A person who lives in or comes from

Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is a seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the seat of King County, Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in both the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region ...

, is called a ''Seattleite''. This is a list of well known people who were born, lived, or grew up in the city of Seattle.

Born in Seattle

Living

Athletics

Josh Barnett Joshua Lawrence Barnett (born November 10, 1977) is an American mixed martial artist, submission grappler, professional wrestler and color commentator currently signed to Bellator MMA, where he competes in their Heavyweight division. Barnett p ...

–

MMA Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on strike (attack), striking, grappling and ground f ...

fighter, former

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. It is the largest MMA ...

heavyweight champion *

Peter Baum Peter Baum (born December 14, 1990) is an American professional lacrosse player. He also played for Colgate University in Division I college lacrosse. He is a member of Redwoods Lacrosse Club of the Premier Lacrosse League. Early life Born i ...

– lacrosse player * Fred Couples – professional golfer *

Jamal Crawford Aaron Jamal Crawford (born March 20, 1980) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 2000 to 2020. He is regarded as one of the best ball handlers in NBA history,. He was nam ...

– professional basketball player *

Gail Devers Yolanda Gail Devers ( ; born November 19, 1966) is an American retired track and field sprinter who competed in the 60 metres, 60 m hurdles, 100 m and 100 m hurdles. One of the greatest and most decorated female sprinters of all time, she was t ...

–

track and field Track and field is a sport that includes athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name is derived from where the sport takes place, a running track and a grass field for the throwing and some of the jumping eve ...

athlete, Olympic track-and-field gold medalist * Joan Dunlap-Seivold – former soccer player * Tom Gorman – tennis player *

Marcus Hahnemann Marcus Stephen Hahnemann (born June 15, 1972) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper. Graduating out of Seattle Pacific University, he played for the Seattle Sounders between 1994 and 1996. Between 1997 and ...

– professional soccer

goalkeeper In many team sports which involve scoring goals, the goalkeeper (sometimes termed goaltender, netminder, GK, goalie or keeper) is a designated player charged with directly preventing the opposing team from scoring by blocking or intercepting o ...

* B. J. Johnson – swimmer *

Kimber Lee Kimberly Ann Frankele (born June 27, 1990), better known by her ring name Kimber Lee, is an American professional wrestler who is currently a free agent. She is known for her work on both the American and international independent circuits, most ...

– professional wrestler *

Dejounte Murray Dejounte Dashaun Murray ( ; born September 19, 1996) is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one season of college basketball for the Washington Huskies, where he ...

– professional basketball player for the

Atlanta Hawks The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The team plays its home games at ...

* Apolo Ohno – world champion and Olympic gold-medalist short track speed skater * John Olerud – professional baseball player who played at

Washington State University Washington State University (Washington State, WSU, or informally Wazzu) is a public land-grant research university with its flagship, and oldest, campus in Pullman, Washington. Founded in 1890, WSU is also one of the oldest land-grant uni ...

* Paul Renkert – retired professional soccer player *

Nate Robinson Nathaniel Cornelius Robinson (born May 31, 1984) is an American former professional basketball player. Born in Seattle, Robinson played college basketball for the University of Washington in Seattle and was the 21st pick in the 2005 NBA draft. ...

– NBA player, known for winning three All-Star Dunk contests * Tim Sedlacek – retired soccer forward who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, and

American Indoor Soccer Association American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

Chester Simmons Chester Simmons III (born July 24, 1982), better known as Tre Simmons, is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Odessa, Green River CC and Washington before playing professionally in Greece, Spain, I ...

– professional basketball player * Maurice Smith – mixed martial artist *

Jason Terry Jason Eugene Terry (born September 15, 1977) is an American former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played 19 seasons in the NBA as a combo guard and is ...

– professional basketball player *

Greg Valentine Jonathan Anthony Wisniski (born September 20, 1951) is a retired American professional wrestler, better known as Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. He is the son of wrestler Johnny Valentine. Over five decades, Valentine held more than 40 championship ...

– professional wrestler; inducted into the

WWE Hall of Fame The WWE Hall of Fame is a hall of fame which honors professional wrestlers and professional wrestling personalities maintained by WWE. Originally known as the "WWF Hall of Fame", it was created in 1993 when André the Giant was posthumously i ...

(2004) *

DeAndre Yedlin DeAndre Roselle Yedlin (born July 9, 1993) is an American professional soccer player who plays for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami and the United States national team. Primarily a right-back, he has also featured as a right wing-back and ...

(born 1993) – professional soccer player for

Newcastle United F.C. Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Newcastle upon Tyne, that plays in the Premier League – the top flight of English football. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End ...

and the

United States men's national soccer team The United States men's national soccer team (USMNT) represents the United States in men's international soccer competitions. The team is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and is a member of FIFA and CONCACAF. The U.S. team h ...

Katelyn Ohashi Katelyn Michelle Ohashi (born April 12, 1997) is an American former artistic gymnast who competed for the University of California, Los Angeles. She is a six-time All-American and was a four-time member of USA Gymnastics' Junior National Team, ...

– professional gymnast for

UCLA The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California ...

, multi time awardee for the US * Jaden McDaniels – NBA player

Business

Bill Gates William Henry Gates III (born October 28, 1955) is an American business magnate and philanthropist. He is a co-founder of Microsoft, along with his late childhood friend Paul Allen. During his career at Microsoft, Gates held the positions ...

– co-founder of

Microsoft Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washin ...

Literature

* Matt Briggs – writer *

Raegan Butcher CrimethInc., also known as CWC, which stands for either "CrimethInc. Ex-Workers Collective" or "CrimethInc Ex-Workers Ex-Collective", is a Decentralization, decentralized anarchist collective of autonomous Clandestine cell system, cells. * * * Cr ...

– poet * Mary Matsuda Gruenewald – memoirist * David Guterson – author *

Brian Herbert Brian Patrick Herbert (born June 29, 1947) is an American author who lives in Washington state. He is the elder son of science fiction author Frank Herbert (who died in 1986). Brian Herbert's novels include ''Sidney's Comet'', ''Prisoners of Ar ...

– author * Tan Lin – writer *

Leslie Rule Leslie Rule (born February 25, 1958) is an American novelist, paranormal non-fiction author, magazine writer, photographer, and the daughter of true crime author Ann Rule. Early life and education Rule grew up in King County, Washington, the ...

– author, novelist, paranormal writer

Movies, television, and media

Ken Jennings Kenneth Wayne Jennings III (born May 23, 1974) is an American game show host, author, and former game show contestant. He is the highest-earning American game show contestant, having won money on five different game shows, including $4,522,70 ...

–

Jeopardy! ''Jeopardy!'' is an American game show created by Merv Griffin. The show is a quiz competition that reverses the traditional question-and-answer format of many quiz shows. Rather than being given questions, contestants are instead given gene ...

contestant and guest host, author, podcaster *

Jon Jon Augustavo Jonathan Augustavo, better known as Jon Jon or Jon Jon Augustavo, is an American filmmaker, commercial director, and music video director who has written and directed works for artists including Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Mike Posner, Allen Stone, ...

– director *

John Aylward John Aylward (November 7, 1946 – May 16, 2022) was an American actor. He was best known for playing the former DNC chairman Barry Goodwin on the NBC television series ''The West Wing'' and for playing Dr. Donald Anspaugh on the NBC televisio ...

– actor ('' ER'', ''

Mad Men ''Mad Men'' is an American period drama television series created by Matthew Weiner and produced by Lionsgate Television. It ran on the cable network AMC from July 19, 2007, to May 17, 2015, lasting for seven seasons and 92 episodes. Its f ...

'', ''

House of Lies ''House of Lies'' is an American comedy-drama television series created by Matthew Carnahan. The show, which premiered on Showtime on January 8, 2012, is based on the book ''House of Lies: How Management Consultants Steal Your Watch and Then Tel ...

'', '' Gangster Squad'') * David Michael Barrett – screenwriter and film producer *

Craig Bartlett Craig Michael Bartlett (born October 18, 1956) is an American animator, best known for writing, directing, creating and producing the Nickelodeon television series ''Hey Arnold!'' and the PBS Kids television series ''Dinosaur Train'' and '' Read ...

– ''

Hey Arnold! ''Hey Arnold!'' is an American animated comedy television series created by Craig Bartlett. It originally aired on Nickelodeon from October 7, 1996, to June 8, 2004. The show centers on fourth grader Arnold Shortman, who lives with his grandpar ...

'' creator * Bob Bingham – '' Jesus Christ Superstar'' actor *

Josie Bissett Jolyn Christine Heutmaker (born October 5, 1970), known professionally as Josie Bissett, is an American actress. She is known for her role as Jane Mancini on the television series '' Melrose Place'' (1992–1999), and for her television film app ...

– actress ('' Melrose Place''); ex-wife of

Rob Estes Robert Estes (born July 22, 1963) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Harry Wilson on the teen drama series '' 90210'', as Sgt. Chris Lorenzo on the crime drama series '' Silk Stalkings'', and as Kyle McBride on the primetime soap ...

Tori Black Michelle Chapman (born 1988), known professionally as Tori Black, is an American retired pornographic actress. In 2011, she became the first person to win the AVN Female Performer of the Year Award two years in a row. She was inducted in the XR ...

– porn star *

Dove Cameron Dove Olivia Cameron (born Chloe Celeste Hosterman; January 15, 1996) is an American singer and actress. She became famous for her double role of the eponymous characters in the Disney Channel comedy series ''Liv and Maddie'', for which she won ...

– actress, singer *

Erika Christensen Erika Jane Christensen (born August 19, 1982) is an American actress and singer whose filmography includes roles in ''Traffic'' (2000), '' Swimfan'' (2002), ''The Banger Sisters'' (2002), ''The Perfect Score'' (2004), ''Flightplan'' (2005), '' ...

– actress * Bobby Clark – actor *

Brett Davern Brett Davern is an American actor known for his role as Jake Rosati on the MTV series '' Awkward''. Early life Davern was born and raised in Edmonds, Washington in 1983. His love of theater and acting started at Madrona Elementary School in Ed ...

– actor, podcaster

Awkward (TV series) ''Awkward'' is an American teen comedy-drama television series created by Lauren Iungerich for MTV. The show's central character is Jenna Hamilton (Ashley Rickards), a Palos Verdes, California, teenager who struggles with her identity, especial ...

* Graham Elliot – chef, restauranter * India Gants – model, winner of '' America’s Next Top Model'' Cycle 23 * Tom Gorai – film producer *

Brian Haley Brian Carlo Haley (born February 12, 1963) is an American actor and comedian. His stand-up act is characterized by playing his all-American looks against manic outbursts and absurd situations. As an actor, he may be best known for his roles as Vee ...

– actor, comedian * Bianca Kajlich – television actress noted for role of Jennifer on ''

Rules of Engagement Rules of engagement (ROE) are the internal rules or directives afforded military forces (including individuals) that define the circumstances, conditions, degree, and manner in which the use of force, or actions which might be construed as pro ...

'' *

Richard Karn Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'stron ...

– television actor, game show host * Mike Luckovich – editorial cartoonist * Dave Losso – stand-up comedian *

Beau Mirchoff William Beau Mirchoff (; born January 13, 1989) is a Canadian-American actor best known for his role in the MTV series ''Awkward'', his role as Jamie Hunter in '' Good Trouble'', and his role in ''Now Apocalypse'' on Starz. Early life Mirchoff ...

– actor known for television series ''

Awkward Awkward may refer to: * Awkwardness or embarrassment, an emotional state of intense discomfort with people * ''Awkward'' (TV series), an American teen comedy series * ''Awkward'' (album), a 2001 album by Ty * ''Awkward'', a 1999 graphic novel by ...

'' * Brian Stokes Mitchell – Broadway actor and baritone singer *

Jeffrey Dean Morgan Jeffrey Dean Morgan (born April 22, 1966) is an American actor of television and film, best known for playing the character Negan in the AMC horror drama series '' The Walking Dead'' (2016–2022), for which he has received critical acclaim. He ...

– actor, known for ''

Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series that premiered on March 27, 2005, on ABC as a mid-season replacement. The series focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they develop into s ...

'', ''

Watchmen ''Watchmen'' is an American comic book maxiseries by the British creative team of writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons and colorist John Higgins. It was published monthly by DC Comics in 1986 and 1987 before being collected in a single-vo ...

'', '' Magic City'' * Mark Morris – director, choreographer, dancer *

Janice Pennington Janice Maurine Pennington (born July 8, 1942) is an American former model and was one of the original " Barker's Beauties" models on ''The Price Is Right.'' As its longest-running model, Pennington was with ''The Price Is Right'' from the show's ...

– ''

The Price Is Right ''The Price Is Right'' is a television game show franchise created by Bob Stewart, originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman; currently it is produced and owned by Fremantle. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also inc ...

'' model *

Megyn Price Megyn Samantha Price (born March 24, 1971) is an American actress, best known for her roles on television as Claudia Finnerty in the Fox/ WB sitcom ''Grounded for Life'' (2001–05), Audrey Bingham on the CBS sitcom ''Rules of Engagement'' (2007 ...

– actress known for roles on ''

Grounded for Life ''Grounded for Life'' is an American television sitcom that debuted on January 10, 2001, as a mid-season replacement on Fox. Created by Mike Schiff and Bill Martin, it ran for two seasons on the network until being canceled only two episodes into ...

'' and ''

'' * Nick Robinson – actor known for portraying Ryder Scanlon on ABC Family sitcom ''

Melissa & Joey ''Melissa & Joey'' is an American television sitcom starring Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence that aired for four seasons between 2010 and 2015 on ABC Family (now Freeform). The series follows local politician Mel Burke (Hart) and Joe Longo ...

'' * Omari Salisbury – journalist, videographer, media company owner * Derek Sheen – stand-up comedian *

Jean Smart Jean Elizabeth Smart (born September 13, 1951) is an American actress. After beginning her career in regional theater in the Pacific Northwest, she appeared on Broadway in 1981 as Marlene Dietrich in the biographical play '' Piaf''. Smart was ...

– actress, known for ''

Designing Women ''Designing Women'' is an American television sitcom created by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason that aired on CBS from September 29, 1986, to May 24, 1993, producing seven seasons and 163 episodes. It was a joint production of Bloodworth/Thomason ...

'', '' Kim Possible'', ''

Frasier ''Frasier'' () is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on NBC for 11 seasons. It premiered on September 16, 1993, and ended on May 13, 2004. The program was created and produced by David Angell, Peter Casey, and David Lee (as Grub ...

'', '' 24'' *

Ryan Stiles Ryan Lee Stiles (born April 22, 1959) is an American-Canadian actor, comedian, and producer whose work is often associated with improvisational comedy. He is best known for his work on the original British series and American version of '' Wh ...

– comedian, known for ''Whose Line Is It Anyway?'' (both

U.S. The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

and

U.K. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

versions), and playing Lewis Kiniski on ''

The Drew Carey Show ''The Drew Carey Show'' is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from September 13, 1995 to September 8, 2004. Set in Cleveland, Ohio, the series revolved around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionalize ...

'', and Herb Melnick on ''

Two and a Half Men ''Two and a Half Men'' is an American television sitcom that originally aired on CBS for twelve seasons from September 22, 2003, to February 19, 2015. Originally starring Charlie Sheen in the lead role alongside Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones, t ...

'' *

Alison Sudol Alison Sudol (born December 23, 1984) is an American actress, singer, songwriter and music video director. She is known as the singer A Fine Frenzy, and for her role as Queenie Goldstein in ''Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'' (2016), as ...

– actress, singer, songwriter *

Jen Taylor Jennifer Taylor is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Cortana in ''Halo'' games and the intelligent personal assistant. Career Jen Taylor taught herself how to do voice work by recording the radio and imitating what she ...

– video game voice actress *

Maiara Walsh Maiara Kylior Walsh (born February 18, 1988) is an American actress and singer. She played Ana Solis on the sixth season of the American Broadcasting Company, ABC show ''Desperate Housewives'', Cory in the House#Cast and characters, Meena Paroom o ...

– actress, ''

Cory in the House ''Cory in the House'' is an American television sitcom which aired on the Disney Channel from January 12, 2007, to September 12, 2008, and was a spin-off from the Disney Channel show ''That's So Raven''. The show focuses on Cory Baxter, who m ...

'', '' Desperate Housewives'', '' Switched at Birth'' *

Zoe Weizenbaum Zoë Weizenbaum (born September 21, 1991) is a former American actress, most recognized for her roles in Memoirs of a Geisha and 12 and Holding. Early life Weizenbaum was born in Seattle, Washington to a Jewish mother and a Chinese father. She ...

– actress, '' 12 and Holding'', ''

Memoirs of a Geisha ''Memoirs of a Geisha'' is a historical fiction novel by American author Arthur Golden, published in 1997. The novel, told in first person perspective, tells the story of Nitta Sayuri and the many trials she faces on the path to becoming and ...

'' *

Rainn Wilson Rainn Percival Dietrich Wilson (born January 20, 1966) is an American actor, comedian, podcaster, producer, and writer. He is best known for his role as Dwight Schrute on the NBC sitcom ''The Office'', for which he earned three consecutive Em ...

– actor, ''

The Office ''The Office'' is a mockumentary sitcom created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, first made in the United Kingdom, then Germany, and subsequently the United States. It has since been remade in ten other countries. The original series o ...

Music

Nissim Black Nissim Baruch Black (born Damian Jamohl Black; December 9, 1986) is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Under the stage name D. Black, he released the albums ''The Cause & Effect'' (2006) and ''Ali'yah (album), Ali'yah'' (2009) ...

– rapper *

William Bolcom William Elden Bolcom (born May 26, 1938) is an American composer and pianist. He has received the Pulitzer Prize, the National Medal of Arts, a Grammy Award, the Detroit Music Award and was named 2007 Composer of the Year by Musical America. He ...

– composer *

Carrie Brownstein Carrie Rachel Brownstein (born September 27, 1974) is an American musician, actress, writer, director, and comedian. She first came to prominence as a member of the band Excuse 17 before forming the rock trio Sleater-Kinney. During a long hiatus ...

– musician, member of

Sleater-Kinney Sleater-Kinney ( ) is an American rock band that formed in Olympia, Washington, in 1994. The band's current lineup features Corin Tucker (vocals and guitar) and Carrie Brownstein (guitar and vocals), following the departure of longtime member ...

* Judy Collins –

folk singer Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...

Kenny G Kenneth Bruce Gorelick (born June 5, 1956), known professionally as Kenny G, is an American smooth jazz saxophonist, composer, and producer. His 1986 album ''Duotones'' brought him commercial success. Kenny G is one of the best-selling artis ...

– musician *

Isis Gee Tamara Diane Wimer (born October 11, 1972), known professionally as Tamara Gee (formerly Isis Gee), is an American pop singer and songwriter. She grew up singing and performing from the age of 5, and was a professional vocalist by the time she w ...

– American singer in

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populou ...

and Eurovision Song Contest entrant *

Stone Gossard Stone Carpenter Gossard (born July 20, 1966) is an American musician who serves as a guitarist and songwriter for the rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Jeff Ament, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of the band. ...

– rhythm guitarist of Pearl Jam *

Natalie Grant Natalie Diane Grant (born December 21, 1971) is an American singer and songwriter of contemporary Christian music. She received the Gospel Music Association's Dove Award for Female Vocalist of the Year four consecutive years (2006, 2007, 2008 an ...

– Christian music singer/songwriter * Mary Lambert – singer *

Lil Mosey Lathan Moses Stanley Echols (born January 25, 2002), known professionally as Lil Mosey, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. He rose to fame in late 2017 with the release of his single "Pull Up". Mosey's debut studio album '' Northsbe ...

– rapper *

Macklemore Benjamin Hammond Haggerty (born June 19, 1983), better known by his stage name Macklemore ( ; (formerly Professor Macklemore), is an American rapper and songwriter. A native of Seattle, Washington, he has collaborated with producer Ryan Lewi ...

– hip-hop artist, born Ben Haggerty *

Duff McKagan Michael Andrew "Duff" McKagan (born February 5, 1964), sometimes credited as Duff "Rose" McKagan, is an American musician. He played bass for twelve years in the hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late ...

– bassist of Guns N' Roses *

Sir Mix-a-Lot Anthony L. Ray (born August 12, 1963), better known by his stage name Sir Mix-a-Lot, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his 1992 hit song " Baby Got Back", which peaked at number one on the ''Billboard'' ...

–

rap Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...

musician *

Mark O'Connor Mark O'Connor (born August 5, 1961) is an American fiddle player and composer whose music combines bluegrass, country, jazz and classical. A three-time Grammy Award winner, he has won six Country Music Association Musician Of The Year awards ...

–

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while ...

violinist (also performs in other genres) * Stephen O'Malley – member of doom metal band Sunn O))) * Jake One – hip-hop music producer *

Stacie Orrico Stacie Joy Orrico (born March 3, 1986) is an American singer, songwriter and occasional actress. After signing to ForeFront Records, Orrico recorded her first album, '' Genuine'' (2000), which sold 13,000 units in its first week of release. Af ...

– pop singer *

Jay Park Jay Park (Korean name: Park Jae-beom (Hangul: 박재범; Hanja: 朴載範); born April 25, 1987) is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and entrepreneur of based in South Korea. He is a member of the Seattle-based b ...

– Korean-American singer *

Robin Pecknold Robin Noel Pecknold (born March 30, 1986) is an American singer-songwriter, who serves as the principal songwriter and vocalist for indie folk band Fleet Foxes, with whom he has recorded four studio albums. He is known for his distinct bariteno ...

– musician, lead singer in the folk-rock band

Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes is an American indie folk band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 2006. The band consists of Robin Pecknold (vocals, guitar), Skyler Skjelset (guitar, mandolin, backing vocals), Casey Wescott (keyboards, mandolin, backing vocals), ...

Scott Rockenfield Scott Rockenfield (born June 15, 1963), also known as SRock, is an American drummer and composer. He is best known as the drummer for the progressive metal band Queensrÿche, which he co-founded in 1982, and the hard rock band Slave to the S ...

– drummer with

Queensrÿche Queensrÿche is an American heavy metal band. It formed in 1982 in Bellevue, Washington, out of the local band the Mob. The band has released 16 studio albums, one EP, and several DVDs, and continues to tour and record. The original lineup ...

* John Roderick – musician (

The Long Winters The Long Winters are an American indie rock band based in Seattle, Washington. History Singer-songwriter John Roderick was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. He later returned to Seattle, where he formed the Bun Fa ...

), writer, and podcaster *

Jim Sheppard James Patrick Sheppard (born May 8, 1961) is an American musician. He was the bassist and founding member of the progressive metal band, Nevermore, and its predecessor, Sanctuary.Mustica, Giorgio.An Interview with Jeff Loomis: Cooling The Burn ...

– bassist with

Nevermore Nevermore was an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1991. The band has been inactive since 2011, due to personal issues between the band members. In April 2015, lead singer Warrel Dane confirmed that Nevermore had n ...

Kim Thayil Kim Anand Thayil (born September 4, 1960) is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the Seattle-based rock band Soundgarden, which he co-founded with singer Chris Cornell and bassist Hiro Yamamoto in 1984. Cornell and Thayil ...

– lead guitarist of the grunge band

Soundgarden Soundgarden was an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1984 by singer and drummer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil (both of whom are the only members to appear in every incarnation of the band), and bassist Hiro Yama ...

* Janet Thurlow – jazz singer *

Rachel Trachtenburg Rachel Sage Piña-Trachtenburg (born December 10, 1993), professionally known as Rachel Trachtenburg, is an American musician and singer. She is most notable for her key role as drummer and backup vocalist of the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow P ...

– drummer, member of The

Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players were an American indie-rock/art pop family band. It consisted of main vocalist Jason Trachtenburg, his wife Tina, and their only child, Rachel. Overview The band's members consisted of father, Jason T ...

Jennifer Warnes Jennifer Jean Warnes (born March 3, 1947) is an American singer and songwriter. She has performed as a vocalist on a number of film soundtracks. She has won two Grammy Awards, in 1983 for the Joe Cocker duet "Up Where We Belong" and in 1987 for ...

– singer and songwriter * Mary Youngblood – Native American flutist * Max Zorn – musician

Politics

Jenny Durkan Jenny Anne Durkan (born May 19, 1958) is an American attorney, former federal prosecutor, and politician who served as the 56th mayor of Seattle, Washington. She is the daughter of Martin Durkan. Durkan is a member of the Democratic Party. Afte ...

– Mayor of Seattle *

Maria Cantwell Maria Ellen Cantwell (; born October 13, 1958) is an American politician and former businesswoman serving as the junior United States senator from Washington since 2001. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served in the Washingto ...

- U.S. Senator * Steve Gunderson – politician in Montana. *

Jay Inslee Jay Robert Inslee (; born February 9, 1951) is an American politician, lawyer, and economist who has served as the 23rd governor of Washington since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a member of the U.S. House of Represent ...

–

Governor of Washington The governor of Washington is the head of government of Washington and commander-in-chief of the state's military forces.WA Const. art. III, § 2. The officeholder has a duty to enforce state laws,WA Const. art. III, § 5. the power to either a ...

* Jerry Lewis – California politician * Gary Locke – U.S. Ambassador to China, former

U.S. Secretary of Commerce The United States secretary of commerce (SecCom) is the head of the United States Department of Commerce. The secretary serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all matters relating to commerce. The secretary rep ...

, former

Frank Murkowski Frank Hughes Murkowski (born March 28, 1933) is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He was a United States Senator from Alaska from 1981 until 2002 and the eighth governor of Alaska from 2002 until 2006. In his 2006 re ...

–

Polish-American Polish Americans ( pl, Polonia amerykańska) are Americans who either have total or partial Polish ancestry, or are citizens of the Republic of Poland. There are an estimated 9.15 million self-identified Polish Americans, representing about 2.83% ...

politician, tenth Governor of Alaska *

Angela Rye Angela Rye (born October 26, 1979) is the Principal and CEO of IMPACT Strategies, a political advocacy firm formerly based in Washington, DC. She is a special correspondent on ESPN. She was (until November 2020) a liberal political commentator ...

– CNN political commentator *

Peter Steinbrueck Peter Steinbrueck (born October 14, 1957) is an American architect and politician from Seattle, Washington. He is the principal and founder of Steinbrueck Urban Strategies and was a city councilmember from 1997 to 2008. He also previously served ...

– politician *

Lynn Woolsey Lynn C. Woolsey (born November 3, 1937) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for from 1993 to 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, her district included all of Marin County and most of Sonoma County. She was a me ...

– politician

Miscellaneous

* Marc D. Angel – rabbi *

Mario Batali Mario Francesco Batali (born September 19, 1960) is an American chef, writer, and restaurateur. Batali co-owned restaurants in New York City; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; and Newport Beach, California; Boston; Singapore; Westport, Connecticut; and ...

– chef, writer, restaurateur and media personality *

Linda B. Buck Linda Brown Buck (born January 29, 1947) is an American biologist best known for her work on the olfactory system. She was awarded the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, along with Richard Axel, for their work on olfactory receptors. She ...

– scientist *

Art Chantry Arthur Samuel Wilbur Chantry II (born April 9, 1954) is a graphic designer often associated with the posters and album covers he has done for bands from the Pacific Northwest, such as Mudhoney, Mono Men, Soundgarden, and The Sonics. Biography ...

– graphic design *

Greg Colson Greg Colson (born April 23, 1956) is an American artist best known for works that straddle the line between painting and sculpture that address concepts of efficiency and order. Using scavenged materials, Colson allows the physicality of his ma ...

– artist * Stephen Funk – former United States Marine Corps

Lance Corporal Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organisations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer (NCO), usually equi ...

who refused to deploy to Iraq * Emerald Ignacio (aka "DriftGirl") – actor and model; builds and races cars * Irene Dubois – drag performer *

Amanda Knox Amanda Marie Knox (born July 9, 1987) is an American author, activist, and journalist. She spent almost four years in an Italian prison following her wrongful conviction for the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher, a fellow exchange student with ...

– tried and convicted in Italy for

murder of Meredith Kercher Meredith Susanna Cara Kercher (28 December 1985 – 1 November 2007) was a British student on exchange from the University of Leeds who was murdered at the age of 21 in Perugia, Italy. Kercher was found dead on the floor of her bedroom. By the ...

but subsequently acquitted on appeal *

Paul Kuniholm Paul Kuniholm is a heritage-connected public artist who creates art embodying sculptural objects, sculpture both fugitive and durable, art using digital material, wearable art intervention, video, mural art, and various time-based artwork tha ...

– artist * Michael Leavitt (artist) – sculptor and toy maker * Stephen S. Oswald – astronaut * Casey Treat – pastor, televangelist *

Jim Whittaker James W. Whittaker (born February 10, 1929), also known as Jim Whittaker, is an American mountaineer and mountain guide. Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, on May 1, 1963 he became the first American to reach the summit of Mount Everest as a ...

– first American to climb

Mount Everest Mount Everest (; Tibetic languages, Tibetan: ''Chomolungma'' ; ) is List of highest mountains on Earth, Earth's highest mountain above sea level, located in the Mahalangur Himal sub-range of the Himalayas. The China–Nepal border ru ...

Lou Whittaker Lou Whittaker (born February 10, 1929) is a mountaineer, mountain guide, and entrepreneur. He and his twin brother, Jim Whittaker, an equally renowned mountaineer and guide, were born and raised in Seattle. Besides his worldwide mountain climbi ...

–

mountaineer Mountaineering or alpinism, is a set of outdoor activities that involves ascending tall mountains. Mountaineering-related activities include traditional outdoor climbing, skiing, and traversing via ferratas. Indoor climbing, sport climbing, an ...

, founded Mount Rainier guide service * Colleen Willoughby – philanthropist

Deceased

* Ann Reinking – actress, dancer, choreographer, '' All That Jazz'', '' Micki + Maude'', '' Annie'' * Paul Jacob Alexander – newspaper publisher and Seattle City Councilman *

Paul Allen Paul Gardner Allen (January 21, 1953 – October 15, 2018) was an American business magnate, computer programmer, researcher, investor, and philanthropist. He co-founded Microsoft Corporation with childhood friend Bill Gates in 1975, which ...

– co-founder of

Signe Toly Anderson Signe Toly Anderson ( ; born Signe Toly; September 15, 1941 – January 28, 2016) was an American singer who was one of the founding members of the American rock music, rock band Jefferson Airplane. Early life Anderson was born Signe Toly in Se ...

– original lead singer of The Jefferson Airplane *

Richard Lee Armstrong Richard Lee Armstrong (August 4, 1937 – August 9, 1991) was an American/Canadian scientist who was an expert in the fields of radiogenic isotope geochemistry and geochronology, geochemical evolution of the earth, geology of the American ...

– professor and

geochemist Geochemistry is the science that uses the tools and principles of chemistry to explain the mechanisms behind major geological systems such as the Earth's crust and its oceans. The realm of geochemistry extends beyond the Earth, encompassing the e ...

Bob Bartlett Edward Lewis "Bob" Bartlett (April 20, 1904 – December 11, 1968), was an Alaska politician and a member of the Democratic Party. A key fighter for Alaska statehood, Bartlett served as the Secretary of Alaska Territory from 1939 to 1945, ...

– politician * Lawrence James Beck – sculptor * Frank T. Bell – United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries (1933–1939) *

Barbara Berjer Barbara Berjer (June 12, 1920 – October 20, 2002) was an American actress. Early life Berjer was born Barbara Elinor Berger on June 12, 1920 in Seattle, Washington, the daughter of Knute Eystein Berger (1890-1949), a mechanical engineer origi ...

– television actress *

Max Brand Frederick Schiller Faust (May 29, 1892 – May 12, 1944) was an American writer known primarily for his Western (genre), Western stories using the pseudonym Max Brand. He (as Max Brand) also created the popular fictional character of young ...

– author (pen name of Frederick Schiller Faust) * Gerald Brashear – musician, played with

Wyatt Ruther Wyatt Robert "Bull" Ruther (February 5, 1923, Pittsburgh – October 31, 1999, San Francisco) was an American jazz double-bassist. Ruther played trombone in high school before picking up the double-bass. He studied at the San Francisco Conservat ...

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson Sr. (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential singers in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Ge ...

Della Reese Delloreese Patricia Early (July 6, 1931 – November 19, 2017), known professionally as Della Reese, was an American jazz and gospel singer, actress, and ordained minister whose career spanned seven decades. She began her long career as a s ...

, Cecil Young Quartet *

Chester Carlson Chester Floyd Carlson (February 8, 1906 – September 19, 1968) was an American physicist, inventor, and patent attorney born in Seattle, Washington. Carlson invented electrophotography, the process used by millions of photocopiers worldwide. Ca ...

–

physicist A physicist is a scientist who specializes in the field of physics, which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe. Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate cau ...

and inventor *

Carol Channing Carol Elaine Channing (January 31, 1921 – January 15, 2019) was an American actress, singer, dancer and comedian who starred in Broadway and film musicals. Her characters usually had a fervent expressiveness and an easily identifiable voice, ...

– actress, '' Hello, Dolly!'', '' Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'', ''

Thoroughly Modern Millie ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' is a 1967 American musical- romantic comedy film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Julie Andrews. The screenplay, by Richard Morris based on the 1956 British musical ''Chrysanthemum'', follows a naïve you ...

'' * Irma Schoennauer Cole – swimmer, civil servant *

Chris Cornell Christopher John Cornell (né Boyle; July 20, 1964 – May 18, 2017) was an American singer and musician best known as the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primary lyricist and songwriter for the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave ...

– musician,

Audioslave Audioslave was an American rock supergroup formed in Glendale, California, in 2001. The four-piece band consisted of Soundgarden's lead singer and rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell with Rage Against the Machine members Tom Morello (lead guitar) ...

Temple of the Dog Temple of the Dog was an American rock supergroup that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. It was conceived by vocalist Chris Cornell of Soundgarden as a tribute to his friend, the late Andrew Wood, lead singer of the bands Malfunkshun ...

Don Coryell Donald David Coryell (October 17, 1924 – July 1, 2010) was an American football coach, who coached in the National Football League (NFL) first with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1973 to 1977 and then the San Diego Chargers from 1978 to 1986. ...

– NFL coach * Marian Cummings (c. 1892–1984) – first woman in the US to gain a commercial pilot's license *

Warrel Dane Warrel Dane (born Warrel George Baker; March 7, 1961 – December 13, 2017) was an American musician who was the lead singer for the heavy metal bands Sanctuary and Nevermore. He was a natural baritone; though he was known for his high-pitched ...

– musician, singer for

Sanctuary A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred place, such as a shrine. By the use of such places as a haven, by extension the term has come to be used for any place of safety. This secondary use can be categorized into human sanctuary, a sa ...

Jennifer Dunn Jennifer Jill Dunn (née Blackburn; July 29, 1941 – September 5, 2007) was an American politician and engineer who served six terms as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1993 to 2005, representing . Early li ...

– politician * Frances Farmer – actress *

Pete Fleming Peter Sillence Fleming (November 23, 1928 – January 8, 1956) was a Christian who was one of five missionaries killed while participating in Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Huaorani people of Ecuador. Early life Fleming was born ...

– missionary to Ecuador *

Keith Godchaux Keith Richard Godchaux (July 19, 1948 – July 23, 1980) was a pianist best known for his tenure in the rock group the Grateful Dead from 1971 to 1979. Biography Godchaux was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up in Concord, California ...

– musician *

Kathi Goertzen Kathi Goertzen (April 30, 1958 – August 13, 2012) was a longtime co-news anchor of Seattle ABC affiliate KOMO-TV along with Dan Lewis (the 6PM edition) and also the 5PM edition with Eric Johnson. She joined KOMO in June 1980, after the erupti ...

– longtime news anchor for KOMO 4 *

Richard F. Gordon Jr. Richard Francis Gordon Jr. (October 5, 1929 – November 6, 2017) was an American naval officer and aviator, test pilot, and NASA astronaut, and an American football executive. He was one of 24 people to have flown to the Moon, as the c ...

– astronaut *

Bonnie Guitar Bonnie Buckingham (March 25, 1923 – January 13, 2019), better known as Bonnie Guitar, was an American singer, musician, producer, and businesswoman. She was best known for her 1957 country-pop crossover hit " Dark Moon". She became one of t ...

– singer * Ed Guthman – journalist *

Ivar Haglund Ivar Johan Haglund (March 21, 1905 – January 30, 1985) was a Seattle, Washington, Seattle folk music, folk singing, singer, restaurateur and the founder of Ivar's. Background Ivar Johan Haglund was born in Seattle, Washington, the son of pion ...

– folksinger and restaurateur * Jimi Hendrix – rock guitarist and singer *

Steven Hill Stephen or Steven is a common English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; ...

– actor, portrayed Adam Schiff in the TV series '' Law & Order'' * Eldon Hoke (aka El Duce) – drummer and singer of rock band

The Mentors The Mentors are an American heavy metal band, known for their deliberate shock rock lyrics. Originally formed in Seattle, Washington in May 1976, they relocated to Los Angeles, California in 1979. The band garnered attention both from noted h ...

Art Hupy Art Hupy (1924 – April 17, 2003) was an American freelance commercial photographer noted for his images of architecture and artists from the Northwest School. Hupy also founded the Museum of Northwest Art. Personal life Hupy was born in Seattl ...

– photographer *

Fred Hutchinson Frederick Charles Hutchinson (August 12, 1919 – November 12, 1964) was an American professional baseball player, a major league pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, and the manager for three major league teams. Born and raised in Seattle, Wash ...

– baseball player and manager *

Ruth Jessen Mary Ruth Jessen (November 12, 1936 – September 21, 2007) was an American professional golfer. She became a member of the LPGA Tour in 1956 and won 11 LPGA Tour victories in all. Amateur career Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Jessen ...

– golfer *

Gary Kildall Gary Arlen Kildall (; May 19, 1942 – July 11, 1994) was an American computer scientist and microcomputer entrepreneur. During the 1970s, Kildall created the CP/M operating system among other operating systems and programming tools, an ...

– scientist, inventor and founder of

Digital Research Digital Research, Inc. (DR or DRI) was a company created by Gary Kildall to market and develop his CP/M operating system and related 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit systems like MP/M, Concurrent DOS, FlexOS, Multiuser DOS, DOS Plus, DR DOS and Gr ...

Ed Lee Edwin Mah Lee (Chinese: 李孟賢; May 5, 1952 – December 12, 2017) was an American politician and attorney who served as the 43rd Mayor of San Francisco from 2011 until his death. He was the first Asian American to hold the office. Born in ...

– first Asian American mayor of San Francisco * Gypsy Rose Lee – actress and burlesque star *

Mary Livingstone Mary Livingstone (born Sadya Marcowitz, later known as Sadie Marks; June 25, 1905–June 30, 1983) was an American radio comedienne and actress. She was the wife and radio partner of comedian Jack Benny. Enlisted casually to perform on her h ...

– comedian and wife of

Jack Benny Jack Benny (born Benjamin Kubelsky, February 14, 1894 – December 26, 1974) was an American entertainer who evolved from a modest success playing violin on the vaudeville circuit to one of the leading entertainers of the twentieth century wit ...

Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthy (born January 26, 1965) is an American politician, serving as House Minority Leader in the United States House of Representatives since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he served as House Majority Leader under spea ...

– actor * Mary McCarthy – author, critic and social activist * Rob Roy McGregor (admiral) - U.S. Navy Rear Admiral and decorated submariner *

Alfred M. Moen Alfred M. Moen (27 December 1916 – 17 April 2001) was an American inventor and founder of Moen Incorporated. He invented the single-handed mixing faucet. In 1959 ''Fortune (magazine), Fortune'' magazine listed the Moen "one-handle mixing fauc ...

– inventor and founder of

Moen Incorporated Moen is an American product line of faucets and other fixtures started by inventor Alfred M. Moen that is now part of the Fortune Brands Home & Security company. The Moen subsidiary is headquartered in North Olmsted, Ohio. Moen was originally pa ...

* Margaret Murie – environmentalist *

Harley D. Nygren Rear Admiral Harley Dean Nygren (December 12, 1924 – November 17, 2019) was an American military officer who served in the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey Corps, its successor, the Environmental Science Services Administration Corps (ES ...

– admiral and engineer, first Director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps * Adella M. Parker – suffragist, politician, lawyer, and high school teacher * Walt Partymiller – cartoonist *

Tuulikki Pietilä Ida Helmi Tuulikki Pietilä (18 February 1917 – 23 February 2009) was an American-born Finnish graphic artist and professor. Pietilä is considered one of Finland's most influential graphic artists, with her work being shown in multiple art exh ...

– graphic artist and professor *

Guy Bates Post Guy Bates Post (September 22, 1875 – January 16, 1968) was an American character actor who appeared in at least twenty-one Broadway plays and twenty-five Hollywood films over a career that spanned more than fifty years. He was perhaps best rem ...

– stage and film actor *

Hal Riney Hal Patrick Riney (July 17, 1932 – March 24, 2008) was an American advertising executive. Biography Founder of the advertising agency Hal Riney & Partners (now Publicis & Hal Riney), Riney was named #30 on the ''Advertising Age'' 100 people o ...

– advertising executive * Ron Santo – Hall of Fame baseball player *

Bell M. Shimada Bell M. Shimada (January 17, 1922 - June 2, 1958) was an American fisheries scientist. He is noted for his study during the 1950s of tuna stocks in the tropical Pacific Ocean and its important effect on the development of the post- World War II ...

– fisheries scientist who pioneered the study of the

tuna A tuna is a saltwater fish that belongs to the tribe Thunnini, a subgrouping of the Scombridae ( mackerel) family. The Thunnini comprise 15 species across five genera, the sizes of which vary greatly, ranging from the bullet tuna (max len ...

fishery in the tropical

Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contin ...

Robert Stroud Robert Franklin Stroud (January 28, 1890 – November 21, 1963), known as the "Birdman of Alcatraz", was a convicted murderer, American federal prisoner and author who has been cited as one of the most notorious criminals in the United S ...

– convicted felon, "Birdman of Alcatraz" * Emmett Watson – journalist

Moved to Seattle

Living

* Zaid Abdul-Aziz – former

Seattle SuperSonics The Seattle SuperSonics (commonly known as the Seattle Sonics) were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle. The SuperSonics competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member club of the league's Western Confe ...

power forward * Dustin Ackley – former

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The team joined the American League as an expansion team ...

outfielder *

Sherman Alexie Sherman Joseph Alexie Jr. (born October 7, 1966) is a Spokane- Coeur d'Alene-Native American novelist, short story writer, poet, screenwriter, and filmmaker. His writings draw on his experiences as an Indigenous American with ancestry from se ...

– author * Kimball Allen – writer, playwright, performer, gay activist, author of ''

Secrets of a Gay Mormon Felon Kimball Allen (born February 22, 1982) is an American writer, journalist, playwright, and actor. He is the author of two autobiographical one-man plays: ''Secrets of a Gay Mormon Felon'' (2012) and ''Be Happy Be Mormon'' (2014). The latter prem ...

'' and '' Be Happy Be Mormon'' *

Jeff Ament Jeffrey Allen Ament (born March 10, 1963) is an American musician and songwriter who is best known as the bassist of the American rock band Pearl Jam, which he co-founded alongside Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder. Prior to his wo ...

– bassist of Pearl Jam * Brian Atwater – geologist * Anomie Belle – musician *

BenDeLaCreme BenDeLaCreme (born September 24, 1981) is the stage persona of Benjamin H. Putnam, an American drag queen, burlesque performer, and actor based in Seattle, Washington. He is known for being a contestant on the sixth season of ''RuPaul's Drag Rac ...

– actor, drag queen, 5th place and Miss Congeniality of ''Rupaul's Drag Race'' Season 6 *

Jeff Bezos Jeffrey Preston Bezos ( ;; and Robinson (2010), p. 7. ''né'' Jorgensen; born January 12, 1964) is an American entrepreneur, media proprietor, investor, and commercial astronaut. He is the founder, executive chairman, and former preside ...

– former CEO and founder of Amazon.com * Christopher Boffoli – photographer *

Jeff Borowiak Jeff Borowiak (born September 25, 1949) is a former professional tennis player from the United States, who won five singles and three doubles titles during his professional career, reaching a career-high ATP singles ranking of World No. 20 in A ...

– tennis player *

Bosco (drag queen) Bosco is the stage name of Chris Constantino, an American drag performer who competed on season 14 of ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' in 2022. Early life Constantino was raised by musicians in Great Falls, Montana. She received formal dance training at a ...

-contestant and finalist on ''Rupaul's Drag Race'' Season 14 * David Brewster – publisher and journalist *

Terry Brooks Terence Dean Brooks (born January 8, 1944) is an American writer of fantasy fiction. He writes mainly epic fantasy, and has also written two film novelizations. He has written 23 ''New York Times'' bestsellers during his writing career, and ha ...

– author * Robert Brown – musician, lead singer of

Abney Park Abney Park is in Stoke Newington, London, England. It is a park dating from just before 1700, named after Lady Abney, the wife of Sir Thomas Abney, Lord Mayor of London in 1700 and one of the first directors of the Bank of England and associat ...

Ed Brubaker Ed Brubaker (; born November 17, 1966) is an American comic book writer, cartoonist and screenwriter who works primarily in the crime fiction genre. He began his career with the semi-autobiographical series '' Lowlife'' and a number of serials i ...

– comics writer and artist *

Peter Buck Peter Lawrence Buck (born December 6, 1956) is an American musician and songwriter. He was a co-founder and the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band R.E.M. He also plays the banjo and mandolin on several R.E.M. songs. Throughout his ca ...

– musician in

R.E.M. R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the first alternati ...

* Charles Burns – cartoonist *

Matt Cameron Matthew David Cameron (born November 28, 1962) is an American musician who is the drummer for the rock band Pearl Jam. He first gained fame as the drummer for Seattle-based rock band Soundgarden, which he joined in 1986. He appeared on each of ...

– drummer of

and Pearl Jam *

Dyan Cannon Dyan Cannon (born Samille Diane Friesen; January 4, 1937) is an American actress, director, screenwriter, producer, and editor. Her accolades include a Saturn Award, a Golden Globe Award, three Academy Award nominations, and a star on the Holly ...

– actress * Roberto Carcelen – Olympian *

Neko Case Neko Richelle Case (; born September 8, 1970) is an American singer-songwriter and member of the Canadian indie rock group the New Pornographers. Case has a powerful, untrained contralto voice, which has been described by contemporaries and cr ...

– musician * J.R. Celski – Olympic speed skater *

Michael Chang Michael Te-pei Chang (born February 22, 1972) is an American former professional tennis player and coach. He is the youngest man in history to win a singles major, winning the 1989 French Open at 17 years and 109 days old. Chang won a total of ...

– tennis player, French Open champion * Valentina Chepiga – IFBB professional bodybuilder * Dale Chihuly – glass blowing artist *

Nick Collison Nicholas John Collison (born October 26, 1980) is an American former professional basketball player who is a special assistant for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He spent his entire career with the Seattl ...

–

Oklahoma City Thunder The Oklahoma City Thunder are an American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City. The Thunder compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. The team plays i ...

forward * Emily Compagno – former federal attorney, Oakland Raiderettes cheerleader, sports reporter, and analyst; current litigator, legal analyst, and Fox News contributor * Dan Corson – artist *

Kathryn Cramer Kathryn Elizabeth Cramer (born April 16, 1962) is an American science fiction writer, editor, and literary critic. Early years Kathryn Cramer is the daughter of physicist John G. Cramer. She grew up in Seattle and graduated from Columbia Univ ...

– science fiction editor (lived in Seattle 1964–1985) *

Cameron Crowe Cameron Bruce Crowe (born July 13, 1957) is an American journalist, author, writer, producer, director, actor, lyricist, and playwright. Before moving into the film industry, Crowe was a contributing editor at '' Rolling Stone'' magazine, for w ...

– writer and director * Chris DeWolfe – founder of MySpace * Jim Donald – former CEO of

Starbucks Coffee Starbucks Corporation is an American multinational chain of coffeehouses and roastery reserves headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It is the world's largest coffeehouse chain. As of November 2021, the company had 33,833 stores in 80 cou ...

Mark Driscoll Mark A. Driscoll (born 1970) is an American evangelical pastor and author who founded the now defunct Mars Hill Church. He is the senior and founding pastor of the Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona, which was founded in 2016. In 1996, D ...

– co-founder and preaching pastor of

Mars Hill Church Mars Hill Church was a Christian megachurch, founded in 1996 by Mark Driscoll, Lief Moi, and Mike Gunn. It was a multi-site church based in Seattle, Washington and grew from a home Bible study to 15 locations in 4 U.S. states. in addition to ser ...

– actor *

Anna Faris Anna Kay Faris (; born November 29, 1976) is an American actress. She rose to prominence for her work in comedic roles, particularly the lead part of Cindy Campbell in the ''Scary Movie'' film series (2000–2006). She has appeared in a number ...

– actress *

Brendan Fraser Brendan James Fraser ( ; born December 3, 1968) is an American-Canadian actor known for his leading roles in blockbusters, comedies, and dramatic films. Having graduated from the Cornish College of the Arts in 1990, he made his film debut in '' ...

– actor *

Ari Glass Ari Glass (born 1989) is an American painter, designer and musician. Biography Glass grew up in the Rainier Valley, Seattle. Glass attended art classes at Franklin High School and briefly studied graphic design at Seattle Central College, ...

– painter, designer and musician *

Jorge Enrique González Pacheco Jorge Enrique González Pacheco is an international award-winning Cuban poet, film industry professional, and cultural entrepreneur. He has a Bachelor's Degree in Latin American Literature from University of Havana, Cuba, and a Master's Degree i ...

– Cuban poet * Neile Graham – poet *

Nicola Griffith Nicola Griffith (; born 30 September 1960) is a British-American novelist, essayist, and teacher. She has won the Washington State Book Award, Nebula Award, James Tiptree, Jr. Award, World Fantasy Award and six Lambda Literary Awards. Person ...

– author * Dave Grohl – drummer of Nirvana (band), Nirvana; lead singer, guitarist of Foo Fighters * Caren Gussoff – author * Gary Hall Jr. – 10-time Olympic medalist * Leland H. Hartwell – Nobel Prize winner * Matt Hasselbeck – quarterback, Seattle Seahawks player * Jenni Hogan – KIRO-TV traffic anchor * Jerry Holkins – co-creator of ''Penny Arcade'' * David Horsey – cartoonist * Tom Hulce – actor in ''National Lampoon's Animal House'' and ''Amadeus (film), Amadeus'' * Jane Jensen – game designer and author *Phoenix Jones – superhero, vigilante * Quincy Jones – musician * S. T. Joshi – literary critic and editor * Michael Kinsley – journalist * Sascha Konietzko – founder and frontman of KMFDM * Mike Krahulik – co-creator of ''Penny Arcade'' * Jon Krakauer – author * Jayne Ann Krentz – romance novelist * Gary Larson – comic strip artist (''The Far Side'') * Lusine – Intelligent dance music, IDM musician * Kyle MacLachlan – actor * Dave Matthews – musician * Taylor Mays – football player * Jim McDermott – Congressman * Rose McGowan – actress, ''Charmed'', ''Jawbreaker (film), Jawbreaker'' * Joel McHale – actor, host of ''The Soup'' on E! and star of NBC television series ''Community (TV series), Community'' * Mike McCready – lead guitarist of Pearl Jam (considered local, went to grade school – college in Seattle) * Carol Milne – Canadian American sculptor * Patrick Monahan – lead singer of the band Train (band), Train * Jinkx Monsoon – actor, drag queen, winner of ''Rupaul's Drag Race'' Season 5 * Gabe Newell – CEO and founder of Valve Corporation, Valve * Krist Novoselic – bassist of Nirvana * Bill Nye – "Science Guy", actor, comedian * Yuji Okumoto – actor, ''The Karate Kid, Part II'' and ''Real Genius''; owner of Kona Kitchen * Trey Parker – co-creator of ''South Park'' * Susan Powter – motivational speaker, dietitian, personal trainer and author * Karen Prell – puppeteer * Jeff Probst – host of TV show ''Survivor (U.S. TV series), Survivor'' * Julia Quinn - author * Jonathan Raban – author * John Ratzenberger – actor, played Cliff Clavin on TV series ''Cheers'' * Richard Read – journalist, Pulitzer Prize winner, 1999, 2001 * Ron Reagan – radio talk host, son of Ronald Reagan * Gary Ridgway – serial killer * Tom Robbins – author * Don Roff – writer and filmmaker * Ryan Rowland-Smith –

pitcher * Dan Savage – advice columnist * Howard Schultz – chairman of Starbucks * Ross Shafer – comedian and television host * Richard Silverstein – blogger * Tom Skerritt – actor * Alex Steffen – award-winning author and editor * Neal Stephenson – science-fiction author * Adam Stern (conductor), Adam Stern – symphony conductor * Mack Strong – retired Seattle Seahawks fullback 1993–2007 * Ichiro Suzuki – baseball player,

, New York Yankees, and Miami Marlins * Robert Swift – former

and

center * Geoff Tate – lead singer of

* Lauren Tewes – actress * Earnest James Ujaama – community activist and indicted associate of al-Qaeda * Eddie Vedder – lead singer of Pearl Jam * Guy Williams (basketball), Guy Williams – basketball player, Washington Bullets and Golden State Warriors * Ann Wilson – lead singer and flute player of Heart (band), Heart * Mark Wirth – "fashion notable", local character * Al Young (dragster driver), Al Young – dragster driver

Deceased

* Harry Anderson – actor * Frank Barsotti – professional photographer * Jack Bechdolt – journalist for ''Seattle Post Intelligencer'', illustrator/artist, author of thousands of short stories * Fred Beckey –

* William Edward Boeing, Bill Boeing – aviation pioneer, industrialist * Robert Bray – actor * Edwin Frederick Brotze – cartoonist for the ''Seattle Daily Times'' * Francis H. Brownell – businessman, president of the Seattle First National Bank * Ted Bundy – serial killer * Octavia Butler – author * Frank Calvert – cartoonist for the ''Seattle Daily Times'' * James E. Casey – United Parcel Service founder *

– musician * Charlie Chong – political activist * Kurt Cobain – Nirvana (band), Nirvana frontman * Frantz Hunt Coe – educator * Alexander DeSoto – physician and philanthropist, founder of Seattle's first hospital * James S. Ditty – photoengraver, ''Seattle Star'' * James Doohan – actor; Montgomery Scott on ''Star Trek'' * Ford Quint Elvidge – governor of Guam * Frances Farmer – actress * Kate Fleming – audio book narrator (voice acting, voice-over actor) and producer * George Frederick Frye – Seattle pioneer and politician * Edgar Gott – aviation pioneer, first president of Boeing * Carl F. Gould – architect, educator * George Hager – cartoonist for the ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'' * John Hager (cartoonist), John "DOK" Hager – cartoonist for the ''Seattle Daily Times'' * Alex Haley – writer, author of ''Roots (book), Roots'' * Anna Roosevelt Halsted – journalist, daughter of Franklin D. Roosevelt * Victor Hanzeli – linguist, former Chair of the Department of Romance Languages and Literature at University of Washington, UW * Mitch Hedberg – comedian * Frank Herbert – novelist, author of ''Dune (novel), Dune'' * George H. Hitchings – scientist * Alan Hovhaness – composer * Edward Sturgis Ingraham – first superintendent of the Seattle Public Schools; mountaineering, mountaineer * Ernest C. Jenner – illustrator for the ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'' * Russell Johnson – actor; Professor Roy Hinkley on ''Gilligan's Island'' * Jacob Lawrence – painter * Brandon Lee – actor * Bruce Lee – actor * Denise Levertov – poet * J. P. D. Lloyd – Episcopal polity, Episcopal Clergy, cleric, the president of the Seattle Public Library * Keye Luke – actor * Betty MacDonald – author * Helene Madison – three gold medals at 1932 Summer Olympics * Benjamin Brown Martin – illustrator for the ''Seattle Daily Times'' * Rick May – voice actor, theatrical performer, director, and teacher * William Charles McNulty – illustrator for ''Seattle Star''; teacher at Art Students League * Asa Mercer – man behind the Mercer Girls, a model for the TV series ''Here Come the Brides'' * Robert Moran, Shipbuilder, Robert Moran – shipbuilder * Marni Nixon – musician * Henry O'Malley – United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries * Alexander Pantages – theatrical entrepreneur * Robert W. Patten – veteran, storyteller, inspiration for cartoon series * Lionel Pries – architect, educator * Henry Prusoff – tennis player * Alfred T. Renfro – cartoonist, ''Seattle Star'' * Theodore Roethke – poet * Zola Helen Ross – author * Ann Rule – true crime (genre), true crime author * Bill Russell – retired Hall of Fame basketball player and coach * James Willis Sayre – theatre critic, journalist, arts promoter, and historian * Jeff Smith (TV personality), Jeff Smith – TV chef and author * Layne Staley – musician, singer of grunge band Alice In Chains * Henry Suzzallo – president of the University of Washington (1915–1926) * Sarah Truax – stage actor * August Wilson – playwright * Andrew Wood (singer), Andrew Wood – singer of grunge band Mother Love Bone * Lillian Yarbo – actress, comedienne, dancer, and singer * Mia Zapata – musician

Athletes from Seattle

* Aaron Brooks (basketball), Aaron Brooks – NBA PG; Benjamin Franklin High School (Seattle), Franklin High School * Bobby Brown (third baseman), Bobby Brown – Major League Baseball, MLB infielder and executive, played in four World Series * Kevin Burleson – NBA PG; O'Dea High School * Nate Burleson – NFL WR; O'Dea High School * Jesse Chatman – NFL RB; Franklin High School * Doug Christie – NBA SG; Rainier Beach High School * Will Conroy – NBA PG; Garfield High School (Seattle), Garfield (Seattle) * Fred Couples – Professional Golfers' Association of America, PGA; O'Dea High School *

– NBA SG; Rainier Beach High School * Michael Dickerson – NBA SF; Federal Way High School * Corey Dillon – NFL RB; Franklin High School * James Edwards (basketball), James Edwards – NBA PF; Roosevelt High School (Seattle), Roosevelt High School * C. J. Giles – NBA PF; Rainier Beach High School * Charles Greene (athlete), Charlie Greene – USA Track & Field, USATF Olympian; Track & Field Hall of Fame; O'Dea High School * Spencer Hawes – NBA C; Seattle Prep * Phil Heath – second world ranked International Federation of BodyBuilders, IFBB professional bodybuilding, bodybuilder * Jeff Jaeger – NFL K; University of Washington *

– professional golfer, Seattle University * Earl Johnson (baseball), Earl Johnson – Major League Baseball P; Ballard High School (Seattle, Washington), Ballard High School * Taylor Mays – NFL S; O'Dea High School * Reese McGuire – MLB catcher; Kentwood High School * Jack Medica – Olympic Games, Olympic Swimming (sport), swimmer; University of Washington"Jack C. Medica: 1914 - 1985"
''University of Pennsylvania''. Retrieved July 22, 2021.Pieroth, Doris H. (1995)
"Toast of the Town in the Thirties: Seattle's Washington Athletic Club and Its Champion Swimmers"
''The Pacific Northwest Quarterly'', 87(1): 16-28. Retrieved July 22, 2021. * Hugh Millen – NFL QB; Roosevelt High School *

– NBA PG; Rainier Beach High School * Brandon Roy – NBA SF; Garfield (Seattle) *

– NBA PG; Garfield (Seattle) * Peyton Siva – NBA PG; Franklin High School (Seattle) * Isaiah Stanback – NFL WR; Garfield (Seattle) * Rodney Stuckey – NBA SG; Kentwood High School (Washington), Kentwood High School *

– NBA PG; Franklin High School * Martell Webster – NBA SG; Seattle Prep * Marcus Williams (University of Arizona), Marcus Williams – NBA SF; Roosevelt High School * Terrence Williams – NBA SF; Rainier Beach High School * Sheila Lambert – WNBA PG; Chief Sealth High School * Regina Rogers-Wright – College basketball All American C; Chief Sealth High School, UCLA and University of Washington.

Musical groups

– steampunk band, formerly Gothic rock, goth * Aiden – rock band (emo) * Alice in Chains – rock band ( grunge/Heavy metal music, metal) * Amber Pacific – pop punk band * Band of Horses – previously known as Horses, indie rock band * The Blood Brothers (band), The Blood Brothers – post-hardcore band * Blue Scholars – Hip hop music, hip hop * Brite Futures – indie pop * The Brothers Four – folksingers * Candlebox – alternative band * The Classic Crime – alternative band * Common Market (band), Common Market – hip hop * Dave Matthews Band – originated in Charlottesville, Virginia * Death Cab for Cutie – alternative band * Demon Hunter – metal band * Earth (American band), Earth – drone/doom band * The Fall of Troy (band), The Fall of Troy – post-hardcore band (originally from Mukilteo, Washington) *

– indie rock band * Foo Fighters – rock band * The Gits – rock band * Grand Archives – alternative rock band * Green River (band), Green River – rock band ( grunge) * Harvey Danger – alternative band * He Is We – indie pop * The Head and the Heart – indie rock band * Heart (band), Heart – rock band * Hey Marseilles – alternative band * Himsa – Metalcore band * I Declare War (band), I Declare War – deathcore band * Ivan & Alyosha – pop rock band * Jake One – Hip hop music, hip hop producer * Quincy Jones – jazz musician * KMFDM – Industrial music, industrial band *

and Ryan Lewis – hip hop/rap duo * Melvins - sludge metal band (originally from Montesano, Washington) * Metal Church – metal band * Minus the Bear – alternative rock band * Modest Mouse – indie rock band (from nearby Issaquah, Washington) * Mother Love Bone – rock band (grunge) * Mudhoney (band), Mudhoney – rock band (grunge) * Murder City Devils – rock band (garage rock) * MxPx – rock band (punk rock) *

– metal band * Nirvana (band), Nirvana – rock band (grunge) (originally from Aberdeen, Washington) * Odesza – electronic/experimental * Pearl Jam – rock band (grunge) * Pedro the Lion – indie rock band * Pickwick (band), Pickwick – indie rock band * The Postal Service – indietronica band * The Presidents of the United States of America (band), Presidents of the United States of America – rock band *

– metal band (from nearby Bellevue) * Thee Satisfaction – hip hop/rap duo * Schoolyard Heroes – horror punk/post hardcore (originally from Tacoma, Washington) * The Scene Aesthetic – acoustic/indie pop band * Shabazz Palaces – hip hop/rap duo * Sinai 48 – a rock band that includes the former members of Buckingham Nicks * Smoosh – alternative pop band *

– rock band (grunge) * Sunn O))) – doom metal band * Kyle Townsend – record producer, musician *

– indie rock/pop band * Trial (band), Trial – political straightedge band * Ugly Casanova – indie rock band featuring the main member Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse (from nearby Issaquah, Washington) * Vendetta Red – rock band * The Ventures – surf band

References

{{SeattleWA People from Seattle, Lists of people by city in the United States, Seattle Lists of people from Washington (state), Seattle Seattle-related lists, People