List of people from Charlotte, North Carolina

This is a list of people who were born in, lived in, or are closely associated with the city of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Academia

• Graham Tillett Allison Jr., political scientist and professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University
• Katharine Cramer Angell, one of two named founders of The Culinary Institute of America
• James W. Crawford III, president, Texas Southern University
• Sonya Curry, educator
• Christopher Ellison, sociologist specializing in the sociology of religion
• Chris Folk, served in the office of School Community Relations for the Charlotte Mecklenburg County Schools during desegregation
• Martha Louise Morrow Foxx, pioneering educator for the blind
• Edith Henderson, landscape architect
• John Kuykendall, served as 15th president of Davidson College
• Paul Marion, university administrator and academic
• George C. Williams, evolutionary biologist
• Anne D. Yoder, biologist, researcher, and professor

Art and literature

• Romare Bearden (1911–1988), artist and writer
• Brian Blanchfield, poet and essayist
• Jason V. Brock, filmmaker, musician, artist, and author
• Don Brown, author and attorney
• W. J. Cash, writer and journalist
• Silas Farley, ballet dancer, choreographer and educator
• Ian Flynn, comic book writer
• Brent Funderburk, artist
• Jeffrey Gitomer, business book author
• Harry Golden, author
• Hank Hanegraaff, author, radio talk-show host, former advocate of evangelical Christianity (until 2017 with his conversion to Eastern Orthodox faith)
• Cheris F. Hodges, author
• Travis Jeppesen, author
• Ben Long, artist, most known for his fresco work and drawings
• Carson McCullers, author
• Jenny Offill, novelist
• Diane Oliver (1943–1966), Black feminist writer
• Kathy Reichs, anthropologist and author
• Stephanie S. Tolan, children's book author
• Mel Tomlinson, ballet and modern dancer
• Justin Tornow, dancer and choreographer
• Mary Oates Spratt Van Landingham, writer, historian, and clubwoman

Business

• Cy Bahakel, former North Carolina state senator and media magnate, instrumental in bringing the Charlotte Hornets franchise to Charlotte
• Irwin Belk, businessman and politician, executive with Belk department stores
• Jim Crockett Jr., former professional wrestling promoter
• Richard Darman, businessman and government official who served in senior positions during the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush
• Elisabeth DeMarse, businesswoman, former chairman and CEO of TheStreet
• James Buchanan Duke, industrialist, founder of The Duke Endowment and Duke University
• Jay Faison, entrepreneur and a conservative philanthropist, founder of the ClearPath Foundation
• Jack Fulk (1932–2011), founder of fast-food chain Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits
• Earl Patterson Hall, real estate developer and businessman who founded Carowinds
• Robert L. Johnson, co-founder of BET, former majority owner of then Charlotte Bobcats, first black American billionaire
• Michael Jordan, former professional Hall of Fame basketball player, principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets
• Herman Lay, involved in potato chip manufacturing with his eponymous brand of Lay's potato chips
• Leon Levine, founder of Family Dollar; billionaire, businessman and philanthropist
• Michael Marsicano, president and CEO of the Foundation for the Carolinas, one of the largest philanthropic community foundations in the country in terms of assets
• Hugh McColl, former chairman and CEO of Bank of America
• Bruton Smith, billionaire; founder and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and founder of Sonic Automotive
• Clemmie Spangler, businessman, former president of the 16-campus University of North Carolina system, 1986–1997; was No. 117 on Forbes list of 400 richest Americans
• David S. Taylor, business executive; chairman, president, and CEO of Procter & Gamble
• Robert Yates, former owner of NASCAR Cup Series team Yates Racing

Entertainment

• Tyler Barnhardt, actor, best known for Underground, 13 Reasons Why
• Melendy Britt, actress
• Ben Browder, actor, Farscape and Stargate SG-1
• Nick Cannon, television host, rapper, actor, comedian, attended Quail Hollow Middle School
• Ayesha Curry, actress, celebrity cook, author
• Mark Freiburger, filmmaker
• Rohit Gupta, film director, producer
• Ali Hillis, actress
• Lauren Holt, actress, comedian, singer, and cast member of Saturday Night Live
• Brian Huskey, actor, comedian, and writer
• Billy James, musician, producer, and writer
• Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, actor, former professional wrestler, attended Montclaire Elementary School
• Sharon Lawrence, actress, known for NYPD Blue
• Chyler Leigh, actress
• Ross McElwee, documentary filmmaker; professor at Harvard University
• Kenice Mobley, comedian
• Eva Noblezada, actress, singer
• QCP, chef, author
• Jim Rash, actor in NBC/Yahoo's Community
• Britt Robertson, actress
• Gloria Saunders, actress
• Randolph Scott, actor, 1940s and '50s film star
• Jessica Stroup, actress, best known for portraying Erin Silver on 90210
• Berlinda Tolbert, actress on CBS sitcom The Jeffersons
• Skeet Ulrich, actor, Jericho; graduate of Northwest Cabarrus High School
• Earl Wentz, actor, pianist, composer, and musical director, known for his creation of the American Composer Series in 2000
• Maurice Williams, songwriter and performer of Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, famous for "Stay"

Government and law

• Alma Adams, member of the United States House of Representatives, 2015-present; member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, 1994–2014
• Armistead Burwell, associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, 1892–1894
• Rebecca Carney, Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly
• Daniel G. Clodfelter, attorney and politician, Democratic mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina
• Chris Cole, politician
• Charlie Smith Dannelly, educator and politician, Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly
• Walter E. Dellinger III, professor and solicitor
• Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr., mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina 1935–1941
• Anthony Foxx, 17th United States Secretary of Transportation, and mayor of Charlotte (2009–2013)
• Jim Gulley, member of the North Carolina General Assembly
• Richard Hudson, United States representative for North Carolina's 8th congressional district
• Jeff Jackson, 52nd attorney general of North Carolina; former United States representative for North Carolina's 14th congressional district and North Carolina state senator for the 37th district
• Cheslie Kryst, lawyer; Miss North Carolina USA 2019 and Miss USA 2019
• Pat McCrory, 74th governor of North Carolina; longest-serving mayor in Charlotte's history (1995–2009)
• James McDuffie, North Carolina state senator
• James B. McMillan, federal judge who ruled in favor of school busing to integrate Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools
• Cameron A. Morrison, governor of North Carolina
• Sara Virginia Ecker Watts Morrison, First Lady of North Carolina
• Angelia Lawrance Morrison Harris, First Lady of North Carolina
• Mick Mulvaney, former United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland and White House Chief of Staff in the first Trump administration, attended Charlotte Catholic High School
• Sue Myrick, member of the United States House of Representatives; mayor of Charlotte (1987–1991)
• Sarah Parker, chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court (born in Charlotte)
• Robert Pittenger, real estate investor; Republican former state senator in the North Carolina General Assembly (2002–2008)
• Jennifer Roberts, politician, community activist, and 58th mayor of Charlotte
• Toussaint Romain, attorney, public defender, and civil rights figure
• Ruth Samuelson, member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's 104th House district
• John Spratt, United States representative for South Carolina's 5th congressional district
• Mike Sprayberry, North Carolina director of Emergency Management
• Randy Staten, Minnesota state representative and football player
• Anne Tompkins, served as the United States attorney for the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
• Richard Vinroot, attorney and mayor of Charlotte (1991–1995)
• RaShon Young, member of the Florida House of Representatives

Journalism and media

• John Bain (1984–2018), British game commentator
• Heather Childers, television news anchor
• Leigh Diffey, auto racing commentator
• William Emerson (1923–2009), journalist; covered the civil rights era as Newsweeks first bureau chief assigned to cover the Southern United States; later editor in chief of The Saturday Evening Post
• Mark Kemp, music journalist and author
• Anna Kooiman, news anchor and television panelist
• Jim Nantz, CBS television sportscaster
• Maureen O'Boyle, formerly of Current Affair and Extra; now newscaster for WBTV
• Brad Panovich (born 1972), chief meteorologist for WCNC-TV
• Joe Posnanski, sports journalist
• Bill Rosinski, sportscaster and talk show host
• Sandra Mims Rowe, newspaper journalist
• Reed Sarratt, journalist
• Beatrice Thompson, broadcast television and radio personality

Military and aviation

• Jerry K. Crump, soldier in the United States Army; received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean War
• Richard T. Devereaux, retired United States Air Force Major General
• Charles Duke, NASA astronaut, United States Air Force officer and test pilot, 10th person to walk on the Moon
• Jack B. Farris, United States Army lieutenant general
• John Gibbon, officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, also served in the American Indian Wars
• Buster Glosson, former deputy chief of staff for plans and operations at the headquarters for the U.S. Air Force in Washington D.C.
• Susan Helms, brigadier general-select in the U.S. Air Force and former NASA astronaut
• Hunter Marshall III, United States Navy officer during World War II

Musicians

• Ant-Bee, musician
• Seth Avett, singer and one of the founding members of American folk-rock band The Avett Brothers
• Horace Brown, R&B singer
• Nappy Brown (1929–2008), R&B and gospel singer
• Phillip Bush, classical pianist
• Tom Constanten, former keyboard player, Grateful Dead
• DaBaby, rapper, songwriter
• Deniro Farrar, rapper
• FireHouse, early 1990s "hair metal band"
• Flagship, alt-rock band
• Anthony Hamilton, R&B singer
• Wilbert Harrison, R&B singer
• Joe Henry, musician
• Hopesfall, hard rock band
• Tyrone Jefferson, trombonist
• K-Ci & JoJo (Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey & Joel "JoJo" Hailey) of 1990s R&B group JodeciSi Kahn, singer-songwriter and activist (resident of Charlotte)
• John P. Kee, gospel singer
• Adam Lazzara, lead singer of Taking Back Sunday
• Jon Lindsay, solo recording artist; former member of Benji Hughes and many other bands; record producer; political activist
• Kelsey Lu, singer and cellist
• Lute, rapper
• Mavi, musician
• John Mark McMillan, singer-songwriter
• Tammy Faye Messner (1942–2007), Christian singer and television personality; former wife of televangelist, and later convicted felon, Jim Bakker
• Stephanie Mills, R&B singer
• Renee Rapp, singer-songwriter
• David Vincent, frontman, bassist, and singer of the death metal band Morbid Angel
• Wednesday 13, musician
• Willie Weeks, bass guitarist, known for work with Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder and George Harrison

Sportspeople

• Saad Abdul-Salaam, soccer player
• Cedric Alexander, professional wrestler signed to WWE
• Jaire Alexander, NFL cornerback
• Ty-Shon Alexander, professional basketball player
• Arn Anderson, professional wrestler
• Darrell Armstrong, former National Basketball Association (NBA) player and current NBA coach
• Bryan Battle, MMA fighter
• Jim Beatty, first person to break the four-minute mile barrier on an indoor track
• Ricky Berens, Olympic swimmer and two-time gold medalist
• DeAndre' Bembry, NBA player
• Saddiq Bey, NBA player
• Tessa Blanchard, professional wrestler
• Garrett Bradbury, National Football League (NFL) offensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings
• Calvin Brock, former professional boxer; competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics
• William Byron, NASCAR Cup Series driver for Hendrick Motorsports
• Maya Caldwell, WNBA player for the Atlanta Dream
• Chris Canty, former NFL defensive end; Charlotte Latin School alumni
• Dwight Clark, NFL wide receiver and two-time Super Bowl champion with San Francisco 49ers
• Jacob Coggins, soccer player
• Stu Cole, former Major League Baseball (MLB) player and current MLB coach
• Mo Collins, NFL lineman for the Oakland Raiders
• Carlos Crawford, former MLB pitcher
• Seth Curry, NBA player
• Stephen Curry, NBA player and 4-time champion with the Golden State Warriors
• Baron Davis, former professional basketball player; played for Charlotte Hornets 1999–2002
• Jordan Davis, NFL defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles
• Jake Delhomme, former NFL quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, 2003–2009
• Claudia Dickey, soccer player
• John Donaldson, former MLB second baseman
• Devon Dotson, NBA G League basketball player
• Ray Durham, MLB second baseman and two-time All-Star selection
• Charlotte Flair, professional wrestler, daughter of Ric Flair
• Reid Flair, professional wrestler, son of Ric Flair
• DeShaun Foster, born in Charlotte, former running back for Carolina Panthers 2002–2007
• Todd Fuller, professional basketball player
• Joe Gibbs, Hall of Fame football coach and NASCAR championship team owner
• Grace Glenn, artistic gymnast
• Trent Guy, former NFL and Canadian Football League player
• Clayton Heafner, former PGA Tour golfer
• Larry Hefner, former NFL linebacker
• Tommy Helms, MLB player
• Gerald Henderson Jr., former professional basketball player
• Dwight Howard, Charlotte Hornets 2017–2018, NBA player
• D. J. Humphries, NFL offensive tackle
• Antawn Jamison, NBA forward and former University of North Carolina basketball star
• Bobby Jones, basketball player, four-time NBA All-Star and 1972 Olympian
• Daniel Jones, NFL quarterback for New York Giants; attended Charlotte Latin School
• Impa Kasanganay, MMA fighter
• Hunter Kemper, triathlete, 4-time member of the U.S. Olympic team (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012)
• Braxton Key, professional basketball player
• Ron "The Truth" Killings, pro wrestler
• Luke Kuechly, former linebacker for the Carolina Panthers 2012–2019
• Corey LaJoie, NASCAR Cup Series driver
• Kendall Lamm, NFL offensive tackle for the Tennessee Titans
• Chris Leak, former Florida Gators quarterback and offensive MVP of 2007 BCS National Championship Game
• Dave Lemonds, pitcher for Chicago White Sox
• Nick Leverett, NFL offensive guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Michael Macchiavello, freestyle and folkstyle wrestler, NCAA Wrestling national champion at NC State
• Mohamed Massaquoi, NFL player
• Alex Maughan, rugby union player
• J. B. Mauney, professional bull rider
• Drake Maye, NFL quarterback for the Patriots
• Jeff McInnis, NBA guard
• Mildred Meacham, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
• Kennedy Meeks, NBA player
• Sam Mills, linebacker who played twelve seasons in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers
• Akil Mitchell, American-Panamanian basketball player for Maccabi Rishon LeZion of the Israeli Premier League
• Tiffany Mitchell, WNBA player
• Anthony Morrow, NBA player
• Alonzo Mourning, former professional basketball player
• Daniel Naroditsky, chess grandmaster
• Joan Nesbit, former long-distance runner who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics
• Hakeem Nicks, former NFL wide receiver for New York Giants
• Dickie Noles, MLB pitcher
• Pettis Norman, NFL tight end for the Dallas Cowboys
• Ayanga Okpokowuruk, football player
• Julius Peppers, former defensive end for the Carolina Panthers 2002–2009 and again 2017–2018
• Richard Petty, former seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and record winner of 200 NASCAR races
• Roman Phifer, NFL linebacker
• Ian Pilcher, soccer player
• Wali Rainer, NFL player for Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions and Houston Texans
• Jeff Reed, former NFL kicker for the Pittsburgh Steelers
• Cody Rhodes, professional wrestler
• Jerry Richardson, former owner of NFL's Carolina Panthers
• Jordan Rinaldi, UFC fighter
• John Sadri, tennis player, Australian Open singles finalist
• Don Schollander, six-time Olympic champion swimmer
• Corey Seager, MLB shortstop for the Texas Rangers
• Kyle Seager, former MLB third baseman for the Seattle Mariners
• Floyd Simmons, two-time Olympic bronze medalist in the decathlon
• Jamie Skeen, basketball player, plays for Maccabi Ashdod B.C. in the Israeli Super League
• Ish Smith, NBA player
• Jaden Springer, professional basketball player
• Ricky Steamboat, pro wrestler
• Bernard Taylor, former boxer, compiled 481–8 record as an amateur boxer, qualified for 1980 U.S. Olympic team
• Chad Tracy, MLB third baseman
• Rayjon Tucker, NBA player
• Dolly Vanderlip, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League pitcher
• Dave Waymer (1959–1993), NFL safety for New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Raiders
• Reggie White (1961–2004), NFL defensive end; career leader at time of his retirement in sacks
• Steve Wilks, football coach, former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018
• Grant Williams, NBA player for the Boston Celtics; Providence Day School alum
• Patrick Williams, professional basketball player
• Alex Wood, MLB pitcher
• Haywood Workman, NBA guard for Indiana Pacers

Miscellaneous

• Annie Lowrie Alexander (1864–1929), first licensed female physician in the American South
• Chelsea Cooley, Miss North Carolina USA 2005, Miss USA 2005
• Olivia Culpo, Miss Rhode Island USA, Miss USA, Miss Universe 2012
• Brooklyn Decker, model, graduated from Butler High School in Matthews, NC; Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover model
• Thereasea Elder (1927–2021), first African American public health nurse in Charlotte
• Steven Furtick, pastor
• Ryan C. Gordon, software and game porter
• Billy Graham (1918–2018), evangelist
• Vani Hari, author, activist, and affiliate marketer who criticizes the food industry
• Carter Heyward, feminist theologian and priest in the Episcopal Church, the province of the worldwide Anglican Communion in the United States
• Richard Hipp, software architect and primary author of SQLite
• Peter Joseph Jugis, prelate of the Roman Catholic Church serving as the fourth and current bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
• Jordan Lloyd, winner of Season 11 of Big Brother; contestant on Season 16 of The Amazing Race (from suburban Matthews)
• Emily Maynard, The Bachelorette, season 8
• Sally Dalton Robinson, philanthropist
• John Shelby Spong (1931–2021), retired bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Newark, author, lecturer, and theologian
• Jane Renwick Smedburg Wilkes (1827–1913), founder of Good Samaritan Hospital and St. Peter's Hospital

References