The following is a list of notable people who were born, raised, or closely associated with the Hampton Roads metropolitan area.
Chesapeake
Hampton
Newport News
- Willie Armstead (b. 1952) â former professional football player in the Canadian Football League
- Keith Atherton (b. 1959) â former pitcher for the Minnesota Twins and the Oakland Athletics
- Pearl Bailey (1918âÂÂ1990) â Tony Award-winning actress and singer
- Antoine Bethea (b. 1984) â professional football strong safety for the San Francisco 49ers
- Larry Bethea (1956âÂÂ1987) â late professional football player for the Dallas Cowboys
- Darryl Blackstock (b. 1983) â professional football player for the Cincinnati Bengals
- Blind Blake (1896âÂÂ1934) â blues and ragtime musician (not officially confirmed he was born in Newport News)
- Robert Eugene Brashers (1958âÂÂ1999), serial killer
- Aaron Brooks (b. 1976) â former professional football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders; land developer
- Joyce Bulifant (b. 1937) â television actress
- Robert Cray (b. 1953) â blues guitarist
- Will Crutchfield (b. 1957) â opera conductor
- Scott Darling (b. 1988) â professional ice hockey goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes
- Ben Edwards (b. 1992) â football player
- Frankie Faison (b. 1949) â film actor
- Ella Fitzgerald (1917âÂÂ1996) â jazz singer
- The Five Keys â popular soul and doo-wop act in the 1950s; featuring Newport News locals Ripley Ingram, Bernie West, Dickie Threat and Rudy West
- Earl R. Fox (1919âÂÂ2012) â U.S. Navy and Coast Guard veteran; last American active servicemember from World War II
- Johnny Gilbert (b. 1928) â announcer for the television quiz show Jeopardy!
- Marques Hagans (b. 1982) â NFL player
- Debbie Horton â guitarist, DJ and songwriter
- Henry Jordan (1935âÂÂ1977) â former professional football player for the Green Bay Packers; member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Richard Kelly (b. 1975) â film director and writer; films include Donnie Darko and Domino
- Leroy Keyes (1947âÂÂ2021) â professional football running back for the Philadelphia Eagles
- J. J. Lankes (1884âÂÂ1960) â woodcut artist, lived for many years in the Hilton Village neighborhood
- Kwamie Lassiter (1969-2019) â former football safety for the Arizona Cardinals
- David Macklin (b. 1978) â professional football player for the Washington Redskins
- Michael Maguire (b. 1955) â Tony Award-winning actor
- Queen Esther Marrow (b. 1941) â soul and gospel singer
- Masego (b. 1993) â R&B and traphouse jazz artist
- Lightfoot Solomon Michaux (1885âÂÂ1969) â evangelist, early radio and television pioneer
- J. Clyde Morris (1909âÂÂ1987) â first executive director of the Chesapeake Bay BridgeâÂÂTunnel; former city manager of the City of Warwick
- Hazel R. O'Leary (b. 1937) â former Secretary of Energy under President Bill Clinton and president of Fisk University
- Tommy Reamon (b. 1952) â former pro football player and coach
- Austin Roberts (b. 1945) â singer and songwriter
- Shirley H. Scheibla (1919âÂÂ2000)) â journalist and author
- Norm Snead (1939âÂÂ2024) â former professional football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles
- Sonja Sohn (b. 1964) â actress, The Wire, Body of Proof
- Jon St. John (b. 1960) â voice actor and singer, best known as the voice of Duke Nukem
- Bobby Scott (b. 1947) â U.S. representative, former Virginia state senator and Virginia state delegate
- William Styron (1925âÂÂ2006) â author of The Confessions of Nat Turner and Sophie's Choice
- Nick "The Goat" Thompson (b. 1981) â professional mixed martial arts fighter; Bodog Fight Welterweight Champion
- Mike Tomlin (b. 1972) â head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Al Toon (b. 1963) â former professional football player for the New York Jets
- Marcus Vick (b. 1984) â former NFL player, quarterback for Virginia Tech
- Michael Vick (b. 1980) â NFL quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles
- Victor Wooten (b. 1964) â musician
Norfolk
- Adam Anderson â driver of the Taz and Grave Digger Monster Trucks; son of Monster Truck driver
- Dennis Anderson â driver of the Grave Digger Monster Truck in the Monster Jam series
- Mason Andrews (1919âÂÂ2006) â physician who delivered America's first in vitro baby; visionary leader of Norfolk's late 20th century renaissance
- Anhayla (b. 1988) â singer-songwriter
- Gordon Banks (b. 1955) â guitarist and music director for Marvin Gaye
- Al Barks (1936âÂÂ2018) â Negro league baseball player
- Gary "U.S." Bonds (b. 1939) â singer-songwriter
- Plaxico Burress (b. 1977) â professional football wide receiver for the New York Jets
- William Harvey Carney (1840âÂÂ1908) â African-American soldier of the American Civil War; Medal of Honor recipient for his part in the 54th Massachusetts Infantry's assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina
- Kam Chancellor (b. 1988) â professional football safety for the Seattle Seahawks
- Clarence Clemons â saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band
- Alex Cosmidis â Minor League baseball player and manager and Major League scout
- William Couper (1853âÂÂ1942) â sculptor
- Colgate Whitehead Darden, Jr. (1897âÂÂ1981) â U.S. representative; governor of Virginia; chancellor of the College of William and Mary; third president of the University of Virginia
- Keyshawn Davis (b. 1999) â professional boxer
- Mike D'Orso (b. 1953) â author, journalist
- Charles "Lefty" Driesell (1931âÂÂ2024) â basketball coach at Davidson College, the University of Maryland, College Park, James Madison University, and Georgia State University
- Rob Estes (b. 1963) â actor
- Ryan Farish (b. 1974) â music composer, artist, publisher, and record executive of Rytone Entertainment
- Florian-Ayala Fauna â artist musician
- Hank Foiles â from Norfolk, Major league All-Star in 1957; played for seven teams; finished his career in 1964 with the expansion Los Angeles Angels
- William Fuller (b. 1962) â professional football defensive end for the Houston Oilers, Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears
- Stephen Furst (1954âÂÂ2017) â television actor
- Grant Gustin (b. 1990) â television actor
- Henry Howell (1920âÂÂ1997) â Independent lieutenant governor of Virginia
- Lawrence "LoJo" Johnson (b. 1974) â Olympic pole vaulter, silver medalist in 2000
- General Norman Johnson (1943-2010) â R&B musician
- Kishi Bashi (b. 1975) â indie rock violinist; solo musician; tour member of Of Montreal and Regina Spektor
- Naomi Long Madgett (1923âÂÂ2020) â poet
- Mae â indie rock band
- Thomas W. Moss, Jr. (1928âÂÂ2015) â Democratic Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, 1992âÂÂ2000
- Wayne Newton (b. 1942) â aka "Mr. Las Vegas"; singer and songwriter
- Tim Reid (b. 1944) â television actor, director, and film executive
- Jodi Rell (b. 1946) â Republican governor of Connecticut, 2004âÂÂ2011
- Joseph Jenkins Roberts (1809âÂÂ1876) â first president of Liberia
- Dave Robertson (1889âÂÂ1970) â from Norfolk, two-time National League home run leader; hit .500 in 1917 World Series; hit .287 over nine seasons with the Giants, Cubs and Pirates; product of Norfolk Academy; played four sports at Wake Forest and NC State; managed the minor league Norfolk Tars for several years in the 1920s
- Larry Sabato (b. 1952) â political pundit and professor at the University of Virginia
- Ed Schultz (1954âÂÂ2018) â pundit and TV personality for MSNBC
- Deborah Shelton (b. 1948) â actress; Miss USA 1970, first runner-up in Miss Universe contest
- John Wesley Shipp (b. 1956) â television actor
- Bruce Smith (b. 1963) â Pro Football Hall of Fame player for the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins
- Joe Smith (b. 1975) â professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers
- Keely Smith (1928âÂÂ2017) â nightclub singer, wife and stage partner of Louis Prima
- Margaret Sullavan (1909âÂÂ1960) â actress and wife of Leland Hayward
- Chuck Swirsky â Chicago Bulls radio play-by-play announcer, previously with Toronto Raptors
- Littleton Waller Tazewell (1774âÂÂ1860) â U.S. representative, U.S. senator and governor of Virginia
- Antoine Thompson â cornerback with the St. Louis Rams
- Scott Travis (b. 1961) â drummer for rock band Judas Priest
- John Paul Vann (1924âÂÂ1972) â U.S. soldier and civilian active in Vietnam
- Marc Vann (b. 1954) â actor
- Brandon Vera (b. 1977) â mixed martial artist, currently signed to UFC
- Gene Vincent (1935âÂÂ1971) â rock-a-billy artist recorded the hit "Be-Bop-a-Lula"
- Ben Watson (b. 1980) â football player for the New England Patriots
- Ernie Watts (b. 1945) â composer, jazz saxophonist, and long-time touring member of The Rolling Stones
- Joe Weatherly (1922âÂÂ1964) â NASCAR driver
- Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker (b. 1964) â boxer; 1984 Olympic gold medalist, professional champion in four weight classes
- Thomas Wilkins (b. 1954) â orchestra conductor, music director of the Omaha Symphony Orchestra
- Patrick Wilson (b. 1973) â actor
- David Wright (b. 1982) â professional baseball player for the New York Mets
Portsmouth
- V. C. Andrews (1923âÂÂ1986) â mystery and horror writer
- Cleo Anthony (b. 1981) â actor
- James P. Berkeley (1907âÂÂ1985) â USMC general and expert in military communications
- Ken Bowersox (b. 1956) â astronaut
- Marty Brennaman (b. 1942) â sportscaster for the Cincinnati Reds
- Karen Briggs (b. 1963) â violinist
- Ruth Brown (1928âÂÂ2006) â Grammy Award-winning singer and entertainer
- Bebe Buell (b. 1953) â fashion model, famous groupie and mother of Liv Tyler
- John T. Casteen III (b. 1943) â president of the University of Virginia, born in Portsmouth
- Mahlon Clark (1923âÂÂ2007) â musician
- LaTasha Colander (b. 1976) â track and field sprint star, 2000 Olympic gold medalist (4 à400 m)
- Deborah Coleman (1956âÂÂ2018) â blues musician
- Fanny Murdaugh Downing (1831âÂÂ1894) â author and poet
- Archie Elliott Jr. â retired judge and lawyer
- Archie Elliott III (1968âÂÂ1993) â Black 24-year-old shot by police in District Heights, Maryland on June 18, 1993
- Jamin Elliott (b. 1979) â former NFL wide receiver for the Chicago Bears, New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons
- Missy Elliott (b. 1971) â rapper
- Perry Ellis (1940âÂÂ1986) â fashion designer
- John Facenda (1913âÂÂ1984) â WCAU news anchor from 1948 to 1973; known as the "voice of NFL Films" until his death in 1984
- Dorian Finney-Smith â basketball player for the University of Florida and Dallas Mavericks
- Clifton C. Garvin (1921âÂÂ2016) â president and CEO of Exxon
- Mordechai Gifter (1915âÂÂ2001) â among the foremost American religious leaders of Orthodox Jewry in the late 20th century
- Melvin Gregg (1988âÂÂ) â actor and model
- Chandler Harper (1914âÂÂ2004) â golfer
- Ken Hatfield â classical guitarist
- James W. Holley III (1926âÂÂ2012) â politician, first African-American mayor of any city in the Hampton Roads region (Portsmouth)
- W. Nathaniel "Nat" Howell (1939âÂÂ2020) â State Dept. foreign service officer, former ambassador to Kuwait; professor emeritus, the University of Virginia
- Chad Hugo (b. 1974) â musician and producer in the Neptunes and N.E.R.D.
- Ben L. Jones (b. 1941) â actor and politician
- T. J. Jordan (b. 1986) â basketball player
- Jillian Kesner-Graver (1949âÂÂ2007) â actress
- Jack T. Kirby (1938âÂÂ2009) â historian of the southern United States, awarded the Bancroft Prize for his 2006 book Mockingbird Song: Ecological Landscapes of the South
- Erik S. Kristensen (1972âÂÂ2005) â US Navy SEAL lieutenant commander and highest decorated SEAL to be killed in Operation Red Wings
- Rita Lavelle (b. 1947) â assistant administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Louise Lucas (b. 1944) â Virginia state senator;first woman and first African-American to hold the position of president pro tempore of the Virginia Senate
- Nathan McCall (1955âÂÂ) â author who grew up in the Cavalier Manor section of Portsmouth, Virginia
- Kenneth R. Melvin (b. 1952) â former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, lawyer, and current jurist for the Third Circuit of Virginia
- LaShawn Merritt (b. 1986) â 2008 Olympic gold medal-winning sprinter
- Pete Mikolajewski (b. 1943) â football player
- Johnny E. Morrison â jurist for the Third Circuit of Virginia
- George "Shadow" Morton (1941âÂÂ2013) â record producer and songwriter
- James Murphy (1967âÂÂ) â metal guitarist, member of the bands Death, Testament, Obituary and Disincarnate
- Bismarck Myrick (b. 1940) â U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Liberia, U.S. ambassador to Lesotho
- Wendell Cushing Neville (1870âÂÂ1930) â 14th Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps
- Tommy Newsom (1929âÂÂ2007) â musician featured in Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show band with Doc Severinsen
- Patton Oswalt (b. 1969) â comedian and television actor
- Ace Parker (1912âÂÂ2013) â Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback; also played baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics
- John L. Porter (1813âÂÂ1893) â president of the first city council, a naval constructor for United States Navy and the Confederate States Navy
- Dave Robertson (1889âÂÂ1970), MLB outfielder 1912âÂÂ22, played in World Series for New York Giants; born in Portsmouth
- William Russ (b. 1950) â actor
- Bill Schneider (b. 1944) â political commentator for CNN
- Don Scott (b. 1965) â lawyer, Democratic politician, Navy veteran, and the first Black Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates
- Dave Smith (1942âÂÂ) â poet, novelist
- Lon Solomon â Christian pastor and evangelist
- Dorin Spivey â NBA World and NABA Lightweight Boxing Champion
- William Spong Jr. (1920âÂÂ1997) â lawyer, Democratic politician, United States Senator for the state of Virginia
- Brenda Spry â jurist for the Third Circuit of Virginia
- Wanda Sykes (b. 1964) â actress, comedian, and comedy writer
- Ted Thomas, Sr. (1935âÂÂ2020) â Pentecostal preacher and pastor of the New Community Temple Church of God in Christ; General board member of the Church of God in Christ, Inc. denomination
- Clif Tinker (1956âÂÂ) â San Antonio, Texas-based commercial artist
- Adrienne Warren (1987âÂÂ) â Broadway singer and actress
- Mike Watt (b. 1957) â musician, founding member and bassist of SST hardcore punk band Minutemen; current bassist for recently reunited 60s band The Stooges
- Khadijah Whittington (1986âÂÂ) â professional basketball player for the CSM Satu Mare of the Liga NaÃÂionalÃÂ
- Nicole Wray (b. 1980) â rapper and protégé of Missy Elliott
Suffolk
Virginia Beach
- Corey Ashe (b. 1986) â soccer player
- Clara Byrd Baker, (1886-1979) â educator
- Adam Ballou (b. 1992) â cerebral palsy soccer player and Paralympian
- Wade Barrett (b. 1976) â soccer player
- Felicia Barton (b. 1982) â semi-finalist on American Idol
- Malachi Barton (b. 2007) â actor, son of Felicia Barton
- Kharlton Belmar (b. 1992) â soccer player
- Kelli Barrett, actress
- Eric Bird (b. 1993) â soccer player
- Rudy Boesch (1928âÂÂ2019) â retired Navy SEAL and contestant on '
- Jamelle Bouie (b. 1987) â journalist, New York Times columnist, and political analyst
- Bill Bray (b. 1983) â MLB player
- Travis Brent (b. 1992) â soccer player and coach
- Jon Busch (b. 1976) â Hampton Roads Mariner; Major League Soccer
- Curtis Bush (b. 1962) â kickboxer
- Rebecca Cardon, actress, personal trainer and spokesperson
- Gabby Douglas (b. 1995) â Olympic gymnastics gold medalist
- D.J. Dozier (b. 1965) â football / baseball from Virginia Beach; Penn State All-American, first-round NFL draft 14th pick by Minnesota Vikings who was also drafted by major league baseball by the Detroit Tigers in the 18th round in 1983 (459th overall)
- Jason Dubois (b. 1979) â MLB player
- Genesis the Greykid (real name Russell McGee Jr.) â artist, creative, poet, writer
- Percy Harvin (b. 1988) â NFL player
- Devon Hall, played college basketball for the Virginia Cavaliers, professional basketball player for Fenerbahçe Istanbul of the Basketbol Süper Ligi
- Michael Hearst (b. 1972) â author, musician, and composer
- Angela Hucles (b. 1978) â sports executive and former professional soccer player
- Daniel Hudson (b. 1987) â MLB player
- Jay Hoffman (b. 1951) â coached Hampton Roads Mariners; played professionally in the Canadian National Soccer League
- Bubba Jenkins (b. 1988) â NCAA wrestling national champion and MMA fighter
- Jen Kiggans (b. 1971) â U.S. representative, former Virginia state senator
- Roy Lassiter (b. 1969) â Hampton Roads Mariner; Major League Soccer; USA National Team
- B. J. Leiderman (b. 1956) â composer of themes for NPR shows
- Marc Leishman (b. 1983) â professional golfer
- Darin Lewis (b. 1976) â Hampton Roads Mariner; MLS New York MetroStars
- EJ Manuel (b. 1990) â NFL quarterback for the Oakland Raiders
- Evan Marriott â actor in Joe Millionaire
- Kára McCullough, winner of Miss USA 2017, finished top ten in Miss Universe 2017
- Bob McDonnell (b. 1954) â former governor of Virginia
- Shane McFaul (b. 1986) â Hampton Roads Mariner; Republic of Ireland U21
- Ryan McGinness (b. 1972) â artist
- Jason Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia
- Darryl Monroe (b. 1986) â professional basketball player, 2016 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP
- Guy Morgan (b. 1960), former NBA player
- Shawn Morimando (b. 1992) â MLB player
- Lenda Murray (b. 1962) â IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Jamia Nash (b. 1996) â singer, actress
- Juice Newton (b. 1952) â singer, songwriter
- Derrick Nnadi (b. 1996) â NFL defensive tackle
- Sean Poppen, MLB player
- Scott Presler, conservative activist
- Pusha T (b. 1977) â rapper
- Neil RamÃÂrez (b. 1989) â MLB player
- J.R. Reid (b. 1968) â NBA player
- Mark Reynolds (b. 1983) â third baseman/first baseman for the Baltimore Orioles from Virginia Beach; drafted in 2004 by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 16th round (476th overall)
- Teddy Riley, music producer
- Pat Robertson (1930âÂÂ2023) â television preacher
- David Robinson (b. 1965) â 10x All-Star, NBA MVP, 2x NBA Champion, 2x Olympic gold medalist, member of Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, briefly grew up in Virginia Beach
- Aaron Rouse (b. 1984) â NFL player and politician
- Mark Ruffalo (b. 1967) â Oscar-nominated actor; raised in Virginia Beach
- Todd Schnitt (b. 1966) â radio personality
- Herbert Scott (b. 1953) â Kellam High School, Virginia Union University, Dallas Cowboys offensive lineman in NFL for 10 seasons, 3àPro Bowl, 2àFirst-team All-Pro, winner of Super Bowl XII
- Rhea Seehorn (b. 1972) â actress known for role as Kim Wexler in Better Call Saul
- Julie Shiflet (b. 1972) â professional tennis player
- Scott Sizemore (b. 1985) â MLB player
- Chris Taylor (b. 1990) â MLB player
- Ian Thomas (b. 1987) â MLB player
- Shamarko Thomas (b. 1991) â Pittsburgh Steelers safety and 111th pick overall in the 2013 NFL draft; starred at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach
- Timbaland (b. 1972) â music producer
- Lil Tracy (b. 1995) â rapper, singer and songwriter
- Kendra Todd, real estate broker, winner of The Apprentice
- Turnover â indie rock band
- Travis Wall (b. 1987) â choreographer and contestant on So You Think You Can Dance
- Matthew E. White (b. 1982) â songwriter and producer
- Elizabeth Williams (b. 1993), played college basketball at Duke University, WNBA player for Atlanta Dream
- Mark Williams, played college basketball for Duke Blue Devils, NBA player for Charlotte Hornets
- Matt Williams (b. 1971) â MLB player
- Pharrell Williams (b. 1973) â rapper, singer, record producer, composer and fashion designer
- Glenn Yates Jr. (1927âÂÂ2022) â architect and Virginia state legislator
- Hunter Yeany (b. 2005) â racing driver
- Glenn Youngkin (b. 1966) â elected governor of Virginia in 2021
- Ryan Zimmerman (b. 1984) â MLB player
Williamsburg
York County
References