Oakland is a city located in the US state of California, and it is situated in the San Francisco Bay Area. According to Wikipedia, the town has a population of approximately 440,646 as of 2020, and it is the eighth-most populated city in California. It’s known for its beautiful weather, thriving arts and culture scene, and an impressive number of celebrity residents. And with the city’s rich history, there’s no shortage of interesting stories and facts to share about Oakland and its most famous citizens; from athletes to actors to musicians, Oakland has it all. Here are 20 of our favorite celebrities from the Bay Area city.
20. Meena Harris (Entrepreneur)
Meena Harris is a social entrepreneur and the founder of Sieva Solutions, a technology company that develops solutions to improve the quality of education for students in underserved communities. She is also the co-founder of the Black Male Achievement (BMA) Network, a national organization dedicated to improving the life outcomes of black men and boys. Harris was born in Oakland, CA, and graduated from Stanford University with a degree in electrical engineering. She currently resides in Oakland with her husband and two children.
19. Lyndsy Fonseca (Actress)
Lyndsy Fonseca is an American actress best known for her roles in Kick-Ass and Hot Tub Time Machine films. She has also starred on television shows like Desperate Housewives and Agents of SHIELD. Fonseca was born in Oakland, CA, and grew up in the city’s East Bay suburbs. She began her acting career at 12 and has appeared in over 30 films and television shows. She currently resides in Los Angeles.
18. Gary Payton (Basketball Player)
Gary Payton is a retired professional basketball player who spent his entire 17-year career playing for the Seattle SuperSonics and Miami Heat. He was drafted second overall in 1990 and is a 9-time NBA All-Star, 2-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist. Payton is from Oakland, CA, and often speaks about his love for the city. In 2017, he opened a recreational center in downtown Oakland that provides free afterschool programs for local youth.
17. Marshawn Lynch (Football Player)
Marshawn Lynch is a former American football player who spent his 10-year career playing for the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks. He was drafted 12th overall in 2007 and played running back for both teams. Lynch is from Oakland, CA, and often speaks about his love for the city. In 2017, he opened a recreational center in downtown Oakland that provides free afterschool programs for local youth. You can expect to see Lynch riding his bike around town or grabbing a quick bite to eat at one of his favorite spots.
16. Kehlani Ashley Parrish (Singer)
Kehlani Ashley Parrish is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. She first gained recognition in 2015 as a member of the girl group Poplyfe, which competed on season six of America’s Got Talent. In 2016, she released her debut solo album, SweetSexySavage, which debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 chart. Parrish was born in Oakland, CA, and grew up in the city’s East Bay region. She is of African-American and Native American descent.
15. Shemar Moore (Actor)
Shemar Moore is an American actor and model best known for his role as Malcolm Winters on The Young and the Restless. He has also starred in films like Soul Food and Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Moore was born in Oakland, CA, and attended Gunn High School before moving to Chabot College. He eventually transferred to Santa Clara University, where he earned a degree in communications. After college, Moore moved to Los Angeles and began his successful acting career.
14. Brandon Lee (Actor)
Brandon Lee was an American actor best known for his roles in The Crow and Rapid Fire films. Lee was born in Oakland, CA, and made his acting debut in 1990 alongside his father, martial arts legend Bruce Lee, in the film The Crow. He died tragically in 1993 at the age of 28 during the filming of The Crow. Lee left a lasting impression on Hollywood despite his short career and is considered one of his generation’s most promising young actors.
13. Paul Pierce (Basketball Player)
Paul Pierce is a retired professional basketball player who spent his entire 18-year career playing for the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Clippers. He was drafted 10th overall in 1998 and is a 10-time All-Star, 4-time All-NBA selection, and 2008 NBA Finals MVP. Pierce is from Oakland, CA, and often speaks about his love for the city. In 2017, he opened a recreational center in downtown Oakland that provides free after school programs for local youth. He has been an active supporter of the city’s rebuilding efforts after the 2017 Oakland fire.
12. Billie Joe Armstrong (Musician)
Billie Joe Armstrong is a singer, songwriter, and musician best known as the frontman of the punk rock band Green Day. Armstrong was born in Oakland, CA, and grew up in the city’s East Bay suburbs. He has been active in the music industry since 1986 and has released 12 studio albums with Green Day. And in 2015, Armstrong was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Green Day. For his work with the band, Armstrong has won five Grammy Awards.
11. Mark Curry (Comedian)
Mark Curry is a stand-up comedian and actor best known for his role as Mark Cooper on the ABC sitcom Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper. Curry was born in Oakland, CA, and got his start in comedy at a local drugstore. He has since appeared in films like Too $hort’s “I Ain’t Trippin” music video and has performed stand-up on shows like Def Comedy Jam. Curry is one of nine children. Curry had to learn how to be funny early to get attention with such a large family.
10. Mahershala Ali (Actor)
Mahershala Ali is an American actor and musician. He made his screen debut in the 2008 film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and has since starred in films like Moonlight, House of Cards, and The Hunger Games. Ali won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Moonlight and has also won a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He is the first Muslim actor to win an Oscar. Ali was born in Oakland, CA, and still has close ties to his hometown.
9. Boots Riley (Musician, Activist, and Filmmaker)
Boots Riley is a musician, activist, and filmmaker from Oakland, CA. He is best known as the frontman of the band The Coup and for his 2018 film Sorry to Bother You. Riley is highly critical of capitalism and has spoken against police brutality and racism. He has also been outspoken in support of labor rights and affordable housing. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the 2019 John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Award.
8. G-Eazy (Musician)
G-Eazy is a rapper and producer who first gained attention with his mixtape The Endless Summer. He’s since released four studio albums, headlined his tours, and collaborated with artists like A$AP Rocky and Halsey. G-Eazy is from Oakland and often references his hometown in his music. And with a net worth of $14 million, he’s doing well for himself. For G-Eazy, music is a family affair. His mother was a member of the gospel choir and his stepfather was a jazz musician. G-Eazy first got into rap music in the fifth grade and by high school, he was already performing shows. After graduating from college, G-Eazy moved to New Orleans to pursue his music career. He eventually made his way back to the Bay Area and achieved success with his mixtape The Endless Summer. G-Eazy has continued to tour and release new music since then. His most recent album, These Things Happen Too, was released in 2021.
7. MC Hammer (Musician)
MC Hammer is a legendary hip-hop artist who first hit the scene in the 1980s. His signature style, which incorporates funk and pop elements, helped him achieve mainstream success with hits like “U Can’t Touch This” and “Too Legit to Quit.” Hammer was born in Oakland in 1962 and has remained an active philanthropist in his hometown. He is recognized as an honorary citizen of Oakland for his work with the community. As a musician, Hammer has sold more than 50 million records worldwide.
6. Rockmond Dunbar (Actor)
Rockmond Dunbar is an American actor and producer. According to Wikipedia, he is best known for his roles on the shows Prison Break, Sons of Anarchy, and The Path. Dunbar was born in Oakland in 1971 and has been involved in many of the city’s arts and education programs. He currently serves as the Artistic Director of Youth Speaks, a nonprofit that provides writing and performance opportunities for young people. Dunbar is also the co-founder of the Oakland School for the Arts, a public charter school that provides arts education to students in grades 6-12.
5. Zendaya (Actor)
Zendaya is a Hollywood superstar who got her start on the Disney Channel series KC Undercover and Shakes It Up. The actress, singer, and model has since starred in films like The Greatest Showman and Spider-Man: Homecoming and has released two studio albums. Zendaya is originally from Oakland and still has close ties to her hometown. She often visits local schools and charities to do volunteer work and speak to young people about her experiences in the entertainment industry.
4. Kamala Harris (Politician)
Kamala Harris is a powerhouse politician and the current US Senator from California. She was born in Oakland in 1964 and is the first female African-American attorney general of California. Harris has also served as the District Attorney of San Francisco and the 38th Lieutenant Governor of California. In 2020, she announced her candidacy for Vice President of the United States and won. According to the White House website, she is the first African-American, the first woman, and the first Asian-American to be elected to the office.
3. Tom Hanks (Actor)
It’s hard to imagine a world without Tom Hanks. The actor has been a Hollywood staple for over three decades, appearing in some of the biggest films of all time. His resume includes classics like Big, Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, and Cast Away. Hanks was born in Concord, California, but he considers Oakland his hometown. And with good reason – he spent his childhood living in the city’s Oakland Hills neighborhood. He has, over the years, been very vocal about his love for Oakland, even going so far as to call it “the coolest city in America.”
2. Bruce Lee (Actor, Martial Artist)
Bruce Lee is a true icon of martial arts cinema and pop culture. The actor and martial artist was born in San Francisco in 1940 but spent most of his childhood in Oakland. According to his Wikipedia biography, he rose to international fame with his starring role in the Bruce Lee classic Enter the Dragon and continued to make martial arts films throughout his career. Sadly, Lee died at age 32, but his legacy lives on. If you asked anyone to name a martial artist, Bruce Lee is the first name that would come to mind for most people.
1. Mark Hamill (Actor)
The world of entertainment would not be the same without Mark Hamill. The actor, best known for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise, was born in Oakland in 1951. Hamill has had an impressive career spanning over four decades, with roles in films like The Big Red One, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. He’s also appeared on television shows like The Flash and Batman: The Animated Series.
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