List of Famous people born in California, United States of America
Tony Hawk
Anthony Frank Hawk, nicknamed Birdman, is an American professional skateboarder, an entrepreneur, and the owner of the skateboard company Birdhouse. Hawk completed the first documented "900" skateboarding trick, licensed a video game series published by Activision, and is a pioneer of modern vertical skateboarding. In 2014, Hawk was named one of the most influential skateboarders of all time by FoxWeekly.
Sophia Amoruso
Sophia Christina Amoruso is an American businesswoman. Amoruso was born in San Diego, California and moved to Sacramento, California after High school, soon after relocating to San Francisco. Amoruso founded Nasty Gal, a women's fashion retailer, which went on to be named one of "the fastest growing companies" by Inc. Magazine in 2012. In 2016, she was named one of the richest self-made women in the world by Forbes. However, Nasty Gal filed for bankruptcy, decimating her fortune. In 2014 Amoruso founded Girlboss Media, a company that creates content for women in the millennial generation to progress as people in their personal and professional life.
Karen Bass
Karen Ruth Bass is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 37th congressional district since 2011. The district, numbered as the 33rd district for her first term, covers several areas south and west of downtown Los Angeles. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served for six years in the California State Assembly, the last two as Speaker.
Gwen Verdon
Gwyneth Evelyn "Gwen" Verdon was an American actress and dancer. She won four Tony Awards for her musical comedy performances, and served as an uncredited choreographer's assistant and specialty dance coach for theater and film. With flaming red hair and a quaver in her voice, Verdon was a critically acclaimed performer on Broadway in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Having originated many roles in musicals she is also strongly identified with her second husband, director–choreographer Bob Fosse, remembered as the dancer–collaborator–muse for whom he choreographed much of his work and as the guardian of his legacy after his death.
Amy Pascal
Amy Beth Pascal is an American business executive and film producer. She served as the Chairperson of the Motion Pictures Group of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) and Co-Chairperson of SPE, including Sony Pictures Television, from 2006 until 2015. She has overseen the production and distribution of many films and television programs, and was co-chairperson during the late-2014 Sony Pictures hack.
Chloe Kim
Chloe Kim is an American snowboarder. At the 2018 Winter Olympics, she became the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding gold medal when she won gold in the women's snowboard halfpipe at 17 years old. She is a four-time X Games gold medalist and the first woman to win two gold medals in snowboarding at the Winter Youth Olympic Games. She is the current World, Olympic, Youth Olympic, and X Games champion in the halfpipe and the first to win the title at all four major events.
Ron Reagan
Ronald Prescott Reagan is an American liberal political commentator. He is a former radio host and political analyst for KIRO and Air America Radio, where he hosted his own daily three-hour show. He has also been a contributor to MSNBC. His liberal views contrast with those of his late father and conservative icon, President Ronald Reagan.
Sheila E.
Sheila Cecilia Escovedo better known under the stage name Sheila E., is an American percussionist, singer, author, and actress. She began her career in the mid-1970s as a percussionist and singer for The George Duke Band. After leaving the group in 1983, Sheila began a successful solo career, starting with her critically acclaimed debut album, which included the career-defining song, "The Glamorous Life". She became a mainstream solo star in 1985 following the success of the singles "The Belle of St. Mark", "Sister Fate", and "A Love Bizarre" with the last becoming one of her signature songs. She is commonly referred to as The Queen of Percussion.
Richard Carlson
Richard Carlson was an American author, psychotherapist, and motivational speaker. His book, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff... and it’s all Small Stuff (1997), was USA Today's bestselling book for two consecutive years. and spent over 101 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list. It was published in 135 countries and translated into Latvian, Polish, Icelandic, Serbian and 26 other languages. Carlson went on to write 20 books.
Martin Eberhard
Martin Forest Eberhard is an American engineer and business executive. He co-founded Tesla, Inc. with Marc Tarpenning, and served as CEO of Tesla until 2008.