The following is a list of prominent people who were born in the U.S. state of South Carolina, lived in South Carolina, or for whom South Carolina is a significant part of their identity.
A–B
John Abraham (born 1978), born in Timmonsville; NFL defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals Rick Adair (born 1958), born in Spartanburg; pitching coach for the Baltimore Orioles Kimberly Aiken (born 1975), born in Columbia; Miss America 1994 Jaimie Alexander (born 1984), born in Greenville; actress, Kyle XY, Blindspot, the Thor movies Ray Allen (born 1975), lived in Dalzell; NBA star for the Miami Heat Bill Anderson (born 1937), born in Columbia; country music singer and songwriter, nicknamed "Whisperin' Bill" Ike Anderson (born 1957), born in Columbia; Greco-Roman wrestler who competed at 1988 Summer Olympics Olanda Anderson (born 1972), born in Sumter; former boxer, member of the 2000 United States Olympics team Aziz Ansari (born 1983), born in Columbia; actor and comedian Norman C. Armitage (1907–1972), Olympic medalist saber fencer Robert Ayers (born 1985), raised in Clio; defensive end for the New York Giants Annie Maria Barnes (1857 – unknown), born in Columbia; journalist, editor, and author Alex Barron (born 1982), born in Orangeburg; left tackle for the Dallas Cowboys Frances Elizabeth Barrow (1822–1894), born in Charleston; children's writer Bernard Baruch (1870–1965), born in Camden; financier, philanthropist, statesman, and adviser to President Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt Tyler Bass (born 1997), from Columbia; kicker for the Buffalo Bills Samuel Beam (born 1974), born in Columbia; singer-songwriter under the stage name Iron & Wine Paul Benjamin (1938–2019), born in Pelion; actor Shelton Benjamin (born 1976), from Orangeburg; professional wrestler and former amateur wrestler Charles Dantonja Bennett (born 1983), born in Camden; football player for Clemson University and Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ben Bernanke (born 1953), graduated from high school in Dillon in 1971, former chairman of the Federal Reserve The Big Show (born Paul Donald Wight), professional wrestler and actor, born in Aiken Blue Sky (born 1938), born in Columbia and lived there for the majority of his life, painter and sculptor Alfred W. Bethea (1916–1999), former member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Dillon; the 1970 gubernatorial nominee of the American Independent Party Mary McLeod Bethune (1875–1955), from Mayesville; civil rights leader and groundbreaking educator Doc Blanchard (1924–2009), born in McColl, raised in Bishopville; college football player who became the first ever junior to win the Heisman Trophy Charles F. Bolden Jr. (born 1946), born in Columbia; NASA astronaut, United States Marine Corps major general, administrator of NASA James Butler Bonham (1807–1836), from Red Bank (now Saluda); lawyer, soldier, and defender of the Alamo Chadwick Boseman (1976–2020), born in Anderson; actor, known for his role as Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War and in the 2018 film of the same name Peter Boulware (born 1974), born in Columbia; former linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens Zackary Bowman (born 1984), born in Columbia; cornerback for the Chicago Bears Jarrell Brantley (born 1996), basketball player Rick Brewer, former administrator at Charleston Southern University in North Charleston, and current president of Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana Lee Brice (born 1980), born in Sumter; country artist, co-wrote the Garth Brooks song More Than a Memory Danielle Brooks (born 1989), raised in Simpsonville; actress Preston Brooks (1819-1857), born in Edgefield; advocate of slavery and states' rights before the American Civil War Robert Brooks (born 1970), born in Greenwood; former wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers and the Denver Broncos J. Anthony Brown, born in Columbia; actor, comedian and radio personality James Brown (1933–2006), born in Barnwell; singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist dubbed the "godfather of soul" Kwame Brown (born 1982), born in Charleston; center for the Golden State Warriors Omar Brown (born 1988), born in Moncks Corner; free safety for the Baltimore Ravens Sheldon Brown (born 1979), born in Lancaster; cornerback for the Cleveland Browns Martavis Bryant (born 1991), born in Calhoun Falls; wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers Peabo Bryson (born 1951), born in Greenville; R&B singer-songwriter Jared Burton (born 1981), born in Westminster; relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins Rafael Bush (born 1987), born in Williston; safety for the New Orleans Saints James F. Byrnes (1882–1972), born in Charleston; U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, Justice of the Supreme Court, Secretary of State, and 104th governor of South Carolina.