Famous People From Philadelphia
- Born on August 23, 1978, and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, NBA legend Kobe Bryant was the son of former NBA player Joe Bryant. Kobe's love for basketball was evident from a young age and his early introduction to the sport led him on a path that would eventually make him one of the most celebrated athletes in history. Bryant's professional career began straight out of high school when he was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996. However, he was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he spent his entire 20-year career. Throughout his tenure, Bryant showcased unrivaled dedication, discipline, and skill, earning him numerous accolades. Among his many achievements include five NBA championships, two Olympic gold medals, and four All-Star MVP Awards. He also held the title of NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2008. Off the court, Bryant was known for his contributions to various philanthropic causes. He established the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, which aims to improve the lives of youth and families in need. In addition, his creative pursuits were recognized when he won an Academy Award for his animated short film Dear Basketball. Tragically, Bryant's life was cut short in a helicopter crash in January 2020, but his influence continues to inspire generations of athletes and fans around the world.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- 1Shaquille O'Neal394 Votes
- 2Pau Gasol249 Votes
- 3Lamar Odom125 Votes
- Kat Dennings, born Katherine Victoria Litwack, is a distinguished American actress who has made significant contributions to both television and film. Born on June 13, 1986, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, Dennings was homeschooled and completed high school at the age of 14. She moved to Los Angeles with her family to pursue an acting career, which began with commercials before she transitioned to television and film. Dennings' breakthrough role came in 2000 when she appeared in HBO's Sex and the City as Jenny Brier. However, it was her portrayal of Max Black in CBS's sitcom 2 Broke Girls, from 2011 to 2017, that truly catapulted her into stardom. The role earned her nominations for the People's Choice Award and solidified her standing in the industry. Dennings also showcased her versatility in films like The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Big Momma's House 2 (2006), and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist (2008). Her performance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as Darcy Lewis in Thor (2011) and Thor: The Dark World (2013), further extended her reach to a global audience. Outside of acting, Dennings is known for her distinct voice, which she has lent to various animated projects, including The Simpsons and Big Mouth. She also co-founded the YouTube series Dollface, where she serves as an executive producer and lead actress. Dennings has been praised not only for her acting skills but also for her distinctive style and her candidness about mental health, making her a relatable figure off-screen as well.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- 1Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist111 Votes
- 2Thor: The Dark World93 Votes
- 3Thor91 Votes
- Grace Kelly, a name synonymous with timeless elegance and Hollywood glamor, was an iconic figure in the entertainment industry. Born on November 12, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kelly's journey into stardom was propelled by her relentless determination to succeed as an actress. She was part of a wealthy and influential family, but she chose to carve her own path, moving to New York City to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Her career took off quickly; within five years she became one of America's most celebrated film stars. She made her Broadway debut in 1949 and then transitioned to television and film. Throughout her career, she worked with some of the industry's most respected directors, like John Ford and Alfred Hitchcock. Her performances in films such as Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, and To Catch a Thief showcased her range as an actress. In 1954, her role in The Country Girl earned her an Academy Award for Best Actress, solidifying her status in Hollywood. However, at the height of her career, Kelly chose love over fame. She married Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956, becoming Princess Grace of Monaco. This marriage marked the end of her acting career, but the beginning of her life as a royal. As a princess, she was deeply involved in philanthropic endeavors, particularly those focused on arts and culture. Despite her untimely death in a car accident in 1982, Grace Kelly's legacy continues to inspire generations, not only for her work in film but also for her humanitarian efforts and her enduring image as a style icon.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- 1Rear Window202 Votes
- 2To Catch a Thief154 Votes
- 3Dial M for Murder146 Votes
- Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Chris Matthews is a distinguished American political commentator, talk show host, and author. He is most reputable for his long-standing role as the host of Hardball with Chris Matthews, a nightly talk show on MSNBC. Matthews's journey into journalism began post his graduation from the College of the Holy Cross and completion of graduate studies in Economics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Matthews's career was not exclusive to journalism from the get-go. He first delved into politics, where he served for several years in various capacities. He spent time as a trade development advisor in the U.S Peace Corps in Swaziland, then worked as a presidential speechwriter during the Carter administration before moving on to serve as the chief of staff to Speaker of the House Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. These experiences gave him a deep understanding of American politics, effectively preparing him for his later career as a political commentator. As an author, Matthews has penned several best-selling books that often combine his passion for history and politics. His works include Hardball: How Politics is Played Told by One Who Knows the Game, Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero, and Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit. In these publications, Matthews provides insightful and engaging discussion on the significant figures and events in American politics, attesting to his expertise and profound knowledge in the field. Throughout his career, Matthews has exhibited an unwavering dedication to educating audiences about the complexities of American politics.
- Birthplace: USA, Somerton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Lauren Cohan was born in 1982 in Pennsylvania and spent the early years of her life in New Jersey. However, at a young age, she moved to her mother's home country of the United Kingdom, where she spent her formative years. According to Cohan, she's "American by birth; English by accent," and she eventually attended the English school the University of Winchester. She began modeling around that time, but as she studied drama in school, her tastes turned heavily towards acting. She co-founded a theater company in school and upon graduation, toured with the company for a time. Time wore on, and after landing a few roles, she ended up spending more time in Los Angeles, as she began acting in films and television more regularly, first with the films "Casanova" (2005) and "National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj" (2006). In 2007, she portrayed the villainous Bela Talbot in season 3 of "Supernatural" (CW 2005- ). She appeared in several smaller films and consistently guest-starred in TV shows, with her biggest stints being as the vampire Rose on "The Vampire Diaries" (CW 2009-17) in 2010 and the socialite Vivian Volkoff in "Chuck" (NBC 2007-2012) in 2011. Near the end of her run on "Chuck," she joined the cast for the second season of "The Walking Dead" (AMC 2010- ) as Maggie Greene. She also did voice work for the cult animated series "Archer" (FX 2009- ) and also starred alongside Sylvester Stallone in the drama "Reach Me" (2014).
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Seth Green is renowned for his versatile talents in acting, voiceover artistry, and directing. Born on February 8, 1974, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Green initiated his career at a very early age. His debut in the world of acting came when he was just six years old, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive and diverse career that would span across decades. Green's prowess as an actor was first recognized by a broader audience through his role as Daniel "Oz" Osbourne in the hit television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. However, it was his work on animated series like Family Guy, where he lent his voice to the character Chris Griffin, that significantly elevated his status in Hollywood. His extensive voice acting experience also includes Robot Chicken, an Emmy-winning stop-motion sketch comedy show, which he co-created, wrote, produced, directed, and even voiced multiple characters. Apart from his achievements in the realm of television, Green has carved a niche for himself on the silver screen as well. He's known for starring in a variety of films including the cult classic Can't Hardly Wait, the Austin Powers franchise, and The Italian Job. Off-camera, Green is an avid comic book collector and a passionate supporter of numerous philanthropic endeavors.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Born on December 7, 1928, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Avram Noam Chomsky made a significant impact in the world of linguistics and political philosophy. His work has spanned multiple domains, and he's often lauded as one of the most influential public intellectuals of the 20th century. The son of an educator and a scholar, Chomsky's passion for knowledge and critical thinking was ignited early in his life. Chomsky attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. It was here that he met Zellig Harris, a prominent linguist, whose influence led Chomsky to develop his groundbreaking theory of transformational grammar. This theory revolutionized the field of linguistics by introducing the concept that all human languages have a shared underlying structure. Post his doctorate, Chomsky joined the faculty at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1955, where he spent over 50 years shaping minds. Parallel to his academic pursuits, Chomsky emerged as a potent critic of American foreign policy, media, and capitalism. He authored several books on these subjects, including Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media and Hegemony or Survival, both widely recognized for their insightful analysis of power structures and media influence. His forthright and comprehensive critiques have established him as a preeminent figure in the discourse on global politics and human rights. Despite facing considerable controversy and criticism, Chomsky's work continues to be highly influential, marking him as one of the most profound thinkers of our time.
- Birthplace: USA, East Oak Lane, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Katie Irene "Kate" Gosselin (née Kreider; born March 28, 1975) is an American television personality. She achieved national and international recognition on the US reality TV show Jon & Kate Plus 8, in which she and Jon Gosselin were profiled as they raised their atypical family of sextuplets and twins.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Adam Michael Goldstein (March 30, 1973 – August 28, 2009), known professionally as DJ AM, was an American disc jockey (DJ). Born in Philadelphia, Goldstein became interested in deejaying as a child after watching Herbie Hancock perform his 1983 single "Rockit". Goldstein developed a drug addiction as a teenager and was sent to the controversial rehabilitation center Straight, Incorporated. After he left the center, his drug problems became worse; he was addicted to crack cocaine for several years in his early twenties. After he attempted suicide in 1997, Goldstein became sober and later sponsored other addicts through Alcoholics Anonymous. Goldstein began deejaying in clubs in Los Angeles and joined the band Crazy Town in 1999. He left the group in 2001 and focused on a career as a solo DJ. After he began dating Nicole Richie in 2003, his career skyrocketed. In 2006, he accepted a $1 million contract to perform weekly at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas strip and was also charging upwards of $10,000 for private events. In 2008 Goldstein and Travis Barker formed the duo TRV$DJAM. Barker and Goldstein were the only two survivors of the 2008 South Carolina Learjet 60 crash, which killed the other four people on board. Goldstein appeared as himself in several television series, contributed mixes to and portrayed a playable character in the video game DJ Hero, and filmed a cameo appearance for Iron Man 2. Goldstein hosted the 2009 MTV drug intervention series Gone Too Far, and he appeared to be struggling with his addiction during filming. On August 28, 2009, he was found dead in his New York City apartment from a drug overdose. The DJ AM Memorial Fund, an organization designed to help people struggling with drug addiction, was launched in his memory by his sister, and Iron Man 2, which was released in 2010, was dedicated to him.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Born as Eleanora Fagan in 1915, Billie Holiday swiftly rose to prominence as one of the most influential jazz vocalists of all time. Her journey from a tumultuous childhood in Philadelphia to the bright lights of New York City's jazz scene is a testament to her indomitable spirit and unyielding passion for music. Despite her lack of formal training, Holiday's unique vocal style - marked by her innovative manipulation of tempo and rhythm - left an indelible mark on the world of music. Holiday began singing in nightclubs in Harlem at a young age and was discovered by producer John Hammond in the early 1930s. Her collaboration with Benny Goodman, which yielded hits like "Riffin' the Scotch" and "Your Mother's Son-in-Law", catapulted her into the national spotlight. However, it was her poignant rendition of "Strange Fruit", a song that spoke against racial violence, that solidified her place in music history. Throughout her career, Holiday worked with jazz luminaries such as Lester Young, Count Basie, and Artie Shaw, further enhancing her reputation as a formidable talent. Despite her professional success, Holiday's personal life was fraught with hardships. She battled substance addiction and faced numerous legal troubles, factors that significantly affected her later performances and recordings. Nevertheless, she continued to perform until her death in 1959, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations of musicians. Holiday's remarkable ability to convey deep emotion through her music, coupled with her fearless approach to tackling controversial subjects, forever cemented her status as a transformative figure in the world of jazz.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Emmy Award-winning actor Jack Klugman was known primarily for his portrayals of two of television's most memorable characters, although his career also boasted more than 50 years of credits in film and on Broadway. The actor's early years were comprised of work on the stages of New York, on television anthologies such as "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (CBS, 1955-1962), and in features films like "12 Angry Men" (1957), alongside Henry Fonda. Several guest turns on the "Twilight Zone" (CBS, 1959-1971) and a supporting role in the comedy-drama "Goodbye, Columbus" (1969) preceded his long-running portrayal of the cretinous Oscar Madison opposite Tony Randall's fastidious Felix Unger on "The Odd Couple" (ABC, 1970-75). Klugman went on to win two Emmy Awards for his hilarious personification of the sports-loving vulgarian, only to embody another iconic television character in the form of the crime-solving "Quincy, M.E." (NBC, 1976-1983). Although the actor's love of fine cigars led to serious health problems later in life, he persevered, even returning to Broadway for a revival of "The Sunshine Boys" in 1997 and penning a memoir about his former co-star Tony and Me: A Story of Friendship in 2005. Whether remembered for playing a slovenly sportswriter, a tenacious medical examiner, or one of his dozens of other portrayals, Klugman's acting legacy was one of humor, insight and humanity.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Eve, born Eve Jihan Jeffers-Cooper, is an American rapper and actress renowned for her distinctive voice and lyrical prowess. Born on November 10, 1978, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she emerged from the city's rugged rap scene to achieve international acclaim. Eve's rise to fame began with her debut album, Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady, released in 1999. The album was a commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and making Eve the third female rap artist to achieve this feat. Eve's career in the music industry is marked by numerous accolades. She has released four studio albums, collaborated with prominent artists, and earned accolades including a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for the song "Let Me Blow Ya Mind" with Gwen Stefani. Apart from her successful career in music, Eve is also a highly-regarded actress. She made her acting debut in the film Barbershop in 2002, followed by other notable roles in movies like Barbershop 2: Back in Business, The Cookout, and Whip It. Despite her success in the entertainment industry, Eve has continually shown commitment to philanthropy. She is known to have devoted time and resources to causes such as HIV/AIDS prevention and relief funds for natural disaster victims. This multifaceted talent - a Grammy-winning artist, accomplished actress, and philanthropist - has solidified Eve's place as a cultural icon.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Christina Judith Perri (born August 19, 1986) is an American singer and songwriter from Bucks County, Pennsylvania. After her debut single "Jar of Hearts" was featured on the television series So You Think You Can Dance in 2010, Perri signed with Atlantic Records and released her debut extended play, The Ocean Way Sessions. Her debut studio album, Lovestrong (2011), followed soon after and has since been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).Perri also gained recognition for writing and recording "A Thousand Years", the love theme for the film The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 (2012), which appears on the accompanying soundtrack. The song went on to sell over 4 million copies in the United States, being certified 4× platinum. She later released her second extended play, A Very Merry Perri Christmas (2012), followed by her second studio album, Head or Heart (2014).
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Doris A. "Toukie" Smith is an American actress and model. Smith is best known for her role as Eva Rawley on the NBC sitcom 227 (1989–90). She is the sister of fashion designer Willi Smith.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- If Aretha Franklin held the title Queen of Soul, then singer-turned-actress Jill Scott deserved to be called Queen of Neo Soul. The singer's vocal style effortlessly combined jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and spoken word, resulting in hits such as the breezy ballad "A Long Walk" (2003) and the Grammy Award-winning duet "Daydreamin'" (2007). Scott also enjoyed a successful acting career, often playing tough-skinned women with a heart of gold. She appeared in Tyler Perry's films such as "Why Did I Get Married?" (2007) before landing a starring role on "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" (HBO, 2008-09), about a female investigator who solves mysterious crimes in Botswana. Her touching performance on the series earned Scott rave reviews and established her career as a naturally gifted and multilayered artist. Jill Scott was born on April 4, 1972 in Philadelphia, PA. Her mother, Joyce Scott, and her grandmother - who was nicknamed "Blue Babe" - raised the future star and influenced her love of music. Scott grew up listening to the vocal stylings of Aretha Franklin, Sarah Vaughan, and Michael Jackson, but it was her grandmother's daily routine of singing while taking a bath that inspired the youngster to become a vocalist. She graduated from the Philadelphia High School for Girls before attending Temple University in Philadelphia. After studying to become a high school English teacher, Scott realized she wanted to pursue a different career path altogether, and dropped out of the teaching profession. She spent some time working in various retail and service jobs before deciding a music career fit her perfectly. Scott first made her mark as a performer by appearing in spoken word and poetry readings. Amir "QuestLove" Thompson of jazz/funk/hip-hop collective, The Roots, discovered the budding artist and invited her to work in the studio. The duo co-wrote the track "You Got Me" (2000), which earned The Roots and singer Erykah Badu a Grammy award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Scott joined The Roots onstage at several tour stops, filling in for Badu's part in the song, and giving her own soulful hook that critics often compared to legendary singer Minnie Ripperton. Other artists in the hip-hop community took notice of Scott's talents and collaborated with her, including vocalist Eric Benet, rapper Common, and rapper-turned-actor Will Smith. After a stint touring Canada with the Broadway production of the musical "Rent" (1996), Scott signed with Hidden Beach Recordings label, where she released her debut album, Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1 in 2000, fueled by the smooth and jazzy lead track "A Long Walk." The single earned Scott a 2003 Grammy nomination for Best Female Vocal Performance. She won her first Grammy two years later for Best Urban/Alternative R&B Performance for the track "Cross My Mind." With a hit album and a handful of awards - including a 2001 Lady of Soul honor as Entertainer of the Year - on her mantle, Scott went right to work on her second album. Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2 (2004) was the perfect sequel to her debut, filled with Scott's brand of soulful, down-home sound. Her musical success, however, never deterred the artist from other creative ventures. Scott's compilation volume of poems titled The Moments, The Minutes, The Hours was released in April 2005 and received much critical praise.Scott won her second Grammy Award for her collaboration with contemporary jazz greats George Benson and Al Jarreau on the track "God Bless The Child" (2007). Her versatility to combine musical genres - from R&B to jazz to hip-hop - was loved by music fans worldwide. Scott scored another hit with "Daydreamin'," a single from rapper Lupe Fiasco that featured Scott's angelic vocals in the chorus. The song appeared on her 2007 album Collaborations, and earned the artist another Grammy in 2008 for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. If that was not enough, Scott treated her fans with her next studio album The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3. Released in 2007, the singer's third album featured the hit singles "Hate on Me" and "My Love." Using her star power to help those who were less fortunate, Scott established the Blues Babe Foundation to help minority students residing in Philadelphia, PA; Camden, NJ; and the Delaware Valley pay for university expenses. In 2003, the Foundation donated over $60,000 to the Creative Arts School in Camden. Aside from her educational advocacy, Scott was also quite vocal against the rap community's depiction of women. In July 2006, while appearing onstage at the Essence Music Festival, she criticized hip-hop songs and videos, asking the audience to "Demand more." Scott began acting after a filmmaker friend encouraged her to give it a try. She made her primetime TV debut in 2004 with a recurring role on "Girlfriends" (UPN, 2000-06; The CW, 2006-08). That same year, Scott acted opposite real-life couple Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick in the Showtime original movie "Cavedweller" before making a leap to the big screen in 2007 with two feature film projects, portraying the legendary vocalist Big Mama Thorton in the harrowing Southern drama "Hounddog," and playing Sheila Jackson, a woman asked to deplane because of her weight in Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married?" (2007). Due to an ever-growing résumé, it was only a matter of time before Scott found a perfect starring vehicle for her versatile talent. She was cast as literary heroine Precious Ramotswe on "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency," a miniseries that followed a charming African detective based on Alexander McCall Smith's series of novels (1998-2010). Filmed in Botswana, the series addressed issues from AIDS, domestic violence, to traditional women's roles in Africa. In 2010, Scott reprised her role of Sheila Jackson for the Perry-directed sequel, "Why Did I Get Married Too?" After the release of Scott's fourth album The Light of the Sun, she co-starred in an African-American remake of "Steel Magnolias" (Lifetime 2012) and romantic comedy "Baggage Claim" (2013). She portrayed James Brown's second wife, Dee Dee Jenkins, in the biopic "Get On Up" (2014) and co-starred opposite Regina Hall in romantic comedy-drama "With This Ring" (Lifetime 2015) before relasing her fifth album, Woman (2015).
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- A petite, wholesome screen star, Janet Gaynor hit it big just as silent films were coming to an end and continued as one of the screen's most popular stars of the 1930s. Gaynor got her start in films through her sister, a secretary for Hal Roach. In 1925-26, she appeared in a number of shorts (including several Glenn Tryon Westerns) and as an extra in features. Her first break was a supporting role in "The Johnstown Flood" (1926), which began her long association with Fox.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- A femme fatale in the mold of classic screen sirens, actress Linda Fiorentino was cast in her first role as the sensual "older woman" in the niche teen movie "Vision Quest" (1985). She also had early success in the films "Gotcha!" (1985) and "After Hours" (1985), all in that same debut year. Her most iconic role came in the character of scam artist Bridget Gregory in "The Last Seduction" (1994), which brought Fiorentino accolades and awards.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Samuel Grosvenor Wood (July 10, 1883 – September 22, 1949) was an American film director and producer, who was best known for directing such Hollywood hits as A Night at the Opera, A Day at the Races, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, and The Pride of the Yankees. He was also involved in a few acting and writing projects.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Mark Reed Levin (; born September 21, 1957) is an American lawyer, author, and radio personality. He is the host of syndicated radio show The Mark Levin Show, as well as Life, Liberty & Levin on Fox News. Levin worked in the administration of President Ronald Reagan and was a chief of staff for Attorney General Edwin Meese. He is chairman of the Landmark Legal Foundation, has authored seven books, and contributes commentary to various media outlets such as National Review Online. Since 2015, Levin has been editor-in-chief of the Conservative Review and is known for his incendiary commentary.He has been described as a "right-wing" political "conservative" who is known for strongly criticizing Democrats, as well as encouraging primary challenges to a number of incumbent "RINO" congressional Republicans. He endorsed Ted Cruz in the 2016 Republican presidential primary and declared himself "Never Trump", but reluctantly endorsed Donald Trump after Trump won the Republican nomination. Since the start of the Trump presidency, Levin's commentary has turned staunchly pro-Trump.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Stephen Allen Schwarzman (born February 14, 1947) is an American businessman and philanthropist. He is the chairman and CEO of The Blackstone Group, a global private equity firm he established in 1985 with former chairman and CEO of Lehman Brothers and US Secretary of Commerce Pete Peterson. His personal fortune is estimated at $12.4 billion as of December 2018. As of 2017, Forbes ranked Schwarzman at 117th on its World's Billionaires List. Schwarzman briefly served as Chairman of President Donald Trump's Strategic and Policy Forum for 6 months before its dissolution.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- In his career as a casting agent, talent manager, film producer and director, Lee Daniels has been an ongoing champion of the "underdog," who expanded opportunities for actors of color and brought controversial stories of societal outcasts to the big screen. Daniels' calling card was dark, visceral, often violent material that offered a surprising flicker of hope in even the most hopeless of circumstances, best showcased in his role as the director of "Precious, Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire" (2009). Daniels made his directorial debut in 2006 with the gritty, not-so-well received crime drama "Shadowboxer" (2006), having made his breakout as the producer of "Monster's Ball" (2001), which earned a landmark Academy Award for Halle Berry as a widow who becomes involved with a hateful prison guard. Never afraid to explore the most demonized of subject matters, Daniels gravitated towards the complexities of hustlers and killers and even a pedophile in his critically acclaimed producing effort, "The Woodsman" (2004), starring Kevin Bacon. Sometimes Daniels' fearless attempts to make outsider characters more universally relatable missed the mark, and he caught some backlash over characters deemed unflattering and negative towards the African-American community, but Daniels' character-based approach to first-glance "unsavory" outcasts made him one of the most unique voices in independent film.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Marsha Hunt (born April 15, 1946) is an American actress, novelist, singer and former model, who has lived mostly in Britain and Ireland. She achieved national fame when she appeared in London as Dionne in the long-running rock musical Hair. She enjoyed close relationships with Marc Bolan and Mick Jagger, who is the father of her only child Karis. According to Hunt, The Rolling Stones' controversial hit song "Brown Sugar" was based on her. She has written three novels, as well as three volumes of autobiography, which include a frank account of life as a breast cancer sufferer.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Michael Saul Medved (born October 3, 1948) is an American radio show host, author, political commentator, and film critic. His talk show, The Michael Medved Show is syndicated from his home station KTTH in Seattle. Salem Radio Network had syndicated this show but on November 8, 2018, announced that his show was being replaced. Medved responded that he was continuing his show in January on a new network.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Matt Mulhern was an accomplished actor who appeared in a variety of films throughout his Hollywood career. Mulhern started his entertainment career by acting in comedies like "One Crazy Summer" (1986) starring John Cusack and the Matthew Broderick film "Biloxi Blues" (1988). He also starred in the TV movies "Dallas: The Early Years" (CBS, 1985-86) and "Gunsmoke: To the Last Man" (CBS, 1991-92). His passion for acting continued to his roles in projects like the Arnold Schwarzenegger comedy "Junior" (1994), the Matthew Broderick dramatic adaptation "Infinity" (1996) and the drama "Sunchaser" (1996) with Woody Harrelson. He also appeared in the comedy "Walking to the Waterline" (1998) with Matthew Broderick. He shifted from film to television work through the nineties and the early 2000s, appearing on "The Expert" (1999-2000), "Third Watch" (NBC, 1999-2005) and "Young Americans" (WB, 1999-2000). He also appeared in "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (CBS, 2000-2015). Mulhern most recently acted on "Blue Bloods" (CBS, 2010-).
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Edwin John "Eddie" Fisher (August 10, 1928 – September 22, 2010) was an American singer and actor. He was one of the most popular artists during the first half of the 1950s, selling millions of records and hosting his own TV show. Fisher divorced his first wife, actress Debbie Reynolds, to marry Reynolds' best friend, actress Elizabeth Taylor, after Taylor's husband, film producer Mike Todd, was killed in a plane crash. The scandalous affair was widely reported, bringing unfavorable publicity to Fisher. He later married Connie Stevens. Fisher fathered Carrie Fisher and Todd Fisher with Reynolds, and Joely Fisher and Tricia Leigh Fisher with Stevens.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- April Hunter (born September 24, 1976) is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet, boxer, actress, writer and fitness/glamour model. She has appeared in many publications, from MuscleMag International to Playboy Magazine and has her own comic book series, Code Red by Pickle Press.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The middleman for the comedy trio known as The Three Stooges, Larry Fine endured endless slaps, pokes in the eye and mallets to the head, all for the sake of laughter. Alongside brothers Moe and Shemp Howard, Larry first found fame as a member of the vaudeville musical-comedy act, Ted Healy and his Stooges. But it was only after the Howard's younger brother, Jerome - renamed "Curly" - replaced Shemp and the trio became a solo act officially known as the Three Stooges, that they achieved massive success on a national level. For Columbia Pictures, the Three Stooges would star in nearly 200 short films over a remarkable 24 year period. Both revered and reviled for their gleefully violent slapstick, Larry, Moe and Curly became an indelible part of American pop culture. Over the course of a nearly 40 year career, there were several changes in the line-up - Curly's health problems brought back Shemp, who in turn was replaced by comedian Joe Besser, who eventually gave way to "Curly Joe" DeRita. Throughout it all, however, Larry remained a constant presence alongside Moe, lending an understated sense of calm to the chaotic proceedings. Often underappreciated as a comedic actor, Fine was later praised by lifelong Stooge fanatic and filmmaker Peter Farrelly, who said that while children were drawn to Curly and teens tended to appreciate Moe, "Anyone out of college, if you're not looking at Larry, you don't have a good brain."
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Gloria Rachel Allred (née Bloom; born July 3, 1941) is an American women's rights attorney notable for taking high-profile and often controversial cases, particularly those involving the protection of women's rights.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Marian Anderson (February 27, 1897 – April 8, 1993) was an American singer, one of the most celebrated of the twentieth century. Music critic Alan Blyth said: "Her voice was a rich, vibrant contralto of intrinsic beauty." She performed in concert and recital in major music venues and with famous orchestras throughout the United States and Europe between 1925 and 1965. Although offered roles with many important European opera companies, Anderson declined, as she had no training in acting. She preferred to perform in concert and recital only. She did, however, perform opera arias within her concerts and recitals. She made many recordings that reflected her broad performance repertoire, which ranged from concert literature to lieder to opera to traditional American songs and spirituals. Between 1940 and 1965 the German-American pianist Franz Rupp was her permanent accompanist.Anderson became an important figure in the struggle for black artists to overcome racial prejudice in the United States during the mid-twentieth century. In 1939, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) refused permission for Anderson to sing to an integrated audience in Constitution Hall in Washington, DC. The incident placed Anderson into the spotlight of the international community on a level unusual for a classical musician. With the aid of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt, Anderson performed a critically acclaimed open-air concert on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in the capital. She sang before an integrated crowd of more than 75,000 people and a radio audience in the millions. Anderson continued to break barriers for black artists in the United States, becoming the first black person, American or otherwise, to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City on January 7, 1955. Her performance as Ulrica in Giuseppe Verdi's Un ballo in maschera at the Met was the only time she sang an opera role on stage. Anderson worked for several years as a delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Committee and as a "goodwill ambassadress" for the United States Department of State, giving concerts all over the world. She participated in the civil rights movement in the 1960s, singing at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963. The recipient of numerous awards and honors, Anderson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963, the Congressional Gold Medal in 1977, the Kennedy Center Honors in 1978, the National Medal of Arts in 1986, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Born into a prestigious theatrical family, John Barrymore carved out an enviable space for himself in the world of entertainment. From his birth in Philadelphia in 1882 to his death in 1942, Barrymore's life was a whirlwind of dramatic flair and cinematic brilliance. Beginning his career on stage, Barrymore demonstrated early on his knack for capturing an audience's attention with his commanding presence and emotive performances. His roles ranged from Shakespearean classics such as Hamlet and Richard III, where he displayed his classical training, to modern plays like Justice. However, it was his transition to film that catapulted him to global stardom. He starred in a multitude of silent films and talkies, including Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Grand Hotel, and Twentieth Century, showcasing his remarkable versatility as an actor. Throughout his personal life, Barrymore was both celebrated and criticized. His romantic escapades were the fodder of gossip columns, with four marriages and numerous affairs. Despite his tumultuous personal life, his professional contributions never faded. Recognized for his profound influence on the acting profession, Barrymore's legacy continues to inspire actors and audiences alike. A gifted performer, his charisma, talent, and dedication to the craft made him one of the most revered figures in the annals of American stage and screen.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Lisa Nicole Lopes (May 27, 1971 – April 25, 2002), better known by her stage name Left Eye, was an American hip hop recording artist, and dancer. Lopes was best known as one-third of the R&B girl group TLC, alongside Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. Besides rapping and singing background vocals on TLC recordings, Lopes was one of the creative forces behind the group. She received more co-writing credits than the other members. She also designed the outfits and staging for the group and contributed to the group's image, album titles, artworks, and music videos. Through her work with TLC, Lopes won four Grammy Awards.During her short solo career, Lopes scored two US top-ten singles with "Not Tonight" and "U Know What's Up", as well as one UK number-one single with "Never Be the Same Again". She also produced the girl group Blaque, who scored a platinum album and two US top-ten hits. Lopes remains the only member of TLC to have released a solo album. On April 25, 2002, Lopes was killed in a car crash while conducting charity work in Honduras. She swerved off the road to avoid hitting another vehicle, was thrown from her car, and died instantly. She was working on a documentary at the time of her death, which was released as The Last Days of Left Eye and aired on VH1 in May 2007.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Wilt Chamberlain was born on August 21, 1936 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His journey to becoming one of the most dominant players in the history of the sport began at Overbrook High School, where his towering height and natural talent quickly catapulted him into the spotlight. He then attended the University of Kansas, where he continued to hone his skills before embarking on a professional career that would span over a decade. Chamberlain's professional career kicked off with the Harlem Globetrotters in 1958, but it was his time with the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1959 to 1973 that truly defined his legacy. His unmatched greatness on the court saw him achieve numerous records, including scoring 100 points in a single game, a feat yet to be surpassed. Chamberlain also holds records for the most rebounds in a game and the highest average points per game in a season, among others. Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Chamberlain was known for his larger-than-life personality off the court. Despite his intimidating presence on the court, he was a gentle giant with a passion for life and a love for people. After retiring from basketball, he ventured into acting, appearing in several films and television shows. His charisma and charm translated well onto the screen, further cementing his status as a cultural icon. Chamberlain passed away in 1999, but his influence on the game of basketball and his impact on popular culture continue to resonate, making him an enduring figure in sports history.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- 1Jerry West153 Votes
- 2Elgin Baylor114 Votes
- 3Nate Thurmond58 Votes
- Born Richard Stevenson Parker, Jr. on June 4, 1952 in Philadelphia, PA, Parker Stevenson's entry into the acting world was something of a conflict for his parents. His father, an investment banker, had reservations about the business, but his mother, a stage actress and occasional performer in television commercials, was enthusiastic about bringing their photogenic child to casting sessions. However, Stevenson did not begin to act until he was cast as Gene, the thoughtful, guilt-ridden hero of John Knowles' "A Separate Peace" (1972) while still a senior at the prestigious Brooks School in North Andover, MA. Two years later, while studying architecture at Princeton University, he landed his second lead in "Our Time" (1974), Peter Hyams' coming-of-age drama with Stevenson's future co-star, Pamela Sue Martin as a '50s-era student who must weigh the consequences of sleeping with her boyfriend (Stevenson). After graduating from Princeton, he dove into acting fulltime, landing a supporting role as a novice lifeguard opposite Sam Elliott's rugged but unemotional vet in "Lifeguard" (1976). The following year, the 25-year-old Stevenson was tapped to play Frank Hardy, the eldest of the crime-solving Hardy Boys in "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries," which instantly minted him and co-stars Shaun Cassidy and Martin as teen idols.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Michelle Malkin (; née Maglalang; born October 20, 1970) is an American conservative blogger, political commentator, author and businesswoman. Her weekly syndicated column appears in a number of newspapers and websites. She was a Fox News contributor and has been a guest on MSNBC, C-SPAN, and national radio programs. Malkin has written four books published by Regnery Publishing. She founded the conservative websites Twitchy and Hot Air.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- With his droopy eyes and dyspeptic disposition, Norman Fell was a journeyman actor, adept at both drama and comedy, when he was cast as Stanley Roper, the landlord concerned about a guy living with two girls in "Three's Company." Audra Lindley and Fell won the hearts of America, respectively, as the amorous wife and her unwilling husband and in 1979. they were given their own spinoff series, "The Ropers," which lasted for a season and a half.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- William Tatem Tilden II (February 10, 1893 – June 5, 1953), nicknamed "Big Bill," was an American male tennis player. He is often considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Tilden was the World No. 1 player for six years from 1920 through 1925. He won 15 Major singles titles including ten Grand Slam events, one World Hard Court Championships and four professional majors. He was the first American to win Wimbledon in 1920. He also won a record seven U.S. Championships titles (shared with Richard Sears and Bill Larned). Tilden dominated the world of international tennis in the first half of the 1920s, and during his 18-year amateur period of 1912–29, won 138 of 192 tournaments. He owns a number of all-time tennis achievements including a career match winning record and a career winning percentage at the U.S. National Championships. At the 1929 U.S. National Championships Tilden became the first player to reach 10 finals at a single Grand Slam event. His ten finals at a grand slam tournament remained a record until 2017, when Roger Federer reached his eleventh Wimbledon final. Tilden, who was frequently at odds with the rigid United States Lawn Tennis Association about his amateur status and income derived from newspaper articles, won his last Major title in 1930 at Wimbledon aged 37. He turned professional on the last day of that year and toured with a handful of other professionals for the next 15 years.
- Birthplace: Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- With his distinctive look -- over six feet and 300 pounds, with thick, black-rimmed glasses, a full beard and a hairstyle untamed by the Afro-Pick he habitually kept stuck in it -- Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson became one of the most immediately recognizable figures in hip-hop, working as the drummer and musical director of The Roots. When The Roots became the house band on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," Questlove found a new audience for his cool yet cerebral style, which only expanded when Fallon and The Roots took over "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" (NBC 2014- ).
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Willam Belli, a multi-talented personality, is best known for his illustrious career in the entertainment industry that has spanned over two decades. Born on June 30, 1982, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Belli's journey to stardom began as an actor and later ventured into music and drag performance, creating a unique niche for himself. His exceptional talent was evident from an early age, leading him to pursue his passion relentlessly, despite the challenges he faced along the way. Belli first gained prominence as an actor in both television and film, demonstrating a natural flair for captivating audiences. He appeared in popular television shows like Nip/Tuck, Boston Public, and Criminal Minds. However, it was his role in the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race that launched him to fame. Despite his disqualification from the show, Belli managed to create a lasting impact, becoming one of the most memorable contestants in the show's history. In addition to his acting career, Belli also made a name for himself in the world of music. His debut album, The Wreckoning, released in 2012, showcased his versatility as an artist, blending pop, electronic music, and comedy into a cohesive whole. Beyond his work in acting and music, Belli's significant contribution is undoubtedly his role as a drag queen. Known for his bold, unapologetic style, Belli has become a celebrated figure in the drag community. His performances, characterized by their humor, wit, and satirical commentary, have garnered widespread acclaim. Notably, Belli co-created and starred in the successful web series UNHhhh alongside fellow drag queens Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova, further cementing his status in the drag world. Through his diverse endeavors, Willam Belli continues to influence and inspire many in the entertainment industry and beyond.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Imogene Coca (born Emogeane Coca; November 18, 1908 – June 2, 2001) was an American comic actor best known for her role opposite Sid Caesar on Your Show of Shows. Starting out in vaudeville as a child acrobat, she studied ballet and wished to have a serious career in music and dance, graduating to decades of stage musical revues, cabaret and summer stock. In her 40s, she began a celebrated career as a comedian on television, starring in six series and guest starring on successful television programs from the 1940s to the 1990s. She was nominated for five Emmy Awards for Your Show of Shows, winning Best Actress in 1951 and singled out for a Peabody Award for excellence in broadcasting in 1953. Coca was also nominated for a Tony Award in 1978 for On the Twentieth Century and received a sixth Emmy nomination at the age of 80 for an episode of Moonlighting.She possessed a rubbery face capable of the broadest expressions — Life magazine compared her to Beatrice Lillie and Charlie Chaplin and described her characterizations as taking "people or situations suspended in their own precarious balance between dignity and absurdity, and push(ing) them over the cliff with one single, pointed gesture". The magazine noted a "particularly high-brow critic" as observing, "The trouble with most comedians who try to do satire is that they are essentially brash, noisy and indelicate people who have to use a sledge hammer to smash a butterfly. Miss Coca, on the other hand, is the timid woman who, when aroused, can beat a tiger to death with a feather." Aside from vaudeville, cabaret, film, theater and television, she voiced children's cartoons and was even featured in the 1984 MTV music video "Bag Lady" by the band EBN-OZN, ultimately working well into her 80s. In a 1999 interview, Robert Ozn said during the shoot she was required to sit on the sidewalk in snow for hours during a blizzard with 15 degree temperatures. "While the rest of us 20-somethings were moaning about the weather, warming ourselves by a heater, this little 75-year-old lady never once complained - put us all to shame. She was the most professional artist I've ever worked with."
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Michael Buffer (born November 2, 1944) is an American ring announcer for boxing and professional wrestling matches. He is known for his trademarked catchphrase, "Let's get ready to rumble!", and for pioneering a distinctive announcing style in which he rolls certain letters and adds other inflections to a fighter's name. His half-brother is UFC announcer Bruce Buffer.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Hugely popular vaudeville and Broadway comedian who, after being boycotted by the Shuberts for organizing an actor's strike, continued his success by writing and producing his own shows. Billed as "The Perfect Fool" after the title of one of his Broadway shows, Wynn was known for his trademark zany hats, misfit clothes, oversized shoes, lisping speech, fluttering hands, squeaky giggling and his exit line, "I'll be back in a flash with more trash." Progenitor of a topsy-turvy career, Wynn conquered radio with his first-time broadcast of a full-length comedy show to a radio audience in 1922 and followed with his own popular radio series as the Texaco "Fire Chief" (1932-35). He pioneered in combining his comedy routines with spoofs of the sponsor's commercial messages. Primarily a visual comic, he reemerged in the following decade as a popular figure in the new medium of television, winning the first Emmy Award as Most Outstanding Live Personality. In the late 50s, after having appeared in only a handful of films, Wynn began a successful career as a character actor, playing his first dramatic role in "The Great Man" (1956) and following with an Oscar-nominated performance as the Dutch dentist in "The Diary of Anne Frank" (1959). He alternated dramatic roles with the comedies "Cinderfella" (1960), "The Absentminded Professor" (1961) and "Mary Poppins" (1964). Father of actor Keenan Wynn (1916-86) who co-starred with him in "The Great Man" and the 1956 Rod Steiger teleplay "Requiem for a Heavyweight."
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Launched to fame through "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (NBC 1962-1992), stand-up David Brenner went onto become a staple of the talk show circuit thanks to a pioneering observational style which influenced a generation of comics. Born in Philadelphia, PA in 1936, Brenner inherited his wry sense of his humor from his father, a former vaudeville performer named Lou Murphy who gave up his showbiz career to become a rabbi. But after serving two years in the U.S. Army and graduating from his hometown's Temple University with a degree in mass communication, Brenner initially focused his talents behind the scenes, writing, producing and directing over 115 television documentaries and winning over 30 awards, including an Emmy, in the process.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- The eldest brother in an acting dynasty that included sister Ethel and brother John, Lionel Barrymore became one of his era's most popular thespians. Literally pushed onto the stage as a toddler, the young Barrymore began appearing in silent films like "The New York Hat" (1912), most frequently for director D.W. Griffith. Work on Broadway in such performances as "The Copperhead" also provided income until the actor gradually turned his full attention to Hollywood. "A Free Soul" (1931) earned Barrymore an Oscar for Best Actor, while appearances in hits like "Grand Hotel" (1932), "Dinner at Eight" (1933) and "You Can't Take It With You" (1938) made him a bona fide movie star. A wheelchair user due to arthritis, he originated Dr. Gillespie, a character he would reprise for more than a dozen sequels, in the medical drama "Young Dr. Kildare" (1938). Barrymore's most indelible character was arguably that of Henry Potter, the villainous town elder in Frank Capra's holiday classic "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946), a portrayal balanced out by his turn as the irrepressible James Temple in the Bogie and Bacall thriller "Key Largo" (1948). A man of many talents and interests, Barrymore was also an accomplished artist, composer and author whose celebrated six-decades-long career, while born of necessity, provided audiences with dozens of memorable performances.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Lois Hamilton (October 14, 1952 – December 23, 1999) was an American model, author, aviator, artist and actress.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Roy Campanella (November 19, 1921 – June 26, 1993), nicknamed "Campy", was an American baseball player, primarily as a catcher. The Philadelphia native played for the Negro Leagues and Mexican League for several seasons before entering the minor leagues in 1946. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 1948. His playing career ended when he was paralyzed in an automobile accident in January 1958.Widely considered to be one of the greatest catchers in the history of the game, Campanella played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1940s and 1950s. After he retired as a player as a result of the accident, Campanella held positions in scouting and community relations with the Dodgers. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- William Aloysius Keane (October 5, 1922 – November 8, 2011), better known as Bil Keane, was an American cartoonist most notable for his work on the newspaper comic The Family Circus. It began in 1960 and continues in syndication, drawn by his son Jeff Keane.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- James William Bailey (January 10, 1938 – May 30, 2015) was an American singer, film, television and stage actor, and female impersonator.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Alan Poul is an American film and television producer and director, who is best-known for his work on the Golden Globe-award winning television drama "Six Feet Under." In 1985, Poul earned his first film credits on director Paul Schrader's drama "Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters," on which Poul worked as an actor and associate producer. Two years later, Poul added second unit director to his résumé on another Schrader drama, "Light of Day." Through the '90s, he built his reputation as a producer on TV shows, including the iconic teen drama series "My So-Called Life." By 2001, Poul was executive producing the HBO series "Six Feet Under," created by acclaimed "American Beauty" screenwriter Alan Ball. Poul made his directorial debut on the series, and his work earned him numerous accolades, including Emmy and Directors Guild of America Award nominations. He went on to direct two other HBO dramas, "Rome" and "Big Love." In 2008, he executive produced and directed numerous episodes of the bicentennial-set drama, "Swingtown." In 2010, Poul took his skills to the big screen, directing the Jennifer Lopez vehicle "The Back-up Plan," a romantic comedy about having a baby before meeting Mr. Right. Poul has continued to be active as executive producer for "MotherFatherSon", "Tales of the City" and "The Eddy." He is revisiting his Japanese roots as Executive Producer and director of HBO Max's upcoming "Tokyo Vice." He serves on the Boards of Directors of Film Independent and Playwrights Horizons, and on the International Outreach Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Previous board service includes The Producers Guild of America, Outfest, and GLAAD.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Lee Ving (born Lee James Capallero; April 10, 1950) is an American musician and actor. He is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the Los Angeles-based punk rock band Fear. Among his film roles, the best known is as Mr. Boddy in the 1985 cult classic Clue. Ving, along with his band Fear, are given a prominent role in Penelope Spheeris's seminal 1981 documentary on the L.A. punk scene, The Decline of Western Civilization, as well as Dave Grohl's 2013 documentary Sound City.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Mario Lanza (US: , Italian: [ˈlantsa]; born Alfredo Arnold Cocozza [koˈkɔttsa]; January 31, 1921 – October 7, 1959) was an American tenor of Italian ancestry, and an actor and Hollywood film star of the late 1940s and the 1950s. Lanza began studying to be a professional singer at the age of 16. After appearing at the Hollywood Bowl in 1947, Lanza signed a seven-year film contract with Louis B. Mayer, the head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, who saw his performance and was impressed by his singing. Prior to that, the adult Lanza had sung only two performances of an opera. The following year (1948), however, he sang the role of Pinkerton in Puccini's Madame Butterfly in New Orleans.His film début for MGM was in That Midnight Kiss (1949) with Kathryn Grayson and Ethel Barrymore. A year later, in The Toast of New Orleans, his featured popular song "Be My Love" became his first million-selling hit. In 1951, he played the role of tenor Enrico Caruso, his idol, in the biopic The Great Caruso, which produced another million-seller with "The Loveliest Night of the Year" (a song which used the melody of Sobre las Olas). The Great Caruso was the top-grossing film that year.The title song of his next film, Because You're Mine, was his final million-selling hit song. The song went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. After recording the soundtrack for his next film, The Student Prince, he embarked upon a protracted battle with studio head Dore Schary arising from artistic differences with director Curtis Bernhardt, and was eventually dismissed by MGM.Lanza was known to be "rebellious, tough, and ambitious." During most of his film career, he suffered from addictions to overeating and alcohol which had a serious effect on his health and his relationships with directors, producers and, occasionally, other cast members. Hollywood columnist Hedda Hopper writes that "his smile, which was as big as his voice, was matched with the habits of a tiger cub, impossible to housebreak." She adds that he was the "last of the great romantic performers". He made three more films before dying of an apparent pulmonary embolism at the age of 38. At the time of his death in 1959 he was still "the most famous tenor in the world". Author Eleonora Kimmel concludes that Lanza "blazed like a meteor whose light lasts a brief moment in time".
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Andrew Michael "Andy" Allen (born 4 August 1955) is a retired American astronaut. A former Marine aviator and lieutenant colonel, he worked as a test pilot before joining NASA in 1987. He flew three Space Shuttle missions before retiring in 1997.
- Birthplace: Richboro, Pennsylvania
- Christopher J. Ferguson (born September 1, 1961) is a Boeing commercial astronaut and a retired United States Navy Captain and NASA astronaut. He was the pilot of Space Shuttle Atlantis on his first mission to space, STS-115, which launched on September 9, 2006 and returned to Earth on September 21, 2006. He then commanded STS-126 aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour. In 2011, he was assigned as commander of STS-135, which was the final mission of the space shuttle program. On December 9, 2011, he retired from NASA and became director of Crew and Mission Operations for Boeing's Commercial Crew Program. In August 2018, Ferguson was assigned to the first test flight of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- A pioneering figure in independent filmmaking, writer-director Richard Brooks applied his journalistic background to his feature film career, in which he explored the best and worst in human behavior in films like "The Blackboard Jungle" (1955), "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1958), "The Professionals" (1966) and "In Cold Blood" (1967). Brooks moved from newspaper man and radio writer to penning scripts for noir films like "Brute Force" (1947) and "Key Largo" (1948), where he honed his talent for characters who operated on both sides of the law. After graduating to director in the 1950s, he earned an Oscar for writing "Elmer Gantry" (1960) and nominations for writing and directing "Blackboard," "Cat," and "The Professionals" before writing and directing his masterwork, the black-and-white docudrama "In Cold Blood" (1967). The film also served as the coda for his career, as Brooks would try and fail to meet its standard of quality for much of the next two decades. His best work, however, would stand the test of time, and ensure him a spot among the cinematic immortals.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Howard Head (July 31, 1914 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – March 3, 1991) was an aeronautical engineer who is credited with the invention of the first commercially successful aluminum laminate skis and the oversized tennis racket. Head founded the ski (and later tennis racquet) making firm Head in 1950. Later he became chairman of Prince Manufacturing Inc. The U.S. patents for the laminate skis and oversized tennis racket are in the name of Howard Head.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- John Warner Backus (December 3, 1924 – March 17, 2007) was an American computer scientist. He directed the team that invented and implemented FORTRAN, the first widely used high-level programming language, and was the inventor of the Backus–Naur form (BNF), a widely used notation to define formal language syntax. He later did research into the function-level programming paradigm, presenting his findings in his influential 1977 Turing Award lecture "Can Programming Be Liberated from the von Neumann Style?" The IEEE awarded Backus the W. W. McDowell Award in 1967 for the development of FORTRAN. He received the National Medal of Science in 1975 and the 1977 ACM Turing Award "for profound, influential, and lasting contributions to the design of practical high-level programming systems, notably through his work on FORTRAN, and for publication of formal procedures for the specification of programming languages".He retired in 1991 and died at his home in Ashland, Oregon on March 17, 2007.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- A true pioneer with a sardonic wit and keen insight into the human condition, Elaine May rose to prominence as one-half of an improvisational team, alongside future director Mike Nichols, before becoming a greatly revered writer-director-actor in her own right. After working together in the Chicago improv troupe The Compass Players, Nichols and May joined forces as a comedy team, performing in nightclubs and on stage and television, before dissolving the partnership to pursue separate interests. For May, that initially led to the theater, with efforts such as her play "Adaptation" receiving excellent notices. She soon turned her attention to film, with hilarious appearances in films like Rob Reiner's "Enter Laughing" (1967). Not long after, May wrote, directed and starred in the off-the-wall comedy "The New Leaf" (1971), co-starring Walter Matthau. As a director, she scored another triumph with the Neil Simon-scripted "The Heartbreak Kid" (1972), a quirky comedy that played like an inverse of pal Nichols' earlier seminal work "The Graduate" (1967). As a writer, May made an indelible mark in cinema when she co-wrote the much-beloved romantic comedy "Heaven Can Wait" (1978), along with its star, Warren Beatty. May also worked steadily as a respected script writer - both credited and non - adding hits like Mike Nichols' "The Birdcage" (1996) and "Primary Colors" (1998) to her already impressive résumé.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- For the actor also credited as Martin T. Sherman, see Martin Sherman (actor)Martin Gerald Sherman (born December 22, 1938) is an American dramatist and screenwriter best known for his 20 stage plays which have been produced in over 60 countries. He rose to fame in 1979 with the production of his play Bent, which explores the persecution of homosexuals during the Holocaust. Bent was a Tony nominee for Best Play in 1980 and won the Dramatists Guild's Hull-Warriner Award. It was adapted by Sherman for a major motion picture in 1997 and later by independent sources as a ballet in Brazil. Sherman is an openly gay Jew, and many of his works dramatize "outsiders," dealing with the discrimination and marginalization of minorities whether "gay, female, foreign, disabled, different in religion, class or color." He has lived and worked in London since 1980.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Marcus Samuel Blitzstein (March 2, 1905 – January 22, 1964), was an American composer, lyricist, and librettist. He won national attention in 1937 when his pro-union musical The Cradle Will Rock, directed by Orson Welles, was shut down by the Works Progress Administration. He is known for The Cradle Will Rock and for his Off-Broadway translation/adaptation of The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill. His works also include the opera Regina, an adaptation of Lillian Hellman's play The Little Foxes; the Broadway musical Juno, based on Seán O'Casey's play Juno and the Paycock; and No for an Answer. He completed translation/adaptations of Brecht's and Weill's musical play Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny and of Brecht's play Mother Courage and Her Children with music by Paul Dessau. Blitzstein also composed music for films, such as Surf and Seaweed (1931) and The Spanish Earth (1937), and he contributed two songs to the original 1960 production of Hellman's play Toys in the Attic.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Owen Wister (July 14, 1860 – July 21, 1938) was an American writer and historian, considered the "father" of western fiction. He is best remembered for writing The Virginian and a biography of Ulysses S. Grant.
- Birthplace: Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Richard Deacon (May 14, 1921 – August 8, 1984) was an American television and motion picture actor, best known for playing supporting roles in television shows such as The Dick Van Dyke Show, Leave It To Beaver, and The Jack Benny Program along with minor roles in films like Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) and Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Man Ray (born Emmanuel Radnitzky; August 27, 1890 – November 18, 1976) was an American visual artist who spent most of his career in Paris. He was a significant contributor to the Dada and Surrealist movements, although his ties to each were informal. He produced major works in a variety of media but considered himself a painter above all. He was best known for his photography, and he was a renowned fashion and portrait photographer. Man Ray is also noted for his work with photograms, which he called "rayographs" in reference to himself.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Fabiano Anthony Forte (born February 6, 1943), professionally known as Fabian, is an American singer and actor. Forte rose to national prominence after performing several times on American Bandstand. He became a teen idol of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Eleven of his songs reached the Billboard Hot 100 listing.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Scott Levy (born September 8, 1964) is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, and podcaster better known by his ring name, Raven. A journeyman, he is known for his appearances with professional wrestling promotions including Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (WWF/E) and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). Widely recognized as "one of the best talkers in wrestling", Raven is known for his "psychological heel tactics" and grunge-inspired gimmick. His feud with The Sandman in the mid-1990s has been described as "one of the most emotional rivalries in professional wrestling's history".Championships held by Raven over the course of his career include the ECW World Heavyweight Championship, ECW World Tag Team Championship, NWA World Heavyweight Championship, WCW Light Heavyweight Championship, WCW United States Heavyweight Championship, WCW World Tag Team Championship and WWF/E Hardcore Championship. He is recognized as one of the most decorated wrestlers in history with 36 separate title reigns under the WWE, WCW and ECW banners, including a record 27 reigns as WWF/E Hardcore Champion.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Since the late 1980s, writer and stand-up comic Dom Irrera has won over audiences with stories about his working-class upbringing and Catholic-school education in south Philadelphia, rapid-fire observations about the Italian-American experience and seemingly endless punchlines that leave him just as breathless as his doubled-over fans. Though he appeared on "The Tonight Show" in 1986, his first big break came the next year, when comedy legend Rodney Dangerfield chose him for "Nothing Goes Right," an X-rated showcase for HBO that included controversial performances by fellow comics Bill Hicks and Andrew Dice Clay. Since then, he has made a steady stream of appearances in movies and on sitcoms and late-night television. Irrera's most memorable roles as an actor include the hapless prop comic Ronnie Kaye on the fifth season of "Seinfeld," the wise-cracking chauffeur in the Coen brothers'a post-modern comedy "The Big Lebowski," and the racist screenwriter in 1987's "Hollywood Shuffle," writer-director Robert Townsend's classic send-up of race in the film industry. Throughout his long career, Irrera has managed to apply his uniquely Northeastern sensibilities to both clean and blue material. He was a regular on animator Tom Snyder's decidedly adult "Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist," yet he also won fans among younger Nickelodeon viewers as demolition man Ernie Potts on 1996-2004's "Hey Arnold!" and as Duke the Dog in animator Steve Oedekerk's "Back at the Barnyard" franchise.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- From the time he was a young lad, Gary Dourdan knew that he wanted to be an actor. Despite a myriad of interests, which included music, athletics and even breakdancing, Dourdan focused much of his passion centered on acting. His determination, of course, eventually paid off - after an increasing series of television guest spots that led to regular series roles, he came to prominence in the "Alien" film franchise in 1997, officially starting him on the path towards stardom. While the one-time New Jersey native worked steadily, it was his role as forensic investigator Warrick Brown on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (CBS, 2000-15) that put him on the map, introducing Dourdan to a large audience week after week and establishing him as a top-notch television star.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Benjamin Chew Tilghman (1821—1901) was an American soldier and inventor. He is best known as the inventor of the process of sandblasting.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Elisha Kent Kane (February 3, 1820 – February 16, 1857) was an American explorer, and a medical officer in the United States Navy during the first half of the 19th century. He was a member of two Arctic expeditions to rescue the explorer Sir John Franklin. He was present at the discovery of Franklin's first winter camp, but he did not find out what had happened to the fatal expedition.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Frederick Paul Mascherino (born July 27, 1974) is an American musician best known for his work as lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist in alternative rock band Taking Back Sunday. He is currently in the band Terrible Things.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Andrew Breckman is a longtime comedy writer, mainly for television series and late night. He was born on March 3, 1955, in Philadelphia. His brother, David Breckman, is also a comedy writer. Andy Breckman started out writing for television in 1979 on the series "Hot Hero Sandwich." His writing efforts on the show garnered him a Daytime Emmy Award in 1980. From 1982 to 1984, he was a strong contributing writer for "Late Night with David Letterman." He also started writing sketches for "Saturday Night Live" in 1983 and was a team member on that show until 1996. His writing credits are not limited to the small screen, however. He wrote screenplays for "I.Q." and "Sgt. Bilko" in 1994 and 1996 respectively. His most successful screenplay came in 2001 with the film "Rat Race," which featured multiple comic actors, including the likes of Seth Green, Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Lovitz, and John Cleese. The culmination of many years of grinding away at television writing added to the satisfaction of creating his own television series in 2002 with "Monk." Breckman himself wrote and produced the sitcom. His show was so successful and well received that USA decided to green light a spinoff of the series, called "Little Monk," with Breckman on that writing team as well. Breckman is married to documentarian Beth Landau.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Frank John Wycheck (October 14, 1971 – December 9, 2023) was an American professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins. As a professional, Wycheck played 11 seasons for the Washington Redskins and the Tennessee Titans, where he threw the lateral pass in the Music City Miracle. He had also spent time as a professional wrestler. Wycheck was the color commentator on the Tennessee Titans Radio Network from 2005 to 2016, and from 2004 to 2017, Wycheck co-hosted a morning sports radio show on Nashville radio station WGFX.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- John Cappelletti (born August 9, 1952) is a former American football running back. He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) with the Los Angeles Rams and the San Diego Chargers. Prior to his professional career, he attended Penn State, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1973. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Penn State football coach Joe Paterno said that Cappelletti was "the best football player I ever coached." Cappelletti's relationship with his younger brother Joey, who was stricken with leukemia, was chronicled into a book and made-for-TV movie.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Edward Rudolph "Ed" Bradley, Jr. (June 22, 1941 – November 9, 2006) was an American journalist, best known for 26 years of award-winning work on the CBS News television program 60 Minutes. During his earlier career he also covered the fall of Saigon, was the first black television correspondent to cover the White House, and anchored his own news broadcast, CBS Sunday Night News with Ed Bradley. He received several awards for his work including the Peabody, the National Association of Black Journalists Lifetime Achievement Award, Radio Television Digital News Association Paul White (journalist) Award and 19 Emmy Awards.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Samuel Leeds Allen
Dec. at 76 (1841-1918)Samuel Leeds Allen (May 5, 1841 – March 28, 1918) was the founder of S.L. Allen & Company in Philadelphia. He was the inventor of, and his company manufactured, both the Flexible Flyer sled and Planet Jr farm and garden equipment. For over one hundred years these products were the best selling and most famous market gardening tools and American sleds. During his lifetime and for the first half of the 20th century S.L. Allen was far more renowned for his companies seed drills and cultivating equipment than the sleds.- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Sheila Lukins (November 18, 1942 – August 30, 2009), was an American cook and food writer. She was most famous as the co-author, with Julee Rosso, of The Silver Palate series of cookbooks, and The New Basics Cookbook, a very popular set of food guides which introduced many Americans to French, Southern and Eastern European cooking techniques and ingredients and popularized a richer and very boldly seasoned style of cooking to Americans in sharp contrast to the health-food movements of the 1970s. Together, their books sold more than seven million copies. She was also the co-founder and owner of the popular Silver Palate gourmet shop in New York City and, for 23 years, the food editor and columnist for Parade, a position previously held by Julia Child.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- David Crane is an American writer, producer, and actor who is best known for writing "Friends" and "Episodes." Crane won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2002 for the first project.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Wilhelmenia Fernandez
Age: 76Wilhelmenia Fernandez, sometimes billed as Wilhelmenia Wiggins Fernandez, is an American soprano.- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- A tall, ruggedly handsome leading man of stage and screen, Stephen Macht is perhaps best remembered for his TV work, which has included the series "American Dream" (ABC, 1981), a stint as the love interest of Sharon Gless' Chris Cagney on "Cagney & Lacey" and numerous TV movies and miniseries.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Joseph Kallinger
Dec. at 56 (1939-1996)Joseph Kallinger (December 11, 1935 – March 26, 1996) was an American serial killer who murdered three people, including his teenage son, and tortured four families. He committed these crimes with his 12-year-old son Michael.- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Gerald Edward Levert (July 13, 1966 – November 10, 2006) was an American singer-songwriter, producer and actor. Levert is best known for singing with his brother, Sean Levert, and friend Marc Gordon of the vocal group LeVert. Levert was also a member of LSG, a supergroup comprising Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, and himself. Levert is the son of Eddie Levert, who is the lead singer of the R&B/soul vocal group The O'Jays.
- Birthplace: USA, Ohio, Canton
- Benjamin Rush (January 4, 1746 [O.S. December 24, 1745] – April 19, 1813) was a signer of the Declaration of Independence (U.S.) and a civic leader in Philadelphia, where he was a physician, politician, social reformer, humanitarian, and educator as well as the founder of Dickinson College. Rush attended the Continental Congress. His later self-description there was: "He aimed right." He served as Surgeon General of the Continental Army and became a professor of chemistry, medical theory, and clinical practice at the University of Pennsylvania.Rush was a leader of the American Enlightenment and an enthusiastic supporter of the American Revolution. He was a leader in Pennsylvania's ratification of the Constitution in 1788. He was prominent in many reforms, especially in the areas of medicine and education. He opposed slavery, advocated free public schools, and sought improved education for women and a more enlightened penal system. As a leading physician, Rush had a major impact on the emerging medical profession. As an Enlightenment intellectual, he was committed to organizing all medical knowledge around explanatory theories, rather than rely on empirical methods. Rush argued that illness was the result of imbalances in the body's physical system and was caused by malfunctions in the brain. His approach prepared the way for later medical research, but Rush himself undertook none of it. He promoted public health by advocating clean environment and stressing the importance of personal and military hygiene. His study of mental disorder made him one of the founders of American psychiatry.
- Birthplace: Byberry, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Robert Charles Venturi, Jr. is an American architect, founding principal of the firm Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates, and one of the major architectural figures in the twentieth century. Together with his wife and partner, Denise Scott Brown, he helped to shape the way that architects, planners and students experience and think about architecture and the American built environment. Their buildings, planning, theoretical writings and teaching have also contributed to the expansion of discourse about architecture. Venturi was awarded the Pritzker Prize in Architecture in 1991; the prize was awarded to him alone, despite a request to include his equal partner Denise Scott Brown. A group of women architects attempted to get her name added retroactively to the prize, but the Pritzker Prize jury declined to do so. Venturi is also known for coining the maxim "Less is a bore", a postmodern antidote to Mies van der Rohe's famous modernist dictum "Less is more". Venturi lives in Philadelphia with Denise Scott Brown.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Safiya Songhai, is an American film director, television anchor/reporter and beauty queen. She was the 1st runner-up to Miss Black USA 2008, representing Massachusetts. Songhai was also a local winner and runner-up in both the District of Columbia and New York state pageants for the Miss America competition. From 2010 - 2012, Songhai served as a professor of Mass Communications at Prairie View A&M University, receiving three teaching award nominations from students and faculty.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Oscar Baylin Goodman (born July 26, 1939) is an American attorney and politician. He was the mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada from 1999 to 2011. His wife, Carolyn Goodman, succeeded him as mayor in 2011. Goodman is an Independent.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Kim Delaney was born on Nov. 29, 1961 in Philadelphia, PA. She began modeling in high school, and moved to New York City to pursue this career further. At this point, she began studying acting at the William Esper Studio; in 1981, she landed her first professional screen role on the soap opera "All My Children" (ABC 1970-2011). She stayed with the series until 1984, at which point she began collecting roles in films like "That Was Then This Is Now" (1985), "The Delta Force" (1986), and "Campus Man" (1987). After a few years of minor parts on popular television series, Delaney landed a starring role on "NYPD Blue" (ABC 1993-2005), on which she played the character Detective Diane Russell. She stayed with the series until the end of its run, after which she played a guest role on the popular dramedy "The OC" (Fox 2003-07), followed by a starring role on the drama series "Army Wives" (Lifetime 2007-2013). In 2018, ABC announced development on a sequel series to "NYPD Blue," in which Delaney was cast among other original stars.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Patricia Hill Collins (born May 1, 1948) is an American academic specialising in race, class and gender. She is a Distinguished University Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park. She is also the former head of the Department of African-American Studies at the University of Cincinnati, and a past President of the American Sociological Association Council. Collins was the 100th president of the ASA and the first African-American woman to hold this position.Collins's work primarily concerns issues involving feminism, gender, and social inequality within the African-American community. She first came to national attention for her book Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness and the Politics of Empowerment, originally published in 1990.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Michael Anthony Powell (born November 10, 1963) is an American former track and field athlete, and the holder of the long jump world record. He is a two-time world champion in this event and two-time Olympic silver medallist.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- James Montgomery Beck (July 9, 1861 – April 12, 1936) was an American lawyer and politician from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a member of the Republican Party, who served as U.S. Solicitor General and U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Frank Piasecki ( pee-ə-SEK-ee; Polish: [pjaˈsɛtski]; October 24, 1919 – February 11, 2008) was an American engineer and helicopter aviation pioneer. Piasecki pioneered tandem rotor helicopter designs and created the compound helicopter concept of vectored thrust using a ducted propeller.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
John Ernest
Dec. at 72 (1922-1994)John Ernest (May 6, 1922 – July 21, 1994) was an American-born constructivist abstract artist. He was born in Philadelphia, in 1922. After living and working in Sweden and Paris from 1946 to 1951, he moved to London, England, where he lived and worked from 1951. As a mature student at Saint Martin's School of Art he came under the influence of Victor Pasmore and other proponents of constructivism. During the 1950s together with Anthony Hill, Kenneth Martin, Mary Martin, Stephen Gilbert and Gillian Wise he became a key member of the British constructivist (a.k.a. constructionist) art movement.John Ernest created both reliefs and free standing constructions. Several of his works are held at Tate Britain, including the Moebius Strip sculpture. He designed both a tower and a large wall relief at the International Union of Architects congress, South Bank, London, 1961. The exhibition structure also housed works by several of the other British constructivists. John Ernest had a lifelong fascination with mathematics that is reflected in his work, and together with constructivist artist Anthony Hill he made contributions to graph theory, studying crossing numbers of complete graphs.Ernest was an atheist.- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Robert Crumb
Age: 81Growing up in the 1940s and '50s, R. Crumb was drawn to the world of comics and animation, specifically the works of Walt Kelly and the Fleischer Brothers. He followed that love when he graduated high school, and honed his artwork skills drawing cards for American Greetings. He wasn't happy, though, and he lived in squalor. It was around this time that Crumb, married with a young child, started heavily using drugs, mostly LSD. His use of the drug led to an insane, psychedelic creative process that produced most of his notable work. In 1965, at the age of 22, Crumb's drug-fueled work produced Fritz the Cat, a counterculture cat who went on wild adventures that were often risqué. Shortly after, he helped create Zap Comix, an underground comic magazine that featured Crumb's work, notably his racist caricature Angelfood McSpade. The comic also helped popularize Crumb and led to the Ralph Bakshi animated film "Fritz the Cat" (1972), which became a huge success in addition to being the first X-rated animated film. Shortly after, Crumb ditched the character, primarily because of how mainstream the cat had become. After Zap and his film experience, Crumb went on to create Weirdo, a quarterly comic anthology series that was filled with a mixture of weird and off-beat material. In the '90s, director Terry Zwigoff worked with Crumb and his family to create a documentary called "Crumb" (1994), which was released to critical acclaim and heightened a new generation's interest in his work. In his later years, Crumb lived quietly in France with his wife, fellow cartoonist Aline Kominsky-Crumb, and their daughter Sophie Crumb.- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Ben Odell
Age: 56Benjamin Odell is an American writer, director and producer of independent films.- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Robert Patterson
Dec. at 76 (1933-2009)Rashied Ali, born Robert Patterson (July 1, 1933 – August 12, 2009) was an American free jazz and avant-garde drummer best known for playing with John Coltrane in the last years of Coltrane's life.- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Anthony Eisley (January 19, 1925 – January 29, 2003) was an American actor best known as one of the detective leads, Tracy Steele, in the ABC/Warner Brothers television series Hawaiian Eye. Early in his career, he was credited as Fred Eisley and later was sometimes billed as Tony Eisley.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Ari Hoenig (born November 13, 1973) is an American jazz drummer, composer, and educator.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Joseph Stefano
Dec. at 84 (1922-2006)Joseph Stefano was an American writer, producer, actor, and director who was known for writing "Psycho," "The Outer Limits," and "The Outer Limits."- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Carol Chomsky is a professor.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Born on June 28, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bruce Davison is a distinguished American actor and director. From his early beginnings in theater to his acclaimed performances in film and television, Davison's career has been characterized by versatility and dedication. A graduate of New York University's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, Davison's talent was evident from the start. Davison first gained national recognition for his role in Willard in 1971, a film that showcased his ability to portray complex characters with depth and sincerity. However, it was his heartfelt performance in 1989's Longtime Companion, where he played a man grappling with the AIDS epidemic, that truly set him apart. This role earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, proving his mettle as a formidable actor in Hollywood. Throughout his career, Davison has shown the capacity to transcend genres, appearing in a wide range of productions including horror films like Willard, dramatic films such as X-Men and even comedies like Seinfeld. Behind the camera, Davison has also made significant contributions as a director. He directed several episodes of popular television shows like Touched by an Angel and The Practice, demonstrating his keen eye for storytelling. Despite his success in Hollywood, Davison has always remained true to his roots. He has performed in numerous stage productions, including Arthur Miller's The Crucible and Tennessee Williams's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. His multifaceted career reflects his commitment to his craft and his unwavering passion for performing arts.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
William Goetz
Dec. at 66 (1903-1969)Studio producer for Fox, 20th Century-Fox, International and Universal International, before turning independent in 1954 with William Goetz Productions.- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Michael "Mike" Colameco is an American chef, author, and media personality. A 45-year veteran of the restaurant industry, he is the host and producer for Mike Colameco’s Real Food television show, retooled from the original 3-part series “The Food Dude.” Since 2006, he has hosted a live weekly radio show called Food Talk. Colameco is a long time contributor to Saveur, Edible Manhattan, Edible New Jersey, Snooth, and Guitar Aficionado magazines and in 2009, he published Mike Colameco's Food Lover's Guide to New York City with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Douglas Bruce Lenat (born 1950) is the CEO of Cycorp, Inc. of Austin, Texas, and has been a prominent researcher in artificial intelligence; he was awarded the biannual IJCAI Computers and Thought Award in 1976 for creating the machine learning program, AM. He has worked on (symbolic, not statistical) machine learning (with his AM and Eurisko programs), knowledge representation, "cognitive economy", blackboard systems, and what he dubbed in 1984 "ontological engineering" (with his Cyc program at MCC and, since 1994, at Cycorp). He has also worked in military simulations, and numerous projects for US government, military, intelligence, and scientific organizations. In 1980, he published a critique of conventional random-mutation Darwinism. He authored a series of articles in the Journal of Artificial Intelligence exploring the nature of heuristic rules. Lenat was one of the original Fellows of the AAAI, and is the only individual to have served on the Scientific Advisory Boards of both Microsoft and Apple. He is a Fellow of the AAAS, AAAI, and Cognitive Science Society, and an editor of the J. Automated Reasoning, J. Learning Sciences, and J. Applied Ontology. He was one of the founders of TTI/Vanguard in 1991 and remains a member of its advisory board still in 2017. He was named one of the Wired 25.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Warren Zimmermann (November 16, 1934 – February 3, 2004) was an American career diplomat best known as the last US ambassador to SFR Yugoslavia before its disintegration in a series of civil wars.Zimmermann was a member of the Yale Class of 1956, and a member of Scroll and Key Society. He died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Great Falls, Virginia on February 3, 2004.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Joseph Rudolph "Philly Joe" Jones (July 15, 1923 – August 30, 1985) was an American jazz drummer, known as the drummer for the first "Great" Miles Davis Quintet. He should not be confused with "Papa" Jo Jones, another drummer who had a long tenure with Count Basie. The two men died only a few days apart.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- James Kenneth McManus (September 24, 1921 – June 7, 2008), better known by his professional name of Jim McKay, was an American television sports journalist. McKay is best known for hosting ABC's Wide World of Sports (1961–1998). His introduction for that program has passed into American pop culture, in which viewers were reminded of the show's mission ("Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sports") and what lay ahead ("the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat"). He is also known for television coverage of 12 Olympic Games, and is universally respected for his memorable reporting on the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics. McKay covered a wide variety of special events, including horse races such as the Kentucky Derby, golf events such as the British Open, and the Indianapolis 500. McKay's son, Sean McManus, a protégé of Roone Arledge, is the chairman of CBS Sports.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Born Jimmy Ercolini and raised on 10th Street between Ritner and Porter in the same South Philadelphia neighborhood that produced Fabian, Bobby Rydell and Frankie Avalon, James Darren grew into a tall, dark and handsome Italian heartthrob who would also enjoy a run as a teenage singing sensation. While studying acting with Stella Adler in NYC, a chance meeting with Columbia Pictures eastern talent scout Joyce Selznick opened the door to a screen career, and he joined the studio's stable of fine young actors, delivering a standout performance in his feature debut as the juvenile gang leader and star of "Rumble on the Docks" (1956). Darren continued to impress in subsequent outings but really came into his own as Jeff 'Moondoggie' Matthews opposite Sandra Dee's "Gidget" (1959). Especially effective as the young man torn between the carefree surfing life and the responsibilities of growing up, he also displayed a pleasant singing voice on the film's title song and the even better "The Next Best Thing to Love," launching a recording career that boasted five Top 10 singles during the early 60s, including the Grammy-nominated "Goodbye Cruel World" (1961), which peaked at Number Three.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Lee Morgan (July 10, 1938 – February 19, 1972) was an American jazz trumpeter and composer.One of the key hard bop musicians of the 1960s, Morgan came to prominence in his late teens, recording on John Coltrane's Blue Train (1957) and with the band of drummer Art Blakey before launching a solo career. Morgan stayed with Blakey until 1961 and started to record as leader soon after. His song "The Sidewinder", on the album of the same name, became a surprise crossover hit on the pop and R&B charts in 1964, while Morgan's recordings found him touching on other styles of music as his artistry matured. Soon after The Sidewinder was released, Morgan rejoined Blakey for a short period. After leaving Blakey for the final time, Morgan continued to work prolifically as both a leader and a sideman with the likes of Hank Mobley and Wayne Shorter, becoming a cornerstone of the Blue Note label.Morgan's career was cut short at the age of 33 when his common-law wife Helen shot and killed him following a confrontation at Slug's Saloon, in New York City.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Joseph McKenna (August 10, 1843 – November 21, 1926) was an American politician who served in all three branches of the U.S. federal government, as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, as U.S. Attorney General and as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. He is one of seventeen members of the House of Representatives who subsequently served on the Supreme Court (including two Chief Justices).
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Richard Joseph Gannon (born December 20, 1965) is a former American football quarterback who played eighteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He is a sports commentator with CBS Sports and Sirius XM NFL Radio. Gannon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and played college football at the University of Delaware. At Delaware, he directed coach Tubby Raymond's Wing-T offense. He recorded at least 2,000 offensive yards for three straight seasons at Delaware and was Yankee Conference Offensive Player of the Year as a senior. In the 1987 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots selected Gannon in the fourth round intent upon converting Gannon to running back. He was soon traded to the Minnesota Vikings and would play with the Vikings until 1992. Gannon began his career as a backup for Wade Wilson. Gannon started his first games in 1990 in relief of an injured Wilson and would start many games in 1991. In 1992, he formally became the starting quarterback for the Vikings and led the Vikings to an 11-5 season and the playoffs after two consecutive losing seasons. Gannon played with the Washington Redskins in 1993, the Kansas City Chiefs from 1995-98, and the Oakland Raiders from 1999-2004. With the Raiders, he achieved his greatest successes, including four consecutive seasons making the Pro Bowl (1999-2002), three consecutive postseason appearances for the Raiders (2000-2002), two All-Pro selections (2000, 2002), one MVP, and an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVII played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. However, Gannon spent much of his final two seasons (2003 and 2004) with injuries, and the Raiders had losing records in those seasons. After retiring from football before the 2005 season, Gannon began a career in sports broadcasting. Currently, he is a sports analyst for NFL on CBS and co-hosts The Sirius Blitz on Sirius XM NFL Radio.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Anna Marie Quindlen (born July 8, 1952) is an American author, journalist, and opinion columnist. Her New York Times column, Public and Private, won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1992. She began her journalism career in 1974 as a reporter for the New York Post. Between 1977 and 1994 she held several posts at The New York Times. Her semi-autobiographical novel One True Thing (1994) served as the basis for the 1998 film starring Meryl Streep and Renée Zellweger.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Tiffany Lane (born August 16, 1974), better known as Charli Baltimore, is an American rapper and songwriter. Her stage name is taken from Geena Davis's character in the film The Long Kiss Goodnight.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Alfred McCoy Tyner (December 11, 1938 – March 6, 2020) was a jazz pianist from Philadelphia known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Jerome "Pooh" Richardson (born May 14, 1966) is an American former basketball player who played 10 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected in the first round of the 1989 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, the first draft pick in franchise history. He would also play for the Indiana Pacers and Los Angeles Clippers during his 10-year NBA career from 1989 to 1999. Richardson played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins from 1985 to 1989. A three-time first-team all-conference selection in the Pac-10 (now the Pac-12), he set school career records for assists and three-point field goal percentage. His nickname came from his grandmother, who thought he resembled Winnie the Pooh.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Michael Connelly is a writer, producer, and actor who is known for writing "The Lincoln Lawyer," "Bosch," and "Bosch: Legacy."
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Jessie Willcox Smith (September 6, 1863 – May 3, 1935) was an American illustrator during the Golden Age of American illustration. She was considered "one of the greatest pure illustrators". She was a contributor to books and magazines during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Smith illustrated stories and articles for clients such as Century, Collier's, Leslie's Weekly, Harper's, McClure's, Scribners, and the Ladies' Home Journal. She had an ongoing relationship with Good Housekeeping, which included the long-running Mother Goose series of illustrations and also the creation of all of the Good Housekeeping covers from December 1917 to 1933. Among the more than 60 books that Smith illustrated were Louisa May Alcott's Little Women and An Old-Fashioned Girl, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Evangeline, and Robert Louis Stevenson's A Child's Garden of Verses.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Burly supporting player and unlikely romantic lead who entered film in the early 1920s and distinguished himself in several works by director Josef von Sternberg, notably the seminal gangster film "Underworld" (1927) and the brilliantly photographed "Docks of New York" (1928).
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Robert Louis Ridarelli (April 26, 1942 – April 5, 2022), known by the stage name Bobby Rydell, was an American singer and actor who mainly performed rock and roll and traditional pop music. In the early 1960s he was considered a teen idol. His most well-known songs include "Wildwood Days," "Wild One" and "Volare" (cover of an Italian song by Domenico Modugno, "Nel blu, dipinto di blu"); in 1963 he appeared in the musical film Bye Bye Birdie. In the 1980s, he joined a trio called The Golden Boys, with fellow former teen idols Frankie Avalon and Fabian Forte. He continued to tour up until his death in 2022.
- Birthplace: USA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Glen Keane is an American animator, author and illustrator. Keane was a character animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios for feature films including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Tarzan and Tangled. Keane received the 1992 Annie Award for character animation, the 2007 Winsor McCay Award for lifetime contribution to the field of animation and in 2013 was named a Disney Legend. In 2017, Keane directed Dear Basketball, an animated short film based on Kobe Bryant's retirement poem in The Players' Tribune. At the 90th Academy Awards, Keane and Bryant won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for their work on Dear Basketball.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Thomas Wingett Corbett Jr. (born June 17, 1949) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 46th governor of Pennsylvania from January 18, 2011 to January 20, 2015. He is a member of the Republican Party. Born in Philadelphia, Corbett is a graduate of Lebanon Valley College and St. Mary's University School of Law and served as a captain in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Corbett began his career as an assistant district attorney in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in 1976. Corbett then joined the U.S. Department of Justice as an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, serving from 1980 to 1983, upon entering private practice. In 1988 Corbett was first elected to public office as a Commissioner in the Pittsburgh suburb of Shaler, before serving as the United States Attorney for Western Pennsylvania from 1989 to 1993 in the George H. W. Bush administration. In 1995, Corbett was appointed to fill the remainder of Ernie Preate's term as Attorney General of Pennsylvania, until 1997. Corbett then reentered private practice and worked as the general counsel for Waste Management, Inc before being elected Attorney General of Pennsylvania in 2004. Corbett was then elected to a second term in 2008, serving a total of two non-consecutive tenures as attorney general from 1995 to 1997, and 2005 to 2011. Corbett declared his candidacy for governor in March 2009. He won the Republican nomination and defeated Democratic nominee Dan Onorato, with 54.5% of the vote in the 2010 general election. He was sworn into office on January 18, 2011. On November 8, 2013 he announced his intention to run for a second term as the state's chief executive. Corbett lost his bid for a second term to Democrat Tom Wolf in the November 4, 2014 general election. This election marked the first time an incumbent Governor running for re-election in Pennsylvania lost since William Bigler in 1854.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Frank Dobson
Dec. at 73 (1885-1959)Frank Mills Dobson (January 10, 1885 – December 1, 1956) was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach. He served as the head football coach at the University of Georgia (1909, with James Coulter), Clemson University (1910–1912), the University of Richmond (1913–1917, 1919–1933), the University of South Carolina (1918), the University of Maryland (1936–1939), and The Apprentice School (1940–1948), compiling a career record of 137–142–24. Dobson was also the head basketball coach at Clemson (1911–1913) and Richmond (1912–1917, 1919–1933) and the head baseball coach at Clemson (1911–1913) and Richmond (1915–1933).- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Former stand-up comedian David Mirkin began his career as a TV writer dreaming up titillating scenarios to be stumbled into by the clumsily swinging bachelor Jack Tripper on the 1977-1984 comedy-of-errors "Three's Company." Recognized for his character writing as much as for his ability to conceive pratfalls, he was immediately thereafter picked up for the legendary comedian Bob Newhart's droll self-titled sitcom "Newhart," becoming one of the series' directors and executive producers by the end of its run. In the early 1990s, Mirkin created the pop-culture-skewering sketch show "The Edge" and the consummately surreal, Chris-Elliott-starring sitcom parody "Get a Life," two short-lived series that went on to build a rabid cult following. The writer-director-producer is most widely recognized for his work on the TV-comedy juggernaut "The Simpsons," serving as show runner, executive producer, and frequent voice director of the animated comedy's fifth and sixth seasons. The sole episode he wrote for the series, "Deep Space Homer," is among the most quoted installments in its history. While staying on "The Simpsons" as a part-time consultant (and co-writer of the show's movie adaptation), Mirkin has helmed such feature films as the 2001 swindler comedy "Heartbreakers" and ditzy-duo farce "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion."
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Tommy Cairo
Age: 67Thomas "Tommy" Cairo (born February 19, 1958) is an American retired professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his 1994 feud with The Sandman in Extreme Championship Wrestling. He is the former co-owner of the New Jersey-based Force One Pro Wrestling promotion and school.- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
