North Carolina is home to several famous people. Here is a little bit of information about some of the famous people from North Carolina from the sports, religious, political, and entertainment world who were all born in the state of North Carolina. North Carolina is proud to claim these individuals as native North Carolinians. They may have started out as babies in North Carolina but they went on to achieve stardom and success in all walks of life. From Hollywood to the White House, on stage or on television,  we have some famous people from North Carolina who make us proud.

List Of Famous People From North Carolina

Kellie Pickler – Born in 1986 in Albemarle, NC. Kellie is now a popular country music artist. She was a contestant on American Idol where she finished in sixth place.

Jill Wagner – actress and television personality known for several Hallmark movies and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. She states she is from Wallburg, North Carolina. Attended North Carolina State University graduating in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in business management. After college, she moved to California. Jill can be seen in Lioness’ soon by “Yellowstone’ Creator Taylor Sheridan on Paramount +

Lauren E. Banks – Born in Durham, NC, and went to Hillside High School. Her interest in drama started while in high school. She then went to Howard University and the Yale School of Drama. She was in City On A Hill, in the Starz limited series Gaslit, Maniac for Netflix and Dietland at AMC. In 2023, she was cast in Taylor Sheridan’s western series Lawmen: Bass Reeves as Jennie, the wife of US Depty Bass Reeves.

Ariana DeBose – born in Wilmington, NC and grew up in Raleigh, NC. An actress, dancer, and singer. She competed in the sixth season of So You Think You Can Dance in 2009. Best known for playing The Bullet in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical Hamilton on Broadway. She also was Anita in Steven Spielberg’s musical West Side Story in 2021. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance. The voice of Asha in the Disney movie Wish 2023.

Debbi Morgon – Deborah Ann Morgan was born in Dunn, NC. She is a television and movie actress. Best known for her roles in All My Children, The Bold and the Beautiful, The Young and the Restless, Coach Carter, Fantasy Island (2021), The Love Boat, Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart, and many more.

Jamie Pressly – born in Kinston, NC. Moved to California in 1992. Jamie played Joy Turner, the ex-wife of a small-time thief, in the NBC sitcom My Name Is Earl. Pressly portrayed Jill Kendall in the CBS sitcom Mom.

Mary Elisabeth Winstead – Born in 1984 in Rocky Mount, NC. She is a television and movie actress and singer. Best known for in Live Free or Die Hard and again in A Good Day to Die Hard. She was also in the series The Returned, the comedy series BrainDead, the period medical drama series Mercy Street, and the series Fargo in 2017.

Nick Searcy – born in Cullowhee, NC. Graduated from Cullowhee High School. Attended the North Carolina School of the Arts and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is best known for playing Chief Deputy United States Marshal Art Mullen on FX’s Justified. He appeared in Days of Thunder, Castaway, The West Wing, and many other TV shows and films.

Dolley Madison – Born in a Quaker Settlement of New Garden, in Guilford County NC. Dolley Madison was the wife of James Madison, the President of the United States from 1809 to 1817.

Scotty McCreary – Born in 1993. Scott Cooke “Scotty” McCreery is a popular country music singer. He won on American Idol in 2011. He was born in Garner, North Carolina.

Scotty McCreery from Garner

Edward Snowden – Born in 1983 in Elizabeth City, NC. Snowden is the man who leaked classified documents and information from the National Security Agency (NSA). He made public to media outlets thousands of classified documents that he had gotten when he worked as an NSA contractor. He currently lives in Russia after fleeing the United States.

Ainsley Seiger – born in Raleigh and grew up in Cary. She attended Apex High School, and recently graduated from NC School of the Arts. She just landed as the co-star in a new “Law & Order” franchise on NBC. Her family still lives in Raleigh. The NC native can be seen on Law & Order: Organized Crime. She plays Detective Jet Slootmaekers. “Law and Order: Organized Crime” premiered on Thursday, April 1, 2021.

Soupy Sales

Soupy Sales – Born in 1926 in Franklinton, NC in Franklin County. He was born Milton Supman. He later became famous as a comedian, actor, radio, and TV personality, and television host.

Earl Scruggs – Born in 1924 Scruggs was born in Cleveland County, North Carolina. He became a bluegrass musician playing the banjo. He along with Lester Flatt performed “The Ballad of Jed Clampett”, the theme song for The Beverly Hillbillies in the early 1960’s on television. He also made appearances on the show as friends of the Clampetts.

Sugar Ray Leonard – Born in 1956 Sugar Ray Leonard was born in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Clay Aiken – Born in 1978 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Clay Aiken is a singer-songwriter, television personality, actor, author, politician, and activist. He was runner-up on the second season of American Idol in 2003. He is currently running for North Carolina political office.

Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore-Born in 1960 she is a soap star and movie actress and children’s author. Julianne Moore was born at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Her father was a paratrooper in the United States Army

Zach Galifianakis – Born in 1969 Galifianakis was born in Wilkesboro, North Carolina. He is a stand-up comedian and movie actor.

Moms Mabley– Born in 1894. She was born in Brevard, NC. Moms Mabley was a comedian who appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.

Dale Earnhardt – Born in 1951 in Kannapolis, NC. He was a charismatic and driven race car driver and team owner in NASCAR frequently referred to as The Intimidator. He was killed on the last lap of the 2001 NASCAR race the Daytona 500.

Dale Earnhardt

James Polk – born in 1795 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. James Polk became the 11th President of the United States in 1845.

Edward R. Murrow – Born in 1908 at Polecat Creek, near Greensboro, in Guilford County. He became an honored news anchor and journalist. Each year the Edward R. Murrow Award is given to the broadcast news organizations for recognizance of excellence and achievement.

Charles Kuralt – Born in 1934 in Wilmington, NC He was a news anchor and journalist. Appeared on the CBC Evening News in his “On the Road” segments.

Ava Gardner

Ava Gardner– Born in 1922 in the farming community of Smithfield, North Carolina. Became an actress at MGM Studios. Was married to Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw, and Frank Sinatra. Ava Gardner died in London, England but was buried in the Sunset Memorial Park, Smithfield, North Carolina in 1990.

Billy Graham – Born in 1918 he grew up on the family dairy farm near Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a worldwide known Christian evangelist. A Southern Baptist minister who became an advisor to many US Presidents.

Randy Travis – Born in 1959 Randy Bruce Traywick is a country music singer, songwriter, and also an actor. He was born in Marshville, North Carolina.

Aldis Hodge – Aldis Hodge was born in Onslow County, North Carolina. Both parents were in the Marines. His movies include Straight Outta Compton, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, Hidden Figures, and One Night in Miami. TV programs include ER, Friday Night Lights, The Walking Dead, Turn: Washington’s Spies, The Blacklist, and many others.

Andy Griffith – Born in 1926 in Mount Airy, NC. He became an actor, television producer, singer, and writer. He is best remembered for his role as the sheriff of the fictitious town of Mayberry in The Andy Griffith Show.

So many famous people from North Carolina

that we didn’t know about!