Famous People Born in California a to z

Writer Shirley Jackson is best known for her story “The Lottery," which suggests a sinister underside to small-town America, and The Haunting of Hill House.

Prince Michael "Blanket" Jackson II is the third child of pop legend Michael Jackson.

Michael Joseph Jackson Jr., nicknamed "Prince," is the first child of the late pop star Michael Jackson.

Etta James is a Grammy Award-winning singer known for hit songs like "I'd Rather Go Blind" and "At Last."

Jesse James was CEO of West Coast Choppers before it closed in 2010, and was in a heavily publicized relationship with actress Sandra Bullock.

Actress Susan Saint James is best known for her roles on hit TV shows The Name of the Game (1968) and McMillan & Wife (1971). She was nominated twice for an Emmy award for her role as a divorced mom on the sitcom Kate & Allie (1984).

Warren Jeffs, the former leader of the polygamist sect Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was convicted in 2011 for the sexual assault of underage girls.

Reality television star and "momager" Kris Jenner, wife of Bruce Jenner, appears on Keeping Up with the Kardashians with her husband and daughters Kim, Kourtney and Khloé.

Steve Jobs co-founded Apple Computers with Steve Wozniak. Under Job's guidance, the company pioneered a series of revolutionary technologies, including the iPhone and iPad.

Haley Joe Osment is an American actor best known for his role in The Sixth Sense with Bruce Willis.

Dwayne Johnson became a film actor (2001's The Mummy) after gaining fame with the World Wrestling Federation as "The Rock."

Angelina Jolie is one of Hollywood's leading actresses, known for movies like Changeling and Salt as much as she is for her relationship with actor Brad Pitt.

Olympic gold medalist Florence Joyner brought style to track and field with form-fitting bodysuits, six-inch fingernails and amazing speed. She still holds the world records in the 100- and 200-meter events.

Actress Ashley Judd starred in films Kiss the Girls and Double Jeopardy. She is also the daughter and sister of country music duo The Judds.

Reality television personality Khloé Kardashian has starred on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Khloé and Lamar, Celebrity Apprentice and The X Factor.

Kim Kardashian is a model, actress, entrepreneur, socialite and star of the reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians.

Kourtney Kardashian, sister of Kim Kardashian, has starred in the reality TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians and its spin-offs with boyfriend Scott Disick.

Diane Keaton is an Oscar-winning actress who earned early acclaim for her work in several Woody Allen films and her dramatic work in The Godfather series.

Minka Kelly is an American actress best known for her cheerleading role on the acclaimed TV series Friday Night Lights.

A serial killer, Edmund Kemper killed six young, college-age women in the Santa Cruz, California, area and several members of his family.

Anthony Kennedy is an associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court who was appointed by Ronald Reagan.

Ke$ha is and American singer-songwriter whose big break came from an uncredited and unpaid cameo on rapper Flo Rida's 2009 No. 1 hit "Right Round."

Jennifer Kessy is a beach volleyball player, who, along with teammate April Ross, won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Professional basketball player Jason Kidd is one of the top point guards in the sport. He helped the Dallas Mavericks win the NBA Championship in 2011.

Val Kilmer is an actor known for such films as Batman Forever, The Doors and Top Gun.

Billie Jean King is best known for her long and successful tennis career.

When a mostly white jury acquitted the police officers who were caught on video beating Rodney King, it set off the L.A. riots of 1992.

Tawny Kitaen is best known for appearing in music videos in the 1980s, including Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" video. She later starred on reality televison series like The Surreal Life and Celebrity Rehab.

Patricia Krenwinkel was a member of Charles Manson's "Family," and was convicted of the family's infamous 1969 murders of Sharon Tate and Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, which were orchestrated by Manson.

Bill Kreutzmann was the drummer for the Grateful Dead, along with Mickey Hart. Together, they were known as the band's "rhythm devils." Kreutzmann toured with the band for 30 years.

Leonard Lake was a serial killer who partnered with another man to rape and kill several people in the 1980s.

The "godfather of fitness," Jack LaLanne, is known for his 1950s TV fitness program and for his endorsement of a power juicer in 2002.

Brandon Lee was an action film star and the son of actor Bruce Lee. His untimely death was caused by a prop gun accident and the set of the film The Crow.

Bruce Lee was an actor, film producer and director, and the martial arts expert who founded the Jeet Kune Doe martial arts system.

Sandra Lee is best known for hosting the Food Network shows Semi-Homemade Cooking and Sandra's Money Saving Meals. She is also the girlfriend of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Film actress Janet Leigh, once Tony Curtis’s wife, is best remembered for her shower scene as Marion Crane in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller, Psycho.

Jennifer Jason Leigh is a film, TV and stage actress who’s starred in an array of projects, including Single White Female, Short Cuts and Dolores Claiborne.

Phil Lesh is best known as being a founding member and bass player for the 1960s rock group Grateful Dead.

Lisa Leslie was an All-Star basketball player, Olympic gold medalist and WNBA league MVP.

Adam Levine is the Grammy Award-winning frontman of Maroon 5, known for such pop hits as "This Love" and "Moves Like Jagger." He has also appeared as a judge/coach on The Voice.

Candy Lightner founded one of the country's largest activist organizations, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, after her daughter died in a drunk driving accident.

With a string of wins in early 2012, New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin has become one of basketball's most famous players.

Blake Lively is an actress notable for her role as Serena van der Woodsen on the CW network's teen drama Gossip Girl.

Actress Heather Locklear was on the television series C.H.I.P.S, Dynasty, T.J. Hooker, Melrose Place and Sin City. She was also in the movie Firestarter.

Jack London was a 19th century American author and journalist, best known for the adventure novels White Fang and The Call of the Wild.

Mario Lopez is a television host and actor who has appeared chiefly on various television series, such as Saved by the Bell, Extra and America's Best Dance Crew.

Professional golfer Nancy Lopez was named Player of the Year four times during her career. She was the first woman to be awarded the Frances Ouimet Award.

American diving champion Greg Louganis won 13 world championships and made history at the 1982 Olympics as the first diver ever awarded a perfect score.

Before she became the poster child for drugs and plastic surgery, Courtney Love was an alternative rock star married to Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.

Singer Darlene Love sang backup for hit artists including Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin but struggled to gain fame for her solo endeavors.

Comedian and actor John Lovitz was part of the Saturday Night Live cast for five years, during which time he created memorable characters like Hanukkah Harry.

George Lucas directed the Star Wars films and Indiana Jones movies, both of which took on a cult-like following.

Lorna Luft is an actress and singer known for both TV and film roles as well as for being the daughter of Judy Garland.

Journalist, television personality and author Joan London was on Good Morning America for nearly two decades, and was one of the most popular TV co-hosts.

Liberal political journalist Rachel Maddow is known for hosting the MSNBC TV show The Rachel Maddow Show, as well as an Air America radio show of the same name.

Tobey Maguire is an American actor and producer who is best known for his role as Peter Parker in the 2002-2007 Spiderman films.

Theodore H. Maiman was a physicist, company leader, consultant and author who created the first working laser in 1960.

American actress Leslie Mann is known for her comedic performances, especially in several films directed by her husband, Judd Apatow.

Alice Marble was a women's tennis champion, winner of 12 U.S. Open and 5 Wimbledon titles. She also served as U.S spy in Switzerland during WWII.

Half of the famed stoner duo Cheech and Chong, Cheech Marin is an accomplished comedian, actor and director.

A co-founder of Apple Computers Inc., Mike Markkula laid the groundwork for the company's success with his management and marketing vision.

American gymnast McKayla Maroney won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympics gymnastics team and a silver medal for the vault at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Misty May-Treanor is a professional beach volleyball player and three-time Olympic gold medalist. She is the longtime competitive partner of Kerri Walsh-Jennings.

One of the most powerful hitters in baseball history, Mark McGwire briefly held the record for most home runs in a single season.

Actress Danica McKellar played Winnie Cooper on The Wonder Years. She has also written a series of New York Times best-sellers, including Math Doesn't Suck.

Kristy McNichol is an Emmy award-winning actress and singer, active on film and television during the 1970s-1980s.

A high-profile trainer and life coach, Jillian Michaels starred on the reality TV show The Biggest Loser and has created her own fitness franchise.

American athlete Phil Mickelson began golfing as soon as he could walk, and is now one of the foremost successful golfers in the world.

Michael N Milken is known as the "junk bond king." He was indicted for racketeering and securities fraud and served two years in prison.

Barry Minkow is a convicted felon who used his carpet-cleaning business as a front for a massive Ponzi scheme and investor fraud.

Liza Minnelli, the daughter of Judy Garland, is a star in her own right. Her finest film role was playing Sally Bowles in the 1972 musical Cabaret.

American gymnast Dominique Moceanu was a member of the "Magnificent Seven," the U.S. women's gymnastics team that won Olympic gold in 1996.

Actor Matthew Modine became a star for his performances in Full Metal Jacket and other successful 1980s films.

Actress Marilyn Monroe overcame a difficult childhood to become of the world's biggest and most enduring sex symbols. She died of a drug overdose in 1962.

Actress Elizabeth Montgomery made magic on TV's top-rated sitcom Bewitched from 1964 to 1972.

Tennis player Helen Wills Moody was the first female athlete to become an international star, winning 31 Grand Slam titles during her career.

Alex Morgan was the youngest member of the U.S. women's national team during the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, and won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic women's soccer team in 2012

Barbara Morgan was the first teacher-astronaut to complete a shuttle mission on board the Endeavor in 2007.

Japanese-American actor Pat Morita became a beloved pop culture figure with his turn as Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid movies.

Boxer "Sugar" Shane Mosley won championships in three separate weight classes to forge a legacy as one of the sport's most accomplished performers.