List of people from Oklahoma City
Appearance
(Redirected from List of famous Oklahoma City Area Citizens)
The following is a list of notable people who were born, raised or lived in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This list should not include professional and college athletes who played in Oklahoma City unless they are originally from there.
Notable people from the state of Oklahoma, but not Oklahoma City or its suburbs, should go in the page titled "List of people from Oklahoma."
People by field
[edit]Athletics
[edit]Basketball
[edit]- Clay Bennett, owner of the NBA Oklahoma City Thunder franchise[1]
- Antoine Carr, retired basketball player[2]
- Blake Griffin, NBA player for the Boston Celtics
- Xavier Henry, former NBA guard
- Alvan Adams, former NBA player for the Phoenix Suns
Baseball
[edit]- Johnny Bench, Cincinnati Reds catcher, Baseball Hall of Fame[3][4]
- Mike Brumley, former MLB player
- Joe Carter, MLB outfielder, five-time All-Star[5]
- Don Demeter, former MLB outfielder
- Michael Fulmer, MLB pitcher, Detroit Tigers
- Andrew Heaney, MLB baseball player, Los Angeles Angels
- Bobby Murcer, New York Yankees outfielder, five-time All-Star[6]
- Allie Reynolds, former MLB player, six-time World Series Champion as pitcher with the New York Yankees
- Bullet Rogan, former baseball player in the Negro leagues
- Jeff Suppan, former MLB baseball player
- Mickey Tettleton, former MLB baseball player
- Jamey Wright, former MLB baseball player
Hockey
[edit]- Tyler Arnason, hockey player, Colorado Avalanche[7]
- Matt Donovan, hockey player, drafted in 2008 NHL Draft by the New York Islanders[8]
- Jon Merrill, hockey player, drafted in 2010 NHL Draft by New Jersey Devils;[9] selected in the 2017 expansion draft by the Vegas Golden Knights[10]
- Dan Woodley, retired hockey player, drafted 7th overall in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks
Football
[edit]- Dan Bailey (American football), NFL kicker currently playing for the Minnesota Vikings
- Cameron Batson, NFL wide receiver and return specialist for the Atlanta Falcons
- Sam Bradford, NFL player, Heisman Trophy winner[11]
- Mark J. Clayton, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver[12]
- Jimmy Edwards, Canadian Football League player[13]
- Karl Farmer, NFL wide receiver[14]
- Deji Karim, NFL football player with Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts
- Roger Kramer, Canadian Football League player
- Steve Largent, NFL wide receiver
- Alva Liles, NFL player[15]
- Gerald McCoy, NFL player[16]
- Lee Morris, Green Bay Packers wide receiver[17]
- Steve Owens, 1969 Heisman Trophy winner[18]
- Tinker Owens, former NFL football player
- Barry Switzer, national championship and Super Bowl-winning football coach[19]
- Brandon Weeden, NFL football player with the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys
- Wes Welker, Denver Broncos wide receiver[20]
- Jason White, 2003 Heisman Trophy winner
Golf
[edit]- Bob Tway, 1986 PGA champion[21]
- Kevin Tway, professional golfer
Boxing
[edit]- Sean O'Grady, World Boxing Association Lightweight Champion[22]
Other sports
[edit]- Jeff Bennett, track and field coach at Oklahoma Christian University; placed 4th in 1972 Olympics decathlon
- Louise Brough, Hall of Fame tennis player, winner of six Grand Slam championships
- Shane Hamman, Olympic weightlifter, 2000, 2004[23]
- Norman Hitchcock, pool and billiards player
- Mat Hoffman, world record holder BMX Rider[24][25]
- Hayden W. Lingo, Hall of Fame player of the billiards game "One Pocket"
- Jon-Paul Pittman, professional football player for Wycombe Wanderers[26]
- Jim Ross, professional wrestling commentator[27]
- Wayne Wells, Olympic gold medalist and World Champion in freestyle wrestling, first ever Nike signature athlete[28]
- Bill Watts, professional wrestler and promoter
Business people
[edit]- Clay Bennett, Oklahoma City Thunder owner[29]
- Edward L. Gaylord, owner of Grand Ole Opry and The Oklahoman[30]
- Alan C. Greenberg, Wall Street financier[31]
- Harold Hamm, oil billionaire[32]
- Aubrey McClendon, former CEO of Chesapeake Energy[33]
- J. Larry Nichols, CEO of Devon Energy[34]
- Chad Richison, founder, CEO and chairmanchairman of Paycom[35]
- Tom L. Ward, chairman and CEO at SandRidge Energy; co-founder of Chesapeake Energy
Humanities
[edit]Dance
[edit]Directors and filmmakers
[edit]- Gray Frederickson, Academy Award-winning producer[37]
- Ron Howard, actor and director
- Ray William Johnson, vlogger known for the popular Equals Three videos[38]
- Carol Littleton, film editor
Actors and musicians
[edit]- Lexi Ainsworth, actress[39]
- Lizzie Freeman, actress
- Louise Allbritton, actress
- Suzy Amis, actress and model, most notable from film Titanic[40]
- George Back, actor Horrible Bosses, The Pool Boys
- Molly Bee, singer
- Henson Cargill, country singer
- Lon Chaney Jr., film actor[41]
- Don Cherry, jazz cornetist[42]
- Charlie Christian, musician, "father of the electric guitar"[43]
- Graham Colton, pop music artist[44]
- Mason Cook, actor[45]
- Wayne Coyne, lead singer of the band The Flaming Lips[46][47]
- Louise Currie, actress
- Robert deMaine, international classical cello virtuoso, composer, and teacher[48]
- Steven Drozd, musician in The Flaming Lips[49]
- Ronnie Claire Edwards, actress, most notable as Corabeth Godsey in The Waltons[50]
- The Flaming Lips, alternative rock band
- Gennifer Flowers, actress[51]
- Matthew Followill, lead guitarist for the band Kings of Leon
- Kay Francis, film actress[52]
- James Garner, actor
- Vince Gill, country singer[53]
- Chasen Hampton, actor and singer
- Hinder, alternative rock band
- Mark Holton, actor
- C.B. Hudson, rock guitarist
- Wanda Jackson, member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame[54]
- Kenneth Kilgore, musician
- Lauren Lane, actress, most notable as C.C. Babcock in The Nanny[55]
- Rex Linn, actor
- Stacey (Loach) Logan, theater singer and actor[56]
- Terry Manning, music producer, photographer
- Tisha Campbell Martin, television actress[57]
- Barry McGuire, singer-songwriter[58]
- Ryan Merriman, actor
- Megan Mullally, actress (moved to OKC at age 6)
- Olivia Munn, model, actress and television personality[59]
- Bonnie Owens, country singer
- Gayla Peevey, child singer ("I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas")[60]
- Dale Robertson, television actor[61]
- Neal Schon, guitarist of Journey[62]
- Smooth McGroove, musician known for a cappella covers of video game music[63]
- Stardeath and White Dwarfs, alternative rock band
- John Michael Talbot, monk and guitarist[64]
- Pamela Tiffin, actress[65]
- Katharine Mulky Warne, composer
- Sam Watters, recording artist, member of Color Me Badd
- Mason Williams, recording artist, "Classical Gas"[66]
- Austin Winkler, singer, musician, former member of Hinder
- Jeff Wood, country singer
- Gretchen Wyler, actress
Writers
[edit]- Ralph Ellison, novelist[67]
- Kimberly N. Foster, writer and cultural critic
- Louis L'Amour, western author
- Jason Nelson, pioneering digital poet and writer
- Jim Thompson, noir novelist and screenwriter
- M.R. Mathias, author
Visual artists
[edit]- Sharron Ahtone Harjo (born 1945), Kiowa painter, ledger artist, and educator
- Tahnee Ahtoneharjo-Growingthunder, Kiowa/Muscogee/Seminole[68]
- Petah Coyne, sculptor[69]
- Benjamin Harjo Jr. (born 1945), Seminole-Absentee Shawnee, painter
- Edgar Heap of Birds (born 1954), Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes installation artist, painter, conceptual artist
- Huda Kattan, CEO of Huda Beauty, makeup artist
- G. Patrick Riley, mask maker and art educator
- Edward Ruscha, painter[66][70]
- Richard Ray Whitman (born 1949), Yuchi-Muscogee Creek Nation photographer, painter, installation artist
News, commentary
[edit]- Skip Bayless, author, sports journalist and TV personality, ESPN First Take[71]
- Gary England, former chief meteorologist of KWTV-DT 1972–2013.
- Mike Morgan, chief meteorologist of KFOR-TV since 1993.
- Dan Fagin, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist[72]
- James J. Kilpatrick, journalist most famous for his regular segment on 60 Minutes
- Anthony Shadid, Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent for The New York Times
Political figures
[edit]- David Boren, former Governor and U.S. Senator
- Michael D. Brown, FEMA head during Hurricane Katrina
- David Dank, member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives 2007–2015
- Odilia Dank, former member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, 1995–2006
- Mickey Edwards, former Congressman
- Bryce Harlow, lobbyist and Eisenhower advisor
- David Holt, Mayor
- Ernest Istook, former Congressman
- Frank Keating, former Governor
- Robert S. Kerr, former Governor and U.S. Senator
- Jeane Kirkpatrick, Ambassador to the United Nations
- George Nigh, former Governor
- Russell M. Perry, former Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce
- Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator and 2020 Presidential candidate
- J.C. Watts, University of Oklahoma football player and former Congressman
- Mac Q. Williamson, former Attorney General of Oklahoma
Other
[edit]- Rick Bayless, celebrity chef[73]
- Jay Bernstein, Hollywood producer and manager
- Jennifer Berry, Miss America 2006[74]
- Sweet Brown, YouTube sensation of "Ain't Nobody Got Time For That"
- Gordon Cooper, astronaut[75]
- Mick Cornett, former Mayor of Oklahoma City; former television personality[76]
- Mary Fallin, Governor of Oklahoma since 2010; former congresswoman[77]
- Ray William Johnson, YouTuber, star of Equals 3 and lead singer of Your Favorite Martian
- Darci Lynne, Ventriloquist, winner of America's Got Talent, Season 12
- Owen Garriott, astronaut[75]
- Robert Harlan Henry, President of Oklahoma City University, former federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit[78]
- John Herrington, astronaut[79]
- Jerome Holmes, federal judge on U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit[80]
- Jane Anne Jayroe, Miss America 1967[74][81]
- Shibani Joshi, national television reporter
- Sante Kimes, American conwoman and serial killer [82]
- Shannon Lucid, astronaut[75]
- Clara Luper, civil rights activist
- Chelsea Manning, transgender U.S. Army former intelligence analyst convicted by court-martial for crimes related to the 2010 WikiLeaks scandal
- William A. Martin, computer scientist, artificial intelligence pioneer[83]
- Dr. Donna J. Nelson, University of Oklahoma Chemistry Professor, 2016 ACS President, and science advisor to Breaking Bad
- Lauren Nelson, Miss America 2007[74][84]
- Eugene Nida, linguist and translator[85]
- Carly Rae, radio personality at KJKE[86]
- William Reid Pogue, astronaut[75]
- Wiley Post, aviator
- Susan Powell, Miss America 1981, opera singer[74]
- Kevin Samuels, YouTuber
- Norma Smallwood, Miss America 1926[74]
- Shawntel Smith, Miss America 1996[74]
- Thomas P. Stafford, astronaut[87]
- Sallie Lewis Stephens Sturgeon, journalist, public health inspector, and social worker[88]
Non-native Oklahoma City residents
[edit]- Archbishop Emeritus Eusebius J. Beltran, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, former Bishop of Tulsa
- Andrew Black, 2023 James Beard Award winner, best chef southwest[89]
- Brian Bosworth, linebacker for the University of Oklahoma (1984–1986) and the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (1987–1989)
- Jacob Aldolphus Bryce (Delf A. 'Jelly' Bryce), was an Oklahoma City detective and FBI agent, who was an exceptional marksman and fast draw noted for his dress sense.[90]
- Paul and Thomas Braniff, Braniff Airlines co-founders
- Cattle Annie, or Anna Emmaline McDoulet Roach, female bandit, lived in Oklahoma City from 1912 until her death in 1978
- Greyson Chance, singer
- Kristin Chenoweth, actress and singer
- Mark J. Clayton, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver[12]
- Archbishop Paul Stagg Coakley, Incumbent, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, former Bishop of Salina, Kansas
- Walter Cronkite, CBS Evening News anchor
- Glen Day, professional golfer
- Amy Grant, Contemporary Christian artist
- Todd Hamilton, professional golfer, British Open Champion
- Ed Harris, actor
- Chris Harrison, host of ABC's The Bachelor
- Mary Hart, TV personality
- Anthony Kim, professional golfer
- Marian P. Opala, Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court and member of the Polish Underground in World War II
- Blessed Rev. Fr. Stanley Rother, from suburban Okarche, Oklahoma, 1st native-born U.S. citizen to be a martyr, and to be beatified in the U.S.
- Billy Sims, football player, 1978 Heisman Trophy winner
- Jerry Spann, United States Chess Federation president (1957–1960); FIDE vice-president
- Timothy Tau, writer, filmmaker and law professor
- Scott Verplank, professional golfer
- Hobart Johnstone Whitley, banker, treasurer for Chicago Rock Island & Texas Railroad 1892–1894
- Bud Wilkinson, OU football coach, broadcaster, College Football Hall of Fame
- "Dr. Death" Steve Williams, WWE champion wrestler; two-time All-American football player; four-time All-American wrestler at OU
- Willie Wood, professional golfer
U.S. service members
[edit]- Admiral William J. Crowe (USN), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
References
[edit]- ^ "Clayton Bennett". NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
- ^ "Antoine Carr". Basketball-Reference.Com. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
- ^ "Johnny Bench Biography". Archived from the original on September 16, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
- ^ "Johnny Lee Bench". Baseball-Reference.Com. Retrieved November 23, 2012.
- ^ "Joe Carter Baseball Stats". Retrieved September 19, 2008.
- ^ Clifford Blau. "The Baseball Biography Project". SABR. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
- ^ "Tyler Arnason's hockey statistics". Retrieved September 20, 2008.
- ^ Rosen, Dan (April 3, 2012). "Oklahoma native Donovan set to make NHL history". National Hockey League. Retrieved February 2, 2015.
- ^ "Jon Merrill signs three-year contract with Devils; to play remainder of season in Albany". Fire & Ice.com. March 27, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
- ^ Pinchevsky, Tal (June 22, 2017). "Vegas Golden Knights Focus on Defense in N.H.L. Expansion Draft". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
- ^ "Sam Bradford". Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
- ^ a b "Mark Clayton Profile". ESPN. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
- ^ "Jimmy LaRoy Edwards". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
- ^ "KARL FARMER". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
- ^ "Alva Liles". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 3, 2014.
- ^ "Gerald McCoy". buccaneers.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
- ^ "Lee Morris". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ "Steve Owens". Switzer Talent Agency. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
- ^ "Barry Switzer". National Football League. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
- ^ "Wes Welker – Official New England Patriots Biography". Archived from the original on December 17, 2009. Retrieved September 20, 2008.
- ^ "Biography on the PGA Tour's official site". Archived from the original on September 21, 2008.
- ^ "Sean O'Grady Professional Profile". NAI Sullivan Group. Archived from the original on January 21, 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2008.
- ^ "Oklahoman lifter first toted produce". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
- ^ Mat Hoffman at IMDb. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- ^ "MAT HOFFMAN @ 23MAG BMG". Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ "Jon-Paul Pittman". Retrieved March 4, 2009.
- ^ Austin, Steve; Jim Ross; Dennls Bryant; Dennis Brent (2003). The Stone Cold Truth. Simon & Schuster. pp. 129. ISBN 0-7434-7720-0.
- ^ Palmer, Mark. (February 4, 2020). Wayne Wells: Olympic gold medalist, first Nike signature athlete. InterMat Wrestling. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- ^ Allen, Percy (May 20, 2007). "An interview with Clay Bennett, owner of Sonics". The Seattle Times. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
- ^ "Edward Gaylord, 83; Oklahoma Publisher Expanded Media Empire". Los Angeles Times. April 30, 2003. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
- ^ New York Times: "WHERE THE ACE IS KING" By Sarah Bartlett; Sarah Bartlett covers Wall Street for The Times June 11, 1989
- ^ "Harold Hamm". The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- ^ "Aubrey McClendon". Retrieved September 6, 2013.
- ^ "Larry Nichols". newsok.com/. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
- ^ Hamlin, Reagan (October 31, 2012). "UCO names distinguished alumni". The Oklahoman. NewsOK.com. Retrieved June 23, 2014.
- ^ "Oklahoma Historical Society". Archived from the original on August 4, 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2008.
- ^ "47th Academy Awards Winners: Best Picture". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
- ^ Ray William Johnson at IMDb. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
- ^ Lexi Ainsworth at IMDb. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ Suzy Amis at IMDb. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ "CHANEY, LON, JR (1906–1973)". Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived from the original on July 31, 2010. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
- ^ "Don Cherry". Notable Names Data Base. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ "Charlie Christian". digital.library.okstate.edu/. Archived from the original on September 16, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
- ^ "Graham Colton". .oudaily.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
- ^ Triplett, Gene (August 17, 2011). "Young Oklahoma City actor Mason Cook stars in latest 'Spy Kids' movie". The Oklahoman. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ "Biography of Wayne Coyne". Archived from the original on October 3, 2008. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
- ^ Lewine, Edward (August 19, 2011). "Wayne Coyne's Oklahoma Compound". The New York Times. Retrieved March 2, 2014.
- ^ "Robert deMaine". University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
- ^ "Steven Drozd". .linkedin.com. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- ^ Ronnie Claire Edwards at IMDb. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ "Gennifer Flowers". Notable Names Data Base. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ "FRANCIS, KAY (1905–1968)". Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived from the original on July 19, 2010. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
- ^ "Biography of Vince Gill". Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved September 18, 2008.
- ^ "Wanda Jackson". newsok.com/. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- ^ Lauren Lane at IMDb. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ Gilmore, Joan (2002). "OKC Events: January 25, 2002". The Journal Record. Retrieved December 18, 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Tisha Campbell-Martin at IMDb. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
- ^ Johnson, Jonathon (2004). Good HAIR Days: A Personal Journey with the American Tribal Love-Rock Musical HAIR. iUniverse, Inc. p. 254. ISBN 0-595-31297-7.
- ^ Olivia Munn at IMDb. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
- ^ Gayla Peevey biography
- ^ Dale Robertson at IMDb. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
- ^ "Neal Schon Biography". Archived from the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved October 5, 2010.
- ^ Grubb, Jeffrey (May 18, 2013). "How Smooth McGroove quit his day job to record a capella versions of classic gaming tunes (interview)". VentureBeat. Retrieved February 17, 2014.
- ^ "John Michael Talbot". The Central Arkansas Library System. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ Pamela Tiffin at IMDb. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ a b "What's New with Mason Williams". Mason Williams. Retrieved January 23, 2008.
- ^ "Ralph Ellison". .read.gov. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
- ^ Ahtoneharjo-Growingthunder, Tahnee (Fall 2017). "Seven Directions". First American Art Magazine (16): 16–17. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
- ^ "Petah Coyne: Biography". Galerie Lelong. Archived from the original on November 7, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2014.
- ^ "Edward Ruscha". 2013 THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART|. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
- ^ Skip Bayless at IMDb. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ Raymond, Ken (April 20, 2014). "Oklahoma City native wins Dan Fagin wins Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction". The Oklahoman. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
- ^ Biography for Rick Bayless at IMDb. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f "Former Miss Oklahomas". Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ a b c d "Oklahoma Interesting Facts". Archived from the original on March 31, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ "Mick Cornett". .citymayors.com. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- ^ "Mary Fallin". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- ^ "Robert Harlan Henry". Notable Names Data Base. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- ^ "John Herrington Biography". Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ^ "Jerome Holmes". Directory of Federal Judges. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- ^ "Jane Anne Jayroe". Miss America Organization. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
- ^ Alicia Dennis (December 27, 2009). "Murderer Sante Kimes Pictures and Biography". Zimbio.
- ^ "Obituary". MIT. Retrieved September 13, 2008.
- ^ Biography for Lauren Nelson at IMDb. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
- ^ Shapiro, T. Rees (August 30, 2011). "Eugene Nida". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- ^ "KJKE's Carly Rae Returns". Country AirCheck. May 30, 2024. Retrieved June 5, 2024.
- ^ "Thomas P. Stafford". Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
- ^ Brown, Opal Hartsell (1994). Indomitable Oklahoma Women. Oklahoma Heritage Association. ISBN 978-0-86546-088-1.
- ^ Brown, Marnie Hunter, Forrest (June 6, 2023). "These chefs and restaurants are 2023's James Beard Award winners". CNN. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Bryce, Jacob Aldolphus (1906–1974)", Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved October 2, 2019