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Famous People From Wakefield

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Updated June 8, 2017 6k views 201 items

List of famous people from Wakefield, including photos when available. The people below are listed by their popularity, so the most recognizable names are at the top of the list. Some of the people below are celebrities born in Wakefield, while others are simply notable locals. If you're from Wakefield you might already know that these prominent figures are also from your hometown, but some of the names below may really surprise you. This list includes people who were born and raised in Wakefield, as well as those who were born there but moved away at a young age.

This list is made up of a variety of people, including Royal Little and Jane Tomlinson.

If you want to answer the questions, "Which famous people are from Wakefield?" or "Which celebrities were born in Wakefield?" then this list is a great resource for you.
John W. Mitchell is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
John W. Mitchell Dec. at 88 (1917-2005)

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

John W. Mitchell was a sound mixer and sound recordist.
George Gissing is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Dec. at 46 (1857-1903)

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

George Robert Gissing (; 22 November 1857 – 28 December 1903) was a British novelist who published 23 novels between 1880 and 1903. Gissing also worked as a teacher and tutor throughout his ...more
David Dellinger is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Dec. at 89 (1915-2004)

Birthplace: Wakefield, Massachusetts, United States of America

David T. Dellinger (August 22, 1915 – May 25, 2004) was an influential American radical pacifist and an activist for nonviolent social change. He achieved peak notoriety as one of the Chicago ...more
Johnny Longden is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Dec. at 96 (1907-2003)

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

John Eric "Johnny" Longden (February 14, 1907 – February 14, 2003) was an American Hall of Fame jockey who was born in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England. His father emigrated to Canada in ...more
John A. Volpe is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Dec. at 86 (1908-1994)

Birthplace: Wakefield, Middlesex County, United States of America, United States, with Territories, + more

John Anthony Volpe (; December 8, 1908 – November 11, 1994) was an American businessman, diplomat, and politician from Massachusetts. A self-made son of Italian immigrants, he founded and owned ...more
Carleton S. Coon is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Dec. at 77 (1904-1981)

Birthplace: Wakefield, Massachusetts

Carleton Stevens Coon (June 23, 1904 – June 3, 1981) was an American physical anthropologist, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania, lecturer and professor at Harvard ...more
David Mercer is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Dec. at 52 (1928-1980)

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

David Mercer (27 June 1928 – 8 August 1980) was an English dramatist.
Helen Baxendale is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Age: 45

Birthplace: Pontefract, England

Helen Victoria Baxendale (born 7 June 1970) is an English actress of stage and television, known for her roles as Rachel in the British comedy-drama Cold Feet (1997–2003), and Emily in the ...more

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John Travers Wood is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Dec. at 76 (1878-1954)

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

John Travers Wood (November 25, 1878 – November 2, 1954) was an American physician and one-term congressman from northern Idaho.
Noel Gay is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Dec. at 56 (1898-1954)

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

Noel Gay (15 July 1898 – 4 March 1954) was born Reginald Moxon Armitage. He also used the name Stanley Hill professionally. He was a successful British composer of popular music of the 1930s and ...more
Reynold C. Fuson is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Dec. at 84 (1895-1979)

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

Reynold Clayton Fuson (June 1, 1895 – August 4, 1979) was an American chemist.Born in Wakefield, Illinois, Fuson attended Central Normal College in Danville, Indiana, where after one year in ...more
Claire Cooper is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Age: 38

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

Claire Elizabeth Cooper (born 26 October 1980) is a British actress, best known for portraying Jacqui McQueen in Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, a character she played from 2006 to 2013. Cooper ...more
Chris Spence is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Age: 48

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

Chris Spence (born June 1970) is an award-winning British / New Zealand journalist and former political advisor on environmental issues and foreign affairs. He has spent almost 3 decades working ...more
Joseph Bingham is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Joseph Bingham Dec. at 55 (1668-1723)

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

Joseph Bingham (September 1668 – 17 August 1723), was an English scholar and divine. His specialty was as a Ecclesiastical Historian.
John Scott is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Age: 62

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

John Gavin Scott, LVO (18 June 1956 – 12 August 2015) was an English organist and choirmaster who reached the highest levels of his profession on both sides of the Atlantic. He directed the ...more
Tim Booth is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Tim Booth Age: 59

Birthplace: Bradford, United Kingdom

Timothy John Booth (born 4 February 1960) is an English singer, dancer and actor best known as the lead singer from the band James.
Royal Little is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Royal Little Dec. at 93 (1896-1989)

Birthplace: Wakefield, Massachusetts

Royal Little (March 1, 1896 – January 10, 1989) was the founder and chair of Textron, and is considered to be the father of conglomerates. Little graduated from Noble & Greenough School in ...more
Luke Burgess is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Age: 32

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

Luke Burgess (born 20 February 1987) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who last played for the Salford Red Devils in the Super League. Luke Burgess is the brother of ...more
Andy Kelly is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Andy Kelly Age: 58

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

Andy Kelly (born 8 November 1960), also known by the nicknames of "Boot", and "Big Andy", is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s ...more
George Burton is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
George Burton Dec. at 35 (1855-1890)

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

George Burton was a rugby union international who represented England from 1879 to 1881.
Thomas Oliver Bennett is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Thomas Oliver Bennett Dec. at 53 (1852-1905)

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

Thomas Oliver Bennett birth registered in Wakefield district, was an English rugby union footballer of the 1870s, playing at representative level for Yorkshire, and at club level for Wakefield ...more
Alicia Blagg is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Alicia Blagg Age: 22

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

Alicia Blagg is a British diver. In 2010 Blagg became the England's youngest ever double national champion when she won both the 1 metre springboard and 3 metre synchronised titles in the ...more
Frederick Lowrie is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Frederick Lowrie Dec. at 34 (1868-1902)

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

Frederick "Fred" William Lowrie (1 March 1868 – 9 August 1902) was an English rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1880s and 1890s. He played ...more
Geoffrey Clarkson is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Geoffrey Clarkson Dec. at 58 (1943-2001)

Birthplace: Wakefield, United Kingdom

Geoffrey "Geoff" Clarkson (12 August 1943 – 10 July 2001) was an English rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He played ...more
Ian Lyons is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list Famous People From Wakefield
Ian Lyons Age: 46

Birthplace: Wakefield, South Kingstown, Rhode Island, United States of America

Ian Lyons is an actor.