Situated in the New England region of the United States, Rhode Island is one of the least populous states in the entire North American continent. Books that speak in length about the great American civil war, definitely mention the ‘Battle of Rhode island’ episode, such is the historic significance of this state. Apart from its places of interest and rich history, the state has also been popular for being a home to several famous celebrities. Renowned music composer Wendy Carlos, famous American politicians Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse as well as singer/songwriter Tanya Donnelly are a few world famous celebrities who are originally from Rhode Island. Jack Reed, a member of the ‘Democratic Party’, has represented the American state in the ‘U.S House Of Representatives’ from 1991 to 1997. He also falls in the league of high profile politicians in the United States today. Scroll below to know the names of other famous people who hail from Rhode Island. A few of these names might take you by surprise.

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 1 

H. P. Lovecraft

(American Weird-Fiction Writer Known for Creating the Mythopoeia 'Cthulhu Mythos')

Birthdate: August 20, 1890

Sun Sign: Leo

Died: March 15, 1937

HP Lovecraft was a writer of weird and horror fiction and is known for his creation of Cthulhu Mythos, which has inspired a large body of games and music. His stories focused on his interpretation of humanity's place in the universe. He was virtually unknown during his lifetime, but is now considered a significant 20th-century author of supernatural horror fiction.

Birthdate: May 8, 1992

Sun Sign: Taurus

Olivia Culpo is an American social media personality and fashion influencer. She gained international recognition after winning the Miss Universe beauty pageant in 2012. As a fashion influencer, she has collaborated with many fashion and beauty brands, such as Kipling and L'Oréal. She also owns a restaurant in Rhode Island.

Birthdate: October 29, 1980

Sun Sign: Scorpio

American-born Puerto Rican retired boxer Miguel Cotto became the first Puerto Rican to win world boxing titles in four separate weight divisions. In 2017, he was ranked third in the best light middleweight category by The Ring magazine. He now owns a boxing promotion and a non-profit organization.

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 4 

Mena Suvari

(Best Known for Starring in Films Like ‘American Beauty’ and ‘American Pie’)

Birthdate: February 13, 1979

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Mena Suvari soared to fame with her SAG Award-winning role of Angela Hayes in American Beauty. Fans also loved her in the American Pie movies and the horror anthology American Horror Story. She also appeared as Edie in Six Feet Under. Mena endorses Lancôme cosmetics and uses cruelty-free products only.

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Birthdate: October 14, 1952

Sun Sign: Libra

Died: April 16, 2018

Harry Anderson is best remembered for is Emmy-nominated role of Judge Harry Stone in Night Court and for his portrayal of Dave Barry in Dave's World. He was also a skilled magician and participated in magic shows such as Harry Anderson's Sideshow. He has also written several books.

 6 

Cormac McCarthy

(One of the Greatest Contemporary American Writers Who is Known for His Graphic Depictions of Violence)

Birthdate: July 20, 1933

Sun Sign: Cancer

Renonwed as one of the most gifted contemporary writers, Cormac McCarthy is distinguished for his unique writing style and graphic depictions of violence. His novels depict wayward characters in the rural American South and Southwest. He shot to fame with his novel All The Pretty Horses and bagged in Pulitzer Prize for his post-apocalyptic novel The Road.

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 7 

Pauly D

(Disc Jockey, TV Personality and Cast Member of MTV's Reality Show ‘Jersey Shore’)

Birthdate: July 5, 1980

Sun Sign: Cancer

Paul D. DelVecchio Jr., also popular as Pauly D and DJ Pauly D, soared to fame with the MTV reality show Jersey Shore. He was also part of the A Double Shot at Love. After bagging a three-album deal with G-Unit Records, he released hits such as Back to Love.

 8 

Van Johnson

(American Singer, Dancer, Theatre and Radio Actor)

Birthdate: August 25, 1916

Sun Sign: Virgo

Died: December 12, 2008

Van Johnson was an MGM star of Hollywood’s Golden Age. He was known for his signature red hair, freckles, and boy-next-door image. Some of notable films include Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo and A Guy Named Joe. He also appeared in series such as Rich Man, Poor Man.

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 9 

Damien Chazelle

(Director Known for His Films 'Whiplash' (2014), 'La La Land' (2016), and 'First Man' (2018))

Birthdate: January 19, 1985

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Best known for his 2014 psychological drama film Whiplash, Damien Chazelle is a Rhode Island-born American film director and screenwriter. An alumnus of the Harvard University, he began his career with a black-and-white musical, writing screenplays before making his breakthrough with Whiplash, winning several awards not only for the film, but also for La La Land and First Man.

Birthdate: January 19, 1924

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Died: February 12, 1985

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

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Birthdate: May 20, 1983

Sun Sign: Taurus

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

Birthdate: July 24, 1936

Sun Sign: Leo

Height: 5'3" (160 cm)

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 13 

Wendy Carlos

(Musician)

Birthdate: November 14, 1939

Sun Sign: Scorpio

 14 

Sam Berns

(Activist)

Birthdate: October 23, 1996

Sun Sign: Libra

Died: January 10, 2014

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Birthdate: April 10, 1794

Sun Sign: Aries

Died: March 4, 1858

 16 

George M. Cohan

(Entertainer, Playwright and Composer Who is Considered to be ‘The Father of American Musical Comedy’)

Birthdate: July 3, 1878

Sun Sign: Cancer

Died: November 5, 1942

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 17 

Elisabeth Hasselbeck

(Television Personality and Former Co-Host on the ABC Daytime Talk Show ‘The View’)

Birthdate: May 28, 1977

Sun Sign: Gemini

Retired TV personality and talk show host, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, first gained fame as a contestant on the American version of the TV show, Survivor, in 2001. In the ensuing years, she became a co-host on the daytime talk show, The View, which further added to her popularity and earned her a  Daytime Emmy Award. She is also a published author.

 18 

Shanna Moakler

(Model & Actress Know for Her Television Series 'Pacific Blue', 'Meet the Barkers')

Birthdate: March 28, 1975

Sun Sign: Aries

Shanna Moakler was the 1995 Miss New York USA and the first runner-up at the Miss USA contest that year. She has been a Playmate of the Month for Playboy. She has starred in Pacific Blue and in Meet the Barkers, appearing with her then-husband Travis Barker in the latter.

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Birthdate: March 3, 2001

Sun Sign: Pisces

 20 

Lukasz Gottwald

(Record producer, singer songwriter)

Birthdate: September 26, 1973

Sun Sign: Libra

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 21 

Demetrius Andrade

(American Professional Boxer Who Held Multiple World Championships in Two Weight Classes)

Birthdate: February 26, 1988

Sun Sign: Pisces

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

 22 

Kirsten Price

(Pornographic actor)

Birthdate: November 13, 1981

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Height: 5'4" (163 cm)

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 23 

Zoë Chao

(TV and stage Actress and screenwriter prominently known for her role as Isobel in Strangers)

Birthdate: September 19, 1985

Sun Sign: Virgo

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

 24 

David Hedison

(Actor)

Birthdate: May 20, 1927

Sun Sign: Taurus

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

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 25 

Nathanael Greene

(Major general of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War)

Birthdate: August 7, 1742

Sun Sign: Leo

Died: June 19, 1786

 26 

Robert Aldrich

(Director)

Birthdate: August 9, 1918

Sun Sign: Leo

Died: December 5, 1983

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 27 

Norm Abram

(Actor)

Birthdate: October 3, 1949

Sun Sign: Libra

 28 

Nadia Bjorlin

(Actress)

Birthdate: August 2, 1980

Sun Sign: Leo

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

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 29 

Claudia Jordan

(American Talk Show Host, Actress and Businesswoman)

Birthdate: April 12, 1973

Sun Sign: Aries

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

 30 

David Angell

(Producer)

Birthdate: April 10, 1946

Sun Sign: Aries

Died: September 11, 2001

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 31 

Aaron T. Beck

(American Psychiatrist Who Was Regarded as the Father of Cognitive Therapy)

Birthdate: July 18, 1921

Sun Sign: Cancer

Died: October 1, 2021

Birthdate: May 19, 1996

Sun Sign: Taurus

Height: 6'2" (188 cm)

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Birthdate: July 9, 1998

Sun Sign: Cancer

 34 

Blu Cantrell

(Singer-songwriter)

Birthdate: March 16, 1976

Sun Sign: Pisces

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 35 

Nap Lajoie

(Baseball player)

Birthdate: September 5, 1874

Sun Sign: Virgo

Died: February 7, 1959

 36 

Jason Marsden

(Actor, Film director)

Birthdate: January 3, 1975

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Height: 5'3" (160 cm)

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Birthdate: March 22, 1966

Sun Sign: Aries

American politician and US Senator from Arizona (2019-2020), Martha McSally served in the US Air Force for 26 years, eventually becoming the first woman to fly in combat and command a fighter-squadron. Retired as colonel, she is also noted for successfully suing the US authority for mandating US servicewoman stationed in Saudi Arabia to wear body covering while traveling off-base.

 38 

Pat Toomey

(United States Senator from Pennsylvania (Jan 2011 - Jan 2023))

Birthdate: November 17, 1961

Sun Sign: Scorpio

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 39 

Spike Dudley

(Professional wrestler, Teacher)

Birthdate: August 13, 1970

Sun Sign: Leo

 40 

Joan Holloway

(Founder, Director of "Holloway-Harris")

Birthdate: December 22, 1929

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Died: August 31, 2014

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 41 

Jeffrey Osborne

(Singer-songwriter)

Birthdate: March 9, 1948

Sun Sign: Pisces

 42 

Bill Conti

(Composer)

Birthdate: April 13, 1942

Sun Sign: Aries

 43 

Leon Wilkeson

(Bassist)

Birthdate: April 2, 1952

Sun Sign: Aries

Died: July 27, 2001

 44 

Frank Caprio

(Judge, Television presenter)

Birthdate: November 24, 1936

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

 45 

Jesse Leach

(Musician)

Birthdate: July 3, 1978

Sun Sign: Cancer

 46 

Monty Oum

(Animator)

Birthdate: June 22, 1981

Sun Sign: Cancer

Died: February 1, 2015

 47 

Oliver Hazard Perry

(Former U.S. naval officer who became a national hero when he defeated a British squadron in the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812)

Birthdate: August 23, 1785

Sun Sign: Virgo

Died: August 23, 1819

Birthdate: December 11, 1931

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Died: February 14, 2013

 49 

Thomas H. Ince

(Film Producer)

Birthdate: November 16, 1880

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Died: November 19, 1924

 50 

Gina Raimondo

(Politician)

Birthdate: May 17, 1971

Sun Sign: Taurus