This is a list of famous or notable people born in Birmingham, the demonym is Brummies.

Famous people born in Birmingham

<!-- Alphabetical by surname! -->

A–F

  • Troy Deeney (born 1988) - footballer, columnist
  • Scott Adkins (born 1987) – actor, gymnast
  • Gabriel Agbonlahor (born 1986) – footballer
  • Moeen Ali (born 1987) – England cricketer
  • Dennis Amiss (born 1943) – cricketer and Warwickshire administrator
  • Tomás Ángel (born 2003) – footballer
  • Keith Arkell (born 1961) – English chess champion, 2008
  • Stephen Arlen (1913–1972) – opera manager
  • Ian Ashbee (born 1976) – footballer
  • Francis William Aston (1877–1945) – Nobel Prize winner, physicist
  • Ian Atkins (born 1957) – footballer
  • Albert Austin (1882–1953) – silent film star
  • Jack Badham (1919–1992) – footballer
  • Annette Badland (born 1951) – actress
  • Kenny Baker (1934–2016) – actor
  • Pato Banton (born 1961) – reggae artist
  • Dave Barnett (born 1967) – footballer
  • Simon Bates (born 1946) – radio DJ
  • Blaze Bayley (born 1963) – musician, vocalist of Wolfsbane and Iron Maiden
  • Ian Bell (born 1982) – England cricketer, Warwickshire CCC captain
  • Jude Bellingham (born 2003) – footballer
  • Moazzam Begg (born 1968) – outreach director
  • Edward White Benson (1829–1896) – Archbishop of Canterbury
  • Bev Bevan (born 1944) – musician
  • Alfred Bird (1811–1878) – inventor of custard powder
  • Sir Alfred Frederick Bird (1849–1922) – food manufacturer and chemist
  • William Bloye (1890–1975) – sculptor
  • Tom Blyth (born 1995) – actor
  • Elizabeth Baker Bohan (1849–1930) – author, journalist, artist, social reformer
  • Daniel Boone (1942–2023) – musician
  • Sarah Booth (1793–1867) – actress
  • Matthew Boulton (1728–1809) – pioneering industrialist and member of the Lunar Society
  • Jon Bounds (born 1975) – blogger, humorist
  • Paul Braddon (1864–1937) – artist
  • Peter Bradley (born 1953) – politician
  • William Bragge (1823–1884) – civil engineer/antiquarian
  • Tony Britton (1924–2019) – actor
  • James Jaysen Bryhan (born 1978) – actor
  • Dan Bull (born 1986) – musician/ YouTuber
  • Edward Burne-Jones (1833–1898) – Pre-Raphaelite painter and William Morris Associate
  • Trevor Burton (born 1949) – musician
  • Geezer Butler (born 1949) – bassist, Black Sabbath
  • George Cadbury (1839–1922) – son of John Cadbury, founder of the Cadbury chocolate company
  • John Cadbury (1801–1889) – founder of the Cadbury chocolate company
  • Richard Cadbury (1835–1899) – son of John Cadbury, founder of the Cadbury chocolate company
  • Pogus Caesar (born 1953) – television director, photographer
  • Daniel Caines (born 1979) – track and field athlete
  • Ali Campbell (born 1959) and Robin Campbell (born 1954) – musician (UB40)
  • Duncan Campbell (born 1958) – musician
  • David Cannadine (born 1950) – historian
  • Bob Carolgees (born 1948) – television presenter (Tiswas and Surprise Surprise)
  • Lee Carsley (born 1974) – footballer
  • Darren Carter (born 1983) – footballer
  • John Carter (born 1940) – musician
  • Barbara Cartland (1901–2000) – novelist
  • Jasper Carrott (born 1945) – comedian
  • Austen Chamberlain (1863–1937) – politician
  • Neville Chamberlain (1869–1940) – Prime Minister
  • Gary Childs (born 1964) – footballer
  • Paul Child (born 1952) – footballer who represented the United States national team
  • Adrian Chiles (born 1967) – broadcaster
  • Carl Chinn (born 1956) – historian, broadcaster
  • Charlie Christodoulou (c. 1951–1976) – soldier and mercenary
  • Ian Clarkson (born 1970) – footballer
  • Lisa Clayton (born 1958) – solo yachtswoman
  • Janice Connolly (born 1954) – comedy actress
  • Raymond Teague Cowern (1913–1986) – artist
  • Edward Cowie (born 1943) – composer
  • Andy Cox (born 1956) – ska guitarist (Fine Young Cannibals and The Beat)
  • David Cox (1783–1859) – artist
  • Lauren Crace (born 1986) – actress
  • Sarah Crompton (1802–1881) – children's writer
  • Miguel Cunningham (born 1997), British rapper
  • John Curry (1949–1994) – Olympic and World Champion figure skater
  • Nigel Dakin (born 1964) – soldier, diplomat and Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Richard Dandy (born 1977) – former cricketer
  • Fanny Dango (1878–1972) – comedienne, actress and singer
  • Arthur Darvill (born 1982) – actor and singer
  • Aidan Davis (born 1997) – dancer and television presenter
  • Lindsey Davis (born 1949) – historical novelist
  • Cat Deeley (born 1976) – television presenter
  • Nathan Delfouneso (born 1991) – footballer
  • Oscar Deutsch (1893–1941) – founder of the Odeon Cinemas chain
  • Fred Dinenage (born 1942) – presenter, broadcaster, writer
  • Stefflon Don (born 1991) – musician
  • Don Dorman (1922–1997) – paratrooper, 1st Airborne Division, footballer, manager and scout
  • K.K. Downing (born 1951) – musician
  • Mark Duffus (born 1967) – musician (stage name Sure Shot)
  • Pete Dunne (born 1993) – professional wrestler
  • Dutchavelli (born 1993) – rapper
  • Jessie Eden (1902–1986) – Communist activist and trade union leader
  • Duncan Edwards (1936–1958) – footballer for Manchester United, one of the Busby Babes (died in Munich air disaster)
  • Fabian Edwards (born 1993) – professional mixed martial artist, brother of Leon Edwards
  • Leon Edwards (born 1991) – professional mixed martial artist, former UFC Welterweight Champion
  • Rob Edwards (born 1982) – ex-footballer, current Manager for Luton Town F.C.
  • Electribe 101 – electronic music group
  • Hunt Emerson (born 1952) – cartoonist
  • Ian Emes (born 1949) – animator
  • Frederick Rowland Emett (1906–1990) – cartoonist, artist and kinetic sculptor
  • Jo Enright (born 1968) – actress and comedian
  • Dan Evans (born 1990) – tennis player
  • Niki Evans (born 1972) – singer
  • Trevor Eve (born 1951) – actor
  • Earl Falconer (born 1957) – bass player (UB40)
  • Constance Amy Fall (1903–1992) – nurse
  • Frank Farrell (1947–1997) – rock bassist and co-writer of "Moonlighting"
  • Sid Field (1904–1950) – comedian
  • F1NN5TER (born 2000) - Twitch streamer
  • Robert Firth (1887–1966) – footballer and Real Madrid manager
  • Philip Edward Fisher (born 1979) – musician
  • Simon Fletcher (born 1948) – artist
  • Sarah Florry (1744–1843) – metal dealer
  • Winston Foster (born 1941) – footballer
  • Mark Frost (born 1968) – actor
  • Kevin Francis (born 1967) – footballer
  • Harry Freeman (1858–1922) – music hall performer
  • Edward Augustus Freeman (1823–1892) – historian, architectural artist and liberal politician
  • Fuzzbox – late-1980s girl band

G–M

  • Sir Francis Galton (1822–1911) – scientist; founder of eugenics
  • Albert Gardner (1887–1923) – footballer
  • Mike Gayle (born 1970) – writer
  • Helen George (born 1984) – actress
  • Sam Gee (born 1992) — Rugby player
  • GeoWizard (born 1990) – YouTuber
  • Steve Gibbons (born 1941) – musician
  • Colin Gibson (born 1960) – footballer
  • Jon Gittens (1964–2019) – footballer
  • John Goldingay (born 1942) – theologian, currently a professor of Old Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary
  • Jaki Graham (born 1956) – soul singer
  • Jack Grealish (born 1995) – footballer
  • Mark "Barney" Greenway (born 1969) – musician (Napalm Death)
  • Tom Grosvenor (1908–1972) – footballer
  • George Dickinson Hadley (1908–1984) – gastroenterologist
  • Rob Halford (born 1951) – musician, Judas Priest
  • Charlie Hall (1899–1959) – actor; known for his work with Laurel and Hardy
  • Alison Hammond (born 1975) – actress, television presenter
  • Richard Hammond (born 1969) – television presenter
  • John Hampson (1901–1955) – novelist
  • Hannah Hampton (born 2000) – football goalkeeper
  • Tony Hancock (1924–1968) – comedian and actor
  • Ian Handysides (1962–1990) – footballer
  • Nic Harcourt (born 1957) – American radio personality
  • Nick Harding (born 1969) – Chief Medical Officer at Operose Health
  • David Harewood (born 1965) – actor
  • Wally Harris (1900–1933) – footballer
  • Julia Hartley-Brewer (born 1968) – journalist and television panelist
  • Norman Hassan (born 1958) – percussionist, UB40
  • Phil Hawker (born 1962) – footballer
  • William Haywood (1876–1957) – architect, town planner, and secretary of Birmingham Civic Society
  • John Hemming (born 1960) – Member of Parliament and businessman
  • Lee Hendrie (born 1977) – Aston Villa, later Basford United F.C. midfielder
  • Duane Henry (born 1985) – actor
  • Michael Higgs (born 1962) – actor
  • Ian Hill (born 1951) – musician
  • Jacqueline Hill (1929–1993) – actress
  • David Hinds (born 1956) – rhythm guitarist and lead singer of Steel Pulse
  • Ronzoni Hines – singer-songwriter
  • Ken Hodge (born 1944) – National Hockey League player
  • George Holyoake (1817–1906) – reformer
  • Jack Hood (1902–1992) – boxer
  • Martha Howe-Douglas (born 1980) – actress
  • Dorothy Howell (1898–1982) – musician
  • Mr. Hudson (born 1979) – singer
  • Alex Hughes (born 1971) – cartoonist
  • David Hughes (1925–1972) – operatic tenor
  • Geoff Humpage (born 1954) – cricketer
  • Al Hunter Ashton (1957–2007) – actor
  • Raymond Huntley (1904–1990) – actor
  • Millie Hylton (1870–1920) – actress and male impersonator
  • Kassem Ibadulla (born 1964) – cricketer
  • Tony Iommi (born 1948) – guitarist (Black Sabbath) (the surname Iommi is not to be confused with the demonym Brummie)
  • Jamelia (born 1981) – R&B singer
  • Maureen Jennings (born 1939) – novelist
  • Claudia Jessie (born 1990) – actress
  • Seth Johnson (born 1979) – footballer, Derby
  • Ann Jones (born 1938) – tennis player; former World No. 2, 8 Grand Slam titles, including Wimbledon champion in 1969
  • Digby Jones, Baron Jones of Birmingham (born 1955) – director-general of the Confederation of British Industry
  • Felicity Jones (born 1983) – actress
  • Geoffrey Jones – business historian
  • John Jones (1858–1937) – cricketer
  • Justin Jones (born 1964) – musician
  • Simon Huw Jones (born 1960) – musician and photographer
  • Nikita Kanda (born 1995) – radio presenter and socialite
  • Trish Keenan (1968–2011) - musician (Broadcast)
  • Ace Kefford (born 1946) – musician
  • Mike Kellie (1947–2017) – musician (Spooky Tooth and The Only Ones)
  • David Kelly (born 1965) – Republic of Ireland footballer
  • Albert Ketèlbey (1875–1959) – composer
  • Sir Rupert Alfred Kettle (1817–1894) – county court judge and noted strike arbitrator
  • Guz Khan (born 1986) – comedian
  • Jaykae (born 1991) – rapper
  • Robert Kilroy-Silk (born 1942) – politician and television presenter
  • John Andrew King (born 1964) – politician and singer
  • Lorna Laidlaw (born 1963) – actress
  • Denny Laine (born 1944) (Paul McCartney and Wings)
  • Frederick W. Lanchester (1868–1946) – maker of the first petrol-driven car in Britain
  • Bunny Larkin (1936–2025) – footballer
  • Bob Latchford (born 1951) – footballer
  • Dave Latchford (born 1949) – footballer
  • Peter Latchford (born 1952) – footballer
  • Ian Lavender (1946–2024) – actor
  • Alfred Law (1862–1919) – Warwickshire cricketer and umpire
  • Stewart Lee (born 1968) – comedian
  • Vaughan Lee (born 1982) – ex-UFC fighter
  • Russell Leetch (born 1982) – musician
  • Joleon Lescott (born 1982) – footballer with Manchester City, Everton, Wolverhampton Wanderers
  • Adrian Lester (born 1968) – actor
  • Dick Lilley (1866–1929) – England and Warwickshire cricketer
  • Letty Lind (1861–1923) – actress and dancer
  • John Lodge (born 1945) – musician
  • Jane C. Loudon (1807–1858) – writer of prose and verse and The Mummy
  • Joseph Lucas (1834–1902) – founder of Lucas Industries
  • Joe Lycett (born 1988) – comedian
  • Jeff Lynne (born 1947) – musician (Electric Light Orchestra)
  • Clare Maguire (born 1988) – musician born in Solihull but a resident of London
  • Nigel Mansell (born 1953) – sportsman, F1 and Indy Car driver, 1992 Formula One World Champion, 1993 Indy Car Series Champion
  • Lee Mantle (1851–1934) – U.S. Senator from Montana
  • Sarah Manners (born 1975) – actress
  • Tony Martin (born 1957) – musician (Black Sabbath)
  • Eric Maschwitz (1901–1969) – lyricist
  • Herbert Mason (1891–1960) – film director, producer, stage actor, stage manager, choreographer, and army officer in the First World War
  • Hilary Mason (1917–2006) – actor
  • Nick Mason (born 1944) – musician (Pink Floyd); did not reside in Birmingham
  • Robert McCracken (born 1968) – boxer, Commonwealth Middleweight champion, and World Title challenger
  • Zena McNally (born 1979) – singer (Mis-Teeq)
  • Christine McVie (1943–2022) – musician (Fleetwood Mac)
  • Gil Merrick (1922–2010) – footballer and club manager
  • Ken Miles (1918–1966) – sports car racing driver, engineer
  • Shazia Mirza – comedian
  • Mist (born 1992) – rapper
  • Callum Moloney (born late 20th Century) - musician
  • Alan Moore (born 1950) – musician
  • William Moore (1916–2000) – actor
  • Anisa Morridadi (born 1990) – social entrepreneur
  • Everett Morton (1950–2021) – drummer (The Beat)
  • Henry Vollam Morton (1892–1979) – journalist and travel writer
  • Peter Mucklow (born 1949) – cricketer
  • George Muntz (1794–1857) – pioneering industrialist and MP
  • Laura Mvula (born 1986) – singer-songwriter
  • Stanley Myers (1930–1993) – film music composer
  • M1llionz (born 1997) – rapper
  • Malkit Singh (born c. 1963) – Punjabi Bhangra singer

N–Z

  • Constance Naden (1858–1889) – poet and philosopher
  • Alan Napier (1903–1988) – actor
  • Ritchie Neville (born 1979) – singer (Five)
  • Neil Newbon (born 1978) – actor
  • Ernie Newman (1887–?) – professional footballer
  • Ernest Willmott Norton (1889–1972) – cricketer
  • Patricia Noxolo – geographer
  • Ursula O'Leary (1926–1993) – actress
  • John Oliver (born 1977) – comedian, host of Last Week Tonight, and former 'Senior British Correspondent' of The Daily Show
  • Ozzy Osbourne (1948–2025) – singer (Black Sabbath)
  • Anri Okita (born 1986) – singer and former pornographic actress
  • Carl Palmer (born 1950) – musician (Emerson, Lake & Palmer)
  • Janet Parker (1938–1978) – medical photographer and last recorded person to die from smallpox
  • Kay Parker (1944–2022) – pornographic actress
  • Alexander Parkes (1813–1890) – inventor of the world's first plastic
  • Henry Parkes (1815–1896) – Australian politician, "Father of Federation"
  • Liam Payne (1993–2024) – singer (One Direction)
  • Dave Pegg (born 1947) – musician (Fairport Convention and Jethro Tull)
  • Kia Pegg (born 2000) – actress and television presenter
  • Stephen Perryman (born 1955) – Warwickshire cricketer
  • Gerry Peyton (born 1956) – footballer and goalkeeper coach
  • James and Oliver Phelps (born 1986) – Harry Potter movie actors
  • Jess Phillips (born 1981) – politician
  • Michael Pinder (born 1941) – musician (The Moody Blues)
  • Jacki Piper (born 1946) – actress
  • Sadie Plant (born 1964) – writer
  • John Poole (1926–2009) – sculptor
  • Enoch Powell (1912–1998) – politician, poet and classical scholar
  • Peter Powell (born 1951) – disc jockey
  • Anthony E. Pratt (1903–1994) – inventor of Cluedo
  • Bernard Quaife (1899–1984) – cricketer
  • Alfred Radcliffe-Brown (1881–1955) – anthropologist
  • Ranking Roger (1963–2019) – musician (The Beat)
  • Mick Rathbone (born 1958) – footballer
  • Adil Ray (born 1974) – actor, comedian, and radio and television presenter
  • Nick Rhodes (born 1962) – musician (Duran Duran)
  • Micah Richards (born 1988) – Manchester City F.C. defender
  • Walter Richards (1863–1917) – cricketer and umpire
  • Pat Roach (1937–2004) – actor and wrestler
  • Dave Robinson (1948–2016) – footballer
  • John Rogers (1505–1555) – Bible editor and martyr
  • Sax Rohmer (Arthur Henry Sarsfield Ward) (1883–1959) – novelist
  • Mark Rowley (born 1964) – Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (London)
  • Les Ross (born 1949) – radio disc jockey
  • Adam Ruckwood (born 1974) – swimming Commonwealth Champion (200m backstroke)
  • William Clayton Russon (born 1872) - businessman
  • Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck (1778–1856) – writer on women in society and religion; slavery abolitionist
  • Paul Scofield (1922-2008) - Actor
  • Gary Shaw (1961–2024) – footballer
  • Martin Shaw (born 1945) – actor
  • Visanthe Shiancoe (born 1980) – American football player
  • Sukshinder Shinda (born 1972) – English-born Punjabi music producer and artist
  • Graham Short (born 1946) – micro-artist
  • Paul Simm (born 20th century) – musician
  • John Simmit (born 1963) – actor and comedian; known for playing Dipsy on Teletubbies from 1997 to 2001
  • Jane Sixsmith (born 1967) – hockey player
  • 1st Viscount Slim of Yarralumla and Bishopston (1891–1970) – military commander
  • Sarah Smart (born 1977) – actress
  • Alan Smith (born 1936) – cricketer and England selector
  • Joshua Toulmin Smith (1816–1869) – political theorist
  • Tiger Smith (1886–1979) – England and Warwickshire cricketer
  • Maya Sondhi (born 1983) – actress
  • Sir Benjamin Stone (1838–1914) – photographer
  • Dean Sturridge (born 1973) – footballer
  • Daniel Sturridge (born 1989) – footballer
  • Simon Sturridge (born 1969) – footballer
  • Ernest Suckling (1890–1962) – cricketer
  • Phil Summerill (born 1947) – footballer
  • James Sutton (born 1983) – actor
  • Andrew Symonds (1975–2022) – cricketer
  • Connie Talbot (born 2000) – singer
  • John Taylor (born 1960) – musician (Duran Duran)
  • Roger Taylor (born 1960) – musician (Duran Duran)
  • Bobby Thomson (1943–2009) – footballer
  • Will Thorne (1857–1946) – trade union leader; member of Parliament
  • Charlie Tickle (1884–1960) – footballer
  • Andrew Tiernan (born 1965) – actor
  • Charlie Timmins (1922–2010) – footballer
  • James Vaughan (born 1988) – Tranmere Rovers FC striker
  • Johnny Vincent (1947–2006) – footballer
  • Murray Walker (1923–2021) – motorsports journalist and commentator
  • Kate Walsh (born 1981) – television presenter (Live from Studio Five)
  • Julie Walters (born 1950) – actress
  • Bill Ward (born 1948) – drummer (Black Sabbath)
  • Clint Warwick (1940–2004) – musician (The Moody Blues)
  • Carl Wayne (1943–2004) – musician (The Move and The Hollies)
  • Graham Webb (1944–2017) – World Amateur Road Race Champion 1967
  • Brooke Foss Westcott (1825–1901) – theologian and Bishop of Durham
  • Peter Weston (1943–2017) – science fiction fan
  • Ian Westwood (born 1982) – cricketer
  • Fred Wheldon (1869–1924) – footballer
  • Toyah Willcox (born 1958) – singer and television presenter
  • Emma Willis (born 1976) – model
  • George Willis-Pryce (1866–1949) – artist
  • Jimmy Windridge (1882–1939) – England footballer
  • Muff Winwood (born 1943) – musician
  • Steve Winwood (born 1948) – musician (Traffic)
  • Colin Withers (1940–2020) – footballer
  • Chris Woakes (born 1989) – England and Warwickshire cricketer
  • Chris Wood (1944–1983) – musician (Traffic)
  • Roy Wood (born 1946) – musician (Electric Light Orchestra)
  • Richie Woodhall (born 1968) – world champion boxer
  • John Wyndham (1903–1969) – writer
  • Kal Yafai (born 1989) – world champion boxer
  • Dorian Yates (born 1962) – six-time Mr. Olympia
  • Mark Yates (born 1970) – footballer and manager
  • Benjamin Zephaniah (1958–2023) – poet

Lived in or associated with Birmingham

<!--Alphabetical by surname!-->

  • W. H. Auden (1907–1973) – poet and author
  • W. V. Awdry (1911–1997) – author of The Railway Series
  • Sir Granville Bantock (1868–1946) – composer
  • Connor Ball (born 1996) – bassist and singer (The Vamps)
  • John Baskerville (1707–1775) – printer and inventor of typefaces
  • Marie Bethell Beauclerc (1845–1897) – first female shorthand teacher and reporter in England
  • Emma Blackery (born 1991) – musician
  • William Booth (1776–1812) – forger
  • John Bright (1811–1889) – politician
  • Herbert Tudor Buckland (1869–1951) – architect
  • Elihu Burritt (1810–1879) – US consul to Birmingham
  • Pogus Caesar (born 1953) – broadcaster and artist
  • Jazzy B (born 1975) – Punjabi singer
  • Joseph Chamberlain (1836–1914) – politician, Mayor of Birmingham
  • Bruce Chatwin (1940–1989) – author
  • Lee Child (born 1954) – author
  • George Dawson (1821–1876) – preacher
  • Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) – author of Sherlock Holmes
  • John Boyd Dunlop (1840–1921) – industrialist, built Fort Dunlop
  • Leon Edwards (born 1991) – professional mixed martial artist (originally from Kingston, Jamaica)
  • Lucy Edwards, disability rights activist, educator, and TikToker
  • Rev. Richard Enraght (1837–1898) – vicar, religious controversialist
  • Allan Ford (born 1968) – soldier, convicted of manslaughter
  • Philippa Forrester (born 1968) – television presenter, attended Birmingham University
  • Foji Gill – singer, music producer
  • Joseph Gillott (1799–1872) – industrialist
  • Tommy Godwin (1920–2012) – racing cyclist and Olympic medallist
  • Ashia Hansen (born 1971) – track and field athlete
  • James Hinks (1829–1878) – bred the Bull Terrier dog
  • William Ick (1800–1844) – botanist
  • Washington Irving (1783–1859) – author
  • Elizabeth "Tetty" Johnson (1689–1752) – wife of Samuel Johnson
  • John Joubert (1927–2019) – South African-born composer
  • Roi Kwabena (1956–2008) – author
  • Simon Le Bon (born 1958) – studied drama at the University of Birmingham before joining Duran Duran in 1980
  • Louis MacNeice (1907–1963) – poet
  • Stuart Maconie (born 1961) – radio DJ and television presenter
  • Jane Madders (c. 1909–1990) – physiotherapist, educator and author
  • Josiah Mason (1795–1881) – industrialist and philanthropist
  • Nigel Mansell (born 1953) – racing driver
  • Cardinal Newman (1801–1890) – theologian and founder of the English Oratory
  • William McGregor (1846–1911) – instrumental in forming the football league
  • William Murdoch (1754–1839) – inventor of gas lighting
  • Bill Oddie (born 1941) – comedian and ornithologist
  • John Peel (1939–2004) – radio DJ
  • Geoffrey Pernell (born 1971) – soldier, convicted of manslaughter
  • Joseph Priestley (1733–1804) – chemist and dissenting clergyman
  • Sir Simon Rattle (born 1955) – conductor of CBSO 1980–1998
  • John Ray (1627–1705) – "Father of English natural history"
  • Sir Peter Rigby (born 1943) – entrepreneur
  • Mary Rollason (1764/5–1835) – steel toy maker and businesswoman
  • Kevin Rowland (born 1953) – singer (Dexys Midnight Runners), formed in Birmingham
  • Frank Skinner (born 1957) – comedian
  • Mike Skinner (born 1979) – musician (The Streets)
  • Meera Syal (born 1961) – actor, writer
  • Dave Swarbrick (1941–2016) – musician
  • J. R. R. Tolkien (1892–1973) – author
  • Joshua Toulmin (1740–1815) – non-conformist preacher
  • Ruby Turner (born 1958) – singer (originally from Montego Bay, Jamaica)
  • UB 40 – Reggae group
  • James Watt (1736–1819) – inventor and member of the Lunar Society
  • Una White (1938/9–1997) – subject of public art-work
  • William Withering (1741–1799) – doctor, discoverer of digitalis
  • Victoria Wood (1953–2016) – actress
  • John Skirrow Wright (1822–1880) – social improver
  • Alastair Yates (1952–2018) – radio and television presenter
  • Malala Yousafzai (born 1997) – Pakistani activist
  • Lauren Zhang (born 2001) – pianist (winner of BBC Young Musician 2018) (originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America)
  • Syed Muhammad Faisal Sami (born 1977) - Award-winning Humanitarian based in Birmingham

See also

  • Alumni of the University of Birmingham

References

  • Famous People Birmingham City Council feature page on Birmingham-related celebrities
  • Blue Plaques erected by Birmingham Civic Society
  • The Great Bull Birmingham bus network map featuring local celebrities.