Famous People Born in Florida a to z

American athlete Laila Ali, daughter of legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, has established her own reputation as a boxing champion and television personality.

African-American entrepreneur Wally Amos founded the Famous Amos cookie brand. He also worked as a talent agent and discovered Simon & Garfunkel.

Jeff Ashton is a Florida state attorney who was the head prosecutor in the 2011 Casey Anthony trial.

Billy Beane is a Major League Baseball executive known for his revolutionary style of management and the film based on his exploits, Moneyball.

Jacqueline Cochran is a pioneering 20th century pilot who was an advocate for female aviators during WWII and the first woman to break the sound barrier.

Adolfo Constanzo was a serial killer in the 1980s, whose religious cult performed ritual murders. He evaded police until his 1989 assisted suicide.

Howie Dorough, the Backstreet Boys singer with the smoldering looks, is also a solo artist, actor and advocate for raising awareness for lupus.

Faye Dunaway is a revered Oscar-winning actress known for her work in films like Bonnie and Clyde, The Thomas Crown Affair, Chinatown and Network.

Dallas Friday is a champion professional wakeboarder. She won silver and gold medals at the X-Games and an ESPY Award for Best Female Sport Athlete.

Josh Gad is a Tony Award-nominated and Grammy Award-winning singer and actor known for his roles in The Book of Mormon, 1600 Penn and Jobs.

American actress Ashley Greene is best known for playing Alice Cullen in the Twilight film series.

Darrell Hammond is an actor, stand-up comedian, and impressionist known for his long stint on Saturday Night Live and his spot-on impression of former president Bill Clinton.

Debbie Harry is a singer and actress who became famous for leading the new wave band Blondie. Her blond hair and cool sexuality made her an instant music icon.

American actress Cheryl Hines is known for her Emmy Award-nominated role as Cheryl David, Larry David's wife, on HBO comedy 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' which began in 2000.

American football player Santonio Holmes was named MVP of Super Bowl XLIII after making the game-winning touchdown catch for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rielle Hunter made national headlines for her relationship with married senator and aspiring presidential candidate John Edwards in 2007.

Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin helped lead the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles in the early 1990s.

Daniel James, an alumni of the famous Tuskegee Institute, was the first African-American four-star general in the U.S. Air Force.

James Weldon Johnson was an African-American writer, politician, educator and lawyer. He was also an early civil rights activist and leader of the NAACP.

American football Hall of Famer David "Deacon" Jones led the Los Angeles Rams' "Fearsome Foursome" defensive line in the 1960s.

Roy Jones Jr. is a record-holding boxing champion known for his matches on HBO who has also done TV commentary work.

Catherine Keener is an American actress best known for her role Maxine in the 1999 film Being John Malkovich.

NFL linebacker Ray Lewis is a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Super Bowl MVP and played his entire 17-year career with the Baltimore Ravens.

Michael Lynche was a contestant on the ninth season of American Idol. He was the second finalist to receive the "judge's save."

William H. Macy is an actor known for his diverse characters in films such as Fargo, Boogie Nights and Air Force One.

Mindy McCready was best known for her hit country music album Ten Thousand Angels, as well as for her ongoing personal struggles. At the age of 37, she was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Eva Mendes is an American actress best known for her roles in the films Training Day, Stuck on You and Hitch. The beauty of Cuban descent is also a model for several brands.

Charles Edward Merrill was an American investment banker who co-founded Merrill Lynch & Company and arranged the merger that created the Safeway food chain.

Jim Morrison was the charismatic singer and songwriter for the 1960 rock group the Doors until his death in a Paris bathtub at age 27.

Henry Paulson was CEO of Goldman Sachs until he became secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury in 2006. As such, he developed a bailout program.

Tom Petty is best known as the front man for the well-known band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. He pursued a solo career in 1989, recording hit songs like "Free Fallin'" and "Runnin' Down a Dream."

Sidney Poitier became the first black Academy Award winner in 1964, receiving the honor for his performance in Lilies of the Field (1963).

A. Philip Randolph was a labor leader and social activist who fought for the rights of African-American laborers, including better wages and working conditions.

Retired NBA basketball player David Robinson spent his entire14-year pro career with the San Antonio Spurs. He’s widely considered one of the game’s all-time great centers.

A stage, film and TV actress, Esther Rolle is best remembered as Florida Evans -- a character she played on two comedy series, Maude and Good Times.

Known for his fast and easy "wet-on-wet" painting technique, Bob Ross reached millions of art lovers with his popular television program The Joy of Painting.

Young Republican politician Marco Rubio won an impressive victory in his 2009 campaign for one of Florida's seats in the U.S. Senate.

Maya Rudolph is a comedian and actor who became a household name via her Saturday Night Live tenure, which ran from 2000 to 2007.

Augusta Savage is remembered as an artist, activist, and arts educator, serving as an inspiration to the many that she taught, helped, and encouraged.

Emmitt Smith was a running back with the Dallas Cowboys. In 2002, he broke Walter Payton's rushing record to become the leading rusher in NFL history.

Wesley Snipes is an actor known for his action roles in such films as Blade and Passenger 57 and for his trouble with the law over unpaid taxes.

Sean Taylor was the No. 5 NFL draft pick in 2004 and played with the Washington Redskins until he was murdered in 2007.

Santo Trafficante is best known for running casinos in Cuba, prior to Castro's revolution.

Professional golfer Bubba Watson is a leading player on the PGA Tour and winner of the 2012 Masters Tournament.

Charles Whitman was a former Marine and sniper who killed 16 people at the University of Texas in 1966.