List of people from Montclair, New Jersey facts for kids

Montclair, New Jersey, is a town known for many famous people! Lots of talented individuals, from astronauts to actors, have lived here or were born in Montclair. This article shares some of their amazing stories and achievements.

Smart People and Scientists

• Buzz Aldrin (born 1930) is a super famous astronaut. He was the second person ever to walk on the Moon! Imagine that!
• Joshua Lederberg (1925–2008) was a brilliant geneticist. He won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1958 for his work on how bacteria pass on their genes. He was born right here in Montclair.
• Dean Hamer (born 1952) is a scientist, author, and filmmaker. He's known for his research, including finding a link related to human behavior.
• Jordan Harrod (born 1996) is a research scientist and popular YouTuber. She works on exciting topics like neuroengineering and machine learning for medicine. This means she helps create ways for computers to understand and help the brain!
• Dr. Leo Sternbach (1908–2005) was a chemist who invented a very important medicine.
• Edward Weston (1850–1936) was an electrical engineer and inventor. His company even helped light up the famous Brooklyn Bridge!

Creative Minds: Arts and Entertainment

Authors, Journalists, and Publishers

Frank Bunker Gilbreth Sr. was a pioneer in efficiency studies.

• Jonathan Alter (born 1957) is a well-known journalist who wrote for Newsweek magazine.
• Zain Asher (born 1983) is a news anchor for CNN International. She hosts a global news show called One World with Zain Asher.
• Jim Axelrod (born 1963) is a national correspondent for CBS News. You might see him reporting on the CBS Evening News.
• David Carr (1956–2015) was a media and culture columnist for The New York Times.
• Christopher Durang (born 1949) is a famous playwright. His plays are often funny and thought-provoking.
• Jessie Redmon Fauset (1882–1961) was a novelist, poet, and literary critic. She was an important voice in her time.
• Frank Bunker Gilbreth Sr. (1868–1924) and Lillian Moller Gilbreth (1878–1972) were efficiency experts. Their family life with their twelve children was so interesting that it inspired the books Cheaper by the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes.
• Bob Herbert (born 1945) was a syndicated columnist for The New York Times.
• Anne McCaffrey (1926–2011) was a very popular writer of fantasy and science fiction. She is best known for her Dragonriders of Pern series, which features dragons!
• Susan Meddaugh is the author of the Martha Speaks series of children's books. Martha, the talking dog, even "lives" in a house on Fairfield Street in Montclair!
• Arthur Levine (born 1962) is an editor and publisher of children's books. He was the editor for the American editions of the Harry Potter series!

Fashion

• Bobbi Brown (born 1957) is a world-famous makeup artist. She created her own successful makeup brand.
• Polly Smith (born 1949) is a designer and inventor. She helped create the sports bra! She also designed costumes for The Muppet Show and Sesame Street.

Fine Arts

• George Inness (1825–1894) was a famous landscape painter. His beautiful paintings show natural scenes.
• Elizabeth Jones (born 1935) was the Chief Engraver of the United States Mint. This means she designed coins and medals for the U.S. government!
• Michael Yamashita (born 1949) is a photographer known for his amazing work in National Geographic magazine.

Movies, Stage, and Television

• Richard E. Besser (born 1959) is a doctor who used to be a senior health and medical editor at ABC News.
• Stephen Colbert (born 1964) is a very popular television personality. He hosts The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a late-night talk show.
• Margaret Colin (born 1957) is an actress who has been in many TV shows and movies, including Gossip Girl and Independence Day.
• Olympia Dukakis (1931–2021) was an Academy Award-winning actress. She starred in movies like Moonstruck and Steel Magnolias.
• Allen B. DuMont (1901–1965) was a television pioneer. He helped develop early television technology.
• Savion Glover (born 1974) is an incredible tap dancer and choreographer. He's known for his amazing rhythm and dance moves.
• Sterling Hayden (1916–1986) was an actor who appeared in classic films like Dr. Strangelove and The Godfather.
• Kal Penn (born 1977) is an actor, famous for movies like Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. He also worked for the U.S. government!
• Christina Ricci (born 1980) is an actress who started her career as a child star. Her films include The Addams Family and Sleepy Hollow.
• Roscoe Orman (born 1944) is an actor who played Gordon Robinson on Sesame Street for many years.
• Michelle Thomas (1968–1998) was an actress who played Myra on the TV show Family Matters.
• Wendy Williams (born 1964) is a well-known TV and radio personality. She hosted The Wendy Williams Show.
• Patrick Wilson (born 1973) is an actor who has been in many films like Watchmen and The A-Team.

Music

Joe Walsh is a famous guitarist.

Jenny Owen Youngs is a singer-songwriter.

• Geri Allen (1957–2017) was a talented jazz pianist.
• Al Anderson (born 1950) is a guitarist and songwriter. He played with the legendary Bob Marley & The Wailers!
• Tommy DeVito (1928–2020) was a guitarist and vocalist for The Four Seasons, a very popular music group.
• Michael Fabiano (born 1984) is an amazing opera singer.
• Bob Gaudio (born 1942) is a singer, songwriter, and producer. He was also a member of The Four Seasons.
• Herman Hupfeld (1894–1951) was a lyricist who wrote "As Time Goes By", the famous song from the movie Casablanca.
• Christian McBride (born 1972) is a three-time Grammy Award winner for jazz music. He plays the bass.
• Adam Schlesinger (1967–2020) was a musician and bass player for the bands Fountains of Wayne and Ivy.
• Duncan Sheik (born 1969) is a singer-songwriter and composer. He's known for his song "Barely Breathing" and his work on the musical Spring Awakening.
• Steve Turre (born 1948) is a jazz trombonist. He's been a member of the Saturday Night Live band since 1984!
• Joe Walsh (born 1947) is a famous musician and songwriter. He played with the James Gang and the legendary Eagles!
• Jenny Owen Youngs (born 1981) is a talented singer and songwriter.

Business Leaders

• Clarence Birdseye (1886–1956) was an inventor and entrepreneur. He is known as the founder of the modern frozen food industry!
• John C. Bogle (1929–2019) was the founder and CEO of The Vanguard Group, a company that helps people invest their money.
• Allen B. DuMont (1901–1965) was a television pioneer and inventor. He created the DuMont Television Network, one of the first TV networks.
• Geraldine Laybourne (born 1947) is a former TV executive and entrepreneur. She helped create popular cable networks like Nickelodeon and Oxygen!
• Benjamin Moore was a co-founder of the famous Benjamin Moore & Co. paint company.

Government, Politics, and Law

• Bill Bradley (born 1942) is a very accomplished person. He was a professional basketball player for the New York Knicks before becoming a U.S. Senator!
• Jeh Johnson (born 1957) is a lawyer and former government official. He served as the United States Secretary of Homeland Security from 2013 to 2017.
• J. Erik Jonsson (1901–1995) was a businessman and philanthropist who became the mayor of Dallas, Texas. He grew up in Montclair.
• Don Katz (born 1952) is the founder and executive chairman of Audible, a popular service for listening to audiobooks.
• Mikie Sherrill (born 1972) is a former United States Navy pilot and prosecutor. She now represents New Jersey's 11th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
• Lucy Stone (1818–1893) was a very important feminist and suffragist. She fought for women's rights, including the right to vote.

Sports Stars

• Josh Allen (born 1997) is an amazing outside linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL.
• Yael Averbuch (born 1986) is a talented soccer player.
• Yogi Berra (1925–2015) was a legendary baseball player and manager for the New York Yankees and New York Mets. He's famous for his unique sayings!
• Bob Bradley (born 1958) is a well-known soccer coach. He has coached many teams, including the United States men's national soccer team.
• Larry Doby (1923–2003) was a very important baseball player. He was the second African-American to play professional baseball in Major League Baseball.
• Don Garber (born 1957) is the commissioner of Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the U.S. and Canada.
• Myisha Hines-Allen (born 1996) is a professional basketball player for the Washington Mystics in the WNBA.
• Robert Trent Jones Sr. (1906–2000) was a famous golf course architect. He designed many beautiful golf courses around the world. His sons, Rees Jones and Robert Trent Jones Jr., also became golf course architects!
• Scott Niedermayer (born 1973) is a retired hockey defenseman. He played for the New Jersey Devils and the Anaheim Ducks, winning championships with both teams.
• Michael Strahan (born 1971) is a former NFL defensive end for the New York Giants. He holds the record for the most sacks in a single season! After football, he became a popular TV personality.
• David Tyree (born 1980) was an NFL wide receiver for the New York Giants. He made a famous catch in the Super Bowl! He graduated from Montclair High School.
• Dainius Zubrus (born 1978) is a former forward for the New Jersey Devils hockey team.

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