| Famous Iowans and famous people who lived in Iowa for a while |
| Actors, directors, producers...: Julie Adams Waterloo Steve Allen Drake University Fran Allison LaPorte City Don Ameche Marion, Dubuque Samuel Arkoff Fort Dodge Tom Arnold Ottumwa Douglas Barr Cedar Rapids Steve Bell Avoca Richard Beymer Avoca Foster Brooks Ottumwa radio station Mitchell Burgess Cedar Rapids MacDonald Carey Sioux City Johnny Carson Corning, Avoca... Virginia Christine Stanton Stephen Collins Des Moines Gary Cooper Grinnell College William Daily Jeremy Davies Rockford Don DeFore Cedar Rapids Sharon Farrell Sioux City Terry Farrell Cedar Rapids Henderson Forsythe University of Iowa William Frawley Burlington Annabeth Gish Cedar Falls Fred Grandy Sioux City Robin Green University of Iowa Doug Henning Fairfield Mary Beth Hurt Marshalltown Dan Karpan Monroe County Alex Karras University of Iowa Terry Kiser Council Bluffs Christopher "Ashton" Kutcher Cedar Rapids, Homestead, University of Iowa Harry Langdon Cloris Leachman Des Moines Sue Lyon Davenport Jock Mahoney Davenport Stuart Margolin Davenport Jerry Mathers Sioux City Marilyn Maxwell Clarinda Nicholas Meyer University of Iowa Constance Moore Sioux City Greg Morris University of Iowa Karen Morrow Des Moines Kate Mulgrew Dubuque Harriet (Hilliard) Nelson Des Moines Nick Nolte Ames, Waterloo Randi Oakes Randalia Dennis O'Keefe Fort Madison Dick Patterson Clear Lake Randolph Powell Mason City Ronald Reagan Davenport, Des Moines Donna Reed Denison Marian Rees Carroll, Des Moines George Reeves Woolstock Michael Ray Rhodes Estherville Brandon Routh Des Moines, Norwalk Lonna Schwab Osage Jean Seberg Marshalltown Ralph Senensky Mason City Julie Sommars Onawa, Sioux City Michael Talbott Waverly David Tolkon Strawberry Point Daniel J. Travanti Dubuque Forrest Tucker Indianola, Des Moines Thomas G. Waites Marcia Wallace Creston John Wayne Winterset, Keokuk Gene Wilder University of Iowa Andy Williams Wall Lake Meredith Willson Mason City Roger Williams Drake University David L. Wolper Elijah Wood Cedar Rapids Authors, books became movies: William P. Kinsella University of Iowa Book: Shoeless Joe; Movie: Field of Dreams James A. Michener University of Iowa Book: Tales of the South Pacific; Movie: South Pacific Kurt Vonnegut Jr. University of Iowa Book & movie: Slaughterhouse-Five Outer space exploration: Clayton Anderson Ames (M.S., Aerospace Engineering, Iowa State University) Shuttle astronaut (flight engineer) Laurel Clark Ames Shuttle astronaut (mission specialist) R. Walter M. Cunningham Creston Apollo 7 astronaut David C. Hilmers Clinton Shuttle astronaut Jim Kelly Burlington Shuttle astronaut Captain Kirk Riverside? Born in a small Iowa town in the future Enterprise captain James A. Van Allen Mount Pleasant space physicist, professor at Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City Peggy Whitson Mount Ayr Shuttle astronaut |
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| Other: John V. Atanasoff Iowa State University scientist, invented 1st electronic computer Bix Beiderbecke Davenport jazz musician Tom Cech Iowa City Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1989 Bonnie & Clyde just passing through (notable stops: Dexter, Fort Dodge, Stuart) outlaws George Washington Carver Iowa State University--Ames, Simpson College--Indianola scientist, peanut research Mary Clingman Simpson College, Indianola Butterball Turkey Talk-Line director William "Buffalo Bill" Cody Davenport, LeClaire, Scott City scout Thomas Cech Iowa City Nobel Prize, chemistry, 1989 Janet Dailey Early author John Dillinger just passing through (notable stop: Mason City) outlaw Amelia Earhart Des Moines aviation pioneer Wyatt Earp Pella frontier marshal Mamie Eisenhower Boone first lady Simon Estes Centerville bass-baritone opera singer Don & Phil Everly (Everly Brothers) Shenandoah, Waterloo musicians, pop music George H. Gallup Jefferson poll taker Roswell Garst Coon Rapids farmer, hybrid corn Merle Hay Glidden war hero Herbert Hoover West Branch U.S. president Lou Henry Hoover Waterloo first lady Jesse James just passing through (notable stops: Adair, Corydon, Riverton) outlaw Shawn Johnson West Des Moines gymnist, 2007 champ: Pan American All-Around, American Cup All-Around, national, world Zach Johnson Iowa City, Des Moines The Masters golf champion 2007 Ann Landers Sioux City newpaper advice columnist Frederick Maytag Laurel manufacturer, washers/driers Glenn Miller Clarinda bandleader Nadas band (Ian Shephard, Mike Butterworth, Jason Walsmith, Jon Locker, Ross VanderWerf) Des Moines; ISU, Ames band Robert "Bob" Pierce Fort Dodge founded World Visoin , Samaritan's Purse Harry Reasoner Dakota City TV commentator Bill Riley Iowa Falls broadcaster, talent scout Marilynne Robinson (see "Marilynne Summers) Bill Sackter Iowa City 1981 TV movie "Bill" starring Mickey Rooney based on Sackter Robert Schuller Alton pastor at Crystal Cathedral in California Kate Shelley Moingona saved Chicago/North Western passenger train, Honey Creek bridge out near Des Moines River. Sullivan brothers Waterloo navy war heroes Jane Smiley Ames writer, A Thousand Acres Neal Stephenson Ames writer, also known as Steven Bury Marilynne Summers (Marilynne Robinson) Iowa City author Gilead (2004), Housekeeping (1980); professor Univ. of Iowa--Writers' Workshop; 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and National Book Critics Circle Award Billy Sunday Ames evangelist Tiny Tim Des Moines singer, popular music; tv Mark Twain Keokuk, Muscatine writer, humorist Abigail Van Buren Sioux City newspaper advice columnist Arthur Wahl Des Moines discovered plutonium Nellie Verne Walker Red Oak sculptor Henry A. Wallace Adair City U.S. vice president in F. Roosevelt's 3rd term Laura Ingalls Wilder Burr Oak writer, Little House on the Prairie Tennessee Williams University of Iowa playwright Grant Wood Anamosa painter of Iowa scenery Orville & Wilbur Wright Cedar Rapids inventors of airplane |
| This page revised 11-22-08 |
| Webmaster: John Gelhaus |
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| Background picture is "Stone City, Iowa" painted by Iowa artist Grant Wood. |