This is a list of notable Americans of English descent, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants.
To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are English American or must have references showing they are English American and are notable.
List
Visual artists
Arthur Crooks Thomas Eakins Peter Harrison Childe Hassam Thomas Hope Grandma Moses William Nichols Norman Rockwell John Singer Sargent Thomas Sully Abbott Handerson Thayer John Trumbull Calvert Vaux Andrew Wyeth N.C. Wyeth
Assassins, outlaws, and criminals
John Wilkes Booth – Abraham Lincoln assassin Lizzie Borden – central figure in the hatchet murders of her father and stepmother on August 4, 1892, in Fall River, Massachusetts Butch Cassidy – train and bank robber Albert Fish – famed child serial killer Jesse James – train and bank robber Richard Lawrence – intellectually disabled criminal, who attempted to kill Andrew Jackson William Poole – gangster, "Bill the Butcher", Know-Nothing politician
Astronauts Neil Armstrong – first person to step on the moon Christa McAuliffe – English, Irish, German and Lebanese ancestry Alan Shepard – first American to travel into space
Astronomers Harold D. Babcock Edgar Frisby Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin Henrietta Swan Leavitt Percival Lowell
Directors, producers Robert Aldrich Robert Altman John Badham J. Stuart Blackton Charles Brabin George Howells Broadhurst Clint Eastwood Howard Hawks Fraser Clarke Heston Susan Fales-Hill Jack Hope David Horsley Ron Howard John Huston George Lucas Garry Marshall Christopher Nolan Jonathan Nolan Hassard Short Emma Thomas William A. Wellman
Descendants of Mayflower passengers Alec Baldwin Jordana Brewster – actress Chevy Chase – Emmy Award-winning comedian, writer, and television and film actor Bing Crosby – actor and singer Seth MacFarlane – actor, animator and writer; notable for creating Family Guy and American Dad Clint Eastwood – actor Nick Folk – football player Jodie Foster – actress Richard Gere – actor Martha Graham – dancer Ulysses S. Grant – Union Army general; U.S. President Hugh Hefner – founder, majority owner, editor-in-chief, and Chief Creative Officer of Playboy Enterprises Susan Fales-Hill Ashley Judd – actress John Lithgow – actor Christopher Lloyd – actor Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – poet George B. McClellan – Union Army general Marilyn Monroe – actress Anna Mary Robertson Moses Anthony Perkins – actor Anne Ramsey – actress Christopher Reeve – actor Bill Richardson – Governor of New Mexico Franklin D. Roosevelt – U.S. President Victoria Rowell – actress Benjamin Spock – pediatrician and author, Baby and Child Care Dick Van Dyke – Noah Webster – American lexicographer, textbook author, spelling reformer, political writer, word enthusiast, and editor
Actors
A
Odessa Adlon Ben Affleck Casey Affleck Jessica Alba Karen Allen Lauren Ambrose Gillian Anderson Devon Aoki Hayley Atwell Jean Arthur Jake T. Austin
B
Brandon Baker Alec Baldwin Daniel Baldwin Stephen Baldwin William Baldwin Mark Ballas Fred Ball Lucille Ball Jamie Bamber Ethel Barrymore Drew Barrymore Maurice Barrymore Mischa Barton Kim Basinger Emily Beecham Laura Joyce Bell Tobin Bell Annette Bening Emily Bergl Halle Berry Valerie Bertinelli Michael Biehn Jessica Biel Jason Biggs Bill Bixby Jack Black JB Blanc Rowan Blanchard Alexis Bledel Violetta Blue Emily Blunt Humphrey Bogart Matt Bomer Lucy Boynton Elizabeth Bracco Lorraine Bracco Zach Braff Vanessa Branch Marlon Brando Amy Brenneman Jordana Brewster Dorothy Bridges James Broderick Matthew Broderick Ty Burrell
C Anna Camp Nicolas Cage Matt Cedeño John Cena Lon Chaney Sr. Lon Chaney Jr. Charles Chaplin Jr. Geraldine Chaplin Josephine Chaplin Kiera Chaplin Michael Chaplin Sydney Earle Chaplin Victoria Chaplin Ruth Chatterton Chevy Chase Montgomery Clift George Clooney Lauren Cohan Stephen Colbert Jack Coleman Lily Collins Constance Collier Gary Cooper Sofia Coppola James Corden Miranda Cosgrove Kevin Costner Caylee Cowan Courteney Cox Edward Coxen Kaley Cuoco Daniel Craig James Cromwell Bing Crosby David Cross Marcia Cross Tom Cruise Cameron Cuffe Tim Curry
D Alexandra Daddario Matt Damon Blythe Danner Ted Danson Fanny Davenport Harry Davenport Jaye Davidson Sarah Lynn Dawson James Dean Yvonne De Carlo Robert De Niro India de Beaufort Joe DeRita Johnny Depp Lily-Rose Depp Jenna Dewan Cameron Diaz Diana Douglas Melvyn Douglas Michael Douglas Lesley-Anne Down Robin Atkin Downes Minnie Driver Eliza Dushku Deanna Durbin Robert Duvall
E
Alison Eastwood Clint Eastwood Kyle Eastwood Scott Eastwood Aaron Eckhart Jennifer Ehle Shannon Elizabeth June Elvidge Alice Eve
F
Edie Falco Dakota Fanning Elle Fanning Farrah Fawcett Will Ferrell Tina Fey W.C. Fields Carrie Fisher Charles Fisher Sean Patrick Flanery Scott Foley Joan Fontaine Trent Ford Wallace Ford Robert Forster Jodie Foster Matthew Fox Jeff Foxworthy
G Ava Gardner Andrew Garfield Judy Garland Greer Garson Gladys George Richard Gere Leila George Malcolm Gets Lily Gladstone Crispin Glover John Goodman Gale Gordon Burn Gorman YaYa Gosselin Milena Govich Betty Grable Gloria Grahame Cary Grant Melanie Griffith Christopher Guest Carla Gugino Mamie Gummer Ryan Guzman Fred Gwynne Jake Gyllenhaal Maggie Gyllenhaal
H Gene Hackman Bill Hader Rebecca Hall Mark Hamill Linda Hamilton Jon Hamm Linda Harrison David Hasselhoff Teri Hatcher Olivia de Havilland Jonah Hauer-King Goldie Hawn Richard Haydn Rita Hayworth Emma Heming Christina Hendricks Charlton Heston Catherine Hicks Paris Hilton William Holden Bob Hope John Houseman Kelly Hu Vanessa Hudgens Kate Hudson Oliver Hudson Rock Hudson Felicity Huffman Helen Hunt Damian Hurley Anjelica Huston Danny Huston Jack Huston John Huston
I-J
Caitlyn Jenner Kendall Jenner Kris Jenner Kylie Jenner Glynis Johns Victoria Justice
K
Matthew Kane Khloé Kardashian Kim Kardashian Kourtney Kardashian Rob Kardashian Zoe Kazan Michael Keaton Ellie Kemper Anna Kendrick George Kennedy Riley Keough John Kerr Nicole Kidman Justin Kirk Jen Kirkman Hayley Kiyoko Chris Klein David Koechner
L
Alan Ladd Alan Ladd Jr. David Ladd Jordan Ladd Sanoe Lake Burt Lancaster Lillie Langtry Angela Lansbury Brandon Lee Shannon Lee Peyton Elizabeth Lee Jane Leeves Téa Leoni Juliette Lewis Christopher Lloyd Sam Lloyd June Lockhart Chad Lowe Rob Lowe Camilla Luddington
M
Seth MacFarlane Roma Maffia Wendie Malick John Malkovich Jayne Mansfield Romy Mars Penny Marshall Lee Marvin Burgess Meredith Sienna Miller Wentworth Miller Marilyn Monroe Frank Morgan Lindsey Morgan Ralph Morgan Meg Mundy Olivia Munn Edward R. Murrow
N-O
Becki Newton Matt Newton Jack Nicholson Lorraine Nicholson Edward Norton Dylan O'Brien John Oliver Timothy Olyphant Ryan O'Neal Tatum O'Neal Chord Overstreet Jessica Oyelowo
P-Q
Gwyneth Paltrow Sarah Jessica Parker Audrina Patridge Sara Paxton Gregory Peck William Peltz Nia Peeples Chelsea Peretti Joaquin Phoenix River Phoenix Mary Pickford Christina Pickles Justin Pierce Aubrey Plaza Amy Poehler Ellen Pompeo Ryan Potter Tyrone Power Lisa Marie Presley Priscilla Presley Freddie Prinze Jr. Malia Pyles Margaret Qualley Dennis Quaid Randy Quaid
R Monica Raymund Adam Rayner Robert Redford Keanu Reeves Tara Reid Tracy Reiner James Remar Lee Remick Burt Reynolds Debbie Reynolds Blanche Ring Krysten Ritter Jason Robards AnnaSophia Robb Emma Roberts Eric Roberts Julia Roberts James Roday Rebecca Romijn Neil Ross Emmy Rossum Brandon Routh Victoria Rowell Paul Rudd Kurt Russell Wyatt Russell Amy Ryan
S
Susan Sarandon Edie Sedgwick Kyra Sedgwick Robert Sedgwick Marian Seldes Tom Selleck Amanda Seyfried Nicollette Sheridan Brooke Shields Kiernan Shipka Andrew Shue Elisabeth Shue Casey Siemaszko Nina Siemaszko Molly Sims Guy Siner Alicia Silverstone Douglas Smith Gregory Smith Jaclyn Smith Britney Spears Jamie Lynn Spears Kim Stanley Karen Steele Julia Stiles Emma Stone Beatrice Straight Meryl Streep Gregg Sulkin Patrick Swayze Victoria Summer
T William Talman Jessica Tandy Justin Timberlake Miles Teller Georgia Tennant Shirley Temple Elizabeth Taylor Marsha Thomason Connor Tomlinson Sonny Tufts Lana Turner Liv Tyler
U-V Tracey Ullman Erik Valdez Casper Van Dien Grace Van Dien Dick Van Dyke Jerry Van Dyke Vince Vaughn Danielle Vega Milo Ventimiglia Dita Von Teese
W-Z Natasha Gregson Wagner Donnie Wahlberg Mark Wahlberg Robert Wahlberg Paul Walker Evelyn Ward Kerry Washington Katherine Waterston Sam Waterston John Wayne Dennis Weaver Sigourney Weaver Sylvester Weaver Raquel Welch Betty White Kristen Wiig Olivia Wilde Barry Williams Chris Williams (actor) Vanessa Williams Philip Winchester Jonathan Winters Elijah Wood Fay Wray John Lloyd Young
Authors and writers Louisa May Alcott Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr John Bartlett L. Frank Baum Ambrose Bierce Tony Blankley Victor Bockris Mary Louise Booth William Cullen Bryant Edgar Rice Burroughs William S. Burroughs Linda Lee Cadwell Carolyn Cassady Raymond Chandler J. Smeaton Chase Chris Claremont James Fenimore Cooper Stephen Crane Ann Coulter Coningsby Dawson John Derbyshire Emily Dickinson T.S. Eliot Ralph Waldo Emerson William Faulkner Diana Gabaldon Joseph Gales Zane Grey Edgar Guest Ernest Hemingway Nathaniel Hawthorne Bret Harte Thomas S. Hinde Christopher Hitchens Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. Washington Irving Agnes Newton Keith Sidney Lanier Estelle Anna Lewis Jack London Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Robert Lowell William Least Heat-Moon Thomas Paine Thomas Nelson Page William Luther Pierce Edgar Allan Poe William Henry Leonard Poe Katherine Anne Porter Ezra Pound Thomas Pynchon James Wesley Rawlesbiography – James Wesley Rawles E. E. Smith Nicholas Sparks Lynne Spears John Steinbeck Charles Warren Stoddard Glendon Swarthout Henry David Thoreau Mark Twain Noah Webster Laura Ingalls Wilder Tennessee Williams Michael Z. Williamsonbiography – Michael Z. Williamson
Musicians
Roy Acuff Ronnie van Zant Alex Gaskarth Elijah Blue Allman Joan Baez Mark Ballas Victoria Beckham Josh Beech Rebecca Black Ella Bright Jack Brooks – lyricist Johnny Cash Rosanne Cash Cher Kelly Clarkson Kurt Cobain David Cook Kristinia DeBarge MF Doom Spencer Dryden Fergie Dave Grohl Kirk Hammett Albert Hammond Jr James Hetfield Buddy Holly Dana Key Anthony Kiedis Kris Kristofferson Jenny Lee Lindberg Greg London Courtney Love Lene Lovich Tony Lucca Reba McEntire Charles Mingus Mandy Moore Jim Morrison Wayne Newton Stevie Nicks Hayley Orrantia Randy Owen Sara Paxton Katy Perry John Phillips Iggy Pop Romina Power Kevin Richardson Kevin Rudolf Buffy Sainte-Marie Slash Grace Slick Steven Tyler Eddie Vedder Summer Walker Florence Welch Hank Williams Brian Wilson Carnie Wilson Wendy Wilson Sid Wilson Kimberly Wyatt "Weird Al" Yankovic Trisha Yearwood
Entrepreneurs, executives P. T. Barnum Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle Sr. Nicholas Biddle Benjamin Brewster Caleb Bradham – creator of Pepsi Henry Clews – financier William R. Coe – insurance company, railroad, and business executive, and philanthropist James Boorman Colgate – financier Samuel Colgate – manufacturer William Colgate – manufacturer who founded what became the Colgate toothpaste company Roy O. Disney Walt Disney John Francis Dodge – automobile manufacturing pioneer Bill Gates – co-founder of Microsoft and world's richest man for 13 consecutive years Edward Henry Harriman – railroad executive Charles T. Hayden Joseph Lowthian Hudson Samuel Insull – investor, known for purchasing utilities and railroads Will Keith Kellogg Phil Knight – co-founder of Nike Matthew Laflin Edward Lamb Charles M. Loring Anson Green Phelps – founded Phelps, Dodge & Co. Madeleine Pickens Henry Huttleston Rogers