Famous People from New York

John Gran Alexander (1893 - 1971) Was a Representative to the U.S. Congress from Minnesota. Born in Texas Valley, NY (1240)

Quinton Aaron (1984 - ) Is an American actor. His first lead role was as Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher in the 2009 film, The Blind Side. Born in Bronx, NY (1192)

Steve Allen (1921 - 2000) Was an American television personality, musician, actor, comedian, and writer. Though he got his start in radio, Allen is best-known for his television career. Born in New York, NY (1300)

Lucille Ball (1911 - 1989) Best known as: Star of TV's I Love Lucy For more than a decade Lucille Ball was American TV's most popular comedienne, known for her blazing red hair and slapstick situation comedy gags. Born in Jamestown, NY (755)

Amelia Jenks Bloomer (1818 - 1894) She headed the Iowa woman Suffrage Association and made popular loose fitting pants called "bloomers". Born in Homer, NY (164)

William Bonney "Billy the Kid" (1859 - 1881) New Mexico's most infamous outlaw who participated in the Lincoln County War during the 19th century. Born in Manhatten, NY (392)

James Francis Cagney Jr. (1899 - 1986) Was an American film actor. Although he won acclaim and major awards for a wide variety of roles, he is best remembered for playing "tough guys." In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him eighth among the Greatest Male Stars of All Time. Born in New York, NY (849)

Joseph Campbell (1904 - 1987) A fruit merchant who founded a canned tomato preserve company that became what is known today as the Campbell Soup Company. Born in White Plains, NY (374)

Art Carney (1918 - 2003) Was an American actor in film, stage, television and radio. Carney portrayed the upstairs neighbor and sewer worker Ed Norton, opposite Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden in the situation comedy The Honeymooners. Born in Mount Vernon, NY (915)

Willis Haviland Carrier (1876 - 1950) One year after earning a master's degree in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University in 1901, Willis Haviland Carrier developed and patented the world's first modern air conditioner. Born in Agnola, NY (848)

John Nicholas Cassavetes (1929 - 1989) Was a Greek-American actor, screenwriter and filmmaker. He appeared in many Hollywood films. He is most notable as a pioneer of American independent film. Born in NewYork, NY (1268)

Shirley Chisholm (1924 - 2005) The first black woman to be elected to Congress and the first African American to run for President on the Democratic ticket. Born in Brooklyn, NY (401)

Mark Clark (1896 - 1984) U.S. Army general that led Allied troops during World War II; president of the Citadel. Born in Madison Barracks, NY (511)

Spencer Treat Clark (1987 - ) Is an American actor who has appeared in several films, including Gladiator, Mystic River, and Unbreakable. Born in New York, NY (916)

Ben Cohen (1951 - ) Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield are the founders of Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice-Cream. Born in Merrick, NY (582)

Tom Cruise (1962 - ) Famous actor who has appeared in movies such as Top Gun, Rain Man and Mission Impossible. Born in Syracuse, NY (402)

Tony Curtis (1925 - 2010) Was an American film actor whose career spanned six decades, but had his greatest popularity during the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in over 60 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama. In his later years, Curtis made numerous television appearances. Born in Bronx, NY (1418)

Claire Catherine Danes (1979 - ) Is an American actress, known for her role as Angela Chase in the television series My So-Called Life. Born in Manhattan, NY (847)

Sammy Davis (1925 - 1990) Was an American entertainer. Born in Manhattan, NY (846)

George Eastman (1854 - 1932) Founded the Eastman Kodak Company and invented the Kodak camera. Born in Waterville, NY (403)

Gertrude Belle Elion (1918 - 1999) Was an American biochemist and pharmacologist, and a 1988 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Born in New York City, NY (845)

Julius (Dr. J) Erving (1950 - ) Famous basketball player who changed the way the game was played. Born in Roosevelt, NY (399)

Millard Fillmore (1800 - 1874) Thirteenth President of the United States who became president after Zachary Taylor died; He never became president on his own after he served in office. Born in Cayuga County, NY (414)

Peter Henry Fonda (1940 - ) Is an American actor. He is the son of Henry Fonda. Born in New York, NY (1150)

Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig (1903 - 1941) Was an American baseball player in the 1920s and 1930s, chiefly remembered for his prowess as a hitter, his consecutive games-played record and its subsequent longevity, and the pathos of his farewell from baseball at age 36, when he was stricken with a fatal neurological disease. Popularly called "The Iron Horse" for his durability, Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams. Born in New York, NY (844)

George Gershwin (1898 - 1937) Composer from New York City that blended different musical styles; famous for Rhapsody in Blue. Born in Brooklyn, NY (413)

Mel Gibson (1956 - ) Famous actor that was born in Peekskill and moved to Australia as a boy; famous for Lethal Weapon, Braveheart, and many others. Born in Peekskill, NY (406)

Jackie Gleason (1916 - 1987) Born Herbert Walton Gleason, Jr. Was an American comedian, actor and musician. He was known for his brash visual and verbal comedy style, especially by his character Ralph Kramden on the The Honeymooners, a situation-comedy television series. Born in Brooklyn, NY (843)

Jerry Greenfield (1951 - ) Jerry Greenfield & Ben Cohen are the founders of Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice-Cream. Born in Brooklyn, NY (583)

Dolores Hope (1909 - 2011) Was an American singer, philanthropist and wife of actor/comedian Bob Hope. Born Dolores L. DeFina Born in New York, NY (1687)

Julia Ward Howe (1819 - 1910) Reformer, writer, and poet that wrote the words to "The Battle Hymn of the Republic"; lived in Portsmouth and Newport. Born in New York City, NY (503)

Michael Jordan (1963 - ) Basketball superstar who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles; grew up in Wilmington. Born in Brooklyn, NY (428)

John Harvey Kellogg (1852 - 1943) An American doctor who was interested in nutrition. He later invented the corn flake breakfast cereal and founded the Kellogg Company with his brother Will Keith Kellogg. Born in Tyrone, NY (280)

Vince Lombardi (1913 - 1970) Considered one of the greatest football coaches in history, leading the Green Bay Packers to five NFL Championships and the first two Super Bowl titles. Born in New York, NY (404)

Herman Melville (1819 - 1891) American author who is most famous for his novel Moby Dick. Born in New York, NY (408)

Esther Hobart Morris (1814 - 1902) Helped women receive the right to vote in Wyoming and the nation's first female judge. Born in Tioga County, NY (668)

J. Sterling Morton (1832 - 1902) The 3rd Secretary of Agriculture and founder of Arbor Day; from Nebraska City. Born in Adams, NY (349)

Eddy Murphy (1961 - ) Murphy began his comedy career at the young age of 19, as a performer on NBC's Saturday Night Live television show after graduating from Roosevelt Junior-Senior High School. His characters include a parody of Buckwheat from the Little Rascals and of Fred Rogers. Born in Brooklyn, NY (775)

John Carroll O'Connor (1924 - 2001) Best known as Carroll O'Connor, was an American actor, producer and director whose television career spanned four decades. Born in Manhattan, NY (1148)

Norman Rockwell (1894 - 1978) Famous painter and illustrator of the 20th century. He is well-known for his illustrations of every day life In The Saturday Evening Post. Born in Manhattan, NY (412)

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 - 1945) 32nd President of the United States (1933-1945); While in office, he helped Americans get throught the Great Depression with his New Deal program. Born in Hyde Park, NY (409)

Teddy Roosevelt (1858 - 1919) Ranched near Medora and credited his Badlands experience from 1883-1886 for molding him into a president; He was the 26th president of the United States. Born in New York, NY (436)

Dr. Jonas Salk (1914 - 1995) An American physicist who developed the first vaccine for the disease polio. He has also put a lot of effort into developing a vaccine for AIDS. Born in New York City, NY (410)

Baio Scott (1961 - ) Best known as: Star of TV's Joanie Loves Chachi and Charles in Charge. Born in New York, NY (754)

Jedediah S. Smith (1799 - 1831) Mountain man and first American to get to California from the East. Born in Jericho, NY (662)

Elbridge G. Spaulding (1809 - 1897) A banker and former treasurer of New York State, Mr. Spaulding's financial expertise aided him in drafting the national currency bank bill and originating the legal tender act, which created national paper currency. Born in Summerhill, NY (405)

Ed Sullivan (1901 - 1974) Was an American entertainment writer and television host, best known as the presenter of a TV variety show called The Ed Sullivan Show that was broadcast from 1948 until 1971. Born in New York, NY (936)

Christopher Walken (1943 - ) Is a U.S. stage and screen actor. Born in Astoria, Queens, NY (939)

Denzel Washington (1954 - ) Actor that became well known on St. Elsewhere, and later in movies such as Cry Freedom and Remember the Titans. Born in Mt. Vernon, NY (411)