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Famous People from Washington


Paul Gardner Allen (1953 - ) An American philanthropist, investor and innovator. Best known as the co-founder of Microsoft with Bill Gates. He is the founder and chairman of Vulcan Inc. Born in Seattle, WA (1014)

Herman Carl Andersen (1897 - 1978) A U.S. Representative from Minnesota from 1939 to 1963. Born in Newcastle, WA (1237)

Bob Barker (1923 - ) Former host of the popular television show The Price is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history. Born in Darrington, WA (623)

Bob Bartlett (1904 - 1968) Born Edward Lewis Bartlett. Congressman for Alaska that fought for Alaskan statehood. Born in Seattle, WA (16)

Glenn Beck (1964 - ) An American television personality and radio host, conservative political commentator, author, television network producer, filmmaker and entrepreneur. Born in Everett, WA (1015)

Bruce Bennett (1906 - 2007) Born Harold Herman Brix. An American actor and Olympic silver medalist in the shot put. Born in Tacoma, WA (1016)

Barbara Berjer (1920 - 2002) A well-known American television actress. One of the few actors in daytime history to be featured on two soap operas at the same time. Born in Seattle, WA (1017)

Josie Bissett (1970 - ) Born Jolyn Christine Heutmaker. An American actress best known for her role as Jane Mancini on the television series Melrose Place. Born in Seattle, WA (1018)

Linda B. Buck (1947 - ) 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. Born in Seattle, WA (1019)

Dyan Cannon (1937 - ) Born Samille Diane Friesen. An American film and television actress, director, screenwriter, editor, and producer. Born in Tacoma, WA (1020)

Jerry Fulton Cantrell (1966 - ) An American guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known for his work with the rock band Alice in Chains, as lead guitarist, backing and co-lead vocalist, and co-lyricist. Born in Tacoma, WA (1021)

Jim Caviezel (1968 - ) An American film actor. Best known for portraying Jesus Christ in the film The Passion of the Christ. Born in Mount Vernon, WA (1022)

Carol Channing (1921 - ) An American actress, singer, dancer, comedian and voice artist. Born in Seattle, WA (1023)

Dale Chihuly (1941 - ) An American glass sculptor and entrepreneur. Born in Tacoma, WA (1024)

Louis Chirillo (1961 - ) An American actor and voice actor. He is famous for voicing Keefe in Zoids: Fuzors. His most famous role is in Johnny Test, where he voices Dukey the Talking Dog. Born in Seattle, WA (1025)

Erika Jane Christensen (1982 - ) An American actress whose film appearances include Traffic, Swimfan and The Perfect Score, among others. Born in Seattle, WA (1026)

Chuck Close (1940 - ) An American painter and photographer who achieved fame as a photorealist, through his massive-scale portraits. Born in Monroe, WA (1027)

Kurt Cobain (1967 - 1994) An American musician. Best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Nirvana. Born in Aberdeen, WA (624)

Judy Collins (1939 - ) An American singer and songwriter. She is known for her eclectic tastes. She has recorded folk, show tunes, pop, and rock and roll). Born in Seattle, WA (1028)

Chris Cornell (1964 - ) Born Christopher John Boyle. An American rock musician best known as the lead vocalist for Soundgarden. He is known as one of the architects of the 90s grunge movement. Born in Seattle, WA (1029)

Fred Couples (1959 - ) Professional golfer on the PGA tour. Also known as "Boom Boom" for his long drives when he golfs. Born in Seattle, WA (620)

Randy Couture (1963 - ) A 6-time World Champion and Hall of Famer in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He is also a businessman, author and actor. Born in Lynnwood, WA (1688)

Bing Crosby (1903 - 1977) Born Harry Lillis Crosby, Jr. Singer and actor who became one of the first multi-media stars. He was one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century. Born in Tacoma, WA (615)

Howard Green Duff (1913 - 1990) An American actor of film, television, stage, and radio. Born in Charleston, WA (1030)

John Elway (1960 - ) Former American football quarterback. He played his entire 16-year professional career with the Denver Broncos. Born in Port Angeles, WA (57)

Frances Elena Farmer (1913 - 1970) An American actress of stage and screen and television host. She is perhaps better known for sensationalized and fictional accounts of her life, and especially her involuntary commitment to a mental hospital. Born in Seattle, WA (1031)

Kenny G (1956 - ) Born Kenneth Bruce Gorelick. An American saxophonist. He is the biggest-selling instrumental musician of the modern era and one of the best-selling artists of all time. Born in Seattle, WA (1032)

Nathan Gamble (1998 - ) An American child actor who made his feature film debut in Babel for which he was nominated for a 2007 Young Artist Award. Born in Tacoma, WA (1033)

Bill Gates (1955 - ) Born William Henry Gates III. An American business magnate, philanthropist, investor, computer programmer, and inventor. He co-founded Microsoft, the world's largest PC software company. Born in Seattle, WA (617)

Cam Gigandet (1982 - ) An American actor, perhaps best known for portraying the character of Kevin Volchok on the television series The O.C., and Ryan McCarthy in the film Never Back Down. Born in Tacoma, WA (1034)

Vernon Van Atta Greene (1908 - 1965) A prolific cartoonist and illustrator who worked on several comic strips and was best known for his artwork on Bringing Up Father. Born in Battle Ground, WA (1035)



Ivar Haglund (1905 - 1985) A Seattle folk singer and restaurateur. He opened Seattle's first aquarium along with a fish and chips counter and later a restaurant called Ivar's Acres of Clams. Born in Seattle, WA (1036)

Jimi Hendrix (1942 - 1970) Born Johnny Allen Hendrix. An American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. One of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music. Born in Seattle,, WA (616)

Frank Herbert, Jr. (1920 - 1986) A critically acclaimed and commercially successful American science fiction author. He is best known for his novels, most notably Dune and its five sequels. Born in Tacoma, WA (1037)

Steven Hill (1922 - ) Born Solomon Krakovsky. An American film and television actor. Best known for his roles on the TV series Law & Order and Mission: Impossible. Born in Seattle, WA (1038)

Peter Horton (1953 - ) An American actor and director. Best known for his role as Prof. Gary Shepherd on the popular television series Thirtysomething. Born in Bellevue, WA (1039)

Frederick Charles Hutchinson (1919 - 1964) An American professional baseball player. He was a major league pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. He also was a manager for three major league teams. The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center was created in his honor. Born in Seattle, WA (1040)

Chuck Jones (1912 - 2002) An American animator, cartoon artist, screenwriter, producer, and director of animated films, most memorably of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. Born in Spokane, WA (1043)

Richard Karn (1956 - ) Born Richard Karn Wilson. An American actor and game show host. He is probably best known for his role as Al Borland on the sitcom Home Improvement (1991-1999) and also known as the host on Family Feud (2002-2006). Born in Seattle, WA (1044)

Hank Ketcham (1920 - 2001) An American cartoonist who created the Dennis the Menace comic strip, writing and drawing it from 1951 to 1994. Born in Seattle, WA (1045)

Gary Larson (1950 - ) An American cartoonist and creator of The Far Side, a single-panel comic strip which appeared in many newspapers for fifteen years until Larson's retirement on January 1, 1995. Born in Tacoma, WA (1046)

Gypsy Rose Lee (1911 - 1970) An American burlesque entertainer, famous for her striptease act. She was also an actress, author and playwright. Born in Seattle, WA (1047)

Kenny Loggins (1948 - ) An American singer-songwriter and guitarist. Known for soft rock music. Born in Everett, WA (618)

Phil Mahre (1957 - ) A former World Cup alpine ski racer. Regarded as one of the greatest American skiers of all time. Born in Yakima, WA (625)

Kerwin Mathews (1926 - 2007) An American actor best known for his roles in The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, The Three Worlds of Gulliver, and Jack the Giant Killer. Born in Seattle, WA (1291)

Kevin McCarthy (1914 - 2010) An American stage, film, and television actor who appeared in over 200 television and film roles. Born in Seattle, WA (1048)

Mary Therese McCarthy (1912 - 1989) An American author, critic, and political activist. Sister of actor Kevin McCarthy. Born in Seattle, WA (1049)

Darren McGavin (1922 - 2006) Born William Lyle Richardson. An American actor best known for his role as the father in the film A Christmas Story and for the title role in the TV horror series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Born in Spokane, WA (1051)

Apolo Anton Ohno (1982 - ) A retired American short track speed skating competitor and an eight-time medalist (two gold, two silver, four bronze) in the Winter Olympics. Born in Seattle, WA (1052)

Janis Paige (1922 - ) Born Donna Mae Tjaden. An American film, musical theatre and television actress. Born in Tacoma, WA (1053)

Pamela Reed (1949 - ) An American actress. She played opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in Kindergarten Cop and has a recurring role on the sitcom Parks and Recreation. Born in Tacoma, WA (1055)

Jimmie F Rodgers (1933 - ) Born James Frederick Rodgers. An American popular music singer. Born in Camas, WA (1056)

Dick Scobee (1939 - 1984) Born Francis Richard Scobee. An American astronaut. He was killed commanding the Space Shuttle Challenger. Born in Cle Elum, WA (626)

Kyle Ivan Secor (1957 - ) An American television and movie actor. Best known for his role as Detective Tim Bayliss on the crime drama Homicide: Life on the Street. Born in Tacoma, WA (1058)

Quintin Sondergaard (1925 - 1984) An American actor principally active on television westerns from 1957-1970. Born in Seattle, WA (1059)

John Stockton (1962 - ) A retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career (1984-2003) with the Utah Jazz. He is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals. Born in Spokane, WA (1060)

Julia Anne Sweeney (1959 - ) An American actress, comedian and author. Best known for her Saturday Night Live career and autobiographical solo shows. Born in Spokane, WA (1061)

Brian Thompson (1959 - ) An American character actor. Most of his roles have been in the action adventure and science fiction genres. Born in Ellensburg, WA (1062)

Blair Underwood (1964 - ) An American television, stage and film actor and director. Best known as for his role as Jonathan Rollins from the legal drama L.A. Law, a role he portrayed for seven years. Born in Tacoma, WA (1063)

Adam West (1928 - ) Born William West Anderson. An American actor best known for his lead role in the 1960s TV series Batman and the film of the same name. Born in Seattle, WA (1064)

Sammy Charles White (1928 - 1991) A Major League Baseball catcher and right-handed batter who played with the Boston Red Sox (1951-59), Milwaukee Braves (1961) and Philadelphia Phillies (1962) Born in Wenatchee, WA (1065)

Bernie Whitebear (1937 - 2000) Birth name Bernard Reyes. An American Indian activist, a co-founder of the Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB), the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation, and the Daybreak Star Cultural Center. Born in Nespelem, WA (1066)