List of people from Missouri

The following are people who were either born, raised, or have lived for a significant period of time in the U.S. state of Missouri.

Art and literature

Helen Andelin (1920–2009), author of Fascinating Womanhood
Maya Angelou (1928–2014), author and poet
Thomas P. Barnett (1870–1929), architect and impressionist painter
Thomas Hart Benton (1889–1975), painter
George Caleb Bingham (1811–1879), artist (born in Virginia but moved to central Missouri)
Edward McKendree Bounds (1835–1913), author and theologian
Mark Bowden (born 1951), author, journalist
William S. Burroughs (1914–1997), author (Naked Lunch)
Kate Chopin (1851–1904), author (The Awakening) and early feminist
Guy Anthony De Marco (born 1963), author of speculative fiction
Lester Dent (1904–1959), author of Doc Savage novels
Michele Dunaway (born 1965), author of romantic novels
Suzette Haden Elgin (1936–2015), science-fiction author and linguist
T. S. Eliot (1888–1965), poet, dramatist and literary critic
Mary Engelbreit (born 1952), graphic artist, children's book illustrator
Michael Evans (1944–2005), photographer
Eugene Field (1850–1895), writer and poet
Gillian Flynn (born 1971), novelist, television critic
Martha Gellhorn (1908–1998), novelist, travel writer, and journalist
Steve Gerber (1947–2008), comic book writer and co-creator of Howard the Duck
David L. Harrison (born 1937), children's author, poet, recipient of the Missourian Award (2006)^[1]
William Least Heat-Moon (born 1939), author
Robert A. Heinlein (1907–1988), science fiction author
Frederick Hibbard (1881–1950), sculptor known for his works of famous 19th-century figures
Langston Hughes (1902–1967), African-American poet, novelist, and playwright
William W. Johnstone (1938–2004), author of western, horror, and survivalist novels
Donald Judd (1928–1994), artist
Oliver Lee Jackson (born 1935), painter, sculptor, draftsman, and printmaker
Jim Lee (born 1964), comic book artist and writer
David Limbaugh (born 1952), columnist, author, and political commentator
Bernarr Macfadden (1868–1955), founder of Macfadden Publications, bodybuilding advocate
Cornelia F. Maury (1866–1942), pastel artist
Dennis L. McKiernan (born 1932), author
Marianne Moore (1887–1972), poet and writer
Archie Musick (1902–1978), painter and illustrator, associated with the Regionalist movement
John R. Musick (1849–1901), author and poet, known for the Columbian Historical novels
Ruth Ann Musick (1897–1974), author and folklorist
H. Richard Niebuhr (1894–1962), author, theologian
Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971), author, theologian, and political commentator
Isabel Richey (1858–1910), writer, poet
John Ross (born 1957), author
Charles Marion Russell (1864–1926), artist
Clay Shirky (born 1964), writer, consultant, lecturer, author of Here Comes Everybody
Kimora Lee Simmons (born 1975), fashion model, author, actress
Minnetta Theodora Taylor (1860–1911), poet, lyricist, writer
Sara Teasdale (1884–1933), poet
Kay Thompson (1909–1998), creator of Eloise children's books
Ernest Trova (1927–2009), sculptor, surrealist and pop art painter best known for The Falling Man
Margaret Truman (1924–2008), novelist and non-fiction author
Mark Twain (1835–1910), born Samuel Clemens, iconic humorist, author and creator of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer
Rosa Kershaw Walker (1840s-1909), author, journalist, newspaper editor
Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957), writer and author of Little House series
Tennessee Williams (1911–1983), playwright (born in Mississippi, grew up in St. Louis)
Bertha M. Wilson (1874–1936), dramatist
Daniel Woodrell (born 1953), author of crime fiction
Chappell Roan (born 1998), singer

Sportspeople

Auto racing

Paul Dana (1975–2006), IndyCar Series driver
Lloyd Dane (1925–2015), NASCAR driver
Russ Dugger (born 1975), NASCAR driver, Camping World Truck Series
Carl Edwards (born 1979), NASCAR driver, 2007 NASCAR Busch Series champion
James Ince (born c. 1969), NASCAR crew chief
Justin Jennings (born 1992), NASCAR driver
Cody Lane (born 1996), NASCAR driver, Camping World Truck Series
Justin Marks (born 1981), NASCAR driver
Jamie McMurray (born 1976), NASCAR driver, Daytona 500 winner
Larry Phillips (1942–2004), NASCAR driver
Tony Roper (1964–2000), NASCAR driver
Ken Schrader (born 1955), NASCAR driver
Dorsey Schroeder (born 1953), retired NASCAR driver, Speed Channel color analyst
Ramo Stott (1934–2021), retired NASCAR driver
Chrissy Wallace (born 1988), NASCAR driver
Kenny Wallace (born 1963), NASCAR driver, broadcaster
Mike Wallace (born 1959), NASCAR driver
Rusty Wallace (born 1956), NASCAR driver, 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup champion

Baseball

A–M

Bob Allison (1934–1995), MLB outfielder, 3-time All-Star
Jake Arrieta (born 1986), Chicago Cubs pitcher, Cy Young Award winner
Alan Ashby (born 1951), MLB catcher, commentator
George Baker (1857–1915), MLB catcher
Jake Beckley (1867–1919), infielder in Hall of Fame
James "Cool Papa" Bell (1903–1991), Baseball Hall of Fame center fielder
Yogi Berra (1925–2015), Hall of Fame catcher, manager, aphorist
Ken Berry (born 1941), MLB outfielder
Brian Boehringer (born 1969), MLB pitcher
Clete Boyer (1937–2007), MLB third baseman, 2-time World Series winner
Ken Boyer (1931–1982), MLB third baseman, 11-time All-Star, coach and manager
Jack Brennan (1862–1914), MLB catcher
Harry Bright (1929–2000), MLB infielder
Mark Buehrle (born 1979), MLB pitcher, 5-time All-Star
Bobby Byrne (1884–1964), MLB infielder
Scott Carroll (born 1984), MLB relief pitcher
Nate Colbert (1946–2023), MLB first baseman, 3-time All-Star
David Cone (born 1963), Cy Young-winning MLB pitcher
Joe Crede (born 1978), MLB third baseman
Bob Dernier (born 1957), MLB outfielder
Ross Detwiler (born 1986), MLB relief pitcher
Blake DeWitt (born 1985), MLB infielder
John Donaldson (1891–1970), Negro league baseball pitcher
Scott Elbert (born 1985), MLB relief pitcher
A. J. Ellis (born 1981), catcher for Miami Marlins
Hoot Evers (1921–1991), MLB outfielder, 2-time All-Star
David Freese (born 1983), MLB third baseman, 2011 World Series MVP with St. Louis Cardinals
Gabe Gabler (1930–2014), MLB player
Joe Garagiola (1926–2016), MLB catcher, broadcaster, television personality
Jeff Gray (born 1981), MLB pitcher
Charlie Grimm (1898–1993), MLB player and manager
Dick Hall (born 1930), MLB pitcher, 2-time World Series winner
Lucas Harrell (born 1985), starting pitcher for Toronto Blue Jays
Tom Henke (born 1957), two-time All-Star pitcher
Bobby Hofman (1925–1994), MLB outfielder
Solly Hofman (1882–1956), MLB outfielder
Al Hollingsworth (1908–1996), MLB pitcher
Ken Holtzman (born 1945), two-time All-Star baseball pitcher
Tommy Hottovy (born 1981), MLB relief pitcher
Elston Howard (1929–1980), Negro league and MLB catcher, 12-time All-Star, six World Series titles
Ryan Howard (born 1979), MLB first baseman, 3-time All-Star
Carl Hubbell (1903–1988), Hall of Fame pitcher, 2-time NL MVP
Eric Hurley (born 1985), MLB pitcher
Ron Hunt (born 1941), MLB infielder, 2-time All-Star
Vern Kennedy (1907–1993), MLB pitcher
Bob Keppel (born 1982), MLB pitcher
Charlie Kerfeld (born 1963), MLB relief pitcher, primarily with Houston Astros
Johnny Kling (1875–1947), MLB catcher, 2-time World Series winner
Darold Knowles (born 1941), MLB pitcher, first to pitch in all seven games of a World Series
Ron Kulpa (born 1968), umpire
Tito Landrum (born 1954), MLB outfielder
Tommy Layne (born 1984), MLB relief pitcher
Sam LeCure (born 1984), MLB pitcher
Dale Long (1926–1991), MLB outfielder
Jerry Lumpe (1933–2014), MLB infielder
Shaun Marcum (born 1981), MLB pitcher
Jay Marshall (born 1983), MLB pitcher
Bake McBride (born 1949), MLB outfielder, 1974 Rookie of Year
Paul Menhart (born 1969), MLB pitcher and pitching coach
Bob Miller (1939–1993), MLB pitcher, 3-time World Series winner
Zach Miner (born 1982), relief pitcher for Seattle Mariners
Logan Morrison (born 1987), outfielder for Tampa Bay Rays
Carl Morton (1944–1983), MLB pitcher, 1970 Rookie of Year
Bill Mueller (born 1971), MLB infielder, 2003 AL batting champ
Don Mueller (1927–2011), MLB infielder, 2-time All-Star
Stan Musial (1920–2013), MLB Hall of Famer, played entire career for St. Louis Cardinals

N–Z

Dave Nicholson (1939–2023), MLB outfielder
Al Nipper (born 1959), MLB pitcher and scout
Darren Oliver (born 1970), MLB relief pitcher
Mickey O'Neil (1900–1964), MLB catcher
Mickey Owen (1916–2005), MLB catcher, 4-time All-Star
Josh Outman (born 1984), MLB pitcher
Barney Pelty (1880–1939), MLB pitcher
David Phelps (born 1986), starting pitcher for Miami Marlins
Albert Pujols (born 1980), MLB first baseman with Los Angeles Angels, 10-time All-Star
Pete Reiser (1919–1981), MLB outfielder, 3-time All-Star
Steve Rogers (born 1949), MLB pitcher, 5-time All-Star
Trevor Rosenthal (born 1990), pitcher for St. Louis Cardinals
Bob Scheffing (1913–1985), MLB player and manager
Max Scherzer (born 1984), starting pitcher for Washington Nationals
Art Shamsky (born 1941), MLB outfielder and Israel Baseball League manager
Mike Shannon (1939–2023), MLB player and sportscaster for St. Louis Cardinals, 2-time World Series winner
Sonny Siebert (born 1937), MLB pitcher, 2-time All-Star
Dave Silvestri (born 1967), MLB infielder
Shae Simmons (born 1990), MLB pitcher
Roy Smalley Jr. (1926–2011), MLB infielder
Al Smith (1928–2002), MLB outfielder
Paul Splittorff (1946–2011), pitcher for Kansas City Royals, broadcaster
Casey Stengel (1890–1975), Baseball Hall of Fame manager
Mel Stottlemyre (1941–2019), MLB pitcher, 5-time All-Star, pitching coach
Rick Sutcliffe (born 1956), MLB pitcher, 3-time All-Star, TV commentator
Nick Tepesch (born 1988), MLB pitcher
Jacob Turner (born 1991), MLB pitcher
Scott Van Slyke (born 1986), outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers; son of Andy Van Slyke
Luke Voit (born 1991), MLB first baseman
Earl Weaver (1930–2013), Hall of Fame manager for Baltimore Orioles
Mack Wheat (1893–1979), MLB catcher with Brooklyn Robins and Philadelphia Phillies
Zack Wheat (1888–1972), MLB Hall of Fame left fielder for Brooklyn, Philadelphia Athletics; brother of Mack Wheat
Dick Williams (1929–2011), MLB player and Hall of Fame manager
Lefty Williams (1893–1959), MLB pitcher
Smoky Joe Wood (1889–1995), MLB pitcher, 3-time World Series winner
Glenn Wright (1901–1984), MLB infielder for 1925 World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates

Basketball

Forrest Clare "Phog" Allen (1885–1974), Hall of Fame college basketball coach
OG Anunoby (born 1997), small forward for Toronto Raptors
Bradley Beal (born 1993), NBA player for the Washington Wizards
Bill Bradley (born 1943), Basketball Hall of Famer, U.S. Senator
Alec Burks (born 1991), shooting guard for Golden State Warriors
Chris Carr (born 1974), shooting guard for six NBA teams
Napheesa Collier (born 1996), WNBA player and Olympic gold medalist
Ben Hansbrough (born 1987), guard for Indiana Pacers
Tyler Hansbrough (born 1985), NBA player and international player, NCAA champion at North Carolina
Josh Harrellson (born 1989), center for New York Knicks
Larry Hughes (born 1979), shooting guard for eight NBA teams
David Lee (born 1983), power forward and center for San Antonio Spurs
Saben Lee (born 1999), basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
Tyronn Lue (born 1977), NBA player, head coach of Cleveland Cavaliers
Patrick McCaw (born 1995), shooting guard for Toronto Raptors
Dan Pippin (1926–1965), Olympic gold medalist in 1952, played at Mizzou
Brandon Rush (born 1985), shooting guard for Golden State Warriors
Kareem Rush (born 1980), shooting guard for L.A. Clippers
Scott Sims (born 1955), guard for San Antonio Spurs
Xavier Sneed (born 1997), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
Norm Stewart (born 1935), pro basketball player, longtime Mizzou coach, College Basketball Hall of Fame
Jayson Tatum (born 1998), pro basketball player, former member of the Duke Blue Devils and small forward for the Boston Celtics
David Thirdkill (born 1960), NBA basketball player, 1993 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP
Anthony Tolliver (born 1985), power forward for Minnesota Timberwolves
Alex Tyus (born 1988), American-Israeli professional basketball player, also plays for the Israeli national basketball team
Ish Wainright (born 1994), American-Ugandan forward for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League

Football

Maurice Alexander (born 1991), defensive back for St. Louis Rams
Steve Atwater (born 1966), safety for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets
Allen Barbre (born 1984), offensive guard for Philadelphia Eagles
Tim Barnes (born 1988), center for St. Louis Rams
David Bass (born 1990), defensive end for Chicago Bears
Justin Britt (born 1991), offensive tackle for Seattle Seahawks
Jason Brookins (born 1976), running back, Baltimore Ravens
Colin Brown (born 1985), offensive tackle for Buffalo Bills
Jairus Byrd (born 1986), free safety for New Orleans Saints
Paul Christman (1918–1970), quarterback, College Football Hall of Fame; sportscaster
Adrian Clayborn (born 1988), defensive end for Atlanta Falcons
Chase Coffman (born 1986), tight end for Atlanta Falcons
Jalen Collins (born 1993), cornerback for Atlanta Falcons
Maliek Collins (born 1995), defensive tackle for Dallas Cowboys
Dan Connolly (born 1982), offensive lineman for New England Patriots
Jimmy Conzelman (1898–1970), former NFL halfback and coach, member of Pro Football Hall of Fame
Dan Dierdorf (born 1949), offensive tackle in Pro Football Hall of Fame, sportscaster
Herb Donaldson (born 1985), running back for Dallas Cowboys
Robert Douglas (born 1982), NFL fullback
Kony Ealy (born 1991), defensive end for Carolina Panthers
Ezekiel Elliott (born 1995), NFL running back for Dallas Cowboys
Lenvil Elliott (1951–2008), NFL running back
Don Faurot (1902–1995), College Football Hall of Fame coach, inventor of Split-T formation
Brian Folkerts (born 1990), center for Carolina Panthers
Josh Freeman (born 1988), NFL quarterback
Blaine Gabbert (born 1989), quarterback for Arizona Cardinals
Justin Gage (born 1981), wide receiver for Tennessee Titans
E. J. Gaines (born 1992), cornerback for St. Louis Rams
Tony Galbreath (born 1954), NFL running back
Markus Golden (born 1991), NFL outside linebacker
Conrad Goode (born 1962), NFL offensive lineman
Dorial Green-Beckham (born 1993), NFL wide receiver
Mark Herzlich (born 1987), linebacker for New York Giants
Cal Hubbard (1900–1977), only person in both Baseball Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame
Brandon Joyce (1984–2010), offensive lineman, CFL and NFL
Terry Joyce (1954–2011), college All-American, NFL punter
Howard Kindig (born 1941), defensive end, 10-year NFL career
Ryan Lilja (born 1981), guard for Kansas City Chiefs
Brandon Lloyd (born 1981), wide receiver for San Francisco 49ers
Jeremy Maclin (born 1988), wide receiver for Kansas City Chiefs
Marvin McNutt (born 1989), wide receiver for Philadelphia Eagles
Eric Moore (born 1965), NFL guard
William Moore (born 1985), safety for Atlanta Falcons
C. J. Mosley (born 1983), defensive tackle for Miami Dolphins
Eddie Moss, special teams for St. Louis Cardinals
Jim Musick (1910–1992), running back, Boston Redskins
Neil Rackers (born 1976), placekicker for Houston Texans
Shane Ray (born 1993), outside linebacker for Denver Broncos
Sheldon Richardson (born 1990), defensive end for New York Jets
Gijon Robinson (born 1984), tight end for Indianapolis Colts
Martin Rucker (born 1985), tight end for Dallas Cowboys
Mike Rucker (born 1975), defensive end for Carolina Panthers
Aldon Smith (born 1989), linebacker for Oakland Raiders
Justin Smith (born 1979), defensive end for San Francisco 49ers
Bill Snyder (born 1939), current Kansas State University head coach and College Football Hall of Fame
Donald Stephenson (born 1988), offensive tackle for Kansas City Chiefs
Roger Wehrli (born 1947), Hall of Fame cornerback with St. Louis Cardinals
James Wilder Sr. (born 1958), 10-year NFL running back
Brandon Williams (born 1989), nose tackle for Baltimore Ravens
Gregg Williams (born 1958), NFL coach, defensive coordinator
Sylvester Williams (born 1988), nose tackle for Denver Broncos
Kellen Winslow (born 1957), Hall of Fame tight end with San Diego Chargers

Golf

Amy Alcott (born 1956), professional golfer, World Golf Hall of Fame
Brandel Chamblee (born 1962), PGA Tour golfer
Jay Haas (born 1953), PGA Tour golfer
Hale Irwin (born 1945), golfer; oldest person (45) to win US Open (1990)
Jeff Maggert (born 1964), PGA Tour golfer
Tom Pernice Jr. (born 1959), PGA Tour golfer
Judy Rankin (born 1945), professional golfer, World Golf Hall of Fame
Johnny Revolta (1911–1991), winner of 1935 PGA Championship
Cathy Reynolds (born 1957), LPGA Tour golfer
Horton Smith (1908–1963), winner of first Masters, World Golf Hall of Fame
Payne Stewart (1957–1999), golfer, 2-time US Open champion
Tom Watson (born 1949), 8-time major champion, 1990 Ryder Cup captain, World Golf Hall of Fame
Larry Ziegler (born 1939), PGA Tour golfer

Ice hockey

Ben Bishop (born 1986), NHL Dallas Stars
Chris Wideman (born 1990), NHL Ottawa Senators
Michael Davies (born 1986), AHL Chicago Wolves
Cam Janssen (born 1984), EIHL Nottingham Panthers
Luke Kunin (born 1997), NHL hockey player
Pat LaFontaine (born 1965), NHL Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, New York Rangers
Patrick Maroon (born 1988), NHL Tampa Bay Lightning
Mike McKenna (born 1983), AHL Portland Pirates
Paul Stastny (born 1985), NHL St. Louis Blues
Travis Turnbull (born 1986), DEL Düsseldorfer EG
Joe Vitale (born 1985), NHL Arizona Coyotes
Landon Wilson (born 1975), AHL Texas Stars

Professional wrestling

Freddie Blassie (1918–2003), wrestler and manager
"Bulldog" Bob Brown (1938–1997), wrestler and booker
Bob Geigel (1924–2014), retired wrestler, promoter, and former NWA President
Glenn Jacobs (born 1967), ring name "Kane"; also an actor
Rufus R. Jones (1933–1993), NWA wrestler and businessman
Matthew Korklan (born 1983), ring names "Matt Sydal" and "Evan Bourne"
Sam Muchnick (1905–1998), founder of St. Louis Wrestling Club and co-founder of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)
Trevor Murdoch (born 1978), WWE tag team champion
Matt Murphy (born 1979), wrestler and author
Barry Orton, wrestler
"Cowboy" Bob Orton (born 1950), wrestler and member of WWE Hall of Fame; father of Randy Orton
Randy Orton (born 1980), third-generation pro wrestler
Harley Race (1943–2019), 8-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion; member of the WWE Hall of Fameand Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
Butch Reed (1954–2021), NWA and WCW Tag Team Champion
Lou Thesz (1916–2002), superstar of professional wrestling's "Golden Age"

Miscellaneous sports

Virgil Akins (1928–2011), welterweight boxing champion
Devon Alexander (born 1987), boxer, WBC and IBF Light Welterweight champion
Henry Armstrong (1912–1988), boxer (born in Mississippi but grew up in St. Louis)
Butch Buchholz (born 1940), Hall of Fame tennis player
Christian Cantwell (born 1980), Olympian, world champion shot putter
John Coughlin (1985–2019), figure skater, committed suicide
J'den Cox (born 1995), Olympic bronze medalist freestyle wrestler and two-time World Champion
Michael Chandler (born 1986), UFC fighter
Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls (born 1968), IFBB pro bodybuilder
Dwight F. Davis (1879–1945), tennis player, founder of the Davis Cup
Lori Endicott (born 1967), volleyball player and Olympian
Doris Hart (1925–2015), Hall of Fame tennis player, winner of six Grand Slam singles titles
Sammie Henson (born 1971), Olympic silver medalist and World Champion in freestyle wrestling
Bud Houser (1901–1994), three-time Olympic gold medalist in shot put and discus
Ben A. Jones (1882–1961), thoroughbred horse trainer
Horace A. "Jimmy" Jones (1906–2001), thoroughbred horse trainer
Lesa Lewis (born 1967), IFBB professional bodybuilder
Conn McCreary (1921–1979), Hall of Fame jockey, winner of 1944 and 1951 Kentucky Derby
Chuck McKinley (1941–1986), Hall of Fame tennis player, 1963 Wimbledon champion
Josh Prenot (born 1995), swimmer, Olympic silver medalist (200m breaststroke), NCAA champion (400m individual medley), and American record holder (200m breaststroke)
DeAnna Price (born 1993), record holder in hammer throw, competed at two Olympic Summer Games
Helen Stephens (1918–1994), two-time gold medalist in track and field at 1936 Summer Olympics
Scott Touzinsky (born 1982), volleyball player and coach
Jacarra Winchester (born 1992), Olympic freestyle wrestler, world champion in 2019
Alex White (born 1988), mixed martial artist

Soccer

Daryl Doran (born 1963), professional soccer player
Jack Jewsbury (born 1981), professional soccer player
Lucas Bartlett (born 1997), MLS St. Louis City
John Klein (born 1999), MLS St. Louis City
Tim Ream (born 1987), EPL Fulham
Becky Sauerbrunn (born 1985), National Women's Soccer League and USWNT player (FC Kansas City); Defender of the Year 2013, 2014; 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup winner
Taylor Twellman (born 1980), former professional soccer player, sportscaster

Aviation and aerospace

Thomas Akers (born 1953), scientist and NASA astronaut on four Space Shuttle missions
Bill Lear (1902–1978), founder of Lear Jet
Charles Lindbergh (1902–1974), aviator, first solo non-stop trans-Atlantic flight in 1927 (born in Detroit, Michigan but lived in St. Louis)
James Smith McDonnell (1899–1980), founder of McDonnell Aircraft Corporation (later McDonnell Douglas)

Business

William Henry Ashley (1778–1838), founder of Rocky Mountain Fur Company, politician
Charles S. L. Baker (1859–1926), African-American businessman and inventor
Henry W. Bloch (1922–2019), co-founder of H&R Block tax services
Richard Bloch (1926–2004), co-founder of H&R Block tax services
Adolphus Busch (1839–1913), founder of Anheuser-Busch (the world's largest brewer)
August "Gussie" Busch (1899–1989), owned Anheuser-Busch (the world's largest brewer), and St. Louis Cardinals baseball team
Jim Crane, businessman, owner of the Houston Astros
William H. Danforth (1870–1955), founder of Ralston Purina Company
John Doerr (born 1951), venture capitalist at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
James Buchanan Eads (1820–1887), civil engineer and inventor
Charles Eames (1907–1978), designer and architect
David Glass (1935–2020), former president and CEO of Wal-Mart, owner of Kansas City Royals baseball team
Joyce Hall (1891–1982), founder of Hallmark Cards
William Preston Hall (1864–1932), circus empresario and animal broker
Howard R. Hughes Sr. (1869–1924), oil drill bit and tool inventor; father of Howard Hughes, reclusive billionaire
George M. Keller (1923–2008), chairman of Standard Oil Company of California in the 1980s
R. Crosby Kemper Jr. (1927–2014), chairman emeritus UMB Financial Corporation, philanthropist
William Thornton Kemper Sr. (1866–1938), patriarch of Kemper family railroad and banking empire which included Commerce Bancshares and United Missouri Bank
Ewing Kauffman (1916–1993), pharmaceutical magnate, philanthropist, and founder of the Kansas City Royals baseball team
Stan Kroenke (born 1947), owner of Kroenke Sports Enterprises
Rebecca Mark-Jusbasche (born 1954), former head of Enron International
N. O. Nelson (1844–1922), founder of the N. O. Nelson Manufacturing Company
Thomas F. O'Neil, chairman of RKO General Studios, brought movies to television
J. C. Penney (1875–1971), businessman and entrepreneur
Rex Sinquefield (born 1944), financial executive who created Standard & Poor's first index fund, supporter of conservative political causes
John Sperling (1921–2014), businessman and founder of the University of Phoenix
Gerard Swope (1872–1957), president of General Electric
Jack C. Taylor (1922–2016), founder of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, billionaire philanthropist
Sam Walton (1918–1992), founder of Wal-Mart
Robert E. Wood (1879–1969), vice-president of Sears Roebuck

Criminals and outlaws

Anthony Brancato (1913–1951), freelance Mafia gunman, half of "The Two Tonys" portrayed in the movie L.A. Confidential
Ray and Faye Copeland (1914–1993, 1921–2003), serial killers, oldest couple ever sentenced to death in the United States
Egan's Rats, early crime family in St. Louis
- Leo Vincent Brothers (1899–1950), low-level member; later moved to Chicago and became part of Al Capone's organization
- Fred Burke (1893–1940), gunman for Egan's Rats; suspected of participating in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre
- William "Dint" Colbeck (1890–1943), assumed leadership of Egan's Rats after the assassination of Willie Egan
- Walter Costello (1889–1917), bodyguard to Willie Egan, killer of Harry Dunn
- Harry "Cherries" Dunn (1892–1916)
- Thomas Egan (1874–1919), organizer of Egan's Rats
- Willie Egan (1884–1921), brother and right-hand man of gang founder Tom Egan; led the gang after Tom's death
- Max Greenberg (1883–1933), one of the few Jewish members of the mostly Irish Egan gang; associate/friend of Meyer Lansky
- Frank Hackethal (1891–1954), robber and resort owner/money launderer for Egan's Rats
- Thomas "Snake" Kinney (1868–1912), Missouri State Senator and co-founder of Egan's Rats
- David "Chippy" Robinson (1897–1967), bank robber and enforcer for Egan's Rats
- William "Skippy" Rohan (1871–1916)
Roy Gardner (1884–1940), arms smuggler and notorious 1920s bank robber
Tom Horn (1860–1903), Old West lawman, army scout, outlaw and assassin
Roscoe Jackson (1901–1937), murderer, last person to be publicly executed in the United States
Kansas City crime family
- Charles Binaggio (1909–1950), killed along with Charles Gargotta at the First Ward Democratic Club in downtown Kansas City
- Anthony Brancato (1913–1951)
- William "Willie Rat" Cammisano (1914–1995), enforcer for the K.C. mob
- Charles Carrollo (1902–1979), led the Kansas City mob after Johnny Lazia's assassination
- Anthony Civella (1930–2006), led the K.C. crime family in the 1980s and 1990s; son of Carl Civella and nephew of Nicholas Civella
- Carl "Cork" Civella (1910–1994), brother of Nicholas Civella and a top lieutenant in the crime family; father of Anthony Civella
- Nicholas Civella (1912–1983), led the Kansas City crime family from the 1950s through the 1970s
- Carl "Tuffy" DeLuna (1927–2008), underboss of the Kansas City crime family; brother-in-law of Anthony Civella
- Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd (1904–1934), took part in the Union Station Massacre
- Charles "Mad Dog" Gargotta (1900–1950), top enforcer of the KC crime family
- Anthony Gizzo (1902–1953), led Kansas City crime family in the early 1950s
- John Lazia (1896–1934), leader of the Kansas City crime family in the 1920s and early 1930s
Kenneth Lay (1942–2006), chairman and CEO of Enron, convicted of securities fraud
Little Britches (1879 – year of death unknown), female bandit associated with Cattle Annie and the Doolin gang
James Earl Ray (1928–1998), assassin of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.; escapee from the Missouri State Penitentiary
James-Younger Gang:
- Frank James (1843–1915), outlaw
- Jesse James (1847–1882), outlaw
- Cole Younger (1844–1916), outlaw
- John Younger (1851–1874), outlaw
- Bob Younger (1853–1899), outlaw
- Jim Younger (1848–1902), outlaw
- Bob Ford (1862–1892), outlaw who gunned down Jesse James
Tom Pendergast (1873–1945), long-time political boss of Kansas City and western Missouri; responsible for the political rise of Harry S. Truman; imprisoned for tax evasion
Belle Starr (1848–1889), female outlaw of the Old West
St. Louis crime family
- Anthony Giordano (1914–1980), leader of the St. Louis crime family in the 1960s and 1970s
- Matthew Trupiano (1938–1997), nephew of Anthony Giordano, crime family boss in the 1980s
- John Vitale (1909–1982), crime family boss in the early 1980s

Entertainment

Film, television and theater

A–C

Goodman Ace (1899–1982), television writer, radio host and comedian
Jane Ace (1897–1974), radio actress and host
Zoë Akins (1886–1958), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, poet
Robert Altman (1925–2006), film director, M*A*S*H, Nashville, Gosford Park
Ed Asner (1929–2021), Emmy Award-winning actor, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Lou Grant; Up, Elf
Scott Bakula (born 1954), actor, Quantum Leap, Star Trek: Enterprise, NCIS: New Orleans
Josephine Baker (1906–1975), dancer, singer, actress
Tisha Terrasini Banker (born 1973), actress
Ryan Michelle Bathe (born 1976), actress, Boston Legal, Army Wives, Retired at 35
Anne Bauchens (1882–1967), Oscar-winning film editor
John Beal (1909–1997), actor, Les Misérables, Alimony
Gerry Becker (born 1951), actor
Noah Beery (1882–1946), actor, The Mark of Zorro
Wallace Beery (1885–1949), Oscar-winning actor, The Champ, Min and Bill, Viva Villa!
Rob Benedict (born 1970), actor, Felicity, Head Case, Threshold
Bob Bergen (born 1964), voice actor
Fred Berry (1951–2003), actor, What's Happening!!
Linda Blair (born 1959), actress, The Exorcist, Airport 1975
Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, screenwriter, Designing Women, Evening Shade
Matt Bomer (born 1977), actor, White Collar
Johnny Yong Bosch (born 1976), singer, Eyeshine; actor, Trigun, Power Rangers
Jeff Branson (born 1977), actor
Diane Brewster (1931–1991), actress
Brent Briscoe (born 1961), actor, Yes Man, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Spider-Man 2
Kent Broadhurst (born 1940), actor
Edgar Buchanan (1903–1979), actor, Petticoat Junction
Norbert Leo Butz (born 1967), Tony Award-winning stage actor
Christy Cabanne (1888–1950), director, Jane Eyre
Jessica Capshaw (born 1976), actress, The Practice
Morris Carnovsky (1897–1992), actor, Edge of Darkness, Dead Reckoning
Don Cheadle (born 1964), actor, Hotel Rwanda, Traffic, Boogie Nights, Ocean's Eleven, The Rat Pack
Marguerite Churchill (1910–2000), actress, The Big Trail, The Walking Dead
Anthony Cistaro (born 1963), actor, Charmed, Witchblade
Sarah Clarke (born 1972), actress, Nina Myers on 24
Andy Cohen (born 1968), author, producer, and television personality, Watch What Happens Live
Lynn Cohen (1933–2020), actress, Law & Order, Sex and the City
Frank Converse (born 1938), actor, Movin' On, N.Y.P.D.
Bert Convy (1933–1991), actor and TV personality, Semi-Tough
Chris Cooper (born 1951), Oscar-winning actor, Lonesome Dove, The Bourne Identity, American Beauty, Breach
Joan Crawford (1905–1977), Oscar-winning actress, Mildred Pierce, The Women, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Robert Cummings (1908–1990), actor, Kings Row, Saboteur, Love That Bob, Dial M for Murder

D–G

Erin Daniels (born 1973), actress, The L Word
Nathan Darrow (born 1976), actor, House of Cards
Don S. Davis (1942–2008), actor, Stargate SG-1, Twin Peaks
Kurt Deutsch, actor, Models Inc.
Walt Disney (1901–1966), iconic film and television producer, studio mogul, director, screenwriter, voice actor and animator
Mary Alice Dwyer-Dobbin, television producer
Dale Dye (born 1944), actor, Saving Private Ryan, Mission: Impossible, Band of Brothers
Cliff Edwards (1895–1971), actor, musician; the voice of Jiminy Cricket
Frank Faylen (1905–1985), actor, It's a Wonderful Life, Detective Story, Dobie Gillis
Hala Finley (born 2009), actress^[2]
Jenna Fischer (born 1974), actress, The Office, Hall Pass, Blades of Glory (born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, grew up in St. Louis)
Henderson Forsythe (1917–2006), actor, As the World Turns
James Franciscus (1934–1991), actor, Mr. Novak, Naked City, Marooned, Beneath the Planet of the Apes
Phyllis Fraser (1915–2006), actress, journalist, children's book publisher, wife of Bennett Cerf and Robert F. Wagner Jr.
Friz Freleng (1905–1995), film producer, director, screenwriter, and animator, Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies
Bob Gale (born 1951), screenwriter, the Back to the Future trilogy
Betty Garrett (1919–2011), actress, On the Town, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Laverne & Shirley
Heather Goldenhersh (born 1973), actress, The Class, School of Rock
John Goodman (born 1952), actor, Monsters, Inc., Roseanne, The Babe, Barton Fink, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Big Lebowski, The Conners
Lucas Grabeel (born 1984), actor, High School Musical, Milk
Betty Grable (1916–1973), actress, singer and World War II pin-up girl, Moon Over Miami, How to Marry a Millionaire
Bryan Greenberg (born 1978), actor, musician, One Tree Hill, October Road, How to Make It in America
Dabbs Greer (1917–2007), actor, Little House on the Prairie, Gunsmoke, The Green Mile
Eddie Griffin (born 1968), actor, comedian, Undercover Brother, Norbit
Davis Guggenheim (born 1963), director, producer
Robert Guillaume (1927–2017), actor, Benson, Soap, The Lion King, Sports Night
James Gunn (born 1970), film director and screenwriter
Moses Gunn (1929–1993), actor, Father Murphy, The Cowboys, Shaft, Ragtime, Heartbreak Ridge
Sean Gunn (born 1974), actor, Gilmore Girls, October Road, Guardians of the Galaxy

H–M

Jon Hamm (born 1971), actor, Mad Men, The Town, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Baby Driver
Tess Harper (born 1950), actress, Breaking Bad, No Country for Old Men, Crimes of the Heart
Jean Harlow (1911–1937), actress and sex symbol
George Hearn (born 1934), actor, primarily Broadway and musical theatre
George Hickenlooper (1965–2010), documentary filmmaker, Hearts of Darkness, Dogtown
Dennis Hopper (1936–2010), actor, filmmaker, artist, Easy Rider, Apocalypse Now, Speed, Hoosiers
Arliss Howard (born 1954), actor, writer and director, Full Metal Jacket, Wilder Napalm, Moneyball
Rupert Hughes (1872–1956), film director, composer; uncle of reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes
John Huston (1906–1987), actor and Oscar-winning film director, The Maltese Falcon, Key Largo, The African Queen
Don Johnson (born 1949), actor, Miami Vice, Nash Bridges, Guilty as Sin, Tin Cup, Django Unchained
Jay Johnson (born 1977), actor, The Young and the Restless, Scrubs
Janet Jones (born 1961), actress, dancer, wife of hockey's Wayne Gretzky
Neal Jones (born 1960), actor, Dirty Dancing, G.I. Jane
Brenda Joyce (1917–2009), actress, Little Tokyo, U.S.A., Tarzan movies in the 1940s
Andreas Katsulas (1946–2006), actor, Babylon 5, Star Trek: The Next Generation
Ellie Kemper (born 1980), actress, The Office, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Edward Kerr (born 1966), actor, seaQuest DSV, What I Like About You
Lincoln Kilpatrick (1932–2004), actor
Kevin Kline (born 1947), Oscar-winning actor, Sophie's Choice, The Big Chill, A Fish Called Wanda, Last Vegas
Evalyn Knapp (1906–1981), actress, Perils of Pauline, In Old Santa Fe
David Koechner (born 1962), actor and comedian, Saturday Night Live, Anchorman
Laura La Plante (1904–1996), actress in silent films
Kasi Lemmons (born 1961), actress and director, Eve's Bayou, Talk to Me
Angela Lindvall (born 1979), actress
Mark Linn-Baker (born 1954), actor, My Favorite Year, Larry Appleton on Perfect Strangers
Robert Lowery (1913–1971), actor, Batman in 1940s serial
Oliver T. Marsh (1892-1941), cinematographer
Marsha Mason (born 1942), actress, Sibs, The Goodbye Girl, Only When I Laugh, Chapter Two, Frasier
Michael Massee (1952–2016), actor, 24, Seven, The Crow
Wendell Mayes (1919–1992), screenwriter, The Spirit of St. Louis, North to Alaska, Von Ryan's Express
Virginia Mayo (1920–2005), actress, The Best Years of Our Lives, White Heat, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Edie McClurg (born 1951), actress, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, 7th Heaven
Frank McGrath (1903–1967), actor, Wagon Train
Steve McQueen (1930–1980), actor, The Sand Pebbles, The Great Escape, The Towering Inferno, Bullitt
John Milius (born 1944), screenwriter, director, producer, Red Dawn, The Hunt for Red October, Conan the Barbarian
Wendy Moniz (born 1969), actress, The Guardian, Guiding Light, Nash Bridges, Betrayal
Mircea Monroe, actress, model, Cellular, Episodes

N–Z

Dustin Nguyen (born 1962), actor, 21 Jump Street, V.I.P.
Kathleen Nolan (born 1933), actress, The Real McCoys
Eva Novak (1898–1988), actress of the silent film era, The King of the Kitchen
Jane Novak (1896–1990), actress of the silent film era, Treat'Em Rough, Redskin
Dan O'Bannon (1946–2009), film director and screenwriter, Heavy Metal, Dark Star, Total Recall
Denis O'Hare (born 1962), actor, Brothers & Sisters, Sweet Charity, True Blood
Kevin O'Morrison (1916–2016), actor and playwright
Timothy Omundson (born 1969), actor, Psych, Judging Amy
Diana Ossana, screenwriter, Brokeback Mountain, Pretty Boy Floyd
Geraldine Page (1924–1987), Oscar-winning actress, Summer and Smoke, Sweet Bird of Youth, The Trip to Bountiful
Carlos PenaVega (born 1989), actor, singer, and dancer, Big Time Rush
Evan Peters (born 1987), actor, American Horror Story, Invasion, Kick-Ass
Julie Piekarski (born 1963), actress, The Facts of Life
Brad Pitt (born 1963), actor and producer, Thelma & Louise, 12 Monkeys, Seven, Moneyball, World War Z
William Powell (1892–1984), actor, The Thin Man, Life with Father, My Man Godfrey, Mister Roberts
Vincent Price (1911–1993), actor, Laura, House of Wax, The Fly, The Ten Commandments, Edward Scissorhands
Sally Rand (1904–1979), burlesque dancer, actress
Doris Roberts (1925–2016), actress, Everybody Loves Raymond
Leonard Roberts (born 1972), actor, Heroes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Ginger Rogers (1911–1995), Oscar-winning actress, dance partner of Fred Astaire
Paul Rudd (born 1969), actor, comedian, writer, and producer, I Love You, Man, Ant-Man
Sol Smith Russell (1848–1902), 19th-century stage actor
Jacqueline Scott (1931–2020), actress, Charley Varrick
Martha Scott (1912–2003), actress, The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur
Sara Shane (1928–2022), actress, Magnificent Obsession, The King and Four Queens, Tarzan's Greatest Adventure
Phyllis Smith (born 1951), actress, The Office
Kelly Stables (born 1978), actress, The Exes, W.I.T.C.H., Two and a Half Men
Craig Stevens (1918–2000), actor, State Trooper, Peter Gunn
Christian Stolte (born 1962), actor, Prison Break
Skyler Stone (born 1979), actor, Raising Hope, The Island
Eric Stonestreet (born 1971), actor, Modern Family
Betty Thomas (born 1948), actress and director, Hill Street Blues, The Brady Bunch Movie, Dr. Dolittle, Private Parts
Kay Thompson (1909–1998), actress, Funny Face
Sidney Toler (1874–1947), actor, Charlie Chan films
William Traylor (1930–1989), actor, Fletch; founder of The Loft Studio/acting school
Kathleen Turner (born 1954), actress, Body Heat, Romancing the Stone, Prizzi's Honor, Serial Mom
Stephen Barker Turner (born 1968), actor
Dick Van Dyke (born 1925), actor, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Poppins, Diagnosis: Murder
Jerry Van Dyke (1931–2018), actor, Coach, McLintock!, The Courtship of Eddie's Father
Jack Wagner (born 1959), actor/singer Melrose Place, General Hospital
Virgil Ward (1911–2004), professional fisherman and host of Championship Fishing
Ruth Warrick (1916–2005), actress, Citizen Kane, All My Children
Dennis Weaver (1924–2006), actor, Gunsmoke, McCloud
William White (1921–1985), actor, producer and director
Mary Wickes (1910–1995), actress, White Christmas, Sister Act
Dianne Wiest (born 1948), 2-time Oscar-winning actress
Jason Wiles (born 1970), actor, Third Watch, Persons Unknown
Mykelti Williamson (born 1960), actor, Forrest Gump, Fences
Lanford Wilson (April 13, 1937 – March 24, 2011), playwright, director, Lemon Sky, Redwood Curtain, Hallmark Hall of Fame
Shelley Winters (1920–2006), 2-time Oscar-winning actress
Jane Wyman (1917–2007), Oscar-winning actress; former wife of Ronald Reagan

Comedians

Cedric The Entertainer (born 1964), actor, comedian
Jo Firestone, actress, comedian, writer
Redd Foxx (1922–1991), comedian, starred in Sanford and Son
Dick Gregory (1932–2017), comedian, social activist
Craig Kilborn (born 1962), comedian, actor, former talk show host
Kathleen Madigan (born 1965), comedian
Kevin Nealon (born 1953), actor, comedian
Randy and Jason Sklar (born 1972), identical twin comedians, hosts of ESPN Classic's Cheap Seats
Guy Torry (born 1969), actor, comedian
Joe Torry (born 1965), actor, comedian

Cartoonists

Ralph Barton (1891–1931), cartoonist
George Booth (1926–2022), cartoonist for The New Yorker
Lee Falk (1911–1999), cartoonist, The Phantom, Mandrake the Magician
Al Hirschfeld (1903–2003), caricaturist and cartoonist known for drawing celebrities
Fred Lasswell (1916–2001), cartoonist, Barney Google and Snuffy Smith
Glenn McCoy (born 1965), cartoonist, The Duplex, The Flying McCoys
George McManus (1884–1954), cartoonist, Maggie and Jiggs
Mike Peters (born 1943), cartoonist, Mother Goose & Grimm
Dan Piraro (born 1958), cartoonist, Bizarro
Mort Walker (1923–2018), cartoonist, Beetle Bailey

Magicians and mentalists

Morgan Strebler (born 1976), magician and mentalist; Las Vegas award-winning performer

Music

Bluegrass and country

Lennie Aleshire (1890–1987), country-bluegrass pioneer and vaudeville act
Connie Cato (born 1955), country music singer
Shirley Collie Nelson (1931–2010), country music and rockabilly singer, yodeler, guitarist and songwriter
Helen Cornelius (born 1941), country singer best known for duets with Jim Ed Brown
Rusty Draper (1923–2003), country and rockabilly singer/guitarist
The Duke of Paducah (1901–1986), Grand Ole Opry comedian and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame
Sara Evans (born 1971), country music star
Tyler Farr (born 1984), country music singer
Narvel Felts (born 1938), country music singer
Bob Ferguson (1927–2001), country music songwriter and producer
Teea Goans (born 1980), country music singer
John Hartford (1937–2001), country and bluegrass music composer and performer
Jan Howard (1929–2020), country music singer and member of the Grand Ole Opry
Ferlin Husky (1925–2011), singer and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, former member of the Grand Ole Opry
Brett James (born 1968), country music singer-songwriter and record producer
Chris Janson (born 1986), country music singer-songwriter
The Kendalls, Grammy-winning country duo from the 1970s and 1980s
Speck Rhodes (1915–2000), country music comedian and entertainer
Tom Shapiro, country music songwriter and record producer
Jack Shook (1910–1986), guitarist and a Grand Ole Opry star
Tim Spencer (1908–1974), singer-songwriter, actor, member of the Original Sons of the Pioneers, member of the Country Music Hall of Fame
Tate Stevens (born 1975), country music singer and 2012 winner of The X Factor
Wynn Stewart (1934–1985), country music singer, progenitor of the Bakersfield sound
Billy Swan (born 1942), country singer-songwriter
Trent Tomlinson (born 1975), country singer-songwriter
Leroy Van Dyke (born 1929), country singer best known for "The Auctioneer" and "Walk on By", former member of the Grand Ole Opry
Darrin Vincent (born 1970), half of the Grammy-nominated bluegrass group Dailey & Vincent; record producer
Rhonda Vincent (born 1962), bluegrass singer and musician, seven-time IMBA Female Vocalist of the Year
Porter Wagoner (1927–2007), country music singer-songwriter and Grand Ole Opry member. Member of the Country Music Hall of Fame
Jerry Wallace (1928–2008), country and pop singer
Dallas Wayne, Austin, Texas-based singer-songwriter, voice-over artist and on-air radio personality for Sirius Satellite Radio
Speedy West (1923–2003), pedal steel guitarist and record producer
Onie Wheeler (1921–1984), country and bluegrass musician
Leona Williams (born 1943), country music singer
Chely Wright (born 1970), country music singer and activist
Billy Yates (born 1963), country music artist and songwriter
Reggie Young (1936–2019), session musician

Jazz

Oleta Adams (born 1953), soul, jazz and gospel singer
Ahmad Alaadeen (1934–2010), jazz saxophonist and composer
Norman Brown (born 1970), smooth jazz musician
Jimmy Forrest (1920–1980), jazz tenor saxophonist
Grant Green (1935–1979), jazz guitarist
Coleman Hawkins (1904–1969), jazz tenor saxophonist
Bob James (born 1939), smooth jazz musician
Pat Metheny (born 1954), jazz guitarist and musician
Oliver Nelson (1932-1975), jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, composer and bandleader
Lennie Niehaus (1929–2020), alto saxophonist, arranger, and composer
Charlie "Bird" Parker (1920–1955), jazz saxophonist and composer
David Sanborn (born 1945), smooth jazz musician
Wilbur Sweatman (1882–1961), Dixieland jazz and ragtime composer and bandleader
Bob Brookmeyer (1929-2011), valve trombonist and composer
Clark Terry (1920–2015), swing and bebop trumpet and flugelhorn player

Rhythm & blues, pop, rap and hip-hop

Akon (born 1977), rhythm and blues musician, music producer
Fontella Bass (1940–2012), singer best known for 1965 hit Rescue Me
Chingy (born 1980), rapper, actor
Eminem (born 1972), rap musician (grew up partly in St. Joseph)
Tech N9ne (born 1971), rapper
Nelly (born 1974), rap musician (born in Texas and raised in St. Louis)
David Peaston (1957–2012), R&B and Gospel singer
Ann Peebles, Soul/R&B singer^[3]
Sexyy Red (born 1998), rapper
Chappell Roan (born 1998), singer-songwriter
St. Lunatics, hip hop group, best known for collaborations with Nelly
SZA (born 1989), singer-songwriter, born in St. Louis
Kimberly Wyatt (born 1982), singer and dancer, Pussycat Dolls

Rock & roll

Chuck Berry (1926–2017), guitarist, musician, singer, songwriter, pioneer of rock & roll, in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
The Bottle Rockets (formed 1992), rock, alt-country, roots rock
T Bone Burnett (born 1948), musician, songwriter, and soundtrack and record producer
Cavo, hard rock band (formed in St. Louis)
David Cook (born 1982), 2008 American Idol winner from Blue Springs
Sheryl Crow (born 1962), Grammy-winning singer-songwriter
Gravity Kills, industrial rock band, formed in Jefferson City
Johnnie Johnson (1924–2005), early rock & roll and blues piano player; member of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
King's X, hard rock, progressive metal band, formed in Springfield
Michael McDonald (born 1952), singer, former Doobie Brothers frontman
Missouri, band known for classic rock song "Movin' On", formed in Kansas City
Ozark Mountain Daredevils, rock band known for the hits "Jackie Blue" and "If You Wanna Get To Heaven", formed in Springfield
Louise Post (born 1967), founder, lead singer and guitarist of alternative rock band Veruca Salt
Puddle of Mudd, rock band, formed in Kansas City
The Rainmakers, rock band, formed in Kansas City
Jay Reatard (1980–2010), garage punk musician, born in Lilbourn
Wes Scantlin (born 1972), lead singer and guitarist of post-grunge band Puddle of Mudd
Shooting Star, 1970s and 1980s rock band, from Kansas City
Story of the Year, emo rock band, formed in St. Louis
The Urge, rock band, formed in St. Louis
Bob Walkenhorst, founder and lead singer of alternative rock band The Rainmakers
Story of the Year, rock band, formed in St. Louis
Steve Walsh (born 1951), lead vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist for the progressive rock group Kansas and Streets

Other music

Doris Akers (1923–1995), gospel music singer and composer
Martha Bass (1921–1998), gospel singer with Clara Ward Singers and solo career
Burt Bacharach (1928–2023), pianist, composer
Neal E. Boyd (1975–2018), opera vocalist, winner of 2008 America's Got Talent competition
Grace Bumbry (1937–2023), opera soprano
Sarah Caldwell (1924–2006), opera conductor
Sara Groves (born 1972), Contemporary Christian singer, record producer, author
Dan Landrum (born 1961), hammer dulcimer player, featured instrumentalist with Yanni
Basil Poledouris (1945–2006), film soundtrack composer
H. Owen Reed (1910–2014), composer and conductor
Willie Mae Ford Smith (1904–1994), Gospel singer
Virgil Thomson (1896–1989), composer and critic
Helen Traubel (1899–1972), opera vocalist

Radio and television

Bob Barker (1923-2023), television game show host
Jim Bohannon (born 1944), radio talk show host
Rush Limbaugh (1951–2021), radio talk show host
Dana Loesch (born 1978), radio talk show host and television host at TheBlaze
Melanie Morgan (born 1956), radio personality with KSFO in San Francisco
Erich "Mancow" Muller (born 1966), radio and TV personality, Mancow's Morning Madhouse
Marlin Perkins (1905–1986), zoologist and host of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom
April Scott (born 1979), model, Deal or No Deal and SOAPnet's Soap Talk
Scott Shannon (born 1947), disc jockey for many radio stations across the country, hosted radio show America's Greatest Hits
Chris Stigall (born 1977), talk radio personality for Philadelphia's WPHT

Beauty pageant titleholders

Shandi Finnessey (born 1978), Miss USA 2004
Debbye Turner (born 1965), Miss America 1990

Journalism

Jabari Asim (born 1962), author, journalist
Bob Broeg (1918–2005), St. Louis sportswriter
Joe Buck (born 1969), sportscaster for Fox Sports
Harry Caray (1914–1998), Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster
Walter Cronkite (1916–2009), television journalist
Walker Evans (1903–1975), photojournalist best known for photos taken during the Great Depression
Clay Felker (1925–2008), editor, journalist, founder of New York magazine
Joe Garagiola (1926–2016), MLB catcher, baseball broadcaster, and television host (The Today Show)
Dave Garroway (1913–1982), first host of NBC's Today show
Jane Grant (1892–1972), journalist, co-founder of The New Yorker
Michael Kim (born 1964), sports broadcaster for ESPN
Carol Platt Liebau, attorney, political analyst and social conservative commentator
Mary Margaret McBride (1899–1976), female radio pioneer
Joe McGuff (1926–2006), Kansas City sportswriter
Dan McLaughlin (born 1974), sportscaster for Fox Sports Midwest
Russ Mitchell (born 1960), TV journalist, CBS Evening News
Lisa Myers (born 1951), TV journalist, NBC Nightly News
Stone Phillips (born 1954), TV journalist, Dateline NBC
Joseph Pulitzer (1847–1911), Hungarian journalist, creator of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Pulitzer Prize
Howard Rushmore (1913–1958), journalist for The Daily Worker, New York Journal-American and Confidential magazine
Elaine Viets, St. Louis columnist and author

Military

William T. Anderson (1838–1864), a.k.a. "Bloody Bill" Anderson; Confederate guerrilla leader in the Civil War
Charles D. Barger (1892–1936), earned the Medal of Honor in World War I
John L. Barkley (1895–1966), earned the Medal of Honor in World War I
Frederick Benteen (1834–1898), best known for the role under George Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
Omar Bradley (1893–1981), World War II general, from Clark, Missouri
Robert Coontz (1864–1935), US Navy Admiral, former Chief of Naval Operations
John V. Cox (born 1930), United States Marine Corps Major General; flew over 200 combat missions during the Vietnam War
Enoch Crowder (1859–1932), US Army General and reformer of the military justice system
Randall "Duke" Cunningham, only U.S. Navy Ace in the Vietnam War; later a U.S. Congressman from California
James Phillip Fleming (born 1943), USAF pilot; awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the Vietnam War
John C. Frémont (1813–1890), Western explorer; Union Civil War general; first Republican candidate for U.S. President
Frederick Dent Grant (1850–1912), U.S. Army major general and diplomat; son of U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant
Martin E. Green (1815–1863), Confederate Army brigadier general; killed at Siege of Vicksburg
John McNeil (1813–1891), Union Army brigadier general during the American Civil War; known as "The Butcher of Palmyra"
Wayne E. Meyer (1926–2009), U.S. Navy rear admiral; "father of the Aegis weapons system"
David Moore (1817–1893), Mexican–American War officer and Union Civil War Brigadier General
Edward O'Hare (1914–1943), "Butch" O'Hare, U.S. Navy Medal of Honor recipient, namesake of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport
John Henry Parker (1866–1942), "Gatling Gun Parker"; a hero in the Spanish–American War; only U.S. soldier to be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross four times in World War I
Floyd B. Parks (1911–1942), U.S. Marine aviator who earned the Navy Cross posthumously for his actions leading Marine fighter squadron VMF-221 during the Battle of Midway
John J. Pershing (1860–1948), soldier, General of the Armies; born in Laclede, Missouri
Sterling Price, Confederate States Army, General of the Missouri State Guard during the Civil War
William Quantrill (1837–1865), Confederate guerrilla leader (Quantrill's Raiders) in the Civil War
John H. Quick (1870–1922), U.S. Marine awarded the Medal of Honor in the Spanish–American War, awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Cross in World War I
James E. Rieger (1874–1951), Colonel Missouri National Guard; awarded Distinguished Service Cross and Croix de Guerre in World War I
Roscoe Robinson (1928-1993), U.S. Army General
Jared Schmitz, USMC Lance Cpl.; one of 13 of the last military members to be killed in the War on Terror extraction from Afghanistan ^[4]
Maxwell D. Taylor (1901–1987), U.S. Army general, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Stephen W. Thompson (1894–1977), first U.S. military pilot to ever shoot down an enemy in aerial combat (1918)
Harry H. Vaughan (1893–1981), U.S. Army Reserve general, Aide to the President of the United States from 1945 to 1953
George Allison Whiteman (1919–1941), first United States Army Air Corps pilot killed in World War II; awarded the Silver Star posthumously for after being shot down in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
Arthur L. Willard (1870–1935), United States Navy Vice Admiral, winner of Navy Cross, French Legion of Honour, and Belgian Order of Leopold; first man to plant the American flag on Cuban soil in the Spanish–American War

Public office

A–K

Orland K. Armstrong (1893–1987), U.S. Representative, journalist and social activist
John Ashcroft (born 1942), governor of Missouri (1985–1993), U.S. Senator from Missouri (1995–2001), United States Attorney General (2001–2005)
Rex Barnett (born 1938), politician, and former officer of the Missouri State Highway Patrol
Thomas Hart Benton (1782–1858), U.S. Senator
Richard P. Bland (1835–1899), U.S. Representative for 23 years, Democratic candidate for U.S. president in 1896
Roy Blunt (born 1950), seven-term U.S. Representative for Missouri's 7th congressional district; House Minority Whip, U.S. Senator
Christopher S. "Kit" Bond (born 1939), governor, U.S. Senator of Missouri
Leonard Boswell (1934–2018), U.S. Representative for Iowa's 3rd congressional district
Bill Bradley (born 1943), U.S. Senator for New Jersey, NBA Hall of Famer; born and reared in Missouri
Karilyn Brown (born c. 1947), member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Pulaski County; born in Cape Girardeau
Clarence Cannon (1879–1964), U.S. Representative 1923–1964, House Appropriations Committee chairman
Albert Sidney Johnson Carnahan (1897–1968), U.S. Representative, US Ambassador to Sierra Leone; father of Governor Mel Carnahan
Jean Carnahan (1933–2024), first Missouri woman to become a U.S. Senator, matriarch of Carnahan political family
Mel Carnahan (1924–2000), governor, posthumous U.S. Senator (died in plane crash three weeks before he was elected), patriarch of Carnahan political family
Robin Carnahan (born 1961), Missouri Secretary of State
Russ Carnahan (born 1958), U.S. House of Representatives
Francis M. Cockrell (1834–1915), U.S. Senator and general in the Confederate States Army
Steven Chu (born 1948), U.S. Secretary of Energy
John Danforth (born 1936), U.S. Senator and United States Ambassador to the United Nations
Thomas Eagleton (1929–2007), U.S. Senator from Missouri (1968–1987); 1972 Democratic vice presidential nominee
Josh Earnest (born 1977), White House Press Secretary to President Barack Obama
David R. Francis (1850–1927), U.S. Secretary of the Interior (1896–1897), U.S. Ambassador to Russia (1916–1917)
J. William Fulbright (1905–1995), U.S. Senator, established the Fulbright Fellowships
Dick Gephardt (born 1941), U.S. Representative from Missouri's 3rd congressional district (1977–2005); Democratic House Majority Leader (1989–1995); candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in the 2004 election
Michael Gerson (born 1964), chief speechwriter for George W. Bush (2001–2006)
Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885), 18th President of the United States
Michael Harrington (1928–1989), founder Democratic Socialists of America
George Hearst (1820–1891), U.S. Senator for California (1887–1891)
Martin Heinrich (born 1971), former Congressman and current U.S. Senator from New Mexico
Arthur M. Hyde (1877–1947), U.S. Secretary of Agriculture 1929–33, Governor of Missouri 1921–25
Alphonso Jackson (born 1945), 13th U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
James Jones (born 1943), U.S. National Security Advisor under Barack Obama and retired USMC four-star general
Tim Kaine (born 1958), former Governor and current U.S. Senator from Virginia since 2013; 2016 Democratic nominee for vice president under Hillary Clinton

L–Z

Jerry Litton (1937–1976), two-term U.S. Representative; Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1976; killed in plane crash before general election
Breckinridge Long (1881–1958), U.S. Ambassador to Italy and Assistant United States Secretary of State under President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Claire McCaskill, State Auditor of Missouri (1999–2007); U.S. Senator (2007–2019); first woman elected U.S. senator from Missouri
James Benton Parsons (1911–1993), federal judge
Clarke Reed (born 1928), Mississippi Republican state chairman, 1966 to 1976; instrumental in the nomination of Gerald R. Ford Jr. at the 1976 Republican National Convention; reared in Caruthersville, Missouri, and attended the University of Missouri^[5]
Nellie Tayloe Ross (1876–1977), governor of Wyoming (1925–1927); director of the United States Mint (1933–1953); first woman to serve as a state governor
Mel Sembler (born 1930), U.S. Ambassador to Italy (2001–2005) and Australia (1989–1993)
Jeanne Shaheen (born 1947), U.S. Senator for New Hampshire
Ike Skelton (1931–2013), U.S. Congressman for the Missouri 4th District (1977–2011), chairman U.S. House Armed Services Committee
Stuart Symington (1901–1988), first Air Force Secretary and U.S. Senator from Missouri
Larry Thompson (born 1945), United States Deputy Attorney General under George W. Bush
Harry S. Truman (1884–1972), vice president and 33rd President of the United States
George Turner (1850–1932), U.S. Senator and international arbitrator
David King Udall (1851–1938), served in Arizona Legislature, progenitor of the Udall political family
Harold Volkmer (1931–2011), 20-year member of U.S. House of Representatives for northeast Missouri
Jim Webb (born 1946), U.S. Senator for Virginia and United States Secretary of the Navy
Charles A. Williams Jr. (born 1950), Assistant Secretary of the United States Navy (2020-2021), U.S. Navy Rear Admiral, Ret. (2005)
Pete Wilson (born 1933), mayor of San Diego, 36th Governor of California, U.S. Senator (1983–1991)
Robert Coldwell Wood (1923–2005), Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Lyndon B. Johnson

Science and medicine

Augie Auer (1940–2007), atmospheric scientist and meteorologist
William F. Baker (born 1953), structural engineer
Jean Bartik (1924–2011), early computer programmer and designer
Gordon Bell (1934–2024), computer engineer and microcomputer pioneer
Herbert Blumer (1900–1987), sociologist, developer of symbolic interactionism
Martin Stanislaus Brennan (1845–1927), scientist and priest
George Washington Carver (c. 1864–1943), botanist
Steven Chu (born 1948), Nobel Laureate in Physics, U.S. Secretary of Energy
Robert H. Dicke (1916–1997), astronomer and physicist
Charles Stark Draper (1901–1987), inventor
David F. Duncan (born 1947), psychologist and epidemiologist
James P. Eisenstein (born 1952), physicist
Meta Given (1888–1981), home economist scientist, dietician, author
Edward T. Hall (1914–2009), anthropologist and cross-cultural researcher
Edwin Hubble (1889–1953), astronomer
Mark Johnson (born 1949), philosopher
John Johnson (astronomer) (born 1977), astronomer and physicist
Virginia Eshelman Johnson (1925–2013), psychology researcher
Jack Kilby (1923–2005), inventor of the integrated circuit, Nobel Prize winner
Roger Kornberg (born 1947), biochemist, Nobel Prize winner
Harry Laughlin (1880–1943), eugenicist
J. C. R. Licklider (1915–1990), psychologist, computer scientist
Pauline Gracia Beery Mack (1891–1974), chemist
Ernest Manheim (1900–2002), sociologist
William Howell Masters (1915–2001), gynecologist
Orval Hobart Mowrer (1907–1982), psychologist
Michael Rosbash (born 1944), Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Keith Schwab (born 1968), physicist
Richard Smalley (1943–2005), Nobel Prize-winning chemist, discovered buckminsterfullerene
Harlow Shapley (1885–1972), astronomer
William Jasper Spillman (1863–1931), plant geneticist, a founder of agricultural economics
Lewis Stadler (1896–1954), aka L.J. Stadler, maize geneticist
Andrew Taylor Still (1828–1917), physician and founder of osteopathic medicine
Thomas H. Stix (1924–2001), plasma physicist
Norbert Wiener (1894–1964), mathematician

Miscellaneous famous Missourians

William Becknell (1787–1856), soldier, businessman, founder of the Santa Fe Trail
Johnny Behan (1844–1912), sheriff of Tombstone, Arizona, during the gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Susan Blow (1843–1916), educator, "the mother of kindergarten"
Sylvia Browne (1936–2013), author who claimed to be a medium and to have psychic abilities
Nelle G. Burger (1869–1957), president for 34 years of the Missouri State Woman's Christian Temperance Union
Calamity Jane (c. 1852–1903), Indian fighter and frontierswoman
Alfred Caldwell (1903–1998), architect
Dale Carnegie (1888–1955), public and motivational speaker
Mike Caro (born 1944), professional poker player
James E. Cofer (born 1949), president of Missouri State University, 2010–2011; professor of business at MSU
Brad Daugherty (born 1951), professional poker player
Moses Dickson (1824–1901), African-American abolitionist, soldier, minister, and founder of the secret organization the Knights of Liberty
Matt Dillahunty (born 1969), public speaker, internet personality, atheist activist
Timothy M. Dolan (born 1950), Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and Archbishop of New York
Ella Ewing (1872–1913), "The Missouri Giantess", world's tallest woman (of her era)
Hugh Ferriss (1889–1962), delineator and architect
Julia Greeley (c. 1833–1918), ex-slave, Roman Catholic candidate for canonization
Bobby Greenlease (1947–1953), kidnap-murder victim in case that drew national attention
Phoebe Hearst (1842–1919), philanthropist, feminist and suffragist
Raelynn Hillhouse, national security and intelligence community analyst, Cold War smuggler, spy novelist
Helen Viola Jackson (1919–2020); last living wife of a Civil War Veteran
Frances C. Jenkins (1826–1915), evangelist, Quaker minister, and social reformer
Mary Ranken Jordan (1869–1962), philanthropist and community advocate
Terry Karl (born 1947), professor of Latin American Studies at Stanford University
Emmett Kelly (1898–1979), circus clown
Karlie Kloss (born 1992), model and ballet dancer
Alice Moyer Wing (1866–1937), American writer and suffragist
Carrie Nation (1846–1911), advocate for the temperance movement
Rose O'Neill (1874–1944), author, illustrator, and creator of the Kewpie doll
Walter J. Ong (1912–2003), Jesuit priest, cultural and religious historian and philosopher
Homer G. Phillips (1880-1931), prominent lawyer and civil rights advocate^[6]
Phyllis Schlafly (1924–2016), conservative political activist and author
Dred Scott, slave and litigant in U.S. Supreme Court Dred Scott decision
George Thampy (born 1987), Scripps National Spelling Bee champion 2000, staff member 2006
Conrad Tillard (born 1964), politician, Baptist minister, radio host, author, and activist
Faye Wattleton (born 1943), feminist activist
Brian Wesbury (born 1958), economist
Halbert White (1950–2012), economics professor at UC San Diego
Roy Wilkins (1901–1981), civil rights activist

References

^ "The Missourian Award -". themissourianaward.org.
^ "Hala Finley - Man With A Plan Cast Member". CBS. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
^ Ann Peebles fatpossum.com Retrieved 10 September 2024
^ "Missouri Marine Jared Schmitz, 20, an 'American hero,' killed in Afghanistan airport attack".
^ Apple, R. w Jr. (August 30, 2004). "R.W. Apple Jr., THE REPUBLICANS: THE CONVENTION IN NEW YORK -- APPLE'S ALMANAC; Father of the Southern Strategy, at 76, Is Here for His 11th Convention, August 30, 2004". The New York Times. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
^ Ware, Leland (1999). "Dictionary of Missouri Biography". Homer G. Phillips (1880–1931). Missouri Encyclopedia. p. 1.

[1] "The Missourian Award -". themissourianaward.org.

[2] "Hala Finley - Man With A Plan Cast Member". CBS. Retrieved February 25, 2021.

[3] Ann Peebles fatpossum.com Retrieved 10 September 2024

[4] "Missouri Marine Jared Schmitz, 20, an 'American hero,' killed in Afghanistan airport attack".

[5] Apple, R. w Jr. (August 30, 2004). "R.W. Apple Jr., THE REPUBLICANS: THE CONVENTION IN NEW YORK -- APPLE'S ALMANAC; Father of the Southern Strategy, at 76, Is Here for His 11th Convention, August 30, 2004". The New York Times. Retrieved May 12, 2014.

[6] Ware, Leland (1999). "Dictionary of Missouri Biography". Homer G. Phillips (1880–1931). Missouri Encyclopedia. p. 1.

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v t e Lists of people by U.S. state
States	Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Federal district	Washington, D.C.
Territories	American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands

Art and literature

Sportspeople

Auto racing

Baseball

Basketball

Football

Golf

Ice hockey

Professional wrestling

Miscellaneous sports

Soccer

Aviation and aerospace

Business

Criminals and outlaws

Entertainment

Film, television and theater

Comedians

Cartoonists

Magicians and mentalists

Music

Bluegrass and country

Jazz

Rhythm & blues, pop, rap and hip-hop

Rock & roll

Other music

Radio and television

Beauty pageant titleholders

Journalism

Military

Public office

Science and medicine

Miscellaneous famous Missourians

See also

References