List of people from New Orleans

This is a list of notable individuals who are or were natives, or notable as residents of, or in association with the American city of New Orleans, Louisiana.

Academia

 * Will W. Alexander, first president of Dillard University and head of the Commission on Interracial Cooperation
 * Stephen Ambrose, historian and University of New Orleans professor
 * William Balée, anthropologist and Tulane University professor
 * Charles C. Bass, physician and researcher in tropical medicine and dental health
 * Elizabeth Bass, physician, educator, and suffragist
 * Stanhope Bayne-Jones, physician, member of US Surgeon General's Committee linking smoking to cancer
 * Joan W. Bennett, biologist and former Tulane University professor
 * Florence Borders, archivist and historian at the Amistad Research Center
 * Cyril Y. Bowers, physician and endocrinology researcher
 * Rick Brewer, president of Louisiana College since 2015; born in New Orleans in 1956
 * Douglas Brinkley, historian, author and former University of New Orleans and Tulane University professor
 * Brené Brown, professor of social work; author
 * George E. Burch, pioneering physician, cardiovascular disease researcher, medical school professor
 * John R. Conniff, educator and university administrator
 * Scott Cowen, former president of Tulane University
 * Michael DeBakey, pioneer in heart surgery
 * Albert W. Dent, president of Dillard University, chief executive of Flint-Goodridge Hospital
 * James H. Dillard, educator, advocate for education of African-Americans
 * John Duffy, medical historian
 * Michael T. Dugan, educator and accounting scholar
 * Joseph Ewan, botanist and biology professor
 * Alcée Fortier, folklorist, historian, and university professor
 * Mary L. Good, scientist and university professor
 * Clifton H. Johnson, historian and founder of the Amistad Research Center
 * Eamon Kelly, President of Tulane University
 * Salman Khan, educator
 * James A. Knight, psychiatrist, theologian, and medical ethicist
 * Rudolph Matas, innovative surgeon at Tulane Medical School
 * Gordon H. Mueller, historian and administrator at the University of New Orleans
 * Ernest Lagarde literature and languages, professor and author
 * Alton Ochsner, surgeon and medical researcher, founded the Ochsner Medical Center
 * Max Rafferty, public school administrator and writer
 * Andrew V. Schally, endocrinologist and Nobel Laureate
 * Mary S. Sherman, cancer researcher and physician
 * Royal D. Suttkus, biologist, founder of a major ichthyology collection
 * Lewis Thomas, physician, researcher, and author of popular non-fiction
 * Jeffrey Vitter, computer scientist and Purdue University dean
 * Harold E. Vokes, zoologist and paleontologist

Architecture

 * Jean-Louis Dolliole, architect-builder who was a free person of color in the Antebellum era
 * James Freret, architect, designed many 19th century homes in New Orleans
 * William Alfred Freret, architect, supervising architect for federal building in the 19th century
 * James Gallier Jr., architect, designed the French Opera House in New Orleans
 * Moise H. Goldstein Sr., architect of extensive designs in the early 20th century
 * Henry Howard, 19th century Irish-American architect
 * Richard Koch, architectural preservationist and photographer
 * Albert C. Ledner, 20th century architect
 * Emile Weil, 20th century architect
 * Leonard Spangenberg, 20th century architect
 * Leon C. Weiss, architect commissioned by Huey P. Long
 * Elizebeth Thomas Werlein, conservationist of the French Quarter of New Orleans

Arts and literature

 * Enrique Alferez, sculptor
 * John James Audubon, painter, ornithologist, naturalist
 * Vernel Bagneris, playwright, actor, director, singer, dancer
 * E. J. Bellocq, photographer
 * Eloise Bibb Thompson, poet, fiction writer, and playwright
 * Skip Bolen, photographer
 * Roark Bradford, fiction writer
 * Poppy Z. Brite, writer
 * William S. Burroughs, writer
 * George Washington Cable, writer
 * Georgine Campbell, painter
 * Truman Capote, writer
 * John Churchill Chase, writer and cartoonist
 * Kate Chopin, writer, feminist
 * Marcus Bruce Christian, poet, folklorist and historian
 * Ben Claassen III, illustrator and comics artist, DIRTFARM
 * Andrei Codrescu, poet and commentator
 * Florestine Perrault Collins, photographer
 * Alice Dalsheimer, poet
 * Edgar Degas, artist
 * Thomas Dent, poet and writer
 * John Bull Smith Dimitry Creole author known for Le Tombeau Blanc
 * George Washington Dixon, newspaper editor
 * Alexander John Drysdale, artist
 * George Dureau, artist and photographer
 * Caroline Durieux, artist and printmaker
 * William Faulkner, writer
 * Elissa Minet Fuchs, ballerina
 * Daniel F. Galouye, science fiction writer
 * Whitney Gaskell, writer, attended Tulane Law School which was the setting of her 2006 novel Testing Kate
 * Rolland Golden, artist
 * Shirley Ann Grau, writer
 * Lafcadio Hearn, writer
 * Knute Heldner, artist
 * Lillian Hellman, writer
 * George Herriman, Krazy Kat cartoonist
 * Emma Churchman Hewitt, writer, journalist
 * May Hyman Lesser, medical illustrator
 * Walter Isaacson, writer, journalist, public policy analyst
 * Charles Edward Kerbs, erotic artist and playwright
 * Frances Parkinson Keyes, writer
 * Grace King, writer
 * Dominique Lapierre, writer
 * Elmore Leonard, author
 * Michael Lewis, writer
 * Shantrelle P. Lewis, curator
 * Bunny Matthews, cartoonist
 * Louis-Alphonse Maureau, painter
 * Robert Bledsoe Mayfield, artist
 * John McCrady, artist
 * James Michalopoulos, artist
 * Marie Madeleine Seebold Molinary, artist
 * Gertrude Morgan, artist, musician, poet and preacher
 * Sergio Rossetti Morosini, diplomat, painter, sculptor, filmmaker, naturalist
 * Alice Dunbar Nelson, poet, journalist and political activist
 * Isadora Newman, artist, poet, storyteller, sculptor
 * David Ohle, writer
 * Paul E. Poincy, artist
 * Bart Ramsey, composer, author, singer and jazz musician
 * Matthew Randazzo V, writer
 * Anne Rice, writer of vampire tales and other Gothic fiction
 * John T. Scott, artist and sculptor
 * Kendall Shaw, abstract expressionist painter
 * John Kennedy Toole, writer of A Confederacy of Dunces
 * Alexandrea Weis, author
 * Lucille Western, actress
 * Chris Wiltz, novelist
 * William Woodward, painter

Business and economics

 * Frank Abadie, businessman and horse race promoter.
 * Micaela Almonester, 19th-century businesswoman and real estate developer
 * George Bissell, entrepreneur, founded the first oil company in the United States
 * Isaac Delgado, businessman and philanthropist, benefactor of Delgado Community College
 * Constant C. Dejoie Sr., business leader
 * William C. Edenborn, railroad magnate, industrialist and inventor
 * Charles E. Fenner, businessperson, co-founder of Fenner & Beane, a forerunner of Merrill Lynch
 * Ruth Fertel, businesswoman, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
 * Avram Glazer, businessman and sports franchise owner
 * Leon Godchaux, businessman and sugar merchant
 * George A. Hero, entrepreneur known locally as the "Drainage King"
 * Daniel Henry Holmes, 19th-century businessman
 * Victor Kiam, entrepreneur
 * Thomy Lafon, businessman, human rights activist
 * John McDonogh (1779–1850), shipping, land speculation (world's largest private landholder ca. 1850), philanthropist and namesake of many New Orleans schools
 * Alexander Milne, 18th-century businessman and entrepreneur
 * Oliver Pollock, merchant, financier of the American Revolutionary War
 * Benjamin M. Rosen, computer entrepreneur
 * John G. Schwegmann, supermarket innovator
 * Clay Shaw, businessman
 * Edgar B. Stern Sr, businessperson and philanthropist
 * Patrick F. Taylor, businessperson and philanthropist
 * Judah Touro, businessman and philanthropist
 * Martin de Villamil or Martin Villamil (1783–1843), businessman
 * Philip P. Werlein, music publisher and retailer
 * Samuel Zemurray, businessman and philanthropist

Cuisine

 * Edward Baquet, restaurateur and civil rights activist
 * Owen Brennan, restaurateur
 * Leah Chase, chef
 * Al Copeland, restaurateur, Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits and Copeland's restaurants
 * Ruth Fertel, restaurateur, Ruth's Chris Steak House
 * Beulah Levy Ledner, pastry chef
 * Austin Leslie, chef

Crime

 * Axeman of New Orleans, mysterious mass murderer
 * Sylvestro Carolla, mafia boss
 * Wilson Chouest, serial rapist and killer of two women in California
 * Antoinette Frank, former New Orleans Police Officer
 * Ivory Harris, drug trafficker and weapons trafficker
 * Jean Lafitte, pirate and brother of Pierre Lafitte
 * Pierre Lafitte, pirate and brother of Jean Lafitte
 * Delphine LaLaurie, socialite and sadist
 * Carlos Marcello, businessman and mafia boss
 * Lee Harvey Oswald, assassin
 * Ronald A. Williams II, murdered New Orleans police officer

Fictional

 * Mr. Bingle, snowman that assisted Santa Claus and worked at Maison Blanche Department Store
 * Benjamin Button, man who is born old and grows young, in a film loosely adapted from an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story
 * Louis de Pointe du Lac, vampire appearing in Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles
 * Ignatius J. Reilly, hero of John Kennedy Toole's novel A Confederacy of Dunces (1980)
 * Seymore D. Fair, 1984 Louisiana World Exposition Mascot, celebrity cartoon character, advocate for animal, people, and planet welfare
 * Gambit, Marvel Comics superhero (X-Men)
 * Marcel Gerard, vampire appearing in Julie Plec's The Originals
 * Hazel Levesque, previous residence before moving and first death, appearing in Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan
 * Morgus the Magnificent, mad scientist and horror movie host
 * Dwayne Cassius "King" Pride, NCIS Supervisory Agent, NCIS: New Orleans
 * Benjamin Sisko, Starfleet captain (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
 * Princess Tiana, heroine of Disney's animated film The Princess and the Frog

Film, television and entertainment

 * Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, actor
 * Bryan Batt, actor
 * Sandra Bullock, actress
 * Kitty Carlisle, entertainer
 * Paul Carr, actor
 * John Carroll, actor and singer
 * Laura Cayouette, actor and author
 * Hong Chau, actress
 * Patricia Clarkson, actress
 * Marshall Colt, psychologist and former actor
 * Frank Joseph Davis, television journalist and cookbook author
 * Bianca Del Rio, drag queen and comedian
 * Ellen DeGeneres, comedian and talk show host
 * Vance DeGeneres, actor, screenwriter and musician
 * Raquel "Rocsi" Diaz, television host
 * Faith Domergue, actress
 * Donna Douglas, actress
 * Jean Baptiste Le Sueur Fontaine, actor, theatre director and newspaper editor
 * Allison Harvard, runner-up of the twelfth cycle of America's Next Top Model
 * Dwight Henry, actor
 * Gloria Henry, actress
 * Cheryl Holdridge, actress
 * Indigo, actress
 * Eddie Jemison, actor
 * Bayn Johnson, former child actress and singer
 * Leatrice Joy, actress
 * Dorothy Lamour, actress
 * John Larroquette, actor
 * Sabrina LeBeauf, actress
 * Anthony Mackie, actor
 * Evan Mather, director
 * Tristin Mays, actress
 * Adah Isaacs Menken, actress
 * Taylor Miller, actress
 * Garrett Morris, comedian and actor
 * Ed Nelson, actor
 * Mark Normand, stand-up comedian
 * Chris Owens, burlesque performer and entrepreneur
 * Pauley Perrette, actress
 * Tyler Perry, actor, director
 * Wendell Pierce, actor,
 * Godfrey Reggio, experimental filmmaker and documentarian
 * Stassi Schroeder, television personality, model and author
 * Al Shea, actor and theatre critic
 * Neferteri Shepherd, model and actress
 * Sydney Shields, stage actress
 * Richard Simmons, fitness personality
 * Harold Sylvester, actor
 * Jay Thomas, actor
 * Sam Trammell, actor
 * Ben Turpin, silent film comedian
 * Ray Walston, actor
 * Carl Weathers, actor
 * Walter Williams, comedian
 * Tommy Wiseau, actor and director
 * Cora Witherspoon, actress
 * Reese Witherspoon, actress
 * Grace Zabriskie, actress

Journalism

 * Jim Amoss, journalist and newspaper editor
 * Dean Baquet, journalist and newspaper editor
 * Jason Berry, investigative journalist and historian
 * David Bernard, television meteorologist
 * James Carville, Democratic Party political consultant and pundit
 * Buddy Diliberto, sports journalist
 * Charles Patton Dimitry Creole journalist, poet, and author known for The House in Balfour Street
 * Dorothy Dix, journalist
 * Christopher Drew, investigative reporter
 * Charles L. "Pie" Dufour, newspaper columnist and historian
 * Hap Glaudi, television sportscaster
 * Victor Gold, journalist and political consultant, reared in New Orleans
 * Bryant Gumbel, television anchor
 * Greg Gumbel, television sportscaster
 * Ira B. Harkey Jr., newspaper journalist, civil rights advocate
 * Jim Henderson, television sportscaster
 * Iris Kelso, journalist for three New Orleans newspapers and WDSU television commentator
 * Hoda Kotb, television anchor
 * Mel Leavitt, television journalist and historian
 * Angus Lind, newspaper journalist
 * Wayne Mack, television sportscaster
 * John Maginnis, journalist, political commentator, and author of The Last Hayride, The Cross to Bear, and The Politics of Reform
 * Ora Mae Lewis Martin, journalist
 * Mary Matalin, Republican Party political consultant
 * Bill Monroe, NBC television journalist
 * Arthel Neville, television anchor
 * Cokie Roberts, ABC television journalist and commentator for National Public Radio
 * Nash Roberts, television meteorologist
 * Garland Robinette, investigative journalist
 * Louis Charles Roudanez, founder of The New Orleans Tribune newspaper
 * Lyle Saxon, journalist
 * Howard K. Smith, television anchorman
 * Ronnie Virgets, writer and broadcast journalist

Law, politics, and military

 * Bryan Adams, former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Jefferson Parish since 2012; born in New Orleans.
 * Reverend Avery Alexander, civil rights leader, state legislator
 * Andres Almonaster y Rojas, Spanish civil servant in colonial New Orleans, also a philanthropist
 * Jeff Arnold, former member of the Louisiana House for the Algiers section, 2002–2016
 * John B. Babcock, Medal of Honor recipient
 * Amy Coney Barrett, U.S. Supreme Court Justice and academic
 * Jean J. Beaufort, Union Army corporal and Medal of Honor recipient in the Civil War
 * P.G.T. Beauregard, Confederate general and inventor
 * Clyde F. Bel Jr., businessman and state representative for Orleans Parish, 1964–1972 and 1975–1980
 * Judah P. Benjamin, U.S. Senator, Confederate Attorney General, Secretary of War and Secretary of State
 * David H. Berger, commandant of the United States Marine Corps
 * Hale Boggs, former U.S. Representative
 * Lindy Boggs, former U.S. Representative and retired U.S. Ambassador to The Vatican
 * Thomas Hale Boggs Jr., lawyer/lobbyist in Washington, D.C., born in New Orleans in 1940, son of Hale and Lindy Boggs, brother of Cokie Roberts and Barbara Boggs Sigmund
 * Stephen Bradberry, community organizer, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award laureate
 * Juan Davis Bradburn, freedom fighter for Mexico, officer in the Battle of New Orleans
 * Henry Braden, politician
 * Elward Thomas Brady Jr., state representative from Terrebonne Parish 1972–1976, born in New Orleans
 * Donna Brazile, political strategist
 * Jared Brossett, member of the New Orleans City Council since 2014; state representative for District 97, 2009–2014
 * J. Marshall Brown, insurance agent and politician
 * William G. Brown (1832–1883), Louisiana state superintendent of education, 1872–1876
 * Benjamin F. Butler, administrator of Union-occupied New Orleans during the Civil War
 * John A. Butler, U.S. Marine Corps officer and Navy Cross recipient
 * Pascal F. Calogero Jr., Chief Justice Louisiana Supreme Court
 * Gary Carter Jr., member of the Louisiana House from the Algiers neighborhood, effective 2016
 * James Carville, political consultant, political science professor
 * Marlon Coleman, Mayor of Muskogee, Oklahoma
 * Harry Connick Sr., district attorney, father of singer Harry Connick Jr.
 * A.G. Crowe, politician
 * Milton Joseph Cunningham, attorney, state legislator, state attorney general for three nonconsecutive terms ending in 1900
 * Bernard de Marigny, politician and land developer
 * Étienne de Boré, first Mayor of New Orleans in the U.S. administration
 * James D. Denegre, Minnesota state senator and lawyer
 * Jean Noel Destréhan, early Creole politician and plantation owner
 * Alexander Dimitry, First Person of Color to become U.S. Ambassador of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, 1859 – 1861
 * Andrea Dimitry fought in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812 with Andrew Jackson
 * Michel Dragon Lieutenant American Revolutionary War
 * David Duke, state representative for Metairie 1989–1992; White nationalist
 * Oscar Dunn, first African-American governor of a U.S. state
 * H. Garland Dupré, attorney and politician; Speaker of the Louisiana House 1908–1910; U.S. representative from Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, 1910–1924
 * Frank Burton Ellis, attorney, politician, federal judge
 * Albert Estopinal, former U.S. representative and member of both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature
 * Olaf Fink, member of the Louisiana State Senate 1956–1972; New Orleans educator
 * C.B. Forgotston, attorney, political activist, state government watchdog
 * Henry L. Fuqua, governor who defeated Huey Long in an election
 * Randal Gaines, state representative since 2012 for St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes; former assistant city attorney in New Orleans
 * Jim Garrison, district attorney of Orleans Parish
 * Robert T. Garrity Jr., attorney and former state representative for Jefferson Parish
 * Charles Gayarré, state legislator noted for his histories of Louisiana
 * Newt Gingrich, U.S. Congressman from Georgia, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
 * Nicholas Girod, early mayor of New Orleans
 * John Grenier, Birmingham lawyer and Alabama Republican Party figure, born in New Orleans in 1930
 * Brenda Hatfield, former Chief Administrative Officer of the City of New Orleans
 * F. Edward Hebert, Democrat U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 1st congressional district, 1941–1977
 * Cynthia Hedge-Morrell, former member of the New Orleans City Council for District D, 2005–2014
 * Frederick Jacob Reagan Heebe, former judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
 * David Heitmeier, state senator for District 7 since 2008, optometrist
 * Francis C. Heitmeier, state senator for District 7, 1988–2008; businessman and lobbyist
 * David Hennessy, police chief, assassinated in 1890
 * Clay Higgins, Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for Louisiana's 3rd congressional district; born in New Orleans in 1961
 * Stephanie Hilferty, Republican state representative for Orleans and Jefferson parishes, effective January 2016
 * Walker Hines, former state representative
 * Jean Joseph Amable Humbert, army general, subordinate to Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans
 * Bernette Joshua Johnson, Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court since 2013; associate justice, 1994–2013, native and resident of New Orleans
 * Jeannette Knoll, associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court; reared and educated in New Orleans, where the court meets; resides in Marksville
 * Mary Landrieu, state representative, state treasurer, U.S. senator
 * Mitch Landrieu, state representative, lieutenant governor, former mayor of New Orleans
 * Moon Landrieu, judge and politician, mayor of New Orleans
 * Hank Lauricella, former professional football player; state senator from Jefferson Parish, 1972–1996
 * Bob Livingston, Republican former U.S. Representative for 1st congressional district
 * Edward Livingston, drafted Louisiana Civil Code
 * Lt. Gen. James Longstreet, Confederate general
 * Joseph Mansion, Louisiana state legislator, state tax assessor
 * Bessie Margolin, labor lawyer
 * Danny Martiny, state senator from Jefferson Parish, born in New Orleans
 * Harold A. Moise, state representative for the 12th Ward, Orleans civil court judge 1937–1948, and associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court 1948–1958
 * Ernest Nathan Morial, American political, legal, and civil rights leader
 * Marc Morial, former mayor, son of Ernest Nathan Morial
 * deLesseps Story Morrison, former mayor and ambassador to the Organization of American States
 * deLesseps Morrison Jr., late state representative
 * William Mumford, Confederate resistor in Union-occupied New Orleans during the Civil War
 * Ray Nagin, former mayor of New Orleans
 * Michael H. O'Keefe, president of the Louisiana State Senate 1976–1983; convicted felon
 * Alejandro O'Reilly, governor of Louisiana, known as "Bloody O'Reilly"
 * George Pandely New Orleans Assistant Alderman know for the Pandelly Affair
 * Leander Perez, district judge, district attorney, and president of the Plaquemines Parish Commission Council
 * P.B.S. Pinchback, politician
 * James Pitot, third mayor of New Orleans
 * Loulan Pitre Jr., New Orleans lawyer and former state representative for Lafourche Parish
 * Edward Joseph Price, state representative for District 58, Gonzales businessman, and former resident of New Orleans
 * William P. Quigley, activist attorney and academic
 * Max Rafferty, educator author and columnist, California politician, born in New Orleans in 1917
 * Cokie Roberts, journalist, daughter of Hale and Lindy Boggs
 * Steve Scalise, House Minority Whip and U.S. Representative of Louisiana's 1st district
 * Tom Schedler, former state senator from St. Tammany Parish and current Louisiana secretary of state
 * Pat Screen, Louisiana State University quarterback, lawyer, and former Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish
 * Ronal W. Serpas, Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department since 2010
 * Joseph A. Shakspeare, Mayor of New Orleans at the time of the March 14, 1891 lynchings
 * Eric Skrmetta, attorney from Metairie, Louisiana; Republican member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission for District 1
 * Jefferson B. Snyder, lived in New Orleans 1893–1897; later district attorney in three delta parishes in northeast Louisiana 1904–1948
 * James Z. Spearing, attorney, school board member, U.S. representative from Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, 1924–1931
 * Dorothy Mae Taylor, first African-American woman to serve in the Louisiana House, 1971–1980; member of the New Orleans City Council, 1986–1994
 * Charles Laveau Trudeau, early 19th century mayor of New Orleans
 * A.P. Tureaud, attorney
 * Jorge Ubico, exiled president of Guatemala
 * José de Villamil (or José Villamil), father of the independence of Ecuador
 * David Vitter, U.S. Senator, 2005–2017
 * John Volz, late U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana
 * Chatham Roberdeau Wheat, leader of the Louisiana Tigers during the US Civil War
 * Edward Douglass White, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court
 * John C. White, Louisiana education superintendent since 2012; superintendent of the Recovery School District in New Orleans, 2011
 * Robert Wilkie, National Security Assistant to the President
 * John Williams, Union Navy sailor awarded the Medal of Honor during the Civil War.
 * Clint Williamson, U.S. Ambassador, White House policy official, United Nations envoy
 * John Minor Wisdom, judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
 * Andrew Young, politician

Math, science, and invention

 * Ruth Benerito, inventor of wrinkle-free cotton
 * Alfred H. Clifford, mathematician
 * Isaac Cline, meteorologist and writer
 * Theodore John Dimitry Jr. optometrist known for developing the Dimitry Erisiphake and the Plastic Eye
 * Bennet Dowler, medical scientist
 * Andrew Higgins, ship builder and inventor
 * Emile Lamm, inventor
 * Theodore K. Lawless, dermatologist, medical researcher, and philanthropist
 * Jean Alexandre LeMat, inventor
 * Abraham Louis Levin, physician and inventor of the Levin Tube
 * Levi Spear Parmley, inventor of dental floss
 * Mark Plotkin, ethnobotanist
 * John Leonard Riddell, inventor of the binocular microscope
 * Norbert Rilleaux, inventor, engineer
 * Ken Thompson, co-creator of the Unix operating system , C (programming language) and Go (programming language) and Turing Award recipient
 * A. Baldwin Wood, inventor and engineer
 * Angie Jones, software engineer, automation architect

Music

 * August Alsina, singer/songwriter
 * Phil Anselmo, musician
 * Louis Armstrong, musician and entertainer
 * B.G., rapper
 * Baby Boy Da Prince, rapper
 * Achille Baquet, musician
 * George Baquet, musician
 * Paul Barbarin, musician and composer
 * Pat Barberot, band leader
 * Danny Barker, musician, vocalist, and writer
 * Dave Bartholomew, musician, composer, promoter
 * Jon Batiste, singer, composer, pianist, jazz musician
 * Sidney Bechet, musician
 * Better Than Ezra, rock group
 * Birdman aka Baby, rapper, producer
 * Big Freedia, bounce artist
 * Terence Blanchard, musician and composer
 * Peter Bocage, Jazz trumpeter and violinist
 * Buddy Bolden, musician, early jazz figure
 * Sharkey Bonano, Jazz musician
 * James Booker, musician
 * Larry Borenstein, founder of Preservation Hall
 * Connee Boswell, singer, member of the Boswell Sisters singing group
 * Helvetia "Vet" Boswell, singer, member of the Boswell Sisters singing group
 * Martha Boswell, singer, member of the Boswell Sisters singing group
 * Pud Brown, jazz musician
 * George Brunis, jazz trombonist
 * Collie Buddz, reggae/dancehall artist
 * C-Murder, rapper
 * Cane Hill, nu-metal group
 * Paul Caporino, songwriter, musician, lead singer of M.O.T.O.
 * Big Al Carson, blues singer
 * Alex Chilton, songwriter, guitarist, music producer, lead singer of the Box Tops and Big Star
 * Choppa, rapper
 * Merry Clayton, singer
 * Jon Cleary, funk and R&B musician
 * Lee Collins, jazz trumpeter
 * Harry Connick Jr., musician and entertainer
 * Cowboy Mouth, band
 * Barry Cowsill, musician
 * Paul Crawford, jazz musician, music historian
 * Curren$y, rapper
 * Edmond Dede, musician, composer
 * Fernando del Valle, operatic tenor
 * DJ Khaled, DJ
 * Dr. John, musician
 * Johnny Dodds, jazz clarinetist and saxophonist
 * Fats Domino, musician
 * Lee Dorsey, singer
 * Down, metal band
 * Tom Drummond, bassist of Better Than Ezra
 * Champion Jack Dupree, pianist, singer
 * Frankie Dusen, jazz trombonist
 * Ernie K-Doe, singer, "Emperor of the Universe"
 * Lars Edegran, bandleader
 * Lionel Ferbos, jazz musician
 * Lucky Daye, singer, songwriter, musician, performer
 * Giuseppe Ferrata, composer, pianist, and university professor
 * Frankie Ford, singer, entertainer
 * Pops Foster, jazz musician
 * Vernel Fournier, jazz drummer
 * Pete Fountain, musician, clarinet player, jazz, pop, and swing
 * Mannie Fresh, DJ, producer, rapper
 * Frank Froeba, musician, jazz, pianist, band leader
 * The Funky Meters, musicians and singers
 * Mary Gauthier, singer and song writer
 * George Girard, musician
 * Victor Goines, jazz musician, dean of jazz at the Juilliard School
 * Louis Moreau Gottschalk, pianist and composer
 * Kevin Griffin, musician, lead singer for Better than Ezra
 * Gudda Gudda, rapper
 * Donald Harrison, musician
 * Clarence "Frogman" Henry, singer and musician
 * Al Hirt, musician, trumpet, jazz, pop, and swing
 * Cha Cha Hogan, comedian, musician, entertainer
 * Moses Hogan, musician, composer
 * Linda Hopkins, blues and gospel singer
 * Noah Howard, jazz musician
 * Armand "Jump" Jackson, blues drummer and bandleader
 * Mahalia Jackson, gospel singer
 * Pervis Jackson, rhythm & blues singer member of The Spinners
 * Luke James, R&B singer, actor
 * Jay Electronica, rapper and producer
 * N.O. Joe, music producer, musician
 * Little Sonny Jones, blues singer
 * Juvenile, rapper
 * Freddie Keppard, jazz cornetist
 * Kid Ory, musician
 * Kidd Kidd, rapper
 * Earl King, musician
 * Jean Knight, singer
 * Papa Jack Laine, bandleader
 * Nick LaRocca, early jazz figure
 * Walter "Popee" Lastie, drummer
 * Meghan Linsey, singer-songwriter, contestant from The Voice season 8
 * Lil' Fizz, singer, rapper
 * Lil Romeo, rapper
 * Lil Wayne, rapper
 * Lloyd, singer
 * Rico Love, singer/songwriter
 * Mac, rapper
 * Magic, rapper
 * Magnolia Shorty, New Orleans bounce artist
 * Mack Maine, rapper
 * Dave Malone, songwriter, guitarist, music producer, guitarist and vocalist in The New Orleans Radiators
 * Wingy Manone, jazz trumpeter, and singer
 * Angélica María, Mexican singer-songwriter and entertainer, "La Novia de Mexico"
 * Paul Mares, jazz musician
 * Branford Marsalis, musician, alto, soprano, tenor, and baritone saxophones
 * Ellis Marsalis Jr., musician and educator, piano
 * Ellis Marsalis Sr., music patron, businessman and advocate
 * Jason Marsalis, musician (drums, vibraphone)
 * Wynton Marsalis, musician, trumpet, cornet, flumpet, flugelhorn
 * Master P, rapper, businessman, and mogul
 * Cosimo Matassa, music studio entrepreneur
 * Jimmy Maxwell, bandleader
 * Irvin Mayfield, musician
 * The Medicine Men, producers, singers (Mo B. Dick and Odell), rappers (KLC and Mo B. Dick)
 * The Meters, musicians and singers
 * Lizzie Miles, singer
 * Mr. Quintron, organist
 * Deacon John Moore, musician and bandleader
 * Jelly Roll Morton, musician and composer, early jazz figure
 * Teedra Moses, R&B and soul singer-songwriter
 * Mutemath, band
 * Mystick Krewe of Clearlight
 * Mystikal, rapper
 * The Neville Brothers, musicians and singers
 * Ivan Neville, phunk, R&B
 * Randy Newman, musician
 * Camille Nickerson, musician and composer
 * Normani, born Normani Kordei Hamilton, singer
 * Frank Ocean, singer
 * Joe "King" Oliver, musician
 * Lisette Oropesa, operatic soprano
 * Jimmy Palao, musician, bandleader
 * Earl Palmer, musician
 * Robert Parker, musician and singer
 * Partners-N-Crime, rap duo
 * Nicholas Payton, musician
 * Marguerite Piazza, operatic soprano
 * Piggy D., bassist
 * Genevieve Pitot, composer, musician, dancer
 * George Porter Jr., musician
 * Louis Prima, musician (trumpet), singer, bandleader, entertainer, aka "The King of the Swing"
 * Professor Longhair, born Henry Byrd, pianist, singer
 * The Radiators, rock band
 * Mac Rebennack, "Dr. John"
 * Rebirth Brass Band, band
 * Trent Reznor, musician, producer
 * Dawn Richard, former member of Danity Kane and Diddy-Dirty Money
 * Rising Appalachia, world, folk, roots, and soul group
 * Rob49, rapper
 * Jason Ross, Seven Mary Three frontman
 * Kermit Ruffins, jazz trumpeter, singer and composer
 * Bill Russell, music historian and composer
 * Marguerite Samuel, composer and pianist
 * Paul Sanchez, singer-songwriter and guitarist
 * Silkk the Shocker, rapper
 * Bill Sinegal, bassist and songwriter
 * Skull Duggery, rapper
 * Soulja Slim, rapper
 * Chloe Smith, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist
 * Leah Song, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist
 * Stooges Brass Band, New Orleans funk brass band
 * $uicideboy$, rap duo
 * Babe Stovall, blues singer and guitarist, "Mr. Bojangles"
 * Supagroup, rock band
 * Irma Thomas, rhythm and blues singer, aka "Soul Queen of New Orleans"
 * Allen Toussaint, musician, composer, record producer
 * Norman Treigle, operatic bass-baritone
 * Trombone Shorty, born Troy Andrews, musician
 * Turk, rapper
 * Shirley Verrett, operatic mezzo-soprano and soprano
 * George Wein, founder of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
 * Michael White, Jazz musician
 * Charles "Hungry" Williams, Rhythm & Blues drummer
 * Larry Williams, Rock 'n' Roll/R&B pianist
 * "Scarface" John Williams, singer
 * Spencer Williams, songwriter
 * Young V, rapper
 * Linnzi Zaorski
 * Zebra, band

Religion

 * Aleister Crowley, Gnostic Bishop, poet, writer and occultist
 * Antonio de Sedella, early Roman Catholic leader in New Orleans
 * Henriette DeLille, founder of the order of the Sisters of the Holy Family
 * Jesse Duplantis, televangelist
 * J. D. Grey, pastor, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention
 * Marie-Madeleine Hachard, Ursuline abbess, documented early history of New Orleans
 * Philip Hannan, former archbishop of New Orleans
 * Francis L. Hawks, clergyman, first president of Tulane University
 * Jerome LeDoux, Roman Catholic priest
 * Joseph Francis Rummel, former archbishop of New Orleans
 * Lory Schaff, member of the Sisters of St. Joseph who founded centers for adult literacy education
 * Francis Xavier Seelos, missionary who ministered to victims of yellow fever epidemics
 * John William Shaw, former archbishop of New Orleans

Sports

 * Ashley Ambrose, NFL player, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints, graduated from Alcee Fortier High School
 * Nehemiah Atkinson, professional tennis player and coach
 * D. J. Augustin, NBA player
 * Amari Bailey (born 2004), NBA basketball player
 * Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints
 * Armand Blackmar, nineteenth century chess player and music publisher
 * Walter Blattmann, Olympic gymnast
 * Delvin Breaux, gridiron football player
 * Stanley Brundy, basketball player
 * Cethan Carter, football player
 * Will Clark, former Major League Baseball player
 * Landon Collins, NFL player for the New York Giants
 * Tazzie Colomb, IFBB professional female bodybuilder and powerlifter
 * Scott Cochran, special teams coordinator for the Georgia Bulldogs
 * Ernie Danjean, former Green Bay Packers linebacker
 * Orleans Darkwa, professional football player
 * Tom Dempsey, former NFL kicker, held longest field goal record for over 43 years
 * David Dixon, professional sports advocate for New Orleans Saints, Louisiana Superdome, USFL, World Championship Tennis
 * Scott Dohmann, former MLB pitcher
 * Corey Dowden, former NFL defensive back
 * Clyde Drexler, former University of Houston and NBA star, member of Basketball Hall of Fame
 * Marshall Faulk, professional football star (St. Louis Rams), member of Pro Football Hall of Fame
 * Steve Foley, former defensive back for Denver Broncos
 * Matt Forte, running back for Chicago Bears, New York Jets
 * John Fourcade, former NFL and CFL quarterback, sports analyst
 * De'Aaron Fox, NBA point guard
 * J. P. France, MLB pitcher
 * Nolan Franz, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver
 * Leonard Fournette, NFL player, running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 * Harry P. Gamble, football player, swimmer, gymnast, boxer, and attorney
 * Eddie Garcia, former Green Bay Packers placekicker
 * Larry Gilbert, Major League Baseball player
 * Tookie Gilbert, Major League Baseball player
 * Tad Gormley, athletic trainer, coach, and official
 * Danny Granger, forward for NBA's Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat
 * Cortez Hankton, former NFL player who is currently the passing game coordinator & wide receivers coach for the LSU Tigers
 * Adrian Hardy, NFL player
 * Chris Henry, former NFL wide receiver
 * Chris Horton, former NFL safety
 * Kevin Hughes, former NFL offensive tackle
 * Tory James, former cornerback for Cincinnati Bengals
 * Avery Johnson, former National Basketball Association player, former coach of Dallas Mavericks
 * Deion Jones, NFL linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons
 * Junkyard Dog, stage name of Sylvester Ritter, former professional wrestler
 * Robert Kelley, Washington Redskins running back
 * Kerry Kittles, former NBA player for New Jersey Nets
 * Dominik Koepfer, professional tennis player
 * Lester Lautenschlaeger, football player, politician, first director of New Orleans Recreation Department
 * Kendrick Lewis, NFL free safety, played for Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens, attended Ole Miss
 * Michael Lewis, former New Orleans Saints wide receiver
 * Rydell Malancon, former NFL linebacker
 * Archie Manning, former New Orleans Saints quarterback, father of Peyton and Eli and Cooper
 * Eli Manning, former New York Giants quarterback
 * Peyton Manning, former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback
 * Pete Maravich, basketball Hall of Famer, played for LSU and NBA's New Orleans Jazz
 * Sammy Martin, former New England Patriots running back
 * Tyrann Mathieu, player for NFL's Kansas City Chiefs
 * Bo McCalebb, Macedonian basketball player who plays for Montepaschi Siena
 * Max McGee, NFL player on five championship teams
 * Sylvester McGrew, former Green Bay Packers defensive end
 * Greg Monroe, college basketball player for Georgetown University
 * Paul Morphy, world chess champion
 * Patrick Mullins, professional soccer player
 * Steve Mura, retired pitcher in Major League Baseball
 * Eddie Murray, prolific NFL placekicker
 * Antonio Narcisse, football player
 * Herman Neugass, Track & field athlete who boycotted the Berlin Olympic trials
 * Mel Ott, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer
 * Micah Owings, MLB pitcher
 * Robert Pack, NBA player, assistant coach for New Orleans Pelicans
 * Emmett Paré, professional tennis player and coach
 * Joe Pasternack, head basketball coach at UC Santa Barbara
 * Audrey Patterson, first African-American woman to win Olympic medal
 * Chris Quinn, former NBA player and current Miami Heat assistant coach
 * Eldridge Recasner, former NBA player
 * Sam Renick (1910–1999), jockey
 * Ham Richardson, professional tennis player
 * Alana Shipp, American/Israeli IFBB professional bodybuilder
 * Nate Singleton, former wide receiver for San Francisco 49ers
 * Neil Smith, former defensive end, Kansas City Chiefs
 * Truett Smith, former football player
 * Rusty Staub, Major League Baseball player
 * Ricky Starks, All Elite Wrestling FTW Heavyweight Champion.
 * Kordell Stewart, former NFL quarterback
 * Patrick Surtain, former NFL cornerback
 * Ron Swoboda, former New York Mets outfielder
 * Ike Taylor, cornerback, Pittsburgh Steelers
 * Roosevelt Taylor, safety, 1963 NFL champion, Chicago Bears
 * Vincent Taylor, defensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons
 * Taryn Terrell, professional wrestler for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
 * Mike Wallace, wide receiver for Pittsburgh Steelers
 * Bryce Washington (born 1996), basketball player for Hapoel Galil Elyon of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
 * Ron Washington, former MLB player and manager who is currently the third base coach for the Atlanta Braves
 * Reggie Wayne, wide receiver for Indianapolis Colts
 * Aeneas Williams, former cornerback for St. Louis Rams
 * Jason Williams (born 1983), basketball player for Hapoel Be'er Sheva of the National Basketball League of Israel
 * Korey Williams, Canadian Football League player

Other

 * Raymond Arroyo, employer of EWTN
 * Bessie Behan, social leader
 * Kate Walker Behan, club leader and philanthropist
 * Ruby Bridges, commemorated for her role, as a child, in racial integration of the New Orleans Public School System
 * Betty DeGeneres, LGBT rights activist
 * Caroline Dormon, horticulturalist and historian
 * Marianne Celeste Dragon Creole socialite and the subject of a painting by José Francisco Xavier de Salazar y Mendoza
 * David Ferrie, pilot investigated in the assassination of President Kennedy
 * Myra Clark Gaines, socialite and subject of the longest lawsuit in US history
 * Jean Margaret Gordon, suffragette
 * Kate M. Gordon, suffragette
 * Margaret Haughery, philanthropist
 * Marie Alice Heine, first American Princess of Monaco
 * Sir Lady Java, drag queen, actress and transgender rights activist
 * Blaine Kern, Mardi Gras float designer and builder
 * TJ Kirk, Youtuber
 * Marie Laveau, "voodoo queen"
 * Sara T. Mayo, physician and humanitarian reformer
 * Eleanor McMain, civic activist
 * Sally Miller: The Lost German Slave Girl
 * Allison 'Tootie' Montana, Mardi Gras Indian, "chief of chiefs"
 * Paul Morphy, unofficial world chess champion
 * Homer Plessy, early civil rights activist
 * Edith Rosenwald Stern, philanthropist
 * Paul Tulane, benefactor of Tulane University
 * Sylvanie Williams, educator and women's club activist
 * Sophie B. Wright, educator and clubwoman