Famous North Carolinians

Famous People Born in North Carolina

See our top list of the most famous people from North Carolina. We’ve chosen people like athletes, actors, civil rights activists, scientists and people from other walks of life that have come from the “The Tar Heel State”.

Braxton Bragg soldier, Warrenton
Robert C. Byrd, politicianNorth Wilkesboro
David Brinkley TV newscaster, Wilmington
Howard Cosell sportscaster, Winston-Salem
Elizabeth Hanford Dole public official, Salisbury
James B. Duke industrialist, Durham
Donna Fargo country music, Mount Airy
Roberta Flack singer, Black Mountain
Ava Gardner actress, Smithfield
Richard Gatling inventor, Hertford County
Billy Graham evangelist, Charlotte
Kathryn Grayson singer, actress, Winston-Salem
Andy Griffith actor, Mount Airy
Jesse Helms politician, Monroe
O. Henry writer, Greensboro
Andrew Johnson U.S. president, Raleigh
Charles Kuralt TV journalist, Wilmington
Dolley Payne Madison first lady, Guliford County
Ronni Milsap country music singer, Robinsville
Thelonious Monk pianist, Rocky Mount
Edward R. Murrow commentator, Greensboro
Floyd Patterson boxer, Waco
Richard Petty auto racer, Level Cross
James K. Polk U.S. president, Mechlenburg
William Sydney Porter author, Greensboro
Soupy Sales comedian, Wake Forest
Earl Scruggs bluegrass musician, Flint Hill
Randy Travis musician, Charlotte
John Scott Trotter orchestra leader, Charlotte
Thomas Clayton Wolfe author, Asheville