From sports stars to TV personalities and musicians to local heroes, the Black Cats have a number of famous fans – including some surprising and international names. Over the years, we have seen many celebrities come out and publicly announce their support of the Wearside club. Here, we take a look at the famous faces who support Sunderland:
![Peter O’Toole was in fact a Sunderland fan. Renowned for his portrayal of T.E Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, the London-born actor holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations without winning the award. O’Toole became a Black Cats supporter through his father who worked as a labourer in the city. However, the actor sadly passed away in December 2013.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmYyMTRhMWNlLTczYTAtNGI2My1hZjJhLWNjN2I5YmVlODViODoxZmIxNzE3Yy00ZWU0LTQwYjQtYmMzMS1mNzQ3MGZkYjc2MTQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
17. Peter O'Toole
Peter O’Toole was in fact a Sunderland fan. Renowned for his portrayal of T.E Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, the London-born actor holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations without winning the award. O’Toole became a Black Cats supporter through his father who worked as a labourer in the city. However, the actor sadly passed away in December 2013.Photo: Robert Mora
![Best known for working on a number of West End musicals with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Rice may have been born in Warwickshire - but he counts Sunderland as his football team.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmM1NThiY2ExLTZjZmEtNDdiZi1hMzY3LWM0MTI2N2MyN2QzOTo2NjZiY2ExMS03ZDAwLTRjOWEtYTdiZC1jZWNlYTQ5N2YxMjc=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
18. Sir Tim Rice
Best known for working on a number of West End musicals with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Rice may have been born in Warwickshire - but he counts Sunderland as his football team.Photo: Daniel Berehulak
![A real hometown hero, Jeffries even signed his first professional boxing contract at the Stadium of Light - having won a medal at the 2008 Olympics.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmQ4NzNmNWE0LTI1M2UtNGFlYS05OWQyLTBhZTdmOTdlZTg1NTpjMWQyMTZkNC05NjE0LTRmMzUtYjdmMS1jNTRjNjM1NjJjNzg=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
19. Tony Jeffries
A real hometown hero, Jeffries even signed his first professional boxing contract at the Stadium of Light - having won a medal at the 2008 Olympics.Photo: Matthew Lewis
![Raised in Sunderland, the former BBC chief correspondent grew up following the Black Cats - and remains a supporter to this day.](https://www.sunderlandecho.com/webimg/b25lY21zOmU5YzMxNzhjLTUxOGQtNGQ5Yi1hNGNkLTc4N2RkY2RiZjA3NjplMjQ2ODQ3Mi0wNmEwLTQ3ZGUtYjkzMi0xM2M1OWI5M2Q1MTk=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
20. Kate Adie
Raised in Sunderland, the former BBC chief correspondent grew up following the Black Cats - and remains a supporter to this day.Photo: KIRSTY O'CONNOR