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- Shia LaBeouf – actor
- Adam Lambert – singer (American Idol)
- Ryan Lavarnway – major-league baseball catcher (Boston Red Sox)
- Rick Law – illustrator and producer
- Amy Lee – musician (lead singer of Evanescence)
- Bruce Lee – martial artist
- Jason Lee – actor (My Name is Earl)
- Janet Leigh – actress
- Jennifer Jason Leigh – actress (Fast Times at Ridgemont High)
- Brad Lesley – baseball player, cast member on Takeshi's Castle
- Adam Levine – musician (lead singer of pop/rock group Maroon 5)
- Monica Lewinsky
- Huey Lewis – musician (Huey Lewis and the News)
- Juliette Lewis – actress
- Rob Liefeld – comic book writer
- Blake Lively – actress
- Heather Locklear – actress
- Jack London – author (The Call of the Wild)
- George Lopez – actor and comedian (George Lopez)
- Mario López – actor (Saved by the Bell)
- Greg Louganis – Olympic diver
- Courtney Love – musician
- Jon Lovitz – actor
- George Lucas – filmmaker (Star Wars)
- Athena Lundberg – Playmate of the Month (January 2006)
- Brotha Lynch Hung – rapper
- Ray Lynch – actor
- Cheryl Lynn – singer
- Mack 10 – rapper (Westside Connection)
- Theodore Harold Maiman – inventor of Ruby Laser Systems Laser
- Daron Malakian – guitarist for System of a Down
- Ricky Manning, Jr. – football player
- Cheech Marin – actor
- Bobby Martinez – professional surfer Reef
- Shannon Marketic – Miss USA 1992
- Mckayla Maroney - 2012 Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist (Artistic Gymnastic)
- Bob Mathias – decathlete
- Leigh McCloskey – actor, artist (Dallas)
- Pete McCloskey – politician
- Willie McCool – astronaut, killed by the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
- Willie McGee – baseball player
- Ted McGinley – actor
- Jeremy McGrath – supercross racer
- Mark McGwire – baseball player
- Robert McNamara – former United States Secretary of Defense
- Katharine McPhee – singer
- Casey Mears – NASCAR driver
- Edwin Meese – United States Attorney General (1985–1988)
- Rodney Melville – judge
- Casey Merrill – football running back
- Jon Miller – sportscaster
- Marisa Miller – supermodel
- Penelope Ann Miller – actress
- Reggie Miller – basketball player (Indiana Pacers)
- Stanley Miller – chemist
- Norm Mineta – U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Transportation
- Liza Minnelli – singer and actress (Cabaret)
- Keb' Mo' – blues singer-songerwriter and guitarist
- Shemar Moore – actor
- John Morrison – wrestler (Los Angeles)
- Terry Moore – actress Mighty Joe Young
- Marilyn Monroe – sex symbol, actress (Some Like It Hot)
- George Moscone – Mayor of San Francisco
- Bill Mumy – child actor (Lost in Space)
- Eddie Murray – baseball player (Baltimore Orioles)
- Dave Mustaine – musician (Megadeth)
- Chris Mordetzky – wrestler
- Jason Mraz – singer
- Noah Munck – actor (ICarly)
Read more about this topic: List Of People From California