List of people from Utah

The following is a list of prominent people who were born in the U.S. state of Utah, live in Utah, or for whom Utah is a significant part of their identity.

A

 * Maurice Abravanel – music director of the Utah Symphony for over 30 years
 * Maude Adams – Broadway stage actress of late 19th and early 20th centuries, noted for title role in Peter Pan
 * Florence E. Allen – first woman to serve on a state Supreme Court, second to serve as a federal judge
 * Quinn Allman – guitarist for The Used
 * John Amaechi – American-English NBA player for the Utah Jazz (2001–2003), sports broadcaster, political activist
 * Rocky Anderson – former mayor of Salt Lake City
 * David Archuleta – singer-songwriter, runner-up on the seventh season of American Idol
 * Leonard J. Arrington – historian
 * Hal Ashby – director; films include Being There, The Last Detail, Harold and Maude

B

 * Simon Bamberger – first Democratic governor of Utah; only Jewish governor of Utah
 * Dean Baker (born 1958), macroeconomist
 * Lee Barnes (1906–1970) – pole vaulter, gold medalist in 1924 Olympics
 * Roseanne Barr – comedian, television actress, writer, talk-show host
 * Earl W. Bascom (1906–1995) – rodeo champion, inventor, artist, sculptor, Utah Sports Hall of Fame inductee
 * Bruce Bastian – computer programmer, co-founder of WordPerfect company, philanthropist, on the board of directors of the Human Rights Campaign
 * Zane Beadles – lineman for the Jacksonville Jaguars
 * Linda Bement (1942–2018) – Miss USA and Miss Universe 1960
 * Robert Foster "Bob" Bennett – Republican United States Senator from Utah
 * Ezra Taft Benson – 13th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1985–1994; United States Secretary of Agriculture
 * Jaime Bergman – actress, model, 1999 Playboy Playmate
 * Arnie Beyeler – first base coach for the Boston Red Sox
 * Don Bluth (born 1937) – animator
 * Frank Borzage – film director and actor
 * Reva Beck Bosone – Utah's first woman member of Congress
 * Elaine Bradley – musician; member of rock band Neon Trees
 * Shawn Bradley – former NBA center, one of the tallest players in NBA history
 * Stewart Bradley – linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles
 * Juanita Brooks – historian and author
 * John Moses Browning (1855–1926) – firearms designer
 * Val Browning (1895–1994) – business magnate, philanthropist, and gun innovator
 * John Buck (born 1980) – catcher for the Miami Marlins
 * Ted Bundy – serial killer who attended the S. J. Quinney College of Law (not born in Utah, but lived there)
 * Nolan Bushnell (born 1943) – video game designer, founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese's
 * Jerry Buss (1933–2013) – businessman, real estate investor and chemist, owned the Los Angeles Lakers

C

 * Ben Cahoon – slotback for the CFL's Montreal Alouettes, member of two Grey Cup championship teams in 2002 and 2009
 * Mario Capecchi (born 1939) – recipient, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, 2007
 * Orson Scott Card (born 1951) – science fiction author
 * Neal Cassady – writer; major figure of the Beat Generation of the 1950s and the psychedelic and counterculture movements of the 1960s; inspiration for the character Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road
 * Butch Cassidy (1866 – c. 1908) – outlaw, born Robert LeRoy Parker in Beaver, Utah
 * Nick Clooney (born Nicholas Joseph Clooney, 1934) – journalist, anchorman, and television host; brother of singers Rosemary Clooney and Betty Clooney; father of actor and film director George Clooney
 * Stephen Covey (1932–2012) – author, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
 * Reed Cowan (born 1972) – television news anchor, philanthropist, and documentary filmmaker
 * Melvin A. Cook (1911–2000) – explosives expert, chemist
 * Chris Cooley (born 1982) – NFL tight end
 * James Cowser (born 1990) - NFL outside linebacker
 * Chandler Cox (born 1996) – NFL fullback

D

 * Matthew Davis – actor, The Vampire Diaries, What About Brian, Legally Blonde
 * Laraine Day – actress, Foreign Correspondent, Mr. Lucky, The High and the Mighty
 * Jordan Devey – offensive guard for the San Francisco 49ers
 * Paul W. Draper – anthropologist, mentalist, educator
 * Christine M. Durham – Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court since 2002

E

 * David Eccles – industrialist
 * Marriner Eccles – banker, economist, Chairman of the Federal Reserve during Roosevelt and Truman Administrations
 * Spencer Eccles – bank executive for First Security and Wells Fargo
 * Lily Eskelsen García – vice president of National Education Association
 * Richard Paul Evans – author, known for novel The Christmas Box
 * Henry Eyring – theoretical chemist who proposed theories on which future Nobel Prize winners based their work

F

 * Philo T. Farnsworth (1906–1971) – inventor of the electronic television
 * John D. Fitzgerald – author of The Great Brain series of children's books and Papa Married a Mormon
 * John F. Fitzpatrick – publisher of The Salt Lake Tribune 1924–1960
 * Harvey Fletcher – physicist, invented the hearing aid and audiometer; called "the father of stereophonic sound"
 * Brandon Flowers – singer for the rock band The Killers
 * Jim Fosgate – inventor of first car amplifier, Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound, founder of Rockford Fosgate electronics
 * Jimmer Fredette – professional basketball player
 * Patrick Fugit (born 1982) – actor, known for lead role of Cameron Crowe's film Almost Famous
 * Gene Fullmer (1931–2015) – middleweight boxer and world champion

G

 * John W. Gallivan – publisher of The Salt Lake Tribune, 1960–1984
 * Kendall D. Garff – founder of Ken Garff Automotive Group
 * Jake Garn – former U.S. Senator and astronaut, the first member of Congress in space
 * Anthony Geary – actor in several daytime television series
 * John Gilbert – silent film star
 * Tyler Glenn – musician; member of rock band Neon Trees
 * Jared Goldberg (born 1991) – Olympic skier
 * Robert Gore – co-inventor of Gore-Tex fabrics
 * Wilbert L. Gore – co-inventor of Gore-Tex fabrics
 * Heber J. Grant (1856–1945) – 7th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * Tom Green – Mormon fundamentalist and practicer of plural marriage
 * Riley Griffiths – actor, known for Super 8

H

 * Gregg Hale – guitarist for British band Spiritualized
 * Tracy Hall (1919–2008) – scientist
 * Jacob Hamblin – peace maker with Native Americans
 * Orrin Hatch (1934–2022) – long-time U.S. Senator from Utah since 1977
 * Dan Hausel (born 1949) – martial-arts grandmaster, exploration geologist and author
 * Stanley Havili (born 1987) – fullback for the Philadelphia Eagles
 * Colin Haynie (born 2004/2005) — alleged mass shooter
 * Katherine Heigl – actress (Grey's Anatomy, 27 Dresses)
 * Gary R. Herbert (born 1947) – Governor of Utah
 * Jared and Jerusha Hess (born 1979, 1980) – filmmakers (Napoleon Dynamite)
 * Tracy Hickman – writer, co-creator of the Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting Dragonlance and associated novels
 * Esther Hicks – inspirational speaker and best-selling author
 * Chelsie Hightower – professional ballroom dancer on So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars
 * Joe Hill – socialist, radical labor activist, and member of the Industrial Workers of the World
 * Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) – 15th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1995–2008
 * Allison Holker – jazz dancer
 * Derek Hough and Julianne Hough – professional ballroom dancers on Dancing with the Stars
 * Jeph Howard (born 1979) – bassist for The Used
 * Jon Huntsman Jr. (born 1960) – Governor of Utah 2005–2009; ambassador to the People's Republic of China
 * Jon Huntsman Sr. – businessman, philanthropist, founder of Huntsman Corporation

I

 * Brian Ibbott – creator of the Coverville podcast

J

 * Daniel C. Jackling – founded the Utah Copper Co. in 1903, starting what became the world's largest open-pit mine
 * Ken Jennings – 74-time Jeopardy! champion
 * Jewel (born Jewel Kilcher, 1974) – singer-songwriter, guitarist, actress, and poet
 * Scott Johnson – creator of Extralife webcomic and podcast network Frogpants Studios
 * Megan Joy – singer, American Idol Season 8 finalist

K

 * Thomas Kearns – U.S. Senator from Utah (1901–1905), owned the Silver King Coalition Mine in Park City and the Salt Lake Tribune, Utah's largest newspaper
 * Bryan Kehl – linebacker for the Washington Redskins
 * Brett Keisel – defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers
 * David M. Kennedy (1905–1996) – Treasury Secretary under President Nixon
 * Spencer W. Kimball – 12th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; LDS President who ended the ban on priesthood for African-Americans in 1978
 * John F. Kinney – Chief Justice of the Utah Territory Supreme Court, 1853–1857, and the Territory of Utah's Delegate in the House of Representatives of the 38th Congress
 * Raymond Knight – rodeo organizer, son of mining magnate Jesse Knight
 * Steve Konowalchuk – NHL forward for Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche
 * Paul Kruger – linebacker for Cleveland Browns

L

 * Carnell Lake (born 1967) – former NFL professional football player, football coach
 * Paul Langton – actor
 * Joi Lansing – model, actress
 * LeafyIsHere - YouTuber
 * Mike Leavitt – former Governor of Utah, Secretary of Health and Human Services
 * Harold B. Lee – 11th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * John D. Lee – early LDS Church leader, the only man convicted in the Mountain Meadows massacre
 * Trevor Lewis – forward for NHL's Los Angeles Kings
 * Don L. Lind – astronaut
 * Mike Lookinland – actor
 * Star Lotulelei – defensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers
 * Brandon Lyon – relief pitcher for MLB's Toronto Blue Jays

M

 * Maddox – Internet satirist and author of The Best Page in the Universe and The Alphabet of Manliness
 * Karl Malone – professional basketball player (retired); two-time NBA MVP and Hall of Famer
 * John Willard Marriott – founder of worldwide hotel business Marriott International, Inc.
 * Mark Maryboy – politician and a former Navajo Nation Council Delegate
 * Daya Mata - woman president of Self-Realization Fellowship for 55+ years.
 * Scott M. Matheson – Governor of Utah
 * Ned Mathews – running back for Detroit Lions and Boston Yanks
 * Bert McCracken – lead singer of the band The Used
 * Roger I. McDonough – Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court, 1947–1948 and 1954–1959
 * David O. McKay – 9th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * James B. McKean – congressman, Chief Justice of the Utah Territory Supreme Court, 1870–1875
 * Jim McMahon – NFL football player (retired); businessman; motivational speaker
 * Evan Mecham – 17th Governor of Arizona
 * Kieth Merrill – Academy Award-winning producer and director
 * Johnny Miller – former professional golfer, won 25 PGA Tour events, current golf analyst for NBC Sports
 * Larry H. Miller (1944–2009) – businessman, philanthropist, owner of Utah Jazz basketball team
 * Gerald R. Molen – Academy Award-winning film producer
 * Thomas S. Monson – president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * Ted Moss – three-term Democratic senator from Utah
 * Barry Mower – businessperson, owner of Lifetime Products
 * Brandon Mull – best-selling author

N

 * Jim Nantz – CBS Sports anchor
 * David Neeleman – co-founder JetBlue
 * Russell M. Nelson – current president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * Haloti Ngata – defensive end for the Baltimore Ravens
 * Claude Nowell (1944–2008) – founder of Summum religion and philosophy

O

 * Dallin H. Oaks – lawyer, jurist, Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * Darcy Olsen – president and chief executive officer of the Goldwater Institute
 * Merlin Olsen (1940–2010) – former NFL football player, actor on Little House on the Prairie and star of NBC's Father Murphy
 * Osmond family – family music group The Osmonds
 * Alan Osmond (born 1949) – singer
 * Donny Osmond (born 1957) – singer, actor, television host
 * Jay Osmond (born 1955) – singer
 * Jimmy Osmond (born 1963) – singer, actor, businessman
 * Marie Osmond (born 1959) – singer, actress, television host
 * Merrill Osmond (born 1953) – singer
 * Wayne Osmond (born 1951) – singer
 * Wayne Owens (1937–2002) – attorney, U.S. Congressman from Utah

P

 * Erik Pears (born 1982) – offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers
 * Utah Phillips (1935–2008) – folk singer, poet, and labor organizer
 * Dorothy Poynton (1915–1995) – diver, two-time Olympic gold medalist
 * Ivy Baker Priest (1905–1976) – United States Secretary of the Treasury 1953–61
 * Pat Priest (born 1936) – actress, The Munsters

R

 * Melba Rae – actress, Search for Tomorrow
 * Natacha Rambova – costume and set designer; Egyptologist
 * Cal Rampton – Utah governor, 1965–1977; won three terms running as a Democrat
 * Carmen Rasmusen (born 1985) – contestant on American Idol 2
 * Dallas Reynolds – offensive lineman for the New York Giants
 * Dan Reynolds - lead singer for the band Imagine Dragons
 * Gary Ridgway – serial killer known as the Green River Killer
 * Amanda Righetti – actress, The Mentalist, North Shore, Reunion
 * Mitt Romney – politician, businessman, former Governor of Massachusetts (2003–2007), 2012 Republican nominee for president, and United States Senator from Utah (2019–)
 * Karl Rove – political advisor to President George W. Bush
 * Ron Rydalch – defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears

S

 * Matt Salmon – U.S. Representative from Arizona
 * Kyle Sampson – former Chief of Staff and Counselor for United States Attorney General Alberto Gonzales
 * Brandon Sanderson – author, selected to complete Robert Jordan's fantasy series The Wheel of Time
 * Cael Sanderson – wrestler from Heber City, Utah, gold medalist in the 2004 Summer Olympics
 * Daniel Schaffer – mentalist
 * Harold Schindler (1929–1998) – Utah historian
 * Dalton Schultz – tight end for the Dallas Cowboys
 * Byron Scott – NBA shooting guard; head coach for the New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, and Cleveland Cavaliers
 * Brent Scowcroft – National Security Advisor to presidents Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush
 * Ryan Seaman – drummer in the rock band Falling in Reverse
 * Jerry Sloan – basketball player, Hall of Fame head coach for the Utah Jazz; longest-tenured coach in American professional sports
 * Elizabeth Smart – kidnapped as a girl from her bedroom in Salt Lake City in 2002; child safety activist
 * George Albert Smith – 8th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * Joseph Fielding Smith – 10th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * Lucky Blue Smith (born 1998) – model and drummer
 * Reed Smoot – U.S. Senator, served almost thirty years in Congress, ten as chairman of the Finance Committee
 * Wallace Stegner – historian, novelist, short story writer, and environmentalist
 * Branden Steineckert – former drummer of The Used, drummer for Rancid
 * Stanley Smith Stevens – psychologist; founded Harvard's Psycho-Acoustic Laboratory; credited with Stevens' power law
 * John Stockton – Hall of Fame point guard for the Utah Jazz, holds the NBA records for career assists and steals
 * Picabo Street – champion alpine ski racer with the U.S. Ski Team
 * Xavier Su'a-Filo – guard for the Dallas Cowboys
 * Bruce Summerhays – professional golfer; mission president for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * Jane Summerhays – actress
 * George Sutherland – English-born American jurist and political figure; Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, 1922–1938
 * Kelly Sweet – adult contemporary singer
 * May Swenson (1913–1989) – poet
 * Sril Art – artist

T

 * Naufahu Tahi – former NFL fullback
 * Mitch Talbot – pitcher for the Samsung Lions
 * Chrissy Teigen – model for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
 * Kip Thorne – theoretical physicist
 * D. J. Tialavea – tight end for the Atlanta Falcons
 * Will Tukuafu – fullback for the Seattle Seahawks

U

 * Harvey Unga – running back for the Chicago Bears
 * Brendon Urie – singer-songwriter, frontman of Panic! at the Disco

V

 * Craig Venter – biotechnologist, biochemist, geneticist, and entrepreneur
 * Zach Vigil – linebacker for the Miami Dolphins

W

 * Wakara – Native American; leader of the Timpanogos tribe
 * Olene S. Walker – governor
 * Tom Wallisch – skier (King of Afterbang)
 * Sam Walton – Wal-Mart founder, served in the military at Ft Douglas
 * John Warnock – co-founder of Adobe Systems Inc.
 * Dallon Weekes – musician, singer-songwriter; bassist of American rock band Panic! at the Disco
 * Mike Weir – professional golfer
 * Rhyan White – Olympic swimmer
 * Willie Wilkin – professional football player
 * Terry Tempest Williams – author, environmentalist
 * Marie Windsor – actress
 * Mary Elizabeth Winstead – actress, Live Free or Die Hard
 * Dave Wolverton – author
 * James Woods – film, stage and television actor
 * David Wright – cyclist, stage winner in all three grand tours, yellow jersey holder, national time trial champion

Y

 * Brigham Young – 2nd president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
 * Bryan Young – filmmaker and author
 * Loretta Young – film actress and television star
 * Mahonri Young – sculptor and artist
 * Steve Young – Hall of Fame quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, NFL's Most Valuable Player 1992 and 1994

Z

 * Charles S. Zane – Chief Justice of the Utah Territory Supreme Court (1884–1888), and of the Utah Supreme Court (1896–1899)
 * Michael D. Zimmerman – sensei; Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court, 1994–1998