List of people from Utah

The following is a list of prominent people who were born in the U.S. state of Utah, live in Utah, or for whom Utah is a significant part of their identity.

A

• Maurice Abravanel – music director of the Utah Symphony for over 30 years
• Maude Adams – Broadway stage actress of late 19th and early 20th centuries, noted for title role in Peter Pan
• Florence E. Allen – first woman to serve on a state Supreme Court, second to serve as a federal judge
• Quinn Allman – guitarist for The Used
• John Amaechi – American-English NBA player for the Utah Jazz (2001–2003), sports broadcaster, political activist
• Rocky Anderson – former mayor of Salt Lake City
• David Archuleta – singer-songwriter, runner-up on the seventh season of American Idol
• Leonard J. Arrington – historian
• Hal Ashby – director; films include Being There, The Last Detail, Harold and Maude

B

• Simon Bamberger – first Democratic governor of Utah; only Jewish governor of Utah
• Dean Baker (born 1958) – macroeconomist
• Lee Barnes (1906–1970) – pole vaulter, gold medalist in 1924 Olympics
• Roseanne Barr – comedian, television actress, writer, talk-show host
• Earl W. Bascom (1906–1995) – rodeo champion, inventor, artist, sculptor, Utah Sports Hall of Fame inductee
• Bruce Bastian – computer programmer, co-founder of WordPerfect company, philanthropist, on the board of directors of the Human Rights Campaign
• Zane Beadles – lineman for the Jacksonville Jaguars
• Linda Bement (1942–2018) – Miss USA and Miss Universe 1960
• Robert Foster "Bob" Bennett – Republican United States senator from Utah
• Ezra Taft Benson – 13th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1985–1994; United States Secretary of Agriculture
• Jaime Bergman – actress, model, 1999 Playboy Playmate
• Arnie Beyeler – first base coach for the Boston Red Sox
• Don Bluth (born 1937) – animator
• Frank Borzage – film director and actor
• Reva Beck Bosone – Utah's first female member of Congress
• Elaine Bradley – musician; member of rock band Neon Trees
• Shawn Bradley – former NBA center, one of the tallest players in NBA history
• Stewart Bradley – linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles
• Juanita Brooks – historian and author
• John Moses Browning (1855–1926) – firearms designer
• Val Browning (1895–1994) – business magnate, philanthropist, and gun innovator
• John Buck (born 1980) – catcher for the Miami Marlins
• Ted Bundy – serial killer who attended the S. J. Quinney College of Law (not born in Utah, but lived there)
• Nolan Bushnell (born 1943) – video game designer, founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese
• Jerry Buss (1933–2013) – businessman, real estate investor and chemist, owned the Los Angeles Lakers

C

• Ben Cahoon – slotback for the CFL's Montreal Alouettes, member of two Grey Cup championship teams in 2002 and 2009
• Mario Capecchi (born 1939) – recipient, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 2007
• Orson Scott Card (born 1951) – science fiction author
• Neal Cassady – writer; major figure of the Beat Generation of the 1950s and the psychedelic and counterculture movements of the 1960s; inspiration for the character Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road
• Butch Cassidy (1866 – c. 1908) – outlaw, born Robert LeRoy Parker in Beaver, Utah
• Stephen Covey (1932–2012) – author, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
• Reed Cowan (born 1972) – television news anchor, philanthropist, and documentary filmmaker
• Melvin A. Cook (1911–2000) – explosives expert, chemist
• Chris Cooley (born 1982) – NFL tight end
• James Cowser (born 1990) – NFL outside linebacker
• Chandler Cox (born 1996) – NFL fullback

D

• Matthew Davis – actor, The Vampire Diaries, What About Brian, Legally Blonde
• Laraine Day – actress, Foreign Correspondent, Mr. Lucky, The High and the Mighty
• Jordan Devey – offensive guard for the San Francisco 49ers
• Paul W. Draper – anthropologist, mentalist, educator
• Jack Dreyer – MLB pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Christine M. Durham – chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court since 2002

E

• David Eccles – industrialist
• Marriner Eccles – banker, economist, chairman of the Federal Reserve during Roosevelt and Truman administrations
• Spencer Eccles – bank executive for First Security and Wells Fargo
• Lily Eskelsen García – vice president of National Education Association
• Richard Paul Evans – author, known for novel The Christmas Box
• Henry Eyring – theoretical chemist who proposed theories on which future Nobel Prize winners based their work

F

• Philo T. Farnsworth (1906–1971) – inventor of the electronic television
• John D. Fitzgerald – author of The Great Brain series of children's books and Papa Married a Mormon
• John F. Fitzpatrick – publisher of The Salt Lake Tribune 1924–1960
• Harvey Fletcher – physicist, invented the hearing aid and audiometer; called "the father of stereophonic sound"
• Brandon Flowers – singer for the rock band The Killers
• Jim Fosgate – inventor of first car amplifier, Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound, founder of Rockford Fosgate electronics
• Jimmer Fredette – professional basketball player
• Patrick Fugit (born 1982) – actor, known for lead role of Cameron Crowe's film Almost Famous
• Gene Fullmer (1931–2015) – middleweight boxer and world champion

G

• John W. Gallivan – publisher of The Salt Lake Tribune, 1960–1984
• Kendall D. Garff – founder of Ken Garff Automotive Group
• Jake Garn – former U.S. senator and astronaut, the first member of Congress in space
• Anthony Geary – actor in several daytime television series
• John Gilbert – silent film star
• Tyler Glenn – musician; member of rock band Neon Trees
• Jared Goldberg (born 1991) – Olympic skier
• Robert Gore – co-inventor of Gore-Tex fabrics
• Wilbert L. Gore – co-inventor of Gore-Tex fabrics
• Heber J. Grant (1856–1945) – 7th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Tom Green – Mormon fundamentalist and practicer of plural marriage
• Riley Griffiths – actor, known for Super 8
• Jesse Grupper (born 1997) – Olympic rock climber

H

• Gregg Hale – guitarist for British band Spiritualized
• Tracy Hall (1919–2008) – scientist
• Jacob Hamblin – peace maker with Native Americans
• Orrin Hatch (1934–2022) – long-time U.S. senator from Utah since 1977
• Dan Hausel (born 1949) – martial-arts grandmaster, exploration geologist and author
• Stanley Havili (born 1987) – fullback for the Philadelphia Eagles
• Colin Haynie (born 2004/2005) — alleged mass shooter
• Katherine Heigl – actress (Grey's Anatomy, 27 Dresses)
• Gary R. Herbert (born 1947) – governor of Utah
• Jared and Jerusha Hess (born 1979, 1980) – filmmakers (Napoleon Dynamite)
• Tracy Hickman – writer, co-creator of the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Dragonlance and associated novels
• Esther Hicks – inspirational speaker and best-selling author
• Chelsie Hightower – professional ballroom dancer on So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars
• Joe Hill – socialist, radical labor activist, and member of the Industrial Workers of the World
• Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) – 15th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1995–2008
• Allison Holker – jazz dancer
• Derek Hough and Julianne Hough – professional ballroom dancers on Dancing with the Stars
• Jeph Howard (born 1979) – bassist for The Used
• Jon Huntsman Jr. (born 1960) – governor of Utah 2005–2009; ambassador to the People's Republic of China
• Jon Huntsman Sr. – businessman, philanthropist, founder of Huntsman Corporation

I

• Brian Ibbott – creator of the Coverville podcast

J

• Daniel C. Jackling – founded the Utah Copper Co. in 1903, starting what became the world's largest open-pit mine
• Ken Jennings – 74-time Jeopardy! champion
• Jewel (born Jewel Kilcher, 1974) – singer-songwriter, guitarist, actress, and poet
• Scott Johnson – creator of Extralife webcomic and podcast network Frogpants Studios
• Megan Joy – singer, American Idol Season 8 finalist

K

• Thomas Kearns – U.S. senator from Utah (1901–1905), owned the Silver King Coalition Mine in Park City and the Salt Lake Tribune, Utah's largest newspaper
• Bryan Kehl – linebacker for the Washington Redskins
• Brett Keisel – defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers
• David M. Kennedy (1905–1996) – treasury secretary under President Nixon
• Spencer W. Kimball – 12th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; LDS president who ended the ban on priesthood for African-Americans in 1978
• John F. Kinney – chief justice of the Utah Territory Supreme Court, 1853–1857, and the Territory of Utah's Delegate in the House of Representatives of the 38th Congress
• Raymond Knight – rodeo organizer, son of mining magnate Jesse Knight
• Steve Konowalchuk – NHL forward for Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche
• Paul Kruger – linebacker for Cleveland Browns

L

• Carnell Lake (born 1967) – former NFL professional football player, football coach
• Paul Langton – actor
• Joi Lansing – model, actress
• LeafyIsHere – YouTuber
• Mike Leavitt – former governor of Utah, Secretary of Health and Human Services
• Harold B. Lee – 11th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• John D. Lee – early LDS Church leader, the only man convicted in the Mountain Meadows massacre
• Trevor Lewis – forward for NHL's Los Angeles Kings
• Don L. Lind – astronaut
• Mike Lookinland – actor
• Star Lotulelei – defensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers
• Brandon Lyon – relief pitcher for MLB's Toronto Blue Jays

M

• Maddox – Internet satirist and author of The Best Page in the Universe and The Alphabet of Manliness
• Karl Malone – professional basketball player (retired); two-time NBA MVP and Hall of Famer
• John Willard Marriott – founder of worldwide hotel business Marriott International, Inc.
• Mark Maryboy – politician and a former Navajo Nation Council Delegate
• Daya Mata – president of Self-Realization Fellowship for 55+ years
• Scott M. Matheson – governor of Utah
• Ned Mathews – running back for Detroit Lions and Boston Yanks
• Bert McCracken – lead singer of the band The Used
• Roger I. McDonough – chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court, 1947–1948 and 1954–1959
• David O. McKay – 9th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• James B. McKean – congressman, chief justice of the Utah Territory Supreme Court, 1870–1875
• Jim McMahon – NFL football player (retired); businessman; motivational speaker
• Evan Mecham – 17th governor of Arizona
• Kieth Merrill – Academy Award-winning producer and director
• Johnny Miller – former professional golfer, won 25 PGA Tour events, current golf analyst for NBC Sports
• Larry H. Miller (1944–2009) – businessman, philanthropist, owner of Utah Jazz basketball team
• Gerald R. Molen – Academy Award-winning film producer
• Thomas S. Monson – president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Ted Moss – three-term Democratic senator from Utah
• Barry Mower – businessperson, owner of Lifetime Products
• Brandon Mull – best-selling author

N

• Jim Nantz – CBS Sports anchor
• David Neeleman – co-founder JetBlue
• Russell M. Nelson – current president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Haloti Ngata – defensive end for the Baltimore Ravens
• Claude Nowell (1944–2008) – founder of Summum religion and philosophy

O

• Dallin H. Oaks – lawyer, jurist, Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Darcy Olsen – president and chief executive officer of the Goldwater Institute
• Merlin Olsen (1940–2010) – former NFL football player, actor on Little House on the Prairie and star of NBC's Father Murphy
• Osmond family – family music group The Osmonds
• Alan Osmond (born 1949) – singer
• Donny Osmond (born 1957) – singer, actor, television host
• Jay Osmond (born 1955) – singer
• Jimmy Osmond (born 1963) – singer, actor, businessman
• Marie Osmond (born 1959) – singer, actress, television host
• Merrill Osmond (born 1953) – singer
• Wayne Osmond (born 1951) – singer
• Wayne Owens (1937–2002) – attorney, U.S. congressman from Utah

P

• Erik Pears (born 1982) – offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers
• Utah Phillips (1935–2008) – folk singer, poet, and labor organizer
• Dorothy Poynton (1915–1995) – diver, two-time Olympic gold medalist
• Ivy Baker Priest (1905–1976) – United States Secretary of the Treasury 1953–61
• Pat Priest (born 1936) – actress, The Munsters

R

• Melba Rae – actress, Search for Tomorrow
• Natacha Rambova – costume and set designer; Egyptologist
• Cal Rampton – Utah governor, 1965–1977; won three terms running as a Democrat
• Carmen Rasmusen (born 1985) – contestant on American Idol 2
• Dallas Reynolds – offensive lineman for the New York Giants
• Dan Reynolds – lead singer for the band Imagine Dragons
• Gary Ridgway – serial killer known as the Green River Killer
• Amanda Righetti – actress, The Mentalist, North Shore, Reunion
• Mitt Romney – politician, businessman, former governor of Massachusetts (2003–2007), 2012 Republican nominee for president, and United States senator from Utah (2019–)
• Karl Rove – political advisor to President George W. Bush
• Ron Rydalch – defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears

S

• Matt Salmon – U.S. representative from Arizona
• Kyle Sampson – former chief of staff and counselor for United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
• Brandon Sanderson – author, selected to complete Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time
• Cael Sanderson – wrestler from Heber City, Utah, gold medalist in the 2004 Summer Olympics
• Harold Schindler (1929–1998) – Utah historian
• Dalton Schultz – tight end for the Dallas Cowboys
• Byron Scott – NBA shooting guard; head coach for the New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, and Cleveland Cavaliers
• Brent Scowcroft – National Security Advisor to presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush
• Ryan Seaman – drummer in the rock band Falling in Reverse
• Jerry Sloan – basketball player, Hall of Fame head coach for the Utah Jazz; longest-tenured coach in American professional sports
• Elizabeth Smart – kidnapped as a girl from her bedroom in Salt Lake City in 2002; child safety activist
• George Albert Smith – 8th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Joseph Fielding Smith – 10th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Lucky Blue Smith (born 1998) – model and drummer
• Reed Smoot – U.S. senator, served almost thirty years in Congress, ten as chairman of the Finance Committee
• Sril – artist
• Wallace Stegner – historian, novelist, short story writer, and environmentalist
• Branden Steineckert – former drummer of The Used, drummer for Rancid
• Stanley Smith Stevens – psychologist; founded Harvard's Psycho-Acoustic Laboratory; credited with Stevens' power law
• John Stockton – Hall of Fame point guard for the Utah Jazz, holds the NBA records for career assists and steals
• Picabo Street – champion alpine ski racer with the U.S. Ski Team
• Xavier Su'a-Filo – guard for the Dallas Cowboys
• Bruce Summerhays – professional golfer; mission president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Jane Summerhays – actress
• George Sutherland – English-born American jurist and political figure; Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, 1922–1938
• Kelly Sweet – adult contemporary singer
• May Swenson (1913–1989) – poet

T

• Naufahu Tahi – former NFL fullback
• Mitch Talbot – pitcher for the Samsung Lions
• Chrissy Teigen – model for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
• Kip Thorne – theoretical physicist
• D. J. Tialavea – tight end for the Atlanta Falcons
• Will Tukuafu – fullback for the Seattle Seahawks

U

• Harvey Unga – running back for the Chicago Bears
• Brendon Urie – singer-songwriter, frontman of Panic! at the Disco

V

• Craig Venter – biotechnologist, biochemist, geneticist, and entrepreneur
• Zach Vigil – linebacker for the Miami Dolphins

W

• Wakara – Native American; leader of the Timpanogos tribe
• Olene S. Walker – governor
• Tom Wallisch – skier
• John Warnock – co-founder of Adobe Systems Inc.
• Dallon Weekes – musician, singer-songwriter; former bassist of rock band Panic! at the Disco and current frontman of indie pop project I Dont Know How but They Found Me
• Mike Weir – professional golfer
• Rhyan White – Olympic swimmer
• Willie Wilkin – professional football player
• Terry Tempest Williams – author, environmentalist
• Marie Windsor – actress
• Mary Elizabeth Winstead – actress, Live Free or Die Hard
• Dave Wolverton – author
• James Woods – film, stage and television actor
• David Wright – cyclist, stage winner in all three grand tours, yellow jersey holder, national time trial champion

Y

• Brigham Young – 2nd president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Bryan Young – filmmaker and author
• Loretta Young – film actress and television star
• Mahonri Young – sculptor and artist
• Steve Young – Hall of Fame quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, NFL's Most Valuable Player 1992 and 1994

Z

• Charles S. Zane – chief justice of the Utah Territory Supreme Court (1884–1888), and of the Utah Supreme Court (1896–1899)
• Michael D. Zimmerman – sensei; chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court, 1994–1998

See also

By educational institution affiliation

• List of Brigham Young University alumni
• List of Brigham Young University faculty
• List of University of Utah people
• List of Utah State University alumni
• List of Utah State University faculty

By governmental office

• List of governors of Utah
• List of justices of the Utah Supreme Court
• List of United States representatives from Utah
• List of United States senators from Utah

By location

• List of people from Salt Lake City

By occupation

• List of Utah artists
• List of Utah suffragists
• List of Utah writers

By religious affiliation

• List of Latter Day Saints

References