# List of people from Portland, Oregon

Portland is a port city in the U.S. state of Oregon located at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. Established in the 1830s as a camp along the Oregon Trail, Portland evolved into a major West Coast industrial city during the twentieth century. Contemporarily, it is the most populous city in Oregon, and the second-largest city in the Pacific Northwest.
This list of notable people includes persons who were either born in, are current residents of, or have lived in Portland. A person who lives in or comes from Portland, Oregon is called a Portlander.

## A

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Bruce Abbott | 1954– | Actor | Yes |
| Alvin P. Adams, Jr. | 1942–2015 | Diplomat | Yes |
| Arthur Adams | 1963– | Comic book artist | No |
| Sam Adams | 1963– | Former mayor of Portland | No |
| Obo Addy | 1936–2012 | Musician | No |
| Brad Adkins | 1973– | Artist | No |
| Jerome Alden | 1921–1997 | Playwright, screenwriter | Yes |
| Pauline Alderman | 1893–1983 | Musicologist, composer | No |
| Art Alexakis | 1962– | Musician | No |
| James H. Allen | 1928–2015 | Clown, author | Yes |
| Laura Allen | 1974– | Actress | Yes |
| Goli Ameri | 1956– | Diplomat, businesswoman | No |
| Rachel Ames | 1929– | Actress | Yes |
| Bob Amsberry | 1928–1957 | Actor | Yes |
| Larry Andersen | 1953– | Major League Baseball player | Yes |
| Marian Anderson | 1897–1993 | Singer | No |
| Marisa Anderson | | Musician | No |
| Signe Toly Anderson | 1941–2016 | Singer | No |
| Debra Arlyn | 1986– | Singer-songwriter | No |
| Arledge Armenaki | 1949– | Cinematographer | Yes |
| Garner Ted Armstrong | 1930–2003 | Televangelist | Yes |
| Hal Ashby | 1929–1988 | Film director and editor | No |
| Victor G. Atiyeh | 1923–2014 | 32nd Governor of Oregon | Yes |
| Ray Atkeson | 1907–1990 | Photographer | No |
| George H. Atkinson | 1819–1889 | Missionary | No |
| Jean M. Auel | 1936– | Author | No |
| Thomas J. Autzen | 1888–1958 | Plywood manufacturing innovator | No |

## B

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Preston Bailey | 2000– | Actor | Yes |
| Terry Baker | 1941– | Attorney, athlete | No |
| Brenda Bakke | 1963– | Actress | No |
| Ireland Baldwin | 1995– | Model | No |
| Lola Baldwin | 1860–1957 | One of first policewomen in the United States | No |
| Lance Bangs | 1972– | Filmmaker | No |
| Daniel E. Barbey | 1989-1969 | U.S. Navy Admiral | Yes |
| Art Barr | 1966–1994 | Professional wrestler | Yes |
| Willie Barrow | 1924–2015 | Civil rights activist | No |
| Blanche Bates | 1873–1941 | Actress | Yes |
| Peter Baum | 1990– | Lacrosse player | No |
| Scott Beach | 1931–1996 | Actor | Yes |
| James Beard | 1903–1985 | Food expert | Yes |
| Jona Bechtolt | 1980– | Musician | No |
| Larry Bell | 1923–1986 | Football player | Yes |
| Pietro Belluschi | 1899–1994 | Architect | No |
| Scott Benedetti | 1966– | Soccer player | Yes |
| John Virginius Bennes | 1867–1943 | Architect | No |
| Simon Benson | 1852–1942 | Philanthropist, logger | No |
| Becca Bernstein | 1977– | Artist | No |
| Mel Blanc | 1908–1989 | Voice actor | No |
| Lance Blankenship | 1963– | Major League Baseball player, World Series champion | Yes |
| M. Blash | 1978– | Filmmaker | No |
| Sheila Bleck | 1974– | Bodybuilder | Yes |
| Rachel Blumberg | 1969– | Drummer | Yes |
| Earl Blumenauer | 1948– | Democratic U.S. Representative | Yes |
| Wally Boag | 1920–2011 | Actor | Yes |
| William H. Boring | 1841–1932 | Union soldier, founder of Boring, Oregon | No |
| Chris Botti | 1962– | Composer, trumpeter | Yes |
| Terrell Brandon | 1970– | NBA all-star | Yes |
| Matt Braunger | 1974– | Standup comedian | No |
| Thom Bray | 1954– | Actor | No |
| Isaac Brock | 1975– | Singer, frontman of Modest Mouse | No |
| David Brooks | 1915–1999 | Actor | Yes |
| Chuck Bown | 1954– | NASCAR racer | Yes |
| Jim Bown | 1960– | NASCAR racer | Yes |
| Chris Brown | 1977– | Soccer player | Yes |
| Cindy Brown | 1965– | Professional basketball player | Yes |
| Mel Brown | 1944– | Jazz drummer | Yes |
| Melville W. Brown | 1887–1938 | Silent film director | Yes |
| Tiffany Lee Brown | | Writer, editor | No |
| Carrie Brownstein | 1974– | Musician, actor | No |
| Agnes Bruckner | 1985– | Actress | No |
| Monique de Bruin | 1977– | Retired fencer | Yes |
| Louise Bryant | 1885–1936 | Journalist, writer | No |
| Dean F. Bryson | 1910–1995 | Politician, lawyer | Yes |
| Peter Buck | 1956– | Guitarist of R.E.M. | No |
| Jack Buetel | 1915–1989 | Actor | No |
| Barbara Buono | 1953– | Politician | No |
| Geraldine Bureker | 1924–2009 | All-American girls professional baseball player | Yes |
| Helen Burgess | 1916–1937 | Actress | Yes |
| Kevin Burke | 1950- | Musician, Master Irish Fiddler | No |
| Doris Burn | 1923–2011 | Children's author, illustrator | Yes |
| Mabel Byrd | 1895–1988 | Civil rights activist; first African-American to attend the University of Oregon | No |

## C

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| John Callahan | 1951–2010 | Cartoonist | Yes |
| Dirk Carlson | 1998– | Soccer player; represented Luxembourg | Yes |
| Cathy Camper | | Artist, author | No |
| Jean Carmen | 1913–1993 | Actress | Yes |
| Jewel Carmen | 1897–1984 | Actress | Yes |
| Cletis Carr | 1959– | Musician | Yes |
| John Francis Carroll | 1858–1917 | Publisher | No |
| Margaret Carter | 1935– | Politician | No |
| Sandra Cassel | 1952– | Actress, acting coach | No |
| Michael Cassidy | 1983– | Actor | Yes |
| Mark Chamberlin | 1955–2011 | Actor | Yes |
| Erin Chambers | 1979– | Actress | Yes |
| William W. Chapman | 1808–1892 | Politician, lawyer | No |
| Walter Chappell | 1925–2000 | Photographer | Yes |
| Clive Charles | 1951–2003 | British soccer player, coach | No |
| Trevor Chowning | 1972- | American Pop Artist | No |
| Janet Chvatal | 1964– | Classical soprano, director | Yes |
| Bernice Claire | 1906–2003 | Actress, singer | No |
| Jillian Clare | 1992– | Actress | Yes |
| Beverly Cleary | 1916–2021 | Author | No |
| Brad Cloepfil | 1956– | Architect | Yes |
| Michelle Clunie | 1969– | Actress | Yes |
| Henry Waldo Coe | 1857–1927 | Physician, politician | No |
| Scott Coffey | 1967– | Filmmaker, actor | No |
| Stephen Coffin | 1807–1882 | Investor, militia officer | No |
| Marissa Coleman | 1987– | WNBA player | Yes |
| Monte Collins | 1898–1951 | Actor, director | No |
| Booth Colman | 1923–2014 | Actor | Yes |
| Santo Condorelli | 1995– | Olympic swimmer | No |
| Donald Cook | 1901–1961 | Actor | Yes |
| Cool Nutz | 1972– | Rapper, Entertainer and Radio Personality | Yes |
| Barbara Coombs | 1947– | President of Compassion & Choices | No |
| Colleen Coover | 1969– | Comic artist | Yes |
| Alfred H. Corbett | 1915–2000 | Attorney, politician | Yes |
| Gretchen Corbett | 1947– | Actress | Yes |
| Henry W. Corbett | 1827–1903 | Industrialist, U.S. senator | No |
| Judy Cornell | 1933–2021 | Olympic swimmer | Yes |
| Robert Cornthwaite | 1917–2006 | Actor | No |
| John H. Couch | 1811–1870 | Sea captain, co-founder of Portland | No |
| Lucy Covington | 1910–1982 | Political activist | No |
| Colin Cowherd | 1963– | Sports media host | No |
| Joseph Buford Cox | 1905–2002 | Entrepreneur, inventor of chainsaw chain | Yes |
| Tom Cramer | 1960– | Artist | Yes |
| Larry Crane | | Publisher of Tape Op | No |
| Ryan Crouser | 1992– | Olympic shot putter and discus thrower | Yes |
| Dan Cunneen | 1963– | Musician | Yes |
| Imogen Cunningham | 1883–1976 | Photographer | Yes |
| Ward Cunningham | 1949– | Inventor of wiki | No |
| Zamah Cunningham | 1892–1967 | Actress | Yes |
| Ann Curry | 1956– | Journalist | No |
| Michael Curry | 1967– | Costume and puppet designer | No |
| Walt Curtis | 1941– | Poet, novelist | Yes |

## D

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Florence Dagmar | 1895–1986 | Actress | Yes |
| Arthur Dake | 1910–2000 | Chess Grandmaster | Yes |
| Adam Aminé Daniel | 1994– | Rapper, musician | Yes |
| Britt Daniel | 1971– | Musician, vocalist of Spoon | No |
| George Dantzig | 1914—2005 | Mathematical scientist | Yes |
| Darcelle XV | 1930–2023 | Drag performer | No |
| Walt Dawson | 1982– | Political lobbyist | Yes |
| Valerie Day | 1959– | Singer | Yes |
| Burchard DeBusk | 1877–1937 | Academic | No |
| Kelly Sue DeConnick | 1970– | Comic writer | No |
| David DeCoteau | 1962– | Filmmaker | Yes |
| Kate Deines | 1982– | Professional soccer players | Yes |
| Paul deLay | 1952–2007 | Blues harmonica player | Yes |
| Albert H. Densmore | 1946– | Businessman, state representative | Yes |
| James DePriest | 1936–2013 | Director emeritus of orchestral studies at Juilliard School; director of Oregon Symphony | No |
| Jennifer Devine | 1968– | Olympic rower | Yes |
| Yassine Diboun | 1978– | Ultrarunner | No |
| Matthew Dickman | 1975– | Poet | Yes |
| Richard Diebenkorn | 1922–1993 | Painter | Yes |
| Aaron Director | 1901–2004 | Law professor at University of Chicago | No |
| Beth Ditto | 1981– | Singer-songwriter of Gossip | No |
| Juan Dixon | 1978– | Basketball player, Portland Trail Blazers | No |
| Robyn Dixon | 1979– | Reality TV personality | No |
| Michael Doleac | 1977– | NBA player | No |
| Lee Dorsey | 1924–1986 | R&B singer | No |
| Sarah Dougher | 1967– | Singer-songwriter | No |
| Linda Douglas | 1928–2017 | Actress, wife of Hank Greenberg | Yes |
| Helen Savier DuMond | 1872–1968 | Painter, sculptor, and teacher; wife of Frank DuMond | Yes |
| Abigail Scott Duniway | 1834–1915 | Suffragist | No |
| Mike Dunleavy Jr. | 1980– | NBA player | No |
| Katherine Dunn | 1945–2016 | Author | No |

## E

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Ron East | 1943– | NFL player, coach | Yes |
| Ashton Eaton | 1988– | Decathlete | Yes |
| Jonah Edelman | 1970– | CEO of Stand for Children | No |
| Dick Egan | 1884–1947 | Baseball player | Yes |
| Jim Elkins | 1901–1968 | Crime boss | No |
| Sam Elliott | 1944– | Actor | No |
| Carson Ellis | 1975– | Illustrator | No |
| Jack Ely | 1943–2015 | Musician of The Kingsmen | Yes |
| Rick Emerson | 1973– | Radio personality | No |
| Douglas Engelbart | 1925–2013 | Inventor of computer mouse | Yes |
| Marie Equi | 1872–1952 | Physician, anarchist | No |
| Winfield Ervin, Jr. | 1902–1985 | Politician, mayor of Anchorage, Alaska | Yes |
| Ellen Estes | 1978– | Olympic silver medalist in water polo | Yes |
| Christopher Evans | 1847–1917 | Train robber | No |
| Sarah A. Evans | 1854–1940 | Suffragist | No |
| Steven Evans | 1991– | Soccer player | Yes |
| John R. Everett | 1918–1992 | First chancellor of City University of New York; president of the New School for Social Research | Yes |
| Neil Everett | 1962– | Sportscaster | Yes |
| Tom Everett | 1948– | Actor | Yes |

## F

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Henry Failing | 1834–1898 | Banker, politician | No |
| Amparito Farrar | 1893–1989 | Soprano concert singer | Yes |
| Jack Faust | 1932– | Attorney, broadcaster | Yes |
| David Feldberg | | World champion disc golfer | Yes |
| Shirley Adele Field | 1923–1995 | Legislator, judge | No |
| Todd Field | 1964– | Actor, filmmaker | No |
| Brad Fitzpatrick | 1980– | Creator of LiveJournal | No |
| Harrell Fletcher | 1967– | Artist | No |
| Lisa Foiles | 1986– | Actress | Yes |
| Dick Fosbury | 1947–2023 | High jumper | Yes |
| William Trufant Foster | 1879–1950 | Economist, first president of Reed College | No |
| Matt Fraction | 1975– | Comic writer | No |
| Alma Francis | 1890–1968 | Actress, singer | Yes |
| Abigail Keasey Frankel | –1931 | Civic worker | No |
| Boaz Frankel | 1982– | Host of Clips & Quips | Yes |
| Nell Franzen | 1889–1973 | Actress | Yes |
| Amy Freeze | 1974– | Meteorologist, WABC-TV New York | No |
| Alex Frost | 1987– | Actor | Yes |
| C. Gordon Fullerton | 1936–2013 | Astronaut, member of Astronaut Hall of Fame | Yes |
| Ron Funches | 1983– | Standup comedian | No |
| Elizabeth Furse | 1936–2021 | U.S. Congresswoman | No |

## G

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Clark Gable | 1901–1960 | Actor | No |
| Rocky Gale | 1988– | Major League Baseball player | Yes |
| Ben Gardner | 1990– | NFL player | Yes |
| Paul Gaustad | 1982– | National Hockey League player | No |
| Geretta Geretta | 1958– | Actress | Yes |
| Florence Holmes Gerke | 1896–1964 | Landscape architect | Yes |
| Robert L. Ghormley | 1883–1958 | Naval officer | Yes |
| Paul Gilbert | 1966– | Musician | No |
| Cole Gillespie | 1984– | Baseball player | Yes |
| Gary Gilmore | 1940–1977 | First person executed in U.S. after reinstatement of capital punishment | No |
| Madeline Gleason | 1903–1979 | Poet, dramatist | No |
| Russell Gleason | 1908–1945 | Actor | Yes |
| Rodney Glisan | 1827–1890 | U.S. Army surgeon | No |
| Molly Gloss | 1944– | Author | Yes |
| Karl Glusman | 1988– | Actor | No |
| Jacob Golden | 1970s– | Musician | No |
| Hilda Goldblatt Gorenstein | 1905–1988 | Artist | No |
| Brandon Gonzáles | 1984– | Professional boxer | Yes |
| Louis S. Goodman | 1906–2000 | Pharmacologist, pioneer of chemotherapy | Yes |
| Aaron Goodwin | 1976– | Photographer, cameraman of Ghost Adventures | Yes |
| Avel Gordly | 1947– | First African-American woman elected to Oregon State Senate | Yes |
| Joe Gordon | 1915–1978 | Baseball player | No |
| Kara Goucher | 1978– | Olympic long-distance runner | No |
| Jessie Coles Grayson | 1886–1953 | Actress | No |
| Gary Graver | 1938–2006 | Cinematographer | Yes |
| A.C. Green | 1963– | Retired NBA Champion | Yes |
| Edith Green | 1910–1987 | Politician | No |
| Harrison Greene | 1884–1945 | Actor | Yes |
| Jim Grelle | 1936–2020 | Olympic middle-distance runner | Yes |
| Gloria Grey | 1909–1947 | Actress | Yes |
| Matt Groening | 1954– | Animator, creator of The Simpsons and Futurama | Yes |
| Woody Guthrie | 1912–1955 | Folk singer-songwriter | No |

## H

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Kevin Hagen | 1928–2005 | Actor | No |
| Ancer L. Haggerty | 1944– | U.S. federal judge | Yes |
| Swede Halbrook | 1933–1988 | NBA player | Yes |
| Sally Haley | 1908–2007 | Painter | No |
| Creed C. Hammond | 1874–1940 | Major General and Chief of the National Guard Bureau | No |
| Max Handelman | 1973– | Sportswriter, film producer | Yes |
| Kathleen Hanna | 1968– | Singer-songwriter (Bikini Kill, Le Tigre) | Yes |
| Julia Butler Hansen | 1907–1988 | Politician | Yes |
| Tonya Harding | 1970– | U.S. national champion and Olympic figure skater | Yes |
| Katie Harman | 1980– | Miss America 2002 | Yes |
| Joey Harrington | 1978– | NFL quarterback | Yes |
| Nate Harris | 1983– | NFL linebacker | No |
| Bret Harrison | 1982– | Actor | Yes |
| Lou Harrison | 1917–2003 | Composer | Yes |
| Michael Allen Harrison | | Musician | Yes |
| Larry Harvey | 1948–2018 | Artist, founder of Burning Man | No |
| Lew Harvey | 1887–1953 | Actor | No |
| Byron Haskin | 1899–1984 | Filmmaker | Yes |
| F. W. Hastings | 1848–1935 | Politician | Yes |
| Steve Havelka | | Creator of Pokey the Penguin | Yes |
| James C. Hawthorne | 1819–1881 | Physician, co-founder of Oregon Hospital for the Insane | No |
| Ernest Haycox | 1899–1950 | Writer | Yes |
| Carey Hayes | 1961– | Screenwriter | Yes |
| Chad Hayes | 1961– | Screenwriter | Yes |
| Todd Haynes | 1961– | Filmmaker | No |
| Dana Heitman | 1966– | Musician | Yes |
| Susan Helms | 1958– | Astronaut | No |
| Margaux Hemingway | 1954–1996 | Model, actress; granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway | Yes |
| Christina Hendricks | 1975– | Actress | No |
| Frank Herbert | 1920–1986 | Writer, journalist | No |
| Joe Hill | 1879–1915 | Labor activist | No |
| Jan Hoag | 1948– | Actress | Yes |
| Judi Hofer | 1940–2013 | Businessperson | Yes |
| Portland Hoffa | 1905–1990 | Radio host, actress | Yes |
| Stewart Holbrook | 1893–1964 | Author, artist | No |
| Ben Holladay | 1819–1897 | Transportation mogul | No |
| Matt Hollywood | 1973– | Musician | No |
| Frederick Holman | 1852–1927 | Lawyer | No |
| Peter Holmström | | Musician | Yes |
| Kyron Horman | 2002– | Missing person | Yes |
| Michael Hornburg | 1960– | Author | No |
| Mike Horner | 1955– | Pornographic film actor | Yes |
| Hal E. Hoss | 1892–1934 | Journalist | Yes |
| Bill Hudson | 1949– | Musician, father of Oliver and Kate Hudson | Yes |
| Brett Hudson | 1953– | Musician, television producer | Yes |
| Mark Hudson | 1951– | Musician, record producer | Yes |
| Charlie Huhn | 1951– | Musician | Yes |
| Cooper Hummel | 1994– | Major League Baseball player | Yes |
| William Hurt | 1950–2022 | Actor | No |

## I

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Illmaculate | 1986– | Hip hop musician | Yes |
| ILoveMakonnen | 1989– | Hip hop musician | No |
| Dan Ireland | 1949–2016 | Filmmaker | Yes |
| Mary Frances Isom | 1865–1920 | Librarian, founder of Oregon Library Association | No |
| Kirk Vernström Iverson | born ? | Inventor, writer, producer, media executive, investor and financier | Yes |

## J

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Peter Jacobsen | 1954– | Pro-golfer | Yes |
| Clayton Jacobson II | 1933–2022 | Creator of jet ski | Yes |
| Evan Jager | 1989– | Distance runner | No |
| Jeff Jahn | 1970– | Art critic, historian, and curator | No |
| Cathy Jamison | 1950– | Olympic swimmer | Yes |
| Gary Jarman | 1980– | Musician | No |
| Maxine Jennings | 1909–1991 | Actress | Yes |
| Ethel Jewett | 1877–1944 | Actress | Yes |
| Steve Jobs | 1955–2011 | Creator, founder of Apple | No |
| Chris Johanson | 1968– | Painter | No |
| Syl Johnson | 1900–1985 | Major League Baseball player | Yes |
| Fred Jones | 1979– | NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Champion | Yes |
| Scott Jones | 1966– | NFL offensive guard | Yes |
| Terrence Jones | 1992– | NBA player | Yes |
| Miranda July | 1974– | Filmmaker, performance artist | No |

## K

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Louis Kaufman | 1905–1944 | Violinist | Yes |
| Daniel Kaven | 1977– | Architect, artist | No |
| Gabe Kennedy | 1990– | Chef, entrepreneur | Yes |
| Lisa Kennedy | 1972– | Political commentator | No |
| Robert E. Kennedy | 1914–2010 | Professor, president of California Polytechnic State University | Yes |
| Shell Kepler | 1958–2008 | Actress | No |
| Cecil Kern | 1883–1928 | Actress | Yes |
| Maude Kerns | 1876–1965 | Avant-garde artist | Yes |
| Albertina Kerr | 1890–1911 | Heiress to Kerr Glass Company | Yes |
| Donald M. Kerr | 1946–2015 | Wildlife biologist, conservationist | Yes |
| William Jasper Kerr | 1863–1947 | Academic, first chancellor of Oregon University System | No |
| Nitin Khanna | 1975– | Founder and CEO of MergerTech | No |
| Brian Kidd | 1983– | Unicyclist known as the Unipiper | No |
| James Kilgore | 1947– | Activist, author | Yes |
| Wright King | 1923–2018 | Actor | No |
| Zach King | 1990– | YouTube personality | Yes |
| Phil Knight | 1938– | Co-founder of Nike, Inc. | Yes |
| William W. Knight | 1909–1981 | Publisher | No |
| Terence Knox | 1946– | Actor | Yes |
| Franklin F. Korell | 1889–1965 | Politician | Yes |
| A. Thomas Kraabel | 1934–2016 | Classics and Jewish history scholar | Yes |
| LaVerne Krause | 1924–1987 | Printmaker | Yes |
| Jane Kurtz | 1952– | Author | Yes |
| Taya Kyle | 1974– | Author, activist; wife of Chris Kyle | Yes |

## L

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Barbara La Marr | 1896–1926 | Actress | No |
| William S. Ladd | 1826–1893 | Businessman, industrialist | No |
| Mary Catherine Lamb | 1949–2009 | Textile artist | No |
| Ray Lampkin | 1948– | Retired professional boxer | Yes |
| Ben Hur Lampman | 1896–1954 | Editor, Oregon poet laureate | Yes |
| Cowboy Lang | 1950–2007 | Midget professional wrestler | No |
| k.d. lang | 1961– | Singer-songwriter | No |
| Harry Lane | 1855–1917 | Politician, physician | No |
| Storm Large | 1969– | Musician | No |
| Earle Larrimore | 1899–1947 | Actor | Yes |
| Lars Larson | 1959– | Conservative talk radio host | No |
| Matt Lattanzi | 1959– | Actor; ex-husband of Olivia Newton-John | Yes |
| Thomas Lauderdale | 1970– | Musician (Pink Martini) | No |
| Preacher Lawson | 1991– | Comedian | Yes |
| Edgar M. Lazarus | 1868–1939 | Architect | No |
| Ursula K. Le Guin | 1929–2018 | Author | No |
| Agnes Brand Leahy | 1893–1943 | Screenwriter | Yes |
| Clara Elizabeth Chan Lee | 1886–1993 | First Chinese American woman registered to vote | Yes |
| Hazel Ying Lee | 1912–1944 | First Chinese-American female military pilot | Yes |
| Marc Alan Lee | 1978–2006 | United States Navy SEAL | Yes |
| Barbara Lekberg | 1925–2018 | Artist, sculptor | Yes |
| Ion Lewis | 1853–1923 | Architect | No |
| Jack Lewis | 1964– | Author | Yes |
| Norman Leyden | 1917–2014 | Conductor, clarinetist | No |
| Carl L. Linde | 1864–1945 | German American architect | No |
| Ben Linder | 1959–1987 | Engineer | No |
| Brian Lindstrom | 1961– | Documentarian | Yes |
| Albert Littlefield | | First professional abortion provider in Portland | No |
| Fred Lockley | 1871–1958 | Journalist | No |
| Jeanette Loff | 1906–1942 | Actress | No |
| Mickey Lolich | 1940– | Major League Baseball pitcher | Yes |
| Neil Lomax | 1959– | Football player | Yes |
| Ashly Lorenzana | 1987- | Sex worker, author and freelance writer | Yes |
| A. M. Loryea | 1839–1893 | Physician, co-founder of Oregon Hospital for the Insane | No |
| Courtney Love | 1964– | Actress, musician (Hole) | No |
| George A. Lovejoy | 1931–2015 | New Hampshire State Senator, businessman | Yes |
| Richard A. Lovett | 1953– | Author | No |
| Horace Sumner Lyman | 1855–1904 | Journalist, historian | No |
| Logan Lynn | 1979– | Musician, writer, activist | No |

## M

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Harry Mack | 1990– | Rapper | |
| Les McClaine | 1977– | Comic artist | No |
| S. J. McCormick | 1828–1891 | Publisher | No |
| Rose McGowan | 1973– | Actress, director | No |
| Douglas McKay | 1893–1959 | Politician | Yes |
| Wanda McKay | 1915–1996 | Actress | Yes |
| Dallas McKennon | 1919–2009 | Voice actor | No |
| Brian McMenamin | 1957– | Brewpub owner, businessman | Yes |
| Mike McMenamin | | Brewpub owner, businessman | Yes |
| Ballard MacDonald | 1882–1935 | Songwriter and lyricist | Yes |
| Shannon MacMillan | 1974– | U.S. soccer player | No |
| Vivek Maddala | 1973– | Composer, musician, producer | No |
| L. K. Madigan | 1963–2010 | Writer of young adult fiction. | Yes |
| Holly Madison | 1979– | Playboy Playmate, actress | No |
| Sharon Maeda | 1945– | Activist | No |
| Cleo Maletis | 1925–2009 | Mrs. America 1957 | No |
| Neda Maghbouleh | | Professor, sociologist, writer | No |
| Stephen Malkmus | 1966– | Musician (Pavement) | No |
| Paul Malvern | 1902–1993 | Stuntman, producer | Yes |
| Robert Mann | 1920–2018 | Violinist, founder of Juilliard String Quartet | Yes |
| Thomas Mann | 1991– | Actor | Yes |
| Steve March | 1946- | Politician and businessman | {{no)) |
| Phillip Margolin | 1944– | Writer, lawyer | Yes |
| Richard Marquette | 1934– | Serial killer | Yes |
| Chan Marshall | 1972– | Musician (Cat Power) | No |
| Leanne Marshall | 1980– | Winner of Project Runway, season 5 | No |
| Vivian Marshall | 1888–1969 | Actress, stuntwoman | No |
| Emily Winfield Martin | | Artist, children's author | Yes |
| Robert Marx | 1956– | Fencer | Yes |
| Blair Mastbaum | 1975– | Author | No |
| Ana Matronic | 1974– | Singer | Yes |
| Carlton Mellick III | 1977– | Author | No |
| Colin Meloy | 1974– | Musician (The Decemberists) | No |
| James Mercer | 1970– | Musician (The Shins) | No |
| Judi Meredith | 1936–2014 | Actress, figure skater | Yes |
| Nancy Merki | 1926–2014 | Olympic swimmer | Yes |
| Natalie Mering | 1988– | Musician (Weyes Blood) | No |
| Jeff Merkley | 1956– | U.S. senator | No |
| Mayo Methot | 1904–1951 | Actress | No |
| Noah Mickens | | Ringmaster of Wanderlust Circus | Yes |
| Tiffeny Milbrett | 1972– | Soccer player, Olympic and World Cup champion | Yes |
| Colleen Miller | 1932– | Actress | No |
| Donald Miller | 1971– | Author | No |
| Karen Minnis | 1954– | Politician | Yes |
| Bob Mionske | 1962– | Attorney, Olympic bicycle racer | No |
| Mirah | 1974– | Musician | No |
| Rhea Mitchell | 1890–1957 | Actress | Yes |
| Erika Moen | 1983– | Comic artist | No |
| Anne Shannon Monroe | 1873–1942 | Writer | No |
| Jinkx Monsoon | 1987– | Drag queen, singer, actor | Yes |
| Lisa Montgomery | 1972– | MTV VJ | No |
| Al Moore | 1908–1991 | Football player | Yes |
| Glen Moore | 1941– | Jazz bassists | Yes |
| Jason Moore | | Wikipedia editor and organizer | No |
| Joel David Moore | 1977– | Actor, director | Yes |
| Hilda Grossman Morris | 1911–1991 | Artist | No |
| Sienna Morris | 1983– | Artist | No |
| Lee Morse | 1897–1954 | Singer-songwriter, actress | No |
| Cris Moss | | Artist, curator | No |
| George Mullin | 1892–1963 | World War I veteran, Victoria Cross winner | Yes |
| Ona Munson | 1903–1955 | Actress | Yes |
| Francis J. Murnane | 1914–1968 | Longshore worker, preservationist | No |
| Dale Murphy | 1956– | Major League Baseball player | Yes |
| Brent Musburger | 1939– | ESPN and ABC newscaster | Yes |
| Isaiah Mustafa | 1974– | Actor, athlete | Yes |

## N

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Legedu Naanee | 1983– | NFL player | Yes |
| Rose Naftalin | 1898–1998 | Restaurateur | No |
| Bill Naito | 1925–1996 | Businessman | Yes |
| Dika Newlin | 1923–2006 | Composer, musician | Yes |
| Rob Neyer | 1966– | Sportswriter, author | No |
| Scout Niblett | 1973– | Musician | No |
| Stella Nickell | 1943– | Convicted criminal | No |
| Jen and Kyndi Niquette | 1988– | Singers (Jen and Kat), lifestyle models | No |

## O

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Colin O'Brady | 1985– | Endurance athlete | No |
| Dan O'Brien | 1966– | Olympic gold medalist | Yes |
| Bill O'Reilly | 1949– | Political commentator, former news anchor | No |
| Broderick O'Farrell | 1882–1955 | Actor | Yes |
| Kevin O'Rourke | 1956– | Actor | Yes |
| Bill Oakley | 1966– | Writer | No |
| Jack Ohman | 1960– | Editorial cartoonist of The Oregonian | No |
| Steve Olin | 1965–1993 | Major League Baseball pitcher | Yes |
| George Olsen | 1893–1971 | Bandleader | Yes |
| Kaitlin Olson | 1975– | Actress, comedian | Yes |
| William Olvis | 1958–2014 | Composer | Yes |
| Mark Orton | | Film score composer | No |
| William Overton | | Co-founder of Portland | Yes |

## P

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Keith Packard | 1963– | Software developer | No |
| Bettie Page | 1923–2008 | Pin-up model | No |
| Chuck Palahniuk | 1962– | Author | No |
| Robert B. Pamplin | 1911–2009 | Businessman | No |
| Jiggs Parrott | 1871–1891 | Major League Baseball infielder | Yes |
| Tom Parrott | 1868–1932 | Major League Baseball pitcher | Yes |
| Dennis Patera | 1945– | NFL player | Yes |
| Ken Patera | 1942– | Olympic weightlifter | Yes |
| Virginia Patton | 1925–2022 | Actress, businesswoman | No |
| Linus Pauling | 1901–1994 | Double Nobel Prize-winning chemist | Yes |
| George Anson Pease | 1830–1919 | Steamboat captain | No |
| Lute Pease | 1869–1963 | Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist | No |
| Jack Pennick | 1895–1964 | Actor | Yes |
| Edward J. Perkins | 1928–2020 | Diplomat | No |
| Johnny Pesky | 1919–2012 | Major League Baseball player (Boston Red Sox) | Yes |
| Susan Peters | 1921–1952 | Actress | No |
| Buddy Peterson | 1925–2007 | Baseball player | Yes |
| Tom Peterson | 1930–2016 | Television personality | No |
| Samuel B. Pettengill | 1886–1974 | Politician | Yes |
| James Phelan | 1892–1974 | Football player, coach | No |
| Henry F. Phillips | 1890–1958 | Inventor of the Phillips-head screw | Yes |
| Hollie Pihl | 1928–2018 | Judge | Yes |
| Mitch Pileggi | 1952– | Actor | Yes |
| Roddy Piper | 1954–2015 | Wrestler | No |
| Joe Plummer | | Rock drummer, percussionist | No |
| Orlando Plummer | 1836–1913 | Physician, politician | No |
| Bill Plympton | 1946– | Animator, illustrator | Yes |
| Justine W. Polier | 1903–1987 | First female judge in New York | Yes |
| Daniel A. Poling | 1884–1968 | Clergyman | Yes |
| Erika Polmar | | Entrepreneur and activist | |
| Paul Popham | 1941–1987 | War veteran, gay rights activist | No |
| Tom Potter | 1940– | Former police chief and mayor of Portland | No |
| Gap Powell | 1898–1989 | Professional football player | Yes |
| Jane Powell | 1929–2021 | Actress, singer | Yes |
| Maudie Prickett | 1914–1976 | Actress | Yes |

## R

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Ruth Radelet | 1982– | Musician (Chromatics) | Yes |
| Ahmad Rashad | 1949– | NFL player | Yes |
| Justin Rattner | | Intel executive | No |
| Johnnie Ray | 1927–1990 | Singer | No |
| Max Records | 1997– | Actor | Yes |
| John Reed | 1887–1920 | Journalist | Yes |
| Holiday Reinhorn | 1964– | Writer | Yes |
| Mel Renfro | 1941– | NFL defensive back | No |
| Rozz Rezabek | 1960– | Punk singer (Negative Trend, Theatre of Sheep) | Yes |
| Kim Rhodes | 1969– | Actress | Yes |
| Frank Rice | 1892–1936 | Actor | No |
| Jeff Richards | 1924–1989 | Actor, baseball player | Yes |
| Burton Richardson | 1949– | Television announcer | Yes |
| Mike Richardson | 1950– | Publisher, founder of Dark Horse Comics | Yes |
| Lolita Ritmanis | 1962– | Film composer | Yes |
| Terry Robb | 1956– | Guitarist | No |
| Clete Roberts | 1912–1984 | Newscaster, actor | Yes |
| Robert Robideau | 1946–2009 | Native American rights activist | Yes |
| John Robison | 1985– | Actor | Yes |
| Cleveland S. Rockwell | 1837–1907 | Cartographer, artist | No |
| Josef Rösch | 1925–2016 | Physician, radiologist | No |
| Raina Rose | 1982– | Folk singer | No |
| Keri Rosebraugh | | Artist | Yes |
| Louis Conrad Rosenberg | 1890–1983 | Printmaker | Yes |
| Alex Ross | 1970– | Comic artist | Yes |
| Marv Ross | 1951– | Musician (Quarterflash) | Yes |
| Rindy Ross | 1951– | Singer, musician (Quarterflash) | Yes |
| Mark Rothko | 1903–1970 | Artist | No |
| Aaron Rowand | 1970– | NFL player | Yes |
| Greg Rucka | 1969– | Novelist, comic writer | No |
| Galen Rupp | 1986– | Olympic distance runner | Yes |
| Pat Russell | 1923–2021 | Los Angeles City Council member | Yes |
| Rick Rydell | 1963– | Writer, talk show host | No |
| Nancy Ryles | 1937–1990 | Politician | Yes |

## S

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Domantas Sabonis | 1996- | Professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings | Yes |
| Joe Sacco | 1960– | Graphic novel journalist | No |
| Katee Sackhoff | 1980– | Actress | Yes |
| Greg Sage | 1952– | Musician, singer (Wipers) | No |
| Alberto Salazar | 1958– | Olympic track athlete, coach until he was banned for life | No |
| Curtis Salgado | 1954– | Singer | No |
| Mary F. Sammons | 1954– | Businesswoman, former CEO of Rite Aid and Fred Meyer | Yes |
| Rick Sanders | 1945–1972 | Greco-Roman wrestler, Olympic silver medalist | Yes |
| Alexandra Savior | 1995– | Singer-songwriter | Yes |
| Rebecca Schaeffer | 1967–1989 | Actress | No |
| Anne Schedeen | 1949– | Actress | Yes |
| Monte Scheinblum | 1967– | Long-driving golf champion | Yes |
| Dan Schmid | 1962– | Musician | Yes |
| Gerald Schwartz | 1941– | Mathematician | Yes |
| Randal L. Schwartz | 1961– | Author, convicted computer criminal | Yes |
| Gordon Scott | 1926–2007 | Actor | Yes |
| Harvey W. Scott | 1838–1910 | Publisher | No |
| Leslie M. Scott | 1878–1968 | Politician, historian | Yes |
| Ynez Seabury | 1907–1973 | Actress | Yes |
| Daniel Seavey | 1999– | Musician, contestant of American Idol | Yes |
| Gwenn Seemel | 1981– | Artist | No |
| Della Sehorn | 1927–2001 | Olympic swimmer | Yes |
| Richie Sexson | 1974– | Major League Baseball player | Yes |
| Susan Shadburne | 1942–2018 | Filmmaker | Yes |
| Ari Shapiro | 1978– | Journalist | No |
| David Shipley | 1963– | Journalist, editor of Bloomberg View, formerly The New York Times | Yes |
| Floyd Simmons | 1925–1996 | Football player | Yes |
| Danny Simon | 1918–2005 | Television writer | No |
| Norton Simon | 1907–1993 | Billionaire industrialist | Yes |
| Christine Sinclair | 1983- | Canadian soccer player | No |
| Jacques Singer | 1910–1980 | Violinist, conductor of the Oregon Symphony (1962–1972) | No |
| Lori Singer | 1957– | Actress, cellist | No |
| Ernst Skarstedt | 1857–1929 | Author | No |
| Joseph A. Sladen | 1841–1911 | Union Army recipient of the Medal of Honor | No |
| Elliott Smith | 1969–2003 | Musician | No |
| Harry Everett Smith | 1923–1991 | Archivist, ethnomusicologist | Yes |
| Lawrence Leighton Smith | 1936–2013 | Conductor | Yes |
| Marie Smith | 1898–1991 | Activist | No |
| Esperanza Spalding | 1984– | Musician | Yes |
| Tom Spanbauer | 1946– | Author | No |
| Erik Spoelstra | 1970– | NBA coach | No |
| Mary Jane Spurlin | 1883–1970 | First female judge in Oregon | No |
| Matthew Stadler | 1959– | Author | No |
| William Stafford | 1914–1993 | Poet | No |
| Katy Steding | 1967– | Basketball player, head coach at Boston University | Yes |
| Bob Steele | 1907–1988 | Actor | Yes |
| Dave Stevens | 1955–2008 | Illustrator, comic artist | No |
| Melvin Storer | 1921–2003 | United States Navy shipfitter | Yes |
| Tempest Storm | 1928–2021 | Burlesque dancer | No |
| Damon Stoudamire | 1973– | NBA player, coach | Yes |
| Salim Stoudamire | 1982– | NBA player | Yes |
| Steven Strauss | | Author and lawyer | No |
| Cheryl Strayed | 1968– | Author, essayist | No |
| Brenda Strong | 1960– | Actress | Yes |
| Arthur Dewey Struble | 1894–1983 | United States Admiral | Yes |
| Sally Struthers | 1947– | Actress | Yes |
| Ndamukong Suh | 1987– | NFL player | Yes |
| Jon Micah Sumrall | 1980– | Singer, musician (Kutless) | No |

## T

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Deb Talan | 1968– | Singer-songwriter (The Weepies) | No |
| Simon Tam | 1981– | Musician (The Slants) | No |
| Jason Tanamor | 1975– | Author | No |
| Ruth Taylor | 1905–1984 | Actress | No |
| Thelma Taylor | 1933–1949 | Murder victim | Yes |
| Courtney Taylor-Taylor | 1967– | Musician | Yes |
| James Terwilliger | 1809–1892 | Pioneer, namesake of Terwilliger Boulevard | No |
| Maria Thayer | 1975– | Actress | Yes |
| Tommy Thayer | 1960– | Musician (Kiss) | Yes |
| Twinka Thiebaud | 1945– | Model | No |
| Craig Thompson | 1975– | Graphic novelist | No |
| Chiye Tomihiro | 1924–2012 | Japanese-American activist | Yes |
| Barbara Thorne Stevenson | 1909–1985 | Soprano | Yes |
| Kirk Thornton | 1956– | Voice actor | Yes |
| Tori | 1964– | Bodybuilder | Yes |
| Linus Torvalds | 1969– | Organizer of Linux operating system kernel | No |
| Michael Totten | 1970- | Foreign correspondent, writer | No |
| Vecepia Towery | 1965– | Winner of Survivor: Marquesas | Yes |
| Pennie Lane Trumbull | 1954– | Socialite | Yes |
| Corin Tucker | 1972– | Musician (Sleater-Kinney) | No |
| Richmond K. Turner | 1885–1961 | U.S. Navy Admiral | Yes |
| Wayne Twitchell | 1948–2010 | Major League Baseball player | Yes |

## U

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Ime Udoka | 1977– | NBA player, coach | Yes |
| Mfon Udoka | 1976– | WNBA player | Yes |
| Sara Jean Underwood | 1984– | Playboy Playmate, model | Yes |
| Andrea U'Ren | 1968– | Children's author, illustrator | No |

## V

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Gus Van Sant | 1952– | Filmmaker | No |
| Gino Vannelli | 1952- | Singer-songwriter | No |
| Laura Veirs | 1973– | Singer-songwriter | No |
| Will Vinton | 1947–2018 | Claymation animator | No |
| Nicole Vogel | | Publisher, author | No |
| Tim Vollmer | 1946– | Olympic discus thrower | Yes |
| Howard Vollum | 1913–1986 | Engineer, founder of Tektronix | Yes |
| Robert Vosper | 1913–1994 | Librarian (UCLA, University of Kansas) | Yes |

## W

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Lindsay Wagner | 1949– | Actress | No |
| Chris Walla | 1975– | Musician (Death Cab for Cutie) | No |
| Fred Walton | 1949– | Film director | No |
| Abby Wambach | 1980– | Soccer player | No |
| M. Ward | 1973– | Musician | No |
| Dominic Waters | 1986– | Basketball player in the Israel Basketball Premier League | Yes |
| Michaela Watkins | 1971– | Comedian, actress | No |
| Marie Watt | 1967– | Sculptor | No |
| Danny Way | 1974– | Professional skateboarder | Yes |
| Henry Weinhard | 1830–1904 | Brewer | No |
| Janet Weiss | 1965– | Drummer (Sleater-Kinney) | No |
| Claxton Welch | 1947– | NFL player | Yes |
| E. Henry Wemme | 1861–1914 | Businessman | No |
| Paul Wexler | 1929–1979 | Actor | Yes |
| Philip Whalen | 1923–2012 | Poet | Yes |
| Nancy Whang | 1977– | Musician (LCD Soundsystem) | Yes |
| Ted Wheeler | 1962– | Mayor of Portland | Yes |
| Minor White | 1908–1976 | Photographer | No |
| Morris H. Whitehouse | 1878–1944 | Architect | Yes |
| Andrew Wiederhorn | 1966– | Entrepreneur | Yes |
| Brad Wilk | 1968– | Drummer (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave) | Yes |
| Nancy Wilson | 1954– | Musician (Heart) | No |
| David Wolman | | Author, journalist | No |
| Carolyn Wood | 1945– | Olympic swimmer | Yes |
| Charles Erskine Scott Wood | 1852–1944 | Author, civil liberties advocate | No |
| Randall Woodfield | 1950– | Serial killer known as the I-5 Killer | No |
| Martin Wong | 1949–1999 | Painter | Yes |
| Renn Woods | 1958– | Actress | No |
| Thomas H. Wright | 1873–1928 | Electrician, teacher | No |
| Anthony Wynn | 1962– | Playwright | No |

## Y

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| John Yeon | 1910–1994 | Architect | Yes |
| Harold Young | 1897–1970 | Film and theater director | Yes |
| Lidia Yuknavitch | 1963– | Writer | No |
| Yeat | 2000– | Rapper | No |

## Z

| Person | Lifespan | Notability | Born |
| Mariel Zagunis | 1985– | Two-time Olympic gold medalist in fencing | Yes |
| Richard Zander | 1964– | Figure skater | Yes |
| Alexandra Zapp | 1971–2002 | Murder victim | Yes |
| Suzanne Zimmerman | 1925–2021 | Olympic silver medalist swimmer | Yes |
| Peter Zuckerman | 1979– | Journalist | No |
| Mark Zusman | 1954– | Publisher | No |