List of people from Oklahoma City explained
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
Athletics
Basketball
Baseball
- 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
- Mickey Tettleton, former MLB baseball player
- Jamey Wright, former MLB baseball player
Hockey
Football
- 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
Boxing
Other sports
- 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
Humanities
Dance
Directors and filmmakers
Actors and musicians
- 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
Visual artists
- 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[70]
- Richard Ray Whitman (born 1949), Yuchi-Muscogee Creek Nation photographer, painter, installation artist
News, commentary
Political figures
- 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
- Rick Bayless, celebrity chef[73]
- Jay Bernstein, Hollywood producer and manager
- Gordon Cooper, astronaut[74]
- Mick Cornett, former Mayor of Oklahoma City; former television personality[75]
- Mary Fallin, Governor of Oklahoma since 2010; former congresswoman[76]
- 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
- John Herrington, astronaut[78]
- Jerome Holmes, federal judge on U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit[79]
- Jane Anne Jayroe, Miss America 1967[80]
- Shibani Joshi, national television reporter
- Sante Kimes, American conwoman and serial killer [81]
- Shannon Lucid, astronaut
- 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[82]
- Dr. Donna J. Nelson, University of Oklahoma Chemistry Professor, 2016 ACS President, and science advisor to Breaking Bad
- Lauren Nelson, Miss America 2007[83]
- Eugene Nida, linguist and translator[84]
- Susan Powell, Miss America 1981, opera singer
- Kevin Samuels, Youtuber
- Norma Smallwood, Miss America 1926
- Shawntel Smith, Miss America 1996[85]
- Thomas P. Stafford, astronaut[86]
Non-native Oklahoma City residents
-
- 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.[88]
- 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
Notes and References
- Web site: Clayton Bennett. NBA Media Ventures, LLC. August 24, 2013.
- Web site: Antoine Carr. Basketball-Reference.Com . October 30, 2012.
- Web site: Johnny Bench Biography . September 19, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080916092313/http://www.johnnybench.com/biography.php . September 16, 2008 .
- Web site: Johnny Lee Bench. Baseball-Reference.Com. November 23, 2012.
- Web site: Joe Carter Baseball Stats. September 19, 2008.
- Web site: The Baseball Biography Project. Clifford Blau. SABR. September 19, 2008.
- Web site: Tyler Arnason's hockey statistics. September 20, 2008.
- Web site: Oklahoma native Donovan set to make NHL history. April 3, 2012. Rosen. Dan. National Hockey League. February 2, 2015.
- Web site: Jon Merrill signs three-year contract with Devils; to play remainder of season in Albany . Fire & Ice.com. March 27, 2013 . March 27, 2013.
- Web site: Pinchevsky. Tal. Vegas Golden Knights Focus on Defense in N.H.L. Expansion Draft. The New York Times. June 22, 2017. June 22, 2017.
- Web site: Sam Bradford. Pro-Football Reference.com. August 24, 2013.
- Web site: Mark Clayton Profile. ESPN . December 18, 2009 .
- Web site: Jimmy LaRoy Edwards . databaseFootball.com . November 26, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121012194051/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=EDWARJIM01 . October 12, 2012 .
- Web site: KARL FARMER . profootballarchives.com . November 21, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141129042117/http://www.profootballarchives.com/farm01000.html . November 29, 2014 .
- Web site: Alva Liles . pro-football-reference.com . Sports Reference LLC . August 3, 2014.
- Web site: Gerald McCoy . buccaneers.com . September 6, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131014075940/http://www.buccaneers.com/team/roster/gerald-mccoy/10bb2de8-ba11-43ab-b888-2df842b03824/ . October 14, 2013 .
- Web site: Lee Morris. Pro-Football-Reference.com . July 12, 2011.
- Web site: Steve Owens . Switzer Talent Agency. October 10, 2010.
- Web site: Barry Switzer. National Football League. September 6, 2013.
- Web site: Wes Welker – Official New England Patriots Biography . September 20, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091217032710/http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=31608 . December 17, 2009 .
- Web site: Biography on the PGA Tour's official site . https://web.archive.org/web/20080921060350/http://www.pgatour.com/players/00/22/23/ . September 21, 2008 .
- Web site: Sean O'Grady Professional Profile . September 14, 2008 . NAI Sullivan Group . https://web.archive.org/web/20100121151407/http://www.naisullivangroup.com/agentdetail.asp?AgentID=11 . January 21, 2010 .
- News: Oklahoman lifter first toted produce . The San Diego Union-Tribune . December 18, 2009.
- . Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- Web site: MAT HOFFMAN @ 23MAG BMG. October 1, 2008.
- Web site: Jon-Paul Pittman. March 4, 2009.
- Book: Austin, Steve. The Stone Cold Truth. Jim Ross. Dennls Bryant. Dennis Brent. Simon & Schuster. 2003. 0-7434-7720-0. 129. registration.
- Palmer, Mark. (February 4, 2020). Wayne Wells: Olympic gold medalist, first Nike signature athlete. InterMat Wrestling. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- News: An interview with Clay Bennett, owner of Sonics. The Seattle Times. December 18, 2009 . Percy . Allen . May 20, 2007.
- News: Edward Gaylord, 83; Oklahoma Publisher Expanded Media Empire. Los Angeles Times. December 18, 2009 . April 30, 2003.
- https://www.nytimes.com/1989/06/11/magazine/where-the-ace-is-king.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm New York Times: "WHERE THE ACE IS KING" By Sarah Bartlett; Sarah Bartlett covers Wall Street for The Times
- Web site: Harold Hamm. The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma. August 26, 2013.
- News: Aubrey McClendon. September 6, 2013.
- Web site: Larry Nichols. newsok.com/. September 6, 2013.
- News: Hamlin. Reagan. UCO names distinguished alumni. The Oklahoman. NewsOK.com. October 31, 2012. June 23, 2014 .
- Web site: Oklahoma Historical Society . May 26, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090804063309/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CH059.html . August 4, 2009 .
- Web site: 47th Academy Awards Winners: Best Picture . April 20, 2015 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004005/http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1975 . April 2, 2015.
- . Retrieved August 24, 2013.
- . Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- . Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- Web site: CHANEY, LON, JR (1906–1973). Oklahoma Historical Society. December 18, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20100731160928/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CH004.html. July 31, 2010.
- Web site: Don Cherry. Notable Names Data Base. August 23, 2013.
- Web site: Charlie Christian. digital.library.okstate.edu/. August 24, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130916000900/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/C/CH060.html. September 16, 2013.
- Web site: Graham Colton. .oudaily.com. August 24, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131007232259/http://oudaily.com/news/2011/jan/27/okc-native-graham-colton-play-coachs/. October 7, 2013.
- News: Young Oklahoma City actor Mason Cook stars in latest 'Spy Kids' movie . The Oklahoman . August 17, 2011 . March 2, 2014 . Triplett, Gene.
- Web site: Biography of Wayne Coyne. September 18, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081003201116/http://www.flaminglips.com/content/band/people/wayne01.php. October 3, 2008.
- News: Wayne Coyne's Oklahoma Compound . The New York Times . August 19, 2011 . March 2, 2014 . Lewine, Edward.
- Web site: Robert deMaine. University of Southern California Thornton School of Music. March 26, 2020.
- Web site: Steven Drozd. .linkedin.com. August 26, 2013.
- . Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- Web site: Gennifer Flowers. Notable Names Data Base. August 23, 2013.
- Web site: FRANCIS, KAY (1905–1968). Oklahoma Historical Society. December 18, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20100719085530/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/entries/F/FR002.html. July 19, 2010.
- Web site: Biography of Vince Gill. September 18, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20090414225108/http://www.vincegill.com/bio/index.php. April 14, 2009.
- Web site: Wanda Jackson. newsok.com/. August 26, 2013.
- . Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- News: OKC Events: January 25, 2002 . The Journal Record . December 18, 2009 . Joan . Gilmore . 2002 .
- . Retrieved December 18, 2009.
- Book: Good HAIR Days: A Personal Journey with the American Tribal Love-Rock Musical HAIR . iUniverse, Inc . Johnson, Jonathon . 2004 . 254 . 0-595-31297-7.
- . Retrieved December 18, 2009.
- http://www.iwantahippopotamusforchristmas.net/gayla-peevey Gayla Peevey biography
- . Retrieved December 18, 2009.
- Web site: Neal Schon Biography. October 5, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20120213203322/http://www.schonmusic.com/articledetail-frame.asp/ID_42. February 13, 2012.
- Web site: Grubb. Jeffrey. How Smooth McGroove quit his day job to record a capella versions of classic gaming tunes (interview). VentureBeat. May 18, 2013. February 17, 2014.
- Web site: John Michael Talbot. The Central Arkansas Library System. August 23, 2013.
- . Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- Web site: What's New with Mason Williams. January 23, 2008 . Mason Williams.
- Web site: Ralph Ellison. .read.gov. August 24, 2013.
- Ahtoneharjo-Growingthunder . Tahnee . Seven Directions . . Fall 2017 . 16 . 16–17 . February 17, 2019.
- Web site: Petah Coyne: Biography. Galerie Lelong. November 7, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141107181240/http://www.galerielelong.com/artist_bio/petah-coyne. November 7, 2014.
- Web site: Edward Ruscha. 2013 THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART. August 24, 2013.
- . Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- News: Raymond. Ken. Oklahoma City native wins Dan Fagin wins Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction. February 4, 2015. The Oklahoman. April 20, 2014.
- . Retrieved August 23, 2013.
- Web site: Oklahoma Interesting Facts . October 1, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080331071135/http://www.ok.gov/1350/3554/1641/ . March 31, 2008 .
- Web site: Mick Cornett. .citymayors.com. August 26, 2013.
- Web site: Mary Fallin. National Governors Association. August 26, 2013. May 12, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120512170300/http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/current-governors/col2-content/main-content-list/mary-fallin.html.
- Web site: Robert Harlan Henry. Notable Names Data Base. August 26, 2013.
- Web site: John Herrington Biography. October 1, 2008.
- Web site: Jerome Holmes. Directory of Federal Judges. August 26, 2013.
- Web site: Jane Anne Jayroe. Miss America Organization. August 30, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193634/http://www.missamerica.org/our-miss-americas/1960/1967.aspx. October 29, 2013.
- Web site: Alicia Dennis . December 27, 2009 . Murderer Sante Kimes Pictures and Biography . Zimbio.
- Web site: Obituary. September 13, 2008. MIT.
- . Retrieved September 6, 2013.
- News: Eugene Nida. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029211135/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2011-08-27/local/35269535_1_bible-translation-languages-baptist-minister. October 29, 2013. The Washington Post. August 23, 2013. T. Rees. Shapiro. August 30, 2011.
- Web site: Former Miss Oklahomas . October 1, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080919143642/http://www.missoklahoma.org/new/formers.htm . September 19, 2008 .
- Web site: Thomas P. Stafford. Southwestern Oklahoma State University. September 6, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200139/http://www.swosu.edu/alum-foun/foundation/bios/tom-stafford.aspx. October 29, 2013.
- Web site: Brown . Marnie Hunter, Forrest . 2023-06-06 . These chefs and restaurants are 2023’s James Beard Award winners . 2023-06-06 . CNN . en.
- https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=BR030 "Bryce, Jacob Aldolphus (1906–1974)"