26 Famous People From The 1920s That Defined The Jazz Age
The 1920s roared with energy, bold fashion, and a cultural shake-up that still echoes today.
I’ve always been mesmerized by this dazzling decade, when America ditched its buttoned-up Victorian past and leapt headfirst into modernity. It was an era of speakeasies, flappers, and wild jazz that gave the world a serious attitude adjustment.
But behind all that sparkle and sass were real people—visionaries who didn’t just ride the wave of change; they were the ones making it. From jazz legends who laid down the grooves of a generation to daring writers, avant-garde artists, and silver screen stars who redefined fame, these 25 trailblazers were the Jazz Age.
They shaped a cultural revolution with every note, line, brushstroke, and performance—and their legacy still makes history feel exciting, stylish, and alive.
1. Louis Armstrong: The Trumpet Revolutionary
Satchmo changed jazz forever with his golden trumpet and gravelly voice. Growing up in New Orleans, I learned how this musical genius transformed improvisation with his innovative solos on recordings like “West End Blues.”
His wide grin and charismatic stage presence made complex music accessible to everyone. Armstrong’s Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings remain masterclasses in jazz expression.
Beyond his musical talent, he broke racial barriers during a deeply segregated era. His influence stretches beyond jazz—he fundamentally changed how all musicians approach their instruments and how singers phrase their melodies.
2. F. Scott Fitzgerald: Chronicler of the Lost Generation
The literary rockstar who coined the term “Jazz Age” captured the decade’s glittering excess and hollow core. His masterpiece “The Great Gatsby” sits on my bookshelf as a reminder of dreams both pursued and corrupted.
Fitzgerald’s own life mirrored his fiction—wild parties, creative brilliance, and personal struggles. His relationship with wife Zelda embodied the era’s romantic recklessness.
What strikes me most about Fitzgerald’s writing is how he balanced dazzling prose with sharp social criticism. He showed us the beauty of the 1920s while revealing the cracks beneath its sparkling surface.
3. Josephine Baker: The Boundary-Breaking Performer
Banana skirts and boundless talent! Baker conquered Paris when America wouldn’t embrace her brilliance. I once saw footage of her famous dance performances and was mesmerized by her revolutionary combination of comedy, sensuality, and sheer charisma.
Fleeing American racism, she found adoration in France, becoming the highest-paid entertainer in Europe. Her exotic performances at the Folies Bergère made her an international sensation.
Baker wasn’t just an entertainer—she later became a spy against the Nazis and a civil rights activist. Her refusal to perform for segregated audiences helped break down racial barriers in entertainment long before the Civil Rights Movement.
4. Duke Ellington: The Sophisticated Maestro
Elegance personified! Ellington transformed jazz from dance music to sophisticated art form. My grandmother’s record collection introduced me to his genius through classics like “Mood Indigo” and “Take the A Train.”
As the house band at Harlem’s Cotton Club, his orchestra became the soundtrack of the era. Ellington’s innovative compositions blended blues, ragtime, and classical influences into something entirely new.
Unlike many bandleaders, he wrote specifically for the individual musicians in his orchestra, showcasing their unique talents. His dignified presence and musical sophistication earned respect for jazz at a time when many dismissed it as mere entertainment.
5. Bessie Smith: The Empress of Blues
Raw emotion poured from Smith’s powerful voice, cutting through the static of old recordings and straight into your soul. I remember discovering her music during a rainy afternoon at a vintage record shop—her rendition of “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” gave me chills.
As the highest-paid Black performer of her time, Smith brought authentic blues from Southern tent shows to mainstream America. Her Columbia recordings sold in unprecedented numbers despite the industry’s racial barriers.
Behind the powerful voice was a complex woman—fiercely independent, openly bisexual, and uncompromising in her artistry. Her influence echoes in every blues and rock singer who followed.
6. Charlie Chaplin: The Silent Film Genius
The Little Tramp waddles into our hearts with nothing but a cane, baggy pants, and perfect comic timing. Growing up, I spent countless Saturday afternoons watching Chaplin’s films, amazed that someone could make me laugh so hard without saying a word.
During the 1920s, Chaplin reached his creative peak with masterpieces like “The Gold Rush” and “The Kid.” He wasn’t just funny—he blended comedy with social commentary and heartbreaking pathos.
As writer, director, actor, composer, and producer of his films, his creative control was unprecedented. His refusal to transition to talkies showed his commitment to the universal language of physical comedy and visual storytelling.
7. Coco Chanel: The Fashion Revolutionary
Snip, snip! Chanel cut away the corsets and frills that had constrained women for centuries. My fashion-obsessed aunt once showed me a vintage Chanel suit, explaining how revolutionary her simple, elegant designs were in the 1920s.
Her introduction of the “little black dress” and women’s trousers reflected the decade’s new female independence. Chanel’s boyish silhouettes freed women’s bodies while her costume jewelry democratized style.
Born poor and orphaned young, she reinvented herself completely—a quintessentially Jazz Age story. Her use of jersey fabric (previously only used for men’s underwear) for women’s clothing was just one example of how she turned fashion conventions upside down.
8. Babe Ruth: The Sultan of Swat
Home runs and hot dogs! Ruth transformed baseball from a strategic game into an explosive spectator sport. My grandfather told stories of listening to Ruth’s legendary games on crackling radio broadcasts, describing the electricity that surged through crowds when the Bambino stepped up to bat.
His record-shattering 60 home runs in 1927 seemed superhuman. Ruth’s larger-than-life personality matched his athletic prowess—he drank, caroused, and lived as extravagantly as he played.
When the Yankees moved into their new stadium in 1923, sportswriters dubbed it “The House That Ruth Built.” His impact went beyond baseball, making him America’s first true sports celebrity and helping heal the wounds of the Black Sox scandal.
9. Clara Bow: The Original “It Girl”
Those hypnotic eyes and that wild flapper energy made Bow the ultimate silent film sensation. I remember watching “It” for a film history class and immediately understanding why audiences fell in love with her natural, uninhibited screen presence.
As Hollywood’s first sex symbol, she received over 45,000 fan letters monthly at her peak. Her trademark cupid’s bow lips and bobbed hair were copied by women nationwide.
Bow’s characters embodied the decade’s new sexual freedom and youthful rebellion. Despite her fame, her Brooklyn accent and working-class background made studio executives nervous about her transition to talkies—a reminder of how class divisions persisted even in the seemingly democratic world of early Hollywood.
10. Ernest Hemingway: The Bare-Knuckled Wordsmith
Hemingway punched words onto the page with the same force he used in Parisian boxing rings. His sparse, direct writing style shocked me when I first read “The Sun Also Rises” in college—no flowery Victorian prose, just raw emotion and action.
His experiences as an ambulance driver in World War I shaped his view of heroism and masculinity. Hemingway’s time in Paris put him at the center of the expatriate artistic community, where he crossed paths with Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, and other literary giants.
His characters—wounded, stoic, seeking meaning through action—captured the post-war generation’s disillusionment. The bullfights, fishing trips, and safaris in his stories reflected his own adventurous life.
11. Greta Garbo: The Enigmatic Screen Goddess
“I want to be alone” became Garbo’s famous line both on and off screen. Her mysterious allure captivated me during a classic film marathon—those luminous eyes communicated more than pages of dialogue ever could.
Swedish-born Garbo brought European sophistication to Hollywood when she arrived in 1925. Her performances in silent films like “Flesh and the Devil” established her as cinema’s great romantic tragedian.
Unlike the flirtatious flappers of the era, Garbo projected intelligence and emotional depth. She carefully guarded her privacy, refusing interviews and avoiding public appearances, which only increased public fascination. This carefully maintained mystique made her the definitive screen goddess of the late Jazz Age.
12. Al Capone: The Notorious Bootlegger King
Scarface ruled Chicago with an iron fist and a winning smile. During a tour of Chicago’s gangster sites, I was struck by how Capone’s criminal empire was both terrifying and oddly respected—he provided illegal alcohol to a nation desperate to drink during Prohibition.
His operation reportedly earned $100 million annually from bootlegging, gambling, and prostitution. Despite his brutal methods, including the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, Capone cultivated a Robin Hood image by opening soup kitchens during the Depression.
The government finally caught him on tax evasion rather than his violent crimes. Capone’s story embodies the Prohibition era’s strange moral contradictions, where outlaws became celebrities and law enforcement struggled to adapt to new criminal enterprises.
13. Langston Hughes: The Poetic Voice of Harlem
“I, too, sing America” rang out as Hughes gave voice to Black American experiences. I discovered his poetry during a rainy afternoon in a university library and was immediately struck by how his rhythmic, jazz-influenced verses captured both struggle and celebration.
As a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes rejected stereotypical portrayals of Black life. His breakthrough poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” was published when he was only 19, announcing a major new talent.
Hughes wrote about everyday Black Americans rather than focusing solely on the elite. His work incorporated blues rhythms and jazz improvisation into literary forms, creating a distinctly American poetic voice that bridged racial divides while honestly addressing the realities of segregation.
14. Zelda Fitzgerald: The Original Flapper
Wild, witty, and wonderfully talented, Zelda embodied the decade’s rebellious spirit. I once visited the Montgomery, Alabama home where she grew up and was fascinated by how this Southern belle transformed into the quintessential Jazz Age icon.
Her whirlwind romance with F. Scott Fitzgerald became the stuff of literary legend. She famously dove into the Plaza Hotel fountain fully clothed and danced on tabletops at speakeasies.
Behind the party-girl image was a creative force in her own right—a writer, painter, and ballet dancer. Scott borrowed liberally from her diaries and letters for his novels, prompting Zelda to quip, “Plagiarism begins at home.” Her struggles with mental illness later in life add a tragic dimension to her meteoric rise.
15. Marcus Garvey: The Pan-African Visionary
Black pride and self-determination! Garvey’s powerful oratory filled Harlem streets with hope and purpose. During a college research project, I was amazed to learn how his Universal Negro Improvement Association became the largest Black movement in American history, with over four million members at its peak.
His Back-to-Africa movement promoted Black economic independence and cultural pride. Garvey established the Black Star Line shipping company to facilitate trade between Africa, the Caribbean, and the United States.
His newspaper, Negro World, reached readers globally. Though controversial and eventually imprisoned on mail fraud charges, Garvey’s emphasis on Black self-reliance and dignity influenced generations of civil rights leaders. His red, black, and green flag remains a powerful symbol of Pan-African unity.
16. Dorothy Parker: The Razor-Witted Wordsmith
“Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses” and other Parker zingers still make me laugh out loud. Her acerbic wit first captured my attention when a friend quoted her famous review: “This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.”
As a founding member of the Algonquin Round Table, Parker traded barbs with New York’s literary elite. Her poetry and short stories explored the darker side of relationships with unflinching honesty and dark humor.
Behind her caustic persona was a passionate advocate for civil rights and social justice. Parker’s work for The New Yorker and Vanity Fair established her as one of America’s most influential cultural critics, demolishing pretension with perfectly crafted one-liners.
17. Rudolph Valentino: The Silver Screen Seducer
Those smoldering eyes caused nationwide swooning! Valentino’s exotic appeal transformed male sexuality on screen. I was shocked to learn about the mass hysteria following his untimely death—100,000 people rioted at his funeral, demonstrating his unprecedented impact on female fans.
His breakthrough role in “The Sheik” established the archetype of the dangerous but irresistible lover. As Hollywood’s first male sex symbol, Valentino challenged Anglo-Saxon ideals of masculinity with his Italian heritage and sensual dancing.
Critics dismissed him as effeminate, but women adored his combination of danger and romance. His perfectly pomaded hair and impeccable style influenced men’s fashion despite the criticism. Valentino’s legacy shows how the 1920s redefined gender roles and sexuality in American culture.
18. Jelly Roll Morton: The Jazz Pioneer
Diamond rings flashing on every finger, Morton boasted he invented jazz—and he wasn’t entirely wrong! I stumbled across his Library of Congress recordings years ago and was blown away by how his piano playing bridged ragtime and the jazz revolution.
Born Ferdinand LaMothe in New Orleans, he absorbed diverse musical influences from the city’s melting pot. His Red Hot Peppers recordings showcased his genius for arrangement and composition at a time when most jazz was improvised.
Morton’s complex piano style incorporated Spanish tinges, blues, and ragtime. Despite his contributions, racial barriers limited his recognition during his lifetime. His colorful personality—he claimed to be the best pool player and the best pianist—embodied jazz’s confident spirit.
19. Georgia O’Keeffe: The Desert Modernist
Enormous flowers and sun-bleached bones transformed American art through O’Keeffe’s visionary eyes. During a trip to New Mexico, I stood in the landscapes she painted and finally understood how she captured their essence—not just their appearance.
Her breakthrough New York exhibition in 1923 established her as a major modernist painter. Though often reduced to feminine imagery, O’Keeffe rejected gendered interpretations of her work, insisting her flowers were simply flowers.
Her relationship with photographer Alfred Stieglitz became one of the art world’s great partnerships. O’Keeffe’s precise, bold forms and vibrant colors created a distinctly American modernism separate from European traditions. Her independent spirit and artistic integrity made her a role model for women artists.
20. Bix Beiderbecke: The Tragic Cornet Prodigy
Crystal-clear cornet tones floated from speakeasy windows as Beiderbecke created jazz that sounded like liquid moonlight. My old jazz professor would close his eyes reverently whenever he played Bix’s recordings, especially the hauntingly beautiful “In a Mist.”
Unlike many early jazz musicians, Beiderbecke was white and middle-class, learning music by ear rather than formal training. His lyrical, refined approach contrasted with the hotter styles of New Orleans players.
Sadly, alcoholism cut his brilliant career short—he passed at just 28. Beiderbecke’s brief life inspired the novel and film “Young Man with a Horn.” His musical legacy lives on in his innovative approach to improvisation and his compositions that blended jazz with classical impressionism.
21. Louise Brooks: The Bobbed-Hair Rebel
That iconic black bob and those knowing eyes defined modern womanhood! I remember gasping when I first saw Brooks in “Pandora’s Box”—her naturalistic acting style felt shockingly contemporary compared to other silent film stars.
Brooks rejected Hollywood’s star system, famously walking away from a Paramount contract to work in Germany. Her portrayal of sexually liberated women in films like “Diary of a Lost Girl” challenged conventional morality.
After her acting career faded, she reinvented herself as a respected film writer. Brooks’s refusal to compromise made her a cult figure rather than a mainstream star during her lifetime. Today, her image remains the quintessential symbol of 1920s rebellion—independent, sensual, and unapologetically modern.
22. Paul Robeson: The Renaissance Man
That magnificent baritone voice could shake buildings, but Robeson was so much more than a singer. I was stunned to learn he was an All-American football player, Columbia Law School graduate, accomplished actor, and fluent in over 20 languages!
His 1925 performance in “Emperor Jones” broke barriers for Black actors on stage. Robeson’s rendition of “Ol’ Man River” in “Show Boat” transformed a show tune into a powerful statement on racial injustice.
His international fame allowed him to challenge segregation by refusing to perform for segregated audiences. Later blacklisted for his political activism, Robeson’s Jazz Age success demonstrated his extraordinary talent while highlighting the persistent racial barriers he fought to overcome.
23. Theda Bara: The Original Vamp
Eyes rimmed in kohl, Bara smoldered her way into cinema history as America’s first sex symbol. While researching early film history, I was fascinated to learn her exotic “foreign” image was completely manufactured—she was actually Theodosia Goodman from Cincinnati!
Her stage name was an anagram for “Arab Death,” highlighting her marketed persona as a dangerous temptress. In films like “Cleopatra” and “Salome,” she portrayed women who lured men to their destruction.
Though her career peaked just before the 1920s, her influence shaped the decade’s changing attitudes toward female sexuality. Sadly, most of Bara’s films are now lost, with only fragments remaining of her groundbreaking performances that helped establish cinema as an art form.
24. Man Ray: The Surrealist Innovator
Floating lips in the sky? A woman’s back transformed into a violin? Man Ray’s surrealist images still startle and delight. During my art school days, I tried replicating his “rayograph” technique by placing objects directly on photographic paper—my results were disappointing, but my appreciation for his genius soared!
After moving to Paris in 1921, he became a central figure in Dada and Surrealist movements. His photographs of Kiki de Montparnasse, especially “Le Violon d’Ingres,” became icons of the era.
Ray’s experimental techniques like solarization revolutionized photography as an art form. Beyond photography, he created influential paintings, films, and objects. His work captured the decade’s spirit of artistic freedom and boundary-breaking experimentation.
25. Ma Rainey: The Mother of the Blues
Gold teeth gleaming as she belted raw, honest blues, Rainey brought authentic Southern Black music to mainstream audiences. I discovered her gravelly voice on a compilation album and was immediately transported to the tent shows where she first performed.
Already established when the decade began, Rainey mentored younger artists like Bessie Smith. Her 1923 recording contract with Paramount made her one of the first blues artists to be recorded.
Openly bisexual at a time when such expression was taboo, her songs sometimes referenced same-sex relationships. Rainey’s authentic stage presence—gold teeth, flamboyant dresses, and necklaces of gold coins—influenced generations of performers. Her music preserved folk blues traditions while helping create the commercial recording industry.
26. Zora Neale Hurston: The Folklore Preservationist
Vibrant, fearless, and wickedly funny, Hurston collected Black folk stories while creating revolutionary literature. I first encountered her novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God” in college and was struck by how her characters spoke in authentic dialect rather than the sanitized English used by many writers of the period.
As an anthropologist trained at Barnard College, she documented African American folklore throughout the South and Caribbean. Her work preserved cultural traditions that might otherwise have been lost.
A central figure in the Harlem Renaissance, Hurston collaborated with Langston Hughes on various projects. Her insistence on portraying rural Black life authentically sometimes put her at odds with other Black intellectuals who worried about reinforcing stereotypes.