List of people from Kansas

Location of Kansas in the U.S. map

The following are notable people who were either born, raised, or have lived for a significant period of time in the American state of Kansas.

Academics and Nobel Prize Laureates

Milton S. Eisenhower (1899–1985), university president; Abilene
Wendell Johnson (1906–1965), psychologist and speech pathologist, author of The Monster Study; Roxbury
Jack S. Kilby (1923–2005), Nobel Prize winner in Physics; Great Bend
Solon Toothaker Kimball (1909–1982), anthropologist; Manhattan
Stanford Lehmberg (born 1931), historian; McPherson
Norman Malcolm (1911–1990), philosopher; Selden
Deane Waldo Malott (1898–1996), president of Cornell University; Abilene
Abby Lillian Marlatt (1869–1943), home economics; Manhattan
Eric K. Meyer (born 1953), journalism professor and Pulitzer Prize nominee; Marion
M. Lee Pelton (born 1950), president of Willamette University; Wichita
John Brooks Slaughter (born 1934), college president and first African-American director of the National Science Foundation; Topeka
Vernon L. Smith (born 1927), Nobel Memorial Prize winner in Economics; Wichita
Earl Wilbur Sutherland Jr. (1915–1974), 1971 Nobel Prize winner in Physiology and Medicine; Burlingame
Donald Worster (born 1941), historian; Lawrence

Arts and literature

Artists

Nina E. Allender (1873–1957), artist and women's suffrage cartoonist; Auburn
Grace Bilger (1907–2000), artist; Olathe
Grant Bond (born 1974), artist; Kansas City
Blackbear Bosin (1921–1980), Native American artist; Wichita
Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks (1917–2000), poet; Topeka
Bruce Conner (1933–2008), artist; McPherson
John Steuart Curry (1897–1946), artist; Winchester
Aaron Douglas (1900–1979), artist; Topeka
Randall Duell (1903–1992), architect and art director; Russell County
Edgar Heap of Birds (born 1954), artist; Wichita
Bruce Helander (born 1947), artist; Great Bend
Elizabeth Layton (1909–1993), artist; Wellsville
Evan Lindquist (born 1936), printmaker, Artist Laureate of Arkansas; Salina
Barbara Morgan (1900–1992), photographer; Buffalo, Kansas
Gordon Parks (1912–2006), photographer and film director; Fort Scott
Birger Sandzen (1871–1954), artist, art professor at Bethany College; Lindsborg
Gary Mark Smith (born 1956), photographer, studied at University of Kansas; Wichita
W. Eugene Smith (1918–1978), photographer; Wichita
Mort Walker (1923–2018), cartoonist, creator of Beetle Bailey and Hi and Lois comic strips; El Dorado

Authors

Laura Abbot (), author of Harlequin romance novels; Kansas City
Gwendolyn Brooks (1917–2000), author, poet; Topeka
William Burroughs (1914–1997), author; Lawrence
Don Coldsmith (1926–2009), author of Western fiction; Iola
Dorothy Canfield Fisher (1879–1958), author of children's books; Lawrence
Thomas Frank (born 1965), author and editor; Mission Hills
Jane Heap (1883–1964), author and publisher; Topeka
Scott Heim (born 1966), author; Hutchinson
Langston Hughes (1902–1967), author and poet; Lawrence
William Inge (1913–1973), playwright; Independence
Bill James (born 1949), author; Mayetta, Kansas
Bill Martin, Jr. (1916–2004), children's author; Hiawatha
Fred Myton (1885–1955), screenwriter; Garden City
Kathy Patrick (), author, founder of Pulpwood Queens Book Club; Eureka
Scott Phillips (born 1961), author; Wichita
Vance Randolph (1892–1980), folklorist; Pittsburg
Red Reeder (1902–1998), author and United States Army officer; Fort Leavenworth
Richard Rhodes (born 1937), author and historian; Kansas City
Lois Ruby (), author of historic fiction; Lawrence
Damon Runyon (1880–1946), author; Manhattan
Mary Francis Shura (1923–1990), children's, romance and mystery author; Pratt
William Stafford (1914–1993), poet and pacifist; Hutchinson
Max Yoho (born 1934), author; Colony

Dancers

Clark Tippet (1954–1992), ballet; Parsons

Musicians

Chris Arpad, solo steel pannist; McPherson
Karrin Allyson, jazz performer; Great Bend
Dawayne Bailey, musician and songwriter (Bob Seger and Chicago); Manhattan
Chris Burnett (born 1955), musician; Olathe
Karla Burns (born 1955), mezzo-soprano; Wichita
Danny Carey (born 1961), musician; Lawrence
Richard Christy, musician, actor, comedian, drummer, writer for Howard Stern show; Fort Scott
Dorothy DeLay (1917–2002), violinist, Juilliard professor; Medicine Lodge
Joyce DiDonato (born 1969), mezzo-soprano; Prairie Village
Phil Ehart (born 1951), drummer for the rock band "Kansas"; Coffeyville
Melissa Etheridge (born 1961), musician; Leavenworth
Rory Lee Feek (born ca. 1966), country music singer; Atchison
Wendell Hall (1886–1969), musician; St. George
Mark Hart (born 1953), musician, Crowded House, Supertramp; Fort Scott
Louis Thomas Hardin (1916–1999), vocalist, percussionist and composer better known by stage name, "Moondog"; Marysville
Nora Holt (1885 or 1890–1975), singer and co-founder of the National Association of Negro Musicians; Kansas City
Dave Hope (born 1949), musician; Topeka
Eva Jessye (1895–1992), choral conductor; Coffeyville
Jennifer Knapp (born 1974), singer and songwriter; Chanute
Katrina Leskanich (born 1960), musician; Topeka
Kerry Livgren (born 1949), founding member of Kansas; Topeka
Frank Luther (1905–1980), musician; Lakin
Mitch Markovich (born 1944), drummer, marching band director, professor; Great Bend
Martina McBride (born 1966), musician; Sharon
Andy McKee (born 1979), musician; Topeka
Janelle Monáe (born 1985), vocalist; Kansas City
Jerrod Niemann (born 1979), country singer; Liberal
Charlie Parker (1920–1955), musician; Kansas City
Samuel Ramey (born 1942), opera, bass-baritone; Colby
Joe Don Rooney (born 1975), guitarist and vocalist; Baxter Springs
Mark Schultz (born 1970), musician; Colby
Steven Stucky (born 1949), Pulitzer Prize-winner in music; Hutchinson
Jeremy Turner, guitar player in death metal band Origin, formerly of Cannibal Corpse; (Hometown Needed)
Joe Walsh (born 1947), musician; Wichita
Bobby Watson (born 1953), musician; Bonner Springs
James Wesley, country music singer; Mound Valley
David Wetzel (born 1983), musician; Westwood
J. White Did It (born 1984), record producer; Kansas City and Leavenworth
Chely Wright (born 1970), musician; Wellsville
XV (stage name of Donavan LaMond Johnson), emcee, producer; Wichita
Gordon Young (1919–1998), organist and composer; McPherson

Athletics

Athletes

A–F

Alvan Adams (born 1954), basketball; Lawrence
John H. Adams (born 1915), jockey; Iola
Neil Allen (born 1958), baseball pitcher, pitching coach; Kansas City
David Arkin (born 1987), pro football player; Wichita
Elden Auker (1910–2006), baseball pitcher; Norcatur
Chase Austin (born 1989), NASCAR driver; Eudora
Ron Baker (born 1993), NBA player (New York Knicks); Utica and Scott City (born in Hays)
Thane Baker (born 1931), gold medalist at 1956 Summer Olympics, decathlon; Elkhart
Tony Barker (born 1968), football player; Wichita
Chris Barnes (born 1970), professional bowler; Topeka
James Bausch (1906–1974), gold medalist 1932 Summer Olympics; Garden Plain
Judy Bell (born 1936), member of World Golf Hall of Fame; Wichita
Matt Besler (born 1987), professional soccer player; Overland Park
B.H. Born (born 1932), basketball player; Medicine Lodge
Clint Bowyer (born 1979), NASCAR driver; Emporia
George Brett (born 1953), baseball Hall of Famer; Mission Hills
Bryce Brown (born 1991), football player; Wichita
Orville Brown (1908–1981), pro wrestler, NWA champion; Sharon
Mildred Bliss Burke (1915–1989), wrestler, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame; Coffeyville
Enos Cabell (born 1949), baseball player; Fort Riley
Veronica Campbell-Brown (born 1982), track and field athlete (Olympic and world champion); Great Bend
Antoine Carr (born 1961),; basketball player
Larry Cheney (1886–1969), baseball pitcher; Belleville
Jack Christiansen (1928–1986), football Hall of Famer; Sublette
Tony Clark (born 1972), baseball player; Newton
Maliek Collins (born 1995), football player; Kansas City
Baron Corbin (born 1984), football player, WWE wrestler; Lenexa
Nolan Cromwell (born 1955), football player; Smith Center
Aaron Crow (born 1986), baseball player; Topeka
Glenn Cunningham (1909–1988), silver medalist, 1936 Olympic Games,1,500m run; Elkhart
Johnny Damon (born 1973), baseball player; Fort Riley
Eldon Danenhauer (born 1935), football player; Clay Center
Darren Daulton (born 1962), baseball player; Arkansas City
Wantha Davis (born 1918), jockey; Liberal
Joey Devine (born 1983), baseball player; Junction City
Lynn Dickey (born 1949), football player; Osawatomie
Andy Dirks (born 1986), baseball player; Burrton
Larry Drew (born 1958), basketball player and coach; Kansas City
Mark Duckens (born 1965), football player; Wichita
Brian Duensing (born 1983), baseball player; Marysville
Brody Eldridge (born 1987), football player; La Cygne
Tim Elliott (born 1986), mixed martial artist; Wichita
Maurice Evans (born 1978), basketball player; Wichita
Kyle Farnsworth (born 1976), baseball player; Wichita
Galen Fiss (1931–2006), football player; Johnson City
Scott Fulhage (born 1961), football player; Beloit

G–M

Andrew Gachkar (born 1988), football player; Overland Park
Tyson Gay (born 1982), track and field athlete (world champion); Great Bend
Maurice Greene (born 1974), track and field athlete (world and Olympic champion); Kansas City
Adrian Griffin (born 1974), basketball player and coach; Wichita
Geneo Grissom (born 1992), football player; Hutchinson
Andy Gruenebaum (born 1982), soccer player
Don Gutteridge (1912–2008), baseball player and manager; Pittsburg
Joe Hastings (born 1987), football player; Wichita
Tanner Hawkinson (born 1990), football player; McPherson
Mark Haynes (born 1958), football player; Kansas City
Ben Heeney (born 1992), football player; Hutchinson
Bobby Henrich (born 1938), baseball player; Lawrence
Don Hill (1904–1967), football player; Hiawatha
Shaun Hill (born 1980), football player; Parsons
Chief Hogsett (1903–2001), baseball player; Brownell
Lionel Hollins (born 1953), basketball player and coach; Arkansas City
Scott Huffman (born 1964), pole vaulter; Quinter
Damian Johnson (born 1962), football player; Great Bend
Walter Johnson (1887–1946), baseball Hall of Famer; Humboldt
Pete Kilduff (1893–1930), baseball player; Weir
Fred Kipp (born 1931), baseball pitcher; Piqua
Tonya Knight (born 1966), IFBB professional bodybuilder; Overland Park
Laurie Koehn (born 1982), WNBA player; Moundridge
Gene Krug (born 1955), baseball player; Garden City
Adam LaRoche (born 1979), baseball player; Fort Scott
Bobby Lashley (born 1976), professional wrestler for WWE; Junction City
Shalee Lehning (born 1987), WNBA player; Sublette
Martin Lewis (born 1975), NBA basketball player; Liberal
Danny Manning (born 1966), NBA basketball player; Lawrence
Rudy May (born 1944), baseball player; Coffeyville
Jon McGraw (), professional football player; Riley
Archie "Hap" McKain (1911–1985), baseball player; Delphos
Peter Mehringer (1910–1987), Olympic gold medalist wrestler, pro football player; Kinsley
Brian Moorman (born 1976), football player; Sedgwick
Mike Morin (born 1991), baseball player; Leawood

N–Z

Marcio Navarro (born 1978), professional kickboxer and mixed martial artist; Wichita
Jordy Nelson (born 1985), football player; Leonardville
Terence Newman (born 1978), football player; Salina
Nicole Ohlde (born 1982), WNBA player; Clay Center
Antonio Orozco (born 1987), professional boxer; Garden City
Victor Ortiz (born 1987), professional boxer; Garden City
Bob Orton (1929–2006), professional wrestler; Kansas City
Bob Orton, Jr. (born 1950), professional wrestler, WWE Hall of Fame; Kansas City
John Parrella (born 1969), professional football player; Topeka
Hal Patterson (1932–2011), professional football player; Larned
Jordan Phillips (born 1992), professional football player; Towanda
Joseph Randle (born 1991), professional football player; Wichita
Ronn Reynolds (born 1958), professional baseball player; Wichita
Dustin Richardson (born 1984), MLB pitcher; Newton
John Riggins (born 1949), football player, Pro Football Hall of Famer; Centralia
Brandon Rios (born 1986), professional boxer; Garden City
Lafayette Russell (1905–1978), football player, B-movie actor "Reb" Russell; Osawatomie
Johnny Rutherford (born 1938), race car driver; Coffeyville
Jim Ryun (born 1947), athlete and politician; Wichita
Barry Sanders (born 1968), football player, NFL Hall of Famer; Wichita
Melvin Sanders (born January 3, 1981), pro basketball player; Liberal
Wes Santee (1932–2010), NCAA cross country champion, track and field athlete; Ashland
Gale Sayers (born 1943), NFL Hall of Famer; Wichita
Otto Schnellbacher (1923–2008), pro basketball and football player; Sublette
Ryan Schraeder (born 1988), professional football player; Wichita
Wayne Simien (born 1983), NCAA All-American, NBA basketball player; Leavenworth
Mark Simoneau (born 1977), professional football player; Smith Center
Marilynn Smith (born 1928), professional golfer and LPGA co-founder; Topeka
Lee Stevens (born 1967), professional baseball player; Lawrence
Darren Sproles (born 1983), professional football player; Olathe
Jackie Stiles (born 1978), WNBA basketball player; Claflin
Stewart "Smokey" Stover (born 1938), professional football player; McPherson
Darrell Stuckey (born 1987), professional football player; Kansas City
Tom Sturdivant (1930–2009), professional baseball player; Gordon
Steve Tasker (born 1962), NFL Pro Bowl MVP in 1993; Leoti (born in Smith Center
Luther Haden "Dummy" Taylor (1875–1958), baseball pitcher; Oskaloosa
Doug Terry (born February 10, 1968), pro football player; Liberal
Tommy Thompson (1916–1989), pro football player; Hutchinson
Blake Treinen (born 1988), professional baseball player; Osage City
Jerame Tuman (born March 24, 1976), pro football player; Liberal
Ron Warner (born 1975), professional football player; Independence
Earl Watson (born 1979), NBA basketball player; Kansas City
Tom Watson (born 1949), golfer, member of World Golf Hall of Fame; Stilwell
Mitch Webster (born 1959), MLB player; Larned
Kendra Wecker (born 1982), WNBA player; Marysville
Michael Wilhoite (born 1986), pro football player; Manhattan
Jess Willard (1881–1968), world heavyweight boxing champion, St. Clere; Pottawatomie County
Kamerion Wimbley (born 1983), professional football player; Wichita
Lynette Woodard (born 1959), basketball Hall of Famer; Wichita
Brad Ziegler (born 1979), baseball player; Pratt
John Zook (born 1947), professional football player; Garden City

Coaches

Phog Allen (1885–1974), Hall of Fame college basketball coach; Lawrence
Jeremy Bates (born 1976), NFL offensive coordinator; Manhattan
Jack Christiansen (1928–1986), pro and college football coach; Sublette
Alan Cockrell (born 1962), hitting coach, New York Yankees; Kansas City
Jory Collins (born 1978), college basketball coach; Holton
Larry Drew (born 1958), NBA head coach; Kansas City
Mark Fox (born 1969), college basketball coach; Garden City
Dennis Franchione (born 1951), college football coach; Girard
Don Gambril (born 1934), Hall of Fame swimming coach; Altamont
Ted Gilmore (born 1967), college football coach; Wichita
Bill Guthridge (born 1937), college basketball coach; Parsons
Lionel Hollins (born 1953), NBA head coach; Arkansas City
Ralph Houk (1919–2010), Major League Baseball manager; Lawrence
Tim Jankovich (born 1959), college basketball coach; Manhattan
Gene Keady (born 1936), Hall of Fame college basketball coach; Larned
Gary Patterson (born 1960), college football coach; Rozel
Jerry Kill (born 1961), college football coach; Cheney
Lon Kruger (born 1952), college and NBA basketball coach; Silver Lake
John McLendon (1915–1999), Hall of Fame basketball coach of college, ABL, and ABA; Hiawatha
Ralph Miller (1919–2001), Hall of Fame college basketball coach; Chanute
Billie Moore (born 1943), Hall of Fame college basketball coach; Westmoreland
James Naismith (1861–1939), inventor of basketball, coach, athletic director, faculty member University of Kansas; (Hometown needed)
Johnny Orr (born 1927), college basketball coach; Yale
John H. Outland (1871–1947), namesake of Outland Trophy; Douglas County
Adolph Rupp (1901–1977), Hall of Fame college basketball coach; Halstead
Francis Schmidt (1885–1944), college football, baseball, and basketball coach; Downs
Brian Schottenheimer (born 1973), NFL offensive coordinator; Stilwell
Dean Smith (1931–2015), Hall of Fame college basketball coach; Emporia
Bill Snyder (born 1939), Hall of Fame college football coach; Kansas State University
Eddie Sutton (born 1936), college basketball coach; Bucklin
Mark Turgeon (born 1965), college basketball coach; Topeka
Brent Venables (born 1970), college football coach; Salina

Aviators and astronauts

Walter Herschel Beech (1891–1950), aviator and aircraft designer; Wichita
Clyde Vernon Cessna (1879–1954), aviator and aircraft designer; Rago
Amelia Earhart (1897–1937), aviator; Atchison
Joe Engle (born 1932), astronaut; Chapman
Ronald Evans (1933–1990), astronaut; St. Francis
Daniel Forbes (1920–1948), United States Army Air Corps pilot; Carbondale
Steve Hawley (born 1951), astronaut; Salina
Donald Hudson (1895–1967), World War I flying ace; Topeka
Glenn L. Martin (1886–1955), aviation pioneer; Salina
Lloyd Carlton Stearman (1898–1975), aviator and aircraft designer; Wellsville

Businesspeople and inventors

Philip Anschutz (born 1939), billionaire investor; Russell
Bion Barnett (1857–1958), co-founder of Barnett Bank; Hiawatha
Olive Ann Beech, Chairwoman of Beech Aircraft Company; Wichita (born in Waverly)
Dan and Frank Carney (Dan born 1931, Frank born 1938), founders of Pizza Hut; Wichita
Walter Chrysler (1875–1940), founder of Chrysler Corporation; Wamego
William Coffin Coleman (1870–1957), founder of the Coleman Company; Wichita
David Dillon (born 1951), former CEO of Kroger; Hutchinson
Vic Edelbrock (1913–1962), automotive engineer; Eudora
James Harbord (1866–1947), President and Chairman of the Board of RCA; Manhattan
William Wadsworth Hodkinson (1881–1971), pioneer film marketer and distributor; Independence
Omar Knedlik (1915–1989), inventor of the ICEE frozen drink; Barnes
Charles G. Koch (born 1935), CEO of Koch Industries; Wichita
David H. Koch (born 1940), executive and politician; Wichita
Alan Mulally (born 1945), engineer, former President and CEO of the Ford Motor Company; Lawrence
Matthew K. Rose (born 1959), Chairman and CEO of Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp.; Salina
Harry F. Sinclair (1876–1956), founder of Sinclair Oil company; Independence
Russell Stover (1888–1954), founder of Russell Stover Candies; Alton

Film, stage and television

Actors and performers

Brandon Adams (born 1979), actor; Topeka
Tyrees Allen (born 1954), actor; Salina
Kirstie Alley (born 1951), actress; Wichita
Fatty Arbuckle (1887–1933), actor; Smith Center
Barbara Babcock (born 1937), actress; Fort Riley
Gerry Bamman (born 1941), actor; Independence
Hugh Beaumont (1909–1982), actor; Lawrence
Annette Bening (born 1958), actress; Topeka
Madge Blake (1899–1969), actress (Batman); Kinsley
Roscoe Born (born 1950), actor; Topeka
Todd Bosley (born 1984), actor; Overland Park
Steve Brodie (1919–1992), actor; El Dorado
Louise Brooks (1906–1985), actress; Cherryvale
Petrea Burchard (born 1955), actress; Lawrence
Darren E. Burrows (born 1966), actor; Winfield
Trai Byers (born 1983), actor; Kansas City
Del Close (1934–1999), actor and comedian; Manhattan
Brent Collins (1941–1988), actor; Plainville
Jack Colvin (1934–2005), actor; Lyndon
Aneta Corsaut (1933–1995), actress; Hutchinson
Nathan Darrow (born 1976), actor; Overland Park
Lucinda Dickey (born 1960), actress and dancer; Hutchinson
Billy Drago (born 1945), actor; Hugoton
Marj Dusay (born 1936), actress; Hays
R. Lee Ermey (1944–2018), actor; Emporia
Bridget Everett (born 1972), actress, cabaret artist, comedian; Manhattan^[1]
Bill Farmer (born 1952), voice actor; Pratt
Tamara Feldman (born 1980), actress; Wichita
Scott Foley (born 1972), actor; Kansas City
Dwight Frye (1899–1943), actor; Salina
Alan Fudge (1944–2011), actor; Wichita
Laurel Goodwin (born 1942), actress; Wichita
Cary Guffey (born 1972), actor; Topeka
Dennis Hayden (born 1952), actor; Girard
Colton Haynes (born 1988), actor; Wichita
Thelma Hill (1906–1938), actress; Emporia
Dennis Hopper (1936–2010), actor; Dodge City
Jayne Houdyshell (born 1953), actress; Topeka
Mary Howard (1913–2009), actress; Independence
Don Johnson (born 1959), actor; Wichita
Neal Jones (born 1960), actor; Wichita
Gordon Jump (1932–2003), actor; Manhattan
Tom Kane (born 1962), voice actor; Overland Park
Buster Keaton (1895–1966), actor and director; Piqua
Emmett Kelly (1898–1979), circus clown; Sedan
Laura Kirk (born 1966), actress; Lecompton
Shirley Knight (born 1936), actress; Goessel
Sarah Lancaster (born 1980), actress; Overland Park
Lila Leeds (1928–1999), actress; Dodge City
Hattie McDaniel (1895–1952), actress; Wichita
Everett McGill (born 1945), actor; Kansas City
Michael McMillian (born 1978), actor; Olathe
George Murdock (born 1930), actor; Salina
Cassandra Peterson (born 1949), actress, aka Elvira, Mistress of the Dark; Manhattan
ZaSu Pitts (1894–1963), actress; Parsons
Chris Porter (born 1979), comedian; Olathe
John Quade (1938–2009), actor; Kansas City
James Reynolds (), actor; Oskaloosa
Rob Riggle (born 1970), actor and comedian; Overland Park
Charles "Buddy" Rogers (1904–1991), actor and jazz musician; Olathe
Paul Rudd (born 1969), actor; Overland Park
Sheila Ryan (1921–1975), actress; Topeka
Kendall Schmidt (born 1990), singer, actor, and dancer; Wichita
Kevin Schmidt (born 1988), actor; Andover
Travis Schuldt (born 1974), actor; Topeka
Angus Scrimm (born 1926), actor; Kansas City
Max Showalter (1917–2000), actor; Caldwell
Cynthia Sikes (born 1954), actress; Coffeyville
Lois Smith (born 1930), actress; Topeka
David Rees Snell (born 1966), actor; Wichita
Sara Sothern (1895–1994), stage actress; Arkansas City
Taryn Southern (born 1986), actress, YouTube personality; Wichita
Rebecca Staab (born 1961), actress; Hays
Milburn Stone (1904–1980), actor (Gunsmoke); Burrton
Eric Stonestreet (born 1971), actor; Kansas City
Jason Sudeikis (born 1975), actor; Overland Park
Norma Terris (1904–1989), actress; Columbus
Fay Tincher (1884–1983), actress; Topeka
Vivian Vance (1909–1979), actress (I Love Lucy); Cherryvale
Matt Vogel (born 1970), puppeteer; Kansas City
Lyle Waggoner (born 1935), sculptor, actor (Wonder Woman); Kansas City
Kari Wahlgren (born 1977), actress; Hoisington
Dee Wallace (born 1948), actress; Kansas City
Jason Wiles (born 1970), actor; Lenexa
Claire Windsor (1892–1972), actress; Cawker City
Patrice Wymore (1926-2014), actress; Miltonvale
Jeff Yagher (born 1961), actor; Lawrence

Directors

Michael Almereyda (born 1960), film director; Overland Park
Steve Balderson (born 1975), film director; Wamego
Darren Lynn Bousman (born 1979), film director; Overland Park
Chris Buck (born 1960), film director, animator; Wichita
Eric Darnell (born 1960), director, writer, songwriter, animator; Prairie Village
Randall Duell (1903–1992), art director; Russell County
Alex Graves (born 1968), television director; El Dorado
Sherman Halsey, music video and television director; Independence
Martin and Osa Johnson (1884–1937 and 1894–1953), film pioneer, explorer; Chanute
Oscar Micheaux (1893–1951), film director; Great Bend
Gordon Parks (1912–2006), film director; Fort Scott
Richard Thorpe (1896–1991), film director; Hutchinson

Public figures

Journalists

Frank Marshall Davis (1905–1987), journalist, poet, political and labor movement activist; Arkansas City
Steve Doocy (born 1956), co-host of Fox News's Fox & Friends; Abilene
Elizabeth Farnsworth (born 1943), television journalist; Topeka
William M. Gallagher (1923–1975), Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist; Hiawatha
Jane Grant (1892–1972), journalist who co-founded The New Yorker; Girard, Kansas
E. W. Howe (1853–1937), author and newspaper editor; Atchison
Bill Kurtis (born 1940), television journalist; Independence
Jim Lehrer (born 1934), television journalist; Wichita
Melissa McDermott (born 1960s), television news anchor for CBS's Up to the Minute; Wichita
Clementine Paddleford (1898–1967), journalist and food critic; Riley County
Eugene C. Pulliam (1889–1975), founder Central Newspapers, Inc.; Ulysses
Roy A. Roberts (1887–1967), newspaper editor; Muscotah
W. Eugene Smith (1918–1978), photojournalist; Wichita
John Cameron Swayze (1906–1995), television journalist; Wichita
Julius Wayland (1854–1912), newspaper editor, Appeal to Reason; Girard
William Allen White (1868–1944), author and newspaper editor; Emporia
Gene Wojciechowski, author, sportswriter and ESPN commentator; Salina

Politics and law

John Anderson, Jr. (1917–2014), Kansas Governor; De Soto
Earl Browder (1891–1973), General Secretary, Communist Party USA; Wichita
Sam Brownback (born 1956), U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, Kansas Governor; Garnett
Arthur Capper (1865–1951), Kansas Governor and newspaper editor; Garnett
Frank Carlson (1893–1987), U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and Kansas Governor; Concordia
Georgia Neese Clark (1900–1995), first woman Treasurer of United States; Richland
Ty Cobb (born 1950), Special Counsel to the President of the United States; Great Bend, Kansas
Samuel J. Crawford (1835–1913), Kansas Governor; Garnett
Charles Curtis (1860–1936), U.S. Senator and 31st Vice President of United States; Topeka
Harry Darby (1895–1987), businessman and U.S. Senator; Kansas City
George Docking (1904–1964), Kansas Governor; Clay Center
Bob Dole (born 1923), U.S. Senator from Kansas {1969-1996} and 1996 Republican nominee for president; Russell
Dwight Eisenhower (1890–1969), 34th President of the United States, Allied commander in World War II; Abilene (born in Denison, Texas)
Joan Finney (1925–2001), Kansas Governor; Topeka
Marlin Fitzwater (born 1942), Press Secretary for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush; Abilene
Robert Gates (born 1943), CIA director, U.S. Secretary of Defense; Wichita
Robert L. Gernon (1943–2005), Kansas Supreme Court Justice; Sabetha
Dan Glickman (born 1944), Secretary of Agriculture, President of Motion Picture Association of America; Wichita
Bill Graves (born 1953), Kansas Governor; Salina
Paul Ranous Greever (1891–1943), Wyoming Congressman; Lansing
Gary Hart (born 1936), Colorado Senator; Ottawa
Carl Hatch (1889–1963), New Mexico Senator; Kirwin
Mike Hayden (born 1944), Kansas Governor; Colby
Wally Hickel (1919–2010), Governor of Alaska, U.S. Secretary of Interior; Claflin
Ural Alexis Johnson (1908–1997), diplomat and ambassador; Falun
Tim Kaine (born 1958), Virginia Governor and Senator; 2016 Democratic nominee for Vice President; Overland Park
Nancy Kassebaum Baker (born 1932), Kansas Senator; Topeka
James H. "Dog" Kelley (1833–1912), frontiersman, mayor of Dodge City; (Hometown Needed)
William P. Lambertson (1880–1957), U.S. Congressman; Fairview
Alf Landon (1887–1987), Kansas Governor, 1936 presidential candidate; Topeka
Frank H. Lee (1873–1952), Missouri U.S. Representative; De Soto
John Martin (1839–1889), Kansas Governor, newspaperman, Civil War Colonel; Atchison
George McGill (1879–1963), Kansas Senator; Wichita
Jerry Moran (born 1954), U.S. Representative and Senator; Plainville
Roger Noriega (born 1959), U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs; Wichita
Gale Norton (born 1954), U.S. Secretary of the Interior; Wichita
Lawton Nuss (born 1952), State Supreme Court Justice; Salina
Kate Richards O'Hare (1877–1948), American Socialist Party activist; Ottawa County
Leslie Osterman (born 1947), member of Kansas House of Representatives; Wichita
Shirley Phelps-Roper (born 1957), lawyer for Westboro Baptist Church; Topeka
Chuck Reed (born 1948), Mayor of San Jose, California; Garden City
Roy Romer (born 1928), Colorado Governor; Garden City
Susanna M. Salter (1860–1961), Mayor of Argonia, first woman mayor in U.S.; (Hometown Needed)
Bradley Schlozman (born 1971), controversial figure in George W. Bush Administration's Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy; Overland Park
K. Gary Sebelius (born 1949), U.S. magistrate judge, husband of Kathleen Sebelius; Norton
Harold Sebring (1898–1968), Nuremberg Trial judge; Olathe
Arlen Specter (1930–2012), Pennsylvania Senator; Russell
Dale Swenson (born c. 1957), member of Kansas House; Wichita
Martin E. Trapp (1877–1951), Oklahoma Governor; Robinson
Rosalie E. Wahl (1924–2014), associate justice Minnesota Supreme Court; Caney
William Walker (1800–1874), Provisional Governor of Nebraska Territory, Wyandot chief; (Hometown Needed)
Mabel Walker Willebrandt (1889–1963), U.S. Assistant Attorney General 1921–29; Woodsdale
Harry Hines Woodring (1890–1967), Kansas Governor and Secretary of War under Franklin Roosevelt; Elk City
Robert M. Wright (1840–1915), member of Kansas House of Representatives; a founder of Dodge City^[2]
Ron Wyden (born 1949), Oregon Senator; Wichita

Military and national security

Stanley T. Adams (1922–1999), Korean War Medal of Honor recipient; De Soto
Wilbur Bestwick (1911–1972), first Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps; Sabetha
Kendall Carl Campbell (1917–1942), Ensign, posthumous WWII Navy Cross recipient; Garden City
Richard Cowan (1922–1944), WWII Medal of Honor recipient; Wichita
Rebecca L. Ediger (born 1952), agent in charge of Presidential Protective Division of U.S. Secret Service; Peabody (born in Newton)
Harry D. Felt (1902–1992), WWII Naval aviator and Admiral; Topeka
Arthur M. Ferguson (1877–1922), Colonel, Medal of Honor recipient, Philippine–American War; Coffey County
Frederick N. Funston (1865–1917), Major General, Medal of Honor recipient; Iola
John E. Gingrich (1897–1960), U.S. Navy four-star Admiral, first chief of security for Atomic Energy Commission; Dodge City
James Harbord (1866–1947), U.S. Army, WWI Distinguished Service Cross; Bushong
Joseph Henderson (1869–1938), Medal of Honor recipient, Philippine–American War; Fort Leavenworth
Elizabeth P. Hoisington (1918–2007), first WAC officer promoted to Brigadier General; Newton
Herbert Loper (1896–1989), Major General, U.S. Army; Norcatur
Homer A. McCrerey (1919–1999), U.S. Navy meteorologist and oceanographer; Hiawatha
Richard Myers (born 1942), General, U.S. Air Force, 15th Chairman of Joint Chiefs; Olathe
Danny J. Petersen (1949–1970), Specialist 4, U.S. Army, posthumous Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient; Netawaka
George S. Robb (1887–1972), U.S. Army, WWI Medal of Honor recipient; Assaria
Bernard W. Rogers (born 1921), NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe; Fairview
Donald K. Ross (born 1910), first Medal of Honor recipient in WWII, United States Navy; Beverly
Conrad Schmidt (1830–1908), Civil War, Medal of Honor recipient; Ogden
Duane D. Thiessen (born 1951), Major General, USMC; Goessel
Grant F. Timmerman (1919–1944), Sergeant, USMC, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient; Americus
William B. Trembley (1877–1952), Medal of Honor recipient, Philippine–American War; Johnson
Lewis William Walt (1913–1989), General, USMC, initiated Combined Action Program in Vietnam; Wabaunsee County

Religious

William Bickerton (1815–1905), founder of The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) and the Zion Valley, Kansas, colony; St. John
Charles J. Chaput (born 1944), Archbishop, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver; Concordia
Sheri L. Dew (born 1953), influential Latter-day Saint spokeswoman; Ulysses
Bart D. Ehrman (born 1955), New Testament scholar; Lawrence
Jerry Johnston (born 1959), Southern Baptist Convention evangelist and pastor; Overland Park
Emil Kapaun (1916–1951), Army chaplain Korean War, posthumous Medal of Honor recipient, Catholic martyr and sainthood candidate; Pilsen
Ron Kenoly (born 1944), musical worship leader; Coffeyville
Fred Phelps (1929–2014), leader of Westboro Baptist Church; Topeka
James Reeb (1927–1965), Unitarian minister beaten to death by segregationists in Selma, Alabama, during the Civil Rights Movement; Wichita
David Laurin Ricken (born 1954), bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne; Dodge City
Michael Jarboe Sheehan (born 1939), Archbishop of Santa Fe; Wichita
M. Madeline Southard (1877–1967), Methodist minister and writer
John Joseph Sullivan (1920–2001), Bishop of Grand Island, Nebraska, and Kansas City-St. Joseph; Horton
Gerald B. Winrod (1900–1957), evangelical Christian and Nazi sympathizer; Wichita
Gordon Winrod (born 1926), Christian Identity minister; Hesston

Scientists and programmers

Charles Bachman (born 1924), computer scientist; Manhattan
C. Olin Ball (1893–1982), food scientist; Abilene
Barnum Brown (1873–1963), paleontologist; Carbondale
John D. Carmack (born 1970), computer programmer; Shawnee Mission
George Washington Carver (1864–1943), botanist and chemist; Minneapolis, Kansas
James F. Crow (1916–2012), geneticist; Wichita
Carl Owen Dunbar (1891–1979), geologist and paleontologist; Cherokee County
David Fairchild (1869–1954), botanist and explorer; Manhattan
Philip Fox (1878–1944), astronomer; Manhattan
Howard K. Gloyd (1902–1978), herpetologist; De Soto
Ebbe Hoff (1906–1985), neurologist; Rexford
Jack Kilby (1923–2005), inventor of the integrated circuit; Great Bend
Homer A. McCrerey (1919–1999), meteorologist and oceanographer; Hiawatha
Ray McIntire (1918–1996), research engineer, inventor of Styrofoam; Gardner
Karl Menninger (1893–1990), psychiatrist; Topeka
Charles D. Michener (born 1918), entomologist; Lawrence
Lou Montulli (), a founding engineer at Netscape and responsible for many HTML and web innovations; (Hometown Needed)
Ernest Fox Nichols (1869–1924), scientist; Leavenworth County
Wallace Pratt (1885–1981), petroleum geologist; Phillipsburg
Walter Sutton (1877–1916), geneticist and physician; Russell
George Tiller (1941–2009), medical doctor and controversial late-term abortion provider; Wichita
Clyde Tombaugh (1906–1997), astronomer; Burdett
Samuel Wendell Williston (1852–1918), scientist; Manhattan
Douglas Youvan (born 1955), biophysicist and inventor; Frontenac

Others

Notable individuals

Danni Boatwright (born 1975), winner of Survivor: Guatemala; Tonganoxie
Emily Gibson Braerton (1884–1966), V.P. Daughters of the American Revolution {1950–53}; Lawrence
Erin Brockovich (born 1960), environmental activist; Lawrence
Richard Christy (born 1974), comedian on the Howard Stern Show; Fort Scott
Hilda Clark (1872–1932), first woman to appear in a Coca-Cola advertisement; Leavenworth
Earl Cole (born 1971), winner of Survivor: Fiji; Kansas City
Elmer Dresslar, Jr. (1925–2005), voice actor and baritone voice of Jolly Green Giant commercials; St. Francis
Alvin Dewey (1912–1987), special agent of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation; Garden City
Ann Dunham (1942–1995), mother of Barack Obama; Wichita
Madelyn and Stanley Dunham (born 1922 and 1918–1992), grandparents of Barack Obama; Puru
Tara Dawn Holland (born 1972), Miss America 1997; Overland Park
Carrie Ingalls (1870–1946), sister of Laura Ingalls Wilder; born near Independence
Charles "Buffalo" Jones (1844–1919), state representative Finney County; co-founder of Garden City
Vicki Lynn Lasseter (born 1960), February 1981 Playboy Playmate; Iola
Candy Loving (born 1956), January 1979 Playboy Playmate and 25th Anniversary Playmate; Oswego
Waldo McBurney (1902–2009), formerly listed as oldest worker; Quinter
Janet Murguía (born 1954), President and CEO, National Council of La Raza; Kansas City
Dan Perkins (born 1961), cartoonist, pen name "Tom Tomorrow"; Wichita
Jeff Probst (born 1962), television personality and host of Survivor; Wichita
Victor Rojas (), studio analyst for MLB Network; Overland Park (born in Miami)
Satanta (1830–1878), Chief of Kiowa tribe; western Kansas
Matt Schlapp (), chairman of American Conservative Union; Wichita
Justin E. Smith (born 1968), sheriff of Larimer County, Colorado; McPherson
Theresa Vail (born 1990), host of Outdoor Channel's Limitless with Theresa Vail; Manhattan
Kari Wahlgren (born 1977), video game voice actress; Hoisington
Carrie Westcott (born 1969), September 1993 Playboy Playmate; Mission Hills
Harold F. Williamson (1901–1989), business historian; Piper

Notable historical people not from Kansas but were part of an important event in Kansas

John Brown (1800–1859), abolitionist; Osawatomie
Buffalo Bill Cody (1846–1917), buffalo hunter and showman; Leavenworth
Wyatt Earp (1848–1929), lawman; Wichita and Dodge City
Dora Hand (1844–1878), dance hall singer, Dodge City, Kansas^[3]
Wild Bill Hickok (1837–1876), lawman; Hays and Abilene
James H. Lane (1814-1866), abolitionist, senator and union general; Lawrence
Bat Masterson (1853–1921), lawman; Dodge City
Carrie Nation (1846–1911), temperance activist; Medicine Lodge
John James Ingalls (1833–1900), politician^[4]
Kris Kobach (1966), Candidate for Governor in 2018, Kansas Secretary of State.

Infamous persons

Edward J. Adams (1887–1921), bank robber and murderer; Hutchinson
Lowell Lee Andrews (1939–1962), murderer; Wolcott
John and Kate Bender (1872–1873), serial killers; Labette County
Fred "Killer" Burke (1893–1940), Prohibition-era gangster; Mapleton
Mark Essex (1949–1973), mass murderer; Emporia
Jake and Ralph Fleagle () (Ralph: ), bank robbers and murderers; Marienthal
Debora Green (born 1951), murderer; Prairie Village
Eric Harris (1981–1999), perpetrator, along with Dylan Klebold, of the Columbine High School massacre; Wichita
Richard Hickock (1931–1965), murderer; Kansas City
Alvin "Creepy" Karpis (1907–1979), bank robber and member of the Barker Gang; Topeka
Anna Emmaline McDoulet (1882–1978), female spy for Doolin Gang known as Cattle Annie Lawrence; Seneca
George Newcomb (1866–1895), member of Bill Doolin's Wild Bunch; Fort Scott
Duane Earl Pope (born 1943), bank robber and murderer; Roxbury
Dennis Rader (born 1945), serial killer known as "BTK"; Wichita
Scott Philip Roeder (born 1958), assassin; Merriam
Marc Sappington (born 1978), murderer and cannibal, known as the Kansas City Vampire; Kansas City

Fictional persons

Helen Crump (1962), girlfriend of Sheriff Andy Taylor of Mayberry on The Andy Griffith Show, from rural Kansas
Dennis the Menace (1951), neighborhood terror, Wichita^[source?]
Matt Dillon (1949), marshal, Dodge City, Kansas
Dorothy Gale (1900), farm girl who lived with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry; transported to the Land of Oz by a tornado, with her dog Toto
Elmer Gantry (1927), evangelist and title character in the Sinclair Lewis novel of the same name; attended college in Kansas
Gil Hamilton (c. 2083), futuristic detective, Topeka
Will Kane (1952), sheriff in the 1952 classic Western High Noon, from Hadleyville, Kansas
Johnny Kaw (1955), mythical Kansas settler, Manhattan
Clark Joseph Kent (1938), adopted child of Jonathan and Martha Kent of Smallville, known as the alter ego Superman, born on Krypton as Kal-El
Lana Lang (1950), Superboy's teenage love interest, Smallville, Kansas
Major Astro (1960), astronaut portrayed by local character actor Tom Leahy; host of a children's television program, Wichita
Colleen McMurphy, lead character from China Beach, from a "small town" in Kansas
Cameron Mitchell, Lieutenant Colonel of Stargate SG-1 television series, from Auburn
Jack B. Quick (1999), boy genius, Queerwater Creek, Kansas
Amanda Rogers (born 2351), character on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Topeka
Pete Ross (1961), Superboy's bestfriend, Smallville, Kansas
Mary Ann Summers, traveler on a "three-hour tour" that was lost at sea on Gilligan's Island, Winfield, Kansas
Annie Wilson (1993), aspiring actress, Wichita
Dean Winchester (1979), demon hunter, Lawrence
Sam Winchester (1983), demon hunter, Lawrence
Wizard of Oz (1900), balloonist, magician, ruler of the Land of Oz (1939 movie version only)

List Of People From Kansas Media

Chris Barnes
Tony Clark with the San Diego Padres in 2008
Adrianna Franch in her first cap with the USWNT against England on March 2, 2019, in Nashville, TN.
Maurice Greene
Walter Johnson, Washington National baseball player, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front.; Walter Johnson and Herold Ruel, Washington National baseball players, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing front.cropped
Jordy Nelson, a player on the National Football League.
John Riggins Headshot