Famous People Born In San Francisco

An iconic actor and martial artist, Bruce Lee, in his short life, gained international fame and developed his own form of martial arts, Jeet Kune Do. In films, he debuted as a child actor and became a huge Hollywood star after the release of his last film Enter the Dragon.

Jerry Garcia had an illustrious 30-year career as the lead guitarist and vocalist of the rock band the Grateful Dead. Rolling Stone ranked him 13th on their 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list. He was known for his improvisations, participated in many side projects, and released several solo albums.

Robert Frost was an American poet. An influential poet, Frost was honored with four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry, the only poet to receive four such awards. One of America's public literary figures, Robert Frost received the Congressional Gold Medal in 1960. His works influenced other poets like Robert Francis, James Wright, Edward Thomas, Richard Wilbur, and Seamus Heaney.

Actor, director, and screenwriter, Liev Schreiber, is mainly known for his appearances in independent films. He had a difficult childhood and struggled a lot as a young man before destiny led him to the world of entertainment. Besides his work on the screen, Liev Schreiber has appeared in many Shakespearean plays.

Actress and activist, Lisa Bonet, literally grew up in Hollywood! Introduced to modeling and acting as a small child, she landed the role of Denise Huxtable on The Cosby Show and became a popular face. She soon entered films as well and enjoyed a moderately successful stint. Her daughter Zoë Isabella Kravitz is also a popular model cum actress.

Mel Blanc was an American radio personality and voice actor. Dubbed The Man of a Thousand Voices, Blanc contributed immensely to the success of several theatrical cartoons by voicing famous characters, such as Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Bugs Bunny, Barney Rubble, and Mr. Spacely. He was considered one of the most influential and important personalities in the voice acting industry.

Entering the entertainment world as a teenager in the early 1990s, actress Alicia Silverstone became internationally famous with her role in her film debut in The Crush. Despite gaining mainstream success in the 1990s, she chose to focus on smaller-scale films and theater in the next decade. She is a vegan and has published a vegan cookbook.

William Randolph Hearst was an American newspaper publisher, businessman, and politician. He is credited with developing America's largest newspaper chain, Hearst Communications. Today, Hearst Communications has grown into a multinational business information and mass media conglomerate. William Randolph Hearst’s life and work inspired the creation of Charles Foster Kane, the main character in the 1941 drama film, Citizen Kane.

Leslie Mann is one of the most bankable American actresses, with many of her films grossing millions of dollars at the box office. Also well-known for her charity work, Leslie Mann supports non-profit organizations like 826LA. Leslie and her husband Judd Apatow have been honored multiple times for their philanthropic contributions.

A multifaceted personality, Rob Schneider is an actor, comedian, screenwriter, and director. Beginning his career with the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, he proceeded to act in films, first appearing in supporting roles and then graduating to starring roles. He is an outspoken critic of childhood vaccinations. His daughter, Elle King, is a popular musician.

Aisha Tyler is credited with co-founding an all-female a cappella group called Dartmouth Rockapellas, which aimed at spreading social awareness through music. She later became a prominent actress, playing important roles in popular TV series like Criminal Minds and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Aisha Tyler is also an ardent advocate of the Black Lives Matter movement and LGBTQ rights.

Danny Glover is an American actor whose career has spanned more than four decades. Apart from being an actor, Danny Glover has had a major impact as an activist; he has made his presence felt as an activist in countries like Brazil, Iraq, Venezuela, Israel, and many African countries.

Eric Dane is an actor who established himself in the American film and TV industry after battling problems, such as the demise of his father when he was still very young and drug addiction and depression later in his life. Before enrolling himself to a rehabilitation center, Dane made headlines when a video featuring him nude and using drugs surfaced. 

Isadora Duncan was a dancer acclaimed in USA, Europe, and the Soviet Union. Raised by a single mother, she grew up in poverty and started teaching dance to children to earn some money. She later joined Augustin Daly's theater company. Eventually, she opened her own dance schools to teach her unique philosophy and techniques to her students. 

Television presenter and political commentator, Tucker Carlson, is both a popular and controversial figure. His support for Donald Trump has made him popular among Republicans while his racist, misogynistic, and anti-immigration stance has earned him the ire of progressive citizens. He is the author of two books, one of which is a New York Times #1 bestseller.

Nancy Wilson is a celebrated musician, singer, songwriter and composer.  A guitar virtuoso from the age of ten, she joined the rock band Heart in early 1970s, releasing numerous albums with them. She released her first solo studio album in 2021.

Darren Criss is a popular American actor and singer-songwriter. Darren Criss is also known as the founder of a musical theater company called StarKid Productions and the co-founder of a music festival called Elsie Fest. Also known for his charity work, Darren Criss has performed at many charity benefits and is a supporter of LGBT rights and The Trevor Project.

One of the prominent speakers at the Republican National Convention 2020 and a vocal supporter of American President, Donald Trump, Kimberly Ann Guilfoyle is a senior advisor and top fundraiser at Trump’s re-election campaign. A former deputy district attorney, prosecutor, legal analyst at CNN and TV host at Fox News, Guilfoyle is rumoured to be the Donald Trump Jr.’s partner.  

Lauv is an independent singer, songwriter, and record producer who rose to fame with his compilation album, I Met You When I Was 18 (The Playlist). Obsessed with music from a young age, he played in several bands as a teenager. He studied music technology at New York University's Steinhardt School before beginning his career.

Stand-up comedian, actress, and fashion designer Margaret Cho is best known for creating and starring in the ABC sitcom All-American Girl. She had a difficult childhood marred by sexual abuse and struggled for years to build a successful career. Besides comedy, she has her own clothing line. She actively supports women’s rights and LGBTQA+ rights. 

Kevin Pollak is an American actor, impressionist, comedian, and podcast host. He is best known for playing Moishe Maisel in the popular, Emmy Award-winning TV series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, for which he has received a couple of Screen Actors Guild Awards. Kevin Pollak is also an avid poker player who participated in the 2012 World Series of Poker.

Stephen Breyer is an American lawyer, legal scholar, and jurist. Since August 1994, Breyer has been serving as an associate justice of the US Supreme Court after being nominated by President Bill Clinton in May 1994. He is also credited with writing several influential textbooks while working as a lecturer and law professor at Harvard Law School in the 1960s. 

Cheryl Burke is an American dancer, TV host, and model. Best known for appearing as a professional dancer on the popular dance competition TV series Dancing with the Stars, Burke became the first professional to win two consecutive seasons. In 2008, she set up her dance studio and created her own line of sportswear in 2009.

Courtney Love is an American singer-songwriter, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the alternative rock and grunge music scenes of the last three decades. Known for her distinctive style and confrontational lyrics, Love has been a major influence on aspiring female rock musicians across the world. She is also an ardent supporter of LGBT rights.

From working as a full-time waitress to becoming a prominent actress in Hollywood, Aya Cash's journey has been quite incredible and inspiring. As someone with humble beginnings, Aya Cash knows the importance of giving back to society, hence she works closely with a non-profit organization called INARA, which helps war-wounded refugee children receive medical help.

Todd Bridges is an American actor best known for playing Willis Jackson in the popular TV series, Diff'rent Strokes. From 2008 to 2013, he worked as a commentator on the series, TruTV Presents: World's Dumbest... He has also appeared in music videos and popular TV shows, such as The Oprah Winfrey Show.