List of people from Asheville, North Carolina explained
This is a list of notable persons who were born in and/or have lived in the American city of Asheville, North Carolina.
Architecture
Art
- Murphy Anderson, (1926–2015), comics artist
- James Barnhill, (born 1955), artist and sculptor
- Andrea Clark, photographer
- Evan Dahm, webcomic creator
- James Daugherty (1889–1974), modernist painter, muralist, children's book author and illustrator
- Spencer Herr (born 1974), artist
- Hope Larson (born 1982), Eisner Award-winning illustrator, cartoonist, and author of graphic novels Salamander Dream and Chiggers[1]
- George Masa (1881–1933), professional large-format photographer
- Aspen Mays, artist
- Kenneth Noland (1924–2010), abstract painter, one of the best-known American Color Field painters
- Isaiah Rice (1917–1980), documentary photographer
- Donald Sultan (born 1951), painter, sculptor, and printmaker
- George Washington Vanderbilt II (1862–1914),art collector, founder of the Biltmore Estate
Business
- George Henry Vanderbilt Cecil, owner and chairman of Biltmore Farms
- William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil, operator of the Biltmore Estate through his company, The Biltmore Company
- John Fleer, chef, cookbook author, and restaurateur
- Edwin Wiley Grove (1850–1927), patent medicine inventor, builder and owner of the Grove Park Inn
- Howard Kester (1904–1977), author and organizer of the Southern Tenant Farmers Union
- Howard W. Mattson, Executive Vice President of the Institute of Food Technologists and director of corporate public relations for Monsanto Company
- George Willis Pack, lumberman, philanthropist, and railroad president
- Irving Jacob Reuter, general manager and president of Oldsmobile
- Fred L. Seely, built the Grove Park Inn with his father-in-law Edwin Wiley Grove
- Ashleigh Shanti, chef
- David Webb (1925–1975), jeweler and founder of the David Webb company
- George Francis Willis, founder of International Proprietaries, Inc., who made a fortune selling a patent medicine called Tanlac
Education
- Elizabeth Barnes, professor of philosophy at the Corcoran Department of Philosophy, University of Virginia
- Sarah Ann Douglas, professor of computer and information science and a member of the Computational Science Institute at the University of Oregon
- Edythe J. Gaines (1922–2006), educator and school superintendent
- Matthew Hughey, professor of sociology at the University of Connecticut
- R. P. Hunnicutt, one of the founders of the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground and historian
- Kenneth Lieberthal, professor and political scientist known as an expert on China's elite politics
- Edward Hart Lipscombe, professor at Shaw University
- Robert Allen Phillips, professor in Business Ethics and Professor of Strategic Management and Public Policy at the Schulich School of Business; York University
- Emily Wheelock Reed, director of the Alabama Public Library Service Division during the civil rights movement
- John Andrew Rice, founder and first rector of Black Mountain College
- Richard M. Weaver, scholar who taught English at the University of Chicago
- Luigi Zande, stonemason, educator, and builder who contributed to the settlement school movement of the early 20th century
Entertainment
- Harry Anderson (1952–2018), actor, starred in nine seasons of NBC's Night Court[2]
- Clint Basinger (born 1986), YouTuber
- Ira Bernstein, dancer and teacher
- Mark Boswell (born 1960), film director
- Joe Bowman (1925–2009), bootmaker and marksman of American West entertainment; grew up in Asheville but left for Houston, Texas, in 1937
- Chris Chalk, television, film, and theater actor, born in Asheville and graduated from Asheville High School
- Jim David, stand-up comedian and playwright, both in Asheville[3] [4]
- Jim Eason (born 1935), radio talk show host
- Jennifer Ehle, actress
- Maria Fletcher (born 1942), Miss America 1962
- Eileen Fulton (born 1933), actress, starred on the CBS soap As the World Turns, 1960–2010; born in Asheville[5]
- Joel Goffin (born 1981), film composer, music producer
- Perla Haney-Jardine (born 1997), actress
- Dorothy Hart (1922–2004), screen actress, known mostly for supporting roles
- William S. Hart (1864–1946), cowboy actor in early Hollywood; resided in Asheville around 1900 and coached shows at the Asheville Opera House[6]
- Shirley Hemphill (1947–1999), stand-up comedian and actress, best known for What's Happening!!, 1976–79
- Alina María Hernández, better known in the entertainment world as "Cachita", Cuban transgender television actress
- Charlton Heston (1923–2008), Oscar-winning actor, managed the Asheville Community Theatre with his wife Lydia in 1947
- Sam Irvin, film and television director, producer, and screenwriter
- Taras Kulakov (born 1987), YouTuber
- Daliah Lavi, (1942–2017), German singer who lived the last 27 years of her life in Asheville
- Barbara Loden, actress and director of film and theater
- Stephen Andrew Lynch, early motion picture industry pioneer
- Andie MacDowell (born 1958), actress, lived for several years in Biltmore Forest, a suburb of Asheville[7]
- Sierra McCormick (born 1997), actress
- Caelynn Miller-Keyes, television personality, model, and beauty pageant titleholder
- Caleb Pressley (born 1992), blogger, podcaster, and interviewer for the sports and pop culture blog Barstool Sports
- Margaret Qualley, actress
- Marjorie Rambeau (1889–1970), Hollywood actress; was married to Francis A. Gudger, a resident of Asheville; resided in Asheville in the winter from 1932 to the mid-1940s[8]
- Adam Reed (born 1970), voice actor, animator, screenwriter, television producer and television director
- Chase Rice, country music singer, songwriter, and contestant on
- Angela Shelton (born 1972), actress and producer
- Threadbanger YouTube DIY duo consisting of Corinne Leigh and Rob Czar, who reside and own an art gallery in Asheville
- Duncan Trussell (born 1974), actor and comedian
- Bellamy Young (born 1970), actress, co-star of television series Scandal; born and raised in Asheville
- Collier Young, film and television writer and producer
Government
Law
Literature and journalism
- Edward Johnston Alexander, author known by the pen name Katie Gallagher
- Sarah Addison Allen, New York Times bestselling author
- Alfred Horatio Belo, founder of The Dallas Morning News
- Ruth and Latrobe Carroll (1899–1999; 1894–1996), children's authors and illustrators
- Nancy Sales Cash, novelist
- Andrea Long Chu, writer and critic
- C. A. Conrad (born 1966), poet and author
- Olive Tilford Dargan (1869–1968), proletarian novelist of the 1930s under the pen name "Fielding Burke"
- Gavin Geoffrey Dillard, poet, author, and songwriter
- Pamela Duncan, novelist
- Wilma Dykeman (1920–2006), author
- John Ehle (1925–2018), author
- Zelda Fitzgerald (1900–1948), writer and wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald; died in a fire with eight other women at Highland Hospital, an Asheville mental institution in the Montford district
- Charles Frazier (born 1950), author
- Gail Godwin (born 1937), novelist, spent her early years in Asheville
- Ward Greene, writer, editor, journalist, playwright, and comic strip writer
- Denise Kiernan, journalist, producer and author
- Horatio Sheafe Krans, writer and editor
- Michael McFee, poet
- Berniece Baker Miracle (1919–2014), writer and half-sister of Marilyn Monroe
- O. Henry (1862–1910), pen name of author William Sydney Porter; lived for a while in Asheville and is buried in Riverside Cemetery
- William Dudley Pelley, fascist activist, journalist, writer and occultist
- Stephanie Perkins, novelist
- Marisha Pessl, novelist
- Terry Roberts, novelist and writer
- Jonathan Williams (1908–1929), poet and publisher
- Michael G. Williams, novelist
- Allan Wolf, poet and young adult author
- Thomas Wolfe (1900–1938), author, born and raised in Asheville, buried in Riverside Cemetery
Medicine and science
Military
- Donald V. Bennett (1915–2005), former commanding general of the US Army Pacific Command
- Kathleen M. Gainey (born 1956), retired US Army lieutenant general
- Hugh B. Hester (1895–1983), retired Army general who opposed the Vietnam War and the Cold War
- Dorothy Swain Lewis, aviator who trained Navy pilots and flew with the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program during World War II
- Homer I. Lewis, major general in the United States Air Force who served as Commander of the United States Air Force Reserve Command
- Robert Morgan (1918–2004), pilot of the Memphis Belle, the famed World War II B-17 bomber
- Kiffin Rockwell (1892–1916), aviator; pilot in the Lafayette Escadrille; first American to shoot down an enemy aircraft
- Francis Bowditch Wilby, major general in the United States Army who served as the 39th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy
- Zachary Taylor Wood (1860–1915), Assistant Commissioner of North-West Mounted Police and Commissioner of Yukon Territory
- Robert Nicholas Young, lieutenant general in the United States Army
Musicians
- Eric Bachmann, musician and producer
- Lisa Bevill, contemporary Christian musician
- Greg Cartwright (born 1970), rock musician; relocated to Asheville[9]
- Luke Combs, country music singer-songwriter, graduated from A.C. Reynolds High School
- Jermaine Dupri (born 1972), rapper
- Backwards Sam Firk (1943–2007), country blues singer, fingerstyle guitarist, songwriter, and record collector[10]
- Roberta Flack (born 1937), Grammy Award-winning singer, born in Asheville[11]
- Sallie Ford, of Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, singer[12]
- Rayna Gellert, fiddler, acoustic guitarist, singer, and songwriter specializing in old-time music
- River Guerguerian, multi-percussionist and composer
- Talib Rasul Hakim, composer
- Warren Haynes (born 1960), guitarist, member of The Allman Brothers Band, spent formative years in Asheville[13]
- Steven Heller, composer and producer
- Malcolm Holcombe, singer-songwriter
- David Holt (born 1946), folk musician, lives near Asheville[14]
- Don Howland, underground musician
- Caleb Johnson (born 1991), American Idol Season 13 winner
- Billy Jonas, singer-songwriter, percussionist, and multi-instrumentalist
- Gary Jules (born 1969), singer-songwriter, known for their rendition of "Mad World" for the film Donnie Darko
- Christine Kane, folk singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist
- Bascom Lamar Lunsford (1882–1973), folklorist, musician, folk festival founder
- Mary Lattimore, harpist
- MJ Lenderman (born 1999), singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
- Valorie Miller, singer-songwriter
- Bill Monroe (1911–1996), musician, known as "the father of bluegrass"; lived in Asheville; had a show on a local radio station in 1939
- Robert Moog (1934–2005), pioneer of electronic music, inventor of the Moog synthesizer
- Cameron Moore, singer-songwriter
- Rex Nelon, gospel singer
- Frances Nero, soul and jazz singer
- Angel Olsen (born 1987), musician[15]
- Squire Parsons, singer and songwriter
- Rainey Qualley, singer under the name Rainsford
- Tyler Ramsey, singer-songwriter
- Chase Rice (born 1985) country music singer, songwriter, and contestant on ,
- Jimmie Rodgers, singer, known as "the father of country music"; lived in Asheville; had a show on a local radio station in 1927[16]
- Chris Rodrigues, contemporary Christian music singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist
- Jonathan Scales, steel pannist and composer
- Chris Sharp, singer-songwriter
- Nina Simone (1933–2003), jazz singer, attended Allen Home School for Girls in Asheville[17]
- Arthur Lee "Red" Smiley, bluegrass and country musician,
- Root Boy Slim, aka Foster Mackenzie III (1945–1993), blues musician
- Moses Sumney (born 1992), singer-songwriter
- Bryan Sutton, flatpicking acoustic guitar player
- John Widman, luthier who makes high-end, hand-built guitars
- David Wilcox (born 1958), folk musician and singer-songwriter
- Kat Williams, blues singer
Politics
- Terry Bellamy, mayor of Asheville
- Cecil Bothwell, Asheville City Council
- Charles Robin Britt, United States House of Representatives
- William Jennings Bryan (1860–1925), United States Secretary of State and U.S. House of Representatives[18]
- Alice A. W. Cadwallader (1832–1910), philanthropist and temperance activist
- Madison Cawthorn (born 1995), U.S. House of Representatives
- Mark B. Childress (born 1959), former United States Ambassador to Tanzania and former Deputy Chief of Staff for Planning in the administration of President Obama
- H. K. Edgerton (born 1948), neoconfederate activist and President of the Asheville, North Carolina chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
- Joe Felmet, civil rights activist
- Susan C. Fisher, North Carolina House of Representatives
- D. Bruce Goforth, North Carolina House of Representatives
- V. Lamar Gudger, United States House of Representatives
- Bill Hendon (1944–2018), author, POW/MIA activist, and two-term U.S. Congressman from North Carolina
- Herbert Hyde, North Carolina Senate and North Carolina House of Representatives
- Bill Jackson, Georgia State Senate and Georgia House of Representatives
- Horace R. Kornegay, U.S. House of Representatives
- Helen Morris Lewis, suffragist who was the first woman in North Carolina to seek elected office,
- Esther Manheimer, mayor of Asheville
- Julie Mayfield, North Carolina Senate
- Floyd McKissick, lawyer and civil rights activist who led the Congress of Racial Equality for a time and founded Soul City, North Carolina
- Dan K. Moore (1906–1986), 66th Governor of North Carolina 1965–1969[19]
- Martin Nesbitt, North Carolina Senate
- Mary Cordell Nesbitt (1911–1979), served in the North Carolina House of Representatives[20]
- Leonard Outerbridge, Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland
- Richmond Pearson, U.S. House of Representatives
- William Dudley Pelley (1890–1965), leader of the "Silver Shirt" fascist movement in the 1930s and 1940s
- James W. Reid (1917–1972), served as the Mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina
- Robert R. Reynolds (1884–1963), U.S. Senator of isolationist sympathies in World War II
- Michael Robinson (1924–2006), American Reform rabbi and civil rights activist
- Jim Roddey, chief executive of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
- Caleb Rudow, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Thomas A. Rymer, Maryland House of Delegates and judge of the Calvert County Circuit Court
- Wilma M. Sherrill, North Carolina General Assembly
- George A. Shuford, U.S. House of Representatives and North Carolina House of Representatives
- Charles Manly Stedman, U.S. House of Representatives and Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
- John Shorter Stevens, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Brian Turner, North Carolina House of Representatives
- Joseph Tydings (1928–2018), lawyer and politician
- Terry Van Duyn, North Carolina Senate
- Robert Brank Vance, U.S. House of Representatives
- Zebulan Vance, Governor of North Carolina and United States Senator
- Lewis B. Whitworth, Florida House of Representatives and Miami-Dade County circuit court judge
- William Winkenwerder Jr. (born 1954), Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (2001–2007)[21]
Religion
Sports
Baseball
- Jack Alexander, minor league baseball player and college football coach
- Tom Bradley, professional baseball player and coach
- Bob Chakales, professional baseball player
- Dave Cheadle, professional baseball player
- Harry Courtney, professional baseball and football player
- Braxton Davidson, professional baseball players
- Darren Holmes (born 1966), MLB player for eight teams
- Mel Ingram, professional baseball player
- Hughie Jennings (1869–1928), Major League Baseball player and manager, 1891–1925
- Johnny Lanning, professional baseball players
- Cameron Maybin (born 1987), Major League Baseball player with Los Angeles Angels; born and raised in Asheville[22]
- Larry McCall, professional baseball player
- Joel McKeithan, professional baseball coach
- Dorothy Montgomery (1924–2009), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
- Chris Narveson (born 1981), MLB pitcher
- Buck Redfern, professional baseball player
- Mike Roberts, professional baseball player and college baseball coach
- Sammy Stewart, professional baseball player
- Don Thompson (1923–2009), Major League Baseball player for the Brooklyn Dodgers
- Joe West (born 1952), MLB umpire for record-breaking 40 seasons
- Pete Whisenant, professional baseball player
Basketball
- Brad Daugherty (born 1965), retired NBA basketball player, 5-time All-Star, ESPN NASCAR analyst[23]
- Harry Hartsell, head football and basketball coach at North Carolina State University
- Loyd King (born 1949), professional basketball player
- Henry Logan, college basketball player who won the gold medal in the 1967 Pan American Games
- Rhonda Mapp (born 1969), WNBA player
- Rashad McCants (born 1984), NBA basketball player for Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings; former Erwin High School basketball player[24]
- Rashanda McCants (born 1986), WNBA player
- Christian Moody, college and professional basketball player
- Buzz Peterson (born 1963), former director of player personnel for NBA's Charlotte Bobcats; former men's head basketball coach at UNC Wilmington, University of Tennessee, Appalachian State University, University of Tulsa, and Coastal Carolina University;[25] born and raised in Asheville[26]
- Roy Williams (born 1950), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill basketball coach, raised in Asheville[27]
Football
- LeRoy Abernethy, college football player
- Jack Alexander, college football coach and minor league baseball player
- John Avery (born 1976), football player in NFL, XFL, and CFL; attended Asheville High School[28]
- Kent Briggs, college football coach
- Crezdon Butler (born 1987), NFL cornerback for Pittsburgh Steelers; born and raised in Asheville; led Asheville High School to 2006 state championship[29]
- Joey Clinkscales, professional football player and executive
- Harry Courtney, professional football and baseball player
- Jonathan Crompton, professional football player
- Rico Dowdle (born 1998), NFL running back
- Claude "Hoot" Gibson, professional football player
- Harry Hartsell, head football and basketball coach at North Carolina State University
- Dan Hill, college football player and All-American
- Martese Jackson, professional gridiron football player
- Ralph James, college football coach
- Ben Johnson, professional football coach
- Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice (1924–2003), professional football player
- Eku Leota, professional football player
- Leonard Little (born 1974), NFL football player with St. Louis Rams; born and raised in Asheville[30]
- Eddie McGill, professional football player
- Harold Olson, professional football player
- Jeoffrey Pagan, professional football player
- Ray Roberts (born 1969), retired NFL player
- James Rosecrans, professional football player
- Jonathan Rush (born 1989), college football player
- Bill Russo, college football coach
- Red Sanders, college football coach
- George Stephens, college football player
- Brett Swain (born 1986), NFL player for Green Bay Packers
- Aydan White, college football player
- Johnny White, professional football player
Racing
Soccer
Swimming
Professional wrestling
- Karl Anderson, professional wrestler; signed to WWE
- Adam "Edge" Copeland (born 1973), professional wrestler, author, relocated to Asheville
- Eddie Golden (born 1973), professional wrestler, resides in Asheville
- Evan Golden (born 2000), professional wrestler, born and raised in Asheville
- Beth Phoenix (born 1980), real name Elizabeth Copeland; retired professional wrestler, four-time women's champion, and commentator; relocated to Asheville
- K. C. Thunder, professional wrestler, promoter and trainer
- Cash Wheeler (born 1987), real name Daniel Wheeler; professional wrestler for All Elite Wrestling; born and raised in Asheville, where he currently resides
Other
Other
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Hope Larson on Chiggers and More . Newsarama . Zack Smith . April 18, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081212221505/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=153858 . December 12, 2008 .
- News: For Harry Anderson, the New Orleans Magic Is Gone. The New York Times. 2016-05-23.
- News: Neal . Dale . June 10, 2016 . Laughs and equality: Comedian Jim David comes home to Asheville . . . 2021-04-28 .
- News: A One-Man Show Rich With Southern Flavor, and Humidity. Webster. Andy. August 17, 2010. The New York Times. October 5, 2011.
- Web site: Eileen Fulton. Eileen Fulton. 2010-01-24. bot: unknown. https://web.archive.org/web/20100124002127/http://www.eileenfulton.com/biography.htm. January 24, 2010.
- Book: William S. Hart: Projecting the American West – Ronald L. Davis – Google Books . 2013-06-29. 9780806135588 . Davis . Ronald L. . 2003 .
- Web site: The two lives of Andie MacDowell . Main.nc.us . July 13, 2001 . 2016-05-23.
- Web site: citizen-times.com . July 16, 2014 . http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20100601220012/http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=B0&Dato=20100601&Kategori=PHOTO14&Lopenr=601011&Ref=PH . June 1, 2010 . bot: unknown .
- Web site: Sells . Toby . Seeing Red | Music Features | Memphis News and Events . Memphis Flyer . 2016-05-23.
- Web site: Jason Ankeny . Backwards Sam Firk | Biography & History . . 2016-05-22.
- Web site: Roberta Flack . Roberta Flack . 2016-05-23.
- News: Ryan White . Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside build some buzz . The Oregonian . January 7, 2010. April 27, 2011.
- Web site: Mule.net: The Band . August 12, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090815062450/http://www.mule.net/the_band/warren.html . August 15, 2009 .
- Web site: Southerners Making a Difference . David Holt . 2016-05-23.
- Web site: Angel Olsen Will Be Heard. March 24, 2014. Spin. 2018-12-27.
- Web site: Jimmie Rodgers Biography . July 16, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130520115145/http://www.jimmierodgers.com/biography.html . May 20, 2013 .
- News: Tolleson . Robin . January 29, 2010 . To Know Nina . Bold Life . dead . September 19, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130606185810/http://www.boldlife.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A13232 . June 6, 2013.
- Web site: heritagewnc.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120507052207/http://www.heritagewnc.org/historic_register_sites/default_national_register.htm . May 7, 2012 . 2016-05-23 . heritagewnc.org.
- https://www.nga.org/governor/dan-killian-moore/ Dan Killian Moore – National Governors Association
- Byrd, Caitlin. (July 19, 2013). Bill to honor Mary Nesbitt and rename MAHEC campus becomes law. Mountain Xpress. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- Web site: bulk.resource.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080529111356/http://bulk.resource.org/gpo.gov/record/2001/2001_E02167.pdf . May 29, 2008 . July 16, 2014.
- Web site: news: Cameron Maybin . 2016-05-23 . Asheville.com.
- Web site: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series news, articles, stories, videos, blogs . 2016-05-23 . NASCAR.com.
- Web site: nbadraft.net . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20030920141205/http://www.nbadraft.net/profiles/rashadmccants.asp . September 20, 2003 . July 16, 2014.
- Web site: April 16, 2010 . UNC Wilmington hires Peterson of Appalachian State – ESPN . 2013-06-29 . ESPN.
- Web site: wataugademocrat.com . bot: unknown . https://archive.today/20120917134118/http://www.wataugademocrat.com/2007/0611web/buzzhired.php . September 17, 2012 . July 16, 2014.
- Web site: news: Roy Williams . 2016-05-23 . Asheville.com.
- Web site: Official site of the Canadian Football League . 2016-05-23 . CFL.ca.
- Web site: Crezdon Butler . December 31, 2012 . Crezdon Butler, CB for the Buffalo Bills at . 2013-06-29 . Nfl.com.
- Web site: Leonard Little . October 19, 1974 . Leonard Little, DE at . 2016-05-23 . Nfl.com.
- Web site: Robert Pressley . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110927081421/http://www.lycos.com/info/robert-pressley.html . September 27, 2011 . July 16, 2014.
- Web site: Ronnie Silver . August 22, 2013 . Racing-Reference.
- https://www.ncshof.org/stevererych Steve Rerych 1993 – North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame
