List of people from Missouri facts for kids

The official flag of Missouri

Where Missouri is located on the U.S. map

This article is about famous people who were born, grew up, or lived for a long time in the U.S. state of Missouri. Many talented individuals from Missouri have made a big impact in different fields, from sports and entertainment to science and public service.

Art and Literature

T. S. Eliot, a famous poet

Mark Twain, a beloved author

Tennessee Williams, a well-known playwright

Missouri has been home to many creative people who have shaped art and literature.

Maya Angelou (1928–2014) was a celebrated author and poet.
Thomas Hart Benton (1889–1975) was a famous painter known for his American scenes.
George Caleb Bingham (1811–1879) was an artist who moved to Missouri and painted scenes of frontier life.
William S. Burroughs (1914–1997) was an author.
Kate Chopin (1851–1904) was an author and an early supporter of women's rights.
T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) was a poet, playwright, and literary critic who won a Nobel Prize.
Mary Engelbreit (born 1952) is a graphic artist and illustrator of children's books.
Eugene Field (1850–1895) was a writer and poet.
Gillian Flynn (born 1971) is a novelist.
Langston Hughes (1902–1967) was an important African-American poet and playwright.
Donald Judd (1928–1994) was a well-known artist.
Jim Lee (born 1964) is a famous comic book artist and writer.
Marianne Moore (1887–1972) was a respected poet.
Charles Marion Russell (1864–1926) was an artist known for his Western art.
Sara Teasdale (1884–1933) was a poet.
Kay Thompson (1909–1998) created the popular Eloise children's books.
Mark Twain (1835–1910), whose real name was Samuel Clemens, was an iconic humorist and author. He created beloved characters like Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer.
Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957) was the writer of the famous Little House book series.
Tennessee Williams (1911–1983) was a celebrated playwright who grew up in St. Louis.

Sportspeople

Missouri has produced many talented athletes across various sports.

Auto Racing

Rusty Wallace, a NASCAR champion

Carl Edwards (born 1979) is a NASCAR driver and a champion.
Jamie McMurray (born 1976) is a NASCAR driver and a Daytona 500 winner.
Ken Schrader (born 1955) is a well-known NASCAR driver.
Rusty Wallace (born 1956) is a NASCAR driver and a 1989 NASCAR champion.

Baseball

Yogi Berra, a baseball legend

David Freese, a World Series MVP

Max Scherzer, a top pitcher

Casey Stengel, a Hall of Fame manager

Many baseball stars have come from Missouri.

Jake Arrieta (born 1986) is a pitcher who won the Cy Young Award.
Yogi Berra (1925–2015) was a Hall of Fame catcher and manager, famous for his funny sayings.
Mark Buehrle (born 1979) was an MLB pitcher and a 5-time All-Star.
David Cone (born 1963) was a Cy Young-winning MLB pitcher.
David Freese (born 1983) was an MLB third baseman and the 2011 World Series MVP for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Joe Garagiola (1926–2016) was an MLB catcher and later a popular broadcaster.
Elston Howard (1929–1980) was a catcher who played in the Negro League and MLB, winning six World Series titles.
Carl Hubbell (1903–1988) was a Hall of Fame pitcher.
Stan Musial (1920–2013) was an MLB Hall of Famer who played his entire career for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Albert Pujols (born 1980) is an MLB first baseman and a 10-time All-Star.
Max Scherzer (born 1984) is a top starting pitcher in MLB.
Casey Stengel (1890–1975) was a Hall of Fame baseball manager.
Tom Watson (born 1949) is an 8-time major champion golfer.

Basketball

Napheesa Collier, a WNBA player

Jayson Tatum, an NBA star

Bradley Beal (born 1993) is an NBA player for the Washington Wizards.
Bill Bradley (born 1943) is a Basketball Hall of Famer who also became a U.S. Senator.
Napheesa Collier (born 1996) is a WNBA player and an Olympic gold medalist.
David Lee (born 1983) was a power forward and center in the NBA.
Tyronn Lue (born 1977) was an NBA player and later a head coach.
Jayson Tatum (born 1998) is a professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics.

Football

Ezekiel Elliott, an NFL running back

Cal Hubbard, a unique Hall of Famer

Justin Smith, a defensive end

Steve Atwater (born 1966) was a safety for the Denver Broncos.
Dan Dierdorf (born 1949) was an offensive tackle in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a sportscaster.
Ezekiel Elliott (born 1995) is an NFL running back for the Dallas Cowboys.
Josh Freeman (born 1988) was an NFL quarterback.
Cal Hubbard (1900–1977) is the only person in both the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Jeremy Maclin (born 1988) was a wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Sheldon Richardson (born 1990) is a defensive end in the NFL.
Justin Smith (born 1979) was a defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers.
Roger Wehrli (born 1947) is a Hall of Fame cornerback.
Kellen Winslow (born 1957) is a Hall of Fame tight end.

Golf

Payne Stewart, a golf champion

Amy Alcott (born 1956) is a professional golfer and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Hale Irwin (born 1945) is a golfer who was the oldest person to win the US Open at age 45.
Judy Rankin (born 1945) is a professional golfer and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Payne Stewart (1957–1999) was a golfer and a 2-time US Open champion.

Ice Hockey

Luke Kunin, an NHL player

Ben Bishop (born 1986) is an NHL goalie.
Pat LaFontaine (born 1965) was a star player for several NHL teams.
Luke Kunin (born 1997) is an NHL hockey player.
Paul Stastny (born 1985) is an NHL player.

Professional Wrestling

Glenn "Kane" Jacobs, a famous wrestler

Glenn Jacobs (born 1967), known as "Kane," is a famous wrestler and actor.
Randy Orton (born 1980) is a third-generation professional wrestler.
Harley Race (1943–2019) was an 8-time World Heavyweight Champion and a member of the WWE Hall of Fame.

Miscellaneous Sports

Dwight Davis, founder of the Davis Cup

Becky Sauerbrunn, a soccer star

Henry Armstrong (1912–1988) was a famous boxer who grew up in St. Louis.
Christian Cantwell (born 1980) is an Olympian and world champion shot putter.
J'den Cox (born 1995) is an Olympic bronze medalist and two-time World Champion in wrestling.
Dwight F. Davis (1879–1945) was a tennis player who founded the famous Davis Cup tournament.
Josh Prenot (born 1995) is an Olympic silver medalist swimmer.
Becky Sauerbrunn (born 1985) is a professional soccer player for the National Women's Soccer League and the USWNT. She is a World Cup winner.

Aviation and Aerospace

Thomas Akers (born 1953) is a scientist and NASA astronaut who flew on four Space Shuttle missions.
Bill Lear (1902–1978) was the founder of Lear Jet, a company known for private jets.
Charles Lindbergh (1902–1974) was a famous aviator who made the first solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927. He lived in St. Louis.
James Smith McDonnell (1899–1980) founded McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, which later became McDonnell Douglas, a major aerospace company.

Business Leaders

J. C. Penney, a retail pioneer

Henry W. Bloch (1922–2019) and Richard Bloch (1926–2004) were brothers who co-founded H&R Block, a well-known tax services company.
Adolphus Busch (1839–1913) founded Anheuser-Busch, one of the world's largest brewing companies.
William H. Danforth (1870–1955) founded Ralston Purina Company, a major food company.
David Glass (1935–2020) was a former CEO of Wal-Mart and owned the Kansas City Royals baseball team.
Joyce Hall (1891–1982) founded Hallmark Cards, a famous greeting card company.
Howard R. Hughes Sr. (1869–1924) invented an important oil drill bit.
Ewing Kauffman (1916–1993) was a pharmaceutical leader and founded the Kansas City Royals baseball team.
J. C. Penney (1875–1971) was a businessman and entrepreneur who founded the J.C. Penney department stores.
Jack C. Taylor (1922–2016) founded Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
Sam Walton (1918–1992) founded Wal-Mart, one of the world's largest retail companies.

Entertainment

Film, Television, and Theater

Ed Asner, an Emmy-winning actor

Josephine Baker, a famous performer

Don Cheadle, a talented actor

Jenna Fischer, known for The Office

Betty Grable, a popular actress

Jean Harlow, a classic film star

Kevin Kline, an Oscar-winning actor

Brad Pitt, a global movie star

Missouri has been a starting point for many actors, directors, and TV personalities.

Robert Altman (1925–2006) was a famous film director, known for movies like M*A*S*H.
Ed Asner (1929–2021) was an Emmy Award-winning actor, famous for The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Up.
Scott Bakula (born 1954) is an actor known for Quantum Leap and Star Trek: Enterprise.
Josephine Baker (1906–1975) was a renowned dancer, singer, and actress.
Linda Blair (born 1959) is an actress, famous for The Exorcist.
Matt Bomer (born 1977) is an actor known for White Collar.
Don Cheadle (born 1964) is an actor who has starred in many films like Hotel Rwanda and Ocean's Eleven.
Andy Cohen (born 1968) is a TV personality and producer.
Chris Cooper (born 1951) is an Oscar-winning actor.
Joan Crawford (1905–1977) was an Oscar-winning actress.
Walt Disney (1901–1966) was an iconic film and television producer, director, and animator who created Disney.
Jenna Fischer (born 1974) is an actress, best known for her role in The Office. She grew up in St. Louis.
Friz Freleng (1905–1995) was a film producer and animator for Looney Tunes.
Bob Gale (born 1951) was the screenwriter for the Back to the Future movies.
John Goodman (born 1952) is an actor known for Roseanne and Monsters, Inc..
Betty Grable (1916–1973) was a popular actress and singer.
James Gunn (born 1970) is a film director and screenwriter.
Jon Hamm (born 1971) is an actor, famous for his role in Mad Men.
Jean Harlow (1911–1937) was a classic Hollywood actress.
Dennis Hopper (1936–2010) was an actor and filmmaker.
John Huston (1906–1987) was an Oscar-winning film director.
Don Johnson (born 1949) is an actor known for Miami Vice.
Ellie Kemper (born 1980) is an actress, known for The Office and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Kevin Kline (born 1947) is an Oscar-winning actor.
David Koechner (born 1962) is an actor and comedian.
Steve McQueen (1930–1980) was a famous actor, known as "The King of Cool."
Brad Pitt (born 1963) is a well-known actor and producer.
William Powell (1892–1984) was an actor from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Vincent Price (1911–1993) was an actor famous for his roles in horror films.
Ginger Rogers (1911–1995) was an Oscar-winning actress and dancer, famous for her partnership with Fred Astaire.
Paul Rudd (born 1969) is an actor and comedian, known for movies like Ant-Man.
Phyllis Smith (born 1951) is an actress, known for The Office.
Eric Stonestreet (born 1971) is an actor, known for Modern Family.
Kathleen Turner (born 1954) is an actress known for her roles in films like Romancing the Stone.
Dick Van Dyke (born 1925) is a beloved actor, known for The Dick Van Dyke Show and Mary Poppins.
Mary Wickes (1910–1995) was an actress.
Dianne Wiest (born 1948) is a 2-time Oscar-winning actress.
Shelley Winters (1920–2006) was a 2-time Oscar-winning actress.
Jane Wyman (1917–2007) was an Oscar-winning actress and the former wife of Ronald Reagan.

Comedians

Cedric The Entertainer (born 1964) is a famous actor and comedian.
Redd Foxx (1922–1991) was a comedian and actor, known for Sanford and Son.
Dick Gregory (1932–2017) was a comedian and social activist.
Craig Kilborn (born 1962) is a comedian and former talk show host.
Kevin Nealon (born 1953) is an actor and comedian.

Cartoonists

Al Hirschfeld (1903–2003) was a famous caricaturist who drew celebrities.
Mike Peters (born 1943) is a cartoonist known for Mother Goose & Grimm.
Mort Walker (1923–2018) was the cartoonist who created Beetle Bailey.

Music

Country and Bluegrass

Sara Evans (born 1971) is a country music star.
John Hartford (1937–2001) was a country and bluegrass musician.
Ferlin Husky (1925–2011) was a country singer and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Rhonda Vincent (born 1962) is a bluegrass singer and musician, known as the "Queen of Bluegrass."
Porter Wagoner (1927–2007) was a country music singer and a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Chely Wright (born 1970) is an American country music singer.

Jazz

Scott Joplin (1867–1917) was a famous ragtime musician and composer.
Pat Metheny (born 1954) is a jazz guitarist and musician.
Charlie "Bird" Parker (1920–1955) was a legendary jazz saxophonist and composer.
Clark Terry (1920–2015) was a swing and bebop trumpet player.

Rhythm & Blues, Pop, Rap, and Hip-Hop

Nelly, a popular rapper

Akon (born 1977) is an R&B musician and producer.
Chingy (born 1980) is a rapper and actor.
Eminem (born 1972) is a famous rap musician who grew up partly in St. Joseph.
Nelly (born 1974) is a popular rap musician who was raised in St. Louis.
SZA (born 1989) is an American singer-songwriter, born in St. Louis.
Tech N9ne (born 1971) is a well-known rapper.

Rock & Roll

David Cook, an American Idol winner

Chuck Berry (1926–2017) was a legendary guitarist, singer, and songwriter, known as a pioneer of rock & roll. He is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
David Cook (born 1982) was the 2008 American Idol winner.
Sheryl Crow (born 1962) is a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter.
Johnnie Johnson (1924–2005) was an early rock & roll and blues piano player.
Michael McDonald (born 1952) is a singer, formerly of the Doobie Brothers.
Puddle of Mudd is a rock band that formed in Kansas City.

Radio and Television Personalities

Bob Barker (1923-2023) was a famous television game show host, known for The Price Is Right.
Rush Limbaugh (1951–2021) was a well-known radio talk show host.
Marlin Perkins (1905–1986) was a zoologist and host of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom.

Journalism

Joe Buck (born 1969) is a sportscaster for Fox Sports.
Harry Caray (1914–1998) was a Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster.
Walter Cronkite (1916–2009) was a highly respected television journalist, known as "the most trusted man in America."
Joe Garagiola (1926–2016) was a baseball broadcaster and television host.
Joseph Pulitzer (1847–1911) was a Hungarian journalist who created the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper and established the famous Pulitzer Prize awards.
Russ Mitchell (born 1960) is a TV journalist.

Military Leaders

General John J. Pershing

Omar Bradley (1893–1981) was a key general in World War II.
John C. Frémont (1813–1890) was a Western explorer and a Union Civil War general.
Edward O'Hare (1914–1943), known as "Butch" O'Hare, was a U.S. Navy Medal of Honor recipient. Chicago's O'Hare International Airport is named after him.
John J. Pershing (1860–1948) was a highly decorated soldier and General of the Armies, the highest rank possible in the U.S. Army. He was born in Laclede, Missouri.

Public Office

Tim Kaine, a U.S. Senator

Harry S. Truman, 33rd U.S. President

Many people from Missouri have served in important government roles.

John Ashcroft (born 1942) served as the governor of Missouri, a U.S. Senator, and the United States Attorney General.
Thomas Hart Benton (1782–1858) was an important U.S. Senator from Missouri for many years.
Roy Blunt (born 1950) served as a U.S. Representative and later as a U.S. Senator.
Christopher S. "Kit" Bond (born 1939) was a governor and U.S. Senator from Missouri.
Jean Carnahan (born 1933) was the first woman from Missouri to become a U.S. Senator.
Steven Chu (born 1948) is a Nobel Prize winner in Physics who also served as the U.S. Secretary of Energy.
John Danforth (born 1936) was a U.S. Senator and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Dick Gephardt (born 1941) was a U.S. Representative and a House Majority Leader.
Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885) was the 18th President of the United States.
Tim Kaine (born 1958) is a U.S. Senator from Virginia and was a candidate for Vice President in 2016.
Claire McCaskill (born 1953) was the first woman elected U.S. Senator from Missouri.
Nellie Tayloe Ross (1876–1977) was the first woman to serve as a state governor (for Wyoming) and later directed the U.S. Mint.
Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) was the 33rd President of the United States. He was born in Missouri.
Jim Webb (born 1946) was a U.S. Senator for Virginia and the U.S. Secretary of the Navy.

Science and Medicine

George Washington Carver, a brilliant botanist

Missouri has contributed to important discoveries and advancements in science.

Jean Bartik (1924–2011) was an early computer programmer and designer.
George Washington Carver (c. 1864–1943) was a brilliant botanist and inventor, known for his work with peanuts and other crops.
Steven Chu (born 1948) is a Nobel Laureate in Physics.
Charles Stark Draper (1901–1987) was an inventor.
Edwin Hubble (1889–1953) was a famous astronomer who discovered that the universe is expanding.
Jack Kilby (1923–2005) invented the integrated circuit (computer chip) and won the Nobel Prize in Physics.
Roger Kornberg (born 1947) is a biochemist and Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry.
William Howell Masters (1915–2001) was a pioneering psychology researcher.
Richard Smalley (1943–2005) was a Nobel Prize-winning chemist who discovered buckminsterfullerene, a new form of carbon.
Harlow Shapley (1885–1972) was a famous astronomer.
Andrew Taylor Still (1828–1917) was a physician who founded osteopathic medicine.
Norbert Wiener (1894–1964) was a mathematician.

Miscellaneous Famous Missourians

William Becknell (1787–1856) was a soldier and businessman who founded the Santa Fe Trail.
Susan Blow (1843–1916) was an educator known as "the mother of kindergarten" in the United States.
Calamity Jane (c. 1852–1903) was a famous frontierswoman.
Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) was a well-known public and motivational speaker and author.
Timothy M. Dolan (born 1950) is a Cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church and the Archbishop of New York.
Ella Ewing (1872–1913), known as "The Missouri Giantess," was considered the world's tallest woman of her time.
Emmett Kelly (1898–1979) was a famous circus clown.
Karlie Kloss (born 1992) is a well-known model and ballet dancer.
Carrie Nation (1846–1911) was a strong supporter of the temperance movement, which aimed to ban alcohol.
Rose O'Neill (1874–1944) was an author, illustrator, and the creator of the popular Kewpie doll.
Dred Scott (c. 1799–1858) was a slave who famously sued for his freedom in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Roy Wilkins (1901–1981) was an important civil rights activist.

Images for kids

Russ Mitchell