List of people from San Diego

Template:Short description Template:Alumni Template:Use mdy dates This is a list of notable people who were born, spent a majority of their life, or currently live in San Diego, California. Template:Compact TOC

A

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

B

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

C

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

D

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

E

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

F

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

G

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

H

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

I

• Gabriel Iglesias, stand-up comedian
• Christofer Drew Ingle, musician
• Doug Ingle, founder of band Iron Butterfly, primary creator of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, first platinum record
• Darrell Issa, U.S. representative

J

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

K

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

L

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

M

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

N

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

O

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

P

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

R

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

S

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

T

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

U

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

V

• W.S. Van Dyke, film director
• Tiffany van Soest, kickboxer
• Tommy Vardell, professional football player
• Juan Vargas, U.S. representative and former California state senator, state assembyman, and San Diego City Councillor
• Eddie Vedder, singer in rock band Pearl Jam
• Juli Veee, soccer player
• Craig Venter, biologist, entrepreneur
• Victor Villaseñor, author
• Erik von Detten, actor (Toy Story, The Princess Diaries)

W

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

Y

• Nick Young, actor (Friend of the World)

Z

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