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Famous people · Lancaster

Performers stand out among the 46 famous people born in Lancaster

At the top of the list is the American actor and singer Jonathan Groff, covered in 43 languages. Second and third on the list are Beth Behrs and Taylor Kinney. 22 of them were born since 1970, more than in any other period. Only 11 of the 946 towns in Pennsylvania with anyone on record list more.

#1 best knownJonathan GroffFilm, TV & Stage · born 1985
+42more
Born here
46
notable people
Best known
Jonathan Groff
in 43 Wikipedia languages
First
1740
John Gibson
Youngest
2003
Nick Kurtz
Most common field
Sports
16 people
Also called it home
4
notable residents

What stands out about Lancaster’s famous people

★ What stands out · Known for

What Lancaster is known for

No other field is as far above the usual share as performers, at 2.1 times.

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 Lancaster’s famous people were born

The 1990s top the chart, with 8 births in the decade.

Colonial daysA new nationMills & railroadsThe American centuryToday175018001850190019502000Todd YoungRobert Smith
SportsFilm, TV & StagePolitics & LawWriting & ArtsMusicMilitaryScience & MedicineNotable

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

The best known

Born in Lancaster

The three best known are all performers.

Jonathan Groff#1
Film, TV & Stage

Jonathan Groff

born 1985

American actor and singer

43 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Beth Behrs#2
Film, TV & Stage

Beth Behrs

born 1985

American actress

39 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Taylor Kinney#3
Film, TV & Stage

Taylor Kinney

born 1981

American actor and model

31 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Everyone

Everyone else born in Lancaster

43 more, best known first.

Todd Young

Todd Young

born 1972

United States Senator from Indiana

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Robert Smith

Robert Smith

1757–1842

United States Secretary of the Navy

Abby Dahlkemper

Abby Dahlkemper

born 1993

American soccer player

Andrew J. Feustel

Andrew J. Feustel

born 1965

American astronaut

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Benjamin Smith Barton

Benjamin Smith Barton

1766–1815

American physician, professor, and botanist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
John F. Reynolds

John F. Reynolds

1820–1863

United States Army general

Billy Bletcher

Billy Bletcher

1894–1979

American actor

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Jennifer Gareis

Jennifer Gareis

born 1972

American actress

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Barbara Franklin

Barbara Franklin

born 1940

American politician and manager

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Hugh Herr

Hugh Herr

born 1964

American bioengineer

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Carla Kihlstedt

Carla Kihlstedt

born 1971

American violinist, singer and composer

Russell Canouse

Russell Canouse

born 1995

American soccer player

John D. Anderson

John D. Anderson

born 1937

Curator of Aerodynamics at the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institution

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Lamar Patterson

Lamar Patterson

born 1991

American basketball player

DL

D. Ross Lederman

1894–1972

American film and television director

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
JJ

Jerry Johnson

born 1982

American basketball player

VD

Vince DiCola

born 1957

US musician and songwriter

JW

Jenkin Whiteside

1772–1822

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
MW

Michael Willis

born 1949

American actor

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
MW

Marianne Wiggins

born 1947

American author

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
A chosen home

Also called Lancaster home

Notable people Wikidata lists as living in Lancaster, though born elsewhere.

James Buchanan

James Buchanan

1791–1868

President of the United States from 1857 to 1861

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Hugh O'Brian

Hugh O'Brian

1925–2016

American actor and United States Marine

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
AH

Amos Arthur Heller

1867–1944

American botanist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
TE

Tristan Egolf

1971–2005

American author and activist

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
The town’s pick

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From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Lancaster 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)