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Famous People from Maine


John Thomas Averill (1825 - 1889) A Representative from Minnesota. Born in Alna, ME (1224)

Christopher Daniel Barnes (1972 - ) An American actor who performed in many movies and television series. Best known for his voice role as the lead in the 1994 animated television series Spider-Man. He was also the voice of Prince Eric in Disney's The Little Mermaid. Born in Portland, ME (1128)

Anna Belknap (1972 - ) An American actress. She is best known for the role of Lindsay Monroe on the television series CSI: NY. Born in Damariscotta, ME (1129)

Joshua L. Chamberlain (1828 - 1914) Born Lawrence Joshua Chamberlain. An American college professor. He joined the Union Army during the American Civil War and reached the rank of brigadier general. He served 4 one-year terms as the Governor of Maine and was the president of Bowdoin College. Born in Brewer, ME (227)

Patrick Dempsey (1966 - ) An American actor and race car driver. Best known for his role as neurosurgeon Dr. Derek Shepherd on the medical drama Grey's Anatomy. He has also appeared in several films, including Sweet Home Alabama, Enchanted, Made of Honor, Valentine's Day and Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Born in Lewiston, ME (1131)

Dorothea Dix (1802 - 1887) Humanitarian and social reformer. Created the first generation of mental asylums. She was the Superintendent of Female Nurses during the Civil War. Born in Hampden, ME (228)

James William Flavin, Jr. (1906 - 1976) An American character actor whose career lasted nearly half a century. He appeared in nearly 400 films between 1932 and 1971 and in almost 100 television episodes. Born in Portland, ME (1132)

John Ford (1894 - 1973) Born John Martin Feeney. An American film director. He was famous for both his westerns such as Stagecoach, The Searchers, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and adaptations of such classic 20th-century American novels as The Grapes of Wrath. Born in Cape Elizabeth, ME (1133)

Joey Gamache (1966 - ) A retired professional boxer. He is the former WBA Super Featherweight and WBA Lightweight Champion. Born in Lewiston, ME (1134)

Hannibal Hamlin (1809 - 1891) U.S. Vice-President during Abraham Lincoln's first term (1861-1865), and was a senator and a representative from Maine. He was the first Vice President from the Republican Party. Born in Paris, ME (224)

Marsden Hartley (1877 - 1943) An American Modernist painter, poet, and essayist of the early 20th century. Born in Lewiston, ME (1135)



Anna Kendrick (1985 - ) An American actress and singer. She obtained international fame after her performance in Up in the Air. Other movies she has been in include Camp, The Twilight Saga, Pitch Perfect, and Into the Woods. Born in Portland, ME (1136)

Sumner Increase Kimball, Sc.D. (1834 - 1923) The organizer of the United States Life-Saving Service and the General Superintendent of the Life-Saving Service from 1878-1916. One of the predecessor services that eventually became the US Coast Guard. Born in Lebanon, ME (1137)

Stephen King (1947 - ) An American novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, columnist, actor, television producer, and film director. Some of his works including The Shining, Salem's Lot, Carrie, Pet Sematary, and The Shawshank Redemption have been adapted into movies. Born in Portland, ME (225)

Linda Lavin (1937 - ) An American singer and actress. She is best known for playing the title character in the sitcom Alice and for her Broadway performances. Born in Portland, ME (1138)

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882) An American poet and educator. Considered the most influential poet of his day with famous works such as "Paul Revere's Ride," The Song of Hiawatha and Evangeline. Born in Portland, ME (230)

Edwin Arlington Robinson (1869 - 1935) An American poet and playwright. He won 3 Pulitzer Prizes for his work in poetry. Born in Tide Head, ME (232)

Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller (1908 - 1979) He served as the 41st Vice President of the United States (1974-1977) and as the 49th Governor of New York (1959-1973). He was also a philanthropist and businessman. Born in Bar Harbor, ME (226)

Joan Benoit Samuelson (1957 - ) An American marathon runner, who won gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, the year that the women's marathon was introduced. As a result she was the first ever women's Olympic marathon champion. Born in Cape Elizabeth, ME (1130)

Margaret Chase Smith (1897 - 1995) The first woman to be elected to both houses of Congress and the first woman to represent Maine in either. Born in Skowhegan, ME (231)

Percy Lebaron Spencer (1894 - 1970) American engineer and well-known inventor. Most famous for his invention of the microwave oven. Born in Howland, ME (229)