List of people from New York (state)
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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
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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 Trump (born 1946), 45th President 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
- Mario Cuomo, 52nd Governor of New York
- Howard Dean (born 1948), former Governor of Vermont (1991-2003), and 2004 Democratic candidate for president
- Thomas E. Dewey, 47th Governor of New York, Republican nominee for president in 1944 and 1948
- Charles Evans Hughes, 36th Governor of New York, Secretary of State, 11th Chief Justice of the United States and 1916 Republican presidential nominee
- John Jay (1745-1829), 1st Chief Justice of the United States, 2nd Governor of New York, and 8th President of the Continental Congress
- Horatio Seymour, 18th Governor of New York and 1868 Democratic presidential nominee
- Al Smith, 42nd Governor of New York and 1928 Democratic presidential candidate
- Samuel J. Tilden, 25th Governor of New York and 1876 Republican 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
- Roscoe Conkling (1829-1888), New York Senator (1867-1881) and leader of the Stalwart faction of the Republican Party—Albany
- 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
- Chris Murphy (born 1973), former Congressman (2007-2013) and current Connecticut Senator since 2013—White Plains
- 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), Democratic Leader of the United States Senate since 2017 and long-time New York Senator since 1999; cousin of comedian Amy Schumer—Brooklyn
- Robert F. Wagner (1877-1953), New York Senator (1927-1949)—Manhattan
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
- Geraldine Ferraro (1935-2011), New York Congresswoman and first female vice presidential candidate of a major political party in 1984
- Rudy Giuliani (born 1944), 107th Mayor of New York City (1994-2001)
- Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804), 1st United States Secretary of the Treasury
- Jack Kemp (1935-2009), former NFL Football player for the Buffalo Bills, Secretary of Housing under President George HW Bush, and 1996 Republican nominee for vice president under Bob Dole
- Caroline Kennedy (born 1957), former U.S. Ambassador to Japan (2013-2017), and daughter of former president John F. Kennedy and former First Lady Jackie Kennedy
- William Loeb, Jr., secretary to President Theodore Roosevelt
- Harvey Milk, (1930-1978), first openly gay person to be elected public office in California
- William M. Tweed (1823-1878), known as "Boss" Tweed; Grand Sachem of Tammany Hall
First Ladies
- Elizabeth Monroe, (1768-1830), First Lady of the United States
- Priscilla Cooper Tyler, (1816-1889), First Lady of the United States
- Julia Gardiner Tyler, (1820-1889), First Lady of the United States
- Abigail Fillmore, (1798-1853), First Lady of the United States
- Mary Arthur McElroy, (1841-1917), First Lady of the United States
- Rose Cleveland, (1846-1918), First Lady of the United States
- Frances Folsom Cleveland Preston, (1864-1947), First Lady of the United States
- Eleanor Roosevelt, (1884-1962), First Lady of the United States
- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, (1929-1994), First Lady of the United States
- Nancy Reagan, (1921-2016), First Lady of the United States
- Barbara Bush, (born 1925), First Lady of the United States
- Melania Trump, (born 1970), First Lady of the United States
Entertainment
Film, television, theater, and dance
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- Gia Allemand (1983–2013), actress
- Woody Allen (born 1935), actor, director and writer
- Tyler Alvarez (born 1997), actor
- Michael Angarano (born 1987), actor
- Moisés Arias (born 1994), actor
- Richmond Arquette (born 1963), actor
- Rosanna Arquette (born 1959), actress
- 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
- Jake T. Austin (born 1994), actor
- Lauren Bacall (1924–2014), actress
- Alec Baldwin (born 1958), actor, producer, comedian
- Daniel Baldwin (born 1960), actor, director, producer
- Stephen Baldwin (born 1966), actor, author, producer
- William Baldwin (born 1963), actor, producer, writer
- Lucille Ball (1911–1989), 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
- Matt Bennett (born 1991), actor
- 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
- Nikki Blonsky (born 1988), 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
- Spencer Breslin (born 1992), actor
- Matthew Broderick (born 1962), actor
- Adrien Brody (born 1973), actor
- Mel Brooks (born 1926), actor, producer, director
- Edd Byrnes (born 1933), actor
- James Caan (born 1940), actor
- James Cagney (1899–1986), actor
- Jeanne Cagney (1919–1984), actress
- William Cagney (1905–1988), actor
- Nestor Carbonell (born 1967), actor, director
- David Castro (born 1996), actor
- Raquel Castro (born 1994), actress, singer, songwriter
- Harrison Chad (born 1992), actor, voice actor
- Jeff Chandler (1918–1961), actor
- Chevy Chase (born 1943), actor, comedian
- Ruth Chatterton (1893–1961), actress
- James Coco (1930–1987), actor
- Claudette Colbert (1903–1996), actress
- Billy Crudup (born 1968), actor
- Kevin Corrigan (born 1969), actor
- Tom Cruise (born 1962), actor
- Jon Cryer (born 1965), actor, screenwriter, television director, and film producer
- Billy Crystal (born 1948), actor
- Kieran Culkin (born 1982), actor
- Macaulay Culkin (born 1980), actor best known as Kevin McAllister from Home Alone
- Rory Culkin (born 1989), actor
- Tony Curtis (1925–2010), actor
- Alexandra Daddario (born 1986), actress
- Matthew Daddario (born 1987), 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
- Don Diamont (born 1962), actor
- 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
- Kether Donohue (born 1985), actress and singer
- 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
- Lena Dunham (born 1986), actress, filmmaker, writer.
- 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
- Spencer Fox (born 1993), actor
- 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
- Jason Griffith (born 1980), voice actor
- A. R. Gurney (born 1930), playwright
- Maggie Gyllenhaal (born 1977), actress
- Hurd Hatfield (1917–1998), actor
- Anne Hathaway (born 1982), actress
- Susan Hayward (1917–1975), actress
- Rita Hayworth (1918–1987), actress
- Kathleen Herles (born 1990), voice 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
- Sarah Hyland (b. 1990), actress
- Skai Jackson (b. 2002), actress
- Rick Jason (1923–2000), actor
- Danny Kaye (1911–1987), actor, singer
- Jason Harris Katz (born 1969), voice actor and television host
- Jack Kelly (1927–1992), actor, born in Astoria, Queens
- Moira Kelly (born 1968), actress
- Ricki Lake (born 1968), actress, talk-show host
- Veronica Lake (1922–1973), actress
- Adam Lamberg (born 1984), actor
- Burt Lancaster (1913–1994), actor
- Michael Landon (1936–1991), actor
- Linda Larkin (born 1970), actress and voice actress
- Fredric Lebow (born 1956), screenwriter
- Peyton Elizabeth Lee (born 2004), actress
- Spike Lee (born 1957), director, producer
- Melissa Leo (born 1960), actress
- Ali Lohan (born 1993), actress, singer and sister of actors Lindsay and Michael Lohan Jr.
- Lindsay Lohan (born 1986), actress, singer and sister of actors Ali and Michael Lohan Jr.
- Michael Lohan Jr. (born 1987), actor and brother of actress Ali and Lindsay Lohan
- Kristanna Loken (born 1979), actress
- Steele MacKaye (1842–1894), playwright, actor
- Vincent Martella (born 1992), actor
- Lee Marvin (1924–1987), actor
- James Maslow (born 1990), actor, singer, dancer
- Alanna Masterson (born 1988), actress
- Christopher Masterson (born 1980), actor
- Danny Masterson (born 1976), actor
- Walter Matthau (1920–2000), actor
- Julianna Rose Mauriello (born 1991), actress and dancer
- Eaddy Mays, actress
- Ethel Merman (1908–1984), actor, singer
- Lea Michele (born 1986), actress, singer
- Arthur Miller (1915–2005), playwright
- Jesse McCartney (born 1987), actor, singer and songwriter
- Thomas McDonell (born 1986), actor
- Caleb McLaughlin (born 2001), actor
- Robert Montgomery (1904–1981), actor
- Charlie Murphy (1959–2017), actor and comedian
- Chad Michael Murray (born 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
- Cameron Ocasio (born 1999), actor
- Al Pacino (born 1940), actor
- Hayden Panettiere (born 1989), actress, model, singer
- Jansen Panettiere (born 1994), actor, voice actor
- Connor Paolo (born 1990), actor
- Corey Parker (born 1965), actor
- George A. Parkhurst (1841–1890), actor
- Amanda Peet (born 1972), actress and writer
- Josh Peck (born 1986), actor
- Nicola Peltz (born 1995), actress
- Will Peltz (born 1986), actor
- Anthony Perkins (1932–1992), actor
- Regis Philbin (born 1931), actor, singer, and television personality
- Priscilla Presley (born 1945), actress, business magnate
- Fátima Ptacek (born 2000), actress, voice actress
- Bill Pullman (born 1953), actor
- Mae Questel (1908–1998), actress
- George Raft (1895–1980), actor
- Gene Anthony Ray (1962–2003), actor
- Nancy Reagan (1921–2016), actress, former First Lady of the United States
- Alan Reed (1907–1977), actor and voice artist
- 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
- Edward G. Robinson (1893–1973), actor
- Emma Roberts (born 1991), actress, singer
- Ray Romano (born 1957), actor, comedian
- Saoirse Ronan (born 1994), American-born Irish actress
- Mickey Rooney (1920–2014), actor
- Emmy Rossum (born 1986), actress, singer and songwriter
- Mickey Rourke (born 1952), actor, screenwriter, and retired boxer
- Paul Rudd (born 1969), actor, comedian, writer, and producer
- Ernie Sabella (born 1949), actor and voice actor
- Zoe Saldana (born 1978), American-Dominican actress and dancer
- Ben Schwartz (born 1981), actor, comedian and writer
- 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
- Jamil Walker Smith (born 1982), actor
- Kevin Spacey (born 1959), actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, and singer
- 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
- Ben Stiller (born 1965), actor, comedian, and filmmaker
- Oliver Stone (born 1946), director
- Beatrice Straight (1914–2001), actress
- Meryl Streep (born 1949), Academy Award and multiple Golden Globe-winning actress and singer
- David Strickland (1969–1999), actor
- Veronica Taylor (born 1978), voice actress
- Benj Thall (born 1978), actor
- Leon Thomas III (born 1993), actor
- Gene Tierney (1920–1991), actress
- Ashley Tisdale (born 1985), actress, singer, and producer, Sharpay Evans from High School Musical
- Michelle Trachtenberg (born 1985), actress
- Claire Trevor (1910–2000), actress
- John Turturro (born 1958), American-Italian actor, writer, and filmmaker
- Denzel Washington (born 1954), Academy Award-winning actor
- Kerry Washington (born 1977), actress
- Michael Weatherly (born 1968), actor and director
- Scott Weinger (born 1975), actor, voice actor, writer and producer
- Tuesday Weld (born 1943), actress
- Mae West (1893–1980), actor
- Kristen Wiig (born 1973), actress
- Olivia Wilde (born 1984), actress
- Tylen Jacob Williams (born 2001), actor
- Tyler James Williams (born 1992), actor
- Tyrel Jackson Williams (born 1997), actor
- Zelda Williams (born 1989), actress and daughter of late comedian and actor Robin Williams
- Lanford Wilson (1937–2011), playwright
- April Winchell (born 1960), actress
- Paul Winchell (1922–2005), actor and comedian
- Alex Wolff (born 1997), actor, musician and composer
Comedians, humorists, and entertainers
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- Pamela Adlon (born 1966), actress, voice actress, producer and director
- Carlos Alazraqui (born 1962), actor, comedian
- 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
- Alyson Cambridge (born 1980), operatic soprano and classical music, jazz, and American popular song singer
- Michael Carbonaro (born 1982), actor magician
- George Carlin (1937–2008), comedian, actor
- Michael Cole (born 1968), WWE announcer
- Philip DeFranco (born 1985), YouTuber and video blogger
- Danny DeVito (born 1944), comedian, actor, producer, and director
- John DiMaggio (born 1968), actor, comedian
- Jimmy Fallon (born 1974), comedian, actor, television host
- Nika Futterman (born 1969), actress, voice actress, comedian and singer
- JWoww (real name Jennifer Farley) (born 1986), reality television personality
- Curly Howard (1903-1952), comedian, vaudevillian actor, and member of The Three Stooges
- Moe Howard (1897-1975), actor, comedian, and member of The Three Stooges
- Kevin James (born 1965), comedian, actor, screenwriter, and producer
- Tom Kenny (born 1962), actor, comedian
- Jimmy Kimmel (born 1967), comedian, producer, voice actor, musician, and television personality
- 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
- Jackie Mason (born 1931), comedian and actor
- Kate McKinnon (born 1984), comedienne, actress, and voice actress
- Eddie Murphy (born 1961), comedian, actor, writer, singer, producer, and voice actor
- 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
- Kevin Michael Richardson (born 1964), actor, voice actor
- Adam Richman, television personality
- Joan Rivers (1933–2014), actress, comedian
- Chris Rock (born 1965), comedian, actor
- Adam Sandler (born 1966), comedian, actor, screenwriter, film producer, and musician
- Adam Savage (born 1967), co-host of Mythbusters
- Jerry Seinfeld (born 1954), comedian, actor
- Amy Schumer (born 1981), Stand-up comedian and actress
- Judy Sheindlin (born 1942), lawyer, television personality (Judge Judy)
- 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)
- Fred Tatasciore (born 1967), voice actor
- 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
- Stacy London (born 1969), stylist, fashion consultant
- 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 actress
- 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
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- Aaliyah (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 (1957–2004), 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 1985), 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
- Brendan Fletcher (born 1990), pop singer-songwriter and contestant from NBC's The Voice season 11
- 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
- Lauryn Hill (born 1975), singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actress
- Joel Hirschhorn (1938–2005), songwriter
- Billie Holiday (1915–1959), jazz and blues singer
- Jim Hall (born 1930), jazz guitarist
- Debbie Harry (born 1945), singer-songwriter, actress, and lead singer of Blondie
- 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
- Joe Jonas (born 1989), singer-songwriter, actor, former member of The Jonas Brothers, brother of Nick, and current lead singer of DNCE
- Nick Jonas (born 1992), singer-songwriter, producer, actor, brother of Joe, and former member of The Jonas Brothers
- 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
- Barry Manilow (born 1943), singer-songwriter, musician
- Constantine Maroulis (born 1975), singer
- Brian McKnight (born 1969), R&B singer
- Don McLean (born 1945), 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 Monáe (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
- Olivia (born 1981), R&B singer known for contributing vocals to the 50 Cent song "Candy Shop"
- 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 (1951–2001), 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
- John Serry Sr. (1915-2003), concert accordionist, organist, composer, arranger, educator
- 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, former television music competition judge, and lead singer of the rock band 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/emo rock musician, singer-songwriter, comic book writer, actor, and former lead singer of 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
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- 2Pac (1971–1996), rapper, record producer, actor, and poet
- 50 Cent (born 1975), rapper, actor, businessman, and actor
- ASAP Rocky (born 1988), rapper, record producer, director, actor and model
- Beastie Boys
- Big L (1974–1999), Hip-hop recording artist
- Busta Rhymes (born 1972), hip hop recording artist, actor, record producer and record executive.
- Cam'ron (born 1976), rapper, actor, and entrepreneur
- Sean Combs (born 1969), rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer and entrepreneur also known as P. Diddy, Puff Daddy, or Diddy
- Desiigner (born 1997), rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, record executive and actor
- DMX (born 1970), rapper, record producer, and actor
- Jay Z (born 1969), rapper, businessman, investor, and actor
- Jim Jones (1931–1978), hip-hop recording artist
- KRS-One (born 1965), rapper and occasional producer
- Lil' Kim (born 1975), rapper, songwriter, record producer, model, and actress
- LL Cool J (born 1968), rapper, actor, and host of Spike TV's Lip Sync Battle
- Mobb Deep
- Mos Def (born 1973), hip hop recording artist, actor and activist
- Nas (born 1973), hip hop recording artist, record producer, actor and entrepreneur
- The Notorious B.I.G. (1972–1997), rapper and actor also known as Biggie Smalls or simply Biggie
- Onyx
- Rakim (born 1968), rapper
- Run DMC
- Juelz Santana (born 1982), rapper and actor
- A Tribe Called Quest
- Freaky Tah (1971–1999), rapper
- Wu-Tang Clan
- Post Malone (born 1995), rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer.
Bands
- American Authors (2006-), Pop rock band
- AJR (2005-), Indie pop 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
- David Rockefeller (1915–2017), banker
- John D. Rockefeller (1839–1937), founder of Standard Oil, philanthropist
- William Rockefeller (1841–1941), co-founder of Standard Oil
- 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
- Stuart Sternberg (born 1959), owner of the Tampa Bay Rays
- Jill Stuart, fashion designer[3]
- Donald Trump, Jr. (born 1977), businessman; eldest son of Donald Trump and brother of Eric, Ivanka, and Tiffany
- Eric Trump (born 1984), philanthropist and businessman; son of Donald Trump and brother of Ivanka, Tiffany, and Donald Jr.
- Ivanka Trump (born 1981), businesswoman, writer, and former fashion model; daughter of Donald Trump 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
- Marv Albert (born 1941), basketball announcer on TNT
- 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
- Bob Costas (born 1952), longtime broadcaster on NBC Sports, television host of twelve Olympic Games
- 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
- Alex Haley (1921-19920, author of Roots
- Sean Hannity (born 1961), radio and television talk show host
- 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
- Michael Kay (born 1961), play-by-play announcer for the New York Yankees
- Ellsworth Kelly (1923-2015), artist
- Megyn Kelly (born 1970), political commentator
- John Kessel (born 1950), author
- Larry King (born 1933), television and radio host
- 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
- Bill Maher (born 1956), host on HBO political talk show Real Time with Bill Maher
- 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
- Al Michaels (born 1944), longtime sportscaster for both NBC Sports and ABC Sports, play-by-play announcer on Sunday Night Football
- David Muir (born 1973), ABC journalist and anchor
- Ogden Nash (1902–1971), poet
- Joyce Carol Oates (born 1938), author
- Bill O'Reilly (born 1949), host of The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News Channel
- 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
- Al Roker (born 1954), weather anchor on NBC's Today
- Tim Russert (1950–2008), host of NBC's Meet the Press
- Vin Scully (born 1927), longtime broadcaster of the Los Angeles Dodgers
- David Sedaris (born 1956), humorist and author
- Al Sharpton (born 1954), civil rights activist, radio talk show host
- 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
- Jake Tapper (born 1969), news anchor on CNN
- Dorothy Thompson, born in Lancaster
- Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933), artist
- Mike Tirico (born 1966), sportscaster
- Tom Toles (born 1951), cartoonist
- Sojourner Truth (1797-1883), slave, civil rights activist
- 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
Baseball
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- Moe Berg (1902–1972), Major League Baseball catcher, and spy (New York City)
- Dellin Betances (born 1988), baseball pitcher
- Craig Biggio (born 1965), Baseball Hall of Famer
- Ralph Branca, baseball pitcher
- Alexander Cartwright, "father of modern baseball", founding member of the New York Knickerbockers Base Ball Club
- Harry Eisenstat (1915-2003), baseball player
- Mike "SuperJew" Epstein (born 1943), Major League Baseball first baseman
- Johnny Evers, baseball Hall of Famer
- Whitey Ford (born 1928), baseball Hall of Famer
- John Franco, baseball pitcher
- 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
- Jason Marquis (born 1978), Major League Baseball All Star pitcher
- Edgar Martínez (born 1963), baseball player
- Bob Melvin (born 1961), baseball player and manager
- Sam Nahem (1915–2004), Major League Baseball pitcher
- 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 (1917-2007), baseball Hall of Famer
- Alex Rodriguez (born 1975), Major League Baseball player
- Saul Rogovin (1923–1995), Major League Baseball pitcher
- Richie Scheinblum (born 1942), Major League Baseball All Star outfielder
- Mose Solomon (1900-1966), the "Rabbi of Swat", Major League Baseball player
- Warren Spahn (1921-2003), baseball Hall of Famer
- Carl Yastrzemski (born 1939), baseball Hall of Famer
Basketball
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- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born 1947), NBA player
- Carmelo Anthony (born 1984), professional basketball player, New York Knicks (New York City)
- Nate Archibald (born 1948), professional basketball player
- Sue Bird (born 1980), Women's National Basketball Association point guard; two-time Olympic champion; four-time All-Star (Seattle Storm) (Syosset)[4]
- Bob Cousy, (born 1928), professional basketball player, Boston Celtics
- Shay Doron (born 1985), professional basketball player
- Julius Erving (born 1950), NBA player
- Michael Jordan (born 1963), iconic professional basketball player, businessman and owner/chairman of the Charlotte Hornets; considered the best basketball player of all time (Brooklyn)
- Joakim Noah (born 1985), professional basketball player (New York Knicks) (born in New York City)
- Lamar Odom (born 1979), former professional basketball player
- Metta World Peace (born 1979), former professional basketball player
- Kemba Walker (born 1990), professional basketball player, Charlotte Hornets (New York City)
Boxing
- Al "Bummy" Davis (1920–45), professional boxer (Brooklyn)
- Boyd Melson (born 1981), boxer
- Mike Tyson (born 1966), former professional boxer
Football
- Doc Alexander (1897–1975), American football player and coach
- Lyle Alzado (1949-1992), former American football All Pro player (Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Raiders)
- Jim Brown (born 1936), Hall of Fame football player (Cleveland Browns)
- Jordan Dangerfield (born 1990), NFL American football player
- Boomer Esiason (born 1961), former American football player (Cincinnati Bengals)
- Rob Gronkowski (born 1989), American football player (New England Patriots)
- Thomas Hennessy (born 1994), American football player
- Mark Ingram Jr. (born 1989), American football player (New Orleans Saints)
- Sid Luckman (1916-1998), former American football player (Chicago Bears), inducted into Hall of Fame in 1965
- John Mackey, (1941-2011), former American football player (Baltimore Colts), inducted into Hall of Fame in 1992
- Art Monk (born 1957), former American football player (Washington Redskins), inducted into Hall of Fame in 2008
- Ray Rice (born 1987), former American football player (Baltimore Ravens)
- 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
Tennis
- Arthur Ashe (1943–1993), tennis player
- Irvin Dorfman (1924–2006), tennis player
- Herbert Flam (1928–1980), tennis player
- Ladislav Hecht (1909–2004), tennis player
- Scott Lipsky (born 1981), tennis player
- John McEnroe (born 1959), tennis player
- Bill Tilden (1893–1953), tennis player
Other sports
- Andy Bloom (born 1973), Olympic shot putter
- Tommy Dreamer (born 1971), professional wrestler (Yonkers)
- Mick Foley (born 1965), professional wrestler and author
- Laurie Hernandez (born 2000), artistic gymnast, gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and winner of Dancing with the Stars season 23
- 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
- Ryan Lochte (born 1984), competitive swimmer, gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and contestant on Dancing with the Stars season 23 (Rochester)
- Colette Nelson (born 1974), professional bodybuilder
- Beth Phoenix (born 1980), professional wrestler (born in Elmira, New York)
Coaches
- Red Auerbach (1917-2006), basketball coach
- Tom Coughlin (born 1946), football coach
- Billy Cunningham (born 1943), basketball coach
- Bucky Harris (1896-1977), baseball manager
- Vince Lombardi (1913-1970), football coach
- Doug Marrone (born 1964), football coach
- John McGraw (1873-1934), baseball manager
- Joe Paterno (1926-2012), football coach
- Matt Patricia (born 1974), football coach
- Rick Pitino (born 1952), basketball coach
- Pat Riley (born 1945), basketball coach
- Allie Sherman (1923-2015), football coach
- Joe Torre (born 1940), baseball manager
- Jim Valvano (1946-1993), basketball coach
- Pop Warner (1871-1954), football coach
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 for the Boston Celtics (formerly for the 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
- Keanu Reeves (born 1964), Lebanese-born Canadian/American actor, producer, and musician
- 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
- Billy the Kid (1859–1881), notorious wild west criminal
- 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, lawyer
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
- John Jay (1745–1829), first Chief Justice of the United States
- Elena Kagan, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
- John G. Roberts, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
- Antonin Scalia (1936–2016), former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
- Sonia Sotomayor, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
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
References
- ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
- ^ "Legislators Past & Present - John J. dewey". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
- ^ "Label overview: Jill Stuart". NY MAG. 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
- ^ Livnat, Arie (December 16, 2010). "No. 1 WNBA Draft pick Sue Bird headed to Ramle". Haaretz. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
- ^ Crankshaw, Ned (1993). "Changing Images at Shimer College" (PDF). Illinois Historical Journal. 86: 168. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 4, 2010.
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