List of people from Oregon facts for kids

Oregon is a state in the United States known for its beautiful nature, from forests to coastlines. Many interesting and talented people have lived in Oregon or were born there. This list introduces you to some of these notable individuals, including actors, athletes, artists, scientists, and leaders, who have made a mark in various fields.

State flag of Oregon

Location of Oregon in the United States

People from Oregon: A to Z

A

Obo Addy, a talented musician

• Obo Addy (1936–2012) – A musician from Ghana who became famous for his "worldbeat" music, blending traditional African sounds with modern styles.
• Danny Ainge (born 1959) – A former professional athlete who played both basketball in the National Basketball Association and baseball in Major League Baseball. He later became an executive in the NBA.
• Art Alexakis (born 1962) – The lead singer and guitarist for the popular rock band Everclear.
• Aminé (born 1994) – A hip hop musician and rapper known for his unique style and hit songs.
• Jean M. Auel (born 1936) – A well-known author, famous for her series of historical fiction novels set in prehistoric times.

B

Blanche Bates, a stage and film actress

Ty Burrell, a popular actor

• Carl Barks (1901–2001) – A legendary comic book writer and artist, often called "The Duck Man" for his work on Donald Duck and Uncle Scrooge comics.
• Blanche Bates (1873–1941) – A famous stage and film actress from the early 20th century.
• James Beard (1903–1985) – A highly respected chef and food writer who helped shape American cuisine. The prestigious James Beard Foundation Awards are named after him.
• Mel Blanc (1908–1989) – Known as "The Man of a Thousand Voices," he was a famous voice actor for many classic cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck.
• Bill Bowerman (1911–1999) – A track coach at the University of Oregon and a co-founder of the famous sports company Nike.
• Kate Brown (born 1960) – A politician who served as the 38th Governor of Oregon.
• Ty Burrell (born 1967) – An actor best known for his role as Phil Dunphy in the TV show Modern Family.

C

Beverly Cleary, a beloved children's author

• Bruce Campbell (born 1958) – An actor and director, famous for his roles in horror and comedy films.
• Marion Eugene Carl (1915–1998) – A decorated United States Marine Corps fighter pilot and a record-setting test pilot.
• Raymond Carver (1938–1988) – A highly regarded author known for his short stories and poetry.
• Beverly Cleary (1916–2021) – A beloved author of children's books, known for characters like Ramona Quimby and Henry Huggins.
• Pinto Colvig (1892–1967) – A voice actor who provided voices for many classic cartoon characters, including Goofy and Pluto for Disney.
• Ann Curry (born 1956) – A well-known television journalist and news anchor.

D

James Dutton, an astronaut

• George Dantzig (1914–2005) – A brilliant mathematical scientist who made important contributions to the field of operations research.
• Richard Diebenkorn (1922–1993) – A celebrated artist known for his abstract expressionist and figurative paintings.
• Marie Aioe Dorion (c. 1786–1850) – A Native American woman who was an important member of the Pacific Fur Company expedition, known for her resilience.
• Patrick Duffy (born 1949) – An actor famous for his roles in popular TV shows like Dallas.
• James Dutton (born 1968) – An astronaut who has traveled to space.

E

Jacoby Ellsbury, a Major League Baseball player

• Sam Elliott (born 1944) – An actor known for his deep voice and roles in Western films and TV shows.
• Jacoby Ellsbury (born 1983) – A professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball.
• Jeri Ellsworth (born 1974) – An inventor and entrepreneur who designs computer chips and other electronic devices.
• Douglas Engelbart (1925–2013) – A pioneering computer scientist who invented the computer mouse and helped develop early interactive computing.
• Neil Everett (born 1962) – A popular sportscaster for ESPN.

F

Nell Franzen, an actress

• Tami Farrell (born 1984) – A beauty queen who was crowned Miss Teen USA in 2003.
• David Fincher (born 1962) – A highly acclaimed film director known for his suspenseful and visually striking movies.
• Dick Fosbury (1947–2023) – A track and field athlete who invented the "Fosbury Flop," a new technique for high jumping that revolutionized the sport.
• Nell Franzen (1889–1973) – An actress from the early days of film.

G

A.C. Green, an NBA player

Matt Groening, the creator of The Simpsons

• Clark Gable (1901–1960) – A legendary actor from the Golden Age of Hollywood, known as "The King of Hollywood."
• Alfred Carlton Gilbert (1884–1961) – An athlete, toy-maker, and businessman, best known as the inventor of the Erector Set toy.
• A.C. Green (born 1963) – A professional basketball player known for his long career in the National Basketball Association.
• Matt Groening (born 1954) – The famous cartoonist and creator of the hugely popular animated TV shows The Simpsons and Futurama.

H

Justin Herbert, an NFL quarterback

Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States

• Tonya Harding (born 1970) – A former competitive ice skater and boxer.
• Katie Harman (born 1980) – Crowned Miss America in 2002.
• Mark Hatfield (1922–2011) – A prominent politician who served as Oregon's governor and a U.S. senator.
• Justin Herbert (born 1998) – A talented quarterback in the National Football League.
• Herbert Hoover (1874–1964) – The 31st President of the United States, who moved to Oregon when he was eleven years old.

I

• Terri Irwin (born 1964) – A naturalist and conservationist, known for her work with wildlife alongside her late husband, Steve Irwin.

J

Chief Joseph, a leader of the Nez Perce people

• Clifton James (1920–2017) – An actor best known for his roles as Sheriff J.W. Pepper in two James Bond films.
• Chief Joseph (1840–1904) – A respected leader of the Wal-lam-wat-kain band of the Nez Perce Native Americans, known for his efforts to protect his people.

K

• Mat Kearney (born 1978) – A popular musician, singer-songwriter, and rapper.
• Ken Kesey (1935–2001) – A famous author, known for his novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
• Zach King (born 1990) – A popular internet personality and illusionist known for his "magic vines" and short videos.
• John Kitzhaber (born 1947) – A politician who served multiple terms as the Governor of Oregon.
• Phil Knight (born 1938) – The co-founder of Nike, one of the world's largest suppliers of athletic shoes and apparel.
• Travis Knight (born 1973) – A director and producer of animated films, and the son of Phil Knight.
• Jon Krakauer (born 1954) – An author and mountaineer known for his non-fiction books about outdoor adventures and disasters.
• Nicholas Kristof (born 1959) – A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and columnist for The New York Times.

L

Winona LaDuke, a Native American rights activist

• Winona LaDuke (born 1959) – A Native American activist, environmentalist, and writer, known for her work on tribal land claims and sustainable development.
• Ursula K. Le Guin (1929–2018) – A highly influential author of science fiction and fantasy novels.
• Hazel Ying Lee (1912–1944) – A pioneering military pilot during World War II, one of the first Chinese American women to fly for the U.S. military.
• Courtney Love (born 1964) – A musician, singer, and actress, known for her work with the band Hole.
• Kevin Love (born 1987) – A professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association.

M

Rose McGowan, an actress

Lee Morse, a jazz singer and guitarist

• Ranald MacDonald (1824–1894) – An important historical figure, known as the first person to teach the English language in Japan.
• Holly Madison (born 1979) – A model and television personality.
• Donald Malarkey (1921–2017) – A decorated soldier who served in World War II with the famous "Band of Brothers" company.
• Tom McCall (1913–1983) – The 30th Governor of Oregon, known for his strong environmental policies.
• Rose McGowan (born 1973) – An actress and activist.
• Dallas McKennon (1919–2009) – A prolific voice actor who provided voices for many cartoon characters.
• Lee Morse (1897–1954) – A talented jazz and blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist from the early 20th century.
• Dale Murphy (born 1956) – A former professional baseball player, known for his career with the Atlanta Braves.
• Brent Musburger (born 1939) – A well-known sportscaster for CBS, ABC, and ESPN.

N

• Mickey Newbury (1940–2002) – A respected songwriter and singer in country and folk music.
• Kim Novak (born 1933) – A famous actress from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

O

• Jack Ohman (born 1960) – An award-winning editorial cartoonist.
• Eric Christian Olsen (born 1977) – An actor known for his roles in television shows.
• Kaitlin Olson (born 1975) – An actress best known for her comedic roles in TV shows.

P

Chuck Palahniuk, an author

• Bettie Page (1923–2008) – An iconic model from the 1950s.
• Chuck Palahniuk (born 1961) – A popular author known for his unique and often dark novels, including Fight Club.
• Linus Pauling (1901–1994) – A brilliant chemist and activist, he is the only person to win two Nobel Prizes on his own (one for Chemistry and one for Peace).
• Bill Pearl (born 1930) – A world champion bodybuilder.
• River Phoenix (1970–1993) – A talented actor, musician, and activist.
• Henry Pittock (1835–1919) – An Oregon pioneer who founded and published The Oregonian newspaper.
• Troy Polamalu (born 1981) – A famous strong safety who played in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Steve Prefontaine (1951–1975) – A legendary track athlete who set many American running records.

R

John Reed, a journalist

• Ahmad Rashad (born 1949) – A former college and National Football League player who later became a well-known sportscaster.
• John Reed (1887–1920) – A famous journalist and activist, known for his writings about the Russian Revolution.
• Lisa Rinna (born 1963) – An actress and television personality.
• Mark Rothko (1903–1970) – A highly influential Latvian-American artist known for his abstract paintings.
• Burt Rutan (born 1943) – A visionary aerospace engineer who designed innovative aircraft, including the first private spacecraft.

S

Dean Smith, a pioneer pilot

Chael Sonnen, a mixed martial artist

Brenda Strong, an actress

• Katee Sackhoff (born 1980) – An actress known for her roles in science fiction television shows.
• Doc Severinsen (born 1927) – A famous trumpeter and bandleader for The Tonight Show.
• Alek Skarlatos (born 1992) – An Oregon Army National Guard specialist who became famous for helping to stop a terrorist attack on a train in 2015.
• Dean Smith (1899–1987) – A pioneer pilot who made important contributions to early aviation.
• Elliott Smith (1969–2003) – A talented musician and singer-songwriter.
• Chael Sonnen (born 1977) – A mixed martial artist who competed in the UFC.
• Esperanza Spalding (born 1984) – A Grammy Award-winning jazz musician, singer, and songwriter.
• Erik Spoelstra (born 1970) – The head coach for the Miami Heat professional basketball team.
• William Gladstone Steel (1883–1934) – A conservationist known as the "father of Crater Lake" for his efforts to establish it as a national park.
• Brenda Strong (born 1960) – An actress known for her roles in television shows.
• Sally Struthers (born 1948) – An actress known for her roles in television comedies.
• Ndamukong Suh (born 1987) – A professional football player who plays as a defensive tackle in the National Football League.

T

Maria Thayer, an actress

• Maria Thayer (born 1975) – An actress known for her roles in films and television.
• Tommy Thayer (born 1960) – A musician, best known as the lead guitarist for the legendary rock band Kiss.
• Inga Thompson (born 1968) – A professional bicycle racer who competed in the Olympics.
• Corin Tucker (born 1972) – A musician and guitarist, known for her work with the band Sleater-Kinney.

U

• Sara Jean Underwood (born 1984) – A model and actress.

V

• Gus Van Sant (born 1952) – An acclaimed film director, screenwriter, and producer.
• Paige VanZant (born 1994) – A mixed martial artist and bare-knuckle boxer.
• Will Vinton (1947–2018) – A director and producer, known for his pioneering work in stop-motion animation, especially with claymation.

W

Lindsay Wagner, an actress

• Lindsay Wagner (born 1949) – An actress famous for her role as the Bionic Woman in the television series.
• Don Walsh (born 1931) – An oceanographer and explorer who was one of the first two people to descend to the deepest part of the Earth's oceans.
• Carl Wieman (born 1951) – A physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2001 for his work on Bose-Einstein condensation.
• Nancy Wilson (born 1954) – A musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as a member of the rock band Heart.

Y

• Minoru Yasui (1916–1986) – A lawyer and civil rights activist who challenged the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
• Yeat (born 2000) – A popular rapper and music producer.

More People from Oregon

If you want to learn about more people from Oregon, you can check out these lists:

By city

• List of people from Bend, Oregon
• List of people from Eugene, Oregon
• List of people from Hillsboro, Oregon
• List of people from Portland, Oregon

By public office

• List of governors of Oregon
• List of United States representatives from Oregon
• List of United States senators from Oregon

By educational institution

• List of Oregon State University alumni
• List of Reed College people
• List of University of Oregon alumni
• List of Willamette University alumni