List of people with surname O'Donnell

A number of notable people have the surname O'Donnell:

Academia

• Edward J. O'Donnell (1909–1986), President of Marquette University (1948–1962)
• Guillermo O'Donnell (1936–2011), Argentine academic
• Hugo O'Donnell, Duke of Tetuan (born 1948), Spanish naval historian, and Knight of Malta
• James J. O'Donnell (born 1950), classical scholar and Provost of Georgetown University
• Patrick Denis O'Donnell (1922–2005), Irish military historian

Entertainment and the arts

• Cathy O'Donnell (1923–1970), American actress, originally Ann Steely
• Chris O'Donnell (born 1970), American actor
• Daniel O'Donnell (singer) (born 1961), Irish musician
• Heather O'Donnell, American concert pianist
• James O'Donnell (organist) (born 1961), organist, choral conductor and academic teacher, Westminster Abbey
• Jamie-Lee O'Donnell, Irish actress
• Keir O'Donnell (born 1978), Australian actor living in Los Angeles
• Lawrence O'Donnell (born 1951), American television host of The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, political analyst and writer
• Martin O'Donnell (born 1955), Audio Director for Bungie
• Michael O'Donnell (1928–2019), British physician and broadcaster
• Roger O'Donnell (born 1955), English musician and keyboardist of The Cure
• Rosie O'Donnell (born 1962), American actress and television hostess
• Steve O'Donnell (born 1954), American television scriptwriter
• Steven O'Donnell (Australian actor) (born 1980), Australian television presenter and actor

Characters

• Wolf O'Donnell, a character in Nintendo's Star Fox video game series

Journalism

• Kelly O'Donnell (born 1965), American journalist
• Norah O'Donnell (born 1974), American journalist

Literature

• Elliott O'Donnell (1872–1965), Irish author
• Jessie Fremont O'Donnell (1860–1897), American writer
• John Francis O'Donnell (1837–1874), Irish journalist and poet
• Lisa O'Donnell, Scottish writer
• Mietta O'Donnell (1950–2001), Australian restaurateur and food writer
• Peadar O'Donnell (1893–1986), Irish political activist and writer
• Peter O'Donnell (1920–2010), British fiction writer
• Terence O'Donnell (1924–2011), American writer

Medicine

• Barry O'Donnell (1926–2019), Irish surgeon
• Pacho O'Donnell (born 1941), Argentine psychoanalyst

Nobility

• Calvagh O'Donnell (died 1566), The O'Donnell, 22nd Chieftain, and Lord of Tyrconnell
• Cathbarr O'Donnell (died 1608), a member of the O'Donnell dynasty
• Donnell O'Donnell (died 1590)
• Enrique O'Donnell, Conde del Abisbal (1769–1834), Irish-Spanish nobleman, Spanish general
• Hugh O'Donnell, 2nd Earl of Tyrconnell (1606–1642)
• José O'Donnell (1722–1787), Irish-Spanish nobleman, Spanish general
• Manus O'Donnell (died 1564), The O'Donnell, 21st Chieftain, King of Tyrconnell, and biographer of St Colmcille
• Maximilian Karl Lamoral O'Donnell (1812–1895), Hiberno-Austrian Count, saved life of Emperor Franz Josef I
• Niall Garve O'Donnell (1569–1626)
• Red Hugh O'Donnell (1572–1601), The O'Donnell, 24th Chieftain, Prince of Tyrconnell
• Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell (1575–1608)

Politics

• Christine O'Donnell (born 1969), American politician and social and political commentator
• Daniel O'Donnell (politician) (born 1960), American legislator from the state of New York
• Francis Martin O'Donnell (born 1954), Irish UN diplomat and Knight of Malta
• Frank Hugh O'Donnell (1846–1916), nationalist MP
• Gus O'Donnell (born 1952), Baron, Cabinet Secretary (chief civil servant), British Government
• Hugh Roe O'Donnell (1572–1602), Irish Rebel
• James O'Donnell (politician) (1840–1915), American politician from Michigan
• John O'Donnell (Irish politician, born 1980s), nationally known figure
• Kenneth O'Donnell (1924–1977), American politician
• Leopoldo O'Donnell (1809–1867), 1st Duke of Tetuan, and former Prime Minister of Spain
• Peter O'Donnell (1924–2021), Texas Republican politician and businessman
• Phil O'Donnell (1932–1982), IRA volunteer from Derry
• Thomas O'Donnell (Irish nationalist politician) (1871–1943), Irish Nationalist MP for West Kerry
• Thomas E. O'Donnell (draft opponent), activist in the New York Draft Riots
• Tom O'Donnell (politician) (1926–2020), Irish politician

Religion

• Cletus F. O'Donnell (1917–1992), American Roman Catholic bishop
• Edmund O'Donnell, Irish Jesuit
• Edward Joseph O'Donnell (1931–2009), American Roman Catholic bishop
• James O'Donnell (organist) (born 1961), current organist of Westminster Abbey
• Patrick O'Donnell (1856–1927), Cardinal Archbishop of Armagh

Sport

• Andy O'Donnell (1925–2019), American basketball player
• Carter O'Donnell (born 1998), American football player
• Conor O'Donnell, at least three Gaelic footballers
• Danny O'Donnell (born 1986), English footballer
• Ethan O'Donnell (born 1996/7), Irish Gaelic footballer
• Gary O'Donnell (born 1965), Australian-rules footballer
• Luke O'Donnell (born 1980), Australian International Rugby League player
• Martin O'Donnell (born 1986), English professional snooker player
• Neil O'Donnell (born 1966), former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback
• Niall O'Donnell (born 1998), Irish Gaelic footballer
• Phil O'Donnell (1972–2007), Scottish footballer
• Scott O'Donell (born 1967), Australian football (soccer) player
• Sean O'Donnell (born 1971), Canadian hockey player

Other professions

• Denis O'Donnell (1875–1933), Irish dairy innovator and entrepreneur
• Emmett O'Donnell, Jr. (1906–1971), U.S. Air Force general
• Myles O'Donnell, Chicago mobster during the Prohibition era