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Top 20 Most Famous People from Oregon

*Originally written by Faith in October 2022, Updated by Vanessa R. in September 2023, and Updated by Nellian in May 2024.

When people think about celebrities and notable figures in the country, they tend to imagine places like Las Vegas, Miami, and New York City.  Oregon is typically not a place that will come to mind when one is trying to think about where celebrities come from. However, several notable figures come from this state.

Therefore, this article will look into the twenty most famous people from Oregon to show you that the state also has people who have done well in their respective fields. The article will also be a great source of information when playing trivia.

1. Matt Groening

Matt was born in 1954 in Portland, Oregon. He is a cartoonist, producer, and writer popularly known for his television series ‘The Simpsons, Futurama, and Disenchantment. He was an avid cartoonist from a young age, but he never seriously considered it as a career; he wanted to be a writer. Later in life, while struggling to find work, Matt Groening rekindled an old interest and began creating comic strips based on his experiences.

This was a defining moment in his life, and Matt Groening began publishing his comic strips in the newspaper, titled ‘Life in Hell.’ Later, he went on to create some of the most popular cartoon series, including ‘The Simpsons,’ which has the distinction of being the longest-running American television series.

2. Lisa Brennan-Jobs

She is the daughter of Steve Jobs who is the co-founder of Apple. Lisa was born in 1978 in Oregon. She is a writer and journalist. She is a Harvard graduate who freelances and writes her blogs and articles.

Her journalism has appeared in prestigious magazines and publications such as “Vogue,” “Oprah Magazine,” “Southwest Review,” “Harvard Crimson,” and “O.”. Lisa Brennan-Jobs has also been portrayed in films and biographies such as ‘Jobs,’ ‘Steve Jobs,’ and ‘Pirates of Silicon Valley.’ Not only that, Mona Simpsons her aunt authored the novel ‘A Regular Guy,’ a fictionalized version of Brennan-Jobs plays a major role.

3. Phil Knight

The businessman was born in Portland, Oregon. He is the co-founder of Nike, Inc., which is one of the largest producers and suppliers of athletic apparel and shoes. Phil also served as the chief executive officer and the chairman of the company in the past.

The businessman has been recognized as the most powerful person in sports by Sports Illustrated. Even though Phil is not a sportsman, he has made a huge impact in the field of sports. Before starting his venture in the business world, he was an army officer and he also worked as an assistant professor at Portland State University.

4. Eric Christian Olsen

The actor was born in Eugene, Oregon. He is known for his role as Investigator Marty Deeks on the CBS television series NCIS: Los Angeles. His acting career started in 1999 when he was given a role in a TV movie known as Arthur’s Quest. He had another role in HBO’s Black Cat Run before he caught a big break and landed a role in the Fox TV series Get Real. From there, the actor has starred in major roles, making him a popular figure in the entertainment industry.

5. Bridgette Wilson

She is also known as Bridgette Wilson-Sampras. She is a singer, actress, and model born in Gold Beach, Oregon. She is also well-known as the wife of tennis legend Pete Sampras. She began modeling as a young girl and was crowned Miss Teen USA in 1990. She has appeared in several films, including ‘Higher Learning,’ ‘Billy Madison,’ ‘Mortal Kombat,’ ‘House on Haunted Hill,’ ‘Shopgirl,’ ‘The Wedding Planner,’ and ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’.

The actress has also done a lot of television work. From 1992 to 1993, she played Lisa Fenimore in the television series ‘Santa Barbara.’ She also appeared on television shows like ‘Saved by the Bell’ and ‘The $treet.’

6. Ty Burrell

The actor was born in 1967 in Grant Pass Oregon. He is best known for his role in the ABC sitcom Modern Family where he is portrayed as Phil Dunphy, a quirky dad with three kids. The sitcom shows the day-to-day life of the family with the extended family. His role in the sitcom won him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2011 and 2014. Other awards that the actor has clinched include, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series and four awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

7. Ann Curry

The famous broadcast journalist worked for NBC as an anchor and correspondent. Her Japanese mother and US Navy sailor father raised her in Guam. As a child, she attended school in Japan, but her family eventually relocated to Ashland. She attended high school and graduated from the University of Oregon there.

8. Lisa Rinna

Lisa Deanna Rinna is a television personality and actress from Medford, Oregon. She is best known for her roles as Billie Reed on NBC’s Days of Our Lives and Taylor McBride on Fox’s television drama Melrose Place. She also appeared on Bravo’s hit reality television series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Furthermore, she hosted Soapnet’s talk show Soap Talk from 2002 to 2006. Rinna has also appeared on The Celebrity Apprentice and Dancing with the Stars, as well as guest appearances on Entourage, The Middle, Veronica Mars, The Hogan Family, Community, and 8 Simple Rules.

9. Holly Madison

Holly is a New York Times best-selling author, model, and showgirl. Madison is well-known for her roles in the E reality show The Girls Next Door and her show, Holly’s World. Furthermore, Madison published her first book and memoir, Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny, in July 2015. She then published her second book, The Vegas Diaries in May 2016, which details her career and dating life in Las Vegas.

10. Domantas Sabonis

The professional basketball player was born in Portland, Oregon in 1996. He plays for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association. He started his career in Spain and then moved to the United States where he played college basketball for Gonzaga Bulldogs. He was drafted into the NBA in 2016 and has steadily grown since. He has been named an All-star twice and has also been awarded several awards.

11. Chuck Palahniuk

The literary mastermind behind the legendary movie Fight Club, which stars Edward Norton and Brad Pitt in arguably their best roles, is Chuck Palahniuk. I would expound on Fight Club, but the first Fight Club rule is to not discuss Fight Club.

But I can tell you that in 1996, Palahniuk created the novel Fight Club, which was later turned into the well-known film it is today. Following Fight Club, Palahniuk wrote several famous novels, including Choke, Invisible Monsters, Survivor, Haunted, and others. Some of them were adapted into motion pictures, although none have yet been as successful at the box office as Fight Club.

12. James Beard

Without the influence of James Beard, where would American food be?
James Beard, who became one of the most well-known chefs in the US after being born in Portland in 1903, is one of the city’s greatest claims to fame. In addition, he is a well-known culinary writer.

Because of his many remarkable accomplishments in the culinary industry, he is often referred to as “the Dean of American cookery.” A second entity is the James Beard Foundation, which gives honors and financial aid to aspiring young chefs and other culinary professionals. Along with restaurants, food trucks, and other establishments in Portland, James Beard has a significant impact.

13. Gus Van Sant

The excellent movie Good Will Hunting received many awards. The roles played by Matt Damon and Robin Williams had a significant impact on the movie’s popularity, but Gus Van Sant’s directing was what brought everything together.

Films like My Own Private Idaho, Drugstore Cowboy, Milk, and Paranoid Park, part of which was shot in Portland, are among the director Gus Van Sant’s notable films in addition to Good Will Hunting.

14. Esperanza Spalding

Jazz bassist, singer, and composer Esperanza Spalding is from Portland, Oregon. 1984-born musician Spalding had a deep love for jazz very early in his musical career. At the young age of 20, she was appointed as the youngest faculty member in the history of the Boston-based Berklee College of Music, where she attended classes.

Throughout her career, Spalding has published several albums that have received high praise, such as “Esperanza,” which was recognized as the Best New Artist by the Grammys in 2011. She is known for her particular style, which incorporates elements of jazz, funk, and R&B, as well as her virtuoso bass playing and distinctive singing voice.

15. Jenny Conlee

Jenny Conlee is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and composer from Eugene, Oregon. She has performed and recorded extensively since 2002 with the indie rock band The Decemberists, for which she is best known.

Conlee’s musical career began in the 1990s punk scene in the Pacific Northwest, where she performed keyboards and accordion in several bands. In 2002, she became a member of The Decemberists, and since then, she has played keyboards, and accordion, and provided vocals for both their studio albums and live performances.

16. Beverly Cleary

Cleary was a writer known for her children’s and young adult fiction works. She grew up in McMinnville, Oregon. Some of her most celebrated characters include Ramona Quimby and Beezus Quimby. Besides, Henry Huggins, his dog Ribsy, and Ralph S. Mouse are more famed characters by the author.

Moreover, many of her books are set in the Grant Park neighborhood in Portland, Oregon. Her success was honored with statues of her most famous characters erected in Grant Park in 1995.

Some of Cleary’s best-known books are Ramona and Her Mother and Dear Mr. Henshaw. These books earned her the 1981 National Book Award and 1984 Newbery Medal.

More achievements include the National Medal of Arts, recognizing her as a Library of Congress Living Legend. She was also a recipient of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal. The Beverly Cleary School is a public school in her hometown, built to honor her legacy.

17. Raymond Carver

This short story writer cum poet was born in Clatskanie, Oregon. He rose to the spotlight with the collection, What We Talk About When We Talk About Love (1981).

Carver’s other acclaimed works include Cathedral (1983), and Where I’m Calling From (1988). Not to forget his first story collection, Will You Please Be Quiet, Please? (1976).

18. Linus Pauling

The Oregon native wore different hats. Linus Pauling was a renowned chemist, biochemist, and chemical engineer. Beyond his professional career, he doubled as a peace activist, author, and educator.

Throughout his scientific career, he published over 1,200 writings including books and papers. More than half of these writings were based on scientific topics. He was one of the pioneers of quantum chemistry and molecular biology fields.

Subsequently, Pauling became one of the few people to receive the Nobel Prize twice. His scientific contributions earned him the 1954 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. As a peace activist, he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962.

19. Sally Struthers

Struthers is an actress, voice actor, and activist. She hails from Portland, Oregon, where she was born in 1947. She won Emmy Awards for playing the role of Gloria Stivic, on All in the Family. This television sitcom aired on CBS from 1971 to 1979. She was also featured as Babette in the comedy-drama series, Gilmore Girls.

Furthermore, Struthers voiced Charlene Sinclair on the ABC sitcom Dinosaurs (1991-94). She was also the voice behind Pebbles Flintstone on The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show (1971-72). In the 1990 Disney animated series, TaleSpin she voiced Rebecca Cunningham.

20. Steve Prefontaine

The Oregon-born long-distance runner was part of the inspiration of the 1970s “running boom”. He is remembered for setting American records in various distance races between 1973 and 1975.

Prefontaine competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics and died amid preparations for the 1976 Olympics. He died in a vehicle crash near his home in Eugene, Oregon. The incident happened in 1975 when the athlete was 24 years old.

In his honor, the Prefontaine Classic is an annual track and field meet event in Eugene. Further, films were released in the 1990s, featuring his short life.

These famous figures from Oregon reveal the impact of its influential and talented individuals from diverse fields. Their greatness has positively affected their state, the country, and beyond.