This is a list of notable people who were either born or raised, or have lived for a significant period of time in the Tallahassee, Florida metropolitan area.
Academics, education, and research[ edit ]
Konrad Emil Bloch , Nobel-winning biochemist
G. Gabrielle Starr , president of Pomona College
Roy Baumeister – psychologist of self-control
Konrad E. Bloch – Nobel Prize -winning biochemist, who helped learn about the functioning of cholesterol
Mark Frederick Boyd – malariologist and writer
James M. Buchanan – winner of Nobel Prize in economics
Talbot "Sandy" D'Alemberte – attorney, civil-rights activist, former dean of the Florida State University Law School, former president of Florida State University, president of the American Bar Association and the American Judicature Society
Paul Dirac – Nobel Prize -winning physicist whose theories predicted antimatter
Sylvia Earle – former chief scientist for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Neil Frank – former director of the National Hurricane Center
Fred Gainous – former president of Florida A & M University, 2002–2004; former chancellor of the Alabama College System's Department of Postsecondary Education; associate vice president of St. Petersburg College
Robert A. Holton – chemist and inventor of Taxol
Tim Howard – president and founder of Cambridge Graduate University international, former head of doctorate program of Law & Policy at Northeastern University, former Assistant Attorney General of Florida
Sir Harold Kroto – Nobel Prize -winning chemist who helped discover fullerenes
Max Mayfield – former director of the National Hurricane Center
Alfred Mele – philosopher of free will
Robert S. Mulliken – physicist and chemist who won both the Priestley Medal and the Nobel Prize
Michel Oksenberg – China scholar, member of National Security Council
X. William Proenza – former director of the National Hurricane Center
Michael Ruse – philosopher, historian of science, noteworthy atheist
Robert Schrieffer – Nobel Laureate , BCS Theory of Superconductivity
E. Lee Spence – underwater archeologist
G. Gabrielle Starr – president of Pomona College [ 1]
Robert Olen Butler , Pulitzer-winning author
Jerrie Mock – aviator and first woman to fly around the world solo
Film, television, and radio[ edit ]
Jim Cramer , TV host
Faye Dunaway , actress
Kay Aldridge – model and actress
Matt Battaglia – actor and former NFL player
Brad Davis – actor (Midnight Express , Querelle )
Cathy Jenéen Doe – actress
Kyan Douglas – the "grooming expert" from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
Faye Dunaway – actress, Academy Award winner for Network
Tony Hale – actor, played Byron "Buster" Bluth on Arrested Development
Cheryl Hines – actress, two-time Emmy nominee for Curb your Enthusiasm , director, married to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Polly Holliday – actress, Golden Globe winner (for television series Alice )
Will Kirby – Big Brother 2 (2001) winner
Christine Lahti – film actress and director, winner of Academy Award for Leiberman in Love , two Golden Globes and Emmy for Chicago Hope
Burt Reynolds – Emmy and Golden Globe Award -winning, Oscar-nominated actor, attended FSU
Anika Noni Rose – Tony Award -winning actress, as Emmie Thibodeaux in Caroline, or Change
Sonny Shroyer – actor who played deputy sheriff on The Dukes of Hazzard
Roy Wood, Jr. – comedian and actor on The Daily Show
Writing and production [ edit ]
Government and politics [ edit ]
Reubin Askew , governor of Florida
Marshall Ledbetter – protester who took over the Florida capitol building
Wade Wilson – serial killer, also known as the "Deadpool Killer" due to the fact that they share a name
Cannonball Adderley , left, saxophonist
Cannonball Adderley – jazz alto saxophone player, Grammy Award winner
Nat Adderley – jazz cornet and trumpet player
Ethel Cain (Hayden Anhedönia) – singer-songwriter, artist
George Clinton – musician, founder of funk bands Parliament and Funkadelic
Rita Coolidge – Grammy Award-winning singer, "From the Bottle to the Bottom" and "Lover Please "
Janice Harsanyi – vocalist and teacher
Kenny Howes – rock musician
Roland Kent LaVoie (born July 31, 1943), better known by his stage name Lobo (Spanish for "wolf") – singer-songwriter who was successful in the 1970s
Mayday Parade – band formed in 2005, the result of a merger between two local Tallahassee bands, Kid Named Chicago and Defining Moment
K. Michelle (born Kimberly Michelle Pate) – reality TV personality and R&B singer
Jim Morrison – lead singer and lyricist of The Doors
Real Boston Richey – rapper, songwriter
Marcus Roberts – jazz pianist
T-Pain (born Faheem Najm) – hip hop and R&B singer
Butch Trucks (Claude Hudson Trucks) – drummer, member of the Allman Brothers band
Luh Tyler – rapper, songwriter
Walter Dix , sprinter
Robert "Bobby" C. Bowden – college football coach, winner of two national championships
Ricky Carmichael – motocross /supercross champion
Kevin Carter – NFL defensive end
Bradley Cooper – member of 1984 and 1988 Bahamas Summer Olympics team
Gene Cox – State of Florida Sports Hall of Fame member (Leon High School football coach)[ 3]
Antonio Cromartie – NFL player credited with the longest play in NFL history
Kim Crosby – NASCAR driver, with a best race finish of 20th, in 2004
Dwight F. Davis – founder of the international tennis Davis Cup
Walter Dix – U.S. track team member and medalist at 2008 Beijing Olympics
Warrick Dunn – FSU and NFL football star
Carrie Englert (Zimmerman) – member of 1976 U.S. Summer Olympics team[ 4]
Corey Fuller – played for FSU's football team, later became a wide receiver for the Vikings, Browns and Ravens
Amari Gainer – professional American football player for the Las Vegas Raiders
Michael Gaines – tight end for the Detroit Lions
DaVanche (Ron) Galimore – member of 1980 U.S. Summer Olympics team[ 4]
Willie Galimore – member of College Football Hall of Fame , and NFL football player
William Gay – NFL cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Althea Gibson – winner of several Wimbledon and US Open tennis championships
Frances C. Griscom – U.S. Women's amateur golf champion
Ken Harnden – hurdler and sprinter who represented Zimbabwe in the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games
Tahesia Harrigan – professional sprinter (BVI)
Bob Hayes – sprinter and gold medal winner on 1964 U.S. Summer Olympics team; NFL football wide receiver for Dallas Cowboys
Missy Hyatt – professional wrestling valet and commentator for World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling
Taylor Jacobs – professional football player, wide receiver with Washington Redskins , San Francisco 49ers , and Denver Broncos
Marty Jannetty – professional wrestler, best known for his work with WWE
Reggie Jefferson – MLB player
Brad Johnson – NFL quarterback
Brandy Johnson – member of 1988 U.S. Summer Olympics team
Desmond Koh – amateur swimmer who represented Singapore in the 1988, 1992, and 1996 Olympic Games
Mike "11" Martin – all-Ttme winningest coach in NCAA Division I College Baseball; 2019 inductee in National College Baseball Hall of Fame
Nevin McCaskill – NFL player for the Green Bay Packers
Michelle McCool – World Wrestling Entertainment diva (formally Diva Champion)
Fondren Mitchell – football player
Brian Olson – member of 1996, 2000 and 2004 U.S. Summer Olympics teams[ 5]
Burgess Owens – professional football player, member of Oakland Raider team that won Super Bowl XV
Bill Peterson – college and NFL head football coach
Zach Piller – NFL guard for the Tennessee Titans
Don Pumphrey, Jr – offensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers [ 6]
Elise Ray – gymnast, represented United States in 2000 Olympic Games
Gabrielle Reece – professional volleyball player, model
David Ross – MLB catcher
Deion Sanders – FSU football star, NFL cornerback, Major League Baseball outfielder, NFL Network commentator
Ernie Sims – NFL linebacker
Dwight Smith – MLB outfielder
Bobby Thigpen – MLB relief pitcher and coach
Craphonso Thorpe – NFL wide receiver
Marion Tinsley – world checkers champion 1955–58, 1975–91
Charlie Ward – 1993 Heisman Trophy winner
Pat Watkins – NFL safety for the Dallas Cowboys
Chris Weinke – 2000 Heisman Trophy winner
Boo Williams – NFL tight end for the New Orleans Saints
Wally Williams – NFL (1993-2003), Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and New Orleans Saints; first franchise player in Ravens history
Jameis Winston – 2014 Heisman winner and quarterback for the Cleveland Browns
Woody Woodward – MLB shortstop, Braves, Reds; FSU Baseball head coach (1975–78); MLB GM, Yankees, Phillies, Mariners