List of people from Boston explained

This is a list of people who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with the city of Boston, Massachusetts and its surrounding metropolitan statistical area.

0-9

• 7L & Esoteric – rap group

A

• Abiel Abbot (1770–1828) – born in Andover, clergyman and author^[1]
• Ezra Abbot (1819–1884) – biblical scholar, taught at Harvard Divinity School^[1]
• Joel Abbot (1776–1826) – naval officer^[1]
• Amos Abbott (1786–1868) – born in Westford, member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts^[1]
• Austin Abbott (1831–1896) – born in Boston; lawyer, novelist, and academic^[1]
• Benjamin Vaughan Abbott (1830–1890) – born in Boston, lawyer and legal writer^[1]
• Joseph Carter Abbott (1825–1882) – publisher of the Boston Bee^[1]
• Josiah Gardner Abbott (1814–1891) – member of United States House of Representatives^[1]
• Abdul-Malik Abu (born 1995) – basketball player in the Israeli Premier Basketball League
• Edith Achilles (1892–1989) – psychologist
• Abigail Adams (1744–1818) – born in Weymouth, First Lady of the United States^[1]
• Abijah Adams (1754–1816) – born in Boston, journalist, often embroiled in lawsuits against him^[1]
• Charles Francis Adams Sr. (1807–1886) – born in Boston; son of Abigail Adams and John Adams; Congressman; diplomat; writer^[1]
• Edwin Adams (1834–1877) – born in Medford, 19th-century stage actor^[1]
• Eliphalet Adams (1677–1753) – born in Medford, clergyman and missionary^[1]
• Hannah Adams (1755–1831) – born in Medfield, famous Christian writer^[1]
• Henry Adams (1838–1918) – born in Boston, journalist, historian, academic and novelist^[1]
• Jasper Adams (1793–1841) – born in Medway, clergyman and college president^[1]
• Nehemiah Adams (1806–1878) – clergyman and author^[1]
• Sammy Adams – musician^[2]
• Samuel Adams – American Revolution patriot, signer of the Declaration of Independence^[3]
• Aerosmith – band^[4]
• Ben Affleck – Academy Award-winning actor, screenwriter and director, brother of Casey^[5]
• Casey Affleck – Academy Award-winning actor, brother of Ben^[6]
• George Aiken (1830–1876) – born in Boston, actor and playwright^[1]
• Amos T. Akerman (1821–1880) – United States Attorney General, born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire^[1]
• Akrobatik – hip hop artist, member of The Perceptionists^[7]
• Al B. Sure – singer^[8]
• Harriet Ryan Albee (1829–1873) – born and died in Boston; social reformer and philanthropist^[9]
• Mildred Albert (1905–1991) – fashion show producer and radio and television personality
• Louisa May Alcott – 19th-century author of Little Women^[10]
• Horatio Alger Jr. – author^[11]
• Fred Allen – radio comedian^[12]
• Frederick Lewis Allen – writer^[13]
• Joseph Allen (1749–1827) – born in Boston, United States Congressman^[1]
• Nathaniel M. Allen – soldier in Civil War, awarded Congressional Medal of Honor^[14]
• The Almighty RSO – rap group
• John Amaechi – NBA player^[15]
• American Hi-Fi – band
• American Nightmare – hardcore band
• Amerie – R&B artist
• Ed Ames – actor and singer
• Tony Amonte – NHL player^[16]
• Anarchy Club – band
• Leroy Anderson – composer for Boston Pops Orchestra^[17]
• Mary Antin – author^[18]
• Apollo Sunshine – band
• Thomas Gold Appleton (1812–1884) – writer^[1]
• Isabel Atkin – British–American skier and Olympic medalist for Great Britain^[19]
• Crispus Attucks – American Revolution patriot^[20]
• Red Auerbach – Boston Celtics coach and president, Basketball Hall of Famer^[21]
• John Augustus (1785–1859) – born in Boston, philanthropist and pioneer of probation^[1]
• James Trecothick Austin (1784–1870) – born in Boston, member of Massachusetts General Court and Massachusetts Attorney General^[1]
• Jonathan Loring Austin (1748–1826) – born in Boston; officer in American Revolutionary War; Massachusetts state representative, senator, secretary, and treasurer^[1]

B

• Bad Rabbits – band
• Arthur Baker – rap DJ, music producer
• Bang Camaro – rock band
• Sasha Banks – WWE wrestler, former WWE Raw Women's Champion, former NXT Women's Champion
• Maria Barrett – US Army Major General; older sister of US Army General Paula Lodi^{[22] [23]}
• Dana Barros – former NBA player^[24]
• Zered Bassett – professional skateboarder^[25]
• Benjamin E. Bates – founder and namesake of Bates College^[26]
• Ruth Batson – civil rights and education activist^[27]
• Susan Batson – actress, author, and producer; daughter of Ruth Batson
• Peter D. Bear – Wisconsin State Senator^[28]
• Bell Biv DeVoe – music group
• Gaston Bell – stage and silent film actor
• Tobin Bell – actor (born in Queens, NY, raised in Weymouth)
• Mark Bellhorn – MLB player^[29]
• Asher Benjamin – architect and author^[30]
• Cora Agnes Benneson – attorney, lecturer, and writer^[31]
• Frank Weston Benson – Impressionist artist^[32]
• Rick Berlin – musician
• Leonard Bernstein – New York Philharmonic conductor, composer and pianist^[33]
• Big D and the Kids Table – band
• Big Shug – rapper^[34]
• Traci Bingham – actress, model
• Mike Birbiglia – comedian
• Molly Birnbaum – writer^[35]
• William Blackstone (also spelled Blaxton) – first European settler
• Arthur Blake – athlete
• Will Blalock – former NBA player for ^[36]
• David Blatt (born 1959) – Israeli-American basketball player and coach (most recently, for the Cleveland Cavaliers)^[37]
• C. L. Blood – physician^[38]
• Matt Bloom – NFL player and professional wrestler, known for his time in WWE
• Michael Bloomberg – former Mayor of New York City^[39]
• Bob and Ray – comedy team^[40]
• Ernie Boch Jr. – president of Boch Enterprises^[41]
• Ray Bolger – actor and dancer, Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz
• Veda Ann Borg – film actress
• Boston – band
• Boys Like Girls – band
• Ron Brace – NFL player, New England Patriots^[42]
• Nathaniel Jeremiah Bradlee – architect^[43]
• William J. Bratton – chief of police for NYPD and LAPD^[44]
• Connie Britton – actress
• John Britton – abortion provider^[45]
• Edward W. Brooke – first African American elected by popular vote to United States Senate^[46]
• Bobby Brown – singer
• Carolyn Brown – dancer, writer, choreographer
• Earle Brown – composer
• Lexie Brown – basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks^[47]
• Sam Brown – comedian from IFC sketch comedy show Whitest Kids U' Know
• Scott Brown – U.S. Senator^[48]
• William B. Broydrick – Wisconsin State Assemblyman^[49]
• Aimee Buchanan (born 1993) – American-born Olympic figure skater for Israel
• Charles Bulfinch – architect who designed Massachusetts State House, original United States Capitol dome and rotunda^[50]
• James "Whitey" Bulger – organized crime boss
• Ephraim Wales Bull – creator of the concord grape ^[51]
• Thomas Burke – sprinter
• Bill Burr – comedian
• Edwin C. Burt – shoemaker
• Bury Your Dead – band
• George H. W. Bush – 41st President of The United States
• Vannevar Bush – scientist

C

• C60 – band
• Louis C.K. – comedian and actor
• Will Calhoun – drummer for Living Colour (born in NY, lived in Boston)
• Steve Carell – actor and comedian, The Office, The Daily Show, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Despicable Me
• The Cars – band
• Melnea Cass – community and civil rights activist^[52]
• Peggy Cass – actress and TV game show panelist
• John Cazale – actor, The Godfather, The Deer Hunter, Dog Day Afternoon
• John Cena – professional wrestler, known for his time in WWE
• Nicholas Raymond Cerio – founder of Nick Cerio's Kenpo^[53]
• Kevin Chapman – actor^[54]
• Julius Caesar Chappelle – Massachusetts legislator^[55]
• Ken Cheeseman – actor
• Gary Cherone – singer (Extreme and Van Halen)
• Michael Chiklis – actor, The Shield^[56]
• Neil Cicierega – Internet personality, created Potter Puppet Pals
• Lenny Clarke – comedian and actor
• The Click Five – band
• Alex Cobb – baseball pitcher
• John A. Collins – Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Air Force^[57]
• Misha Collins – actor^[58]
• Jerry Colonna – entertainer^[59]
• Greg Comella – NFL fullback^[60]
• James Bryant Conant – chemist, 23rd president of Harvard University
• Dane Cook – comedian and actor^[61]
• Calvin Coolidge – 30th President of the United States
• Harriet Abbott Lincoln Coolidge – author, philanthropist, reformer^[62]
• Jennifer Coolidge – actress, American Pie, A Mighty Wind, Legally Blonde^[63]
• Miriam O'Leary Collins – actress^[64]
• John Singleton Copley – artist^[65]
• Chick Corea – Grammy Award-winning jazz musician and composer
• Jeff Corwin – TV personality
• Aisha Cousins (born 1978) – artist/performance art score writer^[66]
• Lynne Cox – professional swimmer^[67]
• Charlie Coyle (born 1992) – hockey player
• Zach Cregger – actor, comedian, star of the IFC sketch comedy series WKUK
• Norm Crosby – comedian^[68]
• Marcia Cross – actress, Desperate Housewives
• James Michael Curley – Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts Governor, and U.S. Representative^[69]
• Jane Curtin – actress and comedian^[70]
• Johnny Curtis – professional wrestler, known for his time in WWE
• Thomas Curtis (1873–1944) – athlete
• Richard Cushing – Archbishop of Boston and Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church
• Susan Webb Cushman (1822–1859) – stage actress^[71]
• Jay Cutler – 4x IFBB Mr. Olympia, bodybuilder

D

• Joey Daccord – ice hockey goaltender
• Dick Dale – musician^[72]
• Matt Damon – actor and Oscar-winning screenwriter, Good Will Hunting, The Departed, Ocean's Eleven and Bourne Identity series^[73]
• Evan Dando – musician^[74]
• Duncan Daniels – Nigerian-American afropop and afrobeat musician, producer and songwriter
• Bette Davis – Academy Award-winning actress, Dark Victory, Jezebel, All About Eve
• Daniel Davis Jr. – nineteenth century inventor
• Geena Davis – Academy Award-winning actress, The Accidental Tourist
• Henry Dearborn – physician, general, and politician
• Henry Alexander Scammell Dearborn – lawyer, author, statesman, soldier, Mayor of Roxbury; son of Henry Dearborn
• Death Before Dishonor – band
• Patrick DeCoste – musician
• Manny Delcarmen – MLB pitcher
• Becky DelosSantos – Playboy Playmate centerfold, April 1994
• Brad Delp – singer
• Tony DeMarco – boxer, welterweight champion, born 1932 in North End
• Paul Demayo – IFBB professional bodybuilder
• Joseph Dennie – writer
• Joe Derrane (1930–2016) – accordion player
• Michael Dertouzos (1936–2001) – computer scientist
• Albert DeSalvo – serial killer known as "The Boston Strangler"
• Jack DeSena – actor, played Sokka in
• P. T. Deutermann – author
• Diamante – rock singer
• Dinosaur Jr. – band
• Rick DiPietro – NHL goaltender (from Boston suburbs)
• Tony Dize – reggaeton singer
• Ken Doane – professional wrestler, known for his time in WWE
• The Dresden Dolls – punk cabaret duo
• Robert Drinan – former U.S. Congressman
• Drop Nineteens – band
• Dropkick Murphys – band
• Shem Drowne – America's first weathervane maker
• W. E. B. Du Bois – scholar, professor; first African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard; founder of NAACP
• Joseph Dudley – Colonial Governor of Massachusetts
• Michael Dukakis – Massachusetts governor, US presidential candidate in 1988
• William C. Durant – founder of General Motors
• Adam Duritz – singer-songwriter for Counting Crows (born in Baltimore, lived in Boston)
• Eliza Dushku – actress
• Mary Dyer – martyr

E

• Ed O.G. – hip hop artist
• Ryan Edell (born 1983) – professional baseball player
• Adam Edelman (born 1991) – American-born four-time Israeli National Champion in skeleton event, and Israeli Olympian
• Richard J. Egan – founder and chairman of EMC Corporation
• Charles H. Eglee – television screenwriter
• Jeremy Elbertson – livestreamer, YouTuber, and internet comedian
• Charles C. Eldredge – art historian and educator
• Ralph Waldo Emerson – essayist, lecturer, poet
• Ernie and the Automatics – band
• Mike Eruzione – captain of USA's 1980 Winter Olympics hockey team (from Boston suburbs)
• Julius Erving – Basketball Hall of Famer, UMass, New York Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
• William Eustis – early American statesman, Governor of Massachusetts
• Chris Evans – actor, known for role as "Captain America"
• Patrick Ewing – Basketball Hall of Famer, NCAA champion, center for New York Knicks
• Patrick Ewing Jr. – NBA player, New York Knicks, New Orleans Hornets
• Extreme – band

F

• Louis Farrakhan – head of Nation of Islam
• Charles Farrell – actor
• Spike Feresten – screenwriter and television personality
• John Ferruggio – led evacuation of Pan Am Flight 93, hijacked in 1970^[75]
• Arthur Fiedler – Boston Pops orchestra conductor
• Charles L. Fletcher – architect and interior designer; owner of Charles Fletcher Design
• Doug Flutie – Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Boston College; AFL, CFL, and NFL player, television commentator
• Robert Bennet Forbes – sea captain, China trader
• Ben Foster – actor (born in Boston)
• Dwight Foster – Massachusetts Attorney General; associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court^[76]
• Jon Foster – actor (born in Boston)
• Toby Fox – composer and video game developer known best for creating Undertale
• Arlene Francis – actress, radio and TV personality (What's My Line?)
• Black Francis – of the band Pixies
• Benjamin Franklin – author, public servant, diplomat, signer of the Declaration of Independence
• Bettina Freeman – opera singer
• Robert Frost – iconic poet

G

• The G-Clefs – Top 40 soul group
• Tony Gaffney (born 1984) – basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Greg Gagne – MLB player
• Ryan Gallant – professional skateboarder (Plan B Skateboards, DC Shoes)
• Gang Green – band
• Gang Starr – rap group
• Erle Stanley Gardner – lawyer, author, creator of Perry Mason
• Kevin Garnett – retired professional basketball player
• Edmund H. Garrett – prolific 19th- and 20th-century book illustrator and artist
• Althea Garrison – politician and first known transgender member of a state legislature in the United States^[77]
• Peter Gerety – actor
• Elbridge Gerry – signer of Declaration of Independence; Governor of Massachusetts; Vice President of the United States; gave his name to "gerrymandering"
• Kahlil George Gibran – sculptor
• Charles Dana Gibson – illustrator
• Joy Giovanni – professional wrestler, known for her time in WWE
• Paul Michael Glaser – actor and director, Starsky & Hutch
• Tom Glavine – Hall of Fame baseball pitcher for Atlanta Braves
• Sumner Jules Glimcher – professor, author and filmmaker
• Godsmack – band
• Jared Goldberg – Olympic skier
• Duff Goldman – star of Food Network TV show Ace of Cakes (born in Detroit, lived in MA)
• Ezekiel Goldthwait (1710–1782) – prominent in town affairs in the years leading up to the American Revolution
• Benjamin Gould – astronomer
• Robert Goulet – Grammy Award-winning singer and Tony-winning actor (born in Lawrence)
• Paul Graham – hacker, painter, essayist, tech startup guru
• Kaz Grala – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver, youngest ever to win a NASCAR Touring Series race
• Geoffrey Gray (born 1997) – American-Israeli professional basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Jane Loring Gray – editor
• Ari Graynor – actress
• Clark Gregg – actor
• Justine Greiner – Playboy Playmate centerfold, February 1984
• Mike Grier – NHL player
• Tammy Grimes – actress, singer
• Hattie Tyng Griswold (1842–1909) – author, poet
• Matt Grzelcyk – NHL player
• Bill Guerin – NHL player
• Louise Gunning – musical actress
• Guru – rapper, member of Gang Starr
• Guster – band
• Jasmine Guy – actress and singer

H

• Betsy Hager – farmer and blacksmith who produced weapons for the American Revolution
• Marvelous Marvin Hagler – middleweight boxing champion of the world
• Edward Everett Hale – author
• Jack Haley – actor, known as Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz
• Anthony Michael Hall – actor, The Breakfast Club, The Dead Zone
• Marc-André Hamelin – pianist, composer
• John Hancock – statesman, signer of Declaration of Independence
• Noah Hanifin – ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2015
• Kay Hanley – musician
• G Hannelius – actress
• Bob Hansen – MLB player
• Hannah Hanson Kinney – alleged serial killer
• Beth Harrington – filmmaker and musician
• Maggie Hassan – United States Senator and former governor of New Hampshire
• Matt Hasselbeck – NFL quarterback for the Tennessee Titans
• Tim Hasselbeck – NFL quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals
• Juliana Hatfield – musician
• Have Heart – hardcore band
• Kevin Hayes – NHL player
• Roy Haynes – jazz musician
• Heads of State – music group
• Ed Healey – NFL Hall of Fame player for Chicago Bears
• William Hooper – North Carolina signer of United States Declaration of Independence
• Armand Van Helden – DJ
• Ed Herlihy – radio and television announcer
• John Michael Higgins – game show TV host/cartoon narrator
• Rich Hill – MLB pitcher
• Karl Hobbs – George Washington University basketball coach
• Oliver Wendell Holmes – physician and author
• Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. – U. S. Supreme Court Justice
• Winslow Homer – artist
• Michelle Hoover – author
• The Hope Conspiracy – hardcore band
• Allen Hoskins – actor
• Joan Imogen Howard – educator
• Christine Hunschofsky – politician

I

• Dorothy Iannone (1933–2022) – visual artist
• Ice Nine Kills – music group
• Isis – music group

J

• Shar Jackson – actress
• Jada – pop and R&B singing group signed to UniversalMotown
• Marie Jansen – musical actress^[78]
• Jerma – Twitch streamer, YouTuber
• Martin Johnson – lead singer of Boys Like Girls
• Thomas Johnston – engraver, organ builder, japanner, and heraldic painter
• JoJo – singer, actress
• Julia Jones – actress
• Sam Jones III – actor, Glory Road
• Darin Jordan – NFL player
• Rebecca Richardson Joslin – author, lecturer, benefactor, clubwoman
• Jujubee – drag queen
• Tom Jung – art director, graphic designer, illustrator, storyboard artist

K

• Madeline Kahn – actress, Blazing Saddles
• Mindy Kaling – actress, The Office
• Alex Karalexis – UFC, WEC fighter
• Karmin – musical group
• Robert Kelly – actor, comedian
• Edward "Ted" Kennedy (1932–2009) – longtime Massachusetts Senator
• John F. Kennedy – Massachusetts Senator and 35th President of the United States
• Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. – ambassador; father of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Edward Kennedy
• Myles Kennedy – singer, songwriter
• Robert F. "Bobby" Kennedy – U.S. Attorney General and New York Senator
• Jack Kerouac – beat poet and writer
• Nancy Kerrigan – Olympic figure skating silver medalist
• John Kerry – U.S. Secretary of State, longtime Massachusetts Senator (1985–2013) and presidential candidate in 2004
• Keytar Bear – keytarist in a bear costume who commonly performs at MBTA stations^{[79] [80]}
• Killswitch Engage – metalcore band
• John King – CNN chief political correspondent^[81]
• Kofi Kingston – professional wrestler, known for his time in WWE (born in Ghana, lived in Boston)
• Jonathan Knight – singer, dancer (New Kids on the Block)
• Jordan Knight – singer, dancer (New Kids on the Block)
• Henry Knox – first U.S. Secretary of War, Founding Father, Senior General in the Continental Army under Washington
• Yitzhak Aharon Korff – Grand Rabbi, diplomat, international consultant
• Lauren Koslow – soap opera actress
• Walter "Killer" Kowalski – professional wrestler, teacher, photographer
• Bob Kraft – owner of the New England Patriots
• John Krasinski – actor (Jim Halpert in NBC's The Office)
• Sol Kumin – businessman, philanthropist and racehorse owner

L

• Phil Labonte – musician
• PJ Ladd – professional skateboarder
• Liz LaManche – public artist
• Jack Landron – folk singer, songwriter
• Robert Lanza – medical doctor and scientist
• Lewis Howard Latimer – inventor
• Denis Leary – actor, comedian, writer and director
• Matt LeBlanc – actor, Friends
• Dennis Lehane – author
• Jack Lemmon – Academy Award-winning actor, Mister Roberts, Save the Tiger, The Odd Couple, Grumpy Old Men
• Jay Leno – comedian and television personality
• Letters To Cleo – rock band
• Elma Lewis – founder of National Center of Afro-American Artists (including a museum) and Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts
• Gary Russell Libby – art historian, museum director, curator
• William Linn – defender of the Alamo
• Henry Cabot Lodge – politician
• Paula Lodi – US Army Brigadier General; younger sister of US Army General Maria Barrett^[82]
• Edward Lawrence Logan – military officer, jurist, politician
• Howie Long – NFL player
• Edward "Ted" Kennedy (1932–2009) – longtime Massachusetts Senator
• Amy Lawrence Lowell – Pulitzer Prize-winning poet
• Robert Lowell – poet
• Joyner Lucas – rapper
• Adam Lundquist – radio DJ
• Lyte Funky Ones – pop trio

M

• Aimee Mann – singer
• Jonathan Mann – HIV/AIDS researcher and World Health Organization administrator; killed on Swissair Flight 111
• Rob Mariano – Survivor contestant
• Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch – rap group
• Pedro Martínez – retired professional baseball player, member of National Baseball Hall of Fame
• Connie Martinson – talk show host
• Mike Matarazzo – professional bodybuilder
• Aaron Maund – Major League soccer player
• Masspike Miles – singer, songwriter, producer, Perfect Gentlemen (Maybach Music Group)
• Cotton Mather – Puritan minister and author
• Jonah Matranga – singer/songwriter
• Greg Mauldin – NHL player, Ottawa Senators
• John Mayer – singer-songwriter (born in Connecticut, lived in Boston)
• Charles Johnson Maynard – naturalist and ornithologist
• Chris McCarron – jockey
• Tommy McCarthy – baseball player^[83]
• John P. McDonough – Chief of Chaplains of U.S. Air Force
• Neal McDonough – actor
• Sean McDonough – sports announcer
• Will McDonough – sportswriter
• Richard McGonagle – voice actor
• Joey McIntyre – singer, dancer, actor (New Kids on the Block)
• Amy Upham Thomson McKean – pianist, songwriter and composer
• Ed McMahon – television personality
• Peter McNeeley – boxer (born in Medfield)
• Michael McShane – actor
• Maria Menounos – actress, journalist, professional wrestler
• Nelson Merced – activist and politician, first Hispanic elected to Massachusetts General Court
• David Merkow – golfer
• The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – band
• Roger Miller – musician
• Wayne Millner – NFL Hall of Famer
• Mission of Burma – band
• Joe Moakley – congressman
• Leo Monahan (1926–2013) – sports journalist^[84]
• William Monahan – screenwriter
• Morphine – band
• Van Morrison – singer, musician, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee in 1993 (born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has lived in Boston for years)
• Robert Morse – actor
• Samuel F. B. Morse – inventor and painter, inventor of electric telegraph and Morse code
• Eddie Mottau – guitarist
• Mr. Lif – hip-hop artist, member of The Perceptionists
• Helen Messinger Murdoch (1862–1956) – photographer; pioneered use of autochromes in travel photography
• Connor Murphy – professional ice hockey player

N

• Jack Nance – actor, title character in Eraserhead
• Jason Nash – actor
• Packy Naughton – Major League Baseball pitcher
• William Cooper Nell – abolitionist
• Betty Jo Nelsen – member of Wisconsin State Assembly
• Victor Folke Nelson – author, prison reform advocate, and sensational prison escapist
• New Edition – music group
• New Kids on the Block – band
• Nicky Jam – reggaeton singer and songwriter, Latin Grammy winner
• Terry Nihen – Playboy Playmate
• Leonard Nimoy – actor, known as Mr. Spock from Star Trek
• Zack Norman – actor, producer, financier
• Edward Norton – actor, American History X, Fight Club, The Italian Job
• B. J. Novak – actor, writer for NBC's The Office (from Newton)
• Christopher Nowinski – professional wrestler, known for his time in WWE

O

• Bill O'Brien – former head coach of Penn State football and the NFL's Houston Texans
• Conan O'Brien – television personality
• Mike O'Malley – actor
• On Broken Wings – band
• Patrice O'Neal – actor, comedian
• Thomas "Tip" O'Neill – U.S. Congressman, Speaker of the House
• David Ortiz – retired professional baseball player
• James Otis Jr. – patriot

P

• Robert Treat Paine – signer of Declaration of Independence
• Amanda Palmer – songwriter and performer
• Evelyn Parnell – opera singer
• George Patton IV – U.S. Army general; son of famed World War II General George S. Patton III
• Susan Paul – abolitionist
• John Peck – naval architect and merchant^[85]
• The Perceptionists – rap group
• Esther Petrack – contestant on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 15
• Paul Pierce – professional basketball player
• John Pigeon – Massachusetts Commissary General during Revolutionary War
• Albert Pike – C.S. Army general; author, poet, orator, jurist and prominent member of the Freemasons
• John Pinette – actor and comedian
• The Pixies – band
• Sylvia Plath – poet and author
• Edgar Allan Poe – poet and writer
• Amy Poehler – actress and comedian
• John Pollini – art historian
• Ellen Pompeo – actress
• Poppy (Moriah Rose Pereira) – musician and YouTube personality
• Tom Poti – NHL player, Washington Capitals
• Powerman 5000 – metal band
• Seth Putnam – musician

Q

• Dionne Quan – voice actress
• John Quinlan – pro wrestler

R

• Nicole Raczynski – pro wrestler known as Nikki Roxx, and as Roxxi in TNA Wrestling
• Aly Raisman – gymnast and Olympic gold medalist
• Sumner Redstone – chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Viacom
• Maia Reficco – actress and singer
• Arthur E. Reimer – two-time presidential candidate of Socialist Labor Party of America
• James Remar – actor, known for roles of Ajax in The Warriors and of Harry Morgan in Dexter
• Lee Remick – actress, Days of Wine and Roses, Anatomy of a Murder
• Jerry Remy – MLB player and sportscaster
• Patrick Renna – actor, known for role of Ham in The Sandlot
• Frank Renzulli – writer, actor
• Paul Revere – silversmith and American Revolution patriot
• Abbie Richards – TikToker
• Ellen Swallow Richards – "mother" of home economics and sewage treatment
• Jonathan Richman – musician
• Sam Rivers – jazz musician
• Alex Rocco – actor, known for role of Moe Greene in The Godfather
• Norman Rockwell – artist
• Jeremy Roenick – NHL player
• Jereme Rogers – professional skateboarder
• Mitt Romney – 70th Governor of Massachusetts; 2012 U.S. presidential candidate
• Francis Rosa – sports journalist for The Boston Globe
• Eli Roth – director, writer, producer, actor
• Lillian Roth – actress, singer
• John Rowe (1715–1787) – Boston resident merchant and diarist, original developer of Rowes Wharf^[86]
• Nathaniel Ruggles – U.S. Representative
• Bill Russell – professional basketball player and coach, NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist
• Blanchard Ryan – actress

S

• Alicia Sacramone – gymnast, world champion and Olympic silver medalist
• Perry Saturn – pro wrestler
• Richard Scarry – author, illustrator
• Jeremy Scott – televangelist, nudist, poet
• Edward Seaga – former Jamaican politician and statesman; his parents returned to Jamaica with him when he was three months old
• Ebenezer Seaver – U.S. Representative, chairman of Roxbury Board of Selectmen
• Anne Sexton – poet
• Dan Shaughnessy – Boston Globe sports columnist
• John H. Sherburne – U.S. Army brigadier general^[87]
• William E. Sheridan – actor
• Timothy Shriver – Chairman of Special Olympic Committee
• Anthony T. Shtogren – U.S. Air Force general
• Fatima Siad – fashion model, third place on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 10
• Bill Simmons – sports columnist, "The Sports Guy" on ESPN.com
• Slaine – hip hop artist
• Slapshot – band
• Jenny Slate – actress, comedian, Saturday Night Live cast member
• Emily Goodrich Smith – newspaper correspondent
• Jean Kennedy Smith (1928–2020) – sister of president John F. Kennedy; former United States Ambassador to Ireland
• Samuel Francis Smith – composer
• Edward Dexter Sohier – lawyer
• Joseph B. Soloveitchik – rabbi
• Thankful Southwick (1792–1867) – abolitionist, women's rights activist
• James Spader – actor, Boston Legal, The Blacklist
• Clinton Sparks – hip hop DJ, producer
• Statik Selektah – record producer and DJ
• Special Teamz – rap group
• Billy Squier – rock musician
• Lesley Stahl – television journalist, 60 Minutes
• Staind – band
• Larry Stark – theater critic
• Maurice Starr – musician, producer (New Edition and New Kids on the Block)
• Frederick Stevens – U.S. Representative from Minnesota^[88]
• Jane Agnes Stewart — author, editor, and contributor to periodicals
• Sonny Stitt – jazz saxophonist
• Street Dogs – band
• John J. Sullivan – diplomat
• John L. Sullivan – first heavyweight champion of gloved boxing
• Louis Sullivan – architect
• Donna Summer – singer
• William H. Sumner – developer of East Boston
• John Sununu – junior U.S. Senator from New Hampshire (born in Boston)
• William H. Swanson – chairman and CEO of Raytheon Company

T

• Edmund C. Tarbell – painter
• Lofa Tatupu – NFL linebacker
• James Taylor – folk singer
• Ruth Carol Taylor – first African-American flight attendant in the United States
• That Handsome Devil – band
• John Thomas – first man to clear 7feet in high jump
• Thomas W. Thompson – United States Representative and United States Senator^[89]
• Henry David Thoreau – iconic poet, novelist
• Uma Thurman – actress, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill
• Maura Tierney – actress
• 'Til Tuesday – band
• Jimmy Tingle – stand-up comedian, actor
• Jane Toppan – serial killer and nurse
• Eve Torres – professional wrestler
• John Tortorella – NHL coach, head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets
• Touré – writer, TV host
• Eliza Townsend – poet
• Judy Traub – Minnesota state senator
• Ralph Tresvant – singer
• Kevin Trudeau – author, pocket billiards promoter, salesman
• Jen Trynin – musician
• Jonathan Tucker – actor
• John Tudor – MLB pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals
• Charles Tufts – founder of Tufts University

U

• Unearth – band
• Hezekiah Usher – first bookseller in the 13 colonies

V

• Sarah Van Patten – ballet dancer
• Steven Van Zandt – musician with Bruce Springsteen band and actor, The Sopranos
• Vanna – band
• Jimmy Vesey – ice hockey player
• Brian Viglione – musician

W

• Philip Waggenheim – gangster
• Ashley Wagner (born 1991) – figure skater
• Donnie Wahlberg – actor, singer, producer (New Kids on the Block)
• Mark Wahlberg – actor, rapper, producer, Boogie Nights, The Perfect Storm, The Departed, The Fighter
• David Walker – abolitionist
• Jimmy Walker – NBA All-Star
• Mike Wallace – television journalist
• Marty Walsh – Mayor of Boston
• Barbara Walters – television journalist
• An Wang – computer engineer and inventor, co-founder of Wang Laboratories
• Fiske Warren – paper manufacturer and philanthropist
• Gretchen Osgood Warren – poet and muse
• Joseph Warren – founding father and Son of Liberty who died at the Battle of Bunker Hill
• Sam Waterston – actor
• Jack Welch – businessman, CEO of General Electric
• Westbound Train – band
• Phillis Wheatley – poet and former slave
• Colin White – ice hockey player
• Eli Whitney – inventor of the cotton gin
• Jermaine Wiggins – NFL player
• Alfred J. Wiggin – painter and society portraitist
• Tony Williams – jazz drummer
• Alan Wilson – singer, guitarist (Canned Heat)
• Oren Elbridge Wilson – Mayor of Albany, New York, born in Boston^[90]
• Robert Scott Wilson – actor, first male model on The Price Is Right
• Clara Winthrop – philanthropist, art collector
• Danny Wood – singer (New Kids on the Block)
• Gene Wood – game show announcer
• George Wood – baseball player^[83]
• Brian Woods – documentary filmmaker
• Benjamin Edward Woolf – British-born composer, playwright, journalist for Boston Saturday Evening Gazette and Boston Globe
• Steven Wright – Academy Award-winning comedian, actor and writer

X

• Malcolm X – civil rights activist, Muslim minister (lived in Roxbury)

Y

• Donnie Yen – Hong Kong actor, martial artist

Z

• Katya Zamolodchikova – drag queen, actor
• Rob Zombie – musician, director, producer

See also

References

Notes and References

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