This is a list of prominent people who were born in the state of

Rhode Island Rhode Island (, like ''road'') is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area and the seventh-least populous, with slightly fewer than 1.1 million residents as of 2020, but it ...

or who spent significant periods of their lives in the state.

Academia

James Burrill Angell James Burrill Angell (January 7, 1829 – April 1, 1916) was an American educator and diplomat. He is best known for being the longest-serving president of the University of Michigan, from 1871 to 1909. He represented the transition from sma ...

(1829–1916) – educator, academic administrator, and diplomat *

Glen Bowersock Glen Warren Bowersock (born January 12, 1936 in Providence, Rhode Island) is a historian of ancient Greece, Rome and the Near East, and former Chairman of Harvard’s classics department. Early life Bowersock was born in Providence, Rhode Island a ...

(born 1936) – scholar of the ancient world and the history of ancient Greece, Rome, and the Near East *

David Carlin David R. Carlin Jr. (born 1938) is an American politician, author, and professor of sociology and philosophy. Life and career Born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Carlin has resided in Newport since 1972. He was a Democratic majority leader of th ...

(born 1938) – professor of sociology and philosophy at

Community College of Rhode Island The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is a public community college in Rhode Island. It is the only community college in the state and the largest community college in New England. The college's primary facility is located in Warwick, with ...

* Robert Carothers (born 1942) – president of the

University of Rhode Island The University of Rhode Island (URI) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Kingston, Rhode Island, United States. It is the flagship public research as well as the land-grant university of the state of Rhode Isla ...

* Ronald Champagne – president of

Elmira College Elmira College is a private college in Elmira, New York. Founded as a college for women in 1855, it is the oldest existing college granting degrees to women that were the equivalent of those given to men. Elmira College became coeducational in a ...

Merrimack College Merrimack College is a private Augustinian university in North Andover, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1947 by the Order of St. Augustine with an initial goal to educate World War II veterans. Its campus has grown to a campus with nearly 40 ...

, and

Shimer College Shimer Great Books School (pronounced ) is a Great Books college that is part of North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. Prior to 2017, Shimer was an independent, accredited college on the south side of Chicago, with a history of being ...

Sarah Doyle Sarah Elizabeth Doyle (March 22, 1830 – December 21, 1922) was an American educator and educational reformer, noted for her roles in founding the Rhode Island School of Design and establishing women's education at Brown University. Early life S ...

(1830–1922) – educator and reformer *

Paula Fredriksen Paula Fredriksen (born January 6, 1951, Kingston, Rhode Island) is an American historian and scholar of early Christianity. She held the position of William Goodwin Aurelio Professor of Scripture at Boston University from 1990 to 2010. Now emerit ...

(born 1951) – historian and scholar of religious studies *

Henry Giroux Henry Armand Giroux (born 1943) is an American-Canadian scholar and cultural critic. One of the founding theorists of critical pedagogy in the United States, he is best known for his pioneering work in public pedagogy, cultural studies, youth s ...

(born 1943) – radical educator and cultural critic * Neil Lanctot (born 1966) – historian * Francis Leo Lawrence (1937–2013) – educator, scholar of French literature, and university administrator * Edward T. Lewis (also known as Ted Lewis) – president of

St. Mary's College of Maryland St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM) is a public liberal arts college in St. Mary's City, Maryland.Maryland State Archives, Online Manual, "St. Mary's College Of Maryland: Origin & Functions" http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/25univ/stmarys ...

, president of the

Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Pennsylvania (; (Pennsylvania Dutch language, Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appa ...

, writer, and poet *

Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf (1830-1895) was a founder and director of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in Providence, Rhode Island. Early life and personal life Helen Adelia Rowe was born in Providence, Rhode Island on July 17, 1830. On No ...

(1830–1895) – founder and director of the

Rhode Island School of Design The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD , pronounced "Riz-D") is a private art and design school in Providence, Rhode Island. The school was founded as a coeducational institution in 1877 by Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf, who sought to increase the ...

* Barry Mills (born 1950) – fourteenth president of Bowdoin College * Salvatore D. Morgera (born 1946) – Professor of Electrical Engineering at

University of South Florida The University of South Florida (USF) is a public research university with its main campus located in Tampa, Florida, and other campuses in St. Petersburg and Sarasota. It is one of 12 members of the State University System of Florida. USF i ...

* Wilfred Harold Munro (1849–1934) – historian *

Richard Vangermeersch Richard G.J. Vangermeersch (born 1940) is an American economist, and Emeritus Professor of Accounting at the University of Rhode Island, particularly known for his ''History of Accounting: An International Encyclopedia,'' edited with Michael Chat ...

(born 1940) – economist, Emeritus Professor of Accounting at the University of Rhode Island * Minton Warren (1850–1907) – classical scholar

Activism, civil rights, and philanthropy

Susan Hammond Barney Susan Hammond Barney (, Hammond; November 24, 1834 – April 29, 1922) was an American social activist and evangelist. She was the founder of the Prisoners' Aid Society of Rhode Island, and due to her efforts, police matrons were secured for the s ...

(1834-1922) — social activist * Josephine Byrd — civil rights activist in Woonsocket, RI *

Zechariah Chafee Zechariah Chafee Jr. (December 7, 1885 – February 8, 1957) was an American judicial philosopher and civil rights advocate, described as "possibly the most important First Amendment scholar of the first half of the twentieth century" by Richa ...

(1885–1957) – judicial philosopher, civil rights advocate * Elizabeth Buffum Chace (1806–1899) – activist in the anti-slavery, women's-rights, and prison-reform movements of the mid-to-late 19th century * Ann Keefe – social activist and nun (1952–2015) * Richard Holcomb (born 1976) — human rights advocate, street outreach worker, HIV prevention counselor, and co-founder of Project Weber/Renew *

Cornelia Bryce Pinchot Cornelia Elizabeth Bryce Pinchot (August 20, 1881 – September 9, 1960), also known as “Leila Pinchot,” was a 20th-century American conservationist, Progressive politician, and women’s rights activist who played a key role in the improv ...

(1881–1960) – Newport native who became a conservationist, Progressive politician, women's rights activist, and First Lady of Pennsylvania * Mary Reilly (born 1930) — teacher, leader, advocate for girls and women living in poverty *

Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Abigail Greene Aldrich Rockefeller (October 26, 1874 – April 5, 1948) was an American socialite and philanthropist. She was a prominent member of the Rockefeller family through her marriage to financier and philanthropist John D. Rockefel ...

(1874–1948) – philanthropist *

Marvin Ronning Marvin Ronning (December 18, 1961 – November 7, 2022) was a community advocate and the director of the Rhode Island Free Clinic (RIFC). Advocacy Education Ronning was a guest lecturer and mentor at several universities. He served as an advis ...

(1961–2022) — education and environmental advocate; senior administrator at the Rhode Island Free Clinic * Juanita Sánchez (died 1992) — social worker and social activist * Robert Ellis Smith (1940–2018) – publisher and consumer activist, ''Privacy Journal''; civil rights journalist in Alabama * Marjorie van Vliet (1923–1990) – teacher and aviator

Art, literature, and design

* Jacob M. Appel (born 1973) – novelist *

John Noble Barlow John Noble Barlow (1861–1917) was a prominent English artist at the turn of the twentieth century, known predominantly as a landscape and seascape painter. Biography John Barlow was born in Manchester, England in 1861. He enrolled at the Aca ...

(1861–1917) – painter *

Lee Bontecou Lee Bontecou (January 15, 1931 – November 8, 2022) was an American sculptor and printmaker and a pioneer figure in the New York art world. She kept her work consistently in a recognizable style, and received broad recognition in the 1960s. Bont ...

(born 1931) – sculptor and printmaker * Mary Hannah Gray Clarke (1835-1892) — author, correspondent, and poet *

George M. Cohan George Michael Cohan (July 3, 1878November 5, 1942) was an American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer and theatrical producer. Cohan began his career as a child, performing with his parents and sister in a vaudev ...

(1878–1942) – playwright, composer, and vaudeville performer *

Paul Di Filippo Paul Di Filippo (born October 29, 1954) is an American science fiction writer. He is a regular reviewer for print magazines ''Asimov's Science Fiction'', ''The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction'', '' Science Fiction Eye'', ''The New York R ...

(born 1954) – science fiction author and critic * Denise Duhamel (born 1961) – poet * Judith Dupré – author * C. M. Eddy Jr. (1896–1967) – author *

Jeanpaul Ferro Jéanpaul Ferro (born January 26, 1967, in Providence, Rhode Island) is an American writer of poetry, novels, and short stories, whose works incorporate philosophical, social-political, and topical conventions. An 8-time Pushcart Prize nominee, ...

– poet, short fiction author, novelist * F. Burge Griswold (1826–1900) — author * John Hawkes (1925–1998) – novelist * Greta Hodgkinson – ballet dancer * Ann Hood (born 1956) – novelist and short story writer * Raymond Mathewson Hood (1881–1934) – architect *

Galway Kinnell Galway Mills Kinnell (February 1, 1927 – October 28, 2014) was an American poet. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for his 1982 collection, ''Selected Poems'' and split the National Book Award for Poetry with Charles Wright. From 1989 to 1 ...

– poet * Eleanor Kirk (1831–1908) — author, publisher * Christopher La Farge –novelist and poet *

Jhumpa Lahiri Nilanjana Sudeshna "Jhumpa" LahiriMinzesheimer, Bob ''USA Today'', August 19, 2003. Retrieved on 2008-04-13. (born July 11, 1967) is an American author known for her short stories, novels and essays in English, and, more recently, in Italia ...

– Pulitzer Prize-author * H. P. Lovecraft (1890–1937) – author * Maxwell Mays (1918–2009) – painter *

David Macaulay David Macaulay (born 2 December 1946) is a British-born American illustrator and writer. His works include ''Cathedral'' (1973), '' The Way Things Work'' (1988) and ''The New Way Things Work'' (1998). His illustrations have been featured in ...

(born 1946) – author *

Cormac McCarthy Cormac McCarthy (born Charles Joseph McCarthy Jr., July 20, 1933) is an American writer who has written twelve novels, two plays, five screenplays and three short stories, spanning the Western and post-apocalyptic genres. He is known for his gr ...

(born 1933) – novelist *

Don McGregor Donald Francis McGregor (born June 15, 1945) is an American comic book writer best known for his work for Marvel Comics; he is the author of one of the first graphic novels. Early life Don McGregor was born in Providence, Rhode Island, where he ...

(born 1945) – comic book writer *

Edwin O'Connor Edwin Greene O'Connor (July 29, 1918 – March 23, 1968) was an American journalist, novelist, and radio commentator. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1962 for his novel '' The Edge of Sadness'' (1961). His ancestry was Irish, and his no ...

(1918–1968) – novelist *

S.J. Perelman Sidney Joseph Perelman (February 1, 1904 – October 17, 1979) was an American humorist and screenwriter. He is best known for his humorous short pieces written over many years for ''The New Yorker''. He also wrote for several other magazines ...

(1904–1979) – humorist, critic * Peter Pezzelli (born 1959) – author * David Plante (born 1940) – novelist *

George Schuyler George Samuel Schuyler (; February 25, 1895 – August 31, 1977) was an American writer, journalist, and social commentator known for his conservatism after he had initially supported socialism. Early life George Samuel Schuyler was born in ...

(1895–1977) – author * Bert Shurtleff (1897–1967) – author * Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828) – painter * Philemon Sturges (1929–2005) – architect and children's author * Cynthia Taggart (1801–1849) — poet *

Thomas Alexander Tefft Thomas Alexander Tefft (August 2, 1826 – December 12, 1859) was an American architect, from Providence, Rhode Island. Tefft, one of the nation's first professionally trained architects, is considered a master of ''Rundbogenstil'' and a leadi ...

(1826–1859) – architect * Chrysanthemum Tran — poet *

Don Winslow Don Winslow (born October 31, 1953) is an American retired author best known for his award-winning and internationally bestselling crime novels, including '' Savages'', ''The Force'' and the Cartel Trilogy. Early life Winslow was born on Oct ...

(born 1953) – author

Athletics

;A–G * Lou Abbruzzi (1917–1982) – football player * Pat Abbruzzi (1932–1998) – football player * Noel Acciari (born 1991) – ice hockey player *

Gary Albright Gary Mitchell Albright (May 18, 1963 – January 7, 2000) was an American professional wrestler best known for his work in Japan, first with UWF International (UWFi), and later All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). In AJPW, Albright was a two-time Worl ...

(1963–2000) – wrestler *

Bill Almon William Francis Almon (born November 21, 1952) is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Montreal Expos, New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Pittsburg ...

(born 1952) – baseball player *

Deon Anderson Deon Terry Anderson (born January 27, 1983) is a former American football fullback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He pla ...

(born 1983) – football player *

Billy Andrade William Thomas Andrade (born January 25, 1964) is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Champions Tour. He was previously a member of the PGA Tour, where he was a four-time winner. Early life Andrade was born in Bri ...

(born 1964) – golfer *

Demetrius Andrade Demetrius Cesar Andrade ( ; born February 26, 1988) is an American professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the WBO light middleweight title between 2013-2015, the WBA (Regular) title in 2017 ...

(born 1988) – boxer *

Earl Audet Earle Toussaint Audet (May 14, 1921 – December 18, 2002) was an American football offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins, as well as the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference (A ...

(1921–2002) – football player *

Rocco Baldelli Rocco Daniel Baldelli (; born September 25, 1981) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and coach who is the manager of the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). As a player, Baldelli quickly progressed through the min ...

(born 1981) – baseball player, manager *

Marvin Barnes Marvin Jerome "Bad News" Barnes (July 27, 1952 – September 8, 2014) was an American professional basketball player. A forward, he was an All-American at Providence College, and played professionally in both the American Basketball Association ...

(1952–2014) – basketball player * Elizabeth Beisel (born 1992) – Olympic swimmer (2008, 2012) * Jeff Beliveau (born 1987) – baseball player *

Curt Bennett Curt Alexander Bennett (born March 27, 1948) is a Canadian-born American former professional ice hockey forward, who played in the National Hockey League as well as for the United States national ice hockey team in the 1970s. Biography Ear ...

(born 1948) – ice hockey player * Harvey Bennett (born 1952) – ice hockey player * John Bennett (born 1950) – ice hockey player *

Bryan Berard Bryan Wallace Berard (born March 5, 1977) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. Berard was the first overall pick in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. He is most noted for a debilitating eye injury he received e ...

(born 1977) – ice hockey player *

Will Blackmon William Edwards Blackmon (born October 27, 1984) is a former American football safety and return specialist. He played college football for the Boston College Eagles, and was drafted in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Pack ...

(born 1984) – football player *

Brian Boucher Brian Boucher ( ; born January 2, 1977) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender who is a game and studio analyst on national ESPN and ABC games and also Philadelphia Flyers games on NBC Sports Philadelphia. He played 13 season ...

(born 1977) – ice hockey player * Pedro Braz (born 1985) – soccer player * Paul Briggs (1920–2011) – football player * Ellison "Tarzan" Brown (1913–1975) – two-time Boston Marathon champion and U.S. Olympian * Brian Burke (born 1955) – ice hockey executive * Ernie Calverley (1924–2003) – basketball player *

Dave Capuano Dave Alan Capuano (born July 27, 1968) is a retired American professional ice hockey left winger. Capuano was born in Warwick, Rhode Island, but grew up in Cranston, Rhode Island. Now he lives with his Wife Lori, and his 2 kids Jaclyn and Max. ...

(born 1968) – ice hockey player *

Jack Capuano Jack C. Capuano Jr. (born July 7, 1966) is an American ice hockey coach and former player. He is a former head coach of the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is currently an associate coach for the Ottawa Senators of the ...

(born 1966) – ice hockey player, head coach * Keith Carney (born 1970) – ice hockey player and U.S. Olympian (1998) * Marissa Castelli (born 1990) – Olympic pairs figure skater (2014) *

Tom Cavanagh Thomas Cavanagh (born October 26, 1963) is a Canadian actor. He is known for a variety of roles on American television, including starring roles in '' Ed'' (2000–2004), ''Love Monkey'' (2006) and '' Trust Me'' (2009), and recurring roles on ...

(1982–2011) – hockey player * Malcolm Chance (1875–1955) – Hall of Fame tennis player *

Mike Cloud Michael Alexander Cloud (born July 1, 1975) is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He played college football for Boston College, and was rec ...

(born 1975) – football player * Fred Corey (1855–1912) – baseball player *

Miguel Cotto Miguel Ángel Cotto Vázquez (born October 29, 1980) is a Puerto Rican former professional boxer who competed from 2001 to 2017. He is a multiple-time world champion, and the first Puerto Rican boxer to win world titles in four weight classes, ...

(born 1980) – boxer *

Jill Craybas Jill N. Craybas (born July 4, 1974) is an American former professional tennis player. From the 2000 US Open to the 2011 US Open, Craybas competed in 45 consecutive Grand Slam main draws; her best result coming in the 2005 Wimbledon Championships ...

(born 1974) – tennis player * Sara DeCosta (born 1977) – Olympic ice hockey champion and silver medalist (1998, 2002) *

Al Del Greco Albert Louis Del Greco (born March 2, 1962) is a former American football placekicker and a current sports radio personality. After eight years as golf coach at Spain Park High School in Hoover, Alabama, Del Greco was named the head coach of th ...

(born 1962) – football player, radio personality * Ernie DiGregorio (born 1951) – basketball player *

Clark Donatelli John Clark Donatelli (born November 22, 1965) is an American former professional ice hockey player and is the former head coach of the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Donatelli was a long-time minor league player in the American Hockey Lea ...

(born 1967) – ice hockey player and U.S. Olympian (1988, 1992) *

Allen Doyle Allen Michael Doyle (born July 26, 1948) is an American professional golfer who played on the Nike Tour, PGA Tour, and Champions Tour. Life and career Doyle was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island and raised in the Boston suburb of Norwood, Massach ...

(born 1948) – golfer * Pat Duff (1875–1925) – baseball player *

Anthony Durante Anthony Durante (July 26, 1967 – September 25, 2003) was an American professional wrestler best known under the ring name "Pitbull #2" as one half of the tag team The Pitbulls, with "Pitbull #1" Gary Wolfe. The team is best known for their ti ...

(1967–2003) – professional wrestler * Joe Exter (born 1978) – ice hockey player *

Brad Faxon Bradford John Faxon Jr. (born August 1, 1961) is an American professional golfer. He has won eight times on the PGA Tour. Early years and amateur career Faxon was born in Oceanport, New Jersey and raised in Barrington, Rhode Island. He attended Fu ...

(born 1961) – golfer *

Claire Waters Ferguson Claire Waters Ferguson (born 1936) began skating at a young age and became a judge at age 16, working her way up to the national level and then to the Olympic level. She attended Michigan State University where she was a member of Alpha Phi and gra ...

(born 1936) – ice skating executive * Melissa Fiorentino (born 1977) – boxer * Steve Furness (1950–2000) – football player, coach *

Tom Garrick Thomas S. Garrick (born July 7, 1966) is a retired American professional basketball player who was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round (45th overall pick) of the 1988 NBA draft. He played guard in four NBA seasons, mainly for ...

(born 1966) – basketball player * Rob Gaudreau (born 1970) – ice hockey player *

Dave Gavitt David Roy Gavitt (October 26, 1937 – September 16, 2011) was an American college basketball coach and athletic director at Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island. He was also well known as the first commissioner of the Big East Conference ...

(1937–2011) – basketball coach * Billy Gonsalves (1908–1977) – soccer player * Lou Gorman (1929–2011) – baseball executive * Paul Guay (born 1963) – ice hockey player ;H–Z *

Gabby Hartnett Charles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett (December 20, 1900 – December 20, 1972), nicknamed "Old Tomato Face", was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played almost his entire career in Major League Baseball as a catcher with the Chic ...

(1900–1972) – baseball player * Joe Hassett (born 1955) – basketball player * Tom Healey (1853–1891) – baseball player * Anne Hird (born 1959) — pioneering marathon runner * P. H. Horgan III (born 1960) – golfer * Tony Horton (personal trainer), Tony Horton (born 1958) – physical fitness expert * Robert Howard (athlete), Robert Howard (1975–2004) – 1996 and 2000 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team * John Hynes (ice hockey), John Hynes (born 1975) – ice hockey head coach * Matt Hyson (born 1970) – wrestler * Chris Iannetta (born 1983) – baseball player * Drew Inzer (born 1979) – football player * Jeff Jillson (born 1980) – ice hockey player * Steven King (ice hockey), Steven King (born 1969) – ice hockey player * Paul Konerko (born 1976) – baseball player * Clem Labine (1926–2007) – baseball player * Nap Lajoie (1874–1959) – Hall of Fame baseball player * Clara LaMore (1926–2021) – International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee * Lou Lamoriello (born 1942) – ice hockey executive * Rick Lancellotti (born 1956) – baseball player * John LaRose (1951–2021) – baseball player * Brian Lawton (born 1965) – hockey player * Ricky Ledo (born 1992) – basketball player * Ed Lee (ice hockey), Ed Lee (born 1961) – ice hockey player * David Littman (ice hockey), David Littman (born 1967) – ice hockey player * Davey Lopes (born 1945) – baseball player and coach * Peter Manfredo (born 1980) – boxer * Ken McDonald (basketball coach), Ken McDonald (born 1970) – basketball player, coach * John Mellekas (1933–2015) – football player * Tom Mellor (ice hockey), Tom Mellor (born 1950) – hockey player and U.S. Olympian (1972) * Ray Monaco (1918–2002) – football player * Chet Nichols Jr. (1931–1995) – baseball player * Bill Osmanski (1915–1996) – College Football Hall of Fame inductee * Chuck Palumbo (born 1971) – wrestler * Don Panciera (1927–2012) – football player * Les Pawson (1905–1992) – two-time Boston Marathon winner * Vinny Paz (born 1962) – boxer, five-time world champion * Gerry Philbin (born 1941) – football player * David Quinn (ice hockey), David Quinn (born 1966) – ice hockey player * Joe Reed (quarterback), Joe Reed (born 1948) – football player * Aileen Riggin (1906–2002) – swimmer * Bill Sandeman (born 1942) – football player * Mathieu Schneider (born 1969) – professional ice hockey player * Bobby Sewall (born 1988) – football player * Bert Shurtleff (1897–1967) – football player * Jamie Silva (born 1984) – football player * Jim Siwy (born 1958) – baseball player * A.J. Smith (born 1949) – football executive * Hank Soar (1914–2001) – football player * Joe Soares – rugby player * Sean Soriano – mixed martial artist * Andre Soukhamthath – mixed martial artist * Mike Stefanik (1958–2019) – NASCAR driver * Bill Summers (umpire), Bill Summers (1895–1966) – Major League Baseball umpire * Chris Terreri (born 1964) – NHL goalie, two Stanley Cups and U.S. Olympian (1988) * Mark Van Eeghen (born 1952) – NFL Pro Bowl running back * Dan Wheeler (born 1977) – baseball player * Cody Wild (born 1987) – ice hockey player * Mason Williams (baseball), Mason Williams (born 1991) – baseball player * Ron Wilson (ice hockey, born 1955), Ron Wilson (born 1955) – ice hockey player, head coach * Jeff Xavier (born 1985) – basketball player

Business

* Zachariah Allen (1795–1882) – textile manufacturer, scientist, lawyer, writer, inventor and civil leader * Everett M. "Busy" Arnold (1899–1974) – comic book publisher * F. Nelson Blount (1918–1967) – industrialist and railroad enthusiast, founder of the Blount Fine Foods, Blount Seafood Corporation and Steamtown, USA * John Brown (Rhode Island politician), John Brown (1736–1803) – merchant and slave-trader, original owner of the John Brown House (Providence, Rhode Island), John Brown House, co-founder of the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (Brown University) * Moses Brown (1738–1836) – co-founder of the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (Brown University) * Nicholas Brown Jr. (1769–1841) – businessman and philanthropist for whom Brown University is named * Robert Crandall (born 1935) – former president and chairman of American Airlines * Glenn Creamer – senior managing director of Providence Equity Partners * Marcel Desaulniers (born 1945) – chef and director emeritus of the Culinary Institute of America * Wylie Dufresne (born 1970) – celebrity chef, owner of wd~50 restaurant in Manhattan * Ann Smith Franklin (1696–1763) – publisher * Darius Goff (1809–1891) – Pawtucket textile mill owner * Catherine Littlefield Greene (1755–1814) – wife of Nathanael Greene * Daniel Harple (born 1959) – entrepreneur, investor, inventor * Bradley S. Jacobs (born 1956) – chairman and chief executive officer of XPO Logistics * Laura Lang – former chief executive officer of Time Inc. * Aaron Lopez (1731–1782) – slave merchant and philanthropist, wealthiest person in Newport, Rhode Island, Newport * Edward J. McElroy (born 1941) – labor union executive * James McNerney (born 1949) – business executive * David Nason (born 1970) – president and CEO of GE Energy Financial Services * Jonathan M. Nelson (born 1956) – businessman and investor, founder of Providence Equity Partners * Carolyn Rafaelian – designer, philanthropist, and business woman, founder of Alex and Ani * Samuel Slater (1768–1835) – industrialist, "father of the industrial revolution" * Henry J. Steere (1830–1889) – textile industrialist, philanthropist * Judah Touro (1775–1854) – businessman * William Kissam Vanderbilt (1849–1920) – member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family, original owner of Marble House in Newport * William Vernon (1719–1806) – trader

Crime

* Thomas Tew (?–1695) – pirate

Film and television

;A–L * Norm Abram (born 1950) – carpenter and television performer * Robert Aldrich (1918–1983) – film director * Gianna Amore (born 1968) – model and actress * Harry Anderson (1952–2018) – actor, ''Night Court'' * David Angell (1946–2001) – television producer * Nadia Bjorlin (born 1980) – actress * Billy Bush (born 1971) – radio and TV host, ''Access Hollywood'', ''Today (U.S. TV program), Today'' * Ruth Buzzi (born 1936) – comedian, ''Laugh-In'' * Sean Callery (born 1964) – film and television composer * Robert Capron (born 1998) – actor * Marilyn Chambers (1952–2009) – pornographic film actress * Zoë Chao (born 1985) - actress * Harry Cicma (born 1982) – Emmy Award-winning sports anchor, professional tennis player * Amanda Clayton (born 1981) – actress, ''City on a Hill (TV series), City on a Hill'' * Nicholas Colasanto (1924–1985) – actor and director, ''Cheers'' * Michael Corrente (born 1959) – film director and producer * Olivia Culpo (born 1992) – Miss Rhode Island USA 2012, Miss USA 2012, Miss Universe 2012 * Sam Daly (born 1984) – actor * Viola Davis (born 1965) – Academy Award-winning actress * Charlie Day (born 1976) – actor, ''It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'' * Vin Di Bona (born 1944) – television producer * Eddie Dowling (1895–1976) – actor * Alice Drummond (1929–2016) – actress * Jack Duffy (actor), Jack Duffy (1882–1939) – film actor * Nelson Eddy (1901–1967) – actor and singer * Susan Eisenberg (born 1964) – voice actress * Mark Famiglietti (born 1979) – actor * Bobby Farrelly (born 1958) – film director * Peter Farrelly (born 1956) – film director * Mat Franco (born 1988) – magician, ''America's Got Talent'' winner * Matt Fraser (psychic), Matt Fraser (born 1991) – psychic and television personality * Peter Frechette (born 1956) – actor * Peter Gerety (born 1940) – actor * Joanna Going (born 1963) – actress * Spalding Gray (1941–2004) – actor and writer * Richard Hart (actor), Richard Hart (1915–1951) – actor * Elisabeth Hasselbeck (born 1977) – television personality * Sam Hyde – comedian * Richard Hatch (Survivor contestant), Richard Hatch (born 1961) – reality television contestant * Jason Hawes (born 1971) – television actor * David Hedison (1927–2019) – actor * Brian Helgeland (born 1961) – screenwriter, film producer and director * Ruth Hussey (1911–2005) – Academy Award-nominated actress * Thomas Harper Ince (1882–1924) – film producer, director, actor * Richard Jenkins (born 1947) – Academy Award-nominated actor * Joyce Jillson (1946–2004) – actress, author, and astrologer * Van Johnson (1916–2008) – actor, ''The Caine Mutiny (film), The Caine Mutiny'', ''Brigadoon (musical), Brigadoon'' * Claudia Jordan (born 1973) – Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 1997 * Ted Knight (1923–1986) – actor, ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'', ''Caddyshack'' * Geoffrey Lewis (actor), Geoffrey Lewis (1935–2015) – actor * Eric Lutes (born 1962) – actor ;M–Z * Seth MacFarlane (born 1973) – voice actor, creator of ''Family Guy'', ''American Dad!'', ''The Cleveland Show'', and ''Ted (film), Ted'' * George Macready (1899–1973) – actor * Mike Maronna (born 1977) – actor * Jason Marsden (born 1975) – actor * Louis B. Mayer (1884–1957) – film producer and MGM studio mogul * Matt McCarthy (comedian), Matt McCarthy (born 1979) – comedian, actor * Ron McLarty (1947–2020) – actor, playwright, novelist * Michaela McManus (born 1983) – actress, ''Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: SVU'', ''One Tree Hill (TV series), One Tree Hill'' * Caroline McWilliams (1945–2010) – actress * Debra Messing (born 1968) – actress, ''Will and Grace'' * Shanna Moakler (born 1975) – Miss Rhode Island Teen USA 1992, Miss New York USA 1995, Miss USA 1995 * Mark Morettini (born 1962) – actor, ''Prison Break'' * Christopher Murney (born 1943) – actor * Arden Myrin (born 1973) – actress * Brendan O'Malley (born 1969) – actor and writer * Vincent Pagano (born 1967) – actor * Pauly D (born 1980) – television personality, DJ, cast member of ''Jersey Shore (TV series), Jersey Shore'' * David Petrarca (born 1962) – film, television and theatre director * Ben Powers (1950–2015) – actor, ''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'' * Ford Rainey (1908–2005) – actor * Don Reo – television producer * Kali Rocha (born 1971) – actress * Charles Rocket (1945–2005) – actor * Josh Schwartz (born 1976) – television producer * Dave Shalansky (born 1973) – actor * Chris Sparling (born 1977) – screenwriter and director * Christopher Stanley (born 1965) – actor, Henry Francis on ''Mad Men'' * Mena Suvari (born 1979) – actress, ''American Beauty (1999 film), American Beauty'' * Aimee Sweet (born 1977) – model and actress * Saucy Sylvia (1921–2017) – comedian, singer, radio personality * Erika Van Pelt – ''American Idol'' finalist * Meredith Vieira (born 1953) – television personality * David S. Ward (born 1945) – film director, Academy Award-winning screenwriter (''The Sting'') * Desiree Washington (born 1973) – model * James Woods (born 1947) – Academy Award-nominated actor

Journalism

* Allen Bestwick (born 1961) – sportscaster * Angelo Cataldi – sportscaster * David Hartman (TV personality), David Hartman (born 1935) – actor, television personality * Irving R. Levine (1922–2009) – journalist * Walter Mossberg (born 1947) – columnist * Al Rockoff – photographer *

(1895–1977) – author, journalist * A. O. Scott (born 1966) – film critic * Jeff Stein (author), Jeff Stein (born 1944) – columnist, blogger * Doug White (news anchor), Doug White (1944–2006) – television newscaster * Jack White (reporter), Jack White (1942–2005) – journalist

Military

* William Henry Allen (1784–1813) – Navy officer * John Nicholas Brown II (1900–1979) – United States Assistant Secretary of the Navy (AIR) * Ambrose Burnside (1824–1881) – Army officer * Stephen Champlin (1789–1870) – Navy officer * Godfrey Chevalier (1889–1922) – Navy officer * Nathanael Greene (1742–1786) – Continental Army officer, considered George Washington's most gifted officer * Esek Hopkins (1718–1802) – Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War * Leon J. LaPorte (born 1946) – Army officer, former U.S. Forces Korea commander *George Luz (1921–1998) –- member of famed Easy company, Easy Company 506th, 101st. * Matthew C. Perry (1794–1858) – Navy officer * Oliver Hazard Perry (1785–1819) – Navy officer * Elisha Hunt Rhodes (1842–1917) – Army * Isaac P. Rodman (1822–1862) – Army officer * James Mitchell Varnum (1748–1789) – general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War * Samuel Ward Jr. (1756–1832) – American Revolutionary War soldier and delegate to the secessionist Hartford Convention * Frank Wheaton (1833–1903) – Army officer * Abraham Whipple (1733–1819) – Continental Navy commander-in-chief * David B. Champagne (1932-1952) – Medal of Honor recipient

Music

* Greg Abate (born 1947) – jazz musician * Stevie Aiello (born 1983) – founding member of Monty Are I, and touring musician with Thirty Seconds to Mars * AraabMuzik (born 1989) – record producer and DJ * Dicky Barrett (born 1964) – popular musician, frontman of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, announcer for ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' * David Blue (musician), David Blue (1941–1982) – singer-songwriter * John Cafferty – musician known for work with The Beaver Brown Band and for the ''Eddie and the Cruisers'' soundtrack * Blu Cantrell (born 1976) – musician * Wendy Carlos (born 1939) – composer and electronic music pioneer *

(1878–1942) – entertainer, singer, dancer, subject of the film, ''Yankee Doodle Dandy'' * Bill Conti (born 1942) – film music composer, ''Rocky'' * Bill Cowsill (1948–2006) – musician * Tanya Donelly (born 1966) – musician * John Dwyer (musician), John Dwyer (born 1974) – multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, visual artist, and record label owner * Eileen Farrell (1920–2002) – opera singer * Sage Francis (born 1976) – musician * Billy Gilman (born 1988) – musician * Al Gomes (born 1960) – record producer and songwriter * Lukasz Gottwald (born 1973) – songwriter * Bobby Hackett (1915–1976) – jazz musician * Scott Hamilton (musician), Scott Hamilton (born 1954) – jazz tenor saxophonist * Kristin Hersh (born 1966) – musician * Jon B. (born 1974) – musician * Jesse Leach (born 1978) – popular musician * Mapei (musician), Mapei (born 1983) – recording artist * Alexis S.F. Marshall – vocalist for the experimental rock band Daughters (band), Daughters * Dave McKenna (1930–2008) – jazz pianist * Paul Motian (1931–2011) – jazz drummer, composer, bandleader * Nico Muhly (born 1981) – contemporary classical music composer * David Narcizo (born 1966) – musician * David Olney (1948–2020) – musician * Jeffrey Osborne (born 1948) – musician * Mike Renzi (born 1946) – pianist * Duke Robillard (born 1948) – blues musician * Matt and Kim, Kim Schifino – musician * Carol Sloane (born 1937) – jazz singer * Mike Stud (born 1988) – rapper, former athlete * Erika Van Pelt (born 1985) – singer * Leon Wilkeson (1952–2001) – bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd * Don Wise (born 1942) – tenor saxophonist, music producer, songwriter * Arizona Zervas (born 1995) – rapper, composer, singer

Politics and government

;A–L * Lincoln Almond (born 1936) – former governor * Thomas Angell (1618–1694) – co-founder of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations * Jonathan Earle Arnold (1814–1869) – member of the Wisconsin Territory, Wisconsin Territorial Council * Peleg Arnold (1751–1820) – lawyer, tavern-keeper, jurist, and statesman * Joshua Babcock (1707–1783) – physician, American Revolution general, state Supreme Court justice, and postmaster * Latimer Whipple Ballou (1812–1900) – member of the House of Representatives * Sullivan Ballou (1829–1861) – state representative and Army officer * Oliver Belmont (1858–1908) – charter member of the Rhode Island Society of Sons of the Revolution, Representative for New York * Charles R. Brayton (1840–1910) – politician and lobbyist whom The New York Times called the "Blind Boss of Rhode Island" * Samuel W. Bridgham (1776–1740) – first mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, Providence * Frank Caprio (judge), Frank Caprio (born 1936) – judge and television performer * John Chafee (1922–1999) – U.S. Senator * Lincoln Chafee (born 1953) – U.S. Senator, governor of Rhode Island, presidential candidate * Buddy Cianci, Vincent "Buddy" Cianci Jr. (1941–2016) – former mayor of Providence * David Cicilline (born 1961) – Representative and Mayor of Providence * William Coddington (1601–1678) – magistrate of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Judge of Portsmouth, Judge of Newport, Governor of Portsmouth and Newport, Deputy Governor of the entire colony, and governor of the colony * Thomas Gardiner Corcoran, Thomas Corcoran (1900–1981) – member of President Franklin Roosevelt's "Brain Trust" during the New Deal and an advisor to President Lyndon B. Johnson * Percy Daniels (1840–1916) – People's Party (United States), Populist politician * Edward D. DiPrete (born 1934) – former governor of Rhode Island * Thomas E. Donilon, Thomas Donilon – National Security Adviser under President Barack Obama * Thomas A. Doyle (mayor), Thomas A. Doyle (1827–1886) – Mayor of Providence for eighteen years * Job Durfee (1790–1847) – Congressman * Elisha Dyer Jr. (1839–1906) – 45th Governor of Rhode Island, mayor of Providence * William Ellery (1727–1820) – a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of Rhode Island * Arthur Fenner (1745–1805) – fourth governor of Rhode Island * Michael Flynn (born 1958) – retired Army lieutenant general and National Security Advisor * Theodore Foster (1752–1828) – one of the first two United States senators from Rhode Island * Samuel Gorton (1593–1677) – settled Warwick, Rhode Island, Warwick * Daniel L. D. Granger (1852–1909) – Representative and mayor of Providence * Theodore F. Green (1867–1866) – United States Senator, 57th Governor of Rhode Island, and namesake of T. F. Green Airport * Christopher R. Hill (born 1952) – diplomat, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs * Stephen Hopkins (politician), Stephen Hopkins (1707–1785) – Governor of Rhode Island, RI Supreme Court justice, Signatory of the Declaration of Independence * Joseph B. Keenan – Chief Prosecutor in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East * Ambrose Kennedy (1875–1967) – Congressman * Kat Kerwin (1997) – former politician who served as the youngest member of the Providence City Council from 2019 until 2023 * Pat LaMarche (born 1960) – Green Party presidential candidate * William C. Lovering (1835–1910) – Congressman ;M–Z * Tiara Mack (1993) – State Senator * James McAndrews (1862–1942) – Congressman * William McCormick (diplomat), William McCormick (born 1939) – diplomat, United States Ambassador to New Zealand * J. Howard McGrath (1903–1966) – Governor of Rhode Island, Solicitor General, Senator, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and Attorney General of the United States * Edwin D. McGuinness (1856–1901) – first Irish-Catholic mayor of Providence * Florence K. Murray (1916–2004) – officer in Women's Army Corps, first female state senator in Rhode Island, first female judge in Rhode Island, and first female member of the Rhode Island Supreme Court * Dee Dee Myers (born 1961) – White House Press Secretary * Annette Nazareth (born 1956) – commissioner of the Securities and Exchange Commission * Joseph R. Paolino Jr. – U.S. Ambassador to Malta, former Mayor of Providence * John O. Pastore (1907–2000) – Governor of Rhode Island, Senator * Claiborne Pell (1918–2009) – Senator, diplomat, sponsor of Pell grants * Aram J. Pothier (1854–1928) – Governor of Rhode Island, banker * Jack Reed (Rhode Island politician), Jack Reed (born 1949) – Senator * Dennis J. Roberts (1903–1994) – 63rd Governor of Rhode Island * Christopher Robinson (Rhode Island politician), Christopher Robinson (1806–1889) – congressman * James Y. Smith (1809–1876) – mayor of Providence and 29th Governor of Rhode Island * Sean Spicer (born 1971) – White House Press Secretary for President Donald Trump * William Sprague (Rhode Island, 1799–1856), William Sprague (1799–1856) – 14th Governor, a U.S. Representative, and a Senator * William H. Sullivan (1922–2013) – U.S. Ambassador * Bruce Sundlun (1920–2011) – former governor * Charles Tillinghast James (1805–1862) – U.S. Senator * Pat Toomey (born 1961) – Senator for Pennsylvania * Samuel Ward (Rhode Island politician), Samuel Ward (1725–1776) – RI Supreme Court justice, Governor of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, and a delegate to the Continental Congress * William West (Rhode Island politician), William West (1733–1816) – American Revolution general, Lieutenant Governor, RI Supreme Court justice, anti-federalist leader * Sheldon Whitehouse (born 1955) – state Attorney General, Senator * Charles C. Van Zandt (1830–1894) – former governor

Religion

* Alfred W. Anthony (1860–1939) – author, Free Will Baptist leader, and religion professor at Bates College * Emeline S. Burlingame (1836-1923) — president, Rhode Island Woman’s Christian Temperance Union; president, Free Baptist Woman‘s Missionary Society * William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) – Unitarian theologian * John Clarke (Baptist minister), John Clarke (1609–1676) – Baptist minister, co-founder of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, author of its influential charter, and a leading advocate of religious freedom in America * Maurice Davis (1921–1993) – Rabbi and human-rights activist * Ernest Fortin (1923–2002) – Assumptionists, Assumptionist and professor of theology at Boston College * Mark Antony De Wolfe Howe (bishop), Mark Antony De Wolfe Howe (1808–1895) – Episcopal Church bishop * Anne Hutchinson (1591–1643) – early settler of Newport, catalyst of the Antinomian Controversy * James Manning (minister), James Manning (1738–1791) – American Baptist minister, co-founder and first president of the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (Brown University) * Edwards Amasa Park (1808–1900) – theologian * Ezra Stiles (1727–1795) – Congregationalist minister and co-founder of the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations * Roger Williams (theologian), Roger Williams (1603–1684) – founder of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, influential author, considered the first proponent of separation of church and state

Science

* Aaron T. Beck (1921-2021) – psychiatrist * George Brayton (1830–1892) – mechanical engineer * Joseph Brown (astronomer), Joseph Brown (1733–1785) – astronomer * Rita Charon (born 1949) – physician * Solomon Drowne (1753–1834) – physician, academic, and surgeon during the American Revolution * Sylvester Gardiner (1707–1786) – physician * Stuart Gitlow (born 1962) – psychiatrist * Frederic Poole Gorham (1871–1933) – bacteriologist * Nathanael Herreshoff (1848–1938) – naval engineer * Domina Jalbert (1904–1991) – inventor * Melanie Sanford (born 1975) – chemist * Anne Searls De Groot – physician, immunologist and co-founder and of the immunoinformatics company EpiVax * Sherwood C. Spring (born 1944) – astronaut * Robert Henry Thurston (1839–1903) – first president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME * Frank E. Winsor (1870–1939) – civil engineer

References

{{Lists of people by U.S. state Lists of people from Rhode Island,