This is a list of famous or notable people born in, or associated with, Sunderland or the wider City of Sunderland in North East England.
Notable people from Sunderland
Arts
Griselda Allan (1905–1987), artist
Audrey Amiss (1933–2013), artist
Marion Angus (1865–1946), Scottish poet writing in Scots, born in Sunderland
Simon Anderson, art historian and fluxee
James Baxter, actor
Emeli Sandé (singer) Ernie Lotinga (actor) James Bolam (1935–), actor Alan Browning actor, born Alan Brown Bernard Comrie (1947–), linguist Ida Cook (1904–1986), Righteous among the Nations; as Mary Burchell, romance novelist Terry Deary (1946–), author Mike Elliott, comedian, actor and radio presenter Edward Gregson, composer James Herriot (pen name of James Alfred Wight) (1916–1995), veterinary surgeon and author Melanie Hill (1962–), actress Nat Jackley, comedian Jools Jameson (1968–), game developer Bobby Knoxall, comedian Gina McKee (1964–), actress Gibb McLaughlin (1884–1960), actor, born George Gibb McLaughlin Christine Norden (1924–1988), actress, born Mary Lydia Thornton David Parfitt, an Oscar-winning film producer Sheila Quigley, novelist Ronald Radd (1929–1976), actor Callum Keith Rennie (1960–), film and television actor Maurice Roëves (1937–2020), actor William Russell actor and the first actor of three actors to appear as Doctor Who Companion Clarkson Stanfield, painter Mary Stewart, novelist Tom Taylor, playwright and editor of Punch Alan Temperley born 1936, children's and young adults author, works include Harry and the Wrinkles, The Deck Boy, Scar Hill. Bobby Thompson, comedian, the 'Little Waster' William Lindon-Travers, actor, screenwriter, director and animal rights activist, known professionally as Bill Travers Graham Wallas, author and academic Alison Wright (1976–), actress Michael Young (1966–), industrial designer
Industry
Sir Robert Appleby Bartram (1835–1925), shipbuilder
William Reid Clanny (1770–1850), inventor and physician
John Cryan (born 1960), banker
Sir Tom Cowie, entrepreneur and philanthropist
George Daniels, world-famous horologist and inventor of the co-axial escapement
Sir Edward Temperley Gourley, coalfitter, shipowner and politician
Sir William Halcrow, civil engineer
Thomas Elliott Harrison, railway engineer
George Burton Hunter, shipbuilder and innovator
Patrick Meik and Charles Meik, civil engineering brothers
Sir William Mills, inventor of the Mills Bomb (hand grenade) William Pile, shipbuilder Sir Joseph Swan, inventor of the electric light bulb Harry Watts, shipyard worker and multiple life-saver
Military and services
Robert Appleby Bartram (1894–1981), colonel and shipbuilder
Gertrude Bell (1868–1926), colonial administrator
PC Keith Blakelock (1945–1985), police officer
Sir Lawrence Andrew Common (1889–1953), Army officer and shipping director
Jack Crawford (1775–1831), sailor
Sir Henry Havelock (1795–1857), Major-General
Captain Richard Avery Hornsby, navy captain
Joseph Robert Kayll (1914–2000), WW2 RAF flying Ace
John Lilburne 'Free-born John', civil war figure
Alan Parnaby (1916–1974), cricketer and British Army officer
Ernest Vaux (1865–1925), Army Officer and Brewer
Robert Nairac (1948–1977), Army Officer
Music
Don Airey, musician, keyboardist with Deep Purple
Sir Thomas Allen, baritone
George Bellamy, musician
Eric Boswell, songwriter (Little Donkey) Mark Brydon, one half of electro outfit Moloko Bryan Ferry, singer, musician, and songwriter. Lead singer with Roxy Music Muriel Foster, contralto Frankie & The Heartstrings, indie rock band The Futureheads, indie rock band Eve Gallagher, singer Kenickie, 1990s pop band Lauren Laverne, ex-lead singer of Kenickie, later radio and TV presenter Jez Lowe, folk singer, songwriter and broadcaster Bob and Alf Pearson, singers, pianist (Bob) and variety performers Alan Price, singer, musician, and songwriter. Keyboard player with The Animals Emeli Sandé, musician David A. Stewart (1952–), musician and songwriter, most notably as one half of the band Eurythmics The Toy Dolls, punk rock band Baz Warne, guitarist with The Stranglers Faye Fantarrow (2002-2023), singer, songwriter