List of famous Salt Lakers
Encyclopedia
A person who lives in or comes from Salt Lake City
, Utah
is known as a Salt Laker. The following list contains well-known current or former Salt Lake City
residents:
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
is known as a Salt Laker. The following list contains well-known current or former Salt Lake City
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
residents:
Born in Salt Lake City
- Maude AdamsMaude AdamsMaude Ewing Kiskadden , known professionally as Maude Adams, was an American stage actress who achieved her greatest success as Peter Pan. Adams's personality appealed to a large audience and helped her become the most successful and highest-paid performer of her day, with a yearly income of more...
(1872–1953) BroadwayBroadway theatreBroadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
stage actress noted for her title role in Peter Pan - Karl AlvarezKarl AlvarezKarl Matthew Alvarez is the bass guitar player for both the Descendents and All, the band that resulted after the Descendents disbanded again in 1987....
(born 1964), musician, DescendentsDescendents (band)The Descendents are an American punk rock band from Hermosa Beach, California. As of 2011, they have released six studio albums, three live albums, three compilation albums and three EPs. The Descendents broke up and reformed several times over the years, sometimes with different musicians...
, ALLALL (band)All is an American punk band originally from Los Angeles, currently residing in Fort Collins, Colorado, formed by Descendents members Bill Stevenson, Karl Alvarez, and Stephen Egerton.-Formation and Cruz Records Years:...
, The LemonheadsThe LemonheadsThe Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band first formed in 1986 by Evan Dando, Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz. Dando has remained the band's only constant member.... - Tony AnselmoTony AnselmoTony Anselmo is an Animator, cartoon voice actor and, since 1985, the voice of Donald Duck. Anselmo was trained by the original voice of Donald, Clarence Nash. Anselmo has also shared voice-over duties for Donald's nephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie since 1999. He voiced the nephews on Mickey...
(born 1967), Disney animator, voice of Donald DuckDonald DuckDonald Fauntleroy Duck is a cartoon character created in 1934 at Walt Disney Productions and licensed by The Walt Disney Company. Donald is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a sailor suit with a cap and a black or red bow tie. Donald is most...
(1985-present) - Roseanne BarrRoseanne BarrRoseanne Cherrie Barr is an American actress, comedian, writer, television producer and director. Barr began her career in stand-up comedy at clubs before gaining fame for her role in the sitcom Roseanne. The show was a hit and lasted nine seasons, from 1988 to 1997...
(born 1952), actress, stand-up comedian - Mick Morris (born 1978), musician, Eighteen Visions
- Jaime BergmanJaime BergmanJaime Bergman is an American model and actress who was Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month in January 1999, its 45th Anniversary issue. In addition to her magazine appearance she has appeared in several Playboy videos. Her centerfold was photographed by Stephen Wayda.-Career:Bergman was the St...
(born 1975), Actress, former Playmate - Nolan BushnellNolan BushnellNolan K. Bushnell is an American engineer and entrepreneur who founded both Atari, Inc and the Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza-Time Theaters chain...
(born 1943), founder of Atari and game industry pioneer - Neal CassadyNeal CassadyNeal Leon Cassady was a major figure of the Beat Generation of the 1950s and the psychedelic movement of the 1960s. He served as the model for the character Dean Moriarty in Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road....
, (born 1926), Notable influencer of the Beat movement - Roy CastletonRoy CastletonRoyal Eugene Castleton was a relief pitcher for the New York Highlanders and Cincinnati Reds. The first native of the state of Utah and the first Mormon to play in the major leagues, Castleton made his debut with the Highlanders on April 16, 1907, and played his final game with the Reds on May 29,...
(born 1885), major league baseball player - Clayton M. ChristensenClayton M. ChristensenClayton M. Christensen is the Robert and Jane Cizik Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, with a joint appointment in the Technology & Operations Management and General Management faculty groups. He is best known for his study of innovation in commercial enterprises...
(born 1952), professor at Harvard Business School - Cytheria, porn star born in Salt Lake City and raised in West Valley City
- Matthew DavisMatthew DavisMatthew W. Davis is an American actor.-Life and career:Davis was born in Salt Lake City. He attended Woods Cross High School, and the University of Utah....
(born 1978), actor - Patrick FugitPatrick FugitPatrick Raymond Fugit is an American actor best known for his debut performance in the lead role of Cameron Crowe's film Almost Famous.-Career:...
(born 1982), actor - John FultonJohn Fulton (writer)John Fulton is an American author based in Boston, Massachusetts, where he teaches creative writing at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He grew up in Utah and Montana, attended college in Washington State, and lived in Europe for five years. He is a 1997 graduate of the University of...
, writer - John W. GallivanJohn W. GallivanJohn W. Gallivan is an American newspaper publisher, cable television pioneer, and civic leader. A major figure in the promotion and development of Salt Lake City and Utah's ski industry, he was instrumental in starting the campaign to bring the 2002 Olympic Winter Games to Salt Lake City...
, (born 1915), newspaper publisher - William "Big Bill" HaywoodBill HaywoodWilliam Dudley Haywood , better known as "Big Bill" Haywood, was a founding member and leader of the Industrial Workers of the World , and a member of the Executive Committee of the Socialist Party of America...
, labor leader - Steve KonowalchukSteve KonowalchukSteven Reed Konowalchuk is an American former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the NHL with the Washington Capitals and the Colorado Avalanche. He is currently the head coach for the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League...
(born 1972), former NHL player - Zach LundZach LundZach Lund is an American skeleton racer who has competed since 2000. He won two bronze medals at the FIBT World Championships with one in 2007 and one in 2008 . He finished #1 in World Cup standings in 2007.-Personal life:Zach was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is the youngest of 5...
(born 1979), skeleton racer - Maddox (writer)Maddox (writer)Maddox is the pen name of George Ouzounian, an American humorist, satirist, Internet personality, and author. He gained fame on the Internet in the early 2000s for his opinion-oriented website, The Best Page in the Universe, which he still maintains. His first book, The Alphabet of Manliness ,...
(born 1978), writer - Claude Rex NowellClaude NowellClaude Rex Nowell, also known as Corky King, Corky Ra, and Summum Bonum Amon Ra , was the founder of Summum, a 501, philosophical and religious organization that practices a modern form of mummification which has become known worldwide.-Biography:Nowell was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in the...
aka Corky King (born 1944), founder of SummumSummumSummum is a religion and philosophy that began in 1975 as a result of Claude "Corky" Nowell's claimed encounter with beings he described as "Summa Individuals"... - Louis R. NowellLouis R. NowellLouis R. Nowell was a Los Angeles city fire captain who was elected to the City Council in the San Fernando Valley in 1963 and served until 1977. A conservative, he favored more growth in residential areas and opposed school busing for the purpose of racial integration. He pleaded no contest and...
(1915–2000), Los Angeles City Council member, 1963–77 - Ralph OlsenRalph OlsenRalph Olsen is a former defensive end in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the thirty-second round of the 1947 NFL Draft and later played with the team during the 1949 NFL season.-References:...
, former NFL player - Elizabeth SmartElizabeth Smart kidnappingThe kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart occurred on June 5, 2002, when 14-year-old American girl Elizabeth Smart was abducted from her Salt Lake City, Utah, bedroom...
(born 1987), kidnap victim - Dave SmithDave Smith (running back)Dave Smith is a former running back in the National Football League.-Career:Smith was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the thirteenth round of the 1970 NFL Draft and played that season with the team. He played at the collegiate level at the University of Utah.-References:...
(born 1947), former NFL player - Wallace ThurmanWallace ThurmanWallace Henry Thurman was an American novelist during the Harlem Renaissance. He is best known for his novel The Blacker the Berry: A Novel of Negro Life, which explores discrimination among black people based on skin color.-Early life:...
, writer - Pete Van ValkenburgPete Van ValkenburgPete Van Valkenburg is a former running back in the National Football League. Van Valkenburg was drafted in the third round of the 1973 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints and would play that season with the Buffalo Bills. He split the following season between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago...
, former NFL player - Craig VenterCraig VenterJohn Craig Venter is an American biologist and entrepreneur, most famous for his role in being one of the first to sequence the human genome and for his role in creating the first cell with a synthetic genome in 2010. Venter founded Celera Genomics, The Institute for Genomic Research and the J...
(born 1946), geneticist and entrepreneur
Native born and long-time resident of Salt Lake City
- David C. EvansDavid C. EvansDavid Cannon Evans was the founder of the computer science department at the University of Utah and co-founder of Evans & Sutherland, a computer firm which is known as a pioneer in the domain of computer-generated imagery.-Biography:Evans attended the University of Utah and studied electrical...
(1924–1998), Pioneer of computer graphics, founder of the computer science department at the University of UtahUniversity of UtahThe University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
and co-founder of Evans & Sutherland - John WarnockJohn WarnockJohn Edward Warnock is an American computer scientist best known as the co-founder with Charles Geschke of Adobe Systems Inc., the graphics and publishing software company. Dr. Warnock was President of Adobe for his first two years and Chairman and CEO for his remaining sixteen years at the company...
(born 1940), American computer scientist and co-founder of Adobe Systems Inc. - Wilford BrimleyWilford BrimleyAllen Wilford Brimley is an American actor. He has appeared in such films as The China Syndrome, Cocoon, The Thing and The Firm. He had a recurring role on the 1970s television series The Waltons...
(born 1934), character actor - Frank Moss (1911–2003), U.S. Senator representing Utah (1959–1977)
- Kim PeekKim PeekLaurence Kim Peek was an American savant. Known as a "megasavant", he had a photographic or eidetic memory, but also social difficulties, possibly resulting from a developmental disability related to congenital brain abnormalities. He was the inspiration for the character of Raymond Babbitt,...
(1951-2009), savantSavant syndromeSavant syndrome , sometimes referred to as savantism, is a rare condition in which people with developmental disorders have one or more areas of expertise, ability, or brilliance that are in contrast with the individual's overall limitations... - Gordon B. HinckleyGordon B. HinckleyGordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
(born 1910-2008), President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Thomas S. MonsonThomas S. MonsonThomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth...
(born 1927), President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - David ZabriskieDavid ZabriskieDavid Zabriskie is a professional road bicycle racer from the United States who rides for . His main strength is individual time trials and his career highlights include stage wins in all three Grand Tour stage races and winning the US National Time Trial Championship six times...
(born 1979), professional road bicycle racer - Kristyn Robyn Osborn (born 1970), Singer-songwriter and member of country band SheDaisySHeDAISYSHeDAISY is an American country music group founded in the late 1980s by sisters Kristyn Robyn Osborn , Kelsi Marie Osborn , and Kassidy Lorraine Osborn from Magna, Utah...
- Kelsi Marie Osborn (born 1974), Singer and member of country band SheDaisySHeDAISYSHeDAISY is an American country music group founded in the late 1980s by sisters Kristyn Robyn Osborn , Kelsi Marie Osborn , and Kassidy Lorraine Osborn from Magna, Utah...
- Kassidy Lorraine Osborn (born 1976), Singer and member of country band SheDaisySHeDAISYSHeDAISY is an American country music group founded in the late 1980s by sisters Kristyn Robyn Osborn , Kelsi Marie Osborn , and Kassidy Lorraine Osborn from Magna, Utah...
Non-native long-time Salt Lake City resident, present or former
- Harold RossHarold RossHarold Wallace Ross was an American journalist and founder of The New Yorker magazine, which he edited from the magazine's inception in 1925 to his death....
(1892-1951) American journalist and founder of The New YorkerThe New YorkerThe New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
magazine - Robert RedfordRobert RedfordCharles Robert Redford, Jr. , better known as Robert Redford, is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He has received two Oscars: one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime...
(born 1936) Founder of the Sundance Film FestivalSundance Film FestivalThe Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
, Sundance Channel - Maurice AbravanelMaurice AbravanelMaurice Abravanel was aSwiss-American Jewish conductor of classical music. He is remembered as the conductor of the Utah Symphony Orchestra for over 30 years.-Life:...
(1903–1993), influential Utah Symphony conductor - Heather ArmstrongHeather ArmstrongHeather B. Armstrong is an American blogger who resides in Salt Lake City, Utah. She writes under the pseudonym of Dooce...
(born 1975), blogger, dooce.com - Robert "Bobby" McFerrin, Jr. (born 1950) American vocalist and conductor
- Stevie NicksStevie NicksStephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
(born 1948), American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood MacFleetwood MacFleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood... - Roma DowneyRoma DowneyRoma Downey is an actress, singer, and producer, from Derry, Northern Ireland. She is best known as Tess's angel/employee, Monica, the main character of the TV series Touched by an Angel. She is also the wife of television producer, Mark Burnett.-Early life:Downey was born and raised in Derry...
(born 1960), Irish actress, singer, and producer, best known as Monica, the main character of the TV series Touched by an AngelTouched by an AngelTouched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della... - Lily EskelsenLily EskelsenLily Eskelsen is an American teacher and trade union leader. She is currently the vice-president of the National Education Association.-Early life and education:...
(born 1955), vice-president of the National Education AssociationNational Education AssociationThe National Education Association is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become... - Jake GarnJake GarnEdwin Jacob "Jake" Garn is an American politician, a member of the Republican Party, and served as a U.S. Senator representing Utah from 1974 to 1993...
(born 1934), U.S. Senator representing Utah (1974–1993) - Gregg Hale, former guitarist for the platinum UK band SpiritualizedSpiritualizedSpiritualized are an English space rock band formed in 1990 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Jason Pierce after the demise of his previous outfit, space-rockers Spacemen 3...
- Orrin G. Hatch (born 1934), U.S. Senator representing Utah (1977–present)
- George C. HatchGeorge C. HatchGeorge C. Hatch was an American businessman who owned several communications businesses and helped pioneer cable television...
(born 1919), cable television pioneer - Ammon HennacyAmmon HennacyAmmon Ashford Hennacy was an Irish American pacifist, Christian anarchist, social activist, member of the Catholic Worker Movement and a Wobbly...
(1893–1970), anarchistAnarchismAnarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
organizer - Karl MaloneKarl MaloneKarl Anthony Malone , nicknamed "The Mailman", is a retired American professional basketball power forward who spent the majority of his career with the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association . Malone spent his first 18 seasons with the Jazz and formed a formidable duo with his teammate...
(born 1963), former professional basketball player for Utah JazzUtah JazzThe Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
(1985–2003) - James MerendinoJames MerendinoJames Anthony Merendino is an American film director and screenwriter who is perhaps most notable for directing the 1999 film SLC Punk!.-Life:...
(born 1967), filmmaker (SLC Punk!SLC Punk!# "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden" - The Suicide Machines # "Sex and Violence" - The Exploited# "I Love Livin' in the City" - Fear# "1969" - The Stooges# "Too Hot" - The Specials# "Cretin Hop" - Ramones...
) - Ken JenningsKen JenningsKenneth Wayne "Ken" Jennings III is an American game show contestant and author. Jennings is noted for holding the record for the longest winning streak on the U.S. syndicated game show Jeopardy! and as being the all-time leading money winner on American game shows...
(born 1974), Jeopardy!Jeopardy!Griffin's first conception of the game used a board comprising ten categories with ten clues each, but after finding that this board could not be shown on camera easily, he reduced it to two rounds of thirty clues each, with five clues in each of six categories...
champion - Dick NourseDick NourseDick Nourse is a retired award-winning Salt Lake City, Utah television news anchor. He most recently worked for KSL-TV 5 Television. Nourse joined the KSL news team in 1964 as the station's weekend anchor/reporter. Six months later, he was named the station's weekday anchor...
(born 1940), popular television news anchor (1964-2007) - Karl RoveKarl RoveKarl Christian Rove was Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to former President George W. Bush until Rove's resignation on August 31, 2007. He has headed the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Public Liaison, and the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives...
(born 1950), Deputy Chief of StaffDeputy White House Chief of StaffThe White House Deputy Chief of Staff is officially the top aide to the White House Chief of Staff, who is the senior aide to the President of the United States. The Deputy Chief of Staff usually has an office in the West Wing and is responsible for ensuring the smooth running of the White House...
to PresidentPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000.... - Wallace StegnerWallace StegnerWallace Earle Stegner was an American historian, novelist, short story writer, and environmentalist, often called "The Dean of Western Writers"...
(1909–1993), Pulitzer prizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winning novelist and nature writer - John StocktonJohn StocktonJohn Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA from 1984 to 2003. Stockton is regarded as one of the best point guards of all time, holding the NBA records for most career assists and steals by...
(born 1962), former professional basketball player for Utah JazzUtah JazzThe Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
(1984–2003) - Ruth ToddRuth ToddRuth Todd is an award winning Salt Lake City television news anchor. She most recently worked for ABC4 Television. Ruth joined the ABC4 newsteam in December 2001, but first appeared On-Air April 15, 2002 as the station's lead female anchor...
(born 1962), popular television news anchor - Brigham YoungBrigham YoungBrigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
(1801–1877), founder of Salt Lake City, President of the LDS Church - BelladonnaBelladonna (porn star)Belladonna is an American pornographic actress and producer.-Early life:Michelle Anne Sinclair was born in Biloxi, Mississippi as the second of seven children. The family had German, Scottish, and Cherokee roots. She experienced her first kiss at age twelve, got her first tattoo at thirteen, and...
(born 1981), Porn star - David ArchuletaDavid ArchuletaDavid Archuleta, is a former United States Air Force Airman of Okinawan stationary troops and is currently an American male kickboxer.-Biography:...
(born 1990) American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
Season 7 runner-up, Artiste - Merlin OlsenMerlin OlsenMerlin Jay Olsen was an American football player in the National Football League, NFL commentator, and actor. He played his entire 15-year career with the Los Angeles Rams and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 14 of those seasons, a current record shared with Bruce Matthews...
(1940-2010) American football player in the National Football League, NFL commentator, and actor - Steve Young (born 1961) NFL Quarterback for the 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Ivan SutherlandIvan SutherlandIvan Edward Sutherland is an American computer scientist and Internet pioneer. He received the Turing Award from the Association for Computing Machinery in 1988 for the invention of Sketchpad, an early predecessor to the sort of graphical user interface that has become ubiquitous in personal...
(born 1938), American computer scientist, Internet pioneer and co-founder of Evans & Sutherland