#1Famous people · Houston
31 famous people were born in Houston, more of them performers than in most towns
Articles in 91 languages make the American actress and singer Hilary Duff the best known. The largest group, 18, was born between 1920 and 1969. 12 were born in 1970 or later. Howard Hughes, born in 1905, is the earliest name and Davis Cleveland, born in 2002, the latest.
Born here
31
notable people
Best known
Hilary Duff
in 91 Wikipedia languages
First
1905
Howard Hughes
Youngest
2002
Davis Cleveland
Most common field
Film, TV & Stage
19 people
Also called it home
8
notable residents
What stands out about Houston’s famous people
A town of performersAmong the 31 people born here, 19 are performers: 6.5 times the usual share.Known worldwideHilary Duff is written about in 91 languages.Still making namesSince 1950, 22 of them have been born here, the latest in 2002.A chosen home8 more notable people chose to live here, Ted Cruz among them.
★ What stands out · Known for
What Houston is known for
The field furthest above the usual share is performers, at 6.5 times.
The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.
The best known
Born in Houston
Performers take two of the three places.
#1
#2
#3Through the years
When Houston’s famous people were born
The 1960s top the chart, with 6 births in the decade.
Film, TV & StageMusicScience & MedicineSportsMilitaryBusinessPolitics & LawWriting & ArtsNotable
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Houston
28 more, best known first.
Howard Hughes
1905–1976American aviator, engineer, industrialist, and film producer
MilitaryWikipedia ↗
Debbie Allen
born 1950American actress, choreographer, television director, television producer, singer, and dancer
Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
John Gray
born 1951American family therapist, lecturer, and author (Born 1951)
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
A chosen home
Also called Houston home
Born elsewhere, they lived here: 8 in all, led by Ted Cruz.
The town’s pick
Town Square →Who’s the most famous person from Houston?
Pick one and say why. Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Your pick
No picks yet
Be the first to say who Houston’s most famous person is.
Or tell us
Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Of the towns nearby, Pasadena lists the most people: 22.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Houston 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 (19)
- Hilary Duff: Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jennifer Garner: Nan Palmero, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Robert Wilson: Victor R. Ruiz from Arinaga, Canary Islands, Spain, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Patrick Swayze: Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Howard Hughes: Acme Newspictures, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Kenny Rogers: John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alexis Bledel: gdcgraphics, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Dennis Quaid: Toglenn, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- The Undertaker: Pfc. Hilario Martinez, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Candice King: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Michael Dell: mikeandryan, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- James Baker: U.S. Department of State from United States, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Melissa Benoist: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Billy Preston: David Hume Kennerly, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Machine Gun Kelly: Paulien Zomer, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bill Hicks: Bill_Hicks_at_the_Laff_Stop_in_Austin,_Texas,_1991_(2).jpg: Angela Davis (Angela D.) from Austin, TX, USA derivative work: RanZag, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Leon Flach: Robert Stępkowski, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Randy Weber: United States Congress, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Sam Demel: Dru Bloomfield - At Home in Scottsdale (Dru Bloomfield), CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons