From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 [1] Sonya Curry , educatorChristopher 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[2] Edith Henderson , landscape architect[3] John Kuykendall , served as 15th president of Davidson College [4] Paul Marion , university administrator and academicGeorge C. Williams , evolutionary biologist Anne D. Yoder , biologist, researcher, and professorArt and literature Spirit Square Center for the Arts Romare Bearden (1911–1988), artist and writerBrian Blanchfield , poet and essayistJason V. Brock , filmmaker, musician, artist, and authorDon Brown , author and attorneyW. J. Cash , writer and journalistSilas Farley , ballet dancer, choreographer and educatorIan Flynn , comic book writer[5] Brent Funderburk , artistHarry Golden , authorHank Hanegraaff , author, radio talk-show host, former advocate of evangelical Christianity (until 2017 with his conversion to Eastern Orthodox faith)Cheris F. Hodges , authorTravis Jeppesen , authorBen Long , artist, most known for his fresco work and drawingsCarson McCullers , authorJenny Offill , novelistDiane Oliver (1943–1966), Black feminist writerKathy Reichs , anthropologist and authorStephanie S. Tolan , children's book authorMel Tomlinson , ballet and modern dancerJustin Tornow , dancer and choreographerBusiness Robert Yates Cy Bahakel , former North Carolina State Senator and media magnate, instrumental in bringing Charlotte Hornets franchise to CharlotteIrwin Belk , businessman and politician, executive with Belk department storesJim Crockett Jr. , former professional wrestling promoterRichard 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 [6] 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 billionaireMichael Jordan , former professional Hall of Fame basketball player, principal owner & chairman of the Charlotte Hornets [7] [8] Herman Lay , involved in potato chip manufacturing with his eponymous brand of Lay's potato chipsLeon Levine , founder of Family Dollar ; billionaire, businessman and philanthropistMichael Marsicano , President and CEO of The Foundation for the Carolinas, one of the largest philanthropic community foundations in the country in terms of assetsHugh 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 AmericansDavid S. Taylor , business executive who is currently the chairman, President, and CEO of Procter & Gamble Blake R Van Leer III , entrepreneur, grandson of President of Georgia Tech, inventor, civil rights advocate[9] Robert Yates , former owner of NASCAR Cup Series team Yates Racing Entertainment Chyler Leigh Jim Rash Berlinda Tolbert Tyler Barnhardt , actor, best known for Underground , 13 Reasons Why Melendy Britt , actressBen Browder , actor, Farscape and Stargate SG-1 Nick Cannon , television host, rapper, actor, comedian, attended Quail Hollow Middle School[10] Ayesha Curry , actress, celebrity cook, author[11] Mark Freiburger , filmmakerRohit Gupta , film director, producerAli Hillis , actressLauren Holt , actress, comedian, singer, and cast member of Saturday Night Live Brian Huskey , actor, comedian, and writerBilly James , musician, producer, and writerDwayne 'The Rock' Johnson , actor, former professional wrestler, attended Montclaire Elementary School[12] Emeril Lagasse , celebrity chef, television personality, attended Johnson & Wales University [13] Sharon Lawrence , actress, known for NYPD Blue Chyler Leigh , actressRoss McElwee , documentary filmmaker; professor at Harvard University Eva Noblezada , actress, singerJim Rash , actor in NBC /Yahoo 's Community Britt Robertson , actressGloria Saunders , actressRandolph Scott , actor, 1940s and '50s film starJessica 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 SchoolEarl Wentz , actor, pianist, composer, and musical director, known for his creation of the American Composer Series in 2000Maurice Williams , songwriter and performer of Maurice William and the Zodiacs, famous for "Stay"Government and law Anthony Foxx Armistead Burwell , associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, 1892–1894Rebecca Carney , Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly Daniel G. Clodfelter , attorney and politician, Democratic mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina Chris Cole , politicianCharlie 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 1935–1941Anthony Foxx , 17th United States Secretary of Transportation , and mayor of Charlotte (2009–2013)Jim Gulley , member of the North Carolina General Assembly[14] Richard Hudson , United States Representative for North Carolina's 8th congressional districtCheslie Kryst , lawyer; Miss North Carolina USA 2019 and Miss USA 2019 [15] Pat McCrory , 74th Governor of North Carolina ; longest-serving mayor in Charlotte's history (1995–2009)James McDuffie , North Carolina State SenatorJames B. McMillan , federal judge who ruled in favor of school busing to integrate Charlotte-Mecklenburg SchoolsCameron A. Morrison , Governor of North CarolinaSara Virginia Ecker Watts Morrison , First Lady of North CarolinaAngelia Lawrance Morrison Harris , First Lady of North CarolinaMick Mulvaney , former United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland and White House Chief of Staff in the Trump Administration , attended Charlotte Catholic high schoolSue 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 the 58th Mayor of Charlotte Toussaint Romain , attorney, public defender, and civil rights figureRuth Samuelson , member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's 104th House districtJohn Spratt , United States Representative for South Carolina's 5th congressional districtMike Sprayberry , North Carolina Director of Emergency Management[16] Randy Staten , Minnesota state representative and football playerAnne Tompkins , served as the United States Attorney for the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina [17] Richard Vinroot , attorney and mayor of Charlotte (1991–1995)Journalism and media Jim Nantz John Bain (1984–2018), British game commentatorHeather Childers , television news anchor[18] Leigh Diffey , auto racing commentatorWilliam Emerson (1923–2009), journalist; covered the civil rights era as Newsweek ' s first bureau chief assigned to cover the Southern United States; later editor in chief of The Saturday Evening Post [19] Mark Kemp , music journalist and authorAnna Kooiman , news anchor and television panelistJim Nantz , CBS television sportscaster [20] Maureen O'Boyle , formerly of Current Affair and Extra ; now newscaster for WBTVJoe Posnanski , sports journalistBill Rosinski , sportscaster and talk show host[21] Sandra Mims Rowe , newspaper journalistReed Sarratt , journalistBeatrice Thompson , broadcast television and radio personality [22] Military and aviation Charles Duke Joseph Arnold , United States Air Force ; served in Iraq during operation Iraqi freedom; received Commendation Medal for service during combat operationsJerry K. Crump , soldier in the United States Army ; received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean War [23] Richard T. Devereaux , retired United States Air Force Major General[24] Charles Duke , NASA astronaut, United States Air Force officer and test pilot, 10th person to walk on the MoonJack B. Farris , United States Army lieutenant general [25] John Gibbon , officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War , also served in the American Indian Wars [26] 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 J. Helms , nrigadier general-select in the U.S. Air Force and former NASA astronaut Hunter Marshall III , United States Navy officer during World War II Musicians DaBaby Anthony Hamilton Stephanie Mills Ant-Bee , musicianSeth Avett , singer and one of the founding members of American folk-rock band The Avett Brothers Horace Brown , R&B singerNappy Brown (1929–2008), R&B and gospel singer[27] Phillip Bush , classical pianistTom Constanten , former keyboard player, Grateful Dead DaBaby , rapper, songwriter[28] Deniro Farrar , rapperFireHouse , early 1990s "hair metal band"Flagship , alt-rock bandAnthony Hamilton , R&B singer[29] Wilbert Harrison , R&B singerJoe Henry , musicianHopesfall , hard rock bandTyrone Jefferson , trombonistK-Ci & JoJo (Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey & Joel "JoJo" Hailey) of 1990s R&B group Jodeci [30] Si Kahn , singer-songwriter and activist (resident of Charlotte)John P. Kee , gospel singerAdam Lazzara , lead singer of Taking Back Sunday Jon Lindsay , solo recording artist; former member of Benji Hughes and many other bands; record producer; political activistKelsey Lu , singer and cellistLute , rapperMavi , musicianJohn Mark McMillan , singer-songwriterTammy Faye Messner (1942–2007), Christian singer and television personality; former wife of televangelist , and later convicted felon , Jim Bakker Stephanie Mills , R&B singer[31] David Vincent , frontman, bassist, and singer of the death metal band Morbid Angel Wednesday 13 , musicianWillie Weeks , bass guitarist, known for work with Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder and George HarrisonSportspeople Ricky Berens Dwight Clark Steph Curry Ray Durham Bobby Jones Tiffany Mitchell Hakeem Nicks Corey Seager Ish Smith Alex Wood Cedric Alexander , professional wrestler signed to WWE Jaire Alexander , NFL cornerbackTy-Shon Alexander , professional basketball playerArn Anderson , professional wrestlerDarrell Armstrong , former National Basketball Association (NBA) player and current NBA coachJim Beatty , first person to break the four-minute mile barrier on an indoor trackRicky Berens , Olympic swimmer and two-time gold medalist[32] DeAndre' Bembry , NBA playerSaddiq Bey , NBA playerTessa Blanchard , professional wrestler[33] 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 MotorsportsMaya Caldwell , WNBA player for the Atlanta Dream Chris Canty , former NFL defensive end ; Charlotte Latin School alumniDwight Clark , NFL wide receiver and two-time Super Bowl champion with San Francisco 49ers Stu Cole , former Major League Baseball (MLB) player and current MLB coachMo Collins , NFL lineman for the Oakland Raiders Carlos Crawford , former MLB pitcher Seth Curry , NBA player[34] Stephen Curry , NBA player and 4-time champion with the Golden State Warriors [35] Baron Davis , former professional basketball player; played for Charlotte Hornets 1999–2002Jordan Davis , NFL defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles Jake Delhomme , former NFL quarterback for the Carolina Panthers , 2003–2009John Donaldson , former MLB second basemanDevon Dotson , NBA G League basketball player [36] Ray Durham , MLB second baseman and two-time All-Star selectionCharlotte Flair , professional wrestler, daughter of Ric Flair[37] Reid Flair , professional wrestler, son of Ric FlairDeShaun Foster , born in Charlotte, former running back for Carolina Panthers 2002–2007Todd Fuller , professional basketball playerJoe Gibbs , Hall of Fame football coach and NASCAR championship team ownerGrace Glenn , artistic gymnastTrent Guy , former NFL and Canadian Football League playerClayton Heafner , former PGA Tour golfer[38] Larry Hefner , former NFL linebackerTommy Helms , MLB playerGerald Henderson Jr. , former professional basketball playerDwight Howard , Charlotte Hornets 2017–2018, NBA playerD. J. Humphries , NFL offensive tackleAntawn Jamison , NBA forward and former University of North Carolina basketball starBobby Jones , basketball player, four-time NBA All-Star and 1972 OlympianDaniel Jones , NFL quarterback for New York Giants ; attended Charlotte Latin School[39] Hunter Kemper , triathlete , 4-time member of the U.S. Olympic team (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012)Braxton Key , professional basketball playerRon "The Truth" Killings , pro wrestler Luke Kuechly , former linebacker for the Carolina Panthers 2012–2019Corey LaJoie , NASCAR Cup Series driverKendall 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 playerAlex Maughan , rugby union playerJ. B. Mauney , professional bull riderJeff McInnis , NBA guard Mildred Meacham , All-American Girls Professional Baseball League playerKennedy Meeks , NBA playerSam 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[40] Anthony Morrow , NBA playerAlonzo Mourning , former professional basketball player[41] Daniel Naroditsky , chess grandmaster Joan Nesbit , former long-distance runner who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics [42] Hakeem Nicks , former NFL wide receiver for New York Giants Dickie Noles , MLB pitcherPettis Norman , NFL tight end for the Dallas Cowboys Ayanga Okpokowuruk , football playerJulius Peppers , former defensive end for the Carolina Panthers 2002–2009 and again 2017–2018[43] Richard Petty , former seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and record winner of 200 NASCAR racesRoman Phifer , NFL linebackerWali 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 wrestlerJerry Richardson , former owner of NFL's Carolina Panthers Jordan Rinaldi , UFC fighter[44] John Sadri , tennis player , Australian Open singles finalistDon Schollander , six-time Olympic champion swimmerCorey Seager , MLB shortstop for the Texas Rangers [45] Kyle Seager , former MLB third baseman for the Seattle Mariners [46] 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 playerJaden Springer , professional basketball playerRicky Steamboat , pro wrestler Bernard Taylor , former boxer , compiled 481–8 record as an amateur boxer, qualified for 1980 U.S. Olympic teamChad Tracy , MLB third baseman Rayjon Tucker , NBA playerDolly Vanderlip , All-American Girls Professional Baseball League pitcherDave 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 2018Grant Williams , NBA player for the Boston Celtics ; Providence Day School alumPatrick Williams , professional basketball playerAlex Wood , MLB pitcherHaywood Workman , NBA guard for Indiana Pacers Miscellaneous Annie Lowrie Alexander Annie Lowrie Alexander (1864–1929), first licensed female physician in the American South[47] Chelsea Cooley , Miss North Carolina USA 2005, Miss USA 2005 Olivia Culpo , Miss Rhode Island USA , Miss USA , Miss Universe 2012 [48] Brooklyn Decker , model, graduated from Butler High School in Matthews, NC; Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover model[49] Steven Furtick , pastorRyan C. Gordon , software and game porter Billy Graham (1918–2018), evangelist[50] 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 8Sally Dalton Robinson , philanthropistJohn Shelby Spong , retired Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Newark, author, lecturer, and theologianJane Renwick Smedburg Wilkes , founder of Good Samaritan Hospital and St. Peter's HospitalReferences