List of notable people from Oklahoma
The following are people who were either born/raised or have lived for a significant period of time in Oklahoma.
Native Americans[change | change source]
- Bill Anoatubby (born 1945), Governor of the Chickasaw Nation
- Black Kettle (1801/07–1868), Cheyenne Chief killed near Cheyenne, Oklahoma, in Roger Mills County
- Geronimo (1829–1909), Native American leader of the Chiricahua Apache
- Wilma Mankiller (born 1945), first woman Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation
- Quanah Parker (c. late 1840s – 1911), last Comanche chief
- Harvey Pratt (born 1941), Native American forensic artist
- Will Rogers (1879–1935), humorist Actor
- Clarence L. Tinker (1887-1942), member of the Osage tribe, U.S. Army Air Corps general and first American general to die in World War II
- Fred Waite (1853–1895), Native American of the Chickasaw tribe, cowboy, member of Billy the Kid's gang and politician
- Stand Watie (1806–1871), Brigadier General in the Confederate Army, Cherokee chief
Political/Military Figures[change | change source]
- Carl Albert (1908–2000), Speaker of the House from 1971 to 1977, first in line for presidency after Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned during President Nixon's tenure.
- Dewey F. Bartlett, Oklahoma Governor and U.S. Senator
- Dan Boren (born 1973), represents Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional district in the U.S. House
- David Boren (born 1941), former Governor of Oklahoma, U.S. Senator and University of Oklahoma president
- Joseph J. Clark (1893–1971), Admiral U.S. Navy and first Native American to graduate from the United States Naval Academy
- William J. Crowe (1925–2007), Admiral U.S. Navy and former Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Drew Edmondson (born 1946), state Attorney General
- General Tommy Franks (born 1927), Commander of US Central Command, US Invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq
- Bo Gritz (born 1939), most decorated Green Beret officer during the Vietnam War
- Jeane Kirkpatrick (born 1926), U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
- Perle Mesta (1889–1975), political hostess, U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg
- Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1927–2003), U.S. Senator, ambassador to India, Ambassador to the United Nations, President of the United Nations Security Council
- Donald Lee "Don" Nickles (born 1948) American political leader, U.S. Senator from Oklahoma 1981-2005
- George Nigh (born 1927), two-time Governor of Oklahoma
- Gene Stipe, (born 1926), longest-serving member of the Oklahoma State Senate
- J.C. Watts, U.S. Congressman and OU quarterback
Entertainment[change | change source]
Humorists/Comedians[change | change source]
- Will Rogers (1879–1935), humorist
- Daniel Hale Rowan (1922–1987), comedian and co-host of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Film/Theatre[change | change source]
- Suzy Amis (born 1962), actress
- Gene Autry (1907–1998), actor, musician
- William Boyd (1895–1972), actor (Hopalong Cassidy)
- Gary Busey (born 1944), actor
- Lon Chaney Jr (1906–1973), actor
- Greg Coolidge (born 1972) writer, director, producer, actor
- Joan Crawford (1906–1977), Academy Award winning actress
- Blake Edwards (born 1922), director, writer, producer
- Kay Francis (1905-1968), actress
- James Garner (born 1928), actor
- Van Heflin (1908–1971), Academy Award winning actor
- Clint Howard (born 1959), actor (and Ron's brother)
- Ron Howard (born 1954), director, producer, actor
- Ben Johnson (1918–1996), Academy Award winning actor
- Jennifer Jones (1919-2009), actress[1]
- Rue McClanahan (born 1934), actress
- Vera Miles (born 1929), actress
- Megan Mullally, actress
- Clarence Nash (1904–1985), voice of Donald Duck
- Chuck Norris (born 1940), actor, martial artist
- Cindy Pickett (born 1947), actress
- Brad Pitt (born 1963), actor
- Mary Kay Place (born 1947), actress
- Tony Randall (1920–2004), actor
- Dale Robertson (born 1920), actor
- Gailard Sartain (born 1946), actor, artist, comedian
- Maria Tallchief (born 1925), ballerina
- Paula Trickey (born 1966), actress (Pacific Blue)
- Jeanne Tripplehorn (born 1963), actress
- Alfre Woodard (born 1952), actress
- Larry Clark (born 1943), filmmaker ("Kids", "Ken Park"), photographer
- James Marsden (born 1973), actor
- Ted Shackelford (born 1946), actor (Knot's Landing)
Music[change | change source]
- AleXa (born 1996), K-pop singer and dancer, and winner of the first American Song Contest
- The All-American Rejects
- The Arnold's, Southern Gospel trio based in Tulsa
- Aqueduct (born 1992), indie pop band
- Hoyt Axton (1938–1999), country music singer/songwriter, wrote "I've Never Been to Spain" (but I've been to Oklahoma).
- Chet Baker (1929–1988), jazz trumpeter who helped popularize the 1950s cool jazz style
- Norma Jean (b. Norma Jean Beasler January 30, 1938) is an American country music singer
- Earl Bostic (1913–1965), R&B and jazz musician
- Garth Brooks (born 1962), country music singer/songwriter
- Don Byas (1912-1972) jazz tenor saxophonist and one of the leading saxophonists of the swing and bebop eras
- J. J. Cale (born 1938), country rock (see Tulsa sound)
- Jerry Cantrell, musician, lead guitarist/vocalist, Alice in Chains
- The Chainsaw Kittens, alternative rock band
- Charlie Christian (1916–1942), jazz guitarist, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, considered the father of jazz guitar
- Roy Clark (born 1933), country musician
- Eddie Cochrane, rockabilly musician
- Color Me Badd, R&B vocal group
- Ronnie Dunn (born 1953), half of the country music duo Brooks and Dunn
- Gail Farrell (born 1947), singer/songwriter, featured performer from The Lawrence Welk Show
- The Flaming Lips, indie rock band featuring Wayne Coyne, Steven Drozd and Michael Ivins
- The Gap Band (born 1967), R&B, funk and soul group
- David Gates (born 1939), singer/songwriter associated with the band Bread
- Vince Gill (born 1957), country musician
- Earl Grant (1933–1970), easy listening pianist
- Woody Guthrie (1912–1967), folk singer
- Hanson (born 1992), pop band
- Glen Hardin (born 1939), musician, piano player
- Roy Harris (1898–1979), classical composer
- Richard Hart (born 1955), Jazz guitarist, composer/arranger, published artist
- Lee Hazlewood (born 1929), singer/songwriter, record producer
- Michael Hedges (December 31,1953 – December 2, 1997) acoustic guitarist born in Enid, Oklahoma
- Hinder, rock band
- Wanda Jackson (born 1938), rockabilly singer
- Toby Keith (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, singer/songwriter
- Leona Mitchell (born 1948), famed African American soprano, member Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame
- The Nixons, 90's hard rock band
- Patti Page (born 1927), traditional pop music and country music singer
- Sandi Patty (born 1957), Contemporary Christian music singer
- Tom Paxton (1937-), singer, singer-songwriter
- Pillar (born 2001), christian rock band
- Restless Heart band members Paul Gregg and Greg Jennings
- Sam Rivers (born 1923) jazz tenor saxophonist with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie,Herbie Hancock, and Quincy Jones
- Joe Don Rooney (born 1975), country music singer, one-third of the group Rascal Flatts
- Leon Russell (born 1942), singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist
- Neal Schon (born 1954), lead rock guitarist of Journey
- Blake Shelton (born 1976), country musician
- Starlight Mints, indie pop band
- B. J. Thomas (born 1942) singer/songwriter
- Carrie Underwood (born 1983), American Idol winner 2005
- 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)
- Zach Bryan (1996) country music singer-songwriter
Television/Radio[change | change source]
- Kristin Chenoweth (born 1968), actress and singer
- Walter Cronkite (born 1916), television journalist
- Douglas Edwards (1917–1990), radio and television journalist
- Kayne Gillaspie, TV personality and fashion designer
- Paul Harvey (born 1918), radio broadcaster and commentator
- Mary Hart, (born 1950), TV personality, co-host "Entertainment Tonight"
- Glenn Hauser (born 1945), radio broadcaster
- Rex Linn (born 1956), actor (CSI: Miami)
- Phil McGraw (born 1950), television psychologist
- Bill Moyers, journalist/national anchor
- Bob Murphy (1924–2004), sports play-by-play announcer (best known as announcer for New York Mets)
- Justin Nimmo, (born September 5, 1974), actor (Power Rangers in Space)
- Dan Rowan, co-host, "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In"
- Ted Shackelford (born 1946), actor (Knot's Landing)
Miss America[change | change source]
- Jennifer Berry (born 1983), Miss America 2006
- Jane Anne Jayroe (born 1946), Miss America 1967
- Lauren Nelson (born 1987), Miss America 2007
- Susan Powell (born 1959), Miss America 1981
- Norma Smallwood (1909–1966), Miss America 1926, first Miss America of Native American Heritage (Cherokee)
- Shawntel Smith (born 1971), Miss America 1996
Business[change | change source]
- 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
- Waite Phillips (1883–1964), oil industry businessman
- T. Boone Pickens, Jr. (1928-2019), oil industry businessman
- Sam Walton (1918–1992), founder of Wal-Mart
- Tom L. Ward, oil industry businessman
Art and Literature[change | change source]
- Roger Eric Davis, (1962-2013), Artist of Oil Paintings[2][3][4]
- Charles Bell (painter), (1935-1995), photorealist painter
- William Bernhardt (born 1960), novelist
- John Berryman (1914–1972), poet
- Jim Thompson (born 1906), novelist
- Ralph Ellison (1914–1994), writer and scholar
- Chester Gould (1900–1985), creator of the Dick Tracy comic strip
- Tony Hillerman (born 1925), journalist, historian, professor, and novelist
- Josh Shipp (born 1981), author and motivational speaker
- S.E. Hinton (born 1948), author and novelist
- Bill Moyers (born 1934), journalist and public commentator
- Jeff Rowland, cartoonist, author of WIGU
- Bill Wallace, author
- Jason Nelson (born 1970), pioneering net artist and digital poet
Athletics[change | change source]
- Troy Aikman, quarterback, OU, UCLA and Dallas Cowboys champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee
- Johnny Bench (born 1947), MLB catcher Cincinnati Reds, member Baseball Hall of Fame
- Brian Bosworth (born 1965), Oklahoma Sooners football and NFL player
- Josh Brown (born 1979), kicker Seattle Seahawks
- Mikey Burnett UFC fighter
- Joe Carter, Major League Baseball player, right fielder
- Larry Coker (born 1948), former football coach at University of Miami
- Bart Conner, Olympic gold medal gymnast
- Edward C. Gallagher, champion OSU sprinter and football player, winningest wrestling coach in NCAA history, Olympic wrestling coach, National Wrestling Hall of Fame charter member
- Bill Goldberg, professional wrestler
- Kelly Gregg, Oklahoma Sooners football and National Football League player
- Charlie Haas, WWE professional wrestler
- Mat Hoffman, World Champion BMX biker
- Matt Holliday, Outfielder for the Colorado Rockies.
- Henry Iba, OSU basketball coach, NCAA and Olympic champion coach Basketball Hall of Famer
- Bob Kalsu (1945–1970), Oklahoma Sooners football and Buffalo Bills player, only active professional football player killed in the Vietnam War
- Steve Largent, Seattle Seahawks Pro Football Hall of Famer and politician
- Abe Lemons, Oklahoma City University, Pan American University, and Texas Longhorns basketball coach
- Mickey Mantle (1931–1995), New York Yankees Baseball Hall of Famer
- Pepper Martin (1904–1965), St. Louis Cardinals baseball player
- "Jumping Jack" McCracken (1911–1958), Basketball Hall of Famer
- Shannon Miller, Olympic gold medal gymnast
- Ryan Minor, Oklahoma Sooners baseball & basketball player
- Dr. Gil Morgan (born 1959), professional golfer
- Tommy Morrison, Former World Heavyweight Champion boxer
- Bobby Murcer (1946–2008) Professional baseball player and sportscaster
- Lance Norick (born 1968), NASCAR driver.
- Steve Owens, Oklahoma Sooners football player and 1969 Heisman Trophy winner
- Brad Penny, Florida Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers MLB pitcher
- Beth Phoenix, professional wrestler
- Darrell Porter (1952–2002), MLB baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals
- Mark Price (born 1964) basketball player; Enid H.S., Georgia Tech, and Indiana Pacers
- Bryant Reeves attended Gans high school in eastern Oklahoma, attended OSU, and retired from the Vancouver Grizzlies in the NBA.
- Allie Reynolds (1917–1994), Baseball Hall of Famer
- Crystal Robinson, New York Liberty WNBA basketball player
- Bullet Rogan (1893–1967), Baseball Hall of Famer
- Matt Roney (born 1980), MLB baseball player, relief pitcher
- Jim Ross, WWE announcer
- Darrell Royal (born 1924), football coach at University of Texas
- Barry Sanders, Oklahoma State Cowboys Heisman Trophy winner, Football Hall of Famer
- Lee Roy Selmon, Oklahoma Sooners football player and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee
- Jeremy Shockey (born 1980), professional football player
- Billy Sims (born 1955), running back Oklahoma Sooners football and Detroit Lions, Heisman Trophy winner
- John Smith (born 1965), Olympic gold medalist and wrestling coach
- Warren Spahn (1921–2003), Baseball Hall of Famer
- Willie Stargell (1940-2001), Baseball Hall of Famer with the Pittsburgh Pirates, known for his ability to hit home runs completely out of stadiums.
- Eddie Sutton, Arkansas Razorbacks and Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball coach
- Barry Switzer (born 1937), football coach, Oklahoma Sooners and Dallas Cowboys
- Jim Thorpe (1887–1953), Olympic gold medalist, played professional football and Major League Baseball
- Spencer Tillman, All-American running back for the Oklahoma Sooners and CBS TV football analyst
- Wayman Tisdale (born 1964), professional basketball player and jazz bass guitarist
- Bob Tway (born 1959), professional golfer and PGA Championship winner in 1986
- Lloyd "Little Poison" Waner (1906–1982), Baseball Hall of Famer
- Paul "Big Poison" Waner (1903–1965), Baseball Hall of Famer
- J.C. Watts, Oklahoma Sooners football quarterback and later U.S. Congressman
- Jason White, Oklahoma Sooners football quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner
- Bud Wilkinson (1916–1994), famed Oklahoma Sooners football coach, member of the College Football Hall of Fame
- Matt Wiman (Born 1983), UFC fighter
Science/Medicine[change | change source]
- Richard E. Berendzen (born 1938), astronomer, author, and professor
- James Herndon (born 1952), media psychologist
- Karl Guthe Jansky (1905–1950), physicist and radio engineer
Aviation/Aeronautics[change | change source]
- Thomas and Paul Braniff, airline entrepreneurs, founders of Braniff International Airways
- Gordon Cooper (1907-2006)
- Owen K. Garriott (born 1930), astronaut
- John Herrington (born 1958), astronaut
- James Jabara (1923-1966) world's first jet ace, and Korean War triple ace with 15 kills
- Shannon Lucid (born 1943), astronaut
- William R. Pogue (born 1930), astronaut
- Wiley Post (1898–1935), first pilot to fly solo around the world, (born in Texas but grew up in Oklahoma)
- Thomas Stafford (born 1930), astronaut
- Clarence L. Tinker (1887-1942), U.S. Army Air Corps general and supreme commander of the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific during World War II
Religious Figures[change | change source]
- Oral Roberts (1918-2009), evangelist[5]
- Bill Majors (born 1960), missionary
- Yahweh ben Yahweh born and legally named Hulon Mitchell Jr. (October 27, 1935 - May 7, 2007), was the leader of the religious group Nation of Yahweh
Infamous Oklahomans[change | change source]
- Belle Starr (1848–1889), Queen of the outlaws, a female Jesse James
- Pretty Boy Floyd (1904–1934), Depression era gangster
- Cameron Willingham (1968–2004), convicted arsonist, whose case spawned a controversy over use of forensic evidence in capital trials
Other[change | change source]
- Bill G. Chapman (1928–2007), advocate for the blind, author
- Tom Colbert (born 1949), first African-American Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice
- Stephen Jones (July 1, 1940 -), attorney best known as Timothy McVeigh's lead defense lawyer during his trial for the Oklahoma City bombing
- Joe Redington (1917–1999), "Father of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race"
- Bass Reeves (1838-1910), first African-American U.S. Marshal and one of the chief law enforcement agents during the first years of Oklahoma's statehood.
- Steven W. Taylor (born 1949), Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice, presided over Oklahoma City bombing suspect Terry Nichols's state murder trial
- Cornel West (born 1953), scholar
References[change | change source]
- ↑ "Oscar winner Jennifer Jones dead at 90". Retrieved 2009-12-17.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ ^ http://www.rogerdavisart.com/home/ Archived 2016-03-10 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Ann Boos Davis". www.facebook.com.
- ↑ "Read recent and archived obituaries and memorial notices from The Muskogee Phoenix". obituaries.muskogeephoenix.com.
- ↑ "Evangelist Oral Roberts dies in Calif. at age 91". Retrieved 2009-12-15.[permanent dead link]
