#1Famous people · Tacoma
42 famous people from Tacoma, many of them performers
The best known is the American singer and actor Bing Crosby, with articles in 123 languages. Second place goes to the American writer Frank Herbert, third to Cam Gigandet. 20 of them were born between 1920 and 1969, more than in any other period. Fewer than a quarter of the 207 towns in Washington with famous people list more.
Born here
42
notable people
Best known
Bing Crosby
in 123 Wikipedia languages
First
1890
Howard Bretherton
Youngest
1998
Malachi Flynn
Most common field
Film, TV & Stage
12 people
Also called it home
1
notable residents
What stands out about Tacoma’s famous people
Known worldwideBing Crosby has a Wikipedia article in 123 languages.A town of performersPerformers make up 12 of the 42, 3 times the usual share.Still making namesThe most recent birth on the list came in 1998, among 24 since 1950.42 notable peopleMore than most towns: 42 notable people were born in Tacoma.
★ What stands out · The best known
Born in Tacoma
First, Bing Crosby (123 languages), then Frank Herbert (92) and Cam Gigandet (45).
#1
#2
#3Known for
What Tacoma is known for
Tacoma has 3× the usual share of performers.
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 Tacoma’s famous people were born
More of them were born in the 1980s than in any other ten years, 6 in all.
Film, TV & StageSportsWriting & ArtsMusicScience & MedicineBusinessMilitaryPolitics & LawNotableFaith
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Tacoma
39 more names, born between 1890 and 1998.
Dyan Cannon
born 1937American film and television actress, director, screenwriter, editor, and producer
Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Philip Abelson
1913–2004US physicist, editor of the journal Science, and director of the Carnegie Institution of Washington's Geophysical Laboratory
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Kaye Hall
born 1951American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, former world record-holder, art teacher
SportsWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
A chosen home
Also called Tacoma home
One more notable person made the town home: Fred Crisman.
The town’s pick
Town Square →Who’s the most famous person from Tacoma?
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Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Nearby, Federal Way has the most on record, with 18.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Tacoma 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 (17)
- Bing Crosby: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Frank Herbert: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Cam Gigandet: MuseLed, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Dyan Cannon: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Brautigan: Olivier Dalmon, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Philip Abelson: U.S. Navy, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jerry Cantrell: Morten Jensen, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Isaiah Thomas: All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bruce Bennett: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Janis Paige: Clarence Sinclair Bull, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Tejay van Garderen: denismenchov08, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Blair Underwood: Angela George at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharongraphics/, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Avery Bradley: alison fayre, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Elinor Donahue: NBC Television. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was not unusual for television networks, studios and program sponsors to have an advertising or public relations agency distribute their publicity material. This material was distributed by the Bureau of In…, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jaden McDaniels: Ron Sellers from Alameda, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jermaine Kearse: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Andrea Geubelle: jenaragon94, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons