List of people from Columbus, Ohio

The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Columbus, Ohio, in alphabetical order by last name.

Actors

• Chet Allen (1939–1984), television, Amahl and the Night Visitors on Hallmark Hall of Fame; Bonino. Member of the Columbus Boychoir.
• Lexi Allen (1967– ), gospel singer and television personality. Born in Columbus and a prominent figure in The Word Network.
• 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.
• Alana de la Garza (1976-), television (Law & Order). de la Garza was born in Columbus.
• Dody Goodman (1915–2008), television (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman). Goodman was born in Columbus.
• 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.
• Tom Poston (1921–2007), television (Newhart); husband of Suzanne Pleshette. Poston was born in Columbus.
• Josh Radnor (1974– ), television (How I Met Your Mother). Radnor was born and raised in Columbus.
• 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 in Columbus.

Artists

• George Bellows (1882–1925), realist painter, known for bold depictions of urban life in New York City, becoming, according to Columbus Museum of Art, "the most acclaimed American artist of his generation"
• Charles Csuri (1922–), father of digital art and computer animation
• Ray Evans (1887-1954), political cartoonist
• Shawn Foster (1973-), Music video, film and television director
• Alex Grey (1953– ), psychedelic artist. Grey was born in Columbus and attended Columbus College of Art and Design
• Christopher Ries (1952– ), sculptor. Ries was born in Columbus and attended the Ohio State University
• Aminah Robinson (1940–2015), artist. Robinson was born in Columbus
• Alice Schille (1869–1955), watercolorist and painter
• T. S. Sullivant (1854–1926), cartoonist and illustrator

Athletes

Nate Ebner

Archie Griffin

Jack Nicklaus

• Simone Biles (1997– ), gymnast, three-time world all-around champion, 2016 Olympian winning four gold medals. Biles was born in Columbus
• Jake Blankenship (1994- ), professional Pole Vaulter. Blankenship was raised in Columbus Ohio, attended Gahanna Lincoln High School and later attended The University of Tennessee.
• Alexa Bliss (1991– ), professional wrestler, Alexa is from Columbus.
• Trey Burke (1992– ), NBA guard for the New York Knicks. Burke was born in Columbus.
• Russ Campbell (1969– ), NFL tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Campbell was born in Columbus.
• Howard Cassady (1934– ), NFL running back and Heisman Trophy winner. Cassady was born in Columbus, and played football and baseball for Ohio State.
• Mark Coleman (1964– ), professional fighter from the UFC and Pride mixed-martial-arts organizations; member of Columbus-based Team Hammer House.
• Zach Collaros (1988– ), Canadian Football League quarterback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
• Joe Cooper (1979– ), professional football player
• Ben Curtis (1977–), professional golfer, winner of 2003 British Open. Curtis was born in Columbus.
• Helen Darling (1978– ), WNBA guard. Darling attended high school in Columbus.
• Jessica Davenport (born 1985), basketball player
• Buster Douglas (1960– ), heavyweight boxing champion after defeating Mike Tyson. Douglas was born and raised in Columbus.
• Nate Ebner (1988–), American football player in the National Football League, and rugby Olympian. Ebner lived in Columbus as a youth.
• Terry Glenn (1974–2017), Ohio State University and NFL wide receiver. Glenn was born and raised in Columbus.
• Sarah Fisher (1980–), auto racer, drove in nine Indianapolis 500s. Fisher was born in Columbus.
• Ross Friedman (1992–), Harvard and Major League Soccer player.
• Lawrence Funderburke (1970–), Ohio State and NBA basketball player. Funderburke was born and raised in Columbus.
• Hank Gowdy (1889–1966), Major League Baseball catcher. Gowdy was born and lived in Columbus.
• Brian Grant (born 1972), basketball player
• 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.
• Andrew Hampsten (1963– ), professional cyclist. Hampsten was born in Columbus.
• Chic Harley (1894–1974), Ohio State University All-American football player.
• Bo Lamar (born 1951), basketball player.
• Chris Leitch (1979– ), Major League Soccer defender. Leitch was born in Columbus.
• Caris LeVert (born 1994), basketball player
• Pauline Martin [?], All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player (1946 season).
• Lance Moore (1983– ), NFL wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints. Moore was born in Columbus.
• Jack Nicklaus (1940– ), pro golfer, winner of a record 18 golf majors and member of World Golf Hall of Fame. Nicklaus was born in Columbus and attended the Ohio State University. He won the 1961 NCAA Championship while playing for the school.
• Roosevelt Nix (1992-) NFL fullback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Born and raised in Columbus. Attended high school in Reynoldsburgh and played college football at Kent State.
• Abuchi Obinwa (1997– ), professional soccer midfielder. Obinwa was born in Columbus and plays for Columbus Crew SC.
• 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.
• Lilia Osterloh (born 1978), tennis player
• Jesse Owens (1913–1980), track and field. Set 3 world records in one day while in college at the Ohio State University, won 4 gold medals at the 1936 Olympics. Owens was raised in Cleveland, and attended college in Columbus.
• Brady Quinn (1984– ), NFL quarterback. Quinn was born in Columbus and attended high school in Dublin, Ohio.
• Michael Redd (1979– ), Ohio State University basketball player and NBA shooting guard. Redd was born and raised in Columbus.
• Dave Roberts (1944–2009), Major League Baseball pitcher. Roberts moved to Columbus.
• Mauri Rose (1906–81), auto racer
• Jack Roslovic (1997– ), NHL player, Winnipeg Jets
• Randy Savage (1952–2011 ), professional wrestler, former WWE champion. Savage was born in Columbus
• Kip Selbach (1872–1956), Major League Baseball outfielder. Selbach was born in Columbus.
• Jared Sullinger (1992–), CBA forward for the Shenzhen Leopards. Sullinger was born in Columbus and played for Ohio State.
• Nick Swisher (1980– ), Major League Baseball outfielder. Swisher attended the Ohio State University.
• Thelma Thall (1924– ), two-time world table tennis champion.
• Wil Trapp (1993– ), Major League Soccer midfielder. Trapp plays for Columbus Crew SC and grew up in Gahanna.
• 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– ), gymnast, Olympic silver medalist in 2004. Wilson attended the Ohio State University.
• Granville Waiters (1961– ), NBA player. Waiters was born and raised in Columbus.
• Gary Trent (1974– ), NBA player. Trent attended Hamilton Township High School and was born and raised in Columbus.
• Samaki Walker (1976– ), NBA player. Walker was born and raised in Columbus.
• John Williamson (born 1986), basketball player for Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C. of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Louie Vito (1988- ), professional snowboarder, 2010 US Olympic Team, a four-time Overall US Grand Prix Champion and two-time Dew Cup Overall Champion. He has also accumulated six career X Games medals, including two Gold Medals. Vito was born in Columbus.

Entrepreneurs

• Dick Cepek (1930–1983), Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame member, parts supplier and racer. Cepek was raised in Columbus.
• Jack Hanna (1947– ), zookeeper and television personality; director of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (1978–1993), director emeritus afterwards.
• John H. McConnell (1923–2008), founder of Worthington Industries and the Columbus Blue Jackets NHL team.
• Dave Thomas (1932–2002), founder of Wendy's restaurant chain, whose first store was in Columbus.
• Granville Woods (1856–1910), inventor. Woods spent his early childhood in Columbus.

Journalists

• Charlotte Curtis (1928–1987), reporter and editor for the Columbus Citizen and the New York Times.
• Wil Haygood (1954-), Pulitzer nominated, award-winning journalist Washington Post. Wrote the Washington Post article that inspired the movie, "Lee Daniels, The Butler."
• Terry Murphy, television journalist, Chicago and Los Angeles news anchor, host of shows Hard Copy and Extra, born in Columbus.
• Sacha Pfeiffer (1971–), award-winning journalist with the Boston Globe.
• Cabot Rea, an Emmy Award-winning television reporter and anchor for the Columbus NBC affiliate WCMH. He also anchored the local UPN news at WWHO.
• Ralph Waldo Tyler (1860–1921) was a journalist and war correspondent during World War I.
• Andrew Welsh-Huggins, journalist and author of the Andy Hayes mystery novels, set in Columbus.

Military personnel

• Cordelia E Cook (1919–1996), World War II U.S. Army first lieutenant in the United States Army Nurse Corps – the first woman to receive both the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart
• Gilbert C. Hoover (1894–1980), World War I and World War II USN admiral, involved in developing the nuclear bomb
• 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 1922–1923. Campbell was born and raised in Columbus and attended the Ohio State University.
• Laurie Lea Schaefer, Miss America 1972

Musicians

• Attack Attack!, metalcore band
• Beartooth, hardcore punk 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.
• Happy Chichester, singer-songwriter
• Colin Rigsby, singer-songwriter Vesperteen, also drummer for House of Heroes.
• Copywrite, underground hip-hop artist
• The Crimson Armada, metalcore band
• 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, speed metal band
• Harold "Sweets" Edison (1915-1999) jazz trumpeter of the swing/bebop era who played and recorded with Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, and Count Basie. Born in Columbus and attended East High School.
• əkoostik hookah, musical group
• FanFan (1976- ), (范玮琪) Taiwanese-American arist born in Columbus
• Fly Union, musical group
• Michael Feinstein (1956– ), singer. Feinstein was born in Columbus and lived there until age 19.
• Rascal Flatts, country band. Formed in Columbus
• Stomp Gordon, jump blues pianist and singer
• House of Heroes, christian rock band
• Illogic (1980– ), rapper and hip-hop artist
• Like Moths to Flames, metalcore band
• Howard Jones (1970– ), lead vocalist of Light the Torch (formerly Devil You Know), former lead vocalist of Killswitch Engage and Blood Has Been Shed.
• Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1935–1977), 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
• My Ticket Home, alternative metal band
• O.A.R., roots 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.
• Don Patterson (1936–1988), jazz organist
• Conrad Reeder (1954- ), singer/songwriter
• Red Wanting Blue, alternative rock band
• John Reuben (1979– ), christian rapper
• RJD2 (1976– ), real name Ramble Jon "RJ" Krohn; hip-hop producer
• Saving Jane, alternative rock band
• Caleb Shomo (1992– ), lead vocalist of Beartooth, former lead vocalist/keyboardist of Attack Attack!.
• The Sun, alternative rock band
• Camu Tao (1977–2008), rapper and producer, member of S.A. Smash
• Times New Viking, indie rock band
• Twenty One Pilots, alternative music duo formed in Columbus
• Tyler Joseph, lead vocalist for duo Twenty One Pilots[1]
• Josh Dun, drummer for duo Twenty One Pilots [2]
• Joe Walsh (1947– ), musician, solo artist, guitarist for The Eagles
• Nancy Wilson (1937– ), singer
• Dwight Yoakam (1956– ), country singer. Yoakam was raised in Columbus and briefly attended Ohio State.

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.
• Patrick Clifford, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, born in Columbus
• Bob Hackett, Ohio State Senator
• Mark Kersey, member of the San Diego City Council, born in Columbus
• 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.
• Lois McMaster Bujold (1949-), science fiction author. Bujold was born in Columbus.
• Ron Burch, TV writer and producer, screenwriter, playwright and novelist. Burch was born and raised in Columbus and attended The Ohio State University.
• Charlotte Curtis (1918–1987), first woman editor of the New York Times, born in Columbus and worked at the Columbus Citizen for 11 years. See Journalists above.
• Natalie Dee, webcomic artist, creator of Natalie Dee [3] and co-creator of Married to the Sea [4] with husband Drew. Dee lives in Columbus.
• Drew (1979– ), webcomic artist, creator of toothpaste for dinner and co-creator of Married to the Sea. Drew lives in Columbus.
• Margaret Peterson Haddix (1964– ), author. Haddix lives in Columbus.
• Harvey C. Mansfield, Jr. (1932–), Professor of Government at Harvard University, is the author of numerous books on the subject of political theory. He graduated from high school 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.
• Donald Ogden Stewart (1894–1980), humorist, playwright, and Academy Award-winning, black-listed, screenwriter. Stewart was born and raised 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

• Ted Allen (1968–), author and television personality, Queer Eye, Chopped. Allen was born in Columbus.
• Mark Dindal (1960–), effects animator and director, Cats Don't Dance, The Emperor's New Groove. Dindal was born and raised in Columbus.
• Chris Douridas (1962–), radio host, actor, music supervisor.
• Guy Fieri (1968–), an American chef on Food Network, born in Columbus
• Judah Folkman (1933–2008) was an American medical scientist who founded the field of angiogenesis research. He was raised in Columbus, and graduated from The Ohio State University.
• Mark Frissora, CEO of Caesars Entertainment
• Lincoln Goodale (1782–1868), doctor and namesake of Goodale Park.
• Sandra Hubby (1978–), a Playboy Playmate and beauty pageant contestant. Hubby represented Columbus in the Miss Hawaiian Tropic Pageant.
• Curtis Lovell II (1981–) illusionist, escape artist and endurance artist.
• Ann Shaw (social worker) (1921–2015), civic leader, social worker
• Randy Skinner (1952–), Broadway Director and Choreographer. Skinner was born and raised in Columbus and graduated from The Ohio State University in 1974.
• Howard Dwight Smith (1886–1958), architect of, most notably, Ohio Stadium. Smith graduated from The Ohio State University in 1907.
• Ted Williams (1957– ), a voiceover artist who became an overnight celebrity when his YouTube video went viral in January 2011.

See also

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