# List of people from Spokane, Washington

This is a list of people from Spokane, Washington. The list includes individuals who were born in or lived in the city. A person who lives in or comes from Spokane, Washington, is known as a Spokanite.

## Authors

* Arthur C. Brooks, author
* Sherman Alexie, author
* David Eddings, author of The Belgariad and many other books
* Wilbur Crane Eveland, served in various functions as secret agent for the USA in the Arab East
* Michael Gurian, New York Times bestselling author of thirty-two books published in twenty-two languages
* Quail Hawkins, bookseller and children's author
* Bruce Holbert, author, Washington State Book Award winner
* Katherine Kelley, American journalist and author
* Kenn Nesbitt, Children's Poet Laureate (2013–2015)
* Jack Nisbet, author of several books on explorer David Thompson
* Shann Ray, author, American Book Award winner
* Rick Rydell, outdoor writer, worked at local radio stations as a radio talk show host
* David Shannon, author of No, David! and many other children's books
* Wayne Spitzer, author and low-budget horror filmmaker
* Terry Trueman, Printz Award winning author of Stuck in Neutral and numerous other young adult novels
* Shawn Vestal, author, Washington State Book Award winner and recipient of the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize
* Jess Walter, author, recipient of the 2006 Edgar Allan Poe Award

## Chefs and restaurateurs

* Sarah Minnick, chef owner at Lovely Hula Hands and Lovely's Fifty Fifty

## Comedians

* Julia Sweeney, actor and comedian (appeared on Saturday Night Live)
* Tom McTigue, actor and comedian, Baywatch, Quantum Leap, Boyhood
* Kelsey Cook, stand up comedian

## Convicted criminals

* Kevin Coe, convicted "South Hill rapist"
* Jack Owen Spillman, serial killer
* Rollen Stewart, kidnapper
* Robert Lee Yates, serial killer

## Film, stage and television industry

* Rick Alverson, film director
* Dyan Cannon, actress born in Tacoma, WA; attended North Central High School for the 9th grade before moving to Seattle with her family
* Sophia Anne Caruso, Broadway actress best known for playing Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice: The Musical
* Gary Frank, Emmy award-winning actor, known for playing Willie in the ABC series Family.
* Russell Hodgkinson, actor
* Jim Ignatowski, The Reverend Jim "Iggy" Ignatowski, played by Christopher Lloyd, is a fictional character in the 1970s television series Taxi.
* Cheyenne Jackson, singer and actor, known for United 93
* Paul Johansson, actor, appeared in One Tree Hill
* Eric Johnston, former head of the United States Chamber of Commerce, former president of the Motion Picture Association of America
* Chuck Jones, director of animated films, three-time Academy Award winner
* Neil LaBute, film director/playwright
* David Lynch, film director, known for Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks
* Darren McGavin, actor, known for starring in Kolchak: the Night Stalker and A Christmas Story
* John McIntire, actor on Wagon Train and The Virginian
* Michele Morrow, actress, appeared in Basement Jack, The Young and the Restless, and Alias
* Craig T. Nelson, actor, star of television series Coach and Parenthood, as well as the films The Incredibles and Poltergeist
* Seena Owen, silent-film actress
* Gale Page, actress, starred in Knute Rockne, All American with Ronald Reagan
* Patrick Page, Tony-nominated actor best known as Hades in Hadestown
* Susan Peters, actress
* Matt Piedmont, film director and writer
* Mariel Sheets, actress, known for The Peanuts Movie
* Trevor St. John, actor; known for his role on One Life to Live (graduated from Whitworth University)
* Wayne Spitzer, low-budget horror filmmaker
* Hilary Swank, two-time Oscar-winning actress (father was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base)
* Sydney Sweeney, actress; best known for her role as Cassie Howard in Euphoria
* Tongolele, film and television actor
* Sarah Truax, stage and film actress, Spokane resident from 1912 to 1927
* Mary Ann Wilson, American Nurse and TV Fitness Instructor
* Michael Winslow, actor and comedian, known for Police Academy
* Deanna Oliver, actress and writer, known for her role in The Brave Little Toaster and work with Animaniacs and Casper movie
* Clifton James, film actor Cool Hand Luke
* Troy Robertson, Reality Star best known as 'Troyzan' on CBS Survivor (American TV series) Survivor: One World, Survivor: Game Changers

## Artists

* Harold Balazs, sculptor
* Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli, photographer/traveller
* Kenneth Callahan, painter from the Northwest School
* Brian Crane, cartoonist
* Jerry Holkins, writer for Penny Arcade
* Mike Krahulik, artist for Penny Arcade
* Tom Kundig, principal at Olson Kundig Architects
* George Nakashima, furniture maker, entrepreneur
* Clyfford Still, abstract-expressionist painter
* Paula Mary Turnbull, welding nun

## Journalists

* Timothy Egan, journalist, winner of the National Book Award and the Washington State Book Award
* Neil Everett, journalist, ESPN SportsCenter anchor
* Julian Guthrie, journalist and author based in San Francisco
* Sue Herera, journalist, CNBC anchor
* Eric Johnson, journalist, former sports director for KREM 2; weeknight news anchor for KOMO 4
* John Richards, journalist, radio personality, producer of The Morning Show and Audioasis on 90.3 FM KEXP Seattle
* Rick Rydell, journalist, worked at local radio stations KJRB, KZZU, and KKZX as a radio talk show host

## Musicians

* Jim Boyd, musician
* Cami Bradley, America's Got Talent finalist and member of The Sweeplings
* Keeley Brineman, musician and lead singer with Lord Mouse and the Kalypso Katz
* Mike Clarke, member of the band The Byrds
* Bing Crosby, singer/actor
* Bob Crosby, bandleader and vocalist
* Andra Day, singer-songwriter
* Paul D'Amour, former member of the band Tool
* David Friesen, jazz bassist
* Andy Gibson, singer-songwriter
* Theo Hakola, singer/songwriter/musician
* Dan Hamilton, member of Surf band The Ventures, Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, and The T-Bones.
* Thomas Hampson, baritone
* Dan Hoerner, lead guitarist and backup vocalist for the band Sunny Day Real Estate
* Myles Kennedy, lead singer of the band Alter Bridge
* Keyboard Cat and his handler Charlie Schmidt, performer on a viral internet meme
* Ryan Lewis, music producer; primarily with Macklemore
* George Lynch, former member of the rock band Dokken; member of Lynch Mob
* Chad Mitchell, member of the Chad Mitchell Trio
* Craig Montoya, former member of the band Everclear
* Matty Mullins, lead singer of the band Memphis May Fire
* Patrice Munsel, former Metropolitan Opera star
* Danny O'Keefe, singer-songwriter
* Eckart Preu, conductor of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra
* Jimmy Rowles, jazz pianist
* Ann Sandifur, composer
* Scott Thompson, former member of the Canadian band Lillix
* Billy Tipton, jazz musician
* Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, boogie-woogie and blues-rock pianist
* Tyrone Wells, singer-songwriter
* Merrill Womach, undertaker, organist and gospel singer, founder of National Music Service
* Charlie Butts - saxophone player, frontman of Charlie Butts and The Filter Tips
* GrandMixer GMS - DJ/remixer for Tairrie B

## Politicians
### Civic

* James Everett Chase, mayor of Spokane
* Jack Geraghty, mayor of Spokane; former Spokane County Commissioner
* Dennis P. Hession, mayor of Spokane
* John Powers, mayor of Spokane
* David H. Rodgers, mayor of Spokane
* Ron Sims, former member of the King County Council; former King County Executive; former member of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
* Jon Snyder, member of the Spokane City Council
* John Talbott, mayor of Spokane
* Mary Verner, mayor of Spokane
* James E. West, Washington State Senator and Spokane mayor

### Federal

* Ryan Crocker, U.S. diplomat, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq
* Tom Foley, U.S. Congressman, former Democratic Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Former US Ambassador to Japan
* Eric Johnston, former head of the United States Chamber of Commerce, former president of the Motion Picture Association of America
* Mike McKevitt, U.S. Congressman for Colorado's 1st congressional district (1971–73)
* Cathy McMorris Rodgers, U.S. Congresswoman for Washington's 5th congressional district (2005–present)
* George Nethercutt, former Republican U.S. Congressman, judge and attorney
* Ron Sims, former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

### State

* Andy Billig, Washington State Senator
* James M. Geraghty, Washington State Supreme Court Justice
* Sam C. Guess, Washington State Senator
* Samuel G. Havermale, early Spokane pioneer, minister and politician
* Horace E. Houghton, Washington and Wisconsin state legislator, lawyer
* James E. West, Washington State Senator and Spokane mayor
* Marcus Riccelli, Washington State Representative

## Science and technology

* Michael P. Anderson, astronaut killed in the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
* Walter Houser Brattain, awarded the 1956 Nobel Prize in Physics
* Robert Dirks, computational chemist killed in a 2015 train wreck in New York
* Dorothy M. Horstmann, virologist, made important discoveries about polio
* Anne McClain, NASA Astronaut, Flight Engineer for Expedition 58/59 to the International Space Station
* Wilder Graves Penfield, American-born Canadian neurosurgeon who mapped out the functional areas of the cerebral cortex and pioneered groundbreaking research into epilepsy treatment
* Irwin Rose, biologist awarded the 2004 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

## Sports
### Auto racing

* Chad Little, NASCAR race winner
* Tom Sneva, Indianapolis 500 winner and IndyCar Series champion

### Baseball

* Jeremy Affeldt, Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher for the San Francisco Giants
* Ed Brandt, MLB pitcher (1928–38)
* Ed Kirkpatrick, former MLB outfielder and catcher
* Andrew Kittredge, pitcher for Tampa Bay Rays
* Larry Koentopp, Gonzaga University three-sport all-state selection, baseball head coach and athletic director
* Tyler Olson, pitcher for Cleveland Indians
* Mike Redmond, former MLB player for the Florida Marlins, Minnesota Twins, and Cleveland Indians; manager for the Marlins; (Gonzaga University graduate, 1993)
* Ryne Sandberg, 2005 inductee in the Baseball Hall of Fame, former second baseman for the Chicago Cubs, former MLB manager for the Philadelphia Phillies
* Kevin Stocker, former shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Anaheim Angels; current analyst for the Pac-12 Network
* Christine Wren, second female professional baseball umpire

### Basketball

* Briann January, former Arizona State Sun Devils player; plays for the WNBA's Indiana Fever (Lewis and Clark High School graduate, 2005)
* Adam Morrison, former Gonzaga player, former 2005–2006 first-team All-American, Charlotte Bobcats and Los Angeles Lakers basketball player (Mead High School graduate, 2003)
* John Stockton, NBA Hall of Fame former point guard for the Utah Jazz
* Wayne Tinkle, player for the Montana Grizzlies (Ferris High School graduate, 1984); currently head coach for the Oregon State Beavers

### Billiards

* Dorothy Wise, member of Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame

### Boxing

* Chauncy Welliver, professional boxer

### Hockey

* Patrick Dwyer, Spokane native who last played for the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes
* Tyler Johnson, former Spokane Chiefs player and 2008 Memorial Cup winner plus back-to-back Stanley Cup winner with the Tampa Bay Lightning
* Derek Ryan, Spokane native currently playing for NHL's Edmonton Oilers
* Kailer Yamamoto, Spokane native currently playing for NHL's Seattle Kraken
* Bob Attwell, Spokane native who played 22 games in the NHL.

### Extreme sports

* Jess Roskelley, youngest American (at the time) to climb Mount Everest
* Eric Uptagrafft, sport shooter

### Football

* Bob Bellinger, football player
* Erik Coleman, former Washington State Cougars football player, former player for the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions (Lewis and Clark High School graduate, 2000)
* Joe Danelo, former kicker for the Green Bay Packers, the New York Giants, and the Buffalo Bills (graduated from WSU and Gonzaga Prep 1971)
* Will Davis, former defensive back for the Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, and Salt Lake Stallions of the AAF
* Steve Emtman, 1992 NFL No. 1 draft pick, former defensive lineman for the Indianapolis Colts
* Bill Etter, held the Notre Dame record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single game—146 yards
* Steve Gleason, NFL former special teams player for the New Orleans Saints and a graduate of WSU and Gonzaga Prep.
* Jason Hanson, former kicker with the Detroit Lions
* Max Krause, running back for the New York Giants and Washington Redskins
* Dan Lynch, first team All-American for Washington State University (Lewis & Clark High School graduate 1980)
* Steve Parker, former NFL defensive end for the New Orleans Saints
* Brett Rypien, NFL quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings; Shadle Park High School, Boise State University
* Mark Rypien, former quarterback for the Washington Redskins; Most Valuable Player of 1991 Super Bowl; Shadle Park High School, Washington State University
* Bishop Sankey, former NFL running back for the Tennessee Titans (attended Gonzaga Preparatory School)
* Cory Withrow, former NFL center for the St. Louis Rams
* John Yarno, former NFL offensive lineman (attended Gonzaga Preparatory School and Ferris High School)

### Mixed martial arts

* Michael Chiesa, Ultimate Fighter winner and current UFC lightweight
* Julianna Peña, Ultimate Fighter winner and current UFC women's bantamweight champion
* Sam Sicilia, Ultimate Fighter alumnus and former UFC featherweight
* Brady Hiestand, Ultimate Fighter finalist and current UFC bantamweight

### Rowing

* Joe Rantz, 1936 Summer Olympics gold medal winner in the eights competition

### Soccer

* Chad Brown, midfielder and coach
* Amy LePeilbet, defender and coach

### Tennis

* Jan-Michael Gambill, professional player

### Track and field

* Madonna Buder, 75-year-old Catholic nun and oldest Hawaii Ironman Triathlete competitor
* Helga Estby, walked across the United States in 1896
* Fortune Gordien, Olympic silver and bronze medalist in discus throw
* Gerry Lindgren, runner, won 11 NCAA championships at Washington State University (attended John R. Rogers High School)
* Brad Walker, American record holder and two-time world champion in the pole vault (University High School graduate)

## Early Spokane notable residents

* Joe Albi, attorney and civic leader
* Kirtland Cutter, architect, known for his work in Spokane, including the Davenport Hotel
* Sonora Smart Dodd, successfully campaigned for the establishment of Father's Day
* Helga Estby, Norwegian-American resident of the Spokane area; in 1896 walked across America from Spokane to New York City
* James Geraghty, Spokane City Corporate Counsel
* Alice Houghton, broker
* Henry John Kaiser, American industrialist

### Native Americans

* Chief Garry, one of the Spokane tribes' most prominent and influential leaders during the shift from indigenous to European-American control of their land

### Military

* John Babcock, last Canadian veteran of World War I
* Col. David P. Jenkins, Civil War Colonel, Spokane homesteader, and philanthropist

## Crime

* Keith Hunter Jesperson, serial killer
* Robert Lee Yates, serial killer
* William H Parks III, serial killer

## Other

* Jimmy Marks, Romani American who sued Spokane