Famous People from Georgia

Georgia, the largest state east of the Mississippi river in terms of land area and the 24th largest state in the United States has produced a large number of talented people who became world famous for making outstanding careers in their respective fields. Here is a list of some of the famous people from Georgia.

Jimmy Carter: Born on October 1, 1924 in Plains, Georgia, Carter was a gifted student who loved reading and had a flair for basketball. He was a student of the Georgia Tech and the Georgia Southwestern University after which he joined the United States Naval Academy to earn a bachelor's degree in science. He was the 76th Governor of Georgia and served two terms in the Georgia Senate from the fourteenth district of Georgia. He served as the President of the United States from 1977 to 1981. During his tenure he contributed to the establishment of the department of Energy and the Department of Education. He developed a national energy policy, which focused on the price decontrol, conservation and technological reforms. He was instrumental in the Peace Treaty between Egypt and Israel. He is the second-oldest living former President of the United States. He is the proud winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace of 2002. Jimmy Carter is one of the most prominent figures on the political scenario of the world.

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King, Jr. became one of the most important figures in the American civil rights movement. He headed the Montgomery Bus Boycott and contributed to the formation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. His very famous speech, 'I Have A Dream' was testimony to his oratory skills. He won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1964, making him the youngest person receiving it. Throughout life, he stood against racial discrimination and sought to bring about the establishment of human rights in society. His assassination on April 4, 1968, meant the loss of a great human being.

Sterling Holloway: Born in Cedartown, Georgia in 1905, Sterling Holloway grew up to become a character actor appearing in numerous films and television shows. He was a student of the Georgia Military Academy in College Park after which he attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. In 1926, Holloway entered Hollywood to pursue a career in movies. He soon started working as a voice actor and was famed for his voice in the first animated film of the Walt Disney Studio, Dumbo. Holloway lent his voice to many characters in several Walt Disney films. He died on November 22, 1992 but continues to live through the characters he gave his unique voice to.

Margaret Mitchell: Margaret Mitchell, the author of the very famous novel,' Gone with the Wind', was born in Georgia on November 8, 1900. She graduated from the Washington Seminary and then attended Smith College. Her mother's death in 1918 compelled her to return to Atlanta after her final exams. Between 1922 and 1926, she wrote several articles, interviews, book reviews and profiles of some of the Civil War generals. Interestingly, she kept her writings of her novel, 'Gone with the Wind', in secrecy from her friends. She wrote the last chapter first and often switched between chapters. Her novel is one of the most popular books of all time. She was honored with the Pulitzer Prize for 'Gone with the Wind'. Her death in 1949 meant the loss of a great American authoress.

Robert Patrick: Born on November 5, 1958, in Marietta, Georgia, Robert Patrick spent his childhood in Bay Village in Ohio. The role that marked a milestone in his acting career was the one he played in 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day'. He played T-1000 starring opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in that film. He made a mark on the small screen, acting in various television shows. He is the proud winner of the Saturn Award. Some of his other well-known performances include his roles in 'Walk in the Line', 'The Unit', 'Die Hard 2', 'Spy Kids' and many more.

While the list above has presented the life sketches of some of the famed personalities of Georgia, many are still unnamed. These names are just a glimpse of the talents that Georgia hosts.