Famous Left-Handed People

Famous left handers have made their mark in every field, proving that handedness is no obstacle to creativity, intellect, or athletic prowess. From the arts to the sciences, politics to sports, these left handed celebrities and pioneers have consistently defied expectations. While some displayed ambidextrous talents and others left complicated legacies, their remarkable contributions remind us that greatness transcends which hand you favor.

Let’s take a look at this list of famous left handed people, featuring 100 notable individuals who have shaped history in remarkable ways. Whether you're exploring famous people who are left handed or just love discovering left handed famous people, this roundup is for you.

Looking to learn more about standout lefties? Visit our blog for deeper dives into the lives of unique left handed thinkers, creators, and innovators.

Scientists and Inventors

• Marie Curie – Physicist, chemist
• Isaac Newton – Mathematician, physicist
• Alan Turing – Mathematician
• James D. Watson – Molecular biologist, geneticist, and zoologist
• Charles Darwin – Naturalist
• Andrea Morello –  Electrical engineer, quantum physicist
• Cady Coleman – Astronaut, chemist, engineer
• Buzz Aldrin – Astronaut, engineer
• Albert Einstein (ambidextrous, but largely left-handed) – Physicist
• Nicola Tesla (ambidextrous, but largely left-handed) – Inventor, engineer

Writers and Philosophers

• Aristotle – Philosopher, writer, and polymath
• Helen Keller – Writer, essayist, political activist
• James Baldwin – Novelist, playwright, political activist
• Douglas Adams – Writer, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
• R. L. Stine – Writer, Goosebumps
• Lewis Carroll – Writer, Alice in Wonderland
• Helen Hooven Santmyer – Writer, "...And Ladies of the Club"
• Tina Fey – Screenwriter, Mean Girls
• Emma Thompson – Screenwriter, Sense and Sensibility
• Vince Gilligan – Screenwriter, Breaking Bad

Artists

• Matt Groening – Cartoonist
• Jeff Koons – Sculptor
• Thomas Kinkade – Painter
• Jean Paul Gaultier – Fashion designer
• Alan Lee – Illustrator
• Alice Neel – Painter
• Anita Malfatti – Painter
• M. C. Escher (ambidextrous, but largely left-handed) – Graphic artist
• Michelangelo (ambidextrous, but largely left-handed) – Sculptor, painter
• Leonardo da Vinci (ambidextrous) – Painter, scientist, inventor
  

Musicians and Composers

• Jimi Hendrix – Guitarist, singer, songwriter
• James Brown – Musician, singer, songwriter
• David Bowie – Musician, singer, songwriter
• Phil Collins – Musician, singer, songwriter
• Lizzo – Flutist, singer, songwriter
• Paul McCartney – Musician, The Beatles
• Kurt Cobain – Guitarist, singer, songwriter, Nirvana
• Chris Martin – Musician, singer, songwriter, Coldplay
• Ludwig van Beethoven (ambidextrous) – Composer
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (ambidextrous) – Composer

Singers and Rappers

• Lady Gaga – Singer, songwriter
• Justin Bieber – Singer, songwriter
• Rosé – Singer, songwriter
• Pink – Singer, songwriter
• Faith Hill – Singer, songwriter
• Iggy Pop – Singer, songwriter
• Annie Lennox – Singer, songwriter
• Eminem – Rapper, songwriter
• Iggy Azalea – Rapper, songwriter
• Cardi B – Rapper
  

Filmmakers

• James Cameron – Avatar, Titanic
• Christopher Nolan – Inception, Oppenheimer
• Spike Lee – Do the Right Thing, BlacKkKlansman
• John McTiernan – Die Hard, Predator
• Ridley Scott – Gladiator, The Martian
  
• James Wan – Saw, Furious 7
  
• David Ayer – Suicide Squad, Fury
  
• John M. Chu – Crazy Rich Asians, Wicked
  
• Lin-Manuel Miranda – Tick, Tick... Boom!
  
• Charlie Chaplin (ambidextrous, but largely left-handed) – City Lights, Modern Times

Actors

• Angelina Jolie – Tomb Raider, Maleficent
  
• Keanu Reeves – The Matrix, John Wick
  
• Morgan Freeman – The Shawshank Redemption, Se7en
  
• Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games, Silver Linings Playbook
  
• Hugh Jackman – Logan, Les Misérables
  
• Judy Garland – The Wizard of Oz, A Star Is Born
  
• Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
  
• Julia Roberts – Pretty Woman, Erin Brockovich
  
• Anthony Perkins – Psycho, Friendly Persuasion
  
• Bruce Willis – Die Hard, The Sixth Sense

Athletes

• Babe Ruth – Baseball player
  
• Steve Young – Football quarterback
  
• Monica Seles – Tennis player
  
• Phil Mickelson – Golfer
  
• Oscar de la Hoya – Boxer
  
• John Cena – Wrestler
  
• Laura Flessel – Fencer
  
• Bill Russell – Basketball player
  
• LeBron James (ambidextrous, but largely left-handed) – Basketball player
  
• Rafael Nadal (ambidextrous) – Tennis player
  

Politicians and Leaders

• Barack Obama – U.S. President
• George H. W. Bush – U.S. President
• Bill Clinton – U.S. President
• Ronald Reagan – U.S. President
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg – U.S. Supreme Court Justice
• Winston Churchill – British Prime Minister
  
• Laura Chinchilla – President of Costa Rica
  
• Napoleon Bonaparte – French military leader and emperor
  
• Julius Caesar – Roman general and statesman
  
• Desmond Tutu – South African Anglican cleric and Anti-Apartheid Activist

Entrepreneurs and Innovators

• Bill Gates – Co-founder of Microsoft
• Mark Zuckerberg – Founder of Facebook
• Henry Ford – Founder of Ford Motor Company
• Shigeru Miyamoto – Video game designer and general manager at Nintendo
  
• Stan Lee – Comic book legend and former chairman of Marvel Comics
  
• Oprah Winfrey – Entrepreneur, television personality
  
• Mary-Kate Olsen – Entrepreneur, fashion designer
  
• Gordon Ramsey – Entrepreneur, chef
  
• Michael Bloomberg – Co-founder of Bloomberg L.P.
  
• Steve Jobs (ambidextrous, but largely left-handed) – Co-founder of Apple