List of people from Washington (state)
The following is a list of notable people from Washington state. It includes people who were born, raised, or who live in the U.S. state of Washington, along with those who are strongly associated/have significant relations with the state.
A
- Nathan Adrian , competitive swimmer, five-time Olympic gold medalist
- Sandy Alderson , baseball general manager, New York Mets
- Sherman Alexie , writer, poet, and filmmaker
- Laura Allen , actress, The 4400, Dirt, Awake
- Paul Allen , entrepreneur and philanthropist; co-founder, Microsoft
- Rick Anderson , baseball pitching coach
- Earl Anthony , professional bowler
- Brad Arnsberg , baseball pitching coach, Houston Astros
- Colleen Atwood , Academy Award-winning costume designer
- Earl Averill , Major League Baseball outfielder in Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]
- John Aylward , actor; ER, The Others, ''Armageddon''
B
- Red Badgro , National Football League end; member, Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Jean-Luc Baker, Olympic ice dancer
- Chris Ballew , singer, alternative-rock band The [Presidents of the United States of America |The Presidents of the United States of America]
- Zach Banner , NFL football offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Bob Barker , game show host, The [Price Is Right |The Price Is Right]
- Tony Barnette , relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers
- Glenn Beck , conservative talk radio and television host
- Welton Becket , architect
- Caprice Benedetti , actress
- Bruce Bennett , athlete and actor
- Barbara Berjer , soap opera actress
- Karl Benson, former college baseball coach and former commissioner of the Mid-American Conference, Western Athletic Conference, and Sun Belt Conference
- Steven "Jesse" Bernstein , poet, author, and essayist
- Jeff Bezos , founder and CEO of Amazon
- Greg Biffle , NASCAR driver
- Josie Bissett , actress
- Angie Bjorklund , basketball player, Chicago Sky
- Tori Black , adult model and pornographic actress
- Frances Blakemore, artist and author
- Sheila Bleck , IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Drew Bledsoe , football quarterback, New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys
- Mary L. Boas , mathematician and physics professor, and writer; author, Mathematical Methods in the Physical Sciences
- Ralph P. Boas Jr. , mathematician, teacher, and journal editor
- Jeremy Bonderman , baseball pitcher, Detroit Tigers
- Benson Boone , singer-songwriter
- Bill Bowerman , track coach, University of Oregon; co-founder, Nike
- Gregory "Pappy" Boyington , Major, Marine Corps aviator, Flying Ace, Medal of Honor recipient, Navy Cross recipient
- Avery Bradley , shooting guard for Boston Celtics
- Bryan Braman , linebacker, Philadelphia Eagles
- Jesse Brand , singer-songwriter
- Michael Brantley , outfielder for Houston Astros
- Karan Brar , actor
- Walter Houser Brattain , Nobel Prize-winning physicist who co-invented the transistor
- Richard Brautigan , novelist, poet, and short story writer
- Isaac Brock , singer, indie rock band Modest Mouse
- Jon Brockman , power forward for Milwaukee Bucks
- Gail Brodsky, tennis player
- Arthur C. Brooks , social scientist, economist, president of American Enterprise Institute
- Brandon Brown, basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Angela Warnick Buchdahl, rabbi
- Linda B. Buck , scientist, Nobel Prize winner
- Travis Buck , Major League Baseball player for Oakland Athletics
- Billy Burke , actor, Charlie Swan in The Twilight Saga
- Nate Burleson , wide receiver for NFL's Detroit Lions
- Jeff Burlingame , author, winner of NAACP Image Award and Sigma Delta Chi Award
- George Washington Bush , pioneer
- Raegan Butcher, poet
- Octavia E. Butler , science-fiction writer
- Sarah Butler , actress
C
- Tom Cable , assistant coach, Seattle Seahawks
- Dove Cameron , actress
- Dyan Cannon , actress
- Jerry Cantrell , guitarist for Alice in Chains
- Maria Cantwell , United States senator, former VP of RealNetworks
- Bryan Caraway , mixed martial artist
- Orson Scott Card , author and professor at Southern Virginia University
- Harvey Carignan, serial killer
- Brandi Carlile , musician
- Chester Carlson , inventor of xerography
- JoAnne Carner , Hall of Fame golfer
- Raymond Carver , author
- Neko Case , chanteuse
- Pat Cashman, actor and radio personality
- James Caviezel , actor
- Ron Cey , All-Star Major League Baseball player
- Drew Chadwick , appeared on The X Factor USA with trio Emblem3
- Edward Chamberlin , economist
- Carol Channing , actress
- Valentina Chepiga , IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Dale Chihuly , glass artist
- Chin Gee Hee , Chinese immigrant, made fortune in Seattle, returned to China as railway entrepreneur
- Louis Chirillo , voice actor
- Jori Chisholm , champion bagpiper
- Erika Christensen , actress
- Adam Cimber , pitcher for the Cleveland Indians
- Brandy Clark , country singer and songwriter
- Michael Clarke , drummer for The Byrds
- Beverly Cleary , author
- Chuck Close , artist
- Kurt Cobain , Nirvana vocalist and guitarist
- Erik Coleman , football player for Atlanta Falcons
- Nancy Coleman , actress
- Judy Collins , folk singer
- Charles Congdon , professional golfer
- Hank Conger , catcher for Houston Astros
- Jeff Conine , former All-Star Major League Baseball player
- John Considine , impresario; founded one of first vaudeville circuits
- Chris Cornell , vocalist for Soundgarden and Audioslave
- Lucy Covington , Native American tribal leader and political activist
- Fred Couples , professional golfer
- Randy Couture , mixed martial artist, Greco-Roman wrestler, actor
- Colin Cowherd , sports media personality
- Bruce P. Crandall, U.S. Army officer, Medal of Honor recipient
- Ian Crawford , affiliated with bands Panic! at the Disco and The Cab
- Jamal Crawford , NBA player for Los Angeles Clippers
- Bing Crosby , singer and actor
- Bob Crosby , singer and actor
- Sarah Crouch , long-distance runner
- Merce Cunningham , dancer and choreographer
- Anthony Curcio a.k.a. D.B. Tuber, armored car robber
- Colin Curtis , left fielder for New York Yankees
D
- Joel Dahmen , professional golfer
- Bryan Danielson , professional wrestler
- James Darling, NFL player from 1997 to 2006
- David DeCastro , guard for NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers
- Arthur Denny, early pioneer who founded Seattle
- Gail Devers , athlete, Olympic gold medalist
- Garret Dillahunt , actor
- Corey Dillon , running back for NFL's New England Patriots
- Westley Allan Dodd , serial killer
- Elinor Donahue , actress on Father Knows Best
- James Doohan , actor, Scotty on Star Trek
- Jon Dorenbos , long snapper for NFL's Philadelphia Eagles
- Ryan Doumit, former MLB catcher/outfielder for Pittsburgh Pirates
- Howard Duff , actor
- Jessie Duff, competitive shooter
- Bonnie Dunbar , astronaut
- Jeff Dye, stand-up comedian, socialite
E
- Turk Edwards , Hall of Fame offensive tackle and coach
- John Ehrlichman , counsel to President Richard Nixon
- Ben Eisenhardt, American-Israeli professional basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- C. J. Elleby, basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Lisa Ellis , professional mixed martial artist
- Harris Ellsworth , Oregon congressman
- John Elway , NFL quarterback, two-time Super Bowl winner, Denver Broncos executive
- Justin Ena , NFL linebacker for Philadelphia Eagles
- Helga Estby , walked across U.S. in 1896
F
- Anna Faris , actress, starred in Scary Movie series and Just Friends
- Frances Farmer , actress
- Joe Feddersen , sculptor, painter, photographer
- Ray Flaherty , football player, coach, Hall of Famer
- Tom Foley , Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
- Russ Francis , tight end with New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers
- Bryan Fuller , writer, creator of Dead Like Me and Pushing Daisies
- Stacy Marie Fuson , Playboy model, February 1999 Playmate of the Month
G
- Kenny G , musician
- Abdul Gaddy, basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Tess Gallagher , poet, essayist, writer
- Nathan Gamble , child actor, The Dark Knight, Marley & Me, Hank
- Myles Gaskin , running back, Miami Dolphins
- Bill Gates , founder of Microsoft
- Ben Gibbard , lead singer of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service
- Andy Gibson , country music singer
- Cam Gigandet , actor
- Richard F. Gordon Jr., astronaut
- Garrett Grayson , quarterback, New Orleans Saints
- Vernon Greene , cartoonist
- Kaye Greff , competitive swimmer, two-time Olympic gold medalist
- Sam C. Guess, politician
- David Guterson , author
H
- Richard Haag , landscape architect, only two-time recipient of ASLA President's Award for Design Excellence
- Nick Hagadone , pitcher for the Cleveland Indians
- Ivar Haglund , folk singer, restaurateur
- Matt Hague , first baseman, Toronto Blue Jays
- Marcus Hahnemann , goalkeeper for Reading F.C.
- Jason Hammel , starting pitcher, Kansas City Royals
- Thomas Hampson , opera singer
- Jane Hamsher , film producer, author, and left-wing blogger
- Sig Hansen , boat captain
- Jason Hanson , placekicker, Detroit Lions
- Nick Harmer , bass guitarist for Death Cab for Cutie
- Joe Harris , NBA player
- Melissa Harris-Perry , author, TV host, commentator
- Spencer Hawes , NBA player
- Phil Heath, IFBB Pro, 3X Mr. Olympia
- Mel Hein , Hall of Fame player for New York Giants
- Johnny Hekker , punter, Los Angeles Rams
- Mark Hendrickson , relief pitcher, Baltimore Orioles
- Jimi Hendrix , guitarist
- Rachelle Henry , actress
- Frank Herbert , author of Dune novels
- Sue Herera , CNBC reporter and anchor
- Josh Heytvelt , professional basketball player
- Steven Hill , actor, Mission Impossible and Law & Order
- Megan Hilty , actress
- Gordon Hirabayashi , sociologist
- Amy Holmes , news anchor, TheBlaze TV
- Joe Ronnie Hooper, soldier, Medal of Honor recipient
- John Hopcroft , theoretical computer scientist
- Peter Horton , actor and television director; starred in Thirtysomething
- Ray Horton , NFL cornerback; defensive backs coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers
- Kei Hosogai , actor and musician
- Roy Huggins , creator of television series The Fugitive and The Rockford Files
- Yolanda Hughes-Heying , IFBB professional bodybuilder
- Fred Hutchinson , Major League Baseball player and manager of Cincinnati Reds
I
- Jay Inslee , politician, lawyer, economist, 23rd governor of Washington State
- Lucie Fulton Isaacs , writer, philanthropist, suffragist
- Travis Ishikawa , first baseman for the San Francisco Giants
- Burl Ives , Academy Award-winning actor and folk singer
J
- Henry M. Jackson , U.S. senator, presidential candidate
- Jonathan Jackson, actor
- J. A. Jance, author of mystery and horror novels
- Noname Jane , pornographic actress
- Megan Jendrick , competitive swimmer, two-time Olympic gold medalist, State of Washington Sports Hall of Fame inductee
- Keith Hunter Jesperson , serial killer
- Sally Jewell , 51st U.S. Secretary of Interior
- Robert Joffrey , choreographer
- Denis Johnson, writer of Jesus' Son
- Jason Johnson, former Canadian Football League player
- Matt Johnson , safety, Dallas Cowboys
- Russell Johnson , actor
- Chuck Jones , animator
- Quincy Jones , composer, conductor, musician
K
- Kasey Kahne , NASCAR driver
- Bianca Kajlich , actress, Jennifer on CBS sitcom Rules of Engagement
- Richard Karn , actor, Home Improvement, Family Feud
- Chris Kattan , actor and comedian, Saturday Night Live, The Middle
- Carol Kaye , musician
- Jermaine Kearse , wide receiver, Seattle Seahawks
- John Keister , comedian
- Keone Kela , relief pitcher for Texas Rangers
- Senio Kelemete , offensive guard, New Orleans Saints
- Mick Kelleher , MLB infielder and coach
- Kasey Keller , soccer goalkeeper for Seattle Sounders FC, formerly with soccer team|Team USA]
- Kitty Kelley , journalist and author of several best-selling unauthorized biographies
- Donald M. Kendall , chief executive officer, PepsiCo
- Brian Kendrick , WWE wrestler
- Myles Kennedy , lead vocalist of Alter Bridge
- Shiloh Keo , safety for Denver Broncos
- Hank Ketcham , cartoonist, creator of Dennis the Menace
- Edward Kienholz , artist
- Erik Kimerer , voice actor, professional wrestler
- Sam Kinison , comedian
- Dale Kinkade , linguist and professor
- Justin Kirk , actor, Weeds, Jack & Jill
- Ed Kirkpatrick , Major League Baseball player
- Jon Kitna , NFL quarterback
- Kitsap, Suquamish leader
- John Kitzhaber , Oregon governor
- Mariana Klaveno , actress, True Blood
- Amanda Knox , university student accused of murdering Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy
- Michael Koenen , punter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Max Komar , wide receiver for Chicago Bears
- Richard Kovacevich , chief executive officer, Wells Fargo
- Cooper Kupp , NFL wide receiver
L
- Jake Lamb , third baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks
- Amber Lancaster , actress, model, The Hard Times of RJ Berger, The [Price is Right |The Price is Right]
- Craig Lancaster , sportswriter, novelist
- Bertha Knight Landes, Seattle mayor, first female mayor of a major U.S. city
- Mark Lanegan , singer-songwriter
- Erik Larsen , comic book writer, artist and publisher
- Rick Larsen , U.S. representative
- Gary Larson , cartoonist, creator of The Far Side
- Richard Lathim , politician, sheriff of Franklin County
- Michael Leavitt , visual artist, sculptor and toy maker
- Brandon Lee, actor, son of Bruce Lee
- Gypsy Rose Lee , entertainer, subject of musical Gypsy
- Cassidy Lehrman , actress, Sarah Gold on Entourage
- Leschi, Nisqually chief
- Jon Lester , starting pitcher for Chicago Cubs
- Blake Lewis , singer and beatboxer, American Idol runner-up
- Rommie Lewis , relief pitcher, Toronto Blue Jays
- Ryan Lewis , producer, musician, video director
- Brent Lillibridge , utility player for New York Yankees
- Tim Lincecum , MLB pitcher, 2008 National League Cy Young winner
- Mary Livingstone , comedian, wife of Jack Benny
- Gary Locke , governor of Washington; U.S. Secretary of Commerce; U.S. Ambassador to China
- Jake Locker , quarterback for Tennessee Titans
- Kenny Loggins , singer-songwriter
- Travis Long , outside linebacker for Philadelphia Eagles
- Sam Longoria , producer, visual effects engineer
- Dane Looker , wide receiver, St. Louis Rams
M
- Betty MacDonald, children's author
- Macklemore , Northwest hip-hop singer
- Kyle MacLachlan , actor, Desperate Housewives, Twin Peaks, Sex and the City
- Warren Magnuson, six-term US senator and dean of the United States Senate
- Nina Makino , singer and member of NiziU
- Sanjaya Malakar , singer, American Idol finalist
- Joe E. Mann , soldier who saved his comrades
- Mary Mapes, former 60 Minutes producer fired for 2004 Killian documents scandal
- Charlie Marinkovich , singer-songwriter, guitarist for Iron Butterfly
- Bristol Marunde , mixed martial artist
- Ross Mathews , television personality
- Dave Matthews , singer-songwriter
- James Mattis , U.S. Secretary of Defense
- Trevor May , relief pitcher, Minnesota Twins
- Doc Maynard, founding father of Seattle
- Taylor Mays, NFL football player
- Kevin McCarthy , actor
- Mary McCarthy , author
- Mike McCready , Pearl Jam guitarist
- Bear McCreary, composer for film, television, video games
- Darren McGavin , actor, A Christmas Story, Kolchak, The Natural
- Rose McGowan, actress, Paige Matthews on Charmed; attended high school in Seattle
- Joel McHale, actor, comedian; attended high school in Seattle
- John McIntire , actor, Wagon Train
- Duff McKagan , Velvet Revolver, Guns N' Roses bassist
- Bonnie McKee , singer-songwriter
- Patricia McPherson, actress, Knight Rider
- Santiago Villalba Mederos, murderer and former FBI most wanted fugitive
- Jack Medica , competitive swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, nine-time NCAA champion
- Marjie Millar , actress, About Mrs. Leslie, Money from Home
- Angie Miller, singer, American Idol runner-up
- Roy Miller , defensive tackle for Jacksonville Jaguars
- Sam Miller, comedian
- Martin Milner , actor, Adam-12, Route 66, The Swiss Family Robinson
- Gary Miranda, poet
- Beau Mirchoff, actor, MTV's Awkward
- Jon Brower Minnoch, heaviest recorded human in history, weighed 635 kg or 1400 lbs
- Patrick Monahan, lead singer for band Train
- Jeff Monson, mixed martial artist, UFC fighter
- Jeffrey Dean Morgan , actor, Watchmen, Grey's Anatomy, Magic City
- Mark Morris , dancer and choreographer
- Adam Morrison , professional basketball player
- Lil Mosey , rapper
- Robert Motherwell , abstract expressionist painter
- Dejounte Murray , professional basketball player
- Patty Murray , U.S. senator
- Edward R. Murrow, CBS News correspondent; attended high school in Edison and Washington State University
- PZ Myers , scientist, professor University of Minnesota Morris
- Randy Myers , MLB four-time All-Star relief pitcher
N
- Craig T. Nelson , actor, The Incredibles, Coach, Parenthood
- Billy North , former Major League Baseball player
- Krist Novoselic, Nirvana bassist
- Bill Nye, Bill Nye the Science Guy
O
- Pat O'Day, KJR radio disc jockey, considered godfather of Seattle rock music scene
- Eric O'Flaherty , pitcher, Oakland Athletics
- Apolo Anton Ohno , Olympic speed skater
- Danny O'Keefe , musician
- John Olerud , Major League Baseball first baseman
- Deanna Oliver , actress, Toaster from The Brave Little Toaster and its sequels
- Gregg Olsen , true crime author
- Tyler Olson , Major League Baseball pitcher
- Henry O'Malley, United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries
- Robert Osborne , film historian, TV personality
- Roger "Buzz" Osborne , guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, founder of Melvins, Fantômas and Venomous Concept
- Lyle Overbay , MLB first baseman
- Logan Owen , professional cyclist, Cannondale–Drapac
- Seena Owen , actress, Queen Kelly, ''Victory''
P
- Janis Paige , actress
- Chuck Palahniuk , novelist and freelance journalist
- Jaebeom Park, member of Korean music group 2PM
- J. P. Patches, clown; hosted one of the longest-running locally produced children's program in U.S. history
- Robin Pecknold, musician
- Janice Pennington, model, The Price is Right
- Jay Pickett , actor, Port Charles, General Hospital
- Mark Pigott, chairman and chief executive officer, Paccar
- Chris Pratt , actor, Everwood, Parks and Recreation
- Megyn Price , actress
- Cory Procter , guard for Miami Dolphins
- Dorothy Provine, singer, actress, attended University of Washington
- Henry Prusoff , tennis player; #8 in singles in the U.S. in 1940
R
- Benji Radach , professional mixed martial artist
- Ella Raines , actress
- Ford Rainey, actor
- Blair Rasmussen , basketball player, Denver Nuggets
- John Ratzenberger, Cliff Clavin on Cheers
- Pamela Reed , actress
- Dave Reichert , congressman, law enforcement officer
- Ann Reinking , actress, dancer, choreographer
- Jason Repko , outfielder for Minnesota Twins
- John Requa , screenwriter, Cats & Dogs and Bad Santa
- Roger Revelle , scientist, pioneer of global warming studies
- Don Rich , guitarist, singer with Buck Owens
- Davey Richards, professional wrestler
- Gary Ridgway, serial killer
- Luke Ridnour, point guard for Minnesota Timberwolves; attended high school in Blaine
- Theodore Rinaldo , convicted child sex offender
- James Robart , federal judge
- Tom Robbins, best-selling novelist, worked for The Seattle Times
- Howard P. Robertson , cosmologist
- Laurent Robinson , wide receiver for Dallas Cowboys
- Nate Robinson , guard for Golden State Warriors
- Jimmie Rodgers , pop singer
- Jarred Rome, Olympic discus thrower, bodybuilder
- Emily Rose, actress, ER, Brothers & Sisters, John from Cincinnati
- Brandon Roy , shooting guard for Portland Trail Blazers
- Kathryn Ruemmler , White House Counsel to President Barack Obama
- Ann Rule, true-crime author; attended University of Washington; worked with the Seattle Police Department
- Merrilee Rush , singer, "Angel of the Morning"
- Gerri Russell, romantic fiction author
- Rick Rydell , radio talk show host, author, outdoors writer
- Mark Rypien , quarterback for Washington Redskins, MVP of Super Bowl XXVI, philanthropist
S
- Bud Sagendorf , Cartoonist, known for illustrating Popeye
- Ryne Sandberg , MLB player and manager, member of Baseball Hall of Fame
- Larry Sanger, Wikipedia co-founder
- Ron Santo , third baseman and radio broadcaster for Chicago Cubs; member of Baseball Hall of Fame
- Robert Satiacum, Puyallup tribal leader, American Indian activist
- Dan Savage, writer of advice column Savage Love and editor of Seattle weekly The Stranger
- Brian Scalabrine , professional basketball player
- Ivyann Schwan, child actress, Parenthood, Problem Child 2
- Dick Scobee, astronaut, commander of Space Shuttle Challenger
- Seattle, Duwamish/Suquamish leader and diplomat
- Daniel Seavey , singer-songwriter, member of Why Don't We, contestant on American Idol season 14
- Kyle Secor , actor
- Derek Sheen, stand-up comedian
- Danny Shelton , defensive tackle for New England Patriots
- Robert Shields , minister and teacher who wrote a 37.5-million-word diary, possibly the longest ever written
- Roger Shimomura , artist, professor at University of Kansas
- Tre Simmons , professional basketball player
- Sir Mix-a-Lot, hip-hop artist
- Doug Sisk , MLB pitcher
- Grady Sizemore , MLB player, three-time All-Star, Silver Slugger award winner
- Tom Skerritt, actor; lives in Lake Washington
- Alex Smith , quarterback for Kansas City Chiefs
- Jeff Smith , food expert, television personality
- Shawn Smith, rock musician
- Smohalla, Sahaptin spiritual leader
- Blake Snell , starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers
- Tom Sneva , 1983 Indy 500 champion, 2-time USAC champion
- Travis Snider , MLB outfielder
- Quin Snyder , head coach of NBA's Utah Jazz
- Tim Soares, American-Brazilian basketball player for Ironi Ness Ziona of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Hope Solo , goalkeeper for United States women's national soccer team
- Steven Souza , outfielder for Arizona Diamondbacks
- Jack Owen Spillman , serial killer, "Werewolf Butcher"
- Layne Staley, vocalist for Alice in Chains
- Isaiah Stanback , wide receiver on New York Giants
- Lyn Stanley, jazz singer
- Rick Steves , authority on European travel
- Jonathan Stewart , running back for New York Giants
- Ryan Stiles , actor, comedian, The Drew Carey Show, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Two and a Half Men
- Robert Stock , MLB player
- John Stockton , Hall of Fame player for NBA's Utah Jazz
- Mel Stottlemyre, pitcher and coach for New York Yankees; lives in Issaquah
- Keaton Stromberg , appeared on The X Factor USA with trio Emblem3
- Wesley Stromberg , appeared on The X Factor USA with trio Emblem3
- Robert Stroud , convict, "Birdman of Alcatraz"
- Rodney Stuckey , NBA player
- Michael Swango, physician, serial killer
- Julia Sweeney , actress, comedian, Saturday Night Live
- Sydney Sweeney , actress, Euphoria
- Gloria Wilson Swisher , composer and educator
- H. H. Swofford, politician
T
- Miesha Tate , UFC mixed martial artist
- Chrissy Teigen , Sports Illustrated model
- Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, NFL defensive end; lived in Mill Creek
- Jason Terry , NBA player for Milwaukee Bucks
- Kim Thayil, guitarist for grunge band Soundgarden
- Isaiah Thomas , point guard for Los Angeles Lakers
- Brian Thompson , actor'
- Cappy Thompson, glass artist
- Nick Thune , actor, comedian, and musician
- Earl Torgeson , Major League Baseball player
- Rachel Trachtenburg, drummer, singer of Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players
- Desmond Trufant, NFL cornerback for Atlanta Falcons
- George Tsutakawa , sculptor and painter
- Ann Tyrrell , actress, Private Secretary and ''Ann Sothern Show">Ann Wilson">Ann Sothern Show''
U
- Blair Underwood , actor, L.A. Law, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Ironside
- Misty Upham , actress
- Brian Urlacher , linebacker for the Chicago Bears
V
- Greg "The Hammer" Valentine , professional wrestler
- Courtney Vandersloot , player with WNBA's Chicago Sky
- Eddie Vedder, vocalist for Pearl Jam; lived in Seattle
- Austin Voth , relief pitcher for the Washington Nationals
W
- Kristen Waggoner, president, CEO, and general counsel of Alliance Defending Freedom since 2022
- Chris Walla , guitarist for Death Cab for Cutie
- Jessica Wallenfels, actress, choreographer, and movement/theatre director
- Maiara Walsh, actress, singer, Ana Solis on Desperate Housewives and Meena Paroom on Cory in the House
- Bryan Walters, wide receiver for San Diego Chargers
- Jennifer Warnes , singer
- Martell Webster, NBA player, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Zoe Weizenbaum , actor
- Adam West , actor; played Batman on TV series
- Myles White , wide receiver for New York Giants
- Sammy White , Major League Baseball player
- Sean White , relief pitcher for Boston Red Sox
- Bernie Whitebear, American Indian activist
- Christopher Wiehl , actor
- Lis Wiehl, legal analyst for Fox News; author
- Michael Winslow , actor and comedian; Cadet Jones in Police Academy films
- Marcus Williams , NBA player
- Marvin Williams , NBA player for Charlotte Hornets
- Terrence Williams , NBA player for Houston Rockets
- Ann and Nancy Wilson, members of Heart; lived in Bellevue
- Rainn Wilson , actor, ''The Office''
Y
- Takuji Yamashita, early 20th-century civil-rights pioneer
- Robert Lee Yates , serial killer
- DeAndre Yedlin, soccer player
- Henry Yesler, entrepreneur; considered to be one of Seattle's founding fathers
- Chika Yoshida , YouTuber
- Katrina Young , two time Olympic platform diver
Z
- Constance Zimmer , actress, Entourage, Boston Legal, ''House of Cards''