New York State Flag

New York

People

Every state of the Union has given birth to people who have left a lasting impression on our history and culture. The following native New Yorkers have played distinctive roles.

Born in New York

Famous New Yorkers
Name Born / Died Place
George Francis Abbott
(Nickname: Mr. Broadway)
Producer, Director, Playwright, Screenwriter		 Born: June 25, 1887 Forestville
Died: January 31, 1995 Miami Beach, Fla.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
(Born: Fredrick Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr.)
Basketball player		 Born: April 16, 1947 New York City
Died:    
Don Adams
(Born: Donald James Yarmy)
Actor, Comedian		 Born: April 13, 1923 New York City
Died: September 25, 2005 Los Angeles, Calif.
Stephen Valentine Patrick William "Steve" Allen
Television personality, Actor, Singer, Musician, Writer, Comedian		 Born: December 26, 1921 New York City
Died: October 30, 2000 Los Angeles, Calif.
Roone Pinckney Arledge Jr.
Sportscaster, Chairman ABC News		 Born: July 8, 1931 Forest Hills, Queens
Died: December 5, 2002 New York City
Rosanna Lauren Arquette
Actress, Director, Producer		 Born: August 10, 1959 New York City
Died:    
Richard Avedon
Photographer		 Born: May 15, 1923 New York City
Died: October 1, 2004 San Antonio, Tex.
George Herman Babcock
Inventor		 Born: June 17, 1832 Unadilla Forks
Died: December 16, 1893  
Lauren Bacall
(Born: Betty Joan Perske)
Actress, Model		 Born: September 16, 1924 New York City
Died:    
Lucille Désirée Ball
Comedienne, Actress, Model, Businesswoman		 Born: August 6, 1911 Jamestown
Died: April 26, 1989 Los Angeles, Calif.
Harry Belafonte
(Born: Harold George Belafonete, Jr.)
Singer, Musician, Actor, Social Activist		 Born: March 1, 1927 New York City
Died:    
Humphrey DeForest Bogart
Actor		 Born: December 25, 1899 New York City
Died: January 14, 1957 Los Angeles, Calif.
Milton Berle
(Born: Mendel Berlinger)
Comedian, Actor		 Born: July 12, 1908 New York City
Died: March 27, 2002 Los Angeles, Calif.
Charles Frambach Berlitz
Lingqust, Language teacher		 Born: November 20, 1914 New York City
Died: December 18, 2003 Tamarac, Fla.
James Francis Cagney, Jr.
Actor		 Born: July 17, 1899 New York City
Died: March 30, 1986 Stanford
Maria Callas
(Born: Sophia Cecelia Kalos)
(Christened: Maria Anna Sofia Cecilia Kalogeropoulou)
Soprano		 Born: December 2, 1923 New York
Died: September 16, 1977 Paris, France
Benjamin Nathan Cardozo
Supreme Court Justice		 Born: May 24, 1870 New York City
Died: July 9, 1938 Port Chester
George Denis Patrick Carlin
Comedian, Actor, Author		 Born: May 12, 1937 New York City
Died: June 22, 2008 Santa Monica, Calif.
Willis Haviland Carrier
Mechanical Engineer, Inventor		 Born: November 26, 1876 Angola
Died: October 7, 1950 New York City
Paddy Chayefsky
(Born: Sidney Aaron Chayefski)
Playwright, Screenwriter		 Born: January 29, 1923 New York City
Died: August 1, 1981 New York City
Bruce Cooper Clark
U.S. Army General		 Born: April 29, 1901 Adams
Died: March 17, 1988 Bethesda, Md.
Sean John Combs
(AKA: Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Diddy)
Entrepreneur, Rapper, Record producer, Actor, Men's fashion designer		 Born: November 4, 1969 New York City
Died:    
Peter Cooper
Industrialist, Inventor, Philanthropist		 Born: February 12, 1791 New York City
Died: April 4, 1883 New York City
Aaron Copland
Composer, Pianist		 Born: November 14, 1900 New York City
Died: December 2, 1990 North Tarrytown
Tom Cruise
(Born: Thomas Cruise Mapother IV)
Actor, Film producer		 Born: July 3, 1962 Syracuse
Died:    
Tony Curtis
(Born: Bernard Schwartz)
Actor		 Born: June 3, 1925 New York City
Died:    
Claire Catherine Danes
Actress		 Born: April 12, 1979 New York CIty
Died:    
Samuel George "Sammy" Davis, Jr.
Dancer, Singer, Actor, Musician, Comedian		 Born: December 8, 1925 New York City
Died: May 16, 1990 Beverly Hills, Calif.
Agnes George de Mille
Dancer, Choreographer		 Born: September 18, 1905 New York City
Died: October 7, 1993) New York City
Robert Mario De Niro, Jr.
Actor		 Born: August 17, 1943 New York City
Died:    
Kirk Douglas
(Born: Issur Danielovitch)
Actor		 Born: December 9, 1916 Amsterdam
Died:    
Robert John Downey, Jr.
Actor		 Born: April 4, 1965 New York City
Died:    
George Eastman
Inventor, Founder: Eastman Kodak Company		 Born: July 12, 1854 Waterville
Died: March 14, 1932 Rochester
Duane Eddy
Musician		 Born: April 26, 1938 Corning
Died:    
Gertrude Belle Elion
Nobel Prize-winning Biochemist		 Born: January 23, 1918 New York City
Died: February 21, 1999 Chapel Hill, N.C.
William George Fargo
Pioneering expressman, Businesman		 Born: May 20, 1818 Pompey
Died: August 3, 1881 Buffalo
Millard Fillmore
U.S. President		 Born: January 7, 1800 Summerhill
Died: March 8, 1874 Buffalo
Jane Fonda
(Born: Lady Jayne Seymour Fonda)
Actress, Writer, Political activist		 Born: December 21, 1937 New York City
Died:    
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig
Baseball player		 Born: June 19, 1903 New York City
Died: June 2, 1941 New York City
Sarah Michelle Gellar
(AKA: Sarah Michelle Prinze)
Actress		 Born: April 14, 1977 New York City
Died:    
George Gershwin
(Born: Jacob Gershowitz)
Composer		 Born: September 26, 1898 New York City
Died: July 11, 1937 Hollywood, Calif.
Ira Gershwin
(Born: Israel Gershowitz)
Lyricist		 Born: December 6, 1896 New York City
Died: August 17, 1983 Beverly Hills, Calif.
Jackie Gleason
(Born: Herbert Walton Gleason, Jr.)
(Baptized: John Herbert "Jackie" Gleason)
Comedian, Actor, Musician		 Born: February 26, 1916 New York City
Died: June 24, 1987 Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Whoopi Goldberg
(Born: Caryn Elaine Johnson)
Comedienne		 Born: November 13, 1955 New York City
Died:    
Rocky Graziano
(Born: Thomas Rocco Barbella)
Boxer		 Born: January 1, 1919 New York City
Died: May 22, 1990 New York City
Billings Learned Hand
Jurist, Judicial philosopher		 Born: January 27, 1872 Albany
Died: August 18, 1961 New York City
Edward Henry Harriman
Financier, Railroad magnate		 Born: February 20, 1848 Hempstead
Died: September 9, 1909 Near Turner
Bret Harte
(Born: Francis Brett Hart)
Writer, Poet		 Born: August 25, 1836 Albany
Died: May 5, 1902 London, England
George Francis "Gabby" Hayes
Actor		 Born: May 7, 1885 Wellsville
Died: February 9, 1969 Burbank, Calif.
Chamique Shaunta Holdsclaw
Basketball player		 Born: August 9, 1977 New York City
Died:    
Edward Hopper
Artist		 Born: July 22, 1882 Nyack
Died: May 15, 1967 New York City
Lena Mary Calhoun Horn
Singer, Actress		 Born: June 30, 1917 New York, N.Y.
Died:    
Julia Ward Howe
Author, Poet, Lecturer, Abolitionist		 Born: May 27, 1819 New York City
Died: October 17, 1910 Newport, R.I.
Charles Evans Hughes
Supreme Court Chief Justice, Statesman		 Born: April 11, 1862 Glens Falls
Died: August 27, 1948 Osterville, Mass.
George Inness
Painter		 Born: May 1, 1825 Newburgh
Died: August 3, 1894 Bridge of Allen, Stirling, Scotland
Washington Irving
(Called: "first American man of letters.")
Writer		 Born: April 3, 1783 New York City
Died: November 28, 1859 Tarrytown
Henry James
Writer		 Born: April 15, 1843 New York City
Died: February 28, 1916 London, England
William James
Phsychologist, Philosopher		 Born: January 11, 1842 New York City
Died: August 26, 1910 Chocurua, N.H.
John Jay
Founding father, 1st Supreme Court Chief Justice, Statesman		 Born: December 12, 1745 New York City
Died: May 17, 1829 Bedford
William Martin "Billy" Joel
Musician, Singer, Songwriter		 Born: May 9, 1949 New York City
Died:    
Michael Jeffrey Jordan
Basketball player		 Born: February 17, 1963 New York City
Died:    
Scarlett I. Johansson
Actress, Singer		 Born: November 22, 1984 New York City
Died:    
Jerome David Kern
Composer		 Born: January 27, 1885 New York City
Died: November 11, 1945 New York City
Rockwell Kent
Painter, Illustrator		 Born: June 21, 1882 Tarrytown Heights
Died: March 13, 1971 Plattsburgh
Vincent Thomas "Vince" Lombardi
Football coach		 Born: June 11, 1913 New York City
Died: September 3, 1970 Washington, D.C.
Jennifer Lynn Lopez
Actress, Singer/Songwriter, Dancer, Fashion designer		 Born: July 24, 1969 New York City
Died:    
Leonard "Chico" Marx
Actor, Comedian		 Born: March 22, 1887 New York City
Died: October 11, 1961 Hollywood, Calif.
Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx
Actor, Comedian		 Born: October 2, 1890 New York City
Died: August 19, 1977 Los Angeles, Calif.
Milton "Gummo" Marx
Vaudvillian, Theatrical agent		 Born: October 23, 1892 New York City
Died: April 21, 1977 Palm Springs, Calif.
Arthur "Harpo" Marx
(Born: Adolph Marx)
Actor, Comedian, Mime		 Born: November 23, 1888 New York City
Died: September 28, 1964 Los Angeles, Calif.
Herbert Manfred "Zeppo" Marx
Actor, Comedian, Inventor, Theatrical agent		 Born: February 25, 1901 New York City
Died: November 30, 1979 Palm Springs, Calif.
Henry McCarty
(Nickname: Billy the Kid)
(Aliases: William H. Bonney, Henry Antrim)
Gunman, Outlaw		 Born: November 23, 1859/60 New York City
Died: July 14, 1881 Fort Sumner, N.M.
Herman Melville
Writer, Poet		 Born: August 1, 1819 New York City
Died: September 28, 1891 New York City
Ethel Merman
(Born: Ethel Agnes Zimmermann)
Singer, Actress		 Born: January 16, 1909 New York City
Died: February 15, 1984 New York City
Frederic Ogden Nash
Poet		 Born: August 19, 1902 Rye
Died: May 19, 1971 Baltimore, Md.
Roseanne "Rosie" O'Donnell
Actor, Comedian		 Born: March 21, 1962 Commack
Died:    
Eugene Gladstone O'Neill
Nobel Prize-winning playwright		 Born: October 16, 1888 New York City
Died: November 27, 1953 Boston, Mass.
Alfredo James "Al" Pacino
Actor, Director		 Born: April 25, 1940 East Harlem, New York City
Died:    
John Wesley Powell
Geologist, Ethnologist, Explorer		 Born: March 24, 1834 Mount Morris
Died: September 23, 1902 Haven, Me.
George Mortimer Pullman
Industrialist, Inventor		 Born: March 3, 1831 Brocton
Died: October 19, 1897 Chicago, Ill.
Red Jacket
(As a youth: Otetiani)
(After 1780: Sagoyewatha)
Seneca chief, Orator		 Born: c. 1750 Near Geneva
Died: January 20, 1830 Buffalo, N.Y.
Christopher D'Olier Reeve
Actor, Director, Producer		 Born: September 25, 1952 New York City
Died: October 10, 2004 Mount Kisco
Frederic Sackrider Remington
Painter, Illustrator, Sculptor		 Born: October 4, 1861 Canton
Died: December 26, 1909 Near Ridgefield, Conn.
John Davison Rockefeller
Industrialist, Philanthropist		 Born: July 8, 1839 Ritchford
Died: May 23, 1937 Ormand Beach, Fla.
Norman Percevel Rockwell
Artist, Illustrator		 Born: February 3, 1894 New York City
Died: November 8, 1978 Stockbridge, Mass.
Mickey Rooney
(Born: Joseph Yule, Jr.)
Actor		 Born: September 23, 1920 New York City
Died:    
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt
First Lady, Social activist, Huminitarian		 Born: October 11, 1884 New York City
Died: November 7, 1962 New York City
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
President of the United States		 Born: January 30, 1882 Hyde Park
Died: April 12, 1945 Warm Springs, Ga.
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt
President of the United States		 Born: October 27, 1858 New York City
Died: January 6, 1919 Oyster Bay
Linda Richards
(Born: Malinda Ann Judson Richards)
Nurse		 Born: July 27, 1841 West Potsdam
Died: April 16, 1930 Boston, Mass.
Adam Richard Sandler
Comedian, Actor, Screenwriter, Producer		 Born: September 9, 1966 Brookly, New York City
Died:    
Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone
Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter		 Born: July 6, 1946 New York City
Died:    
William Henry Seward, Sr.
Politician, U.S. Senator, Secretary of State		 Born: May 16, 1801 Florida
Died: October 10, 1872 Auburn
Alfred Emanuel "Al" Smith, Jr.
Politician, New York Governor		 Born: December 30, 1873 New York City
Died: October 4, 1944 New York City
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Social activist		 Born: November 12, 1815 Johnstown
Died: October 26, 1902 New York City
Barbra Joan Streisand
(Born: Barbara Joan Streisand)
Singer, Actress, Producer		 Born: April 24, 1942 New York City
Died:    
Kateri Tekakwitha
Beatified Algonquin woman		 Born: 1656 Auriesville
Died: April 17, 1680 Near Montreal, Canada
Louis Comfort Tiffany
Artist		 Born: February 18, 1848 New York City
Died: January 17, 1933 New York City
Samuel Jones Tilden
Presidential candidate, Politician, Lawyer		 Born: February 9, 1814 New Lebanon
Died: August 4, 1886 Yonkers
Donald John Trump
Businessman		 Born: June 14, 1946 New York City
Died:    
Martin Van Buren
President of the United States		 Born: December 5, 1782 Kinderhook
Died: July 24, 1862 Kinderhook
Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr.
Actor, Director		 Born: December 28, 1954 Mt. Vernon
Died:    
Sigourney Weaver
(Born: Susan Alexandra Weaver)
Actor, Director		 Born: October 8, 1949 Manhatten, New York City
Died:    
Mae West
(Born: Mary Jane West)
Actress		 Born: August 17, 1893 New York City
Died: November 22, 1980 Los Angeles, Calif.
George Westinghouse Jr.
Inventor, Entrepreur		 Born: October 6, 1846 Central Bridge
Died: March 12, 1914 New York City
Edith Wharton
(Born: Edith Newbold Jones)
Writer		 Born: January 24, 1862 New York City
Died: August 11, 1937 Saint-Brice-sous-Forêt, France
Walter "Walt" Whitman
Poet, Essayist, Humanist		 Born: May 31, 1819 West Hills
Died: March 26, 1892 Camden, N.J.
John North Willys
Industrialist, Automobile manufacturer		 Born: October 25, 1873 Canandaigua
Died: August 26, 1935 New York City
Frank Winfield Woolworth
Founder: F.W. Woolworth Company (now Foot Locker)		 Born: April 13, 1852 Rodman
Died: April 8, 1919 Glen Cove
Linus Yale, Jr.
Mechanical engineer, Inventor, Founder: Yale Lock Manufacturing Company		 Born: April 4, 1821 Salisbury
Died: December 25, 1868 New York City

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