List of people from Birmingham

This is a list of famous or notable people born in, or associated with, Birmingham in England, who have a Wikipedia page.

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.

Famous people born in Birmingham

A–F

• Scott Adkins (born 1987) – actor, gymnast
• Gabriel Agbonlahor (born 1986) – footballer
• Moeen Ali (born 1987) – England cricketer
• Dennis Amiss (born 1943) – cricketer and Warwickshire administrator
• Keith Arkell (born 1961) – English chess champion, 2008
• Stephen Arlen (1913–1972) – opera manager
• Ian Ashbee (born 1976) – footballer
• Francis William Aston (1877–1945) – Nobel Prize winner, physicist
• Ian Atkins (born 1957) – footballer
• Albert Austin (1882–1953) – silent film star
• Jack Badham (1919–1992) – footballer
• Annette Badland (born 1951) – actress
• Kenny Baker (1934–2016) – actor
• Sir Michael Bacon (1896–1977) – film director
• Pato Banton (born 1961) – reggae artist
• Dave Barnett (born 1967) – footballer
• Simon Bates (born 1946) – radio DJ
• Blaze Bayley (born 1963) – musician, vocalist of Wolfsbane and Iron Maiden
• Ian Bell (born 1982) – England cricketer, Warwickshire CCC captain
• Jude Bellingham (born 2003) – footballer
• Moazzam Begg (born 1968) – outreach director
• Edward White Benson (1829–1896) – Archbishop of Canterbury
• Bev Bevan (born 1944) – musician
• Sharon Birch (born 1970? BC?) – firefighter
• Alfred Bird (1811–1878) – inventor of custard powder
• Sir Alfred Frederick Bird (1849–1922) – food manufacturer and chemist
• William Bloye (1890–1975) – sculptor
• Tom Blyth (born 1995) – actor
• Elizabeth Baker Bohan (1849–1930) – author, journalist, artist, social reformer
• Daniel Boone (1942–2023) – musician
• Sarah Booth (1793–1867) – actress
• Matthew Boulton (1728–1809) – pioneering industrialist and member of the Lunar Society
• Jon Bounds (born 1975) – blogger, humorist
• Paul Braddon (1864–1937) – artist
• Peter Bradley (born 1953) – politician
• William Bragge (1823–1884) – civil engineer/antiquarian
• Tony Britton (1924–2019) – actor
• James Jaysen Bryhan (born 1978) – actor
• Dan Bull (born 1986) – musician/ Youtuber
• Edward Burne-Jones (1833–1898) – Pre-Raphaelite painter and William Morris Associate
• Trevor Burton (born 1949) – musician
• Geezer Butler (born 1949) – bassist, Black Sabbath
• George Cadbury (1839–1922) – son of John Cadbury, founder of the Cadbury chocolate company
• John Cadbury (1801–1889) – founder of the Cadbury chocolate company
• Richard Cadbury (1835–1899) – son of John Cadbury, founder of the Cadbury chocolate company
• Pogus Caesar (born 1953) – television director, photographer
• Daniel Caines (born 1979) – track and field athlete
• Ali Campbell (born 1959) and Robin Campbell (born 1954) – musician, UB40
• Duncan Campbell (born 1958) – musician
• David Cannadine (born 1950) – historian
• Bob Carolgees (born 1948) – television presenter (Tiswas and Surprise Surprise)
• Lee Carsley (born 1974) – footballer
• Darren Carter (born 1983) – footballer
• John Carter (born 1940) – musician
• Barbara Cartland (1901–2000) – novelist
• Jasper Carrott (born 1945) – comedian
• Austen Chamberlain (1863–1937) – politician
• Neville Chamberlain (1869–1940) – Prime Minister
• Gary Childs (born 1964) – footballer
• Adrian Chiles (born 1967) – broadcaster
• Carl Chinn (born 1956) – historian, broadcaster
• Charlie Christodoulou (c. 1951–1976) – soldier and mercenary
• Ian Clarkson (born 1970) – footballer
• Lisa Clayton (born 1958) – solo yachtswoman
• Janice Connolly (born 1954) – comedy actress
• Raymond Teague Cowern (1913–1986) – artist
• Edward Cowie (born 1943) – composer
• Andy Cox (born 1956) – ska guitarist (Fine Young Cannibals and The Beat)
• David Cox (1783–1859) – artist
• Lauren Crace (born 1986) – actress
• Sarah Crompton (1802–1881) – children's writer
• Chris Crudelli (born 1972) – martial artist
• John Curry (1949–1994) – Olympic and World Champion figure skater
• Nigel Dakin (born 1964) – soldier, diplomat and Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands
• Richard Dandy (born 1977) – former cricketer
• Fanny Dango (1878–1972) – comedienne, actress and singer
• Arthur Darvill (born 1982) – actor and singer
• Aidan Davis (born 1997) – dancer and television presenter
• Lindsey Davis (born 1949) – historical novelist
• Cat Deeley (born 1976) – television presenter
• Nathan Delfouneso (born 1991) – footballer
• Oscar Deutsch (1893–1941) – founder of the Odeon Cinemas chain
• Fred Dinenage (born 1942) – presenter, broadcaster, writer
• Stefflon Don (born 1991) – musician
• Don Dorman (1922–1997) – paratrooper, 1st Airborne Division, footballer, manager and scout
• K.K. Downing (born 1951) – musician
• Mark Duffus "Sure Shot" (born 1967) – musician
• Pete Dunne (born 1993) – professional wrestler
• Dutchavelli (born 1993) – rapper
• Jessie Eden (1902–1986) – Communist activist and trade union leader
• Duncan Edwards (1936–1958) – footballer for Manchester United, one of the Busby Babes (died in Munich air disaster)
• Fabian Edwards (born 1993) – professional mixed martial artist
• Leon Edwards (born 1991) – professional mixed martial artist, current UFC Welterweight Champion
• Rob Edwards (born 1982) – ex-footballer, current Manager for Luton Town F.C.
• Electribe 101 – electronic music groups who found fame in the early 1990s
• Hunt Emerson (born 1952) – cartoonist
• Ian Emes (born 1949) – animator
• Frederick Rowland Emett (1906–1990) – cartoonist, artist and kinetic sculptor
• Jo Enright (born 1968) – actress and comedian
• Dan Evans (born 1990) – tennis player
• Niki Evans (born 1972) – singer
• Trevor Eve (born 1951) – actor
• Earl Falconer (born 1957) – bass player, UB40
• Frank Farrell (1947–1997) – rock bassist and co-writer of chart hit "Moonlighting"
• Sid Field (1904–1950) – comedian
• Robert Firth (1887–1966) – footballer and Real Madrid manager
• Philip Edward Fisher (born 1979) – musician
• Simon Fletcher (born 1948) – artist
• Sarah Florry (1744–1843) – metal dealer
• Winston Foster (born 1941) – footballer
• Mark Frost (born 1968) – actor
• Kevin Francis (born 1967) – footballer
• Harry Freeman (1858–1922) – music hall performer
• Edward Augustus Freeman (1823–1892) – historian, architectural artist and liberal politician
• Fuzzbox – late-1980s girl band

G–M

• Sir Francis Galton (1822–1911) – scientist; founder of eugenics
• Albert Gardner (1887–1923) – footballer
• Mike Gayle (born 1970) – writer
• Helen George (born 1984) – actress
• GeoWizard (born 1990) – YouTuber
• Steve Gibbons (born 1941) – musician
• Colin Gibson (born 1960) – footballer
• Jon Gittens (1964–2019) – footballer
• John Goldingay (born 1942) – theologian, currently a Professor of Old Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary
• Jaki Graham (born 1956) – soul singer
• Jack Grealish (born 1995) – footballer
• Mark "Barney" Greenway (born 1969) – musician, Napalm Death
• Tom Grosvenor (1908–1972) – footballer
• George Dickinson Hadley (1908–1984) – gastroenterologist
• Rob Halford (born 1951) – musician, Judas Priest
• Charlie Hall (1899–1959) – actor; known for his work with Laurel and Hardy
• Alison Hammond (born 1975) – actress, television presenter
• Richard Hammond (born 1969) – television presenter
• John Hampson (1901–1955) – novelist
• Hannah Hampton (born 2000) – football goalkeeper
• Tony Hancock (1924–1968) – comedian and actor
• Ian Handysides (1962–1990) – footballer
• Nic Harcourt (born 1957) – American radio personality
• Nick Harding (born 1969) – Chief Medical Officer at Operose Health
• David Harewood (born 1965) – actor
• Wally Harris (1900–1933) – footballer
• Julia Hartley-Brewer (born 1968) – journalist and television panelist
• Norman Hassan (born 1958) – percussionist, UB40
• Phil Hawker (born 1962) – footballer
• William Haywood (1876–1957) – architect, town planner, and secretary of Birmingham Civic Society
• John Hemming (born 1960) – Member of Parliament and businessman
• Lee Hendrie (born 1977) – Aston Villa, later Basford United F.C. midfielder
• Duane Henry (born 1985) – actor
• Michael Higgs (born 1962) – actor
• Ian Hill (born 1951) – musician
• Jacqueline Hill (1929–1993) – actress
• David Hinds (born 1956) – rhythm guitarist and lead singer, Steel Pulse
• Ken Hodge (born 1944) – National Hockey League player
• George Holyoake (1817–1906) – reformer
• Jack Hood (1902–1992) – boxer
• Martha Howe-Douglas (born 1980) – actress
• Dorothy Howell (1898–1982) – musician
• Mr. Hudson (born 1979) – singer
• Alex Hughes (born 1971) – cartoonist
• David Hughes (1925–1972) – operatic tenor
• Geoff Humpage (born 1954) – cricketer
• Al Hunter Ashton (1957–2007) – actor
• Raymond Huntley (1904–1990) – actor
• Millie Hylton (1870–1920) – actress and male impersonator
• Kassem Ibadulla (born 1964) – cricketer
• Tony Iommi (born 1948) – guitarist, Black Sabbath
• Jamelia (born 1981) – R&B singer
• Maureen Jennings (born 1939) – novelist
• Claudia Jessie (born 1990) – actress
• Seth Johnson (born 1979) – footballer, Derby
• Ann Jones (born 1938) – tennis player; former World No. 2, 8 Grand Slam titles, including Wimbledon champion in 1969
• Digby Jones, Baron Jones of Birmingham (born 1955) – director-general of the Confederation of British Industry
• Felicity Jones (born 1983) – actress
• Geoffrey Jones – business historian
• John Jones (1858–1937) – cricketer
• Justin Jones (born 1964) – musician
• Simon Huw Jones (born 1960) – musician and photographer
• Nikita Kanda (born 1995) – radio presenter and socialite
• Ace Kefford (born 1946) – musician
• Mike Kellie (1947–2017) – musician, Spooky Tooth and The Only Ones
• David Kelly (born 1965) – Republic of Ireland footballer
• Albert Ketèlbey (1875–1959) – composer
• Sir Rupert Alfred Kettle (1817–1894) – county court judge and noted strike arbitrator
• Guz Khan (born 1986) – comedian
• Jaykae (born 1991) – rapper
• Robert Kilroy-Silk (born 1942) – politician and television presenter
• John Andrew King (born 1964) –politician and singer
• Lorna Laidlaw (born 1963) – actress
• Denny Laine (born 1944) – Paul McCartney and Wings
• Frederick W. Lanchester (1868–1946) – maker of the first petrol-driven car in Britain
• Bunny Larkin (born 1936) – footballer
• Bob Latchford (born 1951) – footballer
• Dave Latchford (born 1949) – footballer
• Peter Latchford (born 1952) – footballer
• Ian Lavender (born 1946) – actor
• Alfred Law (1862–1919) – Warwickshire cricketer and umpire
• Stewart Lee (born 1968) – comedian
• Vaughan Lee (born 1982) – ex-UFC fighter
• Russell Leetch (born 1982) – musician
• Joleon Lescott (born 1982) – footballer with Manchester City, Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers
• Adrian Lester (born 1968) – actor
• Dick Lilley (1866–1929) – England and Warwickshire cricketer
• Letty Lind (1861–1923) – actress and dancer
• John Lodge (born 1945) – musician
• Jane C. Loudon (1807–1858) – writer of prose and verse and The Mummy
• Joseph Lucas (1834–1902) – founder of Lucas Industries
• Joe Lycett (born 1988) – comedian
• Jeff Lynne (born 1947) – musician; co-founder of the Electric Light Orchestra
• Clare Maguire (born 1988) – musician born in Solihull but a resident of London
• Nigel Mansell (born 1953) – sportsman, F1 driver
• Lee Mantle (1851–1934) – U.S. Senator from Montana
• Sarah Manners (born 1975) – actress
• Tony Martin (born 1957) – musician; singer of Black Sabbath
• Eric Maschwitz (1901–1969) – lyricist
• Herbert Mason MC (1891–1960) – film director, producer, stage actor, stage manager, choreographer, and army officer in the First World War
• Hilary Mason (1917–2006) – actor
• Nick Mason (born 1944) – musician, Pink Floyd; did not reside in Birmingham
• Robert McCracken (born 1968) – boxer, Commonwealth Middleweight champion, and World Title challenger
• Zena McNally (born 1979) – singer, Mis-Teeq
• Christine McVie (1943–2022) – musician, Fleetwood Mac
• Gil Merrick (1922–2010) – footballer and club manager
• Ken Miles (1918–1966) – sports car racing driver, engineer
• Shazia Mirza – comedian
• Mist (born 1992) – rapper
• Alan Moore (born 1950) – musician
• William Moore (1916–2000) – actor
• Anisa Morridadi (born 1990) – social entrepreneur
• Everett Morton (1950–2021) – drummer, The Beat
• Henry Vollam Morton (1892–1979) – journalist and travel writer
• Peter Mucklow (born 1949) – cricketer
• George Muntz (1794–1857) – pioneering industrialist and MP
• Laura Mvula (born 1986) – singer-songwriter
• Stanley Myers (1930–1993) – film music composer
• M1llionz (born 1997) – rapper
• Malkit Singh (born c. 1963) – Punjabi Bhangra singer

N–Z

• Constance Naden (1858–1889) – poet and philosopher
• Alan Napier (1903–1988) – actor
• Ritchie Neville (born 1979) – singer, Five
• Neil Newbon (born 1978) – actor
• Ernie Newman (1887–?) – professional footballer
• Ernest Willmott Norton (1889–1972) – cricketer
• Ursula O'Leary (1926–1993) – actress
• John Oliver (born 1977) – comedian, host of Last Week Tonight, and former 'Senior British Correspondent' of The Daily Show
• Ozzy Osbourne (born 1948) – singer, Black Sabbath
• Anri Okita (born 1986) – singer and former pornographic actress
• Carl Palmer (born 1950) – musician, Emerson, Lake & Palmer
• Janet Parker (1938–1978) – medical photographer and last recorded person to die from smallpox
• Kay Parker (1944–2022) – pornographic actress
• Alexander Parkes (1813–1890) – inventor of the world's first plastic
• Henry Parkes (1815–1896) – Australian politician, "Father of Federation"
• Norman Partridge (1900–1982) – Warwickshire cricketer
• Liam Payne (born 1993) – singer, One Direction
• Dave Pegg (born 1947) – musician, Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull
• Kia Pegg (born 2000) – actress and television presenter
• Stephen Perryman (born 1955) – Warwickshire cricketer
• Gerry Peyton (born 1956) – footballer and goalkeeper coach
• James and Oliver Phelps (born 1986) – Harry Potter movie actors
• Jess Phillips (born 1981) – politician
• Michael Pinder (born 1941) – musician, The Moody Blues
• Jacki Piper (born 1946) – actress
• Sadie Plant (born 1964) – writer
• John Poole (1926–2009) – sculptor
• Enoch Powell (1912–1998) – politician, poet and classical scholar
• Peter Powell (born 1951) – disc jockey
• Anthony E. Pratt (1903–1994) – inventor of Cluedo
• Bernard Quaife (1899–1984) – cricketer
• Alfred Radcliffe-Brown (1881–1955) – anthropologist
• Ranking Roger (1963–2019) – musician, The Beat
• Mick Rathbone (born 1958) – footballer
• Adil Ray (born 1974) – actor, comedian, and radio and television presenter
• Nick Rhodes (born 1962) – musician, Duran Duran
• Micah Richards (born 1988) – Manchester City F.C. defender
• Walter Richards (1863–1917) – cricketer and umpire
• Pat Roach (1937–2004) – actor and wrestler
• Dave Robinson (1948–2016) – footballer
• John Rogers (1505–1555) – Bible editor and martyr
• Sax Rohmer (Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward) (1883–1959) – novelist
• Mark Rowley (born 1964) – Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (London)
• Adam Ruckwood (born 1974) – swimming Commonwealth Champion (200m backstroke)
• Les Ross (born 1949) – radio disc jockey
• Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck (1778–1856) – writer on women in society and religion; slavery abolitionist
• Gary Shaw (born 1961) – footballer
• Martin Shaw (born 1945) – actor
• Visanthe Shiancoe (born 1980) – American football player
• Sukshinder Shinda (born 1972) – English-born Punjabi music producer and artist
• Graham Short (born 1946) – micro-artist
• Paul Simm (born 20th century) – musician
• John Simmit (born 1963) – actor and comedian; known for playing Dipsy on Teletubbies from 1997 to 2001
• Jane Sixsmith (born 1967) – hockey player
• 1st Viscount Slim of Yarralumla and Bishopston (1891–1970) – military commander
• Sarah Smart (born 1977) – actress
• Alan Smith (born 1936) – cricketer and England selector
• Joshua Toulmin Smith (1816–1869) – political theorist
• Tiger Smith (1886–1979) – England and Warwickshire cricketer
• Maya Sondhi (born 1983) – actress
• Sir Benjamin Stone (1838–1914) – photographer
• Dean Sturridge (born 1973) – footballer
• Daniel Sturridge (born 1989) – footballer
• Simon Sturridge (born 1969) – footballer
• Ernest Suckling (1890–1962) – cricketer
• Phil Summerill (born 1947) – footballer
• James Sutton (born 1983) – actor
• Andrew Symonds (1975–2022) – cricketer
• Connie Talbot (born 2000) – singer
• John Taylor (born 1960) – musician, Duran Duran
• Roger Taylor (born 1960) – musician, Duran Duran
• Bobby Thomson (1943–2009) – footballer
• Will Thorne (1857–1946) – trade union leader; member of Parliament
• Charlie Tickle (1884–1960) – footballer
• Andrew Tiernan (born 1965) – actor
• Charlie Timmins (1922–2010) – footballer
• James Vaughan (born 1988) – Tranmere Rovers FC striker
• Johnny Vincent (1947–2006) – footballer
• Murray Walker (1923–2021) – racing driver and commentator
• Kate Walsh (born 1981) – television presenter (Live from Studio Five)
• Julie Walters (born 1950) – actress
• Bill Ward (born 1948) – drummer, Black Sabbath
• Clint Warwick (1940–2004) – musician, The Moody Blues
• Carl Wayne (1943–2004) – musician, The Move, The Hollies
• Graham Webb (1944–2017) – World Amateur Road Race Champion 1967
• Brooke Foss Westcott (1825–1901) – theologian and Bishop of Durham
• Peter Weston (1943–2017) – science fiction fan
• Ian Westwood (born 1982) – cricketer
• Fred Wheldon (1869–1924) – footballer
• Toyah Willcox (born 1958) – singer and television presenter
• Emma Willis (born 1976) – model
• George Willis-Pryce (1866–1949) – artist
• Jimmy Windridge (1882–1939) – England footballer
• Muff Winwood (born 1943) – musician
• Steve Winwood (born 1948) – musician – solo and co-founder, Traffic
• Colin Withers (1940–2020) – footballer
• Chris Woakes (born 1989) – England and Warwickshire cricketer
• Chris Wood (1944–1983) – musician; co-founder, Traffic
• Roy Wood (born 1946) – musician; co-founder, Electric Light Orchestra
• Richie Woodhall (born 1968) – world champion boxer
• John Wyndham (1903–1969) – writer
• Kal Yafai (born 1989) – world champion boxer
• Dorian Yates (born 1962) – six-time Mr. Olympia
• Mark Yates (born 1970) – footballer and manager
• Benjamin Zephaniah (1958–2023) – poet

Lived in or associated with Birmingham

• W. H. Auden (1907–1973) – poet and author
• W. V. Awdry (1911–1997) – author of The Railway Series
• Sir Granville Bantock (1868–1946) – composer
• Connor Ball (born 1996) – bassist and singer, The Vamps
• John Baskerville (1707–1775) – printer and inventor of typefaces
• Marie Bethell Beauclerc (1845–1897) – first female shorthand teacher and reporter in England
• William Booth (1776–1812) – forger
• John Bright (1811–1889) – politician
• Herbert Tudor Buckland (1869–1951) – architect
• Elihu Burritt (1810–1879) – US consul to Birmingham
• Pogus Caesar (born 1953) – broadcaster and artist
• Jazzy B (born 1975) – Punjabi singer
• Joseph Chamberlain (1836–1914) – politician, Mayor of Birmingham
• Bruce Chatwin (1940–1989) – author
• Lee Child (born 1954) – author
• George Dawson (1821–1876) – preacher
• Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) – author of Sherlock Holmes
• John Boyd Dunlop (1840–1921) – industrialist, built Fort Dunlop
• Leon Edwards (born 1991) – professional mixed martial artist (originally from Kingston, Jamaica)
• Lucy Edwards, disability rights activist, educator, and TikToker
• Rev. Richard Enraght (1837–1898) – vicar, religious controversialist
• Allan Ford (born 1968) – soldier, convicted of manslaughter
• Philippa Forrester (born 1968) – television presenter, attended Birmingham University
• Foji Gill – singer, music producer
• Joseph Gillott (1799–1872) – industrialist
• Tommy Godwin (1920–2012) – racing cyclist and Olympic medallist
• Ashia Hansen (born 1971) – track and field athlete
• James Hinks (1829–1878) – bred the Bull Terrier dog
• William Ick (1800–1844) – botanist
• Washington Irving (1783–1859) – author
• Elizabeth "Tetty" Johnson (1689–1752) – wife of Samuel Johnson
• John Joubert (1927–2019) – South African-born composer
• Roi Kwabena (1956–2008) – author
• Simon Le Bon (born 1958) – studied drama at the University of Birmingham before joining Duran Duran in 1980
• Louis MacNeice (1907–1963) – poet
• Stuart Maconie (born 1961) – radio DJ and television presenter
• Josiah Mason (1795–1881) – industrialist and philanthropist
• Nigel Mansell (born 1953) – racing driver
• Cardinal Newman (1801–1890) – theologian and founder of the English Oratory
• William McGregor (1846–1911) – instrumental in forming the football league
• William Murdoch (1754–1839) – inventor of gas lighting
• Bill Oddie (born 1941) – comedian and ornithologist
• John Peel (1939–2004) – radio DJ
• Geoffrey Pernell (born 1971) – soldier, convicted of manslaughter
• Joseph Priestley (1733–1804) – chemist and dissenting clergyman
• Sir Simon Rattle (born 1955) – conductor of CBSO 1980–1998
• John Ray (1627–1705) – "Father of English natural history"
• Sir Peter Rigby (born 1943) – entrepreneur
• Mary Rollason (1764/5–1835) – steel toy maker and businesswoman
• Kevin Rowland (born 1953) – singer for Dexys Midnight Runners, formed in Birmingham
• Frank Skinner (born 1957) – comedian
• Mike Skinner (born 1979) – musician, The Streets
• Meera Syal (born 1961) – actor, writer
• Dave Swarbrick (1941–2016) – musician
• J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973) – author
• Joshua Toulmin (1740–1815) – non-conformist preacher
• Ruby Turner (born 1958) – singer (originally from Montego Bay, Jamaica)
• UB 40 – Reggae group
• James Watt (1736–1819) – inventor and member of the Lunar Society
• Una White (1938/9–1997) – subject of public art-work
• William Withering (1741–1799) – doctor, discoverer of digitalis
• Victoria Wood (1953–2016) – actress
• John Skirrow Wright (1822–1880) – social improver
• Alastair Yates (1952–2018) – radio and television presenter
• Malala Yousafzai (born 1997) – Pakistani activist
• Lauren Zhang (born 2001) – winner of BBC Young Musician 2018 (originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America)

See also

• Alumni of the University of Birmingham

External links

• Famous People Birmingham City Council feature page on Birmingham-related celebrities
• Blue Plaques erected by Birmingham Civic Society
• The Great Bull Birmingham bus network map featuring local celebrities.