List of people from Irvine, California

This is a list of notable past and present residents of the U.S. city of Irvine, California, and its surrounding metropolitan area. For people whose only connection with the city is attending the University of California, Irvine, see: List of University of California, Irvine people.

Athletics

Benny Feilhaber

Shawn Green

Jason Lezak

• Dersu Abolfathi – soccer player
• Garret Anderson – Major League Baseball player[1]
• Garrett Atkins – Major League Baseball player[2]
• C. David Baker – commissioner of the Arena Football League and former Irvine Council member[3]
• Dotsie Bausch – Olympic cyclist[4]
• Amanda Beard – Olympic swimmer[5]
• Steve Birnbaum (born 1991) – soccer player[6]
• Travis Brody – professional football player[7]
• JT Daniels – quarterback for the West Virginia Mountaineers
• Lindsay Davenport – professional tennis player[1]
• Anthony Davis – former National Football League player[8]
• Austin Daye – National Basketball Association player[9]
• Darren Daye – former National Basketball Association player[9]
• Annaliese Dragan – Romanian/American rhythmic gymnast and 2024 Olympian[10]
• Eric Ebert – professional football (soccer) player[11]
• Jim Edmonds – Major League Baseball player[1]
• Julie Ertel – Olympic triathlete (2008 Summer Olympics) and water polo player (2000 Summer Olympics)[12]
• Benny Feilhaber – professional soccer player[13]
• Vince Ferragamo – former NFL/CFL quarterback, led Los Angeles Rams to Super Bowl appearance, 1980
• Kevin Friedland (born 1981) – soccer player
• Shawn Green – former Major League Baseball player; 2-time All-Star[1]
• Bob Hamelin – former Major League Baseball player[14]
• Dan Haren – Major League Baseball pitcher[15]
• Nick Hornsby (born 1995) – basketball player for Hapoel Be'er Sheva in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Quinton Jackson – professional mixed martial arts fighter and UFC former light-heavyweight champion[16]
• Adam Keefe – former National Basketball Association player[17]
• Carnell Lake – five-time NFL Pro Bowl player and UCLA Bruins assistant football coach[18]
• Mark Langston – former Major League Baseball player[19]
• Chris Lewis – former professional tennis player[20]
• Jason Lezak – Olympic swimmer, four-time gold medal winner[21]
• Chris Mandeville – former National Football League defensive back[22]
• Michael McClune – professional tennis player[23]
• Mark McGwire – former Major League Baseball player[24]
• Beverly Oden – Olympic volleyball player[25]
• Elaina Oden – Olympic volleyball player[26]
• Kim Oden – Olympic volleyball player[26]
• Aaron Peirsol – Olympic swimmer[27]
• Shar Pourdanesh – former National Football League player, first Iranian-born player in NFL, starting tackle for Washington Redskins and Pittsburgh Steelers
• Chris Pronger – National Hockey League player[1]
• Jimmy Raye – former National Football League player and offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers[28]
• Joe Sambito – retired Major League pitcher
• Monte Scheinblum – 1992 U.S. National and world long-driving champion[29]
• Scott Spiezio – former Major League Baseball player[30]
• Eliot Teltscher – Top-10 tennis player[31]
• Natasha Watley – Olympic softball player[32]
• Zack Weiss (born 1992) – Major League Baseball player[33]
• Caroline Zhang – figure skater[34]

Literature and journalism

• Kevin Drum – political blogger for the Mother Jones magazine website[35]
• Ezra Klein – Washington Post columnist, MSNBC contributor, blogger
• Tahereh Mafi – bestselling young adult fiction author
• Annalee Newitz – science and technology journalist[36]
• Kira Peikoff – novelist, journalist, and daughter of Leonard Peikoff[37]

Movies, television, and other media

• Omid Abtahi – actor
• Eric Anderson – actor
• Jeanne Carmen – model, pin-up girl, and actress[38]
• Justin Chon – actor[39]
• Jack DeSena – sketch comedy actor on Nickelodeon's All That[40]
• Will Ferrell – actor and comedian[41]
• Mark Haapala – producer and director[42]
• Georgia Hardstark – actress, podcast, My Favorite Murder
• Hugh Hewitt – author, radio talk show host, blogger[43]
• Ben Maller – sports radio personality[44]
• Annie Mumolo – screenwriter actor[45]
• Nicole Parker – comedian and actress[46]
• Nasim Pedrad – Saturday Night Live cast member^[citation needed]
• Jason Peoples – winner of the reality television show Average Joe (Season 1)[47]
• Gene Polito – cinematographer and professor at USC School of Cinematic Arts[48]
• Jim Rome – sports radio personality[24]
• Irv Weinstein – retired television news anchor (WKBW-TV) and father of mayor Beth Krom[49]

Music

• Joey Allen – guitarist for glam metal band Warrant[50]
• Rebecca Black – singer/YouTuber
• Eddie Breckenridge – bassist for the post-hardcore band Thrice
• Riley Breckenridge – drummer for the post-hardcore band Thrice
• Cashis – Shady Records rapper^[citation needed]
• Tim Commerford – Rage Against the Machine
• Zack de la Rocha – lead singer for rap metal band Rage Against the Machine[41]
• Tom Dumont – guitarist for rock band No Doubt[51]
• East West – Christian rapcore band[52]
• Dustin Kensrue – vocalist and rhythm guitarist of post-hardcore band Thrice[53]
• Martin Leung – known as the Video Game Pianist[54]
• Geneva Lewis – violinist[20]
• Kevin Kwan Loucks – concert pianist and arts entrepreneur
• Aubrey O'Day – singer[55]
• Teppei Teranishi – lead guitarist of post-hardcore band Thrice[53]
• Thrice – post-hardcore band active from 1998–Present
• Amy Yao – bassist for Riot grrrl band Emily's Sassy Lime[56]
• Yeat – rapper
• Young the Giant – band

Politics

• Dick Ackerman – politician and former California State Senator[57]
• Larry Agran – politician and Irvine Council member[58]
• John B. T. Campbell III – politician and former U.S. Congressman[59]
• Steven Choi – politician and former Irvine mayor[60]
• Chuck DeVore – politician and California State Assemblyman and candidate for U.S. Senate in 2010
• Ross Johnson – politician and former California State Legislator[61]
• Sukhee Kang – former mayor of Irvine and former Irvine Council member
• Farrah N. Khan – current mayor of Irvine and former Irvine Council member
• Tammy Kim – Irvine Council member

Miscellaneous

• William E. Barber – Medal of Honor United States Marine Corps officer[62]
• Larry C. Ford – gynecologist found to have stored deadly biological toxins (including the agents of anthrax, botulism, cholera, and typhoid) in his home and office, and C4 and machine guns in his back yard
• Steve Gibson – software engineer and security journalist[63]
• Nam Le – professional poker player[64]
• Leonard Peikoff – Objectivist philosopher and intellectual heir to novelist-philosopher Ayn Rand[65]
• Sudhir Alladi Venkatesh – sociologist and urban ethnographer[66]
• Dita Von Teese – burlesque performer[67]

References

1. Lansner, Jon (December 6, 2007). "Shady Canyon's last lot goes for $1.9 million". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on December 22, 2007. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
2. Stokols, Eli (October 29, 2007). "Childhood friends, childhood dreams". Orange County Register. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
3. Downey, Cheryl (August 19, 1988). "Ex-councilman Baker bids farewell to Irvine in letter". Orange County Register. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
4. Reid, Scott M. (August 12, 2012). "London 2012: Golden time for Team O.C." Orange County Register. Retrieved August 13, 2012.
5. Albano, Dan (June 23, 2006). "Beard unsure about future". Orange County Register. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
6. "Steve Birnbaum - Men's Soccer".
7. Origin Company (January 23, 2008). "Brussels Bulls website". Origin Company. Archived from the original on August 5, 2009. Retrieved September 26, 2009.
8. Dilbeck, Steve (November 23, 2004). "No one has let Anthony Davis forget afternoon he beat Notre Dame". L.A. Daily News. Archived from the original on October 29, 2006. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
9. "Where Are They Now? Darren Daye". Real Sports Heroes. Retrieved October 7, 2009.
10. Berg, Tom (2024-05-07). "Irvine gymnast bound for Summer Olympics". www.irvinestandard.com. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
11. "Ebert Selected by Houston Dynamo in MLS SuperDraft". CSTV. January 12, 2007. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
12. "Julie Ertel Profile". NBC. Retrieved July 6, 2008.
13. "No Dynamo for Feilhabers". Goal.com USA. February 15, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
14. Pucin, Diane (June 11, 1999). "When a Boy of Summer Suddenly Grows Weary; Baseball journeyman Hamelin is scared and exhilarated after dramatically quitting the game during a game". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 24, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
15. Beacham, Greg (November 25, 2013). "LA Dodgers sign RHP Dan Haren for 1 year, $10M". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
16. Olson, Derek (September 6, 2007). "Get in the Cage!". OC Weekly. Archived from the original on June 1, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
17. "Adam Keefe biography". NBA.com. Archived from the original on February 12, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
18. "Carnell Lake Joins UCLA Coaching Staff". Archived from the original on 2012-11-06. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
19. Moore, Jim (August 29, 2007). "Go 2 Guy: Seattle exit still gnaws at Langston". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
20. Thomas, Robert D. (16 March 2015). "16-year-old violinist to perform with Pasadena Symphony". The Pasadena Star-News. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
21. Gilbert, Lori (March 6, 2006). "Olympic spirit visits Stockton". Recordnet.com. Retrieved March 5, 2008.
22. Carroll, Bob (1997) [1999]. Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League. HarperCollins. p. 1045. ISBN 0-06-039232-0. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
23. "ATP World Tour player profile". Retrieved January 11, 2010.
24. Ryon, Ruth. "A Moorish fantasy in Irvine's Shady Canyon". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
25. Santana Jr., Norberto (May 2, 2007). "Black leaders demand end to profiling". Orange County Register. Retrieved March 5, 2008.
26. "Oden Sisters to Reunite at Notre Dame-North Carolina Volleyball Match". Notre Dame Fighting Irish, The Official Athletic Site. October 16, 1997. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
27. Mott, Patrick (September 2, 2004). "Inside the OC Register". OC Metro. Retrieved March 20, 2008.
28. "Front Office: Jimmy Raye". San Diego Chargers. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved March 20, 2008.
29. "Monte Scheinblum Shines When He's Hitting Off the Tee", Bucky Albers, Dayton Daily News, May 19, 1993, Retrieved December 23, 2010. The family settled in Orange County, Calif., and Monte says he was a 4.3 student at Villa Park High School
30. James, Elysse (February 27, 2008). "Former Angels player charged with DUI, hit-and-run and assault". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on March 31, 2008. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
31. "Eliot Teltscher | Overview | ATP Tour | Tennis".
32. Reid, Scott M. (March 19, 2008). "End near for Team USA softball". Orange County Register. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
33. "Former Northwood star begins professional baseball career". 30 July 2013.
34. Brennan, Christine (January 25, 2007). "Stargazing into figure skating's future is hardly a sure thing". USA Today. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
35. Terdiman, Daniel (October 28, 2004). "On Fridays, Bloggers Sometimes Retract Their Claws". New York Times. Retrieved March 20, 2008.
36. "About Annalee Newitz". Techsploitation. Retrieved December 11, 2008.
37. Lopez, Alicia. "Former Woodbridge student pens suspense novel". Orange County Register. August 21, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
38. Hinch, Robin (December 29, 2007). "Those who left us in 2007 made their mark". Orange County Register. Retrieved April 25, 2008.
39. Chang, Richard (February 27, 2009). "'Twilight' actor tackles Hollywood from Irvine". Orange County Register. Retrieved March 1, 2009.
40. "Ayn Rand Institute 2003 Anthem Essay Contest". Ayn Rand Institute. Archived from the original on October 7, 2007. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
41. Harding, Thomas (October 22, 2007). "Heart of the Order: Garrett Atkins". MLB.com. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
42. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2261374/ ^[user-generated source]
43. "Fundrace 2008". Huffington Post. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
44. Maller, Ben (March 8, 2002). "Friday Thoughts, Opinions and Notes". BenMaller.com. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved March 5, 2008.
45. Annie Mumolo – IMDb
46. Miller, Marla (August 23, 2005). "SqueezeOC.com gets a big launch". Orange County Register. Retrieved March 5, 2008.
47. Hewitt, Michael (January 22, 2004). "The watcher". Orange County Register. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
48. "Respected Cinematographer, Professor and USC Alumnus obituary". USC School of Cinematic Arts. December 2, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2010.^[permanent dead link‍]
49. Gallivan, Pete (April 29, 2008). "Where Are They Now? Irv Weinstein". WGRZ.com.^[permanent dead link‍]
50. "Joey Allen Biography". Maestro.fm. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2008.
51. Chang, Vickie (September 20, 2007). "Tom Dumont's 7 Favorite Thing". OC Weekly. Archived from the original on March 13, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
52. Dunleavy, Anne (1997). "East West". Ricochet Music Magazine. Archived from the original on February 24, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
53. Rashidi, Waleed (October 11, 2007). "You Only Live Thrice". OC Weekly. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008. Retrieved March 20, 2008.
54. "Winners of the Eighth Annual Oberlin International Piano Competition Announced". Oberlin College. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved March 4, 2008.
55. Koltnow, Barry (March 2, 2011). "O.C.'s Aubrey O'Day is back on TV". The Orange County Register. Retrieved March 3, 2011.
56. Yeung, Bernice (July 18, 1996). "Tart Teen Talkers". Metroactive. Retrieved March 20, 2008.
57. Gottlieb, Jeff (June 14, 2005). "Ackerman Pulls Out of Race for Cox's Seat". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 19, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
58. "Larry Agran biography". City of Irvine. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
59. Bunis, Dena (September 22, 2005). "Republicans endorse Campbell for Cox's seat". Orange County Register. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
60. "Steven Choi biography". City of Irvine. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
61. Matier, Philip; Ross, Andrew (December 23, 2002). "Davis seeks deep-pocket donors to pay for scaled-down inaugural 'barbecue'". SF Gate. Retrieved April 25, 2008.
62. Bernstein, Adam (April 23, 2002). "Medal of Honor Winner William Barber Dies". Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
63. Laporte, Leo; Gibson, Steve (2015-12-01). "Listener feedback #224". Security Now! (Podcast). 536. TwiT/GRC. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
64. Wise, Jack (June 2007). "Pro-file: Nam Le". Bluff Magazine. Archived from the original on October 24, 2008. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
65. "LC Battles Donor over Rand Manuscript Pages". American Library Association. March 11, 2002. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved March 5, 2008.
66. Rivera, Ryan (May 5, 2008). "Gang leader for a day? An academic took the plunge". Orange County Register. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
67. Nguyen, Katherine (April 5, 2006). "Dita Von Teese: Call her old-fashioned". Orange County Register. Retrieved March 20, 2008.