List of people from Missouri

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

Art and literature

T. S. Eliot

Mark Twain

Tennessee Williams

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

Athletics

Auto racing

NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace

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

Baseball

Yogi Berra

David Freese

Stan "The Man" Musial

A–M

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

N–Z

MLB Hall of Fame manager Casey Stengel

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

Basketball

Bill Bradley

"Stormin' Norman" Stewart in 1969

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

Football

See also: List of Missouri state high school football champions

Don Faurot

Jeremy Maclin

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

Golf

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

Ice hockey

Chris Butler

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

Professional wrestling

Glenn "Kane" Jacobs

"Handsome" Harley Race

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

Miscellaneous sports

Dwight Davis

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

Aviation and aerospace

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

Business

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

Criminals and outlaws

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

Entertainment

Film, television and theater

Emmy Award-winner Ed Asner

Linda Blair

Don Cheadle

A–C

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

D–G

Jenna Fischer

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

H–M

Jean Harlow

Kevin Kline

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

N–Z

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

Comedians

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

Cartoonists

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

Magicians and mentalists

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

Music

Bluegrass and country

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

Jazz

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

Rhythm & blues, pop, rap and hip-hop

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

Rock & roll

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

Miscellaneous other music

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

Radio and television

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

Beauty pageant titleholders

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

Journalism

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

Military

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

Miscellaneous famous Missourians

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

Public office

Harry S. Truman

See also: List of Governors of Missouri; List of judges of the Supreme Court of Missouri; List of lieutenant governors of Missouri; List of mayors of Kansas City, Missouri; List of mayors of St. Joseph, Missouri; List of United States Representatives from Missouri; and List of United States Senators from Missouri

A–K

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

L–Z

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

Science and medicine

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

Related pages

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