#1Famous people · Missoula
More famous people were born in Missoula than in any other town in Montana: 70
Most widely known is David Lynch, the American filmmaker, with articles in 105 languages. The next two names are Brian Schmidt and Jeannette Rankin. The largest group, 36, was born between 1920 and 1969. The oldest name on the list belongs to Jeannette Rankin, born in 1880, the newest to Katharine Berkoff, born in 2001.
Born here
70
notable people
Best known
David Lynch
in 105 Wikipedia languages
First
1880
Jeannette Rankin
Youngest
2001
Katharine Berkoff
Most common field
Sports
23 people
Also called it home
9
notable residents
What stands out about Missoula’s famous people
Known worldwideDavid Lynch has an article in 105 languages, more than anyone else from here.Still making names37 were born since 1950, the youngest in 2001.A town of performersAmong the 70 people born here, 10 are performers: 1.5 times the usual share.A chosen home9 more notable people chose to live here, Hank Green among them.
★ What stands out · The best known
Born in Missoula
Ranked by languages covered: David Lynch with 105, then Brian Schmidt with 70 and Jeannette Rankin with 50.
#1
#2Science & Medicine
Brian Schmidt
born 1967American-born Australian astrophysicist
70 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
#3Politics & Law
Jeannette Rankin
1880–1973American congresswoman for Montana
50 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Through the years
When Missoula’s famous people were born
Births peak in the 1940s, with 10 people born in that decade.
SportsPolitics & LawFilm, TV & StageNotableWriting & ArtsScience & MedicineMusicBusiness
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Known for
What Missoula is known for
No other field is as far above the usual share as performers, at 1.5 times.
The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Missoula
The rest number 67, with 23 athletes among them.
Steve Bullock
born 1966American politician, lawyer, and the 24th Governor of Montana
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Ted Nichols
1928–2026American composer, conductor, arranger, educator, and minister of music
MusicWikipedia ↗
Bob Brown
born 1947Secretary of State for Montana and the Republican nominee for governor in 2004
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Michael J. Birck
1938–2015American corporate director and technology company founder
Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Jack Little
1908–1986United States and Australian radio and TV Sports Broadcaster
Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
John Mercer
born 1957American politician and attorney in the state of Montana
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
A chosen home
Also called Missoula home
Born elsewhere, they lived here: 9 in all, led by Hank Green.
The town’s pick
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From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Missoula and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.
Photo credits (15)
- David Lynch: Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Brian Schmidt: Tim Wetherell, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jeannette Rankin: Adam Cuerden, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jesse Tyler Ferguson: Philip Romano, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Dana Carvey: TAS-C, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Steve Bullock: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Tommy Moe: Bing Gordon, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Troy Evans: Mingle MediaTV, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Fritzi Ridgeway: Freulich, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Scott Michael Campbell: RealTVfilms, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Leroy Hood: Photo by Robin Layton, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Allen Vizzutti: Анна Астахова, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Samuel Schultz: TJ Harron, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Hank Green: Tessa Bury, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Leslie Fiedler: Jack de Nijs for Anefo / Anefo, CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, Wikimedia Commons