The following is a list of prominent people who were born in Worcester, Massachusetts, lived in Worcester, or for whom Worcester is a significant part of their identity.

Academics and inventors

Richard T. Antoun Richard T. "Dick" Antoun (March 31, 1932, in Worcester, Massachusetts – December 4, 2009, in Vestal, New York) was a professor of anthropology at Binghamton University who specialized in Islamic and Middle Eastern studies. His work centered on ...

, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at

Binghamton University The State University of New York at Binghamton (Binghamton University or SUNY Binghamton) is a public university, public research university with campuses in Binghamton, New York, Binghamton, Vestal, New York, Vestal, and Johnson City, New Yor ...

* Harvey Ball, inventor of the

smiley face A smiley, sometimes referred to as a smiley face, is a basic ideogram that represents a smiling face. Since the 1950s it has become part of popular culture worldwide, used either as a standalone ideogram, or as a form of communication, such a ...

Alan T. Busby Alan Thacker Busby (December 12, 1895 – June 10, 1992) was an American Animal science, animal scientist and educator who taught at two Historically black colleges and universities, historically black universities from 1921 to 1966. He was the ...

, educator and first African American alumnus of the University of Connecticut * Harold W. Chase, educator and United States military officer * Robert Goddard, father of modern rocketry * G. Stanley Hall, first president of Clark University *

John Kneller John William Kneller, OAP (October 15, 1916 – July 2, 2009) was an English-American French language professor and scholar, and the fifth President of Brooklyn College. Biography Kneller was born in Oldham, England, to John W. Kneller and M ...

, English-American professor and fifth President of

Brooklyn College Brooklyn College is a public university in Brooklyn, Brooklyn, New York. It is part of the City University of New York system and enrolls about 15,000 undergraduate and 2,800 graduate students on a 35-acre campus. Being New York City's first publ ...

* David Green, president of Colby College * Lawrence Park, art historian, architect, and genealogist * Francis E. Reed, inventor and industrialist who founded F.E. Reed & Co. *

Daniel B. Wesson Daniel Baird Wesson (May 18, 1825 – August 4, 1906) was an American inventor and firearms designer. He helped develop several influential firearm designs over the course of his life; he and Horace Smith were the co-founders of two companies n ...

, gunsmith, co-founder of Smith & Wesson

Actors and artists

* John Wolcott Adams (1874–1925), artist *

Edith Ella Baldwin Edith Ella Baldwin (November 19, 1870, Worcester, Massachusetts – February 21, 1941) was an American painter of portraits and miniatures, a craftswoman, and writer. She studied in Paris at Académie Julian, under William-Adolphe Bouguereau and T ...

(1846–1920), artist *

H. Jon Benjamin Harry Jon Benjamin (born May 23, 1966) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer and musician. Benjamin is primarily known for his voice roles in adult animated series, such as Sterling Archer in ''Archer'', Bob Belcher in ''Bob's Burgers ...

, actor best known as the voices of Sterling Archer on '' Archer'', Bob Belcher on '' Bob's Burgers'', and Can of Vegetables in the '' Wet Hot American Summer'' franchise *

Christopher Boffoli Christopher Boffoli (born in 1969 in Worcester, Massachusetts) is a fine art photographer, photojournalist,Elbridge Boyden, architect of Mechanics Hall *

Zara Cully Zara Frances Cully (January 26, 1892 – February 28, 1978) was an American actress. Cully was best known for her role as Olivia 'Mother Jefferson' Jefferson on the CBS sitcom ''The Jeffersons'', which she portrayed from the series beginning in ...

, actress best known for '' The Jeffersons'' *

Stephen DiRado Stephen DiRado (born 1957) is an American photographer. His work is mostly black-and-white, and he makes frequent use of large-format cameras. He is most noted for his portraiture, night-astronomical photography, and semi-composed group photograph ...

, photographer *

Stephen C. Earle Stephen Carpenter Earle (January 4, 1839 – December 12, 1913) was an architect who designed a number of buildings in Massachusetts and Connecticut that were built in the late 19th century, with many in Worcester, Massachusetts. He trained in ...

, architect *

Paul Fontaine Paul Fontaine (1913–1996) was an American painter. Life Abstract-colorist painter Paul Emile Fontaine was born in 1913 in Worcester, Massachusetts to Elzear and Mary Fontaine, both of French Canadian descent. Fontaine had two younger brother ...

, abstractist colorist painter *

Joslyn Fox Joslyn Fox is the stage name of Patrick Allen Joslyn (born July 27, 1986), an American drag performer most known for competing on the sixth season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race''. Career Joslyn Fox competed on the sixth season of ''RuPaul's Drag Race ...

, drag queen, contestant on ''Rupaul’s Drag Race'' season 6 *

Ryan Idol Ryan Idol (born August 10, 1966) is an American gay pornographic film actor who performed in the 1990s and later onstage in mainstream theater. He has French, Irish, and Native American ancestry. Idol describes himself as "the creation of Marc ...

, adult film actor * Rita Johnson, actress, co-starred opposite Spencer Tracy in ''Edison, The Man'' * Jean Louisa Kelly, actress from '' Yes, Dear'' *

Arthur Kennedy John Arthur Kennedy (February 17, 1914January 5, 1990) was an American stage and film actor known for his versatility in supporting film roles and his ability to create "an exceptional honesty and naturalness on stage", especially in the origi ...

, Oscar-nominated, Tony Award-winning actor *

Dorothy Stratton King Dorothy Stratton King (1909 in Worcester, Massachusetts- June 14, 2007, Arlington Virginia) was an American painter and printmaker. She was a founding member of the Washington Printmakers Gallery in Washington, DC. Her work is held by several ...

, painter and printmaker * Diane and Elaine Klimaszewski, actresses and models best known as the "Coors Light Twins" *

Jarrett J. Krosoczka Jarrett J. Krosoczka ( ) (born December 22, 1977, in Worcester, Massachusetts) is the author and illustrator of a number of picture books, most famously his ''Lunch Lady'' series. Life Krosoczka was raised entirely by his maternal grandparents, ...

, children's book author and illustrator; his '' Punk Farm'' optioned by DreamWorks Animation * Denis Leary, actor and comedian * Tom Lewis, artist and activist * Joyner Lucas, American rapper currently signed to Atlantic Records * John Lurie, actor, musician, and composer *

Nora Marlowe Nora Marlowe (September 5, 1915 – December 31, 1977) was an American film and television character actress. Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Marlowe was an actress best known for her role from 1973 to 1977 as boardinghouse owner/operator ...

(1915–1977), actress *

Eddie Mekka Edward Rudolph Mekjian (June 14, 1952 – November 27, 2021), known professionally as Eddie Mekka, was an American actor, best known for his role as Carmine Ragusa on the hit television sitcom '' Laverne & Shirley''. Early life Mekka was born in ...

, actor best known for playing Carmine Ragusa on '' Laverne and Shirley'' * Alisan Porter, former child actress and winner of Season 10 of '' The Voice'' *

Terri Priest Terri Priest (1928–2014) was an artist best known for her depictions of Vermeer inspired female figures. Priest was the recipient of many awards for her artistic talent and philanthropic contributions to many social organizations that focused on ...

, artist *

Sam Qualiana Samuel Joseph Qualiana (born April 10, 1986) is an American filmmaker and actor who has been involved in many low-budget horror film productions, most notably the 2012 film ''Snow Shark''. Life and career Qualiana was born in Worcester, Massach ...

, actor and filmmaker involved with many low-budget horror films, including ''

Snow Shark ''Snow Shark: Ancient Snow Beast'' is a 2012 American horror film written and directed by Sam Qualiana, and produced by Richard Chizmar, Marc Makowski, and Greg Lamberson. The film stars Qualiana alongside Michael O'Hare, Kathy Murphy, C. J. ...

'' (2012) * Renee Sands, former child actress and singer from '' Kids Incorporated'' and Wild Orchid *

Sam Seder Samuel Lincoln Seder (born November 28, 1966) is an American actor, political commentator, and media host. His works include the film ''Who's the Caboose?'' (1997) as well as the television shows ''Beat Cops'' (2001) and ''Pilot Season (TV seri ...

, podcast host of ''

The Majority Report ''The Majority Report with Sam Seder'' is an Internet talk radio program and podcast hosted by Sam Seder. The program focuses on the discussion of current events and political affairs from a social democracy, social democratic, democratic socia ...

'', actor, writer and director *

Joseph Skinger Joseph A. Skinger (March 16, 1911 – January 1967) was an American metalsmith and sculptor of the 1950s and 1960s. He practiced in Vermont, and as a craftsman his work in hand-wrought jewelry was primarily carried out in silver. He designed ...

, silversmith, sculptor * Doug Stanhope, comedian known for abrasive style and for '' The Man Show'' *

Lewis Stone Lewis Shepard Stone (November 15, 1879 – September 12, 1953) was an American film actor. He spent 29 years as a contract player at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and was best known for his portrayal of Judge James Hardy in the studio's popular '' Andy ...

(1879–1953), actor, ''The Secret Six'', ''

Grand Hotel A grand hotel is a large and luxurious hotel, especially one housed in a building with traditional architectural style. It began to flourish in the 1800s in Europe and North America. Grand Hotel may refer to: Hotels Africa * Grande Hotel Beir ...

'',

Andy Hardy Andrew "Andy" Hardy is a fictional character best known for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer series of 16 films in which he was played by Mickey Rooney. The films were released from 1937 to 1946, except for a final one made in 1958 in an unsuccessful att ...

series *

Erik Per Sullivan Erik Per Sullivan (born July 12, 1991) is an American former actor. He is best known for his role as Dewey, the younger brother to middle child Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) on the Fox series ''Malcolm in the Middle''. Early life Sullivan was born on ...

, actor, ''

Malcolm in the Middle ''Malcolm in the Middle'' is an American family television sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for Fox. The series premiered on January 9, 2000, and ended on May 14, 2006, after seven seasons and 151 episodes. The series follows a dysfunctional ...

'' *

Wu Tsang Wu Tsang (born 1982 in Worcester, Massachusetts) is a filmmaker, artist and performer based in New York and Berlin, whose work is concerned with hidden histories, marginalized narratives, and the act of performing itself. In 2018, Tsang received a ...

, filmmaker, artist, and performer *

David Whitney David Whitney (1939 – June 12, 2005) was an American art curator, collector, gallerist and critic. He led a very private life and was not well known outside the art world, even though he participated naked in the 1965 Claes Oldenburg happenin ...

, art curator * Alicia Witt, actress, singer-songwriter *

Hildegard Woodward Hildegard Woodward (February 10, 1898 – December 1977) was the author and illustrator of many children's books, two of which were awarded a Caldecott Honor. Woodward's art was not restricted to children's books; her portfolio includes numerous ...

, children's book illustrator

Athletes

* Jerry Azumah, former NFL

defensive back In gridiron football, defensive backs (DBs), also called the secondary, are the players on the defensive side of the ball who play farthest back from the line of scrimmage. They are distinguished from the other two sets of defensive players, the ...

Tyler Beede Tyler Joseph Beede ( ; born May 23, 1993), nicknamed Beedah, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). The Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the first round, with the 21st overall s ...

(born 1993), baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants * Frank Carroll, US

figure skater Figure skating is a sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform on figure skates on ice. It was the first winter sport to be included in the Olympic Games, when contested at the 1908 Olympics in London. The Olympic disciplines are me ...

and coach, 1960 graduate of the

College of the Holy Cross The College of the Holy Cross is a private, Jesuit liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts, about 40 miles (64 km) west of Boston. Founded in 1843, Holy Cross is the oldest Catholic college in New England and one of the oldest ...

, actor * Tim Collins, relief pitcher for the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...

* Bob Cousy, Hall of Fame basketball player; attended the College of the Holy Cross; currently lives in Worcester * Ken Doane, professional wrestler * Oliver Drake, relief pitcher who's a free agent * Rich Gedman, Boston Red Sox catcher, manager of the Worcester Tornadoes * Bill Guerin, former Pittsburgh Penguins right winger * Aaron Haddad, professional wrestler in WWE *

Tom Heinsohn Thomas William Heinsohn (August 26, 1934 – November 9, 2020) was an American professional basketball player. He was associated with the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) for six decades as a player, coach and broadcast ...

, NBA Hall of Fame,

Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of t ...

great; attended College of Holy Cross *

Gordon Lockbaum Gordon Carl "Gordie" Lockbaum (born November 16, 1965) is an American former college football player, who was a standout "two-way" (both offensive and defensive) player in NCAA Division I-AA. College career Lockbaum was raised in Glassboro, New ...

, attended Holy Cross College; twice finished in the top five in the

Heisman Trophy The Heisman Memorial Trophy (usually known colloquially as the Heisman Trophy or The Heisman) is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football. Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard ...

balloting *

Dwayne McClain Dwayne Eddie McClain (born February 7, 1963) is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Indiana Pacers in the second round (27th pick overall) of the 1985 NBA draft. He played in the NBA for one season and was ...

, former NBA/Professional basketball player. Starred at Villanova in the early/mid 1980s. Attended Holy Name Catholic Central *

Tom Poti Thomas Emilio Poti (born March 22, 1977) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Playing career As a youth, Poti played in the 1991 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tourn ...

, former NHL defenseman *

J.P. Ricciardi John Paul Ricciardi (born September 26, 1959) is a Major League Baseball executive currently serving as a special advisor to the president of baseball operations with the San Francisco Giants. He previously served as the general manager of the Tor ...

, MLB executive, former general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays *

José Antonio Rivera José Antonio Rivera (born April 7, 1973) is an American professional boxer of Puerto Rican descent. He is a former WBA welterweight and super welterweight champion. Professional career October 1992 marked the date Jose became a professional ...

, WBA light middleweight champion * Richard Rodgers II, 3rd-string Tight End for the Philadelphia Eagles; played for St. John's High School * Edwin Rodríguez, boxer * Rosy Ryan – was a professional baseball pitcher. He played ten seasons. Best remember for his time with the World Series Champion New York Giants * Tanyon Sturtze, former MLB pitcher *

Major Taylor Marshall Walter "Major" Taylor (November 26, 1878 – June 21, 1932) was an African-American professional cyclist. Even by modern cycling standards, Taylor could be considered the greatest American sprinter of all time. He was born and raised ...

, track cycling champion * Bill Toomey, gold medal decathlete, 1968 Olympics; attended Worcester Academy *

Leah Van Dale Leah Van Dale (born October 23, 1987) is an American professional wrestler, dancer and model. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Carmella, where she is a former WWE SmackDown Women's Champion ...

, professional wrestler better known by her ring name Carmella *

Vinnie Yablonski Ventan Constantine Yablonski (March 4, 1923 – March 1, 2008) was an American football fullback who played four seasons with the Chicago Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Cardinals in the twelfth round of the ...

, NFL player

Musicians

* John Adams, popular composer *

Duncan Arsenault Duncan Charles Arsenault (born August 28, 1974, in Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.) is a multi-instrumentalist and the drummer for the American Rock music, rock bands the Curtis Mayflower, the Curtain Society, Sam James (musician), Sam James, Big ...

, musician * Norman Bailey, big band trumpet player from '' The Lawrence Welk Show'' * Jaki Byard, jazz pianist, composer and recording artist * Frank Capp, jazz drummer and bandleader *

Luke Caswell Luke Caswell, known mononomously as Cazwell, is an American rapper, record producer and songwriter. He has released the three studio albums '' Get Into It'' in 2006, ''Watch My Mouth'' in 2009 and ''Hard 2 B Fresh'' in 2014, along with videos an ...

, better known as Cazwell, an LGBT rapper *

Wendell Culley Wendell Philips Culley (January 8, 1906 in Worcester, Massachusetts – May 8, 1983 in Los Angeles, CA) was an American jazz trumpeter and occasional multi instrumentalist. Growing up in Worcester, Culley played regularly at the AME Zion Chur ...

, jazz trumpeter from Worcester who played with Noble Sissle, Lionel Hampton, and Count Basie's Orchestra, and many others *

Don Fagerquist Donald Alton Fagerquist (February 6, 1927 – January 23, 1974) was a small group, big band, and studio jazz trumpet player from the West Coast of the United States. Career Fagerquist was a featured soloist with several major bands, including M ...

, jazz trumpeter * Four Year Strong, rock band *

J. Geils John Warren Geils Jr. () (February 20, 1946 – April 11, 2017), known professionally as J. Geils or Jay Geils, was an American guitarist. He was known as the leader of The J. Geils Band. Growing up in New York City, Geils became interested in ...

, lead in J. Geils Band, attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute * J. Geils Band, formed in Worcester as a fraternity party band at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, as Snoopy and the Sopwith Camels *

Georgia Gibbs Georgia Gibbs (born Frieda Lipschitz; August 17, 1918December 9, 2006) was an American popular singer and vocal entertainer rooted in jazz. Already singing publicly in her early teens, Gibbs achieved acclaim and notoriety in the mid-1950s interp ...

, 1950s pop singer * Duke Levine, guitarist *

The Hotelier The Hotelier is an American indie rock band from Worcester, Massachusetts, currently signed with Dreams of Field Recordings. The band's second album, '' Home, Like Noplace Is There'', has been featured on Spin's "The 101 Best Albums of the 2010s ...

, rock band * Jordan Knight, member of the

boy band A boy band is loosely defined as a vocal group consisting of young male singers, usually in their teenage years or in their twenties at the time of formation. Generally, boy bands perform Love song, love songs marketed towards girls and young ...

New Kids On The Block * Joyner Lucas, rapper *

Arun Luthra Arun Luthra (Hindi: अरुण लूथरा; Punjabi: ਅਰੁਣ ਲੂਥਰਾ) is a saxophonist, konnakol artist, composer, and bandleader based in New York City. Career He has worked with Billy Harper, Eddie Henderson, Kenny Garr ...

, jazz saxophonist,

konnakol Konnakol (also spelled Konokol, Konakkol, Konnakkol) ( ta, கொன்னக்கோல் koṉṉakkōl) ( ml, വായ്ത്താരി) is the art of performing percussion syllables vocally in South Indian Carnatic music. Konnakol is th ...

artist, composer, arranger, band leader * Miriam "Mamie" Moffitt, jazz pianist and band leader of Mamie Moffitt and Her Five Jazz Hounds, the first professional jazz ensemble in Worcester * Orpheus, band that enjoyed popularity in the 1960s and early 1970s *

Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway and in film. Born to ...

, Broadway composer, student at Worcester Academy ca. 1912, born in Peru, Indiana *

Andy Ross Andrew Ross is an American musician. He has been the guitarist, keyboardist and vocalist for the rock band OK Go since 2005. He is also behind a solo project, Secret Dakota Ring, which released albums in 2004 and 2008. Ross is also co-founder of ...

, guitarist for rock band

OK Go OK Go is an American rock band originally from Chicago, Illinois, now based in Los Angeles, California. The band is composed of Damian Kulash (lead vocals, guitar), Tim Nordwind (bass guitar and vocals), Dan Konopka (drums and percussion), and ...

Maureen Steele Maureen Sandstrom Steele (born July 22, 1958) is an American singer and songwriter. After signing a recording contract with Motown, and notably becoming one of the very few white artists that were signed to the label at that time, Steele offici ...

, pop singer and songwriter, one of the very few white artists signed to

Motown Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of ''moto ...

during the mid 1980s *

Einar Swan Einar Aaron Swan (born Einar (Eino) William Swan; March 20, 1903 – August 8, 1940) was an American musician, arranger and composer. He is known for writing songs including " When Your Lover Has Gone" and "In the Middle of a Dream". Early life Sw ...

, multi-instrumental jazz musician and songwriter of " When Your Lover Has Gone" * Boots Ward, jazz drummer, band leader, and Worcester jazz club owner

Politicians

Charles Allen Charles Allen may refer to: Politicians *Charles Allen (Massachusetts politician) (1797–1869), American politician and congressman in Massachusetts *Charles Allen (Australian politician) (1833–1913), Australian politician and member of the T ...

(1797–1869), United States Congressman from Massachusetts * George Bancroft, 17th United States Secretary of the Navy, founder of the US Naval Academy at

Annapolis Annapolis ( ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Maryland and the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Anne Arundel County. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east o ...

, author of the first comprehensive history of the United States *

John Binienda John Joseph Binienda, Sr. (June 22, 1947 – August 22, 2014) was an American state legislator serving in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He was a Worcester resident and a member of the Democratic Party. After serving 28 years in the ...

, Massachusetts state legislator *

Alexander H. Bullock Alexander Hamilton Bullock (March 2, 1816 – January 17, 1882) was an American lawyer, politician, and businessman from Massachusetts. First a Whig and then a Republican, he served three terms (1866–69) as the 26th Governor of Massachuset ...

, Governor of Massachusetts (1866–1868) * Kate Campanale, member of Massachusetts House of Representatives from District 17 *

John Curtis Chamberlain John Curtis Chamberlain (June 5, 1772December 8, 1834) was an American attorney and Federalist politician in the U.S. state of New Hampshire who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives and as a member of the New Hampsh ...

, US Representative * Dorothea Dix, reformer and activist * Dwight Foster, Massachusetts Attorney General and Associate Justice of the

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) is the court of last resort, highest court in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Although the claim is disputed by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the SJC claims the di ...

Roger Sherman Baldwin Foster Roger Sherman Baldwin Foster (April 21, 1857 – February 22, 1924) was an American lawyer. He was instrumental in getting the charges against the Homestead Strike participants dropped. Early life and education Foster was born in Worcester, ...

, lawyer *

Emma Goldman Emma Goldman (June 27, 1869 – May 14, 1940) was a Russian-born anarchist political activist and writer. She played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in North America and Europe in the first half of the ...

, Lithuanian-American anarchist; owned ice cream parlor in Worcester *

Thomas Wentworth Higginson Thomas Wentworth Higginson (December 22, 1823May 9, 1911) was an American Unitarian minister, author, abolitionist, politician, and soldier. He was active in the American Abolitionism movement during the 1840s and 1850s, identifying himself with ...

, abolitionist, literary mentor to Emily Dickinson *

Abbie Hoffman Abbot Howard "Abbie" Hoffman (November 30, 1936 – April 12, 1989) was an American political and social activist who co-founded the Youth International Party ("Yippies") and was a member of the Chicago Seven. He was also a leading proponen ...

, radical activist *

Abby Kelley Foster Abby Kelley Foster (January 15, 1811 – January 14, 1887) was an American abolitionist and radical social reformer active from the 1830s to 1870s. She became a fundraiser, lecturer and committee organizer for the influential American Anti-Sl ...

, abolitionist, suffragette * Jim McGovern, US Representative from

Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district is located in central Massachusetts (Central Massachusetts is the geographically central region of Massachusetts). It contains the cities of Worcester, Massachusetts, Worcester, which is the List of citi ...

* Levi Lincoln Sr., American revolutionary *

Levi Lincoln Jr. Levi Lincoln Jr. (October 25, 1782 – May 29, 1868) was an American lawyer and politician from Worcester, Massachusetts. He was the 13th Governor of Massachusetts (1825–1834) and represented the state in the U.S. Congress (1834–1841). Linc ...

, Governor of Massachusetts *

William D. Mullins William David Mullins (August 13, 1931 – March 2, 1986) was an American politician, educator, and professional baseball player who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1977 until his death in 1986. A member of the Democratic ...

, state representative and baseball player *

Albert L. Nash Albert L. "Al" Nash (May 13, 1921 – February 4, 2015) was an American politician and businessman. Born in Millbury, Massachusetts, Nash went to Millbury High School and then served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II and wa ...

, politician and businessman * Richard Neal, US Representative from

Massachusetts's 1st congressional district Massachusetts's 1st congressional district is a United States congressional district located in the western and central part of Massachusetts. The state's largest congressional district in area, it covers about one-third of the state and is more ...

* Kenneth P. O'Donnell, Appointments Secretary and Political Adviser to President John F. Kennedy * Robert Owens, businessman and Massachusetts state senator *

John Rucho John Rucho (November 22, 1922 – February 22, 2015) was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and an American businessman. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, he moved with his family to Worcester, Massachusetts. He went to Co ...

, politician and businessman *

Charles F. Sullivan Charles F. Jeff Sullivan (October 10, 1904 – August 24, 1962) was an American politician who served as the 57th Lieutenant Governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role an ...

, Mayor of Worcester and Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, 1949–1953 *

Benjamin Swan Benjamin Swan is a former American state legislator who served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and represented the 11th Hampden District from 2009 to 2016. On February 6, 2014, Swan was one of five members of the legislative body ...

, longest-serving

Vermont State Treasurer The State Treasurer's Office is responsible for several administrative and service duties, in accordance with Vermont Statutes. These include: investing state funds; issuing state bonds; serving as the central bank for state agencies; managing the ...

Charles G. Washburn Charles Grenfill Washburn (January 28, 1857 – May 25, 1928) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts. Biography He was born in Worcester on January 28, 1857. Washburn graduated from Worcester Polytechnic ...

, member of the U.S. House of Representatives

Writers and journalists

Jane G. Austin Jane Goodwin Austin (February 25, 1831 – March 30, 1894) was an American writer, notable for her popular stories of the time. During her lifetime, she was the author of 24 books and numerous short stories. Her friends throughout her life were ...

, writer *

S. N. Behrman Samuel Nathaniel Behrman (; June 9, 1893 – September 9, 1973) was an American playwright, screenwriter, biographer, and longtime writer for ''The New Yorker''. His son is the composer David Behrman. Biography Early years Behrman's parents, Z ...

, playwright, author of memoir ''The Worcester Account'' * Robert Benchley, writer and member of the

Algonquin Round Table The Algonquin Round Table was a group of New York City writers, critics, actors, and wits. Gathering initially as part of a practical joke, members of "The Vicious Circle", as they dubbed themselves, met for lunch each day at the Algonquin Hotel ...

Elizabeth Bishop Elizabeth Bishop (February 8, 1911 – October 6, 1979) was an American people, American poet and short-story writer. She was Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 1949 to 1950, the Pulitzer Prize winner for Poetry in 1956, the N ...

, poet and writer * John D. Casey, novelist and translator * John Dufresne, novelist and screenwriter * Alice Morse Earle, writer *

Esther Forbes Esther Louise Forbes (; June 28, 1891 – August 12, 1967) was an American novelist, historian and children's writer who received the Pulitzer Prize and the Newbery Medal. She was the first woman elected to membership in the American Antiqu ...

, writer *

Samuel Fuller Samuel Michael Fuller (August 12, 1912 – October 30, 1997) was an American film director, screenwriter, novelist, journalist, and World War II veteran known for directing low-budget B movie, genre movies with controversial themes, often ...

, screenwriter, producer and director *

John Michael Hayes John Michael Hayes (11 May 1919 – 19 November 2008) was an American screenwriter, who scripted four of Alfred Hitchcock's films in the 1950s. Early life Hayes was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Worcester, Massachusetts to John Michael Hayes ...

, writer of the

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...

films '' Rear Window'', ''

To Catch a Thief '' To Catch a Thief'' is a 1955 American romantic thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, from a screenplay by John Michael Hayes based on the 1952 To Catch a Thief (novel), novel of the same name by David Dodge (novelist), David Dodge. The ...

'', ''

The Trouble with Harry ''The Trouble with Harry'' is a 1955 American Technicolor black comedy film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The screenplay by John Michael Hayes was based on the 1950 novel by Jack Trevor Story. It starred Edmund Gwenn, John Forsythe, Mildred N ...

'', and '' The Man Who Knew Too Much'' * Omar Jimenez, CNN reporter, known for being arrested on live TV while reporting on the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis * Stanley Kunitz, Poet Laureate *

Frank O'Hara Francis Russell "Frank" O'Hara (March 27, 1926 – July 25, 1966) was an American writer, poet, and art critic. A curator at the Museum of Modern Art, O'Hara became prominent in New York City's art world. O'Hara is regarded as a leading figure i ...

, poet * Charles Olson, modernist poet *

Normand Poirier Normand Poirier (1928February 3, 1981) was an American journalist, essayist, and newspaper editor. His name is often spelled Norman Poirier. Poirier is noted as one of the first journalists to report on war crimes on Vietnamese civilians by Ame ...

, writer * Ernest Lawrence Thayer, poet and journalist, known for "Casey at the Bat" * Isaiah Thomas, publisher of the '' Massachusetts Spy'' *

Stanley Woodward Stanley Woodward Sr. (March 12, 1899 – August 17, 1992) was the White House Chief of Protocol under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and United States Ambassador to Canada under President Harry S. Truman. He was a favorite social com ...

, newspaper editor and sportswriter * Olive Higgins Prouty, writer, known for "Now, Voyager" and "Stella Dallas"

Other

Lillian Asplund Lillian Gertrud Asplund (October 21, 1906 – May 6, 2006) was a Swedish-American secretarial worker who was one of the last three living survivors of the sinking of on April 15, 1912, and the last survivor who could recall the disaster.AP "Tita ...

, last survivor of the RMS ''Titanic'' who remembered the actual sinking *

William Austin Burt William Austin Burt (June 13, 1792 – August 18, 1858) was an American scientist, inventor, legislator, millwright, justice of the peace, school inspector, postmaster, judge, builder, businessman, surveyor and soldier. He first was a builder o ...

, 19th-century explorer and

surveyor Surveying or land surveying is the technique, profession, art, and science of determining the terrestrial two-dimensional or three-dimensional positions of points and the distances and angles between them. A land surveying professional is ca ...

in Michigan *

Nathaniel Bar-Jonah Nathaniel Benjamin Levi Bar-Jonah (born David Paul Brown; February 15, 1957 – April 13, 2008) was an American convicted child molester and suspected cannibalistic serial killer who was sentenced to 130 years in prison without the possibility o ...

, convicted child molester, possible serial killer and cannibal * Timothy Bigelow, Revolutionary War patriot * Jonas Clark, founder of Clark University *

Edgar C. Erickson Edgar C. Erickson (July 18, 1896 – March 31, 1989) was a United States Army major general who served as chief of the National Guard Bureau. Early life Edgar Carl Erickson was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on July 18, 1896, and was educate ...

(1896–1989), United States Army Major General and Chief of the National Guard Bureau *

Catherine Fiske Catherine Fiske (July 30, 1784 – May 20, 1837) was an American teacher and principal who founded a girls' boarding school, Miss Catherine Fiske's Young Ladies Seminary. Located in Keene, New Hampshire, it was in operation from 1814 until the 184 ...

(1784-1837), school founder *

John Stanley Grauel John Stanley Grauel (December 12, 1917 – September 6, 1986, also nicknamed "John the Priest" after Prester John from the June 2009 Edition of the Jewish Magazine, presented on the Palyam Aliyah Bet Org.) was a Methodist minister and American Chri ...

(1917–1986), Christian Zionist leader *

Samuel Fisk Green Samuel Fisk Green (1822–1884) was an American medical missionary. He graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York city. He served with the American Ceylon Mission (ACM) in Jaffna, Sri Lanka during the period (1847–1873) ...

(1822–1884), physician and medical missionary, served with the

American Ceylon Mission The American Ceylon Mission (ACM) to Jaffna, Sri Lanka started with the arrival in 1813 of missionaries sponsored by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM). Although they had originally planned to work in Galle, the Briti ...

1847–1873 * Samuel R. Heywood, founder of the Heywood Boot & Shoe Company * Myra Kraft, philanthropist, wife of New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft *

Royal B. Lord Royal Bertrand Lord (19 September 189921 October 1963) was a United States Army general who served in World War II. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, ranked 4th in the class of 1923, Lord served as an ins ...

(1899–1963), United States military officer *

Joe Morrone Joseph John Morrone, Jr (October 20, 1935 – September 16, 2015) was an American head men's collegiate soccer coach. He is the father of former soccer midfielder Joseph "Joe" M. Morrone He coached soccer at the University of Connecticut from ...

, Connecticut Huskies soccer coach *

Charley Parkhurst Charley Darkey Parkhurst (born Charlotte Darkey Parkhurst; 1812 – December 18, 1879) also known as "One-Eyed Charley" or "Six-Horse Charley", was an American stagecoach driver, farmer and rancher in California. Raised female in New England, Pa ...

, stagecoach driver and horseman *

Irving Price Irving Lanouette Price (September 21, 1884 – November 23, 1976) was an American toy manufacturer. Price was born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1884 had a successful career as an executive with Woolworth, retired at an early age and was elec ...

, co-founder of Fisher Price toys and games *

George Edward Rueger George Edward Rueger (September 23, 1929 – April 6, 2019) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester, Diocese of Worcester in Massachusetts from 1987 to 20 ...

(1929–2019), Roman Catholic bishop *

Stephen Salisbury III Stephen Salisbury III (1835–1905), also referred to as Stephen Salisbury Jr., was an American businessman, lawyer, and politician. The son of a wealthy landowner, Salisbury helped manage the family's extensive properties and businesses in Worce ...

, founder of the Worcester Art Museum *

Richard B. Sellars Richard Beverland Sellars (September 9, 1915 – June 25, 2010) was an American business executive who served as chairman and CEO of Johnson & Johnson as part of 40 years with the healthcare product firm. Sellars played a pivotal role in keeping t ...

(1915–2010), Chairman and CEO of

Johnson & Johnson Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is an American multinational corporation founded in 1886 that develops medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and consumer packaged goods. Its common stock is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the company i ...

Ichabod Washburn Ichabod Washburn (1798–1868) was an American Congregational deacon and industrialist from Worcester County, Massachusetts. His financial endowments led to the naming of Washburn College, now Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas and the foundat ...

, founder of Worcester Polytechnic Institute * Steven N. Wickstrom, Army National Guard major general who commanded the 42nd Infantry Division *

Stillman Witt Stillman Witt (January 4, 1808 — April 29, 1875) was an American railroad and steel industry executive best known for building the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati Railroad, Cleveland, Painesville and Ashtabula Railroad, and the Bellefontai ...

(1808–1875), Ohio railroad and steel executive, banker *

Geoffrey Zakarian Geoffrey Zakarian (born July 25, 1959) is an American chef, restaurateur, television personality and author. He is the executive chef of several restaurants in New York City, Atlantic City and Miami. Gillespie, Nick and Amanda Winkler (2013- ...

, Iron Chef, Food Network Channel celebrity chef

References

{{Worcester Nav Worcester, Massachusetts Worcester people *List People