| Denver - Famous Locals |
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John Denver The son of a U.S Air Force officer, John's artistic journey began after the family moved to Tucson, where at age eleven, he was given his grandmother's guitar. John eventually took up guitar lessons and joined a boy's choir, which led him at age 20 to take matters into his own hands and pursue his dream of a career in music. In 1963 he struck out on his own, moving to Los Angeles to be in the heart of the burgeoning music scene. It was during this time that Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. was urged by friends to change his name if a recording career was to be in his future. His friends suggested the name John Sommerville, but he ultimately took his stage name from the beautiful Rocky Mountain capital city of Colorado, his home state.
Molly Brown Click here for 16 of Denver's Most Famous Characters.
Denver Natives Baby Marie (Marie Osborne) - silent film child actress of the 1910's, star of several films including Little Mary Sunshine Victor Amaya - former pro-tennis player India.Arie - Neo-Soul singer Philip Bailey - R&B lead singer with Earth, Wind & Fire Chauncey Billups - starting point guard and team captain for the NBA's Detroit Pistons Duane Chapman - bounty hunter from popular television show John Dolan - writer David Fincher - music video and film director Rodolfo Gonzales - Chicano Movement activist Joe Guese - Guitarist for The Click Five Hanna R. Hall - actress LenDale White - NFL running back, played for the University of Southern California Carlos Tasayco - NBA Player Isaac Slade - member of the band, The Fray (band) Ace Young - pop-music singer-songwriter, American Idol finalist AnnaSophia Robb - Actress Douglas Fairbanks – Famous silent screen star often cast as the swashbuckling hero in such classics as the Thief of Bagdad, Robin Hood, and Three Musketeers. Scott Lowell - American actor who played Ted Schmidt on Queer as Folk Antoinette Perry – Namesake of the Tony Award for excellence in theater, Director and President of Experimental Theatre, Chairperson of American Theater Wing, and actress. Paul Whiteman – Considered the "King of Jazz." After selling two million records with "The Japanese Sandman", Whiteman added to his fame by being one the first nationally broadcast jazz musicians. Whiteman is remembered for his ability to fuse jazz and classical in hits like Rhapsody in Blue and Whispering. After founding the Whiteman Award competition, he was made music director of the NBC Blue Network (now referred to as ABC). Jack Swigert – Swigert was an astronaut aboard Apollo 13, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient and eventual winner of the Sixth Congressional District. Swigert died of bone cancer before he could take his oath of office. Byron R. White – White became a famous Coloradoan during his youth as a star football player for the Buff's at CU Boulder. Studying law, he went on to serve as a Justice on the United States Supreme Court, appointed by President Kennedy.
Born Elsewhere, Raised/Lived in Denver Ted Conover - journalist and author, born in Okinawa, Japan, and raised in Denver. Judy Collins - folk singer, born in Seattle, Washington, graduated from East High School. Madhuri Dixit - Indian actress married to Dr. Sriram Nene, a heart surgeon, born in Mumbai, India. Bill Frisell - jazz guitarist and composer, born in Baltimore, Maryland and spent most of his youth in Denver. Pam Grier - born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, attended East High School in Denver. Vance Kirkland - artist, born in Ohio. Hattie McDaniel - actress, born in Wichita, Kansas and raised in Denver. Pat Oliphant - editorial cartoonist, born in Adelaide, Australia. Mamie Eisenhower - Former First Lady, born in Boone, Iowa and raised in Denver. Golda Meir - Former Prime Minister of Israel, lived in Denver for a time as a teenager. Born in Kiev, Ukraine. Dianne Reeves - Jazz vocalist, winner of 4 Grammy awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album, graduated from George Washington High School. Born in Detroit, Michigan. Condoleezza Rice - US Secretary of State 2005-, born in Birmingham, Alabama. Matt Stone - creator of South Park, born in Houston, Texas, raised in Littleton (south of Denver). Lenora Mattingly Weber - writer, born in Missouri, raised in Denver. Eugene Field (lived in Denver) – Poet and journalist known for his work in children’s literature, wrote such poems as Little Boy Blue and Wynken, Blynken, and Nod. Roseanne Barr (lived in Denver) – Internationally known comedian who got her start in Denver in 1983 where she was recognized as the "Queen of Denver Comedy." Her show Roseanne in 1988 became the most watched show in America within one year of its inception. She has also won numerous awards including the Emmy, Golden Globe, and People’s Choice. Don Cheadle (high school in Denver) – Award-winning actor in such films as Hamburger Hill (1987) and Devil in a Blue Dress (1995). While born in Kansas City, he moved to Denver and graduated from East High School. Hattie McDaniel (lived in Denver) – First African American to win the Academy Award for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind. Bill Murray (attended college in Denver) – Academy Award-nominated, Emmy-winning and Golden Globe-winning American comedian and actor. He is most famous for his comedic roles in Groundhog Day, Caddyshack, Ghostbusters, and What About Bob?. He has gained further acclaim for recent dramatic roles, such as in the acclaimed films Lost In Translation and Broken Flowers. Jello Biafra (born in Boulder, lived in Boulder and Denver) – Singer and founder of California punk band The Dead Kennedys, owner of Alternative Tentacles record label, political activist Antonia Brico (lived and died in Denver) – As a symphony director she was the first woman to be admitted into the prestigious Berlin Academy. She founded the Women’s Orchestra of New York and Denver Businessman's Orchestra. She conducted the Brico Symphony from 1947 until shortly before her death in 1989. William Henry Jackson (lived in Denver) – Starting as photographer for the United States Geological Survey and Union Pacific Railroad, he created one of the largest and most expansive western photographic collections in the world. He opened his own private photo gallery in 1879, and died Colorado’s preeminent photographer. John Evans (lived in Denver) – The second governor of the Colorado Territory from 1862–1865, and founder of the prestigious University of Denver and Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Benjamin Lindsey (lived in Denver) – Pioneer of the Juvenile Court System, and child welfare advocate. Lindsey served as a Denver Judge from 1900 to 1927 promoting controversial views like juvenile rehabilitation, trial marriage, and sex education. He was almost disbarred during the 1920s by the Ku Klux Klan political machine when he spoke against their organization. Federico Peña (lives in Denver) – City and County of Denver Mayor from 1983 to 1991. Held Presidential Cabinet positions in Transportation and Energy during the Clinton Administration. Advocated large civic projects, like Denver International Airport and the Denver Convention Center, to boost local economy. While much of Peña's work was underscored in the 1980s, today he's seen as one of Denver's great icons in politics and history. Robert Speer (lived in Denver) – City and County of Denver Mayor from 1904–1912 and 1916–1918. Speer had an ambitious vision of Denver's civic and environmental resources. Through his influence, the Denver Mountain Parks system was developed, Civic Center Park was created, parks were added, trees lined the streets, and the history and arts were funded. |