List of Famous people born in South Carolina, United States of America
Paul Wight
Paul Donald Wight II is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Big Show.
Stephen Thompson
Stephen Thompson is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Welterweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a former full-contact kickboxer and was undefeated through 37 amateur and 20 professional kickboxing matches. Thompson is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished strikers in UFC history. He has trained with former UFC Welterweight and Middleweight Champion Georges St-Pierre and currently trains with his brother-in-law, former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman. As of September 22, 2020, he is #5 in the UFC welterweight rankings.
Chris Rock
Christopher Julius Rock is an American comedian, actor, television producer, and filmmaker.
Jadeveon Clowney
Jadeveon Davarus Clowney is an American football outside linebacker for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). A native of Rock Hill, South Carolina, he attended South Pointe High School before playing college football for the Gamecocks at the University of South Carolina. As a sophomore there in 2012, he earned conference defensive player of the year honors and was named a unanimous All-American after he set single-season school records in quarterback sacks (13) and tackles for loss (23.5).
Mary-Louise Parker
Mary-Louise Parker is an American actress and writer. After making her stage debut as Rita in a Broadway production of Craig Lucas's Prelude to a Kiss in 1990, Parker came to prominence for film roles in Grand Canyon (1991), Fried Green Tomatoes (1991), The Client (1994), Bullets over Broadway (1994), Boys on the Side (1995), The Portrait of a Lady (1996), and The Maker (1997). Among stage and independent film appearances thereafter, Parker received the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Catherine Llewellyn in David Auburn's Proof in 2001, among other accolades. Between 2001 and 2006, she recurred as Amy Gardner on the NBC television series The West Wing, for which she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 2002. She received both a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award for her portrayal of Harper Pitt on the acclaimed HBO television miniseries Angels in America in 2003.
Trey Gowdy
Harold Watson "Trey" Gowdy III is an American television news personality, former politician, and former federal prosecutor who served as the U.S. Representative for South Carolina's 4th congressional district from 2011 to 2019. His district included much of the Upstate region of South Carolina, including Greenville and Spartanburg.
DeAndre Hopkins
DeAndre Rashaun Hopkins is an American football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson and was drafted by the Houston Texans in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Nicknamed "Nuk", Hopkins is a five-time Pro Bowler and has also been named to five All-Pro teams.
Kevin Garnett
Kevin Maurice Garnett is an American former professional basketball player who played for 21 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Known for his intensity, defensive ability, and versatility, Garnett is considered one of the greatest power forwards of all time. He is one of five NBA players to win both the Most Valuable Player and the Defensive Player of the Year awards. In high school, Garnett was a 1995 McDonald's All-American at Farragut Career Academy and won a national player of the year award. He entered the 1995 NBA draft, where he was selected with the fifth overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves and became the first NBA player drafted directly out of high school in 20 years.
Brendan Allen
Brendan Cody Allen is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. A professional since 2015, he has also competed for the Legacy Fighting Alliance where he is the former Middleweight Champion.
Andy Dick
Andrew Roane Dick is an American comedian, actor, musician, and television and film producer. Best known as a comic, he is also known for his eccentric behavior, drug addiction, and sexual misconduct allegations and arrests. His first regular television role was on the short-lived but influential Ben Stiller Show. In the mid-1990s, he had a long-running stint on NBC's NewsRadio and was a supporting character on Less than Perfect. He briefly had his own program, The Andy Dick Show, on MTV. He is noted for his outlandish behavior from a number of Comedy Central Roasts and other appearances.