Utah Famous People

Famous Americans: History and Biographies

Links to histories and biographies of the famous people of Utah. Many famous people of Utah have made significant contributions to the history of our nation and the state of Utah. These famous Americans, famous entertainers, famous players, famous scientist, famous singers, famous statesmen, famous women, heroes, great explorers, and others Utah famous Americans have all made Utah their home. This list includes Utah historical figures, celebrities and those individuals of Utah who have influenced the lives of others.

• Maurice Abravanel (1903 - 1993) Music Director of the Utah Symphony.
• Danny Ainge (1959 - ) BYU Basketball star.  Former NBA player/coach.
• Roseanne Barr (1952 - ) Comedian and actress of television’s Roseanne; born in Salt Lake City.
• Reva Beck Bosone (1895 - 1983) Utah's first woman member of Congress, rights activist.
• John Moses Browning (1855 - 1926) Gun Maker.
• Nolan Kay Bushnell (1915 - ) Computer programmer who invented the first coin-operated video game; born in Ogden.
• Marriner Eccles (1890 - 1977) Built First Security Corp., helped end Great Depression.
• Philo Farnsworth (1906 - 1971) Inventor of the television.
• Edwin Jacob (Jake) Garn (1932 - ) Senator, Astronaut.
• Orrin Hatch ( 1934 - ) U.S. Senator.
• Jon Huntsman Sr. (1937 - ) Philanthropist and state's most successful entrepreneur.

• David Abbott "Ab" Jenkins (1883 -  1956) Driving his "Mormon Meteor", Jenkins set numerous world automobile speed records on Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats between 1932 and 1956.

• Karl Malone (1963 - ) Utah Jazz Basketball Star.

• J. Willard Marriott (1900 - 1985) Founder of the Marriott restaurant and hotel chain.  Also founded the A&W restaurant chain.

• Dale Murphy (1956 - ) Baseball player who played for the Atlanta Braves.

• Donny Osmond (1957 - ) and Marie Osmond (1959 - ) Singers and dancers that starred in the Donny and Marie Show, brother and sister; both born in Ogden.
• Robert LeRoy Parker “Butch Cassidy” (1887-1915?) Famous outlaw that robbed banks and trains of the Old West; born in Beaver.
• Robert Redford (1937 - ) Actor and founder of the Sundance Institute.
• Wallace Stegner (1909 - 1993) Author.
• Reed Smoot (1862 - 1941) First Mormon elected to U.S. Senate.
• Brigham Young (1801 - 1877) President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) that brought the first white settlers to Utah and founded Salt Lake City; born in Whittingham, born in Vermont.
• Steve Young (1961 - ) Football quarterback who helped the San Francisco 49ers win three Super Bowl championships; born in Salt Lake City.

More Famous People of Utah

• Maude Adams actress, Salt Lake City
• Frank Borzage film director, producer, Salt Lake City
• Barney Clark heart patient, Provo
• Laraine Day actress, Roosevelt
• Bernard De Voto writer, Ogden
• Avard Fairbanks sculptor, Provo
• Anthony Geary actor, Coalville
• John Gilbert actor, Logan
• Howard A. Jarvis social reformer, Magna
• David M. Kennedy government official, Randolph
• David McKay religious leader, Huntsville
• Peter Skene Ogden fur trader, trapper
• Merlin Olsen football player, Logan
• Ivy Baker Priest U.S. treasurer, Kimberley
• Lee Greene Richards painter, Salt Lake City
• Richard Richards GOP chairman, Ogden
• Roseanne Barr actress, Salt Lake City
• Virginia Sorensen author, Provo
• Mack Swain actor, Salt Lake City
• Everett Thorpe painter
• Robert Walker actor, Salt Lake City
• Marie Windsor actress, Marysville
• James Woods actor, Vernal
• Loretta Young actress, Salt Lake City