This is a list of notable individuals who are or were natives, or notable as residents of, or in association with the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Academia [edit]
- Stephen Ambrose, historian and University of New Orleans professor
- Charles C. Bass, physician and researcher in tropical medicine and dental health
- Joan W. Bennett, biologist and former Tulane University professor
- Stanhope Bayne-Jones, Physician, Member of US Surgeon General's Committee linking smoking to cancer
- Cyril Y. Bowers, physician and endocrinology researcher
- Douglas Brinkley, historian, author and former University of New Orleans and Tulane University professor
- George E. Burch, pioneering physician, cardiovascular disease researcher, medical school professor
- Henry E. Chambers, Louisiana historian and educator
- Michael DeBakey, world-famous pioneer in heart surgery
- Henry C. Dethloff, American historian
- Alcée Fortier, folklorist, historian, and university professor
- Edgar Hull, Louisiana physician, professor, and hospital administrator
- James A. Knight, psychiatriast, theologian, and medical ethicist
- Marietta LeBreton, Louisiana historian
- Rudolph Matas, Innovative Surgeon at Tulane Medical School
- Alton Ochsner, Surgeon and Medical Researcher who later founded the Ochsner Medical Center
- Max Rafferty, California Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1963 to 1971, former U.S. Senate candidate in California, and an author on educational topics was born in New Orleans in 1917.
- Charles P. Roland, historian at Tulane and later the University of Kentucky who specializes in American Civil War and American South
- Andrew V. Schally, endocrinologist and Nobel Laureate
- Harry V. Sims, surgeon, hospital administrator, gynecological researcher
- Lewis Thomas, physician, researcher, and author of popular non-fiction
- Jeffrey Vitter, computer scientist and Purdue University dean
Arts and literature [edit]
- Enrique Alferez, sculptor
- John James Audubon, painter, ornithologist, naturalist
- E. J. Bellocq, photographer
- Skip Bolen, photographer
- James Belton Bonsall, painter
- Poppy Z. Brite, writer
- George Washington Cable, writer
- Milburn E. Calhoun, book publisher
- Truman Capote, writer
- John Churchill Chase, writer and cartoonist
- Kate Chopin, writer, feminist
- Ben Claassen III, illustrator and comics artist DIRTFARM
- Andrei Codrescu, poet and commentator
- Edgar Degas, artist
- Dianne de Las Casas, author, storyteller
- George Washington Dixon, newspaper editor
- Alexander John Drysdale, artist
- William Faulkner, writer
- Daniel F. Galouye, science fiction writer
- Shirley Ann Grau, writer
- Lafcadio Hearn, writer
- Knute Heldner, artist.
- Lillian Hellman, writer
- George Herriman, Krazy Kat cartoonist
- Caroline Hill, actress
- Walter Isaacson, writer, journalist, public policy analyst
- Frances Parkinson Keyes, writer
- Elmore Leonard, author
- Michael Lewis, writer
- Renee Peck, writer
- Achille Peretti, artist
- Paul E. Poincy, artist
- Matthew Randazzo V, writer
- Anne Rice, writer of vampire tales and other Gothic fiction
- Christopher Rice, author
- Stan Rice, poet
- George Rodrigue, artist
- John T. Scott, artist and sculptor
- John Kennedy Toole, writer of A Confederacy of Dunces
- Lucille Western, actress
- Tennessee Williams, Playwright
Business and economics [edit]
- Isaac Delgado, businessman and philanthropist. Benefactor of Delgado Community College.
- William Edenborn (1848–1926), industrialist and inventor, owner of Louisiana Railway and Navigation Company, which linked Shreveport with New Orleans[1]
- Daniel Henry Holmes, 19th century businessman
- John McDonogh (1779–1850), shipping, land speculation (world's largest prive landholder ca. 1850), philanthropist and namesake of many New Orleans schools
- Alexander Milne, 18th century businessman and entrepreneur
- Chris Owens; Burlesque performer and entrepreneur
- Oliver Pollock, merchant, financier of the American Revolutionary War
- Louis J. Roussel, Jr., businessman and political kingmaker
- Clay Shaw, businessman
- Judah Touro, businessman and philanthropist
- Martin de Villamil or Martin Villamil (1783–1843), businessman
- Samuel Zemurray, businessman and philanthropist
Cuisine [edit]
- John Besh, Chef
- Owen Brennan, Restaurateur
- Leah Chase, Chef
- Al Copeland, restaurateur, Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits and Copeland's restaurants
- Ruth Fertel, restaurateur, Ruth's Chris Steak House
- Lafcadio Hearn, author
- Kid Chef Eliana, Cookbook author; radio show host; personality
- Emeril Lagasse, chef; restaurateur; television personality
- Austin Leslie, Chef
- Paul Prudhomme, Chef
- Axeman of New Orleans, mysterious mass murderer
- Sylvestro Carolla, mafia boss
- Antoinette Frank, former New Orleans Police Officer, convicted murderer
- Francis Grevemberg, crime-busting superintendent of the Louisiana state police, 1952–1955
- Ivory Harris, drug trafficker and weapons trafficker
- Jean Lafitte, pirate
- Pierre Lafitte, pirate and brother of Jean Lafitte
- Delphine LaLaurie, socialite and sadist
- Captain Bill McDonald, legendary Texas Ranger, attended Soule Commercial College in New Orleans in the early 1870s.
- Carlos Marcello, businessman and mafia boss
- Lee Harvey Oswald, presidential assassin
- Ronald A. Williams II, murdered New Orleans Police Officer
Film and television [edit]
- Bryan Batt, actor
- Kitty Carlisle, entertainer
- Paul Carr, actor
- John Carroll, actor and singer
- Patricia Clarkson, actor
- Marshall Colt, psychologist and former actor
- Ellen DeGeneres comedienne, talk show host
- Vance DeGeneres, actor and screenwriter
- Raquel "Rocsi" Diaz, television host and personality on BET's 106 and Park
- John Goodman, actor
- Dwight Henry, actor
- Gloria Henry, actress born in New Orleans in 1923
- Cheryl Holdridge, actress and Mouseketeer
- Indigo (actress), 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
- Adah Isaacs Menken, actress
- Taylor Miller, actress
- Garrett Morris, comedian
- Arthel Neville, journalist
- Chris Owens, burlesque performer and entrepreneur
- Pauley Perrette, actress
- Tyler Perry, actor, director
- Wendell Pierce, actor, Detective Bunk Moreland in The Wire
- Godfrey Reggio, experimental filmmaker/documentarian (Qatsi trilogy)
- Sydney Shields stage actress
- Richard Simmons, entertainer
- Ian Somerhalder, actor
- Ben Turpin, silent film comedian
- Ray Walston, actor
- Carl Weathers, actor, football player
- Walter Williams, Creator of Mr. Bill
- Reese Witherspoon, actress
- Allison Harvard, the runner-up of twelfth cycle of America's Next Top Model
Journalism [edit]
- James Carville, Democratic Party political consultant and pundit
- Buddy Diliberto, sports journalist
- Dorothy Dix, early female journalist
- Charles L. "Pie" Dufour, newspaper columnist and historian
- Hap Glaudi, television sportscaster
- Bryant Gumbel, television anchor
- Greg Gumbel, television sportscaster
- Jim Henderson, television sportscaster
- Taylor Henry, investigative reporter
- Hoda Kotb, television anchor
- Mel Leavitt, television journalist and historian
- Angus Lind, newspaper journalist
- Wayne Mack, television sportscaster
- Mary Matalin, Republican Party political consultant
- Bill Monroe, NBC television journalist
- Cokie Roberts, television journalist and commentator for National Public Radio
- Nash Roberts, television meterorologist
- Garland Robinette, investigative journalist
- Howard K. Smith, television anchorman
- Blaine Stewart, television journalist
Law, politics, and military [edit]
- Reverend Avery Alexander, civil rights leader, state legislator
- John B. Babcock, Medal of Honor recipient
- Algernon Sidney Badger, government official during and after Reconstruction[2]
- Ben Bagert, attorney and member of both houses of Louisiana State Legislature
- P.G.T. Beauregard, general & inventor
- Kirt Bennett, political activist, founder of Young Leaders Academy in Baton Rouge
- Hale Boggs, former U.S. Representative
- Lindy Boggs, former U.S. Representative and retired U.S. Ambassador to The Vatican
- Tom Boggs, Washington, D.C. lobbyist
- Stephen Bradberry, community organizer, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award laureate
- Peppi Bruneau, attorney and former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
- Benjamin F. Butler, administrator of Union occupied New Orleans during the Civil War
- Pascal F. Calogero, Jr., Chief Justice Louisiana Supreme Court
- James Carville, political consultant, political science professor
- Walter L. Cohen, politician and businessman
- Harry Connick, Sr., district attorney, father of singer Harry Connick, Jr.
- Rob Couhig, businessman, attorney, politician
- Charles E. Dunbar, attorney, civil service reformer
- Frank Burton Ellis, attorney, politician, federal judge
- Albert Estopinal, former U.S. representative and member of both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature
- C.B. Forgotston, attorney, political activist, state government watchdog
- Garey Forster, radio host, former state representative and state labor secretary
- Jim Garrison, district attorney
- John Grenier, Birmingham lawyher and Alabama Republican Party figure, born in New Orleans in 1930
- Walker Hines, state representative
- Gerry E. Hinton, state senator from St. Tammany Parish
- Jean Joseph Amable Humbert, army general, subordinate to Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans
- Nita Rusich Hutter, college administrator and politician
- Moon Landrieu, judge and politician
- Mary Landrieu, state representative, state treasurer, U.S. senator
- Mitch Landrieu, state representative, lieutenant governor, mayor of New Orleans
- Hank Lauricella, former professional football player; state senator from Jefferson Parish, 1972–1996
- Samuel Lawrason, attorney, authored the Lawrason Act on municipal government.[3]
- Art Lentini, Metairie attorney who succeeded Hank Lauricella in the state senate (1996–2008)
- Bob Livingston, Republican former U.S. Representative for 1st congressional district
- Lt. Gen. James Longstreet, a Confederate general
- Nicholas Lorusso, Republican state representative from Orleans Parish since 2007
- Virginia Martinez, Republican activist, treasurer of the 1980 and 1984 Republican National Conventions
- Danny Martiny, state senator from Jefferson Parish, was born in New Orleans.
- P.J. Mills, politician, businessman
- 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
- Alejandro O'Reilly, governor of Louisiana, known as "Bloody O'Reilly"
- P.B.S. Pinchback, politician
- Andrew C. Querbes, Sr., banker and mayor of Shreveport from 1902 to 1906
- Max Rafferty, educator author and columnist, California politician, born in New Orleans in 1917
- Beth Rickey, political activist who opposed David Duke
- Cokie Roberts, journalist, daughter of Hale and Lindy Boggs
- Tom Schedler, former state senator from St. Tammany Parish and current Louisiana secretary of state
- Ed Scogin, former state representative from St. Tammany Parish
- Pat Screen, Louisiana State University quarterback, lawyer, and Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish
- Benjamin Sisko, Starfleet commander
- A.P. Tureaud, attorney
- José de Villamil (or José Villamil), father of the independence of Ecuador
- Roger F. Villere, Jr., politician
- David Vitter, U.S. Senator
- John Volz, late U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana
- Edward Douglass White, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court
- Robert Wilkie, National Security Assistant to the President
- John Minor Wisdom, judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
- Andrew Young, politician
Math, science, and invention [edit]
- Ruth Benerito, inventor of wrinkle-free cotton
- Alfred H. Clifford, mathematician
- Jan Hamer, organic chemist
- Benjamin Morgan Harrod, civil engineer
- Andrew Higgins, ship builder & inventor
- Emile Lamm, inventor
- Abraham Louis Levin, physician and inventor of the Levin Tube
- Levi Spear Parmley, inventor of dental floss
- Mark Plotkin, ethnobotanist
- Norbert Rilleaux, inventor, engineer
- A. Baldwin Wood, inventor & engineer
- Phil Anselmo, musician
- Louis Armstrong, musician & entertainer
- Baby Boy Da Prince, rapper
- Achille Baquet, musician
- George Baquet, musician
- Paul Barbarin, musician and composer
- Dave Bartholomew, musician, composer, promoter
- Sidney Bechet, musician
- Better Than Ezra, rock group
- Birdman aka Baby, rapper
- Terence Blanchard, musician & composer
- B.G., rapper
- Buddy Bolden, musician, early jazz figure
- James Booker, musician
- Jimmy Bower, guitarist, drummer
- George Brunis, jazz trombonist
- Collie Buddz, Reggae/Dancehall artist
- Alton "Big Al" Carson, blues singer
- C-Murder, rapper
- Alex Chilton, songwriter, guitarist, music producer, lead singer of the Box Tops and Big Star
- Choppa, rapper
- Jon Cleary, funk and R&B musician
- Stooges Brass Band, New Orleans funk Brass Band
- Lee Collins, jazz trumpeter
- Harry Connick, Jr., musician and entertainer
- Barry Cowsill, musician
- Cowboy Mouth, band
- Curren$y, rapper
- DJ Khaled, DJ
- Moses Hogan Musician, Composer
- Piggy D. Bassist
- Edmond Dede musician, composer
- Johnny Dodds, jazz clarinetist and saxophonist
- Fats Domino, musician
- Lee Dorsey, singer
- Tom Drummond, bassist of Better Than Ezra
- Dr. John, musician
- Frankie Dusen, jazz trombonist
- Champion Jack Dupree, pianist/singer
- Jay Electronica, rapper & producer
- Frankie Ford, singer, entertainer
- Pete Fountain, musician
- George Girard, musician
- Victor Goines, jazz musician, dean of jazz at the Juilliard School
- Louis Moreau Gottschalk, pianist & composer
- Kevin Griffin, musician, lead singer for Better than Ezra
- Donald Harrison, musician
- Clarence "Frogman" Henry, singer & musician
- Al Hirt, musician
- Noah Howard, jazz musician
- Mahalia Jackson, gospel singer
- Little Sonny Jones, blues singer
- N.O. Joe, music producer, musician
- Juvenile, rapper
- Ernie K-Doe, singer, "Emperor of the Universe"
- Freddie Keppard, jazz cornetist
- Earl King, musician
- Papa Jack Laine, bandleader
- Nick LaRocca, early jazz figure
- Mack Maine rapper
- Magnolia Shorty, Slain New Orleans Bounce Artist
- Lil Romeo, rapper
- Lloyd, singer
- Mac (rapper), rapper
- Magic (rapper), rapper
- Mannie Fresh, rapper, producer, disc jockey
- Master P, Rapper, business man, & mogul
- Ivan Neville, Phunk, R&B,
- Partners-N-Crime, rap duo
- Turk, rapper
- Professor Longhair, musician
- Wingy Manone, jazz trumpeter, and singer
- Branford Marsalis, musician
- Ellis Marsalis, Jr., musician & educator
- Ellis Marsalis, Sr., musician & advocate
- Fernando del Valle, operatic tenor
- Jason Marsalis, musician
- Wynton Marsalis, musician
- Irvin Mayfield, musician
- The Meters, musicians and singers
- Lizzie Miles, singer
- Charlie Miller, jazz musician
- Deacon John Moore, musician & bandleader
- Jelly Roll Morton, musician & composer, early jazz figure
- Mr. Quintron, organist
- Mystikal, rapper
- The Neville Brothers, musicians & singers
- Randy Newman, musician
- Joe "King" Oliver, musician
- Kid Ory, musician
- Nicholas Payton, musician
- Earl Palmer, musician
- Marguerite Piazza, operatic soprano
- George Porter, Jr., musician
- Louis Prima, musician & entertainer
- The Radiators, band
- Mac Rebennack "Dr. John"
- Rebirth Brass Band, band
- Trent Reznor, musician, producer
- Dawn Richard, former member of Danity Kane and Diddy-Dirty Money
- Jason Ross, Seven Mary Three frontman
- Kermit Ruffins, jazz trumpeter, singer and composer
- Trombone Shorty, Trombone player
- Silkk the Shocker, rapper
- Skull Duggery, rapper
- Soulja Slim, rapper
- Supagroup, rock band
- Irma Thomas, rhythm and blues singer, "Soul Queen of New Orleans"
- Allen Toussaint, musician, composer, record producer
- Young V, rapper
- Linnzi Zaorski
- Zebra, band
- Jimmy Palao, musician, bandleader
- Lil Wayne, rapper
- Frank Ocean, Singer
Sports [edit]
- Bo McCalebb, Macedonian basketball player who plays for Montepaschi Siena
- Blair Barbier, former baseball player for the Chicago Cubs organization
- Tom Benson, current owner of the New Orleans Saints
- Will Clark, former Major League Baseball star, Infielder
- Ernie Danjean, former Green Bay Packers linebacker
- David Dixon, professional sports advocate for the New Orleans Saints, the Louisiana Superdome, USFL, World Championship Tennis
- Scott Dohmann, pitcher currently a free agent
- Corey Dowden, former National Football League defensive back
- Clyde Drexler, former NBA star, Member of the Basketball Hall of Fame
- John Fourcade, former National Football League quarterback
- Marshall Faulk, football star (St. Louis Rams)
- Steve Foley, former defensive back for the Denver Broncos
- Matt Forté, featured running back for the Chicago Bears professional football team
- Nolan Franz, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver
- Eddie Garcia, former Green Bay Packers placekicker
- Danny Granger, forward for the Indiana Pacers
- Chris Henry, former National Football League wide receiver
- Chris Horton, Safety, Washington Redskins
- Tory James, cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals
- Avery Johnson, former National Basketball Association player, former coach of the Dallas Mavericks
- Shaun King, former NFL quarterback
- Kerry Kittles, former National Basketball Association player for the New Jersey Nets
- Michael Lewis, former New Orleans Saints Wide receiver, Kick Returner
- Rydell Malancon, former National Football League linebacker
- Archie Manning, former New Orleans Saints quarterback, father of Peyton and Eli
- Eli Manning, New York Giants quarterback
- Peyton Manning, former Indianapolis Colts quarterback
- Pete Maravich, long-time player for the New Orleans Jazz professional basketball team
- Sammy Martin, former New England Patriots running back
- Sylvester McGrew, former Green Bay Packers defensive end
- Greg Monroe, college basketball player for Georgetown University
- Paul Morphy, world chess champion
- Eddie Murray, prolific NFL placekicker
- Mel Ott, Major League Baseball hall of famer
- Micah Owings, MLB pitcher
- Audrey Patterson, first African-American woman to win an Olympicmedal
- Nate Singleton, former wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers
- Neil Smith, former Defensive End Kansas City Chiefs
- Kordell Stewart, quarterback
- Ron Swoboda, former New York Mets outfielder
- Ike Taylor, Cornerback, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Taryn Terrell, WWE Diva, known as Tiffany on WWE's Smackdown! brand
- Mike Wallace- wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Ron Washington, manager of the Texas Rangers
- Reggie Wayne, wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts
- Aeneas Williams, former corner back for the St. Louis Rams
- John "Hot Rod" Williams, long-time professional basketball player
- Ruby Bridges, commemorated for her role, as a child, in integration of the New Orleans Public School System
- Betty DeGeneres, LGBT-rights activist and spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign.
- Emmitt Douglas, former president of the Louisiana NAACP, lived in New Orleans from 1942 to 1946.[4]
- David Ferrie, pilot investigated in the assassination of President Kennedy
- Eugene Grace, American Geospatial Analyst 2003-2005 University of New Orleans- Associated Press All American 2004-2005
- Margaret Haughery, 19th-century philanthropist
- Francis L. Hawks, Reverend
- Marie Alice Heine, first American Princess of Monaco
- Blaine Kern, leading designer and builder of parade floats
- Jean Alexandre LeMat, inventor
- Marie Laveau, "Voodoo Queen"
- Angélica María, Mexican entertainer "La Novia de Mexico"
- Sally Miller: The Lost German Slave Girl
- Allison 'Tootie' Montana, Mardi Gras Indian, "chief of chiefs"
- Paul Morphy, chess master, unofficial world chess champion
- Babe Stovall, entertainer, "Mr. Bojangles"
- Paul Tulane, nineteenth century benefactor of Tulane University of New Orleans
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ "Greggory E. Davies, William Edenborn of Winn Parish, La.". files.usgwarchives.org. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ "Badger, Algernon Sidney". Louisiana Historical Association, A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
- ^ "Lawrason, Samuel McCutcheon". Louisiana Historical Association, A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography (lahistory.com). Retrieved December 27, 2010.
- ^ "Douglas, Emmitt Jame". A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography (lahistory.org). Retrieved December 16, 2010.
