Famous People From West Virginia

This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

West Virginia is a state of great historic importance. The presence of mountains and several hilly terrains has made this a popular haven for mining since many years. The state is also known for being a home to several renowned celebrities of today. TV host and writer Steve Harvey, Confederate Leader Thomas Jackson as well as actor and voiceover artist Brad Dourif are eminent personalities from West Virginia. It is believed that these personalities and several yesteryear celebs shared a special bond with their hometown – West Virginia. Steve has hosted several acclaimed television shows such as ‘The Steve Harvey Morning Show’, ‘Family Feud’ and ‘Little Big Shots’ as well as many others. He is also the writer of the bestseller ‘Act Like A Lady. Think Like A Man’. People who still remember their history lessons would probably be aware of Confederate General Thomas Jackson’s role in the American Civil War. For those of you who don’t know, here are the names of other distinguished personalities from West Virginia.

Vote for Your Favourite People From West Virginia

Steve Harvey

(Comedian, Actor and TV Host)

284

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birthdate: January 17, 1957

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

Randy Moss

(One of the Greatest and Most Talented Football Wide Receivers of All Time)

120

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birthdate: February 13, 1977

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Height: 6'4" (193 cm)

John Forbes Nash Jr.

(Mathematician)

Listed In: Scientists

Birthdate: June 13, 1928

Sun Sign: Gemini

Died: May 23, 2015

Recommended Lists:

New York

California

Texas

Jerry West

(American Basketball Executive and Former Player)

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birthdate: May 28, 1938

Sun Sign: Gemini

Height: 6'3" (190 cm)

Recommended Lists:

(Mathematician and One of the First African-American Women to Work as a NASA Scientist)

377

Listed In: Scientists

Birthdate: August 26, 1918

Sun Sign: Virgo

Died: February 24, 2020

Stonewall Jackson

(One of the Best-Known Confederate Commanders During the American Civil War)

Listed In: Leaders

Birthdate: January 21, 1824

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Died: May 10, 1863

Recommended Lists:

Ohio

Florida

New Jersey

John Corbett

(Actor and Country Music Singer)

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birthdate: May 9, 1961

Sun Sign: Taurus

Height: 6'5" (196 cm)

Chuck Yeager

(American Test Pilot and the First Air Force Officer to Exceed the Speed of Sound in Flight)

110

Listed In: Miscellaneous

Birthdate: February 13, 1923

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Died: December 7, 2020

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

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Michigan

Georgia

Louisiana

Brad Douglas Paisley

(Country Music Singer and Songwriter)

Listed In: Singers

Birthdate: October 28, 1972

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

Mary Lou Retton

(American Retired Gymnast and Olympic Gold Medallist)

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birthdate: January 24, 1968

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Height: 4'9" (145 cm)

Recommended Lists:

(Actor)

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birthdate: March 18, 1950

Sun Sign: Pisces

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

Conchata Ferrell

(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Berta’ in the TV Series ‘Two and a Half Men’)

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birthdate: March 28, 1943

Sun Sign: Aries

Died: October 12, 2020

Height: 5'3" (160 cm)

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Indiana

Connecticut

Maryland

Chris Sarandon

(Actor)

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birthdate: July 24, 1942

Sun Sign: Leo

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

Lou Holtz

( Former American Football Player, Coach, and Analyst)

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birthdate: January 6, 1937

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

Recommended Lists:

Washington

Alabama

Tennessee

Jason Williams

(Former Basketball player at point guard)

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birthdate: November 18, 1975

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

Nick Saban

(One of the Greatest College Football Coaches of All Time)

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birthdate: October 31, 1951

Sun Sign: Scorpio

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(Baseball Player)

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birthdate: May 15, 1953

Sun Sign: Taurus

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

Joyce DeWitt

(Actress and Comedian Known for Her Role as ‘Janet Wood’ in the TV Series ‘Three's Company')

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birthdate: April 23, 1949

Sun Sign: Taurus

Height: 5'3" (160 cm)

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South Carolina

Mississippi

Iowa

Katie Lee

(Cook, Author, journalist)

Listed In: Food Experts

Birthdate: September 14, 1981

Sun Sign: Virgo

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Deron Williams

(Basketball player)

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birthdate: June 26, 1984

Sun Sign: Cancer

Height: 6'3" (190 cm)

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Oklahoma

Colorado

Kansas

Jessica Lynch

(Soldier)

Listed In: Miscellaneous

Birthdate: April 26, 1983

Sun Sign: Taurus

Carwood Lipton

(United States Army Officer)

Listed In: Leaders

Birthdate: January 30, 1920

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Died: December 16, 2001

Recommended Lists:

Arizona

Oregon

Arkansas

Jimbo Fisher

(American Football coach)

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birthdate: October 9, 1965

Sun Sign: Libra

Josh Stewart

(Best Known for His Roles in the TV Series ‘Dirt’, ‘Criminal Minds’ and ‘Third Watch’)

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birthdate: February 6, 1977

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

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Nebraska

Utah

Hawaii

Pearl Buck

(Winner of the 1938 Nobel Prize in Literature)

Listed In: Activists

Birthdate: June 26, 1892

Sun Sign: Cancer

Died: March 6, 1973

Cynthia Germanotta

(American Philanthropist, President of the ‘Born This Way Foundation’ and Mother of Singer Lady Gaga)

Listed In: Miscellaneous

Birthdate: August 30, 1954

Sun Sign: Virgo

Height: 5'6" (168 cm)

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Maine

Rhode Island

New Hampshire

Morgan Spurlock

(Film director)

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birthdate: November 7, 1970

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)

Homer Hickam

(Aerospace Engineer)

Listed In: Engineers

Birthdate: February 19, 1943

Sun Sign: Pisces

Recommended Lists:

Nevada

Idaho

New Mexico

Henry Louis Gates Jr.

(Literary Critic and Scholar Who Became Popular for His Pioneering Theories of African and African-American Literature)

Listed In: Critics & Connoisseurs

Birthdate: September 16, 1950

Sun Sign: Virgo

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Joanne Dru

(Actress)

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birthdate: January 31, 1922

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Died: September 10, 1996

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Recommended Lists:

Montana

Vermont

North Dakota

Bernie Casey

(Actor)

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birthdate: June 8, 1939

Sun Sign: Gemini

Died: September 19, 2017

Height: 6'4" (193 cm)

Joe Manchin

(United States Senator from West Virginia)

Listed In: Leaders

Birthdate: August 24, 1947

Sun Sign: Virgo

Height: 6'3" (190 cm)

Recommended Lists:

South Dakota

Delaware

Alaska

Paul Dooley

(Actor)

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birthdate: February 22, 1928

Sun Sign: Pisces

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

O. J. Mayo

(Basketball Player)

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birthdate: November 5, 1987

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Height: 6'4" (193 cm)

Recommended Lists:

Wyoming

West Virginia Actresses

West Virginia Actors

Bob Huggins

(Basketball coach)

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birthdate: September 21, 1953

Sun Sign: Virgo

Height: 6'3" (190 cm)

Gino Marchetti

(American Football Player)

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birthdate: January 2, 1926

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Died: April 29, 2019

Height: 6'4" (193 cm)

Recommended Lists:

West Virginia Leaders

West Virginia Basketball Players

West Virginia Football Players

Thomas Massie

(Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 4th District )

Listed In: Leaders

Birthdate: January 13, 1971

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Ryan Switzer

(American football player)

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birthdate: November 4, 1994

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

Recommended Lists:

West Virginia Musicians

Peter Marshall (Entertainer)

Listed In: Media Personalities

Birthdate: March 30, 1926

Sun Sign: Aries

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)

Harry R. Truman

(Businessman)

Listed In: Business People

Birthdate: October 30, 1896

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Died: May 18, 1980

Mike D'Antoni

(Basketball player)

Listed In: Sportspersons

Birthdate: May 8, 1951

Sun Sign: Taurus

Height: 6'3" (190 cm)

Jimmy Dickens

(Singer)

Listed In: Singers

Birthdate: December 19, 1920

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Died: January 2, 2015

Height: 4'11" (150 cm)

Bobby Campo

(Actor)

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birthdate: March 9, 1983

Sun Sign: Pisces

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

Aaron Staton

(Actor)

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birthdate: August 2, 1980

Sun Sign: Leo

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

David Selby

(Actor)

Listed In: Film & Theater Personalities

Birthdate: February 5, 1941

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)

Chris Stirewalt

(American Political News Commentator and Editor for Newsnation)

Listed In: Media Personalities

Birthdate: November 17, 1975

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Kathy Mattea

(Singer-songwriter)

Listed In: Singers

Birthdate: June 21, 1959

Sun Sign: Gemini

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Basil L. Plumley

(Military personnel)

Listed In: Leaders

Birthdate: January 1, 1920

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Died: October 10, 2012

Brianna Wu

(Video Game Developer)

Listed In: Miscellaneous

Birthdate: July 6, 1977

Sun Sign: Cancer

Height: 6'4" (193 cm)

George Armitage Miller

(Psychologist)

Listed In: Intellectuals & Academics

Birthdate: February 3, 1920

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Died: July 22, 2012