List of people from Rhode Island

This is a list of prominent people who were born in the state of Rhode Island or who spent significant periods of their lives in the state.

Academia

• James Burrill Angell (1829–1916) – educator, academic administrator, and diplomat
• Glen Bowersock (born 1936) – scholar of the ancient world and the history of ancient Greece, Rome, and the Near East
• David Carlin (born 1938) – professor of sociology and philosophy at Community College of Rhode Island
• Robert Carothers (born 1942) – president of the University of Rhode Island
• Ronald Champagne (born 1942) – president of Elmira College, Merrimack College, and Shimer College
• Sarah Doyle (1830–1922) – educator and reformer
• Paula Fredriksen (born 1951) – historian and scholar of religious studies
• Henry Giroux (born 1943) – radical educator and cultural critic
• Neil Lanctot (born 1966) – historian
• Francis Leo Lawrence (1937–2013) – educator, scholar of French literature, and university administrator
• Edward T. Lewis (also known as Ted Lewis) (born 1936) – president of St. Mary's College of Maryland, president of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, writer, and poet
• Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf (1830–1895) – founder and director of the Rhode Island School of Design
• Barry Mills (born 1950) – fourteenth president of Bowdoin College
• Salvatore D. Morgera (born 1946) – Professor of Electrical Engineering at University of South Florida
• Wilfred Harold Munro (1849–1934) – historian
• Richard Vangermeersch (born 1940) – economist, Emeritus Professor of Accounting at the University of Rhode Island
• Minton Warren (1850–1907) – classical scholar

Activism, civil rights, and philanthropy

• Susan Hammond Barney (1834–1922) – social activist
• Josephine Byrd – civil rights activist in Woonsocket, RI
• Zechariah Chafee (1885–1957) – judicial philosopher, civil rights advocate
• Elizabeth Buffum Chace (1806–1899) – activist in the anti-slavery, women's-rights, and prison-reform movements of the mid-to-late 19th century
• Ann Keefe (1952–2015) – social activist and nun
• Richard Holcomb (born 1976) – human rights advocate, street outreach worker, HIV prevention counselor, and co-founder of Project Weber/Renew
• Cornelia Bryce Pinchot (1881–1960) – Newport native who became a conservationist, Progressive politician, women's rights activist, and First Lady of Pennsylvania
• Mary Reilly (born 1930) – teacher, leader, advocate for girls and women living in poverty
• Abby Aldrich Rockefeller (1874–1948) – philanthropist
• Marvin Ronning (1961–2022) – education and environmental advocate; senior administrator at the Rhode Island Free Clinic
• Juanita Sánchez (died 1992) – social worker and social activist
• Robert Ellis Smith (1940–2018) – publisher and consumer activist, Privacy Journal; civil rights journalist in Alabama
• Dorcas James Spencer (1841–1933) – social activist and writer
• Marjorie van Vliet (1923–1990) – teacher and aviator

Art, literature, and design

• Jacob M. Appel (born 1973) – novelist
• John Noble Barlow (1861–1917) – painter
• Lee Bontecou (1931–2022) – sculptor and printmaker
• Mary H. Gray Clarke (1835–1892) – author, correspondent, and poet
• George M. Cohan (1878–1942) – playwright, composer, and vaudeville performer
• Paul Di Filippo (born 1954) – science fiction author and critic
• Denise Duhamel (born 1961) – poet
• Judith Dupré – author
• C. M. Eddy Jr. (1896–1967) – author
• Jeanpaul Ferro (born 1967) – poet, short fiction author, novelist
• F. Burge Griswold (1826–1900) – author
• John Hawkes (1925–1998) – novelist
• Greta Hodgkinson (born 1973) – ballet dancer
• Ann Hood (born 1956) – novelist and short story writer
• Raymond Mathewson Hood (1881–1934) – architect
• Galway Kinnell (1927–2014) – poet
• Eleanor Kirk (1831–1908) – author, publisher
• Christopher La Farge (1897–1956) – novelist and poet
• Jhumpa Lahiri (born 1967) – Pulitzer Prize-author
• H. P. Lovecraft (1890–1937) – author
• Maxwell Mays (1918–2009) – painter
• David Macaulay (born 1946) – author
• Cormac McCarthy (1933–2023) – novelist
• Don McGregor (born 1945) – comic book writer
• Edwin O'Connor (1918–1968) – novelist
• S.J. Perelman (1904–1979) – humorist, critic
• Peter Pezzelli (born 1959) – author
• David Plante (born 1940) – novelist
• George Schuyler (1895–1977) – author
• Bert Shurtleff (1897–1967) – author
• Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828) – painter
• Philemon Sturges (1929–2005) – architect and children's author
• Cynthia Taggart (1801–1849) – poet
• Thomas Alexander Tefft (1826–1859) – architect
• Chrysanthemum Tran – poet
• Trav S.D. (born 1965) – author, playwright, arts journalist
• Don Winslow (born 1953) – author

Athletics

• Lou Abbruzzi (1917–1982) – football player
• Pat Abbruzzi (1932–1998) – football player
• Noel Acciari (born 1991) – ice hockey player
• Gary Albright (1963–2000) – wrestler
• Bill Almon (born 1952) – baseball player
• Deon Anderson (born 1983) – football player
• Billy Andrade (born 1964) – golfer
• Demetrius Andrade (born 1988) – boxer
• Earl Audet (1921–2002) – football player
• Rocco Baldelli (born 1981) – baseball player, manager
• Marvin Barnes (1952–2014) – basketball player
• Elizabeth Beisel (born 1992) – Olympic swimmer (2008, 2012)
• Jeff Beliveau (born 1987) – baseball player
• Curt Bennett (born 1948) – ice hockey player
• Harvey Bennett (born 1952) – ice hockey player
• John Bennett (born 1950) – ice hockey player
• Bryan Berard (born 1977) – ice hockey player
• Will Blackmon (born 1984) – football player
• Brian Boucher (born 1977) – ice hockey player
• Paul Briggs (1920–2011) – football player
• Ellison "Tarzan" Brown (1913–1975) – two-time Boston Marathon champion and U.S. Olympian
• Brian Burke (born 1955) – ice hockey executive
• Ernie Calverley (1924–2003) – basketball player
• Dave Capuano (born 1968) – ice hockey player
• Jack Capuano (born 1966) – ice hockey player, head coach
• Keith Carney (born 1970) – ice hockey player and U.S. Olympian (1998)
• Marissa Castelli (born 1990) – Olympic pairs figure skater (2014)
• Tom Cavanagh (1982–2011) – hockey player
• Malcolm Chance (1875–1955) – Hall of Fame tennis player
• Mike Cloud (born 1975) – football player
• Fred Corey (1855–1912) – baseball player
• Miguel Cotto (born 1980) – boxer
• Jill Craybas (born 1974) – tennis player
• Sara DeCosta (born 1977) – Olympic ice hockey champion and silver medalist (1998, 2002)
• Al Del Greco (born 1962) – football player, radio personality
• Ernie DiGregorio (born 1951) – basketball player
• Clark Donatelli (born 1967) – ice hockey player and U.S. Olympian (1988, 1992)
• Allen Doyle (born 1948) – golfer
• Pat Duff (1875–1925) – baseball player
• David Duke Jr. (born 1999) – basketball player
• Anthony Durante (1967–2003) – professional wrestler
• Joe Exter (born 1978) – ice hockey player
• Brad Faxon (born 1961) – golfer
• Claire Waters Ferguson (1936–2024) – ice skating executive
• Melissa Fiorentino (born 1977) – boxer
• Steve Furness (1950–2000) – football player, coach
• Tom Garrick (born 1966) – basketball player
• Rob Gaudreau (born 1970) – ice hockey player
• Dave Gavitt (1937–2011) – basketball coach
• Billy Gonsalves (1908–1977) – soccer player
• Lou Gorman (1929–2011) – baseball executive
• Paul Guay (born 1963) – ice hockey player

• Gabby Hartnett (1900–1972) – baseball player
• Joe Hassett (born 1955) – basketball player
• Tom Healey (1853–1891) – baseball player
• Anne Hird (born 1959) – pioneering marathon runner
• P. H. Horgan III (born 1960) – golfer
• Tony Horton (born 1958) – physical fitness expert
• Robert Howard (1975–2004) – 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team
• John Hynes (born 1975) – ice hockey head coach
• Matt Hyson (born 1970) – wrestler
• Chris Iannetta (born 1983) – baseball player
• Drew Inzer (born 1979) – football player
• Jeff Jillson (born 1980) – ice hockey player
• Steven King (born 1969) – ice hockey player
• Tyler Kolek (born 2001) – basketball player
• Paul Konerko (born 1976) – baseball player
• Clem Labine (1926–2007) – baseball player
• Nap Lajoie (1874–1959) – Hall of Fame baseball player
• Clara LaMore (1926–2021) – International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee
• Lou Lamoriello (born 1942) – ice hockey executive
• Rick Lancellotti (born 1956) – baseball player
• John LaRose (1951–2021) – baseball player
• Brian Lawton (born 1965) – hockey player
• Ricky Ledo (born 1992) – basketball player
• Ed Lee (born 1961) – ice hockey player
• David Littman (born 1967) – ice hockey player
• Davey Lopes (born 1945) – baseball player and coach
• Peter Manfredo (born 1980) – boxer
• Joe Mazzulla (born 1988) – basketball coach
• Ken McDonald (born 1970) – basketball player, coach
• John Mellekas (1933–2015) – football player
• Tom Mellor (born 1950) – hockey player and U.S. Olympian (1972)
• Ray Monaco (1918–2002) – football player
• Chet Nichols Jr. (1931–1995) – baseball player
• Bill Osmanski (1915–1996) – College Football Hall of Fame inductee
• Chuck Palumbo (born 1971) – wrestler
• Don Panciera (1927–2012) – football player
• Michael Parkhurst (born 1984) – soccer player, U.S. Olympian, and Rhode Island FC co-founder
• Les Pawson (1905–1992) – two-time Boston Marathon winner
• Kwity Paye (born 1998) – football player
• Vinny Paz (born 1962) – boxer, five-time world champion
• Gerry Philbin (born 1941) – football player
• David Quinn (born 1966) – ice hockey player
• Joe Reed (born 1948) – football player
• Aileen Riggin (1906–2002) – swimmer
• Bill Sandeman (born 1942) – football player
• Mathieu Schneider (born 1969) – professional ice hockey player
• Bobby Sewall (born 1988) – football player
• Bert Shurtleff (1897–1967) – football player
• Jamie Silva (born 1984) – football player
• Jim Siwy (born 1958) – baseball player
• A. J. Smith (born 1949) – football executive
• Hank Soar (1914–2001) – football player
• Joe Soares – rugby player
• Sean Soriano (born 1989) – mixed martial artist
• Andre Soukhamthath (born 1988) – mixed martial artist
• Mike Stefanik (1958–2019) – NASCAR driver
• Bill Summers (1895–1966) – Major League Baseball umpire
• Cole Swider (born 1999) – basketball player
• Chris Terreri (born 1964) – NHL goalie, two Stanley Cups and U.S. Olympian (1988)
• Mark Van Eeghen (born 1952) – NFL Pro Bowl running back
• Dan Wheeler (born 1977) – baseball player
• Cody Wild (born 1987) – ice hockey player
• Mason Williams (born 1991) – baseball player
• Ron Wilson (born 1955) – ice hockey player, head coach
• Jeff Xavier (born 1985) – basketball player

Business

• Zachariah Allen (1795–1882) – textile manufacturer, scientist, lawyer, writer, inventor and civil leader
• Everett M. "Busy" Arnold (1899–1974) – comic book publisher
• F. Nelson Blount (1918–1967) – industrialist and railroad enthusiast, founder of the Blount Seafood Corporation and Steamtown, USA
• John Brown (1736–1803) – merchant and slave-trader, original owner of the John Brown House, co-founder of the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (Brown University)
• Moses Brown (1738–1836) – co-founder of the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (Brown University)
• Nicholas Brown Jr. (1769–1841) – businessman and philanthropist for whom Brown University is named
• Robert Crandall (born 1935) – former president and chairman of American Airlines
• Glenn Creamer (born 1962) – senior managing director of Providence Equity Partners
• Marcel Desaulniers (born 1945) – chef and director emeritus of the Culinary Institute of America
• Wylie Dufresne (born 1970) – celebrity chef, owner of wd~50 restaurant in Manhattan
• Ann Smith Franklin (1696–1763) – publisher
• Darius Goff (1809–1891) – Pawtucket textile mill owner
• Catherine Littlefield Greene (1755–1814) – wife of Nathanael Greene
• Daniel Harple (born 1959) – entrepreneur, investor, inventor
• Brad Jacobs (born 1956) – chairman and chief executive officer of XPO Logistics
• Laura Lang – former chief executive officer of Time Inc.
• Aaron Lopez (1731–1782) – slave merchant and philanthropist, wealthiest person in Newport
• Edward J. McElroy (born 1941) – labor union executive
• James McNerney (born 1949) – business executive
• David Nason (born 1970) – president and CEO of GE Energy Financial Services
• Jonathan M. Nelson (born 1956) – businessman and investor, founder of Providence Equity Partners
• Carolyn Rafaelian – designer, philanthropist, and business woman, founder of Alex and Ani
• Samuel Slater (1768–1835) – industrialist, "father of the industrial revolution"
• Henry J. Steere (1830–1889) – textile industrialist, philanthropist
• Judah Touro (1775–1854) – businessman
• William Kissam Vanderbilt (1849–1920) – member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family, original owner of Marble House in Newport
• William Vernon (1719–1806) – trader

Crime

• Thomas Tew (1649–1695) – pirate

Film and television

• Norm Abram (born 1950) – carpenter and television performer
• Robert Aldrich (1918–1983) – film director
• Gianna Amore (born 1968) – model and actress
• Harry Anderson (1952–2018) – actor, Night Court
• David Angell (1946–2001) – television producer
• Nadia Bjorlin (born 1980) – actress
• Billy Bush (born 1971) – radio and TV host, Access Hollywood, Today
• Ruth Buzzi (1936–2025) – comedian, Laugh-In
• Sean Callery (born 1964) – film and television composer
• Robert Capron (born 1998) – actor
• Marilyn Chambers (1952–2009) – pornographic film actress
• Zoë Chao (born 1985) – actress
• Harry Cicma (born 1982) – Emmy Award-winning sports anchor, professional tennis player
• Amanda Clayton (born 1981) – actress, City on a Hill
• Nicholas Colasanto (1924–1985) – actor and director, Cheers
• Michael Corrente (born 1959) – film director and producer
• Olivia Culpo (born 1992) – Miss Rhode Island USA 2012, Miss USA 2012, Miss Universe 2012
• Sam Daly (born 1984) – actor
• Viola Davis (born 1965) – Academy Award-winning actress
• Charlie Day (born 1976) – actor, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
• Vin Di Bona (born 1944) – television producer
• Eddie Dowling (1895–1976) – actor
• Alice Drummond (1929–2016) – actress
• Jack Duffy (1882–1939) – film actor
• Nelson Eddy (1901–1967) – actor and singer
• Susan Eisenberg (born 1964) – voice actress
• Mark Famiglietti (born 1979) – actor
• Bobby Farrelly (born 1958) – film director
• Peter Farrelly (born 1956) – film director
• Mat Franco (born 1988) – magician, America's Got Talent winner
• Matt Fraser (born 1991) – psychic and television personality
• Peter Frechette (born 1956) – actor
• Peter Gerety (born 1940) – actor
• Joanna Going (born 1963) – actress
• Spalding Gray (1941–2004) – actor and writer
• Richard Hart (1915–1951) – actor
• Elisabeth Hasselbeck (born 1977) – television personality
• Ray Harrington (born 1983) – comedian
• Richard Hatch (born 1961) – reality television contestant
• Jason Hawes (born 1971) – television actor
• David Hedison (1927–2019) – actor
• Brian Helgeland (born 1961) – screenwriter, film producer and director
• Ruth Hussey (1911–2005) – Academy Award-nominated actress
• Sam Hyde (born 1985) – comedian
• Thomas Harper Ince (1882–1924) – film producer, director, actor
• Richard Jenkins (born 1947) – Academy Award-nominated actor
• Joyce Jillson (1946–2004) – actress, author, and astrologer
• Van Johnson (1916–2008) – actor, The Caine Mutiny, Brigadoon
• Claudia Jordan (born 1973) – Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 1997
• Ted Knight (1923–1986) – actor, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Caddyshack
• Geoffrey Lewis (1935–2015) – actor
• Eric Lutes (born 1962) – actor

• Seth MacFarlane (born 1973) – voice actor, creator of Family Guy, American Dad!, The Cleveland Show, and Ted
• George Macready (1899–1973) – actor
• Mike Maronna (born 1977) – actor
• Jason Marsden (born 1975) – actor
• Louis B. Mayer (1884–1957) – film producer and MGM studio mogul
• Matt McCarthy (born 1979) – comedian, actor
• Ron McLarty (1947–2020) – actor, playwright, novelist
• Michaela McManus (born 1983) – actress, ', One Tree Hill
• Caroline McWilliams (1945–2010) – actress
• Debra Messing (born 1968) – actress, Will and Grace
• Shanna Moakler (born 1975) – Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 1992, Miss New York USA 1995, Miss USA 1995
• Mark Morettini (born 1962) – actor, Prison Break
• Christopher Murney (born 1943) – actor
• Arden Myrin (born 1973) – actress
• Brendan O'Malley (born 1969) – actor and writer
• Vincent Pagano (born 1967) – actor
• Pauly D (born 1980) – television personality, DJ, cast member of Jersey Shore
• David Petrarca (born 1962) – film, television and theatre director
• Ben Powers (1950–2015) – actor, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
• Ford Rainey (1908–2005) – actor
• Don Reo (born 1946) – television producer
• Kali Rocha (born 1971) – actress
• Charles Rocket (1945–2005) – actor
• Josh Schwartz (born 1976) – television producer
• Dave Shalansky (born 1973) – actor
• Chris Sparling (born 1977) – screenwriter and director
• Christopher Stanley (born 1965) – actor, Henry Francis on Mad Men
• Mena Suvari (born 1979) – actress, American Beauty
• Saucy Sylvia (1921–2017) – comedian, singer, radio personality
• Erika Van Pelt (born 1985) – American Idol finalist
• Meredith Vieira (born 1953) – television personality
• David S. Ward (born 1945) – film director, Academy Award-winning screenwriter (The Sting)
• Desiree Washington (born 1973) – model
• James Woods (born 1947) – Academy Award-nominated actor