List of people from Teaneck, New Jersey facts for kids

Teaneck, New Jersey, has been home to many interesting and famous people over the years! This list highlights some of the notable individuals who have lived in or come from this town.

If you see (B), it means the person was born right here in Teaneck.

Smart Minds and Scientists

• Robert S. Browne (1924–2004): An economist who helped start programs for African-American self-help.
• Frank Chapman (1864–1945): A famous expert on birds (an ornithologist).
• Herbert Dardik (1935–2020): A top vascular surgeon who worked at Englewood Hospital.
• Frank Gill (born 1941): Another expert on birds.
• Alan Kadish (born 1956): The president and CEO of Touro College.
• Peter Kenen (1932–2012): An economist who was a provost (a senior leader) at Columbia University.
• Clifford Nass (1958–2013): A professor at Stanford University who studied how people interact with computers.
• Jane S. Richardson (born 1941): A biochemist who created special "ribbon diagrams" to show how proteins are built.
• Jacob J. Schacter (born 1950): A scholar at Yeshiva University who has written about important religious leaders.
• Yvonne Thornton (born 1947): A doctor and author.
• Helen M. Walker (1891–1983): A statistician and researcher, and the first woman to lead the American Statistical Association.
• Alan Westin (1929–2013): A Columbia University professor who was a pioneer in studying privacy in the digital age.

Creative Arts and Entertainment

Building Design and Architects

• Louis Bourgeois (1856–1930): The architect who designed the beautiful Bahá'í House of Worship.
• Alan Hantman (born 1942): An architect who was the 10th Architect of the Capitol, overseeing buildings in Washington D.C.

Authors, Journalists, and Publishers

• Shalom Auslander (born 1970): A writer.
• Peter Balakian (born 1951): A poet, writer, and academic.
• Jim Bishop (1907–1987): A journalist and author of the popular book The Day Lincoln Was Shot.
• Louis Black: A co-founder of The Austin Chronicle newspaper and the famous South by Southwest festival.
• Richard Nelson Bolles (1927–2017): An author known for his best-selling job-hunting book, What Color is Your Parachute?.
• Howard Fast (1914–2003): A novelist, famous for Spartacus.
• Jeff Gottesfeld (born 1956): An author of books like Anne Frank and Me and a screenwriter.
• David Heatley (born 1974): A cartoonist, illustrator, and musician.
• Mike Kelly: A columnist for The Record newspaper.
• Neil Kleid (born 1975): A cartoonist who won an award for his graphic novella Ninety Candles.
• Lisa Lucas: The executive director of the National Book Foundation.
• Brian Morton (born 1955): An author of Starting Out in the Evening.
• Nicholasa Mohr (born 1938): An author whose first novel Nilda explored the Nuyorican experience.
• John A. Williams (1925–2015): An author and journalist whose novel The Man Who Cried I Am was a bestseller.

Visual Artists

• Robert Barry (born 1936): A conceptual artist.
• Charles Harbutt (1935–2015): A photographer.
• Renaldo Kuhler (1931–2013): A scientific illustrator.(B)
• Thomas Nozkowski (1944–2019): A contemporary painter.(B)
• Frank R. Paul (1884–1963): An illustrator known for his science fiction artwork.
• Paul Shambroom (born 1956): A photographer.
• Chuck Stewart (1927–2017): A photographer.
• Henry Wessel Jr. (1942–2018): A photographer.

Fashion World

• Rachel Antonoff (born 1981): A fashion designer.(B)
• Marc Jacobs (born 1963): A famous designer and artistic director for Louis Vuitton.
• Lynn Kohlman (1946–2008): A fashion model.

Movies, Stage, and Television Stars

• Amy Aquino (born 1957): An actress seen in TV shows like ER and Being Human.(B)
• Ed Ames (born 1927): A singer and actor, known for playing Mingo in Daniel Boone.
• Paul Attanasio (born 1959): A screenwriter and executive producer for the TV series House.
• Pat Battle (born 1959): A reporter and anchor for WNBC-TV.
• Eitan Bernath (born 2002): A celebrity chef.
• Roger Birnbaum (born 1950): A film producer who owns Spyglass Entertainment.
• Philip Bosco (1930–2018): A well-known character actor.
• Carolee Carmello (born 1962): An actress famous for her performances in Broadway musicals.
• Syd Cassyd (1908–2000): A television pioneer who founded the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.(B)
• Gaius Charles (born 1983): An actor from Friday Night Lights.
• Jamie Donnelly (born 1947): An actress best known as Jan from the movie Grease.
• Hunter Foster (born 1969): A Broadway actor.
• Nely Galán (born 1963): A producer and former president of entertainment for Telemundo.
• John A. Gambling (1930–2004): A radio personality.
• Lee Garlington (born 1953): An actress.(B)
• Jess Harnell (born 1963): The voice of Wakko Warner on Animaniacs.
• Gavin Houston (born 1977): An actor known for his role on The Haves and the Have Nots.
• Jeffrey Kramer (born 1945): A film and television actor and producer.
• Damon Lindelof (born 1973): The co-creator and executive producer of the TV series Lost.
• Leonard Maltin (born 1950): A famous film critic and author of Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide.
• Patricia McBride (born 1942): A ballerina who danced with the New York City Ballet for 30 years.
• Bob McGrath (1932–2022): Played "Bob" on Sesame Street, one of the longest-lasting human characters.
• Julianne Michelle (born 1987): A film and television actress.
• Susan Morrow (1931–1985): An actress who starred in The Savage.(B)
• Ozzie Nelson (1906–1975) and Harriet Nelson (1909–1994): Stars of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
• Ricky Nelson (1940–1985): Son of Ozzie and Harriet, an actor and musician elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
• Christopher O'Neal (born 1994): An actor who appeared on Nickelodeon's How to Rock.
• Sarah Jessica Parker (born 1965): An actress, famous for playing Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City.
• Charles Payne (born 1960): A Fox Business Network television host.
• Dana Reeve (1961–2006): An actress, singer, and activist, wife of Christopher Reeve.(B)
• Robert Ridgely (1931–1997): An actor and voice-over artist, in many Mel Brooks movies.
• Matt Servitto (born 1965): An actor known for his role as FBI agent Dwight Harris on The Sopranos.(B)
• Paul Sorvino (1939–2022): A well-known actor.
• Josh Sussman (born 1983): An actor.
• Bill Timoney (born 1958): An actor, director, and writer.(B)
• Judy Tyler (1933–1957): An actress who played Princess Summerfallwinterspring on Howdy Doody and starred with Elvis Presley in Jailhouse Rock.
• John Ventimiglia (born 1963): An actor who played Artie Bucco on The Sopranos.

Music Makers

• Nat Adderley (1931–2000): A jazz cornet and trumpet player.
• Nat Adderley, Jr. (born 1955): A music arranger who worked with Luther Vandross.
• Ray Barretto (1929–2006): A conga drummer and bandleader.
• Regina Belle (born 1963): A Grammy Award-winning singer.
• Pat Boone (born 1934): A popular singer from the 1950s with hits like Ain't That a Shame.
• Donald Byrd (1932–2013): A jazz trumpeter.
• Brendan Canty (born 1966): The drummer of the indie rock band Fugazi.
• Johnny Copeland (1937–1997): A blues guitarist and singer.
• Shemekia Copeland (born 1979): A blues singer.
• DMX (1970–2021): A famous rapper and actor.
• Plácido Domingo (born 1941): A world-renowned opera singer (tenor).
• Randy Edelman (born 1947): A composer for film and TV scores.
• Jon Faddis (born 1953): A jazz trumpeter and composer.
• Lesley Gore (1946–2015): A singer known for her pop hit "It's My Party".
• Ferde Grofé (1892–1972): A composer best known for his Grand Canyon Suite.
• Roland Hanna (1932–2002): A jazz pianist and composer.
• Al Hibbler (1915–2001): An R&B singer and civil rights activist.
• Ronald Isley (born 1941): Co-founder and lead singer of the Isley Brothers.
• Rudolph Isley (born 1939): A founding member of the Isley Brothers.
• Milt Jackson (1923–1999): A jazz vibraphonist.
• Kevin Jonas (born 1987): A member of the Jonas Brothers band.
• Ben E. King (1938–2015): A singer famous for "Stand by Me".
• Lil' Kim (born 1974): A well-known rapper.
• Mario (born 1986): An R&B singer.
• Master Gee: Co-founder of the hip hop group The Sugarhill Gang.
• Elliot Mazer (1941–2021): An audio engineer and record producer who worked with artists like Neil Young.
• Clyde McPhatter (1932–1972): An R&B singer who started The Drifters.
• The Notorious B.I.G. (1972–1997): A legendary rapper.
• Bernard Purdie (born 1941): A very active session drummer.
• Paul A. Rothchild (1935–1995): A music producer known for his work with The Doors.
• Juelz Santana (born 1982): A rapper.
• Linda Scott (born 1945): A singer known for her 1961 hit "I've Told Every Little Star".
• Alan Silvestri (born 1950): A famous film composer.
• Phoebe Snow (1952–2011): A singer-songwriter who adopted her stage name from a train that ran through Teaneck.
• DJ Spinderella (born 1971): The DJ for the hip-hop group Salt-n-Pepa.
• Trey Songz (born 1984): An R&B singer.
• McCoy Tyner (1938–2020): A jazz pianist known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet.
• Lenny White (born 1949): A drummer considered one of the founders of jazz fusion.

Business Leaders and Innovators

• Bob Beaumont (1932–2011): The founder of Citicar, a company that made electric cars.
• Matthew Hiltzik (born 1972): The CEO of Hiltzik Strategies, a company that helps with communication.
• Les Otten (born 1949): The former CEO of the American Skiing Company.
• Paul Singer (born 1944): The founder of Elliott Management Corporation.
• Lynn Tilton (born 1959): A businesswoman.
• Bill Zanker (born 1954): The creator of The Learning Annex, which offers classes and workshops.

Government and Public Service

• Vincent M. Battle (born 1940): A former United States Ambassador to Lebanon.(B)
• Leonie Brinkema (born 1944): A U.S. District Court judge.(B)
• Thomas Ryan Byrne (1923–2014): A diplomat who served as the United States Ambassador to Norway.(B)
• Donna Christian-Christensen (born 1945): A non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives for the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Thomas Costa (1912–2003): A member of the New Jersey General Assembly and a former mayor of Teaneck.
• John P. Cronan (born 1976): A lawyer nominated to be a U.S. district judge.(B)
• Eileen Dickinson (born 1949): A politician who has served in the Vermont House of Representatives.(B)
• Matthew Feldman (1919–1994): A former mayor of Teaneck and a New Jersey State Senator.
• Steven Goldstein: An activist who founded Garden State Equality, an LGBT rights organization.
• Mohammed Hameeduddin (born circa 1973): A former mayor of Teaneck, and the first Muslim mayor in Bergen County.
• Edward H. Hynes (born 1946): A politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly.(B)
• Elie Katz (born 1974): A former mayor of Teaneck.(B)
• Eleanor Kieliszek (1925–2017): The first woman elected to the Teaneck Township Council and the first woman mayor of Teaneck.
• Theodora Lacey (born 1932): An educator and civil rights activist who helped desegregate Teaneck's public schools.
• Luis Muñoz Marín (1898–1980): The first democratically elected Governor of Puerto Rico.
• Gabrielle Kirk McDonald (born 1942): A federal and international judge.
• Peter Pace (born 1945): The former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the first Marine to hold that position.
• William Walter Phelps (1839–1894): A member of the U.S. House of Representatives and a U.S. Ambassador to Germany.
• Christopher Porrino (born 1967): A lawyer who became the Acting New Jersey Attorney General.(B)
• Anthony Principi (born 1944): The U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs from 2001–2005.
• Elizabeth Randall (born 1954): A politician who served in the New Jersey General Assembly.(B)
• Paul A. Volcker, Jr. (1927–2019): The Chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1979–1987.
• Loretta Weinberg (born 1935): A former Majority Leader of the New Jersey Senate.

Sports Stars

• Robby Anderson (born 1993): A wide receiver for the New York Jets football team.
• Kim Barnes Arico (born 1970): A women's basketball coach for the Michigan Wolverines.
• Lance Ball (born 1985): A former running back for the Denver Broncos.
• Beth Beglin (born 1957): A three-time Olympian for the U.S. women's national field hockey team.
• Dellin Betances (born 1988): A pitcher who played for the New York Mets and New York Yankees.
• Jim Bouton (1939–2019): A former pitcher for the New York Yankees and author of Ball Four.
• Rosey Brown (1932–2004): An offensive tackle who played for the New York Giants.
• Tony Campbell (born 1962): A former NBA basketball player for the New York Knicks.
• Rick Cerone (born 1954): A former MLB catcher who played for both the New York Mets and Yankees.
• T. J. Clemmings (born 1991): An NFL offensive tackle for the Washington Redskins.
• Lawrence Frank (born 1970): A former head coach of the New Jersey Nets basketball team.
• Doug Glanville (born 1970): A baseball player who played for the Philadelphia Phillies.
• Steve Goepel (born 1949): A former football player and coach.(B)
• Tamba Hali (born 1983): A former NFL linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Elston Howard (1929–1980): A baseball player for the New York Yankees.
• Zab Judah (born 1977): A champion boxer.
• Maya Lawrence (born 1980): A fencer who won a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
• Carl "Spider" Lockhart (1943–1986): A safety who played his entire career with the New York Giants.
• Ryan Malleck (born 1993): An American football tight end for the Houston Texans.(B)
• Jim McGovern (born 1965): A professional golfer.(B)
• Christina McHale (born 1992): A professional tennis player.(B)
• John Orsino (1938–2016): A Major League Baseball catcher.(B)
• Giuseppe Rossi (born 1987): An Italian-American football (soccer) player.
• Jason Sehorn (born 1971): A former NFL football player who played cornerback for the New York Giants.
• John Sterling (born 1948): A sportscaster for the New York Yankees.
• David Stern (1942–2020): The former commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
• Kamali Thompson (born 1991): A fencer and physician.
• David West (born 1980): An NBA basketball player.
• Brandon Wimbush (born 1996): A quarterback who played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.(B)
• Dave Winfield (born 1951): A Hall of Fame baseball player.
• Ahmed Zayat (born 1962): A racehorse owner whose horse American Pharoah won the Triple Crown.

Other Notable People

• Martin Fleisher (born 1958): A bridge player and attorney who won a world championship in bridge.
• Rabbi Howard Jachter: An expert in Jewish divorce procedures.
• David Sklansky (born 1947): A professional poker player and author.
• Rabbi Jeremy Wieder (born 1971): A scholar and instructor at Yeshiva University.