This is a list of notable people who were born in or closely associated with the American state of Iowa. People not born in Iowa are marked with §.

A

• Dudley W. Adams, horticulturalist
• John T. Adams, former Republican committee head
• Julie Adams, actress
• Trev Alberts, football player
• Bess Streeter Aldrich, author
• James Allen, engineer
• Fran Allison, television personality
• William B. Allison, politician
• Betty Baxter Anderson, author
• Lew Anderson, actor
• Rudolph Martin Anderson, explorer
• Marc Andreessen, software engineer
• Pat Angerer, football player
• Cap Anson, baseball player
• Brynild Anundsen, publisher
• Appanoose, 19th-century Meskwaki chief
• Lloyd Appleton, Olympic freestyle wrestler
• Samuel Z. Arkoff, film producer
• Herbert W. Armstrong, religious leader
• Tom Arnold, actor
• Matthew Ashford, actor
• Winifred Asprey, mathematician
• John Vincent Atanasoff, § inventor
• Jim Aton, jazz musician, composer, singer
• Mike Ritland, Navy SEAL, Dog Trainer, Interviewer

B

• John Babcock, Olympic freestyle wrestler
• Michele Bachmann, politician
• Oliver Baez Bendorf, poet
• Stan Bahnsen, baseball player
• John O. Bailey, judge
• Bil Baird, puppeteer
• Betsy Baker, actress
• Nathaniel B. Baker, politician
• Alvin Baldus, politician
• Charlie Bales, soccer player
• Brad Banks, athlete
• Hal C. Banks, labor leader
• Jill Banner, actress
• Antonine Barada, folk hero
• Roger Barkley, broadcaster
• Harrison Barnes, athlete
• Bob Barr, politician
• Douglas Barr, actor, writer, and director
• David Barrett, football player
• Steve Bartkowski, football player
• Robert Bartley, editor of The Wall Street Journal
• Clint Barton, fictional character
• Theodore J. Bauer, scientist
• Lansing Hoskins Beach, Army officer
• Bennett Bean, artist
• Carl L. Becker, historian
• Bix Beiderbecke, jazz musician
• William W. Belknap
• Brian Bell, musician
• Alfred S. Bennett, Army general and U.S. Secretary of War
• Duane Benson, athlete
• Matt Bentley, professional wrestler
• Christian Beranek, writer, actor, and producer
• Leo Beranek, acoustician
• Bill Bergan, coach
• Eddie Berlin, athlete
• Dan Bern, musician
• Jennie Iowa Berry, clubwoman
• S. Torriano Berry, film producer, writer, director
• Jay Berwanger, football player
• Stanley Biber, physician
• Greg Biekert, football player
• Leo Binz, § Roman Catholic archbishop
• Joe Bisenius, athlete
• Richard Pike Bissell, author
• Nate Bjorkgren, basketball coach
• Black Hawk, § Native American chief
• Casey Blake, baseball player
• Gordon Blake, military general
• Donald G. Bloesch, theologian
• Isabel Bloom, artist
• Scott Bloomquist, auto racer
• Mike Blouin, politician
• Lisa Bluder, coach
• Mike Boddicker, baseball player
• Ike Boettger, American football player
• Bill Bogaard, politician
• Tommy Bolin, musician
• Norman Borlaug, agricultural scientist and Nobel Laureate
• Rob Borsellino, writer
• Ryan Bowen, athlete
• Thomas M. Bowen, politician
• Charles Bowers, cartoonist and comic actor
• Lara Flynn Boyle, actress
• Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd, author
• Glen Brand, Olympic freestyle wrestler
• Neville Brand, actor
• Terry Brands, Olympic freestyle wrestler, wrestling coach
• Tom Brands, Olympic freestyle wrestler, wrestling coach
• Terry E. Branstad, politician
• Aaron Brant, athlete
• Charles Wesley Brashares, Methodist bishop
• Titus Bronson, founder of Kalamazoo, Michigan
• Greg Brown, folk musician
• Mace Brown, athlete
• Shannon Brown, country music singer
• Bruce Brubaker, pianist, record producer
• Rob Bruggeman, athlete
• Bill Bryson, author
• Oliver E. Buckley, electrical engineer
• Matt Bullard, athlete
• Ambrose Burke, priest, college president
• Jerry Burke, musician
• Tim Burke, football coach
• Joseph A. A. Burnquist, politician
• Martin Burns, athlete
• Joe Burrow, Heisman Trophy winner
• Jim Burt, sportscaster
• Marion LeRoy Burton, college president
• Harlan J. Bushfield, politician
• Mike Butcher, baseball player
• Frank M. Byrne, politician
• Robert Byrne, author

C

• Samuel Calvin, geologist
• Marjorie Cameron, actress and occultist
• Branden Campbell, bassist for Neon Trees
• Donald L. Campbell, chemist
• Macdonald Carey, actor
• Chris Carney, politician
• Wallace Carothers, chemist
• Allan Carpenter, author
• Sabin Carr, athlete
• Tommy Carroll, criminal
• Johnny Carson, television personality
• Jordan Carstens, athlete
• Louise Carver, actress
• Thomas Nixon Carver, economics professor
• Frank T. Cary, businessman
• Landon Cassill, auto racer
• Carrie Chapman Catt, suffragette
• Thomas Cech, chemist and Nobel Laureate
• Matt Chatham, football player
• The Cherry Sisters, vaudevillians
• Norton P. Chipman, politician, judge
• Tom Churchill, broadcaster
• Bernard A. Clarey, admiral
• Dallas Clark, § football player
• Laurel Blair Salton Clark, astronaut
• Rush Clark, politician
• Fred Clarke, baseball Hall of Famer
• Frederick G. Clausen, architect
• Jeff Clement, athlete
• Ron Clements, director and producer
• Scott Clemmensen, athlete
• Buffalo Bill Cody, Wild West showman
• Samuel Cody, aviator
• Harris Coggeshall, athlete
• Danielle Colby, reality TV personality
• King Cole, athlete
• Ada Langworthy Collier, poet, writer
• Chris Collins, hockey player
• Max Allan Collins, mystery writer
• Stephen Collins, actor
• Nick Collison, basketball player
• John W. Colloton, healthcare executive
• Steven Colloton, federal judge
• Martin Cone, college president
• Edwin H. Conger, diplomat
• Maurice Connolly, politician
• Paul Conrad, political cartoonist
• Ed Conroy, athlete
• George Cram Cook, author
• Marv Cook, football player
• Jack Coombs, athlete
• Eric Cooper, baseball umpire
• Barclay and Edwin Coppock, followers of John Brown
• Frank Cordaro, activist
• Sarah Corpstein, beauty queen
• John M. Corse, Army general
• Ernie Courtney, athlete
• Paul Coverdell, politician
• Thomas Jefferson Cowie, admiral
• Ryan Cownie, stand-up comedian
• Shawn Crahan, musician
• Roger Craig, football player
• Joe Crail, politician
• Coe I. Crawford, politician
• Francis X. Cretzmeyer, coach
• Joel Crisman, football player
• Jim Crotty, athlete
• Julee Cruise, singer and actress
• Frank Cuhel, athlete
• Mariclare Culver, political figure
• Henry J. B. Cummings, politician
• Billy Cundiff, athlete
• Jack Cunningham, screenwriter

D

• Janet Dailey, author
• Bill Daily, actor
• Dick Dale, musician
• Muriel Frances Dana, actress
• Jack Daniels, politician
• Diane D'Aquila, actress
• Sarah Darling, musician
• Geof Darrow, artist
• Dana Davis, actress
• Barry Davis, Olympic freestyle wrestler
• Rebecca Fjelland Davis, author
• Stuart Davis, musician
• Laura Dawn, activist, singer-songwriter, director/producer
• Bud Day, war hero
• Walter Day, businessman
• Darren Daye, athlete
• Lee De Forest, inventor
• Jordan De Jong, athlete
• Henry Clay Dean, preacher, lawyer
• Don DeFore, actor
• W. Edwards Deming, statistician
• Don Denkinger, baseball umpire
• Dave Despain, sports journalist
• Adam Devine, actor
• Aubrey Devine, athlete
• Lester J. Dickinson, politician
• Justin Diercks, auto racer
• Charles Hall Dillon, politician, judge
• Thomas Disch, author
• James Dixon, orchestra conductor
• David M. Dobson, game creator
• Claire Dodd, actress
• Tim Dodd, YouTuber
• Grenville M. Dodge, railroad executive
• Ralph Edward Dodge, religious leader
• Angela Dohrmann, actress
• Ellen Dolan, actress
• Steve Doocy, television journalist
• Russell S. Doughten, filmmaker
• Nicholas Downs, actor
• Joel Dreessen, football player
• Kevin Dresser, collegiate wrestling head coach
• Leanna Field Driftmier, radio personality
• Bobby Driscoll, actor
• Fred Duesenberg, automobile manufacturer
• Randy Duncan, football player
• Francis John Dunn, religious leader
• Lloyd Dunn
• Samuel Grace Dunn, journalist
• Kenneth W. Durant, decorated sailor
• John Durbin, actor
• Tim Dwight, football player

E

• Morgan Earp, Wild West lawman
• Warren Earp, brother of Wyatt Earp
• Abastenia St. Leger Eberle, sculptor
• Zales Ecton, politician
• Paul Eells, sportscaster
• Mamie Eisenhower, former First Lady of the United States
• Cal Eldred, athlete
• Jane Elliott, schoolteacher and activist
• James Ellison, actor
• Eugene Burton Ely, aviator
• Paul Emerick, International rugby player, and coach
• Hope Emerson, actress
• Michael Emerson, actor
• Femi Emiola, actress
• Norman A. Erbe, politician
• Joni Ernst, United States Senator for Iowa
• Jane Espenson, TV producer and writer
• Simon Estes, opera singer
• Linda Evans, political activist
• Frank F. Everest, general
• Barton Warren Evermann, ichthyologist

F

• Randy Florke, writer/publisher of interior design book
• Urban Clarence "Red" Faber, baseball player
• Tom Fadden, actor
• Carole Farley, soprano singer
• Art Farmer, jazz musician
• Sharon Farrell, actress
• Terry Farrell, actress
• James Fee, photographer
• Victor Feguer, convicted murderer
• Chris Fehn, musician
• Margaret Feldner, university president
• Bob Feller, baseball player
• Mary Fels, philanthropist, suffragist, Georgist
• James Ferentz, football player
• Jeremy Ferguson, musician
• Susan Frances Nelson Ferree, journalist, activist, suffragist
• Susan Fessenden, activist, social reformer
• Al Feuerbach, track and field athlete
• Romaine Fielding, actor
• Margarita Fischer, actress
• Matt Fish, basketball player
• Freddie Fisher, musician
• Bill Fitch, basketball coach
• Joseph Fitz, naval veteran
• Bridget Flanery, actress
• John Flannagan, priest
• Jack Fleck, golfer
• Frank Jack Fletcher, admiral
• Robert Fletcher, costume designer
• Rich Folkers, baseball player
• Bradbury Foote, screenwriter
• Ben Foster, actor
• Jon Foster, musician
• Judith Ellen Foster, lawyer
• Farrah Franklin, singer
• William Frawley, actor
• John T. Frederick, scholar
• Tanna Frederick, actress
• Joan Freeman, actress
• Bruce French, actor
• George B. French, actor
• Joe Frisco, vaudeville performer
• Virgil Frye, actor, boxer

G

• Dan Gable, Olympic freestyle wrestler, wrestling coach
• Jetseta Gage, kidnap victim
• Robert Gallery, football player
• George Horace Gallup, founder of Gallup Poll
• Viola Garfield, anthropologist
• Jim Garrison, lawyer, judge
• David Garst, farmer, seed manufacturer
• Roswell Garst, farmer, seed manufacturer
• Michael Gartner, journalist
• Joey Gase, NASCAR driver
• Harry Gaspar, baseball player
• James Lorraine Geddes, soldier
• John Getz, actor
• Dick Gibbs, basketball player
• Edward H. Gillette, politician
• Thomas Gilman, Olympic freestyle wrestler
• Owen Gingerich, astronomer
• Annabeth Gish, actress
• Salvatore Giunta, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient
• Fred Glade, baseball player
• Susan Glaspell, playwright
• Dan Goldie, tennis player
• Johnny Gosch, kidnap victim
• Frank Gotch, professional wrestler
• Al Gould, baseball player
• Rick Graf, football player
• Fred Grandy, actor, politician
• Chuck Grassley, Iowa senator
• Paul Gray, musician
• Dick Green, baseball player
• George Greene, Supreme Court justice
• Edna Griffin, civil rights activist
• James W. Grimes, Iowa governor and senator
• Dan Grimm, football player
• Harold R. Gross, politician
• Danai Gurira, actress
• Janet Guthrie, auto racer

H

• Charlie Haden, musician
• Mike Haight, football player
• Leslie Hall, rapper
• Jack Halloran, composer
• Scot Halpin, musician
• Halston, fashion designer
• Adam Haluska, basketball player
• Andy Haman, professional bodybuilder
• Jack Hamilton, baseball player
• Milo Hamilton, baseball broadcaster
• Edward Hammatt, architect
• Ryan Hannam, football player
• Joel Hanrahan, baseball player
• Bob Hansen, basketball player
• James Hansen, professor
• Juanita Hansen, actress
• Niels Ebbesen Hansen, botanist
• Robert Hansen, convicted murderer
• Haldor Johan Hanson, hymn composer
• William L. Harding, former governor of Iowa
• Tom Harkin, Iowa senator
• Bob Harlan, pro football executive
• James Harlan, politician
• Graham Harman, professor
• Hill Harper, actor
• Frank Hatton, politician
• Tim Hauff, jazz musician
• Eva Lund Haugen, author
• James H. Hawley, Idaho politician
• Merle Hay, World War I soldier
• Frank Hayes, unionist
• Peter Hedges, writer
• Alan J. Heeger, Nobel Prize laureate in chemistry
• Jeremy Hellickson, baseball player
• Stephen P. Hempstead, former governor of Iowa
• John Hench, associate of Walt Disney
• David B. Henderson, politician, Speaker of the House
• Dorothy Hennessey, nun, activist
• Gwen Hennessey, nun, activist
• John Hennessy, religious leader
• Chad Hennings, football player
• William Peters Hepburn, Civil War officer, politician
• Francis J. Herron, Civil War general
• Daniel Hess, inventor
• Phil Hester, comic book artist
• James C. Hickman, actuary
• David Anthony Higgins, actor
• Steve Higgins, writer, comedian, actor, and announcer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
• Harriet Hilliard, actress
• David C. Hilmers, astronaut
• A. J. Hinch, baseball player, manager
• Kirk Hinrich, basketball player
• Herbert E. Hitchcock, South Dakota politician
• J.B.E. Hittle, decorated intelligence officer, author and writer
• Tami Hoag, novelist
• Terry Hoage, football player
• Thomas M. Hoenig, financier
• Bill Hoffer, baseball player
• Fred Hoiberg, basketball player, coach
• Judd Holdren, actor
• Ducky Holmes, baseball player
• Lizzie Holmes, educator, anarchist
• Elmer G. Homrighausen, theologian
• Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States
• Lou Henry Hoover, First Lady
• Harry Hopkins, presidential adviser
• Frank O. Horton, politician
• Austin Howard, football player
• Walter Howey, journalist
• Jerome Clarke Hunsaker, zeppelin authority
• Mary Beth Hurt, actress
• Toby Huss, actor
• Dick Hutcherson, auto racer
• Libbie Hyman, zoologist

I

• Jim Inhofe, politician
• Inkpaduta, Native American chief
• Arnold J. Isbell, aviator

J

• Jacob Jaacks, basketball player
• Fred Jackman, cinematographer
• Selmer Jackson, actor
• Kip Janvrin, athlete
• N. K. Jemisin, science fiction/fantasy author
• Frank Jenks, actor
• Dan Jennings, baseball player
• Roger Jepsen, politician
• Jake Johannsen, comedian
• Donald Johanos, symphony conductor
• Bryce Johnson, actor
• Dorothy M. Johnson, author
• Edwin S. Johnson, politician
• Georgann Johnson, actress
• Lulu Johnson, historian
• Nicholas Johnson, FCC commissioner
• Royal C. Johnson, politician
• Shawn Johnson, gymnast
• Zach Johnson, golfer
• Peter Jok, § basketball player
• Craig Jones, musician
• George Wallace Jones
• Gordon Jones, actor
• James Jones, football player
• Lolo Jones, athlete
• Kathryn Joosten, actress
• Joey Jordison, musician
• Duane Josephson, baseball player
• Patty Judge, politician
• Jerry Junkins, CEO of Texas Instruments

K

• Nate Kaeding, football placekicker
• Danielle Kahle, figure skater
• Jacqui Kalin (born 1989), American-Israeli professional basketball player
• Aaron Kampman, football player
• MacKinlay Kantor, journalist, author
• Gail Karp, cantor
• Bradley Kasal, decorated U.S. Marine
• John A. Kasson, politician
• Hazel Keener, actress
• James M. Kelly, astronaut
• Percy R. Kelly, judge
• Keokuk, Sauk chief
• John H. Kemble, professor
• Charles Reuben Keyes, archaeologist
• Charles Rollin Keyes, geologist
• Hugh Kidder, decorated U.S. Marine
• Kerry Killinger, banker
• Angela Jia Kim, classical pianist
• Mitch King, football player
• Rebecca Ann King, 1974 Miss America
• Steve King, politician
• Dallas Kinney, journalist
• Nile Kinnick, football player
• James T. Kirk, fictional character
• Samuel J. Kirkwood, § governor, senator, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
• Philip J. Klass, UFO researcher
• Stephen Kline, artist
• Bradford Knapp, university president
• Corina Knoll, journalist
• Ruth Kobart, performer
• Matt Koch, baseball player
• Bonnie Koloc, singer
• Jon Koncak, basketball player
• Ted Kooser, poet
• Dan Koppen, football player
• Kyle Korver, basketball player
• Joseph Kosinski, commercial director
• Mitch Krebs, television journalist
• Gary Kroeger, actor
• Josh Kroeger, baseball player
• Matt Kroul, football player
• Ashton Kutcher, actor

L

• Jerry Lacy, actor
• Perry Lafferty, television producer
• Doug La Follette, politician
• Raef LaFrentz, basketball player
• Roswell Lamson, Civil War officer
• Ann Landers, advice columnist
• The Lane Sisters, singers, actresses
• Harry Langdon, comedian
• Frank Lanning, actor
• Jeff Larish, baseball player
• Patty Larkin, singer
• Robert Larsen, founder and director of Des Moines Metro Opera and professor emeritus of music at Simpson College
• Alan Larson (born 1949), diplomat and ambassador
• Mauricio Lasansky, graphic artist
• Tomas Lasansky, visual artist
• Joe Laws, basketball player
• Elmer Layden, football player, coach
• Jim Leach, politician
• Cloris Leachman, actress
• Frederick Leadbetter, financier
• William Daniel Leahy, naval officer
• William P. Leahy, university president
• Frances Lee, actress
• Gerald Leeman, Olympic freestyle wrestler
• Laura Leighton, actress
• Josh Lenz, football player
• Aldo Leopold, environmentalist
• Amy Leslie, opera singer
• Alexander Levi, religious leader
• Jack Lewis, screenwriter
• John Lewis, labor leader
• Jon Lieber, baseball player
• Thurlow Lieurance, composer
• Joe Lillard, athlete
• Edward Lindberg, athlete
• Everett Franklin Lindquist, educator
• Everett Lindsay, football player
• Margaret Lindsay, actress
• Ron Livingston, actor
• Bob Locker, baseball player
• Al Lohman, radio personality
• Babe London, comedian
• Chuck Long, football player, coach
• Nia Long, § actress
• Mathias Loras, religious leader
• Tyler Lorenzen, football player
• Kevin Love, auto racer
• Phyllis Love, actress
• Herschel C. Loveless, governor
• Robert Lucas, politician
• Larry Lujack, radio personality
• Tiny Lund, auto racer
• Mike Lynch, cartoonist
• Raymond J. Lynch, judge
• Emmett Lynn, actor
• Sue Lyon, actress

M

• Larry Mac Duff, football coach
• Archer MacMackin, film director
• Hanford MacNider, diplomat, U.S. Army general
• Cletus Madsen, religious leader
• Joe Magrane, baseball player
• Maryann Mahaffey, politician
• Ryan Mahaffey, football player
• Mahaska, Native American chief
• Dennis Mahony, 19th-century journalist
• Anna Malle, § adult film actress
• Jessie Wilson Manning, writer, lecturer
• Arabella Mansfield, lawyer
• Stuart Margolin, actor
• Beth Marion, actress
• Glenn Martin, aviator
• Bernard Masterson, athlete
• Jerry Mathers, actor
• James Matheson, composer
• David Maxwell, university president
• Elsa Maxwell, columnist
• Marilyn Maxwell, actress
• Jesse May, poker professional
• Wiley Mayne, politician
• F. L. Maytag, founder of Maytag corporation
• Rita McBride, sculptor
• C. W. McCall, singer and politician
• Dan McCarney, football coach
• The McCaughey septuplets
• Tim McClelland, baseball umpire
• Al McCoy, announcer
• Greg McDermott, basketball coach
• William John McGee, geologist
• George McGill, politician
• Charles McGraw, actor
• Keli McGregor, baseball executive
• Pat McLaughlin, singer
• Sean McLaughlin, meteorologist
• William H. McMaster, former governor of South Dakota
• Cal McVey, baseball player
• Stu Mead, painter
• Carl Meinberg, priest
• John Melcher, former senator of Montana
• Michael Joseph Melloy, judge
• Denis Menke, baseball player
• Sebastian Menke, priest
• William Menster, priest
• Iris Meredith, actress
• Frank Merriam, former governor of California
• Russel Merrill, aviator
• Samuel Merrill, former governor of Iowa
• Nancy Metcalf, volleyball player
• Bernard F. Meyer, missionary
• Loren Meyer, basketball player
• Julia Michaels, singer-songwriter
• Brandon Middleton, football player
• Pat Miletich, MMA fighter, member of the UFC Hall of Fame
• Hugh Millen, football player
• Glenn Miller, musician, bandleader, World War II officer
• Samuel Freeman Miller, Supreme Court justice
• Robert Millikan, physicist
• Jason Momoa, § actor
• Ted Monachino, football coach
• Michelle Monaghan, actress
• Jordan Monroe, model
• Constance Moore, actress
• Frank A. Moore, judge
• Hap Moran, football player
• Peggy Moran, actress
• Karen Morley, actress
• Carol Morris, Miss Universe 1956
• Mike Morris, football player
• Phil Morris, actor
• Allie Morrison, Olympic freestyle wrestler
• Honoré Willsie Morrow, author, editor
• Karen Morrow, actress
• John Mosher, jazz musician and composer
• Michael Mosley, actor
• Dow Mossman, writer
• John Mott, YMCA leader, Nobel Prize winner
• Marvin Mottet, priest
• Kate Mulgrew, actress
• Richard L. Murphy, former Iowa senator
• Charles Murray, political scientist
• Brandon Myers, football player
• Virginia A. Myers, inventor

N

• Nancy Naeve, television journalist
• Conrad Nagel, actor
• Neapope, Sauk leader
• Sharon Needles, drag performer
• Brad Nelson, baseball player
• George Nelson, NASA astronaut
• Harriet Nelson, actress, television personality
• Larry Nemmers, football official
• Carman A. Newcomb, politician
• Jim Nicholson, politician
• Bruce Nissen, professor
• Ken Nordine, voice-over artist
• Lance Norris, actor
• Bill Northey, politician
• Robert Noyce, inventor
• Michael Nunn, boxer
• Nick Nurse, basketball head coach

O

• Randi Oakes, actress, fashion model
• Dick Oatts, musician
• Wes Obermueller, baseball player
• Patrick O'Bryant, basketball player
• Brian O'Connor, § baseball coach
• Dennis O'Keefe, actor
• Gerald Francis O'Keefe, religious leader
• Bob Oldis, baseball player, coach, scout
• George Olmsted, military officer
• Eric Christian Olsen, actor
• Zoe Ann Olsen-Jensen, Olympic diver
• James Bradley Orman, former governor of Colorado
• Kay A. Orr, former governor of Nebraska
• Kyle Orton, football player
• Charles Osborne, "hiccup" man
• Vivienne Osborne, actress
• Beverley Owen, actress

P

• Stephen Paddock, mass murderer
• Daniel David Palmer, chiropractic medicine pioneer
• Francis W. Palmer, publisher
• Rose Marie Pangborn, scientist
• Oran Pape, law enforcement officer
• Ralph Parcaut, professional wrestler
• Sara Paretsky, novelist
• Charles Fox Parham, evangelist
• Anthony Parker, basketball player
• Clair Cameron Patterson, geochemist
• Neva Patterson, actress
• Allen E. Paulson, thoroughbred breeder
• Bryce Paup, football player
• Claude Payton, actor
• Maria Pearson, Dakota activist
• Sally Pederson, former lieutenant governor
• Paul Peek, politician
• Mary Beth Peil, actress
• Nat Pendleton, athlete, actor
• Arthur D. Pennington, baseball player
• Tom Pepper, computer programmer
• Don Perkins, football player
• Edwin Perkins, inventor
• Roger Perry, actor
• Pete Peterson, combat pilot, ambassador
• Roger Peterson, pilot
• Joseph M. Petrick, screenwriter
• Lori Petty, actress
• James Philbrook, actor
• John Robinson Pierce, engineer
• Mark Pinter, actor
• Chris Pirillo, video host, blogger
• Ed Podolak, football player
• Carl Pohlad, financier, Minnesota Twins owner
• George Pomutz, Civil War general
• Maddie Poppe, musician and winner of American Idol season 16
• Scott Pose, baseball player
• Dante Powell, stand-up comedian
• Gordon Prange, historian
• Beatrice Prentice, actress
• Hiram Price, railroad president, politician
• Richard Proenneke, naturalist
• Stanley Prusiner, neurologist, biochemist
• Tom Purtzer, golfer

Q

• Quashquame, Sauk chief
• John Herbert Quick, author
• Howard 'Howdy' Quicksell, musician
• Linnea Quigley, actress

R

• David Rabe, playwright
• Frances Rafferty, actress
• Max Rafferty, writer, politician
• John F. Rague, architect
• Randy Rahe, basketball coach
• Josh Rand, musician
• Robert D. Ray, governor of Iowa (1969–1983) who served several consecutive terms
• Harry Reasoner, television journalist
• David Reed, football player
• Donna Reed, actress
• Dani Reeves, Miss Iowa 2007
• George Reeves, actor
• Allen Reisner, football player
• George C. Remey, Civil War admiral
• Walter E. Reno, World War II naval officer
• Kevin Rhomberg, baseball player
• Alfred C. Richmond, admiral
• Doug Riesenberg, football player
• William H. Riker, political scientist
• Bill Riley Sr., entertainer
• Chad Rinehart, football player
• The Ringling brothers, circus moguls
• Clifford Roberts, chairman of Masters golf tournament
• James B. A. Robertson, judge, Governor of Oklahoma
• Billy Robinson, aviator
• Shawna Robinson, auto racer
• Reggie Roby, football player
• Otto Frederick Rohwedder, inventor
• Seth Rollins, WWE professional wrestler
• Christine Romans, television journalist
• James Root, musician
• Jim Root, musician
• Raymond Roseliep, poet
• Sage Rosenfels, football player
• Joseph Rosenfield, lawyer
• Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Civil War general, governor of Texas
• Brandon Routh, actor
• Coleen Rowley, FBI agent, politician
• J. Craig Ruby, basketball coach
• Nate Ruess, singer
• Alexander Rummler, painter
• Nicholas J. Rusch, Civil War officer, politician
• Arthur Russell, musician
• Charles Edward Russell, journalist
• Lillian Russell, actress
• Paul Rust, comedian
• George Ryan, former governor of Illinois

S

• George Saling, athlete
• Mark Salter, political speechwriter
• Josh Samman, mixed martial artist
• Ezekiel S. Sampson, Civil War officer, politician
• Cael Sanderson, § Olympic freestyle wrestler, wrestling coach
• Tyler Sash, football player
• Sauganash, fur trader
• A. J. Schable, football player
• Daniel Schaefer, politician
• Peter Schickele, parodist
• Ron Schipper, football coach
• Aloysius Schmitt, Navy chaplain
• Ernest B. Schoedsack, filmmaker
• Robert H. Schuller, religious leader
• Aloysius Schulte, college president
• Dick Schultz, NCAA and US Olympic Committee executive
• Jean Seberg, actress
• Brad Seely, football coach
• Edward Robert Sellstrom, pilot
• Phil Shafer, auto racer
• William Shannahan, priest
• Harrison Sheckler, pianist
• Kenny Shedd, football player
• Kate Shelley, railroad official
• Gene Sherman, sportscaster
• Randy Shilts, journalist
• Paul Shorey, scholar
• Loren Shriver, astronaut
• Lee Paul Sieg, university president
• Hal Skelly, actor
• Bill Smith, § Olympic freestyle wrestler
• Brian Smith, photographer
• Gerald W. Smith, author
• Hiram Y. Smith, politician
• Jerry Smith, golfer
• Mary Louise Smith, politician
• Neal Smith, politician
• Riley Smith, actor
• Virginia Smith, politician
• Warren Allen Smith, gay rights advocate
• Clement Smyth, religious leader
• William Smyth, politician
• Neta Snook, aviator
• Jamie Solinger, Miss Teen USA
• Harvey Sollberger, composer
• Phyllis Somerville, actress
• Hartzell Spence, military journalist
• Tracie Spencer, singer
• Kirk Speraw, basketball coach
• Darren Sproles, football player
• Josh Stamer, football player
• Edwin O. Stanard, politician
• Denise Stapley, Survivor champion, therapist
• Bradley Steffens, author
• William G. Steiner, child advocate
• Mark Steines, television personality
• Keith H. Steinkraus, food scientist
• Frank Steunenberg, Idaho governor
• Bill Stewart, jazz musician
• George F. Stewart, food scientist
• Kiah Stokes, basketball player
• George Stone (1876–1945), Major League Baseball left fielder; 1906 American League batting champion
• Ramo Stott, auto racer
• Terry Stotts, basketball coach
• George L. Stout, art historian, "Monuments Man"
• Russell Stover, candy manufacturer
• Alvin Straight, lawn-mower rider
• Chris Street, basketball player
• Jeff Streeter, auto racer
• Stephen Stucker, actor
• Bob Stull, football player
• Scott Swisher, legislator
• The Sullivan Brothers, combat veterans
• Billy Sunday, baseball player, evangelist
• Roderick Dhu Sutherland, politician
• Al Swearengen, Wild West saloonkeeper
• Ryan Sweeney, baseball player
• Quinn Sypniewski, football player
• Brett Szabo, basketball player

T

• Joseph Taggart, politician
• Taimah, Native American chief
• Michael Talbott, actor
• Kevin Tapani, baseball player
• Lawrie Tatum, U.S. "Indian Agent"
• Corey Taylor, musician
• Morgan Taylor, athlete
• Richard R. Taylor, Surgeon-General of the U.S. Army
• Robin Lord Taylor, actor
• Sara Taylor, political public-relations professional
• Ashley Tesoro, actress, singer
• Kenneth W. Thompson, academic
• Sada Thompson, actress
• William Thompson, politician
• William George Thompson, politician
• Mick Thomson, musician
• Adam Timmerman, football player
• Matt Tobin, football player
• John Tomkins, criminal
• Alice Bellvadore Sams Turner, physician, writer

U

• James Ulmer, journalist
• Jarrod Uthoff, basketball player
• Sarah Utterback, actress

V

• James Van Allen, scientist
• Mike Van Arsdale, MMA fighter, wrestler
• Dennis Van Roekel, labor leader
• Carl Van Vechten, writer, photographer
• Kyle Vanden Bosch, athlete
• Bob Vander Plaats, politician, activist
• Julian Vandervelde, athlete
• William Vandever, politician
• Oswald Veblen, mathematician
• Ross Verba, athlete
• Michelle Vieth, actress
• Zach Villa, actor, singer
• Phil Vischer, animator
• Krista Voda, sportscaster
• Nedra Volz, actress

W

• Michael Wacha (born 1991), baseball player for the San Diego Padres
• John Henry Waddell, painter and sculptor
• Hynden Walch, actress
• Nellie Walker, sculptor
• Joseph Frazier Wall, historian
• Henry A. Wallace, politician and presidential candidate
• Marcia Wallace, actress
• Will Walling, actor
• Adam Walsh, football player and coach
• Chile Walsh, football player, coach, and executive
• Mark Walter, financier, chairman of Los Angeles Dodgers
• Rick Wanamaker, track and field athlete and basketball player
• Brian Wansink, scientist and professor
• Dedric Ward, football player, coach
• Everett Warner, painter and printmaker
• Kurt Warner (born 1971), football quarterback in the NFL
• Fitz Henry Warren, politician, Civil War general
• Kiersten Warren, actress
• Pierre Watkin, actor
• Watseka (c. 1810–1878), Native Iowan
• James F. Watson, judge
• Tony Watson (born 1985), pitcher in MLB
• John Wayne, actor
• James B. Weaver, politician
• Randy Weaver, survivalist involved in Ruby Ridge incident
• Irving Weber, businessman
• Joseph Welch, attorney
• Elmarie Wendel, actress
• Susan Werner, singer-songwriter
• Emily West, singer-songwriter
• Brooks Wheelan, actor, comedian
• Matthew Whitaker, district attorney
• John White, labor leader, president of the United Mine Workers
• Jim Whitesell, college basketball coach
• Peggy Whitson, astronaut, scientist
• Casey Wiegmann, football player in the NFL
• Doreen Wilber, archer
• Tom Wilkinson, football player
• Andy Williams, singer
• Gregory Alan Williams, actor, author
• Roy Lee Williams, labor leader
• William Appleman Williams, historian
• William Williamson, politician
• Meredith Willson, composer
• James Falconer Wilson, politician
• JoAnn Wilson, murdered wife of Canadian politician
• Mortimer Wilson, composer
• Sid Wilson, disc jockey
• Wally Wingert, actor
• Keaton Winn (born 1998), pitcher for the San Francisco Giants
• Charles E. Winter, politician
• Sidney G. Winter (born 1935), economist
• Johannes B. Wist, journalist, editor
• William P. Wolf, politician
• Elijah Wood (born 1981), actor
• Grant Wood, painter
• Joey Woody, athlete
• Hank Worden, actor
• Carleton H. Wright, U.S. Navy admiral
• Frank Wykoff, Olympic champion athlete

Y

• Marshal Yanda, athlete
• Harry E. Yarnell, U.S. Navy admiral
• David Yost, actor and producer
• Ed Yost, inventor
• Jessie Young, radio host^[1]
• Nancy Youngblut, actor

Z

• Luke Zeller, basketball player
• Maurice Zimm, writer for screen and radio
• Larry Zox, painter and printmaker