List of people from Colorado

This is a list of people from the state of Colorado, whether they lived, were born, or were raised there.
Coloradans have been prominent in many fields, including literature, entertainment, art, music, politics, and business. This list attempts to maintain biographical notability of significant Coloradans, and to organize historically important men and women hailing from Colorado.
Actors
Amy Adams (raised in Castle Rock, alumna of Douglas County High School) - actress, nominated five times for an Academy Award for performances in Junebug, Doubt, The Fighter, The Master and American Hustle
Tim Allen (born in Denver) - film and television actor, comedian, winner of a Golden Globe Award (1993, nominated six times); star of The Santa Clause and the television series Home Improvement and Last Man Standing
Baby Marie (real name Marie Osborne; born in Denver) - film actress and costumer, starred in numerous silent films as a child
Roseanne Barr (lived in Denver) - film and television actress, comedian; winner of a Golden Globe Award (1993, nominated five times), and a Primetime Emmy Award (1993, nominated four times); starred in Roseanne and was host of The Roseanne Show
Earl W. Bascom (cowboyed in Northwest Colorado) - film and television actor in Hollywood western The Lawless Rider and in television commercials with Roy Rogers
Jessica Biel (lived in Boulder) - film and television actress, starred in 7th Heaven
Kelly Bishop (born in Colorado Springs; raised in Denver) - film and television actress, played Emily Gilmore on Gilmore Girls
Michael Boatman (born in Colorado Springs) - film and television actor, co-starred in such TV shows as Spin City, China Beach, Arliss
Sierra Boggess (born in Denver) - actress and singer, a Laurence Olivier Award and Drama Desk Award nominated Broadway and West End soprano; originated parts of Christine Daae in Love Never Dies and Ariel in The Little Mermaid, starred in The Phantom of the Operas 25th anniversary performance
Tom Bower (born in Denver) - film and television actor, played Dr. Curtis Willard on The Waltons
Jason Brooks (born in Colorado Springs) - film and television actor, played Sean Monroe on Baywatch Hawaii and Peter Blake on Days of Our Lives
Zachery Ty Bryan (born in Aurora) - film and television actor, starred in Home Improvement
Matthew Carey (born in Denver) - film and television actor
Mary Jo Catlett (born in Denver) - film and television actress, played Pearl Gallagher, the housekeeper, on Diff'rent Strokes and does the voice of Mrs. Puff on SpongeBob SquarePants
Kristin Cavallari (born in Denver) - reality television personality and actress best known for appearing in MTV's Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County and The Hills
Lon Chaney (born in Colorado Springs) - actor in films of 1910s and 1920s
Beth Chapman (born 1967 Denver) - bounty hunter and television personality
Duane "Dog" Chapman (born 1953 in Denver) - bounty hunter and television personality
"Baby" Lyssa Chapman (born 1987 Denver) - bounty hunter and television personality
Don Cheadle (alumnus of East High School) - actor, Academy Award nominee and two-time Golden Globe Award winner, four-time Emmy Award nominee; known for films such as Boogie Nights, Hotel Rwanda, Ocean's Eleven, The Rat Pack and Iron Man 2
Ken Curtis (born in Las Animas, Colorado attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs) - actor, musician; starred in TV series Gunsmoke and western film The Searchers
Pat Day (born in Brush, Colorado) - Hall of Fame jockey, winner of 1992 Kentucky Derby
Brian Dietzen (lived in Boulder; attended University of Colorado Boulder) - actor, co-star of NCIS as the young Dr. Jimmy Palmer
Thomas Doerr (lives in Boulder, Colorado) - architect, author, and educator at the University of Colorado Boulder
Big Jack Earle (born in Denver) - silent film actor, sideshow performer and tall man
Ralph Edwards (born in Merino) - television host and producer known for This Is Your Life and Truth or Consequences
Chris Eigeman (born in Denver) - actor best known for Whit Stillman films Metropolitan, Barcelona, and The Last Days of Disco; starred in ABC's It's Like, You Know... and played Jason Stiles on Gilmore Girls
Douglas Fairbanks (born in Denver, attended East High School and the Colorado School of Mines) - film actor, first president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (1927-1929), posthumous winner of an honorary Academy Award (1940) and star of numerous films during the 1910s and 1920s
David Fincher (born in Denver) - director of such films as Zodiac, Fight Club, Seven and Gone Girl
Joel Geist (born in Denver) - film and television actor
Pam Grier (attended East High School in Denver) - actress, known for roles in Foxy Brown and Jackie Brown
Devon Gummersall (born in Durango) - film television actor, played Brian Krakow on ABC's teen drama My So-Called Life
Michael "Ffish" Hemschoot (born in Parker) - director, animator and visual effects artist in films
Kelo Henderson (born in Pueblo) - co-starred in 1957-1959 syndicated western television series 26 Men, based on case files of Arizona Rangers law-enforcement team
Neil Hopkins (lived in Aurora; attended Regis Jesuit High School) - film and television actor
Steve Howey (lived in Lakewood); attended Green Mountain High School - film and television actor, played Van on Reba television show and has been in various films, including Bride Wars
Olin Howland (born in Denver) - film and television actor
Daniel Junge (lives in Denver) - Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker
Brandy Ledford (born in Denver) - actress, model, former Penthouse Pet of the Year; played Dawn Masterton on Baywatch and Doyle on Andromeda.
Sheryl Lee (grew up in Boulder, alumna of Fairview High School) - film and television actress, played Laura Palmer and Maddy Ferguson on Twin Peaks and Dr. Sarah Church on L.A. Doctors
Jake Lloyd (born in Fort Collins) - film actor, played young Anakin Skywalker on Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Scott Lowell (born in Denver) - film and television actor, starred in Queer as Folk
Hattie McDaniel (lived in Fort Collins and Denver, attended East High School) - film and television actress, winner of an Academy Award (1940) for Gone with the Wind
T. J. Miller (born in Denver) - actor and stand-up comedian, voice of Tuffnut in How to Train Your Dragon and Ranger Jones in Yogi Bear, played Hud in Cloverfield
Bill Murray (attended Regis University in Denver) - film and television actor, comedian, starred in Saturday Night Live, Ghostbusters, Caddyshack, Rushmore, and Lost in Translation
Tracey Needham (grew up in Denver) - film and television actress, appeared as Paige Thatcher on Life Goes On, Lt. Meg Austin on JAG, and as Inspector Candace "C. D." DeLorenzo on The Division
Cyrus Nowrasteh (born in Boulder) - screenwriter and director for theatrical films, television films and shows; notable works include the miniseries The Path to 9/11, the drama The Stoning of Soraya M., and the television film The Day Reagan Was Shot
Peter O'Fallon (born in Denver) - film and television director, created NBC sci-fi/drama series Mysterious Ways, directed such films as Suicide Kings and A Rumor of Angels
Trey Parker (born in Conifer, alumnus of Evergreen High School, attended University of Colorado Boulder) - actor, animator, director, producer, musician, screenwriter; nominated for an Academy Award (2000) and winner of two Emmy Awards (2005 and 2007, nominated seven times); co-creator of South Park
Antoinette Perry (born in Denver) - stage actress and director, co-founder of the American Theatre Wing, posthumous namesake of the Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, better known as the Tony Awards
Amanda Peterson (born in 1971 in Greeley) - film and television actress, starred in Can't Buy Me Love
Cassandra Peterson (also known as Elvira; lived in Colorado Springs, alumna of Palmer High School) - film and television actress, starred in Elvira, Mistress of the Dark
Joseph C. Phillips (born in Denver) - actor, played Lt. Martin Kendall on The Cosby Show
Denver Pyle (born in Bethune) - actor, played Uncle Jesse in The Dukes of Hazzard
Brandon Quinn (born in Aurora) - actor, starred as Tommy Dawkins in Big Wolf on Campus Kristen Renton (born in Denver) - actress, played Morgan Hollingsworth on Days of Our Lives AnnaSophia Robb (born and lives in Denver) - film and television actress, starred in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Bridge to Terabithia Mark Roberts (born in Denver) - actor who appeared in over 100 films
Karly Rothenberg (born in Denver) - film and television actress
Kristen Schaal (born in Longmont) - actress and comedienne, played Mel on Flight of the Conchords and Louise on Bob's Burgers Charity Shea (born in Denver) - actress, starred as Samantha Best on teen drama The Best Years Matt Stone (lived in Denver and Littleton, alumnus of Heritage High School and the University of Colorado Boulder) - actor, musician, producer, writer; winner of two Emmy Awards (2005 and 2007, nominated seven times); co-creator of South Park Sherry Stringfield (born in Colorado Springs) - actress, starred in TV series ER Tom Tully (born in Durango) - film and television actor, nominated for an Academy Award in 1955, starred in CBS's police drama, The Lineup and co-starred in ABC's western TV series Shane in 1966
Jan-Michael Vincent (born in Denver) - film and television actor, played helicopter pilot Stringfellow Hawke on 1980s series Airwolf (1984-1986)
Artists
Robert Adams (lived in Colorado) - photographer of the western landscape; received two Guggenheim Fellowships, a MacArthur Fellowship; works are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York
Earl W. Bascom (lived in Colorado) - artist, sculptor, cousin of western artist Frederic Remington, lived and worked in Northwest Colorado during the late 1920s
John Fabian Carlson (lived in Colorado Springs) - painter, director and an instructor at the Broadmoor Academy, a precursor to the current Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and founder of the John F. Carlson School of Landscape Painting
Tomory Dodge (born in Denver; alumnus of South High School (Denver) - artist, paintings in public collections including The Whitney Museum of American Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum
Jess E. DuBois (born in Denver) - artist, advocate of Indian art
John Fielder - landscape photographer and nature writer
Susan Marie Frontczak (lives in Boulder) - writer, actor and storyteller; known for her one-woman shows, including on Marie Curie
William Henry Jackson (lived in Denver) - photographer for the United States Geological Survey and Union Pacific Railroad, created one of the largest and most expansive western photographic collections in the world
Barry Kooser (born in Wheat Ridge; alumnus of Arvada West High School) - Disney artist, fine art painter and CCO of Worker Studio
David Burroughs Mattingly (born in Fort Collins) - illustrator and painter known for book covers of science fiction and fantasy literature
Arthur Roy Mitchell (born in Trinidad) - specialized in western paintings and religious sculpture
Amanda Marie Ploegsma, known as Amanda Marie (born in the Netherlands, lives in Colorado) - artist, exhibits across the United States and Europe, alumna of Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, stencilist of storybook imagery in contemporary murals and paintings
Robert Reid (lived in Colorado Springs) - painter, instructor at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Cooper Union, and the Broadmoor Academy
Astronauts
Loren URLTHECLUTCH (born 1936) - mission specialist on STS-51-F
Jeffrey Ashby (born 1954) - pilot of STS-93 and STS-100; commander of STS-112
Patrick Baudry (born 1946) - payload specialist on STS-51-G
John E. Blaha (born 1942) - pilot of STS-29 and STS-33; commander of STS-43 and STS-58; Mission Specialist on STS-79 and STS-81 with four-month flight aboard Mir space station (1996-1997)
Michael J. Bloomfield (born 1959) - pilot of STS-86 and STS-97; commander of STS-110
Karol J. Bobko (born 1937) - pilot of STS-6; commander of STS-51-D and STS-51-J
Eric A. Boe (born 1964) - pilot of STS-126
Vance D. Brand (born 1931) - Mercury astronaut; Apollo docking module pilot on the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project; commander of STS-5, STS-41-B, and STS-35
Roy D. Bridges, Jr. (born 1943) - pilot of STS-51-F; director of the Kennedy Space Center (1997-2003); director of Langley Research Center (2003-2005)
Curtis Brown (born 1956) - pilot of STS-47, STS-66, and STS-77; commander of STS-85, STS-95, and STS-103
Scott Carpenter (1925-2013) - pilot of Mercury-Atlas 7 (Aurora 7); fourth human to orbit the Earth (1962)
Gerald P. Carr (born 1932) - commander of Skylab 4 (1973-1974)
John Casper (born 1943) - pilot of STS-36; commander of STS-54, STS-62, and STS-77
Kalpana Chawla (1961-2003) - mission specialist on STS-87 and STS-107; killed on February 1, 2003, on the reentry of the Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-107
Kevin P. Chilton (born 1954) - pilot of STS-49 and STS-59; commander of STS-76
Mary L. Cleave (born 1947) - mission specialist on STS-61-B and STS-30
Gordon Cooper (1927-2004) - pilot of Mercury-Atlas 9 (Faith 7); command pilot of Gemini V
Richard O. Covey (born 1946) - pilot of STS-51-I and STS-26; commander of STS-38 and STS-61
Takao Doi (born 1954) - mission specialist on STS-87
B. Alvin Drew (born 1962) - mission specialist on STS-118
Brian Duffy (born 1953) - pilot of STS-45 and STS-57; commander of STS-72 and STS-92
Samuel T. Durrance (born 1943) - payload specialist on STS-35 and STS-67
James Dutton (born 1968) - pilot of STS-131
Martin J. Fettman (born 1956) - payload specialist on STS-58
Dale Gardner (born 1948) - mission specialist on STS-8 and STS-51-A
Guy Gardner (born 1948) - pilot of STS-27 and STS-35
Ronald J. Grabe (born 1945) - pilot of STS-51-J and STS-30; commander of STS-42 and STS-57
Frederick D. Gregory (born 1941) - pilot of STS-51-B; commander of STS-33 and STS-44
William G. Gregory (born 1957) - pilot of STS-67
Sidney M. Gutierrez (born 1951) - pilot of STS-40; commander of STS-59
James D. Halsell (born 1956) - pilot of STS-65 and STS-74; commander of STS-83, STS-94, and STS-101
L. Blaine Hammond (born 1952) - pilot of STS-39 and STS-64
Susan J. Helms (born 1958) - mission specialist on STS-54, STS-64, STS-78, STS-101, STS-102, and STS-105; flight engineer of International Space Station Expedition 2 (2001)
Terence T. Henricks (born 1952) - pilot of STS-44 and STS-55; commander of STS-70 and STS-78
John Herrington (born 1958) - mission specialist on STS-113
Richard Hieb (born 1955) - mission specialist on STS-39, STS-49, and STS-65
James Irwin (1930-1991) - lunar module pilot on Apollo 15; eighth human to walk on the moon (1971)
Marsha Ivins (born 1951) - mission specialist on STS-32, STS-46, STS-62, STS-81, and STS-98
Gregory H. Johnson (born 1962) - pilot of STS-123 and STS-134
Thomas D. Jones (born 1955) - mission specialist on STS-59, STS-80, and STS-98; payload commander on STS-68
James M. Kelly (born 1964) - pilot of STS-102 and STS-114
Kevin R. Kregel (born 1956) - pilot of STS-70 and STS-78; commander of STS-87 and STS-99
Mark C. Lee (1952) - mission specialist on STS-30, STS-64, and STS-82; payload commander of STS-47
Steven W. Lindsey (born 1960) - pilot of STS-87 and STS-95; commander of STS-104 and STS-121
John M. Lounge (born 1946) - mission specialist on STS-51-I, STS-26, and STS-35
Bruce McCandless II (born 1977)
Donald R. McMonagle (born 1952) - mission specialist on STS-39; pilot of STS-54; commander of STS-66
Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger (born 1975) - mission specialist on STS-131
George Nelson (born 1950) - mission specialist on STS-41-C, STS-61-C, and STS-26
Ellison Onizuka (1946-1986) - mission specialist on STS-51-C and STS-51-L; killed on January 28, 1986, on the ascent of the Space Shuttle Challenger during STS-51-L
William A. Pailes (born 1952) - payload specialist on STS-51-J
Scott E. Parazynski (born 1961) - payload specialist on STS-66; mission specialist on STS-86, STS-95, STS-100, and STS-120
Charles J. Precourt (born 1955) - mission specialist on STS-55; pilot of STS-71; commander of STS-84 and STS-91
Kent Rominger (born 1956) - pilot of STS-73, STS-80, and STS-85; commander of STS-96 and STS-100
Stuart Roosa (1933-1994) - command module pilot on Apollo 14; eleventh human to orbit the moon (1971)
Richard A. Searfoss (born 1956) - pilot of STS-58 and STS-76; commander of STS-90
Ronald M. Sega (born 1952) - mission specialist on STS-60 and STS-76
Loren Shriver (born 1944) - pilot of STS-41-B; commander of STS-31 and STS-46
Robert L. Stewart (born 1942) - mission specialist on STS-41-C and STS-51-J
Steven Swanson (born 1960) - mission specialist on STS-117 and STS-119, International Space Station expeditions 39 and 40
Jack Swigert (1931-1982) - command module pilot on the imperiled Apollo 13 mission; ninth human to orbit the moon (1971); recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom; elected to the United States Congress, but died before taking office
Joseph R. Tanner (born 1950) - mission specialist on STS-66, STS-82, STS-97, and STS-115
James van Hoften (born 1944) - mission specialist on STS-41-C and STS-51-I
Charles L. Veach (born 1944) - mission specialist on STS-39 and STS-52
Terry W. Virts (born 1967) - pilot of STS-130
James Voss (born 1949) - mission specialist on STS-44, STS-53, STS-69, STS-101, STS-102, and STS-105; flight engineer of International Space Station Expedition 2 (2001)
Athletes
David Aardsma (lived in Greenwood Village; alumnus of Cherry Creek High School) - Major League Baseball pitcher
Max Aaron (born in Arizona, lives in Colorado Springs) - 2013 U.S. national champion figure skater
Louis Amundson (raised in Boulder, alumnus of Monarch High School) - NBA power forward/center for the Indiana Pacers
Heather Armbrust (lives in Wheat Ridge, Colorado) - IFBB professional bodybuilder
Tom Ashworth (born in Denver, alumnus of Cherry Creek High School and University of Colorado Boulder) - NFL player, member of three NFL Super Bowl champion teams (Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX, all with the New England Patriots)
Josh Bard (born in Ithaca, New York, moved to Greenwood Village; alumnus of Cherry Creek High School) - catcher for the Seattle Mariners
Earl W. Bascom (lived in Colorado) - rodeo champion and Hall of Famer, invented and made rodeo's first hornless bronc saddle and rodeo's first one-hand bareback rigging, called the "Father of Modern Rodeo," lived on the White Bear Ranch in Northwest Colorado in the late 1920s, married a cousin of Jack Dempsey
Chauncey Billups (born and raised in Denver, alumnus of George Washington High School and the University of Colorado Boulder) - NBA player for the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers and NBA Finals champion Detroit Pistons team (2004); selected as MVP of NBA Finals (2004) and three-time NBA All-Star (2006, 2007 and 2008)
Greg Bird (raised in Aurora; alumnus of Grandview High School) - First baseman for the New York Yankees
Jeremy Bloom (born in Loveland; alumnus of Loveland High School and the University of Colorado Boulder) - Olympic and world champion freestyle moguls skier, played football for the University of Colorado and in the NFL
Tony Boselli (raised in Boulder, Colorado; alumnus of Fairview High School in Boulder - NFL All Pro offensive tackle
Ronnie Bradford (lived in Commerce City; alumnus of Adams City High School and the University of Colorado at Boulder) - NFL player (1993-2002) for the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings; special teams coach of the Broncos
Calais Campbell (born and raised in Denver, alumnus of South High School in Denver, Colorado) - defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals
Joe Barry Carroll (raised in Denver, alumnus of East High School in Denver) - NBA center and All Star
Tom Chambers (alumnus of Fairview High School in Boulder) - NBA All Star
E.H. "Dutch" Clark (born in Fowler); alumnus of Pueblo Central High School and Colorado College) - Colorado's first All-American football player; player and coach for the Detroit Lions in the 1930s; charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Jon Cooper (born in Fort Collins; alumnus of Fort Collins High School) - center for the Minnesota Vikings
Jesse Crain (lived in Boulder; alumnus of Fairview High School) - relief pitcher for the Chicago White Sox
Mason Crosby (alumni of University of Colorado) - NFL player for the Green Bay Packers
Drew Davis (born in Denver) - wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons
Joe DeCamillis (born in Arvada) - Special Teams coach for the Denver Broncos who previously worked with the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears
Jack Dempsey (born in Manassa) - professional boxer, nicknamed "the Manassa Mauler", regarded as boxing's World Heavyweight Champion from 1919 to 1926 Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (1990); author of two books relating to hand-to-hand combat
Reed Doughty (born in Greeley; alumnus of Theodore Roosevelt High School in Johnstown, Colorado) - safety for the Washington Redskins
Joel Dreessen (lived in Fort Morgan; alumnus of Fort Morgan High School) - Current free agent tight end who has played for the Houston Texans and most recently the Denver Broncos
Justin Drescher (born in Colorado Springs) - long snapper for the New Orleans Saints
John Elway (lives in Englewood) - quarterback in the National Football League (1984-1999) for the Denver Broncos, member of two NFL Super Bowl champion teams (Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII), selected as NFL MVP (1987), MVP of Super Bowl XXXIII, twice as UPI AFC Offensive Player of the Year (1987 and 1993), five times for the AP NFL All-Pro team, and nine times for the NFL Pro Bowl; inducted into the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame (1999), College Football Hall of Fame (2000), and Pro Football Hall of Fame (2004), vice president and general manager of Broncos
Alex English (lived in Denver) - NBA player (1976-1991) with Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks, assistant coach with Toronto Raptors, seven-time NBA All-Star, inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame (1997)
Brian Fisher (born in Denver, lives in Aurora) - Major League Baseball pitcher with the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates
Missy Franklin (resides in Centennial) - four-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming, attended Regis Jesuit High School, and swam collegiality at the University of California, Los Angeles
Kevin Gausman (born in Centennial; alumnus of Grandview High School in Aurora) - Major League Baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles
Arielle Gold (born and lives in Steamboat Springs) - snowboarder; Olympian, Junior World Champion, and World Champion
Taylor Gold (born and lives in Steamboat Springs) - Olympic snowboarder
Richard "Goose" Gossage (born in Colorado Springs, lives in Highlands Ranch) - Major League Baseball pitcher (1972-1994) for the Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, and Seattle Mariners, member of the MLB World Series champion Yankees team in 1978, twelve-time All-Star, inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame (2008)
Daniel Graham (raised in Denver; attended Thomas Jefferson High School) - NFL tight end
Roy Halladay (born in Denver, raised in Arvada) - MLB starting pitcher, won AL Cy Young Award in 2003, NL Cy Young Award in 2010; eight-time All-Star
Matt Hasselbeck (born in Boulder) - NFL quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, selected three times to the Pro Bowl
Chase Headley (born in Fountain, Colorado; alumnus of Fountain-Fort Carson High School) - third baseman for the New York Yankees
Phil Heath (lives in Arvada) - bodybuilder, twice Mr. Olympia
Taryn Hemmings (born in Greeley) - professional soccer player for the Chicago Red Stars after two seasons with the Boston Breakers, played internationally in Japan for the Tepco Mareeze and in Australia for Canberra United, all-time leading Division 1 scorer for the University of Denver
Luke Hochevar (born in Denver) - starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals
Lamarr Houston (raised in Colorado Springs; attended Thomas B. Doherty High School) - defensive end for the Oakland Raiders
Reggie Jackson (lived in Colorado Springs; attended Palmer High School) - point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder
Vincent Jackson (born and raised in Colorado Springs; attended Widefield High School and the University of Northern Colorado) - wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ryan Jensen (born in Rangely and reared in Fort Morgan; attended Fort Morgan High School and Colorado State University-Pueblo) - offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens, sixth-round pick of 2013 NFL Draft
Dirk Johnson (raised in Montrose, graduate of Montrose High School and the University of Northern Colorado), NFL punter
Mark Knudson (born in Denver, alumnus of Colorado State University), Major League Baseball pitcher, first Colorado native to play for the Colorado Rockies
Kevin Kouzmanoff (lived in Evergreen, alumnus of Evergreen High School) - Major League Baseball player for the Colorado Rockies
Buddy Lazier (born in Vail) - auto racing driver, winner of Indy Racing League championship (2000) and Indianapolis 500 (1996), awarded Indianapolis Motor Speedway's Scott Brayton Trophy (2003)
Brad Lidge (attended Cherry Creek High School in Greenwood Village and lives in Englewood) - relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros
Phil Loadholt (lived in Fountain; alumnus of Fountain-Fort Carson High School) - offensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings
Dave Logan (attended Wheat Ridge High School and University of Colorado) - drafted to three professional sports (football, basketball and baseball); wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns and Denver Broncos; radio personality on KOA; coached high school football teams for Arvada West High School, Chatfield Senior High School, and Mullen High School to state championships
Brian Matusz (born in Grand Junction) - relief pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles
Brandon McCarthy (lived in Colorado Springs, attended Cheyenne Mountain High School) - MLB starting pitcher
Scot McCloughan (raised in Loveland; attended Loveland High School) - general manager of the Washington Redskins
Darnell McDonald (born in Fort Collins) - attended Cherry Creek High School) - outfielder for the Boston Red Sox
Mark Melancon (born in Wheat Ridge, attended Golden High School) - relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Bill Musgrave (raised in Grand Junction), graduate of Grand Junction High School, football player for Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49'ers and Denver Broncos, offensive coordinator for Minnesota Vikings
Jesse Nading (born in Highlands Ranch; alumnus of ThunderRidge High School) - defensive end for the Houston Texans
David Pauley (born in Longmont) - relief pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox
Tyler Polumbus (born in Denver) - offensive tackle for the Washington Redskins
Alina Popa (lives in Lakewood), IFBB professional bodybuilder
Michael Ray Richardson (raised in Denver, alumnus of Manual High School in Denver) - NBA All Star point guard
Ryan Max Riley (raised in Winter Park and Steamboat Springs, alumnus of the Lowell Whiteman School in Steamboat Springs) - national champion mogul skier on the US Ski Team
Gijon Robinson (born in Denver) - tight end and fullback for the Detroit Lions
Kevin Russo (born in West Babylon, New York, moved to Boulder; attended Fairview High School) - baseball player for the New York Yankees
Bob Sapp (born in Colorado Springs) - kickboxer, attended Mitchell High School
Bo Scaife (born and raised in Denver, alumnus of J.K. Mullen High School) - NFL tight end
Daniel Schlereth (born in Anchorage, Alaska, moved to Highlands Ranch; alumnus of Highlands Ranch High School) - relief pitcher for the Detroit Tigers
Brian Schottenheimer (born in Denver) - offensive coordinator for the New York Jets
Aaron Smith (born and raised in Colorado Springs; attended Sierra High School and the University of Northern Colorado) - defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers, won two Super Bowls with Steelers (2005, 2008); selected to NFL Pro Bowl (2004); named to Sports Illustrated's All-Decade Team (2000s)
Alex Smith (born in The Bahamas, moved to Denver; attended J. K. Mullen High School) - tight end for the Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jason Smith (born in Kersey) - power forward for the New Orleans Pelicans
Nate Solder (born in Denver) - offensive tackle for the New England Patriots
Kory Sperry (born in Pueblo) - tight end for the San Diego Chargers
Eve Torres (born in Denver) - WWE Divas champion
Bobby Unser (born in Colorado Springs) - auto racing driver; two-time winner of USAC/CART Indy Car championship (1968 and 1974), three-time winner of Indianapolis 500 (1968, 1975 and 1981) and thirteen-time winner of the Open-Wheel Class at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb; inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame (1990), Motorsports Hall of Fame of America (1994), and National Sprint Car Hall of Fame (1997)
Jerry Unser (born in Colorado Springs) - auto racing driver, winner of USAC Stock Car championship (1957)
Pat Valenzuela (born in Montrose - jockey, winner of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Breeders' Cup
Amy Van Dyken (born in Denver, alumnus of Cherry Creek High School) - swimmer, winner of six Olympic gold medals (four in 1996, two in 2000), three FINA World Championship gold medals (1998) and three Pan American Games gold medals (1995)
LenDale White (born and raised in Denver, alumnus of South High School and Chatfield Senior High School) - NFL running back
Cat Zingano (born in Winona, Minnesota but attended high school in Boulder) - UFC mixed martial artist
Business and community leaders
William Bent (lived near present-day La Junta) - with his brothers, Bent established Bent's Fort trading post; became a peace negotiator between settlers and Native Americans
Norman E. Brinker (born in Denver; died in Colorado Springs) - restaurateur responsible for new business concepts in the restaurant field, such as the salad bar
Margaret Brown (lived in Colorado) - socialite, philanthropist, and activist who became famous in the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic, The Unsinkable Molly Brown James C. Collins (born in Boulder) - business consultant, author, and lecturer on the subject of company sustainability and growth
Adolph Coors (lived in Golden) - based in Golden, established what is now the nation's third largest brewing company; his family has been active in Colorado politics and philanthropy
Charles Gates, Jr. (born in Denver) - longtime president of the Gates Corporation, the world's largest maker of automotive belts and hoses
Elliot Handler (raised in Denver) - co-founder of Mattel; helped develop some of the biggest-selling toys in American history, including Barbie dolls, Chatty Cathy, Creepy Crawlers and Hot Wheels
Ruth Handler (born in Denver) - businesswoman and inventor; served as the president of the toy manufacturer Mattel and is remembered for her role in designing and marketing the Barbie doll
Daniel M. Lewin (born in Denver) - mathematician and entrepreneur, known for co-founding the internet company, Akamai Technologies. Lewin was one of the murdered passengers on American Airlines Flight 11
James Smith McDonnell (1899-1980) (born in Denver) - aviation pioneer and founder of McDonnell Aircraft Corporation
Otto Mears (born in Russia, lived in Silverton) - entrepreneur, financier, and railroad builder; founder of the Rio Grande Southern and the Silverton railroads
David Halliday Moffat (1839-1911) - banker, financier, industrialist, and inspiration for the Moffat Tunnel, the world's-longest railway tunnel upon its completion
Texas Jack Omohundro (lived and died in Leadville) - frontier scout, actor, and cowboy
General William Jackson Palmer (lived in Colorado Springs) - founder of the town of Colorado Springs, developed the first narrow gauge railroad system, the Denver and Rio Grande, owned the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company in Pueblo.
Winfield Scott Stratton (lived in Victor and Colorado Springs) - prospector, businessman and philanthropist; became a millionaire after he discovered and developed the Independence Mine; when he died he left all of his wealth for the construction of the Myron Stratton Home, for homeless and poor people
Horace Tabor (lived in Leadville) - prospector, businessman, and politician
Literary figures
Robert Baer (raised in Aspen) - author and a former CIA case officer assigned to the Middle East; wrote the books See No Evil and Sleeping with the Devil Matthew Berry (born in Denver) - creator of The Man's League, inductee in the Fantasy Sports Trade Association Hall of Fame, and author (Fantasy Life)
Neal Cassady (born in Salt Lake City, Utah, raised in Denver) - figure from the Beat Generation, known for being characterized as Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road Clive Cussler (lives in Golden) - novelist, Raise the Titanic, Deep Six Eugene Field (lived in Denver) - poet and journalist known for his work in children's literature, wrote such poems as Little Boy Blue and Wynken, Blynken, and Nod Allen Ginsberg (lived in Boulder) - beat poet, author of Howl and Kaddish, co-founder of the Naropa Institute's Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics in Boulder
Helen Hunt Jackson (lived in Colorado Springs) - wrote about the relationship between Coloradans and the Native Indian Tribes, and is often remembered for her brave stance in novels such as A Century of Dishonor and Ramona Ken Kesey (born in La Junta) - author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest James A. Michener (attended college in Greeley) - worked as a professor at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley where his archives are held; his novel Centennial, is about Colorado history
Jack Murphy (born in Denver) - sportswriter, football stadium in San Diego was named for him
Sayyid Qutb - author, poet, educator, and Islamic political theorist who described his stay in Greeley in the censorious article The America that I Have Seen that aroused Anti-American Sentiment among many Muslims; executed by Egypt
Marguerite Roberts (born in Greeley) - screenwriter, films include Ivanhoe, True Grit, 5 Card Stud Harold Ross (born in Aspen) - journalist, founder of The New Yorker magazine
Lowell Thomas (born in Woodington, Ohio, but raised in Victor, Colorado) - writer, journalist, broadcaster and traveler best known as the man who made Lawrence of Arabia famous
Hunter S. Thompson (lived in Woody Creek) - author and creator of Gonzo Journalism.
Dalton Trumbo (born in Montrose; lived in Grand Junction; attended the University of Colorado Boulder) - author of Johnny Got His Gun and Academy Award-winning screenwriter for his work in The Brave One; wrote the scripts for Spartacus, Exodus, Hawaii, and Papillon; was blacklisted during the 1950s as one of the Hollywood 10
Elmo Scott Watson (lived in Colorado Springs and Denver) - journalist who specialized in the American West
Connie Willis (lives in Greeley) - science fiction writer
Military figures
Erwin J. Boydston (enlisted in Colorado) - recipient of the United States Navy Medal of Honor for his service during the Boxer Rebellion
Arleigh Burke (born in Boulder) - admiral of the United States Navy during World War II along with the Korean War; later the Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower administration
Louis H. Carpenter - recipient of the United States Army Medal of Honor for meritorious service in Colorado during the Indian Wars
Christopher Houston "Kit" Carson (1809-1868) - frontiersman, commander of Fort Garland (1866-1867), and negotiator of the 1867 peace treaty between the United States and the Ute tribe
Francis S. Dodge - recipient of the United States Army Medal of Honor for his service in Colorado during the Indian Wars
Dwight David Eisenhower (married in Denver) - 34th President of the United States; organized the temporary location of Lowry Air Force Base, Denver, for a new service academy, the United States Air Force Academy; in 1954, Colorado Springs won the location for the new United States Air Force Academy site; as president, his official airplanes, Lockheed Constellation were The Columbine, Colorado's state flower; Several times President Eisenhower was treated for cardiac events at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital
Edward P. Grimes - recipient of the United States Army Medal of Honor for his service in Colorado during the Indian Wars
William R. Grove (enlisted in Colorado) - recipient of the United States Army Medal of Honor for his service during the Philippine-American War
William P. Hall - recipient of the United States Army Medal of Honor for his service in Colorado during the Indian Wars
Henry Johnson - recipient of the United States Army Medal of Honor for his service as a "Buffalo Soldier" in Colorado during the Indian Wars
John S. Lawton - recipient of the United States Army Medal of Honor for his service in Colorado during the Indian Wars
John Merrill - recipient of the United States Army Medal of Honor for gallant service in Colorado during the Indian Wars
George Moquin - recipient of the United States Army Medal of Honor for gallant service in Colorado during the Indian Wars
Edward F. Murphy - recipient of the United States Army Medal of Honor for gallant service in Colorado during the Indian Wars
Wilhelm O. Philipsen - recipient of the United States Army Medal of Honor for his service in Colorado during the Indian Wars
John A. Poppe - recipient of the United States Army Medal of Honor for gallant service in Colorado during the Indian Wars
Hampton M. Roach - recipient of the United States Army Medal of Honor for his service in Colorado during the Indian Wars
George W. Wallace (enlisted in Colorado) - recipient of the United States Army Medal of Honor for his service during the Philippine-American War
Jacob Widmer - recipient of the United States Army Medal of Honor for his service in Colorado during the Indian Wars
Musicians
3OH!3 (formed in Boulder) - electronica group; song "Don't Trust Me" from the album Want certified platinum by the RIAA
Laurie Anderson (lived in Boulder) - avant garde performer and musician, communications expert, writer
The Astronauts (formed in Boulder) - surf rock; first album along with the song "Baja" was number sixty-one in May 1963 on the Billboard 200 album chart
Ginger Baker (lived in Parker during the 1990s) - English drummer, member of Cream
Jello Biafra (real name Eric Boucher; born in Boulder; lived in Denver) - singer, songwriter, owner of Alternative Tentacles record label, member of the punk band Dead Kennedys
Big Head Todd and the Monsters (formed at the University of Colorado Boulder) - rock band; two of the band's albums have reached Billboard's Top 40 Album charts (1993, 1994), with one (Sister Sweetly) certified platinum by the RIAA
Tommy Bolin (lived in Boulder) - guitarist of Zephyr, James Gang, and Deep Purple
Breathe Carolina (born and raised in Denver) - electronica/screamo group; band consists of David Schmitt, Tommy Coops, Luis Bonet, Eric Armenta
Antonia Brico (lived in Denver) - conductor and pianist; was conductor of the Brico Symphony Orchestra and the Denver Symphony Orchestra
Chris Broderick (lived in Lakewood; attended University of Denver) - lead guitarist for thrash metal band Megadeth
Jesse Carmichael (born in Boulder) - keyboardist for the rock group Maroon 5
John Denver (real name Henry Deutschendorf Jr.; lived in Aspen) - singer, guitarist, songwriter; winner of a Grammy Award (1997) and a posthumous Grammy Hall of Fame Award (1998); inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1996); named the official Poet Laureate of the State of Colorado (1977), with his song "Rocky Mountain High", which was named as one of the state's official songs
DeVotchKa (formed in Denver) - rock band, nominated for a Grammy Award (2006), assisted in composing and performing the score for the film Little Miss Sunshine Bryan Erickson (lives in Westminster) - singer, producer; member of the bands Velvet Acid Christ and Toxic Coma
Flobots (formed in Denver) - Hip hop band known for the song "Handlebars" from their album Fight with Tools; board members on the non-profit organization Flobots.org, a community organization; Flobots.org was founded before the band attained any fame
The Fluid (formed in Denver) - grunge band
The Fray (formed in Denver) - rock band; nominated for two Grammy Awards (2007); album How to Save a Life has been certified double platinum by the RIAA; members Dave Welsh and Ben Wysocki attended Ralston Valley High School in Arvada
India.Arie (born as India Arie Simpson in Denver) - singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer; winner of two Grammy Awards (2003, nominated sixteen times); three released albums have all hit Billboard's Top 40 Albums chart and have been certified by the RIAA as either platinum or multi-platinum sellers
Itchy-O (formed in Denver) - electronica experimental group; approximately 40 band members performing in the audience, with marching-band drums, taiko drums, electronics, dancers, and a Chinese Lion; all while masked, covered in LED lights, often with fireworks and other props such as giant puppets, flame throwers and the like
Ronnie Lane (lived and died in Trinidad) - singer, songwriter, bass guitarist; member of the bands Small Faces and Faces, and founder of his own backing band Slim Chance
The Lumineers (based in Denver) - folk rock band
C.W. McCall (lived in Ouray) - country singer known for the song "Convoy" in 1975; served six years as mayor of Ouray in 1986
Glenn Miller (full name Alton Glenn Miller; lived in Fort Morgan and Boulder; alumnus of Fort Morgan High School and the University of Colorado Boulder) - trombonist, band leader, leader of the Glenn Miller Orchestra and the United States Army Air Force Band; at the time of his death, one fifth of all music played on jukeboxes was a Glenn Miller creation
Ronnie Montrose (born in Denver) - rock guitarist who led a number of his own bands as well as performing with a variety of musicians
Jaye P. Morgan (born in Mancos) - singer and television personality
OneRepublic (formed in Colorado Springs) - rock band; album Dreaming Out Loud has been certified platinum by the RIAA
Pretty Lights (from Fort Collins)
Reverb and The Verse (formed in Denver) - electronic/hip-hop band
The Samples (formed in Boulder) - reggae-influenced rock/pop group
Tickle Me Pink (formed in Fort Collins) - signed to Wind-Up Records; debut album Madeline Townes Van Zandt (lived in Boulder; briefly attended the University of Colorado) - country singer and songwriter
Velvet Acid Christ (based in Denver) - electro-industrial band
Chuck E. Weiss (grew up in Denver) - musician and subject of the 1979 Rickie Lee Jones song "Chuck E.'s in Love"
Paul Whiteman (born in Denver) - considered by some the "King of Jazz"; after selling two million records with the song "The Japanese Sandman", Whiteman added to his fame by being one of the first nationally broadcast jazz musicians; remembered for his ability to fuse jazz and classical in hits like Rhapsody in Blue and "Whispering"
Kip Winger (born in Denver) - singer and bassist for the 1980s hair metal band Winger, which had hit songs such as "Seventeen" and "Headed for a Heartbreak"; since band's breakup in 1994, Winger has continued as a solo artist
Yonder Mountain String Band (based in Nederland) - bluegrass jam band whose fan base has been fueled primarily through live performances since their inception in 1998; self-titled 2006 studio album was the band's first release with a major label
Ace Young (born and raised in Denver) - American Idol finalist
Politicians
Madeleine Albright (spent her teen years in Denver; graduated from the Kent Denver School in Cherry Hills Village) - U.S. Secretary of State during the presidency of Bill Clinton
William B. Ebbert (lived in Rocky Ford, Pueblo and Cortez) - served in Colorado General Assembly, 1889-1890 (Republican); 1907-1908 (Democrat); 1911-1912 (Democrat); rancher, farmer, poet and American Civil War veteran
Gerald Ford (lived in Vail) - 38th President of the United States
Trent Franks (born in Uravan) - U.S. Representative for Arizona's 2nd congressional district
Irving Howbert (born in Columbus, Indiana) - one of the founders of Colorado Springs; donated the Colorado Springs Opera House from profits in his silver mine; member of the Colorado Senate (1882-1886)
John Kerry (born in Aurora) - U.S. Secretary of State; former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, 1985-2013; ran as the Democratic nominee for U.S. President in 2004
Golda Meir (spent part of her adolescence in Denver) - fourth prime minister of Israel
Chief Ouray (lived in Colorado) - Native American leader of the Uncompahgre band of the Ute tribe of southwestern Colorado
Dana Perino (grew up in Denver, graduate of Colorado State University-Pueblo) - White House Press Secretary during the presidency of George W. Bush from September 14, 2007, to January 20, 2009
Condoleezza Rice (attended St. Mary's Academy in Cherry Hills Village) - U.S. Secretary of State during the presidency of George W. Bush
Karl Rove (born in Denver) - Deputy Chief of Staff during the presidency of George W. Bush
Kenneth R. Rutherford - co-founder of the Landmine Survivors Network
Justin Smith (born in Kansas; resident of Fort Collins) - sheriff of Larimer County since 2011
Scott Walker (born in Colorado Springs) - Governor of Wisconsin
Byron White (born in Fort Collins; raised in Wellington); graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder) - appointed by U.S. President John F. Kennedy as a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court; served from 1962 until retiring to senior status in 1993; also notable as a football player, both in college at the University of Colorado Boulder (with the Colorado Buffaloes) and professionally in the National Football League (with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Lions)
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
Maurice L. Albertson (1918-2009) - civil engineer and educator
Sidney Altman (born 1939) - molecular biologist; 1989 Nobel laureate in Chemistry for the discovery of catalytic properties of ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Albert Allen Bartlett (born 1923) - physicist; opponent of the concept of sustainable growth
Arden Lee Bement, Jr. (born 1932) - metallurgical engineer, scientist; director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Lewis M. Branscomb (born 1926) - physicist; director of the National Bureau of Standards, founder of the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (now known as JILA)
Mary Babnik Brown (1907-1991) - her hair was used for the Norden bombsight crosshairs
Louis George Carpenter - founder of the first Bachelor of Science degree in Irrigation Engineering in the Americas.