List of people from the London Borough of Croydon

Among those who were born in the London Borough of Croydon, or have dwelt within the borders of the modern borough are (alphabetical order):

A

• Feroz Abbasi, arrested in Afghanistan in 2001 and detained at Guantanamo Bay; lived in Shirley and attended school in Croydon
• Adegbenga Adejumo (1987–), Croydon born dubstep producer known as Benga
• Allan Ahlberg (1938–), children's writer (Penguin)
• Waheed Alli (1964–), born and raised in the north of Croydon; multimillionaire media entrepreneur and politician; co-founder of Planet 24 TV production company; MD at Carlton Television; currently chairman of ASOS.com and Chorion Ltd.; a Labour peer; one of very few openly gay Muslim politicians in the world
• Dame Peggy Ashcroft (1907–1991), actress, born in Croydon and lived in George Street as a child; honoured in the naming of the Ashcroft Theatre, part of the Fairfield Halls; was a school friend of architect Jane Drew
• Lionel Atwill (1885–1946), stage and screen actor, was born in Croydon

B

• Jeannie Baker (1940–), artist, author, designer and animator
• Cicely Mary Barker (1895–1973), illustrator and artist; created the famous Flower Fairies books; born in Croydon and lived locally; studied at the Croydon School of Art
• Jon Benjamin (1964–), Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews since 2005; born and grew up in Croydon, and educated at Park Hill Primary School and Dulwich College
• Edward White Benson, Archbishop of Canterbury (1883–1896); lived at Addington Palace; invented Christmas tradition of Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
• Jeff Beck (1944–2023), guitarist
• Jay Bernard (writer) (1988–), writer, artist, film programmer, and activist, raised in Croydon
• Keith Berry (1973–), musician and composer
• Frederick Betts (1859–1944), donated Betts Park and built large areas in Croydon and Penge
• Jamal Blackman (1993–), footballer
• Emily Blunt (1983–), actress; she and husband John Krasinski own an apartment in East Croydon
• James Booth (1927–2005), actor (Zulu)
• Dane Bowers (1979–), singer, attended Trinity School
• Stephen Boyden (1925–), Australian scientist and author
• Derren Brown, illusionist; born and brought up in Purley
• James Buckley, actor, best known for playing Jay Cartwright in The Inbetweeners
• Raymond Burns (1954–), musician, member of punk rock band the Damned; also known by the name Captain Sensible
• Mark Butcher (1972–), Surrey and England cricketer; born in Croydon, attended Trinity School

C

• Alison Carroll, actress
• Raymond Chandler (1888–1959), screenwriter and author
• Anne Clark (poet) (1960–), poet, songwriter and electronic musician
• Klariza Clayton (1989–), actress
• Martin Clunes (1961–), actor, resident
• Carlton Cole, ex footballer, born in Croydon
• Ronnie Corbett, comic actor, lived for many years in Addington, London
• Frederick George Creed (1871–1957), electrical engineer and inventor of the teleprinter; lived and died at 20 Outram Road, Addiscombe
• Peter Cushing (1913–1994), actor; born in Kenley, lived in Purley
• Kit Connor (2003–), actor

D

• Tasha Danvers-Smith (1977–), champion hurdler
• Michael Dapaah (1991–), actor and comedian, attended Thomas More Catholic School, Purley
• Bertrand Dawson (1864–1945), physician to the British Royal Family and President of the Royal College of Physicians
• Desmond Dekker (1941–2006), ska musician, lived in Thornton Heath
• R.F. Delderfield (1912–1972), writer and dramatist; lived at 22 Ashburton Avenue, Addiscombe, 1918–1923; his "Avenue" series is based on his life in Addiscombe & Shirley Park; many of his works were adapted for television
• Norman Demuth (1898–1968), composer and musicologist, born at 91 St James' Road.
• Luol Deng (1985–), basketball player for the Chicago Bulls and Great Britain; raised in South Norwood
• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930), author and creator of Sherlock Holmes; lived at 12 Tennison Road, South Norwood 1891–1894
• Jane Drew (1911–1996), architect and town planner; born at 8 Parchmore Road, Thornton Heath; went to Croydon High School and was a school friend of Dame Peggy Ashcroft
• Jacqueline du Pré (1945–1987), British cellist, acknowledged as one of the greatest players of the instrument, but whose career was cut short by multiple sclerosis; lived in Purley and attended Croydon High School
• Des'ree (1968–), award-winning English recording artist.

E

• Havelock Ellis (1859–1939), Victorian sexologist, born in Croydon
• Tracey Emin (1963–), artist
• Carlos Ezquerra (1947–2018), comics artist, co-creator of Judge Dredd

F

• Noel Fielding (1973–), comedian, writer, actor, artist, co-creator of The Mighty Boosh
• Matthew Fisher (1946–), musician, Procol Harum, composer of "Whiter Shade of Pale"
• Kenelm Foss (1885–1963), actor, theatre director, author, screenwriter and film director, born in Croydon
• Alexander Francis (1995–), musician, composer
• Vincent Frank (1985–), musician, Frankmusik
• Donna Fraser (1972–), international athlete
• Ian Frazer, poker player
• Neil Fraser (1955–), dub musician/producer (AKA Mad Professor)
• Jacqueline Froom (1929–2018), poet, lyricist, and teacher
• Charles Burgess Fry (1872–1956), polymath – sportsman, politician, teacher, writer, editor, publisher

G

• Paul Garelli (1924–2006), French Assyriologist
• Trevor Goddard (1962–2003), actor
• JB Gill (1986–), singer with British boyband JLS, farmer and TV presenter
• Otis Grand (1950–2023), American Blues guitarist, lived in Croydon
• Sir Philip Green (1952–), Croydon born billionaire, owner of the Arcadia Group
• Deryck Guyler (1914–1999), actor
• William Gao (2003–), actor and musician, Wasia Project
• Émilien Gailleton (2003–), French rugby player

H

• Ben Haenow (1985–), winner of the eleventh series of The X Factor
• Will Hay (1888–1949), comic actor; lived at 45 The Chase, Norbury, 1927–1934
• Simon Haynes (1967–), author, was born in Croydon
• Sir Francis Bond Head (1793–1875), soldier, traveller, author and Lieut. Governor of Upper Canada (1836–1838), had his home at Duppas Hill, Croydon
• Chris Heath (1959–), actor, author, comedian
• Roy Hodgson, football manager and former player, born in Croydon, Attended John Ruskin Grammar School.
• Joseph Holbrooke (1822–1876), composer of stage, choral, and orchestral music
• Roy Hudd, comedian, born in Croydon in 1936
• Hannah Schmitz (1985–), Principal Strategy Engineer at Red Bull Racing, attended Croydon High School

J

• Len Jarrett (1921–), former Director of Administration of the World Scout Bureau; former World Organizer of Scoutings's Jamboree-on-the-Air for thirty years; Croydon born
• Nora Johnston (1886–1952), carillon performer and inventor of the mobile carillon
• Finn Jones (1988–), Croydon raised
• Oliver Jones (1986–), Croydon born dubstep producer otherwise known as Skream

K

• Steve Kember (1948–), footballer, born in Croydon
• George Knowland (1922–1945), Victoria Cross recipient
• Krept and Konan, UK rap duo, raised in Gipsy Hill, Lambeth and Thornton Heath, Croydon respectively
• Rachel Keen (1997–), singer-songwriter, known as Raye, raised in Croydon
• Nish Kumar (1985–), comedian, grew up in Bromley and Croydon

L

• Andrew Lawrence
• D. H. Lawrence (1885–1930), author; lived at 12 Colworth Road, Addiscombe, 1908–1912, whilst a teacher at Davidson Road School
• Sir David Lean (1908–1991), film director, born in Croydon
• Iain Lee (1973–), comedian, born in South Croydon
• Mike Leeder (1968–), Hong Kong based Film Producer, Casting Director and sometimes actor, born and raised in Croydon
• Wilfrid Leng (1952–2002), mathematician and writer
• E G Handel Lucas (1861–1936), artist, lived in Croydon from 1861 to 1909
• Dani Luna Luna (1999–), Professional Wrestler

M

• Kirsty MacColl (1959–2000), singer and songwriter, born and grew up in Croydon
• Miles Malleson (1888–1969), actor and dramatist, born in Croydon
• Jimi Manuwa (1980–), American-born English mixed martial artist
• Pat Marsh (1934–2017), secretary of the British Ice Hockey Association, lived in Croydon
• Ursula Martinez (1966–), cabaret and burlesque entertainer
• David McAlmont (1967–), British vocalist and songwriter, born in Croydon
• Duke McKenzie (1963–), world champion boxer
• Ralph McTell (1944–), musician, composer of "Streets of London"
• Katie Melua (1984–), singer, songwriter, musician, went to the Brit School for Performing Arts at Selhurst, Croydon
• Graham Moodie (1981–), Olympic hockey player
• Kate Moss (1974–), model
• Malcolm Muggeridge (1903–1990), author and media personality; son of H. T. Muggeridge, a prominent Croydon Labour councillor; taught at John Ruskin Central School in the 1920s

N

• Habib Nasib Nader (1979–), actor, writer
• Kate Nash (1987–), singer-songwriter; attended Brit School, Croydon
• Sarah Niles (1987–) actress, born in Thornton Heath

O

• Lawrence Okoye, athlete, attended Whitgift School
• Tarik O'Regan (1978–), composer, attended Elmhurst and Whitgift Schools, Croydon

P

• Sue Perkins (1969–), comedian, writer, performer
• Christopher Pitcher (1973–), cricketer
• Lucy Porter, comedian, raised in Croydon
• Pozer, Rapper
• Simon Prebble (1942–), actor, narrator
• Dickie Pride (1941–1969), rock and roll and jazz singer
• Luke Pritchard, lead singer of The Kooks, attended the Brit School, Croydon
• David Prowse, actor, aka Darth Vader in Star Wars; born in Bristol, lived in Addiscombe, Croydon for over 40 years
• Jason Puncheon (1986–) English professional footballer who plays in midfield for Crystal Palace

R

• Chris Reed (1982–), BBC Radio One dubstep and grime DJ/producer (AKA Plastician)
• Jamie Reid (1947–), situationist, artist, graphic designer
• Robert Reid, rally driver, lives in a flat in South Croydon
• Susanna Reid (1970–), BBC television presenter; born in Croydon, attended Croham Hurst School and Croydon High School
• Nigel Reo-Coker, current English midfielder, playing for Bolton Wanderers and formerly of Wimbledon F.C., West Ham United and Aston Villa; born in Thornton Heath
• Bridget Riley (1931–), painter, one of the foremost proponents of op art; born in Norbury
• Francis Ronalds (1788–1873), inventor, lived in Croydon in the period 1823–33 and manufactured his patented drawing instruments here
• Emily Ronalds (1795–1889), social reformer and sister of Francis Ronalds, established an early preschool in Croydon in 1826
• Martyn Rooney (1987–), international sprinter
• Nadia Rose (1993–), recording artist
• John Ruskin (1819–1900), art critic and social theorist; spent much of childhood in Croydon at his mother's family home and visited often as an adult; his parents are buried in Shirley

S

• Peter Sarstedt (1942–2017), singer, winner of Ivor Novello Award; resident
• Danny Schwarz, model
• Kellie Shirley, EastEnders actress
• Emile Smith Rowe (born 2000), Arsenal footballer, was born in Croydon and spent his early life in Thornton Heath
• Bernard Spear (1919–2003), actor (Yentob)
• William Stanley, (1829–1909), philanthropist, inventor, engineer, author, and artist. Lived most of his life in South Norwood, he designed and built Stanley Halls. South Norwood
• E.L.G. Stones (1914–1987), professor of medieval history at the University of Glasgow from 1956 to 1978
• Dan Stevens, actor
• Stormzy, (1993–), musician, raised in Thornton Heath
• Swift, rapper, part of the group Section Boyz, raised in Croydon

T

• Samuel Coleridge Taylor (1875–1912), composer; noted for his cantatas including the Song of Hiawatha trilogy; lived at 30 Dagnall Park, Selhurst and worked and died in St Leonards Road, Waddon
• Sam Taylor-Johnson (born 1967), artist and filmmaker, born in Croydon

V

• Jonathan Vaughn (1981–), organist and choir director

W

• Alfred Russel Wallace (1823–1913), naturalist; independently proposed a theory of evolution by natural selection and prompted Charles Darwin to reveal his own unpublished theory sooner than he had intended; lived at 44 St Peter's Road, Croydon
• Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Professional Football player who plays for Premier League club West Ham United born in Croydon
• John Whitgift (ca. 1530–1604), Archbishop of Canterbury; buried in the Parish Church of St John the Baptist; several other Archbishops are buried in the Parish Church or St Mary's in Addington
• Rickie Haywood Williams (1982–), TV and radio presenter currently working for MTV and Kiss 100 London
• Karl "Konan" Wilson, half of the British Rap duo "Krept and Konan", from Thornton Heath
• Amy Winehouse (1983–2011), singer, attended Brit School, Croydon
• Wilfred Wood, served as Bishop of Croydon 1985–2002, the first black Church of England bishop
• Edward Woodward (1930–2009), actor, born in Croydon
• Ian Wright, former Crystal Palace, Arsenal and England football team footballer; lives in Shirley
• Matthew Wright, journalist and television presenter; born and resides in Croydon
• Tom Wright (1957–), architect of Burj Al Arab

Y

• Alfred Gregory Yewen, an Australian agricultural writer, journalist and socialist.
• Lola Young, singer, born in Croydon.

In fiction

• Sarah Jane Smith, the popular fictional companion of the Third and Fourth Doctors in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who
• Jeremy "Jez" Osbourne and Mark Corrigan, the fictional protagonists from the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, live in a flat in West Croydon.
• Captain Kevin Darling from the BBC sitcom Blackadder Goes Forth lived in Croydon with his girlfriend Doris. Darling was also a wicket-keeper for the Croydon Gentlemen cricket team.
• Terry and June, the protagonists of the BBC sitcom of the same name, lived in Purley, a suburb of Croydon.

References