List of people from Arizona facts for kids

State flag of Arizona

Location of Arizona on the U.S. map

The following are people either born, raised, or have lived for a significant period of time in the U.S. state of Arizona and/or the Arizona Territory.

Academia

• Russell Merle Genet – research scholar and astronomer
• Joseph Hilbe (1944–2017) – statistician, professor, and author
• Craig D. Idso – founder and chairman of the board of the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change
• Percival Lowell (1855–1916) – astronomer and founder of the Lowell Observatory
• Julia Robinson – mathematician
• Larry T. Wimmer – professor of economics
• Roger L. Worsley – educator

Art, literature, and poetry

Art

• Max Cannon (born 1962) – alternative cartoonist
• Bil Keane (1922–2011) – cartoonist
• James Rallison (born 1996) – cartoonist and YouTuber
• Paolo Soleri (1919–2013) – architect

Literature

• Clive Cussler (1931–2020) – author of the Dirk Pitt adventure novels and shipwreck explorer, part-time resident
• Diana Gabaldon (born 1952) – novelist
• Kevin Hearne (born 1970) – novelist
• Harold L. Humes (1926–1992) – novelist, co-founder of The Paris Review
• Stephenie Meyer (born 1973) – author, teen literature novelist, Twilight series
• Barbara Park (1947–2013) – author of the Junie B. Jones series
• Barrett Tillman (born 1948) – novelist and military historian
• Brady Udall (born 1971) – author
• Mary Whitebird (died 2010) – author

Poetry

• Ai (1947–2010) – poet and educator
• Jon Anderson (1940–2007) – poet and educator
• Jayne Cortez (1934–2012) – poet, activist, small press publisher and spoken-word performance artist
• Norman Dubie (born 1945) – poet, educator, Regents Professor of English at Arizona State University
• Alberto Ríos (born 1952) – poet, author, Arizona's first state poet laureate, Regents Professor and Katharine C. Turner Endowed Chair in English at Arizona State University
• Richard Shelton (born 1933) – poet, writer, and emeritus Regents Professor of English at the University of Arizona
• Jim Simmerman (1952–2006) – poet and editor
• Luci Tapahonso (born 1953) – poet and educator
• Ofelia Zepeda (born 1952) – poet and educator

Film, television, and theater

Rex Allen

Lynda Carter

Ted Danson

Andy Devine

Emma Stone

• Erika Alexander (born 1969) – actress
• Rex Allen (1920–1999) – actor, iconic singing cowboy
• Steve Allen (1921–2000) – comedian, actor, known as the "father of TV talk shows"; first job was in Arizona
• Asher Angel (born 2002) – actor, Shazam!
• Samaire Armstrong (born 1980) – actress, Juliet Darling on Dirty ... Money and Anna Stern on The O.C.
• Jules Asner (born 1968) – actress and host of E!'s show Wild On!
• Jaime Lyn Bauer (born 1949) – soap opera actress, played Lauralee Brooks on The Young and the Restless and Laura Spencer Horton on Days of Our Lives
• Sandra Bernhard (born 1955) – actress, comedian; attended high school in Arizona
• Michael Biehn (born 1956) – actor, The Terminator, Tombstone
• Mika Boorem (born 1987) – actress, The Tom Show
• Aidy Bryant (born 1987) – actress, comedian, Saturday Night Live
• Brooke Burke (born 1971) – actress, model, TV personality, Dancing with the Stars
• Lynda Carter (born 1951) – actress and singer, known for Wonder Woman, 1972 Miss World USA
• Joan Ganz Cooney (born 1929) – TV producer of Sesame Street
• Brady Corbet (born 1988) – actor
• J'aime Crandall (born 1982) – ballet dancer
• Matt Dallas (born 1982) – actor, Kyle XY
• Ted Danson (born 1947) – actor, Cheers, CSI
• Rosemary DeCamp (1910–2001) – actress, Yankee Doodle Dandy, The Bob Cummings Show
• Andy Devine (1905–1977) – actor, Stagecoach, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
• Charles Dudley (1883–1952) – stage and film actor, studio makeup artist
• Barbara Eden (born 1931) – actress, I Dream of Jeannie
• Gail Edwards (born 1952) – actress, known for her roles in It's a Living, Blossom, and Full House
• Jack Elam (1918–2003) – actor
• Michael Ensign (born 1944) – actor, Boston Legal
• Danielle Fishel (born 1981) – actress, Boy Meets World and Girl Meets World
• Pablo Francisco (born 1974) – stand-up comedian, actor
• Sammi Hanratty (born 1995) – child actress, The Unit, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
• Alexa Havins (born 1980) – actress, All My Children, One Life to Live, Torchwood
• Amelia Heinle (born 1973) – actress, Victoria Newman on The Young and the Restless; also played Mia Saunders on All My Children
• David Henrie (born 1989) – actor, Wizards of Waverly Place, How I Met Your Mother, That's So Raven
• Catherine Hicks (born 1951) – actress, 7th Heaven, Child's Play; attended Gerard Catholic High School
• Earl Hindman (1942–2003) – actor, Ryan's Hope, Home Improvement
• Gregg Hoffman (1963–2005) – film producer
• Michael Horse (born 1951) – artist, actor, Twin Peaks, Passenger 57
• Dominic Janes (born 1994) – teen actor, ER, Out of Jimmy's Head, Dexter
• Brad Johnson (born 1959) – actor, Always, Flight of the Intruder
• Chelsea Kane (born 1988) – actress, singer, Jonas, Fish Hooks
• Tanner Maguire (born 1998) – child actor, Young Shawn Brady on Days of Our Lives
• Leslie Mancia (born 1987) – model, contestant on America’s Next Top Model Cycle 6
• Taryn Manning (born 1978) – actress, fashion designer, singer-songwriter
• Abigail Mavity (born 1993) – actress
• Josh McDermitt (born 1978) – actor, comedian, Dr. Eugene Porter on The Walking Dead
• Rachel Melvin (born 1985) – actress, Chelsea Brady on Days of Our Lives
• Jenny Mollen (born 1979) – actress
• Heather Morris (born 1987) – actress, Brittany Pierce on Glee
• Tarah Paige (born 1982) – actress, dancer, gymnast, Make It or Break It
• Mary-Louise Parker (born 1964) – actress, Weeds; graduated from Marcos de Niza High School, Tempe
• Valerie Perrine (born 1943) – actress, Superman, Lenny; attended Camelback High School
• Busy Philipps (born 1979) – actress, Cougar Town, Dawson's Creek, Freaks and Geeks
• Larry Pine (born 1945) – actor
• Greg Proops (born 1959) – actor, comedian
• Jenni Pulos – Jeff Lewis's assistant on Bravo's Flipping Out
• James Rallison (born 1996) – internet personality, animator
• Liz Renay (1926–2007) – actress
• Terry Rhoads (1951–2013) – actor
• Jennifer Rubin (born 1962) – actress, model
• Jayla Rubinelli (born 1984) – model, contestant on America’s Next Top Model Cycle 5
• Kylee Saunders (born 1994) – Japanese-American singer
• Garry Shandling (1949–2016) – actor, comedian, The Larry Sanders Show
• David Spade (born 1965) – actor, comedian, Saturday Night Live, Tommy Boy, Just Shoot Me
• Fay Spain (1932–1983) – actress, The Godfather Part II, Al Capone, God's Little Acre
• Emma Stone (born 1988) – actress, La La Land, The Help, The Amazing Spider-Man
• Shayne Topp (born 1991) – internet personality, comedian, actor, Smosh, The Goldbergs
• Amber Valletta (born 1974) – actress, model
• Janet Varney (born 1976) – actress, On the Lot, The Legend of Korra, Stan Against Evil
• Kate Walsh (born 1967) – actress, Dr. Addison Montgomery on Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice
• Mare Winningham (born 1959) – actress, American Horror Story, St. Elmo's Fire, Georgia
• Scott William Winters (born 1965) – actor, Oz, NYPD Blue
• Shannon Woodward (born 1984) – actress, Westworld, Raising Hope, The Riches
• Nick Young – actor, Friend of the World
• Jason Zumwalt (born 1975) – actor, scriptwriter, voice of Roman in Grand Theft Auto IV

Government, law, and politics

Walter Blackman

Cesar Chavez

Barry Goldwater

Carl Hayden

John McCain

Sandra Day O'Connor

• Thad Allen (born 1949) – retired U.S. Coast Guard admiral; National Incident Commander under President Barack Obama
• Joe Arpaio (born 1932) – former Maricopa County Sheriff (1993–2016)
• Henry F. Ashurst (1874–1962) – one of the first U.S. Senators from Arizona (1912–1941)
• John T. Alsap (1830–1886) – first Mayor of Phoenix
• Bruce Babbitt (born 1938) – former Governor of Arizona (1978–1987), and Secretary of the Interior in the Clinton Administration (1993–2001)
• Harriet C. Babbitt (born 1947) – First Lady of Arizona (1978–1987), U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States (1993–1997), and Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (1997–2001)
• Walter Blackman – Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives
• Jan Brewer (born 1944) – served as the 22nd Governor of Arizona
• William Docker Browning (1931–2008) – federal judge
• Dean Burch – former chairman of the Republican National Committee
• César Chávez (1927–1993) – labor union leader
• Dennis DeConcini (born 1937) – retired U.S. Senator (1977–1994)
• Doug Ducey (born 1964) – Governor of Arizona (2015–2023)
• Paul Fannin (1907–2002) – former U.S. Senator (1965–1977) and Governor of Arizona (1959–1965)
• Jeff Flake (born 1962) – Arizona U.S. Senator (2013–2019)
• Gabby Giffords (born 1970) – U.S. Representative, wounded in the 2011 Tucson shooting
• Barry M. Goldwater (1909–1998) – longtime Arizona Senator (1953–1965, 1969–1987), and 1964 Republican nominee for president
• George Nicholas Goodman (1895–1959) – five-time mayor of Mesa in three different decades.
• John Noble Goodwin (1824–1887) – first Governor of the Arizona Territory (1863–1866)
• Margaret Hance (1923–1990) – first female Mayor of Phoenix from 1976 to 1983
• Carl Hayden (1877–1972) – U.S. Senator, holds the record for the longest service in the U.S. Congress
• Katie Hobbs (born 1969) - incumbent Governor of Arizona since 2019
• Brad Hoylman (born 1965) - New York State Senator
• Don Lorenzo Hubbell – Arizona State Senator
• John C. Keegan – judge, legislator, Mayor of Peoria
• Lisa Graham Keegan – legislator, Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Denison Kitchel (1908–2002) – Scottsdale lawyer and the Goldwater presidential national campaign manager in 1964
• Jon Kyl (born 1942) – former U.S. Senator (1995–2013; 2018–)
• Fiorello La Guardia – Mayor of New York City
• Rex E. Lee (1935–1996) – United States Solicitor General during the Reagan Administration
• John McCain (1936–2018) – Panamanian-born politician, longtime U.S. Senator from Arizona from 1986 until his death, former navy officer, and 2008 Republican nominee for president
• Ernest McFarland (1894–1984) – former U.S. Senator (1941–1953) and Governor of Arizona (1955–1959)
• Rose Mofford (1922–2016) – first female Governor of Arizona from 1988 to 1991
• Janet Napolitano (born 1957) – served as the 21st Governor of Arizona
• Sandra Day O'Connor (born 1930) – first female justice of the United States Supreme Court
• Mary Peters (born 1948) – United States Secretary of Transportation under President George W. Bush
• Ben Quayle (born 1976) – former U.S. Congressman
• Dan Quayle (born 1947) – former U.S. Senator from Indiana (1981–1989), and 44th Vice President of the United States under George H. W. Bush
• William Rehnquist (1924–2005) – Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
• Charles S. Robb (born 1939) – former Governor of Virginia (1982–1986) and U.S. Senator from Virginia (1989–2001)
• John Shadegg (born 1949) – former U.S. representative from Phoenix
• Stephen Shadegg (1909–1990) – political consultant associated with Barry Goldwater
• Marcus A. Smith (1851–1924) – one of the first two Senators from Arizona
• John G.F. Speiden (1900–1970) – rancher and political insider, various state boards
• Jack Taylor – mayor of Mesa from 1966 to 1972; member of both houses, consecutively, of the Arizona legislature
• David King Udall – Arizona Territorial Legislature
• Don Taylor Udall – Arizona State Legislature
• Jesse Addison Udall – Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
• John Hunt Udall – Mayor of Phoenix
• Levi Stewart Udall – Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
• Mark Udall – Senator from Colorado
• Morris "Mo" Udall (1922–1998) – U.S. Congressman and former pro basketball player
• Nick Udall – Mayor of Phoenix
• Stewart Udall (1920–2010) – U.S. Congressman and Secretary of the Interior during the JFK and LBJ administrations

Journalism and media

• Rachel Campos-Duffy (born 1971) – TV personality, The Real World: San Francisco, The View
• Cheryl Casone (born 1970) – anchor for the Fox Business Network and business correspondent for Fox News
• John Garcia – National Geographic Channel's DogTown series star, Guinness World Record holder
• Hadas Gold (born 1988) – media and business reporter
• Savannah Guthrie (born 1971) – White House correspondent for NBC News, co-host of NBC's Today Show
• Dan Hicks (born 1962) – sportscaster for NBC
• Pat Hughes (born 1955) – play-by-play voice of the Chicago Cubs for WGN radio
• Don Imus (1940–2019) – nationally syndicated talk radio host, Imus in the Morning
• Meghan McCain (born 1984) – co-host of The View
• Noah Beck (born 2001) – Social media personality

Military

Frank Luke

• John Dean "Jeff" Cooper (1920–2006) – World War II United States Marine Corps officer and firearms training innovator
• Timothy Creamer (born 1959) – U.S. Army Colonel, NASA astronaut
• Joe Foss (1915–2003) – leading United States Marine Corps fighter ace and Medal of Honor recipient
• Ira Hayes (1923–1955) – United States Marine Corps, World War II, helped raise United States flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima
• Frank Luke (1897–1918) – World War I fighter pilot, Medal of Honor recipient
• Lori Piestewa (1979–2003) – United States Army, first Native American woman from Arizona to be killed in war; Iraq War, Purple Heart and Prisoner of War Medal recipient
• Pat Tillman (1976–2004) – United States Army; Afghanistan Silver Star recipient; college and NFL football player

Music

Chester Bennington

Dierks Bentley

Joe Jonas

Stevie Nicks

Jordin Sparks

• Jim Adkins (born 1975) – lead singer and guitarist for the band Jimmy Eat World
• Rex Allen (1920–1999) – singer-songwriter, actor, known as "The Arizona Cowboy"
• Alec Benjamin (born 1994) – pop singer
• Chester Bennington (1976–2017) – lead singer for the band Linkin Park
• Dierks Bentley (born 1975) – country singer (Phoenix)
• Derrick Bostrom (born 1960) – Meat Puppets drummer
• Jess Bowen (born 1989) – alternative rock musician, drummer of The Summer Set
• Michelle Branch (born 1983) – singer-songwriter, guitarist
• Kennedy Brock (born 1989) – alternative rock musician, guitarist of The Maine
• Glen Campbell (1936–2017) – singer, musician and actor; inductee to Country Music Hall of Fame
• Max Cavalera (born 1969) – vocalist and guitarist (Sepultura, Soulfly, Cavalera conspiracy)
• Roger Clyne (born 1968) – rock musician; lead singer for Refreshments and RCPM
• Alice Cooper (born 1948) – rock and roll singer
• Brian Dales (born 1989) – alternative rock musician, lead singer of The Summer Set
• Duane Eddy (born 1938) – guitarist, inductee of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• Linda Eder (born 1961) – singer, Broadway star and recording artist
• Travis Edmonson (1932–2009) – singer-songwriter, part of folk duo Bud & Travis
• David Ellefson (born 1964) – bass guitar player and co-founder of the metal band Megadeth
• Dolan Ellis (born 1935) – singer-songwriter, official State Balladeer since 1966, original member of New Christy Minstrels
• Esteban (born 1948) – musician
• Frank Fafara – early 1960s pop singer, TV star of Wallace & Ladmo Show
• Steve George (born 1955) – of the group Mr. Mister
• John Gomez (born 1991) – alternative rock musician, guitarist of The Summer Set
• Stephen Gomez (born 1988) – alternative rock musician, bassist of The Summer Set
• Lalo Guerrero (1916–2005) – singer-songwriter, known as the "father of Chicano music"; recipient of the National Medal of Arts
• Injury Reserve – alternative and experimental rap group consisting of producer Parker Corey and rappers Nathaniel Ritchie and Jordan Groggs (1988–2020)
• Waylon Jennings (1937–2002) – singer; inductee to Country Music Hall of Fame
• Joe Jonas (born 1989) – member of the Jonas Brothers and lead singer of the pop-rock band DNCE
• Daniel Jones – guitarist and vocalist with 7th Order
• Maynard James Keenan (born 1964) – actor, frontman for Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer
• Brandon Kellum (born 1985) – frontman for American Standards
• Patrick Kirch (born 1990) – alternative rock musician, drummer of The Maine
• Cris Kirkwood (born 1960) – guitar and vocals for the Meat Puppets
• Katie Lee (1919–2017) – folk singer
• Craig Mabbitt (born 1987) – frontman for Blessthefall (2003-2008), The Word Alive (2008), and Escape the Fate (2008–present)
• Charles Mingus (1922–1979) – jazz bassist, composer and bandleader
• Josh Montgomery (born 1988) – alternative rock musician, guitarist of The Summer Set
• Dave Mustaine (born 1961) – frontman and founder of the metal band Megadeth
• Jason Newsted (born 1963) – former bassist of heavy metal band Metallica
• Wayne Newton (born 1942) – singer, known as "Mr. Las Vegas"
• Stevie Nicks (born 1948) – Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, known for solo work and as lead singer with Fleetwood Mac
• Hans Olson (born 1952) – musician, singer and songwriter; inducted into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame
• Buck Owens (1929–2006) – country singer and musician; inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame (Mesa)
• Richard Page (born 1953) – of the group Mr. Mister
• CeCe Peniston (born 1969) – pop singer
• Marty Robbins (1925–1982) – country music singer
• Linda Ronstadt (born 1946) – singer-songwriter, 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee
• Nate Ruess (born 1982) – lead singer of Fun. and formerly of The Format
• Alvie Self – 1960s musician and singer
• Bob Shane (1934–2020) – singer, founding member of The Kingston Trio
• Jordin Sparks (born 1989) – singer, winner of American Idol Season 6
• Chris Squire (1948–2015) – bass player and founding member of progressive rock group Yes
• Tanya Tucker (born 1958) – country singer
• Upsahl (born 1998) – indie pop singer
• Brooke White (born 1983) – indie pop, folk-pop singer
• Arthur “Buddy” Strong (born-) - The Dave Matthews Band member, musician, singer

Old West era

Apache Kid

Geronimo

• Apache Kid (1860–1896?) – outlaw, reported killer of three Arizona lawmen 1889–1890
• Billy the Kid (1859–1881) – outlaw
• William Brocius (1845–1882) – gunman, rustler, outlaw Cowboy
• Cochise (1812–1874) – chief of the Chiricahua Apache
• Wyatt Earp (1848–1929) – lawman
• Virgil Earp (1843–1905) – lawman
• C. S. Fly (1849–1901) – photographer
• Geronimo (1829–1909) – leader of Chiricahua Apache who fought against encroachment of European settlers on Native American lands; hero of Native American fight for respect and independence
• Pearl Hart (1871–1955) – outlaw
• Doc Holliday (1851–1887) – gambler, gunfighter, dentist
• Irataba (1814–1874) – leader of the Mohave Nation
• Imogen LaChance (1853-1938) – social reformer
• Bat Masterson (1853–1921) – lawman, gambler, journalist
• Sherman McMaster (1853–1892) – outlaw turned lawman, involved in Earp Vendetta Ride
• James Reavis (1843–1914) – self-styled "Baron of Arizona", claimed to have owned much of Arizona
• Johnny Ringo (1850–1882) – outlaw
• John Horton Slaughter (1841–1922) – lawman, cowboy, poker player, rancher
• Billy Stiles (1871–1908) – outlaw

Sportspeople

Cody Bellinger

Henry Cejudo

Curley Culp

Sean Elliott

Brady Ellison

Julie Ertz

Todd Heap

Austin Hollins

Cam Jordan

Ian Kinsler

Jim Palmer

Marilyn Ramenofsky

Danny Schayes

Neal Walk

Miscellaneous

Arte Moreno

• Johnny Chan – professional poker player, 10–time World Series of Poker champion
• Angel Delgadillo – founder of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona and retired barber
• Ernest Garcia II – founder of DriveTime, major shareholder of Carvana
• Grumpy Cat (2012–2019) – Internet celebrity cat
• Rob Leatham – professional shooter, 24-time USPSA National champion
• Emmanuel Lemelson - Greek Orthodox Priest, Social Commentator and Hedge Fund Manager
• Jerry Meek, evangelist and land developer
• Arte Moreno – billionaire businessman, owner of Los Angeles Angels
• Kayla Mueller – activist
• Aron Ra – president of the Atheist Alliance of America, host of the Ra-Men podcast
• Rick Alan Ross – deprogrammer
• Mark Shoen – billionaire businessman, vice president of U-Haul
• María Urquides – educator, "Mother of Bilingual Education"

Fictional characters

• Eleanor from The Good Place
• Michelle Chang and Julia Chang, both from the Tekken fighting video game series
• Annie Porter from Speed; played by Sandra Bullock
• John Rambo from First Blood and Rambo movies; born in Bowie
• Bella Swan from the Twilight saga

See also

• List of Arizona suffragists
• Lists of Americans