List of people from California facts for kids
This is a list of notable people from the U.S. state of California. It includes people who were born/raised in, lived in, or spent portions of their lives in California, or for whom California is a significant part of their identity. This list is arranged in alphabetical order by surname.
0–9
- 12th Planet – record producer and DJ
- 24kGoldn – rapper
- 24hrs – rapper
- 2Mex – rapper
A
- Willie Aames – actor
- Paula Abdul – dancer and singer (American Idol)
- Ansel Adams – photographer
- Jay Adams - Skateboarder and Surfer
- Ben Affleck – actor and director
- Jhene Aiko – singer
- Jessica Alba – actress, model
- Jesse Aliganga – US Marine
- AJ Allmendinger – NASCAR driver
- Herb Alpert – trumpeter, music executive
- Tony Alva - Skateboarder and Surfer
- Helen Andelin – author (Fascinating Womanhood)
- Anthony Anderson – actor
- Melissa Sue Anderson – actress
- Paul Thomas Anderson – filmmaker
- Jennifer Aniston – actress (Friends)
- Odette Annable – actress
- Steve Aoki – music producer, DJ
- Christina Applegate – actress
- Jon Appleton – composer
- Anne Archer – actress
- Eve Arden – actress
- Billie Joe Armstrong – musician, vocalist (Green Day)
- Lucie Arnaz – actress
- Maureen Arthur – actress (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying)
- Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu – bassist (Korn)
- Anastasia Ashman – writer
- Sean Astin – actor (The Lord of the Rings)
- Jeff Atkinson – distance runner, Olympian
- Brad Ausmus – Major League Baseball player, manager
- Tracy Austin – tennis player
B
- Max Baer, Jr. – actor (Jethro Bodine of The Beverly Hillbillies)
- Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. – actor (Alvin and the Chipmunks)
- Diane Baker – actress (The Silence of the Lambs)
- Dusty Baker – MLB player and manager
- Banks – singer
- Tyra Banks – model and actress (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
- Adrienne Barbeau – actress (Maude)
- Sara Bareilles – singer
- Travis Barker – drummer (Blink-182)
- Matt Barnes – National Basketball Association player
- Drew Barrymore – actress (50 First Dates)
- Judith Barsi – actress/voiceover artist
- Summer Bartholomew – Miss USA 1975
- Earl W. Bascom – rodeo pioneer, Hall of Fame inductee, actor, international artist/sculptor
- Baby Bash – rapper
- Bassnectar – musician, record producer
- Michael Bay – film director
- Amanda Beard – Olympic swimmer
- Beck – musician
- Captain Beefheart – musician
- Ed Begley, Jr. – actor and activist
- Stephania Bell — ESPN analyst, physical therapist
- Camilla Belle – actress
- Tory Belleci – filmmaker and model maker (MythBusters)
- Marcus Benjamin (born 1857) – early biographer at Smithsonian Institution
- Candice Bergen – actress (Murphy Brown)
- Carolyn Beug – passenger aboard American Airlines Flight 11
- B.G. Knocc Out – rapper
- Mayim Bialik – actress (The Big Bang Theory)
- Barbara Billingsley – actress
- Rachel Bilson – actress (The O.C.)
- Thora Birch – actress
- Bill Bixby – actor (The Incredible Hulk)
- Aloe Blacc – singer, musician
- Jack Black – actor (Tenacious D)
- Rebecca Black – singer
- Hank Blalock – baseball player (Texas Rangers)
- Mel Blanc – cartoon voice actor
- Sheila Bleck – IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Ken Block – rally driver, gymkhana driver
- Andy Bloom – Olympic shot putter
- Betsy Bloomingdale – socialite
- David Blu (born David Bluthenthal) – professional basketball player (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
- Jonathan Blum – hockey player
- Brian Boitano − Olympic gold medalist (figure skating)
- Barry Bonds – baseball player (San Francisco Giants)
- Bobby Bonds – baseball player (San Francisco Giants)
- Aaron Boone – baseball player (Cleveland Indians)
- Scott Borchetta – president/CEO and founder of Big Machine Records
- Barry Bostwick – actor (Spin City, The Rocky Horror Picture Show)
- Kate Bosworth – actress
- Lo Bosworth – television personality, author, and entrepreneur
- Bruce Bowen – National Basketball Association player (San Antonio Spurs)
- Brandon Boyd – singer, musician (Incubus)
- Timothy Bradley – boxer
- Tom Brady – football quarterback (New England Patriots)
- Debbie Bramwell-Washington – IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Benjamin Bratt – actor
- Ryan Braun – baseball player (Milwaukee Brewers)
- B-Real – rapper (Cypress Hill)
- Nicholas Brendon – actor (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
- Jan Brewer – Governor of Arizona
- Stephen Breyer – Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
- Brigita Brezovac – IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Beau Bridges – actor (The Fabulous Baker Boys, Stargate SG-1)
- Jeff Bridges – actor (The Big Lebowski)
- Lloyd Bridges – actor (Sea Hunt, Airplane!)
- Lance Briggs – football player
- Adam Brody – actor (The O.C.)
- James Brolin – actor
- Josh Brolin – actor (No Country For Old Men, Gangster Squad)
- Albert Brooks – actor and director (Lost in America)
- Brotha Lynch Hung – rapper
- Alton Brown – television host
- Jerry Brown – Governor of California (1975–1983; 2011–present), Mayor of Oakland, California
- Pat Brown – Governor of California (1959–1967)
- Willie Brown – 58th Speaker of the California State Assembly, Mayor of San Francisco
- Teddy Bruschi – football player
- Lindsey Buckingham – musician (Fleetwood Mac)
- Bill Buckner – baseball player
- Don Budge – tennis player
- Hunter Burgan – bass player for AFI
- Bobby Burgess – Mouseketeer, dancer for Lawrence Welk Show
- Olivia Burnette – actress
- Tim Burton – film director
- Reggie Bush – football player
- Shoshana Bush – actress
- Sophia Bush – activist, spokesperson, and actress (One Tree Hill, Chicago P.D.)
- Jeanie Buss – sports executive
- Cruz Bustamante – Lieutenant Governor of California
- Win Butler – musician, songwriter (Arcade Fire)
- Amanda Bynes – actress
- Kari Byron – artist and television personality (MythBusters)
C
- Scott Caan – actor
- Herb Caen – newspaper columnist (San Francisco Chronicle)
- John Cage – composer
- Nicolas Cage – actor
- Colbie Caillat – singer
- Cameron – professional wrestler, dancer
- Dolph Camilli – baseball player
- Ben Nighthorse Campbell – U.S. Senator from Colorado
- Nick Cannon – actor
- Mr. Capone-E – rapper
- Linda Cardellini – actress (Freaks and Geeks)
- Tucker Carlson – television host
- Adam Carolla – radio and television personality
- David Carr – football player
- David Carradine – actor (Kung Fu, Kill Bill)
- Ever Carradine – actress, daughter of Robert Carradine
- Keith Carradine – actor (Nashville)
- Robert Carradine – actor (Revenge of the Nerds)
- Pete Carroll – college and NFL football coach
- Adam Carson – drummer (AFI)
- Chris Carter – producer, director and writer (The X-Files)
- Torry Castellano – drummer of The Donnas
- C-Bo – rapper
- Richard Chamberlain – actor
- Chanel West Coast – rapper, actress, model, television personality
- Brandi Chastain – soccer player
- Jessica Chastain – actress (Zero Dark Thirty)
- Cher – actress, entertainer and singer
- Joey Chestnut – competitive eater
- Julia Child – chef, author and TV personality
- Margaret Cho – actress, comedian
- Wasel Choi – artist and world traveler
- Amy Chow – gymnast
- Jamie Chung – actress
- Lana Clarkson – actress (Fast Times at Ridgemont High)
- Les Claypool – bass player (Primus)
- Sasha Cohen – figure skater
- Lillie Hitchcock Coit – firefighter
- Keyshia Cole – singer
- Natalie Cole – singer
- Jerry Coleman – decorated soldier and sportscaster
- Chris Colfer – actor (Glee), author (The Land of Stories)
- Holly Marie Combs – actress
- Maureen Connolly – tennis player
- Mike Connors – actor (Mannix)
- Lauren Conrad – television personality, fashion designer, and author
- Elisha Cook Jr. – actor (The Maltese Falcon)
- Coolio – rapper
- Miranda Cosgrove – actress, singer (iCarly)
- Kevin Costner – actor and director (Field of Dreams)
- Natalie Coughlin – Olympic swimmer
- Nikki Cox – actress (Las Vegas)
- Alan Cranston – U.S. Senator from California
- Bryan Cranston – actor
- Laura Creavalle – Guyanese-born Canadian/American professional bodybuilder
- Richard Crenna – actor
- William H. Crocker – philanthropist and founder of Crocker National Bank
- James Cromwell – actor
- Joe Cronin – Hall of Fame baseball player, manager
- David Crosby – musician
- Cameron Crowe – filmmaker
- Kaley Cuoco – actress (The Big Bang Theory)
- Jamie Lee Curtis – actress (Halloween)
D
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- Carson Daly – television host
- Caroline D'Amore - musician, actress, model
- Spencer Daniels – actor
- Harry Danning – Major League Baseball All Star catcher
- Ted Danson – actor (Cheers)
- Iva Toguri D'Aquino (Tokyo Rose) – radio broadcaster during World War II
- Lindsay Davenport – tennis player
- Baron Davis – professional basketball player
- Jonathan Davis – singer, musician (Korn)
- Terrell Davis – professional football player
- Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris – husband and wife film directors (Little Miss Sunshine)
- Oscar De La Hoya – boxer
- Zack de la Rocha – activist, singer (Rage Against The Machine)
- Jayme Dee – singer, musician
- Tom DeLonge – singer, musician (Blink-182)
- Brad Delson – musician (Linkin Park)
- Bo Derek – actress
- Laura Dern – actress
- DeMar DeRozan – professional basketball player
- Emily Deschanel – actress
- Zooey Deschanel – actress, singer
- Dev – singer
- Cameron Diaz – actress (There's Something About Mary)
- Leonardo DiCaprio – actor
- Joan Didion – writer
- Trent Dilfer – NFL quarterback
- Daz Dillinger – rapper
- Joe DiMaggio – baseball player
- Roy Edward Disney – billionaire, nephew of Walt Disney
- DJ Quik – rapper, producer
- Canh Thong Do – Vietnamese American activist
- Nate Dogg – musician
- Snoop Dogg – rapper
- Ami Dolenz – actress, daughter of Micky Dolenz
- Micky Dolenz – actor, musician, singer (The Monkees)
- Landon Donovan – soccer player
- Dr. Dre – musician, hip-hop producer, record producer
- Stacy Dragila – pole vaulter
- Mac Dre – rapper
- Dresta – rapper
- K. Eric Drexler – engineer
- Don Drysdale – baseball player
- Hilary Duff – actress, singer
- Tom Dumont – guitarist (No Doubt)
- Isadora Duncan – dancer
- Ann Dunnigan – translator, actor, teacher
- 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
- Aaron Eckhart – actor
- Anthony Edwards – actor
- Zac Efron – film and television actor (High School Musical)
- Danny Elfman – musician, composer
- Jenna Elfman – actress
- Sam Elliott – actor
- Anabel Englund – singer
- Chris Evans – convicted train robber
- Evidence – rapper
F
- Bill Fagerbakke – actor/voice actor (Patrick Star)
- Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton – wife and husband film directors (Little Miss Sunshine)
- Heather Fargo – Mayor of Sacramento, California
- Mia Farrow – actress
- David Faustino – actor (Married... with Children)
- Dianne Feinstein – US Senator from California, Mayor of San Francisco (1978–1988)
- Stacy Ferguson (Fergie) – singer, actress, composer (The Dutchess, Charlie Brown, Fergalicious)
- Shiloh Fernandez – actor
- Sky Ferreira – singer, model, actress
- Will Ferrell – actor
- Miguel Ferrer – actor (RoboCop)
- America Ferrera – actress
- Sally Field − actress (Norma Rae, Places in the Heart)
- Carrie Fisher – actress
- Peggy Fleming – figure skater
- Abigail Folger – coffee heiress and socialite
- Bridget Fonda – actress
- Lyndsy Fonseca – actress
- Jon Foreman – singer
- Dian Fossey – zoologist
- Jodie Foster – actress (The Silence of the Lambs)
- Rickie Fowler – professional golfer
- Allen Fox – tennis player (ranked as high as # 4) and coach
- Dillon Francis – music producer, DJ
- Dave Franco – actor
- James Franco – actor
- Paulette Frankl – artist, biographer
- Bonnie Franklin – actress
- Missy Franklin – 2012 Olympic gold medalist (swimming)
- Suga Free – rapper
- Robert Frost – poet
- Del tha Funkee Homosapien – rapper
- Edward Furlong – actor (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)
G
- Becky G – singer
- Warren G – rapper
- G-Eazy – rapper, producer
- Guy Gabaldon – United States Marine Corps
- Lynx and Lamb Gaede – white nationalist twin singers and musicians
- Richard Gage – 9/11 Truth movement activist
- Trace Gallagher – journalist
- The Game – rapper
- Eric Garcetti – mayor of Los Angeles
- Jeff Garcia – football player
- Jerry Garcia – musician (Grateful Dead)
- Wolfgang Gartner – music producer, DJ
- Kyle Gass – musician (Tenacious D)
- Dirk Gates – network entrepreneur (Xirrus)
- John Gavin – actor, ambassador
- Sage the Gemini – rapper
- Inara George – singer, musician (The Bird and the Bee)
- Jason Giambi – professional baseball player (New York Yankees)
- Tyrese Gibson – actor
- Frank Gifford – football player and sportscaster
- Brad Gilbert – tennis coach
- Melissa Gilbert – actress (Little House on the Prairie), producer
- Sara Gilbert – actress (Roseanne)
- Lillian Moller Gilbreth – engineer (Cheaper by the Dozen)
- Danny Glover – actor
- Donald Glover – actor, singer
- Rube Goldberg – cartoonist
- Phillip Gonyea – drummer, percussionist (Against The Will)
- Adrian Gonzalez – baseball player
- Drew Gooden – professional basketball player (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Jeff Gordon – NASCAR driver
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt – actor
- Robby Gordon – NASCAR driver
- Marjoe Gortner – evangelical minister
- Mark-Paul Gosselaar – actor
- John Grabow – Major League Baseball player (Chicago Cubs)
- Gloria Grahame – actress
- Andy Grammer – singer
- Farley Granger – actor
- Ulysses S. Grant – 18th President of the United States of America
- Stephen Girard Whipple, 49er, newspaper editor, Union Army officer, and politician
- Brian Grazer – Oscar-winning film and television producer
- Beatrice Gray – actress
- Billy Gray – actor, motorcyclist
- Paul Gray – musician (Slipknot)
- Joanie Greggains – radio show host, health and fitness expert
- Nash Grier - viner, youtuber and actor
- Merv Griffin – talk show host, singer, television producer (Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune)
- Florence Griffith-Joyner – track athlete
- RL Grime – music producer
- Josh Groban – singer
- Vince Guaraldi – musician (A Charlie Brown Christmas)
- Kimberly Guilfoyle – television personality
- Natalie Gulbis – golfer
- Brett Gurewitz – guitarist (Bad Religion)
- Tony Gwynn – Hall of Fame baseball player
- Jake Gyllenhaal – actor
H
- Walter A. Haas, Jr. – chief executive officer of Levi Strauss & Co.
- Steven C. Hackett – economist (Humboldt State University)
- Gene Hackman – actor (The French Connection)
- Sammy Hagar – musician (Van Halen)
- Merle Haggard – country music singer
- Joseph Hahn – painter, director, musician (Linkin Park)
- Jackie Earle Haley – actor (Bad News Bears)
- Mark Hamill – actor (Star Wars)
- Laird Hamilton – surfer
- Harry Hamlin – actor (Clash of the Titans)
- Armie Hammer – actor
- Kirk Hammett – musician (Metallica)
- Daniel Handler – Lemony Snicket
- Colin Hanks – actor (King Kong)
- Tom Hanks – actor, director, producer
- Peter D. Hannaford – political advisor to Ronald W. Reagan, author
- Jeff Hanneman – guitarist (Slayer)
- Dan Haren – professional baseball player (Oakland Athletics)
- Mariska Hargitay – actress (Law & Order: SVU)
- Jeff B. Harmon – film producer, director, actor
- Mark Harmon – actor
- Henry Harrower – endocrinologist
- Kevin Harvick – NASCAR driver
- Teri Hatcher – actress
- Henry Hathaway – film director
- Davey Havok – lead singer of AFI
- Tony Hawk – skateboarder
- Kristy Hawkins – IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins – professional skateboarder
- Julie Hayek – Miss USA 1983
- Dennis Haysbert – actor (24)
- Patty Hearst – actress and newspaper heiress (Symbionese Liberation Army)
- William Randolph Hearst – newspaper publisher
- Ian Hecox – youtuber
- Simon Helberg – actor, comedian (The Big Bang Theory)
- Christy Hemme – professional wrestler and model
- Mariel Hemingway – actress (Manhattan)
- Pamela Hensley – actress
- Keith Hernandez – baseball player
- Barbara Hershey – actress
- James Hetfield – musician (Metallica)
- Jonah Hill – actor
- Jason Hirsh – baseball player
- Hit-Boy – rapper, record producer
- Dustin Hoffman – actor
- Trevor Hoffman – professional baseball player (San Diego Padres)
- Dexter Holland – singer, musician (The Offspring)
- Brenda Holloway – singer and songwriter
- Josh Holloway – actor (Lost)
- Mike Holmgren – football coach (Seattle Seahawks)
- Mark Hoppus – singer, musician (Blink-182)
- Hopsin – rapper, actor, record producer
- Taylor Horn – singer and actress
- James Horner – composer
- Sam Horrigan – actor (Little Giants)
- Nichkhun Horvejkul – Thai-American singer and rapper of 2PM
- Bryce Dallas Howard – actress
- C. Thomas Howell – actor (The Outsiders, Red Dawn, Southland)
- Jerry Hsu – skateboarder
- Vanessa Hudgens – actress and singer (High School Musical)
- Kate Hudson – actress
- Phil Hughes – baseball player
- Yolanda Hughes-Heying – IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Barry Hunau – illustrator
- William Hung – American Idol contestant
- Helen Hunt – actress
- Terry Huntingdon – Miss USA 1959
- Anjelica Huston – actress
- Nyjah Huston – professional skateboarder
- Timothy Hutton – actor
- Tiffany Hwang – singer (Girls' Generation)
I
- Crooked I – rapper
- Ice Cube – musician, actor
- Gabriel Iglesias – comedian
- Danny Im – member of Korean music group 1TYM
- Grant Imahara – electronics and radio control expert (MythBusters)
- Don Imus – radio personality
- Allison Iraheta – singer (American Idol)
- Kathy Ireland – model
- Chris Isaak – musician, actor
- Yasuhiro Ishimoto – photographer
- Phil Ivey – professional poker player
J
- Shirley Jackson – author
- Etta James – singer
- Jesse James – actor, welder, and chief executive officer of West Coast Choppers
- Gregg Jarrett – lawyer, journalist
- BC Jean – singer
- Richard Jefferson – professional basketball player
- Fran Jeffries – actress (The Pink Panther)
- Steve Jobs – computer pioneer, co-founder of Apple Computer
- Anjelah Johnson – actress, comedian
- Dwayne Johnson – professional wrestler best known as "The Rock"; now an actor (The Scorpion King)
- Jimmie Johnson – NASCAR driver and champion
- Kevin Johnson – basketball player and politician
- Keyshawn Johnson – football player
- Randy Johnson – baseball player
- Angelina Jolie – actress
- Jerry Jones – owner of the Dallas Cowboys
- Marion Jones – track athlete
- Matt L. Jones – actor, comedian (Breaking Bad)
- Rashida Jones – actress
- Tamala Jones – actress
- Ashley Judd – actress
- Jessica Jung – singer (Girls' Generation)
- Krystal Jung – singer (f(x))
K
- Pauline Kael – film critic
- Colin Kaepernick – NFL quarterback San Francisco 49ers
- Ryan Kalish – major league baseball outfielder
- Tony Kanal – bassist with No Doubt
- Gabe Kapler – major league baseball outfielder
- Khloé Kardashian – socialite and reality-television personality
- Kim Kardashian – socialite and reality-television personality
- Kourtney Kardashian – socialite and reality-television personality
- Chris Kattan – actor, comedian
- Julie Kavner – actress
- Diane Keaton – actress, director, producer
- Keb' Mo' – blues singer-songerwriter and guitarist
- Sally Kellerman – actress
- Minka Kelly – actress
- Anthony Kennedy – Supreme Court Justice
- Dom Kennedy – rapper
- Kirk Kerkorian – investor and philanthropist
- Kesha – singer
- Jason Kidd – NBA player and coach
- Val Kilmer – actor
- Elle King – singer, actress
- Kerry King – guitarist (Slayer)
- Regina King – actress
- Maxine Hong Kingston – author
- Thomas Kinkade – artist
- Matthew Knight – actor
- Suge Knight – record producer, music executive (Death Row Records)
- Nathan Kress – actor (iCarly)
- Mike Krukow – baseball pitcher and announcer (San Francisco Giants)
- Lisa Kudrow – actress (Friends)
- Greg Kurstin – musician, producer (The Bird and the Bee)
- Michelle Kwan – figure skater
- Iris Kyle – 10-time overall Ms. Olympia professional bodybuilder
L
- Shia LaBeouf – actor
- Kendrick Lamar – rapper
- Adam Lambert – singer (American Idol)
- Ryan Lavarnway – major-league baseball catcher (Los Angeles Dodgers)
- Rick Law – illustrator and producer
- Tony Lazzeri – baseball player
- Amy Lee – musician (lead singer of Evanescence)
- Bruce Lee – martial artist
- Jason Lee – actor (My Name is Earl)
- Cathy LeFrançois – IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Janet Leigh – actress
- Jennifer Jason Leigh – actress (Fast Times at Ridgemont High)
- Kawhi Leonard – basketball player
- Brad Lesley – baseball player, cast member on Takeshi's Castle
- Adam Levine – musician (lead singer of pop/rock group Maroon 5)
- Monica Lewinsky – White House intern
- Huey Lewis – musician (Huey Lewis and the News)
- Juliette Lewis – actress
- Rob Liefeld – comic book writer
- Seven Lions – musician
- David Lipsky – golfer
- Blake Lively – actress (Gossip Girl)
- Heather Locklear – actress
- Jack London – author (The Call of the Wild)
- Lauren London – television personality, actress, and model
- Evan Longoria – baseball player
- George Lopez – actor and comedian (George Lopez)
- Mario López – actor (Saved by the Bell)
- Nancy Lopez – golfer
- Erik Lorig – football player (New Orleans Saints)
- Greg Louganis – Olympic diver
- Courtney Love – musician
- Kevin Love – basketball player
- Jon Lovitz – actor
- George Lucas – filmmaker (Star Wars)
- Lorna Luft – singer and actress
- Ray Lynch – actor
- Cheryl Lynn – singer
M
- Mack 10 – rapper (Westside Connection)
- Theodore Harold Maiman – inventor of Ruby Laser Systems Laser
- Daron Malakian – musician, singer-songwriter, guitarist (System of a Down)
- Ricky Manning, Jr. – football player
- Josie Maran – actress and model
- Teena Marie – singer
- Cheech Marin – actor
- Shannon Marketic – Miss USA 1992
- McKayla Maroney – 2012 Olympic gold and silver medalist (artistic gymnastics)
- Dean Paul Martin – actor and musician
- Margaret Martin – professional bodybuilder
- Bobby Martinez – professional surfer
- Chris Masters – wrestler
- Tim Matheson – actor
- Bob Mathias – decathlete
- Misty May-Treanor – volleyball player
- Leigh McCloskey – actor, artist (Dallas)
- Pete McCloskey – politician
- Willie McCool – astronaut, killed in Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
- Maureen McCormick – actress
- Jennette McCurdy – actress, singer
- Audra McDonald – actress and singer
- Willie McGee – baseball player
- Ted McGinley – actor
- Jeremy McGrath – supercross racer
- Mark McGwire – baseball player
- Robert McNamara – former United States Secretary of Defense
- Katharine McPhee – singer, actress
- MC Eiht – actor, rapper
- MC Hammer – musician
- MC Ren – rapper
- Casey Mears – NASCAR driver
- Edwin Meese – United States Attorney General (1985–1988)
- Rodney Melville – judge
- Mike Mentzer, professional bodybuilder and 1979 Mr. Olympia heavyweight champion
- Lee Meriwether – actress and Miss America
- Casey Merrill – football running back
- AJ Michalka – actress, musician
- Aly Michalka – actress, singer
- Phil Mickelson – golfer
- Miguel – singer, producer
- Johnny Miller – golfer and TV commentator
- 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 and actress (Cabaret)
- Marilyn Monroe – actress (Some Like It Hot)
- Elizabeth Montgomery – actress (Bewitched)
- Shemar Moore – actor
- Terry Moore – actress (Mighty Joe Young)
- Alex Morgan – United States national women's soccer team striker
- John Morrison – wrestler
- George Moscone – Mayor of San Francisco
- Shane Mosley – boxer
- Elisabeth Moss – actress
- Bethany Mota – youtuber
- Jason Mraz – singer, musician
- Megan Mullally – actress
- Marcus Mumford – singer, musician (Mumford & Sons)
- Bill Mumy – child actor (Lost in Space)
- Noah Munck – actor (iCarly)
- Eddie Murray – baseball player (Baltimore Orioles)
- Lenda Murray – IFBB professional bodybuilder (Los Angeles)
- Dave Mustaine – musician (Megadeth)
N
- Anna Nalick – singer-songwriter
- Randy Newman – composer, musician
- Gavin Newsom – Mayor of San Francisco (2004–present)
- Joanna Newsom – singer, harpist
- Lorenzo Neal – Pro Bowl football player
- Richard Nixon – 37th President of the United States
- Lyn Nofziger – author, journalist and White House Press Secretary (under Ronald Reagan)
- Isamu Noguchi – artist
- Bradley Nowell – singer, musician (Sublime)
O
- Willis O'Brien – film special-effects artist
- Dagmar Oakland – stage and screen actress
- Frank Ocean – singer (Odd Future)
- Lefty O'Doul – baseball player
- Larisa Oleynik – actress
- Edward James Olmos – actor
- Elizabeth Olsen – actress
- Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen – actresses and entrepreneurs
- Omarion – musician, singer
- Ryan O'Neal – actor
- Tatum O'Neal – actress
- Heather O'Rourke – actress
- Emily Osment – actress, singer
- Haley Joel Osment – actor
- Jimmy Osmond − singer
P
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- Carson Palmer – football quarterback
- Gwyneth Paltrow – actress
- Cathey Palyo – IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Leon Panetta – White House Chief of Staff and Secretary of Defense
- Jerry Paris – director and actor (The Dick Van Dyke Show)
- Grace Park – actress (Battlestar Galactica, Hawaii Five-0)
- Richard Park – ice hockey forward, New York Islanders
- Harry Partch – composer
- Audrina Patridge – television personality, television presenter, actress, and model
- George S. Patton – military commander
- Paula Patton – actress
- Corey Pavin – golfer
- Sara Paxton – actress, singer
- Gary Payton – professional basketball player
- Gregory Peck – actor
- Sam Peckinpah – film director
- Dustin Pedroia – baseball player
- Chris Penn – actor
- Sean Penn – actor
- Stacy Peralta- Skateboarder, Surfer and movie director
- Melina Perez – professional wrestler
- Katy Perry – singer
- Michelle Pfeiffer – actress
- Paul Pierce – professional basketball player
- Chris Pine – actor
- Drew Pinsky – radio and television personality, physician
- Jim Plunkett – football quarterback (Oakland Raiders)
- Whitney Port – television personality, fashion designer, and author
- Chad Power – martial artist
- Stefanie Powers – actress
- Tristan Prettyman – singer, musician
- Tayshaun Prince – professional basketball player (Detroit Pistons)
- Freddie Prinze, Jr. – actor
- Jade Puget – musician (AFI)
Q
- Kathleen Quinlan – actress
R
- Frances Rafferty – actress
- Max Rafferty – former California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, author and columnist
- Robert Redford – actor and director
- Mason Reese – child actor
- Autumn Reeser - actress (The O.C.)
- Andy Reid – football coach
- Maria Remenyi – Miss USA 1966
- Jeremy Renner – actor
- Dane Reynolds – professional surfer (Quiksilver)
- Christina Ricci – actress (The Addams Family)
- Ariana Richards – actress
- Michael Richards – actor (Seinfeld)
- Nicole Richie – actress
- Sally Ride – astronaut (STS-7 and STS-41-G)
- Isiah Rider – basketball player
- Cathy Rigby – gymnast and actress (Peter Pan)
- Molly Ringwald – actress
- Jason Ritter – actor (son of John Ritter; grandson of Tex Ritter)
- Jenni Rivera – singer
- Naya Rivera – actress and singer
- Tim Robbins – actor
- Tony Robbins – life coach
- Jackie Robinson – first African-American player in Major League Baseball in the modern era
- Julia Robinson – mathematician
- Aaron Rodgers – NFL quarterback Green Bay Packers
- Dana Rohrabacher – member of the United States House of Representatives
- Jimmy Rollins – baseball player
- Jim Rome – sports radio host
- Rebecca Romijn – model, actress
- Tony Romo – football quarterback
- Kyla Ross – 2012 Olympic gold medalist (artistic gymnastics)
- Alexander Rossi – Formula One driver
- Josiah Royce – philosopher
- Pete Rozelle – NFL commissioner
- Keri Russell – actress
- Rene Russo – actress
- Marla Ruzicka – activist (Green Party)
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- Bob Smale - pianist
T
- George Takei – actor (Star Trek)
- Amber Tamblyn – actress (Joan of Arcadia)
- Russ Tamblyn – actor (West Side Story)
- Amy Tan – writer (The Joy Luck Club)
- Tess Taylor – reality-television personality
- Scout Taylor-Compton – actress (Halloween)
- TeeFlii – rapper, producer
- Aimee Teegarden – actress, model
- Shirley Temple – child film star, former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia
- Reggie Theus – basketball player and coach
- Robin Thicke – singer
- Joanna Thomas – IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Pat Tillman – football player and soldier
- Jennifer Tilly – actress
- Kenneth Tobey – actor
- Alessandra Torresani – actress
- Alan Trammell – baseball player
- Danny Trejo - actor
- Lisa Tucker – singer
- Tyga – rapper
- Aisha Tyler – actress
- Tyler, The Creator – rapper, record producer (Odd Future)
U
- Chase Utley – baseball player
V
- Jasmine V – singer
- Karen Valentine – actress
- Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo – Mexican general, American politician
- Elle Varner – singer
- Jhonen Vasquez – comic-book writer and artist
- Casey Veggies – rapper
- Stephen Venard – lawman
- Julieta Venegas – singer, musician
- Ken Venturi – golfer
- Gwen Verdon – actress
- Victoria Vetri – model and actress
- Robert M. Viale – U.S. Medal of Honor recipient
- Antonio Villaraigosa – 51st Mayor of Los Angeles
- Roy Marlin Voris – World War II flying ace and founder of the United States Navy Blue Angels
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- Lindsay Wagner – actress
- 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 – 30th Governor of California, 14th Chief Justice of the United States (1953–1969)
- Jered Weaver – baseball player
- Ryn Weaver – singer
- Caspar Weinberger – United States Secretary of Defense
- Bob Weir – musician (Grateful Dead)
- Brian Welch – musician, guitarist (Korn)
- Russell Westbrook – basketball player
- Jill Whelan – actress (Airplane!)
- Shaun White – snowboarder
- Brandon Whitt – NASCAR driver
- Sidney Wicks – basketball player
- will.i.am – rapper, singer, record producer, and entrepreneur (The Black Eyed Peas)
- Emily Williams – early-20th-century architect
- Esther Williams – actress
- John Williams – composer
- Paul Williams – architect
- Serena Williams – tennis player
- Venus Williams – tennis player
- Ted Williams – Hall of Fame baseball player
- Dontrelle Willis – baseball player (Florida Marlins)
- Helen Wills – tennis player
- Brian Wilson – musician (The Beach Boys)
- Carl Wilson – musician (The Beach Boys)
- Rita Wilson – actress
- Ariel Winter – actress, model (Modern Family)
- Tamara Witmer – model
- Zachary Wohlman – boxer
- Victor Wong – actor (Big Trouble in Little China)
- Victor Wong – actor (King Kong)
- Kevin Woo – singer, television personality (U-Kiss)
- Beatrice Wood – artist
- Natalie Wood – actress (This Property Is Condemned)
- David Woodard – businessman
- John Wooden – college basketball coach
- Cynthia Woodhead – swimmer
- Shailene Woodley – actress
- Tiger Woods – golfer
- Steve Wozniak – inventor of the Apple Computer
Y
- Kristi Yamaguchi – professional figure skater
- Elliott Yamin – singer
- "Weird Al" Yankovic – parodist, musician
- YG – rapper
- Charlyne Yi – actress, comedian
- Tina Yothers – actress (Family Ties)
- Adrian Young – No Doubt's drummer
- Emily Mae Young – actress
- Nick Young – professional basketball player
- Young Noble – rapper
- Joon Yun – radiologist
Z
- Frank J. Zamboni – inventor
- Zendaya – actress, singer
- Anthony Zerbe – actor
- Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. – Chief of Naval Operations
- Daphne Zuniga – actress
Musical groups
- AFI – rock band
- As I Lay Dying – metal band
- Audioslave – rock band
- Bad Religion – punk band
- The Bangles – pop band
- The Beach Boys – pop band
- The Bird and the Bee – indie duo
- Black Flag – hardcore band
- Blink-182 – pop/punk band
- The Byrds – folk rock band
- Circle Jerks – punk band
- Concrete Blonde – alternative band
- Counting Crows – rock band
- Creedence Clearwater Revival – rock band
- Cypress Hill – hip hop band
- The Donnas – rock band
- The Doors – rock band
- Eels – alternative band
- Faith no More – alternative band
- Fishbone – alternative band
- Flogging Molly – Celtic punk band
- Geraldine Fibbers – alternative band
- The Germs – punk band
- The Go-Go's – pop band
- The Grateful Dead – folk rock band
- Green Day – rock band
- Guns N' Roses – hard rock band
- Hollywood Undead – rap/metal band
- Hoobastank – rock band
- In Fear And Faith – metal band
- Incubus (band) – rock band
- Jane's Addiction – alternative band
- Jefferson Airplane – rock band
- Julien-K – synth band
- Linkin Park – alternative rock band
- Mad at the World – Christian rock band
- Maroon 5 – rock band
- Megadeth – metal band
- Metallica – metal band
- Minutemen – punk band
- The Monkees – pop band
- Mötley Crüe – hard rock band
- N.W.A. – hip hop band
- No Doubt – ska-punk band
- The O.C. Supertones – ska band
- The Offspring – rock band
- Oingo Boingo – new wave band
- P.O.D. – rock band
- Rage Against the Machine – rap/metal band
- Ratt – hard rock band
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – rock band
- Slayer – metal band
- Stone Temple Pilots – hard rock band
- Sublime – ska-punk, dub band
- ... Tendencies – punk/metal band
- ... Silence – metal band
- Switchfoot – rock band
- System of a Down – metal band
- Tesla – hard rock band
- Third Eye Blind – rock band
- Thrice – rock band
- Van Halen – hard rock band
- The Wallflowers – rock band
- X – alternative/punk band
California transplants
- Samuel Brannan – newspaper publisher
- Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo – Spanish explorer
- César Chávez – labor leader
- Juan Bautista de Anza – Spanish explorer
- Gaspar de Portolà – Spanish explorer
- Dr. Dre – rapper and producer
- Larry Ellison – co-founder of Oracle Corporation
- John C. Frémont – Military Governor of California
- Domingo Ghirardelli – chocolateer (Ghirardelli Chocolate Company)
- Chick Hearn – National Basketball Association announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers
- William Redington Hewlett – co-founder of Hewlett-Packard
- Bob Hope – actor, singer, comedian
- Steve Jurvetson – venture capitalist (a managing director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson)
- James Lick – real estate baron
- Steve Martin – actor, author, comedian and director
- Johnny Mathis – singer ("Chances Are")
- Fritz Maytag – former owner of Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco and is Chairman of the Board of the Maytag Dairy Farms* Thomas Mesereau – criminal defense lawyer
- Joe Montana – National Football League quarterback
- John Muir – naturalist
- Joshua A. Norton – British self-proclaimed "Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico"
- Buck Owens – country music performer
- Ronald Reagan – actor and 40th President of the United States
- Jackie Robinson – Baseball Hall of Famer who broke Major League Baseball's 20th-century color line
- Carlos Santana – Mexican musician
- Michael Savage – author, political commentator and radio host
- Charles M. Schulz – cartoonist
- Vin Scully – announcer for Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers
- Glenn T. Seaborg – chemist
- Junipero Serra – Spanish missionary
- Steven Spielberg – director
- Leland Stanford – railroad baron, Governor of California, founder of Stanford University
- Ken Starr – lawyer, university law dean
- Levi Strauss – Bavarian clothing manufacturer
- John Sutter – Swiss real estate baron
- Marjorie Thompson – British peace activist
- Mark Twain – humorist and author
- Sarah Winchester – heiress, eccentric, builder of the Winchester Mystery House
- Charles Wood – musical theatre performer (original Hortensio in Cole Porter's 1948 Broadway musical Kiss Me, Kate)
- Chuck Yeager – US Air Force test pilot
- Ace Young – singer
- Steve Young – National Football League quarterback
- Lars Ulrich – musician (Metallica)
Related pages
- List of people associated with San Francisco
- List of people from Chula Vista, California
- List of people from Long Beach, California
- List of people from Los Angeles
- List of people from Orange County, California
- List of people from San Diego, California
Images for kids
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Ron Mix
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Pat Tillman
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Michael Trevino
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Bill Walton
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P.O.D.
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Ace Young
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List of people from California Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.