List of people from Oklahoma
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The following are people who were either born, raised, or have lived for a significant period of time in the U.S. state of Oklahoma.
Actors, directors, screenwriters, and producers
- A–M
- Lexi Ainsworth (born 1992), actress (General Hospital)
- Suzy Amis(born 1962), actress
- Erika Anderson (born 1963), actress
- Lou Antonio (born 1934), actor
- Royce D. Applegate (1939–2003), actor (seaQuest DSV)
- Gene Autry (1907–1998), actor, musician, Major League Baseball team owner
- Cold Case)
- Marshall Bell (born 1942), actor (G vs E)
- William Boyd (1895–1972), actor (Hopalong Cassidy)
- Gary Busey (born 1944), actor (The Buddy Holly Story)
- T. V. Carpio(born 1981), actress, singer
- Irene Champlin (1931–1990), actress (Flash Gordon)
- Greyson Chance (born 1997), singer
- Lon Chaney Jr (1906–1973), actor (The Wolf Man, Of Mice and Men)
- Lonny Chapman (1920–2007), actor
- Maree Cheatham (born 1942), actress (Days of Our Lives)
- Tony Award-winning actress (Wicked)
- Danny Cooksey (born 1975), actor, voice actor (Diff'rent Strokes)
- Candy Clark (born 1947), actress (American Graffiti)
- Larry Clark (born 1943), filmmaker (Kids, Ken Park), photographer
- Patrick Cranshaw (1919–2005), actor (AfterMASH)
- Academy Award-winning actress
- Burr DeBenning (1936–2003), actor
- Michael Dolan (born 1965), actor
- Richard Erdman (1925–2019), actor
- The Pink Panther, Breakfast at Tiffany's
- Glenda Farrell (1904–1971), actress (Torchy Blane)
- Kay Francis (1905–1968), actress
- The Notebook)
- Bill Hader (born 1978), actor, writer, comedian (SNL)
- Sterlin Harjo (born 1979) Native American filmmaker
- X-files
- Van Heflin (1908–1971), Academy Award-winning actor
- Mark Holton (born 1958), actor
- Darla Hood (1931–1979), actress (Darla from The Little Rascals), Leedey
- Clint Howard (born 1959), actor (brother of Ron Howard)
- Jean Speegle Howard (1927–2000), actress, mother of Ron Howard
- Rance Howard (1928–2017), actor, father of Ron and Clint Howard
- Ron Howard (born 1954), director, producer, actor
- Ben Johnson (1918–1996), Academy Award-winning actor
- Jennifer Jones (1919–2009), actress (The Towering Inferno, Duel in the Sun)
- Olivia Jordan (born 1988), actress, beauty pageant winner
- Christian Kane (born 1974), actor, singer (Leverage)
- Wright King (1923–2018), actor, native of Okmulgee
- Heather Langenkamp (born 1964), actress (A Nightmare on Elm Street)
- Jason London (born 1972), actor (Wildfire)
- Dick Lowry (born 1944), director
- Thad Luckinbill (born 1975), actor (The Young and the Restless)
- Terrence Malick (born 1943), film director
- April March (born 1935), burlesque dancer
- X-Men)
- Rue McClanahan (1934–2010), actress (The Golden Girls)
- Hayley McFarland (born 1991), actress (Lie to Me)
- Beverlee McKinsey (1938–2008), soap-opera actress
- Ryan Merriman (born 1983), actor (The Pretender)
- The Searchers, Psycho)
- Emmy Awardwinning director, writer, producer
- Tom Mix (1880-1940), cowboy star of silent films
- Megan Mullally (born 1958), actress, dancer, singer (Will & Grace)
- The Newsroom)
- N–Z
- Clarence Nash (1904–1985), voice of Donald Duck
- Tim Blake Nelson (born 1964), actor, director (O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Grey Zone)
- martial artist (Walker, Texas Ranger)
- Kelli O'Hara (born 1976), Broadway actress
- Lee Pace (born 1979), actor, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
- Kinga Philipps (born 1976), actress, television personality
- Cindy Pickett (born 1947), actress (St. Elsewhere, Ferris Bueller's Day Off)
- Brad Pitt (born 1963), actor and producer
- Mary Kay Place (born 1947), actress (The Big Chill)
- Wiley Post (1898–1935), pilot, the first to travel around the world solo
- Megyn Price (born 1971), actress (Rules of Engagement)
- Tony Randall (1920–2004), actor (The Odd Couple)
- Erik Rhodes (1906–1990), actor, singer
- Dale Robertson (1923–2013), film and television actor; later rancher near Yukon, Oklahoma
- Will Rogers (1875–1935), actor, columnist, radio personality
- Chelcie Ross (born 1942), actor
- Will Sampson (1933–1987), artist, actor (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest)
- Gailard Sartain (born 1946), actor, artist, comedian (Hee Haw, The Buddy Holly Story)
- Offerings)
- Ted Shackelford (born 1946), actor (Knots Landing)
- House of Cards)
- G. D. Spradlin (1920–2011), actor (The Godfather Part II)
- Lauren Stamile (born 1976), actress (Grey's Anatomy)
- Wes Studi (born 1947), actor (Dances with Wolves, Avatar)
- ballerina
- Paula Trickey (born 1966), actress (Pacific Blue)
- Big Love)
- Countess Vaughn (born 1978), actress (The Parkers)
- Heather Wahlquist (born 1977), actress
- Susan Watson (born 1938), actress
- Randy Wayne (born 1981), actor
- Dennis Weaver (1924–2006), actor (Gunsmoke, McCloud)
- Elmo Williams (1913–2015), Academy Award-winning film editor
- Michael Wilson (1914–1978), Academy Award-winning screenwriter
- Golden Globe Award-winning actress
- Gretchen Wyler (1932–2007), actress
Athletes
- A–G
- Lane Adams (born 1989), outfielder for the Atlanta Braves
- Xavier Adibi (born 1984), linebacker for Houston Texans
- UCLA and Dallas Cowboys, Pro Football Hall of Fameinductee, sportscaster
- Brent Albright (born 1978), professional wrestler
- Brett Anderson (born 1988), pitcher for the Oakland Athletics
- Mark Anderson (born 1983), defensive end for the Buffalo Bills
- Kelenna Azubuike (born 1983), shooting guard/small forward for the New York Knicks
- center for New York Giants
- offensive lineman for the Seattle Seahawks
- Dan Bailey (born 1988), placekicker for Dallas Cowboys
- Billy Bajema (born 1982), tight end for Baltimore Ravens
- Jeff Banister (born 1964), MLB catcher, manager of Texas Rangers
- Dallas Beeler (born 1989), pitcher for Chicago Cubs
- Christopher Bell (born 1994), NASCAR Cup Series driver
- Baseball Hall of Fame
- Al Benton (1911–1968), MLB pitcher
- Tanner Berryhill (born 1993), Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver
- Nick Blackburn (born 1982), starting pitcher for Minnesota Twins
- Douglas Blubaugh (1934–2011), Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling
- Brian Bosworth (born 1965), OU and NFL player
- Sam Bradford (born 1987), football quarterback, OU and Minnesota Vikings
- Archie Bradley (born 1992), pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks
- Jack Brisco (1941–2010), professional wrestler
- Jerry Brisco(born 1946), professional wrestler
- Louise Brough (1923–2014), Hall of Fame tennis player
- Josh Brown (born 1979), placekicker for New York Giants
- third base coach for Seattle Mariners
- Ryan Budde (born 1979), catcher for Arizona Diamondbacks
- Bruce Buffer (born 1957), Octagon announcer for UFC main events
- Mikey Burnett (born 1974), UFC fighter
- Sol Butler (1895–1954), athlete who competed in football and track and field
- Patrick Callan (born 1999), competitive swimmer[1]
- Joe Carter (born 1960), Major League Baseball outfielder
- Sherri Coale (born 1965), women's basketball coach at OU
- Charles Coe (1923–2001), U.S. Amateur golfer, won seven titles
- Larry Coker (born 1948), football coach at University of Miami
- guard for Philadelphia Eagles
- Nadia Comăneci (born 1961), Five-time Olympic gold medalist gymnast
- Bart Conner (born 1958), Olympic gold medal gymnast
- Riley Cooper (born 1987), wide receiver for Philadelphia Eagles
- Bobby Cox (born 1941), Baseball Hall of Fame manager for Atlanta Braves
- Kendall Cross (born 1968), Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling
- Harold DeMarsh (1902–1982), first ever NCAA Wrestling champion
- Don Demeter (born 1935), Major League Baseball outfielder
- UFL's Omaha Nighthawks
- Jay Thomas Evans (1931–2008), Olympic silver medalist in freestyle wrestling
- Tim Flannery (born 1957), MLB infielder and coach
- Ross Flood (1910–1995), Olympic silver medalist in freestyle wrestling
- Brian Flynn (born 1990), pitcher for Kansas City Royals
- Ryan Franklin (born 1977), pitcher for Baltimore Orioles
- Dominique Franks (born 1987), cornerback for Atlanta Falcons
- National Wrestling Hall of Famecharter member
- Vickie Gates(born 1962), IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Koda Glover (born 1993), pitcher for Washington Nationals
- Bill Goldberg (born 1966), professional NFL football player and undefeated professional wrestler
- Kelly Gregg (born 1976), OU and NFL player
- Jermaine Gresham (born 1988), tight end for Arizona Cardinals
- Matt Grice (born 1981), UFC fighter
- Blake Griffin (born 1989), power forward for Detroit Pistons
- Taylor Griffin (born 1986), pro basketball player
- H–M
- Charlie Haas (born 1972), WWE professional wrestler
- Tommy Hanson (1986–2015), MLB starting pitcher, primarily with Atlanta Braves
- Chris Harris Jr. (born 1989), cornerback for Denver Broncos
- Mickey Hatcher (born 1955), OU baseball, outfielder for Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins
- Andrew Heaney (born 1991), relief pitcher for Los Angeles Angels
- Ryan Helsley (born 1994), relief pitcher for St. Louis Cardinals
- UFC Welterweight Champion, two-time NCAA Wrestlingchampion
- Josiah Henson (1922–2012), Olympic bronze medalist in freestyle wrestling
- OSUand NFL quarterback
- A. J. Hinch (born 1974), MLB catcher, manager of the Houston Astros
- Danny Hodge (1932–2020), three-time NCAA champion and Olympic silver medalist wrestler
- Mat Hoffman (born 1972), world champion BMX biker
- Matt Holliday (born 1980), designated hitter for the New York Yankees
- Basketball Hall of Famemember
- Gabe Ikard (born 1990), center for Buffalo Bills
- Darnell Jackson (born 1985), forward for Sacramento Kings
- Betty Jameson (1919–2009), golfer in World Golf Hall of Fame
- Charlie Johnson (born 1984), guard for Minnesota Vikings
- Felix Jones (born 1987), running back for Dallas Cowboys
- Bob Kalsu (1945–1970), Oklahoma Sooners football and Buffalo Bills player, only active professional football player killed in Vietnam War
- Deji Karim (born 1986), running back for Jacksonville Jaguars
- Matt Kemp (born 1984), MLB outfielder
- Dallas Keuchel (born 1988), pitcher for Atlanta Braves
- Stacey King (born 1967), three-time NBA champion with Chicago Bulls (1991–1993)
- Jon Kolb (born 1947), football player, Oklahoma State and Pittsburgh Steelers center
- Hal Lahar (1919–2003), pro football player, college coach
- Steve Largent (born 1954), Seattle Seahawks wide receiver, Pro Football Hall of Famer and politician
- Abe Lemons (1922–2002), Oklahoma City University, Pan American University, and Texas Longhorns basketball coach
- Frank Lewis (1912–1998), Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling
- Ronnell Lewis (born 1990), NFL player for Detroit Lions
- Chicago Cardinals
- Chicago Cardinals and New York Giants
- Baseball Hall of Famer
- Pepper Martin (1904–1965), St. Louis Cardinals baseball player
- Bryan McCann (born 1987), cornerback for Oakland Raiders
- Gerald McCoy (born 1988), defensive tackle for Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Basketball Hall of Famer
- Israel Basketball Premier League
- Leroy McGuirk (1910–1988), professional wrestler and promoter
- Mike McGuirk (born 1958), ring announcer for World Wrestling Federation
- R. W. McQuarters (born 1976), NFL cornerback
- Robert Meachem (born 1984), wide receiver for San Diego Chargers
- Jordy Mercer (born 1986), shortstop for Pittsburgh Pirates
- Shannon Miller (born 1977), Olympic gold medal gymnast
- Garrett Mills (born 1983), tight end for Philadelphia Eagles
- Ryan Minor (born 1974), OU baseball and basketball player
- Kenny Monday (born 1961), Olympic gold and silver medalist in freestyle wrestling
- Gil Morgan (born 1946), professional golfer
- Marty Mornhinweg (born 1962), offensive coordinator for Philadelphia Eagles
- Tommy Morrison (1969–2013), heavyweight champion boxer
- Bobby Murcer (1946–2008), professional baseball player and sportscaster
- N–R
- Rico Noel (born 1989), outfielder for New York Yankees
- Lance Norick (born 1968), NASCAR driver
- Daniel Orton (born 1990), center for Orlando Magic
- offensive tackle
- Steve Owen (1898–1964), Hall of Fame NFL player and head coach
- Steve Owens (born 1947), OU football player, 1969 Heisman Trophy winner
- Robert Pearce (1908–1996), Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling
- Brad Penny (born 1978), MLB pitcher
- Beth Phoenix (born 1980), professional wrestler
- MLBbaseball player for St. Louis Cardinals
- center for Pittsburgh Steelers
- center and guard for Miami Dolphins
- Mark Price (born 1964), basketball player; Enid H.S., Georgia Tech, and Cleveland Cavaliers
- J. T. Realmuto (born 1991), MLB player for the Philadelphia Phillies
- Bryant Reeves (born 1973), basketball player, played for Oklahoma State and NBA's Vancouver Grizzlies
- Allie Reynolds (1917–1994), pitcher, Baseball Hall of Famer
- Crystal Robinson (born 1974), New York Liberty, WNBA basketball player
- Bullet Rogan (1893–1967), Baseball Hall of Famer
- Matt Roney (born 1980), MLB relief pitcher
- Jim Ross (born 1952), WWE announcer
- T. J. Rushing (born 1983), cornerback and return specialist for Detroit Lions
- bench coach for Baltimore Orioles
- Rex Ryan (born 1962), head coach for Buffalo Bills, New York Jets
- Rob Ryan (born 1962), NFL defensive coordinator
- S–Z
- OSU Heisman Trophy winner, Pro Football Hall of Famer
- Spec Sanders (1919–2003), football player for New York Yankees (AAFC) and New York Yanks
- Bill Self (born 1962), basketball coach at University of Kansas
- Lee Roy Selmon (1954–2011), OU and NFL player, Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Sterling Shepard (born 1993), wide receiver for the New York Giants
- Jeremy Shockey (born 1980), tight end for New Orleans Saints
- Billy Sims (born 1955), running back OU and Detroit Lions, Heisman Trophy winner
- Antonio Smith (born 1981), defensive end for Denver Broncos
- John Smith (born 1965), two-time NCAA champion at OSU, four-time World and two-time Olympic gold medalist, NCAA and Olympic wrestling coach, Distinguished Member of National Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Pat Smith (born 1970), younger brother of John Smith, first ever four-time NCAA Wrestling champion
- safety for Carolina Panthers
- Baseball Hall of Famer
- Willie Stargell (1940–2001), outfielder, Baseball Hall of Famer with Pittsburgh Pirates
- John Starks (born 1965), basketball player for New York Knicks
- Cory Sullivan (born 1979), outfielder for Houston Astros
- OSUbasketball coach
- Jack Swagger(born 1982), OU and WWE professional wrestler
- Barry Switzer (born 1937), football coach, OU and Dallas Cowboys
- Brian Tallet (born 1977), relief pitcher for St. Louis Cardinals
- Ralph Terry (born 1936), pitcher, primarily with New York Yankees
- Jim Thorpe (1887–1953), athlete, Olympic gold medalist, played professional football and Major League Baseball; born in Prague, Oklahoma
- Spencer Tillman (born 1964), All-American running back for OU, TV analyst
- Wayman Tisdale (1964–2009), professional basketball player and jazz musician
- Bob Tway (born 1959), professional golfer, 1986 PGA Championship winner
- Kevin Tway (born 1988), professional golfer
- Ekpe Udoh (born 1987), player for Milwaukee Bucks
- Jack van Bebber (1907–1986), Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling
- J. D. Walton (born 1987), center for New York Giants
- Lloyd "Little Poison" Waner (1906–1982), Baseball Hall of Famer
- Paul "Big Poison" Waner (1903–1965), Baseball Hall of Famer
- "Cowboy" Bill Watts (born 1939), professional wrestler and promoter
- J.C. Watts (born 1957), OUquarterback and U.S. Congressman
- Brandon Weeden (born 1983), quarterback for Houston Texans
- Wes Welker (born 1981), wide receiver for Denver Broncos
- Nikesignature athlete
- Jason White (born 1980), OU quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner
- Bud Wilkinson (1916–1994), OU coach, College Football Hall of Fame
- Shelby Wilson (born 1937), Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling
- Shelden Williams (born 1983), former NBA player
- Reggie Willits (born 1981), left fielder for Los Angeles Angels
- Matt Wiman (born 1983), UFC fighter
- James Winchester (born 1989), long snapper for Kansas City Chiefs
- Jamey Wright (born 1974), MLB relief pitcher
- Kenyatta Wright (born 1978), NFL linebacker from Vian, Oklahoma
- Trae Young (born 1998), NBA All-Star point guard for the Atlanta Hawks
Authors
- William Bernhardt (born 1960), novelist
- John Berryman (1914–1972), poet
- Cleora Butler (1901–1985), chef, caterer and cookbook writer
- Ralph Ellison (1914–1994), writer and scholar
- Martin Gardner (1914–2010), author specializing in recreational mathematics
- Tony Hillerman (1925–2008), journalist, historian, professor, and novelist
- S.E. Hinton(born 1948), author and novelist
- Nicole Jordan (born 1954), author
- Oliver LaGrone (1906-1995), sculptor, poet, educator and humanitarian
- Louis L'Amour (1908–1988), western novelist
- Billie Letts (1938–2014), novelist
- Tracy Letts (born 1965), playwright, screenwriter, actor
- N. Scott Momaday (born 1964), author, printmaker
- Bill Moyers (born 1934), journalist and public commentator
- Jason Nelson (born 1970), internet artist and digital poet
- Wilson Rawls (1913–1984), author
- WIGU
- Josh Shipp (born 1981), author and motivational speaker
- Jim Thompson (1906–1977), novelist
Aviators and astronauts
- Thomas and Paul Braniff, airline entrepreneurs, founders of Braniff International Airways
- Gordon Cooper (1927–2006), astronaut
- Owen K. Garriott(1930–2019), astronaut
- John Herrington (Chickasaw, 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(1930–2014), astronaut
- pilot to fly solo around the world (born in Texasbut grew up in Oklahoma)
- Will Rogers (Cherokee, 1879–1935), aviator
- Thomas Stafford(born 1930), astronaut
- U.S. Army Air Corpsgeneral and supreme commander of the U.S. Army Air Corps in the Pacific during World War II
Businesspeople
- Rick Bayless (born 1953), restaurateur, chef, PBS television personality
- Clay Bennett (born 1959), chairman, Dorchester Capital; owner, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Sherman Billingsley (1896–1966), owner of Stork Club
- James A. Chapman (1881–1966), oil industry businessman
- Edward K. Gaylord (1873–1974), founder, Daily Oklahoman
- Edward L. Gaylord (1919–2003), editor, Daily Oklahoman; founder, TNN & CMT; owner, Grand Ole Opry
- Sylvan Goldman (1898–1984), businessman and inventor of the shopping cart
- David Green (born 1941), businessman, philanthropist, founder of Hobby Lobby
- J. M. Hall (1851–1935), merchant and pioneer of Tulsa, Oklahoma
- George Kaiser (born 1942),[2] chairman of BOK Financial Corporation
- W. W. Keeler (Cherokee, 1908–1987), principal Chief of Cherokee Nation, President and CEO of Phillips Petroleum Company (1968–1973)
- Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
- Eugene Lorton (1868–1949), owner, publisher and editor of Tulsa World
- James H. McBirney (1870–1944) founder and president, National Bank of Commerce,[4]
- Sam P. McBirney (1877–1936), founder and vice president, National Bank of Commerce, Tulsa[4]
- Robert M. McFarlin (1866–1942), oil industry businessman
- Cerner Corporation; owner, Sporting Kansas Citysoccer team
- Waite Phillips (1883–1964), oil industry businessman
- T. Boone Pickens Jr.(1928–2019), oil industry businessman
- Chad Richison (born 1970), founder and CEO of Paycom
- Spartan School of Aeronautics
- B. Kevin Turner (born 1965), Former COO of Microsoft, CEO of Sam's Club and CIO of Walmart
- Helen Walton (1919–2007), wife of Sam Walton, once richest woman in the world
- Wal-Mart
- Tom L. Ward, oil industry businessman
- William K. Warren, Sr.(1897–1990), oil industry businessman, founder of Warren Petroleum and St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa
Comedians
- Bill Hader (born 1978), actor, producer, director, writer comedian
- Megan Mullally (born 1958), actress, comedian, dancer, singer
- Alexander Posey (Muscogee Creek, 1873–1908) poet, humorist, politician
- Tony Randall (1920–2004), actor, comedian
- Will Rogers (Cherokee, 1879–1935), humorist
- Harris Wittels (1984–2015) television writer, comedian
Criminals
- American Old West[5]
- Little Britches (born 1879; year of death unknown), female bandit, companion in crime with Cattle Annie[5]
- William K. "Bill" Hale (1874–1962), ringleader of the Osage Indian murders, convicted of murder in 1929
- Espionage Actand other offenses
- Richard Lee McNair (born 1958), convicted murderer
- Oklahoma City Bombingand put to death in 2001
- Jon Schillaci (born 1971), former FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive
- Belle Starr (1848–1889), queen of the outlaws; a female Jesse James
- arsonist, whose case spawned a controversy over use of forensic evidence in capital trials
Miss America winners
- 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 (Cherokee, 1909–1966), Miss America 1926, first Miss America of Native American heritage
- Shawntel Smith (born 1971), Miss America 1996
Military and political figures
- Carl Albert (1908–2000), Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1971 to 1977; born in McAlester, reared in Bugtussle, Oklahoma
- Bob Ballinger (born 1974), Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives; reared in Tulsa
- Dewey F. Bartlett, Sr. (1919–1979), Oklahoma Governor and U.S. Senator
- U.S. House
- U.S. Senator and University of Oklahomapresident
- Donna Campbell (born 1954), physician and member of the Texas Senate; reared in Oklahoma
- U.S. Navy and first Native American to graduate from the United States Naval Academy
- United States senator from Oklahoma, reared in Muskogee, Oklahoma.
- U.S. Navy and former Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Drew Edmondson (born 1946), state Attorney General
- General Tommy Franks (born 1945), Commander of US Central Command, US Invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq
- Bo Gritz (born 1939), most decorated Green Beret officer during the Vietnam War
- State of Oklahoma, campaign manager for George Nigh during his first successful bid for Governor, Principal Chief of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, artist, sculptor, historian, businessman
- U.S. Secretary of War under President Herbert Hoover
- U.S. Ambassadorto the United Nations
- William Flynn Martin (born 1950), Deputy Secretary of Energy and Executive Secretary of the United States National Security Council
- U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg
- U.S. Senator, sponsor of the Automobile Information Disclosure Act of 1958
- U.S. Senator, ambassador to India, Ambassador to the United Nations
- Donald Lee "Don" Nickles(born 1948), U.S. Senator from Oklahoma 1981–2005
- Governor of Oklahoma
- Tony Perkins (born 1963), director of the Family Research Council and former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
- Riley L. Pitts (1937–1967), U.S. Army Medal of Honor recipient
- Dennis Reimer (born 1939), four-star General, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army
- Alice Mary Robertson(1854–1931), educator, social worker, government official, and politician
- Apollo Soucek (1897–1955), test pilot and Vice Admiral, U. S. Navy, born in Medford, Oklahoma
- Gene Stipe (1926–2012), longest-serving member of the Oklahoma State Senate, from McAlester, Oklahoma
- Clarence L. Tinker (1887–1942), Air Force major general killed in action in World War II
- Elizabeth Warren (born 1949), US Senator for Massachusetts, Special Advisor for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
- U.S. representative in the majority leadership; Oklahoma Soonersquarterback
- Neil Woodward (born 1962), Naval officer, former NASA astronaut
- CIA(1993–1995)
Musicians
- AleXa (born 1996), K-Pop idol based in Seoul
- Hoyt Axton (1938–1999), country music singer-songwriter, wrote "Never Been to Spain"
- Chet Baker (1929–1988), jazz trumpeter who helped popularize 1950s cool jazz style
- Molly Bee (1939–2009), country singer
- Florence Birdwell (1924-2021), voice teacher to Broadway stars
- Elvin Bishop (born 1942), singer-songwriter; from Tulsa; hit record "Fooled Around and Fell in Love"
- Bob Bogle (1934–2009), bassist and founding member of The Ventures, member of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- R&B and jazzmusician
- Garth Brooks (born 1962), country music singer-songwriter
- Anita Jane Bryant(born 1940), singer, former Miss Oklahoma
- Don Byas (1912–1972), jazz tenor saxophonist; a leading musician of swing and bebop eras
- Tulsa sound)
- Jerry Cantrell (born 1966), musician, lead guitarist and vocalist, Alice in Chains
- Henson Cargill (1941–2007), country music singer
- Gary Chapman (born 1957), Contemporary Christian musician
- Charlie Christian (1916–1942), jazz guitarist, member of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, considered father of jazz guitar
- Roy Clark (1933–2018), country musician
- Wayne Coyne (born 1961), member, indie rock band The Flaming Lips
- Jesse Ed Davis (Kiowa-Comanche, 1944–1988), Taj Mahal band, session musician post-Beatles, born in Norman
- Bob Dunn (1908–1971), musician, early pioneer of electric guitar; from Beggs, Oklahoma
- Ronnie Dunn (born 1953), half of country music duo Brooks & Dunn
- Nokie Edwards (1935–2018), lead guitarist of The Ventures, member of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Gail Farrell (born 1947), singer-songwriter, featured performer from The Lawrence Welk Show
- John Fullbright (born 1988), singer-songwriter; from Bearden
- David Gates (born 1940), singer-songwriter associated with the band Bread
- Vince Gill (born 1957), country musician
- Earl Grant (1933–1970), easy listening pianist
- folk singer
- Chasen Hampton (born 1975), singer-songwriter from band The Party
- Isaac Hanson (born 1980), guitarist and singer-songwriter from band Hanson
- Taylor Hanson (born 1983), pianist and lead singer-songwriter from band Hanson
- Zac Hanson(born 1985), drummer and singer-songwriter from band Hanson
- Glen Hardin (born 1939), musician, piano player
- Roy Harris (1898–1979), classical composer
- Richard Hart (born 1955), jazz guitarist, composer, arranger, published artist
- Wade Hayes (born 1969), Country Music Artist
- Lee Hazlewood (1929–2007), singer-songwriter, record producer
- Michael Hedges (1953–1997), acoustic guitarist, born in Enid, Oklahoma
- Wanda Jackson (born 1938), rockabilly singer, born in Maud, Oklahoma
- Brett James (born 1968), country singer-songwriter
- Toby Keith (1961-2024), country musician
- Barney Kessel (1923–2004), jazz guitarist
- Merle Kilgore (1934–2005), singer-songwriter, manager
- Edward Knight (born 1961), composer, music educator
- Tosca Kramer (1903–1976), violinist, violist, music educator
- Fredell Lack (1922–2017), violinist
- Mel McDaniel (1942–2011), country music singer-songwriter
- Reba McEntire (born 1955), country singer
- Susie McEntire (born 1957), inspirational country singer and storyteller
- Jay McShann (1916–2006), jazz pianist and bandleader
- Roger Miller (1936–1992), singer-songwriter
- Leona Mitchell (born 1948), African-American soprano; Grammy Award winner, member, Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame
- Zach Bryan (born 1996], country music singer-songwriter
- N–Z
- Norma Jean (born Norma Jean Beasler in 1938), country music singer
- rock n rolldrummer
- Patti Page (1927–2013), traditional pop and country music singer
- Sandi Patty (born 1957), contemporary Christian music singer2004)
- Tom Paxton (born 1937), singer-songwriter
- Ben Rector (born 1986), pop singer-songwriter
- Steve Ripley (1950–2019), songwriter, studio engineer, guitarist, and inventor, leader of rock band The Tractors
- Tyson Ritter (born 1984), vocalist of rock band The All-American Rejects
- Sam Rivers (1923–2011), jazz tenor saxophonist with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, and Quincy Jones
- Joe Don Rooney (born 1975), country music singer, one-third of group Rascal Flatts
- Leon Russell (1942–2016), singer-songwriter, pianist and guitarist
- Music.ly
- Neal Schon (born 1954), lead rock guitarist of Journey
- Mark Selby (1961–2017), blues rock musician
- Blake Shelton (born 1976), country musician
- John Simmons (1918–1979), jazz bassist
- Kay Starr (1922–2016), pop and jazz singer
- Ryan Tedder (born 1979), frontman, pop rock band OneRepublic
- B. J. Thomas (1942–2021), singer-songwriter (singer of "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head")
- Carrie Underwood (born 1983), country music singer-songwriter, American Idol 2005 winner
- Lushanya Vinay (1906–1990) born Tessie Mobley, was an American operatic soprano of Chickasaw descent. Raised in Ardmore, Oklahoma.
- Kitt Wakeley Grammy Nominated musician, Born, Holdenville, OK
- Jimmy Webb (born 1946), popular music composer
- Bryan White (born 1974), country music singer
- Claude Williams (1908–2004), jazz musician, Count Basie band
- Mason Williams (born 1938), composer ("Classical Gas"), recording artist, comedy writer (Smothers Brothers)
- The Texas Playboys
- Austin Winkler (born 1981), former lead singer for rock band Hinder
- Purple People Eater)
Native Americans
- Bill Anoatubby (born 1945), Governor of the Chickasaw Nation
- Lisa Johnson Billy (born 1967), Oklahoma State Legislator; first Woman Native American elected to HD 42; one of the founders of the Native American Caucus; Chickasaw Indian
- Black Kettle (1801/07–1868), Cheyenne Chief killed near Cheyenne, Oklahoma, in Roger Mills County
- artist and poet
- Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
- Joseph J. Clark (Cherokee Nation, 1893–1971), Admiral in U.S. Navy
- George W. Harkins (Choctaw (1810–1861), attorney, judge, Chief of the Apukshunnubbee District
- Wilma Mankiller (1945–2010), first woman Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation
- Doris McLemore (Wichita, 1927–2016), last speaker of the Wichita language[6]
- Quanah Parker (Comanche, c. late 1840s–1911), chief and cofounder of the Native American Church
- Peter Pitchlynn (Choctaw, 1806–1881), provisional Choctaw Chief, Choctaw Delegate to Washington, D.C.; buried in the Congressional Cemetery
- Muscogee (Creek) Nationprincipal chief
- Southern Cheyenne, born 1941), Native American forensic artist, Cheyenne peace chief
- Will Rogers (Cherokee, 1879–1935), humorist, actor, author, aviator, movie producer
- John Ross (Cherokee, 1790–1866), principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, buried at Park Hill, Oklahoma
- Steve Russell (born 1947), Cherokee, poet, academic (emeritus professor), journalist and trial judge.
- Sequoyah (Cherokee, 1776–1842), lived in what is now Sequoyah County; blacksmith, teacher, inventor of the Cherokee syllabary
- Maria Tallchief (Osage Nation, 1925–2013), first American prima ballerina
- Marjorie Tallchief (Osage Nation, 1926-2021), ballerina
- U.S. Army Air Corpsgeneral, first American general to die in World War II
- Fred Waite (Chickasaw, 1853–1895), cowboy, member of Billy the Kid's gang and politician
- Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Indians, president of the Institute of American Indian Arts, executive director of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture
- Stand Watie (Cherokee, 1806–1871), Brigadier General in the Confederate Army, chief
Radio and television personalities
- Rick Bayless (born 1953), chef and television personality
- Skip Bayless (born 1951), sports journalist
- Douglas Edwards (1917–1990), radio and television journalist
- Gary England (born 1939), chief meteorologist for KWTV Channel 9
- Kathy Lee Gifford (born 1953), television personality, Oral Robertsgraduate
- Kayne Gillaspie (born 1979), television personality and fashion designer
- Mary Hart (born 1950), television personality, co-host of Entertainment Tonight
- Paul Harvey (1918–2009), radio broadcaster and commentator
- Glenn Hauser (born 1945), radio broadcaster
- Phil McGraw (born 1950), television psychologist
- Bill Moyers (born 1934), television journalist
- play-by-play for New York Mets
- Ross Porter (born 1938), longtime broadcaster for Los Angeles Dodgers
- Dan Rowan (1922–1987), comedian, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
- Judy Woodruff (born 1946), television journalist
Scientists, including medicine
- Richard E. Berendzen (born 1938), astronomer, author, and professor
- Kenneth H. Cooper (born 1931), physician, United States Air Force officer, pioneer of aerobics
- political commentator
- Edwin R. Gilliland (1909–1973), chemical engineer and professor
- inventor
- Karl Guthe Jansky (1905–1950), physicist and radio engineer
- Dr. Donna J. Nelson (born 1954), OU Chemistry Professor, 2016 ACS President, and science advisor to Breaking Bad
- Dr. Reed Timmer (born 1980), extreme meteorologist, storm chaser
- John York (born 1949), cancer research pathologist
Religious figures
- Wade Burleson (born 1961), Lead Pastor of Emmanuel Enid (1992–present) and President of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma (2002–2004)
- Finis Alonzo Crutchfield(1916–1987), Methodist minister and Bishop of Oklahoma
- Paul Vernon Galloway (1904–1990), Methodist minister and Bishop of Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana
- Jerry Johnston (born 1959), Southern Baptist clergyman and university administrator, born in Oklahoma City
- Charles William Kerr (1875–1951), first permanent Protestant minister in Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Robert McGill Loughridge (1809–1900), Presbyterian missionary
- Quanah Parker (Comanche, 1852–1911), Native American Church leader and advocate
- Oral Roberts (1918–2009), evangelist
- Roman Catholicchurch
- John Wilson (Caddo) (ca. 1840–1901), Native American Church roadman
- Yahweh ben Yahweh (born Hulon Mitchell Jr.) (1935–2007), leader of religious group Nation of Yahweh
Visual artists
- Joe Andoe (born 1955), painter
- Fred Beaver (Seminole/Muscogee, 1911–1980), painter, printmaker
- Charles Bell (1935–1995), photorealist painter
- Acee Blue Eagle (Muscogee, 1907–1959), artist
- Carolyn Brady (1937–2005), artist
- Joe Brainard (1942–1994), artist
- T.C. Cannon(Kiowa/Caddo, 1946–1978), artist
- Larry Clark (born 1943), photographer, filmmaker
- Woody Crumbo (Citizen Potawatomi, 1912–1989), artist
- Joseph Glasco (1925-1996), abstract expressionist artist
- Joe Goode (born 1937), artist
- Chester Gould (1900–1985), creator of the Dick Tracy comic strip
- Stephen Hillenburg (1961–2018), cartoonist, creator of SpongeBob SquarePants
- Allan Houser (Chiricahua Apache, 1914–1994), sculptor
- Robert McMurtry (1950–2012), painter, author
- Jason Nelson (born 1970), internet artist and digital poet
- Gary Panter (born 1950), illustrator, painter and designer
- Joe A. Rector (1935–2012), artist
- Ed Ruscha(born 1937), artist
- David Salle (born 1952), artist
- Leon Polk Smith (European-American, 1906–1996), artist
- Willard Stone (1916-1985) sculptor and woocdarver
Other
- Bobby Baldwin (born c. 1950), professional poker player
- Daniel J. Boorstin (1914–2004), historian, professor, attorney, and writer
- Tom Colbert (born 1949), first African-American Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice
- Kim Davenport (born 1955), professional pool player
- antisemitic conspiracy theorist
- Ben Graf Henneke (1914–1999), educator; president, University of Tulsa
- Anita Hill (born 1956), professor of social policy, law, and women's studies who testified at the U.S. Senate confirmation hearings of Clarence Thomas
- Sherri Hill (born 1949), fashion designer; grew up in Minco
- Ray William Johnson (born 1981), Internet comedian and musician
- Stephen Jones (born 1940), attorney; Timothy McVeigh's lead defense lawyer during McVeigh's trial for the Oklahoma City bombing
- Robert L. Lynn (1931–2020), college administrator and president, journalist and poet; reared in Carter County
- Charles ("Chuck") W. Mooney Jr. (born 1947), the Charles A. Heimbold Jr. Professor of Law, and former interim dean, at the University of Pennsylvania Law School
- Charles Page (1860–1920), philanthropist and founder of Sand Springs, Oklahoma
- Joe Redington (1917–1999), "Father of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race"
- U.S. Marshaland one of the chief law enforcement agents in early Oklahoma
- Kevin Samuels (born 1966), Youtuber
- 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
- Kathleen Zellner, attorney
See also
- List of Northeastern State University alumni
- List of Oklahoma State University people
- List of people from Enid, Oklahoma
- List of people from Muskogee, Oklahoma
- List of people from Norman, Oklahoma
- List of people from Oklahoma City
- List of people from Tulsa, Oklahoma
- List of University of Central Oklahoma people
- List of University of Oklahoma people
- List of University of Tulsa people
- Lists of Americans
References
- ^ "Team USA: Patrick Callan". TeamUSA.org. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
- ^ "Forbes's The World's Richest People". Forbes. Retrieved September 16, 2007.
- ^ "Academy of Achievement Biography". Archived from the original on February 13, 1997. Retrieved September 16, 2007.
- ^ a b Tulsa Gal Website. "Tulsa Founders: James H. McBirney."June 20, 2010.
- ^ a b "Cattle Annie & Little Britches, taken from Lee Paul [http://www.theoutlaws.com]". ranchdivaoutfitters.com. Archived from the original on January 17, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2012.
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- ^ Poolaw, Rhiannon (August 31, 2016). "Last Wichita Speaker Passes Away". ABC News 7. KSWO. Retrieved September 1, 2016.