Famous People From Florida

A rapper and singer, XXXTentacion, gained fame with the success of the song, Look at Me, and release of albums like 17 and ?. In his personal life, he faced multiple legal issues from the beginning. He was shot dead at the young age of 20. XXXTentacion had a cult following among the youth owing to his depression and alienation thematic driven music.

A talented youngster, Ariana Grande first stepped into the world of entertainment through Broadway musical 13 and later shot to fame with television series Victorious and its spinoff, Sam & Cat. Her television series also kick started her musical career which flourished with the release of her five commercially successful and critically applauded albums and collaborations with various other artists.

The current WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, is one of the most popular WWE superstars of the current generation. After battling leukemia for 11 years, Reigns announced that he would take an indefinite break to receive treatment. He made a comeback in 2019 and went on to reestablish his position as a popular champion.

A rock icon and creator of sprit-lifting songs, Thomas Earl Petty was one of the defining musicians of the 1970s and the lead vocalist and guitarist of the band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Writing songs and creating music up till his last breath, Petty is noted for positivity and self- liberation themed songs, a rarity in rock music.

Considered the prototypical rock star, Jim Morrison remains one of the most influential singer-songwriters, almost five decades after his death. Jim influenced the counterculture of the 1960s as he embodied the hippie counterculture rebellion. Due to his erratic performances and wild personality, he is regarded as one of the most iconic frontmen in rock history.

American football player Deion Sanders is considered one of the strongest pass defenders of the game. He was an electrifying athlete and played in the National Football League for 14 seasons. He played for teams like Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens. He is now a coach and a sports analyst. He’s also a rapper.

Widely regarded as the greatest dunker ever in basketball history, Vince Carter is an American former basketball player. His leaping ability during his playing career often entertained crowds, earning him nicknames like Half Man, Half Amazing and Vinsanity. Also a philanthropist, Carter set up the Embassy of Hope Foundation, which helps children in places like New Jersey, Florida, and Ontario.

Sidney Poitier was a Bahamian-American actor who became the first Afro-Bahamian and Black male actor to receive an Oscar for Best Actor in 1964. In 2009, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His life and work inspired a couple of documentary films, including the 2008 film Sidney Poitier, an Outsider in Hollywood.

Debbie Harry is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She is credited with co-founding the popular rock band Blondie, which pioneered the American punk rock and later the new wave genre. Also a well-known philanthropist, Debbie Harry works with charities that fight against endometriosis and cancer.

Painter, art instructor, and television host, Bob Ross, gained international fame as the creator and host of the instructional TV show, The Joy of Painting. He served in the United States Air Force for several years before embarking on a career as a painter. He had a deep love for animals and cared for several injured squirrels, armadillos, and snakes.

Argentine-British actress, Anya Taylor-Joy, first gained international fame with her role in the period horror film, The Witch. She is trained in ballet dancing and began her career as a model when she was just 16. Her modelling career paved the way for acting and soon she was playing significant roles in TV series and films.

Regarded as one of the most beautiful Latin women, Eva Mendes has often appeared in lists, such as Most Desirable Women, Sexiest Women in the World, and Beautiful at Every Age. Apart from acting and modeling, Eva also focuses on her fashion designing career and is currently serving as the creative director for a makeup line called CIRCA Beauty.

The current governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis became the youngest incumbent governor of a US state at the age of 42. Also an attorney and naval officer, Ron DeSantis was honored with the Bronze Star Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his military service.

Bella Thorne is an American actress who became popular with her portrayal of the character of CeCe Jones on the sitcom Shake it Up. Born to a poor family of mixed descent, Bella Thorne had to start working at a young age to support her single mother. She had a difficult childhood marred by poverty and sexual abuse. She is openly pansexual.

Named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2017, actress Sarah Paulson has been appearing in theater productions, TV shows, and films since the mid-1990s. She has appeared in both comedic and dramatic roles and has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Primetime Emmy Award.

Laila Ali is an American former professional boxer. The daughter of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, Laila Ali competed from 1999 to 2007, during which she remained undefeated. She is also credited with saving wrestling legend Hulk Hogan's life by calling him when he was suicidal and depressed. After retiring from professional boxing, Laila Ali became a television personality.

Ray Lewis is a former American football player who spent his entire 17-year career with the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Widely regarded as one of the greatest middle linebackers in the history of NFL, Ray Lewis helped his team win two Super Bowl championships. He is also regarded as the greatest player in Baltimore Ravens' history.

Faye Dunaway is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Diana Christensen in the 1976 satirical black comedy-drama film Network, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress. Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and greatest actresses of her generation, Faye Dunaway is also considered a symbol of the New Hollywood.

Bray Wyatt is a professional wrestler. Signed to the popular wrestling promotion WWE, Bray Wyatt uses intimidation as a major factor to gain an upper hand over his opponents. He also uses gimmicks, such as playing with his opponents' psychology to win matches. Wyatt has held several championship titles, such as the WWE Universal Championship and WWE Championship.

Norman Reedus is an American multi-talented personality who established himself as a model and actor after working as a painter, photographer, video artist, and sculptor. He still displays his artwork in places like New York City, Frankfurt, and Berlin. An animal lover, Reedus urged to end cosmetic tests on animals by participating in a Cruelty Free International advertisement in 2015.

YNW Melly is an American rapper whose song Murder on My Mind became a huge hit, especially after Melly was charged with double-murder. In 2019, he pleaded not guilty and is currently awaiting trial. If proven guilty, he could face life imprisonment or even capital punishment. Apart from the double-murder charges, he is a suspect in the 2017 murder of a sheriff's deputy.

Antonio Brown is an American football player and one of the most popular wide receivers in the history of the National Football League (NFL). Controversy's favorite child, Brown is a testimony to the fact that one's personal behavior can have a major impact on their professional life; his off-the-field controversies have marred his otherwise illustrious playing career.

The current White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany is also a political commentator, author and a lawyer. The highly educated, confident and energetic McEnany worked for Fox News and CNN before she shot to fame during the 2016 presidential election for her support for Donald Trump.

Emmitt Smith is a former American footballer who helped the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League win three Super Bowl championships between 1993 and 1996. He remains NFL's all-time leading rusher and is the only running back to win a Super Bowl. A humanitarian, Smith is credited with founding a nonprofit organization called the Pat & Emmitt Smith Charities.

Carla Gugino started off as a model while attending acting classes. She was appreciated for her memorable performances as Ingrid in the Spy Kids trilogy, as Jessie in Gerald's Game, and as Olivia in The Haunting of Hill House. She and her long-term boyfriend, interestingly, do not believe in marriage.

A multi-talented personality, Maya Rudolph is known for her acting, singing, and comedic skills. Apart from playing supporting roles in popular films, such as 50 First Dates and Grown Ups, Maya played a crucial role in Saturday Night Live from 2000 to 2007, during which she impersonated personalities like Kamala Harris, for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award.

A social media celebrity and a professional high-stakes poker player, Dan Bilzerian is known for his extravagant lifestyle and penchant for extreme sports. The King of Instagram, who has also acted in quite a few movies, has a huge fan base, but his lifestyle has landed him in multiple controversies and has also caused two heart attacks.

 Amy Dumas (Lita) is an animal welfare activist, singer, and retired professional wrestler. Beginning her career as a wrestler, she was a full-time wrestler with WWE for a few years. After her retirement, she embarked on her second career as a singer and founded the punk rock band, The Luchagors. She is a dedicated animal lover as well.

Lil Pump is an American singer-songwriter and rapper. He is counted among the most important rappers of the SoundCloud rap scene. Known for his hyperactive public persona, Lil Pump has often been criticised for using drugs, such as xanax, marijuana, and lean, without discretion. He has also been arrested on a number of occasions for various reasons.

The quintessential vampire-killer of Hollywood, Wesley Snipes is best known for his action-oriented films, such as the Blade film trilogy and The Expendables 3. Apart from being an actor, Wesley Snipes is also a martial artist, and hence often portray roles that require him to perform stunts. He is a black belt holder in Hapkido and Shotokan Karate.

Kodak Black is an American singer, songwriter, and rapper. He gained recognition after releasing hit albums, such as Painting Pictures and Dying to Live. A well-known philanthropist, Kodak Black announced in 2018 that he was in the process of building a school in Haiti. Over the years, he has also donated money for various charitable causes.

William H. Macy is a popular American actor whose career has spanned more than four decades. Apart from being an actor and director, Macy is also an avid woodturner, serving as an inspiration to several woodturners in the country. He also works closely with a nonprofit charitable organization called United Cerebral Palsy, serving as its national ambassador.

Lamar Jackson is an American football player who currently plays for the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL. In 2018, he became the youngest football quarterback to start a playoff game and helped his team win the AFC North division title. In 2019, Lamar Jackson became only the fourth African-American quarterback to win the prestigious Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player Award.

Sofia Daccarett Char is an American singer and actress known for playing important roles in TV films and series like Adventures in Babysitting and Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists. Apart from being an actress, Sofia also serves as Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation's global ambassador, promoting the foundation's educational programs and mission. She is also the global ambassador of Revlon.

Noah Centineo is an American actor and co-founder of a nonprofit initiative called Favored Nations. Favored Nations is credited with raising money for a number of nonprofit organizations, such as Policing Equity, Color of Change, and Black Lives Matter. The initiative has encouraged many celebrities and social media influencers to participate in philanthropic activities and donate to various charitable causes.

American actor Josh Gad is credited with bringing the famous character Olaf to life with his impressive voice-acting skills in the Frozen franchise. He is also credited with launching Reunited Apart, a YouTube series, which reunites the cast of popular movies. The series also encourages viewers to support charity organizations, such as No Kid Hungry, Project Hope, and Dig Deep.

Bobby Shmurda is one of the most popular American rappers to serve a prison sentence. After releasing his debut EP, he was arrested on charges of conspiracy to murder, reckless endangerment, and weapons possession. Initially sentenced to seven years in prison, his term was later reduced to five years. In 2017, he claimed that he was writing music in prison.

Former American boxer Roy Jones Jr. was born to a boxer father. Despite his defeat in the gold medal match at the 1988 Seoul Olympics due to a faulty decision by the judges, he won the Val Barker Award. He was the second light heavyweight champion to earn a heavyweight title.

American singer Jason Derulo is one of the best-selling and popular musicians of present times. His forte is pop, but his music also encompasses R&B and hip-hop. Whatcha Say, Don't Wanna Go Home, Talk Dirty, In My Head, Savage Love, The Other Side and Wiggle are some of his smash hit songs. He also acts in movies and television shows.

Mimi Rogers is an American actress and producer. She is credited with introducing Scientology to her ex-husband Tom Cruise, which later on to had a major impact on Tom's life. Also a former poker player, Mimi Rogers has competed in several poker tournaments and is currently on the board of directors of the World Poker Tour.

Bailee Madison started her career as a child actress before successfully establishing herself as an adult actress. This American actress, who is famous for playing important roles in films like Brothers and Just Go with It, has also worked closely with the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, serving as its national youth spokesperson since 2010.