The following people were all born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Little Rock (categorized by area in which each person is best known):

Actors, musicians and others in the entertainment industry

Actors

• Broncho Billy Anderson (1880–1971), born in Little Rock, actor, writer, director, and producer
• Frank Bonner (1942–2021), actor and television director best known for playing sales manager Herb Tarlek on the classic TV sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati^[1]
• Rodger Bumpass (born 1951), voice actor best known for playing Squidward Tentacles on the animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants
• Daniel Davis (born 1945), actor best known for playing Niles the Butler on the television program The Nanny^[2]
• Gil Gerard (born 1943), actor best known for playing Captain William "Buck" Rogers in 1979–1981 television series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century^[3]
• Ann Gillis (1927–2018), film actress of 1930s and '40s
• John LeCompt (born 1973), musician, part of Little Rock scene with bands like Evanescence^{[citation needed]}
• Josh Lucas (born 1971), actor, Sweet Home Alabama, Poseidon, Glory Road, was born in the city
• Roger Mobley (born 1949), child actor, Fury and Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, reportedly living in the Little Rock area since 2015
• Corin Nemec (born 1971), actor best known for playing Parker Lloyd Lewis in 1990s TV series Parker Lewis Can't Lose and Jonas Quinn in Stargate SG-1
• George Newbern (born 1964), actor, Adventures in Babysitting, Father of the Bride, was born in the city
• Judge Reinhold (born 1957), actor, lives in the city

Music

• Richard B. Boone (1930–1999), jazz musician and scat singer
• Tammy Graham (born 1968), singer and pianist, born in the city
• Lee Elhardt Hays (1914–1981), folk singer and songwriter for The Weavers, born in the city
• Al Hibbler (1915–2001), blind singer who worked eight years with Duke Ellington before becoming a soloist; civil rights activist in 1950s and 1960s, was born in the city
• Jon Hynes, classical pianist, native of the city
• SL Jones, southern rapper, born in Flint, Michigan, and raised in Little Rock
• Amy Lee (born 1981), lead singer of Evanescence^[4]
• Smokie Norful (born 1975), gospel recording artist, born in the city
• Art Porter Jr. (1961–1996), jazz saxophonist
• Art Porter Sr. (1934–1993), jazz pianist; father of jazz saxophonist Art Porter Jr.
• Florence Price (1887-1953), composer and pianist
• Cory Brandan Putman (born 1976), lead vocalist for Grammy-nominated band Norma Jean and ex-guitarist for Living Sacrifice, a metal band based in Little Rock
• Pharoah Sanders (1940–2022), jazz saxophonist
• William Grant Still (1895-1978), composer
• Jason Truby (born 1973), ex-guitarist for the band P.O.D., also in Little Rock-based band Living Sacrifice
• Jason White (born 1973), Green Day's backup guitarist (particularly for American Idiot tour and 21st Century Breakdown tour), born in Little Rock
• Lenny Williams (born 1945), R&B singer

Other entertainers

• Matt Besser (born 1967), comedian, born in the city
• Linda Bloodworth-Thomason (born 1947), film and television producer and director best known for TV series Designing Women
• John Braden (1949–2004), writer, producer, and director of movies and television programs, was born in the city
• Jim Dickinson (1941–2009), record producer, pianist and singer, was born in the city
• Danielle Evans (born 1985), fashion model who won Cycle 6 of UPN's America's Next Top Model
• David Gordon Green (born 1975), filmmaker, born in the city
• Bill Hicks (1961–1994), comedian, lived and died in the city
• Lil' JJ (born 1990), comedian, actor, rapper, has show on Nickelodeon called Just Jordan^[5]
• Fatima Robinson (born 1971), dance choreographer known for music videos for R&B singer Aaliyah, and in Dreamgirls.^{[citation needed]}
• Harry Thomason (born 1940), film and television producer and director best known for TV series Designing Women; was a Little Rock high school speech teacher and football coach.

Artists

• Catherine Tharp Altvater (1907–1984), artist and first woman to hold office in the American Watercolor Society, born in Little Rock^[6]
• Charlotte Moorman (1933–1991), American cellist, performance artist, and advocate for avant-garde music, was born in Little Rock

Athletes

Baseball

• Glenn Abbott (born 1951), baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1973–1981 and 1983–1984, was born in the city.
• Bill Dickey (1907–1993), Major League Baseball player and manager in the Baseball Hall of Fame; lived much of his life in the city.
• Randy Jackson (1926–2019), Major League Baseball player^[7]
• Kevin McReynolds (born 1959), outfielder/designated hitter who played for San Diego Padres and New York Mets, was born in the city.^[8]
• Brooks Robinson (1937-2023), began his career at Lamar Porter Field, Hall of Fame third baseman for Baltimore Orioles from 1955 to 1977; born in Little Rock in 1937^[7][9]
• Drew Smyly (born 1989), Major League Baseball pitcher

Basketball

• Hubert Ausbie (born 1938), longtime player with the Harlem Globetrotters^[10]
• Derek Fisher (born 1974), professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder, former head coach for the New York Knicks^[11]
• Dusty Hannahs (born 1993), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Joe Johnson (born 1981), NBA basketball player^[12]
• Sidney Moncrief (born 1957), basketball player for Arkansas Razorback and NBA's Milwaukee Bucks; born in Little Rock in 1957^[13]

Football

• Jamaal Anderson (born 1986), defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL; former high school football star for Little Rock Parkview^[14]
• Walt Coleman, National Football League referee and owner and operator of Coleman Dairy; known for playoff game between Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots which incorporated the "Tuck Rule"
• August Curley (born 1960), NFL player^[15]
• Steve Foley (born 1975), professional linebacker for the San Diego Chargers, is a former resident.
• Chris Harris (born 1982), NFL player^[16]
• Hunter Henry (born 1994), NFL tight end
• Keith Jackson (born 1965), NFL player for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, and Green Bay Packers^[17]
• Jerry Jones (born 1942), owner of the Dallas Cowboys^[18]
• Ken Kavanaugh (1916–2007), professional football player, 1940–1950, for the Chicago Bears.
• Darren McFadden (born 1987), running back for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League, was born in the city.
• Houston Nutt (born 1957), coach of University of Arkansas Razorbacks football team from 1997 to 2007, also coached Ole Miss; born in Little Rock^[19]
• Lawrence Phillips (1975–2016), American and Canadian football running back, was born in the city; died in prison.
• Vince Warren (born 1963), NFL wide receiver, member of New York Giants' winning Super Bowl team.

Other sports

• Bobo Brazil (1924–1998), African-American professional wrestler^[20]
• Kortney Clemons (born 1980), Paralympic athlete and Iraq War veteran.
• Glen Day (born 1965), PGA Tour golfer, winner of 1999 Heritage at Hilton Head, South Carolina.^{[citation needed]}
• Rolando Delgado (born 1981), mixed martial artist.
• Jeff Gorton (born 1968), General manager of the New York Rangers ice hockey team.
• John Kocinski (born 1967), motorcycle road racer who won 1990 250cc World Championship and 1997 World Superbike title, was born in the city^{[citation needed]}
• Jermain Taylor (born 1978), professional boxer and Middleweight Champion of the World in 2005, was born in the city.^[21]
• Michael Tinsley (born 1984), professional track runner specializing in the 400m hurdles; silver medalist at the 2012 Summer Olympics and the 2013 World Championships.

Writers, journalists

• Margot Adler (1946–2014), journalist born in Little Rock.
• Daisy Bates (1914–1999), civil rights leader, journalist, publisher, and author who lived in the city.
• Joe Bob Briggs, pseudonym and persona of John Irving Bloom (born 1953), a syndicated film critic, writer and actor, was raised in the city.
• Dee Brown (1908–2002), novelist and historian whose most famous work is Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, grew up partly in the city.
• Helen Gurley Brown (1922–2012), author, publisher, and businesswoman who was editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan magazine for 32 years, lived in the city.^[22]
• John Gould Fletcher (1886–1950), Pulitzer Prize-winning Imagist poet and author, was born in the city.
• Fred Graham (1931–2019), chief anchor and managing editor of Court TV, was born in the city.
• E. Lynn Harris (1955–2009), gay, black author with five novels that hit The New York Times Best Seller list, was raised in Little Rock.
• Mercer Mayer (born 1943), author and illustrator of children's book Little Critter series and There's a Nightmare in My Closet.
• Robert Palmer (1945–1997), a journalist, author of books about music and a musician, was born in the city.
• Charles Portis (1933-2020), novelist, was born in El Dorado but lived most of his life in the city.
• Alison Rogers (born 1966), journalist and real estate broker, author of Diary of a Real Estate Rookie, was born and bred in Little Rock.
• Charles Willeford (1919–1988), author of detective novels and other books, was born in the city.

Politics, government, military

• Roswell Beebe (1795–1856), mayor, alderman, benefactor, president of Cairo and Fulton Railroad.^[23]
• Shelby Brewer (1937–2015), top nuclear official in Reagan Administration from 1981 to 1984.^[24]
• Drew Bowers (1886–1985), Little Rock lawyer, Republican gubernatorial nominee in 1926 and 1928.
• Preston Bynum (1939–2018), lobbyist and former Republican former member of Arkansas House.
• Marvin Childers (born 1961), former Arkansas state representative from Mississippi County, lawyer and poultry industry lobbyist in Little Rock.
• Wesley Clark (born 1944), 2004 presidential candidate; North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Commander; born in Chicago but a graduate of Hall High School in Little Rock^[25]
• Bill Clinton (born 1946), 42nd President of the United States and previously Governor of Arkansas, lived in the city.
• Hillary Clinton (born 1947), U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Senator from New York, 2016 presidential candidate, wife of Bill Clinton, former first lady of state and U.S.; lived in the city.
• Chelsea Clinton (born 1980 in Little Rock), daughter of Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton.^[26]
• Thomas James Churchill (1824–1905), Confederate general, governor; moved to the city in 1848.
• Osro Cobb (1904–1996), lawyer, Republican politician from Montgomery County and later Little Rock.
• Sterling R. Cockrill (1925–2022), Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives, 1967-1968; Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, 1970.
• Les Eaves (born 1967), member of the Arkansas House of Representative for White County, former Little Rock resident.^[27]
• Orval Faubus (1906–1994), a six-term Arkansas governor known for his 1957 stand against integration of Little Rock schools in defiance of United States Supreme Court rulings.
• Clay Ford (1938–2013), member of Arkansas House of Representatives from 1975 to 1976; member of Florida House of Representatives from 2007 until his death.
• Vivian Flowers (born c. 1969), member of Arkansas House of Representatives; diversity officer at UAMS Medical Center in Little Rock.^[28]
• Carlos Hathcock (1942–1999), a legendary Marine sniper during the Vietnam War.
• Kenneth Henderson (born c. 1963), Republican member of Arkansas House of Representatives; real estate developer in Russellville, former resident of Little Rock and graduate of UALR.^[29]
• Thomas C. Hindman (1828–1868), U.S. Representative representing Arkansas and a major general for Confederacy during the American Civil War; assassinated in 1868.
• Missy Irvin (born 1971), Republican member of Arkansas State Senate from Stone County since 2011; born in Little Rock.
• Jim Keet (born 1949), state legislator from Little Rock, Republican gubernatorial nominee against incumbent Mike Beebe in 2010 general election^[30]
• Allen Kerr (born 1954), Republican member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Pulaski County; insurance agent in his native Little Rock; state insurance commissioner.
• Douglas MacArthur GCB (1880–1964), United States Army general and Medal of Honor recipient, Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in the South West Pacific Area^[31]
• Charles B. MacDonald (1922–1990), United States Army officer of World War II, and military historian.
• Richard Mays (born 1943), Democratic member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Pulaski County (1973–1977); associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court (1979–1980)^[32]
• Sheffield Nelson (born 1941), businessman and Republican politician.
• Frank Pace Jr. (1912–1988), first president of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
• Scott E. Parazynski (born 1961), astronaut
• Albert Pike (1809–1891), attorney, soldier, writer, Freemason; only Confederate military figure honored with a statue in Washington D.C., once lived in Little Rock.
• John Selden Roane (1817–1867), Governor of Arkansas and Confederate general; died in Pine Bluff and is buried at Oaklawn Cemetery in Little Rock.
• Tommy F. Robinson (born 1942), former member of the U.S. House of Representatives^[33]
• David J. Sanders (born 1975), Republican state senator from District 15, Baptist education official in Little Rock.
• Wallace Townsend (1882–1979), Republican national committeeman from Arkansas from 1928 to 1961, Little Rock attorney.
• William Townsend (1914–2005), Democratic member of the Arkansas House of Representatives; Little Rock optometrist
• Carmen Twillie (born 1959), lawyer and politician, dean of Douglass College.
• David Venable (born 1978), intelligence officer, author, and cyber security expert.
• John H. Yancey (1918–1986), highly decorated United States Marine.

Others

• Ben M. Bogard (1868–1951), clergyman, founder of American Baptist Association, pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, a founder of Missionary Baptist Seminary, both in Little Rock^[34]
• James E. Cofer (born 1949), former professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock; president of Missouri State University in Springfield 2010-2011
• Connie Hamzy (1955–2021), groupie^{[citation needed]}
• E. Fay Jones (1921–2004), architect, designer and an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright^[35]
• David Levering Lewis (born 1936), historian, Julius Silver University professor and Professor of History at New York University and recipient of two Pulitzer Prizes^[36]
• Samuel P. Massie (1919–2005), a chemist named one of the top 75 distinguished chemists in history by Chemical and Engineering News, and the first African-American professor of the U.S. Naval Academy.^[37]
• Elsie M. Lewis (1912-1992), first african-american woman to become a historian.
• Wade Rathke (born 1948), founder and chief organizer of Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN); he started the non-profit organization in Little Rock.
• Alison Rogers (born 1966), New York City real estate agent and author^{[citation needed]}
• Christian Rudder (born 1975), co-founder, with three others, of dating site OkCupid^[38]
• Charlotte Andrews Stephens (1854-1951), first African American to teach in Little Rock, taught for seventy years
• Richard Thalheimer, founder and CEO of Sharper Image; raised in Little Rock