This is a list of notable people who were born in the U.S. state of Virginia, were raised or lived in Virginia, or for whom Virginia is a significant part of their identity. Those not born in Virginia are marked with §.

A

Alden Aaroe – WRVA talk show host Caroline Aaron – actress and producer John Aboud – writer, comedian, commentator on Best Week Ever and other VH1 shows Jim Acosta – national political correspondent for CNN Hunter "Patch" Adams § – doctor, author, and social activist Rick Adams – Internet pioneer, founder of UUNET Xavier Adibi § – linebacker for Minnesota Vikings Cynthia Adinig § – Healthcare equity activist Chris Adler – drummer for Lamb of God Willie Adler – guitarist for Lamb of God Danny Aiken – long snapper for New England Patriots Mary C. Alexander – aviation pioneer Andy Allanson – former MLB catcher James Anderson § – linebacker for Carolina Panthers Justin Anderson – player for Dallas Mavericks V.C. Andrews – novelist; born in Portsmouth, Virginia Anhayla – singer, guitarist, YouTube personality Andi Arndt – audiobook narrator David Arquette – actor, born on commune in Winchester John Ashby – colonel in the Virginia militia Arthur Ashe (1943–1993) – tennis player and social activist Bob Asher – former NFL offensive tackle Abelhaleem Hasan Abdelraziq Ashqar – Palestinian convicted of criminal contempt and obstruction of justice for refusal to testify in a trial related to the funding of Hamas in the US Shakira Austin (born 2000) – basketball center for the Israeli team Elitzur Ramla Stephen F. Austin (1793–1836) – first secretary of state of Republic of Texas Kevin Aviance – dancer

B Ba–Bm

Nathaniel Bacon (1647–1676) – led Bacon's Rebellion against British authority in 1676 Diedrich Bader (born 1966) – actor Margaret L. Bailey (1812–1888) – writer, poet, lyricist, editor, and publisher Pearl Bailey – Tony Award-winning actress and singer Ronald Bailey § – science editor for Reason magazine Dylan Baker § – actor David Baldacci – author Krystal Ball – businesswoman, co-host of MSNBC show The Cycle Gordon Banks – guitarist and songwriter Steve Bannon – campaign manager, businessman, media executive, Chief Strategist and senior counselor to President Donald Trump Ronde Barber (born 1975) – NFL cornerback Tiki Barber (born 1975) – sportscaster, NFL running back Don Barclay (born 1989) – NFL offensive lineman Kylene Barker – Ms. America 1979 Melody Barnes (born 1964) – director of Domestic Policy Council for President Barack Obama Lauren Barnette – beauty pageant winner and model Joey Baron – musician Connor Barth (born 1986) – placekicker for Tampa Bay Buccaneers Samuel Barton § (1749–1810) – explorer, pioneer; early settler of Nashville, Tennessee Viola Baskerville (born 1951) – Virginia Secretary of Administration Dave Batista – professional wrestler Warren Beatty (born 1937) – actor and Academy Award-winning director Beth Behrs § (born 1985) – actress, 2 Broke Girls Bob Bender (born 1957) – basketball player and coach Antoine Bethea § – football player for San Francisco 49ers Larry Bethea § – football player for Dallas Cowboys Rainey Bethea (1909–1936) – last person publicly executed in United States Leslie Bibb § – actress, Carley Bobby in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Jim Bibby – former Major League pitcher; from Madison Heights Lewis Binford (1931–2011) – archaeologist Adam Birch – professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment's SmackDown! Peter Blair – Olympic bronze medalist in freestyle wrestling Benny Blanco – record producer and songwriter Tom Bliley – member of United States House of Representatives representing Virginia's 3rd congressional district then 7th congressional district Dré Bly – football player with the Detroit Lions Randy Blythe – singer of metal band Lamb of God

Bn–Bz

Bruce Bochy § – manager for Texas Rangers Rudy Boesch § – third-place finalist on Survivor: Pulau Tiga (first season) Bill Bolling § – lieutenant governor of Virginia Gary U.S. Bonds § – singer-songwriter J. Evan Bonifant – actor Olive Borden – actress Maria Boren – contestant on TV's The Apprentice Wes Borland – guitarist for Limp Bizkit and other bands Th-resa Bostick § – IFBB professional bodybuilder Luke Bowanko – center for the Jacksonville Jaguars Mary Bowser – freed slave who worked as Union spy during American Civil War, admitted to Military Intelligence Hall of Fame Jackie Bradley Jr. – center fielder for Boston Red Sox Ahmad Bradshaw (born 1986) – running back for New York Giants Karen Briggs § – violinist Antwain Britt (born 1978) – mixed martial artist Connie Britton § (born 1968) – actress; raised in Lynchburg Dave Brockie – founder of Gwar Aaron Brooks – football quarterback for Oakland Raiders Ahmad Brooks – professional football linebacker for San Francisco 49ers Chris Brown (born 1989) – singer and actor Duane Brown – offensive tackle for Houston Texans Pamela Brown (born 1983) - television anchor for CNN News Ruth Brown – Grammy Award-award-winning singer and entertainer Mika Brzezinski § – television news journalist at MSNBC Shannon Bream – lawyer and Journalist, attended Liberty University Bebe Buell – fashion model, groupie; mother of Liv Tyler Joyce Bulifant – television actress Sandra Bullock (born 1964) – actress Plaxico Burress (born 1977) – wide receiver for New York Jets Hilarie Burton – actress Jeff Burton (born 1967) – NASCAR driver Ward Burton (born 1961) – NASCAR driver Curtis Bush – world champion kickboxer and actor Jermon Bushrod – offensive tackle for Chicago Bears Deon Butler – professional football wide receiver for Seattle Seahawks; from Woodbridge Eddie Butler – starting pitcher for Colorado Rockies Martha Haines Butt (1833–1871) – author Charlie Byrd – jazz guitarist

C

James Branch Cabell – author of fantasy fiction and belles lettres Erin Cahill – actress, Jen Scotts on Power Rangers Time Force Alyson Cambridge (born 1980) – operatic soprano and classical music, jazz, and American popular song singer Shawn Camp – relief pitcher for Toronto Blue Jays John Campbell – bassist for Lamb of God Eric Cantor – member of the United States House of Representatives representing Virginia's 7th congressional district Steve Cardenas – martial artist, actor, Rocky DeSantos on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Power Rangers: Zeo Lott Carey – early African-American colonist and missionary to Liberia Jay Carney – White House Press Secretary under U.S. President Barack Obama A. P. Carter – musician, singer-songwriter; member of Carter Family Allen 'Big Al' Carter – painter, photographer, sculptor and teacher Maybelle Carter – guitarist, singer, member of Carter Family; mother of June Carter Cash Robert "King" Carter I (1663–1732) – wealthy colonist businessman Sara Carter (1898–1979) – country music singer Alan-Michael Cash – defensive tackle for Montreal Alouettes June Carter Cash (1929–2003) – singer-songwriter, actress and comedian; member of Carter Family, second wife of Johnny Cash Anthony Castonzo § – NFL player Jake Cave (born 1992) – outfielder for the Minnesota Twins Christina Chambers (born 1969) – actress and model, One Life to Live, Sunset Beach Kam Chancellor (born 1988) – strong safety for Seattle Seahawks David Chang – restaurateur Anthony Clark – actor (television sitcoms Yes, Dear and Boston Common); born in Lynchburg Florence Anderson Clark (1835–1918) – university librarian and administrator George Rogers Clark (1752–1818) – American Revolutionary War military leader William Clark (1770–1838) – explorer (Lewis and Clark Expedition); brother of George Rogers Clark Roy Clark – country musician born in Meherrin, Virginia Henry Clay (1777–1852) – 19th-century statesman Clarence Clemons (1942–2011) – saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, played football for Norfolk Neptunes Patsy Cline (1932–1963) – singer Jim Coates – former MLB pitcher, primarily with New York Yankees Sarah Johnson Cocke – writer and civic leader Coko – member of SWV, gospel music singer Catherine Coleman § (born 1960) – NASA astronaut Matt Coleman III (born 1998) – basketball player for Hapoel Haifa of the Israeli Basketball Premier League Francis Collins – physician-geneticist, director of National Institutes of Health Mike Compton – NFL player Stacy Compton – NASCAR driver and team owner; born in Hurt Kavell Conner – linebacker for Indianapolis Colts Matthew Continetti – journalist, editor-in-chief of The Washington Free Beacon Scott Cooper – actor, writer, director Michael Copon – actor, Lucas Kendall in Power Rangers: Time Force Leanza Cornett – Miss America, actress, TV commentator Alex Cosmidis – baseball player, manager, scout Joseph Cotten (1905–1994) – actor Patricia Cornwell § – novelist Katie Couric (born 1957) – television personality Michael Covel – author and documentarian Robert Cray § (born 1953) – blues musician Henry Creamer – vaudeville song lyricist Zach Cregger – actor Romeo Crennel (born 1947) – NFL coach Kyle Crockett (born 1991) – MLB pitcher Amanda Cromwell – professional soccer coach and former player Adrian Cronauer § – disc jockey Michael Cuddyer (born 1979) – MLB outfielder Elizabeth Litchfield Cunnyngham – missionary and church worker Dell Curry (born 1964) – former NBA player for the Charlotte Hornets; father of Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry

D

D'Angelo – R&B musician Dan Daniel – politician, 39th National Commander of American Legion Troy Daniels – shooting guard for Charlotte Hornets Colgate Whitehead Darden Jr. – governor of Virginia, chancellor of the College of William & Mary and president of the University of Virginia Wendy Dascomb – Miss USA 1969 Chris Daughtry § (born 1979) – American Idol finalist; attended high school in Charlottesville Ed Davis § – power forward for Toronto Raptors; attended Benedictine High School in Richmond Tanya Davis – artist and past president of the Torpedo Factory Artists Association Tyrone Davis – NFL tight end, primarily with Green Bay Packers John M. Dawson (1829–1913) – minister and Virginia senator Jimmy Dean – singer, actor, television personality and "sausage king" Serena Deeb – professional wrestler Dalvin DeGrate – singer, member of R&B group Jodeci Evelyn Magruder DeJarnette (1842–1914) – author DeSagana Diop § – center for Charlotte Bobcats; attended Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson Junie Donlavey – owner and namesake of NASCAR "Donlavey" racing team Eric Dorsey § – defensive end for New York Giants; attended high school in McLean Desmond Doss – United States Army corporal who served as a combat medic during World War II Gabby Douglas – artistic gymnast and Olympic gold medalist Fanny Murdaugh Downing (1831–1894) – author and poet Bill Dudley (1921–2010) – former NFL halfback, member of the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame Eliza Ann Dupuy (c. 1814 – 1880) – littérateur and author Kevin Durant § – All-Star small forward for NBA champion Golden State Warriors; attended Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson

E

Kenny Easley (born 1959) – NFL safety for the Seattle Seahawks, member of the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame Ferrell Edmunds (born 1965) – NFL tight end Tremaine Edmunds (born 1998) – NFL linebacker Terrell Edmunds (born 1997) – NFL safety Trey Edmunds (born 1994) – NFL running back Elizabeth Edwards § (1949–2010) – attorney, author; estranged wife to John Edwards Missy Elliott (born 1971) – rapper Perry Ellis (1940–1986) – fashion designer Brother Claude Ely (1922–1978) – singer-songwriter, Pentecostal Holiness preacher Phillip H. Emerson (1834–1889) – justice of the Supreme Court of the Utah Territory 1873–1885 Garrett Epps (born 1950) – legal scholar, novelist, journalist