| Samuel Richardson | English writer and printer | 1689–1761 |
| Todd Richardson | American politician | 1976 |
| Cardinal Richelieu | French clergyman, noble and s… | 1585–1642 |
| Donald Richie | American writer | 1924–2013 |
| Lionel Richie | American singer-songwriter, m… | 1949 |
| Nicole Richie | American television personali… | 1981 |
| Mordecai Richler | Canadian author, screenwriter… | 1931–2001 |
| Alyson Richman | American writer | 1972 |
| Michelle Richmond | American writer | 1970 |
| David Richmond-Peck | Canadian actor | 1974 |
| Gerhard Richter | German visual artist, born 19… | 1932 |
| Sviatoslav Richter | Soviet pianist | 1915–1997 |
| Ed Ricketts | American marine biologist | 1897–1948 |
| Branch Rickey | American baseball player and … | 1881–1965 |
| George Rickey | American artist | 1907–2002 |
| Alan Rickman | English film, television and … | 1946–2016 |
| Hyman George Rickover | United States admiral | 1900–1986 |
| Paul Ricoeur | French philosopher | 1913–2005 |
| Jonas Ridderstråle | Swedish business theorist | 1966 |
| Sally Ride | American physicist and astron… | 1951–2012 |
| David A. Ridenour | | |
| Cecilia L. Ridgeway | American sociologist | 1947 |
| Anne Ridler | English poet, editor | 1912–2001 |
| Arnold Ridley | Playwright, actor | 1896–1984 |
| Matt Ridley | economist | 1958 |
| Jan van Riebeeck | Dutch colonial governor | 1619–1677 |
| Mark Riebling | American writer | 1963 |
| Leni Riefenstahl | German film director, photogr… | 1902–2003 |
| Philip Rieff | American sociologist | 1922–2006 |
| Joerg Rieger | divinity school scholar | 1963 |
| Louis Riel | Canadian politician | 1844–1885 |
| Bernhard Riemann | German mathematician | 1826–1866 |
| Rob Riemen | Dutch philosopher | 1962 |
| David Riesman | American Sociologist | 1909–2002 |
| Curt Martin Riess | German journalist and writer | 1902–1993 |
| Fernando Arêas Rifan | Roman Catholic bishop | 1950 |
| Jeremy Rifkin | American economist | 1945 |
| Kasha Rigby | American skier | 1970 |
| Jeff Riggenbach | | 1947 |
| Ransom Riggs | American writer | 1979 |
| Rihanna | Barbadian singer, songwriter,… | 1988 |
| Edison Rijna | Dutch politician on Bonaire | 1967 |
| William H. Riker | American political scientist | 1920–1993 |
| Bridget Riley | British painter | 1931 |
| James Whitcomb Riley | American poet from Indianapol… | 1849–1916 |
| Pat Riley | American basketball player, c… | 1945 |
| Rachel Riley | television presenter | 1986 |
| Tim Riley | American radio personality | |
| Rainer Maria Rilke | Austrian poet and writer | 1875–1926 |
| Arthur Rimbaud | French Decadent and Symbolist… | 1854–1891 |
| Penny Rimbaud | writer, poet, philosopher, pa… | 1943 |
| Javon Ringer | All-American college football… | 1987 |
| Faith Ringgold | American artist | 1930 |
| Molly Ringwald | American actress, singer, dan… | 1968 |
| Khandro Rinpoche | Buddhist lama | 1967 |
| Sogyal Rinpoche | Tibetan Dzogchen lama of the … | 1947–2019 |
| Álvaro Corrada del Río | Puerto Rican Catholic bishop | 1942 |
| Rick Riordan | American writer | 1964 |
| Eric Ripert | French chef | 1965 |
| Alexandra Ripley | American writer | 1934–2004 |
| Dorothy Ripley | missionary | 1767–1832 |
| Chad Ripperger | American Roman Catholic pries… | 1964 |
| Juan Román Riquelme | Argentine footballer | 1978 |
| Jim Risch | American politician | 1943 |
| Butterflies Rising | | |
| James Robinson Risner | Recipient of the Purple Heart… | 1925–2013 |
| Jens Risom | American furniture designer | 1916–2016 |
| Cynthia D. Ritchie | | |
| Dennis M. Ritchie | American computer scientist | 1941–2011 |
| Lee Ritenour | American jazz guitarist, sess… | 1952 |
| Yiannis Ritsos | Greek poet | 1909–1990 |
| David Rittenhouse | American astronomer | 1732–1796 |
| Kyle Rittenhouse | former suspect in the killing… | 2003 |
| Krysten Ritter | American actress | 1981 |
| Scott Ritter | American weapons inspector an… | 1961 |
| George Ritzer | American sociologist | 1940 |
| Carmen Rivera | American playwright | 1964 |
| Diego Rivera | Mexican painter, muralist, Co… | 1886–1957 |
| Jesús Omar Rivera | | |
| José Antonio Primo de Rivera | Spanish noble and politician | 1903–1936 |
| Tomás Rivera | American academic | 1935–1984 |
| Manuel Rivera-Ortiz | American photographer | 1968 |
| Francine Rivers | American writer | 1947 |
| Joan Rivers | American comedian, actress, a… | 1933–2014 |
| Johnny Rivers | American musician | 1942 |
| James Rivière | Italian Jewellery and sculptor | 1949 |
| Steve Rivkin | American marketing theorist | 1947–2016 |
| Reuven Rivlin | Israeli politician, 10th Pres… | 1939 |
| José Rizal | Filipino writer, ophthalmolog… | 1861–1896 |
| Marco Rizzo | Italian politician | 1959 |
| Archie Roach | Australian musician | 1956–2022 |
| Marion Roach | American writer | 1956 |
| Mary Roach | American science writer | 1959 |
| AnnaSophia Robb | American actress, singer, and… | 1993 |
| J.D. Robb | | |
| Pablo Echenique Robba | | |
| Alain Robbe-Grillet | 1922-2008 French agricultural… | 1922–2008 |
| Margot Robbie | Australian actress | 1990 |
| Alexandra Robbins | American journalist | 1976 |
| Anthony Robbins | Author, actor, professional s… | 1960 |
