But there is another facet to Rhode Island not many people know about: it has produced a remarkable array of influential figures across various fields. These figures have made a name for themselves, not only in the usual enclaves of Hollywood – but from the arts and politics to sports and even culinary arts. These individuals have left indelible marks, both nationally and internationally. This time, we’ll delve into a who’s who of names that have graced many of the world’s stages - and they all have their roots in Rhode Island. Whether they were born in RI or have made Rhode Island their home, let's explore some of the most celebrated names hailing from the Ocean State.
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Arts & entertainment
Viola Davis
Born in: South Carolina but raised in Rhode Island
When: August 11, 1965
Known for: A ton of awards and accolades, Fences, How to Get Away with Murder, Doubt
Born in St. Matthews, South Carolina, but raised in Central Falls, Rhode Island, Viola Davis is an acclaimed actress known for her powerful performances in film, television, and theater. After attending Central Falls High School in Rhode Island (which she credited for awakening her love of the stage), she went on to Rhode Island College and the prestigious Juilliard School of Performing Arts in New York. She made history as the first African-American to achieve the "Triple Crown of Acting" - winning an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and two Tony Awards. But her awards don’t end there – she is also an EGOT recipient, which means that she has received an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony (two Tonys, in fact). Her notable works include Fences, The Help, and How to Get Away with Murder, and she was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World back in 2012. She also received the distinction of being ranked in The New York Times as 9th on the list of the greatest actors in the 21st century - and in 2025, she received a Cecil B. DeMille Award. What an honor for a proud Rhode Islander indeed!
Debra Messing
Born in: New York but raised in Rhode Island
When: August 15, 1968
Known for: Will & Grace, The Starter Wife, The Mysteries of Laura
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Debra Messing spent part of her upbringing from the age of three in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. She gained fame for her role as Grace Adler in the sitcom Will & Grace, earning critical acclaim and multiple award nominations - a total of no less than 7 nominations for the Golden Globes and 5 Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (which she won once in 2003). She also played a wife in the drama The Starter Wife, for which she was also nominated for an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Mena Suvari
Born in: Newport, Rhode Island
When: February 13, 1979
Known for: American Pie, American Beauty
Born in the town of Newport, Rhode Island, Mena Suvari is an actress and model who rose to prominence with roles in American Beauty and American Pie. Her performances have been recognized for their depth and versatility, and she was recognized with a Screen Actors Guild Award for being part of the ensemble in Six Feet Under and was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in American Beauty and a Primetime Emmy Award. She also had a recurring role in Six Feet Under and played parts in the anthology series American Horror Story. She has also delved into fashion design and has served as a model for Lancome.
James Woods
Born in: Vernal, Utah but raised in Warwick, Rhode Island
When: April 18, 1947
Known for: Ghosts of Mississippi, Once Upon a Time in America, Casino, Any Given Sunday
James Howard Woods is also a famous actor in his own right, especially in the 1980s to 1990s. He was born in Vernal, Utah, but grew up in Warwick, Rhode Island. He attended high school there and graduated from Pilgrim High School in 1965. Woods has received plenty of accolades and recognition for his body of work, starting from three Emmy Awards to three Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and nominations for 2 Academy Awards. He has recently produced the biographical drama Oppenheimer and is famous for voicing roles in animated films such as Hercules, Stuart Little 2, Surf’s Up, and guesting in Family Guy (with another animation and comedy genius, Seth MacFarlane, who himself attended the Rhode Island School of Design).
Michaela McManus
Born in: Warwick, Rhode Island
When: May 20, 1983
Known for: One Tree Hill, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Aquarius
Michaela McManus from Warwick, Rhode Island is an actress best known for her roles on Law & Order: SVU, One Tree Hill, and The Vampire Diaries. A graduate of Fordham University and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, McManus has built a solid career in both network and streaming television, often portraying complex and resilient characters. Her other guest roles in various TV series include Hawaii Five-O, Castle, and CSI: Miami. Her latest role was in the thriller You on Netflix in 2020.
Peter Farrelly
Born in: Pennsylvania but raised in Cumberland, Rhode Island
When: December 17, 1956
Known for: There’s Something about Mary, Shallow Hal, Dumb and Dumber, Green Book
Though born in Pennsylvania, Peter John Farrelly grew up in Cumberland, Rhode Island, and later became one half of the famous Farrelly Brothers (with brother Bobby) directing duo. Although he studied accounting in Providence College, he started directing early on. Known for directing and writing comedy classics like Dumb and Dumber, There's Something About Mary, Me, Myself, and Irene, and Shallow Hal, Farrelly surprised audiences with the critically acclaimed Green Book, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. He directed the movie on his own in 2018, and it won the Toronto International Film Festival Audience Award, Best Screenplay at the Golden Globe Awards, and, last but not least, the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and Best Picture. He is also a novelist who produced works such as Outside Providence and The Comedy Writer.
Music & performance
George M. Cohan
Born in: Providence, Rhode Island
When: July 3, 1878 (died November 5, 1942)
Known for: Songs such as Give My Regards to Broadway, You’re a Grand Old Flag, and The Yankee Doodle Boy
Born in Providence, George Michael Cohan was a multifaceted entertainer – he was a celebrated playwright, lyricist, composer, singer, actor, and producer. He started as a child performer at the young age of 8 years old, and he learned to play the violin and was also a dancer. Later on, he wrote over 50 shows and more than 300 songs, and he penned enduring classics like "Give My Regards to Broadway" and "You're a Grand Old Flag" – in fact, he earned the moniker "The Man Who Owned Broadway” and was considered the father of American musical comedy. He has a statue in Duffy Square in the northern portion of Times Square, New York, which remembers his stellar contributions to American theater. He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6734 Hollywood Boulevard.
Jvke
Born in: Providence, Rhode Island
When: March 3, 2001
Known for: Upside Down, Golden Hour
Jacob Dodge Lawson, popularly referred to as Jvke, for short, is a contemporary pop singer and songwriter from Providence. Jvke gained popularity at just the age of 24 through social media platforms such as TikTok with his first hit, Upside Down, which went viral during the infamous Covid lockdown in 2021. He made a second hit song, "Golden Hour," which peaked at the 10th spot in the Billboard Hot 100 charts. He showcases his talent in blending classical music elements with modern pop, and this has made him the MTV Push Artist for 2022.
Pauly D
Born in: Providence, Rhode Island
When: July 5, 1980
Known for: The Jersey Shore, DJing
Born in Providence as Paul Michael DelVecchio, Pauly D gained fame as a DJ and television personality on MTV's Jersey Shore. Beyond reality TV, he has established a successful career in music and entertainment, and was able to make a three-album deal with G-Note Records and G-Unit Records in 2011. He also branched out and made his spinoff series, The Pauly D Project. The Jersey Shore made him a household name, and he amassed many fans and won the 2011 Teen Choice Award for Choice Reality Star: Male. In 2018, he joined the Jersey Shore cast for a sequel, Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, which was set in Miami.
Politics & public service
Gina Raimondo
Born in: Smithfield, Rhode Island
When: May 17, 1971
Known for: Being a lawyer and venture capitalist who became Rhode Island’s first female governor
Hailing from Smithfield, Gina Marie Raimondo is a lawyer, businesswoman, and politician who made history as Rhode Island's first female governor from 2015 to 2021. She later served as the US Secretary of Commerce under President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2025, focusing on economic development and innovation. She graduated magna cum laude in economics from Harvard College and attended New College in Oxford, where she was also a Rhodes Scholar. She went to law school at Yale University. She is also a venture capitalist and was one of the founders of Point Judith Capital, the state of Rhode Island’s first venture capital enterprise.
Sheldon Whitehouse
Born in: New York City but worked in Rhode Island during his early years
When: October 20, 1955
Known for: Advocacy for climate change and progressive views, a Rhode Island Senator
A prominent political figure and lawyer, Sheldon Whitehouse has served as a US Senator for Rhode Island since 2007. He also served as the US Attorney for the District of Rhode Island and the 71st Attorney General of the state. He is known for his advocacy on environmental issues, especially climate health, but he is also an advocate for judicial reform and healthcare.
Culinary arts
Sherry Pocknett
Born in: Cape Cod but runs her restaurant in Charlestown, Rhode Island
When: 1960
Known for: Being a James Beard Award recipient, the first indigenous woman to receive the honor
An indigenous caterer and chef from the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, Sherry Pocknett operates Sly Fox Den Too in Charlestown, Rhode Island. She made history in 2023 as the first indigenous woman to win a James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Northeast, recognized for preserving and promoting Northeastern Native American culinary traditions. She grew up on Cape Cod and is the daughter of the well-known human rights advocate Sly Fox, who was also a Mashpee chief. In the 1970s until the early part of the millennium, the family owned and operated The Flume Restaurant (located in Mashpee). Her uncle was a chef and so was her grandmother, who was also a master baker. She also started as a food and beverage director and caterer. Her restaurant, Sly Fox Den Too, specializes in indigenous woodland cuisine and foraged ingredients.
Literature & academia
H.P. Lovecraft
Born in: Providence, Rhode Island
When: August 20, 1890 (died March 15, 1937)
Known for: Being the creator of Cthulhu Mythos, The Call of Cthulhu, The Shadow Out of Time
A pivotal and leading figure in supernatural horror literature, Howard Phillips Lovecraft, or H.P. Lovecraft, was born and lived in Providence. His works, including "The Call of Cthulhu," have influenced countless writers and established the genre of cosmic horror. He was a specialist in writing about weird, fantasy, and horrific creatures from other worlds, and is credited with creating Cthulhu Mythos – a theme centered on H.P. Lovecraft’s cosmic tales with realistic settings yet recurring texts and entities. He spent his last years in Providence, in a Victorian home at 10 Barnes Street. He is buried at Swan Point Cemetery in Rhode Island, and alongside his name and birth and death dates is the inscription, ‘I AM PROVIDENCE.’
Fashion & beauty
Olivia Culpo
Born in: Cranston, Rhode Island
When: May 8, 1992
Known for: Miss Rhode Island, Miss USA (2012), and Miss Universe (2012)
Cranston native Olivia Frances Culpo won the Miss Universe title in 2012, becoming the first person from Rhode Island to do so. She grew up in the neighborhood of Edgewood, and is of Irish and Italian ancestry. She attended St. Mary Academy in Bayview, Riverside, Rhode Island, and also attended Boston University. She is also an accomplished cellist, having played with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, the Rhode Island All-State Orchestra, and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble. Ever since she took home the title of Miss Universe in 2012, she has built a career as a model, actress, and influencer, with ventures in the fashion and beauty industries and even opening a restaurant with her family in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island's influence extends far beyond its borders through the achievements of its notable residents. These individuals exemplify the state's rich cultural heritage and its capacity to nurture talent that resonates on a global scale.
Rhode Island: small but with a huge impact on the world stage
Rhode Island may be diminutive in size, but it boasts a legacy that looms large, thanks to its extraordinary bevy of influential figures. From Oscar-winning actors like Viola Davis to trailblazing politicians such as Gina Raimondo and from iconic musicians like George M. Cohan to viral sensations like Jvke, the Ocean State has proven time and time again that greatness knows no geographical bounds.
These celebrated individuals, whether born or raised in Rhode Island, or even drawn to its creative and cultural energy, have made indelible marks in their respective fields – from the entertainment industry and literature to politics, culinary arts, fashion and beauty, and beyond. Their success stories are a testament and proof not only to their individual talents but also to the nurturing environment Rhode Island provides.
And as we celebrate this unique “Who’s Who” of talent, we are reminded that Rhode Island is not just a picturesque coastal state - it is a dazzling hub of innovation, artistry, and leadership. Rhode Island’s sons and daughters continue to inspire generations, both at home and across the world. Indeed, Rhode Island’s legacy is one of pride, resilience, and a deeply rooted commitment to excellence - a small state with a monumental impact and an enormous heart.
