The following is a list of notable residents, natives, and persons generally associated with the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the sixth largest city in the United States. The list includes both former and present residents of the city. [edit] Academia - Joseph Addison Alexander, (1809–1860), born in Philadelphia, biblical scholar[1]
- Leon Bass, educator, principal of Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin High School
- Noam Chomsky - linguist
- Gordon Clark - Christian theologian, professor
- Leda Cosmides - evolutionary psychologist
- Philip D. Curtin - historian
- Marc Lamont Hill - professor, educational researcher, cultural critic, and activist
- Seymour S. Kety - neuroscientist, schizophrenia researcher
- Margaret Mead - anthropologist
- Howard M. Temin - Nobel colaureate in physiology or medicine, 1975
- Cornelius Van Til - Christian theologian, professor
- Andrew Weil - medical doctor, established the field of integrative medicine
- Gayraud Wilmore - Christian theologian, professor
[edit] Art and architecture [edit] Business - Pat Croce - entrepreneur; part-owner and former president, Philadelphia 76ers
- Solomon R. Guggenheim - founder, Yukon Gold Company; philanthropist, art collector
- Michael Johns - health care executive, former government official
- Tom Knox - former CEO, UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania; 2007 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
- Jim Murray - co-founder, Ronald McDonald House Charities; former general manager, Philadelphia Eagles
- Pat Olivieri - founder of Pat's King of Steaks, reputed creator of the cheesesteak
- William S. Paley - former president, CBS
- Randal Pinkett - entrepreneur, Ph.D., winner of The Apprentice 4
- Lynda Resnick - co-owner of Roll International, which owns POM Wonderful, FIJI Water, and Teleflora
- Brian L. Roberts - chairman and CEO, Comcast Corporation
- Ed Snider - chairman, Comcast Spectacor
- Justus Strawbridge - department store founder
- Brian Tierney - CEO, Philadelphia Media Holdings, LLC; publisher, Philadelphia Inquirer
- John Wanamaker - department store founder
- William Wrigley Jr. - founder of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
[edit] Film, television, and theater - Kevin Bacon - actor, half of Bacon Brothers
- Chuck Barris - actor, composer, writer, director
- Ethel Barrymore - actress
- John Barrymore - actor
- Lionel Barrymore - actor
- Maria Bello - actress
- Joey Bishop - entertainer
- Danny Bonaduce - actor
- David Boreanaz - actor
- Jim Boyd - actor
- Peter Boyle - actor
- Rob McElhenney - actor, creator of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
- David Brenner - comedian
- Richard Brooks - screenwriter, director
- Nicholas Brothers - tap dancers
- Eugene Byrd - actor
- Michael Callan - actor
- Gia Marie Carangi - model
- Adam Carolla - radio, television personality
- Dick Clark - host, American Bandstand and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, game show host, producer
- The Clark Brothers - tap dancers
- Imogene Coca - actress
- Bradley Cooper - actor
- Bill Cosby - comedian, actor, Ed.D.
- Broderick Crawford - actor
- Susan Webb Cushman - stage actress
- Blythe Danner - actress
- Bruce Davison - actor
- John de Lancie - actor
- Kim Delaney - actress
- Curly Joe DeRita - comedian, actor, member of the Three Stooges
- Francis De Sales (1912-1988), actor
- John Doman - actor, The Wire
- Mike Douglas - singer, television talk show host
- Gary Dourdan - actor
- Ja'net Du Bois - actress
- Kevin Eubanks - musician, Tonight Show band leader
- Lola Falana - dancer, actress
- Norman Fell - actor
- Tina Fey - comedian
- W. C. Fields - actor
- Larry Fine - comedian, actor, member of the Three Stooges
- Kate Flannery - actress
- Ralph Garman - actor, radio personality
- Janet Gaynor - actress
- Richard Gere - actor
- Todd Glass - comedian
- Kate Gosselin - See Jon and Kate Plus Eight
- Seth Green - actor
- Grayson Hall - actress
- Kevin Hart - actor, comedian
- Sherman Hemsley - actor
- Tigre Hill - producer, director
- Kevin Hooks - actor, director
- Mark Indelicato - actor, singer (Justin Suarez on Ugly Betty)
- Judith Jamison - dancer; choreographer; artistic director, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- Barry Jenner - actor
- Clark Johnson - actor, director
- Nicole Kassell - director, writer
- George Kelly - playwright, screenwriter, director, actor; uncle of Princess Grace of Monaco
- Grace Kelly - actress, Princess of Monaco
- Irvin Kershner - director, The Empire Strikes Back
- Jack Klugman - actor
- Mario Lanza - actor
- Stan Lathan - film and television producer, director
- Andrew Lawrence - actor
- Joey Lawrence - actor
- Matthew Lawrence - actor
- Raw Leiba - actor, stuntman, sports model
- Jeanette MacDonald - actress, singer
- Bob McAllister - children's television personality
- Andrea McArdle - singer / actress Broadway's original Annie, Starlight Express, State Fair, Les Misérables, Beauty and the Beast
- Paul McCrane - actor, musician
- Adam McKay - director, writer
- Mary Lou Metzger - singer, Lawrence Welk Show performer
- Katherine Moennig - actress
- Kelly Monaco - model, actress
- Zero Mostel - actor
- Becki Newton- actress (Amanda Tanen on "Ugly Betty"]
- J.J. North- actress
- Ana Ortiz - actress (Hilda Suarez on "Ugly Betty")
- Holly Robinson Peete - actress
- Lisa Peluso - actress Saturday Night Fever and soap opera star Search For Tomorrow, Loving, One Life to Live, As the World Turns, and Another World
- Gervase Peterson - contestant, original season of Survivor
- Robert Picardo - actor
- Jon Polito - actor
- Matt Robinson - Sesame Street actor; father of Holly Robinson Peete
- Bob Saget - actor, comedian, game show host
- Camillia Sanes - actress, The Shield
- Mathew St. Patrick - actor
- M. Night Shyamalan - film director
- Penny Singleton - radio and film actress, voice actress
- Toukie Smith - model, actress; sister of fashion designer Willi Smith
- Will Smith (a.k.a. The Fresh Prince) - actor, hip-hop recording artist, one-half of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
- Joey Stefano -dancer, actor, porn star
- Parker Stevenson - actor
- Charles Stone III - film director, creator of Budweiser's "Whassup?" advertising campaign
- Teller - magician, one-half of the duo Penn & Teller
- Tom Verica - actor
- Nancy Walker - actress
- Bruce Walsh - playwright
- Karen Malina White - actress
- Kenya D. Williamson - actress, screenwriter
- John Zacherle ("The Cool Ghoul") - actor, producer
[edit] Historical figures - David Hayes Agnew (1818–1892), surgeon and teacher[1]
- Robert Aitken, publisher of the first Bible in North America[1]
- Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888), novelist[1]
- Andrew Allen (1740–1825), delegate to the Continental Congress[1]
- Harrison Allen (1841–1897), anatomist and physician[1]
- Richard Allen - clergyman, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church[1]
- Joseph Anderson, United States Senator[1]
- Charles John Biddle (1819–1873) - member, U.S. House of Representatives
- Edward Biddle (1738–1779) - delegate, First Continental Congress
- Francis Biddle (1886–1968) - U.S. Solicitor General, U.S. Attorney General, principal American judge during the Nuremberg trials
- Nicholas Biddle (banker) (1786–1844) - financier, president, Second Bank of the United States
- Nicholas Biddle (naval officer) (1750–1778) - one of the original captains of the Continental Navy
- Richard Biddle (1796–1847) - member, U.S. House of Representatives, 1837–1840
- Ed Bradley (1941–2006) - CBS News radio and television journalist, 1967–2006
- Henry "Box" Brown (1815–1878?) - abolitionist, escaped slavery by literally mailing himself to Philadelphia from Richmond, Virginia
- Bebe Moore Campbell (1950–2006) - author
- Samuel Carpenter (1649-1714) First Treasuer of Pennsylvania, Deputy Governor to William Penn
- Octavius Valentine Catto (1839–1871) - African American educator, civil rights activist, and baseball player
- Marguerite de Angeli (1889–1987) - author, illustrator
- Charlotte Forten Grimké (1837–1914) - abolitionist, poet, educator
- Benjamin Guggenheim (1865–1912) - businessman, died aboard the RMS Titanic
- John von Sonnentag de Havilland (1826–1886), American officer of arms in England
- A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. (1928–1998) - commissioner, Kerner Commission; judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient
- John A. Hostetler (1918–2001) author, educator, leading scholar of Amish and Hutterite societies
- Grace Kelly (1929–1982) - princess of Monaco, actress
- George Lippard (1822–1854) - novelist, journalist, playwright, social activist, labour organizer
- Alain LeRoy Locke - writer, key figure of the Harlem Renaissance, first African-American Rhodes Scholar
- George Gordon Meade - Union army general in the American Civil War
- George B. McClellan - Union army general in the American Civil War[1]
- Henry C. McCook - entomologist, clergyman, author, designer of Philadelphia's City Flag
- Joseph McKenna - associate justice, U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Attorney General, member, U.S. House of Representatives
- Thomas Mifflin - Major General in Continental Army, fifth president of U.S. Congress, first governor of Pennsylvania[1]
- Anna Balmer Myers, author
- Robert N. C. Nix, Jr. (1928–2003) - former chief justice, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
- William Penn - founded city of Philadelphia and Province of Pennsylvania[1]
- William Pepper (1843–1898) - founder, Free Library of Philadelphia; provost, University of Pennsylvania
- Philip Syng Physick - "father of American surgery"[1]
- Betsy Ross (1752–1836) - reputed to have sewn the first American flag[1]
- Peggy Shippen, wife of Benedict Arnold
- Willi Smith (1948–1987) - fashion designer
- Leon Sullivan - Baptist minister, social activist
- Thomas Truxton-naval officer
- Joseph Wharton (1826–1909) - founder, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, co-founder, Bethlehem Steel, co-founder, Swarthmore College
[edit] Media and literature - Doug Banks - nationally syndicated morning radio personality
- Donald Barthelme - author
- Ben Bova - science fiction author
- Ed Bradley - journalist, 60 Minutes
- Tony Bruno - sports radio talk show host
- Gia Carangi - fashion model
- Angelo Cataldi - sports radio host
- Renee Chenault-Fattah - WCAU-TV news anchor; wife of U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah
- Rasheed Clark - novelist, educator
- Joseph Dennie - writer
- Charles Fuller - playwright
- Jim Gardner - WPVI-TV news anchor
- Mike Golic - ESPN radio and television personality, former Philadelphia Eagle
- Terry Gross - radio host
- Benjamin Joffe-Walt - writer, CNN Africa Print Journalist of the Year
- Aries Keck - author, radio reporter
- Suzy Kolber - ESPN football analyst
- Andrea Kremer - NBC football analyst
- Bob Lassiter - retired left-wing radio host
- Jonathan Maberry - author
- Michelle Malkin - political commentator
- Mark Levin- political commentator
- Chris Matthews - NBC/MSNBC journalist and political talk show host
- Jim McKay - ABC sports journalist
- Chris McKendry - ESPN SportsCenter anchor
- Larry Mendte - KYW-TV news anchor
- Joe Queenan - author, humorist
- Beasley Reece - KYW-TV sports journalist, former Philadelphia Eagle
- Dave Roberts - WPVI-TV meteorologist; former co-host, AM Philadelphia; father of actor David Boreanaz
- Lisa Scottoline - author
- Peter Shellem - journalist for The Patriot-News
- Vai Sikahema - WCAU-TV sports journalist, former Philadelphia Eagle
- Michael Smerconish - WPHT-AM radio talk shot host, Philadelphia Daily News columnist; MSNBC political analyst
- Stephen A. Smith - ESPN radio and television personality, former Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist
- Omar Tyree - author
- Ukee Washington - KYW-TV news anchor
- Jennifer Weiner - author
- E. Michael Jones - magazine publisher, author
- Harry Kalas - Hall of fame Play by Play broadcaster for the Philadelphia Phillies
[edit] Military Figures - A Life Once Lost - metal band signed to Ferret Music
- Andrew Adgate - musician, founder of music schools, and choir director[1]
- Al Alberts (of The Four Aces) - singer
- Marian Anderson - opera singer/contralto
- Frankie Avalon - singer
- Az Yet - R&B singers
- Bloodhound Gang - band
- Bahamadia - rapper
- Pearl Bailey - singer, dancer, actress
- Charli Baltimore - hip-hop artist
- Samuel Barber - composer
- Len Barry (of The Dovells) - rock singer
- Toni Basil - singer ("Mickey"), choreographer, actress
- Frankie Beverly - R&B singer/musician, founder and lead singer of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
- Charlie Biddle - jazz bassist
- Bilal - neo-soul singer/musician
- Cindy Birdsong - founding member, Labelle; replacement member, Diana Ross & the Supremes
- Blue Magic - R&B singers
- Boyz II Men - R&B group
- Solomon Burke - R&B singer
- Uri Caine - composer, arranger, jazz pianist
- Cassidy - rapper
- Sarah Chang - violinist
- Chubby Checker (born Ernest Evans) - singer
- Cinderella - glam metal band
- Stanley Clarke - bassist
- Alice Cohen - singer/songwriter
- John Coltrane - jazz saxophonist
- Cool C - rapper
- Jim Croce - singer
- The Cross Movement - Christian hip-hop artists
- James Darren - singer, actor
- Dead Milkmen - punk/alternative band
- The Delfonics - Philadelphia soul group
- James DePreist - orchestral conductor
- Fred Diodati (of The Four Aces) - singer
- Dieselboy - drum and bass DJ/producer
- Disco Biscuits - jam-band artists
- Bill Doggett - jazz and R&B organist and pianist
- John Duffy - singer and bassist
- Charles Earland - organist
- Sandrine Erdely-Sayo - classical pianist
- Kevin Eubanks - jazz guitarist
- Robin Eubanks - jazz trombonist and arranger
- Eve - rapper, actress
- Fabian (born Fabian Forte) - singer
- Sheila Ferguson - singer with the 3 Degrees, 1966 to 1986
- Wilhelmenia Fernandez - opera singer/soprano
- Rachelle Ferrell - jazz vocalist
- Eddie Fisher - singer
- Floetry - R&B/neo-soul/hip-hop duo
- Sam Fogarino - Drummer, Interpol
- Freeway - rapper
- G. Love and Special Sauce - jam band
- Kenny Gamble - producer and co-founder, Philadelphia International Records
- Stan Getz - jazz saxophonist
- Benny Golson - jazz saxophonist
- Charlie Gracie - rock singer
- Gogi Grant (born Myrtle Audrey Arinsberg) - singer
- Anthony Green - singer, ex Saosin, Circa Survive
- Vivian Green - R&B singer
- Daryl Hall - singer, one-half of the duo Hall & Oates
- Joseph Hallman-composer
- Rufus Harley - jazz saxophonist and bag pipe player
- Albert Heath - jazz drummer
- Jimmy Heath - jazz saxophonist
- Percy Heath - jazz bassist
- Billie Holiday - premier female jazz vocalist
- The Hooters - rock band
- Leon Huff - producer and co-founder, Philadelphia International Records
- Phyllis Hyman - R&B/jazz vocalist
- The Intruders - Philadelphia soul group
- Ms. Jade - hip-hop artist
- DJ Jazzy Jeff (born Jeffrey Townes) - hip-hop DJ, neo-soul producer, one-half of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
- Jedi Mind Tricks - underground hip-hop duo
- Joan Jett - rock musician
- Philly Joe Jones - jazz drummer
- Kitty Kallen (born Katie Kallen) - pop singer
- Keith (born James Barry Keifer) - singer
- Khia- rapper
- King Britt - house DJ, producer
- The Kinleys - twin country music singers
- Kurupt - rapper
- Labelle (a.k.a. Patti LaBelle & the Bluebells) - Soul & R&B singers
- Patti LaBelle - R&B singer
- Mario Lanza - operatic singer
- Amos Lee - folk/blues singer
- The Loved Ones - punk rock band
- Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes - member, TLC
- Al Martino (born Alfred Cini) - singer
- Pat Martino - jazz guitarist
- Barbara Mason - R&B singer/composer
- Christian McBride - jazz bassist
- McFadden & Whitehead - singers, songwriters, producers
- MewithoutYou - Christian Rock band signed to Tooth and Nail Records
- MFSB - Philadelphia soul group, recorded Soul Train theme song
- Monie Love - rapper, radio personality
- Lee Morgan - trumpet
- Mountain Brothers - hip hop group
- James Mtume - R&B/jazz musician; founder of Mtume
- Marc Nelson - R&B singer; former member, Boyz II Men; current member, Az Yet
- John Oates - singer, one-half of the duo Hall & Oates
- Paint It Black - punk band
- Billy Paul - Philadelphia soul singer
- Teddy Pendergrass - R&B singer; former lead singer, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
- Vincent Persichetti - composer, music educator
- Pieces of a Dream - R&B/jazz fusion artists
- Pink - R&B/rock singer
- Fayette Pinkney - singer with the 3 Degrees, 1963 to 1976
- Trudy Pitts - jazz keyboardist
- Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson - Drummer/Producer/DJ/Writer/Journalist/Photographer
- RJD2 - producer
- Sun Ra - jazz pianist, bandleader
- Danny Rapp, singer, Danny & the Juniors
- Res - R&B singer
- Red Letter Life - rock band
- Paul Robeson - singer, activist, attorney, All-American college athlete
- The Roots - hip hop artists
- Asher Roth - rapper
- Todd Rundgren - singer
- Bobby Rydell - singer
- Santogold - Dub Punk singer
- Schoolly D - rapper
- Jill Scott - R&B/neo-soul singer
- Shirley Scott - organ
- Dee Dee Sharp - Singer/Actress
- Gene Shay - "grandfather of Philadelphia folk music"
- Beanie Sigel - rapper
- Bunny Sigler - R&B singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer
- Silvertide members - rock band
- Siris - international music duo
- Oscar Shumsky - violinist
- Musiq Soulchild (a.k.a. Musiq) - R&B/neo-soul singer
- Soulquarians - neo-soul musical collective
- Steady B - rapper
- Swayzak (of The Goats) - rapper
- The Stylistics - Philadelphia soul group
- Princess Superstar - hip-hop performer
- Tammi Terrell - R&B/Motown singer
- The Three Degrees - Philadelphia soul/disco group
- Three Times Dope - hip-hop group
- The Trammps - disco band
- Tuff Crew - hip-hop group
- Robbie Tronco - DJ
- McCoy Tyner - pianist
- Clara Ward - gospel singer
- Grover Washington, Jr. - jazz saxophonist
- Crystal Waters - dance and house music singer
- Ethel Waters - blues singer, actress
- André Watts - pianist
- Pamela Williams - jazz saxophonist
- Josh Wink - DJ, electronic music producer
- Karen Young - disco singer
- Young Gunz - hip-hop duo
- The Young Werewolves - psychobilly group
- Valencia - alternative rock band
[edit] Politics - Leon Abbett - Philadelphia native, later governor of New Jersey[1]
- Lynne Abraham - Philadelphia district attorney, 1991–present
- William Allen - mayor of Philadelphia from 1735 to 1736[1]
- Raj Bhakta - 2006 congressional candidate; contestant, The Apprentice, Season 2
- Bob Brady - member, U.S. House of Representatives, 1st Congressional District, Pennsylvania, 1997–present, 2007 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
- William T. Cahill - governor of New Jersey, 1970–1974
- Richard McGarrah Helms - Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) from 1966 to 1973
- George M. Dallas - U.S. Vice President[1]
- Dwight E. Evans - member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 203rd Legislative District; 2007 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
- Chaka Fattah - member, U.S. House of Representatives, 2nd Congressional District, Pennsylvania, 1995–present; 2007 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
- Douglas J. Feith - Undersecretary of Defense under Pres. George W. Bush, leading adviser on Iraq policy
- Tom Feeney - State of Florida politician (from 1990)
- Shirley Franklin - mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, 2002–present
- W. Wilson Goode - mayor of Philadelphia, 1984–1992
- W. Wilson Goode, Jr. - at-large member, Philadelphia City Council, 2000–present
- Oscar Goodman - attorney; mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, 1999–present
- William H. Gray - Baptist minister; former member, U.S. House of Representatives, 2nd Congressional District, Pennsylvania; former president, United Negro College Fund
- William J. Green III - mayor of Philadelphia, 1980–1984; member, U.S. House of Representatives, 1964–1977
- Simon Guggenheim - U.S. Senator, Colorado, 1907–1913; philanthropist
- Alexander Haig - former U.S. Secretary of State and White House Chief of Staff
- John J. McCloy - chairman, Chase Manhattan Bank and Ford Foundation, Assistant U.S. Secretary of War during WW II, subsequently Allies' High Commissioner of Germany
- J. Whyatt Mondesire - president, NAACP, Philadelphia chapter
- Patrick Murphy - member, U.S. House of Representatives, 8th Congressional District, Pennsylvania, 2007–present
- Robert N.C. Nix, Sr. - member, U.S. House of Representatives, 1959–1979
- Michael A. Nutter - mayor of Philadelphia, 2008–present; member, Philadelphia City Council, 4th District, 1992–2006
- Dennis M. O'Brien - member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 169th Legislative District; 1976-1980 and 1982–present; Speaker Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 2007-2008
- Tony J. Payton, Jr. - member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 179th Legislative District; 2007–present
- Aaron Proctor - former Pasadena, California Mayoral candidate and blogger
- Charles H. Ramsey - Philadelphia police commissioner, 2008–present
- Ed Rendell - governor of Pennsylvania, 2003–present; mayor of Philadelphia, 1992–2000
- Frank Rizzo - mayor of Philadelphia, 1972–1980; Philadelphia police commissioner, 1967–1971
- Allyson Schwartz - member, U.S. House of Representatives, 13th Congressional District, Pennsylvania, 2005–present
- Arlen Specter - U.S. Senator, Pennsylvania, 1981–present; Philadelphia district attorney, 1966–1974
- Ben Stahl - Jewish labor leader and activist
- John F. Street - mayor of Philadelphia, 2000–2008
- Milton Street - entrepreneur; former Pennsylvania state legislator; 2007 Philadelphia City Council candidate; brother of John F. Street
- Al Taubenberger - 2007 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
- C. Delores Tucker - civil rights activist; Pennsylvania Secretary of State, 1971–1977
- Anna C. Verna - member, Philadelphia City Council, 2nd District, 1976–present; Philadelphia City Council president, 2000–present
- Fernando Wood - mayor of New York, 1855–1858, 1860–1862
[edit] Sports - John Abadie - baseball player[2]
- Keith Allen - former head coach and former general manager, Philadelphia Flyers
- Doug Allison - first baseball player ever to use a glove[2]
- Paul Arizin - early NBA basketball player with the Philadelphia Warriors
- Bill Barber - former player and former head coach, Philadelphia Flyers
- Bert Bell - founder of the Philadelphia Eagles football team, commissioner of the National Football League
- Mohini Bhardwaj - Olympic gymnast
- Tyrell Biggs - boxer, 1984 Olympic gold medalist
- Charles Brewer - boxer, former super middleweight champion
- Bennie Briscoe - boxer
- Roy Campanella - professional baseball player, 3-time National League Most Valuable Player[2] 06
- Tyrone Crawley - boxer
- Steve Cunningham - boxer, current IBF cruiserweight champion
- Buster Drayton - boxer, former light middleweight (super welterweight) champion
- Jon Drummond - track and field athlete, 1996 and 2000 Olympic medalist
- Angelo Dundee - boxing trainer
- Fred Dunlap - professional baseball player[2]
- Teresa Edwards - WNBA basketball player; Olympic gold medalist, 1984, 1988, 1996, and 2000
- A.J. Feeley - NFL football player
- Rube Foster - Negro League baseball pitcher, founded original Negro National League
- Francine Fournier - professional wrestling valet with Extreme Championship Wrestling
- Jimmie Foxx - professional baseball player
- Joe Frazier - boxer, 1964 Olympic gold medalist, former heavyweight champion
- Marvis Frazier - boxer, son of Joe Frazier
- Harry Fritz - baseball player
- World B. Free - NBA and USBL basketball player
- Joe Fulks - NBA basketball player
- Jim Fullington - professional wrestler, Extreme Championship Wrestling and WWE
- Freddy García - professional baseball player
- Jeff Garcia - CFL and NFL quarterback
- Kerry Getz - Professional skateboarder
- Eddie George- NFL football player, 1995 Heisman Trophy winner
- Tom Gola - NBA basketball player, former La Salle University men's basketball head coach, 1983 Philadelphia mayoral candidate
- Hal Greer - NBA basketball player
- Matt Guokas - NBA basketball player and coach
- Brendan Hansen - Olympic Swimmer
- Eric Harding - boxer
- Marvin Harrison - NFL football player
- Fred Hill - NFL football player, co-founder, Ronald McDonald House Charities
- Ken Hitchcock - NHL head coach
- Bernard Hopkins - boxer, former middleweight champion
- Demetrius Hopkins - boxer, nephew of Bernard Hopkins
- Andre Iguodala - NBA basketball playeram
- Bobby Jones - ABA and NBA basketball player, 1982–1983 NBA Sixth Man of the Year
- John B. Kelly, Sr. - triple Olympic gold medal winning rower, father of Princess Grace of Monaco
- John B. Kelly, Jr. - champion rower, brother of Princess Grace of Monaco
- Matt Kilroy - professional baseball player[2]
- Sam Kimber - professional baseball player
- Bart King - cricket bowler
- Billy King - president, Philadelphia 76ers
- Kyle Korver - NBA basketball player
- Nap Lajoie - professional baseball player
- Sonny Liston - boxer, former heavyweight champion
- Tommy Loughran - boxer, former light heavyweight champion
- John Macionis - Olympic swimmer, silver medalist, 1936
- John McDermott, professional golfer
- Benny McLaughlin - professional soccer player, member of United States Soccer Hall of Fame.
- Levi Meyerle, professional baseball player[2]
- Nate Miller - boxer, former cruiserweight champion
- Bob Montgomery - boxer, former lightweight champion, boxing promoter
- Matthew Saad Muhammad (a.k.a. Matthew Franklin) - boxer, former light heavyweight champion
- Jim O'Brien - NBA basketball coach
- Vince Papale - NFL football player, inspiration for the motion picture Invincible
- Mike Powell - track and field athlete, 1988 and 1992 Olympic silver medalist, current holder of the long jump world record
- Zahir Raheem - boxer, 1996 Olympian
- Jack Ramsay - former head basketball coach, Saint Joseph's College men's basketball team, former NBA coach and general manager
- Merrill Reese - Philadelphia Eagles radio broadcaster
- David Reid - boxer, 1996 Olympic gold medalist, light middleweight division
- Stevie Richards - professional wrestler, Extreme Championship Wrestling and WWE.
- Robin Roberts - professional baseball player
- Ivan Robinson - boxerr
- Kirk Shelmerdine - NASCAR driver, crew chief
- Steve Slaton - NFL football player
- John Stevens - NHL head coach
- Harry Stovey - professional baseball player[2]
- John Baxter "Doc" Taylor - track and field athlete, first African-American to win Olympic gold medal (1908 Summer Games)
- Meldrick Taylor - boxer, 1984 Olympic gold medalist, former welterweight and junior welterweight champion
- Aaron Torres - boxer, contestant on The Contender 2
- Najai Turpin - boxer, contestant on The Contender
- Steve Wagner - Olympic field hockey player
- Bobby "Boogaloo" Watts - boxer
- Ike Williams - boxer, former lightweight champion
- Erik Williams - football player, defensive tackle for Dallas Cowboys
- Stevie Williams - Pro Skateboarder for D.G.K.
- Ned Williamson - professional baseball player[2]
- Jimmy Young - boxer
[edit] Philadelphia native basketball players - Mumia Abu-Jamal - journalist, political activist, convicted murderer, international cause célèbre for the abolition of capital punishment
- Ramona Africa - only adult to survive the 1985 bombing of the MOVE house
- Gloria Allred - attorney
- Sydney Biddle Barrows - illegal escort service proprietor, often referred to as "The Mayflower Madam"
- Guion Bluford - astronaut, first African-American in space
- Pete Conrad - astronaut, third man to walk on the moon (Apollo 12)
- Katherine Drexel - Roman Catholic saint
- Ira Einhorn - environmental/antiwar activist, convicted murderer
- Daniel Faulkner - Philadelphia police officer killed in the line of duty in 1981 by Mumia Abu-Jamal who was convicted of his murder
- Christopher Ferguson - astronaut
- Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde - Philadelphia Municipal Court judge, boxer, daughter of Joe Frazier
- Barbara Clementine Harris - first female bishop ordained in the Anglican Communion
- James Martin - Jesuit priest, writer (My Life with the Saints), and frequent media commentator on modern Catholicism
- Seamus McCaffrey - justice, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; former presiding judge of the "Eagles Court"
- Carol McCain - ex-wife of presidential candidate John McCain
- Silas Weir Mitchell - physician, writer
- Bawa Muhaiyaddeen - Sufi saint
- John Joseph O'Connor - Roman Catholic cardinal; archbishop, Archdiocese of New York, 1984–2000
- Marjorie Rendell - judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 1997–present; first lady of Pennsylvania, 2003–present
- Nicodemo Scarfo - mafioso; head of the Scarfo crime family, 1981–1991
- Walter E. Williams - economist and author
- Lester Shubin - Inventor of the Kevlar vest [3]
[edit] References [edit] External links |