List of people from Cardiff
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cardiff (/ˈkɑːrdɪf/ ⓘ; Welsh: ⓘ Welsh pronunciation: [kairˈdiːð, kaˑɨrˈdɨːð]) is the capital and largest city of Wales. Many notable people were born in Cardiff or share a strong association with the city, ranging from historical figures such as Henry Morgan to more recent figures such as Roald Dahl, Ken Follett and Griff Rhys Jones. In particular, the city has been the birthplace of international sportsmen and women, including Olympic athletes such as Paulo Radmilovic, Tanni Grey-Thompson and Colin Jackson. Many professional and international footballers, such as Craig Bellamy, Gareth Bale, Ryan Giggs and Joe Ledley, and former managers of the Wales national football team Terry Yorath and John Toshack were born in Cardiff, as were a number of international rugby union and rugby league players including Frank Whitcombe, Billy Boston, Gareth Llewellyn and Colin Dixon.
Cardiff is also well known for its musicians such as Ivor Novello, after whom the Ivor Novello Awards are named. Shirley Bassey is familiar to many as the singer of three James Bond movie theme tunes, while Charlotte Church is famous as a crossover classical/pop singer, and Shakin' Stevens was one of the top selling male artists in the UK during the 1980s. A number of Cardiff-based bands, such as Catatonia and the Super Furry Animals, were popular during the 1990s.



| Name | Born | Died | Description | Connection with Cardiff | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Abse | 1923 | 2014 | Poet and writer | Born in Cardiff | [1] |
| Trezza Azzopardi | 1961 | — | Novelist | Born in Cardiff | [2] |
| Gillian Clarke | 1937 | — | Poet, was named the third National Poet of Wales in 2008 | Born in Cardiff | [3] |
| Roald Dahl | 1916 | 1990 | Author of works such as James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Witches, Fantastic Mr Fox and The BFG | Born in Llandaff, Cardiff | [4] |
| Peter Finch | 1947 | — | Poet, author of works such as Real Cardiff, Real Wales, Edging The Estuary, and Zen Cymru | Born in Cardiff | [5] |
| Ken Follett | 1949 | — | Author of works such as The Key to Rebecca, Lie Down with Lions, Triple, and World Without End | Born in Cardiff | [6] |
| Esther Grainger | 1912 | 1990 | Artist | Born in Cardiff | [7] |
| Goscombe John | 1860 | 1952 | Sculptor, specialising in public monuments and statues of public figures | Born in Canton, Cardiff | [8] |
| Bobi Jones | 1929 | — | Welsh language academic and writer, former chair in Welsh language at Aberystwyth University | Born in Cardiff | [9] |
| Rob Lacey | 1962 | 2006 | Actor and author of The Word on the Street | Born in Cardiff | [10] |
| Gwyneth Lewis | 1959 | — | First National Poet of Wales, wrote the words which appear on the front elevation of the Wales Millennium Centre | Born in Cardiff | [11] |
| Helen Mackay | 1897 | 1973 | Artist, sculptor | Born in Cardiff | [12] |
| Brian Morris | 1930 | 2001 | Poet, critic, professor of literature, and former education spokesman in the House of Lords | Born in Cardiff | [13] |
| Robert Morton Nance | 1873 | 1959 | Cornish language author | Born in Cardiff | [14] |
| Pixie O'Harris | 1903 | 1991 | Poet, author, broadcaster, artist, illustrator and designer | Born in Cardiff | [15] |
| Joan Oxland | 1920 | 2009 | Artist | Born and lived in Cardiff | [16][7] |
| Michael Raven | 1938 | 2008 | Author | Born in Cardiff | [17] |
| Bernice Rubens | 1928 | 2004 | Author of works such as Madame Sousatzka, The Elected Member (winner of the 1970 Booker Prize) and A Solitary Grief | Born in Cardiff | [18] |
| Norena Shopland | — | Author | Born in Cardiff | [19] | |
| Alfred Sisley | 1839 | 1899 | Impressionist painter: one of the original French Impressionists, though he himself was British; produced seventeen paintings of Penarth and the Gower in 1897 | Married in Cardiff Register Office in 1897; two of his Welsh paintings are in the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff | [20] |
| Howard Spring | 1889 | 1965 | Author of works such as Fame Is the Spur and My Son, My Son! | Born in Cardiff | [21] |
| Thomas E. Stephens | 1886 | 1966 | Painter, specialising in portraits of American political and military figures such as Dwight D. Eisenhower | Born in Cardiff | [22] |
| R. S. Thomas | 1913 | 2000 | Poet, nominated for the 1995 Nobel Prize for Literature | Born in Cardiff | [23] |
| Margaret Lindsay Williams | 1888 | 1960 | Portrait painter | Born in Cardiff | [24] |
| D. B. Wyndham-Lewis | 1891 | 1969 | Writer, biographer and editor, co-wrote the screenplay for The Man Who Knew Too Much | Lived in Cardiff since childhood | [25] |
Business and finance
| Name | Born | Died | Description | Connection with Cardiff | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis Lougher | 1871 | 1955 | Established his own shipping company, became chairman of a large number of shipping companies in Cardiff, Penarth and Barry, chairman of the federation of Bristol Channel shipowners, and chairman of the Cardiff Chamber of Trade; former Member of Parliament for Cardiff East and Cardiff Central | Born in Llandaff, Cardiff | [26] |
| Michael Moritz | 1954 | — | Venture capitalist and former director of Google | Born in Cardiff | [27] |
| Howard Stringer | 1942 | — | Chairman and former president and CEO of Sony Corporation | Born in Cardiff | [28] |
| Christopher J. Yorath | 1879 | 1932 | Engineer, urban planner, president of three Canadian utility companies | Lived in Cardiff since childhood | [29] |
Entertainment



| Name | Born | Died | Description | Connection with Cardiff | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peter Baynham | 1963 | — | Screenwriter and comedy writer, was involved in works such as I'm Alan Partridge, Brass Eye, Monkey Dust, and Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan | Born in Cardiff | [30] |
| Emily Burnett | 1997 | — | Television and stage actress who has appeared in The Dumping Ground, So Awkward and Hollyoaks | Born in Cardiff | [31] |
| Shirley Dynevor | 1933 | 2023 | Actress who has appeared in Charlesworth, Rogue Male and The Wednesday Play | Born in Cardiff | [32] |
| Helen M. Grace | 1974 | — | Film director and screenwriter, directed Are You Ready for Love? | Born in Cardiff | [33] |
| Lauren Harries | 1978 | — | Television celebrity, first appeared on Wogan in 1988 | Lived in Cardiff since early childhood | [34] |
| Polly James | 1986/7 | — | Radio and TV presenter | Born in Cardiff | [35] |
| Gethin Jones | 1978 | — | Television and radio presenter, presented Blue Peter from 2005 to 2008 | Born in Cardiff | [36] |
| Richard Marquand | 1938 | 1987 | Film director, involved in works such as Return of the Jedi, Jagged Edge and Hearts of Fire | Born in Llanishen, Cardiff | [37] |
| Terry Nation | 1930 | 1997 | Television scriptwriter, creator of the Daleks | Born in Cardiff | [38] |
| Robin Nedwell | 1946 | 1999 | Film, television and stage actor, involved in works such as Doctor in the House, The Tragedy of Macbeth and The Vault of Horror | Lived in Cardiff since childhood | [39] |
| Tessie O'Shea | 1914 | 1995 | Stage actress and entertainer, involved in works such as The Girl Who Came to Supper, The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming and Bedknobs and Broomsticks | Born in Cardiff | [40] |
| Peter Philp | 1920 | 2006 | Television presenter, dramatist and antiques expert, wrote Castle of Deception | Born in Cardiff | [41] |
| Mathew Pritchard | 1973 | — | Professional skateboarder, part of the Dirty Sanchez crew, made regular appearances on Balls of Steel | Born in Cardiff | [42] |
| Angharad Rees | 1949 | 2012 | Film, stage and television actress, involved in works such as Poldark, The Gathering Storm, The Avengers and Under Milk Wood | Lived in Cardiff since childhood | [43] |
| Iwan Rheon | 1985 | — | Film and television actor, singer-songwriter, involved in works such as Pobol y Cwm, Misfits and Game of Thrones | Lived in Cardiff since childhood | [44] |
| Matthew Rhys | 1974 | — | Film and television actor, involved in works such as Brothers & Sisters, The Edge of Love and The Americans | Born in Cardiff | [45] |
| Griff Rhys Jones | 1953 | — | Comedian, writer and actor, involved in works such as Not the Nine O'Clock News, Alas Smith and Jones and Morons from Outer Space | Born in Cardiff | [46] |
| Lisa Rogers | 1971 | — | Television presenter, involved in works such as The Big Breakfast, Scrapheap Challenge and Loose Women | Born in Cardiff | [47] |
| Stan Stennett | 1925 | 2013 | Comedian, actor and jazz musician, involved in works such as Coronation Street, Crossroads and Casualty | Born in Cardiff | [48] |
| Honeysuckle Weeks | 1979 | — | Television actress, involved in works such as Midsomer Murders, Foyle's War and The Inspector Lynley Mysteries | Born in Cardiff | [49] |
| Perdita Weeks | 1985 | — | Television and film actress, involved in works such as Spice World, The Prince and the Pauper and The Tudors | Born in Cardiff | [50] |
| Clifford Williams | 1926 | 2005 | Stage actor and director, involved in works such as The Duchess of Malfi, As You Like It and Antony and Cleopatra | Born in Cardiff | [51] |
| Peter Wingfield | 1962 | — | Film and television actor, best known for his role as Methos in Highlander: The Series | Born in Grangetown, Cardiff | [52] |
Historical figures
| Name | Born | Died | Description | Connection with Cardiff | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anne de Beauchamp | 1444 | 1449 | 15th Countess of Warwick | Born in Cardiff | [53] |
| Henry Morgan | c. 1635 | 1684 | Pirate and Admiral of the English Navy | Born in Caerau, Cardiff | [54] |
| Archibald Dickson | 1892 | 1939 | Captain of the SS Stanbrook | Born in Caerau, Cardiff | [55] |
Journalism
| Name | Born | Died | Description | Connection with Cardiff | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen Bayley | 1951 | — | Author and critic for The Observer, GQ and Car Magazine | Born in Cardiff | [56] |
| Jeremy Bowen | 1960 | — | Journalist and television presenter, Middle East Editor for the BBC since 2005 | Born in Cardiff | [57] |
| Lynn Bowles | 1963 | — | Radio reporter for BBC Radio 2 | Born in Splott, Cardiff | [58] |
| Hugh Cudlipp | 1913 | 1998 | Newspaper journalist, former chairman of Mirror Group Newspapers | Born in Cathays, Cardiff | [59] |
| Guto Harri | 1966 | — | Former television news correspondent for S4C and BBC Wales, Director of Communications at News International since May 2012 | Born in Cardiff | [60] |
| John Humphrys | 1943 | — | Television and radio presenter, journalist, main presenter for the BBC's Nine O'Clock News from 1981 to 1987 | Born in Splott, Cardiff | [61] |
| Hugh Johns | 1922 | 2007 | Football commentator for ITV and HTV Wales, commentated on four World Cup finals including the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final | Lived in Cardiff from childhood | [62] |
| Jason Mohammad | 1975 | — | Television and radio presenter of BBC Wales Today and BBC Radio Wales | Born in Cardiff | [63] |
| Chris Morgan | 1952 | 2008 | Television and newspaper journalist for BBC Wales, BBC Radio 4, Thames News and The Sunday Times | Born in Cardiff | [64] |
| Lucy Owen | 1970 | — | Television presenter for HTV Wales, ITV News and BBC News | Born in Llandaff, Cardiff | [65] |
| Jon Ronson | 1967 | — | Documentary journalist, author of Them: Adventures with Extremists and The Men Who Stare at Goats, film maker and radio presenter | Born in Cardiff | [66] |
Military

| Name | Born | Died | Description | Connection with Cardiff | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick Barter | 1891 | 1952 | Served in World War I with the Royal Welch Fusiliers, recipient of the Victoria Cross | Born in Cardiff | [67] |
| Mick Flynn | 1960 | — | Served with the Blues and Royals in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War, the Bosnian War, the Second Gulf War and the War in Afghanistan, recipient of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross and the Military Cross | Born in Cardiff | [68] |
| Jeff Linton | 1909 | 1989 | Served with the Royal Artillery in World War II, attained the rank of Brigadier, recipient of the Distinguished Service Order; played cricket for Glamorgan and Egypt as a right-arm medium-fast bowler | Born in Llandaff, Cardiff | [69] |
| Thomas Mathews | 1676 | 1751 | Admiral of the Royal Navy, served in the Caribbean, Queen Anne's War, the East Indies, the War of the Quadruple Alliance and the War of the Austrian Succession | Born in Llandaff, Cardiff | [70] |
| Robert Shields | 1827 | 1864 | Served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers in the Crimean War, recipient of the Victoria Cross | Born in Cardiff |
Music
Performers



| Name | Born | Died | Description | Connection with Cardiff | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shirley Bassey | 1937 | — | Singer of works such as "Goldfinger", "Big Spender" and "Diamonds Are Forever" | Born in Tiger Bay, Cardiff | [71] |
| Andy Bell | 1970 | — | Singer-songwriter, member of Oasis, Ride, Hurricane No. 1 and Beady Eye | Born in Cardiff | [72] |
| Wally Bishop | 1894 | 1966 | Band leader and impresario, commonly known by the stage name Waldini | Born in Cardiff | [73] |
| Charlotte Church | 1986 | — | Classical and pop singer of works such as Voice of an Angel, "The Opera Song (Brave New World)" and "Crazy Chick", presenter of The Charlotte Church Show | Born in Llandaff, Cardiff | [74] |
| Steffan Cravos | 1975 | — | Welsh-language rapper, member of Gorky's Zygotic Mynci | Born in Cardiff | [75] |
| Sonny Double 1 | 1992 | — | Rapper | Born in Cardiff | [76] |
| Dave Edmunds | 1944 | — | Singer and record producer, member of Love Sculpture, Rockpile and Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band | Born in Cardiff | [77] |
| Dyfed Wyn-Evans | 1969 | — | Baritone opera singer, has performed for companies such as the Welsh National Opera, English National Opera, English Touring Opera and Opera North | Born in Cardiff | [78] |
| Maureen Evans | 1940 | — | Singer with Waldini's (real name Wallace ' Wally ' Bishop) Gypsy Band, performed works such as "The Big Hurt" and "Like I Do" | Born in Cardiff | [79] |
| Patti Flynn | 1937 | 2020 | Jazz singer | Born in Cardiff | [80] |
| Green Gartside | 1955 | — | Singer-songwriter, lead singer of Scritti Politti | Born in Cardiff | [81] |
| Frank Hennessy | 1947 | — | Folk singer, member of The Hennessys and radio presenter on BBC Radio Wales | Born in Cardiff | [82] |
| Paul Carey Jones | 1974 | — | Baritone opera singer, has performed for companies such as the Scottish Opera and Northern Ireland Opera, and has been involved in works such as Man on the Moon, The Lighthouse and Nixon in China | Born in Cardiff | [83] |
| Donna Lewis | 1973 | — | Pop singer, performed works such as Now in a Minute, "I Love You Always Forever" and "At the Beginning" | Born in Cardiff | [84] |
| Cerys Matthews | 1969 | — | Singer-songwriter, lead singer of Catatonia, performed works such as "Mulder and Scully", "The Ballad of Tom Jones" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside" | Born in Cardiff | [85] |
| Clara Novello Davies | 1861 | 1943 | Singer, teacher and conductor, mother of Ivor Novello | Born in Cardiff | [86] |
| Ivor Novello | 1893 | 1951 | Composer, singer and actor, after whom the Ivor Novello Awards are named | Born in Cardiff | [87] |
| Idloes Owen | 1894 | 1954 | Singer, composer and conductor, founder of the Welsh National Opera | Based in Llandaff, Cardiff | [88] |
| Pino Palladino | 1957 | — | Bass guitarist with The Who | Born in Cardiff | [89] |
| Shakin' Stevens | 1948 | — | Rock and roll singer and songwriter, performed works such as "This Ole House", "Green Door" and "Merry Christmas Everyone" | Born in Ely, Cardiff | [90] |
| Noel Sullivan | 1980 | — | Pop singer and stage actor, member of Hear'Say | Born in Cardiff | [91] |
| Pepsi Tate | 1965 | 2007 | Bass guitarist with Tigertailz, and television director | Lived and worked in Cardiff | [92] |
| Blue Weaver | 1947 | — | Keyboard player with Amen Corner, Fair Weather and Strawbs, songwriter and record producer | Born in Cardiff | [93] |
Bands


| Name | Formed | Disbanded | Description | Connection with Cardiff | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amen Corner | 1966 | 1969 | Rock band, performed works such as "Gin House Blues", "Bend Me, Shape Me" and "(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice" | Formed in Cardiff | [94] |
| Budgie | 1967 | — | Hard rock / heavy metal band, produced works such as "Breadfan" | Formed in Cardiff | [95] |
| Catatonia | 1992 | 2001 | Alternative rock band, produced works such as "Mulder and Scully", "Road Rage" and "Dead from The Waist Down" | Formed in Cardiff | [96] |
| Future of the Left | 2005 | — | Post-hardcore rock band, produced works such as Last Night I Saved Her From Vampires and The Plot Against Common Sense | Formed in Cardiff | [97] |
| Kids in Glass Houses | 2003 | 2014 | Rock band, produced works such as Dirt and In Gold Blood | Formed in Cardiff | [98] |
| Love Sculpture | 1966 | 1970 | Blues-rock band, produced works such as "Summertime", "Wang Dang Doodle" and "Sabre Dance" | Formed in Cardiff | [99] |
| Los Campesinos! | 2006 | — | Indie-pop band, produced works such as Romance Is Boring and Hello Sadness | Formed at Cardiff University | [100] |
| Super Furry Animals | 1993 | — | Psychedelic rock band, produced works such as "If You Don't Want Me to Destroy You", "The Man Don't Give a Fuck" and "Northern Lites" | Formed in Cardiff | [101] |
| The Hennessys | 1967 | — | Folk music band | Formed in Cardiff | [102] |
| The Hot Puppies | 2000 | — | Rock group, produced works such as Under the Crooked Moon | Based in Cardiff | [103] |
| The Oppressed | 1981 | — | Oi! anti-fascist band | Formed in Cardiff | [104] |
| Underworld | 1980 | — | Electronic / trance band, produced works such as "Born Slippy", "Pearl's Girl" and "Caliban's Dream" | Formed in Cardiff | [105] |
Politics and law

| Name | Born | Died | Description | Connection with Cardiff | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leo Abse | 1917 | 2008 | Former Member of Parliament for Pontypool and Torfaen, noted for promoting private member's bills to decriminalise male homosexual relations and liberalise the divorce laws | Born in Cardiff | [106] |
| Celia Barlow | 1955 | — | Former Member of Parliament for Hove | Born in Cardiff | [107] |
| Donald Box | 1917 | 1993 | Stockbroker and former Member of Parliament for Cardiff North | Born in Cardiff | [108] |
| Stephen Doughty | 1980 | — | Former member of male a cappella group Out of the Blue, Member of Parliament for Cardiff South and Penarth since 2012 | Born in Llandaff, Cardiff | [109] |
| Maurice Edelman | 1911 | 1975 | Novelist and former Member of Parliament for Coventry West and Coventry North West | Born in Cardiff | [110] |
| Seymour Farmer | 1878 | 1951 | 30th Mayor of Winnipeg, Canada and leader of the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation from 1936 to 1947 | Born in Cardiff | |
| Paul Flynn | 1935 | — | Member of Parliament for Newport West since 1987 | Born in Cardiff | [111] |
| Cheryl Gillan | 1952 | — | Member of Parliament for Chesham and Amersham since 1992 | Born in Llandaff, Cardiff | [112] |
| Meredydd Hughes | 1958 | — | Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police from 2004 to 2011 | Born in Cardiff | [113] |
| Greville Janner | 1928 | 2015 | British Labour Party politician, writer and alleged child abuser | Born in Cardiff | [114] |
| Jonathan Morgan | 1974 | — | Former Assembly Member for Cardiff North | Born in Tongwynlais, Cardiff | [115] |
| Julie Morgan | 1944 | — | Former Member of Parliament for Cardiff North, and Member of the Senedd for Cardiff North since 2011 | Born in Cardiff | [116] |
| Rhodri Morgan | 1939 | 2017 | Former First Minister for Wales, leader of Welsh Labour, Assembly Member for Cardiff West and Member of Parliament for Cardiff West | Born in Cardiff | [117] |
| Edward V. Robertson | 1881 | 1963 | Former United States Senator for Wyoming | Born in Cardiff | [118] |
| Alfred Thomas | 1840 | 1927 | Former Member of Parliament for East Glamorganshire | Born in Penylan, Cardiff | [119] |
| Owen John Thomas | 1939 | — | Former Assembly Member for South Wales Central | Born in Roath, Cardiff | [120] |
Religion

| Name | Born | Died | Description | Connection with Cardiff | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martyn Lloyd-Jones | 1899 | 1981 | Protestant Christian minister, influential in the Reformed wing of the British evangelical movement in the 20th century | Born in Cardiff | [121] |
| Roger Royle | 1939 | — | Anglican vicar, presenter of the Sunday Half Hour on BBC Radio 2 between 1991 and 2007 | Born in Splott, Cardiff | [122] |









