Popularly known as ‘The Yellowhammer State’ or ‘The Cotton State’, Alabama is situated in the southeastern region of the United States. Although Montgomery is its capital, the largest city in the state of Alabama is Birmingham, which is the most industrialized as well. The state is well-known for having one the longest navigable inland waterways, in the United States of America. The state is often referred to as ‘The Heart of the Dixie’, the Dixie comprises of 11 states in the region. Alabama is home to several celebrated personalities who have gone on to achieve immensely on the international front. From the legendary humanitarian Helen Keller to the distinguished soccer player Mia Hamm to the talented Harper Lee, Alabama has produced some fine women who have accomplished great things. Four-time Olympic winner Jesse Owens and mighty boxer Evander Holyfield also hail from Alabama. Last but not the least, famous entertainers such as Channing Tatum, Courtney Cox and Lionel Richie, all started their humble beginnings from the state of Alabama. Keep reading to know all the famous individuals who are from Alabama.

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 1 

Channing Tatum

(Best Known for His Roles in the Films: 'Step Up', 'Magic Mike' and 'Jump Street')

Birthdate: April 26, 1980

Sun Sign: Taurus

Actor, producer, and dancer Channing Tatum has been active in the entertainment industry for around two decades. He is best known for his leading role in the film Magic Mike. After dropping out of college as a young man, he started working as a dancer. Hollywood soon came calling and he proceeded to become a film star.

 2 

Helen Keller

(American Author and First Deaf-Blind Person to Earn a Bachelor of Arts Degree)

Birthdate: June 27, 1880

Sun Sign: Cancer

Died: June 1, 1968

A prolific author, having written 12 published books and several articles, Helen Keller was the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Her autobiography, The Story of My Life, made Keller famous and was adapted for film and stage. She was also an activist and campaigned for women's suffrage, labour rights, socialism and other such causes.

 3 

Rosa Parks

(American Activist in the Civil Rights Movement Best Known for Her Pivotal Role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott)

Birthdate: February 4, 1913

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Died: October 24, 2005

Rosa Parks, “the first lady of civil rights,” was a pioneer in the American revolution against color segregation and racism. Her refusal to leave her bus seat to a white passenger gave rise to the iconic Montgomery Bus Boycott, which also led her to work with Martin Luther King Jr.

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 4 

Deontay Wilder

(American Professional Boxer and 10-Time WBC Heavyweight Champion)

Birthdate: October 22, 1985

Sun Sign: Libra

Deontay Wilder was the WBC heavyweight champion from 2015 to 2020 and the first American to hold the title in 9 years. In 2020, BoxRec ranked him the world's second-best active heavyweight. A knock-out specialist, he earned the nickname The Bronze Bomber for his bronze win at the 2008 Olympics.

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Birthdate: June 20, 1949

Sun Sign: Gemini

Lionel Richie is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and composer whose work with the band Commodores and his solo career established him as a successful balladeer of the 1980s. Having sold more than 90 million records, Lionel Richie is one of the best-selling musicians of all time. Also a philanthropist, Richie helped raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

 6 

Charles Barkley

(American Former Professional Basketball Player and TV Analyst)

Birthdate: February 20, 1963

Sun Sign: Pisces

American professional basketball player Charles Barkley was a prolific scorer and played for Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Houston Rocket teams of the National Basketball Association. He was part of the US men’s team that won the gold medal in 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympic Games. He was also controversial and was known for his confrontational attitude and physical aggression.

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 7 

Jesse Owens

(American Track and Field Athlete Who Won Four Gold Medals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics)

Birthdate: September 12, 1913

Sun Sign: Virgo

Died: March 31, 1980

Widely regarded as one of the greatest track and field athletes of all time, Jesse Owens' three world records in less than an hour in 1935 came to be known as the greatest 45 minutes ever in sports. He was credited with destroying Adolf Hitler's myth of Aryan supremacy when he won four gold medals at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

 8 

Hank Williams

(One of the Most Significant and Influential Singers and Songwriters of the 20th Century)

Birthdate: September 17, 1923

Sun Sign: Virgo

Died: January 1, 1953

Musician Hank Williams is widely considered one of the most influential and significant American singer-songwriters of the 20th century. Hank Williams influenced several singers, such as Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, and Charley Pride to name a few. Since his untimely death at the age of 29, many artists have released tribute albums honoring Hank Williams.  

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 9 

Evander Holyfield

(The Only Boxer in the History to Win the Undisputed Championship in Two Weight Classes)

Birthdate: October 19, 1962

Sun Sign: Libra

Evander Holyfield is an American retired boxer who reigned as the undisputed champion in the late 1980s under cruiserweight division and in the early 1990s under heavyweight division. The only four-time world heavyweight champion, Holyfield remains the only boxer in the history of boxing to reign as an undisputed champion in two weight classes.

 10 

Tim Cook

(Chief Executive Officer of 'Apple Inc.')

Birthdate: November 1, 1960

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Since taking over as the CEO of Apple, Inc. in 2011, till 2020, Tim Cook has, through his dedication, doubled its profits. He was the first Fortune 500 CEO to “come out” as gay, in 2014. A devoted philanthropist, Tim intends to donate most of his stocks to charity.

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 11 

Nat King Cole

(Singer and Jazz Pianist Best Known His Soft Baritone Voice)

Birthdate: March 17, 1919

Sun Sign: Pisces

Died: February 15, 1965

Jazz pianist/singer Nat King Cole, father of singer Natalie Cole, is best remembered for tracks such as Too Young and Mona Lisa. His last album, L-O-V-E, was recorded while he battled lung cancer. With The Nat King Cole Show, he became the first African-American to host his own show.

 12 

Harper Lee

(American Author Best Known for Her Novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’)

Birthdate: April 28, 1926

Sun Sign: Taurus

Died: February 19, 2016

Harper Lee was an American novelist who wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic To Kill a Mockingbird. Despite publishing only two books, Lee was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her contribution to literature, such was her impact in the world of literature. A friend of Truman Capote, Lee has been portrayed by popular actresses in Capote's biographical films.

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 13 

Hank Aaron

(One of the Greatest Baseball Players in History)

Birthdate: February 5, 1934

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Died: January 22, 2021

Baseball player Hank Aaron, also known as Hammer or Hammerin' Hank, is remembered for his stint with the MLB teams Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers. He also competed as part of the Negro League team Indianapolis Clowns. He was named to The Sporting News 100 Greatest Baseball Players.

 14 

Courteney Cox

(Famous for Her Portrayal of 'Monica Geller' on the Sitcom 'Friends')

Birthdate: June 15, 1964

Sun Sign: Gemini

Actress, producer, and director, Courteney Cox first gained international popularity in the mid-1990s owing to her appearance in the NBC sitcom Friends. She soon ventured into films, where also she found success. Besides acting, she owns the film and television company, Coquette Productions. She has won the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Women's Image Network.

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 15 

Joe Louis

(One of the Greatest and Most Influential Boxers of All Time.)

Birthdate: May 13, 1914

Sun Sign: Taurus

Died: April 12, 1981

Boxer Joe Louis, or the Brown Bomber, was the world heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949 and was the longest-reigning (single) heavyweight champion. The International Boxing Research Organization declared him the best heavyweight boxer of all time. He was also a skilled golfer and appeared in a 1952 PGA event.

Birthdate: May 13, 1993

Sun Sign: Taurus

Deborah Ryan is an American singer and actress who started her career as a child artist before going on to establish herself as a successful adult actress in the TV and film industry. A multi-talented personality, Ryan can also play the guitar, keyboard, and piano. Also a well-known philanthropist, Ryan has been working on various causes, such as ocean conservation.

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 17 

Gucci Mane

(Rapper and Record Executive Known for His Albums: ‘Hard to Kill’ and ‘Back to the Trap House’)

Birthdate: February 12, 1980

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Hip-hop and trap sensation Gucci Mane has made waves with tracks such as Gucci Time and Wasted. The “avatar of East Atlanta,” he has had multiple brushes with the law. He owns a label and has also written an autobiography. He has also promoted the Gucci Cruise 2020 Campaign.

 18 

Terrell Owens

(One of the Greatest Football Wide Receivers of All Time)

Birthdate: December 7, 1973

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Terrell Owens is a former American football player who played for popular teams like San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL) in a career spanning 16 years. Considered one of thegreatest American footballers of his generation, Terrell Owens was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

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 19 

Bo Jackson

(Former Baseball & Football Player, the Only Professional Athlete in History to be Named an 'All-Star' in Both)

Birthdate: November 30, 1962

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Former professional baseball and football player Bo Jackson has the distinction of being the only professional athlete in history to be named an All-Star in both the sports. Considered one of the greatest athletes of all time, he pursued his other interests following his retirement from sports in the 1990s. He has acted in a few TV shows, playing minor characters.

Birthdate: November 14, 1954

Sun Sign: Scorpio

The 66th United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made history in 2005 when she became the first female black Secretary of State. She is also the first female to serve as National Security Advisor, a position which she served from 2001 to 2005. One of the most powerful women in the world at one point of time, she has been depicted in Hollywood films.

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 21 

Willie Mays

(One of the Best All-Around Players in the History of Baseball)

Birthdate: May 6, 1931

Sun Sign: Taurus

Willie Mays is considered one of the all-time greats of baseball. His breathtaking catch of Vic Wertz’s fly ball is etched as a great movement in the history of the sport. Associated with New York / San Francisco Giants for about two decades, the former center fielder with record Major League Football putouts, features in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

 22 

Octavia Spencer

(The First Black Actress to Have Received two Successive Nominations at the Oscars)

Birthdate: May 25, 1970

Sun Sign: Gemini

Octavia Spencer is an American actress, producer, and author. Widely regarded as one of the best actresses of her generation, Spencer has received several prestigious awards, such as a Golden Globe Award, Academy Award, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Octavia Spencer is the first black actress to have received two successive nominations at the Oscars.

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Birthdate: November 29, 1982

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

An actor who gained international fame with his role in the TV series, American Gothic, Lucas Black is known for playing versatile roles onscreen. Starting his career with a small film role in the mid-1990s, he has come a long way. He is the winner of one Young Artist Award. 

 24 

Mia Hamm

(American Former Professional Soccer Player and Two-Time Olympic Gold Medalist)

Birthdate: March 17, 1972

Sun Sign: Pisces

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 25 

DeMarcus Cousins

(Basketball player, Center)

Birthdate: August 13, 1990

Sun Sign: Leo

Height: 6'10" (208 cm)

 26 

Walton Goggins

(Actor Known for His Roles in TV Movies: 'The Shield', 'Justified' and 'The Unicorn')

Birthdate: November 10, 1971

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Walton Goggins is best known for his Emmy-nominated performance in Justified and has also played a long-running role in The Shield. His short film The Accountant won an Academy Award. He is an avid traveler and photographer, too, and also co-owns the spirits company Mulholland Distilling.

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 27 

Carl Lewis

(American Track-and-Field Athlete Who Won Nine Olympic Gold Medals During the 1980s and 1990s)

Birthdate: July 1, 1961

Sun Sign: Cancer

A dominant sprinter and long jumper, Carl Lewis has won ten Olympic medals, nine of them gold. From 1981 to 1991, he topped the world rankings in the 100 m, 200 m and long jump events, slowly starting to lose his dominance thereafter, eventually retiring in 1997. Currently a businessperson, he has also appeared in films and television productions.

 28 

Philip Rivers

(American football player)

Birthdate: December 8, 1981

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Height: 6'5" (196 cm)

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 29 

Jameis Winston

(American Football Player)

Birthdate: January 6, 1994

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Height: 6'4" (193 cm)

 30 

Henry Ruggs

(American football Player)

Birthdate: January 24, 1999

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Height: 5'11" (180 cm)

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 31 

Jordan Fisher

(Actor and Singer Known for His TV Series ‘The Secret Life of the American Teenager’)

Birthdate: April 24, 1994

Sun Sign: Taurus

Jordan Fisher is well-known for his acting, singing, and dancing skills. He won the 25th season of the popular dance competition television series Dancing with the Stars. As a singer, he has released singles, such as All About Us and Lookin' Like That. He also served as a commentator at the 2019 Fortnite World-Cup, an annual e-sports competition.

Birthdate: January 26, 1944

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Activist, philosopher, academic and author, Angela Davis is a founding member of the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism (CCDS). She has worked in the areas of feminism, class, race and the US prison system. She has also received criticism for supporting the erstwhile Soviet Union and has been accused of supporting political violence.

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Birthdate: 1989

Sun Sign: Aquarius

American football player Julio Jones has been an important member of the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL since 2011. Renowned for his leaping and catching ability, Jones is considered one of the greatest receivers ever and the best wide receiver of the current generation. He became the fastest to reach 10,000 receiving yards in the history of NFL in 2018.

Birthdate: January 7, 1891

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Died: January 28, 1960

Zora Neale Hurston was an author, anthropologist, and filmmaker. As an African American woman, she often depicted racial issues in the films she made. Her works also reflected her struggles as a black woman. In her early career, she conducted anthropological and ethnographic research and focused more on writing and film-making in her later years.

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 35 

Bart Starr

(American football quarterback and coach)

Birthdate: January 9, 1934

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Died: May 26, 2019

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

 36 

Robin Roberts

(First Woman of Color and First Openly LGBTQ+ Woman to Host the American TV Game Show ‘Jeopardy!')

Birthdate: November 23, 1960

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

A former basketball and tennis player, Rubin Roberts began her career as a sports anchor and reporter for a Mississippi channel, WDAM-TV, eventually joining ESPN as sportscaster, concurrently serving as a featured reporter for Good Morning America. In 2005, she left ESPN to become a co-anchor for Good Morning America, currently serving as an anchor for the same program.

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Birthdate: July 7, 1906

Sun Sign: Cancer

Died: June 8, 1982

Legendary baseball pitcher Satchel Paige was part of the MLB and the Negro League Baseball. The National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee began his career playing for the Chattanooga Black Lookouts and later played for teams such as the Cleveland Indians. He was the American League’s first black pitcher.

 38 

Michael Rooker

(Actor Known for His Roles as Henry in 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer')

Birthdate: April 6, 1955

Sun Sign: Aries

Michael Rooker is an American actor. A black belt holder in Kyokushin style of karate, Michael Rooker often uses his martial arts skills to play his characters, such as Yondu Udonta in Guardians of the Galaxy, to perfection. He is also known for his performance in popular TV series like The Walking Dead.

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Birthdate: April 27, 1927

Sun Sign: Taurus

Died: January 30, 2006

The American civil rights activist was an ideal foil for her famous husband Martin Luther King Jr. in promoting racial equality. The author and singer led the Women's Movement and fought for the rights of the LGBT community. She was also known for mobilising African-Americans during the 1960 US presidential election. She founded the King Centre, a not-for-profit organization.

Birthdate: April 2, 1947

Sun Sign: Aries

Emmylou Harris is an American musician, singer, and songwriter. Apart from being a bandleader, a solo artist, and an interpreter of other artists' works, Harris is also an activist; since 1999, she has been conducting Concerts for a Landmine Free World, an annual benefit tour. She is also an ardent supporter of animal rights organizations, such as PETA.

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 41 

Kate Jackson

(Actress and Producer Known for Her Role as ‘Sabrina Duncan’ in the TV Series ‘Charlie's Angels’)

Birthdate: October 29, 1948

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Kate Jackson is known for her iconic role of Sabrina Duncan in the 1970s’ series Charlie's Angels, which earned her a feature on the Time cover, with co-stars Jaclyn Smith and Farrah Fawcett . She also delivered a Bravo Golden Otto-winning performance as Amanda King in Scarecrow and Mrs. King.

Birthdate: November 20, 1969

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Dabo Swinney is an American football coach. The highest-paid coach in college athletics history, Dabo Swinney helped the Clemson Tigers of the Clemson University win two national championships; he is the second-most successful head coach in Clemson history, only behind Frank Howard.

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 43 

Zelda Fitzgerald

(Socialite & Referred to as 'The first American Flapper' by Her Husband 'F. Scott Fitzgerald')

Birthdate: July 24, 1900

Sun Sign: Leo

Died: March 10, 1948

Zelda Fitzgerald was a painter, socialite, and novelist. Along with her husband Scott Fitzgerald, Zelda became a prominent personality of the Jazz Age. Renowned for her high spirits and beauty, she was named the first American flapper by Scott. For her work as a novelist and painter, Fitzgerald was posthumously made an inductee to the Alabama Women's Hall of Fame.

 44 

Jim Nabors

(Actor)

Birthdate: June 12, 1930

Sun Sign: Gemini

Died: November 30, 2017

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

 45 

Mae Jemison

(First African American Woman To Travel To Space)

Birthdate: October 17, 1956

Sun Sign: Libra

Former NASA astronaut Mae Jemison became the first Black woman to fly into space, as a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Endeavour. A qualified physician, she has served as a Peace Corps doctor, too. She has written several books and established a non-profit and a tech research organization.

 46 

Kaitlan Collins

(American Journalist and Chief White House Correspondent for 'CNN')

Birthdate: April 7, 1992

Sun Sign: Aries

Kaitlan Collins is one of the most popular and influential American journalists of the current generation. As a White House correspondent for CNN, Collins traveled to at least six different countries with Donald Trump. She made headlines when she questioned Trump about Vladimir Putin, for which she was forbidden from attending a Trump administration press conference in 2018.

 47 

Fred Thompson

(Former United States Senator from Tennessee (1994 - 2003))

Birthdate: August 19, 1942

Sun Sign: Leo

Died: November 1, 2015

Fred Thompson was an American politician, lobbyist, attorney, columnist, radio personality, and actor. From 1994 to 2003, Thompson served as the United States Senator from Tennessee. As an actor, he played important roles in several films and TV series, such as Law & Order and Barbarians at the Gate.

Birthdate: June 28, 1979

Sun Sign: Cancer

Felicia Day is an American actress, web series creator, and writer. She is credited with creating the popular comedy web series The Guild, which was loosely based on her experiences as a gamer. Also a humanitarian, Felicia Day organized a Twitch charity live-stream to help a nonprofit organization called Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES).

Birthdate: October 23, 1957

Sun Sign: Libra

The American civil rights activist has continued his legendary father Martin Luther King Jr.’s struggle for racial equality. Martin Luther King III headed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference founded by his father and endorsed Barack Obama’s nomination for American presidency. King fought against police brutality, but he also denounced capital punishment, saying he did not belive in retributional justice.

 50 

Jimmy Wales

(Internet Entrepreneur, Webmaster and Co-Founder of the Online Encyclopedia ‘Wikipedia’)

Birthdate: August 7, 1966

Sun Sign: Leo

Internet entrepreneur Jimmy Wales is widely known as the co-founder of the not-for-profit online encyclopedia Wikipedia, though he has claimed to be its sole founder. Wikipedia had its roots in Nupedia, a free encyclopedia that was funded by Wales’s portal Bomis. Wales also co-founded Wikia, or Fandom, a web-hosting service.