#1Famous people · Needham
33 famous people were born in Needham, more of them performers than in most towns
Aly Raisman, the American artistic gymnast, is the most widely known, written about in 30 languages. 15 of them were born between 1920 and 1969, more than in any other period. Births since 1970 account for 11 of the names. The earliest on the list is Alvan Fisher, born in 1792, and the youngest Harry Swartz, born in 1996.
Born here
33
notable people
Best known
Aly Raisman
in 30 Wikipedia languages
First
1792
Alvan Fisher
Youngest
1996
Harry Swartz
Most common field
Sports
12 people
Also called it home
5
notable residents
What stands out about Needham’s famous people
★ What stands out · Known for
What Needham is known for
Performers stand out most, at 2.2 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.
Through the years
When Needham’s famous people were born
The 1960s top the chart, with 6 births in the decade.
SportsFilm, TV & StageWriting & ArtsPolitics & LawScience & MedicineMusicNotable
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
The best known
Born in Needham
Two of the three are writers and artists.
#1
#2
#3Everyone
Everyone else born in Needham
The rest number 30, with 12 athletes among them.
Dave Cadigan
born 1965All-American college football player, professional football player, offensive lineman
SportsWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
A chosen home
Also called Needham home
Born elsewhere, they lived here: 5 in all, led by Cheryl Jacques.
The town’s pick
Town Square →Who’s the most famous person from Needham?
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Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Of the towns nearby, Boston lists the most people: 48.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Needham 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 (24)
- Aly Raisman: Agência Brasil Fotografias, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- N. C. Wyeth: Unidentified photographer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Patrick: Defense Dept. photos by Samantha L. Quigley, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Peter DeFazio: United States Congress, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Robbie Ftorek: TheAHL, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Francis Blake: Francis Blake, Jr. By William A. Webster (Waltham, Massachusetts), 1901, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Alvan Fisher: Delfill, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Stephen Hauschka: Mike Morris, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Randy Bernsen: Randy Bernsen, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- William Henry Carter: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jen Kirkman: E. Bradshaw, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Karl Ravech: Karl_Ravech_with_West_Point_Cadets.jpg: Mike Strasser, Pointer View derivative work: Delaywaves talk • contribs, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David Harrison Barlow: Brittany Woods, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Samuel H. Wragg: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Cheryl Jacques: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David P. Reed: Taken by family member, presumably the uploader, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Denise Garlick: Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Leslie Bradley Cutler: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Lida E. Harkins: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Edgar Allan Poe: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jack Lemmon: Wire photo, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Fisher Ames: Gilbert Stuart, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jay Harrington: FOX8, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kenny Florian: Ahodges7, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons