List of people from Charlotte, North Carolina

This is a list of people who were born in, lived in, or are closely associated with the city of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Academia

 * Graham Tillett Allison Jr., political scientist and professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University
 * Katharine Cramer Angell, one of two named founders of The Culinary Institute of America
 * Sonya Curry, educator
 * Christopher Ellison, sociologist specializing in the sociology of religion
 * Chris Folk, served in the office of School Community Relations for the Charlotte Mecklenburg County Schools during desegregation
 * Martha Louise Morrow Foxx, pioneering educator for the blind
 * Edith Henderson, landscape architect
 * John Kuykendall, served as 15th president of Davidson College
 * Paul Marion, university administrator and academic
 * George C. Williams, evolutionary biologist
 * Anne D. Yoder, biologist, researcher, and professor

Art and literature

 * Romare Bearden (1911–1988), artist and writer
 * Brian Blanchfield, poet and essayist
 * Jason V. Brock, filmmaker, musician, artist, and author
 * Don Brown, author and attorney
 * W. J. Cash, writer and journalist
 * Silas Farley, ballet dancer, choreographer and educator
 * Ian Flynn, comic book writer
 * Brent Funderburk, artist
 * Harry Golden, author
 * Hank Hanegraaff, author, radio talk-show host, former advocate of evangelical Christianity (until 2017 with his conversion to Eastern Orthodox faith)
 * Cheris F. Hodges, author
 * Travis Jeppesen, author
 * Ben Long, artist, most known for his fresco work and drawings
 * Carson McCullers, author
 * Jenny Offill, novelist
 * Diane Oliver (1943–1966), Black feminist writer
 * Kathy Reichs, anthropologist and author
 * Stephanie S. Tolan, children's book author
 * Mel Tomlinson, ballet and modern dancer
 * Justin Tornow, dancer and choreographer

Business



 * Cy Bahakel, former North Carolina State Senator and media magnate, instrumental in bringing Charlotte Hornets franchise to Charlotte
 * Irwin Belk, businessman and politician, executive with Belk department stores
 * Jim Crockett Jr., former professional wrestling promoter
 * Richard Darman, businessman and government official who served in senior positions during the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush
 * Elisabeth DeMarse, businesswoman, former chairman and CEO of TheStreet
 * James Buchanan Duke, industrialist, founder of The Duke Endowment and Duke University
 * Jay Faison, entrepreneur and a conservative philanthropist, founder of the ClearPath Foundation
 * Jack Fulk (1932–2011), founder of fast-food chain Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits
 * Earl Patterson Hall, real estate developer and businessman who founded Carowinds
 * Robert L. Johnson, co-founder of BET, former majority owner of then Charlotte Bobcats, first black American billionaire
 * Michael Jordan, former professional Hall of Fame basketball player, principal owner & chairman of the Charlotte Hornets
 * Herman Lay, involved in potato chip manufacturing with his eponymous brand of Lay's potato chips
 * Leon Levine, founder of Family Dollar; billionaire, businessman and philanthropist
 * Michael Marsicano, President and CEO of The Foundation for the Carolinas, one of the largest philanthropic community foundations in the country in terms of assets
 * Hugh McColl, former chairman and CEO of Bank of America
 * Bruton Smith, billionaire; founder and CEO of Speedway Motorsports, Inc. and founder of Sonic Automotive
 * Clemmie Spangler, businessman, former president of the 16-campus University of North Carolina system, 1986–1997; was No. 117 on Forbes' list of 400 richest Americans
 * David S. Taylor, business executive who is currently the chairman, President, and CEO of Procter & Gamble
 * Blake R Van Leer III, entrepreneur, grandson of President of Georgia Tech, inventor, civil rights advocate
 * Robert Yates, former owner of NASCAR Cup Series team Yates Racing

Entertainment

 * Tyler Barnhardt, actor, best known for Underground, 13 Reasons Why
 * Melendy Britt, actress
 * Ben Browder, actor, Farscape and Stargate SG-1
 * Nick Cannon, television host, rapper, actor, comedian, attended Quail Hollow Middle School
 * Ayesha Curry, actress, celebrity cook, author
 * Mark Freiburger, filmmaker
 * Rohit Gupta, film director, producer
 * Ali Hillis, actress
 * Lauren Holt, actress, comedian, singer, and cast member of Saturday Night Live
 * Brian Huskey, actor, comedian, and writer
 * Billy James, musician, producer, and writer
 * Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, actor, former professional wrestler, attended Montclaire Elementary School
 * Emeril Lagasse, celebrity chef, television personality, attended Johnson & Wales University
 * Sharon Lawrence, actress, known for NYPD Blue
 * Chyler Leigh, actress
 * Ross McElwee, documentary filmmaker; professor at Harvard University
 * Eva Noblezada, actress, singer
 * Jim Rash, actor in NBC/Yahoo's Community
 * Britt Robertson, actress
 * Gloria Saunders, actress
 * Randolph Scott, actor, 1940s and '50s film star
 * Jessica Stroup, actress, best known for portraying Erin Silver on 90210
 * Berlinda Tolbert, actress on CBS sitcom The Jeffersons
 * Skeet Ulrich, actor, Jericho; graduate of Northwest Cabarrus High School
 * Earl Wentz, actor, pianist, composer, and musical director, known for his creation of the American Composer Series in 2000
 * Maurice Williams, songwriter and performer of Maurice William and the Zodiacs, famous for "Stay"

Government and law

 * Armistead Burwell, associate justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, 1892–1894
 * Rebecca Carney, Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly
 * Daniel G. Clodfelter, attorney and politician, Democratic mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina
 * Chris Cole, politician
 * Charlie Smith Dannelly, educator and politician, Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly
 * Walter E. Dellinger III, professor and solicitor
 * Ben Elbert Douglas, Sr., mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina 1935–1941
 * Anthony Foxx, 17th United States Secretary of Transportation, and mayor of Charlotte (2009–2013)
 * Jim Gulley, member of the North Carolina General Assembly
 * Richard Hudson, United States Representative for North Carolina's 8th congressional district
 * Cheslie Kryst, lawyer; Miss North Carolina USA 2019 and Miss USA 2019
 * Pat McCrory, 74th Governor of North Carolina; longest-serving mayor in Charlotte's history (1995–2009)
 * James McDuffie, North Carolina State Senator
 * James B. McMillan, federal judge who ruled in favor of school busing to integrate Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
 * Cameron A. Morrison, Governor of North Carolina
 * Sara Virginia Ecker Watts Morrison, First Lady of North Carolina
 * Angelia Lawrance Morrison Harris, First Lady of North Carolina
 * Mick Mulvaney, former United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland and White House Chief of Staff in the Trump Administration, attended Charlotte Catholic high school
 * Sue Myrick, member of the United States House of Representatives; mayor of Charlotte (1987–1991)
 * Sarah Parker, Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court (born in Charlotte)
 * Robert Pittenger, real estate investor; Republican former State Senator in the North Carolina General Assembly (2002–2008)
 * Jennifer Roberts, politician, community activist, and the 58th Mayor of Charlotte
 * Toussaint Romain, attorney, public defender, and civil rights figure
 * Ruth Samuelson, member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's 104th House district
 * John Spratt, United States Representative for South Carolina's 5th congressional district
 * Mike Sprayberry, North Carolina Director of Emergency Management
 * Randy Staten, Minnesota state representative and football player
 * Anne Tompkins, served as the United States Attorney for the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
 * Richard Vinroot, attorney and mayor of Charlotte (1991–1995)

Journalism and media

 * John Bain (1984–2018), British game commentator
 * Heather Childers, television news anchor
 * Leigh Diffey, auto racing commentator
 * William Emerson (1923–2009), journalist; covered the civil rights era as Newsweek's first bureau chief assigned to cover the Southern United States; later editor in chief of The Saturday Evening Post
 * Mark Kemp, music journalist and author
 * Anna Kooiman, news anchor and television panelist
 * Jim Nantz, CBS television sportscaster
 * Maureen O'Boyle, formerly of Current Affair and Extra; now newscaster for WBTV
 * Joe Posnanski, sports journalist
 * Bill Rosinski, sportscaster and talk show host
 * Sandra Mims Rowe, newspaper journalist
 * Reed Sarratt, journalist
 * Beatrice Thompson, broadcast television and radio personality

Military and aviation



 * Joseph Arnold, United States Air Force; served in Iraq during operation Iraqi freedom; received Commendation Medal for service during combat operations
 * Jerry K. Crump, soldier in the United States Army; received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean War
 * Richard T. Devereaux, retired United States Air Force Major General
 * Charles Duke, NASA astronaut, United States Air Force officer and test pilot, 10th person to walk on the Moon
 * Jack B. Farris, United States Army lieutenant general
 * John Gibbon, officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, also served in the American Indian Wars
 * Buster Glosson, former deputy chief of staff for plans and operations at the headquarters for the U.S. Air Force in Washington D.C.
 * Susan J. Helms, nrigadier general-select in the U.S. Air Force and former NASA astronaut
 * Hunter Marshall III, United States Navy officer during World War II

Musicians

 * Ant-Bee, musician
 * Seth Avett, singer and one of the founding members of American folk-rock band The Avett Brothers
 * Horace Brown, R&B singer
 * Nappy Brown (1929–2008), R&B and gospel singer
 * Phillip Bush, classical pianist
 * Tom Constanten, former keyboard player, Grateful Dead
 * DaBaby, rapper, songwriter
 * Deniro Farrar, rapper
 * FireHouse, early 1990s "hair metal band"
 * Flagship, alt-rock band
 * Anthony Hamilton, R&B singer
 * Wilbert Harrison, R&B singer
 * Joe Henry, musician
 * Hopesfall, hard rock band
 * Tyrone Jefferson, trombonist
 * K-Ci & JoJo (Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey & Joel "JoJo" Hailey) of 1990s R&B group Jodeci
 * Si Kahn, singer-songwriter and activist (resident of Charlotte)
 * John P. Kee, gospel singer
 * Adam Lazzara, lead singer of Taking Back Sunday
 * Jon Lindsay, solo recording artist; former member of Benji Hughes and many other bands; record producer; political activist
 * Kelsey Lu, singer and cellist
 * Lute, rapper
 * Mavi, musician
 * John Mark McMillan, singer-songwriter
 * Tammy Faye Messner (1942–2007), Christian singer and television personality; former wife of televangelist, and later convicted felon, Jim Bakker
 * Stephanie Mills, R&B singer
 * David Vincent, frontman, bassist, and singer of the death metal band Morbid Angel
 * Wednesday 13, musician
 * Willie Weeks, bass guitarist, known for work with Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder and George Harrison

Sportspeople

 * Cedric Alexander, professional wrestler signed to WWE
 * Jaire Alexander, NFL cornerback
 * Ty-Shon Alexander, professional basketball player
 * Arn Anderson, professional wrestler
 * Darrell Armstrong, former National Basketball Association (NBA) player and current NBA coach
 * Jim Beatty, first person to break the four-minute mile barrier on an indoor track
 * Ricky Berens, Olympic swimmer and two-time gold medalist
 * DeAndre' Bembry, NBA player
 * Saddiq Bey, NBA player
 * Tessa Blanchard, professional wrestler
 * Garrett Bradbury, National Football League (NFL) offensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings
 * Calvin Brock, former professional boxer; competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics
 * William Byron, NASCAR Cup Series driver for Hendrick Motorsports
 * Maya Caldwell, WNBA player for the Atlanta Dream
 * Chris Canty, former NFL defensive end; Charlotte Latin School alumni
 * Dwight Clark, NFL wide receiver and two-time Super Bowl champion with San Francisco 49ers
 * Stu Cole, former Major League Baseball (MLB) player and current MLB coach
 * Mo Collins, NFL lineman for the Oakland Raiders
 * Carlos Crawford, former MLB pitcher
 * Seth Curry, NBA player
 * Stephen Curry, NBA player and 4-time champion with the Golden State Warriors
 * Baron Davis, former professional basketball player; played for Charlotte Hornets 1999–2002
 * Jordan Davis, NFL defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles
 * Jake Delhomme, former NFL quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, 2003–2009
 * John Donaldson, former MLB second baseman
 * Devon Dotson, NBA G League basketball player
 * Ray Durham, MLB second baseman and two-time All-Star selection
 * Charlotte Flair, professional wrestler, daughter of Ric Flair
 * Reid Flair, professional wrestler, son of Ric Flair
 * DeShaun Foster, born in Charlotte, former running back for Carolina Panthers 2002–2007
 * Todd Fuller, professional basketball player
 * Joe Gibbs, Hall of Fame football coach and NASCAR championship team owner
 * Grace Glenn, artistic gymnast
 * Trent Guy, former NFL and Canadian Football League player
 * Clayton Heafner, former PGA Tour golfer
 * Larry Hefner, former NFL linebacker
 * Tommy Helms, MLB player
 * Gerald Henderson Jr., former professional basketball player
 * Dwight Howard, Charlotte Hornets 2017–2018, NBA player
 * D. J. Humphries, NFL offensive tackle
 * Antawn Jamison, NBA forward and former University of North Carolina basketball star
 * Bobby Jones, basketball player, four-time NBA All-Star and 1972 Olympian
 * Daniel Jones, NFL quarterback for New York Giants; attended Charlotte Latin School
 * Hunter Kemper, triathlete, 4-time member of the U.S. Olympic team (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012)
 * Braxton Key, professional basketball player
 * Ron "The Truth" Killings, pro wrestler
 * Luke Kuechly, former linebacker for the Carolina Panthers 2012–2019
 * Corey LaJoie, NASCAR Cup Series driver
 * Kendall Lamm, NFL offensive tackle for the Tennessee Titans
 * Chris Leak, former Florida Gators quarterback and offensive MVP of 2007 BCS National Championship Game
 * Dave Lemonds, pitcher for Chicago White Sox
 * Nick Leverett, NFL offensive guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 * Michael Macchiavello, freestyle and folkstyle wrestler, NCAA Wrestling national champion at NC State
 * Mohamed Massaquoi, NFL player
 * Alex Maughan, rugby union player
 * J. B. Mauney, professional bull rider
 * Jeff McInnis, NBA guard
 * Mildred Meacham, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
 * Kennedy Meeks, NBA player
 * Sam Mills, linebacker who played twelve seasons in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers
 * Akil Mitchell, American-Panamanian basketball player for Maccabi Rishon LeZion of the Israeli Premier League
 * Tiffany Mitchell, WNBA player
 * Anthony Morrow, NBA player
 * Alonzo Mourning, former professional basketball player
 * Daniel Naroditsky, chess grandmaster
 * Joan Nesbit, former long-distance runner who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics
 * Hakeem Nicks, former NFL wide receiver for New York Giants
 * Dickie Noles, MLB pitcher
 * Pettis Norman, NFL tight end for the Dallas Cowboys
 * Ayanga Okpokowuruk, football player
 * Julius Peppers, former defensive end for the Carolina Panthers 2002–2009 and again 2017–2018
 * Richard Petty, former seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and record winner of 200 NASCAR races
 * Roman Phifer, NFL linebacker
 * Wali Rainer, NFL player for Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions and Houston Texans
 * Jeff Reed, former NFL kicker for the Pittsburgh Steelers
 * Cody Rhodes, professional wrestler
 * Jerry Richardson, former owner of NFL's Carolina Panthers
 * Jordan Rinaldi, UFC fighter
 * John Sadri, tennis player, Australian Open singles finalist
 * Don Schollander, six-time Olympic champion swimmer
 * Corey Seager, MLB shortstop for the Texas Rangers
 * Kyle Seager, former MLB third baseman for the Seattle Mariners
 * Floyd Simmons, two-time Olympic bronze medalist in the decathlon
 * Jamie Skeen, basketball player, plays for Maccabi Ashdod B.C. in the Israeli Super League
 * Ish Smith, NBA player
 * Jaden Springer, professional basketball player
 * Ricky Steamboat, pro wrestler
 * Bernard Taylor, former boxer, compiled 481–8 record as an amateur boxer, qualified for 1980 U.S. Olympic team
 * Chad Tracy, MLB third baseman
 * Rayjon Tucker, NBA player
 * Dolly Vanderlip, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League pitcher
 * Dave Waymer (1959–1993), NFL safety for New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Raiders
 * Reggie White (1961–2004), NFL defensive end; career leader at time of his retirement in sacks
 * Steve Wilks, football coach, former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals in 2018
 * Grant Williams, NBA player for the Boston Celtics; Providence Day School alum
 * Patrick Williams, professional basketball player
 * Alex Wood, MLB pitcher
 * Haywood Workman, NBA guard for Indiana Pacers

Miscellaneous

 * Annie Lowrie Alexander (1864–1929), first licensed female physician in the American South
 * Chelsea Cooley, Miss North Carolina USA 2005, Miss USA 2005
 * Olivia Culpo, Miss Rhode Island USA, Miss USA, Miss Universe 2012
 * Brooklyn Decker, model, graduated from Butler High School in Matthews, NC; Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover model
 * Thereasea Elder (1927–2021), first African American public health nurse in Charlotte
 * Steven Furtick, pastor
 * Ryan C. Gordon, software and game porter
 * Billy Graham (1918–2018), evangelist
 * Vani Hari, American author, activist, and affiliate marketer who criticizes the food industry
 * Carter Heyward, American feminist theologian and priest in the Episcopal Church, the province of the worldwide Anglican Communion in the United States
 * Richard Hipp, software architect and primary author of SQLite
 * Peter Joseph Jugis, prelate of the Roman Catholic Church serving as the fourth and current bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
 * Jordan Lloyd, winner of Season 11 of Big Brother; contestant on Season 16 of The Amazing Race (from suburban Matthews)
 * Emily Maynard, The Bachelorette, season 8
 * Sally Dalton Robinson, philanthropist
 * John Shelby Spong (1931–2021), retired Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Newark, author, lecturer, and theologian
 * Jane Renwick Smedburg Wilkes (1827–1913), founder of Good Samaritan Hospital and St. Peter's Hospital