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Hometown heroes

Famous people from Newport News

48 actors, athletes, artists, scientists and leaders who were born in Newport News.

See everyoneNewport News history
  1. Ella Fitzgerald

    Ella Fitzgerald

    1917–1996

    American jazz singer.

    Wikipedia ↗
  2. William Styron

    William Styron

    1925–2006

    American novelist and essayist.

    Wikipedia ↗
  3. Pearl Bailey

    Pearl Bailey

    1918–1990

    American actress and singer.

    Wikipedia ↗
  4. Gabby Douglas

    Gabby Douglas

    Born 1995

    American gymnast.

    Wikipedia ↗
  5. Frankie Faison

    Frankie Faison

    Born 1949

    American actor.

    Wikipedia ↗
  6. Sonja Sohn

    Sonja Sohn

    Born 1964

    American actress, activist (b. 1964).

    Wikipedia ↗
  7. Edmund M. Clarke

    Edmund M. Clarke

    1945–2020

    American computer scientist.

    Wikipedia ↗
  8. Richard Kelly

    Richard Kelly

    Born 1975

    American film director and writer.

    Wikipedia ↗
  9. Michael Vick

    Michael Vick

    Born 1980

    American football player (born 1980).

    Wikipedia ↗
  10. Hazel R. O'Leary

    Hazel R. O'Leary

    Born 1937

    Politician, lawyer.

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  11. John Van Ryn

    John Van Ryn

    1906–1999

    US tennis player.

    Wikipedia ↗

  12. Steve Riddick

    Born 1951

    American sprinter.

    Wikipedia ↗
  13. David Walters

    David Walters

    Born 1987

    American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, world champion, former world record-holder.

    Wikipedia ↗
  14. J. Hillis Miller

    J. Hillis Miller

    1928–2021

    American literary critic, university professor.

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  15. Mark Gordon

    Born 1956

    American television director and producer.

    Wikipedia ↗
  16. David Hornsby

    David Hornsby

    Born 1975

    American actor.

    Wikipedia ↗

  17. Christine Marshall

    Born 1986

    American swimmer, Olympic bronze medalist.

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  18. Tripp Phillips

    Tripp Phillips

    Born 1977

    US tennis player.

    Wikipedia ↗
  19. Jay Clayton

    Jay Clayton

    Born 1966

    American lawyer.

    Wikipedia ↗
  20. Tiny Grimes

    Tiny Grimes

    1916–1989

    American jazz and R&B guitarist.

    Wikipedia ↗
  21. Scott Darling

    Scott Darling

    Born 1988

    American ice hockey player.

    Wikipedia ↗
  22. Elton Brown

    Elton Brown

    Born 1983

    American basketball player (born 1983).

    Wikipedia ↗
  23. Jon St. John

    Jon St. John

    Born 1960

    American voice actor.

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  24. S. A. Cosby

    S. A. Cosby

    American author.

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  25. Gary Hudson

    Born 1956

    American actor, producer and director.

    Wikipedia ↗
  26. Joyce Bulifant

    Joyce Bulifant

    Born 1937

    American actress.

    Wikipedia ↗
  27. Queen Esther Marrow

    Queen Esther Marrow

    Born 1941

    American soul and gospel singer.

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  28. Orlando Serrell

    Born 1968

    American savant.

    Wikipedia ↗
  29. Martha Madison

    Martha Madison

    Born 1977

    American actress (born 1977).

    Wikipedia ↗
  30. J. C. Mack

    J. C. Mack

    Born 1988

    American soccer player (born 1988).

    Wikipedia ↗

  31. Cocoa Brown

    Born 1972

    American actor and television actor.

    Wikipedia ↗
  32. Marshawn Powell

    Marshawn Powell

    Born 1990

    American basketball player (born 1990).

    Wikipedia ↗
  33. Brandon Lowe

    Brandon Lowe

    Born 1994

    American baseball player.

    Wikipedia ↗

  34. Kingston Flemings

    Born 2007

    American basketball player (born 2007).

    Wikipedia ↗
  35. Billy Drummond

    Billy Drummond

    Born 1959

    American musician.

    Wikipedia ↗

  36. Shaun Gayle

    Born 1962

    American football player.

    Wikipedia ↗
  37. Aaron Brooks

    Aaron Brooks

    Born 1976

    American football player.

    Wikipedia ↗
  38. Linn Thomas

    Linn Thomas

    Born 1976

    American adult model.

    Wikipedia ↗

  39. Antwain Smith

    Born 1975

    American basketball player (born 1975).

    Wikipedia ↗

  40. Michael Maguire

    Born 1955

    American actor.

    Wikipedia ↗

  41. James Krause

    Born 1986

    American mixed martial arts fighter.

    Wikipedia ↗
  42. Johnny Gilbert

    Johnny Gilbert

    Born 1928

    American nightclub singer and entertainer and announcer of Jeopardy!.

    Wikipedia ↗

  43. Rachel Hawkins

    Born 1979

    Author.

    Wikipedia ↗

  44. Tommy Reamon

    1952–2025

    American football player and coach, actor.

    Wikipedia ↗
  45. Thomas N. Downing

    Thomas N. Downing

    1919–2001

    American politician.

    Wikipedia ↗

  46. David Pope

    1962–2016

    American basketball player.

    Wikipedia ↗

  47. Al Johnson

    1948–2013

    American recording artist; singer.

    Wikipedia ↗
  48. Stewart Alexander

    Stewart Alexander

    Born 1951

    American politician.

    Wikipedia ↗

Questions

Who are some notable people born in Newport News?

Ella Fitzgerald, William Styron, Pearl Bailey, Gabby Douglas are among the people born in Newport News in this guide.

What celebrities were born in Newport News?

Ella Fitzgerald, William Styron, Pearl Bailey, Gabby Douglas, Frankie Faison, Sonja Sohn, Edmund M. Clarke, Richard Kelly were all born in Newport News.

Where does this list come from?

From Wikidata: people whose place of birth is Newport News and who have an English Wikipedia article.

Facts from Wikidata; portraits from Wikimedia Commons, credited at the bottom of the page.

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