Biographical Records

Notable People from North Carolina

1,702 notable figures born in North Carolina, showing page 2 of 35, ranked by historical prominence.

William E. Thornton
William E. Thornton
American astronaut (1929–2021)
1929 – 2021
university teachermilitary officerphysician
Woody Shaw
Woody Shaw
American musician (1944-1989)
1944 – 1989
jazz musiciantrumpetermusician
Charles Robert Jenkins
Charles Robert Jenkins
United States Army soldier (1940–2017)
1940 – 2017
soldieractor
Michael Blake
Michael Blake
American writer (1945-2015)
1945 – 2015
non-fiction writernovelistwriter
Caleb Bradham
Caleb Bradham
American pharmacist, inventor of Pepsi-Cola
1867 – 1934
inventorpharmacistbusinessperson
Frank Lucas
Frank Lucas
American mobster (1930-2019)
1930 – 2019
drug trafficker
Thomas Hart Benton
Thomas Hart Benton
State Senator from Tennessee, Senator and U.S. Representative from Missouri (1782–1858)
1782 – 1858
politicianlawyerwriter
Hiram Rhodes Revels
Hiram Rhodes Revels
American politician (1827-1901)
1827 – 1901
religious leaderpolitician
Percy Heath
Percy Heath
American musician (1923–2005)
1923 – 2005
cellistjazz musicianaircraft pilot
Murray Hamilton
Murray Hamilton
American actor (1923–1986)
1923 – 1986
actor
William Churchill deMille
William Churchill deMille
American screenwriter and film director (1878-1955)
1878 – 1955
film actortheatre directorfilm producer
Louis Clarke
Louis Clarke
American sprinter (1901-1977)
1901 – 1977
sprinter
David Brinkley
David Brinkley
American journalist (1920–2003)
1920 – 2003
directorjournalisttelevision presenter
Billy Taylor
Billy Taylor
American jazz pianist, composer, broadcaster, and educator (1921-2010)
1921 – 2010
music educatorjazz musicianradio personality
Betty Davis
Betty Davis
American funk and soul singer
1944 – 2022
modelsongwritersinger-songwriter
William Blount
William Blount
American statesman and land speculator who signed the United States Constitution (1749-1800)
1749 – 1800
politician
Sidney Blackmer
Sidney Blackmer
American actor (1895-1973)
1895 – 1973
film actorstage actoractor
Floyd Council
American blues guitarist and singer (1911-1976)
1911 – 1976
blues musicianmandolinistguitarist
John Shelby Spong
John Shelby Spong
American bishop (1931–2021)
1931 – 2021
Protestant theologianphilosophertheologian
Walter Davis
Walter Davis
American basketball player (1954–2023)
1954 – 2023
basketball player
Charles E. Brady Jr.
Charles E. Brady Jr.
American astronaut (1951–2006)
1951 – 2006
military officerphysicianastronaut
Gabriel Moore
Gabriel Moore
American politician
1785 – 1844
politician
Israel Pickens
Israel Pickens
American politician (1780-1827)
1780 – 1827
governorpoliticianlawyer
Leonidas Polk
Leonidas Polk
Confederate General (1806-1864)
1806 – 1864
Anglican priestarmy officerpolitician
Joseph Gurney Cannon
Joseph Gurney Cannon
American politician (1836–1926)
1836 – 1926
juristpoliticianlawyer
Josephus Daniels
Josephus Daniels
American diplomat and newspaper editor (1862–1948)
1862 – 1948
newspaper proprietorpublisherdiplomat
Blind Boy Fuller
American blues guitarist and singer
1907 – 1941
guitaristsinger
Malcom McLean
Malcom McLean
American businessman (1913-2001)
1913 – 2001
painterinventorship-owner
Terry Sanford
Terry Sanford
65th governor of North Carolina (1917–1998)
1917 – 1998
juristgovernorpolitician
Gregory Walcott
Gregory Walcott
actor (1928-2015)
1928 – 2015
television actoractor
Clyde McPhatter
Clyde McPhatter
American singer (1932–1972)
1931 – 1972
guitaristsinger
John Eaton
John Eaton
American politician and diplomat (1790-1856)
1790 – 1856
diplomatjuristgovernor
Beulah Louise Henry
Beulah Louise Henry
American business woman and inventor (1887-1973)
1887 – 1973
inventorbusinessperson
Emma Tillman
Supercentenarian, oldest person in the world
1892 – 2007
baker
Howard T. Odum
American ecologist (1924–2002)
1924 – 2002
ecologistsystems scientistzoologist
Anita Morris
Anita Morris
American actress, singer and dancer (1943-1994)
1943 – 1994
film actordancertelevision actor
Bernard Edwards
American bassist and record producer (1952–1996)
1952 – 1996
songwritermusicianbandleader
Lewis Armistead
Lewis Armistead
Confederate general (1817-1863)
1817 – 1863
military personnel
Daniel Barringer
Daniel Barringer
American geologist (1860–1929)
1860 – 1929
geologist
Thomas Dixon Jr.
Thomas Dixon Jr.
American Baptist minister, lawyer, politician and white supremacist writer (1864–1946)
1864 – 1946
white supremacistnovelistfilm director
Paul Green
Paul Green
American playwright (1894–1981)
1894 – 1981
librettistplaywrightwriter
George Grizzard
George Grizzard
American actor (1928–2007)
1928 – 2007
film actortelevision actorstage actor
Soupy Sales
Soupy Sales
American comedian, actor and radio/television personality (1926-2009)
1926 – 2009
television personalityfilm actortelevision actor
Grady Tate
Grady Tate
American jazz musician (1932–2017)
1932 – 2017
jazz musiciandrummermusician
Junkyard Dog
Junkyard Dog
American professional wrestler (1952-1998)
1952 – 1998
professional wrestleractor
William Alexander Graham
William Alexander Graham
American politician (1804-1875)
1804 – 1875
politicianlawyer
William Allen
William Allen
American politician, 31st Governor of Ohio (1803-1879)
1803 – 1879
juristgovernorpolitician
Zebulon Baird Vance
Zebulon Baird Vance
Confederate military officer in the American Civil War (1830-1894)
1830 – 1894
prosecutorjuristgovernor
Charles Alston
Charles Alston
African-American visual artist (1907-1977)
1907 – 1977
visual artistcaricaturistgraphic artist
Jester Hairston
Jester Hairston
American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor, and actor (1901-2000)
1901 – 2000
film actortelevision actorLiedermacher
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