A person who lives in or comes from Seattle, Washington, USA is called a Seattleite. This is a list of well-known current or former Seattle residents.
Born in Seattle
Living
- Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft
- Lynda Barry, cartoonist
- William Bolcom, composer
- Stan Boreson, comedian
- Carrie Brownstein, musician, member of Sleater-Kinney
- Linda B. Buck, scientist
- Carol Channing, actress
- Art Chantry, graphic designer
- Erika Christensen, actress
- Judy Collins, folk singer
- Gail Devers, athlete
- Jennifer Dunn, politician
- Kenny G, musician
- Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft
- Richard F. Gordon, Jr., astronaut
- David Guterson, author
- Ed Guthman, journalist
- Brian Herbert, author
- Richard Karn, television actor
- Jerry Lewis, politician
- Duff McKagan, bassist with Guns n' Roses
- Sir Mix-a-Lot, rap musician
- Mark O'Connor, country violinist (also performs in other musical genres)
- Apolo Anton Ohno, Olympic speed skating competitor
- John Olerud, professional baseball player
- Stephen S. Oswald, astronaut
- Grayden Rayne aka Mediacrat, Rich and Beautiful Model
- Ron Santo, professional baseball player
- Peter Steinbrueck, politician
- Ryan Stiles, actor
- Jennifer Warnes, singer and songwriter
- Lynn Woolsey, politician
Dead
- Paul Jacob Alexander, newspaper publisher and Seattle City Councilman
- Bob Bartlett, politician
- Max Brand, author (pen name)
- Barbara Berjer, television actress
- Chester Carlson, physicist and inventor
- Frances Farmer, actress
- Keith Godchaux, musician
- Jimi Hendrix, rock musician
- Gypsy Rose Lee, actress and burlesque star
- Margaret Murie, environmentalist
- Jinny Osborn of the musical group The Chordettes
- Robert Stroud, the "Birdman of Alcatraz"
- Minoru Yamasaki, architect
Moved to Seattle
Living
- Sherman Alexie, author
- Fred Beckey, mountaineer
- Terry Brooks, author
- Peter Buck, musician in R.E.M.
- Octavia Butler, author
- Neko Case, musician
- Dale Chihuly, artist
- Cameron Crowe, writer and director
- Neile Graham, poet
- Nicola Griffith, author
- Leland H. Hartwell, Nobel Prize winner
- Jane Jensen, game designer and author
- Quincy Jones, musician
- Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins, creators of Penny Arcade
- Jayne Ann Krentz, romance novelist
- Leah LaBelle, singer
- Gary Larson, cartoonist
- Kyle MacLachlan, actor
- Dave Matthews, musician
- Jim McDermott, congressman
- Rose McGowan, actress
- Marni Nixon, musician
- Bill Nye, scientist
- J. P. Patches, TV star clown
- Jonathan Raban, author
- Ron Reagan, son of U.S. President Ronald Reagan
- Tom Robbins, author
- Ann Rule, true crime author
- Dan Savage, advice columnist
- Tom Skerritt, actor
- Neal Stephenson, author
- Lauren Tewes, actress
- Earnest James Ujaama, community activist and indicted associate of al-Qaeda
- Ann and Nancy Wilson, sisters who founded the rock group Heart.
- Jim Woodring, comic book author and artist
Dead
- Ted Bundy, serial killer
- James E. Casey, United Parcel Service founder
- Ray Charles, musician
- Kurt Cobain, musician
- Mitch Hedberg, comedian
- Frank Herbert, author
- George H. Hitchings, scientist
- Edward Sturgis Ingraham, first superintendent of the Seattle Public Schools and mountaineer
- Jacob Lawrence, painter
- Brandon Lee, actor
- Bruce Lee, actor
- Betty MacDonald, author
- Theodore Roethke, poet
- Jeff Smith, TV chef and author
- Henry Suzzallo, president of the University of Washington (1915-1926)
- Marion Zioncheck, politician
Musical groups
- Alice in Chains, rock band
- The Gits, rock band
- Heart, rock band
- Modest Mouse, alternative rock band
- Mudhoney, rock band
- Nevermore, metal band
- Nirvana, rock band
- Pearl Jam, rock band
- Presidents of the United States of America, rock band
- Soundgarden, rock band
- Smoosh, alternative pop band
- The Ventures, surf band
Fictional Seattleites
