Famous People From Denver

Reference
Updated June 9, 2017760 items

List of famous people from Denver, including photos when available. The people below are listed by their popularity, so the most recognizable names are at the top of the list. Some of the people below are celebrities born in Denver, while others are simply notable locals. If you're from Denver you might already know that these prominent figures are also from your hometown, but some of the names below may really surprise you. This list includes people who were born and raised in Denver, as well as those who were born there but moved away at a young age.

List is made up of a variety of people, including Norm Rice and Ben Steele.

If you want to answer the questions, "Which famous people are from Denver?" or "Which celebrities were born in Denver?" then this list is a great resource for you.
Ranked by
  • Karl Rove

    Karl Rove

    Age: 72
    • Birthplace: USA, Denver, Colorado
    Karl Christian Rove (born December 25, 1950) is an American Republican political consultant and policy advisor. He was Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff during the George W. Bush administration until his resignation on August 31, 2007. He has also headed the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Public Liaison, and the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives. Since leaving the White House, Rove has worked as a political analyst and contributor for Fox News, Newsweek and The Wall Street Journal. Prior to his White House appointments, he is credited with the 1994 and 1998 Texas gubernatorial victories of George W. Bush, as well as Bush's 2000 and 2004 successful presidential campaigns. In his 2004 victory speech Bush referred to Rove as "the Architect". Rove has also been credited for the successful campaigns of John Ashcroft (1994 U.S. Senate election), Bill Clements (1986 Texas gubernatorial election), Senator John Cornyn (2002 U.S. Senate election), Governor Rick Perry (1990 Texas Agriculture Commission election), and Phil Gramm (1982 U.S. House and 1984 U.S. Senate elections).
  • AnnaSophia Robb
    • Birthplace: Denver, Colorado, USA
    AnnaSophia Robb (born December 8, 1993) is an American actress, singer, and model. She began as a child actress on television, making her leading debut as the titular role in Samantha: An American Girl Holiday (2004). She made her feature film debut in Because of Winn-Dixie (2005), followed by the supporting role of Violet Beauregarde in Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005). Her performance as Leslie Burke in Bridge to Terabithia (2007), garnered her recognition and praise, and two Young Artist Awards. Her subsequent film roles include Race to Witch Mountain (2009), Soul Surfer (2011), and The Way, Way Back (2013). She received wider recognition and praise for playing the lead role of Carrie Bradshaw on The CW's series The Carrie Diaries (2013–2014). In 2019, she played the role of Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s neighbor, Lacey, in the Hulu miniseries, The Act.
  • Douglas Fairbanks

    Douglas Fairbanks

    Dec. at 56 (1883-1939)
    • Birthplace: USA, Denver, Colorado
    Douglas Fairbanks (born Douglas Elton Thomas Ullman; May 23, 1883 – December 12, 1939) was an American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer. He was best known for his swashbuckling roles in silent films including The Thief of Bagdad, Robin Hood, and The Mark of Zorro but spent the early part of his career making comedies. Fairbanks was a founding member of United Artists. He was also a founding member of The Motion Picture Academy and hosted the 1st Academy Awards in 1929. With his marriage to Mary Pickford in 1920, the couple became Hollywood royalty and Fairbanks was referred to as "The King of Hollywood", a nickname later passed on to actor Clark Gable. Though widely considered as one of the biggest stars in Hollywood during the 1910s and 1920s, Fairbanks' career rapidly declined with the advent of the "talkies". His final film was The Private Life of Don Juan (1934).
  • Duane Lee Chapman
    • Birthplace: Denver, Colorado, USA
    Duane Lee "Dog" Chapman Sr. (born February 2, 1953), better known as Dog the Bounty Hunter or simply Dog, is an American reality TV star, bounty hunter, and a former bail bondsman. Chapman achieved international notoriety as a bounty hunter for his successful capture of Max Factor heir Andrew Luster in Mexico in 2003 and the following year, was given his own series, Dog the Bounty Hunter (2004–2012), on A&E. After Dog the Bounty Hunter ended, Chapman appeared in similarly formatted TV show alongside his late wife and business partner, Beth Chapman, in Dog and Beth: On the Hunt (2013–2015), on CMT. His upcoming series, Dog's Most Wanted, will premiere on WGN America.
  • Jan-Michael Vincent

    Jan-Michael Vincent

    Dec. at 74 (1944-2019)
    • Birthplace: Denver, Colorado, USA
    Jan-Michael Vincent (July 15, 1944 – February 10, 2019) was an American actor. He was best known for having played helicopter pilot Stringfellow Hawke on the television series Airwolf (1984–1986) and the protagonist, Matt Johnson, in the 1978 film Big Wednesday. He also starred as Byron Henry in The Winds of War.
  • Ruth Handler

    Ruth Handler

    Dec. at 85 (1916-2002)
    • Birthplace: Denver, Colorado
    Ruth Marianna Handler (née Mosko; November 4, 1916 – April 27, 2002) was an American businesswoman and inventor. She served as the president of the toy manufacturer Mattel Inc., and is best remembered for having invented the Barbie doll, although the doll's design was created by missile engineer-turned-toy designer Jack Ryan.