Biographical Records

Notable People from Rhode Island

746 notable figures born in Rhode Island, showing page 1 of 15, ranked by historical prominence.

H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
American writer and editor (1890–1937)
1890 – 1937
science fiction writeressayistnovelist
Cormac McCarthy
Cormac McCarthy
American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter (1933–2023)
1933 – 2023
film screenwriternovelistplaywright
Ruth Buzzi
Ruth Buzzi
American actress, comedian, and singer
1936 – 2025
film actortelevision actorvoice actor
Matthew C. Perry
Matthew C. Perry
American naval officer (1794–1858)
1794 – 1858
malacologistscientific collectorseafarer
Robert Aldrich
Robert Aldrich
American film director (1918–1983)
1918 – 1983
film director
Aaron Beck
Aaron Beck
American psychiatrist, researcher, therapist
1921 – 2021
professor of medicinepsychotherapistuniversity teacher
Frank Caprio
Frank Caprio
American lawyer and politician (1936–2025)
1936 – 2025
television personalityteacherlawyer
John Bates Clark
John Bates Clark
American neoclassical economist (1847–1938)
1847 – 1938
university teachereconomistwriter
William Ellery Channing
William Ellery Channing
American Unitarian clergyman (1780–1842)
1780 – 1842
Christian ministertheologianpastor
Nathanael Greene
Nathanael Greene
American general in the American Revolutionary War (1742-1786)
1742 – 1786
military officer
Van Johnson
Van Johnson
American actor (1916–2008)
1916 – 2008
film actortelevision actordancer
Gilbert Stuart
Gilbert Stuart
American painter (1755–1828)
1755 – 1828
portraitistpainterportrait painter
Thomas H. Ince
Thomas H. Ince
American film producer (1882–1924)
1882 – 1924
film actorfilm editorfilm producer
Ruth Hussey
Ruth Hussey
American actress (1911–2005)
1911 – 2005
film actortelevision actorstage actor
Nelson Eddy
Nelson Eddy
American actor and singer (1901–1967)
1901 – 1967
opera singerfilm actorstage actor
George M. Cohan
George M. Cohan
American entertainer, composer and playwright (1878–1942)
1878 – 1942
film screenwriterproducermanufacturer
David Hedison
David Hedison
American actor (1927-2019)
1927 – 2019
film actortelevision actorstage actor
Aileen Riggin
Aileen Riggin
American diver, swimmer, Olympic gold medalist (1906–2002)
1906 – 2002
competitive diverswimmer
Harry Anderson
Harry Anderson
American actor and magician (1952–2018)
1952 – 2018
magiciantelevision actorfilm actor
Lewis Boss
Lewis Boss
American astronomer (1846-1912)
1846 – 1912
astronomer
Stephen Hopkins
Stephen Hopkins
Signer of Declaration of Independence (1707-1785)
1707 – 1785
politicianlawyerjudge
Nicholas Colasanto
Nicholas Colasanto
American actor and television director (1924–1985)
1924 – 1985
film actortelevision actorfilm director
Janet Moreau
athletics competitor (1927–2021)
1927 – 2021
sprinter
Oliver Hazard Perry
Oliver Hazard Perry
United States Naval Officer (1785-1819)
1785 – 1819
naval officermilitary officer
Grace Lee Boggs
Grace Lee Boggs
American social activist and feminist (1915-2015)
1915 – 2015
feministnon-fiction writeractivist
William Ellery
William Ellery
American politician and signer of the United States Declaration of Independence
1727 – 1820
juristpoliticianjudge
Billy Gonsalves
Billy Gonsalves
American soccer player (1908-1977)
1908 – 1977
association football player
Sam Berns
American activist (1996–2014)
1996 – 2014
motivational speakerdraftspersonstudent
Edward Lee Greene
Edward Lee Greene
American botanist (1843-1915)
1843 – 1915
scientific collectormycologistbotanist
Nelson W. Aldrich
Nelson W. Aldrich
American politician (1841-1915)
1841 – 1915
politician
Alice Drummond
American actress (1928–2016)
1928 – 2016
film actortelevision actorstage actor
John Chafee
John Chafee
United States Senator (1922–1999)
1922 – 1999
jurisprudencemilitary officerjurist
Edwin O'Connor
American journalist and fiction writer (1918–1968)
1918 – 1968
novelistradio personalityjournalist
Ruth Clifford
Ruth Clifford
American actress (1900–1998)
1900 – 1998
film actoractor
Norman Taber
Norman Taber
athletics competitor (1891-1952)
1891 – 1952
athletics competitorathlete
Annie Smith Peck
Annie Smith Peck
American mountain climber and professor (1850–1935)
1850 – 1935
mountaineeruniversity teacherwriter
John Francis Dearden
Catholic cardinal (1907–1988)
1907 – 1988
Catholic bishopCatholic priest
Raymond Hood
Raymond Hood
American architect (1881–1934)
1881 – 1934
architect
Ed Czerkiewicz
American soccer player (1912-1946)
1912 – 1946
association football player
Elias Abu Shabaki
Elias Abu Shabaki
Lebanese author, poet, editor, translator, and critic. (1903–1947)
1903 – 1947
journalistpoetwriter
Robert Gray
Robert Gray
American merchant sea captain
1755 – 1806
explorer
Abigail Greene Aldrich
Abigail Greene Aldrich
American socialite and philanthropist (1874–1948)
1874 – 1948
housewifephilanthropist
Bobby Hackett
Bobby Hackett
American jazz trumpeter (1915–1976)
1915 – 1976
jazz musiciantrumpeterjazz guitarist
Galway Kinnell
Galway Kinnell
American poet (1927–2014)
1927 – 2014
university teachertranslatorpoet
Frankie Carle
Frankie Carle
American pianist and bandleader (1903–2001)
1903 – 2001
bandleaderpianistcomposer
Public Universal Friend
Public Universal Friend
American preacher (1752–1819)
1752 – 1819
religious leaderpreacher
Marvin Barnes
American basketball player (1952–2014)
1952 – 2014
basketball playerdrug trafficking
Sarah Helen Whitman
Sarah Helen Whitman
United States poet (1803-1878)
1803 – 1878
poetwriter
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