List of people from Oregon
This is a list of some famous people strongly associated with the state of Oregon:
A
- Brock Adams (1927–2004), U.S. Representative and Senator from Washington
- Robert H. Adleman (1919–1995), novelist, historian and restaurateur
- Danny Ainge (1959–), former National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball player, NBA executive
- Erik Ainge (1986–), New York Jets quarterback, and nephew of Danny Ainge
- Goli Ameri (1956–), U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs
- David Anders (1981–), actor, most notably from Heroes and Alias.
- Larry Andersen (1962–), former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Bruce Anderson (1944–), former National Football League linebacker
- Derek Anderson (1983–), National Football League quarterback
- Scott Anderson (1962–), former Major League Baseball pitcher
- Andy Andrist (1965–), stand-up comedian
- James E. Atwater (1946–), scientist, 2006 Wright Brothers medalist
- Montgomery Atwater (1904–1976), author, skier, avalanche control expert
- Jean M. Auel (1936-), author of The Clan of the Cave Bear and other books in the Earth's Children series set in prehistoric Europe
- Thomas J. Autzen (1888–1958), namesake of University of Oregon's stadium, contributing engineer to plywood manufacturing technologies
B
- Charlie Babb (baseball) (1873–1954), former Major League Baseball shortstop
- Wally Backman (1959–), former Major League Baseball second baseman, inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2002
- Preston Bailey (2000–), child actor
- Brian Bain, rodeo cowboy
- Carl Barks (1901–2001), comic book writer and artist
- Rex T. Barber (1917–2001), a World War II fighter pilot, best known for shooting down Isoroku Yamamoto
- Jeffrey Barry (1969–) former Major League Baseball outfielder
- Scott Beach (1931–1996), actor
- James Beard (1903–1985), chef and food journalist
- Josh Bidwell (1976–), punter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Lynette Boggs (1963-), politician
- Kevin Boss (1984–), tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs
- Grayson Boucher (1984–), basketball player known as "The Professor" on the AND1 Streetball Mix Tape Tour
- Bill Bowerman (1911–1999), track coach at University of Oregon, Nike co-founder
- Matt Braunger (1974–), actor/stand-up comedian, MADtv
- Ronnie Brewer (1985–), player for the Chicago Bulls
- Scott Brosius (1966–), former Major League Baseball third baseman for the Oakland A's and the New York Yankees
- Brian Bruney (1982–), Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Chicago White Sox
- Edgar Buchanan (1903–1979), actor, Petticoat Junction, Judge Roy Bean, Cade's County
- Jamie Burke (1971–), Major League Baseball catcher for the Washington Nationals
- Ty Burrell (1967–), actor, Modern Family, Out of Practice, Back to You
- Brian Burres (1981–), Major League Baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates
C
- Bruce Campbell (1958-), actor, "Evil Dead" "Burn Notice"
- Raymond Carver (1938–1988), author
- Jeff Charleston (1983–), National Football League defensive end for the New Orleans Saints
- Janet Chvatal (1964–), classical soprano, author and director of musicals
- Beverly Cleary (1916–), author
- Chief Joseph (1840–1904), was the chief of the Wal-lam-wat-kain (Wallowa) band of Nez Perce Natvcvcvcive Americans
- Kellen Clemens (1983–), National Football League quarterback for the New York Jets
- Chad Cota (1971–), former National Football League player and current co-owner of InfoStructure
- Pinto Colvig (1892–1976) actor, voice actor, best known as the voice of Disney's Goofy and portraying the original Bozo the Clown
- Robert O. Cornthwaite (1917–2006), character actor, Picket Fences
- Trevor Crowe (1983–), Major League Baseball outfielder for the Cleveland Indians
- Ann Curry (1956–), television journalist
D
- George Dantzig (1914–2005), mathematical scientist
- David DeCoteau (1962–), film director and producer
- Richard Diebenkorn (1922–1993), artist
- Sho Dozono (1944–), businessman, candidate in 2008 Portland mayoral race
- Mindy Duncan, beauty queen
- Mike Dunleavy, Jr. (1980–), basketball player for the Chicago Bulls
E
- Robert Eakin (1848–1917), Oregon Supreme Court chief justice
- Randall Edwards (1961–), Oregon State Treasurer
- Chandler Egan (1884–1936), golf course designer
- Mike Ekstrom (1983–), Major League Baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays
- Sam Elliott (1944–), actor
- Jacoby Ellsbury (1983–), Major League Baseball outfielder for the New York Yankees
- Harris Ellsworth (1899–1986), member of U.S. Congress from Oregon
- Douglas Engelbart (1925–), inventor and early computer pioneer
- Marie Equi (1872–1952), physician and anarchist
- Neil Everett (1962–), ESPN sportscaster
- Tom Everett (1948–), actor, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Transformers, xXx
- Chris Eyre (1968–), film director and producer
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F
- Tami Farrell (1984–), Miss Teen USA 2003
- Mark Few (1962–), head men's basketball coach at Gonzaga University
- Todd Field (1964–), screenwriter, film director, actor, played David Cassilli on Once and Again
- David Fincher (1962–), film director, The Social Network, Seven, Zodiac, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
- George Buck Flower (1937–2004), actor
- Sally Flynn (1946–), singer, featured performer from The Lawrence Welk Show
- Dick Fosbury (1947–), track and field athlete, invented the "Fosbury Flop"
- Harriet Frank, Jr. (1917–), screenwriter
- Alex Frost (1987–), actor, from Elephant and Drillbit Taylor
G
- Maggie Gallagher, (1960–), social conservative writer and commentator
- Dan Gauthier, (1963–), actor, Tour of Duty, One Life to Live, Melrose Place
- Alfred Carlton Gilbert (1884–1961), inventor, athlete, toy-maker and businessman, best known as the inventor of the Erector Set
- Neil Goldschmidt (1940–), influential and controversial Governor, Mayor of Portland, lobbyist
- Alex Green (1988–), National Football League running back for the Green Bay Packers
- Scott Gragg (1972–), National Football League offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets
- Kevin Gregg (1978–), relief pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles
- Matt Groening (1954–), the creator of The Simpsons
- Jeremy Guthrie (1979–), Major League Baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals
H
- Page Hamilton (1960–), musician
- Tonya Harding (1970–), ice skater, boxer
- Katie Harman (1980–), Miss America 2002
- Gregory Harrison (1950-), actor, Trapper John, M.D.
- Mark Hatfield (1922–2011), Oregon legislator, secretary of state, governor and U.S. senator
- Scott Hatteberg (1969–), former MLB first baseman and catcher
- John Haughm (1975–), vocalist and guitarist for folk metal band Agalloch.
- Jon Heder (1977–), actor, best known as Napolean Dynamite
- Margaux Hemingway (1955–1996), fashion model, actress and granddaughter of American writer Ernest Hemingway
- Bobby Henderson, Pastafarian & prophet of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
- Howard Hesseman (1940–) actor, best known for his role as disc jockey John "Dr. Johnny Fever" Caravella on the television sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati
- D.K. Holm (1953–), movie reviewer, Internet columnist, radio broadcaster, and author.
- Herbert Hoover (1874–1964), (moved to Oregon at the age of ten), the thirty-first President of the United States (1929–1933)
I
- Terri Irwin (1964–), co-star (with husband Steve) of The Crocodile Hunter
J
- June Jones (1953–), head football coach for Southern Methodist University
K
- Mat Kearney (1978–), musician
- Scott Kelly, musician Neurosis
- Ken Kesey (1935–2001), author
- Kip Kinkel (1982–), school shooter
- Justin Kirk (1969–), actor, Weeds, Jack & Jill
- John Kitzhaber (1947–), Oregon Governor, 1995–2003, 2011–present
- Phil Knight (1938–), founder of Nike
- Jon Krakauer (1954–), author and mountaineer
L
- Winona LaDuke (1959–), Native American activist
- Alicia Lagano (1979–), actress, All About Us
- Frances Moore Lappé, (1944–), author and activist
- Lars Larson (1959–), radio talk show host
- Ursula K. Le Guin (1929–), author
- Leonard Levy (1923–2006), Pulitzer Prize winner
- Rian Lindell (1977–), NFL placekicker for the Buffalo Bills
- Jon Lindstrom (1957–), actor, General Hospital, Port Charles
- Courtney Love (1964–), musician, actress (born in San Francisco; lived in Oregon until age 15, then on and off until her early 20s)
- Kevin Love (1987–), NBA basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves
- Gary Loudermilk (1952–), radio personality, member of Howard Stern's Wack Pack, where he is known as "Gary the Retard".
- Jed Lowrie (1984–), infielder for the Houston Astros
- Michael Lowry (1968–), actor, All My Children, One Life to Live
M
- Ranald MacDonald (1824–1894), first man to teach the English language in Japan
- Holly Madison (1979–), former girlfriend of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, model, television personality
- Larry Mahan (1943–), six time World All-Around Rodeo Champion cowboy
- Donald Malarkey (1921–), World War II soldier, portrayed in the Band of Brothers television miniseries
- Bridget Marquardt (1973–), former girlfriend of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, model, actress, television personality
- Jeron Mastrud (1987–), tight end for the Oakland Raiders
- Tom McCall (1913–1983), influential Governor
- Charles McNary (1874-1944), U.S. senator, and 1940 republican U.S. vice presidential nominee
- Pat McQuistan (1983–), offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys
- Charis Michelsen (1974–), actress and former model
- Quintin Mikell (1980–), safety for the Philadelphia Eagles
- Bob Mionske (1962–), attorney and former Olympic and professional bicycle racer
- Geoffrey Moore (1946–), high technology consultant and author
- Joel Moore (1977–), actor, Avatar, DodgeBall
- Macy Morse (1921–), peace activist
- Dale Murphy (1956–), former Major League Baseball player
- Brent Musburger (1939–), CBS/ABC/ESPN sportscaster
O
- Kaitlin Olsen (1975-), actress, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
- Jeff Olson, tried and acquitted on 13 counts of vandalism for writing messages in washable chalk protesting Bank of America policies
N
- Legedu Naanee (1983–), National Football League wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers
P
- Bob Packwood (1932–), former United States Senate and Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee
- Chuck Palahniuk (1961–), journalist, author of Fight Club
- Mark Parent (1961–) former Major League Baseball catcher
- Linus Pauling (1901–1994), chemist and activist; only person to win two Nobel Prizes outright
- Bill Pearl, world champion bodybuilder
- Alfred Peet (1920–2007), founder, Peet's Coffee & Tea
- Jack Pennick (1895–1964), actor
- Tom Peterson (1930–) home appliance retailer and television pitchman
- Kim M. Peyton-McDonald (1957–1986), gold medalist from 1976 Summer Olympics; Oregon Sports Hall of Fame inductee
- Julianne Phillips (1960–) (née Smith), actress, ex-wife of Bruce Springsteen
- River Phoenix (1970–1993), actor
- Mitch Pileggi (1952–), actor, played FBI assistant director Walter Skinner on series The X-Files
- Elias Porter (1914–1987), psychologist
- Jane Powell (1929–), actress
- Steve Prefontaine (1951–1975), track athlete, subject of films Prefontaine and Without Limits
- Bobby Preston (1992–), actor
R
- Ahmad Rashād (1949–), former National Football League player and sportscaster
- Johnnie Ray (1927–1990), singer, songwriter
- Susan Raye (1944–), country singer
- John Reed (1887–1920), journalist and Bolshevik activist, author Ten Days that Shook the World
- Holiday Reinhorn (1967–), fiction writer. Married to actor Rainn Wilson.
- Harold Reynolds (1960–), former Major League Baseball player, MLB Network studio analyst
- Kim Rhodes (1969–), actress and singer of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody fame
- Mike Rich (1959–), screenwriter (Finding Forester) and Portland radio commentator
- Mike Riley (1953–), football player for Alabama Crimson Tide and coach for Oregon State University
- Lisa Rinna (1963–), actress, Billie Reed on Days of our Lives and Taylor McBride on Melrose Place
- Aaron Rowand (1977–), center fielder and catcher for the San Francisco Giants
- Ad Rutschman (1931–), football/baseball coach at Linfield College
S
- Mendel Sachs (1927–), theoretical physicist
- Katee Sackhoff (1980-), actress
- Curtis Salgado (1954-), blues, rhythm and blues, and soul singer and harmonica player.
- Rebecca Schaeffer (1967–1989), actress
- Sonny Sixkiller, former Washington Huskies quarterback, actor
- Matt Slauson (1986–), guard for the Chicago Bears
- Elliott Smith (1969–2003), musician
- Chael Sonnen (1977-), mixed martial artist
- Esperanza Spalding (1984–), jazz musician
- Erik Spoelstra (1970–), head coach for the Miami Heat
- David Ogden Stiers (1942–), actor
- Eric A. Stillwell (1962–), screenwriter and producer
- Robert W. Straub (1920–2002), Governor of Oregon
- Sally Struthers (1948–), actress, All in the Family
- Drew Struzan (1947–), artist
- Ndamukong Suh (1987–), defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions
T
- Jack Tafari (1946–), housing rights activist
- Maria Thayer (1975–), actress, Hitch, Strangers with Candy
- Tommy Thayer (1960–), musician, lead guitarist of Kiss
- Kevin Towers (1961–), general manager for the Arizona Diamondbacks
- Corin Tucker (1972–), musician, guitarist with Sleater-Kinney
U
- Ime Udoka (1977–), small forward for the Sacramento Kings
- Sara Jean Underwood (1984–), Playboy Playmate of the Year 2007, model, actress
V
- Laura Veirs (1973-) folk singer-songwriter
- Will Vinton (1948–) director and producer, known for commercial creations The California Raisins, the Domino's Noid, and M&M's characters
W
- Lindsay Wagner (1949–), actress, best known for her role as Jaime Sommers in the 1970s TV series The Bionic Woman
- Don Wakamatsu (1963–), bench coach for the Toronto Blue Jays
- Neale Donald Walsch (1943–), author of the Conversations with God series
- Don Walsh (1931–), oceanographer, explorer; made the deepest ocean descent in Trieste on 23 January 1960 at 35,813 feet (10,916 m)
- Craig Wasson (1954–), actor, Body Double, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3, Four Friends
- Bob Welch, author and columnist
- Dave Wiegand, winner of 2005 and 2009 National Scrabble championship
- Carl Wieman (1951–), physicist, winner of 2001 Nobel Prize in Physics laureate
- Craig L. Williams (1961–), Emperor XVI Craig Hollywood of the Imperial Court of New York
- Edy Williams (1942–), film and television actress
- Mitch Williams (1964–), Major League Baseball relief pitcher, studio analyst for MLB Network
- Bridgette Wilson (1973–), actress, singer and model
- Anthony Wynn (1962–), author
Z
- John Zerzan (1943–) anthropologist and anarchist writer
