Former professional bodybuilder, actor, and politician, Arnold Schwarzenegger, needs no introduction! One of the most popular figures in the entertainment industry in the 20th century, he is a much-admired Hollywood star. Rising to international fame despite hailing from a humble background, he is an epitome the quintessential American dream that many youngsters hold close to their hearts.
One of the most popular American authors, Stephen King has sold over 350 million copies of his works. Many of his books have been adapted into television series, miniseries, and films. One of the most decorated authors, King believes in giving back to society as he and his wife are noted philanthropists.
Retired basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a legendary NBA champion and its all-time leading scorer. Known for his trademark skyhook shot, he achieved remarkable feats during his career. Later, he pursued a successful writing and acting career and was even selected U.S. global cultural ambassador. The NBA star is also the proud recipient of the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Queen guitarist and singer-songwriter Brian May is also a PhD in astrophysics. One of Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time and Guitar World’s second-greatest guitarist, he received a CBE. He was a Chancellor of Liverpool at John Moores University, has worked with NASA, and fights for animal rights.
Alice Cooper is a singer-songwriter. In his career, spanning more than five decades, Alice Cooper has earned the nickname The Godfather of Shock Rock for his ability to produce a theatrical brand of rock aimed at shocking audiences. He is also credited with helping to shape the look and sound of heavy metal. Cooper has influenced musicians like Rob Zombie.
Sam Neill is a New Zealand actor, screenwriter, film director, and producer. He is best known for his portrayal of Dr. Alan Grant in the Jurassic Park film series. Sam Neill is also known for his work in TV series like The Simpsons and Peaky Blinders. He is the recipient of several prestigious awards including the New Zealand Film Award.
Jeff Lynne is an English multi-instrumentalist, record producer, singer, and songwriter. He is credited with co-founding the popular rock band Electric Light Orchestra. He is also credited with popularizing the band with his leadership skills following the exit of co-founder Roy Wood in 1972. In the 2020 Birthday Honours, Lynne was appointed OBE for services to music.
Starting off as a radio weatherman, David Letterman has come a long way. He has been the longest-serving American late-night talk-show host and ranked 45th on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list. He later dabbled in production, with hit sitcoms such as Everybody Loves Raymond.
Carl Weathers began his career as a football player, playing for the NFL team Oakland Raiders and the CFL team B.C. Lions. He stepped into acting with Arthur Marks’s blaxploitation films. He is best known as Apollo Creed from the Rocky films and as Greef Karga from The Mandalorian.
Guitarist Carlos Santana rose to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s with his rock band Santana. He introduced elements of Latin American jazz in his rock music to create unique songs. He is the recipient of ten Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards. Rolling Stone magazine listed him on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists in 2015.
Comedian, writer, actor, director, and television producer Larry David is best known as the co-creator of the television series Seinfeld. He discovered his talent for comedy as a college student and began his career as a stand-up performer. After a few years of struggle, he achieved success and went on to become an accomplished actor, director, and producer.
Veteran actor Richard Dreyfus starred in many popular films during the 1970s and 1980s. In a career spanning over 55 years, he has received many prestigious awards, including one Academy Award for Best Actor. He is Jewish and participated in the historic Papal Concert to Commemorate the Shoah in 1994. Besides acting, he has co-authored a novel.
Mostly known for playing real-life characters, Emmy Award-winner James Woods began his career on stage. Fans adore him for his performances in the play Moonchildren, the series Holocaust, and the TV movie Too Big to Fail. He also played a significant voice role in the animated feature Hercules.
![Joe Walsh Joe Walsh](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/joe-walsh-1.jpg)
Joe Walsh is an American guitarist, songwriter, and singer. Over the years Walsh has contributed to the success of popular rock bands such as Eagles and James Gang. In 1998, he was made an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2011, he was ranked 54th on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list.
![Kevin Kline Kevin Kline](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/kevin-kline.jpg)
Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Kline initially studied the piano and even wished to major in music, before he switched to acting. Known for his stellar performances in films such as A Fish Called Wanda, Silverado, and French Kiss. He has also voiced characters in movies such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
![John Carpenter John Carpenter](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/john-carpenter-1.jpg)
Iggy Pop is an American singer-songwriter, actor, musician, and record producer. Nicknamed the Godfather of Punk, Iggy Pop was an important member of the proto-punk band Iggy and the Stooges. One of the first singers to perform stage-dive, Pop is credited with popularizing the activity. A culture icon, Iggy Pop has had a major influence on musicians of various genres.
![Joe Mantegna Joe Mantegna](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/joe-mantegna-31053-1.jpg)
One of the highest-earning authors in the contemporary world, James Patterson is the writer of many mystery fictions which sold records copie globally. Born to working-class parents of Irish-origin, the American writer whose thriller novels include Alex Cross and Michael Bennett series is also a philanthropist and contributes to promoting reading. He founded the James Patterson PageTurner Awards.
Salman Rushdie is a British Indian novelist whose work Midnight's Children is widely considered the best novel of all Booker Prize winners. In 2007, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to literature. In 2008, he was ranked 13th in the 50 greatest British writers since 1945 list published by The Times.
![Don Henley Don Henley](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/don-henley-4741-1.jpg)
Don Henley is an American record producer, singer, songwriter, and musician. A founding member of Eagles, Henley contributed immensely to the success of the band. Don Henley has also been successful as a solo artist, selling more than 10 million albums and winning two Grammy Awards. In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine named him among the greatest singers of all time.
Jonathan Pryce is one of the most popular Welsh actors of all time. Renowned for his versatility, Pryce has contributed immensely across all the three major acting mediums: movies, television and theatre. Best known for his work in theatre, Pryce is a two-time winner of the prestigious Tony Award. In the 2009 Birthday Honours, Jonathan Pryce was appointed a CBE for services to drama.
![Mick Fleetwood Mick Fleetwood](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/mick-fleetwood-1.jpg)
Gerald McRaney is an American actor best known for contributing to the success of television shows, such as House of Cards, Simon & Simon, Promised Land, and Major Dad. Having played a Marine Corps officer and a veteran on-screen, McRaney has always been supportive of soldiers and veterans. He has also been a part of the Wounded Warrior Project.
Brazilian novelist Paulo Coelho is best known for his iconic novel The Alchemist, which has been translated into about 70 languages. He was once sent to a mental institution by his parents for not following the usual career path. He dropped out of law school and became a hippie later.
![John Ratzenberger John Ratzenberger](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/john-ratzenberger-30397-1.jpg)
![Kenny Loggins Kenny Loggins](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/kenny-loggins-4920-1.jpg)
Alan Sugar is a British business magnate, politician, author, and media personality. He is credited with founding the popular electronics company, Amstrad. He also co-owned the English football club Tottenham Hotspur from 1991 to 2001. Also a well-known philanthropist, Sugar donated £200,000 to the Labour Party in 2001. He has also donated for charities, such as Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Latvian-born Russian-American dancer and choreographer Mikhail Baryshnikov was a prominent male classical dancer of the 1970s and 1980s. Born in Latvian SSR, he moved to America where he joined the New York City Ballet. Within years, he became one of the most widely recognized contemporary ballet dancers in the world. He is also a dramatic actor.
Mike Krzyzewski is a men's basketball coach currently affiliated with Duke University. He played basketball in the United States Military Academy and served as an officer in the United States Army for a few years. He later joined the coaching staff at the Indiana Hoosiers. He has been with Duke University since 1980 and plans to retire soon.
![John Larroquette John Larroquette](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/john-larroquette-31256-1.jpg)
![Robert Englund Robert Englund](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/robert-englund-30703-1.jpg)
![Edward James Olmos Edward James Olmos](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/edward-james-olmos-1.jpg)
Edward James Olmos is an American actor, activist, director, and producer. Over the course of his career, Olmos has won several prestigious awards like the Golden Globe Award, Primetime Emmy Award, and Saturn Award. Edward James Olmos is credited with contributing positively to the image of the Hispanics in the US.
James Dyson is a British industrial designer, inventor, entrepreneur, and landowner. He is credited with founding the popular technology company, Dyson Ltd. He is also credited with inventing the Dual Cyclone bagless vacuum cleaner. Also known for his philanthropic activities, Dyson established the James Dyson Foundation to support engineering education and to inspire young people.
![Sammy Hagar Sammy Hagar](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/sammy-hagar-2.jpg)
Albert Brooks is an American comedian, actor, writer, and director. Best known for his portrayal of a Jewish mobster in the action drama film Drive, Brooks has also played important roles in films like Broadcast News and Taxi Driver. Over the years, he has been honored with awards, such as the American Comedy Award and Boston Society of Film Critics Award.
Ronnie Wood is a musician and songwriter. Over the years, Wood has been an important member of popular rock bands like the Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck Group, and Faces. He is one of the few musicians to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A cancer survivor, Wood serves as an inspiration to those fighting cancer.
Robert Kiyosaki is an American author and businessman known for his internationally acclaimed book Rich Dad Poor Dad; his Rich Dad Poor Dad book series has sold more than 41 million copies worldwide after having been translated into 51 languages. Kiyosaki is also credited with founding the Rich Dad Company and Rich Global LLC, which filed for bankruptcy in 2012.
![Rob Reiner Rob Reiner](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/rob-reiner-1.jpg)
![Wes Studi Wes Studi](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/wes-studi-1.jpg)
Ray Wise is an American actor best known for playing Leland Palmer in the drama television series, Twin Peaks. Wise's portrayal of Leland Palmer in Twin Peaks earned him similar roles. While he has taken up roles that have come his way, Ray Wise has also remained cautious about playing stereotypical roles, thus establishing himself as a versatile actor.
![Donald Fagen Donald Fagen](http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/thumbs/donald-fagen-10772-1.jpg)