List of people from Missouri

State flag of Missouri

Location of Missouri in the U.S. map

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

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

T. S. Eliot

Russ Mitchell

Mark Twain

Tennessee Williams

• 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)
• 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, 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, 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

Sportspeople

Auto racing

Rusty Wallace

• 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 (born 1934), 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

Yogi Berra

David Freese

Ken Holtzman

Elston Howard

Carl Hubbell

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, Sr. (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

Max Scherzer

Casey Stengel

• 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

Napheesa Collier

Jayson Tatum

• 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
• 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
• 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

Football

See also: List of Missouri state high school football champions

Ezekiel Elliott

Cal Hubbard

Jeremy Maclin

Justin Smith

Roger Wehrli

• 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
• 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

Payne Stewart

• 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

Luke Kunin

• 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

Glenn "Kane" Jacobs

• 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

Dwight Davis

Becky Sauerbrunn

• 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 freestyle wrestler
• 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
• John Klein (born 1999), playing MLS for club St. Louis City
• Tim Ream (born 1987), professional soccer player 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

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

J. C. Penney

• 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
• 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

Emmy Award-winner Ed Asner

Josephine Baker

Linda Blair

Don Cheadle

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?
• Greg Cromer (born 1971), actor
• Robert Cummings (1908–1990), actor, Kings Row, Saboteur, Love That Bob, Dial M for Murder

D–G

Betty Grable

Jenna Fischer

• 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
• 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
• 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

H–M

Jean Harlow

Kevin Kline

• 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

Brad Pitt

• 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), identi*cal 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), American 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, country music singer
• Narvel Felts, (born 1938), country music singer
• Bob Ferguson (1927–2001), country music songwriter and producer
• Teea Goans, American 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, country music singer-songwriter and record producer
• Chris Janson, (born 1986), American 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), American guitarist and a Grand Ole Opry star
• Tim Spencer, (1908–1974), American singer-songwriter, actor, member of the Original Sons of the Pioneers, member of the Country Music Hall of Fame
• Tate Stevens, 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), American 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), American 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), American pedal steel guitarist and record producer
• Onie Wheeler (1921–1984), country and bluegrass musician
• Leona Williams (born 1943), American country music singer
• Chely Wright (born 1970), American country music singer and activist
• Billy Yates (born 1963), American country music artist and songwriter
• Reggie Young (1936–2019), American 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
• Scott Joplin (1867–1917), ragtime musician and composer
• 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

Nelly

• 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)
• Nelly (born 1974), rap musician (born in Texas and raised in St. Louis)
• David Peaston (1957–2012), R&B and Gospel singer
• St. Lunatics, hip hop, best known for collaborations with Nelly
• Tech N9ne (born 1971), rapper
• Kimberly Wyatt, singer and dancer, Pussycat Dolls

• SZA (born 1989), American singer-songwriter, born in St. Louis

Rock & roll

David Cook

• 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, 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 (born 1928), pianist, composer
• Neal E. Boyd (1975–2018), opera vocalist, winner of 2008 America's Got Talent competition
• Grace Bumbry (born 1937), 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
• Grace VanderWaal (born 2004), singer-songwriter, ukuleleist, winner of America's Got Talent season 11

Radio and television

• Bob Barker (born 1923), 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

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

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, Sr. (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

John J. Pershing

• 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, 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
• 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

Martin Heinrich

Tim Kaine

Harry S. Truman

See also: List of Governors of Missouri; List of judges of the Supreme Court of Missouri; List of lieutenant governors of Missouri; List of mayors of Kansas City, Missouri; List of mayors of St. Joseph, Missouri; List of United States Representatives from Missouri; and List of United States Senators from Missouri

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 (born 1933), 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
• 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, 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

George Washington Carver

• 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 (born 1934), 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
• 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

See also

• List of Hall of Famous Missourians inductees
• List of Missouri suffragists
• List of people from Columbia, Missouri
• List of people from Kansas City, Missouri
• List of people from Sedalia, Missouri
• List of people from Springfield, Missouri
• List of people from St. Joseph, Missouri
• List of people from St. Louis
• Lists of Americans
• Missouri Wall of Fame