VISALIA, CA — Many influential people were born in Visalia or have called the city home. These residents have found success in everything from professional sports and the arts to science and government.

Arts and Entertainment

Actor Kevin Costner is one of the most famous people associated with Visalia. While best known for his acting, he earned an Academy Award for his work as a director. Other stars from the city include actresses Betsy Wolfe and Liza Soberano.

Actor Patrick Gorman will mark 70 years as a member of the professional actors' union in January 2026. His work has spanned Broadway, television, and international theater.

Famous musicians from the area include former Journey lead singer Steve Perry, Tom Johnston of The Doobie Brothers, country singer Jean Shepard, and Avi Kaplan, a founding member of the group Pentatonix.

In the fields of film and photography, Visalia is home to documentary photographer Matt Black and cinematographer Stephen H. Burum, known for his work on several major movies. Filmmaker Kevin Downes also grew up in Visalia. He later signed a deal with Lionsgate to produce movies and television shows through his company, Kingdom Story.

Athletics and Competition

In the world of sports, Major League Baseball star DJ LeMahieu was born in Visalia. The city is also the hometown of Stephen Vogt, a former catcher who now manages the Cleveland Guardians.

Visalia athletes have also found success in other sports:

  • NBA player Tyler Zeller
  • Mixed martial artist and UFC fighter Cody Gibson
  • Shirley Shahan, a pioneer in drag racing known as the "Drag-On Lady"
  • Olympic gold medalist and former Oakland Raiders owner Donald Blessing

Science and Government

Visalia’s impact also reaches the worlds of science and government. Robert B. Laughlin, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist, was born in the city.

In politics, the area was home to Robert List, the 24th governor of Nevada, and Ken Khachigian, who served as a primary speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan. Other former residents include U.S. Ambassador J. Curtis Struble and former California State Senator Frank W. Mixter.

William Kettner grew up in the area and later became a well-known politician in San Diego, where Kettner Boulevard is named in his honor. In the business world, e.l.f. cosmetics CEO Scott-Vincent Borba also has ties to the area.

Cultural and Historical Legacy

The community also celebrates residents who worked to preserve local culture. Marie Wilcox earned recognition for her years of work creating a dictionary for the Wukchumni language, a Native American language from the region.

The city’s history also includes the outlaw Christopher "Chris" Evans (1847–1917), who was captured in Visalia for train robbery. Other historical figures include Edmond Edward Wysinger, a pioneer who settled in the city in 1862.

Visalia native Monte Melkonian also gained fame as a military leader in Armenia during the early 1990s.