#1Famous people · Greenville
48 famous people were born in Greenville, more of them musicians than in most towns
Jim Henson, the American puppeteer, is the most widely known, written about in 58 languages. The American singer Mary Wilson ranks second, ahead of Finn Carter. Between 1920 and 1969, 31 were born, the most of any period. The list is still growing: 7 were born since 1970.
Born here
48
notable people
Best known
Jim Henson
in 58 Wikipedia languages
First
1860
LeRoy Percy
Youngest
1983
Tavares Washington
Most common field
Sports
22 people
What stands out about Greenville’s famous people
Known worldwideJim Henson is written about in 58 languages.A town of musicians5 of the 48 people born here are musicians, 1.9× the usual share.Still making namesSince 1950, 25 of them have been born here, the latest in 1983.48 notable peopleWith 48 notable people, the list is longer than most towns’.
★ What stands out · The best known
Born in Greenville
Jim Henson leads with articles in 58 languages, ahead of Mary Wilson (28) and Finn Carter (17).
#1
#2
#3Known for
What Greenville is known for
Musicians stand out most, at 1.9 times the usual share.
The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.
Through the years
When Greenville’s famous people were born
The 1940s saw the most births of any decade: 9.
SportsPolitics & LawFilm, TV & StageWriting & ArtsMusicFaith
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Greenville
45 more, from 1860 to 1983.
Frank White
born 1950American professional baseball player, second baseman and local politician
SportsWikipedia ↗
William Attaway
1911–1986American novelist, short story writer, essayist, songwriter, playwright, screenwriter
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Tavares Washington
1983–2024American football player, offensive lineman, guard, tackle
SportsWikipedia ↗
William Colbert Keady
1913–1989United States politician, judge, federal jurist
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Vivian Brown
American television meteorologist who worked for The Weather Channel
Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
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From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Greenville and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.
Photo credits (8)
- Jim Henson: Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Mary Wilson: Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Finn Carter: Miguel Discart & Kiri Karma, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tyrone Davis: Dakar Records, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Frank White: White House Photographers, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Arthur Blessitt: Marcel Antonisse / Anefo;, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Eden Brent: Lilly_M, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- LeRoy Percy: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons