Share Famous people · Berkeley 26 famous people from Berkeley, many of them performersBen Affleck is the best known, with articles in 112 languages. Second and third on the list are Ursula K. Le Guin and Rebecca Romijn. 14 of them were born between 1920 and 1969, more than in any other period. Half or more of the towns in California have no one on record, but this one has 2.2 for every 10,000 residents.
#2 best known Ursula K. Le Guin Writing & Arts · 1929–2018 +24more Born here
26
notable people
Best known
Ben Affleck
in 112 Wikipedia languages
Most common field
Film, TV & Stage
11 people
Also called it home
10
notable residents
What stands out about Berkeley’s famous people ★ What stands out · The best known Born in Berkeley Ranked by languages covered: Ben Affleck with 112, then Ursula K. Le Guin with 110 and Rebecca Romijn with 68.
BA #1
Film, TV & Stage Ben Affleck born 1972 American film actor, director and screenwriter
#2 Writing & Arts Ursula K. Le Guin 1929–2018 American fantasy and science fiction author
#3 Film, TV & Stage Rebecca Romijn born 1972 American actress and model
Known for What Berkeley is known for Berkeley has 4.5× the usual share of performers.
Film, TV & Stage 11 people 42%4.5× usual Sports 5 people 19%below usual Writing & Arts 4 people 15%1.5× usual Notable 2 people 8% Music 2 people 8%1.4× usual Science & Medicine 1 person 4%below usual Military 1 person 4%about usual The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.
Through the years When Berkeley’s famous people were born The 1940s alone account for 7 of the births charted here.
Mills & railroads The American century Today 1900 1950 2000 Ursula K. Le Guin Film, TV & Stage Sports Writing & Arts Notable Music Science & Medicine Military
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone Everyone else born in Berkeley Another 23, the earliest born in 1912.
All · 23 Military · 1 Sports · 5 Music · 2 Film, TV & Stage · 9 Writing & Arts · 3 Science & Medicine · 1 Notable · 2
Any time Mills & railroads · 2 The American century · 13 Today · 8
GR Gary Ruvkun born 1952 American geneticist
JF John Fogerty born 1945 American rock musician
CM Curtis T. McMullen born 1958 American mathematician and Fields medallist
K KSHMR born 1988 American DJ, record producer and songwriter
AE Art Evans 1942–2024 American actor
CF Chloe Fineman born 1988 American actress, writer, and comedian
JS Jake Schreier born 1981 American film director
JK Julia Kern born 1997 Cross-country skier from USA
JS Jane Sibbett born 1962 American actress
MH Michael Heizer born 1944 American painter and sculptor
DM Dave Meyers born 1972 American music video and film director
MM Mike Mills born 1966 American film director
KV Kim Vandenberg born 1983 American swimmer, Olympic bronze medalist, Pan American Games gold medalist
SG Scott Gault born 1983 American rower
TM Terry McGovern born 1942 American actor
JC John Cipollina 1943–1989 American musician
AW Alvin S. White 1918–2006 American World War II pilot
DB David Brower 1912–2000 American environmentalist
JB John Bryant born 1987 American basketball player
HL Hideo Levy born 1950 American writer
JB Jeff Borowiak born 1949 American tennis player
JD Jim Downey born 1952 American actor and comedian
RP Richard North Patterson born 1947 American writer
No one matches both filters.
A chosen home Also called Berkeley home Born elsewhere, they lived here: 10 in all, led by Philip K. Dick.
Philip K. Dick 1928–1982 American science fiction author
Ernest Lawrence 1901–1958 American nuclear physicist
Thomas Kuhn 1922–1996 American historian, physicist and philosopher
Larry Ellison born 1944 American internet entrepreneur and businessman
Saul Perlmutter born 1959 American astrophysicist and Nobel laureate
Richard Pryor 1940–2005 American comedian and actor
DD Donald Davidson 1917–2003 American philosopher
GV Grigoris Vlastos 1907–1991 Greek scholar of ancient philosophy
JW Jay Ward 1920–1989 American television producer
JD Judy Dater born 1941 American photographer and feminist
The town’s pick Who’s the most famous person from Berkeley? Pick one and say why. Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Town Square → Your pick
BA Ben Affleck Ursula K. Le Guin Rebecca Romijn GR Gary Ruvkun Someone else → No picks yet
Be the first to say who Berkeley’s most famous person is.
Or tell us
Did you grow up with someone famous from Berkeley? → Who should be on this list but isn’t? → Next door Famous people from the towns next door Of the towns around it, Oakland has the most on record: 46.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Berkeley and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.
Photo credits (9) Ursula K. Le Guin: Marian Wood Kolisch, Oregon State University Restored by Adam Cuerden, CC BY-SA 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons Rebecca Romijn: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons Philip K. Dick: Arthur Knight (photographer), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Ernest Lawrence: Nobel foundation, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Thomas Kuhn: Bob Bielk, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Larry Ellison: Oracle PR Hartmann Studios, CC BY 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons Saul Perlmutter: Holger Motzkau, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons Richard Pryor: GAC=General Artists Corporation (management)/Photographer:Berk Costello, New York City/Mister Kelly's, who sent the photo and release to the press., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Steve Jobs: MetalGearLiquid, based on File:Steve_Jobs_Headshot_2010-CROP.jpg made by Matt Yohe, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons