This list of Baptists covers those who were members of Baptist churches or raised in Baptist churches. It does not imply that all who appear on the list were practicing Baptists or remained Baptists all their lives. As an article of faith, Baptists do not baptize infants, practicing instead believer's baptism after conversion.
Preachers, theologians, and missionaries
Ralph Abernathy, pastor and civil rights activist
Annie Armstrong, missionary organizer; the SBC's Easter mission offering is collected in her honor
John Birch, missionary to China and anti-communist
Hugh Stowell Brown, 19th-century preacher and activist
John Bunyan, 17th-century preacher and writer: The Pilgrim's Progress
Thomas Burchell, missionary to Jamaica
Tony Campolo, pastor and professor of sociology
William Carey, missionary to India
Benajah Harvey Carroll, pastor, theologian, founding president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
J.M. Carroll, pastor and author of The Trail of Blood
Charles Henry Carter, English missionary to Ceylon and translator of Old Testament, Book of Psalms, and New Testament into Sinhalese;
Oswald Chambers, British pastor, author of My Utmost for His Highest, son of a Baptist pastor converted to Christianity under C. H. Spurgeon (below)
Oren B. Cheney, American abolitionist and founder of Bates College
John T. Christian, church historian
Dr. John Clarke, medical doctor, early proponent of separation of church and state
Elijah Craig, preacher, educator and entrepreneur, purported inventor of bourbon whiskey
W. A. Criswell, pastor, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, founder of Criswell College
Miguel A. De La Torre, prolific author on Hispanic religiosity
Jerry Falwell, televangelist, founder of the Moral Majority
John Gano, founding pastor of the First Baptist Church in the City of New York, chaplain in the Continental Army, and alleged baptiser of General George Washington
John Gill, pastor and theologian
Benjamin Godwin, Abolitionist leader in Bradford
Billy Graham
Mordecai Ham, tent revivalist who preached the sermon where Billy Graham was converted to Christianity
Obadiah Holmes, early New England Baptist minister who was cruelly whipped in Boston for his Baptist beliefs and activism; pastor of the Baptist Church at Newport, Rhode Island for 30 years.
Johnny Hunt, author and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention
Jack Hyles, controversial pastor and prominent identity in the Independent Baptist movement
Clarence Jordan, pastor and author of the The Cotton Patch Gospel
Martin Luther King, Jr., civil rights leader, Nobel Peace Prize recipient
Kenneth Scott Latourette, pastor; missionary and church historian
John MacArthur, Jr., pastor and theologian
Charlotte ("Lottie") Diggers Moon, missionary to China; the SBC's Christmas missionary offering is named in her honor.
J. Frank Norris, flamboyant Baptist preacher, one of the most controversial figures in the history of American fundamentalism
Fred Phelps, controversial minister protesting against funerals of homosexuals and servicemen.
John Piper, pastor and preacher at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis; head of Desiring God
Adrian Rogers, televangelist
John Smyth, pastor who founded first English-speaking Baptist church
C. H. Spurgeon, British pastor known as "The Prince of Preachers"
Charles Stanley, televangelist founder of In Touch Ministries
Neiliezhü Üsou (1941–2009), influential Baptist preacher, theologian, church musician, music teacher and composer from the North-Eastern state of India, Nagaland
Paul Washer, founder of HeartCry Missionary Society
Sidney Abram Weltmer (1858–1930), Baptist preacher, professor, magnetic pealer, mental scientist; from Nevada, Missouri; founder of Weltmer Institute for Suggestive Therapeutics and American School of Magnetic Healing.
Roger Williams, founded First Baptist Church in America
James Callaghan, British Prime Minister (1976–79) and leader of the Labour Party (1976–80)
Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States
Chuck Colson, senior aide to President Richard Nixon
Warren G. Harding, 29th President of the United States
Yukio Hatoyama, 60th Prime Minister of Japan
Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas (R) and 2008 Presidential candidate
Jesse Jackson, American civil rights activist and Baptist minister; candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988; shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997
Richard M. Johnson, United States Vice President under Martin Van Buren (1837–41)
Claude Kirkpatrick, member of Louisiana House of Representatives and director of his state's department of public works; involved in various Baptist activities in Louisiana and through the Southern Baptist Convention
John McCain, United States Senator (R) Arizona, Presidential candidate
Ron Paul, United States Congressman (R) and former Libertarian Party Presidential candidate; known for his libertarian leanings
Nelson Rockefeller, U.S. Vice President under Gerald Ford (1974–77)
Harry Truman, 33rd President of the United States
Oleksandr Turchynov, interim President of Ukraine since 23 February 2014
Bill Clinton, 42rd President of the United States
Hugo Black, Supreme Court associate justice
Charles Evans Hughes, Supreme Court chief justice
Howell Jackson, Supreme Court associate justice
Roy Moore, Alabama State Supreme Court chief justice, removed from office
Clarence Thomas, Supreme Court associate justice (raised Baptist, converted to Catholicism)
Industrialists and leaders of business
S. Truett Cathy, billionaire founder of Chick-fil-A restaurants
Carl Lindner, former owner of the Cincinnati Reds
J. C. Penney, department store magnate, son of a Primitive Baptist lay minister
John D. Rockefeller, 20th-century oil tycoon
Charles C. Baldwin, Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Air Force, 2004–08
John G. Burkhalter, highly decorated U.S. Army Chaplain who served in World War II and Korean War
Douglas Carver, Major General who served as Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army
John Alan Coey, American foreign volunteer in the Rhodesian Security Forces
Jeff Struecker, pastor, author and former U.S. Army Ranger Chaplain
Entertainers, movie and television personalities
Clay Aiken, pop music singer
Roy Acuff, country musician
Warren Beatty, actor
Spencer Bohren, American roots musician, raised a Baptist
Glen Campbell, country music singer
Carter, Aaron, singer
Nick Carter, lead vocalists of the pop group Backstreet Boys
Johnny Cash, country music singer
Jerry Clower, rural humorist, member of the Grand Ole Opry, lay minister
Kevin Costner, actor
Bette Davis, actress and former Baptist
Jamie Foxx, actor, singer and stand-up comedian
Aretha Franklin, singer and daughter of Baptist minister Rev. C.L. Franklin
Ava Gardner, actress
Buddy Holly, rock 'n' roll singer
Whitney Houston, R&B/pop singer and actress
Mahalia Jackson, gospel singer
Gladys Knight, singer, converted to Mormonism
Brian Littrell, pop singer, member of the Backstreet Boys
Loretta Lynn, country music artist
Reba McEntire, country music artist and actress
Brittany Murphy, actress, singer, voice artist; raised Baptist and later became a non-denominational Christian
Eddie Murphy, actor
Chuck Norris, actor
Grady Nutt, Hee Haw regular (1979–82), Baptist minister
Brad Pitt, actor, raised Baptist
Dennis Quaid, actor
Willard Scott, television weatherman
Ron Shelton, director
Ashlee Simpson, pop singer
Jessica Simpson, pop singer and actress
Sinbad, born David Adkins, actor, comedian
Snoop Dogg, born Calvin Broadus, rapper, raised Baptist
Britney Spears, pop singer
Irma Thomas, soul singer
Justin Timberlake, pop singer
Tina Turner, singer, converted to Buddhism
Carrie Underwood, country music singer
Billy Vaughn, American Big Band orchestra leader, songwriter, and saxophonist
Oprah Winfrey, raised Baptist, now a spiritualist
Dan Whitney ("Larry the Cable Guy"), son of a Baptist preacher, attended Baptist University of America
Authors, writers, and journalists
Ray Bradbury, bestselling author
W.E. Cule, children's author and editor of Baptist Missionary Society publications
Jill Dando, British reporter and telejournalist
Maria De Fleury, English poet, hymnist and polemicist
Gilberto Freyre, Brazilian sociologist and anthropologist; Baptist missionary in Brazil and the United States; raised Baptist
John Grisham, best-selling author of The Firm, A Painted House and Skipping Christmas
Robert Don Hughes, Baptist minister, educator and science fiction author
Tim LaHaye, co-author of the bestselling Left Behind series
Bill Moyers, television journalist and former White House Press Secretary
Hazel Brannon Smith, journalist and editor; first female recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing
Jim Brown, former fullback for the Cleveland Browns
Mike Conley, Jr., guard for the Memphis Grizzlies
Zach Johnson, professional golfer, winner of the 2007 Masters Tournament
Iris Kyle, 10-time overall Ms. Olympia professional bodybuilder
Ryan Langerhans, outfielder for the Seattle Mariners
Dikembe Mutombo, center for the Houston Rockets
Reggie White, professional football defensive end; member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Larry Birkhead, father of Anna Nicole Smith's daughter, Dannielynn Hope Marshall Birkhead
Brian Bluhm, one of the students killed in the Virginia Tech massacre and a member of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry
Edith Killgore Kirkpatrick (born 1918), former member of the executive board of the Louisiana Baptist Convention
Frances Shimer (1826–1901), founder of Shimer College
Jesse James, American outlaw, son of a Baptist minister, a Confederate soldier
Harry Longabaugh, "The Sundance Kid", train robber and outlaw
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, by Fannie Flagg
Idgie Threadgood
Rev. Scroggins
The Mitford series by Jan Karon
Sophia Burton, single mother raising two daughters
Absalom Greer, elderly minister and friend of the series'protagonist, Father Tim Kavanagh (Episcopalian rector).
Madelaine Kavanagh, Father Tim's mother
Emma Newland, Father Tim's secretary, raised Baptist, converted to Episcopal, returned to Baptist church on marriage.
Harold Newland, Emma's husband and local postal worker
Rodney Underwood, town's chief of police
Lew Boyd, owner-operator of local Exxon gas station
Mule Skinner, semi-retired realtor
Fancy Skinner, Mule's wife and unisex hairdresser
Bill Sprouse, jovial minister of Mitford's First Baptist Church
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Miss Maudie Atkins, neighbor of Scout Finch, protagonist; more moderate than "Footwashing Baptists" who make a brief appearance
Mr. Radley's father, another of Scout's neighbors
Superman comic book series
Perry White, editor of the Daily Planet
Designing Women, Julia Sugarbaker (Dixie Carter), presumably Suzanne Sugarbaker (Delta Burke) and Charlene Frazier (Jean Smart). Specifically Charlene reveals that she is a "First Baptist" in the episode "Oh Suzanna". In the episode "How Great Thou Art" Charlene quits her church when she discovers her pastor is opposed to the ordination of women, which was her dream at one time. Mary Jo Shively (Annie Potts) briefly dates Julia's minister.
Sanford And Son, Fred Sanford's (Redd Foxx) former sister-in-law, Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page) is a devout baptist who often annoys Fred with her constant bible-thumping.
The Jeffersons, George Jefferson (Sherman Hemsley) is revealed to be a Baptist during the third season in "The Christmas Wedding" episode where his son Lionel (Damon Evans) weds Jenny Willis (Berlinda Thomas). The wedding is held up because George wants a Baptist minister to conduct the service while the Willis' want a minister of their denomination. Jenny and Lionel quickly marry when a minister (Robert Sampson) (who happens to be Baptist, though white to George's chagrin), is going door-to-door with a group of carolers.
Gimme a Break!, Nell Harper (Nell Carter) is the daughter of a Baptist minister.
Golden Girls, Blanche Deveraux (Rue McClanahan) is a Southern Baptist
The Grady Nutt Show, Rev. Grady Williams (Grady Nutt), a minister in a short-lived sitcom on NBC who balances family and ministry as he does in the pilot episode where he must preach the funeral of a disliked man while coming to terms with teenage daughter's dating.
LA Law, Jane Halliday (Alexandra Powers), fundamentalist Baptist and attorney, alumna of Bob Jones University. Introduced to the series in the eighth season premiere, when she revealed she intended to remain a virgin until her wedding night.
The Waltons, almost all principal characters were Baptists or attended the Baptist church. In the fourth season episode "The Sermon", Rev. Matthew Fordwick (John Ritter) asks John Boy (Richard Thomas) to deliver a sermon while he goes on honeymoon. In fifth season episode "The Baptism", John Walton, Sr. (Ralph Waite) refuses to attend a tent revival or be baptized.
Arachnophobia Coach Beachwood, his wife, daughter (Becky) and son (Bobby).
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd says that he was raised a Baptist.
O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Pete Hogwallop and Delmar O'Donnell are baptized by a Baptist minister
The Preacher's Wife, The pastor Rev. Henry Biggs (Courtney Vance), his wife Julia (Whitney Houston), his mother-in-law Margueritte Coleman (Jenifer Lewis), his son Jeremiah (Justin Pierre Edmund) and many other supporting characters who were members of Saint Matthews Baptist Church.
"Preachin Blues" (Son House) contains the lines
Yes, I'm gonna get me religion, I'm gonna join the Baptist Church.
You know I wanna be a Baptist preacher, just so I won't have to work.
"Cowboys Days" (Terri Clark) contains the lines
I was third alto on the second row of the First Baptist church choir
I was keeper of the minutes for the Tri Delts, in charge of the homecoming bonfire
I was a straight 'A', straight laced, level-headed as they come
And parked at the Sonic, isn't that ironic, when my whole world came undone
One slot over was a calf roper giving me his George Strait smile
And before I knew Miss Good-Two-Shoes was two-steppin', runnin' wild.
"Guilty" (The Statler Brothers) contains the lines
If she seems bitter of other ways,
Seems to have lost her Baptist ways,
If the truth comes harder than a lie,
If she's guilty, so am I
"Lonely Lubbock Lights" (Aaron Watson), a singer in a Broken Spoke (a honkeytonk) reveals that a love interest is the daughter of a Baptist minister who is keeping them apart (because he sings in bars).
"Southern Baptist Heartbreak" (The Warren Brothers) contains the lines
Somewhere in the middle of "Have Thy Own Way,"
She left an empty pew;
She said 'I think that's what I'll do.'"
"Uneasy Rider" (Charlie Daniels), a hippie is stranded in a bar in the deep South and the locals start making trouble when the fast-thinking hippie accuses one of the locals of being a spy sent to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. The local replies that he's a "faithful follower of Brother John Birch and a member of Antioch Baptist Church."
List of Baptists Wikipedia (Text) CC BY-SA
