List of famous residents of Connecticut

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy certain standards for completeness. Revisions and sourced additions are welcome.

This list includes Connecticut natives and other notable individuals who have established a residence in the state. Because of its location near New York City, many famous people with business ties to the area move to Fairfield County from outside the state.

Contents 1 Politicians 2 Businesspeople 3 Sports figures 4 Musicians and composers 5 Writers 6 Media figures 7 Actors 8 Inventors 9 Historical figures

[edit] Politicians

• George Walker Bush, 43rd President of the United States, born in New Haven
• Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State, lives in Kent
• Ralph Nader, consumer advocate and former U.S. presidential candidate, native of Winsted
• Mark Warner, former governor of Virginia, grew up in Vernon and attended Rockville High School

[edit] Businesspeople

• Phineas T. Barnum (1810–1891), American showman, best remembered for founding Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, was born in Bethel
• James Greco, CEO of Bruegger's Bagels, lives in Cheshire
• Leona Helmsley, real estate maven and "Queen of Mean" maintains a 50+ acre estate in Greenwich
• Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of General Electric (GE), lives in New Canaan
• Charles Peter McColough, former Chairman and CEO of the Xerox Corporation, lives in Belle Haven, Greenwich
• Vince McMahon, Chairman of the WWF/WWE, lives in Greenwich
• J. Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913), financier and banker, one of the wealthiest men in America at the turn of the century (1901), was born in Hartford
• Diane von Furstenberg, Fashion Designer, resides in New Milford with media mogul husband Barry Diller
• Jack Welch, former head of General Electric lives in Fairfield
• David Neeleman, CEO and founder of JetBlue Airways lives in New Canaan.

[edit] Sports figures

• Jeff Bagwell, professional baseball player, grew up in Killingworth
• Vin Baker, former professional basketball player, born and raised in Old Saybrook
• Eric Boguniecki, professional hockey player, born and raised in West Haven
• Rico Brogna, former professional baseball player, born and raised in Watertown
• Marcus Camby, professional basketball player, born in Hartford
• Walter Camp, football coach known as the "Father of American Football", born and raised in New Haven
• Chris Clark, professional hockey player, born and raised in South Windsor
• Rob Dibble, former professional baseball player; baseball analyst, born and raised in Southington
• Chris Drury, professional hockey player, born and raised in Trumbull
• Ted Drury, professional hockey player, born and raised in Trumbull
• Dwight Freeney, professional football player, raised in Bloomfield
• Ryan Gomes of the Boston Celtics was born and raised in Waterbury
• Ron Hainsey, professional hockey player, born and raised in Bolton
• Dorothy Hamill, Olympic gold medalist, born and raised in Greenwich
• Anttaj Hawthorne , Oakland Raiders defensive tackle, grew up in Hamden and starred on the high school football team.
• Matt Hussey, professional hockey player, was born and raised in New Haven.
• Craig Janney, Hockey player, was raised in Enfield.
• Bruce Jenner, Olympic gold medalist, born in Newtown
• Tebucky Jones, who currently plays for the New England Patriots of the NFL, lives in Farmington
• J. Walter Kennedy (1912–1977), first commissioner of the NBA, born and raised in Stamford
• Brian Leetch, professional hockey player, raised in Cheshire
• Ivan Lendl, former tennis pro, maintains a residence in Litchfield
• Paul Levesque (Triple H) Current WWE Professional Wrestler - lives in Weston
• Pedro Martinez, professional baseball player, ace pitcher for the New York Mets resides in Greenwich
• Carl Pavano, professional baseball player for the New York Yankees, born and raised in Southington
• Alex Rodriguez, All-Star Third Baseman for the New York Yankees, has a home in Stamford
• Bill Romanowski, former professional football player, born in Vernon
• Ryan Shannon, professional hockey player, born and raised in Darien
• Jimmy Shea, Olympic gold medalist, born and raised in West Hartford
• Mike Tyson, World known professional boxer, former resident of Farmington
• Bobby Valentine, former professional baseball player and manager, born and raised in Stamford
• Mo Vaughn, former professional baseball player, born in Norwalk
• Steve Young, former professional football player; football analyst, grew up in Greenwich
• Greg Zipadelli, Tony Stewart's longtime crew chief; from Kensington

[edit] Musicians and composers

• Johnny April, bassist for alternative rock band Staind was born and raised in Enfield
• Michael Bolton, singer-songwriter, born in New Haven
• Chris Carrabba, member of indie rock band Dashboard Confessional was born in and raised in West Hartford.
• Cassie, singer with hit Me & U, was born in Chicago,and raised in New London
• Clint Conley, bassist/singer for Mission of Burma, grew up in Darien
• Rivers Cuomo, lead singer of Weezer, was raised on an ashram in Pomfret Center and attended high school in Storrs
• 50 Cent, rapper, maintains a residence in Farmington
• Jose Feliciano, singer/guitarist and six-time Grammy winner, lives in Fairfield County
• Roger Glover, songwriter and bassist for Deep Purple, lives in Greenwich
• Charles Ives (1874 – 1954) , American composer, was born in Danbury
• John Mayer, singer, native of Fairfield
• Moby, singer and electronic musician, was raised in Darien
• Thurston Moore, singer and guitarist for Sonic Youth, was raised in Bethel
• Liz Phair, singer/songwriter, born in New Haven
• Anika Noni Rose, actress and singer, star of Dreamgirls, born and raised in Bloomfield
• Keith Richards, member of The Rolling Stones, lives in Weston
• Diana Ross, singer, maintains a residence in the waterfront Belle Haven section of Greenwich
• John Scofield, famous Jazz guitarist, grew up in Wilton
• Paul Simon and his wife Edie Brickell live in New Canaan
• Peter Tork, bass, keyboards & vocals for the Monkees, was raised in Storrs
• Brian Yale, Bassist for Matchbox 20, was raised in Woodbridge
• Quan, An Underground MC signed to Ill Will Records owned by Nas

[edit] Writers

• David Pogue, New York Times Technology Columnist lives in Westport
• Chris Browne, who draws the comic strip "Hagar The Horrible", went to school in Wilton
• Samuel Langhorne Clemens aka Mark Twain 1835-1910, author "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", "Tom Sawyer" and many, many others, lived in Hartford from 1874 to 1891, and died at his home in Redding in 1910
• Wallace Stevens (1879–1955), American Modernist poet, lived in Hartford from 1916 until his death
• Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811–1896), abolitionist and writer, most famous for writing Uncle Tom's Cabin, was born in Litchfield and raised in Hartford
• Noah Webster (1758–1843), lexicographer, textbook author, spelling reformer, political writer, and editor, was born in what is now known as West Hartford
• Tim Buckley (artist),a webcomic writer is currently living in Connecticut.

[edit] Media figures

• Chris Berman, ESPN sportscaster lives in Cheshire
• William F. Buckley, Jr., founder of National Review, lives in Stamford
• Ann Coulter, author, columnist, political pundit, raised in New Canaan
• Phil Donahue, former talk show host, lives in Westport
• Patty Hearst Shaw, heiress of the Hearst media empire, lives in Wilton
• Norman Lear, TV producer, went to Weaver High School in Hartford.
• David Letterman keeps a home in New Canaan
• Barry Levinson, director, producer, and writer of many movies like "Rain Man", owns a house in Redding
• Seth MacFarlane, creator of the FOX animated sitcom Family Guy was born and raised in Kent
• Jim Nantz, CBS sportscaster lives in Wesport

[edit] Actors

• Anne Baxter, Actress ("All About Eve", "Razors Edge" "Hotel" TV Series) and grandaughter of Architect Frank Lloyd Wright, lived in Easton until her death in 1985
• Kevin Bacon, actor, maintains a residence in Sharon.
• Jesse Bradford, actor (Clockstoppers, Bring it On, Swimfan), born in Norwalk.
• Amy Brenneman, actress and star of Judging Amy, raised in Glastonbury
• Glenn Close, actress, born in Greenwich
• Bette Davis, actress maintained a home in Westport from the early '70s to mid '80s
• Brian Dennehy, actor in many movies, has a home in Woodstock
• Jenna Dewon, actress ("Step Up", "Take the Lead), born in Hartford.
• Mia Farrow, actress once married to Frank Sinatra, daughter of actress Maureen O'Sullivan, resides in Bridgewater
• Michael J. Fox, actor, maintains a residence in Sharon
• Will Friedle, actor, (Boys Meets World, Kim Possible), born in Hartford.
• Topher Grace, actor, (That seventies show (TV)), raised in Darien.
• Katherine Heigl, actress on "Grey's Anatomy", was born and raised in New Canaan
• Katharine Hepburn (1907 – 2003) , actress, was born in Hartford and lived in Old Saybrook
• David LaChapelle, actor, producer, director, born in Fairfield
• Adam LaVorgna, actor (7th Heaven), born in New Haven
• Christopher Lloyd, actor, born and raised in Stamford
• Dylan McDermott, actor, born in Waterbury
• Jesse Metcalfe, actor, plays John Tucker in John Tucker Must Die, was raised in Waterford
• Robert Mitchum (1917 – 1997), actor, was born in Bridgeport
• Ellen Muth, actress, was born in and maintains a residence in Milford
• Kevin Nealon, actor and comedian, born and raised in Bridgeport
• Paul Newman, actor and salad dressing guru, lives in Westport
• Frank Oz, actor, maintains a residence in Sharon
• John Ratzenberger, actor, born in Bridgeport
• Meg Ryan actress in When Harry Met Sally grew up in Bethel
• Meryl Streep, actress, maintains a residence in Washington, Connecticut
• Rip Torn, actor, maintains a residence in Lakeville
• The Rock, pro WWE wrestler, went to elementary school at Shepherd Glen in Hamden
• Christy Carlson Romano, actress (Even Stevens, Kim Possible), born in Milford
• Kyra Sedgwick, actress, maintains a residence in Sharon
• James Van Der Beek, actor, born and raised in Cheshire
• Sam Waterston, actor in Law & Order, maintains a residence in Salisbury
• Gene Wilder, actor and comedian, is a current resident of Stamford
• Bruce Willis, movie actor, has a home in Bethel
• Becki Newton, "Amanda" from Ugly Betty. Born in New Haven then raised in Guildford.

Chris Elliott, actor (There's Something About Mary, "Scary Movie" series) lives in Ridgefield, CT

[edit] Inventors

• Samuel Colt (1814–1862), inventor of the revolving cartridge firearm, was born in Hartford
• Charles Goodyear (1800–1860), inventor of vulcanized rubber, was born in New Haven
• Eli Whitney (1765–1825), inventor and manufacturer, created the first cotton gin in 1793, graduated from Yale College in 1792 and died in New Haven

[edit] Historical figures

• Ethan Allen (1738–1789), early American revolutionary and guerrilla leader, was born in Litchfield
• Benedict Arnold (1741–1801), early American Colonial Army Captain turned British spy was born in Norwich
• Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758),a colonial American Congregational preacher and theologian, was born in East Windsor
• Nathan Hale (1755–1776), captain in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War, American hero and official State Hero of Connecticut, widely considered America's first spy, was born in Coventry. Nathan Hale was hung when the British caught him spying and sending letters to George Washington during the war.
• Isaac Hull (1773–1843), a Commodore in the United States Navy, was born in Derby
• Israel Putnam (1718–1790), American army general who fought with distinction at the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War, lived in Pomfret