This is a list of Italian American entertainers.
Actors
Composers and conductors Alfredo Antonini Trey Anastasio Frankie Avalon Angelo Badalamenti Josefina Benedetti Joe Bonamassa Jon Bon Jovi Curt Cacioppo Teddy Castellucci Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco Giancarlo Castro D'Addona Lou Christie Russ Columbo Bill Conti Anton Coppola Carmine Coppola John Corigliano Chick Corea Don Costa Glen Danzig Bobby Darin Norman Dello Joio Vince DiCola Carmen Dragon JoAnn Falletta John Ferritto Nicolas Flagello Dominic Frontiere Michael Giacchino Buddy Greco George Greeley Vittorio Giannini Vince Guaraldi Giuseppe Guttoveggio Chris Isaak Alicia Keys Guy Lombardo Henry Mancini David Mancuso Chuck Mangione Giancarlo Menotti Giorgio Moroder Francesco Maria Scala Dario Marianelli Natalie Merchant Tom Morello Joe Perry Leonard Pennario Martin Perna John Petrucci Al Piantadosi Louis Prima Suzi Quatro Nicola Rescigno L. Scinti Roger Pete Rugolo Jeff Russo Thom Russo Bobby Rydell Joe Satriani Alan Silvestri Ray Sinatra Robert Spano Nikki Sixx Dick Stabile Glenn Scarpelli Terig Tucci Arturo Toscanini Steven Tyler Steve Vai Jerry Vale Frank Zappa
Models Lily AldridgeBulgari Names Lily Aldridge Ambassador for Latest Campaign hollywoodreporter.com Ruby Aldridge Alessandra Ambrosio Hailey Baldwin Brian Bianchini Alyssa Campanella Gia Carangi (1960–1986) Anthony Catanzaro Olivia Culpo Adrianne Curry Lil Debbie Charles Dera Emily Didonato Christine Dolce CJ Gibson Vanessa Hessler Willa Holland Laura Lyons Jonathon Prandi Claudia Romani Isabella Rossellini Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann Amanda Sudano
Theater directors Gerard Alessandrini Michael Bennett Lawrence Carra Michael Cassara Bart DeLorenzo Frank Ferrante Leonard Foglia Albert Innaurato Joe Mantello Tom Palumbo John Rando
Movie directors and producers
Emile Ardolino (1943-1993), filmmaker, choreographer and producer Annabelle Attanasio (born 1993), actress and filmmaker, daughter of producer Paul Attanasio Paul Attanasio (born 1959), screenwriter and film and television producer Joseph Barbera (1911–2006), Oscar and Emmy-winning animation director and producer (Hanna-Barbera Productions) Greg Berlanti (born 1972), writer, producer and film director, known for his work on the television series Dawson's Creek and Riverdale Ed Bianchi (born 1942), television director and producer. He is better known for his work on Deadwood, Boardwalk Empire Frank Borzage (1893–1962), film director and actor famed for his mystical romanticism. The first person to win the Academy Award for Best Director for his film 7th Heaven (1927) at the 1st Academy Awards. Albert R. Broccoli (1909–1996), producer of all but one of the first 17 James Bond movies Barbara Broccoli (born 1960), producer, daughter of producer Albert R. Broccoli Nicolas Cage, actor, director and producer Frank Capra (1897–1991), film director and a major creative force behind a number of popular films of the 1930s and 1940s David Chase (born 1945), creator of The Sopranos Michael Cimino (1939–2016), film director, The Deer Hunter Chris Columbus (born 1958), film director, Home Alone Francis Ford Coppola (born 1939), five-time Academy Award-winning film director, producer, and screenwriter Roman Coppola (born 1965), film and music video director Sofia Coppola (born 1971), director, actress, producer Frank Coraci (born 1966), film director Gerard Damiano (1928–2008), former adult film director Pat DiCicco (1909–1978), movie producer, and occasional actor, as well as an alleged mobster working for Lucky Luciano Raymond De Felitta (born 1964), independent film director, screenwriter and musician Barbara De Fina (born 1949), film director Dino De Laurentiis (1919–2010), film producer. He produced or co-produced more than 500 films, of which 38 were nominated for Academy Awards Brian De Palma (born 1940), movie director Tom DeSanto (born 1968), film producer Danny DeVito (born 1944), actor, director, and Oscar-nominated producer Tom Savini (born 1946) actor, prosthetic makeup artist, director Denise Di Novi (born 1956), film producer Anthony C. Ferrante, film director Abel Ferrara (born 1951), film director Vincent Gallo (born 1962), movie actor and director starring in independent movies; also a recognized painter, male fashion model, musician, motorcycle racer and breakdancer Gregory La Cava (1892–1952), film director of the 1930s Walter Lantz (1899–1994), Oscar-winning animation director and producer, creator of Woody Woodpecker John R. Leonetti, director, cinematographer Matthew F. Leonetti, cinematographer Garry Marshall, TV and film producer, director, writer, and actor Theodore Melfi, screenwriter, film director, and producer Vincente Minnelli, director Greg Mottola, director Nicholas Pileggi (born 1933), film director Robert Pulcini, film director Frank Renzulli, actor, writer and producer Lou Romano, member of the Art Department at Pixar Animation Studios David O. Russell (born 1958), film director Russo brothers, film and television directors Aaron Russo, film producer SallyAnn Salsano, executive producer, known for Jersey Shore Damon Santostefano Martin Scorsese (born 1942), iconic Academy Award-winning film director Tina Sinatra (born 1948), movie producer and former actress Quentin Tarantino (born 1963), film director, actor, and Oscar-winning screenwriter Marlo Thomas (born 1937), actress, producer, author, and social activist Stanley Tucci (born 1960), actor, writer, film producer and film director Luigi Vendittelli, film maker, documentalist Thomas Vitale, Senior Vice President of Programming & Original Movies for the Sci Fi Channel Robert Zemeckis, filmmaker and screenwriter
Television personalities Farrah Abraham (born 1991), reality TV star Aquaria (born: Giovanni Palandrani, 1996), drag queen Maria Bello (born 1967), actress Mike Bongiorno (1924–2009), television host. After a few experiences in the US, he started working on RAI in the 1950s and was considered to be the most popular host in Italy. Ruth Buzzi (1936–2025), actress, singer and comedian. She was best known for her performances on the comedy-variety show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968 to 1973 Carmine Gotti Agnello (born 1986), reality TV star Frank Gotti Agnello (born 1990), reality TV star John Gotti Agnello (born 1987), reality TV star Michael Carbonaro (born 1976) actor, magician, and improv artist Adam Carolla (born 1964), comedic radio and television personality Kristin Cavallari (born 1987)[, television personality, fashion entrepreneur and author Neil Cavuto (born 1958), television host and commentator hosting Your World with Neil Cavuto and Cavuto on Business on the Fox News Channel Stephen Colletti (born 1986), reality TV star Erin Coscarelli (born 1984), anchor, who works for NFL Network Deena Cortese (born 1987), reality TV star, known for Jersey Shore Chris Cuomo (born 1970), journalist is the presenter of Cuomo Prime Time, a weeknight news analysis show on CNN Tony Danza (born 1951), actor and talk show host Giada De Laurentiis (born 1970), chef, writer, TV personality, host of the Food Network programs Everyday Italian, Behind the Bash, Giada's Weekend Getaways and Giada in Paradise Robert De Laurentiis, television director Pauly DelVecchio (born 1980), reality TV star, known for Jersey Shore Gary Dell'Abate (born 1961), producer of The Howard Stern Show and co-host of The Wrap-Up Show Giuliana DePandi (born 1975), host of E! News Perla Farías Lombardini (born 1962), Venezuelan born Italian American screenwriter, television director, producer, and an executive at Telemundo Jennifer "JWoww" Farley (born 1986), reality TV star, known for Jersey Shore Guy Fieri (born 1968), restaurateur, author and television personality Annette Funicello (1942–2013), singer and actress, Walt Disney's most popular Mouseketeer Sammi "Sweetheart" Giancola (born 1987), reality TV star, known for Jersey Shore Vinny Guadagnino (born 1987), reality TV star, known for Jersey Shore Victoria Gotti (born 1962), star of Growing Up Gotti on the A&E Network Jimmy Kimmel (born 1967), television comedy talk-show host and producer Jay Leno (born 1950), comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show and the Jay Leno Show Ronnie Ortiz-Magro (born 1985), reality TV star, known for Jersey Shore Anthony Melchiorri (born 1966), reality TV star Alyssa Milano (born 1972), actress, producer and former singer. Star of Who's the Boss? Kelly Monaco (born 1976), model, actress, and reality television contestant Danny Pintauro (born 1976), actor best known for his role as Jonathan Bower on the popular American sitcom Who's the Boss? Angelina Pivarnick (born 1986): reality TV star, known for Jersey Shore Rachael Ray (born 1968), Emmy-winning television personality and author Gina Carano (born 1982), model, former MMA fighter and actress Leah Remini (born 1970), actress Kelly Ripa (born 1970), actress and talk show host Jai Rodriguez (born 1979), actor and culture guide on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy Andy Samberg (born 1978), actor, comedian, writer, producer and musician Dave Filoni (born 1974), director, producer, writer and voice actor Maria Sansone (born 1981), host of "The 9" on Yahoo! and special events for TV Guide Network Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino (born 1982), reality TV star, known for Jersey Shore Will Sasso (born 1975), actor, podcaster; American citizen of Canadian birth Kim Zolciak (born 1978), reality TV star
Musicians See also List of Sicilian-American jazz musicians.
Buffy Sainte-Marie, born Beverly Jean Santamaria, a singer-songwriter, musician, and social activist Sal Abruscato, hard rock/heavy metal drummer, known for his work with early Type O Negative and Life of Agony Roberto Alagna, operatic tenor Steve Albini (1962–2024), indie rock musician, producer Trey Anastasio, leader of jam band Phish Phil Anselmo, heavy metal singer, a leading member of Pantera. Vinny Appice, heavy metal drummer Frankie Avalon, (born 1940) trumpet, singer, and actor Veronica Ballestrini, singer-songwriter Frankie Banali, drummer, Quiet Riot Joey Belladonna, heavy metal singer Remo Belli (1927–2016), jazz drummer Frank Bello, heavy metal bass player for Anthrax Louie Bellson, born Luigi Ballassoni, big band drummer Charlie Benante, heavy metal drummer for Anthrax Tony Bennett, American jazz and traditional pop singer Dean Benedetti, jazz saxophonist Bia, rapper Corbin Bleu, singer and actor in High School Musical; Italian mother Joe Bonamassa, blues rock musician, singer, and songwriter. Anthony Bongiovi, record producer Jon Bon Jovi (born 1962), born John Francis Bongiovi, rock star, actor Bizzy Bone, born Bryon McCane, a rapper from the group Bone Thugs N Harmony, part Italian on mother's side Mike Bordin, rock drummer from band Faith No More Chris Botti, jazz trumpeter; Italian on father's side Terry Bozzio (born 1950), drummer best known for his stint with Frank Zappa Vito Bratta, glam metal guitarist and songwriter, former member of glam metal band White Lion Jeff Buckley (1966–1997), rock musician with distinctive vocal and compositional abilities; grandmother of Italian descent Tim Buckley (1947–1975), folk, jazz, and rock artist; father of the musician Jeff Buckley; mother of Italian descent Sam Butera, jazz saxophonist Conte Candoli, jazz trumpeter Pete Candoli, jazz trumpeter Freddy Cannon (born 1940), born Frederick Anthony Picariello, rock and roll singer, had three top ten hits Chris Carrabba, lead singer of Dashboard Confessional and former lead singer of Further Seems Forever Carmen Cavallaro (1913–1989), pianist called the Poet of the Piano Harry Wayne Casey, leader of K.C. & the Sunshine Band; credited for inventing the boogie disco band sound; Italian on his mother's side