List of Famous people born in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Vanessa Struhler, better known as Vanessa S., is a German singer and songwriter who came to fame as a finalist of the first season of the television show Deutschland sucht den SuperStar, the German version of Pop Idol.

Isabel Pfeiffer-Poensgen is a German politician, lawyer and administrative officer. Since June 30, 2017, she has been serving as State Minister of Culture and Science in the government of Minister-President Armin Laschet of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Mambo Kurt is a German comedy and novelty act who performs covers of mainstream and classic rock hits.

Lisa Altenburg is a German field hockey player. She was part of the German bronze medal winning team at the 2016 Olympic Games and also played for Germany at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She is the niece of Birgit Hahn who also played Olympic hockey for Germany.

Laura Pinski is a German singer.

Hannes Wader is a German singer-songwriter ("Liedermacher"). He has been an important figure in German leftist circles since the 1970s, with his songs covering such themes as socialist and communist resistance to oppression in Europe and other places like Latin America. He both wrote new songs and played versions of older historical works.

Heidemarie Ecker-Rosendahl is a retired German athlete who competed mainly in the pentathlon and long jump. She set a world record in the long jump at 6.84 m in 1970 that stood for almost six years.

Uğur Işılak is a Turkish musician, composer and politician.

Thomas von Heesen is a former German football attacking midfielder, and a current coach.

Udo Di Fabio is a German jurist. He is a former judge of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany, Germany's highest court, where he served as a member of the Second Senate from December 1999 until December 2011.