The following are people who were either born/raised or have lived for a significant period of time in Missouri.

Art and literature

 Helen Andelin (born 1920), author of Fascinating Womanhood
 Maya Angelou (1928–2014), author and poet
 Thomas P. Barnett (1870–1929), architect and impressionist painter
 Thomas Hart Benton (1889–1975), painter
 George Caleb Bingham (1811–1879), artist (born in Virginia but moved to central Missouri)
 Edward McKendree Bounds (1835–1913), author and theologian
 Mark Bowden (born 1951), author, journalist
 William S. Burroughs (1914–1997), author
 Kate Chopin (1851–1904), author (The Awakening) and early feminist
 Lester Dent (1904–1959), author of Doc Savage novels
 Suzette Haden Elgin (1936–2015), science-fiction author and linguist
 T. S. Eliot (1888–1965), poet, dramatist and literary critic
 Mary Engelbreit (born 1952), graphic artist, children's book illustrator
 Michael Evans (1944–2005), photographer
 Eugene Field (1850–1895), writer and poet
 Gillian Flynn (born 1971), novelist,  television critic
 Martha Gellhorn (1908–1998), novelist, travel writer and journalist
 William Least Heat-Moon (born 1939), author
 Robert A. Heinlein (1907–1988), science fiction author
 Frederick Hibbard (1881–1950), sculptor known for his works of famous 19th century figures
 Langston Hughes (1902–1967), African-American poet, novelist and playwright
 William W. Johnstone (1938–2004), author of western, horror and survivalist novels
 Donald Judd (1928–1994), artist
 Jim Lee (born 1964), comic book artist and writer
 David Limbaugh (born 1952), columnist, author, political commentator
 Bernarr Macfadden (1868–1955), founder of Macfadden Publications, bodybuilding advocate
 Dennis L. McKiernan (born 1932), author
 Marianne Moore (1887–1972), poet and writer
 Archie Musick (1902–1978), painter and illustrator, associated with the Regionalist movement
 John R. Musick (1849–1901), author and poet, known for the Columbian Historical novels
 Ruth Ann Musick (1897–1974), author and folklorist
 H. Richard Niebuhr (1894–1962), author, theologian
 Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971), author, theologian, political commentator
 John Ross (born 1957), author
 Charles Marion Russell (1864–1926), artist
 Clay Shirky (born 1964), writer, consultant, lecturer, author of Here Comes Everybody
 Kimora Lee Simmons, fashion model, author, actress
 Sara Teasdale (1884–1933), poet
 Kay Thompson (1909–1998), creator of Eloise children's books
 Mark Twain (1835–1910), born Samuel Clemens, humorist, writer and lecturer
 Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957), writer and author of the Little House series
 Tennessee Williams (1911–1983), playwright (born in Mississippi, grew up in St. Louis)
 Daniel Woodrell (born 1953), author of crime fiction

Athletics

Auto racing

Carl Edwards (born 1979), NASCAR driver, 2007 NASCAR Busch Series champion
Jamie McMurray (born 1976), NASCAR driver, Daytona 500 winner
Ken Schrader (born 1955), NASCAR driver
Kenny Wallace (born 1963), NASCAR driver, broadcaster
Mike Wallace (born 1959), NASCAR driver
Rusty Wallace (born 1956), NASCAR driver, 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup champion

Baseball

A–M

Jake Arrieta (born 1986), starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs
Jake Beckley (1867–1919), Baseball Hall of Fame member from game's early years
James "Cool Papa" Bell (1903–1991), Baseball Hall of Fame center fielder
Yogi Berra (born 1925), Hall of Fame catcher, manager, aphorist
Brian Boehringer (born 1969), MLB pitcher
Clete Boyer (1937–2007), MLB third baseman
Ken Boyer (1931–1982), MLB third baseman, coach and manager
Mark Buehrle (born 1979), starting pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays
Scott Carroll (born 1984), relief pitcher for the Chicago White Sox
David Cone (born 1963), Cy Young-winning MLB pitcher
Joe Crede (born 1978), third baseman for the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins
Ross Detwiler (born 1986), relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves
John Donaldson (1891–1970), Negro League baseball pitcher, known for throwing no-hitters
Scott Elbert (born 1985), relief pitcher for the San Diego Padres
A. J. Ellis (born 1981), catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers
David Freese (born 1983), third baseman for the Los Angeles Angels, 2011 World Series MVP with St. Louis Cardinals
Gabe Gabler (1930–2014), MLB player
Joe Garagiola, Sr. (born 1926), MLB catcher, broadcaster, television personality
Lucas Harrell (born 1985), starting pitcher for the LG Twins
Tom Henke (born 1957), two-time All-Star pitcher
Ken Holtzman (born 1945), two-time All-Star pitcher
Tommy Hottovy (born 1981), relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs
Elston Howard (1929–1980), Negro League and MLB catcher, left fielder and coach
Ryan Howard (born 1979), first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies
Eric Hurley (born 1985), former pitcher for the Texas Rangers
Vern Kennedy (1907–1993), MLB pitcher with the Chicago White Sox and others
Bob Keppel (born 1982), pitcher for the Chicago Cubs
Charlie Kerfeld (born 1963), MLB relief pitcher, primarily with the Houston Astros
Darold Knowles (born 1941), MLB pitcher, first pitcher to appear in all seven games of a World Series
Ron Kulpa (born 1968), Major League Baseball umpire
Tommy Layne (born 1984), relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox
Sam LeCure (born 1984), MLB pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds
Shaun Marcum (born 1981), starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians
Zach Miner (born 1982), relief pitcher for the Seattle Mariners
Logan Morrison (born 1987), outfielder and first baseman for the Seattle Mariners
Stan Musial (1920–2013), MLB Hall of Famer, played entire career for the St. Louis Cardinals

N–Z

Al Nipper (born 1959), MLB scout and former pitcher
Darren Oliver (born 1970), relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays
Josh Outman (born 1984), starting pitcher for the Colorado Rockies
Barney Pelty (1880–1939), Major League Baseball pitcher
David Phelps (born 1986), starting pitcher for the New York Yankees
Albert Pujols (born 1980), MLB first baseman with the Los Angeles Angels
Steve Rogers (born 1949), most successful pitcher in Montreal Expos history
Trevor Rosenthal (born 1990), pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals
Max Scherzer (born 1984), starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals
Art Shamsky (born 1941), Major League Baseball outfielder
Mike Shannon (born 1939), MLB player and sportscaster for the St. Louis Cardinals
Dave Silvestri (born 1967), MLB infielder
Shae Simmons (born 1990), pitcher for the Atlanta Braves
Paul Splittorff (1946–2011), starting pitcher Kansas City Royals, later a Royals broadcaster
Casey Stengel (c. 1890–1975), Baseball Hall of Fame manager
Mel Stottlemyre (born 1941), MLB pitcher and pitching coach
Rick Sutcliffe (born 1956), MLB pitcher and ESPN color commentator
Nick Tepesch (born 1988), pitcher for the Texas Rangers
Jacob Turner (born 1991), starting pitcher for the Miami Marlins
Scott Van Slyke (born 1986), outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers; son of former St. Louis Cardinal Andy Van Slyke
Earl Weaver (1930–2013), Hall of Fame manager for the Baltimore Orioles
Mack Wheat (1893–1979), MLB catcher with the Brooklyn Robins and Philadelphia Phillies
Zack Wheat (1888–1972), MLB Hall of Fame left fielder for Brooklyn, Philadelphia Athletics; brother of Mack Wheat

Basketball

Forrest Clare "Phog" Allen (1885–1974), Hall of Fame college basketball coach
Bill Bradley (born 1943), Basketball Hall of Famer, U.S. Senator
Alec Burks (born 1991), shooting guard for the Utah Jazz
Tyler Hansbrough (born 1985), power forward for the Indiana Pacers
Josh Harrellson (born 1989), center for the New York Knicks
Larry Hughes (born 1979), shooting guard for the Orlando Magic
David Lee (born 1983), power forward and center for the Golden State Warriors
Tyronn Lue (born 1977), former NBA player (Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers)
Brandon Rush (born 1985), shooting guard for the Golden State Warriors
Kareem Rush (born 1980), shooting guard for the L.A. Clippers
Scott Sims (born 1955), guard for the San Antonio Spurs
Norm Stewart (born 1935), pro basketball player and longtime Mizzou coach
Anthony Tolliver (born 1985), power forward for the Minnesota Timberwolves

Football

Steve Atwater (born 1966), strong safety for the Denver Broncos
Allen Barbre (born 1984), offensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks
Tim Barnes (born 1988), center for the St. Louis Rams
David Bass (born 1990), defensive end for the Chicago Bears
Justin Britt (born 1991), offensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks
Jason Brookins (born 1976), running back, Baltimore Ravens
Colin Brown (born 1985), offensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills
Paul Christman (1918–1970), College Football Hall of Fame quarterback
Adrian Clayborn (born 1988), defensive end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chase Coffman (born 1986), tight end for the Atlanta Falcons
Dan Connolly (born 1982), offensive lineman for the New England Patriots
Dan Dierdorf (born 1949), offensive tackle and Pro Football Hall of Fame, sportscaster
Herb Donaldson (born 1985), running back for the Dallas Cowboys
Kony Ealy (born 1991), defensive end for the Carolina Panthers
Lenvil Elliott (1951–2008), NFL running back for the Bengals and 49ers
 Don Faurot (1902–1995), College Football Hall of Fame coach, inventor of the Split-T formation
Brian Folkerts (born 1990), center for the Carolina Panthers
Josh Freeman (born 1988), quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Blaine Gabbert (born 1989), quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers
Justin Gage (born 1981), wide receiver for the Tennessee Titans
E. J. Gaines (born 1992), cornerback for the St. Louis Rams
Tony Galbreath (born 1954), running back for the New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, and New York Giants
Conrad Goode (born 1962), offensive lineman
Mark Herzlich (born 1987), linebacker for the New York Giants
Cal Hubbard (1900–1977), only person in both the Baseball Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame
Brandon Joyce (1984–2010), offensive lineman in the CFL and NFL
Terry Joyce (1954–2011), college football All-American and NFL punter
Howard Kindig (born 1941), defensive end, 10-year NFL career with the Chargers, Bills, Dolphins, and Jets
Ryan Lilja (born 1981), guard for the Kansas City Chiefs
Brandon Lloyd (born 1981), wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers
Jeremy Maclin (born 1988), wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles
Marvin McNutt (born 1989), wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles
Derlin Moore  (born 1952), end for the New Orleans Saints
Eric Moore (born 1965), guard with the Giants, Bengals, Browns and Dolphins
William Moore (born 1985), safety for the Atlanta Falcons
C. J. Mosley (born 1983), defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions
Eddie Moss (special teams), for the St. Louis Cardinals
Jim Musick (1910–1992), running back, Boston Redskins
Neil Rackers (born 1976), placekicker for the Houston Texans
Gijon Robinson (born 1984), tight end for the Indianapolis Colts
Martin Rucker (born 1985), tight end for the Dallas Cowboys
Mike Rucker (born 1975), defensive end for the Carolina Panthers
Aldon Smith (born 1989), linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers
Justin Smith (born 1979), defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers
James Wilder (born 1958), 10-year NFL career with the Buccaneers, Redskins, and the Lions
Brandon Williams (born 1989), nose tackle for the Baltimore Ravens
Gregg Williams (born 1958), NFL coach, defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams

Golf

Amy Alcott (born 1956), professional golfer, member of World Golf Hall of Fame
Brandel Chamblee (born 1962), golfer
Tom Pernice, Jr. (born 1959), PGA Tour member
Judy Rankin (born 1945), professional golfer, member of World Golf Hall of Fame
Payne Stewart (1957–1999), golfer
 Tom Watson (born 1949), Hall of Fame golfer, 8-time PGA Tour major champion

Ice hockey 

Ben Bishop (born 1986), NHL Ottawa Senators
Chris Butler (born 1986), NHL Calgary Flames
Michael Davies (born 1986), AHL Chicago Wolves
Cam Janssen (born 1984), NHL New Jersey Devils
Pat LaFontaine (born 1965), NHL Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, New York Rangers
Mike McKenna (born 1983), AHL Peoria Rivermen
Paul Stastny (born 1985), NHL Colorado Avalanche
Yan Stastny (born 1982), DEL Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers
Travis Turnbull (born 1986), DEL Dusseldorfer EG
Joe Vitale (born 1985), NHL Pittsburgh Penguins
Landon Wilson (born 1975), AHL Texas Stars

Professional wrestling

 Freddie Blassie (1918–2003), wrestler and manager
"Bulldog" Bob Brown (1938–1997), wrestler and booker
Bob Geigel (born 1924), retired wrestler, promoter, and former NWA President
Glenn Jacobs (born 1967), ring name "Kane"; also an actor
Rufus R. Jones (1933–1993), NWA wrestler and businessman
Matthew Korklan (born 1983), ring names "Matt Sydal" and "Evan Bourne"
Sam Muchnick (1905–1998), founder of St. Louis Wrestling Club and co-founder of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)
Trevor Murdoch (born 1978), WWE tag team champion
Matt Murphy (born 1979), wrestler and author
Barry Orton, wrestler
"Cowboy" Bob Orton (born 1950), wrestler and member of WWE Hall of Fame; father of Randy Orton
Randy Orton (born 1980), third-generation pro wrestler
Harley Race (born 1943), 8-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion; member of the WWE Hall of Fame, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
Lou Thesz (1916–2002), superstar of professional wrestling's "Golden Age"

Miscellaneous sports

 Virgil Akins (1928–2011), welterweight boxing champion
 Devon Alexander (born 1987), boxer, WBC and IBF Light Welterweight champion
 Henry Armstrong (1912–1988), boxer, (born in Mississippi but grew up in St. Louis)
 Butch Buchholz (born 1940), Hall of Fame tennis player
 Christian Cantwell (born 1980), Olympian, world champion shot putter
 Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls (born 1968), IFBB pro bodybuilder
 Dwight F. Davis (1879–1945), tennis player, founder of the Davis Cup
 Doris Hart (born 1925), Hall of Fame tennis player, winner of six Grand Slam singles titles
 Bud Houser (1901–1994), three-time Olympic gold medalist in shotput and discus
 Jack Jewsbury (born 1981), Major League Soccer player (Portland Timbers)
 Ben A. Jones (1882–1961), Thoroughbred horse trainer
 Horace A. "Jimmy" Jones (1906–2001), Thoroughbred horse trainer
 Lesa Lewis (born 1967), IFBB professional bodybuilder
 Conn McCreary (1921–1979), Hall of Fame jockey, winner of 1944 and 1951 Kentucky Derby
 Chuck McKinley (1941–1986), Hall of Fame tennis player, 1963 Wimbledon champion
 Helen Stephens (1918–1994), two-time gold medalist in track and field at 1936 Summer Olympics
 Alex White (born 1988), mixed martial artist

Aviation and aerospace

 Thomas Akers (born 1953), retired NASA astronaut; made four space shuttle flights
 Jimmie Angel (1899–1956), discoverer and namesake of Angel Falls in Venezuela, the world's tallest waterfall
 Melville W. Beardsley (1913–1998), aeronautical engineer who helped create the Hovercraft
 Janet Kavandi (born 1959), scientist and NASA astronaut on three Space Shuttle missions
 Bill Lear (1902–1978), founder of Lear Jet
 Charles Lindbergh (1902–1974), aviator first solo non-stop trans-Atlantic flight in 1927, (born in Detroit, Michigan but lived in St. Louis)
 James Smith McDonnell (1899–1980), founder of McDonnell Aircraft Corporation (later McDonnell Douglas), philanthropist

Business

 Roger E. Billings (born 1948), businessman and scientist; known for his pioneering work on hydrogen energy technologies
 William Henry Ashley (1778–1838), founder of Rocky Mountain Fur Company, politician
 Henry W. Bloch (born 1922), co-founder of H&R Block tax services
 Richard Bloch (1926–2004), co-founder of H&R Block tax services
 Adolphus Busch (1839–1913), founder of Anheuser-Busch (the world's largest brewer)
 William H. Danforth (1870–1955), founder of Ralston Purina Company
 John Doerr (born 1951), venture capitalist at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
 James Buchanan Eads (1820–1887), civil engineer and inventor
 Charles Eames (1907–1978), designer and architect
 David Glass (born 1935), former President and CEO of Wal-Mart, owner of Kansas City Royals baseball team
 Joyce Hall (1891–1982), founder of Hallmark Cards
 William Preston Hall (1864–1932), circus empresario and animal broker
 Howard R. Hughes, Sr. (1869–1924), oil drill bit and tool inventor; father of Howard Hughes, reclusive billionaire
 George M. Keller (1923–2008), chairman of Standard Oil Company of California in the 1980s
 R. Crosby Kemper Jr. (born 1927), chairman emeritus UMB Financial Corporation, philanthropist
 William Thornton Kemper, Sr. (1866–1938), patriarch of Kemper family railroad and banking empire which included Commerce Bancshares and United Missouri Bank
 Ewing Kauffman (1916–1993), pharmaceutical magnate, philanthropist and founder of the Kansas City Royals baseball team
 Rebecca Mark-Jusbasche (born 1954), former head of Enron International
 N. O. Nelson (1844–1922), founder of the N. O. Nelson Manufacturing Company
 Thomas F. O'Neil,  chairman of RKO General studios, brought movies to television
 J. C. Penney (1875–1971), businessman and entrepreneur
 Rex Sinquefield (born 1944), financial executive who created Standard & Poor's first index fund, supporter of conservative political causes
 John Sperling (1921–2014), businessman and founder of the University of Phoenix
 Gerard Swope (1872–1957), president of General Electric
 Jack C. Taylor (born 1923), founder of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, billionaire philanthropist
 Sam Walton (1918–1992), founder of Wal-Mart
 Robert E. Wood (1879–1969), vice-president of Sears Roebuck
 Peter Youree (1843–1914), businessman in Shreveport, Louisiana; built first skyscraper there

Criminals and outlaws

Anthony Brancato (1913–1951), freelance mafia gunman, half of "The Two Tonys" portrayed in the movie LA Confidential
 Ray and Faye Copeland (1914–1993, 1921–2003), serial killers, oldest couple ever sentenced to death in the United States
Egan's Rats, early crime family in St. Louis
Leo Vincent Brothers (1899–1950), low-level member; later moved to Chicago and became part of Al Capone's organization
Fred Burke (1893–1940), gunman for Egan's Rats; suspected of participating in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre
William "Dint" Colbeck (1890–1943), assumed leadership of Egan's Rats after the assassination of Willie Egan
Walter Costello (1889–1917), bodyguard to Willie Egan, killer of Harry Dunn
Harry "Cherries" Dunn (1892–1916)
Thomas Egan (1874–1919), organizer of Egan's Rats
Willie Egan (1884–1921), brother and right-hand man of gang founder Tom Egan; led the gang after Tom's death
Max Greenberg (1883–1933), one of the few Jewish members of the mostly Irish Egan gang; associate/friend of Meyer Lansky
Frank Hackethal (1891–1954), robber and resort owner/money launderer for Egan's Rats
Thomas "Snake" Kinney (1868–1912), Missouri State Senator and co-founder of Egan's Rats
David "Chippy" Robinson (1897–1967), bank robber and enforcer for Egan's Rats
William "Skippy" Rohan (1871–1916)
 Roy Gardner (1884–1940), arms smuggler and notorious 1920s bank robber
 Tom Horn (1860–1903), Old West lawman, army scout, outlaw and assassin
 Kansas City crime family
Charles Binaggio (1909–1950), killed along with Charles Gargotta at the First Ward Democratic Club in downtown Kansas City
Anthony Brancato (1913–1951)
William "Willie Rat" Cammisano (1914–1995), enforcer for the K.C. mob
Charles Carrollo (1902–1979), led the Kansas City mob after Johnny Lazia's assassination
Anthony Civella (1930–2006), led the K.C. crime family in the 1980s and 1990s; son of Carl Civella and nephew of Nicholas Civella
Carl "Cork" Civella (1910–1994), brother of Nicholas Civella and a top lieutenant in the crime family; father of Anthony Civella
Nicholas Civella (1912–1983), led the Kansas City crime family from the 1950s through the 1970s
Carl "Tuffy" DeLuna (1927–2008), underboss of the Kansas City crime family; brother-in-law of Anthony Civella
Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd (1904–1934), took part in the Union Station Massacre
Charles "Mad Dog" Gargotta (1900–1950), top enforcer of the KC crime family
Anthony Gizzo (1902–1953), led Kansas City crime family in the early 1950s
John Lazia (1896–1934), leader of the Kansas City crime family in the 1920s and early 1930s
 Kenneth Lay (1942–2006), chairman and CEO of Enron, convicted of securities fraud
 Little Britches (1879 – year of death unknown), female bandit associated with Cattle Annie and the Doolin gang
 James Earl Ray (1928–1998), assassin of civil rights leader Martin Luther King; escapee from the Missouri State Penitentiary
James-Younger Gang:
Frank James (1843–1915), outlaw
Jesse James (1847–1882), outlaw
Cole Younger (1844–1916), outlaw
John Younger, outlaw
Bob Younger, outlaw
Jim Younger, outlaw
Bob Ford, outlaw who gunned down Jesse James
Tom Pendergast (1873–1945), long-time political boss of Kansas City and western Missouri; responsible for the political rise of Harry S. Truman Imprisoned for tax evasion
St. Louis crime family
Anthony Giordano (1914–1980), leader of the St. Louis crime family in the 1960s and 1970s
Matthew Trupiano (1938–1997), nephew of Anthony Giordano, crime family boss in the 1980s
John Vitale (1909–1982), crime family boss in the early 1980s
Belle Starr (1848–1889), female outlaw of the Old West

Entertainment

Film, television and theater

A–C

 Goodman Ace (1899–1982), television writer, radio host and comedian
 Jane Ace (1897–1974), radio actress and host
 Zoë Akins (1886–1958), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, poet
 Robert Altman (1925–2006), film director, M*A*S*H, Nashville, Gosford Park
 Ed Asner (born 1929), Emmy Award-winning actor, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Lou Grant
 Scott Bakula (born 1954), actor, Quantum Leap and Star Trek: Enterprise
 Josephine Baker (1906–1975), dancer, singer, actress
 Tisha Terrasini Banker (born 1973), actress
 Ryan Michelle Bathe (born 1976), actress, Boston Legal, Army Wives, Retired at 35
 John Beal (1909–1997), actor Les Miserables, Amityville 3-D
 Gerry Becker (born 1951), actor
 Noah Beery (1882–1946), actor, The Mark of Zorro
 Wallace Beery (1885–1949), Oscar-winning actor, The Champ, Min and Bill
 Rob Benedict (born 1970), actor, Felicity, Head Case, Threshold
 Fred Berry (1951–2003), actor, What's Happening!!
 Linda Blair (born 1959), actress, The Exorcist, Airport 1975
 Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, screenwriter, Designing Women, Evening Shade
 Andrea Bogart (born 1977), actress, General Hospital
 Johnny Yong Bosch (born 1976), singer, actor, Eyeshine, Trigun, Power Rangers
 Jeff Branson (born 1977), actor
 Brent Briscoe (born 1961), actor, Yes Man, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Spider-Man 2
 Kent Broadhurst (born 1940), actor
 Norbert Leo Butz (born 1967), Tony Award-winning stage actor
 Morris Carnovsky (1897–1992), actor, Edge of Darkness, Dead Reckoning
 Conlan Carter (born 1934), actor, Combat!, The Law and Mr. Jones
 Don Cheadle (born 1964), actor, Hotel Rwanda, Traffic, Boogie Nights, The Rat Pack
 Anthony Cistaro (born 1963), actor, Charmed, Witchblade
 Sarah Clarke (born 1972), actress, Nina Myers on 24
 Lynn Cohen, actress, Law & Order, Sex and the City
 Frank Converse (born 1938), actor, Movin' On, N.Y.P.D.
 Chris Cooper (born 1951), Oscar-winning actor, Lonesome Dove, The Bourne Identity, American Beauty, The Muppets
 Joan Crawford (1905–1977), Oscar-winning actress, Mildred Pierce
 Greg Cromer (born 1971), actor
 Robert Cummings (1908–1990), actor, Kings Row, Saboteur, Dial M for Murder

D–G

 Erin Daniels (born 1973), actress, The L Word
 Don S. Davis (1942–2008), actor, Stargate SG-1, Twin Peaks
 Kurt Deutsch, actor, Models Inc.
 Walt Disney (1901–1966), iconic film and television producer, studio mogul, director, screenwriter, voice actor and animator
 Dale Dye (born 1944), actor, Saving Private Ryan, Mission: Impossible, Band of Brothers
 Cliff Edwards (1895–1971), actor, musician; the voice of Jiminy Cricket
 Jenna Fischer (born 1974), actress, The Office, Hall Pass, Blades of Glory
 Henderson Forsythe (1917–2006), actor, As the World Turns
 James Franciscus (1934–1991), actor, Mr. Novak, Naked City, Longstreet
 Phyllis Fraser (1915–2006), actress, journalist, children's book publisher, wife of Bennett Cerf and Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
 Friz Freleng (1905–1995), film producer, director, screenwriter, and animator, Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies
 Bob Gale (born 1951), screenwriter, the Back to the Future trilogy
 Betty Garrett (1919–2011), actress, On the Town, Laverne & Shirley
 Heather Goldenhersh (born 1973), actress, The Class, School of Rock
 John Goodman (born 1952), actor, Roseanne, The Babe, Barton Fink, Oh Brother Where Art Thou, Monuments Men
 Lucas Grabeel (born 1984), actor, High School Musical, Milk
 Betty Grable (1916–1973), actress, singer and World War II pin-up girl
Bryan Greenberg (born 1978), actor, musician, One Tree Hill, October Road, How to Make It in America
 Dabbs Greer (1917–2007), actor, Little House on the Prairie, Gunsmoke, Picket Fences
 Eddie Griffin (born 1968), actor, comedian, Undercover Brother, Norbit
 Davis Guggenheim (born 1963), director, producer
 Robert Guillaume (born 1927), actor, Benson, The Lion King, Sports Night
 James Gunn (born 1970), film director and screenwriter
 Sean Gunn (born 1974), actor, Gilmore Girls, October Road
 Moses Gunn (1929–1993), actor, Father Murphy, The Cowboys, A Man Called Hawk

H–M

 Jon Hamm (born 1971), actor, Mad Men, The Town, Million Dollar Arm
 Jean Harlow (1911–1937), actress and sex symbol
 George Hearn (born 1934), actor, primarily Broadway and musical theatre
 George Hickenlooper (1965–2010), documentary filmmaker, Hearts of Darkness, Dogtown
 Dennis Hopper (1936–2010), actor, filmmaker, artist, Easy Rider, Apocalypse Now, Hoosiers
 Arliss Howard (born 1954), actor, writer and director, Full Metal Jacket, Wilder Napalm, Moneyball
 Rupert Hughes (1872–1956), film director, composer; uncle of reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes
 John Huston (1906–1987), actor and Oscar-winning film director, The Maltese Falcon, Key Largo, The African Queen
 Don Johnson (born 1949), actor, Miami Vice, Nash Bridges, Django Unchained
 Jay Johnson (born 1977), actor The Young and the Restless, Scrubs
 Janet Jones (born 1961), actress, dancer, wife of hockey's Wayne Gretzky
 Neal Jones (born 1960), actor, Dirty Dancing, G.I. Jane
 Brenda Joyce (1917–2009), actress, Little Tokyo, U.S.A., Tarzan movies in the 1940s
 Andreas Katsulas (1946–2006), actor, Babylon 5, Star Trek: The Next Generation
 Ellie Kemper (born 1980), actress The Office
 Edward Kerr (born 1966), actor, seaQuest DSV, What I Like About You
 Lincoln Kilpatrick (1932–2004), actor
 Kevin Kline (born 1947), Oscar-winning actor, Sophie's Choice, The Big Chill, A Fish Called Wanda, Last Vegas
 Evalyn Knapp (1906–1981), actress, Perils of Pauline
 David Koechner (born 1962), actor and comedian, Saturday Night Live, Anchorman
 Kasi Lemmons (born 1961), actress and director, Eve's Bayou, Talk to Me
 Angela Lindvall (born 1979), actress
 Mark Linn-Baker (born 1954), actor, My Favorite Year, Larry Appleton on Perfect Strangers
 Marsha Mason (born 1942), actress, Sibs, The Goodbye Girl, Only When I Laugh, Frasier
 Michael Massee (born 1955), actor, 24, Seven, The Crow,
 Wendell Mayes (1919–1992), screenwriter, The Spirit of St. Louis, North to Alaska, Von Ryan's Express
 Virginia Mayo (1920–2005), actress, The Best Years of Our Lives, White Heat
 Edie McClurg (born 1951), actress, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, 7th Heaven
 Frank McGrath (1903–1967), actor, Wagon Train
 Steve McQueen (1930–1980), actor, The Sand Pebbles, The Great Escape, The Towering Inferno, Bullitt
 John Milius (born 1944), screenwriter, director, producer, Red Dawn, The Hunt for Red October, Conan the Barbarian
 Mircea Monroe, actress, model, Cellular, Episodes

N–Z

 Dustin Nguyen (born 1962), actor, 21 Jump Street, V.I.P.
 Eva Novak (1898–1988), actress of the silent film era, The King of the Kitchen
 Jane Novak (1896–1990), actress of the silent film era, Treat'Em Rough, Redskin
 Dan O'Bannon (born 1946), film director and screenwriter, Heavy Metal, Total Recall
 Denis O'Hare (born 1962), actor, Brothers & Sisters, Sweet Charity, True Blood
 Kevin O'Morrison (born 1916), actor and playwright
 Timothy Omundson (born 1969), actor, Psych, Judging Amy
 Holmes Osborne (born 1947), actor
 Diana Ossana, screenwriter, Brokeback Mountain, Pretty Boy Floyd
 Geraldine Page (1924–1987), Oscar-winning actress, Summer and Smoke, Sweet Bird of Youth, The Trip to Bountiful
 Carlos Pena, Jr. (born 1989), actor, singer, and dancer, Big Time Rush
 Evan Peters (born 1987), actor, American Horror Story, Invasion, Kick-Ass
 Julie Piekarski (born 1963), actress, The Facts of Life
 Brad Pitt (born 1963), actor and producer, Thelma & Louise, 12 Monkeys, Seven, Moneyball, World War Z
 William Powell (1892–1984), actor, The Thin Man, Life with Father, My Man Godfrey
 Vincent Price (1911–1993), actor, Laura, House of Wax, The Ten Commandments, The Fly
 Sally Rand (1904–1979), burlesque dancer, actress
 Leonard Roberts (born 1972), actor, Heroes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
 Ginger Rogers (1911–1995), Oscar-winning actress, dance partner of Fred Astaire
 Sol Smith Russell (1848–1902), 19th Century stage actor
 Phyllis Smith (born 1951), actress, The Office
 Kelly Stables (born 1978), actress, The Exes, W.I.T.C.H., Two and a Half Men
 Craig Stevens (1918–2000), actor, State Trooper, Peter Gunn
 Christian Stolte (born 1962), actor, Prison Break
 Skyler Stone (born 1979), actor, Raising Hope, The Island
 Betty Thomas (born 1948), actress and director, Hill Street Blues, The Brady Bunch Movie, Dr. Dolittle, Private Parts
 Kay Thompson (1909–1998), actress, Funny Face
 William Traylor (1930–1989), actor Fletch, and founder of The Loft Studio/acting school
 Kathleen Turner (born 1954), actress, Body Heat, Romancing the Stone, Prizzi's Honor
 Stephen Barker Turner (born 1968), actor
 Dick Van Dyke (born 1925), actor, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Poppins, Diagnosis: Murder
 Jerry Van Dyke (born 1931), actor, Coach, McLintock!, The Courtship of Eddie's Father
 Jack Wagner (born 1959), actor/singer Melrose Place, General Hospital
 Dennis Weaver (1924–2006), actor, Gunsmoke, McCloud
 Jason Wiles (born 1970), actor, Third Watch, Persons Unknown
 Mykelti Williamson (born 1960), actor, Forrest Gump, Con Air, 24, Midnight Caller
 Jane Wyman (1914–2007), Oscar-winning actress; former wife of Ronald Reagan

Comedians

 Cedric The Entertainer (born 1964), actor, comedian
 Redd Foxx (1922–1991), comedian, starred in Sanford and Son
 Dick Gregory (born 1932), comedian, social activist
 Craig Kilborn (born 1962), comedian, actor, former talk show host
 Kathleen Madigan (born 1965), comedienne
 Kevin Nealon (born 1953), actor, comedian
 Randy and Jason Sklar (born 1972), identical twin comedians, hosts of ESPN Classic's Cheap Seats
 Guy Torry (born 1969), actor, comedian
 Joe Torry (born 1965), actor, comedian

Cartoonists

 Ralph Barton (1891–1931), cartoonist
 George Booth (born 1926), cartoonist for The New Yorker
 Teresa Burritt  (born 1916), cartoonist, Frog Applause, Shoecabbage
 Lee Falk (1911–1999), cartoonist, The Phantom, Mandrake the Magician
 Al Hirschfeld (1903–2003), caricaturist and cartoonist known for drawing celebrities
 Fred Lasswell (1916–2001), cartoonist, Barney Google and Snuffy Smith
 Glenn McCoy (born 1965), cartoonist, The Duplex, The Flying McCoys
 George McManus (1884–1954), cartoonist, Maggie and Jiggs
 Mike Peters (born 1943), cartoonist, Mother Goose & Grimm
 Dan Piraro (born 1958), cartoonist, Bizarro
 Mort Walker (born 1923-2018), cartoonist, Beetle Bailey

Magicians and mentalists

 Morgan Strebler (born 1976), magician and mentalist; Las Vegas award-winning performer

Music

Bluegrass and country

 Lennie Aleshire (1890–1987), country-bluegrass pioneer and vaudeville act
 Helen Cornelius (born 1941), country singer best known for duets with Jim Ed Brown
 Rusty Draper (1923–2003), country and rockabilly singer/guitarist
 Sara Evans (born 1971), country music star
 Tyler Farr, country music singer and songwriter
 Bob Ferguson (music) (1927–2001), country music songwriter and producer
 John Hartford (1937–2001), country and bluegrass music composer and performer
 Ferlin Husky (1925–2011), singer and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame
 Brett James, country music singer-songwriter and record producer
 The Kendalls, Grammy-winning country duo from the 1970s and 1980s
 Tom Shapiro, country music songwriter and record producer
 Tate Stevens, country music singer and 2012 winner of The X Factor
 Wynn Stewart (1934–1985), country music singer, progenitor of the Bakersfield sound
 Jamie Teachenor (born 1980), country and rock singer-songwriter, musician and record producer
 Trent Tomlinson (born 1975), country singer-songwriter
 Leroy Van Dyke (born 1929), country singer best known for "The Auctioneer" and "Walk on By"
 Darrin Vincent (born 1970), half of the Grammy-nominated bluegrass group Dailey & Vincent; record producer
 Rhonda Vincent (born 1962), bluegrass singer and musician, seven-time IMBA Female Vocalist of the Year
 Porter Wagoner (1927–2007), Grand Ole Opry member and Country Music Hall of Famer

Jazz 

 Oleta Adams (born 1953), soul, jazz and gospel singer
 Ahmad Alaadeen (born 1934), jazz saxophonist and composer
 Norman Brown (born 1970), smooth jazz musician
 Jimmy Forrest (1920–1980), jazz tenor saxophonist
 Coleman Hawkins (1904–1969), jazz tenor saxophonist
 Bob James (born 1939), smooth jazz musician
 Scott Joplin (1867–1917), ragtime musician and composer
 Pat Metheny (born 1954), jazz guitarist and musician
 Lennie Niehaus (born 1929), alto saxophonist, arranger, and composer
 Charlie "Bird" Parker (1920–1955), jazz saxophonist and composer
 David Sanborn (born 1945), smooth jazz musician
 Wilbur Sweatman (1882–1961), Dixieland jazz and ragtime composer and bandleader
 Clark Terry (1920–2015), swing and bebop trumpet and flugelhorn player

Rhythm & blues, pop, rap and hip-hop 

 Akon (born 1977), rhythm and blues musician, music producer
 Fontella Bass (1940–2012), singer best known for 1965 hit Rescue Me
 Basement Beats, multi-platinum Grammy Award-winning production team
 Chingy (born 1980), rapper, actor
 Eminem (born 1972), rap musician, grew up partly in St. Joseph
 Nelly (born 1974), rap musician, (born in Texas and raised in St. Louis)
 David Peaston (1957–2012), R&B and Gospel singer
 St. Lunatics, hip hop, best known for collaborations with Nelly
 Tech N9ne (born 1971), rapper
 Kimberly Wyatt, singer and dancer, Pussycat Dolls

Rock & roll 

 Chuck Berry (born 1926), musician in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
 The Bottle Rockets (formed 1992), rock, alt-country, roots rock
 T Bone Burnett (born 1948), musician, songwriter, and soundtrack and record producer
 Cavo, hard rock band (formed in St. Louis)
 David Cook (born 1982), 2008 American Idol winner from Blue Springs
 Sheryl Crow (born 1962), Grammy-winning singer-songwriter
 Gravity Kills, industrial rock band, formed in Jefferson City
 Johnnie Johnson (1924–2005), early rock & roll and blues piano player; member of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
 King's X, hard rock, progressive metal band, formed in Springfield
 Michael McDonald (born 1952), singer, former Doobie Brothers frontman
 Missouri, band known for classic rock song "Movin' On", formed in Kansas City
 Ozark Mountain Daredevils, rock band known for hits "Jackie Blue" and "If You Wanna Get To Heaven", formed in Springfield
 Louise Post, founder, lead singer and guitarist of alternative rock band Veruca Salt
 Puddle of Mudd, rock band, formed in Kansas City
 The Rainmakers, rock band, formed in Kansas City
 Jay Reatard (1980–2010), garage punk musician, born in Lilbourn
 Wes Scantlin (born 1972), lead singer and guitarist of post-grunge band Puddle of Mudd
 Shooting Star, 1970s and 1980s rock band, from Kansas City
 Story of the Year, emo rock band, formed in St. Louis
 The Urge, rock band, formed in St. Louis
 Bob Walkenhorst, founder and lead singer of alternative rock band The Rainmakers
 Steve Walsh (born 1951), lead vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist for the progressive rock group Kansas and Streets

Miscellaneous other music 

 Doris Akers (1923–1995), gospel music singer and composer
 Martha Bass (1921–1998), gospel singer with the Clara Ward Singers and solo career
 Burt Bacharach (born 1928), pianist, composer
 Neal E. Boyd (born 1975), opera vocalist, winner of 2008 America's Got Talent competition
 Grace Bumbry (born 1937), opera soprano
 Sarah Caldwell (1924–2006), opera conductor
 Sara Groves (born 1972), Contemporary Christian singer, record producer, and author
 Dan Landrum (born 1961), hammer dulcimer player, featured instrumentalist with Yanni
 Basil Poledouris (1945–2006), film soundtrack composer
 H. Owen Reed (born 1910), composer and conductor
 Willie Mae Ford Smith (1904–1994), Gospel singer

Radio and television

 Bob Barker (born 1923), television game show host
 Jim Bohannon (born 1944), radio talk show host
 Rush Limbaugh (born 1951), political commentator
 Dana Loesch (born 1978), radio talk show host and editor-in-chief of Andrew Breitbart's Big Journalism
 Melanie Morgan (born 1956), radio personality with KSFO in San Francisco
 "Mancow" Muller (born 1966), radio and TV personality, Mancow's Morning Madhouse
 Marlin Perkins (1905–1986), zoologist and host of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom
 April Scott (born 1979), model, Deal or No Deal and SOAPnet's Soap Talk

Beauty pageant titleholders

 Debbye Turner (born 1965), Miss America 1990
 Shandi Finnessey (born 1978), Miss USA 2004

Journalism

 Jabari Asim (born 1962), author, journalist
 Joe Buck (born 1969), sportscaster for Fox Sports
 Harry Caray (1914–1998), Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster
 Walter Cronkite (1916–2009), television journalist
 Walker Evans (1903–1975), photojournalist best known for photos taken during the Great Depression
 Joe Garagiola, Sr. (born 1926), MLB catcher, baseball broadcaster, and television host (The Today Show)
 Dave Garroway (1913–1982), first host of NBC's Today show
 Michael Kim (born 1964), sports broadcaster for ESPN
 Carol Platt Liebau, attorney, political analyst and social conservative commentator
 Mary Margaret McBride (1899–1976), female radio pioneer
 Dan McLaughlin (born 1974), sportscaster for Fox Sports Midwest
 Russ Mitchell (born 1960), TV journalist, CBS Evening News
 Lisa Myers (born 1951), TV journalist, NBC Nightly News
 Stone Phillips (born 1954), TV journalist, Dateline NBC
 Joseph Pulitzer (1847–1911), Hungarian journalist, creator of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Pulitzer Prize
 Howard Rushmore (1913–1958), journalist for The Daily Worker, New York Journal-American and Confidential magazine

Military

 William T. Anderson (1838–1864), a.k.a. "Bloody Bill" Anderson; Confederate guerrilla leader in the Civil War
 Charles D. Barger (1892–1936), earned the Medal of Honor in World War I
 John L. Barkley (1895–1966), earned the Medal of Honor in World War I
 Frederick Benteen (1834–1898), best known for role under George Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
 Omar Bradley (1893–1981), World War II general, from Clark, Missouri
 Robert Coontz (1864–1935), US Navy Admiral, former Chief of Naval Operations
 John V. Cox (born 1930), United States Marine Corps Major General; flew over 200 combat missions during the Vietnam War
 Enoch Crowder (1859–1932), US Army General and reformer of military justice system
 Randall "Duke" Cunningham, only U.S. Navy Ace in the Vietnam War; later a U.S. Congressman from California
 James Phillip Fleming (born 1943), USAF pilot; awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the Vietnam War
 John C. Fremont (1813–1890), Western explorer; Union Civil War general; first Republican candidate for U.S. President
 Frederick Dent Grant (1850–1912), U.S. Army Major General and diplomat; son of U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant
 Martin E. Green (1815–1863), Confederate Army Brigadier General; killed at Siege of Vicksburg
 John McNeil (1813–1891), Union Army brigadier general during the American Civil War; known as "The Butcher of Palmyra"
 Wayne E. Meyer (1926–2009), U.S. Navy Rear Admiral; "father of the Aegis weapons system"
 David Moore (1817–1893), Mexican–American War officer and Union Civil War Brigadier General
 John Henry Parker (1866–1942), "Gatling Gun Parker"; hero in the Spanish–American War; only U.S. soldier to be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross four times in World War I
 Floyd B. Parks (1911–1942), U.S. Marine aviator who earned the Navy Cross posthumously for his actions leading Marine fighter squadron VMF-221 during the Battle of Midway
 John J. Pershing (1860–1948), soldier, General of the Armies; born in Laclede, Missouri
 Sterling Price, Confederate States Army, General of the Missouri State Guard during the Civil War
 William Quantrill (1837–1865), Confederate guerrilla leader (Quantrill's Raiders) in the Civil War
 John H. Quick (1870–1922), U.S. Marine awarded the Medal of Honor in the Spanish–American War, awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Cross in World War I
 James E. Rieger (1874–1951), Colonel Mo. National Guard; awarded Distinguished Service Cross and Croix de guerre in World War I
 Roscoe Robinson, U.S. Army General
 Maxwell D. Taylor (1901–1987), U.S. Army General, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
 Stephen W. Thompson (1894–1977), first U.S. military pilot to ever shoot down an enemy in aerial combat (1918)
 George Allison Whiteman (1919–1941), the first United States Army Air Corps pilot killed in World War II; awarded the Silver Star posthumously for after being shot down in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
 Arthur L. Willard (1870–1935), United States Navy Vice Admiral, winner of Navy Cross, French Legion of Honor, and Belgian Order of Leopold; first man to plant American flag on Cuban soil in the Spanish–American War

Miscellaneous famous Missourians 

 William Becknell (1787–1856), soldier, businessman, founder of the Santa Fe Trail
 Johnny Behan (1844–1912), sheriff of Tombstone, Arizona, during the gunfight at the O.K. Corral
 Susan Blow (1843–1916), educator, "the mother of kindergarten"
 Calamity Jane (c. 1852–1903), Indian fighter and frontierswoman
 Dale Carnegie (1888–1955), public and motivational speaker
 Timothy M. Dolan (born 1950), Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and Archbishop of New York
 Ella Ewing (1872–1913), "The Missouri Giantess", world's tallest woman (of her era)
 Bobby Greenlease (1947–1953), kidnap-murder victim in case that drew national attention
 Raelynn Hillhouse, national security and intelligence community analyst, Cold War smuggler, spy novelist
 Mary Ranken Jordan (1869–1962), philanthropist and community advocate
 Emmett Kelly (1898–1979), circus clown
 Karlie Kloss (born 1992), model and ballet dancer
 Carrie Nation (1846–1911), advocate for the temperance movement
 Rose O'Neill (1874–1944), author, illustrator and creator of the Kewpie doll
 Phyllis Schlafly (born 1924), conservative political activist and author
 Dred Scott, slave and litigant in U.S. Supreme Court Dred Scott Decision
 George Thampy (born 1987), Scripps National Spelling Bee champion 2000, staff member 2006
 Faye Wattleton (born 1943), feminist activist
 Roy Wilkins (1901–1981), civil rights activist

Public office

A–K

 Orland K. Armstrong (1893–1987), U.S. Representative, journalist and social activist
 John Ashcroft (born 1942), governor of Missouri (1985–1993), U.S. Senator from Missouri (1995–2001), United States Attorney General (2001–2005)
 Thomas Hart Benton (1782–1858), U.S. Senator
 Richard P. Bland (1835–1899), U.S. Representative for 23 years, Democratic candidate for U.S. President in 1896
 Roy Blunt (born 1950), seven-term U.S. Representative for Missouri's 7th congressional district; House Minority Whip, U.S. Senator
 Christopher S. "Kit" Bond (born 1939), Governor, U.S. Senator of Missouri
 Leonard Boswell (born 1934), U.S. Representative for Iowa's 3rd congressional district
 Bill Bradley (born 1943), U.S. Senator for New Jersey, NBA Hall of Famer; born and reared in Missouri
 Karilyn Brown (born c. 1947), member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Pulaski County; born in Cape Girardeau
 Clarence Cannon (1879–1964), U.S. Representative 1923–1964, House Appropriations Committee chairman
 Albert Sidney Johnson Carnahan (1897–1968), US Representative, US Ambassador to Sierra Leone; father of Governor Mel Carnahan
 Jean Carnahan (born 1933), first Missouri woman to become a U.S. Senator, matriarch of Carnahan political family
 Mel Carnahan (1924–2000), governor, posthumous US Senator (died in plane crash three weeks before he was elected),  patriarch of Carnahan political family
 Robin Carnahan (born 1961), Missouri Secretary of State
 Russ Carnahan (born 1958), US House of Representatives
 Steven Chu (born 1948), U.S. Secretary of Energy
 John Danforth (born 1936), U.S. Senator and United States Ambassador to the United Nations
 Thomas Eagleton (1929–2007), U.S. Senator from Missouri (1968–1987); 1972 Democratic Vice Presidential nominee
 Josh Earnest (born 1977), White House Press Secretary to President Barack Obama
 David R. Francis (1850–1927), U.S. Secretary of the Interior (1896–1897), U.S. Ambassador to Russia (1916–1917)
 J. William Fulbright (1905–1995), U.S. Senator, established the Fulbright Fellowships
 Dick Gephardt (born 1941), U.S. Representative from Missouri's 3rd congressional district (1977–2005); Democratic House Majority Leader (1989–1995); candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in the 2004 election
 Michael Gerson (born 1964), chief speechwriter for George W. Bush (2001–2006)
 Ulysses S. Grant, President of the United States (1869–1877)
 Michael Harrington (1928–1989), founder Democratic Socialists of America
 Alphonso Jackson (born 1945), 13th U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
 James Jones (born 1943), U.S. National Security Advisor under Barack Obama and retired USMC four-star general

L–Z

 Jerry Litton (1937–1976), two-term U.S. Representative; Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1976; killed in plane crash before general election
 Breckinridge Long (1881–1958), U.S. Ambassador to Italy and Assistant United States Secretary of State under President Franklin D. Roosevelt
 Claire McCaskill, State Auditor of Missouri (1999–2007); U.S. Senator (2007–); first woman elected U.S. senator from Missouri
 James Benton Parsons (1911–1993), federal judge
 Clarke Reed (born 1928), Mississippi Republican state chairman, 1966 to 1976; instrumental in the nomination of Gerald R. Ford, Jr. at the 1976 Republican National Convention; reared in Caruthersville, Missouri, and attended the University of Missouri
 Nellie Tayloe Ross (1876–1977), governor of Wyoming (1925–1927); director of the United States Mint (1933–1953); first woman to serve as a state governor
 Jeanne Shaheen (born 1947), U.S. Senator for New Hampshire
 Ike Skelton (born 1931), U.S. Congressman for the Missouri 4th District (1977–2011), chairman U.S. House Armed Services Committee
 Stuart Symington, first Air Force Secretary and U.S. Senator from Missouri
 Larry Thompson (born 1945), United States Deputy Attorney General under George W. Bush
 Harry S. Truman (1884–1972), President of the United States
 George Turner (1850–1932), U.S. Senator and international arbitrator
 David King Udall (1851–1938), served in Arizona Legislature, progenitor of the Udall political family
 Harold Volkmer (1931–2011), 20-year member of U.S. House of Representatives for northeast Missouri
 Jim Webb (born 1946), U.S. Senator for Virginia and United States Secretary of the Navy
 Pete Wilson (born 1933), mayor of San Diego, 36th Governor of California, U.S. Senator (1983–1991)
 Robert Coldwell Wood (1923–2005), Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Lyndon B. Johnson

Science and medicine

 William F. Baker (born 1953), structural engineer
 Jean Bartik (1924–2011), early computer programmer and designer
 Gordon Bell (born 1934), computer engineer and microcomputer pioneer
 Herbert Blumer (1900–1987), sociologist, developer of symbolic interactionism
 Martin Stanislaus Brennan (1845–1927), scientist and priest
 George Washington Carver (c. 1864–1943), botanist
 Charles Stark Draper (1901–1987), inventor
 David F. Duncan (born 1947), psychologist and epidemiologist
 Meta Given (1888–1981), home economist scientist, dietician, author
 Edward T. Hall (1914–2009), anthropologist and cross-cultural researcher
 Edwin Hubble (1889–1953), astronomer
 Harry Laughlin (1880–1943), eugenicist
 Mark Johnson (born 1949), philosopher
 Virginia Eshelman Johnson (born 1925), psychology researcher
 Jack Kilby (1923–2005), inventor of the integrated circuit
 Pauline Gracia Beery Mack (1891–1974), chemist
 Ernest Manheim (1900–2002), sociologist
 William Howell Masters (1915–2001), gynecologist
 Richard Smalley (1943–2005), Nobel Prize-winning chemist, discovered buckminsterfullerene
 Harlow Shapley (1885–1972), astronomer
 William Jasper Spillman (1863–1931), plant geneticist, a founder of agricultural economics
 Lewis Stadler (1896–1954), aka L.J. Stadler, maize geneticist
 Andrew Taylor Still (1828–1917), physician and founder of osteopathic medicine
 Norbert Wiener (1894–1964), mathematician

Related pages

 List of people from Columbia, Missouri
 List of people from Kansas City, Missouri
 List of people from Sedalia, Missouri
 List of people from Springfield, Missouri
 List of people from St. Joseph, Missouri
 List of people from St. Louis

References