Famous People From Rhode Island
Situated in the New England region of the United States, Rhode Island is one of the least populous states in the entire North American continent. Books that speak in length about the great American civil war, definitely mention the ‘Battle of Rhode island’ episode, such is the historic significance of this state. Apart from its places of interest and rich history, the state has also been popular for being a home to several famous celebrities. Renowned music composer Wendy Carlos, famous American politicians Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse as well as singer/songwriter Tanya Donnelly are a few world famous celebrities who are originally from Rhode Island. Jack Reed, a member of the ‘Democratic Party’, has represented the American state in the ‘U.S House Of Representatives’ from 1991 to 1997. He also falls in the league of high profile politicians in the United States today. Scroll below to know the names of other famous people who hail from Rhode Island. A few of these names might take you by surprise.
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1
H. P. Lovecraft(American Weird-Fiction Writer Known for Creating the Mythopoeia 'Cthulhu Mythos')
Birthdate: August 20, 1890
Sun Sign: Leo
Died: March 15, 1937
HP Lovecraft was a writer of weird and horror fiction and is known for his creation of Cthulhu Mythos, which has inspired a large body of games and music. His stories focused on his interpretation of humanity's place in the universe. He was virtually unknown during his lifetime, but is now considered a significant 20th-century author of supernatural horror fiction.
Birthdate: May 8, 1992
Sun Sign: Taurus
Olivia Culpo is an American social media personality and fashion influencer. She gained international recognition after winning the Miss Universe beauty pageant in 2012. As a fashion influencer, she has collaborated with many fashion and beauty brands, such as Kipling and L'Oréal. She also owns a restaurant in Rhode Island.
Birthdate: October 29, 1980
Sun Sign: Scorpio
American-born Puerto Rican retired boxer Miguel Cotto became the first Puerto Rican to win world boxing titles in four separate weight divisions. In 2017, he was ranked third in the best light middleweight category by The Ring magazine. He now owns a boxing promotion and a non-profit organization.
4
Mena Suvari(Best Known for Starring in Films Like ‘American Beauty’ and ‘American Pie’)
Birthdate: February 13, 1979
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Mena Suvari soared to fame with her SAG Award-winning role of Angela Hayes in American Beauty. Fans also loved her in the American Pie movies and the horror anthology American Horror Story. She also appeared as Edie in Six Feet Under. Mena endorses Lancôme cosmetics and uses cruelty-free products only.
Birthdate: October 14, 1952
Sun Sign: Libra
Died: April 16, 2018
Harry Anderson is best remembered for is Emmy-nominated role of Judge Harry Stone in Night Court and for his portrayal of Dave Barry in Dave's World. He was also a skilled magician and participated in magic shows such as Harry Anderson's Sideshow. He has also written several books.
6
Cormac McCarthy(One of the Greatest Contemporary American Writers Who is Known for His Graphic Depictions of Violence)
Birthdate: July 20, 1933
Sun Sign: Cancer
Renonwed as one of the most gifted contemporary writers, Cormac McCarthy is distinguished for his unique writing style and graphic depictions of violence. His novels depict wayward characters in the rural American South and Southwest. He shot to fame with his novel All The Pretty Horses and bagged in Pulitzer Prize for his post-apocalyptic novel The Road.
7
Pauly D(Disc Jockey, TV Personality and Cast Member of MTV's Reality Show ‘Jersey Shore’)
Birthdate: July 5, 1980
Sun Sign: Cancer
Paul D. DelVecchio Jr., also popular as Pauly D and DJ Pauly D, soared to fame with the MTV reality show Jersey Shore. He was also part of the A Double Shot at Love. After bagging a three-album deal with G-Unit Records, he released hits such as Back to Love.
8
Van Johnson(American Singer, Dancer, Theatre and Radio Actor)
Birthdate: August 25, 1916
Sun Sign: Virgo
Died: December 12, 2008
Van Johnson was an MGM star of Hollywood’s Golden Age. He was known for his signature red hair, freckles, and boy-next-door image. Some of notable films include Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo and A Guy Named Joe. He also appeared in series such as Rich Man, Poor Man.
9
Damien Chazelle
(Director Known for His Films 'Whiplash' (2014), 'La La Land' (2016), and 'First Man' (2018))
Birthdate: January 19, 1985
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Best known for his 2014 psychological drama film Whiplash, Damien Chazelle is a Rhode Island-born American film director and screenwriter. An alumnus of the Harvard University, he began his career with a black-and-white musical, writing screenplays before making his breakthrough with Whiplash, winning several awards not only for the film, but also for La La Land and First Man.
Birthdate: January 19, 1924
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Died: February 12, 1985
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
11
Elisabeth Hasselbeck(Television Personality and Former Co-Host on the ABC Daytime Talk Show ‘The View’)
Birthdate: May 28, 1977
Sun Sign: Gemini
Retired TV personality and talk show host, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, first gained fame as a contestant on the American version of the TV show, Survivor, in 2001. In the ensuing years, she became a co-host on the daytime talk show, The View, which further added to her popularity and earned her a Daytime Emmy Award. She is also a published author.
Birthdate: May 20, 1983
Sun Sign: Taurus
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
Birthdate: July 24, 1936
Sun Sign: Leo
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
Birthdate: November 14, 1939
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthdate: October 23, 1996
Sun Sign: Libra
Died: January 10, 2014
16
George M. Cohan(Entertainer, Playwright and Composer Who is Considered to be ‘The Father of American Musical Comedy’)
Birthdate: July 3, 1878
Sun Sign: Cancer
Died: November 5, 1942
Birthdate: April 10, 1794
Sun Sign: Aries
Died: March 4, 1858
18
Shanna Moakler(Model & Actress Know for Her Television Series 'Pacific Blue', 'Meet the Barkers')
Birthdate: March 28, 1975
Sun Sign: Aries
Shanna Moakler was the 1995 Miss New York USA and the first runner-up at the Miss USA contest that year. She has been a Playmate of the Month for Playboy. She has starred in Pacific Blue and in Meet the Barkers, appearing with her then-husband Travis Barker in the latter.
19
Lukasz Gottwald
(Record producer, singer songwriter)
Birthdate: September 26, 1973
Sun Sign: Libra
20
Demetrius Andrade
(American Professional Boxer Who Held Multiple World Championships in Two Weight Classes)
Birthdate: February 26, 1988
Sun Sign: Pisces
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
21
Zoë Chao
(TV and stage Actress and screenwriter prominently known for her role as Isobel in Strangers)
Birthdate: September 19, 1985
Sun Sign: Virgo
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
Birthdate: May 20, 1927
Sun Sign: Taurus
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
23
Kirsten Price
(Pornographic actor)
Birthdate: November 13, 1981
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
Birthdate: March 3, 2001
Sun Sign: Pisces
25
Nathanael Greene(Major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War)
Birthdate: August 7, 1742
Sun Sign: Leo
Died: June 19, 1786
Birthdate: August 9, 1918
Sun Sign: Leo
Died: December 5, 1983
Birthdate: October 3, 1949
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthdate: August 2, 1980
Sun Sign: Leo
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
Birthdate: April 10, 1946
Sun Sign: Aries
Died: September 11, 2001
30
Claudia Jordan
(American Talk Show Host, Actress and Businesswoman)
Birthdate: April 12, 1973
Sun Sign: Aries
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
Birthdate: July 9, 1998
Sun Sign: Cancer
32
Blu Cantrell
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: March 16, 1976
Sun Sign: Pisces
33
Nap Lajoie
(Baseball player)
Birthdate: September 5, 1874
Sun Sign: Virgo
Died: February 7, 1959
34
Jason Marsden
(Actor, Film director)
Birthdate: January 3, 1975
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
Birthdate: March 22, 1966
Sun Sign: Aries
American politician and US Senator from Arizona (2019-2020), Martha McSally served in the US Air Force for 26 years, eventually becoming the first woman to fly in combat and command a fighter-squadron. Retired as colonel, she is also noted for successfully suing the US authority for mandating US servicewoman stationed in Saudi Arabia to wear body covering while traveling off-base.
36
Aaron T. Beck
(American Psychiatrist Who Was Regarded as the Father of Cognitive Therapy)
Birthdate: July 18, 1921
Sun Sign: Cancer
Died: October 1, 2021
37
Spike Dudley
(Professional wrestler, Teacher)
Birthdate: August 13, 1970
Sun Sign: Leo
38
Pat Toomey(United States Senator from Pennsylvania (Jan 2011 - Jan 2023))
Birthdate: November 17, 1961
Sun Sign: Scorpio
39
Joan Holloway
(Founder, Director of "Holloway-Harris")
Birthdate: December 22, 1929
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Died: August 31, 2014
40
Jeffrey Osborne
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: March 9, 1948
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthdate: April 13, 1942
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthdate: April 2, 1952
Sun Sign: Aries
Died: July 27, 2001
43
Frank Caprio
(Judge, Television presenter)
Birthdate: November 24, 1936
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthdate: July 3, 1978
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthdate: June 22, 1981
Sun Sign: Cancer
Died: February 1, 2015
46
Oliver Hazard Perry
(Former U.S. naval officer who became a national hero when he defeated a British squadron in the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812)
Birthdate: August 23, 1785
Sun Sign: Virgo
Died: August 23, 1819
Birthdate: December 11, 1931
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Died: February 14, 2013
48
Thomas H. Ince
(Film Producer)
Birthdate: November 16, 1880
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Died: November 19, 1924
49
Kelly Clark
(American Snowboarder and Olympic Gold Medalist)
Birthdate: July 26, 1983
Sun Sign: Leo
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
50
Rocco Baldelli
(Baseball player)
Birthdate: September 25, 1981
Sun Sign: Libra
