The following are people who were either born, raised, or have lived for a significant period of time in the U.S. state of Missouri.

Art and literature

Helen Andelin (1920–2009), author of Fascinating Womanhood Maya Angelou (1928–2014), author and poet Thomas P. Barnett (1870–1929), architect and impressionist painter Thomas Hart Benton (1889–1975), painter George Caleb Bingham (1811–1879), artist (born in Virginia but moved to central Missouri) Edward McKendree Bounds (1835–1913), author and theologian Mark Bowden (born 1951), author, journalist Dylan Brady (born 1993), musician (half of 100 gecs) William S. Burroughs (1914–1997), author (Naked Lunch) Kate Chopin (1851–1904), author (The Awakening) and early feminist Guy Anthony De Marco (born 1963), author of speculative fiction Lester Dent (1904–1959), author of Doc Savage novels Michele Dunaway (born 1965), author of romantic novels Suzette Haden Elgin (1936–2015), science-fiction author and linguist T. S. Eliot (1888–1965), poet, dramatist and literary critic Mary Engelbreit (born 1952), graphic artist, children's book illustrator Michael Evans (1944–2005), photographer Eugene Field (1850–1895), writer and poet Gillian Flynn (born 1971), novelist, television critic Martha Gellhorn (1908–1998), novelist, travel writer, and journalist Steve Gerber (1947–2008), comic book writer and co-creator of Howard the Duck David L. Harrison (born 1937), children's author, poet, recipient of the Missourian Award (2006) William Least Heat-Moon (born 1939), author Robert A. Heinlein (1907–1988), science fiction author Frederick Hibbard (1881–1950), sculptor known for his works of famous 19th-century figures Langston Hughes (1902–1967), African-American poet, novelist, and playwright William W. Johnstone (1938–2004), author of western, horror, and survivalist novels Donald Judd (1928–1994), artist Oliver Lee Jackson (born 1935), painter, sculptor, draftsman, and printmaker Sybil Kaplan (1938-2023), journalist and author Jim Lee (born 1964), comic book artist and writer Bonnie Leman (1926–2010), writer, historian, and founder of Quilter's Newsletter Magazine Laura Les (born 1994), musician (one half of 100 gecs) David Limbaugh (born 1952), columnist, author, and political commentator Bernarr Macfadden (1868–1955), founder of Macfadden Publications, bodybuilding advocate Cornelia F. Maury (1866–1942), pastel artist Dennis L. McKiernan (born 1932), author Scott Monteith, artist Marianne Moore (1887–1972), poet and writer Archie Musick (1902–1978), painter and illustrator, associated with the Regionalist movement John R. Musick (1849–1901), author and poet, known for the Columbian Historical novels Ruth Ann Musick (1897–1974), author and folklorist H. Richard Niebuhr (1894–1962), author, theologian Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971), author, theologian, and political commentator Isabel Richey (1858–1910), writer, poet John Ross (born 1957), author Charles Marion Russell (1864–1926), artist Clay Shirky (born 1964), writer, consultant, lecturer, author of Here Comes Everybody Kimora Lee Simmons (born 1975), fashion model, author, actress Minnetta Theodora Taylor (1860–1911), poet, lyricist, writer Sara Teasdale (1884–1933), poet Kay Thompson (1909–1998), creator of Eloise children's books Ernest Trova (1927–2009), sculptor, surrealist and pop art painter best known for The Falling Man Margaret Truman (1924–2008), novelist and non-fiction author Mark Twain (1835–1910), born Samuel Clemens, iconic humorist, author and creator of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer Rosa Kershaw Walker (1840s–1909), author, journalist, newspaper editor Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867–1957), writer and author of Little House series Tennessee Williams (1911–1983), playwright (born in Mississippi, grew up in St. Louis) Bertha M. Wilson (1874–1936), dramatist Daniel Woodrell (1953–2025), author of crime fiction

Sportspeople Auto racing

Paul Dana (1975–2006), IndyCar Series driver Lloyd Dane (1925–2015), NASCAR driver Russ Dugger (born 1975), NASCAR Truck Series driver Carl Edwards (born 1979), NASCAR driver, 2007 NASCAR Busch Series champion James Ince (born c. 1969), NASCAR crew chief Justin Jennings (born 1992), NASCAR driver Cody Lane (born 1996), NASCAR Truck Series driver Justin Marks (born 1981), NASCAR driver Jamie McMurray (born 1976), NASCAR Cup Series driver, Daytona 500 winner Larry Phillips (1942–2004), NASCAR driver Tony Roper (1964–2000), NASCAR driver Ken Schrader (born 1955), NASCAR driver Dorsey Schroeder (born 1953), retired NASCAR driver, Speed Channel color analyst Ramo Stott (1934–2021), retired NASCAR driver Chrissy Wallace (born 1988), NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace (born 1963), NASCAR driver, broadcaster Mike Wallace (born 1959), NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace (born 1956), NASCAR driver, 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup champion

Baseball

A–M

Bob Allison (1934–1995), MLB outfielder, 3-time All-Star Jake Arrieta (born 1986), Chicago Cubs pitcher, Cy Young Award winner Alan Ashby (born 1951), MLB catcher, commentator George Baker (1857–1915), MLB catcher Jake Beckley (1867–1919), infielder in Hall of Fame James "Cool Papa" Bell (1903–1991), Baseball Hall of Fame center fielder Yogi Berra (1925–2015), Hall of Fame catcher, manager, aphorist Ken Berry (born 1941), MLB outfielder Brian Boehringer (born 1969), MLB pitcher Clete Boyer (1937–2007), MLB third baseman, 2-time World Series winner Ken Boyer (1931–1982), MLB third baseman, 11-time All-Star, coach and manager Jack Brennan (1862–1914), MLB catcher Harry Bright (1929–2000), MLB infielder Mark Buehrle (born 1979), MLB pitcher, 5-time All-Star Bobby Byrne (1884–1964), MLB infielder Scott Carroll (born 1984), MLB relief pitcher Nate Colbert (1946–2023), MLB first baseman, 3-time All-Star David Cone (born 1963), Cy Young-winning MLB pitcher Joe Crede (born 1978), MLB third baseman Bob Dernier (born 1957), MLB outfielder Ross Detwiler (born 1986), MLB relief pitcher Blake DeWitt (born 1985), MLB infielder John Donaldson (1891–1970), Negro league baseball pitcher Scott Elbert (born 1985), MLB relief pitcher A. J. Ellis (born 1981), catcher for Miami Marlins Hoot Evers (1921–1991), MLB outfielder, 2-time All-Star David Freese (born 1983), MLB third baseman, 2011 World Series MVP with St. Louis Cardinals Gabe Gabler (1930–2014), MLB player Joe Garagiola (1926–2016), MLB catcher, broadcaster, television personality Jeff Gray (born 1981), MLB pitcher Charlie Grimm (1898–1993), MLB player and manager Dick Hall (born 1930), MLB pitcher, 2-time World Series winner Lucas Harrell (born 1985), starting pitcher for Toronto Blue Jays Tom Henke (born 1957), two-time All-Star pitcher Bobby Hofman (1925–1994), MLB outfielder Solly Hofman (1882–1956), MLB outfielder Al Hollingsworth (1908–1996), MLB pitcher Ken Holtzman (born 1945), two-time All-Star baseball pitcher Tommy Hottovy (born 1981), MLB relief pitcher Elston Howard (1929–1980), Negro league and MLB catcher, 12-time All-Star, six World Series titles Ryan Howard (born 1979), MLB first baseman, 3-time All-Star Carl Hubbell (1903–1988), Hall of Fame pitcher, 2-time NL MVP Eric Hurley (born 1985), MLB pitcher Ron Hunt (born 1941), MLB infielder, 2-time All-Star Vern Kennedy (1907–1993), MLB pitcher Bob Keppel (born 1982), MLB pitcher Charlie Kerfeld (born 1963), MLB relief pitcher, primarily with Houston Astros Johnny Kling (1875–1947), MLB catcher, 2-time World Series winner Darold Knowles (born 1941), MLB pitcher, first to pitch in all seven games of a World Series Ron Kulpa (born 1968), umpire Tito Landrum (born 1954), MLB outfielder Tommy Layne (born 1984), MLB relief pitcher Sam LeCure (born 1984), MLB pitcher Dale Long (1926–1991), MLB outfielder Jerry Lumpe (1933–2014), MLB infielder Shaun Marcum (born 1981), MLB pitcher Jay Marshall (born 1983), MLB pitcher Bake McBride (born 1949), MLB outfielder, 1974 Rookie of Year Paul Menhart (born 1969), MLB pitcher and pitching coach Bob Miller (1939–1993), MLB pitcher, 3-time World Series winner Zach Miner (born 1982), relief pitcher for Seattle Mariners Logan Morrison (born 1987), outfielder for Tampa Bay Rays Carl Morton (1944–1983), MLB pitcher, 1970 Rookie of Year Bill Mueller (born 1971), MLB infielder, 2003 AL batting champ Don Mueller (1927–2011), MLB infielder, 2-time All-Star Stan Musial (1920–2013), MLB Hall of Famer, played entire career for St. Louis Cardinals

N–Z

Dave Nicholson (1939–2023), MLB outfielder Al Nipper (born 1959), MLB pitcher and scout Darren Oliver (born 1970), MLB relief pitcher Mickey O'Neil (1900–1964), MLB catcher Josh Outman (born 1984), MLB pitcher Mickey Owen (1916–2005), MLB catcher, 4-time All-Star Barney Pelty (1880–1939), MLB pitcher David Phelps (born 1986), starting pitcher for Miami Marlins Albert Pujols (born 1980), MLB first baseman with Los Angeles Angels, 10-time All-Star Pete Reiser (1919–1981), MLB outfielder, 3-time All-Star Steve Rogers (born 1949), MLB pitcher, 5-time All-Star Trevor Rosenthal (born 1990), pitcher for St. Louis Cardinals Bob Scheffing (1913–1985), MLB player and manager Max Scherzer (born 1984), starting pitcher for Washington Nationals Art Shamsky (born 1941), MLB outfielder and Israel Baseball League manager Mike Shannon (1939–2023), MLB player and sportscaster for St. Louis Cardinals, 2-time World Series winner Sonny Siebert (born 1937), MLB pitcher, 2-time All-Star Dave Silvestri (born 1967), MLB infielder Shae Simmons (born 1990), MLB pitcher Roy Smalley Jr. (1926–2011), MLB infielder Al Smith (1928–2002), MLB outfielder Paul Splittorff (1946–2011), pitcher for Kansas City Royals, broadcaster Casey Stengel (1890–1975), Baseball Hall of Fame manager Mel Stottlemyre (1941–2019), MLB pitcher, 5-time All-Star, pitching coach Rick Sutcliffe (born 1956), MLB pitcher, 3-time All-Star, TV commentator Nick Tepesch (born 1988), MLB pitcher Jacob Turner (born 1991), MLB pitcher Scott Van Slyke (born 1986), outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers; son of Andy Van Slyke Luke Voit (born 1991), MLB first baseman Earl Weaver (1930–2013), Hall of Fame manager for Baltimore Orioles Mack Wheat (1893–1979), MLB catcher with Brooklyn Robins and Philadelphia Phillies Zack Wheat (1888–1972), MLB Hall of Fame left fielder for Brooklyn, Philadelphia Athletics; brother of Mack Wheat Dick Williams (1929–2011), MLB player and Hall of Fame manager Lefty Williams (1893–1959), MLB pitcher Smoky Joe Wood (1889–1995), MLB pitcher, 3-time World Series winner Glenn Wright (1901–1984), MLB infielder for 1925 World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates

Basketball

Forrest Clare "Phog" Allen (1885–1974), Hall of Fame college basketball coach OG Anunoby (born 1997), small forward for Toronto Raptors and New York Knicks Bradley Beal (born 1993), NBA player for the Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers Bill Bradley (born 1943), Basketball Hall of Famer, U.S. senator Alec Burks (born 1991), shooting guard for Golden State Warriors Chris Carr (born 1974), shooting guard for six NBA teams Napheesa Collier (born 1996), WNBA player and Olympic gold medalist Sophie Cunningham (born 1996), WNBA player for Phoenix Mercury and Indiana Fever Ben Hansbrough (born 1987), guard for Indiana Pacers Tyler Hansbrough (born 1985), NBA player and international player, NCAA champion at North Carolina Josh Harrellson (born 1989), center for New York Knicks Larry Hughes (born 1979), shooting guard for eight NBA teams David Lee (born 1983), power forward and center for San Antonio Spurs Saben Lee (born 1999), basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League Tyronn Lue (born 1977), NBA player, head coach of Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers Patrick McCaw (born 1995), shooting guard for Toronto Raptors Dan Pippin (1926–1965), Olympic gold medalist in 1952, played at Mizzou Brandon Rush (born 1985), NBA player for Golden State Warriors Kareem Rush (born 1980), shooting guard for Los Angeles Clippers