Homegrown Celebrities
- Kate Spade | Founder and designer of designer brand Kate Spade
- Tom Watson | Professional Golfer; PGA Tour player of the year six times; Designed National Golf Club of KC Golf Course
- Melissa Etheridge | Grammy-Award Winning Singer
- Don Cheadle | Actor - Crash (2004)
- Chris Cooper | Actor - Syriana (2005)
- Paul Rudd | Actor – 40-year-old Virgin, Anchorman (2006, 2005)
- Robert B. Altman | Actor and Producer
- Eminem | Musician and Actor - 8 Mile
- Craig Kilborn | Actor - Old School (2003); Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (1999-2004)
- Erich “Mancow” Muller | Actor - Alien vs. Predator (1999); Radio Personality
- Dianne Wiest | Actress - Edward Scissorhands (1990); Parenthood (1989)
- Jean Harlow | Actress – Saratoga (1937)
- Charlie Parker | Legendary Jazz Saxophonist
- Walt Disney | Creator of Mickey Mouse; Attended Art School in Kansas City
- Harry S. Truman | 33rd President of the United States
- Count Basie | Bandleader and Pianist, circa 1927, Played in Silent-Film Theaters
- Ernest Hemingway | American writer “For Whom the Bell Tolls”; Reporter for the Kansas City Star
- Jackie Robinson | First African American Major League Baseball Player; Played for the Kansas City Monarchs
- George Brett | Hall of Fame Baseball Player; Played for the Kansas City Royals
- Pat Metheny | Jazz Guitarist
- Joan Crawford | Actress - Possessed (1947)