The following is a list of prominent people who were born in the U.S. state of South Carolina, lived in South Carolina, or for whom South Carolina is a significant part of their identity.
A–B
John Abraham (born 1978), born in Timmonsville; NFL defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals Rick Adair (born 1958), born in Spartanburg; pitching coach for the Baltimore Orioles Kimberly Aiken (born 1975), born in Columbia; Miss America 1994 Jaimie Alexander (born 1984), born in Greenville; actress, Kyle XY, Blindspot, the Thor movies Ray Allen (born 1975), lived in Dalzell; NBA star for the Miami Heat Bill Anderson (born 1937), born in Columbia; country music singer and songwriter, nicknamed "Whisperin' Bill" Ike Anderson (born 1957), born in Columbia; Greco-Roman wrestler who competed at 1988 Summer Olympics Olanda Anderson (born 1972), born in Sumter; former boxer, member of the 2000 United States Olympics team Aziz Ansari (born 1983), born in Columbia; actor and comedian Norman C. Armitage (1907–1972), Olympic medalist saber fencer"Norman Armiitage, Fencing Star And Textile Executive, Dies at 65" - The New York Times Robert Ayers (born 1985), raised in Clio; defensive end for the New York Giants Annie Maria Barnes (1857 – unknown), born in Columbia; journalist, editor, and author Alex Barron (born 1982), born in Orangeburg; left tackle for the Dallas Cowboys Frances Elizabeth Barrow (1822–1894), born in Charleston; children's writer Bernard Baruch (1870–1965), born in Camden; financier, philanthropist, statesman, and adviser to President Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt Tyler Bass (born 1997), from Columbia; kicker for the Buffalo Bills Samuel Beam (born 1974), born in Columbia; singer-songwriter under the stage name Iron & Wine Paul Benjamin (1938–2019), born in Pelion; actor Shelton Benjamin (born 1976), from Orangeburg; professional wrestler and former amateur wrestler Charles Dantonja Bennett (born 1983), born in Camden; football player for Clemson University and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ben Bernanke (born 1953), graduated from high school in Dillon in 1971, former chairman of the Federal Reserve The Big Show (born Paul Donald Wight), professional wrestler and actor, born in Aiken Blue Sky (born 1938), born in Columbia and lived there for the majority of his life, painter and sculptor Alfred W. Bethea (1916–1999), former member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Dillon; the 1970 gubernatorial nominee of the American Independent Party Mary McLeod Bethune (1875–1955), from Mayesville; civil rights leader and groundbreaking educator Doc Blanchard (1924–2009), born in McColl, raised in Bishopville; college football player who became the first ever junior to win the Heisman Trophy Charles F. Bolden Jr. (born 1946), born in Columbia; NASA astronaut, United States Marine Corps major general, administrator of NASA James Butler Bonham (1807–1836), from Red Bank (now Saluda); lawyer, soldier, and defender of the Alamo Chadwick Boseman (1976–2020), born in Anderson; actor, known for his role as Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War and in the 2018 film of the same name Peter Boulware (born 1974), born in Columbia; former linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens Zackary Bowman (born 1984), born in Columbia; cornerback for the Chicago Bears Jarrell Brantley (born 1996), basketball player Rick Brewer, former administrator at Charleston Southern University in North Charleston, and current president of Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana Lee Brice (born 1980), born in Sumter; country artist, co-wrote the Garth Brooks song More Than a Memory Ben Bridwell (born 1978), from Irmo; lead singer of indie rock band Band of Horses Danielle Brooks (born 1989), raised in Simpsonville; actress Preston Brooks (1819–1857), born in Edgefield; advocate of slavery and states' rights before the American Civil War Robert Brooks (born 1970), born in Greenwood; former wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos J. Anthony Brown, born in Columbia; actor, comedian and radio personality James Brown (1933–2006), born in Barnwell; singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist dubbed the "godfather of soul" Kwame Brown (born 1982), born in Charleston; center for the Golden State Warriors Omar Brown (born 1988), born in Moncks Corner; free safety for the Baltimore Ravens Troy Brown (born 1971), born in Barnwell, NFL wide receiver, won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots Sheldon Brown (born 1979), born in Lancaster; cornerback for the Cleveland Browns Martavis Bryant (born 1991), born in Calhoun Falls; wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers Peabo Bryson (born 1951), born in Greenville; R&B singer-songwriter D.J. Burns (born 2000), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League Jared Burton (born 1981), born in Westminster; relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins Rafael Bush (born 1987), born in Williston; safety for the New Orleans Saints James F. Byrnes (1882–1972), born in Charleston; U.S. representative, U.S. senator, justice of the Supreme Court, secretary of state, and 104th governor of South Carolina
C–D
Pat Caddell (1950–2019), born in Rock Hill; public opinion pollster, political film consultant Tommy Caldwell (1949–1980), born in Spartanburg; bassist for the Marshall Tucker Band Toy Caldwell (1947–1993), born in Spartanburg; lead guitarist and vocalist for the Marshall Tucker Band Floride Calhoun (1792–1866), born in Charleston; Second Lady of the United States John Caldwell Calhoun (1782–1850), born in Abbeville County; U.S. senator, secretary of state, secretary of war, and the 7th vice president of the U.S. Anna Camp (born 1982), born in Aiken; actress, The Help Carroll A. Campbell Jr. (1940–2005), born in Greenville; South Carolina governor and U.S. congressman John Tucker Campbell (1912–1991), born in Calhoun Falls; secretary of state 1978–1991, mayor of Columbia 1970–1978, city councilman, drugstore owner Marion Campbell (1929–2016), born in Chester; NFL defensive lineman and head coach Shane Carruth (born 1972), born in Myrtle Beach; filmmaker Harry Carson (born 1953), born in Florence; football player, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame 2006 Wilson Casey (born 1954), born in Woodruff; "Trivia" Guinness World Record holder, nationally syndicated trivia newspaper columnist Chandler Catanzaro (born 1991), born in Greenville; placekicker for the Arizona Cardinals Charlamagne Tha God (born 1980), born in Moncks Corner; radio and TV personality Essie B. Cheesborough (1826–1905), born in Charleston; writer Chubby Checker (born 1941 as Ernest Evans), born in Spring Gulley (Andrews); singer Alice Childress (1920–1994), born in Charleston; playwright who wrote about the struggles of poverty and racism Kelsey Chow (born 1991), born and raised in Columbia; actress Jim Clyburn (born 1940), born in Sumter; U.S. congressman Dave Cockrum (1943–2006), died in Belton; comic book artist Landon Cohen (born 1986), born in Spartanburg; defensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks Stephen Colbert (born 1964), born in Washington, D.C. but grew up in Charleston; comedian, anchor, political analyst, television personality, former host of The Colbert Report and current host of the television show The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Catherine Coleman (born 1960), born in Charleston; chemist, former U.S. Air Force officer, current NASA astronaut Monique Coleman (born 1980), born in Orangeburg; actress Mike Colter (born 1976), born in Columbia, raised in St. Matthews; actor, Ringer O'Neal Compton (1951–2019), born in Sumter; character actor Pat Conroy (1945–2016), grew up in Beaufort, attended Beaufort High School and The Citadel; novelist Angell Conwell (born 1983), born in Orangeburg and raised in Columbia; actress Tyrone Corbin (born 1962), born in Columbia; NBA player and coach James S. Cothran (1830–1897), born in Abbeville County; U.S. House of Representatives for South Carolina's 3rd congressional district Torrey Craig (born 1990), born in Columbia; NBA player Charles Craven (1682–1754); governor of colonial South Carolina during the Tuscarora War and Yamasee War Shawn Crawford (born 1978), born in Van Wyck; gold medalist in 2004 Athens Olympics 200 meters, silver in 2008 Beijing Olympics Madelyn Cline (born 1997), born in Goose Creek; actress Esther Dale (1885–1961), born in Beaufort; actress Beth Daniel (born 1956), born in Charleston; golfer, member of World Golf Hall of Fame George B. Daniels (born 1953), born in Allendale; federal judge Gary Davis (1896–1972), born in Clinton; blues and gospel songwriter and innovative guitarist Kristin Davis (born 1965), early in her childhood, she and her parents moved to Columbia; actress known for role as Charlotte York in Sex and the City Mary Elizabeth Moragne Davis (1815–1903), born in Oakwood, Abbeville District; diarist and author Mendel Jackson Davis (1942–2007), born in North Charleston; United States representative from South Carolina Richard C. Davis (born 1963), from Charleston; real estate broker and television personality Viola Davis (born 1965), born in St. Matthews; actress, The Help Katon Dawson (born 1956), born in Columbia; former chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party Manish Dayal (born 1983), born in Orangeburg; actor, 90210 Robert C. De Large (1842–1874), born in Aiken; member of United States House of Representatives from South Carolina Justin Dean (born 1996), born in Mauldin; professional baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers Will Demps (born 1963), born in Charleston; football safety for the Baltimore Ravens and others Andy Dick (born 1965), born in Charleston; actor and comedian best known for his roles on sitcoms James Dickey (1923–1997); professor at University of South Carolina at Columbia, poet and novelist Samuel Henry Dickson (1798–1872), born in Charleston; poet, physician, writer and educator Anna Peyre Dinnies (1805–1886), born in Georgetown; poet and writer Julius Dixson (1913–2004), born in Barnwell; songwriter and record company executive Larry Doby (1923–2003), born in Camden; baseball player in Negro leagues and Major League Baseball, first black player in American League, later manager of Chicago White Sox, Hall of Fame inductee Stanley Donen (1924–2019), born in Columbia; film director and choreographer Ulysses Dove (1947–1996), born in Columbia; choreographer David Drake (c.1800–c.1870s), from Edgefield; potter Steven Duggar (born 1993), born in Spartanburg and raised in Moore; baseball player for the San Francisco Giants Charles Duke (born 1935), raised in Lancaster; engineer, retired U.S. Air Force officer, test pilot, former astronaut Watson B. Duncan III (1915–1991), born in Charleston; college professor William Wallace Duncan (1839–1908), died in Spartanburg; bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South Justin Durant (born 1985), born in Florence; linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons
E–F
Ainsley Earhardt (born 1976), grew up in Columbia, correspondent for Fox News John B. Earle (1766–1836), died in Anderson County, U.S. representative from South Carolina Samuel Earle (1760–1833), died in Pendleton District, United States representative from South Carolina Marian Wright Edelman (born 1939), born in Bennettsville, activist for the rights of children Armanti Edwards (born 1988), born in Greenwood, NFL player for the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns Carl Edwards Jr. (born 1991), born in Prosperity, relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs Eddie Edwards (born 1954), born in Sumter, former defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals football team John Edwards (born 1953), born in Seneca, former U.S. senator from North Carolina (1999–2005), 2004 Democratic nominee for vice president under John Kerry Leslie Jean Egnot (born 1963), born in Greenville, Olympic yachtswoman for New Zealand