#1Famous people · New Haven
Of the 39 famous people born in New Haven, an unusual share are performers
Josiah Willard Gibbs, the American scientist, is the most widely known, written about in 75 languages. Between 1920 and 1969, 21 were born, the most of any period. Per 10,000 residents, the town has 2.9, close to the 2.9 of the typical Connecticut town. Births span 1800 to 1985, from Charles Goodyear to Madeline Zima.
Born here
39
notable people
Best known
Josiah Willard Gibbs
in 75 Wikipedia languages
First
1800
Charles Goodyear
Youngest
1985
Madeline Zima
Most common field
Film, TV & Stage
15 people
Also called it home
7
notable residents
What stands out about New Haven’s famous people
A town of performersAmong the 39 people born here, 15 are performers: 4.1 times the usual share.Known worldwideJosiah Willard Gibbs has an article in 75 languages, more than anyone else from here.Still making namesSince 1950, 19 of them have been born here, the latest in 1985.A chosen home7 more notable people chose to live here, Cleanth Brooks among them.
★ What stands out · Known for
What New Haven is known for
Performers stand out most, at 4.1 times the usual share.
The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.
The best known
Born in New Haven
Three names lead: Josiah Willard Gibbs (75 languages), Paul Giamatti (59) and George Akerlof (58).
#1
#2
#3Science & Medicine
George Akerlof
born 1940American economist and Koshland Professor of Economics
58 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Through the years
When New Haven’s famous people were born
The busiest decade was the 1950s, with 7 births.
Film, TV & StageScience & MedicineSportsMusicWriting & ArtsNotableBusiness
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone
Everyone else born in New Haven
Still to come: 36 more, from 1800 to 1985.
Benjamin Spock
1903–1998American pediatrician and author of Baby and Child Care
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Allen Stack
1928–1999American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, former world record-holder, lawyer
SportsWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
A chosen home
Also called New Haven home
Notable people Wikidata lists as living in New Haven, though born elsewhere.
The town’s pick
Town Square →Who’s the most famous person from New Haven?
Pick one and say why. Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
Your pick
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Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Close by, the fullest list is Hamden’s, at 26 names.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is New Haven and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.
Photo credits (18)
- Josiah Willard Gibbs: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Paul Giamatti: Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- George Akerlof: Yan Chi Vinci Chow, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Vint Cerf: Duncan.Hull, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Charles Goodyear: Southworth & Hawes, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Craig Mello: Bengt Oberger, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alfred G. Gilman: NIH historic image, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Benjamin Spock: Bert Verhoeff for Anefo, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alfred Newman: Wim van Rossem for Anefo, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Michael Bolton: Alterna2 http://www.alterna2.com, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lawrence Summers: United States Department of Treasury, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Alfred P. Sloan: Artist: S. J. Woolf (Samuel Johnson Woolf, 1880-1948), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Becki Newton: Mingle MediaTV, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Robert Moses: C.M. Stieglitz, World Telegram staff photographer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Tony Amendola: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ernest Borgnine: Milburn McCarty Public Relations. It was not uncommon for a network, program sponsor or studio to distribute publicity information through either an ad or publicity agency., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Edwards Pierrepont: Matthew Brady, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Megan Bayne: J O Y F U L 🐻 V I O L E N C E, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons