List of people from Iowa

This is a list of notable people who were born in or closely associated with the American state of Iowa. People not born in Iowa are marked with §.

A



 * Dudley W. Adams, horticulturalist
 * John T. Adams, former Republican committee head
 * Julie Adams, actress
 * Trev Alberts, football player
 * Bess Streeter Aldrich, author
 * Royce Alger, wrestler, mixed martial artist
 * James Allen, engineer
 * Fran Allison, television personality
 * William B. Allison, politician
 * Betty Baxter Anderson, author
 * Lew Anderson, actor
 * Rudolph Martin Anderson, explorer
 * Pat Angerer, football player
 * Cap Anson, baseball player
 * Brynild Anundsen, publisher
 * Appanoose, 19th-century Meskwaki chief
 * Lloyd Appleton, Olympic wrestler
 * Samuel Z. Arkoff, film producer
 * Herbert W. Armstrong, religious leader
 * Tom Arnold, actor
 * Adrian Arrington, football player
 * Matthew Ashford, actor
 * Winifred Asprey, mathematician
 * John Vincent Atanasoff, § inventor
 * Jim Aton, Jazz musician, composer, singer

B

 * Michele Bachmann, politician
 * Stan Bahnsen, baseball player
 * John O. Bailey, judge
 * Bil Baird, puppeteer
 * Betsy Baker, actress
 * Nathaniel B. Baker, politician
 * Alvin Baldus, politician
 * Charlie Bales, soccer player
 * Brad Banks, athlete
 * Hal C. Banks, labor leader
 * Jill Banner, actress
 * Antonine Barada, folk hero
 * Roger Barkley, broadcaster
 * Harrison Barnes, athlete
 * Bob Barr, politician
 * Douglas Barr, actor, writer, and director
 * David Barrett, football player
 * Steve Bartkowski, football player
 * Robert Bartley, editor of The Wall Street Journal
 * Clint Barton, fictional character
 * Theodore J. Bauer, scientist
 * Lansing Hoskins Beach, Army officer
 * Bennett Bean, artist
 * Carl L. Becker, historian
 * Bix Beiderbecke, jazz musician
 * William W. Belknap
 * Brian Bell, musician
 * Alfred S. Bennett, Army general and U.S. Secretary of War
 * Duane Benson, athlete
 * Shawn Bentler, murderer
 * Matt Bentley, wrestler
 * Christian Beranek, writer, actor, and producer
 * Leo Beranek, acoustician
 * Bill Bergan, coach
 * Eddie Berlin, athlete
 * Dan Bern, musician
 * S. Torriano Berry, film producer, writer, director
 * Jay Berwanger, football player
 * Stanley Biber, physician
 * Greg Biekert, football player
 * Leo Binz, § Roman Catholic archbishop
 * Joe Bisenius, athlete
 * Richard Pike Bissell, author
 * Nate Bjorkgren, basketball coach
 * Black Hawk, § Native American chief
 * Casey Blake, baseball player
 * Gordon Blake, military general
 * Donald G. Bloesch, theologian
 * Isabel Bloom, artist
 * Scott Bloomquist, auto racer
 * Mike Blouin, politician
 * Lisa Bluder, coach
 * Mike Boddicker, baseball player
 * Bill Bogaard, politician
 * Tommy Bolin, musician
 * Norman Borlaug, agricultural scientist and Nobel Laureate
 * Rob Borsellino, writer
 * Ryan Bowen, athlete
 * Thomas M. Bowen, politician
 * Charles Bowers, cartoonist and comic actor
 * Lara Flynn Boyle, actress
 * Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd, author
 * Neville Brand, actor
 * Terry E. Branstad, politician
 * Aaron Brant, athlete
 * Charles Wesley Brashares, Methodist bishop
 * Titus Bronson, founder of Kalamazoo, Michigan
 * Greg Brown, folk musician
 * Mace Brown, athlete
 * Shannon Brown, country music singer
 * Bruce Brubaker, pianist, record producer
 * Rob Bruggeman, athlete
 * Bill Bryson, author
 * Matt Bullard, athlete
 * Ambrose Burke, priest, college president
 * Jerry Burke, musician
 * Tim Burke, football coach
 * Joseph A. A. Burnquist, politician
 * Martin Burns, athlete
 * Jim Burt, sportscaster
 * Marion LeRoy Burton, college president
 * Harlan J. Bushfield, politician
 * Mike Butcher, baseball player
 * Frank M. Byrne, politician
 * Robert Byrne, author

C

 * Samuel Calvin, geologist
 * Branden Campbell, bassist for Neon Trees
 * Donald L. Campbell, chemist
 * Marjorie Cameron, actress and occultist
 * Macdonald Carey, actor
 * Chris Carney, politician
 * Wallace Carothers, chemist
 * Allan Carpenter, author
 * Sabin Carr, athlete
 * Tommy Carroll, criminal
 * Johnny Carson, television personality
 * Jordan Carstens, athlete
 * Louise Carver, actress
 * Thomas Nixon Carver, economics professor
 * Frank T. Cary, businessman
 * Landon Cassill, auto racer
 * Carrie Chapman Catt, suffragette
 * Thomas Cech, chemist and Nobel Laureate
 * Matt Chatham, football player
 * The Cherry Sisters, vaudevillians
 * Norton P. Chipman, politician, judge
 * Tom Churchill, broadcaster
 * Bernard A. Clarey, admiral
 * Dallas Clark, § football player
 * Laurel Blair Salton Clark, astronaut
 * Rush Clark, politician
 * Fred Clarke, baseball Hall of Famer
 * Frederick G. Clausen, architect
 * Jeff Clement, athlete
 * Ron Clements, director and producer
 * Scott Clemmensen, athlete
 * Buffalo Bill Cody, Wild West showman
 * Samuel Cody, aviator
 * Harris Coggeshall, athlete
 * Danielle Colby
 * King Cole, athlete
 * Chris Collins, hockey player
 * Max Allan Collins, mystery writer
 * Stephen Collins, actor
 * Nick Collison, basketball player
 * John W. Colloton, healthcare executive
 * Steven Colloton, federal judge
 * Martin Cone, college president
 * Edwin H. Conger, diplomat
 * Maurice Connolly, politician
 * Paul Conrad, political cartoonist
 * Ed Conroy, athlete
 * George Cram Cook, author
 * Jack Coombs, athlete
 * Eric Cooper, baseball umpire
 * Barclay and Edwin Coppock, followers of John Brown
 * Frank Cordaro, activist
 * Sarah Corpstein, beauty queen
 * John M. Corse, Army general
 * Ernie Courtney, athlete
 * Paul Coverdell, politician
 * Thomas Jefferson Cowie, admiral
 * Shawn Crahan, musician
 * Roger Craig, football player
 * Joe Crail, politician
 * Coe I. Crawford, politician
 * Francis X. Cretzmeyer, coach
 * Jim Crotty, athlete
 * Julee Cruise, singer and actress
 * Frank Cuhel, athlete
 * Mariclare Culver, political figure
 * Henry J. B. Cummings, politician
 * Billy Cundiff, athlete
 * Jack Cunningham, screenwriter
 * Samuel Curtis, military officer, politician

D

 * Janet Dailey, author
 * Bill Daily, actor
 * Dick Dale, musician
 * Muriel Frances Dana, actress
 * Jack Daniels, politician
 * Diane D'Aquila, actress
 * Sarah Darling, musician
 * Geof Darrow, artist
 * Dana Davis, actress
 * Barry Davis, athlete)
 * Rebecca Fjelland Davis, author
 * Stuart Davis, musician
 * Laura Dawn, activist, singer-songwriter, director/producer
 * Bud Day, war hero
 * Walter Day, businessman
 * Darren Daye, athlete
 * Lee De Forest, inventor
 * Jordan De Jong, athlete
 * Henry Clay Dean, preacher, lawyer
 * Don DeFore, actor
 * W. Edwards Deming, statistician
 * Don Denkinger, baseball umpire
 * Dave Despain, sports journalist
 * Aubrey Devine, athlete
 * Lester J. Dickinson, politician
 * Justin Diercks, auto racer
 * Charles Hall Dillon, politician, judge
 * Thomas Disch, author
 * James Dixon, orchestra conductor
 * David M. Dobson, game creator
 * Claire Dodd, actress
 * Grenville M. Dodge, railroad executive
 * Ralph Edward Dodge, religious leader
 * Angela Dohrmann, actress
 * Ellen Dolan, actress
 * Steve Doocy, television journalist
 * Russell S. Doughten, filmmaker
 * Nicholas Downs, actor
 * Joel Dreessen, football player
 * Leanna Field Driftmier, radio personality
 * Bobby Driscoll, actor
 * Fred Duesenberg, automobile manufacturer
 * Randy Duncan, football player
 * Francis John Dunn, religious leader
 * Lloyd Dunn
 * Samuel Grace Dunn, journalist
 * Kenneth W. Durant, decorated sailor
 * John Durbin, actor
 * Tim Dwight, football player

E

 * Morgan Earp, Wild West lawman
 * Warren Earp, brother of Wyatt Earp
 * Abastenia St. Leger Eberle, sculptor
 * Zales Ecton, politician
 * Paul Eells, sportscaster
 * Mamie Eisenhower, former First Lady of the United States
 * Cal Eldred, athlete
 * Jane Elliott, schoolteacher and activist
 * James Ellison, actor
 * Eugene Burton Ely, aviator
 * Hope Emerson, actress
 * Michael Emerson, actor
 * Femi Emiola, actress
 * Norman A. Erbe, politician
 * Jane Espenson, TV producer and writer
 * Simon Estes, opera singer
 * Linda Evans, political activist
 * Frank F. Everest, general
 * Barton Warren Evermann, ichthyologist

F

 * Urban Clarence "Red" Faber, baseball player
 * Tom Fadden, actor
 * Carole Farley, soprano singer
 * Art Farmer, jazz musician
 * Sharon Farrell, actress
 * Terry Farrell, actress
 * James Fee, photographer
 * Victor Feguer, convicted murderer
 * Chris Fehn, musician
 * Margaret Feldner, university president
 * Bob Feller, baseball player
 * James Ferentz, football player
 * Jeremy Ferguson. musician
 * Al Feuerbach, track and field athlete
 * Romaine Fielding, actor
 * Margarita Fischer, actress
 * Matt Fish, basketball player
 * Freddie Fisher, musician
 * Bill Fitch, basketball coach
 * Joseph Fitz, naval veteran
 * Bridget Flanery, actress
 * John Flannagan, priest
 * Jack Fleck, golfer
 * Frank Jack Fletcher, admiral
 * Robert Fletcher, costume designer
 * Rich Folkers, baseball player
 * Bradbury Foote, screenwriter
 * Ben Foster, actor
 * Jon Foster, musician
 * Judith Ellen Foster, lawyer
 * Farrah Franklin, singer
 * William Frawley, actor
 * John T. Frederick, scholar
 * Tanna Frederick, actress
 * Joan Freeman, actress
 * Bruce French, actor
 * George B. French, actor
 * Joe Frisco, vaudeville performer
 * Virgil Frye, actor, boxer

G

 * Dan Gable, wrestler, coach
 * Jetseta Gage, kidnap victim
 * Robert Gallery, football player
 * George Horace Gallup, founder of Gallup Poll
 * Viola Garfield, anthropologist
 * Jim Garrison, lawyer, judge
 * David Garst, farmer, seed manufacturer
 * Roswell Garst, farmer, seed manufacturer
 * Michael Gartner, journalist
 * Harry Gaspar, baseball player
 * James Lorraine Geddes, soldier
 * John Getz, actor
 * Dick Gibbs, basketball player
 * Edward H. Gillette, politician
 * Owen Gingerich, astronomer
 * Annabeth Gish, actress
 * Salvatore Giunta, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient
 * Fred Glade, baseball player
 * Susan Glaspell, playwright
 * Dan Goldie, tennis player
 * Johnny Gosch, kidnap victim
 * Frank Gotch, wrestler
 * Al Gould, baseball player
 * Rick Graf, football player
 * Fred Grandy, actor, politician
 * Chuck Grassley, Iowa senator
 * Paul Gray, musician
 * Dick Green, baseball player
 * George Greene, Supreme Court justice
 * Edna Griffin, civil rights activist
 * James W. Grimes, Iowa governor and senator
 * Dan Grimm, football player
 * Harold R. Gross, politician
 * Danai Gurira, actress
 * Janet Guthrie, auto racer

H

 * Charlie Haden, musician
 * Mike Haight, football player
 * Leslie Hall, rapper
 * Jack Halloran, composer
 * Scot Halpin, musician
 * Halston, fashion designer
 * Adam Haluska, basketball player
 * Jack Hamilton, baseball player
 * Milo Hamilton, baseball broadcaster
 * Edward Hammatt, architect
 * Ryan Hannam, football player
 * Joel Hanrahan, baseball player
 * Bob Hansen, basketball player
 * James Hansen, professor
 * Juanita Hansen, actress
 * Niels Ebbesen Hansen, botanist
 * Robert Hansen, convicted murderer
 * Haldor Johan Hanson, hymn composer
 * William L. Harding, former governor of Iowa
 * Tom Harkin, Iowa senator
 * Bob Harlan, pro football executive
 * James Harlan, politician
 * Graham Harman, professor
 * Hill Harper, actor
 * Frank Hatton, politician
 * Tim Hauff Jazz Musician
 * Eva Lund Haugen, author
 * James H. Hawley, Idaho politician
 * Merle Hay, World War I soldier
 * Frank Hayes, unionist
 * Peter Hedges, writer
 * Alan J. Heeger, Nobel Prize laureate in chemistry
 * Jeremy Hellickson, baseball player
 * Stephen P. Hempstead, former governor of Iowa
 * John Hench, associate of Walt Disney
 * David B. Henderson, politician, Speaker of the House
 * Dorothy Hennessey, nun, activist
 * Gwen Hennessey, nun, activist
 * John Hennessy, religious leader
 * Chad Hennings, football player
 * William Peters Hepburn, Civil War officer, politician
 * Francis J. Herron, Civil War general
 * Daniel Hess, inventor
 * Phil Hester, comic book artist
 * James C. Hickman, actuary
 * David Anthony Higgins, actor
 * Steve Higgins, writer, comedian, actor, and announcer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
 * Harriet Hilliard, actress
 * David C. Hilmers, astronaut
 * A. J. Hinch, baseball player, manager
 * Kirk Hinrich, basketball player
 * Herbert E. Hitchcock, South Dakota politician
 * J.B.E. Hittle, Decorated Intelligence Officer, author and writer.
 * Tami Hoag, novelist
 * Terry Hoage, football player
 * Thomas M. Hoenig, financier
 * Bill Hoffer, baseball player
 * Fred Hoiberg, basketball player, coach
 * Judd Holdren, actor
 * Ducky Holmes, baseball player
 * Elmer G. Homrighausen, theologian
 * Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States
 * Lou Henry Hoover, First Lady
 * Harry Hopkins, presidential adviser
 * Frank O. Horton, politician
 * Ralph Houser, U.S. Marines officer
 * Anne Marie Howard, actress
 * Austin Howard, football player
 * Walter Howey, journalist
 * Jerome Clarke Hunsaker, zeppelin authority
 * Mary Beth Hurt, actress
 * Toby Huss, actor
 * Dick Hutcherson, auto racer
 * Libbie Hyman, zoologist

I

 * Jim Inhofe, politician
 * Inkpaduta, Native American chief
 * Arnold J. Isbell, aviator

J



 * Jacob Jaacks, basketball player
 * Fred Jackman, cinematographer
 * Selmer Jackson, actor
 * Kip Janvrin, athlete
 * N. K. Jemisin, science fiction/fantasy author
 * Frank Jenks, actor
 * Dan Jennings, baseball player
 * Roger Jepsen, politician
 * Jake Johannsen, comedian
 * Donald Johanos, symphony conductor
 * Bryce Johnson, actor
 * Dorothy M. Johnson, author
 * Edwin S. Johnson, politician
 * Georgann Johnson, actress
 * Nicholas Johnson, FCC commissioner
 * Royal C. Johnson, politician
 * Shawn Johnson, gymnast
 * Zach Johnson, golfer
 * Peter Jok, § basketball player
 * Craig Jones, musician
 * George Wallace Jones
 * Gordon Jones, actor
 * James Jones, football player
 * Lolo Jones, athlete
 * Kathryn Joosten, actress
 * Joey Jordison, musician
 * Duane Josephson, baseball player
 * Patty Judge, politician
 * Jerry Junkins, CEO of Texas Instruments

K

 * Nate Kaeding, football placekicker
 * Danielle Kahle, figure skater
 * Aaron Kampman, football player
 * MacKinlay Kantor, journalist, author
 * Gail Karp, cantor
 * Bradley Kasal, decorated U.S. Marine
 * John A. Kasson, politician
 * Hazel Keener, actress
 * James M. Kelly, astronaut
 * Percy R. Kelly, judge
 * Keokuk, Sauk chief
 * John H. Kemble, professor
 * Charles Reuben Keyes, archaeologist
 * Charles Rollin Keyes, geologist
 * Hugh Kidder, decorated U.S. Marine
 * Kerry Killinger, banker
 * Angela Jia Kim, classical pianist
 * Mitch King, football player
 * Rebecca Ann King, 1974 Miss America
 * Steve King, politician
 * Dallas Kinney, journalist
 * Nile Kinnick, football player
 * James T. Kirk, fictional character
 * Samuel J. Kirkwood, § governor, senator, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
 * Philip J. Klass, UFO researcher
 * Stephen Kline, artist
 * Bradford Knapp, university president
 * Corina Knoll, journalist
 * Ruth Kobart, performer
 * Matt Koch, baseball player
 * Bonnie Koloc, singer
 * Jon Koncak, basketball player
 * Ted Kooser, poet
 * Dan Koppen, football player
 * Kyle Korver, basketball player
 * Joseph Kosinski, commercial director
 * Mitch Krebs, television journalist
 * Gary Kroeger, actor
 * Josh Kroeger, baseball player
 * Matt Kroul, football player
 * Ashton Kutcher, actor

L

 * Jerry Lacy, actor
 * Perry Lafferty, television producer
 * Doug La Follette, politician
 * Raef LaFrentz, basketball player
 * Roswell Lamson, Civil War officer
 * Ann Landers, advice columnist
 * The Lane Sisters, singers, actresses
 * Harry Langdon, comedian
 * Frank Lanning, actor
 * Jeff Larish, baseball player
 * Patty Larkin, singer
 * Mauricio Lasansky, graphic artist
 * Tomas Lasansky, visual artist
 * Joe Laws, basketball player
 * Elmer Layden, football player, coach
 * Jim Leach, politician
 * Cloris Leachman, actress
 * Frederick Leadbetter, financier
 * William Daniel Leahy, naval officer
 * William P. Leahy, university president
 * Frances Lee, actress
 * Laura Leighton, actress
 * Josh Lenz, football player
 * Aldo Leopold, environmentalist
 * Amy Leslie, opera singer
 * Alexander Levi, religious leader
 * Jack Lewis, screenwriter
 * John Lewis, labor leader
 * Jon Lieber, baseball player
 * Thurlow Lieurance, composer
 * Joe Lillard, athlete
 * Edward Lindberg, athlete
 * Everett Franklin Lindquist, educator
 * Everett Lindsay, football player
 * Margaret Lindsay, actress
 * Ron Livingston, actor
 * Bob Locker, baseball player
 * Al Lohman, radio personality
 * Babe London, comedian
 * Chuck Long, football player, coach
 * Nia Long, § actress
 * Mathias Loras, religious leader
 * Tyler Lorenzen, football player
 * Kevin Love, auto racer
 * Phyllis Love, actress
 * Herschel C. Loveless, governor
 * Robert Lucas, politician
 * Larry Lujack, radio personality
 * Tiny Lund, auto racer
 * Mike Lynch, cartoonist
 * Raymond J. Lynch, judge
 * Emmett Lynn, actor
 * Sue Lyon, actress

M

 * Larry Mac Duff, football coach
 * Archer MacMackin, film director
 * Hanford MacNider, diplomat, U.S. Army general
 * Cletus Madsen, religious leader
 * Joe Magrane, baseball player
 * Maryann Mahaffey, politician
 * Ryan Mahaffey, football player
 * Mahaska, Native American chief
 * Dennis Mahony, 19th-century journalist
 * Anna Malle, § adult film actress
 * Arabella Mansfield, lawyer
 * Stuart Margolin, actor
 * Beth Marion, actress
 * Glenn Martin, aviator
 * Bernard Masterson, athlete
 * Jerry Mathers, actor
 * James Matheson, composer
 * David Maxwell, university president
 * Elsa Maxwell, columnist
 * Marilyn Maxwell, actress
 * Jesse May, poker professional
 * Wiley Mayne, politician
 * F. L. Maytag, founder of Maytag corporation
 * Rita McBride, sculptor
 * C. W. McCall, singer and politician
 * Dan McCarney, football coach
 * The McCaughey septuplets
 * Tim McClelland, baseball umpire
 * Al McCoy, announcer
 * Greg McDermott, basketball coach
 * William John McGee, geologist
 * George McGill, politician
 * Charles McGraw, actor
 * Keli McGregor, baseball executive
 * Pat McLaughlin, singer
 * Sean McLaughlin, meteorologist
 * William H. McMaster, former governor of South Dakota
 * Cal McVey, baseball player
 * Stu Mead, painter
 * Carl Meinberg, priest
 * John Melcher, former senator of Montana
 * Michael Joseph Melloy, judge
 * Denis Menke, baseball player
 * Sebastian Menke, priest
 * William Menster, priest
 * Iris Meredith, actress
 * Frank Merriam, former governor of California
 * Russel Merrill, aviator
 * Samuel Merrill, former governor of Iowa
 * Nancy Metcalf, volleyball player
 * Bernard F. Meyer, missionary
 * Loren Meyer, basketball player
 * Julia Michaels, singer-songwriter
 * Brandon Middleton, football player
 * Hugh Millen, football player
 * Glenn Miller, musician, bandleader, World War II officer
 * Samuel Freeman Miller, Supreme Court justice
 * Robert Millikan, physicist
 * Jason Momoa, § actor
 * Ted Monachino, football coach
 * Michelle Monaghan, actress
 * Jordan Monroe, model
 * Constance Moore, actress
 * Frank A. Moore, judge
 * Hap Moran, football player
 * Peggy Moran, actress
 * Karen Morley, actress
 * Carol Morris, Miss Universe 1956
 * Mike Morris, football player
 * Phil Morris, actor
 * Allie Morrison, wrestler
 * Karen Morrow, actress
 * John Mosher, Jazz Musician and composer
 * Michael Mosley, actor
 * Dow Mossman, writer
 * John Mott, YMCA leader, Nobel Prize winner
 * Marvin Mottet, priest
 * Kate Mulgrew, actress
 * Richard L. Murphy, former Iowa senator
 * Charles Murray, political scientist
 * Brandon Myers, football player
 * Virginia A. Myers, inventor

N



 * Nancy Naeve, television journalist
 * Conrad Nagel, actor
 * Neapope, Sauk leader
 * Sharon Needles, drag performer
 * Brad Nelson, baseball player
 * George Nelson, NASA astronaut
 * Harriet Nelson, actress, television personality
 * Larry Nemmers, football official
 * Carman A. Newcomb, politician
 * Jim Nicholson, politician
 * Bruce Nissen, professor
 * Ken Nordine, voice-over artist
 * Lance Norris, actor
 * Bill Northey, politician
 * Robert Noyce, inventor
 * Michael Nunn, boxer
 * Nick Nurse, basketball head coach

O

 * Randi Oakes, actress, fashion model
 * Dick Oatts, musician
 * Wes Obermueller, baseball player
 * Patrick O'Bryant, basketball player
 * Brian O'Connor, § baseball coach
 * Dennis O'Keefe, actor
 * Gerald Francis O'Keefe, religious leader
 * Bob Oldis, baseball player, coach, scout
 * George Olmsted, military officer
 * Eric Christian Olsen, actor
 * Zoe Ann Olsen-Jensen, Olympic diver
 * James Bradley Orman, former governor of Colorado
 * Kay A. Orr, former governor of Nebraska
 * Kyle Orton, football player
 * Charles Osborne, "hiccup" man
 * Vivienne Osborne, actress
 * Beverley Owen, actress

P

 * Clyde E. Palmer, media executive
 * Daniel David Palmer, chiropractic medicine pioneer
 * Francis W. Palmer, publisher
 * Rose Marie Pangborn, scientist
 * Oran H. Pape, law enforcement officer
 * Ralph Parcaut, wrestler
 * Sara Paretsky, novelist
 * Charles Fox Parham, evangelist
 * Anthony Parker, basketball player
 * Clair Cameron Patterson, geochemist
 * Neva Patterson, actress
 * Allen E. Paulson, thoroughbred breeder
 * Bryce Paup, football player
 * Claude Payton, actor
 * Maria Pearson, Dakota activist
 * Sally Pederson, former lieutenant governor
 * Paul Peek, politician
 * Mary Beth Peil, actress
 * Nat Pendleton, athlete, actor
 * Arthur D. Pennington, baseball player
 * Tom Pepper, computer programmer
 * Edwin Perkins, inventor
 * Roger Perry, actor
 * Pete Peterson, combat pilot, ambassador
 * Roger Peterson, pilot
 * Joseph M. Petrick, screenwriter
 * Lori Petty, actress
 * James Philbrook, actor
 * John Robinson Pierce, engineer
 * Mark Pinter, actor
 * Chris Pirillo, video host, blogger
 * Ed Podolak, football player
 * Carl Pohlad, financier, Minnesota Twins owner
 * George Pomutz, Civil War general
 * Maddie Poppe, musician and winner of American Idol season 16
 * Scott Pose, baseball player
 * Gordon Prange, historian
 * Beatrice Prentice, actress
 * Hiram Price, railroad president, politician
 * Tom Price, judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, born in Des Moines in 1945
 * Richard Proenneke, naturalist
 * Stanley Prusiner, neurologist, biochemist
 * Tom Purtzer, golfer
 * Nathan M. Pusey, educator

Q

 * Quashquame, Sauk chief
 * John Herbert Quick, author
 * Howard 'Howdy' Quicksell, musician
 * Linnea Quigley, actress

R

 * David Rabe, playwright
 * Frances Rafferty, actress
 * Max Rafferty, writer, politician
 * John F. Rague, architect
 * Randy Rahe, basketball coach
 * Josh Rand, musician
 * Robert D. Ray, governor of Iowa (1969–1983) who served several consecutive terms
 * Harry Reasoner, television journalist
 * David Reed, football player
 * Donna Reed, actress
 * Dani Reeves, Miss Iowa 2007
 * George Reeves, actor
 * Allen Reisner, football player
 * George C. Remey, Civil War admiral
 * Walter E. Reno, World War II naval officer
 * Kevin Rhomberg, baseball player
 * Alfred C. Richmond, admiral
 * Doug Riesenberg, football player
 * William H. Riker, political scientist
 * Bill Riley, Sr., entertainer
 * Chad Rinehart, football player
 * The Ringling brothers, circus moguls
 * Clifford Roberts, chairman of Masters golf tournament
 * James B. A. Robertson, judge, Governor of Oklahoma
 * Billy Robinson, aviator
 * Shawna Robinson, auto racer
 * Reggie Roby, football player
 * Otto Frederick Rohwedder, inventor
 * Seth Rollins, WWE wrestler
 * Christine Romans, television journalist
 * James Root, musician
 * Raymond Roseliep, poet
 * Sage Rosenfels, football player
 * Joseph Rosenfield, lawyer
 * Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Civil War general, governor of Texas
 * Brandon Routh, actor
 * Coleen Rowley, FBI agent, politician
 * J. Craig Ruby, basketball coach
 * Nate Ruess, singer
 * Alexander Rummler, painter
 * Nicholas J. Rusch, Civil War officer, politician
 * Arthur Russell, musician
 * Charles Edward Russell, journalist
 * Lillian Russell, actress
 * Paul Rust, comedian
 * George Ryan, former governor of Illinois

S

 * George Saling, athlete
 * Mark Salter, political speechwriter
 * Josh Samman, mixed martial artist
 * Ezekiel S. Sampson, Civil War officer, politician
 * Cael Sanderson, wrestler and coach
 * Tyler Sash, football player
 * Sauganash, fur trader
 * A. J. Schable, football player
 * Daniel Schaefer, politician
 * Peter Schickele, parodist
 * Ron Schipper, football coach
 * Aloysius Schmitt, Navy chaplain
 * Ernest B. Schoedsack, filmmaker
 * Robert H. Schuller, religious leader
 * Aloysius Schulte, college president
 * Dick Schultz, NCAA and US Olympic Committee executive
 * Jean Seberg, actress
 * Brad Seely, football coach
 * Edward Robert Sellstrom, pilot
 * Phil Shafer, auto racer
 * William Shannahan, wrestler
 * Kenny Shedd, football player
 * Kate Shelley, railroad official
 * Gene Sherman, sportscaster
 * Randy Shilts, journalist
 * Paul Shorey, scholar
 * Chuck Shramek, astronomer
 * Loren Shriver, astronaut
 * Lee Paul Sieg, university president
 * Hal Skelly, actor
 * Brian Smith, photographer
 * Gerald W. Smith, author
 * Hiram Y. Smith, politician
 * Jerry Smith, golfer
 * Mary Louise Smith, politician
 * Neal Smith, politician
 * Riley Smith, actor
 * Virginia Smith, politician
 * Warren Allen Smith, gay rights advocate
 * Clement Smyth, religious leader
 * William Smyth, politician
 * Neta Snook, aviator
 * Jamie Solinger, Miss Teen USA
 * Harvey Sollberger, composer
 * Phyllis Somerville, actress
 * Hartzell Spence, military journalist
 * Tracie Spencer, singer
 * Kirk Speraw, basketball coach
 * Darren Sproles, football player
 * Josh Stamer, football player
 * Edwin O. Stanard, politician
 * Denise Stapley, Survivor champion, therapist
 * William G. Steiner, child advocate
 * Mark Steines, television personality
 * Keith H. Steinkraus, food scientist
 * Frank Steunenberg, Idaho governor
 * Bill Stewart, jazz musician
 * George F. Stewart, food scientist
 * Kiah Stokes, basketball player
 * George Stone (1876–1945), Major League Baseball left fielder; 1906 American League batting champion
 * Ramo Stott, auto racer
 * Terry Stotts, basketball coach
 * George L. Stout, art historian, "Monuments Man"
 * Russell Stover, candy manufacturer
 * Alvin Straight, lawn-mower rider
 * Chris Street, basketball player
 * Jeff Streeter, auto racer
 * Stephen Stucker, actor
 * Bob Stull, football player
 * Scott Swisher, legislator
 * The Sullivan Brothers, combat veterans
 * Billy Sunday, baseball player, evangelist
 * Roderick Dhu Sutherland, politician
 * Al Swearengen, Wild West saloonkeeper
 * Ryan Sweeney, baseball player
 * Quinn Sypniewski, football player
 * Brett Szabo, basketball player

T

 * Joseph Taggart, politician
 * Taimah, Native American chief
 * Michael Talbott, actor
 * Kevin Tapani, baseball player
 * Lawrie Tatum, U.S. "Indian Agent"
 * Corey Taylor, musician
 * Morgan Taylor, athlete
 * Richard R. Taylor, Surgeon-General of the U.S. Army
 * Sara Taylor, political public-relations professional
 * Ashley Tesoro, actress, singer
 * Kenneth W. Thompson, academic
 * Sada Thompson, actress
 * William Thompson, politician
 * William George Thompson, politician
 * Mick Thomson, musician
 * Adam Timmerman, football player
 * Matt Tobin, football player
 * John Tomkins, criminal
 * William Tubby, architect

U

 * James Ulmer, journalist
 * Jarrod Uthoff, basketball player
 * Sarah Utterback, actress

V

 * Mike Van Arsdale, wrestler
 * James Van Allen, scientist
 * Dennis Van Roekel, labor leader
 * Carl Van Vechten, writer, photographer
 * Kyle Vanden Bosch, athlete
 * Bob Vander Plaats, politician, activist
 * Julian Vandervelde, athlete
 * William Vandever, politician
 * Oswald Veblen, mathematician
 * Ross Verba, athlete
 * Michelle Vieth, actress
 * Phil Vischer, animator
 * Krista Voda, sportscaster
 * Nedra Volz, actress

W

 * Michael Wacha, baseball player
 * John Henry Waddell, painter and sculptor
 * Hynden Walch, actress
 * Nellie Walker, sculptor
 * Joseph Frazier Wall, historian
 * Henry A. Wallace, politician and presidential candidate
 * Marcia Wallace, actress
 * Will Walling, actor
 * Adam Walsh, athlete and coach
 * Chile Walsh, football player, coach, and executive
 * Mark Walter, financier, chairman of Los Angeles Dodgers
 * Rick Wanamaker, athlete
 * Brian Wansink, scientist and professor
 * Dedric Ward, football player, coach
 * Everett Warner, painter and printmaker
 * Kurt Warner, athlete
 * Fitz Henry Warren, politician, Civil War general
 * Kiersten Warren, actress
 * Pierre Watkin, actor
 * Watseka, Native Iowan
 * James F. Watson, judge
 * Tony Watson, athlete
 * John Wayne, actor
 * James B. Weaver, politician
 * Randy Weaver, survivalist involved in Ruby Ridge incident
 * Irving Weber, businessman
 * Joseph Welch, attorney
 * Elmarie Wendel, actress
 * Susan Werner, singer-songwriter
 * Emily West, singer-songwriter
 * Brooks Wheelan, actor, comedian
 * Matthew Whitaker, district attorney
 * John White, labor leader, president of the United Mine Workers
 * Jim Whitesell, basketball coach
 * Peggy Whitson, astronaut, scientist
 * Casey Wiegmann, athlete
 * Doreen Wilber, athlete
 * Tom Wilkinson, athlete
 * Andy Williams, singer
 * Gregory Alan Williams, actor, author
 * Roy Lee Williams, labor leader
 * William Appleman Williams, historian
 * William Williamson, politician
 * Meredith Willson, composer
 * James Falconer Wilson, politician
 * JoAnn Wilson, murdered wife of Canadian politician
 * Mortimer Wilson, composer
 * Sid Wilson, disc jockey
 * Wally Wingert, actor
 * Charles E. Winter, politician
 * Sidney G. Winter, economist
 * Johannes B. Wist, journalist, editor
 * William P. Wolf, politician
 * Elijah Wood, actor
 * Grant Wood, painter
 * Joey Woody, athlete
 * Hank Worden, actor
 * Carleton H. Wright, U.S. Navy Admiral
 * Frank Wykoff, athlete

Y

 * Marshal Yanda, athlete
 * Harry E. Yarnell, U.S. Navy Admiral
 * David Yost, actor and producer
 * Ed Yost, inventor
 * Nancy Youngblut, actor

Z

 * Luke Zeller, basketball player
 * Maurice Zimm, writer for screen and radio
 * Larry Zox, painter and printmaker