List of people from Spokane, Washington

This is a list of people from Spokane, Washington. The list includes individuals who were born in the city and/or county, spent a majority of their childhood in the area attending local schools, or spent the majority of their adult life living and/or working in the area. A person who lives in or comes from Spokane, Washington, is known as a Spokanite.

Authors

• Sherman Alexie, author
• John R. Downes, author of five novels and four non-fictions
• David Eddings, author of the Belgariad and many other books
• Patrick F. McManus, outdoor writer, Spokane resident
• Kenn Nesbitt, Children's Poet Laureate (2013-2015)
• Jack Nisbet, author of several books on explorer David Thompson
• Rick Rydell, outdoor writer, worked at local radio stations KJRB, KZZU, and KKZX as a radio talk show host
• Wayne Spitzer, author and low-budget horror filmmaker
• Jess Walter, author, recipient of the 2006 Edgar Allan Poe Award

Comedians

• Dan Cummins, comedian on Last Comic Standing
• Julia Sweeney, actor and comedian (appeared on Saturday Night Live)

Convicted criminals

• Kevin Coe, convicted "South Hill rapist"
• Robert Lee Yates, serial killer
• Jack Owen Spillman, serial killer

Film, stage and television industry

• Bing Crosby, singer, recording star and film actor, known for song and film White Christmas
• Jordan Fry, actor most known for his role as Mike Teevee in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
• Cheyenne Jackson, singer and actor, known for United 93
• Paul Johansson, actor, appeared in One Tree Hill
• Eric Johnston, former head of the United States Chamber of Commerce, former president of the Motion Picture Association of America
• Chuck Jones, director of animated films
• Neil LaBute, film director/playwright
• David Lynch, film director, known for Blue Velvet
• Darren McGavin, actor, known for starring in Kolchak: the Night Stalker and A Christmas Story
• John McIntire, actor on Wagon Train and The Virginian
• Michele Morrow, actress, appeared in Basement Jack, The Young and the Restless, and Alias
• Craig T. Nelson, actor, star of television series Coach and Parenthood, as well as film The Incredibles
• Brandon J. O'Neill, stage, film, and digital media actor, Originated the role of "Kassim" on Broadway "Aladdin (2011 musical)" and "Crow" in "Destiny (video game)"
• Gale Page, actress, starred in Knute Rockne, All American with Ronald Reagan
• Wayne Spitzer, low-budget horror filmmaker
• Trevor St. John, actor; known for his role on One Life to Live (graduated from Whitworth University)
• Hilary Swank, two-time Oscar-winning actress (father was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base)
• Tongolele, film and television actor
• Sarah Truax, stage and film actress, Spokane resident from 1912 to 1927
• Michael Winslow, actor and comedian, known for Police Academy'
• Carson Lueders, American child musician lives in Spokane

Fine artists

• Brian Crane, male model
• Harold Balazs, sculptor
• Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli, photographer/traveller
• Kenneth Callahan, painter from the Northwest School
• Jerry Holkins, artist for Penny Arcade
• Mike Krahulik, artist for Penny Arcade
• Clyfford Still, abstract-expressionist painter

Journalists

• Timothy Egan, journalist, winner of the National Book Award and the Washington State Book Award
• Neil Everett, journalist, ESPN SportsCenter anchor
• Sue Herera, journalist, CNBC anchor
• Eric Johnson, journalist, former sports director for KREM 2. Currently weeknight news anchor for KOMO 4 in Seattle.
• John Richards, journalist, radio personality and producer of The Morning Show and Audioasis on 90.3 FM KEXP Seattle
• Rick Rydell, journalist, worked at local radio stations KJRB, KZZU, and KKZX as a radio talk show host

Musicians

• Jim Boyd, musician
• Mike Clarke, member of the band The Byrds
• Bing Crosby, singer/actor
• Bob Crosby, bandleader and vocalist
• Paul D'Amour, former member of the band Tool
• Andy Gibson, singer-songwriter
• Dan Hamilton, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds
• Dan Hoerner, Guitarist for Sunny Day Real Estate
• Thomas Hampson, baritone
• Myles Kennedy, lead singer of the band Alter Bridge
• Ryan Lewis, music producer; primarily with Macklemore.
• George Lynch, former member of the rock band Dokken; member of Lynch Mob
• Chad Mitchell, member of the Chad Mitchell Trio
• Craig Montoya, former member of the band Everclear
• Matty Mullins, singer from band Memphis May Fire
• Patrice Munsel, former Metropolitan opera star
• Eckart Preu, conductor of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra
• Peter Rivera, original drummer and lead vocalist for Rare Earth
• Jimmy Rowles, jazz pianist
• Scott Thompson, former member of the Canadian band Lillix
• Billy Tipton, jazz musician
• Selene Vigil-Wilk, lead singer of 7 Year Bitch
• Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, boogie-woogie and blues-rock pianist
• Tyrone Wells, singer-songwriter
• Danny O'Keefe, singer-songwriter

Politicians

Civic

• James Everett Chase, mayor of Spokane
• Jack Geraghty, mayor of Spokane
• Dennis P. Hession, mayor of Spokane
• John Powers, mayor of Spokane
• David H. Rodgers, mayor of Spokane
• Ron Sims, former member of the King County Council, as well as former King County Executive and a former member of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
• Jon Snyder, member of the Spokane City Council
• John Talbott, mayor of Spokane
• Mary Verner, mayor of Spokane
• James E. West, Washington State Senator and Spokane mayor

Federal

• Ryan Crocker, U.S. diplomat, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq
• Tom Foley, U.S. Congressman, former Democratic Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
• Eric Johnston, former head of the United States Chamber of Commerce, former president of the Motion Picture Association of America
• Mike McKevitt, U.S. Congressman for Colorado's 1st District in the United States House of Representatives (1971–73)
• George Nethercutt, former Republican U.S. Congressman, judge and attorney
• Ron Sims, former Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development

State

• James E. West, Washington State Senator and Spokane mayor
• James Geraghty, Washington State Supreme Court Justice
• Samuel G. Havermale, early Spokane pioneer, minister and politician
• Andy Billig, Washington State Senator

Science and technology

• Michael P. Anderson, astronaut killed in the 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
• Walter Houser Brattain, awarded 1956 Nobel Prize in Physics
• Dorothy M. Horstmann virologist, made important discoveries about polio
• Robyn and Rand Miller, founders of Cyan Worlds, the company that produced the computer game Myst
• Wilder Graves Penfield, American-born Canadian neurosurgeon who mapped out the functional areas of the cerebral cortex and pioneered groundbreaking research into epilepsy treatment
• Irwin Rose, biologist awarded the 2004 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Sports

Baseball

• Jeremy Affeldt, Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher for the San Francisco Giants
• Ed Brandt, MLB pitcher (1928–38)
• Ed Kirkpatrick, former MLB outfielder and catcher
• Mike Redmond, former MLB player for the Florida Marlins, Minnesota Twins, and Cleveland Indians; manager for the Marlins; (Gonzaga University graduate, 1993)
• Ryne Sandberg, 2005 inductee in the Baseball Hall of Fame, former second baseman for the Chicago Cubs. Currently MLB manager for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Basketball

• Briann January, former Arizona State Sun Devils player; plays for the WNBA's Indiana Fever (Lewis and Clark High School graduate, 2005)
• Adam Morrison, former Gonzaga player, former 2005-2006 first-team All-American, Charlotte Bobcats and Los Angeles Lakers basketball player (Mead High School graduate, 2003)
• John Stockton, Hall of Fame former point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA and Gonzaga Bulldogs
• Wayne Tinkle, player for the Montana Grizzlies (Ferris High School graduate, 1984). Currently head coach for the Oregon State Beavers.

Boxing

• Chauncy Welliver, professional boxer.

Hockey

• Tyler Johnson, Spokane native currently playing for NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning
• Patrick Dwyer, Spokane native currently playing for NHL's Carolina Hurricanes

Extreme sports

• Jess Roskelley, youngest American (at the time) to climb Mount Everest
• Eric Uptagrafft, sport shooter

Football

• Darin Solinsky, former Gonzaga Preparatory School player
• Erik Coleman, former Washington State Cougars football player, former player for the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions (Lewis and Clark High School graduate, 2000)
• Will Davis (cornerback), current defensive back for the Miami Dolphins
• Steve Emtman, 1992 NFL No. 1 draft pick, former defensive lineman for the Indianapolis Colts
• Jason Hanson, former kicker with the Detroit Lions
• Max Krause, running back for the New York Giants and Washington Redskins
• Dan Lynch, first team All-American for Washington State University (Lewis & Clark High School graduate 1980)
• Steve Parker, NFL player
• Mark Rypien, former quarterback for the Washington Redskins; Most Valuable Player of 1991 Super Bowl
• Bishop Sankey, current NFL running back for the Tennessee Titans (attended Gonzaga Preparatory School)
• Cory Withrow, center for the St. Louis Rams
• John Yarno, former NFL offensive lineman (attended at Gonzaga Preparatory School and Ferris High School)
• Joe Danelo, former place kicker for the Green Bay Packers, the New York Giants, and the Buffalo Bills. Graduated from WSU and Gonzaga Prep (1971)

Mixed Martial Arts

• Sam Sicilia, Ultimate Fighter alumnus and former UFC featherweight
• Michael Chiesa, Ultimate Fighter winner and current UFC lightweight
• Julianna Peña, Ultimate Fighter winner and current UFC women's bantamweight

NASCAR racing

• Chad Little, former NASCAR driver
• Tom Sneva, Indianapolis 500 winner

Rowing

• Joe Rantz, 1936 Summer Olympics gold medal winner in the eights competition

Soccer

• Amy LePeilbet, professional player for Boston Breakers; vice world champion

Tennis

• Jan-Michael Gambill, professional player

Track and field

• Madonna Buder, 75-year-old Catholic nun and oldest Hawaii Ironman Triathlete competitor
• Helga Estby, walked across the United States in 1896
• Gerry Lindgren, runner, won 11 NCAA championships at Washington State University (attended John R. Rogers High School)
• Brad Walker, American record holder and two-time world champion in the pole vault (University High School graduate)

Early Spokane notable residents

• Joe Albi, attorney and civic leader
• Kirtland Cutter, architect, known for his work in Spokane, including the Davenport Hotel
• Sonora Smart Dodd, successfully campaigned for the establishment of Father's Day
• James Geraghty, Spokane City Corporate Counsel
• Robert Edmund Strahorn, war correspondent during the Great Sioux War, scout and publicist for the Union Pacific Railroad

Native Americans

• Chief Garry, one of the Spokane tribes' most prominent and influential leaders during the shift from indigenous to European-American control of their land

Military

• John Babcock, last Canadian veteran of World War I
• Col. David P. Jenkins, Civil War Colonel, Spokane homesteader, and philanthropist

Other

• Debbie Rowe, Michael Jackson's ex-wife and mother to his children, Prince and Paris

References