Many notable people have been born in New York City or have adopted it as their home.

People from New York City

0–9 22Gz (Jeffrey Mark Alexander, born 1997) – rapper 40 Cal. (Calvin Byrd, born 1979) – rapper 50 Cent (Curtis Jackson, born 1975) – businessman and rapper 6ix9ine (Daniel Hernandez, born 1996) – rapper

A

Aaliyah (Aaliyah Haughton, 1979–2001) – singer, actress and model Quinton Aaron (born 1984) – actor Bud Abbott (1897–1974) – actor and comedian Diahnne Abbott (born 1945) – actress Zaid Abdul-Aziz (born 1946) – professional basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born 1947) – basketball player George Abernethy (1807–1877) – first provisional governor of Oregon Cecile Abish (born 1930) – sculptor Oday Aboushi (born 1991) – football player Herb Abrams (1955–1996) – professional wrestling promoter, founder of UWF J. J. Abrams (born 1966) – film director and producer Jon Abrahams (born 1977) – actor Ray Abruzzo (born 1954) – actor Bella Abzug (1920–1998) – congressional representative Jane Actman (1949–2018) – actress Ad-Rock (Adam Horovitz, born 1966) – rapper and musician, member of Beastie Boys Brooke Adams (born 1949) – actress Eric Adams (born 1960) – former mayor of New York City Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (born 1991) – author Pamela Adlon (born 1966) – actress Garnett Adrain (1815–1878) – member of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey Cornelius Rea Agnew (1830–1888) – ophthalmologist Eliza Agnew (1807–1883) – Presbyterian missionary Chris Agoliati (born 1951) – soccer player Christina Aguilera (born 1980) – singer Kamal Ahmed (born 1966) – comedian, member of The Jerky Boys Danny Aiello (1933–2019) – actor AJR (born 1990, 1994, and 1997) – indie pop trio and multi-instrumentalists Kenny Albert (born 1968) – sportscaster Marv Albert (born 1941) – sportscaster Steve Albert (born 1952) – sportscaster Eva Allen Alberti (1856–1938) – dramatics teacher Alan Alda (born 1936) – actor Beatrice Alda (born 1961) – actress Robert Alda (1914–1986) – actor Anne Reeve Aldrich (1866–1892) – writer Ira Aldridge (1805–1867) – stage actor Flex Alexander (born 1970) – actor and comedian Khandi Alexander (born 1957) – dancer, choreographer and actress William Alexander, Lord Stirling (1726–1783) – major general in the American Revolutionary War Davi Alexandre (born 2007) – soccer player Sadam Ali (born 1988) – boxer Nancy Allen (born 1950) – actress Rae Allen (1926–2022) – actress Woody Allen (born 1935) – film director, actor and screenwriter Jeff Alm (1968–1993) – NFL player Vincent Alo (1904–2001) – mobster Daniella Alonso (born 1978) – actress Rafer Alston (born 1976) – basketball player Carol Alt (born 1961) – actress and model Jose Alvarado (born 1998) – NBA player Trini Alvarado (born 1967) – actress Fernando Álvarez (born 2003) – soccer player Lyle Alzado (1949–1992) – NFL player Hamisi Amani-Dove (born 1974) – soccer player Lee J. Ames (1921–2011) – illustrator and writer; known for the Draw 50... learn-to-draw books Nicholas Ammeter (born 2000) – soccer player Eva Amurri (born 1985) – actress Trey Anastasio (born 1964) – rock musician, member of Phish John Andariese (1938–2017) – sports broadcaster Kenny Anderson (born 1970) – professional basketball player Natalie and Nadiya Anderson (born 1986) – twins, television personalities; contestants on The Amazing Race and winner of Survivor: San Juan del Sur Tige Andrews (1920–2007) – actor Michael Angarano (born 1987) – actor Charles Anthon (1797–1867) – classical scholar Carmelo Anthony (born 1984) – NBA player Cole Anthony (born 2000) – NBA player Kiyan Anthony (born 2007) – basketball player La La Anthony (born 1982) – actress and television personality Marc Anthony (born 1968) – singer, actor Judd Apatow (born 1967) – producer, director, comedian, actor and screenwriter Jacob Appel (born 1973) – short story writer, bioethicist, born in New York City Carmine Appice (born 1946) – drummer, member of Vanilla Fudge and Cactus Vinny Appice (born 1957) – drummer, member of Black Sabbath and Dio Fiona Apple (born 1977) – singer-songwriter Diane Arbus (1923–1971) – photographer Arcángel (born 1985) – rapper, singer-songwriter Nate Archibald (born 1948) – professional basketball player Victor Argo (1934–2004) – actor Luis Argudo (born 1995) – soccer player Alan Arkin (1934–2023) – actor Chris Armas (born 1972) – soccer player Alison Arngrim (born 1962) – actress Edward Arnold (1890–1956) – actor Darren Aronofsky (born 1969) – filmmaker Rosanna Arquette (born 1959) – actress Lisa Arrindell (born 1969) – actress Kenneth J. Arrow (1921–2017) – economist; recipient, 1972 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences Ron Artest III (born 1999) – basketball player Beatrice Arthur (1922–2009) – actress Bob Arum (born 1931) – boxing promoter Marilyn Aschner (born 1948) – professional tennis player William Asher (1921–2012) – film and television director and producer William H. Aspinwall (1807–1875) – railroad promoter Ari Aster (born 1986) – filmmaker John Jacob Astor III (1822–1890) – businessman, member of the Astor family John Jacob Astor VI (1912–1992) – socialite and businessman, member of the Astor family Vincent Astor (1891–1959) – businessman and philanthropist, member of the Astor family William Backhouse Astor, Sr. (1792–1875) – businessman, member of the Astor family William Backhouse Astor Jr. (1829–1892) – businessman, racehorse owner, and yachtsman, member of the Astor family Teddy Atlas (born 1956) – boxing trainer and commentator René Auberjonois (1940–2019) – actor Jake T. Austin (born 1994) – actor, model and writer Hassan Ayari (born 2002) – soccer player AZ (Anthony Cruz, born 1972) – rapper Hank Azaria (born 1964) – actor

B

Edwin Burr Babbitt (1862–1939) – actor Lauren Bacall (1924–2014) – actress Morena Baccarin (born 1979) – Brazilian-born actress Johnny Bach (1924–2016) – professional basketball player and coach Sosie Bacon (born 1992) – actress Joey Badass (Jo-Vaughn Scott, born 1995) – rapper Jane Badler (born 1953) – actress Mohamed Bahi (born ) – American-Algerian former chief liaison of New York City Mayor Eric Adams to the Muslim community Emma Bailey (1910–1999) – auctioneer and author Adrienne Bailon-Houghton (born 1983) – actress and singer Scott Baio (born 1960) – actor Nicholson Baker (born 1957) – novelist and essayist William Bliss Baker (1859–1886) – landscape artist Folarin Balogun (born 2001) – soccer player who represented the United States national team and England at a youth level James Baldwin (1924–1987) – writer Martin Balsam (1919–1996) – actress Talia Balsam (born 1959) – actress Azealia Banks (born 1991) – rapper, singer-songwriter, and actress Lloyd Banks (born 1982) – rapper Joseph Barbera (1911–2006) – animator, producer, director, MGM and co-founder of Hanna-Barbera Ellen Barkin (born 1954) – actress Erick Barkley (born 1978) – NBA player Iran Barkley (born 1960) – boxer Saquon Barkley (born 1997) – NFL player Salvatore Barone (born 1995) – soccer player Dana Barron (born 1966) – actress Anna Baryshnikov (born 1992) – actress Rocco Basile (1968–2022) – philanthropist Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988) – artist Angela Bassett (born 1958) – actress Arun Basuljevic (born 1995) – soccer player Bryan Bautista – Dominican-American musician, singer, and contestant Dick Bavetta (born 1939) – NBA referee Willow Bay (born 1963) – television host and journalist Abraham Beame (1906–2001) – mayor of New York City Allyce Beasley (born 1951) – actress Bonnie Bedelia (born 1948) – actress Daniel Bedoya (born 1994) – soccer player Earl Beecham (born 1965) – football player Zazie Beetz (born 1991) – actress Francesca Beghe (born 1957) – singer-songwriter Joy Behar (born 1942) – comedian and television host Harry Belafonte (1927–2023) – singer-songwriter, activist, actor Jordan Belfort (born 1962) – former stockbroker, financial criminal and author of The Wolf of Wall Street Bo Belinsky (1936–2001) – Major League Baseball player Aisha Tandiwe Bell – mixed media artist Lake Bell (born 1979) – actress Frank Bello (born 1965) – musician, member of Anthrax Charlie Benante (born 1962) – musician, member of Anthrax Laura Benanti (born 1979) – actress Pat Benatar (born 1953) – singer Wilfred Benítez (born 1958) – boxer Tony Bennett (1926–2023) – jazz singer and musician Michael Bentt (born 1965) – boxer and actor Berry Berenson (1948–2001) – actress and model Marisa Berenson (born 1947) – actress and model Lillie Berg (1845–1896) – musician, musical educator Moe Berg (1902–1972) – Major League Baseball player and spy Milton Berle (1908–2002) – comedian Paul Berlenbach (1901–1985) – light heavyweight boxing champion, 1925–1926 Pavel Bermondt-Avalov (1877–1973) – Russian-Georgian military officer and warlord Julissa Bermudez (born 1983) – actress and television host Walter Berry (born 1964) – basketball player Dellin Betances (born 1988) – Major League Baseball pitcher Gary Bettman (born 1952) – commissioner of the NHL Acid Betty (born 1977) – drag queen Mario Biaggi (1917–2015) – decorated policeman and US congressman Big Daddy Kane (Antonio Hardy, born 1968) – rapper Big L (Lamont Coleman, 1974–1999) – rapper Big Pun (Christopher Rios, 1971–2000) – rapper Peter Billingsley (born 1971) – actor and filmmaker Gus Birney (born 1999) – actress Ed Bishop (1932–2005) – actor Raymond Ward Bissell (1936–2019) – art historian Azriel Blackman (1925–2026) – airline mechanic Rolando Blackman (born 1959) – basketball player David Blaine (born 1973) – magician William Peter Blatty (1928–2017) – author and filmmaker Yasmine Bleeth (born 1968) – actress Mary J. Blige (born 1971) – singer Henry H. Bliss (1830–1899) – first recorded person to be killed by a traffic collision in the United States Joan Blondell (1906–1979) – actress Richard Blumenthal (born 1946) – U.S. senator for Connecticut Alonzo Bodden (born 1962) – actor and comedian Humphrey Bogart (1899–1957) – actor Sheila Bond (1927–2017) – actress and singer Bobby Bonilla (born 1963) – MLB player William T. Bonniwell Jr. – Wisconsin and Minnesota politician A Boogie wit da Hoodie (Artist Dubose, born 1995) – rapper Murray Bookchin (1921–1986) philosopher, historian, activist Elayne Boosler (born 1952) – comedian Joseph Borelli (born 1982) – politician, conservative commentator Michelle Borth (born 1978) – actress Francis Bouillon (born 1975) – NHL player John Boulos (1921–2002) – soccer player and National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee Matthew Bouraee (born 1988) – soccer player Anthony Bourdain (1956–2018) – chef, author and television host Riddick Bowe (born 1967) – boxer Barbara Boxer (born 1940) – U.S. senator from California Kate Parker Scott Boyd (1836–1922) – artist, journalist, temperance worker Terrence Boyd (born 1991) – soccer player William Boylan (1869–1940) – first president of Brooklyn College Lucy Boynton (born 1994) – actress Lorraine Bracco (born 1954) – actress James J. Braddock (1905–1974) – boxer (aka "Cinderella Man") Kate J. Brainard (1835–1918) – musical educator Hermann Braun (1918–1945) – actor Scooter Braun (born 1981) – businessman, talent manager and record executive Sam Breadon (1876–1949) – president and owner of the St. Louis Cardinals Mike Breen (born 1961) – sports commentator Mark Breland (born 1963) – boxer Johnny Brennan (born 1961) – comedian, member of The Jerky Boys Abigail Breslin (born 1996) – actress and musician Jimmy Breslin (1930–2017) – columnist Spencer Breslin (born 1992) – actor and musician Fanny Brice (1891–1951) – actress, comedian and singer Shannon Briggs (born 1971) – boxer Ella Bright (born 2006) – actress Richard Bright (1937–2006) – actor Danielle Brisebois (born 1969) – actress and singer Eben Britton (born 1987) – football player Matthew Broderick (born 1962) – actor and singer Action Bronson (born 1983) – rapper Larry Brooks (1950–2025) – sports journalist Mel Brooks (born 1926) – film director, screenwriter, actor