Biographical Records

Notable People from Alabama

1,344 notable figures born in Alabama, showing page 1 of 27, ranked by historical prominence.

Helen Keller
Helen Keller
American deafblind author, political activist, lecturer, scholar (1880-1968)
1880 – 1968
linguistoratortrade unionist
Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks
civil rights activist
1913 – 2005
autobiographerpolitical activisthuman rights defender
Harper Lee
Harper Lee
American novelist (1926–2016)
1926 – 2016
prose writernovelistpoet lawyer
Jesse Owens
Jesse Owens
American track and field athlete (1913–1980)
1913 – 1980
long jumperathletics competitorsprinter
Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
American singer and jazz pianist (1919–1965)
1919 – 1965
jazz musiciantelevision actorjazz guitarist
Edward O. Wilson
Edward O. Wilson
American biologist, naturalist, and writer (1929–2021)
1929 – 2021
scientific collectorecologistmyrmecologist
Hank Williams
Hank Williams
American singer-songwriter (1923–1953)
1923 – 1953
yodelercountry musicianrecording artist
Louise Fletcher
Louise Fletcher
American actress (1934–2022)
1934 – 2022
film actortelevision actoractor
Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston
African American folklorist, novelist, short story writer, and Civic Rights advocate (1891–1960)
1891 – 1960
novelistfolkloristanthropologist
Coretta Scott King
Coretta Scott King
American author, activist, and civil rights leader; wife of Martin Luther King, Jr.
1927 – 2006
gospel singeractivistpolitician
Hank Aaron
Hank Aaron
American baseball player (1934–2021)
1934 – 2021
baseball player
Frederick Chapman Robbins
Frederick Chapman Robbins
American doctor
1916 – 2003
virologistmicrobiologistuniversity teacher
Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Bankhead
actress
1902 – 1968
autobiographerfilm actortelevision actor
Zelda Fitzgerald
Zelda Fitzgerald
American writer (1900–1948)
1900 – 1948
autobiographernovelistdancer
Fred Thompson
Fred Thompson
American politician and actor (1942–2015)
1942 – 2015
film actorlobbyisttelevision actor
John Lewis
John Lewis
American politician and civil rights leader (1940–2020)
1940 – 2020
human rights defenderchairpersonpolitician
George Wallace
George Wallace
45th Governor of Alabama (1919–1998)
1919 – 1998
boxermilitary officergovernor
Percy Sledge
Percy Sledge
American singer (1941–2015)
1940 – 2015
singer
Dinah Washington
Dinah Washington
American singer, songwriter, pianist (1924-1963)
1924 – 1963
jazz musiciansongwritersinger
Sun Ra
Sun Ra
American jazz composer and bandleader (1914–1993)
1914 – 1993
jazz musiciansynthesizer playerphilosopher
Willie Mays
Willie Mays
American baseball player (1931–2024)
1931 – 2024
baseball player
Wilson Pickett
Wilson Pickett
American male singer and songwriter (1941-2006)
1941 – 2006
soul musicianmusiciansongwriter
Big Mama Thornton
Big Mama Thornton
American rhythm and blues singer and songwriter
1926 – 1984
songwritermusiciansinger
Jim Nabors
Jim Nabors
American actor and singer (1930-2017)
1930 – 2017
recording artisttelevision actorfilm actor
Mary Anderson
Mary Anderson
inventor of the windshield wiper blade (1866–1953)
1866 – 1953
real estate developerrancherwinegrower
Robert J. Van de Graaff
Robert J. Van de Graaff
American physicist (1901–1967)
1901 – 1967
university teacherphysicist
Zig Ziglar
Zig Ziglar
American motivational speaker (1926-2012)
1926 – 2012
sales traineroratormotivational speaker
Claudette Colvin
Claudette Colvin
African-American civil rights activist (1939–2026)
1939 – 2026
unlicensed assistive personnelcivil rights advocate
Odetta
Odetta
American singer (1930–2008)
1930 – 2008
recording artisttelevision actorguitarist
Walker Percy
Walker Percy
American philosophical novelist
1916 – 1990
novelistphilosopherphysician
W. C. Handy
W. C. Handy
American blues composer and musician (1873–1958)
1873 – 1958
music journalistautobiographernon-fiction writer
Sam Phillips
American businessman, record executive, record producer and DJ (1923–2003)
1923 – 2003
songwriterrecord producerentrepreneur
Dean Jones
Dean Jones
American actor (1931–2015)
1931 – 2015
television actorvoice actorfilm actor
Annie Easley
Annie Easley
American mathematician and rocket scientist
1932 – 2011
computer scientistmathematicianengineer
Ralph Abernathy
Ralph Abernathy
American civil rights activist and minister (1926–1990)
1926 – 1990
religious leadertheologianChristian minister
Henry Hartsfield
Henry Hartsfield
American astronaut (1933–2014)
1933 – 2014
aircraft pilotmilitary officerengineer
Polly Holliday
Polly Holliday
American actress
1937 – 2025
actor
Otis Davis
Otis Davis
American sprinter (1932–2024)
1932 – 2024
athletics competitorsprinter
Mary Anderson
Mary Anderson
American actress (1918–2014)
1918 – 2014
film actortelevision actoractor
Wayne Rogers
Wayne Rogers
American actor (1933–2015)
1933 – 2015
film actortelevision actorstage actor
Henry B. Walthall
Henry B. Walthall
American actor (1878–1936)
1878 – 1936
film actorstage actoractor
Henry Carr
Henry Carr
American track and field athlete (1941/2–2015)
1942 – 2015
American football playerathletics competitorsprinter
R. G. Armstrong
R. G. Armstrong
American actor (1917-2012)
1917 – 2012
film actortelevision actorstage actor
Hugo Black
Hugo Black
U.S. Supreme Court justice (1886-1971)
1886 – 1971
juristpoliticianmilitary personnel
Susannah Mushatt Jones
Susannah Mushatt Jones
American supercentenarian (1899–2016)
1899 – 2016
Pat Garrett
Pat Garrett
American sheriff (1850–1908)
1850 – 1908
bartendersherifflawyer
Clifton Williams
Clifton Williams
American astronaut (1932–1967)
1932 – 1967
aircraft pilottest pilotmilitary officer
Cathy O'Donnell
Cathy O'Donnell
American actress (1923–1970)
1925 – 1970
film actortelevision actorstage actor
Reg E. Cathey
Reg E. Cathey
American actor (1958-2018)
1958 – 2018
film actortelevision actorstage actor
Yolanda King
Yolanda King
American activist (1955-2007)
1955 – 2007
film actortelevision actorhuman rights defender
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