This is a list of notable people who were either born or raised, or have lived for a significant period of time in the Tallahassee, Florida metropolitan area.
Academics, education, and research
Roy Baumeister – psychologist of self-control Konrad E. Bloch – Nobel Prize-winning biochemist, who helped learn about the functioning of cholesterol Mark Frederick Boyd – malariologist and writer James M. Buchanan – winner of Nobel Prize in economics Talbot "Sandy" D'Alemberte – attorney, civil-rights activist, former dean of the Florida State University Law School, former president of Florida State University, president of the American Bar Association and the American Judicature Society Paul Dirac – Nobel Prize-winning physicist whose theories predicted antimatter Sylvia Earle – former chief scientist for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Neil Frank – former director of the National Hurricane Center Fred Gainous – former president of Florida A & M University, 2002–2004; former chancellor of the Alabama College System's Department of Postsecondary Education; associate vice president of St. Petersburg College Thelma Thurston Gorham – American journalist, organization leader, activist. Robert A. Holton – chemist and inventor of Taxol Tim Howard – president and founder of Cambridge Graduate University international, former head of doctorate program of Law & Policy at Northeastern University, former assistant attorney general of Florida Sir Harold Kroto – Nobel Prize-winning chemist who helped discover fullerenes Max Mayfield – former director of the National Hurricane Center Alfred Mele – philosopher of free will Robert S. Mulliken – physicist and chemist who won both the Priestley Medal and the Nobel Prize Michel Oksenberg – China scholar, member of National Security Council X. William Proenza – former director of the National Hurricane Center Michael Ruse – philosopher, historian of science Robert Schrieffer – Nobel Laureate, BCS Theory of Superconductivity E. Lee Spence – underwater archeologist G. Gabrielle Starr – president of Pomona College Glayde Whitney – geneticist
Space exploration Carolyn S. Griner – former director of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Winston E. Scott – NASA astronaut Norman Thagard – NASA astronaut; flew on three different U.S. Space Shuttles, and on one Russian mission to the Mir space station
Authors
Jesse Bullington – fantasy novelist; also published as Alex Marshall Robert Olen Butler – Pulitzer Prize-winning author for A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain (fiction) Doug Marlette – Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Leora Bettison Robinson (1840–1914) – author, educator Jeff Shaara – New York Times bestselling author of historical fiction Michael Shaara – Pulitzer Prize-winning author (for The Killer Angels) Jeff VanderMeer – World Fantasy Award-winning author (for the novella The Transformation of Martin Lake)
Aviation Jerrie Mock – aviator and first woman to fly around the world solo
Business Wally Amos – founder of the "Famous Amos" chocolate chip cookie brand; actor Eugene Figg – engineer for such bridges as Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Linn Cove Viaduct, and Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge Robert B. Hilton – Tallahassee newspaper owner and Confederate congressman during the American Civil War
Film, television, and radio
Red Barber – sportscaster, Radio Hall of Fame member Jim Cramer – host of CNBC's Mad Money
Acting
Kay Aldridge – model and actress Matt Battaglia – actor and former NFL player Brad Davis – actor (Midnight Express, Querelle) Cathy Jenéen Doe – actress Kyan Douglas – the "grooming expert" from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy Faye Dunaway – actress, Academy Award winner for Network Tony Hale – actor, played Byron "Buster" Bluth on Arrested Development Cheryl Hines – actress, two-time Emmy nominee for Curb your Enthusiasm, director, married to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Polly Holliday – actress, Golden Globe winner (for television series Alice) Will Kirby – Big Brother 2 (2001) winner Christine Lahti – film actress and director, winner of Academy Award for Leiberman in Love, two Golden Globes and Emmy for Chicago Hope Burt Reynolds – Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning, Oscar-nominated actor, attended FSU Anika Noni Rose – Tony Award-winning actress, as Emmie Thibodeaux in Caroline, or Change Sonny Shroyer – actor who played deputy sheriff on The Dukes of Hazzard Roy Wood, Jr. – comedian and actor on The Daily Show
Writing and production Jim Butterworth – documentary filmmaker, winner of DuPont-Columbia Award for Seoul Train Ron J. Friedman – writer of Disney's Academy Award-nominated film Brother Bear
Government and politics
Art Agnos – former mayor of San Francisco, California Reubin Askew – politician, former governor of Florida Bobby Brantley – lieutenant governor of Florida 1987–1991 Lawton Chiles – politician and FSU research fellow; former US senator and governor of Florida LeRoy Collins – politician and governor of Florida; the only Tallahassee native to serve as Florida's governor Parris Glendening – former governor of Maryland Carla Hayden – 14th Librarian of Congress Scott Maddox – former mayor of Tallahassee John Marks – mayor of Tallahassee 2003–2014 Kenneth Minihan – former director of the National Security Agency Nell Foster Rogers – lobbyist Orson Swindle – commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission Gregory Tony (born 1978) – sheriff of Broward County, Florida Craig Waters – spokesman for the Florida Supreme Court
Historical people Catherine Willis Gray Murat – great-grandniece of George Washington Prince Achille Murat – nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte William Hudson Rogers – professor of English and first distinguished professor at Florida State University Charles Kenzie Steele – clergyman and civil rights activist Ernest I. Thomas – raiser of the original flag at Iwo Jima
Infamy Frederick Pete Cox – serial killer who killed 3 prostitutes in 1997 Marshall Ledbetter – protester who took over the Florida capitol building Wade Wilson – serial killer, also known as the "Deadpool Killer" due to the fact that they share a name
Music
Cannonball Adderley – jazz alto saxophone player, Grammy Award winner Nat Adderley – jazz cornet and trumpet player Ethel Cain (Hayden Anhedönia) – singer-songwriter, artist George Clinton – musician, founder of funk bands Parliament and Funkadelic Rita Coolidge – Grammy Award-winning singer, "From the Bottle to the Bottom" and "Lover Please" Janice Harsanyi – vocalist and teacher Kenny Howes – rock musician Roland Kent LaVoie (born July 31, 1943), better known by his stage name Lobo (Spanish for "wolf") – singer-songwriter who was successful in the 1970s Mayday Parade – band formed in 2005, the result of a merger between two local Tallahassee bands, Kid Named Chicago and Defining Moment K. Michelle (born Kimberly Michelle Pate) – reality TV personality and R&B singer Jim Morrison – lead singer and lyricist of The Doors Real Boston Richey – rapper, songwriter Marcus Roberts – jazz pianist T-Pain (born Faheem Najm) – hip hop and R&B singer Butch Trucks (Claude Hudson Trucks) – drummer, member of the Allman Brothers band Luh Tyler – rapper, songwriter Hurricane Wisdom – rapper, singer, and songwriter
Composition Creed – rock band formed in Tallahassee Carlisle Floyd – opera composer, Susannah (1955) and others Marcus Roberts – jazz pianist, composer and music professor at Florida State University Morgan Sorne – singer-songwriter Ernst von Dohnányi – composer and pianist Ellen Taaffe Zwilich – Pulitzer Prize-winning composer (for Three Movements for Orchestra (Symphony No. 1))
Sports
Robert "Bobby" C. Bowden – college football coach, winner of two national championships Ricky Carmichael – motocross/supercross champion Kevin Carter – NFL defensive end Bradley Cooper – member of 1984 and 1988 Bahamas Summer Olympics team Gene Cox – State of Florida Sports Hall of Fame member (Leon High School football coach)Tallahassee Treasure Uncovered! Antonio Cromartie – NFL player credited with the longest play in NFL history Kim Crosby – NASCAR driver, with a best race finish of 20th, in 2004 Dwight F. Davis – founder of the international tennis Davis Cup Walter Dix – U.S. track team member and medalist at 2008 Beijing Olympics Warrick Dunn – FSU and NFL football star Carrie Englert (Zimmerman) – member of 1976 U.S. Summer Olympics team Tallahassee Tumbling Tots' Olympians Corey Fuller – played for FSU's football team, later became a wide receiver for the Vikings, Browns and Ravens Amari Gainer – professional American football player for the Las Vegas Raiders Michael Gaines – tight end for the Detroit Lions DaVanche (Ron) Galimore – member of 1980 U.S. Summer Olympics team Willie Galimore – member of College Football Hall of Fame, and NFL football player William Gay – NFL cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers Althea Gibson – winner of several Wimbledon and US Open tennis championships Frances C. Griscom – U.S. women's amateur golf champion Ken Harnden – hurdler and sprinter who represented Zimbabwe in the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games Tahesia Harrigan – professional sprinter (BVI) Bob Hayes – sprinter and gold medal winner on 1964 U.S. Summer Olympics team; NFL football wide receiver for Dallas Cowboys Missy Hyatt – professional wrestling valet and commentator for World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling Taylor Jacobs – professional football player, wide receiver with Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers, and Denver Broncos Marty Jannetty – professional wrestler, best known for his work with WWE Reggie Jefferson – MLB player Brad Johnson – NFL quarterback Brandy Johnson – member of 1988 U.S. Summer Olympics team Desmond Koh – amateur swimmer who represented Singapore in the 1988, 1992, and 1996 Olympic Games Mike "11" Martin – all-Time winningest coach in NCAA Division I College Baseball; 2019 inductee in National College Baseball Hall of Fame Nevin McCaskill – NFL player for the Green Bay Packers Michelle McCool – World Wrestling Entertainment diva (formally Diva Champion) Fondren Mitchell – football player Brian Olson – member of 1996, 2000 and 2004 U.S. Summer Olympics teamshttp://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880611021 "Olson vies for fourth straight Olympics in Judo" (Tallahassee Democrat, 11 June 2008) Burgess Owens – professional football player, member of Oakland Raider team that won Super Bowl XV Bill Peterson – college and NFL head football coach Zach Piller – NFL guard for the Tennessee Titans Don Pumphrey, Jr – offensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Elise Ray – gymnast, represented United States in 2000 Olympic Games Gabrielle Reece – professional volleyball player, model David Ross – MLB catcher Deion Sanders – FSU football star, NFL cornerback, Major League Baseball outfielder, NFL Network commentator Ernie Sims – NFL linebacker Dwight Smith – MLB outfielder Bobby Thigpen – MLB relief pitcher and coach Craphonso Thorpe – NFL wide receiver Marion Tinsley – world checkers champion 1955–1958, 1975–1991 Charlie Ward – 1993 Heisman Trophy winner Pat Watkins – NFL safety for the Dallas Cowboys Chris Weinke – 2000 Heisman Trophy winner Boo Williams – NFL tight end for the New Orleans Saints Wally Williams – NFL (1993–2003), Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and New Orleans Saints; first franchise player in Ravens history Jameis Winston – 2014 Heisman winner and quarterback for the Cleveland Browns Woody Woodward – MLB shortstop, Braves, Reds; FSU Baseball head coach (1975–1978); MLB GM, Yankees, Phillies, Mariners
Visual arts Karl Zerbe – expressionist painter using the encaustic painting technique
References