List of people from Philadelphia

The following is a list of notable residents, natives, and persons generally associated with the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the fifth-largest city in the United States. The list includes both former and present residents of the city.

Academia

Noam Chomsky

Marc Lamont Hill

• Joseph Addison Alexander – biblical scholar
• E. Digby Baltzell – sociologist, academic and author
• Leon Bass – educator, principal of Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin High School
• Noam Chomsky – linguist
• Gordon Clark – Christian theologian, professor
• Leda Cosmides – evolutionary psychologist
• Philip D. Curtin – historian
• Marc Lamont Hill – professor, educational researcher, cultural critic, and activist
• Agnes Irwin – founder of the Agnes Irwin School, first dean of Radcliffe College
• Seymour S. Kety – neuroscientist, schizophrenia researcher
• Byard Lancaster – jazz artist, saxophone, flute
• Alain Locke – first black Rhodes Scholar, Father of the Harlem Renaissance
• Margaret Mead – anthropologist
• Jacob Soll – historian, MacArthur Fellowship recipient.
• Howard M. Temin – Nobel colaureate in physiology or medicine, 1975
• Cornelius Van Til – Christian theologian, professor
• Lawrence Venuti – Translation scholar and historian
• Andrew Weil – medical doctor, established the field of integrative medicine
• Gayraud Wilmore – Christian theologian, professor

Art and architecture

Cecilia Beaux

• Julian Abele – architect
• Robb Armstrong – cartoonist, creator of Jump Start
• Edmund Bacon – city planner
• Cecilia Beaux – painter
• William Bell – photographer
• Alexander Calder – artist
• Mary Cassatt – painter
• Robert Crumb – underground comics artist, writer
• Heather Dewey-Hagborg – information artist
• Thomas Eakins – painter
• Frank Furness – architect
• Sonia Gechtoff – painter
• Ginger Gilmour – sculptor; first wife of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour
• Phoebe Gloeckner – cartoonist, novelist
• Elizabeth Shippen Green – illustrator
• Ian Hornak – painter
• Amy Ignatow – illustrator, cartoonist, and author, The Popularity Papers series
• Louis Kahn – architect
• Bil Keane – cartoonist, The Family Circus
• Walt Kelly – cartoonist
• Henry P. McIlhenny – philanthropist; chairman, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1976–1986
• Alice Neel – painter
• Albert Newsam – artist
• Martin Nodell – comic book artist, creator of the original Green Lantern
• William H. Rau – photographer
• Mary B. Schuenemann – painter
• Denise Scott Brown – architect
• Sarai Sherman - painter
• Grover Simcox – illustrator
• Jessie Wilcox Smith – illustrator
• Willi Smith (1948–1987) – fashion designer
• Zoe Strauss – photographer
• Thomas Sully – painter
• Horace Trumbauer – architect
• Robert Venturi – architect
• Andrew Wyeth – painter
• Jamie Wyeth – painter (son of Andrew)
• N.C. Wyeth – illustrator (father of Andrew)

Business

• Frank Baldino, Jr. – founder of Cephalon
• Pat Croce – entrepreneur; part-owner and former president, Philadelphia 76ers
• Charles Henry Davis – businessperson, civil engineer and philanthropist
• Maria Anna Fisher – 19th-century biscuit entrepreneur
• Albert M. Greenfield – local realty magnate; philanthropist; political activist
• Solomon R. Guggenheim – founder, Yukon Gold Company; philanthropist, art collector
• Richard Hayne – founder and CEO of Urban Outfitters
• Michael Johns – health care executive, former White House speechwriter
• Tom Knox – former CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania; 2007 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
• Jim Murray – co-founder, Ronald McDonald House Charities; former general manager, Philadelphia Eagles
• Pat Olivieri – founder of Pat's King of Steaks, reputed creator of the cheesesteak
• William S. Paley – former president, CBS
• Randal Pinkett – entrepreneur, PhD, winner of The Apprentice 4
• Lynda Resnick – co-owner of Roll International, which owns POM Wonderful, FIJI Water, and Teleflora
• Brian L. Roberts – chairman and CEO, Comcast Corporation
• Michael G. Rubin – founder and CEO of Kynetic; part-owner of Philadelphia 76ers; founder and former CEO of GSI Commerce
• Ed Snider – chairman, Comcast Spectacor
• Justus Strawbridge – department store founder
• Brian Tierney – CEO, Philadelphia Media Holdings, LLC; publisher of Philadelphia Inquirer
• John Wanamaker – department store
• William Wrigley Jr. – founder of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company

Film, television, and theater

A-K

• Joe Augustyn – writer, producer
• Kevin Bacon – actor, half of the Bacon Brothers
• Jim Bailey – actor
• Chuck Barris – actor, composer, writer, director, producer, game show host
• Ethel Barrymore – actress
• John Barrymore – actor
• Lionel Barrymore – actor
• Eddie Barth – actor and voiceover artist
• Jules Bass – director, composer
• Laurie Beechman – singer, actress, notably of Broadway
• Maria Bello – actress
• Ed Bernard – actor
• John Biddle – yachting cinematographer and lecturer
• Joey Bishop – entertainer
• Danny Bonaduce – actor
• David Boreanaz – actor
• Jim Boyd – actor
• Peter Boyle – actor
• David Brenner – comedian
• Richard Brooks – screenwriter, director
• Nicholas Brothers – tap dancers
• Eugene Byrd – actor
• Michael Callan – actor
• Gia Marie Carangi – model
• Gabriel Caste – actor
• The Clark Brothers – tap dancers
• Dick Clark – host, American Bandstand and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, game show host, producer
• Bessie Clayton – dancer
• Imogene Coca – actress, comedienne
• Nathan Cook – actor
• Bradley Cooper – actor
• Bill Cosby – actor, comedian
• Broderick Crawford – actor
• Susan Webb Cushman – stage actress
• Blythe Danner – actress; mother of Gwyneth Paltrow
• Bruce Davison – actor
• John de Lancie – actor
• Francis De Sales (1912–1988) – actor
• Kim Delaney – actress
• Kat Dennings – actress
• Curly Joe DeRita – comedian, actor, member of the Three Stooges
• Kevin Hart – comedian and actor, Real Husbands of Hollywood
• John Doman – actor, The Wire
• Mike Douglas – singer, television talk show host
• Gary Dourdan – actor
• Rel Dowdell – filmmaker
• Ja'net Dubois – actress, singer
• Kevin Eubanks – musician, former leader of The Tonight Show Band
• Lola Falana – dancer, actress
• Norman Fell – actor
• Tina Fey – actress, comedian
• W. C. Fields – actor, comedian
• Larry Fine – comedian, actor, member of the Three Stooges
• Linda Fiorentino – actress
• Kate Flannery – actress
• Ray Fulmer – actor
• Jeremy Gable – playwright
• Ralph Garman – actor, radio personality
• Janet Gaynor – actress
• Richard Gere – actor
• Todd Glass – comedian
• Robert X. Golphin – actor, filmmaker
• Kate Gosselin – reality TV personality, Jon and Kate Plus Eight
• Seth Green – actor
• Grayson Hall – actress
• Veronica Hamel – actress, model
• Kevin Hart – comedian, actor
• Sherman Hemsley – actor
• Emmaline Henry – actress, I Dream of Jeannie
• Marc Lamont Hill – television host
• Tigre Hill – producer, director
• Kevin Hooks – actor, director
• Mark Indelicato – actor, singer (Justin Suarez on Ugly Betty)
• Judith Jamison – dancer; choreographer; artistic director, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
• Barry Jenner – actor
• Clark Johnson – actor, director
• Gail Kasper – actor, host, executive producer
• Nicole Kassell – director, writer
• Jack Kehler – actor
• George Kelly – playwright, screenwriter, director, actor; uncle of Princess Grace of Monaco
• Grace Kelly – actress, Princess of Monaco
• Irvin Kershner – director, The Empire Strikes Back
• Taylor Kinney – actor, Vampire Diaries, Chicago Fire; dating Lady Gaga
• Jack Klugman – actor

L–Z

• Michael Landon – actor, producer, director
• Mario Lanza – singer, actor
• Stan Lathan – film and television producer, director
• Andrew Lawrence – actor
• Joey Lawrence – actor
• Matthew Lawrence – actor
• Raw Leiba – actor, stuntman, sports model
• Aaron Levinson – producer and musician
• David Lynch – film director
• Jeanette MacDonald – actress, singer
• Stephen Macht – actor
• Bob McAllister – children's television personality
• Andrea McArdle – singer, actress, Broadway's original Annie
• Joan McCracken – dancer, actress
• Paul McCrane – actor, musician
• Rob McElhenney – actor, creator of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
• Adam McKay – director, writer
• Mary Lou Metzger – singer, Lawrence Welk Show
• David Mirkin – writer, director
• Katherine Moennig – actress
• Kelly Monaco – model, actress
• J. J. North – actress
• Ana Ortiz – actress, Hilda Suarez on Ugly Betty
• Daphne Oz – author and television host on The Chew
• Holly Robinson Peete – actress
• Lisa Peluso – actress, Saturday Night Fever, soap operas
• Gervase Peterson – contestant, original season of Survivor
• Robert Picardo – actor
• Noam Pitlik – actor, television director, producer
• Jon Polito – actor, Miller's Crossing
• Joe Renzetti – musician, Oscar-winning film composer, The Buddy Holly Story
• Roxy Reynolds – pornographic actress, rapper, model
• Adele Ritchie – singer
• Matt Robinson – Sesame Street actor; father of Holly Robinson Peete
• James Rolfe – creator and star of Angry Video Game Nerd internet series; film director
• Lisa Roma – operatic soprano and music educator
• J. D. Roth – actor, game show host
• Bob Saget – actor, comedian, game show host
• Mathew St. Patrick – actor
• Diane Salinger – actress
• Camillia Sanes – actress, The Shield
• Bill Scott – voice actor; voice of Bullwinkle J. Moose, Mr. Peabody, Dudley Do-Right
• Vivienne Segal – actress
• Susan Seidelman – film and television director, Desperately Seeking Susan, Sex And The City
• M. Night Shyamalan – film director
• Penny Singleton – radio, film and voice actress
• Toukie Smith – model, actress; sister of fashion designer Willi Smith
• Will Smith – actor, hip-hop recording artist, half of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
• Joey Stefano – dancer, actor, porn star
• Parker Stevenson – actor
• Charles Stone III – film director, creator of Budweiser's "Whassup?" advertising campaign
• Holland Taylor – actress
• Teller – magician, half of Penn & Teller
• Frank Tinney – vaudeville comedian
• Jean Vander Pyl – actress, voice of Wilma Flintstone and Rosie the Robot Maid
• Tom Verica – actor
• Nancy Walker – actress, director
• Bruce Walsh – playwright
• Karen Malina White – actress
• Kenya D. Williamson – actress, screenwriter
• John Zacherle ("The Cool Ghoul") – actor, producer

Historical figures

• David Hayes Agnew (1818–1892) – surgeon and teacher
• Robert Aitken – publisher of the first Bible in North America
• Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888) – novelist
• Andrew Allen (1740–1825) – delegate to the Continental Congress
• Harrison Allen (1841–1897) – anatomist and physician
• Joseph Anderson – United States Senator
• Charles John Biddle (1819–1873) – member, U.S. House of Representatives
• Edward Biddle (1738–1779) – delegate, First Continental Congress
• Francis Biddle (1886–1968) – U.S. Solicitor General, U.S. Attorney General, principal American judge during the Nuremberg trials
• Nicholas Biddle (1786–1844) – financier, president, Second Bank of the United States
• Nicholas Biddle (1750–1778) – one of the original captains of the Continental Navy
• Richard Biddle (1796–1847) – member, U.S. House of Representatives, 1837–1840
• John C. Bowers (1811–1873) – entrepreneur, organist, abolitionist
• Thomas Bowers (c. 1823–1885) – concert artist
• Ed Bradley (1941–2006) – CBS News radio and television journalist, 1967–2006
• Henry "Box" Brown (1815–1878?) – abolitionist, escaped slavery by literally mailing himself to Philadelphia from Richmond, Virginia
• Bebe Moore Campbell (1950–2006) – author
• Samuel Carpenter (1649–1714) – first Treasurer of Pennsylvania, Deputy Governor to William Penn
• Octavius Valentine Catto (1839–1871) – educator, civil rights activist, and baseball player
• Marguerite de Angeli (1889–1987) – author, illustrator
• Henry George (1839–1897) – political economist, author Progress and Poverty
• Charlotte Forten Grimké (1837–1914) – abolitionist, poet, educator
• Benjamin Guggenheim (1865–1912) – businessman, died aboard the RMS Titanic
• John von Sonnentag de Havilland (1826–1886) – American officer of arms in England
• A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. (1928–1998) – commissioner, Kerner Commission; judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient
• John A. Hostetler (1918–2001) author, educator, leading scholar of Amish and Hutterite societies
• Grace Kelly (1929–1982) – princess of Monaco; actress
• George Lippard (1822–1854) – novelist, journalist, playwright, social activist, labour organizer
• Alain LeRoy Locke – writer, key figure of the Harlem Renaissance; first African-American Rhodes Scholar
• George Gordon Meade – Union army general in the American Civil War
• George B. McClellan – Union army general in the American Civil War
• Henry C. McCook – entomologist, clergyman, author, designer of Philadelphia's city flag
• Joseph McKenna – associate justice, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Attorney General, member, U.S. House of Representatives
• Thomas Mifflin – Major General in Continental Army, fifth president of U.S. Congress, first governor of Pennsylvania
• Anna Balmer Myers – author
• Robert N. C. Nix, Jr. (1928–2003) – former chief justice, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• William Pepper (1843–1898) – founder of Free Library of Philadelphia; provost of University of Pennsylvania
• Philip Syng Physick – "father of American surgery"
• Betsy Ross (1752–1836) – reputed to have sewn the first American flag
• Peggy Shippen – wife of Benedict Arnold
• Leon Sullivan – Baptist minister, social activist
• Thomas Truxton – naval officer
• Frank J. Webb (1828–1894) – novelist, poet, essayist, first African American writer to portray northern racism and "passing"

Media and literature

• Isaac Ashmead (1790–1870) – printer
• Isaac Asimov – author
• Tony Auth (1942-2014) – Pulitzer-prize winning editorial cartoonist
• Doug Banks – nationally syndicated morning radio personality
• Leslie Esdaile Banks – author
• Donald Barthelme – author
• Stan and Jan Berenstain – children's writing and illustration couple
• Evelyn Berckman – author
• Ben Bova – science fiction author
• Ed Bradley – journalist, 60 Minutes
• Tony Bruno – sports radio talk show host
• Gia Carangi – fashion model
• Angelo Cataldi – sports radio host
• Renee Chenault-Fattah – WCAU-TV news anchor; wife of U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah
• Michael Connelly – author
• Benjamin De Casseres – early 20th-century journalist
• Joseph Dennie – writer
• Charles Fuller – playwright
• Jim Gardner – WPVI-TV news anchor
• Mike Golic – ESPN radio and television personality, former Philadelphia Eagle
• David Goodis – author
• Terry Gross – radio host
• E. Michael Jones – magazine publisher, author
• Aries Keck – author, radio reporter
• Suzy Kolber – television sportscaster
• Andrea Kremer – television sportscaster
• Bob Lassiter – retired left-wing radio host
• Mark Levin - political commentator
• Jonathan Maberry – author
• Michelle Malkin – political commentator
• Chris Matthews – NBC/MSNBC journalist and political talk show host
• Jim McKay – ABC sports journalist
• Chris McKendry – ESPN SportsCenter anchor
• Larry Mendte – KYW-TV news anchor
• James A. Michener – author
• Thom Nickels – author, journalist
• PrankvsPrank – popular YouTube duo focusing on prank videos
• Joe Queenan – author, humorist
• Matthew Quick – author
• Beasley Reece – KYW-TV sports journalist, former Philadelphia Eagle
• Dave Roberts – WPVI-TV meteorologist; former co-host, AM Philadelphia; father of actor David Boreanaz
• Lisa Scottoline – author
• Peter Shellem – journalist for The Patriot-News
• Vai Sikahema – WCAU-TV sports journalist, former Philadelphia Eagle
• Michael Smerconish – WPHT-AM radio talk show host, Philadelphia Daily News columnist; MSNBC political analyst
• Stephen A. Smith – ESPN radio and television personality, former Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist
• Duane Swierczynski – author, former Philadelphia City Paper editor
• Omar Tyree – author
• Del Vaughn – CBS News correspondent; died in helicopter crash in 1972 while covering the flooding in Pennsylvania stemming from Hurricane Agnes
• Ukee Washington – KYW-TV news anchor
• Jennifer Weiner – author

Military figures

• Jack Agnew – inspiration for the novel and film The Dirty Dozen
• Louis H. Carpenter – Brig. General, Medal of Honor recipient, vet of Civil War, Indian Wars, and Spanish–American War
• William Guarnere – US Army Staff Sergeant, made famous by Band of Brothers
• Edward Heffron - US Army Private, made famous by Band of Brothers
• H.R. McMaster – major general
• John J. McVeigh – Medal of Honor recipient
• Thomas H. Neill – Union army general
• John C. Pemberton – Commander of Confederate defenders at the Siege of Vicksburg

Music

• Andrew Adgate – musician, founder of music schools, and choir director
• Al Alberts (of The Four Aces) – singer
• Marian Anderson – opera singer/contralto
• Army of the Pharaohs – hip hop supergroup
• Frankie Avalon – singer, actor
• Az Yet – R&B singers
• Rachel Bagby – author, composer, singer, composer
• Bahamadia – rapper
• Pearl Bailey – singer, dancer, actress
• Charli Baltimore – hip-hop artist
• Samuel Barber – composer
• Len Barry (of The Dovells) – rock singer
• Toni Basil – singer ("Mickey"), choreographer, actress
• Diane Meredith Belcher – concert organist, teacher, and church musician
• Frankie Beverly – R&B singer/musician, founder and lead singer of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
• Charlie Biddle – jazz bassist
• Bilal – neo-soul singer/musician
• Cindy Birdsong – founding member, Labelle; replacement member, Diana Ross & the Supremes
• Bloodhound Gang – band
• Blue Magic – R&B singers
• Boyz II Men – R&B group
• Solomon Burke – R&B singer
• Uri Caine – composer, arranger, jazz pianist
• Cassidy – rapper
• Sarah Chang – violinist
• Chiddy Bang – rap group (consists of Chidera "Chiddy" Anamege and Noah "Xaphoon Jones" Beresin)
• Chubby Checker (born Ernest Evans) – singer
• Cinderella – glam metal band
• CKY – alternative metal band
• Stanley Clarke – bassist
• Alice Cohen – singer/songwriter
• John Coltrane – jazz saxophonist
• Cool C – rapper
• Jim Croce – singer
• The Cross Movement – Christian hip-hop artists
• Dandelion – grunge band, 1989 to 1996
• James Darren – singer, actor
• Dead Milkmen – punk/alternative band
• The Delfonics – Philadelphia soul group
• James DePreist – orchestral conductor
• Dieselboy – drum and bass DJ/producer
• Fred Diodati (of The Four Aces) – singer
• Diplo – DJ/producer
• Disco Biscuits – jam-band artists
• Dr. Dog – indie band
• Bill Doggett – jazz and R&B organist and pianist
• Gail Ann Dorsey – bassist
• Charles Earland – organist
• Eastern Conference Champions – alternative rock band
• Sandrine Erdely-Sayo – classical pianist
• Kevin Eubanks – jazz guitarist
• Robin Eubanks – jazz trombonist and arranger
• Eve – rapper, actress
• Fabian (born Fabian Forte) – singer, actor
• Sheila Ferguson – singer with The Three Degrees, 1966 to 1986
• Wilhelmenia Fernandez – opera singer/soprano
• Rachelle Ferrell – jazz vocalist
• Eddie Fisher – singer, actor
• Floetry – R&B/neo-soul/hip-hop duo
• Sam Fogarino – drummer, Interpol
• Freeway – rapper
• G. Love and Special Sauce – jam band
• Kenny Gamble – producer and co-founder, Philadelphia International Records
• Stan Getz – jazz saxophonist
• Benny Golson – jazz saxophonist
• Charlie Gracie – rock singer
• Gogi Grant (born Myrtle Audrey Arinsberg) – singer
• Anthony Green – singer, ex Saosin, Circa Survive
• Vivian Green – R&B singer
• Daryl Hall – singer, half of the duo Hall & Oates
• Rufus Harley – jazz saxophonist and bagpipe player
• Albert Heath – jazz drummer
• Jimmy Heath – jazz saxophonist
• Percy Heath – jazz bassist
• The Hooters – rock band
• Leon Huff – producer and co-founder, Philadelphia International Records
• Phyllis Hyman – R&B/jazz vocalist
• The Intruders – Philadelphia soul group
• DJ Jazzy Jeff (born Jeffrey Townes) – hip-hop DJ, neo-soul producer, half of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
• Jedi Mind Tricks – underground hip-hop duo
• Joan Jett – rock musician
• Philly Joe Jones – jazz drummer
• Kitty Kallen (born Katie Kallen) – pop singer
• Jason Karaban – singer-songwriter
• Tom Keifer (born Carl Thomas Keifer) – vocalist of the glam metal band Cinderella
• Keith (born James Barry Keifer) – singer
• Bill Kenny – singer
• Khia – rapper
• King Britt – house DJ, producer
• The Kinleys – twin country music singers
• Kurupt – rapper
• Labelle (aka Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles) – soul and R&B singers
• Patti LaBelle – R&B singer
• Mario Lanza – operatic singer
• Lynda Laurence – Stevie Wonder, the Supremes
• Amos Lee – folk/blues singer
• A Life Once Lost – metal band signed to Ferret Music
• Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes – member, TLC
• Monie Love – rapper, radio personality
• The Loved Ones – punk rock band
• Leonard MacClain – theatre organ
• Al Martino (born Alfred Cini) – singer, actor
• Pat Martino – jazz guitarist
• Barbara Mason – R&B singer/composer
• Christian McBride – jazz bassist
• McFadden & Whitehead – singers, songwriters, producers
• Meek Mill – rapper
• MewithoutYou – Christian rock band signed to Tooth and Nail Records
• MFSB – Philadelphia soul group, recorded Soul Train theme song
• Ms. Jade – hip-hop artist
• Lee Morgan – trumpet
• Mountain Brothers – hip hop group
• James Mtume – R&B/jazz musician; founder of Mtume
• Musiq Soulchild (aka Musiq) – R&B/neo-soul singer
• Marc Nelson – R&B singer, Boyz II Men and Az Yet
• Lobo Nocho – African American émigré jazz singer in France
• John Oates – singer, half of the duo Hall & Oates
• The Orlons – R&B group
• Paint It Black – punk band
• Hugh Panaro – tenor singer; Broadway and opera
• Billy Paul – Philadelphia soul singer
• Teddy Pendergrass – R&B singer; Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
• Christina Perri – singer
• Vincent Persichetti – composer, music educator
• Pieces of a Dream – R&B/jazz fusion artists
• Pink – R&B/rock singer
• Fayette Pinkney – singer with The Three Degrees, 1963 to 1976
• Trudy Pitts – jazz keyboardist
• Princess Superstar – hip-hop performer
• Sun Ra – jazz pianist, bandleader
• Danny Rapp – singer, Danny & the Juniors
• Joe Renzetti – played guitar on many hit records; Cameo Records; arranged "Sunny," "Mandy," "98.6"; Oscar winner
• Res – R&B singer
• RJD2 – producer
• Paul Robeson – singer, activist, attorney, All-American college athlete
• The Roots – hip hop band
• Jack Rose – guitarist
• Todd Rundgren – musician, singer-songwriter, producer
• Bobby Rydell – singer, actor
• Santigold – dub punk singer
• John Sebastian – classical harmonica player and composer
• Schoolly D – rapper
• Jill Scott – R&B/neo-soul singer
• Shirley Scott – organ
• Dee Dee Sharp – singer, actress
• Gene Shay – "grandfather of Philadelphia folk music"
• Oscar Shumsky – violinist
• Beanie Sigel – rapper
• Bunny Sigler – R&B singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer
• Silvertide – rock band
• Siris – international music duo
• Soulquarians – neo-soul musical collective
• Steady B – rapper
• The Stylistics – Philadelphia soul group
• Jazmine Sullivan - multiple Grammy and BET Award nominee; R&B, soul vocalist
• Swayzak (of The Goats) – rapper
• Taylor Swift – country/pop singer
• Tammi Terrell – soul, R&B, Motown singer
• Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson – drummer, producer, DJ, writer, journalist, photographer
• The Three Degrees – Philadelphia soul/disco group
• Three Times Dope – hip-hop group
• The Trammps – disco band
• Robbie Tronco – DJ
• Ira Tucker – Dixie Hummingbirds
• Tuff Crew – hip-hop group
• McCoy Tyner – pianist
• Valencia – alternative rock band
• Kurt Vile – guitarist and vocalist
• Lee Ving – singer-songwriter and guitarist (Fear)
• The War on Drugs – psychedelic folk band
• Clara Ward – gospel singer
• Grover Washington, Jr. – jazz saxophonist
• Crystal Waters – dance and house music singer
• Ethel Waters – blues singer, actress
• André Watts – pianist
• Pamela Williams – jazz saxophonist
• Josh Wink – DJ, electronic music producer
• The Wonder Years – rock band
• Young Gunz – hip-hop duo
• Karen Young – disco singer
• The Young Werewolves – psychobilly group

Politics

• Leon Abbett – Governor of New Jersey
• Lynne Abraham – Philadelphia district attorney, 1991–2010
• William Allen – Mayor of Philadelphia from 1735 to 1736
• Chris Bartlett – LGBT community organizer
• Raj Bhakta – 2006 congressional candidate; contestant, The Apprentice, Season 2
• Michael J. Bradley – member, United States House of Representatives, 3rd Congressional District, Pennsylvania, 1935–1945
• Bob Brady – member, U.S. House of Representatives, 1st Congressional District, Pennsylvania, 1997–, 2007 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
• Raymond J. Broderick – U.S. Federal Judge
• William T. Cahill – Governor of New Jersey, 1970–74
• Ashton Carter – physicist, Harvard University professor, and United States Secretary of Defense
• Augusta Clark – librarian, politician and lawyer; second African-American woman to serve on the Philadelphia City Council, 1980–2000
• Joseph S. Clark – Mayor of Philadelphia, 1952–1956; U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, 1956–1968
• Mark B. Cohen – member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1974 to date;; Democratic leader of Pennsylvania House; Chairman, House Labor Relations Committee
• Henry Conner – member, Wisconsin State Senate
• George M. Dallas – U.S. Vice President
• Richardson Dilworth – lawyer; Philadelphia district attorney, 1952–1956; Mayor of Philadelphia, 1956–1962
• Dwight E. Evans – member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 203rd Legislative District; 2007 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
• Chaka Fattah – member, U.S. House of Representatives since 1995; 2007 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
• Douglas J. Feith – Undersecretary of Defense under President George W. Bush, leading adviser on Iraq policy
• Tom Feeney – State of Florida politician (from 1990)
• Benjamin Franklin – a Founding Father of the United States, from 1723-1790
• Shirley Franklin – mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, 2002–2010
• W. Wilson Goode – Mayor of Philadelphia, 1984–1992
• W. Wilson Goode, Jr. – at-large member, Philadelphia City Council, 2000–
• Oscar Goodman – attorney; mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, 1999–
• William H. Gray – Baptist minister; former member, U.S. House of Representatives; former president, United Negro College Fund
• William J. Green III – mayor of Philadelphia, 1980–1984; member, U.S. House of Representatives, 1964–1977
• Simon Guggenheim – U.S. Senator, Colorado, 1907–1913; philanthropist
• Alexander Haig – former U.S. Secretary of State and White House Chief of Staff
• Richard Helms – Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) from 1966 to 1973
• Charles W. Heyl – Wisconsin State Assembly
• George Landenberger – 23rd Governor of American Samoa
• Frank J. Larkin – Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate
• John J. McCloy – chairman, Chase Manhattan Bank and Ford Foundation; Assistant U.S. Secretary of War during World War II; subsequently Allies' High Commissioner of Germany
• J. Whyatt Mondesire – president, NAACP, Philadelphia chapter
• Patrick Murphy – member, U.S. House of Representatives, 8th Congressional District, Pennsylvania, 2007–2010
• Robert N.C. Nix, Sr. – member, U.S. House of Representatives, 1959–1979
• Michael A. Nutter – Mayor of Philadelphia, 2008–; member, Philadelphia City Council, 4th District, 1992–2006
• Dennis M. O'Brien – member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 169th Legislative District; 1976–1980 and 1982–; Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 2007–2008
• Tony J. Payton, Jr. – member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 179th Legislative District; 2007–
• Boies Penrose – U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, 1897–1921; party boss
• Charles H. Ramsey – Philadelphia police commissioner, 2008–
• Samuel J. Randall – member House of Representatives and 33rd Speaker of the House
• Ed Rendell – Governor of Pennsylvania, 2003–2011; Mayor of Philadelphia, 1992–2000
• Frank Rizzo – Mayor of Philadelphia, 1972–1980; Philadelphia police commissioner, 1967–1971
• John Robbins – member of the U.S. House of Representatives
• Allyson Schwartz – member, U.S. House of Representatives, 13th Congressional District, Pennsylvania, 2005–
• Arlen Specter – U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania, 1981–2011; Philadelphia district attorney, 1966–1974
• Ben Stahl – Jewish labor leader and activist
• John F. Street – Mayor of Philadelphia, 2000–2008
• Milton Street – entrepreneur; former Pennsylvania state legislator; 2007 Philadelphia City Council candidate; brother of John F. Street
• Norman Sussman – Wisconsin State Senator
• Al Taubenberger – 2007 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
• C. Delores Tucker – civil rights activist; Pennsylvania Secretary of State, 1971–1977
• Anna C. Verna – member, Philadelphia City Council, 2nd District, 1976–; Philadelphia City Council president, 2000–
• R. Seth Williams – Philadelphia District Attorney, 2010–
• Fernando Wood – Mayor of New York, 1855–1858, 1860–1862

Sports

Rubén Amaro, Jr.

Bobby Convey

Marvin Harrison

Vic Seixas

• John Abadie – baseball player
• Cal Abrams – baseball player
• Chris Albright – Major League Soccer defender for the Philadelphia Union
• Doug Allison – first baseball player ever to use a glove
• Eddie Alvarez – mixed martial artist, Bellator lightweight champion
• Rubén Amaro, Jr. – baseball player and general manager, Philadelphia Phillies
• Paul Arizin – early NBA basketball player with the Philadelphia Warriors
• Reds Bassman – football player
• Bert Bell – founder of the Philadelphia Eagles football team, commissioner of the National Football League
• Mohini Bhardwaj – Olympic gymnast
• Tyrell Biggs – boxer, 1984 Olympic gold medalist
• Audrey Bleiler – All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
• Thomas Brennan – professional hockey player
• Charles Brewer – boxer, former super middleweight champion
• Derek Bryant – heavyweight boxer
• Kobe Bryant – professional basketball player, 5-time NBA Finals champion
• Roy Campanella – professional baseball player, 3-time National League Most Valuable Player
• Wilt Chamberlain - professional basketball player, 2-time NBA champion
• Ben Clime – NFL player
• Randall "Tex" Cobb – boxer and actor
• Don Cohan – 1972 Olympic bronze medalist in sailing
• Steve Coleman - NFL player
• Bobby Convey – professional soccer player for the San Jose Earthquakes and the United States Men's National Soccer Team
• Tyrone Crawley – boxer
• Fran Crippen – professional swimmer
• Maddy Crippen – swimmer, 2000 Olympics
• Steve Cunningham – boxer, current IBF cruiserweight champion
• Ollie Dobbins – football player
• Buster Drayton – boxer, light middleweight (super welterweight) champion
• Jon Drummond – track and field athlete, 1996 and 2000 Olympic medalist
• Dave Dunaway – NFL player
• Angelo Dundee – boxing trainer
• Fred Dunlap – professional baseball player
• John Edelman – professional baseball player
• Jahri Evans – NFL player
• Francine Fournier – professional wrestling valet with Extreme Championship Wrestling
• Joe Frazier – boxer, 1964 Olympic gold medalist and world heavyweight champion
• Marvis Frazier – boxer, son of Joe Frazier
• Harry Fritz – baseball player
• Jim "Sandman" Fullington – professional wrestler, Extreme Championship Wrestling and WWE
• Mark Gerban – first world champion rower for Palestine
• Eddie George – NFL player, 1995 Heisman Trophy winner
• Kerry Getz – professional skateboarder
• Joey Giardello – professional boxer and middleweight champion
• Tom Gola – NBA player, La Salle University men's basketball head coach, 1983 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
• Brent Grimes – NFL player
• Randy Grossman – NFL player; four-time Super Bowl Champion
• Mark Gubicza – professional baseball player
• Drew Gulak – professional wrestler
• Matt Guokas – NBA player and coach
• Brendan Hansen – Olympic swimmer
• Eric Harding – boxer
• Marvin Harrison – NFL player
• Kirk Hershey – NFL player
• Bernard Hopkins – boxer, world middleweight champion
• Demetrius Hopkins – boxer, nephew of Bernard Hopkins
• Reggie Jackson – Hall of Fame baseball player
• John B. Kelly, Sr. – triple Olympic gold medal winning rower, father of Princess Grace of Monaco
• John B. Kelly, Jr. – champion rower, brother of Princess Grace of Monaco
• Florian Kempf – football player
• Matt Kilroy – professional baseball player
• Sam Kimber – professional baseball player
• Bart King – cricket bowler
• Rick Lackman – NFL player
• Dave LaCrosse – NFL player
• Sonny Liston – boxer, former world heavyweight champion
• Tommy Loughran – boxer, light heavyweight champion
• John Macionis – Olympic swimmer, silver medalist, 1936
• John McDermott – professional golfer
• Benny McLaughlin – professional soccer player, member of United States Soccer Hall of Fame
• Jake Metz – football player
• Levi Meyerle – professional baseball player
• Nate Miller – boxer, former cruiserweight champion
• Alvin Mitchell – football player
• Willie Mosconi – professional pool (pocket billiards) player
• Matthew Saad Muhammad – boxer, light heavyweight champion
• Browning Nagle – NFL player
• Jim O'Brien – NBA coach
• Vince Papale – NFL player, inspiration for the motion picture Invincible
• Mike Powell – track and field athlete, 1988 and 1992 Olympic silver medalist, current holder of the long jump world record
• Zahir Raheem – boxer, 1996 Olympian
• Jack Ramsay – basketball coach, Saint Joseph's College men's team; NBA coach; general manager; TV commentator; Hall of Famer
• Merrill Reese – Philadelphia Eagles radio broadcaster
• David Reid – boxer, 1996 Olympic gold medalist, light middleweight
• Stevie Richards – professional wrestler, Extreme Championship Wrestling and WWE
• Ivan Robinson – boxer
• Allen Rosenberg – rower and rowing coach
• Vic Seixas – tennis player
• Kirk Shelmerdine – NASCAR driver, crew chief
• Steve Slaton – NFL player
• Harry Stovey – professional baseball player
• Eric Tangradi – NHL player
• Meldrick Taylor – boxer, 1984 Olympic gold medalist, welterweight and junior welterweight champion
• Aaron Torres – boxer, contestant on The Contender 2
• Najai Turpin – boxer, contestant on The Contender
• Harp Vaughan – NFL player
• John Waerig – NFL player
• Steve Wagner – Olympic field hockey player
• Bobby "Boogaloo" Watts – boxer
• Charles Way – NFL player
• Erik Williams – football player, defensive tackle for Dallas Cowboys
• Ike Williams – boxer, lightweight champion
• Joe Williams – American football player
• Stevie Williams – professional skateboarder for D.G.K.
• Ned Williamson – professional baseball player
• George Winslow – NFL player
• Jimmy Young – boxer

Philadelphia native basketball players

• Mike Bantom – 1972 United States National Basketball Team – NBA – Roman Catholic High School
• Joe "Jellybean" Bryant – NBA
• Kobe Bryant – NBA – Lower Merion High School
• Rasual Butler – NBA – Roman Catholic High School
• Fred Carter – NBA
• Wilt Chamberlain – NBA – Overbrook High School
• Dionte Christmas – NBA – Samuel Fels High School
• Mardy Collins – NBA – Simon Gratz High School
• Dallas Comegys – NBA – Roman Catholic High School
• Wayne Ellington – NBA – Episcopal Academy
• Tyreke Evans – NBA – Chester High School
• Eddie Griffin – NBA – Roman Catholic High School
• Gerald Henderson Jr. – NBA – Episcopal Academy
• Marc Jackson - NBA – Roman Catholic High School
• Wali Jones – NBA
• Bo Kimble – NBA
• Kyle Lowry – NBA – Cardinal Dougherty High School
• Aaron McKie – NBA – Simon Gratz High School
• Cuttino Mobley – NBA
• Earl Monroe – NBA
• Marcus Morris – NBA
• Markieff Morris – NBA
• Ronald "Flip" Murray – NBA – Strawberry Mansion High School
• Jameer Nelson – NBA – Chester High School
• Aaron Owens – Simon Gratz High School
• Malik Rose – NBA
• John Salmons – NBA
• Da'Rel Scott – NFL – Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School
• Dawn Staley – WNBA
• Dion Waiters – NBA – Life Center Academy
• Rasheed Wallace – NBA – Simon Gratz High School
• Hakim Warrick – NBA
• Maalik Wayns – NBA – Roman Catholic High School
• Alvin Williams – NBA
• Khalif Wyatt – NBA D-League – Norristown High School

Other

• Ramona Africa – only adult to survive the 1985 bombing of the MOVE house
• Gloria Allred – attorney
• Sydney Biddle Barrows – illegal escort service proprietor, often referred to as "The Mayflower Madam"
• Guion Bluford – astronaut, first African-American in space
• Antuan Bronshtein – convicted murderer
• Pete Conrad – astronaut, third man to walk on the moon (Apollo 12)
• Katherine Drexel – Roman Catholic saint
• Ira Einhorn – environmental and anti-war activist; convicted murderer
• Daniel Faulkner – Philadelphia police officer killed in the line of duty; Wesley Cook was convicted of his murder
• Christopher Ferguson – astronaut
• Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde – Philadelphia Municipal Court judge, boxer; daughter of Joe Frazier
• Barbara Harris – first woman ordained bishop in the Anglican Communion
• Paul B. Higginbotham – judge, Wisconsin Court of Appeals
• Ruth Malcomson (1906–1988) – Miss America 1924
• James Martin – Jesuit priest, writer (My Life with the Saints), and frequent media commentator on modern Catholicism
• Seamus McCaffrey – former justice, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; former presiding judge of the "Eagles Court"
• Carol McCain – ex-wife of presidential candidate John McCain
• Silas Weir Mitchell – physician, writer
• Bawa Muhaiyaddeen – Sufi saint
• John Joseph O'Connor – Roman Catholic cardinal; archbishop, Archdiocese of New York, 1984–2000
• Marjorie Rendell – judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 1997–; first lady of Pennsylvania, 2003–
• Amber Rose – model
• Nicodemo Scarfo – mafioso; head of the Scarfo crime family, 1981–1991
• Samuel Gilbert Scott – daredevil
• Lester Shubin – Inventor of the Kevlar vest
• Nancy Spungen – girlfriend of Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious
• Walter E. Williams – economist and author
• Joshua Wurman – meteorologist, leader of VORTEX2

References

References are on the article pages if not listed here.

External links

• Famous Philadelphians Notable Names Database
• Books by authors associated with Philadelphia PhillyFiction.com