List of people from California facts for kids

The official flag of California

Where California is on the U.S. map

California is a huge state in the United States. It's known for its sunny weather, beautiful beaches, and big cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. Many famous people have lived, worked, or grown up here. This list shares some of the most notable people from California, including actors, musicians, athletes, and leaders. They have all made a big impact in their fields!

Actors and Entertainers

Jennifer Aniston

Jack Black

Leonardo DiCaprio

Hilary Duff

Kevin Costner

California is a major center for movies and TV shows. Many talented actors and entertainers call it home.

Willie Aames – An actor.
Paula Abdul – A dancer and singer, famous from American Idol.
Ben Affleck – A well-known actor and director.
Jessica Alba – An actress and model.
Anthony Anderson – An actor.
Jennifer Aniston – An actress, famous for Friends.
Christina Applegate – An actress.
Sean Astin – An actor, known for The Lord of the Rings.
Drew Barrymore – An actress, known for movies like 50 First Dates.
Tyra Banks – A model and actress.
Mayim Bialik – An actress, known for The Big Bang Theory.
Jack Black – An actor and musician, part of Tenacious D.
Mel Blanc – A famous cartoon voice actor.
Kate Bosworth – An actress.
Benjamin Bratt – An actor.
Jeff Bridges – An actor, known for The Big Lebowski.
Josh Brolin – An actor.
Albert Brooks – An actor and director.
Tim Burton – A famous film director.
Amanda Bynes – An actress.
Nicolas Cage – An actor.
Linda Cardellini – An actress.
David Carradine – An actor, known for Kung Fu.
Richard Chamberlain – An actor.
Jessica Chastain – An actress.
Cher – A famous actress, entertainer, and singer.
Margaret Cho – An actress and comedian.
Jamie Chung – An actress.
Holly Marie Combs – An actress.
Miranda Cosgrove – An actress and singer, known for iCarly.
Kevin Costner – An actor and director, known for Field of Dreams.
Bryan Cranston – An actor.
James Cromwell – An actor.
Kaley Cuoco – An actress, known for The Big Bang Theory.
Jamie Lee Curtis – An actress, known for Halloween.
Ted Danson – An actor, known for Cheers.
Leonardo DiCaprio – A very famous actor.
Bo Derek – An actress.
Laura Dern – An actress.
Emily Deschanel – An actress.
Zooey Deschanel – An actress and singer.
Cameron Diaz – An actress.
Micky Dolenz – An actor and musician, from The Monkees.
Hilary Duff – An actress and singer.
Robert Duvall – An actor.
Clint Eastwood – A famous film actor and director.
Aaron Eckhart – An actor.
Anthony Edwards – An actor.
Zac Efron – A film and television actor, known for High School Musical.
Jenna Elfman – An actress.
Sam Elliott – An actor.
Mia Farrow – An actress.
Will Ferrell – A popular actor and comedian.
America Ferrera – An actress.
Sally Field – An actress, known for Norma Rae.
Carrie Fisher – An actress.
Jodie Foster – An actress, known for The Silence of the Lambs.
James Franco – An actor.
Edward Furlong – An actor, known for Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
Tyrese Gibson – An actor.
Melissa Gilbert – An actress, known for Little House on the Prairie.
Sara Gilbert – An actress.
Danny Glover – An actor.
Donald Glover – An actor and singer.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – An actor.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar – An actor.
Jake Gyllenhaal – An actor.
Gene Hackman – An actor.
Jackie Earle Haley – An actor.
Mark Hamill – An actor, famous as Luke Skywalker in Star Wars.
Harry Hamlin – An actor.
Armie Hammer – An actor.
Colin Hanks – An actor.
Tom Hanks – A very famous actor, director, and producer.
Mariska Hargitay – An actress, known for Law & Order: SVU.
Mark Harmon – An actor.
Teri Hatcher – An actress.
Dennis Haysbert – An actor.
Simon Helberg – An actor and comedian, from The Big Bang Theory.
Mariel Hemingway – An actress.
Pamela Hensley – An actress.
Barbara Hershey – An actress.
Jonah Hill – An actor.
Dustin Hoffman – A famous actor.
Josh Holloway – An actor, known for Lost.
Bryce Dallas Howard – An actress.
C. Thomas Howell – An actor.
Vanessa Hudgens – An actress and singer, known for High School Musical.
Kate Hudson – An actress.
Helen Hunt – An actress.
Anjelica Huston – An actress.
Timothy Hutton – An actor.
Ice Cube – A musician and actor.
Gabriel Iglesias – A comedian.
Kathy Ireland – A model.
Angelina Jolie – A very famous actress.
Rashida Jones – An actress.
Tamala Jones – An actress.
Ashley Judd – An actress.
Chris Kattan – An actor and comedian.
Julie Kavner – An actress.
Diane Keaton – An actress, director, and producer.
Sally Kellerman – An actress.
Minka Kelly – An actress.
Val Kilmer – An actor.
Elle King – A singer and actress.
Regina King – An actress.
Nathan Kress – An actor, known for iCarly.
Lisa Kudrow – An actress, known for Friends.
Shia LaBeouf – An actor.
Janet Leigh – An actress.
Jennifer Jason Leigh – An actress.
Juliette Lewis – An actress.
Blake Lively – An actress, known for Gossip Girl.
Heather Locklear – An actress.
George Lopez – An actor and comedian.
Mario López – An actor, known for Saved by the Bell.
Jon Lovitz – An actor.
Lorna Luft – A singer and actress.
Cheech Marin – An actor.
Maureen McCormick – An actress.
Jennette McCurdy – An actress and singer.
Audra McDonald – An actress and singer.
Katharine McPhee – A singer and actress.
Lee Meriwether – An actress and former Miss America.
AJ Michalka – An actress and musician.
Aly Michalka – An actress and singer.
Penelope Ann Miller – An actress.
Liza Minnelli – A singer and actress.
Marilyn Monroe – A legendary actress.
Elizabeth Montgomery – An actress, known for Bewitched.
Shemar Moore – An actor.
Terry Moore – An actress.
Elisabeth Moss – An actress.
Megan Mullally – An actress.
Bill Mumy – A child actor, known for Lost in Space.
Noah Munck – An actor, known for iCarly.
Dagmar Oakland – A stage and screen actress.
Edward James Olmos – An actor.
Elizabeth Olsen – An actress.
Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen – Actresses and entrepreneurs.
Ryan O'Neal – An actor.
Tatum O'Neal – An actress.
Heather O'Rourke – An actress.
Emily Osment – An actress and singer.
Haley Joel Osment – An actor.
Jimmy Osmond – A singer.
Gwyneth Paltrow – An actress.
Jerry Paris – A director and actor.
Grace Park – An actress.
Paula Patton – An actress.
Sara Paxton – An actress and singer.
Gregory Peck – A famous actor.
Chris Penn – An actor.
Sean Penn – A famous actor.
Michelle Pfeiffer – An actress.
Kathleen Quinlan – An actress.
Frances Rafferty – An actress.
Robert Redford – A famous actor and director.
Autumn Reeser – An actress.
Jeremy Renner – An actor.
Christina Ricci – An actress.
Ariana Richards – An actress.
Michael Richards – An actor, known for Seinfeld.
Nicole Richie – An actress.
Cathy Rigby – A gymnast and actress.
Molly Ringwald – An actress.
Jason Ritter – An actor.
Naya Rivera – An actress and singer.
Tim Robbins – An actor.
Rebecca Romijn – A model and actress.
Keri Russell – An actress.
Rene Russo – An actress.
George Takei – An actor, famous for Star Trek.
Amber Tamblyn – An actress.
Russ Tamblyn – An actor.
Aimee Teegarden – An actress and model.
Shirley Temple – A child film star and former U.S. Ambassador.
Jennifer Tilly – An actress.
Kenneth Tobey – An actor.
Alessandra Torresani – An actress.
Danny Trejo – An actor.
Lisa Tucker – A singer.
Aisha Tyler – An actress.
Karen Valentine – An actress.
Victoria Vetri – A model and actress.
Lindsay Wagner – An actress.
Laurie Walters – An actress.
Jill Whelan – An actress.
Esther Williams – An actress.
Rita Wilson – An actress.
Ariel Winter – An actress and model, from Modern Family.
Tamara Witmer – A model.
Victor Wong – An actor.
Victor Wong – An actor.
Natalie Wood – A famous actress.
Shailene Woodley – An actress.
Charlyne Yi – An actress and comedian.
Tina Yothers – An actress.
Zendaya – An actress and singer.
Anthony Zerbe – An actor.
Daphne Zuniga – An actress.

Musicians and Singers

Beck

Cher

California has been home to many groundbreaking musicians and singers across all genres.

12th Planet – A record producer and DJ.
24kGoldn – A rapper.
24hrs – A rapper.
2Mex – A rapper.
Jhene Aiko – A singer.
Herb Alpert – A trumpeter and music executive.
Steve Aoki – A music producer and DJ.
Billie Joe Armstrong – A musician and vocalist for Green Day.
Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu – A bassist for Korn.
Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. – An actor, known for Alvin and the Chipmunks.
Banks – A singer.
Sara Bareilles – A singer.
Travis Barker – A drummer for Blink-182.
Baby Bash – A rapper.
Bassnectar – A musician and record producer.
Beck – A musician.
Captain Beefheart – A musician.
B.G. Knocc Out – A rapper.
Aloe Blacc – A singer and musician.
Rebecca Black – A singer.
Brandon Boyd – A singer and musician for Incubus.
B-Real – A rapper for Cypress Hill.
Lindsey Buckingham – A musician for Fleetwood Mac.
Hunter Burgan – A bass player for AFI.
Win Butler – A musician and songwriter for Arcade Fire.
Colbie Caillat – A singer.
John Cage – A composer.
Mr. Capone-E – A rapper.
Adam Carson – A drummer for AFI.
Torry Castellano – A drummer for The Donnas.
C-Bo – A rapper.
Chanel West Coast – A rapper and actress.
Cher – A famous singer and actress.
Les Claypool – A bass player for Primus.
Keyshia Cole – A singer.
Natalie Cole – A singer.
Coolio – A rapper.
David Crosby – A musician.
Carson Daly – A television host.
Caroline D'Amore – A musician.
Jonathan Davis – A singer and musician for Korn.
Jayme Dee – A singer and musician.
Tom DeLonge – A singer and musician for Blink-182.
Brad Delson – A musician for Linkin Park.
Dev – A singer.
Daz Dillinger – A rapper.
DJ Quik – A rapper and producer.
Nate Dogg – A musician.
Snoop Dogg – A very famous rapper.
Dr. Dre – A musician, hip-hop producer, and record producer.
Mac Dre – A rapper.
Dresta – A rapper.
Hilary Duff – A singer and actress.
Tom Dumont – A guitarist for No Doubt.
Danny Elfman – A musician and composer.
Anabel Englund – A singer.
Evidence – A rapper.
Sky Ferreira – A singer.
Stacy Ferguson (Fergie) – A singer and actress.
Jon Foreman – A singer.
Dillon Francis – A music producer and DJ.
Suga Free – A rapper.
Del tha Funkee Homosapien – A rapper.
Becky G – A singer.
Warren G – A rapper.
G-Eazy – A rapper and producer.
The Game – A rapper.
Jerry Garcia – A musician for Grateful Dead.
Wolfgang Gartner – A music producer and DJ.
Kyle Gass – A musician for Tenacious D.
Sage the Gemini – A rapper.
Inara George – A singer and musician.
Phillip Gonyea – A drummer.
Andy Grammer – A singer.
Paul Gray – A musician for Slipknot.
RL Grime – A music producer.
Josh Groban – A singer.
Vince Guaraldi – A musician, known for A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Brett Gurewitz – A guitarist for Bad Religion.
Sammy Hagar – A musician for Van Halen.
Merle Haggard – A country music singer.
Joseph Hahn – A musician for Linkin Park.
Kirk Hammett – A musician for Metallica.
Davey Havok – The lead singer of AFI.
James Hetfield – A musician for Metallica.
Hit-Boy – A rapper and record producer.
Dexter Holland – A singer and musician for The Offspring.
Brenda Holloway – A singer and songwriter.
Mark Hoppus – A singer and musician for Blink-182.
Hopsin – A rapper and actor.
Taylor Horn – A singer and actress.
Nichkhun Horvejkul – A Thai-American singer and rapper.
Tiffany Hwang – A singer for Girls' Generation.
Crooked I – A rapper.
Ice Cube – A musician and actor.
Danny Im – A member of Korean music group 1TYM.
Allison Iraheta – A singer from American Idol.
Chris Isaak – A musician and actor.
Etta James – A famous singer.
BC Jean – A singer.
Jessica Jung – A singer for Girls' Generation.
Krystal Jung – A singer for f(x).
Tony Kanal – A bassist for No Doubt.
Keb' Mo' – A blues singer-songwriter and guitarist.
Kesha – A singer.
Elle King – A singer.
Kerry King – A guitarist for Slayer.
Greg Kurstin – A musician and producer.
Kendrick Lamar – A famous rapper.
Adam Lambert – A singer from American Idol.
Amy Lee – The lead singer of Evanescence.
Adam Levine – The lead singer of Maroon 5.
Huey Lewis – A musician for Huey Lewis and the News.
Seven Lions – A musician.
Courtney Love – A musician.
Ray Lynch – An actor.
Cheryl Lynn – A singer.
Mack 10 – A rapper.
Daron Malakian – A musician for System of a Down.
Teena Marie – A singer.
Dean Paul Martin – An actor and musician.
Miguel – A singer and producer.
Dave Mustaine – A musician for Megadeth.
Anna Nalick – A singer-songwriter.
Randy Newman – A composer and musician.
Joanna Newsom – A singer and harpist.
Bradley Nowell – A singer and musician for Sublime.
Frank Ocean – A singer.
Omarion – A musician and singer.
Katy Perry – A very famous singer.
Tristan Prettyman – A singer and musician.
Jade Puget – A musician for AFI.
Jenni Rivera – A singer.
Naya Rivera – An actress and singer.
Tony Robbins – A life coach.
Carlos Santana – A famous Mexican musician.
Bob Smale – A pianist.
TeeFlii – A rapper and producer.
Robin Thicke – A singer.
Lisa Tucker – A singer.
Tyga – A rapper.
Tyler, The Creator – A rapper and record producer.
Jasmine V – A singer.
Elle Varner – A singer.
Casey Veggies – A rapper.
Julieta Venegas – A singer and musician.
Bob Weir – A musician for Grateful Dead.
Brian Welch – A musician and guitarist for Korn.
will.i.am – A rapper, singer, and producer for The Black Eyed Peas.
John Williams – A famous composer.
Brian Wilson – A musician for The Beach Boys.
Carl Wilson – A musician for The Beach Boys.
Kevin Woo – A singer.
"Weird Al" Yankovic – A parodist and musician.
YG – A rapper.
Elliott Yamin – A singer.
Adrian Young – The drummer for No Doubt.
Nick Young – A professional basketball player.
Young Noble – A rapper.

Sports Stars

Tracy Austin

Ryan Braun

Sasha Cohen

Jason Giambi

John Grabow

California has produced many amazing athletes who have excelled in various sports.

Tracy Austin – A tennis player.
Brad Ausmus – A Major League Baseball player and manager.
Dusty Baker – An MLB player and manager.
Matt Barnes – A National Basketball Association player.
Amanda Beard – An Olympic swimmer.
Stephania Bell – An ESPN analyst and physical therapist.
Hank Blalock – A baseball player.
David Blu – A professional basketball player.
Andy Bloom – An Olympic shot putter.
Brian Boitano – An Olympic gold medalist in figure skating.
Barry Bonds – A baseball player for the San Francisco Giants.
Bobby Bonds – A baseball player.
Aaron Boone – A baseball player.
Bruce Bowen – A National Basketball Association player.
Timothy Bradley – A boxer.
Tom Brady – A famous football quarterback.
Ryan Braun – A baseball player.
Lance Briggs – A football player.
Bill Buckner – A baseball player.
Don Budge – A tennis player.
Reggie Bush – A football player.
Brandi Chastain – A soccer player.
Joey Chestnut – A competitive eater.
Amy Chow – A gymnast.
Sasha Cohen – A figure skater.
Jerry Coleman – A decorated soldier and sportscaster.
Maureen Connolly – A tennis player.
Natalie Coughlin – An Olympic swimmer.
Joe Cronin – A Hall of Fame baseball player and manager.
Baron Davis – A professional basketball player.
Terrell Davis – A professional football player.
Oscar De La Hoya – A famous boxer.
DeMar DeRozan – A professional basketball player.
Joe DiMaggio – A legendary baseball player.
Stacy Dragila – A pole vaulter.
Don Drysdale – A baseball player.
Jermaine Dye – A baseball player.
Dennis Eckersley – A baseball player.
Peggy Fleming – A figure skater.
Rickie Fowler – A professional golfer.
Allen Fox – A tennis player and coach.
Missy Franklin – An Olympic gold medalist in swimming.
Jeff Garcia – A football player.
Jason Giambi – A professional baseball player.
Frank Gifford – A football player and sportscaster.
Brad Gilbert – A tennis coach.
Adrian Gonzalez – A baseball player.
Drew Gooden – A professional basketball player.
Jeff Gordon – A NASCAR driver.
Robby Gordon – A NASCAR driver.
John Grabow – A Major League Baseball player.
Florence Griffith-Joyner – A track athlete.
Tony Gwynn – A Hall of Fame baseball player.
Dan Haren – A professional baseball player.
Kevin Harvick – A NASCAR driver.
Tony Hawk – A very famous skateboarder.
Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins – A professional skateboarder.
Keith Hernandez – A baseball player.
Jason Hirsh – A baseball player.
Trevor Hoffman – A professional baseball player.
Mike Holmgren – A football coach.
Jerry Hsu – A skateboarder.
Nyjah Huston – A professional skateboarder.
Jimmie Johnson – A NASCAR driver and champion.
Kevin Johnson – A basketball player and politician.
Keyshawn Johnson – A football player.
Randy Johnson – A famous baseball player.
Marion Jones – A track athlete.
Colin Kaepernick – An NFL quarterback.
Ryan Kalish – A major league baseball outfielder.
Gabe Kapler – A major league baseball outfielder.
Jason Kidd – An NBA player and coach.
Michelle Kwan – A famous figure skater.
Ryan Lavarnway – A major-league baseball catcher.
Tony Lazzeri – A baseball player.
Kawhi Leonard – A basketball player.
Brad Lesley – A baseball player.
David Lipsky – A golfer.
Evan Longoria – A baseball player.
Nancy Lopez – A golfer.
Erik Lorig – A football player.
Greg Louganis – A famous Olympic diver.
Kevin Love – A basketball player.
Ricky Manning, Jr. – A football player.
Bobby Martinez – A professional surfer.
Bob Mathias – A decathlete.
Misty May-Treanor – A volleyball player.
Jeremy McGrath – A supercross racer.
Mark McGwire – A baseball player.
Casey Mears – A NASCAR driver.
Phil Mickelson – A famous golfer.
Johnny Miller – A golfer and TV commentator.
Reggie Miller – A basketball player.
Alex Morgan – A soccer player for the U.S. national women's soccer team.
John Morrison – A wrestler.
Shane Mosley – A boxer.
Eddie Murray – A baseball player.
Lorenzo Neal – A Pro Bowl football player.
Lefty O'Doul – A baseball player.
Carson Palmer – A football quarterback.
Gary Payton – A professional basketball player.
Dustin Pedroia – A baseball player.
Stacy Peralta – A skateboarder, surfer, and movie director.
Melina Perez – A professional wrestler.
Paul Pierce – A professional basketball player.
Jim Plunkett – A football quarterback.
Chad Power – A martial artist.
Tayshaun Prince – A professional basketball player.
Dane Reynolds – A professional surfer.
Isiah Rider – A basketball player.
Jackie Robinson – The first African-American player in Major League Baseball in the modern era.
Aaron Rodgers – An NFL quarterback.
Jimmy Rollins – A baseball player.
Tony Romo – A football quarterback.
Kyla Ross – An Olympic gold medalist in artistic gymnastics.
Alexander Rossi – A Formula One driver.
Vin Scully – A famous baseball announcer.
O. J. Simpson – A football player.
Mark Spitz – An Olympic swimmer.
Alan Trammell – A baseball player.
Chase Utley – A baseball player.
Ken Venturi – A golfer.
Roy Marlin Voris – A World War II flying ace and founder of the United States Navy Blue Angels.
Bill Walton – A Hall of Fame basketball player.
Luke Walton – A basketball player.
Andre Ward – An Olympic gold medal-winning boxer.
Jered Weaver – A baseball player.
Russell Westbrook – A basketball player.
Shaun White – A famous snowboarder.
Sidney Wicks – A basketball player.
Serena Williams – A very famous tennis player.
Venus Williams – A very famous tennis player.
Ted Williams – A Hall of Fame baseball player.
Dontrelle Willis – A baseball player.
Helen Wills – A tennis player.
Zachary Wohlman – A boxer.
John Wooden – A college basketball coach.
Cynthia Woodhead – A swimmer.
Tiger Woods – A very famous golfer.
Kristi Yamaguchi – A professional figure skater.
Ace Young – A singer.
Steve Young – A famous NFL quarterback.

Inventors and Innovators

Steve Jobs

California is a hub for new ideas and technology, with many brilliant minds.

Ansel Adams – A famous photographer.
Earl W. Bascom – A rodeo pioneer, artist, and sculptor.
Tory Belleci – A filmmaker and model maker, known for MythBusters.
Kari Byron – An artist and television personality, known for MythBusters.
Julia Child – A famous chef, author, and TV personality.
Lillian Moller Gilbreth – An engineer.
Rube Goldberg – A cartoonist.
Grant Imahara – An electronics expert, known for MythBusters.
Steve Jobs – A computer pioneer and co-founder of Apple Computer.
Kirk Kerkorian – An investor and philanthropist.
Theodore Harold Maiman – The inventor of the Ruby Laser Systems Laser.
Charles M. Schulz – A famous cartoonist.
Glenn T. Seaborg – A chemist.
Steve Wozniak – An inventor and co-founder of Apple Computer.
Frank J. Zamboni – An inventor.

Leaders and Public Figures

Jerry Brown

Richard Nixon

Ronald Reagan

California has been home to many important political figures and public servants.

Marcus Benjamin – An early biographer at the Smithsonian Institution.
Jan Brewer – A former Governor of Arizona.
Stephen Breyer – A Supreme Court Justice.
Jerry Brown – A former Governor of California and Mayor of Oakland.
Pat Brown – A former Governor of California.
Willie Brown – A former Speaker of the California State Assembly and Mayor of San Francisco.
Cruz Bustamante – A former Lieutenant Governor of California.
Ben Nighthorse Campbell – A former U.S. Senator from Colorado.
Tucker Carlson – A television host.
Pete Carroll – A college and NFL football coach.
Chris Carter – A producer, director, and writer.
César Chávez – A famous labor leader.
Lillie Hitchcock Coit – A firefighter.
Alan Cranston – A former U.S. Senator from California.
William H. Crocker – A philanthropist and founder of Crocker National Bank.
Iva Toguri D'Aquino (Tokyo Rose) – A radio broadcaster during World War II.
Joan Didion – A writer.
Roy Edward Disney – A billionaire and nephew of Walt Disney.
Canh Thong Do – A Vietnamese American activist.
K. Eric Drexler – An engineer.
Heather Fargo – A former Mayor of Sacramento.
Dianne Feinstein – A former U.S. Senator from California and Mayor of San Francisco.
Dian Fossey – A zoologist.
Guy Gabaldon – A United States Marine Corps hero.
Richard Gage – An activist.
Trace Gallagher – A journalist.
Eric Garcetti – The mayor of Los Angeles.
John Gavin – An actor and ambassador.
Lillian Moller Gilbreth – An engineer.
Rube Goldberg – A cartoonist.
Merv Griffin – A talk show host and television producer.
Kimberly Guilfoyle – A television personality.
Walter A. Haas, Jr. – A chief executive officer of Levi Strauss & Co..
Steven C. Hackett – An economist.
Daniel Handler – Also known as Lemony Snicket, an author.
Peter D. Hannaford – A political advisor to Ronald W. Reagan.
Henry Harrower – An endocrinologist.
Patty Hearst – An actress and newspaper heiress.
William Randolph Hearst – A famous newspaper publisher.
Don Imus – A radio personality.
Jesse James – An actor and welder.
Gregg Jarrett – A lawyer and journalist.
Jerry Jones – The owner of the Dallas Cowboys.
Pauline Kael – A film critic.
Khloé Kardashian – A socialite and reality-television personality.
Kim Kardashian – A socialite and reality-television personality.
Kourtney Kardashian – A socialite and reality-television personality.
Anthony Kennedy – A Supreme Court Justice.
Maxine Hong Kingston – An author.
Thomas Kinkade – An artist.
Suge Knight – A record producer and music executive.
Rick Law – An illustrator and producer.
Monica Lewinsky – A former White House intern.
James Lick – A real estate baron.
Jack London – A famous author.
George Lucas – A famous filmmaker, known for Star Wars.
Willie McCool – An astronaut, killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.
Robert McNamara – A former United States Secretary of Defense.
Edwin Meese – A former United States Attorney General.
Rodney Melville – A judge.
Norm Mineta – A former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Transportation.
George Moscone – A former Mayor of San Francisco.
John Muir – A famous naturalist.
Richard Nixon – The 37th President of the United States.
Lyn Nofziger – An author, journalist, and White House Press Secretary.
Isamu Noguchi – An artist.
Joshua A. Norton – A self-proclaimed "Emperor of the United States."
Leon Panetta – A former White House Chief of Staff and Secretary of Defense.
George S. Patton – A military commander.
Sam Peckinpah – A film director.
Drew Pinsky – A radio and television personality and physician.
Whitney Port – A television personality and fashion designer.
Max Rafferty – A former California State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Ronald Reagan – An actor and the 40th President of the United States.
Mason Reese – A child actor.
Andy Reid – A football coach.
Maria Remenyi – Miss USA 1966.
Sally Ride – An astronaut.
Julia Robinson – A mathematician.
Dana Rohrabacher – A former member of the United States House of Representatives.
Jim Rome – A sports radio host.
Josiah Royce – A philosopher.
Pete Rozelle – An NFL commissioner.
Marla Ruzicka – An activist.
Samuel Brannan – A newspaper publisher.
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo – A Spanish explorer.
Juan Bautista de Anza – A Spanish explorer.
Gaspar de Portolà – A Spanish explorer.
Larry Ellison – A co-founder of Oracle Corporation.
John C. Frémont – A former Military Governor of California.
Domingo Ghirardelli – A chocolate maker.
Chick Hearn – A basketball announcer.
William Redington Hewlett – A co-founder of Hewlett-Packard.
Bob Hope – An actor, singer, and comedian.
Steve Jurvetson – A venture capitalist.
James Lick – A real estate baron.
Steve Martin – A famous actor, author, and comedian.
Johnny Mathis – A singer.
Fritz Maytag – A former owner of Anchor Brewing Company.
Thomas Mesereau – A criminal defense lawyer.
Joe Montana – A famous NFL quarterback.
Gavin Newsom – The current Mayor of San Francisco.
Buck Owens – A country music performer.
Michael Savage – An author and political commentator.
Junipero Serra – A Spanish missionary.
Steven Spielberg – A very famous director.
Leland Stanford – A railroad baron, former Governor of California, and founder of Stanford University.
Ken Starr – A lawyer.
Levi Strauss – A clothing manufacturer.
John Sutter – A real estate baron.
Marjorie Thompson – A British peace activist.
Mark Twain – A famous humorist and author.
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo – A Mexican general and American politician.
Stephen Venard – A lawman.
Antonio Villaraigosa – A former Mayor of Los Angeles.
Lindsay Wagner – An actress.
Bill Walsh – A football coach.
Earl Warren – A former Governor of California and Chief Justice of the United States.
Caspar Weinberger – A former United States Secretary of Defense.
Emily Williams – An early-20th-century architect.
Paul Williams – An architect.
Sarah Winchester – An heiress and builder of the Winchester Mystery House.
Charles Wood – A musical theatre performer.
Beatrice Wood – An artist.
David Woodard – A businessman.
Chuck Yeager – A famous U.S. Air Force test pilot.
Joon Yun – A radiologist.
Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. – A former Chief of Naval Operations.

Musical Groups from California

California is also famous for being the birthplace or home of many iconic musical groups.

AFI – A rock band.
As I Lay Dying – A metal band.
Audioslave – A rock band.
Bad Religion – A punk band.
The Bangles – A pop band.
The Beach Boys – A famous pop band.
The Bird and the Bee – An indie duo.
Black Flag – A hardcore band.
Blink-182 – A pop/punk band.
The Byrds – A folk rock band.
Circle Jerks – A punk band.
Concrete Blonde – An alternative band.
Counting Crows – A rock band.
Creedence Clearwater Revival – A rock band.
Cypress Hill – A hip hop band.
The Donnas – A rock band.
The Doors – A famous rock band.
Eels – An alternative band.
Faith no More – An alternative band.
Fishbone – An alternative band.
Flogging Molly – A Celtic punk band.
Geraldine Fibbers – An alternative band.
The Germs – A punk band.
The Go-Go's – A pop band.
The Grateful Dead – A folk rock band.
Green Day – A famous rock band.
Guns N' Roses – A hard rock band.
Hollywood Undead – A rap/metal band.
Hoobastank – A rock band.
In Fear And Faith – A metal band.
Incubus (band) – A rock band.
Jane's Addiction – An alternative band.
Jefferson Airplane – A rock band.
Julien-K – A synth band.
Linkin Park – An alternative rock band.
Mad at the World – A Christian rock band.
Maroon 5 – A rock band.
Megadeth – A metal band.
Metallica – A famous metal band.
Minutemen – A punk band.
The Monkees – A pop band.
Mötley Crüe – A hard rock band.
N.W.A. – A hip hop band.
No Doubt – A ska-punk band.
The O.C. Supertones – A ska band.
The Offspring – A rock band.
Oingo Boingo – A new wave band.
P.O.D. – A rock band.
Rage Against the Machine – A rap/metal band.
Ratt – A hard rock band.
Red Hot Chili Peppers – A famous rock band.
Slayer – A metal band.
Stone Temple Pilots – A hard rock band.
Sublime – A ska-punk, dub band.
... Tendencies – A punk/metal band.
... Silence – A metal band.
Switchfoot – A rock band.
System of a Down – A metal band.
Tesla – A hard rock band.
Third Eye Blind – A rock band.
Thrice – A rock band.
Van Halen – A famous hard rock band.
The Wallflowers – A rock band.
X – An alternative/punk band.

Images for kids

All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:

List of people from California Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.