Editing Downey, California (section)

==Notable people==
{{more citations needed|section|date=December 2020}}
*[[Dave Alvin]], musician, founder of Downey-based [[rockabilly]] band [[The Blasters]] with brother [[Phil Alvin|Phil]]
*[[Bob Bennett (singer-songwriter)|Bob Bennett]], contemporary Christian musician, singer-songwriter, recording artist, was born in Downey
*[[Paul Bigsby]], father of the modern electric [[solid-body guitar]], built in 1948, and creator of the Bigsby vibrato
*[[William Bonin]], serial killer; was Downey resident during his crime spree
*[[The Carpenters]] (singer-musicians [[Karen Carpenter|Karen]] and [[Richard Carpenter (musician)|Richard]]) moved to Downey in 1963, originally to an apartment complex called the Shoji on 12020 Downey Ave, later moving to a house that still stands on Newville Avenue which can be seen on the cover of their album, ''[[Now & Then (The Carpenters album)|Now & Then]]'';<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.richardandkarencarpenter.com/fans_ask_8.htm|title=Carpenters Fans Ask- Richard Answers, May 2005|access-date=April 22, 2016}}</ref> after the duo's success, they built two apartment buildings still located on 5th St.
*[[Miranda Cosgrove]], actress and singer, star of ''[[iCarly]]''
*[[Art Cruz]], musician and songwriter, current drummer of [[Lamb of God (band)|Lamb of God]]
*[[Rosario DeSimone]] (1873–1946), Downey-based crime boss
*[[Walt Faulkner]], [[Indy car]] driver, first rookie to win pole position at [[Indianapolis 500]]
*[[Ed Fiori]], professional golfer
*[[Terry Forcum]], 1983 World Champion professional long drive golfer was born in Downey
*[[Ty France]], professional baseball player
*[[Donavon Frankenreiter]], surfer and musician
*[[Kevin Gross]], former Major League Baseball pitcher for [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] and [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|Anaheim Angels]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=grosske01|title = Kevin Gross Stats
 | publisher= Baseball Almanac |access-date= December 3, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Dan Henderson]], mixed martial artist
*[[Demos Shakarian]], businessman and founder of [[Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International]]
*[[Brian Haner]], Musician/Comedian 
*[[James Hetfield]], [[Metallica]] frontman
*[[Leon Hooten]], former baseball player for [[Oakland Athletics]]<ref>{{cite web|url=  http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=hootele01 |title= Leon Hooten Stats|publisher= Baseball Almanac |access-date= December 3, 2012}}</ref>
*[[Robert Illes]], Emmy-winning TV writer and producer
*[[Allison Iraheta]], musician, ''[[American Idol]]'' Season 8 contestant
*[[Kerry King]], [[Slayer]] guitarist
*[[Evan Longoria]], an All-Star third baseman for the [[Tampa Bay Rays]], [[San Francisco Giants]] and [[Arizona Diamondbacks]], was born in Downey<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/evan-longoria-446334|title=Evan Longoria Stats, Fantasy & News|website=San Francisco Giants}}</ref>
*[[Darren McCaughan]], professional baseball player for the [[Seattle Mariners]], was raised in Downey.
*[[Ira J. McDonald]], Los Angeles City Council member, 1941–43, Downey civic leader
*[[Ron McGovney]], original Metallica bassist, spent school years in Downey
*[[Bob Meusel]], baseball star for [[New York Yankees]] who played with [[Babe Ruth]] and [[Lou Gehrig]], lived and died in Downey<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teamstats/roster.php?y=1923&t=NYA|title=1923 New York Yankees Roster by Baseball Almanac|last=Inc.|first=Baseball Almanac|website=www.baseball-almanac.com|access-date=October 18, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/f8d53553|title=Bob Meusel {{!}} Society for American Baseball Research|website=sabr.org|language=en|access-date=October 18, 2018}}</ref>
*[[Riki R. Nelson]], oil painter
*[[Tom Nieto]], professional baseball player<ref>{{cite web|url=  http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=nietoto01 |
title= Tom Nieto Stats|publisher= Baseball Almanac|access-date= December 3, 2012}}</ref>
*[[George Pajon|George Pajon Jr.]], Grammy Award-winning recording and performing artist<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.emimusicpub.com/news/emi-music-publishing-wins-big-at-the-grammys!.php | title=EMI Music Publishing Wins Big At The Grammys! - EMI Music Publishing | publisher=Emimusicpub.com | access-date=November 11, 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100929161637/http://emimusicpub.com/news/emi-music-publishing-wins-big-at-the-grammys!.php | archive-date=September 29, 2010 | df=mdy-all }}</ref>
*[[Lena Park]], South Korean singer
*[[Wayne Rainey]], former American [[Grand Prix motorcycle racing|Grand Prix motorcycle racer]], was born in Downey
*[[Kimmy Robertson]], actress best known for her role as [[Lucy Moran]] in ''[[Twin Peaks]]''
*[[Rich Rodriguez (baseball)|Rich Rodriguez]], Major League Baseball pitcher 1990–2003
*[[Paul Ruffner]], pro basketball player
*[[Kenneth Shelley]], figure skater, U.S. champion and Olympian, was born in Downey
*[[Dennis Sproul]], [[NFL]] player<ref>{{cite web|url=  https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SproDe20.htm |
title= Dennis Eugene Sproul|publisher= Pro-Football-Reference.Com|access-date= December 3, 2012}}</ref>
*[[JoJo Starbuck]], figure skater, U.S. champion and Olympian, grew up in Downey
*[[Aimee Teegarden]], actress (''[[Friday Night Lights (TV series)|Friday Night Lights]]'') and fashion model
*[[Alanna Ubach]], actress
*[[Joan Weston]], queen of [[Roller Derby]], grew up in Downey
*[["Weird Al" Yankovic]], musician and parody artist, was born in Downey
*[[Joslyn Davis]], host of Clevver TV and YouTube personality, was raised in Downey.
*[[Andrew Robert Young]], [[U.S. Ambassador to Burkina Faso]] (appointed 2016), was born in Downey.
*[[Stephanie Zavala]], professional [[Ten-pin bowling|bowler]], 2021 [[Professional Women's Bowling Association|PWBA]] Rookie of the Year, resides in Downey.