This is a list of notable people from the U.S. city of Sacramento, California.
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Acting, television and filmmaking
- Max Baer, Jr.[1] – actor, director, The Beverly Hillbillies
- Adrienne Barbeau (born and raised)[2] – actress
- Barbi Benton (raised)[3] – model, Playboy Playmate
- Amanda Blake (resident)[4] – actress, Gunsmoke
- Matt Braly (born and raised) – creator of Amphibia
- Scott Brazil (born and raised) – producer, Hill Street Blues, The Shield
- LeVar Burton (raised)[5] – actor, Star Trek: The Next Generation
- Timothy Busfield (resident)[6] – actor, producer, director
- Jessica Chastain (raised)[7] – Oscar-winning actress
- Ray Collins – actor, Citizen Kane, Perry Mason
- Richard G. Ditlevsen Jr. – stunt performer, television producer
- Ann Doran – actress in Rebel Without A Cause
- Channing Dungey (born and raised) – producer, president of ABC Entertainment Group
- Merrin Dungey (born and raised)[8] – actress
- Sam Elliott (born)[9] – Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actor
- Holly Fields – voice actress in Shrek franchise[10]
- Jack Gallagher (resident)[11] – comedian
- Greta Gerwig – Academy Award-nominated actress and filmmaker[12]
- Mark Goodson (born)[13] – television producer
- Colin Hanks (born and raised)[14] – actor
- Henry Hathaway (born)[15] – Oscar-nominated director
- Gabrielle Haugh (born and raised)[16] – actress
- Daniel Humbarger (resident) – stand-up comedian[17]
- Jabbawockeez – dance crew (members Phil Tayag, Joe Larot and Kevin Brewer)
- Sam J. Jones – actor, Flash Gordon, Ted
- Chris Kelly (born and raised)[18] – writer, director, producer
- Marlene Kos, video artist
- Brie Larson – Oscar-winning actress
- Larry Linville (raised)[19] – actor of M*A*S*H
- Mr. Lobo – television personality, horror host
- Eric Lynch (resident)[20] – member of the Wack Pack
- Randolph Mantooth (born) – actor
- Pat Morita (former resident)[21] – Oscar-nominated actor
- Eddie Murphy – Oscar-nominated actor and comedian[22]
- Anthony Padilla – comedian of Smosh
- Ian Hecox – comedian of Smosh
- Brian Posehn (born[23] and raised)[24] – comedian
- Keith Powers (born and raised)[25] – actor[26]
- Kelly Pryce – stand-up comedian[27]
- Molly Ringwald (born and raised in greater area)[28] – actress, jazz singer
- Scott Schwartz – actor
- Betsy Sodaro – actress, comedian
- Eric Sheffer Stevens – actor
- Sab Shimono (born and raised)[29] – actor
- Samantha Smith – actress, Supernatural
- Brenda Song (raised)[30] – actress
- Johnny Taylor, Jr. – stand-up comedian
- Timothy Thatcher – professional wrestler
- Danielle Moné Truitt – actress
- Mia Tyler – actress
- Mills Watson – actor
- Bob Wilkins – television personality
- Victor Wong (resident)[31] – actor
- John Lloyd Young (born)[32] – Tony-winning actor
- Waleed Zuaiter (born) – actor and producer
Broadcasting and journalism
Music
- !!![40] – band
- Lynn Anderson – country singer
- Anton Barbeau – singer-songwriter
- Creed Bratton - actor, most famous as himself on The Office, original lead guitarist of The Grassroots[41]
- Brotha Lynch Hung – rapper
- Blackalicious (originated)[42] – hip-hop duo
- Brent Bourgeois – singer-songwriter
- Robert Brookins – member of Earth, Wind & Fire
- C-Bo – rapper
- CAKE – alternative rock band
- Geoffrey Carter – composer, musician, producer, and engineer
- Cause & Effect – electronica/synthpop band
- Craig Chaquico – Jefferson Starship guitarist
- Cimorelli – sibling pop group
- Club Nouveau – R&B group
- Doris Coley – singer with The Shirelles
- Johnny Colla – musician
- The Cramps – band
- Dance Gavin Dance – rock band
- Nataly Dawn - singer-songerwriter and half of the musical duo Pomplamoose
- David de Berry – composer
- Death Grips – experimental hip–hop group
- Dedekind Cut – experimental music artist
- Deftones – alternative metal band
- Vince DiFiore – trumpet, keyboard player for Cake[43]
- DRS – hip hop/R&B
- El Hefe – guitarist for NOFX
- Endeverafter – band
- Far – band
- Frank French – drummer
- Mark Curry Singer, Songwriter –
- Suzi Gardner – founder of the band L7
- Kevin Gilbert – singer-songwriter
- Margaret Glaspy – singer-songwriter
- Jackie Greene – singer-songwriter, blues guitarist
- Lee Greenwood – country music artist
- Groovie Ghoulies – punk rock band
- Michael Hedges – guitarist
- Hella – band
- Hippie Sabotage – electronic duo
- David Hodo – singer in Village People[44]
- Hoods – hardcore band
- James House – country music artist, songwriter
- Hobo Johnson – singer, rapper
- Daniel Johnston – singer-songwriter
- Dick Jurgens – swing music bandleader from the 30s & 40s
- King Never – progressive rock band
- Mary Love – R&B singer
- Richard Maloof – musician
- Mandisa – singer
- Marvaless – rapper
- Scott Mathews – record producer, percussionist
- Tim McCord – musician
- John McCrea – singer, guitar player for Cake[43]
- Rose Melberg – musician
- Middle Class Rut – punk band
- Victoria Monet – singer
- Mozzy – rapper
- Gabe Nelson – bassist for Cake
- Oleander – alternative rock band
- OMB Peezy - rapper
- Charlie Peacock – singer, songwriter, record producer
- Gregory Porter – jazz singer
- Rufus Reid – jazz bassist, educator, and composer
- Cynthia Robinson – trumpeter and vocalist for Sly and the Family Stone
- Michael Roe – singer
- Saweetie – rapper
- Sage The Gemini – rapper
- Timothy B. Schmit – bassist and vocalist for the country/rock bands Poco and the Eagles[45]
- Kevin Seconds – musician
- Kevin Sharp – country music singer
- Dawn Silva – singer
- Jimmy Smith – jazz legend dubbed "King of the Hammond B–3 Organ"
- Spiral Starecase
- Will Swan – guitarist
- Steel Breeze – rock band
- T-Nutty – rapper
- Tesla – rock band
- Tycho – electronic musician
- Michael Urbano – drummer
- Jeff Watson – musician
- Chelsea Wolfe – singer-songwriter
- X-Raided Loc – rapper
- Mary Youngblood – flutist
Writing
- Ann Bannon – pulp fiction author
- Deborah Blum – Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author
- Dale Brown – adventure–suspense novelist
- Jim Burke – English teacher and author of books on teaching
- Herb Caen – legendary and longtime columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle
- Biba Caggiano – cookbook author, restaurateur
- Raymond Carver – short–story writer, lived in Sacramento, set several works there
- John D. Cox – author of general–audience books about weather, storms, meteorology
- Pete Dexter (resident)[46] – novelist, journalist
- Joan Didion (born and raised)[47] – author, journalist, screenwriter
- William Everson – aka Brother Antoninus, poet
- Eric Hansen – travel writer
- Richard Hellesen – playwright
- Bob Devin Jones – playwright
- Karen Kijewski – mystery novelist
- Philip Levine – poet
- Dale Maharidge – Pulitzer Prize-winning author
- Jose Montoya – Chicano poet, Sacramento Poet Laureate
- Reneau Z. Peurifoy – author of self–help books
- Richard Rodriguez – essayist
- Dennis Schmitz – Sacramento Poet Laureate
- Nicholas Sparks (former resident)[48] – novelist
- Lincoln Steffens – investigative journalist, muckraker
- Spencer Stone – Air Force veteran, co-author The 15:17 to Paris
- Anthony Swofford – novelist and Marine veteran
- William T. Vollmann – National Book Award-winning author and journalist
Baseball
Inactive
- Dusty Baker – outfielder, three-time manager of the year
- Jim Barr – pitcher for San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels
- Cuno Barragan – catcher for Chicago Cubs
- Jeff Blauser – shortstop, 1995 World Series champion
- Dan Boitano – pitcher with four MLB teams
- Chris Bosio – pitcher with Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners
- Larry Bowa – shortstop, five-time All-Star, manager, Philadelphia Phillies coach
- John Bowker – outfielder and first baseman
- Dallas Braden – pitcher, Oakland Athletics perfect game on May 9, 2010
- Bobby Clark – outfielder, California Angels, Milwaukee Brewers
- Royce Clayton – infielder for 11 MLB teams
- Doug Davis – pitcher
- Jermaine Dye – right fielder, MVP of 2005 World Series
- Bob Elliott – infielder and outfielder, seven-time All-Star and manager
- Bob Forsch – pitcher, 1982 World Series champion
- Ken Forsch – pitcher, two-time All-Star
- Stan Hack – infielder, five-time All-Star
- Doug Henry – pitcher for five teams
- Steve Holm – catcher
- Jay Hughes – pitcher for Los Angeles Dodgers
- Joe Inglett – infielder
- Dion James – outfielder
- Geoff Jenkins – outfielder with Milwaukee Brewers
- Nick Johnson – MLB infielder
- Nippy Jones – Milwaukee Braves pinch hitter involved in “the shoe polish incident” in the 1957 World Series
- Spider Jorgensen – Brooklyn Dodgers, NY Giants scout
- Brandon League – pitcher for Los Angeles Dodgers
- Derrek Lee – infielder, 2003 World Series champion
- Randy Lerch – pitcher for four teams
- Brad Lidge – pitcher, 2008 World Series champion
- Mike Lincoln – pitcher
- Mike Marjama – catcher
- Jerry Manuel – infielder, manager of New York Mets and Chicago White Sox, TV analyst
- Buck Martinez – catcher, manager and sportscaster
- Ryan Mattheus – pitcher
- Mark McLemore – pitcher for Houston Astros
- John McNamara – manager[50]
- Marc Newfield – outfielder for Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, and Milwaukee Brewers
- Rowland Office – outfielder
- Darren Oliver – pitcher
- Dustin Pedroia – second baseman for Boston Red Sox
- Geno Petralli – catcher
- Jeremy Powell – pitcher
- Jerry Royster – third baseman, manager of Las Vegas 51s
- Dick Ruthven – pitcher, 1980 World Series champion
- F.P. Santangelo – player, sportscaster[51]
- Steve Sax – All–Star second baseman, two-time World Series champion
- Bud Stewart – outfielder
- Mike Thomas – pitcher
- Greg Vaughn – All–Star outfielder
- Randy Veres – pitcher for five teams
- Fernando Viña – infielder for five teams
- John Vukovich – infielder for three teams; manager of Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies
- Matt Walbeck – catcher
- Wally Westlake – utility player, National League All-Star
- Vance Worley – pitcher
- Charlie Zink – pitcher for Boston Red Sox
Olympians
- Evelyn Ashford – five–time track medalist in 100–meter and 4 × 100 m relay at five Olympic Games
- Ruthie Bolton – women's basketball 1996 and 2000 Olympic gold medalist
- Ben Nighthorse Campbell – captain of the judo team at 1964 Summer Olympics
- Kim Conley – distance runner at 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics
- Malachi Davis – ran in 400–meter and 4x100-meter relay at 2000 Summer Olympics for the United Kingdom
- Gabriel Gardner – opposite hitter for U.S. volleyball team at 2008 Summer Olympics
- Kate Grace – mid-distance runner at 2016 Summer Olympics
- Eric Heiden – five-time gold medalist speed skater
- Sheila Hudson – finished 10th in triple jump at 1996 Summer Olympics
- Tommy Kono – three–time medalist in weightlifting, 1952, 1956, 1960
- Brian Lewis – gold medalist in 4x100–meter relay at 2000 Summer Olympics
- Lauren McFall – bronze medalist as part of the synchronized swimming team at 2004 Summer Olympics
- Debbie Meyer – three–time Olympic gold medalist swimmer at 1968 Summer Olympics
- Derek Miles – finished seventh in pole vault at 2004 Summer Olympics
- Billy Mills – gold medalist, track, in the 10,000 meters at the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics
- Jamie Nieto – finished fourth in high jump at 2004 Summer Olympics
- Leonard "Harvey" Nitz – 1984 cycling silver and bronze medalist, four-time Olympian
- Roger "Jack" Parker – bronze medalist in decathlon at 1936 Berlin Olympics
- Susan Pedersen – swimming gold medalist in 1968 Summer Olympics
- Miguel Ángel Ponce – gold medal winner, soccer, 2012 Summer Olympics
- Vladimir Sabich – finished fifth in the slalom at 1968 Winter Olympics
- Summer Sanders – gold medalist swimmer at 1992 Summer Olympics and broadcaster
- George Schroth – swimmer, bronze medalist in 1924 Olympics
- Mark Spitz – seven-time gold medalist swimmer
- George Stanich – bronze medalist in high jump at 1948 Summer Olympics
- Michael Stember – middle-distance runner at 2000 Summer Olympics
- Chloe Sutton – member of 2008 Summer Olympics United States women's swim team
- Casey Weathers – member of 2008 Summer Olympics United States baseball team
- Mary Whipple – silver medalist in women's eight rowing at 2004 Summer Olympics
- Richard O. Buckius – professor, COO of the National Science Foundation
- Christina Hulbe – Antarctic researcher, glaciologist
- Harvey Itano – biochemist, medical researcher at Caltech, UC San Diego
- Bennet Omalu – forensic pathologist, professor at UC Davis School of Medicine
- Michelle Rhee – teacher, education administrator
- Mary Tsukamoto – educator, cultural historian, and civil rights activist
- Cornel West – philosopher, professor, author
- David J. Wineland – physicist, 2012 Nobel laureate
Stever, Michael (March 25, 2010). "Michael Stever interviews Adrienne Barbeau". Youtube. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
- a "...although I was born in Sacramento and I actually took my first acting class in third grade at the Sacrament Music Circus." — 01:32-01:40.
Stark, John (November 20, 1989). "Friends—and Her Doctor—say AIDS, Not Cancer, Killed Gunsmoke's Amanda Blake". People. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
- a "...three months after her death in Sacramento, Calif." — ¶ 1.
- b "her closest friend, Pat Derby, who, with her husband, Ed Stewart, runs a preserve in Sacramento." — ¶ 1.
- c "Derby coaxed the unwilling Blake to seek treatment from Nishimura in Sacramento." — ¶ 3.
Lee, Elyssa (February–March 2012). "LeVar Burton Q&A". Sactown magazine. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
- a 'You live in LA now, but Sacramento comes up regularly in your tweets.' "-It’s my hometown, my home base. It’s where I grew up. I was born in Landstuhl, Germany in ’57, came to Sacramento in ’59—we lived in Glen Elder—then went back to [Germany] in ’64, then [returned to Sacramento] in ’66. [Burton’s father was a photographer in the Army.] My parents split up during that second tour of duty when I was in the third or fourth grade. So my mom, my sisters and I settled in West Sacramento, in Broderick. Then we moved to South Sacramento when I was in the sixth grade—St. Anne’s Elementary." — ¶ 15.
Labong, Leilani Marie. "Homecoming Queen". Sactown Magazine. Sacramento, CA. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
Sweeney, Adam (September 14, 2011). "Exclusive Interview: Colin Hanks". Playmaker. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
- a "Colin Hanks: I was born and raised in Sacramento, California, which most people don’t know is where Tower started and was based until the end." — ¶ 4.
"Featured Memorial – Pat Morita Obituary". Legacy.com. 2005. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
- a "After the war, Morita's family tried to repair their finances by operating a Sacramento restaurant. It was there that Morita first tried his comedy on patrons." — ¶ 11.
Sweetbriar, BeBe (April 18, 2013). "Molly Ringwald Swings on New CD". EDGE Boston. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
- a "BeBe: I’m from the Sacramento, California area as are you, and we did a production of ’Oliver’ together (as a part of Fagin’s gang) at Sacramento State University once upon a time." — ¶ 14.
- b "BeBe: With my experience in knowing you from way back when in the theaters of our hometown of Sacramento, I was not of course surprised with this release from you knowing your roots in jazz with your Dad...— ¶ 34.
Ballard, Gary (February 14, 2011). "Sab Shimono Adds Wrinkles to a Prolific Resume". LA Stage Times. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
- a "Born and reared in Sacramento, Shimono first tasted public acclaim through a political forum, when he won the election for student body president of Sacramento High School." — ¶ 2.
Steinberg, Jacques (June 15, 2006). "Brenda Song Turns Warrior in Disney's 'Wendy Wu'". New York Times. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
- a "whose family (including two brothers) relocated from Sacramento to Los Angeles when she was 6 to support her nascent acting career." — ¶ 6.
- b "Her father is Hmong and was raised in a tribe that traversed the mountains of Thailand and Laos. Her mother was born Thai but adopted into a Hmong family. They met, Ms. Song said, as adults in Sacramento." — ¶ 14.
- c "Ms. Song's path to children's television stardom began on a stroll through a Sacramento mall when she was 3." — ¶ 19.
Pulley, Michael (October 18, 2001). "The last days of Victor Wong". Sacramento News & Review. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
- a "For much of the past two decades—in which he had appeared in nearly 30 Hollywood films—Wong had lived in Midtown Sacramento." — ¶ 3.
- b "Unlike most Hollywood actors, Wong eschewed the fast life and glamour of Los Angeles and continued to live humbly in his unassuming Midtown Sacramento residence where he could be close to his children. — ¶ 23.
Limbaugh, Rush (December 14, 2011). "Sacramento: Home of America's Least Attractive Men". Rush Limbaugh.com. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
- a "My adopted hometown, Sacramento, California. I moved there in October of 1984, and I was there barely three and a half years and then moved to New York to start the EIB Network. Those three and a half years in Sacramento were as deep and meaningful as any three-year span in my career. Those three and a half years... I felt like I'd lived there ten...Sacramento was the first place I actually became a practicing member of the community, actually had roots there." — ¶ 1.
- b "Sacramento, my adopted hometown..." — ¶ 2.
Morales, Tatiana (February 11, 2009). "Rene Syler". CBS News. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
- a "Syler was born at Scott AFB, Ill., and grew up in Sacramento, Calif. She graduated from California State University at Sacramento in 1987 with a degree in psychology." — ¶ 5.
Bolle, Sonja (July 24, 1988). "Pete Dexter". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
- a "How does a Sacramento Bee columnist come to write a novel..." — ¶ 1.
- b "He likes Sacramento, where his boss is an old friend from Florida." — ¶ 7.
"Joan Didion Biography – Academy of Achievement". American Academy of Achievement. November 4, 2011. Archived from the original on October 15, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
- a "Joan Didion was born in Sacramento, California. Didion spent most of her childhood in Sacramento, except for several years during World War II, when she traveled across the county with her mother and brother to be near her father, who served in a succession of posts as an officer in the Army Air Corps." — ¶ 1.