List of 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 (1945–2010), 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, 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
- Maria Tallchief (born 1925), 1st American Prima ballerina
- Sequoyah (1776-1842?), lived in what is now Sequoyah County, where he created the symbols that he would soon form into the Cherokee Indian alphabet.
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,Sr. (1919–1979) 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 1945), 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 (1926–2006), U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
- Perle Mesta (1889–1975), political hostess, U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg
- A. S. Mike Monroney (1902–1980), U.S. Senator, sponsor of the Automobile Information Disclosure Act of 1958
- 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
- Tony Perkins (born 1963), director of the Family Research Council and former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
- Dennis Reimer, (born 1939), Four-Star General, Chief of Staff of the US Army
- Gene Stipe, (born 1926), longest-serving member of the Oklahoma State Senate
- Elizabeth Warren, (born 1949) Special Advisor for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau under Barack Obama
- J.C. Watts, (born 1957) former U.S. representative that was in the Republican majority leadership of the United States House of Representatives in the 1990s and OU Sooners quarterback in the 1970s.
- Jim Woolsey, (born 1941), former Director of Central Intelligence and head of the CIA (February 5, 1993 - January 10, 1995)
Entertainment
Humorists/comedians
Film/TV/Theatre
- Suzy Amis (born 1962), actress
- Erika Anderson (born 1963), actress
- Royce D. Applegate (1939–2003), actor (seaQuest DSV)
- Gene Autry (1907–1998), actor, musician
- Nicki Aycox (born 1975), actress (Cold Case)
- Marshall Bell (born 1942), actor (G vs E)
- William Boyd (1895–1972), actor (Hopalong Cassidy)
- Gary Busey (born 1944), actor
- T. V. Carpio (born 1981), actress, singer
- Lon Chaney Jr (1906–1973), actor
- Kristin Chenoweth (born 1968), actress (The West Wing)
- Danny Cooksey (born 1975), actor, voice actor (Diff'rent Strokes)
- Larry Clark (born 1943), filmmaker (Kids, Ken Park), photographer
- Patrick Cranshaw (1919–2005), actor (AfterMASH)
- Joan Crawford (1906–1977), Academy Award winning actress
- Michael Dolan (born 1965), actor
- Blake Edwards (1922–2010), director, writer, producer
- Kay Francis (1905–1968), actress
- James Garner (born 1928), actor (The Rockford Files)
- Bill Hader (born 1978), film and TV actor, writer, comedian (SNL)
- Van Heflin (1908–1971), Academy Award winning actor
- Mark Holton (born 1958), 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
- Heather Langenkamp (born 1964), actress (A Nightmare on Elm Street)
- Jason London (born 1972), actor (Wildfire)
- Dick Lowry (born 1944), director
- April March (Born 1935) Burlesque Dancer
- James Marsden (born 1973), actor
- Rue McClanahan (born 1934), actress (The Golden Girls)
- Hayley McFarland (born 1991), actress (Lie to Me)
- Ryan Merriman (born 1983), actor (The Pretender)
- Vera Miles (born 1929), actress
- Megan Mullally, actress
- Olivia Munn, (born 1980), actress, TV personality (The Daily Show)
- Clarence Nash (1904–1985), voice of Donald Duck
- Tim Blake Nelson (born 1964), actor, director
- 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
- Erik Rhodes (1906–1990), actor, singer
- Dale Robertson (born 1920), actor
- Chelcie Ross (born 1942), actor
- Gailard Sartain (born 1946), actor, artist, comedian
- Tobe Sexton (born 1968), actor, filmmaker, producer, director, singer, dancer (Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, Offerings)
- Ted Shackelford (born 1946), actor (Knot's Landing)
- Lauren Stamile (born 1976), actress (Grey's Anatomy)
- Wes Studi (born 1947), actor
- Maria Tallchief (born 1925), ballerina
- Paula Trickey (born 1966), actress (Pacific Blue)
- Jeanne Tripplehorn (born 1963), actress
- Heather Wahlquist (born 1977), actress
- Michael Wilson (1914–1978), Academy Award-winning screenwriter
- Alfre Woodard (born 1952), actress
Music
- 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
- Bob Bogle, founding member of The Ventures
- 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
- 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 (1929–2007), 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 (born 1961), country musician
- Merle Kilgore (1934–2005), singer/songwriter, manager
- Mel McDaniel (born 1942), country music singer/songwriter
- Reba McEntire (born 1955), country singer
- Roger Miller (1936–1992), singer/songwriter
- Leona Mitchell (born 1948), famed African American soprano, member Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame
- The Nixons, 1990s 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
- John Simmons (1918–1979), jazz bassist
- Starlight Mints, indie pop band
- Ryan Tedder, frontman for pop rock band, OneRepublic
- B. J. Thomas (born 1942) singer/songwriter
- Carrie Underwood (born 1983), country music singer/songwriter, American Idol winner 2005
- Maci Wainwright (born 1990), country music singer-songwriter
- 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)
Television/radio
- Chet Allen (born 1928), actor, The Troubleshooters
- Kristin Chenoweth (born 1968), actress and singer
- Walter Cronkite (1916–2009), 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
- 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)
- Lee Pace (born 1979), actor (Pushing Daisies)
- Christi O'Connor (b. 1960) television journalist and host
- Judy Woodruff (born 1946), news anchor and journalist
Miss America
Business
- Clay Bennett, Chairman of Dorchester Capital, Professional Basketball LLC
- 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
- J. M. Hall (1851-1935), Merchant and pioneer of Tulsa, Oklahoma
- George Kaiser,[1] chairman of BOK Financial Corporation
- Henry Kravis,[2] co-founder of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
- Sam P. McBirney (1877–1936), founder and vice president National Bank of Commerce in Tulsa[3]
- Neal Patterson (born 1950), CEO of the Cerner Corporation and owner of the Sporting Kansas City soccer team
- Waite Phillips (1883–1964), oil industry businessman
- T. Boone Pickens, Jr. (born 1928), oil industry businessman
- William Skelly (1878-1957), Founder of Skelly Oil Company and Spartan School of Aeronautics
- Helen Walton (1919–2007), wife of Sam Walton, and one-time richest woman of the world
- Sam Walton (1918–1992), founder of Wal-Mart
- Tom L. Ward, oil industry businessman
Art and literature
- Charles Bell (painter), (1935–1995), photorealist painter
- William Bernhardt (born 1960), novelist
- John Berryman (1914–1972), poet
- Libby Cudmore, author
- Jim Thompson (1906–1977), novelist
- Ralph Ellison (1914–1994), writer and scholar
- Martin Gardner (1914–2010), author specializing in recreational mathematics
- 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
- Gary Panter (born 1950), illustrator, painter and designer
- Jeff Rowland, cartoonist, author of WIGU
- Ed Ruscha (born 1937), artist
- Jason Nelson (born 1970), Pioneering Net Artist and Digital Poet
Athletics
- Xavier Adibi (born 1984), linebacker for the Houston Texans
- Troy Aikman, quarterback, OU, UCLA and Dallas Cowboys, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee
- Brent Albright, professional wrestler
- Brett Anderson (born 1988), pitcher for the Oakland Athletics
- Mark Anderson (born 1983), defensive end for the Houston Texans
- Kelenna Azubuike (born 1983), shooting guard/small forward for the New York Knicks
- David Baas (born 1981), guard and center for the New York Giants
- Dan Bailey (born 1988), placekicker for the Dallas Cowboys
- Johnny Bench (born 1947), MLB catcher Cincinnati Reds, member Baseball Hall of Fame
- Sam Bradford (born 1987), football quarterback, OU and St. Louis Rams
- Nick Blackburn (born 1982), relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins
- Brian Bosworth (born 1965), Oklahoma Sooners football and NFL player
- Jack Brisco, former professional wrestler
- Jerry Brisco, former professional wrestler
- Josh Brown (born 1979), kicker St. Louis Rams
- Mike Brumley (born 1963), third base coach for the Seattle Mariners
- Ryan Budde (born 1979), catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays
- Bruce Buffer (born 1957), Octagon announcer for UFC main events
- Mikey Burnett UFC fighter
- Joe Carter, Major League Baseball player, right fielder
- Larry Coker (born 1948), former football coach at University of Miami
- Nick Cole (born 1984), guard for the Philadelphia Eagles
- Bart Conner, Olympic gold medal gymnast
- Riley Cooper (born 1987), wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles
- Bobby Cox (born 1941), former manager for the Atlanta Braves
- Phillip Dillard (born 1986), linebacker for the New York Giants
- Tim Flannery (born 1957), third base coach for the San Francisco Giants
- Bill Goldberg, professional wrestler
- Kelly Gregg, Oklahoma Sooners football and National Football League player
- Blake Griffin, power forward for the Los Angeles Clippers
- Taylor Griffin, former forward for the Phoenix Suns
- Charlie Haas, WWE professional wrestler
- Mickey Hatcher, OU baseball, hitting coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
- Mat Hoffman, World Champion BMX biker
- Matt Holliday, left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals
- Henry Iba, basketball coach, Basketball Hall of Famer
- Darnell Jackson, forward for the Sacramento Kings
- Charlie Johnson, offensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts
- Felix Jones, running back for the Dallas Cowboys
- Bob Kalsu (1945–1970), Oklahoma Sooners football and Buffalo Bills player, only active professional football player killed in the Vietnam War
- Deji Karim (born 1986), running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars
- Matt Kemp, Outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers
- Jon Kolb, Oklahoma State and Pittsburgh Steelers center
- Hal Lahar (1919—2003), professional football player and college football coach
- 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
- Bryan McCann (born 1987), cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys
- "Jumping Jack" McCracken (1911–1958), Basketball Hall of Famer
- Leroy McGuirk, former professional wrestler and promoter
- Mike McGuirk, former ring announcer for World Wrestling Federation
- Robert Meachem (born 1984), wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints
- Shannon Miller, Olympic gold medal gymnast
- Garrett Mills (born 1983), tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles
- Ryan Minor, Oklahoma Sooners baseball & basketball player
- Dr. Gil Morgan (born 1959), professional golfer
- Marty Mornhinweg (born 1962), offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles
- Tommy Morrison, Former World Heavyweight Champion boxer
- Bobby Murcer (1946–2008) Professional baseball player and sportscaster
- Lance Norick (born 1968), NASCAR driver
- Daniel Orton (born 1990), center for the Orlando Magic
- Steve Owens, Oklahoma Sooners football player and 1969 Heisman Trophy winner
- Brad Penny (born 1978), starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers
- Beth Phoenix, professional wrestler
- Darrell Porter (1952–2002), MLB baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals
- Maurkice Pouncey (born 1989), center for the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Mark Price (born 1964) basketball player; Enid H.S., Georgia Tech, and Cleveland Cavaliers
- 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
- T. J. Rushing (born 1983), cornerback and return specialist for the Detroit Lions
- John Russell (born 1961), third base coach for the Baltimore Orioles
- Rex Ryan (born 1962), head coach for the New York Jets
- Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State Cowboys Heisman Trophy winner, Football Hall of Famer
- Lee Roy Selmon (1954–2011), Oklahoma Sooners football player and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee
- Jeremy Shockey (born 1980), tight end for the New Orleans Saints
- Billy Sims (born 1955), running back Oklahoma Sooners football and Detroit Lions, Heisman Trophy winner
- Antonio Smith (born 1981), defensive end for the Houston Texans
- 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.
- Cory Sullivan (born 1979), outfielder for the Houston Astros
- Eddie Sutton, Arkansas Razorbacks and Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball coach
- Jack Swagger, OU and WWE wrestler
- Barry Switzer (born 1937), football coach, Oklahoma Sooners and Dallas Cowboys
- Brian Tallet (born 1977), relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals
- Ralph Terry (born 1936), former pitcher, primarily with the New York Yankees
- 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 (1964–2009), 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
- "Cowboy" Bill Watts, former professional wrestler and promoter
- J.C. Watts, Oklahoma Sooners football quarterback and later U.S. Congressman
- Wes Welker (born 1981), wide receiver for the New England Patriots
- 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
- Shelden Williams (born 1983), power forward for the New Jersey Nets
- Reggie Willits (born 1981), left fielder for the Los Angeles Angels
- Matt Wiman (Born 1983), UFC fighter
- Jamey Wright (born 1974), relief pitcher for the Seattle Mariners
- Matt Grice (Born 1981), Former UFC fighter
Science/medicine
Aviation/aeronautics
- Thomas and Paul Braniff, airline entrepreneurs, founders of Braniff International Airways
- Gordon Cooper (1927–2006)
- 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
Infamous Oklahomans
Other
- Gary Clayton Anderson (born 1948), American historian, specialist in American Indian studies
- Daniel J. Boorstin (1914–2004), historian, professor, attorney, and writer
- Bill G. Chapman (1928–2007), advocate for the blind, author
- Tom Colbert (born 1949), first African-American Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice
- Ben Graf Henneke (1914-1999), Educator and President of University of Tulsa
- Anita Hill (born 1956), professor of social policy, law, and women's studies who testified at the 1991 U.S. Senate confirmation hearings of then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas
- Stephen Jones (July 1, 1940 -), attorney best known as Timothy McVeigh's lead defense lawyer during his trial for the Oklahoma City bombing
- PFC Bradley Manning (born 1987), U.S. Army soldier accused of disclosing U.S. classified information to Wikileaks
- Charles Page, philanthropist and founder of Sand Springs, Oklahoma
- Amanda Rochelle Penix, winner of Miss Oklahoma Teen USA 1997 and Miss Oklahoma USA 2000
- 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
- ^ "Forbes's The World's Richest People". http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/10/OXNB.html. Retrieved 2007-09-16.
- ^ "Academy of Achievement Biography". http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/kra0bio-1. Retrieved 2007-09-16.
- ^ Tulsa Gal Website. "Tulsa Founders: James H. McBirney."June 20, 2010.[1]
See also