List of people from Omaha, Nebraska

This is a list of people from Omaha, Nebraska , in the United States.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.

Contents: 

• Top
• 0–9
• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

A

• Hazel Abel — politician ^[1]
• Titus Adams — professional football player ^[2]
• Wesley Addy — actor^{[ citation needed ]}
• Steve Alaimo — musician, record producer ^[3]
• Houston Alexander — professional MMA fighter, radio host, rapper ^[4]
• Kurt Andersen — author ^[5]
• Craig Anton — actor, comedian ^[6]
• Adele Astaire — dancer, entertainer ^[7]
• Fred Astaire — dancer, actor ^[8]
• Guerin Austin — Miss Nebraska USA 2004^{[ citation needed ]}
• Pamela Austin — actress ^[9]

B

• Elaine Badgley Arnoux (née Helen Elaine Harper) — portraitist, painter, and sculptor ^[10]
• Max Baer — boxer ^[8]
• Byron Bailey — professional American and Canadian football player
• Letitia Baldrige — etiquette expert, Kennedy White House aide ^[11]
• Rex Barney — Major League Baseball pitcher for Brooklyn Dodgers
• John Beasley — actor ^[12]
• Tom Becka — radio host^{[ citation needed ]}
• Jackson Berkey — composer, pianist, instructor^{[ citation needed ]}
• Wade Boggs — baseball player, Hall of Famer ^[13]
• Alec Bohm — Major League Baseball third baseman for Philadelphia Phillies
• Bob Boozer — National Basketball Association player and Olympic gold medalist ^[14]
• Gutzon Borglum — painter, sculptor of Mount Rushmore ^[15]
• James E. Boyd — mayor of Omaha, 1881–1883 and 1885–1887; seventh governor of the state of Nebraska ^[16]
• L. Brent Bozell, Jr. — conservative activist and Catholic writer ^[17]
• Marlon Brando — actor ^{[8] [ failed verification ]}
• Wade Brorby — United States federal appellate judge
• Mildred D. Brown — founder of the Omaha Star ^[18]
• Chris Brunt — soccer player ^[19]
• Brandin Bryant — football player
• Warren Buffett — billionaire investor and philanthropist ^[20]
• Mellona Moulton Butterfield — china painter, teacher

C

• Lance Cade — professional wrestler ^[21]
• Lloyd Cardwell — played professional football for the Detroit Lions; coached at UNO
• Buddy Carlyle — professional baseball pitcher ^[22]
• Ernie Chambers — Nebraska state senator ^[8]
• Jason Christiansen — baseball pitcher ^[23]
• Ozzie Cisneros — soccer player ^[24]
• Joseph P. Cleland — U.S. Army major general ^{[25] [26]}
• Montgomery Clift — actor
• Abbie Cobb — actress
• James M. Connor — actor
• Barney Cotton — college football coach
• Terence Crawford — 5 division boxing world champion and 3 division undisputed world champion
• Edward Creighton — founder of Creighton University
• George P. Cronk — Los Angeles City Council member, 1945–52
• George Crook — US Army general
• Eric Crouch — football player, Heisman Trophy winner
• Blase J. Cupich — archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago

D

• Nicholas D'Agosto — television and film actor
• Alfonza W. Davis — Tuskegee Airman
• Chip Davis — musician, founder of Mannheim Steamroller
• Dick Davis — NFL player
• Brian Deegan — FMX rider
• Tom Dennison — political boss of Omaha, 1890s–1933
• Destiny — live-streamer and political commentator
• Adam Devine — actor
• Ted DiBiase — former professional wrestler and Christian minister
• Mike Donehey — lead singer of Christian rock band Tenth Avenue North
• Richard Dooling — novelist, screenwriter
• David Doyle — actor
• Jeff Draheim — film editor
• DrLupo — streamer and YouTuber
• Charles W. "Chuck" Durham — civil engineer, philanthropist, chairman emeritus of HDR, Inc

E

• Jake Ellenberger — professional MMA fighter in the UFC
• Marti Epstein — avante-garde composer
• Experience Estabrook — attorney general of Wisconsin
• G. Estabrook — opera composer; daughter of Experience Estabrook

F

• The Faint — post-punk band
• Mike Flood — U.S. representative for Nebraska ^[27]
• Henry Fonda — actor
• Peter Fonda — actor
• Gerald Ford — 38th president of the United States
• Sally Fox — member of Vermont General Assembly; lawyer ^[28]

G

• Jorge Garcia — actor
• Annunciata Garrotto — soprano ^[29]
• Roxane Gay — writer and professor
• Bob Gibson — Baseball Hall of Fame
• Terry Goodkind — author
• Ahman Green — professional football player
• Bennett Greenspan — founder of Family Tree DNA
• Jake Guentzel — professional ice hockey player ^[30]

H

• Breece Hall — NFL running back
• Tim Halperin — singer-songwriter ^[31]
• Raphael Hamilton — Jesuit and professor of history at Marquette University
• Ron Hansen — author, screenwriter
• Wynonie Harris — rhythm & blues singer
• Harry Haywood — African-American Communist leader
• Jean Heather — actress
• Stuart Heintzelman — U.S. Army major general
• Gregory M. Herek — social psychologist and professor
• Nick Hexum — singer/guitarist of Omaha's 311
• Hallee Hirsh — actress
• Chris Holbert — Colorado politician
• Sarah Hollins — beauty queen and TV personality
• Dave Hoppen — NBA player
• Jeremy Horn — mixed martial arts fighter
• John Howell — NFL player
• Cathy Hughes — businesswoman; founder and president of Radio One

I

• Doug Ingle — keyboardist for Iron Butterfly

J

• Joseph R. Jelinek — U.S. Army brigadier general, deputy director of Army National Guard
• Nikko Jenkins — convicted spree killer
• Steve Jennum — mixed martial artist
• Ryan Jensen — mixed martial arts fighter
• Marc Johnson — jazz bass player
• Thomas Berger Johnson — artist, post-impressionist painter, metal sculptor and draftsman
• Simon Joyner — singer, songwriter

K

• Timothy J. Kadavy — U.S. Army major general, adjutant general of Nebraska National Guard
• Jay Karnes — actor
• Tim Kasher — singer-songwriter, Cursive and The Good Life
• Alex Kava — author
• Kenton Keith — professional football player
• Charlotte Kemp — Playboy Playmate (Miss December 1982)
• Mina Kimes — investigative journalist, ESPN magazine senior writer
• Charles Henry King — pioneer businessman
• Jaime King — actress, model
• Arlene Klasky — animator ^[32]
• Chris Klein — actor
• Ed Koterba — journalist ^[33]
• Jeff Koterba — editorial cartoonist, musician, author
• Jason Kreis — soccer player, coach of Real Salt Lake
• Saul Kripke — philosopher
• Swoosie Kurtz — actress

L

• Frank Purdy Lahm — U.S. Army brigadier general
• Christopher Lasch — historian, social critic
• Oudious Lee — football player
• Matty Lewis — musician, Zebrahead
• Samuel Little — serial killer
• Myra Cohn Livingston — children's poet
• Preston Love — jazz player
• Henry T. Lynch — cancer researcher and professor at Creighton University

M

• Ike Mahoney — NFL player
• Timothy Mahoney — lead guitarist of 311
• Erin McCarthy — professional ten-pin bowler, 2022 U.S. Women's Open champion
• Timothy McCoy — murder victim killed by John Wayne Gacy in 1972
• Sean McDermott — NFL head coach of Buffalo Bills
• Ed McGivern — shooter
• Dorothy McGuire — actress
• Duncan McGuire — soccer player and 2024 Olympian ^[34]
• Jake Meyers — Major League Baseball outfielder and World Series champion with Houston Astros ^[35]
• Andy Milder — actor
• Jay Milder — artist
• Buddy Miles — musician
• Anthony Michael Milone — Roman Catholic bishop
• Henry Monsky — attorney and communal leader
• Rowena Moore — civic and labor activist
• Carol Morris — Miss Iowa USA 1956, Miss USA 1956, Miss Universe 1956
• Gerald T. Mullin — Minnesota state legislator, lawyer, and businessman
• Frances Miller Mumaugh — painter
• Charlie Munger (1924–2023) — billionaire investor
• Fred Murree (1861–1950) — professional roller skater

N

• John Najjar — auto engineer, designed Ford Mustang
• Jim Newman — television producer
• Nick Nolte — actor

O

• Conor Oberst — singer-songwriter, Bright Eyes and Desaparecidos
• Tillie Olsen — author
• Jed Ortmeyer — professional ice hockey player
• Sono Osato — dancer and actress

P

• John W. Patterson — African-American baseball outfielder in the Negro leagues
• Justin Patton, NBA basketball player and player for Hapoel Eilat of the Israeli Basketball Premier League, first-round selection in the 2017 NBA draft
• Niles Paul — NFL receiver for the Washington Redskins
• Alexander Payne — Oscar-winning screenwriter and director
• Neal Pionk — NHL player
• Mark Pope — NBA player
• Scott Porter — actor
• Nathan Post — 7th and 10th governor of American Samoa
• Ron Prince — college football coach

Q

• Daniel Quinn — author

R

• Anne Ramsey — actress
• Andrew Rannells — actor
• James Raschke — professional wrestler known as Baron Von Raschke
• Origen D. Richardson — fourth lieutenant governor of Michigan ^[36]
• Mark Richt — college football coach ^[8]
• J. Joseph Ricketts — billionaire
• Matthew Ricketts — first African-American graduate from UNMC; first African-American state legislator
• Pete Ricketts — U.S. senator; former governor of Nebraska
• Thomas S. Ricketts — owner of baseball's Chicago Cubs
• Trevor Roach — football player
• Andy Roddick — professional tennis player
• Johnny Rodgers — football player, 1972 Heisman Trophy winner
• Joe Rogers — Colorado lieutenant governor
• Rainbow Rowell — author
• Darin Ruf (born 1986) — major league baseball player
• Amber Ruffin — comedian and writer
• Colden Ruggles — U.S. Army brigadier general ^[37]
• Edward Ruscha — artist and photographer ^[8]
• John Rutherford — U.S. representative for Florida and sheriff of Jacksonville ^[38]

S

• Penny Sackett — astronomer and Chief Scientist of Australia
• Symone Sanders — Democratic strategist, spokesperson for Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign
• Gale Sayers — professional football player, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee
• Walter Scott, Jr. — billionaire
• Chad Sexton — drummer of 311
• Josephine Platner Shear — archaeologist and numismatist
• Leisa Sheridan — Playboy Playmate (Miss July 1993)
• JoJo Siwa — singer, dancer, actress, YouTuber and media personality
• Elliott Smith — singer/songwriter
• Q. Smith — musical theater actress
• Nicholas Sparks — author
• Skip Stephenson — actor and comedian from TV series Real People
• Sting — professional wrestler, real name Steve Borden ^[8]
• Todd Storz — entrepreneur who introduced Top-40 radio format
• Jean Stothert — mayor of Omaha
• Mike Sullivan — 29th governor of Wyoming ^[39]
• Sarah Rose Summers — Miss Nebraska USA 2018 and Miss USA 2018
• Carl A. Swanson — founder of Swanson
• Inga Swenson — actress

T

• Jerry Tagge — NFL player for the Green Bay Packers
• Khyri Thomas (born 1996) — basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the EuroLeague
• JT Thor — NBA player for the Charlotte Hornets and their G League affiliate the Greensboro Swarm
• Donald E. Thorin — cinematographer
• Thomas Tibbles — late 19th-century journalist and Native American rights activist
• Chris Tormey — college football coach
• Mark Traynowicz — football player
• John Trudell — poet, Native American activist, actor
• Stanley M. Truhlsen — professor and philanthropist
• Steve Turre — jazz trombonist

U

• Gabrielle Union — actress

W

• Luigi Waites — jazz drummer and vibraphonist
• Eleazer Wakeley — jurist and politician
• Chris Ware — graphic novelist
• Dan Warthen (born 1952) — major league baseball pitcher and coach
• Fee Waybill — singer/songwriter, real name John Waldo Waybill ^[40]
• Geneice Wilcher — beauty pageant winner
• Paul Williams — singer-songwriter, actor ^[8]
• Roger Williams — pianist
• Aaron Wills — bassist of 311
• Julie Wilson — singer and actress
• Bob Wiltfong — Daily Show correspondent; TED Talk presenter
• Andre Woolridge — professional basketball player

Y

• Whitney Young — civil rights activist

X

• Malcolm X — human rights activist

Z

• Paula Zahn — news personality

See also

• List of lists about Omaha, Nebraska
• List of people from North Omaha, Nebraska
• Founding figures of Omaha, Nebraska
• People from Omaha (category)
• People from Omaha by occupation (category)

References

1. "ABEL, Hazel Hempel (1888 - 1966)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
2. "Titus Adams". Nebraska Athletics. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
3. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Across the Charts, the 1960s. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 14. ISBN   9780898201758 . Retrieved June 3, 2014.
4. "Houston Alexander "the Assassin"". Sherdog. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
5. Andersen, Kurt (March 25, 2007). "Omaha's Culture Club". The New York Times. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
6. "Craig Anton". CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
7. "Astaire, Fred". Nebraska State Historical Society. Archived from the original on November 15, 2006. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
8. "Omaha Nebraska". City-Data.com. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
9. Lisanti, Tom (2007). Glamour Girls of Sixties Hollywood: Seventy-Five Profiles. McFarland. p. 15. ISBN   9780786431724 . Retrieved June 4, 2014.
10. Whiting, Sam (July 28, 2023). "Elaine Badgley Arnoux, painter of San Francisco mayors, dies at 97" . The San Francisco Chronicle . ISSN   1932-8672.
11. "Letitia Baldrige dies at 86; 'doyenne of decorum' was social secretary to first lady Jacqueline Kennedy". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
12. "John Beasley". The History Makers. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
13. "Wade Boggs". Museum of Nebraska Major League Baseball. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
14. "Bob Boozer, a 1960 Olympian, Is Dead at 75". The New York Times. May 22, 2012. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
15. "Omaha Innovators Borglum". www.douglascohistory.org. Archived from the original on January 5, 2016. Retrieved December 28, 2015.
16. "Kansas Governor Walter Roscoe Stubbs". National Governors Association. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
17. Popowsk, Mark D. (2011). The Rise and Fall of Triumph: The History of a Radical Roman Catholic Magazine, 1966–1976. Lexington Books. p. 3. ISBN   9780739169827 . Retrieved June 5, 2014.
18. "Mildred Brown". Nebraska Studies. Archived from the original on June 6, 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
19. "Chris Brunt". Major League Soccer . Retrieved February 14, 2025.
20. "Nate Crnkovich". TimesIndia.com. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
21. "Lance McNaught". CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
22. "Buddy Carlyle". MLB Advanced Media, LP. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
23. "Jason Christiansen Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
24. "Ozzie Cisneros". Major League Soccer . Retrieved April 8, 2025.
25. "Personal: Joseph Cleland, Robert Bryson and James Bailey". Omaha World-Herald . Omaha, NE. September 19, 1919. p. 20 – via Newspapers.com.
26. Newman, Aubrey S. (March 1976). "Obituary, Joseph Pringle Cleland". Assembly. West Point, New York: Association of Graduates, United States Military Academy. pp. 117–119 – via Google Books.
27. "FLOOD, Mike". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved August 19, 2025.
28. "Sally Fox's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
29. Sonja Carberry (Fall 1998). "Opera Star" (PDF). UNO Magazine. University of Nebraska Omaha: 13–14.
30. http://www.omaha.com/uno/guentzel-s-hockey-career-winds-up-down-the-street-from/article_63ea721f-d3df-58c4-aeef-a388fcead491.html ^{[ dead link ]}
31. "Omaha's Tim Halperin teamed up with Lady Antebellum on last night's 'Songland' premiere". April 14, 2020.
32. "Arlene Klasky | Producer, Writer, Animation Department". IMDb .
33. Editorial Staff (3 July 1961). "Koterba Death Ends Brilliant Career". Daily Herald , p. 6. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
34. "Duncan McGuire". United States Soccer Federation . Retrieved January 31, 2025.
35. "Jake Meyers stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
36. Morton, Julius Sterling and Watkins, Albert (1911). Illustrated History of Nebraska: A History of Nebraska from the Earliest Explorations of the Trans-Mississippi Region, with Steel Engravings, Photogravures, Copper Plates, Maps and Tables, Volume 1. Western Pub. and Engraving Company. p. 205.
37. Davis, Henry Blaine Jr. (1998). Generals in Khaki. Raleigh, NC: Pentland Press. p. 317. ISBN   978-1-5719-7088-6 – via Google Books.
38. "RUTHERFORD, John Henry". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
39. "Wyoming Governor Michael J. Sullivan". National Governors Association. Retrieved November 18, 2012.
40. "Fee Waybill". Discogs.