The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Columbus, Ohio, in alphabetical order by last name.
Actors Chet Allen (1939–1984), television, Amahl and the Night Visitors on Hallmark Hall of Fame; Bonino; member of the Columbus Boychoir Lexi Allen (1967– ), gospel singer and television personality; born in Columbus and a prominent figure in The Word Network Majel Barrett (1932–2008), television (Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation); born in Columbus Warner Baxter (1889–1951), film (In Old Arizona); born in Columbus and lived there until age nine Richard Biggs (1960–2004), actor; born in Columbus Andrea Bowen (1990– ), actress; born in Columbus Lawrence Edward Carter, Jr. (1941– ), historian, professor, author, and civil rights expert; founding dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse Grace Cunard (1893–1967), actress, screenwriter, and film director; born in Columbus Beverly D'Angelo (1951– ), film (National Lampoon's Vacation series); born and raised in Columbus Mike Faist (1992– ), film (Challengers); born and raised in Columbus Alana de la Garza (1976– ), television (Law & Order); born in Columbus Dody Goodman (1915–2008), television (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman); born in Columbus Eileen Heckart (1919–2001), actress; born in Columbus Elsie Janis (1889–1956), vaudeville performer, screenwriter, actress and composer; born in Columbus and maintained a home there A.J. Langer (1974– ), television (My So-Called Life); born in Columbus and lived there until age five Andrew Levitt (1979– ), actor; also known as Nina West- born in Greentown, resident of Columbus, RuPaul's Drag Race season 11 star Lorissa McComas (1970–2009), actress and glamour model; born in Columbus Marnie McPhail (1966– ), actress and musician; born in Columbus Tom Poston (1921–2007), television (Newhart); husband of Suzanne Pleshette; born in Columbus Josh Radnor (1974– ), television (How I Met Your Mother); born in Columbus Gigi Rice (1965– ), television (The John Larroquette Show); born in Columbus Gene Sheldon (1908–1982), television (Disney's Zorro); born in Columbus J. K. Simmons, (1955- ), television, film, and voice actor; moved to Columbus as a child; attended Worthington High School Cory Michael Smith, actor, best known for his role as Edward Nigma (Riddler) in the Fox television drama series Gotham Julia Swayne Gordon (1878–1933), actress; born in Columbus Philip Michael Thomas (1949– ), actor; born in Columbus Hal Williams (1938– ), actor; born in Columbus
Artists Benny Alba (1949– ), artist; born in Columbus George Bellows (1882–1925), realist painter, known for bold depictions of urban life in New York City, becoming, according to Columbus Museum of Art, "the most acclaimed American artist of his generation" Charles Csuri (1922–2022), father of digital art and computer animation Ray Evans (1887–1954), political cartoonist Natalia Fedner (1983– ), fashion designer, raised in Columbus, Ohio Shawn Foster (1973– ), music video, film and television director Alex Grey (1953– ), psychedelic artist; born in Columbus and attended Columbus College of Art and Design Janet Cook Lewis (1855–1947), painter, librarian and bookbinder Jammes Luckett (1974– ), musician, writer, visual artist, and voice actor; born in Columbus Todd Douglas Miller, filmmaker OsamaSon (2003– ), underground rapper and producer associated with the rage/experimental hip-hop scene Elijah Pierce (1892-1984), wood carver whose art career began in Columbus Christopher Ries (1952– ), sculptor; born in Columbus and attended the Ohio State University Aminah Robinson (1940–2015), artist; born in Columbus Alice Schille (1869–1955), watercolorist and painter Chris Sprouse (1966– ), comic book artist T. S. Sullivant (1854–1926), cartoonist and illustrator Ted Williams (1958– ), voiceover artist who became an overnight celebrity when his YouTube video went viral in January 2011
Architects Nathan Kelley (1808–1871) Frank Packard (1866–1923) Howard Dwight Smith (1886–1958), architect of, most notably, Ohio Stadium; graduated from the Ohio State University in 1907
Athletes
Miller Anderson (1922–1965), diver; born in Columbus Chad Barson (1991– ), soccer player Simone Biles Owens (1997– ), gymnast, three-time world all-around champion, 2016 Olympian, won four gold medals; born in Columbus Jake Blankenship (1994– ), professional pole vaulter; raised in Columbus; attended Gahanna Lincoln High School Alexa Bliss (1991– ), professional wrestler; born and raised in Columbus Lisa Bonder (1965– ), tennis player; born in Columbus Pat Borders (1963– ), Major League Baseball player; born in Columbus Malaki Branham (2003– ), basketball player; born in Columbus Mike Brown (1970– ), basketball coach; born in Columbus Trey Burke (1992– ), NBA guard, plays for the Houston Rockets; born in Columbus Russ Campbell (1969– ), NFL tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers; born in Columbus Howard Cassady (1934–2019), NFL running back and Heisman Trophy winner; born in Columbus; played football and baseball for Ohio State Austin Cindric (1998– ), NASCAR driver Casey Close (1963– ), baseball player Mark Coleman (1964– ), professional fighter from the UFC and Pride mixed-martial-arts organizations; member of Columbus-based Team Hammer House Zach Collaros (1988– ), Canadian Football League quarterback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats Carl Cooke (1889–1971), sprinter; born in Columbus Joe Cooper (1979– ), professional football player Ben Curtis (1977– ), professional golfer, winner of 2003 British Open; born in Columbus Antonio Daniels (1975– ), basketball player; born in Columbus Helen Darling (1978– ), WNBA guard; attended high school in Columbus Jessica Davenport (born 1985), basketball player Buster Douglas (1960– ), heavyweight boxing champion after defeating Mike Tyson; born and raised in Columbus Nate Ebner (1988– ), football player in the National Football League; rugby Olympian; lived in Columbus as a youth Johnny Edwards (1938– ), Major League Baseball player Pat Elflein (1994– ), NFL player, born and raised in Columbus and graduated from The Ohio State University Sarah Fisher (1980– ), auto racer, drove in nine Indianapolis 500s; born in Columbus John Frank (1962– ), NFL football player Ross Friedman (1992– ), Harvard and Major League Soccer player Lawrence Funderburke (1970– ), Ohio State and NBA basketball player; born and raised in Columbus Wally Gerber (1891–1951), Major League Baseball player Reggie Gilliam (1997– ), NFL player Terry Glenn (1974–2017), Ohio State University and NFL wide receiver; born and raised in Columbus Hank Gowdy (1889–1966), Major League Baseball catcher; born and lived in Columbus Brian Grant (1972– ), basketball player Archie Griffin (1954– ), only two-time Heisman Trophy winner; attended Eastmoor High School, then the Ohio State University; won the Heisman Trophy twice as a running back for the OSU Buckeyes; returned to Columbus after his pro career to become the university's assistant athletic director, and president of its alumni association Forrest Griffin (1979– ), UFC light-heavyweight fighter and winner of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter; born in Columbus Andrew Hampsten (1963– ), professional cyclist; born in Columbus Sam Hanks (1914–1994), race car driver; born in Columbus Chic Harley (1894–1974), Ohio State University All-American football player Frank Howard (1936–2023), Major League Baseball player; born in Columbus Collin Johns (1993– ), professional pickleball player Jack Keller (1911–1978), Olympic hurdler Bo Lamar (1951– ), basketball player Chris Leitch (1979– ), Major League Soccer defender; born in Columbus Caris LeVert (1994– ), basketball player Pauline Martin, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player (1946 season) Mike Matheny (1970– ), Major League Baseball player; born in Columbus Liam McCullough (1997– ), NFL long snapper for the Atlanta Falcons; born in Columbus Lance Moore (1983– ), NFL wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints; born in Columbus Leroy Morney (1909–1979), Negro League Baseball player Jack Nicklaus (1940– ), pro golfer, winner of a record 18 golf majors and member of World Golf Hall of Fame; born in Columbus and attended the Ohio State University; won the 1961 NCAA Championship while playing for the school Roosevelt Nix (1992– ), NFL fullback for the Pittsburgh Steelers; born and raised in Columbus; attended high school in Reynoldsburgh and played college football at Kent State Abuchi Obinwa (1997– ), professional soccer midfielder; born in Columbus and plays for Columbus Crew SC Paul O'Neill (1963– ), Major League Baseball outfielder; born and raised in Columbus Danny O'Rourke (1983– ), Major League Soccer midfielder; born and raised in Columbus Lilia Osterloh (1978– ), tennis player Jesse Owens (1913–1980), track and field; set three world records in one day while in college at the Ohio State University; won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics; raised in Cleveland, and attended college in Columbus Jerry Page (1961– ), boxer; born in Columbus Alexis Peterson (1995– ), basketball combo guard; born in Columbus Brady Quinn (1984– ), NFL quarterback; born in Columbus and attended high school in Dublin, Ohio Madison Rayne (1986– ), professional wrestler for TNA Impact and All Elite Wrestling Michael Redd (1979– ), Ohio State University basketball player and NBA shooting guard; born and raised in Columbus Ed Rile (1900–1971), Negro League Baseball player Dave Roberts (1944–2009), Major League Baseball pitcher; moved to Columbus Joe Roberts (1936–2022), NBA assistant coach; born in Columbus Mauri Rose (1906–81), auto racer Jack Roslovic (1997– ), NHL player, Edmonton Oilers Emmanuel Sabbi (1997– ), soccer player Randy Savage (1952–2011), professional wrestler, former WWE champion; born in Columbus Devon Scott (born 1994), basketball player in the Israel Basketball Premier League Kip Selbach (1872–1956), Major League Baseball outfielder; born in Columbus Kiefer Sherwood (1995– ), NHL player Kole Sherwood (1997– ), NHL player Cole Sillinger (2003– ), NHL player, Columbus Blue Jackets; born in Columbus George Simpson (1908–1961), sprinter; born in Columbus Lee Snoots (1892–1968), American Professional Football Association (pre-NFL) player Spencer Strider (1998– ), MLB player, starting pitcher for the Atlanta Braves; born in Columbus Jared Sullinger (1992– ), CBA forward for the Shenzhen Leopards; born in Columbus and played for Ohio State Nick Swisher (1980– ), Major League Baseball outfielder; attended the Ohio State University Thelma Thall (1924– ), two-time world table tennis champion Wil Trapp (1993– ), Major League Soccer midfielder; plays for Minnesota United FC and grew up in Gahanna Gary Trent (1974– ), NBA player; attended Hamilton Township High School and was born and raised in Columbus Louie Vito (1988– ), professional snowboarder, 2010 US Olympic Team, four-time Overall US Grand Prix Champion and two-time Dew Cup Overall Champion; six career X Games medals, including two gold medals; born in Columbus Granville Waiters (1961–2021), NBA player; born and raised in Columbus Samaki Walker (1976– ), NBA player; born and raised in Columbus Evan White (1996– ), Major League Baseball player; born in Columbus Herb Williams (1958– ), NBA player and coach; born in Columbus and played basketball for the Ohio State University Jarren Williams (1997– ), NFL defensive back for New York Giants; born and raised in Columbus John Williamson (1986– ), basketball player for Hapoel Tel Aviv B.C. of the Israeli Basketball Premier League Bill Willis (1921–2007), NFL player Blaine Wilson (1974– ), gymnast, Olympic silver medalist in 2004; attended the Ohio State University
Diplomats