List of people from New York (state)



The following is a list of prominent people who were born in/lived in or around the U.S. state of New York, or for whom New York is a significant part of their identity.

Presidents



 * Chester A. Arthur (1829–1886), 20th Vice President and 21st President of the United States – Schenectady
 * Martin Van Buren (1782–1862), 8th Vice President and 8th President of the United States – Kinderhook
 * Grover Cleveland (1837–1908), 22nd and 24th President of the United States – Fayetteville
 * Millard Fillmore (1800–1874), 12th Vice President and 13th President of the United States – Moravia
 * Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), 25th Vice President and 26th President of the United States – Manhattan
 * Franklin D. Roosevelt (1883–1945), 32nd President of the United States – Hyde Park
 * Donald Trump (born 1946), 45th President of the United States – Queens

Vice Presidents



 * Aaron Burr (1756–1836), 3rd Vice President of the United States – Manhattan
 * George Clinton (1739–1812), 4th Vice President of the United States – Little Britain
 * Schuyler Colfax (1823–1885), 17th Vice President of the United States – Manhattan
 * Levi P. Morton (1824–1920), 22nd Vice President of the United States – Albany
 * Nelson Rockefeller (1908–1979), 41st Vice President of the United States – Albany
 * James S. Sherman (1855–1912), 27th Vice President of the United States – Utica
 * Daniel D. Tompkins (1774–1825), 6th Vice President of the United States – Scarsdale
 * William A. Wheeler (1819–1887), 19th Vice President of the United States – Malone

Governors

 * Andrew Cuomo (born 1957), 56th Governor of New York
 * Mario Cuomo (1932–2015), 52nd Governor of New York
 * Howard Dean (born 1948), former Governor of Vermont (1991–2003), and 2004 Democratic candidate for president
 * Thomas E. Dewey (1902–1971), 47th Governor of New York, Republican nominee for president in 1944 and 1948
 * Charles Evans Hughes (1862–1948), 36th Governor of New York, Secretary of State, 11th Chief Justice of the United States and 1916 Republican presidential nominee
 * John Jay (1745–1829), 1st Chief Justice of the United States, 2nd Governor of New York, and 8th President of the Continental Congress
 * Horatio Seymour (1810–1886), 18th Governor of New York and 1868 Democratic presidential nominee
 * Al Smith (1873–1944), 42nd Governor of New York and 1928 Democratic presidential candidate
 * Samuel J. Tilden (1814–1886), 25th Governor of New York and 1876 Republican presidential candidate

Senators



 * Barbara Boxer (born 1940), longtime California Senator (1993–2017) – New York City
 * Hillary Clinton (born 1947), former United States Secretary of State (2009–2013), New York Senator (2000–2009), and former First Lady (1993–2000); 2016 Democratic nominee for president – Chappaqua
 * Roscoe Conkling (1829–1888), New York Senator (1867–1881) and leader of the Stalwart faction of the Republican Party – Albany
 * Al Franken (born 1951), Minnesota Senator (2009–2018) – New York City
 * Kirsten Gillibrand (born 1966), New York Senator since 2009 – Albany
 * Bob Menendez (born 1954), New Jersey Senator since 2006 – New York City
 * Chris Murphy (born 1973), former Congressman (2007–2013) and current Connecticut Senator since 2013 – White Plains
 * Bernie Sanders (born 1941), Vermont Senator since 2007, former Mayor of Burlington, Vermont (1981–1989) and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate – Brooklyn
 * Chuck Schumer (born 1950), Democratic Leader of the United States Senate since 2017 and long-time New York Senator since 1999; cousin of comedian Amy Schumer – Brooklyn
 * Robert F. Wagner (1877–1953), New York Senator (1927–1949) – Manhattan

Other politicians

 * Parmenio Adams (1776–1832), sheriff and United States Congressman
 * Shirley Chisholm (1924–2005), Congresswoman and 1972 Democratic presidential candidate
 * DeWitt Clinton (1769–1828), governor, built the Erie Canal
 * John "J.J." Dewey (1822–1891), territorial legislator in Minnesota
 * William H. Donaldson (born 1931), 27th Chairman of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
 * Geraldine Ferraro (1935–2011), New York Congresswoman and first female Vice Presidential candidate of a major political party in 1984
 * Rudy Giuliani (born 1944), 107th Mayor of New York City (1994–2001)
 * Alexander Hamilton (1757–1804), 1st United States Secretary of the Treasury
 * Jack Kemp (1935–2009), former NFL football player for the Buffalo Bills, Secretary of Housing under President George H. W. Bush, and 1996 Republican nominee for Vice President under Bob Dole
 * Caroline Kennedy (born 1957), former U.S. Ambassador to Japan (2013–2017), and daughter of former president John F. Kennedy and former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
 * Ed Koch (1924–2013), 105th Mayor of New York City (1978–1989)
 * Fiorello La Guardia (1882–1947), highly acclaimed 99th Mayor of New York City (1934–1945)
 * William Loeb Jr., secretary to President Theodore Roosevelt
 * Harvey Milk (1930–1978), first openly gay person to be elected public office in California
 * William M. Tweed (1823–1878), known as "Boss" Tweed; Grand Sachem of Tammany Hall
 * Jimmy Walker (1881–1946), flamboyant 97th Mayor of New York City (1926–1932) forced into resigning by the Seabury Commission

First Ladies



 * Barbara Bush (1925–2018), First Lady of the United States
 * Rose Cleveland (1846–1918), First Lady of the United States
 * Abigail Fillmore (1798–1853), First Lady of the United States
 * Mary Arthur McElroy (1841–1917), First Lady of the United States
 * Elizabeth Monroe (1768–1830), First Lady of the United States
 * Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (1929–1994), First Lady of the United States
 * Frances Cleveland (1864–1947), First Lady of the United States
 * Nancy Reagan (1921–2016), First Lady of the United States
 * Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962), First Lady of the United States
 * Julia Gardiner Tyler (1820–1889), First Lady of the United States
 * Priscilla Cooper Tyler (1816–1889), First Lady of the United States
 * Melania Trump (born 1970), First Lady of the United States

Film, television, theater, and dance



 * Gia Allemand (1983–2013), actress
 * Woody Allen (born 1935), actor, director, and writer
 * June Allyson (1917–2006), actress
 * Tyler Alvarez (born 1997), actor
 * Michael Angarano (born 1987), actor
 * Diane Arbus (1923–1971), photographer
 * Moisés Arias (born 1994), actor
 * Alan Arkin (born 1934), actor
 * Alison Arngrim (born 1962), actress and comedian
 * Richmond Arquette (born 1963), actor
 * Rosanna Arquette (born 1959), actress
 * Jean Arthur (1900–1991), actress
 * Jake T. Austin (born 1994), actor
 * Lauren Bacall (1924–2014), actress
 * Alec Baldwin (born 1958), actor, producer, and comedian
 * Daniel Baldwin (born 1960), actor, director, and producer
 * Stephen Baldwin (born 1966), actor, author, and producer
 * William Baldwin (born 1963), actor, producer, and writer
 * Lucille Ball (1911–1989), actress
 * Anne Bancroft (1931–2005), actress
 * Joseph Barbera (1911–2006), animator, producer, and director
 * Mikhail Baryshnikov (born 1948), ballet dancer
 * Frances Bavier (1902–1989), actor
 * Barbara Bel Geddes (1922–2005), actress
 * William Bendix (1906–1964), actor
 * Constance Bennett (1904–1965), actress
 * Matt Bennett (born 1991), actor
 * Yasmine Bleeth (born 1968), actress
 * Corbin Bleu (born 1989), actor, model, singer-songwriter, dancer, and film producer
 * Joan Blondell (1906–1979), actress
 * Nikki Blonsky (born 1988), actress
 * Ann Blyth (born 1928), actress
 * Humphrey Bogart (1899–1957), actor
 * Shirley Booth (1898–1992), actress
 * Clara Bow (1905–1965), actress
 * Abigail Breslin (born 1996), actress
 * Spencer Breslin (born 1992), actor
 * Matthew Broderick (born 1962), actor
 * Adrien Brody (born 1973), actor
 * Mel Brooks (born 1926), actor, producer, and director
 * Steve Buscemi (born 1957), actor, comedian, and director
 * Edd Byrnes (born 1933), actor
 * James Caan (born 1940), actor
 * James Cagney (1899–1986), actor
 * Jeanne Cagney (1919–1984), actress
 * William Cagney (1905–1988), actor
 * Néstor Carbonell (born 1967), actor and director
 * David Castro (born 1996), actor
 * Raquel Castro (born 1994), actress, singer, and songwriter
 * Harrison Chad (born 1992), actor and voice actor
 * Jeff Chandler (1918–1961), actor
 * Chevy Chase (born 1943), actor and comedian
 * Ruth Chatterton (1893–1961), actress
 * James Coco (1930–1987), actor
 * Claudette Colbert (1903–1996), actress
 * Kevin Corrigan (born 1969), actor
 * Billy Crudup (born 1968), actor
 * Tom Cruise (born 1962), actor
 * Jon Cryer (born 1965), actor, screenwriter, television director, and film producer
 * Billy Crystal (born 1948), actor
 * Kieran Culkin (born 1982), actor
 * Macaulay Culkin (born 1980), actor
 * Rory Culkin (born 1989), actor
 * Tony Curtis (1925–2010), actor
 * Alexandra Daddario (born 1986), actress
 * Matthew Daddario (born 1987), actor
 * Claire Danes (born 1979), actor
 * Rodney Dangerfield (1921–2004), comedian and actor
 * Marion Davies (1897–1961), actress
 * Sammy Davis Jr. (1925–1990), actor and singer
 * Agnes de Mille (1905–1993), dancer and choreographer
 * Robert De Niro (born 1943), actor
 * Willy DeVille (1950–2009), singer
 * Don Diamont (born 1962), actor
 * Guillermo Díaz (born 1975), Cuban-American actor
 * Vin Diesel (born 1967), actor, producer, director, and screenwriter
 * Taye Diggs (born 1971), actor
 * Matt Dillon (born 1964), actor
 * Troy Donahue (1936–2001), actor
 * Kether Donohue (born 1985), actress and singer
 * Kirk Douglas (born 1916), actor and father of Michael Douglas
 * Michael Douglas (born 1944), actor, producer, and son of Kirk Douglas
 * Robert Downey Jr. (born 1965), actor; Tony Stark / Iron Man from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008–2019)
 * Robert Downey Sr. (born 1936), actor, filmmaker, and father of Robert Downey Jr.
 * Fran Drescher (born 1957), actress
 * Lena Dunham (born 1986), actress, filmmaker, and writer
 * Jimmy Durante (1893–1980), entertainer, actor, singer, and comedian
 * Jesse Eisenberg (born 1983), actor
 * Peter Falk (1927–2011), actor
 * Alice Faye (1915–1998), actress
 * Jane Fonda (born 1937), actress
 * Spencer Fox (born 1993), actor
 * James Gandolfini (1961–2013), actor and producer
 * John Garfield (1913–1952), actor
 * Ben Gazzara (1930–2012), actor
 * Sarah Michelle Gellar (born 1977), actress
 * Richard Genelle (1961–2008), actor
 * Mel Gibson (born 1956), American-born Australian/Irish actor and filmmaker
 * Jackie Gleason (1916–1987), actor
 * Paulette Goddard (1910–1990), actress
 * Whoopi Goldberg (born 1955), actress, comedian, and co-host of ABC's The View
 * Cuba Gooding Jr. (born 1968), Academy Award-winning actor
 * Elliott Gould (born 1938), actor
 * Jennifer Grey (born 1960), actress
 * Jason Griffith (born 1980), voice actor
 * A. R. Gurney (born 1930), playwright
 * Maggie Gyllenhaal (born 1977), actress
 * Estelle Harris (born 1928), actress, voice actress, and comedian
 * Jonathan Harris (1914–2002), actor
 * Hurd Hatfield (1917–1998), actor
 * Anne Hathaway (born 1982), actress
 * Susan Hayward (1917–1975), actress
 * Rita Hayworth (1918–1987), actress
 * Kathleen Herles (born 1990), voice actress
 * Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967–2014), actor
 * Judy Holliday (1921–1965), actress
 * Whitney Houston (1963–2012), singer, actress, producer, and model
 * Sarah Hyland (born 1990), actress
 * Skai Jackson (born 2002), actress
 * Rick Jason (1923–2000), actor
 * Scarlett Johansson (born 1984), actress, model, and singer
 * Jason Harris Katz (born 1969), voice actor and television host
 * Danny Kaye (1911–1987), actor, singer
 * Jack Kelly (1927–1992), actor
 * Moira Kelly (born 1968), actress
 * Wayne Knight (born 1955), actor, voice artist, and comedian
 * Ricki Lake (born 1968), actress, talk-show host
 * Veronica Lake (1922–1973), actress
 * Adam Lamberg (born 1984), actor
 * Burt Lancaster (1913–1994), actor
 * Michael Landon (1936–1991), actor
 * Linda Larkin (born 1970), actress and voice actress
 * Fredric Lebow (born 1956), screenwriter
 * Peyton Elizabeth Lee (born 2004), actress
 * Spike Lee (born 1957), director, producer
 * Melissa Leo (born 1960), actress
 * John Lithgow (born 1945), actor, comedian
 * Aliana Lohan (born 1993), actress, singer and sister of actors Lindsay and Michael Lohan Jr.
 * Lindsay Lohan (born 1986), actress, singer and sister of actors Ali and Michael Lohan Jr.
 * Kristanna Loken (born 1979), actress
 * Steele MacKaye (1842–1894), playwright and actor
 * Vincent Martella (born 1992), actor
 * Lee Marvin (1924–1987), actor
 * James Maslow (born 1990), actor, singer, and dancer
 * Alanna Masterson (born 1988), actress
 * Christopher Masterson (born 1980), actor
 * Danny Masterson (born 1976), actor
 * Walter Matthau (1920–2000), actor
 * Al Matthews (1942–2018), actor and singer
 * Julianna Rose Mauriello (born 1991), actress and dancer
 * Eaddy Mays, actress
 * Jesse McCartney (born 1987), actor, singer, and songwriter
 * Thomas McDonell (born 1986), actor
 * Caleb McLaughlin (born 2001), actor
 * Ethel Merman (1908–1984), actor and singer
 * Lea Michele (born 1986), actress and singer
 * Arthur Miller (1915–2005), playwright
 * Robert Montgomery (1904–1981), actor
 * Charlie Murphy (1959–2017), actor and comedian
 * Chad Michael Murray (born 1981), actor
 * Jack Nicholson (born 1937), actor and filmmaker
 * Dylan O'Brien (born 1991), actor
 * Cameron Ocasio (born 1999), actor
 * Jerry O'Connell (born 1974), actor
 * Eugene O'Neill (1888–1953), playwright
 * Al Pacino (born 1940), actor
 * Hayden Panettiere (born 1989), actress, model, singer, and activist
 * Jansen Panettiere (born 1994), actor and voice actor
 * Connor Paolo (born 1990), actor
 * Corey Parker (born 1965), actor
 * George A. Parkhurst (1841–1890), actor
 * Josh Peck (born 1986), actor
 * Amanda Peet (born 1972), actress and writer
 * Nicola Peltz (born 1995), actress
 * Will Peltz (born 1986), actor
 * Anthony Perkins (1932–1992), actor
 * Regis Philbin (born 1931), actor, singer, and television personality
 * Priscilla Presley (born 1945), actress and business magnate
 * Fátima Ptacek (born 2000), actress and voice actress
 * Bill Pullman (born 1953), actor
 * Mae Questel (1908–1998), actress
 * George Raft (1895–1980), actor
 * Gene Anthony Ray (1962–2003), actor
 * Nancy Reagan (1921–2016), actress and former First Lady of the United States
 * Alan Reed (1907–1977), actor and voice artist
 * Christopher Reeve (1952–2004), actor
 * Tara Reid (born 1975), actress
 * Leah Remini (born 1970), actress
 * Alfonso Ribeiro (born 1971), actor, television director, dancer, and television personality; host of America's Funniest Home Videos and season 19 winner of Dancing with the Stars
 * Thelma Ritter (1902–1969), actress
 * Emma Roberts (born 1991), actress and singer
 * Edward G. Robinson (1893–1973), actor
 * Ray Romano (born 1957), actor, comedian
 * Saoirse Ronan (born 1994), American-born Irish actress
 * Mickey Rooney (1920–2014), actor
 * Emmy Rossum (born 1986), actress, singer, and songwriter
 * Mickey Rourke (born 1952), actor, screenwriter, and retired boxer
 * Paul Rudd (born 1969), actor, comedian, writer, and producer
 * Ernie Sabella (born 1949), actor and voice actor
 * Zoe Saldana (born 1978), American-Dominican actress and dancer
 * Ruben Santiago-Hudson (born 1956), actor and playwright
 * Ben Schwartz (born 1981), actor, comedian, and writer
 * Martin Scorsese (born 1942), director
 * George Segal (born 1934), actor
 * Matthew Senreich (born 1974), screenwriter
 * Charlie Sheen (born 1965), actor
 * Sylvia Sidney (1910–1999), actress
 * Christian Slater (born 1969), actor
 * Jamil Walker Smith (born 1982), actor
 * Kevin Spacey (born 1959), actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, and singer
 * Sylvester Stallone (born 1946), actor, screenwriter, producer, and director
 * Barbara Stanwyck (1907–1990), actor
 * Rod Steiger (1925–2002), actor
 * Howard Stern (born 1954), actor, radio and television personality, author, and photographer
 * Ben Stiller (born 1965), actor, comedian, and filmmaker
 * Oliver Stone (born 1946), director
 * Beatrice Straight (1914–2001), actress
 * Meryl Streep (born 1949), multiple Academy Award- and Golden Globe Award-winning actress
 * David Strickland (1969–1999), actor
 * Veronica Taylor (born 1978), voice actress
 * Benj Thall (born 1978), actor
 * Leon Thomas III (born 1993), actor
 * Gene Tierney (1920–1991), actress
 * Ashley Tisdale (born 1985), actress, singer, and producer
 * Michelle Trachtenberg (born 1985), actress
 * Claire Trevor (1910–2000), actress
 * John Turturro (born 1958), American-Italian actor, writer, and filmmaker
 * Denzel Washington (born 1954), Academy Award-winning actor
 * Kerry Washington (born 1977), actress
 * Michael Weatherly (born 1968), actor and director
 * Scott Weinger (born 1975), actor, voice actor, writer, and producer
 * Tuesday Weld (born 1943), actress
 * Mae West (1893–1980), actor
 * Kristen Wiig (born 1973), actress
 * Olivia Wilde (born 1984), actress
 * Tylen Jacob Williams (born 2001), actor
 * Tyler James Williams (born 1992), actor
 * Tyrel Jackson Williams (born 1997), actor
 * Zelda Williams (born 1989), actress; daughter of late comedian and actor Robin Williams
 * Lanford Wilson (1937–2011), playwright
 * April Winchell (born 1960), actress
 * Paul Winchell (1922–2005), actor and comedian
 * Alex Wolff (born 1997), actor, musician, and composer
 * Nick Zano (born 1978), actor; Nate Heywood / Steel from DC's Legends of Tomorrow

Comedians, entertainers, and humorists



 * Pamela Adlon (born 1966), actress, voice actress, producer, and director
 * Carlos Alazraqui (born 1962), actor and comedian
 * Woody Allen (born 1935), comedian, screenwriter, director, actor, author, playwright, and musician
 * Alec Baldwin (born 1958), actor, comedian, and producer
 * Lucille Ball (1911–1989), comedian, actress
 * Zach Braff (born 1975), actor, comedian, director, screenwriter, and producer
 * Alyson Cambridge (born 1980), operatic soprano and classical music, jazz, and American popular song singer
 * Michael Carbonaro (born 1982), actor and magician
 * George Carlin (1937–2008), comedian and actor
 * Michael Cole (born 1968), WWE announcer
 * Philip DeFranco (born 1985), YouTuber and video blogger
 * Danny DeVito (born 1944), comedian, actor, producer, and director
 * John DiMaggio (born 1968), actor and comedian
 * Jimmy Fallon (born 1974), comedian, actor, and television host
 * Nika Futterman (born 1969), actress, voice actress, comedian, and singer
 * Curly Howard (1903–1952), comedian, vaudevillian actor, and member of The Three Stooges
 * Moe Howard (1897–1975), actor, comedian, and member of The Three Stooges
 * Kevin James (born 1965), comedian, actor, screenwriter, and producer
 * JWoww (real name Jennifer Farley) (born 1986), reality television personality
 * Tom Kenny (born 1962), actor, comedian
 * Jimmy Kimmel (born 1967), comedian, producer, voice actor, musician, and television personality
 * Jay Leno (born 1950), comedian, former host of The Tonight Show (1992–2014)
 * Demetri Martin (born 1973), comedian
 * Chico Marx (1887–1961), vaudeville comedian with the Marx Brothers
 * Groucho Marx (1890–1977), vaudeville comedian with the Marx Brothers
 * Gummo Marx (1892–1977), vaudeville comedian with the Marx Brothers
 * Harpo Marx (1888–1964), vaudeville comedian with the Marx Brothers
 * Zeppo Marx (1901–1979), vaudeville comedian with the Marx Brothers
 * Jackie Mason (born 1931), comedian and actor
 * Kate McKinnon (born 1984), comedienne, actress, and voice actress
 * Eddie Murphy (born 1961), comedian, actor, writer, singer, producer, and voice actor
 * Rosie O'Donnell (born 1962), comedian, actress, and television personality
 * Jordan Peele (born 1979), comedian, actor, film director, and screenwriter
 * Melissa Rauch (born 1980), comedian and actress
 * Kevin Michael Richardson (born 1964), actor and voice actor
 * Adam Richman (born 1974), television personality
 * Don Rickles (1926–2017), comedian
 * Joan Rivers (1933–2014), actress and comedian
 * Chris Rock (born 1965), comedian and actor
 * Adam Sandler (born 1966), comedian, actor, screenwriter, film producer, and musician
 * Adam Savage (born 1967), co-host of MythBusters
 * Amy Schumer (born 1981), stand-up comedian and actress
 * Jerry Seinfeld (born 1954), comedian and actor
 * Judy Sheindlin (born 1942), lawyer and television personality (Judge Judy)
 * Martha Stewart (born 1941), businesswoman, writer, chef, and television personality
 * Jon Stewart (born 1962), comedian, actor, writer, producer, director, media critic, and television personality; former host of The Daily Show (1999–2015)
 * Fred Tatasciore (born 1967), voice actor
 * John Valby (born 1944), comedian and musician

Singers and instrumentalists



 * Aaliyah (1979–2001), singer, actress, model, and dancer
 * Christina Aguilera (born 1980), singer, songwriter, and actress
 * Vinnie Amico, drummer
 * Fiona Apple (born 1977), singer
 * Harold Arlen (1905–1986), composer
 * Adrienne Bailon (born 1983), singer
 * David Baker, singer
 * Chris Barnes (born 1967), musician
 * Count Basie (1904–1984), jazz musician
 * Bryan Bautista (born 1992), Dominican-American pop singer and contestant on NBC's The Voice season 9
 * Jay Beckenstein (born 1951), saxophonist
 * Pat Benatar (born 1953), singer
 * Tony Bennett (born 1926), jazz singer
 * Mary J. Blige (born 1971), singer, songwriter, and actress
 * Jon Bon Jovi (born 1962), singer-songwriter, record producer, philanthropist, and actor (Bon Jovi)
 * Laura Branigan (1957–2004), singer
 * Keith Buckley (born 1979), musician
 * Clem Burke (born 1955), musician and drummer (Blondie)
 * Maria Callas (1923–1977), opera singer
 * Mariah Carey (born 1970), pop and R&B singer, and songwriter
 * Vanessa Carlton (born 1980), pop singer-songwriter
 * Peter Case (born 1954), singer-songwriter
 * Peter Cincotti (born 1983), singer, songwriter, and pianist
 * Coko (born 1973), singer (SWV)
 * John Coltrane (1926–1967), jazz musician
 * Aaron Copland (1900–1990), composer
 * Warren Cuccurullo (born 1956), rock guitarist
 * Vic Dana (born 1942), singer
 * Dawin (full name Dawin Polanco; born 1990), hip hop-R&B singer/songwriter and record producer
 * Blossom Dearie (1924–2009), jazz singer and pianist
 * Lana Del Rey (born 1985), singer and songwriter
 * Rob Derhak (born 1968), bass guitarist
 * Lance Diamond (1945–2015), singer
 * Neil Diamond (born 1941), singer and songwriter
 * Ani DiFranco (born 1970), singer-songwriter
 * Jonathan Donahue (born 1966), rock musician
 * JoAnn Falletta (born 1954), classical guitarist and orchestral conductor
 * Morton Feldman (1926–1987), composer
 * Ella Fitzgerald (1918–1996), singer
 * John Flansburgh (born 1960), singer-songwriter
 * Brendan Fletcher (born 1990), pop singer-songwriter and contestant on NBC's The Voice season 11
 * Lukas Foss (1922–2009), composer and orchestral conductor
 * Sawyer Fredericks (born 1999), contemporary folk singer-songwriter, and winner of NBC's The Voice season 8
 * Dave Fridmann, producer
 * Lady Gaga (real name Stefani Germanotta) (born 1986), singer and songwriter
 * Art Garfunkel (born 1941), folk rock singer, poet, and actor (Simon & Garfunkel)
 * Chuck Garvey, guitarist
 * George Gershwin (1898–1937), composer
 * Kim Gordon (born 1953), bass guitarist, guitarist, singer, songwriter, and visual artist (Sonic Youth)
 * Lesley Gore (1946–2015), singer-songwriter, actress, and activist
 * Andy Grammer (born 1983), singer-songwriter and record producer
 * Grasshopper (born Sean Mackowiak; born 1967), rock musician
 * Jim Hall (born 1930), jazz guitarist
 * Debbie Harry (born 1945), singer-songwriter, actress, and lead singer of Blondie
 * Alan Heatherington (born 1945), orchestral conductor
 * Ray Henderson (1897–1970), songwriter
 * Lauryn Hill (born 1975), singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actress
 * Joel Hirschhorn (1938–2005), songwriter
 * Billie Holiday (1915–1959), jazz and blues singer
 * Bob Holz (born 1958), drummer and composer
 * Lena Horne (1917–2010), singer and actress
 * Whitney Houston (1963–2012), singer, actress, producer, and model
 * Freddie Jackson (born 1956), singer
 * Rick James (1948–2004), singer
 * Billy Joel (born 1949), pianist, singer, and songwriter
 * Joe Jonas (born 1989), singer-songwriter, actor, former member of the Jonas Brothers, brother of Nick, and current lead singer of DNCE
 * Nick Jonas (born 1992), singer-songwriter, producer, actor, brother of Joe, and former member of the Jonas Brothers
 * Jerome Kern (1885–1945), composer
 * Alicia Keys (born 1981), singer-songwriter
 * Carole King (born 1942), singer-songwriter
 * Linda Király (born 1983), American-born Hungarian pop singer-songwriter and sister of Viktor
 * Viktor Király (born 1984), American-born Hungarian pop singer and contestant on NBC's The Voice season 9
 * Cyndi Lauper (born 1953), singer
 * Jacquie Lee (born 1997), pop singer and contestant on NBC's The Voice season 5
 * Mel Lewis (1929–1990), drummer
 * John Linnell (born 1959), singer-songwriter
 * Joe Locke (born 1959), jazz artist
 * John Lombardo (born 1952), musician and songwriter
 * Jennifer Lopez (born 1969), singer, actress, and dancer
 * David Lucas (born 1937), composer
 * Gary Mallaber (born 1946), drummer
 * Barry Manilow (born 1943), singer-songwriter and musician
 * Constantine Maroulis (born 1975), singer
 * Melanie Martinez (born 1995), singer, songwriter, and music/video director
 * Brian McKnight (born 1969), R&B singer
 * Don McLean (born 1945), singer
 * Don Menza (born 1936), saxophonist
 * Idina Menzel (born 1971), singer-songwriter, actress, and voice of Elsa in Frozen
 * Natalie Merchant (born 1963), singer-songwriter
 * Stephanie Mills (born 1957), singer
 * Janelle Monáe (born 1985), musician, model, and actress
 * Gurf Morlix, musician
 * Josh Newton (born 1973), bassist
 * Willie Nile (born 1948), singer-songwriter
 * Laura Nyro (1947–1997), singer-songwriter
 * Colby O'Donis (born 1989), pop-R&B singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor
 * Olivia (born 1981), R&B singer known for contributing vocals to the 50 Cent song "Candy Shop"
 * Jack Owen (born 1967), guitarist (Cannibal Corpse)
 * Tina Parol (born 1988), singer-songwriter
 * Caroline Pennell (born 1996), singer-songwriter and contestant on NBC's The Voice season 5
 * Alisan Porter (born 1981), retired actress, singer-songwriter, and winner of NBC's The Voice season 10
 * Charlie Puth (born 1991), pop singer-songwriter and record producer
 * Joey Ramone (1951–2001), Punk rock singer-songwriter and musician (Ramones)
 * Mary Ramsey (born 1963), musician
 * Sharon Redd (1945–1992), singer
 * Lou Reed (born 1942), singer, songwriter, and guitarist
 * Neil Rosenshein (born 1947), operatic singer and lyric tenor
 * Kevin Rudolf (born 1983), pop/indie rock singer, musician, and record producer
 * Jason Sebastian Russo (born 1973), rock musician
 * Justin Russo (born 1976), rock musician
 * John Rzeznik (born 1965), musician (Goo Goo Dolls)
 * Adam Schlesinger (born 1967), musician (Fountains of Wayne), songwriter, producer, and arranger
 * Al Schnier (born 1968), guitarist
 * John Serry Sr. (1915–2003), concert accordionist, organist, composer, arranger, and educator
 * Billy Sheehan (born 1953), bass guitarist
 * Paul Simon (born 1941), folk rock musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, and actor (Simon & Garfunkel)
 * Frank Sinatra (1915–1998), iconic jazz/pop singer, actor, and producer
 * Lonnie Smith (born 1942), jazz organist
 * Ronnie Spector (born 1943), singer (The Ronettes)
 * John Stevens (born 1987), singer
 * Stevie J (born Steve Jordan), musician
 * Barbra Streisand (born 1942), singer, actress
 * Stan Szelest (1943–1991), musician
 * Robby Takac (born 1964), musician (Goo Goo Dolls)
 * George Tutuska, musician (Goo Goo Dolls, Jackdaw)
 * Steven Tyler (born 1948), Hard rock musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, former television music competition judge, and lead singer of the rock band Aerosmith
 * Sal Valentinetti (born 1995), Italian-American jazz singer and contestant on America's Got Talent season 11
 * Grace VanderWaal (born 2004), singer-songwriter, ukuleleist, and winner of America's Got Talent season 11
 * Luther Vandross (1951–2005), singer
 * Jeremy Wall, jazz musician
 * Luke Walter Jr. (1947–1996), Belgian musician
 * Grover Washington Jr. (1943–1999), saxophonist
 * Gerard Way (born 1977), pop punk-alternative/punk/emo rock musician, singer-songwriter, comic book writer, actor, and former lead singer of My Chemical Romance
 * Alex Webster (born 1969), bassist (Cannibal Corpse)
 * Mary Weiss (born 1948), singer (The Shangri-Las)
 * Cory Wells (born 1942), singer
 * Patrick Wilson (born 1969), drummer
 * Jack Yellen (1892–1991), lyricist, composer

Rappers



 * 2Pac (1971–1996), rapper, record producer, actor, and poet
 * 50 Cent (born 1975), rapper, actor, businessman, and actor
 * ASAP Rocky (born 1988), rapper, record producer, director, actor, and model
 * Beastie Boys (1979–2014), hip hop/hardcore punk band
 * Big L (1974–1999), hip-hop recording artist
 * Busta Rhymes (born 1972), hip hop recording artist, actor, record producer, and record executive
 * Cam'ron (born 1976), rapper, actor, and entrepreneur
 * Sean Combs (born 1969), rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and entrepreneur (also known as "P. Diddy", "Puff Daddy", or "Diddy")
 * Desiigner (born 1997), rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, record executive, and actor
 * DMX (born 1970), rapper, record producer, and actor
 * Jay-Z (born 1969), rapper, businessman, investor, and actor
 * Jim Jones (1931–1978), hip-hop recording artist
 * KRS-One (born 1965), rapper and occasional producer
 * Lil' Kim (born 1975), rapper, songwriter, record producer, model, and actress
 * LL Cool J (born 1968), rapper, actor, and host of Spike TV's Lip Sync Battle
 * Matisyahu (1979), rapper, reggae vocalist, beatboxer, and alternative rock musician
 * MF Doom (born 1971), rapper and record producer
 * Mobb Deep
 * Mos Def (born 1973), hip hop recording artist, actor, and activist
 * Nas (born 1973), hip hop recording artist, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur
 * The Notorious B.I.G. (1972–1997), rapper and actor (also known as "Biggie Smalls" or "Biggie")
 * Onyx
 * Post Malone (born 1995), rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer
 * Rakim (born 1968), rapper
 * Run-DMC
 * Juelz Santana (born 1982), rapper and actor
 * A Tribe Called Quest
 * Freaky Tah (1971–1999), rapper
 * Wu-Tang Clan
 * Adam Yauch (1964–2012), rapper, singer, musician, songwriter, director, and film distributor

Bands

 * AJR (2005–), indie pop band
 * American Authors (2006–), pop rock band
 * Beastie Boys (1979–2014), hip hop/hardcore punk band
 * Blondie (1974–), new wave-punk rock band
 * Cobra Starship (2006–2015), dance-pop band
 * KISS (1973–), hard rock band
 * Goo Goo Dolls (1985–), alternative-pop rock band
 * Ramones (1974–1996), punk rock band
 * Steely Dan (1972–), jazz rock band
 * Twisted Sister (1972–), heavy metal band
 * X Ambassadors (2009–), alternative/pop rock band

Art, literature, journalism, and philosophy



 * Samuel Hopkins Adams (1871–1958), muckraker; born in Dunkirk
 * Scott Adams (born 1957), cartoonist and creator of Dilbert
 * George Worsley Adamson (1913–2005), illustrator and cartoonist
 * Marv Albert (born 1941), basketball announcer on TNT
 * Nahshon Dion Anderson (born 1978), actor and writer; lives in The Bronx
 * Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906), women's rights activist
 * Cory Arcangel (born 1978), artist
 * William Bliss Baker (1859–1886), landscape painter
 * Lauren Belfer, author
 * J. Bowyer Bell (1931–2003), historian, artist and art critic
 * Timothy D. Bellavia (born 1971), artist and illustrator
 * Louise Blanchard Bethune (1856–1913), architect
 * Wolf Blitzer (born 1948), CNN journalist, host of The Situation Room
 * Lawrence Block (born 1938), author
 * Howard Bloom (born 1943), author
 * Joseph Brodsky (1940–1996), Russian-American poet
 * Dale Brown (born 1956), author
 * Gordon Bunshaft (1909–1990), architect
 * Charles E. Burchfield (1893–1967), artist
 * Charles Clough (born 1951), artist
 * Anderson Cooper (born 1967), CNN journalist and television personality
 * Bob Costas (born 1952), longtime broadcaster for NBC Sports and television host of twelve Olympic Games
 * Burton Crane (1901–1963), journalist
 * Robert Creeley (1926–2005), poet
 * Jasper Francis Cropsey (1823–1900), artist
 * Arthur B. Davies (1863–1928), artist
 * Don DeLillo (born 1936), author
 * Melvil Dewey (1851–1931), originator of Dewey Decimal System
 * Amy Dickinson (born 1959), Chicago Tribune advice columnist from Freeville
 * Amanda Minnie Douglas (1831–1916), writer
 * Frederick Douglass (1818–1895), editor and publisher of abolitionist newspapers such as The North Star
 * Arthur Dove (1880–1946), artist
 * Philip Evergood (1901–1973), artist
 * Leslie Fiedler (1917–2003), literary critic
 * Steve Fiorilla (1961–2009), artist
 * Ira Joe Fisher (born 1947), author and weatherman; born and raised in Little Valley
 * F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940), author; raised in Buffalo
 * Helen Frankenthaler (born 1928), artist
 * Kelly Freas (1922–2005), artist
 * Anna Katharine Green (1846–1935), author
 * E.B. Green (1855–1950), architect
 * Terry Gross (born 1951), radio host of Fresh Air
 * Alex Haley (1921–19920, author of Roots
 * Sean Hannity (born 1961), radio and television talk show host
 * Alfred Harvey (1913–1994), writer and publisher; founder of Harvey Comics
 * Richard Hofstadter (1916–1970), author and philosopher
 * Paul Horgan (1903–1995), author
 * Roni Horn (born 1955), artist
 * Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915), philosopher and writer
 * Idil Ibrahim, director
 * Washington Irving (1783–1859), author of Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
 * Henry James (1843–1916), author
 * William James (1842–1910), philosopher
 * James A. Johnson (1865–1939), architect
 * Michael Kay (born 1961), play-by-play announcer for the New York Yankees
 * Ellsworth Kelly (1923–2015), artist
 * Megyn Kelly (born 1970), political commentator
 * John Kessel (born 1950), author
 * Larry King (born 1933), television and radio host
 * Verlyn Klinkenborg (born 1952), member of The New York Times writer and farmer; editorial board
 * Nancy Kress (born 1948), author
 * Matt Lauer (born 1957), anchor for The Today Show
 * Zoe Leonard (born 1961), photographer and visual artist
 * Robert Longo (born 1953), artist
 * Mabel Dodge Luhan (1879–1962), writer and patron
 * Bill Maher (born 1956), host of HBO political talk show Real Time with Bill Maher
 * Norman Mailer (1923–2007), author
 * Francis A. Mallison (1832–1877), journalist and helped organize the Great Civil War Gold Hoax; from Rome
 * Brice Marden (born 1938), artist
 * Herman Melville (1819–1891), author of ''Moby-Dick
 * Al Michaels (born 1944), longtime sportscaster for both NBC Sports and ABC Sports; play-by-play announcer on Sunday Night Football
 * David Muir (born 1973), ABC journalist and anchor
 * Ogden Nash (1902–1971), poet
 * Joyce Carol Oates (born 1938), author
 * Bill O'Reilly (born 1949), host of The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News
 * William Ordway Partridge (1861–1930), sculptor
 * Tim Powers (born 1952), author
 * Thomas Pynchon (born 1937), author
 * Ishmael Reed (born 1938), poet
 * John Reed (born 1969), author of Snowball's Chance
 * Seymour Reit (1918–2001), writer and cartoonist
 * Norman Rockwell (1894–1978), painter
 * Spain Rodriguez (born 1940), cartoonist
 * Milton Rogovin (1909–2011), photographer
 * Charles Rohlfs (1853–1936), craftsman
 * Al Roker (born 1954), weather anchor for NBC's Today
 * Tim Russert (1950–2008), host of NBC's Meet the Press
 * Vin Scully (born 1927), longtime broadcaster for the Los Angeles Dodgers
 * David Sedaris (born 1956), humorist and author
 * Al Sharpton (born 1954), civil rights activist and radio talk show host
 * Tony Sisti (1901–1983), painter
 * Eugene Speicher (1883–1962), painter
 * Fran Striker (1903–1962), creator of the Lone Ranger and Green Hornet
 * Elizabeth Swados (born 1951), author
 * Jake Tapper (born 1969), news anchor for CNN
 * Dorothy Thompson (1983–1961), journalist and radio broadcaster
 * Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933), artist
 * Mike Tirico (born 1966), sportscaster
 * Tom Toles (born 1951), cartoonist
 * Sojourner Truth (1797–1883), slave and civil rights activist
 * Israel Tsvaygenbaum (born 1961), Russian-American artist
 * Mark Twain (1835–1910), author
 * Andrew Vachss (born 1942), author, activist, and lawyer
 * Richard A. Waite (1848–1911), architect
 * J. Alden Weir (1852–1919), painter
 * Edith Wharton (1862–1937), author
 * Walt Whitman (1819–1892), poet
 * Brian Williams (born 1959), anchor of NBC Nightly News
 * Julia McNair Wright (1840–1903), author
 * John Zogby (born 1948), pollster and blogger from Utica

Baseball



 * Moe Berg (1902–1972), Major League Baseball catcher and spy for the Office of Strategic Services
 * Dellin Betances (born 1988), baseball pitcher
 * Craig Biggio (born 1965), Baseball Hall of Famer
 * Ralph Branca (1926–2016), baseball pitcher
 * Alexander Cartwright (1820–1892), "father of modern baseball", founding member of the New York Knickerbockers Base Ball Club
 * Harry Eisenstat (1915–2003), baseball player
 * Mike "SuperJew" Epstein (born 1943), Major League Baseball first baseman
 * Johnny Evers (1881–1947), Baseball Hall of Famer
 * Whitey Ford (born 1928), Baseball Hall of Famer
 * John Franco (born 1960), baseball pitcher
 * Lou Gehrig (1903–1941), Baseball Hall of Famer
 * Sid Gordon (1917–1975), two-time All Star major league baseball player
 * Hank Greenberg (1911–1986), Baseball Hall of Famer (Greenwich Village)
 * Sandy Koufax (born 1935), Baseball Hall of Famer
 * Jason Marquis (born 1978), Major League Baseball All Star pitcher
 * Edgar Martínez (born 1963), baseball player
 * Bob Melvin (born 1961), baseball player and manager
 * Sam Nahem (1915–2004), Major League Baseball pitcher
 * Joe Nathan (born 1974), baseball player, Minnesota Twins; born in Pine Bush
 * Jim Palmer (born 1945), Baseball Hall of Famer
 * A. J. Pierzynski (born 1976), baseball player (Chicago White Sox); born in Bridgehampton
 * Lipman Pike (1845–93), Major League Baseball player, two-time home run champion
 * Phil Rizzuto (1917–2007), Baseball Hall of Famer
 * Alex Rodriguez (born 1975), Major League Baseball player
 * Saul Rogovin (1923–1995), Major League Baseball pitcher
 * Richie Scheinblum (born 1942), Major League Baseball All Star outfielder
 * Mose Solomon (1900–1966), the "Rabbi of Swat", Major League Baseball player
 * Warren Spahn (1921–2003), Baseball Hall of Famer
 * Carl Yastrzemski (born 1939), Baseball Hall of Famer

Basketball



 * Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born 1947), NBA Hall of Fame player
 * Carmelo Anthony (born 1984), professional basketball player for the New York Knicks
 * Nate Archibald (born 1948), NBA Hall of Fame basketball player
 * Sue Bird (born 1980), Israeli-American Women's National Basketball Association point guard; two-time Olympic champion; four-time All-Star (Seattle Storm) (Syosset)
 * Harry Boykoff (1922–2001), professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics
 * Larry Brown (born 1940), professional All Star basketball player and coach
 * Bob Cousy (born 1928), professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics
 * Shay Doron (born 1985), professional basketball player
 * Julius Erving (born 1950), NBA player
 * Marty Friedman (1889–1986), Hall of Fame pro basketball player and coach
 * Sidney Hertzberg (1922–2005), professional basketball player
 * Art Heyman (1941–2012), professional basketball player
 * Nat Holman (1896–1995), Hall of Fame basketball player
 * Red Holzman (1920–1998), NBA Hall of Fame basketball player and coach
 * Michael Jordan (born 1963), iconic NBA Hall of Fame basketball player, businessman and owner/chairman of the Charlotte Hornets; considered the best basketball player of all time (Brooklyn)
 * Sylven Landesberg (born 1990), American-Israeli basketball player
 * Rudy LaRusso (1927–2004), professional basketball player
 * Nancy Lieberman (born 1958), WNBA Hall of Fame basketball player, general manager, and coach (Olympic silver medal)
 * Boris Nachamkin (born 1933), professional basketball player
 * Joakim Noah (born 1985), professional basketball player (New York Knicks)
 * Lamar Odom (born 1979), former professional basketball player
 * Bernard Opper (1915–2000), professional basketball player
 * Donna Orender (née Geils) (born 1957), college basketball player and Women's Professional Basketball League All-Star; WNBA president
 * Danny Schayes (born 1959), college and professional basketball player; son of Dolph Schayes
 * Dolph Schayes (1928–2015), NBA Hall of Fame player and coach
 * Ossie Schectman (1919–2013), basketball player; scored the first basket in NBA history
 * Barney Sedran (1891–1964), NBA Hall of Fame basketball player
 * Sid Tannenbaum (1925–1986), professional basketball player
 * Kemba Walker (born 1990), professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets
 * Metta World Peace (born 1979), former professional basketball player
 * Max Zaslofsky (1925–1985), professional basketball player
 * Adam Kemp, (born 1990), professional basketball player

Boxing



 * Abe "The Little Hebrew" Attell (1883–1970), boxer, World Featherweight Champion
 * Riddick Bowe (born 1967), World Heavyweight Champion
 * Al "Bummy" Davis (1920–45), professional boxer (Brooklyn)
 * Abe Goldstein (1898–1977), boxer, World Bantamweight champion
 * Zab Judah (born 1977), boxer, World Welterweight and Junior Welterweight Champion Leiner; 1896–1947), boxer, World Lightweight Champion
 * Solly Krieger (1909–1964), boxer, World Middleweight Champion
 * Jake "Raging Bull" LaMotta (1922–2017), boxer, World Middleweight Champion
 * Boyd Melson (born 1981), boxer, World Military Boxing Champions in the 69 kg. weight class
 * Samuel Mosberg (1896–1967), boxer, Olympic light heavyweight champion
 * Maxie "Slapsie Maxie" Rosenbloom (1907–1976), World Light Heavyweight Champion
 * Charlie Phil Rosenberg (1902–1976), boxer, World Bantamweight Champion
 * Barney Ross (born Dov-Ber "Beryl" David Rosofsky; 1909–1967), boxer, world champion in three weight divisions: lightweight, light welterweight, and welterweight
 * Isadore "Corporal Izzy" Schwartz (1902–1988), boxer, World Flyweight Champion
 * Al "The Bronx Beauty" Singer (1909–1961), boxer, World Lightweight Champion
 * Mike Tyson (born 1966), former professional boxer, World Heavyweight Champion

Coaches



 * Red Auerbach (1917–2006), basketball coach
 * Tom Coughlin (born 1946), football coach
 * Billy Cunningham (born 1943), basketball coach
 * Bucky Harris (1896–1977), baseball manager
 * Vince Lombardi (1913–1970), football coach
 * Doug Marrone (born 1964), football coach
 * John McGraw (1873–1934), baseball manager
 * Joe Paterno (1926–2012), football coach
 * Matt Patricia (born 1974), football coach
 * Rick Pitino (born 1952), basketball coach
 * Pat Riley (born 1945), basketball coach
 * Allie Sherman (1923–2015), football coach
 * Joe Torre (born 1940), baseball manager
 * Jim Valvano (1946–1993), basketball coach
 * Pop Warner (1871–1954), football coach

Fencing



 * Norman C. Armitage (born Norman Cudworth Cohn; 1907–1972), Olympic medalist saber fencer, 6x Olympian
 * Albert Axelrod (1921–2004), Olympic medalist foil fencer, 5x Olympian
 * Cliff Bayer (born 1977), 2x Olympic foil fencer
 * Robert Blum (born 1928), 2x Olympic saber fencer
 * Daniel Bukantz (1917–2008), 4x Olympic foil fencer
 * Herbert Cohen (born 1940), 2x Olympic foil fencer
 * Gene Glazer (born 1939), 2x Olympic foil fencer
 * Hal Goldsmith (born Hans Goldschmidt; 1930–2004), 3x Olympic foil fencer
 * Ralph Goldstein (1913–1997), 2x Olympic épée fencer
 * Julia Jones-Pugliese (1909–1993), national champion fencer and fencing coach
 * Allan Kwartler (1917–1998), 3x Olympic sabre and foil fencer, Pan American Games and Maccabiah Games champion
 * Nate Lubell (1916–2006), 3x Olympic foil fencer
 * Tim Morehouse (born 1978), Olympic medalist saber fencer, 3x Olympian
 * Soren Thompson (born 1981), 2x Olympic and team World Champion épée fencer

Football



 * Doc Alexander (1897–1975), football player and coach
 * Lyle Alzado (1949–1992), former football All Pro player (Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Raiders)
 * Jim Brown (born 1936), Hall of Fame football player (Cleveland Browns)
 * Jordan Dangerfield (born 1990), NFL football player
 * Boomer Esiason (born 1961), former football player (Cincinnati Bengals)
 * Jay Fiedler (born 1971), NFL football quarterback
 * Rob Gronkowski (born 1989), football player (New England Patriots)
 * Thomas Hennessy (born 1994), football player
 * Mark Ingram Jr. (born 1989), football player (New Orleans Saints)
 * Sid Luckman (1916–1998), former football player (Chicago Bears), inducted into Hall of Fame in 1965
 * John Mackey (1941–2011), former football player (Baltimore Colts), inducted into Hall of Fame in 1992
 * Ali Marpet (born 1993), football player (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
 * Josh Miller (born 1970), football player and football analyst
 * Art Monk (born 1957), former football player (Washington Redskins), inducted into Hall of Fame in 2008
 * Ed Newman (born 1951), All-Pro football player
 * Adam Podlesh (born 1983), football player
 * Ray Rice (born 1987), former football player (Baltimore Ravens)
 * Herb Rich (1928–2008), 2x All-Pro football player
 * Allie Sherman (1923–2015), National Football League player and head coach
 * Will Smith (1981–2016), former football player (New Orleans Saints) (born in Queens)
 * Michael Strahan (born 1971), American-German actor, television personality, and retired football player (New York Giants) (lives in New York City)
 * Alan Veingrad (born 1963), NFL football player

Ice hockey



 * Ryan Callahan (born 1985), ice hockey player (Tampa Bay Lightning) (Rochester)
 * Tim Erixon (born 1991), American-born Swedish ice hockey player (Port Chester)
 * Brian Gionta (born 1979), ice hockey player (Buffalo Sabres) (Rochester)
 * Patrick Kane (born 1988), professional ice hockey player, Chicago Blackhawks (Buffalo)
 * Seymour H. Knox III (1926–1996), co-founder of the Buffalo Sabres
 * Alex "Mine Boy" Levinsky (1910–1990), NHL player (Syracuse)
 * Eric Nystrom (born 1983), NHL player
 * Max Pacioretty (born 1988), ice hockey player (Vegas Golden Knights)
 * Mathieu Schneider (born 1969), NHL player

Soccer

 * Benny Feilhaber (born 1985), soccer midfielder
 * Eddy Hamel (1902–1943), Jewish-American soccer player for Dutch club AFC Ajax; killed by the Nazis in an Auschwitz concentration camp
 * Shep Messing (born 1949), Olympic soccer goalkeeper and current broadcaster
 * Charlie Reiter (born 1988), soccer player
 * Sara Whalen (born 1976), Olympic soccer player

Tennis



 * Arthur Ashe (1943–1993), tennis player
 * Irvin Dorfman (1924–2006), tennis player
 * Herbert Flam (1928–1980), tennis player
 * Ladislav Hecht (1909–2004), tennis player
 * Scott Lipsky (born 1981), tennis player
 * Jamie Loeb (born 1995), tennis player
 * John McEnroe (born 1959), tennis player
 * Renée Richards (born 1934), tennis player
 * Noah Rubin (born 1996), tennis player
 * Julius Seligson (1909–1987), tennis player
 * Bill Tilden (1893–1953), tennis player

Other sports



 * Herman Barron (1909–1978), professional golfer
 * Andy Bloom (born 1973), Olympic shot putter
 * Tommy Dreamer (born 1971), professional wrestler (Yonkers)
 * Mick Foley (born 1965), professional wrestler and author
 * Laurie Hernandez (born 2000), artistic gymnast, gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and winner of Dancing with the Stars season 23
 * Caitlyn Jenner (formerly Bruce Jenner) (born 1949), retired decathlete, gold medalist at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, and television personality
 * Jon Jones (born 1987), UFC champion
 * Ryan Lochte (born 1984), competitive swimmer, gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and contestant on Dancing with the Stars season 23 (Rochester)
 * Colette Nelson (born 1974), professional bodybuilder
 * Beth Phoenix (born 1980), professional wrestler (born in Elmira, New York)

Business



 * John Jacob Astor, fur trader and company founder
 * Nicholas F. Brady, former CEO of Dillon Read and 68th United States Secretary of the Treasury
 * C. Douglas Dillon, former CEO of Dillon Read, United States Ambassador to France (1953–1957), and 57th United States Secretary of the Treasury
 * George Eastman (1854–1932), founder of Eastman Kodak
 * Joseph Ellicott (1760–1826), surveyor and city planner
 * William Fargo (1818–1881), co-founder of American Express Company and Wells Fargo; Mayor of Buffalo
 * Reggie Fils-Aimé (born 1961), President and Chief operating officer of Nintendo of America
 * Debra Fox, founder of Fox Learning Systems
 * Scott Greenstein (born 1959), President and Chief content officer of Sirius XM Satellite Radio
 * E. H. Harriman, errand boy, broker, railroader
 * George A. Hormel (1860–1946), founder of Hormel
 * Jeremy Jacobs (born 1940), owner of Delaware North and Boston Bruins
 * John J. Kennedy (1857–1914), financier and 45th New York State Treasurer
 * Seymour H. Knox I (1861–1915), businessman and co-founder of F. W. Woolworth Company
 * Seymour H. Knox II (1898–1990), philanthropist and former director of Marine Midland Bank
 * Jon L. Luther, food service executive
 * Sherman J. Maisel (1918–2010), economist
 * Jeremiah Milbank, banker, co-founder of Borden Milk Co. (1857)
 * Jacquelyn Ottman, marketing consultant
 * Henry Paulson, former CEO of Goldman Sachs and United States Secretary of the Treasury
 * Joseph R. Perella, financier
 * Jeffry Picower (1942–2009), investor and noted philanthropist involved in the Madoff investment scandal
 * Pat Powers (1870–1948), movie producer
 * Donald Regan, former CEO of Merrill Lynch and 66th United States Secretary of the Treasury
 * Robert E. Rich Sr. (1913–2006), inventor and foodservice executive
 * David Rockefeller (1915–2017), banker
 * John D. Rockefeller (1839–1937), philanthropist and founder of Standard Oil
 * John D. Rockefeller Jr., philanthropist and financier
 * William Rockefeller (1841–1941), co-founder of Standard Oil
 * Robert Rubin, former CEO of Goldman Sachs and 70th United States Secretary of the Treasury
 * Scott Rudin, movie producer
 * Jacob Schiff, Wall Street executive and banker
 * Edward Selzer (1893–1970), movie producer
 * Ellsworth Milton Statler (1863–1928), hotelier
 * Stuart Sternberg (born 1959), owner of the Tampa Bay Rays
 * Jill Stuart, fashion designer
 * Donald Trump Jr. (born 1977), businessman; eldest son of Donald Trump and brother of Eric, Ivanka, and Tiffany
 * Eric Trump (born 1984), philanthropist and businessman; son of Donald Trump and brother of Ivanka, Tiffany, and Donald Jr.
 * Ivanka Trump (born 1981), businesswoman, writer, and former fashion model; daughter of Donald Trump and sister of Eric, Donald Jr., and Tiffany
 * Tiffany Trump (born 1993), daughter of Donald Trump and sister of Ivanka, Eric, and Donald Jr.
 * Cornelius Vanderbilt, ferry and tugboat captain, company founder, and railroader
 * Sanford Weill, former CEO of Citigroup
 * Henry Wells (1805–1878), businessman
 * Bob Weinstein, movie producer and co-founder of Miramax Films
 * Harvey Weinstein, movie producer and co-founder of Miramax Films
 * John G. Wickser (1858–1928), businessman and New York State Treasurer (1903–1904)
 * Robert G. Wilmers (born 1935), CEO of M&T Bank
 * Christopher Woodrow, movie producer
 * Mark Zuckerberg (born 1984), founder and CEO of Facebook

Fashion, beauty, and modeling



 * Keith Carlos (born 1987), fashion model, former football player, and winner of America's Next Top Model season 21
 * Nyle DiMarco (born 1989), model, actor, deaf activist, and winner of Dancing with the Stars season 22 and America's Next Top Model season 22
 * Tom Ford (born 1961), fashion designer, film director, screenwriter, and film producer
 * Mary Therese Friel (born 1960), beauty queen, model, businesswoman, and winner of Miss USA 1979
 * Marc Jacobs (born 1963), fashion designer and former creative director of Louis Vuitton (1997–2014)
 * Scarlett Johansson (born 1984), actress, model, and singer
 * Calvin Klein (born 1942), fashion designer and founder of Calvin Klein Inc.
 * Michael Kors (born 1959), sportswear fashion designer; founder and CEO of Michael Kors Holdings
 * Ralph Lauren (born 1939), fashion designer, philanthropist, business executive, and founder of the Ralph Lauren Corporation
 * Stacy London (born 1969), stylist, fashion consultant
 * Jackie Loughery (born 1930), actress, beauty queen, and inaugural winner of Miss USA
 * Sienna Miller (born 1981), actress, model, and fashion designer
 * Sarah Natochenny (born 1987), actress, film editor, fashion model, and voice actress
 * Rachel Nichols (born 1980), actress and model
 * Hayden Panettiere (born 1989), actress, model, singer, and activist
 * Kimberly Pressler (born 1977), model, reality television star, and first runner-up at Miss USA 1995
 * Tanya Roberts (born 1955), actress, model
 * Carmen Marc Valvo (born 1953), evening-wear and high-end cocktail dress designer

Lawyers and jurists



 * Nicholas Allard (born 1952), Dean and President of Brooklyn Law School
 * Benjamin N. Cardozo (1870–1938), Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
 * Alan Dershowitz (born 1938), Harvard Law School professor and scholar of United States constitutional law and criminal law
 * Linda Fairstein (born 1947), prosecutor and author
 * Gerrit Forbes (1836–1906), Justice of the Supreme Court of New York
 * Felix Frankfurter (1882–1965), Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
 * Henry Friendly (1903–1986), judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
 * Kumiki Gibson, lawyer
 * Ruth Bader Ginsburg (born 1933), Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
 * Arthur Goldberg (1908–1990), United States Secretary of Labor, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and United States Ambassador to the United Nations
 * Alvin Hellerstein (born 1933), United States federal judge
 * John Jay (1745–1829), first Chief Justice of the United States
 * Elena Kagan (born 1960), Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
 * A. Leo Levin (1919–2015), law professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School
 * John Roberts (born 1955), Chief Justice of the United States
 * Antonin Scalia (1936–2016), former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
 * Sonia Sotomayor (born 1954), Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
 * Amy Wax (born 1953), Robert Mundheim Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School

Religious leaders

 * Avraham Qanaï, leader of one of the first Karaite Jewish congregations in the United States
 * Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902–1994), Orthodox Jewish rabbi

Science and medicine



 * Richard Axel (born 1946), scientist and Nobel Prize winner
 * Gertrude B. Elion (1918–1999), biochemist, pharmacologist and Nobel Prize winner
 * Richard P. Feynman (1918–1988), physicist and Nobel prize winner
 * Murray Gerstenhaber (born 1927), mathematician and lawyer
 * Carl Sagan (1934–1996), astronomer
 * Jonas Salk (1914–1995), scientist and developed first polio vaccine

Foreign-born New Yorkers



 * Andrulla Blanchette (born 1966), British-born professional bodybuilder
 * Maksim Chmerkovskiy (born 1980), Ukrainian-born Latin ballroom dancer, choreographer, and instructor from ABC's Dancing with the Stars; brother of Val
 * Valentin Chmerkovskiy (born 1986), Ukrainian-born professional dancer from ABC's Dancing with the Stars; brother of Maks
 * Laura Creavalle (born 1959), Guyanese-born Canadian/American professional bodybuilder
 * Lisa Cross (born 1978), British-born professional bodybuilder
 * Steven Derounian (1918–2007), Bulgarian-born politician and former United States Representative of New York (1953–1963, 1963–65)
 * Heather Foster (born 1966), Jamaican-born American professional bodybuilder
 * Bev Francis (born 1955), Australian-born professional bodybuilder, powerlifter, and national shot put champion
 * Carolina Herrera (born 1939), Venezuelan-born fashion designer; dress designer of First Ladies from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis to Michelle Obama
 * Kyrie Irving (born 1992), Australian-born American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics (formerly for the Cleveland Cavaliers)
 * John Kneller (1916–2009), English-American professor and fifth President of Brooklyn College
 * John Leguizamo (born 1964), Colombian-born actor, voice actor, producer, and stand-up comedian
 * Sean Patrick Maloney (born 1966), Canadian-born politician and U.S. Representative of New York since 2013
 * Joel McHale (born 1971), Italian-born actor, comedian, writer, television producer, and television host
 * Nicki Minaj (born 1982), Trinidadian-born rapper and actress
 * Pelé (real name Edson Arantes do Nascimento) (born 1940), Brazilian-born iconic soccer player and honorary president of the New York Cosmos; considered the best soccer player of all time
 * Keanu Reeves (born 1964), Lebanese-born Canadian/American actor, producer, and musician
 * Alana Shipp (born 1982), Barbadian-born Israeli/American professional bodybuilder
 * Gene Simmons (real name Chaim Weitz) (born 1949), Israeli-born musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, actor, television personality, and lead singer of the band Kiss
 * Albio Sires (born 1951), Cuban-born politician and United States Representative of New Jersey since 2006
 * Snooki (real name Nicole Polizzi) (born 1987), Chilean-born reality television personality from Jersey Shore
 * Bruce Willis (born 1955), German-born American actor, producer, and singer
 * Jason Wu (born 1982), Taiwanese-born Canadian/American fashion designer and designer of First Lady Michelle Obama's dresses

Infamous New Yorkers



 * David Berkowitz (born 1953), serial killer (also known as "Son of Sam" and ".44 Caliber Killer")
 * Billy the Kid (1859–1881), notorious wild west criminal
 * Al Capone (1899–1947), gangster; co-founder and boss of the Chicago Outfit
 * Frank Costello (1891–1973), Italian-American Mafia gangster
 * Robert Garrow (1936–1978), spree killer
 * David Hampton (1964–2003), actor and impostor; posed as Poitier's son "David" in 1983, which inspired a play and film
 * Lucky Luciano (1897–1962), mobster; considered the father of modern organized crime in the United States
 * Theodore Rinaldo (1944–2000), convicted child sex offender
 * Shirley Winters (born 1948), convicted arsonist and accused serial killer

Other



 * Lina Beecher (1841–1915), roller coaster designer and inventor
 * William Boylan (1869–1940), first President of Brooklyn College
 * Grace Brown (1886–1906), murder victim
 * Harry Gideonse (1901-1985), President of Brooklyn College, and Chancellor of The New School for Social Research
 * Wilson Greatbatch (1919–2011), inventor
 * Frances Shimer (1826–1901), founder of Shimer College
 * Richard Stallman (born 1953), programmer of Emacs and founder of GNU
 * Josephine Terranova (1889–1981), criminal defendant