Top 15 Famous people from New Jersey

Top 15 Famous People from New Jersey

Originally written by Lynn on January 2022. Edited by Charity K on May 2023.

New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bounded by New York to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, and Delaware and Pennsylvania to the west. The capital is Trenton.

There are many famous faces who hail from The Garden State, and below are the top 10 famous people from New Jersey;

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1. Grover Cleveland

Grover Cleveland – Wikipedia

Stephen Grove Cleveland was born on March 18th, 1837 in Caldwell, New Jersey. He was an American lawyer and politician who served as the 22nd and 24th President of the United States from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897. Cleveland is the only president in American history to serve two non-consecutive terms in office, and the first Democrat elected after the Civil War.

As president, he established the Interstate Commerce Commission; strengthened the US defenses; modernized the Navy; and handled the Venezuelan crisis of 1895. Cleveland signed into law the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887 to regulate the railroad industry, particularly its monopolistic practices. The Interstate Commerce Act was the first federal law to regulate private industry in the US.

Since he was both the 22nd and 24th president, he was featured on two separate dollar coins released in 2012 as part of the Presidential $1 Coin Act of 2005. In 2013, Cleveland was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. In 1908, he suffered a heart attack and died on June 24 at age 71.

2. Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra 1957 – Wikipedia

Born on December 12, 1915, in Hoboken, New Jersey, Francis Albert Sinatra was an American singer and motion-picture actor who is hailed as the greatest American singer of 20th-century popular music.

Sinatra got his first break in 1935 when his mother persuaded a local singing group, the 3 Flashes, to let him join. With Sinatra, the group became known as the Hoboken Four and passed an audition from Edward Bowes to appear on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour show. In 1943, he signed with Columbia Records as a solo artist.

Sinatra is estimated to have sold 150 million records worldwide. In addition to this, he was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1983, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan in 1985, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1997. Sinatra was also the recipient of eleven Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Trustees Award, the Grammy Legend Award, and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He was included in Time magazine’s compilation of the 20th century’s 100 most influential people.

Sinatra died on May 14, 1998, aged 82.

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3. Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston – Wikipedia

Whitney Elizabeth Houston was an American model, singer, and actress born on 9^th August 1963 in Newark, New Jersey. Huston was known for her powerful, soulful vocals and vocal improvisation skills, and was dubbed “The Voice” by the media.

Her success was acknowledged by a series of prestigious awards, notably two Emmy Awards, eight Grammy Awards (including Record and Album of the Year wins), 14 World Music Awards, 16 Billboard Music Awards, and 22 American Music Awards. Houston was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020.

Houston made her acting debut with the romantic thriller film The Bodyguard (1992). She went on to produce multicultural movies. As a model, she was one of the first black women to appear on the cover of Seventeen in 1981.

Whitney Houston died on February 11, 2012. She was 48 years old.

4. Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep – Wikipedia

Mary Louise “Meryl” Streep was born on June 22, 1949, in Summit, New Jersey. She is an American actress known for her masterly technique, expertise with dialects, and subtly expressive face. She is often described as “the best actress of her generation”, having received a record 21 Academy Award nominations, winning three, and a record 32 Golden Globe Award nominations, winning eight.

She was awarded the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2004, Gala Tribute from the Film Society of Lincoln Center in 2008, and Kennedy Center Honor in 2011 for her contribution to American culture, through performing arts. President Barack Obama awarded her the 2010 National Medal of Arts, and in 2014, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2003, the government of France made her a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters.[6] She was awarded the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2017.

5. Shaquille O’ Neal

Shaquille O’Neal – Wikipedia

Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal, born 6^th March 1972 in Newark, New Jersey, is an American former professional basketball player. O’Neal is regarded as one of the greatest basketball players and centers of all time, having played for six teams over his 19-year career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and is a four-time NBA champion.

O’Neal’s individual accolades include the 1999–2000 Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, the 1992–93 NBA Rookie of the Year award, 15 All-Star Game selections, three All-Star Game MVP awards, three Finals MVP awards, two scoring titles, 14 All-NBA team selections, and three NBA All-Defensive Team selections. Shaq was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. He was elected to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2017. In October 2021, O’Neal was again honored as one of the league’s greatest players of all time by being named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.

In addition to his basketball career, O’Neal has released four rap albums, appeared in numerous films, and is a sports analyst on the television program Inside the NBA.

6. John Travolta

John Joseph Travolta was born on February 18, 1954, in Englewood, New Jersey. He is an American actor, dancer, and singer who shot to stardom with his role as Vinnie Barbarino in the hit TV series, Welcome Back Kotter.

Travolta’s accolades include his nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor for performances in Saturday Night Fever and Pulp Fiction. He won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for his performance in Get Shorty and has received a total of six nominations. In 2014, he received the IIFA Award for Outstanding Achievement in International Cinema. In 2016, he received his first Primetime Emmy Award.

Travolta is also a certified pilot and owns four aircraft.

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7. Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart – Wikipedia

Martha Helen Stewart was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on 3^rd August 1941. She is an American retail businesswoman, former model, writer, and an ‘Emmy’ award-winning TV show host. She is the founder of ‘Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia’.

She is the publisher of Martha Stewart Living magazine and hosted two syndicated television programs: Martha Stewart Living, which ran from 1993 to 2004, and Martha, which ran from 2005 to 2012.

Charges pertaining to the ‘ImClone stock trading case’ were pressed against her, resulting in five months in prison, five months of home confinement, being fined $30,000, and given two years probation on July 16, 2004. On March 4, 2005, Martha was released from prison, and over the years she has managed to bounce back and take charge of her company, restoring normalcy and profitability.

8. Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas – Wikipedia

Michael Kirk Douglas is an American actor and producer, born on September 25, 1944, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He is best known for his intense portrayals of flawed heroes. His father Kirk Douglas, the legendary actor, was an early influence in his life.

He has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the AFI Life Achievement Award.

Besides his acting career, Douglas has received notice for his humanitarian and political activism.

9. Jon Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi at Madison Square Garden – Wikipedia

John Francis Bongiovi Jr. was born on March 2, 1962, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Known professionally as Jon Bon Jovi, is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, and actor. He founded the rock band Bon Jovi in 1983 and became its frontman. The band became popular for its power ballads, soaring guitar riffs, and well-crafted melodies.

Bon Jovi has released 15 studio albums with his band, as well as two solo albums. He was inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2012, he ranked number 50 on the list of Billboard magazine’s “Power 100”, a ranking of “The Most Powerful and Influential People in the Music Business”. In 1996, People Magazine named him one of the “50 Most Beautiful People in the World”. In 2000, People awarded him the title “Sexiest Rock Star”.

10. Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah 2018 – Wikipedia

Dana Elaine Owens was born on March 18, 1970, in Newark, New Jersey, and is professionally known as Queen Latifah. She is an African-American award-winning rapper, singer, music producer, entrepreneur, and actress.

Queen Latifah received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006, being the first hip-hop artist to do so. Latifah’s work in music, film, and television has earned her a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, two NAACP Image Awards, an Academy Award nomination, and sales of over two million records.

11. Danny DeVito

Daniel Michael DeVito Jr was born on November 17, 1944. He is an actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is known for his role as Louie De Palma in the television series Taxi. His performance won him a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award.

Danny is known for his film roles in Romancing the Stone, Throw Momma from the Train, Junior, Matilda, and Deck the Halls. Danny and Michael Shamberg founded Jersey Films which has produced films like Garden State, Pulp Fiction, and Freedom Writers.

In 2017, Danny earned a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. This was for his performance in the Broadway revival of The Price.

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12. Chris Rock

Christopher Julius Rock was born on February 7, 1965. He is a comedian, actor, and filmmaker. He is known for his edgy humor and quick wit which he uses to tackle subjects like human sexuality, observational humor, and race relations.

He rose to fame through his role in the sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1990 to 1993.

He has received numerous accolades including three Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe Award nomination, and four Primetime Emmy Awards. He was ranked No. 5 on Comedy Central’s list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time. 

13. Sean Combs

Sean John Combs was born on November 4, 1969. He is known by his stage name P. Diddy. He is a rapper, actor, record producer, and record executive. His debut album No Way Out was successful commercially and was certified seven times platinum.

Sean has won two MTV Video Music Awards and three Grammy Awards. His estimated net worth is $1 billion. In 1998, he launched his own clothing line Sean John which led him to be nominated for the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

His wardrobe is described as timeless and diverse by multiple magazines and fashion designers.

14. Tracy Morgan 

David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Tracy Jamal Morgan is born on November 10, 1968. He is a stand-up comedian, producer, actor, and author. He is known for his role in the sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1996 to 2003.

Tracy is also known for his role in the sitcom 30 Rock from 2006 to 2013. He earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. He has hosted the VH1 Hip Hop Honors as well as the 2013 Billboard Music Awards.

Multiple people as her major influence including Carol Burnett, Jackie Gleason, Martin Lawrence, and Richard Taylor. 

15. Stevie Wonder

Stevland Hardaway Morris was born on May 13, 1950. He is widely known as Stevie Wonder. He is a singer-songwriter who is credited for his influence on other musicians across a range of genres that include pop, soul, gospel, rhythm and blues, and jazz.

Stevie is one of the best-selling music artists of all time with record sales of over 100 million worldwide. He has won 25 Grammy Awards and one Academy Award. He has also been inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame, Songwriter Hall of Fame, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Over the years, he has been noted for his work as an activist on political causes including his 1980 campaign to make Martin Luther Jr.’s birthday a federal holiday.