Famous Salfordians

Salford has probably had more than its fair share of celebrities over the years.

All kinds of well known people are associated with the city. Here's a selection of our famous sons and daughters:

• Adam Thomas
  Actor. Born on 11 August 1988.
• Adrian Morley
  Rugby League player. Born on 10 May 1977.
• Alan Halsall
  Actor, Coronation Street. Born on 11 August 1982.
• Albert Finney
  Actor, born in Salford and grew up on Gore Crescent, Weaste. Born on 9 May 1936.
• Albert Leslie Yoxall
  Codebreaker, he worked alongside Alan Turing at Bletchley Park during Word War II. Born on 18 May 1914.
• Albert Scanlon
  Manchester United footballer and survivor of the Munich air disaster. Born on 10 October 1935.
• Alfred Darbyshire
  Architect. Born on 20 June 1839.
• Alistair Cooke
  Radio journalist - 'Letter from America, Radio 4', born in Isaac Street, Salford on 20 November 1908.
• Allan Clarke
  Musician, member of the Hollies. Born on 5 April 1942.
• Alliott Verdon Roe
  Pilot and aircraft manufacturer. Born on 26 April 1877.
• Andrew Knott
  Actor. Born on 22 November 1979.
• Andrew Whyment
  Actor. Born on 2 April 1981.
• Andy Crane
  Television and radio presenter. Born on 24 February 1964.
• Al Read
  Popular radio comedian active throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Born on 3 March 1909.
• Arthur Thomas Doodson
  Oceanographer. Born on 31 March 1890.
• Arthur Wooliscroft
  Footballer. Born on 17 February 1904.
• Ayub Khan Din
  Actor. Born on 11 July 1961.
• Benedict Wong
  Actor. Born on 3 July 1971.
• Sir Ben Kingsley
  Oscar-winning actor, grew up in Pendlebury. Born on 31 December 1943.
• Bernard Sumner
  Musician, member of Joy Division and New Order. Born on 4 January 1956.
• Billy Garton
  Footballer. Born on 15 March 1965.
• Billy, Albert and Jack Marchant
  Boxers.
• Bob Valentine
  Swinton rugby league and Manchester United goalkeeper. Born on 21 December 1877.
• Brenda De Banzie
  Actress. Born on 28 July 1909.
• Catherine Tyldesley
  Actress - Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Holby City, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Sorted, Shameless and Trollied. Born on 17 September 1983.
• Charlie Pawsey
  Rugby league footballer in the 1950s. Born on 15 April 1923.
• Chelsee Healey
  Actress. Born on 6 August 1988.
• Chris McGreal
  Rugby League player in the 1970s.
• Christopher Eccleston
  Actor - 'Cracker', 'Shallow Grave', the former 'Doctor Who'. Born on 16 February 1964.
• Clinton Ford
  Singer. Born on 4 November 1931.
• Cornelius Nicholls
  Cricketer and umpire. Born on 17 March 1838.
• Damian Keeley
  Footballer. Born on 14 February 1963.
• Danielle Nicholls
  Television and radio presenter. Born on 16 December 1978.
• David Bamber
  Actor. Born on 19 September 1954.
• David Watson
  Professor of Zoology and Anatomy. Born on 18 June 1886.
• Dean Holden
  Footballer and manager. Born on 15 September 1979.
• Debbie Horsfield
  Writer, producer.
• Denis Betts
  Rugby player and coach. Born on 14 September 1969.
• Denis Gregson
  Rugby player. Born 4 December 1936.
• Di Stewart
  Television presenter. Born on 18 January 1979.
• Don Whillans
  Rock climber and mountaineer. Born on 18 May 1933.
• Doris Butterworth
  Dancer and tiller girl.
• Eddie Colman
  Manchester United footballer who died in the Munich air disaster. Born on 1 November 1936.
• Edgar Lustgarten
  Crime writer and television presenter. Born on 3 May 1907.
• Edward Schunck
  Chemist, who did much work with dry eyes. Born on 16 August 1820.
• Edward Watkin
  British Member of Parliament and railway entrepreneur. Born on 26 September 1819.
• Emmeline Pankhurst
  'Mrs Pankhurst' was one of the founders of the British suffragette movement. Born on 15 July 1858.
• Elkie Brooks
  Singer/songwriter. Born on 25 February 1945.
• Ewan MacColl
  Singer, songwriter, actor, playwright, radio broadcaster and socialist. Born in Broughton, Salford. Born on 25 January 1915.
• Franki Raffles
  Photographer and feminist. Born on 17 October 1955.
• Frances Eliza Hodgson
• Author, lived in Salford and her stays at the grand house in Buile Hill influenced The Secret Garden. Born on 24 November 1849.
• Francis Brandt
  Cricketer.
• Fred and Peter Done
  Businessmen. Born on 6 May 1940.
• Fred Fielder MBE
  Broadcaster and fundraiser, patron of 11 charities. Born and raised in Higher Broughton. 
• Freddie 'Parrot Face' Davies
  Comedian. Born on 21 July 1937.
• Frederick Marquis, 1st Earl of Woolton
  Businessman and statesman. Born on 23 August 1883.
  
• Gary Whelan
  Drummer with the Happy Mondays. Born on 12 February 1966.
• Geoff Bent
  Manchester United footballer who died in the Munich air disaster. Born on 27 September 1932.
• Geoffrey Howard
  Clergyman and author, he famously walked across the Saraha carrying all his gear in a wheelbarrow.
• George Bradshaw
  Printer and publisher. Born on 29 July 1800.
• George Colouris 
  English film and stage actor. Born on 1 October 1903.
  
• George Costigan
  Actor, although not born in Salford George went to school in Salford. Born on 8 August 1947.
• George Keeling
  Swam in the 1912 Olympics. Killed in the trenches in 1916.
• George Shepherd
  Photographer.
• George Switzer
  Footballer. Born on 13 October 1973.
• Ghislaine Howard
  Artist.
• Giant Haystacks (Martin Ruane)
  Wrestler, although not born in Salford Martin lived in Broughton from the age of three. Born on 10 October 1946.
• Gordon Wharmby
  Actor - Last of the Summer Wine, Poirot. Born on 6 November 1933. 
• Graham Gouldman
  Singer, songwriter, musician and founding member of 10cc. Born on 10 May 1946.
• Graham Nash
  Songwriter - Crosby, Stills and... Born on 2 February 1942.
• Gus Aubrey
  Actor. Born on 12 July 1905.
• Harold Bratt
  Footballer for Manchester United from 1955 to 1961. Born on 8 October 1939.
• Harold Brighouse
  Playwright and author whose best known play is Hobson's Choice. Born on 26 July 1882.
• Sir Harold Evans
  Journalist and writer who was editor of The Sunday Times from 1967 to 1981. Born on 28 June 1928.
• Harold Riley
  Artist. Born on 21 December 1934.
• Harold Williams
  Ice skater.
• Harry Dagnan
  Rugby player for Salford RLFC in the 1940s.
• Harvey Jacobson
  Businessman and entrepreneur. Born on 28 June 1956.
• Hazel Blears
  Politician. Born on 14 May 1956.
• Helen Cherry
  Actress. Born on 24 November 1915.
• Ian Blease
  Rugby League player. Born on 1 January 1965.
• Ian Watson
  Rugby League coach and former Salford player. Born on 27 October 1976.
• Isabel Hodgins
  Actress. Born on 23 November 1993.
• James Fearnley
  Musician with the Pogues. Born on 9 October 1954.
• James Hazeldine
  Actor. Born on 4 April 1947.
• James Peters
  Rugby player, the first black man to play rugby union for England. Born on 7 August 1879.
• James Prescott Joule
  Physicist, known for his research in electricity and thermodynamics. Born on 24 December 1818.
• James W Gibson
  Businessman who was the owner of Manchester United. Born on 21 October 1877.
• Jamie Moore
  Professional boxer. Born on 4 November 1978.
• Jan Johnston
  Singer. Born on 13 October 1968.
• Jane Robinson
  Costume designer
• Jason Done
  Actor. Born on 5 April 1973.
• Jason Manford
  Comedian, actor and television presenter. Born on 26 May 1981.
• Jim Moore
  Professional cyclist and ski instructor. Born on 6 April 1940.
• Jim Ramsbottom
  Regeneration expert who transformed the Castlefield area of Manchester.
• Jim Valentine
  Rugby Union and Swinton Rugby League legend. Born on 29 July 1866.
• Joanne Whalley
  Actress. Born on 25 August 1961.
• Joe Bowker
  Professional boxer. Born on 12 June 1881.
• Joe Gladwin
  Actor - 'Last of the Summer Wine'. Born on 22 January 1906.
• Joe Riley
  Footballer. Born on 6 December 1996.
• John Cooper Clarke
  Inventor of punk poetry. Born on 25 January 1949.
• John Henry Poynting
  Physicist. Born on 9 September 1852.
• John Motson
  Football commentator. Born on 10 July 1945.
• John Thomson
  Actor and comedian. Born on 2 April 1969.
• John Virgo
  Snooker player and presenter. Born on 4 March 1946.
• Sir John Moores
  Businessman, born in Eccles on 25 January 1896. Founder of the Littlewoods empire (football pools and retail company). Liverpool Polytechnic took the name Liverpool John Moores University in his honour upon being granted University status in 1992. Born on 25 January 1896.
• John Wilkinson
  Businessman and former chairman of Salford RLFC.
• Jon Christos
  Singer. Born on 23 March 1976.
• Joseph Brotherton
  Salford's first member of parliament - largely responsible for the opening of Peel Park, Salford and Weaste Cemetery. Born on 22 May 1783.
• Joseph Kay
  Economist. Born on 27 February 1821.
• Joseph Toole
  Born in Ordsall, politician and Lord Mayor of Manchester from 1936 to 1937.
• Josie Rourke
  Theatre and film director. Born on 3 September 1976.
• Julian Ballantyne
  Television presenter.
• Justin Chadwick
  Actor and director. Born on 6 December 1968.
• Kallum Higginbotham
  Footballer. Born on 15 June 1989.
• Kate Ford
  Actress. Born on 29 December 1976.
• Ken Reid
  Cartoonist, creator of Fudge the Elf and Roger the Dodger. Born on 18 December 1919.
• Kenneth Wolstenholme
  Football commentator - 1966 World Cup. Born on 17 July 1920.
• Kris Smith
  Model and former Rugby League player. Born on 20 August 1978.
• Laura McLaren, Baroness Aberconway
  Suffragette, author and horticulture expert. Born on 14 May 1854.
• Laurence Stephen Lowry
  World famous artist, he lived in Station Road, Pendlebury. Born on 1 November 1887.
• Leslie Cussons
  Chairman of Cussons Sons & Co. Born on 13 January 1907.
• Lewis Tan
  Actor and martial artist. Born on 4 February 1987.
• Lilias Armstrong
  Phonetic expert. Born on 29 September 1882.
• Marc Tierney
  Footballer, part of the Norwich City team that were promoted to the Premiership in 2011. Born on 23 August 1985.
• Mark Addy
  Hero - renowned for saving over 50 people from drowning in the River Irwell, at a time when it was at its most polluted.
• Mark Ashworth
  Actor. Born on 16 December 1976.
• Mark 'Bez' Berry
  Dancer with the Happy Mondays. Born on 18 April 1964.
• Mark Day
  Guitarist with the Happy Mondays.
• Mark E. Smith
  Long-time member of 'The Fall', an English post-punk band, formed in Manchester in 1976. Born on 5 March 1957.
• Mary Naylor
  Artist.
• Matt Greenhalgh
  Screenwriter.
• Max Shacklady
  Olympic boxer and wrestler. Born on 31 December 1918.
• McAtee family
  A family of footballers and rugby players.
  
• Michael Vaughan
  England cricket captain, born in Eccles. Born on 29 October 1974.
• Michelle Keegan
  Actress, although not born in Salford Michelle went to school in Salford. Born on 3 June 1987.
• Mick Kennedy
  Footballer. Born 9 April 1961.
• Mike Amatt
  Musician and children's entertainer.
• Mike Leigh
  Writer and director. Born on 20 February 1943.
• Mike Sweeney
  Broadcaster and DJ. Born on 15 September 1947.
• Mike Walker
  Jazz guitarist. Born on 12 July 1962.
• Mike Walling
  Comic actor and screenwriter. Born on 8 July 1950.
• Neil Midgley
  Referee. Born on 9 September 1942.
• Nick Blackman
  Footballer. Born on 11 November 1989.
  
• Nigel Pivaro
  Actor and journalist. Born on 11 December 1959.
• Sir Norman Moore
  Doctor and medical historian. Born on 8 January 1847.
• Pat Kirkwood
  Actress. Born on 24 February 1921.
• Paul Groves
  Rugby league player. Born 27 May 1965.
• Paul Kenny
  Photographer. Born on 16 July 1951.
• Paul Scholes
  Footballer, born in Salford. Born on 16 November 1974.
• Paul Tierney
  Ex Manchester United player who was awarded the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the year 2001-02. Born on 15 September 1982.
• Pearce Quigley
  Actor.
• Peter Hook
  Musician. Born on 13 February 1956.
• Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
  Classical music composer, appointed Master of the Queen's Music in March 2004. Born on 8 September 1934.
• Pete Travis
  Television and film director.
• Phil Bardsley
  Footballer. Born on 28 June 1985.
• Phil Power
  Football manager. Born on 25 July 1967. 
• Randolph Schwabe
  Artist and professor of fine art. Born on 9 May 1885.
• Rebecca Atkinson
  Actress. Born on 22 September 1983.
• Ren Harvieu
  Musician. Born on 3 September 1990.
• Richard Cobden
  Salford's apostle of free trade. Born on 3 June 1804.
• Richard Wright Procter
  Barber, poet and author.
• Rob James-Collier
  Actor. Born on 23 September 1976.
• Robert Powell
  Actor - 'The Thirty-Nine Steps', 'Jesus of Nazareth'. Born on 1 June 1944.
• Robert Roberts
  Author. Born on 15 June 1905.
• Russell Watson
  Opera singer. Born on 24 November 1966.
• Ryan Giggs
  The Manchester United star has been a Salford resident since he was six years old. Born on 29 November 1973.
• Sacha Parkinson
  Actress. Born on 11 March 1992.
• Samia Ghadie
  Actress. Born on 13 July 1982.
• Sara Ahmed
  Writer and scholar. Born on 30 August 1969.
• Shaun Ryder
  Singer with The Happy Mondays. Born on 23 August 1962.
• Shelagh Delaney
  Playwright and screenwriter, best known for her debut work, 'A Taste of Honey'. Born on 25 November 1938.
• Shelley Holroyd
  Javelin thrower. Born on 17 May 1973.
• Sinéad Moynihan
  Model and actress.
• Sir Simon Gerard McDonald
  British diplomat. Born on 9 March 1961.
• Simon Williams
  Poet and author. Born 5 November 1964
• Stan Pearson
  Footballer between 1936 and 1959. Born on 11 January 1919.
• Stephen Foster
  Boxer. Born on 16 September 1980.
• Stephen Lord
  Actor. Born on 1 October 1971.
• Steve Evets
  Actor. Born on 26 July 1959.
• Steve "The Viking" Foster
  Boxer, won Commonwealth light middleweight title and IBF Inter-Continental light middleweight title. Born on 28 December 1960.
• Syd Walker
  Actor and comedian. Born on 22 March 1886.
• Sydney Chapman
  Mathematician. Born on 29 January 1888.
• Terry Eagleton
  Literary Theorist. Born on 22 February 1943.
• The Ting Tings
  The indie pop duo formed in 2007 at Islington Mill studios in Salford.
• Thomas McNulty
  Played for Manchester United, part of the team that won the 1952 league title.
• Thomas Worthington
  Architect. Born on 11 April 1826.
• Tim Burgess
  Singer songwriter (Charlatans). Born on 30 May 1967.
• Tom Brown
  Artist.
• Tom Dodson
  Artist.
• Tom Hudson
  Actor. Born on 2 October 1986.
• Tommy Fury
  Boxer and Love Island contestant. 
• Tony Flynn
  Author and local historian.
• Tony Neary
  Rugby Union player. Born on 25 November 1948.
• Tony Shacklady
  Olympic wrestler. Born on 26 December 1945.
• Anthony 'Doc' Shiels
  Artist, writer, magician.
• Tony Warren
  Creator of TV's 'Coronation Street'. Born on 8 July 1936.
• Tony Wilson
  Record label owner, radio and TV presenter and journalist. Born on 20 February 1950.
• Victoria Armstrong
  Dancer.
• Walter Greenwood
  Author - 'Love on the Dole'. Born on 17 December 1903.
• William Cooke
  Clergyman and hymn writer.
• Reverend William Cowherd
  One of the philosophical forerunners of the Vegetarian Society, formed in 1847.
• William Crabtree
  Predicted and recorded a transit of Venus in 1639.
• William Lockett
  First Mayor of Salford, 1844 to 1845.
• William Renshaw
  Seven time Wimbledon winner between 1881 and 1889, including six consecutive titles. Born on 3 January 1861.
• William Webb Ellis
  Supposed inventor of rugby. Born on 24 November 1806.
• William Worrall Mayo
  Doctor and founder of the Mayo Clinic. Born on 31 May 1819.
• Winifred Mary Letts
  Writer. Born on 10 February 1882.
• Yousaf Ali Khan
  Film director.

Is somebody missing from this list?

If you know a famous Salfordian who isn't listed on this page, please email public.relations@salford.gov.uk with details. Please note this email cannot pick up customer service or council tax queries. For help, please go to our how to contact us page. 

This page was last updated on 4 March 2025