With competitive cheer now joining the CIF as a sanctioned sport, here’s a list compiled from various files we’ve kept over the years of former cheerleaders (not all girls) from California high schools who later became famous in film, TV, music, popular culture and two who became governor. Yes, we know that the competitive aspect of it is not the same as just standing in front of the crowd leading the cheers and that many cheerleaders can be very athletic. This is just a fun way of celebrating the addition of a new CIF sport.
(If you have a name and a school of someone who should be on this list, just let us know by emailing markjtennis @gmail.com or responding with a comment)
Paula Abdul (Van Nuys) Singer
Jerry Brown (St. Ignatius, San Francisco) Governor of California
Cameron Diaz (Long Beach Poly) Actress
Kirsten Dunst (Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks) Actress (played cheerleader in Bring It On)
Blake Lively (Burbank) Actress; married to actor Ryan Reynolds
Dakota Fanning (Campbell Hall, North Hollywood) Actress
Stacy Ann Ferguson (Wilson, Hacienda Heights) Singer, Songwriter & Actress (Fergie)
Sally Field (Birmingham, Lake Balboa) Actress
Teri Hatcher (Fremont, Sunnyvale) Actress; Comedian
Patty Hearst (Crystal Springs, Hillsborough) Kidnap Victim Turned Felon; later pardoned
Paris Jackson (Buckley, Sherman Oaks) Model; daughter of late Michael Jackson
Kendall Jenner (Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth) Model & TV Personality
Kylie Jenner (Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth) Model & TV Personality
Heather Locklear (Newbury Park) Actress & Model
Goodwin Knight (Manual Arts, Los Angeles) Governor of California (1953-1959)
Steve Martin (Garden Grove) Actor; Comedian
Michelle Pfieffer (Fountain Valley) Actress
Denise Richards (El Camino, Oceanside) Actress*
Michael Richards (Thousand Oaks) Actor; Kramer on Seinfeld
Alicia Silverstone (San Mateo) Actress
Sally Struthers (Grant, Van Nuys) Actress; Gloria on All In The Family
Cheryl Tiegs (Alhambra) Model
Lana Turner (Washington, Los Angeles) Actress**
Raquel Welch (La Jolla) Actress
Robert Young (Lincoln, Los Angeles) Actor
*In pictures of her, however, it looks like’s cheering for Torrey Pines.
**She wasn’t a cheerleader later at Hollywood High when famously discovered at local drug store.