List of people from Columbus, Ohio

The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Columbus, Ohio or from the surrounding suburbs.

Actors

• Chet Allen (1939–1984), television, Amahl and the Night Visitors on Hallmark Hall of Fame; Bonino. Member of the Columbus Boychoir.
• Majel Barrett (1932–2008), television (Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation). Barrett was born in Columbus.
• Warner Baxter (1889–1951), film (In Old Arizona). Baxter was born in Columbus and lived there until age nine.
• Richard Biggs (1960–2004), actor. Biggs was born in Columbus.
• Andrea Bowen (1990– ), actress. Bowen was born in Columbus.
• Grace Cunard (1893–1967), actress, screenwriter, and film director. Cunard was born in Columbus.
• Beverly D'Angelo (1951– ), film (National Lampoon's Vacation series). D'Angelo was born and raised in Columbus.
• Dody Goodman (1915–2008), television (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman). Goodman was born in Columbus.
• Maggie Grace (1983– ), television (Lost). Grace was born in Worthington, Ohio.
• Rachael Harris (1968– ), actress and comedienne. Harris was born in Worthington, Ohio and attended high school there.
• Elsie Janis (1889–1956), vaudeville performer, screenwriter, actress and composer. Janis was born in Columbus and maintained a home there.
• A.J. Langer (1974– ), television (My So-Called Life). Langer was born in Columbus and lived there until age five.
• Jack Plotnick (1968– ), actor. Plotnick was born in Worthington, Ohio.
• Tom Poston (1921–2007), television (Newhart); husband of Suzanne Pleshette. Poston was born in Columbus.
• Josh Radnor (1974– ), television, stage (How I Met Your Mother; The Graduate). Radnor was born and raised in Bexley, Ohio.
• Gigi Rice (1965– ), television (The John Larroquette Show). Rice was born in Columbus.
• Gene Sheldon (1908–1982), television (Disney's Zorro). Sheldon was born in Columbus.
• Philip Michael Thomas (1949– ), actor. Thomas was born in Columbus.
• Hal Williams (1938– ), actor. Williams was born in Columbus.

Artists

• Abdisalam Aato, film director, producer, entrepreneur and media consultant.
• George Bellows (1882–1925), realist painter, known for bold depictions of urban life in New York City, becoming, according to Columbus Museum of Art, "the most acclaimed American artist of his generation".
• Charles Csuri (1922–), father of digital art and computer animation.
• Alex Grey (1953– ), psychedelic artist. Grey was born in Columbus and attended Columbus College of Art and Design.
• Christopher Ries (1952– ), sculptor. Ries was born in Columbus and attended the Ohio State University.
• Aminah Robinson (1940-2015), artist. Robinson was born in Columbus.
• Alice Schille (1869–1955), watercolorist and painter.

Athletes

• Trey Burke (1992– ), NBA guard for the Utah Jazz. Burke was born in Columbus.
• Russ Campbell (1969– ), NFL tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Campbell was born in Columbus.
• Howard Cassady (1934– ), NFL running back and Heisman Trophy winner. Cassady was born in Columbus, and played football and baseball for Ohio State.
• Mark Coleman (1964– ), professional fighter from the UFC and Pride mixed-martial-arts organizations; member of Columbus-based Team Hammer House.
• Zach Collaros (1988- ), Canadian Football League quarterback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
• Joe Cooper (1979– ), professional football player
• Ben Curtis (1977–), professional golfer, winner of 2003 British Open. Curtis was born in Columbus.
• Helen Darling (1978– ), WNBA guard. Darling attended high school in Columbus.
• Buster Douglas (1960– ), heavyweight boxing champion after defeating Mike Tyson. Douglas was born and raised in Columbus.
• Nate Ebner (1988–), American football player in the National Football League. Ebner lived in Columbus as a youth.
• Terry Glenn (1974– ), Ohio State University and NFL wide receiver. Glenn was born and raised in Columbus.
• Sarah Fisher (1980–), auto racer, drove in nine Indianapolis 500s. Fisher was born in Columbus.
• Ross Friedman (1992–), Harvard and Major League Soccer player.
• Lawrence Funderburke (1970–), Ohio State and NBA basketball player. Funderburke was born and raised in Columbus.
• Hank Gowdy (1889–1966), Major League Baseball catcher. Gowdy was born and lived in Columbus.
• Archie Griffin (1954– ), only two-time Heisman Trophy winner. Griffin attended Eastmoor High School, then the Ohio State University and won the Heisman Trophy twice as a running back for the OSU Buckeyes. He returned to Columbus after his pro career to become the university's assistant athletic director, and president of its alumni association.
• Forrest Griffin (1979– ), UFC light-heavyweight fighter and winner of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. Griffin was born in Columbus.
• Andrew Hampsten (1963– ), professional cyclist. Hampsten was born in Columbus.
• Chic Harley (1894–1974), Ohio State University All-American football player.
• Chris Leitch (1979– ), Major League Soccer defender. Leitch was born in Columbus.
• Lance Moore (1983– ), NFL wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints. Moore was born in Columbus.
• Jack Nicklaus (1940– ), pro golfer, winner of a record 18 golf majors and member of World Golf Hall of Fame. Nicklaus was born in Columbus and attended the Ohio State University. He won the 1961 NCAA Championship while playing for the school.
• Paul O'Neill (1963– ), Major League Baseball outfielder. O'Neill was born and raised in Columbus.
• Danny O'Rourke (1983– ), Major League Soccer midfielder. O'Rourke was born and raised in Columbus.
• Brady Quinn (1984– ), NFL quarterback. Quinn was born in Columbus and attended high school in Dublin, Ohio.
• Randy Savage (1952–2011 ), professional wrestler, former WWE champion. Savage was born in Columbus.
• Michael Redd (1979– ), Ohio State University basketball player and NBA shooting guard. Redd was born and raised in Columbus.
• Mauri Rose (1906–81), auto racer.
• Kip Selbach (1872–1956), Major League Baseball outfielder. Selbach was born in Columbus.
• Jared Sullinger (1992–), NBA forward for the Boston Celtics. Sullinger was born in Columbus and played for Ohio State.
• Nick Swisher (1980– ), Major League Baseball outfielder. Swisher attended the Ohio State University.
• Herb Williams (1958– ), NBA player and coach. Williams was born in Columbus. Williams was born in Columbus and played basketball for the Ohio State University.
• Blaine Wilson (1974– ), gymnast, Olympic silver medalist in 2004. Wilson attended the Ohio State University.
• Granville Waiters (1961– ), NBA player. Waiters was born and raised in Columbus.
• Gary Trent (1974– ), NBA player. Trent attended Hamilton Township High School and was born and raised in Columbus.
• Samaki Walker (1976– ), NBA player. Walker was born and raised in Columbus.

Entrepreneurs

• Dick Cepek (1930–1983), Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame member, parts supplier and racer. Cepek was raised in Columbus.
• Henry Beecher Dierdorff (1851–1935), mining engineer and inventor. Dierdorff died in Columbus.
• Jack Hanna (1947– ), zookeeper and television personality; director of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (1978–1993), director emeritus afterwards.
• John H. McConnell (1923–2008), founder of Worthington Industries and the Columbus Blue Jackets NHL team.
• John Purdue (1802–1876), Purdue Block, Tippecanoe County founder, founding benefactor of Purdue University. Purdue lived in Worthington, Ohio for a time.
• Dave Thomas (1932–2002), founder of Wendy's restaurant chain, whose first store was in Columbus.
• Leslie Wexner (1937– ), chairman and CEO of Limited Brands. Wexner attended the Ohio State University and lives in New Albany, Ohio.
• Granville Woods (1856–1910), inventor. Woods spent his early childhood in Columbus.

Journalists

• Charlotte Curtis (1928–1987), reporter and editor for the Columbus Citizen and the New York Times.
• Terry Murphy, television journalist, Chicago and Los Angeles news anchor, host of shows Hard Copy and Extra, born in Columbus.
• Cabot Rea, an Emmy Award-winning television reporter and anchor for the Columbus NBC affiliate WCMH. He also anchored the local UPN news at WWHO.
• Dana Tyler (1958– ), television news anchor. Tyler grew up in Worthington, Ohio and began her career at WBNS-TV.
• Ralph Waldo Tyler (1860–1921) was a journalist and war correspondent during WWI.
• Sacha Pfeiffer (1971-), award-winning journalist with the Boston Globe.

Military personnel

• Cordelia E Cook (1919–1996), World War II U.S. Army first lieutenant in the United States Army Nurse Corps – the first woman to receive both the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.
• Curtis LeMay (1906–1990), World War II and Cold War U.S. Air Force general. LeMay was born and raised in Columbus, and studied civil engineering at the Ohio State University.
• Eddie Rickenbacker (1890–1973), World War I fighter pilot, "Ace of Aces". Rickenbacker was born and raised in Columbus.
• Willard Franklyn Searle (1924–2009), Captain, U.S. Navy Supervisor of Salvage from 1964 to 1969. Searle was born and raised in Columbus.
• Richard Secord (1932– ) Air Force major general
• Paul Tibbets (1915–2007), World War II Enola Gay decorated pilot

Miss America

• Mary Katherine Campbell (1905–1990), Miss America 1922–1923. Campbell was born and raised in Columbus and attended the Ohio State University.
• Laurie Lea Schaefer, Miss America 1972

Musicians

• Attack Attack!, metalcore band
• Beartooth, metalcore band
• Blueprint, rapper and hip hop producer
• Bizzy Bone (1976– ), rapper, part of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
• Bow Wow (1987– ) (formerly known as "Lil' Bow Wow"), rapper. Bow Wow was born in Columbus and spent his early childhood there.
• Happy Chichester, (American Singer-Songwriter)
• Copywrite, underground hip-hop artist
• The Crimson Armada, metalcore band
• Jay DeMarcus (1971– ), bassist in the country group Rascal Flatts. DeMarcus was born in Columbus.
• Jerome Dillon (1969– ) (formerly of Nine Inch Nails), drummer/musician
• Early Man (2003– ) Speed Metal Band
• əkoostik hookah, musical group
• Fatty Koo, musical group
• Fly Union, musical group
• Michael Feinstein (1956– ), singer. Feinstein was born in Columbus and lived there until age 19.
• My Ticket Home, nu metal band signed to Rise Records. Formed in Colombus in 2008.
• Rascal Flatts, country band. Formed in Columbus
• House of Heroes, Christian rock band
• Illogic (1980– ), rapper and hip-hop artist
• Like Moths to Flames, metalcore band
• Howard Jones (1970– ), heavy metal singer for band Killswitch Engage
• Rahsaan Roland Kirk (1935–1977), jazz saxophonist. Kirk was born and raised in Columbus, and educated at the Ohio State School for the Blind.
• Gary LeVox (1970– ), lead singer of country group Rascal Flatts
• Joe "Foley" McCreary, bass player for Miles Davis
• O.A.R., roots rock band
• Ovarian, rock band
• Penny & The Quarters, a short-lived 1970s soul band that came to notice in 2011
• Phil Ochs (1940–1976), folk-activist singer and songwriter. Ochs grew up in Columbus, which provided the inspiration for his song "Boy in Ohio", and studied journalism at Ohio State University.
• Don Patterson (1936–1988), jazz organist
• Red Wanting Blue, alternative rock band
• John Reuben (1979– ), Christian rapper
• RJD2 (1976– ), real name Ramble Jon "RJ" Krohn; hip-hop producer
• Saving Jane, alt rock band
• Caleb Shomo, former vocalist of Attack Attack!, current lead vocalist of Beartooth.
• The Sun, alt rock band
• Camu Tao (1977–2008), rapper and producer, member of S.A. Smash
• Times New Viking, indie rock band
• twenty one pilots, alternative duo from Westerville
• Joe Walsh (1947– ) musician, solo artist, guitarist for The Eagles
• Nancy Wilson (1937– ), singer
• Dwight Yoakam (1956– ), country singer. Yoakam was raised in Columbus and briefly attended Ohio State.
• Von Prince (1994- ), R&B singer, Solo artist

Politicians

• Prescott Bush (1895–1972), U.S. Senator elected from Connecticut, father and grandfather of Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush, respectively. Bush was born in Columbus and spent his childhood there until 1908. He moved back to Columbus for part of 1923 for a job in business.
• Mark Kersey, member of the San Diego City Council, born in Columbus
• Pat McCrory (1956– ), longest-serving Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. McCrory was born in Columbus, but relocated to North Carolina as a child. He was the 2008 Republican nominee for Governor of North Carolina.

Writers

• David Auburn (1970– ), playwright. Auburn was raised in Columbus.
• Ron Burch, TV writer and producer, screenwriter, playwright and novelist. Burch was born and raised in Columbus and attended The Ohio State University.
• Charlotte Curtis (1918–1987), first woman editor of the New York Times, born in Columbus and worked at the Columbus Citizen for 11 years. See Journalists above.
• Natalie Dee, webcomic artist, creator of Natalie Dee [1] and co-creator of Married to the Sea [2] with husband Drew. Dee lives in Columbus.
• Drew (1979– ), webcomic artist, creator of toothpaste for dinner and co-creator of Married to the Sea. Drew lives in Columbus.
• Margaret Peterson Haddix (1964– ), author. Haddix lives in Columbus.
• Harvey C. Mansfield, Jr. (1932–), Professor of Government at Harvard University, is the author of numerous books on the subject of political theory. He graduated from high school in Columbus.

• Tom Meek (1965– ), columnist. Meek lived in Columbus in 1976.
• Mary Robison (1949– ), an American short story writer.
• Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. (1917–2007), historian and writer. Schlesinger was born in Columbus
• Jeff Smith (1960– ), cartoonist and creator of Bone. Smith grew up and currently lives in Columbus.
• Donald Ogden Stewart (1894–1980), humorist, playwright, and Academy Award-winning, black-listed, screenwriter. Stewart was born and raised in Columbus.
• R. L. Stine (1943– ), author. Stine was born and raised in Columbus, attended the Ohio State University.
• James Thurber (1894–1961), cartoonist and humorist. Thurber was born and raised in Columbus, and many of his short stories depict episodes from this period of his life.

Other

• Ted Allen (1968–), author and television personality, Queer Eye, Chopped. Allen was born in Columbus.
• Mark Dindal (1960–), effects animator and director, Cats Don't Dance, The Emperor's New Groove. Dindal was born and raised in Columbus.
• Judah Folkman (1933–2008) was an American medical scientist who founded the field of angiogenesis research. He was raised in Columbus, and graduated from The Ohio State University.
• Lincoln Goodale (1782–1868), doctor and namesake of Goodale Park.
• Sandra Hubby (1978–), a Playboy Playmate and beauty pageant contestant. Hubby represented Columbus in the Miss Hawaiian Tropic Pageant.
• Jim Kammerud (1960– ), director, writer, producer and animator. Kammerud attended high school in Worthington, Ohio and attended The Ohio State University.
• Curtis Lovell II (1981–) illusionist, escape artist and endurance artist.
• Howard Dwight Smith (1886–1958), architect of, most notably, Ohio Stadium. Smith graduated from The Ohio State University in 1907.
• Ted Williams (1957– ), a voiceover artist who became an overnight celebrity when his YouTube video went viral in January 2011.
• Guy Fieri (1968–), an American chef on Food Network, born in Columbus

See also

• Mayors of Columbus, Ohio
• People associated with Capital University
• People associated with the Ohio State University