Biographical Records

Notable People from West Virginia

795 notable figures born in West Virginia, showing page 1 of 16, ranked by historical prominence.

Pearl S. Buck
Pearl S. Buck
American writer (1892–1973)
1892 – 1973
autobiographernovelistchildren's writer
John Forbes Nash
John Forbes Nash
American mathematician and economist (1928–2015)
1928 – 2015
university teachereconomistmathematician
Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson
African-American mathematician
1918 – 2020
military flight engineermathematicianphysicist
Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
general of the Confederate Army in the American Civil War
1824 – 1863
military leadermilitary officermilitary personnel
Chuck Yeager
Chuck Yeager
American World War II flying ace and test pilot; first pilot to fly faster than sound (1923–2020)
1923 – 2020
military aviatorairmantest pilot
Don Knotts
Don Knotts
American actor and stand-up comedian (1924-2006)
1924 – 2006
television actorfilm actorvoice actor
Jerry West
Jerry West
American basketball player and executive (1938-2024)
1938 – 2024
sports executivebasketball playerbasketball coach
Bill Withers
Bill Withers
American musician (1938–2020)
1938 – 2020
singer-songwriterguitaristsinger
Cyrus Vance
Cyrus Vance
United States Secretary of State from 1977 to 1980 (1917–2002)
1917 – 2002
ice hockey playerforeign ministerdiplomat
George Armitage Miller
American psychologist (1920–2012)
1920 – 2012
university teacherpsychologist
Conchata Ferrell
Conchata Ferrell
American actress (1943–2020)
1943 – 2020
film actortelevision actorstage actor
Joanne Dru
Joanne Dru
American film and television actress (1922-1996)
1922 – 1996
television actorfilm actorstage actor
Glenn Davis
Glenn Davis
American track athlete and football player (1934-2009)
1934 – 2009
American football playersprinter
Paul Dooley
Paul Dooley
American actor, writer, and comedian
1928
television actorfilm actorvoice actor
George Crumb
George Crumb
American composer (1929-2022)
1929 – 2022
university teachercomposer
Morgan Spurlock
Morgan Spurlock
American filmmaker, screenwriter, and producer (1970-2024)
1970 – 2024
documentarianmanufacturerfilm director
Jon McBride
Jon McBride
American astronaut (1943–2024)
1943 – 2024
military flight engineerfighter pilotmilitary officer
Lewis Strauss
Lewis Strauss
American banker and chairman of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (1896-1974)
1896 – 1974
naval officerpoliticianbanker
Walter Reuther
Walter Reuther
labor union leader and progressive activist (1907–1970)
1907 – 1970
trade unionistpolitician
Hal Greer
Hal Greer
American basketball player (1936–2018)
1936 – 2018
basketball playerbasketball coach
Little Jimmy Dickens
Little Jimmy Dickens
American musician (1920–2015)
1920 – 2015
songwritermusiciansinger
Thomas Ewing
Thomas Ewing
American politician (1789–1871)
1789 – 1871
politicianlawyer
Virginia Fox
Virginia Fox
American actress (1902-1982)
1902 – 1982
film actoractor
Bernie Casey
American actor, artist, and professional football player (1939–2017)
1939 – 2017
American football playerathletics competitorfilm actor
Henry E. Holt
Henry E. Holt
astronomer (1929–2019)
1929 – 2019
astronomer
Allison Hayes
Allison Hayes
American actress (1930–1977)
1930 – 1977
beauty pageant contestantfilm actortelevision actor
George Herbig
American astronomer (1920–2013)
1920 – 2013
university teacherastronomer
Frances Benjamin Johnston
Frances Benjamin Johnston
American photographer, photojournalist (1864-1952)
1864 – 1952
architectural photographerphotojournalistartist
Rod Hundley
Rod Hundley
American basketball player (1934–2015)
1934 – 2015
basketball playerjournalist
John William Davis
John William Davis
American politician, presidential candidate (1873-1955)
1873 – 1955
diplomatjuristpolitician
Newton Diehl Baker Jr.
Newton Diehl Baker Jr.
American politician (1871–1937)
1871 – 1937
juristpoliticianlawyer
John Murtha
John Murtha
American politician from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania (1932-2010)
1932 – 2010
military officerpolitician
Karl Lashley
Karl Lashley
American psychologist (1890–1958)
1890 – 1958
ethologistneuropsychologistuniversity teacher
Edgar Adams
Edgar Adams
American numismatist and olympic diver and swimmer
1868 – 1940
competitive diverswimmerarchaeologist
Harry F. Byrd
Harry F. Byrd
American politician and newspaper publisher (1887–1966)
1887 – 1966
publisherfarmerpolitician
Felix Grundy
Felix Grundy
American politician (1777-1840)
1777 – 1840
juristpoliticianlawyer
Mike Barrett
Mike Barrett
American basketball player
1943 – 2011
basketball player
Johnnie Johnson
Johnnie Johnson
American musician (1924-2005)
1924 – 2005
pianistsingercomposer
John Davis Chandler
John Davis Chandler
American actor (1935-2010)
1935 – 2010
film actortelevision actoractor
Dwight Morrow
Dwight Morrow
American politician (1873–1931)
1873 – 1931
trusteebank officerdiplomat
Harry Glancy
American swimmer (1904–2002)
1904 – 2002
swimmer
Cora Sue Collins
Cora Sue Collins
American child actress
1927 – 2025
actor
Emanuel Steward
Emanuel Steward
American boxer, trainer, and commentator (1944–2012)
1944 – 2012
boxing trainerboxercoach
Rob Garrison
Rob Garrison
American actor (1960-2019)
1960 – 2019
film actoractor
Peter Marshall
Peter Marshall
American game show host, performer, singer (1926–2024)
1926 – 2024
radio personalitytelevision presenteractor
Don Redman
American musician (1900–1964)
1900 – 1964
jazz musiciansaxophonistbandleader
Frank De Vol
American composer and arranger (1911–1999)
1911 – 1999
television actorfilm score composerbandleader
Bill Mazeroski
Bill Mazeroski
American baseball player and coach (1936–2026)
1936 – 2026
baseball player
Fuzzy Knight
Fuzzy Knight
American film actor (1901-1976)
1901 – 1976
television actorsongwriterfilm actor
Anna Jarvis
Anna Jarvis
Founder of Mother's Day (1864–1948)
1864 – 1948
activistfounder
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