List of people from New York (state) facts for kids

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Location of New York in the U.S. map

Map of New York State

New York is a big state, and many famous people have lived there or were born there! This list introduces you to some of these important individuals who have made a difference in government, entertainment, sports, art, and science. You'll learn about presidents, actors, athletes, and thinkers who all have a connection to New York.

Leaders and Politicians from New York

Presidents of the United States

New York has been home to several U.S. Presidents. These leaders helped shape the country.

Chester A. Arthur (1829–1886): He was the 21st President of the United States. He lived in Schenectady.
Martin Van Buren (1782–1862): The 8th President of the United States, from Kinderhook.
Grover Cleveland (1837–1908): He served as the 22nd and 24th President. He was from Fayetteville.
Millard Fillmore (1800–1874): The 13th President, from Moravia.
Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919): The 26th President, known for his love of nature and strong leadership. He was from Manhattan.
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1883–1945): The 32nd President, who led the country through the Great Depression and World War II. He was from Hyde Park.
Donald Trump (born 1946): The 45th President of the United States. He was born in Queens.

Vice Presidents

Many Vice Presidents also have roots in New York.

Aaron Burr (1756–1836): The 3rd Vice President of the United States. He was from Manhattan.
George Clinton (1739–1812): The 4th Vice President, from Little Britain.
Nelson Rockefeller (1908–1979): The 41st Vice President. He was from Albany.

Governors of New York

These individuals served as the top leader of New York State.

DeWitt Clinton (1769–1828): The 6th Governor of New York. He was famous for building the Erie Canal, a very important waterway.
Andrew Cuomo (born 1957): The 56th Governor of New York.
Mario Cuomo (1932–2015): The 52nd Governor of New York and father of Andrew Cuomo. He was known as a great public speaker.
Kathy Hochul (born 1958): The 57th and current Governor of New York. She is the first woman to hold this important position.
John Jay (1745–1829): He was the 2nd Governor of New York and also the very first Chief Justice of the United States.
David Paterson (born 1954): The 55th Governor of New York. He was the first African American Governor of New York.
George Pataki (born 1945): The 53rd Governor of New York. He was governor during the 9/11 attacks.

Senators

Senators represent New York in the U.S. Congress.

Hillary Clinton (born 1947): A former New York Senator and Secretary of State. She was also a First Lady.
Kirsten Gillibrand (born 1966): She has been a New York Senator since 2009.
Chuck Schumer (born 1950): He is the Democratic Leader of the United States Senate and has been a New York Senator since 1999.

Mayors of New York City

These people led New York City, one of the biggest cities in the world.

Michael Bloomberg (born 1942): The 108th Mayor of New York City, serving from 2002 to 2013.
Rudy Giuliani (born 1944): The 107th Mayor of New York City. He was mayor during the 9/11 attacks.
David Dinkins (1927–2020): The 106th Mayor of New York City. He was the first African-American Mayor of New York City.
Fiorello La Guardia (1882–1947): The 99th Mayor of New York City, serving during the Great Depression and World War II.

Other Important Politicians

Shirley Chisholm (1924–2005): A U.S. Congresswoman from New York. She was the first African American woman elected to Congress.
Geraldine Ferraro (1935–2011): A U.S. Congresswoman from New York. She was the first female Vice Presidential candidate from a major political party in 1984.
Alexander Hamilton (1757–1804): The very first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. He helped create America's financial system.
Boris Johnson (born 1964): He was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He was born in New York.
Caroline Kennedy (born 1957): A former U.S. Ambassador to Japan and daughter of President John F. Kennedy.

First Ladies

These women served as First Lady of the United States.

Barbara Bush (1925–2018): First Lady as the wife of George H. W. Bush.
Abigail Fillmore (1798–1853): First Lady as the wife of Millard Fillmore.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1929–1994): First Lady as the wife of John F. Kennedy. She was known for her style and grace.
Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962): First Lady as the wife of Franklin D. Roosevelt. She was a strong advocate for human rights.

Entertainment Stars from New York

Film, Television, Theater, and Dance

New York is a hub for entertainment, and many famous actors, directors, and dancers come from here.

Woody Allen (born 1935): An actor, director, and writer.
Lauren Bacall (1924–2014): A famous actress from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Alec Baldwin (born 1958): A well-known actor and producer.
Lucille Ball (1911–1989): A beloved actress and comedian, famous for I Love Lucy.
Humphrey Bogart (1899–1957): A legendary actor from classic films.
James Cagney (1899–1986): Another iconic actor from Hollywood's golden era.
Tom Cruise (born 1962): A very popular actor known for action movies.
Sammy Davis Jr. (1925–1990): A talented actor, singer, and dancer.
Robert De Niro (born 1943): A highly respected actor.
Kirk Douglas (1916–2020): A famous actor and father of Michael Douglas.
Robert Downey Jr. (born 1965): A popular actor, known for playing Iron Man.
Whoopi Goldberg (born 1955): An Academy Award-winning actress, comedian, and TV host.
Scarlett Johansson (born 1984): A successful actress and model.
Spike Lee (born 1957): A famous film director and producer.
Eddie Murphy (born 1961): A comedian and actor known for many hit movies.
Al Pacino (born 1940): A highly acclaimed actor.
Sylvester Stallone (born 1946): An actor, screenwriter, and director, famous for Rocky and Rambo.
Howard Stern (born 1954): A well-known radio and television personality.
Denzel Washington (born 1954): An Academy Award-winning actor.
Mae West (1893–1980): An actress and comedian known for her witty lines.

Comedians and Entertainers

New York has produced many funny and engaging entertainers.

George Carlin (1937–2008): A very influential comedian.
Pete Davidson (born 1993): A comedian and actor, known from Saturday Night Live.
Jimmy Fallon (born 1974): A comedian, actor, and host of The Tonight Show.
Kevin James (born 1965): A comedian and actor.
Jay Leno (born 1950): A comedian and former host of The Tonight Show.
The Marx Brothers: A famous group of vaudeville comedians including Chico, Groucho, Gummo, Harpo, and Zeppo Marx.
Eddie Murphy (born 1961): A comedian and actor.
Joan Rivers (1933–2014): A pioneering comedian and television host.
Chris Rock (born 1965): A popular comedian and actor.
Adam Sandler (born 1966): A comedian, actor, and film producer.
Amy Schumer (born 1981): A stand-up comedian and actress.
Jerry Seinfeld (born 1954): A comedian and actor, famous for the TV show Seinfeld.
Jon Stewart (born 1962): A comedian, writer, and former host of The Daily Show.

Singers and Instrumentalists

Many musical talents have come from New York.

Christina Aguilera (born 1980): A powerful singer-songwriter.
Tony Bennett (1926–2023): A legendary jazz singer.
Mariah Carey (born 1969): A pop and R&B singer-songwriter known for her amazing vocal range.
Lana Del Rey (born 1985): A popular singer-songwriter.
Neil Diamond (born 1941): A famous singer-songwriter.
Lady Gaga (born 1986): A global pop superstar, singer-songwriter, and actress.
Art Garfunkel (born 1941) and Paul Simon (born 1941): The folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel.
George Gershwin (1898–1937): A famous composer.
Billy Joel (born 1949): A pianist and singer-songwriter, known as the "Piano Man."
Jennifer Lopez (born 1969): A singer, actress, and dancer.
Idina Menzel (born 1971): A singer and actress, known as the voice of Elsa in Frozen.
Barbra Streisand (born 1942): A highly successful singer and actress.
Steven Tyler (born 1948): The lead singer of the rock band Aerosmith.
Luther Vandross (1951–2005): A beloved R&B singer.

Rappers

New York is a birthplace of hip-hop and has produced many influential rappers.

50 Cent (born 1975): A famous rapper, actor, and businessman.
Cardi B (born 1992): A popular rapper.
Jay-Z (born 1969): A highly successful rapper, businessman, and investor.
LL Cool J (born 1968): A rapper and actor.
Nicki Minaj (born 1982): A very popular rapper and singer.
Nas (born 1973): A respected hip-hop artist.
The Notorious B.I.G. (1972–1997): A legendary rapper, also known as "Biggie Smalls."
Pop Smoke (1999–2020): A rising star in the rap world.
2Pac (1971–1996): An iconic rapper and actor.

Bands

Many famous bands have formed in New York.

Blondie (1974–): A new wave and punk rock band.
Goo Goo Dolls (1985–): An alternative and pop rock band.
KIϟϟ (1973–): A famous hard rock band known for their makeup and stage shows.
Ramones (1974–1996): An influential punk rock band.
Twisted Sister (1972–): A heavy metal band.

Art, Literature, and Journalism

Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906): A very important leader in the women's rights movement.
Anderson Cooper (born 1967): A well-known CNN journalist and television personality.
Howard Cosell (1918–1995): A famous ABC Sports broadcaster.
Bob Costas (born 1952): A longtime sportscaster for NBC Sports.
Frederick Douglass (1818–1895): A powerful writer and editor who fought against slavery.
F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940): A famous author, known for The Great Gatsby.
Alex Haley (1921–1992): The author of Roots.
Washington Irving (1783–1859): A classic American author, known for Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Henry James (1843–1916): A famous author.
Larry King (1933–2021): A well-known television and radio host.
Bill Maher (born 1956): A host of a political talk show on HBO.
Herman Melville (1819–1891): The author of the classic novel Moby-Dick.
Norman Rockwell (1894–1978): A beloved American painter and illustrator.
Al Roker (born 1954): The weather anchor for NBC's Today show.
Sojourner Truth (1797–1883): A former slave and important civil rights activist.
Mark Twain (1835–1910): One of America's greatest authors, known for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Edith Wharton (1862–1937): A Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
Walt Whitman (1819–1892): A very influential American poet.

Sports Stars from New York

Baseball

Craig Biggio (born 1965): A Baseball Hall of Famer.
Whitey Ford (1928–2020): A Baseball Hall of Famer, famous New York Yankees pitcher.
Lou Gehrig (1903–1941): A legendary Baseball Hall of Famer for the New York Yankees.
Hank Greenberg (1911–1986): A Baseball Hall of Famer.
Sandy Koufax (born 1935): A Baseball Hall of Famer, considered one of the greatest pitchers ever.
Alex Rodriguez (born 1975): A well-known Major League Baseball player.
Joe Torre (born 1940): A famous baseball player, manager, and executive.
Carl Yastrzemski (born 1939): A Baseball Hall of Famer.

Basketball

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born 1947): An NBA Hall of Fame player, one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Carmelo Anthony (born 1984): A professional basketball player.
Sue Bird (born 1980): A WNBA point guard and two-time Olympic champion.
Bob Cousy (born 1928): A professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics.
Julius Erving (born 1950): An NBA Hall of Fame player, known as "Dr. J."
Michael Jordan (born 1963): Considered the best basketball player of all time. He was born in Brooklyn.
Nancy Lieberman (born 1958): A WNBA Hall of Fame player and coach.
Chris Mullin (born 1963): An NBA Hall of Fame basketball player.
Dolph Schayes (1928–2015): An NBA Hall of Fame player and coach.
Adam Silver (born 1962): The current commissioner of the NBA.

Boxing

Floyd Patterson (1935–2006): A World Heavyweight Boxing Champion.
Sugar Ray Robinson (1921–1989): A legendary boxer, considered one of the greatest of all time.
Mike Tyson (born 1966): A former professional boxer and World Heavyweight Champion.

American Football

Jim Brown (1936–2023): A Hall of Fame football player.
Rob Gronkowski (born 1989): A famous former football player for the New England Patriots.
Vince Lombardi (1913–1970): A legendary football coach.
Art Monk (born 1957): A Hall of Fame football player for the Washington Redskins.
Joe Paterno (1926–2012): A famous football coach.

Ice Hockey

Gary Bettman (born 1952): The commissioner of the NHL.
Adam Fox (born 1998): An NHL ice hockey defenseman for the New York Rangers.
Patrick Kane (born 1988): A star NHL ice hockey player.

Soccer

Timothy Weah (born 2000): A professional soccer player and member of the United States men's national soccer team.

Tennis

John McEnroe (born 1959): A famous tennis player known for his strong game and personality.
Bill Tilden (1893–1953): A legendary tennis player.

Track and Field

Caitlyn Jenner (born 1949): A retired decathlete and gold medalist at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

Other Sports

Carol Heiss (born 1940): A figure skater and 1960 Olympic champion.
Laurie Hernandez (born 2000): An artistic gymnast and gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Jon Jones (born 1987): A UFC Light Heavyweight Champion.
Ryan Lochte (born 1984): A competitive swimmer and multiple Olympic gold medalist.

Business Leaders from New York

John Jacob Astor: A very successful fur trader and company founder.
George Eastman (1854–1932): The founder of Eastman Kodak, a pioneering photography company.
William Fargo (1818–1881): A co-founder of American Express Company and Wells Fargo.
Reggie Fils-Aimé (born 1961): The former president and chief operating officer of Nintendo of America.
Jeremy Jacobs (born 1940): The owner of Delaware North and the Boston Bruins hockey team.
Calvin Klein (born 1942): A famous fashion designer.
Michael Kors (born 1959): A well-known sportswear fashion designer.
Ralph Lauren (born 1939): A famous fashion designer and founder of the Ralph Lauren Corporation.
John D. Rockefeller (1839–1937): A very wealthy philanthropist and founder of Standard Oil, a huge oil company.
Cornelius Vanderbilt: A powerful businessman who built a fortune in ferries, tugboats, and railroads.
Mark Zuckerberg (born 1984): The founder and CEO of Facebook.

Lawyers and Judges

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1933–2020): An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She was a champion for equal rights.
John Jay (1745–1829): The first Chief Justice of the United States.
Elena Kagan (born 1960): An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
John Roberts (born 1955): The current Chief Justice of the United States.
Sonia Sotomayor (born 1954): An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Science and Medicine Innovators

Richard Axel (born 1946): A scientist and Nobel Prize winner.
Gertrude B. Elion (1918–1999): A biochemist and Nobel Prize winner.
Richard P. Feynman (1918–1988): A physicist and Nobel Prize winner.
Carl Sagan (1934–1996): A famous astronomer and science communicator.
Jonas Salk (1914–1995): A scientist who developed the first polio vaccine, which saved many lives.
Willis Carrier: An inventor, known for inventing modern air conditioning.
Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell: The first female doctor in the United States.
Dr. Mary Edwards Walker: A surgeon and the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor.

Foreign-Born New Yorkers

Many people born in other countries have made New York their home and contributed greatly.

Maksim Chmerkovskiy (born 1980): A Ukrainian-born Latin ballroom dancer and choreographer.
Carolina Herrera (born 1939): A Venezuelan-born fashion designer.
John Leguizamo (born 1964): A Colombian-born actor and comedian.
Pelé (born 1940): A Brazilian-born iconic soccer player, considered the best soccer player of all time.
Keanu Reeves (born 1964): A Lebanese-born Canadian/American actor.
Gene Simmons (born 1949): An Israeli-born musician and lead singer of the band Kiss.
Bruce Willis (born 1955): A German-born American actor.
Jason Wu (born 1982): A Taiwanese-born fashion designer.

Other Notable New Yorkers

Daniel Daly (1873–1937): A United States Marine who received the Medal of Honor twice for his bravery.
Wilson Greatbatch (1919–2011): An inventor, known for inventing the implantable pacemaker.
Richard Stallman (born 1953): A programmer and founder of the GNU project, important in the world of free software.