List of people from Washington (state)
State Flag of Washington
The following is a list of prominent Washingtonians, notable people who were born in the U.S. state of Washington, live in Washington, or are strongly associated with the state.
A
- Nathan Adrian (Bremerton), 3-time Olympic gold medallist
- Sandy Alderson (born 1947) (Seattle), general manager for the New York Mets
- Sherman Alexie (born 1966) (Wellpinit), writer, poet, and filmmaker
- Paul Allen (born 1953) (Seattle), entrepreneur and philanthropist, co-founder of Microsoft
- Rick Anderson (born 1956) (Everett), pitching coach for the Minnesota Twins
- Earl Anthony (1938–2001) (Tacoma), professional bowler
- Brad Arnsberg (born 1963) (Seattle), pitching coach for the Houston Astros
- Colleen Atwood (born 1948) (Quincy), Oscar-winning costume designer
- Earl Averill (1902–1983) (Snohomish), former Major League Baseball outfielder, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
- John Aylward (born 1946) (Seattle), actor, ER, The Others, Armageddon
B
- Red Badgro (1902–1998) (Kent), Hall of Fame NFL end
- Chris Ballew (Born 1965) (Seattle), singer of The Presidents of the United States of America
- Bob Barker (born 1923) (Darrington), game show host for The Price Is Right
- Glenn Beck (born 1964) (Mount Vernon), conservative talk radio and television host.
- Caprice Benedetti (born 1966) (Seattle), actress
- Bruce Bennett (1906–2007) (Tacoma), athlete and actor
- Barbara Berjer (1920–2002) (Seattle), soap opera actress
- Steven "Jesse" Bernstein (1950–1991) (Seattle), poet, author, essayist
- Kenneth Bianchi (born 1951), serial killer known as one of "The Hillside Stranglers"
- Greg Biffle (born 1969) (Vancouver), NASCAR driver
- Josie Bissett (born 1970) (Seattle), actress
- Angie Bjorklund (born 1989) (Spokane), player with the Chicago Sky of the WNBA
- Tori Black (born 1988) (Seattle), adult model and pornographic actress
- Sheila Bleck (born 1974) (Vancouver), IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Drew Bledsoe (born 1972) (Ellensburg), former quarterback for the NFL's New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys
- Mary L. Boas (1917–2010) (Seattle), mathematician and physics professor, author of Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences
- Ralph P. Boas, Jr. (1912–1992) (Walla Walla), mathematician, teacher, and journal editor
- Jeremy Bonderman (born 1982) (Kennewick) Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Indians
- Bill Bowerman (1911–1999) (Seattle), track coach at University of Oregon; Nike co-founder
- Bryan Braman (born 1987) (Spokane), linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles
- Jesse Brand (born 1976) (Ferndale), singer/songwriter
- Walter Houser Brattain (1902–1987) (Tonasket), Nobel Prize-winning physicist who co-invented the transistor
- Avery Bradley (born 1990) (Tacoma), shooting guard for the Boston Celtics
- Michael Brantley (born 1987) (Bellevue), outfielder for the Cleveland Indians
- Gregory "Pappy" Boyington (1912–1988) (Tacoma), Major, Marine Corps aviator, Flying Ace, Medal of Honor recipient, Navy Cross recipient
- Isaac Brock (musician) (born 1975) (Issaquah) lead singer for indie rock band Modest Mouse
- Jon Brockman (born 1987) (Snohomish), power forward for the Milwaukee Bucks
- Arthur C. Brooks (born 1964) (Spokane), social scientist, economist, president of the American Enterprise Institute
- Linda B. Buck (born 1947) (Seattle), scientist, Nobel Prize winner
- Travis Buck (born 1983) (Richland) Major League Baseball player for Houston Astros (OF)
- Ted Bundy (1946–1989) (Tacoma/Seattle), serial killer
- Billy Burke (born 1966) (Bellingham), actor, Charlie Swan in The Twilight Saga
- Nate Burleson (born 1981) (Renton), wide receiver for the NFL's Detroit Lions
- Raegan Butcher (Snohomish), poet
- George Washington Bush (1779–1863) (Tumwater), pioneer
- Octavia E. Butler (1947–2006) (Lake Forest Park), science fiction writer
- Sarah Butler (born 1985) (Puyallup), actress
- Karan Brar (born 1999) (Redmond), actor
C
- Tom Cable (born 1964) (Snohomish), assistant head coach for the Seattle Seahawks
- Dyan Cannon (born 1937) (Tacoma), actress
- Jerry Cantrell (born 1966) (Tacoma), guitarist for Alice in Chains
- Maria Cantwell (born 1958) (Edmonds), United States Senator, former VP of RealNetworks
- Orson Scott Card (born 1951) (Richland), author and professor at Southern Virginia University
- Harvey Carignan (born 1927), serial killer
- Brandi Carlile (born 1981) (Ravensdale), musician
- Chester Carlson (1906–1968) (Seattle), inventor of xerography
- JoAnne Carner (born 1939) (Kirkland), Hall of Fame golfer
- Raymond Carver (1938–1988) (Port Angeles), author
- Neko Case (born 1970) (Tacoma), chanteuse
- Pat Cashman (Seattle), actor and radio personality
- James Caviezel (born 1968) (Mount Vernon), actor
- Ron Cey (born 1948) (Tacoma), former All-Star Major League Baseball player
- Drew Chadwick (born October 1, 1992), (Sequim), appeared on the second season of The X Factor USA, placed fourth, as part of a trio music group named Emblem3
- Carol Channing (born 1921) (Seattle), actress
- Valentina Chepiga (born 1962) (Seattle), IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Dale Chihuly (born 1941) (Tacoma), glass artist
- Chin Gee Hee (1844–1929) (Seattle), Chinese immigrant, made a fortune in Seattle, returned to China where he became a railway entrepreneur
- Louis Chirillo (born 1961) (Seattle), voice actor
- Jori Chisholm (born 1975) (Seattle), champion bagpiper
- Erika Christensen (born 1982) (Seattle), actress
- Michael Clarke (musician) (born 1946) (Spokane), drummer for The Byrds
- Beverly Cleary (born 1916) (Yakima), author
- Chuck Close (born 1940) (Monroe), artist
- Kurt Cobain (1967–1994) (Aberdeen), Nirvana vocalist and guitarist
- Erik Coleman (born 1982) (Spokane), football player for the Atlanta Falcons
- Nancy Coleman (1912–2000) (Everett), actress
- Judy Collins (born 1939) (Seattle), folk singer
- Hank Conger (born 1988) (Federal Way), catcher for the Los Angeles Angels
- Jeff Conine (born 1966) (Tacoma), former All-Star Major League Baseball player
- John Considine (1868–1943) (Seattle), impresario, founded one of the first vaudeville circuits
- Chris Cornell (born 1964) (Shoreline), vocalist for Soundgarden and Audioslave
- Fred Couples (born 1959) (Seattle), professional golfer
- Randy Couture (born 1963) (Everett), mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, actor
- Ian Crawford (born 1988) (Auburn), affiliated with the bands Panic! at the Disco and The Cab
- Jamal Crawford (born 1980) (Seattle), NBA player for the Los Angeles Clippers
- Bing Crosby (1903–1977) (Spokane), iconic singer and actor
- Merce Cunningham (1919-2009) (Centralia), dancer and choreographer
- Anthony Curcio a.k.a. D.B. Tuber (born 1980), infamous armored car robber
- Colin Curtis (born 1985) (Issaquah), left fielder for the New York Yankees
- Dove Cameron (born 1996) (Seattle), actress
D
- Bryan Danielson (born 1981) (Aberdeen), professional wrestler now better known as Daniel Bryan
- Felecia Danay (born 1972) (Tacoma), pornographic actress
- David DeCastro (born 1990) (Kirkland), guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Arthur Denny (1822–1889), early pioneer who founded Seattle
- Gail Devers (born 1966) (Seattle), athlete, Olympic gold medalist
- Garret Dillahunt (born 1964) (Selah), actor
- Corey Dillon (born 1974) (Federal Way), running back for the NFL's New England Patriots
- Westley Allan Dodd (1961–1993) (Toppenish), serial killer
- Elinor Donahue (born 1937) (Tacoma), actress on Father Knows Best
- James Doohan (1920–2005) (Redmond), actor, Star Trek
- Jon Dorenbos (born 1980) (Woodinville), long snapper for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles
- William O. Douglas (1898–1980) (Yakima), longest-serving Justice of U.S. Supreme Court
- Ryan Doumit (Moses Lake), outfielder for Minnesota Twins
- Howard Duff (1913–1990) (Bremerton), actor
- Bonnie Dunbar (born 1949) (Sunnyside), former NASA astronaut
- Jeff Dye (Kent), stand-up comedian, socialite
E
- Turk Edwards (1907–1973) (Douglas County), Hall of Fame offensive tackle and head coach
- John Ehrlichman (1925–1999) (Tacoma), counsel to President Richard Nixon
- Harris Ellsworth (1899–1986) (Hoquiam), member of U.S. Congress from Oregon
- John Elway (born 1960) (Port Angeles), NFL quarterback, two-time Super Bowl winner, Denver Broncos executive
- Helga Estby (1860–1942) (Spokane), noted for her walk across United States during 1896
- Justin Ena (born 1978) (Shelton), NFL linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles
F
- Anna Faris (born 1976) (Edmonds), actress, starred in Scary Movie series and Just Friends
- Frances Farmer (1914–1970) (Seattle), actress
- Joe Feddersen (1953) (Omak), sculptor, painter, photographer, mixed-media artist
- Ray Flaherty (1903–1994) (Spokane), football player, head coach, Hall of Famer
- Shirley E. Flynn (born 1929) (Spokane), historian
- Tom Foley (1929-2013) (Spokane), Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1989 to 1995
- Russ Francis (born 1953) (Seattle), tight end with the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers
- Bryan Fuller (born 1969) (Clarkston), writer, producer, creator of Dead Like Me and Pushing Daisies
- Stacy Marie Fuson (born 1978) (Tacoma), Playboy model, February 1999 Playmate of the Month
G
- Kenny G (born Kenneth Gorelick, 1956) (Seattle), musician
- Tess Gallagher (born 1943) (Port Angeles), poet, essayist, and short story writer
- Nathan Gamble (born 1998) (Tacoma), child actor, The Dark Knight, Marley & Me, Hank
- Bill Gates (born 1955) (Seattle), of Microsoft, world's richest man
- Ben Gibbard (born 1976) (Bremerton), lead singer of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service
- Andy Gibson (born 1981) (Spokane), country music singer
- Cam Gigandet (born 1982) (Tacoma), actor
- Vernon Greene (1908–1965) (Battle Ground), cartoonist
- Dahlia Grey (born 1972) (Seattle), pornographic actress
- Dave Grohl (born 1969) (Seattle), former drummer of Nirvana and lead singer/songwriter of Foo Fighters
- David Guterson (born 1956) (Bainbridge Island), author
H
- Richard Haag (born 1923) (Seattle), landscape architect, only two-time recipient of the ASLA President's Award for Design Excellence
- Ivar Haglund (1905–1985) (Seattle), folk singer, restaurateur
- Marcus Hahnemann (born 1972) (Kent), goalkeeper for Reading F.C.
- Jason Hammel (born 1982) (Port Orchard), starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles
- Thomas Hampson (born 1955) (Spokane), opera singer[1]
- Jane Hamsher (born 1959) (Seattle), film producer, author, and left-wing blogger
- Jason Hanson (born 1970) (Spokane), placekicker for the Detroit Lions
- Nick Harmer (born 1975) (Puyallup), bass guitarist for Death Cab for Cutie
- Melissa Harris-Perry (born 1973) (Seattle), author, TV host and political commentator
- Spencer Hawes (born 1988) (Seattle), NBA player
- Roman Heart (born 1986) (Bellingham), porn star
- Phil Heath (Seattle), IFBB Pro, 3X Mr. Olympia
- Mel Hein (1909–1992) (Burlington), Hall of Fame player for the New York Giants
- Johnny Hekker (born 1990) (Redmond), punter for the St. Louis Rams
- Mark Hendrickson (born 1974) (Mount Vernon), relief pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles
- Jimi Hendrix (1942–1970) (Seattle), guitarist
- Frank Herbert (1920–1986) (Tacoma), author of the Dune series of science-fiction books
- Josh Heytvelt (born 1986) (Clarkston), professional basketball player with several European teams
- Steven Hill (born 1922) (Seattle), actor, best known for Mission Impossible and Law & Order
- Megan Hilty (born 1981) (Bellevue), actress
- Gordon Hirabayashi (1918–2012) (Auburn), sociologist
- Amy Holmes (born 1973) (Seattle), news anchor on TheBlaze TV
- Joe Ronnie Hooper (1938–1979) soldier, Medal of Honor recipient
- John Hopcroft (born 1939) (Seattle), theoretical computer scientist
- Peter Horton (born 1953) (Bellevue), actor and TV director, starred in thirtysomething
- Ray Horton (born 1960) (Tacoma), NFL cornerback and current defensive backs coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Roy Huggins (1914-2002) (Littell), creator of TV series The Fugitive and The Rockford Files
- Yolanda Hughes-Heying (born 1963) (Bellingham), IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Fred Hutchinson (1919–1964) (Seattle), Major League Baseball player and manager of the Cincinnati Reds
I
- Travis Ishikawa (born 1983) (Seattle), first baseman for the San Francisco Giants
- Burl Ives (1909–1995) (Anacortes), Oscar-winning actor and folk singer
J
- Henry M. Jackson (1912–1983) (Everett), U.S. Senator and two-time presidential candidate
- Jonathan Jackson (born 1982), actor
- Joshua Jackson (born 1978) (Seattle), actor
- Noname Jane (born 1977) (Aberdeen), pornographic actress
- Keith Hunter Jesperson (born 1955) (Selah), serial killer
- Robert Joffrey (1930–1988) (Seattle), choreographer
- Denis Johnson (born 1949), writer, best known for his short-story collection Jesus' Son
- Jason Johnson (Canadian football) (born 1979), former Canadian Football League player
- Matt Johnson (born 1989) (Olympia), safety for the Dallas Cowboys
- Russell Johnson (born 1924) (Bainbridge Island), actor ("The Professor" on Gilligan's Island)
- Chuck Jones (1912–2002) (Spokane), animator
- Quincy Jones (born 1933) (Seattle), composer, conductor, musician
K
- Brian Kendrick (born 1979) (Olympia), WWE wrestler
- Kasey Kahne (born 1980) (Enumclaw), NASCAR driver
- Bianca Kajlich (born 1977) (Seattle), actress, Jennifer on CBS sitcom Rules of Engagement
- Richard Karn (born 1956) (Seattle), actor, Home Improvement, Family Feud
- Chris Kattan (born 1970) (Bainbridge Island), actor/comedian, Saturday Night Live, The Middle
- Carol Kaye (born 1935) (Everett), musician
- Jermaine Kearse (born 1990) (Lakewood), wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks
- John Keister (born 1956) (Seattle), comedian
- Mick Kelleher (born 1947) (Seattle), first base coach for the New York Yankees
- Kasey Keller (born 1969) (Olympia), soccer goalkeeper for Seattle Sounders FC, formerly with Team USA
- Donald M. Kendall (born 1921) (Sequim), CEO of PepsiCo 1971–1986
- Hank Ketcham (born 1920) (Seattle), cartoonist, creator of Dennis the Menace
- Edward Kienholz (1927–1994) (Fairfield), artist
- Dale Kinkade (born 1933) (Hartline), linguist and professor
- Sam Kinison (1953–1992) (Yakima), comedian
- Justin Kirk (born 1969) (Union), actor, Weeds, Jack & Jill
- Ed Kirkpatrick (born 1944) (Spokane), Major League Baseball player
- Jon Kitna (born 1972) (Tacoma), quarterback for four NFL teams
- Kitsap, Suquamish leader
- John Kitzhaber (born 1947) (Colfax), Oregon governor, 1995–2003
- Mariana Klaveno (born 1979) (Endicott), actress, True Blood
- Amanda Knox (born 1987) (Seattle), university student accused of murdering Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy
- Michael Koenen (born 1982) (Ferndale), punter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Max Komar (born 1987) (Lakewood), wide receiver for the Chicago Bears
- Richard Kovacevich (born 1943) (Tacoma), CEO of Wells Fargo
L
- Amber Lancaster (born 1980) (Tacoma), actress, model, The Hard Times of RJ Berger
- Craig Lancaster (born 1970) (Lakewood), Sportswriter, novelist.
- Addie Land (born 1988) (Seattle), actress, "The Sasquatch Gang"
- Bertha Knight Landes (1868–1943), Seattle mayor, first female mayor of a major American city
- Mark Lanegan (born 1964) (Ellensburg), singer, songwriter
- Steve Largent (born 1954), Hall of Fame wide receiver with the Seattle Seahawks, later congressman from his home state of Oklahoma
- Erik Larsen (born 1962) (Bellingham), comic book writer, artist and publisher
- Rick Larsen (born 1965) (Arlington), member of the United States House of Representatives
- Gary Larson (born 1950) (Tacoma), cartoonist and creator of The Far Side
- Brandon Lee (1965–1993), film actor and son of martial artist Bruce Lee
- Gypsy Rose Lee (1911–1970) (Seattle), entertainer, subject of musical Gypsy
- Cassidy Lehrman (born 1992) (Seattle), actress, Sarah Gold on Entourage
- Leschi (1808–1858), Nisqually chief
- Jon Lester (born 1984) (Tacoma), starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox
- Blake Lewis (born 1981) (Redmond), singer and beatboxer, American Idol runner-up
- Rommie Lewis (born 1982) (Seattle), relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays
- Ryan Lewis (born 1988) (Spokane), music producer, musician, video director, photographer
- Brent Lillibridge (born 1983) (Everett), utility player for the New York Yankees
- Tim Lincecum (born 1984) (Bellevue), MLB pitcher for San Francisco Giants, 2008 National League Cy Young winner
- Mary Livingstone (1905–1983) (Seattle), comedienne, wife of Jack Benny
- Gary Locke (born 1950) (Seattle), Governor of Washington and Secretary of Commerce
- Jake Locker (born 1988) (Ferndale), quarterback for the Tennessee Titans
- Kenny Loggins (born 1948) (Everett), singer and songwriter
M
- Macklemore (Seattle) (born 1983), Northwest hip hop singer
- Kyle MacLachlan (Yakima) (born 1959), actor, Desperate Housewives, Twin Peaks, Sex and the City
- Warren Magnuson (1905–1989) six-term US Senator and Dean of the United States Senate 1979–1981
- Sanjaya Malakar (born 1989) (Federal Way), singer, American Idol finalist
- Blu Mankuma (Seattle), actor; Capt. Joe Reese on Forever Knight
- Mary Mapes (Burlington), former 60 Minutes producer fired for 2004 Killian documents scandal
- Charlie Marinkovich (born 1959) (Seattle), singer, songwriter and rock guitarist for Iron Butterfly
- Dave Matthews (born 1967) (resides in Seattle), singer and songwriter
- Doc Maynard (1808–1873), founding father of Seattle
- Kevin McCarthy (1914–2010) (Seattle), actor
- Mary McCarthy (1912–1989) (Seattle), author
- Mike McCready (born 1966) (Seattle), Pearl Jam guitarist
- Bear McCreary (born 1979), composer for film, television, video games
- Darren McGavin (1922–2006) (Spokane), actor, A Christmas Story, Kolchak, The Natural
- Rose McGowan (born 1973), actress, Paige Matthews on Charmed, attended high school in Seattle
- Joel McHale (born 1971), actor, comedian, attended high school in Seattle
- John McIntire (1907–1991) (Spokane), actor, Wagon Train
- Duff McKagan (born 1964) (Seattle) Velvet Revolver, Guns N' Roses bassist
- Bonnie McKee (born 1985) (raised in Seattle), singer-songwriter
- Patricia McPherson (born 1954), actress, Knight Rider
- Gianna Michaels (born 1983) (Seattle), pornographic actress
- Angie Miller (born 1994), singer, American Idol runner-up
- Roy Miller (born 1987) (Fort Lewis), defensive tackle for the Jacksonville Jaguars
- Martin Milner (born 1931) (Seattle), actor, Adam-12, Route 66, The Swiss Family Robinson
- Gary Miranda (born 1939), poet
- Beau Mirchoff {Born 1989}, actor, MTV's Awkward
- Patrick Monahan (born 1969), lead singer for the band Train
- Jeffrey Dean Morgan (born 1966) (Seattle), actor, Watchmen, Grey's Anatomy, Magic City
- Jeff Monson, mixed martial artist, UFC fighter
- Mark Morris (born 1956) (Seattle), dancer and choreographer
- Adam Morrison (born 1984) (raised in Spokane), professional basketball player
- Robert Motherwell (1915–1991) (Aberdeen), abstract expressionist painter
- Patty Murray (born 1950) (Bothell), U.S. Senator
- Edward R. Murrow (1908–1965) CBS News correspondent, attended high school in Edison, then Washington State University
N
- Craig T. Nelson (Spokane) (born 1944), actor, The Incredibles, Coach, Parenthood
- Billy North (Seattle) (born 1948), former Major League Baseball player
- Krist Novoselic (born 1965), Nirvana bassist
O
- Pat O'Day (born 1934) KJR radio disc jockey, considered godfather of Seattle rock music scene
- Apolo Anton Ohno (born 1982) (Seattle), Olympic speed skater, most decorated Winter Olympian of all time
- John Olerud (born 1968) (Seattle), former Major League Baseball first baseman
- Robert Osborne (born 1932) (Colfax), film historian, television personality
- Lyle Overbay (born 1977) (Centralia), first baseman for the New York Yankees
P
- Janis Paige (born 1922) (Tacoma), actress
- Jaebeom Park (born 1987), former member of the popular Korean music group, 2PM
- Chuck Palahniuk (born 1962) (Pasco), novelist and freelance journalist
- Jay Pickett (born 1961) (Spokane), actor, Port Charles, General Hospital
- Mark Pigott (born 1954), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PACCAR Inc
- Chris Pratt (born 1979) (raised in Lake Stevens), actor, Everwood, Parks and Recreation
- Megyn Price (born 1971) (Seattle), actress
- Cory Procter (born 1982) (Gig Harbor), guard for the Miami Dolphins
R
- Ella Raines (1920-1988) (Snoqualmie Falls), actress
- Ford Rainey (Centralia), actor
- Blair Rasmussen (born 1962) (Auburn), basketball player for Denver Nuggets
- John Ratzenberger (born 1947), Cliff Clavin on Cheers
- Pamela Reed (born 1949) (Tacoma), actress
- Dave Reichert (born 1950) (raised in Kent), Congressman and law-enforcement officer
- Ann Reinking (born 1949) (Seattle), actress, dancer, choreographer
- Jason Repko (born 1980) (Richland), outfielder for the Minnesota Twins
- John Requa (born 1967) (raised in Burien), screenwriter, Cats & Dogs and Bad Santa
- Roger Revelle (born 1909) (Seattle), scientist and pioneer of global warming studies
- Don Rich (born 1941) (Olympia), guitar player and singer of The Buckaroos with Buck Owens
- Davey Richards (born 1983), professional wrestler
- Gary Ridgway (born 1949), serial killer
- Luke Ridnour (born 1982), point guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves, attended high school in Blaine
- Theodore Rinaldo (Snohomish) (1944–2000), convicted child sex offender
- Tom Robbins (born 1936), best-selling novelist, worked for Seattle Times
- Howard P. Robertson (born 1903) (Hoquiam), prominent cosmologist
- Laurent Robinson (born 1985) (Fort Lewis), wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys
- Nate Robinson (born 1984) (Seattle), guard for the Golden State Warriors
- Jimmie Rodgers (born 1933), pop singer
- Jarred Rome (Marysville), Olympic discus thrower, bodybuilder
- Emily Rose (born 1981), actress, ER, Brothers & Sisters, John from Cincinnati
- Brandon Roy (born 1984) (Seattle), shooting guard for the Portland Trail Blazers
- Kathryn Ruemmler (born 1971) (Richland), White House Counsel to President Barack Obama
- Merrilee Rush (born Merrilee Gunst, 1944) (Seattle), singer, best known for song "Angel of the Morning"
- Ann Rule (born 1935), popular true-crime author, attended University of Washington, worked with Seattle Police Dept.
- Gerri Russell (born 1962), romantic fiction author
- Rick Rydell (born 1963) (Seattle), radio talk show host, author, outdoors writer
- Mark Rypien (born 1962) (raised in Spokane), quarterback for Washington Redskins, MVP of Super Bowl XXVI, philanthropist
S
- Robert (Bob) Satiacum (1929–1991) was Puyallup tribal leader, American Indian activist.
- Ryne Sandberg (born 1959) (Spokane), former Major League Baseball second baseman, member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, manager of Philadelphia Phillies
- Larry Sanger (born 1968), Wikipedia co-founder
- Ron Santo (1940–2010) (Seattle), former Major League Baseball third baseman and radio broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs; member of Baseball Hall of Fame
- Dan Savage (born 1964), writer of the internationally syndicated advice column Savage Love and editor of Seattle weekly newspaper The Stranger
- Brian Scalabrine (born 1978) (raised in Enumclaw), professional basketball player
- Dick Scobee (1939–1986), astronaut, commander of Space Shuttle Challenger
- Seattle (c. 1786–1866), Duwamish/Suquamish leader and diplomat
- Kyle Secor (born 1957) (Tacoma), actor
- Joe Shell (1918–2008), California politician
- Tom Skerritt (born 1933), actor, lives in Lake Washington
- Tre Simmons (born 1982) (Seattle), professional basketball player
- Grady Sizemore (born 1982) (Seattle), Major League Baseball player for Cleveland Indians, three-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glover and Silver Slugger award winner
- Sir Mix-a-Lot (born Anthony Ray, 1963), hip-hop artist
- Alex Smith (born 1984) (Seattle), quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs
- Jeff Smith (1939–2004) (Seattle), food expert, TV personality
- Shawn Smith (born 1965), rock musician
- Smohalla (c. 1851–1895), Sahaptin spiritual leader
- Travis Snider (born 1988) (Everett), outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates
- Quin Snyder (born 1966) (Mercer Island), assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers
- Hope Solo (born 1981) (Richland), goalkeeper for the United States women's national soccer team
- Quintin Sondergaard (1925–1984) (Seattle) western television actor
- Jack Owen Spillman (Spokane) (born 1960), serial killer known as "The Werewolf Butcher"
- Isaiah Stanback (Seattle) (born 1984), wide receiver on the New York Giants
- Layne Staley (1967–2002), vocalist for Alice in Chains
- Rick Steves (born 1955) (Edmonds), authority on European travel
- Jonathan Stewart (born 1987) (Fort Lewis), running back for the Carolina Panthers
- Ryan Stiles (born 1959) (Seattle), actor, comedian, The Drew Carey Show, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Two and a Half Men
- John Stockton (born 1962) (Spokane), former star with the NBA's Utah Jazz and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- Mel Stottlemyre (born 1941), pitcher and coach for the New York Yankees, lives in Issaquah
- Keaton Stromberg (born July 16, 1996) (Sequim), appeared on The X Factor USA as part of a trio, music group named Emblem3
- Wesley Stromberg (born December 6, 1994) (Sequim), appeared on The X Factor USA as part of a trio, music group named Emblem3
- Robert Stroud (1890–1963) (Seattle), the Birdman of Alcatraz
- Rodney Stuckey (born 1986), NBA player
- Hope Summers (1896–1979), actress
- Michael Swango (born 1954), physician and serial killer
- Hilary Swank (born 1974), two-time Oscar-winning actress, lived in Bellingham
- Julia Sweeney (born 1959) (Spokane), actress, comedian, Saturday Night Live, Maybe It's Me
- Gloria Wilson Swisher (born 1935) (Seattle), composer and educator
T
- Chrissy Teigen (born 1985), Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model, lived in Seattle
- Daniel Te'o-Nesheim (born 1987), NFL defensive end, lived in Mill Creek
- Jason Terry (born 1977) (Seattle), NBA player for the Houston Rockets
- Kim Thayil (born 1960), guitarist for grunge band Soundgarden
- Isaiah Thomas (born 1989) (Tacoma), point guard for the Sacramento Kings
- Brian Thompson (born 1959) (Ellensburg), actor, The X-Files, Cobra, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, Joe Dirt, Terminator, ¡Three Amigos!
- Cappy Thompson (born 1952) glass artist
- Nick Thune (born 1979) (Seattle), actor, comedian, and musician
- Earl Torgeson (1924–1990) (Snohomish), Major League Baseball player
- Rachel Trachtenburg (born 1993), drummer, singer of Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
- Desmond Trufant (born 1990), NFL cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons
- George Tsutakawa (1910-1997) (Seattle), sculptor and painter
- Ann Tyrrell (1909–1983) (Whatcom County), actress, Private Secretary and The Ann Sothern Show
U
- Blair Underwood (born 1964) (Tacoma), actor, L.A. Law, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Ironside
- Misty Upham (born 1982) (Auburn), actress
- Brian Urlacher (born 1978) (born in Pasco, but raised in New Mexico), linebacker for the Chicago Bears
V
- Courtney Vandersloot (born 1989) (Kent), player with the Chicago Sky of the WNBA
- Eddie Vedder (born 1964), vocalist for Pearl Jam, lived in Seattle
W
- Chris Walla (born 1975) (Bothell), guitarist for Death Cab for Cutie
- Maiara Walsh (born 1988), actress, singer, Ana Solis on Desperate Housewives and Meena Paroom on Cory in the House
- Bryan Walters (born 1987), wide receiver for the San Diego Chargers
- Jennifer Warnes (born 1947) (Seattle), singer
- Martell Webster (born 1986), small forward-shooting guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves
- Chris Wedes (1928-2013) aka J. P. Patches, longest running locally produced children's program in U.S. history
- Zoe Weizenbaum (born 1991) (Seattle), actor
- Adam West (born 1928) (Seattle), actor who played Batman on the TV show (1966–1968)
- Sammy White (1928–1991) (Wenatchee), former Major League Baseball player
- Sean White (born 1981) (Pullman), relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox
- Bernie Whitebear (born Bernard Reyes 1937–2000), American Indian activist
- Christopher Wiehl (born 1970) (Yakima), actor
- Lis Wiehl (born 1961), legal analyst for Fox News and author
- Michael Winslow (Spokane) (born 1958), actor and comedian known for his role as Cadet Jones in the "Police Academy" films
- Marcus Williams (born 1986) (Seattle), NBA player
- Marvin Williams (born 1986) (Bremerton), small forward / power forward for the Charlotte Hornets
- Terrence Williams (born 1987) (Seattle), small forward for the Houston Rockets
- Ann (born 1950) and Nancy Wilson (born 1954), the principal members of Heart, lived in Bellevue
- Rainn Wilson (born 1968) (Seattle), actor, The Office
Y
- Takuji Yamashita (born 1874), early 20th century civil rights pioneer
- Robert Lee Yates (Spokane) (born 1952), serial killer
- Henry Yesler (Seattle), entrepreneur considered to be one of Seattle's founding fathers
- Robert Young, actor, Father Knows Best, Marcus Welby, M.D., lived in Seattle
Z
- Constance Zimmer (born 1970) (Seattle), actress, Entourage, Boston Legal, House of Cards
References
- This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
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