# List of people from Washington, D.C.

This is a list of prominent people who were born in, lived in, or are otherwise closely associated with Washington, D.C., and its surrounding metropolitan area, which includes portions of Maryland and Virginia.

## Actors

* Gbenga Akinnagbe (born 1978), actor; born in D.C.
* Jonathan Banks (born 1947), actor; born in D.C.
* Dave Bautista (born 1969), actor and former wrestler of the WWE; born in D.C.
* Jon Bernthal (born 1976), actor; born in D.C.
* David Birney (1939–2022), actor; born in D.C.
* Blair Brown (born 1946), actress; born in D.C.
* Billie Burke (1884–1970), actress; born in D.C.
* Louis C.K. (born 1967), actor, comedian; born in D.C.
* Dave Chappelle (born 1973), actor, comedian; born in D.C., raised in suburban Maryland
* Whitney Cummings (born 1982), comedian, actress; born in D.C.
* Pat Flaherty (1897–1970), actor; born in D.C.
* Matt Frewer (born 1958), actor; born in D.C.
* Isabelle Fuhrman (born 1997), born in D.C.
* Betty Gabriel (born 1981), actress born in D.C
* Ana Gasteyer (born 1967), actress; born in D.C.
* Cameron Goodman (born 1984), actress; born in Texas; raised in D.C.
* Regina Hall (born 1971), actress; born in D.C.
* Alyson Hannigan (born 1974), actress; born in D.C.
* Goldie Hawn (born 1945), actress; born in D.C.; raised in Takoma Park, Maryland
* Helen Hayes (1900–1993), actress; born in D.C.
* John Heard (1945–2017), actor; born in D.C.
* Katherine Heigl (born 1978), actress; born in D.C.
* Taraji P. Henson (born 1970), actress; born in D.C.
* Edward Herrmann (1943–2014), actor; born in D.C.
* William Hurt (1950–2022), actor; born in D.C.
* Samuel L. Jackson (born 1948), actor; born in D.C.
* Archie Kao (born 1973), actor; born in D.C.
* Erik King (born 1963), actor; born in D.C.
* Michael Learned (born 1939), actress; born in D.C.
* James McDaniel (born 1958), actor; born in D.C.
* Christopher Meloni (born 1958), actor; born in D.C.
* Bridgit Mendler (born 1992), singer and actress; born in D.C.
* Michael Nouri (born 1958), actor; born in D.C.
* Clifton Powell (born 1956), actor; born in D.C.
* Madlyn Rhue (1935–2003), actress; born in D.C.
* Eden Riegel (born 1981), actress; born in D.C.
* Chita Rivera (1933–2024), Broadway musical actress; born in D.C.
* Corey Parker Robinson (born 1975), actor; born in D.C.
* Yeardley Smith (born 1964), actress; born in Paris, France, raised in D.C.
* Josh Stamberg (born 1970), actor; born in D.C.
* Ben Stein (born 1944), actor, author, economist, former political speechwriter; born in D.C.; raised in Maryland
* Frances Sternhagen (1930–2023), actress; raised in D.C.
* Rip Taylor (1934–2019), actor, comedian; born in D.C.
* Veronica Taylor (born 1965), actress; born in New York, raised in D.C.
* Leigh Taylor-Young (born 1945), actress; born in D.C.
* Justin Theroux (born 1971), actor; born in D.C.
* Tony Todd (born 1954), actor; born in D.C.
* Robin Weigert (born 1969), actress; born in D.C.
* Samira Wiley (born 1987), actress; born in D.C.
* Kellie Shanygne Williams (born 1976), actress; born in D.C.
* Tom Williamson (born 1990), actor from The Fosters; born in D.C.
* Robert Wisdom (born 1953), actor; born in D.C.
* Jeffrey Wright (born 1965), Tony Award-winning stage and film actor; born in D.C.
* Leonard Wu (born 1986), actor; born in D.C.
* Damian Young (born 1961), actor; born in D.C.
* Rick Yune (born 1971), actor; born in D.C.

## Artists

* Richard Artschwager (1923–2013), minimalist and pop artist; born in D.C.
* Robin Bell (born 1979), art projectionist; lives and works in D.C.
* Ned Bittinger (born 1951), portrait painter and illustrator; born in D.C.
* F. Lennox Campello (born 1956), visual artist, critic and author; works in D.C.
* Allen 'Big Al' Carter (1947–2008), painter; worked and taught art in D.C.
* Elizabeth Catlett (1915–2012), sculptor; born in D.C.
* Will H. Chandlee (1865–1955), painter and illustrator; born in D.C.
* Shanthi Chandrasekar, painter and sculptor; works out of D.C.
* Manon Cleary (1942–2011), painter and educator; lived in D.C.
* Gene Davis (1920–1985), painter; born in D.C.
* Rosetta DeBerardinis, visual artist; lives in D.C.
* Victor Ekpuk (born 1964), visual artist; lives in D.C.
* Joseph Craig English, printmaker; born in Washington, D.C.
* Inez Demonet (1897–1980), visual artist; born in Washington, D.C.
* Halim Flowers (born 1980), visual artist; born in Washington, D.C.
* Catriona Fraser (born 1972), photographer and art dealer; worked in Washington, D.C.
* Sam Gilliam (1933–2022), painter; lives in D.C.
* Nan Goldin (born 1953), photographer; born in D.C.
* Patricia Goslee, painter, lives in Washington, D.C.
* Michael Janis (born 1959), glass artist; lives in D.C.
* Mark Jenkins (born 1970), street artist; lives in D.C.
* Wayson R. Jones, visual artist; works in D.C.
* Margaret Sherratt Keys (1856–1942), British-born American artist, china painter, store proprietor; lived in D.C.
* Nate Lewis, visual artist; works out of D.C.
* Morris Louis (1912–1962), painter; lived in D.C.
* Kevin MacDonald (1947–2006), painter; lived in D.C.
* Eugene J. Martin (1938–2005), visual artist; born in D.C.
* Percy Martin, visual artist; lives in D.C.
* Benoit Maubrey (born 1952), born in D.C.
* Alexa Meade (born 1986), visual artist; born in D.C.
* Benson Moore (1882–1974), painter and sketcher; lived and worked in D.C.
* Judith Peck, visual artist, works in D.C.
* Michael B. Platt (1948–2019), visual artist and art professor; lived and worked in D.C.
* Martin Puryear (born 1941), sculptor; born in D.C.
* Paul Reed (1919–2015), painter; born in D.C.
* Amber Robles-Gordon, mixed media artist; lives in D.C.
* Joe Shannon (born 1937), painter and educator; worked in D.C.
* Lou Stovall (1937–2023), printmaker; lived in D.C.
* Tim Tate (born 1960), glass and video artist; born in D.C.
* Erwin Timmers (born 1964), glass artist; lives in D.C.
* Bill Watterson (born 1958), cartoonist; born in D.C.
* Frances Wieser (1869–1949), scientific illustrator; born and died in D.C.
* Frank Wright (1932–2020), painter; born in D.C.

## Athletes

* Kevyn Adams (born 1974), hockey player; born in D.C.
* Kevin Alston (born 1988), soccer player; born in D.C.
* Desmond Armstrong (born 1964), soccer player and coach; born in D.C.
* Jake Atz (1879–1945), baseball player; born in D.C.
* Khalid Balogun (born 1998), soccer player; born in D.C.
* Kay Banjo (born 1992), soccer player; born in D.C.
* Mike Banner (born 1984), soccer player; born in D.C.
* Elgin Baylor (1934–2021), basketball player; born in D.C.
* Walter Beall (1899–1959), former baseball player; born in D.C.
* Lu Blue (1897–1958), baseball player; born in D.C.
* Nate Burkey (born 1985), soccer player; born in D.C.
* Jerry Chambers (born 1943), former basketball player; born in D.C.
* Patrick Clark (born 1995), professional wrestler; born in D.C.
* Bonzie Colson (born 1996), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League; born in D.C.
* Arthur Cook (1928–2021), Olympic sport shooter; born in D.C.
* Derek Cooke (born 1991), basketball player; born in D.C.
* Josh Cribbs (born 1983), football player; born in D.C.
* Adrian Dantley (born 1956), former basketball player; born in D.C.
* Vernon Davis (born 1984), football player; born in D.C.
* Vontae Davis (born 1988), football player; born in D.C.
* Kevin Durant (born 1988), basketball player; born in D.C., raised in suburban Maryland
* Malik Ellison (born 1996), basketball player; born in D.C.
* A. J. Francis (born 1990), football player and wrestler; born in D.C.
* Lennard Freeman (born 1995), basketball player; born in D.C.
* Frank Funk (born 1935), former baseball player; born in D.C.
* Luka Garza (born 1998), basketball player; born in D.C.
* Paul Goldstein (born 1976), tennis player; born in D.C.
* Frank Jackson (born 1998), basketball player; born in D.C.
* Clay Kirby (1948–1991), baseball player; born in D.C.
* Katie Ledecky (born 1997), Olympic swimmer; born in D.C.
* Byron Leftwich (born 1980), football player; born in D.C.
* Tim Legler (born 1966), former basketball player; born in D.C.
* Ricky Lindo (born 2000), American-Panamanian basketball player; born in D.C.
* Andrew Luck (born 1989), football quarterback; born in D.C.
* Shawne Merriman (born 1984), football player; born in D.C.
* Matt Mervis (born 1998), baseball player; born in D.C.
* Rollie Miles (1927–1995), Canadian football player; born in D.C.
* Don Money (born 1947), baseball player; born in D.C.
* Robin Montgomery (born 2004), tennis player; born in D.C.
* Josh Morgan (born 1985), football player; born in D.C.
* Jon Morris (born 1942), football player; born in D.C.
* Bubba Morton (1931–2006), baseball player; born in D.C.
* Jonathan Ogden (born 1974), football player; born in D.C.
* Jamorko Pickett (born 1997), basketball player; born in D.C.
* Jerry Porter (born 1978), former football player; born in D.C.
* Curtis Pride (born 1968), former baseball player; born in D.C.
* Pete Sampras (born 1971), tennis player; born in D.C.
* Harold Solomon (born 1952), former tennis player; born in D.C.
* Teez Tabor (born 1995), cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons; born in D.C.
* James Tillman (1919–2009), Negro league baseball player; born in D.C.
* Michael Weiss (born 1976), figure skater; born in D.C.
* Delonte West (born 1983), basketball player; born in D.C.
* Brian Westbrook (born 1979), football player; born in D.C.
* Mike Wilcher (born 1960), former football player; born in D.C.
* Caleb Williams (born 2001), football player; born in D.C.
* Maury Wills (1932–2022), former baseball player; born in D.C.
* Willie Wood (1936–2020), football player; born in D.C.

## Entertainers

* Pat Buchanan (born 1938), author, syndicated columnist, television commentator; born in D.C.
* Connie Chung (born 1946), television journalist; born in D.C.
* Stephen Colbert (born 1964), television host, comedian; born in D.C.
* Sam Denby (born 1998), YouTuber; born and raised in D.C.
* Sarah Urist Green (born 1979), PBS art program creator and former museum curator; born in D.C.
* Petey Greene (1931–1984), radio and TV talk show host; born in D.C.
* Tim Gunn (born 1953), TV personality and fashion expert; born in D.C.
* Jim Henson (1936–1990), creator of the Muppets; lived in D.C. from 1948 until 1961.
* Fulton Lewis (1903–1966), radio and TV commentator; born in D.C.
* Patricia Newcomb (born 1930), producer and publicist; born in D.C.
* Bill Nye ("Bill Nye the Science Guy") (born 1955), television host, scientist, mechanical engineer; born in D.C.
* Maury Povich (born 1939), television talk show host; born in D.C.
* Diane Rehm (born 1936), radio talk show host; born in D.C.
* Scott Sanders (born 1968), screenwriter and director, born in N.C., raised in D.C.

## Journalists

* Jim Acosta (born 1971), journalist born in D.C.
* Thomas Boswell (born 1947), journalist born in D.C.
* John Dickerson (born 1968), journalist; born in D.C.
* Susan Ford (born 1957), photojournalist and chairman of the Betty Ford Center; born in D.C.
* David Frum (born 1960), journalist, newspaper writer of The Atlantic
* Anna Sanborn Hamilton (1848–1927), journslist, author, and teacher; lived, died in D.C.
* Douglas Harriman Kennedy (born 1967), journalist born in D.C.
* Austin H. Kiplinger (1918–2015), journalist and philanthropist; born in D.C.
* Buster Olney (born 1964), sports columnist; born in D.C.
* Frank Rich (born 1949), newspaper columnist; born in D.C.
* David Simon (born 1960), author, journalist; born in D.C.
* A. G. Sulzberger (born 1980), journalist; born in D.C.
* Cal Thomas (born 1942), newspaper columnist and author; born in D.C.
* Margaret Hicks Williams (1899–1972), government official, feature writer, political expert; lived in D.C.

## Military

* Frederic Vaughan Abbot (1858–1928), U.S. Army brigadier general, resided in D.C. during retirement
* Alfred E. Bates (1840–1909), U.S. Army major general, lived in D.C. during retirement
* Upton Birnie Jr. (1877–1957), U.S. Army major general, retired in D.C.
* Harold W. Blakeley (1893–1966), U.S. Army major general, retired in D.C.
* George S. Blanchard (1920–2006), U.S. Army four-star general; born in D.C.
* Nathan W. Brown (1819–1893), Paymaster-General of the U.S. Army, lived in D.C. during retirement
* William Bryden (1880–1972), U.S. Army major general, lived in Washington, D.C. during retirement
* John Loomis Chamberlain (1858–1948), U.S. Army major general, retired in Washington, D.C.
* John M. K. Davis (1844–1920), U.S. Army brigadier general; born in D.C.
* Lester A. Dessez (1896–1981), U.S. Marine Corps brigadier general; raised in D.C.
* Lorenzo D. Gasser (1876–1955), U.S. Army general, retired to Washington, D.C.
* Cecil D. Haney (born 1955), U.S. Navy admiral who commanded U.S. Strategic Command; born in D.C.
* George Herbert Harries (1860–1934), U.S. Army major general, resided in Washington, D.C.
* Charles L. Hodges (1847–1911), U.S. Army major general, retired in Washington, D.C.
* Martin P. Hottel (1904–1981), U.S. Navy Admiral and decorated submarine commander; born in D.C.
* Beverley Kennon (1793–1844), commodore in the United States Navy and commander of the Bureau of Construction and Repair; resided in Washington
* Lester Lyles (born 1946), former U.S. Air Air Force general, Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, and Commander, Air Force Materiel Command
* Anthony McAuliffe (1898–1975), U.S. Army general, commander of the 101st Airborne Division defending Bastogne; born in D.C.
* Henry C. Newcomer (1861–1952), U.S. Army brigadier general, engineer whose work included Taft Bridge and improvements to Washington Aqueduct; retired to Washington, D.C.
* Edward C. Peter II (1929 – 2008), U.S. Army lieutenant general, commander of Fourth United States Army; born in D.C.
* Curtis C. Robinson (1919–2009), pharmacist, U.S. Army Air Force officer, fighter pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen; lived and died in D.C.
* Otho B. Rosenbaum (1871–1962), U.S. Army brigadier general, resided in Washington, D.C. during retirement
* Daniel H. Rucker (1812–1910), U.S. Army brigadier general, resided in Washington, D.C. during retirement
* Joseph P. Sanger (1840–1926), U.S. Army major general
* Charles G. Sawtelle (1834–1913), U.S. Army brigadier general, resided in Washington, D.C. during retirement
* Charles L. Scott (1883–1954), U.S. Army major general; lived in D.C. in retirement; died in D.C.
* William Renwick Smedberg Jr. (1871–1942), U.S. Army brigadier general; lived in D.C. in retirement; died in D.C.
* Franklin Guest Smith (1840–1912), U.S. Army brigadier general, resident of Washington, D.C. during retirement
* Oliver Lyman Spaulding (1875–1947), U.S. Army brigadier general, 1891 graduate of Central High School, lived in Washington during retirement
* William F. Spurgin (1838–1904), U.S. Army brigadier general, live in Washington during retirement
* Donald A. Stroh (1892–1953), U.S. Army major general, raised and educated in Washington, retired to Washington
* Karl Truesdell (1882–1955), U.S. Army major general, raised in D.C.
* Carlos Clark Van Leer (1865–1953), U.S. Army Captain and Chief of Personnel and Budget for Department of Treasury: lived and died in D.C.
* Earle Wheeler (1908–1975), U.S. Army general; born in D.C.
* Eben Eveleth Winslow (1866–1928), U.S. Army brigadier general; raised and educated in D.C.
* William T. Wood (1854–1943), U.S. Army brigadier general, resided in Washington, D.C. during retirement
* John E. Woodward (1870–1944), U.S. Army brigadier general, lived in D.C. during retirement

## Musicians

* Chuck Brown (1936–2012), musician; lived in D.C.
* Tim Buckley (1947–1975), musician; born in D.C.
* Vernon Burch (1955–2022), singer; born in D.C.
* Jack Casady (born 1944), musician (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna); born in D.C.
* Eva Cassidy (1963–1996), singer; born in D.C.
* Clones of Clones, indie-rock band; originated in D.C.
* Chris Cutler (born 1947), musician (Henry Cow, Art Bears); born in D.C.
* DJ Kool (born 1958), rapper; born in D.C.
* Duke Ellington (1899–1974), jazz composer, pianist and bandleader; born in D.C.
* John Fahey (1939–2001), musician; born in D.C.
* Marty Friedman (born 1962), musician; born in D.C.
* Danny Gatton (1945–1994), musician; born in D.C.
* Marvin Gaye (1939–1984), singer; born in D.C.
* Johnny Gill (born 1966), singer; born in D.C.
* Ginuwine (born 1970), singer; born in D.C.
* Goldlink (born 1993), rapper; born in D.C.
* Dave Grohl (born 1969), musician (Nirvana, Foo Fighters); began career as drummer for D.C.-area bands
* Ron Holloway (born 1953), musician; (Dizzy Gillespie, Susan Tedeschi, Gil Scott-Heron); born in D.C.
* Shirley Horn (1934–2005), singer; born in D.C.
* Lida Husik (born 1963), musician; born in D.C.
* Darryl Jenifer (born 1960), musician; born in D.C.
* Al Jolson (1886–1950), singer; born in Seredžius, Lithuania; raised in D.C.
* Jorma Kaukonen (born 1940), musician (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna); born in D.C.
* Damian Kulash (born 1975), musician (OK Go); born in D.C.
* Stacy Lattisaw (born 1966), singer; born in D.C.
* Ari Lennox (born 1991), singer; born in D.C
* Ian MacKaye (born 1962), musician (Minor Threat, Fugazi); born in D.C.
* Van McCoy (1940–1979), musician, songwriter and producer; born in D.C.
* Mýa (born 1979), singer; born in D.C.
* Nonchalant (born 1970), rapper; born in D.C.
* Oddisee (born 1985), rapper; born in D.C.
* Guy Picciotto (born 1965), musician (Rites of Spring, Fugazi); born in D.C.
* James Ray (1941–1963), singer; born in D.C.
* Malinda Kathleen Reese (born 1994), singer-songwriter; born in D.C.
* Henry Rollins (born 1961), singer-songwriter (Black Flag, Rollins Band); born in D.C.
* Tim Rose (1940–2002), singer-songwriter; born in D.C.
* rum.gold (born 1994), R&B singer-songwriter; born and raised in D.C.
* Hayley Sales, pop singer; born in D.C.
* Shaed, band; originated in D.C.
* Shy Glizzy (born 1992), rapper; born in D.C.
* Richard Smallwood (born 1948), Grammy award-winning gospel singer-songwriter; born in Atlanta and raised in D.C.
* Kate Smith (1907–1986), singer; born in D.C.
* Rob Sonic, rapper; born in D.C.
* John Philip Sousa (1854–1932), composer; born in D.C.
* Billy Stewart (1937–1970), singer; born in D.C.
* Mary Timony (born 1970), musician; born in D.C.
* Peter Tork (1942–2019), musician; born in D.C.
* Wale (born 1984), rapper; born in D.C.
* Wax (born 1980), rapper; born in D.C.

## Political figures

* Kenneth Bacon (1944–2009), Department of Defense spokesman; later served as president of Refugees International
* Cory Booker (born 1969), U.S. Senator from New Jersey; born in D.C.
* Muriel Bowser (born 1972), mayor of Washington D.C.
* Jean Carnahan, former U.S. Senator from Missouri, born and raised in D.C.
* Mel Carnahan, former governor of Missouri, raised in D.C.
* Pedro Casanave (c. 1766 – 1796), fifth mayor of Georgetown in Washington, D.C.
* Dereck E. Davis (born 1967), Treasurer of Maryland; born in D.C.
* John Foster Dulles (1888–1959), U.S. Secretary of State; born in D.C.
* Omar Fateh (born 1990), Minnesota State Senator; born in D.C.
* Adrian Fenty (born 1970), mayor of the District of Columbia, 2007–2011; born in D.C.
* Don Forsht, West Virginia state delegate; born in D.C.
* Al Gore (born 1948), U.S. vice president; born in D.C.
* Tipper Gore (born 1948), wife of former vice president Al Gore; born in D.C.
* Larry Hogan (born 1956), governor of Maryland; born in D.C.
* Abraham Katz (1926–2013), diplomat, United States Ambassador to the OECD; lived in D.C.
* Sharon Pratt Kelly (born 1944), mayor of the District of Columbia, 1991–1995; born in D.C.
* Ned Lamont (born 1954), businessman and 89th Governor of Connecticut; born in D.C.
* Brian Sims (born 1978), Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives; born in D.C.
* Josh Stein (born 1966), governor-elect and attorney general of North Carolina; born in D.C.
* Gladys Spellman (1918–1988), former member of the U.S. House Of Representatives from Maryland; raised in New York and D.C.
* Conrad Tillard (born 1964), politician, Baptist minister, radio host, author, and activist
* Walter Nathan Tobriner (1902–1979), Washington, D.C., government official; born in D.C.
* Larry Warner (1943–2022), Texas state legislator; born in D.C.
* Paul Wellstone (1944–2002), U.S. Senator from Minnesota; born in D.C.

## Scientists

* Charles R. Drew (1904–1950), physician, medical researcher; born in D.C.
* Danielle Hairston, psychiatrist; educated in D.C.
* Michael Hendricks, psychologist, suicidologist, and advocate for the LGBT community; long-time resident of D.C.
* Lars Krutak, tattoo anthropologist; long-time resident of D.C.

## Writers

* Edward Albee (1928–2016), playwright; born in D.C.
* Alida Anderson (born 1969), Arts researcher, author and professor at American University; born in D.C.
* Ann Beattie (born 1947), short story writer and novelist; born in D.C.
* Tracy Chevalier (born 1962), novelist; born in D.C.
* Katherine M. Cook (1876–1962), educator and government official who specialized in rural education; lived and worked in D.C.
* Ella Loraine Dorsey (1853–1935), author, journalist, translator; born in D.C.
* Frederick Douglass (1817 or 1818–1895), author, public speaker, political activist, abolitionist; lived and died in D.C.
* Jonathan Safran Foer (born 1977), writer; born in D.C.
* Mary Downing Hahn (born 1937), author; born in D.C.
* Christopher Hitchens (1949–2011), author, journalist, political philosopher; lived in D.C. for most of his writing career
* Langston Hughes (1901–1967), writer, poet; lived in D.C. at the start of his writing career
* Edward P. Jones (born 1951), author; raised in D.C.
* Jeannie Blackburn Moran (1842–1929), author, community leader, socialite, and philanthropist; lived in and died in D.C.
* George Pelecanos (born 1957), author of detective fiction; born in D.C.
* Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (1896–1953), writer; born in D.C.
* David Simon (born 1960), screenwriter; born in D.C.
* Paula Vogel (born 1951), playwright; born in D.C.
* Walt Whitman (1819–1892), journalist, poet, essayist; lived in D.C. for a decade during and after the American Civil War

## Miscellaneous

* Robert Askins (1919–2010), suspected serial killer; born in D.C.
* Vanilla Beane (1919–2022), Black milliner and businesswoman; moved to D.C. in the 1940s
* John L. Carroll (1943–2023), federal judge and academic administrator; born in D.C.
* Blac Chyna (born 1988), socialite and model; born and raised in D.C.
* Ruby Corado (born 1970), transgender activist, founder and executive director of Casa Ruby in D.C.; married in D.C.
* Sam Denby (born 1998), YouTuber; born and raised in D.C.
* Julie Nixon Eisenhower (born 1948), daughter of President Richard Nixon; born in D.C.
* Andrew Fastow (born 1961), chief financial officer of Enron Corporation; born in D.C.
* Albert Fish (1870–1936), cannibalistic serial killer and rapist; born in D.C.
* Charles Brenton Fisk (1925–1983), organ builder; born in D.C.
* Bill France Jr. (1933–2007), CEO of NASCAR; born in D.C.
* Bill France Sr. (1909–1992), founder and CEO of NASCAR; born in D.C.
* John R. Francis (1856–1913), physician and educator at Howard University; born in D.C.
* William D. Gibbons (c. 1825 – 1886), minister at D.C.'s Zion Baptist Church
* Steven B. Gould (born 1966), lawyer and judge from Maryland; born in D.C.
* Shauntay Hinton, Miss USA 2002, Miss District of Columbia 2002; educated in D.C.
* J. Edgar Hoover (1895–1972), FBI director; born in D.C.
* Charlene Drew Jarvis (born 1941), educator and president of Southeastern University; born in D.C.
* Kerry Kennedy (born 1959), human rights advocate; born in D.C.
* Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (born 1954), environmental lawyer, radio talk host, and nominee for United States Secretary of Health and Human Services; born in D.C.
* Bruce Levenson (born 1949), businessman, philanthropist, and former owner of the Atlanta Hawks; born in D.C.
* J.W. Marriott Jr. (born 1932), chairman and CEO of Marriott International; born in D.C.
* Clarence Moore (1865–1912), businessman; D.C. resident from 1890
* Queen Noor of Jordan (born 1951), born in D.C.
* Perry Redd (born 1964), social activist and organizer, and songwriter; born in D.C.
* Tony Ressler (born 1960), billionaire and owner of the Atlanta Hawks; born in D.C.
* Andrew Tate (born 1986), American-British media personality, businessman, and former professional kickboxer born in D.C.
* Alethia Tanner (1781–1864), educator, businesswoman and community leader; resident from the early 1800s
* Lauren Tuchman (born 1986), rabbi and disability rights activist, raised in D.C.
* Maryly Van Leer (1930–2011), university president and founder, women's rights activist, born in D.C.
* Stanley Woodward, attorney