The following are people either born, raised, or have lived for a significant period of time in the U.S. state of Arizona and/or the Arizona Territory.

Academia

• Russell Merle Genet – research scholar and astronomer
• Joseph Hilbe (1944–2017) – statistician, professor, and author
• Craig D. Idso – founder and chairman of the board of the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change
• Percival Lowell (1855–1916) – astronomer and founder of the Lowell Observatory^[1]
• Julia Robinson – mathematician
• Larry T. Wimmer – professor of economics
• Roger L. Worsley – educator

Art, literature, and poetry

Art

• Max Cannon (born 1962) – alternative cartoonist
• Bil Keane (1922–2011) – cartoonist
• James Rallison (born 1996) – cartoonist and YouTuber
• Paolo Soleri (1919–2013) – architect

Literature

• Clive Cussler (1931–2020) – author of the Dirk Pitt adventure novels and shipwreck explorer, part-time resident
• Diana Gabaldon (born 1952) – novelist
• Kevin Hearne (born 1970) – novelist
• Harold L. Humes (1926–1992) – novelist, co-founder of The Paris Review
• Stephenie Meyer (born 1973) – author, teen literature novelist, Twilight series
• Barbara Park (1947–2013) – author of the Junie B. Jones series
• Barrett Tillman (born 1948) – novelist and military historian
• Brady Udall (born 1971) – author
• Mary Whitebird (died 2010) – author

Poetry

• Ai (1947–2010) – poet and educator
• Jon Anderson (1940–2007) – poet and educator
• Jayne Cortez (1934–2012) – poet, activist, small press publisher and spoken-word performance artist
• Norman Dubie (born 1945) – poet, educator, Regents Professor of English at Arizona State University
• Alberto Ríos (born 1952) – poet, author, Arizona's first state poet laureate, Regents Professor and Katharine C. Turner Endowed Chair in English at Arizona State University
• Richard Shelton (born 1933) – poet, writer, and emeritus Regents Professor of English at the University of Arizona
• Jim Simmerman (1952–2006) – poet and editor
• Luci Tapahonso (born 1953) – poet and educator
• Ofelia Zepeda (born 1952) – poet and educator

Film, television, and theater

• Erika Alexander (born 1969) – actress
• Rex Allen (1920–1999) – actor, iconic singing cowboy
• Steve Allen (1921–2000) – comedian, actor, known as the "father of TV talk shows"; first job was in Arizona
• Asher Angel (born 2002) – actor, Shazam!
• Samaire Armstrong (born 1980) – actress, Juliet Darling on Dirty Sexy Money and Anna Stern on The O.C.
• Jules Asner (born 1968) – actress and host of E!'s show Wild On!
• Jaime Lyn Bauer (born 1949) – soap opera actress, played Lauralee Brooks on The Young and the Restless and Laura Spencer Horton on Days of Our Lives
• Sandra Bernhard (born 1955) – actress, comedian; attended high school in Arizona
• Michael Biehn (born 1956) – actor, The Terminator, Tombstone
• Mika Boorem (born 1987) – actress, The Tom Show
• Aidy Bryant (born 1987) – actress, comedian, Saturday Night Live
• Brooke Burke (born 1971) – actress, model, TV personality, Dancing with the Stars
• Lynda Carter (born 1951) – actress and singer, known for Wonder Woman, 1972 Miss World USA
• Joan Ganz Cooney (born 1929) – TV producer of Sesame Street
• Brady Corbet (born 1988) – actor
• J'aime Crandall (born 1982) – ballet dancer
• Matt Dallas (born 1982) – actor, Kyle XY
• Ted Danson (born 1947) – actor, Cheers, CSI
• Rosemary DeCamp (1910–2001) – actress, Yankee Doodle Dandy, The Bob Cummings Show
• Andy Devine (1905–1977) – actor, Stagecoach, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
• Charles Dudley (1883–1952) – stage and film actor, studio makeup artist
• Barbara Eden (born 1931) – actress, I Dream of Jeannie
• Gail Edwards (born 1952) – actress, known for her roles in It's a Living, Blossom, and Full House
• Jack Elam (1918–2003) – actor
• Michael Ensign (born 1944) – actor, Boston Legal
• Danielle Fishel (born 1981) – actress, Boy Meets World and Girl Meets World
• Pablo Francisco (born 1974) – stand-up comedian, actor
• Sammi Hanratty (born 1995) – child actress, The Unit, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
• Alexa Havins (born 1980) – actress, All My Children, One Life to Live, Torchwood
• Amelia Heinle (born 1973) – actress, Victoria Newman on The Young and the Restless; also played Mia Saunders on All My Children
• David Henrie (born 1989) – actor, Wizards of Waverly Place, How I Met Your Mother, That's So Raven
• Catherine Hicks (born 1951) – actress, 7th Heaven, Child's Play; attended Gerard Catholic High School
• Earl Hindman (1942–2003) – actor, Ryan's Hope, Home Improvement
• Gregg Hoffman (1963–2005) – film producer
• Michael Horse (born 1951) – artist, actor, Twin Peaks, Passenger 57
• Dominic Janes (born 1994) – teen actor, ER, Out of Jimmy's Head, Dexter
• Brad Johnson (born 1959) – actor, Always, Flight of the Intruder
• Chelsea Kane (born 1988) – actress, singer, Jonas, Fish Hooks
• Tanner Maguire (born 1998) – child actor, Young Shawn Brady on Days of Our Lives
• Leslie Mancia (born 1987) – model, contestant on America’s Next Top Model Cycle 6
• Taryn Manning (born 1978) – actress, fashion designer, singer-songwriter
• Abigail Mavity (born 1993) – actress
• James Hatley (born 1997) – Actor, Adult Films
• Josh McDermitt (born 1978) – actor, comedian, Dr. Eugene Porter on The Walking Dead
• Rachel Melvin (born 1985) – actress, Chelsea Brady on Days of Our Lives
• Jenny Mollen (born 1979) – actress
• Heather Morris (born 1987) – actress, Brittany Pierce on Glee
• Tarah Paige (born 1982) – actress, dancer, gymnast, Make It or Break It
• Mary-Louise Parker (born 1964) – actress, Weeds; graduated from Marcos de Niza High School, Tempe
• Valerie Perrine (born 1943) – actress, Superman, Lenny; attended Camelback High School
• Busy Philipps (born 1979) – actress, Cougar Town, Dawson's Creek, Freaks and Geeks
• Larry Pine (born 1945) – actor
• Greg Proops (born 1959) – actor, comedian
• Jenni Pulos – Jeff Lewis's assistant on Bravo's Flipping Out
• James Rallison (born 1996) – internet personality, animator
• Liz Renay (1926–2007) – actress
• Terry Rhoads (1951–2013) – actor
• Jennifer Rubin (born 1962) – actress, model
• Jayla Rubinelli (born 1984) – model, contestant on America’s Next Top Model Cycle 5
• Kylee Saunders (born 1994) – Japanese-American singer
• Garry Shandling (1949–2016) – actor, comedian, The Larry Sanders Show
• David Spade (born 1965) – actor, comedian, Saturday Night Live, Tommy Boy, Just Shoot Me
• Fay Spain (1932–1983) – actress, The Godfather Part II, Al Capone, God's Little Acre
• Emma Stone (born 1988) – actress, La La Land, The Help, The Amazing Spider-Man
• Shayne Topp (born 1991) – internet personality, comedian, actor, Smosh, The Goldbergs
• Amber Valletta (born 1974) – actress, model
• Janet Varney (born 1976) – actress, On the Lot, The Legend of Korra, Stan Against Evil
• Kate Walsh (born 1967) – actress, Dr. Addison Montgomery on Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice
• Mare Winningham (born 1959) – actress, American Horror Story, St. Elmo's Fire, Georgia
• Scott William Winters (born 1965) – actor, Oz, NYPD Blue
• Shannon Woodward (born 1984) – actress, Westworld, Raising Hope, The Riches
• Nick Young – actor, Friend of the World
• Jason Zumwalt (born 1975) – actor, scriptwriter, voice of Roman in Grand Theft Auto IV

Government, law, and politics

• Thad Allen (born 1949) – retired U.S. Coast Guard admiral; National Incident Commander under President Barack Obama
• Joe Arpaio (born 1932) – former Maricopa County Sheriff (1993–2016)
• Henry F. Ashurst (1874–1962) – one of the first U.S. Senators from Arizona (1912–1941)
• John T. Alsap (1830–1886) – first Mayor of Phoenix
• Bruce Babbitt (born 1938) – former Governor of Arizona (1978–1987), and Secretary of the Interior in the Clinton Administration (1993–2001)
• Harriet C. Babbitt (born 1947) – First Lady of Arizona (1978–1987), U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States (1993–1997), and Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (1997–2001)
• Walter Blackman – Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives
• Jan Brewer (born 1944) – served as the 22nd Governor of Arizona
• William Docker Browning (1931–2008) – federal judge
• Dean Burch – former chairman of the Republican National Committee
• César Chávez (1927–1993) – labor union leader
• Dennis DeConcini (born 1937) – retired U.S. Senator (1977–1994)
• Doug Ducey (born 1964) – Governor of Arizona (2015–2023)
• Paul Fannin (1907–2002) – former U.S. Senator (1965–1977) and Governor of Arizona (1959–1965)
• Jeff Flake (born 1962) – Arizona U.S. Senator (2013–2019)
• Gabby Giffords (born 1970) – U.S. Representative, wounded in the 2011 Tucson shooting
• Barry M. Goldwater (1909–1998) – longtime Arizona Senator (1953–1965, 1969–1987), and 1964 Republican nominee for president
• George Nicholas Goodman (1895–1959) – five-time mayor of Mesa in three different decades.
• John Noble Goodwin (1824–1887) – first Governor of the Arizona Territory (1863–1866)
• Margaret Hance (1923–1990) – first female Mayor of Phoenix from 1976 to 1983
• Carl Hayden (1877–1972) – U.S. Senator, holds the record for the longest service in the U.S. Congress
• Katie Hobbs (born 1969) - incumbent Governor of Arizona since 2019
• Brad Hoylman (born 1965) - New York State Senator^[2]
• Don Lorenzo Hubbell – Arizona State Senator
• John C. Keegan – judge, legislator, Mayor of Peoria
• Lisa Graham Keegan – legislator, Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Denison Kitchel (1908–2002) – Scottsdale lawyer and the Goldwater presidential national campaign manager in 1964^[3]
• Jon Kyl (born 1942) – former U.S. Senator (1995–2013; 2018–)
• Fiorello La Guardia – Mayor of New York City
• Rex E. Lee (1935–1996) – United States Solicitor General during the Reagan Administration
• John McCain (1936–2018) – Panamanian-born politician, longtime U.S. Senator from Arizona from 1986 until his death, former navy officer, and 2008 Republican nominee for president
• Ernest McFarland (1894–1984) – former U.S. Senator (1941–1953) and Governor of Arizona (1955–1959)
• Rose Mofford (1922–2016) – first female Governor of Arizona from 1988 to 1991
• Janet Napolitano (born 1957) – served as the 21st Governor of Arizona
• Sandra Day O'Connor (born 1930) – first female justice of the United States Supreme Court
• Mary Peters (born 1948) – United States Secretary of Transportation under President George W. Bush
• Ben Quayle (born 1976) – former U.S. Congressman
• Dan Quayle (born 1947) – former U.S. Senator from Indiana (1981–1989), and 44th Vice President of the United States under George H. W. Bush
• William Rehnquist (1924–2005) – Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
• Charles S. Robb (born 1939) – former Governor of Virginia (1982–1986) and U.S. Senator from Virginia (1989–2001)
• John Shadegg (born 1949) – former U.S. representative from Phoenix
• Stephen Shadegg (1909–1990) – political consultant associated with Barry Goldwater
• Marcus A. Smith (1851–1924) – one of the first two Senators from Arizona
• John G.F. Speiden (1900–1970) – rancher and political insider, various state boards
• Jack Taylor – mayor of Mesa from 1966 to 1972; member of both houses, consecutively, of the Arizona legislature
• David King Udall – Arizona Territorial Legislature
• Don Taylor Udall – Arizona State Legislature
• Jesse Addison Udall – Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
• John Hunt Udall – Mayor of Phoenix
• Levi Stewart Udall – Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court
• Mark Udall – Senator from Colorado
• Morris "Mo" Udall (1922–1998) – U.S. Congressman and former pro basketball player
• Nick Udall – Mayor of Phoenix
• Stewart Udall (1920–2010) – U.S. Congressman and Secretary of the Interior during the JFK and LBJ administrations

Journalism and media

• Rachel Campos-Duffy (born 1971) – TV personality, The Real World: San Francisco, The View
• Cheryl Casone (born 1970) – anchor for the Fox Business Network and business correspondent for Fox News
• John Garcia – National Geographic Channel's DogTown series star, Guinness World Record holder^[4]
• Hadas Gold (born 1988) – media and business reporter
• Savannah Guthrie (born 1971) – White House correspondent for NBC News, co-host of NBC's Today Show
• Dan Hicks (born 1962) – sportscaster for NBC
• Pat Hughes (born 1955) – play-by-play voice of the Chicago Cubs for WGN radio
• Don Imus (1940–2019) – nationally syndicated talk radio host, Imus in the Morning
• Meghan McCain (born 1984) – co-host of The View
• Noah Beck (born 2001) – Social media personality

Military

• John Dean "Jeff" Cooper (1920–2006) – World War II United States Marine Corps officer and firearms training innovator
• Timothy Creamer (born 1959) – U.S. Army Colonel, NASA astronaut
• Joe Foss (1915–2003) – leading United States Marine Corps fighter ace and Medal of Honor recipient
• Ira Hayes (1923–1955) – United States Marine Corps, World War II, helped raise United States flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima
• Frank Luke (1897–1918) – World War I fighter pilot, Medal of Honor recipient
• Lori Piestewa (1979–2003) – United States Army, first Native American woman from Arizona to be killed in war; Iraq War, Purple Heart and Prisoner of War Medal recipient
• Pat Tillman (1976–2004) – United States Army; Afghanistan Silver Star recipient; college and NFL football player

Music

• Jim Adkins (born 1975) – lead singer and guitarist for the band Jimmy Eat World
• Rex Allen (1920–1999) – singer-songwriter, actor, known as "The Arizona Cowboy"
• Alec Benjamin (born 1994) – pop singer
• Chester Bennington (1976–2017) – lead singer for the band Linkin Park
• Dierks Bentley (born 1975) – country singer (Phoenix)
• Derrick Bostrom (born 1960) – Meat Puppets drummer
• Jess Bowen (born 1989) – alternative rock musician, drummer of The Summer Set
• Michelle Branch (born 1983) – singer-songwriter, guitarist
• Kennedy Brock (born 1989) – alternative rock musician, guitarist of The Maine
• Glen Campbell (1936–2017) – singer, musician and actor; inductee to Country Music Hall of Fame
• Max Cavalera (born 1969) – vocalist and guitarist (Sepultura, Soulfly, Cavalera conspiracy)
• Roger Clyne (born 1968) – rock musician; lead singer for Refreshments and RCPM
• Alice Cooper (born 1948) – rock and roll singer
• Brian Dales (born 1989) – alternative rock musician, lead singer of The Summer Set
• Duane Eddy (born 1938) – guitarist, inductee of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• Linda Eder (born 1961) – singer, Broadway star and recording artist
• Travis Edmonson (1932–2009) – singer-songwriter, part of folk duo Bud & Travis
• David Ellefson (born 1964) – bass guitar player and co-founder of the metal band Megadeth
• Dolan Ellis (born 1935) – singer-songwriter, official State Balladeer since 1966, original member of New Christy Minstrels
• Esteban (born 1948) – musician
• Frank Fafara – early 1960s pop singer, TV star of Wallace & Ladmo Show^[5]
• Steve George (born 1955) – of the group Mr. Mister
• John Gomez (born 1991) – alternative rock musician, guitarist of The Summer Set
• Stephen Gomez (born 1988) – alternative rock musician, bassist of The Summer Set
• Lalo Guerrero (1916–2005) – singer-songwriter, known as the "father of Chicano music"; recipient of the National Medal of Arts
• Injury Reserve – alternative and experimental rap group consisting of producer Parker Corey and rappers Nathaniel Ritchie and Jordan Groggs (1988–2020)
• Waylon Jennings (1937–2002) – singer; inductee to Country Music Hall of Fame
• Joe Jonas (born 1989) – member of the Jonas Brothers and lead singer of the pop-rock band DNCE
• Daniel Jones – guitarist and vocalist with 7th Order
• Maynard James Keenan (born 1964) – actor, frontman for Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer
• Brandon Kellum (born 1985) – frontman for American Standards
• Patrick Kirch (born 1990) – alternative rock musician, drummer of The Maine
• Cris Kirkwood (born 1960) – guitar and vocals for the Meat Puppets
• Katie Lee (1919–2017) – folk singer
• Craig Mabbitt (born 1987) – frontman for Blessthefall (2003-2008), The Word Alive (2008), and Escape the Fate (2008–present)
• Charles Mingus (1922–1979) – jazz bassist, composer and bandleader
• Josh Montgomery (born 1988) – alternative rock musician, guitarist of The Summer Set
• Dave Mustaine (born 1961) – frontman and founder of the metal band Megadeth
• Jason Newsted (born 1963) – former bassist of heavy metal band Metallica
• Wayne Newton (born 1942) – singer, known as "Mr. Las Vegas"
• Stevie Nicks (born 1948) – Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, known for solo work and as lead singer with Fleetwood Mac
• Hans Olson (born 1952) – musician, singer and songwriter; inducted into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame
• Buck Owens (1929–2006) – country singer and musician; inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame (Mesa)
• Richard Page (born 1953) – of the group Mr. Mister
• CeCe Peniston (born 1969) – pop singer
• Marty Robbins (1925–1982) – country music singer
• Linda Ronstadt (born 1946) – singer-songwriter, 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee
• Nate Ruess (born 1982) – lead singer of Fun. and formerly of The Format
• Alvie Self – 1960s musician and singer
• Bob Shane (1934–2020) – singer, founding member of The Kingston Trio
• Jordin Sparks (born 1989) – singer, winner of American Idol Season 6
• Chris Squire (1948–2015) – bass player and founding member of progressive rock group Yes
• Tanya Tucker (born 1958) – country singer
• Upsahl (born 1998) – indie pop singer
• Brooke White (born 1983) – indie pop, folk-pop singer
• Arthur “Buddy” Strong (born-) - The Dave Matthews Band member, musician, singer

Old West era

• Apache Kid (1860–1896?) – outlaw, reported killer of three Arizona lawmen 1889–1890^[6]
• Billy the Kid (1859–1881) – outlaw
• William Brocius (1845–1882) – gunman, rustler, outlaw Cowboy
• Cochise (1812–1874) – chief of the Chiricahua Apache
• Wyatt Earp (1848–1929) – lawman
• Virgil Earp (1843–1905) – lawman
• C. S. Fly (1849–1901) – photographer
• Geronimo (1829–1909) – leader of Chiricahua Apache who fought against encroachment of European settlers on Native American lands; hero of Native American fight for respect and independence
• Pearl Hart (1871–1955) – outlaw
• Doc Holliday (1851–1887) – gambler, gunfighter, dentist
• Irataba (1814–1874) – leader of the Mohave Nation
• Imogen LaChance (1853-1938) – social reformer
• Bat Masterson (1853–1921) – lawman, gambler, journalist
• Sherman McMaster (1853–1892) – outlaw turned lawman, involved in Earp Vendetta Ride
• James Reavis (1843–1914) – self-styled "Baron of Arizona", claimed to have owned much of Arizona
• Johnny Ringo (1850–1882) – outlaw
• John Horton Slaughter (1841–1922) – lawman, cowboy, poker player, rancher
• Billy Stiles (1871–1908) – outlaw

Sportspeople

Miscellaneous

• Johnny Chan – professional poker player, 10–time World Series of Poker champion
• Angel Delgadillo – founder of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona and retired barber
• Ernest Garcia II – founder of DriveTime, major shareholder of Carvana
• Grumpy Cat (2012–2019) – Internet celebrity cat
• Rob Leatham – professional shooter, 24-time USPSA National champion
• Emmanuel Lemelson - Greek Orthodox Priest, Social Commentator and Hedge Fund Manager
• Jerry Meek, evangelist and land developer
• Arte Moreno – billionaire businessman, owner of Los Angeles Angels
• Kayla Mueller – activist
• Aron Ra – president of the Atheist Alliance of America, host of the Ra-Men podcast
• Rick Alan Ross – deprogrammer
• Mark Shoen – billionaire businessman, vice president of U-Haul
• María Urquides – educator, "Mother of Bilingual Education"

Fictional characters

• Eleanor from The Good Place
• Michelle Chang and Julia Chang, both from the Tekken fighting video game series
• Annie Porter from Speed; played by Sandra Bullock
• John Rambo from First Blood and Rambo movies; born in Bowie
• Bella Swan from the Twilight saga