List of people from Alaska

This is a list of notable people from Alaska. This list includes individuals who were born in Alaska, grew up there, retired there, or in any other fashion lived there even if for only a brief period of time (such as infancy, during one or more of the many gold rushes during the late 19th century and early 20th century, or as a result of rapid military influx and outflux from 1940 onward).

  • Key to table entries:
    • Name
    • Year born
    • Year died
    • Communities lived in in Alaska
    • Noted for

Flag of Alaska
Artis the Spoonman
Rex Beach
Carlos Boozer
Susan Butcher
Mario Chalmers
Robert Crawford
Jimmy Doolittle
William Duncan
Wyatt Earp
Mike Gravel
Ernest Gruening
Wally Hickel
Robin Hobb
Sheldon Jackson
Kevin Johansen
Levi Johnston
Joseph Juneau
Gunnar Kaasen
Jewel Kilcher
Sydney Laurence
Lance Mackey
Holly Madison
Ray Mala
Andre Marrou
Drew Meekins
Tommy Moe
Lisa Murkowski
William Oefelein
Bristol Palin
Sarah Palin
Peter the Aleut
Valerie Plame
Amerie Rogers
Larry Sanger
Curt Schilling
Mark Schlereth
Molly Smith
Soapy Smith
Steve Smith
Ted Stevens
Robert Stroud
Nate Thompson
Archie Van Winkle

A

John Luther Adams1953livingFairbanksclassical music composer
Syun-Ichi Akasofu1930livingFairbanksgeophysicist, aurora researcher, recently a participant in climate change debate
Christian Allen1976livingEagle Rivervideo game designer
Alvin Eli Amason1948livingFairbanks, Kodiakpainter, sculptor
Artis the Spoonman1948livingKodiakstreet musician, subject of the song by Soundgarden
Lena Atti19262020Kwigillingokartist expert at traditional grass weaving

B

Tony Barnette1983livingAnchorageMLB player for the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)| Laird Barron1970livingPalmersled dog racer, writer
Rex Beach18771949Nome, Rampartwriter; one of many participants in the Nome Gold Rush and related events who became famous elsewhere (see below for other examples)
Marty Beckerman1983livingAnchoragewriter
Irene Bedard1967livingAnchorageactress; voice actor for Pocahontas
Benny Benson19131972Chignik, Unalaska, Seward, Ugaiushak Island, Kodiakdesigner of the Flag of Alaska
Chad Bentz1980livingJuneau, Sewardmajor league baseball pitcher
Bill Berry19261979Fairbankspainter, cartoonist
Lydia Black19252007Fairbanks, Kodiakanthropologist, linguist
Annalee Blysseromance novelist
Tom Bodett1955livingHomerwriter, commentator, voice actor
Carlos Boozer1981livingJuneaupower forward for the Chicago Bulls who won an Olympic Bronze medal
Lincoln Brewster1971livingFairbanks, Homermusician, singer-songwriter
Justin Buchholz1983livingFairbanksmixed martial artist
Kira Buckland1987livingAnchorageanimation voice actress
David Bullock1993livingAnchorageAmerican tech entrepreneur and media executive
Martin Buser1958livingBig Lakesled dog racer
Jon Butcher1950livingClearguitarist and songwriter best known for fronting 1980s band Jon Butcher Axis
Susan Butcher19542006Fairbanks, Wrangell Mountainssled dog racer, four-time winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

C

Marian Call1982livingAnchorage, Juneausinger-songwriter
Matt Carle1984livingAnchorageNHL hockey player
Chad CarpenterlivingEagle River, Wasillacartoonist, creator of Tundra
William F. Cassidy19082002NomeU.S. Army lieutenant general
Shawn Chacón1977livingAnchoragePittsburgh Pirates pitcher
Mario Chalmers1986livingAnchorageMiami Heat point guard who won the 2011 3-point contest
Valentina Chepiga1962livingAnchorageIFBB professional bodybuilder
Quinn Christopherson living Anchorage singer-songwriter
Callan Chythlook-Sifsof1989livingAleknagik, Girdwoodsnowboarder, 2010 Olympics team member, Alaska Native activist
Corey Cogdell1986livingAnchoragetrapshooter, two-time Olympic bronze medal winner in the Women's Trap
Daryn Colledge1982livingNorth PoleMiami Dolphins football player
Ty Conklin1976livingAnchorageformer professional hockey player
Robert Crawford18991961Fairbanksearly singer-songwriter, composer of "The U.S. Air Force"
Aaron Cunningham1986livingAnchorageSan Diego Padres outfielder

D

Nora Marks Dauenhauer19272017Juneauwriter
T. Neil Davis19322016Fairbanks, North Polegeophysicist, writer
Dale DeArmond19142006Juneau, Ketchikan, Pelican, Sitkaprintmaker
R. N. DeArmond19112010Juneau, Ketchikan, Pelican, Sitkahistorian, journalist, writer
Mahala Ashley Dickerson19122007Anchorage, Wasillalawyer, civil rights activist, mother of bodybuilder Chris Dickerson
Traci Dinwiddie1973livingAnchorageactress
Buckwheat Donahue19512019Nomefolklorist
Jimmy Doolittle18961993NomeWorld War II general and hero
Brandon Dubinsky1986livingAnchorageprofessional ice hockey player
William Duncan18321918MetlakatlaAnglican lay missionary, brought a group of Tsimshian Indians from Canada to Annette Island, founding Metlakatla

E

Kate Earl1981livingAnchorage, Chugiaksinger-songwriter
Carl Ben Eielson18971929Fairbankspioneering aviator

F

Dana Fabe1951livingAnchoragefirst female associate justice of the Alaska Supreme Court
Claire Fejes19201998Fairbanksartist, writer
Corey Flintoff1946livingFairbanksNational Public Radio correspondent

G

Vivica Genaux1969livingFairbanksopera singer
Ray Genet19311979TalkeetnaMountaineer, guide
Scott Gomez1979livingAnchorageFlorida Panthers hockey player
Katherine Gottliebca. 1952livingAnchorage, Old Harbor, Seldoviapresident of Southcentral Foundation, MacArthur Fellow
Mike Gravel1930livingAnchorage, Kenai PeninsulaU.S. Senator of Pentagon Papers fame
Kelsey Griffin1987livingEagle Riverbasketball player for multiple teams in both the WNBA and Australian WNBL; also played for the Australia national team
Max Gruenberg19432016JuneauMember of the Alaska House of Representatives]
Ernest Gruening18871974Juneaujournalist, writer, territorial governor, U.S. Senator

H

John Haines19242011Big Delta, Fairbankspoet, former Alaska poet laureate
Benjamin Haldane18741941Metlakatlaphotographer
Travis Hall1972livingSoldotnaSan Francisco 49ers football player
Walter Harper18921918Tananamade the first recorded ascent of Denali
Richard Harris18331907Juneaugold prospector, co-founder of Juneau
Ernestine Hayes1945livingJuneauwriter
Ruthy Hebard1998livingFairbanksWNBA basketball player with the Chicago Sky
Willie Hensley1941livingKotzebue, Anchorageadvocate for Alaska Native rights
Herman of Alaska17561837Kodiak IslandOrthodox saint
C. "Rusty" Heurlin18951986Barrow, Ester, Valdezpainter
Wally Hickel19192010Anchorageindustrialist, twice governor, U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Robin Hobb1952livingKodiakfantasy fiction writer
Sam Hoger1980livingEagle Rivermixed martial artist
Anna Kathryn Holbrook1956livingFairbankstelevision actress
Sven Holmberg1969livingFairbanksfilm and television actor
Rick Holmstrom1965livingFairbanksblues guitarist and singer-songwriter
Steve HoltlivingKenaiguitarist and backing vocalist for 36 Crazyfists

J

Nathan Jackson1938livingKetchikanartist specializing in carving totem poles
Sheldon Jackson18341909Sitkapioneering Presbyterian missionary, educator, reindeer herder
Kevin Johansen1964livingFairbanksLatin rock musician
Michelle Johnson1965livingAnchorageactress
Levi Johnston1990livingWasillaformer partner of Bristol Palin and celebrity news personality
Jennifer Jolly1971livingKenaiconsumer technology journalist and TV broadcaster
Marie Smith Jones19182008Anchorage, Cordovalast speaker of the Eyak language
DeeDee Jonrowe1953livingAnchorage, Fairbanks, Willowsled dog racer
Joseph Juneau18361899Juneaugold prospector, co-founder and namesake of Juneau

K

Gunnar Kaasen18821960Nomesled dog racer
Peter Kalifornsky19111993Kenai Peninsulaethnographer, writer
Seth KantnerlivingKobuk Valley, Kotzebuewriter
Joan Arend Kickbush19262006Anchoragepainter
Jewel Kilcher1974livingHomersinger-songwriter, actress
Jeff King1956livingMcKinley Parksled dog racer
Sara King1982livingFairbankswriter
Tyler Kornfield1991livingAnchorageOlympic cross-country skier
Michael E. Krauss19342019Fairbankslinguist
Chris Kuper1982livingAnchorageDenver Broncos offensive guard
Natalie Kusz1962livingmemoirist
Randy Kutcher1960livingAnchoragemajor league baseball outfielder

L

Trajan Langdon1976livingAnchorageretired basketball player, most notably the Cleveland Cavaliers and CSKA Moscow
Austin E. Lathrop18651950Anchorage, Cordova, Fairbanks, Valdezbusinessman, one of the strongest Alaskan opponents of statehood
Sydney Laurence18651940Anchorage, Valdez, Talkeetnalandscape painter
Ernest Leffingwell18751971Flaxman Islandexplorer and geologist
Hilary Lindh1969livingJuneaualpine ski racer
Segundo Llorente19061989Alakanuk, Anchorage, Bethel, Cordova, Fairbanks, Kotzebue, Sheldon PointJesuit priest, elected to the Alaska House of Representatives in 1960, becoming the first Catholic priest to serve in a U.S. state legislature; also a widely published writer on Alaska in his native Spain

M

Fred Machetanz19082002Palmer, Unalakleetpainter
Dick MackeylivingColdfootsled dog racer, early winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Lance Mackey1970livingFairbanks, Foxsled dog racer, four time Yukon Quest and four time Iditarod winner
Holly Madison1979livingCraigmodel, television personality
Ray Mala19061952Candleactor, cinematographer
Andre Marrou1938livingAnchorage, Homerthe third Libertarian to be elected to a U.S. state legislature (all from Alaska to that point), later became the party's vice presidential and presidential nominee
Edward Marsden18691932Saxman, Metlakatla, SitkaTsimshian Presbyterian missionary and activist, first Alaska Native to be ordained
Robert Marshall19011939Wisemanwilderness activist, writer; wrote Arctic Village about his experiences in Wiseman
Bristol Marunde1982livingFairbanksmixed martial artist
Jesse Marunde19792007Glennallenstrongman competitor
Carl McCunn19461981Anchoragephotographer, adventurer; committed suicide when stranded in the wilderness in northern Alaska
Mel McDaniel19422011Anchoragecountry music singer-songwriter
Linious "Mac" McGee18971988Anchorage, Sewardpioneering aviator
Drew Meekins1985livingJuneaupairs figure skater
Russel Merrill18941929Anchorage, Ketchikanpioneering aviator
Dan Mintz1981livingAnchoragecomedian, writer, and actor
Tommy Moe1970livingGirdwood, Palmer, Wasillaskier, gold medal winner at the 1994 Winter Olympics
Patricia Monaghan19462012poet, writer
Kelly Moneymaker1970livingFairbankssinger, most notably with Exposé
Shannyn Moore1970livingHomerblogger, political activist
James Morrison1954livingAnchorageactor, 24
Joshua Morrow1974livingJuneauactor, singer
Margaret Murie19022003Fairbanks"grandmother of the conservation movement"
Lisa Murkowski1957livingAnchorage, Fairbanks, Ketchikan, WrangellU.S. Senator who was reelected as a write-in candidate in 2010

N

Jacob Netsvetov18021864Atka, SitkaOrthodox saint

O

William Oefelein1965livingAnchorageastronaut
Laurie Olin1938livinglandscape architect
Norman Olson1946livingNikiskimilitia activist

P

Dorothy Page19211989Wasillaco-founder of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Bristol Palin1990livingWasilladaughter of Sarah and Todd Palin, former contestant on Dancing with the Stars
Sarah Palin1964livingEagle River, Skagway, Wasillayoungest and first female governor, 2008 Republican nominee for U.S. vice president
Todd Palin1964livingDillingham, Wasillaex husband of Sarah Palin, champion snowmobile racer
Rudy Pan[1]kow1998livingKetchikan, AlaskaActor, most notably on the Netflix original, Outer Banks.
Virgil Partch19161984St. Paulcartoonist
William Paul18851977Tongass Village, Ketchikan, Sitka, JuneauNative rights activist, first Alaska Native attorney
Elizabeth Peratrovich19111958Juneau, Ketchikan, Klawock, Petersburg, Sitkacivil rights activist
Peter the Aleutca. 1815KodiakOrthodox saint
Emmitt Peters19402020Rubysled dog racer, early winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Valerie Plame1963livingAnchorage
Kirsten Powers1969livingFairbanksblogger, political commentator
Chanel Preston1985livingFairbankspornographic actress

R

Kikkan Randall1982livingAnchorageOlympic gold medalist cross-country skier
Sean Rash1982livingAnchorageprofessional tenpin bowler
Joe Redington19171999Kniksled dog racer, co-founder of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Robert Campbell Reeve19021980Anchorage, Valdezpioneering aviator
Wilds P. Richardson18611929ValdezArmy officer, headed Alaska Roads Commission
Tex Rickard18701929Juneau, NomeOld West figure, boxing promoter; lived in Nome during the height of its gold rush, served on the first city council
Libby Riddles1956livingShaktoolik, Tellersled dog racer, first woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Libby Roderickca. 1958livingAnchoragejournalist, singer-songwriter, writer
Amerie Rogers1981livingAnchoragepop singer
Mia Rose1987livingSuttonpornographic actress
Paul Rosenthal1942livingJuneauviolinist, founder of the Sitka Summer Music Festival
Bob Ross19421995North Polepainter
Peter Trimble Rowe18561942SitkaEpiscopal bishop
Jason Ryznar1983livingAnchorageprofessional ice hockey player

S

Larry Sanger1968livingAnchorageco-founder of Wikipedia
Curt Schilling1966livingAnchorageprofessional baseball player
Daniel Schlereth1986livingAnchorageprofessional baseball player
Mark Schlereth1966livingAnchorageprofessional football player, analyst for ESPN
Brian Schmidt1967livingAnchorageastrophysicist, 2011 Nobel Prize laureate in Physics
Mitch Seavey1959livingSeward, Sterlingsled dog racer
Charles John Seghers18391886Juneau, Nulato, Sitkapioneering Catholic missionary
Ronald Senungetuk19332020Fairbanks, Homer, Walessilversmith, sculptor
Leonhard Seppala18771967Fairbanks, Nomesled dog racer, key musher in the 1925 serum run to Nome
Tom Sexton1940livingAnchorage, FairbanksAlaska poet laureate
Don Simpson19431996Anchoragefilm producer
Peter Simpson18711947Metlakatla, SitkaNative rights activist and boatbuilder
Jamie Smithca. 1965livingFairbankscartoonist, printmaker
Molly SmithlivingDouglastheater director
Soapy Smith18601898Skagwaycon artist, gangster
Steve Smith1985livingAnchorageprofessional football player
Dana Stabenow1952livingAnchorage, Seldoviawriter
Darby Stanchfield1971livingKodiak, Unalaskatelevision actress
Ted Stevens19232010Anchorage, Fairbanks, Girdwoodlongest-serving U.S. Senator from Alaska and from Republican Party
John Strohmeyer19242010AnchoragePulitzer Prize-winning journalist; professor at University of Alaska Anchorage, author of Extreme Conditions
John F. A. Strong18561929Iditarod, Juneau, Katalla, Nome, Skagwayfounder of what is now Juneau Empire, territorial governor
Robert Stroud18901963Juneauconvicted killer known as "The Birdman of Alcatraz"
Stephen Sundborg1943livingpresident of Seattle University
Rick Swenson1950livingManley Hot Springs, Two Riverssled dog racer
Jim Sykes1950livingAnchorage, Palmer, TalkeetnaGreen Party politician

T

Khleo Thomas1989livingAnchorageactor, rapper
Lowell Thomas, Jr.19232016Anchorage, Talkeetnason of and collaborator with Lowell Thomas; bush pilot, film maker, lecturer, politician, writer
Morris Thompson19392000Fairbanks, TananaAlaska Native leader, business executive
Nate Thompson1984livingAnchorageprofessional ice hockey player
Ray Troll1954livingKetchikanartist, musician

U

Rachel Uchitel1975livingAnchoragemedia personality; her father was an Anchorage business magnate of the 1970s and 1980s who founded Anchorage's cable television system

V

Archie Van Winkle19251986Juneau, KetchikanKorean War hero
Paul Varelans1969livingFairbanksmixed martial artist
Norman D. Vaughan19052005Eagle River, Trapper Creekexplorer, dog musher
Joe Vogler19131993Fairbanks, Kodiakgold miner and secessionist advocate, became folk hero following his murder

W

Jujiro Wadaca. 18721937Barrow, Fairbanks, Nomeadventurer
Velma Wallis1960livingFairbanks, Fort Yukonwriter
Nathan West1978livingAnchorageactor
Mr. Whitekeys1947livingFairbanks, Spenardwriter, musician, commentator, satirist
James Wickersham18571939Eagle, Fairbanks, Juneaujudge and congressional delegate in the district and territory, made an early recorded ascent of Mount McKinley, compiled an important early bibliography of Alaska
Noel Wien18991977pioneering aviator
Lael WilcoxlivingAnchorageultra-endurance bicycle racer
Dave Williams1979livingAnchorageprofessional baseball player
Barrett Willoughby19011959writer
Charles Wood19161978Iditarod, Kodiaksinger and actor in Broadway musicals
Roger L. Worsley1937livingAnchorageeducator; vice-chancellor University of Alaska Anchorage, 1978–1985
Hugh Wade19011995first secretary of state of Alaska

Y

S. Hall Young18471927Fairbanks, Fort WrangelPresbyterian missionary, wilderness companion of John Muir

People associated with Alaska

  • Edward Albee (1928–2016), main person responsible for building the Last Frontier Theatre Conference in Valdez to the status it has currently achieved
  • Henry Tureman Allen (1859–1930), U.S. Army officer who conducted a famous expedition of Alaska's interior in 1885, largely through the Copper and Tanana River drainages
  • Roald Amundsen (1872–1928), frequently passed through Alaska in his travels
  • Hubert Howe Bancroft (1832–1918), whose 19th-century published history of Alaska, part of a larger series, formed an important foundation for later study of Alaskan history
  • Alexander Baranof (1746–1819)
  • Vitus Bering (1681–1741), made the first recorded European sighting of Alaska
  • Hale Boggs (1914–1972), member of the U.S. House from Louisiana, who disappeared on a flight in Alaska along with freshman colleague Nick Begich while helping Begich campaign for reelection
  • Jackson Browne (born 1948), stated in a 1980s interview that he was conceived in Alaska, while his father was stationed there in the U.S. military
  • Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. (1886–1945), military commander of Alaska early in World War II
  • Sydney Chapman (1888–1970), mathematician and geophysicist; Advisory Scientific Director of the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska from 1951 until his death, where he was largely responsible for building the programs and reputation of the Institute in its early years
  • James Cook (1728–1779), British explorer whose voyages included several trips along Alaska's coastline
  • William Healey Dall (1845–1927), biologist, hydrographer; explored interior Alaska, charted the Aleutians; America's pre-eminent authority on Alaska 1866–1900
  • Brad Davis (born 1955), played briefly for the Anchorage Northern Knights before going on to a long career with the Dallas Mavericks, both as a player and in other capacities
  • Edna Ferber (1885–1968), friend of Ernest Gruening; following the success of Giant, was convinced by Gruening to write Ice Palace as a tool to promote Alaskan statehood
  • Joseph Hazelwood (born 1946), captain of the Exxon Valdez when it ran aground and spilled oil in 1989
  • Michael A. Healy (1839–1904), captain of the USRC Corwin and USRC Bear when they were the only law enforcement presence north of Sitka
  • Eric Holmback (1924–1965), professional wrestler of the 1950s and 1960s known as "Yukon Eric," was billed (declared by the promoter and/or ring announcer as hailing) from Fairbanks. Other wrestlers, such as Jay York (who was also briefly a member of the rock group Delaney & Bonnie) and King Kong Bundy (while wrestling in Texas during the early 1980s), also portrayed wrestling personas associated with Alaska.
  • Michio Hoshino (1952–1996), photographer
  • Jack London (1876–1916), writer
  • Christopher McCandless (1968–1992), hiker, ad hoc adventurer
  • John Muir (1838–1914), writer, explorer, naturalist; made and wrote about several trips to Alaska; explored Glacier Bay
  • Wiley Post (1898–1935), aviator who died in a plane crash in Alaska along with Will Rogers (see below) while making a flight through the territory
  • Ralph Regula (1924–2017), longtime member of the U.S. House representing Canton, Ohio, the hometown of William McKinley. Regula devoted much of his career to preserving McKinley's legacy, and maintained a decades–long effort in Congress to prevent the renaming of Mount McKinley to its native name Denali.
  • Will Rogers (1879–1935), actor and humorist, died in a plane crash in Alaska along with Wiley Post while making a flight through the territory
  • Robert W. Service (1874–1958), due to influence from Gold Rush migration across the North Country, Service became Alaskans' most well–loved poet, despite actually living in the Yukon Territory.
  • Vilhjalmur Stefansson (1879–1962), frequently passed through Alaska in his travels
  • Timothy Treadwell (1957–2003), bear enthusiast
  • Naomi Uemura (1941–1984), adventurer, mountain climber, died while attempting a solo ascent of Mount McKinley
  • Bradford Washburn (1910–2007), mountaineer, geographer
  • Cal Worthington (1920–2013), purchased Anchorage dealership Friendly Ford in 1976 and renamed it Cal Worthington Ford, which his company still owns and operates along with other Anchorage dealerships. He has been a ubiquitous figure on Anchorage television for decades, as well as the subject of parodies and other cultural depictions originating from Alaska.

See also

Elected officials

Others

References

  1. "Rudy Pankow", Wikipedia, August 5, 2020, retrieved August 7, 2020
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