List of people from Pasadena, California

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.

This is a list of notable people from Pasadena, California .

W. C. Fields

Tamala Jones

Eddie Van Halen

Julia Child

Tyler Dorsey

Jackie Robinson

George S. Patton

Sirhan Sirhan

Phoebe Bridgers

Academia

• Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize physicist, Caltech professor, raconteur
• J. Robert Oppenheimer (1904-1967), Caltech professor and later overseer of the Manhattan Project ^[1]
• Murray Gell-Mann (1929-2019), Nobel Prize physicist, Caltech
• George Ellery Hale (1868-1938), astrophysicist, Caltech professor, founder Mount Wilson Observatory
• Edwin Hubble, astronomer, namesake for the Hubble Space Telescope, Caltech professor
• Todd M. Hutton, American medical academic and psychiatrist.
• F.O. Matthiessen (1902-1950), Rhodes Scholar, Harvard professor
• Robert A. Millikan (1868-1953), Nobel Prize physicist
• Brian Stoltz (b. 1970), Professor of organic chemistry at Caltech
• George Olah, Nobel Prize chemist, professor University of Southern California
• Linus Pauling, Nobel Prize-winning chemist, peace activist, Caltech
• Roger Revelle (1909-1991), founder of University of California, San Diego, father of concept of global warming
• William Shockley (1910-1989), Nobel Prize physicist, Caltech professor, inventor of the transistor
• Kip Thorne, Nobel Prize physicist for his contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves, professor, Feynman theoretical physicist, Caltech

Artists and designers

• Benjamin Chambers Brown, artist ^[2]
• Howell Chambers Brown, artist ^[3]
• Sigrid Burton, artist and painter ^[4]
• Edward Cucuel, impressionistic painter
• Rafa Esparza, performance artist
• Eva Scott Fényes, watercolor artist
• A.B. Frost (1851-1928), American illustrator and painter
• Elmer Grey, architect
• Tom Jancar, contemporary art dealer Jancar Kuhlenschmidt Gallery
• Hugo Markl, artist, curator and creative director based in New York
• Jane Mulfinger, conceptual artist and educator ^[5]
• R. Kenton Nelson, painter.
• Stan Sakai, cartoonist best known as creator of Usagi Yojimbo series
• Adele Watson, painter and lithographer

Film and television

This is a partial list of actors, actresses, comedians, film producers, filmmakers, and television personalities.

• Kelly Asbury, film director, writer, illustrator, voice actor ^[6]
• Meredith Baxter, actress
• Walt Becker, film director
• Summer Bishil, actress
• Whitney Blake, actress, director and producer
• Betty Brosmer, bodybuilder, model
• Sophia Bush, actress, TV series One Tree Hill and Chicago P.D. , 82nd Rose Queen for 111th Tournament of Roses Parade (2000)
• Stephen Cannell, author, television and film producer
• Lily Collins, hollywood film actress
• Christy Canyon, pornographic actress
• Cari Champion, former moderator, ESPN First Take
• Jimmy Dore, comedian ^[7]
• Michael Dorn, actor
• Cullen Douglas, actor, director, playwright
• Arthur Duncan, tap dancer
• Mary Beth Evans, actress
• Sally Field, two-time Academy Award-winning actress.
• W.C. Fields, comedian, actor, juggler and writer; died in Pasadena.
• Stan Freberg, comedian, satirist, recording artist.
• Harry Hamlin, actor
• Michelle Horn, actress
• Bret Iwan, fourth voice of Mickey Mouse
• Tamala Jones, actress ^[8]
• Jane Lillig, actress ^[9]
• Matthew Lillard, actor
• Kate Linder, actress
• Joel McCrea, actor
• Richard Moll, actor
• George Nader, actor
• Drew Pinsky, doctor and radio/TV personality
• Chris Pontius, actor/TV personality
• Karen Price, actress
• Kathleen Quinlan, actress
• Robert Reed, actor, best known as Mike Brady in The Brady Bunch television series
• George Reeves, actor, best known as star of television series Adventures of Superman; attended Pasadena Junior College.
• Christian Serratos, actress
• Jamey Sheridan, actor
• John Singleton, film director
• Kathleen Sullivan, television personality
• Charles Walters, film director
• Wil Wheaton, actor, writer
• Jaleel White, actor, producer, writer

Music

This is a partial list of musicians, song writers singers, and band members.

• Jon B., Grammy-nominated R&B singer-songwriter. ^[10]
• Hodgy Beats, rapper
• Phoebe Bridgers, singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer ^[11]
• Dâm-Funk, musician
• Pete Jolly, jazz pianist
• David Lee Roth, lead singer for Van Halen
• Ruwanga Samath, record producer, attended John Muir High School
• Alina Smith, musician
• Phil Spector, music producer
• Teena Marie, singer-songwriter, music producer
• Troop, R&B group
• Alex Van Halen, drummer for Van Halen
• Eddie Van Halen, lead guitarist for Van Halen
• Marc Yu, child music prodigy on piano and viola ^[12]
• Steve Albini, producer and engineer
• Daniel Brummel, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter for Ozma (band) ^[13]

Politicians

This is a partial list of politicians and judges.

• Lance Ito, judge, Los Angeles Superior Court
• Henry Markham (1840-1934), lawyer, politician, 18th governor of California. Resident of Pasadena. ^{[14] [15]}
• Bill Paparian, attorney, veterans' advocate and Mayor of Pasadena. ^[16]
• Bill Richardson, governor of New Mexico ^[17]
• James Roosevelt, U.S. Congressman, son of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
• Mimi Walters, businesswoman and U.S. Congresswoman

Sports

• Stacey Augmon, basketball player
• Myles Bryant, professional football player
• Susie Maxwell Berning, pro golfer
• May Sutton Bundy (1886–1975), first American to win Wimbledon tennis singles title
• Jeff Cirillo, MLB player for six teams
• Michael Cooper, NBA player for Los Angeles Lakers, coach
• Lillian Copeland (1904–1964), Olympic discus champion; set world records in discus, javelin, and shot put
• Tyler Dorsey (born 1996), Greek–American basketball player in the Greek Basketball League playing for Olympiacos
• Darrell Evans, MLB player
• Missy Franklin, swimmer, 5-time Olympic gold medalist
• Kristy Hawkins, IFBB professional bodybuilder
• Mary Ann Hawkins, surfer, swimmer and stunt double
• Charles Frederick Holder, inventor of big-game fishing and a founder of Pasadena's Tournament of Roses ^{[18] [19]}
• Ally Lemos, soccer player ^[20]
• Chris McAlister, professional football player
• James McAlister, professional football player
• Mo Martin, LPGA golfer, 2014 British Open champion
• Inger Miller, track and field sprint athlete
• George Murdoch, WWE wrestler
• Tracy Murray, NBA Player
• Chris Pettit, MLB outfielder ^[21]
• Durell Price, UCLA fullback ^[22]
• Jackie Robinson, civil rights icon and Hall of Fame baseball player
• Mack Robinson, Olympic athlete, brother of Jackie Robinson
• Don Ross, Major League Baseball player
• Ashley Sanchez, soccer player for the United States
• Mark Smith, MLB player for five teams
• Stan Smith, professional tennis player, namesake of Stan Smith Tennis Shoe
• Brett Sterling, professional ice hockey player
• Brian Teacher, Australian Open tennis champion
• Lester Towns, professional football player
• Chase Utley, baseball player, Los Angeles Dodgers
• Peter Vagenas, soccer player
• Jacque Vaughn, professional basketball player and former head coach of the Brooklyn Nets
• Avery Williams, running back for the Atlanta Falcons
• Matt Young, MLB player for Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Indians.
• Jeff Yurak, MLB player for Milwaukee Brewers

Writers and journalists

• Carlton Beals (1893–1979), journalist
• Julie Berry, children's author
• Octavia Butler, award-winning science-fiction writer
• Otis Chandler, publisher, Los Angeles Times
• Justin Chapman, journalist, author, actor
• Julia Child, celebrated author and television chef
• Andre Coleman, Award-winning journalist and screenwriter
• Nahshon Dion, Award-winning creative non-fiction writer ^[23]
• Winifred Starr Dobyns, author of California Gardens (1931)
• Harriet Doerr, author, winner of the National Book Award
• David Ebershoff, writer
• Paul Fussell, critic and historian
• Mary Catherine Judd, educator, author, peace activist
• TJ Kirk, commentator and author
• Kathryn Le Veque, author
• Ottessa Moshfegh, author

Others

• G. Vernon Bennett, Los Angeles City Council member, 1935–49
• Owen Brown (abolitionist) (1824–1889), son of John Brown, along with his brother Jason, his sister Ruth Brown Thompson, a teacher, and her husband ^[24]
• Frederick Russell Burnham (1861–1947), celebrated scout and inspiration for the Boy Scouts ^[25]
• Howard Burnham (1870–1917), mining engineer and spy ^[26]
• Jeanne C. Smith Carr, educator, author
• Sheryl Cooper, dancer, dance instructor, and wife of the singer Alice Cooper
• Steve Crocker, internet engineer, member of the Internet Hall of Fame
• Gregory C. Horn, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral
• Myron Hunt, architect of Rose Bowl
• Howard W. Hunter, 14th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Joseph J. Jacobs, engineer and founder of Jacobs Engineering Group
• Lucy Jones, seismologist
• Florence E. Kollock (1848–1925), Universalist minister and lecturer
• Jack Parsons, rocket scientist and occultist
• George S. Patton (attorney) (1856–1927), city attorney (1877) for City of Pasadena ^[27]
• George S. Patton, four-star general, led Allies during World War II
• George F. Regas, rector of All Saints Episcopal Church 1967–1995, noted critic of U.S. involvement in Vietnam war as well as many other policy issues
• Ellen Browning Scripps, heiress, publisher, philanthropist
• Alvin Simon, restaurateur who revitalized Old Pasadena
• Sirhan Sirhan, resident of Pasadena at the time of assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy
• John Patten Story, U.S. Army major general ^[28]
• Bertha L. Turner caterer, cookbook author, and community leader in Pasadena; active within the National Federation of Colored Women
• John Van De Kamp, attorney general of California
• Duong Van Minh, exiled president of South Vietnam
• Fawn Weaver is an American entrepreneur and author, and co-founder of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey.
• William Wrigley Jr., founder of Wrigley Chewing Gum, former owner of Chicago Cubs ^[29]

See also

See also: Category:People from Pasadena, California

References

1. "The Life of J. Robert Oppenheimer: Life Before the Manhattan Project (U.S. National Park Service)".
2. "Benjamin Chambers Brown". California Art Club. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
3. "Howell Chambers Brown". Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF). September 21, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
4. Pasadena Outlook. "PCC Foundation Welcomes Local Artist," Pasadena Outlook, April 11, 2019.
5. University of California, Santa Barbara. Jane Mulfinger, Faculty. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
6. "Kelly Asbury". Museum of the Gulf Coast. Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
7. "Pasadena-Based Political Comedian Jimmy Dore Buys Rambling L.A. Compound". Pasadena Now. December 20, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2022. In Pasadena, Dore and his longtime partner Stefane Zamorano, resided in a petite two-bedroom bungalow they bought in 1997 for $177,000
8. "Tamala Jones".
9. "Music Woman". Pasadena Independent. June 27, 1960. p. 16. Retrieved November 10, 2025.
10. "About Jon B." MTV. Viacom. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Songwriter, producer, vocalist, and instrumentalist Jon B. brought a distinctive focus on smooth melodies to contemporary R&B.; Born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and raised in Pasadena, California, Jon B. (short for Jonathan Buck) was the son of a professor of music and a concert pianist.
11. Exposito, Suzy (April 7, 2022). "How Phoebe Bridgers found 'fun in the darkness'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Bridgers, born and raised in Pasadena, was in high school then, a pale whisper of a punk girl who had yet to get her ears pierced.
12. "Piano Prodigy's Mantra: Practice Makes Perfect". NPR. July 17, 2008. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Marc Yu, a 9-year-old piano prodigy from Pasadena, Calif., recently played at a benefit for victims of the earthquake in Sichuan, China.
13. "Live Music Report". Pasadena Now. Archived from the original on November 8, 2025. Retrieved November 8, 2025. Daniel Brummel and Jose Galvez are members of the Pasadena-based alternative rock band Ozma, known for their new wave-influenced power pop.
14. "Death Takes Former Governor H. H. Markham". The Sacramento Bee . Pasadena, California. AP. October 9, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved June 3, 2021– via newspapers.com.
15. "The Governor's Gallery - Henry Harrison Markham (1891–1895)". governors.library.ca.gov. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
16. "Pasadena Criminal Defense Attorney Bill Paparian Recognized by Pasadena Weekly Newspaper for his Work on Behalf of Veterans". Archived from the original on October 15, 2012.
17. "Richardson, Bill, 1947 November 15- - LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies | Library of Congress, from LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies (Library of Congress)".
18. The History of The Tuna Club of Avalon Archived 2007-07-23 at archive.today
19. International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame Archived 2008-10-16 at the Wayback Machine
20. "Orlando Pride signs midfielder Ally Lemos to a new contract". Orlando Pride . June 30, 2025. Retrieved August 6, 2025.
21. "Christopher Michael Pettit". Baseball-Reference.Com. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
22. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 17, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
23. "New York State Council on the Arts Grants Award List" (PDF). arts.ny.gov/. November 6, 2024. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
24. Nixson, Una B. (July 23, 1893). "John Brown's Family — The Man of Harper's Ferry Fame — His Sons and Daughter. Visit to Their Homes in Pasadena. California. One Who Has Suffered Intensely and Lived Above the Petty Annoyances of Life". The Inter Ocean (Chicago, Illinois). p. 13 – via newspapers.com.
25. Burnham, Frederick Russell (1926). Scouting on Two Continents. Doubleday, Page & company. OCLC   407686.
26. Burnham, Frederick Russell (1944). Taking Chances. Haynes Corp. 217–232. ISBN   1-879356-32-5.
27. "George S. Patton". joincalifornia.com. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
28. Association of Graduates of the United States Military Academy (1915). Annual Reunion Proceedings. Vol. 46. Saginaw, MI: Seemann & Peters. pp. 52–55 – via Google Books.
29. Tournament House