Biographical Records

Notable People from California

3,830 notable figures born in California, showing page 1 of 77, ranked by historical prominence.

Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris
Vice President of the United States from 2021 to 2025
1964
public prosecutor generalpresidential candidateprosecutor
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Hong Kong–American martial artist and actor (1940–1973)
1940 – 1973
martial artistfilm actortelevision actor
John Steinbeck
John Steinbeck
American writer (1902–1968)
1902 – 1968
scientific collectornovelistwar correspondent
Jack London
Jack London
American author, journalist and social activist (1876–1916)
1876 – 1916
diaristscience fiction writerautobiographer
Robert Frost
Robert Frost
American poet (1874–1963)
1874 – 1963
pedagogueplaywrightpoet
Isadora Duncan
Isadora Duncan
American dancer and choreographer (1877–1927)
1877 – 1927
dancerautobiographerchoreographer
Diane Keaton
Diane Keaton
American actress and film director (1946–2025)
1946 – 2025
film actor
Robert Redford
Robert Redford
American actor and director (1936–2025)
1936 – 2025
film actortelevision actorfilm producer
Elinor Ostrom
Elinor Ostrom
American political economist (1933-2012)
1933 – 2012
university teacherpolitical scientisteconomist
Robert Duvall
Robert Duvall
American actor and director (1931–2026)
1931 – 2026
film screenwritertelevision actorfilm actor
Gene Hackman
Gene Hackman
American actor and novelist (1930–2025)
1930 – 2025
film actornovelistracing automobile driver
George S. Patton
George S. Patton
United States Army general (1885–1945)
1885 – 1945
army officerautobiographerswimmer
Dian Fossey
Dian Fossey
American zoologist, gorilla researcher (1932–1985)
1932 – 1985
primatologistethologistecologist
Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood
American actress (1938–1981)
1938 – 1981
film actortelevision actorchild actor
William Saroyan
William Saroyan
Armenian-American novelist, playwright, and short story writer (1908-1981)
1908 – 1981
novelistsongwriterplaywright
Ansel Adams
Ansel Adams
American photographer and environmentalist (1902–1984)
1902 – 1984
documentary photographermountaineerenvironmentalist
Etta James
Etta James
American singer (1938–2012)
1938 – 2012
jazz singerrecording artistjazz musician
Edwin McMillan
Edwin McMillan
American physicist (1907-1991)
1907 – 1991
university teacherphysicist
Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
American musician, singer, songwriter and record producer
1942 – 2025
bass guitaristmusic executivemusic arranger
O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
American football player and actor (1947–2024)
1947 – 2024
American football playerathletics competitorfilm actor
Susan Wojcicki
Susan Wojcicki
American business executive (1968–2024) Former CEO of YouTube
1968 – 2024
managerbusinessperson
Adlai Stevenson II
Adlai Stevenson II
American politician and diplomat (1900–1965); 31st governor of Illinois from 1949 to 1953 (1900–1965)
1900 – 1965
diplomatpoliticianlawyer
Ryan O'Neal
Ryan O'Neal
American actor (1941–2023)
1941 – 2023
film actortelevision actorfilm producer
William Randolph Hearst
William Randolph Hearst
American newspaper publisher (1863–1951)
1863 – 1951
art collectorpublishersocialite
Brandon Lee
Brandon Lee
American actor (1965–1993)
1965 – 1993
martial artistfilm actortelevision actor
Cliff Burton
Cliff Burton
American bassist (1962–1986)
1962 – 1986
bass guitarist
Richard Chamberlain
Richard Chamberlain
American actor (1934–2025)
1934 – 2025
autobiographerrecording artisttelevision actor
David Carradine
David Carradine
American actor (1936–2009)
1936 – 2009
film actortelevision actorfilm producer
Joseph Erlanger
Joseph Erlanger
American doctor (1874-1965)
1874 – 1965
neuroscientistphysiologistuniversity teacher
Joan Didion
Joan Didion
American writer (1934-2021)
1934 – 2021
essayistnovelistjournalist
John Young
John Young
American astronaut, naval officer, test pilot and aeronautical engineer (1930–2018)
1930 – 2018
military aviatorautobiographernaval officer
Kevin Mitnick
Kevin Mitnick
American hacker (1963–2023)
1963 – 2023
computer security consultantsecurity hackergeneral manager
Victor Fleming
Victor Fleming
American film director, cinematographer, and producer (1889–1949)
1889 – 1949
directorfilm directorfilm producer
Eazy-E
Eazy-E
American rapper (1964-1995)
1964 – 1995
con artistdrug traffickermusic executive
Frances Marion
Frances Marion
American journalist, author, film director and screenwriter (1888-1973)
1888 – 1973
film screenwriternovelistfilm actor
Naya Rivera
Naya Rivera
American actress and singer (1987–2020)
1987 – 2020
film actortelevision actormodel
David Crosby
David Crosby
American singer, guitarist and songwriter (1941–2023)
1941 – 2023
guitaristsinger-songwriterlyricist
Cameron Boyce
Cameron Boyce
American actor (1999–2019)
1999 – 2019
film actordancermodel
Octavia E. Butler
Octavia E. Butler
American science fiction writer (1947-2006)
1947 – 2006
science fiction writernovelistwriter
Jeff Buckley
Jeff Buckley
American musician (1966–1997)
1966 – 1997
guitaristmusiciansinger-songwriter
Fay Bainter
Fay Bainter
American actress (1893–1968)
1893 – 1968
film actorstage actoractor
Teri Garr
Teri Garr
American actress (1944–2024)
1944 – 2024
film actortelevision actordancer
Bob Einstein
Bob Einstein
American comedian, actor (1942–2019)
1942 – 2019
film actortelevision actorfilm director
Scatman John
American musician (1942–1999)
1942 – 1999
scat singerjazz musicianpianist
George Stevens
George Stevens
American film director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer (1904–1975)
1904 – 1975
trade unionistproducersoldier
Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Feinstein
American politician (1933–2023)
1933 – 2023
politicianmayor
Leo McCarey
Leo McCarey
American film director, screenwriter and producer (1898-1969)
1898 – 1969
directorfilm producerfilm director
Mel Blanc
Mel Blanc
American voice actor and radio personality (1908–1989)
1908 – 1989
radio drama actordub actorfilm actor
Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens
Native Latino American musician (1941–1959)
1941 – 1959
rock singerguitaristsongwriter
Dean Stockwell
Dean Stockwell
American actor (1936–2021)
1936 – 2021
film actortelevision actorfilm director
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