List of people from California

This is a partial list of well-known people from California.

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A

* Willie Aames - actor
* Paula Abdul - dancer/singer ("American Idol")
* Ansel Adams - photographer
* Rick Adelman - NBA head coach (Houston Rockets)
* Ben Affleck - actor
* Troy Aikman - football player (Dallas Cowboys)
* Jessica Alba - actress ("Dark Angel")
* Edward Albert - actor
* Angela Alioto - San Francisco politician
* Joseph Alioto - mayor (1968–1976) of San Francisco
* Gracie Allen - comedian (George Burns)
* Marcus Allen - NFL player
* Ray Allen - professional basketball player (Boston Celtics)
* Helen Andelin - author ("Fascinating Womanhood")
* Melissa Sue Anderson - actress
* Jennifer Aniston - actress ("Friends")
* Christina Applegate - actress
* Jon Appleton - composer
* Eve Arden - actress
* Billie Joe Armstrong - lead vocalist (Green Day)
* Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu - bassist (Korn)
* Maureen Arthur - actress ("How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying")
* Anastasia Ashman - writer
* Sean Astin - actor ("The Lord of the Rings")
* Tracy Austin - tennis player

B

* Max Baer, Jr. - actor (Jethro Bodine of The Beverly Hillbillies)
* Ross Bagdasarian - actor ("Alvin and the Chipmunks")
* Diane Baker - actress ("The Silence of the Lambs")
* Dusty Baker - manager of the Cincinnati Reds
* Bob Balgenorth - building trades union president
* Tyra Banks - model/actress ("The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air")
* Adrienne Barbeau - actress ("Maude")
* Travis Barker - Blink 182
* Matt Barnes - NBA player
* Drew Barrymore - actress ("50 First Dates")
* Summer Bartholomew - Miss USA 1975
* Michael Bay - director
* Amanda Beard - Olympic swimmer
* Beck - musician
* Captain Beefheart - musician
* Tory Belleci - film maker and model maker (MythBusters)
* Marcus Benjamin - (born in 1857) Early biographer at the Smithsonian Institution
* Candice Bergen - actress ("Murphy Brown")
* Carolyn Beug - passenger aboard American Airlines Flight 11
* Thora Birch - actress
* Bradford Bishop - indicted murderer and at-large fugitive
* Bill Bixby - actor ("The Incredible Hulk")
* Mel Blanc - cartoon voice actor
* Jack Black - actor ("Tenacious D")
* Hank Blalock - baseball player (Texas Rangers)
* Betsy Bloomingdale - socialite
* Jonathan Blum - hockey player
* C-Bo - rapper
* Aaron Boone - Baseball player (Cleveland Indians)
* Barry Bonds - baseball player (San Francisco Giants)
* Bobby Bonds - baseball player (San Francisco Giants)
* Barry Bostwick - actor ("Spin City, The Rocky Horror Picture Show")
* Bruce Bowen - NBA player (San Antonio Spurs)
* Tom Brady - football quarterback (New England Patriots)
* Benjamin Bratt - actor
* Nicholas Brendon - actor ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer")
* Stephen Breyer - Supreme Court Justice
* Beau Bridges - actor ("The Fabulous Baker Boys")
* Jeff Bridges - actor ("The Big Lebowski")
* Lloyd Bridges - actor ("Sea Hunt, Airplane!")
* Adam Brody - actor ("The O.C.")
* Albert Brooks - actor/director ("Lost in America")
* Alton Brown - television host
* Jerry Brown - Governor of California (1975–1983), Mayor of Oakland
* Pat Brown - Governor of California (1959–1967)
* Willie Brown - 58th Speaker of the California Assembly, Mayor of San Francisco
* Lindsey Buckingham - musician (Fleetwood Mac)
* Bill Buckner - Baseball player
* Don Budge - Tennis player
* Hunter Burgan - Bass player for AFI
* Cruz Bustamante - California lieutenant governor
* Kari Byron - artist and television personality (MythBusters)

C

* Herb Caen - newspaper columnist ("San Francisco Chronicle")
* John Cage - Composer
* Nicolas Cage- actor
* Dolph Camilli - baseball player
* Ben Nighthorse Campbell - U.S. Senator from Colorado
* Nick Cannon - actor
* Ray Cantrell - actor - writer
* Mr. Capone-E - rapper
* Linda Cardellini - actress ("Freaks and Geeks")
* Tucker Carlson - television host
* David Carr - football player
* David Carradine - actor ("Kung Fu")
* Ever Carradine - actress (daughter of Robert Carradine)
* Keith Carradine - actor ("Nashville")
* Robert Carradine - actor ("Revenge of the Nerds")
* Pete Carroll - football coach (USC)
* Adam Carson - drummer of AFI
* Cher - singer/actress/entertainer ("Moonstruck")
* Joey Chestnut - competitive eater
* Julia Child - cook
* Margaret Cho - actress
* Amy Chow - Gymnast
* Lana Clarkson - actress ("Fast Times at Ridgemont High")
* Sasha Cohen - figure skater
* Maureen Connolly - tennis player
* Mike Connors- actor ("Mannix")
* Elisha Cook Jr. - actor ("The Maltese Falcon")
* Coolio - rapper
* Kevin Costner - actor ("Field of Dreams")
* Natalie Coughlin - Olympic swimmer
* Nikki Cox - actress ("Las Vegas")
* Les Claypool - Bass player for Primus
* Alan Cranston - U.S. Senator from California
* William H. Crocker - philanthropist and founder of Crocker National Bank
* Joe Cronin - professional baseball player
* Ice Cube - musician, actor
* Jamie Lee Curtis - actress ("Halloween")

D

* Iva Toguri D'Aquino (Tokyo Rose) - radio broadcaster during World War II
* Carson Daly - television host
* Ted Danson - actor Cheers
* Lindsay Davenport - tennis player
* Baron Davis - professional basketball player (Golden State Warriors)
* Terrell Davis - professional football player
* Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris - husband/wife directors ("Little Miss Sunshine")
* Zack de la Rocha - singer
* Tom DeLonge - Blink 182
* Cameron Diaz - actress ("There's Something About Mary")
* Leonardo DiCaprio - actor
* Trent Dilfer - NFL quarterback
* Daz Dillinger - rapper
* Joe DiMaggio - baseball player
* Roy Edward Disney, billionaire, nephew of Walt Disney
* Nate Dogg - musician
* Snoop Dogg - rapper
* Canh Thong Do - Democracy Activist arrested in Vietnam
* Ami Dolenz actress (daughter of Mickey Dolenz)
* Mickey Dolenz - member of The Monkees
* Jimmy Doolittle - U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force General
* Dr Dre - musician, rap producer
* Mac Dre - rapper
* Dresta - rapper
* K. Eric Drexler - engineer
* Isadora Duncan - dancer
* Robert Duvall - actor
* Jermaine Dye - baseball player (Chicago White Sox)

E

* Clint Eastwood - film actor and director ("Million Dollar Baby")
* Eazy-E - rapper
* Dennis Eckersley - baseball player
* Zac Efron - American film and TV actor. Best known for his role in "High School Musical"
* Mc Eiht - actor, rapper
* Hilary Duff - actor, singer

F

* Bill Fagerbakke - actor/voice actor ("Patrick Star")
* Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris - husband/wife directors ("Little Miss Sunshine")
* Heather Fargo - mayor of Sacramento, California
* Mia Farrow - actress
* Dianne Feinstein - US Senator, mayor (1978–1988) of San Francisco
* Stacy Ferguson - singer, actress ("The Dutchess"), ("Charlie Brown"), ("Fergalicious")
* Will Ferrell - actor
* Miguel Ferrer - actor ("RoboCop")
* Carrie Fisher - actress
* Abigail Folger - American coffee heiress, socialite, and murder victim
* Dian Fossey - zoologist
* Jodie Foster - actress ("The Silence of the Lambs")
* Paulette Frankl - artist, biographer
* Robert Frost - poet
* Del tha Funkee Homosapien - rapper
* Edward Furlong - actor ("")

G

* Warren G - rapper
* Guy Gabaldon - United States Marine Corps
* Lynx and Lamb Gaede - white nationalist twin singers and musicians
* The Game - rapper
* Jeff Garcia - American football player
* Jerry Garcia - musician (Grateful Dead)
* Kyle Gass - musician (Tenacious D)
* Dirk Gates - network entrepreneur (Xirrus)
* Jason Giambi - professional baseball player (New York Yankees)
* Tyrese Gibson - actor
* Brad Gilbert - tennis coach
* Melissa Gilbert - actress ("Little House on the Prairie"), producer
* Sara Gilbert - actress ("Roseanne (TV series)")
* Lillian Moller Gilbreth - engineer ("Cheaper by the Dozen")
* Danny Glover - actor
* Rube Goldberg - cartoonist
* Drew Gooden - professional basketball player (Cleveland Cavaliers)
* Jeff Gordon - NASCAR driver
* Joseph Gordon-Levitt - actor
* Gloria Grahame - actress
* Joanie Greggains - radio show host, health and fitness expert.
* Sasha Grey - American pornographic actress
* Merv Griffin - talk show host, singer, television producer ("Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune")
* Florence Griffith-Joyner, track athlete
* Josh Groban - musician
* Marjoe Gortner - evangelical minister
* Vince Guaraldi - musician ("A Charlie Brown Christmas")
* Kimberly Guilfoyle - television personality
* Tony Gwynn - Hall of Fame baseball player
* Jake Gyllenhaal - actor

H

* Walter A. Haas, Jr. CEO of Levi Strauss & Co.
* Steven C. Hackett - economist (Humboldt State University)
* Gene Hackman - actor
* Sammy Hagar - musician (Van Halen)
* Merle Haggard - Country music singer
* Jackie Earle Haley - actor ("Bad News Bears")
* Mark Hamill - actor ("Star Wars")
* Laird Hamilton - surfer
* Harry Hamlin - actor ("Clash of the Titans")
* MC Hammer - musician
* Kirk Hammett - musician (Metallica)
* Daniel Handler - Lemony Snicket
* Colin Hanks - actor ("King Kong")
* Tom Hanks - actor ("Big")
* Jeff Hanneman - guitarist (Slayer)
* Dan Haren - professional baseball player (Oakland Athletics)
* Mariska Hargitay - actress ("")
* Jeff B. Harmon - film producer, director, actor.
* Josh Hartnett - actor
* Kevin Harvick - NASCAR driver
* Teri Hatcher - actress
* Davey Havok - lead singer of AFI
* Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins - professional skateboarder
* Julie Hayek - Miss USA 1983
* Dennis Haysbert - actor ("24")
* William Randolph Hearst - newspaper publisher
* Patty Hearst - newspaper heiress (Symbionese Liberation Army)
* Lacie Heart - Porn actress and nude model
* Christy Hemme - professional wrestler and model
* Mariel Hemingway - actress ("Manhattan")
* Keith Hernandez - baseball player (New York Mets)
* James Hetfield - musician (Metallica)
* Dustin Hoffman - actor
* Trevor Hoffman - professional baseball player (San Diego Padres)
* Brenda Holloway - singer and songwriter
* Mike Holmgren - football coach (Seattle Seahawks)
* Mark Hoppus - Blink 182
* Taylor Horn - singer and actress
* James Horner - composer
* Sam Horrigan - actor Little Giants
* William Hung - (American Idol)
* Helen Hunt - actress ("Mad About You")
* Vanessa Anne Hudgens - American actress and singer. Best known for her role in "High School Musical"
* Kate Hudson - actress
* Terry Huntingdon - Miss USA 1959

I

* Grant Imahara - electronics and radio control expert (MythBusters)
* Yasuhiro Ishimoto - photographer
* Phil Ivey - professional poker player

J

* Shirley Jackson - author
* Jesse G. James - actor & CEO and politician
* Richard Jefferson - professional basketball player
* Fran Jeffries - actress ("The Pink Panther")
* Steve Jobs - billionaire computer pioneer, co-founder of Apple Computer
* Jimmie Johnson - NASCAR driver and champion
* Keyshawn Johnson - retired professional football player
* Randy Johnson - baseball player (Arizona Diamondbacks)
* Angelina Jolie - actress
* Joe Jonas - guitarist,singer (The Jonas Brothers)
* Kevin Jonas - guitarist,back-up singer (The Jonas Brothers)
* Nicholas Jonas - guitarist, singer (The Jonas Brothers)
* Jerry Jones - owner, Dallas Cowboys
* Marion Jones - track athlete

K

* Adam Kagin - professional poker playerFact|date = July 2008
* Tony Kanal - bassist with No Doubt
* Chris Kattan - actor, comedian
* Julie Kavner - actress
* Diane Keaton - actress ("Annie Hall")
* Anthony Kennedy - Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court
* Kirk Kerkorian - Billionaire investor and philanthropist
* Jason Kidd - NBA player
* Val Kilmer - actor
* Billie Jean King - tennis player
* Regina King - actress
* Kerry King - guitarist(Slayer)
* Maxine Hong Kingston - author
* B.G. Knocc Out - rapper
* Mike Krukow - baseball pitcher/announcer (San Francisco Giants)
* Lisa Kudrow - actress ("Friends")
* Michelle Kwan - figure skater

L

* Shia LaBeouf - actor
* Rick Law - illustrator/producer
* Bruce Lee - martial artist
* Jason Lee - actor ("My Name is Earl")
* Janet Leigh - actress
* Jennifer Jason Leigh - actress ("Fast Times at Ridgemont High")
* Brad Lesley - baseball player/cast member on "Takeshi's Castle"
* Monica Lewinsky
* Huey Lewis - musician (Huey Lewis and the News)
* Juliette Lewis - actress
* Rob Liefeld - comic book writer
* Heather Locklear - actress
* Jack London - author ("The Call of the Wild")
* Mario López - actor ("Saved by the Bell")
* Greg Louganis- Olympic Diver
* Courtney Love - musician
* Jon Lovitz - actor
* George Lucas - billionaire filmmaker (Star Wars)
* Brotha Lynch Hung - rapper
* Ray Lynch - actor
* Cheryl Lynn - singer

M

* Mack 10 - rapper (Westside Connection)
* Theodore Harold Maiman-Inventor of Ruby Laser Systems Laser
* Ricky Manning, Jr. Football player
* Cheech Marin - actor
* Shannon Marketic - Miss USA 1992
* Bob Mathias - decathlete
* Pete McCloskey - politician
* Willie McCool - astronaut, killed on "Columbia"
* Willie McGee - baseball player
* Jeremy McGrath - supercross racer
* Mark McGwire - baseball player
* Robert McNamara - former United States Secretary of Defense
* Katharine McPhee - singer, born and raised in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California
* Casey Mears - NASCAR driver
* Edwin Meese - US Attorney General (1985–1988)
* Casey Merrill - football running back
* Jon Miller - sportscaster
* Marisa Miller - supermodel
* Penelope Ann Miller - actress
* Reggie Miller - basketball player (Indiana Pacers)
* Stanley Miller - chemist
* Norm Mineta - U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Transportation
* Liza Minnelli - singer/actress ("Cabaret")
* Shemar Moore - actor
* Terry Moore - actress "Mighty Joe Young"
* Marilyn Monroe - actress ("Some Like It Hot")
* George Moscone mayor (1976—1978) of San Francisco, California
* Bill Mumy - child actor ("Lost in Space")
* Eddie Murray - baseball player (Baltimore Orioles)
* Dave Mustaine - musician (Megadeth)
* Chris Mordetzky - wrestler (Los Angeles)
* Jason Mraz-singer (San Diego)

N

* Randy Newman - composer, musician
* Gavin Newsom - mayor (2004–present) of San Francisco, California
* Lorenzo Neal - Pro Bowl football player
* Richard Nixon - President of the United States
* Young Noble - rapper
* Lyn Nofziger - author/journalist/press secretary (Ronald Reagan)
* Johnny Nitro - wrestler (Los Angeles)

O

* Willis O'Brien - movie special effects artist
* Lefty O'Doul - baseball player
* Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen - actresses and entrepreneurs
* Omarion - musician
* Tatum O'Neal - actress
* Haley Joel Osment - actor

P

* Gwyneth Paltrow - actress
* Leon Panetta - White House Chief of Staff under Bill Clinton
* Jerry Paris - actor ("The Dick Van Dyke Show")
* Richard Park - ice hockey forward, New York Islanders
* Harry Partch - composer
* George S. Patton - soldier
* Gary Payton - professional basketball player (Miami Heat)
* Gregory Peck - actor
* Sam Peckinpah - director
* Michelle Pfeiffer - actress
* Laci Peterson - murder victim
* Paul Pierce - professional basketball player (Boston Celtics)
* Jim Plunkett - football quarterback (Oakland Raiders)
* Chad Power - martial artist
* Freddie Prinze, Jr. - actor
* Tayshaun Prince - professional basketball player (Detroit Pistons)
* Jade Puget - guitarist of AFI

R

* Taylor Rain - Porn actress and nude model
* B-Real - rapper (Cypress Hill)
* Robert Redford - actor ("Barefoot in the Park")
* Mason Reese - child actor
* Maria Remenyi - Miss USA 1966
* MC Ren - rapper
* Christina Ricci - actress ("The Addams Family")
* Michael Richards - actor ("Seinfeld")
* Nicole Richie - actress
* Sally Ride - astronaut (STS-7 and STS-41-G)
* Isiah Rider - basketball player
* Cathy Rigby - gymnast/actress ("Peter Pan")
* Jason Ritter - actor (son of John Ritter; grandson of Tex Ritter)
* Tony Robbins - life coach
* The Rock - actor/wrestler ("The Scorpion King")
* Dana Rohrabacher - member of the United States House of Representatives
* Jimmy Rollins - baseball player
* Jim Rome - sports radio talk show host
* Josiah Royce - philosopher
* Marla Ruzicka - activist (Green Party (United States))

* C. C. Sabathia - baseball player
* Pierre Salinger - White House Press Secretary under John F. Kennedy
* Andy Samberg - comedian (SNL)
* Eugene Schmitz - "worst" mayor (1902–1907) of San Francisco
* Rob Schneider actor/comedian
* Liev Schreiber - actor
* Charles R. Schwab - CEO
* Cathy Scott - true crime author ("The Killing of Tupac Shakur")
* Junior Seau - American football player
* Tom Seaver - Hall of Fame baseball player
* Richard Serra - sculptor
* Tony Serra - civil rights attorney
* Harry Shearer - actor and comedian (Spinal Tap)
* Mike Shinoda - singer/rapper (Linkin Park)
* Too Short - rapper
* Alicia Silverstone - actress
* O.J. Simpson - football player
* Richard Slawson - building trades union manager
* Charles Martin Smith - actor ("American Graffiti")
* Roger Smith - actor ("77 Sunset Strip")
* Marilyn Smith-Ifland - Olympic basketball player
* Duke Snider - baseball player
* Gary Snyder - poet
* Suzanne Somers - actress ("Three's Company")
* Brenda Song - actress
* Gary Soto - poet
* Robert Stack - actor ("Airplane!")
* Walt Stack - local running hero (San Francisco)
* Leland Stanford, Jr. - namesake of Stanford University
* Steven Stayner
* Danielle Steele - author
* Gwen Stefani - singer
* John Steinbeck - author ("Of Mice and Men")
* George Stevens - film director/producer/writer
* Cynthia Stevenson - actress ("Dead Like Me")
* Ted Stickles - world-class swimmer
* Terri Stickles - Olympic swimmer
* Saleisha Stowers - model
* David Strathairn - actor
* Robert W. Straub - Oregon governor 1975–1979 (Governors of Oregon)
* Darryl Strawberry - baseball player
* Ned Stuart - producer-actor-operatic lyric baritone
* Lynn Swann - football player
* Jodie Sweetin - actress ("Full House")
* Bob Swenson - football player

T

* Amy Tan - writer ("Joy Luck Club")
* Amber Tamblyn - actress ("Joan of Arcadia")
* Russ Tamblyn - actor ("West Side Story")
* Shirley Temple - child actress
* Robin Thicke - singer
* Jennifer Tilly - actress
* Kenneth Tobey - actor
* Lisa Tucker - singer
* Aisha Tyler - actress
* Tupac Shakur - rapper

U

V

*Andie Valentino - a pornographic actress
*Antonio Villaraigosa 51st Los Angeles mayor.
* Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo - Mexican general, American politician
* Jhonen Vasquez - comic book writer/artist
* Ken Venturi - golfer
* Victoria Vetri - model and actress
* Roy Marlin Voris - World War II flying ace and Founder of the United States Navy Blue Angels

W

* Bill Walsh (football coach)
* Laurie Walters - actress ("Eight Is Enough")
* Bill Walton - Hall of Fame basketball player
* Luke Walton - basketball player
* Andre Ward - 2004 Summer Olympics gold medal winning boxer
* Earl Warren - Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court
* Caspar Weinberger - Secretary of Defense
* Bob Weir - musician (Grateful Dead)
* Jill Whelan - actress "Airplane!"
* Brandon Whitt - NASCAR driver
* John Williams - composer
* Paul Williams - architect
* Ted Williams - Hall of Fame baseball player
* Dontrelle Willis - baseball player (Florida Marlins)
* Rita Wilson - actress
* Tamara Witmer - model
* Victor Wong - actor
* Beatrice Wood - artist
* Natalie Wood - actress ("This Property Is Condemned")
* Tiger Woods - golfer
* Steve Wozniak - inventor of the Apple Computer

Y

* Elliott Yamin - singer, born in Los Angeles, California
* "Weird Al" Yankovic - Parodist, mostly known for White and Nerdy
* Tina Yothers - actress ("Family Ties")
* Yukmouth - rapper

Z

* Anthony Zerbe - actor
* Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. - Chief of Naval Operations

Groups of people

* Red Hot Chili Peppers - American rock band
* P.O.D. - American rock band
* Green Day - American rock band
* Orgy - American synth band
* Julien-K - American synth band
* Switchfoot - American rock band
* Thrice - American rock band
* No Doubt - American alternative pop band
* AFI - American rock band

California transplants

* Juan Bautista de Anza, Spanish explorer
* Samuel Brannan, American newspaper publisher
* Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, Spanish explorer
* César Chávez, American labor leader
* Lawrence Ellison, Oracle Corporation CEO, richest Californian
* John C. Frémont, American General, military Governor of California
* Domingo Ghirardelli, Italian chocolateer (Ghirardelli Chocolate Company)
* Chick Hearn, NBA Basketball announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers
* William Reddington Hewlett - co-founder of Hewlett-Packard
* Bob Hope, actor, singer, comedian
* James Lick, American real estate baron
* John Madden, American football coach/commentator
* Steve Martin, Actor, director, comedian
* Johnny Mathis, singer (Chances Are (song))
* Thomas Mesereau, Celebrity criminal defense lawyer
* Joe Montana, American football quarterback
* John Muir, American naturalist
* Joshua A. Norton, British self proclaimed "Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico"
* Buck Owens, Country music performer
* Gaspar de Portolà, Spanish explorer
* Ronald Reagan, President of the United States
* Carlos Santana, Mexican musician
* Charles Schulz, cartoonist
* Vin Scully, announcer for Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers
* Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austrian bodybuilder, actor, Governor of California
* Glenn T. Seaborg, American chemist
* Junipero Serra, Spanish missionary
* Steven Spielberg, billionaire director
* Leland Stanford, American railroad baron, Governor of California, founder of Stanford University
* Kenneth Starr, lawyer, university law dean
* Levi Strauss, Bavarian clothing manufacturer
* John Sutter, Swiss real estate baron
* Mark Twain, American humorist and author
* Marjorie Thompson, British peace activist
* Sarah Winchester, American heiress, eccentric, builder of the Winchester Mystery House
* Chuck Yeager, US Air Force test pilot
* Ace Young, Singer
* Steve Young, American football player
* Dr. Dre, Rapper
* Lars Ulrich, musician (Metallica)

ee also

* List of people from Long Beach, California
* List of people from Los Angeles
* List of people from Orange County, California
* List of people associated with San Francisco