The Ocean State is full of amazing actors, authors, musicians, artists, and more! This comes as no surprise considering the amount of culture packed into such a tiny place. Here are 11 famous Rhode Island celebrities making the Ocean State proud.

1. Viola Davis
Wikipedia/Red Carpet Report
The first on our list of famous people from Rhode Island is the incredibly talented Viola Davis. Though born in South Carolina, award-winning actress Viola Davis moved to Rhode Island at just two months old and grew up in Central Falls. She has starred in the series How To Get Away With Murder and has appeared in dozens of other popular films and television series. She attended Central Falls High School and studied acting at Rhode Island College before going on to Juilliard.
2. H.P. Lovecraft
Wikipedia/Lucius B. Truesdell
This American author gained international fame posthumously and was born and raised in the city of Providence. His horror fiction novels have become influential with "The Call of Cthulhu" being the most significant work. If you're in Providence be sure to visit the H.P. Lovecraft Museum to learn more about this famous Rhode Islander. You can also visit his grave at Swan Point Cemetery on the East Side of Providence. Read our previous coverage to find several H.P. Lovecraft sites around the state.
3. Meredith Vieira
Wikipedia/Jakeprzespo
Journalist and talk show host Meredith Viera is best known for her work as the original moderator of The View. Born in Providence, Vieira's work resume includes her own show, The Meredith Vieira Show.
4. Will Blackmon
Wikipedia/Mike Morris
Famous former American football cornerback Will Blackmon was born and raised in Providence. Blackmon formerly played for the New York Giants, the Green Bay Packers, the Seattle Seahawks, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Washington.
5. George M. Cohan
Wikipedia/Unknown
Born in Providence, George M. Cohan was an American playwright, producer, actor, and all-around entertainer. He wrote the classic Broadway tunes, Give My Regards to Broadway, The Yankee Doodle Boy, and dozens of others.

Related Stories

Here Are The 10 Richest Cities In Rhode Island

Here Are The 10 Richest Cities In Rhode Island

 10 Quirky Facts About Rhode Island That Sound Made Up, But Are 100% Accurate

10 Quirky Facts About Rhode Island That Sound Made Up, But Are 100% Accurate

 Parts Of The Popular Movie Hocus Pocus 2 Were Filmed In This Rhode Island Town

Parts Of The Popular Movie Hocus Pocus 2 Were Filmed In This Rhode Island Town
6. James Woods
Wikipedia/Togless
Continuing on in our list of famous people in Rhode Island, award-winning actor James Woods grew up in Warwick where he attended Pilgrim High School. An accomplished actor, among his more recent works include voice acting on the popular television show, Family Guy.
7. Debra Messing
Wikipedia/David Shankbone
Actress Debra Messing moved to Rhode Island with her family at age three and grew up in East Greenwich. Though appearing in countless popular titles, she is most known for her role as Grace Adler on the sitcom Will & Grace.
8. Wendy Carlos
Wikipedia/wendycarlos.com
The contributions made by Wendy Carlos to contemporary music are extensive. Born in raised in Pawtucket, Wendy is a pioneering synthesist as well as an accomplished composer. This Rhode Island celebrity wrote the scores to Stanley Kubrik's films A Clockwork Orange and The Shining.
9. Harry Anderson
Wikipedia/Allen Light
This famous Rhode Islander was an actor, screenwriter, magician, and director. Born in Newport and appearing on several episodes of Saturday Night Live, Anderson was most famous for his role as Judge Harry Stone on the television series Night Court.
10. Ruth Hussey
Wikipedia/Unknown
Often forgotten when you think of Rhode Island celebrities, this 1940s actress was born and raised in Providence where she began her career in show business. She was featured in the classic American film, The Philadelphia Story and several Broadway productions.
11. Cormac McCarthy
Wikipedia/Faded Giant
The last on our list of celebrities from Rhode Island is Cormac McCarthy. Known for writing the novel that inspired the film No Country For Old Men, Cormac McCarthy was born in Providence. Other popular works include The Road and Blood Meridian.

Are there any other famous people from Rhode Island who should be on this list? Tell us in the comments! Also important to note, Rhode Island is currently home to many famous people who have sought out the state for its beauty and charm. Taylor Swift is arguably the most famous among them and has a beach house in Westerly, but she is not from Rhode Island. We are glad that she finds our state just as lovely as we do!

Keep the state pride going by checking out these 11 things that Rhode Island did first.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Famous People From Rhode Island

Melissa M. | November 19, 2021

Who are some local celebrities in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island may be small but there are some big Rhode Island celebrities that came from here, like the ones above. However, there are plenty of locals that have achieved celebrity status within the Ocean State over the years. Some are still here and some are no longer with us. For those of us who grew up here, Salty Brine was a beloved radio personality who announced the news and local weather. Today you can visit the picturesque Salty Brine Beach in Galilee. Buddy Cianci, aka “The Prince of Providence,” was the longest-serving mayor in Providence and a well-known figure that many of us had seen out and about in the city. And, of course, we cannot forget NIROPE (Nick, Ron, and Pete) of Cardi’s Furniture. 

What are some fun facts about Rhode Island?

Aside from the fun fact that Rhode Island is the smallest state in the country, it is home to the oldest carousel in the country in Watch Hill. The first discount department store in the country was Ann and Hope (remember shopping there back in the day?) Jerimoth Hill in Foster is the highest point in the state at 811 feet. What other fun facts about Rhode Island can you think of?

What are some must-visit places in Rhode Island?

Newport is always the first place to come to mind when many think of our great little state, but it’s so much more than that. You can check out some of these Hidden Gems In Rhode Island that are worth visiting as well.

Related Articles

Explore Rhode Island

Featured Addresses
Rhode Island, USA