# List of people from Dayton, Ohio

The following is a list of people from Dayton, Ohio.

## Actors, entertainers, and models

* Tom Aldredge (1928–2011), actor
* Ralph Byrd (1909–1952), actor
* Nancy Cartwright (born 1957), voice artist
* Damian Chapa (born 1963), actor
* Max Charles (born 2003), actor
* Mystro Clark (born 1966), actor, comedian, and TV host
* Willis "Bing" Davis (born 1937), visual artist and teacher
* Dr. Creep aka Barry Hobart (1941–2011), actor
* Charles Michael Davis (born 1984), actor
* Mel Epstein (1910–1994), film producer
* Dorothy Gish (1898–1968), silent actress
* Luke Grimes (born 1984), actor
* Dorian Harewood (born 1950), actor
* Drew Hastings (born 1954), comedian, actor, writer
* Allison Janney (born 1959), actress
* Ken Jenkins (born 1940), actor
* Toccara Jones (born 1981), fashion model and TV personality
* Gordon Jump (1932–2003), actor
* Chad Lowe (born 1968), actor
* Rob Lowe (born 1964), actor
* Aaron O'Connell (born 1986), actor
* Maulik Pancholy (born 1974), actor, voice actor, author
* Dan Patrick (Pugh) (born 1957), sports anchor
* Wendy Pepper (1964–2017), reality TV star and fashion designer
* Keith Prentice (1940–1992), actor
* Ted Ross (1934–2002), actor
* Gary Sandy (born 1945), actor
* Sherri Saum (born 1974), actress
* Martin Sheen (born 1940), actor
* Beth Stelling, comedian
* Andrea Thompson (born 1960), actress
* De'Angelo Wilson (1979–2008), actor
* Jonathan Winters (1925–2013), comedian and actor
* Vincent M. Ward (born 1971), actor
* Katt Williams (born 1971), comedian and actor

## Athletes

* Deveon Everhart Aikens (born 1994), pro wrestler
* Will Allen (born 1982), NFL safety
* Michael Bennett (born 1993), NFL defensive tackle
* Pauline Betz (1919–2011), Hall of Fame tennis player, four-time U.S. Open champion
* Howie Brown (1922–1975), NFL guard
* Molly Bruggeman (born 1992), Olympic women's eights rower
* David Bruton (born 1987), NFL strong safety
* Tonja Buford-Bailey (born 1970), Olympic 400m hurdler
* Derek Bunch (born 1961), NFL linebacker
* Keith Byars (born 1963), NFL running back
* Roosevelt Chapman (born 1962), basketball hall of famer and all-time leading scorer at the University of Dayton
* Roger Clemens (born 1962), MLB pitcher
* Norris Cole (born 1988), NBA player
* Kurt Coleman (born 1988), NFL safety
* Marco Coleman (born 1969), NFL defensive tackle
* Cris Collinsworth (born 1959), NFL wide receiver, sports commentator
* Daequan Cook (born 1987), NBA player
* Greg Cook (1946–2012), NFL quarterback
* Charles Daniels (1885–1973), Olympic freestyle swimmer
* Megan Duffy (born 1984), WNBA player
* Rob Dyrdek (born 1974), skateboarder, Alien Workshop
* Claire Falknor (born 1993), professional soccer player
* Doug France (1953–2016), NFL Player
* Nikki Fuller (born 1968), professional bodybuilder
* Na'Shan Goddard (born 1983), NFL offensive lineman
* Jeff Graham (born 1969), NFL receiver
* Joe Greene (born 1967), two-time Olympic bronze medalist long jumper
* Andy Harmon (born 1969), NFL player
* Ron Harper (born 1964), basketball player
* A. J. Hawk (born 1984), NFL linebacker
* Victor Heflin (born 1960), NFL defensive back
* Vince Heflin (born 1959), NFL wide receiver
* John Henderson (born 1943), NFL wide receiver
* Kirk Herbstreit (born 1969), Ohio State quarterback, football analyst
* Chris Hero (born 1979), pro wrestler
* Brady Hoke (born 1958), Ball State University linebacker
* Todd Hollandsworth (born 1973), baseball player
* Bill Hosket Sr. (1911–1956), basketball player
* Bill Hosket Jr. (born 1946), basketball player
* Darrell Jackson (born 1978), NFL wide receiver
* Will Johnson (born 1988), football player
* Kerry Kittles (born 1974), NBA player
* Dave Krynzel (born 1981), MLB player
* Frank Lockhart (1903–1928), race car driver Indy 500 Winner
* Ron Lyle (1941–2011), boxer
* Holley Mangold (born 1989), Olympic weightlifter
* Nick Mangold (born 1984), NFL offensive lineman
* Justin Masterson (born 1985), baseball pitcher
* Don May (born 1946), NBA player
* Brandon McKinney (born 1983), NFL nose tackle
* Mike Mickens (born 1987), NFL defensive back
* Braxton Miller (born 1992), NFL wide receiver
* Mike Mohler (born 1968), baseball pitcher
* Edwin C. Moses (born 1955), Olympic gold medalist hurdler
* Sean Murphy (born 1994), MLB Catcher
* Josh Myers (born 1998), NFL center
* Mike Nugent (born 1982), NFL kicker
* Ifeadi Odenigbo (born 1994), NFL Defensive End
* Jim Paxson Jr. (born 1957), NBA player and executive
* John Paxson (born 1960), basketball player, coach, manager, broadcaster
* Peerless Price (born 1976), NFL wide receiver
* Scott Rettich (1984–2022), racing driver
* Javon Ringer (born 1987), NFL running back
* Chris Rolfe (born 1983), soccer player
* Brett Salisbury (born 1968), quarterback
* Joe Schilling (born 1984), kickboxer
* Mike Schmidt (born 1949), Hall of Fame baseball player
* Bryan Sellers (born 1982), race car driver
* Donald Smith (born 1951), NBA player
* Scott Stamper (born 1959), NFL running back
* Joe Thomasson (born 1993), basketball player
* Al Tucker, Jr (1943–2001), NBA basketball player
* T. J. Turner (1978–2014), NFL player
* Sam Underhill (born 1996), English Rugby Union player
* Salt Walther (1947–2012), Indy car driver
* Taylor Ward (born 1993), baseball player
* Dan Wilkinson (born 1973), NFL defensive tackle
* Tamika Williams (born 1980), WNBA player
* Jerel Worthy (born 1990), NFL defensive end
* Chris Wright (born 1988), NBA forward
* Steve Yeager (born 1948), MLB player

## Writers and cartoonists

* Natalie Babbitt (1932-2016), author and illustrator
* Natalie Clifford Barney (1876–1972), playwright, poet and novelist
* Eva Best (1851–1925), story writer, poet, music composer, dramatist
* Erma Bombeck (1927–1996), columnist and author
* Richard H. Brodhead (born 1947), author and president of Duke University
* Si Burick (1909–1986), sports editor and columnist
* Milton Caniff (1907–1988), cartoonist
* Ritter Collett (1921–2001), sports editor and columnist
* Charlotte Reeve Conover (1855–1940), historian
* Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872–1906), early African-American poet
* Cathy Guisewite (born 1950), cartoonist
* Marj Heyduck (1913–1969), journalist, columnist, editor
* Hunter Lewis (born 1947), author
* Hal McCoy (born 1940), baseball writer
* Patrick Nagel (1945-1984), artist and illustrator
* Terry Oroszi (born 1966), terrorism researcher and author
* Clarence Page (born 1947), journalist and syndicated columnist
* Maulik Pancholy (born 1974), author
* Mike Peters (born 1943), opinion cartoonist
* Robert W. Russell, pen name Nas'Naga (1941–2021), poet and novelist
* Tim Waggoner, horror and fantasy writer
* Roz Young (1912–2005), columnist

## Entrepreneurs

* Larry Augustin (born 1962), member of the OpenSource community
* Larry Connor (born 1950), founder of The Connor Group
* Edward A. Deeds (1874–1960), engineer, inventor, industrialist
* Philip Haas (1874–1927), inventor, plumbing specialties manufacturer
* George Huffman (1862–1897), founder of Huffy Corporation
* Paul Iams (1915–2004), Iams founder
* Charles Kettering (1876–1958), inventor of the automobile self-starter
* Carl Lindner, Jr. (1919–2011), businessman
* Nancy Lynn (c. 1956–2006), business owner, pilot, flight instructor, and public speaker
* John H. Patterson (1844–1922), founder of National Cash Register
* James Ritty (1836–1918), inventor of the cash register
* Katharine Wright Haskell (1874–1929), suffragist, teacher, assisted the Wright brothers
* the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, inventors of the airplane

## Military

* Charles G. Bickham (1867–1944), Medal of Honor recipient
* Llewellyn Morris Chilson (1920–1981), United States Army career soldier who served during World War II
* Richard E. Cole (1915–2019), Air Force pilot who took part in the Doolittle Raid in 1942
* Sammy L. Davis (born 1946), Medal of Honor recipient
* Admiral Timothy J. Keating (born 1948), Commander of the United States Pacific Command
* Joseph G. Lapointe Jr (1948–1969), Medal of Honor recipient
* Jack V. Mackmull (1927–2011), founded the United States Army Aviation Branch
* Joe C. Paul (1946–1965), Medal of Honor recipient
* Sidney Souers (1892–1973), first Director of the CIA
* Tony Stein (1921–1945), Medal of Honor recipient

## Musicians

* Little Axe (born 1949), blues musician
* Leroy Bonner (1943–2013), musician/producer, The Ohio Players
* Stevie Brock (born 1990), pop singer
* Kim Deal (born 1961), rock musician, member of Pixies, The Amps, and The Breeders
* Kelley Deal (born 1961), rock musician, member of The Amps and The Breeders
* Rick Derringer (born 1947), rock musician
* Jim Ferguson (born 1948), classical/jazz guitarist, composer, author, educator, and music journalist
* Tommy James (born 1947), rock musician and singer of "Mony Mony"
* Walter "Junie" Morrison (1954–2017), musician and producer
* Vess Ossman (1868–1923), 5-string banjoist
* Dottie Peoples (born 1950), gospel singer
* M Ross Perkins (born 1987), songwriter
* Robert Pollard (born 1957), founder and singer of lo-fi rock band Guided By Voices and other aliases thereof
* Harry Reser (1896–1965), banjoist and leader of the Clicquot Club Eskimos
* Kim Richey (born 1956), singer/songwriter
* John Scofield (born 1951), jazz guitarist
* John Schmersal, guitarist/singer for Brainiac, who went on to form Enon
* Bud Shank (1926–2009), jazz saxophonist
* Margo Smith (1939–2024), country music singer, known for her yodeling
* Tyler Smith (born 1986), singer (The Word Alive)
* Billy Strayhorn (1915–1967), jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger
* Roger Troutman (1951–1999) and Zapp, musicians/producers
* Johnnie Wilder Jr. (1949–2006), founder and lead singer, and Keith Wilder, founder, Heatwave, R&B group
* Booty Wood (1919–1987), jazz trombonist
* Snooky Young (1919–2011), jazz trumpeter

## Politicians

* Dave Albritton (1913–1994), former Ohio State Representative
* Dixie Allen (1935–2019), former Ohio State Representative
* Willis Blackshear Jr. (born 1993), Ohio State Representative
* James Middleton Cox (1870–1957), Congressman, Ohio governor, 1920 Democratic presidential candidate, founder of Cox Enterprises
* Richard Clay Dixon (born 1941), former mayor of Dayton
* Dave Hall (1906–1977), former mayor of Dayton
* Tony P. Hall (born 1942), former US Congressman
* William A. Halteman (1860–1945), member of the Washington House of Representatives in 1895–1897 and 1907–1909
* Paul Leonard (born 1943), former mayor of Dayton and lieutenant governor of Ohio
* Clayton Luckie (born 1963), former Ohio State Representative
* James H. McGee (1918–2006), former mayor of Dayton
* C. J. McLin (1921–1988), former Ohio State Representative
* Rhine McLin (born 1948), former mayor of Dayton, former Ohio State Representative, former Ohio Senator
* Jeffrey J. Mims Jr. (born 1947), mayor of Dayton
* Vipal J. Patel, (born 1967 or 1968), acting US Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio
* Tom Roberts (born 1952), former Ohio State Representative, former Ohio Senator
* Mike Rohrkaste (born 1958), Wisconsin State Assemblyman and businessman
* Fred Strahorn (born 1965), former Ohio State Representative, former Ohio Senator
* Mike Turner (born 1960), US Congressman, former mayor of Dayton
* Clement Vallandigham, lawyer and politician who served as the leader of the Copperheads, (1820-1871)

## Other

* Alice E. Heckler PetersChina P. Arnold (born 1980), convicted murderer serving life without parole for murdering and cooking her daughter, Paris in a microwave
* Jordan Anderson (1825–1907), former slave and author of "Letter from a Freedman to His Old Master"
* Charles Bassett (1931–1966), astronaut
* Jayananda Dasa (1939–1977), pioneer of ISKCON in San Francisco
* Phil Donahue (1935–2024), talk-show host, began his eponymous show in Dayton, where he spent over a decade
* Derrick L. Foward (born 1968), NAACP Image Award Winning civil rights activist
* Ronnie and Donnie Galyon (1951–2020), oldest set of conjoined twins in the world
* Steve Gibson (born 1955), computer programmer
* George J. Graham, Jr. (1938–2006), political theorist
* Ahad Israfil (1972–2019), gunshot victim
* Virginia Kettering (1907–2003), philanthropist
* William H. Lough (1881–1940s), economist
* W. S. McIntosh (1921–1974), civil rights activist
* Jessica Moore (born 1982), journalist
* Robert R. Nathan, economist
* Mike Nawrocki (born 1966), co-creator of VeggieTales
* Melvin Lorrel Nichols (1894–1981), emeritus professor of chemistry, Cornell University
* Alice E. Heckler Peters (1845-1921), social reformer
* Jane Reece (1868–1961), photographer
* Amy Schneider (born 1979), Jeopardy! champion, and the first openly transgender contestant to qualify for the Tournament of Champions
* Constantine Scollen (1841-1902), renowned Irish missionary and "Whoop-Up Trail" priest among the native peoples of Canada and US.
* Howard Dwight Smith (1886–1958), architect of Ohio Stadium
* Dorothy Stang (1931–2005), Catholic nun of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and Amazonian activist
* Norman Steenrod (1910–1971), mathematician
* Strobe Talbott (born 1946), writer and diplomat