List of people from Birmingham explained

This is a list of famous or notable people born in, or associated with, Birmingham in England, who have a Wikipedia page.

Famous people born in Birmingham

A–F

Scott Adkins (born 1987) – actor, gymnast
Gabriel Agbonlahor (born 1986) – footballer
Moeen Ali (born 1987) – England cricketer
Dennis Amiss (born 1943) – cricketer and Warwickshire administrator
Keith Arkell (born 1961) – English chess champion, 2008
Stephen Arlen (1913–1972) – opera manager
Ian Ashbee (born 1976) – footballer
Francis William Aston (1877–1945) – Nobel Prize winner, physicist
Ian Atkins (born 1957) – footballer
Albert Austin (1882–1953) – silent film star
Jack Badham (1919–1992) – footballer
Annette Badland (born 1951) – actress
Kenny Baker (1934–2016) – actor
Sir Michael Bacon (1896–1977) – film director
Pato Banton (born 1961) – reggae artist
Dave Barnett (born 1967) – footballer
Simon Bates (born 1946) – radio DJ
Blaze Bayley (born 1963) – musician, vocalist of Wolfsbane and Iron Maiden
Ian Bell (born 1982) – England cricketer, Warwickshire CCC captain
Jude Bellingham (born 2003) – footballer
Moazzam Begg (born 1968) – outreach director
Edward White Benson (1829–1896) – Archbishop of Canterbury
Bev Bevan (born 1944) – musician
Sharon Birch (born 1970? BC?) – firefighter
Alfred Bird (1811–1878) – inventor of custard powder
Sir Alfred Frederick Bird (1849–1922) – food manufacturer and chemist
William Bloye (1890–1975) – sculptor
Tom Blyth (born 1995) – actor
Elizabeth Baker Bohan (1849–1930) – author, journalist, artist, social reformer
Daniel Boone (1942–2023) – musician
Sarah Booth (1793–1867) – actress
Matthew Boulton (1728–1809) – pioneering industrialist and member of the Lunar Society
Jon Bounds (born 1975) – blogger, humorist
Paul Braddon (1864–1937) – artist
Peter Bradley (born 1953) – politician
William Bragge (1823–1884) – civil engineer/antiquarian
Tony Britton (1924–2019) – actor
James Jaysen Bryhan (born 1978) – actor
Dan Bull (born 1986) – musician/ Youtuber
Edward Burne-Jones (1833–1898) – Pre-Raphaelite painter and William Morris Associate
Trevor Burton (born 1949) – musician
Geezer Butler (born 1949) – bassist, Black Sabbath
George Cadbury (1839–1922) – son of John Cadbury, founder of the Cadbury chocolate company
John Cadbury (1801–1889) – founder of the Cadbury chocolate company
Richard Cadbury (1835–1899) – son of John Cadbury, founder of the Cadbury chocolate company
Pogus Caesar (born 1953) – television director, photographer
Daniel Caines (born 1979) – track and field athlete
Ali Campbell (born 1959) and Robin Campbell (born 1954) – musician, UB40
Duncan Campbell (born 1958) – musician
David Cannadine (born 1950) – historian
Bob Carolgees (born 1948) – television presenter (Tiswas and Surprise Surprise)
Lee Carsley (born 1974) – footballer
Darren Carter (born 1983) – footballer
John Carter (born 1940) – musician
Barbara Cartland (1901–2000) – novelist
Jasper Carrott (born 1945) – comedian
Austen Chamberlain (1863–1937) – politician
Neville Chamberlain (1869–1940) – Prime Minister
Gary Childs (born 1964) – footballer
Adrian Chiles (born 1967) – broadcaster
Carl Chinn (born 1956) – historian, broadcaster
Charlie Christodoulou (c. 1951–1976) – soldier and mercenary
Ian Clarkson (born 1970) – footballer
Lisa Clayton (born 1958) – solo yachtswoman
Janice Connolly (born 1954) – comedy actress
Raymond Teague Cowern (1913–1986) – artist
Edward Cowie (born 1943) – composer
Andy Cox (born 1956) – ska guitarist (Fine Young Cannibals and The Beat)
David Cox (1783–1859) – artist
Lauren Crace (born 1986) – actress
Sarah Crompton (1802–1881) – children's writer
Chris Crudelli (born 1972) – martial artist
John Curry (1949–1994) – Olympic and World Champion figure skater
Nigel Dakin (born 1964) – soldier, diplomat and Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Richard Dandy (born 1977) – former cricketer
Fanny Dango (1878–1972) – comedienne, actress and singer
Arthur Darvill (born 1982) – actor and singer
Aidan Davis (born 1997) – dancer and television presenter
Lindsey Davis (born 1949) – historical novelist
Cat Deeley (born 1976) – television presenter
Nathan Delfouneso (born 1991) – footballer
Oscar Deutsch (1893–1941) – founder of the Odeon Cinemas chain
Fred Dinenage (born 1942) – presenter, broadcaster, writer
Stefflon Don (born 1991) – musician
Don Dorman (1922–1997) – paratrooper, 1st Airborne Division, footballer, manager and scout
K.K. Downing (born 1951) – musician
Mark Duffus "Sure Shot" (born 1967) – musician
Pete Dunne (born 1993) – professional wrestler
Dutchavelli (born 1993) – rapper
Jessie Eden (1902–1986) – Communist activist and trade union leader
Duncan Edwards (1936–1958) – footballer for Manchester United, one of the Busby Babes (died in Munich air disaster)
Fabian Edwards (born 1993) – professional mixed martial artist
Leon Edwards (born 1991) – professional mixed martial artist, current UFC Welterweight Champion
Rob Edwards (born 1982) – ex-footballer, current Manager for Luton Town F.C.
Electribe 101 – electronic music groups who found fame in the early 1990s
Hunt Emerson (born 1952) – cartoonist
Ian Emes (born 1949) – animator
Frederick Rowland Emett (1906–1990) – cartoonist, artist and kinetic sculptor
Jo Enright (born 1968) – actress and comedian
Dan Evans (born 1990) – tennis player
Niki Evans (born 1972) – singer
Trevor Eve (born 1951) – actor
Earl Falconer (born 1957) – bass player, UB40
Frank Farrell (1947–1997) – rock bassist and co-writer of chart hit "Moonlighting"
Sid Field (1904–1950) – comedian
Robert Firth (1887–1966) – footballer and Real Madrid manager
Philip Edward Fisher (born 1979) – musician
Simon Fletcher (born 1948) – artist
Sarah Florry (1744–1843) – metal dealer
Winston Foster (born 1941) – footballer
Mark Frost (born 1968) – actor
Kevin Francis (born 1967) – footballer
Harry Freeman (1858–1922) – music hall performer
Edward Augustus Freeman (1823–1892) – historian, architectural artist and liberal politician
Fuzzbox – late-1980s girl band

G–M

Sir Francis Galton (1822–1911) – scientist; founder of eugenics
Albert Gardner (1887–1923) – footballer
Mike Gayle (born 1970) – writer
Helen George (born 1984) – actress
GeoWizard (born 1990) – YouTuber
Steve Gibbons (born 1941) – musician
Colin Gibson (born 1960) – footballer
Jon Gittens (1964–2019) – footballer
John Goldingay (born 1942) – theologian, currently a Professor of Old Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary
Jaki Graham (born 1956) – soul singer
Jack Grealish (born 1995) – footballer
Mark "Barney" Greenway (born 1969) – musician, Napalm Death
Tom Grosvenor (1908–1972) – footballer
George Dickinson Hadley (1908–1984) – gastroenterologist
Rob Halford (born 1951) – musician, Judas Priest
Charlie Hall (1899–1959) – actor; known for his work with Laurel and Hardy
Alison Hammond (born 1975) – actress, television presenter
Richard Hammond (born 1969) – television presenter
John Hampson (1901–1955) – novelist
Hannah Hampton (born 2000) – football goalkeeper
Tony Hancock (1924–1968) – comedian and actor
Ian Handysides (1962–1990) – footballer
Nic Harcourt (born 1957) – American radio personality
Nick Harding (born 1969) – Chief Medical Officer at Operose Health
David Harewood (born 1965) – actor
Wally Harris (1900–1933) – footballer
Julia Hartley-Brewer (born 1968) – journalist and television panelist
Norman Hassan (born 1958) – percussionist, UB40
Phil Hawker (born 1962) – footballer
William Haywood (1876–1957) – architect, town planner, and secretary of Birmingham Civic Society
John Hemming (born 1960) – Member of Parliament and businessman^[1]
Lee Hendrie (born 1977) – Aston Villa, later Basford United F.C. midfielder
Duane Henry (born 1985) – actor
Michael Higgs (born 1962) – actor
Ian Hill (born 1951) – musician
Jacqueline Hill (1929–1993) – actress
David Hinds (born 1956) – rhythm guitarist and lead singer, Steel Pulse
Ken Hodge (born 1944) – National Hockey League player
George Holyoake (1817–1906) – reformer
Jack Hood (1902–1992) – boxer
Martha Howe-Douglas (born 1980) – actress
Dorothy Howell (1898–1982) – musician
Mr. Hudson (born 1979) – singer
Alex Hughes (born 1971) – cartoonist
David Hughes (1925–1972) – operatic tenor
Geoff Humpage (born 1954) – cricketer
Al Hunter Ashton (1957–2007) – actor
Raymond Huntley (1904–1990) – actor
Millie Hylton (1870–1920) – actress and male impersonator
Kassem Ibadulla (born 1964) – cricketer
Tony Iommi (born 1948) – guitarist, Black Sabbath
Jamelia (born 1981) – R&B singer
Maureen Jennings (born 1939) – novelist^[2]
Claudia Jessie (born 1990) – actress
Seth Johnson (born 1979) – footballer, Derby
Ann Jones (born 1938) – tennis player; former World No. 2, 8 Grand Slam titles, including Wimbledon champion in 1969
Digby Jones, Baron Jones of Birmingham (born 1955) – director-general of the Confederation of British Industry
Felicity Jones (born 1983) – actress
Geoffrey Jones – business historian
John Jones (1858–1937) – cricketer
Justin Jones (born 1964) – musician
Simon Huw Jones (born 1960) – musician and photographer
Nikita Kanda (born 1995) – radio presenter and socialite
Ace Kefford (born 1946) – musician
Mike Kellie (1947–2017) – musician, Spooky Tooth and The Only Ones
David Kelly (born 1965) – Republic of Ireland footballer
Albert Ketèlbey (1875–1959) – composer
Sir Rupert Alfred Kettle (1817–1894) – county court judge and noted strike arbitrator
Guz Khan (born 1986) – comedian
Jaykae (born 1991) – rapper
Robert Kilroy-Silk (born 1942) – politician and television presenter
John Andrew King (born 1964) –politician and singer
Lorna Laidlaw (born 1963) – actress
Denny Laine (born 1944) – Paul McCartney and Wings
Frederick W. Lanchester (1868–1946) – maker of the first petrol-driven car in Britain
Bunny Larkin (born 1936) – footballer
Bob Latchford (born 1951) – footballer
Dave Latchford (born 1949) – footballer
Peter Latchford (born 1952) – footballer
Ian Lavender (born 1946) – actor
Alfred Law (1862–1919) – Warwickshire cricketer and umpire
Stewart Lee (born 1968) – comedian
Vaughan Lee (born 1982) – ex-UFC fighter
Russell Leetch (born 1982) – musician
Joleon Lescott (born 1982) – footballer with Manchester City, Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Adrian Lester (born 1968) – actor
Dick Lilley (1866–1929) – England and Warwickshire cricketer
Letty Lind (1861–1923) – actress and dancer
John Lodge (born 1945) – musician
Jane C. Loudon (1807–1858) – writer of prose and verse and The Mummy
Joseph Lucas (1834–1902) – founder of Lucas Industries
Joe Lycett (born 1988) – comedian
Jeff Lynne (born 1947) – musician; co-founder of the Electric Light Orchestra
Clare Maguire (born 1988) – musician born in Solihull but a resident of London
Nigel Mansell (born 1953) – sportsman, F1 driver
Lee Mantle (1851–1934) – U.S. Senator from Montana^[3]
Sarah Manners (born 1975) – actress
Tony Martin (born 1957) – musician; singer of Black Sabbath
Eric Maschwitz (1901–1969) – lyricist
Herbert Mason (1891–1960) – film director, producer, stage actor, stage manager, choreographer, and army officer in the First World War
Hilary Mason (1917–2006) – actor
Nick Mason (born 1944) – musician, Pink Floyd; did not reside in Birmingham
Robert McCracken (born 1968) – boxer, Commonwealth Middleweight champion, and World Title challenger
Zena McNally (born 1979) – singer, Mis-Teeq
Christine McVie (1943–2022) – musician, Fleetwood Mac
Gil Merrick (1922–2010) – footballer and club manager
Ken Miles (1918–1966) – sports car racing driver, engineer
Shazia Mirza – comedian
Mist (born 1992) – rapper
Alan Moore (born 1950) – musician
William Moore (1916–2000) – actor
Anisa Morridadi (born 1990) – social entrepreneur
Everett Morton (1950–2021) – drummer, The Beat
Henry Vollam Morton (1892–1979) – journalist and travel writer
Peter Mucklow (born 1949) – cricketer
George Muntz (1794–1857) – pioneering industrialist and MP
Laura Mvula (born 1986) – singer-songwriter
Stanley Myers (1930–1993) – film music composer
M1llionz (born 1997) – rapper
Malkit Singh (born c. 1963) – Punjabi Bhangra singer

N–Z

Constance Naden (1858–1889) – poet and philosopher
Alan Napier (1903–1988) – actor
Ritchie Neville (born 1979) – singer, Five
Neil Newbon (born 1978) – actor
Ernie Newman (1887–?) – professional footballer
Ernest Willmott Norton (1889–1972) – cricketer
Ursula O'Leary (1926–1993) – actress
John Oliver (born 1977) – comedian, host of Last Week Tonight, and former 'Senior British Correspondent' of The Daily Show
Ozzy Osbourne (born 1948) – singer, Black Sabbath
Anri Okita (born 1986) – singer and former pornographic actress
Carl Palmer (born 1950) – musician, Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Janet Parker (1938–1978) – medical photographer and last recorded person to die from smallpox^[4]
Kay Parker (1944–2022) – pornographic actress
Alexander Parkes (1813–1890) – inventor of the world's first plastic
Henry Parkes (1815–1896) – Australian politician, "Father of Federation"
Norman Partridge (1900–1982) – Warwickshire cricketer
Liam Payne (born 1993) – singer, One Direction
Dave Pegg (born 1947) – musician, Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull
Kia Pegg (born 2000) – actress and television presenter^[5]
Stephen Perryman (born 1955) – Warwickshire cricketer
Gerry Peyton (born 1956) – footballer and goalkeeper coach
James and Oliver Phelps (born 1986) – Harry Potter movie actors
Jess Phillips (born 1981) – politician
Michael Pinder (born 1941) – musician, The Moody Blues
Jacki Piper (born 1946) – actress
Sadie Plant (born 1964) – writer
John Poole (1926–2009) – sculptor
Enoch Powell (1912–1998) – politician, poet and classical scholar
Peter Powell (born 1951) – disc jockey
Anthony E. Pratt (1903–1994) – inventor of Cluedo
Bernard Quaife (1899–1984) – cricketer
Alfred Radcliffe-Brown (1881–1955) – anthropologist
Ranking Roger (1963–2019) – musician, The Beat
Mick Rathbone (born 1958) – footballer
Adil Ray (born 1974) – actor, comedian, and radio and television presenter
Nick Rhodes (born 1962) – musician, Duran Duran
Micah Richards (born 1988) – Manchester City F.C. defender
Walter Richards (1863–1917) – cricketer and umpire
Pat Roach (1937–2004) – actor and wrestler
Dave Robinson (1948–2016) – footballer
John Rogers (1505–1555) – Bible editor and martyr
Sax Rohmer (Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward) (1883–1959) – novelist
Mark Rowley (born 1964) – Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (London)
Adam Ruckwood (born 1974) – swimming Commonwealth Champion (200m backstroke)
Les Ross (born 1949) – radio disc jockey
Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck (1778–1856) – writer on women in society and religion; slavery abolitionist
Gary Shaw (born 1961) – footballer
Martin Shaw (born 1945) – actor
Visanthe Shiancoe (born 1980) – American football player
Sukshinder Shinda (born 1972) – English-born Punjabi music producer and artist
Graham Short (born 1946) – micro-artist
Paul Simm (born 20th century) – musician
John Simmit (born 1963) – actor and comedian; known for playing Dipsy on Teletubbies from 1997 to 2001
Jane Sixsmith (born 1967) – hockey player
1st Viscount Slim of Yarralumla and Bishopston (1891–1970) – military commander
Sarah Smart (born 1977) – actress
Alan Smith (born 1936) – cricketer and England selector
Joshua Toulmin Smith (1816–1869) – political theorist
Tiger Smith (1886–1979) – England and Warwickshire cricketer
Maya Sondhi (born 1983) – actress
Sir Benjamin Stone (1838–1914) – photographer
Dean Sturridge (born 1973) – footballer
Daniel Sturridge (born 1989) – footballer
Simon Sturridge (born 1969) – footballer
Ernest Suckling (1890–1962) – cricketer
Phil Summerill (born 1947) – footballer
James Sutton (born 1983) – actor
Andrew Symonds (1975–2022) – cricketer
Connie Talbot (born 2000) – singer
John Taylor (born 1960) – musician, Duran Duran
Roger Taylor (born 1960) – musician, Duran Duran
Bobby Thomson (1943–2009) – footballer
Will Thorne (1857–1946) – trade union leader; member of Parliament
Charlie Tickle (1884–1960) – footballer
Andrew Tiernan (born 1965) – actor
Charlie Timmins (1922–2010) – footballer
James Vaughan (born 1988) – Tranmere Rovers FC striker
Johnny Vincent (1947–2006) – footballer
Murray Walker (1923–2021) – racing driver and commentator
Kate Walsh (born 1981) – television presenter (Live from Studio Five)
Julie Walters (born 1950) – actress
Bill Ward (born 1948) – drummer, Black Sabbath
Clint Warwick (1940–2004) – musician, The Moody Blues
Carl Wayne (1943–2004) – musician, The Move, The Hollies
Graham Webb (1944–2017) – World Amateur Road Race Champion 1967
Brooke Foss Westcott (1825–1901) – theologian and Bishop of Durham
Peter Weston (1943–2017) – science fiction fan
Ian Westwood (born 1982) – cricketer
Fred Wheldon (1869–1924) – footballer
Toyah Willcox (born 1958) – singer and television presenter
Emma Willis (born 1976) – model
George Willis-Pryce (1866–1949) – artist
Jimmy Windridge (1882–1939) – England footballer
Muff Winwood (born 1943) – musician
Steve Winwood (born 1948) – musician – solo and co-founder, Traffic
Colin Withers (1940–2020) – footballer
Chris Woakes (born 1989) – England and Warwickshire cricketer
Chris Wood (1944–1983) – musician; co-founder, Traffic
Roy Wood (born 1946) – musician; co-founder, Electric Light Orchestra
Richie Woodhall (born 1968) – world champion boxer
John Wyndham (1903–1969) – writer
Kal Yafai (born 1989) – world champion boxer
Dorian Yates (born 1962) – six-time Mr. Olympia
Mark Yates (born 1970) – footballer and manager
Benjamin Zephaniah (1958–2023) – poet

Lived in or associated with Birmingham

W. H. Auden (1907–1973) – poet and author
W. V. Awdry (1911–1997) – author of The Railway Series
Sir Granville Bantock (1868–1946) – composer
Connor Ball (born 1996) – bassist and singer, The Vamps
John Baskerville (1707–1775) – printer and inventor of typefaces
Marie Bethell Beauclerc (1845–1897) – first female shorthand teacher and reporter in England
William Booth (1776–1812) – forger
John Bright (1811–1889) – politician
Herbert Tudor Buckland (1869–1951) – architect
Elihu Burritt (1810–1879) – US consul to Birmingham
Pogus Caesar (born 1953) – broadcaster and artist
Jazzy B (born 1975) – Punjabi singer
Joseph Chamberlain (1836–1914) – politician, Mayor of Birmingham
Bruce Chatwin (1940–1989) – author
Lee Child (born 1954) – author
George Dawson (1821–1876) – preacher
Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) – author of Sherlock Holmes
John Boyd Dunlop (1840–1921) – industrialist, built Fort Dunlop
Leon Edwards (born 1991) – professional mixed martial artist (originally from Kingston, Jamaica)
Lucy Edwards, disability rights activist, educator, and TikToker
Rev. Richard Enraght (1837–1898) – vicar, religious controversialist
Allan Ford (born 1968) – soldier, convicted of manslaughter
Philippa Forrester (born 1968) – television presenter, attended Birmingham University
Foji Gill – singer, music producer
Joseph Gillott (1799–1872) – industrialist
Tommy Godwin (1920–2012) – racing cyclist and Olympic medallist
Ashia Hansen (born 1971) – track and field athlete
James Hinks (1829–1878) – bred the Bull Terrier dog
William Ick (1800–1844) – botanist
Washington Irving (1783–1859) – author
Elizabeth "Tetty" Johnson (1689–1752) – wife of Samuel Johnson
John Joubert (1927–2019) – South African-born composer
Roi Kwabena (1956–2008) – author
Simon Le Bon (born 1958) – studied drama at the University of Birmingham before joining Duran Duran in 1980
Louis MacNeice (1907–1963) – poet
Stuart Maconie (born 1961) – radio DJ and television presenter
Josiah Mason (1795–1881) – industrialist and philanthropist
Nigel Mansell (born 1953) – racing driver
Cardinal Newman (1801–1890) – theologian and founder of the English Oratory
William McGregor (1846–1911) – instrumental in forming the football league
William Murdoch (1754–1839) – inventor of gas lighting
Bill Oddie (born 1941) – comedian and ornithologist
John Peel (1939–2004) – radio DJ
Geoffrey Pernell (born 1971) – soldier, convicted of manslaughter
Joseph Priestley (1733–1804) – chemist and dissenting clergyman
Sir Simon Rattle (born 1955) – conductor of CBSO 1980–1998
John Ray (1627–1705) – "Father of English natural history"
Sir Peter Rigby (born 1943) – entrepreneur
Mary Rollason (1764/5–1835) – steel toy maker and businesswoman
Kevin Rowland (born 1953) – singer for Dexys Midnight Runners, formed in Birmingham
Frank Skinner (born 1957) – comedian
Mike Skinner (born 1979) – musician, The Streets
Meera Syal (born 1961) – actor, writer
Dave Swarbrick (1941–2016) – musician
J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973) – author
Joshua Toulmin (1740–1815) – non-conformist preacher
Ruby Turner (born 1958) – singer (originally from Montego Bay, Jamaica)
UB 40 – Reggae group
James Watt (1736–1819) – inventor and member of the Lunar Society
Una White (1938/9–1997) – subject of public art-work
William Withering (1741–1799) – doctor, discoverer of digitalis
Victoria Wood (1953–2016) – actress
John Skirrow Wright (1822–1880) – social improver
Alastair Yates (1952–2018) – radio and television presenter
Malala Yousafzai (born 1997) – Pakistani activist
Lauren Zhang (born 2001) – winner of BBC Young Musician 2018 (originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America)

External links

Famous People Birmingham City Council feature page on Birmingham-related celebrities
Blue Plaques erected by Birmingham Civic Society
The Great Bull Birmingham bus network map featuring local celebrities.

Notes and References

Web site: John Hemming: Self-styled 'love rat of the year' who became the scourge of. 9 January 2012. The Independent.
Web site: Napier . Jim . Maureen Jennings . The Canadian Encyclopedia . 23 January 2019 . 14 May 2012.
Web site: MANTLE, Lee, 1851–1934. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. 14 October 2012.
Web site: The Lonely Death of Janet Parker.
News: Laws . Roz . Budding Birmingham film star Kia Pegg gets to be very naughty on screen . 30 March 2023 . . (Reach plc).

List of people from Birmingham explained

Famous people born in Birmingham

A–F

G–M

N–Z

Lived in or associated with Birmingham

See also

External links

Notes and References