Famous People Born In Oakland

A popular American actor, Mark Hamill became a teen idol after playing Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars movie series. He then went on to become a prolific voice actor, contributing immensely to animated films by voicing such characters as The Joker in Batman: The Animated Series, Skips in Regular Show, and Fire Lord Ozai in Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Billie Joe Armstrong is an American musician and record producer. He is credited with co-founding and popularizing the rock band, Green Day. As a guitarist and vocalist, he has also contributed immensely to the success of the punk rock band Pinhead Gunpowder. In 1997, Armstrong founded Adeline Records to help support contemporary bands; the record company was closed in 2017.

Actress and singer Zendaya is best known for her role in the Disney Channel sitcom, Shake It Up. She began her career as a model and is trained in different forms of dance. As a singer, she has released one studio album and several singles. She identifies as a feminist and has shown support for the 'Black Lives Matter' movement.

Stunning his fans with his precise shooting abilities, 33 points per game average and five NBA All-Star selections, Damian Lillard has only kept rising in his career as a professional basketball player. In addition to playing for Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA, Lillard is devoted to music and has been creating life-inspired songs under his rap persona, Dame D.O.L.L.A.

A Democrat politician and lawyer, Kamala Harris is the vice president-elect of the United States. She will assume the office on 20 January 2021, alongside President-elect Joe Biden.  Half-Indian, half-Jamaican, Harris is the first woman, the first Black person and the first Asian-American to be elected vice president.  

The son of the legendary martial artist and actor, Bruce Lee, Brandon Lee followed in his father’s footsteps. Trained in martial arts, he made his film debut in the 1980s and became a successful star in his own right. He was accidentally wounded while filming The Crow and died. The film, dedicated to him, became a hit.

Mahershala Ali is an American rapper and actor. One of the finest and most decorated actors of his generation, Ali has won many prestigious awards such as Screen Actors Guild Awards, Academy Awards, Primetime Emmy Award, and Golden Globe Award. In 2019, Mahershala Ali was included in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list.

A fashion model turned actor, Shemar Moore is known for his rugged good looks and raw sex appeal. He started modeling in college and soon moved to act in TV shows. After having a successful stint in the TV series The Young and the Restless, he became a popular name in the show business.

G-Eazy’s success as a rapper can be gauged from the performance of his studio albums, such as When It's Dark Out and The Beautiful & Damned. Although a socially responsible person, G-Eazy was arrested in 2018 on suspicion of assault and use of narcotics. He later pleaded guilty to assault against an official, narcotics possession, and violent resistance.

Former Boston Celtics basketball player Paul Pierce led his team to two NBA Finals and won one NBA championship. He later also played for teams such as the Los Angeles Clippers. The 10-time NBA All-Star was also named the NBA Finals MVP in 2008. Shaquille O'Neal named him “The Truth.”

Max Baer Jr. is an American actor, comedian, director, and producer best known for portraying the dim-witted Jethro Bodine in the popular television sitcom, The Beverly Hillbillies. Although his role in the series increased his popularity, it also subdued his acting career as he became a victim of typecasting. Max Baer Jr. then turned his attention towards directing and producing.

With her vocal range of a soprano, Keyshia Cole became a successful singer right with her 2005 debut album, The Way It Is, which sold 1.6 million copies. Her subsequent albums like Just Like You and A Different Me were also well received. She is also a songwriter and television producer who brought out a successful documentary series on herself. 

American musician, singer and songwriter, Michael Franti is also a well-known activist, who advocates peace and social justice, especially in the Middle East. Currently the lead singer of the musical group, Michael Franti and Spearhead, he is known for blending hip-hop with other varieties of music such as jazz, rock, reggae, soul, funk, pop, and folk, releasing numerous albums since 1988.

Apart from being an Olympic gold-winning swimmer, Buster Crabbe later also became a well-known actor. He was seen in over 170 movies, with lead roles in series such as Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon. The International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee had also penned fitness books and owned a swimming pool company.

Cary Joji Fukunaga is an American TV director and filmmaker. In 2014, Fukunaga became the first director of Asian origin to earn a Primetime Emmy Award under the Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series category; he won the award for directing the first season of the popular crime drama television series, True Detective.