List of people from San Diego

This is a list of notable people who were born, spent a majority of their life, or currently live in San Diego, California.

A

 * Beth Accomando, Film critic, arts reporter, and podcast host
 * Anderson Lee Aldrich, convicted gunman of the 2022 Colorado Springs nightclub shooting
 * Eric Allen, professional football player, coach, and analyst
 * Jon Allen, Voice and film actor
 * Greg Allen, professional baseball player
 * Marcus Allen, professional player and analyst, college and Pro Football Hall of Famer
 * Caroline Amiguet, actress and model
 * William Anders, astronaut, Apollo 8
 * Tom Anderson, founder of social networking site Myspace
 * Paul Arriola, professional soccer player
 * Mark Atkinson, Film actor and producer
 * Margaret Avery, actress, The Color Purple
 * Brian Awadis, professional YouTuber

B

 * Lester Bangs, music journalist and critic
 * Greg Bear, sci-fi novelist; won two Hugo awards; co-founder of San Diego Comic-Con
 * David Bailey, professional motocross racer
 * Dr. Charlotte Johnson Baker, San Diego's first practicing woman physician
 * Dr. Fred Baker, physician, founder of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography
 * Khalif Barnes, professional football player
 * Arlene Baxter, model and actress
 * Billy Beane, general manager of Oakland Athletics, portrayed by Brad Pitt in Moneyball
 * Brie Bella, professional wrestler, one-time WWE Divas Champion
 * Nikki Bella, professional wrestler, two-time WWE Divas Champion
 * Belle Benchley, "The Zoo Lady," President, San Diego Zoo 1927–53, first woman in world to direct major zoo
 * Charles Benefiel, outsider artist
 * Annette Bening, TV, stage and screen actress, four-time Oscar nominee
 * Kurt Benirschke, pathologist and geneticist
 * Rolf Benirschke, professional football player
 * Lizet Benrey, painter, actress and film director
 * Doug Benson, professional comedian
 * Shari Benstock, feminist literary scholar and University of Miami English department chair
 * Peter Berkos, Academy Award winner for sound editing
 * Wynton Bernard, professional baseball player
 * Noah Bernardo, drummer for band P.O.D.
 * Rhett Bernstein, professional soccer player
 * Mayim Bialik, TV actress (Blossom, The Big Bang Theory)
 * Camren Bicondova, dancer
 * Tony Bill, actor, director, and Academy Award-winning producer
 * Ryan Binse, film producer and United States Navy veteran
 * Stephen Bishop, musician
 * Ron Blair, musician, original bassist of band Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
 * Hank Blalock, professional baseball player
 * Jolene Blalock, actress, Star Trek: Enterprise
 * Kim Bokamper, professional football player
 * Bob Boone, professional baseball player
 * Eddie Borysewciz, US Olympic cycling coach, United States Bicycling Hall of Fame
 * Madge Bradley, attorney and judge; first woman appointed to San Diego County bench
 * Allison Bradshaw, professional tennis player
 * Tim Bradstreet, artist and illustrator
 * Debbie Bramwell-Washington, IFBB professional bodybuilder
 * Charles Brandes, investment manager, billionaire
 * Steven Brault, professional baseball player
 * Quentin Breese, professional boxer
 * Lucille Bremer, actress
 * Adam Brody, actor, The O.C.
 * Bill Brown, music composer
 * Charles F. Buddy, first bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, University of San Diego founder
 * Chase Budinger, professional basketball player
 * Jud Buechler, former professional basketball player, NBA coach
 * Victor Buono, actor
 * Michael C. Burgess, actor, poet, activist and former editor of The Star-News
 * Bob Burnquist, professional skateboarder
 * Justin Burquist, filmmaker and music video director
 * Nakia Burrise, actress, best known for portraying the third Yellow Power Ranger, Tanya Sloan
 * Eileen Rose Busby, author, antiques expert
 * Reggie Bush, professional football player
 * Brian Patrick Butler, actor and filmmaker
 * Chris Byrd, professional boxer, Olympic silver medalist, two-time Heavyweight Champion
 * Darryl Byrd, professional football player

C

 * Matt Cameron, rock drummer, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden
 * Donna Campbell, physician and member of the Texas Senate, born in San Diego in 1954
 * Charlie Cannon, singer, theater performer and co-founder of Starlight Opera
 * Nick Cannon, actor, rapper, occasional TV host
 * Francesca Capaldi, actress (Dog with a Blog)
 * Charisma Carpenter, actress
 * Kyra Carusa, footballer for the Republic of Ireland national team
 * Kellye Cash, Miss America, 1987
 * Billy Casper, golfer, Masters and U.S. Open champion
 * John Castellanos, stage, film and television actor, film producer
 * Emma Caulfield, actress
 * Mark Cerney, founder of Next of Kin Registry (NOKR)
 * David Chadwick, clinical research pediatrician, author, founder of Chadwick Center for Children and Autism Discovery Institute-San Diego
 * Kate Morgan Chadwick, actress, singer
 * Raymond Chandler, detective novelist and film noir writer; The Big Sleep, Farewell, My Lovely, The Long Goodbye
 * Eric Chavez, professional baseball player
 * Steve Cherundolo, professional soccer player
 * Bob Clampett, animator (Looney Tunes)
 * Judy Clarke, criminal defense attorney
 * Jamie Clayton, actress and model
 * Eric Close, actor
 * D. C. Collier, real estate developer, director of the 1915–16 Panama California Exposition
 * Aukai Collins, Chechen mujahideen, spent his childhood in Ocean Beach, and part of his early adulthood in City Heights
 * Marshall Colt, psychologist and former actor
 * Holly Marie Combs, actress Picket Fences, Charmed
 * Dennis Conner, America's Cup yachtsman
 * Maureen Connolly, professional tennis player, 1953 tennis Grand Slam champion
 * Derrike Cope, NASCAR driver
 * Salvatore J. Cordileone, Roman Catholic archbishop
 * Jorge Cordova, professional football player
 * Alana Cordy-Collins, anthropologist
 * Carly Craig, actress, writer
 * Dawson Cram, NASCAR driver
 * William P. Cronan, naval officer and 19th Naval Governor of Guam
 * Robbin Crosby, musician
 * Rob Crow, musician
 * Cameron Crowe, screenwriter, director, and producer
 * Dominick Cruz, mixed martial artist, former UFC bantamweight champion
 * Andrew Cunanan, spree killer who murdered Gianni Versace
 * Marcos Curiel, musician
 * Vinny Curran, actor

D

 * Austin da Luz, professional soccer player
 * John D'Acquisto, professional baseball player
 * Ted Danson, Emmy Award-winning actor (Cheers, Becker, CSI)
 * Mike Davis, professional baseball player
 * Terrell Davis, professional football player
 * William Heath Davis, early San Diego developer
 * Randy Davison, actor
 * Jean Dawson, musician
 * Luca de la Torre, professional soccer player
 * Liza del Mundo, actress
 * Tom DeLonge, singer and musician
 * Warren DeMartini, musician
 * Thatcher Demko, goaltender for the Vancouver Canucks
 * Doug DeMuro, automotive columnist, reviewer, and author
 * Amir Derakh, musician
 * Jeff Deverett, film producer and professor
 * Gail Devers, track and field sprinter, Olympic gold medalist
 * Cameron Diaz, actress (My Best Friend's Wedding, Charlie's Angels)
 * Frank DiPalermo, actor, playwright, and poet
 * John P. Dolan, Catholic bishop
 * Patrice Donnelly, athlete and actress
 * Johnny Downs, vaudevillian, dancer, actor, TV personality
 * Gerry Driscol, yacht racer and businessperson
 * Adam Driver, actor
 * Ryan Drummond, actor, voice actor, comedian, singer (voice of Sonic the Hedgehog from 1998 to 2004)
 * Jared Dudley, professional basketball player
 * Momčilo Đujić, WW2 Chetnik guerilla commander
 * Robert Duvall, Oscar-winning actor

E

 * Jason Earles, actor
 * Nathan East, bass player
 * Donnie Edwards, professional football player
 * Lindsay Ellingson, model
 * Bob Elliott, professional baseball player
 * Boogie Ellis, basketball player
 * Joan Embery, animal and environmental advocate
 * Roger Guy English, businessman, disc jockey, and Guinness World Record holder
 * Iris Engstrand, professor emeritus of history at University of San Diego, author of San Diego: California's Cornerstone
 * Hayden Epstein, professional football player
 * Gary Erwin, TV personality

F

 * Daeg Faerch, actor
 * Marshall Faulk, professional football player, Hall of Famer
 * Raymond E. Feist, author
 * Amy Finley, cook, author
 * John William Finn, Medal of Honor recipient
 * Reuben H. Fleet, aviation pioneer, industrialist, Army officer
 * Jon Foreman, lead vocalist and guitarist for band Switchfoot
 * Tim Foreman, bassist and backing vocalist for band Switchfoot
 * Arian Foster, professional football player
 * Michael Lewis Foster, filmmaker
 * Julie Foudy, professional soccer player
 * Dan Fouts, professional football player, media analyst, Hall of Famer
 * Frankie J, singer
 * Ace Frehley, lead guitarist for band KISS
 * Mike Fuentes, musician, drummer for band Pierce the Veil
 * Vic Fuentes, musician, vocalist and rhythm guitarist for band Pierce the Veil

G

 * Mo Gaffney, actress
 * Lukas Gage, actor
 * Diamanda Galás, composer, vocalist, and keyboard artist
 * Ray Gallardo, film director and cinematographer
 * Greg Garcia, professional baseball player
 * Maruta Gardner, educator, community activist
 * Major Garrett, reporter
 * Steve Garvey, professional baseball player, businessman
 * Audrey Geisel, philanthropist
 * Jeff Gianola, television news anchor
 * Brian Giles, professional baseball player
 * Marcus Giles, professional baseball player
 * Jared S. Gilmore, child actor
 * Francoise Gilot, painter, author
 * Broc Glover, motocross national champion
 * La'Roi Glover, professional football player
 * Mark Goffeney, guitarist born without arms, disability advocate
 * Susan Golding, businesswoman, politician
 * Stephen Gonsalves, professional baseball player
 * Adrián González, professional baseball player
 * Sandra Good, former Manson Family member
 * Andrew Good, professional baseball player
 * Edgar Gott, aviation industry executive
 * Mark Grace, professional baseball player
 * Robert Klark Graham, businessman and eugenicist
 * Cecil H. Green, geophysicist, philanthropist
 * Harold Greene, television journalist
 * Robbie Grossman, professional baseball player
 * Alejandro Guido, professional soccer player
 * Manuel Gutierrez (aka Manny MUA), YouTuber
 * Tony Gwynn, professional baseball player and coach, Hall of Famer, won 8 batting titles
 * Tony Gwynn Jr., professional baseball player, son of Tony Gwynn

H

 * Leon Hall, professional football player
 * Cole Hamels, professional baseball player
 * Rosie Hamlin, singer
 * Jonathan Hammond, film director and screenwriter
 * Jaylen Hands, professional basketball player
 * Aaron Harang, professional baseball player, attended San Diego State
 * Mike Harkey, Major League Baseball pitcher and coach
 * Margo Harshman, actress
 * Charles Mallory Hatfield, rainmaker
 * Riley Hawk, professional skateboarder, son of Tony Hawk
 * Tony Hawk, professional skateboarder
 * Le Ly Hayslip, memoirist and humanitarian
 * Len Heard, darts player
 * Roger Hedgecock, mayor and radio personality
 * David Hensley, MLB infielder
 * Faithe Herman, actress
 * Mirelle Hernández, make-up artist
 * Arthur Hobbs, professional football player
 * James Holmes, convicted gunman of the 2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting
 * Dennis Hopper, actor and director (Easy Rider, Speed)
 * Mark Hoppus, singer and musician
 * Alonzo Horton, early San Diego developer, created "New Town San Diego", later Downtown
 * James Oliver Huberty, perpetrator of San Ysidro McDonald's Massacre
 * Kimberly Hunt, news anchor
 * Joe Hutshing, Oscar-winning film editor

I

 * Gabriel Iglesias, stand-up comedian
 * Christofer Drew Ingle, musician
 * Doug Ingle, founder of band Iron Butterfly, primary creator of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, first platinum record

J

 * JabbaWockeeZ, dance crew
 * Jordan Jacobo, actor and screenwriter
 * Father Luís Jayme, California's first Christian martyr
 * Jayo Felony, rapper
 * Jazzmun, actress
 * Tony Jefferson, professional football player
 * Kris Jenner, television personality
 * Johnny Jeter, professional wrestler
 * Deron Johnson, professional baseball player
 * Jimmie Johnson, NASCAR driver, seven-time champion
 * Katrina Johnson, actress
 * Michael Johnson (aka Twisted Insane), rapper
 * Adam Jones, professional baseball player
 * Dhani Jones, professional football player
 * Jacque Jones, professional baseball player
 * Lonnie Jordan, musician, War
 * Ian Joy, professional soccer player, sports broadcaster
 * David Justice, professional baseball player

K

 * Lori Kay, artist
 * Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, architect
 * Tom Kelly, “Shotgun” Tom Kelly, radio and television personality
 * Kerri Kendall, model
 * Jewel Kilcher, Grammy-nominated singer
 * Tawny Kitaen, model and actress
 * Laurence Monroe Klauber, herpetologist
 * Charles Klusmann, escaped from Vietnamese POW camp 1964
 * Ken Kocher, professional football player
 * Raph Koster, author and game designer
 * Joel Kramer, basketball player
 * Joan Kroc, philanthropist
 * Ray Kroc, founder of the McDonald's corporation, owned San Diego Padres
 * Cy Kuckenbaker, filmmaker
 * Alice K. Kurashige, first Japanese-American woman to be commissioned in US Marine Corps

L

 * Frankie Laine, singer and actor
 * Adam Lambert, singer, runner-up on American Idol
 * Tim Lambesis, vocalist for band As I Lay Dying
 * Fabio Lanzoni, model
 * Joe Lara, actor
 * Bob Larsen, track and field coach, Olympic coach
 * Don Larsen, professional baseball player, pitched perfect game in 1956 World Series
 * Bucky Lasek, professional skateboarder
 * Tammy Lauren, actress
 * Robbie Lawler, mixed martial artist
 * lê thi diem thúy, novelist and performance artist, The Gangster We Are All Looking For (2004)
 * Brad Leaf, American-Israeli basketball player
 * Bessie Learn, silent film actress
 * Bobby Lee, MadTV actor and comedian
 * Karenssa LeGear, actress and filmmaker
 * David Leisure, "Joe Isuzu," character actor and comedian (Empty Nest)
 * Brynton Lemar (born 1995), American-born Jamaican basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
 * Jeanne Lenhart, senior Olympian, senior pageant winner, performing arts teacher
 * Joe Leonard, automobile and motorcycle rcing champion
 * William S. Lerach, securities class action attorney, investor advocate
 * Cliff Levingston, professional basketball player
 * Cassidy Lichtman, professional volleyball player
 * Lil Rob, Chicano rapper
 * Art Linkletter, television personality
 * Cleavon Little, actor, Blazing Saddles
 * Gene Littler, professional golfer, World Golf Hall of Famer
 * Harold Lloyd, silent film actor
 * John Logan, screenwriter
 * Konstantin Lokhanov (born 1998), junior world champion and Olympic saber fencer living in San Diego
 * Mario López, actor and television personality (Saved by the Bell, Extra!)
 * Greg Louganis, Olympic gold-medalist diver
 * Moses A. Luce, lawyer

M

 * John Macaulay, professional football player
 * Rob Machado, professional surfer
 * Doug Manchester, real estate developer, owner of The San Diego Union-Tribune
 * Barbara Mandrell, country music singer and musician
 * Gloria Marks, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
 * Tate Martell, college football player, Netflix Original QB1: Beyond the Lights
 * Ross Martin, actor, The Wild Wild West
 * Clay Marzo, professional surfer
 * James Maslow, actor, singer from boy band Big Time Rush
 * Victor Mature, actor, Kiss of Death
 * Maria Goeppert Mayer, scientist, worked at Los Alamos; Nobel Prize in physics, 1963
 * Mercedes McCambridge, Oscar-winning actress, star of radio, TV, stage and screen
 * Merrick McCartha, television and film actor
 * Dave McCary, comedian and director
 * Bill McColl, professional football player and surgeon
 * William C. McCool, astronaut
 * Kyle McDonald, singer and musician
 * Tug McGraw, professional baseball player, father of country singer Tim McGraw
 * Danica McKellar, author and actress (The Wonder Years)
 * Don McManus, actor
 * Naomi McPherson, guitarist of Muna
 * Michael Medved, radio host, political commentator, film critic
 * Dan Melville, football player
 * Bob Mendoza, professional baseball player and coach, San Diego Hall of Champions inductee
 * Cordelia Mendoza, antiques expert, businesswoman, author
 * Shep Meyers, musician
 * Phil Mickelson, professional golfer, Masters and British Open champion
 * David Miller, operatic singer
 * Martin Milner, actor, Adam-12
 * Lani Minella, voice actress
 * El Hijo de Rey Misterio, professional wrestler
 * Brian Stokes Mitchell, film and Broadway actor and vocalist, Tony Award winner
 * Kevin Mitchell, professional baseball player
 * Silas Weir Mitchell, actor
 * Ron Mix, "the intellectual assassin," professional football player, Hall of Famer
 * Matthew Modine, actor, Full Metal Jacket, The Dark Knight Rises
 * John J. Montgomery, pioneer aviator
 * Adam Montoya, YouTube personality, gamer
 * Kyle Mooney, Saturday Night Live cast member, 2013–2022
 * Archie Moore, professional boxer
 * Trevi Moran, singer, YouTuber
 * Alex Morgan, professional soccer player, US Women's National Team
 * Tawny Moyer, actress (Halloween II)
 * Jason Mraz, Grammy-winning singer
 * Thom Michael Mulligan, actor and playwright
 * Joe Musgrove, professional baseball player
 * Chad Muska, professional skateboarder
 * Dominik Mysterio, professional wrestler, son of Rey Mysterio
 * Rey Mysterio, professional wrestler, WWE Hall of Famer

N

 * Kathy Najimy, actress (Sister Act, Hocus Pocus)
 * Brandon Nakashima, tennis player
 * Gregory Nava, Oscar-nominated film director and screenwriter
 * Stephen Neal, professional football player
 * Andrew Newmark, activist, musician
 * Walter R. Nickel, M.D., dermatologist and dermatopathologist
 * Lou Niles, radio host of 91X and executive director of Oceanside International Film Festival
 * Kent Ninomiya, journalist
 * Craig Noel, theatre producer
 * Matt Nokes, professional baseball player
 * Fred E. Norris Jr., architect

O

 * Ellen Ochoa, NASA astronaut
 * Raymond Ochoa, actor
 * Ryan Ochoa, actor
 * Ronan O'Gara, Irish rugby union player (Ireland's second most-capped player and highest ever points scorer) and current coach
 * Chris Olave, football player
 * Tony Olmos, screenwriter, filmmaker and musician
 * Heather O'Rourke, actress, Poltergeist
 * John Ottman, soundtrack composer
 * Alexandrea Owens-Sarno, actress

P

 * Patti Page, legendary country and pop singer, film actress; real name Clara Ann Fowler
 * Carson Palmer, professional football player, Heisman Trophy winner
 * Chuck Palumbo, professional wrestler
 * Jennifer Paredes, actress and musician
 * Adam Pearce, professional wrestler
 * Stephen Pearcy, musician
 * Carlton Pearson, televangelist
 * Justin Pearson, musician
 * Everett Peck, cartoonist, illustrator, animator and creator of Duckman and Squirrel Boy
 * Gregory Peck, Oscar-winning actor
 * Clarence M. Pendleton Jr., chairman of United States Commission on Civil Rights 1981–88
 * Bob Penuelas, cartoonist
 * Scott Peterson, convicted murderer
 * Craig Peyer, convicted murderer
 * Dat Phan, comedian
 * Regis Philbin, television personality
 * Steve Poltz, singer-songwriter and guitarist
 * Larry Poole, actor and film producer
 * Zach Porter, singer of Allstar Weekend
 * Norman Powell, professional basketball player
 * Conrad Prebys, philanthropist
 * Jaime Preciado, bass player and vocalist for band Pierce the Veil
 * Jenna Presley, actress
 * Ben Press, tennis professional and coach
 * Barry Pressing, contemporary artist and sculptor
 * Gary Puckett, musician and singer
 * Sarah Purcell, television personality
 * Geoffrey Pyatt, diplomat

R

 * Sara Ramirez, Tony-winning actress and singer
 * Emily Ratajkowski, actress and model
 * Scott Raynor, musician
 * Autumn Reeser, actress
 * Steve Reeves, actor, bodybuilder, author
 * John Reis, musician, swami
 * Richard Requa, architect
 * Roger Revelle, oceanographer, founder of UCSD
 * Neil Raymond Ricco, poet
 * Denise Richards, actress
 * Sally Ride, astronaut
 * Thomas Ridgway, U.S. Army officer and father of General Matthew Ridgway
 * Johnny Ritchey, professional baseball player
 * Dave Roberts, professional baseball player and manager
 * Cliff Robertson, Oscar-winning actor
 * Alfred D. Robinson and Marion James Robinson, builders of Rosecroft
 * Aaron Rodgers, professional football player
 * Mitt Romney, politician
 * Tony Romo, professional football player
 * Louis Rose, developer
 * Seraphim Rose, hieromonk
 * Marion Ross, actress, Happy Days
 * Neil Ross, voice actor
 * Kerry Rossall, actor, Apocalypse Now, stuntman and film producer
 * Patrick Rowe, professional football player
 * Pete Rozelle, famed publicist, NFL commissioner
 * Ilan Rubin, musician
 * Sam Rubin, entertainment reporter
 * Shay Rudolph, actress, social media influencer
 * FaZe Rug, YouTube personality, co-owner of FaZe Clan
 * Chad Ruhwedel, professional ice hockey player
 * RuPaul, performer, television personality
 * Betsy Russell, actress, Saw
 * Jason Russell, film director

S

 * Rashaan Salaam, professional football player, Heisman Trophy winner
 * Jonas Salk, physician, developed polio vaccine; founder, Salk Institute; Presidential medal of freedom (1977)
 * Daniel Samohin (born 1998), Israeli Olympic figure skater
 * Jessica Sanchez, American Idol contestant
 * Shauna Sand, Playboy model, "Playmate of the Month" for May 1996
 * Sonny Sandoval, musician
 * Xander Schauffele, professional golfer
 * David Schipper, professional soccer player
 * Wally Schlotter, chairman of the San Diego Film Commission 1978–96
 * Casey Schmitt (born 1999), infielder for the San Francisco Giants
 * Cathy Scott, journalist and true-crime author
 * J. Michael Scott, scientist, environmentalist and author
 * Junior Seau, professional football player, Hall of Famer
 * Kate Sessions, horticulturalist, "the mother of Balboa Park"
 * Dr. Seuss, Pulitzer-prize winning children's author; real name Theodor Geisel
 * Stephanie Seymour, model
 * Norm Sherry (1931–2021), catcher, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball
 * Al Silvera (1935–2002), major league baseball player
 * Kerry Simmonds, rower, Olympic gold medalist
 * Gina Simmons Schneider, author, therapist, writer
 * Mary Sinclair, actress
 * Andy Skib, musician
 * Alexandra Slade, actress
 * Mitchy Slick, musician
 * Alex Smith, professional football player
 * Marty Smith, motocross national champion
 * Carly Smithson, singer
 * Chris Soriano, filmmaker and actor
 * Sebastian Soto, professional soccer player
 * Suzy Spafford, artist
 * Brenda Spencer, convicted murderer
 * John D. Spreckels, businessman and industrialist
 * Michael Stamm, Olympic swimmer, national champion
 * Scott Stantis, editorial cartoonist
 * Amun Starr, musician and humanitarian
 * Anne State, television news anchor
 * Harry L. Steele, US Army major general
 * Riley Steele, pornographic actress
 * Jeremy Stenberg, professional motorcross rider
 * Payson R. Stevens, science communicator, artist, environmentalist
 * Kenny Stills, professional football player
 * J. J. Stokes, professional football player
 * Milburn Stone, actor, Gunsmoke
 * Rob Stone, rapper
 * Melvin Storer, shipfitter, U.S. Navy diver and Attack on Pearl Harbor survivor
 * Stephen Strasburg, professional baseball player, 2019 World Series MVP
 * Frederick S. Strong, US Army major general
 * Frederick W. Sturckow, astronaut
 * Savannah Sturges, top 10 finalist on MasterChef Season 4
 * Karen Hantze Susman, tennis player
 * Zachary Svajda, tennis player
 * Leslie Sykes, television news anchor
 * Leo Szilard, physicist, fellow of Salk Institute for Biological Studies, died in San Diego

T

 * Dalani Tanahy, artist specializing in the Hawaiian art of creating kapa
 * Roberto Tapia, musician
 * Lauren Taylor, actress and singer
 * Shannon Taylor, film producer, musician and actress
 * Brian Teacher (born 1954), tennis player, Australian Open singles champion
 * Jonathan Temple (1796–1866), landowner, rancher and politician
 * Jamie Thomas, professional skateboarder
 * Pete Thomas, football player
 * Soren Thompson (born 1981), Olympic and world champion épée fencer
 * Susanna Thompson, actress
 * Katherine Tingley, creator of Theosophical Society compound at Lomaland
 * Robert Titzer, writer known for Your Baby Can Read! infant learning book
 * Levine Toilolo, professional football player
 * Ted Tollner, professional football coach
 * Jerry Trainor, actor
 * Alan Trammell, professional baseball player and manager
 * Kelly Marie Tran, actress
 * Marty Tripes, winner of first Super Bowl of motocross
 * Bitsie Tulloch, actress
 * Jeremy Tyler, professional basketball player
 * Roqy Tyraid, rapper and activist

U

 * Harold Urey, physical chemist and UCSD professor
 * Edred Utomi, stage actor

V

 * W.S. Van Dyke, film director
 * Tiffany van Soest, kickboxer
 * Tommy Vardell, professional football player
 * Eddie Vedder, singer in rock band Pearl Jam
 * Juli Veee, soccer player
 * Craig Venter, biologist, entrepreneur
 * Victor Villaseñor, author
 * Erik von Detten, actor (Toy Story, The Princess Diaries)

W

 * Tom Waits, singer-songwriter, composer and actor
 * William Wall, filmmaker
 * Bill Walton, professional basketball player and media analyst, Hall of Famer
 * Luke Walton, professional basketball player and coach
 * Fred Ward, actor
 * Kelly Ward, actor
 * Danny Way, professional skateboarder
 * Hubert Webb, murder suspect
 * Harry M. Wegeforth, physician, founder of the San Diego Zoo
 * Whitney Wegman-Wood, actress and screenwriter
 * Raquel Welch, Golden Globe Award-winning actress
 * Tahnee Welch, model and actress
 * David Wells, professional baseball player
 * Julie White, Tony Award-winning actress
 * Shaun White, professional skateboarder and snowboarder, Olympic gold medalist
 * Cole Whitt, NASCAR driver
 * Larry Wilcox, actor
 * Kendra Wilkinson, model and television personality
 * Carol Williams, concert organist, composer
 * Damien Williams, professional football player
 * Michelle Williams, Oscar-nominated actress
 * Mikey Williams, basketball player
 * Nathan Williams, musician
 * Ricky Williams, professional football player, Heisman Trophy winner
 * Ted Williams, professional baseball player, Hall of Famer, won 7 batting titles
 * Trevor Williams, professional baseball player
 * Ann Wilson, musician
 * Jim Wilson, professional baseball pitcher and general manager
 * Pete Wilson, mayor of San Diego, governor of California and U.S. Senator
 * Scott Wilson, professional bodybuilder
 * Kellen Winslow, professional football player, Hall of Famer
 * Kellen Winslow II, professional football player and convicted rapist
 * Jeff Withey (born 1990), professional basketball player
 * Cassidy Wolf, Miss Teen USA
 * Sara Wolfkind, actress
 * James Wong, television writer and producer, film director
 * Christine Wormuth, 25th United States Secretary of the Army
 * Harold Bell Wright, author, Shepherd of the Hills (1941)
 * Mickey Wright, LPGA golfer, World Golf Hall of Famer
 * Robin Wright, Golden Globe Award-winning actress
 * Marvell Wynne II, professional soccer player

Y

 * Nick Young, actor

Z

 * Frank Zappa, musician
 * Joanna Zeiger (born 1970), Olympic and world champion triathlete, and author
 * Valerie Ziegenfuss, professional tennis player
 * Sal Zizzo, professional soccer player
 * Joel Zumaya, professional baseball player