List of people from Indiana

This is a list of notable people who were born or lived in the American state of Indiana.

Military

 * Marion T. Anderson, Medal of Honor recipient in American Civil War (Decatur County)
 * Martha Baker, nurse in the American Civil War (Concord)
 * Jeremy Michael Boorda, admiral, Chief of Naval Operations (South Bend)
 * Ambrose Burnside, general in the Civil War, sideburns are named after him (Liberty)
 * John Howard Cassady, U.S. Navy admiral, Commander in Chief Naval Forces Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean (Spencer)
 * George Rogers Clark, man who conquered Indiana for the United States (Clarksville)
 * Sammy L. Davis, Medal of Honor recipient from Vietnam War, U.S. Army (Freedom)
 * Jonathan D. George, retired Air Force brigadier general, 9th District congressional candidate (Bedford)
 * William Grose, Civil War general (New Castle)
 * Scott S. Haraburda, colonel, U.S. Army; president of the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers (Spencer)
 * Horace Meek Hickam, lieutenant colonel, U.S. Army Air Corps; aviation pioneer; Hickam AFB named in his honor (Spencer)
 * Jonas Ingram, Medal of Honor recipient, Atlantic Fleet commander in World War II (Jeffersonville)
 * Opha May Johnson, first woman known to have enlisted in the United States Marine Corps (Kokomo)
 * Henry Maston Mullinnix, rear admiral, U.S. Navy; USS Mullinnix (DD-944) was named in his honor (Spencer)
 * John Poindexter, vice admiral, U.S. Navy, National Security Adviser to President Ronald Reagan, figure in the Iran-Contra affair (Odon)
 * David M. Shoup, Medal of Honor recipient, 22nd commandant of the Marine Corps (Battle Ground)
 * Walter Bedell Smith, general, U.S. Army, chief of staff to General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Indianapolis)
 * Raymond Ames Spruance, admiral, U.S. Navy, Flagship Commander USS Indianapolis (Indianapolis)
 * Lew Wallace, general in the Civil War (Crawfordsville)
 * Anthony Wayne, known for being mad and overrunning Chief Little Turtle (Fort Wayne)
 * Samuel Woodfill, most decorated American soldier in World War I (Jefferson County)

Politicians and activists

 * Gardner Ackley, Chairman of Council of Economic Advisers under Lyndon B. Johnson (Indianapolis)
 * Frank J. Anderson, Marion County Sheriff (Indianapolis)
 * Birch Bayh, former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate (Terre Haute)
 * Evan Bayh, U.S. Senator and former Governor of Indiana (Shirkieville)
 * Albert J. Beveridge, U.S. Senator of Indiana (Indianapolis)
 * Otis R. Bowen, Governor of Indiana and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
 * Roger D. Branigin, Governor of Indiana and 1968 candidate for President (Franklin)
 * Jesse D. Bright, U.S Senator and President Pro Tempore of the Senate (Madison)
 * George Washington Buckner, U.S. minister to Liberia, 1913–1915 (Evansville)
 * Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Mayor of South Bend, and candidate in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries
 * Earl Butz, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (Albion)
 * Maria Cantwell, U.S. Congresswoman and U.S. Senator (Indianapolis)
 * Homer E. Capehart, businessman and U.S. Senator (Algiers)
 * Joseph Clancy, Director of the United States Secret Service under President Barack Obama (Elwood)
 * James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence under President Barack Obama (Fort Wayne)
 * Benjamin V. Cohen, a key figure in the administrations of presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman (Muncie)
 * Schuyler Colfax, U.S. Congressman and Speaker of the House of Representatives, U.S. Vice President (South Bend)
 * George N. Craig, Governor of Indiana, National Commander of American Legion (Brazil)
 * Gonzalo P. Curiel, U.S. District Judge (East Chicago)
 * John Wesley Davis, U.S. Congressman and Speaker of the House of Representatives (Carlisle)
 * Eugene V. Debs, labor and political leader (Terre Haute)
 * William Hayden English, U.S. Congressman and Vice Presidential Candidate (Lexington)
 * Charles W. Fairbanks, U.S. Senator and Vice President of the United States (Indianapolis)
 * John W. Foster, U.S. Secretary of State (Evansville)
 * Nora Trueblood Gause (1851–1955), humanitarian (Kokomo)
 * Walter Q. Gresham, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Postmaster General, Secretary of State (Lanesville)
 * Charles A. Halleck, U.S. Congressman (Rensselaer)
 * Lee H. Hamilton, U.S. Congressman (Bloomington)
 * Clifford Hardin, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (Knightstown)
 * Benjamin Harrison, 23rd President of the United States
 * William Henry Harrison, 9th President of the United States and Governor of Indiana Territory
 * Richard Hatcher, Gary mayor (Gary)
 * John Hay, U.S. Secretary of State (Salem)
 * Will H. Hays, U.S. Postmaster General (Sullivan)
 * Thomas A. Hendricks, U.S. Senator and Vice President (Indianapolis)
 * Louis McHenry Howe, close political advisor to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Indianapolis)
 * Jonathan Jennings, first congressional representative from the Indiana Territory and early abolitionist (Charlestown)
 * Elisabeth Jensen, education advocate and former Disney Consumer Products executive
 * Cleve Jones, gay/human rights activist, created the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt (West Lafayette)
 * Jane L. Kelly, U.S. circuit judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (Greencastle)
 * Michael C. Kerr, U.S. Congressman and Speaker of the House of Representatives (New Albany)
 * Ron Klain, Chief of Staff to Vice President Joe Biden (Indianapolis)
 * Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States, lived in Indiana from ages 7–21 (Spencer County)
 * Richard Lugar, U.S. Senator and former Mayor of Indianapolis (Indianapolis)
 * Thomas R. Marshall, U.S. Vice President (North Manchester)
 * Mack F. Mattingly, U.S. Senator from Georgia, Asst. Sec Genl. NATO, US Ambassador
 * Edward Ralph May, only delegate to the Indiana Constitutional Convention of 1850 to support African American suffrage (Angola)
 * Hugh McCulloch, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (Fort Wayne)
 * Bob McDonald, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Gary)
 * William H.H. Miller, U.S. Attorney General (Indianapolis)
 * Sherman Minton, U.S. Senator and Supreme Court Justice
 * Joy Morrissey, British MP for Beaconsfield
 * Oliver P. Morton, Governor of Indiana (Centerville)
 * Harry S. New, U.S. Postmaster General (Indianapolis)
 * Mike Pence, former Congressman, former Governor of Indiana, 2013–2017, and 48th Vice President of the United States under Donald Trump (Columbus)
 * Dennis Pennington, State Senator and early abolitionist (Central Barren)
 * Bart Peterson, former Mayor of Indianapolis (Indianapolis)
 * John Poindexter, National Security Advisor under President Ronald Reagan (Washington)
 * John Wesley Posey, Abolitionist (Petersburg)
 * Dan Quayle, former U.S. Senator from Indiana (1981–1989) and 44th Vice President of the United States under George HW Bush(Huntington and Indianapolis)
 * John Rarick, former U.S. Representative from Louisiana
 * Alice Rivlin, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve (Bloomington)
 * John Roberts, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice (Long Beach)
 * William Ruckelshaus, former U.S. Director of the F.B.I. and Deputy Attorney General
 * Caleb Blood Smith, U.S. Secretary of the Interior (Indianapolis)
 * Louis E. Sola, Commissioner of the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (Goodland)
 * William L. Springer, U.S.Congressman (Sullivan)
 * Ted Stevens, U.S. Senator from Alaska (Indianapolis)
 * Richard Fred Suhrheinrich, Senior U.S. Circuit judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (Lincoln City)
 * Benjamin Franklin Trueblood (1847–1916), pacifist who served the American Peace Society for 23 years
 * John Palmer Usher, U.S. Secretary of the Interior (Terre Haute)
 * Willis Van Devanter, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, January 3, 1911 to June 2, 1937 (Marion)
 * Mark Warner, current U.S. Senator for Virginia, former Governor of Virginia (Indianapolis)
 * Gary Webb, journalist (Indianapolis)
 * Ryan White, AIDS activist (Kokomo)
 * Claude R. Wickard, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture (Camden)
 * Wendell Willkie, 1940 Republican presidential nominee (Elwood)

Native American leaders

 * Pacanne, influential Miami chief and businessman
 * Leopold Pokagon, Potawatomi chief for whom Pokagon State Park is named
 * Simon Pokagon, Potawatomi chief, author, son of Leopold
 * Little Turtle, Miami chief, leader of Native American forces in the Battle of the Wabash, the most decisive American Indian victory of the Indian Wars
 * Metea, Potawatomi chief from northeast Indiana
 * Young Tobacco, Piankeshaw chief who supported the United States in the American Revolution

Film and theatre

 * Lillian Albertson, actress, producer (Noblesville)
 * Leon Ames, actor (Portland)
 * David Anspaugh, director (Decatur)
 * Arija Bareikis, actress (Bloomington)
 * Rhonda Bates, actress (Evansville)
 * Anne Baxter, actress (Michigan City)
 * Billie Bennett, actress (Evansville)
 * Abraham Benrubi, actor (Bloomington)
 * James Best, actor (Corydon)
 * Monte Blue, actor (Indianapolis)
 * Beulah Bondi, actress (Valparaiso)
 * John Bowers, actor (Garrett)
 * Avery Brooks, actor (Evansville)
 * Ezra Buzzington, actor (Muncie)
 * David Canary, actor (Elwood)
 * James Carew, actor (Goshen)
 * Ann Christy, actress (Logansport)
 * Embeth Davidtz, actress (Lafayette)
 * Johnny "Scat" Davis, actor, band leader (Brazil)
 * James Dean, actor (Fairmount)
 * Louise Dresser, actress (Evansville)
 * Adam Driver, actor (Mishawaka)
 * Ger Duany, actor (Bloomington)
 * Irene Dunne, actress (Madison)
 * Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, singer, songwriter, actor, film producer (Indianapolis)
 * Chad Everett, actor (South Bend)
 * Louise Fazenda, actress (Lafayette)
 * Jenna Fischer, actress (Fort Wayne)
 * Rhett Fisher, actor and musician (Indianapolis)
 * Ken Foree, actor (Indianapolis)
 * Vivica A. Fox, actress (Indianapolis)
 * Brendan Fraser, actor (Indianapolis)
 * Dolores Fuller, actress (South Bend)
 * Ron Glass, actor (Evansville)
 * Maude Turner Gordon, actress (Franklin)
 * Sid Grauman, impresario (Indianapolis)
 * Phil Harris, actor (Linton)
 * Heather Headley, actress, singer (Fort Wayne)
 * Ann Hovey, actress (Mt. Vernon)
 * Doug Jones, actor (Indianapolis)
 * Ken Kercheval, actor (Wolcottville)
 * Greg Kinnear, actor (Logansport)
 * Anita King, actress (Michigan City)
 * Elmo Lincoln, actor (Rochester)
 * Sarah Litzsinger, actress (Indianapolis)
 * Jake Lloyd, actor (Carmel)
 * Carole Lombard, actress (Fort Wayne)
 * Shelley Long, actress (Fort Wayne)
 * Marjorie Main, actress (Acton)
 * Karl Malden, actor (Gary)
 * Strother Martin, actor (Kokomo)
 * Jack Mercer, voice actor (Worthington)
 * John McMartin, actor (Warsaw)
 * Steve McQueen, actor (Beech Grove and Indianapolis)
 * Michael Michele, actress (Evansville)
 * Marilyn Miller, actress, dancer (Evansville)
 * Keith Alan Morris, director, screenwriter (South Bend)
 * Ryan Murphy, writer, director (Indianapolis)
 * Dean Norris, actor (South Bend)
 * Katy O'Brian, actress (Indianapolis)
 * Tommy O'Haver, director, screenwriter (Carmel)
 * Betsy Palmer, actress (East Chicago)
 * James Pierce, actor (Freedom)
 * Angelo Pizzo, screenwriter (Bloomington)
 * Sydney Pollack, actor, producer, director (Lafayette)
 * Victor Potel, actor (Lafayette)
 * James Rebhorn, actor (Anderson)
 * Michael Rosenbaum, actor (Newburgh)
 * Robert Rusler, actor (Fort Wayne)
 * George Seaton, film director (South Bend)
 * Jake Short, actor (Indianapolis)
 * Valeska Suratt, actress (Owensville)
 * Max Terhune, actor (Anderson)
 * Alice Terry, actress (Vincennes)
 * Twyla Tharp, dancer (Portland)
 * Forrest Tucker, actor (Plainfield)
 * William Walker, actor (Pendleton)
 * Clifton Webb, actor (Indianapolis)
 * Dreya Weber, actress (Bloomington)
 * Isiah Whitlock Jr., actor (South Bend)
 * Fred Williamson, actor (Gary)
 * Robert Wise, director (Winchester)
 * Jo Anne Worley, actress (Lowell)
 * Keke Wyatt, singer, actress (Indianapolis)
 * Sasheer Zamata, comedian, actress (Indianapolis)

Comedians and humorists

 * Mike Epps, comedian (Indianapolis)
 * Michael Essany, comedian (Valparaiso)
 * Jim Gaffigan, comedian (Chesterton)
 * David Letterman, comedian, television personality, and former longtime host of The Late Show (Indianapolis)
 * Buddy Lewis, comedian (Gary)
 * Herb Shriner, comedian (Fort Wayne)
 * Red Skelton, comedian (Vincennes)
 * Brad Stine, comedian (Bremen)

Musicians



 * Steve Allee, jazz musician and composer (Indianapolis)
 * Omar Apollo, singer (Hobart)
 * DJ Ashba, lead guitarist of Sixx:A.M. (Monticello)
 * David Baker, jazz trombonist, author, educator (Indianapolis)
 * Mark Battles, rapper, songwriter, producer (Indianapolis)
 * Joshua Bell, violinist (Bloomington)
 * Scrapper Blackwell, blues legend, writer of the earliest version of "Sweet Home Chicago" (Indianapolis)
 * Angela Brown, opera singer, dramatic soprano (Indianapolis)
 * Gary Burton, jazz vibraphone, composer, educator (Anderson)
 * Jeremy Camp, singer (Lafayette)
 * Royce Campbell, jazz guitarist, composer, producer (Seymour)
 * Pete Candoli, trumpeter (Mishawaka)
 * Hoagy Carmichael, songwriter (Bloomington)
 * Leroy Carr, blues pianist, songwriter (Indianapolis)
 * Randy Carr, singer-songwriter, producer (Columbus)
 * Cal Collins, jazz guitarist (Medora)
 * Eddie Condon, jazz banjoist, guitarist, bandleader (Goodland)
 * Kyle Cook, Matchbox Twenty guitarist (Frankfort)
 * Scatman Crothers, musician (Terra Haute)
 * Eric Dill, singer-songwriter, musician, producer (Indianapolis)
 * Paul Dresser, songwriter (Terre Haute)
 * Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, singer, producer (Indianapolis)
 * Joey Feek, country singer (Alexandria)
 * Janie Fricke, singer (South Whitley)
 * Bill Gaither, singer (Alexandria)
 * Danny Gaither, gospel singer (Alexandria)
 * Gloria Gaither, songwriter (Alexandria)
 * Crystal Gayle, singer (Wabash)
 * Lisa Germano, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (Mishawaka)
 * Freddie Gibbs, rapper (Gary)
 * Nathan Gunn, opera singer, baritone (South Bend)
 * Jeff Hamilton, jazz drummer (Richmond)
 * Slide Hampton, jazz trombonist, composer, arranger (Indianapolis)
 * Krystal Harris, pianist, singer-songwriter (Anderson)
 * Bobby Helms, singer (Bloomington)
 * John Hiatt, singer-songwriter (Indianapolis)
 * Shannon Hoon, founding member & original lead vocalist of the band Blind Melon (Lafayette)
 * Freddie Hubbard, jazz trumpeter, composer (Indianapolis)
 * Janet Jackson, singer, dancer, songwriter (Gary)
 * Jermaine Jackson, singer (Gary)
 * La Toya Jackson, singer-songwriter, musician (Gary)
 * Michael Jackson, singer-songwriter (Gary)
 * Randy Jackson, singer (Gary)
 * Tito Jackson, singer (Gary)
 * Jane Jarvis, jazz pianist (Vincennes)
 * Fred Jewell, composer (Worthington)
 * JJ Johnson, jazz trombonist, composer (Indianapolis)
 * Josh Kaufman, singer, contestant on Season 6 of NBC's The Voice (Indianapolis)
 * Adam Lambert, singer-songwriter, American Idol runner-up (Indianapolis)
 * Mick Mars (real name Robert Deal), Mötley Crüe lead guitarist (Terre Haute)
 * Kym Mazelle, singer (Gary)
 * Ryan McCombs, singer (Dunkirk)
 * Jon McLaughlin, singer-songwriter (Anderson)
 * John Mellencamp, singer-songwriter, musician (Seymour)
 * Marilyn Miller, singer and dancer (Evansville)
 * Buddy Montgomery, jazz pianist (Indianapolis)
 * Monk Montgomery, jazz bassist (Indianapolis)
 * Wes Montgomery, jazz guitarist (Indianapolis)
 * Rich Mullins, Christian contemporary artist (Richmond)
 * Ken Navarro, jazz guitarist (Lafayette)
 * Amanda Overmyer, singer, American Idol Season 7 finalist (Camden)
 * The Panderers, rock band
 * Amanda Perez, R&B artist, singer, songwriter, producer (Fort Wayne)
 * Cole Porter, songwriter (Peru)
 * Melvin Rhyne, jazz organist (Indianapolis)
 * Larry Ridley, jazz bassist and educator (Indianapolis)
 * Dax Riggs, singer-songwriter, Acid Bath (Evansville)
 * Dexter Romweber, rockabilly/roots rock musician (Batesville)
 * Ned Rorem, composer (Richmond)
 * Axl Rose, Guns N' Roses singer (Lafayette)
 * David Lee Roth, Van Halen singer (Bloomington)
 * Jon Schaffer, Iced Earth guitarist (Franklin)
 * Noble Sissle, jazz composer, lyricist, bandleader, singer (Indianapolis)
 * Connie Smith, singer (Elkhart)
 * Jeremy Spencer, drummer, Five Finger Death Punch (Oakland City)
 * Izzy Stradlin, Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist (Lafayette)
 * Henry Lee Summer, singer (Brazil)
 * Claude Thornhill, pianist, arranger, composer, bandleader (Terre Haute)
 * Andy Timmons, guitarist, Danger Danger, Andy Timmons Band (Evansville)
 * Leroy Vinnegar, jazz bassist (Indianapolis)
 * John Von Ohlen, jazz drummer (Indianapolis)
 * Steve Wariner, singer (Noblesville)
 * Deniece Williams, singer (Gary)
 * Keke Wyatt, singer, actress (Indianapolis)

Television

 * Nicole Gale Anderson, actress (Rochester)
 * Dee Bradley Baker, voice actor (Bloomington)
 * Julia Barr, actor (Fort Wayne)
 * James Best, actor (Corydon)
 * Kate Bolduan, CNN anchor (Goshen)
 * Kyle Bornheimer, actor (Mishawaka)
 * John Bromfield, actor (South Bend)
 * Avery Brooks, actor (Evansville)
 * Dan Butler, actor (Fort Wayne)
 * Jose Pablo Cantillo, actor (Terre Haute)
 * Terri Conn, actress (Bloomington)
 * Nancy Criss, producer, director (Elkhart)
 * Mary Jane Croft, actress (Muncie)
 * Scatman Crothers, actor (Terre Haute)
 * Joyce DeWitt, actress (Speedway)
 * Polly Draper, actress (Gary)
 * Mike "Doc" Emrick, sportscaster (La Fontaine)
 * Chad Everett, actor (South Bend)
 * Bianca Ferguson, actress (Gary)
 * Jenna Fischer, actress (Fort Wayne)
 * Rick Fox, actor (Warsaw)
 * Bill Frink, sportscaster (Elkhart)
 * Dolores Fuller, actress (South Bend)
 * Will Geer, actor (Frankfort)
 * Ron Glass, actor (Evansville)
 * Lloyd Haynes, actor (South Bend)
 * Florence Henderson, actress (Dale)
 * Drake Hogestyn, actor (Fort Wayne)
 * Jamie Hyneman, MythBusters host (Columbus)
 * Bob Jenkins, sports commentator (Liberty)
 * Chubby Johnson, actor (Terre Haute)
 * Anissa Jones, actress (West Lafayette)
 * Kennedy, 1990s MTV VJ (Indianapolis)
 * Adam Kennedy, actor, author, painter (Otterbein)
 * Ken Kercheval, actor (Clinton)
 * Brook Kerr, actress (Indianapolis)
 * Michael King, Emmy Award-winning TV producer, political commentator (Gary)
 * Durward Kirby, television personality, co-host of Candid Camera (Indianapolis)
 * Steve Kroft, journalist and correspondent for 60 Minutes (Kokomo)
 * Allan Lane, actor, voice of Mr. Ed (Mishawaka)
 * David Letterman, television personality (Indianapolis)
 * Shelley Long, actress (Fort Wayne)
 * Karl Malden, actor (Gary)
 * Claire Malis, actress (Gary)
 * Patrick McVey, actor (Fort Wayne)
 * Julie McWhirter, voice actress (Indianapolis)
 * Tammy Lynn Michaels, actress (Lafayette)
 * Dylan Minnette, teen actor (Evansville)
 * Roger Mobley, child actor (Evansville)
 * Anthony Montgomery, actor (Indianapolis)
 * Alvy Moore, actor (Vincennes and Terre Haute)
 * Jane Pauley, television journalist (Indianapolis)
 * Drew Powell, actor (Noblesville)
 * Nancy Priddy, actress (South Bend)
 * Madelyn Pugh, comedy writer (Indianapolis)
 * Sarah Purcell, television personality (Richmond)
 * Michael Rosenbaum, actor (Newburgh)
 * Catt Sadler, entertainment host and correspondent (Martinsville)
 * Chris Schenkel, sportscaster (Bippus)
 * Carly Schroeder, actress (Valparaiso)
 * David Shuster, reporter (Bloomington)
 * Tavis Smiley, talk show host on PBS and NPR (Kokomo)
 * Casey Stegall, correspondent (Evansville)
 * Marc Summers, Double Dare host (Indianapolis)
 * Trista Sutter, reality TV personality (Indianapolis)
 * Zuzanna Szadkowski, actress (Fort Wayne)
 * Frazier Thomas, television personality (Rushville)
 * Vincent Ventresca, actor (Indianapolis)
 * Chuck Vinson, TV director and producer (Elkhart)
 * Kristina Wagner, actress (Indianapolis)
 * Michael Warren, actor (South Bend)
 * Fred Williamson, actor (Gary)
 * Jama Williamson, actress (Evansville)
 * Jo Anne Worley, actress (Lowell)
 * Dick York, actor (Fort Wayne)

Modeling

 * AJ Alexander, model, Playboy Playmate (Evansville)
 * Bridget Bobel, beauty queen, Miss Indiana 2006 (Peru)
 * Pamela Bryant, model, Playboy Playmate (Indianapolis)
 * Kaitlyn Christopher, beauty queen, Miss Indiana 2005 (Kokomo)
 * June Cochran, model, Playboy Playmate (Indianapolis)
 * Jami Ferrell, model, Playboy Playmate (Muncie)
 * Danelle Folta, model, Playboy Playmate (Hammond)
 * Heather Kuzmich, America's Next Top Model finalist (Valparaiso)
 * Stephanie Larimore, model, Playboy Playmate (Fort Wayne)
 * Brittany Mason, model, Miss Indiana 2008 (Anderson)
 * Karen McDougal, fitness model, Playboy Playmate (Merrillville)
 * Roman and Gabriel Slaybaugh, twin models (LaPorte)
 * Jami Stallings, beauty queen (Evansville)
 * Katie Stam, Miss America 2009 (Seymour)
 * Heather Stohler, Calvin Klein model (Zelenéfield)
 * Marjorie Wallace, model and 1973 Miss World (Indianapolis)

Baseball

 * Clint Barmes, baseball player (Vincennes)
 * Tucker Barnhart, baseball player (Brownsburg)
 * Aaron Barrett, baseball player (Evansville)
 * Alan Benes, baseball player (Evansville)
 * Andy Benes, baseball player (Evansville)
 * Larry Bigbie, baseball player (Hobart)
 * Tim Bogar, baseball player (Indianapolis)
 * Chris Bootcheck, baseball player (La Porte)
 * Phil Bradley, baseball player (Bloomington)
 * Mike Brosseau, baseball player (Munster)
 * Mordecai Brown, baseball player (Nyesville)
 * Eric Bruntlett, baseball player (Lafayette)
 * Bryan Bullington, baseball player (Madison)
 * Donie Bush, baseball player (Indianapolis)
 * Drew Butera, baseball player (Evansville)
 * Max Carey, baseball player (Terre Haute)
 * Jamey Carroll, baseball player (Evansville)
 * Oscar Charleston, baseball player (Indianapolis)
 * J.D. Closser, baseball player (Beech Grove)
 * Craig Counsell, baseball player (South Bend)
 * Lou Criger, baseball player (Elkhart)
 * George Crowe, baseball player (Whiteland)
 * George Cuppy, baseball player (Logansport)
 * Chad Curtis, baseball player (Marion)
 * Carl Erskine, baseball player (Anderson)
 * Freddie Fitzsimmons, baseball player (Mishawaka)
 * Jake Fox, baseball player (Beech Grove)
 * Bob Friend, baseball player (West Lafayette)
 * Kyle Gibson, baseball player (Greenfield)
 * Jot Goar, baseball player (New Lisbon)
 * Steve Hamilton, baseball, basketball player (Charlestown)
 * LaTroy Hawkins, baseball player (Gary)
 * Aaron Heilman, baseball player (Logansport)
 * Billy Herman, baseball player (New Albany)
 * Oral Hildebrand, baseball player (Indianapolis)
 * Gil Hodges, baseball player and manager (Princeton)
 * Tommy Hunter, baseball player (Indianapolis)
 * Tommy John, baseball player (Terre Haute)
 * Barry Jones, baseball player (Richmond)
 * Jeff King, baseball player (Marion)
 * Ron Kittle, baseball player (Gary)
 * Kevin Kiermaier, baseball player (Fort Wayne)
 * Chuck Klein, baseball player (Indianapolis)
 * Don Larsen, baseball player (Michigan City)
 * Nemo Leibold, baseball player (Butler)
 * Adam Lind, baseball player (Muncie)
 * Kenny Lofton, baseball player (East Chicago)
 * Lance Lynn, baseball player (Brownsburg)
 * Sean Manaea, baseball player (Wanatah)
 * Justin Masterson, baseball player (Fort Wayne)
 * Don Mattingly, baseball player and manager (Evansville)
 * Lloyd McClendon, baseball player and manager (Gary)
 * Billy McCool, baseball player (Lawrenceburg)
 * Anna Meyer, baseball player (Aurora)
 * Art Nehf, baseball player (Terre Haute)
 * Jarrod Parker, baseball player (Fort Wayne)
 * Brad Pennington, baseball player (Salem)
 * Josh Phegley, baseball player (Terre Haute)
 * Dan Plesac, baseball player (Gary)
 * Zach Plesac, baseball player (Crown Point)
 * Ron Reed, baseball and basketball player (LaPorte)
 * Jason Repko, baseball player (East Chicago)
 * Sam Rice, baseball player (Morocco)
 * Clayton Richard, baseball player (Lafayette)
 * Scott Rolen, baseball player (Jasper)
 * Edd Roush, baseball player (Oakland City)
 * Janet Rumsey, baseball player (Moores Hill)
 * Amos Rusie, baseball player (Mooresville)
 * Jeff Samardzija, baseball player (Valparaiso)
 * Everett Scott, baseball player (Bluffton)
 * Tim Stoddard, baseball and basketball player (East Chicago)
 * Drew Storen, baseball player (Brownsburg)
 * Ryan Strausborger, baseball player (Elkhart)
 * Eric Stults, baseball player (Argos)
 * Walt Terrell, baseball player (Jeffersonville)
 * Joe Thatcher, baseball player (Kokomo)
 * Tommy Thevenow, baseball player (Madison)
 * Sam Thompson, baseball player (Danville)
 * Dickie Thon, baseball player (South Bend)
 * Dizzy Trout, baseball player (Sandcut)
 * Pat Underwood, baseball player (Kokomo)
 * Tom Underwood, baseball player (Kokomo)
 * Ben Van Ryn, baseball player (Kendallville)
 * Cory Wade, baseball player (Indianapolis)
 * Eric Wedge, baseball player and manager (Fort Wayne)
 * Cy Williams, baseball player (Wadena)
 * Rollie Zeider, baseball player (Hoover and Garrett)

Basketball

 * Tom Abernethy, basketball player (South Bend)
 * Steve Alford, basketball player and coach (New Castle)
 * Damon Bailey, basketball player (Heltonville)
 * Alison Bales, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Cliff Barker, basketball player (Yorktown)
 * Dick Barnett, basketball player (Gary)
 * Jacqueline Batteast, basketball player (South Bend)
 * Kent Benson, basketball player (New Castle)
 * Larry Bird, basketball player, coach and executive (French Lick)
 * Ron Bonham, basketball player (Muncie)
 * Vince Boryla, basketball player (East Chicago)
 * Jim Bradley, basketball player (East Chicago)
 * Junior Bridgeman, basketball player (East Chicago)
 * Don Buse, basketball player (Huntingburg)
 * Rodney Carney, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Calbert Cheaney, basketball player (Evansville)
 * Mike Conley Jr., basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Louie Dampier, basketball player (Southport)
 * Jim Davis, basketball player (Muncie)
 * Branden Dawson, basketball player (Gary)
 * Skylar Diggins, basketball player (South Bend)
 * Terry Dischinger, basketball player (Terre Haute)
 * Katie Douglas, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Stu Douglass (born 1990), American-Israeli basketball player for the Israeli team Maccabi Ashdod
 * Steve Downing, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Jay Edwards, basketball player (Marion)
 * Darrell Elston, basketball player (Tipton)
 * Brian Evans, basketball player (Terre Haute)
 * Yogi Ferrell, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Tellis Frank, basketball player (Gary)
 * Winston Garland, basketball player (Gary)
 * Bill Garrett (William Leon Garrett), basketball player (Shelbyville)
 * Katie Gearlds, basketball player (Beech Grove)
 * Eric Gordon, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Greg Graham, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Scott Haffner, basketball player (Terre Haute)
 * A.J. Hammons, basketball player (Gary)
 * Luke Harangody, basketball player (Schererville)
 * Jerome Harmon, basketball player (Gary)
 * Gary Harris, basketball player (Fishers)
 * Amber Harris, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Gordon Hayward, basketball player (Brownsburg)
 * Alan Henderson, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * George Hill, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Paul Hoffman, basketball player (Jasper)
 * Robbie Hummel, basketball player (Valparaiso)
 * Chris Hunter, basketball player (Gary)
 * R.J. Hunter, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Demetrius Jackson, basketball player (South Bend)
 * Scottie James (born 1996), basketball player for Hapoel Haifa in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
 * Jared Jeffries (born 1981), basketball player (Bloomington)
 * Elijah Johnson (born 1990), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League (Gary)
 * JaJuan Johnson, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Jarrod Jones (born 1990), American-Hungarian basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
 * Bill Keller, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Shawn Kemp, basketball player (Elkhart)
 * Frank Kendrick, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Chris Kramer (born 1988), basketball player
 * John Laskowski, basketball player (South Bend)
 * Brad Leaf (b. 1960), American-Israeli basketball player and coach (Indianapolis)
 * Courtney Lee, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Bobby Leonard, basketball player and coach (Terre Haute)
 * Jim Ligon, basketball player (Kokomo)
 * Willie Long, basketball player (Fort Wayne)
 * Clyde Lovellette, basketball player (Terre Haute)
 * Trey Lyles, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Kyle Macy, basketball player (Peru)
 * Kevin Magee (1959–2003), basketball player (Gary)
 * Dave Magley, basketball player (South Bend)
 * Sean May, basketball player (Bloomington)
 * Ray McCallum Jr., basketball player (Bloomington)
 * Walter McCarty, basketball player (Evansville)
 * Mitch McGary, basketball player (Chesterton)
 * George McGinnis, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Jon McGlocklin, basketball player (Franklin)
 * Josh McRoberts, basketball player (Carmel)
 * John Mengelt, basketball player (Elwood)
 * Brad Miller, basketball player (Kendallville)
 * Eric Montross, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * E'Twaun Moore, basketball player (East Chicago)
 * Rick Mount, basketball player (Lebanon)
 * Stretch Murphy, basketball player (Marion)
 * Lee Nailon, basketball player (South Bend)
 * Craig Neal, basketball player, coach (Washington)
 * Jerry Nemer (1912–1980), basketball player and attorney
 * Greg Oden, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Andre Owens, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Ta'Shia Phillips, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Marshall Plumlee, basketball player (Warsaw)
 * Mason Plumlee, basketball player (Warsaw)
 * Miles Plumlee, basketball player (Warsaw)
 * Bobby Plump, basketball player (Pierceville)
 * Austin Price (born 1995), basketball player
 * Zach Randolph, basketball player (Marion)
 * Jimmy Rayl, basketball player (Kokomo)
 * Ron Reed, baseball and basketball player (LaPorte)
 * Ruth Riley, basketball player (Macy)
 * Oscar Robertson, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Glenn Robinson, basketball player (Gary)
 * Glenn Robinson III, basketball player (Gary)
 * Dave Schellhase, basketball player (Evansville)
 * Billy Shepherd, basketball player (Carmel)
 * Jerry Sichting, basketball player (Martinsville)
 * Scott Skiles, basketball player and coach (Plymouth)
 * Larry Steele, basketball player (Greencastle)
 * Tim Stoddard, baseball and basketball player (East Chicago)
 * Charles "Chuck" Taylor (1901–1969), basketball player, sports shoe pioneer (Brown County)
 * Jeff Teague, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Ray Tolbert, basketball player (Anderson)
 * Gene Tormohlen, basketball player (Holland)
 * Pete Trgovich, basketball player (East Chicago)
 * Dick Van Arsdale, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Tom Van Arsdale, basketball player (Indianapolis)
 * Sharon Versyp, basketball player and coach (Mishawaka)
 * Bonzi Wells, basketball player (Muncie)
 * Stephanie White, basketball player (Williamsport)
 * Randy Wittman, basketball player and coach (Indianapolis)
 * Bob Wilkerson, basketball player (Anderson)
 * Scott Wood, basketball player (Marion)
 * John Wooden, basketball player and coach (Martinsville)
 * Mike Woodson, basketball player and coach (Indianapolis)
 * Cody Zeller, basketball player (Washington)
 * Luke Zeller, basketball player (Washington)
 * Tyler Zeller, basketball player (Washington)
 * Shanna Zolman, basketball player (Syracuse)

Basketball coaches

 * Steve Alford, basketball coach (New Castle)
 * Vic Bubas, basketball coach (Gary)
 * Everett Case, basketball coach (Anderson)
 * Dwane Casey, basketball coach (Indianapolis)
 * Zora G. Clevenger, basketball coach (Muncie)
 * Everett Dean, basketball coach (Salem)
 * Frank Hamblen, basketball coach (Terre Haute)
 * Del Harris, basketball coach (Plainfield)
 * Tony Hinkle, basketball coach (Logansport)
 * Ralph Jones, basketball coach (Marion County)
 * Ward Lambert, basketball coach (West Lafayette)
 * Bobby Leonard, basketball coach (Terre Haute)
 * John MacLeod, basketball coach (New Albany)
 * Branch McCracken, basketball coach (Monrovia)
 * Arad McCutchan, basketball coach (Evansville)
 * Murray Mendenhall, basketball coach (Fort Wayne)
 * Gregg Popovich, basketball coach (East Chicago)
 * Scott Skiles, basketball coach (Plymouth)
 * Norm Sloan, basketball coach (Indianapolis)
 * Brad Stevens, basketball coach (Zionsville)
 * Terry Stotts, basketball coach (Bloomington)
 * Sharon Versyp, basketball coach (Mishawaka)
 * Randy Wittman, basketball coach (Indianapolis)
 * John Wooden, basketball coach (Martinsville)
 * Mike Woodson, basketball coach (Indianapolis)

Football

 * William "Dick the Bruiser" Afflis, football player and professional wrestler (Delphi)
 * Morten Andersen, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Jason Baker, football player (Fort Wayne)
 * Roosevelt Barnes, football player (Fort Wayne)
 * Anthony Barr, football player (South Bend)
 * Blaine Bishop, football player (Indianapolis)
 * James Brewer, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Stevie Brown, football player (Columbus)
 * Mark Clayton, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Terry Cole, football player (Mitchell)
 * Roosevelt Colvin, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Irv Cross, football player (Hammond)
 * Jay Cutler, football player (Santa Claus)
 * Len Dawson, football player (West Lafayette)
 * Kris Dielman, football player (Goshen)
 * Ken Dilger, football player (Lincoln City)
 * Chris Doleman, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Tandon Doss, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Jack Doyle, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Dave Duerson, football player (Muncie)
 * Vaughn Dunbar, football player (Fort Wayne)
 * Tyler Eifert, football player (Fort Wayne)
 * Trai Essex, football player (Fort Wayne)
 * Jason Fabini, football player (Fort Wayne)
 * Tom Ferguson, football player (Henryville)
 * Justin Gage, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Jeff George, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Brandon Gorin, football player (Muncie)
 * MarQueis Gray, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Randy Gregory, football player (Fishers)
 * Bob Griese, football player (Evansville)
 * Rex Grossman, football player (Bloomington)
 * Nick Hardwick, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Kevin Hardy, football player (Evansville)
 * Tom Harmon, football player (Gary)
 * Corey Harris, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Nick Hayden, football player (Hartland)
 * Mark Herrmann, football player (Carmel)
 * Jon Hilbert, football player (Boonville)
 * James Hurst, football player (Plainfield)
 * Anthony Johnson, football player (South Bend)
 * Alex Karras, football player and pro wrestler (Gary)
 * Ted Karras, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Dustin Keller, football player (Lafayette)
 * Ryan Kerrigan, football player (Muncie)
 * Blair Kiel, football player (Columbus)
 * Mathias Kiwanuka, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Bob Kuechenberg, football player (Gary)
 * Nate Lawrie, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Lamar Lundy, football player (Richmond)
 * Zack Martin, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Matt Mauck, football player (Jasper)
 * Derrick Mayes, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Brad Maynard, football player (Tipton)
 * Le'Ron McClain, football player (Fort Wayne)
 * Tony McGee, football player (Terre Haute)
 * Rick Mirer, football player (Goshen)
 * Brandon Moore, football player (Gary)
 * Devin Moore, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Mike Neal, football player (Merrillville)
 * Elmer Oliphant, football player (Washington)
 * Mike Otto, football player (Bunker Hill)
 * Mike Phipps, football player (Columbus)
 * Jason Pociask, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Bernard Pollard, football player (Fort Wayne)
 * Joe Reitz, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Adrien Robinson, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Courtney Roby, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Terry Schmidt, football player (Columbus)
 * Kawann Short, football player (East Chicago)
 * Alex Smith, football player Indiana's first Mr. Football (Franklin))
 * Jaylon Smith, football player (Fort Wayne)
 * Lamar Smith, football player (Fort Wayne)
 * Anthony Spencer, football player (Fort Wayne)
 * Paul Spicer, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Jason Spriggs, football player (Elkhart)
 * John Standeford, football player (Monrovia)
 * Glen Steele, football player (Ligonier)
 * Dan Stryzinski, football player (Vincennes)
 * Scott Studwell, football player (linebacker) (Evansville)
 * Lars Tate, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Anthony Thompson, football player (Terre Haute)
 * Jared Tomich, football player (St. John)
 * Stacey Toran, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Jeremy Trueblood, football player (Indianapolis)
 * Steve Weatherford, football player (Crown Point)
 * Eugene Wilson, football player (Merrillville)
 * Rod Woodson, football player (Fort Wayne)
 * Todd Yoder, football player (New Palestine)
 * Joe Zeller, football player (East Chicago)

Football coaches

 * Cam Cameron, football coach (Terre Haute)
 * Jack Chevigny, football coach (Hammond)
 * Zora G. Clevenger, football coach (Muncie)
 * Clem Crowe, football coach (Lafayette)
 * Mike DeBord, football coach (Muncie)
 * Weeb Ewbank, football coach (Richmond)
 * Abe Gibron, football coach (Michigan City)
 * Bill Lynch, football coach (Indianapolis)
 * Hank Stram, football coach (Gary)

Golf

 * Jeff Gallagher, pro golfer (Marion)
 * Jim Gallagher Jr., golfer, PGA Tour (Marion)
 * Jeff Overton, golfer, PGA Tour (Evansville)
 * Jackie Gallagher-Smith, golfer, LPGA (Marion)
 * Sandra Spuzich, golfer, 1966 U.S. Women's Open champion (Indianapolis)
 * Bo Van Pelt, golfer, PGA Tour (Richmond)
 * Fuzzy Zoeller, golfer, Masters and U.S. Open champion (New Albany)

Race car drivers

 * John Andretti, racer (Indianapolis)
 * Cannonball Baker, motorcycle and auto racer (Dearborn County)
 * Chase Briscoe, racer (Mitchell)
 * Ed Carpenter, IndyCar racer (Indianapolis)
 * Conor Daly, IndyCar and GP2 racer (Noblesville)
 * Derek Daly, Formula One racer (Noblesville; originally Irish)
 * Bob Glidden, NHRA drag racer (Whiteland)
 * Jeff Gordon, racer (Pittsboro)
 * Justin Haley, racer (Winamac)
 * Tracy Hines, racer (New Castle)
 * Kenny Irwin Jr., racer (Indianapolis)
 * Mel Kenyon, midget car racer, five Indy 500 top-five finishes (Lebanon)
 * Steve Kinser, 20-time World of Outlaws sprint car champion (Bloomington)
 * Ryan Newman, racer (South Bend)
 * Tony Raines, racer (LaPorte)
 * Tony Stewart, racer (Columbus)
 * David Stremme, racer (South Bend)
 * Howdy Wilcox, 1919 Indy 500 winner (Crawfordsville)

Soccer

 * Rich Balchan, soccer player (Carmel)
 * Damarcus Beasley, soccer player (Fort Wayne)
 * Ray Gaddis, soccer player (Indianapolis)
 * Lauren Holiday, soccer player (Indianapolis)
 * Matt Reiswerg (born 1980), soccer player, coach, and administrator
 * Todd Yeagley, Major League Soccer player (Bloomington)

Wrestlers, fighters, boxers

 * William "Dick the Bruiser" Afflis, football player and professional wrestler (Delphi)
 * Danny "the Damaja" Basham, professional wrestler (Seymour)
 * B. Brian Blair, professional wrestler (Gary)
 * Stephan Bonnar, UFC fighter (Munster)
 * Robert Bowles, karate teacher (Fort Wayne)
 * Harold Brazier, boxer (South Bend)
 * Darren Elkins, UFC fighter (Portage)
 * Jon Fitch, UFC fighter (Fort Wayne)
 * Mick Foley, professional wrestler (born in Bloomington, but raised on Long Island)
 * Terry Funk, professional wrestler (Hammond)
 * Sarah Hildebrandt, Olympic freestyle wrestler (Granger)
 * Marvin Johnson, boxer (Indianapolis)
 * Julie Kedzie, mixed martial artist (Bloomington)
 * Glenn Keeney, martial arts pioneer (Anderson)
 * Chris Lytle, UFC fighter (Indianapolis)
 * Stevan Mićić, Olympic freestyle wrestler (Cedar Lake)
 * Craig Pumphrey, martial artist (New Albany)
 * Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman, wrestling valet (Gary)
 * Andrew Tate, kick-boxer (Goshen)
 * Miguel Torres, bantamweight boxer and UFC fighter (East Chicago)
 * The Ultimate Warrior, professional wrestler (Crawfordsville)
 * Bill Wallace, world karate champion (Muncie)
 * Eddie Wineland, UFC fighter (Chesterton)
 * Drake Younger, professional wrestler (Indianapolis)
 * Tony Zale, boxer (Gary)

Other sports figures

 * Mike Aulby, professional bowler (Indianapolis)
 * Lloy Ball, Olympic volleyball player (born in Fort Wayne, raised in Woodburn)
 * Amy Yoder Begley, Olympic long-distance runner (Kendallville)
 * Greg Bell, athlete, gold medalist in long jump at 1956 Summer Olympics (Terre Haute)
 * Lindsay Benko, 2000 Olympics swimmer (Elkhart)
 * David Boudia, Olympic diver (Noblesville)
 * Donald Brashear, hockey player (Bedford)
 * Euphrasia Donnelly, swimmer, Olympic gold medalist (Indianapolis)
 * Mary Beth Dunnichay, Olympic diver (Elwood)
 * Ray Ewry, athlete, winner of eight Olympic gold medals (Lafayette)
 * Charlie Finley, MLB owner of Kansas City/Oakland A's; NHL owner of Oakland/California Seals; ABA owner of Memphis Pros/Tams (LaPorte)
 * Ford Frick, writer and Commissioner of Major League Baseball (Wawaka)
 * Nick Goepper, freeskier, Winter Olympics, Winter X Games (Lawrenceburg)
 * Dan Harrigan, swimmer, 1976 Olympic bronze medalist (South Bend)
 * Tony Hulman, owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway (Terre Haute)
 * Lauren Johnson, runner (Huntington)
 * Lilly King, swimmer, two-time Olympian (Evansville)
 * Mike LaRocco, motocross racer (Michigan City)
 * Don Lash, long-distance runner (Bluffton and Auburn)
 * Dan Patch, pacer (Oxford)
 * Aron Ralston, mountain climber (Indianapolis)
 * Bridget Sloan, Olympic gymnast, silver medalist (Pittsboro)
 * Major Taylor, cyclist (Indianapolis)
 * Mike Troy, swimmer, two-time Olympic gold medalist (Indianapolis)
 * Sharon Wichman, swimmer, gold medalist at 1968 Summer Olympics (Fort Wayne)

Business

 * Steve Bellamy, sports and media businessman
 * Bill Blass, fashion designer (Fort Wayne)
 * Junior Bridgeman, former NBA player; CEO of Bridgeman Foods, world's second-largest Wendy's franchisee (East Chicago)
 * Niki Christoff, political operative and business executive (Pittsboro)
 * Charles G. Conn, manufacturer of band instruments (Elkhart)
 * Steve Ells, founder and CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill (Indianapolis)
 * Michael L. Eskew, former CEO of UPS (Vincennes)
 * Carl G. Fisher, founder of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Prest-O-Lite (Greensburg)
 * Richard Jordan Gatling, inventor of gatling gun (Indianapolis)
 * Halston, fashion designer (Evansville)
 * Mark C. Honeywell, founder of Honeywell International, Inc. (Wabash)
 * Gary Hoover, founder of Bookstop and Hoover's (Anderson)
 * Edward Mead Johnson, co-founder of Johnson & Johnson; founder of Mead Johnson & Co. (Evansville)
 * E.W. Kelley, founder of Steak 'n Shake restaurant chain and benefactor of Indiana University's Kelley School of Business (Sharpsville)
 * Robert A. McDonald, Chairman, President and CEO of Procter & Gamble (Gary)
 * Norman Norell, fashion designer (Noblesville)
 * Aaron Patzer, founder of Mint.com (Evansville)
 * Orville Redenbacher, businessman, popcorn mogul (Brazil)
 * Francis Joseph Reitz, banker and philanthropist (Evansville)
 * Alvah Curtis Roebuck, co-founder of Sears, Roebuck and Company (Lafayette)
 * Colonel Sanders, founder of KFC (Henryville)
 * John Schnatter, founder and CEO of Papa John's Pizza (Jeffersonville)
 * Eugene Stoner, firearms designer (Gosport)
 * Fred Zollner, industrialist and founder of the Fort Wayne Pistons NBA franchise

Education

 * Enoch Albert Bryan, president, Vincennes University and Washington State University (Bloomington)
 * Robert H. Ferrell, historian (Indiana University)
 * Agnes Moore Fryberger, music educator, University of Louisville
 * Albert Fredrick Ottomar Germann, physical chemist, university professor, and chemical entrepreneur (Peru)
 * Frank Erhart Emmanuel Germann, physical chemist and university professor (Peru)
 * Ray Ginger, Harvard professor in labor history and economic history; target of House Committee on Unamerican Activities, ending his academic career (Greencastle and Indianapolis)
 * Charles Royal Johnson, mathematician, College of William & Mary professor (Elkhart)
 * Frank Curry Mathers, physical chemist, professor, president of Electrochemical Society (Monroe County)
 * George P. Smith II, Catholic University of America professor of Law (Wabash)
 * William B. Pickett, historian (Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute)
 * Herman B Wells, president, Indiana University (Jamestown)

Art, literature and media

 * George Ade, author and journalist (Kentland)
 * J. Ottis Adams, artist (Indianapolis)
 * Marie Louise Andrews, writer, journalist (Bedford)
 * Radley Balko, journalist, blogger (Greenfield)
 * Charles A. Beard, historian (Knightstown)
 * Albert J. Beveridge, historian (Indianapolis)
 * Emily Lucas Blackall, writer, philanthropist (Salem)
 * Allan Bloom, philosopher, classicist, academic (Indianapolis)
 * Mae St. John Bramhall, actress, writer, poet (Richmond)
 * Adelia Pope Branham, poet, writer	(Greenfield)
 * Norman Bridwell, author (Kokomo)
 * Mary Blatchley Briggs, writer, social organizer (Valparaiso)
 * Alice Williams Brotherton, poet, writer (Cambridge City)
 * Bubba the Love Sponge, radio personality (Warsaw)
 * Clarence Joseph Bulliet, art critic, journalist, author
 * Meg Cabot, author (Bloomington)
 * Jared Carter, poet (Elwood)
 * Emily Thornton Charles, poet, journalist, newspaper founder, suffragist (Lafayette)
 * William Merritt Chase, painter (Nineveh, Johnson County)
 * Will Cuppy, humorist (Auburn)
 * Jim Davis, cartoonist (Fairmount)
 * Lloyd C. Douglas, author (Columbia City)
 * Theodore Dreiser, author (Terre Haute)
 * Amanda Ruter Dufour, poet (Jeffersonville)
 * Marilyn Durham, author (Evansville)
 * Mike "Doc" Emrick, sportscaster (La Fontaine)
 * Clayton Eshleman, poet (Indianapolis)
 * Anna Farquhar, writer, editor (Brookville)
 * William Forsyth (artist), artist (Indianapolis)
 * Ford Frick, sportswriter, Commissioner of Baseball (Wawaka)
 * Bill Frink, sportscaster (Elkhar])
 * David Goodnow, television journalist (Vincennes)
 * Michael Graves, architect, designer (Indianapolis)
 * Avani Gregg, social media personality (Brownsburg)
 * Art Green, painter (member of The Hairy Who)
 * John Green, author (Indianapolis)
 * Johnny Gruelle, illustrator of Raggedy Ann books (Indianapolis)
 * Richard Gruelle, artist (Indianapolis)
 * Alex Hall, author
 * Mark Hampton, interior designer (Plainfield)
 * Elizabeth Boynton Harbert, writer, lecturer, philanthropist (Crawfordsville)
 * David Haugh, sportswriter (North Judson)
 * Christine Howser, author
 * Kin Hubbard, humorist, writer, cartoonist (Indianapolis)
 * Robert Indiana, artist (New Castle)
 * Steve Inskeep, journalist, radio host (Carmel)
 * Ross Lockridge Jr., author (Bloomington)
 * John T. McCutcheon, cartoonist (Lafayette)
 * Jason Matheson, radio personality on KTMY
 * Edward J. Meeman, journalist (Evansville)
 * Dale Messick, comic strip artist (South Bend)
 * Midwxst, rapper and singer (Carmel)
 * Minnie Myrtle Miller, writer, poet (Brookville)
 * Bruce Nauman, artist (Fort Wayne)
 * Meredith Nicholson, author (Crawfordsville)
 * Dave Niehaus, sportscaster (Princeton)
 * Jack Olsen, journalist and author (Indianapolis)
 * Bill Peet, author, Disney artist, Caldecott Honor recipient (Grandview)
 * Jon Petrovich, television executive (Gary)
 * Edith Pfau, painter, sculptor, art educator (Jasper)
 * David Graham Phillips, journalist, novelist (Madison)
 * Gene Stratton Porter, author (Wabash County)
 * Nelson Poynter, publisher (Sullivan)
 * Ernie Pyle, newsman, legendary war correspondent during World War II (Dana)
 * Emily Lee Sherwood Ragan, writer, journalist (Madison)
 * Frank Reynolds, television journalist (East Chicago)
 * E. A. Richardson, poet, first Poet Laureate of Indiana (Pike County)
 * James Whitcomb Riley, poet (Greenfield)
 * William Edouard Scott, artist (Indianapolis)
 * Zerna Sharp, author and educator (Frankfort)
 * Michael Shelden, author of George Orwell: Ten Animal Farm Letters to His Agent, Leonard Moore (Terre Haute)
 * Carrie M. Shoaff, artist, potter, writer, correspondent (Huntington)
 * Will Shortz, editor of The New York Times crossword puzzle and host of the puzzle segment on National Public Radio's Weekend Edition Sunday (Crawfordsville)
 * David Smith, Abstract Expressionist sculptor (Decatur)
 * Amy Spindler, journalist (Michigan City)
 * Otto Stark, artist (Indianapolis)
 * T. C. Steele, artist (Indianapolis)
 * Evaleen Stein, poet, writer, limner (Lafayette)
 * Rex Stout, author, creator of Nero Wolfe (Noblesville)
 * Maria Straub, writer, hymnwriter (DeKalb County)
 * Martina Swafford, poet (Terre Haute)
 * Booth Tarkington, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Alice Adams, Seventeen, and The Magnificent Ambersons (Indianapolis)
 * James Alexander Thom, author (Indianapolis, Brown County)
 * E. S. L. Thompson, poet, writer (Vevay)
 * Kurt Vonnegut, author (Indianapolis)
 * Lew Wallace, author (Crawfordsville)
 * Jason Whitlock, sportswriter (Indianapolis)
 * Mary Holloway Wilhite, physician, philanthropist, suffragist, women's rights activist, writer (near Crawfordsville)
 * J. N. Williamson, author (Noblesville)
 * Marguerite Young, poet, author, critic (Indianapolis)

Science and medicine

 * Gordon Allport, psychologist, one of the founding figures of personality psychology (Montezuma)
 * Philip Warren Anderson, Nobel Prize in Physics (Indianapolis)
 * Herbert C. Brown, Nobel Prize in Chemistry (West Lafayette)
 * Roy Cizek, inventor and pioneer in sound reproduction engineering (Terre Haute)
 * Larry M. Davis, forensic psychiatrist, pioneer of the criminal insanity defense (Indianapolis)
 * David Deming, geologist and geophysicist (Terre Haute)
 * Katharine Jane Densford, Director of the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, provided important nursing leadership during World War II
 * James Bert Garner, chemist, inventor of the gas mask (Lebanon)
 * Alice Hamilton, physician, pioneer in industrial medicine, environmental toxicology] (Fort Wayne)
 * Elwood Haynes, inventor of stainless steel (Kokomo)
 * Jane E. Henney, first female commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (Woodburn)
 * C. Francis Jenkins, inventor of the motion picture projector and television (Richmond)
 * Gene Likens, discovered acid rain in North America (Pierceton)
 * Colonel Eli Lilly, founder of Eli Lilly (Indianapolis)
 * Salvador E. Luria, Nobel Prize in Medicine (Bloomington)
 * Robert Staughton Lynd, sociology, directed first Middletown studies (New Albany)
 * Ben Roy Mottelson, Nobel Prize in Physics (West Lafayette)
 * Hermann Joseph Muller, Nobel Prize in Medicine (Bloomington)
 * Elinor Ostrom, first woman to win Nobel Prize in Economics (Bloomington)
 * E. J. Pennington, inventor and promoter of many mechanical devices (Moores Hill)
 * Edward Mills Purcell, Nobel Prize in Physics (West Lafayette)
 * George Andrew Reisner, archaeologist of ancient Egypt and Palestine (Indianapolis)
 * Paul A. Samuelson, first American to win the Nobel Prize in Economics (Gary)
 * Ada Estelle Schweitzer, physician and public health advocate (La Grange County)
 * Julian Schwinger, Nobel Prize in Physics (West Lafayette)
 * Bob Sheets, meteorologist; director of the National Hurricane Center 1987–1995 (Fairmount)
 * Vernon Smith, Nobel Prize in Economics (West Lafayette)
 * Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize in Economics (Gary)
 * Lewis Terman, psychologist, inventor of the Stanford-Binet I.Q. test and pioneer in educational psychology (Johnson County)
 * Harold Urey, Nobel Prize in Chemistry (Walkerton)
 * James D. Watson, Nobel Prize in Medicine (Bloomington)
 * Eric F. Wieschaus, evolutionary developmental biologist, Nobel Prize in Medicine (South Bend)
 * R. M. Wilson, mathematician (Gary)

Aviation and space

 * Joseph P. Allen, astronaut (Crawfordsville)
 * Lawrence Bell, aviator (Mentone)
 * Frank Borman, astronaut (Gary)
 * Kenneth Bowersox, astronaut (Bedford)
 * Mark N. Brown, astronaut (Valparaiso)
 * Anthony W. England, astronaut (Indianapolis)
 * Kevin A. Ford, astronaut (Montpelier)
 * Gus Grissom, astronaut (Mitchell)
 * Margaret Ringenberg, aviator (Fort Wayne)
 * Jerry Ross, astronaut (Crown Point)
 * Janice E. Voss, astronaut (South Bend)
 * Charles D. Walker, astronaut (Bedford)
 * David Wolf, astronaut (Indianapolis)
 * Wilbur Wright, inventor (Millville)

Religious and spiritual figures

 * Irvin Baxter Jr., Pentecostal pastor (Richmond)
 * Simon Bruté, Catholic missionary and bishop (Vincennes)
 * Anthony Deydier, Catholic missionary (Evansville)
 * David C. Fisher, Conservative Congregational pastor (Warsaw)
 * Esther G. Frame, Quaker minister and evangelist (Washington)
 * Benjamin Franklin, figure in the Restoration Movement (Anderson)
 * Hobart Freeman, charismatic preacher (Kosciusko County)
 * Jim Gilles, campus preacher (Evansville)
 * Jeff Godwin, preacher and author (Bloomington)
 * Ted Haggard, evangelical pastor (Yorktown)
 * Garfield Thomas Haywood, pastor and songwriter (Greencastle)
 * Jack Hyles, Baptist preacher (Hammond)
 * Gerald Archie Mangun, Pentecostal pastor (La Paz)
 * Isaac McCoy, Baptist missionary (Vincennes)
 * Lee Roberson, Baptist preacher (English)
 * Mary Simpson, Episcopalian priest (Evansville)
 * Jed Smock, campus preacher (Terre Haute)
 * Edward Sorin, Catholic priest (Notre Dame)
 * Lester Sumrall, Pentecostal pastor (South Bend)
 * Robert Thieme, non-denominational Christian pastor (Fort Wayne)
 * Ambrose Jessup Tomlinson, Pentecostal pastor (Westfield)
 * Wilbur Glenn Voliva, evangelist (Merom)
 * Mike Warnke, evangelist and comedian (Evansville)
 * Warren W. Wiersbe, pastor and writer (East Chicago)
 * David Wilkerson, evangelical pastor (Hammond)
 * Milton Wright, United Brethren bishop (Rushville Township)

Notorious and infamous Hoosiers

 * Michael Alig, founding member of Club Kids, murderer (South Bend)
 * Lowell Amos, murderer (Anderson)
 * Gertrude Baniszewski, murderer (Indianapolis)
 * Sam Bass, train robber (Mitchell)
 * Herb Baumeister, serial killer (Westfield)
 * Curly Bill Brocius, outlaw, nemesis of Wyatt Earp (Crawfordsville)
 * John Dillinger, bank robber (Mooresville)
 * Jared Fogle, former spokesman for Subway restaurants and convicted sex offender
 * Belle Gunness, serial killer (La Porte)
 * Jimmy Hoffa, labor-union leader (Brazil)
 * Jim Jones, cult founder/leader (Richmond)
 * Steven Timothy Judy, murderer (Indianapolis)
 * Tony Kiritsis, hostage-taker (Indianapolis)
 * Harry Pierpont, Prohibition era gangster (Muncie)
 * Reno Brothers, murderers, committed the first three peacetime train robberies in U.S. history (Rockford)
 * Johnny Ringo, gunfighter (Greens Fork)
 * D.C. Stephenson, Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan, convicted murderer and rapist (Evansville)
 * Eric Justin Toth, formerly wanted by the FBI under accusations of possessing and producing child pornography; replaced Osama Bin Laden on FBI's Ten Most Wanted list (Highland)
 * Homer Van Meter, criminal and bank robber (Fort Wayne)

Other

 * David Camm, man who was wrongfully convicted of the murder of his family (Georgetown)
 * Peter Kassig, aid worker, taken hostage and ultimately beheaded by the Islamic State (Indianapolis)
 * David E. Kendall, attorney (Sheridan)
 * Sylvia Likens, murder victim (Indianapolis)
 * Madge Oberholtzer, murder victim (Clay City)
 * Shanda Sharer, murder victim (New Albany)
 * Robert Shields, minister and teacher who wrote a 37.5-million-word diary, possibly the longest ever written (Seymour)