List of people from Chula Vista, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The following notable people were born in, residents of, attended an education institution in, or otherwise closely associated with the city of Chula Vista, California. Notation next to name is not what they are notable for, but how they are connected to the city.
- Corky McMillin - resided in Chula Vista in 1944 prior to moving to Bonita[1]
- Brent R. Wilkes - grew up in Chula Vista; entrepreneur, defense contractor, civic leader and philanthropist[2][3]
Crime
- John Ronald Brown - surgeon who was convicted of second-degree murder; lived in Chula Vista while practicing medicine in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico[4]
- Richard "Cheeks" Buchanan - Mexican Mafia member; originally from Chula Vista's Otay neighborhood
- Andrew Cunanan - murderer of Gianni Versace; attended Bonita Vista Middle School[5]
- Robert Alton Harris - murderer who was executed by gas; resided in Chula Vista with his father during his late teen years[6][7][8]
- Jose Alberto "Bat" Marquez - Mexican Mafia member; resided in Chula Vista's Castle Park neighborhood for a time
- Larry Millete - suspect in the disappearance of his wife, Maya Millete[9][10]
- Christopher George "Chris Petti" Poulos - Chula Vista resident and Chicago Outfit associate who ran a mafia crew out of San Diego; jokingly dubbed "the Rodney Dangerfield" of the mafia by the FBI[11]
Entertainment
Actors and actresses
- Michael C. Burgess - actor and former editor of The Star-News[12][13]
- Charisma Carpenter - attended Bonita Vista High School, graduated from Chula Vista High School, class of 1988[14]
- Grey DeLisle - graduated from Chula Vista High School, class of 1991[15]
- Rita Hayworth - lived in Chula Vista in the 1930s[16]
- Walter Emanuel Jones - attended Chula Vista High School[17]
- Mario Lopez - graduated from Chula Vista High School, class of 1991[18][19][20]
- Sean Murray - graduated from Bonita Vista Middle School
- Jennifer Paredes - graduated from Otay Ranch High School[21][22]
- Jenna Presley - graduated from Hilltop High School, class of 2005
- Carmen Serano - born in Chula Vista
- Johnny Sheffield - lived and died in Chula Vista[23][24]
Bands
- Ati's Warriors - funk-punk fusion band formed in Chula Vista after the breakup of Unbroken, includes Chula Vista natives Atilla Moran (vocals) and Rob Moran (Keytar)
- Some Girls - San Diego hardcore collective that included Chula Vista natives Sal Gallegos III (drums) and Rob Moran (guitar)
- Unbroken - San Diego hardcore band co-formed by Chula Vista native Rob Moran (bass); Unbroken was closely associated with the Chula Vista hardcore punk scene
- The Zeros - punk band formed in Chula Vista[25][26]
Comedians
- Mary Castillo - graduated from Chula Vista High School, class of 1992
- Gabriel Iglesias - spent early childhood in Chula Vista[27]
Models
- Raquel Pomplun - Playboy's 2013 Playmate of the Year, Chula Vista native and Southwestern College alum[28]
Musicians
- Matt Cameron - drummer for Soundgarden and Pearl Jam, attended Bonita Vista High School[29][30]
- Marcos Curiel - guitarist for P.O.D. and The Accident Experiment; Chula Vista native, and graduated from Bonita Vista High School, class of 1992
- Gonjasufi - Chula Vista native[31]
- Robert Lopez - guitarist for The Zeros, man behind stage persona of El Vez, attended Chula Vista High School
- Ilan Rubin - drummer for Nine Inch Nails and Angels & Airwaves, drummed on Paramore self-titled Grammy-winning album, youngest member inaugurated into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, went to Bonita Vista Middle School and Bonita Vista High School[32][33]
- Jessica Sanchez - second place on American Idol, season 11[34][35]
- Julieta Venegas - attended Southwestern College
- Tom Waits - graduated from Hilltop High School[36][37]
Wrestlers
- Konnan - resides in Eastlake, Chula Vista[38]
- Rey Mysterio Jr. - born in Chula Vista[39][40]
Writers
- Costa Dillon - graduated from Bonita Vista High School
- Neil Raymond Ricco - lived in Chula Vista in the 2000s[41][42]
- J. Michael Straczynski - attended Southwestern College[43][44]
- Joan D. Vinge - graduated from Hilltop High School, class of 1965[45]
Government
Criminal justice
- A. J. Irwin - grew up in Chula Vista; former federal agent
Military
- John William Finn – Medal of Honor recipient, lived in the Veterans Home of Chula Vista for a short period before his death
- George T. Garrett – US Army major general, raised and educated in Chula Vista[46][47]
- John J. McGinty – Medal of Honor recipient, resides in Chula Vista[48]
- Charles Miller – US Army officer who served as Commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College.[49][50]
- Melvin Storer – Chula Vista resident,[51] United States Navy shipfitter who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor
Politics
- Brian Bilbray - attended Southwestern College, 1970–1974[52][53]
- Cheryl Cox - graduated from Hilltop High School, class of 1966; Mayor of Chula Vista[54][55]
- Greg Cox - San Diego County Supervisor[56][57]
- Bob Filner - former Representative of California's 51st congressional district, 35th mayor of San Diego
- Kyle Foggo - graduated from Hilltop High School, former executive director of the Central Intelligence Agency[58][59]
- Shirley Horton - attended Bonita Vista High School[60][61]
- Ur Jaddou - 6th Director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services[62][63]
- Steve Padilla - California State Senator[64][65]
- Nick Popaditch - Chula Vista resident; Congressional candidate[66][67]
- Mary Salas - Chula Vista Mayor (2013–2022)[68][69]