# List of people from Iowa

This is a list of notable people who were born in or closely associated with the American state of Iowa. People not born in Iowa are marked with §.
* Top
* 0–9
* 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

## A

* Dudley W. Adams, horticulturalist
* John T. Adams, former Republican committee head
* Julie Adams, actress
* Kareem Al Allaf (born 1998), American tennis player who has played for Syria and the US
* Trev Alberts, football player
* Bess Streeter Aldrich, author
* James Allen, engineer
* Fran Allison, television personality
* William B. Allison, politician
* Betty Baxter Anderson, author
* Lew Anderson, actor
* Rudolph Martin Anderson, explorer
* Marc Andreessen, software engineer
* Pat Angerer, football player
* Cap Anson, baseball player
* Brynild Anundsen, publisher
* Appanoose, 19th-century Meskwaki chief
* Lloyd Appleton, Olympic freestyle wrestler
* Samuel Z. Arkoff, film producer
* Herbert W. Armstrong, religious leader
* Tom Arnold, actor
* Matthew Ashford, actor
* Winifred Asprey, mathematician
* John Vincent Atanasoff, § inventor
* Jim Aton, jazz musician, composer, singer
* Mike Ritland, Navy SEAL, dog trainer, interviewer

## B

* John Babcock, Olympic freestyle wrestler
* Michele Bachmann, politician
* Oliver Baez Bendorf, poet
* Stan Bahnsen, baseball player
* John O. Bailey, judge
* Bil Baird, puppeteer
* Betsy Baker, actress
* Nathaniel B. Baker, politician
* Alvin Baldus, politician
* Charlie Bales, soccer player
* Brad Banks, athlete
* Hal C. Banks, labor leader
* Jill Banner, actress
* Antonine Barada, folk hero
* Roger Barkley, broadcaster
* Harrison Barnes, athlete
* Bob Barr, politician
* Douglas Barr, actor, writer, and director
* David Barrett, football player
* Steve Bartkowski, football player
* Robert Bartley, editor of The Wall Street Journal
* Clint Barton, fictional character
* Theodore J. Bauer, scientist
* Lansing Hoskins Beach, Army officer
* Bennett Bean, artist
* Carl L. Becker, historian
* Bix Beiderbecke, jazz musician
* William W. Belknap
* Brian Bell, musician
* Alfred S. Bennett, Army general and U.S. Secretary of War
* Duane Benson, athlete
* Matt Bentley, professional wrestler
* Christian Beranek, writer, actor, and producer
* Leo Beranek, acoustician
* Bill Bergan, coach
* Eddie Berlin, athlete
* Dan Bern, musician
* Jennie Iowa Berry, clubwoman
* S. Torriano Berry, film producer, writer, director
* Jay Berwanger, football player
* Stanley Biber, physician
* Greg Biekert, football player
* Leo Binz, § Roman Catholic archbishop
* Joe Bisenius, athlete
* Richard Pike Bissell, author
* Nate Bjorkgren, basketball coach
* Black Hawk, § Native American chief
* Casey Blake, baseball player
* Gordon Blake, military general
* Donald G. Bloesch, theologian
* Isabel Bloom, artist
* Scott Bloomquist, auto racer
* Mike Blouin, politician
* Lisa Bluder, coach
* Mike Boddicker, baseball player
* Ike Boettger, American football player
* Bill Bogaard, politician
* Tommy Bolin, musician
* Norman Borlaug, agricultural scientist and Nobel Laureate
* Rob Borsellino, writer
* Ryan Bowen, athlete
* Thomas M. Bowen, politician
* Charles Bowers, cartoonist and comic actor
* Lara Flynn Boyle, actress
* Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd, author
* Glen Brand, Olympic freestyle wrestler
* Neville Brand, actor
* Terry Brands, Olympic freestyle wrestler, wrestling coach
* Tom Brands, Olympic freestyle wrestler, wrestling coach
* Terry E. Branstad, politician
* Aaron Brant, athlete
* Charles Wesley Brashares, Methodist bishop
* Titus Bronson, founder of Kalamazoo, Michigan
* Greg Brown, folk musician
* Mace Brown, athlete
* Shannon Brown, country music singer
* Bruce Brubaker, pianist, record producer
* Rob Bruggeman, athlete
* Bill Bryson, author
* Oliver E. Buckley, electrical engineer
* Matt Bullard, athlete
* Ambrose Burke, priest, college president
* Jerry Burke, musician
* Tim Burke, football coach
* Joseph A. A. Burnquist, politician
* Martin Burns, athlete
* Joe Burrow, Heisman Trophy winner
* Jim Burt, sportscaster
* Marion LeRoy Burton, college president
* Harlan J. Bushfield, politician
* Mike Butcher, baseball player
* Frank M. Byrne, politician
* Robert Byrne, author

## C

* Samuel Calvin, geologist
* Marjorie Cameron, actress and occultist
* Branden Campbell, bassist for Neon Trees
* Donald L. Campbell, chemist
* Macdonald Carey, actor
* Chris Carney, politician
* Wallace Carothers, chemist
* Allan Carpenter, author
* Sabin Carr, athlete
* Tommy Carroll, criminal
* Johnny Carson, television personality
* Jordan Carstens, athlete
* Louise Carver, actress
* Thomas Nixon Carver, economics professor
* Frank T. Cary, businessman
* Landon Cassill, auto racer
* Carrie Chapman Catt, suffragette
* Thomas Cech, chemist and Nobel Laureate
* Matt Chatham, football player
* The Cherry Sisters, vaudevillians
* Norton P. Chipman, politician, judge
* Tom Churchill, broadcaster
* Bernard A. Clarey, admiral
* Caitlin Clark WNBA Player
* Dallas Clark, § football player
* Laurel Blair Salton Clark, astronaut
* Rush Clark, politician
* Fred Clarke, baseball Hall of Famer
* Frederick G. Clausen, architect
* Jeff Clement, athlete
* Ron Clements, director and producer
* Scott Clemmensen, athlete
* Buffalo Bill Cody, Wild West showman
* Samuel Cody, aviator
* Harris Coggeshall, athlete
* Danielle Colby, reality TV personality
* King Cole, athlete
* Ada Langworthy Collier, poet, writer
* Chris Collins, hockey player
* Max Allan Collins, mystery writer
* Stephen Collins, actor
* Nick Collison, basketball player
* John W. Colloton, healthcare executive
* Steven Colloton, federal judge
* Martin Cone, college president
* Edwin H. Conger, diplomat
* Maurice Connolly, politician
* Paul Conrad, political cartoonist
* Ed Conroy, athlete
* George Cram Cook, author
* Marv Cook, football player
* Jack Coombs, athlete
* Eric Cooper, baseball umpire
* Barclay and Edwin Coppock, followers of John Brown
* Frank Cordaro, activist
* Sarah Corpstein, beauty queen
* John M. Corse, Army general
* Ernie Courtney, athlete
* Paul Coverdell, politician
* Thomas Jefferson Cowie, admiral
* Ryan Cownie, stand-up comedian
* Shawn Crahan, musician
* Roger Craig, football player
* Joe Crail, politician
* Coe I. Crawford, politician
* Francis X. Cretzmeyer, coach
* Joel Crisman, football player
* Jim Crotty, athlete
* Julee Cruise, singer and actress
* Frank Cuhel, athlete
* Mariclare Culver, political figure
* Henry J. B. Cummings, politician
* Billy Cundiff, athlete
* Jack Cunningham, screenwriter

## D

* Janet Dailey, author
* Bill Daily, actor
* Dick Dale, musician
* Muriel Frances Dana, actress
* Jack Daniels, politician
* Diane D'Aquila, actress
* Sarah Darling, musician
* Geof Darrow, artist
* Dana Davis, actress
* Barry Davis, Olympic freestyle wrestler
* Rebecca Fjelland Davis, author
* Stuart Davis, musician
* Laura Dawn, activist, singer-songwriter, director/producer
* Bud Day, war hero
* Walter Day, businessman
* Darren Daye, athlete
* Lee De Forest, inventor
* Jordan De Jong, athlete
* Henry Clay Dean, preacher, lawyer
* Don DeFore, actor
* Cooper DeJean, athlete
* W. Edwards Deming, statistician
* Don Denkinger, baseball umpire
* Dave Despain, sports journalist
* Adam Devine, actor
* Aubrey Devine, athlete
* Lester J. Dickinson, politician
* Justin Diercks, auto racer
* Charles Hall Dillon, politician, judge
* Thomas Disch, author
* James Dixon, orchestra conductor
* David M. Dobson, game creator
* Claire Dodd, actress
* Tim Dodd, YouTuber
* Grenville M. Dodge, railroad executive
* Ralph Edward Dodge, religious leader
* Angela Dohrmann, actress
* Ellen Dolan, actress
* Steve Doocy, television journalist
* Russell S. Doughten, filmmaker
* Nicholas Downs, actor
* Joel Dreessen, football player
* Kevin Dresser, collegiate wrestling head coach
* Leanna Field Driftmier, radio personality
* Bobby Driscoll, actor
* Fred Duesenberg, automobile manufacturer
* Randy Duncan, football player
* Francis John Dunn, religious leader
* Lloyd Dunn
* Samuel Grace Dunn, journalist
* Kenneth W. Durant, decorated sailor
* John Durbin, actor
* Tim Dwight, football player

## E

* Morgan Earp, Wild West lawman
* Warren Earp, brother of Wyatt Earp
* Abastenia St. Leger Eberle, sculptor
* Zales Ecton, politician
* Paul Eells, sportscaster
* Mamie Eisenhower, former First Lady of the United States
* Cal Eldred, athlete
* Jane Elliott, schoolteacher and activist
* James Ellison, actor
* Eugene Burton Ely, aviator
* Paul Emerick, International rugby player, and coach
* Hope Emerson, actress
* Michael Emerson, actor
* Femi Emiola, actress
* Norman A. Erbe, politician
* Joni Ernst, United States Senator for Iowa
* Jane Espenson, TV producer and writer
* Simon Estes, opera singer
* Linda Evans, political activist
* Frank F. Everest, general
* Barton Warren Evermann, ichthyologist

## F

* Randy Florke, writer/publisher of interior design book
* Urban Clarence "Red" Faber, baseball player
* Tom Fadden, actor
* Carole Farley, soprano singer
* Art Farmer, jazz musician
* Sharon Farrell, actress
* Terry Farrell, actress
* James Fee, photographer
* Victor Feguer, convicted murderer
* Chris Fehn, musician
* Margaret Feldner, university president
* Bob Feller, baseball player
* Mary Fels, philanthropist, suffragist, Georgist
* James Ferentz, football player
* Jeremy Ferguson, musician
* Susan Frances Nelson Ferree, journalist, activist, suffragist
* Susan Fessenden, activist, social reformer
* Al Feuerbach, track and field athlete
* Romaine Fielding, actor
* Margarita Fischer, actress
* Matt Fish, basketball player
* Freddie Fisher, musician
* Bill Fitch, basketball coach
* Joseph Fitz, naval veteran
* Bridget Flanery, actress
* John Flannagan, priest
* Jack Fleck, golfer
* Frank Jack Fletcher, admiral
* Robert Fletcher, costume designer
* Rich Folkers, baseball player
* Bradbury Foote, screenwriter
* Ben Foster, actor
* Jon Foster, musician
* Judith Ellen Foster, lawyer
* Farrah Franklin, singer
* William Frawley, actor
* John T. Frederick, scholar
* Tanna Frederick, actress
* Joan Freeman, actress
* Bruce French, actor
* George B. French, actor
* Joe Frisco, vaudeville performer
* Virgil Frye, actor, boxer

## G

* Dan Gable, Olympic freestyle wrestler, wrestling coach
* Jetseta Gage, kidnap victim
* Robert Gallery, football player
* George Horace Gallup, founder of Gallup Poll
* Viola Garfield, anthropologist
* Jim Garrison, lawyer, judge
* David Garst, farmer, seed manufacturer
* Roswell Garst, farmer, seed manufacturer
* Michael Gartner, journalist
* Joey Gase, NASCAR driver
* Harry Gaspar, baseball player
* James Lorraine Geddes, soldier
* John Getz, actor
* Dick Gibbs, basketball player
* Edward H. Gillette, politician
* Thomas Gilman, Olympic freestyle wrestler
* Owen Gingerich, astronomer
* Annabeth Gish, actress
* Salvatore Giunta, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient
* Fred Glade, baseball player
* Susan Glaspell, playwright
* Dan Goldie, tennis player
* Johnny Gosch, kidnap victim
* Frank Gotch, professional wrestler
* Al Gould, baseball player
* Rick Graf, football player
* Fred Grandy, actor, politician
* Chuck Grassley, Iowa senator
* Paul Gray, musician
* Dick Green, baseball player
* George Greene, Supreme Court justice
* Edna Griffin, civil rights activist
* James W. Grimes, Iowa governor and senator
* Dan Grimm, football player
* Harold R. Gross, politician
* Danai Gurira, actress
* Janet Guthrie, auto racer

## H

* Charlie Haden, musician
* Mike Haight, football player
* Leslie Hall, rapper
* Jack Halloran, composer
* Scot Halpin, musician
* Halston, fashion designer
* Adam Haluska, basketball player
* Andy Haman, professional bodybuilder
* Jack Hamilton, baseball player
* Milo Hamilton, baseball broadcaster
* Edward Hammatt, architect
* Ryan Hannam, football player
* Joel Hanrahan, baseball player
* Bob Hansen, basketball player
* James Hansen, professor
* Juanita Hansen, actress
* Niels Ebbesen Hansen, botanist
* Robert Hansen, convicted murderer
* Haldor Johan Hanson, hymn composer
* William L. Harding, former governor of Iowa
* Tom Harkin, Iowa senator
* Bob Harlan, pro football executive
* James Harlan, politician
* Graham Harman, professor
* Hill Harper, actor
* Frank Hatton, politician
* Tim Hauff, jazz musician
* Eva Lund Haugen, author
* James H. Hawley, Idaho politician
* Merle Hay, World War I soldier
* Frank Hayes, unionist
* Peter Hedges, writer
* Alan J. Heeger, Nobel Prize laureate in chemistry
* Jeremy Hellickson, baseball player
* Stephen P. Hempstead, former governor of Iowa
* John Hench, associate of Walt Disney
* David B. Henderson, politician, Speaker of the House
* Dorothy Hennessey, nun, activist
* Gwen Hennessey, nun, activist
* John Hennessy, religious leader
* Chad Hennings, football player
* William Peters Hepburn, Civil War officer, politician
* Francis J. Herron, Civil War general
* Daniel Hess, inventor
* Phil Hester, comic book artist
* James C. Hickman, actuary
* David Anthony Higgins, actor
* Steve Higgins, writer, comedian, actor, and announcer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
* Harriet Hilliard, actress
* David C. Hilmers, astronaut
* A. J. Hinch, baseball player, manager
* Kirk Hinrich, basketball player
* Herbert E. Hitchcock, South Dakota politician
* J.B.E. Hittle, decorated intelligence officer, author and writer
* Tami Hoag, novelist
* Terry Hoage, football player
* Thomas M. Hoenig, financier
* Mari Ruef Hofer (1858/59-1929), composer, lecturer, teacher, writer
* Bill Hoffer, baseball player
* Fred Hoiberg, basketball player, coach
* Judd Holdren, actor
* Ducky Holmes, baseball player
* Lizzie Holmes, educator, anarchist
* Elmer G. Homrighausen, theologian
* Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States
* Lou Henry Hoover, First Lady
* Harry Hopkins, presidential adviser
* Frank O. Horton, politician
* Austin Howard, football player
* Walter Howey, journalist
* Jerome Clarke Hunsaker, zeppelin authority
* Mary Beth Hurt, actress
* Toby Huss, actor
* Dick Hutcherson, auto racer
* Libbie Hyman, zoologist

## I

* Jim Inhofe, politician
* Inkpaduta, Native American chief
* Arnold J. Isbell, aviator

## J

* Jacob Jaacks, basketball player
* Fred Jackman, cinematographer
* Selmer Jackson, actor
* Kip Janvrin, athlete
* N. K. Jemisin, science fiction/fantasy author
* Frank Jenks, actor
* Dan Jennings, baseball player
* Roger Jepsen, politician
* Jake Johannsen, comedian
* Donald Johanos, symphony conductor
* Bryce Johnson, actor
* Dorothy M. Johnson, author
* Edwin S. Johnson, politician
* Georgann Johnson, actress
* Lulu Johnson, historian
* Nicholas Johnson, FCC commissioner
* Royal C. Johnson, politician
* Shawn Johnson, gymnast
* Zach Johnson, golfer
* Peter Jok, § basketball player
* Craig Jones, musician
* George Wallace Jones
* Gordon Jones, actor
* James Jones, football player
* Lolo Jones, athlete
* Kathryn Joosten, actress
* Joey Jordison, musician
* Duane Josephson, baseball player
* Patty Judge, politician
* Jerry Junkins, CEO of Texas Instruments

## K

* Nate Kaeding, football placekicker
* Danielle Kahle, figure skater
* Jacqui Kalin (born 1989), American-Israeli professional basketball player
* Aaron Kampman, football player
* MacKinlay Kantor, journalist, author
* Gail Karp, cantor
* Bradley Kasal, decorated U.S. Marine
* John A. Kasson, politician
* Hazel Keener, actress
* James M. Kelly, astronaut
* Percy R. Kelly, judge
* Keokuk, Sauk chief
* John H. Kemble, professor
* Charles Reuben Keyes, archaeologist
* Charles Rollin Keyes, geologist
* Hugh Kidder, decorated U.S. Marine
* Kerry Killinger, banker
* Angela Jia Kim, classical pianist
* Mitch King, football player
* Rebecca Ann King, 1974 Miss America
* Steve King, politician
* Dallas Kinney, journalist
* Nile Kinnick, football player
* James T. Kirk, fictional character
* Samuel J. Kirkwood, § governor, senator, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
* Philip J. Klass, UFO researcher
* Stephen Kline, artist
* Bradford Knapp, university president
* Corina Knoll, journalist
* Ruth Kobart, performer
* Matt Koch, baseball player
* Bonnie Koloc, singer
* Jon Koncak, basketball player
* Ted Kooser, poet
* Dan Koppen, football player
* Kyle Korver, basketball player
* Joseph Kosinski, commercial director
* Mitch Krebs, television journalist
* Gary Kroeger, actor
* Josh Kroeger, baseball player
* Matt Kroul, football player
* Ashton Kutcher, actor

## L

* Jerry Lacy, actor
* Perry Lafferty, television producer
* Doug La Follette, politician
* Raef LaFrentz, basketball player
* Roswell Lamson, Civil War officer
* Ann Landers, advice columnist
* The Lane Sisters, singers, actresses
* Harry Langdon, comedian
* Frank Lanning, actor
* Jeff Larish, baseball player
* Patty Larkin, singer
* Alan Larson (born 1949), diplomat and ambassador
* Mauricio Lasansky, graphic artist
* Tomas Lasansky, visual artist
* Joe Laws, basketball player
* Elmer Layden, football player, coach
* Jim Leach, politician
* Cloris Leachman, actress
* Frederick Leadbetter, financier
* William Daniel Leahy, naval officer
* William P. Leahy, university president
* Frances Lee, actress
* Gerald Leeman, Olympic freestyle wrestler
* Laura Leighton, actress
* Josh Lenz, football player
* Aldo Leopold, environmentalist
* Amy Leslie, opera singer
* Alexander Levi, religious leader
* Jack Lewis, screenwriter
* John Lewis, labor leader
* Jon Lieber, baseball player
* Thurlow Lieurance, composer
* Joe Lillard, athlete
* Edward Lindberg, athlete
* Everett Franklin Lindquist, educator
* Everett Lindsay, football player
* Margaret Lindsay, actress
* Ron Livingston, actor
* Bob Locker, baseball player
* Al Lohman, radio personality
* Babe London, comedian
* Chuck Long, football player, coach
* Nia Long, § actress
* Mathias Loras, religious leader
* Tyler Lorenzen, football player
* Kevin Love, auto racer
* Phyllis Love, actress
* Herschel C. Loveless, governor
* Robert Lucas, politician
* Larry Lujack, radio personality
* Tiny Lund, auto racer
* Mike Lynch, cartoonist
* Raymond J. Lynch, judge
* Emmett Lynn, actor
* Sue Lyon, actress

## M

* Larry Mac Duff, football coach
* Archer MacMackin, film director
* Hanford MacNider, diplomat, U.S. Army general
* Cletus Madsen, religious leader
* Joe Magrane, baseball player
* Maryann Mahaffey, politician
* Ryan Mahaffey, football player
* Mahaska, Native American chief
* Dennis Mahony, 19th-century journalist
* Anna Malle, § adult film actress
* Jessie Wilson Manning, writer, lecturer
* Arabella Mansfield, lawyer
* Stuart Margolin, actor
* Beth Marion, actress
* Glenn Martin, aviator
* Bernard Masterson, athlete
* Jerry Mathers, actor
* James Matheson, composer
* David Maxwell, university president
* Elsa Maxwell, columnist
* Marilyn Maxwell, actress
* Jesse May, poker professional
* Wiley Mayne, politician
* F. L. Maytag, founder of Maytag corporation
* Rita McBride, sculptor
* C. W. McCall, singer and politician
* Dan McCarney, football coach
* The McCaughey septuplets
* Tim McClelland, baseball umpire
* Al McCoy, announcer
* Greg McDermott, basketball coach
* William John McGee, geologist
* George McGill, politician
* Charles McGraw, actor
* Keli McGregor, baseball executive
* Pat McLaughlin, singer
* Sean McLaughlin, meteorologist
* William H. McMaster, former governor of South Dakota
* Cal McVey, baseball player
* Stu Mead, painter
* Carl Meinberg, priest
* John Melcher, former senator of Montana
* Michael Joseph Melloy, judge
* Denis Menke, baseball player
* Sebastian Menke, priest
* William Menster, priest
* Iris Meredith, actress
* Frank Merriam, former governor of California
* Russel Merrill, aviator
* Samuel Merrill, former governor of Iowa
* Nancy Metcalf, volleyball player
* Bernard F. Meyer, missionary
* Loren Meyer, basketball player
* Julia Michaels, singer-songwriter
* Brandon Middleton, football player
* Pat Miletich, MMA fighter, member of the UFC Hall of Fame
* Hugh Millen, football player
* Glenn Miller, musician, bandleader, World War II officer
* Samuel Freeman Miller, Supreme Court justice
* Robert Millikan, physicist
* Jason Momoa, § actor
* Ted Monachino, football coach
* Michelle Monaghan, actress
* Jordan Monroe, model
* Constance Moore, actress
* Frank A. Moore, judge
* Hap Moran, football player
* Peggy Moran, actress
* Jeremy Morgan (born 1995), basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
* Karen Morley, actress
* Carol Morris, Miss Universe 1956
* Mike Morris, football player
* Phil Morris, actor
* Allie Morrison, Olympic freestyle wrestler
* Honoré Willsie Morrow, author, editor
* Karen Morrow, actress
* John Mosher, jazz musician and composer
* Michael Mosley, actor
* Dow Mossman, writer
* John Mott, YMCA leader, Nobel Prize winner
* Marvin Mottet, priest
* Kate Mulgrew, actress
* Richard L. Murphy, former Iowa senator
* Charles Murray, political scientist
* Brandon Myers, football player
* Virginia A. Myers, inventor

## N

* Nancy Naeve, television journalist
* Conrad Nagel, actor
* Neapope, Sauk leader
* Sharon Needles, drag performer
* Brad Nelson, baseball player
* George Nelson, NASA astronaut
* Harriet Nelson, actress, television personality
* Larry Nemmers, football official
* Carman A. Newcomb, politician
* Jim Nicholson, politician
* Bruce Nissen, professor
* Ken Nordine, voice-over artist
* Lance Norris, actor
* Bill Northey, politician
* Robert Noyce, inventor
* Michael Nunn, boxer
* Nick Nurse, basketball head coach

## O

* Randi Oakes, actress, fashion model
* Dick Oatts, musician
* Wes Obermueller, baseball player
* Patrick O'Bryant, basketball player
* Brian O'Connor, § baseball coach
* Dennis O'Keefe, actor
* Gerald Francis O'Keefe, religious leader
* Bob Oldis, baseball player, coach, scout
* George Olmsted, military officer
* Eric Christian Olsen, actor
* Zoe Ann Olsen-Jensen, Olympic diver
* James Bradley Orman, former governor of Colorado
* Kay A. Orr, former governor of Nebraska
* Kyle Orton, football player
* Charles Osborne, "hiccup" man
* Vivienne Osborne, actress
* Beverley Owen, actress

## P

* Stephen Paddock, mass murderer
* Richard Page, front man for Mr. Mister
* Daniel David Palmer, chiropractic medicine pioneer
* Francis W. Palmer, publisher
* Rose Marie Pangborn, scientist
* Oran Pape, law enforcement officer
* Ralph Parcaut, professional wrestler
* Sara Paretsky, novelist
* Charles Fox Parham, evangelist
* Anthony Parker, basketball player
* Clair Cameron Patterson, geochemist
* Neva Patterson, actress
* Allen E. Paulson, thoroughbred breeder
* Bryce Paup, football player
* Claude Payton, actor
* Maria Pearson, Dakota activist
* Sally Pederson, former lieutenant governor
* Paul Peek, politician
* Mary Beth Peil, actress
* Nat Pendleton, athlete, actor
* Arthur D. Pennington, baseball player
* Tom Pepper, computer programmer
* Don Perkins, football player
* Edwin Perkins, inventor
* Roger Perry, actor
* Pete Peterson, combat pilot, ambassador
* Roger Peterson, pilot
* Joseph M. Petrick, screenwriter
* Lori Petty, actress
* James Philbrook, actor
* John Robinson Pierce, engineer
* Mark Pinter, actor
* Chris Pirillo, video host, blogger
* Ed Podolak, football player
* Carl Pohlad, financier, Minnesota Twins owner
* George Pomutz, Civil War general
* Maddie Poppe, musician and winner of American Idol season 16
* Scott Pose, baseball player
* Dante Powell, stand-up comedian
* Gordon Prange, historian
* Beatrice Prentice, actress
* Hiram Price, railroad president, politician
* Richard Proenneke, naturalist
* Stanley Prusiner, neurologist, biochemist
* Tom Purtzer, golfer

## Q

* Quashquame, Sauk chief
* John Herbert Quick, author
* Howard 'Howdy' Quicksell, musician
* Linnea Quigley, actress

## R

* David Rabe, playwright
* Frances Rafferty, actress
* Max Rafferty, writer, politician
* John F. Rague, architect
* Randy Rahe, basketball coach
* Josh Rand, musician
* Robert D. Ray, governor of Iowa (1969–1983) who served several consecutive terms
* Harry Reasoner, television journalist
* David Reed, football player
* Donna Reed, actress
* Dani Reeves, Miss Iowa 2007
* George Reeves, actor
* Allen Reisner, football player
* George C. Remey, Civil War admiral
* Walter E. Reno, World War II naval officer
* Kevin Rhomberg, baseball player
* Alfred C. Richmond, admiral
* Doug Riesenberg, football player
* William H. Riker, political scientist
* Bill Riley Sr., entertainer
* Chad Rinehart, football player
* The Ringling brothers, circus moguls
* Clifford Roberts, chairman of Masters golf tournament
* James B. A. Robertson, judge, Governor of Oklahoma
* Billy Robinson, aviator
* Shawna Robinson, auto racer
* Reggie Roby, football player
* Otto Frederick Rohwedder, inventor
* Seth Rollins, WWE professional wrestler
* Christine Romans, television journalist
* James Root, musician
* Jim Root, musician
* Raymond Roseliep, poet
* Sage Rosenfels, football player
* Joseph Rosenfield, lawyer
* Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Civil War general, governor of Texas
* Brandon Routh, actor
* Coleen Rowley, FBI agent, politician
* J. Craig Ruby, basketball coach
* Nate Ruess, singer
* Alexander Rummler, painter
* Nicholas J. Rusch, Civil War officer, politician
* Arthur Russell, musician
* Charles Edward Russell, journalist
* Lillian Russell, actress
* Paul Rust, comedian
* George Ryan, former governor of Illinois

## S

* George Saling, athlete
* Mark Salter, political speechwriter
* Josh Samman, mixed martial artist
* Ezekiel S. Sampson, Civil War officer, politician
* Cael Sanderson, § Olympic freestyle wrestler, wrestling coach
* Tyler Sash, football player
* Sauganash, fur trader
* A. J. Schable, football player
* Daniel Schaefer, politician
* Peter Schickele, parodist
* Ron Schipper, football coach
* Aloysius Schmitt, Navy chaplain
* Ernest B. Schoedsack, filmmaker
* Robert H. Schuller, religious leader
* Aloysius Schulte, college president
* Dick Schultz, NCAA and US Olympic Committee executive
* Jean Seberg, actress
* Brad Seely, football coach
* Edward Robert Sellstrom, pilot
* Phil Shafer, auto racer
* William Shannahan, priest
* Harrison Sheckler, pianist
* Kenny Shedd, football player
* Kate Shelley, railroad official
* Gene Sherman, sportscaster
* Randy Shilts, journalist
* Paul Shorey, scholar
* Loren Shriver, astronaut
* Lee Paul Sieg, university president
* Hal Skelly, actor
* Bill Smith, § Olympic freestyle wrestler
* Brian Smith, photographer
* Gerald W. Smith, author
* Hiram Y. Smith, politician
* Jerry Smith, golfer
* Mary Louise Smith, politician
* Neal Smith, politician
* Riley Smith, actor
* Virginia Smith, politician
* Warren Allen Smith, gay rights advocate
* Clement Smyth, religious leader
* William Smyth, politician
* Neta Snook, aviator
* Jamie Solinger, Miss Teen USA
* Harvey Sollberger, composer
* Phyllis Somerville, actress
* Hartzell Spence, military journalist
* Tracie Spencer, singer
* Kirk Speraw, basketball coach
* Darren Sproles, football player
* Josh Stamer, football player
* Edwin O. Stanard, politician
* Denise Stapley, Survivor champion, therapist
* Bradley Steffens, author
* William G. Steiner, child advocate
* Mark Steines, television personality
* Keith H. Steinkraus, food scientist
* Frank Steunenberg, Idaho governor
* Bill Stewart, jazz musician
* George F. Stewart, food scientist
* Kiah Stokes, basketball player
* George Stone (1876–1945), Major League Baseball left fielder; 1906 American League batting champion
* Ramo Stott, auto racer
* Terry Stotts, basketball coach
* George L. Stout, art historian, "Monuments Man"
* Russell Stover, candy manufacturer
* Alvin Straight, lawn-mower rider
* Chris Street, basketball player
* Jeff Streeter, auto racer
* Stephen Stucker, actor
* Bob Stull, football player
* Scott Swisher, legislator
* The Sullivan Brothers, combat veterans
* Billy Sunday, baseball player, evangelist
* Roderick Dhu Sutherland, politician
* Al Swearengen, Wild West saloonkeeper
* Ryan Sweeney, baseball player
* Quinn Sypniewski, football player
* Brett Szabo, basketball player

## T

* Joseph Taggart, politician
* Taimah, Native American chief
* Michael Talbott, actor
* Kevin Tapani, baseball player
* Lawrie Tatum, U.S. "Indian Agent"
* Corey Taylor, musician
* Morgan Taylor, athlete
* Richard R. Taylor, Surgeon-General of the U.S. Army
* Robin Lord Taylor, actor
* Sara Taylor, political public-relations professional
* Ashley Tesoro, actress, singer
* Kenneth W. Thompson, academic
* Sada Thompson, actress
* William Thompson, politician
* William George Thompson, politician
* Mick Thomson, musician
* Adam Timmerman, football player
* Matt Tobin, football player
* John Tomkins, criminal
* Alice Bellvadore Sams Turner, physician, writer

## U

* James Ulmer, journalist
* Jarrod Uthoff, basketball player
* Sarah Utterback, actress

## V

* James Van Allen, scientist
* Mike Van Arsdale, MMA fighter, wrestler
* Dennis Van Roekel, labor leader
* Carl Van Vechten, writer, photographer
* Kyle Vanden Bosch, athlete
* Bob Vander Plaats, politician, activist
* Julian Vandervelde, athlete
* William Vandever, politician
* Oswald Veblen, mathematician
* Ross Verba, athlete
* Michelle Vieth, actress
* Zach Villa, actor, singer
* Phil Vischer, animator
* Krista Voda, sportscaster
* Nedra Volz, actress

## W

* Michael Wacha (born 1991), baseball player for the San Diego Padres
* John Henry Waddell, painter and sculptor
* Hynden Walch, actress
* Nellie Walker, sculptor
* Joseph Frazier Wall, historian
* Henry A. Wallace, politician and presidential candidate
* Marcia Wallace, actress
* Will Walling, actor
* Adam Walsh, football player and coach
* Chile Walsh, football player, coach, and executive
* Mark Walter, financier, chairman of Los Angeles Dodgers
* Rick Wanamaker, track and field athlete and basketball player
* Brian Wansink, scientist and professor
* Dedric Ward, football player, coach
* Everett Warner, painter and printmaker
* Kurt Warner (born 1971), football quarterback in the NFL
* Fitz Henry Warren, politician, Civil War general
* Kiersten Warren, actress
* Pierre Watkin, actor
* Watseka (c. 1810–1878), Native Iowan
* James F. Watson, judge
* Tony Watson (born 1985), pitcher in MLB
* John Wayne, actor
* James B. Weaver, politician
* Randy Weaver, survivalist involved in Ruby Ridge incident
* Irving Weber, businessman
* Joseph Welch, attorney
* Elmarie Wendel, actress
* Susan Werner, singer-songwriter
* Emily West, singer-songwriter
* Brooks Wheelan, actor, comedian
* Matthew Whitaker, district attorney
* John White, labor leader, president of the United Mine Workers
* Jim Whitesell, college basketball coach
* Peggy Whitson, astronaut, scientist
* Casey Wiegmann, football player in the NFL
* Doreen Wilber, archer
* Tom Wilkinson, football player
* Andy Williams, singer
* Gregory Alan Williams, actor, author
* Roy Lee Williams, labor leader
* William Appleman Williams, historian
* William Williamson, politician
* Meredith Willson, composer
* James Falconer Wilson, politician
* JoAnn Wilson, murdered wife of Canadian politician
* Mortimer Wilson, composer
* Sid Wilson, disc jockey
* Wally Wingert, actor
* Keaton Winn (born 1998), pitcher for the San Francisco Giants
* Charles E. Winter, politician
* Sidney G. Winter (born 1935), economist
* Johannes B. Wist, journalist, editor
* William P. Wolf, politician
* Elijah Wood (born 1981), actor
* Grant Wood, painter
* Joey Woody, athlete
* Hank Worden, actor
* Carleton H. Wright, U.S. Navy admiral
* Frank Wykoff, Olympic champion athlete

## Y

* Marshal Yanda, athlete
* Harry E. Yarnell, U.S. Navy admiral
* David Yost, actor and producer
* Ed Yost, inventor
* Jessie Young, radio host
* Nancy Youngblut, actor

## Z

* Luke Zeller, basketball player
* Maurice Zimm, writer for screen and radio
* Larry Zox, painter and printmaker