List of notable people from Oklahoma

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

## Native Americans
* Bill Anoatubby (born 1945), Governor of the Chickasaw Nation
* Black Kettle (1801/07–1868), Cheyenne Chief killed near Cheyenne, Oklahoma, in Roger Mills County
* Geronimo (1829–1909), Native American leader of the Chiricahua Apache
* Wilma Mankiller (born 1945), first woman Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation 
* Quanah Parker (c. late 1840s – 1911), last Comanche chief
* Harvey Pratt (born 1941), Native American forensic artist
* Will Rogers (1879–1935), humorist Actor
* Clarence L. Tinker (1887-1942), member of the Osage tribe, U.S. Army Air Corps general and first American general to die in World War II
* Fred Waite (1853–1895), Native American of the Chickasaw tribe, cowboy, member of Billy the Kid's gang and politician
* Stand Watie (1806–1871), Brigadier General in the Confederate Army, Cherokee chief

## Political/Military Figures
* Carl Albert (1908–2000), Speaker of the House from 1971 to 1977, first in line for presidency after Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned during President Nixon's tenure.
* Dewey F. Bartlett, Oklahoma Governor and U.S. Senator
* Dan Boren (born 1973), represents Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional district in the U.S. House
* David Boren (born 1941), former Governor of Oklahoma, U.S. Senator and University of Oklahoma president
* Joseph J. Clark (1893–1971), Admiral U.S. Navy and first Native American to graduate from the United States Naval Academy
* William J. Crowe (1925–2007), Admiral U.S. Navy and former Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff
* Drew Edmondson (born 1946), state Attorney General
* General Tommy Franks (born 1927), Commander of US Central Command, US Invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq
* Bo Gritz (born 1939), most decorated Green Beret officer during the Vietnam War
* Jeane Kirkpatrick (born 1926), U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
* Perle Mesta (1889–1975), political hostess, U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg
* Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1927–2003), U.S. Senator, ambassador to India, Ambassador to the United Nations, President of the United Nations Security Council
* Donald Lee "Don" Nickles (born 1948) American political leader, U.S. Senator from Oklahoma 1981-2005
* George Nigh (born 1927), two-time Governor of Oklahoma
* Gene Stipe, (born 1926), longest-serving member of the Oklahoma State Senate
* J.C. Watts, U.S. Congressman and OU quarterback

## Entertainment
### Humorists/Comedians
* Will Rogers (1879–1935), humorist
* Daniel Hale Rowan (1922–1987), comedian and co-host of ''Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In''

### Film/Theatre
* Suzy Amis (born 1962), actress
* Gene Autry (1907–1998), actor, musician
* William Boyd (1895–1972), actor (Hopalong Cassidy)
* Gary Busey (born 1944), actor
* Lon Chaney Jr (1906–1973), actor
* Greg Coolidge (born 1969) writer, director, producer, actor
* Joan Crawford (1906–1977), Academy Award winning actress
* Blake Edwards (born 1922), director, writer, producer
* Kay Francis (1905-1968), actress
* James Garner (born 1928), actor
* Van Heflin (1908–1971), Academy Award winning actor
* Clint Howard (born 1959), actor (and Ron's brother)
* Ron Howard (born 1954), director, producer, actor
* Ben Johnson (1918–1996), Academy Award winning actor
* Jennifer Jones (1919-2009), actress
* Rue McClanahan (born 1934), actress
* Vera Miles (born 1929), actress
* Megan Mullally, actress
* Clarence Nash (1904–1985), voice of Donald Duck
* Chuck Norris (born 1940), actor, martial artist
* Cindy Pickett (born 1947), actress
* Brad Pitt (born 1963), actor
* Mary Kay Place (born 1947), actress
* Tony Randall (1920–2004), actor
* Dale Robertson (1920-2013), actor
* Gailard Sartain (born 1946), actor, artist, comedian
* Maria Tallchief (1925-2013), ballerina
* Paula Trickey (born 1966), actress (Pacific Blue)
* Jeanne Tripplehorn (born 1963), actress
* Alfre Woodard (born 1952), actress
* Larry Clark (born 1943), filmmaker ("Kids", "Ken Park"), photographer
* James Marsden (born 1973), actor
* Ted Shackelford (born 1946), actor (Knot's Landing)

### Music
* AleXa (born 1996), K-pop singer and dancer, and winner of the first American Song Contest
* The All-American Rejects
* The Arnold's, Southern Gospel trio based in Tulsa
* Aqueduct (born 1992), indie pop band
* Hoyt Axton (1938–1999), country music singer/songwriter, wrote "I've Never Been to Spain" (but I've been to Oklahoma).
* Chet Baker (1929–1988), jazz trumpeter who helped popularize the 1950s cool jazz style
* Norma Jean (b. Norma Jean Beasler January 30, 1938) is an American country music singer
* Earl Bostic (1913–1965), R&B and jazz musician
* Garth Brooks (born 1962), country music singer/songwriter
* Don Byas (1912-1972) jazz tenor saxophonist and one of the leading saxophonists of the swing and bebop eras
* J. J. Cale (born 1938), country rock (see Tulsa sound)
* Jerry Cantrell, musician, lead guitarist/vocalist, Alice in Chains
* The Chainsaw Kittens, alternative rock band
* Don Cherry (trumpeter)(1936-1935), pioneering free jazz trumpeter
* Charlie Christian (1916–1942), jazz guitarist, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, considered the father of jazz guitar
* Roy Clark (born 1933), country musician
* Eddie Cochrane, rockabilly musician
* Color Me Badd, R&B vocal group
* Ronnie Dunn (born 1953), half of the country music duo Brooks and Dunn
* Gail Farrell (born 1947), singer/songwriter, featured performer from *The Lawrence Welk Show*
* The Flaming Lips, indie rock band featuring Wayne Coyne, Steven Drozd and Michael Ivins
* The Gap Band (born 1967), R&B, funk and soul group
* David Gates (born 1939), singer/songwriter associated with the band Bread
* Vince Gill (born 1957), country musician
* Earl Grant (1933–1970), easy listening pianist
* Woody Guthrie (1912–1967), folk singer
* Hanson (born 1992), pop band
* Glen Hardin (born 1939), musician, piano player
* Roy Harris (1898–1979), classical composer
* Richard Hart (born 1955), Jazz guitarist, composer/arranger, published artist
* Lee Hazlewood (born 1929), singer/songwriter, record producer
* Michael Hedges (December 31,1953 – December 2, 1997) acoustic guitarist born in Enid, Oklahoma
* Hinder, rock band
* Wanda Jackson (born 1938), rockabilly singer
* Toby Keith (1961-2024), country musician
* Merle Kilgore (1934–2005), singer/songwriter, manager
* Mel McDaniel (born 1942), country music singer/songwriter
* Reba McEntire (born 1955), country singer 
* singer/songwriter
* Leona Mitchell (born 1948), famed African American soprano, member Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame
* The Nixons, 90's hard rock band
* Patti Page (born 1927), traditional pop music and country music singer
* Sandi Patty (born 1957), Contemporary Christian music singer
* Tom Paxton (1937-), singer, singer-songwriter
* Pillar (born 2001), christian rock band
* Restless Heart band members Paul Gregg and Greg Jennings
* Sam Rivers (born 1923) jazz tenor saxophonist with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie,Herbie Hancock, and Quincy Jones
* Joe Don Rooney (born 1975), country music singer, one-third of the group Rascal Flatts
* Leon Russell (born 1942), singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist
* Neal Schon (born 1954), lead rock guitarist of Journey
* Blake Shelton (born 1976), country musician
* Starlight Mints, indie pop band
* B. J. Thomas (born 1942) singer/songwriter
* Carrie Underwood (born 1983), *American Idol* winner 2005
* Choya Partridge (born 1990), country music singer-songwriter and actor 
* Jimmy Webb (born 1946), popular music composer
* Claude Williams (musician) (1908–2004), jazz musician with the Count Basie band
* Mason Williams (born 1938), composer (Classical Gas), recording artist, comedy writer (Smothers Brothers)
* Bob Wills (1905–1975), country music singer/songwriter, leader of the band The Texas Playboys
* Sheb Wooley (1921–2003), actor and singer (Purple People Eater)
* Zach Bryan (1996) country music singer-songwriter

### Television/Radio
* Kristin Chenoweth (born 1968), actress and singer
* Walter Cronkite (born 1916), television journalist
* Douglas Edwards (1917–1990), radio and television journalist
* Kayne Gillaspie, TV personality and fashion designer
* Paul Harvey (born 1918), radio broadcaster and commentator
* Mary Hart, (born 1950), TV personality, co-host "Entertainment Tonight"
* Glenn Hauser (born 1945), radio broadcaster
* Rex Linn (born 1956), actor (CSI: Miami)
* Phil McGraw (born 1950), television psychologist
* Beverlee McKinsey (1935-2008) television soap opera actress
* Bill Moyers, journalist/national anchor
* Bob Murphy (1924–2004), sports play-by-play announcer (best known as announcer for New York Mets)
* Justin Nimmo, (born September 5, 1974), actor (Power Rangers in Space)
* Dan Rowan, co-host, "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In"
* Ted Shackelford (born 1946), actor (Knot's Landing)

### Miss America
* Jennifer Berry (born 1983), Miss America 2006
* Jane Anne Jayroe (born 1946), Miss America 1967
* Lauren Nelson (born 1987), Miss America 2007
* Susan Powell (born 1959), Miss America 1981
* Norma Smallwood (1909–1966), Miss America 1926, first Miss America of Native American Heritage (Cherokee)
* Shawntel Smith (born 1971), Miss America 1996

## Business
* Choya Partridge , Owner of S&M Auto Recovery, and a Country music Artist and Song writer 
* Edward K. Gaylord (1873–1974), Founder of the Daily Oklahoman
* Edward L. Gaylord (1919–2003), late Editor of the Daily Oklahoman, founder of TNN & CMT, owner of Grand Ole Opry
* Sylvan Goldman (1898–1984), Businessman and inventor of the shopping cart
* Waite Phillips (1883–1964), oil industry businessman
* T. Boone Pickens, Jr. (1928-2019), oil industry businessman
* Sam Walton (1918–1992), founder of Wal-Mart
* Tom L. Ward, oil industry businessman

## Art and Literature
* **Roger Eric Davis**, (1962-2013), Artist of Oil Paintings
* Charles Bell (painter), (1935-1995), photorealist painter
* William Bernhardt (born 1960), novelist
* John Berryman (1914–1972), poet
* Jim Thompson (born 1906), novelist
* Ralph Ellison (1914–1994), writer and scholar
* Chester Gould (1900–1985), creator of the *Dick Tracy* comic strip
* Tony Hillerman (born 1925), journalist, historian, professor, and novelist
* Josh Shipp (born 1981), author and motivational speaker
* S.E. Hinton (born 1948), author and novelist
* Bill Moyers (born 1934), journalist and public commentator
* Jeff Rowland, cartoonist, author of WIGU
* Bill Wallace, author
* Jason Nelson (born 1970), pioneering net artist and digital poet

## Athletics
* Troy Aikman, quarterback, OU, UCLA and Dallas Cowboys champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee
* Johnny Bench (born 1947), MLB catcher Cincinnati Reds, member Baseball Hall of Fame
* Brian Bosworth (born 1965), Oklahoma Sooners football and NFL player
* Josh Brown (born 1979), kicker Seattle Seahawks
* Mikey Burnett UFC fighter
* Joe Carter, Major League Baseball player, right fielder
* Larry Coker (born 1948), former football coach at University of Miami
* Bart Conner, Olympic gold medal gymnast
* Edward C. Gallagher, champion OSU sprinter and football player, winningest wrestling coach in NCAA history, Olympic wrestling coach, National Wrestling Hall of Fame charter member
* Bill Goldberg, professional wrestler
* Kelly Gregg, Oklahoma Sooners football and National Football League player
* Charlie Haas, WWE professional wrestler
* Mat Hoffman, World Champion BMX biker
* Matt Holliday, Outfielder for the Colorado Rockies.
* Henry Iba, OSU basketball coach, NCAA and Olympic champion coach Basketball Hall of Famer
* Bob Kalsu (1945–1970), Oklahoma Sooners football and Buffalo Bills player, only active professional football player killed in the Vietnam War
* Steve Largent, Seattle Seahawks Pro Football Hall of Famer and politician
* Abe Lemons, Oklahoma City University, Pan American University, and Texas Longhorns basketball coach
* Mickey Mantle (1931–1995), New York Yankees Baseball Hall of Famer
* Pepper Martin (1904–1965), St. Louis Cardinals baseball player
* "Jumping Jack" McCracken (1911–1958), Basketball Hall of Famer
* Shannon Miller, Olympic gold medal gymnast
* Ryan Minor, Oklahoma Sooners baseball & basketball player
* Dr. Gil Morgan (born 1959), professional golfer
* Tommy Morrison, Former World Heavyweight Champion boxer
* Bobby Murcer (1946–2008) Professional baseball player and sportscaster
* Lance Norick (born 1968), NASCAR driver.
* Steve Owens, Oklahoma Sooners football player and 1969 Heisman Trophy winner
* Brad Penny, Florida Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers MLB pitcher
* Beth Phoenix, professional wrestler
* Darrell Porter (1952–2002), MLB baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals
* Mark Price (born 1964) basketball player; Enid H.S., Georgia Tech, and Indiana Pacers
* Bryant Reeves attended Gans high school in eastern Oklahoma, attended OSU, and retired from the Vancouver Grizzlies in the NBA.
* Allie Reynolds (1917–1994), Baseball Hall of Famer
* Crystal Robinson, New York Liberty WNBA basketball player
* Bullet Rogan (1893–1967), Baseball Hall of Famer
* Matt Roney (born 1980), MLB baseball player, relief pitcher
* Jim Ross, WWE announcer
* Darrell Royal (born 1924), football coach at University of Texas
* Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State Cowboys Heisman Trophy winner, Football Hall of Famer
* Lee Roy Selmon, Oklahoma Sooners football player and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee
* Jeremy Shockey (born 1980), professional football player
* Billy Sims (born 1955), running back Oklahoma Sooners football and Detroit Lions, Heisman Trophy winner
* John Smith (born 1965), Olympic gold medalist and wrestling coach
* Warren Spahn (1921–2003), Baseball Hall of Famer
* Willie Stargell (1940-2001), Baseball Hall of Famer with the Pittsburgh Pirates, known for his ability to hit home runs completely out of stadiums.
* Eddie Sutton, Arkansas Razorbacks and Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball coach
* Barry Switzer (born 1937), football coach, Oklahoma Sooners and Dallas Cowboys
* Jim Thorpe (1887–1953), Olympic gold medalist, played professional football and Major League Baseball
* Spencer Tillman, All-American running back for the Oklahoma Sooners and CBS TV football analyst
* Wayman Tisdale (born 1964), professional basketball player and jazz bass guitarist
* Bob Tway (born 1959), professional golfer and PGA Championship winner in 1986
* Lloyd "Little Poison" Waner (1906–1982), Baseball Hall of Famer
* Paul "Big Poison" Waner (1903–1965), Baseball Hall of Famer
* J.C. Watts, Oklahoma Sooners football quarterback and later U.S. Congressman
* Jason White, Oklahoma Sooners football quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner
* Bud Wilkinson (1916–1994), famed Oklahoma Sooners football coach, member of the College Football Hall of Fame
* Matt Wiman (Born 1983), UFC fighter

## Science/Medicine
* Richard E. Berendzen (born 1938), astronomer, author, and professor
* James Herndon (born 1952), media psychologist
* Karl Guthe Jansky (1905–1950), physicist and radio engineer

## Aviation/Aeronautics
* Thomas and Paul Braniff, airline entrepreneurs, founders of Braniff International Airways
* Gordon Cooper (1907-2006)
* Owen K. Garriott (born 1930), astronaut
* John Herrington (born 1958), astronaut
* James Jabara (1923-1966) world's first jet ace, and Korean War triple ace with 15 kills
* Shannon Lucid (born 1943), astronaut
* William R. Pogue (born 1930), astronaut
* Wiley Post (1898–1935), first pilot to fly solo around the world, (born in Texas but grew up in Oklahoma)
* Thomas Stafford (born 1930), astronaut
* Clarence L. Tinker (1887-1942), U.S. Army Air Corps general and supreme commander of the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific during World War II

## Religious Figures
* Oral Roberts (1918-2009), evangelist
* Bill Majors (born 1960), missionary
* Yahweh ben Yahweh born and legally named Hulon Mitchell Jr. (October 27, 1935 - May 7, 2007), was the leader of the religious group Nation of Yahweh

## Infamous Oklahomans
* Belle Starr (1848–1889), Queen of the outlaws, a female Jesse James
* Pretty Boy Floyd (1904–1934), Depression era gangster
* Cameron Willingham (1968–2004), convicted arsonist, whose case spawned a controversy over use of forensic evidence in capital trials

## Other
* Bill G. Chapman (1928–2007), advocate for the blind, author
* Tom Colbert (born 1949), first African-American Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice
* Stephen Jones (July 1, 1940 -), attorney best known as Timothy McVeigh's lead defense lawyer during his trial for the Oklahoma City bombing
* Joe Redington (1917–1999), "Father of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race"
* Bass Reeves (1838-1910), first African-American U.S. Marshal and one of the chief law enforcement agents during the first years of Oklahoma's statehood.
* Steven W. Taylor (born 1949), Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice, presided over Oklahoma City bombing suspect Terry Nichols's state murder trial
* Cornel West (born 1953), scholar

## References