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Famous People from Rhode Island


Cyrus Aldrich (1808 - 1871) A U.S. Representative from Minnesota. During his life he was a sailor, boatman, farmer, contractor and mail contractor. Born in Smithfield, RI (1241)

Bill Almon (1952 - ) Born William Francis Almon. A retired American baseball player who played in the major leagues from 1974 through 1988. A utility player, he played first base, second base, shortstop, third base, outfield and designated hitter. Born in Providence, RI (1583)

Harry Anderson (1952 - ) An American actor, screenwriter, director and magician. He starred in the sit-com Night Court. Born in Newport, RI (509)

Ruth Ann Buzzi (1936 - ) An American comedienne and actress of theatre, film, and television. She is especially known for her performances on the comedy-variety show Laugh-In from 1968 to 1973. Born in Westerly, RI (1587)

Nicholas Colasanto (1924 - 1985) An American actor and television director, known primarily for his role as Coach Ernie Pantusso on the sitcom Cheers. He also appeared in feature films which include Fat City, Family Plot, and Raging Bull. Born in Providence, RI (1586)

Eddie Dowling (1889 - 1976) Born Joseph Goucher. An American actor, screenwriter, playwright, producer, songwriter and composer. Born in Woonsocket, RI (1588)

Alice Drummond (1928 - ) Born Alice E. Ruyter. An American actress of stage, film and television. She appeared in more than 30 films. Born in Pawtucket, RI (1589)

Nelson Ackerman Eddy (1901 - 1967) An American singer and movie star who appeared in 19 musical films during the 1930s and 1940s, as well as in opera and on the concert stage, radio, television, and in nightclubs. Born in Providence, RI (1590)

Mark Famiglietti (1979 - ) An American actor. He had a role in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Born in Providence, RI (924)

Peter Frechette (1956 - ) An American film, stage and television actor. He appeared in the films Grease 2, The First Wives Club and Inside Man. He had roles on the TV shows The Facts of Life, Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law and thirtysomething. Born in Coventry, RI (1591)

Peter Gerety (1940 - ) An American stage, screen and television actor. He appeared in the TV series Homicide: Life on the Street, Law & Order and Brotherhood. Born in Providence, RI (1592)

Spalding Rockwell Gray (1941 - 2004) An American actor, playwright, screenwriter, performance artist, and monologuist. Born in Providence, RI (1593)

Bobby Hackett (1915 - 1976) Born Robert Leo Hackett. Jazz musician who played the trumpet, the cornet, and the guitar. He played with the bands of Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman. Born in Providence, RI (505)

Gabby Hartnett (1900 - 1972) Born Charles Leo Hartnett. A National Major League Baseball catcher and manager who played nearly his entire career with the Chicago Cubs. Born in Woonsocket, RI (1584)

Joe Hassett (1955 - ) Born Joseph Patrick Hassett. A retired American basketball player in the NBA. He represented the US in the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico City. Born in Providence, RI (1585)



David Hedison (1927 - ) Born Albert David Hedison, Jr. An American film, television, and stage actor. Known for his role as Captain Lee Crane in the TV series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Born in Providence, RI (1594)

Ruth Carol Hussey (1911 - 2005) An American actress best known for her Academy Award-nominated role as photographer Elizabeth Imbrie in The Philadelphia Story. Born in Providence, RI (1595)

Thomas Harper Ince (1882 - 1924) An American silent film actor, director, screenwriter and producer of more than 800 films and pioneering studio mogul. Born in Newport, RI (1596)

Van Johnson (1916 - 2008) Born Charles Van Dell Johnson. An American film and television actor and dancer who was a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios during and after World War II. Born in Newport, RI (1597)

Nap Lajoie (1874 - 1959) Born Napoleon Lajoie. Also known as Larry Lajoie and nicknamed "The Frenchman". An American professional baseball second baseman and player-manager. Born in Woonsocket, RI (504)

Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890 - 1937) Known as H.P. Lovecraft. An American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction. Virtually unknown during his lifetime, he is now regarded as one of the most significant 20th-century authors in his genre. Born in Providence, RI (1605)

Eric Lutes (1962 - ) An American actor, best known for his role of Del Cassidy on Caroline in the City, as Jake Carlson on So Little Time and as Jerry Stanton in Switching Goals. Born in Charleston, RI (1598)

George Macready (1899 - 1973) An American stage, film, and television actor. He was often cast in roles as polished villains. He appeared in many TV series including Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Islanders. Born in Providence, RI (1599)

Jason Christopher Marsden (1975 - ) An American screen and voice actor, director and producer. He has done numerous voice roles in animated films, as well as various television series. Born in Providence, RI (1600)

Ron McLarty (1947 - ) An American actor, playwright and author. He has had over 100 appearances on TV including Law & Order, The Practice, Judging Amy and Spencer: For Hire. He is one of the country's leading audio book narrators. Born in Providence, RI (1601)

Michaela McManus (1983 - ) An American actress, best known for her portrayals of Lindsey Strauss on the television series One Tree Hill and A.D.A. Kim Greylek on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Born in Warwick, RI (1602)

Vincent Pagano (1967 - ) An American film and television actor and screenwriter. Pagano's first recurring television role was on the NBC sitcom Suddenly Susan in 1996. Born in Providence, RI (1603)

Gilbert Stuart (1755 - 1828) An American painter and widely considered to be one of America's foremost portraitists. His best known work is the unfinished portrait of George Washington that appears on the United States one-dollar bill. Born in Saunderstown, RI (508)

Meredith Louise Vieira (1953 - ) An American journalist, talk show, and game show host. She served as the original moderator of the ABC show The View and was a co-host of Today. She was also the original host of the U.S. syndicated version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Born in East Providence, RI (1604)