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Famous people · Somerville

Of the 38 famous people born in Somerville, an unusual share are musicians

Most widely known is Lee Van Cleef, the American actor, with articles in 59 languages. 27 of them were born between 1920 and 1969, more than in any other period. Fewer than a quarter of the 434 towns in New Jersey with famous people list more. The list is still growing: 5 were born since 1970.

#1 best knownLee Van CleefFilm, TV & Stage · 1925–1989
+34more
Born here
38
notable people
Best known
Lee Van Cleef
in 59 Wikipedia languages
First
1753
Frederick Frelinghuysen
Youngest
1989
Mason Robinson
Most common field
Sports
11 people

What stands out about Somerville’s famous people

★ What stands out · Known for

What Somerville is known for

Somerville has 3.4× the usual share of musicians.

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 Somerville

Counted by languages, Lee Van Cleef is ahead of Frederica von Stade and Philip Morrison: 59, 25 and 21.

Lee Van Cleef#1
Film, TV & Stage

Lee Van Cleef

1925–1989

American actor

59 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Frederica von Stade#2
Music

Frederica von Stade

born 1945

American singer and recording artist

25 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Philip Morrison#3
Science & Medicine

Philip Morrison

1915–2005

American astrophysicist

21 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Through the years

When Somerville’s famous people were born

The busiest decade was the 1940s, with 8 births.

Colonial daysA new nationMills & railroadsThe American centuryToday175018001850190019502000Frederica von StadeLee Van CleefFrederick FrelinghuysenElinor Wylie
SportsMusicWriting & ArtsNotableFilm, TV & StagePolitics & LawScience & MedicineMilitary

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

Everyone

Everyone else born in Somerville

35 more, best known first.

NA

Nicole Arendt

born 1969

American tennis player

Frederick Frelinghuysen

Frederick Frelinghuysen

1753–1804

United States general and senator

SM

Stephanie Maxwell-Pierson

born 1964

American rower

EM

Eric Murdock

born 1968

American basketball player

LM

Lynne Marta

1945–2024

American actress ( 1945-2024 )

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
JK

Joyce Kozloff

born 1942

American artist

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
DU

Douglas Urbanski

born 1957

American film producer

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
PW

Patti Webster

1964–2013

Publicist, author, minister

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
RH

Reggie Harrison

born 1951

American football player

NJ

Naomi Jakobsson

born 1941

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
RB

Raymond Bateman

1927–2016

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
AR

Arnold F. Riedhammer

born 1947

American musician

BR

Brian E. Rumpf

born 1964

Member of the New Jersey General Assembly

CW

Charley Winner

1924–2023

American football player and coach

FA

Frank Asch

1946–2022

American children's writer

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
GF

Gene Freed

1930–2009

American physician and bridge player

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
JW

Jennifer Weiss

born 1959

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
The town’s pick

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Next door

Famous people from the towns next door

Of the towns around it, Bridgewater Township has the most on record: 9.

From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Somerville 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 (9)