List of people from Austin, Texas

This is a list of notable past and present residents of the U.S. city of Austin, Texas , and its surrounding metropolitan area. It does not include people whose only connection with the city is attending the University of Texas; see: List of University of Texas at Austin alumni.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

A to E

Roky Erickson

• Paco Ahlgren, writer
• Marshall Allman, actor
• Natalia Anciso, artist and educator
• Clifford Antone, music impresario (deceased)
• Federico Archuleta, artist
• Bob Armstrong, politician, conservationist (deceased)
• Lance Armstrong, cyclist
• Stone Cold Steve Austin, professional wrestler
• Kerry Awn, artist, comedian, and musician
• Charlie Baird, judge and lawyer
• Marcia Ball, musician ^[1]
• Nick Barbaro, South by Southwest co-creator; Austin Chronicle publisher
• Eugene C. Barker, historian ^[2]
• Lou Ann Barton, musician ^[3]
• Bayley, professional wrestler
• Don Baylor, baseball player (deceased)
• Rich Beem, golfer
• Leila Bela, musician
• Dan Benjamin, podcaster, founder of 5by5 Studios
• Ray Benson, musician
• Raymond Benson, author
• Angela Bettis, actress ^[4]
• Scott H. Biram, musician
• Louis Black, journalist
• Ken Boswell, MLB baseball player; member of 1969 "Miracle Mets"
• Terry Bozzio, musician
• H.W. Brands, educator, author and historian
• Berkeley Breathed, cartoonist
• Drew Brees, NFL quarterback
• Douglas Brinkley, author and professor of history
• Billy Brooks, NFL player, father of Mehcad Brooks
• Mehcad Brooks, actor, male fashion model
• Mack Brown, UT football coach
• Brian Brushwood, magician, podcaster, author, lecturer and comedian
• Sandra Bullock, Academy Award-winning actress
• Burnie Burns, director and writer
• Mark Calaway, professional wrestler
• Nicolas Cantu, actor and YouTuber
• Liz Carpenter, Lady Bird Johnson's press secretary, author (deceased)
• Greg Casar, Congressman, representing portions of Austin since 2023
• Danny Cater, baseball player
• Michael Ray Charles, artist
• Ciara, singer
• Gary Clark, Jr., musician, actor, and rock star
• Gary Clarke, actor
• Leslie Cochran, Austin icon (deceased)
• Christina Cogdell, art historian
• Tyson Cole, chef
• Dabney Coleman, actor
• Shawn Colvin, musician
• Connie Yerwood Connor, physician ^[5]
• Jody Conradt, retired U.T. women's head basketball coach
• John Cornyn, U.S. Senator from Texas since 2002
• Ryan Cownie, stand-up comedian
• Ben Crenshaw, golfer
• Jarrett Crippen, a.k.a. The Defuser, actor ^[6]
• Ian Crocker, Olympic swimmer
• Alfred Crosby, historian, author
• Adam Curry, a.k.a. "The Podfather", co-inventor of podcasting (along with Dave Winer) and co-host of No Agenda (along with John C. Dvorak)
• John Paul DeJoria, businessman
• Michael Dell, businessman and CEO of Dell Technologies
• Bradley Denton, author
• G.V. Desani, author and educator (deceased)
• Alvin Devane, retired police lieutenant (deceased)
• Geoff Diehl, politician and candidate for the 2022 Massachusetts gubernatorial election ^[7]
• J. Frank Dobie, author (deceased)
• Lloyd Doggett, Congressman, representing portions of Austin since 1995
• Floyd Domino, musician
• Ramón H. Dovalina, retired college president
• Joe Ely, musician
• Roky Erickson, musician (deceased)
• Alejandro Escovedo, musician
• Akwasi Evans, journalist

F to Q

O. Henry

Matthew McConaughey

Willie Nelson

• John Henry Faulk, radio personality (deceased)
• Farrah Fawcett, actress (deceased)
• Arthur Fehr, architect (deceased)
• Eric Felton, NFL player
• Charlie Fern, White House speechwriter, journalist
• Carly Fiorina, businesswoman, politician
• Jake Flores, comedian
• Nick Foles, NFL quarterback
• Michelle Forbes, actress
• Tom Ford, fashion designer
• Jim Franklin, artist
• Joe B. Frantz, historian
• Ben Fricke, NFL football player
• Lex Fridman, computer scientist and podcaster
• Kinky Friedman, musician, writer
• Max Frost, musician
• Buddy Garcia, interim Texas Railroad Commissioner
• Gustavo L. "Gus" García, mayor of Austin
• Richard Garriott, video game developer
• David Garza, musician
• Eliza Gilkyson, musician
• Jimmie Dale Gilmore, musician
• Alberto Gonzales, U.S. Attorney General
• Brea Grant, actress
• Kellye Gray, jazz vocalist
• Jehmu Greene, political activist
• Michael Griffin, NFL player
• Patty Griffin, musician
• Nanci Griffith, musician
• Marc Gunn, musician, podcaster
• Sarah Hagan, actress
• Cully Hamner, comic book artist and writer
• Butch Hancock, musician, poet, singer, songwriter
• Brendan Hansen, Olympic swimmer
• Johnny Hardwick, comedian, writer
• James C. Harrington, founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project
• Ryan Harrison, tennis player
• Russell Harvard, actor
• Bess Lomax Hawes, folk musician, folklorist, researcher
• Ethan Hawke, actor
• Deborah Hay, choreographer
• Gibby Haynes, musician
• Amber Heard, actress
• Sherman Hemsley, actor (deceased)
• Thomas "Hollywood" Henderson, NFL player, civic leader, philanthropist
• Mark Henry, professional wrestler
• O. Henry, author (deceased)
• Sophia Hernandez, musician (saxophone)
• Don Hertzfeldt, filmmaker
• Joel Heyman, entertainer
• Sara Hickman, musician
• Bill Hicks, comedian (deceased)
• Jim Hightower, journalist, politician
• Barbara Hines, immigration rights attorney
• Tish Hinojosa, musician
• Chad Holt, musician
• Tobe Hooper, film director (deceased)
• Beau Hossler, professional golfer
• Angee Hughes, actress
• Karen Hughes, Undersecretary of State, White House Counsel
• Matt Hullum, director and writer
• James Hynes, author
• Molly Ivins, author, journalist (deceased)
• Conor Jackson, MLB player
• Steve Jackson, game designer
• Jaxon, comic book artist, historian
• Charles J. Jenkins, Illinois state representative and lawyer
• Robert Jensen, journalism professor, author, political activist
• Curtis Jerrells (born 1987), basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem of Israeli Premier League ^[8]
• Dakota Johnson, actress
• Eric Johnson, guitarist
• Lady Bird Johnson, First Lady (deceased)
• Lyndon B. Johnson, U.S. president (deceased)
• Daniel Johnston, musician
• Alex Jones, conspiracy theorist
• Angus T. Jones, actor
• Kydd Jones, musician, rapper and producer
• Janis Joplin, musician (deceased)
• Barbara Jordan, U.S. Congresswoman, professor (deceased)
• Mike Judge, cartoonist, actor, voice actor, filmmaker
• Guy Juke, artist
• Douglas Kellner, philosopher, author
• Hilmer Kenty, world champion boxer, born in Austin
• William Astor Kirk, church lay leader
• Tom Kite, golfer
• Taylor Kitsch, actor
• Harry Knowles, film critic
• Kim Krizan, screenwriter, actress
• Kandace Krueger, Miss Texas USA 2001 and Miss USA 2001
• Jimmy LaFave, singer, songwriter, musician
• Dick "Night Train" Lane, NFL Hall of Fame defensive back; revolutionized pro defense; set single-season record for interceptions (14, in 1950)
• Tim League, film producer and founder of the Alamo Drafthouse cinemas
• Russell Lee, photographer (deceased)
• Ryan Lee, actor
• Lashonda Lester, stand-up comedian
• Will Licon, swimmer
• Richard Linklater, film director
• The Lizardman (Erik Sprague), sideshow performer, known for his body modifications
• Alan Lomax, ethnomusicologist (deceased)
• John Lomax, musicologist, folklorist, teacher (deceased)
• Paul London, professional wrestler
• John Mackey, businessman
• Natalie Maines, singer
• Michael Malice, author, podcaster, and political thinker
• Terrence Malick, film director
• Julian Mandrake, musician
• Tucker Max, author
• Baker Mayfield, professional football player, Heisman Trophy winner
• Terry McBride, musician
• Tim McCanlies, film director
• Michael McCaul, Congressman, representing portions of Austin since 2005
• Matthew McConaughey, Academy Award-winning actor
• Michelle McCool, professional wrestler
• Forrest Howard McDonald (born 1950), blues rock musician
• Benjamin McKenzie, actor
• James McMurtry, musician
• Doug Mellard, stand-up comedian
• James Michener, author (deceased)
• Ed Miller, musician, folklorist
• Farrah Moan, drag queen, entertainer
• Larry Monroe, radio DJ
• Monte Montgomery, guitarist
• Elizabeth Moon, author ^[9]
• Abra Moore, musician
• Gurf Morlix, musician
• Robert Morrow, Republican Party county chairman
• Richard Moya, county commissioner
• Edwin Neal, actor, writer, comedian
• Nelly, rap artist
• Willie Nelson, musician
• Elisabet Ney, artist
• Matt Noveskey, musician
• Robert N. Noyce, inventor, entrepreneur (deceased)
• Michael O'Brien, photographer
• Madalyn Murray O'Hair, atheist activist (deceased)
• Chad Oliver, author (deceased)
• Ephraim Owens, musician
• Genevieve Padalecki, actress
• Jared Padalecki, actor
• [{David Mercier Parsons, 2011 Texas State Poet Laureate
• Aaron Peirsol, athlete
• Pinetop Perkins, musician (deceased)
• Grace Phipps, actress
• Turk Pipkin, activist, author, actor
• Robert Plant, musician
• Alan Pogue, photojournalist
• Glen Powell, actor
• Priscilla Presley, ^[10] actress, businesswoman
• Gary Primich, blues musician (deceased)
• Ben H. Procter, historian (deceased)
• Cactus Pryor, radio personality (deceased)

R to Z

• Geoff Ramsey, entertainer
• Dan Rather, journalist, TV anchor
• Bob Ray, filmmaker
• Luke Redfield, musician, activist
• Spencer Redford, actor
• Coke Reed, mathematician and inventor
• Ryan Rees, rugby union player
• Ann Richards, Governor 1991–1995
• Sanya Richards-Ross, athlete
• Rich Riley, executive with Yahoo!
• Chris Roberts, game designer
• Andy Roddick, tennis player
• Robert Rodriguez, film director
• Karl Rove, political advisor
• Darrell Royal, UT football coach (deceased)
• Dustin Rhodes, professional wrestler
• Dusty Rhodes, professional wrestler
• Justin Ruggiano, MLB baseball player
• Louis Sachar, children's author
• Jay O. Sanders, actor
• Ben Sargent, editorial cartoonist
• Tony Scalzo, musician, songwriter
• Schave & Reilly, comedy duo ^[11]
• Linda Schele, Mayanist, art historian
• Robert Schenkkan, playwright, screenwriter, Pulitzer Prize for Drama
• Denise Schmandt-Besserat, archaeologist
• Kendra Scott, jeweler ^[12]
• Zachary Scott, actor
• Austin Wayne Self, NASCAR driver
• Gilbert Shelton, comic book artist
• Esperanza Spalding, musician, composer, educator, bandleader
• Warren Spector, game designer
• Julian Spence, football player
• David Spicer, organist and choirmaster
• Harry Stafford, football player
• Tommy Shane Steiner, musician
• Bruce Sterling, author
• Carole Strayhorn, politician
• David Stuart, Mayanist, epigrapher
• Don Tate, author and illustrator of children's books
• Karen T. Taylor, forensic and portrait artist
• Lia Thomas, swimmer
• Reji Thomas, glass artist and painter
• Kenneth Threadgill, tavern owner and country singer
• Chris Tomlin, musician
• John Treviño Jr., first Mexican-American on Austin city council
• Charles Umlauf, artist (deceased)
• Kathy Valentine, musician, songwriter
• Townes Van Zandt, musician (deceased)
• Jimmie Vaughan, musician
• Stevie Ray Vaughan, musician (deceased)
• Lizzie Velásquez, motivational speaker and author
• Louis A. Waldman, art historian
• Howard Waldrop, author
• Jerry Jeff Walker, musician (deceased)
• Eli Wallach, actor (deceased)
• Don Webb, author
• Walter Prescott Webb, author and historian (deceased)
• Garrett Weber-Gale, Olympic swimmer
• Steven Weinberg, physicist, Nobel laureate
• Spencer Wells, geneticist, anthropologist
• Willie Wells, great Negro League shortstop; member of three baseball Halls of Fame (US, Mexico, Cuba); helped Jackie Robinson to launch his career
• Charles S. West, jurist, politician
• Florence Duval West, poet; wife of Charles S. West
• Blaire White, gun rights activist
• Julie White, Tony-award winning actress
• Mack White, comic book artist
• Martha E. Whitten, author
• Mike Wiebe, musician (The Riverboat Gamblers), actor, and stand-up comedian
• Wiley Wiggins, actor
• Barry Williamson, lawyer, member of Texas Railroad Commission
• Kelly Willis, musician
• Cody Wilson, founder and director of Defense Distributed; inventor of The Liberator-3D printed gun
• Eddie Wilson, co-founder of the Armadillo World Headquarters and owner of Threadgill's restaurants.
• Owen Wilson, actor
• Robin Wilson, eco-designer, author and lifestyle brand
• Roxanne Wilson, attorney
• Elijah Wood, actor
• Chuck Woolery, game show host, conservative activist
• Lawrence Wright, writer, journalist
• Zack Wright, professional basketball player
• Cale Yarborough, athlete, adventure racer (Eco-Challenge Fiji), producer

See also

• Music of Austin

References

1. Richard Skelly (1949-03-20). "Marcia Ball | Biography & History". AllMusic . Retrieved 2017-07-26.
2. "Faculty Council | The University of Texas at Austin" (PDF). Utexas.edu. 2017-05-02. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
3. "Digital Videos | Episodes (TV Series)". Vh1.com. Archived from the original on November 21, 2002. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
4. "Angela Bettis". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
5. "Public Health Pioneer Dies at 83". The Odessa American. Associated Press. 1991-06-16. p. 14. Retrieved 2017-10-31– via Newspapers.com.
6. Renovitch, James (2007-09-28). "Epaulets, Hard-Plastic C-Cups, and a Superhero Cop: NCsoft's gaming love-in – Screens". The Austin Chronicle . Retrieved 2017-07-26.
7. Why I Do What I Do. Scott Publishing Company, New York, N.Y. 2022.
8. "Curtis Jerrells Bio — Baylor Official Athletic Site". Baylorbears.com. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
9. "Summary Bibliography: Elizabeth Moon". Isfdb.org. 1945-03-07. Retrieved 2017-07-26.
10. Myers, Marc (November 1, 2016). Priscilla Presley on Her Life Before Elvis . The Wall Street Journal .
11. "The silent treatment". www.thatotherpaper.com. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
12. Pope, Colin. "Kendra Scott, Founder and CEO, Kendra Scott Design". Profile. Austin Business Journal. Retrieved 26 October 2012.