# 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
* 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
* 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

## Business

* Cy Bahakel, former North Carolina State Senator and media magnate, instrumental in bringing 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 & 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 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
* 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
* Eva Noblezada, actress, singer
* 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 William and the Zodiacs, famous for "Stay"

## Government and law

* 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
* 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 the 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)

## 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 Newsweek's 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
* 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

* Joseph Arnold, United States Air Force; served in Iraq during operation Iraqi freedom; received Commendation Medal for service during combat operations
* 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 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

* 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 Jodeci
* Si 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
* 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
* 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
* 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
* 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
* 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
* 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
* 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, American author, activist, and affiliate marketer who criticizes the food industry
* Carter Heyward, American 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