List of people from Portland, Oregon

A

Bruce Abbott (1954–), actor (B)

Alvin P. Adams, Jr. (1942–2015), diplomat

Obo Addy (1936–2012), worldbeat musician

Brad Adkins (1973–), artist

Art Alexakis (1962–), member of Everclear

Jerome Alden (1921–1997), playwright and screenwriter (B)

James H. Allen (1928–2015), clown, author (B)

Laura Allen (1974–), actress (B)

Goli Ameri (1956–), U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs

Rachel Ames (1929–), actress (B)

Aminé (1994–), hip hop musician and rapper (B)

Bob Amsberry (1928–1957), actor

Larry Andersen (1953–), Major League Baseball relief pitcher (B)

Debra Arlyn (1986–), singer-songwriter

Garner Ted Armstrong (1930–2003), televangelist (B)

Zeb Atlas (1970–), pornographic film actor (B)

Ray Atkeson (1907–1990), wilderness photographer (B)

Jean M. Auel (1936–), author of The Clan of the Cave Bear

Thomas J. Autzen (1888–1958), plywood manufacturing innovator, Autzen Stadium benefactor

B

Preston Bailey (2000–), actor (B)

Terry Baker (1941–), athlete, 1962 Heisman Trophy winner, attorney

Lance Bangs (1972–), artist, filmmaker

Art Barr (1966–1994), wrestler (B)

Willie Barrow (1924–2015), civil rights activist

Blanche Bates (1873–1941), stage and film actress (B)

Scott Beach (1931–1996), actor (B)

James Beard (1903–1985), food expert (B)

Jona Bechtolt (1980–), musician (B)

Larry Beil (1923–1986), American football player (B)

Pietro Belluschi (1899–1944), architect

Brian Michael Bendis (1967–), comic book writer

John Virginius Bennes (1867–1943), architect

Simon Benson (1852–1942), philanthropist, logging innovator

Becca Bernstein (1977–), artist

Mel Blanc (1908–1989), voice actor best known as voice of Bugs Bunny

Lance Blankenship (1963–), Major League Baseball player and World Series champion (B)

Sheila Bleck (1974–), IFBB professional bodybuilder (B)

Rachel Blumberg (1969–), drummer (B)

Earl Blumenauer (1948–), Democratic U.S. Representative (B)

Wally Boag (1920–2011), actor (B)

William H. Boring (1841–1932), Union soldier and founder of nearby town of Boring

Chris Botti (1962–), trumpeter and composer (B)

Chuck Bown (1954–), NASCAR driver (B)

Jim Bown (1960–), NASCAR driver (B)

Jeanne Boylan (1953–), famous forensic composite artist

Terrell Brandon (1970–), NBA all-star (B)

Matt Braunger (1974–), standup comedian

Thom Bray (1954–), actor

Isaac Brock (1975–), co-founder and frontman of Modest Mouse

Mel Brown (1944–), R&B and jazz drummer (B)

Tiffany Lee Brown, writer, artist, Plazm editor

Carrie Brownstein (1974–), musician, actor, writer

Louise Bryant (1885–1936), journalist and writer

Peter Buck (1956–), musician, lead guitarist of R.E.M.

Jack Buetel (1915–1989), actor

Barbara Buono (1953–), politician

Geraldine Bureker (1924–2009), All-American girls professional baseball league player (B)

Helen Burgess (1916–1937), actress (B)

Doris Burn (1923–2011), children's author and illustrator (B)

Mabel Byrd (1895–1988), civil rights activist, first African American to attend University of Oregon

C

John Callahan (1951–2010), cartoonist (B)

Cletis Carr (1959–), musician (B)

Margaret Carter (1935–), politician

Sandra Cassel (1952–), actress and acting coach

Michael Cassidy (1983–), actor (B)

Mark Chamberlin (1955–2011), actor (B)

William W. Chapman (1808–1892), U.S. politician, U.S. attorney, lawyer (B)

Clive Charles (1951–2003), British soccer player and coach

Janet Chvatal (1964–), classical soprano, director and author (B)

Bernice Claire (1906–2003), actress and singer

Jillian Clare (1992–), actress (B)

Beverly Cleary (1916–), author of children's books

Brad Cloepfil (1956–), architect (B)

Michelle Clunie (1969–), actress (B)

Henry Waldo Coe (1857–1927), frontier physician and politician

Scott Coffey (1967–), filmmaker, writer, and actor

Stephen Coffin (1807–1882), investor and militia officer

Booth Colman (1923–2014), film and stage actor (B)

Donald Cook (1901–1961), actor (B)

Barbara Coombs Lee (1947–), president of Compassion & Choices (B)

Colleen Coover (1969–), comic book artist (B)

Alfred H. Corbett (1915–2000), attorney and politician (B)

John H. Couch (1811–1870), sea captain, founder of Portland

Joseph Buford Cox (1905–2002), entrepreneur, inventor of chainsaw chain (B)

Tom Cramer, artist

Larry Crane, publisher of Tape Op

Dan Cunneen (1963–), musician (B)

Ward Cunningham (1949–), inventor of wiki

Chuck Currie (1969–), United Church of Christ clergy and homelessness advocate

Michael Curry, costume designer for The Lion King, designer of 2002 and 1996 Olympics opening ceremonies

Walt Curtis (1941–), poet and novelist (B)

D

Arthur Dake (1910–2000), chess Grandmaster (B)

Farel Dalrymple, comic book artist

Britt Daniel, musician, lead singer of Spoon

Darcelle XV (1930–), drag queen and performer

Walt Dawson (1982–), political lobbyist (B)

Valerie Day (1959–), singer, member of Nu Shooz (B)

Kelly Sue DeConnick (1970–), comic book writer

Kate Deines (1982–), professional soccer player (B)

Paul deLay (1952–2007), blues harmonica player (B)

Matthew Dickman (1975–), poet and poetry advocate (B)

Richard Diebenkorn (1922–1993), painter (B)

Aaron Director (1901–2004), law professor, University of Chicago

Beth Ditto (1981–), singer-songwriter for the indie rock band Gossip

Michael Doleac (1977–), NBA player (B)

Lee Dorsey (1924–1986), R&B singer

Sarah Dougher (1967–), singer-songwriter

Abigail Scott Duniway (1834–1915), radical, suffragist, and publisher/editor of Portland newspaper The New Northwest

Mike Dunleavy, Jr. (1980–), Jesuit H.S. and NBA player for Chicago Bulls

Katherine Dunn (1945–2016), author

E

Ashton Eaton (1988–), decathlete (B)

Jonah Edelman (1970–), activist, CEO of Stand for Children (B)

Dick Egan (1884–1947), baseball player (B)

Jim Elkins (1901–1968), crime boss

Sam Elliott (1944–), actor

Carson Ellis (1975–), illustrator and wife of Colin Meloy

Jack Ely (1943–2015), musician, The Kingsmen (B)

Rick Emerson (1973–) (formerly Rick Taylor), radio personality

Douglas Engelbart (1925–2013), inventor of the computer mouse (B)

Marie Equi (1872–1952), physician and anarchist

Winfield Ervin, Jr. (1902–1985), politician, Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska (B)

Chris Evans (1847–1917), imprisoned train robber in California; paroled to Portland

Neil Everett (c. 1962–), ESPN sportscaster (B)

F

Jack Faust (1932–), attorney and host of KATU's Town Hall (B)

David Feldberg, world champion disc golfer (B)

Shirley Adele Field (1923–1995), Oregon legislator and judge

Todd Field (1964–), actor and filmmaker

Brad Fitzpatrick (1980–), creator of LiveJournal

Harrell Fletcher (1967–), artist

Lisa Foiles (1986–), actress (B)

Dick Fosbury (1947–), high jumper, inventor of the Fosbury Flop (B)

William Trufant Foster (1879–1950), economist, first president of Reed College

Matt Fraction (1975–), comic book writer (B)

Boaz Frankel (1982–), host and creator of Clips & Quips (B)

Nell Franzen (1889–1973), theatre and silent film actress (B)

Amy Freeze (1974–), meteorologist, WABC-TV New York

Laura Fritz, artist

Alex Frost (1987–), actor (B)

C. Gordon Fullerton (1936–2013), astronaut, member of U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame (B)

Elizabeth Furse (1936–), U.S. Congresswoman

G

Clark Gable (1901–1960), film actor

Robert L. Ghormley (1883–1958), World War II naval officer (B)

Paul Gilbert (1966–), musician

Gary Gilmore (1940–1977), first person executed in U.S. when capital punishment was reinstated in 1976 (B)

Madeline Gleason (1903–1979), poet and dramatist, founder of the San Francisco Poetry Guild

Russell Gleason (1907–1945), actor (B)

Rodney Glisan (1827–1890), U.S. Army surgeon on Oregon frontier (B)

Molly Gloss (1944–), author (B)

Karl Glusman (1988–), actor

Hilda Goldblatt Gorenstein (1905–1988), artist and inspiration for documentary I Remember Better When I Paint and the Hilgos Foundation

Jacob Golden, musician

Louis S. Goodman (1906–2000), pharmacologist, chemotherapy pioneer (B)

Aaron Goodwin (1976–), photographer, artist, Ghost Adventures (B)

A.C. Green (1963–), retired NBA champion (B)

Harrison Greene (1884–1945), pre-code Hollywood actor (B)

Matt Groening (1954–), creator of The Simpsons, Futurama and Life In Hell (B)

H

Kevin Hagen (1928–2005), actor

Sally Haley (1908–2007), artist and painter

Creed C. Hammond (1874–1940), Major General and Chief of the National Guard Bureau (B)

Kathleen Hanna (1968–), singer and songwriter of Bikini Kill and Le Tigre (B)

Tonya Harding (1970–), figure skater, U.S. national champion and Olympian (B)

Katie Harman (1980–), Miss America 2002 (B)

Joey Harrington (1978–), NFL quarterback(B)

Nate Harris (2004–), rapper, actor

Bret Harrison (1982–), actor (B)

Lou Harrison (1917–2003), composer (B)

Michael Allen Harrison, musician (B)

Byron Haskin (1899–1984), filmmaker (B)

Steve Havelka, creator of Pokey the Penguin (B)

Ernest Haycox (1899–1950), writer (B)

Carey Hayes (1961–), screenwriter (B)

Chad Hayes (1961–), screenwriter (B)

Todd Haynes (1961–), filmmaker

Sean Healy, multimedia artist

Dana Heitman (1966–), musician (B)

Susan Helms (1958–), astronaut

Margaux Hemingway (1954–1996), model and granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway (B)

Christina Hendricks (1975–), actress

Joe Hill (1879–1915), radical labor activist

Jan Hoag (1948–), actress (B)

Judi Hofer (1940–2013), businessperson (B)

Stewart Holbrook (1893–1964), lumberjack, author, and artist (B)

Ben Holladay (1819–1887), transportation mogul (B)

Matt Hollywood (1973–), indie rock musician

Peter Holmström, musician (B)

Michael Hornburg (1960–), author

Mike Horner (1955–), pornographic film actor (B)

Bill Hudson (1949–), musician, singer/songwriter, producer; father of Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson (B)

Brett Hudson (1953–), musician, singer/songwriter, television producer (B)

Mark Hudson (1951–), musician, singer/songwriter, record producer (B)

William Hurt (1950–), Academy Award-winning actor

I

Illmaculate (1986–), hip hop musician, youngest winner of Scribble Jam freestyle rap (B)

Mary Frances Isom (1865–1920), librarian, founder of the Oregon Library Association

J

Peter Jacobsen (1954–), pro golfer (B)

Clayton Jacobson II (1933–), entrepreneur, creator of the jet ski (B)

Evan Jager (1989–), distance runner

Jeff Jahn (1970–), curator, art critic, artist, historian, composer (B)

Gary Jarman (1980–), musician, singer/songwriter (B)

Ethel Jewett (1877–1944), silent film actress (B)

Steve Jobs (1955–2011), creator, founder of Apple

Chris Johanson (1968–), painter, artist (B)

Fred Jones (1979–), basketball player, 2004 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Champion (B)

Scott Jones (1966–), NFL offensive guard (1989–1991) (B)

Terrence Jones (1992–), professional basketball player for the Houston Rockets (B)

Miranda July (1974–), performance artist, filmmaker

K

Ian Karmel, comedian (B)

Louis Kaufman (1905–1994), violinist (B)

Lisa Kennedy (1972–), political commentator

Robert E. Kennedy (1914–2010), professor, president of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obipso (B)

Maude Kerns (1876–1965), avant-garde artist (B)

Albertina Kerr (1890–1911), heiress to the Kerr Glass Company (B)

Donald M. Kerr (1946–2015), wildlife biologist and conservationist (B)

James Kilgore (1947–), activist and author (B)

Wright King (1923–), film and television actor

Zach King (1990–), YouTube personality

Phil Knight (1938–), business magnate, co-founder of Nike, Inc. (B)

Terence Knox (1946–), actor (B)

A. Thomas Kraabel (1934–2016), classics and Jewish history scholar (B)

Jane Kurtz (1952–), author (B)

Taya Kyle (1974–), author and activist, wife of Chris Kyle (B)

L

Mary Catherine Lamb (1949–2009), textile artist

Ray Lampkin (1948–), retired professional boxer (B)

Ben Hur Lampman (1886–1954), writer, editor at The Oregonian, Oregon poet laureate (B)

k.d. lang (1961–), singer-songwriter

Storm Large (1969–), singer, songwriter, author

Matt Lattanzi (1959–), actor; ex-husband of Olivia Newton-John (B)

Thomas Lauderdale (1970–), musician, Pink Martini

Ursula K. Le Guin (1929–), science fiction and fantasy author

Norman Leyden (1917–2014), arranger, conductor, clarinetist (B)

Brian Lindstrom (1961–), documentary filmmaker (B)

Albert Littlefield, the first professional abortion provider in Portland

Mickey Lolich (1940–), MLB pitcher (B)

Courtney Love (1964–), musician and actress, frontwoman of Hole

George A. Lovejoy (1931–2015), New Hampshire State Senator and businessman (B)

Richard A. Lovett (1953–), science fiction author

Logan Lynn (1979–), musician, writer, composer, singer, producer and LGBT activist

M

Shannon MacMillan (1974–), U.S. soccer player

Sharon Maeda (1945–), Asian American activist

Holly Madison (1979–), Playboy Playmate, actress

Cleo Maletis (1925–2009), Mrs. America 1957 winner

Stephen Malkmus (1966–), band member of Pavement

Robert Mann (1920–), violinist, founder of the Juilliard String Quartet (B)

Thomas Mann (1991–), actor (B)

Phillip Margolin (1944–), writer and lawyer (B)

Johnny Marr (1963–), guitarist, The Smiths

Chan Marshall (1972–), musician, Cat Power

Leanne Marshall (1980–), winner of TV series Project Runway Season 5

Emily Winfield Martin, visual artist and author of children's books (B)

Marguerite Martyn (c. 1880–1948), reporter and artist

Blair Mastbaum (1975–), novelist, Clay's Way and Us Ones In Between

Ana Matronic (1974–), singer (B)

Les McClaine (1977–), comic artist, comic writer/artist of Eisner-nominated Jonny Crossbones

Doyle McCormack (1943–), railroad preservationist, president of the Oregon Rail Heritage Foundation (B)

Rose McGowan (1973–), actress

Dallas McKennon (1919–2009), voice actor

Mike and Brian McMenamin, brewpub owners (B)

Carlton Mellick III (1977–), bizarro fiction author

Colin Meloy (1974–), musician, singer/songwriter, leader of The Decemberists

James Mercer (1970–), musician, singer/songwriter, leader of The Shins

Judi Meredith (1936–2014), actress, figure skater

Jeff Merkley (1956–), junior U.S. Senator from Oregon

Mayo Methot (1904–1951), film and Broadway actress (B)

Noah Mickens, producer, director, actor, ringmaster of Wanderlust Circus (B)

Tiffeny Milbrett (1972–), soccer player, Olympic and World Cup champion (B)

Don Miller (1971–), author

Bob Mionske (1962–), attorney, Olympic and professional bicycle racer

Mirah (1974–), musician

Rhea Mitchell (1890–1957), silent film actress (B)

Erika Moen (1983–), comic book artist

Jinkx Monsoon (1987–), drag queen, singer, actor (B)

Lisa Kennedy Montgomery (1972–), MTV VJ, 1992–1996

Al Moore (1908–1991), American football player (B)

Glen Moore (1941–), jazz bassist (B)

Joel David Moore (1977–), actor (B)

Lee Morse (1897–1954), jazz and blues singer/songwriter, Broadway actress

Cris Moss, curator and artist

George Harry Mullin (1892–1963), decorated World War I veteran and Victoria Cross winner (B)

Ona Munson (1903–1955), actress (B)

Francis J. Murnane (1914–1968), longshore worker, preservationist

Dale Murphy (1956–), Atlanta Braves baseball player (B)

Brent Musburger (1939–), ESPN and ABC newscaster (B)

Isaiah Mustafa (1974–), actor and athlete (B)

N

Bill Naito (1925–1996), businessman (B)

Ted Newsom (1952–), filmmaker (B)

Rob Neyer (1966–), sportswriter and author

Scout Niblett (1973–), musician

Stella Nickell (1943–), criminal, responsible for Chicago Tylenol murders

Nitin Khanna (1975-), Entrepreneur. Founder & CEO of MergerTech.

Barbara Niven (1953–), television actress (B)

O

Bill O'Reilly (1949–), political commentator, former news anchor

Bill Oakley (1966–), writer

Jack Ohman (1960–), editorial cartoonist for The Oregonian (B)

Steve Olin (1965–1993), Cleveland Indians pitcher (B)

George Olsen (1893–1971), bandleader in the 1920s (B)

Kaitlin Olson (1975–), actress (B)

William Olvis (1958–2014), composer (B)

Michael Paul Oman-Reagan (1976–), artist

Mark Orton, film score composer

William Overton, Portland founder, businessman (B)

P

Keith Packard (1963–), software developer

Bettie Page (1923–2008), pin-up model and actress

Chuck Palahniuk (1962–), writer, author of Fight Club

Dennis Patera (1945–), American football player (B)

Virginia Patton (1926–), actress, It's a Wonderful Life (B)

Linus Pauling (1901–1994), double Nobel Prize-winning chemist (B)

Jack Pennick (1895–1964), actor (B)

Edward J. Perkins (1928–), diplomat

Johnny Pesky (1919–2012), Boston Red Sox baseball player (B)

Henry F. Phillips (1890–1958), inventor of the Phillips-head screw (B)

Mitch Pileggi (1952–), actor, played FBI assistant director Walter Skinner on TV series The X-Files (B)

Roddy Piper (1954–2015), professional wrestler

Orlando Plummer (1836–1913), physician and politician (B)

Paul Popham (1947–1985), World War II veteran and gay rights activist

Tom Potter (1940–), police chief and mayor (2005–2008)

Jane Powell (1929–), actress and singer (B)

Maudie Prickett (1914–1976), actress (B)

R

Ruth Radelet (1982–), musician, lead singer of Chromatics (B)

Ahmad Rashād (1949–), NFL player, television personality (B)

Justin Rattner, Intel executive (B)

Johnnie Ray (1927–1990), singer (B)

Max Records (1997–), actor (B)

John Reed (1887–1920), journalist (B)

Holiday Reinhorn (1964–), writer (B)

Mel Renfro (1941–), defensive back for Dallas Cowboys

Rozz Rezabek (1960–), punk pioneer and vocalist for early Negative Trend and Theatre of Sheep (B)

Burton Richardson (1949–), television announcer (B)

Kim Rhodes (1969–), actress (B)

Jeff Richards (1924–1989), baseball player-turned-actor (B)

Clete Roberts (1912–1984), radio and TV journalist (B)

Robert Robideau (1946–2009), Native American rights activist (B)

John Robinson (1985–), actor (B)

Brendan Robinson (1990–), actor

Cleveland S. Rockwell (1837–1907), cartographer and artist

Raina Rose (1982–), folk singer

Keri Rosebraugh, artist (B)

Louis Conrad Rosenberg (1890–1983), printmaker (B)

Alex Ross (1970–), comic book artist (B)

Marv Ross, guitarist of Quarterflash (B)

Rindy Ross, singer and saxophonist of Quarterflash (B)

Mark Rothko (1903–1970), artist

Aaron Rowand (1970–), San Francisco Giants and Chicago White Sox outfielder (B)

Greg Rucka, novelist and comic book writer (B)

Galen Rupp (1986–), Olympic distance runner (B)

Pat Russell (1923–) Los Angeles City Council member, 1969–87 (B)

Rick Rydell (1963–), outdoors writer, novelist, radio talk show host

Nancy Ryles (1937–1990), politician (B)

S

Joe Sacco (1960–), graphic novel journalist

Katee Sackhoff (1980–), actress (B)

Greg Sage (1952–), punk musician (B)

Alberto Salazar (1958–), Olympic track athlete, marathoner, coach

Curtis Salgado (1954–), soul singer

Rick Sanders (1945–1972), world champion Greco-Roman wrestler, 2-time Olympic silver medalist (1968-1972) (B)

Rebecca Schaeffer (1967–1989), actress, whose murder in 1989 led to anti-stalking laws

Anne Schedeen (1949–), actress, ALF, aka Luanne Ruth Schedeen (B)

Monte Scheinblum (1967–), 1992 U.S. and world long-driving golf champion (B)

Dan Schmid (1962–), musician (B)

Gerald Schwartz (1946–), mathematician (B)

Randal L. Schwartz (1961–), author of Perl programming books and magazine articles, controversially convicted computer criminal (B)

Gordon Scott (1926–2007), actor (B)

Daniel Seavey (1999–), musician, singer-songwriter, and contestant from American Idol season 14 (B)

Gwenn Seemel (1981–), artist (B)

Richie Sexson (1974–), MLB baseman (B)

Floyd Simmons (1925–1996), American football player (B)

Danny Simon (1918–2005), television writer

Ernst Skarstedt (1857–1929), author

Elliott Smith (1969–2003), musician

Harry Everett Smith (1923–1991), archivist, ethnomusicologist (B)

Lawrence Leighton Smith (1936–2013), conductor (B)

Esperanza Spalding (1984–), musician (B)

Tom Spanbauer, author

Eric Spoelstra (1970–), NBA coach

Matthew Stadler, author

William Stafford (1914–1993), poet

Bob Steele (1907–1988), actor, The Big Sleep (B)

Dan Steffan, cartoonist

Dave Stevens (1955–2008), illustrator and comic artist

Damon Stoudamire (1973–), NBA player and coach (B)

Salim Stoudamire (1982–), NBA player (B)

Cheryl Strayed (1968–), author, memoirist, novelist, columnist, and essayist (B)

Brenda Strong (1960–), actress (B)

Sally Struthers (1947–), actress (B)

Ndamukong Suh (1987–), defensive tackle for Miami Dolphins (B)

Jon Micah Sumrall (1980–), lead singer of Christian rock band Kutless

T

Deb Talan (1968–), singer-songwriter, member of The Weepies

Simon Tam (1981–), musician, author, and founder of The Slants

Ruth Taylor (1905–1984), silent film actress

Thelma Taylor (1933–1949), murder victim (B)

Courtney Taylor-Taylor (1967–), musician (B)

Maria Thayer (1975–), actress (B)

Tommy Thayer (1960–), musician, guitarist for KISS (B)

Twinka Thiebaud (1945–), model

Craig Thompson (1975–), graphic novelist

Kirk Thornton (1956–), voice actor (B)

Tori (1964–), bodybuilder and WWF wrestler (B)

Linus Torvalds (1969–), organizer of Linux operating system kernel.

Michael Totten, writer, foreign correspondent

Vecepia Towery (1965–), winner of Survivor: Marquesas (B)

Pennie Lane Trumbull (1954–), socialite, basis of "Penny Lane" in Almost Famous (B)

Corin Tucker (1972–), musician, guitarist of Sleater-Kinney

Richmond K. Turner (1885–1961), U.S. Navy Admiral (B)

U

Sara Jean Underwood (1984–), Playboy Playmate of the year 2007, model, actress (B)

Andrea U'Ren (1968–), children's author and illustrator

V

Gus Van Sant (1952–), filmmaker

Laura Veirs (1973–), folk singer-songwriter

Will Vinton (1947–), claymation animator

Nicole Vogel, publisher and author (B)

Howard Vollum (1913–1986), engineer, founder of Tektronix Corporation (B)

Robert Vosper (1913–1994), librarian, UCLA, University of Kansas (B)

W

Abby Wambach (1980–), soccer player

Lindsay Wagner (1949–), actress

Chris Walla (1975–), musician, guitarist of Death Cab for Cutie

M. Ward (1973–), musician

Marie Watt (1967–), contemporary sculptor (B)

Danny Way (1974–), professional skateboarder (B)

Connor Weil (1994–), actor (B)

Janet Weiss (1965–), musician, drummer of Sleater-Kinney

E. Henry Wemme (1861–1914), businessman

Paul Wexler (1929–1979), actor

Philip Whalen (1923–2002), Zen Buddhist poet (B)

Minor White (1908–1976), influential photographer

Morris H. Whitehouse (1878–1944), architect (B)

Brad Wilk (1968–), drummer of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave (B)

Nancy Wilson (1954–), musician, Heart

David Wolman, author and journalist

Charles Erskine Scott Wood (1852–1944), author and civil liberties advocate (B)

Randall Woodfield (1950–), serial killer known as The I-5 Killer

Renn Woods (1958–), actress, Roots (B)

Martin Wong (1946–1999), painter (B)

Anthony Wynn (1962–), author, playwright

Y

Lidia Yuknavitch (1963–), writer

Z

Mariel Zagunis (1985–), two-time Olympic gold medalist in fencing (B)