#1Famous people · Providence
39 famous people from Providence, many of them performers
Most widely known is H. P. Lovecraft, the American writer and editor, with articles in 117 languages. Between 1920 and 1969, 17 were born, the most of any period. For its size the list is short: 2 for every 10,000 residents, against 3.4 in the typical Rhode Island town. 12 of them were born since 1970.
Born here
39
notable people
Best known
H. P. Lovecraft
in 117 Wikipedia languages
First
1846
Lewis Boss
Youngest
1998
Robert Capron
Most common field
Film, TV & Stage
11 people
Also called it home
11
notable residents
What stands out about Providence’s famous people
Known worldwideRead in 117 languages, H. P. Lovecraft is known far beyond the town.A town of performers11 of the 39 people born here are performers, 3× the usual share.Still making names16 were born since 1950, the youngest in 1998.A chosen home11 more notable people chose to live here, J. Michael Kosterlitz among them.
★ What stands out · The best known
Born in Providence
Writers and artists take two of the three places.
#1
#2Writing & Arts
Cormac McCarthy
1933–2023American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter
73 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
#3Known for
What Providence is known for
Providence has 3× the usual share of business people.
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 Providence’s famous people were born
No decade has more births than the 1940s, at 7.
Film, TV & StageSportsWriting & ArtsScience & MedicinePolitics & LawBusinessMusicFaith
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Providence
A further 36 follow, born between 1846 and 1998.
Lincoln Chafee
born 1953American politician and former United States Senator from Rhode Island
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
A chosen home
Also called Providence home
11 notable people born elsewhere made the town home, J. Michael Kosterlitz the best known.
The town’s pick
Town Square →Who’s the most famous person from Providence?
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Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
Of the towns around it, Pawtucket has the most on record: 46.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Providence 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 (25)
- H. P. Lovecraft: Lucius B. Truesdell, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Cormac McCarthy: From dust jacket: "Photograph of Cormac McCarthy by David Styles", Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Damien Chazelle: isabelle VERONESE from ELBEUF, France, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Aaron Beck: Uncredited photographer, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- John Bates Clark: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jason Marsden: Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jack Reed: United States Senate, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Pat Toomey: Congressional, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Lincoln Chafee: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Bill Conti: Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ruth Hussey: Howard Lakin, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Jill Craybas: Markabq, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Shanna Moakler: Toglenn, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- George M. Cohan: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- David Hedison: Nightscream, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Robert Capron: Politics and Prose Bookstore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Blu Cantrell: John B. Mueller, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons
- Grace Lee Boggs: Kyle McDonald, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lewis Boss: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- J. Michael Kosterlitz: US Embassy Sweden, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Anne Fausto-Sterling: Rama, CC BY-SA 3.0 fr, Wikimedia Commons
- Wendy Carlos: V.L. Smith / Bay Area Reporter, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Arunah Shepherdson Abell: Bendann Brothers (American, active 1850s-1873), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Joe Mazzulla: NBC Sports Boston, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ernie DiGregorio: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons