#1Famous people · Akron
Of the 41 famous people born in Akron, an unusual share are musicians
Stephen Curry, the American basketball player, is the most widely known, written about in 76 languages. Second and third on the list are Willard Van Orman Quine and Richard Smalley. Most were born between 1920 and 1969: 34 of them. Born in 1888, Walter Hermann Bucher is the first name on record, and Bronny James, born in 2004, the most recent.
Born here
41
notable people
Best known
Stephen Curry
in 76 Wikipedia languages
First
1888
Walter Hermann Bucher
Youngest
2004
Bronny James
Most common field
Sports
12 people
Also called it home
2
notable residents
What stands out about Akron’s famous people
A town of musiciansMusicians make up 9 of the 41, 4 times the usual share.Known worldwideStephen Curry has an article in 76 languages, more than anyone else from here.Still making namesThe most recent birth on the list came in 2004, among 18 since 1950.41 notable peopleAkron lists 41 notable people, more than most towns.
★ What stands out · Known for
What Akron is known for
Compared with the usual town, musicians are the most over-represented field, at 4 times.
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 Akron
Ranked by languages covered: Stephen Curry with 76, then Willard Van Orman Quine with 63 and Richard Smalley with 61.
#1
#2Science & Medicine
Willard Van Orman Quine
1908–2000American philosopher and logician
63 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
RS#3
Through the years
When Akron’s famous people were born
The 1940s saw the most births of any decade: 10.
SportsFilm, TV & StageMusicScience & MedicineWriting & ArtsNotable
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Akron
Another 38, the earliest born in 1888.
Jaroslav Pelikan
1923–2006US historian of Christianity, Christian theology and medieval intellectual history at Yale
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Susan George
1934–2026American and French political and social scientist, activist and writer
Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Joe Bottom
born 1955American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, world champion, former world record-holder
SportsWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
A chosen home
Also called Akron home
2 notable people born elsewhere made the town home, John Brown the best known.
The town’s pick
Town Square →Who’s the most famous person from Akron?
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Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
The fullest list close by belongs to Barberton, with 23.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Akron 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 (21)
- Stephen Curry: Cyrus Saatsaz, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Willard Van Orman Quine: Maryclaire Quine, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Chrissie Hynde: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lola Albright: J. Walter Thompson-ad agency for Kraft, the program's sponsor, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Gates McFadden: John Manard, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Melina Kanakaredes: User:Praxinoa, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ray Wise: Michael Koschinski., CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- James Ingram: Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jaroslav Pelikan: Martycap at English Wikipedia, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Nate Thurmond: Robert Kingsbury, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Rita Dove: Robert Kennicott, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Shirley Fry: Harry Pot for Anefo ]], CC BY-SA 3.0 nl, Wikimedia Commons
- Bronny James: Erik Drost, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Mark Mothersbaugh: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Susan George: Valter Campanato/ABr, CC BY 3.0 br, Wikimedia Commons
- Sydne Rome: Cavarrone at the Italian Wikipedia project., Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David Jenkins: Mario De Biasi (Mondadori Publishers), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Larry Nance Jr.: Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- David Allan Coe: David Allan Coe, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John Brown: Augustus Washington, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Betty Sutton: United States Congress, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons