List of Famous people born in Chattanooga, United States of America
Leslie Jordan
Leslie Allen Jordan is an American actor and writer. He is best known for his roles as Lonnie Garr in Hearts Afire (1993–1995), Beverly Leslie in Will & Grace, several characters in the American Horror Story franchise (2011–present), and Sid in The Cool Kids (2018–2019). One of his best-known onstage performances was in Sordid Lives, where he played Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram, a role he took to the big screen in the popular cult film of the same name.
Ralphie May
Ralph Duren May was an American stand-up comedian and actor, known for his extensive touring and comedy specials on Netflix and other outlets.
Lori Petty
Lori Petty is an American actress and director. She is noted for her roles as Tyler Endicott in the 1991 film Point Break, Kit Keller in A League of Their Own (1992), Rae Lindley in Free Willy (1993), and the title role in Tank Girl in 1995.
Reggie White
Reginald Howard White was an American professional football player who played defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. He played college football for the University of Tennessee, and was recognized as an All-American. After playing two professional seasons for the Memphis Showboats of the United States Football League (USFL), he was selected in the first round of the 1984 Supplemental Draft, and then played for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, and Carolina Panthers, becoming one of the most awarded players in NFL history.
Jon Meacham
Jon Ellis Meacham is an American writer, reviewer, historian and presidential biographer. A former Executive Editor and Executive Vice President at Random House, he is a contributing writer to The New York Times Book Review, a contributing editor to Time magazine, and a former Editor-in-Chief of Newsweek. He is the author of several books. He won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography for American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. He holds the Carolyn T. and Robert M. Rogers Endowed Chair in American Presidency at Vanderbilt University.
Jackie Mitchell
Virne Beatrice "Jackie" Mitchell Gilbert was one of the first female pitchers in professional baseball history. Pitching for the Chattanooga Lookouts Class AA minor league baseball team in an exhibition game against the New York Yankees, she struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in succession.
Keith Mitchell
Keith Mitchell is an American professional golfer on the PGA Tour.
Terry Gordy
Terry Ray Gordy Sr. was an American professional wrestler. Gordy is best known for his appearances in the United States with promotions such as World Class Championship Wrestling, Jim Crockett Promotions/World Championship Wrestling and the Universal Wrestling Federation as a member of The Fabulous Freebirds, as well as his appearances in Japan with All Japan Pro Wrestling as one-half of The Miracle Violence Connection.
Todd Nance
Todd Nance was an American musician. He was best known as the original drummer of Widespread Panic, a band he was a member of until his departure in 2016. He struggled with chronic illness for the remainder of his life, ultimately leading up to his death in 2020.
Lady Bunny
Lady Bunny, originally known as "Bunny Hickory Dickory Dock," is an American drag queen, nightclub DJ, recording artist, actor, journalist, talent promoter, founder of the annual Wigstock event and television personality. She has also released disco singles such as "Shame, Shame, Shame!" and "The Pussycat Song".