List of people from Denver

This is a list of some notable people who have lived in the City and County of Denver, Colorado, United States.

People born elsewhere but raised in Denver are marked with a §. People born and raised elsewhere who have lived in Denver as adults are marked with a #.

Academia

 * Harold Agnew (1921–2013), physicist
 * Hal Anger (1920–2005), electrical engineer, biophysicist
 * Lena Lovato Archuleta (1920–2011), administrator, librarian #
 * John Arthur (1946–2007), philosopher
 * Alfred Marshall Bailey (1894–1978), ornithologist #
 * Jacques Bailly (1966– ), classics scholar, Scripps National Spelling Bee pronouncer
 * Thomas Bopp (1949–2018), astronomer and co-discoverer of comet Hale-Bopp
 * Jason Box (1970– ), climatologist, geographer
 * Hendrika B. Cantwell (1925– ), Dutch-American clinical professor of pediatrics, advocate for abused and neglected children
 * Louis George Carpenter (1861–1935), engineer, mathematician #
 * John Cotton Dana (1856–1929), librarian, museum director #
 * Gertrude Crotty Davenport (1866–1946), biologist, eugenicist
 * David Brion Davis (1927-2019), Sterling Professor of History at Yale University and director of Yale's Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition
 * Edwina Hume Fallis (1876–1957), educator, writer, toy designer
 * Alan Fowler (1928– ), physicist
 * Margaret Hayes Grazier (1916–1999), librarian, educator
 * Margaret Storrs Grierson (1900–1997), archivist, philosophy professor
 * John L. Hall (1934– ), physicist
 * Donna Haraway (1944– ), feminist studies scholar, sociologist
 * Orin Hargraves (1953– ), lexicographer
 * Robert Heizer (1915–1979), archaeologist
 * Arnold Kramish (1923–2010), nuclear physicist
 * Tony Laubach, meteorologist with the TWISTEX team
 * Henry F. May (1915–2012), historian
 * David Messerschmitt (1945– ), electrical engineer
 * Seeley G. Mudd (1895–1968), physician, professor, philanthropist
 * Rob Nelson (1979– ), biologist, documentary filmmaker
 * John W. Olmsted (1903–1986), historian
 * Renee Rabinowitz (1934–2020), psychologist and lawyer #
 * Robert Reid (1924–2006), engineer
 * Paul Romer (1955– ), economist
 * Tim Samaras (1957–2013), engineer, meteorologist
 * Ann Linnea Sandberg (1938–2009), immunologist §
 * John Searle (1932– ), philosopher
 * Paul Stewart (1925–2015), historian #
 * Willis M. Tate (1912–1989), university president
 * Keith Uncapher (1922–2002), computer engineer
 * Stanley M. Wagner (1932–2013), rabbi and academic #
 * James Q. Wilson (1931–2012), political scientist
 * Hannah Marie Wormington (1914–1994), archaeologist

Fashion

 * Lauren Bush (1984– ), model, designer, philanthropist
 * Mondo Guerra (1978– ), fashion designer, philanthropist

Film, television, and theatre

 * Anikka Albrite (1988– ), pornographic actress
 * Tim Allen (1953– ), actor, comedian
 * Michael J. Anderson (1953– ), actor
 * Annaleigh Ashford (1985– ), actress, singer
 * Barry Atwater (1918–1978), actor
 * Phil Austin (1941–2015), comedian, writer
 * Dian Bachar (1970– ), actor
 * Roseanne Barr (1952– ), actress, comedian #
 * Barbara Bates (1925–1969), actress, singer
 * Madge Bellamy (1899–1990), actress §
 * Matthew Berry (1969– ), screenwriter, producer, fantasy sports analyst
 * Julie Bishop (1914–2001), actress
 * Josh Blue (1978– ), comedian #
 * Sierra Boggess (1982 – ), actress, singer
 * Tom Bower (1938– ), actor
 * Stan Brakhage (1933–2003), experimental filmmaker §
 * Bobby Buntrock (1952–1974), actor
 * Joseph Castanon (1997– ), actor
 * Mary Jo Catlett (1938– ), actress
 * Kristin Cavallari (1987– ), television personality, actress
 * Adam Cayton-Holland (1980– ), comedian
 * Don Cheadle (1964– ), actor §
 * Marshall Colt (1948– ), actor, psychologist #
 * Lillian Covillo (1921–2010), ballet dancer
 * Richard C. Currier (1892–1984), film editor
 * Ann B. Davis (1926–2014), actress #
 * John Davis (1954– ), producer
 * Ashly DelGrosso (1982– ), dancer
 * Rubye De Remer (1892–1984), actress, dancer
 * Scott Derrickson (1966– ), director, screenwriter
 * Josephine Dillon (1884–1971), actress
 * Madhuri Dixit (1967– ), actress #
 * Jack Earle (1906–1952), actor, sideshow performer
 * Chris Eigeman (1965– ), actor, director
 * Richard Epcar (1955– ), voice actor
 * Douglas Fairbanks (1883–1939), actor, director, producer, screenwriter
 * David Fincher (1962– ), director, producer
 * Kevin Fitzgerald (1951– ), veterinarian, comedian
 * Nina Flowers (1974– ), drag queen, makeup artist, disc jockey #
 * Emmett J. Flynn (1892–1937), director, screenwriter
 * Rebecca Forstadt (1953– ), voice actress
 * Gene Fowler (1890–1960), screenwriter, journalist
 * Gene Fowler Jr. (1917–1998), film editor
 * Gardiner Brothers (Michael-1995, Matthew-1999), professional Irish dancers
 * Pam Grier (1949– ), actress §
 * Naomi Grossman (1975– ), actress, screenwriter
 * Texas Guinan (1884–1933), actress, club owner #
 * Hanna R. Hall (1984– ), actress
 * Maxine Elliott Hicks (1904–2000), actress
 * Pat Hingle (1924–2009), actor
 * Arthur Holch (1924–2010), documentary filmmaker §
 * Olin Howland (1886–1959), actor
 * Tommy Ivo (1936– ), actor, race car driver
 * Bryce Johnson (1977– ), actor §
 * Morgan Jones (1879–1951), actor
 * Andy Juett (1977– ), comedian #
 * Ameenah Kaplan (1974– ), actress, musician, choreographer
 * Glenn Langan (1917–1991), actor
 * Brandy Ledford (1969– ), actress, model
 * Jack Lipson (1901–1947), actor
 * Teala Loring (1922–2007), actress
 * Justine Lupe (1989– ), actress
 * John Carroll Lynch (1963– ), actor §
 * Bernard McConville (1887–1961), screenwriter
 * Merrill McCormick (1892–1953), actor
 * Hattie McDaniel (1895–1952), actress, comedian, singer-songwriter §
 * Robert A. McGowan (1901–1955), director, screenwriter
 * T.J. Miller (1981– ), actor, comedian
 * Gordon Mitchell (1923–2003), actor, bodybuilder
 * Peg Murray (1924–2020), actress
 * Adam Nix (1986– ), director, producer
 * Evan Nix (1983– ), director, producer
 * Danni Sue Nolan (1923–2002), actress
 * Yvie Oddly (1993– ), drag queen, winner of the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race
 * Marie Osborne (1911–2010), actress
 * Mikki Padilla (1974– ), actress, model
 * Debra Paget (1933– ), actress
 * Trey Parker (1969– ), actor, animator, director, screenwriter
 * James D. Parriott (1950– ), writer, director, and producer
 * Val Paul (1886–1962), actor, director
 * Lawrence Pech (1959– ), dancer, choreographer
 * Antoinette Perry (1888–1946), actress, director
 * Joseph C. Phillips (1962– ), actor, political commentator
 * Jeffrey Pierce (1971– ), actor
 * Willow Pill (1995– ), drag queen, winner of the fourteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race
 * Ron Pinkard (1941– ), actor
 * Talyah Polee (1988– ), beauty queen #
 * Wayde Preston (1929–1992), actor
 * Dean Reed (1938–1986), actor, singer-songwriter
 * Kristen Renton (1982– ), actress
 * AnnaSophia Robb (1993– ), actress
 * Keith Roberts, dancer
 * Mark Roberts (1921–2006), actor
 * Gloria Romero (1933– ), actress
 * Shayna Rose (1983– ), actress, singer
 * Karly Rothenberg (1962– ), actress
 * Barbara Rush (1927– ), actress
 * Walter Sande (1906–1971), actor
 * Dia Sokol Savage (1976– ), producer
 * Peter Scanavino (1980– ), actor
 * Russell Scott (1921–2013), clown #
 * Ethel Shannon (1898–1951), actress
 * Charity Shea (1983– ), actress
 * Marion Shilling (1910–2004), actress
 * Bradley Snedeker (1977– ), actor
 * Lincoln Stedman (1907–1948), actor
 * Stephen Stohn (1948– ), television producer
 * Ruth Stonehouse (1892–1941), actress
 * Scott Takeda (1967– ), actor, television reporter #
 * Lauren Taylor, actress and singer
 * Irene Tedrow (1907–1995), actress
 * Ann E. Todd (1931–2020), actress
 * Lester Vail (1899–1959), actor
 * Marilyn Van Derbur (1937– ), beauty queen, motivational speaker
 * Jan-Michael Vincent (1944–2019), actor
 * Vicki Vola (1916–1985), actress
 * Joseph Walker (1892–1985), cinematographer
 * Nate Watt (1889–1968), director
 * James R. Webb (1909–1974), screenwriter
 * Frank Welker (1946– ), voice actor
 * David White (1916–1990), actor
 * Jeff Whiting (1972– ), choreographer, theater director
 * Rhoda Williams (1930–2006), actress
 * Michael Winslow (1958– ), actor, comedian §
 * Freeman Wood (1896–1956), actor
 * Polly Ann Young (1908–1997), actress

Gaming

 * Patrick Chapin (1980– ), trading card game player, writer

Journalism

 * Adele Arakawa (1958– ), news anchor #
 * Asha Blake (1961– ), news anchor #
 * Marshall Bloom (1944–1969), editor, alternative press entrepreneur
 * Shareen Blair Brysac (1939– ), editor, non-fiction writer, documentary producer
 * Caroline Nichols Churchill (1833–1926), newspaper publisher, feminist #
 * Ted Conover (1958– ), journalist, non-fiction writer §
 * J. Campbell Cory (1867–1925), cartoonist (Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Times)
 * Brian Crecente (1970– ), reporter, gaming journalist
 * Doug DeMuro (1988– ), automotive columnist, reviewer, and author
 * Terry Drinkwater (1936–1989), television reporter
 * George F. Franklin (1852–1901), newspaper publisher #
 * Amy Freeze (1974– ), television meteorologist #
 * Malcom Glenn (1987– ), newspaper reporter, commentator
 * Miriam Goldberg (1916–2017), newspaper publisher, editor
 * Sharon Tyler Herbst (1942–2007), food journalist, culinary book author §
 * Bill Hosokawa (1915–2007), newspaper reporter, editor #
 * Jeremy Hubbard (1972– ), news anchor #
 * Amber Lyon (1982– ), photojournalist
 * Jack Murphy (1923–1980), sports columnist, editor
 * Reynelda Muse (1946– ), news anchor #
 * Art Rascon (1962– ), news anchor §
 * Joy Ann Reid (1968– ), political commentator, MSNBC anchor #
 * T.R. Reid (1943– ), reporter #
 * Rick Reilly (1958– ), sportswriter #
 * Jon Scott (1958– ), news anchor
 * August Skamenca (1981– ), radio correspondent §
 * Harry Smith (1951– ), television reporter, news anchor #
 * Clara Sears Taylor (1876–after 1938), journalist, first woman appointed to the Washington DC rent commission
 * Richard Two Elk (1952– ), journalist, radio host, American Indian activist #
 * David Von Drehle (1961– ), reporter, editor

Literature

 * Poe Ballantine (1955– ), novelist, essayist
 * Robin Blaser (1925–2009), poet, essayist
 * Libbie Block (1910–1972), short story writer, novelist
 * Catharine Savage Brosman (1934– ), poet, essayist, French literature scholar
 * Marilyn Brown (1938– ), novelist, poet
 * Neal Cassady (1926–1968), poet §
 * Mary Chase (1906–1981), playwright
 * J. V. Cunningham (1911–1985), poet, literary critic §
 * Steven Dietz (1958– ), playwright
 * John Dolan (1955– ), poet, essayist
 * Bruce Ducker (1938– ), novelist, poet #
 * John Dunning (1942–2023), novelist #
 * John Fante (1909–1983), novelist, screenwriter, short story writer
 * Thomas Hornsby Ferril (1896–1988), poet, essayist
 * Bill Finger (1914–1974), comics writer
 * Thomas E. Gaddis (1908–1984), non-fiction writer
 * Noah Eli Gordon (1975– ), poet #
 * Deatt Hudson (1931-1988), educator and writer
 * Leigh Kennedy (1951– ), novelist, short story writer
 * Harry N. MacLean (1943– ), true crime writer, novelist
 * L. E. Modesitt Jr. (1943– ), novelist
 * Elizabeth Robinson (1961– ), poet
 * L. Neil Smith (1946–2021), novelist, libertarian activist
 * Suzi Q. Smith (1979– ), poet
 * Lenora Mattingly Weber (1895–1971), novelist, short story writer §
 * Connie Willis (1945– ), novelist, short story writer

Music

 * Ailee (1989– ), singer, actress
 * India Arie (1975– ), singer-songwriter
 * Philip Bailey (1951– ), singer-songwriter
 * Brandon Barnes (1972– ), drummer
 * Bill Barwick, singer-songwriter, guitarist, voiceover artist #
 * Chuck Berghofer (1937– ), bassist
 * Tommy Bolin (1951–1976), guitarist #
 * Antonia Brico (1902–1989), conductor, pianist #
 * John Browning (1933–2003), pianist
 * Wayne Carson (1943–2015), songwriter, country musician
 * Eleanor Caulkins (1936– ), opera patron #
 * Robert N. Cavarra (1934–2008), composer, organist, harpsichordist, pianist and musicologist
 * Judy Collins (1939– ), singer-songwriter §
 * John Common (1971– ), singer-songwriter, guitarist #
 * Walt Conley (1929–2003), folk singer, musician and actor
 * Marty Cooper (1946– ), singer-songwriter
 * David Cornwall (1937–2006), composer
 * Brad Corrigan (1974– ), guitarist, singer
 * Pearl G. Curran (1875–1941), composer, librettist
 * Deuce Mob, rap duo
 * Fannie Charles Dillon (1881–1947), pianist, composer
 * Larry Dunn (1953– ), keyboardist
 * Shane Endsley, trumpeter
 * Flobots, hip-hop band
 * Mary Flower, guitarist, singer #
 * Eugene Fodor (1950–2011), violinist
 * Guy Forsyth (1968– ), singer-songwriter, guitarist
 * The Fray, rock band
 * Harry Lawrence Freeman (1869–1954), composer, conductor #
 * Bill Frisell (1951– ), guitarist, composer §
 * Frank Gagliardi (1931–2011), percussionist, composer
 * Teri Gender Bender (1989– ), singer, guitarist
 * Ben Goldberg (1959– ), clarinetist, composer
 * John Grant (1968– ), singer-songwriter §
 * Corey Harris (1969– ), guitarist, singer
 * Keith Hoerig (1972– ), bass guitarist §
 * Peanuts Hucko (1918–2003), clarinetist, bandleader #
 * Cory Kendrix (1988– ), musician
 * Little Fyodor, disc jockey, singer-songwriter #
 * Jerry Livingston (1909–1987), songwriter, pianist
 * The Lumineers, folk rock band
 * Jimmie Lunceford (1902–1947), saxophonist, bandleader §
 * Edwin McArthur (1907–1987), conductor, pianist, accompanist
 * Ron Miles (1963– ), trumpeter, cornetist §
 * Todd Park Mohr (1965– ), singer-songwriter, guitarist
 * Robert Moran (1937– ), composer
 * Stephen L. Mosko (1947–2005), composer
 * OneRepublic, pop rock band §
 * Nick Perito (1924–2005), composer, arranger
 * Pretty Lights (1981– ), electronic musician, real name Derek Smith
 * Dianne Reeves (1956– ), singer §
 * Reese Roper (1973– ), singer-songwriter
 * David Schmitt (1988– ), musical artist of Breathe Carolina
 * Isaac Slade (1981– ), singer-songwriter, pianist
 * Jill Sobule (1961– ), singer-songwriter
 * Tag Team, hip-hop group
 * Donnette Thayer (1958– ), singer-songwriter, guitarist §
 * Tyler Ward (1988– ), singer-songwriter
 * John Warne (1979– ), bassist #
 * Kip Winger (1961– ), singer, bassist, composer
 * Ace Young (1980– ), singer-songwriter

Other visual arts

 * George Elbert Burr (1859–1939), painter, printmaker #
 * Richard L. Crowther (1910–2006), architect #
 * Tomory Dodge (1974– ), painter
 * Jess E. DuBois (1934–2022), painter, sculptor, glass artist
 * Robert Heinecken (1931–2006), photographer
 * Amal Kassir (1995– ), spoken word poet
 * Vance Kirkland (1904–1981), painter §
 * Alvin Lustig (1915–1955), graphic designer
 * Ron McQueeney (1945– ), photographer
 * Pat Oliphant (1935– ), cartoonist §

Business

 * Philip Anschutz (1939– ), investment magnate, philanthropist #
 * Norman R. Augustine (1935– ), aerospace executive
 * Anthony R. Barringer (1925–2009), geophysicist, inventor #
 * Sheldon Beren (1922–1996), petroleum executive #
 * Molly Brown (1867–1932), philanthropist, Titanic survivor #
 * Luther A. Cole (1812–1880), milling entrepreneur #
 * Barbara Davis (1929– ), philanthropist #
 * John Elitch (1852–1891), restaurateur, zookeeper #
 * William Gray Evans (1855–1911), transportation executive #
 * Oliver Parker Fritchle (1874–1951), chemist, energy entrepreneur #
 * Jack J. Grynberg (1932–2021), oil and gas entrepreneur #
 * Marie Guiraud (1830–1909), rancher #
 * Frederic C. Hamilton (1927–2016), oil and gas entrepreneur #
 * Ruth Handler (1916–2002), toy executive, Barbie creator
 * Samuel Hartsel (1834–1918), rancher #
 * Bela M. Hughes (1817–1903), railroad businessman
 * Margaret Isely (1921–1997), peace activist and co-founder of WCPA and Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
 * Philip Isely (1915–2012), peace activist, writer and co-founder of WCPA-GREN and Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
 * Frances Wisebart Jacobs (1843–1892), philanthropist #
 * Kayvan Khalatbari (1983– ), marijuana entrepreneur, restaurateur #
 * Luther Kountze (1842–1918), banker #
 * William Larimer, Jr. (1809–1875), land developer, co-founder of Denver #
 * Daniel M. Lewin (1970–2001), mathematician, technology entrepreneur
 * Gary Magness (1954– ), investment executive, film producer #
 * Tom Martino (1953– ), consumer advocate, talk radio host
 * James Smith McDonnell (1899–1980), engineer, aviation entrepreneur
 * Helen M. McLoraine (1918–2003), philanthropist #
 * Larry Mizel (1942– ), real estate executive
 * Albert Mooney (1906–1986), aircraft designer, aviation entrepreneur
 * John Kernan Mullen (1847–1929), milling executive, philanthropist #
 * Jack O'Neill (1923–2017), surfwear entrepreneur
 * Daddy Bruce Randolph (1900–1994), barbecue pitmaster and philanthropist in Five Points
 * Milton Schayer (1876–1935), stock and bond entrepreneur
 * Caswell Silver (1916–1988), geologist, oil and gas entrepreneur #
 * Robert F. Smith, investor and CEO, Vista Equity Partners
 * Manick Sorcar, animator, lighting engineer #
 * Russell Stover (1888–1954), candymaker #
 * Harry Heye Tammen (1856–1924), co-owner of The Denver Times
 * Kenneth D. Tuchman (1959– ), call center entrepreneur #
 * Madam C. J. Walker (1867–1919), beauty products entrepreneur #
 * Bethuel M. Webster (1900–1989), lawyer and founder of Webster & Sheffield
 * Jean Yancey (1914–2000), women's small business consultant, motivational speaker

Crime

 * Michael Julius Ford (1984–2006), murderer, spree shooter
 * Alice Maud Hartley, killed Nevada State Senator Murray D. Foley by gunshot in 1894; lived in Denver in the early 1900s
 * Canada Bill Jones (1840–1877), card sharp, con artist
 * L. H. Musgrove (1832–1868), thief, alleged murderer
 * Katherine Ann Power (1949– ), bank robber
 * Terry Peder Rasmussen (1943–2010), serial killer
 * Soapy Smith (1860–1898), con artist, gangster #
 * Anna Blythe Speas (1869–1898), alleged accessory to murder #

Law enforcement

 * Duane "Dog" Chapman (1953– ), bounty hunter
 * Leland Chapman (1976– ), bounty hunter §
 * Lyssa Chapman (1987– ), bounty hunter
 * David J. Cook (1840–1907), lawman, Denver city marshal #
 * Bat Masterson (1853–1921), gunfighter, journalist, lawman #

Medicine

 * Jenette H. Bolles (1863–1930), osteopath, Board of Medical Examiners, publisher #
 * Justina Ford (1871–1952), gynecologist, obstetrician, pediatrician #
 * Frances McConnell-Mills (1900–1975), forensic pathologist, toxicologist #
 * Carl Rüedi (1848–1901), pulmonologist #

Military

 * Charles Adams (1845–1895), Colorado Militia brigadier general, Indian agent #
 * Gerald P. Carr (1932–2020), U.S. Marine Corps colonel, astronaut
 * John Chivington (1821–1894), U.S. Army colonel, leader of the Sand Creek massacre #
 * Carol Rymer Davis (1944–2010), U.S. Army Reserve colonel, balloonist
 * Elmer E. Fryar (1914–1944), U.S. Army private, Medal of Honor recipient
 * Irving Hale (1861–1930), brigadier general of the United States §
 * Clayton P. Kerr (1900–1977), U.S. Army major general
 * Victor H. Krulak (1913–2008), U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant general
 * John Mosley (1921–2015), U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, one of the Tuskegee Airmen
 * Fitzroy Newsum (1918–2013), U.S. Air Force colonel, one of the Tuskegee Airmen #
 * Daniel Noce (1894–1976), U.S. Army lieutenant general
 * Ronald A. Route (1949– ), U.S. Navy vice admiral
 * Donald Schmuck (1915–2004), U.S. Marine Corps brigadier general §
 * August Schomburg (1908–1972), U.S. Army lieutenant general
 * Silas Soule (1838–1865), U.S. Army brevet major, remembered for disobeying orders to take part in the Sand Creek Massacre #
 * Jack Swigert (1931–1982), U.S. Air Force captain, astronaut
 * Kenneth Walker (1898–1943), U.S. Army brigadier general, Medal of Honor recipient, Killed in action during World War II §
 * Keith L. Ware (1915–1968), U.S. Army major general, Medal of Honor recipient, Killed in action during the Vietnam War
 * J. Hunter Wickersham (1890–1918), U.S. Army 2nd lieutenant, Medal of Honor recipient #
 * Edward W. Wynkoop (1836–1891), U.S. Army brevet lieutenant colonel, Indian agent, Denver co-founder #

National

 * Madeleine Albright (1937-2022), 64th U.S. Secretary of State §
 * Israel Amter (1881–1954), Communist Party USA founding member, activist
 * Abdulrahman al-Awlaki (1995–2011), son of Anwar al-Awlaki
 * Jim Bates (1941– ), U.S. Representative from California
 * Michael Bennet (1964– ), U.S. Senator from Colorado #
 * Don Bonker (1937–2023), U.S. Representative from Washington
 * Emily Gibson Braerton (1886–1966), vice president of Daughters of the American Revolution #
 * Charles F. Brannan (1903–1992), 14th U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
 * Henry P. H. Bromwell (1823–1903), U.S. Representative from Illinois #
 * Hank Brown (1940– ), U.S. Senator from Colorado
 * Anne Gorsuch Burford (1942–2004), 4th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency §
 * Richard Girnt Butler (1918–2004), white supremacist, Aryan Nations founder
 * John A. Carroll (1901–1983), U.S. Senator from Colorado
 * Arnold A. Chacón (1956– ), U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala
 * Jerome B. Chaffee (1825–1886), U.S. Senator from Colorado, co-founder of Denver #
 * Oscar L. Chapman (1896–1978), 34th U.S. Secretary of the Interior #
 * Edward P. Costigan (1874–1939), U.S. Senator from Colorado #
 * William C. Cramer (1922–2003), U.S. Representative From Florida
 * Diana DeGette (1957– ), U.S. Representative from Colorado §
 * Peter H. Dominick (1915–1981), U.S. Senator from Colorado #
 * John Eisenhower (1922–2013), 45th U.S. Ambassador to Belgium
 * Mamie Eisenhower (1896–1979), 36th First Lady of the United States §
 * Gladstone Ferrie (1892–1955), Canadian Member of Parliament from Saskatchewan
 * Sherman Glenn Finesilver (1927–2006), U.S. federal judge
 * Robert Stephen Ford (1958– ), U.S. Ambassador to Syria
 * Frank Freyer (1878–1930), 14th Naval Governor of Guam #
 * Stephen Gaskin (1935–2014), countercultural activist, writer
 * Rodolfo Gonzales (1928–2005), Chicano Movement activist
 * Neil Gorsuch (1967– ), Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
 * Ken Hamblin (1940– ), conservative talk radio host #
 * Dorothy Ray Healey (1914–2006), Communist Party USA activist
 * Nathaniel P. Hill (1832–1900), U.S. Senator from Colorado #
 * Edwin C. Johnson (1884–1970), U.S. Senator from Colorado, 26th and 34th governor of Colorado #
 * Charles West Kendall (1828–1914), U.S. Representative from Nevada #
 * John Kerry (1943– ), U.S. Secretary of State since 2013, former long-time U.S. Senator from Massachusetts (1985–2013), and 2004 Democratic nominee for president
 * Carlotta Walls LaNier (1942– ), one of the Little Rock Nine #
 * Homer Lea (1876–1912), geopolitical strategist, adviser to Sun Yat-sen
 * Rodger McFarlane (1955–2009), gay rights activist #
 * Golda Meir (1898–1978), 4th Prime Minister of Israel §
 * George Moose (1944– ), U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations §
 * Michael R. Murphy (1947– ), U.S. federal judge
 * Jackson Orr (1832–1926), U.S. Representative from Iowa #
 * Thomas M. Patterson (1839–1916), U.S. Senator from Colorado #
 * Federico Peña (1947– ), 12th U.S. Secretary of Transportation, 8th U.S. Secretary of Energy #
 * Dana Perino (1972– ), White House Press Secretary §
 * Lawrence C. Phipps (1862–1958), U.S. Senator from Colorado #
 * John Carbone Porfilio (1934– ), U.S. federal judge
 * Condoleezza Rice (1954– ), 66th U.S. Secretary of State #
 * Josephine Roche (1886–1976), U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury #
 * Andrew J. Rogers (1828–1900), U.S. Representative from New Jersey #
 * Karl Rove (1950– ), Deputy White House Chief of Staff
 * Nicholas Sarwark (1979– ), Libertarian Party politician
 * Brad Schneider (1961– ), U.S. Representative from Illinois
 * Patricia Schroeder (1940–2023), U.S. Representative from Colorado #
 * Alan K. Simpson (1931– ), U.S. Senator from Wyoming
 * Horace Tabor (1830–1899), U.S. Senator from Colorado, 2nd lieutenant governor of Colorado #
 * Tom Tancredo (1945– ), U.S. Representative from Colorado
 * William L. Tierney (1876–1958), U.S. Representative from Connecticut #
 * Aleta Arthur Trauger (1945– ), U.S. federal judge
 * Timothy Tymkovich (1956– ), U.S. federal judge
 * Byron White (1917–2002), U.S. Supreme Court justice #
 * Edward O. Wolcott (1848–1905), U.S. Senator from Colorado #

State

 * Robert E. Allen (1924–2014), Colorado state legislator #
 * Teller Ammons (1895–1972), 28th governor of Colorado
 * Matt Bevin (1967– ), 62nd governor of Kentucky
 * Kermit Brown (1942– ), Wyoming state legislator
 * William Byers (1831–1905), Nebraska territorial legislator #
 * Job Adams Cooper (1843–1899), 6th governor of Colorado #
 * Lois Court (1953– ), Colorado state legislator
 * Mat Erpelding (1975– ), Idaho state legislator
 * Mark Ferrandino (1977– ), Colorado state legislator #
 * Frank Frantz (1872–1941), 7th governor of Oklahoma Territory #
 * Don Friedman (1930–2013), Colorado state legislator, talk radio host
 * John Frullo (1962– ), Texas state legislator #
 * Peter Groff (1963– ), Colorado state legislator #
 * Lucía Guzmán (1951– ), Colorado state legislator #
 * John Hickenlooper (1952– ), 42nd governor of Colorado #
 * Bela M. Hughes (1817–1903), Territorial councillor
 * Gloria Johnson (1962– ), Tennessee state legislator
 * Joel Judd (1951– ), Colorado state legislator
 * Wayne Knox (1927–2019), Colorado state legislator
 * Jeanne Labuda (1947–2022), Colorado state legislator #
 * Alma V. Lafferty (1864–1928), served two terms in Colorado House of Representatives 1908-1912
 * Beth McCann (1949– ), Colorado state legislator #
 * Stephen L.R. McNichols (1914–1997), 35th governor of Colorado
 * Helen Milliken (1922-2012), former First Lady of Michigan
 * Mary Mullarkey (1943–2021), Colorado Supreme Court chief justice #
 * Sue Mullins (1936– ), Iowa state legislator
 * Dan Pabon (1977– ), Colorado state legislator
 * George Alexander Parks (1883–1984), 5th governor of Alaska Territory
 * Josh Penry (1976– ), Colorado state legislator
 * Dianne Primavera (1950– ), Colorado state legislator
 * Jim Riesberg (1942– ), Colorado state legislator
 * Bill Ritter (1956– ), 41st governor of Colorado #
 * Andrew Romanoff (1966– ), Colorado state legislator #
 * Chris Romer (1959– ), Colorado state legislator
 * Brandon Shaffer (1971– ), Colorado state legislator
 * Pat Steadman (1964– ), Colorado state legislator #
 * Ken Summers (1953– ), Colorado state legislator
 * William Ellery Sweet (1869–1942), 23rd governor of Colorado #
 * Gloria Tanner (1935–2022), Colorado state legislator #
 * Russell T. Thane (1926–2020), North Dakota state legislator
 * Fred Van Valkenburg (1948– ), Montana state legislator
 * Michael Webert (1979– ), Virginia state legislator
 * Angela Williams, Colorado state legislator #
 * Mariko Yamada (1950– ), California state legislator

Local

 * Lorraine Granado (1948–2019), environmental, peace and social justice activist and organizer who co-founded the Colorado People's Environmental and Economic Network and Neighbors for a Toxic-Free Community in Denver
 * John E. Manders (1895–1973), 17th Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska
 * William McGaa (1824–1867), mountain man, co-founder of Denver #
 * Rachel Noel (1918–2008), Denver politician, civil rights activist #
 * Wellington Webb (1941– ), 42nd mayor of Denver #

Religion

 * Robert S. Bilheimer (1917–2006), Presbyterian theologian
 * Nadia Bolz-Weber (1969– ), Lutheran minister, comedian
 * Bill Carmody (1957–2016), Roman Catholic priest, anti-abortion activist
 * George Roche Evans (1922–1985), Roman Catholic bishop
 * Julia Greeley (ca.1833-1918), Roman Catholic Servant of God, ex-slave
 * J. Edward Guinan, the former Paulist priest who founded the Community for Creative Non-Violence when he was Chaplain of George Washington University
 * Richard Charles Patrick Hanifen (1931– ), Roman Catholic bishop
 * Danan Henry (1939– ), Zen roshi
 * Sheldon Jackson (1834–1909), Presbyterian missionary #
 * Abraham Klausner (1915–2007), Reform rabbi §
 * Jerry Lamb (1940– ), Episcopal bishop
 * Harold B. Lee (1899–1973), Denver mission leader and later president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * Reed Lessing (1959– ), Lutheran pastor, theologian
 * Donald Montrose (1923–2008), Roman Catholic bishop
 * Hubert Newell (1904–1987), Roman Catholic bishop
 * R. Walker Nickless (1947– ), Roman Catholic bishop
 * Alysa Stanton (1964– ), Reform rabbi §
 * Mary Luke Tobin (1908–2006), Roman Catholic nun

American football

 * Tom Ashworth (1977– ), offensive tackle
 * Dave Baldwin (1955– ), coach
 * David Bowens (1977– ), linebacker
 * C. J. Brewer (1982– ), wide receiver §
 * Chris Brewer (1962– ), running back
 * Patrick Cain (1962–2016), center, guard
 * Calais Campbell (1986– ), defensive end
 * Dyshod Carter (1978– ), cornerback
 * Ryan Clement (1975– ), quarterback
 * Eric Coleman (1966– ), cornerback
 * Mark Cooney (1951–2011), linebacker
 * Adrian Cooper (1968– ), tight end
 * Jason Craft (1976– ), cornerback
 * Brian Daniels (1984– ), guard
 * James Darling (1974– ), linebacker
 * Drew Davis (1989– ), wide receiver
 * John Denney (1978– ), long snapper
 * Ryan Denney (1977– ), defensive end
 * Ron Dickerson, Jr. (1971– ), running back, wide receiver, coach
 * Ben Dreith (1925–2021), referee
 * John Elway (1960– ), Hall of Fame quarterback, manager #
 * Keith English (1966–2010), punter
 * Tom Erlandson (1966– ), linebacker
 * Bill Frank (1938–2014), offensive tackle
 * Trent Gamble (1977– ), safety
 * Fred Gayles (1966– ), linebacker, wide receiver
 * Joe Germaine (1975– ), quarterback
 * Pat Haggerty (1927–1994), referee
 * Herman Heard (1961– ), running back
 * Ryan Hewitt (1991– ), tight end
 * Marcus Houston (1981– ), tailback
 * Mike Johnson (1943–2003), cornerback
 * Ray Johnson (1914–1990), defensive back
 * Greg Jones (1974– ), linebacker
 * Brandon Kaufman (1990– ), wide receiver
 * Jimmie Kaylor (1984– ), punter
 * Joe Klopfenstein (1983– ), tight end
 * Steve Korte (1960– ), center, offensive guard
 * Terry Kunz (1952– ), running back
 * Zach Latimer (1983– ), linebacker
 * DeWayne Lewis (1985– ), cornerback §
 * Jody Littleton (1974– ), long snapper
 * John Lynch (1971– ), strong safety #
 * Peyton Manning (1976– ), quarterback #
 * Kevin McDougal (1977– ), running back
 * Donald McKillip (1924–2008), coach
 * Ostell Miles (1970– ), running back
 * Mark Mullaney (1953– ), defensive end
 * Mike Perez (1963– ), quarterback
 * Vince Phason (1953–2018), defensive back
 * Tyler Polumbus (1985– ), offensive tackle
 * Mike Price (1946– ), coach
 * Greg Primus (1970– ), wide receiver
 * Gary Richard (1965– ), defensive back
 * Derrick Richardson (1986– ), safety
 * Cory Ross (1982– ), running back, coach
 * Chris Sanders (1972– ), wide receiver
 * Bo Scaife (1981– ), tight end
 * Mark Schlereth (1966– ), guard, sports commentator #
 * Brian Schottenheimer (1973– ), coach
 * J. K. Scott (1996– ), punter
 * Shannon Sharpe (1968– ), tight end, sports commentator #
 * Nate Solder (1988– ), offensive tackle
 * Ben Steele (1978– ), tight end
 * Freddie Joe Steinmark (1949–1971), safety
 * Red Stephens (1930–2003), guard
 * Andre Strode (1972– ), defensive back
 * Kasey Studdard (1984– ), offensive guard
 * David Tate (1964– ), safety
 * Marvin Washington (1965– ), defensive end
 * Allen Webb (1983– ), quarterback
 * Jack Weil (1962– ), punter
 * LenDale White (1984– ), running back
 * Andre Woolfolk (1980– ), cornerback

Baseball

 * David Aardsma (1981– ), relief pitcher
 * Darrel Akerfelds (1962–2012), pitcher, bullpen coach
 * Bubbles Anderson (1904–1943), infielder
 * Ty Blach (1990– ), pitcher for the San Francisco Giants
 * Cory Blaser (1981– ), umpire
 * Nick Capra (1958– ), outfielder
 * Idona Crigler (1922–1994), infielder
 * Mona Denton (1922–1995), pitcher
 * Bruce Egloff (1965– ), pitcher
 * Johnny Frederick (1902–1977), outfielder
 * Kyle Freeland (1993– ), pitcher for the Colorado Rockies
 * Ralph Glaze (1881–1968), pitcher
 * Buddy Gremp (1919–1995), 1st baseman
 * Roy Halladay (1977–2017), starting pitcher
 * Ron Herbel (1938–2000), pitcher
 * Jason Hirsh (1982– ), starting pitcher #
 * Luke Hochevar (1983– ), pitcher
 * Brian Holman (1965– ), pitcher
 * Bob Howsam (1918–2008), manager, sports entrepreneur
 * Virgil Jester (1927–2016), pitcher
 * Pierce Johnson (1991– ), pitcher
 * Mark Knudson (1960– ), pitcher
 * Bruce Konopka (1919–1996), 1st baseman
 * Dud Lee (1899–1971), shortstop
 * Mike Madden (1958– ), pitcher
 * Frank Martin (1878–1942), 3rd baseman
 * Gabe Molina (1975– ), pitcher
 * Buzz Murphy (1895–1938), outfielder
 * George Myatt (1914–2000), 2nd baseman, coach, manager
 * Travis Schlichting (1984– ), pitcher
 * John Stearns (1951–2022), catcher, manager, scout
 * Joe Strain (1954– ), 2nd baseman, shortstop
 * Mike Wegener (1946– ), pitcher
 * Charlie Williams (1943–2005), umpire
 * Clint Zavaras (1967– ), pitcher

Basketball

 * Tom Asbury (1945– ), coach
 * J. B. Bickerstaff (1979– ), coach
 * Chauncey Billups (1976– ), point guard, shooting guard
 * Rodney Billups (1983– ), guard, coach
 * Kevin Bromley (1959– ), coach
 * Joe Barry Carroll (1958– ), center §
 * Alysha Clark (1987– ), American-Israeli forward
 * Pam DeCosta (1964– ), coach
 * Kaniel Dickens (1978– ), small forward
 * Rick Fisher (1948–2019), power forward
 * Kevin Fletcher (1980– ), center, power forward
 * Ronnie Harrell (1996- ), basketball player for Hapoel Gilboa Galil of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
 * Shae Kelley (1991– ), forward
 * Darrick Martin (1971– ), point guard
 * Eric McWilliams (1950– ), power forward
 * Paul Millsap power forward
 * Shelly Pennefather (1966– ), forward
 * Josh Perkins (1995– ), point guard
 * Micheal Ray Richardson (1955– ), point guard, shooting guard, coach §
 * Michael Ruffin (1977– ), center, power forward
 * Eric Schraeder (1977– ), forward
 * Ronnie Shavlik (1933–1983), forward
 * Brendan Winters (1983– ), shooting guard

Boxing

 * Eddie Eagan (1897–1967), U.S. Olympic boxer, U.S. Olympic bobsledder
 * John David Jackson (1963– ), middleweight boxer
 * Stevie Johnston (1972– ), lightweight boxer
 * Ron Lyle (1941–2011), heavyweight boxer §
 * Louis Monaco (1968– ), heavyweight boxer
 * Terri Moss (1966– ), strawweight boxer

Cycling

 * Richard Ball (1944– ), U.S. Olympic cyclist
 * Gregory Daniel (1994– ), cyclist
 * Alison Dunlap (1969– ), cyclist
 * Greg Herbold (1962– ), cyclist
 * Ron Kiefel (1960– ), cyclist
 * Jonathan Vaughters (1973– ), cyclist, manager

Golf

 * Tommy Armour III (1959– ), golfer
 * Shane Bertsch (1970– ), golfer
 * Joan Birkland (1928–2019), state women's amateur golf champion
 * Matt Gogel (1971– ), golfer
 * Tommy Jacobs (1935–2022), golfer
 * Jonathan Kaye (1970– ), golfer
 * Bill Loeffler (1956– ), golfer
 * Jill McGill (1972– ), golfer
 * Leif Olson (1981– ), golfer
 * Hollis Stacy (1954– ), golfer #
 * Craig Stadler (1953– ), golfer #
 * Derek Tolan (1985– ), golfer
 * Mark Wiebe (1957– ), golfer #

Ice hockey

 * Ben Bishop (1986– ), goaltender
 * Austin Block (1989– ), center and forward
 * B. J. Crombeen (1985– ), right wing
 * Parris Duffus (1970– ), goaltender
 * Mike Eaves (1956– ), center
 * John Grahame (1975– ), goaltender
 * Seth Jones (1994– ), defenseman §
 * Brendan Lemieux (1996– ), left wing
 * Joe Noris (1951– ), center
 * Joe Sakic (1969– ), center, manager #
 * Drew Shore (1991– ), center
 * Nick Shore (1992– ), center
 * Jaccob Slavin (1994–), defenseman
 * Troy Terry (1997– ), right wing
 * Sean Zimmerman (1987– ), defenseman

Martial arts

 * JJ Aldrich (1992– ), strawweight MMA fighter
 * Donald Cerrone (1983– ), welterweight MMA fighter
 * Duane Ludwig (1978– ), middleweight kickboxer, lightweight MMA fighter
 * Ryan Reser (1980– ), U.S. Olympic judo fighter
 * Lumumba Sayers (1978– ), middleweight MMA fighter
 * Lacey Schuckman (1988– ), strawweight MMA fighter
 * Brandon Thatch (1985– ), welterweight MMA fighter
 * Matt Wiman (1983– ), lightweight MMA fighter
 * Trevor Wittman (1974– ), MMA trainer

Pro wrestling

 * Jake Carter (1986– ), pro wrestler
 * Bison Smith (1973–2011), pro wrestler
 * Eve Torres (1984– ), pro wrestler, actress, model §
 * 2 Cold Scorpio (1965– ), professional wrestler

Racing

 * Keith Andrews (1920–1957), racecar driver
 * Buzz Calkins (1971– ), Indy car driver
 * Tanner Foust (1973– ), racecar driver, stunt driver
 * Tom Frantz (1943–2019), racecar driver
 * Robb Holland (1967– ), racecar driver
 * Mel Kenealy (1903–1985), Indy car driver
 * Jacques Lazier (1971– ), racecar driver
 * Johnny Mauro (1910–2003), racecar driver
 * Willard Prentiss (1897–1959), racecar driver
 * Jerry Robertson (1962– ), NASCAR driver

Skiing

 * John Jarrett (1970– ), U.S. Olympic skier
 * Arturo Kinch (1956– ), U.S. Olympic skier #
 * Dolores LaChapelle (1926–2007), skier, mountain climber, ecologist
 * Jonathan Lujan (1971– ), Paralympic alpine skier
 * Kerry Lynch (1957– ), Nordic combined skier
 * Michelle Roark (1974– ), U.S. Olympic freestyle skier #
 * Katy Rodolph (1930–1994), U.S. Olympic skier
 * Keith R. Wegeman (1929–1974), ski jumper
 * Todd Wilson (1965– ), U.S. Olympic skier
 * Emilia Wint (1994– ), skier

Soccer

 * David Bulow (1980–2021), midfielder
 * Aaron Chandler (1983– ), forward
 * Rick Davis (1958– ), midfielder
 * Marian Dougherty (1984– ), defender
 * Roger Espinoza (1986– ), defensive midfielder, wing back §
 * Brendan Hines-Ike (1994– ), defender
 * Regina Holan (1977– ), striker
 * Katie Hultin (1982– ), goalkeeper, coach
 * Siri Mullinix (1978– ), goalkeeper, coach
 * Chelsea Stewart (1990– ), defender

Track and field

 * Karen Anderson (1938– ), U.S. Olympic javelin thrower
 * Scott Bauhs (1986– ), distance runner
 * Dior Hall (1996– ), hurdler
 * Ellen Hart Peña (1958– ), distance runner #
 * Eddie Tolan (1908–1967), U.S. Olympic sprinter

Other

 * Victor Amaya (1954– ), professional tennis player
 * Heather Armbrust (1977– ), bodybuilder #
 * Tom Bowen (1961– ), athletic director
 * Brynn Carman (1994– ), figure skater
 * Gary Conelly (1952– ), U.S. Olympic swimmer
 * Edith Connor (1935-2011), bodybuilder
 * Janet Culp (1982– ), U.S. Olympic swimmer
 * Lindsey Durlacher (1974–2011), Greco-Roman wrestler #
 * Zach Fenoglio (1989– ), rugby hooker
 * Lauren Gardner (1985– ), sportscaster
 * Brian Ginsberg (1966-), gymnast, two-time US junior national gymnastics champion
 * Adeline Gray (1991– ), sport wrestler
 * Haley Johnson (1981– ), biathlete
 * Janet Mae Johnson (1936–1973) mountaineer
 * Aaron Kyro (1983– ), skateboarder
 * Wendy Lucero (1963– ), U.S. Olympic diver
 * David McKienzie (1979– ), U.S. Olympic volleyball player
 * Alina Popa (1978– ), bodybuilder #
 * Meredeth Quick (1979– ), pro squash player
 * Jason Regier (1975– ), Paralympic rugby player
 * Britney Simpson (1996– ), figure skater
 * Chris Steinfeld (1959– ), U.S. Olympic sailor
 * Paul Wylie (1964– ), U.S. Olympic figure skater §
 * Michael Young (1944– ), bobsledder #