# List of people from New Orleans

This is a list of notable individuals who are or were natives, or notable as residents of, or in association with the American city of New Orleans, Louisiana.

## Academia

* Will W. Alexander, first president of Dillard University and head of the Commission on Interracial Cooperation
* Stephen Ambrose, historian and University of New Orleans professor
* William Balée, anthropologist and Tulane University professor
* Charles C. Bass, physician and researcher in tropical medicine and dental health
* Elizabeth Bass, physician, educator, and suffragist
* Stanhope Bayne-Jones, physician, member of US Surgeon General's Committee linking smoking to cancer
* Joan W. Bennett, biologist and former Tulane University professor
* Florence Borders, archivist and historian at the Amistad Research Center
* Cyril Y. Bowers, physician and endocrinology researcher
* Rick Brewer, president of Louisiana College since 2015; born in New Orleans in 1956
* Douglas Brinkley, historian, author and former University of New Orleans and Tulane University professor
* Brené Brown, professor of social work; author
* George E. Burch, pioneering physician, cardiovascular disease researcher, medical school professor
* John R. Conniff, educator and university administrator
* Scott Cowen, former president of Tulane University
* Michael DeBakey, pioneer in heart surgery
* Albert W. Dent, president of Dillard University, chief executive of Flint-Goodridge Hospital
* James H. Dillard, educator, advocate for education of African-Americans
* John Duffy, medical historian
* Michael T. Dugan, educator and accounting scholar
* Joseph Ewan, botanist and biology professor
* Alcée Fortier, folklorist, historian, and university professor
* Mary L. Good, scientist and university professor
* Clifton H. Johnson, historian and founder of the Amistad Research Center
* Eamon Kelly, President of Tulane University
* Salman Khan, educator
* James A. Knight, psychiatrist, theologian, and medical ethicist
* Rudolph Matas, innovative surgeon at Tulane Medical School
* Gordon H. Mueller, historian and administrator at the University of New Orleans
* Ernest Lagarde literature and languages, professor and author
* Alton Ochsner, surgeon and medical researcher, founded the Ochsner Medical Center
* Max Rafferty, public school administrator and writer
* Andrew V. Schally, endocrinologist and Nobel Laureate
* Mary S. Sherman, cancer researcher and physician
* Royal D. Suttkus, biologist, founder of a major ichthyology collection
* Lewis Thomas, physician, researcher, and author of popular non-fiction
* Jeffrey Vitter, computer scientist and Purdue University dean
* Harold E. Vokes, zoologist and paleontologist

## Architecture

* Jean-Louis Dolliole, architect-builder who was a free person of color in the Antebellum era
* James Freret, architect, designed many 19th century homes in New Orleans
* William Alfred Freret, architect, supervising architect for federal building in the 19th century
* James Gallier Jr., architect, designed the French Opera House in New Orleans
* Moise H. Goldstein Sr., architect of extensive designs in the early 20th century
* Henry Howard, 19th century Irish-American architect
* Richard Koch, architectural preservationist and photographer
* Albert C. Ledner, 20th century architect
* Emile Weil, 20th century architect
* Leonard Spangenberg, 20th century architect
* Leon C. Weiss, architect commissioned by Huey P. Long
* Elizebeth Thomas Werlein, conservationist of the French Quarter of New Orleans

## Arts and literature

* Enrique Alferez, sculptor
* John James Audubon, painter, ornithologist, naturalist
* Vernel Bagneris, playwright, actor, director, singer, dancer
* E. J. Bellocq, photographer
* Eloise Bibb Thompson, poet, fiction writer, and playwright
* Skip Bolen, photographer
* Roark Bradford, fiction writer
* Poppy Z. Brite, writer
* William S. Burroughs, writer
* George Washington Cable, writer
* Georgine Campbell, painter
* Truman Capote, writer
* John Churchill Chase, writer and cartoonist
* Kate Chopin, writer, feminist
* Marcus Bruce Christian, poet, folklorist and historian
* Ben Claassen III, illustrator and comics artist, DIRTFARM
* Andrei Codrescu, poet and commentator
* Florestine Perrault Collins, photographer
* Alice Dalsheimer, poet
* Edgar Degas, artist
* Thomas Dent, poet and writer
* John Bull Smith Dimitry Creole author known for Le Tombeau Blanc
* George Washington Dixon, newspaper editor
* Alexander John Drysdale, artist
* George Dureau, artist and photographer
* Caroline Durieux, artist and printmaker
* William Faulkner, writer
* Elissa Minet Fuchs, ballerina
* Daniel F. Galouye, science fiction writer
* Whitney Gaskell, writer, attended Tulane Law School which was the setting of her 2006 novel Testing Kate
* Rolland Golden, artist
* Shirley Ann Grau, writer
* Lafcadio Hearn, writer
* Knute Heldner, artist
* Lillian Hellman, writer
* George Herriman, Krazy Kat cartoonist
* Emma Churchman Hewitt, writer, journalist
* Walter Isaacson, writer, journalist, public policy analyst
* Charles Edward Kerbs, erotic artist and playwright
* Frances Parkinson Keyes, writer
* Grace King, writer
* Armand Lanusse, creole poet
* May Hyman Lesser, medical illustrator
* Dominique Lapierre, writer
* Elmore Leonard, author
* Michael Lewis, writer
* Shantrelle P. Lewis, curator
* Bunny Matthews, cartoonist
* Louis-Alphonse Maureau, painter
* Robert Bledsoe Mayfield, artist
* John McCrady, artist
* James Michalopoulos, artist
* Marie Madeleine Seebold Molinary, artist
* Gertrude Morgan, artist, musician, poet and preacher
* Sergio Rossetti Morosini, diplomat, painter, sculptor, filmmaker, naturalist
* Alice Dunbar Nelson, poet, journalist and political activist
* Isadora Newman, artist, poet, storyteller, sculptor
* David Ohle, writer
* Paul E. Poincy, artist
* Bart Ramsey, composer, author, singer and jazz musician
* Matthew Randazzo V, writer
* Anne Rice, writer of vampire tales and other Gothic fiction
* John T. Scott, artist and sculptor
* Kendall Shaw, abstract expressionist painter
* John Kennedy Toole, writer of A Confederacy of Dunces
* Alexandrea Weis, author
* Lucille Western, actress
* Chris Wiltz, novelist
* William Woodward, painter

## Business and economics

* Frank Abadie, businessman and horse race promoter.
* Micaela Almonester, 19th-century businesswoman and real estate developer
* George Bissell, entrepreneur, founded the first oil company in the United States
* Isaac Delgado, businessman and philanthropist, benefactor of Delgado Community College
* Constant C. Dejoie Sr., business leader
* William C. Edenborn, railroad magnate, industrialist and inventor
* Charles E. Fenner, businessperson, co-founder of Fenner & Beane, a forerunner of Merrill Lynch
* Ruth Fertel, businesswoman, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
* Avram Glazer, businessman and sports franchise owner
* Leon Godchaux, businessman and sugar merchant
* George A. Hero, entrepreneur known locally as the "Drainage King"
* Daniel Henry Holmes, 19th-century businessman
* Victor Kiam, entrepreneur
* Thomy Lafon, businessman, human rights activist
* Prosper Lamal, entrepreneur who started the usage of blue street tiles in New Orleans
* John McDonogh (1779–1850), shipping, land speculation (world's largest private landholder ca. 1850), philanthropist and namesake of many New Orleans schools
* Alexander Milne, 18th-century businessman and entrepreneur
* Oliver Pollock, merchant, financier of the American Revolutionary War
* Benjamin M. Rosen, computer entrepreneur
* John G. Schwegmann, supermarket innovator
* Clay Shaw, businessman
* Edgar B. Stern Sr, businessperson and philanthropist
* Patrick F. Taylor, businessperson and philanthropist
* Judah Touro, businessman and philanthropist
* Martin de Villamil or Martin Villamil (1783–1843), businessman
* Philip P. Werlein, music publisher and retailer
* Samuel Zemurray, businessman and philanthropist

## Cuisine

* Edward Baquet, restaurateur and civil rights activist
* Owen Brennan, restaurateur
* Leah Chase, chef
* Al Copeland, restaurateur, Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits and Copeland's restaurants
* Ruth Fertel, restaurateur, Ruth's Chris Steak House
* Beulah Levy Ledner, pastry chef
* Austin Leslie, chef

## Crime

* Axeman of New Orleans, mysterious mass murderer
* Sylvestro Carolla, mafia boss
* Wilson Chouest, serial rapist and killer of two women in California
* Antoinette Frank, former police officer and triple-murderer
* Ivory Harris, drug trafficker and weapons trafficker
* Mary Jane Jackson, mid-19th century serial killer
* Jean Lafitte, pirate and brother of Pierre Lafitte
* Pierre Lafitte, pirate and brother of Jean Lafitte
* Delphine LaLaurie, socialite and sadist
* Carlos Marcello, businessman and mafia boss
* Lee Harvey Oswald, assassinated John F. Kennedy

## Fictional

* Mr. Bingle, snowman that assisted Santa Claus and worked at Maison Blanche Department Store
* Benjamin Button, man who is born old and grows young, in a film loosely adapted from an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story
* Louis de Pointe du Lac, vampire appearing in Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles
* Ignatius J. Reilly, hero of John Kennedy Toole's novel A Confederacy of Dunces (1980)
* Seymore D. Fair, 1984 Louisiana World Exposition Mascot, celebrity cartoon character, advocate for animal, people, and planet welfare
* Gambit, Marvel Comics superhero (X-Men)
* Marcel Gerard, vampire appearing in Julie Plec's The Originals
* Hazel Levesque, previous residence before moving and first death, appearing in Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan
* Morgus the Magnificent, mad scientist and horror movie host
* Dwayne Cassius "King" Pride, NCIS Supervisory Agent, NCIS: New Orleans
* Benjamin Sisko, Starfleet captain (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
* Princess Tiana, heroine of Disney's animated film The Princess and the Frog
* Alastor, sinner demon and one of the Overlords of Hell in the adult-animated musical series Hazbin Hotel

## Film, television and entertainment

* Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, actor
* Bryan Batt, actor
* Sandra Bullock, actress
* Kitty Carlisle, entertainer
* Paul Carr, actor
* John Carroll, actor and singer
* Laura Cayouette, actor and author
* Hong Chau, actress
* Patricia Clarkson, actress
* Marshall Colt, psychologist and former actor
* Frank Joseph Davis, television journalist and cookbook author
* Bianca Del Rio, drag queen and comedian
* Ellen DeGeneres, comedian and talk show host
* Vance DeGeneres, actor, screenwriter and musician
* Raquel "Rocsi" Diaz, television host
* Faith Domergue, actress
* Donna Douglas, actress
* Jean Baptiste Le Sueur Fontaine, actor, theatre director and newspaper editor
* Allison Harvard, runner-up of the twelfth cycle of America's Next Top Model
* Barry Shabaka Henley, actor
* Dwight Henry, actor
* Gloria Henry, actress
* Cheryl Holdridge, actress
* Indigo, actress
* Eddie Jemison, actor
* Bayn Johnson, former child actress and singer
* Leatrice Joy, actress
* Dorothy Lamour, actress
* John Larroquette, actor
* Sabrina LeBeauf, actress
* Anthony Mackie, actor
* Cooper Manning, entrepreneur and television personality
* Evan Mather, director
* Tristin Mays, actress
* Adah Isaacs Menken, actress
* Taylor Miller, actress
* Garrett Morris, comedian and actor
* Ed Nelson, actor
* Mark Normand, stand-up comedian
* Chris Owens, burlesque performer and entrepreneur
* Pauley Perrette, actress
* Tyler Perry, actor, filmwriter, and director
* Wendell Pierce, actor,
* Godfrey Reggio, experimental filmmaker and documentarian
* Stassi Schroeder, television personality, model and author
* Al Shea, actor and theatre critic
* Neferteri Shepherd, model and actress
* Sydney Shields, stage actress
* Richard Simmons, fitness personality
* Harold Sylvester, actor
* Jay Thomas, actor
* Sam Trammell, actor
* Ben Turpin, silent film comedian
* Ray Walston, actor
* Carl Weathers, actor
* Walter Williams, comedian
* Tommy Wiseau, actor and director
* Cora Witherspoon, actress
* Reese Witherspoon, actress
* Grace Zabriskie, actress

## Journalism

* Jim Amoss, journalist and newspaper editor
* Dean Baquet, journalist and newspaper editor
* Jason Berry, investigative journalist and historian
* David Bernard, television meteorologist
* James Carville, Democratic Party political consultant and pundit
* Buddy Diliberto, sports journalist
* Charles Patton Dimitry Creole journalist, poet, and author known for The House in Balfour Street
* Dorothy Dix, journalist
* Christopher Drew, investigative reporter
* Charles L. "Pie" Dufour, newspaper columnist and historian
* Hap Glaudi, television sportscaster
* Victor Gold, journalist and political consultant, reared in New Orleans
* Bryant Gumbel, television anchor
* Greg Gumbel, television sportscaster
* Ira B. Harkey Jr., newspaper journalist, civil rights advocate
* Jim Henderson, television sportscaster
* Iris Kelso, journalist for three New Orleans newspapers and WDSU television commentator
* Hoda Kotb, television anchor
* Mel Leavitt, television journalist and historian
* Angus Lind, newspaper journalist
* Wayne Mack, television sportscaster
* John Maginnis, journalist, political commentator, and author of The Last Hayride, The Cross to Bear, and The Politics of Reform
* Ora Mae Lewis Martin, journalist
* Mary Matalin, Republican Party political consultant
* Bill Monroe, NBC television journalist
* Arthel Neville, television anchor
* Cokie Roberts, ABC television journalist and commentator for National Public Radio
* Nash Roberts, television meteorologist
* Garland Robinette, investigative journalist
* Louis Charles Roudanez, founder of The New Orleans Tribune newspaper
* Lyle Saxon, journalist
* Howard K. Smith, television anchorman
* Ronnie Virgets, writer and broadcast journalist

## Law, politics, and military

* Bryan Adams, former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Jefferson Parish since 2012; born in New Orleans.
* Reverend Avery Alexander, civil rights leader, state legislator
* Andres Almonaster y Rojas, Spanish civil servant in colonial New Orleans, also a philanthropist
* Jeff Arnold, former member of the Louisiana House for the Algiers section, 2002–2016
* John B. Babcock, Medal of Honor recipient
* Amy Coney Barrett, U.S. Supreme Court Justice and academic
* Jean J. Beaufort, Union Army corporal and Medal of Honor recipient in the Civil War
* P.G.T. Beauregard, Confederate general and inventor
* Clyde F. Bel Jr., businessman and state representative for Orleans Parish, 1964–1972 and 1975–1980
* Judah P. Benjamin, U.S. Senator, Confederate Attorney General, Secretary of War and Secretary of State
* David H. Berger, commandant of the United States Marine Corps
* Hale Boggs, former U.S. Representative
* Lindy Boggs, former U.S. Representative and retired U.S. Ambassador to The Vatican
* Thomas Hale Boggs Jr., lawyer/lobbyist in Washington, D.C., born in New Orleans in 1940, son of Hale and Lindy Boggs, brother of Cokie Roberts and Barbara Boggs Sigmund
* Stephen Bradberry, community organizer, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award laureate
* Juan Davis Bradburn, freedom fighter for Mexico, officer in the Battle of New Orleans
* Henry Braden, politician
* Elward Thomas Brady Jr., state representative from Terrebonne Parish 1972–1976, born in New Orleans
* Donna Brazile, political strategist
* Jared Brossett, member of the New Orleans City Council since 2014; state representative for District 97, 2009–2014
* J. Marshall Brown, insurance agent and politician
* William G. Brown (1832–1883), Louisiana state superintendent of education, 1872–1876
* Benjamin F. Butler, administrator of Union-occupied New Orleans during the Civil War
* John A. Butler, U.S. Marine Corps officer and Navy Cross recipient
* Pascal F. Calogero Jr., Chief Justice Louisiana Supreme Court
* Gary Carter Jr., member of the Louisiana House from the Algiers neighborhood, effective 2016
* James Carville, political consultant, political science professor
* Marlon Coleman, Mayor of Muskogee, Oklahoma
* Harry Connick Sr., district attorney, father of singer Harry Connick Jr.
* A.G. Crowe, politician
* Milton Joseph Cunningham, attorney, state legislator, state attorney general for three nonconsecutive terms ending in 1900
* Bernard de Marigny, politician and land developer
* Étienne de Boré, first Mayor of New Orleans in the U.S. administration
* James D. Denegre, Minnesota state senator and lawyer
* Rodolphe Desdunes, Creole poet and civil rights activist
* Jean Noel Destréhan, early Creole politician and plantation owner
* Alexander Dimitry, First Person of Color to become U.S. Ambassador of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, 1859 – 1861
* Andrea Dimitry fought in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812 with Andrew Jackson
* Michel Dragon Lieutenant American Revolutionary War
* David Duke, state representative for Metairie 1989–1992; White nationalist
* Oscar Dunn, first African-American governor of a U.S. state
* H. Garland Dupré, attorney and politician; Speaker of the Louisiana House 1908–1910; U.S. representative from Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, 1910–1924
* Frank Burton Ellis, attorney, politician, federal judge
* Albert Estopinal, former U.S. representative and member of both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature
* Olaf Fink, member of the Louisiana State Senate 1956–1972; New Orleans educator
* C.B. Forgotston, attorney, political activist, state government watchdog
* Henry L. Fuqua, governor who defeated Huey Long in an election
* Randal Gaines, state representative since 2012 for St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes; former assistant city attorney in New Orleans
* Jim Garrison, district attorney of Orleans Parish
* Robert T. Garrity Jr., attorney and former state representative for Jefferson Parish
* Charles Gayarré, state legislator noted for his histories of Louisiana
* Newt Gingrich, U.S. Congressman from Georgia, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
* Nicholas Girod, early mayor of New Orleans
* John Grenier, Birmingham lawyer and Alabama Republican Party figure, born in New Orleans in 1930
* Brenda Hatfield, former Chief Administrative Officer of the City of New Orleans
* F. Edward Hebert, Democrat U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 1st congressional district, 1941–1977
* Cynthia Hedge-Morrell, former member of the New Orleans City Council for District D, 2005–2014
* Frederick Jacob Reagan Heebe, former judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
* David Heitmeier, state senator for District 7 since 2008, optometrist
* Francis C. Heitmeier, state senator for District 7, 1988–2008; businessman and lobbyist
* David Hennessy, police chief, assassinated in 1890
* Clay Higgins, Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for Louisiana's 3rd congressional district; born in New Orleans in 1961
* Stephanie Hilferty, Republican state representative for Orleans and Jefferson parishes, effective January 2016
* Walker Hines, former state representative
* Jean Joseph Amable Humbert, army general, subordinate to Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans
* Bernette Joshua Johnson, Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court since 2013; associate justice, 1994–2013, native and resident of New Orleans
* Jeannette Knoll, associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court; reared and educated in New Orleans, where the court meets; resides in Marksville
* Mary Landrieu, state representative, state treasurer, U.S. senator
* Mitch Landrieu, state representative, lieutenant governor, former mayor of New Orleans
* Moon Landrieu, judge and politician, mayor of New Orleans
* Hank Lauricella, former professional football player; state senator from Jefferson Parish, 1972–1996
* Bob Livingston, Republican former U.S. Representative for 1st congressional district
* Edward Livingston, drafted Louisiana Civil Code
* Lt. Gen. James Longstreet, Confederate general
* Joseph Mansion, Louisiana state legislator, state tax assessor
* Bessie Margolin, labor lawyer
* Danny Martiny, state senator from Jefferson Parish, born in New Orleans
* Harold A. Moise, state representative for the 12th Ward, Orleans civil court judge 1937–1948, and associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court 1948–1958
* Ernest Nathan Morial, American political, legal, and civil rights leader
* Marc Morial, former mayor, son of Ernest Nathan Morial
* deLesseps Story Morrison, former mayor and ambassador to the Organization of American States
* deLesseps Morrison Jr., late state representative
* William Mumford, Confederate resistor in Union-occupied New Orleans during the Civil War
* Ray Nagin, former mayor of New Orleans
* Michael H. O'Keefe, president of the Louisiana State Senate 1976–1983; convicted felon
* Alejandro O'Reilly, governor of Louisiana, known as "Bloody O'Reilly"
* George Pandely New Orleans Assistant Alderman known for the Pandelly Affair
* Leander Perez, district judge, district attorney, and president of the Plaquemines Parish Commission Council
* P.B.S. Pinchback, politician
* James Pitot, third mayor of New Orleans
* Loulan Pitre Jr., New Orleans lawyer and former state representative for Lafourche Parish
* Edward Joseph Price, state representative for District 58, Gonzales businessman, and former resident of New Orleans
* William P. Quigley, activist attorney and academic
* Max Rafferty, educator author and columnist, California politician, born in New Orleans in 1917
* Cokie Roberts, journalist, daughter of Hale and Lindy Boggs
* Steve Scalise, House Minority Whip and U.S. Representative of Louisiana's 1st district
* Tom Schedler, former state senator from St. Tammany Parish and current Louisiana secretary of state
* Pat Screen, Louisiana State University quarterback, lawyer, and former Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish
* Ronal W. Serpas, Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department since 2010
* Joseph A. Shakspeare, Mayor of New Orleans at the time of the March 14, 1891 lynchings
* Eric Skrmetta, attorney from Metairie, Louisiana; Republican member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission for District 1
* Jefferson B. Snyder, lived in New Orleans 1893–1897; later district attorney in three delta parishes in northeast Louisiana 1904–1948
* James Z. Spearing, attorney, school board member, U.S. representative from Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, 1924–1931
* Dorothy Mae Taylor, first African-American woman to serve in the Louisiana House, 1971–1980; member of the New Orleans City Council, 1986–1994
* Charles Laveau Trudeau, early 19th century mayor of New Orleans
* A.P. Tureaud, attorney
* Jorge Ubico, exiled president of Guatemala
* José de Villamil (or José Villamil), father of the independence of Ecuador
* David Vitter, U.S. Senator, 2005–2017
* John Volz, late U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana
* Chatham Roberdeau Wheat, leader of the Louisiana Tigers during the US Civil War
* Edward Douglass White, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court
* John C. White, Louisiana education superintendent since 2012; superintendent of the Recovery School District in New Orleans, 2011
* Robert Wilkie, National Security Assistant to the President
* John Williams, Union Navy sailor awarded the Medal of Honor during the Civil War.
* Clint Williamson, U.S. Ambassador, White House policy official, United Nations envoy
* John Minor Wisdom, judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
* Andrew Young, politician

## Math, science, and invention

* Ruth Benerito, inventor of wrinkle-free cotton
* Alfred H. Clifford, mathematician
* Isaac Cline, meteorologist and writer
* Theodore John Dimitry Jr. optometrist known for developing the Dimitry Erisiphake and the Plastic Eye
* Bennet Dowler, medical scientist
* Andrew Higgins, ship builder and inventor
* Emile Lamm, inventor
* Theodore K. Lawless, dermatologist, medical researcher, and philanthropist
* Jean Alexandre LeMat, inventor
* Abraham Louis Levin, physician and inventor of the Levin Tube
* Levi Spear Parmley, inventor of dental floss
* Mark Plotkin, ethnobotanist
* John Leonard Riddell, inventor of the binocular microscope
* Norbert Rilleaux, inventor, engineer
* Ken Thompson, co-creator of the Unix operating system, C (programming language) and Go (programming language) and Turing Award recipient
* A. Baldwin Wood, inventor and engineer
* Angie Jones, software engineer, automation architect

## Music

* August Alsina, singer/songwriter
* Phil Anselmo, musician
* Louis Armstrong, musician and entertainer
* B.G., rapper
* Baby Boy Da Prince, rapper
* Achille Baquet, musician
* George Baquet, musician
* Paul Barbarin, musician and composer
* Pat Barberot, band leader
* Danny Barker, musician, vocalist, and writer
* Dave Bartholomew, musician, composer, promoter
* Jon Batiste, singer, composer, pianist, jazz musician
* Sidney Bechet, musician
* Annabelle Bernard, operatic soprano
* Better Than Ezra, rock group
* Birdman aka Baby, rapper, producer
* Big Freedia, bounce artist
* Terence Blanchard, musician and composer
* Peter Bocage, Jazz trumpeter and violinist
* Buddy Bolden, musician, early jazz figure
* Sharkey Bonano, Jazz musician
* James Booker, musician
* Larry Borenstein, founder of Preservation Hall
* Connee Boswell, singer, member of the Boswell Sisters singing group
* Helvetia "Vet" Boswell, singer, member of the Boswell Sisters singing group
* Martha Boswell, singer, member of the Boswell Sisters singing group
* Pud Brown, jazz musician
* George Brunis, jazz trombonist
* Collie Buddz, reggae/dancehall artist
* C-Murder, rapper
* Cane Hill, nu-metal group
* Paul Caporino, songwriter, musician, lead singer of M.O.T.O.
* Big Al Carson, blues singer
* Eugene Chassaignac, musician, composer, advocate for people of color
* Alex Chilton, songwriter, guitarist, music producer, lead singer of the Box Tops and Big Star
* Choppa, rapper
* Merry Clayton, singer
* Jon Cleary, funk and R&B musician
* Lee Collins, jazz trumpeter
* Harry Connick Jr., musician and entertainer
* Cowboy Mouth, band
* Barry Cowsill, musician
* Paul Crawford, jazz musician, music historian
* Curren$y, rapper
* Edmond Dede, musician, composer
* Fernando del Valle, operatic tenor
* DJ Khaled, DJ
* Dr. John, musician
* Johnny Dodds, jazz clarinetist and saxophonist
* Fats Domino, musician
* Lee Dorsey, singer
* Down, metal band
* Tom Drummond, bassist of Better Than Ezra
* Champion Jack Dupree, pianist, singer
* Frankie Dusen, jazz trombonist
* Ernie K-Doe, singer, "Emperor of the Universe"
* Lars Edegran, bandleader
* Lionel Ferbos, jazz musician
* Lucky Daye, singer, songwriter, musician, performer
* Giuseppe Ferrata, composer, pianist, and university professor
* Frankie Ford, singer, entertainer
* Pops Foster, jazz musician
* Vernel Fournier, jazz drummer
* Pete Fountain, musician, clarinet player, jazz, pop, and swing
* Mannie Fresh, DJ, producer, rapper
* Frank Froeba, musician, jazz, pianist, band leader
* The Funky Meters, musicians and singers
* Mary Gauthier, singer and song writer
* George Girard, musician
* Victor Goines, jazz musician, dean of jazz at the Juilliard School
* Louis Moreau Gottschalk, pianist and composer
* Kevin Griffin, musician, lead singer for Better than Ezra
* Gudda Gudda, rapper
* Donald Harrison, musician
* Clarence "Frogman" Henry, singer and musician
* Al Hirt, musician, trumpet, jazz, pop, and swing
* Cha Cha Hogan, comedian, musician, entertainer
* Moses Hogan, musician, composer
* Linda Hopkins, blues and gospel singer
* Noah Howard, jazz musician
* Armand "Jump" Jackson, blues drummer and bandleader
* Mahalia Jackson, gospel singer
* Pervis Jackson, rhythm & blues singer member of The Spinners
* Luke James, R&B singer, actor
* Jay Electronica, rapper and producer
* N.O. Joe, music producer, musician
* Little Sonny Jones, blues singer
* Juvenile, rapper
* Freddie Keppard, jazz cornetist
* Kid Ory, musician
* Kidd Kidd, rapper
* Earl King, musician
* Jean Knight, singer
* Papa Jack Laine, bandleader
* Nick LaRocca, early jazz figure
* Walter "Popee" Lastie, drummer
* Meghan Linsey, singer-songwriter, contestant from The Voice season 8
* Lil' Fizz, singer, rapper
* Lil Romeo, rapper
* Lil Wayne, rapper
* Lloyd, singer
* Rico Love, singer/songwriter
* Mac, rapper
* Magic, rapper
* Magnolia Shorty, New Orleans bounce artist
* Mack Maine, rapper
* Dave Malone, songwriter, guitarist, music producer, guitarist and vocalist in The New Orleans Radiators
* Wingy Manone, jazz trumpeter, and singer
* Angélica María, Mexican singer-songwriter and entertainer, "La Novia de Mexico"
* Paul Mares, jazz musician
* Branford Marsalis, musician, alto, soprano, tenor, and baritone saxophones
* Ellis Marsalis Jr., musician and educator, piano
* Ellis Marsalis Sr., music patron, businessman and advocate
* Jason Marsalis, musician (drums, vibraphone)
* Wynton Marsalis, musician, trumpet, cornet, flumpet, flugelhorn
* Master P, rapper, businessman, and mogul
* Cosimo Matassa, music studio entrepreneur
* Jimmy Maxwell, bandleader
* Irvin Mayfield, musician
* The Medicine Men, producers, singers (Mo B. Dick and Odell), rappers (KLC and Mo B. Dick)
* The Meters, musicians and singers
* Lizzie Miles, singer
* Mr. Quintron, organist
* Deacon John Moore, musician and bandleader
* Jelly Roll Morton, musician and composer, early jazz figure
* Teedra Moses, R&B and soul singer-songwriter
* Mutemath, band
* Mystick Krewe of Clearlight
* Mystikal, rapper
* The Neville Brothers, musicians and singers
* Ivan Neville, phunk, R&B
* Randy Newman, musician
* Camille Nickerson, musician and composer
* Normani, born Normani Kordei Hamilton, singer
* Frank Ocean, singer
* Joe "King" Oliver, musician
* Lisette Oropesa, operatic soprano
* Jimmy Palao, musician, bandleader
* Earl Palmer, musician
* Robert Parker, musician and singer
* Partners-N-Crime, rap duo
* Nicholas Payton, musician
* Marguerite Piazza, operatic soprano
* Piggy D., bassist
* Genevieve Pitot, composer, musician, dancer
* George Porter Jr., musician
* Louis Prima, musician (trumpet), singer, bandleader, entertainer, aka "The King of the Swing"
* Professor Longhair, born Henry Byrd, pianist, singer
* The Radiators, rock band
* Mac Rebennack, "Dr. John"
* Rebirth Brass Band, band
* Trent Reznor, musician, producer
* Dawn Richard, former member of Danity Kane and Diddy-Dirty Money
* Rising Appalachia, world, folk, roots, and soul group
* Rob49, rapper
* Jason Ross, Seven Mary Three frontman
* Kermit Ruffins, jazz trumpeter, singer and composer
* Bill Russell, music historian and composer
* Marguerite Samuel, composer and pianist
* Paul Sanchez, singer-songwriter and guitarist
* Silkk the Shocker, rapper
* Bill Sinegal, bassist and songwriter
* Skull Duggery, rapper
* Soulja Slim, rapper
* Chloe Smith, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist
* Leah Song, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist
* Stooges Brass Band, New Orleans funk brass band
* $uicideboy$, rap duo
* Babe Stovall, blues singer and guitarist, "Mr. Bojangles"
* Supagroup, rock band
* Irma Thomas, rhythm and blues singer, aka "Soul Queen of New Orleans"
* Allen Toussaint, musician, composer, record producer
* Norman Treigle, operatic bass-baritone
* Trombone Shorty, born Troy Andrews, musician
* Turk, rapper
* Shirley Verrett, operatic mezzo-soprano and soprano
* George Wein, founder of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
* Michael White, Jazz musician
* Charles "Hungry" Williams, Rhythm & Blues drummer
* Larry Williams, Rock 'n' Roll/R&B pianist
* "Scarface" John Williams, singer
* Spencer Williams, songwriter
* Young V, rapper
* Linnzi Zaorski
* Zebra, band

## Religion

* Aleister Crowley, Gnostic Bishop, poet, writer and occultist
* Antonio de Sedella, early Roman Catholic leader in New Orleans
* Henriette DeLille, founder of the order of the Sisters of the Holy Family
* Jesse Duplantis, televangelist
* J. D. Grey, pastor, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention
* Marie-Madeleine Hachard, Ursuline abbess, documented early history of New Orleans
* W. T. Handy, Jr., United Methodist bishop
* Philip Hannan, former archbishop of New Orleans
* Francis L. Hawks, clergyman, first president of Tulane University
* Jerome LeDoux, Roman Catholic priest
* Joseph Francis Rummel, former archbishop of New Orleans
* Lory Schaff, member of the Sisters of St. Joseph who founded centers for adult literacy education
* Francis Xavier Seelos, missionary who ministered to victims of yellow fever epidemics
* John William Shaw, former archbishop of New Orleans

## Sports

* Ashley Ambrose, NFL player, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints, graduated from Alcee Fortier High School
* Nehemiah Atkinson, professional tennis player and coach
* D. J. Augustin, NBA player
* Amari Bailey (born 2004), NBA basketball player
* Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints
* Armand Blackmar, nineteenth century chess player and music publisher
* Walter Blattmann, Olympic gymnast
* Delvin Breaux, gridiron football player
* Stanley Brundy, basketball player
* Cethan Carter, football player
* Will Clark, former Major League Baseball player
* Landon Collins, NFL player for the New York Giants
* Tazzie Colomb, IFBB professional female bodybuilder and powerlifter
* Scott Cochran, special teams coordinator for the Georgia Bulldogs
* Ernie Danjean, former Green Bay Packers linebacker
* Orleans Darkwa, professional football player
* Tom Dempsey, former NFL kicker, held longest field goal record for over 43 years
* David Dixon, professional sports advocate for New Orleans Saints, Louisiana Superdome, USFL, World Championship Tennis
* Scott Dohmann, former MLB pitcher
* Corey Dowden, former NFL defensive back
* Clyde Drexler, former University of Houston and NBA star, member of Basketball Hall of Fame
* Marshall Faulk, professional football star (St. Louis Rams), member of Pro Football Hall of Fame
* Steve Foley, former defensive back for Denver Broncos
* Matt Forte, running back for Chicago Bears, New York Jets
* John Fourcade, former NFL and CFL quarterback, sports analyst
* De'Aaron Fox, NBA point guard
* J. P. France, MLB pitcher
* Nolan Franz, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver
* Leonard Fournette, NFL player, running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
* Harry P. Gamble, football player, swimmer, gymnast, boxer, and attorney
* Eddie Garcia, former Green Bay Packers placekicker
* Larry Gilbert, Major League Baseball player
* Tookie Gilbert, Major League Baseball player
* Tad Gormley, athletic trainer, coach, and official
* Danny Granger, forward for NBA's Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat
* Cortez Hankton, former NFL player who is currently the passing game coordinator & wide receivers coach for the LSU Tigers
* Adrian Hardy, NFL player
* Chris Henry, former NFL wide receiver
* Chris Horton, former NFL safety
* Kevin Hughes, former NFL offensive tackle
* Tory James, former cornerback for Cincinnati Bengals
* Avery Johnson, former National Basketball Association player, former coach of Dallas Mavericks
* Deion Jones, NFL linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons
* Junkyard Dog, stage name of Sylvester Ritter, former professional wrestler
* Robert Kelley, Washington Redskins running back
* Kerry Kittles, former NBA player for New Jersey Nets
* Dominik Koepfer, professional tennis player
* Lester Lautenschlaeger, football player, politician, first director of New Orleans Recreation Department
* Kendrick Lewis, NFL free safety, played for Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens, attended Ole Miss
* Michael Lewis, former New Orleans Saints wide receiver
* Rydell Malancon, former NFL linebacker
* Archie Manning, former New Orleans Saints quarterback, father of Peyton and Eli and Cooper
* Eli Manning, former New York Giants quarterback
* Peyton Manning, former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback
* Pete Maravich, basketball Hall of Famer, played for LSU and NBA's New Orleans Jazz
* Sammy Martin, former New England Patriots running back
* Tyrann Mathieu, player for NFL's Kansas City Chiefs
* Bo McCalebb, Macedonian basketball player who plays for Montepaschi Siena
* Max McGee, NFL player on five championship teams
* Sylvester McGrew, former Green Bay Packers defensive end
* Greg Monroe, college basketball player for Georgetown University
* Paul Morphy, world chess champion
* Patrick Mullins, professional soccer player
* Steve Mura, retired pitcher in Major League Baseball
* Eddie Murray, prolific NFL placekicker
* Antonio Narcisse, football player
* Herman Neugass, Track & field athlete who boycotted the Berlin Olympic trials
* Mel Ott, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer
* Micah Owings, MLB pitcher
* Robert Pack, NBA player, assistant coach for New Orleans Pelicans
* Emmett Paré, professional tennis player and coach
* Joe Pasternack, head basketball coach at UC Santa Barbara
* Audrey Patterson, first African-American woman to win Olympic medal
* Chris Quinn, former NBA player and current Miami Heat assistant coach
* Eldridge Recasner, former NBA player
* Sam Renick (1910–1999), jockey
* Ham Richardson, professional tennis player
* Alana Shipp, American/Israeli IFBB professional bodybuilder
* Nate Singleton, former wide receiver for San Francisco 49ers
* Neil Smith, former defensive end, Kansas City Chiefs
* Truett Smith, former football player
* Rusty Staub, Major League Baseball player
* Ricky Starks, All Elite Wrestling FTW Heavyweight Champion.
* Kordell Stewart, former NFL quarterback
* Patrick Surtain, former NFL cornerback
* Ron Swoboda, former New York Mets outfielder
* Ike Taylor, cornerback, Pittsburgh Steelers
* Roosevelt Taylor, safety, 1963 NFL champion, Chicago Bears
* Vincent Taylor, defensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons
* Taryn Terrell, professional wrestler for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
* Mike Wallace, wide receiver for Pittsburgh Steelers
* Bryce Washington (born 1996), basketball player for Hapoel Galil Elyon of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
* Ron Washington, former MLB player and manager who is currently the third base coach for the Atlanta Braves
* Reggie Wayne, wide receiver for Indianapolis Colts
* Aeneas Williams, former cornerback for St. Louis Rams
* Jason Williams (born 1983), basketball player for Hapoel Be'er Sheva of the National Basketball League of Israel
* Korey Williams, Canadian Football League player

## Other

* Raymond Arroyo, employer of EWTN
* Bessie Behan, social leader
* Kate Walker Behan, club leader and philanthropist
* Ruby Bridges, commemorated for her role, as a child, in racial integration of the New Orleans Public School System
* Marie Couvent, 19th century Creole philanthropist
* Betty DeGeneres, LGBT rights activist
* Caroline Dormon, horticulturalist and historian
* Marianne Celeste Dragon Creole socialite and the subject of a painting by José Francisco Xavier de Salazar y Mendoza
* David Ferrie, pilot investigated in the assassination of President Kennedy
* Myra Clark Gaines, socialite and subject of the longest lawsuit in US history
* Jean Margaret Gordon, suffragette
* Kate M. Gordon, suffragette
* Margaret Haughery, philanthropist
* Marie Alice Heine, first American Princess of Monaco
* Sir Lady Java, drag queen, actress and transgender rights activist
* Blaine Kern, Mardi Gras float designer and builder
* TJ Kirk, Youtuber
* Marie Laveau, "voodoo queen"
* Sara T. Mayo, physician and humanitarian reformer
* Eleanor McMain, civic activist
* Sally Miller: The Lost German Slave Girl
* Allison 'Tootie' Montana, Mardi Gras Indian, "chief of chiefs"
* Paul Morphy, unofficial world chess champion
* Homer Plessy, early civil rights activist
* Edith Rosenwald Stern, philanthropist
* Paul Tulane, benefactor of Tulane University
* Sylvanie Williams, educator and women's club activist
* Sophie B. Wright, educator and clubwoman