This list organizes and collects the names of notable people who are known for their birth, residency or other association with Canton, Ohio.
Arts and entertainment
Jake Abel, actor James B. Allardice, Emmy Award-winning television writer Matt Bors, Pulitzer Prize-nominated political cartoonist and creator of Idiot Box web comic Brannon Braga, television producer, director and screenwriter Rowland Brown, director and screenwriter Frank De Vol, composer, arranger, actor Abastenia St. Leger Eberle, sculptor Randall Craig Fleischer, philharmonic conductor Peggy Ann Garner, actress Macy Gray, R&B singer Inhale Exhale, Christian metal band Joshua Jay, magician James Karales, major civil rights-era photographer Kathryn Karipides, choreographer and principal dancer Karl King, composer and bandleader Mark Kozelek, musician Enoch Light, bandleader and violinist Lovedrug, indie band Charles R. Macauley, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Marilyn Manson (born Brian Hugh Warner), rock singer of the band of the same name Eddie McClintock, actor Richard Miller, opera singer, voice teacher, professor at Oberlin Conservatory, author The O'Jays, soul group; a street in northeast Canton is named the O'Jays Parkway Jack Paar, host of The Tonight Show; namesake of a street named in northeast Canton Jean Peters, actress; was married to Howard Hughes Relient K, Christian rock band H. Robert Reynolds, band conductor Boz Scaggs, musician Jeff Shreve, sports announcer Blanche Thebom, opera singer Jeff Timmons, singer, 98 Degrees Nate Torrence, actor Steve Tracy, actor Trippie Redd, rapper Joe Vitale, musician, has played with Joe Walsh, The Eagles, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Michael Stanley Band and The Chylds Kelly Wearstler, interior designer; Playboy playmate Lee Wilkof, Broadway actor Nicole Wood, Playboy playmate
Politics
Frank T. Bow, U.S. representative from Ohio Lafayette Caskey, Wisconsin state legislator Leroy John Contie Jr., U.S. circuit judge Andrew W. Cordier, U.N. official and president of Columbia University Stephen A. Day, U.S. representative from Illinois Hiram Griswold, Ohio state senator and defense lawyer for John Brown Shelley Hughes, Alaska state legislator Frank Lavin, U.S. ambassador to Singapore Susie Lee, U.S. representative from Nevada Benjamin F. Leiter, mayor of Canton and U.S. representative from Ohio William A. Lynch, lawyer and politician Ida Saxton McKinley, 29th first lady of the United States, wife of William McKinley William McKinley, 25th U.S. president; interred in Canton at the McKinley National Memorial Alan Page, justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court and professional football player John A. Scali, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Kirk Schuring, Ohio state legislator
Sports
Todd Blackledge, football player, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers; college football commentator Dick Cunningham, NBA player for the Milwaukee Bucks and Houston Rockets, 1971 NBA champion Dan Dierdorf, football player, television commentator, College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Doss, football player Wayne Fontes, football player and coach, Detroit Lions Dustin Fox, football player, Buffalo Bills; nephew of Tim Fox Tim Fox, football player, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers, Los Angeles Rams; uncle of Dustin Fox Gary Grant, basketball player, L.A. Clippers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, Portland Trail Blazers John Grimsley, football player, University of Kentucky, Houston Oilers, Miami Dolphins Ronnie Harris, boxer, gold medalist, lightweight, 1968 Summer Olympics Brian Hartline, head football coach, University of South Florida; brother of Mike Hartline Mike Hartline, former quarterback for the Kentucky Wildcats football team, former member of New England Patriots; brother of Brian Hartline Michael Hawkins, basketball player Ralph Hay, National Football League founding contributor Dirk Hayhurst, baseball player Dick Himes, football player, Green Bay Packers Phil Hubbard, basketball player and coach, Olympic gold medalist Tim Huffman, football player, Green Bay Packers Chuck Hutchison, football player Kosta Koufos, basketball player, Utah Jazz, Denver Nuggets and Greece national team; former Ohio State Buckeyes player Kirk Lowdermilk, football player Jamar Martin, football player CJ McCollum, basketball player, Portland Trail Blazers Josh McDaniels, American football coach Keith McLeod, basketball player Raymar Morgan, professional basketball player for Barak Netanya in Israel Marion Motley, football player Thurman Munson, baseball player, 1976 American League Most Valuable Player, 7-time All-Star Mark Murphy, football player, Green Bay Packers Don Nehlen, football coach, College Football Hall of Fame Alan Page, football player, College and Pro Football Hall of Famer Darryn Peterson, five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2025 recruiting class Kenny Peterson, football player Bob Pickard, football player John Pont, college football coach Ed Poole, baseball player Renee Powell, former LPGA Golfer Ed Rate, football player Nick Roman, football player Ernie Roth, professional wrestling manager known as Abdullah Farouk and The Grand Wizard of Wrestling George Saimes, football player 1963–1972, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, member of American Football League All-Time Team (first team, defense) Eric Snow, basketball player; brother of Percy Snow Percy Snow, football player, Kansas City Chiefs; brother of Eric Snow Larry Snyder, track and field athlete, Ohio State coach for Jesse Owens Chris Spielman, football player, College Football Hall of Fame Rick Spielman, former general manager of the Minnesota Vikings; brother of Chris Spielman LeRoy Sprankle, high school multi-sport coach, author, general manager of the Canton Independents Charley Stanceu, baseball player New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies Nick Weatherspoon, Illinois and professional basketball player Don Willis, pool player Dave Wottle, gold medalist in the 800 meter run at the 1972 Summer Olympics
Other
Mark Aldenderfer, archaeologist and anthropologist Mother Angelica, Roman Catholic nun and foundress of the Eternal Word Television Network Christine Craft, broadcast journalist Bobby Lee Cutts, police officer convicted in the murder of Jessie Davis Thomas Dillon, serial killer Helias Doundoulakis, Greek-American soldier, OSS spy, and designer of the Arecibo Antenna, once the world's largest radio telescope Ted Henry, broadcast journalist James Huberty, mass murderer Reuben Klamer, inventor of The Game of Life and various other toys; inducted into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame; honored by the Smithsonian Institution Don Mellett, newspaper editor Marshall Rosenberg, creator of Nonviolent Communication Bob Shaheen, retired businessman Rhoda Wise, stigmatist named a Servant of God by the Roman Catholic Church
References