List of people from Seattle

A person who lives in or comes from Seattle, Washington, USA is called a Seattleite. This is a list of well-known people who were born, lived or grew up in the city of Seattle.

Born in Seattle

Living

Paul Allen

• Paul Allen – Co-founder of Microsoft
• John Aylward – Actor - (ER, Mad Men, House of Lies, Gangster Squad)
• Josh Barnett – MMA fighter, former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion
• Mario Batali – American chef, writer, restaurateur and media personality
• Bob Bingham – Jesus Christ Superstar actor
• Josie Bissett – Actress (Melrose Place), ex-wife of Rob Estes
• Tori Black – Porn Star
• William Bolcom – Composer
• Karan Brar - actor
• Ben Bridwell – musician – Lead singer in the American rock 'n roll band Band of Horses
• Matt Briggs - Writer
• Carrie Brownstein – Musician, member of Sleater-Kinney
• Linda B. Buck – Scientist
• Raegan Butcher – Poet
• Dove Cameron – actress, singer
• Jerry Cantrell – musician – Alice in Chains
• Brandi Carlile – musician
• Kyle Cease – Comedian
• Carol Channing – Actress
• Art Chantry – Graphic design
• Erika Christensen – Actress
• Bobby Clark – Actor
• Judy Collins – Folk singer
• Greg Colson – Artist
• Chris Cornell – musician – Soundgarden, Audioslave
• Warrel Dane – musician, singer for Sanctuary, Nevermore
• Gail Devers – athlete
• Jenny Durkan – United States Attorney for the Western District of Washington
• Wil Francis – Lead singer of the band, Aiden
• Kenny G – Musician
• Bill Gates – Co-founder of Microsoft
• Isis Gee – American singer in Poland and Eurovision Song Contest entrant
• Tom Gorai – Film producer
• Richard F. Gordon, Jr. – Astronaut
• Tom Gorman – Tennis player
• Stone Gossard – Rhythm guitarist of Pearl Jam
• Natalie Grant – Christian music singer/songwriter
• David Guterson – Author
• Ben Haggerty - Macklemore - Hip-Hop Artist
• Marcus Hahnemann – Professional soccer goalkeeper
• Henri – existential cat
• Brian Herbert – Author
• Steven Hill – Actor, portrayed Adam Schiff in the TV series Law & Order
• Jay Inslee – Governor of Washington
• Jake One – Hip-Hop music producer
• Bianca Kajlich – Television actress noted for role of Jennifer on Rules of Engagement
• Richard Karn – Television actor, game show host
• Amanda Knox – Tried and convicted in Italy for the Murder of Meredith Kercher but subsequently acquitted on appeal
• Thomas Kohnstamm – Author
• Addie Land- Actress, The Sasquatch Gang
• Ed Lee – First Asian American mayor of San Francisco
• Blake Lewis – Singer, known for finishing runner-up on American Idol (season 6)
• Jerry Lewis – Politician
• Gary Locke – US Ambassador to China, former US Secretary of Commerce, former Governor of Washington
• Mike Luckovich – Editorial cartoonist
• Macklemore – Rap Artist real name "Ben Haggerty"
• Duff McKagan – Bassist formerly of Guns N' Roses, now with Velvet Revolver
• Gianna Michaels – Porn Star
• Beau Mirchoff – Actor noted for role on for television series Awkward
• Brian Stokes Mitchell – Broadway actor and baritone singer
• Sir Mix-a-Lot – rap musician
• Jeffrey Dean Morgan – Actor
• Mark Morris – Director, choreographer, dancer
• Frank Murkowski – Polish-American politician, tenth Governor of Alaska
• Gabe Newell – CEO and founder of Valve Corporation
• Mark O'Connor – country violinist (also performs in other musical genres)
• Apolo Ohno – world champion and Olympic short track speedskater
• John Olerud – former professional baseball player who played at Washington State University
• Stephen O'Malley – Member of doom metal band Sunn O)))
• Stacie Orrico – pop singer
• Stephen S. Oswald – Astronaut
• Jay Park – b-boy, singer and rapper. Former leader of 2PM
• Robin Pecknold – musician – Lead singer in the American folk-rock band Fleet Foxes
• Megyn Price – Actress known for roles on Grounded for Life and Rules of Engagement
• Ann Reinking – Actress, dancer, choreographer
• John Requa – Screenwriter Cats & Dogs and Bad Santa
• Nate Robinson – National Basketball Association player, known for winning three All-Star Dunk contests
• Nick Robinson – Actor known for portraying Ryder Scanlon on ABC Family sitcom Melissa & Joey
• Scott Rockenfield – Drummer with Queensrÿche
• Leslie Rule - Author, novelist, paranormal writer
• DJ Scene – Producer, Disc Jockey
• Aaron Sele, Retired Major League Baseball player, who played for the Seattle Mariners and other teams
• Jim Sheppard – Bassist with Nevermore
• Jean Smart – Actress who famous for playing Charlene Frazier Stillfield on Designing Women and Dr. Ann Possible on Kim Possible
• Peter Steinbrueck – Politician
• Ryan Stiles – Comedian, who is best known for playing on Whose Line Is It Anyway, Lewis Kiniski on The Drew Carey Show, and Herb Melnick on Two and a Half Men
• Geoff Tate – Singer with Queensryche
• Jen Taylor – Video game voice actress
• Kim Thayil – Lead guitarist of the grunge band Soundgarden
• Rachel Trachtenburg – drummer, member of The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
• Jennifer Warnes – singer and songwriter
• Adam West – Actor, known for lead role in TV series Batman and Family Guy
• Jim Whittaker – First American to climb Mt. Everest
• Lou Whittaker – mountaineer, founded Mt. Rainier guide service
• Rainn Wilson – Actor, most notably on The Office
• Lynn Woolsey – Politician
• Mary Youngblood – Native American flutist

Deceased

• Gerald Brashear – Congo and Tenor Sax, played with Wyatt Ruther, Ray Charles, Della Reese, Cecil Young Quartet.
• Eldon Hoke – aka 'El Duce' – Drummer and Singer of rock band 'The Mentors'.
• Paul Jacob Alexander – newspaper publisher and Seattle City Councilman
• Richard Lee Armstrong – professor and geochemist
• Bob Bartlett – politician
• Barbara Berjer – television actress
• Max Brand – author (pen name)
• Chester Carlson – physicist and inventor
• Irma Schoennauer Cole – Swimmer, civil servant
• Don Coryell – NFL football coach
• Jennifer Dunn – politician
• Frances Farmer – actress
• Pete Fleming – missionary to Ecuador
• Keith Godchaux – musician
• Kathi Goertzen – longtime news anchor for KOMO 4
• Ed Guthman – Journalist
• Ivar Haglund – folksinger and restaurateur
• Jimi Hendrix – rock guitarist and singer
• Art Hupy – photographer
• Fred Hutchinson – Baseball Player and Manager
• Gary Kildall – scientist, inventor and founder of Digital Research
• Gypsy Rose Lee – actress and burlesque star
• Mary Livingstone – comedienne and wife of Jack Benny
• Paul B. Lowney – author
• Kevin McCarthy – Actor
• Mary McCarthy – author, critic and social activist
• Alfred M. Moen – inventor and founder of Moen, Inc.
• Margaret Murie – environmentalist
• Walt Partymiller – cartoonist
• Tuulikki Pietilä – graphic artist and professor
• Ron Santo – Former professional baseball player
• Robert Stroud – The Birdman of Alcatraz
• Emmett Watson – journalist
• Charles Wood – singer and actor. Introduced Cole Porter's "Tom, Dick or Harry" on Broadway (as Hortensio), with Lisa Kirk, Harold Lang and Edwin Clay, in Porter's long-running 1948 musical, Kiss Me, Kate

Moved to Seattle

Living

• Kimball Allen – writer, playwright, performer, gay activist, author of Secrets of a Gay Mormon Felon
• Zaid Abdul-Aziz – former Seattle SuperSonics power forward
• Dustin Ackley – current Seattle Mariners second baseman
• Sherman Alexie – author
• Jeff Ament – bassist of Pearl Jam
• Harry Anderson – actor
• Brian Atwater – geologist
• Fred Beckey – mountaineer
• Anomie Belle – musician
• Jeff Bezos – CEO and Founder of Amazon.com
• Christopher Boffoli – photographer
• Jeff Borowiak – tennis player
• David Brewster (journalist) – publisher and journalist
• Terry Brooks – author
• Mike McCready – lead guitarist of Pearl Jam (considered local, went to grade school – college in Seattle)
• Robert Brown – Musician, lead singer of Abney Park
• Ed Brubaker – comics writer and artist
• Peter Buck – musician in R.E.M.
• Charles Burns – cartoonist
• Matt Cameron – drummer of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam
• Dyan Cannon – actress
• Neko Case – musician
• J.R. Celski – olympic speed skater
• Michael Chang – grand slam tennis champion
• Dale Chihuly – glass blowing artist
• Nick Collison – Oklahoma City Thunder forward
• Kathryn Cramer – science fiction editor (lived in Seattle 1964–1985)
• Cameron Crowe – writer and director
• Chris DeWolfe – founder of MySpace
• Jim Donald – former CEO of Starbucks Coffee
• Mark Driscoll – co-founder and preaching pastor of Mars Hill Church
• Rob Estes – actor
• Anna Faris – actress
• Brendan Fraser – actor
• Neile Graham – poet
• Nicola Griffith – author
• Dave Grohl – drummer of Nirvana and lead singer/guitarist of Foo Fighters
• Caren Gussoff – author

File:Phoenix jones fotoespanol.jpg

Phoenix Jones in his costume in Seattle.

• Gary Hall Jr. – 10-time Olympic medalist
• Leland H. Hartwell – Nobel Prize winner
• Matt Hasselbeck – Seattle Seahawks player
• Jerick Hoffer/Jinkx Monsoon – Actor/Drag queen, Winner of Rupaul's Drag Race Season 5
• Jenni Hogan – KIRO-TV Traffic Anchor
• David Horsey – cartoonist
• Tom Hulce – actor in National Lampoon's Animal House and Amadeus
• Jane Jensen – game designer and author
• Russell Johnson – actor
• Phoenix Jones – Superhero/Vigilante
• Quincy Jones – musician
• S. T. Joshi – literary critic and editor
• Michael Kinsley – journalist
• Sascha Konietzko – founder and frontman of KMFDM
• Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins – creators of Penny Arcade
• Jon Krakauer – author
• Jayne Ann Krentz – romance novelist
• Gary Larson – comic strip artist (the Far Side)
• Jason Lutes – cartoonist
• Kyle MacLachlan – actor
• Dave Matthews – musician
• Jim McDermott – congressman
• Rose McGowan – actress
• Joel McHale – host The Soup on E!
• Patrick Monahan – lead singer of the band Train
• Marni Nixon – musician
• Krist Novoselic – bassist of Nirvana
• Bill Nye – "Science Guy", actor, comedian
• Yuji Okumoto – actor The Karate Kid, Part II and Real Genius, owner of Kona Kitchen
• Susan Powter – motivational speaker, dietitian, personal trainer and author
• Jeff Probst – host of TV show Survivor
• Jonathan Raban – author
• John Ratzenberger – actor 'Cheers'
• Ron Reagan – radio talk host
• Gary Ridgway – serial killer
• Tom Robbins – author
• Don Roff – writer and filmmaker
• Ryan Rowland-Smith – Seattle Mariners pitcher
• Ann Rule – true crime author
• Bill Russell – retired Hall of Fame basketball player
• Dan Savage – advice columnist
• Howard Schultz – chairman of Starbucks
• Ross Shafer – comedian and television host
• Tom Skerritt – actor
• Alex Steffen – award-winning author and editor
• Neal Stephenson – science-fiction author
• Mack Strong – Retired Seattle Seahawks Fullback 1993–2007
• Ichiro Suzuki – Seattle Mariners baseball player
• Robert Swift – Former Seattle SuperSonics and Oklahoma City Thunder center
• Geoff Tate – lead singer of Queensrÿche
• Lauren Tewes – actress
• Earnest James Ujaama – community activist and indicted associate of al-Qaeda
• Eddie Vedder – lead singer of Pearl Jam
• Ann Wilson – lead singer and flute player of Heart
• Mark Wirth – fashion notable
• Jim Woodring – comic book author and artist

Deceased

• Frank Barsotti - Photographer
• Jack Bechdolt – journalist for Seattle Post Intelligencer, illustrator/artist, author of thousands of short stories
• Bill Boeing – aviation pioneer, industrialist
• Robert Bray – actor
• Edwin Frederick Brotze – cartoonist for the Seattle Daily Times
• Ted Bundy – serial killer
• Octavia Butler – author
• Frank Calvert – cartoonist for the Seattle Daily Times
• James E. Casey – United Parcel Service founder
• Ray Charles – musician
• Charlie Chong – political activist
• Kurt Cobain – musician
• Frantz Hunt Coe – educator
• James S. Ditty – photoengraver Seattle Star
• James Doohan – actor; Montgomery Scott on Star Trek
• Ford Quint Elvidge – governor of Guam
• Kate Fleming – audio book narrator (voice-over actor) and producer
• Edgar Gott – aviation pioneer, first president of Boeing
• Carl F. Gould – architect, educator
• George Hager – cartoonist for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
• John "DOK" Hager – cartoonist for Seattle Daily Times
• Alex Haley – African American writer
• Anna Roosevelt Halsted – journalist, daughter of Franklin D. Roosevelt
• Mitch Hedberg – comedian
• Frank Herbert – author
• George H. Hitchings – scientist
• Edward Sturgis Ingraham – first superintendent of the Seattle Public Schools and mountaineer
• Ernest C. Jenner – illustrator for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
• Jacob Lawrence – painter
• Brandon Lee – actor
• Bruce Lee – actor
• Keye Luke - actor
• Betty MacDonald – author
• Helene Madison – 3 gold medals at 1932 Olympic games
• Benjamin Brown Martin – illustrator for the Seattle Daily Times
• William Charles McNulty – illustrator Seattle Star, became teacher at Art Students League
• Asa Shinn Mercer – the man behind the Mercer Girls, a model for the TV series Here Come the Brides
• Robert Moran – shipbuilder
• Alexander Pantages – theatrical entrepreneur
• Robert W. Patten – veteran, storyteller, inspiration for cartoon series
• Lionel Pries – architect, educator
• Alfred T. Renfro – cartoonist Seattle Star
• Theodore Roethke – poet
• Zola Helen Ross – author
• James Willis Sayre – theatre critic, journalist, arts promoter, and historian
• Jeff Smith – TV chef and author
• Layne Staley – musician
• Henry Suzzallo – president of the University of Washington (1915–1926)
• August Wilson – playwright
• Mia Zapata – musician

Native athletes

Fred Couples

Tre Simmons

Isaiah Stanback

• Shaun Bodiford – NFL WR Federal Way High School
• Aaron Brooks – NBA PG Franklin High School
• Kevin Burleson – NBA PG O'Dea High School
• Nate Burleson – NFL WR O'Dea High School
• Jesse Chatman – NFL RB Franklin High School
• Doug Christie – NBA SG Rainier Beach High School
• Will Conroy – NBA PG Garfield (Seattle)
• Fred Couples – PGA O'Dea High School
• Jamal Crawford – NBA SG Rainier Beach High School
• Michael Dickerson – NBA SF Federal Way High School
• Corey Dillon – NFL RB Franklin High School
• James Edwards – NBA PF Roosevelt High School
• C. J. Giles – NBA PF Rainier Beach High School
• Charlie Greene – USATF Olympian/Track & Field Hall of Fame O'Dea High School
• Spencer Hawes – NBA C Seattle Prep
• Phil Heath – 2nd World Ranked IFBB Professional bodybuilder
• Jeff Jaeger – NFL K Kent Meridian High School
• Earl Johnson – Major League Baseball P Ballard High School
• Taylor Mays – NFL S O'Dea High School
• Hugh Millen – NFL QB Roosevelt High School
• Nate Robinson – NBA PG Rainier Beach High School
• Brandon Roy – NBA SF Garfield (Seattle)
• Brian Scalabrine – NBA C Enumclaw High School
• Chester Simmons – NBA PG Garfield (Seattle)
• Isaiah Stanback – NFL WR Garfield (Seattle)
• Rodney Stuckey – NBA SG Kentwood High School
• Jason Terry – NBA PG Franklin High School
• Martell Webster – NBA SG Seattle Prep
• Marcus Williams – NBA SF Roosevelt High School
• Marvin Williams – NBA SF Bremerton High School
• Terrence Williams – NBA SF Rainier Beach High School

Musical groups

• Abney Park – steampunk band: formerly goth.
• Aiden – rock band (Emo)
• Alice in Chains – rock band (Grunge/Metal)
• Band of Horses – previously known as Horses, indie rock band
• The Blood Brothers – (Emo)
• Blue Scholars – hip-hop
• Brite Futures – indie pop
• The Brothers Four – folksingers
• Candlebox – alternative band
• The Classic Crime – alternative band
• Common Market (band) – hip-hop
• Dave Matthews Band – originated in Charlottesville, Virginia
• Death Cab for Cutie – alternative band
• Demon Hunter – metal band
• Fleet Foxes – indie rock band
• Foo Fighters – rock band
• The Gits – rock band
• Grand Archives – alternative rock band
• Green River – rock band (Grunge)
• Harvey Danger – alternative band
• He Is We – indie pop
• The Head and the Heart – indie rock band
• Heart – rock band
• Himsa – Metalcore band
• Ivan & Alyosha – Pop Rock band
• Jake One – hip-hop producer
• Jimi Hendrix – guitarist
• KMFDM – industrial band
• Kyle Townsend – Record Producer musician
• Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – hip-hop/rap duo
• Metal Church – metal band
• Minus the Bear – alternative rock band
• Modest Mouse – indie rock band (from nearby Issaquah, Washington)
• Mother Love Bone – rock band (Grunge)
• Mudhoney – rock band (Grunge)
• Murder City Devils – rock band (Garage Rock)
• MxPx – rock band (Punk Rock)
• Nevermore – metal band
• Nirvana – rock band (Grunge)
• Pearl Jam – rock band (Grunge)
• Pedro the Lion – indie rock band
• Pickwick – indie rock band
• The Postal Service – indietronic band
• Presidents of the United States of America – rock band
• Queensrÿche – metal band (from nearby Bellevue)
• Quincy Jones – jazz musician
• The Scene Aesthetic – acoustic/indie pop band
• Sinai 48 – rock band that includes the former members of Buckingham Nicks
• Slicing Grandpa – experimental rock
• Smoosh – alternative pop band
• Soundgarden – rock band (Grunge)
• Sunn O))) – Doom metal band
• Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players – indie rock/pop band
• Trial – Political straightedge band
• Ugly Casanova – indie rock band featuring main member Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse (from nearby Issaquah, Washington)
• Vendetta Red – rock band
• The Ventures – surf band

Seattle in fiction

• Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour by Gameloft (2012) Seattle is bombed, on the level "Unified Terror".
• Here Come the Brides (1968–1970) television series
• Carl Kolchak in the 1973 TV movie The Night Stalker
• McQ, 1974 movie, featuring John Wayne
• An Officer and a Gentleman, 1982 movie, featuring Richard Gere and Debra Winger
• WarGames, 1983 movie, starring Matthew Broderick
• Runaway, 1984 movie, starring Tom Selleck and Gene Simmons
• Black Widow, 1987 movie, starring Debra Winger and Theresa Russell
• Harry and the Hendersons (1987), movie comedy featuring John Lithgow and Don Ameche
• The Stepfather, 1987 movie, starring Terry O'Quinn
• The Fabulous Baker Boys, 1989 movie
• Say Anything..., 1989 movie, featuring John Cusack
• American Heart, 1992 movie, featuring Jeff Bridges and Edward Furlong
• The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, 1992 movie, starring Rebecca De Mornay
• Singles, 1992 movie, directed by Cameron Crowe, featuring Bridget Fonda and Matt Dillon
• Frasier (1993–2004), Emmy award-winning US television sitcom featuring Kelsey Grammer as Dr. Frasier Crane and David Hyde Pierce as his brother, Dr. Niles Crane
• Shadowrun, 1993 video game for Super NES
• Sleepless in Seattle, 1993 movie featuring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks
• The Vanishing, 1993 movie, featuring Kiefer Sutherland and Jeff Bridges
• Disclosure, 1994 movie, featuring Michael Douglas and Demi Moore
• Assassins, 1995 movie, starring Sylvester Stallone and Antonio Banderas
• Hideaway, 1995 movie, starring Jeff Goldblum and Jeremy Sisto
• Mad Love, 1995 movie, featuring Drew Barrymore and Chris O'Donnell
• Fear, 1996 movie, featuring Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon
• Millennium (1996–1999) television series, featuring Lance Henriksen and Megan Gallagher
• Excess Baggage, 1997 movie, featuring Alicia Silverstone and Benicio Del Toro
• 10 Things I Hate about You, 1999 movie, featuring Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger
• Double Jeopardy, 1999 movie, featuring Tommy Lee Jones and Ashley Judd
• Chasing Sleep, 2000 movie, starring Jeff Daniels
• Dark Angel (2000–2002) cyberpunk, science fiction television series, created by James Cameron and starring Jessica Alba
• Get Carter, 2000 movie, remake of the 1971 film starring Sylvester Stallone and Mickey Rourke
• Saving Silverman, 2001 movie, starring Jason Biggs and Jack Black
• Life or Something Like It, 2002 movie, featuring Angelina Jolie and Edward Burns
• The Ring, 2002 movie, featuring Naomi Watts and Martin Henderson
• John Doe (2002–2003), television sci-fi featuring Dominic Purcell
• A Guy Thing, 2003 movie, starring Julia Stiles, Jason Lee, Selma Blair
• Agent Cody Banks, 2003 movie, featuring Frankie Muniz and Hilary Duff
• Dead Like Me, (2003–2004) Showtime comedy, featuring Ellen Muth and Mandy Patinkin
• The 4400, (2004–2007), television sci-fi
• Grey's Anatomy (2005–), an award winning ABC television drama, featuring Ellen Pompeo and Sandra Oh
• Lucky 7, 2003 made-for-TV movie, featuring Kimberly Williams-Paisley and Patrick Dempsey
• Firewall, 2006 movie, starring Harrison Ford
• Kyle XY, (2006–2009), television abc family
• 88 Minutes, 2007 movie, featuring Al Pacino
• Battle in Seattle, 2007 movie, featuring Ray Liotta and Charlize Theron
• iCarly, (2007–2012), television series, Nickelodeon, created by Dan Schneider and starring Miranda Cosgrove
• The Last Mimzy, 2007 movie
• Reaper (2007–2009), comedy
• World in Conflict, an alternate-history 2007 game for the PC which the USSR invades the United States
• Antichrist, 2009 movie, featuring Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg
• Love Happens, 2009 movie, starring Jennifer Aniston
• World's Greatest Dad, 2009 movie, starring Robin Williams
• Take on Helicopters (2011), a helicopter game for the PC developed by Bohemia Interactive
• Chronicle, 2012 movie, starring Dane DeHaan and Michael B. Jordan
• Doonesbury, widely syndicated cartoon strip featuring numerous characters of which many live in Seattle, including Mike Doonesbury, Alex Doonesbury, Daisy 'The Widow' Doonesbury, Kim Rosenthal, J.J., Zeke Brenner, and Bernie
• Gordon Freeman, Half-Life game series for the PC, Xbox
• Ken Masters, Street Fighter game series