This list of Baptists covers those who were members of Baptist churches or raised in such. It does not imply that all were practicing Baptists or remained so all their lives. As an article of faith, Baptists baptize believers after conversion, not infants.
Abbreviations of countries: Australia (A); Brazil (Br); Burma (Bu); Canada (Ca); China (C); Rep. of Congo (Kinshasa) (CK); Rep. of Congo (Leopoldville) (CL); England (E); India (I); Isle of Man (IoM); Jamaica (J); Japan (Jp); New Zealand (NZ); Puerto Rico (PR); Romania (R); Scotland (S); Sri Lanka, Ceylon (SL); Ukraine (Uk); United States and previous colonies (US)
Athletes Charles Barkley (born 1963, US), former professional basketball player Jim Brown (1936–2023, US), former fullback for the Cleveland Browns Roberto Clemente (1934–1972, PR)Al Abrams. "Sidelights on Sports: Notes From a Sad Trip". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 6, 1973. "I had always presumed Roberto CLemente was of the Catholic faith. His two close friends Phil Dorsey and Stan Garland, inform me he was a Baptist as are his parents." Retrieved 24 November 2017. Mike Conley Jr. (born 1987, US), guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves basketball team Zach Johnson (born 1976, US), professional golfer, winner of 2007 Masters TournamentErin Roach, "Masters winner buoyed by faith, marriage" Baptist Press. Magic Johnson (born 1959, US), professional basketball player My Life, by Earvin Magic Johnson with William Novak (1993), 8–9. "...when I was young we all went to the Union Missionary Baptist Church.";"Dad was deep in the Baptist church, active on all the committees. He and I both sang in the choir.";"My sisters became Adventists, while Dad and I and my brothers remained Baptists." Iris Kyle (born 1974, US), 10-time overall Ms. Olympia professional bodybuilder Ryan Langerhans (born 1980, US), outfielder for Seattle MarinersJulio Franco. "'05 Atlanta Braves Team Marked by Men of Faith" . Baptist Press. (May 3, 2005). Retrieved October 19, 2008. William Lockhart (1835–1893, S/E), cricketer and preacher Joe Louis (1914–1981, US), professional boxer. Holds the record for longest single reign as champion of any boxer in history.Joe Louis: Hard Times Man by Roberts, R., Yale University Press, (2010), 4. "He (Joe Louis) worked when he was told, went to the Baptist church on Sundays," 93. Louis would not win or lose the fight because he was black and Baptist, any more than Baer would because he was white and Jewish." 202. "‘‘I was born a Republican. My mother was always a Republican—Republican and Baptist.’’" Dikembe Mutombo (1966–2024, CL/US) center for the Houston RocketsHillary Wicai. "NBA Star Puts Faith to Work," . January 8, 2001. Retrieved 7 July 2007 Bradbury Robinson (1884–1949, US), pioneering American football player, physician and conservationist Tim Tebow (born 1987, US), professional football quarterback, then baseball player Mike Tyson (born 1966, US), former boxer and heavyweight champion of the world, who later converted to Islam Reggie White (1961–2004, US), professional football defensive end; member of Pro Football Hall of Fame
Authors and journalists Nathan Bailey (died 1742, E), philologist and lexicographer Clara Lucas Balfour (1808–1878, E), writer and temperance campaigner Ray Bradbury (1920–2012, US), science fiction author, later described himself as Buddhist Samuel Bagster the Younger (1800–1835, E) writer on religion and beekeeping Henlee Hulix Barnette (1911–2004, US), writer on Christian ethics Thomas Spencer Baynes (1823–1887, E), philosopher Henry Blackaby (living, Ca), writer on knowing God Frank W. Boreham (1871–1959, E/NZ), daily press contributions on religion Robbie Branscum (1934–1997, US), writer for children and young adults Edith Bryan (1872–1963, E/A), educationalist for children with special needs Tony Campolo (born 1935, US), sociologist and spiritual adviser Muriel Spurgeon Carder (1922–2023, Ca), writer on New Testament studies and pastoral care Ross Clifford (born 1951, A), theologian and political commentator Thomas Cooper (1805–1892, E), poet and Chartist Esther Copley (1786–1851, E), tractarian and writer for children Thomas Crosby (1683–1751, E), author of History of the English Baptists (1738–1740) W. E. Cule (1870–1944, W), children's author and editor of Baptist Missionary Society publications Elizabeth Dawbarn (died 1839, E), religious writer, preacher and pamphleteer Maria De Fleury (fl. 1773–1791, E), poet, hymnist and polemicistEmma Major, "Fleury, Maria de (fl. 1773–1791)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford, UK: OUP, 2004) Retrieved 29 July 2016. James T. Draper Jr. (born 1935, US), writer on Christian life Petru Dugulescu (1945–2008, R), writer on persecution Daniel C. Eddy (1823–1896, US), hymn writer and advocate of women's education Gene Edwards (born 1932, US), writer on church history and affairs Robert Ellis (born 1956, E), theologian William Roscoe Estep (1920–2000, US), historian Jerry Falwell Sr. (1933–2007, US), writer on social and political affairs Paul Fiddes (born 1947, E), theologian and novelist Sallie Rochester Ford (1828–1910, US), writer and newspaper editor Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878–1969, US), Modernist theologian Hans Frei (1922–1988, US), Bible scholar and theologian Gilberto Freyre (1900–1987, Br), sociologist and anthropologist Michael Frost (born 1961, A), missional and theologian Edwin Gaustad (1923–2011, US), scholar and historian of religion Billy Graham (1918–2018, US), worldwide evangelist Jack Graham (born 1950), writer on Christian life John Grisham (born 1955, US), novelistMartha Duffy "Grisham's Law". Time (May 8, 1995). Retrieved 22 September 2007. Ken Ham (born 1951, A/US), fundamentalist and creationist Roger E. Hedlund (born 1935, US/I), missionary and researcher Kent Hovind (born 1953, US), fundamentalist and creationist George Howells (1871–1955, W/I), writer and academic Mike Huckabee (born 1955, US), politician and writer on social and political affairs Donald Foster Hudson (1916–2003, E), missionary and educationalist Robert Don Hughes (born 1949, US), minister, educator and science fiction author Johnny Hunt (born 1952, US), writer on Christian life and biblical studies William Jones (1762–1846, W/E), writer and bookseller Adoniram Judson (1788–1850, US/Bu), missionary and producer of a Burmese Bible and a dictionary Tim LaHaye (1926–2016, US), co-author of the bestselling Left Behind seriesCathy Lynn Grossman. "Prophesy Feeds Fire of Debate" USAToday (April 24, 2004). Retrieved 22 September 2007. Doris Lester (1886–1965, E), religious writer and social worker Charles Lloyd (1766–1829, W/E), preacher and schoolmaster Bill Moyers (born 1934, US), television journalist and former White House Press Secretary David Owen (Dewi Wyn o Eifion) (1784–1841, W), Welsh-language poet Hazel Brannon Smith (1914–1994, US), journalist and editor; first female recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial WritingJan Whitt, Ph.D. "Burning Crosses and Activist Journalism: The Unlikely Heroism of Two Mississippi Editors". Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference Papers. (January 13, 2001). Retrieved 22 September 2007.
Criminals Edgar Ray Killen (1925 – 2018, US), sawmill operator, part-time Baptist minister, American Ku Klux Klan kleagle, directed murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, Michael Schwerner (civil rights activists, Freedom Summer of 1964)Profile, Law2.umkc.edu; accessed April 5, 2015. Jesse James (1847–1882, US), outlaw, son of a Baptist minister, Confederate soldier"Timeline: The Life and Death of Jesse James". Public Broadcasting Service. (undated). Retrieved 12 March 2002. Harry Longabaugh (1867–1908, US), "The Sundance Kid", train robber and outlaw.
Entertainers, movie and television personalities
Clay Aiken (born 1978, US) pop music singerHolly Vicente Robaina. "Heart of Clay". Christianity Today (December 2005). Retrieved 3 October 2007. Roy Acuff (1903–1992, US), country musicianCountry Music Hall of Fame inductee . countrymusichalloffame.org. Retrieved 7 January 2016. Warren Beatty (born 1937, US), actorDiere Donahue. "'Warren Beatty: Private Man' Probe Puritanical Roots". USA Today online. (September 26, 2005). Retrieved 11 April 2008. David Bellamy (1933–2019, E), television presenter, botanist, and environmentalist Lead Belly (1888–1949, US), folk and blues musician Chuck Berry (1926–2017, US), singer, songwriter and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music (raised a Baptist) Spencer Bohren (1950–2019, US), American roots musician, raised a BaptistBiography in iTunes. itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 7 January 2016. Glen Campbell (1936–2017, US), country music singer Mark Carman (born 1960, US), singer, composer, writer and producer Aaron Carter (1987–2022, US), singer Nick Carter (born 1980, US), lead vocalist of the Backstreet Boys Johnny Cash (1932–2003, US), country music singer Ray Charles (1930–2004, US), musician, singer, and composer Jerry Clower (1926–1998, US), rural humorist, member of the Grand Ole Opry, lay ministerArt Tolston. Baptist layman Jerry Clower, top country comic, dies at 71 Baptist Press (online news agency) (August 25, 1998). Retrieved 27 March 2008. Kevin Costner (born 1955, US), actor Jill Dando (1961–1999, E) television presenter (murdered) Bette Davis (1908–1989, US), actress and erstwhile Baptist Jamie Foxx (born 1967, US), actor, singer and stand-up comedian Aretha Franklin (1942–2018, US), singer and daughter of Baptist minister Rev. C.L. Franklin Ava Gardner (1922–1990, US), actress (undated). Retrieved 27 March 2008. Al Green (born 1946, US), singer, songwriter and record producer Buddy Holly (1936–1959, US), rock 'n' roll singer Whitney Houston (1963–2012, US), R&B/pop singer and actress John Hughes (1872–1914, W), composer and marketing manager John Hughes (1873–1932, W), composer of hymns Mahalia Jackson (1911–1972, US), gospel singer"Mahalia Jackson: The Queen of Gospel Music". www.southernmusic.net. Retrieved 22 July 2008. B.B. King (1925–2015, US), blues singerHow the church gave B.B. King the blues – The Washington Post Gladys Knight (born 1944, US), singer, converted to Mormonism Avril Lavigne (born 1984, Ca), singer-songwriter and actressLifetime A+E Networks UK Brian Littrell (born 1975, US), pop singer, member of the Backstreet Boys Loretta Lynn (1932–2022, US), country music artist Reba McEntire (born 1955, US), country music artist and actress Brittany Murphy (1977–2009, US), actress, singer and voice artist; raised Baptist and later became non-denominational Christian Eddie Murphy (born 1961, US), actor actor, comedian Chuck Norris (1940–2026, US), actorSara Horn. "Chuck Norris Tells How God's Plan Was Bigger Than His Own." Baptist Press. September 21, 2004. Retrieved 4 April 2008. Grady Nutt (1934–1982, US), Hee Haw regular (1979–1982), Baptist minister Brad Pitt (born 1963, US), actor, raised Baptist Dennis Quaid (born 1954, US), actor Corinne Bailey Rae (born 1979, E), singer and songwriter Diana Ross (born 1944, US), singer Willard Scott (born 1934, US), television weathermanLarry King. "Interview with Willard Scott" (transcript). Larry King Live, CNN (21 May 2003). Retrieved 9 April 2008 Ron Shelton (born 1945, US), movie director Ashlee Simpson (born 1984, US), pop singer Jessica Simpson (born 1980, US), pop singer and actress Sinbad (born 1956 as David Adkins, US), actor and comedian"Sinbad Biography (1956–) Film Reference.com (undated) Retrieved 11 April 2008. Will Smith (born 1968, US) actor, raised baptist Snoop Dogg (born 1971 as Calvin Broadus, US), rapper, raised Baptist Britney Spears (born 1981, US), pop singer Octavia Spencer (born 1970, US), Academy Award-winning actress, producer, and author