Famous LongIslanders

Criss Angel

Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos is a magician and illusionist for Long Island and graduated from East Meadow High School. Angel has had many television shows and is currently performing in Las Vegas at Luxor.

Judd Apatow

Raised in Syosset, Apatow is well-known for film making. He developed well known tv series such as Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared, and Girls. He is also known for the films The Cable Guy, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and, recently, This is 40.

The Baldwins

Alec, Daniel, Billy, and Stephen Baldwin were all born on Long Island. Except for Alec Baldwin being born in Amityville, all the other brothers were born in Massapequa. They are all well known for acting in many films and TV shows. Alec Baldwin is the oldest of the Baldwin brothers and he’s starred in TV shows and films like 30 Rock, Knots Landing, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, The Hunt for Red October, and The Aviator, to name a few. Today, Alec Baldwin lives in New York City with his wife Hilaria Thomas and two children.

Craig Biggio

Craig Biggio is a professional baseball player who spent his two-decade long career with the Houston Astros, collecting 3060 hits, 5 Silver Slugger awards, 4 Gold Gloves, and 7 All-Star appearances along the way. He attended and graduated from Kings Park High School.

Baba Booey

Born in Uniondale, Gary Dell'Abate is known by his radio handle Baba Booey. He is the executive producer of The Howard Stern Show.

Edward Burns

Born in Woodside, Queens, Edward Burns was raised in Valley Stream and briefly attended Chaminade High School before transferring to Hewlett. He is best known for his acting roles in Saving Private Ryan and One Missed Call.

Steve Buscemi

Graduating from Valley Stream, Buscemi became an actor and has appeared in many films. He currently stars in the HBO smash hit Broadwalk Empire. Kids might know him as Randell fro Monsters' Inc.

Theresa Caputo

Caputo is best known for her television show on TLC, Long Island Medium. Born in Hicksville and still residing there, Caputo claims to be a medium who can communicate with the dead.

Mariah Carey

Carey was born in Huntington and became a singer, songwriter, producer, and actress. With many chart topping songs, Carey has rocked the music and acting world with her talent. Carey’s stardom rose in 1990 when she released album Mariah Carey. Some songs released included “Vision of Love,” “Love Takes Time,” “Someday,” and “I Don’t Wanna Cry.” She’s continued to make her mark in the music industry internationally. In 2016, she tours Europe with “Sweet Sweet Fantasy.”

Kenneth Cole

Clothing designer, Cole graduated from Great Neck North High School and is now known for his deisgner brand and clothing.

Francis Ford Coppola

Graduate of Great Neck North High School, Coppola is a very well know filmmaker of The Godfather films and started many acting careers directing the film adpatation of The Outsiders.

John Michael Crichton

John Michael Crichton was a physician, screenwriter, producer, director, and best-selling novelist best known for writing Jurassic Park and Congo. He was born in Chicago and raised on Long Island in Roslyn.

Billy Crystal

Well-known actor, writer, producer, comdian and director Crystal was raised in Long Beach and graduated Long Beach High School. He attended Nassau Community College and later NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Many people know him for films such as When Harry Met Sally and children would know him for Monsters Inc.

Rodney Dangerfield

This funny man born in Deer Park is known for his comedy and films. No one can forget this catchphrase, "I don't get no respect."

Tony Danza

Moving with his family to Malverne, Danza is best known for his acting roles in the TV shows Taxi, Who's the Boss?

Taylor Dayne

This singer-songwriter from Baldwin is known for her hit song "Love Will Lead You Back" and many other billboard hits.

Ashanti Douglas

Douglas was born in Glen Cove and has become to affluent singer-songwriter and actress. With many chart topping collaborations with many famous artists, she has also expanded to acting appearing in a few films and television shows. She even graced the stage as Dorothy in The Wizback in 2009.

John “Jumbo” Elliot

John “Jumbo” Elliot was an offensive tackle for both the New York Giants and the New York Jets. He was born in Lake Ronkonkoma and won Super Bowl XXV with the Giants.

Boomer Esiason

This former football quarterback and current commentator from East Islip is best known for playing for Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and ended his career back with the Bengals.

Edie Falco

Best known for her role on The Sopranos, Falco, a Northport High School Graduate, is currently acting in Nurse Jackie to critical acclaim.

D'Brickashaw Ferguson

D'Brickashaw Montgomery Ferguson is a professional football player who plays left tackle for the New York Jets. He was born in New York and graduated from Freeport High School.

Amy Fisher

The "Long Island Lolita" is infamous for her affair with Joey Buttafuoco and later the attempted murder of his wife. Fisher was born in Wantagh. After serving time, she became a columnist and is currently working in the adult entertainment industry.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Though he was born in Minnesota and died in California, F. Scott Fitzgerald lived in Great Neck during the 1920s. His experience on Long Island’s Gold Coast was the inspiration for his classic novel, The Great Gatsby.

Flavor Flav

William Jonathan Drayton, Jr. grew up in Freeport and is best known by his stage name. He became best known as a member of the hip-hop group Public Enemy. Later he had many shows on VH1, including The Surreal Life, Strange Love, and various season of Flavor of Love.

William Floyd

Born in Brookhaven, Floyd was an influential politician and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Many schools and locations on Long Island are named after him.

Mick Foley

Michael Francis Foley is a retired professional wrestler, author, comedian, and voice actor who is famous for having several different wrestling personalities including Mankind, Dude Love, and Cactus Jack. He was born in Indiana, but his family moved to East Setauket where he attended Ward Melville High School. 

Mike Francesa

Born in Long Beach and currently residing in Manhasset, Frecesa is a radio personality on WFAN hosting his own show.

Debbie Gibson

Gibson was raised in Merrick and is best known for your singer-songwriting skills with her #1 single "Foolish Beat." She has also appeared on Broadway and with touring musicals. 

Morton Gould

Morton Gould was a world class composer, pianist, arranger, and conductor. He was born in Richmond Hill, New York, and lived in Great Neck for a time.

Sal Governale

Sal Governale became a writer/prank caller on the Howard Stern show, and later a producer, after working as a stockbroker in New York City.  

Leroy Grumman

As a salutatorian at Huntington High School, he predicted that perfecting airplanes would be man's greatest triumphs and he was the one to do it. Known for being an aeronautical engineer and industrialist, he set up Grumman Aeronautical Engineering Co.

Steve Guttenberg

Raised in North Massapequa, Guttenberg is known for acting in the popular film Three Men and a Baby, Police Academy, and Short Circuit. 

Melissa Joan Hart

Born in Smithtown, Hart is best known for your acting pursuits in the school Clarissa Explains It All, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, and Melissa & Joey.

Anthony Heald

Born in Westchester, Anthony Heald’s family moved to Long Island when he was young; he graduated from Massapequa High School in 1962. Heald has appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, including Frasier, The X-Files, Law & Order, and X-Men: The Last Stand. He is best known for his roles as Dr. Frederick Chilton in The Silence of the Lambs and Red Dragon, and assistant principal Scott Guber on Boston Public.

Sarah Hughes

This Olympic Gold Medalist is from Great Neck and became well known during the 2001 and 2002 Olympics.

Peter Lacangelo

Born in Brooklyn NY, Peter Iacangelo is an actor known for his roles in such films as, Fight Club, The Rat Pack and Look Who's Talking Now.

Bob Iger

Born in Oceanside, Iger is current chairman and chief executive of The Walt Disney Company. He oversaw the purchase of Pixar Animation Studios, aquired Marvel Entertainment, and Lucasfilms which broadened the Disney's company's franchises. 

Kevin James

Comedy actor, James was born in Mineola and raised in Stony Brook before acting in the sitcom The King of Queensand films, Hitch, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, and Here Comes the Boom.

Chris Jericho

Born in Manhasset under the name Christopher Keith Irvine, Irvine took the name Chris Jericho as his professional wrestler name.

Billy Joel

Long Island would not be Long Island without the legendary Billy Joel. Raised in Hicksville, Joel released his first hit song, "Piano Man," in 1973. Other hits, to name a few, include “New York State of Mind,” “You May Be Right,” “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” “Allentown,” and “Uptown Girl.” Since December of 2013, Joel joined Madison Square Garden to perform a show a month. He was also the final performer before the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum closed for extensive renovation. Tickets to this final show were sold out in less than five minutes. Joel still lives on Long Island and has a motorcycle shop in Oyster Bay. 

Donna Karan

Hewlett High School graduate, Donna Karan, is a fashion designer known for her Donna Karan New York and DKNY brand clothes. 

Andy Kaufman

Raised in Great Neck, this funny man is known for his comedy and his time of the hit TV show, Taxi.

Harry Chapin

A resident of Jericho at death, Chapin is known for his folk rock songs including his biggest hit, "Cat's in the Cradle."

Doris Kearns Goodwin

Raised in Rockville Centre, Doris Kearns Goodwin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer, journalist, and historian. She served as a member of the White House staff under President Lyndon B. Johnson, taught at Harvard for a decade, and now regularly appears as a commentator on television news programs. 

Bob Keeshan

This Lynbrook-born man is most notable for being the title character in the television show Captain Kangaroo. He portrayed this iconic character for 30 years.

Barbara Keiler

Barbara is a graduate of Bethpage High School and a best-selling author who has written many crime fiction and romance novels. She is more widely known by her pseudonym Judith Arnold. Other pseudonyms she has written under include Ariel Berk and Thea Frederick.

Clinton Kelly

Clinton Kelly is a fashion consultant and media personality who co-hosted the Reality TV show What not to Wear. He was born in Panama, raised in Port Jefferson Station, and Graduated from Comsewogue High School.

Jackie Kennedy

The wife of JFK was from Long Island's Southampton Area. As First Lady, many women idolized her for her fashion sense.

Michael Kors

Karl Anderson Jr. who is now know as Michael Kors is a major fashion designer from Merrick. He is known for his women's line of clothes and handbags.

Jonathan Larson

Born in White Plains, Larson is known of composing and writing plays and musicals. He is best known for his smash hit Rent and tick, tick...BOOM!

Dan Lauria

Lauria graduated from Lindenhurst Senior High School and served in the Vietnam War as an officer in the US Marine Corps. He is best known for this role as Jack Arnold on The Wonder Years. He currently appears in the television show Sullivan & Son.

Ed Lauter

Edward Matthew Lauter II was an actor and comedian who appeared in over 200 films and TV episodes. He was born in Long Beach and graduated from the CW Post Campus of Long Island University.

LL Cool J

Rapper and actor from Bay Shore, James Todd Smith is known for his hip-hop music. Some of his songs include "I Can't Live Without My Radio", "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", "Rock The Bells" and "Mama Said Knock You Out."He has branched out from the music industry to films, including In Too Deep, Any Given Sunday,S.W.A.T., and Edison. 

Lindsay Lohan

Although news around Lohan has not been great lately, this Merrick and Cold Spring Harbor-raised actress calls Long Island her home. Known for her movies like the remake of The Parent Trap and Mean Girls, Lohan has made many films that people still enjoy.

Lori Loughlin

Before becoming Becky on Full House, Loughlin lives in Oceanside and moved to Hauppauge where she graduated high school. She has made many television appearances and is best known for her role on Full House.

Susan Lucci

Susan Victoria Lucci is an actress, TV host, and author known best for playing the character of Erica Kane on the Soap Opera All My Children. She graduated from Garden City High School in 1964.

Patti LuPone

Born in Northport, Lupone is a singer actress known for her performance as Eva Peron in the musical Evita and her performance in the originla London cast of Les Miserables.

Ralph Macchio

Born in Huntington, Macchio is known for his roles in My Cousin Vinny, The Outsiders, and 
the Karate Kid films. 

Steve Madden

Maybe you wear his shoes? Who knew that such a popular footwear CEO grew up in Lawrence. 

The Marx Brothers

Originally from New York City, this family of world famous comedians once lived in Great Neck.

Jameel McCline

Jameel “Big Time” McCline is a professional boxer who was born in New York City and graduated from Comsewogue High School in Port Jefferson Station.

Buddy McGirt

This Brentwood raised Long Islander is known for his professional boxer career and being a boxing trainer. 

John Melendez

Best known as Stuttering John, this former radio personality who worked with Howard Stern was born in Massapequa and attended Plainedge High School.

Idina Menzel

Raised in Syosset, Menzel is best known for her singing and acting in Broadway shows such as Rent and playing the lead rold of Elphaba in the Broadway Blockbuster Wicked. 

Chris Messina

Chris Messina is an actor who was born in Northport and has had roles in television and movies including Argo and You’ve Got Mail.

Method Man

Born in Hempstead, Clifford Smith is known by his stage name and a member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. Not only is he a musician, he is also an actor appearing in a few motion pictures, as well as some HBO dramas.

Harvey Milk

Born in Woodmere, Milk made history by being their first openly gay person to be elected to office in California. He served only 11 months before be assissinated. Before his death he was responsible for passing gay rights ordinances in San Francisco.

Chieli Minucci

Born in Huntington, this smooth Jazz composer and guitarist has recorded and performed with many top musical artists - like Celine Dion, Lionel Richie, and more!

Billy Mira

Billy Mira was a comedian, singer and a personality on the Howard Stern radio show.  He grew up in Westbury.

Eddie Money

Raised in Plainedge, Money is known being a singer songwriter during the 70s and 80s.

Brandon Moore

This current free agent from East Meadow is a linebacker who debuted back in 2002 with the 49ers.

Eddie Murphy

Raised in Roosevelt, Murphy is known for his comedy, acting, writing, singing, directing, and music. His career has spanned from Saturday Night Live, Coming to America, Shrek, and The Nutty Professor. 

Paul Newman

Paul Newman was an actor, director, race car driver, entrepreneur, and the co-founder of Newman’s Own food company. He was born in Ohio and died in Connecticut, but also lived in Great Neck for a period of time.

Soledad O'Brien

From St. James, O'Brien is a journalist who has appeared on CNN and HBO.

Rosie O'Donnell

Comedian, actress, and TV personality O'Donnell was born in Commack and graduated from Commack High School. She is best known for her stand-up comedy, her TV talk show, and her time on The View. 

Bill O'Reilly

Chaminade graduate, O'Reilly is a political commentator on the Fox News Channel program The O'Reilly Factor. He has also authored numerous books.

Natalie Portman

Born in Israel and raised in Jericho, Portman started young in her acting career in Off-Broadway and Broadway productions. Many Star Wars fans know her as Padme Amidala in the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

Phil Robinson

Phil Alden Robinson is a director and screenwriter whose best known works include Field of Dreams and The Sum of All Fears. He was born in Long Beach.

Jai Rodriguez

Jai Rodriguez is an actor and musician best known for his role as a host on the Reality TV series Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. He was born in Brentwood and attended Smithtown High School.

Lou Reed

This rock musician raised in Freeport is best known for his career with The Velvet Underground.

Paul Regina

Paul Regina was an American actor who was born in Brooklyn, grew up in Medford and graduated from Patchogue-Medford High School. Paul was in television series like Police Woman, Brothers, L.A. Law and The Untouchables. He died in 2006 at age 49 from liver cancer.

Busta Rhymes

Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., before he was a rapper, was a resident of Uniondale as well as a Uniondale High School graduate. Rhymes is best known for his music as well as his affliation with other rappers, such as Jay-Z, DMX, and The Notorious B.I.G.

Carlton Douglas “Chuck D” Ridenhour

Best known by his stage name, Chuck D, Carlton Ridenhour was born in Queens, but lived in Roosevelt as a child and grauated from Roosevelt Junior-Senior High School before attending Adelphi University. Chuck D was a member of Public Enemy and has contributed to numerous other musical projects.

Joe Satriani

This Westbury-born guitarist is best know for his collborations with many musicians, including Mick Jagger.

Telly Savalas

Savalas, born in Garden City, is best know for winning an Academy Award Winning Actor in the Birdman from Alcatraz.

Jack Scalia

Jack Scalia, born in Brooklyn in 1950, graduated from Brentwood High School. He has appeared in a number of movies and TV shows, including the popular soap opera All My Children. 

George Segal

Raised in Great Neck, Segal is best known for his film, stage, and television acting. He appeared on the sitcom Just Shoot Me!, Entourage, and currently appears on The Goldbergs.

Jerry Seinfeld

Growing up in Massapequa, Seinfeld developed an interest in comedy and is known for his television show, Seinfeld, and stand-up comedy.

Erick Sermon

This rapper was born in Bayshore and currently resides in Islandia. He is best known for being a part of the hip hop group EPMD.

Matt Serra

Now a UFC on Fox analyst, Serra is a practitioner of mixed martial arts and former UFC Welterweight Champion and Ultimate Fighter winner.  He was raised in East Meadow.

Brian Setzer

This Massapequa born guitarist, singer, and song writer is known for his rockabilly group Stray Cats.

Talia Shire

Shire, from Lake Success, is best known as Adrian from the Rocky films.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler

Soprano star Sigler was born in Jericho and studied at the Cultural Arts Playhouse in Old Bethpage. She is known for her role as the daughter of mob boss, Tony Soprano.

James Lawrence Slattery AKA "Candy Darling"

Although born in Queens, this actress and muse of Andy Warhol spent her early years in Massapequa Park.

Dee Snider

Graduating from Baldwin Senior High School, Daniel Snider is most famous for his role as the front man for Twisted Sister, a heavy metal band. The most successful singles from his band are "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock."

Lara Spencer

Born Lara Christine Von Seelen, Lara Spencer grew up in Garden City and graduated from Garden City High School. She is an anchor for Good Morning America and a correspondent for Nightline and ABC News.

Dawn Steel

Dawn Steel was one of the first women to run a major Hollywood studio, becoming president of Columbia Pictures in 1987. She was born Dawn Spielberg (no relation to Steven Spielberg) in New York City, and raised in Great Neck.

Howard Stern

Radio personality, Stern, graduated from South Side High School in Rockville Centre before becoming a radio host. He is best known for his radio show on Sirius XM Radio and his raunchy humor. The Howard Stern Show ran from 1986 to 2005 before it moved too Sirius XM Radio. In December of 2015, it was announced that Stern signed a new deal with Sirius XM to be on for the next 5 years. Between 2012 to 2015, Stern also served as a judge on America’s Got Talent.

Susan Sullivan

Raised in Freeport, Sullivan is an actress who has appeared in genres such as soap operas and comedy. He is best known for her role in Dharma & Greg and currently is appearing in Castle.

The Good Rats

This Long Island rock band was started by five St. John’s University students. With their mixing of rock with blues and pop they are best known my Long Islanders. Recently, Peppi Marchello passed away.

Jon Taffer

Born in Greak Neck, Jon Taffer is a TV personality, bar consultant and author. He is well-known as the host of Bar Rescue on Spike.

Vinny Testaverde

Vincent Frank Testaverde is a retired professional quarterback who played for the Browns, Buccaneers, Cowboys, Jets, Panthers, Patriots, and Ravens. He was born in Brooklyn, raised in Elmont, and attended Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park.

Steve Vai

This guitarist from Carle Place toured with Frank Zappa and has won 3 Grammy's during his solo career. 

Clarence “Foots” Walker

Born in Southampton, Foots Walker played professional basketball for ten years, first as a point guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers and then as a member of the New Jersey Nets.

Chris Weidman

Born in Baldwin, Chris Weidman is a mixed martial artist who won the UFC Middleweight Championship on July 6, 2013.  He attended Baldwin Senior High School where he was a Nassau County and New York State wrestling champion, and went on to attend Nassau Community College and Hofstra University.

Meg Whitman

Whitman is president and chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard. Born in Cold Spring Harbor, Whitman has served as executive for eBay, The Walt Disney Compant, DreamWorks, Procter & Gamble, and Hasbro. 

Walt Whitman

This famous writer was born in West Hills in the Town of Huntington. He was a poet and journalist. Many locations on Long Island are named after Whitman. You can still visit his birthplace in Huntington across the street from the Walt Whitman Mall.

John Williams

This famous composer born on Long Island is known for composing music for such films as Jaws, the Star Warsseries, Superman, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter.

Carl Yastrzemski

Carl “Yaz” Yastrzemski, born in Southampton, is a Hall of Fame baseball player who played for the Boston Red Sox from 1961-1983. He was an American League MVP, 7-time gold glover and 18-time All S