List of people from New York

The following is a list of prominent people who were born in/lived in or around the U.S. state of New York, or for whom New York is a significant part of their identity.

Politics and Government

Presidents

• Chester A. Arthur (1829–1886), 20th Vice President and 21st President of the United States—Schenectady
• Martin Van Buren (1782–1862), 8th Vice President and 8th President of the United States—Kinderhook
• Grover Cleveland (1837-1908), 22nd and 24th President of the United States—Fayetteville
• Millard Fillmore (1800–1874), 12th Vice President and 13th President of the United States—Moravia
• Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), 25th Vice President and 26th President of the United States—Manhattan
• Franklin D. Roosevelt (1883–1945), 32nd President of the United States—Hyde Park
• Donald J. Trump (born 1946), 45th President-elect of the United States—Queens

Vice presidents

• Aaron Burr (1756-1836), 3rd Vice President of the United States—Manhattan
• George Clinton (1739-1812), 4th Vice President of the United States—Little Britain
• Daniel D. Tompkins (1774-1825), 6th Vice President of the United States—Scarsdale
• Schuyler Colfax (1823-1885), 17th Vice President of the United States—Manhattan
• William A. Wheeler (1819-1887), 19th Vice President of the United States—Malone
• Levi P. Morton (1824-1920), 22nd Vice President of the United States—Albany
• James S. Sherman (1855-1912), 27th Vice President of the United States—Utica
• Nelson Rockefeller (1908-1979), 41st Vice President of the United States—Albany

Governors

• Andrew Cuomo, 56th Governor of New York
• John Jay (1745-1829), 1st Chief Justice of the United States, 2nd Governor of New York, and 8th President of the Continental Congress
• Al Smith, 42nd Governor of New York and 1928 Democratic presidential candidate

Senators

• Barbara Boxer (born 1940), longtime California Senator (1993-2017)—New York City
• Hillary Clinton (born 1947), former U.S. Secretary of State (2009-2013), New York Senator (2000-2009), and former First Lady (1993-2000); 2016 Democratic nominee for president—Chappaqua
• Al Franken (born 1951), Minnesota Senator since 2009—New York City
• Kirsten Gillibrand (born 1966), New York Senator since 2009—Albany
• Joe Lieberman (born 1942), longtime Connecticut Senator (1989-2013), and 2000 Democratic nominee for Vice President under Al Gore—New York City
• Bob Menendez (born 1954), New Jersey Senator since 2006—New York City
• Bernie Sanders (born 1941), Vermont Senator since 2007, former Mayor of Burlington, Vermont (1981-1989), and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate—Brooklyn
• Chuck Schumer (born 1950), longtime New York Senator since 1999; cousin of comedian Amy Schumer—Brooklyn

Other politicians

• Parmenio Adams, sheriff and United States Congressman^[1]
• Shirley Chisholm, Congresswoman and 1972 Democratic presidential candidate
• Dewitt Clinton, governor, built the Erie Canal
• J. J. Dewey (died 1891), territorial legislator in Minnesota^[2]
• William H. Donaldson (born 1931), 27th Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
• Rudy Giuliani (born 1944), 107th Mayor of New York City (1994-2001)
• Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804), 1st United States Secretary of the Treasury
• Boris Johnson (born 1964), American-born British politician, former Mayor of London (2008-2016), and current Foreign Secretary of Great Britain under Theresa May
• William Loeb, Jr., secretary to President Theodore Roosevelt
• William M. Tweed (1823-1878), known as "Boss" Tweed; Grand Sachem of Tammany Hall

Entertainment

Film, television, theater, and dance

• Woody Allen (born 1935), actor, director and writer
• June Allyson (1917–2006), actress
• Diane Arbus (1923–1971), photographer
• Alan Arkin (born 1934), actor
• Alison Arngrim (born 1962), actress, comedian
• Jean Arthur (1900–1991), actress
• Lauren Bacall (1924–2014), actress
• Daniel Baldwin (born 1960), actor, director, producer, and brother of actors Alec, Stephen, and William Baldwin
• Stephen Baldwin (born 1966), actor, author, producer and brother of Alec, Daniel, and William
• William Baldwin (born 1963), actor, producer, writer, and brother of Alec, Daniel, and Stephen
• Lucille Ball (1911–1989), comedian, actress
• Anne Bancroft (1931–2005), actress
• Joseph Barbera (1911–2006), animator, producer, director
• Mikhail Baryshnikov (born 1948), ballet dancer
• Frances Bavier (1902–1989), actor
• Barbara Bel Geddes (1922–2005), actress
• William Bendix (1906–1964), actor
• Constance Bennett (1904–1965), actress
• Yasmine Bleeth (born 1968), actress
• Corbin Bleu (born 1989), actor, model, singer-songwriter, dancer, and film producer, Chad Danforth from High School Musical
• Joan Blondell (1906–1979), actress
• Ann Blyth (born 1928), actress
• Humphrey Bogart (1899–1957), actor
• Shirley Booth (1898–1992), actress
• Clara Bow (1905–1965), actress
• Abigail Breslin (born 1996), actress
• Adrien Brody (born 1973), actor
• Mel Brooks (born 1926), actor, producer, director
• James Caan (born 1940), actor
• James Cagney (1899–1986), actor
• Jeff Chandler (1918–1961), actor
• Chevy Chase (born 1943), actor, comedian
• Ruth Chatterton (1893–1961), actress
• Claudette Colbert (1903–1996), actress
• Billy Crudup (born 1968), actor
• Tom Cruise (born 1962), actor
• Jon Cryer (born 1965), actor, screenwriter, television director, and film producer
• Macaulay Culkin (born 1980), actor
• Tony Curtis (1925–2010), actor
• Claire Danes (born 1979), actor
• Rodney Dangerfield (1921-2004), comedian, actor
• Marion Davies (1897–1961), actress
• Sammy Davis, Jr. (1925–1990), actor, singer
• Agnes de Mille (1905–1993), dancer, choreographer
• Robert De Niro (born 1943), actor
• Willy DeVille (1950–2009), singer
• Guillermo Diaz (born 1975), Cuban-American actor
• Vin Diesel (born 1967), actor, producer, director, and screenwriter
• Taye Diggs (born 1971), actor
• Matt Dillon (born 1964), actor
• Troy Donahue (1936-2001), actor
• Kirk Douglas (born 1916), actor and father of Michael
• Michael Douglas (born 1944), actor, producer, and son of Kirk
• Robert Downey, Jr. (born 1965), actor, Tony Stark from the Iron Man series of movies
• Robert Downey, Sr. (born 1936), actor, filmmaker, and father of Robert Jr.
• Fran Drescher (born 1957), actress
• Jimmy Durante (1893–1980), entertainer, actor, singer, comedian
• Jesse Eisenberg (born 1983), actor
• Peter Falk (1927–2011), actor
• Alice Faye (1915–1998), actress
• Jane Fonda (born 1937), actress
• James Gandolfini (1961-2013), actor and producer
• John Garfield (1913–1952), actor
• Ben Gazzara (1930–2012), actor
• Sarah Michelle Gellar (born 1977), actress
• Richard Genelle (1961–2008), actor
• Mel Gibson (born 1956), American-born Australian/Irish actor and filmmaker
• Jackie Gleason (1916–1987), actor
• Paulette Goddard (1910–1990), actress
• Whoopi Goldberg (born 1955), actress, comedian, and co-host of ABC's The View
• Cuba Gooding Jr. (born 1968), Academy Award-winning actor
• Elliott Gould (born 1938), actor
• Jennifer Grey (born 1960), actress
• A. R. Gurney (born 1930), playwright
• Anne Hathaway (born 1982), actress
• Susan Hayward (1917–1975), actress
• Rita Hayworth (1918–1987), actress
• Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967–2014), actor
• Judy Holliday (1921–1965), actress
• Whitney Houston (1963-2012), iconic singer, actress, producer, and model
• Ruben Santiago-Hudson (born 1956), actor and playwright
• Rick Jason (1923–2000), actor
• Danny Kaye (1913–1987), actor, singer
• Jack Kelly (1927–1992), actor, born in Astoria, Queens
• Ricki Lake (born 1968), actress, talk-show host
• Veronica Lake (1922–1973), actress
• Burt Lancaster (1913–1994), actor
• Michael Landon (1936–1991), actor
• Fredric Lebow (born 1956), screenwriter
• Lindsay Lohan (born 1986), actress
• Kristanna Loken (born 1979), actress
• Rachael MacFarlane (born 1976), voice actress, singer, and sister of Seth
• Seth MacFarlane (born 1973), actor, voice actor, producer, singer, and creator of Family Guy and American Dad!
• Steele MacKaye (1842–1894), playwright, actor
• Lee Marvin (1924–1987), actor
• James Maslow (born 1990), actor, singer, dancer
• Walter Matthau (1920–2000), actor
• Eaddy Mays, actress
• Ethel Merman (1908–1984), actor, singer
• Arthur Miller (1915–2005), playwright
• Lea Michele (born 1986), actress, singer
• Robert Montgomery (1904–1981), actor
• Jack Nicholson (born 1937), actor and filmmaker
• Dylan O'Brien (born 1991), actor
• Jerry O'Connell (born 1974), actor
• Eugene O'Neill (1888–1953), playwright
• Jansen Panettiere (born 1994), actor, voice actor, and brother of Hayden
• Corey Parker (born 1965), actor
• George A. Parkhurst (1841–1890), actor
• Anthony Perkins (1932–1992), actor
• Regis Philbin (born 1931), actor, singer, and television personality; former host of ABC's Who Wants to be a Millionaire? and Live! with Regis and Kelly
• Bill Pullman (born 1953), actor
• George Raft (1895–1980), actor
• Nancy Reagan (1921-2016), actress, former First Lady of the United States, and wife of late U.S. President Ronald Reagan
• Christopher Reeve (1952–2004), actor
• Tara Reid (born 1975), actress
• Leah Remini (born 1970), actress
• Alfonso Ribeiro (born 1971), actor, television director, dancer, and television personality; host of America's Funniest Home Videos and season 19 winner of Dancing with the Stars
• Thelma Ritter (1902–1969), actress
• Ray Romano (born 1957), actor, comedian
• Saoirse Ronan (born 1994), American-born Irish actress
• Mickey Rooney (1920–2014), actor
• Mickey Rourke (born 1952), actor, screenwriter, and retired boxer
• Paul Rudd (born 1969), actor, comedian, writer, and producer
• Zoe Saldana (born 1978), Dominican-American actress and dancer
• Martin Scorsese (born 1942), director
• George Segal (born 1934), actor
• Matthew Senreich (born 1974), screenwriter
• Charlie Sheen (born 1965), actor
• Sylvia Sidney (1910–1999), actress
• Christian Slater (born 1969), actor
• Sylvester Stallone (born 1946), Award-winning actor, screenwriter, producer, and director
• Barbara Stanwyck (1907–1990), actor
• Rod Steiger (1925–2002), actor
• Howard Stern (born 1954), actor, radio and television personality, author, photographer, and former judge on America's Got Talent
• Ben Stiller (born 1965), actor, comedian, and filmmaker
• Oliver Stone (born 1946), director
• Beatrice Straight (1914–2001), actress
• Meryl Streep (born 1949), Academy Award-winning actress and singer
• Veronica Taylor (born 1978), voice actress
• Benj Thall (born 1978), actor
• Gene Tierney (1920–1991), actress
• John Travolta (born 1954), actor, producer, singer, and dancer
• Claire Trevor (1910–2000), actress
• John Turturro (born 1958), American-Italian actor, writer, and filmmaker
• Kerry Washington (born 1977), actress
• Michael Weatherly (born 1968), actor and director
• Tuesday Weld (born 1943), actress
• Mae West (1893–1980), actor
• Kristen Wiig (born 1973), actress
• Olivia Wilde (born 1984), actress
• Zelda Williams (born 1989), actress and daughter of late comedian and actor Robin Williams
• Lanford Wilson (1937–2011), playwright

Comedians, humorists, and entertainers

• Woody Allen (born 1935), comedian, screenwriter, director, actor, author, playwright, musician
• Alec Baldwin (born 1958), actor, comedian, and producer
• Lucille Ball (1911–1989), comedian, actress
• Zach Braff (born 1975), actor, comedian, director, screenwriter, and producer
• Michael Carbonaro (born 1982), actor magician
• George Carlin (1937–2008), comedian, actor
• Philip DeFranco (born 1985), YouTuber and video blogger also known by his YouTube username sxephil or Philly D
• Danny DeVito (born 1944), comedian, actor, producer, and director
• John DiMaggio (born 1968), actor, comedian, and voice of Jake the Dog from Adventure Time, Bender from Futurama, and many other characters
• Jimmy Fallon (born 1974), comedian, actor, former host of Late Night (2009-2014) and host of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon since 2014
• JWoww (real name Jennifer Farley) (born 1986), reality television personality from Jersey Shore
• Curly Howard (1903-1952), comedian, vaudevillian actor, brother of Moe, and member of The Three Stooges
• Moe Howard (1897-1975), actor, comedian, brother of Curly, and member of The Three Stooges
• Kevin James (born 1965), comedian, actor, screenwriter, and producer
• Tom Kenny (born 1962), actor, comedian, and voice of SpongeBob SquarePants and many other characters
• Jimmy Kimmel (born 1967), comedian, producer, voice actor, musician, and television personality; host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! since 2003
• Jay Leno (born 1950), comedian, former host of The Tonight Show (1992-2014)
• Demetri Martin (born 1973), comedian
• Chico Marx (1887–1961), vaudeville comedian, with the Marx Brothers
• Groucho Marx (1890–1977), vaudeville comedian, with the Marx Brothers
• Gummo Marx (1892–1977), vudeville comedian, with the Marx Brothers
• Harpo Marx (1888–1964), vaudeville comedian, with the Marx Brothers
• Zeppo Marx (1901–1979), vaudeville comedian, with the Marx Brothers
• Kate McKinnon (born 1984), comedienne, actress, and voice actress, Saturday Night Live
• Eddie Murphy (born 1961), comedian, actor, writer, singer, producer, and voice of Donkey from the Shrek series of films
• Rosie O'Donnell (born 1962), comedian, actress, television personality
• Jordan Peele (born 1979), comedian, actor, film director, and screenwriter
• Melissa Rauch (born 1980), comedian and actress, Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz from The Big Bang Theory
• Chris Rock (born 1965), comedian, actor
• Adam Sandler (born 1966), comedian, actor, screenwriter, film producer, and musician
• Jerry Seinfeld (born 1954), comedian, actor
• Amy Schumer (born 1981), Stand-up comedian and actress
• Martha Stewart (born 1941), businesswoman, writer, chef, and television personality
• Jon Stewart (born 1962), comedian, actor, writer, producer, director, media critic, and television personality; former host of The Daily Show (1999-2015)
• John Valby (born 1944), comedian, musician

Fashion, beauty, and modeling

• Keith Carlos (born 1987), fashion model, former football player, and winner of America's Next Top Model cycle 21
• Nyle DiMarco (born 1989), model, actor, deaf activist, and winner of Dancing with the Stars season 22 and America's Next Top Model cycle 22
• Tom Ford (born 1961), fashion designer, film director, screenwriter, and film producer
• Mary Therese Friel (born 1960), beauty queen, model, businesswoman, and winner of Miss USA 1979
• Marc Jacobs (born 1963), fashion designer and former creative director of Louis Vuitton (1997-2014)
• Scarlett Johansson (born 1984), actress, model, and singer
• Calvin Klein (born 1942), fashion designer and founder of Calvin Klein Inc.
• Michael Kors (born 1959), sportswear fashion designer; founder and CEO of Michael Kors Holdings
• Ralph Lauren (born 1939), fashion designer, philanthropist, business executive, and founder of the Ralph Lauren Corporation
• Jackie Loughery (born 1930), actress, beauty queen, and inaugural winner of Miss USA
• Sienna Miller (born 1981), actress, model, and fashion designer
• Sarah Natochenny (born 1987), actress, film editor, fashion model, and voice of Ash Ketchum from Pokémon
• Rachel Nichols (born 1980), actress and model
• Hayden Panettiere (born 1989), actress, model, singer, and activist
• Kimberly Pressler (born 1977), model, reality television star, and first runner-up at Miss USA 1995
• Tanya Roberts (born 1955), actress, model
• Carmen Marc Valvo (born 1953), evening-wear and high-end cocktail dress designer

Musicians

• Aaliyah (born 1979-2001), singer, actress, model, dancer
• Vinnie Amico, drummer
• Fiona Apple (born 1977), singer
• Harold Arlen (1905–1986), composer
• Christina Aguilera (born 1980), singer, songwriter, actress
• Adrienne Bailon (born 1983), singer
• David Baker, singer
• Chris Barnes, musician
• Count Basie (1904–1984), jazz musician
• Bryan Bautista (born 1992), Dominican-American pop singer and contestant from NBC's The Voice season 9
• Jay Beckenstein (born 1951), saxophonist
• Pat Benatar (born 1953), singer
• Tony Bennett (born 1926), jazz singer
• Mary J. Blige (born 1971), singer, songwriter, actress
• Jon Bon Jovi (born 1962), singer-songwriter, record producer, philanthropist, and actor (Bon Jovi)
• Laura Branigan (1952–2004), singer
• Keith Buckley (born 1979), musician
• Clem Burke (born 1955), musician and drummer (Blondie)
• Maria Callas (1923–1977), opera singer
• Mariah Carey (born 1970), pop and R&B singer and songwriter
• Vanessa Carlton (born 1980), pop singer-songwriter
• Peter Case (born 1954), singer-songwriter
• Peter Cincotti (born 1983), singer, songwriter, pianist
• Coko (born 1973), singer (SWV)
• John Coltrane (1926–1967), jazz musician
• Aaron Copland (1900–1990), composer
• Warren Cuccurullo (born 1956), rock guitarist
• Vic Dana (born 1942), singer
• Blossom Dearie (1924–2009), jazz singer and pianist
• Lana Del Rey (born 1986), singer, songwriter
• Rob Derhak (born 1968), bass guitarist
• Lance Diamond, singer
• Neil Diamond (born 1941), singer, songwriter
• Ani DiFranco (born 1970), singer-songwriter
• Jonathan Donahue (born 1966), rock musician
• JoAnn Falletta (born 1954), classical guitarist, orchestral conductor
• Morton Feldman (1926–1987), composer
• Ella Fitzgerald (1918–1996), singer
• John Flansburgh (born 1960), singer-songwriter
• Lukas Foss (1922–2009), composer, orchestral conductor
• Sawyer Fredericks (born 1999), contemporary folk singer-songwriter, and winner of NBC's The Voice season 8
• Dave Fridmann, producer
• Art Garfunkel (born 1941), Folk rock singer, poet, and actor (Simon and Garfunkel)
• Chuck Garvey, guitarist
• Lady Gaga (real name Stefani Germanotta) (born 1986), singer and songwriter
• George Gershwin (1898–1937), composer
• Lesley Gore (1946-2015), singer-songwriter, actress, and activist
• Kim Gordon (born 1953), bass guitarist, guitarist, singer, songwriter, visual artist (Sonic Youth)
• Andy Grammer (born 1983), singer-songwriter and record producer
• Grasshopper (born 1967), born Sean Mackowiak, rock musician
• Joel Hirschhorn (1938–2005), songwriter
• Billie Holiday (1915–1959), jazz and blues singer
• Jim Hall (born 1930), jazz guitarist
• Alan Heatherington (born 1945), orchestral conductor
• Ray Henderson (1897–1970), songwriter
• Lena Horne (1917–2010), singer, actress
• Freddie Jackson (born 1956), singer
• Rick James (1948–2004), singer
• Billy Joel (born 1949), pianist, singer and songwriter
• Jerome Kern (1885–1945), composer
• Alicia Keys (born 1981), singer-songwriter
• Carole King (born 1942), singer-songwriter
• Linda Király (born 1983), American-born Hungarian pop singer-songwriter and sister of Viktor
• Viktor Király (born 1984), American-born Hungarian pop singer and contestant from NBC's The Voice season 9
• Cyndi Lauper (born 1953), singer
• Jacquie Lee (born 1997), pop singer and contestant from NBC's The Voice season 5
• Mel Lewis (1929–1990), drummer
• John Linnell (born 1959), singer-songwriter
• Joe Locke (born 1959), jazz artist
• John Lombardo (born 1952), musician, songwriter
• Jennifer Lopez (born 1969), singer, actress, dancer
• David Lucas (born 1937), composer
• Gary Mallaber (born 1946), drummer
• Constantine Maroulis (born 1975), singer
• Brian McKnight (born 1969), R&B singer
• Don Menza (born 1936), saxophonist
• Idina Menzel (born 1971), singer-songwriter, actress, and voice of Elsa from Frozen
• Natalie Merchant (born 1962?), singer-songwriter
• Stephanie Mills (born 1957), singer
• Janelle Monae (born 1985), musical recording artist, model, and actress
• Gurf Morlix, musician
• Josh Newton (born 1973), bassist
• Willie Nile (born 1948), singer-songwriter
• Laura Nyro (1947–1997), singer-songwriter
• Colby O'Donis (born 1989), pop-R&B singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor
• Jack Owen (born 1967), guitarist (Cannibal Corpse)
• Tina Parol, singer-songwriter
• Caroline Pennell (born 1996), singer-songwriter and contestant from NBC's The Voice season 5
• Dawin (full name Dawin Polanco) (born 1990), Hip hop-R&B singer/songwriter and record producer
• Alisan Porter (born 1981), retired actress, singer-songwriter, and winner of NBC's The Voice season 10
• Charlie Puth (born 1991), Pop singer-songwriter and record producer
• Joey Ramone (1952–2001), Punk rock singer-songwriter and musician (Ramones)
• Mary Ramsey (born 1963), musician
• Sharon Redd (1945–1992), singer
• Lou Reed (born 1942), singer, songwriter, guitarist
• Neil Rosenshein (born 1947), operatic singer, lyric tenor
• Kevin Rudolf (born 1983), Pop/indie rock singer, musician, and record producer
• Jason Sebastian Russo (born 1973), rock musician
• Justin Russo (born 1976), rock musician
• John Rzeznik (born 1965), musician (Goo Goo Dolls)
• Adam Schlesinger (born 1967), musician (Fountains of Wayne), songwriter, producer, arranger
• Al Schnier (born 1968), guitarist
• Billy Sheehan (born 1953), bass guitarist
• Lonnie Smith, jazz organist
• Paul Simon (born 1941), Folk rock musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, and actor (Simon and Garfunkel)
• Frank Sinatra (1915-1998), iconic jazz/pop singer, actor, and producer
• Ronnie Spector (born 1943), singer (The Ronettes)
• Bruce Springsteen (born 1949), musician, singer-songwriter, and humanitarian
• John Stevens (born 1987), singer
• Stevie J. (born Steve Jordan), musician
• Barbra Streisand (born 1942), singer, actress
• Stan Szelest (1943–1991), musician
• Robby Takac (born 1964), musician (Goo Goo Dolls)
• George Tutuska, musician (Goo Goo Dolls, Jackdaw)
• Steven Tyler (born 1948), Hard rock musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and former television music competition judge (Aerosmith)
• Sal Valentinetti (born 1995), Italian-American jazz singer and contestant from America's Got Talent season 11
• Grace VanderWaal (born 2004), singer-songwriter, ukuleleist, and winner of America's Got Talent season 11
• Luther Vandross (1951–2005), singer
• Jeremy Wall, jazz musician
• Luke Walter Jr. (1947–1996), Belgian musician
• Grover Washington, Jr. (1943–1999), saxophonist
• Gerard Way (born 1977), Pop punk-alternative/punk rock musician, singer-songwriter, and comic book writer (My Chemical Romance)
• Alex Webster (born 1969), bassist (Cannibal Corpse)
• Mary Weiss (born 1948), singer (The Shangri-Las)
• Cory Wells (born 1942), singer
• Patrick Wilson (born 1969), drummer
• Jack Yellen (1892–1991), lyricist, composer

Rappers

• 2Pac
• 50 Cent
• ASAP Rocky
• Beastie Boys
• Big L
• Busta Rhymes
• Cam'ron
• Sean Combs
• Jay Z
• Jim Jones
• Kanye West
• KRS-One
• Lil' Kim
• LL Cool J
• Mobb Deep
• Mos Def
• Nas
• The Notorious B.I.G.
• Onyx
• Rakim
• Run DMC
• Juelz Santana
• A Tribe Called Quest
• Wu-Tang Clan

Bands

• American Authors (2006-), Pop rock band
• Beastie Boys (1979-2014), Hip hop/Hardcore punk band
• Blondie (1974-), New wave-punk rock band
• Cobra Starship (2006-2015), Dance-pop band
• KISS (1973-), Hard rock band
• Goo Goo Dolls (1985-), Alternative-Pop rock band
• Ramones (1974-1996), Punk rock band
• Steely Dan (1972-), Jazz rock band
• Twisted Sister (1972-), Heavy metal band
• X Ambassadors (2009-), Alternative/pop rock band

Business

• John Jacob Astor, fur trader, company founder
• Nicholas F. Brady, former CEO of Dillon Read; 68th United States Secretary of the Treasury
• C. Douglas Dillon, former CEO of Dillon Read; US Ambassador to France (1953–1957); 57th United States Secretary of the Treasury
• George Eastman (1854–1932), founder of Eastman Kodak
• Joseph Ellicott (1760–1826), surveyor and city planner
• William G. Fargo (1818–1881), co-founder of American Express Company and Wells Fargo; mayor of Buffalo
• Reggie Fils-Aimé (born 1961), President and Chief operating officer of Nintendo of America
• Debra Fox, founder of Fox Learning Systems
• Scott Greenstein (born 1959), President and Chief content officer of Sirius XM Radio
• E.H. Harriman, errand boy, broker, railroader
• George A. Hormel (1860–1946), founder of Hormel
• Jeremy Jacobs (born 1940), owner of Delaware North and the Boston Bruins
• John J. Kennedy (1857–1914), financier, 45th New York State Treasurer
• Seymour H. Knox I (1861–1915), businessman, co-founder of F. W. Woolworth Company
• Seymour H. Knox II (1898–1990), former director of Marine Midland Bank; philanthropist
• Jon L. Luther, food service executive
• Sherman J. Maisel (1918–2010), economist
• Jeremiah Milbank, banker, co-founder of Borden Milk Co., 1857
• Jacquelyn Ottman, marketing consultant
• Henry Paulson, former CEO of Goldman Sachs; United States Secretary of the Treasury
• Joseph R. Perella, financier
• Pat Powers (1870–1948), movie producer
• Donald Regan, former CEO of Merrill Lynch; 66th United States Secretary of the Treasury
• Robert E. Rich, Sr. (1913–2006), inventor, foodservice executive
• John D. Rockefeller (1839–1937), founder of Standard Oil, philanthropist
• Robert Rubin, former CEO of Goldman Sachs; 70th United States Secretary of the Treasury
• Scott Rudin, movie producer
• Jacob Schiff, Wall Street executive, banker
• Edward Selzer (1893–1970), movie producer
• Ellsworth Milton Statler (1863–1928), hotelier
• Jill Stuart, fashion designer^[3]
• Donald Trump, Jr. (born 1977), businessman; eldest son of Donald and brother of Eric, Ivanka, and Tiffany
• Eric Trump (born 1984), philanthropist and businessman; son of Donald and brother of Ivanka, Tiffany, and Donald Jr.
• Ivanka Trump (born 1981), businesswoman, writer, and former fashion model; daughter of Donald and sister of Eric, Donald Jr., and Tiffany
• Tiffany Trump (born 1993), daughter of Donald Trump and sister of Ivanka, Eric, and Donald Jr.
• Cornelius Vanderbilt, ferry and tugboat captain; company founder; railroader
• Sanford Weill, former CEO of Citigroup
• Henry Wells (1805–1878), businessman
• John G. Wickser (1858–1928), businessman; New York State Treasurer (1903–1904)
• Bob Weinstein, movie producer, co-founder of Miramax Films
• Harvey Weinstein, movie producer, co-founder of Miramax Films
• Robert G. Wilmers (born 1935), CEO of M&T Bank
• Christopher Woodrow, movie producer
• Mark Zuckerberg (born 1984), founder and CEO of Facebook

Art, literature, journalism, and philosophy

• Samuel Hopkins Adams, muckraker, born in Dunkirk
• Scott Adams (born 1957), cartoonist, creator of Dilbert
• George Worsley Adamson (1913–2005), illustrator and cartoonist
• Nahshon Dion Anderson (born 1978) actor and award winning writer lives in The Bronx
• Susan B. Anthony, women's rights activist
• Cory Arcangel (born 1978), artist
• William Bliss Baker (1859–1886), landscape painter
• Lauren Belfer, author
• J. Bowyer Bell (1931–2003), historian, artist and art critic
• Timothy D. Bellavia (born 1971), artist and illustrator
• Louise Blanchard Bethune (1856–1913), architect
• Wolf Blitzer (born 1948), CNN journalist, host of The Situation Room
• Lawrence Block (born 1938), author
• Howard Bloom (born 1943), author
• Joseph Brodsky (1940–1996), Russian-American poet
• Dale Brown (born 1956), author
• Gordon Bunshaft (1909–1990), architect
• Charles E. Burchfield (1893–1967), artist
• Charles Clough (born 1951), artist
• Anderson Cooper (born 1967), CNN journalist and television personality
• Burton Crane (1901–1963), journalist
• Robert Creeley (1926–2005), poet
• Jasper Francis Cropsey (1823–1900), artist
• Arthur B. Davies (1863–1928), artist
• Don DeLillo (born 1936), author
• Melvil Dewey (1851–1931), originator of Dewey Decimal System
• Amy Dickinson, Chicago Tribune advice columnist, from Freeville
• Amanda Minnie Douglas (1831–1916), writer
• Frederick Douglass (1818–1895), editor and publisher of abolitionist newspapers such as The North Star
• Arthur Dove (1880–1946), artist
• Philip Evergood (1901–1973), artist
• Leslie Fiedler (1917–2003), literary critic
• Steve Fiorilla (1961–2009), artist
• Ira Joe Fisher, author and weatherman, who was born and raised in Little Valley
• F. Scott Fitzgerald, author, raised in Buffalo
• Helen Frankenthaler (born 1928), artist
• Kelly Freas (1922–2005), artist
• Anna Katharine Green (1846–1935), author
• E.B. Green (1855–1950), architect
• Terry Gross (born 1951), radio host, Fresh Air
• Alfred Harvey (1913–1994), writer and publisher, founder of Harvey Comics
• Richard Hofstadter (1916–1970), author and philosopher
• Paul Horgan (1903–1995), author
• Roni Horn (born 1955), artist
• Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915), philosopher and writer
• Idil Ibrahim, director
• Washington Irving (1783–1859), author, Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
• Henry James (1843–1916), author
• William James (1842–1910), philosopher
• James A. Johnson (1865–1939), architect
• Ellsworth Kelly (1923-2015), artist
• John Kessel (born 1950), author
• Verlyn Klinkenborg, member of New York Times editorial board; writer and farmer
• Nancy Kress (born 1948), author
• Matt Lauer (born 1957), anchor of The Today Show
• Zoe Leonard (born 1961), photographer and visual artist
• Robert Longo (born 1953), artist
• Mabel Dodge Luhan (1879–1962), writer and patron
• Norman Mailer (1923–2007), author
• Francis Mallison, journalist, helped organize the Great Civil War Gold Hoax; from Rome
• Brice Marden (born 1938), artist
• Herman Melville (1819–1891), author of Moby-Dick
• David Muir (born 1973), ABC journalist and anchor
• Ogden Nash (1902–1971), poet
• Joyce Carol Oates (born 1938), author
• William Ordway Partridge (1861–1930), sculptor
• Tim Powers (born 1952), author
• Thomas Pynchon (born 1937), author
• Ishmael Reed (born 1938), poet
• John Reed (born 1969), author, Snowball's Chance
• Seymour Reit (1918–2001), writer and cartoonist
• Norman Rockwell (1894–1978), painter
• Spain Rodriguez (born 1940), cartoonist
• Milton Rogovin (1909–2011), photographer
• Charles Rohlfs (1853–1936, craftsman
• Tim Russert (1950–2008), host of NBC's Meet the Press
• David Sedaris (born 1956), humorist and author
• Tony Sisti (1901–1983), painter
• Eugene Speicher (1883–1962), painter
• Fran Striker (1903–1962), creator of the Lone Ranger and Green Hornet
• Elizabeth Swados (born 1951), author
• Dorothy Thompson, born in Lancaster
• Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933), artist
• Tom Toles (born 1951), cartoonist
• Israel Tsvaygenbaum (born 1961), Russian-American artist
• Mark Twain (1835–1910), author
• Andrew Vachss (born 1942), author, activist, and lawyer
• Richard A. Waite (1848–1911), architect
• J. Alden Weir (1852–1919), painter
• Edith Wharton (1862–1937), author
• Walt Whitman (1819–1892), poet
• Brian Williams (born 1959), anchor of NBC Nightly News
• John Zogby, pollster and blogger from Utica

Science and medicine

• Richard Axel (born 1946), scientist, Nobel prize winner
• Gertrude B. Elion (1918–1999), biochemist, pharmacologist, Nobel prize winner
• Richard P. Feynman (1918–1988), physicist, Nobel prize winner
• Carl Sagan (1934–1996), astronomer
• Jonas Salk (1914–1995), scientist, developed first polio vaccine

Athletes

Basketball

• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born 1947), NBA player
• Carmelo Anthony (born 1984), professional basketball player, New York Knicks (New York City)
• Sue Bird (born 1980), Women's National Basketball Association point guard; two-time Olympic champion; four-time All-Star (Seattle Storm) (Syosset)^[4]
• Shay Doron (born 1985), professional basketball player
• Julius Erving (born 1950), NBA player
• Michael Jordan (born 1963), iconic professional basketball player, current businessman and owner/chairman of the Charlotte Hornets (Brooklyn)
• Joakim Noah (born 1985), professional basketball player (New York Knicks) (born in New York City)
• Lamar Odom (born 1979), former professional basketball player

Baseball

• Moe Berg (1902–1972), Major League Baseball baseball player, and spy (New York City)
• Whitey Ford, Baseball Hall of Famer
• John Franco, baseball player
• Sid Gordon (1917–1975), two-time All Star major league baseball player
• Lou Gehrig (1903–1941), Baseball Hall of Famer
• Hank Greenberg (1911–1986), Baseball Hall of Famer (Greenwich Village)
• Sandy Koufax (born 1935), Baseball Hall of Famer
• Joe Nathan (born 1974), baseball player, Minnesota Twins; born in Pine Bush)
• Jim Palmer (born 1945), Baseball Hall of Famer
• A. J. Pierzynski (born 1976), baseball player (Chicago White Sox) (born in Bridgehampton)
• Lipman Pike (1845–93), Major League Baseball player, two-time home run champion (New York City)
• Phil Rizzuto (born 1917), Baseball Hall of Famer
• Alex Rodriguez (born 1975), MLB player
• Carl Yastrzemski (born 1939), Baseball Hall of Famer

Football

• Rob Gronkowski (born 1989), American football player (New England Patriots)
• Mark Ingram Jr. (born 1989), American football player (New Orleans Saints)
• Will Smith (1981-2016), former American football player (New Orleans Saints) (born in Queens)
• Michael Strahan (born 1971), American-German actor, television personality, and retired football player (New York Giants) (lives in New York City)

Ice Hockey

• Ryan Callahan (born 1985), ice hockey player (Tampa Bay Lightning) (Rochester)
• Tim Erixon (born 1991), American-born Swedish ice hockey player (Port Chester)
• Brian Gionta (born 1979), ice hockey player (Buffalo Sabres) (Rochester)
• Seymour H. Knox III (1926–1996), co-founder of the Buffalo Sabres
• Patrick Kane (born 1988), professional ice hockey player, Chicago Blackhawks (Buffalo)
• Eric Nystrom (born 1983), NHL player

Other sports

• Andy Bloom (born 1973), Olympic shot putter
• Al "Bummy" Davis (1920–45), professional boxer (Brooklyn)
• Tommy Dreamer (born 1971), professional wrestler (Yonkers)
• Mick Foley (born 1965), professional wrestler and author
• Caitlyn Jenner (formerly Bruce Jenner) (born 1949), retired decathlete, gold medalist at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, and television personality
• Jon Jones (born 1987), UFC champion
• Scott Lipsky (born 1981), tennis player
• Ryan Lochte (born 1984), competitive swimmer, gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and contestant on Dancing with the Stars season 23 (Rochester)
• Boyd Melson (born 1981), boxer
• Colette Nelson (born 1974), professional bodybuilder
• Beth Phoenix (born 1980), professional wrestler (born in Elmira, New York)
• Mike Tyson (born 1966), former professional boxer

Foreign-born New Yorkers

• Andrulla Blanchette (born 1966), British-born professional bodybuilder
• Maksim Chmerkovskiy (born 1980), Ukrainian-born Latin ballroom dancer, choreographer, and instructor from ABC's Dancing with the Stars; brother of Val
• Valentin Chmerkovskiy (born 1986), Ukrainian-born professional dancer from ABC's Dancing with the Stars; brother of Maks
• Laura Creavalle (born 1959), Guyanese-born Canadian/American professional bodybuilder
• Lisa Cross (born 1978), British-born professional bodybuilder
• Steven Derounian (1918-2007), Bulgarian-born politician and former U.S. Representative of New York (1953-1963, 1963-65)
• Heather Foster (born 1966), Jamaican-born American professional bodybuilder
• Bev Francis (born 1955), Australian-born professional bodybuilder, powerlifter, and national shot put champion
• Carolina Herrera (born 1939), Venezuelan-born fashion designer; dress designer of First Ladies from Jacqueline Kennedy to Michelle Obama
• Kyrie Irving (born 1992), Australian-born American professional basketball player, Cleveland Cavaliers
• John Leguizamo (born 1964), Colombian-born actor, voice actor, producer, and stand-up comedian
• Sean Patrick Maloney (born 1966), Canadian-born politician and U.S. Representative of New York since 2013
• Joel McHale (born 1971), Italian-born actor, comedian, writer, television producer, and television host
• Nicki Minaj (born 1982), Trinidadian-born rapper and actress
• Pele (real name Edson Arantes do Nascimento) (born 1940), Brazilian-born iconic soccer player and honorary president of the New York Cosmos; considered the best soccer player of all time
• Snooki (real name Nicole Polizzi) (born 1987), Chilean-born reality television personality from Jersey Shore
• Alana Shipp (born 1982), Barbadian-born Israeli/American professional bodybuilder
• Gene Simmons (real name Chaim Weitz) (born 1949), Israeli-born musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, actor, television personality, and lead singer of the band KISS
• Albio Sires (born 1951), Cuban-born politician and U.S. Representative of New Jersey since 2006
• Bruce Willis (born 1955), German-born American actor, producer, and singer
• Jason Wu (born 1982), Taiwanese-born Canadian/American fashion designer and designer of First Lady Michelle Obama's dresses

Infamous New Yorkers

• David Berkowitz (born 1953), serial killer "Son of Sam"
• Robert Garrow (1936–1978), spree killer
• David Hampton, actor an impostor who posed as Poitier's son "David" in 1983, which inspired a play and a film, Six Degrees of Separation
• Eric Harris (1981–1999), Columbine High School massacre co-perpetrator
• Timothy McVeigh (1968–2001), convicted terrorist responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing
• Theodore Rinaldo (1944–2000), convicted child sex offender
• Jimmy Walker (1881–1946), New York City mayor forced into resigning by the Seabury Commission
• Shirley Winters (born 1948), convicted arsonist and accused serial killer

Lawyers and jurists

• Kumiki Gibson
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• John Jay (1745–1829), first Chief Justice of the United States
• Elena Kagan
• John G. Roberts
• Antonin Scalia
• Sonia Sotomayor

Religious leaders

• Avraham Qanai, leader of one of the first Karaite Jewish congregations in the United States
• Menachem Mendel Schneerson

Other

• Lina Beecher (1841–1915), roller coaster designer and inventor
• Grace Brown (1886–1906, murder victim)
• Wilson Greatbatch (1919–2011), inventor
• Harry Houdini (1874–1926), magician
• Margaret Sanger (1879–1966), activist
• Frances Shimer (1826–1901), founder of Shimer College^[5]
• Richard Stallman (born 1953), programmer of Emacs, founder of GNU
• Josephine Terranova (1889–1981), criminal defendant

See also

• List of people associated with Albany County, New York

References