French
DeutschList of people from Missouri - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following are people who were either born/raised or have lived for a significant period of time in Missouri.
Art and literature[change | change source]
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- Helen Andelin (born 1920), 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
- Kate Chopin (1851–1904), author (The Awakening) and early feminist
- Lester Dent (1904–1959), author of Doc Savage 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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, fashion model, author, actress
- Sara Teasdale (1884–1933), poet
- Kay Thompson (1909–1998), creator of Eloise children's books
- Mark Twain (1835–1910), born Samuel Clemens, humorist, writer and lecturer
- Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957), writer and author of the Little House series
- Tennessee Williams (1911–1983), playwright (born in Mississippi, grew up in St. Louis)
- Daniel Woodrell (born 1953), author of crime fiction
Athletics[change | change source]
Auto racing[change | change source]
- Carl Edwards (born 1979), NASCAR driver, 2007 NASCAR Busch Series champion
- Jamie McMurray (born 1976), NASCAR driver, Daytona 500 winner
- Ken Schrader (born 1955), 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[change | change source]
- A–M
- Jake Arrieta (born 1986), starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs
- Jake Beckley (1867–1919), Baseball Hall of Fame member from game's early years
- James "Cool Papa" Bell (1903–1991), Baseball Hall of Fame center fielder
- Yogi Berra (born 1925), Hall of Fame catcher, manager, aphorist
- Brian Boehringer (born 1969), MLB pitcher
- Clete Boyer (1937–2007), MLB third baseman
- Ken Boyer (1931–1982), MLB third baseman, coach and manager
- Mark Buehrle (born 1979), starting pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays
- Scott Carroll (born 1984), relief pitcher for the Chicago White Sox
- David Cone (born 1963), Cy Young-winning MLB pitcher
- Joe Crede (born 1978), third baseman for the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins
- Ross Detwiler (born 1986), relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves
- John Donaldson (1891–1970), Negro League baseball pitcher, known for throwing no-hitters
- Scott Elbert (born 1985), relief pitcher for the San Diego Padres
- A. J. Ellis (born 1981), catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers
- David Freese (born 1983), third baseman for the Los Angeles Angels, 2011 World Series MVP with St. Louis Cardinals
- Gabe Gabler (1930–2014), MLB player
- Joe Garagiola, Sr. (born 1926), MLB catcher, broadcaster, television personality
- Lucas Harrell (born 1985), starting pitcher for the LG Twins
- Tom Henke (born 1957), two-time All-Star pitcher
- Ken Holtzman (born 1945), two-time All-Star pitcher
- Tommy Hottovy (born 1981), relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs
- Elston Howard (1929–1980), Negro League and MLB catcher, left fielder and coach
- Ryan Howard (born 1979), first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies
- Eric Hurley (born 1985), former pitcher for the Texas Rangers
- Vern Kennedy (1907–1993), MLB pitcher with the Chicago White Sox and others
- Bob Keppel (born 1982), pitcher for the Chicago Cubs
- Charlie Kerfeld (born 1963), MLB relief pitcher, primarily with the Houston Astros
- Darold Knowles (born 1941), MLB pitcher, first pitcher to appear in all seven games of a World Series
- Ron Kulpa (born 1968), Major League Baseball umpire
- Tommy Layne (born 1984), relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox
- Sam LeCure (born 1984), MLB pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds
- Shaun Marcum (born 1981), starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians
- Zach Miner (born 1982), relief pitcher for the Seattle Mariners
- Logan Morrison (born 1987), outfielder and first baseman for the Seattle Mariners
- Stan Musial (1920–2013), MLB Hall of Famer, played entire career for the St. Louis Cardinals
- N–Z
- Al Nipper (born 1959), MLB scout and former pitcher
- Darren Oliver (born 1970), relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays
- Josh Outman (born 1984), starting pitcher for the Colorado Rockies
- Barney Pelty (1880–1939), Major League Baseball pitcher
- David Phelps (born 1986), starting pitcher for the New York Yankees
- Albert Pujols (born 1980), MLB first baseman with the Los Angeles Angels
- Steve Rogers (born 1949), most successful pitcher in Montreal Expos history
- Trevor Rosenthal (born 1990), pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals
- Max Scherzer (born 1984), starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals
- Art Shamsky (born 1941), Major League Baseball outfielder
- Mike Shannon (born 1939), MLB player and sportscaster for the St. Louis Cardinals
- Dave Silvestri (born 1967), MLB infielder
- Shae Simmons (born 1990), pitcher for the Atlanta Braves
- Paul Splittorff (1946–2011), starting pitcher Kansas City Royals, later a Royals broadcaster
- Casey Stengel (c. 1890–1975), Baseball Hall of Fame manager
- Mel Stottlemyre (born 1941), MLB pitcher and pitching coach
- Rick Sutcliffe (born 1956), MLB pitcher and ESPN color commentator
- Nick Tepesch (born 1988), pitcher for the Texas Rangers
- Jacob Turner (born 1991), starting pitcher for the Miami Marlins
- Scott Van Slyke (born 1986), outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers; son of former St. Louis Cardinal Andy Van Slyke
- Earl Weaver (1930–2013), Hall of Fame manager for the Baltimore Orioles
- Mack Wheat (1893–1979), MLB catcher with the Brooklyn Robins and Philadelphia Phillies
- Zack Wheat (1888–1972), MLB Hall of Fame left fielder for Brooklyn, Philadelphia Athletics; brother of Mack Wheat
Basketball[change | change source]
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- Forrest Clare "Phog" Allen (1885–1974), Hall of Fame college basketball coach
- Bill Bradley (born 1943), Basketball Hall of Famer, U.S. Senator
- Alec Burks (born 1991), shooting guard for the Utah Jazz
- Tyler Hansbrough (born 1985), power forward for the Indiana Pacers
- Josh Harrellson (born 1989), center for the New York Knicks
- Larry Hughes (born 1979), shooting guard for the Orlando Magic
- David Lee (born 1983), power forward and center for the Golden State Warriors
- Tyronn Lue (born 1977), former NBA player (Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers)
- Brandon Rush (born 1985), shooting guard for the Golden State Warriors
- Kareem Rush (born 1980), shooting guard for the L.A. Clippers
- Scott Sims (born 1955), guard for the San Antonio Spurs
- Norm Stewart (born 1935), pro basketball player and longtime Mizzou coach
- Anthony Tolliver (born 1985), power forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves
Football[change | change source]
- Steve Atwater (born 1966), strong safety for the Denver Broncos
- Allen Barbre (born 1984), offensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks
- Tim Barnes (born 1988), center for the St. Louis Rams
- David Bass (born 1990), defensive end for the Chicago Bears
- Justin Britt (born 1991), offensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks
- Jason Brookins (born 1976), running back, Baltimore Ravens
- Colin Brown (born 1985), offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills
- Paul Christman (1918–1970), College Football Hall of Fame quarterback
- Adrian Clayborn (born 1988), defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Chase Coffman (born 1986), tight end for the Atlanta Falcons
- Dan Connolly (born 1982), offensive lineman for the New England Patriots
- Dan Dierdorf (born 1949), offensive tackle and Pro Football Hall of Fame, sportscaster
- Herb Donaldson (born 1985), running back for the Dallas Cowboys
- Kony Ealy (born 1991), defensive end for the Carolina Panthers
- Lenvil Elliott (1951–2008), NFL running back for the Bengals and 49ers
- Don Faurot (1902–1995), College Football Hall of Fame coach, inventor of the Split-T formation
- Brian Folkerts (born 1990), center for the Carolina Panthers
- Josh Freeman (born 1988), quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Blaine Gabbert (born 1989), quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers
- Justin Gage (born 1981), wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans
- E. J. Gaines (born 1992), cornerback for the St. Louis Rams
- Tony Galbreath (born 1954), running back for the New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Giants
- Conrad Goode (born 1962), offensive lineman
- Mark Herzlich (born 1987), linebacker for the New York Giants
- Cal Hubbard (1900–1977), only person in both the Baseball Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Brandon Joyce (1984–2010), offensive lineman in the CFL and NFL
- Terry Joyce (1954–2011), college football All-American and NFL punter
- Howard Kindig (born 1941), defensive end, 10-year NFL career with the Chargers, Bills, Dolphins, and Jets
- Ryan Lilja (born 1981), guard for the Kansas City Chiefs
- Brandon Lloyd (born 1981), wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers
- Jeremy Maclin (born 1988), wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles
- Marvin McNutt (born 1989), wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles
- Derlin Moore (born 1952), end for the New Orleans Saints
- Eric Moore (born 1965), guard with the Giants, Bengals, Browns and Dolphins
- William Moore (born 1985), safety for the Atlanta Falcons
- C. J. Mosley (born 1983), defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions
- Eddie Moss (special teams), for the St. Louis Cardinals
- Jim Musick (1910–1992), running back, Boston Redskins
- Neil Rackers (born 1976), placekicker for the Houston Texans
- Gijon Robinson (born 1984), tight end for the Indianapolis Colts
- Martin Rucker (born 1985), tight end for the Dallas Cowboys
- Mike Rucker (born 1975), defensive end for the Carolina Panthers
- Aldon Smith (born 1989), linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers
- Justin Smith (born 1979), defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers
- James Wilder (born 1958), 10-year NFL career with the Buccaneers, Redskins, and the Lions
- Brandon Williams (born 1989), nose tackle for the Baltimore Ravens
- Gregg Williams (born 1958), NFL coach, defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams
Golf[change | change source]
- Amy Alcott (born 1956), professional golfer, member of World Golf Hall of Fame
- Brandel Chamblee (born 1962), golfer
- Tom Pernice, Jr. (born 1959), PGA Tour member
- Judy Rankin (born 1945), professional golfer, member of World Golf Hall of Fame
- Payne Stewart (1957–1999), golfer
- Tom Watson (born 1949), Hall of Fame golfer, 8-time PGA Tour major champion
Ice hockey[change | change source]
- Ben Bishop (born 1986), NHL Ottawa Senators
- Chris Butler (born 1986), NHL Calgary Flames
- Michael Davies (born 1986), AHL Chicago Wolves
- Cam Janssen (born 1984), NHL New Jersey Devils
- Pat LaFontaine (born 1965), NHL Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, New York Rangers
- Mike McKenna (born 1983), AHL Peoria Rivermen
- Paul Stastny (born 1985), NHL Colorado Avalanche
- Yan Stastny (born 1982), DEL Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers
- Travis Turnbull (born 1986), DEL Dusseldorfer EG
- Joe Vitale (born 1985), NHL Pittsburgh Penguins
- Landon Wilson (born 1975), AHL Texas Stars
Professional wrestling[change | change source]
- Freddie Blassie (1918–2003), wrestler and manager
- "Bulldog" Bob Brown (1938–1997), wrestler and booker
- Bob Geigel (born 1924), 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 (born 1943), 8-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion; member of the WWE Hall of Fame, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Lou Thesz (1916–2002), superstar of professional wrestling's "Golden Age"
Miscellaneous sports[change | change source]
- 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
- Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls (born 1968), IFBB pro bodybuilder
- Dwight F. Davis (1879–1945), tennis player, founder of the Davis Cup
- Doris Hart (born 1925), Hall of Fame tennis player, winner of six Grand Slam singles titles
- Bud Houser (1901–1994), three-time Olympic gold medalist in shotput and discus
- Jack Jewsbury (born 1981), Major League Soccer player (Portland Timbers)
- 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
- Helen Stephens (1918–1994), two-time gold medalist in track and field at 1936 Summer Olympics
- Alex White (born 1988), mixed martial artist
Aviation and aerospace[change | change source]
- Thomas Akers (born 1953), retired NASA astronaut; made four space shuttle flights
- Jimmie Angel (1899–1956), discoverer and namesake of Angel Falls in Venezuela, the world's tallest waterfall
- Melville W. Beardsley (1913–1998), aeronautical engineer who helped create the Hovercraft
- Janet Kavandi (born 1959), scientist and NASA astronaut on three 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), philanthropist
Business[change | change source]
- Roger E. Billings (born 1948), businessman and scientist; known for his pioneering work on hydrogen energy technologies
- William Henry Ashley (1778–1838), founder of Rocky Mountain Fur Company, politician
- Henry W. Bloch (born 1922), 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)
- 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 (born 1935), 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. (born 1927), 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
- 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 (born 1923), 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
- Peter Youree (1843–1914), businessman in Shreveport, Louisiana; built first skyscraper there
Criminals and outlaws[change | change source]
- Anthony Brancato (1913–1951), freelance mafia gunman, half of "The Two Tonys" portrayed in the movie LA 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; 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, outlaw
- Bob Younger, outlaw
- Jim Younger, outlaw
- Bob Ford, 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
- 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
- Belle Starr (1848–1889), female outlaw of the Old West
Entertainment[change | change source]
Film, television and theater[change | change source]
- 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 (born 1929), Emmy Award-winning actor, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Lou Grant
- Scott Bakula (born 1954), actor, Quantum Leap and Star Trek: Enterprise
- 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
- John Beal (1909–1997), actor Les Miserables, Amityville 3-D
- 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
- Rob Benedict (born 1970), actor, Felicity, Head Case, Threshold
- 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
- Andrea Bogart (born 1977), actress, General Hospital
- Johnny Yong Bosch (born 1976), singer, actor, Eyeshine, Trigun, Power Rangers
- Jeff Branson (born 1977), actor
- Brent Briscoe (born 1961), actor, Yes Man, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Spider-Man 2
- Kent Broadhurst (born 1940), actor
- Norbert Leo Butz (born 1967), Tony Award-winning stage actor
- Morris Carnovsky (1897–1992), actor, Edge of Darkness, Dead Reckoning
- Conlan Carter (born 1934), actor, Combat!, The Law and Mr. Jones
- Don Cheadle (born 1964), actor, Hotel Rwanda, Traffic, Boogie Nights, The Rat Pack
- Anthony Cistaro (born 1963), actor, Charmed, Witchblade
- Sarah Clarke (born 1972), actress, Nina Myers on 24
- Lynn Cohen, actress, Law & Order, Sex and the City
- Frank Converse (born 1938), actor, Movin' On, N.Y.P.D.
- Chris Cooper (born 1951), Oscar-winning actor, Lonesome Dove, The Bourne Identity, American Beauty, The Muppets
- Joan Crawford (1905–1977), Oscar-winning actress, Mildred Pierce
- Greg Cromer (born 1971), actor
- Robert Cummings (1908–1990), actor, Kings Row, Saboteur, Dial M for Murder
- D–G
- Erin Daniels (born 1973), actress, The L Word
- 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
- Dale Dye (born 1944), actor, Saving Private Ryan, Mission: Impossible, Band of Brothers
- Cliff Edwards (1895–1971), actor, musician; the voice of Jiminy Cricket
- Jenna Fischer (born 1974), actress, The Office, Hall Pass, Blades of Glory
- Henderson Forsythe (1917–2006), actor, As the World Turns
- James Franciscus (1934–1991), actor, Mr. Novak, Naked City, Longstreet
- 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, Laverne & Shirley
- Heather Goldenhersh (born 1973), actress, The Class, School of Rock
- John Goodman (born 1952), actor, Roseanne, The Babe, Barton Fink, Oh Brother Where Art Thou, Monuments Men
- Lucas Grabeel (born 1984), actor, High School Musical, Milk
- Betty Grable (1916–1973), actress, singer and World War II pin-up girl
- 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, Picket Fences
- Eddie Griffin (born 1968), actor, comedian, Undercover Brother, Norbit
- Davis Guggenheim (born 1963), director, producer
- Robert Guillaume (born 1927), actor, Benson, The Lion King, Sports Night
- James Gunn (born 1970), film director and screenwriter
- Sean Gunn (born 1974), actor, Gilmore Girls, October Road
- Moses Gunn (1929–1993), actor, Father Murphy, The Cowboys, A Man Called Hawk
- H–M
- Jon Hamm (born 1971), actor, Mad Men, The Town, Million Dollar Arm
- 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, 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, 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
- 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
- David Koechner (born 1962), actor and comedian, Saturday Night Live, Anchorman
- 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
- Marsha Mason (born 1942), actress, Sibs, The Goodbye Girl, Only When I Laugh, Frasier
- Michael Massee (born 1955), 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
- 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
- Mircea Monroe, actress, model, Cellular, Episodes
- N–Z
- Dustin Nguyen (born 1962), actor, 21 Jump Street, V.I.P.
- 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 (born 1946), film director and screenwriter, Heavy Metal, Total Recall
- Denis O'Hare (born 1962), actor, Brothers & Sisters, Sweet Charity, True Blood
- Kevin O'Morrison (born 1916), actor and playwright
- Timothy Omundson (born 1969), actor, Psych, Judging Amy
- Holmes Osborne (born 1947), actor
- 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 Pena, Jr. (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
- Vincent Price (1911–1993), actor, Laura, House of Wax, The Ten Commandments, The Fly
- Sally Rand (1904–1979), burlesque dancer, actress
- Leonard Roberts (born 1972), actor, Heroes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Ginger Rogers (1911–1995), Oscar-winning actress, dance partner of Fred Astaire
- Sol Smith Russell (1848–1902), 19th Century stage actor
- 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
- 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
- William Traylor (1930–1989), actor Fletch, and founder of The Loft Studio/acting school
- Kathleen Turner (born 1954), actress, Body Heat, Romancing the Stone, Prizzi's Honor
- Stephen Barker Turner (born 1968), actor
- Dick Van Dyke (born 1925), actor, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Poppins, Diagnosis: Murder
- Jerry Van Dyke (born 1931), actor, Coach, McLintock!, The Courtship of Eddie's Father
- Jack Wagner (born 1959), actor/singer Melrose Place, General Hospital
- Dennis Weaver (1924–2006), actor, Gunsmoke, McCloud
- Jason Wiles (born 1970), actor, Third Watch, Persons Unknown
- Mykelti Williamson (born 1960), actor, Forrest Gump, Con Air, 24, Midnight Caller
- Jane Wyman (1914–2007), Oscar-winning actress; former wife of Ronald Reagan
Comedians[change | change source]
- Cedric The Entertainer (born 1964), actor, comedian
- Redd Foxx (1922–1991), comedian, starred in Sanford and Son
- Dick Gregory (born 1932), comedian, social activist
- Craig Kilborn (born 1962), comedian, actor, former talk show host
- Kathleen Madigan (born 1965), comedienne
- 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[change | change source]
- Ralph Barton (1891–1931), cartoonist
- George Booth (born 1926), cartoonist for The New Yorker
- Teresa Burritt (born 1916), cartoonist, Frog Applause, Shoecabbage
- 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 (born 1923-2018), cartoonist, Beetle Bailey
Magicians and mentalists[change | change source]
- Morgan Strebler (born 1976), magician and mentalist; Las Vegas award-winning performer
Music[change | change source]
Bluegrass and country[change | change source]
- Lennie Aleshire (1890–1987), country-bluegrass pioneer and vaudeville act
- Helen Cornelius (born 1941), country singer best known for duets with Jim Ed Brown
- Rusty Draper (1923–2003), country and rockabilly singer/guitarist
- Sara Evans (born 1971), country music star
- Tyler Farr, country music singer and songwriter
- Bob Ferguson (music) (1927–2001), country music songwriter and producer
- John Hartford (1937–2001), country and bluegrass music composer and performer
- Ferlin Husky (1925–2011), singer and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame
- Brett James, country music singer-songwriter and record producer
- The Kendalls, Grammy-winning country duo from the 1970s and 1980s
- Tom Shapiro, country music songwriter and record producer
- Tate Stevens, country music singer and 2012 winner of The X Factor
- Wynn Stewart (1934–1985), country music singer, progenitor of the Bakersfield sound
- Jamie Teachenor (born 1980), country and rock singer-songwriter, musician and record producer
- Trent Tomlinson (born 1975), country singer-songwriter
- Leroy Van Dyke (born 1929), country singer best known for "The Auctioneer" and "Walk on By"
- 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), Grand Ole Opry member and Country Music Hall of Famer
Jazz[change | change source]
- Oleta Adams (born 1953), soul, jazz and gospel singer
- Ahmad Alaadeen (born 1934), jazz saxophonist and composer
- Norman Brown (born 1970), smooth jazz musician
- Jimmy Forrest (1920–1980), jazz tenor saxophonist
- 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
- Lennie Niehaus (born 1929), 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
- Clark Terry (1920–2015), swing and bebop trumpet and flugelhorn player
Rhythm & blues, pop, rap and hip-hop[change | change source]
- Akon (born 1977), rhythm and blues musician, music producer
- Fontella Bass (1940–2012), singer best known for 1965 hit Rescue Me
- Basement Beats, multi-platinum Grammy Award-winning production team
- 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
Rock & roll[change | change source]
- Chuck Berry (born 1926), musician 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 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
- Steve Walsh (born 1951), lead vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist for the progressive rock group Kansas and Streets
Miscellaneous other music[change | change source]
- Doris Akers (1923–1995), gospel music singer and composer
- Martha Bass (1921–1998), gospel singer with the Clara Ward Singers and solo career
- Burt Bacharach (born 1928), pianist, composer
- Neal E. Boyd (born 1975), 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, and author
- Dan Landrum (born 1961), hammer dulcimer player, featured instrumentalist with Yanni
- Basil Poledouris (1945–2006), film soundtrack composer
- H. Owen Reed (born 1910), composer and conductor
- Willie Mae Ford Smith (1904–1994), Gospel singer
Radio and television[change | change source]
- Bob Barker (born 1923), television game show host
- Jim Bohannon (born 1944), radio talk show host
- Rush Limbaugh (born 1951), political commentator
- Dana Loesch (born 1978), radio talk show host and editor-in-chief of Andrew Breitbart's Big Journalism
- Melanie Morgan (born 1956), radio personality with KSFO in San Francisco
- "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
Beauty pageant titleholders[change | change source]
- Debbye Turner (born 1965), Miss America 1990
- Shandi Finnessey (born 1978), Miss USA 2004
Journalism[change | change source]
- Jabari Asim (born 1962), author, journalist
- 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
- Joe Garagiola, Sr. (born 1926), MLB catcher, baseball broadcaster, and television host (The Today Show)
- Dave Garroway (1913–1982), first host of NBC's Today show
- 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
- 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
Military[change | change source]
- 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 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 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. Fremont (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
- John Henry Parker (1866–1942), "Gatling Gun Parker"; 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 Mo. National Guard; awarded Distinguished Service Cross and Croix de guerre in World War I
- Roscoe Robinson, U.S. Army General
- 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)
- George Allison Whiteman (1919–1941), the 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 Honor, and Belgian Order of Leopold; first man to plant American flag on Cuban soil in the Spanish–American War
Miscellaneous famous Missourians[change | change source]
- 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"
- Calamity Jane (c. 1852–1903), Indian fighter and frontierswoman
- Dale Carnegie (1888–1955), public and motivational speaker
- 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)
- Bobby Greenlease (1947–1953), kidnap-murder victim in case that drew national attention
- Raelynn Hillhouse, national security and intelligence community analyst, Cold War smuggler, spy novelist
- Mary Ranken Jordan (1869–1962), philanthropist and community advocate
- Emmett Kelly (1898–1979), circus clown
- Karlie Kloss (born 1992), model and ballet dancer
- Carrie Nation (1846–1911), advocate for the temperance movement
- Rose O'Neill (1874–1944), author, illustrator and creator of the Kewpie doll
- Phyllis Schlafly (born 1924), 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
- Faye Wattleton (born 1943), feminist activist
- Roy Wilkins (1901–1981), civil rights activist
Public office[change | change source]
.jpg)
- 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)
- 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 (born 1934), 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), US 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 US 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), US House of Representatives
- 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, President of the United States (1869–1877)
- Michael Harrington (1928–1989), founder Democratic Socialists of America
- 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
- 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–); 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[1]
- 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
- Jeanne Shaheen (born 1947), U.S. Senator for New Hampshire
- Ike Skelton (born 1931), 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), 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
- 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[change | change source]
- 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
- Charles Stark Draper (1901–1987), inventor
- David F. Duncan (born 1947), psychologist and epidemiologist
- Meta Given (1888–1981), home economist scientist, dietician, author
- Edward T. Hall (1914–2009), anthropologist and cross-cultural researcher
- Edwin Hubble (1889–1953), astronomer
- Harry Laughlin (1880–1943), eugenicist
- Mark Johnson (born 1949), philosopher
- Virginia Eshelman Johnson (born 1925), psychology researcher
- Jack Kilby (1923–2005), inventor of the integrated circuit
- Pauline Gracia Beery Mack (1891–1974), chemist
- Ernest Manheim (1900–2002), sociologist
- William Howell Masters (1915–2001), gynecologist
- 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
- Norbert Wiener (1894–1964), mathematician