List of people from Columbus, Ohio

The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Columbus, Ohio or from the surrounding suburbs.

Actors

• Chet Allen (1939-1984), television, Amahl and the Night Visitors on Hallmark Hall of Fame; Bonino. Member of the Columbus Boychoir.
• Majel Barrett (1932-2008), television (Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation). Barrett was born in Columbus.
• Warner Baxter (1889-1951), film (In Old Arizona). Baxter was born in Columbus and lived there until age nine.
• Richard Biggs (1960-2004), actor. Biggs was born in Columbus.
• Andrea Bowen (1990- ), actress. Bowen was born in Columbus.
• Grace Cunard (1893-1967), actress, screenwriter, and film director. Cunard was born in Columbus.
• Beverly D'Angelo (1951- ), film (National Lampoon's Vacation series). D'Angelo was born and raised in Columbus.
• Dody Goodman (1915-2008), television (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman). Goodman was born in Columbus.
• Maggie Grace (1983- ), television (Lost). Grace was born in Worthington, Ohio.
• Rachael Harris (1968- ), actress and comedienne. Harris was born in Worthington, Ohio and attended high school there.
• Elsie Janis (1889-1956), vaudeville performer, screenwriter, actress and composer. Janis was born in Columbus and maintained a home there.
• A.J. Langer (1974- ), television (My So-Called Life). Langer was born in Columbus and lived there until age five.
• Jack Plotnick (1968- ), actor. Plotnick was born in Worthington, Ohio.
• Tom Poston (1921-2007), television (Newhart); husband of Suzanne Pleshette. Poston was born in Columbus.
• Josh Radnor (1974- ), television, stage (How I Met Your Mother; The Graduate). Radnor was born and raised in Bexley, Ohio.
• Gigi Rice (1965- ), television (The John Larroquette Show). Rice was born in Columbus.
• Gene Sheldon (1908-1982), television (Disney's Zorro). Sheldon was born in Columbus.
• Philip Michael Thomas (1949- ), actor. Thomas was born in Columbus.
• Hal Williams (1938- ), actor. Williams was born was born in Columbus.

Athletes

• Mark Coleman (1964- ), professional fighter from the UFC and Pride mixed-martial-arts organizations. Member of Columbus-based Team Hammer House.
• Helen Darling (1978- ), WNBA guard. Darling attended high school in Columbus.
• Buster Douglas (1960- ), heavyweight boxing champion after defeating Mike Tyson. Douglas was born and raised in Columbus.
• Terry Glenn (1974- ), Ohio State University and NFL wide receiver. Glenn was born and raised in Columbus.
• Hank Gowdy (1889-1966), Major League Baseball catcher. Gowdy was born and lived in Columbus.
• Archie Griffin (1954- ), Only two-time Heisman Trophy winner. Griffin attended Eastmoor High School, then the Ohio State University and won the Heisman Trophy twice as a running back for the OSU Buckeyes. He returned to Columbus after his pro career to become the university's assistant athletic director, and president of its alumni association.
• Forrest Griffin (1979- ), UFC light heavyweight fighter and winner of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. Griffin was born in Columbus.
• Morgan Hamm (1982- ), Olympic Medal Winning gymnast in 2004. Attended the Ohio State University.
• Paul Hamm (1982- ), Olympic Gold Medal Winning gymnast in 2004. Attended the Ohio State University.
• Andrew Hampsten (1963- ), retired professional cyclist. Hampsten was born in Columbus.
• Chic Harley (1894-1974), Ohio State University All-American football player.
• Wayne Woodrow "Woody" Hayes (1913-1987), Ohio State University football coach for 28 years.
• Chris Leitch (1979- ), Major League Soccer defender. Leitch was born in Columbus.
• Jack Nicklaus (1940- ), winner of a record eighteen golf majors. Nicklaus was born in Columbus, and attended the Ohio State University. He won the 1961 NCAA Championship while playing for the school.
• Paul O'Neill (1963- ), Major League Baseball outfielder. O'Neill was born and raised in Columbus.
• Danny O'Rourke (1983- ), Major League Soccer midfielder. O'Rourke was born and raised in Columbus.
• Jesse Owens (1913-1980), Olympic Gold Medalist in Track & Field. Attended the Ohio State University. The Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium is located in Columbus.
• Brady Quinn (1984- ), NFL quarterback. Quinn was born in Columbus and attended high school in Dublin, Ohio.
• Randy Savage (1952-2011 ), Former professional wrestler, former WWE champion. Savage was born in Columbus.
• Troy Perkins (1981- ), Major League Soccer goalkeeper. Perkins attended high school in Worthington, Ohio.
• Bobby Rahal (1953- ), race-car driver, team owner, winner of the 1986 Indianapolis 500. Rahal lives in New Albany, Ohio
• Michael Redd (1979- ), former Ohio State University basketball player and current NBA shooting guard. Redd was born and raised in Columbus.
• Butch Reynolds (1964- ), Olympic Silver Medal Track & Field Winner in 1988.
• Mauri Rose (1906-81), racecar driver
• Kip Selbach (1872-1956), Major League Baseball outfielder. Selbach was born in Columbus.
• Nick Swisher (1980- ), Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman for the New York Yankees. Swisher attended the Ohio State University.
• Gary Trent (1974- ), NBA player. Trent was born and raised in Columbus.
• Herb Williams (1958- ), NBA player and coach. Williams was born in Columbus. Williams was born in Columbus and played basketball for the Ohio State University.
• Blaine Wilson (1974- ), Olympic Silver Medal Gymnast in 2004. Wilson attended the Ohio State University.
• Granville Waiters (1961- ), Retired NBA Player. Waiters was born and raised in Columbus.
• Gary Trent (1974- ), Retired NBA Player. Trent was born and raised in Columbus.
• Samaki Walker (1976- ), Retired NBA Player. Walker was born and raised in Columbus.
• Lawrence Funderburke (1970- ), Retired NBA Player. Funderburke was born and raised in Columbus.

See also:

• Category:Sportspeople in Columbus, Ohio

Entrepreneurs

• Dick Cepek (1930-1983), Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame member, parts supplier and racer. Cepek was raised in Columbus.
• Henry Beecher Dierdorff (1851-1935), mining engineer and inventor. Dierdorff died in Columbus.
• Jack Hanna (1947- ), zookeeper. Director of the Columbus Zoo (1978-1993), Director Emeritus afterwards.
• John H. McConnell (1923-2008), founder of Worthington Industries and the Columbus Blue Jackets NHL team.
• John Purdue (1802-1876), Purdue Block, Tippecanoe County founder, founding benefactor of Purdue University. Purdue lived in Worthington, Ohio for a time.
• Dave Thomas (1932-2002), founder of Wendy's restaurant chain, whose first store was in Columbus.
• Leslie Wexner (1937- ), chairman and CEO of Limited Brands. Wexner attended the Ohio State University and lives in New Albany, Ohio.
• Granville Woods (1856-1910), inventor. Woods spent his early childhood in Columbus.

Journalists

• Cabot Rea, an Emmy Award-winning television reporter and anchor. Rea was a reporter for the Columbus NBC affiliate WCMH beginning in 1985, and later become its evening news anchor. He also anchored the local UPN news at WWHO.
• Dana Tyler (1958- ), television news anchor. Tyler grew up in Worthington, Ohio and began her career at WBNS-TV.

Military personnel

• Curtis LeMay (1906-1990), World War II and Cold War U.S. Air Force general. LeMay was born and raised in Columbus, and studied civil engineering at the Ohio State University.
• Eddie Rickenbacker (1890-1973), World War I fighter pilot, "Ace of Aces". Rickenbacker was born and raised in Columbus.
• Willard Franklyn Searle (1924-2009), Captain, U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage from 1964 to 1969. Searle was born and raised in Columbus.
• Richard Secord (1932- ) Air Force major general
• Paul Tibbets (1915-2007), World War II Enola Gay decorated pilot

Miss America

• Mary Katherine Campbell (1905-1990), Miss America 1922-23. Campbell was born and raised in Columbus and attended the Ohio State University.
• Laurie Lea Schaefer, Miss America 1972

Musicians

• Attack Attack!, metalcore band
• Blueprint, rapper and hip hop producer
• Bizzy Bone (1976- ), Rapper, part of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
• Bow Wow (1987- ) (formerly known as "Lil' Bow Wow"), rapper. Bow Wow was born in Columbus and spent his early childhood there.
• Camu Tao (1977-2008), rapper and producer. Member of S.A. Smash with fellow Columbian RJD2.
• Copywrite, underground hip-hop artist
• Jay DeMarcus (1971- ), bassist in the country group Rascal Flatts. DeMarcus was born in Columbus.
• Jerome Dillon (1969- ) (formerly of Nine Inch Nails), drummer/musician
• Early Man (2003- ) Speed Metal Band
• əkoostik hookah, musical group
• Fatty Koo, musical group
• Michael Feinstein (1956- ), singer. Feinstein was born in Columbus and lived there until age 19.
• Rascal Flatts, country band. Formed in Columbus
• House of Heroes, Christian rock band
• Illogic (1980- ), rapper and hip-hop artist
• Matt Johnson (1982- ), American hip-hop artist. Johnson was born and raised in Columbus.
• Howard Jones (1970- ), heavy metal singer for band Killswitch Engage
• Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1935-1977), American jazz saxophonist. Kirk was born and raised in Columbus, and educated at the Ohio State School for the Blind.
• Gary LeVox (1970- ), lead singer of country group Rascal Flatts
• Joe "Foley" McCreary, bass player for Miles Davis
• O.A.R., roots rock band
• Ovarian, rock band
• Penny & The Quarters, a short-lived 1970s soul band that came to notice in 2011
• Phil Ochs (1940-1976), folk-activist singer and songwriter. Ochs grew up in Columbus, which provided the inspiration for his song "Boy in Ohio", and studied journalism at Ohio State University.
• Jordan Pruitt (1991- ), singer
• Red Wanting Blue, alternative rock band
• John Reuben (1979- ), Christian Rapper
• RJD2 (1976- ), real name, Ramble Jon "RJ" Krohn; hip-hop producer. Member of S.A. Smash with fellow Columbian Camu Tao.
• Saving Jane, alt rock band
• The Crimson Armada, metalcore band
• The Sun, alt rock band
• Times New Viking, indie rock band
• Twyla Tharp (1941- ), dancer and choreographer
• Joe Walsh (1947- ) Solo artist, Guitarist For the eagles
• Nancy Wilson (1937- ), singer
• Dwight Yoakam (1956- ), country singer. Yoakam was raised in Columbus and briefly attended the Ohio State University before dropping out.

Politicians

• Prescott Bush (1895-1972), U.S. Senator elected from Connecticut, father and grandfather of Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush, respectively. Bush was born in Columbus and spent his childhood there until 1908. He moved back to Columbus for part of 1923 for a job in business.
• Pat McCrory (1956- ), Longest-serving Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. McCrory was born in Columbus, but relocated to North Carolina as a child. He was the 2008 republican nominee for Governor of North Carolina.

Writers

• David Auburn (1970- ), playwright. Auburn was raised in Columbus.
• Charlotte Curtis (1918–1987), first woman editor of the New York Times, born in Columbus and worked at the Columbus Citizen for 11 years.
• Natalie Dee, webcomic artist, creator of Natalie Dee [1] and co-creator of Married to the Sea [2] with husband Drew. Dee lives in Columbus.
• Drew (1979- ), webcomic artist, creator of toothpaste for dinner [3] and co-creator of Married to the Sea [4] with wife Natalie Dee. Drew lives in Columbus.
• Margaret Peterson Haddix (1964- ), author. Haddix lives in Columbus.
• Tom Meek (1965- ), columnist. Meek lived in Columbus in 1976.
• Mary Robison (1949- ), an American short story writer.
• Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. (1917-2007), historian and writer. Schlesinger was born in Columbus
• Jeff Smith (1960- ), cartoonist and creator of Bone. Smith grew up and currently lives in Columbus.
• R. L. Stine (1943- ), author. Stine was born and raised in Columbus, attended the Ohio State University.
• James Thurber (1894-1961), cartoonist and humorist. Thurber was born and raised in Columbus, and many of his short stories depict episodes from this period of his life.

Other

• George Bellows (1882-1925), artist. Bellows was born and raised in Columbus. He attended the Ohio State University in Columbus from 1901 until 1904.
• Lincoln Goodale (1782-1868), doctor and namesake of Goodale Park.
• Jim Kammerud (1960- ), director, writer, producer and animator. Kammerud attended high school in Worthington, Ohio and attended the Ohio State University.
• Curtis Lovell II (1981-) illusionist, escape artist and endurance artist.
• Christopher Ries (1952- ), sculptor. Ries was born in Columbus and attended the Ohio State University.
• Aminah Robinson (1940- ), artist. Lifelong Columbus resident.
• Howard Dwight Smith (1886-1958), architect. Smith graduated from the Ohio State University in 1907. He began the design and construction of Ohio Stadium in 1917, and during this project was a professor of architecture at OSU from 1918 to 1921. Smith was then chief architect for the Columbus Public Schools, then returned to OSU as University Architect 1929 to 1956.
• Sandra Hubby (1978- ), a Playboy Playmate and beauty pageant contestant. Hubby represented Columbus in the Miss Hawaiian Tropic Pageant.
• Ted Williams (1957- ), a voiceover artist who became an overnight celebrity when his YouTube video went viral in January, 2011.

Related lists

• Mayors of Columbus, Ohio
• People associated with Capital University
• People associated with the Ohio State University

See also

• Columbus, Ohio