List of people from Missouri



The following are people who were either born/raised or have lived for a significant period of time in Missouri.

Art and literature



 * Helen Andelin (1920–2009), author of Fascinating Womanhood
 * Maya Angelou (1928–2014), author and poet
 * Thomas P. Barnett (1870–1929), architect and impressionist painter
 * Thomas Hart Benton (1889–1975), painter
 * George Caleb Bingham (1811–1879), artist (born in Virginia but moved to central Missouri)
 * Edward McKendree Bounds (1835–1913), author and theologian
 * Mark Bowden (born 1951), author, journalist
 * William S. Burroughs (1914–1997), author (Naked Lunch)
 * Kate Chopin (1851–1904), author (The Awakening) and early feminist
 * Guy Anthony De Marco (born 1963), author of speculative fiction
 * Lester Dent (1904–1959), author of Doc Savage novels
 * Michele Dunaway (born 1965), author of romantic novels
 * Suzette Haden Elgin (1936–2015), science-fiction author and linguist
 * T. S. Eliot (1888–1965), poet, dramatist and literary critic
 * Mary Engelbreit (born 1952), graphic artist, children's book illustrator
 * Michael Evans (1944–2005), photographer
 * Eugene Field (1850–1895), writer and poet
 * Gillian Flynn (born 1971), novelist, television critic
 * Martha Gellhorn (1908–1998), novelist, travel writer and journalist
 * Steve Gerber (1947–2008), comic book writer and co-creator of Howard the Duck
 * David L. Harrison (born 1937), children's author, poet, recipient of the Missourian Award (2006)f-19
 * William Least Heat-Moon (born 1939), author
 * Robert A. Heinlein (1907–1988), science fiction author
 * Frederick Hibbard (1881–1950), sculptor known for his works of famous 19th-century figures
 * Langston Hughes (1902–1967), African-American poet, novelist and playwright
 * William W. Johnstone (1938–2004), author of western, horror and survivalist novels
 * Donald Judd (1928–1994), artist
 * Jim Lee (born 1964), comic book artist and writer
 * David Limbaugh (born 1952), columnist, author, political commentator
 * Bernarr Macfadden (1868–1955), founder of Macfadden Publications, bodybuilding advocate
 * Dennis L. McKiernan (born 1932), author
 * Marianne Moore (1887–1972), poet and writer
 * Archie Musick (1902–1978), painter and illustrator, associated with the Regionalist movement
 * John R. Musick (1849–1901), author and poet, known for the Columbian Historical novels
 * Ruth Ann Musick (1897–1974), author and folklorist
 * H. Richard Niebuhr (1894–1962), author, theologian
 * Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971), author, theologian, political commentator
 * John Ross (born 1957), author
 * Charles Marion Russell (1864–1926), artist
 * Clay Shirky (born 1964), writer, consultant, lecturer, author of Here Comes Everybody
 * Kimora Lee Simmons (born 1975), fashion model, author, actress
 * Sara Teasdale (1884–1933), poet
 * Kay Thompson (1909–1998), creator of Eloise children's books
 * Ernest Trova (1927–2009), sculptor, surrealist and pop art painter best known for The Falling Man
 * Margaret Truman (1924–2008), novelist and non-fiction author
 * Mark Twain (1835–1910), born Samuel Clemens, iconic humorist, author and creator of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer
 * Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957), writer and author of Little House series
 * Tennessee Williams (1911–1983), playwright (born in Mississippi, grew up in St. Louis)
 * Daniel Woodrell (born 1953), author of crime fiction

Auto racing



 * Paul Dana (1975–2006), IndyCar Series driver
 * Lloyd Dane (1925–2015), NASCAR driver
 * Russ Dugger (born 1975), NASCAR driver, Camping World Truck Series
 * Carl Edwards (born 1979), NASCAR driver, 2007 NASCAR Busch Series champion
 * James Ince (born c. 1969), NASCAR crew chief
 * Justin Jennings (born 1992), NASCAR driver
 * Cody Lane (born 1996), NASCAR driver, Camping World Truck Series
 * Justin Marks (born 1981), NASCAR driver
 * Jamie McMurray (born 1976), NASCAR driver, Daytona 500 winner
 * Larry Phillips (1942–2004), NASCAR driver
 * Tony Roper (1964–2000), NASCAR driver
 * Ken Schrader (born 1955), NASCAR driver
 * Dorsey Schroeder (born 1953), retired NASCAR driver, Speed Channel color analyst
 * Ramo Stott (born 1934), retired NASCAR driver
 * Chrissy Wallace (born 1988), NASCAR driver
 * Kenny Wallace (born 1963), NASCAR driver, broadcaster
 * Mike Wallace (born 1959), NASCAR driver
 * Rusty Wallace (born 1956), NASCAR driver, 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup champion

Baseball

 * A–M


 * Bob Allison (1934–1995), MLB outfielder, 3-time All-Star
 * Jake Arrieta (born 1986), Chicago Cubs pitcher, Cy Young Award winner
 * Alan Ashby (born 1951), MLB catcher, commentator
 * George Baker (1857–1915), MLB catcher
 * Jake Beckley (1867–1919), infielder in Hall of Fame
 * James "Cool Papa" Bell (1903–1991), Baseball Hall of Fame center fielder
 * Yogi Berra (1925–2015), Hall of Fame catcher, manager, aphorist
 * Ken Berry (born 1941), MLB outfielder
 * Brian Boehringer (born 1969), MLB pitcher
 * Clete Boyer (1937–2007), MLB third baseman, 2-time World Series winner
 * Ken Boyer (1931–1982), MLB third baseman, 11-time All-Star, coach and manager
 * Jack Brennan (1862–1914), MLB catcher
 * Harry Bright (1929–2000), MLB infielder
 * Mark Buehrle (born 1979), MLB pitcher, 5-time All-Star
 * Bobby Byrne (1884–1964), MLB infielder
 * Scott Carroll (born 1984), MLB relief pitcher
 * Nate Colbert (born 1946), MLB first baseman, 3-time All-Star
 * David Cone (born 1963), Cy Young-winning MLB pitcher
 * Joe Crede (born 1978), MLB third baseman
 * Bob Dernier (born 1957), MLB outfielder
 * Ross Detwiler (born 1986), MLB relief pitcher
 * Blake DeWitt (born 1985), MLB infielder
 * John Donaldson (1891–1970), Negro League baseball pitcher
 * Scott Elbert (born 1985), MLB relief pitcher
 * A. J. Ellis (born 1981), catcher for Miami Marlins
 * Hoot Evers (1921–1991), MLB outfielder, 2-time All-Star
 * David Freese (born 1983), MLB third baseman, 2011 World Series MVP with St. Louis Cardinals
 * Gabe Gabler (1930–2014), MLB player
 * Joe Garagiola, Sr. (1926–2016), MLB catcher, broadcaster, television personality
 * Jeff Gray (born 1981), MLB pitcher
 * Charlie Grimm (1898–1993), MLB player and manager
 * Dick Hall (born 1930), MLB pitcher, 2-time World Series winner
 * Lucas Harrell (born 1985), starting pitcher for Toronto Blue Jays
 * Tom Henke (born 1957), two-time All-Star pitcher
 * Bobby Hofman (1925–1994), MLB outfielder
 * Solly Hofman (1882–1956), MLB outfielder
 * Al Hollingsworth (1908–1996), MLB pitcher
 * Ken Holtzman (born 1945), two-time All-Star baseball pitcher
 * Tommy Hottovy (born 1981), MLB relief pitcher
 * Elston Howard (1929–1980), Negro League and MLB catcher, 12-time All-Star, six World Series titles
 * Ryan Howard (born 1979), MLB first baseman, 3-time All-Star
 * Carl Hubbell (1903–1988), Hall of Fame pitcher, 2-time NL MVP
 * Eric Hurley (born 1985), MLB pitcher
 * Ron Hunt (born 1941), MLB infielder, 2-time All-Star
 * Vern Kennedy (1907–1993), MLB pitcher
 * Bob Keppel (born 1982), MLB pitcher
 * Charlie Kerfeld (born 1963), MLB relief pitcher, primarily with Houston Astros
 * Johnny Kling (1875–1947), MLB catcher, 2-time World Series winner
 * Darold Knowles (born 1941), MLB pitcher, first to pitch in all seven games of a World Series
 * Ron Kulpa (born 1968), umpire
 * Tito Landrum (born 1954), MLB outfielder
 * Tommy Layne (born 1984), MLB relief pitcher
 * Sam LeCure (born 1984), MLB pitcher
 * Dale Long (1926–1991), MLB outfielder
 * Jerry Lumpe (1933–2014), MLB infielder
 * Shaun Marcum (born 1981), MLB pitcher
 * Jay Marshall (born 1983), MLB pitcher
 * Bake McBride (born 1949), MLB outfielder, 1974 Rookie of Year
 * Bob Miller (1939–1993), MLB pitcher, 3-time World Series winner
 * Zach Miner (born 1982), relief pitcher for Seattle Mariners
 * Logan Morrison (born 1987), outfielder for Tampa Bay Rays
 * Carl Morton (1944–1983), MLB pitcher, 1970 Rookie of Year
 * Bill Mueller (born 1971), MLB infielder, 2003 AL batting champ
 * Don Mueller (1927–2011), MLB infielder, 2-time All-Star
 * Stan Musial (1920–2013), MLB Hall of Famer, played entire career for St. Louis Cardinals


 * N–Z


 * Dave Nicholson (born 1939), MLB outfielder
 * Al Nipper (born 1959), MLB pitcher and scout
 * Darren Oliver (born 1970), MLB relief pitcher
 * Mickey O'Neil (1900–1964), MLB catcher
 * Mickey Owen (1916–2005), MLB catcher, 4-time All-Star
 * Josh Outman (born 1984), MLB pitcher
 * Barney Pelty (1880–1939), MLB pitcher
 * David Phelps (born 1986), starting pitcher for Miami Marlins
 * Albert Pujols (born 1980), MLB first baseman with Los Angeles Angels, 10-time All-Star
 * Pete Reiser (1919–1981), MLB outfielder, 3-time All-Star
 * Steve Rogers (born 1949), MLB pitcher, 5-time All-Star
 * Trevor Rosenthal (born 1990), pitcher for St. Louis Cardinals
 * Bob Scheffing (1913–1985), MLB player and manager
 * Max Scherzer (born 1984), starting pitcher for Washington Nationals
 * Art Shamsky (born 1941), MLB outfielder and Israel Baseball League manager
 * Mike Shannon (born 1939), MLB player and sportscaster for St. Louis Cardinals, 2-time World Series winner
 * Sonny Siebert (born 1937), MLB pitcher, 2-time All-Star
 * Dave Silvestri (born 1967), MLB infielder
 * Shae Simmons (born 1990), MLB pitcher
 * Roy Smalley, Jr. (1926–2011), MLB infielder
 * Al Smith (1928–2002), MLB outfielder
 * Paul Splittorff (1946–2011), pitcher for Kansas City Royals, broadcaster
 * Casey Stengel (c. 1890–1975), Baseball Hall of Fame manager
 * Mel Stottlemyre (born 1941), MLB pitcher, 5-time All-Star, pitching coach
 * Rick Sutcliffe (born 1956), MLB pitcher, 3-time All-Star, TV commentator
 * Nick Tepesch (born 1988), MLB pitcher
 * Jacob Turner (born 1991), MLB pitcher
 * Scott Van Slyke (born 1986), outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers; son of Andy Van Slyke
 * Luke Voit (born 1991), MLB first baseman
 * Earl Weaver (1930–2013), Hall of Fame manager for Baltimore Orioles
 * Mack Wheat (1893–1979), MLB catcher with Brooklyn Robins and Philadelphia Phillies
 * Zack Wheat (1888–1972), MLB Hall of Fame left fielder for Brooklyn, Philadelphia Athletics; brother of Mack Wheat
 * Dick Williams (1929–2011), MLB player and Hall of Fame manager
 * Lefty Williams (1893–1959), MLB pitcher
 * Smoky Joe Wood (1889–1995), MLB pitcher, 3-time World Series winner
 * Glenn Wright (1901–1984), MLB infielder for 1925 World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates

Basketball



 * Forrest Clare "Phog" Allen (1885–1974), Hall of Fame college basketball coach
 * OG Anunoby (born 1997), small forward for Toronto Raptors
 * Bill Bradley (born 1943), Basketball Hall of Famer, U.S. Senator
 * Alec Burks (born 1991), shooting guard for Utah Jazz
 * Chris Carr (born 1974), shooting guard for six NBA teams
 * Ben Hansbrough (born 1987), guard for Indiana Pacers
 * Josh Harrellson (born 1989), center for New York Knicks
 * Larry Hughes (born 1979), shooting guard for eight NBA teams
 * David Lee (born 1983), power forward and center for San Antonio Spurs
 * Tyronn Lue (born 1977), NBA player, head coach of Cleveland Cavaliers
 * Patrick McCaw (born 1995), shooting guard for Toronto Raptors
 * Brandon Rush (born 1985), shooting guard for Golden State Warriors
 * Kareem Rush (born 1980), shooting guard for L.A. Clippers
 * Scott Sims (born 1955), guard for San Antonio Spurs
 * Norm Stewart (born 1935), pro basketball player, longtime Mizzou coach, College Basketball Hall of Fame
 * Jayson Tatum (born 1998), pro basketball player, former member of the Duke Blue Devils and small forward for the Boston Celtics
 * Anthony Tolliver (born 1985), power forward for Minnesota Timberwolves
 * Alex Tyus (born 1988), American-Israeli professional basketball player, also plays for the Israeli national basketball team

Football



 * Maurice Alexander (born 1991), defensive back for St. Louis Rams
 * Steve Atwater (born 1966), safety for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets
 * Allen Barbre (born 1984), offensive guard for Philadelphia Eagles
 * Tim Barnes (born 1988), center for St. Louis Rams
 * David Bass (born 1990), defensive end for Chicago Bears
 * Justin Britt (born 1991), offensive tackle for Seattle Seahawks
 * Jason Brookins (born 1976), running back, Baltimore Ravens
 * Colin Brown (born 1985), offensive tackle for Buffalo Bills
 * Jairus Byrd (born 1986), free safety for New Orleans Saints
 * Paul Christman (1918–1970), quarterback, College Football Hall of Fame; sportscaster
 * Adrian Clayborn (born 1988), defensive end for Atlanta Falcons
 * Chase Coffman (born 1986), tight end for Atlanta Falcons
 * Jalen Collins (born 1993), cornerback for Atlanta Falcons
 * Maliek Collins (born 1995), defensive tackle for Dallas Cowboys
 * Dan Connolly (born 1982), offensive lineman for New England Patriots
 * Dan Dierdorf (born 1949), offensive tackle in Pro Football Hall of Fame, sportscaster
 * Herb Donaldson (born 1985), running back for Dallas Cowboys
 * Robert Douglas (born 1982), NFL fullback
 * Kony Ealy (born 1991), defensive end for Carolina Panthers
 * Lenvil Elliott (1951–2008), NFL running back
 * Don Faurot (1902–1995), College Football Hall of Fame coach, inventor of Split-T formation
 * Brian Folkerts (born 1990), center for Carolina Panthers
 * Josh Freeman (born 1988), NFL quarterback
 * Blaine Gabbert (born 1989), quarterback for Arizona Cardinals
 * Justin Gage (born 1981), wide receiver for Tennessee Titans
 * E. J. Gaines (born 1992), cornerback for St. Louis Rams
 * Tony Galbreath (born 1954), NFL running back
 * Conrad Goode (born 1962), NFL offensive lineman
 * Mark Herzlich (born 1987), linebacker for New York Giants
 * Cal Hubbard (1900–1977), only person in both Baseball Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame
 * Brandon Joyce (1984–2010), offensive lineman, CFL and NFL
 * Terry Joyce (1954–2011), college All-American, NFL punter
 * Howard Kindig (born 1941), defensive end, 10-year NFL career
 * Ryan Lilja (born 1981), guard for Kansas City Chiefs
 * Brandon Lloyd (born 1981), wide receiver for San Francisco 49ers
 * Jeremy Maclin (born 1988), wide receiver for Kansas City Chiefs
 * Marvin McNutt (born 1989), wide receiver for Philadelphia Eagles
 * Eric Moore (born 1965), NFL guard
 * William Moore (born 1985), safety for Atlanta Falcons
 * C. J. Mosley (born 1983), defensive tackle for Miami Dolphins
 * Eddie Moss, special teams for St. Louis Cardinals
 * Jim Musick (1910–1992), running back, Boston Redskins
 * Neil Rackers (born 1976), placekicker for Houston Texans
 * Shane Ray (born 1993), outside linebacker for Denver Broncos
 * Sheldon Richardson (born 1990), defensive end for New York Jets
 * Gijon Robinson (born 1984), tight end for Indianapolis Colts
 * Martin Rucker (born 1985), tight end for Dallas Cowboys
 * Mike Rucker (born 1975), defensive end for Carolina Panthers
 * Aldon Smith (born 1989), linebacker for Oakland Raiders
 * Justin Smith (born 1979), defensive end for San Francisco 49ers
 * Bill Snyder (born 1939), Current Kansas State University head coach and College Football Hall of Fame
 * Donald Stephenson (born 1988), offensive tackle for Kansas City Chiefs
 * Roger Wehrli (born 1947), Hall of Fame cornerback with St. Louis Cardinals
 * James Wilder Sr. (born 1958), 10-year NFL running back
 * Brandon Williams (born 1989), nose tackle for Baltimore Ravens
 * Gregg Williams (born 1958), NFL coach, defensive coordinator
 * Sylvester Williams (born 1988), nose tackle for Denver Broncos
 * Kellen Winslow (born 1957), Hall of Fame tight end with San Diego Chargers

Golf

 * Amy Alcott (born 1956), professional golfer, World Golf Hall of Fame
 * Brandel Chamblee (born 1962), PGA Tour golfer
 * Jay Haas (born 1953), PGA Tour golfer
 * Hale Irwin (born 1945), golfer; oldest person (45) to win US Open (1990)
 * Jeff Maggert (born 1964), PGA Tour golfer
 * Tom Pernice, Jr. (born 1959), PGA Tour golfer
 * Judy Rankin (born 1945), professional golfer, World Golf Hall of Fame
 * Johnny Revolta (1911–1991), winner of 1935 PGA Championship
 * Cathy Reynolds (born 1957), LPGA Tour golfer
 * Horton Smith (1908–1963), winner of first Masters, World Golf Hall of Fame
 * Payne Stewart (1957–1999), golfer, 2-time US Open champion
 * Tom Watson (born 1949), 8-time major champion, 1990 Ryder Cup captain, World Golf Hall of Fame
 * Larry Ziegler (born 1939), PGA Tour golfer

Ice hockey



 * Ben Bishop (born 1986), NHL Dallas Stars
 * Chris Wideman (born 1990), NHL Ottawa Senators
 * Michael Davies (born 1986), AHL Chicago Wolves
 * Cam Janssen (born 1984), EIHL Nottingham Panthers
 * Luke Kunin (born 1997), NHL hockey player
 * Pat LaFontaine (born 1965), NHL Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, New York Rangers
 * Mike McKenna (born 1983), AHL Portland Pirates
 * Paul Stastny (born 1985), NHL St. Louis Blues
 * Travis Turnbull (born 1986), DEL Düsseldorfer EG
 * Joe Vitale (born 1985), NHL Arizona Coyotes
 * Landon Wilson (born 1975), AHL Texas Stars

Professional wrestling



 * Freddie Blassie (1918–2003), wrestler and manager
 * "Bulldog" Bob Brown (1938–1997), wrestler and booker
 * Bob Geigel (born 1924), retired wrestler, promoter, and former NWA President
 * Glenn Jacobs (born 1967), ring name "Kane"; also an actor
 * Rufus R. Jones (1933–1993), NWA wrestler and businessman
 * Matthew Korklan (born 1983), ring names "Matt Sydal" and "Evan Bourne"
 * Sam Muchnick (1905–1998), founder of St. Louis Wrestling Club and co-founder of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)
 * Trevor Murdoch (born 1978), WWE tag team champion
 * Matt Murphy (born 1979), wrestler and author
 * Barry Orton, wrestler
 * "Cowboy" Bob Orton (born 1950), wrestler and member of WWE Hall of Fame; father of Randy Orton
 * Randy Orton (born 1980), third-generation pro wrestler
 * Harley Race (born 1943), 8-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion; member of the WWE Hall of Fameand Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
 * Butch Reed (born 1954), NWA and WCW Tag Team Champion
 * Lou Thesz (1916–2002), superstar of professional wrestling's "Golden Age"

Miscellaneous sports



 * Virgil Akins (1928–2011), welterweight boxing champion
 * Devon Alexander (born 1987), boxer, WBC and IBF Light Welterweight champion
 * Henry Armstrong (1912–1988), boxer (born in Mississippi but grew up in St. Louis)
 * Butch Buchholz (born 1940), Hall of Fame tennis player
 * Christian Cantwell (born 1980), Olympian, world champion shot putter
 * Kim Chizevsky-Nicholls (born 1968), IFBB pro bodybuilder
 * Dwight F. Davis (1879–1945), tennis player, founder of the Davis Cup
 * Doris Hart (born 1925), Hall of Fame tennis player, winner of six Grand Slam singles titles
 * Bud Houser (1901–1994), three-time Olympic gold medalist in shot put and discus
 * Jack Jewsbury (born 1981), Major League Soccer player (Portland Timbers)
 * Ben A. Jones (1882–1961), Thoroughbred horse trainer
 * Horace A. "Jimmy" Jones (1906–2001), Thoroughbred horse trainer
 * Lesa Lewis (born 1967), IFBB professional bodybuilder
 * Conn McCreary (1921–1979), Hall of Fame jockey, winner of 1944 and 1951 Kentucky Derby
 * Chuck McKinley (1941–1986), Hall of Fame tennis player, 1963 Wimbledon champion
 * Josh Prenot (born 1995), swimmer, Olympic silver medalist (200m breaststroke), 1x individual NCAA champion (400m individual medley), and American record holder (200m breaststroke)
 * Becky Sauerbrunn (born 1985), National Women's Soccer League and USWNT player (FC Kansas City); Defender of the Year 2013, 2014; 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup winner
 * Helen Stephens (1918–1994), two-time gold medalist in track and field at 1936 Summer Olympics
 * Alex White (born 1988), mixed martial artist

Aviation and aerospace

 * Thomas Akers (born 1953), scientist and NASA astronaut on four Space Shuttle missions
 * Bill Lear (1902–1978), founder of Lear Jet
 * Charles Lindbergh (1902–1974), aviator, first solo non-stop trans-Atlantic flight in 1927 (born in Detroit, Michigan but lived in St. Louis)
 * James Smith McDonnell (1899–1980), founder of McDonnell Aircraft Corporation (later McDonnell Douglas)

Business



 * William Henry Ashley (1778–1838), founder of Rocky Mountain Fur Company, politician
 * Charles S.L. Baker (1859-?), African-American businessman and inventor
 * Roger E. Billings (born 1948), businessman and scientist; known for his pioneering work on hydrogen energy technologies
 * Henry W. Bloch (born 1922), co-founder of H&R Block tax services
 * Richard Bloch (1926–2004), co-founder of H&R Block tax services
 * Adolphus Busch (1839–1913), founder of Anheuser-Busch (the world's largest brewer)
 * August "Gussie" Busch (1899–1989), owned Anheuser-Busch (the world's largest brewer), and St. Louis Cardinals baseball team
 * Jim Crane, businessman, owner of the Houston Astros
 * William H. Danforth (1870–1955), founder of Ralston Purina Company
 * John Doerr (born 1951), venture capitalist at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
 * James Buchanan Eads (1820–1887), civil engineer and inventor
 * Charles Eames (1907–1978), designer and architect
 * David Glass (born 1935), former President and CEO of Wal-Mart, owner of Kansas City Royals baseball team
 * Joyce Hall (1891–1982), founder of Hallmark Cards
 * William Preston Hall (1864–1932), circus empresario and animal broker
 * Howard R. Hughes, Sr. (1869–1924), oil drill bit and tool inventor; father of Howard Hughes, reclusive billionaire
 * George M. Keller (1923–2008), chairman of Standard Oil Company of California in the 1980s
 * R. Crosby Kemper Jr. (born 1927), chairman emeritus UMB Financial Corporation, philanthropist
 * William Thornton Kemper, Sr. (1866–1938), patriarch of Kemper family railroad and banking empire which included Commerce Bancshares and United Missouri Bank
 * Ewing Kauffman (1916–1993), pharmaceutical magnate, philanthropist and founder of the Kansas City Royals baseball team
 * Stan Kroenke (born 1947), owner of Kroenke Sports Enterprises
 * Rebecca Mark-Jusbasche (born 1954), former head of Enron International
 * N. O. Nelson (1844–1922), founder of the N. O. Nelson Manufacturing Company
 * Thomas F. O'Neil, chairman of RKO General studios, brought movies to television
 * J. C. Penney (1875–1971), businessman and entrepreneur
 * Rex Sinquefield (born 1944), financial executive who created Standard & Poor's first index fund, supporter of conservative political causes
 * John Sperling (1921–2014), businessman and founder of the University of Phoenix
 * Gerard Swope (1872–1957), president of General Electric
 * Jack C. Taylor (1922–2016), founder of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, billionaire philanthropist
 * Sam Walton (1918–1992), founder of Wal-Mart
 * Robert E. Wood (1879–1969), vice-president of Sears Roebuck
 * Peter Youree (1843–1914), businessman in Shreveport, Louisiana; built first skyscraper there

Criminals and outlaws

 * Anthony Brancato (1913–1951), freelance Mafia gunman, half of "The Two Tonys" portrayed in the movie LA Confidential
 * Ray and Faye Copeland (1914–1993, 1921–2003), serial killers, oldest couple ever sentenced to death in the United States
 * Egan's Rats, early crime family in St. Louis
 * Leo Vincent Brothers (1899–1950), low-level member; later moved to Chicago and became part of Al Capone's organization
 * Fred Burke (1893–1940), gunman for Egan's Rats; suspected of participating in the St. Valentine's Day Massacre
 * William "Dint" Colbeck (1890–1943), assumed leadership of Egan's Rats after the assassination of Willie Egan
 * Walter Costello (1889–1917), bodyguard to Willie Egan, killer of Harry Dunn
 * Harry "Cherries" Dunn (1892–1916)
 * Thomas Egan (1874–1919), organizer of Egan's Rats
 * Willie Egan (1884–1921), brother and right-hand man of gang founder Tom Egan; led the gang after Tom's death
 * Max Greenberg (1883–1933), one of the few Jewish members of the mostly Irish Egan gang; associate/friend of Meyer Lansky
 * Frank Hackethal (1891–1954), robber and resort owner/money launderer for Egan's Rats
 * Thomas "Snake" Kinney (1868–1912), Missouri State Senator and co-founder of Egan's Rats
 * David "Chippy" Robinson (1897–1967), bank robber and enforcer for Egan's Rats
 * William "Skippy" Rohan (1871–1916)
 * Roy Gardner (1884–1940), arms smuggler and notorious 1920s bank robber
 * Tom Horn (1860–1903), Old West lawman, army scout, outlaw and assassin
 * Kansas City crime family
 * Charles Binaggio (1909–1950), killed along with Charles Gargotta at the First Ward Democratic Club in downtown Kansas City
 * Anthony Brancato (1913–1951)
 * William "Willie Rat" Cammisano (1914–1995), enforcer for the K.C. mob
 * Charles Carrollo (1902–1979), led the Kansas City mob after Johnny Lazia's assassination
 * Anthony Civella (1930–2006), led the K.C. crime family in the 1980s and 1990s; son of Carl Civella and nephew of Nicholas Civella
 * Carl "Cork" Civella (1910–1994), brother of Nicholas Civella and a top lieutenant in the crime family; father of Anthony Civella
 * Nicholas Civella (1912–1983), led the Kansas City crime family from the 1950s through the 1970s
 * Carl "Tuffy" DeLuna (1927–2008), underboss of the Kansas City crime family; brother-in-law of Anthony Civella
 * Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd (1904–1934), took part in the Union Station Massacre
 * Charles "Mad Dog" Gargotta (1900–1950), top enforcer of the KC crime family
 * Anthony Gizzo (1902–1953), led Kansas City crime family in the early 1950s
 * John Lazia (1896–1934), leader of the Kansas City crime family in the 1920s and early 1930s
 * Kenneth Lay (1942–2006), chairman and CEO of Enron, convicted of securities fraud
 * Little Britches (1879 – year of death unknown), female bandit associated with Cattle Annie and the Doolin gang
 * James Earl Ray (1928–1998), assassin of civil rights leader Martin Luther King; escapee from the Missouri State Penitentiary
 * James-Younger Gang:
 * Frank James (1843–1915), outlaw
 * Jesse James (1847–1882), outlaw
 * Cole Younger (1844–1916), outlaw
 * John Younger (1851–1874), outlaw
 * Bob Younger (1853–1899), outlaw
 * Jim Younger (1848–1902), outlaw
 * Bob Ford (1862–1892), outlaw who gunned down Jesse James
 * Tom Pendergast (1873–1945), long-time political boss of Kansas City and western Missouri; responsible for the political rise of Harry S. Truman; imprisoned for tax evasion
 * Belle Starr (1848–1889), female outlaw of the Old West
 * St. Louis crime family
 * Anthony Giordano (1914–1980), leader of the St. Louis crime family in the 1960s and 1970s
 * Matthew Trupiano (1938–1997), nephew of Anthony Giordano, crime family boss in the 1980s
 * John Vitale (1909–1982), crime family boss in the early 1980s

Film, television and theater

 * A–C


 * Goodman Ace (1899–1982), television writer, radio host and comedian
 * Jane Ace (1897–1974), radio actress and host
 * Zoë Akins (1886–1958), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, poet
 * Robert Altman (1925–2006), film director, M*A*S*H, Nashville, Gosford Park
 * Ed Asner (born 1929), Emmy Award-winning actor, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Lou Grant; Up, Elf
 * Scott Bakula (born 1954), actor, Quantum Leap, Star Trek: Enterprise, NCIS: New Orleans
 * Josephine Baker (1906–1975), dancer, singer, actress
 * Tisha Terrasini Banker (born 1973), actress
 * Ryan Michelle Bathe (born 1976), actress, Boston Legal, Army Wives, Retired at 35
 * Anne Bauchens (1882–1967), Oscar-winning film editor
 * John Beal (1909–1997), actor, Les Misérables, Alimony
 * Gerry Becker (born 1951), actor
 * Noah Beery (1882–1946), actor, The Mark of Zorro
 * Wallace Beery (1885–1949), Oscar-winning actor, The Champ, Min and Bill, Viva Villa!
 * Rob Benedict (born 1970), actor, Felicity, Head Case, Threshold
 * Bob Bergen (born 1964), voice actor
 * Fred Berry (1951–2003), actor, What's Happening!!
 * Linda Blair (born 1959), actress, The Exorcist, Airport 1975
 * Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, screenwriter, Designing Women, Evening Shade
 * Andrea Bogart (born 1977), actress, General Hospital
 * Matt Bomer (born 1977), actor, White Collar
 * Johnny Yong Bosch (born 1976), singer, Eyeshine; actor, Trigun, Power Rangers
 * Jeff Branson (born 1977), actor
 * Diane Brewster (1931–1991), actress
 * Brent Briscoe (born 1961), actor, Yes Man, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Spider-Man 2
 * Kent Broadhurst (born 1940), actor
 * Edgar Buchanan (1903–1979), actor, Petticoat Junction
 * Norbert Leo Butz (born 1967), Tony Award-winning stage actor
 * Christy Cabanne (1888–1950), director, Jane Eyre
 * Jessica Capshaw (born 1976), actress, The Practice
 * Morris Carnovsky (1897–1992), actor, Edge of Darkness, Dead Reckoning
 * Conlan Carter (born 1934), actor, Combat!, The Law and Mr. Jones
 * Don Cheadle (born 1964), actor, Hotel Rwanda, Traffic, Boogie Nights, Ocean's Eleven, The Rat Pack
 * Marguerite Churchill (1910–2000), actress, The Big Trail, The Walking Dead
 * Anthony Cistaro (born 1963), actor, Charmed, Witchblade
 * Sarah Clarke (born 1972), actress, Nina Myers on 24
 * Andy Cohen (born 1968), author, producer, and television personality, Watch What Happens Live
 * Lynn Cohen (born 1933), actress, Law & Order, Sex and the City
 * Frank Converse (born 1938), actor, Movin' On, N.Y.P.D.
 * Bert Convy (1933–1991), actor and TV personality, Semi-Tough
 * Chris Cooper (born 1951), Oscar-winning actor, Lonesome Dove, The Bourne Identity, American Beauty, Breach


 * Joan Crawford (1905–1977), Oscar-winning actress, Mildred Pierce, The Women, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
 * Greg Cromer (born 1971), actor
 * Robert Cummings (1908–1990), actor, Kings Row, Saboteur, Love That Bob, Dial M for Murder


 * D–G


 * Erin Daniels (born 1973), actress, The L Word
 * Nathan Darrow (born 1976), actor, House of Cards
 * Don S. Davis (1942–2008), actor, Stargate SG-1, Twin Peaks
 * Kurt Deutsch, actor, Models Inc.
 * Walt Disney (1901–1966), iconic film and television producer, studio mogul, director, screenwriter, voice actor and animator
 * Dale Dye (born 1944), actor, Saving Private Ryan, Mission: Impossible, Band of Brothers
 * Cliff Edwards (1895–1971), actor, musician; the voice of Jiminy Cricket
 * Frank Faylen (1905–1985), actor, It's a Wonderful Life, Detective Story, Dobie Gillis
 * Jenna Fischer (born 1974), actress, The Office, Hall Pass, Blades of Glory (born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, grew up in St. Louis)
 * Henderson Forsythe (1917–2006), actor, As the World Turns
 * James Franciscus (1934–1991), actor, Mr. Novak, Naked City, Marooned, Beneath the Planet of the Apes
 * Phyllis Fraser (1915–2006), actress, journalist, children's book publisher, wife of Bennett Cerf and Robert F. Wagner, Jr.
 * Friz Freleng (1905–1995), film producer, director, screenwriter, and animator, Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies
 * Bob Gale (born 1951), screenwriter, the Back to the Future trilogy
 * Betty Garrett (1919–2011), actress, On the Town, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, Laverne & Shirley
 * Heather Goldenhersh (born 1973), actress, The Class, School of Rock
 * John Goodman (born 1952), actor, Monsters, Inc., Roseanne, The Babe, Barton Fink, Oh Brother Where Art Thou, The Big Lebowski
 * Lucas Grabeel (born 1984), actor, High School Musical, Milk
 * Betty Grable (1916–1973), actress, singer and World War II pin-up girl, Moon Over Miami, How to Marry a Millionaire
 * Bryan Greenberg (born 1978), actor, musician, One Tree Hill, October Road, How to Make It in America
 * Dabbs Greer (1917–2007), actor, Little House on the Prairie, Gunsmoke, The Green Mile
 * Eddie Griffin (born 1968), actor, comedian, Undercover Brother, Norbit
 * Davis Guggenheim (born 1963), director, producer
 * Robert Guillaume (1927–2017), actor, Benson, Soap, The Lion King, Sports Night
 * James Gunn (born 1970), film director and screenwriter
 * Moses Gunn (1929–1993), actor, Father Murphy, The Cowboys, Shaft, Ragtime, Heartbreak Ridge
 * Sean Gunn (born 1974), actor, Gilmore Girls, October Road


 * H–M




 * Jon Hamm (born 1971), actor, Mad Men, The Town, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Baby Driver
 * Jean Harlow (1911–1937), actress and sex symbol
 * George Hearn (born 1934), actor, primarily Broadway and musical theatre
 * George Hickenlooper (1965–2010), documentary filmmaker, Hearts of Darkness, Dogtown
 * Dennis Hopper (1936–2010), actor, filmmaker, artist, Easy Rider, Apocalypse Now, Speed, Hoosiers
 * Arliss Howard (born 1954), actor, writer and director, Full Metal Jacket, Wilder Napalm, Moneyball
 * Rupert Hughes (1872–1956), film director, composer; uncle of reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes
 * John Huston (1906–1987), actor and Oscar-winning film director, The Maltese Falcon, Key Largo, The African Queen
 * Don Johnson (born 1949), actor, Miami Vice, Nash Bridges, Guilty as Sin, Tin Cup, Django Unchained
 * Jay Johnson (born 1977), actor, The Young and the Restless, Scrubs
 * Janet Jones (born 1961), actress, dancer, wife of hockey's Wayne Gretzky
 * Neal Jones (born 1960), actor, Dirty Dancing, G.I. Jane
 * Brenda Joyce (1917–2009), actress, Little Tokyo, U.S.A., Tarzan movies in the 1940s
 * Andreas Katsulas (1946–2006), actor, Babylon 5, Star Trek: The Next Generation
 * Ellie Kemper (born 1980), actress, The Office
 * Edward Kerr (born 1966), actor, seaQuest DSV, What I Like About You
 * Lincoln Kilpatrick (1932–2004), actor
 * Kevin Kline (born 1947), Oscar-winning actor, Sophie's Choice, The Big Chill, A Fish Called Wanda, Last Vegas
 * Evalyn Knapp (1906–1981), actress, Perils of Pauline, In Old Santa Fe
 * David Koechner (born 1962), actor and comedian, Saturday Night Live, Anchorman
 * Laura La Plante (1904–1996), actress in silent films
 * Kasi Lemmons (born 1961), actress and director, Eve's Bayou, Talk to Me
 * Angela Lindvall (born 1979), actress
 * Mark Linn-Baker (born 1954), actor, My Favorite Year, Larry Appleton on Perfect Strangers
 * Robert Lowery (1913–1971), actor, Batman in 1940s serial
 * Marsha Mason (born 1942), actress, Sibs, The Goodbye Girl, Only When I Laugh, Chapter Two, Frasier
 * Michael Massee (born 1955), actor, 24, Seven, The Crow
 * Wendell Mayes (1919–1992), screenwriter, The Spirit of St. Louis, North to Alaska, Von Ryan's Express
 * Virginia Mayo (1920–2005), actress, The Best Years of Our Lives, White Heat, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
 * Edie McClurg (born 1951), actress, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, 7th Heaven
 * Frank McGrath (1903–1967), actor, Wagon Train
 * Steve McQueen (1930–1980), actor, The Sand Pebbles, The Great Escape, The Towering Inferno, Bullitt
 * John Milius (born 1944), screenwriter, director, producer, Red Dawn, The Hunt for Red October, Conan the Barbarian
 * Wendy Moniz (born 1969), actress, The Guardian, Guiding Light, Nash Bridges, Betrayal
 * Mircea Monroe, actress, model, Cellular, Episodes


 * N–Z


 * Dustin Nguyen (born 1962), actor, 21 Jump Street, V.I.P.
 * Kathleen Nolan (born 1933), actress, The Real McCoys
 * Eva Novak (1898–1988), actress of the silent film era, The King of the Kitchen
 * Jane Novak (1896–1990), actress of the silent film era, Treat'Em Rough, Redskin
 * Dan O'Bannon (1946–2009), film director and screenwriter, Heavy Metal, Dark Star, Total Recall
 * Denis O'Hare (born 1962), actor, Brothers & Sisters, Sweet Charity, True Blood
 * Kevin O'Morrison (born 1916), actor and playwright
 * Timothy Omundson (born 1969), actor, Psych, Judging Amy
 * Holmes Osborne (born 1947), actor
 * Diana Ossana, screenwriter, Brokeback Mountain, Pretty Boy Floyd
 * Geraldine Page (1924–1987), Oscar-winning actress, Summer and Smoke, Sweet Bird of Youth, The Trip to Bountiful
 * Carlos Peña (born 1989), actor, singer, and dancer, Big Time Rush
 * Evan Peters (born 1987), actor, American Horror Story, Invasion, Kick-Ass
 * Julie Piekarski (born 1963), actress, The Facts of Life
 * Brad Pitt (born 1963), actor and producer, Thelma & Louise, 12 Monkeys, Seven, Moneyball, World War Z
 * William Powell (1892–1984), actor, The Thin Man, Life with Father, My Man Godfrey, Mister Roberts
 * Vincent Price (1911–1993), actor, Laura, House of Wax, The Fly, The Ten Commandments, Edward Scissorhands
 * Sally Rand (1904–1979), burlesque dancer, actress
 * Doris Roberts (1925–2016), actress, Everybody Loves Raymond
 * Leonard Roberts (born 1972), actor, Heroes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
 * Ginger Rogers (1911–1995), Oscar-winning actress, dance partner of Fred Astaire
 * Paul Rudd (born 1969), actor, comedian, writer, and producer, I Love You, Man, Ant-Man
 * Sol Smith Russell (1848–1902), 19th-century stage actor
 * Jacqueline Scott (born 1932), actress, Charley Varrick
 * Martha Scott (1912–2003), actress, The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur
 * Sara Shane (born 1928), actress, Magnificent Obsession, The King and Four Queens, Tarzan's Greatest Adventure
 * Phyllis Smith (born 1951), actress, The Office
 * Kelly Stables (born 1978), actress, The Exes, W.I.T.C.H., Two and a Half Men
 * Craig Stevens (1918–2000), actor, State Trooper, Peter Gunn
 * Christian Stolte (born 1962), actor, Prison Break
 * Skyler Stone (born 1979), actor, Raising Hope, The Island
 * Eric Stonestreet (born 1971), actor, Modern Family
 * Betty Thomas (born 1948), actress and director, Hill Street Blues, The Brady Bunch Movie, Dr. Dolittle, Private Parts
 * Kay Thompson (1909–1998), actress, Funny Face
 * Sidney Toler (1874–1947), actor, Charlie Chan films
 * William Traylor (1930–1989), actor, Fletch; founder of The Loft Studio/acting school
 * Kathleen Turner (born 1954), actress, Body Heat, Romancing the Stone, Prizzi's Honor, Serial Mom
 * Stephen Barker Turner (born 1968), actor
 * Dick Van Dyke (born 1925), actor, The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Poppins, Diagnosis: Murder
 * Jerry Van Dyke (born 1931), actor, Coach, McLintock!, The Courtship of Eddie's Father
 * Jack Wagner (born 1959), actor/singer Melrose Place, General Hospital
 * Ruth Warrick (1916–2005), actress, Citizen Kane, All My Children
 * Dennis Weaver (1924–2006), actor, Gunsmoke, McCloud
 * William White (1921–1985), actor, producer and director
 * Mary Wickes (1910–1995), actress, White Christmas, Sister Act
 * Dianne Wiest (born 1948), 2-time Oscar-winning actress
 * Jason Wiles (born 1970), actor, Third Watch, Persons Unknown
 * Mykelti Williamson (born 1960), actor, Forrest Gump, Fences
 * Lanford Wilson (born April 13, 1937), playwright, director, Lemon Sky, Redwood Curtain, Hallmark Hall of Fame
 * Shelley Winters (1920–2006), 2-time Oscar-winning actress
 * Jane Wyman (1917–2007), Oscar-winning actress; former wife of Ronald Reagan

Comedians

 * Cedric The Entertainer (born 1964), actor, comedian
 * Jo Firestone actress, comedian, writer
 * Redd Foxx (1922–1991), comedian, starred in Sanford and Son
 * Dick Gregory (1932–2017), comedian, social activist
 * Craig Kilborn (born 1962), comedian, actor, former talk show host
 * Kathleen Madigan (born 1965), comedian
 * Kevin Nealon (born 1953), actor, comedian
 * Randy and Jason Sklar (born 1972), identical twin comedians, hosts of ESPN Classic's Cheap Seats
 * Guy Torry (born 1969), actor, comedian
 * Joe Torry (born 1965), actor, comedian

Cartoonists

 * Ralph Barton (1891–1931), cartoonist
 * George Booth (born 1926), cartoonist for The New Yorker
 * Lee Falk (1911–1999), cartoonist, The Phantom, Mandrake the Magician
 * Al Hirschfeld (1903–2003), caricaturist and cartoonist known for drawing celebrities
 * Fred Lasswell (1916–2001), cartoonist, Barney Google and Snuffy Smith
 * Glenn McCoy (born 1965), cartoonist, The Duplex, The Flying McCoys
 * George McManus (1884–1954), cartoonist, Maggie and Jiggs
 * Mike Peters (born 1943), cartoonist, Mother Goose & Grimm
 * Dan Piraro (born 1958), cartoonist, Bizarro
 * Mort Walker (1923–2018), cartoonist, Beetle Bailey

Magicians and mentalists

 * Morgan Strebler (born 1976), magician and mentalist; Las Vegas award-winning performer

Bluegrass and country

 * Lennie Aleshire (1890–1987), country-bluegrass pioneer and vaudeville act
 * Helen Cornelius (born 1941), country singer best known for duets with Jim Ed BrownLyman Enloe bluegrass hall of fame
 * Rusty Draper (1923–2003), country and rockabilly singer/guitarist
 * Sara Evans (born 1971), country music star
 * Tyler Farr, country music singer and songwriter
 * Bob Ferguson (1927–2001), country music songwriter and producer
 * John Hartford (1937–2001), country and bluegrass music composer and performer
 * Ferlin Husky (1925–2011), singer and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame
 * Brett James, country music singer-songwriter and record producer
 * The Kendalls, Grammy-winning country duo from the 1970s and 1980s
 * Tom Shapiro, country music songwriter and record producer
 * Tate Stevens, country music singer and 2012 winner of The X Factor
 * Wynn Stewart (1934–1985), country music singer, progenitor of the Bakersfield sound
 * Jamie Teachenor (born 1980), country and rock singer-songwriter, musician and record producer
 * Trent Tomlinson (born 1975), country singer-songwriter
 * Leroy Van Dyke (born 1929), country singer best known for "The Auctioneer" and "Walk on By"
 * Darrin Vincent (born 1970), half of the Grammy-nominated bluegrass group Dailey & Vincent; record producer
 * Rhonda Vincent (born 1962), bluegrass singer and musician, seven-time IMBA Female Vocalist of the Year
 * Porter Wagoner (1927–2007), Grand Ole Opry member and Country Music Hall of Famer

Jazz

 * Oleta Adams (born 1953), soul, jazz and gospel singer
 * Ahmad Alaadeen (born 1934), jazz saxophonist and composer
 * Norman Brown (born 1970), smooth jazz musician
 * Jimmy Forrest (1920–1980), jazz tenor saxophonist
 * Grant Green (1935–1979), jazz guitarist
 * Coleman Hawkins (1904–1969), jazz tenor saxophonist
 * Bob James (born 1939), smooth jazz musician
 * Scott Joplin (1867–1917), ragtime musician and composer
 * Pat Metheny (born 1954), jazz guitarist and musician
 * Lennie Niehaus (born 1929), alto saxophonist, arranger, and composer
 * Charlie "Bird" Parker (1920–1955), jazz saxophonist and composer
 * David Sanborn (born 1945), smooth jazz musician
 * Wilbur Sweatman (1882–1961), Dixieland jazz and ragtime composer and bandleader
 * Clark Terry (1920–2015), swing and bebop trumpet and flugelhorn player

Rhythm & blues, pop, rap and hip-hop

 * Akon (born 1977), rhythm and blues musician, music producer
 * Fontella Bass (1940–2012), singer best known for 1965 hit Rescue Me
 * Chingy (born 1980), rapper, actor
 * Eminem (born 1972), rap musician (grew up partly in St. Joseph)
 * Nelly (born 1974), rap musician (born in Texas and raised in St. Louis)
 * David Peaston (1957–2012), R&B and Gospel singer
 * St. Lunatics, hip hop, best known for collaborations with Nelly
 * Tech N9ne (born 1971), rapper
 * Kimberly Wyatt, singer and dancer, Pussycat Dolls

Rock & roll

 * Chuck Berry (1926–2017), guitarist, musician, singer, songwriter, pioneer of rock & roll, in Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
 * The Bottle Rockets (formed 1992), rock, alt-country, roots rock
 * T Bone Burnett (born 1948), musician, songwriter, and soundtrack and record producer
 * Cavo, hard rock band (formed in St. Louis)
 * David Cook (born 1982), 2008 American Idol winner from Blue Springs
 * Sheryl Crow (born 1962), Grammy-winning singer-songwriter
 * Gravity Kills, industrial rock band, formed in Jefferson City
 * Johnnie Johnson (1924–2005), early rock & roll and blues piano player; member of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
 * King's X, hard rock, progressive metal band, formed in Springfield
 * Michael McDonald (born 1952), singer, former Doobie Brothers frontman
 * Missouri, band known for classic rock song "Movin' On", formed in Kansas City
 * Ozark Mountain Daredevils, rock band known for the hits "Jackie Blue" and "If You Wanna Get To Heaven", formed in Springfield
 * Louise Post, founder, lead singer and guitarist of alternative rock band Veruca Salt
 * Puddle of Mudd, rock band, formed in Kansas City
 * The Rainmakers, rock band, formed in Kansas City
 * Jay Reatard (1980–2010), garage punk musician, born in Lilbourn
 * Wes Scantlin (born 1972), lead singer and guitarist of post-grunge band Puddle of Mudd
 * Shooting Star, 1970s and 1980s rock band, from Kansas City
 * Story of the Year, emo rock band, formed in St. Louis
 * The Urge, rock band, formed in St. Louis
 * Bob Walkenhorst, founder and lead singer of alternative rock band The Rainmakers
 * Steve Walsh (born 1951), lead vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist for the progressive rock group Kansas and Streets

Other music

 * Doris Akers (1923–1995), gospel music singer and composer
 * Martha Bass (1921–1998), gospel singer with Clara Ward Singers and solo career
 * Burt Bacharach (born 1928), pianist, composer
 * Neal E. Boyd (born 1975), opera vocalist, winner of 2008 America's Got Talent competition
 * Grace Bumbry (born 1937), opera soprano
 * Sarah Caldwell (1924–2006), opera conductor
 * Sara Groves (born 1972), Contemporary Christian singer, record producer, author
 * Dan Landrum (born 1961), hammer dulcimer player, featured instrumentalist with Yanni
 * Basil Poledouris (1945–2006), film soundtrack composer
 * H. Owen Reed (1910–2014), composer and conductor
 * Willie Mae Ford Smith (1904–1994), Gospel singer
 * Virgil Thomson (1896–1989), composer and critic
 * Helen Traubel (1899–1972), opera vocalist
 * Grace VanderWaal (born 2004), singer-songwriter, ukuleleist, winner of America's Got Talent season 11

Radio and television

 * Bob Barker (born 1923), television game show host
 * Jim Bohannon (born 1944), radio talk show host
 * Rush Limbaugh (born 1951), radio talk show host
 * Dana Loesch (born 1978), radio talk show host and television host at TheBlaze
 * Melanie Morgan (born 1956), radio personality with KSFO in San Francisco
 * "Mancow" Muller (born 1966), radio and TV personality, Mancow's Morning Madhouse
 * Marlin Perkins (1905–1986), zoologist and host of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom
 * April Scott (born 1979), model, Deal or No Deal and SOAPnet's Soap Talk
 * Chris Stigall (born 1977), talk radio personality for Philadelphia's WPHT

Beauty pageant titleholders

 * Debbye Turner (born 1965), Miss America 1990
 * Shandi Finnessey (born 1978), Miss USA 2004

Journalism

 * Jabari Asim (born 1962), author, journalist
 * Bob Broeg (1918–2005), St. Louis sportswriter
 * Joe Buck (born 1969), sportscaster for Fox Sports
 * Harry Caray (1914–1998), Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster
 * Walter Cronkite (1916–2009), television journalist
 * Walker Evans (1903–1975), photojournalist best known for photos taken during the Great Depression
 * Clay Felker (1925–2008), editor, journalist, founder of New York magazine
 * Joe Garagiola, Sr. (1926–2016), MLB catcher, baseball broadcaster, and television host (The Today Show)
 * Dave Garroway (1913–1982), first host of NBC's Today show
 * Jane Grant (1892–1972), journalist, co-founder of The New Yorker
 * Michael Kim (born 1964), sports broadcaster for ESPN
 * Carol Platt Liebau, attorney, political analyst and social conservative commentator
 * Mary Margaret McBride (1899–1976), female radio pioneer
 * Joe McGuff (1926–2006), Kansas City sportswriter
 * Dan McLaughlin (born 1974), sportscaster for Fox Sports Midwest
 * Russ Mitchell (born 1960), TV journalist, CBS Evening News
 * Lisa Myers (born 1951), TV journalist, NBC Nightly News
 * Stone Phillips (born 1954), TV journalist, Dateline NBC
 * Joseph Pulitzer (1847–1911), Hungarian journalist, creator of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Pulitzer Prize
 * Howard Rushmore (1913–1958), journalist for The Daily Worker, New York Journal-American and Confidential magazine
 * Elaine Viets, St. Louis columnist and author

Military

 * William T. Anderson (1838–1864), a.k.a. "Bloody Bill" Anderson; Confederate guerrilla leader in the Civil War
 * Charles D. Barger (1892–1936), earned the Medal of Honor in World War I
 * John L. Barkley (1895–1966), earned the Medal of Honor in World War I
 * Frederick Benteen (1834–1898), best known for role under George Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
 * Omar Bradley (1893–1981), World War II general, from Clark, Missouri
 * Robert Coontz (1864–1935), US Navy Admiral, former Chief of Naval Operations
 * John V. Cox (born 1930), United States Marine Corps Major General; flew over 200 combat missions during the Vietnam War
 * Enoch Crowder (1859–1932), US Army General and reformer of military justice system
 * Randall "Duke" Cunningham, only U.S. Navy Ace in the Vietnam War; later a U.S. Congressman from California
 * James Phillip Fleming (born 1943), USAF pilot; awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the Vietnam War
 * John C. Frémont (1813–1890), Western explorer; Union Civil War general; first Republican candidate for U.S. President
 * Frederick Dent Grant (1850–1912), U.S. Army Major General and diplomat; son of U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant
 * Martin E. Green (1815–1863), Confederate Army Brigadier General; killed at Siege of Vicksburg
 * John McNeil (1813–1891), Union Army brigadier general during the American Civil War; known as "The Butcher of Palmyra"
 * Wayne E. Meyer (1926–2009), U.S. Navy Rear Admiral; "father of the Aegis weapons system"
 * David Moore (1817–1893), Mexican–American War officer and Union Civil War Brigadier General
 * John Henry Parker (1866–1942), "Gatling Gun Parker"; hero in the Spanish–American War; only U.S. soldier to be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross four times in World War I
 * Floyd B. Parks (1911–1942), U.S. Marine aviator who earned the Navy Cross posthumously for his actions leading Marine fighter squadron VMF-221 during the Battle of Midway
 * John J. Pershing (1860–1948), soldier, General of the Armies; born in Laclede, Missouri
 * Sterling Price, Confederate States Army, General of the Missouri State Guard during the Civil War
 * William Quantrill (1837–1865), Confederate guerrilla leader (Quantrill's Raiders) in the Civil War
 * John H. Quick (1870–1922), U.S. Marine awarded the Medal of Honor in the Spanish–American War, awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Cross in World War I
 * James E. Rieger (1874–1951), Colonel Mo. National Guard; awarded Distinguished Service Cross and Croix de Guerre in World War I
 * Roscoe Robinson, U.S. Army General
 * Maxwell D. Taylor (1901–1987), U.S. Army General, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
 * Stephen W. Thompson (1894–1977), first U.S. military pilot to ever shoot down an enemy in aerial combat (1918)
 * Harry H. Vaughan (1893–1981), U.S. Army Reserve general, Aide to the President of the United States from 1945 to 1953
 * George Allison Whiteman (1919–1941), the first United States Army Air Corps pilot killed in World War II; awarded the Silver Star posthumously for after being shot down in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor
 * Arthur L. Willard (1870–1935), United States Navy Vice Admiral, winner of Navy Cross, French Legion of Honor, and Belgian Order of Leopold; first man to plant American flag on Cuban soil in the Spanish–American War

Public office



 * A–K


 * Orland K. Armstrong (1893–1987), U.S. Representative, journalist and social activist
 * John Ashcroft (born 1942), governor of Missouri (1985–1993), U.S. Senator from Missouri (1995–2001), United States Attorney General (2001–2005)
 * Thomas Hart Benton (1782–1858), U.S. Senator
 * Richard P. Bland (1835–1899), U.S. Representative for 23 years, Democratic candidate for U.S. President in 1896
 * Roy Blunt (born 1950), seven-term U.S. Representative for Missouri's 7th congressional district; House Minority Whip, U.S. Senator
 * Christopher S. "Kit" Bond (born 1939), Governor, U.S. Senator of Missouri
 * Leonard Boswell (born 1934), U.S. Representative for Iowa's 3rd congressional district
 * Bill Bradley (born 1943), U.S. Senator for New Jersey, NBA Hall of Famer; born and reared in Missouri
 * Karilyn Brown (born c. 1947), member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Pulaski County; born in Cape Girardeau
 * Clarence Cannon (1879–1964), U.S. Representative 1923–1964, House Appropriations Committee chairman
 * Albert Sidney Johnson Carnahan (1897–1968), US Representative, US Ambassador to Sierra Leone; father of Governor Mel Carnahan
 * Jean Carnahan (born 1933), first Missouri woman to become a U.S. Senator, matriarch of Carnahan political family
 * Mel Carnahan (1924–2000), governor, posthumous US Senator (died in plane crash three weeks before he was elected), patriarch of Carnahan political family
 * Robin Carnahan (born 1961), Missouri Secretary of State
 * Russ Carnahan (born 1958), US House of Representatives
 * Steven Chu (born 1948), U.S. Secretary of Energy
 * John Danforth (born 1936), U.S. Senator and United States Ambassador to the United Nations
 * Thomas Eagleton (1929–2007), U.S. Senator from Missouri (1968–1987); 1972 Democratic Vice Presidential nominee
 * Josh Earnest (born 1977), White House Press Secretary to President Barack Obama
 * David R. Francis (1850–1927), U.S. Secretary of the Interior (1896–1897), U.S. Ambassador to Russia (1916–1917)
 * J. William Fulbright (1905–1995), U.S. Senator, established the Fulbright Fellowships
 * Dick Gephardt (born 1941), U.S. Representative from Missouri's 3rd congressional district (1977–2005); Democratic House Majority Leader (1989–1995); candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in the 2004 election
 * Michael Gerson (born 1964), chief speechwriter for George W. Bush (2001–2006)
 * Ulysses S. Grant, (1822–1885), 18th President of the United States
 * Michael Harrington (1928–1989), founder Democratic Socialists of America
 * George Hearst (1820–1891), U.S. Senator for California (1887–1891)
 * Martin Heinrich (born 1971), former Congressman and current U.S. Senator from New Mexico
 * Arthur M. Hyde (1877–1947), U.S. Secretary of Agriculture 1929–33, Governor of Missouri 1921–25
 * Alphonso Jackson (born 1945), 13th U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
 * James Jones (born 1943), U.S. National Security Advisor under Barack Obama and retired USMC four-star general
 * Tim Kaine (born 1958), former Governor and current U.S. Senator from Virginia since 2013; 2016 Democratic nominee for vice president under Hillary Clinton


 * L–Z


 * Jerry Litton (1937–1976), two-term U.S. Representative; Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 1976; killed in plane crash before general election
 * Breckinridge Long (1881–1958), U.S. Ambassador to Italy and Assistant United States Secretary of State under President Franklin D. Roosevelt
 * Claire McCaskill, State Auditor of Missouri (1999–2007); U.S. Senator (2007–); first woman elected U.S. senator from Missouri
 * James Benton Parsons (1911–1993), federal judge
 * Clarke Reed (born 1928), Mississippi Republican state chairman, 1966 to 1976; instrumental in the nomination of Gerald R. Ford, Jr. at the 1976 Republican National Convention; reared in Caruthersville, Missouri, and attended the University of Missouri
 * Nellie Tayloe Ross (1876–1977), governor of Wyoming (1925–1927); director of the United States Mint (1933–1953); first woman to serve as a state governor
 * Mel Sembler (born 1930), U.S. Ambassador to Italy (2001–2005) and Australia (1989–1993)
 * Jeanne Shaheen (born 1947), U.S. Senator for New Hampshire
 * Ike Skelton (1931–2013), U.S. Congressman for the Missouri 4th District (1977–2011), chairman U.S. House Armed Services Committee
 * Stuart Symington, first Air Force Secretary and U.S. Senator from Missouri
 * Larry Thompson (born 1945), United States Deputy Attorney General under George W. Bush
 * Harry S. Truman (1884–1972), Vice President and 33rd President of the United States
 * George Turner (1850–1932), U.S. Senator and international arbitrator
 * David King Udall (1851–1938), served in Arizona Legislature, progenitor of the Udall political family
 * Harold Volkmer (1931–2011), 20-year member of U.S. House of Representatives for northeast Missouri
 * Jim Webb (born 1946), U.S. Senator for Virginia and United States Secretary of the Navy
 * Pete Wilson (born 1933), mayor of San Diego, 36th Governor of California, U.S. Senator (1983–1991)
 * Robert Coldwell Wood (1923–2005), Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under Lyndon B. Johnson

Science and medicine

 * Augie Auer (1940–2007), atmospheric scientist and meteorologist
 * William F. Baker (born 1953), structural engineer
 * Jean Bartik (1924–2011), early computer programmer and designer
 * Gordon Bell (born 1934), computer engineer and microcomputer pioneer
 * Herbert Blumer (1900–1987), sociologist, developer of symbolic interactionism
 * Martin Stanislaus Brennan (1845–1927), scientist and priest
 * George Washington Carver (c. 1864–1943), botanist
 * Charles Stark Draper (1901–1987), inventor
 * David F. Duncan (born 1947), psychologist and epidemiologist
 * Meta Given (1888–1981), home economist scientist, dietician, author
 * Edward T. Hall (1914–2009), anthropologist and cross-cultural researcher
 * Edwin Hubble (1889–1953), astronomer
 * Mark Johnson (born 1949), philosopher
 * Virginia Eshelman Johnson (born 1925), psychology researcher
 * Jack Kilby (1923–2005), inventor of the integrated circuit
 * Roger Kornberg (born 1947), biochemist, Nobel Prize winner
 * Harry Laughlin (1880–1943), eugenicist
 * J. C. R. Licklider (1915–1990), psychologist, computer scientist
 * Pauline Gracia Beery Mack (1891–1974), chemist
 * Ernest Manheim (1900–2002), sociologist
 * William Howell Masters (1915–2001), gynecologist
 * Orval Hobart Mowrer (1907–1982), psychologist
 * Richard Smalley (1943–2005), Nobel Prize-winning chemist, discovered buckminsterfullerene
 * Harlow Shapley (1885–1972), astronomer
 * William Jasper Spillman (1863–1931), plant geneticist, a founder of agricultural economics
 * Lewis Stadler (1896–1954), aka L.J. Stadler, maize geneticist
 * Andrew Taylor Still (1828–1917), physician and founder of osteopathic medicine
 * Norbert Wiener (1894–1964), mathematician

Miscellaneous famous Missourians

 * William Becknell (1787–1856), soldier, businessman, founder of the Santa Fe Trail
 * Johnny Behan (1844–1912), sheriff of Tombstone, Arizona, during the gunfight at the O.K. Corral
 * Susan Blow (1843–1916), educator, "the mother of kindergarten"
 * Sylvia Browne (1936–2013), author who claimed to be a medium and to have psychic abilities
 * Calamity Jane (c. 1852–1903), Indian fighter and frontierswoman
 * Alfred Caldwell (1903–1998), architect
 * Dale Carnegie (1888–1955), public and motivational speaker
 * Mike Caro (born 1944), professional poker player
 * James E. Cofer (born 1949), president of Missouri State University, 2010–2011; professor of business at MSU
 * Brad Daugherty (born 1951), professional poker player
 * Moses Dickson (1824–1901), African-American abolitionist, soldier, minister and founder of the secret organization the Knights of Liberty
 * Matt Dillahunty (born 1969), public speaker, internet personality, atheist activist
 * Timothy M. Dolan (born 1950), Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and Archbishop of New York
 * Ella Ewing (1872–1913), "The Missouri Giantess", world's tallest woman (of her era)
 * Hugh Ferriss (1889–1962), delineator and architect
 * Bobby Greenlease (1947–1953), kidnap-murder victim in case that drew national attention
 * Phoebe Hearst (1842–1919), philanthropist, feminist and suffragist
 * Raelynn Hillhouse, national security and intelligence community analyst, Cold War smuggler, spy novelist
 * Mary Ranken Jordan (1869–1962), philanthropist and community advocate
 * Terry Karl (born 1947), professor of Latin American Studies at Stanford University
 * Emmett Kelly (1898–1979), circus clown
 * Karlie Kloss (born 1992), model and ballet dancer
 * Carrie Nation (1846–1911), advocate for the temperance movement
 * Rose O'Neill (1874–1944), author, illustrator and creator of the Kewpie doll
 * Walter J. Ong (1912–2003), Jesuit priest, cultural and religious historian and philosopher
 * Phyllis Schlafly (1924–-2016), conservative political activist and author
 * Dred Scott, slave and litigant in U.S. Supreme Court Dred Scott decision
 * George Thampy (born 1987), Scripps National Spelling Bee champion 2000, staff member 2006
 * Faye Wattleton (born 1943), feminist activist
 * Brian Wesbury (born 1958), economist
 * Halbert White (1950–2012), economics professor at UC San Diego
 * Roy Wilkins (1901–1981), civil rights activist