List of people from Philadelphia

The following is a list of notable residents, natives, and persons generally associated with the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the fifth-largest city in the United States. The list includes both former and present residents of the city.

Academia

Noam Chomsky

Marc Lamont Hill

• Joseph Addison Alexander – biblical scholar^[1]
• E. Digby Baltzell – sociologist, academic and author
• Leon Bass – educator, principal of Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin High School
• Noam Chomsky – linguist
• Gordon Clark – Christian theologian, professor
• Leda Cosmides – evolutionary psychologist
• Philip D. Curtin – historian
• Marc Lamont Hill – professor, educational researcher, cultural critic, and activist
• Agnes Irwin – founder of the Agnes Irwin School, first dean of Radcliffe College
• Seymour S. Kety – neuroscientist, schizophrenia researcher
• Byard Lancaster – jazz artist, saxophone, flute
• Alain Locke – first black Rhodes Scholar, Father of the Harlem Renaissance
• Margaret Mead – anthropologist
• Jacob Soll – historian, MacArthur Fellowship recipient.^[2]
• Howard M. Temin – Nobel colaureate in physiology or medicine, 1975
• Cornelius Van Til – Christian theologian, professor
• Lawrence Venuti – Translation scholar and historian
• Andrew Weil – medical doctor, established the field of integrative medicine
• Gayraud Wilmore – Christian theologian, professor

Art and architecture

Cecilia Beaux

• Julian Abele – architect
• Robb Armstrong – cartoonist, creator of Jump Start
• Edmund Bacon – city planner
• Cecilia Beaux – painter^[3]
• William Bell – photographer^[4]
• Alexander Calder – artist
• Mary Cassatt – painter
• Robert Crumb – underground comics artist, writer
• Heather Dewey-Hagborg – information artist
• Thomas Eakins – painter
• Frank Furness – architect
• Sonia Gechtoff – painter
• Ginger Gilmour – sculptor; first wife of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour^[5]
• Phoebe Gloeckner – cartoonist, novelist
• Elizabeth Shippen Green – illustrator
• Ian Hornak – painter
• Amy Ignatow – illustrator, cartoonist, and author, The Popularity Papers series
• Louis Kahn – architect
• Bil Keane – cartoonist, The Family Circus
• Walt Kelly – cartoonist
• Henry P. McIlhenny – philanthropist; chairman, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1976–1986
• Alice Neel – painter
• Albert Newsam – artist^[6]
• Martin Nodell – comic book artist, creator of the original Green Lantern
• William H. Rau – photographer^[7]
• Carolee Schneemann – artist
• Mary B. Schuenemann – painter
• Denise Scott Brown – architect
• Sarai Sherman – painter
• Grover Simcox – illustrator
• Jessie Wilcox Smith – illustrator
• Willi Smith (1948–1987) – fashion designer
• Zoe Strauss – photographer
• Thomas Sully – painter^[8]
• Horace Trumbauer – architect
• Robert Venturi – architect
• Andrew Wyeth – painter
• Jamie Wyeth – painter (son of Andrew)
• N.C. Wyeth – illustrator (father of Andrew)

Business

• Amar Bose – founder of Bose
• Frank Baldino, Jr. – founder of Cephalon
• Pat Croce – entrepreneur; part-owner and former president, Philadelphia 76ers
• Charles Henry Davis – businessperson, civil engineer and philanthropist
• Maria Anna Fisher – 19th-century biscuit entrepreneur
• Albert M. Greenfield – local realty magnate; philanthropist; political activist
• Solomon R. Guggenheim – founder, Yukon Gold Company; philanthropist, art collector
• Richard Hayne – founder and CEO of Urban Outfitters
• Michael Johns – health care executive, former White House speechwriter
• Tom Knox – former CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania; 2007 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
• Jim Murray – co-founder, Ronald McDonald House Charities; former general manager, Philadelphia Eagles
• Pat Olivieri – founder of Pat's King of Steaks, reputed creator of the cheesesteak
• William S. Paley – former president, CBS
• Randal Pinkett – entrepreneur, PhD, winner of The Apprentice 4
• Lynda Resnick – co-owner of Roll International, which owns POM Wonderful, FIJI Water, and Teleflora
• Brian L. Roberts – chairman and CEO, Comcast Corporation
• Michael G. Rubin – founder and CEO of Kynetic; part-owner of Philadelphia 76ers; founder and former CEO of GSI Commerce
• Ed Snider – chairman, Comcast Spectacor
• Justus Strawbridge – department store founder
• Brian Tierney – CEO, Philadelphia Media Holdings, LLC; publisher of Philadelphia Inquirer
• John Wanamaker – department store
• William Wrigley Jr. – founder of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
• Kenneth Frazier - CEO of Merck & Co.
• Stephen A. Schwarzman- Billionaire, Founder and CEO of The Blackstone Group

Film, television, and theater

A-K

• Joe Augustyn – writer, producer
• Kevin Bacon – actor, half of the Bacon Brothers
• Jim Bailey – actor
• Chuck Barris – actor, composer, writer, director, producer, game show host
• Ethel Barrymore – actress
• John Barrymore – actor
• Lionel Barrymore – actor
• Eddie Barth – actor and voiceover artist^[9]
• Jules Bass – director, composer
• Laurie Beechman – singer, actress, notably of Broadway^[10]
• Maria Bello – actress
• Ed Bernard – actor
• John Biddle – yachting cinematographer and lecturer
• Joey Bishop – entertainer
• Danny Bonaduce – actor
• David Boreanaz – actor
• Jim Boyd – actor
• Peter Boyle – actor
• David Brenner – comedian
• Richard Brooks – screenwriter, director
• Nicholas Brothers – tap dancers
• Eugene Byrd – actor
• Michael Callan – actor
• Gia Marie Carangi – model
• The Clark Brothers – tap dancers
• Dick Clark – host, American Bandstand and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, game show host, producer
• Bessie Clayton – dancer^[11]
• Imogene Coca – actress, comedian
• Nathan Cook – actor
• Bradley Cooper – actor
• Bill Cosby – actor, comedian
• Broderick Crawford – actor
• Susan Webb Cushman – stage actress
• Blythe Danner – actress; mother of Gwyneth Paltrow
• Bruce Davison – actor
• John de Lancie – actor
• Francis De Sales (1912–1988) – actor
• Kim Delaney – actress
• Kat Dennings – actress
• Curly Joe DeRita – comedian, actor, member of The Three Stooges
• John Doman – actor, The Wire
• Mike Douglas – singer, television talk show host
• Gary Dourdan – actor
• Rel Dowdell – filmmaker
• Ja'net Dubois – actress, singer
• Kevin Eubanks – musician, former leader of The Tonight Show Band
• Lola Falana – dancer, actress
• Norman Fell – actor
• Tina Fey – actress, comedian
• W. C. Fields – actor, comedian
• Larry Fine – comedian, actor, member of The Three Stooges
• Linda Fiorentino – actress
• Kate Flannery – actress
• Ray Fulmer – actor
• Jeremy Gable – playwright
• Ralph Garman – actor, radio personality
• Janet Gaynor – actress
• Richard Gere – actor
• Todd Glass – comedian
• Robert X. Golphin – actor, filmmaker
• Kate Gosselin – reality TV personality, Jon and Kate Plus Eight
• Bruce Graham – playwright
• Seth Green – actor
• Grayson Hall – actress
• Veronica Hamel – actress, model
• Kevin Hart – comedian, actor
• Sherman Hemsley – actor
• Emmaline Henry – actress, I Dream of Jeannie
• Marc Lamont Hill – television host
• Tigre Hill – producer, director
• Kevin Hooks – actor, director
• Mark Indelicato – actor, singer (Justin Suarez on Ugly Betty)
• Abbi Jacobson – actress, comedian, co-creator of Broad City
• Judith Jamison – dancer; choreographer; artistic director, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
• Barry Jenner – actor
• Clark Johnson – actor, director
• Gail Kasper – actor, host, executive producer
• Nicole Kassell – director, writer
• Jack Kehler – actor
• George Kelly – playwright, screenwriter, director, actor; uncle of Princess Grace of Monaco
• Grace Kelly – actress, Princess of Monaco
• Irvin Kershner – director, The Empire Strikes Back
• Taylor Kinney – actor, Vampire Diaries, Chicago Fire; dating Lady Gaga
• Jack Klugman – actor

L–Z

• Michael Landon – actor, producer, director
• Mario Lanza – singer, actor
• Stan Lathan – film and television producer, director
• Andrew Lawrence – actor
• Joey Lawrence – actor
• Matthew Lawrence – actor
• Raw Leiba – actor, stuntman, sports model
• Aaron Levinson – producer and musician
• Sidney Lumet – film director
• David Lynch – film director
• Jeanette MacDonald – actress, singer
• Stephen Macht – actor
• Bob McAllister – children's television personality
• Andrea McArdle – singer, actress, Broadway's original Annie
• Joan McCracken – dancer, actress
• Paul McCrane – actor, musician
• Rob McElhenney – actor, creator of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
• Adam McKay – director, writer
• Mary Lou Metzger – singer, The Lawrence Welk Show
• David Mirkin – writer, director
• Katherine Moennig – actress
• Kelly Monaco – model, actress
• Natalie Nevins - singer, The Lawrence Welk Show
• J. J. North – actress
• Ana Ortiz – actress, Hilda Suarez on Ugly Betty
• Daphne Oz – author and television host on The Chew
• Holly Robinson Peete – actress
• Lisa Peluso – actress, Saturday Night Fever, soap operas
• Gervase Peterson – contestant, original season of Survivor
• Robert Picardo – actor
• Noam Pitlik – actor, television director, producer
• Jack Polito – animator
• Jon Polito – actor, Miller's Crossing
• Joe Renzetti – musician, Oscar-winning film composer, The Buddy Holly Story
• Roxy Reynolds – pornographic actress, rapper, model
• Adele Ritchie – singer
• Matt Robinson – Sesame Street actor; father of Holly Robinson Peete
• James Rolfe – creator and star of Angry Video Game Nerd internet series; film director
• Lisa Roma – operatic soprano and music educator
• J. D. Roth – actor, game show host
• Bob Saget – actor, comedian, game show host
• Mathew St. Patrick – actor
• Diane Salinger – actress
• Camillia Sanes – actress, The Shield
• Bill Scott – voice actor; voice of Bullwinkle J. Moose, Mr. Peabody, Dudley Do-Right
• Vivienne Segal – actress
• Susan Seidelman – film and television director, Desperately Seeking Susan, Sex And The City
• M. Night Shyamalan – film director
• Penny Singleton – radio, film and voice actress
• Jack Thomas Smith - horror filmmaker^[12]
• Toukie Smith – model, actress; sister of fashion designer Willi Smith
• Will Smith – actor, hip-hop recording artist, half of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
• David Smyrl – actor and television writer (Sesame Street)^[13]
• Joey Stefano – dancer, actor, porn star
• Parker Stevenson – actor
• Charles Stone III – film director, creator of Budweiser's "Whassup?" advertising campaign
• Holland Taylor – actress
• Teller – magician, half of Penn & Teller
• Frank Tinney – vaudeville comedian
• Jean Vander Pyl – actress, voice of Wilma Flintstone and Rosie the Robot Maid
• Tom Verica – actor
• Nancy Walker – actress, director
• Bruce Walsh – playwright
• Karen Malina White – actress
• Kenya D. Williamson – actress, screenwriter
• John Zacherle ("The Cool Ghoul") – actor, producer

Historical figures

• David Hayes Agnew (1818–1892) – surgeon and teacher^[1]
• Robert Aitken – publisher of the first Bible in North America^[1]
• Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888) – novelist^[1]
• Andrew Allen (1740–1825) – delegate to the Continental Congress^[1]
• Harrison Allen (1841–1897) – anatomist and physician^[1]
• Joseph Anderson – United States Senator^[1]
• Charles John Biddle (1819–1873) – member, U.S. House of Representatives
• Edward Biddle (1738–1779) – delegate, First Continental Congress
• Francis Biddle (1886–1968) – U.S. Solicitor General, U.S. Attorney General, principal American judge during the Nuremberg trials
• Nicholas Biddle (1786–1844) – financier, president, Second Bank of the United States
• Nicholas Biddle (1750–1778) – one of the original captains of the Continental Navy
• Richard Biddle (1796–1847) – member, U.S. House of Representatives, 1837–1840
• John C. Bowers (1811–1873) – entrepreneur, organist, abolitionist
• Thomas Bowers (c. 1823–1885) – concert artist
• Ed Bradley (1941–2006) – CBS News radio and television journalist, 1967–2006
• Henry "Box" Brown (1815–1878?) – abolitionist, escaped slavery by literally mailing himself to Philadelphia from Richmond, Virginia
• Bebe Moore Campbell (1950–2006) – author
• Samuel Carpenter (1649–1714) – first Treasurer of Pennsylvania, Deputy Governor to William Penn
• Octavius Valentine Catto (1839–1871) – educator, civil rights activist, and baseball player
• Marguerite de Angeli (1889–1987) – author, illustrator
• Henry George (1839–1897) – political economist, author Progress and Poverty
• Charlotte Forten Grimké (1837–1914) – abolitionist, poet, educator
• Benjamin Guggenheim (1865–1912) – businessman, died aboard the RMS Titanic
• John von Sonnentag de Havilland (1826–1886) – American officer of arms in England
• A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. (1928–1998) – commissioner, Kerner Commission; judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient
• John A. Hostetler (1918–2001) – author, educator, leading scholar of Amish and Hutterite societies
• Grace Kelly (1929–1982) – princess of Monaco; actress
• George Lippard (1822–1854) – novelist, journalist, playwright, social activist, labour organizer
• Alain LeRoy Locke – writer, key figure of the Harlem Renaissance; first African-American Rhodes Scholar
• George Gordon Meade – Union army general in the American Civil War
• George B. McClellan – Union army general in the American Civil War^[1]
• Henry C. McCook – entomologist, clergyman, author, designer of Philadelphia's city flag
• Joseph McKenna – associate justice, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Attorney General – member, U.S. House of Representatives
• Thomas Mifflin – Major General in Continental Army, fifth president of U.S. Congress, first governor of Pennsylvania^[1]
• Anna Balmer Myers – author
• Robert N. C. Nix, Jr. (1928–2003) – former chief justice, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• William Pepper (1843–1898) – founder of Free Library of Philadelphia; provost of University of Pennsylvania
• Philip Syng Physick – "father of American surgery"^[1]
• Betsy Ross (1752–1836) – reputed to have sewn the first American flag^[1]
• Peggy Shippen – wife of Benedict Arnold
• Leon Sullivan – Baptist minister, social activist
• Thomas Truxton – naval officer
• Frank J. Webb (1828–1894) – novelist, poet, essayist, first African American writer to portray northern racism and "passing"

Media and literature

• Isaac Ashmead (1790–1870) – printer
• Isaac Asimov – author ^[14]
• Tony Auth (1942-2014) – Pulitzer-prize winning editorial cartoonist
• Doug Banks – nationally syndicated morning radio personality^[15]
• Leslie Esdaile Banks – author
• Donald Barthelme – author
• Stan and Jan Berenstain – children's writing and illustration couple
• Evelyn Berckman – author
• Ben Bova – science fiction author
• Ed Bradley – journalist, 60 Minutes
• Tony Bruno – sports radio talk show host
• Gia Carangi – fashion model
• Angelo Cataldi – sports radio host
• Renee Chenault-Fattah – WCAU-TV news anchor; wife of U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah
• Michael Connelly – author
• Benjamin De Casseres – early 20th-century journalist
• Joseph Dennie – writer
• Charles Fuller – playwright
• Jim Gardner – WPVI-TV news anchor
• Mike Golic – ESPN radio and television personality, former Philadelphia Eagle
• David Goodis – author
• Terry Gross – radio host
• E. Michael Jones – magazine publisher, author
• Aries Keck – author, radio reporter
• Suzy Kolber – television sportscaster
• Andrea Kremer – television sportscaster
• Bob Lassiter – retired left-wing radio host
• Mark Levin – political commentator
• Jonathan Maberry – author
• Michelle Malkin – political commentator
• Chris Matthews – NBC/MSNBC journalist and political talk show host
• Jim McKay – ABC sports journalist
• Chris McKendry – ESPN SportsCenter anchor
• Larry Mendte – KYW-TV news anchor
• James A. Michener – author
• Thom Nickels – author, journalist
• PrankvsPrank – popular YouTube duo focusing on prank videos
• Joe Queenan – author, humorist
• Matthew Quick – author
• Beasley Reece – KYW-TV sports journalist, former Philadelphia Eagle
• Dave Roberts – WPVI-TV meteorologist; former co-host, AM Philadelphia; father of actor David Boreanaz
• Lisa Scottoline – author
• Peter Shellem – journalist for The Patriot-News
• Vai Sikahema – WCAU-TV sports journalist, former Philadelphia Eagle
• Michael Smerconish – WPHT-AM radio talk show host, Philadelphia Daily News columnist; MSNBC political analyst
• Stephen A. Smith – ESPN radio and television personality, former Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist
• Duane Swierczynski – author, former Philadelphia City Paper editor
• Omar Tyree – author
• Del Vaughn – CBS News correspondent; died in helicopter crash in 1972 while covering the flooding in Pennsylvania^[16]
• Ukee Washington – KYW-TV news anchor
• Jennifer Weiner – author

Military figures

• Jack Agnew – inspiration for the novel and film The Dirty Dozen
• Louis H. Carpenter – Brig. General, Medal of Honor recipient, vet of Civil War, Indian Wars, and Spanish–American War
• William Guarnere – U.S. Army Staff Sergeant, made famous by Band of Brothers
• Edward Heffron – U.S. Army Private, made famous by Band of Brothers
• H.R. McMaster – major general
• John J. McVeigh – Medal of Honor recipient
• Thomas H. Neill – Union army general
• John C. Pemberton – Commander of Confederate defenders at the Siege of Vicksburg

Music

• Andrew Adgate – musician, founder of music schools, and choir director^[1]
• Al Alberts (of The Four Aces) – singer
• Marian Anderson – opera singer/contralto
• Army of the Pharaohs – hip hop supergroup
• Frankie Avalon – singer, actor
• Az Yet – R&B singers
• Rachel Bagby – author, composer, singer, composer
• Bahamadia – rapper
• Pearl Bailey – singer, dancer, actress
• Charli Baltimore – hip-hop artist
• Samuel Barber – composer
• Len Barry (of The Dovells) – rock singer
• Toni Basil – singer ("Mickey"), choreographer, actress
• Diane Meredith Belcher – concert organist, teacher, and church musician
• Frankie Beverly – R&B singer/musician, founder and lead singer of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
• Charlie Biddle – jazz bassist
• Bilal – neo-soul singer/musician
• Cindy Birdsong – founding member, Labelle; replacement member, Diana Ross & the Supremes
• Bloodhound Gang – band
• Blue Magic – R&B singers
• Boyz II Men – R&B group
• Solomon Burke – R&B singer
• Uri Caine – composer, arranger, jazz pianist
• Cassidy – rapper
• Sarah Chang – violinist
• Chiddy Bang – rap group (consists of Chidera "Chiddy" Anamege and Noah "Xaphoon Jones" Beresin)
• Chubby Checker (born Ernest Evans) – singer
• Cinderella – glam metal band
• CKY – alternative metal band
• Stanley Clarke – bassist
• Alice Cohen – singer/songwriter
• John Coltrane – jazz saxophonist
• Cool C – rapper
• Jim Croce – singer
• The Cross Movement – Christian hip-hop artists
• Dandelion – grunge band, 1989 to 1996
• James Darren – singer, actor
• Dead Milkmen – punk/alternative band
• The Delfonics – Philadelphia soul group
• James DePreist – orchestral conductor
• Dieselboy – drum and bass DJ/producer
• Fred Diodati (of The Four Aces) – singer
• Diplo – DJ/producer
• Disco Biscuits – jam-band artists
• Dr. Dog – indie band
• Bill Doggett – jazz and R&B organist and pianist
• Gail Ann Dorsey – bassist
• Charles Earland – organist
• Eastern Conference Champions – alternative rock band
• Sandrine Erdely-Sayo – classical pianist
• Kevin Eubanks – jazz guitarist
• Robin Eubanks – jazz trombonist and arranger
• Eve – rapper, actress
• Fabian (born Fabian Forte) – singer, actor
• Sheila Ferguson – singer with The Three Degrees, 1966 to 1986
• Wilhelmenia Fernandez – opera singer/soprano
• Rachelle Ferrell – jazz vocalist
• Eddie Fisher – singer, actor
• Floetry – R&B/neo-soul/hip-hop duo
• Sam Fogarino – drummer, Interpol
• Freeway – rapper
• G. Love and Special Sauce – jam band
• Kenny Gamble – producer and co-founder, Philadelphia International Records
• Stan Getz – jazz saxophonist
• Benny Golson – jazz saxophonist
• Charlie Gracie – rock singer
• Gogi Grant (born Myrtle Audrey Arinsberg) – singer
• Anthony Green – singer, ex Saosin, Circa Survive
• Vivian Green – R&B singer
• Daryl Hall – singer, half of the duo Hall & Oates
• Joseph Hallman – composer, arranger, singer, producer
• Rufus Harley – jazz saxophonist and bagpipe player
• Albert Heath – jazz drummer
• Jimmy Heath – jazz saxophonist
• Percy Heath – jazz bassist
• The Hooters – rock band
• Leon Huff – producer and co-founder, Philadelphia International Records
• Phyllis Hyman – R&B/jazz vocalist
• The Intruders – Philadelphia soul group
• DJ Jazzy Jeff (born Jeffrey Townes) – hip-hop DJ, neo-soul producer, half of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
• Jedi Mind Tricks – underground hip-hop duo
• Joan Jett – rock musician
• Philly Joe Jones – jazz drummer
• Kitty Kallen (born Katie Kallen) – pop singer
• Jason Karaban – singer-songwriter
• Tom Keifer (born Carl Thomas Keifer) – vocalist of the glam metal band Cinderella
• Keith (born James Barry Keifer) – singer
• Bill Kenny – singer
• Khia – rapper
• King Britt – house DJ, producer
• The Kinleys – twin country music singers
• Kurupt – rapper
• Labelle (aka Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles) – soul and R&B singers
• Patti LaBelle – R&B singer
• Mario Lanza – operatic singer
• Lil Uzi Vert - Rapper and Hip-Hop Artist currently signed to Atlantic Records
• Lynda Laurence – Stevie Wonder, the Supremes
• Amos Lee – folk/blues singer
• A Life Once Lost – metal band signed to Ferret Music
• Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes – member, TLC
• Monie Love – rapper, radio personality
• The Loved Ones – punk rock band
• Leonard MacClain – theatre organ
• Al Martino (born Alfred Cini) – singer, actor
• Pat Martino – jazz guitarist
• Barbara Mason – R&B singer/composer
• Christian McBride – jazz bassist
• Marian Anderson - American gospel singer
• McFadden & Whitehead – singers, songwriters, producers
• Meek Mill – rapper
• MewithoutYou – Christian rock band signed to Tooth and Nail Records
• MFSB – Philadelphia soul group, recorded Soul Train theme song
• Ms. Jade – hip-hop artist
• Lee Morgan – trumpet
• Mountain Brothers – hip hop group
• James Mtume – R&B/jazz musician; founder of Mtume
• Musiq Soulchild (aka Musiq) – R&B/neo-soul singer
• Marc Nelson – R&B singer, Boyz II Men and Az Yet
• Lobo Nocho – African American émigré jazz singer in France^[17]
• John Oates – singer, half of the duo Hall & Oates
• The Orlons – R&B group
• Paint It Black – punk band
• Hugh Panaro – tenor singer; Broadway and opera
• Billy Paul – Philadelphia soul singer
• Teddy Pendergrass – R&B singer; Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
• Christina Perri – singer
• Vincent Persichetti – composer, music educator
• Pieces of a Dream – R&B/jazz fusion artists
• Pink – R&B/rock singer
• Fayette Pinkney – singer with The Three Degrees, 1963 to 1976
• Trudy Pitts – jazz keyboardist
• Princess Superstar – hip-hop performer
• Sun Ra – jazz pianist, bandleader
• Danny Rapp – singer, Danny & the Juniors
• Joe Renzetti – played guitar on many hit records; Cameo Records; arranged "Sunny," "Mandy," "98.6"; Oscar winner
• Res – R&B singer
• RJD2 – producer
• Paul Robeson – singer, activist, attorney, All-American college athlete
• The Roots – hip hop band
• Jack Rose – guitarist
• Todd Rundgren – musician, singer-songwriter, producer
• Bobby Rydell – singer, actor
• Santigold – dub punk singer
• John Sebastian – classical harmonica player and composer
• Schoolly D – rapper
• Jill Scott – R&B/neo-soul singer
• Shirley Scott – organ
• Dee Dee Sharp – singer, actress
• Gene Shay – "grandfather of Philadelphia folk music"
• Oscar Shumsky – violinist
• Beanie Sigel – rapper
• Bunny Sigler – R&B singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer
• Silvertide – rock band
• Siris – international music duo
• Soulquarians – neo-soul musical collective
• Steady B – rapper
• The Stylistics – Philadelphia soul group
• Jazmine Sullivan – multiple Grammy and BET Award nominee; R&B, soul vocalist
• Swayzak (of The Goats) – rapper
• Taylor Swift – country/pop singer
• Tammi Terrell – soul, R&B, Motown singer
• Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson – drummer, producer, DJ, writer, journalist, photographer
• The Three Degrees – Philadelphia soul/disco group
• Three Times Dope – hip-hop group
• The Trammps – disco band
• Robbie Tronco – DJ
• Ira Tucker – Dixie Hummingbirds
• Tuff Crew – hip-hop group
• McCoy Tyner – pianist
• Valencia – alternative rock band
• Kurt Vile – guitarist and vocalist
• Lee Ving – singer-songwriter and guitarist (Fear)
• The War on Drugs – psychedelic folk band
• Clara Ward – gospel singer
• Grover Washington, Jr. – jazz saxophonist
• Crystal Waters – dance and house music singer
• Ethel Waters – blues singer, actress
• André Watts – pianist
• Pamela Williams – jazz saxophonist
• Josh Wink – DJ, electronic music producer
• The Wonder Years – rock band
• Young Gunz – hip-hop duo
• Karen Young – disco singer
• The Young Werewolves – psychobilly group

Politics

• Leon Abbett – Governor of New Jersey^[1]
• Lynne Abraham – Philadelphia district attorney, 1991–2010
• William Allen – Mayor of Philadelphia from 1735 to 1736^[1]
• Chris Bartlett – LGBT community organizer
• Raj Bhakta – 2006 congressional candidate; contestant, The Apprentice, Season 2
• Michael J. Bradley – member, United States House of Representatives, 3rd Congressional District, Pennsylvania, 1935–1945
• Bob Brady – member, U.S. House of Representatives, 1st Congressional District, Pennsylvania, 1997–, 2007 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
• Raymond J. Broderick – U.S. Federal Judge
• William T. Cahill – Governor of New Jersey, 1970–74
• Ashton Carter – physicist, Harvard University professor, and United States Secretary of Defense
• Augusta Clark – librarian, politician and lawyer; second African-American woman to serve on the Philadelphia City Council, 1980–2000^[18]
• Joseph S. Clark – Mayor of Philadelphia, 1952–1956; U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, 1956–1968
• Mark B. Cohen – member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1974 to date;; Democratic leader of Pennsylvania House; Chairman, House Labor Relations Committee
• Henry Conner – member, Wisconsin State Senate
• George M. Dallas – U.S. Vice President^[1]
• Richardson Dilworth – lawyer; Philadelphia district attorney, 1952–1956; Mayor of Philadelphia, 1956–1962
• Dwight E. Evans – member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 203rd Legislative District; 2007 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
• Chaka Fattah – member, U.S. House of Representatives since 1995; 2007 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
• Douglas J. Feith – Undersecretary of Defense under President George W. Bush, leading adviser on Iraq policy
• Tom Feeney – State of Florida politician (from 1990)
• Benjamin Franklin – a Founding Father of the United States, from 1723-1790
• Shirley Franklin – mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, 2002–2010
• W. Wilson Goode – Mayor of Philadelphia, 1984–1992
• W. Wilson Goode, Jr. – at-large member, Philadelphia City Council, 2000–
• Oscar Goodman – attorney; mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, 1999–
• William H. Gray – Baptist minister; former member, U.S. House of Representatives; former president, United Negro College Fund
• William J. Green III – mayor of Philadelphia, 1980–1984; member, U.S. House of Representatives, 1964–1977
• Simon Guggenheim – U.S. Senator, Colorado, 1907–1913; philanthropist
• Alexander Haig – former U.S. Secretary of State and White House Chief of Staff
• Richard Helms – Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) from 1966 to 1973
• Charles W. Heyl – Wisconsin State Assembly
• George Landenberger – 23rd Governor of American Samoa
• Frank J. Larkin – Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate ^[19]
• John J. McCloy – chairman, Chase Manhattan Bank and Ford Foundation; Assistant U.S. Secretary of War during World War II; subsequently Allies' High Commissioner of Germany
• J. Whyatt Mondesire – president, NAACP, Philadelphia chapter
• Patrick Murphy – member, U.S. House of Representatives, 8th Congressional District, Pennsylvania, 2007–2010
• Robert N.C. Nix, Sr. – member, U.S. House of Representatives, 1959–1979
• Michael A. Nutter – Mayor of Philadelphia, 2008–2016; member, Philadelphia City Council, 4th District, 1992–2006
• Dennis M. O'Brien – member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 169th Legislative District; 1976–1980 and 1982–; Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 2007–2008
• Tony J. Payton, Jr. – member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 179th Legislative District; 2007–
• Boies Penrose – U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, 1897–1921; party boss
• Charles H. Ramsey – Philadelphia police commissioner, 2008–
• Samuel J. Randall – member House of Representatives and 33rd Speaker of the House^[20]
• Ed Rendell – Governor of Pennsylvania, 2003–2011; Mayor of Philadelphia, 1992–2000
• Frank Rizzo – Mayor of Philadelphia, 1972–1980; Philadelphia police commissioner, 1967–1971
• John Robbins – member of the U.S. House of Representatives^[21]
• Allyson Schwartz – member, U.S. House of Representatives, 13th Congressional District, Pennsylvania, 2005–
• Arlen Specter – U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania, 1981–2011; Philadelphia district attorney, 1966–1974
• Ben Stahl – Jewish labor leader and activist
• John F. Street – Mayor of Philadelphia, 2000–2008
• Milton Street – entrepreneur; former Pennsylvania state legislator; 2007 Philadelphia City Council candidate; brother of John F. Street
• Norman Sussman – Wisconsin State Senator
• Al Taubenberger – 2007 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
• C. Delores Tucker – civil rights activist; Pennsylvania Secretary of State, 1971–1977
• Anna C. Verna – member, Philadelphia City Council, 2nd District, 1976–; Philadelphia City Council president, 2000–
• R. Seth Williams – Philadelphia District Attorney, 2010–
• Fernando Wood – Mayor of New York, 1855–1858, 1860–1862
• Benjamin Netanyahu - Prime Minister of Israel

Sports

Rubén Amaro, Jr.

• Deion Barnes – NFL – Northeast High School Penn State University

Bobby Convey

Marvin Harrison

Vic Seixas

• John Abadie – baseball player^[22]
• Cal Abrams – baseball player
• Chris Albright – Major League Soccer defender for the Philadelphia Union
• Doug Allison – first baseball player ever to use a glove^[22]
• Eddie Alvarez – mixed martial artist, UFC lightweight champion
• Rubén Amaro, Jr. – baseball player and general manager, Philadelphia Phillies
• Paul Arizin – early NBA basketball player with the Philadelphia Warriors
• Reds Bassman – football player
• Bert Bell – founder of the Philadelphia Eagles football team, commissioner of the National Football League
• Mohini Bhardwaj – Olympic gymnast
• Tyrell Biggs – boxer, 1984 Olympic gold medalist
• Audrey Bleiler – All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
• Thomas Brennan – professional hockey player
• Charles Brewer – boxer, former super middleweight champion
• Derek Bryant – heavyweight boxer^[23]
• Kobe Bryant – professional basketball player, 5-time NBA Finals champion
• Roy Campanella – professional baseball player, 3-time National League Most Valuable Player^[22]
• Wilt Chamberlain – professional basketball player, 2-time NBA champion
• Ben Clime – NFL player
• Randall "Tex" Cobb – boxer and actor
• Don Cohan – 1972 Olympic bronze medalist in sailing
• Steve Coleman – NFL player
• Bobby Convey – professional soccer player for the San Jose Earthquakes and the United States Men's National Soccer Team
• Tyrone Crawley – boxer
• Fran Crippen – professional swimmer
• Maddy Crippen – swimmer, 2000 Olympics
• Steve Cunningham – boxer, current IBF cruiserweight champion
• Ollie Dobbins – football player
• Buster Drayton – boxer, light middleweight (super welterweight) champion
• Jon Drummond – track and field athlete, 1996 and 2000 Olympic medalist
• Dave Dunaway – NFL player
• Angelo Dundee – boxing trainer
• Fred Dunlap – professional baseball player^[22]
• John Edelman – professional baseball player
• Jahri Evans – NFL player
• Francine Fournier – professional wrestling valet with Extreme Championship Wrestling
• Joe Frazier – boxer, 1964 Olympic gold medalist and world heavyweight champion
• Marvis Frazier – boxer, son of Joe Frazier
• Harry Fritz – baseball player
• Jim "Sandman" Fullington – professional wrestler, Extreme Championship Wrestling and WWE
• Mark Gerban – first world champion rower for Palestine
• Eddie George – NFL player, 1995 Heisman Trophy winner
• Kerry Getz – professional skateboarder
• Joey Giardello – professional boxer and middleweight champion
• Tom Gola – NBA player, La Salle University men's basketball head coach, 1983 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
• Brent Grimes – NFL player
• Randy Grossman – NFL player; four-time Super Bowl Champion
• Mark Gubicza – professional baseball player
• Drew Gulak – professional wrestler
• Matt Guokas – NBA player and coach
• Brendan Hansen – Olympic swimmer
• Eric Harding – boxer
• Marvin Harrison – NFL player
• Kirk Hershey – NFL player
• Bill Holland- Winner of 1949 Indianapolis 500, finished second in 1947,1948 and 1950.
• Bernard Hopkins – boxer, world middleweight champion
• Demetrius Hopkins – boxer, nephew of Bernard Hopkins
• Reggie Jackson – Hall of Fame baseball player
• John B. Kelly Sr. – triple Olympic gold medal winning rower, father of Princess Grace of Monaco
• John B. Kelly Jr. – champion rower, brother of Princess Grace of Monaco
• Florian Kempf – football player^[24]
• Matt Kilroy – professional baseball player^[22]
• Sam Kimber – professional baseball player
• Bart King – cricket bowler
• Rick Lackman – NFL player
• Dave LaCrosse – NFL player
• Sonny Liston – boxer, former world heavyweight champion
• Tommy Loughran – boxer, light heavyweight champion
• John Macionis – Olympic swimmer, silver medalist, 1936
• John McDermott – professional golfer
• Benny McLaughlin – professional soccer player, member of United States Soccer Hall of Fame
• Jake Metz – football player
• Levi Meyerle – professional baseball player^[22]
• Nate Miller – boxer, former cruiserweight champion
• Alvin Mitchell – football player
• Willie Mosconi – professional pool (pocket billiards) player
• Matthew Saad Muhammad – boxer, light heavyweight champion
• Browning Nagle – NFL player
• Jim O'Brien – NBA coach
• Vince Papale – NFL player, inspiration for the motion picture Invincible
• Mike Powell – track and field athlete, 1988 and 1992 Olympic silver medalist, current holder of the long jump world record
• Zahir Raheem – boxer, 1996 Olympian
• Jack Ramsay – basketball coach, Saint Joseph's College men's team; NBA coach; general manager; TV commentator; Hall of Famer
• Merrill Reese – Philadelphia Eagles radio broadcaster
• David Reid – boxer, 1996 Olympic gold medalist, light middleweight
• Stevie Richards – professional wrestler, Extreme Championship Wrestling and WWE
• Ivan Robinson – boxer
• Allen Rosenberg – rower and rowing coach
• Vic Seixas – tennis player
• Kirk Shelmerdine – NASCAR driver, crew chief
• Steve Slaton – NFL player
• Harry Stovey – professional baseball player^[22]
• Eric Tangradi – NHL player
• Meldrick Taylor – boxer, 1984 Olympic gold medalist, welterweight and junior welterweight champion
• Aaron Torres – boxer, contestant on The Contender 2
• Najai Turpin – boxer, contestant on The Contender
• Harp Vaughan – NFL player
• John Waerig – NFL player
• Steve Wagner – Olympic field hockey player
• Bobby "Boogaloo" Watts – boxer
• Charles Way – NFL player
• Erik Williams – football player, defensive tackle for Dallas Cowboys
• Ike Williams – boxer, lightweight champion
• Joe Williams – American football player
• Stevie Williams – professional skateboarder for D.G.K.
• Ned Williamson – professional baseball player^[22]
• George Winslow – NFL player
• Jimmy Young – boxer

Philadelphia native basketball players

• Ryan Arcidiacono - NCAA Champion - NBA
• Mike Bantom – 1972 United States National Basketball Team – NBA – Roman Catholic High School
• Gene Banks- West Philadelphia High School- Duke University - NBA
• Joe "Jellybean" Bryant – Bartram HS - LaSalle University - NBA, including 76ers
• Kobe Bryant – NBA – Lower Merion High School
• Rasual Butler – NBA – Roman Catholic High School
• Fred Carter – NBA - Benjamin Franklin HS
• Wilt Chamberlain – NBA – Overbrook High School
• Dionte Christmas – NBA – Samuel Fels High School
• Mardy Collins – NBA – Simon Gratz High School
• Dallas Comegys – NBA – Roman Catholic High School
• Mark Davis – NBL (Australia) – Adelaide 36ers
• Wayne Ellington – NBA – Episcopal Academy
• Tyreke Evans – NBA – Chester High School
• D'or Fischer - American-Israeli - Upper Darby^[25]
• Eddie Griffin – NBA – Roman Catholic High School
• Gerald Henderson Jr. – NBA – Episcopal Academy
• Marc Jackson – NBA – Roman Catholic High School
• Wali Jones – NBA _ Overbrook HS
• Bo Kimble – NBA - Dobbins Tech
• Kyle Lowry – NBA – Cardinal Dougherty High School
• Aaron McKie – NBA – Simon Gratz High School
• Cuttino Mobley – NBA - Cardinal Dougherty HS
• Earl Monroe – NBA - Bartram HS
• Marcus Morris – NBA - APEX Academy
• Markieff Morris – NBA - APEX Academy
• Ronald "Flip" Murray – NBA – Strawberry Mansion High School
• Jameer Nelson – NBA – Chester High School
• Aaron Owens – Simon Gratz High School
• Malik Rose – NBA - Overbrook HS
• John Salmons – NBA - Plymouth-Whitmarsh HS
• Da'Rel Scott – NFL – Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School
• Dawn Staley – WNBA
• Dion Waiters – NBA – Life Center Academy
• Rasheed Wallace – NBA – Simon Gratz High School
• Hakim Warrick – NBA
• Maalik Wayns – NBA – Roman Catholic High School
• Alvin Williams – NBA
• Khalif Wyatt – NBA D-League – Norristown High School

Other

• Ramona Africa – only adult to survive the 1985 bombing of the MOVE house
• Gloria Allred – attorney
• Sydney Biddle Barrows – illegal escort service proprietor, often referred to as "The Mayflower Madam"
• Guion Bluford – astronaut, first African-American in space
• Antuan Bronshtein – convicted murderer
• Pete Conrad – astronaut, third man to walk on the moon (Apollo 12)
• Wilbur Davenport - engineer and scientist known for his work on communication systems
• Katherine Drexel – Roman Catholic saint
• Ira Einhorn – environmental and anti-war activist; convicted murderer
• Daniel Faulkner – Philadelphia police officer killed in the line of duty; Wesley Cook was convicted of his murder
• Christopher Ferguson – astronaut
• Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde – Philadelphia Municipal Court judge, boxer; daughter of Joe Frazier
• Barbara Harris – first woman ordained bishop in the Anglican Communion
• Paul B. Higginbotham – judge, Wisconsin Court of Appeals
• Ruth Malcomson (1906–1988) – Miss America 1924
• James Martin – Jesuit priest, writer (My Life with the Saints), and frequent media commentator on modern Catholicism
• Seamus McCaffrey – former justice, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; former presiding judge of the "Eagles Court"
• Carol McCain – ex-wife of presidential candidate John McCain
• Silas Weir Mitchell – physician, writer
• Bawa Muhaiyaddeen – Sufi saint
• John Joseph O'Connor – Roman Catholic cardinal; archbishop, Archdiocese of New York, 1984–2000
• Marjorie Rendell – judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 1997–; first lady of Pennsylvania, 2003–
• Amber Rose – model
• Nicodemo Scarfo – mafioso; head of the Scarfo crime family, 1981–1991
• Samuel Gilbert Scott – daredevil
• Lester Shubin – Inventor of the Kevlar vest^[26]
• Nancy Spungen – girlfriend of Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious
• Walter E. Williams – economist and author
• Joshua Wurman – meteorologist, leader of VORTEX2

References

References are on the article pages if not listed here.

1. Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
2. jacob soll | West Philly Local
3. Cecilia Beaux Cecilia Beaux
4. Will Stapp, John Hannavy (ed.), Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography, Vol. 1 (Routledge, 2007), pp. 142–143, Google Books
5. Shewry, Brian (August 19, 2004). "Ginger's quest is where angels are always pleased to tread". Littlehampton Gazette: 31–32.
6. "Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb". The Library Company of Philadelphia. World Digital Library. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
7. Sarah Weatherwax, John Hannavy (ed.), William Herman Rau, Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography, Vol. 1 (Routledge, 2007), pp. 1184, Google Books
8. Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1967.
9. Barnes, Mike (June 4, 2010). "Teshome Actor Eddie Barth dies; Voiceover artist known for 1980s Miller Lite commercials". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
10. http://www.theatrefest.com/LaurieBeechman/memories.asp?article=obit.html
11. Miss Bessie Clayton, Retired Ballerina, The New York Times, July 17, 1948, p. 15
12. Petaloudis, Greg (April 3, 2014). "One Time Screening: Jack Thomas Smith's New Horror Movie "Infliction" Anthology Film Archives New York". Horror Unlimited.
13. Cook, Bonnie L. (2016-03-26). "David L. Smyrl, Mr. Handford on 'Sesame Street'". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
14. http://hiddencityphila.org/2014/07/sci-phi-isaac-asimovs-west-philly-years/
15. Doug Banks Radio Show
16. "Four Die in 'Copter Crash, June 27, 1972". The Morning Herald, Uniontown, Pennsylvania. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
17. "Winston Churchill's Daughter May Wed Negro Artist". Jet Magazine. Google Books. January 28, 1965. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
18. "Former Philly Councilwoman Augusta Clark Dies at 81". WCAU. October 14, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2013.
19. Frank J. Larkin-United States Senate
20. "RANDALL, Samuel Jackson (1828–1890)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
21. "LICHTENWALNER, Norton Lewis (1889–1960)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
22. Reichler, Joseph L., ed. (1979) [1969]. The Baseball Encyclopedia (4th ed.). New York: Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 0-02-578970-8.
23. "Derek Bryant". FightsRec.com. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
24. "Florian Kempf". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 12, 2014.
26. Sullivan, Patricia (November 28, 2009). "Developer of Kevlar vest, Lester Shubin, dies". The San Francisco Chronicle.

External links

• Famous Philadelphians Notable Names Database
• Books by authors associated with Philadelphia PhillyFiction.com
• King, Moses (1902). Philadelphia and notable Philadelphians. New York: Blanchard Press. Retrieved November 10, 2013.