List of people from Hampton Roads

This is a list of important people and celebrities that were either born in or have lived in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.

Chesapeake

*Terry "Magnum T.A." Allen (b. 1959) – professional wrestler, known for his time in the National Wrestling Alliance
*Ed Beard (b. 1939) – professional football player for the San Francisco 49ers
*Dré Bly (b. 1977) – professional football player with the Denver Broncos
*Michael Copon (b. 1982) – star of "One Tree Hill" and winner of VH1's "But Can They Sing?"
*Chris Crocker (b. 1980) – professional football player with the Atlanta Falcons
*Michael Cuddyer (b. 1979) – professional baseball right fielder for the Minnesota Twins
*Kenny Easley (b. 1959) – professional football player with the Seattle Seahawks
*Jeff Falk – NASCAR driver
*DeAngelo Hall (b. 1983) – professional football cornerback for the Oakland Raiders
*Ashton Lewis (b. 1972) – NASCAR driver
*Alonzo Mourning (b. 1970) – professional basketball player for the Miami Heat
*Darren Perry (b. 1968) – football player with the Pittsburgh Steelers
*Chris Richardson (b. 1984) – "American Idol" season 5 top-5 finalist
*Ricky Rudd (b. 1956) – professional NASCAR race car driver
*Josh Rupe (b. 1982) – professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers
*Elton Sawyer (b. 1959) – NASCAR driver
*B.J. Upton (b. 1984) – professional baseball shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays; drafted #2 overall in 2002
*Justin Upton (b. 1987) – professional baseball player drafted #1 overall in 2005 by the Arizona Diamondbacks
*David Wright (b. 1982) – professional baseball starting third baseman for the New York Mets

Hampton

*Ronald Curry (b. 1979) – professional football player for the Oakland Raiders
*Steve Earle (b. 1955) – popular country-rock musician and songwriter
*Shaun Gayle (b. 1962) – professional football player with the San Diego Chargers
*Chris Hanburger (b. 1941) – popular Washington Redskins player in the 1970s
*Mike Husted (b. 1970) – former kicker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins
*Allen Iverson (b. 1975) – professional basketball player, point guard for the Denver Nuggets
*Nikki Nova (b. 1972) – actress
*Dwight Stephenson (b. 1957) – professional football player for the Miami Dolphins and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
*Dwight White (1949-2008) – defensive end on the Pittsburgh Steelers during their 1970s glory years
*Jimmy F. Williams (b. 1984) – professional football player with the Atlanta Falcons
*Steve Wilson – jazz musician – alto and soprano saxophones, flute – composer

Newport News

*Willie Armstead (b. 1952) – former professional football player in the Canadian Football League
*Pearl Bailey (1918-90) – Tony award winning actress and singer
*Antoine Bethea (b. 1984) – professional football player for the Indianapolis Colts
*Larry Bethea (1956-87) – late professional football player for the Dallas Cowboys
*Darryl Blackstock (b. 1983) – professional football player for the Arizona Cardinals
*Aaron Brooks (b. 1976) – professional football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders, land developer
*Joyce Bulifant (b. 1937) – television actress
*Robert Cray (b. 1953) – blues guitarist
*Frankie Faison (b. 1949) – film actor
*Ella Fitzgerald (1917-96) – jazz singer
*The Five Keys – popular soul and doo-wop act in the 1950s; featuring Newport News locals Ripley Ingram, Bernie West, Dickie Threat and Rudy West
*Johnny Gilbert (b. 1924) – announcer for the hit television quiz show Jeopardy!
*Henry Jordan (1935-77) – professional football player for the Green Bay Packers and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
*Richard Kelly (b. 1975) – film director and writer; films include Donnie Darko and Domino, among others
*Leroy Keyes (b. 1947) – professional football running back for the Philadelphia Eagles
*J. J. Lankes (1884-1960) – Woodcut artist, lived for many years in the Hilton Village neighborhood
*Michael Maguire (b. 1955) – Tony award-winning actor
*David Macklin (b. 1978) – professional football player for the Washington Redskins
*J. Clyde Morris – the first executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, former city manager of the City of Warwick and namesake of that stretch of U.S. Route 17 from Warwick Blvd. to Interstate 64
*Hazel R. O'Leary (b. 1937) – former Secretary of Energy under President Bill Clinton and currently President of Fisk University
*Clifford "Quan" Peacock – underground Hip hop artist
*Tommy Reamon (b. 1952) – former pro football player and coach.
*Austin Roberts (b. 1945) – singer and songwriter
*Tony "Tonedeff" Rojas – underground Hip hop artist
*Norm Snead (b. 1939) – professional football quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles
*William Styron (1925-2006) – author of "The Confessions of Nat Turner" and "Sophie's Choice"
*Mike Tomlin (b. 1972) – head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers
*Al Toon (b. 1963) – professional football player for the New York Jets
*Marcus Vick (b. 1984) – former quarterback for Virginia Tech
*Michael Vick (b. 1980) – former professional football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons
*Roy "Future Man" Wooten (b. 1957) – musician
*Victor Wooten (b. 1964) – musician

Norfolk

*Gary "U.S." Bonds (b. 1939) – singer and songwriter
*Plaxico Burress (b. 1977) – professional football wide receiver for the New York Giants
*William Harvey Carney (1840-1908) – African-American soldier of the American Civil War, Medal of Honor recipient for his part in the 54th Massachusetts Infantry's assault on Fort Wagner, South Carolina
*Clarence Clemons – saxophonist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and former player for the Norfolk Neptunes football team
*Alex Cosmidis – Minor League baseball player and manager and Major League scout
*William Couper (1853-1942) – Sculptor
*Colgate Whitehead Darden, Jr. (1897-1981) – U.S. Representative, Governor of Virginia, Chancellor of the College of William and Mary and the third President of the University of Virginia
*Charles "Lefty" Driesell (b. 1931) – famed basketball coach at Davidson University, the University of Maryland, College Park, James Madison University, and Georgia State University
*Rob Estes (b. 1963) – actor
*Samuel Face (1923-2001) – inventor
*William Fuller (b. 1962) – professional football defensive end for the Houston Oilers, Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears
*Stephen Furst (b. 1954) – television actor
*Mark Hamill (b. 1951) – actor
*Henry Howell (1920-97) – Independent Lieutenant Governor of Virginia
*General Norman Johnson (b. 1943) – R&B musician
*Naomi Long Madgett (b. 1923) – African American poet
*Mae – indie rock band
*Timothy "Timbaland" Mosely (b. 1971) – Hip hop artist and producer, longtime associate of Missy Elliott
*Thomas W. Moss, Jr. (b. 1928) – Democratic Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, 1992-2000
*Wayne Newton (b. 1942) – a.k.a. "Mr. Las Vegas"; singer and songwriter
*Tim Reid (b. 1944) – television actor, director, and film executive
*M. Jodi Rell (b. 1946) – Republican Governor of Connecticut, 2004-present
*Joseph Jenkins Roberts (1809-76) – First President of Liberia
*Larry Sabato (b. 1952) – National Political Pundit and Professor at the University of Virginia
*Bob Saget (b. 1956) – actor and comedian, current host of 1 vs. 100; best known for his role as Danny Tanner on the 1987-95 series Full House as well as the original host of America's Funniest Home Videos
*Deborah Shelton (b. 1948) – actress; Miss USA 1970, 1st runner-up in Miss Universe contest
*John Wesley Shipp (b. 1956) – television actor
*Joe Smith (b. 1975) – professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers
*Keely Smith (b. 1932) – nightclub singer, wife and stage partner of Louis Prima
*Margaret Sullavan (1909-60) – actress and wife of Leland Hayward
*Littleton Waller Tazewell (1774-1860) – U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator and Governor of Virginia
*Scott Travis (b. 1961) – drummer for rock band Judas Priest
*John Paul Vann (1924-72) - U.S. soldier and civilian active in Vietnam
*Marc Vann (b. 1954) – actor
*Brandon Vera (b. 1977) – Mixed Martial Artist, currently signed to UFC
*Gene Vincent (1935-71) – rock-a-billy artist recorded the huge hit "Be-Bop-A-Lula"
*Ben Watson (b. 1980) – American Football player for the New England Patriots
*Ernie Watts (b. 1945) – composer, jazz saxophonist, and long-time touring member of The Rolling Stones
*Joe Weatherly (1922-64) – NASCAR driver
*Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker (b. 1964) - boxer; 1984 Olympic gold medalist, professional champion in 4 weight classes
*Patrick Wilson (b. 1973) – actor
*David Wright (b. 1982) – professional baseball player for the New York Mets." [http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=431151 David Wright: Bio & Stats] ." "New York Mets." Retrieved on March 15, 2007.]

Portsmouth

*V. C. Andrews (1923-86) – mystery and horror writer
*Marty Brennaman (b. 1942) – sportscaster for the Cincinnati Reds
*Karen Briggs (b. 1963) – Violinist
*Ruth Brown (1928-2006) – Grammy-award winning singer and entertainer
*Bebe Buell (b. 1953) – fashion model, famous groupie and mother of Liv Tyler
*Mahlon Clark (1923-2007) – musician
*LaTasha Colander (b. 1976) – track and field sprint star, 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist (4x400m)
*Missy Elliott (b. 1971) – rapper
*Perry Ellis (1940-86) – fashion designer
*John Facenda (1913-84) – WCAU news anchor from 1948-1973; better known as the "Voice of NFL Films" until his death in 1984
*Clifton C. Garvin (b. 1922) – President and CEO of Exxon
*Chandler Harper (1914-2004) – golfer
*Chad Hugo (b. 1974) – musician and producer in the Neptunes and N.E.R.D.
*Ben L. Jones (b. 1941) – actor and politician
*T. J. Jordan (b. 1986) – basketball player
*LaShawn Merritt (b. 1986) – sprinter
*George "Shadow" Morton (b. 1944) – record producer and songwriter
*Bismarck Myrick (b. 1940) – U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia, U.S. Ambassador to Lesotho
*Tommy Newsom (1929-2007) – musician featured in Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show Band with Doc Severinsen
*Patton Oswalt (b. 1969) – comedian and television actor
*Ace Parker (b. 1912) – Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback who also played baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies
*William Russ (b. 1950) – actor
*Bill Schneider (b. 1944) – political commentator for CNN
*Wanda Sykes (b. 1964) – actress, comedian, and comedy writer
*Nicole Wray (b. 1981) – rapper and protege of Missy Elliott

uffolk

*Johnnie Barnes (b. 1968) – Graduate of Hampton University and former football player for the San Diego Chargers and the Pittsburgh Steelers
*Charlie Byrd (1925-99) – jazz guitarist
*Mills Edwin Godwin, Jr. (1914-99) – twice Governor of Virginia
*Joe Maphis (1921-86) – country music singer and songwriter

Virginia Beach

*Kyle "K-Dogg" Benham– Intern/Phone Screener for Elliot in the Morning
*BLACKstreet – R&B group
*Rudy Boesch (b. 1928) – third place finalist on "" (first season)
*J. Evan Bonifant (b. 1985) – actor
*Maria Boren – contestant on "The Apprentice 2"
*Bill Bray (b. 1983) – graduate of Ocean Lakes High School. professinal baseball player drafted in the 1st round 13th overall in the 2004 mlb draft by the Montreal Expos; Currently playing for the Cincannati Reds
*Paul "Cubby" Bryant (b. 1971) – National Radio Host
*Curtis Bush (b. 1962) – World Champion Kickboxer and Actor
*Clipse – rap group
*Cheryl "Coko" Clemons (b. 1973) – Former member of SWV and now Gospel Music singer
*Jason George (b. 1972) – television actor
*Percy Harvin (b. 1988) – Current football player at The University Of Florida
*Floyd "Danja" Hills (b. 1982) – Hip-hop producer, Timbaland's protege
*Chad Hugo (b. 1974) – Hip hop artist, member of duo The Neptunes
*Robert Hyatt – 5 time Virginia wrestling state champion
*Chyler Leigh (b. 1982) – actress, co-star of Not Another Teen Movie
*Evan Marriott (b. 1974) – reality television star on "Joe Millionaire"
*Scott McKenzie (b. 1939) – singer and songwriter
*Sean Murphy (b. 1984) – NASCAR driver
*Juice Newton (b. 1952) – pop and country singer
*Brandon Noble (b. 1974) – professional football player for the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins
*Gerald P. Pulley (b. 1922) – United States naval photographer
*J.R. Reid (b. 1968) – former professional basketball player
*Mark Reynolds (b. 1983) – professional baseball player
*Teddy Riley (b. 1967) – musician and songwriter
*Pat Robertson (b. 1930) – founder of Regent University and "The 700 Club"
*Aaron Rouse (b.1984) - Professional football player for the Green Bay Packers
*Mark Ruffalo (b. 1967) – American film and television actor
*Todd Schnitt (b. 1966) – Syndicated radio shows, MJ Morning Show and Schnitt Show
*Grace Sherwood (1660-1740) – the so-called Witch of Pungo (now exonerated after 300 years)
*Bruce Smith (b. 1963) – former professional football player for the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins
*Danny Tidwell (b. 1984) – professional dancer and finalist on "So You Think You Think You Can Dance"
*Kendra Todd (b. 1978) – winner of "The Apprentice 3"
*Travis Wall (b. 1987) – professional dancer and finalist on "So You Think You Think You Can Dance"
*Pharrell Williams (b. 1973) – Hip hop artist, member of record producing duo The Neptunes
*Ryan Zimmerman (b. 1984) – Professional baseball player for the Washington Nationals

Williamsburg

*Jimmy Fortune (b. 1955) – vocalist with the Statler Brothers
*Bruce Hornsby (b. 1954) – singer and songwriter
*Linda Lavin (b. 1937) – actress
*Bryan Randall (b. 1983) – 2005 ACC Football Player of the Year
*Seven Mary Three – alternative rock band
*Ron Springs (b. 1956) – played running back for the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
*Shawn Springs (b. 1975) – football player for the Washington Redskins
*Lawrence Taylor (b. 1959) – former professional football player for the New York Giants, professional wrestler, and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

York County

*Terry Kirby (b. 1970) – professional football player for the Miami Dolphins and Oakland Raiders
*Chris Slade (b. 1971) – professional football player for the New England Patriots

References