Burbank, California, is a suburb of Los Angeles. Located 7 miles (11 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles, Burbank had a population of 105,833 as of 2025. With its proximity to Hollywood, and film and television studios, Burbank has many notable people in the entertainment industry.

Ron Howard, star of Happy Days and director of Apollo 13, made clear his Burbank connections in his book The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family. Howard has been involved in 28 feature films over his career. Director Tim Burton, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, grew up in Burbank. His awkward teenage experience led directly to the film Edward Scissorhands, his memoir of growing up in Burbank.

Debbie Reynolds, Miss Burbank 1948, has famously described how she came from Burbank. Reynolds, star of Singing in the Rain and The Unsinkable Molly Brown, acted for nearly 70 years. Her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher, star of Star Wars and author of Postcards From The Edge, was born in Burbank. Rene Russo, star of Nightcrawler and The Thomas Crown Affair, grew up in Burbank, and has appeared in over 27 films.

Baseball players from Burbank include Doug DeCinces (All Star and Silver Slugger), Mike Magnante (Featured in Moneyball) and Frank Sullivan (Two-time All Star). Glenn Davis won the Heisman Trophy in 1946 while playing football for the Army.

Kelly Johnson, chief engineer at the Skunk Works, part of the Lockheed Corporation, worked nearly his entire career in Burbank. He was recognized for his contributions to the U-2 and SR-71 reconnaissance planes. Musician Bonnie Raitt was born in Burbank, while guitarist Randy Rhoads lived there for most of his short life.

The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Burbank, California. For a similar list organized alphabetically by last name, see the category page People from Burbank, California.

Notable people

Academics and engineering

Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference Jane Bauman Art professor, Coastline Community College Born and raised in Burbank Kelly Johnson February 27, 1910 December 21, 1990 Chief engineer, Lockheed Skunk Works Lockheed Skunk Works

Crime

Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference Edmund Kemper December 18, 1948 serial killer Born in Burbank

Entertainment Industry

Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference Olga Celeste April 9, 1888 August 31, 1969 Animal trainer Lived in Burbank

Actors, Actresses, Directors

Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference Tyler Blackburn October 12, 1986 actor, singer, model Born in Burbank Kelly Blatz June 16, 1987 Actor, director, writer Born and raised in Burbank. Graduate of Burbank High School Tim Burton August 25, 1958 Filmmaker, artist Born and raised in Burbank. Graduate of Burbank High School. Directed Edward Scissorhands, seen as Burton's autobiography of his childhood in Burbank. Darcy Rose Byrnes November 4, 1998 Actress Born and raised in Burbank Eddie Cibrian June 16, 1973 Actor Born and raised in Burbank Debbe Dunning July 11, 1966 Actress, model Born and raised in Burbank Angie Dickinson September 30, 1931 Actress Lived in Burbank, graduated Bellarmine-Jefferson High School Carrie Fisher October 21, 1956 December 27, 2016 actress, writer, humorist Born in Burbank Andrew Gold August 2, 1951 June 3, 2011 Singer, songwriter, record producer Born and raised in Burbank Mark Harmon September 2, 1951 actor, writer, producer, television director and football player. Born in Burbank Clint Howard April 20, 1959 Actor Born, raised, lives in Burbank; Graduate of John Burroughs High School Ron Howard March 1, 1954 Actor, director Born and raised in Burbank; Graduate of John Burroughs High School Jeremy Howard (actor) June 12, 1981 Actor Born in Burbank Ashley Johnson August 9, 1983 Actress Lived in Burbank Blake Lively August 25, 1987 Actress Born and raised in Burbank Masiela Lusha October 23, 1985 Actress, author Lives in Burbank, Graduate of Burbank High School. Cady McClain October 13, 1969 Actress, singer, author Born in Burbank Tim Matheson December 31, 1947 actor, director raised in Burbank, graduate of John Burroughs High School Erin Moran October 18, 1960 April 22, 2017 Actress Born in Burbank Patton Oswalt January 27, 1969 Stand-up comedian, actor Lived in Burbank Eve Plumb April 29, 1958 Actress, singer Born in Burbank Debbie Reynolds April 1, 1932 December 28, 2016 Actress, singer Miss Burbank 1948 John Ritter September 17, 1948 September 11, 2003 Actor Born in Burbank Kerry Rossall June 23, 1947 Stuntman and actorBorn in Burbank Rene Russo February 17, 1954 Model, actress Born and raised in Burbank Vic Tayback January 6, 1930 May 25, 1990 Actor Graduate of Burbank High School and lived most of his life in Burbank. Wil Wheaton July 29, 1972 Actor, writer Lived in Burbank as a young man Anson Williams September 25, 1949 Actor, director Lived in Burbank. Graduate of Burbank High School Mara Wilson July 24, 1987 Actress Born and raised in Burbank Rob Zabrecky June 2, 1968 Actor, author, magician Born and raised in Burbank

Music Industry

Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference Scott Borchetta July 3, 1962 President/CEO of Big Machine Records Born in Burbank Andrew GoldAugust 2, 1951June 3, 2011Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, notable pop/soft rock musicianBorn in Burbank Bonnie Raitt November 8, 1949 Singer, guitarist, songwriter Born in Burbank Randy Rhoads December 6, 1956 March 19, 1982 Guitarist, Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne Lived in Burbank, Graduate of John Muir middle school and Burbank High School. Kendall Schmidt November 2, 1990 Actor, singer, formed band Heffron Drive – part of Big Time Rush Lives in Burbank Ryan Shore December 29, 1974 Film composer Lives in Burbank

Military

Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference lawyer; jurist; Lt Col, US Army. Advocate for Japanese Americans during WWII. Born in Burbank; Lived there for some time; died at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center. Larry Maxam January 9, 1948 February 2, 1968 Marine, Medal of Honor Lived in Burbank

Politics and law

Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference lawyer; jurist; Lt Col, US Army. Advocate for Japanese Americans during WWII. Born in Burbank; Lived there for some time; died at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center. Ben Shapiro January 15, 1984 Political commentator, media host Lived in Burbank

Religion

Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference Samuel J. Aquila September 24, 1950 Archbishop of Denver, Colorado Born in Burbank William M. Kramer March 29, 1920 June 8, 2004 rabbi, university professor, art collector Rabbi of Temple Beth Emet 1965–1996

Athletes

Name ImageBirthDeathKnown forAssociationReference Manny Ayulo October 20, 1921 May 17, 1955 race car driver; Indianapolis 500 competitor Born and worked in Burbank Kyle Boller June 17, 1981 Quarterback Born in Burbank Paul Cameron August 17, 1932 December 22, 2023 Football player Born and raised in Burbank. Graduate of Burbank High School Glenn Davis December 26, 1924 March 9, 2005 Football player, Heisman Trophy winner Born in Burbank Doug DeCinces August 29, 1950 Major league baseball, third baseman Born in Burbank Jason Hirsh February 20, 1982 Major league baseball, pitcher Born in Burbank Max Homa November 19, 1990 Golfer Born in Burbank James J. Jeffries April 15, 1875 March 3, 1953 Boxer, world champion, farmer Lived on a ranch in Burbank Natasha Kuchiki October 28, 1976 Figure skater Born in Burbank Ryan Lavarnway August 7, 1987 Major League Baseball catcher Born in Burbank Mike Magnante June 17, 1965 Major League Baseball pitcher Lived in Burbank, Graduate and coach of John Burroughs High School Remy Martin June 16, 1998 Basketball player Born in Burbank Katie Meyer January 20, 2000 March 1, 2022 Soccer player; death by suicide Born and raised in Burbank Sandy Neilson March 20, 1956 Olympic swimming gold medalist Born in Burbank Jeff Nelson (runner) March 28, 1961 Long-distance runner Born and raised in Burbank Todd Sand October 30, 1963 Pair skater Born in Burbank Daniel Steres November 11, 1990 Soccer player Born in Burbank Frank Sullivan January 23, 1930 January 19, 2016 Major league baseball pitcher Born and raised in Burbank. Graduate of Burbank High School