List of people from Dayton, Ohio

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

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Actors, entertainers, and models

Nancy Cartwright

Martin Sheen

• 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
• Willis "Bing" Davis (born 1937), visual artist and teacher
• Dr. Creep aka Barry Hobart (1941–2011), actor
• Charles Michael Davis (born 1984), 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
• Aaron O'Connell (born 1986), actor
• Maulik Pancholy (born 1974), actor, voice actor, author
• Dan Patrick (Pugh) (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, comedian
• Andrea Thompson (born 1960), actress
• De'Angelo Wilson (1979–2008), actor
• Jonathan Winters (1925–2013), comedian and actor
• Vincent M. Ward (born 1971), actor
• Katt Williams (born 1971), comedian and actor

Athletes

Pauline Betz

Roger Clemens

Braxton Miller

Edwin C. Moses

• 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^[1]
• 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^[2]
• 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 Sr. (1911–1956), basketball player
• Bill Hosket Jr. (born 1946), 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
• 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 Clifford Barney

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Patrick Nagel

• 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
• 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^[3]
• Tim Waggoner, horror and fantasy writer
• Roz Young (1912–2005), columnist

Entrepreneurs

Wilbur and Orville Wright

• 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
• Katharine Wright Haskell (1874–1929), suffragist, teacher, assisted the Wright brothers
• the Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, inventors of the airplane

Military

Admiral Timothy J. Keating

• 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^[4]
• 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

Billy Strayhorn

• Little Axe (born 1949), blues musician
• Leroy Bonner (1943–2013), musician/producer, The Ohio Players
• Stevie Brock (born 1990), pop singer
• Kim Deal (born 1961), rock musician, member of Pixies, The Amps, and The Breeders
• Kelley Deal (born 1961), rock musician, member of 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 and other aliases thereof
• 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
• 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
• Willis Blackshear Jr. (born 1993), Ohio State Representative

James Cox

• 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^[5]
• 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

• 

  Alice E. Heckler Peters

  China P. Arnold (born 1980), convicted murderer serving life without parole for murdering and cooking her daughter, Paris in a microwave
• Jordan Anderson (1825–1907), former slave and author of "Letter from a Freedman to His Old Master"
• 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
• 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^[6][7]
• 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

See also

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