List of people from Portland, Oregon


Portland is a port city in the U.S. state of Oregon located at the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers. Established in the 1830s as a camp along the Oregon Trail, Portland evolved into a major West Coast industrial city during the twentieth century. Contemporarily, it is the most populous city in Oregon, and the second-largest city in the Pacific Northwest.
This list of notable people includes persons who were either born in, are current residents of, or have lived in Portland. A person who lives in or comes from Portland, Oregon is called a Portlander.

A

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
2001-Baseball player-
1954–Actor
1942–2015Diplomat
1963–Comic book artist
1963–Former mayor of Portland
1936–2012Musician
1973–Artist
1921–1997Playwright, screenwriter
1893–1983Musicologist, composer
1962–Musician
1928–2015Clown, author
1974–Actress
1956–Diplomat, businesswoman
1929–Actress
1928–1957Actor
1953–Major League Baseball player
1897–1993Singer
Musician
1941–2016Singer
1986–Singer-songwriter
1949–Cinematographer
1930–2003Televangelist
1929–1988Film director and editor
1923–201432nd governor of Oregon
1907–1990Photographer
1819–1889Missionary
1936–Author
1888–1958Plywood manufacturing innovator

B

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
2000–Actor
1941–Attorney, athlete
1963–Actress
1995–Model
1860–1957One of first policewomen in the United States
1972–Filmmaker
Daniel E. Barbey1989-1969U.S. Navy admiral
1966–1994Professional wrestler
1924–2015Civil rights activist
1873–1941Actress
1990–Lacrosse player
1931–1996Actor
1903–1985Food expert
1980–Musician
1923–1986Football player
1899–1994Architect
1966–Soccer player
1867–1943Architect
1852–1942Philanthropist, logger
1977–Artist
2005–Soccer player
1939–2025Entrepreneur and tennis professionalNo
1908–1989Voice actor
1963–Major League Baseball player, World Series champion
1978–Filmmaker
1974–Bodybuilder
1969–Drummer
1948–Democratic U.S. representative
1920–2011Actor
1841–1932Union soldier, founder of Boring, Oregon
1962–Composer, trumpeter
1970–NBA all-star
1974–Standup comedian
1954–Actor
1975–Singer, frontman of Modest Mouse
1915–1999Actor
1954–NASCAR racer
1960–NASCAR racer
1977–Soccer player
1965–Professional basketball player
1944–Jazz drummer
1887–1938Silent film director
Writer, editor
1974–Musician, actor
1985–Actress
1977–Retired fencer
1885–1936Journalist, writer
1910–1995Politician, lawyer
1956–Guitarist of R.E.M.
1915–1989Actor
1953–Politician
1924–2009All-American girls professional baseball player
1916–1937Actress
1913–1964Actress, art collector
1950–Musician, master Irish fiddler
1923–2011Children's author, illustrator
1895–1988Civil rights activist; first African-American to attend the University of Oregon

C

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1951–2010Cartoonist
Artist, author
1998–Soccer player; represented Luxembourg
1913–1993Actress
1897–1984Actress
1959–Musician
1858–1917Publisher
1935–Politician
1952–Actress, acting coach
1983–Actor
1955–2011Actor
1979–Actress
1808–1892Politician, lawyer
1925–2000Photographer
1951–2003British soccer player, coach
1972-Pop artist
1964–Classical soprano, director
1906–2003Actress, singer
1992–Actress
1916–2021Author
1956–Architect
1969–Actress
1983–Soccer player
1857–1927Physician, politician
1967–Filmmaker, actor
1807–1882Investor, militia officer
1987–WNBA player
1925-1957Serial killer
1898–1951Actor, director
1923–2014Actor
1995–Olympic swimmer
1970–Soccer player
1901–1961Actor
1972–Rapper, entertainer and radio personality
1947–President of Compassion & Choices
1969–Comic artist
1915–2000Attorney, politician
1947–Actress
1827–1903Industrialist, U.S. senator
1933–2021Olympic swimmer
1917–2006Actor
1811–1870Sea captain, co-founder of Portland
1910–1982Political activist
1963–Sports media host
1905–2002Entrepreneur, inventor of chainsaw chain
1960–Artist
Publisher of Tape Op
1992–Olympic shot putter and discus thrower
1963–Musician
1883–1976Photographer
1949–Inventor of wiki
1892–1967Actress
1956–Journalist
1967–Costume and puppet designer
1941–Poet, novelist

D

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1895–1986Actress
1910–2000Chess Grandmaster
1994–Rapper, musician
1971–Musician, vocalist of Spoon
1914—2005Mathematical scientist
1930–2023Drag performer
1982–Political lobbyist
1959–Singer
1877–1937Academic
1970–Comic writer
1962–Filmmaker
1982–Professional soccer players
1952–2007Blues harmonica player
1946–Businessman, state representative
1936–2013Director emeritus of orchestral studies at Juilliard School; director of Oregon Symphony
1968–Olympic rower
1972–Democratic U.S. representative, former Oregon state representative
1978–Ultrarunner
1975–Poet
1922–1993Painter
1901–2004Law professor at University of Chicago
1981–Singer-songwriter of Gossip
1978–Basketball player, Portland Trail Blazers
1979–Reality TV personality
1977–NBA player
1924–1986R&B singer
1967–Singer-songwriter
1928–2017Actress, wife of Hank Greenberg
1872–1968Painter, sculptor, and teacher; wife of Frank DuMond
1834–1915Suffragist
1980–NBA player
1945–2016Author

E

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1943–NFL player, coach
1988–Decathlete
1970–CEO of Stand for Children
1884–1947Baseball player
1901–1968Crime boss
1944–Actor
1975–Illustrator
1943–2015Musician of The Kingsmen
1973–Radio personality
1925–2013Inventor of computer mouse
1872–1952Physician, anarchist
1902–1985Politician, mayor of Anchorage, Alaska
1978–Olympic silver medalist in water polo
1847–1917Train robber
1854–1940Suffragist
1991–Soccer player
1918–1992First chancellor of City University of New York; president of the New School for Social Research
1962–Sportscaster
1948–Actor

F

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1834–1898Banker, politician
1893–1989Soprano concert singer
1932–Attorney, broadcaster
World champion disc golfer
1923–1995Legislator, judge
1964–Actor, filmmaker
1980–Creator of LiveJournal
1967–Artist
1986–Actress
1947–2023High jumper
1879–1950Economist, first president of Reed College
1975–Comic writer
1890–1968Actress, singer
–1931Civic worker
1982–Host of Clips & Quips
1889–1973Actress
1974–Meteorologist, WABC-TV New York
1987–Actor
1936–2013Astronaut, member of Astronaut Hall of Fame
1983–Standup comedian
1936–2021U.S. congresswoman

G

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1901–1960Actor
1988–Major League Baseball player
1990–NFL player
1982–National Hockey League player
1958–Actress
1896–1964Landscape architect
1883–1958Naval officer
1966–Musician
1984–Baseball player
1940–1977First person executed in U.S. after reinstatement of capital punishment
1903–1979Poet, dramatist
1908–1945Actor
1924-2020Founder of the Portland Trail Blazers
1827–1890U.S. Army surgeon
1944–Author
1988–Actor
1970s–Musician
1905–1988Artist
1984–Professional boxer
1906–2000Pharmacologist, pioneer of chemotherapy
1976–Photographer, cameraman of Ghost Adventures
1947–First African-American woman elected to Oregon State Senate
1915–1978Baseball player
1978–Olympic long-distance runner
1886–1953Actress
1938–2006Cinematographer
1963–Retired NBA champion
1910–1987Politician
1884–1945Actor
1936–2020Olympic middle-distance runner
1909–1947Actress
1954–Animator, creator of The Simpsons and Futurama
1912–1955Folk singer-songwriter

H

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1928–2005Actor
1944–U.S. federal judge
1941–Actress
1933–1988NBA player
1908–2007Painter
1874–1940Major general and chief of the National Guard Bureau
1973–Sportswriter, film producer
1968–Singer-songwriter
1907–1988Politician
1970–U.S. national champion and Olympic figure skater
1980–Miss America 2002
1978–NFL quarterback
1983–NFL linebacker
1982–Actor
1917–2003Composer
Musician
1948–2018Artist, founder of Burning Man
1887–1953Actor
1899–1984Filmmaker
1848–1935Politician
Creator of Pokey the Penguin
1819–1881Physician, co-founder of Oregon Hospital for the Insane
1899–1950Writer
1961–Screenwriter
1961–Screenwriter
1961–Filmmaker
1966–Musician
1958–Astronaut
1954–1996Model, actress; granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway
1975–Actress
1920–1986Writer, journalist
1879–1915Labor activist
1948–Actress
1940–2013Businessperson
1905–1990Radio host, actress
1893–1964Author, artist
1819–1897Transportation mogul
1973–Musician
1852–1927Lawyer
Musician
2002–Missing person
1960–Author
1892–1934Journalist
1949–Musician, father of Oliver and Kate Hudson
1953–Musician, television producer
1951–Musician, record producer
1951–Musician
1994–Major League Baseball player
1950–2022Actor

K

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1905–1944Violinist
1977–Architect, artist
1990–Chef, entrepreneur
1972–Political commentator
1914–2010Professor, president of California Polytechnic State University
1958–2008Actress
1883–1928Actress
1876–1965Avant-garde artist
1890–1911Heiress to Kerr Glass Company
1946–2015Wildlife biologist, conservationist
1863–1947Academic, first chancellor of Oregon University System
1975–Founder and CEO of MergerTech
1983–Unicyclist known as the Unipiper
1947–Activist, author
1923–2018Actor
1990–YouTube personality
1938–Co-founder of Nike, Inc.
1909–1981Publisher
1946–Actor
1889–1965Politician
1934–2016Classics and Jewish history scholar
1924–1987Printmaker
1952–Author
1974–Author, activist; wife of Chris Kyle

L

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1896–1926Actress
1826–1893Businessman, industrialist
1949–2009Textile artist
1948–Retired professional boxer
1896–1954Editor, Oregon poet laureate
1950–2007Midget professional wrestler
1961–Singer-songwriter
1855–1917Politician, physician
1969–Musician
1899–1947Actor
1959–Conservative talk radio host
1959–Actor; ex-husband of Olivia Newton-John
1970–Musician
1991–Comedian
1868–1939Architect
1929–2018Author
1893–1943Screenwriter
1886–1993First Chinese American woman registered to vote
1912–1944First Chinese-American female military pilot
1978–2006United States Navy SEAL
1925–2018Artist, sculptor
1853–1923Architect
1964–Author
1917–2014Conductor, clarinetist
1864–1945German American architect
1959–1987Engineer
1961–Documentarian
First professional abortion provider in Portland
1871–1958Journalist
1906–1942Actress
1940–Major League Baseball pitcher
1959–Football player
1987-Sex worker, author and freelance writer
1839–1893Physician, co-founder of Oregon Hospital for the Insane
1964–Actress, musician
1931–2015New Hampshire State Senator, businessman
1953–Author
1855–1904Journalist, historian
1979–Musician, writer, activist

M

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1882–1935Songwriter and lyricist
1990–Rapper
1974–U.S. soccer player
1973–Composer, musician, producer
1963–2010Writer of young adult fiction
1979–Playboy Playmate, actress
1945–Activist
Professor, sociologist, writer
1925–2009Mrs. America 1957
1966–Musician
1902–1993Stuntman, producer
1920–2018Violinist, founder of Juilliard String Quartet
1991–Actor
1946-Politician and businessman
1944–Writer, lawyer
1934–Serial killer
1972–Musician
1980–Winner of Project Runway, season 5
1888–1969Actress, stuntwoman
Artist, children's author
1956–Fencer
1975–Author
1974–Singer
1977–Comic artist
1828–1891Publisher
1973–Actress, director
1893–1959Politician
1915–1996Actress
1919–2009Voice actor
1957–Brewpub owner, businessman
Brewpub owner, businessman
1977–Author
1974–Musician
1970–Musician
1936–2014Actress, figure skater
1988–Musician
1926–2014Olympic swimmer
1956–U.S. senator
1904–1951Actress
Ringmaster of Wanderlust Circus
1972–Soccer player, Olympic and World Cup champion
1932–Actress
1971–Author
1954–Politician
1962–Attorney, Olympic bicycle racer
1974–Musician
1890–1957Actress
1983–Comic artist
1873–1942Writer
1987–Drag queen, singer, actor
1972–MTV VJ
1908–1991Football player
1941–Jazz bassist
Wikipedia editor and organizer
1977–Actor, director
1911–1991Artist
1983–Artist
1897–1954Singer-songwriter, actress
Artist, curator
1892–1963World War I veteran, Victoria Cross winner
1903–1955Actress
1914–1968Longshore worker, preservationist
1956–Major League Baseball player
1939–ESPN and ABC newscaster
1974–Actor, athlete
1991–Soccer player

N

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1983–NFL player
1898–1998Restaurateur
1925–1996Businessman
1923–2006Composer, musician
1966–Sportswriter, author
1973–Musician
1943–Convicted criminal
1988–Singers, lifestyle models

O

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1985–Endurance athlete
1966–Olympic gold medalist
1949–Political commentator, former news anchor
1882–1955Actor
1956–Actor
1966–Writer
1960–Editorial cartoonist of The Oregonian
1965–1993Major League Baseball pitcher
1893–1971Bandleader
1975–Actress, comedian
1958–2014Composer
Film score composer
Co-founder of Portland

P

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1963–Software developer
1923–2008Pin-up model
1962–Author
1911–2009Businessman
1871–1891Major League Baseball infielder
1868–1932Major League Baseball pitcher
1945–NFL player
1942–Olympic weightlifter
1925–2022Actress, businesswoman
1901–1994Double Nobel Prize-winning chemist
1830–1919Steamboat captain
1869–1963Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist
1895–1964Actor
1928–2020Diplomat
1919–2012Major League Baseball player
1921–1952Actress
1925–2007Baseball player
1930–2016Television personality
1886–1974Politician
1892–1974Football player, coach
1890–1958Inventor of the Phillips-head screw
1928–2018Judge
1952–Actor
1954–2015Wrestler
Rock drummer, percussionist
1836–1913Physician, politician
1946–Animator, illustrator
1903–1987First female judge in New York
1884–1968Clergyman
Entrepreneur and activist
1941–1987War veteran, gay rights activist
1940–Former police chief and mayor of Portland
1898–1989Professional football player
1929–2021Actress, singer
1880–1932Actress
1914–1976Actress

R

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1982–Musician
1949–NFL player
Intel executive
1927–1990Singer
1997–Actor
1887–1920Journalist
1964–Writer
1941–NFL defensive back
1960–Punk singer
1969–Actress
1892–1936Actor
1924–1989Actor, baseball player
1949–Television announcer
1950–Publisher, founder of Dark Horse Comics
1962–Film composer
1956–Guitarist
1912–1984Newscaster, actor
1946–2009Native American rights activist
1985–Actor
1837–1907Cartographer, artist
1925–2016Physician, radiologist
1982–Folk singer
Artist
1890–1983Printmaker
1970–Comic artist
1951–Musician
1951–Singer, musician
1903–1970Artist
1970–NFL player
1969–Novelist, comic writer
1986–Olympic distance runner
1923–2021Los Angeles City Council member
1963–Writer, talk show host
1937–1990Politician

S

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1996-Professional basketball player for the Sacramento Kings
1960–Graphic novel journalist
1980–Actress
1952–Musician, singer
1958–Olympic track athlete, coach until he was banned for life
1954–Singer
1954–Businesswoman, former CEO of Rite Aid and Fred Meyer
1945–1972Freestyle wrestler, World Champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist
1995–Singer-songwriter
1967–1989Actress
1949–Actress
1967–Long-driving golf champion
1962–Musician
1941–Mathematician
1961–Author, convicted computer criminal
1926–2007Actor
1838–1910Publisher
1878–1968Politician, historian
1907–1973Actress
1999–Musician, contestant of American Idol
1981–Artist
1927–2001Olympic swimmer
1974–Major League Baseball player
1942–2018Filmmaker
1978–Journalist
1963–Journalist, editor of Bloomberg View, formerly The New York Times
1925–1996Football player
1918–2005Television writer
1907–1993Billionaire industrialist
1983-Canadian soccer player
1910–1980Violinist, conductor of the Oregon Symphony
1957–Actress, cellist
1857–1929Author
1841–1911Union Army recipient of the Medal of Honor
1969–2003Musician
1923–1991Archivist, ethnomusicologist
1936–2013Conductor
1898–1991Activist
1959–2025Musician
1984–Musician
1946–Author
1970–NBA coach
1883–1970First female judge in Oregon
1959–Author
1914–1993Poet
1967–Basketball player, head coach at Boston University
1907–1988Actor
1955–2008Illustrator, comic artist
1921–2003United States Navy shipfitter
1928–2021Burlesque dancer
1973–NBA player, coach
1982–NBA player
Author and lawyer
1968–Author, essayist
1960–Actress
1894–1983United States admiral
1947–Actress
1987–NFL player
1980–Singer, musician

T

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1968–Singer-songwriter
1981–Musician
1935–2018Politician
1905–1984Actress
1933–1949Murder victim
1967–Musician
1809–1892Pioneer, namesake of Terwilliger Boulevard
1975–Actress
1960–Musician
1945–Model
1939–Soul music singer
1975–Graphic novelist
1924–2012Japanese-American activist
1909–1985Soprano
1956–Voice actor
1964–Bodybuilder
1969–Organizer of Linux operating system kernel
1970-Foreign correspondent, writer
1965–Winner of Survivor: Marquesas
1954–Socialite
1972–Musician
1885–1961U.S. Navy admiral
1948–2010Major League Baseball player

V

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1952–Filmmaker
1952-Singer-songwriter
1973–Singer-songwriter
1947–2018Claymation animator
Publisher, author
1946–Olympic discus thrower
1913–1986Engineer, founder of Tektronix
1913–1994Librarian

W

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1949–Actress
1975–Musician
1949–Film director
1980–Soccer player
1973–Musician
1986–Basketball player in the Israel Basketball Premier League
1971–Comedian, actress
1967–Sculptor
1974–Professional skateboarder
1830–1904Brewer
1965–Drummer
1947–NFL player
1861–1914Businessman
1929–1979Actor
1923–2012Poet
1977–Musician
1962–Mayor of Portland
1908–1976Photographer
1878–1944Architect
1966–Entrepreneur
1968–Drummer
1827–1905Businessman, Freemason
1954–Musician
Author, journalist
1945–Olympic swimmer
1852–1944Author, civil liberties advocate
1950–Serial killer known as the I-5 Killer
1949–1999Painter
1958–Actress
1873–1928Electrician, teacher
1949-U.S. senator; former U.S. congressman
1962–Playwright

Z

PersonLifespanNotabilityBorn
1985–Two-time Olympic gold medalist in fencing
1964–Figure skater
1971–2002Murder victim
1925–2021Olympic silver medalist swimmer
1979–Journalist
1954–Publisher