List of people from Overland Park, Kansas

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

The list of people from Overland Park, Kansas includes those who were born in or have lived in the city.

Arts and entertainment

Rob Riggle

Jason Sudeikis

Beauty and fashion

• Deborah Bryant, Miss America 1966 ^[1]
• Lisa Forbes (1981– ), Miss Kansas USA 2004 ^[2]
• Tara Dawn Holland (1972– ), Miss America 1997 ^[3]

Film, television, and theater

• Michael Almereyda (1960– ), film director, screenwriter ^[4]
• Darren Lynn Bousman (1979– ), film director, screenwriter ^[5]
• David Dastmalchian (1984– ), actor ^[6]
• Tom Kane (1962– ), voice actor ^[7]
• Sarah Lancaster (1980– ), actress ^[8]
• John Lehr (1967– ), actor ^[9]
• Rob Riggle (1970– ), actor, comedian ^[10]
• Paul Rudd (1969– ), actor, screenwriter, director.
• Jason Sudeikis (1975– ), actor, comedian ^[11]

Music

• Phillip Sandifer (1959– ), songwriter, recording artist ^[12]
• Lajon Witherspoon (1972– ), lead singer of Sevendust

Other visual arts

• Elmo Gideon (1924–2010), painter, sculptor ^[13]

Business

• William B. Strang Jr. (1857–1921), railroad magnate, city founder ^[14]
• Arash Ferdowsi (1985–), entrepreneur, co-founder of Dropbox ^[15]

Politics

Kevin Yoder

Tim Kaine

Jason Kander

• Jeff Colyer (1960– ), Governor of Kansas (2018–2019 ), 49th Lieutenant Governor of Kansas (2011–2018) ^[16]
• Tim Kaine, United States Senator from Virginia, former Governor of Virginia and the Democratic Party's Vice Presidential nominee in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election
• Jason Kander, Missouri Secretary of State (2013–2017)
• Kris Kobach (1966– ), Kansas Secretary of State (2011–2019)
• Jan Meyers (1928–2019), U.S. Representative from Kansas (1985–1997) ^[17]
• Bradley Schlozman (1971– ), U.S. Attorney ^[18]
• Kevin Yoder (1976– ), U.S. Representative from Kansas (2011–2019) ^[19]

Religion

• James D. Conley (1955– ), Roman Catholic prelate ^[20]
• Jerry Johnston (1959– ), Southern Baptist Convention evangelist; pastor from 1996 to 2011 of the former First Family Church in Overland Park; reared in Overland Park ^[21]

Sports

American football

Andy Gruenebaum

• Andrew Gachkar (1988– ), linebacker ^[22]
• Rudy Niswanger (1982– ), center ^[23]
• Will Shields (1971– ), guard ^[24]
• Lawrence Tynes (1978– ), placekicker ^[25]
• Jeff Wolfert (1985– ), placekicker ^[26]

Baseball

• Jason Adam (1991– ), pitcher
• Jason Grimsley (1967– ), pitcher ^[27]
• Colton Murray (1990– ), pitcher
• Ryne Stanek (1991– ), pitcher ^[28]
• Tom Burgmeier (1943– ), pitcher
• Mike Boddicker (1957– ), pitcher

Soccer

• Mo Abulnadi (2001– ), defender
• Alec Bartlett (1993– ), defender ^[29]
• Matt Besler (1987– ), defender ^[30]
• Nick Besler (1993– ), midfielder ^[31]
• Andy Gruenebaum (1982– ), goalkeeper ^[32]
• Will John (1985– ), forward and midfielder ^[33]
• Peter Vermes (1966– ), midfielder and coach

Other sports

• Christie Ambrosi (1976– ), 2000 Olympic U.S. softball player ^[34]
• Anna Glennon (1996– ), World Champion Jet Ski racer ^[35]
• Tyler Kalinoski (1992– ), basketball player ^[36]
• Tonya Knight (1966– ), IFBB professional bodybuilder ^[37]
• Semi Ojeleye (1994– ), basketball player ^[38]
• Jack Sock (1992– ), professional tennis player
• Johnathan Wendel (1981– ), former professional Quake and Painkiller player ^[39]
• Leanne Wong (2003– ), artistic gymnast ^[40]

See also

• Lists of people from Kansas
• List of people from Johnson County, Kansas

References

1. "Miss America : 1966". Miss America Organization. Archived from the original on December 16, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
2. "Miss Kansas USA 2004". Miss Kansas USA. Internet Archive Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on February 2, 2004. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
3. "Miss America : 1997". Miss America Organization. Archived from the original on December 15, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
4. "Michael Almereyda - Biography". IMDb . Retrieved December 9, 2011.
5. "Darren Lynn Bousman - Biography". IMDb . Retrieved December 9, 2011.
6. "How 'The Dark Knight' Gave an Actor a Brighter Life". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved July 19, 2018.
7. "Tom Kane". IMDb . Retrieved December 9, 2011.
8. "Sarah Lancaster (I) - Biography". IMDb . Retrieved December 9, 2011.
9. "John Lehr - Biography". IMDb . Retrieved December 9, 2011.
10. "Rob Riggle". The Daily Show Biography. Comedy Central . Retrieved December 9, 2011.
11. "Jason Sudeikis - Biography". IMDb . Retrieved December 9, 2011.
12. "Home". phillipsandifer.com.
13. "Artist and Sculptor Gideon: Artist Biography". Gideon Intermedia, LLC. Archived from the original on July 31, 2012. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
14. "History of Downtown". Downtown Overland Park Partnership, Inc. Archived from the original on November 29, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
15. "Meet the richest area native you've probably never heard of". The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on March 8, 2013. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
16. "AesthetiCare Staff". AesthetiCare. Archived from the original on September 5, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
17. "MEYERS, Jan (1928 - )". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress . Retrieved December 9, 2011.
18. "Bradley J. Schlozman". United States Attorney's Office - Western District of Missouri. Archived from the original on August 10, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
19. "Kevin Yoder (R-Kan.)". Who Runs Gov. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 19, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
20. "Biography of Most Rev. James D. Conley, S.T.L." Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver. Archived from the original on April 27, 2009. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
21. Judy L. Thomas (March 11, 2007). "Church camp turned around a troubled childhood". Kansas City Star . Kansas City, Missouri . Retrieved November 9, 2015.
22. "Players - Andrew Gachkar". San Diego Chargers. Archived from the original on January 4, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
23. "Rudy Niswanger". Elias Sports Management. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
24. Wagner, Brent C. "Sideline chatter: Will Shields honored during NU-Ohio State game". Lincoln Journal Star . Retrieved December 9, 2011.
25. Branch, John (August 2, 2007). "A New Kicker for the Giants Tries to Settle In". The New York Times . Retrieved December 9, 2011.
26. "Player Bio: Jeff Wolfert". University of Missouri . Retrieved December 12, 2011.
27. Dierkes, Tim (June 9, 2006). "Five More Jason Grimsley Facts". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
28. "Ryne Stanek Class of 2010 - Player Profile | Perfect Game USA".
29. "Alec Bartlett". Creighton Bluejays . Retrieved January 6, 2025.
30. Austin, Kurt (July 10, 2011). "Matt Besler voted 2011 MLS All-Star". Sporting Kansas City . Retrieved January 26, 2012.
31. "Nick Besler". Portland Timbers . Retrieved January 24, 2025.
32. "Player Bio: Andy Gruenebaum". University of Kentucky . Retrieved December 12, 2011.
33. "Comets Sign Former Rockhurst Standout, Will John and Jamie Harding". Our Sports Central. December 28, 2010. Retrieved December 9, 2011.
34. "U.S. Softtball Team". Sports Illustrated . Archived from the original on August 4, 2001. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
35. "ABOUT". JET GIRL 777. April 20, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
36. Palmer, Todd (March 11, 2015). "Davidson's Tyler Kalinoski, an Olathe East grad, wins Atlantic 10 player of the year". Kansas City Star . Retrieved March 18, 2015.
37. Tonya Knight
38. Stone, Matt (June 22, 2017). "SMU's Semi Ojeleye among three second-round picks for Celtics". Boston Globe . Retrieved June 22, 2017.
39. White, Bobby (January 23, 2005). "Revenge of the nerds: Video gamers turn pro". Knight Ridder Newspapers . Retrieved November 30, 2015.
40. "Leanne Wong sits 5th after first round of US Gymnastics Championships". KSHB-TV . August 9, 2019.