A number of notable people have the surname O'Donnell (or its variants O'Donnel and O'Donel):
Academia Edward J. O'Donnell (1909–1986), President of Marquette University (1948–1962) Guillermo O'Donnell (1936–2011), Argentine academic Hugo O'Donnell, Duke of Tetuan (born 1948), Spanish naval historian, and Knight of Malta James J. O'Donnell (born 1950), American classical scholar and Provost of Georgetown University Patrick Denis O'Donnell (1922–2005), Irish military historian
Entertainment and the arts Cathy O'Donnell (1923–1970), American actress, originally Ann Steely Chris O'Donnell (born 1970), American actor Daniel O'Donnell (singer) (born 1961), Irish musician Heather O'Donnell, American concert pianist James O'Donnell (organist) (born 1961), organist, choral conductor and academic teacher, Westminster Abbey Jamie-Lee O'Donnell, Irish actress Keir O'Donnell (born 1978), Australian actor living in Los Angeles Lawrence O'Donnell (born 1951), American television host of The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, political analyst and writer Martin O'Donnell (born 1955), Audio Director for Bungie Michael O'Donnell (1928–2019), British physician and broadcaster Roger O'Donnell (born 1955), English musician and keyboardist of The Cure Rosie O'Donnell (born 1962), American actress and television hostess Steve O'Donnell (born 1954), American television scriptwriter Steven O'Donnell (Australian actor) (born 1980), Australian television presenter and actor
Characters Wolf O'Donnell, a character in Nintendo's Star Fox video game series O'Donnell, a Marvel Comics character and ally of Wolverine
Journalism Kelly O'Donnell (born 1965), American journalist Norah O'Donnell (born 1974), American journalist
Literature Elliott O'Donnell (1872–1965), Irish author Jessie Fremont O'Donnell (1860–1897), American writer John Francis O'Donnell (1837–1874), Irish journalist and poet Lisa O'Donnell, Scottish writer Mietta O'Donnell (1950–2001), Australian restaurateur and food writer Peadar O'Donnell (1893–1986), Irish political activist and writer Peter O'Donnell (1920–2010), British fiction writer Terence O'Donnell (1924–2011), American writer
Medicine Barry O'Donnell (1926–2019), Irish surgeon Pacho O'Donnell (born 1941), Argentine psychoanalyst
Nobility Calvagh O'Donnell (died 1566), The O'Donnell, 22nd Chieftain, and Lord of Tyrconnell Carlos O'Donnell, 2nd Duke of Tetuán (1834–1903), Spanish noble and politician Cathbarr O'Donnell (died 1608), a member of the O'Donnell dynasty Donnell O'Donnell (died 1590) Enrique O'Donnell, Conde del Abisbal (1769–1834), Irish-Spanish nobleman, Spanish general Hugh O'Donnell, 2nd Earl of Tyrconnell (1606–1642) José O'Donnell (1722–1787), Irish-Spanish nobleman, Spanish general Manus O'Donnell (died 1564), The O'Donnell, 21st Chieftain, King of Tyrconnell, and biographer of St Colmcille Maximilian Karl Lamoral O'Donnell (1812–1895), Hiberno-Austrian Count, saved life of Emperor Franz Josef I Niall Garve O'Donnell (1569–1626) Red Hugh O'Donnell (1572–1601), The O'Donnell, 24th Chieftain, Prince of Tyrconnell Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell (1575–1608)
Politics Christine O'Donnell (born 1969), American politician and social and political commentator Daniel O'Donnell (politician) (born 1960), American legislator from the state of New York Francis Martin O'Donnell (born 1954), Irish UN diplomat and Knight of Malta Frank A. O'Donnel (1852–1906), American politician Frank Hugh O'Donnell (1846–1916), nationalist MP Gus O'Donnell (born 1952), Baron, Cabinet Secretary (chief civil servant), British Government Hugh Roe O'Donnell (1572–1602), Irish Rebel James O'Donnell (politician) (1840–1915), American politician from Michigan John O'Donnell (Irish politician, born 1980s), nationally known figure Kenneth O'Donnell (1924–1977), American politician Leopoldo O'Donnell (1809–1867), 1st Duke of Tetuan, and former Prime Minister of Spain Peter O'Donnell (1924–2021), Texas Republican politician and businessman Phil O'Donnell (1932–1982), IRA volunteer from Derry Thomas O'Donnell (Irish nationalist politician) (1871–1943), Irish Nationalist MP for West Kerry Thomas E. O'Donnell (draft opponent), activist in the New York Draft Riots Tom O'Donnell (politician) (1926–2020), Irish politician
Religion Cletus F. O'Donnell (1917–1992), American Roman Catholic bishop Edmund O'Donnell, Irish Jesuit Edward Joseph O'Donnell (1931–2009), American Roman Catholic bishop James O'Donnell (organist) (born 1961), current organist of Westminster Abbey James Louis O'Donel (1737–1811), first Roman Catholic bishop of St. John's, Newfoundland Patrick O'Donnell (1856–1927), Cardinal Archbishop of Armagh
Sport Andy O'Donnell (1925–2019), American basketball player Carter O'Donnell (born 1998), American football player Conor O'Donnell, at least three Gaelic footballers Danny O'Donnell (born 1986), English footballer Ethan O'Donnell (born 1996/7), Irish Gaelic footballer Frank O'Donnell, Scottish professional footballer Gary O'Donnell (born 1965), Australian rules footballer Luke O'Donnell (born 1980), Australian International Rugby League player
Martin O'Donnell (born 1986), English professional snooker player Neil O'Donnell (born 1966), former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Niall O'Donnell (born 1998), Irish Gaelic footballer Patrick O'Donnell (1965–2024), Northern Irish Gaelic football manager and player Phil O'Donnell (1972–2007), Scottish footballer Scott O'Donell (born 1967), Australian football (soccer) player Sean O'Donnell (born 1971), Canadian hockey player
Other professions Denis O'Donnell (1875–1933), Irish dairy innovator and entrepreneur Emmett O'Donnell, Jr. (1906–1971), U.S. Air Force general Myles O'Donnell, Chicago mobster during the Prohibition era