Philly Pride

My list of prominent, famous, notable, or just plain notorious people born or raised in my hometown of Philadelphia, PA.

• Marian Anderson, legendary opera singer.
• Pearl Bailey, legendary actor/singer.
• Charli Baltimore, rapper/recording artist.
• Boyz II Men, recording artists. One of the most successful recording acts of all time, their first hit was called 'MotownPhilly'.
• Guion "Guy" Bluford, NASA Astronaut. First African-American in space. Attended Overbrook High.
• Ed Bradley, TV reporter and journalist. 60 Minutes.
• Kobe Bryant, basketball star. Born in Philly, raised in 'burbs except for 8-9 years in Italy.
• Wilt Chamberlain, basketball legend, Overbrook High grad. Once scored 100 points during a high school game.
• Chubbie Checker, 60's recording artist (The Twist).
• Stanley Clarke, jazz bassist.
• John Coltrane, legendary jazz saxophonist.
• Bill Cosby, legendary actor/comedian, creator of Fat Albert.
• Lee Daniels, Hollywood producer ("Monster's Ball")
• Ja'net DuBois, actor (Willona on "Good Times"), singer of The Jeffersons theme 'Movin' on Up'.
• Vikter Duplaix, recording artist and producer.
• Kevin Eubanks, jazz musician, Germantown High grad (unconfirmed). Sidekick to Jay Leno on the Tonight Show.
• Lola Falana, actor, musical performer. Though born in Camden, NJ, she was "all of 14 years old dancing in the Philadelphia nightclubs for ten bucks a show" and she attended Germantown High (dropping out just before graduation), so I assume she spent most of her adolescence in Philly.
• Joe Frazier, boxer/entrpreneur, former heavyweight champion of the world.
• Kenny Gamble, legendary soul music producer. Co-inventor of "The Sound of Philadelphia".
• Sherman Hemsley, actor (George Jefferson, Deacon Frye on "Amen").
• Billie Holiday, legendary blues/jazz singer.
• Phyllis Hyman, 70's/80's recording artist.
• Patti Labelle, recording artist, actor.
• Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes, 90's recording artist. Born Philly, raised around the world as an army brat.
• Musiq (Soulchild), recording artist.
• Teddy Pendergrass, 70's/80's recording artist.
• Paul Robeson, legendary actor and activist.
• Matt Robinson (Gordon on Sesame Street, producer of The Cosby Show, father of Holly Robinson Peete). Just passed away last August from Parkinson's disease.
• Holly Robinson Peete (21 Jump Street, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Jacksons: An American Dream). Married to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Rodney Peete.
• The Roots, recording artists.
• Jill Scott, recording artist.
• Will Smith, actor, rapper/recording artist.
• Willi Smith, fashion designer, cofounder of the WilliWear company. Called "the most successful black designer in fashion history." Graduated from Mastbaum Technical High School.
• Mathew St. Patrick, actor (Six Feet Under). (photos)
• Dawn Staley, WNBA star.
• Rev. Leon Sullivan, world-renowned civil rights activist.
• Tammi Terrell, 60's recording artist (Ain't No Mountain High Enough, You're All I Need to Get By, Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing).
• Jeff "DJ Jazzy Jeff" Townes (Music producer, Jill Scott, Floetry)
• C. Delores Tucker, Civil rights activist. Best known for her stance against rap music in the 1990's.
• Rasheed Wallace, baskeball star. Simon Gratz grad.
• Grover Washington Jr., jazz saxophonist.
• Georgie Woods, Philadelphia radio broadcast legend.

• Gloria Allred, celebrity lawyer, U-Penn grad.
• Frankie Avalon, 60's recording artist.
• Kevin Bacon, actor in everything.
• Chuck Barris, TV personality (The Gong Show).
• The Barrymores (John, Lionel, and Ethel), legendary acting family.
• Danny Bonaduce, actor (the Partridge Family). Born in Broomall, moved to Hollywood when he was 4, see this interview.
• David Boreanaz, actor (Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Son of local ABC channel 6's Dave Roberts, he was raised in Philly from age 9 to adulthood.
• Ben Bova, science fiction author and editor. South Philly High and Temple U grad, credits the Franklin Institute Planetarium with sparking his interest in the stars.
• Peter Boyle, actor (Everybody Loves Raymond).
• David Brenner, comedian.
• Noam Chomsky, famous linguist and social theorist. Philly born and bred!
• Imogene Coca, legendary comedian/actor (Your Show of Shows).
• Alexander Courage, composer (original Star Trek TV theme).
• Jim Croce, 70's recording artist.
• Blythe Danner, actor (Meet the Parents, The Prince of Tides), mother of Gwyneth Paltrow.
• James Darren, recording artist & actor (Star Trek: Deep Space 9).
• Bobby Darrin, 60's recording artist.
• Bruce Davison, actor (X-Men, Longtime Companion, The Lathe of Heaven).
• John de Lancie, actor ("Q" on Star Trek: TNG/DS9/VOY)
• Kim Delaney, actor (NYPD Blue, Philly).
• Eddie Fisher, actor, father of Joely Fisher (mother Connie Stevens) and Carrie Fisher (mother Debbie Reynolds). Famous boinker of Elizabeth Taylor.
• Eve, rapper/recording artist.
• Fabian, 60's recording artist.
• Norman Fell, actor (Mr. Roper on Three's Company).
• Tina Fey, comedian/actor (Saturday Night Live). Born and raised in Upper Darby.
• W.C. Fields, legendary comedy actor
• Larry Fine, actor (Larry of the Three Stooges)
• Linda Fiorentino, actor (Men In Black, The Last Seduction). Born in Philly, raised in South Jersey.
• Richard Gere, actor (Chicago, An Officer and a Gentleman), producer, activist.
• Stan Getz, influential jazz musician
• Seth Green, actor ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "The Italian Job", the Austin Powers movies). Grew up in West Philly/Overbrook; his father taught me math in high school.
• Daryl Hall & John Oates, recording artists, most successful singing duo of all time.
• Joan Jett, 80's recording artist (I Love Rock & Roll). Born in Philly, her family moved to Los Angeles when she was 12 years old.
• Princess Grace of Monaco (born Grace Kelly), actor (To Catch a Thief, Rear Window), famous royalty.
• Irvin Kershner, director (Empire Stikes Back, Never Say Never Again, Robocop 2).
• Jack Klugman, actor (The Odd Couple, Quincy).
• Mario Lanza, legendary opera singer.
• Joey Lawrence, actor (Blossom) & recording artist. Abington Friends grad.
• Matthew Lawrence, actor (Gimme a Break, Mrs. Doubtfire). Abington Friends grad.
• Sidney Lumet, director (Wiz, Network, Dog Day Afternoon).
• Richard Lester, director (A Hard Day's Night, Help!, Superman II).
• Tara Lipinski, Olympic medalist in figure skating.
• Margaret Mead, famous anthropologist.
• Jim McKay, sports commentator (the voice of the Wide World of Sports).
• Katherine Moennig, actor (Shane on "The L Word").
• Cheri Oteri, comedian/actor (Saturday Night Live). Raised in Upper Darby.
• Robert Picardo, actor (The Doctor/EMH on Star Trek: Voyager). Penn Charter grad.
• Pink, recording artist. From the 'burbs.
• Todd Rundgren, recording artist, guitarist/songwriter.
• Bobby Rydell, 60's recording artist.
• Bob Saget, comedian/actor (Full House, America's Funniest Home Videos).
• Michael Sembello, 70's/80's recording artist ("Maniac", guitarist on "Songs In the Key of Life").
• M. Night Shyamalan, director ("The Sixth Sense", "Signs"). Raised in the 'burbs.
• Jacqueline Susann, author (Valley of the Dolls), "swingin' 60's" icon.
• Teller, magician/performer (of Penn & Teller). Central High grad.
• Nancy Walker, actor (Rhoda, The Golden Girls).

• Benjamin Franklin (raised in Boston until he was a young adult, eventually he lived many more years in Philadelphia)
• Julius "Dr. J" Erving
• Sylvester Stallone (Rocky is from South Philly, but not Sylvester)
• Walt Whitman (raised in New York, lived the second half of his life in Camden, NJ).
• Leon Huff, legendary soul music producer. Co-inventor of "The Sound of Philadelphia" was born and raised in nearby Camden, NJ.
• None of the main stars of these Philly-set movies: "12 Monkeys", "Philadelphia", "Rocky", "The Sixth Sense", "Trading Places", "Witness"