List of people from San Francisco

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The people listed below were all born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with San Francisco, California.

• Ansel Adams (1902–1984), photographer
• Arthur Adams (b. 1963), comic book artist known for his work on Longshot and Monkeyman and O'Brien.^[1][2]
• Ruth Asawa (1926-2013), sculptor
• Warren Eugene Brandon (1916–1977), painter
• Beniamino Benvenuto Bufano (1890–1970), sculptor
• Lenore Chinn (b. 1949), painter^[3]
• Larry Gonick (b. 1946), cartoonist
• Jo Hanson (1918-2007), environmental artist and activist
• Ester Hernandez (b. 1944), Chicana artist
• Charles Dorman Robinson (1847–1933), painter
• Richard Serra (b. 1939), minimalist sculptor and video artist
• William Ware Theiss (1930–1992), costume designer
• Beatrice Wood (1893–1998), ceramicist

• Isadora Duncan (1877–1927), "mother" of modern dance

• David Butler (1894–1979), film director, actor, writer and producer
• Francis Ford Coppola (b. 1939), movie director, writer, producer, winery owner, San Francisco restaurateur
• Sofia Coppola (b. 1971), director
• Delmer Daves (1904-1977), director
• Clint Eastwood (b. 1930), director, actor, producer
• David Fincher (b. 1962), director
• Mervyn LeRoy (1900–1987), director, producer, actor
• George Lucas (b. 1944), director and producer
• Andy Luckey (b. 1965), TV writer, producer, director
• Walter Shenson (1919-2000), film producer
• Jay Ward (1920–1989), creator and producer of animated TV series

• Tony Bennett (1926–2023), singer, signature song "I Left My Heart in San Francisco"
• Mike Bordin (b. 1962), drummer for Faith No More and Ozzy Osbourne
• Paul Bostaph (b. 1964), heavy metal drummer
• Cliff Burton (1962-1986), bass guitarist for thrash metal band Metallica
• Craig Chaquico (b. 1954), rock, jazz and new age guitarist
• Todd Tamanend Clark (b. 1952), poet and composer
• Greg Errico (b. 1946), drummer for many bands, most notably Sly & the Family Stone
• Maude Fay (1878–1964), operatic dramatic soprano
• Lars Frederiksen, member of band Rancid
• Jerry Garcia (1942–1995), psychedelic and folk-rock guitarist and singer
• Vince Guaraldi (1928–1976), jazz musician and pianist
• Kirk Hammett (b. 1962), lead guitarist for thrash metal band Metallica
• Cindy Herron (b. 1961), R&B singer
• Gary Holt (b. 1964), thrash metal guitarist for Exodus
• Tiffany Hwang (b. 1989), member of pop group Girls' Generation
• Chris Isaak (b. 1956), singer and musician
• Jessica Jung (b. 1989), former member of pop group Girls' Generation
• Krystal Jung (b. 1994), member of pop group f(x)
• Paul Kantner (1941–2016), rock musician and co-founder of the band Jefferson Airplane
• Huey Lewis (b. 1950), rock singer, raised in Marin County.
• Courtney Love (b. 1964), singer and actress
• Dmitri Matheny (b. 1965), jazz flugelhornist
• Johnny Mathis (b. 1935), pop singer
• Chante Moore (b. 1967), R&B and jazz singer
• Kristina Olsen (b. 1957), folk singer-songwriter
• Tim Pagnotta (b. 1977), guitarist
• Rappin' 4-Tay (Anthony Forte) (b. 1968), rapper
• Carlos Santana (b. 1947), rock, blues, and salsa guitarist and singer
• Tupac Shakur (1971-1996), rapping legend, lived in Bay Area
• Deke Sharon (b. 1967), a cappella singer The House Jacks
• Ross Valory (b. 1949), bass player for many bands, most notably Journey
• Martha Wash (b. 1953), R&B, Soul, and pop singer
• Kevin Woo (b. 1991), member of Korean boygroup U-Kiss

• David Belasco (1853–1931), playwright
• Greg Downs (b. 1971), short-story writer
• Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1919-2021), poet, co-founder of City Lights Bookstore
• Robert Frost (1874–1963), iconic poet
• Adam Gidwitz (born 1982), children's book author
• Clay Meredith Greene (1850-1933), playwright, theatre director, actor
• Dashiell Hammett (1894–1961), author of hard-boiled detective novels
• Daniel Handler (b. 1970), better known as Lemony Snicket
• Shirley Jackson (1916–1965)
• Alan Kaufman (b. 1952), author, poet, editor
• Gus Lee (b. 1946), Asian-American author
• Fritz Reuter Leiber, Jr. (1910–1992), author of science fiction novels
• Daniel Levitin (b. 1957), writer, scientist, musician
• Jack London (1876–1916), writer
• Armistead Maupin (b. 1944), writer
• Carol Anne O'Marie (1933–2009), Roman Catholic nun, mystery writer
• Peter Plate, author
• Gary Snyder (b. 1930), poet
• Joseph Staten, writer (Halo: Contact Harvest)
• Michelle Tea, author, poet, editor
• Walter Tevis (1928–1994), author, The Hustler
• Robert Alfred Theobald (1884–1957), US Navy Rear Admiral, author of The Final Secret of Pearl Harbor
• Naomi Wolf (b. 1962), writer
• Laurence Yep (b. 1948), Asian-American writer
• Helen Zia (b. 1952), writer, journalist, and activist

The following Major League Baseball players were born in San Francisco:

• Jim Baxes (1928-1996), third baseman
• Ping Bodie (1887–1961), outfielder
• Fred Breining (b. 1955), pitcher for San Francisco Giants (1980–1984)
• Dolph Camilli (1907–1997), first baseman
• Ike Caveney (1894–1949), shortstop
• Gino Cimoli (1929–2011), outfielder^[4]
• Joe Corbett (1875–1945), pitcher
• Joe Cronin (1906–1984), infielder, Baseball Hall of Fame^[4]
• Frankie Crosetti (1910–2002), shortstop and coach^[4]
• Tim Cullen (b. 1942), infielder^[4]
• Babe Dahlgren (1912–1996), first baseman^[4]
• Joe DeMaestri (1928–2016), shortstop
• Dom DiMaggio (1917-2009), outfielder
• Bob Elliott (1916–1966), player and manager^[4]
• Jim Fregosi (1942–2014), player and manager^[4]
• Jonny Gomes (b. 1980), outfielder for Boston Red Sox
• Herb Gorman (1924–1953), player in one MLB game
• Harry Heilmann (1894–1951), outfielder, Baseball Hall of Fame^[4]
• Keith Hernandez (b. 1953), first baseman^[4]
• Jackie Jensen (1927–1982), also in the College Football Hall of Fame^[4]
• Eddie Joost (1916-2011), player and manager
• Willie Kamm (1900–1988), third baseman
• George Kelly (1895–1984), first baseman, Baseball Hall of Fame^[4]
• Mark Koenig (1904-1993), infielder for 1927 New York Yankees
• Tony Lazzeri (1903–1946), infielder, Baseball Hall of Fame
• Nyjer Morgan (b. 1980), outfielder for Milwaukee Brewers
• Charlie Sweeney (1863–1902), pitcher
• Mike Vail (b. 1951), outfielder
• Tyler Walker (b. 1976), relief pitcher for Washington Nationals

See San Francisco Giants#Baseball Hall of Famers for San Francisco Giants players in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

• Jason Kidd (b. 1973)
• Tom Meschery (b. 1938)
• Pete Newell (1915-2008), Olympic and USF coach
• Bill Russell (1934-2022), led USF to two NCAA championships
• Phil Smith (1952–2002)
• Phil Woolpert (1915-1987), San Francisco high school and college coach

• Abe Attell (1884-1970), world featherweight champion
• James J. Corbett (1866-1933), World Heavyweight Champion
• Andre Ward (b. 1984), 2004 Olympics light heavyweight gold medal winner

• Ed Berry (b. 1963), NFL defensive back for Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers^[5]
• Tom Brady (b. 1977), NFL quarterback for New England Patriots and two-time NFL most valuable player^[6]
• Tedy Bruschi (b. 1973), NFL linebacker for New England Patriots^[7]
• Al Cowlings (b. 1947), USC and NFL defensive lineman
• Chris Darkins (b. 1974), NFL running back for Green Bay Packers^[8]
• Eddie Forrest (1921–2001), NFL offensive lineman for San Francisco 49ers^[9]
• Jason Hill (b. 1985), NFL wide receiver for Jacksonville Jaguars^[10]
• Mike Holmgren (b. 1948), NFL head coach for Green Bay Packers and president of Cleveland Browns^[11]
• James Hundon (b. 1971), NFL player^[12]
• Joe Montana (b. 1956), NFL quarterback for San Francisco 49ers, inductee into Pro Football Hall of Fame
• John Nisby (1936–2011), NFL guard with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins; one of the first African American players to play for the Washington Redskins^[13]
• Igor Olshansky (b. 1982), NFL defensive end for Dallas Cowboys^[14]
• Jerry Rice (b. 1962), NFL wide receiver for San Francisco 49ers, inductee into Pro Football Hall of Fame
• O. J. Simpson (b. 1947), NFL running back with Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers (1985); inductee into Pro Football Hall of Fame; previously, City College of San Francisco and USC running back^[15]
• Donald Strickland (b. 1980), current NFL cornerback for the New York Jets^[16]
• Eric Wright (b. 1985), NFL cornerback for Detroit Lions^[17]
• Steve Young (b. 1961), NFL quarterback for San Francisco 49ers, inductee into Pro Football Hall of Fame

• Johnny Miller (b. 1947), professional golfer, TV commentator
• Ken Venturi (1931–2013), professional golfer, TV commentator

• Vicki Draves (1924-2010), two-time Olympic gold medalist
• Laird Hamilton (b. 1964), surfer
• Jeremy McGrath (b. 1971), MX rider
• Jonny Moseley (b. 1975), freestyle skiing
• Brooks Orpik (b. 1980), NHL player for the Washington Capitals
• Bill Schaadt (1924-1995), fly fisherman
• Emerson Spencer (1906-1985), Olympic track and field gold medalist
• Al Young (b. 1946), drag racing world champion

• Albert Abrams (1863–1924), inventor of medical equipment in the field of Electricity therapy
• Melvin Belli (1907-1996), lawyer known as "The King of Torts", died in San Francisco
• Donald Fisher (1928-2009), co-founder of the Gap clothing company
• Gordon Getty (b. 1934), oil philanthropist and composer
• Jess Jackson (1930–2011), wine entrepreneur and founder of Kendall-Jackson wine company
• Pete McDonough (1872—1947), Bail Bonds Broker, called "the Fountainhead of Corruption" in 1937 police graft investigation
• Morris Meyerfeld Jr. (1855–1935), German-born entrepreneur and theater owner (Orpheum Vaudeville Circuit)
• Gordon E. Moore (b. 1929), co-founder of Intel Corporation, author of Moore's law
• Michael Moritz (b. 1954), venture capitalist at Sequoia Capital
• Craig Newmark (b. 1951), founder of Craigslist
• Charles R. Schwab (b. 1937), businessman, founder of Schwab investment firm
• Theresa Sparks (b. 1949), CEO of multimillion-dollar sex toy company Good Vibrations
• Richard M. Tobin, (1866-1952), president of Hibernia Bank and Minister to the Netherlands

• Ambrose Bierce (1842–1913), journalist
• Ben Blank (c.1921–2009), television graphics innovator^[18]
• Herb Caen (1916-1997), newspaper columnist
• Tucker Carlson (b. 1969), television political commentator
• C.H. Garrigues (1902–1974), jazz reviewer
• William Randolph Hearst (1863–1951), newspaper magnate and publisher
• Lewis Lapham (b. 1935), editor of Harper's
• Kent Ninomiya, journalist
• Lincoln Steffens (1866–1936), journalist

See also List of mayors of San Francisco, California

• Jewett W. Adams (1835–1920), fourth Governor of Nevada; resident of San Francisco.^[19]
• Luis Antonio Argüello (1784–1830), first governor of Alta California^[20]
• Earle D. Baker (1888–1987), Los Angeles City Council member, 1951–59
• George W.C. Baker, Los Angeles City Council member, 1931–35
• Stephen Breyer (b. 1938), United States Supreme Court Associate Justice
• Jerry Brown (b. 1938), former Governor of California, former Mayor of Oakland, former California Attorney General
• Pat Brown (1905–1996), former Governor of California
• Willie Brown (b. 1934), Mayor of San Francisco, 1996–2004, Speaker of the California State Assembly, 1980–1995
• Christopher Augustine Buckley ("Blind Boss" Buckley, 1845–1922), Democratic Party boss
• Dianne Feinstein (1933–2023), San Francisco's first female mayor (1978–1988) and U.S. Senator (1992–2023)
• Joseph Flores (1900–1981), Governor of Guam
• C.J. Goodell, Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal (1945–1953)
• Peter D. Hannaford (1932–2015), aide to Ronald W. Reagan; author, public relations consultant
• Robert McNamara (1916–2009), former Secretary of Defense
• Gavin Newsom (b. 1967), current Governor of California
• José de Jesús Noé (1805–1862), was the last alcalde of Yerba Buena, which became San Francisco after the Mexican-American War.
• Nancy Pelosi (b. 1940), Congresswoman, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Caspar Weinberger (1917–2006), former Secretary of Defense

• James Millikin Bevans (1899–1977), US Air Force Major General
• Melrose Bickerstaff, runner-up of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 7
• Robert L. Fair (1923–1983), US Army Lieutenant General, Silver Star winner
• Abigail Folger (1943–1969), Folgers coffee heiress
• Richard Gage, architect, 9/11 activist
• Clifford Geertz (1926–2006), anthropologist
• Stephen Herrero, biologist, bear expert
• William Harrington Leahy (1904–1986), US Navy Rear Admiral
• Jim Jones (1931–1978), cult leader
• Julia Morgan (1872–1957), architect
• G. S. Patrick, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral, Navy Cross winner
• Tye Leung Schulze (1887–1972), interpreter and first Chinese-American woman to vote in a US primary election
• William T. Shorey (1859–1919), first black San Francisco sea captain
• Jacob Weisman (b. 1965), publisher of Tachyon Publications
• John W. Young (1930-2018), astronaut
• John C. Young (1912-1987), US Army Colonel, Chinatown leader
• The Zodiac Killer, unidentified serial killer active in the 1960s
• Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. (1920–2000), US Navy Admiral

• Maya Angelou, poet
• William Bayer, crime fiction writer
• Ambrose Bierce, journalist and author
• Clark Blaise, Canadian author
• Marian and Vivian Brown (1927-2013/2014), socialites
• Willie Brown, former San Francisco mayor
• Victor Burgin, artist
• Herb Caen, newspaper columnist
• Vanessa Carlton, singer
• Carol Channing, actress and comedian
• Cheerleader Melissa, pro wrestler
• Chris Columbus, film director
• Francis Ford Coppola, film director
• Eleanor Dumont (Madame Moustache), professional card dealer and gambler
• Andrew Smith Hallidie, promoter of the first cable car line
• George Hearst, politician
• Phoebe Hearst, first woman Regent of the University of California
• James Hetfield (b. 1963), singer and rhythm guitarist for thrash metal band Metallica
• Sargent Johnson, African-American sculptor
• Philip Kaufman, film director
• Jason Kidd, NBA player
• Dorothea Lange, photographer
• CoCo Lee, CantoPop singer and actress
• James Lick, real estate investor
• Charlotte Mailliard Shultz, CVO (b. 1933), philanthropist, socialite
• Cheech Marin, film actor
• Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, activists, first same-sex couple to get a marriage license in San Francisco
• Kirke Mechem, composer
• Midori, author and (kinky) sex educator
• Harvey Milk, former city supervisor of San Francisco
• The Mitchell brothers, Jim and Artie, adult industry pioneers
• Matt Nathanson, singer/musician
• Emperor Norton, Gold Rush entrepreneur, eccentric, egalitarian and original visionary of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
• Gary Payton, NBA player (native of Oakland)
• Linda Perry, lead singer of 4 Non Blondes
• William Chapman Ralston, founder of the Bank of California
• The Residents, Avant-Garde music and visual arts group
• Anne Rice, author
• Tina Root, ex-vocalist of the now defunct darkwave band Switchblade Symphony
• Kevin Rose, founder of digg.com
• Michael Savage, conservative radio personality
• Tabe Slioor, socialite, reporter, photographer
• Danielle Steel, author
• Dale J. Stephens, author
• Robert Louis Stevenson (from 1879–1880)
• Sharon Stone, actress
• Amy Tan (b. 1952), author
• Mark Twain, author
• Lars Ulrich, (b. 1963), drummer for thrash metal band Metallica
• Wayne Wang, film director
• Robert Wartenberg, neurologist
• Oscar Wilde, author and playwright, spent 1882 there
• Cecil Williams, pastor
• Robin Williams, actor
• David Woodard, conductor
• Martin Yan, television chef
• Arthur Wolcott Yates, U.S. Army general

• Abrams, Albert (1863–1924), inventor
• Allen, Gracie (1895–1964), comedian
• Argüello, Luis Antonio (1784–1830)
• Attell, Abe (1884–1970), boxer
• Belasco, David (1853–1931), playwright
• Bixby, Bill (1934–1993), actor
• Blanc, Mel (1908–1989), voiceover actor
• Bodie, Ping (1887-1961), baseball center fielder
• Bonds, Barry (b. 1964), baseball player
• Bonds, Bobby (1946–2003), baseball player
• Bonet, Lisa (b. 1967), actress
• Bratt, Benjamin (b. 1963), actor
• Breyer, Stephen (b. 1938), jurist
• Brown, Jerry (b. 1938), politician
• Brown, Pat (1905–1996), politician
• Camilli, Dolph (1907-1997), baseball first baseman
• Carlson, Tucker (b. 1969), political commentator
• Chaquico, Craig (b. 1954), guitarist
• Cho, Margaret (b. 1968), comedian, actress
• Cimoli, Gino (1929-2011), baseball athlete
• Corbett, Joe (1875-1945), baseball player
• Criss, Darren (b. 1987), singer
• Cronin, Joe (1906-1984), baseball player
• Crosetti, Frankie (1910–2002), baseball player
• Cullen, Tim (b. 1942), politician
• Dahlgren, Babe (1912–1996), baseball player
• DeMaestri, Joe (1928-2016), baseball player
• DiMaggio, Dom (1917-2009), baseball player and the brother of Joe DiMaggio
• Downs, Greg (b. 1971), writer
• Dumont, Eleanor (1834–1879), also known as Madame Moustache, professional card dealer and gambler
• Duncan, Isadora (1877–1927), dancer
• Elliott, Bob (1916-1966), baseball third baseman
• Fee, Ben, (????-????), activist
• Folger, Abigail (1943–1969), heiress
• Forté, Anthony (b. 1988), rapper
• Fregosi, Jim (1942-2014), baseball manager
• Garcia, Jerry (1942–1995), musician
• Getty, Gordon (b. 1934), philanthropist and composer
• Guaraldi, Vince (1928–1976), American football manager & the namesake of the Lombardi Trophy
• Heilmann, Harry (1894-1951), baseball player
• Hernandez, Keith (b. 1953), baseball first baseman
• Herron, Cindy (b. 1961), singer
• Holt, Gary (b. 1964), musician
• Jensen, Jackie (1927-1992), baseball player
• Joost, Eddie (1916-2011), professional basketball player
• Kamm, Willie (b. 1950), religiious leader
• Kantner, Paul (b. 1941), musician
• Kelly, George (1905-1967), psychologist
• LaVey, Anton Szandor (1930-1997), founder of the Church of Satan
• Lee, Gus (b. 1946), author
• Levitin, Daniel (b. 1957), psychologist
• Lewis, Huey (b. 1950), American musician and the lead singer of Huey Lewis & The News
• Mann, Leslie (b. 1972), actress
• Prior, Mark (b. 1975), baseball coach
• Mathis, Johnny (b. 1935), singer
• Ng, Melissa (b. 1972), television actress
• Perry, Linda (b. 1965), singer-songwriter
• Santana, Carlos (b. 1947), guitarist
• Shakur, Tupac (1971-1996), rapper
• Sparks, Theresa (b. 1949), engineer
• Sweeney, Charlie (1919-2004), baseball player
• Tan, Amy (b. 1952), author
• Toklas, Alice B. (1877-1967) writer
• Williams, Robin (1951–2014) comedian, actor