F. Murray Abraham Actor
Kirk Acevedo Actor, probably best known for his roles as Alvarez on HBO's Oz as well as FBI Agent Charlie Francis in the Fox TV science-fiction series Fringe Born in Brooklyn, raised in the Bronx. 27 Nov 1971
Joey Adams comedian, actor
Mason Adams Actor, probably best known for the role of Managing Editor Charlie Hume on the Lou Grant TV show, which ran for five seasons. 26 Feb 1919

died: 26 April 2005
Woody Allen Filmmaker, comedian, actor
Alan Arkin Actor and Director 26 March 1934
Adam Arkin Actor 19 Aug 1957
Isaac Asimov Author
W.H. Auden Poet, Author one of several famous residents of February House at 7 Middagh Street. 21 Feb 1907

died: 28 Sep 1973
Paul Auster Author Park Slope 3 Feb 1947
Lauren Bacall Actress
Angelo Badalamenti Film Composer 22 Mar 1937
Joseph Barbera Hanna and Barbera Cartoons
Dave Barry Writer
Gene Barry Actor
Jean-Michel Basquiat Artist 22 Dec 1960

died: 12 Aug 1988
Daniel Benzali Actor Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Benzali's family moved to Brownsville when he was a child. Probably best known for recurring roles on TV in Murder One, The Agency, and NYPD Blue. 20 Jan 1950
Pat Benatar Singer / Songwriter Born Patricia Mae Andrzejewski, Benatar lived in Greenpoint until she was 3 years old.
Paul Bettany Actor Lived on Prospect Park West (Park Slope), with wife Jennifer Connelly
Dante Beze a.k.a. Mos Def
Eubie Blake Ragtime performer & composer Bedford-Stuyvesant 7 Feb 1883

died: 12 Feb 1983
David Blaine Illusionist
Joe Bologna Actor
Clara Bow Actress
Jane Bowles Author and playwright One of several famous residents of February House 22 Feb 1917

died: 4 May 1973
Paul Bowles Composer and author One of several famous residents of February House 30 Dec 1910

died: 18 Nov 1999
Benjamin Britten British composer and pianist One of several famous residents of February House 22 Nov 1913

died: 4 Dec 1976
Mel Brooks Writer, Director Brownsville, Brighton Beach, and Williamsburg 28 Jun 1926
Margaret Wise Brown Author of children's classic book Goodnight, Moon Greenpoint 23 May 1910

died: 13 Nov 1952
Foxy Brown Rapper Park Slope, now lives in Prospect Heights. Apparently does not get along with her neighbors. 6 Sept 1978
Larry Brown NY Nicks Basketball Coach 14 Sep 1940
Julie Budd Singer
Steve Buscemi Actor, Director, Writer 13 Dec 1967
Eddie Cantor Entertainer Born on the Lower East Side, attended business school in Williamsburg and was a singing waiter on Coney Island.
Alphonse Capone Mobster 17 Jan 1899

died: 25 Jan 1947
Betty Carter Jazz Singer
Jack Carter Comedian
Shawn Carter a.k.a. Jay-Z, rapper, part owner of NJ Nets basketball team Marcy Houses, Bedford-Stuyvesant. 4 Dec 1968
Harry Chapin Singer, Songwriter
Shirley Chisholm first black U.S. Congresswoman
Dane Clark Actor
Kim Coles Singer
Betty Comden Composer
Didi Conn Actor
Jennifer Connelly Actress Lived in Park Slope briefly. 12 Dec 1970
Pat Cooper comedian
Aaron Copland Composer
John Corigliano Composer
Howard Cossell Sportscaster
Jonathan Coulton Singer/Songwriter. Provides background music for hobo documentaries. Park Slope 1 Dec 1970
Peter Criss Born George Peter John Criscuola, original drummer for rock band KISS Greenpoint 20 Dec 1945
Billy Cunningham Basketball Hall of Famer, Philly 76ers 3 Jun 1943
Vic Damone Singer, actor
Tony Danza Entertainer
Clive Davis Arista Records founder Crown Heights 4 April 1934
Larry David Comedian, actor, co-creator of Seinfeld Attended Sheepshead Bay High School (1966) 2 July 1947
Calvert De Forest Actor and Comedian who created the character of Larry "Bud" Melman from the David Letterman Show attended Poly Prep Country Day School in Dyker Heights 23 July 1921

died: 19 March 2007
Elaine de Kooning Painter
Dom DeLuise Actor, Comedian, probably best known for his appearances in Mel Brooks films. Bensonhurst 1 August 1933

died: 4 May 2009
Alan M. Dershowitz Attorney
Neil Diamond Singer, Songwriter
Mike Diamond one third of the Beastie Boys
"Evil Dick" Donato TV Series "Big Brother 8" winner
Donald Wills Douglas aeronautical engineer, founder of Douglas Aircraft (later McDonnell Douglas) 1892

died: 1981
Richard Dreyfuss Actor
Allen B. DuMont Television Pioneer and inventor on Eastern Parkway 29 Jan 1901

died: 14 Nov 1965
Fabolous Dominican-American rapper, born John David Jackson
Edie Falco Actress, best known for character Carmela Soprano in HBO series The Sopranos, for which she won 3 Emmy awards, 2 Golden Globe awards, and 3 SAG awards. 5 July 1963
Eliot Feld Choreographer
Jerry Ferrara Actor, best known for character "Turtle" on HBO's Entourage attended Abraham Lincoln High School in Coney Island 25 Nov 1979
Lou Ferrigno Bodybuilder, actor, "The Incredible Hulk" Attended Brooklyn Tech HS 9 Nov 1951
Harvey Fierstein Actor, Playwright
Fyvush Finkel Actor Brownsville
Bobby Fischer Chess champion
Phil Foster Actor, Writer, Director, born Philip Feldman near Foster Avenue, from which he took his stage name. 1913

died: 1985
George Gershwin Composer East New York and Coney Island 1898

died: 1937
Vincent Gardenia Actor
Debbie Gibson Singer Born in Brooklyn, raised on the Island.
Jack Gilford Actor Williamsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsberg Supreme Court Justice Attended James Madison High School in Midwood 15 Mar 1933
Jackie Gleason Actor, Comedian Gleason lived at 328 Chauncey Street, in between Bushwick and Bed-Stuy (the same address was used for The Honeymooners, but they called the neighborhood Bensonhurst). The apartment Gleason grew up in was used as the model for the TV show, and the building is still there. 26 Feb 1916

died: 24 Jun 1987
Marty Glickman Sportscaster Brownsville, East New York, Flatbush and Bensonhurst
Louis Gossett, Jr. Actor
Elliott Gould Actor 29 Aug 1938
Ellie Greenwich A songwriter, singer, and musician, Greenwich wrote or co-wrote an astonishing number of hits such as The Ronettes' Be My Baby, Tell Laura I Love Her sung by Ray Patterson in the US and Ricky Valance in the UK, The Crystals' Da Doo Ron Ron, and The Leader of the Pack by the Shangri-Las. In 1964 alone she co-wrote 17 songs that hit the Billboard charts. 23 Oct 1940

died: 26 Aug 2009
Adrien Grenier actor / filmmaker / musician Has a home in Clinton Hill. Does his shifts at the Food Co-op. At least that's what we hear. 10 July 1976
Jerry Greenfield Jerry of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream 1951
Rudy Giuliani born in Brooklyn in 1944
Morty Gunty Actor, Comedian
Arlo Guthrie Singer, Songwriter Born in Coney Island, son of Woody Guthrie, probably best known for his song Alice's Restaurant Massacree � You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant... as well as the song The City of New Orleans, a song celebrating long-range passenger train travel (Guthrie wrote Alice's Restaurant, City of New Orleans was written by Steve Goodman). 10 July 1947
Woody Guthrie Poet, Folksinger, lived in Brooklyn
Buddy Hackett Comedian
Adelaide Hall Jazz singer, credited with invention of scat singing 20 Oct 1901

died: 7 Nov 1993
Moss Hart Playwright, Lyricist
Connie Hawkins Basketball Hall of Famer Bedford-Stuyvesant, Graduate of Boys High School 17 Jul 1942
Susan Hayward Actress 30 Jan 1918

died: 14 Mar 1975
Gil Hayward Actor
Rita Hayworth Actress
Jamie Hector Actor, best known for playing role of Marlo Stanfield in HBO series The Wire. East Flatbush 7 Oct 1975
Joseph Heller Author, "Catch 22" Coney Island 1 May 1923

died: 12 Dec 1999
Gregory Hines Entertainer 14 Feb 1946

died: 9 Aug 2003
Gil Hodges Brooklyn Dodger
John Hodgman Author, humorist, hobo expert, and the "PC Guy" in Apple's Mac vs. PC commercials. Park Slope 3 Jun 71
Celeste Holm Actress Attended school in Brooklyn 29 Apr 1919
Sidney Hook Philosopher, Marxist scholar Bushwick Ave., then Locust St., and, in the 1930's, in Park Slope 20 Dec 1902

died: 12 Jul 1989
Lena Horne Singer
Edward Everett Horton Actor 18 Mar 1886

died: 29 Sep 1970
Harry Houdini Escape Artist, Illusionist
Moe Howard of the Three Stooges born in Bensonhurst 19 Jun 1897

died: 4 May 1975
Curly Howard of the Three Stooges Bath Beach 22 Oct 1903

died: 18 Jan 1952
Shemp Howard of the Three Stooges 17 Mar 1895

died: 23 Nov 1955
Anne Jackson Actress grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from Franklin K. Lane High School
Michael Jordan Basketball superstar
Big Daddy Kane Rapper Antonio Monterio Hardy, a.k.a. Big Daddy Kane was raised in Queens, but born in Bed-Stuy. 10 Sept 1968
Danny Kaye One of the world's best-known comedians, Kaye was a popular film, television, and Broadway star. Lived at 250 Bradford Street in East New York, attended PS 149 and dropped out of Thomas Jefferson High School 18 Jan 1913

died: 3 Mar 1987
Lainie Kazan Singer, Broadway, Film, and Television star Attended Erasmus Hall High School. 15 May 1940
Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator & Artist family lived at 438 Vermont Street, just off Granville Payne Ave. 11 Mar 1916

died: 6 May 1983
Harvey Keitel Actor 13 May 1939
Talib Kweli Rapper Lived in Park Slope and Bed-Stuy, attended Brooklyn Tech High School in Ft Greene.
Alan King TV Host
Carole King Singer, Songwriter
Larry King TV Host Brownsville
Kenny Kirkland Jazz pianist, played with Branford and Wynton Marsalis, Sting, and others. Kirkland joined the Branford Marsalis' Tonight Show band and served as its pianist until his death at age 43. 28 Sep 1955

died: 12 Nov 1998
Jake Koenig Actor
Bernie Kopell Actor, Comedian Attended Erasmus High 21 Jun 1933
Sandy Koufax Hall of Fame pitcher
Lee Krasner Painter, wife of Jackson Pollock 1908

died: 1984
KRS-One Rapper, born Lawrence Parker, lived in Park Slope, moved to the Bronx as a teen.
Martin Landau Actor
Julius LaRosa Singer 2 Jan 1930
Dan Lauria Actor, best known as the father in TV series The Wonder Years
Jacob Lawrence Painter Taught at Pratt Institute, 1955-1970 7 Sep 1917

died: 9 Jun 2000
Steve Lawrence Entertainer
Heath Ledger Actor Lived in Boerum Hill with Michelle Williams until they separated. 4 Apr 1979

died: 22 Jan 2008
Spike Lee Filmmaker Born in Atlanta, moved to Chicago and then to Ft. Greene in 1959. 20 Mar 1957
Gypsy Rose Lee Actress and burlesque entertainer One of several famous residents of February house. 9 Feb 1911

died: 26 Apr 1970
Emmanuel Lewis Actor, title character in the 1980s� television sitcom "Webster" graduate of Midwood High School March 9, 1971
Richard Lewis Comedian 29 June 1947
Harvey Lichtenstein Brooklyn Academy of Music executive director for 32 years
Lil Kim Rapper
Tony Lo Bianco actor
Vince Lombardi A legendary football coach and general manager, best known as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers during the 1960s. The NFL Super Bowl trophy is named after him. Sheepshead Bay 11 June 1913

died: 3 Sept 1970
Leonard Lopate Broadcaster, WNYC-FM
Phillip Lopate Author
Norman Mailer Author
Barry Manilow Singer, Songwriter Born and raised in Williamsburg, Manilow attended Eastern District High School (which no longer exists) 17 June 1943
Paule Marshall Author
Maxwell R&B Singer Gerald Maxwell Rivera
Peter Max Painter
Frank McCourt Celebrated Irish author, born on Classon Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant, McCourt's immigrant family moved back to Ireland when he was 4 years old. Bed-Stuy 30 Aug 1930

died: 19 July 2009
Carson McCullers Southern Gothic Author, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, The Ballad of the Sad Cafe One of several famous residents of February House. 19 Feb 1917

died: 29 Sep 1967
Anne Meara Actress, Comedienne 20 Sep 1929
Robert Merrill singer
Arthur Miller playwright
Stephanie Mills Singer
Alyssa Milano Actress
Henry Miller Author, Painter Born in Manhattan, grew up in Williamsburg. Author of "Tropic of Cancer", which led to a series of obscenity trials that tested American laws on pornography. 26 Deck 1891

died: 7 Jun 1980
Wentworth Miller Television actor, "Prison Break" Born in England, moved to Park Slope as an infant. Attended Midwood High School. 2 Jun 1972
Marianne Moore Poet, lived in Brooklyn 1887

died: 1972
Mary Tyler Moore Actress
Esai Morales Actor
Cousin Brucie Morrow Radio Personality
Mos Def Rapper Dante Terrell Smith was born in Bed-Stuy and lived in the Roosevelt Houses.
Arnold Moss Performer, writer, Broadway producer 1910

died: 1989
Zero Mostel Actor
Eddie Murphy Actor, Comedian
Nasir Bin Olu Dara Jones, a.k.a. Nas Rapper Born in Crown Heights, moved to Queensbridge at age 4. 14 Sept 1973
Harry Nilsson Singer, Songwriter
Ol' Dirty Bastard Rapper Russell Tyrone Jones, the late Ol' Dirty Bastard, rapper from the Wu Tang Clan, was born in Ft Greene. Other Wu Tang members have Brooklyn roots: Gary �GZA� Grice lived in Brooklyn. Corey �Raekwon� Woods, Lamont �U-God� Hawkins and Robert �RZA� Diggs were all born in Brooklyn but grew up in Staten Island. Jamal "Masta Killa" Arief was born in Brooklyn. 15 Nov 1968

died: 13 Nov 2004
Joseph Papirofsky a.k.a. Joe Papp, founder of the New York Public Theatre, New York Shakespeare Festival
Floyd Patterson Boxer, born in North Carolina, raised in Brooklyn
Joe Paterno Head Coach, Penn State football Graduated from Brooklyn Prep High School in Clinton Hill 21 Dec 1926
Arno Penzias Nobel Prize in Physics Attended Brooklyn Tech HS, class of 1951
Beverly Pepper Sculptor 1924
S. J. Perelman Cartoonist, Writer 1904

died: 1979
Rosie Perez Actress
Rhea Perlman Actress, author born in Coney Island and grew up in Bensonhurst 31 Mar 1948
Noel W. Pointer, Sr. Violinist
Willie Randolph Jr. NY Mets manager Born in Holly Hill, South Carolina, lived in Tilden Houses, Brownsville 6 Jul 1954
Richie Ray El Embajador del Piano, Ray is a virtuoso pianist, singer, music arranger, composer and religious minister who is half of one of the world's most popular salsa duos, with bandmate Bobby Cruz. Hoyt Street 15 Feb 1945
Martha Raye Actress, Singer, Comedienne
Lou Reed Singer / Songwriter, The Velvet Underground Probably best known for his songs Take A Walk On The Wild Side and Sweet Jane, Reed was born at Beth El Hospital (but raised on Long Island).
Trevor Smith a.k.a. Busta Rhymes -- Rapper Born in East Flatbush. Attended George Westinghouse High School, along with fellow rappers Jay Z and Notorious B.I.G. 20 May 1972
Sal Richards actor
The Ritz Brothers movie comedians
Joan Rivers comedienne
Max Roach Drummer, born in N.C., raised in Brooklyn
Lucille Roberts fitness guru
Jackie Robinson First African-American Major League baseball player (1947) born in Cairo, Georgia, Robinson played his entire career within the Brooklyn Dodgers organization.
Chris Rock comedian, actor Bedford-Stuyvesant, attended James Madison High School in Midwood 7 Feb 1966
Mickey Rooney actor
Stanley Ralph Ross actor
Barry M. Rosen Press Attach� to the US Embassy to Iran; was held hostage in Tehran for 444 days between 1979 and 1980 Gravesend
Steve Rubell part owner, Studio 54 attended Wingate High School 2 Dec 1943

died: 25 July 1989
Carl Sagan Astronomer, author Bensonhurst, Bay 37th Street, later Bay Parkway 9 Nov 1934

died: 20 Dec 1996
Adam Sandler Actor, Comedian
John Saxon actor
Jack Scalia actor
Charles Schumer U.S. Senator
Vincent Schiavelli Actor, known for character parts in movies such as "One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest", "Fast Times At Ridgemont High", etc. 1948

died: 2005
Howard Schultz Founder of Starbucks Coffee Bayview Houses, Canarsie 19 July 1953
Neil Sedaka singer, songwriter
Jerry Seinfeld Comedian Born in Borough Park, then moved to Long Island 29 Apr 1954
Maurice Sendak author and illustrator Best known for his books Where The Wild Things Are and In The Night Kitchen, Sendak has authored and illustrated dozens of children's books, designed scenery for ballet and opera, and created the television series Seven Little Monsters. 10 June 1928
Roger Sessions composer 1896

died: 1985
Ben Shahn artist 1899

died: 1969
Judge Judy Sheindlin judge, author, tv personality
Beverly Sills Opera Singer Crown Heights, attended Erasmus Hall High School 25 May 1929

died: 2 July 2007
Phil Silvers Broadway, film, and TV star 1911

died: 1985
Neil Simon Playwright, Author
Genaro Anthony (Tony) Sirico Jr. Actor, played "Paulie Walnuts" on The Sopranos Midwood 29 Jul 1942
Betty Smith A Tree Grows In Brooklyn author
Jimmy Smits Actor Graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School (East New York) and Brooklyn College 9 Jul 1955
Robert Weston Smith a.k.a. Wolfman Jack, Radio Personality 21 Jan 1939

died: 1 Jul 1995
Robert Solow Economist, Nobel Laureate 23 Aug 1924
Paul Sorvino actor
Mickey Spillane author 9 Mar 1918
Morgan Spurlock Documentary filmmaker Best known as the filmmaker behind Super Size Me and the TV series 30 Days, Spurlock lives in Park Slope.
Barbara Stanwyck actress
John Steptoe Author, Illustrator
Connie Stevens film, Broadway star, recording artist
Sufan Stevens Singer/Songwriter Kensington 1 Jul 1975
Jerry Stiller actor, comedian
Barbra Streisand singer
Irving Thalberg movie producer
Gene Tierney actress
Marisa Tomei actress
George Tooker Painter
Joe Torre NY Yankees manager
Michelle Trachtenberg Actress Sheepshead Bay 11 Oct 1985
Richard Tucker singer
John Turturro actor
Mike Tyson Boxer 178 Amboy Street, Brownsville 30 Jun 1966
Brenda Vaccaro actress
Michael Vale Actor, famous for Dunkin Donuts ad campaign line "Time to make the Donuts", which ran for 15 years

died: 28 Dec 2005
Ben Vereen Entertainer
Abe Vigoda Actor best known for roles such as Detective Fish on the TV show Barney Miller which ran between 1975 and 77, and Sal Tessio in The Godfather and The Godfather, Part II 321 Glenmore Ave in Brownsville 24 Feb 1921

died: (he's still alive)
Joe Viterelli actor
Eli Wallach actor
Christopher Wallace a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G. and Biggie Smalls - rapper On James Place in Clinton Hill, attended George Westinghouse High School along with rappers Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes 21 May 1972

died: 9 Mar 1997
George Wald Nobel Prize in Biology Attended Brooklyn Tech HS, class of 1922 (the first graduating class from that school). Wald discovered important functions of Vitamin A associated with sight and the retina. 18 Nov 1906

died: 12 Apr 1997
Harry Warren composer
Wendy Wasserstein Playwright 18 Oct 1950

died: 30 Jan 2006
Randy Weston jazz pianist and composer
Mae West Actress
Walt Whitman author, poet
Lillias White Singer, actress
Michael K. Williams Actor, best known for playing role of Omar in the HBO series "The Wire" 22 Nov 1966
Lenny Wilkens NBA hall of fame player and coach
Michelle Williams Actress Carroll Gardens
Shelley Winters Actress. Oscar nominations for A Place in the Sun (1951) and The Poseidon Adventure (1972) and winner for The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) and A Patch of Blue (1965). Made 130 films. Born in St. Louis, moved to Brooklyn at age 3. Graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in East New York 18 Aug 1920

died: 14 Jan 2006
Adam Yauch one third of the Beastie Boys
Henny Youngman comedian
Dan Zanes Singer Songwriter Cobble Hill 1961
Max "Slats" Zaslofsky Professional basketball player and coach. Brownsville 7 Dec 1925

died: 15 Oct 1985