List of people from Kansas

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

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Academics and Nobel Prize Laureates

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

Arts and literature

Artists

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

Authors

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

Dance

• Clark Tippet, (1954–1992), ballet, Parsons, Kansas.

Musicians

• Karrin Allyson, jazz performer, Great Bend, Kansas.
• Dawayne Bailey, musician and songwriter (Bob Seger and Chicago), Manhattan, Kansas.
• Chris Burnett, (born 1955), musician, Olathe, Kansas.
• Karla Burns, (born 1955), mezzo-soprano, Wichita, Kansas.
• Danny Carey, (born 1961), musician, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Richard Christy, musician, actor, comedian, drummer for various metal groups, writer for the Howard Stern show. Fort Scott, Kansas.
• Dorothy DeLay, (1917–2002), violinist, Juilliard Professor, Medicine Lodge, Kansas.
• Phil Ehart, (born 1951), drummer for the rock band Kansas, Coffeyville, Kansas.
• Melissa Etheridge, (born 1961), musician, Leavenworth, Kansas.
• Rory Lee Feek, (born ca. 1966), country music singer, Atchison, Kansas.
• Wendell Hall, (1886–1969), musician, St. George, Kansas.
• Louis Thomas Hardin, (1916–1999), vocalist, percussionist and composer better known by his stagename, "Moondog," Marysville, Kansas.
• Nora Holt, (1885 or 1890–1975), singer and co-founder of National Association of Negro Musicians, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Dave Hope (born 1949), musician, Topeka, Kansas
• Eva Jessye, (1895–1992), choral conductor, Coffeyville, Kansas
• Jennifer Knapp, (born 1974), singer and songwriter, Chanute, Kansas
• Katrina Leskanich (born 1960), musician, Topeka, Kansas
• Kerry Livgren, (born 1949), founding member of Kansas, Topeka, Kansas.
• Frank Luther, (1905–1980), musician, Lakin, Kansas.
• Martina McBride, (born 1966), musician, Sharon, Kansas.
• Andy McKee, (born 1979), musician, Topeka, Kansas
• Janelle Monáe, (born 1985), vocalist, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Jerrod Niemann, (born 1979), country singer, Liberal, Kansas.
• Charlie Parker, (1920–1955), musician, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Samuel Ramey, (born 1942), opera, bass-baritone, Colby, Kansas
• Joe Don Rooney, (born 1975), guitarist and vocalist, Baxter Springs, Kansas.
• Mark Schultz, (born 1970), musician, Colby, Kansas.
• Steven Stucky, (born 1949), Pulitzer Prize-winner in music, Hutchinson, Kansas.
• Jeremy Turner, Guitar player in Death Metal band Origin and ex Cannibal Corpse.
• Joe Walsh, (born 1947), musician, Wichita, Kansas.
• Bobby Watson, (born 1953), musician, Bonner Springs, Kansas.
• David Wetzel, (born 1983), musician, Westwood, Kansas.
• Chely Wright, (born 1970), musician, Wellsville, Kansas.
• Gordon Young, (1919–1998), organist and composer, McPherson, Kansas.

Athletics

Athletes

• John H. Adams, (born 1915), jockey, Iola, Kansas.
• David Arkin, (born 1987), pro football player, Wichita, Kansas.
• Elden Auker, (1910–2006), baseball pitcher, Norcatur, Kansas.
• Chase Austin, (born 1989), NASCAR driver, Eudora, Kansas.
• Thane Baker, (born 1931), Gold Medalist 1956 Summer Olympics, Elkhart, Kansas.
• Tony Barker, (born 1968), Former American football player, Wichita, Kansas
• Chris Barnes, (born 1970), professional bowler. Topeka, Kansas.
• James Bausch (1906-1974), Gold Medalist 1932 Summer Olympics, Garden Plain, Kansas
• Judy Bell, (born 1936), member of World Golf Hall of Fame, Wichita, Kansas.
• B.H. Born, (born 1932), Basketball player, Medicine Lodge, Kansas.
• Clint Bowyer, (born 1979), NASCAR driver, Emporia, Kansas.
• George Brett, (born 1953), baseball Hall of Famer, Mission Hills, Kansas.
• Bryce Brown, (born 1991), football player, Wichita, Kansas.
• Orville Brown, (1908–1981), pro wrestler, NWA champion, Sharon, Kansas.
• Mildred Bliss Burke, (1915–1989), American professional wrestler, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, Coffeyville, Kansas.
• Enos Cabell, (born 1949), baseball player, Fort Riley, Kansas.
• Veronica Campbell-Brown, (born 1982), track and field athlete (Olympic and World Champion), Great Bend, Kansas.
• Antoine Carr, (born 1961), retired NBA basketball player
• Larry Cheney, (1886–1969), baseball pitcher, Belleville, Kansas.
• Jack Christiansen, (1928–1986), NFL football Hall-of-Famer, Sublette, Kansas
• Tony Clark, (born 1972), baseball player, Newton, Kansas.
• Nolan Cromwell, (born 1955), football player, Smith Center, Kansas.
• Aaron Crow, (born 1986), baseball player, Topeka, Kansas.
• Glenn Cunningham, (1909–1988), Silver Medalist, 1936 Olympic Games, Elkhart, Kansas.
• Johnny Damon, (born 1973), baseball player, Fort Riley, Kansas.
• Eldon Danenhauer, (born 1935), football player, Clay Center, Kansas.
• Wantha Davis, (born 1918), jockey, Liberal, Kansas.
• Joey Devine, (born 1983), baseball player, Junction City, Kansas.
• Lynn Dickey, (born 1949), football player, Osawatomie, Kansas.
• Andy Dirks, (born 1986), baseball player, Burrton, Kansas.
• Larry Drew, (born 1958), basketball coach, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Mark Duckens (born 1965), football player, Wichita, Kansas.
• Brian Duensing, (born 1983), baseball player, Marysville, Kansas.
• Brody Eldridge, (born 1987), football player, La Cygne, Kansas.
• Tim Elliott, (born 1986), mixed martial artist, Wichita, Kansas
• Maurice Evans, (born 1978), basketball player, Wichita, Kansas.
• Kyle Farnsworth, (born 1976), baseball player, Wichita, Kansas.
• Galen Fiss, (1931–2006), football player, Johnson City, Kansas.
• Scott Fulhage, (born 1961), football player, Beloit, Kansas.
• Tyson Gay, (born 1982), track and field athlete (World Champion), Great Bend, Kansas.
• Maurice Greene, (born 1974), track and field athlete (World and Olympic Champion), Kansas City, Kansas.
• Joe Hastings, (born 1987), football player, Wichita, Kansas.
• Mark Haynes, (born 1958), football player, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Bobby Henrich, (born 1938), baseball player, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Don Hill, (1904–1967), football player, Hiawatha, Kansas.
• Shaun Hill, (born 1980), football player, Parsons, Kansas.
• Lionel Hollins, (born 1953), basketball player and coach, Arkansas City, Kansas.
• Scott Huffman, (born 1964), Pole Vaulter, Quinter, Kansas.
• Damian Johnson, (born 1962), football player, Great Bend, Kansas.
• Walter Johnson, (1887–1946), baseball Hall-of-Famer, Humboldt, Kansas.
• Fred Kipp, (born 1931), baseball pitcher, Piqua, Kansas.
• Laurie Koehn, (born 1982), WNBA player, Moundridge, Kansas.
• Gene Krug, (born 1955), baseball player, Garden City, Kansas.
• Franklin Lashley, (born 1976), professional Wrestler for the WWE, Junction City, Kansas.
• Shalee Lehning, (born 1987), WNBA player, Sublette, Kansas.
• Martin Lewis (born 1975), professional basketball player, Liberal, Kansas.
• Danny Manning, (born 1966), NBA basketball player, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Rudy May, (born 1944), baseball player, Coffeyville, Kansas.
• Jon McGraw, professional football player, Riley, Kansas
• Archie "Hap" McKain, (1911–1985), baseball player, Delphos, Kansas.
• Peter Mehringer, (1910–1987), Olympic Gold Medal winning wrestler and professional football player, Kinsley, Kansas.
• Brian Moorman, (born 1976), football player, Wichita, Kansas.
• Jordy Nelson, (born 1985), football player, Leonardville, Kansas.
• Terence Newman, (born 1978), football player, Salina, Kansas.
• Nicole Ohlde, (born 1982), WNBA player, Clay Center, Kansas.
• Victor Ortiz, (born 1987), professional boxer, Garden City, Kansas.
• Bob Orton, (1929-2006), professional wrestler, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Bob Orton, Jr., (born 1950), professional wrestler and member of WWE Hall of Fame, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Hal Patterson, (1932–2011), professional football player, Larned, Kansas.
• John Parrella, (born 1969), professional football player, Topeka, Kansas.
• Dustin Richardson, (born 1984), MLB baseball pitcher, Newton, Kansas
• John Riggins, (born 1949), Pro Football Hall of Famer, Seneca, Kansas.
• Lafayette Russell, (1905–1978), football player and B movie actor "Reb" Russell, Osawatomie, Kansas.
• Johnny Rutherford, (born 1938), racecar driver, Coffeyville, Kansas.
• Jim Ryun, (born 1947), athlete and politician, Wichita, Kansas.
• Barry Sanders, (born 1968), NFL Hall-of-Famer, Wichita, Kansas.
• Melvin Sanders, (born January 3, 1981), pro basketball player, Liberal, Kansas.
• Wes Santee, (1932–2010), NCAA Cross Country champion, track and field athlete, Ashland, Kansas.
• Gale Sayers, (born 1943), NFL Hall-of-Famer, Wichita, Kansas.
• Otto Schnellbacher, (1923–2008), played both basketball and football professionally, Sublette, Kansas
• Wayne Simien, (born 1983), NCAA All-American, NBA basketball player, Leavenworth, Kansas.
• Mark Simoneau, (born 1977), professional football player, Smith Center, Kansas.
• Darren Sproles, (born 1983), professional football player, Olathe, Kansas.
• Jackie Stiles, (born 1978), WNBA basketball player, Claflin, Kansas.
• Stewart "Smokey" Stover, (born 1938), professional football player, McPherson, Kansas.
• Lee Stevens, (born 1967), professional baseball player, Lawrence Kansas
• Darrell Stuckey (born 1987), professional football player, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Steve Tasker, (born 1962), NFL Pro-Bowl MVP in 1993, born in Smith Center, Kansas, grew up in Leoti, Kansas.
• Luther Haden "Dummy" Taylor, (1875–1958), baseball pitcher, Oskaloosa, Kansas.
• Doug Terry, (born February 10, 1968), pro football player, Liberal, Kansas.
• Tommy Thompson, (1916–1989), pro football player, Hutchinson, Kansas.
• Jerame Tuman, (born March 24, 1976), pro football player, Liberal, Kansas.
• Ron Warner, (born 1975), professional football player, Independence Kansas
• Earl Watson, (born 1979), NBA basketball player, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Tom Watson, (born 1949), 8 time PGA Tour major winner, Stilwell, Kansas.
• Kendra Wecker, (born 1982), WNBA player, Marysville, Kansas.
• Michael Wilhoite (born 1986), Pro football Player Manhattan, Kansas
• Jess Willard, (1881–1968), World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, St. Clere, Pottawatomie County, Kansas.
• Kamerion Wimbley, (born 1983), professional football player, Wichita, Kansas.
• Lynette Woodard, (born 1959), basketball Hall-of-Famer, Wichita, Kansas.
• Brad Ziegler, (born 1979), baseball player, Pratt, Kansas.
• John Zook, (born 1947), professional football player, Garden City, Kansas.

Coaches

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

Aviators and astronauts

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

Businesspeople and inventors

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

Film, television and stage

Actors and performers

• Brandon Adams, (born 1979), actor, Topeka, Kansas.
• Kirstie Alley, (born 1951), actress, Wichita, Kansas.
• Fatty Arbuckle, (1887–1933), actor, Smith Center, Kansas.
• Ed Asner, (born 1929), actor, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Gerry Bamman, (born 1941), actor, Independence, Kansas.
• Hugh Beaumont, (1909–1982), actor, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Annette Bening, (born 1958), actress, Topeka, Kansas.
• Roscoe Born, (born 1950), actor, Topeka, Kansas.
• Steve Brodie, (1919–1992), actor, El Dorado, Kansas.
• Louise Brooks, (1906–1985), actress, Cherryvale, Kansas.
• Madge Blake, (1899–1969), actress, Kinsley, Kansas.
• Petrea Burchard, (born 1955), actress, Lawrence, Kansas
• Del Close, (1934–1999), actor and comedian, Manhattan, Kansas.
• Brent Collins, (1941-1988), Soap-opera and sit-com actor, Plainville, Kansas.
• Jack Colvin, (1934–2005), actor, Lyndon, Kansas.
• Aneta Corsaut, (1933–1995), actress, Hutchinson, Kansas.
• Lucinda Dickey, (born 1960), actress and dancer, Hutchinson, Kansas.
• Billy Drago, (born 1945), Actor, Hugoton, Kansas.
• Marj Dusay, (born 1936), actress, Hays, Kansas.
• R. Lee Ermey, (born 1944), actor, Emporia, Kansas.
• Bill Farmer, (born 1952), voice actor, Pratt, Kansas.
• Tamara Feldman, (born 1980), actress, Wichita, Kansas.
• Scott Foley, (born 1972), actor, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Dwight Frye, (1899–1943), actor, Salina, Kansas.
• Alan Fudge, (1944–2011), actor, Wichita, Kansas.
• Laurel Goodwin, (born 1942), actress, Wichita, Kansas.
• Cary Guffey, (born 1972), actor, Topeka, Kansas.
• Colton Haynes, (born 1988), actor, Wichita, Kansas.
• Thelma Hill, (1906–1938), actress, Emporia, Kansas.
• Dennis Hopper, (1936–2010), actor, Dodge City, Kansas.
• Jayne Houdyshell, (born 1953), actress, Topeka, Kansas.
• Mary Howard, (1913–2009), actress, Independence, Kansas.
• Don Johnson, (born 1959), actor, Wichita, Kansas.
• Neal Jones, (born 1960), actor, Wichita, Kansas.
• Gordon Jump, (1932-2003), actor, Manhattan, Kansas.
• Buster Keaton, (1895–1966), actor, Piqua, Kansas.
• Emmett Kelly, (1898–1979), circus clown, Sedan, Kansas.
• Laura Kirk, (born 1966), actress, Lecompton, Kansas.
• Shirley Knight, (born 1936), actress, Goessel, Kansas.
• Sarah Lancaster, (born 1980), actress, Overland Park, Kansas.
• Lila Leeds, (1928–1999), actress, Dodge City, Kansas.
• Hattie McDaniel, (1895–1952), actress, Wichita, Kansas.
• Everett McGill, (born 1945), actor, Kansas City, Kansas.
• George Murdock, (born 1930), actor, Salina, Kansas.
• Cassandra Peterson, (born 1949), actress better known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, Manhattan, Kansas.
• Paige Peterson, (born 1980), actress, Lawrence, Kansas.
• ZaSu Pitts, (1894–1963), actress, Parsons, Kansas.
• Chris Porter, (born c. 1979), comedian, Olathe, Kansas.
• James Reynolds (actor), actor, Oskaloosa, Kansas
• Rob Riggle, (born 1970), actor and comedian, Overland Park, Kansas.
• Charles "Buddy" Rogers, (1904–1991), actor and Jazz musician, Olathe, Kansas
• Paul Rudd, (born 1969), actor, Overland Park, Kansas.
• Sheila Ryan, (1921–1975), actress, Topeka, Kansas.
• Kendall Schmidt, (born 1990), singer, actor, and dancer, Wichita, Kansas
• Angus Scrimm, (born 1926), actor, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Max Showalter, (1917–2000), actor, Caldwell, Kansas.
• Cynthia Sikes, (born 1954), actress, Coffeyville, Kansas.
• Lois Smith, (born 1930), actress, Topeka, Kansas.
• David Rees Snell, (born 1966), actor, Wichita, Kansas.
• Sara Sothern, (1895–1994), stage actress, Arkansas City, Kansas.
• Rebecca Staab, (born 1961), actress, Hays, Kansas.
• Milburn Stone, (1904–1980), actor, Gunsmoke, Burrton, Kansas.
• Eric Stonestreet, (born 1971), actor, Kansas City, Kansas
• Jason Sudeikis, (born 1975), actor Overland Park, Kansas.
• Norma Terris, (1904–1989), actress, Columbus, Kansas.
• Fay Tincher, (1884–1983), actress, Topeka, Kansas.
• Vivian Vance, (1909–1979), actress, Cherryvale, Kansas.
• Matt Vogel, (born 1970), puppeteer, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Lyle Waggoner, (born 1935), actor, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Dee Wallace, (born 1948), actress, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Jason Wiles (born 1970), actor, Lenexa, Kansas.
• Claire Windsor, (1897–1972), actress, Cawker City, Kansas.

Directors

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

Public figures

Journalists

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

Politics and law

• Earl Browder, (1891–1973), General Secretary, Communist Party USA, Wichita, Kansas.
• Sam Brownback, (born 1956), U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, Kansas Governor, Garnett, Kansas.
• Arthur Capper, (1865–1951), Kansas Governor and newspaper editor, Garnett, Kansas.
• Frank Carlson, (1893–1987), U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and Kansas Governor, Concordia, Kansas.
• Georgia Neese Clark, (1900–1995), first woman Treasurer of the United States, Richland, Kansas.
• Samuel J. Crawford, (1835–1913), Kansas Governor, Garnett, Kansas.
• Frank H. Lee, (1873-1952), Missouri U.S. Representative, DeSoto, Kansas.
• Charles Curtis, (1860–1936), U.S. Senator and 31st Vice President of the United States, Topeka, Kansas.
• Harry Darby, (1895–1987), businessman and U.S. Senator, Kansas City, Kansas.
• George Docking, (1904–1964), Kansas Governor, Clay Center, Kansas.
• Bob Dole, (born 1923), Senator, 1996 presidential candidate, Russell, Kansas.
• Dwight Eisenhower, (1890–1969), 34th President of the United States, Allied commander in World War II, raised in Abilene, Kansas.
• Joan Finney, (1925–2001), Kansas Governor, Topeka, Kansas.
• Marlin Fitzwater, (born 1942), Press Secretary for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, Abilene, Kansas.
• Robert Gates, (born 1943), former CIA director, U.S. Secretary of Defense, Wichita, Kansas.
• Robert L. Gernon, (1943–2005), Kansas Supreme Court Justice, Sabetha, Kansas.
• John Anderson Jr., (born 1917), Former Kansas Governor, De Soto, Kansas.
• Dan Glickman, (born 1944), Secretary of Agriculture, President of the Motion Picture Association of America, Wichita, Kansas.
• Bill Graves, (born 1953), Kansas Governor, Salina, Kansas.
• Paul Ranous Greever, (1891–1943), Wyoming Congressman, Lansing, Kansas.
• Gary Hart, (born 1936), Colorado Senator, Ottawa, Kansas.
• Carl Hatch, (1889–1963), New Mexico Senator, Kirwin, Kansas.
• Mike Hayden, (born 1944), Kansas Governor, Colby, Kansas.
• Wally Hickel (1919–2010) Governor of Alaska, United States Secretary of the Interior (Claflin, Kansas)
• Ural Alexis Johnson, (1908–1997), diplomat and ambassador, Falun, Kansas.
• Nancy Kassebaum Baker, (born 1932), Senator, Topeka, Kansas.
• William P. Lambertson, (1880–1957), U.S. Congressman, Fairview, Kansas.
• Alf Landon, (1887–1987), Governor, 1936 presidential candidate, Topeka, Kansas.
• George McGill, (1879–1963), Senator, Wichita, Kansas.
• John Martin, (1839–1889), Kansas Governor, newspaperman, and Civil War Colonel, Atchison, Kansas
• Jerry Moran, (born 1954), U.S. Representative and Senator, Plainville, Kansas.
• Roger Noriega, (born 1959), United States Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Wichita, Kansas.
• Gale Norton, (born 1954), United States Secretary of the Interior, Wichita, Kansas.
• Lawton Nuss, (born 1952), Kansas State Supreme Court Justice, Salina, Kansas.
• Kate Richards O'Hare, (1877–1948), American Socialist Party activist, Ottawa County, Kansas.
• Leslie Osterman, (born 1947), member of the Kansas House of Representatives, Wichita, Kansas.
• Shirley Phelps-Roper, (born 1957), lawyer for Westboro Baptist Church and daughter of Fred Phelps, Topeka, Kansas.
• Chuck Reed, (born 1948), Mayor of San Jose, California, Garden City, Kansas.
• Roy Romer, (born 1928), Colorado Governor, Garden City, Kansas.
• Susanna M. Salter, (1860–1961), Mayor of Argonia, Kansas, first woman mayor in the United States.
• K. Gary Sebelius, (born 1949), United States magistrate judge and husband of former Governor Kathleen Sebelius, Norton, Kansas.
• Bradley Schlozman, (born 1971), controversial figure in the George W. Bush Administration's Dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy, Overland Park, Kansas.
• Harold Sebring, (1898–1968), Nuremberg Trial judge, Olathe, Kansas.
• Arlen Specter, (1930–2012), Pennsylvania Senator, Russell, Kansas.
• Dale Swenson (born c. 1957), former member of the Kansas House, Wichita, Kansas
• Martin E. Trapp, (1877–1951), Oklahoma Governor, Robinson, Kansas.
• William Walker (Wyandot leader) 1800-1874 Provisional Governor of Nebraska Territory; Wyandot head chief
• Mabel Walker Willebrandt, (1889–1963), U.S. Assistant Attorney General from 1921 to 1929, Woodsdale, Kansas.
• Harry Hines Woodring, (1890–1967), Kansas Governor and Secretary of War under Franklin Roosevelt, Elk City, Kansas.
• Ron Wyden, (born 1949), Oregon Senator, Wichita, Kansas.

Military and national security

• Stanley T. Adams, (1922–1999), Korean War Medal of Honor recipient, DeSoto, Kansas.
• Wilbur Bestwick, (1911–1972), first Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sabetha, Kansas.
• Kendall Carl Campbell, (1917–1942), U.S. Navy, Navy Cross recipient, Garden City, Kansas.
• Richard Cowan, (1922–1944), WWII Medal of Honor recipient, Wichita, Kansas.
• Rebecca L. Ediger, (born 1952), agent in charge of the Presidential Protective Division of U.S. Secret Service, raised in Peabody, Kansas.
• Harry D. Felt, (1902–1992), WWII Naval aviator and Navy Admiral, Topeka, Kansas
• Arthur M. Ferguson, (1877–1922), Colonel, Medal of Honor recipient, Philippine-American War, Coffey County, Kansas.
• Frederick N. Funston, (1865–1917), Major General, Medal of Honor recipient, Iola, Kansas.
• John E. Gingrich, (1897–1960), U.S. Navy four-star Admiral and first chief of security for the United States Atomic Energy Commission, Dodge City, Kansas.
• James Harbord, (1866–1947), U.S. Army, WWI Distinguished Service Cross, Bushong, Kansas.
• Joseph Henderson, (1869–1938), Medal of Honor recipient, Philippine-American War, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
• Elizabeth P. Hoisington, (1918–2007), first WAC officer promoted to Brigadier General, Newton, Kansas.
• Homer A. McCrerey, (1919–1999), decorated U.S. Navy Meteorologist and Oceanographer, Hiawatha, Kansas.
• Richard B. Myers, (1942- ), Air Force, Four Star General, 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Olathe, Kansas.
• Danny J. Petersen, (1949–1970), U.S. Army, Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient, Netawaka, Kansas.
• George S. Robb, (1887–1972), U.S. Army, WWI Medal of Honor recipient, Assaria, Kansas.
• Bernard W. Rogers, (born 1921), former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, Fairview, Kansas.
• Donald K. Ross, (born 1910), First Medal of Honor recipient in WWII, United States Navy, Beverly, Kansas.
• Conrad Schmidt, (1830–1908), Civil War, Medal of Honor recipient, Ogden, Kansas.
• Duane D. Thiessen, (born 1951), Major General, USMC, Goessel, Kansas.
• William B. Trembley, (1877–1952), Medal of Honor recipient, Philippine-American War, Johnson, Kansas.
• Hugh M. Wilkinson, (1877-1934), WWI Colonel U. S. Army, Surgeon-in-Command, Walter Reed Hospital, Seneca, Kansas.

Religion

• William Bickerton, (1815–1905), founder of The Church of Jesus Christ (Bickertonite) and the Zion Valley, Kansas, colony, St. John, Kansas
• Charles J. Chaput, (born 1944), Archbishop, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver, Concordia, Kansas.
• Sheri L. Dew, (born 1953), influential Latter-day Saint spokeswoman, Ulysses, Kansas.
• Emil Kapaun, (1916–1951), Roman Catholic martyr in Korean War and candidate for Sainthood, Pilsen, Kansas
• Ron Kenoly, (born 1944), musical worship leader, Coffeyville, Kansas.
• Fred Phelps, (born 1929), controversial leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, Topeka, Kansas.
• James Reeb, (1927–1965), Unitarian minister beaten to death by segregationists in Selma, Alabama, during the Civil Rights Movement, Wichita, Kansas.
• David Laurin Ricken, (born 1954), bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne, Dodge City, Kansas.
• Michael Jarboe Sheehan, (born 1939), Archbishop of Santa Fe, Wichita, Kansas.
• John Joseph Sullivan, (1920–2001), Bishop of Grand Island, Nebraska, and Kansas City-St. Joseph, Horton, Kansas.
• Gerald B. Winrod, (1900–1957), evangelical Christian and Nazi sympathizer, Wichita, Kansas.
• Gordon Winrod, (born 1926), Christian Identity minister, Hesston, Kansas.

Scientists and programmers

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

Others

Notable individuals

• Danni Boatwright, (born 1975), winner of Survivor: Guatemala, Tonganoxie, Kansas.
• Emily Gibson Braerton, (1884–1966), V.P. Daughters of the American Revolution (1950–53), Lawrence, Kansas.
• Erin Brockovich, (born 1960), environmental activist, Lawrence, Kansas.
• Richard Christy, (born 1974), comedian on the Howard Stern Show, Fort Scott, Kansas.
• Hilda Clark, (1872–1932), first woman to appear in a Coca-Cola advertisement, Leavenworth, Kansas.
• Racquel Darrian, (born 1968), pornographic film star, Hutchinson, Kansas.
• Elmer Dresslar, Jr., (1925–2005), voice actor and baritone voice of the Jolly Green Giant commercials, St. Francis, Kansas.
• Ann Dunham, (1942–1995), mother of Barack Obama, Wichita, Kansas.
• Madelyn and Stanley Dunham, (Madelyn, b. 1922; Stanley, 1918–1992), maternal grandparents of Barack Obama, Peru, Kansas.
• Tara Dawn Holland, (born 1972), Miss America 1997, Overland Park, Kansas.
• Carrie Ingalls, (1870–1946), sister of author Laura Ingalls Wilder, born in the Little House on the Prairie in Montgomery County near Independence, Kansas.
• Charles "Buffalo" Jones (1844–1919), former state representative from Finney County and a co-founder of Garden City, Kansas
• Vicki Lynn Lasseter, (born 1960), February 1981 Playboy Playmate of the Month, Iola, Kansas.
• Candy Loving. (born 1956), January 1979 Playboy Playmate of the Month and Playboy's 25th Anniversary Playmate, Oswego, Kansas.
• Waldo McBurney, (1902–2009), formerly listed as oldest worker, Quinter, Kansas.
• Kelli McCarty, (born 1969), Miss USA 1991, Liberal, Kansas.
• Janet Murguía, (born 1954), President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Council of La Raza, Kansas City, Kansas.
• Dan Perkins, (born 1961), cartoonist better known by the pen name Tom Tomorrow, Wichita, Kansas.
• Jeff Probst, (born 1962), television personality and host of Survivor, Wichita, Kansas.
• Victor Rojas, studio analyst for the MLB Network, raised in Overland Park, Kansas
• Satanta, (1830–1878), Chief of the Kiowa tribe, western Kansas.
• Kari Wahlgren, (born 1977), video game voice actress, Hoisington, Kansas.
• Carrie Westcott, (born 1969), September 1993 Playboy Playmate of the Month, Mission Hills, Kansas.
• Joseph H. Vaughan, Sr. (1904-1966) business and civic leader, banker, elected official. Kansas City, Kansas.

Notable historical figures not from Kansas but who participated in a significant event in Kansas

• John Brown, (1800-1859), abolitionist, Osawatomie, Kansas.
• Buffalo Bill Cody, (1846–1917), buffalo hunter and showman, Leavenworth, Kansas.
• Wyatt Earp, (1848–1929), lawman, Wichita, Kansas & Dodge City, Kansas.
• Wild Bill Hickok, (1837–1876), lawman, Hays, Kansas & Abeline, Kansas.
• Bat Masterson, (1853–1921), lawman, Dodge City, Kansas.
• Carrie Nation, (1846–1911), temperance activist, Medicine Lodge, Kansas.

Infamous persons

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

Fictional persons

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

See also

• Lists of people from Kansas