Kendrick Lamar
Born in: Compton
It comes as no surprise that Kendrick Lamar is a celebrity born in Los Angeles—he has referenced his hometown several times in his songs. The rapper, songwriter, and producer has built a reputation as one of the greatest lyricists and rappers of all time. Lamar’s albums have received great critical acclaim and he’s earned many accolades throughout his career, including 13 Grammy Awards.
In 2015, California State Senator Isadore Hall III honored Lamar by awarding him the 35th Senate District’s Generational Icon Award. It’s safe to say that out of all the famous Californians, Lamar is among the most influential, and we can’t wait to see what he does next.
Helena Maria Viramontes
Born in: East Los Angeles
Helena Maria Viramontes is a fiction writer credited for being one of the most significant figures in Chicano literature. As a student at Cal State L.A., Viramontes was told she didn’t belong there because she wrote about Latino issues. Despite facing discrimination, Viramontes preserved and continued to stay true to her topics of choice.
Today, she’s one of the most notable celebrities born in California. Viramontes is known for her two novels, Under the Feet of Jesus and Their Dogs Came With Them. She’s also the current Goldwin Smith Professor of English at Cornell University.
Octavia Butler
Born in: Pasadena
This Los Angeles-born celebrity is a Black writer you should know about. Octavia Butler was a science fiction writer and the recipient of multiple Hugo and Nebula awards. She was the author of several award-winning novels including Parable of the Sower, which was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.
Sadly, Butler didn’t have an easy ride. She struggled for decades when her dystopian novels weren’t in commercial demand. Her works explored themes of Black injustice, women’s rights, and global warming. Besides being a writer, Butler worked as a telemarketer and dishwasher (among other jobs) to earn a living. It wasn’t until around the time she passed that her books began to gain momentum.
Today, Butler’s works continue to maintain their popularity. Her writings are now taught in over 200 colleges and universities nationwide. Butler’s novel Dawn is currently being developed for TV by Ava DuVernay.
Celebrities born in San Diego