List of people from Louisiana
People from the state of Louisiana who have achieved fame or note include:
A
- Trace Adkins, singer & songwriter
- Louis Armstrong, (1901-1971), musician & entertainer
- Evelyn Ashford, (born 1957), Olympic champion
- The Axeman, serial killer
B
- Vernel Bagneris, writer, director, actor, dancer
- Danny Barker, singer, songwriter, musician, writer
- Dave Bartholomew, musician, composer, promoter
- P.G.T. Beauregard, (1818-1893), general & inventor
- Geoffrey Beene, (1927-2004), fashion designer
- Sidney Bechet, (1897-1959), musician
- E. J. Bellocq, (1873-1949), photographer
- Judah P. Benjamin, (1811–1884), senator, Confederate cabinet member, barrister
- B.G., musician
- Bienville, (Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne), (1680–1767), French colonial governor, founder of New Orleans
- Terrence Blanchard, musician & composer
- Kathleen Blanco, (born 1942), governor
- Lindy Boggs, (born 1916), congresswoman, ambassador
- Buddy Bolden (1877-1930), musician, "inventor of jazz"(?)
- James Booker, musician
- Terry Bradshaw, (born 1948), Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
- John Breaux, (born 1944), senator
- Poppy Z. Brite, writer
- Overton Brooks (1897-1961), politician
- Marc Broussard, (born 1982), singer, songwriter
- Tom Brown (1888-1958), musician
- Wellman Braud,(1891-1966), musician
- George Brunies (1902-1974), musician
- George Washington Cable, (died 1925), writer
C
- Billy Cannon, (born 1937), LSU Heisman Trophy winner
- Truman Capote, (1924-1984), writer
- Kitty Carlisle, (born 1910), entertainer
- Doug Kershaw, (born 1936), musician, singer
- Sammy Kershaw , (born 1958), musician, singer
- James Carville, political consultant
- Kate Chopin, (1850?-1904]], author
- William C. C. Claiborne, (1775-1817), 1st U.S. governor of Louisiana
- Clifton Chenier, Zydeco musician
- Claire Chennault, (1893-1958), aviator, general
- Van Cliburn, (born 1934), pianist
- Harry Connick, Jr., (born 1967), musician and entertainer
- Harry Connick Sr., district attorney, singer
- Nick Caloway, (born 1984), socialite, graphics mogul
D
- Jimmie Davis, (1899-2000), singer, governor
- Michael E. DeBakey, (born 1908), pioneering cardiovascular surgeon
- Edmond Dede musician, composer
- Ellen DeGeneres, (born 1958), actress, comedian
- Jake Delhomme, (born 1975), Carolina Panthers quarterback
- Fats Domino, musician
- Donna Douglas, television star of The Beverly Hillbillies
- Clyde Drexler (born 1962), former NBA star, Basketball Hall of Famer
- Mark Duper, (born 1959), Miami Dolphins wide receiver
- Champion Jack Dupree boxer & musician
- JaJuan Dawson, football
- David Dellucci, (1973-), Texas Rangers Outfielder
- Warrick Dunn, (1975-), Atlanta Falcons Running Back
E
- Edwin Edwards, (born 1927), governor
F
- Marshall Faulk, (1973-), St. Louis Rams running back
- Mary Alice Fontenot, (1910-2003), author
- Faith Ford, actress
- Frankie Ford, (1939-), singer
- Mike Foster, (1930-), governor
- Pete Fountain, (1930-), musician
- Mannie Fresh, producer, musician
G
- Ernest Gaines, (born 1933), author
- Bernardo de Gálvez, (1746–1786), Spanish governor, general
- Jim Garrison, (1921-1992), district attorney
- Mickey Gilley, (born 1936), musician, singer, nightclub owner
- George Girard, (1930-1957), musician
- Louis Moreau Gottschalk, pianist & composer
- Shirley Ann Grau, writer
- Ron Guidry, (born 1950), New York Yankees pitcher
- Bryant Gumbel, (born 1948), television anchor, sportscaster
- Greg Gumbel, (born 1946), sportscaster
- Buddy Guy, blues musician
H
- John Hampson, inventor of "venetian" blinds
- Winsor Harmon, actor, The Bold and the Beautiful
- Felix Edward Hébert, (1901-1979), journalist, politician
- Paul M. Hebert, (1907-1977) judge, LSU Law School dean
- Marie Alice Heine, (1858-1925), first American Princess of Monaco
- Lillian Hellman, (1905–1984), playwright
- Clarence "Frogman" Henry, singer & musician
- Lillian Hellman, (1905-1984), writer
- George Herriman, (1880-1944), Krazy Kat cartoonist
- Andrew Higgins, (1886-1952), shipbuilder, industrialist
- Al Hirt, (1922-1999), musician
- Russel L. Honoré, (born 1947), general
- Clementine Hunter, (1886?-1988), folk artist
- Jason Husser, young college graduate, Louisiana political hopeful, social scientist
I
- Iberville (Pierre Le Moyne), (1661-1706), founder of the colony of Louisiana
J
- Mahalia Jackson, (1911-1972), gospel singer
- Bobby Jindal, (born 1971), politician
- Bill Johnson, (1872-1972), musician
- J. Bennett Johnston, (born 1932), U.S. Senator
- Bert Jones, (born 1951), LSU & Baltimore Colts quarterback
- Juvenile, musician
K
- Ernie K-Doe, singer, "Emperor of the Universe"
- Earl King, (1934-2003), musician
L
- Stalebread Lacombe, self-proclaimed "inventor of jazz"
- Ed Lafitte,(1886-1971), baseball player
- Jean Lafitte,(1780-1826?), blacksmith, pirate
- Papa Jack Laine (1873-1966), bandleader
- Dorothy Lamour (1914-1996), actress
- Mary Landrieu (born 1955), U.S. senator
- Mitch Landrieu, (born 1960), politician
- Moon Landrieu (born 1930), judge and politician, father of Mary
- Ali Landry, (born 1973), actress, model, Miss USA 1996
- Nick LaRocca (1889-1961), self-proclaimed "inventor of jazz"
- Josef Delarose Lascaux, inventor of cotton candy (candy floss)
- John Larroquette (born 1947), actor
- Marie Laveau (1794?-1881?), Voodoo Queen
- Emeril Lagasse (born 1959), Chef
- Leadbelly (Huddie William Ledbetter),(1885–1949), musician
- John A. Lejeune, (1867-19420, Marine Corps general
- Elmore Leonard (born 1925), author
- Jerry Lee Lewis (born 1935), musician
- Earl Long (1895-1960), governor, brother of Huey
- Huey P. Long (1893-1935), kingfish
- Russell B. Long (1918-2003), Senator, son of Huey
- Professor Longhair, musician
M
- Magic Sam, Blues pioneer
- Karl Malone (born 1963), former basketball great, mainly with the Utah Jazz
- Eli Manning (born 1982), New York Giants quarterback, brother of Peyton
- Peyton Manning (born 1976), Indianapolis Colts quarterback
- Pete Maravich (1947-1988), LSU & NBA basketball Hall of Famer
- Paul Mares (1900-1949), musician
- Branford Marsalis (born 1960), musician
- Ellis Marsalis, musician & educator, father of Branford and Wynton
- Wynton Marsalis (born 1961), musician
- Tim McGraw (born 1967), musician
- Huey Meaux, record producer
- DL Menard, Cajun musician Erath, LA
- Adah Isaacs Menken, actress
- Lizzy Miles (1895-1963), singer
- Percy "Master P" Miller (born 1967), musician, actor, producer, athlete
- Alexander Milne (1742-1838), businessman, slave-trader and philanthropist
- Little Brother Montgomery (c. 1906-1985), American musician
- Cleo Moore (1923-1973), 1950's movie star
- Ernest Nathan Morial, (known as Dutch), (1929 - 1989), judge, mayor of New Orleans
- Jelly Roll Morton (1890-1941), musician & composer, self-proclaimed "inventor of jazz"
- Morgus The Magnificent
- Paul Morphy (1837-1884), world chess champion
- Garrett Morris (born 1937), comedian
N
- Ray Nagin, (born 1956), mayor of New Orleans
- The Neville Brothers, musicians & singers
- Josephine Louise Newcomb, (1816–1901), philanthropist (Newcomb College)
- Randy Newman, (born 1943) songwriter, singer, pianist
- Francis T. Nicholls, (1834-1912), governor
- Alcide Nunez, (1884-1934), musician
O
- Joe "King" Oliver, (1885-1938), jazz musician
- Dr. Alton Ochsner, surgeon & medical researcher
- Jerry Wayne Odom Jr. (born 1978), Computer_Programmer and Ford Mustang restorer.
- Lee Harvey Oswald, (1939-1963), alleged assassin
- John H. Overton, (1875-1948), Senator
- Mel Ott, (1909-1958), baseball player
P
- Carly Patterson (born 1988), Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics
- Nicholas Payton, musician
- Marguerite Piazza, operatic soprano
- P.B.S. Pinchback, politician, governor
- Leonidas Polk, (1806–1864), Confederate general, Episcopal bishop, founder of Sewanee, The University of the South
- Julien de Lallande Poydras, (1740-1824), poet, politician
- Helen Prejean, (born 1938), activist
- Louis Prima, (1910-1978), musician & entertainer
- Professor Longhair, (Henry Roeland Byrd), (1918-1980), musician
- Paul Prudhomme, (born 1940), chef
Q
R
- Henry Ragas (1897-1919) early jazz pianist
- Mac Rebbenack "Dr. John"
- Godfrey Reggio, (born 1940), film maker
- Anne Rice, (born 1941), writer
- Teddy Riley, jazz trumpeter
- Norbert Rilleaux, (1806-1894), inventor, engineer
- Cokie Roberts, (born 1943), journalist, author
- George Rodrigue, blue dog artist
- Buddy Roemer, (born 1943), governor
- Leon Roppolo, (1902-1943), musician
S
- Rhonda Shear, beauty queen, television host
- Kenny Wayne Shepherd, (1977-), musician
- Henry Miller Shreve, (1785-1854), inventor, steamboat captain
- Rockin' Sidney, Zydeco star
- Richard Simmons, (1948-), entertainer
- Fulwar Skipwith, (1765-1839), diplomat, politician
- John Slidell, (1793-1871), senator, Confederate diplomat
- Soulja Slim , (1977-2003), musician
- Howard K. Smith, (1914-2002), journalist, reporter
- Floyd Soileau, record producer
- Britney Spears, (1981-), pop singer
- Freddie Spencer, (1961-), world motorcycle champion
- Jimmy Swaggart, evangelist
- Stromile Swift, NBA player
- Kordell Stewart, NFL Quarterback
- Patrick Surtain, NFL Cornerback
- Hal Sutton, PGA Golfer
T
- Richard Taylor (general) , (1826–1879), Confederate general, son of President Zachary Taylor
- Zachary Taylor, (1784–1850), 12th President of the United States
- Keith Thibodeaux, (born 1950), actor
- George H. Tichenor, (1837 - 1923), surgeon, pioneer in the use of antiseptics
- David Toms, (born 1967), golfer
- John Kennedy Toole, (1937-1969), writer
- Allen Toussaint, musician, composer, record producer
- Paul Tulane, (1801–1887), businessman, philanthropist
- Ben Turpin, (c. 1872-1940), silent film comedian
U
V
- Jacques Villeré, (1760-1830), Creole governor, general
- David Vitter, (born 1961), U.S. senator
W
- Madame C. J. Walker (Sarah Breedlove), (1867–1919), business tycoon
- Joseph Marshall Walker (1786-1856) governor
- Lil' Wayne, musician
- Ray Walston, (1914-2001), actor
- Rebecca Wells actress, playwright, author
- Edward Douglass White, (1845–1921), Supreme Court Chief Justice
- Tony Joe White, (1943-) singer, songwriter, musician
- Brian "Baby" Williams, record executive, producer, entrepreneur, and musician
- Hank Williams, Jr, (1949-) singer
- A. Baldwin Wood, (1879-1956), inventor & engineer
- Susan Ward, (1976-), actress/model
Y
- Andrew Young, (1932-), politician & statesman
- Lester Young, (1909-1959), musician
Z
- Samuel Zemurray, (1878?-1961), businessman, philanthropist
- Buckwheat Zydeco (Stanley Dural, Jr.), (born 1947), musician
- Travis Zito (born 1992) , musician, singer