List of people from Nevada

Following is a list of notable people who were born in, raised in, or have lived for a significant period of time in the U.S. state of Nevada.

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.

Political figures

• Kathy Augustine (1956–2006) – Nevada State Controller (from 1999 until her death)
• Walter Baring (1911–1975) – member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Nevada's At-Large district
• Helen Delich Bentley – former Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Alan Bible (1909–1988) – former Democratic U S Senator from Nevada
• James Bilbray – Nevada's first district, U.S. House of Representatives
• Emmet D. Boyle (1879–1926) – 13th Governor of Nevada; first Nevada-born governor
• Berkeley L. Bunker (1906–1999) – U.S. senator from Nevada and member of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Howard Cannon (1912–2002) – former Democratic U S Senator from Nevada
• Jim Gibbons (born 1944) – 28th Governor of Nevada
• Carolyn Goodman – Mayor of Las Vegas (since 2012)
• Oscar Goodman – Mayor of Las Vegas (2002–2012)
• Morley Griswold (1890–1951) – served in the U.S. Army in World War I; later became Lieutenant governor of Nevada, then later Governor of Nevada
• Dean Heller – U.S. Senator and former U.S. Congressman from Nevada's 2nd congressional district
• Velma Bronn Johnston (1912–1977) – animal-rights activist
• Paul Laxalt – Republican Governor of Nevada and U.S. Senator from Nevada
• Myron E. Leavitt (1930–2004) – former Lieutenant Governor of Nevada
• Pat McCarran (1876–1954) – former United States Senator from Nevada; namesake of McCarran International Airport
• Mike McGinness – Republican member of the Nevada Senate
• Pat Nixon (1912–1993) – First Lady of the United States (1969–1974)
• Key Pittman (1872–1940) – former Democratic U S Senator from Nevada; President pro tempore and Chairman Committee on Foreign Relations
• Vail M. Pittman (1880–1964) – 19th Governor of Nevada and 19th Lieutenant Governor of Nevada
• Harry Reid (born 1939) – United States Senate Minority Leader (since 2005)
• Willard Hughes Rollings (1948–2008) – historian of Native Americans
• Grant Sawyer (1918–1996) – 21st Governor of Nevada; formed Nevada Gaming Commission
• W. Frank Stewart - silver miner in Virginia City; Democratic state senator for Storey County, 1876-1880
• Jon Wellinghoff (born 1949) – attorney, energy expert, and chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

News media

Newspaper, radio, television

• Art Bell, syndicated radio host
• A.E. Cahlan (1899–1968) – Las Vegas Review Journal owner and publisher
• Norm Clarke – gossip columnist, Las Vegas Review Journal
• Hank Greenspun (1909–1989) – Las Vegas Sun newspaper publisher

Athletes

Andre Agassi

C. J. Watson

Barry Zito

Jason Zucker

A–G

• Andre Agassi – Hall of Fame professional tennis player
• Greg Anthony – NBA player and broadcaster
• Luke Babbitt – small forward for the Portland Trail Blazers
• Ryan Bader – professional mixed martial artist with the UFC
• Shannon Bahrke – Olympic freestyle skier
• Marcus Banks – point guard for the New Orleans Hornets
• Craig Barlow – professional golfer
• Avery Bradley – player for the Boston Celtics
• Kris Bryant – player for the Chicago Cubs
• Kurt Busch – NASCAR driver
• Kyle Busch – NASCAR driver
• Gina Carano – MMA fighter
• Chris Carter – player for the Houston Astros

• Spencer Clark (1987–2006) – NASCAR driver
• Rico Constantino – professional wrestler
• Marty Cordova – Major League Baseball left fielder
• Harvey Dahl – offensive guard for the Atlanta Falcons
• Ricky Davis – professional basketball player in the NBA
• Brandyn Dombrowski – offensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers
• Marion Jones Farquhar – Hall of Fame tennis player
• Joey Gallo – player for the Texas Rangers
• Brendan Gaughan – NASCAR driver
• Lawrence Guy – defensive end for the Baltimore Ravens

H–M

• Ray Handley – former football player; New York Giants head coach
• Bryce Harper – Major League Baseball player
• Carey Hart – freestyle motocross racer, pro BMX rider
• Steven Jackson – professional football player
• Ben Jacobs – professional football player
• Nick Johnson – professional basketball player in the NBA
• Colin Kaepernick – professional football player
• Klete Keller – Olympic swimmer
• Jack Kramer – Hall of Fame tennis player
• Iris Kyle – ten-time overall Ms. Olympia professional bodybuilder
• Joseph Lang (1911–1990) – boxer
• T.J. Lavin – professional BMX rider and musician
• Ryan Ludwick – right fielder for the Cincinnati Reds
• Greg Maddux – Major League Baseball player
• Julia Mancuso – Olympic alpine ski racer, gold and silver medalist
• Floyd Mayweather, Jr. – boxer
• Jake McGee – relief pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays
• Maurice E. McLoughlin – Hall of Fame tennis player
• Frank Mir – mixed martial artist; former UFC champion
• DeMarco Murray – running back for the Dallas Cowboys

N–Z

• Amy Purdy – snowboarder
• Grey Ruegamer – professional football player in the NFL
• Nate Schierholtz – outfielder for the Washington Nationals
• Adam Seward – professional football player in the NFL
• Chasen Shreve – relief pitcher for the New York Yankees
• Scott Smith – mixed martial artist
• Brandon Snyder – first baseman for the Boston Red Sox
• Stevenson Sylvester – linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers
• Korey Toomer – linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys
• Byron Velvick – professional bass fisherman
• C. J. Watson – professional basketball player
• Duke Williams – professional football player in the NFL
• Matt Williams – Major League Baseball third baseman and manager
• Aarik Wilson – long jumper
• Charles Wright – professional wrestler
• Barry Zito – Major League Baseball starting pitcher
• Jason Zucker – NHL hockey player

Entertainment

Actors

Nicolas Cage

Jena Malone

A–M

• Ben Alexander (1911–1969) – actor
• Mädchen Amick (born 1970) – actress, Shelly Johnson on Twin Peaks
• Deanna Brooks (born 1974) – actress, model
• Reno Browne (1921–1991) – film actress, equestrian, pilot
• Nicolas Cage (born 1964) – actor, filmmaker
• Charisma Carpenter (born 1970) – actress, Cordelia Chase on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel
• Dillon Casey (born 1983) – actor
• Hobart Cavanaugh (1886–1950) – actor
• Daveigh Chase (born 1990) – actress, singer, Rhonda Volmer on Big Love
• Tishara Cousino (born 1978) – model, actress, real estate broker
• Abby Dalton (born 1935) – actress
• Gabriel Damon (born 1976) – actor
• Misty Dawn (born 1963) – adult film actress
• Doris Dawson (1909–1986) – silent film actress
• Loren Dean (born 1969) – actor, Enemy of the State, Apollo 13, Mumford
• Thomas Dekker (born 1987) – actor, musician, John Connor on Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
• Brad Dexter (1917–2002) – actor, The Magnificent Seven
• Leah Dizon (born 1986) – model, singer, Japanese television personality
• Chase Ellison (born 1993) – actor
• Kathy Evison (born 1963) – actress, Lonnie Henderson on SeaQuest DSV
• Joe Flanigan (born 1967) – actor, Major/Lt. Colonel John Sheppard on Stargate Atlantis
• Michele Greene (born 1962) – actress, singer, and songwriter
• Matthew Gray Gubler (born 1980) – actor, director, Dr. Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds
• Corinna Harney (born 1972) – model, actress, 1992 Playboy Playmate of the Year
• Veronica Hart (born 1956) – 1980s adult film actress
• Annette Haven (born 1954) – 1970s and 1980s adult film actress
• Adam Hicks (born 1992) – actor, singer, dancer
• Jenna Jameson (born 1974) – adult film actress and entertainer
• Bryce Johnson (born 1977) – actor, Josh Ford on Popular
• Rebekah Kochan (born 1984) – actress
• Michelle Krusiec (born 1974) – actress, One World
• Joseph D. Kucan (born 1965) – video game developer, director, actor, screenwriter
• Erin Lear (born 1984) – actress
• Jena Malone (born 1984) – actress, musician, photographer
• Lily Mariye (born 1964) – actress, Lily Jarvik on ER
• Meaghan Jette Martin (born 1992) – actress, singer, musician

N–Z

Amanda Righetti

• Lycia Naff (born 1962), actress – Ensign Sonya Gomez on Star Trek: The Next Generation
• Thomas Ian Nicholas (born 1980) – actor, the American Pie films
• Sean Palmer (born 1973) – actor, singer, dancer
• Mr. Pete (born 1980) – adult film actor and director
• Sasha Pieterse (born 1996) – teen actress, Alison DiLaurentis on Pretty Little Liars
• Kristoffer Polaha (born 1977) – actor
• Edna Purviance (1895–1958) – actress
• Amanda Righetti (born 1983) – actress, Grace Van Pelt on The Mentalist
• Stephanie Romanov (born 1969) – actress, model, Lilah Morgan on Angel
• Sophia Rossi (born 1977) – actress, model, dancer
• Paul Schrier (born 1970) – actor, Bulk on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers
• Jason-Shane Scott (born 1976) – actor
• Dana Snyder (born 1973) – stand-up comedian, actor, voice artist, Master Shake on Aqua Teen Hunger Force
• Shannyn Sossamon (born 1978) – actress, dancer, model, musician
• Charlie Stewart (born 1993) – actor
• Bobby Tonelli (born 1975) – actor
• Cerina Vincent (born 1979) – actress, model, Maya on Power Rangers Lost Galaxy
• Carrie Clark Ward (1862–1926) – silent film actress
• Dawn Wells (born 1938) – actress, business owner, Mary Ann on Gilligan's Island
• Rutina Wesley – actress, Tara Thornton on True Blood
• Lauren Woodland (born 1977) – actress, Brittany Marsino on The Young and the Restless

Music

Brandon Flowers in 2006

Dia Frampton in 2008

Dan Reynolds in 2012

• Vernon Alley – jazz bassist
• Joyce Collins – jazz pianist, singer
• Rick DeJesus – lead vocals for band Adelitas Way
• Daniel de los Reyes – percussionist
• Dino – DJ, singer-songwriter and record producer
• Leah Dizon – gaijin tarento, singer, and gravure idol in Japan
• Brandon Flowers – lead singer of The Killers
• Dia Frampton – indie rock and pop singer
• Tony Fredianelli – alternative rock musician, formerly with Third Eye Blind
• Nicholas Furlong – singer, songwriter, producer
• Mikalah Gordon – singer, American Idol finalist
• Chris Jones – guitarist
• Jenny Lewis – singer
• Justin McBride – country music singer
• Nikki Nelson – country music singer
• Louis Prima Jr – singer, entertainer, trumpeter, and bandleader
• Dan Reynolds – frontman for Imagine Dragons
• Ryan Ross – former lead guitarist, lyricist for Panic at the Disco
• Chuck Ruff – rock drummer
• Lee Scrivner – songwriter
• Kevin Seconds – vocalist, songwriter, musician
• Billy Sherwood – progressive rock musician, record producer, and engineer
• Mark Slaughter- singer and musician, founder of the hard rock band Slaughter
• Spencer Smith – drummer for Panic at the Disco
• Lynn Truell – drummer for Imperial Teen
• Brendon Urie – lead singer for Panic at the Disco
• Willy Vlautin – lead singer for Richmond Fontaine
• David Yow – lead vocalist for Scratch Acid and The Jesus Lizard
• Dolora Zajick – mezzo-soprano

Film, stage, television and sound production

• Glen Charles – Emmy Award-winning television writer
• Les Charles – Emmy Award-winning television writer
• C. Jay Cox (born 1962), director, screenwriter
• Nicholas RAS Furlong – songwriter and record producer
• Curtis Hanson – Academy Award-winning filmmaker
• Daniel C. Mitchell – screenwriter and producer

Authors

• Alta – poet, prose writer and publisher
• Nevada Barr – author of mystery novels
• Charles Bock – novelist
• Juanita Brooks – author and historian
• Walter van Tilburg Clark – writer
• Cecelia Holland – historical novelist
• Robert Laxalt – writer
• Adrian C. Louis – author and poet
• James Marshall – children's author and illustrator
• Lloyd Osbourne – novelist
• Lute Pease – journalist and cartoonist
• Sheldon Rampton – editor of PR Watch and author of books on the public relations industry
• Andrew Romanelli – journalist, poet, songwriter, blogger
• Geoff Schumacher – journalist and author
• Harry Shannon – novelist
• Georgie Sicking – cowboy poet and former rancher in Churchill County
• David Derek Stacton (1925–1968) – author and poet
• Richard Walton Tully – playwright
• Dave Ulrich – author of books on leadership and human resources
• Claire Vaye Watkins – author of the book Battleborn

Miscellaneous

• Jennifer Allan – model
• James E. Casey (1888–1983) – founder, United Parcel Service
• Kimberley Conrad – model and former wife of Hugh Hefner
• Laura Dahl – fashion designer
• Michael David – painter
• Milton H. Erickson – psychiatrist specializing in medical hypnosis and family therapy
• Sean Hamilton – radio personality
• Jennifer Harman – professional poker player
• Chelsie Hightower (born 1989) – Latin ballroom dancer, Dancing with the Stars
• Jimmy Kimmel – talk show host and comedian
• Dat So La Lee (1829–1925) – basket weaver
• Jessica Miller – fashion model
• Pierre Omidyar – billionaire founder of eBay
• Bob Tallman – news announcer
• Ivan A. Taslimson, architect; founder of Solstice Group
• J. Buzz Von Ornsteiner – psychologist and television personality
• Steve Wynn – casino tycoon; owner of Wynn Resorts Limited