Famous People from Mississippi

Jimmy Buffett (1946 - ) Singer, songwriter Born in Pascagoula, MS (305)

Bo Diddley (1928 - ) Guitarist Born in McComb, MS (306)

John Carroll Dye (1963 - ) Is an American film and television actor known for his role as Andrew in the television series Touched by an Angel. Born in Amory, MS (1536)

Mary Elizabeth Ellis (1979 - ) Is an American actress and writer best known for her recurring role as "The Waitress" on the FX comedy series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. She also stars in the upcoming NBC sitcom Perfect Couples. Born in Laurel, MS (1537)

William Cuthbert Faulkner (1897 - 1962) Author, famous for works such as The Sound in the Fury and Go Down Moses. Born in New Albany, MS (301)

Ruth Ford (1911 - 2009) Was an American model and stage and film actress. Her brother was the bohemian surrealist Charles Henri Ford. Their parents managed the Tennessee Hotel in Clarksville, Tennessee. Born in Brookhaven, MS (1538)

Mike Connor Gainey (1948 - ) Is an American film and television actor whose distinctive mustache, 6 feet 2/1/2 inches height, and threatening look have given him supporting roles as Southern/Southwestern types, thugs, and criminals. Born in Jackson, MS (1539)

Cynthia Geary (1965 - ) Is an American actress best known for her role as Shelly Tambo in the television series Northern Exposure. In her Emmy-nominated role, she played a former Miss Northwest Passage beauty queen living with a decades-older lover, Holling Vincoeur (played by John Cullum). Together they ran Cicely, Alaska's tavern and restaurant, The Brick. Born in Jackson, MS (1540)

Lynn Hamilton (1930 - ) Is a veteran African-American actress who made her film debut in John Cassavetes' Shadows (1959). Born in Yazoo, MS (1542)

Elizabeth Lee Hazen (1885 - 1975) Inventor, developed the world's first useful antifungal antibiotic, nystatin. Born in Rich, Coahoma County, MS (302)

James Maury Henson (1936 - 1990) Was an American puppeteer. He was one of the most widely known puppeteers in history and was the creator of The Muppets. Born in Greenville, MS (1541)

Faith Hill (1967 - ) Famous singer Born in Star, MS (310)

James Earl Jones (1931 - ) Entertainer, possesses one of the most instantly recognizable voices in entertainment history. Born in Arkabutla, MS (307)

Robert Earl Jones (1910 - 2006) Was an American actor. He is best known for his roles in the films The Cotton Club and The Sting and as the father of actor James Earl Jones. Born in Senatobia, MS (1543)

Diane Ladd (1935 - ) Is an American actress, film director, producer and published author. She has appeared in over 120 roles, on television, and in miniseries and feature films, including Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), Wild at Heart, Rambling Rose (1991), Ghosts of Mississippi, Primary Colors, 28 Days (2000), and American Cowslip (2008). Born in Meridian, MS (1544)

Rimes Margaret LeAnn (1982 - ) Is a popular American country music singer. Born in Jackson, MS (772)

MARY ANN MOBLEY (1939 - ) She was Miss America in 1959, the first from Mississippi to win that honor. She's appeared in two movies with Elvis Presley, including Girl Happy and Harum Scarum both in 1965. Born in Biloxi, MS (786)

Walter Payton (1954 - 1999) Was an American football player who spent his entire professional career with the National Football League's Chicago Bears. Walter Payton was known around the NFL as "Sweetness". Born in Mississippi, MS (1617)

Elvis Presley (1935 - 1977) One of the most famous singers of all time that helped develop rock and roll; moved to Memphis in 1948. Born in East Tupelo, MS (541)

Charley Pride (1938 - ) Is an American country music singer and baseball player. Born in Sledge, MS (1164)

Jerry Rice (1962 - ) Football player, considered the greatest wide receiver ever to play in the NFL. Born in Crawford, MS (308)

James Michael Tyler (1962 - ) Is a US actor best known for his recurring role as Gunther on the NBC sitcom Friends. Born in Winona, MS (1548)

Sela Ward (1956 - ) Star of the 1990's sitcom hits Sisters and Once and Again. Born in Meridian, MS (313)

Sela Ann Ward (1956 - ) Is an American movie and television actress, perhaps best known for her television roles as Teddy Reed on the American TV series Sisters (1991-96) and as Lily Manning on Once and Again (1999-2002). She recently joined the CBS drama CSI: NY, as a series regular as Jo Danville. Born in Meridian, MS (1545)

James Wheaton (1924 - 2002) Was an American motion picture and television actor. He may be best known as the voice actor "OMM" in George Lucas's THX 1138, a role for which he was chosen over Orson Welles. Wheaton also appeared in Trouble Comes to Town and Sanford and Son. Born in Meridian, MS (1546)

Tennessee Williams (1911 - 1983) Playwright, received Pulitzer prizes for A Streetcar Named Desire and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Born in Columbus, MS (300)

Oprah Winfrey (1954 - ) Popular Talk-show host Born in Kosciusko, MS (309)

Hattie Mae Winston (1945 - ) Is an American television, film and Broadway actress best known for her role as Margaret on Becker and as a prominent cast member of the PBS children's series The Electric Company. Born in Lexington, MS (1547)