10 Most Famous People from New Orleans

A photo of Dj Khaled at the launch of Gig-It on April 29, 2012 Photo by Meghan Roberts Wikimedia

10 Most Famous People from New Orleans 

New Orleans is a city-parish situated in along the Mississippi River in the southeast of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is the 12th most populated city in the southeastern United States and the most populous city in Louisiana. It is among the cities with the most population.

New Orleans is regarded as an economic and commercial powerhouse for the larger Gulf Coast region of the United States and serves as a significant port. Let’s take a look at some of the most famous people from New Orleans who have been influential in the world at large;

1. Reese Witherspoon

Actress Reese Witherspoon at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon born on March 22, 1976, is an American actress. She is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. She was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Reese Witherspoon seemed marked for stardom when she won the leading role in her very first film at an open casting call at age 14. The young performer would continue modeling until she attended an audition for the feature film “The Man in the Moon” (1991) and got the lead role. She has since consistently ranked among the world’s highest-paid actresses.

Read more about her in 15 Most Famous Short People

2. Lil Wayne

Another famous person on top of our list today is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. born September 27, 1982, known professionally as Lil Wayne. He is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record executive and began his career in 1995, at the age of 12, when he was signed by rapper Birdman, joining Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label.

He is one of the richest musicians and has sold over 120 million records worldwide, including more than 20 million albums and 70 million digital tracks in the United States, making him one of the world’s best-selling music artists. He is also a winner of five Grammy Awards, 11 BET Awards, four Billboard Music Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, and eight NAACP Image Awards. 

Read more about him in 10 Most Famous People from Louisiana

3. DJ Khaled

A photo of Dj Khaled at the launch of Gig-It on April 29, 2012 Photo by Meghan Roberts Wikimedia

Khaled Mohammed Khaled born on November 26, 1975, and known professionally as DJ Khaled, is an American DJ, record executive, record producer, and rapper. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, and is also an actor, known for his roles in Never Stop Never Stopping (2016), Charlie’s Angels (2019), and Aladdin (2019). 

Khaled first gained recognition as a radio host in the 1990s on the radio station 99 Jamz and translated his popularity by working with hip hop collective Terror Squad as a DJ for their live performances. He has since gone to great heights as both a musician, a DJ, a producer, and an actor.

4. Anthony Mackie

Anthony Dwane Mackie born on September 23, 1978, is an American actor born in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He made his acting debut starring in the semi-biographical drama film 8 Mile (2002) and has since earned global recognition for portraying Sam Wilson / Falcon / Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with the film Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014).

He was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor for his performance in the LGBT drama Brother to Brother (2004), and in the same year, appeared in the psychological thriller The Manchurian Candidate and the sports film Million Dollar Baby.

5. Carl Weathers

Carl Weathers in 2015 Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Carl Weathers born on January 14, 1948, is an American actor and former professional football player. He is known for his roles as boxer Apollo Creed in the first four Rocky films (1976–85), Al Dillon in Predator (1987), Action Jackson in Action Jackson (1988), and Chubbs Peterson in Happy Gilmore (1996).

He has also played college football at San Diego State University. After going undrafted in the 1970 NFL Draft, he signed with the Oakland Raiders. He would sign with the B.C. Lions of the Canadian Football League after being released by the Raiders.

6. Pauley Perrette

Pauley Perrette born on March 27, 1969, is an American actress and singer. She is best known for portraying forensic scientist Abby Sciuto in the American television series NCIS (2003-2018). As Abby Sciuto, she also appeared in episodes of the NCIS spinoff television series NCIS: Los Angeles (2009) and NCIS: New Orleans (2014 and 2016).

She quit acting in 2021 after suffering from a stroke however it doesn’t mean she has retreated from sight entirely. Pauley still lives in Los Angeles and is very vocal on Twitter, having become a passionate activist for civil rights and is actively involved in the rights of all people.

7. Patricia Clarkson

Patricia Davies Clarkson born on December 29, 1959, is an American actress who has starred in numerous leading and supporting roles in a variety of films ranging from independent film features to major film studio productions. She is one of the big-name actresses from New, Orleans.

She has won several accolades including a Golden Globe Award and three Primetime Emmy Awards, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award and a Tony Award. Clarkson earned a degree in drama from Fordham University before attending the Yale School of Drama, where she graduated with a Master of Fine Arts degree. 

8. Richard Simmons

Richard Simmons in September 2011 Photo by Angela George Wikimedia

Milton Teagle “Richard” Simmons born on July 12, 1948, is an American fitness personality and public figure, known for his eccentric, flamboyant, and energetic personality. He has promoted weight-loss programs, most prominently through his Sweatin’ to the Oldies line of aerobics videos.

Simmons began his weight-loss career by opening his gym Slimmons in Beverly Hills, California, catering to the overweight, and he became widely known through exposure on television and the popularity of his consumer products.

9. Katherine LaNasa

Katherine LaNasa born on December 1, 1966, is an American actress and former ballet dancer and choreographer. She played the role of Lydia in Two and a Half Men, in seasons 4, 7, and 9. She is currently married French Stewart in 1998.

She originally trained as a ballet dancer but had attended the North Carolina School of Arts, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, as well as the Neighbourhood Playhouse in New York. In 1989, she married Dennis Hopper, with whom she had a son, Henry Hopper (aka Henry Lee Hopper). They were later divorced and she was later remarried.

10. Taryn Terrell

Taryn Terrell on Divas WWE Monday Photo by David Seto Wikimedia

Taryn Nicole Dryden famously known as Taryn Terrell and born on  December 28, 1985, is an American model, actress, stunt woman, ring announcer, and retired professional wrestler. She became famous during her time in WWE where she was known as Tiffany.

She is also known for her time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), under her real name where she became a TNA Knockouts Champion. Her reign as champion which lasted  279-day stood as the longest reign in the title’s history until 2019.

Read more about her here