# List of people from Utah

The following is a list of prominent people who were born in the U.S. state of Utah, live in Utah, or for whom Utah is a significant part of their identity.
* Top
* A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* F
* G
* H
* I
* J
* K
* L
* M
* N
* O
* P
* Q
* R
* S
* T
* U
* V
* W
* X
* Y
* Z
* See also
* References

## A

* Maurice Abravanel – music director of the Utah Symphony for over 30 years
* Maude Adams – Broadway stage actress of late 19th and early 20th centuries, noted for title role in Peter Pan
* Florence E. Allen – first woman to serve on a state Supreme Court, second to serve as a federal judge
* Quinn Allman – guitarist for The Used
* John Amaechi – American-English NBA player for the Utah Jazz (2001–2003), sports broadcaster, political activist
* Rocky Anderson – former mayor of Salt Lake City
* David Archuleta – singer-songwriter, runner-up on the seventh season of American Idol
* Leonard J. Arrington – historian
* Hal Ashby – director; films include Being There, The Last Detail, Harold and Maude

## B

* Simon Bamberger – first Democratic governor of Utah; only Jewish governor of Utah
* Dean Baker (born 1958) – macroeconomist
* Lee Barnes (1906–1970) – pole vaulter, gold medalist in 1924 Olympics
* Roseanne Barr – comedian, television actress, writer, talk-show host
* Earl W. Bascom (1906–1995) – rodeo champion, inventor, artist, sculptor, Utah Sports Hall of Fame inductee
* Bruce Bastian – computer programmer, co-founder of WordPerfect company, philanthropist, on the board of directors of the Human Rights Campaign
* Zane Beadles – lineman for the Jacksonville Jaguars
* Linda Bement (1942–2018) – Miss USA and Miss Universe 1960
* Robert Foster "Bob" Bennett – Republican United States Senator from Utah
* Ezra Taft Benson – 13th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1985–1994; United States Secretary of Agriculture
* Jaime Bergman – actress, model, 1999 Playboy Playmate
* Arnie Beyeler – first base coach for the Boston Red Sox
* Don Bluth (born 1937) – animator
* Frank Borzage – film director and actor
* Reva Beck Bosone – Utah's first woman member of Congress
* Elaine Bradley – musician; member of rock band Neon Trees
* Shawn Bradley – former NBA center, one of the tallest players in NBA history
* Stewart Bradley – linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles
* Juanita Brooks – historian and author
* John Moses Browning (1855–1926) – firearms designer
* Val Browning (1895–1994) – business magnate, philanthropist, and gun innovator
* John Buck (born 1980) – catcher for the Miami Marlins
* Ted Bundy – serial killer who attended the S. J. Quinney College of Law (not born in Utah, but lived there)
* Nolan Bushnell (born 1943) – video game designer, founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese
* Jerry Buss (1933–2013) – businessman, real estate investor and chemist, owned the Los Angeles Lakers

## C

* Ben Cahoon – slotback for the CFL's Montreal Alouettes, member of two Grey Cup championship teams in 2002 and 2009
* Mario Capecchi (born 1939) – recipient, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 2007
* Orson Scott Card (born 1951) – science fiction author
* Neal Cassady – writer; major figure of the Beat Generation of the 1950s and the psychedelic and counterculture movements of the 1960s; inspiration for the character Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road
* Butch Cassidy (1866 – c. 1908) – outlaw, born Robert LeRoy Parker in Beaver, Utah
* Stephen Covey (1932–2012) – author, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
* Reed Cowan (born 1972) – television news anchor, philanthropist, and documentary filmmaker
* Melvin A. Cook (1911–2000) – explosives expert, chemist
* Chris Cooley (born 1982) – NFL tight end
* James Cowser (born 1990) – NFL outside linebacker
* Chandler Cox (born 1996) – NFL fullback

## D

* Matthew Davis – actor, The Vampire Diaries, What About Brian, Legally Blonde
* Laraine Day – actress, Foreign Correspondent, Mr. Lucky, The High and the Mighty
* Jordan Devey – offensive guard for the San Francisco 49ers
* Paul W. Draper – anthropologist, mentalist, educator
* Christine M. Durham – Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court since 2002

## E

* David Eccles – industrialist
* Marriner Eccles – banker, economist, Chairman of the Federal Reserve during Roosevelt and Truman Administrations
* Spencer Eccles – bank executive for First Security and Wells Fargo
* Lily Eskelsen García – vice president of National Education Association
* Richard Paul Evans – author, known for novel The Christmas Box
* Henry Eyring – theoretical chemist who proposed theories on which future Nobel Prize winners based their work

## F

* Philo T. Farnsworth (1906–1971) – inventor of the electronic television
* John D. Fitzgerald – author of The Great Brain series of children's books and Papa Married a Mormon
* John F. Fitzpatrick – publisher of The Salt Lake Tribune 1924–1960
* Harvey Fletcher – physicist, invented the hearing aid and audiometer; called "the father of stereophonic sound"
* Brandon Flowers – singer for the rock band The Killers
* Jim Fosgate – inventor of first car amplifier, Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound, founder of Rockford Fosgate electronics
* Jimmer Fredette – professional basketball player
* Patrick Fugit (born 1982) – actor, known for lead role of Cameron Crowe's film Almost Famous
* Gene Fullmer (1931–2015) – middleweight boxer and world champion

## G

* John W. Gallivan – publisher of The Salt Lake Tribune, 1960–1984
* Kendall D. Garff – founder of Ken Garff Automotive Group
* Jake Garn – former U.S. Senator and astronaut, the first member of Congress in space
* Anthony Geary – actor in several daytime television series
* John Gilbert – silent film star
* Tyler Glenn – musician; member of rock band Neon Trees
* Jared Goldberg (born 1991) – Olympic skier
* Robert Gore – co-inventor of Gore-Tex fabrics
* Wilbert L. Gore – co-inventor of Gore-Tex fabrics
* Heber J. Grant (1856–1945) – 7th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* Tom Green – Mormon fundamentalist and practicer of plural marriage
* Riley Griffiths – actor, known for Super 8
* Jesse Grupper (born 1997) – Olympic rock climber

## H

* Gregg Hale – guitarist for British band Spiritualized
* Tracy Hall (1919–2008) – scientist
* Jacob Hamblin – peace maker with Native Americans
* Orrin Hatch (1934–2022) – long-time U.S. Senator from Utah since 1977
* Dan Hausel (born 1949) – martial-arts grandmaster, exploration geologist and author
* Stanley Havili (born 1987) – fullback for the Philadelphia Eagles
* Colin Haynie (born 2004/2005) — alleged mass shooter
* Katherine Heigl – actress (Grey's Anatomy, 27 Dresses)
* Gary R. Herbert (born 1947) – governor of Utah
* Jared and Jerusha Hess (born 1979, 1980) – filmmakers (Napoleon Dynamite)
* Tracy Hickman – writer, co-creator of the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Dragonlance and associated novels
* Esther Hicks – inspirational speaker and best-selling author
* Chelsie Hightower – professional ballroom dancer on So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars
* Joe Hill – socialist, radical labor activist, and member of the Industrial Workers of the World
* Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) – 15th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1995–2008
* Allison Holker – jazz dancer
* Derek Hough and Julianne Hough – professional ballroom dancers on Dancing with the Stars
* Jeph Howard (born 1979) – bassist for The Used
* Jon Huntsman Jr. (born 1960) – governor of Utah 2005–2009; ambassador to the People's Republic of China
* Jon Huntsman Sr. – businessman, philanthropist, founder of Huntsman Corporation

## I

* Brian Ibbott – creator of the Coverville podcast

## J

* Daniel C. Jackling – founded the Utah Copper Co. in 1903, starting what became the world's largest open-pit mine
* Ken Jennings – 74-time Jeopardy! champion
* Jewel (born Jewel Kilcher, 1974) – singer-songwriter, guitarist, actress, and poet
* Scott Johnson – creator of Extralife webcomic and podcast network Frogpants Studios
* Megan Joy – singer, American Idol Season 8 finalist

## K

* Thomas Kearns – U.S. senator from Utah (1901–1905), owned the Silver King Coalition Mine in Park City and the Salt Lake Tribune, Utah's largest newspaper
* Bryan Kehl – linebacker for the Washington Redskins
* Brett Keisel – defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers
* David M. Kennedy (1905–1996) – Treasury Secretary under President Nixon
* Spencer W. Kimball – 12th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; LDS president who ended the ban on priesthood for African-Americans in 1978
* John F. Kinney – Chief Justice of the Utah Territory Supreme Court, 1853–1857, and the Territory of Utah's Delegate in the House of Representatives of the 38th Congress
* Raymond Knight – rodeo organizer, son of mining magnate Jesse Knight
* Steve Konowalchuk – NHL forward for Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche
* Paul Kruger – linebacker for Cleveland Browns

## L

* Carnell Lake (born 1967) – former NFL professional football player, football coach
* Paul Langton – actor
* Joi Lansing – model, actress
* LeafyIsHere – YouTuber
* Mike Leavitt – former governor of Utah, Secretary of Health and Human Services
* Harold B. Lee – 11th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* John D. Lee – early LDS Church leader, the only man convicted in the Mountain Meadows massacre
* Trevor Lewis – forward for NHL's Los Angeles Kings
* Don L. Lind – astronaut
* Mike Lookinland – actor
* Star Lotulelei – defensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers
* Brandon Lyon – relief pitcher for MLB's Toronto Blue Jays

## M

* Maddox – Internet satirist and author of The Best Page in the Universe and The Alphabet of Manliness
* Karl Malone – professional basketball player (retired); two-time NBA MVP and Hall of Famer
* John Willard Marriott – founder of worldwide hotel business Marriott International, Inc.
* Mark Maryboy – politician and a former Navajo Nation Council Delegate
* Daya Mata – president of Self-Realization Fellowship for 55+ years
* Scott M. Matheson – governor of Utah
* Ned Mathews – running back for Detroit Lions and Boston Yanks
* Bert McCracken – lead singer of the band The Used
* Roger I. McDonough – Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court, 1947–1948 and 1954–1959
* David O. McKay – 9th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* James B. McKean – congressman, Chief Justice of the Utah Territory Supreme Court, 1870–1875
* Jim McMahon – NFL football player (retired); businessman; motivational speaker
* Evan Mecham – 17th governor of Arizona
* Kieth Merrill – Academy Award-winning producer and director
* Johnny Miller – former professional golfer, won 25 PGA Tour events, current golf analyst for NBC Sports
* Larry H. Miller (1944–2009) – businessman, philanthropist, owner of Utah Jazz basketball team
* Gerald R. Molen – Academy Award-winning film producer
* Thomas S. Monson – president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* Ted Moss – three-term Democratic senator from Utah
* Barry Mower – businessperson, owner of Lifetime Products
* Brandon Mull – best-selling author

## N

* Jim Nantz – CBS Sports anchor
* David Neeleman – co-founder JetBlue
* Russell M. Nelson – current president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* Haloti Ngata – defensive end for the Baltimore Ravens
* Claude Nowell (1944–2008) – founder of Summum religion and philosophy

## O

* Dallin H. Oaks – lawyer, jurist, Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* Darcy Olsen – president and chief executive officer of the Goldwater Institute
* Merlin Olsen (1940–2010) – former NFL football player, actor on Little House on the Prairie and star of NBC's Father Murphy
* Osmond family – family music group The Osmonds
** Alan Osmond (born 1949) – singer
** Donny Osmond (born 1957) – singer, actor, television host
** Jay Osmond (born 1955) – singer
** Jimmy Osmond (born 1963) – singer, actor, businessman
** Marie Osmond (born 1959) – singer, actress, television host
** Merrill Osmond (born 1953) – singer
** Wayne Osmond (born 1951) – singer
* Wayne Owens (1937–2002) – attorney, U.S. congressman from Utah

## P

* Erik Pears (born 1982) – offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers
* Utah Phillips (1935–2008) – folk singer, poet, and labor organizer
* Dorothy Poynton (1915–1995) – diver, two-time Olympic gold medalist
* Ivy Baker Priest (1905–1976) – United States Secretary of the Treasury 1953–61
* Pat Priest (born 1936) – actress, The Munsters

## R

* Melba Rae – actress, Search for Tomorrow
* Natacha Rambova – costume and set designer; Egyptologist
* Cal Rampton – Utah governor, 1965–1977; won three terms running as a Democrat
* Carmen Rasmusen (born 1985) – contestant on American Idol 2
* Dallas Reynolds – offensive lineman for the New York Giants
* Dan Reynolds – lead singer for the band Imagine Dragons
* Gary Ridgway – serial killer known as the Green River Killer
* Amanda Righetti – actress, The Mentalist, North Shore, Reunion
* Mitt Romney – politician, businessman, former governor of Massachusetts (2003–2007), 2012 Republican nominee for president, and United States senator from Utah (2019–)
* Karl Rove – political advisor to President George W. Bush
* Ron Rydalch – defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears

## S

* Matt Salmon – U.S. representative from Arizona
* Kyle Sampson – former Chief of Staff and Counselor for United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
* Brandon Sanderson – author, selected to complete Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time
* Cael Sanderson – wrestler from Heber City, Utah, gold medalist in the 2004 Summer Olympics
* Daniel C Schaffer – Corporate Mentalist, Magician, and Speaker
* Harold Schindler (1929–1998) – Utah historian
* Dalton Schultz – tight end for the Dallas Cowboys
* Byron Scott – NBA shooting guard; head coach for the New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, and Cleveland Cavaliers
* Brent Scowcroft – National Security Advisor to presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush
* Ryan Seaman – drummer in the rock band Falling in Reverse
* Jerry Sloan – basketball player, Hall of Fame head coach for the Utah Jazz; longest-tenured coach in American professional sports
* Elizabeth Smart – kidnapped as a girl from her bedroom in Salt Lake City in 2002; child safety activist
* George Albert Smith – 8th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* Joseph Fielding Smith – 10th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* Lucky Blue Smith (born 1998) – model and drummer
* Reed Smoot – U.S. Senator, served almost thirty years in Congress, ten as chairman of the Finance Committee
* Sril – artist
* Wallace Stegner – historian, novelist, short story writer, and environmentalist
* Branden Steineckert – former drummer of The Used, drummer for Rancid
* Stanley Smith Stevens – psychologist; founded Harvard's Psycho-Acoustic Laboratory; credited with Stevens' power law
* John Stockton – Hall of Fame point guard for the Utah Jazz, holds the NBA records for career assists and steals
* Picabo Street – champion alpine ski racer with the U.S. Ski Team
* Xavier Su'a-Filo – guard for the Dallas Cowboys
* Bruce Summerhays – professional golfer; mission president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* Jane Summerhays – actress
* George Sutherland – English-born American jurist and political figure; Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, 1922–1938
* Kelly Sweet – adult contemporary singer
* May Swenson (1913–1989) – poet

## T

* Naufahu Tahi – former NFL fullback
* Mitch Talbot – pitcher for the Samsung Lions
* Chrissy Teigen – model for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
* Kip Thorne – theoretical physicist
* D. J. Tialavea – tight end for the Atlanta Falcons
* Will Tukuafu – fullback for the Seattle Seahawks

## U

* Harvey Unga – running back for the Chicago Bears
* Brendon Urie – singer-songwriter, frontman of Panic! at the Disco

## V

* Craig Venter – biotechnologist, biochemist, geneticist, and entrepreneur
* Zach Vigil – linebacker for the Miami Dolphins

## W

* Wakara – Native American; leader of the Timpanogos tribe
* Olene S. Walker – governor
* Tom Wallisch – skier
* Sam Walton – Wal-Mart founder, served in the military at Ft Douglas
* John Warnock – co-founder of Adobe Systems Inc.
* Dallon Weekes – musician, singer-songwriter; former bassist of rock band Panic! at the Disco and current frontman of indie pop project I Dont Know How But They Found Me
* Mike Weir – professional golfer
* Rhyan White – Olympic swimmer
* Willie Wilkin – professional football player
* Terry Tempest Williams – author, environmentalist
* Marie Windsor – actress
* Mary Elizabeth Winstead – actress, Live Free or Die Hard
* Dave Wolverton – author
* James Woods – film, stage and television actor
* David Wright – cyclist, stage winner in all three grand tours, yellow jersey holder, national time trial champion

## Y

* Brigham Young – 2nd president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* Bryan Young – filmmaker and author
* Loretta Young – film actress and television star
* Mahonri Young – sculptor and artist
* Steve Young – Hall of Fame quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, NFL's Most Valuable Player 1992 and 1994

## Z

* Charles S. Zane – Chief Justice of the Utah Territory Supreme Court (1884–1888), and of the Utah Supreme Court (1896–1899)
* Michael D. Zimmerman – sensei; Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court, 1994–1998