List of people from Ohio facts for kids

The state flag of Ohio

Where Ohio is on the map of the United States

Ohio is a state in the United States that has been home to many famous people! From amazing athletes and actors to brilliant inventors and leaders, lots of well-known individuals were either born in Ohio or spent a big part of their lives there. Let's explore some of these incredible Ohioans!

Actors, Models, and Performers

Ohio has produced many stars who shine on screen and stage.

Famous Actors from Ohio

Halle Berry (Cleveland): A talented actor and fashion model.
George Clooney (Cincinnati): A well-known actor and director.
Katie Holmes (Toledo): An actor famous for TV shows and movies.
Paul Newman (Cleveland): A legendary actor and race car driver.
Sarah Jessica Parker (Cincinnati): An actor known for her roles in TV and film.
Martin Sheen (Dayton): A respected actor with many famous roles.
Steven Spielberg (Cincinnati): A world-famous film director and producer.
Jonathan Winters (Dayton): A hilarious comedian and actor.

Comedians and Voice Actors from Ohio

Drew Carey (Cleveland): A popular comedian and TV host.
Dave Chappelle (Yellow Springs): A very funny comedian and actor.
Tim Conway (Willoughby): A beloved comedian and actor.
Nancy Cartwright (Kettering): The voice of Bart Simpson!
Jim Cummings (Youngstown): A voice actor known for many cartoon characters.
Daws Butler (Toledo): A voice actor for classic cartoon characters like Yogi Bear.

Artists and Designers

Ohio has also been a creative hub for many artists.

Painters and Sculptors from Ohio

George Bellows (Columbus): A famous painter known for his realistic art.
Jim Dine (Cincinnati): An artist known for his pop art.
Maya Lin (Athens): A sculptor and designer, famous for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Tom Wesselmann (Cincinnati): A leading artist in the pop art movement.

Animators and Cartoonists from Ohio

Mark Henn (Dayton): An animator for many Disney characters.
Milton Caniff (Dayton): A well-known cartoonist.
Bill Watterson (Chagrin Falls): The creator of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes.

Sports Champions

Ohio is a powerhouse for sports talent, with many athletes achieving greatness.

Basketball Stars from Ohio

LeBron James (Akron): One of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Stephen Curry (Akron): A superstar basketball player.
Jerry Lucas (Middletown): A Hall of Fame basketball player.
John Havlicek (Martins Ferry): A legendary basketball player for the Boston Celtics.
Katie Smith (Logan): A Hall of Fame basketball player and Olympic gold medalist.

Football Heroes from Ohio

Joe Burrow (Athens): A top quarterback in the NFL.
Cris Carter (Middletown): A Hall of Fame wide receiver.
Len Dawson (Alliance): A Hall of Fame quarterback.
Archie Griffin (Columbus): The only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in college football.
James Harrison (Akron): A strong football player, known for his defense.
Desmond Howard (Cleveland): A Heisman Trophy winner and Super Bowl MVP.
Jack Lambert (Mantua): A Hall of Fame linebacker.
Marion Motley (Canton): A Hall of Fame football player.
Orlando Pace (Sandusky): A Hall of Fame offensive tackle.
Ben Roethlisberger (Findlay): A Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
Don Shula (Painesville): A Hall of Fame football coach.
Roger Staubach (Cincinnati): A Hall of Fame quarterback.
Charles Woodson (Fremont): A Hall of Fame football player.

Baseball Legends from Ohio

Sal Bando (Cleveland): A great baseball player.
Roger Bresnahan (Toledo): A Hall of Fame baseball player.
Rollie Fingers (Steubenville): A Hall of Fame pitcher.
Ken Griffey Jr. (Cincinnati): A Hall of Fame baseball player.
Thurman Munson (Canton): A famous baseball catcher.
Paul O'Neill (Columbus): A popular baseball player.
Pete Rose (Cincinnati): A baseball player known for his hitting records.
Mike Schmidt (Dayton): A Hall of Fame third baseman.
Cy Young (Gilmore): A legendary baseball pitcher, the award for best pitcher is named after him!

Other Sports Stars from Ohio

Simone Biles (Columbus): The most decorated American gymnast of all time.
Jack Nicklaus (Columbus): One of the greatest golfers ever.
Jesse Owens (Cleveland): An Olympic track and field champion.
Eddie Rickenbacker (Columbus): A famous race car driver and World War I flying ace.
Rob Dyrdek (Kettering): A professional skateboarder and TV personality.

Writers and Journalists

Ohio has inspired many authors, poets, and people who report the news.

Authors and Poets from Ohio

Sherwood Anderson (Camden): A famous author.
Erma Bombeck (Dayton): A popular newspaper columnist and author.
Paul Laurence Dunbar (Dayton): A pioneering African-American poet.
Zane Grey (Zanesville): An author known for his Western novels.
Langston Hughes (Cleveland): A major poet and writer of the Harlem Renaissance.
Toni Morrison (Lorain): A Nobel Prize-winning author.
R. L. Stine (Columbus): The author of the popular Goosebumps series.
Harriet Beecher Stowe (Cincinnati): The author of Uncle Tom's Cabin.
James Thurber (Columbus): A well-known author and cartoonist.

Journalists and Broadcasters from Ohio

Christine Brennan (Toledo): A famous sportswriter.
Gail Collins (Cincinnati): A journalist and columnist.
Phil Donahue (Cleveland): A famous talk show host.
Hugh Downs (Lima): A long-time broadcaster.
Steve Harvey (Cleveland): A popular comedian and TV host.
Robin Meade (New London): A news anchor and former Miss Ohio.

Leaders and Public Servants

Ohio has been the birthplace of many important figures in politics and public service.

Presidents from Ohio

Ohio is known as the "Mother of Presidents" because seven U.S. Presidents were born here!

James A. Garfield (Moreland Hills): The 20th President of the United States.
Ulysses S. Grant (Point Pleasant): The 18th President of the United States and a Civil War general.
Warren G. Harding (Blooming Grove): The 29th President of the United States.
Benjamin Harrison (North Bend): The 23rd President of the United States.
William Henry Harrison (North Bend): The 9th President of the United States.
Rutherford B. Hayes (Delaware): The 19th President of the United States.
William McKinley (Niles): The 25th President of the United States.
William Howard Taft (Cincinnati): The 27th President of the United States and later Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Other Important Public Figures from Ohio

John Glenn (Cambridge): A famous astronaut and U.S. Senator, the first American to orbit Earth.
John Boehner (Reading): A former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Marcy Kaptur (Toledo): A long-serving U.S. Representative.
Kathleen Sebelius (Cincinnati): A former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Donna Shalala (Cleveland): A former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Gloria Steinem (Toledo): A famous feminist and activist for women's rights.
Victoria Claflin Woodhull (Homer): The first woman to be nominated for President of the United States.

Inventors and Innovators

Ohioans have made incredible contributions to science and technology.

Inventors from Ohio

Thomas Edison (Milan): One of the most famous inventors in history, known for the light bulb and phonograph.
Charles Kettering (Loudonville): An inventor who created the electric starter for cars.
Garrett Morgan (Cleveland): An inventor who created the traffic light and gas mask.
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright (Dayton): The brothers who invented and flew the world's first successful airplane!

Astronauts from Ohio

Neil Armstrong (Wapakoneta): The first person to walk on the Moon.
John Glenn (Cambridge): The first American to orbit Earth.
Judith Resnik (Akron): An astronaut who was part of the Space Shuttle Challenger crew.
Kathryn D. Sullivan (Paterson): The first American woman to walk in space.