# List of people from Denver

This is a list of some notable people who have lived in the City and County of Denver, Colorado, United States.
People born elsewhere but raised in Denver are marked with a §. People born and raised elsewhere who have lived in Denver as adults are marked with a #.

## Academia

* Harold Agnew (1921–2013), physicist
* Hal Anger (1920–2005), electrical engineer, biophysicist
* Lena Lovato Archuleta (1920–2011), administrator, librarian #
* John Arthur (1946–2007), philosopher
* Alfred Marshall Bailey (1894–1978), ornithologist #
* Jacques Bailly (1966– ), classics scholar, Scripps National Spelling Bee pronouncer
* Thomas Bopp (1949–2018), astronomer and co-discoverer of comet Hale-Bopp
* Jason Box (1970– ), climatologist, geographer
* Hendrika B. Cantwell (1925– ), Dutch-American clinical professor of pediatrics, advocate for abused and neglected children
* Louis George Carpenter (1861–1935), engineer, mathematician #
* Katherine M. Cook (1876–1962), educator and government official who specialized in rural education
* John Cotton Dana (1856–1929), librarian, museum director #
* Gertrude Crotty Davenport (1866–1946), biologist, eugenicist
* David Brion Davis (1927-2019), Sterling Professor of History at Yale University and director of Yale's Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition
* Edwina Hume Fallis (1876–1957), educator, writer, toy designer
* Alan Fowler (1928– ), physicist
* Margaret Hayes Grazier (1916–1999), librarian, educator
* Margaret Storrs Grierson (1900–1997), archivist, philosophy professor
* John L. Hall (1934– ), physicist
* Donna Haraway (1944– ), feminist studies scholar, sociologist
* Orin Hargraves (1953– ), lexicographer
* Robert Heizer (1915–1979), archaeologist
* Arnold Kramish (1923–2010), nuclear physicist
* Tony Laubach, meteorologist with the TWISTEX team
* Henry F. May (1915–2012), historian
* David Messerschmitt (1945– ), electrical engineer
* Seeley G. Mudd (1895–1968), physician, professor, philanthropist
* Rob Nelson (1979– ), biologist, documentary filmmaker
* John W. Olmsted (1903–1986), historian
* Renee Rabinowitz (1934–2020), psychologist and lawyer #
* Robert Reid (1924–2006), engineer
* Paul Romer (1955– ), economist
* Tim Samaras (1957–2013), engineer, meteorologist
* Ann Linnea Sandberg (1938–2009), immunologist§
* John Searle (1932– ), philosopher
* Paul Stewart (1925–2015), historian #
* Willis M. Tate (1912–1989), university president
* Keith Uncapher (1922–2002), computer engineer
* Stanley M. Wagner (1932–2013), rabbi and academic #
* James Q. Wilson (1931–2012), political scientist
* Hannah Marie Wormington (1914–1994), archaeologist

## Arts and entertainment
### Fashion

* Lauren Bush (1984– ), model, designer, philanthropist
* Mondo Guerra (1978– ), fashion designer, philanthropist

### Film, television, and theatre

* Tim Allen (1953– ), actor, comedian
* Michael J. Anderson (1953– ), actor
* Annaleigh Ashford (1985– ), actress, singer
* Barry Atwater (1918–1978), actor
* Phil Austin (1941–2015), comedian, writer
* Dian Bachar (1970– ), actor
* Roseanne Barr (1952– ), actress, comedian #
* Barbara Bates (1925–1969), actress, singer
* Madge Bellamy (1899–1990), actress §
* Matthew Berry (1969– ), screenwriter, producer, fantasy sports analyst
* Julie Bishop (1914–2001), actress
* Josh Blue (1978– ), comedian #
* Sierra Boggess (1982 – ), actress, singer
* Tom Bower (1938– ), actor
* Stan Brakhage (1933–2003), experimental filmmaker §
* Bobby Buntrock (1952–1974), actor
* Molly Burnett (1988-), actress
* Joseph Castanon (1997– ), actor
* Mary Jo Catlett (1938– ), actress
* Kristin Cavallari (1987– ), television personality, actress
* Adam Cayton-Holland (1980– ), comedian
* Don Cheadle (1964– ), actor §
* Marshall Colt (1948– ), actor, psychologist #
* Lillian Covillo (1921–2010), ballet dancer
* Richard C. Currier (1892–1984), film editor
* Ann B. Davis (1926–2014), actress #
* John Davis (1954– ), producer
* Ashly DelGrosso (1982– ), dancer
* Rubye De Remer (1892–1984), actress, dancer
* Scott Derrickson (1966– ), director, screenwriter
* Josephine Dillon (1884–1971), actress
* Madhuri Dixit (1967– ), actress #
* Jack Earle (1906–1952), actor, sideshow performer
* Chris Eigeman (1965– ), actor, director
* Richard Epcar (1955– ), voice actor
* Douglas Fairbanks (1883–1939), actor, director, producer, screenwriter
* David Fincher (1962– ), director, producer
* Kevin Fitzgerald (1951– ), veterinarian, comedian
* Nina Flowers (1974– ), drag queen, makeup artist, disc jockey #
* Emmett J. Flynn (1892–1937), director, screenwriter
* Rebecca Forstadt (1953– ), voice actress
* Gene Fowler (1890–1960), screenwriter, journalist
* Gene Fowler Jr. (1917–1998), film editor
* Gardiner Brothers (Michael-1995, Matthew-1999), professional Irish dancers
* Pam Grier (1949– ), actress §
* Naomi Grossman (1975– ), actress, screenwriter
* Texas Guinan (1884–1933), actress, club owner #
* Hanna R. Hall (1984– ), actress
* Maxine Elliott Hicks (1904–2000), actress
* Pat Hingle (1924–2009), actor
* Arthur Holch (1924–2010), documentary filmmaker §
* Olin Howland (1886–1959), actor
* Tommy Ivo (1936– ), actor, race car driver
* Bryce Johnson (1977– ), actor §
* Morgan Jones (1879–1951), actor
* Andy Juett (1977– ), comedian #
* Ameenah Kaplan (1974– ), actress, musician, choreographer
* Glenn Langan (1917–1991), actor
* Brandy Ledford (1969– ), actress, model
* Jack Lipson (1901–1947), actor
* Teala Loring (1922–2007), actress
* Justine Lupe (1989– ), actress
* John Carroll Lynch (1963– ), actor §
* Bernard McConville (1887–1961), screenwriter
* Merrill McCormick (1892–1953), actor
* Hattie McDaniel (1895–1952), actress, comedian, singer-songwriter §
* Robert A. McGowan (1901–1955), director, screenwriter
* T.J. Miller (1981– ), actor, comedian
* Gordon Mitchell (1923–2003), actor, bodybuilder
* Peg Murray (1924–2020), actress
* Adam Nix (1986– ), director, producer
* Evan Nix (1983– ), director, producer
* Danni Sue Nolan (1923–2002), actress
* Yvie Oddly (1993– ), drag queen, winner of the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race
* Marie Osborne (1911–2010), actress
* Mikki Padilla (1974– ), actress, model
* Debra Paget (1933– ), actress
* Trey Parker (1969– ), actor, animator, director, screenwriter
* James D. Parriott (1950– ), writer, director, and producer
* Val Paul (1886–1962), actor, director
* Lawrence Pech (1959– ), dancer, choreographer
* Antoinette Perry (1888–1946), actress, director
* Joseph C. Phillips (1962– ), actor, political commentator
* Jeffrey Pierce (1971– ), actor
* Willow Pill (1995– ), drag queen, winner of the fourteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race
* Ron Pinkard (1941– ), actor
* Talyah Polee (1988– ), beauty queen #
* Wayde Preston (1929–1992), actor
* Dean Reed (1938–1986), actor, singer-songwriter
* Kristen Renton (1982– ), actress
* AnnaSophia Robb (1993– ), actress
* Keith Roberts, dancer
* Mark Roberts (1921–2006), actor
* Gloria Romero (1933–2025), actress
* Shayna Rose (1983– ), actress, singer
* Karly Rothenberg (1962– ), actress
* Barbara Rush (1927– ), actress
* Walter Sande (1906–1971), actor
* Dia Sokol Savage (1976– ), producer
* Peter Scanavino (1980– ), actor
* Russell Scott (1921–2013), clown #
* Ethel Shannon (1898–1951), actress
* Charity Shea (1983– ), actress
* Marion Shilling (1910–2004), actress
* Bradley Snedeker (1977– ), actor
* Lincoln Stedman (1907–1948), actor
* Stephen Stohn (1948– ), television producer
* Ruth Stonehouse (1892–1941), actress
* Scott Takeda (1967– ), actor, television reporter #
* Lauren Taylor, actress and singer
* Irene Tedrow (1907–1995), actress
* Ann E. Todd (1931–2020), actress
* Lester Vail (1899–1959), actor
* Marilyn Van Derbur (1937– ), beauty queen, motivational speaker
* Jan-Michael Vincent (1944–2019), actor
* Vicki Vola (1916–1985), actress
* Joseph Walker (1892–1985), cinematographer
* Nate Watt (1889–1968), director
* James R. Webb (1909–1974), screenwriter
* Frank Welker (1946– ), voice actor
* David White (1916–1990), actor
* Jeff Whiting (1972– ), choreographer, theater director
* Rhoda Williams (1930–2006), actress
* Michael Winslow (1958– ), actor, comedian §
* Freeman Wood (1896–1956), actor
* Polly Ann Young (1908–1997), actress

### Gaming

* Patrick Chapin (1980– ), trading card game player, writer

### Journalism

* Adele Arakawa (1958– ), news anchor #
* Asha Blake (1961– ), news anchor #
* Marshall Bloom (1944–1969), editor, alternative press entrepreneur
* Shareen Blair Brysac (1939– ), editor, non-fiction writer, documentary producer
* Caroline Nichols Churchill (1833–1926), newspaper publisher, feminist #
* Ted Conover (1958– ), journalist, non-fiction writer §
* J. Campbell Cory (1867–1925), cartoonist (Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Times)
* Brian Crecente (1970– ), reporter, gaming journalist
* Doug DeMuro (1988– ), automotive columnist, reviewer, and author
* Terry Drinkwater (1936–1989), television reporter
* George F. Franklin (1852–1901), newspaper publisher #
* Amy Freeze (1974– ), television meteorologist #
* Malcom Glenn (1987– ), newspaper reporter, commentator
* Miriam Goldberg (1916–2017), newspaper publisher, editor
* Sharon Tyler Herbst (1942–2007), food journalist, culinary book author §
* Bill Hosokawa (1915–2007), newspaper reporter, editor #
* Jeremy Hubbard (1972– ), news anchor #
* Amber Lyon (1982– ), photojournalist
* Jack Murphy (1923–1980), sports columnist, editor
* Reynelda Muse (1946– ), news anchor #
* Art Rascon (1962– ), news anchor §
* Joy Ann Reid (1968– ), political commentator, MSNBC anchor #
* T.R. Reid (1943– ), reporter #
* Rick Reilly (1958– ), sportswriter #
* Jon Scott (1958– ), news anchor
* August Skamenca (1981– ), radio correspondent §
* Harry Smith (1951– ), television reporter, news anchor #
* Clara Sears Taylor (1876–after 1938), journalist, first woman appointed to the Washington DC rent commission
* Richard Two Elk (1952– ), journalist, radio host, American Indian activist #
* David Von Drehle (1961– ), reporter, editor

### Literature

* Poe Ballantine (1955– ), novelist, essayist
* Robin Blaser (1925–2009), poet, essayist
* Libbie Block (1910–1972), short story writer, novelist
* Catharine Savage Brosman (1934– ), poet, essayist, French literature scholar
* Marilyn Brown (1938– ), novelist, poet
* Neal Cassady (1926–1968), poet §
* Mary Chase (1906–1981), playwright
* J. V. Cunningham (1911–1985), poet, literary critic §
* Steven Dietz (1958– ), playwright
* John Dolan (1955– ), poet, essayist
* Bruce Ducker (1938– ), novelist, poet #
* John Dunning (1942–2023), novelist #
* John Fante (1909–1983), novelist, screenwriter, short story writer
* Thomas Hornsby Ferril (1896–1988), poet, essayist
* Bill Finger (1914–1974), comics writer
* Thomas E. Gaddis (1908–1984), non-fiction writer
* Noah Eli Gordon (1975– ), poet #
* Deatt Hudson (1931-1988), educator and writer
* Leigh Kennedy (1951– ), novelist, short story writer
* Harry N. MacLean (1943– ), true crime writer, novelist
* L. E. Modesitt Jr. (1943– ), novelist
* Elizabeth Robinson (1961– ), poet
* L. Neil Smith (1946–2021), novelist, libertarian activist
* Suzi Q. Smith (1979– ), poet
* Lenora Mattingly Weber (1895–1971), novelist, short story writer §
* Connie Willis (1945– ), novelist, short story writer

### Music

* Ailee (1989– ), singer, actress
* India Arie (1975– ), singer-songwriter
* Philip Bailey (1951– ), singer-songwriter
* Brandon Barnes (1972– ), drummer
* Bill Barwick, singer-songwriter, guitarist, voiceover artist #
* Chuck Berghofer (1937– ), bassist
* Tommy Bolin (1951–1976), guitarist #
* Antonia Brico (1902–1989), conductor, pianist #
* John Browning (1933–2003), pianist
* Wayne Carson (1943–2015), songwriter, country musician
* Eleanor Caulkins (1936– ), opera patron #
* Robert N. Cavarra (1934–2008), composer, organist, harpsichordist, pianist and musicologist
* Judy Collins (1939– ), singer-songwriter §
* John Common (1971– ), singer-songwriter, guitarist #
* Walt Conley (1929–2003), folk singer, musician and actor
* Marty Cooper (1946– ), singer-songwriter
* David Cornwall (1937–2006), composer
* Brad Corrigan (1974– ), guitarist, singer
* Pearl G. Curran (1875–1941), composer, librettist
* Deuce Mob, rap duo
* Fannie Charles Dillon (1881–1947), pianist, composer
* Larry Dunn (1953– ), keyboardist
* Shane Endsley, trumpeter
* Flobots, hip-hop band
* Mary Flower, guitarist, singer #
* Eugene Fodor (1950–2011), violinist
* Guy Forsyth (1968– ), singer-songwriter, guitarist
* The Fray, rock band
* Harry Lawrence Freeman (1869–1954), composer, conductor #
* Bill Frisell (1951– ), guitarist, composer §
* Frank Gagliardi (1931–2011), percussionist, composer
* Teri Gender Bender (1989– ), singer, guitarist
* Ben Goldberg (1959– ), clarinetist, composer
* John Grant (1968– ), singer-songwriter §
* Corey Harris (1969– ), guitarist, singer
* Keith Hoerig (1972– ), bass guitarist §
* Peanuts Hucko (1918–2003), clarinetist, bandleader #
* Cory Kendrix (1988– ), musician
* Little Fyodor, disc jockey, singer-songwriter #
* Jerry Livingston (1909–1987), songwriter, pianist
* The Lumineers, folk rock band
* Jimmie Lunceford (1902–1947), saxophonist, bandleader §
* Edwin McArthur (1907–1987), conductor, pianist, accompanist
* Ron Miles (1963– ), trumpeter, cornetist §
* Todd Park Mohr (1965– ), singer-songwriter, guitarist
* Robert Moran (1937– ), composer
* Stephen L. Mosko (1947–2005), composer
* OneRepublic, pop rock band §
* Nick Perito (1924–2005), composer, arranger
* Pretty Lights (1981– ), electronic musician, real name Derek Smith
* Dianne Reeves (1956– ), singer §
* Reese Roper (1973– ), singer-songwriter
* David Schmitt (1988– ), musical artist of Breathe Carolina
* Isaac Slade (1981– ), singer-songwriter, pianist
* Jill Sobule (1961– ), singer-songwriter
* Tag Team, hip-hop group
* Donnette Thayer (1958– ), singer-songwriter, guitarist §
* Tyler Ward (1988– ), singer-songwriter
* John Warne (1979– ), bassist #
* Kip Winger (1961– ), singer, bassist, composer
* Ace Young (1980– ), singer-songwriter

### Other visual arts

* George Elbert Burr (1859–1939), painter, printmaker #
* Richard L. Crowther (1910–2006), architect #
* Tomory Dodge (1974– ), painter
* Jess E. DuBois (1934–2022), painter, sculptor, glass artist
* Robert Heinecken (1931–2006), photographer
* Amal Kassir (1995– ), spoken word poet
* Vance Kirkland (1904–1981), painter §
* Alvin Lustig (1915–1955), graphic designer
* Ron McQueeney (1945– ), photographer
* Pat Oliphant (1935– ), cartoonist §

## Business

* Philip Anschutz (1939– ), investment magnate, philanthropist #
* Norman R. Augustine (1935– ), aerospace executive
* Anthony R. Barringer (1925–2009), geophysicist, inventor #
* Sheldon Beren (1922–1996), petroleum executive #
* Molly Brown (1867–1932), philanthropist, Titanic survivor #
* Luther A. Cole (1812–1880), milling entrepreneur #
* Barbara Davis (1929– ), philanthropist #
* John Elitch (1852–1891), restaurateur, zookeeper #
* William Gray Evans (1855–1911), transportation executive #
* Oliver Parker Fritchle (1874–1951), chemist, energy entrepreneur #
* Jack J. Grynberg (1932–2021), oil and gas entrepreneur #
* Marie Guiraud (1830–1909), rancher #
* Frederic C. Hamilton (1927–2016), oil and gas entrepreneur #
* Ruth Handler (1916–2002), toy executive, Barbie creator
* Samuel Hartsel (1834–1918), rancher #
* Bela M. Hughes (1817–1903), railroad businessman
* Margaret Isely (1921–1997), peace activist and co-founder of WCPA and Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
* Philip Isely (1915–2012), peace activist, writer and co-founder of WCPA-GREN and Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
* Frances Wisebart Jacobs (1843–1892), philanthropist #
* Kayvan Khalatbari (1983– ), marijuana entrepreneur, restaurateur #
* Luther Kountze (1842–1918), banker #
* William Larimer, Jr. (1809–1875), land developer, co-founder of Denver #
* Bryan Leach, founder and CEO of Ibotta
* Daniel M. Lewin (1970–2001), mathematician, technology entrepreneur
* Gary Magness (1954– ), investment executive, film producer #
* Tom Martino (1953– ), consumer advocate, talk radio host
* James Smith McDonnell (1899–1980), engineer, aviation entrepreneur
* Helen M. McLoraine (1918–2003), philanthropist #
* Larry Mizel (1942– ), real estate executive
* Albert Mooney (1906–1986), aircraft designer, aviation entrepreneur
* John Kernan Mullen (1847–1929), milling executive, philanthropist #
* Jack O'Neill (1923–2017), surfwear entrepreneur
* Daddy Bruce Randolph (1900–1994), barbecue pitmaster and philanthropist in Five Points
* Milton Schayer (1876–1935), stock and bond entrepreneur
* Caswell Silver (1916–1988), geologist, oil and gas entrepreneur #
* Robert F. Smith, investor and CEO, Vista Equity Partners
* Manick Sorcar, animator, lighting engineer #
* Russell Stover (1888–1954), candymaker #
* Harry Heye Tammen (1856–1924), co-owner of The Denver Times
* Kenneth D. Tuchman (1959– ), call center entrepreneur #
* Madam C. J. Walker (1867–1919), beauty products entrepreneur #
* Bethuel M. Webster (1900–1989), lawyer and founder of Webster & Sheffield
* Jean Yancey (1914–2000), women's small business consultant, motivational speaker

## Crime

* Alice Maud Hartley, killed Nevada State Senator Murray D. Foley by gunshot in 1894; lived in Denver in the early 1900s
* Canada Bill Jones (1840–1877), card sharp, con artist
* L. H. Musgrove (1832–1868), thief, alleged murderer
* Katherine Ann Power (1949– ), bank robber
* Terry Peder Rasmussen (1943–2010), serial killer
* Soapy Smith (1860–1898), con artist, gangster #
* Anna Blythe Speas (1869–1898), alleged accessory to murder #

### Law enforcement

* Duane "Dog" Chapman (1953– ), bounty hunter
* Leland Chapman (1976– ), bounty hunter §
* Lyssa Chapman (1987– ), bounty hunter
* David J. Cook (1840–1907), lawman, Denver city marshal #
* Bat Masterson (1853–1921), gunfighter, journalist, lawman #

## Medicine

* Jenette H. Bolles (1863–1930), osteopath, Board of Medical Examiners, publisher #
* Lisa Damour (1970–), clinical psychologist, author, national news regular and co-host of Ask Lisa podcast
* Justina Ford (1871–1952), gynecologist, obstetrician, pediatrician #
* Frances McConnell-Mills (1900–1975), forensic pathologist, toxicologist #
* Carl Rüedi (1848–1901), pulmonologist #

## Military

* Charles Adams (1845–1895), Colorado Militia brigadier general, Indian agent #
* Gerald P. Carr (1932–2020), U.S. Marine Corps colonel, astronaut
* John Chivington (1821–1894), U.S. Army colonel, leader of the Sand Creek massacre #
* Carol Rymer Davis (1944–2010), U.S. Army Reserve colonel, balloonist
* Elmer E. Fryar (1914–1944), U.S. Army private, Medal of Honor recipient
* Irving Hale (1861–1930), brigadier general of the United States §
* Clayton P. Kerr (1900–1977), U.S. Army major general
* Victor H. Krulak (1913–2008), U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant general
* John Mosley (1921–2015), U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, one of the Tuskegee Airmen
* Fitzroy Newsum (1918–2013), U.S. Air Force colonel, one of the Tuskegee Airmen #
* Daniel Noce (1894–1976), U.S. Army lieutenant general
* Ronald A. Route (1949– ), U.S. Navy vice admiral
* Donald Schmuck (1915–2004), U.S. Marine Corps brigadier general §
* August Schomburg (1908–1972), U.S. Army lieutenant general
* Silas Soule (1838–1865), U.S. Army brevet major, remembered for disobeying orders to take part in the Sand Creek Massacre #
* Jack Swigert (1931–1982), U.S. Air Force captain, astronaut
* Kenneth Walker (1898–1943), U.S. Army brigadier general, Medal of Honor recipient, Killed in action during World War II §
* Keith L. Ware (1915–1968), U.S. Army major general, Medal of Honor recipient, Killed in action during the Vietnam War
* J. Hunter Wickersham (1890–1918), U.S. Army 2nd lieutenant, Medal of Honor recipient #
* Edward W. Wynkoop (1836–1891), U.S. Army brevet lieutenant colonel, Indian agent, Denver co-founder #

## Politics
### National

* Madeleine Albright (1937-2022), 64th U.S. Secretary of State §
* Israel Amter (1881–1954), Communist Party USA founding member, activist
* Abdulrahman al-Awlaki (1995–2011), son of Anwar al-Awlaki
* Jim Bates (1941– ), U.S. Representative from California
* Michael Bennet (1964– ), U.S. Senator from Colorado #
* Don Bonker (1937–2023), U.S. Representative from Washington
* Emily Gibson Braerton (1886–1966), vice president of Daughters of the American Revolution #
* Charles F. Brannan (1903–1992), 14th U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
* Henry P. H. Bromwell (1823–1903), U.S. Representative from Illinois #
* Hank Brown (1940– ), U.S. Senator from Colorado
* Anne Gorsuch Burford (1942–2004), 4th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency §
* Richard Girnt Butler (1918–2004), white supremacist, Aryan Nations founder
* John A. Carroll (1901–1983), U.S. Senator from Colorado
* Arnold A. Chacón (1956– ), U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala
* Jerome B. Chaffee (1825–1886), U.S. Senator from Colorado, co-founder of Denver #
* Oscar L. Chapman (1896–1978), 34th U.S. Secretary of the Interior #
* Edward P. Costigan (1874–1939), U.S. Senator from Colorado #
* William C. Cramer (1922–2003), U.S. Representative From Florida
* Diana DeGette (1957– ), U.S. Representative from Colorado §
* Peter H. Dominick (1915–1981), U.S. Senator from Colorado #
* John Eisenhower (1922–2013), 45th U.S. Ambassador to Belgium
* Mamie Eisenhower (1896–1979), 36th First Lady of the United States §
* Gladstone Ferrie (1892–1955), Canadian Member of Parliament from Saskatchewan
* Sherman Glenn Finesilver (1927–2006), U.S. federal judge
* Robert Stephen Ford (1958– ), U.S. Ambassador to Syria
* Frank Freyer (1878–1930), 14th Naval Governor of Guam #
* Stephen Gaskin (1935–2014), countercultural activist, writer
* Rodolfo Gonzales (1928–2005), Chicano Movement activist
* Neil Gorsuch (1967– ), Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
* Ken Hamblin (1940– ), conservative talk radio host #
* Dorothy Ray Healey (1914–2006), Communist Party USA activist
* Nathaniel P. Hill (1832–1900), U.S. Senator from Colorado #
* Edwin C. Johnson (1884–1970), U.S. Senator from Colorado, 26th and 34th governor of Colorado #
* Charles West Kendall (1828–1914), U.S. Representative from Nevada #
* John Kerry (1943– ), U.S. Secretary of State since 2013, former long-time U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (1985–2013), and 2004 Democratic nominee for president
* Carlotta Walls LaNier (1942– ), one of the Little Rock Nine #
* Homer Lea (1876–1912), geopolitical strategist, adviser to Sun Yat-sen
* Rodger McFarlane (1955–2009), gay rights activist #
* Golda Meir (1898–1978), 4th Prime Minister of Israel §
* George Moose (1944– ), U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations §
* Michael R. Murphy (1947– ), U.S. federal judge
* Jackson Orr (1832–1926), U.S. Representative from Iowa #
* Thomas M. Patterson (1839–1916), U.S. Senator from Colorado #
* Federico Peña (1947– ), 12th U.S. Secretary of Transportation, 8th U.S. Secretary of Energy #
* Dana Perino (1972– ), White House Press Secretary §
* Lawrence C. Phipps (1862–1958), U.S. Senator from Colorado #
* John Carbone Porfilio (1934– ), U.S. federal judge
* Condoleezza Rice (1954– ), 66th U.S. Secretary of State #
* Josephine Roche (1886–1976), U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury #
* Andrew J. Rogers (1828–1900), U.S. Representative from New Jersey #
* Karl Rove (1950– ), Deputy White House Chief of Staff
* Nicholas Sarwark (1979– ), Libertarian Party politician
* Brad Schneider (1961– ), U.S. Representative from Illinois
* Patricia Schroeder (1940–2023), U.S. Representative from Colorado #
* Alan K. Simpson (1931– ), U.S. Senator from Wyoming
* Horace Tabor (1830–1899), U.S. Senator from Colorado, 2nd lieutenant governor of Colorado #
* Tom Tancredo (1945– ), U.S. Representative from Colorado
* William L. Tierney (1876–1958), U.S. Representative from Connecticut #
* Aleta Arthur Trauger (1945– ), U.S. federal judge
* Timothy Tymkovich (1956– ), U.S. federal judge
* Byron White (1917–2002), U.S. Supreme Court justice #
* Edward O. Wolcott (1848–1905), U.S. Senator from Colorado #

### State

* Robert E. Allen (1924–2014), Colorado state legislator #
* Teller Ammons (1895–1972), 28th governor of Colorado
* Matt Bevin (1967– ), 62nd governor of Kentucky
* Kermit Brown (1942– ), Wyoming state legislator
* William Byers (1831–1905), Nebraska territorial legislator #
* Job Adams Cooper (1843–1899), 6th governor of Colorado #
* Lois Court (1953– ), Colorado state legislator
* Mat Erpelding (1975– ), Idaho state legislator
* Mark Ferrandino (1977– ), Colorado state legislator #
* Frank Frantz (1872–1941), 7th governor of Oklahoma Territory #
* Don Friedman (1930–2013), Colorado state legislator, talk radio host
* John Frullo (1962– ), Texas state legislator #
* Peter Groff (1963– ), Colorado state legislator #
* Lucía Guzmán (1951– ), Colorado state legislator #
* John Hickenlooper (1952– ), 42nd governor of Colorado, U.S. Senator from Colorado #
* Bela M. Hughes (1817–1903), Territorial councillor
* Gloria Johnson (1962– ), Tennessee state legislator
* Joel Judd (1951– ), Colorado state legislator
* Wayne Knox (1927–2019), Colorado state legislator
* Jeanne Labuda (1947–2022), Colorado state legislator #
* Alma V. Lafferty (1864–1928), served two terms in Colorado House of Representatives 1908-1912
* Beth McCann (1949– ), Colorado state legislator #
* Stephen L.R. McNichols (1914–1997), 35th governor of Colorado
* Helen Milliken (1922-2012), former First Lady of Michigan
* Mary Mullarkey (1943–2021), Colorado Supreme Court chief justice #
* Sue Mullins (1936– ), Iowa state legislator
* Dan Pabon (1977– ), Colorado state legislator
* George Alexander Parks (1883–1984), 5th governor of Alaska Territory
* Josh Penry (1976– ), Colorado state legislator
* Dianne Primavera (1950– ), Colorado state legislator
* Jim Riesberg (1942– ), Colorado state legislator
* Bill Ritter (1956– ), 41st governor of Colorado #
* Andrew Romanoff (1966– ), Colorado state legislator #
* Chris Romer (1959– ), Colorado state legislator
* Brandon Shaffer (1971– ), Colorado state legislator
* Pat Steadman (1964– ), Colorado state legislator #
* Ken Summers (1953– ), Colorado state legislator
* William Ellery Sweet (1869–1942), 23rd governor of Colorado #
* Gloria Tanner (1935–2022), Colorado state legislator #
* Russell T. Thane (1926–2020), North Dakota state legislator
* Fred Van Valkenburg (1948– ), Montana state legislator
* Michael Webert (1979– ), Virginia state legislator
* Angela Williams, Colorado state legislator #
* Mariko Yamada (1950– ), California state legislator

### Local

* Lorraine Granado (1948–2019), environmental, peace and social justice activist and organizer who co-founded the Colorado People's Environmental and Economic Network and Neighbors for a Toxic-Free Community in Denver
* John E. Manders (1895–1973), 17th Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska
* William McGaa (1824–1867), mountain man, co-founder of Denver #
* Rachel Noel (1918–2008), Denver politician, civil rights activist #
* Wellington Webb (1941– ), 42nd mayor of Denver #

## Religion

* Robert S. Bilheimer (1917–2006), Presbyterian theologian
* Nadia Bolz-Weber (1969– ), Lutheran minister, comedian
* Bill Carmody (1957–2016), Roman Catholic priest, anti-abortion activist
* George Roche Evans (1922–1985), Roman Catholic bishop
* Julia Greeley (ca.1833-1918), Roman Catholic Servant of God, ex-slave
* J. Edward Guinan, the former Paulist priest who founded the Community for Creative Non-Violence when he was Chaplain of George Washington University
* Richard Charles Patrick Hanifen (1931– ), Roman Catholic bishop
* Danan Henry (1939– ), Zen roshi
* Sheldon Jackson (1834–1909), Presbyterian missionary #
* Charles E. H. Kauvar (1879–1971), Conservative rabbi
* Abraham Klausner (1915–2007), Reform rabbi §
* Jerry Lamb (1940– ), Episcopal bishop
* Harold B. Lee (1899–1973), Denver mission leader and later president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
* Reed Lessing (1959– ), Lutheran pastor, theologian
* Donald Montrose (1923–2008), Roman Catholic bishop
* Hubert Newell (1904–1987), Roman Catholic bishop
* R. Walker Nickless (1947– ), Roman Catholic bishop
* Alysa Stanton (1964– ), Reform rabbi §
* Mary Luke Tobin (1908–2006), Roman Catholic nun

## Sports
### American football

* Tom Ashworth (1977– ), offensive tackle
* Dave Baldwin (1955– ), coach
* David Bowens (1977– ), linebacker
* C. J. Brewer (1982– ), wide receiver §
* Chris Brewer (1962– ), running back
* Patrick Cain (1962–2016), center, guard
* Calais Campbell (1986– ), defensive end
* Dyshod Carter (1978– ), cornerback
* Ryan Clement (1975– ), quarterback
* Eric Coleman (1966– ), cornerback
* Mark Cooney (1951–2011), linebacker
* Adrian Cooper (1968– ), tight end
* Jason Craft (1976– ), cornerback
* Brian Daniels (1984– ), guard
* James Darling (1974– ), linebacker
* Drew Davis (1989– ), wide receiver
* John Denney (1978– ), long snapper
* Ryan Denney (1977– ), defensive end
* Ron Dickerson, Jr. (1971– ), running back, wide receiver, coach
* Ben Dreith (1925–2021), referee
* John Elway (1960– ), Hall of Fame quarterback, manager #
* Keith English (1966–2010), punter
* Tom Erlandson (1966– ), linebacker
* Bill Frank (1938–2014), offensive tackle
* Trent Gamble (1977– ), safety
* Fred Gayles (1966– ), linebacker, wide receiver
* Joe Germaine (1975– ), quarterback
* Pat Haggerty (1927–1994), referee
* Herman Heard (1961– ), running back
* Ryan Hewitt (1991– ), tight end
* Marcus Houston (1981– ), tailback
* Mike Johnson (1943–2003), cornerback
* Ray Johnson (1914–1990), defensive back
* Greg Jones (1974– ), linebacker
* Brandon Kaufman (1990– ), wide receiver
* Jimmie Kaylor (1984– ), punter
* Joe Klopfenstein (1983– ), tight end
* Steve Korte (1960– ), center, offensive guard
* Terry Kunz (1952– ), running back
* Zach Latimer (1983– ), linebacker
* DeWayne Lewis (1985– ), cornerback §
* Jody Littleton (1974– ), long snapper
* John Lynch (1971– ), strong safety #
* Peyton Manning (1976– ), quarterback #
* Kevin McDougal (1977– ), running back
* Donald McKillip (1924–2008), coach
* Ostell Miles (1970– ), running back
* Mark Mullaney (1953– ), defensive end
* Mike Perez (1963– ), quarterback
* Vince Phason (1953–2018), defensive back
* Tyler Polumbus (1985– ), offensive tackle
* Mike Price (1946– ), coach
* Greg Primus (1970– ), wide receiver
* Gary Richard (1965– ), defensive back
* Derrick Richardson (1986– ), safety
* Cory Ross (1982– ), running back, coach
* Chris Sanders (1972– ), wide receiver
* Bo Scaife (1981– ), tight end
* Mark Schlereth (1966– ), guard, sports commentator #
* Brian Schottenheimer (1973– ), coach
* J. K. Scott (1996– ), punter
* Shannon Sharpe (1968– ), tight end, sports commentator #
* Nate Solder (1988– ), offensive tackle
* Ben Steele (1978– ), tight end
* Freddie Joe Steinmark (1949–1971), safety
* Red Stephens (1930–2003), guard
* Andre Strode (1972– ), defensive back
* Kasey Studdard (1984– ), offensive guard
* David Tate (1964– ), safety
* Marvin Washington (1965– ), defensive end
* Allen Webb (1983– ), quarterback
* Jack Weil (1962– ), punter
* LenDale White (1984– ), running back
* Andre Woolfolk (1980– ), cornerback

### Baseball

* David Aardsma (1981– ), relief pitcher
* Darrel Akerfelds (1962–2012), pitcher, bullpen coach
* Bubbles Anderson (1904–1943), infielder
* Ty Blach (1990– ), pitcher for the San Francisco Giants
* Cory Blaser (1981– ), umpire
* Nick Capra (1958– ), outfielder
* Idona Crigler (1922–1994), infielder
* Mona Denton (1922–1995), pitcher
* Bruce Egloff (1965– ), pitcher
* Johnny Frederick (1902–1977), outfielder
* Kyle Freeland (1993– ), pitcher for the Colorado Rockies
* Ralph Glaze (1881–1968), pitcher
* Buddy Gremp (1919–1995), 1st baseman
* Roy Halladay (1977–2017), starting pitcher
* Ron Herbel (1938–2000), pitcher
* Jason Hirsh (1982– ), starting pitcher #
* Luke Hochevar (1983– ), pitcher
* Brian Holman (1965– ), pitcher
* Bob Howsam (1918–2008), manager, sports entrepreneur
* Virgil Jester (1927–2016), pitcher
* Pierce Johnson (1991– ), pitcher
* Mark Knudson (1960– ), pitcher
* Bruce Konopka (1919–1996), 1st baseman
* Dud Lee (1899–1971), shortstop
* Mike Madden (1958– ), pitcher
* Frank Martin (1878–1942), 3rd baseman
* Gabe Molina (1975– ), pitcher
* Buzz Murphy (1895–1938), outfielder
* George Myatt (1914–2000), 2nd baseman, coach, manager
* Travis Schlichting (1984– ), pitcher
* John Stearns (1951–2022), catcher, manager, scout
* Joe Strain (1954– ), 2nd baseman, shortstop
* Mike Wegener (1946– ), pitcher
* Charlie Williams (1943–2005), umpire
* Clint Zavaras (1967– ), pitcher

### Basketball

* Tom Asbury (1945– ), coach
* J. B. Bickerstaff (1979– ), coach
* Chauncey Billups (1976– ), point guard, shooting guard
* Rodney Billups (1983– ), guard, coach
* Kevin Bromley (1959– ), coach
* Joe Barry Carroll (1958– ), center §
* Alysha Clark (1987– ), American-Israeli forward
* Pam DeCosta (1964– ), coach
* Kaniel Dickens (1978– ), small forward
* Rick Fisher (1948–2019), power forward
* Kevin Fletcher (1980– ), center, power forward
* Ronnie Harrell (1996- ), basketball player for Hapoel Gilboa Galil of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
* Shae Kelley (1991– ), forward
* Darrick Martin (1971– ), point guard
* Eric McWilliams (1950– ), power forward
* Paul Millsap power forward
* Shelly Pennefather (1966– ), forward
* Josh Perkins (1995– ), point guard
* Micheal Ray Richardson (1955– ), point guard, shooting guard, coach §
* Michael Ruffin (1977– ), center, power forward
* Eric Schraeder (1977– ), forward
* Ronnie Shavlik (1933–1983), forward
* Brendan Winters (1983– ), shooting guard

### Boxing

* Eddie Eagan (1897–1967), U.S. Olympic boxer, U.S. Olympic bobsledder
* John David Jackson (1963– ), middleweight boxer
* Stevie Johnston (1972– ), lightweight boxer
* Ron Lyle (1941–2011), heavyweight boxer §
* Louis Monaco (1968– ), heavyweight boxer
* Terri Moss (1966– ), strawweight boxer

### Cycling

* Richard Ball (1944– ), U.S. Olympic cyclist
* Gregory Daniel (1994– ), cyclist
* Alison Dunlap (1969– ), cyclist
* Greg Herbold (1962– ), cyclist
* Ron Kiefel (1960– ), cyclist
* Jonathan Vaughters (1973– ), cyclist, manager

### Golf

* Tommy Armour III (1959– ), golfer
* Shane Bertsch (1970– ), golfer
* Joan Birkland (1928–2019), state women's amateur golf champion
* Matt Gogel (1971– ), golfer
* Tommy Jacobs (1935–2022), golfer
* Jonathan Kaye (1970– ), golfer
* Bill Loeffler (1956– ), golfer
* Jill McGill (1972– ), golfer
* Leif Olson (1981– ), golfer
* Hollis Stacy (1954– ), golfer #
* Craig Stadler (1953– ), golfer #
* Derek Tolan (1985– ), golfer
* Mark Wiebe (1957– ), golfer #

### Ice hockey

* Ben Bishop (1986– ), goaltender
* Austin Block (1989– ), center and forward
* B. J. Crombeen (1985– ), right wing
* Parris Duffus (1970– ), goaltender
* Mike Eaves (1956– ), center
* John Grahame (1975– ), goaltender
* Seth Jones (1994– ), defenseman §
* Brendan Lemieux (1996– ), left wing
* Joe Noris (1951– ), center
* Joe Sakic (1969– ), center, manager #
* Drew Shore (1991– ), center
* Nick Shore (1992– ), center
* Jaccob Slavin (1994–), defenseman
* Troy Terry (1997– ), right wing
* Sean Zimmerman (1987– ), defenseman

### Martial arts

* JJ Aldrich (1992– ), strawweight MMA fighter
* Donald Cerrone (1983– ), welterweight MMA fighter
* Duane Ludwig (1978– ), middleweight kickboxer, lightweight MMA fighter
* Ryan Reser (1980– ), U.S. Olympic judo fighter
* Lumumba Sayers (1978– ), middleweight MMA fighter
* Lacey Schuckman (1988– ), strawweight MMA fighter
* Brandon Thatch (1985– ), welterweight MMA fighter
* Matt Wiman (1983– ), lightweight MMA fighter
* Trevor Wittman (1974– ), MMA trainer

### Pro wrestling

* Jake Carter (1986– ), pro wrestler
* Bison Smith (1973–2011), pro wrestler
* Eve Torres (1984– ), pro wrestler, actress, model §
* 2 Cold Scorpio (1965– ), professional wrestler

### Racing

* Keith Andrews (1920–1957), racecar driver
* Buzz Calkins (1971– ), Indy car driver
* Tanner Foust (1973– ), racecar driver, stunt driver
* Tom Frantz (1943–2019), racecar driver
* Robb Holland (1967– ), racecar driver
* Mel Kenealy (1903–1985), Indy car driver
* Jacques Lazier (1971– ), racecar driver
* Johnny Mauro (1910–2003), racecar driver
* Willard Prentiss (1897–1959), racecar driver
* Jerry Robertson (1962– ), NASCAR driver

### Skiing

* John Jarrett (1970– ), U.S. Olympic skier
* Arturo Kinch (1956– ), U.S. Olympic skier #
* Dolores LaChapelle (1926–2007), skier, mountain climber, ecologist
* Jonathan Lujan (1971– ), Paralympic alpine skier
* Kerry Lynch (1957– ), Nordic combined skier
* Michelle Roark (1974– ), U.S. Olympic freestyle skier #
* Katy Rodolph (1930–1994), U.S. Olympic skier
* Keith R. Wegeman (1929–1974), ski jumper
* Todd Wilson (1965– ), U.S. Olympic skier
* Emilia Wint (1994– ), skier

### Soccer

* Chad Ashton (1967– ), midfielder, coach
* David Bulow (1980–2021), midfielder, coach
* Rick Davis (1958– ), midfielder
* Marian Dougherty (1984– ), defender
* Roger Espinoza (1986– ), defensive midfielder, wing back §
* Brendan Hines-Ike (1994– ), defender
* Regina Holan (1977– ), striker
* Katie Hultin (1982– ), goalkeeper, coach
* Siri Mullinix (1978– ), goalkeeper, coach
* Chelsea Stewart (1990– ), defender

### Track and field

* Karen Anderson (1938– ), U.S. Olympic javelin thrower
* Scott Bauhs (1986– ), distance runner
* Dior Hall (1996– ), hurdler
* Ellen Hart Peña (1958– ), distance runner #
* Eddie Tolan (1908–1967), U.S. Olympic sprinter

### Other

* Victor Amaya (1954– ), professional tennis player
* Heather Armbrust (1977– ), bodybuilder #
* Tom Bowen (1961– ), athletic director
* Brynn Carman (1994– ), figure skater
* Gary Conelly (1952– ), U.S. Olympic swimmer
* Edith Connor (1935-2011), bodybuilder
* Janet Culp (1982– ), U.S. Olympic swimmer
* Lindsey Durlacher (1974–2011), Greco-Roman wrestler #
* Zach Fenoglio (1989– ), rugby hooker
* Lauren Gardner (1985– ), sportscaster
* Brian Ginsberg (1966-), gymnast, two-time US junior national gymnastics champion
* Adeline Gray (1991– ), sport wrestler
* Haley Johnson (1981– ), biathlete
* Janet Mae Johnson (1936–1973) mountaineer
* Aaron Kyro (1983– ), skateboarder
* Wendy Lucero (1963– ), U.S. Olympic diver
* David McKienzie (1979– ), U.S. Olympic volleyball player
* Alina Popa (1978– ), bodybuilder #
* Meredeth Quick (1979– ), pro squash player
* Jason Regier (1975– ), Paralympic rugby player
* Britney Simpson (1996– ), figure skater
* Chris Steinfeld (1959– ), U.S. Olympic sailor
* Paul Wylie (1964– ), U.S. Olympic figure skater §
* Michael Young (1944– ), bobsledder #