List of people from New Orleans

This is a list of notable individuals who are or were natives, or notable as residents of, or in association with the American city of New Orleans, Louisiana.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Academia

• Will W. Alexander, first president of Dillard University and head of the Commission on Interracial Cooperation
• Stephen Ambrose, historian and University of New Orleans professor
• William Balée, anthropologist and Tulane University professor
• Charles C. Bass, physician and researcher in tropical medicine and dental health
• Elizabeth Bass, physician, educator, and suffragist
• Stanhope Bayne-Jones, physician, member of US Surgeon General's Committee linking smoking to cancer
• Joan W. Bennett, biologist and former Tulane University professor
• Florence Borders, archivist and historian at the Amistad Research Center
• Cyril Y. Bowers, physician and endocrinology researcher
• Rick Brewer, president of Louisiana College since 2015; born in New Orleans in 1956
• Douglas Brinkley, historian, author and former University of New Orleans and Tulane University professor
• Brené Brown, professor of social work; author
• George E. Burch, pioneering physician, cardiovascular disease researcher, medical school professor
• John R. Conniff, educator and university administrator
• Scott Cowen, former president of Tulane University
• Michael DeBakey, pioneer in heart surgery
• Albert W. Dent, president of Dillard University, chief executive of Flint-Goodridge Hospital
• James H. Dillard, educator, advocate for education of African-Americans
• John Duffy, medical historian
• Michael T. Dugan, educator and accounting scholar
• Joseph Ewan, botanist and biology professor
• Alcée Fortier, folklorist, historian, and university professor
• Mary L. Good, scientist and university professor
• Clifton H. Johnson, historian and founder of the Amistad Research Center
• Eamon Kelly, President of Tulane University
• Salman Khan, educator
• James A. Knight, psychiatrist, theologian, and medical ethicist
• Rudolph Matas, innovative surgeon at Tulane Medical School
• Gordon H. Mueller, historian and administrator at the University of New Orleans
• Ernest Lagarde literature and languages, professor and author
• Alton Ochsner, surgeon and medical researcher, founded the Ochsner Medical Center
• Max Rafferty, public school administrator and writer
• Andrew V. Schally, endocrinologist and Nobel Laureate
• Mary S. Sherman, cancer researcher and physician
• Royal D. Suttkus, biologist, founder of a major ichthyology collection
• Lewis Thomas, physician, researcher, and author of popular non-fiction
• Jeffrey Vitter, computer scientist and Purdue University dean
• Harold E. Vokes, zoologist and paleontologist

Architecture

• Jean-Louis Dolliole, architect-builder who was a free person of color in the Antebellum era
• James Freret, architect, designed many 19th century homes in New Orleans
• William Alfred Freret, architect, supervising architect for federal building in the 19th century
• James Gallier Jr., architect, designed the French Opera House in New Orleans
• Moise H. Goldstein Sr., architect of extensive designs in the early 20th century
• Henry Howard, 19th century Irish-American architect
• Richard Koch, architectural preservationist and photographer
• Albert C. Ledner, 20th century architect
• Emile Weil, 20th century architect
• Leonard Spangenberg, 20th century architect
• Leon C. Weiss, architect commissioned by Huey P. Long
• Elizebeth Thomas Werlein, conservationist of the French Quarter of New Orleans

Arts and literature

• Enrique Alferez, sculptor
• John James Audubon, painter, ornithologist, naturalist
• Vernel Bagneris, playwright, actor, director, singer, dancer
• E. J. Bellocq, photographer
• Eloise Bibb Thompson, poet, fiction writer, and playwright
• Skip Bolen, photographer
• Roark Bradford, fiction writer
• Poppy Z. Brite, writer
• William S. Burroughs, writer
• George Washington Cable, writer
• Georgine Campbell, painter
• Truman Capote, writer
• John Churchill Chase, writer and cartoonist
• Kate Chopin, writer, feminist
• Marcus Bruce Christian, poet, folklorist and historian
• Ben Claassen III, illustrator and comics artist, DIRTFARM
• Andrei Codrescu, poet and commentator
• Florestine Perrault Collins, photographer
• Alice Dalsheimer, poet
• Edgar Degas, artist
• Thomas Dent, poet and writer
• John Bull Smith Dimitry Creole author known for Le Tombeau Blanc
• George Washington Dixon, newspaper editor
• Alexander John Drysdale, artist
• George Dureau, artist and photographer
• Caroline Durieux, artist and printmaker
• William Faulkner, writer
• Elissa Minet Fuchs, ballerina
• Daniel F. Galouye, science fiction writer
• Whitney Gaskell, writer, attended Tulane Law School which was the setting of her 2006 novel Testing Kate
• Rolland Golden, artist
• Shirley Ann Grau, writer
• Lafcadio Hearn, writer
• Knute Heldner, artist
• Lillian Hellman, writer
• George Herriman, Krazy Kat cartoonist
• Emma Churchman Hewitt, writer, journalist
• May Hyman Lesser, medical illustrator
• Walter Isaacson, writer, journalist, public policy analyst
• Charles Edward Kerbs, artist
• Frances Parkinson Keyes, writer
• Grace King, writer
• Dominique Lapierre, writer
• Elmore Leonard, author
• Michael Lewis, writer
• Shantrelle P. Lewis, curator
• Bunny Matthews, cartoonist
• Louis-Alphonse Maureau, painter
• Robert Bledsoe Mayfield, artist
• John McCrady, artist
• James Michalopoulos, artist
• Marie Madeleine Seebold Molinary, artist
• Gertrude Morgan, artist, musician, poet and preacher
• Sergio Rossetti Morosini, diplomat, painter, sculptor, filmmaker, naturalist
• Alice Dunbar Nelson, poet, journalist and political activist
• Isadora Newman, artist, poet, storyteller, sculptor
• David Ohle, writer
• Paul E. Poincy, artist
• Bart Ramsey, composer, author, singer and jazz musician
• Matthew Randazzo V, writer
• Anne Rice, writer of vampire tales and other Gothic fiction
• John T. Scott, artist and sculptor
• Kendall Shaw, abstract expressionist painter
• John Kennedy Toole, writer of A Confederacy of Dunces
• Alexandrea Weis, author
• Lucille Western, actress
• William Woodward, painter

Business and economics

• Frank Abadie, businessman and horse race promoter.
• Micaela Almonester, 19th-century businesswoman and real estate developer
• George Bissell, entrepreneur, founded the first oil company in the United States
• Isaac Delgado, businessman and philanthropist, benefactor of Delgado Community College
• Constant C. Dejoie Sr., business leader
• William C. Edenborn, railroad magnate, industrialist and inventor
• Charles E. Fenner, businessperson, co-founder of Fenner & Beane, a forerunner of Merrill Lynch
• Ruth Fertel, businesswoman, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
• Avram Glazer, businessman and sports franchise owner
• Leon Godchaux, businessman and sugar merchant
• George A. Hero, entrepreneur known locally as the "Drainage King"
• Daniel Henry Holmes, 19th-century businessman
• Victor Kiam, entrepreneur
• Thomy Lafon, businessman, human rights activist
• John McDonogh (1779–1850), shipping, land speculation (world's largest private landholder ca. 1850), philanthropist and namesake of many New Orleans schools
• Alexander Milne, 18th-century businessman and entrepreneur
• Oliver Pollock, merchant, financier of the American Revolutionary War
• Benjamin M. Rosen, computer entrepreneur
• John G. Schwegmann, supermarket innovator
• Clay Shaw, businessman
• Edgar B. Stern Sr, businessperson and philanthropist
• Patrick F. Taylor, businessperson and philanthropist
• Judah Touro, businessman and philanthropist
• Martin de Villamil or Martin Villamil (1783–1843), businessman
• Philip P. Werlein, music publisher and retailer
• Samuel Zemurray, businessman and philanthropist

Cuisine

• Edward Baquet, restaurateur and civil rights activist
• Owen Brennan, restaurateur
• Leah Chase, chef
• Al Copeland, restaurateur, Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits and Copeland's restaurants
• Ruth Fertel, restaurateur, Ruth's Chris Steak House
• Beulah Levy Ledner, pastry chef
• Austin Leslie, chef

Crime

• Axeman of New Orleans, mysterious mass murderer
• Sylvestro Carolla, mafia boss
• Wilson Chouest, serial rapist and killer of two women in California
• Antoinette Frank, former New Orleans Police Officer
• Ivory Harris, drug trafficker and weapons trafficker
• Jean Lafitte, pirate and brother of Pierre Lafitte
• Pierre Lafitte, pirate and brother of Jean Lafitte
• Delphine LaLaurie, socialite and sadist
• Carlos Marcello, businessman and mafia boss
• Lee Harvey Oswald, assassin
• Ronald A. Williams II, murdered New Orleans police officer

Fictional

• Mr. Bingle, snowman that assisted Santa Claus and worked at Maison Blanche Department Store
• Benjamin Button, man who is born old and grows young, in a film loosely adapted from an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story
• Louis de Pointe du Lac, vampire appearing in Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles
• Ignatius J. Reilly, hero of John Kennedy Toole's novel A Confederacy of Dunces (1980)
• Seymore D. Fair, 1984 Louisiana World Exposition Mascot, celebrity cartoon character, advocate for animal, people, and planet welfare
• Gambit, Marvel Comics superhero (X-Men)
• Marcel Gerard, vampire appearing in Julie Plec's The Originals
• Hazel Levesque, previous residence before moving and first death, appearing in Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan
• Morgus the Magnificent, mad scientist and horror movie host
• Dwayne Cassius "King" Pride, NCIS Supervisory Agent, NCIS: New Orleans
• Benjamin Sisko, Starfleet captain (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
• Princess Tiana, heroine of Disney's animated film The Princess and the Frog

Film, television and entertainment

• Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, actor
• Bryan Batt, actor
• Sandra Bullock, actress
• Kitty Carlisle, entertainer
• Paul Carr, actor
• John Carroll, actor and singer
• Laura Cayouette, actor and author
• Hong Chau, actress
• Patricia Clarkson, actress
• Marshall Colt, psychologist and former actor
• Frank Joseph Davis, television journalist and cookbook author
• Bianca Del Rio, drag queen and comedian
• Ellen DeGeneres, comedian and talk show host
• Vance DeGeneres, actor, screenwriter and musician
• Raquel "Rocsi" Diaz, television host
• Faith Domergue, actress
• Donna Douglas, actress
• Allison Harvard, runner-up of the twelfth cycle of America's Next Top Model
• Dwight Henry, actor
• Gloria Henry, actress
• Cheryl Holdridge, actress
• Indigo, actress
• Eddie Jemison, actor
• Bayn Johnson, former child actress and singer
• Leatrice Joy, actress
• Dorothy Lamour, actress
• John Larroquette, actor
• Sabrina LeBeauf, actress
• Anthony Mackie, actor
• Evan Mather, director
• Tristin Mays, actress
• Adah Isaacs Menken, actress
• Taylor Miller, actress
• Garrett Morris, comedian and actor
• Ed Nelson, actor
• Mark Normand, stand-up comedian
• Chris Owens, burlesque performer and entrepreneur
• Pauley Perrette, actress
• Tyler Perry, actor, director
• Wendell Pierce, actor,
• Godfrey Reggio, experimental filmmaker and documentarian
• Stassi Schroeder, television personality, model and author
• Al Shea, actor and theatre critic
• Neferteri Shepherd, model and actress
• Sydney Shields, stage actress
• Richard Simmons, fitness personality
• Harold Sylvester, actor
• Jay Thomas, actor
• Sam Trammell, actor
• Ben Turpin, silent film comedian
• Ray Walston, actor
• Carl Weathers, actor
• Walter Williams, comedian
• Tommy Wiseau, actor and director
• Cora Witherspoon, actress
• Reese Witherspoon, actress
• Grace Zabriskie, actress

Journalism

• Jim Amoss, journalist and newspaper editor
• Dean Baquet, journalist and newspaper editor
• Jason Berry, investigative journalist and historian
• David Bernard, television meteorologist
• James Carville, Democratic Party political consultant and pundit
• Buddy Diliberto, sports journalist
• Charles Patton Dimitry Creole journalist, poet, and author known for The House in Balfour Street
• Dorothy Dix, journalist
• Christopher Drew, investigative reporter
• Charles L. "Pie" Dufour, newspaper columnist and historian
• Hap Glaudi, television sportscaster
• Victor Gold, journalist and political consultant, reared in New Orleans
• Bryant Gumbel, television anchor
• Greg Gumbel, television sportscaster
• Ira B. Harkey Jr., newspaper journalist, civil rights advocate
• Jim Henderson, television sportscaster
• Iris Kelso, journalist for three New Orleans newspapers and WDSU television commentator
• Hoda Kotb, television anchor
• Mel Leavitt, television journalist and historian
• Angus Lind, newspaper journalist
• Wayne Mack, television sportscaster
• John Maginnis, journalist, political commentator, and author of The Last Hayride, The Cross to Bear, and The Politics of Reform
• Ora Mae Lewis Martin, journalist
• Mary Matalin, Republican Party political consultant
• Bill Monroe, NBC television journalist
• Arthel Neville, television anchor
• Cokie Roberts, ABC television journalist and commentator for National Public Radio
• Nash Roberts, television meteorologist
• Garland Robinette, investigative journalist
• Louis Charles Roudanez, founder of The New Orleans Tribune newspaper
• Lyle Saxon, journalist
• Howard K. Smith, television anchorman
• Ronnie Virgets, writer and broadcast journalist

Law, politics, and military

• Bryan Adams, former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from Jefferson Parish since 2012; born in New Orleans.
• Reverend Avery Alexander, civil rights leader, state legislator
• Andres Almonaster y Rojas, Spanish civil servant in colonial New Orleans, also a philanthropist
• Jeff Arnold, former member of the Louisiana House for the Algiers section, 2002–2016
• John B. Babcock, Medal of Honor recipient
• Amy Coney Barrett, U.S. Supreme Court Justice and academic
• Jean J. Beaufort, Union Army corporal and Medal of Honor recipient in the Civil War
• P.G.T. Beauregard, Confederate general and inventor
• Clyde F. Bel Jr., businessman and state representative for Orleans Parish, 1964–1972 and 1975–1980
• Judah P. Benjamin, U.S. Senator, Confederate Attorney General, Secretary of War and Secretary of State
• David H. Berger, commandant of the United States Marine Corps
• Hale Boggs, former U.S. Representative
• Lindy Boggs, former U.S. Representative and retired U.S. Ambassador to The Vatican
• Thomas Hale Boggs Jr., lawyer/lobbyist in Washington, D.C., born in New Orleans in 1940, son of Hale and Lindy Boggs, brother of Cokie Roberts and Barbara Boggs Sigmund
• Stephen Bradberry, community organizer, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award laureate
• Juan Davis Bradburn, freedom fighter for Mexico, officer in the Battle of New Orleans
• Henry Braden, politician
• Elward Thomas Brady Jr., state representative from Terrebonne Parish 1972–1976, born in New Orleans
• Donna Brazile, political strategist
• Jared Brossett, member of the New Orleans City Council since 2014; state representative for District 97, 2009–2014
• J. Marshall Brown, insurance agent and politician
• William G. Brown (1832–1883), Louisiana state superintendent of education, 1872–1876
• Benjamin F. Butler, administrator of Union-occupied New Orleans during the Civil War
• John A. Butler, U.S. Marine Corps officer and Navy Cross recipient
• Pascal F. Calogero Jr., Chief Justice Louisiana Supreme Court
• Gary Carter Jr., member of the Louisiana House from the Algiers neighborhood, effective 2016
• James Carville, political consultant, political science professor
• Marlon Coleman, Mayor of Muskogee, Oklahoma
• Harry Connick Sr., district attorney, father of singer Harry Connick Jr.
• A.G. Crowe, politician
• Milton Joseph Cunningham, attorney, state legislator, state attorney general for three nonconsecutive terms ending in 1900
• Bernard de Marigny, politician and land developer
• Étienne de Boré, first Mayor of New Orleans in the U.S. administration
• James D. Denegre, Minnesota state senator and lawyer
• Jean Noel Destréhan, early Creole politician and plantation owner
• Alexander Dimitry, First Person of Color to become U.S. Ambassador of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, 1859 – 1861
• Andrea Dimitry fought in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812 with Andrew Jackson
• Michel Dragon Lieutenant American Revolutionary War
• David Duke, state representative for Metairie 1989–1992; White nationalist
• Oscar Dunn, first African-American governor of a U.S. state
• H. Garland Dupré, attorney and politician; Speaker of the Louisiana House 1908–1910; U.S. representative from Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, 1910–1924
• Frank Burton Ellis, attorney, politician, federal judge
• Albert Estopinal, former U.S. representative and member of both houses of the Louisiana State Legislature
• Olaf Fink, member of the Louisiana State Senate 1956–1972; New Orleans educator
• C.B. Forgotston, attorney, political activist, state government watchdog
• Henry L. Fuqua, governor who defeated Huey Long in an election
• Randal Gaines, state representative since 2012 for St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes; former assistant city attorney in New Orleans
• Jim Garrison, district attorney of Orleans Parish
• Robert T. Garrity Jr., attorney and former state representative for Jefferson Parish
• Charles Gayarré, state legislator noted for his histories of Louisiana
• Newt Gingrich, U.S. Congressman from Georgia, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Nicholas Girod, early mayor of New Orleans
• John Grenier, Birmingham lawyer and Alabama Republican Party figure, born in New Orleans in 1930
• Brenda Hatfield, former Chief Administrative Officer of the City of New Orleans
• F. Edward Hebert, Democrat U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 1st congressional district, 1941–1977
• Cynthia Hedge-Morrell, former member of the New Orleans City Council for District D, 2005–2014
• Frederick Jacob Reagan Heebe, former judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana
• David Heitmeier, state senator for District 7 since 2008, optometrist
• Francis C. Heitmeier, state senator for District 7, 1988–2008; businessman and lobbyist
• David Hennessy, police chief, assassinated in 1890
• Clay Higgins, Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for Louisiana's 3rd congressional district; born in New Orleans in 1961
• Stephanie Hilferty, Republican state representative for Orleans and Jefferson parishes, effective January 2016
• Walker Hines, former state representative
• Jean Joseph Amable Humbert, army general, subordinate to Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans
• Bernette Joshua Johnson, Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court since 2013; associate justice, 1994–2013, native and resident of New Orleans
• Jeannette Knoll, associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court; reared and educated in New Orleans, where the court meets; resides in Marksville
• Mary Landrieu, state representative, state treasurer, U.S. senator
• Mitch Landrieu, state representative, lieutenant governor, former mayor of New Orleans
• Moon Landrieu, judge and politician, mayor of New Orleans
• Hank Lauricella, former professional football player; state senator from Jefferson Parish, 1972–1996
• Bob Livingston, Republican former U.S. Representative for 1st congressional district
• Edward Livingston, drafted Louisiana Civil Code
• Lt. Gen. James Longstreet, Confederate general
• Joseph Mansion, Louisiana state legislator, state tax assessor
• Bessie Margolin, labor lawyer
• Danny Martiny, state senator from Jefferson Parish, born in New Orleans
• Harold A. Moise, state representative for the 12th Ward, Orleans civil court judge 1937–1948, and associate justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court 1948–1958
• Ernest Nathan Morial, American political, legal, and civil rights leader
• Marc Morial, former mayor, son of Ernest Nathan Morial
• deLesseps Story Morrison, former mayor and ambassador to the Organization of American States
• deLesseps Morrison Jr., late state representative
• William Mumford, Confederate resistor in Union-occupied New Orleans during the Civil War
• Ray Nagin, former mayor of New Orleans
• Michael H. O'Keefe, president of the Louisiana State Senate 1976–1983; convicted felon
• Alejandro O'Reilly, governor of Louisiana, known as "Bloody O'Reilly"
• George Pandely New Orleans Assistant Alderman know for the Pandelly Affair
• Leander Perez, district judge, district attorney, and president of the Plaquemines Parish Commission Council
• P.B.S. Pinchback, politician
• James Pitot, third mayor of New Orleans
• Loulan Pitre Jr., New Orleans lawyer and former state representative for Lafourche Parish
• Edward Joseph Price, state representative for District 58, Gonzales businessman, and former resident of New Orleans
• William P. Quigley, activist attorney and academic
• Max Rafferty, educator author and columnist, California politician, born in New Orleans in 1917
• Cokie Roberts, journalist, daughter of Hale and Lindy Boggs
• Steve Scalise, House Minority Whip and U.S. Representative of Louisiana's 1st district
• Tom Schedler, former state senator from St. Tammany Parish and current Louisiana secretary of state
• Pat Screen, Louisiana State University quarterback, lawyer, and former Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish
• Ronal W. Serpas, Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department since 2010
• Joseph A. Shakspeare, Mayor of New Orleans at the time of the March 14, 1891 lynchings
• Eric Skrmetta, attorney from Metairie, Louisiana; Republican member of the Louisiana Public Service Commission for District 1
• Jefferson B. Snyder, lived in New Orleans 1893–1897; later district attorney in three delta parishes in northeast Louisiana 1904–1948
• James Z. Spearing, attorney, school board member, U.S. representative from Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, 1924–1931
• Dorothy Mae Taylor, first African-American woman to serve in the Louisiana House, 1971–1980; member of the New Orleans City Council, 1986–1994
• Charles Laveau Trudeau, early 19th century mayor of New Orleans
• A.P. Tureaud, attorney
• Jorge Ubico, exiled president of Guatemala
• José de Villamil (or José Villamil), father of the independence of Ecuador
• David Vitter, U.S. Senator, 2005–2017
• John Volz, late U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana
• Chatham Roberdeau Wheat, leader of the Louisiana Tigers during the US Civil War
• Edward Douglass White, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court
• John C. White, Louisiana education superintendent since 2012; superintendent of the Recovery School District in New Orleans, 2011
• Robert Wilkie, National Security Assistant to the President
• John Williams, Union Navy sailor awarded the Medal of Honor during the Civil War.
• Clint Williamson, U.S. Ambassador, White House policy official, United Nations envoy
• John Minor Wisdom, judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Andrew Young, politician

Math, science, and invention

• Ruth Benerito, inventor of wrinkle-free cotton
• Alfred H. Clifford, mathematician
• Isaac Cline, meteorologist and writer
• Theodore John Dimitry Jr. optometrist known for developing the Dimitry Erisiphake and the Plastic Eye
• Bennet Dowler, medical scientist
• Andrew Higgins, ship builder and inventor
• Emile Lamm, inventor
• Theodore K. Lawless, dermatologist, medical researcher, and philanthropist
• Jean Alexandre LeMat, inventor
• Abraham Louis Levin, physician and inventor of the Levin Tube
• Levi Spear Parmley, inventor of dental floss
• Mark Plotkin, ethnobotanist
• John Leonard Riddell, inventor of the binocular microscope
• Norbert Rilleaux, inventor, engineer
• Ken Thompson , co-creator of the Unix operating system , C (programming language) and Go (programming language) and Turing Award recipient
• A. Baldwin Wood, inventor and engineer
• Angie Jones, software engineer, automation architect

Music

• August Alsina, singer/songwriter
• Phil Anselmo, musician
• Louis Armstrong, musician and entertainer
• B.G., rapper
• Baby Boy Da Prince, rapper
• Achille Baquet, musician
• George Baquet, musician
• Paul Barbarin, musician and composer
• Pat Barberot, band leader
• Danny Barker, musician, vocalist, and writer
• Dave Bartholomew, musician, composer, promoter
• Jon Batiste, singer, composer, pianist, jazz musician
• Sidney Bechet, musician
• Better Than Ezra, rock group
• Birdman aka Baby, rapper, producer
• Big Freedia, bounce artist
• Terence Blanchard, musician and composer
• Peter Bocage, Jazz trumpeter and violinist
• Buddy Bolden, musician, early jazz figure
• Sharkey Bonano, Jazz musician
• James Booker, musician
• Larry Borenstein, founder of Preservation Hall
• Connee Boswell, singer, member of the Boswell Sisters singing group
• Helvetia "Vet" Boswell, singer, member of the Boswell Sisters singing group
• Martha Boswell, singer, member of the Boswell Sisters singing group
• Pud Brown, jazz musician
• George Brunis, jazz trombonist
• Collie Buddz, reggae/dancehall artist
• C-Murder, rapper
• Cane Hill, nu-metal group
• Paul Caporino, songwriter, musician, lead singer of M.O.T.O.
• Big Al Carson, blues singer
• Alex Chilton, songwriter, guitarist, music producer, lead singer of the Box Tops and Big Star
• Choppa, rapper
• Merry Clayton, singer
• Jon Cleary, funk and R&B musician
• Lee Collins, jazz trumpeter
• Harry Connick Jr., musician and entertainer
• Cowboy Mouth, band
• Barry Cowsill, musician
• Paul Crawford, jazz musician, music historian
• Curren$y, rapper
• Edmond Dede, musician, composer
• Fernando del Valle, operatic tenor
• DJ Khaled, DJ
• Dr. John, musician
• Johnny Dodds, jazz clarinetist and saxophonist
• Fats Domino, musician
• Lee Dorsey, singer
• Down, metal band
• Tom Drummond, bassist of Better Than Ezra
• Champion Jack Dupree, pianist, singer
• Frankie Dusen, jazz trombonist
• Ernie K-Doe, singer, "Emperor of the Universe"
• Lars Edegran, bandleader
• Lionel Ferbos, jazz musician
• Lucky Daye, singer, songwriter, musician, performer
• Giuseppe Ferrata, composer, pianist, and university professor
• Frankie Ford, singer, entertainer
• Pops Foster, jazz musician
• Vernel Fournier, jazz drummer
• Pete Fountain, musician, clarinet player, jazz, pop, and swing
• Mannie Fresh, DJ, producer, rapper
• Frank Froeba, musician, jazz, pianist, band leader
• The Funky Meters, musicians and singers
• Mary Gauthier, singer and song writer
• George Girard, musician
• Victor Goines, jazz musician, dean of jazz at the Juilliard School
• Louis Moreau Gottschalk, pianist and composer
• Kevin Griffin, musician, lead singer for Better than Ezra
• Gudda Gudda, rapper
• Donald Harrison, musician
• Clarence "Frogman" Henry, singer and musician
• Al Hirt, musician, trumpet, jazz, pop, and swing
• Cha Cha Hogan, comedian, musician, entertainer
• Moses Hogan, musician, composer
• Linda Hopkins, blues and gospel singer
• Noah Howard, jazz musician
• Armand "Jump" Jackson, blues drummer and bandleader
• Mahalia Jackson, gospel singer
• Pervis Jackson, rhythm & blues singer member of The Spinners
• Luke James, R&B singer, actor
• Jay Electronica, rapper and producer
• N.O. Joe, music producer, musician
• Little Sonny Jones, blues singer
• Juvenile, rapper
• Freddie Keppard, jazz cornetist
• Kid Ory, musician
• Kidd Kidd, rapper
• Earl King, musician
• Jean Knight, singer
• Papa Jack Laine, bandleader
• Nick LaRocca, early jazz figure
• Walter "Popee" Lastie, drummer
• Meghan Linsey, singer-songwriter, contestant from The Voice season 8
• Lil' Fizz, singer, rapper
• Lil Romeo, rapper
• Lil Wayne, rapper
• Lloyd, singer
• Rico Love, singer/songwriter
• Mac, rapper
• Magic, rapper
• Magnolia Shorty, New Orleans bounce artist
• Mack Maine, rapper
• Dave Malone, songwriter, guitarist, music producer, guitarist and vocalist in The New Orleans Radiators
• Wingy Manone, jazz trumpeter, and singer
• Angélica María, Mexican singer-songwriter and entertainer, "La Novia de Mexico"
• Paul Mares, jazz musician
• Branford Marsalis, musician, alto, soprano, tenor, and baritone saxophones
• Ellis Marsalis Jr., musician and educator, piano
• Ellis Marsalis Sr., music patron, businessman and advocate
• Jason Marsalis, musician (drums, vibraphone)
• Wynton Marsalis, musician, trumpet, cornet, flumpet, flugelhorn
• Master P, rapper, businessman, and mogul
• Cosimo Matassa, music studio entrepreneur
• Jimmy Maxwell, bandleader
• Irvin Mayfield, musician
• The Medicine Men, producers, singers (Mo B. Dick and Odell), rappers (KLC and Mo B. Dick)
• The Meters, musicians and singers
• Lizzie Miles, singer
• Mr. Quintron, organist
• Deacon John Moore, musician and bandleader
• Jelly Roll Morton, musician and composer, early jazz figure
• Teedra Moses, R&B and soul singer-songwriter
• Mutemath, band
• Mystick Krewe of Clearlight
• Mystikal, rapper
• The Neville Brothers, musicians and singers
• Ivan Neville, phunk, R&B
• Randy Newman, musician
• Camille Nickerson, musician and composer
• Normani, born Normani Kordei Hamilton, singer
• Frank Ocean, singer
• Joe "King" Oliver, musician
• Lisette Oropesa, operatic soprano
• Jimmy Palao, musician, bandleader
• Earl Palmer, musician
• Robert Parker, musician and singer
• Partners-N-Crime, rap duo
• Nicholas Payton, musician
• Marguerite Piazza, operatic soprano
• Piggy D., bassist
• Genevieve Pitot, composer, musician, dancer
• George Porter Jr., musician
• Louis Prima, musician (trumpet), singer, bandleader, entertainer, aka "The King of the Swing"
• Professor Longhair, born Henry Byrd, pianist, singer
• The Radiators, rock band
• Mac Rebennack, "Dr. John"
• Rebirth Brass Band, band
• Trent Reznor, musician, producer
• Dawn Richard, former member of Danity Kane and Diddy-Dirty Money
• Rising Appalachia, world, folk, roots, and soul group
• Jason Ross, Seven Mary Three frontman
• Kermit Ruffins, jazz trumpeter, singer and composer
• Bill Russell, music historian and composer
• Marguerite Samuel, composer and pianist
• Paul Sanchez, singer-songwriter and guitarist
• Silkk the Shocker, rapper
• Bill Sinegal, bassist and songwriter
• Skull Duggery, rapper
• Soulja Slim, rapper
• Chloe Smith, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist
• Leah Song, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist
• Stooges Brass Band, New Orleans funk brass band
• $uicideboy$, rap duo
• Babe Stovall, blues singer and guitarist, "Mr. Bojangles"
• Supagroup, rock band
• Irma Thomas, rhythm and blues singer, aka "Soul Queen of New Orleans"
• Allen Toussaint, musician, composer, record producer
• Norman Treigle, operatic bass-baritone
• Trombone Shorty, born Troy Andrews, musician
• Turk, rapper
• Shirley Verrett, operatic mezzo-soprano and soprano
• George Wein, founder of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
• Michael White, Jazz musician
• Charles "Hungry" Williams, Rhythm & Blues drummer
• Larry Williams, Rock 'n' Roll/R&B pianist
• "Scarface" John Williams, singer
• Spencer Williams, songwriter
• Young V, rapper
• Linnzi Zaorski
• Zebra, band

Religion

• Aleister Crowley, Gnostic Bishop, poet, writer and occultist
• Antonio de Sedella, early Roman Catholic leader in New Orleans
• Henriette DeLille, founder of the order of the Sisters of the Holy Family
• Jesse Duplantis, televangelist
• J. D. Grey, pastor, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention
• Marie-Madeleine Hachard, Ursuline abbess, documented early history of New Orleans
• Philip Hannan, former archbishop of New Orleans
• Francis L. Hawks, clergyman, first president of Tulane University
• Jerome LeDoux, Roman Catholic priest
• Joseph Francis Rummel, former archbishop of New Orleans
• Lory Schaff, member of the Sisters of St. Joseph who founded centers for adult literacy education
• Francis Xavier Seelos, missionary who ministered to victims of yellow fever epidemics
• John William Shaw, former archbishop of New Orleans

Sports

• Ashley Ambrose, NFL player, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints, graduated from Alcee Fortier High School
• Nehemiah Atkinson, professional tennis player and coach
• D. J. Augustin, NBA player
• Amari Bailey (born 2004), NBA basketball player
• Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints
• Armand Blackmar, nineteenth century chess player and music publisher
• Walter Blattmann, Olympic gymnast
• Delvin Breaux, gridiron football player
• Stanley Brundy, basketball player
• Cethan Carter, football player
• Will Clark, former Major League Baseball player
• Landon Collins, NFL player for the New York Giants
• Tazzie Colomb, IFBB professional female bodybuilder and powerlifter
• Scott Cochran, special teams coordinator for the Georgia Bulldogs
• Ernie Danjean, former Green Bay Packers linebacker
• Orleans Darkwa, professional football player
• Tom Dempsey, former NFL kicker, held longest field goal record for over 43 years
• David Dixon, professional sports advocate for New Orleans Saints, Louisiana Superdome, USFL, World Championship Tennis
• Scott Dohmann, former MLB pitcher
• Corey Dowden, former NFL defensive back
• Clyde Drexler, former University of Houston and NBA star, member of Basketball Hall of Fame
• Marshall Faulk, professional football star (St. Louis Rams), member of Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Steve Foley, former defensive back for Denver Broncos
• Matt Forte, running back for Chicago Bears, New York Jets
• John Fourcade, former NFL and CFL quarterback, sports analyst
• De'Aaron Fox, NBA point guard
• J. P. France, MLB pitcher
• Nolan Franz, former Green Bay Packers wide receiver
• Leonard Fournette, NFL player, running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Harry P. Gamble, football player, swimmer, gymnast, boxer, and attorney
• Eddie Garcia, former Green Bay Packers placekicker
• Larry Gilbert, Major League Baseball player
• Tookie Gilbert, Major League Baseball player
• Tad Gormley, athletic trainer, coach, and official
• Danny Granger, forward for NBA's Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat
• Cortez Hankton, former NFL player who is currently the passing game coordinator & wide receivers coach for the LSU Tigers
• Adrian Hardy, NFL player
• Chris Henry, former NFL wide receiver
• Chris Horton, former NFL safety
• Kevin Hughes, former NFL offensive tackle
• Tory James, former cornerback for Cincinnati Bengals
• Avery Johnson, former National Basketball Association player, former coach of Dallas Mavericks
• Deion Jones, NFL linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons
• Junkyard Dog, stage name of Sylvester Ritter, former professional wrestler
• Robert Kelley, Washington Redskins running back
• Kerry Kittles, former NBA player for New Jersey Nets
• Dominik Koepfer, professional tennis player
• Lester Lautenschlaeger, football player, politician, first director of New Orleans Recreation Department
• Kendrick Lewis, NFL free safety, played for Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens, attended Ole Miss
• Michael Lewis, former New Orleans Saints wide receiver
• Rydell Malancon, former NFL linebacker
• Archie Manning, former New Orleans Saints quarterback, father of Peyton and Eli and Cooper
• Eli Manning, former New York Giants quarterback
• Peyton Manning, former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback
• Pete Maravich, basketball Hall of Famer, played for LSU and NBA's New Orleans Jazz
• Sammy Martin, former New England Patriots running back
• Tyrann Mathieu, player for NFL's Kansas City Chiefs
• Bo McCalebb, Macedonian basketball player who plays for Montepaschi Siena
• Max McGee, NFL player on five championship teams
• Sylvester McGrew, former Green Bay Packers defensive end
• Greg Monroe, college basketball player for Georgetown University
• Paul Morphy, world chess champion
• Patrick Mullins, professional soccer player
• Steve Mura, retired pitcher in Major League Baseball
• Eddie Murray, prolific NFL placekicker
• Antonio Narcisse, football player
• Herman Neugass, Track & field athlete who boycotted the Berlin Olympic trials
• Mel Ott, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer
• Micah Owings, MLB pitcher
• Robert Pack, NBA player, assistant coach for New Orleans Pelicans
• Emmett Paré, professional tennis player and coach
• Joe Pasternack, head basketball coach at UC Santa Barbara
• Audrey Patterson, first African-American woman to win Olympic medal
• Chris Quinn, former NBA player and current Miami Heat assistant coach
• Eldridge Recasner, former NBA player
• Sam Renick (1910–1999), jockey
• Ham Richardson, professional tennis player
• Alana Shipp, American/Israeli IFBB professional bodybuilder
• Nate Singleton, former wide receiver for San Francisco 49ers
• Neil Smith, former defensive end, Kansas City Chiefs
• Truett Smith, former football player
• Rusty Staub, Major League Baseball player
• Ricky Starks, All Elite Wrestling FTW Heavyweight Champion.
• Kordell Stewart, former NFL quarterback
• Patrick Surtain, former NFL cornerback
• Ron Swoboda, former New York Mets outfielder
• Ike Taylor, cornerback, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Roosevelt Taylor, safety, 1963 NFL champion, Chicago Bears
• Vincent Taylor, defensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons
• Taryn Terrell, professional wrestler for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
• Mike Wallace, wide receiver for Pittsburgh Steelers
• Bryce Washington (born 1996), basketball player for Hapoel Galil Elyon of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Ron Washington, former MLB player and manager who is currently the third base coach for the Atlanta Braves
• Reggie Wayne, wide receiver for Indianapolis Colts
• Aeneas Williams, former cornerback for St. Louis Rams
• Jason Williams (born 1983), basketball player for Hapoel Be'er Sheva of the National Basketball League of Israel
• Korey Williams, Canadian Football League player

Other

• Ruby Bridges, commemorated for her role, as a child, in racial integration of the New Orleans Public School System
• Raymond Arroyo, employer of EWTN
• Betty DeGeneres, LGBT rights activist
• Caroline Dormon, horticulturalist and historian
• Marianne Celeste Dragon Creole socialite and the subject of a painting by José Francisco Xavier de Salazar y Mendoza
• David Ferrie, pilot investigated in the assassination of President Kennedy
• Myra Clark Gaines, socialite and subject of the longest lawsuit in US history
• Jean Margaret Gordon, suffragette
• Kate M. Gordon, suffragette
• Margaret Haughery, philanthropist
• Marie Alice Heine, first American Princess of Monaco
• Sir Lady Java, drag queen, actress and transgender rights activist
• Blaine Kern, Mardi Gras float designer and builder
• TJ Kirk, Youtuber
• Marie Laveau, "voodoo queen"
• Sara T. Mayo, physician and humanitarian reformer
• Eleanor McMain, civic activist
• Sally Miller: The Lost German Slave Girl
• Allison 'Tootie' Montana, Mardi Gras Indian, "chief of chiefs"
• Paul Morphy, unofficial world chess champion
• Homer Plessy, early civil rights activist
• Edith Rosenwald Stern, philanthropist
• Paul Tulane, benefactor of Tulane University
• Sylvanie Williams, educator and women's club activist
• Sophie B. Wright, educator and clubwoman

See also

• List of people from Louisiana
• List of Tulane University people
• List of Loyola University New Orleans people