Collection: 24 famous Siouxlanders
A look at some famous folks who once called Sioux City home. Think we missed someone? Email us your suggestion.
Ron Clements (born April 25, 1953) is an animation director, producer and screenwriter who has worked for Disney for decades. His works include "Moana," "The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin" and "The Princess and the Frog."
John Harty is an NFL defensive lineman who won two Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1980s. He made 17 career starts.
Dave Bancroft was a baseball player and manager nicknamed "Beauty" for his penchant for calling good pitches "beauties". He played in Major League Baseball from 1915 to 1930, for the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Giants, Boston Braves and Brooklyn Robins. Bancroft was born in Sioux City on April 20, 1891.
Fred Grandy is an actor who later represented Iowa in the U.S. House of Representatives. He played Gopher Smith on "The Love Boat" and also appeared on "Monster Squad" and "Hollywood Squares." A Republican, he served four terms in Congress before running unsuccessfully for governor in 1994.
Donald Keough, a Maurice, Iowa, native, was chairman of the board of investment banking firm Allen & Company, LLC. He previously served as president and chief operating officer of The Coca-Cola Company.
Esther and Pauline Friedman, better known as Ann Landers and Abigail Van Buren, respectively, were well-known advice columnists. Both were born in Sioux City and graduated from Central High School.
Frances Anne Rafferty was an actress, dancer and pin-up girl during World War II. She made her film debut in 1942 and later starred in "December Bride" in the 1950s. She made her final television appearance in 1977.
Jerry Mathers is best known for playing Beaver on "Leave It to Beaver." His acting debut came at age 2 in a department store ad; in later years, he has performed both on television and on Broadway.
Born as Sharon Forsmoe, the Sioux City-born actress made her acting debut at age 18 in the 1959 film "Kiss Her Goodbye." She also appeared on television in "Dr. Kildare" and "Hawaii Five-O," and continued working on both platforms until the 1990s.
Matt Chatham, a North High School and University of South Dakota graduate, won three Super Bowls in a nine-year NFL career. He played primarily for the New England Patriots. In this image, he returns a fumble.
Edward Macdonald Carey was an actor best known for playing Dr. Tom Horton on" Days of Our Lives," which he held for nearly three decades. Before his breakout, he spent decades working on films.
Jay Norwood Darling, better known as Ding Darling, was a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist. He joined the Sioux City Journal in 1900 and later worked at other newspapers in Iowa and New York.
George Everett "Bud" Day was a United States Air Force colonel and pilot who served during World War II and the Vietnam War. Day received the Medal of Honor and the Air Force Cross. Sioux City's airport is named Colonel Bud Day Field in his honor.
Don Wengert is a baseball player who played in the major leagues from 1995 to 2001. He played for six teams and had a 14-32 record over his seven seasons.
Tommy Bolin, a rock legend and guitarist who played with a number of jazz-rock bands including Deep Purple, died in 1975 of a drug overdose at the age of 25. He is buried in Sioux City, where he was born.
Trumpeter Ryan Kisor has been a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra since 1994. He has also released several albums.
An influential 20th century political figure, Harry Hopkins spent two years as Commerce Secretary and was a close advisor of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was among the architect of the New Deal and served as the first administrator of the Works Progress Administration.
W. Edwards Deming began his career as an electrical engineer, but gained notoriety as a statistician and business expert who helped orchestrate Japan's post-World War II economic comeback.
Basketball standout Kirk Hinrich played at the University of Kansas before being drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, where he played for seven seasons. He graduated from West High School as its all-time leader in points, steals, assists.
Actress Lori Petty has played a prominent role on "Orange is the New Black" as Lolly Whitehill. She has also featured in several films, including “Point Break,” “Tank Girl,” “Cadillac Man” and “A League of Their Own.”
Sioux City-born Iris Meredith was a B-movie actress in the 1930s and 1940s, who primarily played heroines in western films.
Constance Moore was an actress and singer who starred in wartime musicals and 1930s movies. Her most notable credits include "Show Business," "Atlantic City" and "Buck Rogers."
Actress Ann Morrison played Mary Flynn in "Merrily We Roll Along," which earned her the 1982 Theatre World Award. She has also worked off-Broadway.
Pierre Watkin performed in several films, television shows and serials in the middle decades of the 20th century. He frequently appeared in westerns after beginning his career in a theatrical troupe that performed across the Midwest.
As featured on
A new center focusing on civic leadership at Morningside College will be dedicated to the memory of one of Siouxland’s most prominent citizens.
Going to Uncle Mick’s was always a special memory for Tim Saulsbury.
When histories of the World War II are written, Harry Hopkins (1890-1946) seldom takes on a leading role.
