New York City is famous for being the home and birthplace of many celebrities over the years. From music and film stars to artists and authors, NYC has produced and attracted talented individuals across various industries. Here is an overview of some of the most famous celebrities associated with New York City.
Musicians from NYC
New York has a rich musical history and has produced many iconic musicians.
Jay-Z
One of the most famous rappers to come out of NYC is Jay-Z. Born Shawn Corey Carter in 1969, Jay-Z grew up in Brooklyn and started his career in the late 1980s. He went on to become one of the most critically and commercially successful hip hop artists ever. Some of his most popular songs include “Empire State of Mind,” “99 Problems,” and “Big Pimpin’.”
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez was born in the Bronx in 1969. She started out as a dancer and got her big break as a Fly Girl on the show In Living Color. She then pivoted to acting and music, becoming one of the most popular Latin pop stars with hits like “Waiting for Tonight,” “I’m Real,” and “Jenny from the Block.”
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand was born and raised in Brooklyn. She started performing as a child and went on to have a wildly successful music and film career. Some of her top songs include “The Way We Were,” “Evergreen,” and “People.” She has won multiple Grammys, Emmys, and an Oscar.
Beastie Boys
The Beastie Boys hip hop group was formed in NYC in 1981. Members Michael Diamond, Adam Yauch, and Adam Horovitz were all NYC natives. They blended punk rock and hip hop to create a unique sound. Their album Licensed to Ill was the first rap record to top the Billboard charts.
Famous NYC Rappers
In addition to Jay-Z, many other famous rappers and hip hop artists come from New York. These include Biggie Smalls, Nas, Nicki Minaj, A$AP Rocky, Joey Bada$$, Lil Kim, Ja Rule, and Action Bronson among others. NYC’s diverse neighborhoods have created distinct hip hop sounds over the years.
Famous Actors from NYC
Many acclaimed actors got their start in New York City theater, television, or film.
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro was born in Greenwich Village and studied acting at the Stella Adler Conservatory and Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in NYC. His breakout role was as the young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II. Other famous films include Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and Meet the Parents.
Al Pacino
Pacino was also born in Manhattan and studied method acting at The Actors Studio. He appeared in many Off-Broadway and Broadway plays before being cast in The Godfather in 1972. He went on to star in classics like Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, Scarface, Scent of a Woman, and Heat.
Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway moved to NYC as a teenager to pursue acting. She starred in Broadway plays before landing the lead role in The Princess Diaries. She has since won an Oscar and appeared in films like The Devil Wears Prada, Les Misérables, and Ocean’s 8.
Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence moved to the city at 14 to start her acting career. She booked commercials and TV roles before getting her breakthrough part in Winter’s Bone which earned her first Oscar nomination. She has since starred in major films like The Hunger Games, Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, and Joy.
Denzel Washington
Though born in New York, Denzel Washington grew up in Mount Vernon just outside the city. He later attended Fordham University and worked odd jobs before pursuing acting. His extensive film work includes Glory, Malcolm X, Training Day, Fences, and The Equalizer.
Famous Female Actresses from NYC
Many acclaimed actresses got their start in NYC theater, television or indie films, including Scarlett Johansson, Amanda Seyfried, Claire Danes, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sutton Foster, and Cynthia Nixon.
Famous Male Actors from NYC
A number of top male actors also come from New York originally, such as Tom Cruise, Vin Diesel, Edward Norton, Timothée Chalamet, and Ansel Elgort among others.
Famous NYC Directors and Filmmakers
Being the epicenter of culture and creativity, New York City has cultivated many great directors and filmmakers over the years.
Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese was born and raised in Little Italy in Manhattan. Many of his acclaimed films like Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and The Departed take place in New York City and explore local themes. He is regarded as one of the greatest American filmmakers.
Woody Allen
Woody Allen was born and raised in Brooklyn and is famous for films that capture the spirit and absurdity of New York City life. Movies like Annie Hall, Manhattan, Broadway Danny Rose, and Hannah and Her Sisters portray NYC in iconic ways.
Spike Lee
Spike Lee is from Brooklyn and pioneered early independent Black cinema with films like She’s Gotta Have It and Do the Right Thing. His production company 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks is based in Brooklyn where he continues to make films about Black life.
Nora Ephron
Nora Ephron was born on the Upper West Side and incorporated NYC into much of her writing and film work. She wrote and directed many iconic romantic comedies mostly set in New York like Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, and When Harry Met Sally.
Famous NYC Comedians
Comedy thrives in New York City, which has many famous comedy clubs and improv theaters where comedians can workshop material. Many legendary comedians got their start here.
Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld grew up in NYC and heavily incorporated the city into his observational comedy as a stand-up and in the hit show Seinfeld. He is considered one of the greatest stand-up comics ever.
Billy Crystal
Born and raised on Long Island, Billy Crystal rose up through the NYC stand-up scene in the 1970s. He was on the sitcom Soap and had his own one man Broadway show before becoming a movie star.
Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy moved to Roosevelt, NY on Long Island as a child to pursue comedy. He performed stand-up in New York clubs while also landing a role on Saturday Night Live where he became a breakout star.
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers also grew up in NYC and attended Barnard College. She performed in Greenwich Village clubs in the 1960s and became the first woman to host a network late night TV show with The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers.
Andy Kaufman
Andy Kaufman was born in Queens and created a unique comedic persona by performing as different characters. He landed a role on Taxi and was known for stunts like wrestling women. His oddball humor paved the way for future comics.
Famous Female Comedians from NYC
Many influential female comedians also got their start in New York’s comedy clubs, such as Amy Schumer, Kristen Wiig, Amy Poehler, and Awkwafina.
Famous NYC Artists & Photographers
New York has an enduring arts and cultural scene that has produced world renowned artists over the decades.
Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol was part of the New York pop art movement in the 1960s. He experimented with reproducing popular consumer goods and celebrity images, like his famous Campbell’s Soup Cans or Marilyn Monroe prints. He socialized at the iconic Studio 54 club.
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Basquiat first gained fame in the 1970s NYC graffiti scene under the tag name SAMO. He then transitioned to being an avant-garde mixed media painter during the 1980s with neo-expressionist and pop art styles.
Keith Haring
Keith Haring was also part of the 1980s New York art scene with his pop art graffiti drawings of stick figures and bold lines. His work responded to the AIDS crisis and he created the Keith Haring Foundation before his early death.
Diane Arbus
Photographer Diane Arbus was born in NYC and known for her intimate and unflinching portraits of marginalized people and subcultures in the 1950s and 60s. Her work often explores darker themes like loneliness and sexuality.
Annie Leibovitz
Annie Leibovitz is a celebrated American portrait photographer born in Connecticut but based in New York City. She has captured iconic images of John Lennon, Queen Elizabeth II, and Demi Moore among many famous figures.
Famous Authors from NYC
As a publishing and literary hub, New York has cultivated world-renowned authors over the decades across all genres.
Tom Wolfe
The novelist Tom Wolfe was a leading figure in New Journalism, which incorporated literary techniques into nonfiction writing. He was born in Richmond, Virginia but moved to NYC in 1962. His bestselling books included The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test and The Bonfire of the Vanities, which captured the extravagance of NYC in the 1980s.
JD Salinger
While born in Manhattan, JD Salinger grew up on the Upper West Side. He is most famous for his 1951 coming-of-age novel The Catcher in the Rye, which is set in NYC and follows disaffected youth Holden Caulfield. Many of his short stories also take place in New York.
Oscar Wilde
Irish writer Oscar Wilde embarked on an acclaimed lecture tour in New York City and the country in 1882. He spoke about decorating and interior design while promoting Aestheticism. He later lived in NYC periodically. The city inspired his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Langston Hughes
Poet Langston Hughes was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Though originally from Missouri, Hughes lived in Harlem in the 1920s and his writing explored African American life in the neighborhood and broader issues of race and class. His famous works include “Harlem” and “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.”
Harper Lee
Harper Lee was originally from Alabama but moved to New York City in 1949 to pursue writing. She befriended Truman Capote and wrote her classic novel To Kill A Mockingbird here which deals with racial injustice in the South. She lived in NYC periodically throughout her life.
F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald epitomized the Jazz Age in the 1920s with his novels and short stories set among the glitterati of NYC. He moved here after college and wrote about wealthy elites living in Manhattan. His famous works include The Great Gatsby and Tender Is the Night.
Famous Scientists from NYC
Though perhaps less known, New York City has also produced many trailblazing scientists and inventors over the years.
Nikola Tesla
Inventor Nikola Tesla moved to New York in 1884 and began working for Thomas Edison. He opened his own laboratory in Manhattan in 1887 to develop electricity and experiment with X-ray technology. He invented the induction motor and transformer. The Tesla units for magnetic fields are named after him.
Gertrude Elion
Born in Manhattan, Gertrude Elion developed groundbreaking medications while working at Burroughs Wellcome laboratory in NYC. She won a Nobel Prize for pioneering drugs to treat leukemia, herpes, and AIDS-related illnesses. She invented the first immunosuppressive drug used in organ transplant surgery.
Jonas Salk
Though born in New York City, Salk grew up in the Bronx and later worked at the NYU School of Medicine. He conducted medical research at labs across the city and developed the breakthrough polio vaccine in 1955. His discovery of the inactivated polio virus led to nationwide immunization against the disease.
Charles Steinmetz
German-born Charles Steinmetz immigrated to New York City in the late 1890s to work at General Electric after being recruited. As a leading electrical engineer, he developed fundamental theories of AC electricity and assembled powerful AC generators. He made key contributions to GE’s success with electrical systems.
New York City Icons
Beyond specific individuals, certain fictional characters and cultural locales have also come to symbolize New York City.
Statue of Liberty
Though designed by French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, the Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the US. The 305 feet tall colossus standing in New York Harbor quickly became an enduring symbol of NYC and the US as a land of opportunity for immigrants.
King Kong
The iconic 1933 film King Kong portrays the giant gorilla climbing and clashing with planes atop the Empire State Building. Images of King Kong capturing the ambition and chaos of the city have persevered in popular culture. Two WTC towers now also evoke similar feelings.
Tony Soprano
The fictional mob boss Tony Soprano in HBO’s The Sopranos personifies a grittier side of northern New Jersey life adjacent to New York City. His constant grappling with his own inner demons and criminal life offers a riveting portrayal of harsh realities.
Carrie Bradshaw
Carrie Bradshaw is the beloved protagonist in Sex and the City portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker. As a stylish writer dating in Manhattan, her character defined a vivacious way of life that aspirational single women could envision pursuing.
Conclusion
From music and theater to film, comedy, arts, and literature, New York City has been the backdrop for countless talented figures that have shaped arts and culture. Its neighborhoods foster diverse sounds while its energy and crowds draw aspirational people. NYC allows artists to experiment and nurture their craft to captivate audiences worldwide. The city will likely continue birthing artistic geniuses, shaping fashions and culture globally.
Frequently Asked Questions About Celebrities NYC is Famous For
Who are some of the most famous musicians from New York City?
Some of the most famous musicians from NYC include Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, Barbra Streisand, Beastie Boys, and many others across musical genres from hip hop to pop, rock, jazz, and more.
Which actors and actresses became famous after getting their start in New York City?
Many famous actors and actresses got their initial breaks in NYC theaters, TV shows, or indie films, including Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Anne Hathaway, Denzel Washington, Scarlett Johansson, and others.
What comedians emerged from the NYC comedy club circuit?
Major comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, Billy Crystal, Eddie Murphy, Joan Rivers, and Andy Kaufman developed their comedy skills by frequently performing in NYC comedy clubs early in their careers.
How did New York City influence some famous American authors’ writing?
Famous authors like Tom Wolfe, JD Salinger, Oscar Wilde, Langston Hughes, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and others wrote novels and stories set in NYC or inspired by the city’s energy and urban life.
Which scientists made major discoveries or contributions while working in New York City?
Scientists like Nikola Tesla, Gertrude Elion, Jonas Salk, and Charles Steinmetz experimented and innovated in various scientific fields while based out of New York City laboratories and institutions.
What are some iconic New York City images or symbols in pop culture?
The Statue of Liberty, King Kong climbing the Empire State Building, Tony Soprano from The Sopranos, and Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City are some pop culture images that are closely associated with NYC.