# List of people from San Jose, California

This is a list of notable people from San Jose, California. It includes people who were born/raised in, lived in, or spent portions of their lives in San Jose, or for whom San Jose is a significant part of their identity, as well as music groups founded in San Jose. This list is in alphabetical order by surname.

## Actors and entertainment industry

* Akhil Akkineni, Indian-American actor who predominantly works in the Telugu film Industry of India
* Elisa Marina Alvarado, Chicana director, actress, educator, recipient of Cornerstone of the Arts award, born in San Jose
* Frank Bacon, actor, playwright and father of Lloyd Bacon, raised in San Jose and lived there for 17 years
* Lloyd Bacon, Hollywood director, son of actor Frank Bacon, born in San Jose
* Adrienne Barbeau, actress, attended Del Mar High School class of 1963
* Calum Best, British television personality, son of footballer George Best, born in San Jose
* Brett Dalton, actor, born in San Jose
* Rosanna DeSoto, actress, born in San Jose
* Dustin Diamond, child actor, known as Screech from Saved By The Bell, born in San Jose
* Ricco Fajardo, voice actor in Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School and various anime, TV actor, born in San Jose
* Renée Elise Goldsberry, actress, known for originating the role of Angelica Schuyler in the Broadway musical Hamilton, born in San Jose
* Michael Gough, voice actor, born in San Jose
* Farley Granger, actor, best known for Strangers on a Train, born in San Jose
* Nick Groff, paranormal investigator and television personality, born in San Jose
* Krazy George Henderson, cheerleader, inventor of "The Wave", sports entertainment
* Josh Holloway, actor, Lost, born in San Jose
* Fran Jeffries, singer and actress, born in Palo Alto
* Anjelah Johnson, comedian, born in San Jose
* Jeannie Mai, TV personality, talk show host, fashion expert, makeup artist, born in San Jose
* Peverell Marley, Oscar-nominated, Golden Globe-winning cinematographer, born in San Jose
* Charles Martinet, actor and voice actor, best known for providing the voice of Nintendo's Mario, born in San Jose
* Candi Milo, voice actress, born in San Jose
* Linda Park, actress, originally from Seoul, South Korea and raised in San Jose
* Miguel Perez, actor, born in San Jose
* Ernie Reyes Jr., actor and martial artist, born in San Jose
* Diane Rodriguez, theatre director, actor, writer, born in San Jose
* Gabriela Sepúlveda, singer and actress, Jenni Rivera: Mariposa De Barrio, born in San Jose
* Kurtwood Smith, actor, That '70s Show
* Smothers Brothers, musical comedy duo and actors
* Dave Tatsuno, Japanese-American internment camp resident who made amateur film Topaz, about camp life
* Kathy Uyen, actress and producer for Vietnamese cinema, born in San Jose
* Luis Valdez, playwright and director
* Kung Fu Vampire, musician, also on the Discovery Channel's Oddities, born in San Jose
* Kate Walsh, actress, born in San Jose

## Artists
### Comics and zines

* Brent Anderson, comic artist with DC Comics, born in San Jose
* Jan Eliot, comic artist of Stone Soup, born in San Jose
* Julia Kaye, comic artist of Up and Out, illustrator, raised in San Jose
* Jhonen Vasquez, creator of alternative comics for Slave Labor Graphics and Invader ZIM, born in San Jose

### Mixed media

* Susan O'Malley, public art, museum curation, and author, raised in San Jose

### Painters

* Lucy Bacon, impressionist painter, lived in San Jose 1898–1909, taught at the Washburn Preparatory School
* James Caprell, fine artist, born in San Jose
* Ernest de Saisset, portrait artist
* Chris Johanson, fine artist, part of the Mission School art movement, born in San Jose
* Suzanne Scheuer, painter known for her New Deal-era murals, born in San Jose
* Herman Volz, fine artist, worked with the Federal Art Project, lived in San Jose 1960–1990, died in San Jose

### Photographers

* Bill Owens, photographer and photojournalist documenting suburbia, born in San Jose

### Sculptors

* Ruthadell Anderson, sculptor, fiber artist, textile artist; born in San Jose and attended San Jose State University
* Therese May, fine art quilting, lived in San Jose

## Athletes

* Yorgo Alexandrou, Olympic bobsledder for Armenia (two-man bobsleigh, 2002 Salt Lake City), born and raised in San Jose
* Damián Alguera, soccer player
* Chidobe Awuzie, NFL player, born in San Jose
* Mike Avery, soccer player, coach, and athletic director
* Scott Baker, Major League Baseball player, born in San Jose
* Isaias Bardales Jr., soccer player
* Amir Bashti, soccer player
* Bayley, WWE wrestler
* Steven Beitashour, soccer player
* Isaác Brizuela, soccer player
* Brent Burns, pro hockey player San Jose Sharks, lives in San Jose
* Steve Caballero, professional skateboarder, born in San Jose
* Angelo Caloiaro (born 1989), American-Italian basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
* Ken Caminiti, pro baseball player (San Jose State), 1996 NL MVP
* Rich Campbell, NFL player, played high school football in San Jose
* Mark Canha, baseball player, born in San Jose
* John Carlos, Olympic silver medalist, 200m (1968 Mexico City); track and field athlete; pro football player
* Andre Carter, pro football player
* Brandi Chastain, soccer player, World Cup champion, born in San Jose
* Amy Chow, Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics (1996), born in San Jose
* Kay Cockerill, professional golfer, born in San Jose
* Jerry Coleman, decorated combat pilot, MLB player and manager, Ford Frick Award-winning sportscaster, born in San Jose
* Sam Delaplane (born 1995), professional baseball pitcher
* Polina Edmunds, Olympic figure skater
* Herman Edwards, NFL player, coach, TV commentator
* Jon Fitch, UFC fighter
* Peggy Fleming, 1968 Winter Olympics figure skating gold medalist, born in San Jose
* Rudy Galindo, national champion figure skater, born in San Jose
* Jeff Garcia, pro football quarterback (San Jose State)
* Jeremy Giambi, baseball player, born in San Jose
* Naomi Girma, soccer player for the United States
* Aaron Gordon, player for the Denver Nuggets and brother of Drew Gordon, born in San Jose
* Drew Gordon, player for the Philadelphia 76ers and brother of Aaron Gordon, born in San Jose
* Shawn Green, MLB 2-time All-Star outfielder
* Kyle Harrison (born 2001), baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants
* Dany Heatley, pro hockey player, San Jose Sharks
* Mike Holmgren, NFL coach and executive
* Cass Jackson, former college football head coach, one of the first African-American head football coaches at a predominantly white college (Oberlin College)
* John Johnson, NBA basketball, First Team All American at the University of Iowa, lived and died in San Jose
* Brent Jones, football player, Santa Clara University, San Francisco 49ers, three-time Super Bowl champion, born in San Jose
* James Jones, pro football player (San Jose State), Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders, born in San Jose
* Carney Lansford, pro baseball player, Oakland A's, 1989 World Series champion, 1981 A.L. batting champion, born in San Jose
* Cung Le, Vietnamese mixed martial arts fighter, three-time Sanshou bronze medalist
* Joe Leonard, automobile and motorcycle champion
* Roger Maltbie, professional PGA golfer and NBC Sports On Air golf analyst
* Patrick Marleau, pro hockey player, San Jose Sharks
* Jake McGee, baseball player
* Kyle McLaren, pro hockey player San Jose Sharks
* Tommy Medica, baseball player, born in San Jose
* Marty Mornhinweg, NFL player and coach
* Evgeni Nabokov, pro hockey player, San Jose Sharks
* James Nunnally (born 1990), professional basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League and the Euroleague, and formerly in the NBA, born in San Jose
* Brian Oldfield, athlete, world and American record holder in shot put
* Jesús Padilla, soccer player for Chivas de Guadalajara, born in San Jose
* Jim Plunkett, quarterback, Stanford University, 1970 Heisman Trophy winner, Oakland Raiders, two-time Super Bowl champion (SB XV MVP), born in San Jose
* John Powell, two-time Olympic bronze medalist (1976 Munich, 1984 L.A.), discus throw
* Dave Righetti, baseball player; 1981 A.L. Rookie of the Year (N.Y. Yankees); pitched no-hitter on July 4, 1983; San Francisco Giants pitching coach, born in San Jose
* Ricco Rodriguez, mixed martial artist, UFC and ADCC champion, born in San Jose
* Frank Shamrock, MMA fighter
* Tommie Smith, Olympic gold medalist - 200m, (1968 Mexico City), track and field athlete (San Jose State), pro football player
* Dave Stieb, pro baseball pitcher
* Carl Sullivan, football player, born in San Jose
* Mike Swain, Olympic gold medalist, four-time Olympian, San Jose State judo coach
* Mike Swick, UFC fighter
* Debi Thomas, Olympic figure skater, grew up in San Jose
* Josh Thomson, mixed martial artist and model, born in San Jose
* Joe Thornton, pro hockey player, San Jose Sharks
* Pat Tillman, pro football player and decorated Army Ranger, born in San Jose
* Loren Toews, pro football player
* Yosh Uchida, businessman, educator, contributor to San Jose State judo team, born in San Jose
* Cain Velasquez, MMA fighter
* Dick Vermeil, college and pro football head coach, Super Bowl champion (St. Louis Rams, 1999)
* Aly Wagner, retired soccer player
* Bill Walsh, college and pro football head coach, three-time Super Bowl champion (San Francisco 49ers)

## Business leaders and entrepreneurs

* Gurbaksh Chahal, entrepreneur
* Andy Dinh, entrepreneur and professional gamer, born in San Jose
* Amadeo Peter Giannini, founder of Bank of America, born in San Jose
* Peter Ueberroth, sports and business executive, San Jose State University alumnus
* Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Inc., born in San Jose
* Jerry Yang, co-founder of Yahoo!

## Chefs

* Angela Dimayuga, internationally known chef born and raised in San Jose

## Dancers

* Mythili Kumar, South Indian traditional dancer of Bharatanatyam, resides in San Jose, founder of Abhinaya Dance School of San Jose
* Yuriko Kikuchi (née Amemiya), worked with the Martha Graham Dance Company, born in San Jose

## Designers

* Mai Kitazawa Arbegast, landscape architect, born in San Jose
* Scott Campbell, video game concept artist for LucasArts then Double Fine Productions, art director, comic artist and illustration, born and raised in San Jose
* Theodore Lenzen, Prussian-born architect, active in San Jose
* Joe Murray, animator, born in San Jose
* Emily Williams, pioneering female architect in the 20th century, attended California State Normal School (later known as SJSU)

## Educators

* Peter William Cassey, African-American 19th-century school founder, deacon, minister, educator, abolitionist, and political activist
* Henry Suzzallo, educator; president of the University of Washington

## Musicians and bands

* Anohni, frontwoman of Antony and the Johnsons
* Antwon, rapper, lives in San Jose
* Ashe, singer, born in San Jose
* Bassnectar, DJ and electronic music producer
* Louie Bellson, professional drummer
* Tommy Castro, blues, rock
* Charizma, rapper, born in San Jose
* Count Five, garage rock band, formed in San Jose
** John "Sean" Byrne, musician with Count Five, lived in San Jose
* Irene Dalis, opera singer, founder of Opera San Jose, born in San Jose
* Jimmy DeGrasso, heavy metal drummer
* DJ Shadow, born Joshua Davis, instrumental hip-hop DJ, born in San Jose
* The Doobie Brothers, rock band
** Tom Johnston, lived in San Jose with the Doobie Brothers
* Duster, indie rock band
* Fleetwood Mac, rock band
** Lindsey Buckingham, musician with Fleetwood Mac
** Stevie Nicks, singer and musician with Fleetwood Mac
* Jeff Foskett, guitarist and singer, best known for work with The Beach Boys
* Getter, DJ, electronic music producer and rapper
* Heavy Heavy Low Low, metal band formed in San Jose
* The Holdup, reggae and hip hop band formed in San Jose
* Greg Kihn, rock musician and radio DJ
* Kung Fu Vampire, rapper from San Jose
* Los Tigres del Norte, Mexican band formed in San Jose
* Laura Mam, musician and music industry entrepreneur
* Bryan Mantia, drummer for Primus and Guns N' Roses, born in San Jose
* Kamtin Mohager, lead musician for The Chain Gang of 1974
* No Use for a Name, band
** Matt Riddle, bassist of No Use for a Name, born in San Jose
** Tony Sly, lead singer and guitarist of No Use for a Name, born in San Jose
* Peanut Butter Wolf, disc jockey and producer from San Jose
* Nikki Sixx, bassist for Mötley Crüe, born in San Jose
* Sleep, doom metal band formed in San Jose
* Smash Mouth, pop-rock band formed in San Jose
* Snow Tha Product, rapper, born in San Jose
* Skip Spence, co-founder of Moby Grape
* Stone Temple Pilots, band
** Eric Kretz, drummer for Stone Temple Pilots, Talk Show, and Spiralarms, born in San Jose
** Scott Weiland, vocalist for Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver, Camp Freddy, The Wondergirls, Art of Anarchy, and The Magnificent Bastards, born in San Jose
* Sunami, hardcore punk band
* Syndicate of Sound, garage rock band formed in San Jose
* Traxamillion, rapper
* Xiu Xiu (band), avant-garde band formed in San Jose
* Yvette Young, singer/songwriter, guitarist/front-woman of Covet
* Kim Yubin, member of South Korean girl group Wonder Girls

## Politicians, civil servants, and activists

* Ben Nighthorse Campbell, U.S. Senator from Colorado, SJSU graduate
* César Chávez, labor leader and civil rights activist
* C. C. Cottrell, California State Assembly member 1933–1939
* Nathan Damigo, founder of Identity Evropa, an American neo-Nazi and white supremacist organization, grew up in San Jose
* Don Edwards, U.S. Representative from California 1963–1995, born in San Jose
* Thomas Fallon, soldier, mayor of San Jose
* Ron Gonzales, mayor of Sunnyvale and San Jose
* Dale Ho (born 1977), U.S. district judge of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
* Mike Honda, U.S. Representative
* Sherman Otis Houghton, mayor of San Jose, U.S. Representative
* Norman Mineta, mayor of San Jose, United States Secretary of Transportation, United States Secretary of Commerce, born in San Jose
* Michael A. Rice, biologist and Rhode Island politician, born in San Jose
* Iola Williams, politician and civil rights activist, first African-American to serve on San Jose City Council (1979–1991), Vice Mayor of San Jose for two terms

## Scientists

* Paul André Albert, scientist and pioneering metallurgist with IBM, and founder of ACI Alloys
* Edgar F. Codd, computer scientist
* Dian Fossey, primatologist, SJSU graduate
* Dudley R. Herschbach, winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, born in San Jose
* Michio Kaku, physicist, born in San Jose

## Writers

* Reza Aslan, Iranian-American author, religious studies scholar, producer, and television host; attended Del Mar High School (class of 1990)
* Raymond Carver, short story writer and poet
* Carolyn Cassady, author of the Beat Generation, lived in San Jose
* Neal Cassady, author of the Beat Generation, Merry Pranksters member, inspiration for character Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac's novel On The Road, lived in San Jose
* Iris Chang, historian and journalist, lived in San Jose
* Howard Dully, author, My Lobotomy
* Kate Elliott, novelist
* Khaled Hosseini, best-selling novelist, author of The Kite Runner, lived in San Jose
* Wayne Koestenbaum, artist, poet, and cultural critic
* William Lewis Manly, pioneer, hero, banker, and author of Death Valley in '49
* Viet Thanh Nguyen, author of The Sympathizer, winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction; attended Bellarmine College Preparatory
* James Wesley Rawles, novelist
* Al Ruffo, Mayor of San Jose
* Kay Ryan, poet, former Poet Laureate of the United States, born in San Jose
* Amy Tan, best-selling novelist, author of The Joy Luck Club
* Louis Theroux, English documentary filmmaker, journalist and broadcaster
* Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, author of the memoir Farewell to Manzanar, attended high school and college in San Jose
* Tad Williams, author of the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series

## Journalists

* Francis B. Murdoch, founder and publisher of the San Jose Weekly Telegraph (1853–1860) and the San Jose Weekly Patriot (1863–1875)
* Vicky Nguyen, NBC News anchor

## Other

* Isai Alvarado, professional video game player, Super Smash Bros. player
* Susan Atkins, convicted murderer, Manson Family member
* Joey Chestnut, competitive eater
* Jason Dahl, captain of United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001, born in San Jose
* Bob Fernandez, a veteran and one of the last known survivors of the attack on pearl harbor.
* David Marius Guardino, psychic
* Henry Morris Naglee, U.S. Civil War general and served in the Mexican–American War
* Matt Stonie, competitive eater, born in San Jose
* Rick Warren, Baptist evangelical Christian pastor and author
* Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester Rifle Company, occultist, architect to the Winchester Mystery House, lived in San Jose