Famous People From Spokane, WA

Located along the Spokane River and west of the Rocky Mountains, Spokane, Washington, is the second largest city in Washington state. Its more than 219,000 residents enjoy a low cost of living, access to countless outdoor recreational activities, and a low chance of hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. If you’re planning a visit to Spokane, you can look forward to taking in the diverse culinary scene, friendly and welcoming atmosphere, and dozens of cultural and historical attractions.

Spokane is known as the birthplace of Father’s Day and is the host of the world’s largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament, Spokane Hoopfest. The city also has its share of famous people who hail from Spokane. Below, we’ve put together a list of seven of the most famous people from Spokane, Washington.

John Houston Stockton

Image by pocketlama is licensed with Pixabay License

Considered to be one of the NBA’s greatest point guards and passers of all time, former professional basketball player John Houston Stockton was born in Spokane on March 26, 1962. After graduating from Spokane’s own Gonzaga University, Stockton played his entire 19-season career with the Utah Jazz, with the team making the playoffs every year.

He was named MVP in 1993 and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 and 2010. He retired from the NBA in 2003, and his number 12 jersey was retired the following year. After retirement, Stockton returned to Spokane, where he resides today with his wife, Nada. He has six children.

Craig T. Nelson

Best known for his roles in “Coach,” “Parenthood,” “Poltergeist,” “The District,” “The Incredibles,” and “Incredibles 2,” Craig Theodore Nelson is an actor and producer who was born in Spokane on April 4, 1944. Before beginning his career as an actor, he attended Lewis and Clark High School and was a stand-up comedian and radio performer.

Nelson changed his middle name from Richard to Theodore to avoid confusion with Craig Richard Nelson, an actor who registered the name with the Screen Actors Guild first. Nelson’s accolades include an Emmy award for his role in “Coach” and an Ojai Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award. These days, he spends his time producing and enjoying time with his wife, Doria Cook-Nelson, and his three children, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Michael Winslow

Best known for his roles in “Spaceballs” and the “Police Academy” movies, Michael Leslie Winslow is an actor and comedian who was born on September 6, 1958. His ability to make realistic sounds with his mouth and voice earned him the nickname “The Man of 10,000 Sound Effects.” Winslow has acted in, provided voice acting for, and produced more than 40 films. He also made it to the semifinals of the 16th season of “America’s Got Talent.” He has three children.

Sue Herera

A journalist and news anchor, Sue Herera was born Susan McMahon in Spokane on November 15, 1957. Her family later moved to California, where she pursued a degree in journalism. She was a founding member of the cable news network, CNBC, reporting on Wall Street for 30 years. Herera holds the honor of being one of the first women to break into the world of broadcast business news. She recently stepped back from her on-air duties at CNBC and is now in an anchor-at-large role. Herera and her husband, Daniel, have three children.

Bing Crosby

Singer and actor Bing Crosby was born Harry Lillis Crosby Jr. in Tacoma on May 3, 1903. He moved with his family to Spokane when he was 3 years old. Having spent his childhood in Spokane, his ties to the city remain strong. Crosby’s childhood home is on the grounds of Gonzaga University, where he attended college. In 2006, The Metropolitan Theater of Performing Arts was also renamed The Bing Crosby Theater.

Considered America’s first multimedia star, Crosby remained popular for almost 50 years. He recorded more than 1,600 songs and starred in 70 films and television shows. He received countless accolades and awards, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, several Academy awards, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Crosby died on October 14, 1977, and is survived by his second wife, Kathryn, and his seven children.

Christine Wren

Born in 1949 and raised in Spokane, Christine Wren made history in 1975 as the second woman to professionally umpire organized baseball and the first to work for an entire baseball season. Despite the adversities she faced, including gender bias and having items thrown at her, she umpired for three seasons before leaving to pursue other activities. Preferring to remain out of the public eye, Wren still lives in Spokane with her dog Boga.

Sydney Sweeney

Born on September 12, 1997, Sydney Bernice Sweeney is an actress best known for her role in the series “Euphoria.” She has been acting since 2009. Sweeney’s filmography includes more than 40 film, television, and web show appearances. She has been nominated for several awards, including two Emmy awards for her role as Cassie Howard in the drama series “Euphoria.” As a child, Sweeney attended Saint George’s School. She recently donated $12,000 to Spokane area restaurants to provide meals at homeless shelters.

With all Spokane has to offer, our celebrities are just the icing on the cake. Are you surprised at how many celebrities are from Spokane? Did we miss one of your favorites? Let us know. We’d love to hear from you and add them to our list.

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