Famous California People

Famous Californians are well-publicized household names.  Who are the most famous California people in history and today?

The following list of famous Californians is a mile long and jaw-dropping.  There are so many famous celebrities from the Golden State that it makes anyone's head spin.

California is the epicenter of the international fame culture, no doubt about it.

Without further delay, here's the gigantic alphabetical list of famous people from California:

List of Famous California People

Famous California People - A

• Paula Abdul - (1962) - TV star, singer, songwriter, choreographer.  Born in San Fernando.
• Ansel Adams - (1902-1984) - Photographer, environmentalist.  Born in San Francisco.  Died in Monterey.
• Lou Adler - (1933) - Music producer, songwriter, artist manager, film director/producer, record label founder, owner of the Roxy on the Sunset Strip.
• Ben Affleck - (1972) - Actor, producer, screenwriter.  Born in Berkeley.
• Christina Aguilera - (1980) - Singer, songwriter, music producer, dancer, TV star, actress.
• Jessica Alba - (1981) -  Actress, model.  Born in Pomona.
• Gracie Allen - (1895-1964) - Actress, comedienne, singer.  Born in San Francisco and died in Los Angeles.
• Kirstie Alley - (1951) - Actress, comedienne, dancer.
• Gloria Allred - (1941) - Attorney, TV personality, author.
• Pamela Anderson - (1967) - Actress, model, producer, author, activist, Playboy Playmate.
• Jennifer Aniston - (1969) - Actress, tabloid celebrity.  Born in Sherman Oaks.
• Christina Applegate - (1971) - Actress, animal rights activist.  Born in Hollywood.
• Billy Joe Armstrong - (1972) - Singer (Green Day), songwriter, musician.  Born in Oakland.
• Desi Arnaz - (1917-1986) - Actor, musician, producer, Desilu co-founder.  Died in Del Mar. 
• Desi Arnaz Jr. - (1953) - Actor, musician, writer.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Lucie Arnaz - (1951) - Actress, singer, dancer, producer.  Born in Los Angeles.
• David Arquette - (1971) - Actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, fashion designer, WCW wrestler.
• Bea Arthur - (1922-2009) -  Actress, comedienne, singer.  Died in Los Angeles.
• Fred Astaire - (1899-1987) - Actor, dancer, singer, choreographer, percussionist, dance icon.  Died in Los Angeles.
• Frankie Avalon - (1939) - Actor, singer, playwright, teen idol.

Famous California People - B

• Burt Bacharach - (1928) - Music composer, arranger, pianist, singer.
• Conrad Bain - (1923-2013) - Actor, TV star.  Died in Livermore.
• William Baldwin - (1963) - Actor, producer, writer.
• Marty Balin - (1942) - Singer (Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship), songwriter, producer, artist, painter.
• Lucille Ball - (1911-1989) - Actress, comedienne, dancer, model, producer, Desilu co-founder.  Died in Los Angeles.
• Tyra Banks - (1973) - Supermodel, actress, author, TV host.  Born in Inglewood.
• Roseanne Barr - (1952) - Actress, producer, director, screenwriter, author, blogger, presidential candidate.
• Drew Barrymore - (1975) - Actress, author, film director, screenwriter, producer, model, U.N. Ambassador.  Born in Culver City.
• Ethel Barrymore - (1879-1959) - Actress, TV host, author.  Died in Hollywood.
• John Barrymore - (1882-1942) - Actor, radio star.  Died in Los Angeles. 
• Lionel Barrymore - (1878-1954) - Actor, radio star, film director, songwriter, pianist, artist.  Died in Van Nuys.
• Meredith Baxter - (1947) - Actress, producer.  Born in South Pasadena.
• Warren Beatty - (1937) - Actor, director, producer, screenwriter, liberal political activist.
• Beck - (1970) - Singer, songwriter, musician, producer.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Ed Begley Jr. - (1949) - Actor, environmentalist.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Glen Bell - (1923-2010) - Businessman, Taco Bell founder.  Born in Lynwood.  Died in Rancho Santa Fe.
• Annette Bening - (1958) - Actress, arts advocate.
• Barbi Benton - (1950) - Model, actress, singer, Playboy centerfold, interior decorator.
• Candice Bergen - (1946) - Actress, producer, model, playwright, author, photojournalist.  Born in Beverly Hills.
• Tom Bergeron - (1955) - Actor, TV host.
• Halle Berry - (1966) - Actress, model, activist. 
• Valerie Bertinelli - (1960) - Actress, TV spokeswoman.
• Mayim Bialik - (1975) - Actress, neuroscientist.  Born in San Diego.
• Justin Bieber - (1994) - Singer, songwriter, musician, actor.
• Kathryn Bigelow - (1951) - Film director, producer, screenwriter, TV director.  Born in San Carlos.
• Barbara Billingsley - (1915-2010) - Actress, TV icon.  Born in Los Angeles.  Died in Santa Monica.
• Rodney Bingenheimer - "Mayor of the Sunset Strip" - (1947) - KROQ radio deejay, starmaker, L.A. punk icon.  Born in Mountain View. 
• Bill Bixby - (1934-1993) - Actor, director.  Born in San Francisco.  Died in Century City.
• Jack Black - (1969) - Actor, producer, comedian, writer, musician.  Born in Hermosa Beach.
• Mel Blanc - (1908-1989) - Voice actor, comedian, musician, radio host.  Born in San Francisco.  Died in Los Angeles.
• Barry Bonds - (1964) - Baseball sports athlete.  Born in Riverside.
• Chaz Bono - (1969) - LGBT activist, author, reality TV star, musician.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Sonny Bono - (1935-1998) - Singer (Sonny & Cher), songwriter, music producer, TV host, actor, author, businessman, 16th Mayor of Palm Springs, U.S. Congressman (R-CA).  Died at Lake Tahoe.
• Debby Boone - (1956) - Singer, author, actress, TV spokeswoman.
• Pat Boone - (1934) - Singer, songwriter, actor, TV host, political activist.
• Kate Bosworth - (1983) - Actress, model, singer.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Barbara Boxer - (1940) - U.S. Senator, U.S. Congresswoman, D-CA.
• Tom Bradley - (1917-1998) - 38th Mayor of Los Angeles for 20 years.
• Benjamin Bratt - (1963) - Actor.  Born in San Francisco.
• Andrew Breitbart - (1969-2012) - Internet publisher, political commentator, author, blogger.  Born and died in Los Angeles.
• Stephen Breyer - (1938) - U.S. Supreme Court Justice.  Born in San Francisco.
• Beau Bridges - (1941) - Actor, director.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Jeff Bridges - (1949) - Actor, singer, producer, composer.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Lloyd Bridges - (1913-1998) - Actor, patriarch of the Bridges family of actors.  Born in San Leandro.  Died in Los Angeles.
• Todd Bridges - (1965) - Actor, comedian.  Born in San Francisco.
• Sergey Brin - (1973) - Computer scientist, Internet entrepreneur, Google co-founder, Silicon Valley icon.
• Erin Brockovich - (1960) - Legal professional, environmental activist, consumer advocate, TV host, businesswoman.
• James Brolin - (1940) - Actor, producer, director.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Josh Brolin - (1968) - Actor.  Born in Santa Monica.
• Albert Brooks - (1947) - Actor, director, producer, screenwriter, comedian.  Born in Beverly Hills.
• Anne Gust Brown - (1958) - First Lady of California, wife of Governor Jerry Brown.
• Jerry Brown - (1938) - 39th Governor of California, 34th Governor of California.  Born in San Francisco.
• Kathleen Brown - (1945) - Attorney, California State Treasurer, gubernatorial candidate.  Born in San Francisco.
• Pat Brown - (1905-1996) - 32nd Governor of California.  Born in San Francisco.  Died in Beverly Hills.
• Willie Brown - (1934) - 41st Mayor of San Francisco, Speaker of the California State Assembly, Silicon Valley entrepreneur.  
• Dave Brubeck - (1920-2012) - Songwriter, pianist, TV composer, jazz icon.  Born in Concord.
• Kobe Bryant - (1978) - Basketball sports athlete, Olympic Gold Medalist, reality TV star, philanthropist, L.A. sports icon.
• Carol Burnett - (1933) - Actress, comedienne, singer, dancer, TV host, author, comedy icon. 
• George Burns - (1896-1996) - Actor, comedian, writer, radio star, vaudeville star, Hollywood icon.  Died in Beverly Hills.
• Raymond Burr - (1917-1993) - Actor, TV icon, horticulturist, businessman, philanthropist.  Died in Healdsburg.
• Tim Burton - (1958) - Film director, producer, screenwriter, illustrator, painter.  Born in Burbank.
• Amanda Bynes - (1986) - Actress, singer, fashion designer, tabloid celebrity.  Born in Thousand Oaks.

Famous California People - C

• Nicolas Cage - (1964) - Actor, producer, director.  Born in Long Beach.
• Belinda Carlisle - (1958) - Singer (The Go-Go's), songwriter, musician, author.  Born in Hollywood.
• Karen Carpenter - (1950-1983) - Singer (The Carpenters), drummer, TV host.  Died in Downey.
• Richard Carpenter - (1946) - Singer (The Carpenters), producer, arranger, keyboardist, civic arts benefactor.
• David Carradine - "Grasshopper" - (1936-2009) - Actor, martial arts icon.  Born in Hollywood. 
• Jim Carrey - (1962) - Actor, comedian, producer.
• David Cassidy - (1950) - Actor, singer (The Partridge Family), songwriter, guitarist, 1970s icon.
• Jack Cassidy (1927-1976) - Actor, singer.  Patriarch of the Cassidy entertainment family.  Died in West Hollywood.
• Katie Cassidy - (1986) - Actress, charity spokeswoman.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Patrick Cassidy - (1962) - Actor.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Shaun Cassidy - (1958) - Screenwriter, actor, singer, TV producer.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Richard Chamberlain - (1934) - Actor, singer, TV star.  Born in Beverly Hills.
• Chér - (1946) - "The Goddess of Pop" - Singer, songwriter, producer, actress, director, model, designer, pop icon.  Born in El Centro.
• Julia Child - (1912-2004) - Celebrity chef, TV star, author, gourmet icon.  Born in Pasadena.  Died in Montecito.
• Margaret Cho - (1968) - Comedienne, fashion designer, actress, author, singer, songwriter.  Born in San Francisco.
• Frances Bean Cobain - (1992) - Model, artist, singer.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Natalie Cole - (1950) - Singer, songwriter, pianist, actress.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Ry Cooder - (1947) - Musician, songwriter, film scorer, record producer.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Jackie Coogan - (1914-1984) - Actor who inspired legislation to protect child performers.  Born in Los Angeles.  Died in Santa Monica.
• Tim Cook - (1960) - Head of Apple, Inc., highest paid CEO in the world, philanthropist.
• Jackie Cooper - (1922-2011) - Actor, TV director, producer.  Born in Los Angeles.  Died in Santa Monica.
• Don Cornelius - (1936-2012) - TV host, TV producer.  Died in Sherman Oaks.
• Bill Cosby - (1937) - Comedian, actor, author, TV producer, educator, musician, activist.
• Kevin Costner - (1955) - Actor, singer, musician, producer, director, businessman.  Born in Lynwood.
• David Crosby - (1941) - Singer (The Byrds/Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young), songwriter, guitarist.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Cherie Currie - (1959) - Singer (The Runaways), songwriter, actress, artist.  Born in Encino.
• Jamie Lee Curtis - (1958) - Actress, author, blogger.  Born in Santa Monica.

Famous California People - D

• Ted Danson - (1947) - Actor, author, producer, environmentalist.  Born in San Diego.
• Hal David - (1921-2012) - Pop music lyricist.  Died in Los Angeles.
• Clive Davis - (1932) - Recording industry mogul, music producer, starmaker.
• Gray Davis - (1942) - 37th Governor of California,  44th Lt. Governor of California, CA State Assemblyman, CA State Controller. 
• Doris Day - (1924) - Singer, actress, animal rights activist.
• Ellen DeGeneres - (1958) - Comedienne, TV host, actress, U.S. State Department Special Envoy for Global AIDS Awareness.
• Oscar De La Hoya - "The Golden Boy" - (1973) - Boxing sports athlete, Olympic Gold Medalist.  Born in East Los Angeles.  
• Bo Derek - (1956) - Actress, film producer, model.  Born in Long Beach.
• Laura Dern - (1967) - Actress, director, producer.  Born in Los Angeles.
• George Deukmejian - (1928) - 35th Governor of California, CA Attorney General, CA State Assemblyman, CA Senate Majority Leader.
• Cameron Diaz - (1972) - Actress, model.  Born in San Diego.
• Leonardo DiCaprio - (1974) - Actor, film producer, environmentalist.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Barry Diller - (1942) - Businessman, media mogul, Internet magnate.  Born in San Francisco.
• Joe DiMaggio - (1914-1999) - Baseball sports athlete, cultural icon.  Born in Martinez.    
• Walt Disney - (1901-1966) - Film producer, director, screenwriter, animator, business mogul.  Died in Burbank. 
• Snoop Dogg - "Snoop Lion" - (1971) - Actor, rapper, singer, songwriter, music producer, reality TV star.  Born in Long Beach.
• Micky Dolenz - (1945) - Singer (The Monkees), songwriter, drummer, actor, director.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Dr. Dre - (1965) - Music producer, rapper, actor, businessman.  Born in Compton.
• Fred Dryer - (1946) - Actor, producer, football sports athlete.  Born in Hawthorne.
• Robert Duvall - (1931) - Actor, film director.  Born in San Diego.

Famous California People - E

• Clint Eastwood - (1930) - Actor, director, producer, composer, politician, Mayor of Carmel.  Born in San Francisco.
• Stephanie Edwards - (1943) - Actress, TV personality, Tournament of Roses Parade co-host since 1978.
• Steve Edwards - (1948) - News anchor, TV host, radio host.
• Zac Efron - (1987) - Actor, singer, teen idol.  Born in San Luis Obispo.
• Larry Elder - "The Sage of South Central" - (1952) - Radio talk show host, TV personality.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Jenna Elfman - (1971) - Actress, producer.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Cass Elliot - "Mama Cass" - (1941-1974) - Singer (The Mamas & The Papas), songwriter, actress, producer, TV host, speaker, activist, feminist, Democratic politician, hippie icon, Queen of Laurel Canyon.
• Sam Elliott - (1944) - Actor.  Born in Sacramento.
• Larry Ellison - (1944) - Business magnate, co-founder of the Oracle software company, richest person in California. 
• Elvira - "Mistress of the Dark" - (1951) - TV host, radio host, recording artist.
• Emilio Estevez - (1962) - Actor, director, screenwriter, producer, voice actor.
• Bob Eubanks - (1938) - TV host, radio personality, Tournament of Roses Parade co-host since 1976.
• Marcus Ruiz Evans - (1977) - Political activist, author.  Born in Fresno.

Famous California People - F

• Douglas Fairbanks - (1883-1939) - Actor, screenwriter, director, producer.  Died in Santa Monica.
• Mia Farrow - (1945) - Actress, singer, humanitarian, activist, model.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Farrah Fawcett - (1947-2009) - Actress, model, artist, cultural icon.  Died in Santa Monica.
• Kevin Federline - (1978) - Dancer, rapper, model, tabloid celebrity.  Born in Fresno.
• Dianne Feinstein - (1933) - Senior U.S. Senator (D-CA), 38th Mayor of San Francisco, President the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.  Born in San Francisco.
• Corey Feldman - (1971) - Actor, reality TV star, singer (Truth Movement).  Born in Chatsworth.
• Fergie - (1975) - Singer (Black Eyed Peas), songwriter, rapper, fashion designer, TV host, actress.  Born in Hacienda Heights.
• Will Ferrell - (1967) - Comedian, impressionist, actor, writer.  Born in Irvine.
• America Ferrera - (1984) - Actress, producer.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Sally Field - (1946) - Actress, producer, director, screenwriter, singer.  Born in Pasadena. 
• David Filo - (1966) - Yahoo! co-founder.
• Carly Fiorina - (1954) - Business leader, U.S. Senate candidate, motivational speaker.
• Carrie Fisher - (1956) - Actress, author, screenwriter, performance artist.  Born in Beverly Hills.
• Joely Fisher - (1967) - Actress, charity spokeswoman.  Born in Burbank.
• Flea - (1962) - Bassist (Red Hot Chili Peppers), songwriter, actor, Silverlake Conservatory of Music co-founder.
• Peggy Fleming - (1948) - Figure skating sports athlete, Olympic gold medalist, actress, vintner.  Born in San Jose.
• Bridget Fonda - (1964) - Actress.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Henry Fonda - (1905-1982) - Actor, Hollywood icon, patriarch of the Fonda family of actors.  Died in Los Angeles.
• Jane Fonda - (1937) - Actress, author, political activist, model, fitness guru, businesswoman.
• Peter Fonda - (1940) - Actor.
• Jodie Foster - (1962) - Actress, film director, producer, philanthropist.  Born in Los Angeles.
• James Franco - (1978) - Actor, filmmaker, artist, author.  Born in Palo Alto.
• Bonnie Franklin - (1944) - Actress.  Born in Santa Monica.
• Robert Frost - (1874-1963) - Educator, Poet Laureate, playwright, philosopher.  Born in San Francisco.

Famous California People - G

• Clark Gable - (1901-1960) - Actor, Hollywood icon.  Died in West Hollywood.
• Zsa Zsa Gabor - (1917) - Actress, comedienne, socialite, author, Hollywood icon.
• Ernest Gallo - (1909-2007) - California wine magnate, businessman.  Died in Modesto.
• Jerry Garcia - (1942-1995) - Singer (Grateful Dead), songwriter, guitarist, hippie icon.  Born in San Francisco.  Died in Forest Knolls.
• Leif Garrett - (1961) - Actor, singer, songwriter, reality TV star.  Born in Hollywood.
• John Gavin - (1932) - Actor, entrepreneur, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico.  Born in Los Angeles.
• David Geffen - (1943) - Entertainment mogul, music producer, film producer, theatrical producer, philanthropist.
• Mel Gibson - (1956) - Actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, philanthropist.
• Frank Gifford - (1930) - Football sports athlete, sportscaster, TV personality.  Born in Santa Monica.
• Melissa Gilbert - (1964) - Actress, TV director, Screen Actors Guild President.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Sara Gilbert - (1975) - Actress, TV show creator, talk show host.  Born in Santa Monica.
• Danny Glover - (1946) - Actor, film director, political activist.  Born in San Francisco.
• Whoopi Goldberg - (1955) - Actress, comedienne, producer, author, singer, songwriter, TV talk show host.
• Mark Goodson - (1915-1992) - TV producer, game show mogul.  Born in Sacramento.
• Jeff Gordon - (1971) - Champion stock car racing driver.  Born in Vallejo.
• Cary Grant - (1904-1986) - Actor rated "second-greatest male star of all time" by the American Film Institute. 
• Linda Gray - (1940) - Actress, activist.
• Keith Green - (1953-1982) - Singer, songwriter, Christian music icon who launched his ministry in Los Angeles.
• Melody Green - (1946) - Christian songwriter, head of Last Days Ministries.  Born in Hollywood.
• Seth Green - (1974) - Actor, comedian, voice actor, TV producer, director, screenwriter.
• Wayne Gretzky - "The Great One" - (1961) - Ice hockey sports athlete, coach, team owner, entrepreneur, sports icon. 
• Merv Griffin - (1925-2007) - Singer, actor, TV host, producer, media mogul.  Born in San Mateo.  Died in Los Angeles.
• Jake Gyllenhaal - (1980) - Actor, political activist, charity spokesman.  Born in Los Angeles.

Famous California People - H

• Gene Hackman - (1930) - Actor, author. Born in San Bernardino.
• Sammy Hagar - "The Red Rocker" - (1947) - Singer (Montrose/Van Halen/Chickenfoot), songwriter, guitarist, entrepreneur.  Born in Salinas.
• Merle Haggard - "The Hag" - (1937) - Singer, songwriter, guitarist, country music icon.  Born in Oildale.
• H.R. Haldeman - (1926-1993) - Nixon White House Chief of Staff, Watergate figure.  Born in Los Angeles.  Died in Santa Barbara.
• Mark Hamill - (1951) - Actor, producer, director, writer.  Born in Oakland.
• Laird Hamilton - (1964) - Surfing and volleyball sports athlete, model, TV personality.  Born in San Francisco.
• Harry Hamlin - (1951) - Actor.  Born in Pasadena.
• Tom Hanks - (1956) - Actor, director, producer, screenwriter, activist.  Born in Concord.
• Marcia Gay Harden - (1959) - Actress, speaker.  Born in La Jolla.
• Mark Harmon - (1951) - Actor.  Born in Burbank.
• Teri Hatcher - (1964) - Actress, writer.  Born in Palo Alto.
• Tony Hawk - "The Birdman" - (1968) - Skateboarding sports athlete, actor.  Born in Carlsbad.
• Goldie Hawn - (1945) - Actress, director, producer, Buddhist activist.
• Edith Head - (1897-1981) - Fashion designer, Hollywood costume designer.  Born in San Bernardino.
• William Randolph Hearst - (1863-1951) - Publishing magnate, U.S. Congressman, builder of Hearst Castle.  Born in San Francisco.  Died in Beverly Hills.
• Mariel Hemingway - (1961) - Actress, author.  Born in Mill Valley.
• James Hetfield - (1963) - Singer (Metallica), songwriter, guitarist, producer.  Born in Downey.
• Jon-Erik Hexum - (1957-1984) - Actor, model.  Died in Los Angeles.
• Jonah Hill - (1983) - Actor, producer, screenwriter, comedian, voice artist.  Born in Los Angeles. 
• Conrad Hilton - (1887-1979) - Hospitality magnate, founder of Hilton Hotels, philanthropist, patriarch of Hilton family dynasty.  Died in Santa Monica.
• Paris Hilton - Heiress, socialite, reality TV star, businesswoman, fashion designer, model, actress, producer, author, singer. 
• Dustin Hoffman - (1937) - Actor, film director.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Dexter Holland - (1965) - Singer (The Offspring), songwriter, guitarist.  Born in Garden Grove.
• Josh Holloway - (1969) - Actor, model.  Born in San Jose.
• Whitney Houston - (1963-2012) - Singer, songwriter, actress, film producer, record-setting recording artist, model, reality TV star, tabloid celebrity, pop icon.  Died in Beverly Hills.
• Bryce Dallas Howard - (1981) - Actress, writer, director.  Born in Los Angeles.
• C. Thomas Howell - (1966) - Actor, director, producer, screenwriter.  Born in Van Nuys.
• Huell Howser - (1945-2013) - TV host, journalist, California icon.  Died in Palm Springs.
• Kate Hudson - (1979) - Actress.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Rock Hudson - (1925-1985) - Actor, AIDS icon.  Died in Beverly Hills.
• Arianna Huffington - (1950) - Internet publisher, blogger, author, political commentator, political candidate.
• D.L. Hughley - (1963) - Actor, comedian, political commentator.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Helen Hunt - (1963) - Actress, film director, screenwriter.  Born in Culver City.
• Anjelica Huston - (1951) - Actress.  Born in Santa Monica.
• Timothy Hutton - (1960) - Actor, film director.  Born in Malibu.

Famous California People - I

• Don Imus - (1940) - Radio personality, talk show host, author, philanthropist.  Born in Riverside.
• Carrie Ann Inaba - (1968) - TV star, dancer, choreographer, actress, singer.
• Kathy Ireland - (1963) - Actress, supermodel, designer, businesswoman.  Born in Glendale.
• Chris Isaak - (1956) - Singer, songwriter, music producer, actor.  Born in Stockton.
• Molly Ivins - (1944-2007) - Journalist, columnist, political commentator, humorist, author.  Born in Monterey.

Famous California People - J

• Janet Jackson - (1966) - Singer, songwriter, music producer, dancer, actress.
• Michael Jackson - "The King of Pop" - (1958-2009) - Singer, songwriter, music producer, actor, dancer, businessman, philanthropist, music icon.  Died in Holmby Hills.
• Etta James - (1938-2012) - Singer, songwriter, blues icon.  Born in Los Angeles.  Died in Riverside.
• Bruce Jenner - (1949) - Reality TV star, track and field sports athlete, Olympic Gold Medalist, actor, businessman, Jenner-Kardashian patriarch.
• Kendall Jenner - (1995) - Reality television star, model.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Kris Jenner - (1955) - Reality TV star, businesswoman, Jenner-Kardashian matriarch.  Born in San Diego.
• Kylie Jenner - (1997) - Reality TV star, model.  Born in Los Angeles. 
• Laurene Powell Jobs - (1963) - Business executive, President of the Board of College Track, widow of Steve Jobs.
• Steve Jobs - (1955-2011) - Silicon Valley entrepreneur, co-founder of Apple, Pixar and NeXT.  Born in San Francisco.  Died in Palo Alto.
• Angelina Jolie - (1975) - Actress, film director, activist.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Quincy Jones - (1933) - Musician, conductor, music producer, arranger, composer, film composer, actor.
• Florence Joyner - "Flo-Jo" - (1959-1998) - Olympic track and field sports athlete.  Born in Los Angeles.  Died in Mission Viejo.
• Ashley Judd - (1968) - Actress, political activist, humanitarian.  Born in Los Angeles.

Famous California People - K

• Khlóe Kardashian - (1984) - Reality TV star, socialite, businesswoman, designer, author, actress.  Born in Los Angeles. 
• Kim Kardashian - (1980) - Reality TV star, socialite, model, singer, businesswoman, celebrity icon.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Kourtney Kardashian - (1979) - Reality TV star, socialite, designer, businesswoman.  Born in Mill Valley. 
• Rob Kardashian - (1987) - Reality TV star, dancer, model, socialite.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Robert Kardashian - (1944-2003) - Celebrity attorney, businessman, father of Kardashians.  Born and died in Los Angeles.
• Julie Kavner - (1950) - Actress, comedienne, voice artist.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Guy Kawasaki - (1954) - Silicon Valley venture capitalist, entrepreneur, author, blogger.
• Diane Keaton - (1946) - Actress, director, producer, writer.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Anthony Kennedy - (1936) - U.S. Supreme Court Justice.  Born in Sacramento.
• Joanna Kerns - (1953) - Actress, director.  Born in San Francisco.
• Kesha - (1987) - Singer, songwriter, rapper.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Val Kilmer - (1959) - Actor.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Billie Jean King - (1943) - Tennis sports athlete, feminist icon.  Born in Long Beach.
• Rodney King - (1965-2012) - Los Angeles Riots central figure, author.  Born in Sacramento.  Died in Rialto.
• Lisa Kudrow - (1963) - Actress, comedienne, writer, producer.  Born in Encino.
• Ashton Kutcher - (1978) - Actor, producer, model, comedian, TV host.
• Michelle Kwan - (1980) - Figure skating sports star, Olympic athlete, actress, author.  Born in Torrance.

Famous California People - L

• Shia LaBeouf - (1986) - Actor.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Jack LaLanne - (1914-2011) - TV host, athlete, businessman, fitness icon.  Born in San Francisco.  Died in Morro Bay.
• Joi Lansing - (1928-1972) - Actress, model, singer, pioneering music video artist, TV's all-time top blonde bombshell.  Died in Santa Monica.
• Queen Latifah - (1970) - Singer, songwriter, rapper, model, comedienne, actress, producer.
• Bruce Lee - (1940-1973) - Actor, filmmaker, athlete, martial arts icon.  Born in San Francisco.
• Sandra Lee - (1966) - Chef, TV host, author.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Tommy Lee - (1962) - Drummer (Mötley Crüe), reality TV star.
• Janet Leigh - (1927-2004) - Actress.  Born in Merced.  Died in Los Angeles.
• Jennifer Jason Leigh - (1962) - Actress, writer, director.  Born in Hollywood.
• Adam Levine - (1979) - TV star, singer (Maroon 5), songwriter, actor.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Joseph Gordon-Levitt - (1981) - Actor, director, producer, writer.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Laura Ling - (1976) - Journalist, author.  Born in Carmichael.
• Lisa Ling - (1973) - TV host, journalist, author.  Born in Sacramento.
• Blake Lively - (1987) - Actress, model.  Born in Tarzana.
• Heather Locklear - (1961) - Actress, model, TV spokeswoman.  Born in Westwood.
• Lindsay Lohan - (1986) - Actress, fashion designer, model, recording artist, tabloid star.
• Jack London - (1876-1916) - Journalist, author, essayist, social activist.  Born in San Francisco.  Died in Glen Ellen.
• George Lopez - (1961) - Actor, comedian, TV host, author, celebrity golfer.  Born in Mission Hills.
• Mario Lopez - (1973) - Actor, TV host.  Born in San Diego.
• Nancy Lopez - (1957) - Golf sports athlete.  Born in Torrance.
• Greg Louganis - (1960) - Diving sports athlete, Olympic Gold Medalist, actor, author, coach.  Born in El Cajon.
• Courtney Love - (1964) - Singer (Hole), songwriter, actress, guitarist, artist.  Born in San Francisco.
• Darlene Love - (1941) - Singer, actress.  Born in Hawthorne.
• Jon Lovitz - (1957) - Actor, comedian, singer.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Rob Lowe - (1964) - Actor, author, philanthropist.
• George Lucas - (1944) - Filmmaker, producer, director, screenwriter, businessman, philanthropist.  Born in Modesto.
• Dorothy Lucey - (1958) - TV host, news anchor, entertainment reporter.
• Lorna Luft - (1952) - Actress, singer, author.  Born in Santa Monica.
• Joan Lunden - (1950) - Journalist, author, TV host.  Born in Fair Oaks.

Famous California People - M

• Rachel Maddow - (1973) - News anchor, political commentator, TV host, author.  Born in Castro Valley.
• Tobey Maguire - (1975) - Actor, producer.  Born in Santa Monica.
• Roger Mahony - (1936) - Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.  Born in Hollywood.
• Jayne Mansfield - (1933-1967) - Actress, singer, Playboy Playmate, Hollywood blonde bombshell, cultural icon.
• Mark McGwire - "Big Mac" - (1963) - Baseball sports athlete, coach.  Born in Pomona.
• Danica McKellar - (1975) - Actress, author, education advocate.  Born in La Jolla.
• Scott McKenzie - (1939-2012) - Singer, songwriter, guitarist, actor.  Died in Los Angeles.
• Robert McNamara - (1916-2009) - U.S. Secretary of Defense, President of the World Bank, President of Ford Motor Company.  Born in San Francisco.
• Kristy McNichol - (1962) - Actress, singer, acting teacher.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Jillian Michaels - (1974) - Reality TV star, personal trainer, talk show host, author, businesswoman.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Phil Mickelson - (1970) - Golf sports athlete, PGA champion.  Born in San Diego.
• Harvey Milk - (1930-1978) - San Francisco politician, LGBT activist, gay rights icon.  Assassinated in San Francisco.
• Michael Milken - (1946) - Business mogul, financier, philanthropist.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Dennis Miller - (1953) - Comedian, TV host, radio host, conservative political commentator, sports commentator, actor, author.
• Liza Minnelli - "Queen of Broadway" - (1946) - Actress, singer, dancer, choreographer, author.  Born in Hollywood.
• Marilyn Monroe - "Norma Jean" - (1926-1962) - Actress, singer, model, #1 female Hollywood icon of all time.  Born and died in Los Angeles.
• Hugo Montenegro - (1925-1981) - Orchestra leader, music producer, arranger, composer, recording artist.  Died in Palm Springs.
• Elizabeth Montgomery - (1933-1995) - Actress, TV icon, political activist.  Born in Los Angeles.  Died in Beverly Hills.
• Demi Moore - (1962) - Actress, producer, director, songwriter, model, activist.
• Alex Morgan - (1989) - Soccer sports athlete, Olympic Gold Medalist, model, author.  Born in Diamond Bar.
• Barbara Morgan - (1951) - Educator, NASA astronaut.  Born in Fresno.
• Pat Morita - (1932-2005) - Actor.  Born in Isleton.
• George Moscone - (1929-1978) - 37th Mayor of San Francisco, California Senate Majority Leader.  Assassinated in San Francisco.
• William Mulholland - (1855-1935) - Engineer, builder of the Los Angeles Aqueduct.  Died in Los Angeles.

Famous California People - N

• Vince Neil - (1961) - Singer (Mötley Crüe), songwriter, actor, businessman.  Born in Hollywood.
• David Nelson - (1936-2011) - Actor, director, producer.  Died in Century City.
• Gunnar Nelson - (1967) - Singer (Nelson), songwriter, musician, reality TV star, radio host, businessman.  Born in Santa Monica.
• Harriet Nelson - (1909-1994) - Singer, actress, TV icon, matriarch of the Nelson entertainment family.  Died in Laguna Beach.
• Matthew Nelson (1967) - Singer (Nelson), songwriter, musician, businessman.  Born in Santa Monica.
• Ozzie Nelson - (1906-1975) - Actor, band leader, TV producer, director, TV icon, patriarch of the Nelson entertainment family.
• Ricky Nelson - (1940-1985) - Actor, singer, songwriter, guitarist, teen idol.
• Tracy Nelson - (1963) - Actress.  Born in Santa Monica.
• Randy Newman - (1943) - Singer, songwriter, arranger, composer, pianist.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Julie Newmar - (1933) - Actress, dancer, singer, model.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Chelene Nightingale - (1965) - Candidate for Governor of California, conservative political activist, actress, speaker.
• Pat Nixon - (1912-1993) - First Lady of the United States.  Buried at the Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda.
• Richard Nixon - (1913-1994) - 37th U.S. President, 36th U.S. Vice President, U.S. Senator (R-CA), U.S. Congressman (R-CA), candidate for Governor of California, attorney, author.  Born in Yorba Linda.  Buried at the Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda.
• George Noory - (1950) - Radio broadcaster, talk show host, author.
• Krist Novoselic - (1965) - Bassist (Nirvana), singer, songwriter, film director, author, political activist.  Born in Compton.
• Terri Nunn - (1961) - Singer (Berlin), songwriter, actress, radio host, model.  Born in Los Angeles.

Famous California People - O

• Ryan O'Neal - (1941) - Actor, reality TV star.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Tatum O'Neal - (1963) - Actress, reality TV star, author.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Frank Ocean - (1987) - Singer, songwriter, keyboardist.  Born in Long Beach.
• Ellen Ochoa - (1958) - Astronaut, engineer, Director of the Johnson Space Center.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Edward James Olmos - (1947) - Actor, film director.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Ashley Olsen - (1986) - Actress, fashion designer, businesswoman.  Born in Sherman Oaks.
• Elizabeth Olsen - (1989) - Actress, singer.  Born in Sherman Oaks.
• Mary-Kate Olsen - (1986) - Actress, fashion designer, businesswoman.  Born in Sherman Oaks.
• Johnny Otis - "Godfather of Rhythm & Blues" - (1921-2012) - Singer, songwriter, music producer.  Born in Vallejo.  Died in Los Angeles.
• Buck Owens - (1929-2006) - Singer (The Buckaroos), songwriter, guitarist, TV host, country music icon, businessman.  Died in Bakersfield.

Famous California People - P

• Larry Page - (1973) - Computer scientist, Internet entrepreneur, Google co-founder and CEO, PageRank inventor, technology investor.
• Leon Panetta - (1938) - U.S. Defense Secretary, CIA Director, U.S. Congressman, OMB Director, Clinton Chief of Staff, attorney, professor.  Born in Monterey.
• Ann Patchett - (1963) - Author, novelist, memoirist.  Born in Los Angeles.
• George Patton - (1885-1945) - U.S. Army General, military governor, warrior icon.  Born in San Gabriel.
• Stephen Peace - (1953) - Film producer, screenwriter, actor, politician, California Assemblyman, California Senator.  Born in San Diego.
• Gregory Peck - (1916-2003) - Actor, liberal political activist, humanitarian.  Born in La Jolla.  Died in Los Angeles.
• Sam Peckinpah - (1925-1984) - Actor, film director, screenwriter.  Born in Fresno.  Died in Inglewood.
• Nancy Pelosi - (1940) - U.S. House Minority Leader, Speaker of the House, Congresswoman (D-CA), highest-ranking female politician in U.S. history.
• Sean Penn - (1960) - Actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, liberal political activist.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Katy Perry - (1984) - Singer, songwriter, music producer, actress, businesswoman. Born in Santa Barbara. 
• Steve Perry - (1949) - Singer (Journey), songwriter, music producer.  Born in Hanford.
• Tom Petty - (1950) - Singer, songwriter, actor, musician.
• Michelle Pfeiffer - (1958) - Actress, singer.  Born in Santa Ana.
• Chynna Phillips - (1968) - Singer (Wilson Phillips/Chynna & Vaughan), songwriter, actress.  Born in Los Angeles.
• John Phillips - "Papa John" - (1935-2001) - Singer (The Journeymen/The Mamas & The Papas), songwriter, music producer, composer, arranger, Monterey Pop Festival promoter, guitarist, patriarch of the Phillips entertainment family.  Died in Los Angeles.
• McKenzie Phillips - (1959) - Actress, singer, author.
• Michelle Phillips - "Mama Michelle" - (1944) - Actress, singer (The Mamas & The Papas), songwriter, model, author.  Born in Long Beach.
• Paula Pierce - (1960-1991) - Singer (The Pandoras), songwriter, music producer, guitarist.  Died in Hollywood.
• Dana Plato - (1964-1999) - Actress, figure skater.  Born in Maywood.
• Kevin Pollak - (1957) - Actor, comedian, TV host.  Born in San Francisco.
• Rain Pryor - (1969) - Actress, comedian, singer, theatrical director.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Richard Pryor (1940-2005) - Comedian, actor, social critic, activist, writer, comedy icon.  Died in Encino.

Famous California People - Q

• Francesco Quinn - (1963-2011) - Actor, TV star, motorcycle industry spokesman.  Died in Malibu.

                             Famous California People - R

• Bonnie Raitt - (1949) - Singer, songwriter, guitarist, environmental activist.  Born in Burbank.
• Michael Reagan - (1945) - Conservative political commentator, talk show host, GOP strategist, author.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Nancy Reagan - (1921) - First Lady of the United States, First Lady of California, author, speaker, actress.
• Ronald Reagan - (1911-2004) - 40th President of the United States, 33rd Governor of California, SAG president, actor, TV host, radio broadcaster, author, speaker.  Died in Bel-Air.  Buried at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.
• Robert Redford - (1936) - Actor, film director, producer, environmentalist, philanthropist.  Born in Santa Monica.
• Jillian Barberie Reynolds - (1966) - Actress, TV host, sportscaster, entertainment reporter, TV spokeswoman.
• Christina Ricci - (1980) - Actress, charity spokeswoman.  Born in Santa Monica.
• Condoleezza Rice - (1954) - 66th U.S. Secretary of State, National Security Advisor, Stanford University professor, Director of the Global Center for Business and the Economy.
• Denise Richards - (1971) - Actress, model.
• Michael Richards - (1949) - Actor, comedian, writer, TV producer.  Born in Culver City.
• Bill Richardson - (1947) - New Mexico Governor, U.S. Congressman, U.N. Ambassador, U.S. Energy Secretary.  Born in Pasadena.
• Lionel Richie - (1949) - Singer, songwriter, composer, arranger, music producer, actor.
• Nicole Richie - (1981) - Actress, fashion designer, reality TV star, singer, pianist, author.  Born in Berkeley. 
• Sally Ride - (1951-2012) - Educator, astronaut, physicist, author.  Born in Encino.  Died in La Jolla.
• Cathy Rigby - (1952) - Actress, singer, gymnastic athlete, Olympic champion.  Born in Los Alamitos.
• Bobby Riggs - (1918-1995) - Tennis sports athlete.  Born in Los Angeles.  Died in Encinitas.
• Molly Ringwald - (1968) - Actress, singer, dancer, author, teen icon.  Born in Roseville.
• Lisa Rinna - (1963) - Actress, TV host, singer, reality TV star, businesswoman.
• Jason Ritter - (1980) - Actor.  Born in Los Angeles.
• John Ritter - (1948-2003) - Actor, comedian, philanthropist.  Born and died in Burbank.
• Jenni Rivera - (1969-2012) - Singer, songwriter, actress, reality TV star, businesswoman.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Tim Robbins - (1958) - Actor, screenwriter, film director, producer, activist, musician.  Born in West Covina.
• Tony Robbins - (1960) - Author, motivational speaker, self-help guru, businessman.  Born in North Hollywood.
• Aaron Rodgers - (1983) - Football sports athlete.  Born in Chico.
• Tony Romo - (1980) - Football sports athlete.  Born in San Diego.
• David Lee Roth - "Diamond Dave" - (1954) - Singer (Van Halen), songwriter, music producer, actor, author, radio broadcaster. 
• Leo Ryan - (1925-1978) - U.S. Congressman (D-CA), California Assemblyman, Mayor of South San Francisco.  Assassinated at "Jonestown."

Famous California People - S

• Katey Sagal - (1954) - Actress, singer, songwriter, comedienne.  Born in Hollywood.
• Susan Saint James - (1946) - Actress, activist, speaker.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Andy Samberg - (1978) - Actor, comedian, rapper, writer.  Born in Berkeley.
• Richie Sambora - (1959) - Guitarist (Bon Jovi), music producer, singer, songwriter. 
• Brian Sandoval - (1963) - Nevada Governor, U.S. Federal Judge, Nevada Attorney General.  Born in Redding.
• Dick Sargent - (1930-1994) - Actor, gay rights activist.  Born in Carmel.  Died in Los Angeles.
• Thomas Crombie Schelling - (1921) - Academic, economist, professor, journalist.  Born in Oakland.
• Rob Schneider - (1963) - Actor, comedian, director, screenwriter.  Born in San Francisco.
• Liev Schreiber - (1967) - Actor, producer, director, screenwriter.  Born in San Francisco.
• Robert Schuller - (1926) - Christian televangelist, church pastor, motivational speaker, author, Crystal Cathedral founder.
• George Schultz - (1920) - U.S. Labor Secretary of Labor, OMB Director, Treasury Secretary, Secretary of State, Bechtel president, Stanford University fellow, professor, economist, statesman, businessman.
• Charles Schwab - (1937) - Businessman, investor, Charles Schwab Corporation founder.  Born in Sacramento.
• Arnold Schwarzenegger - (1947) - Actor, 38th Governor of California, businessman, bodybuilding icon.
• Edie Sedgwick - (1943-1971) - Actress, model, pop culture icon.  Born and died in Santa Barbara.
• Kyra Sedgwick - (1965) - Actress.
• Jason Segel - (1980) - Actor, screenwriter, songwriter, musician.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Tom Selleck - (1945) - Actor, film producer, real estate investor, gun rights advocate, NRA spokesman.
• Junipero Serra - "Father of California" - (1713-1784) - Franciscan friar, Catholic priest, philosopher, professor, founder of the California Missions, beatified by the Pope.  Died in Carmel.
• Charlie Sheen - (1965) - Actor, comedian, highest paid TV actor in history, two-time Guinness World Record holder, business entrepreneur, philanthropist.
• Martin Sheen - (1940) - Actor, film director, TV producer, longtime political activist, former "Mayor of Malibu."
• Bobby Shriver - (1954) - Santa Monica city councilman, former Mayor of Santa Monica, attorney, activist, journalist, Kennedy family member.
• Malissa Feruzzi Shriver - (1963) - Former Chair of the California Arts Council, businesswoman, women's rights advocate, wife of Bobby Shriver.
• Maria Shriver - (1955) - Former First Lady of California, TV journalist, author, speaker, activist, founder of the California Museum, California Hall of Fame, Women's Conference, Kennedy family member.
• Joel Siegel - (1943-2007) - TV journalist, film critic, entertainment editor, radio host.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Alicia Silverstone - (1976) - Actress, film/TV producer, activist, author.  Born in San Francisco.
• O.J. Simpson - "The Juice" - (1947) - Actor, tabloid celebrity, football sports athlete, author.  Born in San Francisco.
• Jessica Simpson - (1980) - Singer, songwriter, actress, reality TV star, fashion designer. 
• John Singleton - (1968) - Film director, producer, screenwriter.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Nikki Sixx - (1958) - Bassist (Mötley Crüe), songwriter, music producer, author, fashion designer, radio host, photographer.  Born in San Jose.
• Slash - (1965) - Guitarist (Guns N' Roses/Velvet Revolver), songwriter, music producer, author.
• Jada Pinkett Smith - (1971) - Actress, singer (Wicked Wisdom), songwriter, businesswoman, philanthropist.
• Jaden Smith - (1998) - Actor, rapper, dancer.  Born in Malibu.
• Will Smith - "The Fresh Prince" - (1968) - Actor, comedian, TV producer, rapper, music producer, businessman, philanthropist.
• Willow Smith - (2000) - Actress, singer, songwriter.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Suzanne Somers - (1946) - Actress, TV host, Internet talk show host, singer, model, poet, author, self-help guru, health advocate, businesswoman.  Born in San Bruno.
• Britney Spears - (1981) - Singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, music producer, tabloid celebrity, author, fashion designer, video director, pop icon.
• Aaron Spelling - (1923-2006) - Film producer, TV producer, actor, script writer, businessman.  Died in Holmby Hills.
• Candy Spelling - (1945) - Author, blogger, L.A. Department of Recreation and Parks Commissioner.  Born in Beverly Hills.
• Tori Spelling - (1973) - Actress, reality TV star, author.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Steven Spielberg - (1946) -  Film director, screenwriter, producer, entertainment mogul.
• Mark Spitz - (1950) - Swimming sports athlete, Olympic Gold Medalist, celebrity spokesman.  Born in Modesto.
• Robert Stack - (1919-2003) - Actor, TV host.  Born in Los Ageles.  Died in Beverly Hills.
• John Stamos - (1963) - Actor, TV host, musician (Beach Boys), drummer, keyboardist, singer, songwriter.  Born in Cypress.
• Gwen Stefani - (1969) - Singer (No Doubt), songwriter, dancer, actress, model, fashion designer.  Born in Fullerton.
• John Steinbeck - (1902-1968) - Author, Pulitzer Prize winner, Nobel Prize winner.  Born in Salinas.
• George Stevens - (1904-1975) - Film director, cinematographer, actor, writer, producer.  Born in Oakland.  Died in Lancaster.
• Alana Stewart - (1945) - Actress, model, talk show host, reality TV star, author.  Born in San Diego.
• Kristen Stewart - (1990) - Actress.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Stephen Strasburg - (1988) - Baseball sports athlete.  Born in San Diego.
• David Strathairn - (1949) - Actor.  Born in San Francisco.
• Darryl Strawberry - (1962) - Baseball sports athlete.  Reality TV star.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Barbra Streisand - (1942) - Singer, songwriter, actress, screenwriter, film producer, director, record-setting recording artist, entertainment icon, philanthropist.
• Donna Summer - "Queen of Disco" - (1948-2012) - Singer, songwriter, electronic dance music pioneer, TV star. 
• Patrick Swayze - (1952-2009) - Actor, dancer, singer, songwriter, dance icon.  Died in Los Angeles.
• Jodie Sweetin - (1982) - Actress, TV host.  Born in Los Angeles.

Famous California People - T

• Amber Tamblyn - (1983) - Actress, poet.  Born in Santa Monica.
• Amy Tan - (1952) - Author.  Born in Oakland.
• Shirley Temple - (1928) - Actress, singer, dancer, TV host, Hollywood icon, U.S. Ambassador, candidate for U.S. Congress, American Film Institute's greatest living female American screen legend of all time.  Born in Santa Monica.
• Tiffany - (1971) - Singer, songwriter, actress.  Born in Norwalk.
• Pat Tillman - (1976-2004) - Football sports athlete, U.S. Army war hero.  Born in Fremont.
• Bruno Tonioli - (1955) - Dancer, choreographer, dance instructor, TV star, author.
• Dara Torres - (1967) - Swimming sports athlete, Olympic Gold Medalist.  Born in Beverly Hills.
• Christy Turlington - (1969) - Model, author, blogger, businesswoman, humanitarian.  Born in Walnut Creek.

Famous California People - V

• Ritchie Valens - "Father of Chicano Rock" - (1941-1959) - Singer, songwriter, teen idol.  Born in Pacoima.
• Mamie Van Doren - (1931) - Actress, singer, rock and roll pioneer, model, author, blogger, top-selling pinup of the 21st century, longest surviving Hollywood blonde bombshell in history.
• Alex Van Halen - (1953) - Drummer (Van Halen), percussionist, vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist, ordained minister.
• Eddie Van Halen - "Greatest Guitarist of All Time" - (1955) - Guitarist (Van Halen), singer, songwriter, producer, soundtrack score composer, instrument patent owner, actor, L.A. icon.
• Wolfgang Van Halen - (1991) - Bassist (Van Halen/Mark Tremonti), drummer, guitarist, keyboardist.  Born in Santa Monica.
• Antonio Villaraigosa - (1953) - 41st Mayor of Los Angeles, Speaker of the California State Assembly, Los Angeles City Councilman, President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.  Born in Los Angeles. 
• Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt - (1943) - Bel-Air socialite, candidate for Governor of California, husband of Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Famous California People - W

• Lindsay Wagner - (1949) - Actress, model, celebrity spokeswoman, self-help guru, author.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Mark Wahlberg - "Marky Mark" - (1971) - Actor, film producer, TV producer, rapper (Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch), model, businessman, philanthropist.
• Tom Waits - (1949) - Actor, singer, songwriter, drummer, guitarist, composer.  Born in Pomona.
• Kara Walker - (1969) - Contemporary artist.  Born in Stockton.
• Paul Walker - (1973) - Actor, TV host, surfer, martial artist.  Born in Glendale.
• Bill Walsh - (1931-2007) - Professional football head coach, author, motivational speaker, Stanford Graduate School of Business teacher.  Born in Los Angeles.  Died in Woodside.
• Diane Warren - (1956) - Songwriter, composer, lyricist, music publisher, businesswoman, music industry icon.  Born in Van Nuys.
• Earl Warren - (1891-1974) - U.S. Supreme Court Justice, 30th Governor of California, U.S. vice-presidential nominee, Attorney General of California, Alameda County District Attorney, Chairman of the Warren Commission.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Dionne Warwick - (1940) - Singer, actress, TV host, Doctor of Music Education, humanitarian.
• Kenny Washington - "Kingfish" - (1918-1971) - Football sports athlete, distinguished LAPD officer.  Born and died in Los Angeles. 
• Caspar Weinberger - (1917-2003) - U.S. Secretary of Defense, California State Assemblyman, Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, OMB Director, Vice President of Bechtel, Chairman of Forbes, attorney.  Born in San Francisco.
• Bob Weir - (1947) - Guitarist (Grateful Dead), singer, songwriter, environmentalist.  Born in San Francisco.
• Mae West - "The Queen of Camp" - (1893-1980) - Actress, playright, screenwriter, producer, director, singer, comedienne.  Died in Los Angeles.
• Tina Weymouth - (1950) - Bassist (Talking Heads/Tom Tom Club), songwriter.  Born in Coronado.
• Jaleel White - (1976) - Actor, TV host.  Born in Pasadena.
• Shaun White - (1986) - Skateboarding/snowboarding sports athlete, Olympic Gold Medalist.  Born in San Diego.
• Meg Whitman - (1956) - Businesswoman, candidate for Governor of California.
• Kendra Wilkinson - (1985) - Model, reality TV star, businesswoman, author.  Born in San Diego.
• Andy Williams - (1927-2012) - Singer, music producer, TV host, actor, entertainer, golfer.
• Cindy Williams - (1947) - Actress.  Born in Van Nuys.
• Esther Williams - "The Queen of Aquamusicals" - (1921) - Actress, swimming sports athlete, model, businesswoman.  Born in Inglewood.
• Ted Williams - (1918-2002) - Baseball sports athlete, manager, TV host.  Born in San Diego.
• Vanessa Williams - (1963) - Singer, actress, producer, model, Miss America, author.
• Venus Williams - (1980) - Tennis sports athlete, Olympic Gold Medalist.  Born in Lynwood.
• Ann Wilson - (1950) - Singer (Heart), songwriter, flute player, rock icon.  Born in San Diego.
• Brian Wilson - (1942) - Singer (Beach Boys), songwriter, composer, arranger, music producer, keyboardist, California icon.  Born in Inglewood.
• Carnie Wilson - (1968) - Singer (Wilson Phillips), songwriter, TV host, actress, reality TV star.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Nancy Wilson - (1954) - Singer (Heart), songwriter, guitarist, music producer.  Born in San Francisco.
• Pete Wilson - (1933) - 36th Governor of California, U.S. Senator (R-CA), Mayor of San Diego, California State Assemblyman, businessman.
• Wendy Wilson - (1969) - Singer (Wilson Phillips), songwriter, reality TV star.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Paul Winfield - (1939-2004) - Actor.  Born and died in Los Angeles.
• Oprah Winfrey - "The Queen of Media" - (1954) - TV host, producer, actress, publisher, author, businesswoman, philanthropist, OWN founder.
• Henry Winkler - (1945) - Actor, director, producer, author.
• Natalie Wood - (1938-1981) - Actress.  Born in San Francisco.  Died near Santa Catalina Island.
• Tiger Woods - (1975) - Golf sports athlete, businessman, sports icon.  Born in Cypress.
• Steve Wozniak - (1950) - Inventor, computer engineer, programmer, co-founder of Apple Computer, technology icon.  Born in San Jose.

Famous California People - Y

• Kristi Yamaguchi - (1971) - Figure skating sports athlete, Olympic Gold Medalist, dancer, reality TV star.  Born in Hayward.
• Jerry Yang - (1968) - Internet entrepreneur, co-founder of Yahoo!, philanthropist.
• Weird Al Yankovic - (1959) - Singer, songwriter, accordionist, music producer, comedian, actor.  Born in Downey.

Famous California People - Z

• Darryl Zanuck - (1902-1979) - Film producer, director, screenwriter, Hollywood studio boss, 20th Century Fox founder.  Died in Palm Springs.
• Dweezil Zappa - (1969) - Singer, guitarist, actor.  Born in Los Angeles.
• Frank Zappa - (1940-1993) - Singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer, arranger, conductor, multi-instrumentalist, music producer, film director, political activist, artist, social commentator.  Died in Los Angeles.
• Moon Zappa - "The Valley Girl" - (1967) - Recording artist, musician, VJ, actress, TV personality, author, L.A. icon.
• Hans Zimmer - (1957) - Hollywood film score composer, head of DreamWorks film music division, founder of Remote Control Productions.
• Mark Zuckerberg - (1984) - Facebook CEO.
• Adolph Zukor - (1873-1976) - Film producer, director, screenwriter, Hollywood studio boss, Paramount Pictures founder.  Died in Los Angeles.

That was quite a list of famous people from California!  It's not done yet, though.  It is a work in progress.   Famous names that are missing will eventually be added.

Got suggestions?  Send an email to Mark.

Will this list ever be finished?  No way, dudes!  California is like the fame capitol of the universe, so the list will go on forever.

Check back often because names will be added to what will surely become the biggest list of famous Californians on the Internet.

Ahh, fame... what's a name?  Check out the following music video which answers the question.

F        A        M        E