List of people from California
This is a partial list of well-known people from California.
A
- Willie Aames – actor
- Paula Abdul – dancer/singer (American Idol)
- Ansel Adams – photographer
- Rick Adelman – NBA head coach (Houston Rockets)
- Jessica Alba – actress, model
- 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 – musician, 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)
- Brad Ausmus – Major League Baseball player
- 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 – manager of the Cincinnati Reds
- 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
- David Blu (born David Bluthenthal) - professional basketball player (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
- 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)
- Jan Brewer - Politician and current governor of Arizona
- 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
- 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
- Torry Castellano – drummer of The Donnas
- 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
- Holly Marie Combs – actress
- Scout Taylor-Compton – actress (Halloween)
- Maureen Connolly – tennis player
- Mike Connors- actor (Mannix)
- Elisha Cook Jr. – actor (The Maltese Falcon)
- Coolio – rapper
- Miranda Cosgrove – actress, singer (iCarly)
- 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
- Harry Danning - Major League Baseball All Star catcher
- Ted Danson – actor (Cheers)
- Lindsay Davenport – tennis player
- Baron Davis – professional basketball player (Los Angeles Clippers)
- 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
- Brad Delson – musician (Linkin Park)
- Emily_Deschanel – actress
- 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
- Tom Dumont – No Doubt's guitarist
- Nate Dogg – musician
- Snoop Dogg – rapper
- Canh Thong Do – Vietnamese American Activist
- Ami Dolenz actress (daughter of Mickey Dolenz)
- Mickey Dolenz – member of The Monkees
- Dr Dre – musician, rap producer
- Mac Dre – rapper
- Dresta – rapper
- K. Eric Drexler – engineer
- Hilary Duff – actress, singer
- 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
- Zac Efron – American film and TV actor. Best known for his role in High School Musical
- Mc Eiht – actor, rapper
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, composer (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)
- Allen Fox - tennis player (ranked as high as # 4) and coach
- Paulette Frankl – artist, biographer
- Robert Frost – poet
- Del tha Funkee Homosapien – rapper
- Edward Furlong – actor (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)
G
- Warren G – rapper
- Guy Gabaldon – United States Marine Corps
- Lynx and Lamb Gaede – white nationalist twin singers and musicians
- Richard Gage (architect) – 9/11 Truth movement activist
- Trace Gallagher – journalist
- 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)
- Lillian Moller Gilbreth – engineer (Cheaper by the Dozen)
- Danny Glover – actor
- Rube Goldberg – cartoonist
- Phillip Gonyea – drummer for Against All Will
- Drew Gooden – professional basketball player (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Jeff Gordon – NASCAR driver
- Joseph Gordon-Levitt – actor
- Mark-Paul Gosselaar - actor
- John Grabow, Major League Baseball player (Chicago Cubs)
- Gloria Grahame – actress
- Joanie Greggains – radio show host, health and fitness expert.
- Beatrice Gray – actress
- Billy Gray – actor, motorcyclist
- 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 (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)
- MC Hammer – musician
- Kirk Hammett – musician (Metallica)
- Daniel Handler – Lemony Snicket
- Colin Hanks – actor (King Kong)
- Tom Hanks – actor, director, producer
- Jeff Hanneman – guitarist (Slayer)
- Dan Haren – professional baseball player (Oakland Athletics)
- Mariska Hargitay – actress (Law & Order: SVU)
- Jeff B. Harmon – film producer, director, actor
- Henry Harrower – endocrinologist
- 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)
- Pamela Hensley - actress
- Keith Hernandez – baseball player (New York Mets)
- James Hetfield – musician (Metallica)
- Jason Hirsh - baseball player
- 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
- Jerry Hsu- skateboarder
- 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
- Tiffany Hwang – singer, Girls' Generation
I
- Gabriel Iglesias – comedian
- Grant Imahara – electronics and radio control expert (MythBusters)
- Danny Im – member of Korean music group, 1TYM
- Yasuhiro Ishimoto – photographer
- Phil Ivey – professional poker player
J
- Shirley Jackson – author
- Jesse G. James – actor, welder, and CEO of West Coast Choppers
- Gregg Jarrett – lawyer, journalist
- Jayden James – American pornographic actress
- Richard Jefferson – professional basketball player
- Fran Jeffries – actress (The Pink Panther)
- Steve Jobs – billionaire computer pioneer, co-founder of Apple Computer
- Dwayne Johnson (born 1972) – former professional wrestler best known as "The Rock"; now an actor (The Scorpion King)
- Jimmie Johnson – NASCAR driver and champion
- Keyshawn Johnson – retired professional football player
- Randy Johnson (born 1963) – 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
- Jessica Jung – singer, Girls' Generation
- Krystal Jung – singer, F(x)
K
- Ryan Kalish – major league baseball outfielder
- Tony Kanal – bassist with No Doubt
- Gabe Kapler – major league baseball outfielder
- Chris Kattan – actor, comedian
- Julie Kavner – actress
- Diane Keaton – actress, director, producer
- 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
- Nathan Kress – actor (iCarly)
- Mike Krukow – baseball pitcher/announcer (San Francisco Giants)
- Lisa Kudrow – actress (Friends)
- Michelle Kwan – figure skater
L
- Shia LaBeouf – actor
- Adam Lambert – singer (American Idol)
- 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
- Adam Levine – musician (lead singer of pop/rock group Maroon 5)
- 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)
- George Lopez – actor/comedian (George Lopez)
- Mario López – actor (Saved by the Bell)
- Greg Louganis- Olympic Diver
- Courtney Love – musician
- Jon Lovitz – actor
- George Lucas – billionaire filmmaker (Star Wars)
- Athena Lundberg – Playmate of the Month for January 2006
- 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
- Daron Malakian – Guitarist for System of a Down
- Ricky Manning, Jr. - Football player
- Cheech Marin – actor
- Bobby Martinez - Pro surfer Reef
- Shannon Marketic – Miss USA 1992
- Bob Mathias – decathlete
- Leigh McCloskey - actor, artist (Dallas)
- 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
- Casey Mears – NASCAR driver
- Edwin Meese – US Attorney General (1985–1988)
- Rodney Melville – judge
- 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
- John Morrison – wrestler (Los Angeles)
- Terry Moore – actress Mighty Joe Young
- Marilyn Monroe – sex symbol, actress (Some Like It Hot)
- George Moscone mayor (1976—1978)
- Bill Mumy – child actor (Lost in Space)
- Eddie Murray – baseball player (Baltimore Orioles)
- Dave Mustaine – musician (Megadeth)
- Chris Mordetzky – wrestler
- Jason Mraz - singer
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
- Isamu Noguchi - artist
- Lyn Nofziger – author/journalist/press secretary (Ronald Reagan)
O
- Willis O'Brien – movie special effects artist
- Lefty O'Doul – baseball player
- Dagmar Oakland – Actress of stage and screen
- Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen – actresses and entrepreneurs
- Omarion – musician
- Tatum O'Neal – actress
- Haley Joel Osment – actor
- Christi O'Connor – television journalist
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
- Katy Perry – singer
- 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 – musician (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
- Dane Reynolds – Pro surfer(Quiksilver)
- 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
- Julia Robinson – mathematician
- 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))
S
- CC Sabathia – baseball player
- Pierre Salinger – White House Press Secretary under John F. Kennedy
- Andy Samberg – comedian (SNL)
- Eugene Schmitz – San Francisco Mayor
- 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)
- Larry Sherry - major league baseball 1959 World Series MVP
- Mike Shinoda – painter, musician, producer, singer/rapper (Linkin Park and Fort Minor)
- Too Short – rapper
- Alicia Silverstone – actress
- O.J. Simpson – football player
- Charles Martin Smith – actor (American Graffiti)
- Roger Smith – actor (77 Sunset Strip)
- Samuel H. Smith – president emeritus of Washington State University
- 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 – First Nike "Just Do It" advertisement subject (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
- 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)
- Tess Taylor – reality TV star and Playboy Cyber Girl of the Year for 2010
- Shirley Temple – child actress
- Robin Thicke – singer
- Jennifer Tilly – actress
- Kenneth Tobey – actor
- Lisa Tucker – singer
- Aisha Tyler – actress
U
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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
- Kristi Yamaguchi Professional Figure Skater
- Elliott Yamin – singer
- "Weird Al" Yankovic – Parodist, Musician
- Tina Yothers – actress (Family Ties)
- Adrian Young – No Doubt's drummer
- Yukmouth – rapper
Z
Groups of people
- Linkin Park – alternative rock band
- Red Hot Chili Peppers – rock band
- P.O.D. – rock band
- Green Day – rock band
- Orgy – synth band
- Julien-K – synth band
- Switchfoot – rock band
- Thrice – rock band
- No Doubt – ska-punk band
- Sublime – ska-punk, dub band
- AFI – rock band
- Metallica – Metal Band
- As I Lay Dying – Metal Band
- In Fear And Faith – Metal Band
- Slayer – Metal Band
- Megadeth – Metal Band
- Tesla – Hard Rock Band
- Van Halen – Hard Rock Band
- Eels – alternative band
- Faith no More – alternative band
- The Doors – rock band
- The Beach Boys – pop band
- Black Flag – hardcore band
- The Germs – punk band
- Circle Jerks – punk band
- Guns N'Roses – Hard Rock band
- The Bangles – pop band
- The Go-Go's – pop band
- The Byrds – folk rock band
- Stone Temple Pilots – Hard Rock band
- Minutemen – punk band
- Mötley Crüe – Hard Rock band
- Ratt – Hard Rock band
- The Grateful Dead – folk rock band
- Jane's Addiction – alternative band
- Bad Religion – punk band
- Concrete Blonde – alternative band
- Geraldine Fibbers – alternative band
- Oingo Boingo – new wave band
- Suicidal Tendencies – punk/metal band
- System of a Down – rock band
- N.W.A. – hip hop band
- Fishbone – alternative band
- Jefferson Airplane – rock band
- Blink 182 – pop/punk band
- Rage against the Machine – rap/metal band
- Mad at the World – Christian rock band
- X – alternative/punk band
- The Bird and the Bee – indie duo
- Creedence Clearwater Revival – rock band
- The Donnas – rock band
- Incubus (band) – rock band
- Third Eye Blind – rock band
- Counting Crows – rock band
- Maroon 5 – rock band
- Audioslave – rock band
- Hoobastank – rock band
- The Wallflowers – rock band
- Cypress Hill – hip hop band
- The Offspring – 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
- Dr. Dre (born 1965), rapper and producer
- 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 (1916–2002), NBA Basketball announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers
- William Reddington Hewlett – co-founder of Hewlett-Packard
- Bob Hope (1903–2003), actor, singer, comedian
- James Lick, American real estate baron
- Steve Martin, Actor, director, comedian
- Johnny Mathis, singer (Chances Are (song))
- Thomas Mesereau, Celebrity criminal defense lawyer
- Joe Montana (born 1956), 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 (1911–2004), 40th President of the United States
- Jackie Robinson (1919–1972) – Baseball Hall of Famer who broke Major League Baseball's 20th-century color line
- Carlos Santana, Mexican musician
- Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000), cartoonist
- Vin Scully (born 1927), announcer for Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers
- 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 [citation needed]
- Sarah Winchester, American heiress, eccentric, builder of the Winchester Mystery House
- Charles Wood, musical theatre performer, original Hortensio in Cole Porter's 1948 hit Broadway musical, Kiss Me, Kate
- Chuck Yeager (born 1923), US Air Force test pilot
- Ace Young, Singer
- Steve Young (born 1961), American football player
- Lars Ulrich, musician (Metallica)
- Ashlynn Brooke, Porn Star [citation needed]
- Steve Jurvetson, Managing Director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ)
- Michael Savage (commentator), an American radio host, author, and political commentator
See also
- 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 San Diegans
- List of people associated with San Francisco
