List of people from Tulsa, Oklahoma

This is a list of well-known persons who were either born in, or lived in, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Arts

• Joe Brainard, (1942 - 1994) painter
• Charles Bell (1935–1995), artist
• Ted Berrigan, (1934 - 1983) poet
• James Pepper Henry, artist and Gilcrease Museum director (2015-2017)
• Roman Jasinski, (1907- 1991) ballet dancer and teacher
• Ron Padgett, (b. 1942) poet

Business

• Frank Abagnale, fraud expert, former con man, subject of Catch Me If You Can
• Cyrus Avery (1870–1963), businessman and "father of Route 66"
• Bill Bartmann, businessman, named as "One of the Top 100 Entrepreneurs of the Last 100 Years"
• W. Tate Brady (1870–1925), businessman, owner of the Brady Hotel
• James A. Chapman (1881–1966), oilman and philanthropist
• Robert Galbreath Jr. (1863–1955), oilman who moved to Tulsa after he drilled the first oil well in Glenn Pool Field
• J. Paul Getty (1892–1976), oilman founder of Getty Oil Company, who made his first million in Tulsa between 1914 and 1916
• Thomas Gilcrease (1890–1962), oilman, founder of Gilcrease Museum
• J. M. Hall (1851–1935), pioneer merchant in Tulsa, organized First Presbyterian Church
• George Kaiser, chairman of BOK Financial Corporation
• Henry Kravis, co-founder of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.
• Joseph A LaFortune, (1894–1975), oilman and philanthropist
• James H. McBirney (1870–1944), co-founder and president National Bank of Commerce in Tulsa
• Sam P. McBirney (1877–1936), football coach and co-founder National Bank of Commerce in Tulsa
• Robert M. McFarlin (1866–1942), oilman and philanthropist
• Waite Phillips (1883–1964), oilman and philanthropist
• Harry Ford Sinclair (1876–1956), founder of Sinclair Oil, co-founder of Exchange National Bank (later part of National Bank of Tulsa and Bank of Oklahoma; convicted of jury tampering during Teapot Dome scandal trial
• Carolyn Mary Skelly (1905–1996), eccentric daughter of William Grove Skelly; oil heiress; dubbed the most robbed woman in the U.S. by the Boston Globe; socialite; hosted fundraisers for President George H.W. Bush, and Texas Governor John Connally
• William G. Skelly (1877–1957), founder of Skelly Oil Company, Spartan Aircraft Company and Spartan School of Aeronautics, philanthropist
• William K. Warren Sr. (1897–1990), founder of Warren Petroleum Corporation; philanthropist
• John Smith Zink (1928–2005), engineer, owner of John Zink Industries, automobile racer

Music

• Admiral Twin (Mark Carr, Jarrod Gollihare, John Russell, Brad Becker), rock band
• The Agony Scene, metalcore band
• Elvin Bishop, blues and rock music singer-songwriter, guitarist and bandleader
• Garth Brooks, country music singer
• Broncho, punk rock band with Ryan Lindsey, Johnathon Ford of Roadside Monument, and Nathan Price
• Anita Bryant, singer
• J. J. Cale, songwriter and musician, an originator of The Tulsa Sound
• Capital Lights, pop rock band
• Rodney Carrington country music singer and comedian
• Jeff Carson, country musician
• Chuck Cissel, singer and dancer
• Annie Clark (St. Vincent)
• Roy Clark, country musician
• David Cook, 2008 American Idol winner
• Denny Cordell, record producer, signed Tom Petty as part of Mudcrutch
• Ester Dean, singer-songwriter
• Joe Diffie, country musician
• Phil Driscoll, trumpet player and singer, Christian and jazz musician
• Ronnie Dunn (Brooks and Dunn)
• Annie Ellicott, jazz, swing singer
• Scott Ellison, electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter
• Ester Drang, indie band
• Rocky Frisco, pianist for J.J. Cale; 2008 inductee into Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame
• The Gap Band, Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson, R&B, funk, and soul band
• David Gates, pop rock musician (Bread)
• Hanson, Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson, Pop rock band
• Gus Hardin, female country musician
• Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, jazz band
• William Johns, opera singer
• Jim Keltner, drummer for the Traveling Wilburys
• Tosca Kramer (1903–1976), violinist, violist, and music educator
• Fredell Lack (1922–2017), violinist
• Lega-C, rapper
• Leon McAuliffe, steel guitarist Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys
• Little Joe McLerran, singer, guitarist, recording artist and winner of 2009 International Blues Challenge
• John Moreland, singer-songwriter
• Jamie Oldaker, drummer, Eric Clapton, Bob Seger
• Patti Page, singer
• PDA, rapper
• Pillar, band
• Johnny Polygon, rapper
• Carl Radle, musician, bassist for Derek and the Dominos
• Ben Rector, singer-songwriter
• Steve Ripley, engineer, producer, singer-songwriter and guitarist for The Tractors and Bob Dylan
• Leon Russell, singer-songwriter, pianist, guitarist, an originator of The Tulsa Sound and founder of The Church Studio
• SafetySuit, pop rock band
• Jacob Sartorius, born in Tulsa but adopted and moved to upstate Virginia shortly after his birth
• Natalie Sims, musician, songwriter and music executive
• Andy Skib, guitarist, keyboardist in David Cook's band
• Clyde Stacy, rockabilly musician
• Ryan Tedder, producer, songwriter, lead singer of OneRepublic
• David Teegarden, rock drummer with Teegarden & Van Winkle and with Bob Seger
• Flash Terry, blues musician
• Neal Tiemann, lead guitarist in David Cook's band
• Wayman Tisdale (1964–2009), jazz musician and former professional basketball player
• Dwight Twilley, poper pop, rock musician
• Jared Tyler, singer-songwriter and producer
• Unwed Sailor, instrumental indie rock
• David T. Walker, session guitarist, famous for his work with Jackson 5, Bobby Womack, Levert and Stevie Wonder among others
• Johnnie Lee Wills, western music band leader, brother of Bob Wills
• Charlie Wilson, R&B singer and lead singer of The Gap Band
• Bob Wootton, lead guitarist for the Tennessee Three
• Tuck Andress, guitarist
• Kristin Chenoweth, actress, singer and author
• Dara Tucker, singer-songwriter and documentary filmmaker
• AleXa, K-pop Idol

Politics

• Tom Adelson, member of the Oklahoma State Senate
• Bob Ballinger, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, reared in Tulsa
• Dewey F. Bartlett, former Governor of the state of Oklahoma and U.S. Senator
• Dewey F. Bartlett Jr., former Mayor of Tulsa (2009–2016)
• G. T. Bynum, Mayor of Tulsa (2016–present)
• Jim R. Caldwell, retired Church of Christ minister and former member of the Arkansas State Senate
• David Duke, former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan and former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
• David Hall, former Governor of the state of Oklahoma
• James Inhofe, U.S. Senator
• James R. Jones, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, chairman of the American Stock Exchange
• Frank Keating, former Governor of the state of Oklahoma
• John Albert Knebel, Secretary of Agriculture in the Carter Administration
• Sheila Kuehl, former actress, now California State Senator
• Steve Largent, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Willian F. Martin, United States Deputy Secretary of Energy
• Jim McConn, former Mayor of Houston, Texas, 1979–1981
• Daniel Patrick Moynihan, former Democratic U.S. Senator representing New York was born in Tulsa.
• George E. Nowotny, retired Tulsa businessman and former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Fort Smith
• John A. Sullivan, member of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Kathy Taylor, Mayor of Tulsa (2006–2009)
• John Volz, attorney for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, died in Tulsa in 2011
• R. James Woolsey Jr., former director, Central Intelligence Agency
• Terry Young, former Mayor of the City of Tulsa

Print

• Mildred Grosberg Bellin, Jewish cookbook author
• William Bernhardt, mystery/suspense fiction author
• Daniel J. Boorstin (1914-2004), historian and writer; former Librarian of Congress
• Cleora Butler (1901–1985), chef, caterer and cookbook writer
• Dorothy Carnegie (1912–1998), author
• P.C. Cast, author
• John Hope Franklin, African American historian; namesake of John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park in Tulsa
• Martin Gardner, author of works on philosophy, mathematics and literature
• Sterling Gates, comic book writer (Supergirl, Action Comics)
• Joy Harjo, poet, musician, and author. First Native American Poet Laureate, and first Poet Laureate from Oklahoma.
• S.E. Hinton, author (The Outsiders, That Was Then, This Is Now, Tex)
• Mercedes Lackey, science-fiction author
• R.A. Lafferty, science-fiction author
• Billie Letts, author, Where the Heart Is
• Tracy Letts, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and actor (August: Osage County)
• Joe McGuff, journalist and newspaper editor
• Russell Myers, cartoonist, Broom-Hilda comic strip
• Denver Nicks, journalist
• Dan Piraro, cartoonist of the Bizarro comic strip
• Nancy Speir, children's book illustrator
• Grace Steele Woodward, writer and historian
• William P. Steven, journalist and newspaper editor
• Clifton Taulbert, author, Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored
• Will Thomas, mystery fiction author
• Mildred Ladner Thompson, reporter for The Wall Street Journal and Tulsa World
• Michael Wallis, author, Route 66, Pretty Boy Floyd, Mankiller, Billy the Kid Voice Of Sheriff in The Cars Series
• K. D. Wentworth, science-fiction author
• Cornel West, theologian, author

Radio

• Paul Harvey (1918–2009), radio personality
• Roy D. Mercer, fictional radio character

Screen and stage

• Pamela Bach, actress; ex-wife of David Hasselhoff
• Marshall Bell, actor
• William Boyd, aka Hopalong Cassidy, western actor (born in Hendrysburg, Belmont County, Ohio)
• Max Burnett, TV writer, screenwriter and director
• Gary Busey, actor
• Cindy Chupack, screenwriter for Sex and the City
• Larry Clark, film director and photographer
• Iron Eyes Cody, actor
• Jay Dee, comedian
• Larry Drake, actor
• Blake Edwards, film director
• Sue England, actress
• Bill Hader, actor, writer and comedian
• Sterlin Harjo, filmmaker
• Josh Henderson, actor
• John Ingle, actor
• Eva Jinek, news anchor
• Jennifer Jones (1919–2009), actress
• Heather Langenkamp, actress
• Tommy Morrison, boxer and actor
• Jerry Nelson, actor, puppeteer
• Tim Blake Nelson, actor and director
• Mary Kay Place, actress
• Tony Randall, actor
• Julián Rebolledo, actor and voice talent
• Jack Roberts, actor
• Gailard Sartain, actor
• Mary Stuart, actress
• Wes Studi, actor
• Paula Trickey, actress
• Jeanne Tripplehorn, actress
• Stacy Valentine, porn star
• Amber Valletta, actress and supermodel
• Susan Watson, Broadway actress
• Alfre Woodard, actress
• Judy Woodruff, television journalist
• Don Woods, meteorologist

Sports

• Brent Albright, professional wrestler
• Kelenna Azubuike, professional basketball player
• Randy Blake, kickboxer
• Bill Blankenship, football coach, head coach at University of Tulsa
• Anthony Bowie, basketball player
• Michael Bowie, former Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle
• Jordan Brailford, defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons
• Dylan Bundy, baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins
• Mikey Burnett, mixed martial artist
• Patrick Callan, competitive swimmer
• Dale Cook, kickboxer and actor
• Bobby Cox (born 1941), player, manager and Baseball Hall of Famer
• Richard Dumas, professional basketball player for the Phoenix Suns
• Ebi Ere, basketball player for Melbourne Tigers
• Terrance Ferguson, basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers
• Justin Fuente, head football coach, Virginia Tech
• Reuben Gant, football player for Buffalo Bills
• Matt Gogel, professional golfer
• Bill Goldberg (born 1966), professional NFL football player and undefeated wrestler
• Todd Graham, head coach of Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team (2007–2010)
• Matt Grice, mixed martial arts fighter
• Tommy Hanson, baseball pitcher
• Chris Harris Jr., NFL, Cornerback
• Gerald Harris, mixed martial artist
• Thomas Hatch, pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays
• Marques Haynes, Harlem Globetrotters player, Basketball Hall of Famer
• David Heath, mixed martial artist
• Randy Heckenkemper, golf course designer
• Daxton Hill, NFL, Safety
• Justice Hill, NFL, Running back
• Koyie Hill, Major League Baseball catcher
• Josh Jacobs, NFL, Running back
• Zach Jackson (pitcher, born 1994), Major League Baseball, pitcher for the Oakland Athletics
• Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys Running back
• Dallas Keuchel, pitcher for the Chicago White Sox
• Jim King, NBA player and Tulsa Golden Hurricane men's basketball coach
• Jeff Krosnoff, Championship Auto Racing Teams driver
• Steve Largent, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver, Pro Football Hall of Famer, politician
• Kevin Lilly, NFL player
• Kevin Lockett, NFL player
• Tyler Lockett, NFL player
• Zach Loyd, soccer player
• Lee Mayberry, professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks
• Sam P. McBirney, coach of Tulsa Golden Hurricane football (1914–1916)
• R. W. McQuarters, professional football cornerback
• Robert Meachem, New Orleans Saints wide receiver
• Kenny Monday, Olympic gold medalist and World Champion in freestyle wrestling
• Joe-Max Moore, soccer forward, U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame 2013
• Reece Morrison, NFL player
• Tommy Morrison (1969-2013), boxer, heavyweight contender and actor, Rocky V
• Ray Murphy, Jr., collegiate wrestler and 1989 Handicapped Person of the Year
• Charlie O'Brien, professional baseball catcher
• Janice O'Hara, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
• Peter Ramondetta, professional skateboarder
• Nolan Richardson (born 1941), basketball coach for University of Tulsa and University of Arkansas, coach and general manager WNBA's Tulsa Shock
• Henry Schichtle, football player
• Tubby Smith (born 1951), basketball coach
• John Starks, basketball player
• Ricky Stromberg (born 2000), American football player
• Iciss Tillis, professional basketball player for WNBA's Washington Mystics
• James "Quick" Tillis, boxer, heavyweight contender and actor
• Wayman Tisdale (1964–2009), professional basketball player and musician
• Matt Wiman, mixed martial arts fighter
• Darryl Wren, gridiron football player
• John Smith Zink, automobile racing

Religion

• Finis Alonzo Crutchfield, Jr., (1916–1986), United Methodist Church bishop, minister of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, died in Tulsa
• Paul Vernon Galloway (1904–1990), Minister of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, later Methodist bishop
• Willie George, children's show actor and pastor
• Charles William Kerr (1875–1951), first permanent Protestant minister in Tulsa
• Carlton Pearson (born 1953), evangelist
• Oral Roberts (1918–2009), pioneer televangelist, founder of Oral Roberts University, affiliated with United Methodist church
• Mother Grace Tucker (1919-2012), Evangelical Christian pastor and philanthropist
• John B. Wolf (1925–2017), minister of All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church

Other

• Bobby Baldwin, professional poker player (1978 world champion) and casino executive; born in Tulsa
• Deborah Barnes, judge of the Oklahoma Appellate Court (1987-present); daughter in law of the late Justice Don Barnes
• Don Barnes (judge), born in Tulsa, Justice of the Oklahoma State Supreme Court (1972-1985)
• Jennifer Berry, Miss America 2006
• Butler, Phillip N., the eighth longest-held US prisoner of war in North Vietnam, president of Veterans for Peace
• Roscoe Cartwright, first black Field Artilleryman promoted to Brigadier General.
• Mike Doonesbury, main character in Garry Trudeau's comic strip Doonesbury
• Viola Fletcher, survivor of the Tulsa race massacre
• John Duncan Forsyth (1887–1963), architect
• W. R. Holway (1893–1981), engineer, designer of Spavinaw water project
• Robert Lawton Jones (1925–2018), architect noted for his contributions to modern architecture
• Olivia Jordan, Miss World America 2013, Miss Oklahoma USA 2015, Miss USA 2015
• Joseph R. Koberling, Jr. (1900–1990), architect
• Charles Page (1860–1926), philanthropist and founder of Sand Springs
• Leon B. Senter (1889-1965), architect
• William Angie Smith (1894–1974), Methodist Bishop of Oklahoma
• Mother Grace Tucker, pastor and philanthropist