List of people from Arkansas

Actors

• Joey Lauren Adams, actress
• Katherine Alexander, actress
• Bronco Billy Anderson, vaudeville actor
• Wes Bentley, actor
• Rodger Bumpass, actor, best known for voicing Squidward Tentacles from the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants
• Miriam Byrd-Nethery, actress
• Natalie Canerday, actress, Sling Blade, October Sky
• John Carter, actor, originally from Conway County
• Daniel Davis, actor, best known as "Niles the butler" on television series The Nanny
• Gail Davis, film actress, best known as Annie Oakley from 1950s television series
• Clark Duke, actor, Greek, Hearts Afire
• Kimberly Foster, actress, Dallas
• Gauge, adult film actress
• Gil Gerard, actor
• Norris Goff, actor, best known as Abner of Lum and Abner
• Elizabeth Gracen, actress, Highlander: The Raven
• Tess Harper, actress
• Georgia Holt, actress, singer; mother of Cher
• Arthur Hunnicutt, actor, known for his portrayal of wise, grizzled, old rural characters
• Brent Jennings
• Brandon Keener, actor
• Donnie Keshawarz, actor
• Alan Ladd, actor
• Chester Lauck, actor, best known as Lum of Lum and Abner
• Marjorie Lawrence, actress, Metropolitan Opera diva
• Jacob Lofland, actor
• Josh Lucas, actor
• Laurence Luckinbill, actor
• Rudy Ray Moore, actor
• Ben Murphy, actor, Alias Smith and Jones, Lottery!
• Corin Nemec, actor
• George Newbern, actor
• Dick Powell, actor and director; founder of Four Star Television
• William Ragsdale, actor, Herman's Head, Grosse Pointe
• Leon Russom, actor, Prison Break
• Wonderful Smith, actor and comedian
• Norman Snow, actor
• Mary Steenburgen, Oscar-winning actress
• Kobe Tai, adult film actress
• Billy Bob Thornton, actor, Oscar-winning screenwriter
• Karri Turner, actress
• Karmyn Tyler, actress
• Sheryl Underwood, actress, comedian, radio host
• Jerry Van Dyke, actor, comedian, brother of Dick Van Dyke; resided on his ranch near Malvern

Artists

• Larry D. Alexander, artist and writer
• Danielle Bunten Berry, video game designer
• John Braden, writer, producer, director
• Roy Buchanan, guitarist, singer, songwriter
• Carl Ward Dudley, filmmaker and producer
• George Fisher, political cartoonist
• David Gordon Green, filmmaker
• Kenneth Johnson, screenwriter, director
• E. Fay Jones, architect and designer
• Oliver Lake, jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer, poet, and visual artist
• Amy Lee, lead singer of Evanescence
• Evan Lindquist, artist, printmaker, Artist Laureate of Arkansas
• Nate Powell, comic book artist
• Effie Anderson Smith, impressionist landscape painter, educator, feminist
• Symone, model, actress, winner of RuPaul's Drag Race
• Harry Thomason, television producer
• Jason Truby, former lead guitarist for Living Sacrifice and former member of P.O.D.
• Edward Washburn, painter of The Arkansas Traveler
• Donald Roller Wilson, painter

Authors

• Margot Adler, journalist and correspondent
• Brian Biggs, author, illustrator, graphic artist
• Dee Brown, author, historian, novelist
• Helen Gurley Brown, author, editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine
• Nancy A. Collins, author
• John Gould Fletcher, poet
• John Grisham, novelist
• Dave Grossman, author
• Laurell K. Hamilton, horror/fantasy author
• Deborah Mathis, journalist and author
• Peter McGehee, novelist
• Qui Nguyen, playwright and screenwriter
• Charles Portis, novelist
• Leora Bettison Robinson, writer
• John Robert Starr, journalist
• Gina Wilkins, novelist
• Miller Williams, poet
• C. Vann Woodward, historian
• Carolyn D. Wright, poet

Businesspeople

• William T. Dillard, head of Dillard's Department Stores
• Max Frauenthal, Confederate Civil War veteran, leading Conway merchant, and founding father of Heber Springs
• Johnelle Hunt, co-founder of J. B. Hunt Transportation Services
• Johnnie Bryan Hunt, co-founder of J. B. Hunt Transportation Services
• Walter E. Hussman Jr., founder of WEHCO Media, Inc.

• Jerry Jones, owner of the Dallas Cowboys since 1989
• Stephen Jones, executive vice president/COO of the Dallas Cowboys
• James Smith McDonnell, founder of McDonnell Aircraft
• Charles Phillips, CEO of Infor Global Solutions
• Jackson T. Stephens, oilman and investment banker
• Warren Stephens, president, chairman, and CEO of Stephens Inc.
• Don Tyson, Tyson Foods Poultry processing
• John H. Tyson, former CEO of Tyson Foods
• Alice Walton, daughter of Sam Walton, founded Llama Company
• Jim Walton, son of Sam Walton, chairman of Arvest Bank
• John T. Walton, son of Sam Walton, former chairman of True North Venture Partners
• Rob Walton, son of Sam Walton, former chairman of Walmart
• Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart Inc.
• Kemmons Wilson, Holiday Inn hotel founder
• Forrest L. Wood, founder of Ranger Boats

Military figures

• John Hanks Alexander, pioneering African-American naval officer
• Nicky Daniel Bacon, first sergeant, U.S. Army, Medal of Honor recipient, Distinguished Service Cross, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts; director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs, United States delegate to normalize relations with Vietnam, president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, chair emeritus of the American Board for Certification in Homeland Security, Military Police Hall of Fame
• William N. R. Beall, Confederate brigadier general
• Raynal Bolling, first high-ranking U.S. Army casualty in WWI
• Solon Borland, Confederate brigadier general
• Maurice "Footsie" Britt, World War II soldier, Medal of Honor recipient, Distinguished Service Cross recipient, Silver Star recipient, first American soldier to receive the three highest medals for bravery; NFL player; lt. governor of Arkansas
• William L. Cabell, Confederate brigadier general
• Thomas J. Churchill, Confederate major general
• Wesley Clark, U.S. Army general, NATO commander
• Patrick Cleburne, Confederate major general
• James Conway, U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant general
• William Orlando Darby, first commander of the U.S. Army Rangers
• Herman Davis, Distinguished Service Cross recipient and World War I sniper
• Thomas P. Dockery, Confederate brigadier general
• Edward Walter Eberle, U.S. Navy chief of Naval Operations
• James F. Fagan, Confederate major general
• Nathan G. Gordon, USN PBY pilot, received Medal of Honor for rescuing 15 downed aircrew members by landing his aircraft under enemy fire
• Daniel C. Govan, Confederate brigadier general
• Carlos Hathcock, Marine sniper
• Alexander T. Hawthorn, Confederate brigadier general
• Thomas Hindman, U.S. congressman and Confederate major general
• Lucius Roy Holbrook, U.S. major general
• George Izard, U.S. Army general, War of 1812
• Field E. Kindley, World War I flying ace
• Douglas MacArthur, U.S. general of the Army, Medal of Honor recipient
• Ewell Ross McCright, U.S. Air Force captain, World War II, prisoner of war and Legion of Merit recipient
• Pierce McKennon, World War II fighter ace veteran of RAF Eagle Squadron, 335thFS/4thFG, 20 German aircraft destroyed
• Evander McNair, Confederate brigadier general
• Dandridge McRae, Confederate brigadier general
• Albert Pike, Confederate general, Freemason
• John S. Roane, brigadier general
• Albert Rust, Confederate brigadier general
• James C. Tappan, Confederate brigadier general
• John Thach, U.S. Navy admiral, World War II flying ace
• Frank Glasgow Tinker, Spanish Civil War volunteer fighter pilot
• Corydon M. Wassell, U.S. Navy physician and medical missionary
• Archibald Yell, brigadier general, killed at the Battle of Buena Vista during the Mexican–American War

Musicians

• Kris Allen, singer-songwriter, winner of the 8th season of American Idol
• Black Oak Arkansas, Southern rock hillybilly psycho-boogie band
• Big Bill Broonzy, blues singer-songwriter and guitarist
• Shirley Brown, soul singer
• Sonny Burgess, Sun recording artist
• Sarah Caldwell, opera conductor and director, violinist
• Shawn Camp, singer/songwriter
• Glen Campbell, country singer-songwriter, and actor
• Johnny Cash, country singer-songwriter
• Floyd Cramer, musician, most known for his piano instrumental "Last Date"
• Roscoe Dash, rapper
• Iris DeMent, country/folk singer-songwriter
• Jim Dickinson, musician and producer
• Beth Ditto, singer with The Gossip
• Bob Dorough, jazz musician and voice of Schoolhouse Rock!
• Jimmy Driftwood, folk musician/songwriter, wrote "The Battle of New Orleans"
• Barbara Fairchild, country and gospel singer
• Tav Falco, musical performer, performance artist, actor, filmmaker, and photographer
• Sandford C. Faulkner, wrote fiddle tune "Arkansas Traveler"
• Bankroll Freddie, rapper
• Lefty Frizzell, country music singer-songwriter
• Al Green, singer
• Charles Christian Hammer, classical guitarist
• Ronnie Hawkins, rock musician
• Levon Helm, rock musician
• Barbara Hendricks, opera singer
• John S. Hilliard, composer
• Wayland Holyfield, songwriter
• Buddy Jewell, country musician
• Louis Jordan, jazz musician and bandleader
• Tracy Lawrence, country musician
• Amy Lee, rock musician
• Robert Lockwood Jr., blues musician
• W. Francis McBeth, composer
• Ashley McBryde, country singer
• Robert McFerrin, operatic baritone
• Patsy Montana, country musician
• Ben Moody, rock musician
• Justin Moore, country musician
• Charlotte Moorman, cellist, performance artist
• Conlon Nancarrow, composer
• Ne-Yo, R&B musician, songwriter
• Joe Nichols, country music artist
• Smokie Norful, gospel singer
• Walter Norris, pianist and composer
• K.T. Oslin, country musician
• Twila Paris, gospel musician
• Art Porter Jr., jazz saxophonist
• Art Porter, Sr., jazz pianist
• Florence Price, composer
• Collin Raye, country musician
• Wilbur Stephen "Bill" Rice, country musician
• Charlie Rich, rockabilly, jazz, blues, country, and gospel musician and pianist
• Pharoah Sanders, jazz saxophonist
• W. Stephen Smith, baritone opera singer, voice teacher and author
• William Grant Still, composer
• Fred Tackett, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist
• Johnnie Taylor, vocalist
• Sister Rosetta Tharpe, vocalist, guitarist, the first great recording star of gospel music, considered "the Godmother of rock and roll"
• Conway Twitty, rock and roll and country music singer
• Michael Utley, songwriter, actor, musician, bit actor, member of Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band and Club Trini
• Viper, rapper, producer
• Junior Walker, Motown saxophonist
• William Warfield, vocalist
• Lenny Williams, singer
• Otis Williams, singer
• Sonny Boy Williamson II, blues musician

Political figures

• William Vollie Alexander Jr., Democratic US Representative 1969–1993
• Dale Alford, U.S. representative from Little Rock 1959–1963; unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate in Democratic primary in 1962 and 1966
• Denny Altes, former member of both houses of the Arkansas State Legislature; Vietnam War veteran from Fort Smith
• Morris S. Arnold, U.S. Appeals Court judge
• Richard S. Arnold, U.S. Appeals Court judge
• Duncan Baird, Arkansas state budget director since 2015; Republican former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
• Bob Ballinger, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Washington, Carroll, and Madison counties
• Jonathan Barnett, state representative for Benton and Washington counties
• Mike Beebe, former governor of Arkansas
• Mary Bentley, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Perry, Pope, Yell, and Conway counties since 2015; businesswoman and former nurse in Perryville
• Edwin Bethune, U.S. representative 1979–1985
• Solon Borland, U.S. senator
• Drew Bowers, Republican gubernatorial nominee in 1926 and 1928; assistant U.S. attorney in Little Rock
• David Branscum, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Searcy County
• Kelly Bryant, secretary of state
• Dale Bumpers, U.S. senator and former governor of Arkansas 1971–1975
• Preston C. Bynum, lobbyist and politician

• Jim R. Caldwell, first Republican to serve in the Arkansas State Senate in the 20th century, 1969–1978; Church of Christ minister retired in Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Ronald R. Caldwell, Republican member of the Arkansas State Senate from Cross County
• Hattie Caraway, first woman to serve a full term as a U.S. senator
• Davy Carter, speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives
• Francis Adams Cherry, governor 1953–1955
• Marvin Childers, former state representative from Mississippi County, lawyer and lobbyist for poultry industry in Little Rock
• Marshall Chrisman, Republican state representative from Franklin and Johnson counties, 1969–1970; gubernatorial candidate, 1980 and 1982
• Alan Clark, Arkansas Republican state senator from Garland County
• Ann Clemmer, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representative from Saline County; professor of political science at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• Bill Clinton, 42nd president of the United States
• Chelsea Clinton, daughter of Bill and Hillary
• Hillary Clinton, First Lady of the United States, U.S. senator from New York, U.S. Secretary of State, and 2016 Democratic nominee for president
• Carl B. Close, Louisiana politician; native of Conway County
• Osro Cobb, lawyer, Republican politician from Montgomery County and later Little Rock
• Sterling R. Cockrill, Republican former politician from Pulaski County; urban planner, businessman, artist
• Henry W. Conway, territorial delegate
• John R. Cooper, Republican member of the Arkansas State Senate from Craighead County
• Donnie Copeland, Pentecostal pastor in North Little Rock and Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for District 38, 2015–2017
• Tom Cotton, U.S. senator from Arkansas since 2015
• Bruce Cozart, politician and developer from Hot Springs
• Angie Craig, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 2nd congressional district since 2019
• Marion H. Crank, speaker of the Arkansas House, 1963–1964; Democratic gubernatorial nominee, 1968
• Danny K. Davis, U.S. representative from Illinois
• Gary Deffenbaugh, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Van Buren in Crawford County
• Jay Dickey, U.S. representative from Arkansas's 4th congressional district, 1993–2001
• Jim Dotson, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Bentonville
• Dan Douglas, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Bentonville
• Trevor Drown, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Pope and Van Buren counties since 2015

• Lance Eads, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Washington County since 2015; unseated Randy Alexander in 2014 Republican primary
• Les Eaves, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for White County since 2015
• Joycelyn Elders, former Surgeon General of the United States
• Jane English, member of the Arkansas State Senate from North Little Rock since 2013; former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
• Jon Eubanks, state representative for Logan County since 2011
• Joe Farrer, state representative from Lonoke County
• Orval Eugene Faubus, governor 1955–1967
• Jake Files, state senator from Fort Smith since 2011
• Charlene Fite, Republican state representative for Crawford County since 2013
• Lanny Fite, Republican state representative for Saline County since 2015, former county judge
• Scott Flippo, state senator from Baxter, Boone, and Marion Counties; businessman in Bull Shoals
• Stephanie Flowers, state senator from Pine Bluff and former state representative; attorney
• Vivian Flowers, state representative from Pine Bluff
• Clay Ford, member of both the Arkansas and Florida House of Representatives
• Vince Foster, presidential aide
• Woody Freeman, businessman and 1984 Republican gubernatorial nominee
• J. William Fulbright, U.S. senator
• Augustus H. Garland, U.S. attorney general
• Jeremy Gillam, Republican state representative from Lonoke County
• John W. Grabiel, Republican gubernatorial nominee in 1922 and 1924
• Michael John Gray, Democratic member of the Arkansas House for Independence, Jackson, White, and Woodruff counties since 2015
• Michelle Gray, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representative for Independence, Izard, Sharp, and Stone counties since 2015
• Kenny Guinn, governor of Nevada 1999–2007; Arkansas native

• Kim Hammer, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Saline County; Baptist clergyman in Benton
• John Paul Hammerschmidt, former U.S. representative of Arkansas's 3rd congressional district; congressional sponsor of the Buffalo National River
• Josh Hawley, U.S. senator from Missouri since 2019
• Fonda F. Hawthorne, Democratic former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Little River County
• John Heiskell, U.S. senator and newspaper publisher
• Kenneth Henderson, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Pope County; real estate developer in Russellville
• Jim Hendren, member of the Arkansas State Senate from Benton County since 2013; former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
• Kim Hendren, former member of the Arkansas State Senate and the Arkansas House of Representatives from Benton County
• Ben C. Henley, Arkansas state Republican chairman 1955–1962, lawyer and businessman in Harrison
• J. Smith Henley, federal judge in Fayetteville, retired to senior status in Harrison; brother of Ben Henley
• Bart Hester, Arkansas state senator from Benton County
• Jimmy Hickey Jr., Arkansas state senator from Texarkana
• Grant Hodges, Arkansas state representative for Benton County since 2015
• Jim L. Holt, Republican politician
• Mike Huckabee, governor 1996–2007
• Asa Hutchinson, former U.S. representative
• Donna Hutchinson, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Benton County
• Jeremy Hutchinson, Arkansas state senator
• Tim Hutchinson, former U.S. representative and former U.S. senator
• Timothy Chad Hutchinson, former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Benton County
• Lane Jean, Arkansas state representative from Columbia, Lafayette, and Miller counties; former mayor of Magnolia
• Bob Johnson, Democratic member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Pulaski County since 2013; former justice of the peace
• James D. Johnson, Arkansas Supreme Court justice, segregationist leader
• Robert W. Johnson, U.S. and Confederate States senator
• J. B. Judkins, Arkansas state senator, elected president of the state's senate in 1883
• Allen Kerr, former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Pulaski County

• Jack Ladyman, mechanical engineer and Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Craighead County since 2015
• Benjamin Travis Laney, governor
• Andrea Lea, Arkansas state auditor 2015–2023; Republican former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Pope County
• Tim Lemons, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for District 43 in Lonoke County
• Kelley Linck, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Marion County
• Blanche Lincoln, former U.S. senator and former U.S. representative
• Marilyn Lloyd, former U.S. representative from Tennessee
• A. Lynn Lowe, former Arkansas Republican state chairman and unsuccessful nominee for U.S. House of Representatives and governor
• Mark Lowery, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Pulaski County since 2013
• Robin Lundstrum, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Benton and Washington counties since 2015
• Mark R. Martin, Secretary of State of Arkansas
• John L. McClellan, chairman, Senate Appropriations Committee
• Mark McElroy, Democratic member of the Arkansas House of Representative for Desha, Chicot and Ashley counties since 2013
• Sid McMath, former Arkansas governor, trial lawyer, and Marine Corps general
• Stephen Meeks, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Faulkner County; brother of David Meeks
• Gary Miller, U.S. representative from California
• Joshua D. "Josh" Miller, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Heber Springs
• Wilbur Daigh Mills, chairman of United States House Ways and Means Committee
• Isaac Murphy, governor of Arkansas

• Micah Neal, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Springdale
• Milton Nicks, state representative for Crittenden and Cross counties since 2015; Baptist pastor in Earle, resident of Marion, Arkansas
• George E. Nowotny, state representative from Sebastian County 1967–1972
• Isaac Parker, "Hanging Judge" of Fort Smith
• Danny L. Patrick, Republican state representative from Madison and Carroll counties 1967–1970
• Rebecca Petty, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Benton County; advocate of child crime victims, resident of Rogers
• Mathew Pitsch, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Fort Smith since 2015
• Carolyn Pollan, state representative from Sebastian County 1975–1999
• David Pryor, U.S. senator, governor, U.S. representative; founding dean of the Clinton School of Public Service
• Mark Pryor, U.S. senator; son of David Pryor
• Donald A. Quarles, deputy secretary of defense and communications engineer
• Jim Ranchino, political scientist, consultant, and pollster
• Terry Rice, Republican member of the Arkansas Senate, former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives; businessman and rancher in Waldron
• Jacqueline Roberts, former state legislator
• Joseph T. Robinson, senate majority leader and vice presidential candidate
• Tommy F. Robinson, sheriff, U.S. representative
• Winthrop Rockefeller, governor of Arkansas
• Winthrop Paul Rockefeller, lieutenant governor
• Mike Ross, U.S. representative 2001–2013; unsuccessful Democratic gubernatorial nominee in 2014
• Laurie Rushing, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Garland and Hot Spring counties since 2015; real estate broker in Hot Springs
• J. T. Rutherford, U.S. representative from Texas

• William H. "Bill" Sample, member of both houses of the Arkansas General Assembly from Hot Springs since 2005
• David J. Sanders, Arkansas state senator from Pulaski County; former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives
• Sarah Huckabee Sanders, White House Press Secretary
• Max Sandlin, U.S. representative from Texas
• William S. Sessions, FBI director
• Ambrose H. Sevier, U.S. senator, "father of Arkansas statehood"
• Lottie Shackelford, Democratic National Committee vice chair
• Jim Sheets, state representative 1967–1968; first Republican to represent Benton County in legislature in the 20th century
• Mary Lou Slinkard, state representative from Benton County since 2009
• Brandt Smith, state representative since 2015 for Craighead County; former Southern Baptist missionary
• John W. Snyder, U.S. treasury secretary
• Vic Snyder, U.S. representative 1997–2011
• William L. Spicer, chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party 1962–1964; intraparty rival of Winthrop Rockefeller
• Greg Standridge, Arkansas state senator for Newton, Pope, Boone, Carroll, and Van Buren counties since 2015; insurance agent in Russellville
• Gary Stubblefield, Arkansas state senator from Franklin County
• James Sturch, Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Independence County since 2015
• Dan A. Sullivan, Arkansas state representative for Craighead and Greene counties since 2015
• Dwight Tosh, state representative since 2015 from Jonesboro; retired state police officer
• Wallace Townsend, attorney and Republican politician
• Tommy Tuberville, former football coach; U.S. senator from Alabama since 2021
• DeAnn Vaught, farmer and member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Sevier County
• Dave Wallace, member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Mississippi and Poinsett counties since 2015; decorated Vietnam War veteran
• Wes Watkins, U.S. representative from Oklahoma
• Bruce Westerman, majority leader of the Arkansas House
• Frank Durward White, governor 1981–1983
• Eddie Joe Williams, state senator and former mayor
• James Lee Witt, former FEMA director
• Judy Petty Wolf, former state representative
• Richard Womack, state representative from Arkadelphia
• Shawn Womack, judge of the Arkansas 14th Judicial District; Republican former member of both houses of the Arkansas legislature from Baxter County
• Jon Woods, state senator
• James Word, Democratic former member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Jefferson and Lincoln counties
• Marshall Wright, Democratic member of the Arkansas House of Representatives for Monroe, St. Francis, Woodruff, and Lee counties since 2011

Scientists and physicians

• Moses T. Clegg, bacteriologist noted for his work in Leprosy
• Joycelyn Elders, former Surgeon General of the United States
• Mary L. Good, former chair and first female member of the American Chemical Society board
• Samuel L. Kountz, pioneer in organ transplant surgery
• William L. McMillan, National Academy of Sciences physicist noted for his research on superconductors
• Trent Pierce, family practitioner; chairman of the Arkansas Medical Board
• Taylor Wilson, nuclear physics prodigy; youngest person to achieve fusion, at the age of 14
• Gazi Yaşargil, named "Neurosurgery's Man of the Century" by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons

Social figures

• Daisy Bates, civil rights leader and activist
• Melba Pattillo Beals, civil rights activist and member of the Little Rock Nine
• Minnijean Brown-Trickey, civil rights activist and member of the Little Rock Nine
• Eldridge Cleaver, activist
• Elizabeth Eckford, civil rights activist and member of the Little Rock Nine
• Ernest Green, civil rights activist and member of the Little Rock Nine
• Robert L. Hill, Black leader at Elaine Race Riot
• Scipio Africanus Jones, attorney
• Gloria Ray Karlmark, civil rights activist and member of the Little Rock Nine
• Carlotta Walls LaNier, civil rights activist and member of the Little Rock Nine
• Terrence Roberts, civil rights activist and member of the Little Rock Nine
• Adolphine Fletcher Terry, social activist
• Louise Thaden, aviation pioneer
• Jefferson Thomas, civil rights activist and member of the Little Rock Nine
• Cephas Washburn, Indian missionary

Sportspeople

• James Anderson, professional basketball player
• Shawn Andrews, professional football player
• Stacy Andrews, professional football player
• Herbert Eugene "Geese" Ausbie, professional basketball player with Harlem Globetrotters
• Kris Bankston, basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Gene Bearden, professional baseball player
• Alan Belcher, professional MMA Fighter
• Earl Bell, Olympic pole vaulter
• Mike Brisiel, professional football player
• Lou Brock, professional baseball player, Hall of Famer
• Ray Brown, professional football player, Arkansas State University alumnus
• T.J. Brown, professional mixed martial arts fighter
• Paul "Bear" Bryant, football coach
• Brandon Burlsworth, college football player
• A. J. Burnett, professional baseball player
• Pat Burrell, professional baseball player
• Bill Carr, Olympic runner and 2-time gold medalist
• Maurice Carthon, professional football player
• Charles Clay, professional football player
• Nathaniel Clifton, professional Hall of Fame basketball player
• Mike Conley Jr., professional basketball player
• John Daly, professional golfer
• Tank Daniels, professional football player
• Willie Davis, professional baseball player
• Dizzy Dean, professional baseball player, Hall of Famer
• Bill Dickey, professional baseball player, Hall of Famer
• Sid Eudy, professional wrestler
• Jeremy Evans, professional basketball player
• Derek Fisher, professional basketball player
• Wes Gardner, professional baseball player
• Craig Gentry, professional baseball player
• Brett Goode, professional football player
• Charles Greene, Olympic sprinter
• Ed Hamm, Olympic long-jump gold medalist
• Dan Hampton, professional football player, NFL Hall of Fame member
• Dusty Hannahs, basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Chris Harris, professional football player
• Cliff Harris, professional football player, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
• Demetrius Harris, professional football player
• Dutch Harrison, professional golfer
• Marcus Harrison, professional football player
• Red Hickey, professional football player and coach
• Peyton Hillis, professional football player
• Jim Hines, track and field athlete
• Zach Hocker, professional football player
• Cedric Houston, professional football player
• Torii Hunter, professional baseball player
• Don Hutson, professional football player, NFL Hall of Fame member
• Travis Jackson, professional baseball player, Hall of Fame member
• Joe Johnson, professional basketball player
• Wes Johnson, professional baseball coach
• Matt Jones, professional football player
• Al Joyner, track and field Olympian
• Jakob Junis, baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants
• Ken Kavanaugh, professional football player and coach
• George Kell, professional baseball player, Hall of Famer
• Don Kessinger, professional baseball player and manager
• Greg Lasker, professional football player
• Cliff Lee, professional baseball pitcher
• Sonny Liston, professional boxer, World Heavyweight Champion
• Sherm Lollar, professional baseball player
• Daryl Macon, basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Ryan Mallett, professional football player
• Mark Martin, championship NASCAR driver
• Darren McFadden, professional football player
• Kevin McReynolds, professional baseball player
• Bobby Mitchell, professional football player, Hall of Famer
• Bryce Mitchell, professional mixed martial arts fighter
• Sidney Moncrief, professional basketball player
• Rick Monday, professional baseball player, sportscaster
• Malik Monk, professional basketball player
• Tommy Morrison, professional boxer, two-time heavyweight champion
• Dustin Moseley, professional baseball player
• Bo Nix, professional football player
• Larry Nixon, professional sport fisherman
• Houston Nutt, collegiate football coach; quarterback; basketball player
• Frank Okam, professional football player
• Blake Parker, professional baseball player
• Jermey Parnell, professional football player
• Joe Perry, professional football player
• Mitch Petrus, professional football player
• Scottie Pippen, professional basketball player, Hall of Famer
• Elijah Pitts, professional football player and coach
• Bobby Portis, professional basketball player
• Anthony Randolph, professional basketball player
• Austin Reaves, professional basketball player
• Brooks Robinson, professional baseball player, Hall of Famer
• Preacher Roe, professional baseball player
• Keena Rothhammer, Olympic swimmer
• Johnny Sain, professional baseball player
• Elbert Shelley, professional football player
• Rod Smith, professional football player
• Drew Smyly, professional baseball player
• Drew Sutton, professional baseball player
• Barry Switzer, football coach
• Jermain Taylor, professional boxer
• Cedric Thornton, professional football player
• Charley Thornton, sports figure
• Arky Vaughan, professional baseball player, Hall of Famer
• Harry Vines, wheelchair basketball coach
• Lon Warneke, professional baseball player
• Sonny Weems, professional basketball player
• Corey Williams, professional football player
• Damian Williams, professional football player
• DeAngelo Williams, professional football player
• Kevin Williams, professional football player
• Corliss Williamson, professional basketball player
• Payton Willis, basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Travis Wood, professional baseball player

Other Arkansans

• Larry P. Arnn, president of Hillsdale College since 2000
• Matt Besser, comedian
• James Black, manufacturer of the Bowie knife
• Ben M. Bogard, clergyman
• George W. Bond, educator and college president
• Boogie2988, internet personality
• Richard O. "Dick" Covey, astronaut
• Jesse Dirkhising, crime victim
• Bill Doolin, outlaw and founder of the Wild Bunch, born in Johnson County
• Mack Ray Edwards, child sex abuser/serial killer; committed suicide by hanging in his prison cell
• Minnie Rutherford Fuller, farmer, broker, temperance leader, suffragist
• Edwin R. Gilliland, chemical engineer
• Elizabeth Ward Gracen, Miss America, actress
• Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas
• Connie Hamzy, prolific rock groupie noted as "Sweet, Sweet Connie" in the Grand Funk Railroad 1973 song "We're An American Band"
• Bill Hicks, comedian
• T. J. Holmes, CNN weekday anchor
• Rex Humbard, televangelist
• D. N. Jackson, clergyman
• Kenneth Johnson, writer, director and producer
• Paula Jones, sued President Bill Clinton for sexual harassment
• Nan Keohane, president of Duke University
• Ralphie May, comedian
• Martha Beall Mitchell, wife of John N. Mitchell
• Jeff Nichols, screenwriter and director
• Freeman Owens, pioneer in cinematography
• Scott E. Parazynski, astronaut
• Theodore Rinaldo, charismatic religious leader, businessman, and convicted child sex offender
• John Selman, outlaw
• Savvy Shields, Miss America 2017
• Amarillo Slim, professional poker player
• Steve Stephens, radio and television host
• Heath Stocks, convicted murderer who killed his family in Lonoke
• Debbye Turner, Miss America 1990, television host and news anchor
• Terri Utley, Miss USA 1982
• John Joshua Webb, gunslinger
• Roger L. Worsley, educator