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.[1][2]
  • Ruth Asawa (1926-2013), sculptor
  • Warren Eugene Brandon (1916–1977), painter
  • Beniamino Benvenuto Bufano (1890–1970), sculptor
  • Lenore Chinn (b. 1949), painter[3]
  • 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
Directors/filmmakers
  • David Butler (1894–1979), film director, actor, writer and producer
  • Francis Ford Coppola (b. 1939), movie 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
Isis Taylor
Musicians
  • Tony Bennett (1926–2023), 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 (1941–2016), 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 (1919-2021), 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 (1929–2011), outfielder[4]
  • Joe Corbett (1875–1945), pitcher
  • Joe Cronin (1906–1984), infielder, Baseball Hall of Fame[4]
  • Frankie Crosetti (1910–2002), shortstop and coach[4]
  • Tim Cullen (b. 1942), infielder[4]
  • Babe Dahlgren (1912–1996), first baseman[4]
  • Joe DeMaestri (1928–2016), shortstop
  • Dom DiMaggio (1917-2009), outfielder
  • Bob Elliott (1916–1966), player and manager[4]
  • Jim Fregosi (1942–2014), player and manager[4]
  • 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[4]
  • Keith Hernandez (b. 1953), first baseman[4]
  • Jackie Jensen (1927–1982), also in the College Football Hall of Fame[4]
  • Eddie Joost (1916-2011), player and manager
  • Willie Kamm (1900–1988), third baseman
  • George Kelly (1895–1984), first baseman, Baseball Hall of Fame[4]
  • 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 (1934-2022), led USF to two NCAA championships
  • Phil Smith (1952–2002)
  • Phil Woolpert (1915-1987), San Francisco high school and college coach

Boxing

  • Abe Attell (1884-1970), world featherweight champion
  • James J. Corbett (1866-1933), World Heavyweight Champion
  • 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[5]
  • Tom Brady (b. 1977), NFL quarterback for New England Patriots and two-time NFL most valuable player[6]
  • Tedy Bruschi (b. 1973), NFL linebacker for New England Patriots[7]
  • Al Cowlings (b. 1947), USC and NFL defensive lineman
  • Chris Darkins (b. 1974), NFL running back for Green Bay Packers[8]
  • Eddie Forrest (1921–2001), NFL offensive lineman for San Francisco 49ers[9]
  • Jason Hill (b. 1985), NFL wide receiver for Jacksonville Jaguars[10]
  • Mike Holmgren (b. 1948), NFL head coach for Green Bay Packers and president of Cleveland Browns[11]
  • James Hundon (b. 1971), NFL player[12]
  • Joe Montana (b. 1956), NFL quarterback for San Francisco 49ers, inductee into Pro Football Hall of Fame
  • John Nisby (1936–2011), NFL guard with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins; one of the first African American players to play for the Washington Redskins[13]
  • Igor Olshansky (b. 1982), NFL defensive end for Dallas Cowboys[14]
  • 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[15]
  • Donald Strickland (b. 1980), current NFL cornerback for the New York Jets[16]
  • Eric Wright (b. 1985), NFL cornerback for Detroit Lions[17]
  • 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 (1928-2009), 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
  • Theresa Sparks (b. 1949), CEO of multimillion-dollar sex toy company Good Vibrations
  • 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[18]
  • Herb Caen (1916-1997), newspaper columnist
  • Tucker Carlson (b. 1969), television political commentator
  • C.H. Garrigues (1902–1974), jazz reviewer
  • William Randolph Hearst (1863–1951), newspaper magnate and publisher
  • Lewis Lapham (b. 1935), editor of Harper's
  • Kent Ninomiya, journalist
  • Lincoln Steffens (1866–1936), journalist

Political figures

See also List of mayors of San Francisco, California

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 (1887–1972), 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 (1930-2018), 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 (1927-2013/2014), 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 and (kinky) sex educator
  • 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 (1887-1961), baseball center fielder
  • 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 (1907-1997), baseball first baseman
  • Carlson, Tucker (b. 1969), political commentator
  • Chaquico, Craig (b. 1954), guitarist
  • Cho, Margaret (b. 1968), comedian, actress
  • Cimoli, Gino (1929-2011), baseball athlete
  • Corbett, Joe (1875-1945), baseball player
  • Criss, Darren (b. 1987), singer
  • Cronin, Joe (1906-1984), baseball player
  • Crosetti, Frankie (1910–2002), baseball player
  • Cullen, Tim (b. 1942), politician
  • Dahlgren, Babe (1912–1996), baseball player
  • DeMaestri, Joe (1928-2016), baseball player
  • DiMaggio, Dom (1917-2009), baseball player and the brother of Joe DiMaggio
  • 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 (1916-1966), baseball third baseman
  • Fee, Ben, (????-????), activist
  • Folger, Abigail (1943–1969), heiress
  • Forté, Anthony (b. 1988), rapper
  • Fregosi, Jim (1942-2014), baseball manager
  • Garcia, Jerry (1942–1995), musician
  • Getty, Gordon (b. 1934), philanthropist and composer
  • Guaraldi, Vince (1928–1976), American football manager & the namesake of the Lombardi Trophy
  • Heilmann, Harry (1894-1951), baseball player
  • Hernandez, Keith (b. 1953), baseball first baseman
  • Herron, Cindy (b. 1961), singer
  • Holt, Gary (b. 1964), musician
  • Jensen, Jackie (1927-1992), baseball player
  • Joost, Eddie (1916-2011), professional basketball player
  • Kamm, Willie (b. 1950), religiious leader
  • Kantner, Paul (b. 1941), musician
  • Kelly, George (1905-1967), psychologist
  • LaVey, Anton Szandor (1930-1997), founder of the Church of Satan
  • Lee, Gus (b. 1946), author
  • Levitin, Daniel (b. 1957), psychologist
  • Lewis, Huey (b. 1950), American musician and the lead singer of Huey Lewis & The News
  • Mann, Leslie (b. 1972), actress
  • Prior, Mark (b. 1975), baseball coach
  • Mathis, Johnny (b. 1935), singer
  • Ng, Melissa (b. 1972), television actress
  • Perry, Linda (b. 1965), singer-songwriter
  • Santana, Carlos (b. 1947), guitarist
  • Shakur, Tupac (1971-1996), rapper
  • Sparks, Theresa (b. 1949), engineer
  • Sweeney, Charlie (1919-2004), baseball player
  • Tan, Amy (b. 1952), author
  • Toklas, Alice B. (1877-1967) writer
  • Williams, Robin (1951–2014) comedian, actor


This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

References

  1. ↑ Cooke, Jon B. "The Art of Arthur Adams"; reprinted from Comic Book Artist #17, November 15, 2001
  2. ↑ George Khoury and Eric Nolen-Weathington. Modern Masters Volume Six: Arthur Adams, 2006, TwoMorrows Publishing.
  3. ↑ Kara Kelly Hallmark (2007). Encyclopedia of Asian American Artists. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 29–32. ISBN 978-0-313-33451-1. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 Reichler, Joseph L., ed. (1979) [1969]. The Baseball Encyclopedia (4th ed.). New York: Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 0-02-578970-8.
  5. ↑ "Ed Berry". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Tom Brady". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Tedy Bruschi". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on April 20, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Chris Darkins". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Eddie Forrest". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Jason Hill". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Mike Holmgren". Pro-Football-Reference.Com. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  12. ↑ "JAMES HUNDON". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  13. ↑ "In Memory of John E. Nisby". Frisbie Warren & Carroll Mortuary. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Igor Olshansky". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  15. ↑ "O.J. Simpson". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Donald Strickland". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Eric Wright". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 27, 2013.
  18. ↑ Heller, Steven. Heller, Steven. "Ben Blank, Innovator of Graphics for TV News, Dies at 87" The New York Times February 18, 2009
  19. ↑ "Nevada Governor Jewett William Adams". National Governors Association. Archived from the original on January 18, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  20. ↑ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1963.