Famous people · Ottawa
22 famous people were born within 35 miles of Ottawa
Closest of all is Brianna Decker, from Dousman, 3 mi away. The nearest list is next door in Eagle: 3 names, starting with John Charles Brophy. Les Paul is the most widely known, written about in 63 languages. Not one famous person on record comes from Ottawa yet.
Born nearby
22
within 35 miles
Closest
12 mi
Les Paul
Best known
Les Paul
in 63 Wikipedia languages
What stands out about Ottawa’s famous people
★ What stands out · Close to home
Famous people born near Ottawa
The 22 best known born within 35 miles, nearest first.
Raymond L. Erikson
1936–2020American virologist, biologist and molecular biologist
Les Paul
1915–2009American jazz guitarist, country guitarist, songwriter and inventor
Vernor Vinge
1944–2024American mathematician, computer scientist, and science fiction writer
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Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Of the towns nearby, Eagle lists the most people: 3.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Ottawa and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. Nearby people are those born in a town within 35 miles; distances are town center to town center. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.
Photo credits (13)
- Les Paul: William P. Gottlieb, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Vernor Vinge: Raul654, Maarten1980, Zanaq, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Gwen Jorgensen: Frankie Fouganthin, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Brianna Decker: Elliott Connor, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jane Wiedlin: Annette Wamser from Elk Grove, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alex Rigsby: BDZ Sports, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alonzo Cushing: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Darrell Foss: Evans, L.A. (picture credit), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Glenn Robert Davis: Collection of U.S. House of Representatives, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John Charles Brophy: U.S. House of Representatives, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Kyle Zenoni: Wilson Wong (Wikipedia user: Wwongbc), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ben Bredeson: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William B. Cushing: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons