The following is a list of noteworthy people who profess Lutheranism as their religious or cultural identity:

Actors and Actresses

• Erika Alexander, actress whose credits include The Cosby Show.
• Loni Anderson, celebrity, actress, and author.
• Orson Bean, actor.
• Brice Beckham, actor who played Wesley Owens in the '80s sitcom Mr. Belvedere; also, his father is a Lutheran pastor.
• Beau Bridges, actor.
• Jeff Bridges, actor.
• Gary Cole, actor; well known for his portrayal of Mike Brady in the Brady Bunch movies.
• Kirsten Dunst, actress. Starred in, among other things, Spider Man, where she played Mary Jane.
• David Hasselhoff, actor, producer, recording artist. Perhaps best known for his roles as Mitch in Baywatch and Michael Knight in Knight Rider.
• Annabeth Gish, actress.
• William Hurt, critically-acclaimed actor whose many film credits include The Big Chill (1983), Broadcast News (1987) Children of a Lesser God (1986) and Lost In Space (1998).
• William H. Macy, Oscar award winning actor who starred in, among other films, Fargo and Mystery Men. Once was quoted as saying "I am Lutheran down to my socks."
• Ann-Margret, actress, singer, and all-around entertainer.
• Christopher Orr, actor whose credits include Disney's The Mighty Ducks films.
• James Rebhorn, Hollywood supporting actor whose credits include Independence Day, The Game, Fatal Attraction and Seinfeld.
• Andy Richter, actor and the original sidekick on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
• Christina Ritter, actress and has been in Pirates of the Caribbean; Dead Man's Chest(2006 film) among other things.
• David Ruprecht actor best known for hosting the popular game show Supermarket Sweep, He currently plays Brandon Taylor in the Fifth Pew from the Front series.
• Kevin Sorbo, actor.
• David Soul, actor, director, producer, recording artist, played Detective Hutchinson in the television police drama Starsky and Hutch. David's father served as Senior Representative for the Lutheran World Federation.
• Sally Struthers, actress perhaps best known for her portrayal of Gloria on the popular sitcom All in the Family.
• Liv Ullmann, Norwegian actress of international renown, especially noted for the nine films she made with Ingmar Bergman.
• Bruce Willis, actor, recording artist, restaurant entrepreneur. Starred in The Sixth Sense (1999), Armageddon (1998), and the Die Hard movies (1988, 1990, 1995, 2006).
• Steve Zahn, actor; studied for a year at the ELCA's Gustavus Adolphus College in his home state of Minnesota.

Artists

• Sandra Bowden, painter. Head of CVA, Christian Ministry in Visual Arts.
• Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553), German court painter; friend of Martin Luther and sponsor of the Reformer's oldest son. An early champion of the Reformation, this well-known and prolific artist is now especially known for his woodcuts and portraits of the Reformers.
• Lucas Cranach the Younger (1515-1586) prominent Reformation artist in Germany who worked for his father and continued in his style.
• Gary Larson, cartoonist and creator of the classic comic The Far Side.
• Alexandra Nechita, at 15 years old, she is one of the most famous artists in the world. She was once called the "Petite Picasso".

Astronauts

• Dan Brandenstein, former chief astronaut who flew various shuttle missions.
• Mark Lee, Colonel in the US Air Force & former astronaut. Shuttle flights included missions on the Atlantis (1989), Endeavour (1992) and Discovery (1994, 1997).
• Jeff Williams, astronaut on recent shuttle missions.

Authors

• Rita Mae Brown, prolific author of novels, poetry, articles, book reviews, teleplays and screenplays.
• Johann Wolfgang Goethe.
• Henrik Ibsen.
• Thomas Mann.
• Friedrich Schiller.
• "Dr. Seuss" (Theodor Geisel), children's author.
• John Updike, author.

Beauty Contestants

• Gretchen Carlson, 1989 Miss America; former Miss Minnesota; granddaughter of an ELCA pastor, now with Fox News
• Elke Sommer (born Elke Schletz), actress and painter who has appeared in over 90 motion pictures. In 1959, 19-year old Elke won Italy's Miss Viarrego beauty pageant.

Bible Scholars, Translators, & Theologians

• Marva Dawn, theologian and author; wrote Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down (1995) and other works.
• Paul Tillich (1886-1965), German-born theologian who emigrated to America, army chaplain during WWI, seminary professor. The son of a Lutheran pastor, Rev. Tillich became one of the most foremost theologians of the first half of the twentieth century.

Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs

• Steve Jobs, Apple Computer.
• Michael Johns, health care executive and former White House speechwriter.

Church Leaders

• Franklin Clark Fry, pastor and president of the United Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church in America.
• Mark S. Hanson, current churchwide bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (2001-present).
• Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, current president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (2001-present).
• Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg (1711-1787), pastor and church organizer. Considered to be the father of the Lutheran Church in America.
• Philipp Jakob Spener (1635-1705), German
  
  
  
  churchman and founder of Lutheran Pietism.
• Martin Stephan (1777-1846), German-born pastor and leader of the German-Saxon immigrants to Missouri who later formed the nexus of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Deposed in 1839, he was sent upriver to Illinois, where he continued to preach and minister until his death.
• C. F. W. Walther (1811-1887), German immigrant and American pastor; theologian, author, hymn writer, professor and president of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; first (and third) president of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. One of the founding fathers of the Missouri Synod and one of the greatest American theologians.
• F.C.D. Wyneken (1810 - 1876), the second president of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

Comedians

• Dana Carvey, comedian and actor known especially for his gift of mimicry. Former member of Saturday Night Live (1986-1993), where he created many numerous characters, including "The Church Lady". His film credits include the mega-hit Wayne's World and its sequel.

Composers

• Johann Christoph Bach (1642-1703), German church musician and composer. Cousin of J. S. Bach's father.
• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), German church musician. One of the greatest composers of all time, known especially for his organ compositions, his chorales, the Mass in B Minor, and the Brandenburg Concertos.
• Karl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714-1788), German church musician and composer. Son of J. S. Bach.
• Wilhelm Friedemann Bach (1710-1784), German church musician and composer. Eldest son of J. S. Bach.
• Howard Hanson (1896-1981), Hanson became one of the most influential American composers, music educators, and music advocates of the last century; he was also a director of the Eastman School of Music (1924-1964).
• Georg Friedrich Handel, Renowned composer, possibly best known for his Messiah, which includes the famous Hallelujah Chorus.
• Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy (1809-1847), German composer; the grandson of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn. His many compositions include the famed incidental music to Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and the Reformation Symphony (which utilizes the melody of Martin Luther's classic Reformation hymn, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God.")
• Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706), German composer and church musician. An early model of J.S. Bach, his many compositions include cantatas, chorale pieces, canons, fugues, and preludes. Today he is especially known for his Canon in D (often simply referred to as Pachelbel's Canon).

Film Makers

• Ingmar Bergman, film director and stage director. His father was a Lutheran pastor.
• Paul Schrader, film director and screenwriter.
• Rick Steves, PBS travel program host.
• John Woo, film director whose credits include Mission: Impossible II, The Killer and Face/Off.
• Steven F. Zambo, film and television producer, director, and writer. Credits include Finding Home (movie), Movie Critters' Big Picture (movie), The Daze Before Christmas (TV), and That's Easy for You to Say! (TV). Steven is the president of Steven F. Zambo Productions and Salty Earth Pictures, Inc..

Generals & Admirals

• John Peter Muhlenberg (1711-1787) pastor, U.S. Congressman, Brigadier General in the *Continental Army during the American Revolution. The eldest son of Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg, he was a friend of US Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe.
• Lauris Norstad, became the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO in Europe (1956-1963). He held this position during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
• Norman Schwarzkopf, U.S. Army general; leader of the famed "Operations Desert Shield & Desert Storm".
• General John Vessey, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Historians

• Jaroslav Pelikan, religious scholar and professor at Yale; former professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; co-editor of the American Edition of Luther's Works (55 volumes) and author of the series' companion volume Luther the Expositor. A Lutheran during most of his decades-long and prolific career, Pelikan became a member of the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1998.

Murderers

• John List, mass-murderer who inspired the thriller The Stepfather.
• Dennis Rader, BTK Killer.

Kings and Queens

• Gustavus Adolphus (1594-1632), King of Sweden and defender of the Protestant Reformation during the Thirty Years War.
• Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden (1973-present).
• Harald V, King of Norway (1991-present).
• Margrethe II, Queen of Denmark (1972-present).
• Peter III, Czar of Russia, 1762.

Lawyers

• Justus Jonas (1493-1555) German lawyer, theologian, and reformer.
• Edwin Meese III, lawyer, Counselor to the President of the United States (1981-1985), U.S. *Attorney General (1985-1988); currently holds The Ronald Reagan Chair in Public Policy at The Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.
• William Rehnquist, lawyer; appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by Richard Nixon in 1972; Chief Justice for almost 19 years, from September 26th, 1986, until his death on September 3, 2005.
• Coleen Rowley, FBI lawyer and whistleblower; exposed 9/11 events.

Musicians

• Michael D. Bridges, one member of the band, Lost And Found, co-creator of the musical genre, "speedwood."
• F. Melius Christiansen, founder of the St. Olaf Choir and renowned for his a capella settings of hymns.
• Justino Diaz, opera singer.
• Kurt Elling, jazz musician; Grammy-nominated recording artist for Blue Note Records. Kurt is a graduate of the ELCA's Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota and later attended Divinity School at the University of Chicago before embarking on a career as a jazz singer.
• Hilary Hahn, violinist.
• Adolph Herseth, lead trumpeter with the Chicago Symphony.
• Kris Kristofferson, singer-songwriter, actor, Rhodes Scholar, country music icon, and former professor at West Point. Along with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings, Kris formed the classic group The Highwaymen. His many film credits include A Star Is Born (with Barbra Streisand) and The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea.
• Lyle Pearce Lovett, singer-songwriter, recording artist, actor.
• Kurt Masur, German classical musician and recording artist of international renown. Since 1991 served as Music Director of
  
  
  
  the New York Philharmonic.
• John Mellencamp, musician, singer, recording artist, songwriter, painter. His many hits include "Jack and Diane" and "Small Town." With Neil Young and Willie Nelson, John founded Farm Aid, a non-profit organization for farm assistance.
• Michael Peterson, country music star. He entered the ELCA's Pacific Lutheran University on a football scholarship, where he helped win a national championship.
• Roger Williams, well known pianist. Born Louis Weertz, he is the son of a Lutheran pastor.

National Newscasters and Sportscasters

• Jack Cafferty, CNN anchor.
• Mary Hart, Entertainment Tonight host. Bears the distinction not only of outlasting all her male co-hosts on ET, but is the only Lutheran ever to have her legs insured by Lloyd's of London for a million dollars.
• Cliff Johnson, retired veteran broadcaster for CBS radio.
• Verne Lundquist, CBS sports.
• Pat O'Brien, Access Hollywood host.
• John Scott, NBC news.
• Jim Wacker, CBS Sports.

Nobel Laureates

• Dag Hammarskjöld, Swedish economist; statesman and Secretary General of the United Nations. Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
• Linus Pauling, American chemist who won the Nobel prize in chemistry for his work describing the nature of chemical bonds. Pauling received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962 for his campaign against above-ground nuclear testing, becoming one of only two people to receive the Nobel Prize in more than one field, the other being Marie Curie.

Philosophers

• Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, philosopher.
• Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), German transcendental idealist & philosopher.
• Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), Danish philosopher; author and theologian. "The Father of Existentialism".
• Frederich Nietzsche, a highly influential German philosopher. His father was a Lutheran pastor. His writings express an extreme distaste for Lutheran ideals, however.
• Albert Schweitzer, German-born philosopher, theologian, musician, and physician.

Poets

• Robert Bly, poet.
• Hallgrímur Pétursson, poet (also hymnodist)

Politicians and Statesmen (United States)

• John Bolton, prominent Republican politician. Served in the Reagan administration as well as both Bush administrations.
• John Hanson - Regarded by some as the first President of the United States. Hanson was elected in 1781 under the Articles of Confederation, and served a one year term. His father was a Lutheran pastor.
• Donald Hodel, served various cabinet-level positions during the Reagan administration.

U.S. Governors

• Cecil Andrus (D), former governor of Idaho (1971-1975; 1987-1995).
• Otis R. Bowen (R), former governor of Indiana (1973-1981) and Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Ronald Reagan.
• Bill Janklow (R), former governor of South Dakota (1979-1987; 1995-2003).
• Gary Johnson (R), former governor of New Mexico (1995-2003).
• Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus (R), former governor of Minnesota (1921-1925).
• Stan Stephens (R), former governor of Montana (1989-1993).
• Don Sundquist (R), former governor of Tennessee(1994-2002).
• Al Quie (R), former governor of Minnesota (1979-1983).

U.S. House of Representatives (Current)

• Douglas Bereuter (R), Nebraska (1st District).
• Sherrod Brown (D), Ohio (13th District).
• Lois Capps (D), California (23rd District).
• John Carter (R), Texas (31st District).
• Norman Dicks (D), Washington (6th District).
• Darlene Hooley (D), Oregon (5th District).
• Ron Kind (D), Wisconsin (3rd District).
• Tom Latham (R), Iowa (5th District).
• Zoe Lofgren (D), California (16th District).
• David Minge (D), Former Minnesota rep. (2nd District).
• Jim Nussle (R), Iowa (2nd District).
• Doug Ose (R), California (3rd District).
• Michael Oxley (R), Ohio (4th District).
• Collin Peterson (D), Minnesota (7th District).
• Thomas Petri (R), Wisconsin (6th District).
• Dave Reichert (R), Washington (8th District).
• Martin Sabo (D), Minnesota (5th District).
• John Shimkus (R), Illinois (19th District).
• Bill Shuster (R), Pennsylvania (9th District).
• Charles Stenholm (D), Texas (17th District).

U.S. House of Representatives (Former)

• William Dannemeyer (R), former Congressman from California and noted advocate of Confessional Lutheranism.
• Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg (1750-1801), Ordained a Lutheran minister in Pennsylvania, he went on to become a member of the Continental Congress and, after the Constitution went into effect, served as the Speaker of the House during the First and Third Congresses.
• Mark Neumann (R), former Congressman from Wisconsin.
• Tim Penny (D), former Congressman from Minnesota & author.
• Floyd Spence (R), former South Carolina rep. (2nd District).

U.S. Senators

• Conrad Burns (R), Montana.
• Rod Grams (R), former senator from Minnesota.
• Byron Dorgan (D), North Dakota.
• Ernest (Fritz) Hollings (D) South Carolina.
• Tim Johnson (D), South Dakota.

U.S. Senators (Former)

• Paul Simon, former Democratic Senator from Illinois, educator, author.

Non-US politicians

Due to the fact that most people in Scandinavian nations are in least nominally Lutheran Scandinavian politicians will only be mentioned if they are ordained as a pastor or bishop.

• Joh Bjelke-Petersen-Australian, premier of Queensland.
• Kjell Magne Bondevik-Former Norwegian Prime Minister and Lutheran minister.
• Ernesto Geisel-Brazilian President, son of Lutheran immigrants.
• Elmer Knutson-Canadian fringe politician
• Gerhard Schröder-Former Chancellor of Germany
• Angela Merkel-Chancellor of Germany, member of the Christian Democratic Union, and daughter of a Lutheran pastor.
• Horst Köhler-German Federal President.
• Friedrich Julius Stahl-German politician, convert from Judaism.
• Milan Rastislav Štefánik-Slovak politician and scientist.
• Marutei Tsurunen-Member of the Diet of Japan who came to Japan as a Lutheran missionary.
• John Yakabuski-Canadian politician in Ontario.

Reformers

• Martin Chemnitz (1522-1586), German pastor, seminary professor, defender of the Lutheran faith. His classic Examination of the Council of Trent is the definitive Lutheran response to the "Counter-Reformation" of the Roman Catholic Church. As a theologian, second in greatness only to Martin Luther.
• Martin Luther (1483-1546), German Doctor of the Church, pastor, professor ay the University of Wittenberg, prolific author, hymn writer, Bible translator, Biblical scholar, father of the Protestant Reformation. His 95 Theses, nailed on the front door of the Castle Church at the University of Wittenberg on October 31st, 1517 ignited a firestorm which resulted in The Reformation. His importance in the history of Western Christianity and Western Civilization is immense. In the opinion of many, one the greatest theologians of all time.
• Philip Melancthon (1497-1560), German theologian, professor at the University of Wittenberg, author, Reformation leader, and close friend of Martin Luther. A colleague and friend of Luther's, he is the author of the Augsburg Confession and the Loci Communes.

Resistance fighters in World War II

• Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), German pastor, theologian, seminary professor, author, and anti-Nazi resistance fighter. Imprisoned by the Nazis and later executed at the concentration camp in Flossenburg.
• Rudolf Bultmann (1884-1976), German lay theologian known for his contributions to Biblical criticism and resistance to Hitler.
• Helmut Gollwitzer (1908-1993), German theologian who became part of the Confessing Church; captured by the Soviets in 1945 and imprisoned in a Soviet gulag until 1950.
• Kaj Munk (1898-1944), Danish pastor and author, arrested and executed by the Nazis.
• Martin Niemoeller (1892-1984), German submarine commander in WWI who became a Lutheran pastor and was later imprisoned by the Nazis.

Scientists

• Robert Cade, inventor of Gatorade.
• Georg Cantor-Some Jewish descent, strongly Lutheran in religion, and somewhat Neo-Thomist in philosophy.
• Leonhard Euler (1707-1783), mathematician. His father - a Lutheran pastor with an interest in mathematics - wanted him to study theology, but eventually agreed to his preference for studying mathematics.
• Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855), mathematician, child prodigy, and scientist sometimes known as "the prince of mathematicians."
• Johan Ernst Gunnerus (1718 – 1773), A bishop and botantist with the genus Gunnera named for him. He also theorized about the Northern Lights occurring on other planets.
• Heinrich Hertz (1857-1894), One of the pioneering scientists in the area of electromagnetics. His groundbreaking work paved the way for the development of wireless telegraphy and radio, among other applications. The standard unit of frequency - the hertz - is named in his honor.
• Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), German astronomer noted for his formulation of planetary laws.
• Donald Knuth (1938-), renowned computer scientist, who authored The Art of Computer Programming and 3:16 Bible Texts Illuminated.
• Bernhard Riemann (1826-1866), mathematician known for Riemann hypothesis and Riemannian geometry.

Sports Figures

• Troy Aikman, former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, who led his team to win the Super Bowl, currently a broadcaster with FOX Sports.
• Shane Battier, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA.
• Jim Brower, pitcher, San Francisco Giants.
• Matt Bullard, Houston Rockets.
• Bill Cartwright, Chicago Bulls coach.
• Dale Earnhardt, NASCAR driver; 7-time Winston Cup Champion and winner of 76 Winston Cup events.
• Darin Erstad, member of the Anaheim Angels baseball team.
• Lou Gehrig, famed baseball player whose life was cut short by the disease that now bears his name. He was raised in a very devout Lutheran household. Reportedly, Gehrig was once asked by a New York City reporter if he was Jewish -- Gehrig proudly replied that he was a Lutheran
• Tom Haller, former Dodger and Giant (baseball).
• Phil Hansen, former NFL player for the Buffalo Bills.
• Dale Jarrett, NASCAR driver; 1999 Winston Cup Series Champion and 3-time winner of the Daytona 500.
• Ned Jarrett, NASCAR commentator & retired NASCAR driver. Won the Championship in 1961 and 1965.
• Al Kaline, long-time star outfielder with the Detroit Tigers, active in Lutheran churches in the Detroit area, and elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980.
• Tom Landry (1924-2000), legendary former coach of the Dallas Cowboys (1960-1988), who led the team to Super Bowl wins in 1972 and 1978. He ranks third on the NFL's All-Time Win List, claiming 270 gridiron victories. As a Lutheran layman, he was a major supporter and fundraiser for Concordia University in Austin, Texas.
• Janet Lynn, U.S. Olympic skater.
• Edgar Martinez, Baseball player for the Seattle Mariners.
• Paul Molitor, former baseball player for the Minnesota Twins; elected to the Hall of Fame in January 2004. Also played for the Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays.
• Andy North, PGA Golfer, former US Open champion.
• Greg Olson, former Baltimore Orioles baseball player.
• Lute Olson, University of Arizona basketball coach.
• Rick Reuschel, former Chicago Cubs baseball player.
• Kirk Rueter, pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.
• Richard Steele, referee.
• Gary Suter, NHL Hockey player.
• John Vanbiesbrouck, Philadelphia Flyers goalie, NHL.
• Duffy Waldorf, player on the PGA Tour for the past 15 years.
• Jim Wilson, former Chicago White Sox player.
• Dave Winfield, former Minnesota Twin.
• Danny Wuerffel, Washington Redskins quarterback; his father is a Lutheran military chaplain.

Storytellers

• Garrison Keillor, humorist, host and creator of Prairie Home Companion (1974-present), inductee Radio Hall of Fame (1994), author of Lake Wobegon Days (1985) and nine other titles, icon of National Public Radio.

Television and Movie Characters

• Woody Boyd (played by Woody Harrelson) from the classic sitcom Cheers (1982-1993). Woody was of the LCMS. Converted to ELCA after his honeymoon.
• The Cooper Family from the sitcom One Day at a Time (1975-1984), featuring Bonnie Franklin, Mackenzie Phillips and Valerie Bertinelli. Set in Indiana.
• Kelly Gaines (played by Jackie Swanson) also from the classic sitcom Cheers (1982-1993). Kelly was of the ALC, then ELCA.
• The Hansen Family (Davey, Sally, their mom and dad, and Goliath ) from the Clokey Production Davey and Goliath. Claymation with a spiritual bent; Lutheran-produced (by the LCA, one of the predecessor bodies of the ELCA) and created by the makers of Gumby.
• Rose Nylund ("The Golden Girls") from St. Olaf, Minnesota. (Played by Betty White).
• Pastor Dan Parker, a Lutheran pastor played by John Corbett in the 2004 film Raising Helen.

Other

• Daniel Brandt, originator of Google Watch and Conspiracy Theorist.

Sources

• at NNDB.
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