This is a list of people from Spokane, Washington. The list includes individuals who were born in or lived in the city. A person who lives in or comes from Spokane, Washington, is known as a Spokanite.
Authors
- Arthur C. Brooks, author
- Sherman Alexie, author
- David Eddings, author of The Belgariad and many other books
- Wilbur Crane Eveland, served in various functions as secret agent for the USA in the Arab East
- Michael Gurian, New York Times bestselling author of thirty-two books published in twenty-two languages
- Quail Hawkins, bookseller and children's author
- Bruce Holbert, author, Washington State Book Award winner
- Kenn Nesbitt, Children's Poet Laureate (2013–2015)
- Jack Nisbet, author of several books on explorer David Thompson
- Shann Ray, author, American Book Award winner
- Rick Rydell, outdoor writer, worked at local radio stations as a radio talk show host
- David Shannon, author of No, David! and many other children's books
- Wayne Spitzer, author and low-budget horror filmmaker
- Terry Trueman, Printz Award winning author of Stuck in Neutral and numerous other young adult novels
- Shawn Vestal, author, Washington State Book Award winner and recipient of the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize
- Jess Walter, author, recipient of the 2006 Edgar Allan Poe Award
Chefs and restaurateurs
Comedians
Convicted criminals
Film, stage and television industry
- Rick Alverson, film director
- Sophia Anne Caruso, Broadway actress best known for playing Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice: The Musical
- Gary Frank, Emmy award-winning actor, known for playing Willie in the ABC series Family.
- Russell Hodgkinson, actor
- Jim Ignatowski, The Reverend Jim "Iggy" Ignatowski, played by Christopher Lloyd, is a fictional character in the 1970s television series Taxi.
- Cheyenne Jackson, singer and actor, known for United 93
- Paul Johansson, actor, appeared in One Tree Hill
- Eric Johnston, former head of the United States Chamber of Commerce, former president of the Motion Picture Association of America
- Chuck Jones, director of animated films, three-time Academy Award winner
- Neil LaBute, film director/playwright
- David Lynch, film director, known for Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks
- Darren McGavin, actor, known for starring in Kolchak: the Night Stalker and A Christmas Story
- John McIntire, actor on Wagon Train and The Virginian
- Michele Morrow, actress, appeared in Basement Jack, The Young and the Restless, and Alias
- Craig T. Nelson, actor, star of television series Coach and Parenthood, as well as the films The Incredibles and Poltergeist
- Seena Owen, silent-film actress
- Gale Page, actress, starred in Knute Rockne, All American with Ronald Reagan
- Patrick Page, Tony-nominated actor best known as Hades in Hadestown
- Susan Peters, actress
- Matt Piedmont, film director and writer
- Mariel Sheets, actress, known for The Peanuts Movie
- Trevor St. John, actor; known for his role on One Life to Live (graduated from Whitworth University)
- Wayne Spitzer, low-budget horror filmmaker
- Hilary Swank, two-time Oscar-winning actress (father was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base)
- Sydney Sweeney, actress; best known for her role as Cassie Howard in Euphoria
- Tongolele, film and television actor
- Sarah Truax, stage and film actress, Spokane resident from 1912 to 1927
- Mary Ann Wilson, American Nurse and TV Fitness Instructor
- Michael Winslow, actor and comedian, known for Police Academy
- Deanna Oliver, actress and writer, known for her role in The Brave Little Toaster and work with Animaniacs and Casper movie
- Clifton James, film actor Cool Hand Luke
- Troy Robertson, Reality Star best known as 'Troyzan' on CBS Survivor (American TV series) Survivor: One World , Survivor: Game Changers
Artists
- Harold Balazs, sculptor
- Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli, photographer/traveller
- Kenneth Callahan, painter from the Northwest School
- Brian Crane, cartoonist
- Jerry Holkins, writer for Penny Arcade
- Mike Krahulik, artist for Penny Arcade
- Tom Kundig, principal at Olson Kundig Architects
- George Nakashima, furniture maker, entrepreneur
- Clyfford Still, abstract-expressionist painter
- Paula Mary Turnbull, welding nun[2]
Journalists
- Timothy Egan, journalist, winner of the National Book Award and the Washington State Book Award
- Neil Everett, journalist, ESPN SportsCenter anchor
- Julian Guthrie, journalist and author based in San Francisco
- Sue Herera, journalist, CNBC anchor
- Eric Johnson, journalist, former sports director for KREM 2; weeknight news anchor for KOMO 4
- John Richards, journalist, radio personality, producer of The Morning Show and Audioasis on 90.3 FM KEXP Seattle
- Rick Rydell, journalist, worked at local radio stations KJRB, KZZU, and KKZX as a radio talk show host
Musicians
- Jim Boyd, musician
- Cami Bradley, America's Got Talent finalist and member of The Sweeplings
- Keeley Brineman, musician and lead singer with Lord Mouse and the Kalypso Katz
- Mike Clarke, member of the band The Byrds
- Bing Crosby, singer/actor
- Bob Crosby, bandleader and vocalist
- Andra Day, singer-songwriter
- Paul D'Amour, former member of the band Tool
- Andy Gibson, singer-songwriter
- Theo Hakola, singer/songwriter/musician
- Dan Hamilton, member of Surf band The Ventures, Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds, and The T-Bones.
- Thomas Hampson, baritone
- Dan Hoerner, lead guitarist and backup vocalist for the band Sunny Day Real Estate
- Myles Kennedy, lead singer of the band Alter Bridge
- Keyboard Cat and his handler Charlie Schmidt, performer on a viral internet meme
- Ryan Lewis, music producer; primarily with Macklemore
- George Lynch, former member of the rock band Dokken; member of Lynch Mob
- Chad Mitchell, member of the Chad Mitchell Trio
- Craig Montoya, former member of the band Everclear
- Matty Mullins, lead singer of the band Memphis May Fire
- Patrice Munsel, former Metropolitan Opera star
- Danny O'Keefe, singer-songwriter
- Eckart Preu, conductor of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra
- Jimmy Rowles, jazz pianist
- Ann Sandifur, composer[3]
- Scott Thompson, former member of the Canadian band Lillix
- Billy Tipton, jazz musician
- Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, boogie-woogie and blues-rock pianist
- Tyrone Wells, singer-songwriter
- Merrill Womach, undertaker, organist and gospel singer, founder of National Music Service
- Charlie Butts - saxophone player, frontman of Charlie Butts and The Filter Tips
- GrandMixer GMS - DJ/remixer for Tairrie B[4][5][6][7]
Politicians
- Civic
- James Everett Chase, mayor of Spokane
- Jack Geraghty, mayor of Spokane; former Spokane County Commissioner
- Dennis P. Hession, mayor of Spokane
- John Powers, mayor of Spokane
- David H. Rodgers, mayor of Spokane
- Ron Sims, former member of the King County Council; former King County Executive; former member of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Jon Snyder, member of the Spokane City Council
- John Talbott, mayor of Spokane
- Mary Verner, mayor of Spokane
- James E. West, Washington State Senator and Spokane mayor
- Federal
- Ryan Crocker, U.S. diplomat, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq
- Tom Foley, U.S. Congressman, former Democratic Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Former US Ambassador to Japan
- Eric Johnston, former head of the United States Chamber of Commerce, former president of the Motion Picture Association of America
- Mike McKevitt, U.S. Congressman for Colorado's 1st District in the United States House of Representatives (1971–73)
- George Nethercutt, former Republican U.S. Congressman, judge and attorney
- Ron Sims, former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- State
Science and technology
Sports
- Auto racing
- Baseball
- Jeremy Affeldt, Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher for the San Francisco Giants
- Ed Brandt, MLB pitcher (1928–38)
- Ed Kirkpatrick, former MLB outfielder and catcher
- Andrew Kittredge, pitcher for Tampa Bay Rays
- Larry Koentopp, Gonzaga University three-sport all-state selection, baseball head coach and athletic director
- Tyler Olson, pitcher for Cleveland Indians
- Mike Redmond, former MLB player for the Florida Marlins, Minnesota Twins, and Cleveland Indians; manager for the Marlins; (Gonzaga University graduate, 1993)
- Ryne Sandberg, 2005 inductee in the Baseball Hall of Fame, former second baseman for the Chicago Cubs, former MLB manager for the Philadelphia Phillies
- Kevin Stocker, former shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Anaheim Angels; current analyst for the Pac-12 Network
- Christine Wren, second female professional baseball umpire
- Basketball
- Billiards
- Boxing
- Hockey
- Extreme sports
- Football
- Bob Bellinger, football player
- Erik Coleman, former Washington State Cougars football player, former player for the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions (Lewis and Clark High School graduate, 2000)
- Joe Danelo, former kicker for the Green Bay Packers, the New York Giants, and the Buffalo Bills (graduated from WSU and Gonzaga Prep 1971)
- Will Davis, former defensive back for the Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, and Salt Lake Stallions of the AAF
- Steve Emtman, 1992 NFL No. 1 draft pick, former defensive lineman for the Indianapolis Colts
- Steve Gleason, NFL former special teams player for the New Orleans Saints and a graduate of WSU and Gonzaga Prep.
- Jason Hanson, former kicker with the Detroit Lions
- Max Krause, running back for the New York Giants and Washington Redskins
- Dan Lynch, first team All-American for Washington State University (Lewis & Clark High School graduate 1980)
- Steve Parker, former NFL defensive end for the New Orleans Saints
- Mark Rypien, former quarterback for the Washington Redskins; Most Valuable Player of 1991 Super Bowl; Shadle Park High School, Washington State University
- Bishop Sankey, former NFL running back for the Tennessee Titans (attended Gonzaga Preparatory School)
- Cory Withrow, former NFL center for the St. Louis Rams
- John Yarno, former NFL offensive lineman (attended Gonzaga Preparatory School and Ferris High School)
- Mixed martial arts
- Michael Chiesa, Ultimate Fighter winner and current UFC lightweight
- Julianna Peña, Ultimate Fighter winner and current UFC women's bantamweight champion[8]
- Sam Sicilia, Ultimate Fighter alumnus and former UFC featherweight
- Brady Hiestand, Ultimate Fighter finalist and current UFC bantamweight[9]
- Rowing
- Soccer
- Amy LePeilbet, professional player for Boston Breakers; vice world champion
- Tennis
- Track and field
Early Spokane notable residents
- Native Americans
- Chief Garry, one of the Spokane tribes' most prominent and influential leaders during the shift from indigenous to European-American control of their land
- Military
- John Babcock, last Canadian veteran of World War I
- Col. David P. Jenkins, Civil War Colonel, Spokane homesteader, and philanthropist
Crime
Other
References
- ^ "The socially correct pizza". heartlandstories.libsyn.com. Retrieved 2023-01-18.
- ^ Overstreet, Audrey (July 21, 2018). "Sister Paula Turnbull, artist behind many of Spokane's most iconic works, dies at 97". The Spokesman-Review.
- ^ Cohen, Aaron I. (1987). International encyclopedia of women composers. 2: Sai - Zyb, Appendices (2. ed., revised and enl ed.). New York: Books & Music. pp. 614–615. ISBN 978-0-9617485-1-7.
- ^ "Album Review: Tairrie B – Feminenergy". Kerrang!. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
- ^ Tairrie B. – Nasty Woman (Grandmixer GMS Remix) (2021, 320 kbps, File), retrieved 2022-01-13
- ^ Magazine, Pump It Up (2021-01-01). "Interview With GrandMixer GMS". Reach For The Stars While Standing On Earth!. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
- ^ BraveWords. "MY RUIN Vocalist TAIRRIE B. MURPHY Releases New Solo Hip Hop Album For Free / Pay What You Want Download". bravewords.com. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
- ^ "Current and all-time UFC champions". ESPN.com. 2021-08-08. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
- ^ "Brady Hiestand | UFC". www.ufc.com. 2021-08-13. Retrieved 2022-01-13.
