Peterborough and its surrounding area is and has been home to many notable people, especially considering its relatively small size. It has been especially prolific in producing players for the NHL through the Peterborough Petes. It also has produced a number of musicians, actors and authors.
Actors
Matt Frewer, known for playing Max Headroom
Ben Hollingsworth
Barclay Hope
William Hope
Linda Kash
David Kaye, voice actor
Gordon Sackville, silent film actor
Estella Warren, former synchronized swimmer; model and actress
Athletes
Jennifer Essex , former Dancer with the Winnipeg contemporary dancers
Les Ascott, (d. 2013) former CFL player with the Toronto Argonauts
Zac Bierk, former professional hockey player and brother of Sebastian Bach
Scotty Bowman, former hockey coach, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens
Steve Chiasson, (1967–1999) National Hockey League player
John Druce, former NHL player with Washington Capitals, Winnipeg Jets, Los Angeles Kings and Philadelphia Flyers Vince Dunn, NHL player with the Seattle Kraken Bob Errey Former NHL Player/Current Broadcaster with the Pittsburgh Penguins Shawn Evans, NLL player with the Buffalo Bandits Mike Fisher, former NHL player with the Nashville Predators; husband of Carrie Underwood Carl Fitzgerald, CFL player with the Saskatchewan Roughriders Bob Gainey, former NHL player and now General Manager with the Montreal Canadiens Rex Harrington, ballet dancer Barrett Hayton, NHL player with the Arizona Coyotes Mike Keenan, former NHL coach with the Calgary Flames Tracey Kelusky, lacrosse player Steve Larmer, former NHL player with the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers Johnny Mark, former CFL player Rick McCrank, professional skateboarder Greg Millen, hockey analyst, goaltender for the NHL Roger Neilson, (1934–2003) innovative NHL coach who spent ten years coaching the Peterborough Petes Corey Perry, NHL player with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Stanley Cup winner (2007), Olympic Gold Medalist (2010) Bobby Roode, professional wrestler working for WWE Marc Savard, professional hockey player Brad Sinopoli, CFL player with the Ottawa Redblacks Mitchell Stephens, NHL player Cory Stillman, former NHL player Owen Tippett, NHL player Chris White, lacrosse player Jesse Young, professional basketball player with MMT Estudiantes in the Spanish Liga ACB
Musicians
Greg Wells, Grammy winning record producer, musician and songwriter
Tebey, country singer, pop
Adam Gontier, singer, songwriter and guitarist of Saint Asonia and prior lead singer of Three Days Grace Emily Haines, musician, lead singer of Metric Ronnie Hawkins, rock musician, currently resides in Lakefield (Peterborough County) Ramin Karimloo, singer, songwriter, West End/Broadway performer Trevor McNevan, lead singer of rock band Thousand Foot Krutch Luke Nicholson, singer, songwriter Serena Ryder, singer and songwriter Neil Sanderson, drummer of Three Days Grace Christian Tanna, brother of Jagori Tanna; co-founder of the band I Mother Earth Jagori Tanna, brother of Christian Tanna; co-founder of the band I Mother Earth Rob Wells, songwriter and record producer Royal Wood, singer, songwriter
Politicians
George Albertus Cox (1840–1914), former mayor, Canadian Senator
Dean Del Mastro
Gerard Kennedy, 2006 Liberal leadership candidate, studied at Trent University
Peter Robinson (1785–1838), Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario
Robert Smeaton White (1856-1944), Canadian Journalist and Member of Parliament
Religion
Alden John Bell, Roman Catholic bishop
Writers
Dave Carley, playwright
Robertson Davies, (1913–1995), novelist, playwright, critic, journalist and professor Manly Palmer Hall, philosopher and mystical author Hugh Kenner, scholar of modernist literature Yann Martel, winner of the Booker Prize, studied philosophy at Peterborough's Trent University Paul Nicholas Mason, author of The Night Drummer, Battered Soles, The Red Dress and A Pug Called Poppy Derek McCormack, writer Leah McLaren, journalist, author Susanna Moodie, 19th-century author Jennifer Robson, novelist Ian Rogers, horror writer Catherine Parr Traill, 19th-century author