The following is a list of notable natives, residents, or former residents of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Artists, designers, and architects

• Bill Blass, fashion designer^[1]
• Bob Englehart, editorial cartoonist
• Richard "Grass" Green, cartoonist
• John Hambrock, cartoonist
• Eric Kuhne, architect
• Dick Moores, cartoonist^[2]
• Gray Morrow, comic book illustrator, art director for Spider-Man
• Bruce Nauman, artist
• Richard Nunez, artist^[3]
• Frederick William Sievers, sculptor
• Alvin M. Strauss, architect
• Egerton Swartwout, architect
• Brentwood S. Tolan, architect
• Thomas J. Tolan, architect
• George Washington Whistler, railroad engineer

Athletes

• Baseball
  • Isabel Álvarez, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
  • Lenna Arnold, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player (1946 Fort Wayne Daisies)
  • Phyllis Bookout, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player (1953 Fort Wayne Daisies)
  • Rob Bowen, MLB (2003–2008)^[4] Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics
  • Dottie Wiltse Collins, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1944–1950; Minneapolis Millerettes, Fort Wayne Daisies)
  • David Doster, MLB (1996, 1999)^[4] Philadelphia Phillies
  • Bill Everitt, MLB (1895–1901)^[4] Chicago Colts/Orphans, Washington Senators
  • Harold Greiner (1907–1993), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League manager (Fort Wayne Daisies) and restaurant entrepreneur
  • Steve Hargan, MLB pitcher (1965–1972, 1974–1977) Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves
  • Louie Heilbroner, manager, MLB (1900) St. Louis Cardinals
  • Butch Henline, MLB (1921–1931)^[4] New York Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Brooklyn Robins, Chicago White Sox
  • Kevin Kiermaier, MLB player (2013–present) Tampa Bay Rays
  • Naomi Meier, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
  • Bruce Miller, MLB (1973–1976) San Francisco Giants
  • Ralph Miller, MLB (1920–1924)^[4] Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Senators
  • Jarrod Parker, MLB pitcher, Arizona Diamondbacks (2011) and Oakland Athletics (2012–2013)^[4]
  • Josh VanMeter, MLB utility (2019–present) Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks
  • Eric Wedge, player, MLB (1991–1994)^[4] Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies; manager, MLB (2003–2009)^[4] Cleveland Indians, (2011–2013)^[4]Seattle Mariners
• Professional basketball
  • Dan Godfread, NBA (1990/91–1991/92)^[5] Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets
  • Henry James, NBA (1990/91–1997/98)^[5] Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks
  • Kyle Macy, NBA (1980/81–1986/87)^[5] Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers; sportscaster
  • Mason Plumlee, NBA (2013–present)^[5] Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets
  • Miles Plumlee, NBA (2012–present)^[5] Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies
  • Bill Roberts, NBA (1948/49–1949/50)^[5] Chicago Stags, Boston Celtics, St. Louis Bombers
  • Caleb Swanigan, NBA (2017–2022)^[5] Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings
• College basketball
  • Deshaun Thomas, player for Ohio State

• Professional football
  • Scott Auer, NFL (1984–1985) Kansas City Chiefs
  • Mike Augustyniak, NFL (1981–1983)^[6] New York Jets
  • Jason Baker, NFL (2001–2012)^[6] San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers
  • Jessie Bates III, NFL (2018–present) Cincinnati Bengals
  • Bill Boedeker, NFL (1946–1950)^[6] Chicago Rockets, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers
  • Johnny Bright, CFL (1952–1964), Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Eskimos, subject of the "Johnny Bright Incident"
  • Bob Cowan, NFL (1947–1949), Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts
  • Vaughn Dunbar, NFL (1992–1995)^[6] New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Tyler Eifert, NFL (2013–present) Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Eric England, NFL (1994–1996)^[6] Arizona Cardinals
  • Trai Essex, NFL (2005–2012)^[6] Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII champion
  • Jason Fabini, NFL (1998–2008)^[6] New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins
  • James Hardy, NFL (2008–2011)^[6] Buffalo Bills
  • Selwyn Lymon, NFL (no professional games played) Miami Dolphins
  • Austin Mack, NFL (2020–present) New York Giants
  • Le'Ron McClain, NFL (2007–2013)^[6] Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers
  • Bernard Pollard, NFL (2006–2014)^[6] Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans
  • Emil Sitko, NFL (1950–1952)^[6] San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Cardinals
  • Ben Skowronek, NFL (2021–present) Los Angeles Rams
  • Jaylon Smith, NFL (2016–present) Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants
  • Lamar Smith, NFL (1994–2003)^[6] Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers
  • Rod Smith, NFL (2015–present)^[6] Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders
  • Anthony Spencer, NFL (2007–2015)^[6] Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints
  • Drue Tranquill, NFL (2019–present)^[6] Los Angeles Chargers
  • Elmer Wilkens, NFL (1925)^[6] Green Bay Packers
  • Rod Woodson, NFL (1987–2003)^[6] Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders, Pro Football Hall of Famer
• Golf
  • Amanda Blumenherst, U.S. Amateur champion
  • Cathy Gerring, 3-time winner on LPGA Tour
  • Billy Kratzert, 4-time winner on PGA Tour, sportscaster
• Professional hockey
  • Drake Batherson, NHL Ottawa Senators
  • Gracen Hirschy, SDHL (2017–present), Linköping HC
  • Fred Knipscheer, NHL Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues
  • Dale Purinton, NHL (1999/2000–2003/04)^[7] New York Rangers
• Martial arts
  • Jon Fitch, MMA fighter with UFC
  • Dave Herman, MMA fighter with UFC
  • Becky Levi, MMA fighter
• Soccer
  • DaMarcus Beasley, Rangers F.C. of the Scottish Premier League, U.S. national team, MLS Chicago Fire
  • Jamar Beasley, MLS New England Revolution, Chicago Fire
  • Rece Buckmaster, New York Red Bulls
• Olympic swimming and diving
  • Steve Bigelow, swimmer, 1988 Summer Olympics
  • Matt Vogel, swimmer, two-time Olympic gold medalist, 1976 Summer Olympics
  • Sharon Wichman, swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, 1968 Summer Olympics
  • Dan Zehr, swimmer, 1932 Summer Olympics
• Olympic track and field
  • LeShundra "DeDee" Nathan, 2000 Summer Olympics
• Volleyball
  • Angie Akers, professional beach volleyball player
  • Lloy Ball, Olympic gold medalist, 2008 Summer Olympics
  • Dr. Don Shondell, author, head coach of Ball State University Cardinals men's volleyball program (1964–1998)
• Other notables
  • Angela Bradburn-Spangler, USA national high jump champion 1994
  • Eugene E. Parker, sports agent, 45th in Sports Illustrated's 101 most influential minorities in sports^[8]
  • Ed Viesturs, mountaineer, first American to climb all 14 of the world's 8,000 meter peaks; fifth person ever to do so without the use of supplemental oxygen

Authors and writers

• E. Jean Carroll, author, journalist
• Constance Cumbey, author, lawyer
• Les Edgerton, author
• Ashley C. Ford, author and essayist
• Edith Hamilton, author, mythology expert
• Stephen King, best-selling author (spent parts of childhood in the city)^[9]
• Ross Lockridge Jr., novelist
• Patricia Lockwood, writer
• Michael Martone, author
• George Jean Nathan, author, drama critic, founder of American Spectator
• William Rockhill Nelson, founder of the Kansas City Star
• Emmanuel Ortiz, poet, writer
• Charlie Savage, New York Times reporter, 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner

Business leaders

• 

  Gregory W. Becker, final CEO of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB)^[10]
• Andrew George Burry, philanthropist, paper box manufacturer
• Patrick M. Byrne, president and CEO of Overstock.com
• Dirk Gates, founder and CEO of Xircom and Xirrus
• Jeff Hammerbacher, founder of Cloudera^[11]
• Angie Hicks, founder and CMO of AngiesList.com
• Zach Klein, co-founder of social networking site Vimeo
• Nord Krauskopf, founder of K&K Insurance; NASCAR Winston Cup Series race car owner (1966–1977)
• Russell W. Kruse, auctioneer, founder of Kruse International
• Cook Lougheed, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and Allen County Councilman
• Dale W. McMillen, founder of Central Soya
• Ian Rolland,^[12] CEO, Chairman of the Board Lincoln National
• Cosette Simon, philanthropist, politician, first female Mayor of Fort Wayne (1985)
• Chuck Surack, philanthropist, founder of Sweetwater Sound
• Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's International
• Kevin Wall, Emmy Award-winning producer, environmentalist, founder of Live Earth
• Childe Wills, associate of Henry Ford
• Fred Zollner, industrialist, founder of the NBA and Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons

Inventors and scientists

• Sylvanus Bowser, inventor of the gas pump
• Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of the television
• John Henry Holland, pioneer in the field of genetic algorithms
• Alfred Mellowes, inventor of the electric refrigerator

Media

• Julia Barr, two-time Daytime Emmy award-winning actress, All My Children
• Jill Bennett, actress
• Nicole Briscoe, 1998 Miss Illinois Teen USA, host of ESPN2's NASCAR Now
• Eric Bruskotter, actor
• Dan Butler, actor
• Ann Colone, broadcaster, talkshow host
• Jenna Fischer, Emmy-nominated actress, The Office
• Sharon Gabet, actress
• Hilliard Gates, sportscaster
• Molly Hagan, actress
• Drake Hogestyn, actor
• Neil LaBute, director, screenwriter, playwright
• Stephanie Larimore, model, Playboy Playmate of the Month
• Carole Lombard, Oscar-nominated actress, My Man Godfrey
• Shelley Long, Golden Globe and Emmy-winning actress, Cheers
• Marilyn Maxwell, actress
• Patrick McVey, actor
• Bree Olson, pornographic actress
• Robert Rusler, actor
• Andrea Russett, actress, Internet celebrity
• Chris Schenkel, sportscaster
• Jan Schweiterman, actor
• Carrie M. Shoaff, artist, author, potter, playwright, correspondent
• Herb Shriner, comedian, game show host
• Nancy Snyderman, MD, journalist, NBC News chief medical editor
• Zuzanna Szadkowski, actress
• Lyn Thomas, actress
• Randy Thompson, actor
• David Turnley, photographer
• Peter Turnley, photographer
• Herb Vigran, actor
• Dick York, Emmy-nominated actor, Bewitched

Music

• Addison Agen, singer and finalist on The Voice
• Joey Allen, glam metal guitarist, Warrant
• Jeoffrey Benward, contemporary Christian singer, songwriter
• Sonny Charles, soul singer, Checkmates, Ltd., Steve Miller Band
• Daniel E. Gawthrop, contemporary classical composer
• Heather Headley, Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway actress and R&B singer
• Edwin C. Metcalfe, saxophonist with Spike Jones
• Megan Mullins, country singer
• Niyoki, gospel musician
• Amanda Perez, R&B singer
• Petra, Grammy-winning Christian rock band
• Jon Schaffer, heavy metal guitarist, songwriter, Iced Earth
• Troy Shondell, rock and roll singer, songwriter
• Jordan Witzigreuter, pop singer (stage name The Ready Set)

Physicians and medical researchers

• Alice Hamilton, MD, first woman on faculty of Harvard Medical School; sister of Edith Hamilton
• Jane Henney, MD, first woman Commissioner of the FDA (1998–2001)
• Leonard A. Scheele, MD, seventh U.S. Surgeon General (1948–1956)
• Susan Smalley, Ph.D., first to conduct genome-wide study in ADHD
• Allen Steere, MD, identifier of Lyme disease

Public servants

• E. Ross Adair, U.S. Representative (1951–1971), United States Ambassador to Ethiopia (1971–1974)
• Robert E. Armstrong, Fort Wayne Mayor (1975–1979), Allen County Councilman (1990–2002)
• Paul W. Baade, major general in the United States Army
• Harry W. Baals, Fort Wayne mayor (1934–1947, 1951–1954)
• Paul Frank Baer, first flying ace in American military aviation
• Henry C. Berghoff, Fort Wayne Mayor (1901–1906) and co-founder of the Herman J. Berghoff Brewing Company
• Tim Berry, Indiana State Treasurer (1999–2007), Indiana State Auditor (2007–2013), Indiana Republican Party Chairman (2013–present)
• Samuel Bigger, Indiana State Representative (1834–1835), Indiana Circuit Court Judge (1835–1840), seventh Governor of Indiana (1840–1843)
• James W. Borden, judge and diplomat
• Randy Borror, Indiana State Representative (2001–2010)
• Claude Bowers, writer, U.S. Ambassador to Spain (1933–1939), U.S. Ambassador to Chile (1939–1953)
• Samuel Brenton, U.S. Representative (1851–1853, 1855–1857)
• Susan Brooks, Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis (1998–1999), U.S. Attorney for Southern Indiana (2001–2007), U.S. Representative (2013–present)
• James R. Clapper, Director of National Intelligence (2010–2017)
• Daniel R. Coats, U.S. Representative (1981–1989), United States Ambassador to Germany (2001–2005), U.S. Senator (1989–1999, 2011–present)
• Walpole G. Colerick, U.S. Representative (1879–1883)
• Joseph K. Edgerton, U.S. Representative (1863–1865)
• Shirley Adele Field, judge, Oregon State Representative (1956–1960, 1962–1966)
• Dan Flanagan, lawyer, Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court (1953–1954), Allen County Republican Party leader
• Eliza George, Civil War nurse (1863–1865)
• Phil GiaQuinta, Indiana State Representative (2006–present)
• George W. Gillie, U.S. Representative (1939–1949)
• Timothy Goeglein, White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs Deputy Director (2001–2008)
• Allen Hamilton, Allen County sheriff (1824–1826), Fort Wayne Postmaster (1825–1831), Allen County Auditor, Clerk, and Recorder (1831–1838)
• Mitch Harper, Indiana State Representative (1978–1990), Fort Wayne City Councilman (2008–2016)
• Paul Helmke, Fort Wayne Mayor (1988–2000), President of Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (2006–2011), founder of the Civic Leaders Center at Indiana University (2013-).
• Tom Henry, Fort Wayne City Councilman (1984–2004), Fort Wayne Mayor (2008–present)
• Richard E. Hoagland, U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan (2003–2006), U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan (2008–2011), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia (2013–2015)
• William J. Hosey, Fort Wayne Mayor (1905–1909, 1913–1917, 1921–1925, 1929–1934)
• Merchant W. Huxford, doctor, Fort Wayne Mayor (1845–1849)
• Samuel D. Jackson, U.S. Senator (1944)
• Paul G. Jasper, Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court (1949–1953)
• Matt Kelty, politician, architect
• Edward H. Kruse, U.S. Representative (1949–1951)
• Henry Lawton, U.S. Army General (1861–1865, 1867–1899), namesake of Lawton, Oklahoma
• Thomas R. Marshall, 27th Governor of Indiana (1909–1913), 28th U.S. Vice President (1913–1921)
• Hugh McCulloch, first Comptroller of the Currency (1863–1865), U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1865–1869, 1884–1885)
• Robert Meyers, Fort Wayne Mayor (1954–1959), Allen County Superior Court Judge (1971–1985)
• Winfield Moses, Fort Wayne City Councilman (1972–1979), Mayor (1980–1987), Indiana State Representative (1992–2012)
• Cherrish Pryor, Indiana State Representative (2008–present)
• Ben Quayle, U.S. Representative (2011–2013)
• Graham Richard, entrepreneur, Fort Wayne Mayor (2000–2008)
• James M. Robinson, judge, U.S. Representative (1897–1905)
• Mark Souder, U.S. Representative (1995–2010)
• Harold J. Warner, Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice (1955–1957)
• James Bain White, U.S. Representative (1887–1889)
• George W. Wood, first Fort Wayne Mayor (1840–1841)
• James Worden, twelfth Fort Wayne Mayor (1865-1866), Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court (1858-1865, 1871-1882)

Religious leaders

• Herman Joseph Alerding, bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (1900–1924)
• John Chapman, Swedenborgian, nurseryman, missionary, famous American folklore figure Johnny Appleseed
• John Michael D'Arcy, auxiliary bishop of Archdiocese of Boston (1974–1985), bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (1985–2009)
• William Edward McManus, auxiliary bishop of Archdiocese of Chicago (1967–1976), bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (1976–1985)
• Archbishop John F. Noll, bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (1925–1956), founder of Our Sunday Visitor
• Wilhelm Sihler, Lutheran minister and founder of Concordia Theological Seminary
• Alexa Suelzer, Roman Catholic nun, author, educator, theologian
• Robert Thieme, author, pastor of Berachah Church (1950–2003)

Miscellaneous

• Charlie Brandt, serial killer
• Dean Corll, serial killer
• Louis Edward Curdes, flying ace of WWII
• Alexander Ewing, soldier during the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, later a founding resident of Fort Wayne
• Florence M. Montgomery, art historian and curator
• Alixa Naff, historian
• ML Procise, concert sound engineer
• Margaret Ringenberg, aviator
• Ernest Gottlieb Sihler, professor of classics at New York University
• Art Smith, aviator
• Homer Van Meter, infamous bank robber who worked with John Dillinger