to Antarctica, beginning with "Operation Deep Freeze I" in 1955–56, followed by "Operation Deep Freeze II", "Operation Deep Freeze III", and so on. (There w ...
(Raleigh
Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southeas ...
)
* Don Vaughan (born 1952), former member of the North Carolina State Senate who pushed for Susie's Law in 2010 (Greensboro)
*Robert F. Williams
Robert Franklin Williams (February 26, 1925 – October 15, 1996) was an American civil rights leader and author best known for serving as president of the Monroe, North Carolina chapter of the NAACP in the 1950s and into 1961. He succeede ...
(1925–1996), civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from infringement by governments, social organizations, and private individuals. They ensure one's entitlement to participate in the civil and political life of ...
activist who advocated using black armed guards to defend African-American neighborhoods from white supremacist groups ( Monroe)
*John Ancrum Winslow
John Ancrum Winslow (19 November 1811 – 29 September 1873) was an officer in the United States Navy during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. He was in command of the steam sloop of war during her historic 1864 action off C ...
(1811–1873), officer in the United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
during the Mexican–American War
The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the (''United States intervention in Mexico''), was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It followed the 1 ...
and 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 ...
(Wilmington)
Journalism and media
*Mary Ann Akers
Mary Ann Akers is a freelance writer and adjunct professor of journalism at American University. She was a blogger and reporter for The Washington Post, a national correspondent for NPR and a political gossip columnist for Roll Call newspaper, appe ...
, political gossip columnist ( High Point)
*David Brinkley
David McClure Brinkley (July 10, 1920 – June 11, 2003) was an American newscaster for NBC and ABC in a career lasting from 1943 to 1997.
From 1956 through 1970, he co-anchored NBC's top-rated nightly news program, '' The Huntley–Brinkl ...
(1920–2003), television newscaster
A news presenter – also known as a newsreader, newscaster (short for "news broadcaster"), anchorman or anchorwoman, news anchor or simply an anchor – is a person who presents news during a news program on TV, radio or the Internet. ...
, host of ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
-TV's '' This Week with David Brinkley'' 1981–96; co-anchor of the '' Huntley-Brinkley Report'' nightly newscast on NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an Television in the United States, American English-language Commercial broadcasting, commercial television network, broadcast television and radio network. The flagship property of the NBC Enterta ...
-TV 1956–70 ( Wilmington)
*Sharon Dahlonega Raiford Bush
Sharon Dahlonega Bush (born Sharon Daisy Raiford) is an American television newscaster and print journalist."Additions Made To Newswatch 3 Staff" ''The Commercial Appeal'', February 3, 1981. She was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, and resides ...
, née Sharon Crews (born 1952), American television's first African-American female weather anchor of prime-time news (Greensboro)
*Howard Cosell (1918–1995), television sports journalist, star of ABC's ''Monday Night Football'', commentator for many fights of Muhammad Ali (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
* Josephus Daniels (1862–1948), founder of ''Raleigh News and Observer
''The News & Observer'' is an American regional daily newspaper that serves the greater Triangle area based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The paper is the largest in circulation in the state (second is the ''Charlotte Observer''). The paper has bee ...
'' newspaper; U.S. Secretary of the Navy
The secretary of the Navy (or SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department (component organization) within the United States Department of Defense.
By law, the se ...
1913–1921 under President Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...
(Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
)
*David Gergen (born 1942), journalist; editor-at-large for ''U.S. News & World Report''; director of Center for Public Leadership at John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Harvard; senior political analyst at CNN (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Al Hunt (born 1942), journalist, managing editor for Bloomberg News, panelist on CNN's ''Capital Gang'' news program (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Carl Kassel (1934–2018), radio personality for NPR and journalist ( Goldsboro)
*Anna Kooiman (born 1984), anchor and reporter for Fox News Channel, Fox News; co-host of ''Fox & Friends'' (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Charles Kuralt (1934–1997), journalist and CBS television personality ( Wilmington)
*Jennifer Loven, journalist and White House correspondent for Associated Press (Matthews, North Carolina, Matthews)
*Edward R. Murrow (1908–1965), CBS News journalist and pioneer of television (near Greensboro)
*Walter Hines Page
Walter Hines Page (August 15, 1855 – December 21, 1918) was an American journalist, publisher, and diplomat. He was the United States ambassador to the United Kingdom during World War I.
He founded the ''State Chronicle'', a newspaper in Rale ...
(1855–1918), journalist and publisher (Cary
Cary may refer to:
Places
;United States
* Cary, Illinois, part of the Chicago metropolitan area
* Cary, Indiana, part of the Indianapolis metropolitan area
* Cary, Miami County, Indiana
* Cary, Maine
* Cary, Mississippi
* Cary, North Carolina ...
)
*Charlie Rose (born 1942), interviewer and journalist; host of PBS television talk show and ''CBS This Morning'' ( Henderson)
*Morgan Radford (born 1987), news reporter for NBC News and MSNBC (Greensboro
Greensboro (; formerly Greensborough) is a city in and the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, third-most populous city in North Carolina after Charlotte, North Car ...
)
*Vermont C. Royster (1914–1996), editor-in-chief of ''The Wall Street Journal'' 1957–1970; winner of two Pulitzer Prizes (Raleigh)
*Stuart Scott (1965–2015), television sportscaster, anchor of ESPN's ''SportsCenter''; graduated from University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina is the multi-campus public university system for the state of North Carolina. Overseeing the state's 16 public universities and the NC School of Science and Mathematics, it is commonly referred to as the UNC Sy ...
(Winston-Salem)
*André Leon Talley (born 1949), professional fashion journalist and former editor-at-large of ''Vogue (magazine), Vogue'' (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Wilbert Tatum (1933–2009), editor, publisher, chairman and chief executive officer of ''New York Amsterdam''
Musicians
;A–G
*Ryan Adams (born 1974), singer-songwriter (Jacksonville
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...
and Raleigh)
*Clay Aiken (born 1978), pop singer (Raleigh)
*Doug Aldrich (born 1964), guitarist (Raleigh)
*Tim Alexander (born 1965), drummer for Primus (band), Primus (Cherry Point)
*Gerald Alston (born 1951), of R&B group Gerald Alston & The Manhattans ( Henderson)
*Tori Amos (born 1963), singer (Newton, North Carolina, Newton)
*Sunshine Anderson (born 1974), R&B and soul singer-songwriter (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
and Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Seth Avett (born 1980), singer-songwriter, artist (Concord
Concord may refer to:
Meaning "agreement"
* Pact or treaty, frequently between nations (indicating a condition of harmony)
* Harmony, in music
* Agreement (linguistics), a change in the form of a word depending on grammatical features of other ...
)
*Scott Avett (born 1976), singer-songwriter, artist (Concord)
*Nicholas William Bailey (born 1980), film and television composer, singer-songwriter (New Bern
New Bern, formerly called Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 29,524, which had risen to an estimated 29,994 as of 2019. It is the county seat of Craven County and t ...
)
*Bessie Banks (born 1938), singer (born Bessie White)
*Warren Barfield (born 1979), Christians, Christian musician ( Goldsboro)
*Fantasia Barrino (born 1984), singer, ''American Idol'' Season 3 winner ( High Point)
*Riley Baugus (born 1965), indigenous Appalachian musician (Walkertown, North Carolina, Walkertown)
*B.o.B (born 1988), rapper and record producer (Winston-Salem)
*Margie Bowes (1941–2020), country music singer (Roxboro, North Carolina, Roxboro)
*Alicia Bridges
Alicia Bridges (born July 15, 1953) is an American singer and songwriter who co-wrote and performed her international hit " I Love the Nightlife (Disco 'Round)" in 1978.
Early years
Born in Charlotte, North Carolina and raised in the small Cle ...
(born 1953), disco singer (Lawndale, North Carolina, Lawndale)
*Chuck Brown (1936–2012), known as "The Godfather of Go-go" (Garysburg, North Carolina, Garysburg)
*Nappy Brown (1922-2008), R&B singer (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Shirley Caesar (born 1938), singer (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Jason Michael Carroll (born 1978), singer (Raleigh)
*Spencer Chamberlain (born 1983), singer-songwriter ( Chapel Hill)
*Eric Church (born 1977), country singer-songwriter ( Granite Falls)
*George Clinton (funk musician), George Clinton (born 1941), funk musician ( Kannapolis)
*John Coltrane (1926–1967), jazz musician (Hamlet, North Carolina, Hamlet)
*David L. Cook (born 1968), Christian recording artist and comedian (Charlotte)
*J. Cole (born 1985), rapper ( Fayetteville)
*Luke Combs (born 1990), country music singer (Asheville)
*Elizabeth Cotten (1895–1987), folk and blues singer-songwriter (Carrboro)
*Bucky Covington (born 1977), singer (Rockingham, North Carolina, Rockingham)
*DaBaby (born 1991), rapper (Charlotte)
*Charlie Daniels (1936–2020), singer-songwriter ( Wilmington)
*Chris Daughtry (born 1979), singer (Roanoke Rapids
Roanoke Rapids () is a city in Halifax County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,754 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Roanoke Rapids Micropolitan Statistical Area, and is also an anchor city of the Rocky Mo ...
and Greensboro)
*Tommy DeCarlo (born 1965), singer for Boston (band), Boston (Charlotte)
*Patrick Douthit (a.k.a. 9th Wonder) (born 1975), hip-hop producer (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Jermaine Dupri (born 1972), rap artist and record producer (Asheville)
*Fred Durst (born 1970), frontman for the rap rock band Limp Bizkit; grew up and graduated from high school in NC ( Gastonia)
*Mitch Easter (born 1954), singer-songwriter, producer (R.E.M.), frontman for Let's Active (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Donna Fargo (born 1945), singer-songwriter ( Mount Airy)
*Roberta Flack (born 1937), Grammy Award-winning singer (Asheville)
*Ben Folds (born 1966), singer-songwriter (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
and Chapel Hill)
*Audley Freed guitarist, songwriter
*Nnenna Freelon (born 1964), six-time Grammy-nominated jazz singer (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Blind Boy Fuller (1908–1941), blues guitarist and singer ( Wadesboro)
*Alfreda Gerald, opera singer and classical soloist ( Morganton)
*Don Gibson (1928–2003), country music singer-songwriter, Country Music Hall of Fame ( Shelby)
*Rhiannon Giddens (born 1977), singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, co-founder of the Carolina Chocolate Drops (Greensboro)
*Cordae (born 1997), rapper (Raleigh)
;H–Z
*Anthony Hamilton (musician), Anthony Hamilton (born 1985), soul music, soul artist (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*George Hamilton IV (1937–2014), country singer (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Wilbert Harrison (1929–1994), singer, pianist (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Warren Haynes (born 1960), Southern rock and blues singer, guitarist for Gov't Mule and The Allman Brothers Band (Asheville)
*Jimmy Herring (born 1962), guitarist for Widespread Panic ( Fayetteville)
*Byron Hill (born 1952), country songwriter (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Michael Houser (1962–2002), guitarist, founding member of Widespread Panic (Boone, North Carolina, Boone)
*Maria Howell (born 1962), singer ( Gastonia)
*Stonewall Jackson (singer), Stonewall Jackson (born 1932), country singer and musician (Tabor City, North Carolina, Tabor City)
*Caleb Johnson (born 1991), singer and ''American Idol'' Season 13 winner (Asheville)
*Randy Jones (singer), Randy Jones (born 1953), singer of Village People (Raleigh)
*K-Ci & JoJo, "K-Ci" and "JoJo" Hailey (born 1969 and 1971 respectively), Contemporary R&B, R&B Duet, duo of R&B group Jodeci (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Hal Kemp (1904–1940), bandleader, composer, arranger with two number one songs ( Chapel Hill)
*Cheyenne Kimball (born 1990), singer-songwriter, guitarist, mandolinist ( Wilmington)
*Ben E. King (1938–2015), singer-songwriter ( Henderson)
*Jim Lauderdale (born 1957), bluegrass and country singer-songwriter (Troutman, North Carolina, Troutman)
*Alesana, Dennis Lee (born 1988), singer-songwriter (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
and Raleigh)
*Del McCoury (born 1939), bluegrass musician ( Bakersville)
*Scotty McCreery (born 1993), country singer and ''American Idol'' Season 10 winner (Garner, North Carolina, Garner)
*Tift Merritt (born 1975), singer-songwriter, musician (Raleigh)
*Ronnie Milsap (born 1946), country singer-songwriter (Robbinsville, North Carolina, Robbinsville)
*Dave Moody (musician), Dave Moody (born 1962), Dove Award-winning producer, songwriter, filmmaker ( Fayetteville)
*Thelonious Monk (1917–1982), jazz composer, pianist ( Rocky Mount)
*The-Dream, real name Terius Nash, R&B singer, writer, producer (Rockingham, North Carolina, Rockingham)
*Oliver (singer), Oliver (born William Oliver Swofford) (1945–2000), singer (North Wilkesboro
North Wilkesboro is a town in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States, approximately 80 miles north of Charlotte. The population was 4,131 at the 2020 US Census. North Wilkesboro is the birthplace and original home of Lowe's Home Improvemen ...
)
*Petey Pablo (born 1978), rap artist ( Greenville)
*Maceo Parker (born 1943), songwriter, musician ( Kinston)
*Kellie Pickler (born 1986), singer, ''American Idol'' contestant (Albemarle, North Carolina, Albemarle)
*Joseph Poole (born 1976), rock musician (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Neil Pope (born 1978), gospel singer (Asheboro, North Carolina, Asheboro)
*Edward Wiley Ray (born 1926), music executive, songwriter (Franklin, North Carolina, Franklin)
*Del Reeves (1934–2007), country singer-songwriter (Sparta, North Carolina, Sparta)
*Calvin Richardson (born 1976), R&B singer-songwriter ( Monroe, North Carolina, Union County)
*Max Roach (1924–2007), jazz drummer (Pasquotank County, North Carolina, Pasquotank County)
*Porter Robinson (born 1992), electronic dance musician ( Chapel Hill)
*Earl Scruggs (1924–2012), bluegrass banjo player ( Shelby)
*William Self (organist), William Self (1906–1998), organist and choirmaster ( Lenoir)
*Woody Shaw (1944–1989), trumpeter, DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame (Laurinburg)
*Nina Simone (1933–2003), singer, Grammy Award Hall of Fame (Tryon, North Carolina, Tryon)
* Arthur Smith (1921–2014), composer, entertainer, producer (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Chloe Smith, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist for Rising Appalachia (Buncombe County)
*Leah Song, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, frontwoman for Rising Appalachia (Buncombe County)
*Peter Stroud, guitarist, rock musician; co-founder of 65amps (Greensboro)
*Supastition (born 1976), hip-hop artist ( Greenville)
*James Taylor (born 1948), singer-songwriter in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ( Chapel Hill)
*Randy Travis (born 1959), singer in Country Music Hall of Fame (Marshville, North Carolina, Marshville)
*Loudon Wainwright III (born 1946), songwriter, folk singer, humorist ( Chapel Hill)
*Doc Watson (1923–2012), folk guitarist (Deep Gap, North Carolina, Deep Gap)
*Link Wray (1929–2005), guitarist, rock musician, songwriter (Dunn, North Carolina, Dunn)
*George Younce (1930–2005), gospel singer (Caldwell County, North Carolina, Caldwell County)
Sportspeople
;A–B
*Dustin Ackley (born 1988), second baseman and outfielder for New York Yankees (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Sam Aiken (born 1980), wide receiver; Buffalo Bills (2003–07); New England Patriots (2008–10) (Warsaw, North Carolina, Warsaw)
*Walt Aikens (born 1991), cornerback and free safety for Miami Dolphins (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Dwayne Allen (born 1990), tight end for Indianapolis Colts ( Fayetteville)
*Kadeem Allen (born 1993), basketball player in the NBA and currently for Hapoel Haifa B.C., Hapoel Haifa in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
*Keenan Allen (born 1992), wide receiver for San Diego Chargers (Greensboro)
*James Anderson (American football), James Anderson (born 1983), linebacker for Carolina Panthers (Roanoke Rapids
Roanoke Rapids () is a city in Halifax County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,754 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Roanoke Rapids Micropolitan Statistical Area, and is also an anchor city of the Rocky Mo ...
)
*Stephone Anthony (born 1992), linebacker for New Orleans Saints (Polkton, North Carolina, Polkton)
*Luke Appling (1907–1991), National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop for the Chicago White Sox ( High Point)
*Chris Archer (born 1988), pitcher for Tampa Bay Rays ( Clayton)
*Darrell Armstrong (born 1968), NBA point guard, assistant coach for Dallas Mavericks ( Gastonia)
*Shawn Armstrong (born 1990), relief pitcher for Cleveland Indians (Bridgeton, North Carolina, Bridgeton)
*J. J. Arrington (born 1983), pro football player ( Rocky Mount)
*Kathleen Baker (born 1997), Olympic Games, Olympic gold and silver medalist swimmer (Winston-Salem)
*Scott Bankhead (born 1963), former Major League Baseball, MLB pitcher (Raleigh)
*Billy Ray Barnes (born 1935), NFL player 1957–66 for Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, and Minnesota Vikings; 3-time Pro Bowl (Landis)
*Brian Barnes (baseball), Brian Barnes (born 1967), Major League Baseball, MLB pitcher for Montreal Expos, Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers (Roanoke Rapids
Roanoke Rapids () is a city in Halifax County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,754 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Roanoke Rapids Micropolitan Statistical Area, and is also an anchor city of the Rocky Mo ...
)
*Darrius Barnes (born 1986), Major League Soccer player (Raleigh)
*Jim Beatty (born 1934), track and field athlete, first person to break 4-minute barrier on an indoor track (Charlotte)
*Bobby Bell (born 1940), Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker and defensive end for Kansas City Chiefs ( Shelby)
*Walt Bellamy (1938–2013), basketball player, National Basketball Association, NBA Hall of Fame (New Bern)
*Ricky Berens (born 1988), two-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming (Charlotte)
*Heather Bergsma (born 1989), Olympic Speed skating, speed skater, earned a bronze medal (High Point)
*Brenton Bersin (born 1990), wide receiver for Carolina Panthers (Charlotte)
*Henry Bibby (born 1949), basketball player for 3-time national champion UCLA Bruins men's basketball, UCLA, NBA player, college and pro coach ( Franklinton)
*Eddie Biedenbach (born 1945), basketball player for NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and for North Carolina State University, NC Sports Hall of Fame (Wrightsville Beach)
*Ryan Blaney (born 1993), NASCAR driver ( High Point)
*Arthur Bluethenthal (1891–1918), college football player and World War I pilot
*Stephen Bowen (American football), Stephen Bowen (born 1984), defensive end for New York Jets (Holly Ridge, North Carolina, Holly Ridge)
*Garrett Bradbury (born 1995), Center (gridiron football), center for the Minnesota Vikings (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Hal Bradley (1913–1981), football player for NFL's Washington Redskins and Chicago Cardinals (NFL, 1920–59), Chicago Cardinals (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Louis Breeden, defensive back with Cincinnati Bengals (1978–1987)
*Andre Brown (running back), Andre Brown (born 1986), Fullback (American football), fullback for Washington Redskins ( Greenville)
*Dyami Brown (born 1999), football player
*Jason Brown (American football), Jason Brown (born 1983), Center (American football), center for St. Louis Rams ( Henderson)
*Derek Brunson (born 1984), Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC fighter (Wilmington)
*Madison Bumgarner (born 1989), MLB pitcher, 3-time World Series champion, 2014 World Series MVP (Hudson, North Carolina, Hudson)
*Smoky Burgess (1927–1991), Major League Baseball player, 9-time All-Star (Caroleen, North Carolina, Caroleen)
*Josh Bush (born 1989), Safety (gridiron football position), free safety for Denver Broncos ( Burlington)
*Crezdon Butler (born 1987), cornerback for Pittsburgh Steelers (Asheville)
*Dremiel Byers (born 1974), Greco-Roman wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestler, World Champion and member of two Olympic teams ( Kings Mountain)
*William Byron (racing driver), William Byron (born 1997), NASCAR driver (Charlotte)
;C–G
*Brian Canter (born 1987), professional bull rider on Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series tour (Randleman, North Carolina, Randleman)
*Chris Canty (defensive lineman), Chris Canty (born 1982), defensive lineman for the New York Giants (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Bruce Carter (American football), Bruce Carter (born 1988), linebacker for Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Havelock, North Carolina, Havelock)
*Carter Capps, relief pitcher for Miami Marlins, born in Kinston
*Joey Cheek (born 1979), Olympic gold medalist Speed Skating, speed skater (Greensboro)
*Lonnie Chisenhall (born 1988), utility player for Cleveland Indians (Newport, North Carolina, Newport)
*Dwight Clark (1957–2018), two-time All-Pro wide receiver for San Francisco 49ers; led 49ers to first Super Bowl appearance with a last-minute touchdown catch in 1982 NFC Championship Game ( Kinston)
*Jim Cleamons (born 1949), former NBA guard (basketball), guard, Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks; assistant coach for Lakers ( Lincolnton)
*Tony Cloninger (1940–2018), MLB pitcher (Cherryville, North Carolina, Cherryville)
*Jonathan Cooper (born 1990), guard for NFL's Arizona Cardinals ( Wilmington)
*Terrance Copper (born 1982), wide receiver for Kansas City Chiefs (Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
)
*Charlie Cozart (1919–2004), MLB pitcher for the Boston Braves (baseball), Boston Braves ( Lenoir)
*Wade Crane (1944–2010), professional Pool (cue sports), pool player (Robbinsville, North Carolina, Robbinsville)
*Sam Cronin (born 1986), former Major League Soccer player (Winston-Salem)
*Alge Crumpler (born 1977), tight end for New England Patriots, selected four times for Pro Bowl ( Greenville)
*Chris Culliver (born 1988), cornerback for San Francisco 49ers (Garner, North Carolina, Garner)
*Kenwin Cummings (born 1986), former NFL linebacker for New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys (Maxton, North Carolina, Maxton)
*Aaron Curry (American football), Aaron Curry (born 1986), linebacker for Seattle Seahawks ( Fayetteville)
*Seth Curry (born 1990), player for Dallas Mavericks (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Stephen Curry (basketball), Stephen Curry (born 1988), player for 3-time NBA champion Golden State Warriors, 2-time NBA MVP (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Antico Dalton (born 1975), former NFL player (Eden, North Carolina, Eden)
*Brad Daugherty (basketball), Brad Daugherty (born 1965), All-America basketball player for University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, UNC-Chapel Hill and NBA player for the Cleveland Cavaliers; television commentator for Raycom Media (Black Mountain, North Carolina, Black Mountain)
*Russell Davis (defensive tackle), Russell Davis (born 1975), former NFL defensive tackle ( Fayetteville)
*Walter Davis (basketball), Walter Davis (born 1954), basketball player for UNC-Chapel Hill and NBA's Phoenix Suns; 6-time NBA All-Star (Pineville, North Carolina, Pineville)
*Lindsay Deal (1911–1979), MLB outfielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers ( Lenoir)
*James Dickey (basketball, born 1996), James L. Dickey III (born 1996), basketball player for Hapoel Haifa B.C., Hapoel Haifa of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
*Austin Dillon (born 1990), NASCAR driver (Lewisville, North Carolina, Lewisville)
*Mike Dillon (racing driver), Mike Dillon (born 1965), former NASCAR driver ( Lexington)
*Ty Dillon (born 1992), NASCAR driver (Lewisville, North Carolina, Lewisville)
*Matt Dodge (born 1987), former punter (football), punter for New York Giants (Morehead City, North Carolina, Morehead City)
*Ryan Dull (born 1989), relief pitcher for Oakland Athletics (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Ray Durham (born 1971), MLB second baseman (Charlotte)
*Kony Ealy (born 1991), defensive end for Carolina Panthers ( Morganton)
*Dale Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Sr. (1951–2001), renowned NASCAR driver nicknamed "The Intimidator" for aggressive driving style; winner of 76 NASCAR races, 7-time NASCAR Cup Series, Cup Series champion ( Kannapolis)
*Dale Earnhardt Jr. (born 1974), championship-winning NASCAR driver and protégé of his father, Dale Earnhardt Sr. ( Kannapolis)
*Brad Edwards (American football), Brad Edwards (born 1966), safety for Washington Redskins, made two interceptions in Super Bowl XXVI (Lumberton, North Carolina, Lumberton)
*Carl Eller (born 1942), former NFL defensive end; member of Pro Football Hall of Fame (Winston-Salem)
*Dannell Ellerbe (born 1985), linebacker for New Orleans Saints (Hamlet, North Carolina, Hamlet)
*Vince Evans (born 1955), 1977 Rose Bowl Game, Rose Bowl MVP for University of Southern California, quarterback for NFL's Los Angeles Raiders and Chicago Bears (Greensboro)
*Rick Ferrell (1905–1995), Baseball Hall of Fame catcher for Boston Red Sox Washington Senators (1901–60), Washington Senators and St Louis Browns (Durham)
*Perry Fewell (born 1962), coach for Washington Redskins ( Gastonia)
*Cortland Finnegan (born 1984), cornerback for Carolina Panthers ( Fayetteville)
*Raymond Floyd (born 1942), professional golfer, member of the World Golf Hall of Fame (Fayetteville)
*Phil Ford (basketball), Phil Ford (born 1956), retired point guard for Kansas City Kings, New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets, won NBA Rookie of the Year Award, '78–'79 NBA Rookie of the Year Award; NBA coach ( Rocky Mount)
*Roman Gabriel (born 1940), All-America quarterback for North Carolina State University, NC State; played for NFL's Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles, named league's NFL Most Valuable Player Award, MVP in 1969 ( Wilmington)
*Omar Gaither (born 1984), linebacker for Philadelphia Eagles (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Julian Gamble (born 1989), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
*Harry Gant (born 1940), former NASCAR driver (Taylorsville, North Carolina, Taylorsville)
*David Garrard (born 1978), East Carolina University football player, quarterback for Jacksonville Jaguars (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Kenny Gattison (born 1964), NBA player, coach for Atlanta Hawks ( Wilmington)
*Alvin Gentry (born 1954), head coach for Phoenix Suns ( Shelby)
*Joe Gibbs (born 1940), Hall of Fame head coach for NFL's Washington Redskins and owner of Joe Gibbs Racing; won Super Bowl in 1982, 1987, and 1991; won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship in 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2015 (Mocksville, North Carolina, Mocksville)
*Marcus Gilchrist (born 1988), cornerback for San Diego Chargers ( High Point)
*Harry Giles (basketball), Harry Giles (born 1998), NBA player for the Sacramento Kings (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Mark Grace (born 1964), baseball player, Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star and Gold Glove Award-winning first baseman; MLB record for hits (1,754) and doubles (364) in decade of 1990s, broadcaster, coach (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Jimmy Graham (born 1986), tight end for New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, and Green Bay Packers ( Goldsboro)
*Robert Griswold (born 1996), swimmer
*Todd Gurley (born 1994), NFL running back, 3-time Pro Bowl selection and 2-time First-team All-Pro ( Tarboro)
;H–K
*Bill Haas (born 1982), professional golfer (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Chris Hairston (born 1989), offensive tackle for Buffalo Bills (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*P. J. Hairston (born 1992), player for Charlotte Hornets (Greensboro)
*Jimmie Hall (born 1938), MLB outfielder (Mount Holly, North Carolina, Mount Holly)
*Chris Hanburger (born 1941), NFL linebacker for the Washington Redskins, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame ( Fort Bragg)
*Josh Hamilton (born 1981), outfielder for Texas Rangers (baseball), Texas Rangers (Raleigh)
*Dee Hardison (1956–2018), former NFL defensive lineman, primarily for Buffalo Bills and New York Giants (Jacksonville
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...
)
*Jeff Hardy (born 1977), professional wrestler, entertainer (Cameron, North Carolina, Cameron)
*Justin Hardy (born 1991), wide receiver for Atlanta Falcons (Vanceboro, North Carolina, Vanceboro)
*Matt Hardy (born 1974), professional wrestler, entertainer (Cameron)
*Montrezl Harrell (born 1994), Power forward (basketball), power forward for Houston Rockets ( Tarboro)
*C. J. Harris (basketball), C. J. Harris, American basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League (Winston-Salem)
*Matt Harrison (baseball), Matt Harrison (born 1985), pitcher for Philadelphia Phillies (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Kendra Harrison (born 1992), Olympic Hurdling, hurdler and world record holder in the 100 m outdoor hurdles ( Clayton)
*Bryan Harvey (born 1963), MLB pitcher, two-time All-Star (1991, 1993) and List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders, AL saves leader in 1991 (Catawba, North Carolina, Catawba)
*Chris Hatcher (pitcher), Chris Hatcher (born 1985), pitcher for Los Angeles Dodgers ( Kinston)
*William Hayes (American football), William Hayes (born 1985), defensive end for Tennessee Titans ( High Point)
*Brendan Haywood (born 1979), center (basketball), center for Cleveland Cavaliers (Greensboro)
*Andy Headen (born 1960), linebacker for New York Giants 1983–1988 (Asheboro, North Carolina, Asheboro)
*Madison Hedgecock (born 1981), Fullback (American football), fullback for St. Louis Rams and New York Giants; selected All-Pro in 2008 (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Gregory Helms (born 1974), professional wrestler, entertainer ( Smithfield)
*Tommy Helms, former Major League Baseball infielder, member of the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum, Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Daniel Hemric (born 1991), NASCAR driver ( Kannapolis)
*B. J. Hill (American football), B. J. Hill (born 1996), defensive end for the New York Giants (Oakboro, North Carolina, Oakboro)
*Ryan Hill (born 1990), Long-distance running, long-distance Running, runner ( Hickory)
*David Henderson (basketball), Dave Henderson (born 1964), basketball player, 1991 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP ( Warrenton)
*Sterling Hitchcock (born 1971), former Major League Baseball, MLB pitcher for New York Yankees and San Diego Padres ( Fayetteville)
*Megan Hodge (born 1988), indoor volleyball player (Durham)
*Greg Holland (baseball), Greg Holland (born 1985), relief pitcher for Colorado Rockies (Marion Marion may refer to:
People
*Marion (given name)
*Marion (surname)
*Marion Silva Fernandes, Brazilian footballer known simply as "Marion"
*Marion (singer), Filipino singer-songwriter and pianist Marion Aunor (born 1992)
Places Antarctica
* Mario ...
)
*DeVonte Holloman (born 1991), former linebacker for Dallas Cowboys (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Torry Holt (born 1976), North Carolina State University, NC State and St. Louis Rams wide receiver (1999–2008); seven-time National Football League, NFL Pro Bowl (Gibsonville, North Carolina, Gibsonville)
*Brad Hoover, football player for Carolina Panthers, attended Western Carolina University (Thomasville, North Carolina, Thoamsville)
*Joe Horn (born 1972), wide receiver, Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints (born in Connecticut; grew up in Fayetteville)
*Josh Howard (born 1980), small forward and shooting guard for Utah Jazz (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Jason Hunter (American football), Jason Hunter (born 1983), defensive end for Oakland Raiders (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Catfish Hunter, Jim "Catfish" Hunter (1946–1999), Major League Baseball pitcher, starting for Oakland Athletics and New York Yankees in five World Series championships during 1970s; Baseball Hall of Fame (Hertford, North Carolina, Hertford)
*Othello Hunter (born 1986), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League (Winston-Salem)
*D. J. Humphries (born 1993), NFL Tackle (gridiron football position), offensive tackle (Charlotte)
*Brandon Ingram (born 1997), NBA for the Los Angeles Lakers ( Kinston)
*Mark Ingram Sr. (born 1965), NFL wide receiver, primarily with New York Giants (Gaston, North Carolina, Gaston)
*John Isner (born 1985), professional tennis player (Greensboro)
*Bobby Jackson (basketball), Bobby Jackson (born 1973), NBA player and assistant coach of Sacramento Kings (East Spencer, North Carolina, East Spencer)
*Antawn Jamison (born 1976), NBA power forward (basketball), power forward and two-time All-Star (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Dale Jarrett (born 1956), long-time NASCAR driver and winner of 1999 NASCAR Championship (Conover, North Carolina, Conover)
*Glenn Jarrett (born 1950), former NASCAR driver (Conover, North Carolina, Conover)
*Ned Jarrett (born 1932), former NASCAR driver; two-time NASCAR champion (Conover)
*Austin Johnson (fullback), Austin Johnson (born 1989), fullback (gridiron football), fullback for New Orleans Saints ( Hickory)
*Brad Johnson (American football), Brad Johnson (born 1968), former NFL quarterback, won Super Bowl XXXVII with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Black Mountain, North Carolina, Black Mountain)
*Junior Johnson (1931–2019), moonshiner who eluded capture by outrunning law enforcement on mountain roads; early superstar of NASCAR; subject of 1965 ''Esquire (magazine), Esquire'' magazine article by Tom Wolfe ( Wilkes County)
*Marc Johnson (skateboarder), Marc Johnson (born 1970), professional skateboarder (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Bobby Jones (basketball, born 1951), Bobby Jones (born 1951), former NBA player, 4-time All-Star, 8-time All-Defensive First Team, member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Daniel Jones (American football), Daniel Jones (born 1997), NFL quarterback for the New York Giants (Charlotte)
*Sam Jones (basketball, born 1933), Sam Jones (1933–2021), Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Hall of Fame basketball player for Boston Celtics ( Wilmington)
*Michael Jordan (born 1963), basketball player, University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina is the multi-campus public university system for the state of North Carolina. Overseeing the state's 16 public universities and the NC School of Science and Mathematics, it is commonly referred to as the UNC Sy ...
, winner of six NBA championships with Chicago Bulls, 1984 and 1992 Olympics gold medalist, member of Pro Basketball Hall of Fame, NBA executive ( Wilmington)
*Sonny Jurgensen (born 1934), Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback for Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles; later served as commentator for Redskins radio ( Wilmington)
*Darius Kilgo (born 1991), Tackle (gridiron football position), nose tackle for Denver Broncos (Matthews, North Carolina, Matthews)
*Clyde King (1924–2010), Major League Baseball, MLB pitcher, coach (baseball), coach, manager (baseball), manager, general manager (baseball), general manager, and Front office (sports), front office executive ( Goldsboro)
* Stuart Krohn (born 1962), professional rugby union player (Durham)
;L–N
*Corey LaJoie (born 1991), NASCAR driver (Concord)
*Mike LaValliere (born 1960), former MLB catcher who played with Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Dexter Lawrence (born 1997), nose tackle for the New York Giants (Wake Forest, North Carolina, Wake Forest)
*Vonta Leach (born 1981), fullback (American football), fullback for Baltimore Ravens (Lumberton, North Carolina, Lumberton)
*Meadowlark Lemon (1932–2015), basketball player for Harlem Globetrotters; nicknamed the "Clown Prince" ( Wilmington)
*Buck Leonard (1907–1997), Baseball Hall of Fame, first baseman Homestead Grays (Rocky Mount)
*Sugar Ray Leonard (born 1956), championship Boxing, boxer, 1976 Olympic gold medalist, world welterweight champion ( Wilmington)
*Caroline Lind (born 1982), two-time Olympic gold medalist Rowing (sport), rower (Greensboro)
*Camille Little (born 1985), WNBA player (Winston-Salem)
*Greg Little (wide receiver), Greg Little (born 1989), wide receiver for Cleveland Browns (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Zack Littell (born 1995), relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins (Mebane, North Carolina, Mebane)
*Sean Locklear (born 1981), offensive tackle for Seattle Seahawks (Lumberton, North Carolina, Lumberton)
*Davis Love III (born 1964), professional golfer, attended UNC-Chapel Hill (Charlotte)
*Calvin Lowry (born 1983), football player, Penn State and NFL's Tennessee Titans and Denver Broncos ( Fayetteville)
*John Lucas II (born 1953), former NBA player, assistant coach for Houston Rockets (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Bob Mann (American football), Bob Mann (1924–2006), wide receiver for Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers; first African-American player for both teams; Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1988 (New Bern
New Bern, formerly called Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 29,524, which had risen to an estimated 29,994 as of 2019. It is the county seat of Craven County and t ...
)
*Bruce Matthews (American football), Bruce Matthews (born 1961), former NFL offensive lineman, 7-time First-team All-Pro, 14-time Pro Bowl selection, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame (Raleigh)
*Pete Maravich (1947–1988), Hall of Fame NBA player, graduated from Needham B. Broughton High School (Raleigh
Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southeas ...
)
*Ricardo Marsh (born 1981), basketball player, 2007 Israeli Basketball Premier League Statistical Leaders, top scorer in the Israel Basketball Premier League ( Hillsborough)
*Kareem Martin (born 1992), outside linebacker for the New York Giants (Roanoke Rapids
Roanoke Rapids () is a city in Halifax County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 15,754 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Roanoke Rapids Micropolitan Statistical Area, and is also an anchor city of the Rocky Mo ...
)
*Mohamed Massaquoi (born 1986), wide receiver for Cleveland Browns (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*J. B. Mauney (born 1987), professional bull rider on Built Ford Tough Series ( Mooresville)
*Cameron Maybin (born 1987), outfielder for New York Yankees (Asheville)
*Eric Maynor (born 1987), point guard for Oklahoma City Thunder (Raeford, North Carolina, Raeford)
*Bob McAdoo, Robert "Bob" McAdoo (born 1951), Hall of Fame basketball player for UNC-Chapel Hill and NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers; led UNC to 1971 NCAA Final Four (Greensboro)
*Chris McCain (born 1991), linebacker for Miami Dolphins (Greensboro)
*Rick McGraw, "Quickdraw" Rick McGraw (1955–1985), professional wrestler (Charlotte)
*Bones McKinney (1919–1997), NBA player and college coach (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Kathy McMillan (born 1957), Olympic Long jump, long jumper, member of National Track and Field Hall of Fame (Raeford, North Carolina, Raeford)
*Nate McMillan (born 1964), retired guard for Seattle SuperSonics; head coach for Portland Trail Blazers (Raleigh)
*Whit Merrifield (born 1989), second baseman and left fielder for the Kansas City Royals (Advance, North Carolina, Advance)
*David Merritt (American football), David Merritt (born 1971), National Football League, NFL linebacker, defensive backs coach for New York Giants (Raleigh)
*Jason Miller (fighter), Jason Miller (born 1980), mixed martial arts fighter ( Fayetteville / Fort Bragg)
*Kevin Millwood (born 1974), pitcher for Seattle Mariners ( Gastonia)
*Akil Mitchell (born 1992), American-Panamanian basketball player for Maccabi Rishon LeZion (basketball), Maccabi Rishon LeZion of the Israeli Israeli Basketball Premier League, Premier League (Charlotte)
*Bryan Mitchell (born 1991), pitcher for New York Yankees (Reidsville, North Carolina, Reidsville)
*Brian Moehler (born 1971), starting pitcher for Houston Astros (Rockingham, North Carolina, Rockingham)
*Scottie Montgomery (born 1978), NFL wide receiver, coach for Pittsburgh Steelers ( Shelby)
*Shannon Moore (born 1979), professional wrestler, entertainer (Cameron, North Carolina, Cameron)
*Sio Moore (born 1990), NFL linebacker (Apex, North Carolina, Apex)
*Joe Morris (American football), Joe Morris (born 1960), running back for New York Giants and Cleveland Browns (Fort Bragg)
*Anthony Morrow (born 1985), basketball player for Oklahoma City Thunder (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Wil Myers (born 1990), MLB outfielder for Tampa Bay Rays, San Diego Padres (Thomasville, North Carolina, Thomasville)
*Fred "Curly" Neal (1942–2020), Point guard, guard for Harlem Globetrotters (Greensboro)
*John Hunter Nemechek (born 1997), NASCAR driver ( Mooresville)
*Hakeem Nicks (born 1988), NFL wide receiver, Super Bowl XLVI champion with New York Giants (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
;O–T
*Matt Osborne (1957–2013), professional wrestler (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Willie Parker (born 1980), running back for Pittsburgh Steelers ( Clinton)
*Chris Paul (born 1985), NBA All-Star Game, All-Star point guard for Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, won NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 2006 (Lewisville, North Carolina, Lewisville)
*Logan Pause (born 1981), Major League Soccer player and member of United States men's national soccer team, USMNT ( Hillsborough)
*Julius Peppers (born 1980), All-America American football, football player and basketball player for UNC-Chapel Hill; only athlete in history to have played in both NCAA Final Four and NFL Super Bowl; All-Pro outside linebacker for Green Bay Packers (Bailey, North Carolina, Bailey)
*Gaylord Perry (born 1938), Major League Baseball, MLB pitcher in Baseball Hall of Fame; first to win Cy Young Award in both American League, American and National League, National Leagues (Williamston, North Carolina, Williamston)
*Greg Peterson (American football), Greg Peterson (born 1984), defensive tackle, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, All-American at North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University (NCCU or NC Central) is a public historically black university in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by James E. Shepard in affiliation with the Chautauqua movement in 1909, it was supported by private funds from ...
, Kenansville, North Carolina
*Lee Petty (1914–2000), stock car driver, pioneer of NASCAR and three-time NASCAR champion in the 1950s; father of Richard Petty (Randleman, North Carolina, Randleman)
*Richard Petty (born 1937), stock car driver, holder of NASCAR record for all-time victories at 200, 7-time NASCAR Cup Series, Cup Series champion; son of Lee Petty (Randleman, North Carolina, Randleman)
*Brandon Phillips (born 1981), second baseman for Atlanta Braves, two-time Major League Baseball All-Star Game, All-Star and won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award, Gold Glove Award three times (Raleigh)
*Bradley Pinion (born 1994), Punter (football), punter for San Francisco 49ers (Concord
Concord may refer to:
Meaning "agreement"
* Pact or treaty, frequently between nations (indicating a condition of harmony)
* Harmony, in music
* Agreement (linguistics), a change in the form of a word depending on grammatical features of other ...
)
*Eddie Pope (born 1973), former Major League Soccer player, member of the United States men's national soccer team, USMNT, member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame ( High Point)
*J. T. Poston (born 1993), professional Golf, golfer ( Hickory)
*Landon Powell (born 1982), catcher and first baseman for Oakland A's (Raleigh)
*Mike Quick, wide receiver with Philadelphia Eagles (1982–1990)
*Shavlik Randolph (born 1983), NBA player (Raleigh)
*Juvonte Reddic (born 1992), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
*Kevin Reddick (born 1989), linebacker for Carolina Panthers (New Bern
New Bern, formerly called Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 29,524, which had risen to an estimated 29,994 as of 2019. It is the county seat of Craven County and t ...
)
*Jeff Reed (American football), Jeff Reed (born 1979), placekicker for Pittsburgh Steelers (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Mary Reynolds (baseball), Mary Reynolds (1921–1991), player in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League ( Gastonia)
*Denzel Rice (born 1993), cornerback for Philadelphia Eagles (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Jerry Richardson (born 1936), NFL player for Baltimore Colts and owner of Carolina Panthers (Spring Hope, North Carolina, Spring Hope)
*Junkyard Dog, Sylvester "Junkyard Dog" Ritter (1952–1998), professional wrestler and college football player ( Wadesboro)
*Brian Roberts (baseball), Brian Roberts (born 1977), Major League Baseball, MLB second baseman, primarily with Baltimore Orioles (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Lee Rouson (born 1962), running back for New York Giants and Cleveland Browns (Elizabeth City
Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 18,629. Elizabeth City is the county seat and largest city of Pasquotank County. It is the cultural, economic and educ ...
)
*Kelvin Sampson (born 1955), head basketball coach for University of Houston (Laurinburg
Laurinburg is a city in and the county seat of Scotland County, North Carolina, Scotland County, North Carolina, United States. Located in southern North Carolina near the South Carolina border, Laurinburg is southwest of Fayetteville, North Car ...
)
*Charlie Sanders (1946–2015), Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end for Detroit Lions (Greensboro)
*Corey Seager (born 1994), MLB shortstop, 2020 World Series MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Kyle Seager (born 1987), third baseman for Seattle Mariners ( Kannapolis)
*Richie Shaffer (born 1991), infielder for Tampa Bay Rays (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Tyler Shatley (born 1991), Guard (gridiron football), guard for Jacksonville Jaguars (Icard, North Carolina, Icard)
*Kelvin Sampson (born 1955), head basketball coach for University of Houston (Laurinburg
Laurinburg is a city in and the county seat of Scotland County, North Carolina, Scotland County, North Carolina, United States. Located in southern North Carolina near the South Carolina border, Laurinburg is southwest of Fayetteville, North Car ...
)
*Mike Shildt (born 1968), Manager (baseball), manager for the St. Louis Cardinals (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Razor Shines (born 1956), first baseman for Montreal Expos (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Enos Slaughter (1916–2002), right fielder and Baseball Hall of Famer for St. Louis Cardinals and New York Yankees (Roxboro, North Carolina, Roxboro)
*Terrmel Sledge (born 1977), former Major League Baseball, MLB outfielder and current outfielder for Yokohama BayStars ( Fayetteville)
*Ben Smith (ice hockey, born 1988), Ben Smith (born 1988), National Hockey League (NHL) player; first player born in NC to have name engraved in Stanley Cup (Winston-Salem)
*D. J. Smith (American football), D. J. Smith (born 1989), linebacker for Green Bay Packers (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Dennis Smith Jr. (born 1997), NBA player for New York Knicks ( Fayetteville)
*Ish Smith (born 1988), point guard for Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Brandon Spikes (born 1987), linebacker for New England Patriots ( Shelby)
*Jerry Stackhouse (born 1974), All-America basketball player for UNC-Chapel Hill and Atlanta Hawks, NBA's 1996 All-Rookie team ( Kinston)
*Dwight Stephenson (born 1957), former NFL center, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro is a city in and county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 152,769 according to the 2020 census, up from 108,755 residents certified in 2010. Murfreesboro is located in the Nashville metropol ...
)
*Melvin Stewart (born November 16, 1968), two-time Olympic Games, Olympic gold medalist, International Swimming Hall of Fame, SwimSwam co-founder ( Gastonia)
*Hal Stowe (born 1937), former pitcher for New York Yankees ( Gastonia)
*Braun Strowman (born 1985), professional wrestler, Entertainer (Sherrills Ford, North Carolina, Sherrills Ford)
*Ryan Succop (born 1986), NFL placekicker for Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( Hickory)
*Brett Swain (American football), Brett Swain (born 1986), wide receiver for San Francisco 49ers (Asheville)
*J. R. Sweezy (born 1989), Guard (American and Canadian football), offensive guard for Seattle Seahawks ( Mooresville)
*John Swofford (born 1948), Commissioner of Atlantic Coast Conference, ACC, former Athletic Director of University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, UNC-Chapel Hill (North Wilkesboro
North Wilkesboro is a town in Wilkes County, North Carolina, United States, approximately 80 miles north of Charlotte. The population was 4,131 at the 2020 US Census. North Wilkesboro is the birthplace and original home of Lowe's Home Improvemen ...
)
*Ray Tanner (born 1958), former college baseball head coach, Athletic Director at University of South Carolina (Benson, North Carolina, Benson)
*Brandon Tate (born 1987), wide receiver for New England Patriots, holds NCAA career record for most combined return yards (3,523) ( Burlington)
*Ryan Taylor (American football), Ryan Taylor (born 1987), tight end for Green Bay Packers (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Cam Thomas (defensive tackle), Cam Thomas (born 1986), nose tackle for San Diego Chargers (Eagle Springs, North Carolina, Eagle Springs)
*David Thompson (basketball), David Thompson (born 1954), North Carolina State University, NC State basketball player, led team to 1974 NCAA championship over University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA, four-time NBA All-Star, member of Basketball Hall of Fame ( Shelby)
*Wells Thompson (born 1983), former Major League Soccer player (Winston-Salem)
*Leigh Torrence (born 1982), cornerback for New Orleans Saints (Raleigh)
*P. J. Tucker (born 1985), player for Phoenix Suns and 2008 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP (Raleigh)
*Norv Turner (born 1952), NFL head coach for San Diego Chargers, Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders (Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Camp Lejeune)
;U–Z
*Brian Vickers (born 1983), NASCAR driver (Thomasville, North Carolina, Thomasville)
*Fred Vinson (basketball), Fred Vinson (born 1971), NBA player, assistant coach for New Orleans Hornets (Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro is a city in and county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 152,769 according to the 2020 census, up from 108,755 residents certified in 2010. Murfreesboro is located in the Nashville metropol ...
)
*Rube Walker (1926–1992), former MLB player and manager, two-time World Series Champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers ( Lenoir)''The Baseball Cube''. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
New Bern
New Bern, formerly called Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 29,524, which had risen to an estimated 29,994 as of 2019. It is the county seat of Craven County and t ...
)
*Greg Warren (American football), Greg Warren (born 1981), long snapper for Pittsburgh Steelers ( Goldsboro)
*T. J. Warren (born 1993), small forward for Phoenix Suns (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Stephanie Watts (born 1997), WNBA player (Wesley Chapel, North Carolina, Wesley Chapel)
*Carson Wentz (born 1992), NFL quarterback (Raleigh
Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southeas ...
)
*Alex White (baseball), Alex White (born 1988), pitcher for Cleveland Indians and Colorado Rockies ( Greenville)
*Johnny White (American football), Johnny White (born 1988), NFL running back for Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers (Asheville)
*Tyler White (born 1990), first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers (Mooresboro, North Carolina, Mooresboro)
*Josh Whitesell (born 1983), former MLB first baseman (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Hassan Whiteside (born 1989), power forward (basketball), power forward and center (basketball), center for Sacramento Kings ( Gastonia)
*Chris Wilcox (born 1982), power forward (basketball), power forward/center (basketball), center for Boston Celtics (Raleigh)
*Hoyt Wilhelm (1923–2002), Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, Baltimore Orioles Chicago White Sox (Huntersville)
*Damien Wilkins (born 1980), small forward and shooting guard for Detroit Pistons (Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
)
*Brian Williams (cornerback), Brian Williams (born 1979), former NFL cornerback ( High Point)
*Buck Williams (born 1960), NBA player for New Jersey Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, and New York Knicks, assistant coach for Trail Blazers; won 1982 NBA Rookie of the Year Award ( Rocky Mount)
*C. J. Williams (born 1990), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
*Mario Williams (born 1985), North Carolina State University, NC State football player, first Atlantic Coast Conference, ACC player selected No. 1 overall in NFL draft; defensive end for Buffalo Bills (Richlands, North Carolina, Richlands)
*Maxie Williams (1940–2009), NFL offensive lineman ( Granite Falls)
*Perry Williams (cornerback), Perry Williams (born 1961), former cornerback for New York Giants (Hamlet, North Carolina, Hamlet)
*Roy Williams (coach), Roy Williams (born 1950), University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, UNC-Chapel Hill men's basketball coach since 2003; led UNC-Chapel Hill to 2005, 2009, and 2017 NCAA basketball national championships (Spruce Pine, North Carolina, Spruce Pine)
*Zion Williamson (born 2000), NBA player for New Orleans Pelicans (Salisbury
Salisbury ( ) is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England with a population of 41,820, at the confluence of the rivers Avon, Nadder and Bourne. The city is approximately from Southampton and from Bath.
Salisbury is in the southeast of ...
)
*Adrian Wilson (American football), Adrian Wilson (born 1979), All-Pro NFL safety, member of Arizona Cardinals#Ring of Honor, Arizona Cardinals Ring of Honor (High Point)
*C. J. Wilson (defensive end), C. J. Wilson (born 1987), defensive end for Green Bay Packers (Belhaven, North Carolina, Belhaven)
*Alex Wood (baseball), Alex Wood (born 1991), pitcher for Los Angeles Dodgers (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*James Worthy (born 1961), basketball player for University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, UNC-Chapel Hill, Most Valuable Player of 1982 NCAA basketball championship game, winner of three NBA titles with Los Angeles Lakers, broadcaster ( Gastonia)
*Anthony Wright (American football), Anthony Wright (born 1976), former NFL quarterback (Vanceboro, North Carolina, Vanceboro)
*Debbie Yow (born 1950), former Athletic Director of Saint Louis Billikens, Saint Louis, Maryland Terrapins, Maryland, and NC State Wolfpack, NC State (Gibsonville, North Carolina, Gibsonville)
*Kay Yow (1942–2009), women's college basketball coach, member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (Gibsonville)
*Ryan Zimmerman (born 1984), Major League Baseball All-Star Game, All-Star third baseman for Washington Nationals (Washington
Washington commonly refers to:
* Washington (state), United States
* Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States
** A metonym for the federal government of the United States
** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
)
Writers
*Jason V. Brock (born 1970), author, artist, editor, filmmaker (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Don Brown (author), Don Brown (born 1960), author, attorney, former naval officer ( Plymouth)
*Betsy Byars (1928–2020), children's author (Charlotte)
*Wiley Cash, novelist (Gastonia)
*Fred Chappell (born 1936), author and North Carolina Poet Laureate 1997–2002 (Canton, North Carolina, Canton)
*Jennie Thornley Clarke (1860-1924), educator, writer, and anthologist
*Ellis Credle (1902–1998), author of books for children and young adults, including ''Down Down the Mountain'' (1934) (Hyde County, North Carolina, Hyde County)
*Sarah Dessen (born 1970), writer of novels for young adults ( Chapel Hill)
*Thomas Dixon Jr. (1864–1946), author of ''The Clansman: A Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan, The Clansman'' ( Shelby)
*Fanny Murdaugh Downing (1831-1894), first resident novelist of Mecklenburg County
*Pamela Duncan (novelist), Pamela Duncan (born 1961), novelist whose books often focus on working-class Southern United States, Southerners (Asheville
Asheville ( ) is a city in, and the county seat of, Buncombe County, North Carolina. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the state's 11th-most populous ci ...
)
*John Ehle (1925–2018), author (Asheville)
*Charles Frazier (born 1950), author of best-selling novel ''Cold Mountain (novel), Cold Mountain'' (Asheville)
*Kaye Gibbons (born 1960), author of novels ''Ellen Foster'' and ''A Virtuous Woman'' ( Rocky Mount)
*Jim Grimsley (born 1955), novelist and playwright (Pollocksville, North Carolina, Pollocksville)
*Mary Coffin Johnson (1834–1928), activist, writer (North Carolina)
*Jan Karon (born 1937), novelist (Hudson, North Carolina, Hudson)
*Margaret Maron, award-winning author of mystery novels (Greensboro
Greensboro (; formerly Greensborough) is a city in and the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, third-most populous city in North Carolina after Charlotte, North Car ...
)
*Armistead Maupin (born 1944), writer known for his ''Tales of the City'' series of novels based in San Francisco (Raleigh)
*Sharyn McCrumb (born 1948), writer whose books celebrate the history and folklore of Appalachia ( Wilmington)
*William Sydney Porter (1862–1910), prolific short story writer under pen name ''O. Henry'' whose works include ''The Ransom of Red Chief'' and ''The Gift of the Magi'' (Greensboro)
*Tom Robbins (born 1932), author of best-selling novels including ''Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (book), Even Cowgirls Get The Blues'' (Blowing Rock, North Carolina, Blowing Rock)
*Emily McGary Selinger (1848–1927), writer, poet ( Wilmington)
*Theodore Taylor (author), Theodore Taylor (1921–2006), author of more than 50 books for young adults including ''The Cay'' (Statesville, North Carolina, Statesville)
*Timothy Tyson, historian at Duke University and author of the best-selling book ''Blood Done Sign My Name'' (Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
)
*Sarah J. C. Whittlesey (1824–1896), author, poet, hymnwriter (Williamston, North Carolina, Williamston)
*Thomas Wolfe (1900–1938), author of classic novels such as ''Look Homeward, Angel'' and ''You Can't Go Home Again'' (Asheville)
Aviation and aerospace
*Sam Beddingfield (1933–2012), test pilot and NASA employee ( Clayton)
*Curtis Brown (born 1956), former NASA astronaut and United States Air Force (USAF) colonel (Elizabethtown, North Carolina, Elizabethtown)
*Myrtle Cagle (1925–2019), pilot and flight test instructor, one of the Mercury 13 female astronauts group
*Charles Duke (born 1935), Apollo 16 astronaut; tenth and youngest person to walk on moon (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Willie H. Fuller (1919–1995), combat fighter pilot and combat flight instructor with the 332d Expeditionary Operations Group 99th Pursuit Squadron, best known as the Tuskegee Airmen or "Red Tails" ( Tarboro)
*Viola Gentry (1894–1988), aviator, set the Elinor Smith#Endurance records, first non-refueling endurance record for women (Rockingham, North Carolina, Rockingham)
*Caleb V. Haynes (1895–1966), USAF major general, air pioneer (Surry County, North Carolina, Surry County)
*Susan Helms (born 1958), USAF lieutenant general and NASA astronaut (Charlotte)
*William S. McArthur (born 1951), United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
colonel, test pilot, and NASA astronaut (Laurinburg
Laurinburg is a city in and the county seat of Scotland County, North Carolina, Scotland County, North Carolina, United States. Located in southern North Carolina near the South Carolina border, Laurinburg is southwest of Fayetteville, North Car ...
)
*George Preddy (1919–1944), USAF flying ace, fighter ace (Greensboro
Greensboro (; formerly Greensborough) is a city in and the county seat of Guilford County, North Carolina, United States. It is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, third-most populous city in North Carolina after Charlotte, North Car ...
)
*Edward F. Rector (1916–2001), USAF fighter ace, member of the Flying Tigers (Marshall, North Carolina, Marshall)
*Ida Van Smith (1917–2003), pilot and flight instructor (Lumberton, North Carolina, Lumberton)
*William E. Thornton (1929–2021), NASA astronaut (Faison, North Carolina, Faison)
*Earl P. Yates (1923–2021), rear admiral in the United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
and United States Naval Aviator (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
Religious leaders
*Ernest Angley (1921–2021), Christian evangelist and pastor of Grace Cathedral ( Gastonia)
*Leonard Bolick, pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and served as the bishop of the List of ELCA synods, North Carolina Evangelical Lutheran Synod from 1997 to 2015 ( Lenoir)
*Casey Cole, American Franciscans, Franciscan friar, Catholic priest, writer, and blogger (Cary
Cary may refer to:
Places
;United States
* Cary, Illinois, part of the Chicago metropolitan area
* Cary, Indiana, part of the Indianapolis metropolitan area
* Cary, Miami County, Indiana
* Cary, Maine
* Cary, Mississippi
* Cary, North Carolina ...
)
*Billy Graham (1918–2018), Christian evangelist and unofficial religious advisor to U.S. Presidents from Dwight D. Eisenhower to 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 ...
(Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Franklin Graham (born 1952), Christian evangelist and missionary (Asheville
Asheville ( ) is a city in, and the county seat of, Buncombe County, North Carolina. Located at the confluence of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, it is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the state's 11th-most populous ci ...
)
*Anne Graham Lotz (born 1948), Christian evangelist and daughter of Billy Graham (Montreat, North Carolina, Montreat)
*James A. Forbes (born 1935), minister (Raleigh
Raleigh (; ) is the capital city of the state of North Carolina and the seat of Wake County in the United States. It is the second-most populous city in North Carolina, after Charlotte. Raleigh is the tenth-most populous city in the Southeas ...
)
*Paul Henkel (1754–1825), itinerant evangelist for the Lutheran Church (Rowan County, North Carolina, Rowan County)
*John P. Kee (born 1962), Gospel music, gospel singer and pastor (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Owen L. W. Smith (1851–1926), Minister (Christianity), minister and diplomat of the United States (Sampson County, North Carolina, Sampson County)
*Ben Witherington III (born 1951), New Testament scholar ( High Point)
Miscellaneous
*Louis H. Asbury (1877–1975), architect, many works listed on U.S. National Register of Historic Places (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*John David Roy Atchison (1954–2007), Assistant US Attorney and children's sports coach, committed suicide in prison after being charged with soliciting sex from a 5-year-old girl ( Chapel Hill)
*Penelope Barker (1728–1796), activist in the American Revolution
The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...
, helped organize the boycott of British goods in 1774 known as the Edenton Tea Party (Edenton, North Carolina, Edenton)
*Daniel Boone (1734–1820), explorer, lived in the Yadkin River valley of western North Carolina for many years (Mocksville, North Carolina, Mocksville)
*Fred Brooks
Frederick Phillips Brooks Jr. (April 19, 1931 – November 17, 2022) was an American computer architect, software engineer, and computer scientist, best known for managing the development of IBM's System/360 family of computers and the O ...
(born 1931), software engineer and computer scientist (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Eliza Bryant (1827–1907), humanitarian (Wayne County, North Carolina, Wayne County)
*Judy Clarke (born 1952), criminal defense attorney in many high-profile cases (Asheville)
*John Cocke (computer scientist), John Cocke (1925–2002), computer scientist (Charlotte)
*Chelsea Cooley (born 1983), Miss USA 2005 (Mint Hill, North Carolina, Mint Hill)
*Virginia Dare (1587–unknown), first person of English heritage born in the New World, to the Roanoke Colony, "The Lost Colony" (Roanoke Island)
*Jennifer Pharr Davis (born 1983), set record for quickest Appalachian Trail hike in 2011 ( Hendersonville)
*Nia Franklin (born 1993), Miss America 2019 (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Connie Guion (1882–1971), female physician, influential in developing health care systems ( Lincolnton)
*Martha Hunt (born 1989), Model ( Wilson)
*Adam Leroy Lane (born 1964), convicted murderer and serial killer (Jonesville, North Carolina, Jonesville)
*Jordan Lloyd (born 1986), reality television participant, winner of the ''Big Brother 11 (American season), Big Brother 11'' (Matthews, North Carolina, Matthews)
*Leonard McBury, explorer of Tennessee
Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...
*Dan McGalliard (1940–2021), inventor and innovator (Burke County, North Carolina, Burke County)
*Gideon Morris (1756–1798), trans-Appalachian pioneer and founder of Morristown, Tennessee (Randolph County, North Carolina, Randolph County)
*Benjamin Chavis Muhammad (born 1948), civil rights leader (Oxford
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...
)
*Erica Payne, public policy expert, commentator, author and strategist (Raleigh)
*Conrad Reed (1787–1845), found a large gold nugget while fishing, triggering the first gold rush in the United States (Midland, North Carolina, Midland)
*Rachel Reilly (born 1984), reality television participant, winner of ''Big Brother 13 (American season), Big Brother 13'' (Concord
Concord may refer to:
Meaning "agreement"
* Pact or treaty, frequently between nations (indicating a condition of harmony)
* Harmony, in music
* Agreement (linguistics), a change in the form of a word depending on grammatical features of other ...
)
*Afeni Shakur (1947–2016), former Black Panther Party, Black Panther, philanthropist, and mother of Tupac Shakur (Lumberton, North Carolina, Lumberton)
*David A. Smith (computer scientist), David A. Smith (born 1957), computer scientist, specializing in interactive 3D (Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Camp Lejeune)
North Carolina residents later in life, raised elsewhere
;A–L
*Harry Anderson (1952–2018), actor best known as Judge Harry Stone from the television series ''Night Court'', 1984–1992 (Asheville)
*Maya Angelou (1928–2014), poet, historian, author, actress, playwright, producer, director, and professor at Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Joseph Bathanti (born 1953), poet, writer, professor; North Carolina Poet Laureate (Vilas, North Carolina, Vilas)
* Frances Bavier (1902–1989), actress, the ''Andy Griffith Show'' (Siler City, North Carolina, Siler City)
*Marshall Brain (born 1961), technology expert and internet personality at HowStuffWorks.com (Raleigh)
*Chang and Eng Bunker (1811–1874), the original Siamese twins who performed for audiences in Asia, Europe, and North America before settling in the mountains of North Carolina and marrying two local sisters ( Wilkesboro)
*Orson Scott Card (born 1951), lecturer and author of the award-winning science fiction book ''Ender's Game'' (Greensboro)
*John Carroll (journalist), John Carroll (1942–2015), journalist and newspaper editor for the ''Los Angeles Times'' and ''The Baltimore Sun'' (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Eva Clayton (born 1934), U.S. Congresswoman from North Carolina 1992–2003; she graduated from Johnson C. Smith University and North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University (NCCU or NC Central) is a public historically black university in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by James E. Shepard in affiliation with the Chautauqua movement in 1909, it was supported by private funds from ...
*Allison Hedge Coke (born 1958), American Book Award-winning author of ''Blood Run (book), Blood Run'' and other novels (raised in North Carolina, various counties)
*John Edwards (born 1953), former U.S. Senator and 2004 Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee (Robbins, North Carolina, Robbins)
*Renee Ellmers (born 1964), U.S. Congresswoman from North Carolina 2011–2017 (Dunn, North Carolina, Dunn)
*Ric Flair (born 1949), most decorated professional wrestling champion of all time (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Robert Wilkie (born 1962), Defense Department Leader and National Security Assistant to the President ( Fayetteville)
*John Hope Franklin (1915–2009), historian and professor of African-American history at Duke University; also a civil-rights activist in the 1950s and 1960s (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Harry Golden (1902–1981), Jewish-American humorist, writer and publisher of the ''Carolina Israelite''; author, ''Only in America'' (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*T. Adelaide Goodno (1858-1931), president, North Carolina Woman's Christian Temperance Union
*Alex Grant (poet), Alex Grant, Scottish-born American poet, instructor ( Chapel Hill)
*Bob Havens (born 1930), musician who played trombone for the Lawrence Welk orchestra, 1960–1983, born in Quincy, Illinois (Buies Creek, North Carolina, Buies Creek)
*Joseph Hewes (1730–1779), signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence, Declaration of Independence for North Carolina and first U.S. Secretary of the Navy
The secretary of the Navy (or SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department (component organization) within the United States Department of Defense.
By law, the se ...
(Edenton, North Carolina, Edenton)
*Samantha Holvey (born 1986), Miss North Carolina USA 2006 (Buies Creek, North Carolina, Buies Creek)
*Si Kahn (born 1944), singer-songwriter and activist, supporting numerous civil-rights and environmental causes with his music (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Mike Krzyzewski (born 1947), long-time men's basketball coach for Duke University, garnering four NCAA basketball national championships (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Harvey Littleton (1922–2013), glass artist, founder of American Studio Glass movement (Spruce Pine, North Carolina, Spruce Pine)
;M–Z
*Wilmer Mizell (1930–1990), Major League Baseball pitcher and NC congressman (Midway, North Carolina, Midway)
*Sue Myrick (born 1941), Mayor of Charlotte 1987–1991; U.S. Congresswoman from North Carolina 1995–2013 (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Michael Peterson (author and convicted criminal), Michael Peterson (born 1943), novelist and convicted murderer; currently serving a life sentence for the 2003 murder of his wife (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Tom Regan (1938–2017), philosopher and animal rights activist at North Carolina State University
*Kathy Reichs (born 1950), forensic anthropologist at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; also the author of best-selling mystery novels featuring the character Temperance Brennan (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Tony Rice (1951–2020), musician (Reidsville, North Carolina, Reidsville)
*Eric Rudolph (born 1966), anti-abortion terrorism, terrorist currently serving five life sentences for the bombing at the 1996 Summer Olympics which killed one person and injured 111 others; Rudolph eluded capture for 5 years (Murphy, North Carolina, Murphy)
*Randolph Scott (1898–1987), film actor 1928–1962; his most enduring image is that of the tall-in-the-saddle Western hero; of his more than 100 film appearances, more than 60 were in Westerns (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Dean Smith (1931–2015), retired men's basketball coach for the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame; earned 879 wins and two national championships in his career ( Chapel Hill)
*Lee Smith (fiction author), Lee Smith (born 1944), author and instructor at North Carolina State University, winner of the O. Henry award for short-story writing ( Hillsborough)
*Nicholas Sparks (author), Nicholas Sparks (born 1965), author of romance novels; born in Omaha, Nebraska and grew up in California (New Bern
New Bern, formerly called Newbern, is a city in Craven County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 29,524, which had risen to an estimated 29,994 as of 2019. It is the county seat of Craven County and t ...
)
*Blackbeard, Edward Teach (1680–1718), pirate known as Blackbeard, who kept his hide-out in the harbor of Ocracoke, North Carolina, Ocracoke Island on North Carolina's Outer Banks (Ocracoke, North Carolina, Ocracoke)
*John Tesh (born 1952), musician and television personality, best known as the host of the television series ''Entertainment Tonight'' 1986–1996 (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*George Washington Vanderbilt II (1862–1914), billionaire who created the Biltmore Estate in the North Carolina mountains; it is the largest privately owned mansion in the Western Hemisphere and North Carolina's top tourist attraction (Asheville)
*Blake R. Van Leer (1893–1956), president of Georgia Tech, inventor and civil rights advocate (Raleigh)
*Daniel Wallace (author), Daniel Wallace (born 1959), author of the best-selling novel ''Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions'' ( Chapel Hill)
*Hugh Williamson (1735–1819), physician; third NC signatory of the Constitution (Edenton, North Carolina, Edenton)
*Kristi Yamaguchi (born 1971), figure skater and member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, former North Carolina resident (Raleigh)
*Brittany York (born 1989), Miss North Carolina USA 2011 ( Wilmington)
Spent time or studied in North Carolina
*Mark Alarie (born 1963), former college basketball player for Duke Blue Devils men's basketball, Duke University, played for the National Basketball Association, NBA's Denver Nuggets and Washington Wizards, Washington Bullets (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Grayson Allen (born 1995), former college basketball player for Duke University, current NBA player (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Sandra Bullock (born 1964), movie actress; attended East Carolina University ( Greenville)
*Nick Cannon (born 1980), actor, comedian, television personality; graduated from Quail Hollow Middle School (Charlotte
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
)
*Perry Como (1912–2001), popular crooner and host of "The Perry Como Show", part-time resident of the NC mountains (near Asheville)
*Dan Cortese, MTV host, graduate of University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, UNC-Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill)
*Joey Dorsey (born 1983), NBA basketball player for the Sacramento Kings and alumnus of Laurinburg Institute (Laurinburg
Laurinburg is a city in and the county seat of Scotland County, North Carolina, Scotland County, North Carolina, United States. Located in southern North Carolina near the South Carolina border, Laurinburg is southwest of Fayetteville, North Car ...
)
*Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1919–2021), poet and owner-operator of the City Lights Bookstore famous for promoting the works of beatnik writers and poets; attended UNC Chapel Hill ( Chapel Hill)
*Mia Hamm (born 1972), former soccer player for University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, UNC-Chapel Hill, two-time Olympic gold medalist, twice named FIFA's World Player of the Year ( Chapel Hill)
*Grant Hill (born 1972), former NBA player, graduated from Duke University (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Kyrie Irving (born 1992), attended Duke University, NBA player (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Jesse Jackson (born 1941), politician, preacher, civil rights activist, graduated from North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (also known as North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina A&T, N.C. A&T, or simply A&T) is a public, historically black land-grant research university in Greensboro, North Caro ...
(Greensboro)
*Marion Jones (born 1975), former basketball player for University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, UNC-Chapel Hill and Olympic runner, winner of three gold medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics ( Chapel Hill)
*Christian Laettner (born 1969), played college basketball for Duke University, former NBA Player (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*David Lynch (born 1946), film director and artist best known for directing the film ''Blue Velvet (film), Blue Velvet'' and the television series ''Twin Peaks'', spent part of his childhood in NC (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (born 1964 or 1965), terrorist known for masterminding the 9/11 attacks, attended Chowan College and obtained a degree from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (Greensboro)
*Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon (January 9, 1913April 22, 1994) was the 37th president of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as a representative and senator from California and was ...
(1913–1994), 37th President of the United States, graduated from the Duke University School of Law in 1937 (Durham Durham most commonly refers to:
*Durham, England, a cathedral city and the county town of County Durham
*County Durham, an English county
* Durham County, North Carolina, a county in North Carolina, United States
*Durham, North Carolina, a city in N ...
)
*Arnold Palmer (1929–2016), professional golfer and four-time winner of Masters Tournament, The Masters Tournament, attended Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Mary-Louise Parker (born 1964), film and television actress; graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts; star of the film ''Fried Green Tomatoes (film), Fried Green Tomatoes'' and the television series ''The West Wing'' and ''Weeds (TV series), Weeds''; winner of Emmy, Tony Award, Tony, and Golden Globe awards (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Missi Pyle (born 1972), film actress, graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts, star of films such as ''Bringing Down the House (film), Bringing Down the House'', ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'' and ''Galaxy Quest'' (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Philip Rivers (born 1981), star quarterback for North Carolina State University, set school records in passing yardage and touchdowns, currently the starting quarterback for the National Football League's San Diego Chargers team (Raleigh)
*Jada Pinkett Smith (born 1971), actress and singer, attended North Carolina School of the Arts, starred in the popular television series ''A Different World (TV series), A Different World'' and in the movies ''The Nutty Professor (1996 film), The Nutty Professor'' and ''The Matrix Reloaded'' and ''The Matrix Revolutions'' (Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem is a city and the county seat of Forsyth County, North Carolina, United States. In the 2020 census, the population was 249,545, making it the second-largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region, the 5th most populous city in ...
)
*Lawrence Taylor (born 1959), former football player for the New York Giants and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, All-America football player for University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, UNC-Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill)
See also
;By location * List of people from Asheville, North Carolina * List of people from Charlotte, North Carolina * List of people from Fayetteville, North Carolina * List of people from Greensboro, North Carolina * List of people from Raleigh, North Carolina * List of people from Winston-Salem, North Carolina ;By educational affiliation * List of Davidson College people * List of Duke University people * List of East Carolina University alumni * List of East Carolina University faculty * List of North Carolina State University people * List of University of North Carolina Wilmington alumni * List of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill alumni * List of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill leaders * List of alumni of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts * List of Wake Forest University people ;Other * Lists of AmericansReferences
{{Reflist Lists of people from North Carolina,