# List of people from San Diego

This is a list of notable people who were born, spent a majority of their life, or currently live in San Diego, California.
* A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* F
* G
* H
* I
* J
* K
* L
* M
* N
* O
* P
* Q
* R
* S
* T
* U
* V
* W
* X
* Y
* Z

## A

* Faris Abdi, soccer player
* Beth Accomando, film critic, arts reporter, and podcast host
* Ian Adamos, soccer player
* Anderson Lee Aldrich, convicted perpetrator of the 2022 Colorado Springs nightclub shooting
* Eric Allen, professional football player, coach, and analyst
* Jon Allen, voice and film actor (Rick and Morty)
* Greg Allen, professional baseball player
* Marcus Allen, professional player and analyst, college and Pro Football Hall of Famer
* Caroline Amiguet, actress (Angels Fallen, Love All You Have Left)
* Carlos Amezcua, news anchor
* William Anders, astronaut, Apollo 8
* Tom Anderson, founder of social networking site Myspace
* Paul Arriola, soccer player
* Mark Atkinson, film actor and producer (Skin: The Movie, Pulp Friction)
* Margaret Avery, actress, The Color Purple
* Eric Avila, soccer player
* Brian Awadis, YouTuber

## B

* Ashli Babbit, January 6 Capitol attacker who was fatally shot by police
* Karl Backus, actor (Thane of East County)
* David Bailey, professional motocross racer
* Dr. Charlotte Johnson Baker, San Diego's first practicing woman physician
* Dr. Fred Baker, physician, founder of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
* Lester Bangs, music journalist and critic
* Khalif Barnes, professional football player
* Chad Barrett, soccer player
* Arlene Baxter, model and actress
* Billy Beane, general manager of Oakland Athletics, portrayed by Brad Pitt in Moneyball
* Greg Bear, sci-fi novelist; won two Hugo awards; co-founder of San Diego Comic-Con
* Brie Bella, professional wrestler, one-time WWE Divas Champion
* Nikki Bella, professional wrestler, two-time WWE Divas Champion
* Belle Benchley, "The Zoo Lady," President, San Diego Zoo 1927–53, first woman in world to direct major zoo
* Charles Benefiel, outsider artist
* Annette Bening, TV, stage and screen actress, four-time Oscar nominee
* Kurt Benirschke, pathologist and geneticist
* Rolf Benirschke, professional football player
* Lizet Benrey, painter, actress and film director
* Doug Benson, comedian
* Shari Benstock, feminist literary scholar and University of Miami English department chair
* Peter Berkos, Academy Award winner for sound editing
* Wynton Bernard, professional baseball player
* Noah Bernardo, drummer for band P.O.D.
* Rhett Bernstein, soccer player
* Mayim Bialik, TV actress (Blossom, The Big Bang Theory)
* Camren Bicondova, dancer
* Tony Bill, actor, director, and Academy Award-winning producer
* Ryan Binse, film producer and United States Navy veteran
* Stephen Bishop, musician
* Ron Blair, musician, original bassist of band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
* Hank Blalock, professional baseball player
* Jolene Blalock, actress (Star Trek: Enterprise)
* Steve Boardman, soccer player
* Kim Bokamper, professional football player
* Ashlee Bond (born 1985), American-Israeli Olympic show jumping rider who competes for Israel
* Bob Boone, professional baseball player
* Josh Borja, soccer player
* Eddie Borysewciz, US Olympic cycling coach, United States Bicycling Hall of Fame
* Sean Bowers, soccer player and coach
* Madge Bradley, attorney and judge; first woman appointed to San Diego County bench
* Allison Bradshaw, professional tennis player
* Tim Bradstreet, artist and illustrator
* Debbie Bramwell-Washington, IFBB professional bodybuilder
* Charles Brandes, investment manager, billionaire
* Connor Brandt, soccer player
* Steven Brault, professional baseball player
* Quentin Breese, professional boxer
* Lucille Bremer, actress
* Adam Brody, actor (The O.C.)
* Bill Brown, music composer
* Charles F. Buddy, first bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, University of San Diego founder
* Chase Budinger, professional basketball player
* Jud Buechler, former professional basketball player, NBA coach
* Victor Buono, actor
* Michael C. Burgess, actor, poet, activist and former editor of The Star-News
* Bob Burnquist, professional skateboarder
* Justin Burquist, filmmaker (Touch)
* Nakia Burrise, actress, best known for portraying the third Yellow Power Ranger, Tanya Sloan
* Eileen Rose Busby, author, antiques expert
* Reggie Bush, professional football player
* Brian Patrick Butler, actor and filmmaker (Friend of the World, Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea)
* Chris Byrd, professional boxer, Olympic silver medalist, two-time Heavyweight Champion
* Darryl Byrd, professional football player

## C

* Matt Cameron, rock drummer, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden
* Donna Campbell, physician and member of the Texas Senate, born in San Diego in 1954
* Charlie Cannon, singer, theater performer and co-founder of Starlight Opera
* Nick Cannon, actor, rapper, occasional TV host
* Francesca Capaldi, actress (Dog with a Blog)
* Charisma Carpenter, actress
* Lennyn Carreón, soccer player
* Kyra Carusa, footballer for the Republic of Ireland national team
* Kellye Cash, Miss America, 1987
* Chris Cashman, filmmaker (Thane of East County)
* Billy Casper, golfer, Masters and U.S. Open champion
* John Castellanos, stage, film and television actor, film producer
* Emma Caulfield, actress (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
* Mark Cerney, founder of Next of Kin Registry (NOKR)
* David Chadwick, clinical research pediatrician, author, founder of Chadwick Center for Children and Autism Discovery Institute-San Diego
* Kate Morgan Chadwick, actress, singer
* Raymond Chandler, detective novelist and film noir writer; The Big Sleep, Farewell, My Lovely, The Long Goodbye
* Eric Chavez, professional baseball player
* Steve Cherundolo, professional soccer player
* Bob Clampett, animator (Looney Tunes)
* Judy Clarke, criminal defense attorney
* Jamie Clayton, actress and model
* Eric Close, actor (Without a Trace)
* D. C. Collier, real estate developer, director of the 1915–16 Panama California Exposition
* Aukai Collins, Chechen mujahideen, spent his childhood in Ocean Beach, and part of his early adulthood in City Heights
* Marshall Colt, psychologist and former actor
* Holly Marie Combs, actress Picket Fences, Charmed
* Dennis Conner, America's Cup yachtsman
* Maureen Connolly, professional tennis player, 1953 tennis Grand Slam champion
* Derrike Cope, NASCAR driver
* Salvatore J. Cordileone, Roman Catholic archbishop
* Jorge Cordova, professional football player
* Alana Cordy-Collins, anthropologist
* Carly Craig, actress (Hall Pass, Role Models)
* Dawson Cram, NASCAR driver
* William P. Cronan, naval officer and 19th Naval Governor of Guam
* Robbin Crosby, musician
* Rob Crow, musician
* Cameron Crowe, screenwriter, director, and producer
* Dominick Cruz, mixed martial artist, former UFC bantamweight champion
* Andrew Cunanan, spree killer who murdered Gianni Versace
* Marcos Curiel, musician
* Vinny Curran, actor (Resolution, Everybody Dies by the End)

## D

* Austin da Luz, professional soccer player
* John D'Acquisto, professional baseball player
* Ted Danson, Emmy Award-winning actor (Cheers, Becker, CSI)
* Mike Davis, professional baseball player
* Terrell Davis, professional football player
* William Heath Davis, early San Diego developer
* Randy Davison, actor (Mank, The United States vs. Billie Holiday)
* Jean Dawson, musician
* Luca de la Torre, professional soccer player
* Liza del Mundo, actress
* Tom DeLonge, singer and musician (Blink-182)
* Warren DeMartini, musician
* Thatcher Demko, goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks
* Doug DeMuro, automotive columnist, reviewer, and author
* Amir Derakh, musician
* Jeff Deverett, film producer (Full Out, The Samuel Project)
* Gail Devers, track and field sprinter, Olympic gold medalist
* Cameron Diaz, actress (My Best Friend's Wedding, Charlie's Angels)
* Frank DiPalermo, actor, playwright, and poet
* John P. Dolan, Catholic bishop
* Patrice Donnelly, athlete and actress
* Johnny Downs, vaudevillian, dancer, actor, TV personality
* Gerry Driscol, yacht racer and businessperson
* Adam Driver, actor
* Ryan Drummond, actor, voice actor, comedian, singer (voice of Sonic the Hedgehog from 1998 to 2004)
* Jared Dudley, professional basketball player
* Momčilo Đujić, WW2 Chetnik guerilla commander
* Robert Duvall, Oscar-winning actor

## E

* Jason Earles, actor
* Nathan East, bass player
* Tommy Edman, professional baseball player
* Donnie Edwards, professional football player
* Earl Edwards Jr., professional soccer player
* Lindsay Ellingson, model
* Bob Elliott, professional baseball player
* Boogie Ellis, basketball player
* Joan Embery, animal and environmental advocate
* Roger Guy English, businessman, disc jockey, and Guinness World Record holder
* Iris Engstrand, professor emeritus of history at University of San Diego, author of San Diego: California's Cornerstone
* Hayden Epstein, professional football player
* Gary Erwin, TV personality

## F

* Daeg Faerch, actor (Halloween, Hancock)
* Marshall Faulk, professional football player, Hall of Famer
* Raymond E. Feist, author
* Amy Finley, cook, author
* John William Finn, Medal of Honor recipient
* Reuben H. Fleet, aviation pioneer, industrialist, Army officer
* Jon Foreman, lead vocalist and guitarist for band Switchfoot
* Tim Foreman, bassist and backing vocalist for band Switchfoot
* Arian Foster, professional football player
* Michael Lewis Foster, filmmaker (Hush, To Fall in Love)
* Julie Foudy, professional soccer player
* Dan Fouts, professional football player, media analyst, Hall of Famer
* Frankie J, singer
* Ace Frehley, lead guitarist for band KISS
* Mike Fuentes, musician, drummer for band Pierce the Veil
* Vic Fuentes, musician, vocalist and rhythm guitarist for band Pierce the Veil

## G

* Mo Gaffney, actress
* Lukas Gage, actor (The White Lotus)
* Diamanda Galás, composer, vocalist, and keyboard artist
* Beth Gallagher, actress (To Fall in Love)
* Ray Gallardo, film director and cinematographer (At the Frontera)
* Greg Garcia, professional baseball player
* Maruta Gardner, educator, community activist
* Major Garrett, reporter
* Steve Garvey, professional baseball player, businessman
* Audrey Geisel, philanthropist
* Jeff Gianola, television news anchor
* Brian Giles, professional baseball player
* Marcus Giles, professional baseball player
* Jared S. Gilmore, child actor
* Francoise Gilot, painter, author
* Broc Glover, motocross national champion
* La'Roi Glover, professional football player
* Mark Goffeney, guitarist born without arms, disability advocate
* Susan Golding, businesswoman, politician
* Stephen Gonsalves, professional baseball player
* Adrián González, professional baseball player
* Sandra Good, former Manson Family member
* Andrew Good, professional baseball player
* Edgar Gott, aviation industry executive
* Mark Grace, professional baseball player
* Robert Klark Graham, businessman and eugenicist
* Cecil H. Green, geophysicist, philanthropist
* Harold Greene, television journalist
* Robbie Grossman, professional baseball player
* Alejandro Guido, professional soccer player
* Manuel Gutierrez (aka Manny MUA), YouTuber
* Tony Gwynn, professional baseball player and coach, Hall of Famer, won 8 batting titles
* Tony Gwynn Jr., professional baseball player, son of Tony Gwynn

## H

* Leon Hall, professional football player
* Cole Hamels, professional baseball player
* Rosie Hamlin, singer
* Jonathan Hammond, film director and screenwriter (We All Die Alone)
* Jaylen Hands, professional basketball player
* Aaron Harang, professional baseball player, attended San Diego State
* Mike Harkey, Major League Baseball pitcher and coach
* Margo Harshman, actress (Sorority Row)
* Charles Mallory Hatfield, rainmaker
* Riley Hawk, professional skateboarder, son of Tony Hawk
* Tony Hawk, professional skateboarder
* Le Ly Hayslip, memoirist and humanitarian
* Roger Hedgecock, mayor and radio personality
* David Hensley, MLB infielder
* Faithe Herman, actress (This Is Us, Shazam!)
* Mirelle Hernández, make-up artist (Fear the Walking Dead)
* Arthur Hobbs, professional football player
* James Holmes, convicted gunman of the 2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting
* Dennis Hopper, actor and director (Easy Rider, Speed)
* Mark Hoppus, singer and musician (Blink-182)
* Alonzo Horton, early San Diego developer, created "New Town San Diego", later Downtown
* Benjamin Howard, filmmaker (Riley)
* James Oliver Huberty, perpetrator of San Ysidro McDonald's Massacre
* Kimberly Hunt, news anchor
* Joe Hutshing, Oscar-winning film editor

## I

* Gabriel Iglesias, stand-up comedian
* Christofer Drew Ingle, musician
* Doug Ingle, founder of band Iron Butterfly, primary creator of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, first platinum record

## J

* JabbaWockeeZ, dance crew
* Jordan Jacobo, actor and screenwriter
* Father Luís Jayme, California's first Christian martyr
* Jayo Felony, rapper
* Jazzmun, actress and activist
* Tony Jefferson, professional football player
* Kris Jenner, television personality
* Johnny Jeter, professional wrestler
* Deron Johnson, professional baseball player
* Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR driver, seven-time champion
* Katrina Johnson, actress (All That)
* Michael Johnson (aka Twisted Insane), rapper
* Adam Jones, professional baseball player
* Dhani Jones, professional football player
* Jacque Jones, professional baseball player
* Lonnie Jordan, musician, War
* Ian Joy, professional soccer player, sports broadcaster
* David Justice, professional baseball player

## K

* Lori Kay, artist
* Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, architect
* Tom Kelly, “Shotgun” Tom Kelly, radio and television personality
* Kerri Kendall, model
* Jewel Kilcher, Grammy-nominated singer
* Tawny Kitaen, model and actress
* Laurence Monroe Klauber, herpetologist
* Charles Klusmann, escaped from Vietnamese POW camp 1964
* Ken Kocher, professional football player
* Raph Koster, author and game designer
* Joel Kramer, basketball player
* Lynn Kramer, skateboarder
* Joan Kroc, philanthropist
* Ray Kroc, founder of the McDonald's corporation, owned San Diego Padres
* Cy Kuckenbaker, filmmaker
* Alice K. Kurashige, first Japanese-American woman to be commissioned in US Marine Corps

## L

* Aimee La Joie, actress (Freedom, Wisconsin, Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea)
* Frankie Laine, singer and actor
* Adam Lambert, singer, runner-up on American Idol
* Tim Lambesis, vocalist for band As I Lay Dying
* Fabio Lanzoni, model
* Joe Lara, actor
* Bob Larsen, track and field coach, Olympic coach
* Don Larsen, professional baseball player, pitched perfect game in 1956 World Series
* Bucky Lasek, professional skateboarder
* Tammy Lauren, actress
* Robbie Lawler, mixed martial artist
* lê thi diem thúy, novelist and performance artist, The Gangster We Are All Looking For (2004)
* Brad Leaf, American-Israeli basketball player
* Bessie Learn, silent film actress
* Bobby Lee, MadTV actor and comedian
* Karenssa LeGear, actress (Carving a Life)
* David Leisure, "Joe Isuzu," character actor and comedian (Empty Nest)
* Brynton Lemar (born 1995), American-born Jamaican basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
* Jeanne Lenhart, senior Olympian, senior pageant winner, performing arts teacher
* Joe Leonard, automobile and motorcycle racing champion
* William S. Lerach, securities class action attorney, investor advocate
* Cliff Levingston, professional basketball player
* Sarah Levy (born 1995), Olympic bronze medalist, rugby union and rugby sevens player
* Cassidy Lichtman, professional volleyball player
* Lil Rob, Chicano rapper
* Art Linkletter, television personality
* Cleavon Little, actor (Blazing Saddles)
* Gene Littler, professional golfer, World Golf Hall of Famer
* Harold Lloyd, silent film actor
* John Logan, screenwriter
* Konstantin Lokhanov (born 1998), junior world champion and Olympic saber fencer living in San Diego
* Mario López, actor and television personality (Saved by the Bell, Extra!)
* Greg Louganis, Olympic gold-medalist diver
* Moses A. Luce, lawyer

## M

* John Macaulay, professional football player
* Rob Machado, professional surfer
* Doug Manchester, real estate developer, owner of The San Diego Union-Tribune
* Barbara Mandrell, country music singer and musician
* Gloria Marks, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
* Tate Martell, college football player, Netflix Original QB1: Beyond the Lights
* Ross Martin, actor (The Wild Wild West)
* Clay Marzo, professional surfer
* James Maslow, actor, singer from boy band Big Time Rush
* Victor Mature, actor (Kiss of Death)
* Maria Goeppert Mayer, scientist, worked at Los Alamos; Nobel Prize in physics, 1963
* Mercedes McCambridge, Oscar-winning actress, star of radio, TV, stage and screen
* Merrick McCartha, television and film actor (All American, Failure!)
* Dave McCary, comedian and director
* Bill McColl, professional football player and surgeon
* William C. McCool, astronaut
* Kyle McDonald, singer and musician
* Tug McGraw, professional baseball player, father of country singer Tim McGraw
* Danica McKellar, author and actress (The Wonder Years)
* Don McManus, actor
* Naomi McPherson, guitarist of Muna
* Michael Medved, radio host, political commentator, film critic
* Dan Melville, football player
* Bob Mendoza, professional baseball player and coach, San Diego Hall of Champions inductee
* Cordelia Mendoza, antiques expert, businesswoman, author
* Shep Meyers, musician
* Phil Mickelson, professional golfer, Masters and British Open champion
* David Miller, operatic singer
* Martin Milner, actor (Adam-12)
* Lani Minella, voice actress
* El Hijo de Rey Misterio, professional wrestler
* Brian Stokes Mitchell, film and Broadway actor and vocalist, Tony Award winner
* Kevin Mitchell, professional baseball player
* Silas Weir Mitchell, actor
* Ron Mix, "the intellectual assassin," professional football player, Hall of Famer
* Matthew Modine, actor (Full Metal Jacket, The Dark Knight Rises)
* John J. Montgomery, pioneer aviator
* Adam Montoya, YouTube personality, gamer
* Kyle Mooney, Saturday Night Live cast member, 2013–2022
* Archie Moore, professional boxer
* Trevi Moran, singer, YouTuber
* Alex Morgan, professional soccer player, US Women's National Team
* Tawny Moyer, actress (Halloween II)
* Jason Mraz, Grammy-winning singer
* Thom Michael Mulligan, actor and playwright
* Joe Musgrove, professional baseball player
* Chad Muska, professional skateboarder
* Dominik Mysterio, professional wrestler, son of Rey Mysterio
* Rey Mysterio, professional wrestler, WWE Hall of Famer

## N

* Kathy Najimy, actress (Sister Act, Hocus Pocus)
* Brandon Nakashima, tennis player
* Gregory Nava, Oscar-nominated film director and screenwriter
* Stephen Neal, professional football player
* Andrew Newmark, activist, musician
* Walter R. Nickel, M.D., dermatologist and dermatopathologist
* Lou Niles, radio host of 91X and executive director of Oceanside International Film Festival
* Kent Ninomiya, journalist
* Craig Noel, theatre producer
* Matt Nokes, professional baseball player
* Fred E. Norris Jr., architect

## O

* Ellen Ochoa, NASA astronaut
* Raymond Ochoa, actor
* Ryan Ochoa, actor (iCarly, The Samuel Project)
* Ronan O'Gara, Irish rugby union player (Ireland's second most-capped player and highest ever points scorer) and current coach
* Chris Olave, football player
* Tony Olmos, filmmaker (South of 8, Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea)
* Heather O'Rourke, actress (Poltergeist)
* John Ottman, soundtrack composer
* Alexandrea Owens-Sarno, actress

## P

* Patti Page, legendary country and pop singer, film actress; real name Clara Ann Fowler
* Carson Palmer, professional football player, Heisman Trophy winner
* Chuck Palumbo, professional wrestler
* Jennifer Paredes, actress (South of 8)
* Adam Pearce, professional wrestler
* Stephen Pearcy, musician
* Carlton Pearson, televangelist
* Justin Pearson, musician
* Everett Peck, cartoonist, illustrator, animator and creator of Duckman and Squirrel Boy
* Gregory Peck, Oscar-winning actor
* Clarence M. Pendleton Jr., chairman of United States Commission on Civil Rights 1981–88
* Bob Penuelas, cartoonist
* Scott Peterson, convicted murderer
* Craig Peyer, convicted murderer
* Dat Phan, comedian
* Regis Philbin, television personality
* Steve Poltz, singer-songwriter and guitarist
* Larry Poole, actor and film producer (A Rodeo Film, The Final Wish)
* Zach Porter, singer of Allstar Weekend
* Norman Powell, professional basketball player
* Conrad Prebys, philanthropist
* Jaime Preciado, bass player and vocalist for band Pierce the Veil
* Jenna Presley, actress
* Ben Press, tennis professional and coach
* Barry Pressing, contemporary artist and sculptor
* Gary Puckett, musician and singer
* Sarah Purcell, television personality
* Geoffrey Pyatt, diplomat

## R

* Sara Ramirez, Tony-winning actress and singer (And Just Like That)
* Emily Ratajkowski, actress and model (Gone Girl)
* Scott Raynor, musician
* Tommy Redding, professional soccer player
* Autumn Reeser, actress
* Steve Reeves, actor, bodybuilder, author
* John Reis, musician, swami
* Richard Requa, architect
* Roger Revelle, oceanographer, founder of UCSD
* Neil Raymond Ricco, poet
* Denise Richards, actress (Starship Troopers, Wild Things)
* Sally Ride, astronaut
* Thomas Ridgway, U.S. Army officer and father of General Matthew Ridgway
* Johnny Ritchey, professional baseball player
* Dave Roberts, professional baseball player and manager
* Cliff Robertson, Oscar-winning actor
* Alfred D. Robinson and Marion James Robinson, builders of Rosecroft
* Arnie Robinson, Olympic long jump gold medalist
* Aaron Rodgers, professional football player
* Mitt Romney, politician
* Tony Romo, professional football player
* Louis Rose, developer
* Seraphim Rose, hieromonk
* Marion Ross, actress, Happy Days
* Neil Ross, voice actor
* Kerry Rossall, actor and stuntman (Apocalypse Now, Justified)
* Patrick Rowe, professional football player
* Pete Rozelle, famed publicist, NFL commissioner
* Ilan Rubin, musician
* Sam Rubin, entertainment reporter
* Shay Rudolph, actress, social media influencer
* FaZe Rug, YouTube personality, co-owner of FaZe Clan
* Chad Ruhwedel, professional ice hockey player
* RuPaul, performer, television personality
* Betsy Russell, actress, Saw
* Jason Russell, film director

## S

* Rashaan Salaam, professional football player, Heisman Trophy winner
* Jonas Salk, physician, developed polio vaccine; founder, Salk Institute; Presidential medal of freedom (1977)
* Daniel Samohin (born 1998), Israeli Olympic figure skater
* Jessica Sanchez, American Idol contestant
* Shauna Sand, Playboy model, "Playmate of the Month" for May 1996
* Sonny Sandoval, musician
* Xander Schauffele, professional golfer
* David Schipper, professional soccer player
* Wally Schlotter, chairman of the San Diego Film Commission 1978–96
* Casey Schmitt (born 1999), infielder for the San Francisco Giants
* Rose Schneider (1895–1976) American painter
* Cathy Scott, journalist and true-crime author
* J. Michael Scott, scientist, environmentalist and author
* Junior Seau, professional football player, Hall of Famer
* Kate Sessions, horticulturalist, "the mother of Balboa Park"
* Dr. Seuss, Pulitzer-prize winning children's author; real name Theodor Geisel
* Stephanie Seymour, model
* Norm Sherry (1931–2021), catcher, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball
* Al Silvera (1935–2002), major league baseball player
* Kerry Simmonds, rower, Olympic gold medalist
* Gina Simmons Schneider, author, therapist, writer
* Mary Sinclair, actress
* Andy Skib, musician
* Alexandra Slade, actress (Friend of the World, We All Die Alone)
* Mitchy Slick, musician
* Alex Smith, professional football player
* Marty Smith, motocross national champion
* Carly Smithson, singer
* Chris Soriano, filmmaker and actor (Almighty Zeus, The Wedding Hustler)
* Sebastian Soto, professional soccer player
* Suzy Spafford, artist
* Brenda Spencer, convicted murderer
* John D. Spreckels, businessman and industrialist
* Michael Stamm, Olympic swimmer, national champion
* Scott Stantis, editorial cartoonist
* Amun Starr, musician and humanitarian
* Anne State, television news anchor
* Harry L. Steele, US Army major general
* Riley Steele, pornographic actress
* Jeremy Stenberg, professional motocross rider
* Payson R. Stevens, science communicator, artist, environmentalist
* Kenny Stills, professional football player
* J. J. Stokes, professional football player
* Milburn Stone, actor (Gunsmoke)
* Rob Stone, rapper
* Melvin Storer, shipfitter, U.S. Navy diver and Attack on Pearl Harbor survivor
* Stephen Strasburg, professional baseball player, 2019 World Series MVP
* Frederick S. Strong, US Army major general
* Frederick W. Sturckow, astronaut
* Savannah Sturges, top 10 finalist on MasterChef Season 4
* Karen Hantze Susman, tennis player
* Zachary Svajda, tennis player
* Leslie Sykes, television news anchor
* Leo Szilard, physicist, fellow of Salk Institute for Biological Studies, died in San Diego

## T

* Dalani Tanahy, artist specializing in the Hawaiian art of creating kapa
* Roberto Tapia, musician
* Lauren Taylor, actress and singer (Best Friends Whenever)
* Shannon Taylor, film producer, musician and actress (The Flourish, We All Die Alone)
* Brian Teacher (born 1954), tennis player, Australian Open singles champion
* Jonathan Temple (1796–1866), landowner, rancher and politician
* Jamie Thomas, professional skateboarder
* Pete Thomas, football player
* Soren Thompson (born 1981), Olympic and world champion épée fencer
* Susanna Thompson, actress
* Katherine Tingley, creator of Theosophical Society compound at Lomaland
* Robert Titzer, writer known for Your Baby Can Read! infant learning book
* Levine Toilolo, professional football player
* Ted Tollner, professional football coach
* Jerry Trainor, actor (Drake & Josh)
* Alan Trammell, professional baseball player and manager
* Kelly Marie Tran, actress (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Raya and the Last Dragon)
* Marty Tripes, winner of first Super Bowl of motocross
* Bitsie Tulloch, actress
* Jeremy Tyler, professional basketball player
* Roqy Tyraid, rapper and activist

## U

* Harold Urey, physical chemist and UCSD professor
* Edred Utomi, stage actor and singer (Hamilton)
* Usha Vance, second lady of the United States

## V

* W.S. Van Dyke, film director
* Tiffany van Soest, kickboxer
* Tommy Vardell, professional football player
* Eddie Vedder, singer in rock band Pearl Jam
* Juli Veee, soccer player
* Craig Venter, biologist, entrepreneur
* Victor Villaseñor, author
* Erik von Detten, actor (Toy Story, The Princess Diaries)

## W

* Tom Waits, singer-songwriter, composer and actor
* William Wall, filmmaker (Daisy Belle)
* Bill Walton, professional basketball player and media analyst, Hall of Famer
* Luke Walton, professional basketball player and coach
* Fred Ward, actor (Tremors)
* Kelly Ward, actor
* Danny Way, professional skateboarder
* Hubert Webb, murder suspect
* Harry M. Wegeforth, physician, founder of the San Diego Zoo
* Whitney Wegman-Wood, actress and screenwriter (The Last Butterflies)
* Kimberly Weinberger, actress (Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea)
* Raquel Welch, Golden Globe Award-winning actress (Right to Die)
* Tahnee Welch, model and actress
* David Wells, professional baseball player
* Julie White, Tony Award-winning actress
* Shaun White, professional skateboarder and snowboarder, Olympic gold medalist
* Cole Whitt, NASCAR driver
* Larry Wilcox, actor
* Kendra Wilkinson, model and television personality
* Carol Williams, concert organist, composer
* Damien Williams, professional football player
* Michelle Williams, Oscar-nominated actress (Brokeback Mountain, The Fabelmans)
* Mikey Williams, basketball player
* Nathan Williams, musician
* Ricky Williams, professional football player, Heisman Trophy winner
* Ted Williams, professional baseball player, Hall of Famer, won 7 batting titles
* Trevor Williams, professional baseball player
* Ann Wilson, musician
* Jim Wilson, professional baseball pitcher and general manager
* Pete Wilson, mayor of San Diego, governor of California and U.S. Senator
* Scott Wilson, professional bodybuilder
* Kellen Winslow, professional football player, Hall of Famer
* Kellen Winslow II, professional football player and convicted rapist
* Jeff Withey (born 1990), professional basketball player
* Cassidy Wolf, Miss Teen USA
* Sara Wolfkind, actress (Grimcutty, Love All You Have Left)
* James Wong, television writer and producer, film director
* Christine Wormuth, 25th United States Secretary of the Army
* Harold Bell Wright, author, Shepherd of the Hills (1941)
* Mickey Wright, LPGA golfer, World Golf Hall of Famer
* Robin Wright, Golden Globe Award-winning actress
* Marvell Wynne II, professional soccer player

## Y

* Nick Young, actor (Friend of the World)

## Z

* Frank Zappa, musician
* Joanna Zeiger (born 1970), Olympic and world champion triathlete, and author
* Valerie Ziegenfuss, professional tennis player
* Sal Zizzo, professional soccer player
* Joel Zumaya, professional baseball player