|
Mitch
Albom - Author of the best-selling book “Tuesdays With Morrie,”
and ESPN regular was once an editor at The Queens Tribune and lived in
Forest Hills.
|

The
best selling “Tuesdays with Morrie” was penned by former Trib
editor Mitch Albom.
|
Tommie
Agee
- The Mets legend and member of one of New York’s most unforgettable
baseball teams was also a long time resident of Elmhurst.
Kenny
Anderson
- It was on the playgrounds of Queens that Kenny Anderson of the
Boston Celtics first honed his basketball skills. Anderson starred at
Archbishop Molloy High School in Briarwood, where he caught the eye of
numerous college scouts.
Susan
Anspach - This actress graduated from Bryant High School in 1960.
Eddie
Arcaro - The Triple Crown-winning jockey lived at the Homestead
Hotel, a home for jockeys near the Kew Gardens railroad station. The
building is now used as a nursing home.
|

Louis
Armstrong
|
Louis
“Satchmo” Armstrong - The jazz legend and International
Ambassador of Goodwill lived in Corona and is buried in Flushing
Cemetery.
Tichina
Arnold – A regular on the television series “Martin” and actress
in the movie “Big Momma’s House” hails from Queens.
Kenneth
Arrow - Winner of the 1972 Nobel Prize in Economics, he graduated from
Townsend Harris High School in 1936.
Hank
Azaria - The actor, who starred in “The Birdcage,” is from Forest
Hills.
Bert
Bacharach - The musical genius was raised on Talbot Street in Forest
Hills. He graduated from Forest Hills High School in 1946.
Ellen
Baker - NASA astronaut and daughter of Queens Borough President Claire
Shulman.
John
Barrymore - The star of stage and screen once lived on 208th Street in
Bayside, just north of Northern Boulevard.
Count
Basie - The famous composer and band leader once lived in St. Albans.
Jon
Bowzer Bauman - The lead singer of Sha Na Na attended Martin Van Buren
High School.
Daniel
Carter Beard - The founder of the Boy Scouts of America lived at what
is now Bowne Street and Roosevelt Avenue.
|

Tony
Bennett
|
Tony
Bennett - The famous singer may have left his heart in San Francisco,
but the rest of him was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto in Astoria.
The
Bennett Sisters - Movie stars Constance and Joan once lived in
Bayside.
Irving
Berlin - Composer of “God Bless America” and “White Christmas”
used to live in a house overlooking Crocheron Park in Bayside.
Henry
Bohack - The supermarket king lived on Beverly Road in Kew Gardens
from 1900 through 1920.
Richard
Bey - The talk show host is a product of the Rockaways.
James
Bland - The singer and composer, whose works included “Golden
Slippers” and “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny,”
lived in Flushing.
Baruch
Blumburg - This 1942 graduate of Far Rockaway High School won the
Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1976.
Ford
Bond - The radio and TV producer and announcer once lived in Bayside
near Bell Boulevard.
Diamond
Jim Brady - The famous salesman, promoter and celebrity, who
spearheaded the changeover to safe steel railroad cars, once
lived on Union Turnpike near the Nassau County line.
Eddie
Bracken - This popular 1940s Hollywood actor lived in Middle Village.
|

Jimmy
Breslin
|
Jimmy
Breslin - The Pulitzer Prize winning columnist and former Piel’s
pitchman moved out of Forest Hills in 1982.
Dr.
Joyce Brothers - The psychologist and advice columnist went to high
school in the Rockaways.
James
Brown - The “Godfather of Soul” lived in St. Albans on Linden
Boulevard.
Art
Buchwald - The humorist graduated from Forest Hills High School in
1943.
Ralph
Bunche - The 1950 Nobel Peace Prize winner and former United Nations
undersecretary
was once a resident of Rosedale and Kew Gardens.
Irving
Burgie - The author of “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” and other
songs made popular by Harry Belafonte still lives in Hollis.
Lynn
Edythe Burke – The winner of two gold medals in swimming at the 1960
Rome Olympics trained at the Flushing YMCA.
Francis
X. Bushman - The movie star once lived in a home overlooking Little
Neck Bay.
Spring
Byington - The TV and movie star once made her home near the LIRR
station at Bell Boulevard in Bayside.
Sid
Caesar - The comedian lived in Rego Park during his TV starring days
(“Your Show of Shows”) in the 50s.
Godfrey
Cambridge - The comedian-actor is a graduate of Flushing High School.
Charles
J. Camarda - He hasn’t gone into space yet, but this astronaut from
Queens — who has worked for NASA in various non-astronaut capacities
since 1974 — is awaiting a mission assignment.
Roy
Campanella - The baseball legend and hall-of-famer lived in St.
Albans.
Dale
Carnegie - Author of “How to Win Friends and Influence People”
lived on Wendover Street in Forest Hills from 1928 through 1955.
David
Caruso - The “NYPD Blue” actor
used to walk the streets of his hometown of Forest Hills Gardens, and
graduated from Archbishop Molloy High School.
William
Casey - President Reagan’s campaign manager and head of the CIA was
raised in Elmhurst.
George
Chakiris - Actor in “West Side Story” is from Astoria.
Charlie
Chaplin - The “Little Tramp,” famous silent movie star, lived on
Mowbray Place in Kew Gardens.
Robert
Chartoff - The producer of the film “Rocky” grew up in Kew Gardens
Hills, down the block from Simon and Garfunkel.
Buck
Clayton - The musician and arranger lived in Jamaica.
DeWitt
Clinton - The governor who spear-headed construction of the Erie Canal
lived in Maspeth.
Charles
Colden - The founder of Queens College and State Supreme Court justice
was a lifelong resident of Whitestone.
Abe
Coleman - “The Jewish Tarzan” from Forest Hills, this wrestling
star was known for originating the “drop kick” in the 1930s.
Francis
Ford Coppola - The director of “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse
Now” is originally from Woodside.
James
John Corbett - aka “Gentleman Jim,” the first boxer to use a
scientific approach to boxing, lived on 35th Avenue near Little Neck
Bay and was champ for five years.
Joseph
Cornell - The artist who became famous by transforming boxes into art
by putting things in them lived in Flushing for most of his life.
Bob
Costas – The eight-time Emmy winner and nine-time Sportscaster of
the Year for NBC Sports was born in Queens in 1952.
Frank
Costello - The alleged organized crime figure once made his home in
Bayside.
Joan
Crawford – Actress of “Mommie
Dearest Fame” once owned a home in Douglaston while she worked on
films in Astoria.
Arthur
Cunningham - The first comptroller in the LaGuardia
administration lived on 108th Street in Forest Hills. A
324-acre park bears his name. It is Queens’ fourth largest park.
Mario
Cuomo - New York’s 54th governor was born in South Jamaica and lived
in Holliswood.
Rodney
Dangerfield - Was born Jacob Cohen over Bailey’s Bar on Austin
Street near Lefferts Boulevard. He got “No Respect” while
attending P.S. 99 and Richmond
Hill High School.
Gloria
DeHaven - The movie star of the 40s once lived in Bayside near Bell
Boulevard.
George
Deukmejian - The former California governor attended St. John’s
University.
Rae
Dooley - The actress who played “Baby Snooks” once owned a home in
Bayside near Crocheron Park.
Paul
Douglas - The movie and TV star once made his home on 214th Street in
Bayside.
Jimmy
Durante - The big-nosed actor used to live on 161st Street near Bowne
Park with his first wife, “Mrs. Calabash.”
Bob
Dylan - This rock legend once lived in the shadow of Queens College,
near Reeves Avenue and 150th Street.
Eddie
Eagan - Police officer of “French Connection” fame lived with an
uncle in Rego Park in the 1970s.
|

Gertrude
Ederle
|
Gertrude
Ederle - The first woman to swim the English Channel in the 1920s was
a resident of Flushing.
Vera
Ellen - Grew up in Rego Park in the 1930s. An accomplished dancer, she
learned her basics at the Anaranta Dance Studio above the Elmwood
Movie Theater in Elmhurst.
Eric
Estrada - The star of the TV cop show “Chips” once lived near
Parsons Boulevard in Flushing.
|

Geraldine
Ferraro
|
Geraldine
Ferraro - The former congresswoman made history in 1984 when she
became the first female nominee for Vice President. She was a resident
of Forest Hills Gardens.
Richard
Feynman - He won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1965, and went to Far
Rockaway High School.
|

W.C.
Fields
|
W.
C. Fields -The comedian and star of stage and screen once lived in a
house near Little Neck Bay. All in all, he would rather have been in
Philadelphia.
Edward
“Whitey” Ford - The Hall of Fame Yankee pitcher lived in Little
Neck and attended Aviation High School.
John
Frankenheimer - The film director lived in College Point. He died last
week at 72; had directed “The Manchurian Candidate” and “Birdman
Of Alcatraz.”
John
Frusciante – The Red Hot Chilli Peppers guitarist was born and
raised in Astoria before moving to L.A. as a teenager.
Art
Garfunkel - Both Garfunkel and his former partner Paul Simon are from
Forest Hills.
Janet
Gaynor - The Rego Park actress won the first (1928) Academy Award
given to a female lead, for her work in “Seventh Heaven.”
Vitas
Gerulaitis - The late tennis ace was from Howard Beach.
Luella
Gear - The movie star had a home in Bayside.
Charles
Dana Gibson - The illustrator who created the “Gibson Girl” got
his ideas about the fairer sex while working at home in Flushing.
|

Dizzy
Gillespie
|
Dizzy
Gillespie - legendary jazz trumpeter once lived on 106th Street in
Corona.
John
Golden - The producer of many Broadway hits once lived in Bayside.
John
Gotti - The well-known plumbing supply salesman and 4th of July
impressario lived in Howard Beach and frequented the Bergen Hunt and
Fish Club in Ozone Park between trials.
Ernie
Grunfeld - Sank a lot of baskets for Forest Hills High School before
taking a job with the New York Knicks.
Woody
Guthrie - The Depression-era folk singer who wrote “This Land Is
Your Land” lived in Howard Beach for several years before he died at
Creedmoor Hospital in 1967.
Marvin
Hamlisch - The famous composer, who won three Oscars, attended Queens
College.
Oscar
Hammerstein - The famed composer once owned a home in Whitestone.
Herbert
Hauptman - Townsend Harris High School was the alma mater of this 1985
Chemistry Nobel laureate.
Goldie
Hawn - Got her start by appearing as a go-go dancer at the 1964-65
World’s Fair.
Whitehead
Hicks - New York’s 42nd mayor lived just south of Crocheron Park. He
served from 1766 through 1776.
Milt
“The Judge” Hinton - The jazz bass player lived in Addisleigh
Park.
Chamique
Holdsclaw - This WNBA star once lived in Astoria and attended Christ
the King High School.
Billie
Holiday - The famous blues singer lived on 76th Avenue near 160th
Street from 1951 until 1957.
William
“Red” Holzman - The basketball coach used to bounce around at
Franklin Lane High School.
Hedda
Hopper - The Hollywood gossip columnist once lived in Little Neck.
Lena
Horne - The singer and actress lived in Addisleigh Park in the 1940s.
Harry
Houdini - The noted magician and escape artist once made his home on
Powells Cove Boulevard in Whitestone.
Carl
Icahn - Before becoming a corporate raider, Ichan went to Far Rockaway
High School.
Marty
Ingalls - The rotund comedian and Forest Hills High School graduate
lived in Rego Park.
Ja
Rule - “Holla, Holla” for this quick-rising rapper from the
streets of Hollis, Queens.
Al
Jolson - The famous singer-entertainer starred in the first
“talkie” and lived in Forest Hills.
Madeline
Kahn - The actress attended Van Buren High School.
Bernard
and Marvin Kalb - Authors and political analysts, these brothers
attended Queens College.
Donna
Karan - The fashion designer grew up in Queens.
Steve
Karsay - The Yankees pitcher grew up in College Point.
Buster
Keaton - The “stone-faced” movie star lived between Little Neck
and Bayside.
Moira
Kelly – The noted actress, a co-star in the NBC drama “The West
Wing,” was born in Queens to Irish immigrants.
Bob
Keeshan - TV’s “Captain Kangaroo” graduated from Forest Hills
High School.
Helen
Keller and Annie Sullivan - The “Miracle Worker” and her
courageous student lived in Forest Hills for a time, and often took
the subway via the Continental Avenue station.
Jack
Kerouac – The father of the Beat Generation penned some of his best
work while living in Ozone Park.
John
Alsop King - Son of Rufus King, he was the first New York governor
from Queens, serving in the mid-1800s.
KISS
- The theatrical rock foursome that took the world by storm in the
1970s played their first gig at the Coventry Club on Queens Boulevard
in 1973. Lead singer/guitarist Paul Stanley (b. Paul Elisen) grew up
in Flushing and Bass player Gene Simmons (b. Chiam Whitz) practiced
his licks in Jackson Heights.
Michael
Landon - “Little Joe” from the hit TV show “Bonanza” and star
of “Highway to Heaven” grew up in Kew Gardens Hills and attended
Forest Hills High School.
Martin
Landau - This Academy Award winning actor grew up in Kew Gardens
Hills.
Eugene
Lang - The philanthropist graduated from Townsend Harris High School
in 1934.
Louis
Latimer - Worked on the light bulb in Thomas Edison’s lab and was
from Flushing.
Angela
Lansbury - Star of stage, screen and TV, she once lived in Douglaston.
Cyndi
Lauper - The neon-haired rock star who sang “Girls Just Want To Have
Fun” is from Ozone Park.
Cornelius
Lawrence - Mayor of New York from 1834 through 1837, he once lived in
Bayside.
Steve
Lawrence - The singer and TV star lived near the Clearview Expressway
at 43rd Avenue.
Gypsy
Rose Lee and June Havoc - These sisters lived in Rego Park. June
became a well-known Hollywood actress. Stripper/dancer Gypsy starred
in a Mike Todd review at the 1939 World’s Fair.
John
Leguizamo – The “Summer of Sam,” “Romeo and Juliet” and
Broadway performer developed his act growing up in Jackson Heights.
Lew
Lehr - Silent film actor and comedian from Rego Park did the
voice-over on Foxtone Film newsreels.
Harry
Lefrak - The father of the noted developer Sam lived on 68th Avenue in
Rego Park.
Trygvie
Lie - The first secretary general of the United Nations lived in
Forest Hills Gardens from 1944 through 1953.
Lucy
Liu – The “Ally McBeal” star and Charlie’s Angel was born and
raised in Jackson Heights.
LL
Cool J - Famed rap star was born James Todd Smith. He grew up in St.
Albans.
Johnny
Long - The bandleader lived near Bell Boulevard in Bayside.
Anita
Loos - The actress, lived in Bayside.
Jack
Lord - Star of the long-running TV show “Hawaii Five-O,” he lived
in Queens and went to John Adams High School in Richmond Hill
with classmates John Santucci and Jimmy Breslin.
Philip
H. Lord - The movie producer made his home near the entrance to Fort
Totten.
Joe
Louis - The world heavyweight champion (1937-1949) lived in Addisleigh
Park.
“Lucky”
Luciano - The noted organized crime figure lived near Bayside Avenue
and Parsons Boulevard in Flushing.
Thomas
Luchese - Founder of the highly successful crime family that still
bears his name, he is originally from College Point.
Madonna
- The “Material Girl” once lived in Corona and often performed at
a Forest Hills nightclub.
Anthony
Mason - The former Knicks forward is from St. Albans.
Groucho
Marx - The famous entertainer once lived in Bayside and Richmond Hill.
Willie
Mays - One of the greatest ballplayers of all time, the “Say Hey,
Kid” owned a home in East Elmhurst overlooking LaGuardia Airport.
Jack
McAuliffe - Born in Ireland, the undefeated lightweight boxing
champion of the world from 1886-1896 lived in Forest Hills. He even
ran for State Assembly in 1934.
|

John
McEnroe
|
John
McEnroe - The short-tempered tennis star grew up in Douglaston.
Ethel
Merman - The singer and actress, born Ethel Zimmerman, was a native of
Astoria and worked on a few films at the movie studios there.
Andrew
H. Mickle - The 67th mayor of New York lived near Crocheron Park in
Bayside.
Marvin
Middlemark - The inventor of the “rabbit ears” for TV reception
moved to Westbury from Rego Park in 1975.
Robert
Moog - The inventor of the Moog Synthesizer, an instrument that helped
make disco music what it is today, lived in Flushing and attended
Queens College.
Clement
Clark Moore - The author of “The Night Before Christmas” lived in
Elmhurst.
Nas
– The influential rapper hails from the Queensbridge projects, which
he never forgets to mention prominently in his songs. The “World is
Yours” singer is not alone – other rappers from Queensbridge
include “Capone n Noreaga,” Mobb Deep and Tragedy, who came
together to release the recent album “Queensbridge’s Finest.”
Paul
Newman - The “Cool Hand” actor-turned-salad-dressing-czar once
lived on 64th Avenue in Fresh Meadows.
Jean
Niedich - The founder of “Weight Watchers” once lived in Glen Oaks
near the city line.
Isamu
Noguchi - This renowned sculptor’s Long Island City studio is now a
museum devoted to his work.
Carol
O’Connor - Portrayed Queens resident “Archie Bunker” in the hit
TV series “All In The Family,” grew up in Woodside and attended
Newtown High School.
Frank
O’Connor - The former Queens District Attorney was the subject of
the 1957 Alfred Hitchcock film “The Wrong Man.
Richard
Outcault - The creator of “Buster Brown” and “Hogan’s Alley”
lived in Flushing.
Bernadette
Peters - The actress and singer is from Ozone Park.
Mary
Pickford - The silent movie star once lived on Powells Cove Boulevard
in Whitestone.
August
Pitou - The producer of many Moss Hart musicals once lived on 215th
Street in Bayside.
Charles
Poletti - Elected Lieutenant Governor, Poletti became the first
Italian-American governor of New York State when Gov. Herbert Lehman
resigned near the end of his term to take a U.S. Senate seat. He held
the top spot for only 28 days.
Colin
Powell - The Secretary of State once lived up in Hollis.
George
Raft - The famous actor, best known for his portrayal of gangsters,
once lived in Douglaston.
The
Ramones - The stars of this rock and roll group grew up in Forest
Hills.
Nancy
Reagan - The former First Lady was born Anne Frances Robbins at 417
Amity St. in Flushing. The street is now known as Roosevelt Avenue and
the house is at 149-40.
Harry
Richman - The legendary nightclub entertainer used to live on
Springfield Boulevard near the LIRR tracks.
Don
Rickles - This insult-laden comedian attended Newtown High School.
Jacob
Riis - This social activist and writer about American slums lived in
Richmond Hill.
Richard
Riorden - The popular mayor of Los Angeles, CA was born in Flushing
back in 1930.
Thelma
Ritter - The Emmy-winning actress lived on Greenway Terrace in Forest
Hills from 1937 through 1969.
Phil
Rizzuto - The Yankee great was a product of Richmond Hill High School.
Edward
G. Robinson - This actor was known as Emmanuel Goldenberg when he
graduated from Townsend Harris High School in 1910.
Jackie
Robinson - After breaking the color barrier in baseball, he lived his
retirement years (1949-1956) in Addisleigh Park.
May
Robson - The actress once lived on Bell Boulevard in Bayside.
Ginger
Rogers - The actress and lifelong dance partner of Fred Astaire once
lived on Manor Road in Douglaston.
Will
Rogers - The philosopher/cowboy lived on Austin Street in Forest Hills
in the early 1920s.
Al
Roker – The famed weatherman from NBC’s “Today Show” grew up
in St. Albans.
Freddy
Roman - This comedian was known as Freddy Kirshenbaum when he
graduated from Richmond Hill High School.
Ray
Romano - If “Everybody Loves Raymond,” that’s especially true in
his hometown of Middle Village.
RUN
DMC - A rap group; all members come from Hollis.
Babe
Ruth - In addition to his baseball skills, Ruth loved golf and lived
near the St. Albans Golf Club.
George
J. Ryan - The author of “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” lived in
Richmond Hill.
Jonas
Salk - The discoverer of the polio vaccine was a product of Townsend
Harris High School.
Susan
Sarandon – The Academy Award winning actress is a Forest Hills
native.
Vincent
Sardi - The owner of the swank Manhattan theatrical restaurant came
from Flushing and graduated from Flushing High School.
Martin
Scorsese - The award-winning director is originally from Flushing.
David
Schwimmer - Star of the hit TV show “Friends” was born here in
Queens in 1966, but moved to L.A. at a young age.
Tom
Seaver - The famous Mets pitcher once lived on 215th Street in Bayside
and on 60th Ave. in Flushing.
|

Former
Borough President Claire Shulman with Queens College grad Jerry
Seinfeld.
|
Jerry
Seinfeld - The comic and TV star grew up in Forest Hills and graduated
from Queens College.
Albert
Shanker - The late teachers’ union leader was born in Queens.
Mary
Ann Shaw - The black philanthropist founded the Flushing Library at
Kissena Boulevard and Main Street. She was also the principal of the
Negro School in Flushing, her hometown.
Fred
Silverman - This TV network president and creator of “Charlie’s
Angels,” “Roots” and “Three’s Company” grew up in Rego
Park in the 1940s and graduated from Forest Hills High School.
Russell
Simmons - The co-founder of Hip Hop record label Def Jam and current
president of Phat Farm clothing company is from Hollis.
|

Paul
Simon
|
Paul
Simon - Simon and his former partner, Art Garfunkel, both hail from
Forest Hills.
Art
Spiegelman - This comic strip artist has used his family’s escape
from the Holocaust and settlement in Rego Park as the basis for his
graphic novel “Maus.”
Jerry
Springer - The talk show host is an alumnus of Forest Hills High
School.
Herb
Stempel - One of the players in the 1950s quiz show scandals lives in
Forest Hills.
John
Sununu - The White House chief of staff and former governor of New
Hampshire attended Forest Hills High School, Class of ’53.
Gloria
Swanson - The noted actress once lived in Bayside.
George
Tenet - The current CIA director grew up in Little Neck.
Arthur
Treacher - The “Fish and Chips” king once made his home in
Douglaston.
Donald
Trump - The embattled developer grew up in Jamaica Estates, attending
the Highland School. His father, Fred, lived on Midland Parkway.
Boss
Tweed - The “Boss” of Tammany Hall once lived in Bayside.
Rudolph
Valentino - The silent film star once owned a home in Bayside. That
home is now the restaurant Caffe On The Green.
Cyrus
Vance - From Flushing, he was Secretary of State under Jimmy Carter.
Edward
Villela - The ballet dancer once had a home on 211th Street in
Bayside.
Robert
Wagner - The star of “It Takes A Thief” once lived on 211th Street
in Bayside.
Christopher
Walken - Academy Award winner for “The Deer Hunter,” he was born
in Astoria in 1943.
Thomas
“Fats” Waller - The composer of “Ain’t Misbehavin’” lived
in Addisleigh Park.
James
Wetherbee - American astronaut was born in Flushing.
Walt
Whitman - The “Good Gray Poet” taught school in Queens for many
years.
Cornell
Wilde - The movie star of the 1950s once lived on 44th Avenue near
Utopia Parkway.
Roy
Wilkins - A major force behind the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964
and other civil rights laws, Wilkens spent the last 30 years of his
life living in Parkway Village.
Roger
Williams - The pianist who composed “Autumn Leaves” could once see
the leaves in Crocheron Park from his home in Bayside.
Dame
May Witty - The noted Broadway actress once made her home near what is
now the Bay Terrace Shopping Center.
Natalie
Wood - The beautiful actress once lived near Bloomingdales in Fresh
Meadows.
Herman
Wouk - The author of “The Winds of War”
is a product of Townsend Harris High School.
Keenan
Wynn - The noted movie star once lived on 169th Street in Auburndale.
|

Malcolm
X
|
Malcolm
X – African American leader, he lived in East Elmhurst in the early
1960s.
Young
M.C. - The rapper, whose given name is Marvin Young, is straight out
of Hollis.
Burt
Young - The famous character actor seen in the “Rocky” films once
lived near Bell Boulevard in Bayside.
|