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Famous people · Wilmington

No town in North Carolina has more famous people than Wilmington: 67

Most widely known is Ariana DeBose, the American actress, with articles in 45 languages. The list has 1.7 times the usual share of soldiers and sailors, 4 in all. 22 were born in 1970 or later. Between 1920 and 1969, 23 were born, the most of any period.

#1 best knownAriana DeBoseFilm, TV & Stage · born 1991
+63more
Born here
67
notable people
Best known
Ariana DeBose
in 45 Wikipedia languages
First
1765
William Francis Strudwick
Youngest
2009
Elle Graham
Most common field
Sports
25 people
Also called it home
4
notable residents

What stands out about Wilmington’s famous people

★ What stands out · The best known

Born in Wilmington

Ranked by languages covered: Ariana DeBose with 45, then Sugar Ray Leonard with 44 and Charlie Daniels with 28.

Ariana DeBose#1
Film, TV & Stage

Ariana DeBose

born 1991

American actress

45 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Sugar Ray Leonard#2
Sports

Sugar Ray Leonard

born 1956

American boxer

44 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Charlie Daniels#3
Music

Charlie Daniels

1936–2020

American singer and musician

28 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Known for

What Wilmington is known for

Wilmington has 1.7× the usual share of soldiers and sailors.

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 Wilmington’s famous people were born

The 1980s saw the most births of any decade: 10.

Colonial daysA new nationMills & railroadsThe American centuryToday175018001850190019502000Lara TrumpSugar Ray LeonardPercy Heath
SportsPolitics & LawFilm, TV & StageWriting & ArtsMusicMilitaryScience & MedicineFaith

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

Everyone

Everyone else born in Wilmington

64 more, from 1765 to 2009.

Lara Trump

Lara Trump

born 1982

American television producer and campaign adviser

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
David Brinkley

David Brinkley

1920–2003

American journalist

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Kristen Dalton

Kristen Dalton

born 1986

American model

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Don Payne

Don Payne

1964–2013

American screenwriter and film producer

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Kadeem Allen

Kadeem Allen

born 1993

American basketball player

Jane Barnell

Jane Barnell

1871–1945

American bearded lady

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Meadowlark Lemon

Meadowlark Lemon

1932–2015

American basketball player

Barbara Guest

Barbara Guest

1920–2006

American writer

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
DB

Derek Brunson

born 1984

American sport wrestler and martial artist

Tamera Young

Tamera Young

born 1986

American basketball player

DW

David Walker

1785–1830

Outspoken African-American abolitionist and anti-slavery activist

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
George Davis

George Davis

1820–1896

American and Confederate politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
LH

Lori Henry

born 1966

Association football player

Myles Borne

Myles Borne

born 1999

American professional wrestler

Sonny Jurgensen

Sonny Jurgensen

1934–2026

American football player

Alton Lennon

Alton Lennon

1906–1986

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
CK

Clarence Kea

born 1959

American basketball player

William W. Loring

William W. Loring

1818–1886

Confederate Army general

John D. Barry

John D. Barry

1839–1867

Confederate Army general

Kenny Gattison

Kenny Gattison

born 1964

American basketball player-coach

Sammy Davis, Sr.

Sammy Davis, Sr.

1900–1988

American dancer

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
James Thorington

James Thorington

1816–1887

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
RT

Robert Robinson Taylor

1868–1942

American architect

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
A chosen home

Also called Wilmington home

Born elsewhere, they lived here: 4 in all, led by Michael Jordan.

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan

born 1963

American basketball player and businessman

Nicholas Pryor

Nicholas Pryor

1935–2024

American actor

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
ME

Minnie Evans

1892–1987

African American artist

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
JB

Julia Boseman

born 1966

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
The town’s pick

Who’s the most famous person from Wilmington?

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From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Wilmington 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 (38)