List of people associated with San Francisco

The people listed below were all born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with San Francisco, California.

People by field

Artists

• Ansel Adams (1902–1984), photographer
• Arthur Adams (b. 1963), comic book artist known for his work on Longshot and Monkeyman and O'Brien.
• Ruth Asawa (1926-2013), sculptor
• Warren Eugene Brandon (1916–1977), painter
• Beniamino Benvenuto Bufano (1890–1970), sculptor
• Lenore Chinn (b. 1949), painter
• Larry Gonick (b. 1946), cartoonist
• Jo Hanson (1918-2007), environmental artist and activist
• Ester Hernandez (b. 1944), Chicana artist
• Charles Dorman Robinson (1847–1933), painter
• Richard Serra (b. 1939), minimalist sculptor and video artist
• William Ware Theiss (1930–1992), costume designer
• Beatrice Wood (1893–1998), ceramicist

Entertainers

Dance

• Isadora Duncan (1877–1927), "mother" of modern dance

Directors/filmmakers

• David Butler (1894–1979), film director, actor, writer and producer
• Francis Coppola, film director, writer, producer, winery owner, San Francisco restaurateur
• Sofia Coppola (b. 1971), director
• Delmer Daves (1904-1977), director
• Clint Eastwood (b. 1930), director, actor, producer
• David Fincher (b. 1962), director
• Mervyn LeRoy (1900–1987), director, producer, actor
• George Lucas (b. 1944), director and producer
• Andy Luckey (b. 1965), TV writer, producer, director
• Walter Shenson (1919-2000), film producer
• Jay Ward (1920–1989), creator and producer of animated TV series

Actors

Danny Glover

• Dianna Agron (b. 1986), actress
• Gracie Allen (1895–1964), comedian
• Bill Bixby (1934–1993), actor
• Joan Blackman (b. 1938), actress
• Mel Blanc (1908–1989), voiceover actor
• Lisa Bonet (b. 1967), actress
• Benjamin Bratt (b. 1963), actor
• Todd Bridges (b. 1965), actor
• Kari Byron (b. 1974), television personality
• Carol Channing (b. 1921), actress
• Kevin Cheng (b. 1969), actor
• Mandy Cho (b. 1982), actress
• Margaret Cho (b. 1968), comedian
• Jamie Chung (b. 1983), actress
• Darren Criss (b. 1987), actor
• Eric Dane (b. 1972), actor
• Dimitri Diatchenko (b. 1968), actor and musician
• Minnie Dupree (1875–1947), actress
• Barbara Eden (b. 1934), actress
• Kathy Gori (b. 1951), actress
• Danny Glover (b. 1946), actor
• Tom Hanks (b. 1956), actor
• China Kantner (b. 1971), actress
• Bruce Lee (1940–1973)
• Marjorie Lord (b. 1917), actress
• Leslie Mann (b. 1972), actress
• Edna McClure (b. c. 1888), Broadway actress
• Bridgit Mendler, actress and singer
• Vera Michelena (1885-1961), actress, dancer and singer
• Melissa Ng (b. 1972), actress
• Larisa Oleynik (b. 1981), actress
• Rob Schneider (b. 1963), actor
• Liev Schreiber (b. 1967), actor
• Harry Shum, Jr. (b. 1982), actor
• Alicia Silverstone (b. 1976), actress
• David Strathairn (b. 1949), actor
• Phillip Terry (1909–1993), actor
• Aisha Tyler (b. 1970), actress and TV personality
• Stuart Whitman (b. 1928), actor
• B.D. Wong (b. 1960), actor
• Natalie Wood (1938–1981), actress

Musicians

• Tony Bennett (b. 1926), singer, signature song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco"
• Mike Bordin (b. 1962), drummer for Faith No More and Ozzy Osbourne
• Paul Bostaph (b. 1964), heavy metal drummer
• Cliff Burton (1962-1986), bass guitarist for thrash metal band Metallica
• Craig Chaquico (b. 1954), rock, jazz and new age guitarist
• Todd Tamanend Clark (b. 1952), poet and composer
• Greg Errico (b. 1946), drummer for many bands, most notably Sly & the Family Stone
• Maude Fay (1878–1964), operatic dramatic soprano
• Lars Frederiksen, member of band Rancid
• Jerry Garcia (1942–1995), psychedelic and folk-rock guitarist and singer
• Vince Guaraldi (1928–1976), jazz musician and pianist
• Kirk Hammett (b. 1962), lead guitarist for thrash metal band Metallica
• Cindy Herron (b. 1961), R&B singer
• Gary Holt (b. 1964), thrash metal guitarist for Exodus
• Tiffany Hwang (b. 1989), member of pop group Girls' Generation
• Chris Isaak (b. 1956), singer and musician
• Jessica Jung (b. 1989), former member of pop group Girls' Generation
• Krystal Jung (b. 1994), member of pop group f(x)
• Paul Kantner (b. 1941), rock musician and co-founder of the band Jefferson Airplane
• Huey Lewis (b. 1950), rock singer, raised in Marin County.
• Courtney Love (b. 1964), singer and actress
• Dmitri Matheny (b. 1965), jazz flugelhornist
• Johnny Mathis (b. 1935), pop singer
• Chante Moore (b. 1967), R&B and jazz singer
• Kristina Olsen (b. 1957), folk singer-songwriter
• Tim Pagnotta (b. 1977), guitarist
• Rappin' 4-Tay (Anthony Forte) (b. 1968), rapper
• Carlos Santana (b. 1947), rock, blues, and salsa guitarist and singer
• Tupac Shakur (1971-1996), rapping legend, lived in Bay Area
• Deke Sharon (b. 1967), a cappella singer The House Jacks
• Ross Valory (b. 1949), bass player for many bands, most notably Journey
• Martha Wash (b. 1953), R&B, Soul, and pop singer
• Kevin Woo (b. 1991), member of Korean boygroup U-Kiss

Writers

• David Belasco (1853–1931), playwright
• Greg Downs (b. 1971), short-story writer
• Lawrence Ferlinghetti (b, 1919), poet, co-founder of City Lights Bookstore
• Robert Frost (1874–1963), iconic poet
• Adam Gidwitz (born 1982), children's book author
• Clay Meredith Greene (1850-1933), playwright, theatre director, actor
• Dashiell Hammett (1894–1961), author of hard-boiled detective novels
• Daniel Handler (b. 1970), better known as Lemony Snicket
• Shirley Jackson (1916–1965)
• Alan Kaufman (b. 1952), author, poet, editor
• Gus Lee (b. 1946), Asian-American author
• Fritz Reuter Leiber, Jr. (1910–1992), author of science fiction novels
• Daniel Levitin (b. 1957), writer, scientist, musician
• Jack London (1876–1916), writer
• Armistead Maupin (b. 1944), writer
• Carol Anne O'Marie (1933–2009), Roman Catholic nun, mystery writer
• Peter Plate, author
• Gary Snyder (b. 1930), poet
• Joseph Staten, writer (Halo: Contact Harvest)
• Michelle Tea, author, poet, editor
• Walter Tevis (1928–1994), author, The Hustler
• Robert Alfred Theobald (1884–1957), US Navy Rear Admiral, author of The Final Secret of Pearl Harbor
• Naomi Wolf (b. 1962), writer
• Laurence Yep (b. 1948), Asian-American writer
• Helen Zia (b. 1952), writer, journalist, and activist

See also: List of San Francisco Bay Area writers

Athletes

Baseball

The following Major League Baseball players were born in San Francisco:

• Jim Baxes (1928-1996), third baseman
• Ping Bodie (1887–1961), outfielder
• Fred Breining (b. 1955), pitcher for San Francisco Giants (1980–1984)
• Dolph Camilli (1907–1997), first baseman
• Ike Caveney (1894–1949), shortstop
• Gino Cimoli (b. 1929), outfielder
• Joe Corbett (1875–1945), pitcher
• Joe Cronin (1906–1984), infielder, Baseball Hall of Fame
• Frankie Crosetti (1910–2002), shortstop and coach
• Tim Cullen (b. 1942), infielder
• Babe Dahlgren (1912–1996), first baseman
• Joe DeMaestri (b. 1928), shortstop
• Dom DiMaggio (b. 1917), outfielder
• Bob Elliott (1916–1966), player and manager
• Jim Fregosi (1942–2014), player and manager
• Jonny Gomes (b. 1980), outfielder for Boston Red Sox
• Herb Gorman (1924–1953), player in one MLB game
• Harry Heilmann (1894–1951), outfielder, Baseball Hall of Fame
• Keith Hernandez (b. 1953), first baseman
• Jackie Jensen (1927–1982), also in the College Football Hall of Fame
• Eddie Joost (b. 1916), player and manager
• Willie Kamm (1900–1988), third baseman
• George Kelly (1895–1984), first baseman, Baseball Hall of Fame
• Mark Koenig (1904-1993), infielder for 1927 New York Yankees
• Tony Lazzeri (1903–1946), infielder, Baseball Hall of Fame
• Nyjer Morgan (b. 1980), outfielder for Milwaukee Brewers
• Charlie Sweeney (1863–1902), pitcher
• Mike Vail (b. 1951), outfielder
• Tyler Walker (b. 1976), relief pitcher for Washington Nationals

See San Francisco Giants#Baseball Hall of Famers for San Francisco Giants players in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Basketball

• Jason Kidd (b. 1973)
• Tom Meschery (b. 1938)
• Pete Newell (1915-2008), Olympic and USF coach
• Bill Russell (b. 1934), led USF to two NCAA championships
• Phil Smith (1952–2002)
• Phil Woolpert (1915-1987), San Francisco high school and college coach

Boxing

• Abe Attell (b. 1884), world featherweight champion
• James J. Corbett
• Andre Ward (b. 1984), 2004 Olympics light heavyweight gold medal winner

Football

• Ed Berry (b. 1963), NFL defensive back for Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers
• Tom Brady (b. 1977), NFL quarterback for New England Patriots and two-time NFL most valuable player
• Tedy Bruschi (b. 1973), NFL linebacker for New England Patriots
• Al Cowlings (b. 1947), USC and NFL defensive lineman
• Chris Darkins (b. 1974), NFL running back for Green Bay Packers
• Eddie Forrest (1921–2001), NFL offensive lineman for San Francisco 49ers
• Jason Hill (b. 1985), NFL wide receiver for Jacksonville Jaguars
• Mike Holmgren (b. 1948), NFL head coach for Green Bay Packers and president of Cleveland Browns
• James Hundon (b. 1971), NFL player
• Joe Montana (b. 1956), NFL quarterback for San Francisco 49ers, inductee into Pro Football Hall of Fame
• John Nisby (b. 1936), NFL guard with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins; one of the first African American players to play for the Washington Redskins
• Igor Olshansky (b. 1982), NFL defensive end for Dallas Cowboys
• Jerry Rice (b. 1962), NFL wide receiver for San Francisco 49ers, inductee into Pro Football Hall of Fame
• O. J. Simpson (b. 1947), NFL running back with Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers (1985); inductee into Pro Football Hall of Fame; previously, City College of San Francisco and USC running back
• Donald Strickland (b. 1980), current NFL cornerback for the New York Jets
• Eric Wright (b. 1985), NFL cornerback for Detroit Lions
• Steve Young (b. 1961), NFL quarterback for San Francisco 49ers, inductee into Pro Football Hall of Fame

Golf

• Johnny Miller (b. 1947), professional golfer, TV commentator
• Ken Venturi (1931–2013), professional golfer, TV commentator

Other sports

• Vicki Draves (1924-2010), two-time Olympic gold medalist
• Laird Hamilton (b. 1964), surfer
• Jeremy McGrath (b. 1971), MX rider
• Jonny Moseley (b. 1975), freestyle skiing
• Brooks Orpik (b. 1980), NHL player for the Washington Capitals
• Bill Schaadt (1924-1995), fly fisherman
• Emerson Spencer (1906-1985), Olympic track and field gold medalist
• Al Young (b. 1946), drag racing world champion

Business people

• Albert Abrams (1863?–1924), inventor of medical equipment in the field of Electricity therapy
• Melvin Belli (1907-1996), lawyer known as "The King of Torts", died in San Francisco
• Donald Fisher (b. 1928), co-founder of the Gap clothing company
• Gordon Getty (b. 1934), oil philanthropist and composer
• Jess Jackson (1930–2011), wine entrepreneur and founder of Kendall-Jackson wine company
• Pete McDonough (1872—1947), Bail Bonds Broker, called "the Fountainhead of Corruption" in 1937 police graft investigation
• Morris Meyerfeld Jr. (1855–1935), German-born entrepreneur and theater owner (Orpheum Vaudeville Circuit)
• Gordon E. Moore (b. 1929), co-founder of Intel Corporation, author of Moore's law
• Michael Moritz (b. 1954), venture capitalist at Sequoia Capital
• Craig Newmark (b. 1951), founder of Craigslist
• Charles R. Schwab (b. 1937), businessman, founder of Schwab investment firm
• Richard M. Tobin, (1866-1952), president of Hibernia Bank and Minister to the Netherlands

News/commentary

• Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913), journalist
• Ben Blank (c.1921–2009), television graphics innovator
• Herb Caen (1916-1997), newspaper columnist
• Tucker Carlson (b. 1969), television political commentator
• C.H. Garrigues, jazz reviewer
• William Randolph Hearst (1863–1951), newspaper magnate and publisher
• Lewis Lapham, editor of Harper's
• Kent Ninomiya, journalist
• Lincoln Steffens (1866–1936), journalist

Political figures

See also List of mayors of San Francisco, California

• Jewett W. Adams, fourth Governor of Nevada; resident of San Francisco.
• Luis Antonio Argüello (1784–1830), first governor of Alta California
• Earle D. Baker (1888–1987), Los Angeles City Council member, 1951–59
• George W.C. Baker, Los Angeles City Council member, 1931–35
• Stephen Breyer (b. 1938), United States Supreme Court Associate Justice
• Jerry Brown (b. 1938), current Governor of California, former Governor of California, former Mayor of Oakland, former California Attorney General
• Pat Brown (1905–1996), former Governor of California
• Willie Brown (b. 1934), Mayor of San Francisco, 1996–2004, Speaker of the California State Assembly, 1980–1995
• Christopher Augustine Buckley ("Blind Boss" Buckley, 1845–1922), Democratic Party boss
• Dianne Feinstein (b. 1933), San Francisco's first female mayor (1978–1988) and U.S. Senator since 1992
• Joseph Flores, Governor of Guam
• C.J. Goodell, Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal (1945–1953)
• Peter D. Hannaford (born 1932), former aide to Ronald W. Reagan; author, public relations consultant
• Robert McNamara (1916–2009), former Secretary of Defense
• Gavin Newsom (b. 1967), Lieutenant Governor of California
• José de Jesús Noé (1805–1862), was the last alcalde of Yerba Buena, which became San Francisco after the Mexican-American War.
• Nancy Pelosi (b. 1940), Congresswoman, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Caspar Weinberger (1917–2006), former Secretary of Defense

Other

• James Millikin Bevans (1899–1977), US Air Force Major General
• Melrose Bickerstaff, runner-up of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 7
• Robert L. Fair (1923–1983), US Army Lieutenant General, Silver Star winner
• Abigail Folger (1943–1969), Folgers coffee heiress
• Richard Gage, architect, 9/11 activist
• Clifford Geertz (1926–2006), anthropologist
• Stephen Herrero, biologist, bear expert
• William Harrington Leahy (1904–1986), US Navy Rear Admiral
• Jim Jones (1931–1978), cult leader
• Julia Morgan (1872–1957), architect
• G. S. Patrick, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral, Navy Cross winner
• Tye Leung Schulze, interpreter and first Chinese-American woman to vote in a US primary election
• William T. Shorey (1859–1919), first black San Francisco sea captain
• Jacob Weisman (b. 1965), publisher of Tachyon Publications
• John W. Young (b. 1930), astronaut
• John C. Young (1912-1987), US Army Colonel, Chinatown leader
• The Zodiac Killer, unidentified serial killer active in the 1960s
• Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. (1920–2000), US Navy Admiral

Non-native residents

• Maya Angelou, poet
• William Bayer, crime fiction writer
• Ambrose Bierce, journalist and author
• Clark Blaise, Canadian author
• Marian and Vivian Brown (b. 1927), socialites
• Willie Brown, former San Francisco mayor
• Victor Burgin, artist
• Herb Caen, newspaper columnist
• Vanessa Carlton, singer
• Carol Channing, actress and comedian
• Cheerleader Melissa, pro wrestler
• Chris Columbus, film director
• Francis Ford Coppola, film director
• Eleanor Dumont (Madame Moustache), professional card dealer and gambler
• Andrew Smith Hallidie, promoter of the first cable car line
• George Hearst, politician
• Phoebe Hearst, first woman Regent of the University of California
• James Hetfield (b. 1963), singer and rhythm guitarist for thrash metal band Metallica
• Sargent Johnson, African-American sculptor
• Philip Kaufman, film director
• Jason Kidd, NBA player
• Dorothea Lange, photographer
• CoCo Lee, CantoPop singer and actress
• James Lick, real estate investor
• Charlotte Mailliard Shultz, CVO (b. 1933), philanthropist, socialite
• Cheech Marin, film actor
• Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, activists, first same-sex couple to get a marriage license in San Francisco
• Kirke Mechem, composer
• Midori, author
• Harvey Milk, former city supervisor of San Francisco
• The Mitchell brothers, Jim and Artie, adult industry pioneers
• Matt Nathanson, singer/musician
• Emperor Norton, Gold Rush entrepreneur, eccentric, egalitarian and original visionary of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
• Gary Payton, NBA player (native of Oakland)
• Linda Perry, lead singer of 4 Non Blondes
• William Chapman Ralston, founder of the Bank of California
• The Residents, Avant-Garde music and visual arts group
• Anne Rice, author
• Tina Root, ex-vocalist of the now defunct darkwave band Switchblade Symphony
• Kevin Rose, founder of digg.com
• Michael Savage, conservative radio personality
• Tabe Slioor, socialite, reporter, photographer
• Danielle Steel, author
• Dale J. Stephens, author
• Robert Louis Stevenson (from 1879–1880)
• Sharon Stone, actress
• Amy Tan (b. 1952), author
• Mark Twain, author
• Lars Ulrich, (b. 1963), drummer for thrash metal band Metallica
• Wayne Wang, film director
• Robert Wartenberg, neurologist
• Oscar Wilde, author and playwright, spent 1882 there
• Cecil Williams, pastor
• Robin Williams, actor
• David Woodard, conductor
• Martin Yan, television chef
• Arthur Wolcott Yates, U.S. Army general

Alphabetical index

• Abrams, Albert (1863?–1924), inventor
• Allen, Gracie (1895–1964), comedian
• Argüello, Luis Antonio (1784–1830)
• Attell, Abe (1884–1970), boxer
• Belasco, David (1853–1931), playwright
• Bixby, Bill (1934–1993), actor
• Blanc, Mel (1908–1989), voiceover actor
• Bodie, Ping
• Bonds, Barry (b. 1964), baseball player
• Bonds, Bobby (1946–2003), baseball player
• Bonet, Lisa (b. 1967), actress
• Bratt, Benjamin (b. 1963), actor
• Breyer, Stephen (b. 1938), jurist
• Brown, Jerry (b. 1938), politician
• Brown, Pat (1905–1996), politician
• Camilli, Dolph
• Carlson, Tucker (b. 1969), political commentator
• Chaquico, Craig (b. 1954)
• Cho, Margaret (b. 1968)
• Cimoli, Gino (b. 1929)
• Corbett, Joe
• Criss, Darren (b. 1987)
• Cronin, Joe
• Crosetti, Frankie (1910–2002)
• Cullen, Tim (b. 1942)
• Dahlgren, Babe (1912–1996)
• DeMaestri, Joe
• DiMaggio, Dom
• Downs, Greg (b. 1971), writer
• Dumont, Eleanor (1834–1879), also known as Madame Moustache, professional card dealer and gambler
• Duncan, Isadora (1877–1927), dancer
• Elliott, Bob
• Fee, Ben, activist
• Folger, Abigail (1943–1969), heiress
• Forté, Anthony (b. 1988)
• Fregosi, Jim
• Garcia, Jerry (1942–1995), musician
• Getty, Gordon (b. 1934), philanthropist and composer
• Guaraldi, Vince (1928–1976)
• Heilmann, Harry
• Hernandez, Keith
• Herron, Cindy (b. 1961)
• Holt, Gary
• Jensen, Jackie
• Joost, Eddie
• Kamm, Willie
• Kantner, Paul (b. 1941)
• Kelly, George
• LaVey, Anton Szandor (b. 1930), founder of the Church of Satan
• Lee, Gus (b. 1946)
• Levitin, Daniel (b. 1957)
• Lewis, Huey (b. 1950)
• Mann, Leslie (b. 1972)
• Prior, Mark (b. 1975)
• Mathis, Johnny (b. 1935)
• Ng, Melissa (b. 1972)
• Perry, Linda (b. 1965)
• Santana, Carlos (b. 1947)
• Shakur, Tupac (b. 1971)
• Sparks, Theresa
• Sweeney, Charlie
• Tan, Amy (b. 1952)
• Toklas, Alice B. (1877-1967)
• Williams, Robin (1951–2014)