Famous People Born In Austin, Texas ⋆ SprawlTag.com

Austin is the capital of Texas and one of the largest cities in the United States. It anchors a fast-growing metro area and draws people for music, tech, and a nonstop festival calendar. The city’s influence reaches far beyond Central Texas. Below is a list of notable people born in Austin, Texas.

Marshall Allman

Marshall Allman (born April 5, 1984) is an actor from Austin, Texas. He’s best known for playing L.J. Burrows on Prison Break. He also played Tommy Mickens on True Blood. He graduated from Austin High School in 2002. After that, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. More recently, he appeared on Chicago Med. That guest role was Season 9, Episode 7. The episode aired March 20, 2024. He also appeared on NCIS: Origins as Huck Crowley. That was Season 2, Episode 7. The episode aired Dec. 2, 2025.

Angela Bettis

Angela Bettis (born January 9, 1973) is an actress, producer, and director from Austin. She’s known for roles in Girl, Interrupted and the TV remake Carrie. She also starred in the film May. Later, she directed Roman. Bettis attended Westlake High School in Austin. In recent credits, she’s listed in the 2025 film Circumcision. She’s also listed in The Weird Kidz. Some cast databases describe that project as animated.

Ken Boswell

Ken Boswell (born February 23, 1946) is a former MLB second baseman. He became part of Mets history on the 1969 World Series team. Boswell was born in Austin, Texas. He attended William B. Travis High School. He later played at Sam Houston State. The Mets drafted him in 1965. He spent most of his career with New York (1967–1974). He finished with the Houston Astros (1975–1977). He’s still remembered for steady defense and smart hitting. He was also a regular piece of the “Amazin’ Mets” era.

Mehcad Brooks

Mehcad Brooks (born October 25, 1980) is an actor and former fashion model from Austin. He attended L.C. Anderson High School. He later studied at the University of Southern California. His biggest mainstream run was on NBC’s Law & Order. He played Detective Jalen Shaw from 2022 to 2025. He exited ahead of Season 25. In 2025, he joined And Just Like That…. That role was Marion Odin in Season 3. On the film side, he’s set to return as Jax in Mortal Kombat II. The release is currently slated for May 8, 2026.

Gary Clark Jr.

Gary Clark Jr. (born February 15, 1984) is a Grammy-winning guitarist and singer from Austin. He’s known for blues-rock playing and big live shows. He came up through Austin’s club scene. He later became a major touring and festival act. His sound blends blues, rock, and soul. His albums include Blak and Blu and The Story of Sonny Boy Slim. He also released This Land. In 2024, he released the album JPEG RAW. He remains active as a recording and touring artist.

Dabney Coleman

Dabney Coleman (January 3, 1932 – May 16, 2024) worked as an American film and TV actor. Austin, Texas was his birthplace. His performances often carried a sharp, authoritative edge. Many of his roles cast him as a boss, an official, or a smug antagonist. Key credits include The Towering Inferno and WarGames. Other well-known appearances include 9 to 5 and Tootsie. An Emmy win came for Sworn to Silence. Coleman died in 2024 at age 92.

Ben Crenshaw

Ben Crenshaw (born January 11, 1952) is a retired professional golfer from Austin. He won 19 PGA Tour events. Two of those wins were the Masters. The titles came in 1984 and 1995. Fans still talk about his putting touch. At the University of Texas, he won three NCAA individual championships. Crenshaw turned pro in 1973. He later competed on the PGA Tour Champions circuit. Off the course, he works as a golf course architect with Bill Coore.

Carly Fiorina

Carly Fiorina (born September 6, 1954) is a business executive and political figure from Austin. She led Hewlett-Packard as chair and CEO from 1999 to 2005. Earlier career stops included AT&T and Lucent Technologies. In 2010, Fiorina ran for the U.S. Senate in California. A presidential campaign followed in 2016, during the Republican primaries. These days, her work centers on leadership and public speaking. She also appears at major civic and education events as a featured speaker.

Nick Foles

Nick Foles (born January 20, 1989) is a former NFL quarterback from Austin. He graduated from Westlake High School in 2007. Foles became a Philadelphia Eagles legend in the 2017 season. He led the team to a Super Bowl LII win. He also earned Super Bowl MVP honors. During his career, he also played for the Rams. Stops included the Chiefs, Jaguars, Bears, and Colts. Fans remember him for big postseason performances. His retirement became official in 2024.

Tom Ford

Tom Ford (born August 27, 1961) is a fashion designer and filmmaker from Austin. He rose to prominence at Gucci in the 1990s. He later served as creative director at Yves Saint Laurent. In 2006, Ford launched his own brand. The label expanded into menswear and beauty. He also built a major eyewear business. Ford later shifted into filmmaking. He directed A Single Man and Nocturnal Animals. His style is known for precision and sharp visual control.

Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield (born April 14, 1995) is an NFL quarterback from Austin. He starred at Lake Travis High School. A Heisman Trophy followed at Oklahoma in 2017. In 2024, Mayfield signed a three-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team later reworked that contract in 2025. His Austin-to-NFL path is still the headline.

Ethan Hawke

Ethan Hawke (born November 6, 1970) is an actor, writer, and director from Austin. His film work includes Training Day and Boyhood. Hawke also earned major recognition for writing in the Before trilogy. In 2025, he starred in Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon as lyricist Lorenz Hart. That role also brought fresh awards attention in 2026.

Amber Heard

Amber Heard (born April 22, 1986) is an actress from Austin. She has kept a much lower public profile recently. After the 2022 trial, she moved to Spain. She has focused on raising her children there. Heard has one older daughter, Oonagh Paige. In May 2025, she announced she welcomed twins. She has also said she still wants to keep acting.

Nelly

Nelly (born November 2, 1974) is a rapper and performer from Austin. His breakout album was Country Grammar in 2000. His catalog includes major radio hits and long touring runs. In late 2023, he married singer Ashanti. Their son, Kareem Kenkaide “KK,” was born July 18, 2024. In 2025, Nelly scheduled a global tour. The tour marks 25 years of Country Grammar. He and Ashanti also filmed a Peacock reality series. The show debuted in 2025.

Dustin Rhodes

Dustin Patrick Runnels (born April 11, 1969) is a pro wrestler from Austin. Most fans know him as Goldust. He also wrestles under his real name, Dustin Rhodes. In 2025, reports said he agreed to a new six-year deal with AEW. That contract keeps him with the company into at least 2030. The role isn’t just in-ring work. AEW also uses him as a coach and backstage mentor.

Dakota Johnson

Dakota Mayi Johnson (born October 4, 1989) is an actress from Austin. She broke out as Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades films. Recent work includes Materialists (2025). Another 2025 release on her slate is Splitsville. She also has Verity lined up for a May 15, 2026 release. On top of acting, Johnson has moved deeper into producing. She has also announced plans for her feature directorial debut.