This is a list of notable people from Pasadena, California.
Academia
Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize physicist, Caltech professor, raconteur J. Robert Oppenheimer (1904–1967), Caltech professor and later overseer of the Manhattan Project 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 Thomas Hunt Morgan (1866–1945), Nobel Prize evolutionary biologist, geneticist, and embryologist Brian Stoltz (born 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 Howell Chambers Brown, artist Sigrid Burton, artist and painterPasadena Outlook. "PCC Foundation Welcomes Local Artist," Pasadena Outlook, April 11, 2019. Loren Cameron (1959–2022) photographer and activist 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 educatorUniversity of California, Santa Barbara. Jane Mulfinger, Faculty. Retrieved February 15, 2019. 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 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, moderator, ESPN First Take Rebecca De Mornay, film and television actress Jimmy Dore, comedian 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 Jane Lillig, actress"Music Woman". Pasadena Independent. June 27, 1960. p. 16. Retrieved November 10, 2025. 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. Tim Roth, actor. 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 Bruce Yarnell, actor, singer
Music This is a partial list of musicians, songwriters singers, and band members.
Steve Albini, producer and engineer Jon B., Grammy-nominated R&B singer-songwriter. Hodgy Beats, rapper Rodney Benford, member of new jack swing group Troop, attended Pasadena High School Phoebe Bridgers, singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer Daniel Brummel, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter for Ozma (band) Dâm-Funk, musician Jed the Fish, award-winning disc jockey who hosted the weekday afternoon drive slot on KROQ-FM in Los Angeles John "Jon Jon" Harreld, member of new jack swing group Troop, attended Pasadena High School Pete Jolly, jazz pianist Teena Marie, singer-songwriter, music producer Emil Dechebal Mătăsăreanu, electrical engineer and bank robber who is known for being one of the two men who initiated the North Hollywood Shootout, attended Pasadena High School Allen McNeil, member of new jack swing group Troop, attended Pasadena High School David Lee Roth, a lead singer for Van Halen, attended John Muir High School Steve "Random" Russell, member of new jack swing group Troop, attended Pasadena High School Ruwanga Samath, record producer, attended John Muir High School Alina Smith, musician Phil Spector, music producer Alex Van Halen, drummer for Van Halen, attended Pasadena High School Eddie Van Halen, lead guitarist for Van Halen, attended Pasadena High School Reggie Warren, member of new jack swing group Troop, attended Pasadena High School Marc Yu, child music prodigy on piano and viola
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. Bill Paparian, attorney, veterans' advocate and Mayor of Pasadena. Bill Richardson, governor of New Mexico 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 RosesThe History of The Tuna Club of Avalon International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame Ally Lemos, soccer player 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 Durell Price, UCLA fullback 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 Alice Brown, Olympic Sprinter 1980 (Boycott), 1984 and 1988
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 Winifred Starr Dobyns, author of California Gardens (1931) Harriet Doerr, author, winner of the National Book Award David Ebershoff, writer Michelle Huneven, 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 Frederick Russell Burnham (1861–1947), celebrated scout and inspiration for the Boy Scouts Howard Burnham (1870–1917), mining engineer and spy 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 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 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 CubsTournament House
See also
List of people from California
References