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Famous people · Paterson

53 famous people were born in Paterson, more of them scientists and doctors than in most towns

At the top of the list is the American physicist Frederick Reines, covered in 68 languages. Kathryn D. Sullivan is second and Patrick Warburton third. Between 1920 and 1969, 33 were born, the most of any period. Only 6 of the 434 towns in New Jersey with anyone on record list more.

#2 best knownKathryn D. SullivanScience & Medicine · born 1951
+49more
Born here
53
notable people
Best known
Frederick Reines
in 68 Wikipedia languages
First
1840
William Graham Sumner
Youngest
2000
James Hayman
Most common field
Film, TV & Stage
12 people
Also called it home
2
notable residents

What stands out about Paterson’s famous people

★ What stands out · Known for

What Paterson is known for

Set against the usual town, scientists and doctors come out 2.9 times as common.

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 Paterson

Scientists and doctors take two of the three places.

FR#1
Science & Medicine

Frederick Reines

1918–1998

American physicist

68 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Kathryn D. Sullivan#2
Science & Medicine

Kathryn D. Sullivan

born 1951

American astronaut

46 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Patrick Warburton#3
Film, TV & Stage

Patrick Warburton

born 1964

American actor

44 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Through the years

When Paterson’s famous people were born

No decade has more births than the 1950s, at 11.

A new nationMills & railroadsThe American centuryToday1850190019502000Kathryn D. SullivanLou CostelloWilliam Graham Sumner
Film, TV & StageWriting & ArtsScience & MedicineMusicSportsPolitics & LawNotableFaithBusinessMilitary

Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.

Everyone

Everyone else born in Paterson

The rest number 50, with 11 performers among them.

J. Michael Straczynski

J. Michael Straczynski

born 1954

American writer and filmmaker

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
JS

John Spencer

1946–2005

American actor

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Lou Costello

Lou Costello

1906–1959

American actor and comedian

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Frank Lautenberg

Frank Lautenberg

1924–2013

U.S. Senator from New Jersey

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
William Graham Sumner

William Graham Sumner

1840–1910

American sociologist

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Mark L. Polansky

Mark L. Polansky

born 1956

American astronaut, pilot

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Charlie Adler

Charlie Adler

born 1956

American voice actor

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Ron Cephas Jones

Ron Cephas Jones

1957–2023

American actor

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Bucky Pizzarelli

Bucky Pizzarelli

1926–2020

American jazz guitarist

JK

Joseph Keller

1923–2016

American mathematician

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Mindy Sterling

Mindy Sterling

born 1953

American actress

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Peter Kreeft

Peter Kreeft

born 1937

Theologian, philosopher, penman, university teacher

RE

Randy Edelman

born 1947

American musician, producer, and composer for film and television

AW

Alice White

1904–1983

American actress

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Joseph Weber

Joseph Weber

1919–2000

American physicist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Michael Wolff

Michael Wolff

born 1953

American author, essayist, and journalist

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
DM

David Miller

1909–1992

Film director

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
JD

Jacqueline Dubrovich

born 1994

American fencer

JD

Joseph DePietro

1914–1999

American weightlifter

BM

Bill Mallon

born 1952

American orthopedic surgeon, golfer, and historian

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
JC

Joseph Cortese

born 1948

American actor

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
TW

Tom Waddell

1937–1987

Founder of Gay Games

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
A chosen home

Also called Paterson home

2 notable people born elsewhere made the town home, Allen Ginsberg the best known.

Allen Ginsberg

Allen Ginsberg

1926–1997

American poet and writer

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
WD

William L. Dill

1874–1952

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
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Next door

Famous people from the towns next door

The best known from each town bordering Paterson.

From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Paterson 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)