This article is a list of notable people who were born in and/or have lived in Wichita, Kansas. Alumni of universities within the city, including athletes and coaches, that are not originally from Wichita should not be included in this list. Instead, they should be listed in the alumni list article for each university.

Academia

June Bacon-Bercey (1932–2019), meteorologist Robert Ballard (1942–), oceanographer Elizabeth Bates (1947–2003), cognitive neuroscientist, developmental psychologist James Earl Baumgartner (1943–2011), mathematician Robert Beattie, lawyer, non-fiction crime writer, professor James F. Crow (1916–2012), geneticist Juan R. Cruz (1946–), aerospace engineer John W. Dawson, Jr (1944–), mathematician Thomas Everhart, president, California Institute of Technology and chancellor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign William Fetter (1928–2002), graphic designer, computer graphics pioneer Linda Flower (1944–), composition theorist, college professor L. Adrien Hannus (1944–), anthropologist Leo George Hertlein (1898–1972), paleontologist George W. Hoss (1824–1906), educator Howard W. Johnston (1913–2005), educator, founder of the Free University of Berlin Kenn Kaufman (1954–), author, bird expert, conservationist John Gamble Kirkwood (1907–1959), chemist, physicist Mirra Komarovsky (1905–1999), sociologist Lincoln LaPaz (1897–1985), astronomer Judith Ann Mayotte (1937–), ethicist, humanitarian M. Lee Pelton (1950–), university administrator Vernon L. Smith (1927–), economist Robert Whittaker (1920–1980), plant ecologist

Arts, design, and entertainment Architecture

Charles F. McAfee (born 1932), architect, building material manufacturer, and housing activist Cheryl L. McAfee (born c. 1958), architect W. H. Weeks (1864–1936), architect

Cartoonists and illustrators

Jerry Bittle (1949–2003), cartoonist Reed Crandall (1917–1982), comic book artist Jack Hamm (1916–1996), cartoonist Bob Peak (1927–1992), illustrator Robert C. Stanley (1918–1996), illustrator Tom Tomorrow (1961–), cartoonist

Fashion Lindsey Wixson (1994–), model

Film, television, and theatre

Bill Allen (1962–), actor. Retrieved 2015-08-17. Kirstie Alley (1951–2022), actress. Retrieved 2012-01-28. James Stephen Donaldson (1998–), actor. Retrieved 2012-01-28. Nicholas Barton (1983–), screenwriter, director Annette Bening (1958–), actress John Born, magician Louise Brooks (1906–1985), actress. Retrieved 2012-01-28. Chris Buck (1960–), director, animator Darren E. Burrows (1966–), actor Christopher Connelly (1941–1988), actor. Retrieved 2012-02-13. Bruce Conner (1933–2008), experimental filmmaker, visual artist Al Corley (1956–), actor, singer. Retrieved 2012-02-13. Lorianne Crook (1957–), radio and TV host, producer, writer. Retrieved 2015-08-07. Julie Cypher (1964–), film director. Retrieved 2012-02-13. Ruby Dandridge (1900–1987), actress. Retrieved 2012-02-14. John Duncan (1953–), performance artist Tamara Feldman (1980–), actress. Retrieved 2012-01-28. Ron Foster (1930–2015), actor. Retrieved 2016-03-04. Rift Fournier (1936–2013), screenwriter, producer. Retrieved 2016-03-16. Alan Fudge (1944–2011), actor. Retrieved 2012-03-05. Jonathan Glickman (1969–), film producer. Retrieved 2012-03-05. Laurel Goodwin (1942–), film & tv actress. Retrieved 2012-01-28. Danford B. Greene (1928–2015), film editor Colton Haynes (1988–), actor. Retrieved 2015-08-07. Herb Jeffries (1913–2014), actor, singer-songwriter Don Johnson (1949–), actor. Retrieved 2011-01-28. Neal Jones (1960–), actor. Retrieved 2016-03-08. Richard Kassebaum (1960–2008), documentary filmmaker. Retrieved 2016-03-08. Robert Kelker-Kelly (1964–), actor. Retrieved 2015-08-07. Jeffrey L. Kimball (1943–), cinematographer. Retrieved 2015-08-07. Etta McDaniel (1890–1946), actress. Retrieved 2016-03-08. Hattie McDaniel (1895–1952), actress. Retrieved 2012-01-28. Sam McDaniel (1886–1962), actor. Retrieved 2016-03-04. Trey McIntyre (1969–), dancer, choreographer Vera Miles (1929–), actress. Retrieved 2012-01-28. Jeff Probst (1961–), TV talk and reality show host. Retrieved 2012-01-28. Danny Roew (1980–), film director. Retrieved 2012-01-28. Vivian Schilling (1968–), actress, novelist, screenwriter. Retrieved 2015-08-24. Natasha Rothwell (1980–), actress Kendall Schmidt (1990–), actor. Retrieved 2012-01-28. Cynthia Sikes (1954–), actress Barbara Sinatra (1926–2017), model, showgirl Norma Smallwood (1909–1966), Miss America 1926 David Rees Snell (1966–), actor. Retrieved 2015-08-15. Taryn Southern (1986–), actress, comedian, singer. Retrieved 2012-04-10. Ruthelma Stevens (1903–1984), actress. Retrieved 2016-03-23. John Cameron Swayze (1906–1995), TV journalist, game show panelist, product spokesperson. Retrieved 2012-01-29. Sidney Toler (1874–1947), actor, playwright, theatre director, comic actor in Broadway theatre, portrayed detective Charlie Chan in 22 films, supporting roles in 50 films, buried in Highland Cemetery in Wichita Jessie E. Woods (1909–2001), stunt pilot

Journalism

David Bloom (1963–2003), television reporter Cheryl Burton (1962–), news anchor Steve Doocy (1956–), news anchor Dave Evans (1962–), reporter Shon Gables, news anchor Gregg Jarrett (1955–), news anchor Mike Jerrick (1950–), news anchor. Retrieved 2015-08-12. Sheinelle Jones (1978–), journalist, news anchor Tony Laubach (1980–), storm chaser and meteorologist, journalist Jim Lehrer (1934–2020), journalist, news anchor Melissa McDermott, news anchor Kevin Merida (1957–), journalist, editor Susan Page (1951–), journalist Susan Peters, news anchor Tracy Rowlett (1942–), news anchor, sports reporter W. Eugene Smith (1918–1978), photojournalist

Literature

Loren Goodman (1968–), poet, professor William Inge (1913–1973), novelist, playwright Rachel Maddux (1912-1983), author and screenwriter Michael McClure (1932–2020), Beat poet, playwright, novelist Antonya Nelson (1961–), novelist, short story writer Randall Parrish (1858–1923), dime novelist Janet Peery (1948–), novelist, short story writer Scott Phillips (1961–), novelist Charles Plymell (1935-), poet, novelist, small press publisher Rolf Potts (1970–), travel writer, essayist Deborah Raney (1955–), novelist Lois Ruby, novelist Sharon Shinn (1957–), novelist Jan Strnad (1950–), novelist, comic book writer Earl Thompson (1931–1978), novelist Clare Vanderpool (1965–), Newbery Medal-winning children's author Stephen Yenser (1941–), poet, literary critic

Music

Hawley Ades (1908–2008), choral arranger Matt Alber (1975–), singer-songwriter Terry Allen (1943–), country singer, visual artist Chris Arpad (1967–), solo steel pannist. Retrieved 2014-07-31. Jay Bentley (1964–), bass guitarist. Retrieved 2012-01-28. Gage Brewer (1904–1985), guitarist, bandleader Freddie Brooks (1962–), blues harmonica player, singer-songwriter Karla Burns, opera singer, actress Ken Carson (1914–1994), singer Gaylord Carter (1905–2000), organist, composer Nancy Cartonio (1977–), folk musician, songwriter, producer Les C. Copeland (1887–1942), composer, pianist Annette Daniels (1961–2004), opera singer Martha Davis (1917–1960), singer, pianist. Retrieved 2015-08-24. Ellery Eskelin (1959–), saxophonist Gordon Goodwin (1954–), composer, pianist, saxophonist Arthur Gunn, (1997–) singer, runner up in the 18th season of American Idol, emigrated from Nepal to Wichita when he was 17 Skinny Hightower, (1985–), jazz pianist Richard Joiner (1918–1999), clarinetistPaddock, Tracy Lynn. (2011) "A Biographical Dictionary of Twentieth-Century American Clarinetists," Florida State University Stan Kenton (1911–1979), composer, jazz pianist Kidd Chris (1974–), disc jockey Bob Koester (1932–2021), blues and jazz record producer Shawn Lee (1963–), multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer Slats Long (1906–1964), jazz clarinetist Chris Mann (1982–), singer-songwriter Marilyn Maye (1928–), cabaret singer Kirke Mechem (1925–), composer Brian Alexander Morgan, record producer Rich Mullins (1955–1997), Christian music singer-songwriter Scott Muni (1930–2004), disc jockey Vernon Oxford (1941–), country music singer, fiddler, guitarist Pink Nasty (1982–), singer-songwriter Marvin Rainwater (1925–2013), singer-songwriter William M. Runyan (1870–1957), Christian composer who wrote "Great is Thy Faithfulness" Mark Shelton, heavy metal musician (Manilla Road) Nathaniel Clark Smith (1877–1935), bandleader, composer Phil Stacey (1978–), singer, finalist on the 6th season of American Idol. Retrieved 2012-01-29. André J. Thomas (1952–), composer, conductor Charlie Tuna (1944–2016), disc jockey, radio personality Joe Walsh (1947–), rock guitarist, singer-songwriter. Retrieved 2012-01-28. Johnny Western (1934–), singer-songwriter, actor, disc jockey XV (1985–), rapper

Visual fine arts

Blackbear Bosin (1921–1980), painter, sculptor Bessie Callender (1889–1951), sculptor Mary Fuller (1922–2022), sculptor Laura Gilpin (1891–1979), photographer Edgar Heap of Birds (1954–), painter, sculptor Reva Jackman (1892–1966), painter, printmaker Frederick R. Koch (1933–2020), arts patron, collector, philanthropist John Noble (1874–1934), painter, photographer Tom Otterness (1952–), sculptor

Business

Aerospace Jim Bede (1933-2015), U.S. aviation designer/developer Olive Ann Beech (1903–1993), U.S. aviation pioneer and businesswoman Walter Herschel Beech (1891–1950), U.S. aviation pioneer, industrialist Clyde Cessna (1879–1954), U.S. aviation pioneer, industrialist Emil Matthew Laird (1895-1982) U.S. aviation pioneer, industrialist, aircraft designer Clay Lacy (1932–), aviation entrepreneur, pilot, aerial cinematographer Bill Lear (1902–1978), aviation industrialist, inventor Roy LoPresti (1929–2002), aerospace engineer, aviation executive Albert Mooney (1904–1986), aircraft designer, aviation entrepreneur Herbert Rawdon (1904–1975), aircraft engineer Lloyd Stearman (1898–1975), engineer, U.S. aviation pioneer and industrialist Dwane L. Wallace, aircraft designer, former CEO and chairman of Cessna Aircraft

Other Dan (1931–) and Frank Carney (1938–2020), businessmen, founders of Pizza Hut Steve Case (1958–), investor, business executive Jesse Chisholm (1805–1868), trader William Coffin Coleman (1870–1957), inventor, founder of the Coleman Company Bill Cooper (1921–2008), business executive, Dallas civic leader A.A. Hyde, inventor of Mentholatum, industrialist Bill Koch (1940–), businessman, sailor Charles G. Koch (1935–), business magnate, political lobbyist David H. Koch (1940–2019), business magnate, political lobbyist Fred C. Koch (1900–1967), chemical engineer, oil refining entrepreneur James R. Mead (1836–1910), trader, city co-founder Phil Ruffin (1936–), business magnate Michael S. Thompson (1948–), beekeeper, landscaper C. Howard Wilkins, Jr. (1938–2016), Pizza Hut executive and franchisee, Republican fundraiser, and U.S. Ambassador to the NetherlandsC. Howard Wilkins, Jr. at NNDB, accessed January 1, 2013

Crime John Callahan (1866–1936), bank robber, money laundererWellman, Paul Iselin. A Dynasty of Western Outlaws. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1986. (pg. 7, 11, 14, 16, 296–297, 308–315, 324–327, 362) Gary Lee Davis (1944–1997), murderer, rapist Rose Dunn (1878–1955), outlaw Eric Harris (1981–1999), one of two perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre Adrian Lamo (1981–2018), computer hacker, lived in Wichita for an unknown amount of time before he died Dennis Rader (1945–), serial killer known as "BTK"

Law enforcement James Earp (1841–1926), lawman, saloon keeper Wyatt Earp (1848–1929), lawman Cassius M. Hollister (1845–1884), lawman Bat Masterson (1853–1921), lawman, buffalo hunter, journalist Ed Masterson (1852–1878), lawman, buffalo hunter James Masterson (1855–1895), lawman, buffalo hunter Robert McKay (1919–1990), lawyer, investigator