# List of people from Akron, Ohio

The following people were all born in or were residents of the city of Akron, Ohio, United States.
| Name | Occupation/industry | Description | Association |
| Henry Eugene Abbey | Theatre | Theatre manager and producer | Born in Akron |
| Richard F. Abel | Military | U.S. Air Force brigadier general | Born in Akron |
| John R. Adams | Judge | Federal judge on U.S. District Court for Northern District of Ohio | Practiced in Akron |
| James E. Akins | Politician | U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 1973 to 1976 | Born and raised in Akron |
| Lola Albright | Actress and singer | Starred in TV series Peter Gunn and films such as Kid Galahad | Born and raised in Akron |
| Andy Alleman | Athlete | Football center for Miami Dolphins | Born in Akron |
| Harold Anderson | Athlete | Basketball coach at Bowling Green State and University of Toledo | Born in Akron |
| R. W. Apple, Jr. | Writer | Editor, writer for The New York Times | Born in Akron |
| Joseph Arthur | Musician | Musician and artist | Born and raised in Akron |
| Dan Auerbach | Musician | Solo musician, guitarist for The Black Keys, owner of Akron Analog Recording Studios | Born and raised in Akron |
| William Hanes Ayres | Politician | Republican member of U.S. House of Representatives | Represented Akron in Congress |
| Josh Azzarella | Artist | Artist | Born in Akron |
| E.T. Barnette | Politician | Founder of Fairbanks, Alaska and its first mayor | Born in Akron |
| Alice M. Batchelder | Attorney | Attorney and jurist, currently chief judge of U.S. Court of Appeals for Sixth Circuit | Practiced in Akron |
| Elsworth R. Bathrick | Politician | U.S. Representative | Worked in Akron |
| Tom Batiuk | Cartoonist | Comic strip creator (Funky Winkerbean, Crankshaft) | Born in Akron |
| Cliff Battles | Athlete | Football player | Born in Akron |
| Margaret Baxtresser | Musician | Classical pianist | Supporter of Akron |
| Art Becker | Athlete | Basketball player | Born in Akron |
| Sam H. Bell | Judge | Federal judge on U.S. District Court for Northern District of Ohio | Practiced in Akron |
| Terry Bevington | Athlete | Baseball player and manager | Born in Akron |
| George Bliss | Politician | Congressman | Practiced and worked in Akron |
| Ray C. Bliss | Politician | Republican Party leader | Born and worked in Akron |
| Mark Bloch | Artist | Artist | Raised in Akron |
| Jim Boeke | Athlete | Football player | Born and raised in Akron |
| Phil Boggs | Athlete | Diver, 1976 Olympic gold medalist | Born and raised in Akron |
| Dante Booker | Athlete | Football player | Born and raised in Akron |
| Rosario Borgio | Criminal | Mobster | Worked in Akron |
| William Boyett | Actor | Actor | Born in Akron |
| Dave Brown | Athlete | Football player | Born and raised in Akron |
| John Brown | Politician | Abolitionist | Worked in Akron |
| Walter Hermann Bucher | Scientist | Geologist and paleontologist | Born in Akron |
| Michael Buckley | Writer | Author of The Sisters Grimm and NERDS series | Born in Akron |
| E. J. Burt | Athlete | Football player | Born and raised in Akron |
| River Butcher | Actor | Stand-up comic, co-creator and co-star of Take My Wife | Born and raised in Akron |
| Jimmy Butler | Actor | Actor | Born in Akron |
| Glen Buxton | Musician | Guitarist for Alice Cooper | Born in Akron |
| Patrick Carney | Musician | Drummer for The Black Keys, bassist for band Drummer | Born and raised in Akron |
| Bob Casale | Musician | Musician, Devo | Raised in Akron |
| Gerald Casale | Musician | Musician, Devo | Raised in Akron |
| Len Chandler | Musician | Folk musician | Born in Akron |
| David Allan Coe | Singer | Country music artist | Born in Akron |
| Russell Coffey | Military | World War I veteran | Lived in Akron |
| Arthur L. Conger | Historian | Theosophist | Born in Akron |
| Deborah L. Cook | Judge | Federal judge on U.S. Court of Appeals for Sixth Circuit | Practiced in Akron |
| Jarrod Cooper | Athlete | Football player | Born in Akron |
| Cheryl Crawford | Theatre | Director and producer | Born in Akron |
| Mark Croghan | Athlete | Five-time national champion in steeplechase | Born in Akron |
| Stephen Curry | Athlete | Basketball player for Golden State Warriors, four-time NBA champion | Born in Akron |
| Ruby Nash Curtis | Singer | Singer of Ruby & The Romantics | Born in Akron |
| Hammer Damage | Singer | Rock band | Formed in Akron |
| Keith Dambrot | Athlete | Basketball coach | Born, raised, and worked in Akron |
| Jimmy Darrow | Athlete | Basketball player | Born in Akron |
| John Dean | Politician | White House counsel to Richard Nixon | |
| Charles W. F. Dick | Politician | U.S. Senator (Republican) | |
| Frank Dicopoulos | Actor | Actor | |
| Michael Dokes | Athlete | Boxer, WBA World Heavyweight Champion 1982–1983 | Born in Akron |
| Lloyd C. Douglas | Minister | Minister, author | |
| Rita Dove | Writer | Poet | |
| Hugh Downs | TV | TV journalist and personality, 20/20 | |
| Peter C. Economus | Judge | Federal judge on U.S. District Court for Northern District of Ohio | Practiced in Akron |
| Sidney Edgerton | Politician | 19th-century politician | |
| Bruce L. Edwards | Academic and author | Bowling Green State University professor and C. S. Lewis scholar | Born in Akron |
| Eddie Elias | Athlete | Founder of Professional Bowlers Assn. | |
| Harold G. Epperson | Military | Decorated U.S. Marine | |
| Eugene C. Eppley | Corporate executive | Hotel mogul | |
| Angie Everhart | Actress | Model and actress | |
| Fritzi Fern | Actress | Actress | |
| Harvey Samuel Firestone | Corporate executive | Founder of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company | Lived in Akron |
| Leonard Firestone | Corporate executive | Industrialist | |
| Steve Fitzhugh | Athlete | Football player | |
| Art Fleming | TV | TV game show host, Jeopardy | |
| Carol Folt | College executive | President, University of Southern California | Born in Akron |
| Martha Firestone Ford | Business executive | Owner and chairwoman of NFL's Detroit Lions | Born in Akron |
| Trent Ford | Actor | Actor, model | |
| Mike Fox | Athlete | Football player | |
| Elizabeth Franz | Actress | Tony Award and Obie Award-winning actress | |
| Shirley Fry | Athlete | Tennis player | |
| Ruby Nash Garnett | Singer | Singer of Ruby & the Romantics | Born in Akron |
| William H. Gerstenmaier | NASA | NASA administrator | |
| Joe Glazer | Musician | Musician | |
| Dick Goddard | Scientist | Meteorologist | |
| Harvey Gold | Musician | Musician | |
| Bob Golic | Athlete | Football player, radio personality | |
| Mike Golic | Athlete | Football player | |
| Benjamin Goodrich | Corporate executive | Founder of B.F. Goodrich Company | |
| Jim Graner | TV | Sports anchor at WKYC; color commentator for Cleveland Browns radio | Born in Akron |
| Brad Guigar | Cartoonist | Cartoonist | |
| James S. Gwin | Judge | Federal judge on U.S. District Court for Northern District of Ohio | Practiced in Akron |
| Kris Haines | Athlete | Football player | |
| Dave Hampton | Athlete | Football player | |
| Leon Harris | TV | Television journalist | |
| James Harrison | Athlete | Football player for Pittsburgh Steelers, two-time Super Bowl champion | |
| Dow W. Harter | Politician | U.S. Representative | |
| Umar Bin Hassan | Writer | Poet | |
| Anne Heche | Actress | Star of films like Volcano, Psycho, Cedar Rapids | |
| John Heisman | Actor, athlete, coach | Football and baseball coach at Buchtel College (now known as the University of Akron); Heisman Trophy named in his honor | Lived in Akron |
| Carol Heiss | Athlete | Figure skater, Olympic gold medalist, five-time world champion | |
| Daniel Hesidence | Artist | Painter | |
| Howard Hewett | Singer | Gospel and R&B singer | |
| Michael Holley | Writer | Sports journalist | |
| M. Herbert Hoover | Politician | Politician | |
| Roger Hoover | Singer | Singer, musician | |
| Walter B. Huber | Politician | U.S. Representative | |
| Rex Humbard | Televangelist | Televangelist | |
| Craig Hummer | TV | Sportscaster | |
| Chrissie Hynde | Singer | Musician, leader of The Pretenders | |
| James Ingram | Musician | Singer, songwriter, two-time Grammy Award winner | Born in Akron |
| Lux Interior | Musician | Singer and founding member of The Cramps | |
| Shirley Fry Irvin | Athlete | Hall of Fame tennis player | Born in Akron |
| Ike Isaacs | Musician | Jazz bassist | Born in Akron |
| Sandi Jackson | Politician | Politician | |
| LeBron James | Athlete | Basketball player for Los Angeles Lakers, four-time NBA champion | Born and raised in Akron |
| Jim Jarmusch | Filmmaker | Director of films such as Down by Law, Broken Flowers | |
| David Jenkins | Athlete | Figure skater, Olympic gold medalist, three-time world champion | |
| Hayes Alan Jenkins | Athlete | Figure skater, 1956 Olympic gold medalist | |
| Helen Jepson | Singer | Soprano | |
| Gus Johnson | Athlete | Basketball player, television sportscaster | |
| Steve Johnson | Athlete | Basketball player | |
| Grandpa Jones | Musician | Musician, comedian (Hee-Haw) | |
| Melina Kanakaredes | Actress | Star of television series Providence, CSI: NY | |
| Salaria Kea | Nurse | Nurse | |
| Maynard James Keenan | Singer | Singer, Tool, A Perfect Circle, Puscifer | Born in Akron |
| Dean Keener | Coach | Basketball coach | |
| Herman Keiser | Athlete | Golfer, 1946 Masters champion | |
| Charlton Keith | Athlete | Football player | |
| Phil Kline | Musician | Composer | |
| Bob Knepper | Athlete | Major League Baseball pitcher | |
| Charles Landon Knight | Attorney | Publisher, politician | |
| James L. Knight | Writer | Publisher | |
| John S. Knight | Writer | Publisher | |
| Parke Kolbe | College executive | College president | |
| Heather Kozar | Model | Model; former Barker's Beauty on The Price Is Right | |
| Brock Kreitzburg | Athlete | Bobsledder | |
| Art Kusnyer | Athlete | Baseball player and coach | |
| Jani Lane | Singer | Lead singer of Glam metal band Warrant | Born in Akron |
| Jerome Lane | Athlete | Basketball player | |
| Bob Lape | TV | Television journalist | |
| Mortimer Dormer Leggett | Military | Civil War officer | |
| Dana Leonardi | Musician | Owner of the world famous Derby Nightclub (A Historical Landmark in Los Angeles) | raised in Akron |
| Bob Lewis | Singer | Founder of Devo | |
| Thomas Lewis | Athlete | Football player | |
| Frank Fowler Loomis | Engineer | Inventor and city director of mechanical engineering | Born and raised in Akron |
| David Lough | Athlete | Baseball player | Born in Akron |
| Liam Lynch | Musician | Musician, puppeteer, Sifl and Olly | |
| Dylan Mabin | Athlete | Football player | Born in Akron |
| John Magaro | Actor | Actor | Born in Akron |
| Doug Marsh | Athlete | Football player | |
| Thomas E. Martin | Politician | Iowa politician | |
| Mike Massie | Politician | Wyoming politician | |
| Banjo Matthews | Athlete | NASCAR driver | |
| Andy McCollum | Athlete | Football player | |
| Moses McCormick | YouTuber | YouTube personality | Born in Akron |
| Gates McFadden | Actress | Actress | Born in Akron |
| Frances McGovern | Politician | U.S. Representative | |
| Charles McGraw | Actor | Stage, film and television actor | |
| Marian Mercer | Actress | Tony Award-winning actress of stage, film and TV | |
| Paul T. Mikolashek | Military officer | U.S. Army lieutenant general | Born and raised in Akron |
| Gene Mingo | Athlete | Football player | |
| Dan Moldea | Writer | Journalist and author | |
| Vaughn Monroe | Singer | Recording artist, actor, bandleader on Hollywood Walk of Fame | |
| Michael Morell | TV | ICIA director, TV analyst | |
| Brian Mosteller | Politician | Director of Oval Office Operations for President Barack Obama | |
| Bob Mothersbaugh | Musician | Musician, member of Devo | |
| Jim Mothersbaugh | Musician | Musician, member of Devo | |
| Mark Mothersbaugh | Musician | Musician, member of Devo | |
| Scott Muni | Radio | Radio personality | |
| Thurman Munson | Athlete | Baseball player, seven-time All-Star, 1976 American League MVP | |
| Ron Negray | Athlete | Baseball player | |
| John Neidert | Athlete | Football player | Born in Akron |
| Donnie Nickey | Athlete | Football player | |
| Pete Nischt | Musician | Musician | |
| Gabe Norwood | Athlete | Basketball player for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters | |
| Russell Oberlin | Musician | Musician | |
| Les Olsson | Athlete | Football player | |
| Stanford R. Ovshinsky | Scientist | Inventor and scientist | |
| Chris Owens | Athlete | Basketball player | |
| Tim "Ripper" Owens | Singer | Singer, replaced Rob Halford in Judas Priest; inspiration for movie Rock Star | Born in Akron |
| Paige Palmer | TV | Fitness expert, TV personality | |
| John Parry | Sports official | Football official | |
| Ara Parseghian | Coach | Football coach, Notre Dame | |
| Jaroslav Pelikan | Theologian | Christianity scholar | |
| Simon Perkins | Founder | Settler, surveyor | |
| Ronald Phillips | Murderer | Child murderer | Executed for rape and murder of child |
| Antonio Pittman | Athlete | Football player | |
| Terry Pluto | Writer | Sports journalist | |
| Shawn Porter | Athlete | Professional boxer | |
| Ricky Powers | Athlete | Football player | |
| Edward Pramuk | Artist | Artist | Born in Akron |
| Richard Quick | Athlete | Swimming coach | |
| Robert Quine | Musician | Guitarist | |
| Willard Van Orman Quine | Philosopher | Philosopher | |
| Ron Rector | Athlete | Football player | |
| Robin Reed | Biologist | Cell biologist | Born in Akron |
| James W. Reilly | Politician | Politician | |
| Nikola Resanovic | Musician | Composer | |
| Judith Resnik | NASA | Astronaut, killed in Challenger explosion | Born and raised in Akron |
| Butch Reynolds | Athlete | Track-and-field star, gold medalist in 1988 Olympics | |
| Jennifer Niederst Robbins | Corporate executive | Designed the web's first commercial site | |
| Sydne Rome | Actress | Actress | |
| Edmund Rowe | Politician | U.S. Representative | |
| Ed Sadowski | Athlete | Basketball player | Born in Akron |
| Wilbur F. Sanders | Politician | Montana politician | |
| Thomas C. Sawyer | Politician | Politician | |
| Bo Schembechler | Coach | Football coach, University of Michigan | |
| Mark Schubert | Coach | Swimming coach | Born and raised in Akron |
| Francis Seiberling | Politician | U.S. Representative | |
| Frank Seiberling | Corporate executive | Founder of Goodyear Tire and Rubber | Born in Akron |
| John F. Seiberling | Politician | U.S. Representative | |
| Luke Sewell | Athlete | Baseball player and manager | |
| Chuck Share | Athlete | Basketball player | |
| Denny Shute | Athlete | Golfer | |
| Matt Simon | Athlete | Football player | |
| Harry Simpson | Athlete | Baseball player | |
| George Sisler | Athlete | Baseball player, member of Hall of Fame | |
| Richard Smalley | Scientist | Chemist, winner of Nobel Prize | |
| Bob Smith | Founder | Founder of Alcoholics Anonymous | |
| Neal Smith | Musician | Drummer for Alice Cooper | |
| Mark Smucker | Business executive | CEO of The J.M. Smucker Company | Resident of Akron since 2002 |
| Donald Ray Snodgrass | Author | Author | |
| Mark Stevens | Actor | Star of films such as The Dark Corner, The Street with No Name | |
| Chris Stuckmann | Film critic | Film critic, filmmaker, author, and YouTuber | |
| Betty Sutton | Politician | U.S. Representative for 13th Congressional District | Practiced in Akron |
| Tyrell Sutton | Athlete | Football player | |
| Rachel Sweet | Actress | Singer, actress and TV writer | |
| Michael Tarver | Athlete | Professional wrestler | |
| Gene Thomas | Athlete | Football player | |
| Nate Thurmond | Athlete | Basketball player, member of Hall of Fame | |
| Todd Tobias | Musician | Musician | |
| Aiden Wilson Tozer | Author | Preacher, author | |
| Bill Upham | Athlete | Baseball player | |
| William H. Upson | Politician | 19th-century politician | |
| Claude Virden | Athlete | Basketball player | |
| Mike Vrabel | Athlete | Former NFL player and head coach of the Tennessee Titans since 2018 | |
| Michael Wadleigh | Director | Director and cinematographer, filmed documentary of 1969 Woodstock Festival, Woodstock | |
| Ramon Walker | Athlete | Football player | |
| Brad Warner | Musician | Zen priest, musician | |
| Chris Wells | Athlete | Football player for Arizona Cardinals | |
| Jesse White | Actor | Actor, known as Maytag Repairman in 1967–1988 commercials | Raised in Akron |
| Josh Williams | Athlete | Professional soccer player | Born in Akron |
| Wendell Willkie | Politician | Presidential candidate, lawyer | Worked in Akron |
| Dan Wilson | Musician | Jazz guitarist | Raised in Akron |
| Melinda Windsor | Model | Playboy model | |
| Antoine Winfield | Athlete | Football player | |
| Ray Wise | Actor | Known for films and TV series such as Twin Peaks, 24 | |
| Sam Wise | Athlete | Baseball player | |
| Gene Woodling | Athlete | Baseball player | |
| George Younce | Southern gospel singer | Bass vocalist for the Cathedral Quartet | Resident of Akron |
| Kim Zurz | Politician | Politician | |

## Fictional people from Akron, Ohio

* Jiminy Glick, fictional talk-show host portrayed by Martin Short on film and TV
* J. Reid, in In Too Deep, played by Omar Epps