38.8951° N, 77.0368° W

WASHINGTON

Most Famous People Born in Washington, United States

Notable people
3,084
Peak decade
1940s
Median birth year
1949
Most distinctive
Basket 4.3×

A federal city whose distinctive shelves are exactly what you'd expect — military officers, lawyers, journalists, and an unusually thick novelist column — alongside one of the country's deepest basketball and baseball benches. But Washington is also a Black cultural capital, and the most famous names born here are Duke Ellington, Marvin Gaye, and Samuel L. Jackson, not politicians. The 19th-century tail is thinner than you'd expect; the city only really filled up after the New Deal.

Through the Decades

One face per decade — the most globally famous figure born in Washington during each.

Notable Births by Decade

Click a decade to filter the list below. Peak: 1940s with 428 notable births.

What Washington Is Known For

Click any row to filter the list of people below.

Actor is Washington's biggest profession — 8% of all notables (258).

Washington over-indexes on basket4.3× the global rate.

Washington under-produces painter — only 0.6× the global rate.

  1. Actor258
  2. Politician236
  3. Football201
  4. Basket168
  5. Lawyer142
  6. Baseball116
  7. Writer99
  8. Journalist88
  1. Basket1684.3×
  2. Officer723.5×
  3. Novelist433.5×
  4. Baseball1163.3×
  5. Lawyer1422.6×
  6. Music882.0×
  7. Journalist881.8×
  8. Artist521.6×
  1. Painter480.6×
  2. Football2010.6×
  3. Politician2360.7×

Profession Mix Over Time

Each band shows a profession family's share of Washington's notable births by decade. Hover the chart for the breakdown at any decade.

16501700175018001850190019502000
  • Sports
  • Politics & Law
  • Film & TV
  • Writing
  • Music
  • Science
  • Other
Actor258
Sort By

Showing 258 of 3,084 notable people

0002 ACTOR

Samuel L. Jackson

Born 1948

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0005 ACTOR

Stephen Colbert

Born 1964

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0006 ACTOR

Goldie Hawn

Born 1945

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0007 ACTOR

Katherine Heigl

Born 1978

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0008 ACTOR

William Hurt

Born 1950

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0010 ACTOR

Taraji P. Henson

Born 1970

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0011 ACTOR

Henry Rollins

Born 1961

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0013 ACTOR

Helen Hayes

1900 - 1993

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0015 ACTOR

Dave Bautista

Born 1969

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0019 ACTOR

Alyson Hannigan

Born 1974

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0020 ACTOR

Jeffrey Wright

Born 1965

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0021 ACTOR

Justin Theroux

Born 1971

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0022 ACTOR

Jon Bernthal

Born 1976

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0027 ACTOR

Mýa

Born 1979

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0028 ACTOR

John Heard (actor)

1945 - 2017

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0032 ACTOR

Edward Herrmann

1943 - 2014

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0035 ACTOR

Billie Burke

1884 - 1970

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0038 ACTOR

Jonathan Banks

Born 1947

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0039 ACTOR

Matt Frewer

Born 1958

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0041 ACTOR

Christopher Meloni

Born 1961

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0043 ACTOR

Isabelle Fuhrman

Born 1997

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0047 ACTOR

Ben Stein

Born 1944

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0049 ACTOR

Tony Todd

Born 1954

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0051 ACTOR

Regina Hall

Born 1970

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0059 ACTOR

Blair Brown

Born 1946

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0060 ACTOR

Nicholas Hammond

Born 1950

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0062 ACTOR

Jane Greer

1924 - 2001

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0063 ACTOR

Chris Carmack

Born 1980

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0067 ACTOR

Frances Sternhagen

Born 1930

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0073 ACTOR

Tim Russ

Born 1956

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0074 ACTOR

Michael Learned

Born 1939

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0075 ACTOR

Robert Wisdom

Born 1953

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0079 ACTOR

Corey Hawkins

Born 1988

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0080 ACTOR

Michael Nouri

Born 1945

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0084 ACTOR

Joanna Going

Born 1963

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0085 ACTOR

Whitney Cummings

Born 1982

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0088 ACTOR

Laz Alonso

Born 1974

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0090 ACTOR

Miguel Sandoval

Born 1951

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0095 ACTOR

Jane Adams (actress)

Born 1965

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0098 ACTOR

Clifton Powell

Born 1956

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0102 ACTOR

Alan Hale Sr.

1892 - 1950

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0104 ACTOR

Teddy Sears

Born 1977

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0108 ACTOR

Gregory Itzin

Born 1948

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0110 ACTOR

David Costabile

Born 1967

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0113 ACTOR

Max Casella

Born 1967

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0119 ACTOR

Melissa Sagemiller

Born 1974

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0120 ACTOR

Chris Miller (animator)

Born 1968

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0127 ACTOR

Georgia Engel

1948 - 2019

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0130 ACTOR

Deborah Shelton

Born 1948

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0132 ACTOR

J. August Richards

Born 1973

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0134 ACTOR

Kitty Winn

Born 1943

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0138 ACTOR

Burr Steers

Born 1965

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0140 ACTOR

Ina Claire

1893 - 1985

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0148 ACTOR

Leigh Taylor-Young

Born 1945

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0150 ACTOR

Karl Yune

Born 1975

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0153 ACTOR

Lacey Duvalle

Born 1982

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0154 ACTOR

Raven Goodwin

Born 1992

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0155 ACTOR

Chris Brochu

Born 1989

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0156 ACTOR

Rip Taylor

1934 - 2019

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0159 ACTOR

Samira Wiley

Born 1987

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0160 ACTOR

Erik King

Born 1969

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0167 ACTOR

Mauricio Ochmann

Born 1977

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0171 ACTOR

Eden Riegel

Born 1981

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0172 ACTOR

Timothy Carhart

Born 1953

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0173 ACTOR

Robin Weigert

Born 1969

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0177 ACTOR

Archie Kao

Born 1969

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0179 ACTOR

Mary Murphy (actress)

1931 - 2011

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0190 ACTOR

Lauren Bowles

Born 1973

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0197 ACTOR

Tommy Davidson

Born 1963

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0200 ACTOR

James McDaniel

Born 1958

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0205 ACTOR

Brian Hallisay

Born 1978

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0208 ACTOR

Matt Clark (actor)

Born 1936

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0209 ACTOR

Sam Riegel

Born 1976

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0212 ACTOR

David Birney

Born 1939

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0225 ACTOR

Kellie Shanygne Williams

Born 1976

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0230 ACTOR

Alexandra Tydings

Born 1972

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0234 ACTOR

Judson Mills

Born 1969

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0245 ACTOR

Robert Hooks

Born 1937

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0252 ACTOR

George Englund

1926 - 2017

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0253 ACTOR

Charles Halton

1876 - 1959

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0262 ACTOR

Wolfgang Bodison

Born 1966

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0269 ACTOR

Sarah Baker

Born 1990

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0271 ACTOR

Damian Young

Born 1961

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0273 ACTOR

Scott Plank

1958 - 2002

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0275 ACTOR

Dorian Gregory

Born 1971

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0276 ACTOR

Jacqueline Emerson

Born 1994

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0278 ACTOR

Gbenga Akinnagbe

Born 1978

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0293 ACTOR

Sean Whalen

Born 1964

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0295 ACTOR

Casey Sander

Born 1956

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0300 ACTOR

Christopher Sabat

Born 1973

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0301 ACTOR

Madlyn Rhue

1935 - 2003

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0304 ACTOR

Connie Mason

Born 1937

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0305 ACTOR

Laura Wright

Born 1970

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0315 ACTOR

Arleen Sorkin

Born 1955

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0327 ACTOR

Paul James (actor)

-

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0328 ACTOR

Gabrielle Christian

Born 1984

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0329 ACTOR

Vinton Hayworth

1906 - 1970

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0330 ACTOR

Cotter Smith

Born 1949

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0335 ACTOR

Scott Krinsky

Born 1968

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0344 ACTOR

Demetrius Grosse

Born 1981

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0347 ACTOR

Bert Roach

1891 - 1971

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0352 ACTOR

Wheeler Oakman

1890 - 1949

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0359 ACTOR

Ali Wentworth

Born 1965

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0373 ACTOR

Roger Aaron Brown

Born 1949

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0392 ACTOR

Marie de Villepin

Born 1986

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0395 ACTOR

Madeleine Potter

Born 1958

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0401 ACTOR

Michelle Nicastro

1960 - 2010

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0407 ACTOR

Gaelan Connell

Born 1989

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0415 ACTOR

Tucker Smallwood

Born 1944

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0422 ACTOR

John Harmon (actor)

1905 - 1985

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0432 ACTOR

Josh Stamberg

Born 1970

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0445 ACTOR

Elizabeth Norment

1952 - 2014

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0447 ACTOR

Karen Strassman

Born 1975

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0465 ACTOR

Jeannetta Arnette

Born 1954

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0471 ACTOR

Judith Baldwin

Born 1946

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0484 ACTOR

Caitlin Glass

Born 1981

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0492 ACTOR

Andrea Baker

-

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0495 ACTOR

Aaron D. Spears

Born 1971

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0509 ACTOR

Marta Heflin

1945 - 2013

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0518 ACTOR

Pat Flaherty (actor)

1897 - 1970

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0528 ACTOR

Hayley Sales

Born 1986

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0529 ACTOR

Sara Downing

Born 1979

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0537 ACTOR

Betty Gabriel

-

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0548 ACTOR

Priscilla Bonner

1899 - 1996

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0558 ACTOR

Carl Harbaugh

1886 - 1960

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0560 ACTOR

Charles Baker (actor)

Born 1971

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0572 ACTOR

Alix Koromzay

Born 1969

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0576 ACTOR

Álvaro Escobar

Born 1966

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0591 ACTOR

Eslanda Goode Robeson

1895 - 1965

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0599 ACTOR

Sandra Dickinson

Born 1948

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0600 ACTOR

Margaret Seddon

1872 - 1968

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0607 ACTOR

Katy Kurtzman

Born 1965

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0612 ACTOR

Ethan Slater

Born 1992

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0640 ACTOR

Nathan Keyes

Born 1985

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0643 ACTOR

Brooke Lyons

Born 1980

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0649 ACTOR

Mary Fuller

1888 - 1973

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0652 ACTOR

Chelsea Islan

Born 1995

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0683 ACTOR

Earthquake (comedian)

Born 1963

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0690 ACTOR

Siena Goines

Born 1969

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0697 ACTOR

Weldon Heyburn

1910 - 1951

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0707 ACTOR

Joseph Kaufman

1882 - 1918

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0708 ACTOR

Rick Moses

Born 1952

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0712 ACTOR

Nyasha Hatendi

Born 1981

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0724 ACTOR

Reed Howes

1900 - 1964

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0734 ACTOR

Rodney Scott

Born 1978

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0741 ACTOR

Jamie Gray Hyder

Born 1985

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0749 ACTOR

Almira Sessions

1888 - 1974

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0751 ACTOR

Helen Page Camp

1930 - 1991

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0755 ACTOR

Edna Skinner

1921 - 2003

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0758 ACTOR

Leslie Bevis

Born 1957

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0765 ACTOR

Christine White (actress)

1926 - 2013

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0783 ACTOR

Malaya Drew

Born 1978

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0788 ACTOR

Mike Lane

1933 - 2015

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0804 ACTOR

Jason Leland Adams

Born 1963

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0812 ACTOR

Jayne Kennedy

Born 1951

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0822 ACTOR

J. A. Preston

Born 1957

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0836 ACTOR

Veronica Redd

Born 1948

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0846 ACTOR

Anita Colby

1914 - 1992

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0848 ACTOR

Edwina Findley

Born 1980

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0854 ACTOR

Barbara Walsh

Born 1955

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0855 ACTOR

William Allen Young

Born 1954

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0867 ACTOR

Charles Eaton (actor)

1910 - 2004

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0892 ACTOR

Margerie Bonner

1905 - 1988

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0942 ACTOR

Orlagh Cassidy

Born 1968

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0994 ACTOR

Brad Oscar

Born 1964

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1001 ACTOR

Anwan Glover

Born 1975

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1004 ACTOR

Edward McWade

1865 - 1943

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1020 ACTOR

William Margold

1943 - 2017

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1034 ACTOR

Nick Lashaway

1988 - 2016

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1039 ACTOR

Thelma Boardman

1909 - 1978

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1055 ACTOR

Jennifer Bransford

Born 1968

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1062 ACTOR

Jokate Mwegelo

Born 1988

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1065 ACTOR

John Merton

1901 - 1959

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1101 ACTOR

Ursaline Bryant

Born 1947

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1113 ACTOR

Eric Steinberg

Born 1969

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1118 ACTOR

Michael Lindsay

1963 - 2019

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1120 ACTOR

Tom Rhodes

Born 1967

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1126 ACTOR

Thea Vidale

Born 1956

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1147 ACTOR

Leslie Malton

Born 1958

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1149 ACTOR

Lynda Wiesmeier

1963 - 2012

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1151 ACTOR

Michael Genet

Born 1958

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1179 ACTOR

Ryan Sands

-

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1192 ACTOR

Delaney Williams

Born 1962

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1201 ACTOR

Daniel Ross (actor)

Born 1980

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1205 ACTOR

Dan Leal

Born 1969

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1215 ACTOR

Jeff Ward (actor)

Born 1986

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1226 ACTOR

Kulap Vilaysack

Born 1980

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1228 ACTOR

Juliana Donald

Born 1964

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1233 ACTOR

William Hansen (actor)

1911 - 1975

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1253 ACTOR

Tom Williamson (actor)

Born 1990

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1259 ACTOR

Angus Wright (actor)

Born 1964

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1274 ACTOR

Lisa Lambert

Born 1962

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1277 ACTOR

Paul Maslak

-

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1288 ACTOR

Paul Garner

1909 - 2004

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1290 ACTOR

Tanika Ray

Born 1972

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1334 ACTOR

Paul Campbell (American actor)

1923 - 1999

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1351 ACTOR

Corey Parker Robinson

Born 1975

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1371 ACTOR

Lisby Larson

Born 1951

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1375 ACTOR

Ottola Nesmith

1889 - 1972

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1416 ACTOR

Vantile Whitfield

1930 - 2005

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1428 ACTOR

Max Julien

Born 1945

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1447 ACTOR

Kali Troy

Born 1971

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1457 ACTOR

Josh Grisetti

Born 1981

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1494 ACTOR

Eddie Sturgis

1881 - 1947

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1522 ACTOR

Arline Pretty

1885 - 1978

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1544 ACTOR

Doug Spearman

Born 1962

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1552 ACTOR

Hildy Parks

1926 - 2004

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1588 ACTOR

Ty Hodges

Born 1981

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1623 ACTOR

James Lackaye

1867 - 1919

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1630 ACTOR

Francine Tacker

Born 1946

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1642 ACTOR

Anita Bush

1883 - 1974

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1645 ACTOR

Donnell Rawlings

Born 1970

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1663 ACTOR

Pauline Chase

1885 - 1962

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1677 ACTOR

Wes Felton

-

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1717 ACTOR

Jessica Lindsey

Born 1978

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1755 ACTOR

Tehran Von Ghasri

-

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1795 ACTOR

Santiago Segura (American actor)

Born 1992

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1803 ACTOR

Isobel Wren

Born 1981

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1807 ACTOR

Serena Reeder

Born 1983

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1839 ACTOR

Diane Sommerfield

1949 - 2001

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1869 ACTOR

Sloane Morgan Siegel

Born 2000

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1917 ACTOR

Meg Thalken

Born 1954

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1921 ACTOR

Willy Switkes

1929 - 2013

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1934 ACTOR

Conard Fowkes

1933 - 2009

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1961 ACTOR

Sara Lindsey

-

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1988 ACTOR

Jermaine Fowler

Born 1988

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1992 ACTOR

Lillian Yarbo

1905 - 1996

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1996 ACTOR

Joel Marston

1922 - 2012

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2028 ACTOR

Couzin Ed

Born 1968

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2033 ACTOR

Tia Cherie Polite

Born 1971

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2045 ACTOR

Barton Heyman

1937 - 1996

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2100 ACTOR

David Oliver Cohen

Born 1980

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2101 ACTOR

Ivelin Giro

Born 1970

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2105 ACTOR

Guy Coombs

1888 - 1947

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2123 ACTOR

Stanley Wayne Mathis

Born 1955

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2176 ACTOR

Kathy Cronkite

Born 1950

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2224 ACTOR

Noah Robbins

Born 1990

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2239 ACTOR

Charles Henry Smith

1865 - 1942

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2269 ACTOR

Rudolph Cameron

1894 - 1958

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2339 ACTOR

Paulita Sedgwick

1943 - 2009

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2361 ACTOR

Randy Gambill

-

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2385 ACTOR

Bob Curtis (actor)

1932 - 2004

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2415 ACTOR

Andrea Pearson

Born 1977

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2448 ACTOR

Andy Fischer-Price

Born 1987

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2467 ACTOR

Natascha Born

Born 1988

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2484 ACTOR

Kyle Scatliffe

Born 1986

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2512 ACTOR

David Andrew MacDonald

Born 1961

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2570 ACTOR

Darrell M. Smith

Born 1973

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2610 ACTOR

Keith Johnson (actor)

Born 1953

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2712 ACTOR

William "Bill" Phillips

1908 - 1957

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2720 ACTOR

Annie Lewis

1869 - 1896

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2803 ACTOR

Carole Alston

Born 1957

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2911 ACTOR

May Boley

1881 - 1963

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2950 ACTOR

Lauren Adams (actress)

Born 1982

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2957 ACTOR

Yasha Jackson

-

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2962 ACTOR

Robert L. Downing

1857 - 1944

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3026 ACTOR

Jason Berrent

Born 1983

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3043 ACTOR

Anne Sutherland (actress)

1867 - 1942

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