List of people from London, Ontario explained

This is a list of notable people who were born in, residents of, or are otherwise connected to the city of London, Ontario. A person from London is referred to as a Londoner.

A-B

• Kelley Armstrong (born 1968), author of fantasy fiction^[1]
• Article One, Christian pop-rock band^[2]
• Philip Aziz (1923-2009), painter and sculptor^[3]
• R. Scott Bakker (born 1967), author of fantasy fiction^[4]
• Karen Dianne Baldwin (born 1963), Miss Universe 1982^[5]
• Frederick Banting (1891-1941), co-discoverer of insulin^[6]
• Joan Barfoot (born 1946), novelist^[7]
• John Davis Barnett (1848-1926), curator-librarian^[8]
• Joe Bartoch (born 1983), Olympic swimmer^[9]
• Helen Battle (1903–1994), marine biologist^[10]
• Adam Beck (1857-1925), mayor of London, principal founder of Ontario Hydro^[11]
• Marc Bell, cartoonist^[12]
• Tom Benner, sculptor and painter^[13]
• Justin Bieber (born 1994), singer, songwriter, and actor^[14]
• Craig Richard Billington, NHL player and executive^[15]
• The Birthday Massacre, rock band^[16]
• Victoria Grace Blackburn, journalist and writer^[17]
• Trevor Blumas, actor
• Bill Brady, broadcast journalist and media executive, Member of the Order of Canada, former national director of The Canadian Heart & Stroke Foundation
• Greg Brady, one-time sports radio personality, now at CFIQ
• Eve Brodlique (1867-1949), British-born Canadian/American author, journalist
• Chase Brown and Sydney Brown, identical twin NFL players, Chase for the Cincinnati Bengals and Sydney for the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2024, they became the first Canadian identical twins to play against each other in the NFL.^[18]
• Josh Brown, NHL player for the Arizona Coyotes
• Jacob Bryson, NHL player for the Buffalo Sabres
• Richard Maurice Bucke, psychiatrist and author^[19]

C-D

• • Gregory Campbell, retired NHL player and hockey executive with Charlotte Checkers John Carling, politician^[20]
• Jeff Carter, NHL forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins
• Eleanor Catton, author, winner of 2013 Man Booker Prize
• Jack Chambers, painter and filmmaker^[21]
• Margaret Chan, former director-general of the World Health Organization
• John H. Chapman, physicist and architect of the Canadian space program^[22]
• Al and Charles Christie, Canadian pioneers in early Hollywood who built their own film studio
• Warren Christie, television and film actor, known for role as Ray Cataldo on the ABC drama October Road and as Aidan "Greggy" Stiviletto on the ABC series Happy Town
• Frank Colman, pro baseball player in 1940s with Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees; co-founded Eager Beaver Baseball Association in 1955
• Patrick Colovin, president of the university University of Notre Dame
• Ward Cornell, host of Hockey Night in Canada
• Logan Couture, NHL forward and Captain for the San Jose Sharks
• J. Howard Crocker, educator and sports executive with the YMCA, the University of Western Ontario, and the Amateur Athletic Union of Canada^[23]
• Hume Cronyn, Sr., politician
• Hume Cronyn, actor^[24]
• Greg Curnoe, visual artist and member of the Nihilist Spasm Band, and author^[25]
• Lolita Davidovich, actor^[26]
• Chris Daw, gold medalist in Turin 2006 Paralympics; wheelchair curling (skip)
• John Dearness, botanist, mycologist, and educator
• Dylan DeMelo, NHL hockey player for the Winnipeg Jets
• Laura Dennis, professional wrestler better known as Cherry Bomb
• Peter Desbarats, former Global TV anchor, author, former dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of Western Ontario
• Alexander Dewdney, mathematician
• Christopher Dewdney, poet and writer^[27]
• Selma Diamond (1920–1985), actress, TV show Night Court\
• Brett Dier, actor
• Annie Le Porte Diggs (1853-1916), writer, temperance worker, and Populist advocate
• Chris Doty (1966–2006), award-winning documentary filmmaker, author and playwright
• Drew Doughty, NHL defenseman with the Los Angeles Kings
• Michael Dowse, film director^[28]

E-J

• Emanuel, rhythm and blues singer
• Marc Emery, marijuana activist and libertarian
• The Essentials, a cappella group
• Paterson Ewen, painter^[29]
• Robert W. Fassold, 29th Canadian Surgeon General
• Murray Favro, artist and musician in the Nihilist Spasm Band
• Bob Ferguson, sports journalist and writer^[30]
• Max Ferguson, CBC radio and TV personality, 1950s and 1960s
• Jessie Fleming, player on the Canada Women's National Soccer Team, Olympic Gold Medalist
• Charley Fox, Royal Canadian Air Force Flight Lieutenant credited with strafing German field marshal Erwin Rommel's car and seriously injuring him in the process
• Sam Gagner, NHL forward for the Detroit Red Wings
• The Gandharvas, alternative rock band from the 1990s
• Victor Garber, actor^[31]
• George Georgallidis, professional gamer
• Shuman Ghosemajumder, entrepreneur and author
• Ted Giannoulas, player of the San Diego Chicken mascot
• George Gibson (Mooney) (1880–1967), catcher, Pittsburgh Pirates, won the World Series in 1909; manager in MLB
• Ryan Gosling, actor^[32]
• Jerry Grafstein, lawyer
• O. E. L. "Bud" Graves, artist and painter/sculptor
• Jeff Hackett, former NHL hockey goaltender
• Matt Hackett, nephew of Jeff, NHL goaltender in 2010s.
• Paul Haggis, TV and film writer, director and producer^[33]
• Jeremy Hansen, astronaut^[34]
• Richard B. Harrison (1864–1935), groundbreaking Black actor
• Gary Harvey, director television and producer
• Jamelie Hassan, artist^[35]
• Frank Hawley (b. 1954), two-time world champion drag racing driver
• Robert Hall Haynes (1931–1998), scientist, first chair of the Department of Biology at York University, who coined the term ecopoeisis
• William C. Heine, author and newspaper editor
• Andrew Herr, actor
• Mark Hominick (b. 1982), mixed martial artist
• Chris Horodecki (b. 1987), mixed martial artist
• Bo Horvat, NHL player
• Garth Hudson, keyboard player in The Band^[36]
• Kenneth Adams Hunter, 17th and 20th Canadian Surgeon General
• Tommy Hunter, country singer and television host^[37]
• J.D. Jackson, physicist
• Doug Jarrett, former NHL defenceman (ret. 1976)
• Joseph Jeffery (1829-1894), banker
• Jenny Jones, TV talk show host

K-M

• Nazem Kadri, NHL centre with the Calgary flames
• John Kapelos, character actor, frequently featured in John Hughes' films
• Ingrid Kavelaars, actress
• Penn Kemp, writer and former poet laureate of London
• Kittie, all-female heavy metal band
• Travis Konecny, NHL forward with the Philadelphia Flyers
• John Labatt, pioneer brewer^[38]
• Sarah Lafleur, actress and voice actress
• Cecil Lean, actor, lyricist, composer, singer
• Graham Lear, drummer
• Brett Lindros, former NHL hockey forward, brother of Eric Lindros
• Eric Lindros, Hockey Hall of Fame member, drafted 1st overall in the 1991 Entry Draft by Quebec, brother of Brett Lindros
• John William Little, businessman and former mayor of London
• Gene Lockhart, actor^[39]
• Lawrence Loh, physician and Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Peel during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Guy Lombardo, bandleader and violinist^[40]
• Carmen Lombardo, saxophonist, singer, and songwriter^[41]
• Lebert Lombardo, trumpeter^[42]
• Victor Lombardo, musician and brother of Guy Lombardo
• Donald Luce, NHL player, executive, and scout.
• Luke Macfarlane, actor
• Maggie Mac Neil, swimmer and Olympic gold medalist
• Craig MacTavish, NHL hockey player, and Edmonton Oilers head coach and GM (2000–2015)
• Sam Maggs, author and comic book and video game writer (b. 1988)
• Joseph Marks, labour activist and creator of the newspaper the Industrial Banner
• Brad Marsh, former NHL defenceman (ret. 1993)
• Amber Marshall, actress
• Vaughn Martin, 2009 draft pick by the NFL's San Diego Chargers
• Rachel McAdams, actress^[43]
• Emilia McCarthy, actress
• Rob McConnell, Music Hall of Fame jazz musician of Boss Brass fame^[44]
• Cody McCormick, retired NHL player from the Buffalo Sabres
• Roy McDonald, poet, diarist, local street-person and personality
• David McLellan, Olympic freestyle swimmer
• Tammy McLeod, boccia player
• Charles Meredith, President of the Montreal Stock Exchange, 1902
• John Walsingham Cooke Meredith, father of the "Eight London Merediths"
• Richard Martin Meredith, founder of The University of Western Ontario, president of the High Court of the Supreme Court of Ontario, and chief justice of the Ontario Court of Common Pleas
• Thomas Graves Meredith, president of Canada Life Assurance Company, lawyer
• Vincent Meredith, president of the Bank of Montreal
• William Ralph Meredith, chief justice of Ontario, chancellor of the University of Toronto, and leader of the Ontario Conservatives
• Orlo Miller, author
  • Evan van Moerkerke, Olympic swimmer at the 2016 Summer Olympics Scott Moir, figure skater^[45]
• Trevor Morris, Emmy award winning composer and music producer
• Masasa Moyo, actress and voice actress

N-P

• Kate Nelligan, actress
• Christine Nesbitt, Olympic gold and silver medal-winning speed-skater (women's 1000m, and women's team pursuit, respectively)
• Nihilist Spasm Band, pioneering noise music band
• Bert and Joe Niosi (brothers), band members of radio's Happy Gang
• Ocean, Christian folk rock band
• Bryan Lee O'Malley, comic book artist and writer, award-winning cartoonist and creator of Scott Pilgrim
• Megan Park, actress
• Casey Patton, boxer
• Paul Peel, painter
• David Peterson, Premier of Ontario, 1985 - 1990
• Ed Pien, artist
• Chris Potter, actor
• Chad Price, singer-songwriter
• Skip Prokop, rock drummer and songwriter, founder of the band Lighthouse
• Brandon Prust, former NHL forward.

R-S

• Jack Richardson, award-winning record producer, Lifetime Achievement Juno Award recipient, Order of Canada recipient, and educator at Fanshawe College
• Michael Riley, television actor
• John P. Robarts, premier of Ontario, 1961–1971
• Jesse Ronson, professional mixed martial artist
• Vic Roschkov Sr., newspaper editorial cartoonist/illustrator
• Jacob Ruby, football player Edmonton Eskimos
• J. Philippe Rushton, researcher and academician at University of Western Ontario
• Morley Safer, journalist^[46]
• Charles Edward Saunders, agricultural scientist, principal developer of Marquis wheat
• William Saunders, agricultural scientist, founder of Canada's Experimental Farm system
• Brett Seney, hockey player
• Shad, hip-hop musician^[47]
• Shaedon Sharpe, NBA player for the Portland Trail Blazers
• David Shore, television writer best known for House
• Christine Simpson, sports broadcaster, and sibling of Craig and Dave,
• Craig Simpson, NHL player, coach, and broadcaster.
• Dave Simpson, hockey player with the London Knights and professor at the Richard Ivey School of Business
• George Sipos, writer
• Jason Slaughter, creator of urbanist YouTube channel Not Just Bikes
• Meaghan Smith, singer-songwriter
• Timothy Snelgrove, founder of Timothy's World Coffee
• Ross Somerville, six-time Canadian Amateur Championship winner in golf, first Canadian to win U.S. Amateur in 1932
• Clara Sorrenti, Twitch streamer and transgender activist
• Jonny Staub, radio personality
• Barry Steers, Canadian Ambassador to Brazil (1971–1976), High Commissioner to Bermuda (1976–1979), Ambassador to Japan (1981–1989)
• Janaya Stephens, actress, star of the Left Behind movie series
• Adam Stern, Major League Baseball player with the Baltimore Orioles
• Jude St. John, veteran, all-star player with Toronto Argonauts
• Lara St. John, violinist^[48]
• Scott St. John, violinist and violist^[49]
• Sam Stout, Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor
• David Suzuki, geneticist, environmentalist, writer and broadcaster^[50]
• Nick Suzuki, NHL player for the Montreal Canadiens
• Ryan Suzuki, NHL prospect for the Carolina Hurricanes, with the Chicago Wolves

T-Z

• Salli Terri, mezzo-soprano
• Merle Tingley, cartoonist^[51]
• Ryan Thelwell, former National Football League player with San Diego Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers, 3 time Grey Cup Champion BC Lions and Calgary Stampeders
• Thine Eyes Bleed, metal band featuring Johnny Araya, brother of Slayer bassist and vocalist Tom Araya
• Jim Thompson, businessman, philanthropist, and sportsman
• Scott Thornton, former NHL player (ret. 2008)
• Tim Tindale, former American football player with Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears
• Five of the six Tolpuddle Martyrs, convicted in England for forming the first trade union there, settled in London
• Jason Tunks, Olympian, discus thrower
• Two Crown King, alternative rock and alternative hip hop band
• Mike Van Ryn, retired NHL player and Assistant Coach with St. Louis Blues.
• Tessa Virtue, figure skater^[52]
• Brian Vollmer, lead singer of Helix
• Jolene Van Vugt, first woman to perform a backflip on a dirt bike
• Shannon Walsh, documentary filmmaker
• Damian Warner, Gold Medal Olympian from the 2020 Summer Olympics in the Men's Decathlon^[53]
• Jack L. Warner, co-founder of Warner Brothers Studios^[54]
• Colton White, NHL player for the Anaheim Ducks
• Jeff Willmore, visual and performance artist
• Tomasz Winnicki, white supremacist, anti-Semite and subject of complaints before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
• Marion Woodman, Jungian and feminist writer
• Shelina Zadorsky, member of the Canadian Women's National Soccer Team, Bronze Olympic Medalist
• Jessica Zelinka, former Olympic athlete (heptathlon).

Notes and References

1. http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/PDFs/School-Project-FAQ.pdf Bio for school projects
2. Web site: Reaney . James . Final chapter for Article One . London Free Press . 29 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112124/https://lfpress.com/entertainment/music/2011/06/07/18249241.html . March 4, 2016.
3. News: Martin . Chip . Estate battle freezes out London artist's family . 2 December 2024 . The London Free Press . May 4, 2014.
4. Web site: Strauss . Victoria . A Conversation With R. Scott Bakker . The SF Site . 2 December 2024.
5. News: PHOTOS: 40 years since Londoner Karen Baldwin's Miss Universe win . The London Free Press . July 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220725114805/https://lfpress.com/news/local-news/photos-karen-baldwin . July 25, 2022.
6. Web site: Frederick G. Banting – Biographical . The Nobel Prize . Nobel Prize Orgnaisation . 2 December 2024.
7. Web site: Moran . Rodger J. . Joan Louise Barfoot . The Canadian Encyclopedia . 2 December 2024.
8. Web site: Power . Rebecca . John Davis Barnett . Western Libraries Digitized Collections . 2 December 2024.
9. Web site: Joe Bartoch . Canadian Athletes Now . 2 December 2024.
10. Web site: Mcmillan . Donald Burley . Helen Irene Battle . The Canadian Encylcopedia . 2 December 2024.
11. Web site: Nelles . H. V. . Sir Adam Beck . The Canadian Encyclopedia . 2 December 2024.
12. Web site: de Roo . Brad . Marc Bell interviewed . Notes and Queries . 2 December 2024.
13. News: Thomas Benner Obituary . 2 December 2024 . The London Free Press.
14. Web site: McLean . Steve . Justin Bieber . The Canadian Encyclopedia . 2 December 2024.
15. News: Pyette . Ryan . After near misses, London's Craig Billington finally savours Stanley Cup win . The London Free Press . June 29, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220629155351/https://lfpress.com/sports/hockey/after-couple-of-near-misses-craig-billington-finally-savours-stanley-cup-win . June 29, 2022.
16. Web site: The Birthday Massacre . The Garage . 2 December 2024.
17. Web site: Moran . Rodger J. . Victoria Grace Blackburn . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
18. Web site: 2024-10-29 . CTV National News: Twins make NFL history . 2024-10-29 . CBSSports.com . en.
19. Web site: Colombo . John Robert . Richard Maurice Bucke . The Canadian Encylopedia . 2 December 2024.
20. Web site: Tucker . Albert . Sir John Carling . The Canadian Encyclopedia . 2 December 2024.
21. Web site: Burnett . David . Jack Chambers . The Canadian Encyclopedia . 2 December 2024.
22. Web site: Franklin . C. A. . John Herbert Chapman . The Canadian Encyclopedia . 2 December 2024.
23. News: Retire at 60? No, Sir! Dr. J. Howard Crocker Carved a Second Career. Henderson. Jim. September 22, 1956. Brantford Expositor. Brantford, Ontario. 18. May 28, 2023. April 18, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230418102940/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-expositor-crocker-1956/122827468/. live.
24. Web site: Gardner . David . Hume Cronyn . The Canadian Encyclopedia . 2 December 2024.
25. Web site: Davey . Frank . Greg Curnoe . The Canadian Encyclopedia . 2 December 2024.
26. Web site: Radecki . Barbara M. . Lolita Davidovich . The Canadian Encyclopedia . 2 December 2024.
27. Web site: Alt . Marlene . Grandy . Karen . Christopher Dewdney . The Canadian Encyclopedia . 2 December 2024.
28. Web site: Nayman . Adam . Michael Dowse . The Canadian Encylopedia . 2 December 2024.
29. Web site: Piakowsky . Sandra . William Paterson Ewen . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
30. Web site: Remembering the Eager Beavers . The Londoner . 3 December 2024.
31. Web site: Townend . Paul . Victor Garber . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
32. Web site: Townend . Paul . Mullen . Patrick . Ryan Gosling . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
33. Web site: Mullen . Patrick . Wise . Wyndham . Mcintosh . Andrew . Paul Haggis . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
34. Web site: Butts . Edward . Jeremy Hansen . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
35. Web site: Seline . Janice . Jamelie Hassan . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
36. Web site: Johnson . Brian D. . Garth Hudson (Profile) . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
37. Web site: King . Betty Nygaard . Green . Richard . Tommy Hunter . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
38. Web site: Tucker . Albert . John Labatt . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
39. Web site: Wise . Wyndham . Gene Lockhart . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
40. Web site: Guy Lombardo . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
41. Web site: Guy Lombardo . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
42. Web site: Guy Lombardo . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
43. Web site: Mcintosh . Andrew . Gerhard . Emily . Rachel McAdams . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
44. Web site: Hale . James . Rob McConnell . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
45. Web site: Williams . Cheryl . Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
46. News: Maloney . Patrick . Morley Safer, a former Free Press reporter, became `enchanted? with TV, where his work has made him famous . 3 December 2024 . The London Free Press . Aug 22, 2013.
47. Web site: Stanley . Laura . Shad . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
48. Web site: King . Betty Nygaard . Lara St. John . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
49. Web site: Spier . Susan . Scott St. John . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
50. Web site: Bailey . Patricia G. . Phillipson . Donald J. C. . David Suzuki . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
51. News: Brown . Dan . Former London Free Press editorial cartoonist Merle Tingley attracted loyal following . 3 December 2024 . The London Free Press . Jan 25, 2014.
52. Web site: Williams . Cheryl . Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
53. Web site: Freeborn . Jeremy . Damian Warner . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.
54. Web site: Wise . Whyndham . Jack L. Warner . The Canadian Encylopedia . 3 December 2024.