List of people from New Jersey

The following is a list of notable individuals who were born, raised, or have a strong association with the U.S. state of New Jersey.

Born and raised in New Jersey

A–F

Brenden Aaronson (born 2000), soccer player for Leeds United and the United States men's team (Medford)

Bud Abbott (1895–1974), actor and comedian, part of Abbott and Costello (Asbury Park)

Isa Abdul-Quddus (born 1988), safety for the Detroit Lions (Union)

Joseph Alexander Adams (1803–1880), engraver (New Germantown)

Mike Adams (born 1981), safety for the Houston Texans (Paterson)

Timothy Adams (born 1967), actor, Sunset Beach, Ocean Ave (Belleville)

Charles Addams (1912–1988), cartoonist, creator of The Addams Family (Westfield)

Ryan Adeleye (born 1985), soccer player for Hapoel Ashkelon (Elizabeth)

Charlie Adler (born 1956), voice actor, Starscream in the Transformers film series (Paterson)

Howard H. Aiken (1900–1973), physicist, computer scientist, developer of Harvard Mark I (Hoboken)

Jordan Alan (born 1967), filmmaker, Terminal Bliss, Kiss & Tell, The Gentleman Bandit (Bayonne)

Mitch Albom (born 1958), writer, journalist, humanitarian, author of Tuesdays with Morrie (Passaic)

Buzz Aldrin (born 1930), NASA astronaut, second man to walk on the Moon (Glen Ridge, raised in Montclair)

Jason Alexander (born 1959), actor, George Costanza on Seinfeld, Hugo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Newark, raised in Livingston)

Jay Alford (born 1983), defensive tackle for the New York Giants (Orange)

Samuel Alito (born 1950), associate justice, U.S. Supreme Court (Trenton)

Malik Allen (born 1978), basketball player, assistant coach for the Miami Heat (Willingboro)

Emma B. Alrich (1845–1925), journalist, writer, educator, charter member of Woman's Relief Corps (Cape May County)

Enzo Amore (born 1986), professional wrestler (Hackensack, raised in Waldwick)

Harold Amos (1919–2003), microbiologist, professor at Harvard Medical School (Pennsauken)

John Amos (1939–2024), actor, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Good Times, The West Wing (Newark)

Richard Anderson (1926–2017), actor, The Six Million Dollar Man, Kung Fu, The Bionic Woman (Long Branch)

Jack Antonoff (born 1984), musician, guitarist for Fun (Bergenfield)

Kristina Apgar (born 1985), actress, Privileged (Morristown)

Virginia Apgar (1909–1974), physician, inventor of the Apgar score (Westfield)

Billy Ard (born 1959), football player for the New York Giants, Green Bay Packers (East Orange, raised in Watchung)

Chris Argyris (1923–2013), business theorist, professor at Harvard (Newark)

Bruce Arians (born 1952), head coach for the Arizona Cardinals (Paterson)

Allan Arkush (born 1948), film and television director, Heroes, Rock 'n' Roll High School, Crossing Jordan (Jersey City)

Jillian Armenante (born 1968), actress, Judging Amy (Paterson)

Rich Attonito (born 1977), mixed martial artist (Elizabeth)

Paul Auster (1947–2024), author, screenwriter (Newark, raised in South Orange)

Miles Austin (born 1984), wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles (Summit, raised in Garfield)

Jackie Autry (born 1941), MLB executive (Newark)

Dan Avidan (born 1979), singer, musician and television host, Ninja Sex Party, Starbomb, Game Grumps (Springfield)

Robert Ayers (born 1985), defensive end for the New York Giants (Jersey City)

Melissa Bacelar (born 1979), actress and scream queen (Piscataway)

Bret Baier (born 1970), television presenter, Special Report with Bret Baier (Rumson)

Andrew Bailey (born 1984), relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels (Haddon Heights)

David Bailey (1933–2004), actor, Another World (Voorhees)

Sean Baker (born 1971), filmmaker, Tangerine, The Florida Project (Summit)

Esther E. Baldwin (1840–1910), missionary, teacher, writer (Marlton)

Wade Baldwin IV (born 1996), basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.

Amiri Baraka (1934–2014), poet (Newark)

Michael Barkann (born 1960), radio talk show host, television host (East Brunswick)

James J. Barry Jr. (born 1946), politician (Orange, raised in New Vernon)

Rick Barry (born 1944), NBA and ABA small forward and Hall of Fame inductee (Elizabeth, raised in Roselle Park)

James Barton (1890–1962), Vaudville actor (Gloucester City)

Danny Basavich (born 1978), professional pool player (Manalapan)

Dana Bash (born 1971), CNN reporter and anchorwoman (Montvale)

Count Basie (1904–1984), jazz pianist, organist, bandleader (Red Bank)

Ellen Bass (born 1947), professor, poet, and author (raised in Pleasantville and Ventnor City)

Bruce Baumgartner (born 1961), freestyle wrestler, two-time Olympic champion, four-time Olympic medalist, three-time World champion, nine-time World medalist (Haledon)

Beetlejuice, a.k.a. Lester Green (born 1968), entertainer, guest on The Howard Stern Show (Jersey City)

Bo Belinsky (1936–2001), MLB player

Amir Bell (born 1996), basketball player in the Israel Basketball Premier League

Emma Bell (born 1986), actress (Woodstown)

Madeline Bell (born 1942), soul singer (Newark)

Bill Bellamy (born 1965), actor, comedian (Newark)

Regina Belle (born 1963), singer (Englewood)

Stephen Benkovic (born 1938), chemist, National Academy of Sciences inductee (Orange)

Joan Bennett (1910–1990), actress (Palisades Park)

Kafi Benz (born 1941), writer and conservationist (Chatham)

Jay Berger (born 1966), tennis player; highest world ranking #7

Xander Berkeley (born 1955), actor (Mendham)

Adam Bernstein (born 1960), video director and producer (Princeton)

Alessandra Biaggi (born 1986), New York state senator

Mike Bibby (born 1978), NBA player (Cherry Hill)

Jack Bicknell Jr. (born 1963), offensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs (North Plainfield)

Bam Bam Bigelow (1961–2007), professional wrestler (Asbury Park)

Jason Biggs (born 1978), actor, American Pie, American Pie 2, American Wedding, American Reunion (Hasbrouck Heights)

Mary Birdsong (born 1968), actress, comedian Reno 911! (Long Beach Island)

Roger Birnbaum (born 1950), film producer, Four Christmases, 27 Dresses, Eight Below, Mr. 3000, Six Days Seven Nights (Teaneck)

Sofia Black-D'Elia (born 1991), actress, All My Children, Skins, The Messengers (Clifton)

Vivian Blaine (1921–1995), actress and singer, Guys and Dolls (Newark)

Betsy Blair (1923–2009), actress, Marty (Cliffside Park)

Tammy Blanchard (born 1976), actress (Bayonne)

Carol Blazejowski (born 1956), Hall of Fame basketball player (Elizabeth)

Al Blozis (1919–1945), New York Giants tackle, died as a soldier in combat during World War II (Garfield)

Mark Blum (1950–2020), actor (Newark)

Judy Blume (born 1938), author (Elizabeth)

Peter Boettke (born 1960), economist of the Austrian School (Rahway)

Tim Bogert (1944–2021), bass guitarist and vocalist for Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, and Beck, Bogert & Appice (Ridgefield)

Rachel Bolan (born 1964), professional musician, most notably as the bass guitar player for the hard rock/heavy metal band kid Row (born in Point Pleasant and raised in Toms River)

Clint Bolick (born 1957), attorney and prominent school choice advocate (Elizabeth)

Jon Bon Jovi (born 1962), musician (Perth Amboy)

Denise Borino (1964–2010), actress, Ginny Sacramoni on The Sopranos (Roseland)

Joe Borowski (born 1971), former MLB pitcher, current sportscaster for the Arizona Diamondbacks (Bayonne)

Philip Bosco (1930–2018), actor (Jersey City)

Emma Bourne (1846–1924), president, New Jersey Woman's Christian Temperance Union

Dennis Boutsikaris (born 1952), actor (Newark)

Katrina Bowden (born 1988), actress, Cerie on 30 Rock (Wyckoff)

Todd Bowles (born 1963), former head coach of the New York Jets (Elizabeth)

Brad Brach (born 1986), relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves (Freehold)

Gary Brackett (born 1980), middle linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts (Glassboro)

Zach Braff (born 1975), actor, Scrubs, Chicken Little (South Orange)

Debbie Bramwell-Washington (born 1966), IFBB professional bodybuilder

John Brennan (born 1954), director of Central Intelligence Agency (North Bergen)

William J. Brennan Jr. (1906–1997), U.S. Supreme Court justice (Newark)

David Brewster (born 1939), publisher and journalist (Newark)

Cameron Brink (born 2001), forward for the Los Angeles Sparks (Princeton)

Ralph L. Brinster (born 1932), geneticist (Montclair, raised in Cedar Grove)

Kenny Britt (born 1988), wide receiver for the New England Patriots (Bayonne)

Tal Brody (born 1943), American-Israeli basketball player

Betty Bronson (1906–1971), actress, Peter Pan (Trenton)

Jacqueline Brookes (1930–2013), actress (Montclair)

Dave Brown (born 1970), quarterback for the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals (Summit)

Donald Brown (born 1987), running back for the Indianapolis Colts (Atlantic Highlands)

Ella Barksdale Brown (1871–1966), journalist, educator (Jersey City)

Roscoe Lee Browne (1925–2007), actor, The Cowboys, The Mambo Kings (Woodbury)

Lou Brutus (born 1972), radio host, musician, photographer (Newark, raised in Englistown)

David Bryan (born 1962), musician (Perth Amboy)

Mark Bryant (born 1965), NBA player, assistant coach (Glen Ridge, raised in South Orange)

Herbert J. Buehler (1927–2007), educator and Democratic Party politician who represented coastal Monmouth County in the New Jersey Senate. (Bayonne)

John D. Bulkeley (1911–1996), vice admiral in United States Navy, Medal of Honor recipient

King Kong Bundy (1955–2019), professional wrestler, stand-up comedian, actor (Atlantic City)

Jake Burbage (born 1992), actor Grounded for Life (Willingboro)

Richard Burgi (born 1958), actor Desperate Housewives, The Sentinel (Montclair)

Aaron Burr (1756–1836), third vice president of the United States (Newark)

Jordan Burroughs (born 1988), freestyle wrestler, Olympic gold medalist, four-time World Champion (Sicklerville)

Glen Burtnik (born 1955), musician (North Brunswick)

Da'Sean Butler (born 1987), basketball player for Hapoel Be'er Sheva of the Israeli Premier League

Nicholas Murray Butler (1862–1947), Nobel Prize-winning philosopher, diplomat, and educator (Elizabeth)

Greg Buttle (born 1954), linebacker for the New York Jets (Atlantic City, raised in Linwood)

Andrew Bynum (born 1987), center for the Philadelphia 76ers (Plainsboro)

Brendan Byrne (1924–2018), governor of New Jersey (West Orange)

P. J. Byrne (born 1974), actor, The Game (South Orange)

Michael Cade (born 1972), actor, California Dreams (Elmwood Park)

Joseph Caldwell (1773–1835), mathematician, first president of the University of North Carolina (Lamington)

Alisyn Camerota (born 1969), news anchor for CNN (Shrewsbury)

Alyssa Campanella (born 1990), Miss USA 2011, 1st runner-up Miss Teen USA 2007, model, blogger (New Brunswick)

John W. Campbell (1910–1971), science fiction writer and editor, Analog Science Fiction and Fact (Newark)

William Campbell (1923–2011), actor (Newark)

Bobby Cannavale (born 1971), actor, Bobby Caffey on Third Watch (Union City)

Philip Carey (1925–2009), actor, One Life to Live (Hackensack)

Ron Carey (1935–2007), actor, Barney Miller (Newark)

Julie Carmen (born 1954), actress (Millburn)

Thomas Carpenter (1752–1847), a patriot of the American Revolutionary War; born in Salem, died in Carpenter's Landing

Rosalind Cash (1938–1995), actress (Atlantic City)

Jonathan Casillas (born 1987), linebacker for the New York Giants (New Brunswick)

David Cassidy (1950–2017), actor/singer, star of the 1970s television show The Partridge Family (West Orange)

Joanna Cassidy (born 1945), actress, Blade Runner, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Six Feet Under (Haddonfield)

Iván Castro (born 1967), U.S. Army captain serving on active duty in the Special Forces despite losing his eyesight (Hoboken)

Sean Chandler (born 1996), safety for New York Giants (Camden)

Michael Chang (born 1972), professional tennis player (Hoboken)

Cheryl Chase (born 1958), voice actress, Angelica Pickles on Rugrats (Manville)

Jeff Chase (born 1968), actor (Paterson)

Mike Chernoff (born c. 1981), general manager of the Cleveland Indians (Livingston)

Michael Chertoff (born 1953), U.S. secretary of Homeland Security under President George W. Bush (Elizabeth)

Aneesh Chopra (born 1972), chief technology officer under Barack Obama (Trenton, raised in Princeton Junction)

Chris Christie (born 1962), 55th governor of New Jersey (Newark)

Jack Ciattarelli (born 1961), politician (Hillsborough)

Vinny Ciurciu (born 1980), National Football League linebacker (Hackensack)

Earl Clark (born 1988), forward for the Los Angeles Lakers (Plainfield)

Harlan Coben (born 1962), author of mystery novels and thrillers (Newark, raised in Livingston)

Robert Coello (born 1984), pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays (Bayonne)

Willie Cole (born 1955), sculptor (Newark)

Ross Colton (born 1996), ice hockey center for the Tampa Bay Lightning (Robbinsville)

Mattea Conforti (born 2006), actress

Kristen Connolly (born 1980), actress, As the World Turns, House of Cards, Zoo (Montclair)

Richard Conte (1910–1975), actor, The Godfather (Jersey City)

Kellyanne Conway (born 1967), campaign manager for Donald Trump, counselor to the president (Camden, raised in Hammonton)

Greg Coolidge (born 1972), actor, screenwriter, director (Red Bank)

David Copperfield (born 1956), illusionist (Metuchen)

Sam Coppola (1932–2012), actor (Jersey City)

Barbara Corcoran (born 1949), businesswoman, investor, and television personality (Edgewater)

Joseph Cortese (born 1949), actor (Paterson)

Phil Costa (born 1987), center and guard for the Dallas Cowboys (Moorestown)

Blake Costanzo (born 1984), linebacker for the Chicago Bears (Franklin Lakes)

Lou Costello (1906–1959), comedian, actor, Abbott and Costello films and television series (Paterson)

Bob Cottingham (born 1966), Olympic sabre fencer, 1988 and 1992

Jonathan Townley Crane (1819–1880), clergyman, author, abolitionist (Union Township)

Stephen Crane (1871–1900), novelist, short story writer, poet, journalist (Newark)

Michael Cristofer (born 1945), Pulitzer Prize and Tony winning playwright; screenwriter; actor; director (Trenton)

Joseph Cross (born 1986), actor, Running with Scissors, Flags of Our Fathers (New Brunswick)

Crowbar (born 1974), professional wrestler (Rutherford)

Valerie Cruz (born 1976), actress, Nip/Tuck, The Dresden Files, Dexter (Elizabeth)

Victor Cruz (born 1986), wide receiver for the New York Giants (Paterson)

Ken Cuccinelli (born 1968), Attorney General of Virginia (Edison)

John T. Cunningham (1915–2012), journalist, writer, and historian (Newark, raised in Brookside)

Vincent Curatola (born 1953), actor, Johnny Sack on The Sopranos (Englewood)

Vinny Curry (born 1988), defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles (Neptune)

Brian Cushing (born 1987), outside linebacker for the Houston Texans (Park Ridge)

Jack Cust (born 1979), designated hitter and outfielder for the New York Yankees (Flemington)

Tawny Cypress (born 1976), actress, K-Ville, Heroes (Point Pleasant)

Mike Daniels (born 1989), defensive end for the Green Bay Packers (Stratford)

Joe Dante (born 1946), film director, Gremlins (Morristown)

Glenn Danzig (born 1955), Misfits and Danzig frontman (Lodi)

Jeff Datz (born 1959), third base coach for the Seattle Mariners (Camden)

Dov Davidoff (born 1973), comedian, actor (Englishtown)

Anthony Davis (born 1989), offensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers (Piscataway)

Brett Davis (born 1988), comedian (Roxbury)

Hope Davis (born 1964), actress, About Schmidt, American Splendor, The Hoax (Englewood)

Lanny Davis (born 1946), special counsel to the president to Bill Clinton (Jersey City)

Ida Wharton Dawson (1860–1928), president, New Jersey State Federation of Women's Clubs

Sandra Dee (1942–2005), actress, Gidget, A Summer Place (Bayonne)

Robert De Grasse (1900–1971), cinematographer (Maplewood)

Dean DeLeo (born 1961), guitarist for Stone Temple Pilots, Talk Show, Army of Anyone, Laughter Train (Montclair)

Mark Delavan (born 1958), operatic bass-baritone (born in Princeton, lives in Chatham)

Martina Deignan, soap opera actress, Santa Barbara, As the World Turns (East Orange)

Mary R. Denman (1823–1899), first president of the New Jersey Woman's Christian Temperance Union

Mark DeRosa (born 1975), utility player for the Washington Nationals (Passaic)

Beatie Deutsch (née Rabin; born 1989), ultra-Orthodox Jewish American-Israeli marathon runner

Danny DeVito (born 1944), actor and director, Taxi, Hoffa, War of the Roses, Get Shorty, Batman Returns, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (Neptune City)

Tommy DeVito (1928–2020), musician and singer; lead guitarist of The Four Seasons (Belleville)

Khigh Dhiegh (1910–1991), actor, Wo Fat on Hawaii Five-O (Spring Lake)

Al Di Meola (born 1954), professional jazz/fusion/world music guitarist; played with Chick Corea's Return for Forever, successful solo career, and work with John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucia, and countless others (Jersey City, New Jersey)

Ernest Dickerson (born 1951), film and television director (Newark)

John DiMaggio (born 1968), voice actor, Bender on Futurama (North Plainfield)

Pat DiNizio (1955–2017), singer, The Smithereens (Scotch Plains)

Peter Dinklage (born 1969), actor, Elf, Game of Thrones (Morristown, raised in Mendham Township)

Peter Dobson (born 1964), actor, Cover Me (Red Bank)

The Dolan Twins (born 1999), comedians (Long Valley section of Washington Township)

Franklin D'Olier (1877–1953), businessman; first national commander of the American Legion (1919–1920)

Tate Donovan (born 1963), actor, Damages, The O.C., Hercules (Tenafly)

Jamie Donnelly (born 1947), actress (Teaneck)

Ruth Donnelly (1896–1982), actress (Trenton)

Michael Douglas (born 1944), Academy Award-winning actor, producer (New Brunswick)

Jim Dowd (born 1968), professional ice hockey player (Brick Township)

Al Downing (born 1941), professional baseball pitcher New York Yankees, Oakland A's, Milwaukee Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, NL Comeback Player of the Year 1971 (Trenton)

Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein (born 1964), guitarist, The Misfits (Lodi)

Dylan Dreyer (born 1981), meteorologist for the Today Show (Manalapan)

Derek Drymon (born 1965), cartoon producer, SpongeBob SquarePants (Morristown)

Thomas F. Duffy (born 1955), actor (Woodbridge)

Tom Dugan (born 1961), one-person show actor, writer and director (Rahway)

Tabitha D'umo (born 1973), dance teacher, choreographer, and creative director (Galloway)

Jancee Dunn (born 1966), journalist, author, and former VJ for MTV2 (Chatham)

Kirsten Dunst (born 1982), actress (Point Pleasant)

Ashley Alexandra Dupré (born 1985), prostitute, singer (Beachwood)

Asher Brown Durand (1796–1886), artist (Maplewood)

Lou Duva (1922–2017), boxing trainer and sports personality (Paterson)

Andrea Dworkin (1946–2005), radical feminist and activist (Camden)

Alix Earle (born 2000), social media personality (Wall Township)

Frederick Eberhardt (1868–1946), engineer, philanthropist, university administrator and businessman (Newark)

Daniel Edelman (born 2003), midfielder for MLS club New York Red Bulls

Randy Edelman (born 1947), film and TV score composer (Paterson)

Frankie Edgar (born 1981), mixed martial artist (Toms River)

Geoff Edwards (1931–2014), actor, radio and television personality (Westfield)

Todd Edwards (born 1972), music producer (Bloomfield)

Róisín Egenton (born 1977), 2000 International Rose of Tralee (Fanwood)

Hallie Kate Eisenberg (born 1992), teen actress (East Brunswick)

Pablo Eisenberg (1932–2022), scholar, social justice advocate, and tennis player

Hy Eisman (1927–2025), cartoonist, Katy Keene, Little Iodine, Katzenjammer Kids, Popeye (Paterson)

Robert Ellenstein (1923–2010), actor (Newark)

Linda Emond (born 1959), actress, Julie & Julia (New Brunswick)

Alecko Eskandarian (born 1982), soccer player (Montvale)

Janet Evanovich (born 1943), novelist (South River)

Bill Evans (1929–1980), jazz pianist and composer (Plainfield)

Josh Evans (born 1991), safety for the Jacksonville Jaguars (Irvington)

Charles Evered (born 1964), writer, director (Passaic, raised in Rutherford)

Greg Evigan (born 1953), actor, B. J. and the Bear, My Two Dads (South Amboy)

Ellen Hackl Fagan (born 1960), abstract artist and curator

Donald Fagen (born 1948), musician (Steely Dan) (South Brunswick)

Joseph Farah (born 1954), journalist and editor-in-chief of WorldNetDaily (Paterson)

Tali Farhadian (born 1974/1975), former US federal prosecutor (Englewood Cliffs)

Kenneth Faried (born 1989), power forward for the Denver Nuggets (Newark)

Taissa Farmiga (born 1994), actress, American Horror Story, The Bling Ring (Readington)

Vera Farmiga (born 1973), actress, The Departed, Up in the Air (Clifton)

John Farrell (born 1962), manager for the Boston Red Sox (Monmouth Beach)

Warren Farrell (born 1943), educator, gender equality activist and author

Edward Feigenbaum (born 1936), computer scientist known as "the father of expert systems" (Weehawken)

Fetty Wap, real name Willie Maxwell II (born 1991), singer, rapper (Paterson)

Cirie Fields (born 1970), reality TV personality best known for Survivor.