Carolina QuotesTHE PEOPLE BEHIND THE WORDS
People of the Carolinas
265 people born, raised or resident in the Carolinas.
A
- Alma AdamsAmerican politician in North Carolina (born 1946)10
- Ryan AdamsAmerican musician (born 1974)57
- Clara Leach Adams-EnderAmerican military officer5
- Clay AikenAmerican singer-songwriter, actor, and record producer8
- Sam AlecksonCharleston-born autobiographer, writing as Sam Aleckson2
- C. FitzSimons AllisonAmerican Episcopal bishop and author1
- Dorothy AllisonAmerican writer, poet, novelist, critic (1949–2024)1
- Graham T. AllisonAmerican political scientist (1940-)3
- Washington AllstonAmerican artist (1779-1843)1
- Archie Randolph AmmonsAmerican poet (1926–2001)14
- Tori AmosAmerican singer-songwriter (born 1963)44
- Aziz AnsariAmerican actor, stand-up comedian, screenwriter and director1
- Bettina ApthekerAmerican political activist, feminist, professor and author9
- Valerie AshbyAmerican chemist4
B
- Dorothy F. BaileyAmerican politician7
- Ella BakerCivil rights organizer raised in Littleton1
- Etta BakerPiedmont blues guitarist and 1991 National Heritage Fellow1
- Henlee Hulix BarnetteAmerican professor of Christian ethics1
- Weston La Barreanthropologist (1911–1996)5
- James Lee BarrettTony Award winner, screenwriter and United States Marine (1929-1989)2
- Bernard Mannes BaruchAmerican businessman (1870-1965)1
- Ida May Beard5
- Patrick Nieson Lynch BellingerUnited States Admiral (1885-1962)1
- Cherie K. BerryAmerican politician6
- Thomas BerryAmerican priest (1914–2009)7
- Scott BessentUnited States Secretary of the Treasury1
- Mary McLeod BethuneAmerican educator and civil rights leader (1875-1955)11
- Doris BettsStatesville-born fiction writer and UNC-Chapel Hill professor1
- Lewis BlackAmerican comedian and actor116
- William G. Boykinretired US Army general and political official (born 1948)23
- Braxton BraggConfederate Army general (1817–1876)1
- George Freeman BraggAmerican priest2
- Lewis M. Branscombphysicist and science policy advisor13
- David BrinkleyAmerican journalist (1920–2003)3
- Fred BrooksAmerican computer scientist (1931–2022); author of The Mythical Man-Month and 'No Silver Bullet' (1986), which distinguished essential from accidental complexity in software engineering21
- Mo BrooksAmerican politician (born 1954)4
- adrienne maree brownwriter63
- James BrownAmerican musician (1933–2006)1
- Tabitha BrownAmerican social media personality and actress5
- William Jennings BryanAmerican politician (1860–1925)45
- Ted BuddUnited States Senator from North Carolina since 20232
- William J. BurnsAmerican diplomat (born 1956)4
- Robert ByrdAmerican politician (1917–2010)2
C
- John C. Calhounvice president of the United States from 1825 to 1832 (1782–1850)1
- Joseph Gurney CannonAmerican politician (1836–1926)7
- Katie Geneva CannonAmerican theologian, first African American woman ordained by the Catawba Presbytery of the Presbyterian church (1950–2018)4
- Madison CawthornAmerican politician (born 1995)1
- Saxby ChamblissAmerican politician1
- Fred ChappellPoet, novelist and longtime UNC Greensboro creative writing professor1
- Mary Boykin ChesnutAmerican writer (1823-1886)1
- Tom CiszekFounder of BOMForge, writing on manufacturing, work and faith16
- Septima Poinsette ClarkCharleston-born educator, civil rights organizer and Citizenship Schools pioneer1
- Virginia Clay-CloptonAmerican suffragist (1825–1915)5
- George ClintonAmerican singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer1
- Jim ClyburnAmerican politician (born 1940)1
- Stephen ColbertAmerican comedian and writer (born 1964)1
- Jenn ColellaAmerican actress1
- John ColtraneAmerican jazz saxophonist (1926–1967)6
- Luke CombsAmerican country singer3
- Lucius Bunyan Compton5
- Pat ConroyAmerican novelist (1945-2016)1
- Anna J. CooperAfrican-American author, educator, speaker and scholar (1858–1964)14
- Roy CooperAmerican attorney and politician (born 1957)1
- Thomas CooperAmerican economist, college president and political philosopher (1759–1839)1
- Kizzmekia CorbettAmerican immunologist (1986-)6
- Howard CosellAmerican sportscaster (1918-1995)16
- Harold CovingtonAmerican neo-Nazi (1953–2018)11
- Benjamin CrumpAmerican jurist2
- Sadye CurryAfrican-American gastroenterologist2
D
- Charlie DanielsAmerican singer and musician (1936–2020)4
- Jonathan W. DanielsAmerican writer, editor and White House Press Secretary1
- Josephus DanielsAmerican diplomat and newspaper editor (1862–1948)2
- Marjorie DannenfelserAmerican political activist2
- Viola DavisAmerican actress and producer (born 1965)1
- John DearCatholic priest from the United States8
- A. C. DixonAmerican pastor (1854–1925)1
- Elizabeth DoleAmerican politician1
- Julia C. R. DorrAmerican writer1
- Robert M. DouglasAmerican judge (1849-1917)1
- David DrakeAmerican author of science fiction and fantasy literature (1945–2023)3
- Charles DukeAmerican engineer, U.S. Air Force officer, test pilot, and NASA astronaut (born 1935)1
- Andy DuncanAmerican writer13
E
- Elizabeth Edwardsdeceased wife of John Edwards (1949–2010)1
- John EdwardsAmerican politician (born 1953)3
- Bart D. EhrmanAmerican biblical scholar (born 1955)30
- Gertrude B. ElionAmerican biochemist and pharmacologist (1918–1999)3
- Sam ErvinUnited States Senator and jurist2
- Minnie EvansAfrican American artist (1892-1987)7
F
- L. R. Ferebee2
- Roberta FlackAmerican singer (1937–2025)5
- George FloydAfrican American man who was a victim of police violence in the United States, killed by Derek Chauvin4
- Henry FlyntAmerican musician (born 1940)5
- Ben FoldsAmerican musician18
- John Hope FranklinAfrican-American historian1
- Richard FullerUnited States Baptist minister (1804–1876)1
G
- Zach GalifianakisAmerican actor and comedian30
- GallagherAmerican stand-up comedian3
- Ava GardnerAmerican actress (1922–1990)3
- Althea GibsonAmerican tennis player (1927-2003)5
- William GibsonAmerican-Canadian speculative fiction writer (born 1948)1
- Dizzy GillespieCheraw-born jazz trumpeter, composer and bandleader1
- Ryan C. Gordoncomputer programmer13
- Billy GrahamAmerican Baptist evangelist (1918–2018)19
- Lindsey GrahamAmerican politician and attorney (1955–2026)1
- Moses Grandy2
- Jacquelyn GrantAmerican feminist and theologian6
- Briahna Joy GrayAmerican lawyer & pundit (1985-)11
- Kathryn GraysonAmerican actress and coloratura soprano (1922–2010)2
- Jaki Shelton GreenPoet from Efland; appointed North Carolina poet laureate in 20181
- Steven M. GreerAmerican ufologist82
- Eliza Ann GrierAfrican-American physician3
- Phillip GriffithsAmerican mathematician (1938-)3
- Sarah GrimkéAmerican abolitionist (1792–1873)1
- John GrishamAmerican writer (born 1955)3
H
- Nikki HaleyAmerican politician and diplomat (born 1972)1
- Samuel Hall2
- Anthony HamiltonAmerican singer, songwriter, and record producer3
- John HartAmerican author with multiple books and awards8
- Robin HayesAmerican politician1
- Terrance HayesAmerican poet and academic1
- Robert Y. HayneAmerican politician (1791–1839)5
- Jesse HelmsAmerican politician (1921–2008)31
- O. HenryAmerican short story writer (1862–1910)36
- DuBose HeywardAmerican novelist, playwright, poet (1885-1940)5
- William Woods HoldenNorth Carolina politician (1818-1892)8
- George Moses HortonAmerican writer9
- George Moses Horton4
- Harold HotellingAmerican statistician and econometrician (1895-1973)1
I
J
- Andrew Jacksonpresident of the United States from 1829 to 183747
- Jesse JacksonAmerican Baptist minister, activist, civil rights leader, politician, and founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition (1941–2026)28
- John Andrew JacksonSouth Carolina-born autobiographer and abolitionist2
- Mary JacksonSweetgrass basketmaker from Mount Pleasant and 2010 National Heritage Fellow1
- Harriet JacobsAmerican slave, writer, and abolitionist (1815-1897)11
- John S. Jacobs1
- Fredric JamesonAmerican academic and literary critic (1934–2024)18
- Randall Jarrellpoet, critic, novelist, essayist (1914–1965)202
- Jasper JohnsAmerican painter and sculptor (1930)1
- Andrew JohnsonPresident of the United States from 1865 to 186932
- April Parker JonesAmerican actress1
- Vernon JonesAmerican politician1
- Michael JordanAmerican basketball player and businessman (born 1963)18
- Robert JordanAmerican fantasy writer (1948–2007)1
- Edward E. David Jr.American engineer1
- Jack F. Matlock, Jr.American diplomat4
- Thomas Dixon Jr.American Baptist minister, lawyer, politician and white supremacist writer (1864–1946)7
- Peter Joseph JugisCatholic bishop1
K
- William R. Kingvice president of the United States from March to April 1853 (1786–1853)1
- Lane KirklandAmerican labor leader (1922-1999)1
- Mary Robinette KowalAmerican writer and puppeteer5
- Sallie KrawcheckAmerican businesswoman2
- Mike KrzyzewskiAmerican basketball coach (born 1947)3
- Charles KuraltAmerican journalist, correspondent, news anchor (1934-1997)3
- Richard KyankaAmerican Internet personality (1976-2021)2
L
- Joseph LaneAmerican politician and soldier (1801-1881)1
- Lunsford Lane4
- James Matthews LegaréAmerican writer (1823–1859)1
- Sugar Ray LeonardAmerican boxer9
- Fritz LondonGerman-American physicist (1900-1954)1
- James LongstreetConfederate Army general (1821–1904)1
- Irving E. LowerySumter County-born minister and memoirist2
M
- Moms MableyAmerican comedian and actress2
- Nancy MaceAmerican politician (born 1977)5
- Albert MackeyU.S. writer on freemasonry (1807-1881)1
- Michael MaloneAmerican screenwriter, novelist (1942–2022)3
- Allen MandelbaumAmerican translator, poet, college teacher3
- Cormac McCarthyAmerican novelist, playwright, and screenwriter (1933–2023)71
- William McDougallBritish psychologist (1871–1938)2
- Erin McKeanAmerican lexicographer and dictionary editor1
- Richard McKennaAmerican writer (1913-1964)9
- Linda McMahonUnited States Secretary of Education since 20252
- Vince McMahonAmerican professional wrestling promoter (born 1945)1
- William H. McRavenUnited States admiral31
- Mark MeadowsWhite House Chief of Staff from 2020 to 20214
- Julius Melbourn2
- Franklin D. MillerUnited States Army Medal of Honor recipient13
- Thelonious MonkAmerican jazz pianist and composer (1917–1982)8
- Mike MoonAmerican politician2
- Julianne MooreBritish-American actress and author14
- Michael Hamilton MorganAmerican writer2
- Thomas MortonEnglish playwright5
- MrBeastAmerican YouTuber, media personality and businessman (born 1998)3
- Kary MullisAmerican biochemist (1944–2019)4
- Pauli MurrayAmerican writer, activist, lawyer and Episcopal priest (1910-1985)3
- Edward R. MurrowAmerican broadcast journalist (1908–1965)58
N
O
P
- Jonas PateAmerican film director1
- Josh PateScreenwriter, director and producer1
- Ken PaxtonAttorney General of Texas since 20155
- Richard PettyStock-car racing champion and founder of Petty’s Garage in Level Cross1
- Louisa PicquetColumbia-born autobiographical narrator and formerly enslaved woman2
- Mark PilgrimAmerican computer programmer2
- Orrin H. PilkeyAmerican marine geologist (1934–2024)4
- Charles Cotesworth PinckneyAmerican politician (1746-1825)1
- Josephine PinckneyAmerican writer1
- Jon PinedaAmerican writer4
- James K. PolkPresident of the United States from 1845 to 1849 (1795–1849)15
- Jaime PresslyAmerican actress, model, and producer5
- Reynolds PriceNovelist and longtime Duke University English professor1
- Barbara Gardner Proctoradvertising CEO11
Q
R
- Matt Whitaker RansomConfederate Army general, lawyer, politician (1826-1904)1
- Tom ReganAmerican philosopher (1938–2017)12
- Hiram Rhodes RevelsAmerican politician (1827-1901)1
- Robert D. RichardsonAmerican historian (1934–2020)6
- Tom RobbinsAmerican writer (1932–2025)145
- Henry Martyn RobertUnited States Army general and Chief of Engineers (1837–1923)1
- Mark RobinsonAmerican politician (born 1968)16
- Chris RockAmerican comedian, actor, and filmmaker (born 1965)1
- Robert RuarkAmerican writer (1915-1965)37
- Edward RutledgeAmerican politician, youngest signer of the Declaration of Independence (1749-1800)1
S
- Terry SanfordNorth Carolina governor, U.S. senator and Duke University president1
- Ralph SantollaAmerican guitarist (1966–2018)3
- Nick SearcyAmerican actor2
- Hugh Sheltonrecipient of the Purple Heart medal5
- Henry E. Shepherd1
- Miles O Sherrill2
- Lewis ShinerAmerican writer5
- Florence Scovel ShinnAmerican writer, artist and book illustrator (1871–1940)1
- Charlie Siffordprofessional golfer (1922–2015)3
- Philip SimmonsCharleston ornamental ironworker and 1982 National Heritage Fellow1
- William Gilmore SimmsAmerican writer (1806–1870)1
- Nina SimoneAmerican singer, songwriter and pianist and civil rights activist (1933–2003)16
- Robert SmallsAmerican politician and former slave (1839-1915)1
- Lee SmithNovelist and retired North Carolina State University English professor1
- Edward SnowdenAmerican whistleblower and former NSA contractor (born 1983)64
- Thomas SowellAmerican economist, social theorist, political philosopher and author93
- Nicholas SparksAmerican writer and novelist155
- E. Lee SpenceGerman anthropologist, photographer, archaeologist, historian, photojournalist and academic1
- John Shelby SpongAmerican bishop (1931–2021)13
- Frank Lebby StantonAmerican writer and lyricist (1857–1927)1
- Jacob StroyerSouth Carolina-born minister and author of My Life in the South2
T
- Jack TatumAmerican football player (1948-2010)4
- Hannis TaylorAmerican diplomat, lawyer, and writer1
- TiaCorineAmerican rapper6
- Benjamin TillmanAmerican politician (1847–1918)1
- Henry TimrodPoet from the American South (1828-1867)1
- Jacob TobiaAmerican LGBTIQ activist5
- Charles Hard Townes20th-century American physicist2
- Edolphus TownsAmerican politician1
- John TownsendCanadian clinical psychologist and author (born 1952)30
- Lara TrumpAmerican television producer and campaign adviser (born 1982)3
- Jim B. TuckerAmerican psychiatrist1
V
W
- David Walkeroutspoken African-American abolitionist and anti-slavery activist7
- Doc WatsonNorth Carolina guitarist and 1988 National Heritage Fellow1
- Richard M. WeaverAmerican scholar (1910–1963)104
- Gertrude WeilAmerican suffragist (1879–1971)6
- Vanna WhiteAmerican model and game show hostess1
- Lawrence WilkersonUnited States Army colonel (ret.), Chief of Staff to Colin Powell1
- Samm-Art WilliamsAmerican playwright and screenwriter3
- Mary Elizabeth WinsteadAmerican actress (born 1984)21
- Thomas WolfeAmerican writer34
- L. Lin WoodAmerican lawyer and conspiracy theorist2
- R. Lee WrightsAmerican politician (1958–2017)13