This is a list of notable people from Palo Alto, California. It includes people who were born/raised in, lived in, or spent portions of their lives in Palo Alto, or for whom Palo Alto is a significant part of their identity.
Actors
Zach Appelman, actor known for the television series Sleepy Hollow, was born and raised in Palo Alto and is a Palo Alto High alumnus.[1]
Greg Brown (painter), trompe-l'oeil muralist, grew up in Palo Alto and graduated from Palo Alto High School in 1969.[14]
Margo Davis, photographer, lived in Palo Alto for over 30 years.[15]
Terry Acebo Davis, fine artist and Chairperson of the Palo Alto Public Art Commission.
Pedro Joseph de Lemos, painter, printmaker, architect, illustrator, writer, lecturer, and museum director, lived and died in Palo Alto.[16]
Edward McNeil Farmer, watercolorist, oil painter, and professor at Stanford University, lived in Palo Alto and was active in the Pacific Art League (previously known as Palo Alto Art Club).[17]
Paula Kirkeby (1934–2016), art collector, art donor, and the director and founder of the commercial art gallery, Smith Andersen Gallery, and printshops, Smith Andersen Editions and 3EP Ltd. Press.[23]
Elizabeth Norton (1887–1985), bronze sculptor, printmaker, painter, and one of the founders of the Palo Alto Art Club (now known as the Pacific Art League).[24]
Lindsey Buckingham, musician, singer, songwriter, and producer, best known as lead guitarist and one of the vocalists of the musical group Fleetwood Mac, was born and raised in Palo Alto.[36][37]
Matt Simons, singer-songwriter, was born and raised in Palo Alto; graduated from Gunn High School in 2005.
Molly Tuttle, singer-songwriter, banjo player, guitarist, recording artist, and teacher in the bluegrass tradition, was raised in Palo Alto and attended Palo Alto High School.[47]
Politicians, political figures and civil servants
Robert Bell, Virginia State Delegate, was born in Palo Alto.[48]
Jon Huntsman, Jr., former governor of Utah and U.S Ambassador to China.
Merrill Newman (born 1928), Palo Alto Channing House resident, former United States Army officer, and Korean War veteran, noted for his 2013 arrest in North Korea.
Ariel Gore (born 1970), journalist, memoirist, and novelist author, was raised in Palo Alto.[62]
Ken Kesey (1935–2001), novelist, short story writer, playwright, and author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which he finished writing while living in a cottage in Palo Alto.[63]
Marty Klein (born 1950), American sex therapist, author, educator, and public policy analyst.
Azadeh Moaveni (born 1976), Iranian-American journalist and author, was born in Palo Alto; author of Lipstick Jihad: A Memoir of Growing up Iranian in America and American in Iran.