Barry Bonds, Metallica, Nancy Pelosi to be inducted into California Hall of Fame

Camila Pedrosa, The Sacramento Bee on Nov 12, 2026

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The 20th class of the California Hall of Fame — and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s last — was announced Thursday morning, with a slew of icons in sports, film, arts, activism and cuisine etched into the state’s canon.

A group of 19 Californians, including legends such as Barry Bonds, Metallica and Guillermo del Toro, will be added to the state Hall of Fame for its milestone 20th class at a formal ceremony at the California Museum in December.

For two decades, the California Hall of Fame has honored people who have made crucial contributions to California’s industry and culture. Members inducted into the Hall of Fame over the years include Walt Disney, Jane Fonda, Serena Williams, Willie Brown and more.

“This historic class reflects the very best of California and what’s possible when people have the courage to think big and make a difference,” Newsom said in a news release Thursday. “Their legacy will inspire the next generation to keep pushing boundaries and showing the world what Californians can do.”

Who is part of the 20th California Hall of Fame Class?

Gov. Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel announced their final 19 picks for the Hall of Fame in a release Thursday morning.

The full roster of the 20th California Hall of Fame class includes:

—Edward Asner — Actor: Honored as the first actor to win Emmys for playing the same role in a comedy and a drama. Asner died in 2021.

—Andy Beckstoffer — Winemaker: Considered a pioneer in winemaking economics, stewardship and worker rights.

—Barry Bonds — San Francisco Giants: Holds the record for MLB National League MVP awards, has record for most career home runs, with 762.

—Betty Charbonnet Reid Soskin — National Park Service ranger: Was the oldest NPS ranger when she retired at 100 years old. Soskin died in 2025.

—Dominique Crenn — Chef: First woman chef to win three Michelin Stars with Atelier Crenn in San Francisco.

—Guillermo del Toro — Director: Academy Award-winner for Best Director and Best Picture with “The Shape of Water.”

—Shepard Fairey — Artist-activist: Known for his 2008 “Hope” portrait of then-presidential candidate Barack Obama.

—Maxine Hong Kingston — Author: Award-winning writer who chronicled the experience of Chinese-Americans through fiction and non-fiction works.

—Diane Ladd —Actress: Three-time Academy Award-winner, founder of the Art and Culture Taskforce working to advocate for artists. Ladd died in 2025.

—Huey Lewis — Musician: Fronted Grammy Award-winning Huey Lewis and the News, sold more than 20 million records.

—Felicitas Méndez — Civil rights leader: Challenged Mexican-American segregation in California schools, laying groundwork for the cornerstone Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case. Méndez died in 1998.

—Metallica — Musical group: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees who helped bring heavy metal to the mainstream. Sold 125 million records globally.

—Joni Mitchell — Musician: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Kennedy Center honoree with a six-decade career blending folk, pop, rock and jazz.

—Nancy Pelosi — Politician: First woman elected Speaker of the House who led Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives for 20 years.

—Bonnie Raitt — Musician: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Kennedy Center honoree with 13 Grammy Awards.

—Rob and Michele Reiner — Entertainers and activists: Acclaimed filmmaker and producer, who worked on initiatives supporting civil rights and public education in California. The pair were killed in 2025.

—Susie Tompkins Buell — Entrepreneur: Co-founded Esprit and The North Face brands, with emphasis on philanthropy in her businesses.

—Robin Williams — Actor: Academy, Emmy and Grammy Award-winner on beloved films including “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Good Will Hunting” and “Aladdin.” Williams died in 2014.

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