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Famous people · Charlotte

Scientists and doctors stand out among the 36 famous people born in Charlotte

Billy Graham, the American Baptist evangelist, is the most widely known, written about in 82 languages. Close behind are Chyler Leigh and Charles Duke. More than half were born since 1970, 20 in all. The earliest on the list is Billy Graham, born in 1918, and the youngest Darby Camp, born in 2007.

#1 best knownBilly GrahamFaith · 1918–2018
+32more
Born here
36
notable people
Best known
Billy Graham
in 82 Wikipedia languages
First
1918
Billy Graham
Youngest
2007
Darby Camp
Most common field
Sports
16 people
Also called it home
5
notable residents

What stands out about Charlotte’s famous people

★ What stands out · The best known

Born in Charlotte

Three names lead: Billy Graham (82 languages), Chyler Leigh (47) and Charles Duke (46).

Billy Graham#1
Faith

Billy Graham

1918–2018

American Baptist evangelist

82 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Chyler Leigh#2
Film, TV & Stage

Chyler Leigh

born 1982

American actress, singer and model

47 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
CD#3
Science & Medicine

Charles Duke

born 1935

American engineer, U.S. Air Force officer, test pilot, and NASA astronaut

46 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Known for

What Charlotte is known for

Compared with the usual town, scientists and doctors are the most over-represented field, at 2.3 times.

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 Charlotte’s famous people were born

More were born in the 1980s than in any other decade: 7.

Mills & railroadsThe American centuryToday190019502000Britt RobertsonDon SchollanderBilly Graham
SportsFilm, TV & StageScience & MedicineWriting & ArtsFaithMilitaryMusicNotable

Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.

Everyone

Everyone else born in Charlotte

The rest number 33, with 16 athletes among them.

Britt Robertson

Britt Robertson

born 1990

American actress

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes

born 1985

American professional wrestler

Charlotte Flair

Charlotte Flair

born 1986

American professional wrestler and actress

SH

Susan J. Helms

born 1958

Lieutenant General in the United States Air Force and NASA astronaut

JC

John Cocke

1925–2002

American computer scientist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Sharon Lawrence

Sharon Lawrence

born 1961

American actress

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
GW

George Christopher Williams

1926–2010

American evolutionary biologist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Jim Rash

Jim Rash

born 1971

American actor, comedian, producer, and Academy Award-winning screenwriter

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Steven M. Greer

Steven M. Greer

born 1955

American ufologist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Anthony Morrow

Anthony Morrow

born 1985

American basketball player

Graham T. Allison

Graham T. Allison

born 1940

American political scientist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
EA

Eben Alexander

born 1953

American neurosurgeon

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
FS

Floyd Simmons

1923–2008

Athletics competitor

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
CG

Charles Gwathmey

1938–2009

American architect

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
CB

Cierra Burdick

born 1993

American basketball player

DC

Darby Camp

born 2007

American actress

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
DB

David Branch

born 1981

American martial artist

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
DJ

DeMarco Johnson

born 1975

American basketball player

A chosen home

Also called Charlotte home

5 notable people born elsewhere made the town home, Chris Paul the best known.

Thomas Sowell

Thomas Sowell

born 1930

American economist, social theorist, political philosopher and author

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
OL

Oksana Lushchevska

born 1982

Ukrainian children's book writer

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
RH

Rielle Hunter

born 1964

American film producer

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
JM

James Meena

born 1951

Music conductor and opera manager

The town’s pick

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Next door

Famous people from the towns next door

Concord leads the towns around it, with 37 names.

From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Charlotte 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 (21)