List of people from Dayton, Ohio

The following is a list of people from Dayton, Ohio.

Actors, entertainers, and models

• Tom Aldredge (1928–2011), actor
• Ralph Byrd (1909–1952), actor
• Nancy Cartwright (born 1957), voice artist
• Damian Chapa (born 1963), actor
• Max Charles (born 2003), actor
• Mystro Clark (born 1966), actor, comedian, and TV host
• Bing Davis (born 1937), visual artist and teacher
• Charles Michael Davis (born 1984), actor
• Dr. Creep, aka Barry Hobart (1941–2011), actor
• Mel Epstein (1910–1994), film producer
• Dorothy Gish (1898–1968), silent actress
• Luke Grimes (born 1984), actor
• Dorian Harewood (born 1950), actor
• Drew Hastings (born 1954), comedian, actor, writer
• Allison Janney (born 1959), actress
• Ken Jenkins (born 1940), actor
• Toccara Jones (born 1981), fashion model and TV personality
• Gordon Jump (1932–2003), actor
• Chad Lowe (born 1968), actor
• Rob Lowe (born 1964), actor
• Steve Martino (born 1959), film director
• Aaron O'Connell (born 1986), actor
• Maulik Pancholy (born 1974), actor, voice actor, author
• Dan Patrick (born 1957), sports anchor
• Wendy Pepper (1964–2017), reality TV star and fashion designer
• Keith Prentice (1940–1992), actor
• Ted Ross (1934–2002), actor
• Gary Sandy (born 1945), actor
• Sherri Saum (born 1974), actress
• Martin Sheen (born 1940), actor
• Beth Stelling (born 1986), comedian
• Andrea Thompson (born 1960), actress
• Vincent M. Ward (born 1971), actor
• Katt Williams (born 1971), comedian and actor
• De'Angelo Wilson (1979–2008), actor
• Jonathan Winters (1925–2013), comedian and actor

Athletes

• Deveon Everhart Aikens (born 1994), pro wrestler
• Will Allen (born 1982), NFL safety
• Michael Bennett (born 1993), NFL defensive tackle
• Pauline Betz (1919–2011), Hall of Fame tennis player, four-time U.S. Open champion
• Howie Brown (1922–1975), NFL guard
• Molly Bruggeman (born 1992), Olympic women's eights rower
• David Bruton (born 1987), NFL strong safety
• Tonja Buford-Bailey (born 1970), Olympic 400m hurdler
• Derek Bunch (born 1961), NFL linebacker
• Keith Byars (born 1963), NFL running back
• Roosevelt Chapman (born 1962), basketball hall of famer and all-time leading scorer at the University of Dayton
• Roger Clemens (born 1962), MLB pitcher
• Stefan Cleveland (born 1994), soccer player
• Norris Cole (born 1988), NBA player
• Kurt Coleman (born 1988), NFL safety
• Marco Coleman (born 1969), NFL defensive tackle
• Cris Collinsworth (born 1959), NFL wide receiver, sports commentator
• Daequan Cook (born 1987), NBA player
• Greg Cook (1946–2012), NFL quarterback
• Charles Daniels (1885–1973), Olympic freestyle swimmer
• Megan Duffy (born 1984), WNBA player
• Rob Dyrdek (born 1974), skateboarder, Alien Workshop
• Claire Falknor (born 1993), professional soccer player
• Doug France (1953–2016), NFL Player
• Nikki Fuller (born 1968), professional bodybuilder
• Na'Shan Goddard (born 1983), NFL offensive lineman
• Jeff Graham (born 1969), NFL receiver
• Joe Greene (born 1967), two-time Olympic bronze medalist long jumper
• Andy Harmon (born 1969), NFL player
• Ron Harper (born 1964), basketball player
• A. J. Hawk (born 1984), NFL linebacker
• Victor Heflin (born 1960), NFL defensive back
• Vince Heflin (born 1959), NFL wide receiver
• John Henderson (born 1943), NFL wide receiver
• Kirk Herbstreit (born 1969), Ohio State quarterback, football analyst
• Chris Hero (born 1979), pro wrestler
• Brady Hoke (born 1958), Ball State University linebacker
• Todd Hollandsworth (born 1973), baseball player
• Bill Hosket Jr. (born 1946), basketball player
• Bill Hosket Sr. (1911–1956), basketball player
• Darrell Jackson (born 1978), NFL wide receiver
• Will Johnson (born 1988), football player
• Kerry Kittles (born 1974), NBA player
• Dave Krynzel (born 1981), MLB player
• Frank Lockhart (1903–1928), race car driver, Indy 500 winner
• Ron Lyle (1941–2011), boxer
• Holley Mangold (born 1989), Olympic weightlifter
• Nick Mangold (born 1984), NFL offensive lineman
• Justin Masterson (born 1985), baseball pitcher
• Don May (born 1946), NBA player
• Brandon McKinney (born 1983), NFL nose tackle
• Sean McVay (born 1986), NFL head coach
• Mike Mickens (born 1987), NFL defensive back
• Braxton Miller (born 1992), NFL wide receiver
• Mike Mohler (born 1968), baseball pitcher
• Edwin C. Moses (born 1955), Olympic gold medalist hurdler
• Sean Murphy (born 1994), MLB catcher
• Josh Myers (born 1998), NFL center
• Mike Nugent (born 1982), NFL kicker
• Ifeadi Odenigbo (born 1994), NFL defensive end
• Jim Paxson Jr. (born 1957), NBA player and executive
• John Paxson (born 1960), basketball player, coach, manager, broadcaster
• Peerless Price (born 1976), NFL wide receiver
• Scott Rettich (1984–2022), racing driver
• Javon Ringer (born 1987), NFL running back
• Chris Rolfe (born 1983), soccer player
• Brett Salisbury (born 1968), quarterback
• Joe Schilling (born 1984), kickboxer
• Mike Schmidt (born 1949), Hall of Fame baseball player
• Bryan Sellers (born 1982), race car driver
• Donald Smith (born 1951), NBA player
• Scott Stamper (born 1959), NFL running back
• Joe Thomasson (born 1993), basketball player
• Al Tucker, Jr (1943–2001), NBA basketball player
• T. J. Turner (1978–2014), NFL player
• Sam Underhill (born 1996), English rugby union player
• Salt Walther (1947–2012), Indy car driver
• Taylor Ward (born 1993), baseball player
• Dan Wilkinson (born 1973), NFL defensive tackle
• Tamika Williams (born 1980), WNBA player
• Jerel Worthy (born 1990), NFL defensive end
• Chris Wright (born 1988), NBA forward
• Steve Yeager (born 1948), MLB player

Writers and cartoonists

• Natalie Babbitt (1932–2016), author and illustrator
• Natalie Clifford Barney (1876–1972), playwright, poet and novelist
• Eva Best (1851–1925), story writer, poet, music composer, dramatist
• Erma Bombeck (1927–1996), columnist and author
• Richard H. Brodhead (born 1947), author and president of Duke University
• Si Burick (1909–1986), sports editor and columnist
• Milton Caniff (1907–1988), cartoonist
• Ritter Collett (1921–2001), sports editor and columnist
• Charlotte Reeve Conover (1855–1940), historian
• Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872–1906), early African-American poet
• Mike Gallagher (born 1960), political commentators, radio talk show host, non-fiction writer
• Cathy Guisewite (born 1950), cartoonist
• Marj Heyduck (1913–1969), journalist, columnist, editor
• Hunter Lewis (born 1947), author
• Hal McCoy (born 1940), baseball writer
• Patrick Nagel (1945–1984), artist and illustrator
• Terry Oroszi (born 1966), terrorism researcher and author
• Clarence Page (born 1947), journalist and syndicated columnist
• Maulik Pancholy (born 1974), author
• Mike Peters (born 1943), opinion cartoonist
• Robert W. Russell, pen name Nas'Naga (1941–2021), poet and novelist
• Timothy Snyder (born 1969), historian
• Alexandria Constantinova Szeman (fka Sherri Szeman) (born 1956), author
• Tim Waggoner, horror and fantasy writer
• Roz Young (1912–2005), columnist

Entrepreneurs

• Larry Augustin (born 1962), member of the OpenSource community
• Larry Connor (born 1950), founder of the Connor Group
• Edward A. Deeds (1874–1960), engineer, inventor, industrialist
• Philip Haas (1874–1927), inventor, plumbing specialties manufacturer
• George Huffman (1862–1897), founder of Huffy Corporation
• Paul Iams (1915–2004), Iams founder
• Charles Kettering (1876–1958), inventor of the automobile self-starter
• Carl Lindner, Jr. (1919–2011), businessman
• Nancy Lynn (c. 1956–2006), business owner, pilot, flight instructor, and public speaker
• John H. Patterson (1844–1922), founder of National Cash Register
• James Ritty (1836–1918), inventor of the cash register
• Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, inventors of the airplane
• Katharine Wright Haskell (1874–1929), suffragist, teacher, sister and assistant of the Wright brothers

Military

• Charles G. Bickham (1867–1944), Medal of Honor recipient
• Llewellyn Morris Chilson (1920–1981), United States Army career soldier who served during World War II
• Richard E. Cole (1915–2019), Air Force pilot who took part in the Doolittle Raid in 1942
• Sammy L. Davis (born 1946), Medal of Honor recipient
• Admiral Timothy J. Keating (born 1948), commander of the United States Pacific Command
• Joseph G. Lapointe Jr (1948–1969), Medal of Honor recipient
• Jack V. Mackmull (1927–2011), founded the United States Army Aviation Branch
• Joe C. Paul (1946–1965), Medal of Honor recipient
• Sidney Souers (1892–1973), first director of the CIA
• Tony Stein (1921–1945), Medal of Honor recipient

Musicians

• Little Axe (born 1949), blues musician
• Leroy Bonner (1943–2013), musician/producer, The Ohio Players
• Stevie Brock (born 1990), pop singer
• Kelley Deal (born 1961), rock musician, member of The Breeders and The Kelley Deal 6000
• Kim Deal (born 1961), rock musician, member of Pixies, The Amps, and The Breeders
• Rick Derringer (born 1947), rock musician
• Jim Ferguson (born 1948), classical/jazz guitarist, composer, author, educator, and music journalist
• Tommy James (born 1947), rock musician and singer of "Mony Mony"
• Walter "Junie" Morrison (1954–2017), musician and producer
• Vess Ossman (1868–1923), 5-string banjoist
• Dottie Peoples (born 1950), gospel singer
• M Ross Perkins (born 1987), songwriter
• Robert Pollard (born 1957), founder and singer of lo-fi rock band Guided By Voices
• Harry Reser (1896–1965), banjoist and leader of the Clicquot Club Eskimos
• Kim Richey (born 1956), singer/songwriter
• John Scofield (born 1951), jazz guitarist
• John Schmersal, guitarist/singer for Brainiac, who went on to form Enon
• Bud Shank (1926–2009), jazz saxophonist
• Margo Smith (1939–2024), country music singer, known for her yodeling
• Tyler Smith (born 1986), singer (The Word Alive)
• Billy Strayhorn (1915–1967), jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger
• Roger Troutman (1951–1999) and Zapp, musicians/producers
• Johnnie Wilder Jr. (1949–2006), founder and lead singer, and Keith Wilder, founder, Heatwave, R&B group
• Daniel Williams (1985–2025), drummer and co-founder of metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada
• Booty Wood (1919–1987), jazz trombonist
• Snooky Young (1919–2011), jazz trumpeter

Politicians

• Dave Albritton (1913–1994), former Ohio state representative
• Dixie Allen (1935–2019), former Ohio state representative
• Joyce Beatty (born 1950), U.S. representative for Ohio
• Willis Blackshear Jr. (born 1993), Ohio state representative
• Frederick Bowers (1909–1973), former Ohio State Representative
• James Middleton Cox (1870–1957), congressman, Ohio governor, 1920 Democratic presidential candidate, founder of Cox Enterprises
• Richard Clay Dixon (born 1941), former mayor of Dayton
• Dave Hall (1906–1977), former mayor of Dayton
• Tony P. Hall (born 1942), former US congressman
• William A. Halteman (1860–1945), member of the Washington House of Representatives in 1895–1897 and 1907–1909
• Paul Leonard (born 1943), former mayor of Dayton and lieutenant governor of Ohio
• Clayton Luckie (born 1963), former Ohio state representative
• James H. McGee (1918–2006), former mayor of Dayton
• C. J. McLin (1921–1988), former Ohio state representative
• Rhine McLin (born 1948), former mayor of Dayton, former Ohio state representative, former Ohio senator
• Jeffrey J. Mims Jr. (born 1947), mayor of Dayton
• Vipal J. Patel (born 1967 or 1968), acting US attorney for the Southern District of Ohio
• Tom Roberts (born 1952), former Ohio state representative, former Ohio senator
• Mike Rohrkaste (born 1958), Wisconsin state assemblyman and businessman
• Fred Strahorn (born 1965), former Ohio state representative, former Ohio Senator
• Mike Turner (born 1960), US congressman, former mayor of Dayton
• Clement Vallandigham, lawyer and politician who served as the leader of the Copperheads (1820–1871)

Other

• Jordan Anderson (1825–1907), former slave and author of "Letter from a Freedman to His Old Master"
• China P. Arnold (born 1980), convicted murderer
• Charles Bassett (1931–1966), astronaut
• Jayananda Dasa (1939–1977), pioneer of ISKCON in San Francisco
• Phil Donahue (1935–2024), talk-show host, began his eponymous show in Dayton, where he spent over a decade
• Derrick L. Foward (born 1968), NAACP Image Award Winning civil rights activist
• Ronnie and Donnie Galyon (1951–2020), oldest set of conjoined twins in the world
• Steve Gibson (born 1955), computer programmer
• Jessie Gooding (born 1926), civil rights activist
• George J. Graham, Jr. (1938–2006), political theorist
• Ahad Israfil (1972–2019), gunshot victim
• Virginia Kettering (1907–2003), philanthropist
• William H. Lough (1881–1940s), economist
• W. S. McIntosh (1921–1974), civil rights activist
• Jessica Moore (born 1982), journalist
• Robert R. Nathan, economist
• Mike Nawrocki (born 1966), co-creator of VeggieTales
• Melvin Lorrel Nichols (1894–1981), emeritus professor of chemistry, Cornell University
• Alice E. Heckler Peters (1845–1921), social reformer
• Jane Reece (1868–1961), photographer
• Amy Schneider (born 1979), Jeopardy! champion, and the first openly transgender contestant to qualify for the Tournament of Champions
• Constantine Scollen (1841–1902), renowned Irish missionary and "Whoop-Up Trail" priest among the native peoples of Canada and US
• Howard Dwight Smith (1886–1958), architect of Ohio Stadium
• Dorothy Stang (1931–2005), Catholic nun of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and Amazonian activist
• Norman Steenrod (1910–1971), mathematician
• Strobe Talbott (born 1946), writer and diplomat
• Perry Yaney (1931–2025), physicist

See also

• List of University of Dayton people
• List of Wright State University people

References