- List of people from the Phoenix metropolitan area
This is a list of notable individuals who were either born, raised, or otherwise rose to prominence in the
Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area.Business and politics
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Dennis DeConcini – former 3 term United States Senator
*Joe Arpaio –Sheriff of Maricopa County; known as, "America's Toughest Sheriff," and for hisTent City .
*Bruce Babbitt – formerGovernor of Arizona andUnited States Secretary of the Interior for PresidentBill Clinton .
*Milton Erickson –Psychiatrist .
*Barry Goldwater – former United States Senator and Presidential candidate in 1964.
*Carl T. Hayden – former United States Senator.
*Charles H. Keating Jr. – businessman.
*John McCain – United States Senator and Presidential candidate in 2000 and 2008.
*Janet Napolitano –Governor ofArizona since 2003.
*Sandra Day O'Connor – formerAssociate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States .
*Dan Quayle – formerVice President of the United States under PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush (1989–1993).
*William H. Rehnquist – formerChief Justice of the United States (1986–2005).
*Edward A. Tovrea –Entrepreneur ; prominent Arizonacattle baron; owner of theTovrea Castle in Phoenix.
*John J. Rhodes, Jr. – Member of theU.S. House of Representatives .Entertainment
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Don Ameche – Academy Award-winningactor andfilm director .
*Atllas – Rap artist.*
Chester Bennington –singer , member of rock band "Linkin Park ".
*Don Bluth –animator , best known for "An American Tail ", "The Land Before Time ", and "Anastasia".
*Michelle Branch –Musician
*Lynda Carter –actress
*Matt Dallas –actor ; star of the hit TV seriesKyle XY .
*Hugh Downs –Emmy Award -winningNews presenter ; famous for the "Today Show"; namesake of theHugh Downs School of Human Communication atArizona State University .
*Duane Eddy –singer ; inductee of theRock and Roll Hall of Fame .
*Sarah Elizabeth – model and "Playboy " playmate.
*Esteban –musician .
*Adelina Garcia –Bolero singer .
*Rob Halford , lead singer of heavy metal bandJudas Priest , is a long time resident of Phoenix suburbParadise Valley .
*J. Michael Harter — singer
*Alexa Havins –soap opera actress on "All My Children ".
*David Hernandez – contestant onAmerican Idol (season 7) ; Born in Glendale
*David Hilker –singer andsongwriter .
*Jenna Jameson – Porn star.
*Waylon Jennings –singer ; inductee to theCountry Music Hall of Fame .
* Ben Johnson –Rodeo cowboy ,stunt performer ,rancher , and Academy Award-winningactor .
*Troy Luccketta , drummer for the bandTesla , lives in Phoenix suburbScottsdale .
*George Lynch , guitarist forDokken , is a former resident of Paradise Valley.
*Karen McDougal , model, "Playboy "Playmate of the Year 1998
*Bret Michaels , vocalist forPoison and star ofRock Of Love , has residence inScottsdale .
*Stevie Nicks –singer andsongwriter .
*Buck Owens –singer andguitarist .
*CeCe Peniston –singer
*Naibe Reynoso –Emmy Award -winning television reporter andactor starring in "The Practice ".
*Raven Riley –Pornstar
*Marty Robbins –singer ; inductee to theCountry Music Hall of Fame .
*Michael Schenker , former guitarist forScorpions andUFO , has a residence inParadise Valley .
* Richard Sherman (Mr. Modem) –author , syndicated columnist, andtalk show host.
*Danny Slavin –actor ; known for his role in the "".
*David Spade –actor ; host of "The Showbiz Show with David Spade ".
*Jordin Sparks –singer ; winner of the Sixth season of "American Idol ".
*Melody Thornton –singer andsongwriter . Lead vocalist of the "Pussycat Dolls ".
*Dick Van Dyke –actor .
*Roger Miret –musician ofAgnostic Front and –Roger Miret and the Disasters
*Steven Spielberg –film director andproducer of countless Academy Award winning films.Literature
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Linda Cobb –author , cleanness counselor; best known as the, "Queen of Clean."
*Bil Keane –Cartoonist ; author of the "Family Circus ".
*Elizabeth Kübler-Ross –Psychiatrist ; retired in Scottsdale.
*Erma Bombeck –newspaper columnist andhumorist .
*Stephenie Meyer – teen literaturenovelist .
*Terri Fields –author andteacher ; developed the, "Reading is Sweet," reading program.Military
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Silvestre Herrera –World War II Medal of Honor recipient.
*Ira Hayes –World War II Iwo Jima flag raiser.
*Frank Luke Jr. –World War I fighter pilot.ports
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Charles Barkley – former professionalbasketball player for thePhoenix Suns .
*Brian Bannister – starting pitcher for theKansas City Royals
*Eric Bischoff – former Executive Producer ofWorld Championship Wrestling .
*Barry Bonds – professionalbaseball player for theSan Francisco Giants .
*Yori Boy Campas – world-champion boxer.
*Michael Carbajal – four-time worldboxing champion.
*Eddie Cheever – formerFormula One race car driver.
*Tony Clark – professionalbaseball player for theArizona Diamondbacks .
*Jerry Colangelo – founder of thePhoenix Suns andArizona Diamondbacks .
*Joe Diaz – professionalboxing trainer.
*Shane Doan – professionalhockey player for thePhoenix Coyotes .
*Andre Ethier – professionalbaseball player for theLos Angeles Dodgers .
*Heather Farr –Professional golfer .
*Cotton Fitzsimmons – former professionalbasketball coach of thePhoenix Suns .
*Gary Gentry – former professionalbaseball player for theNew York Mets andAtlanta Braves .cite book |editor=Reichler, Joseph L.| title=The Baseball Encyclopedia |origyear=1969 |edition= 4th edition |year= 1979|publisher= Macmillan Publishing |location= New York|language= |id= ISBN 0-02-578970-8.]
* Luis Gonzalez – professionalbaseball player, most notably for theArizona Diamondbacks .
*Jesus Gonzalez – world-champion and Olympic boxer.
* Billy Graham "Superstar" – Professional wrestler.
*Wayne Gretzky – former professionalice hockey player for theEdmonton Oilers ,Los Angeles Kings , and coach of thePhoenix Coyotes .
*Gary Hall, Jr. – Olympic gold medalist andswimmer .
*Solly Hemus – former professionalbaseball player for theSt. Louis Cardinals andPhiladelphia Phillies .
*Reggie Jackson – former professionalbaseball player; inductee of theNational Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum .
*Kevin Johnson – former professionalbasketball player for theCleveland Cavaliers and thePhoenix Suns .
*Randy Johnson – professionalbaseball pitcher for theArizona Diamondbacks .
*Paul Konerko – professionalbaseball player for theChicago White Sox .
*Dan Majerle – former professionalbasketball player for thePhoenix Suns andMiami Heat .
*Billy Mayfair –Professional golfer .
*Phil Mickelson –Professional golfer .
*Arturo Moreno –advertising executive and owner of the Anaheim Angels.
*Danica Patrick – professionalauto racing driver competing in theIndy Racing League .
*Richey Reneberg – professionaltennis player.
*Buddy Rice – professionalauto racing driver competing in theIndy Racing League .
* Ahmed Santos – former professional boxer andnewspaper columnist.
*Annika Sörenstam –Professional golfer .
*Mark Calcavecchia –Professional golfer .
*Aaron Baddeley –Professional golfer .
*Geoff Ogilvy –Professional golfer .
*Tom Lehman –Professional golfer .
*Phillippi Sparks – former professional football player for theNew York Giants and theDallas Cowboys ; father of 2007 "American Idol " winnerJordin Sparks .
*Mike Tyson – former professional boxer and World Heavyweight Boxing Champion.
*Danny White – former professional football player for theDallas Cowboys .
*Dot Wilkinson – Hall of Fame inductee forbowling andsoftball .
*J.J. Yeley – ANASCAR Nextel Cup driver.References
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