List of people from Philadelphia

The following is a list of notable people presently or previously associated with the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:

Academia

• Joseph Addison Alexander (1809–1860), clergyman and biblical scholar
• Daniel Amey (1941–2026), application engineer
• E. Digby Baltzell (1915–1996), sociologist, author, and professor at the University of Pennsylvania
• Ellen Bass (born 1947), professor, poet, and author
• Leon Bass (1925–2015), educator and Benjamin Franklin High School principal
• Aaron Beck (1921–2021), psychiatrist, inventor of cognitive therapy, and Penn School of Medicine professor
• Algernon Sydney Biddle (1847–1891), lawyer and Penn Law School professor
• Ray Birdwhistell (1918–1994), anthropologist, University of Pennsylvania professor, and inventor of kinesics
• Atherton Blight (1834–1909), lawyer, businessperson, author, diarist, philanthropist, and Art Club of Philadelphia founding member
• Alfred Bloom, linguist, professor, and Swarthmore College president
• Francis Bohlen (1868–1942), Penn Law School professor
• Derek Bok (born 1930), lawyer, Harvard Law School dean, and former Harvard University president
• Lisa Bowleg, George Washington University social psychology professor
• Ruby Chappelle Boyd (1919–2024), librarian
• David D. Burns (born 1942), psychiatrist, author, Penn School of Medicine psychiatry professor
• Noam Chomsky (born 1928), linguist, Far-left political activist, anarchist, and professor
• Gordon Clark (1902–1985), Christian theologian and professor
• Leda Cosmides (born 1957), psychologist, helped develop evolutionary psychology field
• Philip D. Curtin (1922–2009), Africa historian on Atlantic slave trade
• Steven Drizin, lawyer and professor
• Drew Gilpin Faust (born 1947), historian, University of Pennsylvania administrator, and Harvard University president
• R. Buckminster Fuller (1895–1983), architect, systems theorist, author, University of Pennsylvania design professor
• Andrew Gelman (born 1965), Columbia University professor, statistics and political science
• Gaylord P. Harnwell (1903–1982), University of Pennsylvania professor and president
• Earl G. Harrison (1899–1955), Penn Law School dean and former INS commissioner
• Marc Lamont Hill (born 1978), professor, journalist, activist, and BET News correspondent
• Agnes Irwin (1841–1914), Agnes Irwin School founder and first dean of Radcliffe College
• Martin M. Kaplan (1915–2004), virologist and public health official
• Seymour S. Kety (1915–2000), neuroscientist and schizophrenia researcher
• Lawrence Klein (1920–2013), economist, Nobel laureate, University of Pennsylvania economics professor
• C. Everett Koop (1916–2013), U.S. Surgeon General
• Byard Lancaster (1942–2012), avant-garde jazz saxophonist and flutist
• Alain LeRoy Locke (1885–1954), writer, philosopher, educator, and first African-American Rhodes Scholar
• Kenneth Margerison (1946–2025), historian
• Margaret Mead (1901–1978), cultural anthropologist and author
• William Augustus Muhlenberg (1796–1877), considered "father of parochial schools"
• John Pittenger (1930–2009), lawyer, academic, and former Pennsylvania House of Representatives member
• Philip Rieff (1922–2006), sociologist, cultural critic, and University of Pennsylvania professor
• Vera Rubin (1928–2016), astronomer, cosmologist, professor at Georgetown University, and research fellow at the Carnegie Institution for Science
• Louis B. Schwartz (1913–2003), University of Pennsylvania Law School law professor
• Dora Adele Shoemaker (1873–1962), educator, writer
• Jacob Soll (born 1968), historian and MacArthur Fellow
• Lawrence H. Summers (born 1954), economist, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and Harvard University president
• George Thayer (1933–1973), American political writer
• Howard M. Temin (1934–1994), Nobel Prize co-laureate in physiology or medicine
• Cornelius Van Til (1895–1987), Christian theologian, professor, originator of modern presuppositional apologetics
• Lawrence Venuti (born 1953), translation theorist and translation historian
• Andrew Weil (born 1942), celebrity doctor and alternative medicine advocate
• Gayraud Wilmore (1921–2020), writer, historian, ethicist, educator, and theologian
• Walter E. Williams (1936–2020), economist, commentator, and academic
• Harris Wofford (1926–2019), Peace Corps director, Bryn Mawr College president, U.S. senator appointee
• Bernard Wolfman (1924–2011), University of Pennsylvania Law School law professor and dean
• Josh Wurman (born 1960), meteorologist on Storm Chasers

Art and architecture

• Julian Abele (1881–1950), architect who contributed to the design of over 400 buildings
• Robb Armstrong (born 1962), African-American cartoonist, creator of Jump Start
• Edmund Bacon (1910–2005), urban planner, architect, educator, and author
• Bill Bamberger (born 1956), documentary photographer and photojournalist
• Albert C. Barnes (1872–1951), creator of the Barnes Collection of Art and Argyrol inventor
• Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter (born 1981), multimedia artist and activist
• Cecilia Beaux (1855–1942), portrait painter
• William Bell (1830–1910), photographer
• Alexander Calder (1898–1976), sculptor
• Alexander Milne Calder (1846–1923), sculptor
• Alexander Stirling Calder (1870–1945), sculptor
• John Carlin (1813–1891), painter
• Mary Cassatt (1844–1926), impressionist painter and printmaker
• Florence Van Leer Earle Coates (1850–1927), poet
• Robert Crumb (born 1943), underground comics artist, writer
• Heather Dewey-Hagborg (born 1982), information artist and bio-hacker
• Marley Dias, activist and writer
• Thomas Eakins (1844–1916), realist painter, photographer, sculptor, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts professor
• Frank Heyling Furness (1839–1912), architect who designed over 600 buildings
• Sonia Gechtoff (1926–2018), abstract expressionist painter
• William W. Gilchrist Jr., impressionist painter
• Ginger Gilmour (born 1949), sculptor and first wife of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour
• Phoebe Gloeckner (born 1960), cartoonist, illustrator, painter, novelist
• Elizabeth Shippen Green (1871–1954), children's books illustrator
• Hal Hirshorn (1965–2025), painter and photographer
• Donelson Hoopes (1932–2006), art historian
• Ian Hornak (1944–2002), draughtsman, painter, and printmaker
• Amy Ignatow (born 1977), illustrator, cartoonist, and author
• Louis Kahn (1901–1974), architect
• Bil Keane (1922–2011), cartoonist, The Family Circus
• Walt Kelly (1913–1973), cartoonist, Pogo
• H. Mather Lippincott Jr. (1921–2010), architect
• Henry P. McIlhenny (1910–1986), art and antique connoisseur, philanthropist, curator, and Philadelphia Museum of Art chairman
• John Moran (1831–1902), photographer and artist
• Alice Neel (1900–1984), painter
• Albert Newsam (1809–1864), born deaf and former artist
• Linda Nochlin (1931–2017), feminist art historian and Bryn Mawr College professor
• Martin Nodell (1915–2006), comic book artist and creator of the original Green Lantern
• Charles Willson Peale (1741–1827), artist and progenitor of the Peale family of American artists
• Edmund R. Purves (1897–1964), architect
• William H. Rau (1855–1920), photographer]
• Seymour Remenick (1923–1999), artist
• Elizabeth Wentworth Roberts (1871–1927), painter and founder of Concord Art Association
• Judith Schermer (born 1941), artist and writer
• Carolee Schneemann (1939–2019), visual experimental artist on sexuality and gender
• Mary B. Schuenemann (1898–1992), painter
• Denise Scott Brown (born 1931), architect, planner, writer, and educator
• Sarai Sherman (1922–2013), painter and sculptor
• Grover Simcox (1867–1966), illustrator, naturalist, and polymath
• Jessie Wilcox Smith (1863–1935), illustrator
• Willi Smith (1948–1987), fashion designer
• Zoe Strauss (born 1970), photographer
• William Strickland (1788–1854), architect and civil engineer
• Thomas Sully (1783–1872), portrait painter of national political leaders
• Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859–1937), one of the first African-American painters
• Daniel Traub (born 1971), photographer and filmmaker
• Horace Trumbauer (1868–1938), architect
• Robert Venturi (1925–2018), architect
• Thomas Ustick Walter (1804–1887), architect and American Institute of Architects co-founder and president
• Andrew Wyeth (1917–2009), visual artist
• Jamie Wyeth (born 1946), painter
• N.C. Wyeth (1882–1945), artist and illustrator
• Lily Yeh (born 1941), artist

Business

• Frank Baldino Jr. (1953–2010), pharmacologist, scientist, and Cephalon co-founder
• John C. Bogle (1929–2019), investor, money manager, and Vanguard founder
• Amar Bose (1929–2013), founder and chairman, Bose
• David L. Cohen (born 1955), senior executive vice president and chief lobbyist for Comcast, chief of staff to Philadelphia mayor, U.S. ambassador to Canada nominee
• Pat Croce (born 1954), entrepreneur, Philadelphia 76ers executive and part-owner, author, and television personality
• George Dashnau (1923–2001), advertising executive who started first mail order delivery service to supply human skulls
• Charles Henry Davis (1865–1951), businessperson, civil engineer, philanthropist; founded World Peace Movement
• Warren Lyford DeLano (1972–2009), advocate for increased open sourcing and PyMol creator
• George H. Earle Jr. (1856–1928), attorney
• Maria Anna Fisher (1819–1911), African-American baker, entrepreneur, and philanthropist
• Kenneth Frazier (born 1954), Merck & Co. chief executive officer
• A. O. Granger (Arthur Otis Granger; 1846–1914), industrialist and soldier
• Albert M. Greenfield (1887–1967), local realty magnate, philanthropist, and political activist
• Solomon R. Guggenheim (1861–1949), Yukon Gold Company founder and philanthropist who established Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
• Richard Hayne (born 1947), Urban Outfitters founder and chief executive officer
• Michael Johns (born 1964), healthcare executive and former White House presidential speechwriter
• Eldridge R. Johnson (1867–1945), Victor Talking Machine Company founder
• Tom Knox, UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania chief executive officer and former Philadelphia mayoral candidate
• John Leamy (1757–1839), Spanish Empire trade pioneer
• J. Howard Marshall (1905–1995), oil businessman, Koch, Inc. stakeholder, husband of Anna Nicole Smith
• George Meade (1741–1808), merchant
• Richard W. Meade (1778–1828), merchant and art collector
• Samuel Meeker (1763–1831), merchant
• Jim Murray, Ronald McDonald House Charities co-founder and former Philadelphia Eagles general manager
• Joel Myers (born 1939), AccuWeather founder and executive chairman
• Pat Olivieri (1910–1970), founder of Pat's King of Steaks and reputed creator of the cheesesteak
• William S. Paley (1901–1990), CBS chief executive
• Randal Pinkett (born 1971), entrepreneur and The Apprentice 4 winner
• Felix Rappaport (1952–2018), Foxwoods Resort and Casino chief executive officer
• Lynda Resnick (born 1943), co-owner of Roll International, which owns POM Wonderful, FIJI Water, and Teleflora
• Brian L. Roberts (born 1959), Comcast Corporation chairman and chief executive officer
• Michael G. Rubin (born 1972), Kynetic founder and chief executive officer, Philadelphia 76ers part owner, and GSI Commerce founder and former chief executive officer
• Stephen A. Schwarzman (born 1947), The Blackstone Group founder and chief executive officer
• Ed Snider (1933–2016), Comcast Spectacor chairman
• Justus Strawbridge (1838–1911), department store founder
• John B. Thayer (1862–1912), businessman and executive of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; died in the sinking of the Titanic
• Brian Tierney (born 1957), The Philadelphia Inquirer publisher
• John Wanamaker (1838–1922), department store founder
• Walter E. Williams (1936–2020), economist, commentator, and academic
• James Hood Wright (1836–1894), banker, financier, and corporate director, associate of J. P. Morgan and Thomas Edison
• William Wrigley Jr. (1861–1932), Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company founder

Criminals

• Sydney Biddle Barrows (born 1952), escort service proprietor known as "The Mayflower Madam"
• Grover Bergdoll (1893–1966), draft dodger and escaped convict; brother of Erwin Bergdoll
• Antuan Bronshtein, convicted murderer, reputed Russian Mafia associate
• Angelo Bruno (1910–1980), Philadelphia crime family boss
• Juan Covington (born 1962), serial killer
• Legs Diamond (1897–1931), nemesis of mobster Dutch Schultz known as the "clay pigeon of the underworld"
• Ira Einhorn (1940–2020), environmental and anti-war activist, convicted murderer, and speaker at first Earth Day event in Philadelphia
• Mary Jane Fonder (1942–2018), convicted murderer of Rhonda Smith
• Keith Gibson (born 1982), convicted serial killer
• Kermit Gosnell (born 1941), convicted of 21 felony counts of illegal late-term abortion
• Harrison Graham, serial killer
• Gary Heidnik (1943–1999), convicted murderer
• Philip Leonetti (born 1953), underboss of Philadelphia crime family and government informant
• Nicodemo Scarfo (1929–2017), mafioso and head of Scarfo crime family

Film, television, and theater

A–K

• Joe Augustyn, writer and producer
• Kevin Bacon (born 1958), actor and half of The Bacon Brothers
• Jim Bailey (1938–2015), singer, film, television, and stage actor
• Chuck Barris (1929–2017), actor, composer, writer, director, producer, and game show host
• Ethel Barrymore (1879–1959), actress
• John Barrymore (1882–1942), actor
• Lionel Barrymore (1878–1954), actor, Mr. Potter in Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life
• Eddie Barth (1931–2010), actor and voiceover artist
• Jules Bass (1935–2022), director and composer
• Laurie Beechman (1953–1998), Broadway singer and actress
• Willam Belli (born 1982), actor, drag queen, model, and recording artist
• Maria Bello (born 1967), actress and writer
• Ed Bernard (born 1939), actor
• John Biddle (1925–2008), yachting cinematographer and lecturer
• Edward Binns (1916–1990), actor
• Joey Bishop (1918–2007), entertainer
• Danny Bonaduce (born 1959), actor
• David Boreanaz (born 1969), actor
• Jim Boyd (1933–2013), actor
• Peter Boyle (1935–2006), actor
• El Brendel (1890–1964), vaudeville comedian and actor
• David Brenner (1936–2014), stand-up comedian, actor, and author
• Richard Brooks (1912–1992), screenwriter, film director, novelist, and film producer
• Quinta Brunson (born 1989), actor, creator of Abbott Elementary
• Matt Bush (born 1986), actor, Adventureland
• Eugene Byrd (born 1975), actor
• Michael Callan (1935–2022), actor
• Gia Marie Carangi (1960–1986), supermodel
• Joan Carroll (born 1932), coloratura soprano
• Dick Clark (1929–2012), host, American Bandstand and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, game show host, and producer
• Bessie Clayton (1875–1948), Broadway, vaudeville, and burlesque specialty dancer and choreographer
• Imogene Coca (1908–2001), actress and comedian
• Nathan Cook (1950–1988), actor
• Bradley Cooper (born 1975), actor
• Catherine Corcoran, actress
• Bill Cosby (born 1937), comedian, actor, and author
• David Crane (born 1957), writer and producer
• Broderick Crawford (1911–1986), actor
• Susan Webb Cushman (1822–1859), stage actress
• Blythe Danner (born 1943), actress
• Mildred Davis (1901–1969), actress
• Bruce Davison (born 1946), actor
• John de Lancie (born 1948), actor
• Francis De Sales (1912–1988), actor
• Kim Delaney (born 1961), actress
• Kat Dennings (born 1986), actress
• Curly Joe DeRita (1909–1993), comedian, actor, and member of The Three Stooges
• John Doman (born 1945), actor, The Wire
• Mike Douglas (1920–2006), singer and television talk show host
• Gary Dourdan (born 1966), actor
• Rel Dowdell, filmmaker
• Ja'net Dubois (c. 1932–2020), actress and singer
• Cheryl Dunye (born 1966), director, writer, and producer
• Kevin Eubanks (born 1957), musician and leader of The Tonight Show Band
• Lola Falana (born 1942), dancer and actress
• Norman Fell (1924–1998), actor
• Tina Fey (born 1970), actress and comedian
• W. C. Fields (1880–1946), actor and comedian
• Mademoiselle Fifi (1890–1982), dancer
• Larry Fine (1902–1975), comedian, actor, and member of The Three Stooges
• Linda Fiorentino (c. 1958), actress
• Kate Flannery (born 1964), actress
• Jeremy Gable (born 1982), playwright and game designer
• John Gallaudet (1903–1983), actor
• Ralph Garman (born 1964), actor and radio personality
• Janet Gaynor (1906–1984), actress
• Richard Gere (born 1949), actor
• Todd Glass (born 1964), comedian
• Adam F. Goldberg (born 1976), television and film producer
• Robert X. Golphin (born 1982), actor and filmmaker
• Kate Gosselin (born 1975), reality television personality, Jon and Kate Plus Eight
• Bruce Graham (1925–2010), playwright
• Seth Green (born 1974), actor
• Chief Halftown (1917–2003), children's television personality
• Grayson Hall (1922–1985), television, film, and stage actress
• Charles Hallahan (1943–1997), television, film, and stage actor
• Veronica Hamel (born 1943), actress and model
• Rachel Harlow (born 1948), actress, nightclub hostess, and socialite
• Kevin Hart (born 1979), comedian and actor
• Rodney Harvey (1967–1998), actor
• Sherman Hemsley (1938–2012), actor
• Emmaline Henry (1928–1979), actress, I Dream of Jeannie
• Marc Lamont Hill (born 1978), television host
• Tigre Hill, producer and director
• Paul Hipp (born 1963), actor, musician, and producer
• Billie Holiday (1915–1959), singer
• Wendell Holland (born 1984), ' winner
• Kevin Hooks (born 1958), actor and director
• Abby Huntsman (born 1986), co-host of The View
• Mark Indelicato (born 1994), actor, singer (Justin Suarez on Ugly Betty)
• Abbi Jacobson (born 1984), actress, comedian, and co-creator of Broad City
• Barry Jenner (1941–2016), actor
• Aleeza Ben Shalom, matchmaker, relationship coach, and author
• Clark Johnson (born 1954), actor and director
• Nicole Kassell (born 1972), director and writer
• George Kelly (1887–1974), playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor
• Grace Kelly (1929–1982), actress and Princess of Monaco
• Michael Kelly (born 1969), actor
• Irvin Kershner (1923–2010), director, The Empire Strikes Back
• Taylor Kinney (born 1981), actor, Vampire Diaries and Chicago Fire
• Jack Klugman (1922–2012), actor, The Odd Couple, Quincy, M.E., and You Again?

L-Z

• Patti LaBelle (born 1944), R&B and soul musician, actress, and entrepreneur
• Michael Landon (1936–1991), actor, producer, and director
• Mario Lanza (1921–1959), singer and actor
• Stan Lathan (born 1945), film producer, television producer, and director
• Andrew Lawrence (born 1988), actor
• Joey Lawrence (born 1976), actor
• Matthew Lawrence (born 1980), actor
• Raw Leiba (born 1975), actor, stuntman, and sports model
• Aaron Levinson, producer, musician
• Brooke Lewis (born 1975), actress, producer and television personality
• Shari Lewis (1933–1998), children's television personality
• Gene London (1931–2020), artist and local children's television personality
• Lisa Lopes (1971–2002), rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and dancer
• Donja R. Love, playwright
• Sidney Lumet (1924–2011), film director
• David Lynch (1946–2025), film director
• Jeanette MacDonald (1903–1965), actress and singer
• Stephen Macht (born 1942), actor
• Abby Mann (1927–2008), film writer and producer
• Melanie Mayron (born 1952), actress
• Adam Mazer, writer and Emmy winner
• Bob McAllister (1935–1998), children's television personality
• Andrea McArdle (born 1963), singer, actress, Broadway's original Annie
• Joan McCracken (1917–1961), dancer and actress
• Paul McCrane (born 1961), actor and musician
• Rob McElhenney (born 1977), actor and creator of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
• Andrew Repasky McElhinney (born 1978), film director, writer, Museum of Modern Art artist
• Adam McKay (born 1968), director and writer
• David Mirkin (born 1955), writer and director
• Silas Weir Mitchell (born 1969), actor
• Katherine Moennig (born 1977), actress
• Kelly Monaco (born 1976), model and actress
• George W. Munroe (1857–1932), actor famous for female impersonation
• Natalie Nevins (1925–2010), singer, The Lawrence Welk Show
• J. J. North (born 1964), actress
• Clifford Odets (1906–1963), playwright, director, and screenwriter
• Leslie Odom Jr. (born 1981), actor and singer
• Ana Ortiz (born 1971), actress, Hilda Suarez on Ugly Betty
• Daphne Oz (born 1986), author, television host on The Chew
• Holly Robinson Peete (born 1964), actress
• Lisa Peluso (born 1964), actress, Saturday Night Fever
• Gervase Peterson (born 1969), contestant, original season of '
• Teddy Pendergrass (1950–2010), R&B and soul musician, lead singer for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
• Robert Picardo (born 1953), actor
• S. Henry Pincus (d. 1915), actor, impresario, and inventor
• Noam Pitlik (1932–1999), actor, television director, and producer
• Jack Polito (born 1941), animator
• Jon Polito (1950–2016), actor, Miller's Crossing
• Da'Vine Joy Randolph (born 1986), Oscar-winning actress
• Joe Renzetti, musician, Oscar-winning film composer, The Buddy Holly Story
• Adele Ritchie (1874–1930), singer
• Matt Robinson (1937–2002), Sesame Street actor
• James Rolfe (born 1980), creator and star of Angry Video Game Nerd internet series and film director
• Lisa Roma (1892–1965), operatic soprano and music educator
• J. D. Roth (born 1968), actor and game show host
• Bob Saget (1956–2022), actor, comedian, and game show host
• Mathew St. Patrick (born 1968), actor
• Diane Salinger (born 1951), actress
• Camillia Sanes, actress, The Shield
• Jessica Savitch (1947–1983), local and national news broadcaster, NBC
• Bill Scott (1920–1985), voice actor, voice of Bullwinkle J. Moose, Mr. Peabody, and Dudley Do-Right
• Vivienne Segal (1897–1992), actress
• Susan Seidelman (born 1952), film director, television director, Desperately Seeking Susan and Sex and the City
• Howard Merrill Shelley (1879–1956), playwright
• Craig Shoemaker (born 1962), stand-up comedian and film and television producer
• Sonya Smith (born 1972), queen of telenovela, actress
• Jimmy Shubert, stand-up comedian
• M. Night Shyamalan (born 1970), film director, The Sixth Sense and Signs
• Penny Singleton (1908–2003), radio, film, and voice actress
• Jack Thomas Smith (born 1969), horror filmmaker
• Toukie Smith (born 1952), model and actress
• Will Smith (born 1968), actor, hip-hop recording artist, half of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, record producer, four time Grammy-winner
• David Smyrl (1935–2016), actor and television writer, Sesame Street
• Harry Snodgrass (born 1963), sound designer, supervisor, and editor, Alien 3, Napoleon Dynamite, Hot Shots! Part Deux, Robin Hood Men in Tights
• Tom Snyder (1936–2007), news and entertainment personality, NBC
• Sally Starr (1923–2013), children's television personality
• Joey Stefano (1968–1994), dancer, actor, and gay porn star
• Parker Stevenson (born 1952), actor
• Charles Stone III (born 1966), film director and creator of Budweiser's "Whassup?" advertising campaign
• Holland Taylor (born 1943), actress
• Teller (born 1948), magician and half of Penn & Teller
• Frank Tinney (1878–1940), vaudeville comedian
• Paul F. Tompkins (born 1968), actor and comedian
• Jean Vander Pyl (1919–1999), actress, voice of Wilma Flintstone and Rosie the Robot Maid
• Tom Verica (born 1964), actor
• Nancy Walker (1922–1992), actress and director
• Brendan Walter (born 1986), actor, director, and guitarist
• Jeff Ward (born 1986), actor
• Wee Willie Webber (1929–2010), local radio and television personality
• John Sylvester White (1919–1988), television actor
• Karen Malina White (born 1965), actress
• Nafessa Williams, actress
• Kenya D. Williamson, actress and screenwriter
• Thomas F. Wilson (born 1959), actor and stand-up comic
• Danny Woodburn (born 1964), actor and comedian
• Ed Wynn (1886–1966), actor and comedian, Uncle Albert in Walt Disney's Mary Poppins
• John Zacherle (1918–2016), actor, producer, and television horror host

Government and politics

• Leon Abbett (1836–1894), New Jersey governor
• Lynne Abraham (born 1941), Philadelphia district attorney
• William Allen (1704–1780), Philadelphia mayor
• Chris Bartlett (born 1966), LGBT activist
• Raj Bhakta (born 1975), congressional candidate and contestant, The Apprentice Season 2
• Brendan Boyle (born 1977), U.S. representative for Pennsylvania
• Michael J. Bradley (1897–1979), U.S. representative for Pennsylvania
• Winfield S. Braddock (1848–1920), Wisconsin State Assembly member
• Bob Brady (born 1945), member, U.S. House of Representatives, Philadelphia mayoral candidate, NBC Universal and Independence Blue Cross lobbyist
• Raymond J. Broderick (1914–2000), U.S. federal judge
• William T. Cahill (1912–1996), New Jersey governor
• Ashton Carter (born 1954), physicist, Harvard University professor, and U.S. Secretary of Defense
• Mike Chitwood (born 1963), sheriff of Volusia County, Florida
• Augusta Clark (1932–2013), librarian, politician, lawyer, and second African-American woman to serve on Philadelphia City Council
• Joseph S. Clark (1901–1990), Philadelphia mayor and U.S. senator
• Mark B. Cohen (born 1949), member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Democratic leader of Pennsylvania House, and chairman, House Labor Relations Committee
• Henry Conner (1837–1918), member, Wisconsin State Senate
• George M. Dallas (1792–1864), U.S. vice president
• Richardson Dilworth (1898–1974), attorney, Philadelphia district attorney, and Philadelphia mayor
• Dwight Evans (born 1954), U.S. representative for Pennsylvania
• George H. Earle Sr. (1823–1907), founder of the Republican Party, abolitionist, and lawyer who represented fugitive slaves
• Chaka Fattah (born 1956), member, U.S. House of Representatives and former Philadelphia mayoral candidate
• Douglas J. Feith (born 1953), undersecretary of Defense and Iraq policy adviser
• Tom Feeney (born 1958), Florida politician
• Brian Fitzpatrick (born 1973), U.S. representative for Pennsylvania
• James Forten (1766–1842), African-American businessman, abolitionist leader, and sailmaker
• Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), Founding Father, polymath, writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, political philosopher
• Shirley Franklin (born 1945), Atlanta major
• Mifflin Wistar Gibbs (1823–1915), lawyer, judge, diplomat, and banker
• Benjamin Goldman (born 1960), political advisor
• W. Wilson Goode (born 1938), Philadelphia mayor
• W. Wilson Goode Jr. (born 1965), Philadelphia City Council at-large member
• Oscar Goodman (born 1939), attorney and former Las Vegas mayor
• James P. Gourley, Pennsylvania House of Representatives member
• William H. Gray (1941–2013), Baptist minister, U.S. House of Representatives member, and former United Negro College Fund president
• William J. Green III (born 1938), Philadelphia mayor and U.S. House of Representatives member
• Morgan Griffith (born 1958), U.S. representative for Virginia
• Simon Guggenheim (1867–1941), U.S. senator and philanthropist
• Alexander Haig (1924–2010), U.S. Secretary of State and White House Chief of Staff
• Richard Helms (1913–2002), Central Intelligence Agency director
• Charles W. Heyl (1857–1936), businessman, fire chief, and politician
• Michael Johns (born 1964), White House presidential speechwriter
• Ro Khanna (born 1976), U.S. representative from California
• Joseph L. Kun (1882–1961), judge, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
• George Landenberger (1879–1936), American Samoa governor
• Frank J. Larkin (born 1955), U.S. Senate sergeant at arms
• John J. McCloy (1895–1989), Chase Manhattan Bank and Ford Foundation chairman, assistant U.S. Secretary of War during World War II, and Allies' high commissioner of Germany
• Robert F. McDonnell (born 1954), Virginia governor
• Katie McGinty (born 1963), U.S. Senate nominee, chair, Council on Environmental Quality, and former chief of staff to Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf
• J. Whyatt Mondesire (1949–2015), president, NAACP Philadelphia chapter
• Cecil B. Moore (1915–1979), Philadelphia city council member and civil rights activist
• Patrick Murphy (born 1973), member, U.S. House of Representatives
• Benjamin Netanyahu (born 1949), current prime minister of Israel
• Robert N.C. Nix Sr. (1898–1987), member, U.S. House of Representatives
• Michael A. Nutter (born 1957), Philadelphia mayor and member, Philadelphia City Council
• Dennis M. O'Brien (born 1952), member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Pennsylvania House of Representatives speaker
• Tony J. Payton Jr. (born 1981), member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
• Boies Penrose (1860–1921), U.S. senator and party boss
• Harriet Forten Purvis (1810–1875), abolitionist leader
• Charles H. Ramsey (born 1950), Philadelphia police commissioner
• Samuel J. Randall (1828–1890), U.S. House of Representatives member and Speaker of the House
• Ed Rendell (born 1944), Pennsylvania governor, Philadelphia mayor, and Philadelphia district attorney
• Frank Rizzo (1920–1991), Philadelphia mayor and police commissioner
• John Robbins (1808–1880), U.S. House of Representatives member
• Lisa Blunt Rochester (born 1962), U.S. senator for Delaware
• Deborah Ross (born 1963), U.S. representative for North Carolina
• Cynthia M. Rufe (born 1948), U.S. federal judge
• Allyson Schwartz (born 1948), member, U.S. House of Representatives
• Keith Self (born 1953), U.S. representative for Texas
• Helen Singleton (born 1932), civil rights activist and Freedom Rider
• Thomas Smith (born 1805), Indiana Supreme Court justice, Pennsylvania General Assembly member, and writer
• Arlen Specter (1930–2012), U.S. senator and Philadelphia district attorney
• Ben Stahl (1915–1998), labor leader and activist
• John F. Street (born 1943), Philadelphia mayor
• Milton Street (1941–2022), entrepreneur, Pennsylvania state legislator, and Philadelphia City Council candidate
• Norman Sussman (1905–1969), Wisconsin state senator
• Joel Barlow Sutherland (1792–1861), member, U.S. House of Representatives
• Al Taubenberger (born 1953), Philadelphia mayoral candidate
• John Timoney (1948–2016), Philadelphia police commissioner and Miami police chief
• Gregory Tony (born 1978), Sheriff of Broward County, Florida
• C. Delores Tucker (1927–2005), civil rights activist and Pennsylvania Secretary of State
• Anna C. Verna (1931–2021), Philadelphia City Council member and president
• Charles A. Waters (1892–1972), Pennsylvania auditor general, state treasurer, and president judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas
• R. Seth Williams (born 1967), Philadelphia district attorney
• Fernando Wood (1812–1881), mayor of New York

Historical figures

• David Hayes Agnew (1818–1892), surgeon and teacher
• Robert Aitken (1734–1802), publisher of first Bible in North America
• Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888), novelist
• Andrew Allen (1740–1825), delegate to Continental Congress
• Harrison Allen (1841–1897), anatomist and physician
• Joseph Anderson (1757–1837), United States senator
• Henry Graham Ashmead (1838–1920), historian of Delaware County, Pennsylvania
• Mary Stevens Beall (1854–1917), historian, writer, librarian
• Charles John Biddle (1819–1873), U.S. House of Representatives member
• Edward Biddle (1738–1779), Founding Father, soldier, lawyer, statesman, and delegate to Continental Congress
• Francis Biddle (1886–1968), U.S. solicitor general, U.S. attorney general, and Nuremberg trials principal judge
• Nicholas Biddle (1786–1844), financier and Second Bank of the United States president
• Nicholas Biddle (1750–1778), Continental Navy original captain
• Richard Biddle (1796–1847), U.S. House of Representatives member
• John C. Bowers (1811–1873), entrepreneur, organist, and vestryman, and founding member of first Grand United Order of Odd Fellows
• Thomas Bowers (c. 1823–1885), concert artist
• Ed Bradley (1941–2006), CBS News radio journalist and television journalist
• Henry "Box" Brown (c.1815–1897), abolitionist who escaped to freedom by arranging to have himself mailed in crate to abolitionists in Philadelphia
• William C. Bullitt, Jr. (1891–1967), diplomat who conducted special mission to negotiate with Vladimir Lenin on behalf of the Paris Peace Conference; first U.S. ambassador to Soviet Union; U.S. ambassador to France during World War II
• Hetty Burr (c. 1796–1862), abolitionist and clubwoman
• John Pierre Burr (1792–1864), abolitionist and community leader. He was an illegitimate child of Aaron Burr
• Bebe Moore Campbell (1950–2006), author, journalist, and teacher
• Samuel Carpenter (1649–1714), first Pennsylvania treasurer and deputy governor to William Penn
• Octavius Valentine Catto (1839–1871), educator, civil rights activist, and baseball player
• Emilie Davis (1839–1889), writer who kept American Civil War diary
• Emma V. Day (1853–1895), missionary to Liberia
• Marguerite de Angeli (1889–1987), author and illustrator
• Branson DeCou (1892–1941), photographer and traveler
• Sarah Jane Corson Downs (1822–1891), president, New Jersey Woman's Christian Temperance Union
• Benjamin Franklin (1705-1790), American Founding Father and polymath
• Harriet Schneider French (1824–1906), physician and temperance movement activist
• Henry George (1839–1897), political economist and author, inspired economic philosophy known as Georgism
• T. Adelaide Goodno (1858–1931), social reformer
• Charlotte Forten Grimké (1837–1914), abolitionist, poet, and educator
• Benjamin Guggenheim (1865–1912), businessman who died aboard the RMS Titanic
• Andrew Harris, abolitionist and minister; first African-American to graduate from the University of Vermont
• John von Sonnentag de Havilland (1826–1886), American officer of arms in England
• A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. (1928–1998), Kerner Commission commissioner, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit judge, and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient
• Antonija Höffern (1803–1871), Slovenian noblewoman and educator, first Slovenian woman to immigrate to the United States
• John A. Hostetler (1918–2001), author, educator, and Amish and Hutterite scholar
• Rebecca Jones (1739–1818), Quaker minister and educator
• Grace Kelly (1929–1982), princess of Monaco and actress
• George Lippard (1822–1854), novelist, journalist, playwright, social activist, and labor organizer
• Alain LeRoy Locke (1885–1954), writer, Harlem Renaissance figure, and first African-American Rhodes Scholar
• Henry C. McCook (1837–1911), entomologist, clergyman, author, and Philadelphia city flag designer
• Joseph McKenna (1843–1926), U.S. Supreme Court associate justice, U.S. attorney general, and U.S. House of Representatives member
• Thomas Mifflin (1744–1800), Continental Army major general, fifth president of U.S. Congress, first Pennsylvania governor, and Founding Father
• Anna Balmer Myers (1884–1972), author
• Robert N. C. Nix Jr. (1928–2003), chief justice, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Mrs. A. M. Palmer (1848–1923), clubwoman and civic leader
• Anne Parrish (1760–1800), Quaker philanthropist
• George W. Pepper (1867–1961), attorney and U.S. senator
• William Pepper (1843–1898), Free Library of Philadelphia founder and University of Pennsylvania provost
• Henry L. Phillips (1847–1947), African-American social reformer and Episcopal priest; born in Jamaica
• Philip Syng Physick (1768–1837), physician known as the "father of American surgery"
• Charles Burleigh Purvis (1842–1929), physician, co-founder of Howard University Medical School, and the first black physician to attend a sitting president (James A. Garfield)
• Marcus Aurelius Root (1808–1888), leading daguerreotypist and author
• Betsy Ross (1752–1836), sewed first American flag known as the Betsy Ross flag
• Benjamin Rush (1746–1813), physician, politician, social reformer, humanitarian, educator, and Founding Father who signed the Declaration of Independence
• Nikola RuÅ¡inović (1908–1993), Independent State of Croatia's unofficial envoy to the Holy See during World War II
• Peggy Shippen (1760–1804), to American Revolution traitor Benedict Arnold and highest-paid spy in the American Revolution
• Leon Sullivan (1922–2001), Baptist minister and social activist
• Manuel Torres (1762–1822), first Colombian ambassador to the U.S.
• Thomas Truxton (1755–1822), naval officer who rose to commodore
• Frank J. Webb (1828–c. 1894), novelist, poet, essayist, and writer

Media and literature

• Isaac Ashmead (1790–1870), printer who served in the War of 1812
• Isaac Asimov (1920–1992), science fiction author
• Tony Auth (1942–2014), editorial cartoonist and Pulitzer Prize and Herblock Prize winner
• Doug Banks (1958–2016), nationally syndicated morning radio host
• Leslie Esdaile Banks (1959–2011), author
• Donald Barthelme (1931–1989), author
• Stan and Jan Berenstain (1923–2005), children's writing and illustration couple
• Evelyn Berckman (1900–1978), author
• Ben Bova (1932–2020), science fiction author
• Mary D. R. Boyd (1809–1893), children's book author
• Ed Bradley (1941–2006), journalist, 60 Minutes
• Tony Bruno (born 1952), sports radio talk show host
• Maxwell Struthers Burt (1882–1954), novelist, poet, and author
• Nathaniel Burt (1913–2003), novelist, poet, composer, and author
• Francesca Anna Canfield (1803–1833), linguist and writer
• Angelo Cataldi (born 1951), sports radio host
• Renee Chenault-Fattah (born 1957), WCAU-TV news anchor and wife of U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah
• Mary M. Cohen (1854–1911), social economist, journalist, belletrist, and educator
• Fritz Coleman (born 1948), KNBC chief meteorologist
• Michael Connelly (born 1956), author
• Benjamin De Casseres (1873–1945), journalist, critic, essayist, and poet
• Joseph Dennie (1768–1812), essaysist, The Lay Preacher, and The Port Folio founding editor
• Pete Dexter (born 1943), journalist, novelist, and National Book Award-winner
• Catharine H. Esling (1812–1897), hymn writer and poet
• John Facenda (1913–1984), broadcaster and sports announcer
• Courtney Friel (born 1980), KTLA-TV news anchor and reporter
• Charles Fuller (1939–2022), playwright, Pulitzer Prize for Drama recipient, and Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play winner
• Jim Gardner (born 1948), WPVI-TV news anchor
• Mike Golic (born 1962), ESPN radio and television personality, Philadelphia Eagles professional football player
• David Goodis (1917–1967), author
• Terry Gross (born 1951), radio host and co-executive producer, Fresh Air
• John Harvey (born 1951), radio and television personality
• Evalena Fryer Hedley (1865–1943), journalist, editor, and author
• James Fallows (born 1949), author and journalist
• Aries Keck, author and radio reporter
• Suzy Kolber (born 1964), television sportscaster
• Andrea Kremer (born 1959), television sportscaster
• Bob Lassiter (1945–2006), left-wing radio host
• Mark Levin (born 1957), lawyer, author, and radio personality
• Rachel Levin (born 1995), YouTuber, and beauty guru
• Jonathan Maberry (born 1958), suspense author, anthology editor, comic book writer, magazine feature writer, playwright, content creator, writing teacher and lecturer
• Michelle Malkin (born 1970), political commentator
• Chris Matthews (born 1945), NBC and MSNBC journalist and talk show host
• Edith May (1827–1903), writer and poet
• Brian McDonough, medical editor, author, and physician
• Jim McKay (1921–2008), ABC sports journalist
• Chris McKendry (born 1968), ESPN SportsCenter anchor
• Larry Mendte (born 1957), KYW-TV news anchor
• James A. Michener (1907–1997), author
• Aubertine Woodward Moore (1841–1929), musician, writer, musical critic, translator, and lecturer
• Frances Trego Montgomery (1858–1925), children's book writer
• Christopher Morley (1890–1957), novelist, short-story writer, and poet
• Wesley Morris (born 1975), film critic and podcast host
• Thom Nickels, author and journalist
• Joe Queenan (born 1950), author and humorist
• Matthew Quick (born 1973), author, The Silver Linings Playbook
• Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849), novelist and short-story writer
• Chaim Potok (1929–2002), novelist and author, The Chosen and The Promise
• Richard P. Powell (1908–1999), novelist
• Beasley Reece (born 1954), KYW-TV sports journalist and former professional football player, Philadelphia Eagles
• Dave Roberts (born 1936), WPVI-TV meteorologist and former co-host, AM Philadelphia
• Lisa Scottoline (born 1955), author and attorney
• Peter Shellem (1960–2009), Patriot News journalist who obtained release of five wrongfully convicted innocent people
• Vai Sikahema (born 1962), WCAU-TV sports journalist and former professional football player, Philadelphia Eagles
• Michael Smerconish (born 1962), WPHT-AM radio talk show host, Philadelphia Daily News columnist, and MSNBC political analyst
• Anna Bustill Smith (1862–1945), author, genealogist, and suffragist
• Stephen A. Smith (born 1967), ESPN radio and television personality, Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist
• Arthur R. G. Solmssen (1928–2018), attorney and novelist
• Louise Stockton (1838–1914), author, journalist, club organizer
• Kristie Lu Stout (born 1974), journalist
• Duane Swierczynski (born 1972), author and former Philadelphia City Paper editor
• Jake Tapper (born 1969), author, journalist
• Omar Tyree (born 1969), author
• Jeannette Walworth (1835–1918), novelist and journalist
• Ukee Washington (born 1958), KYW-TV news anchor
• Jesse Watters (born 1978), political commentator and author
• Jennifer Weiner (born 1970), author
• Kristen Welker (born 1976), television journalist and NBC News White House correspondent
• William Wharton (1925–2008), author, Birdy
• Walt Whitman (1819–1892), poet, essayist, and journalist

Military figures

• Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold (1886–1950), U.S. Army general, Air Force general, and World War I hero known as "father of the U.S. Air Force"
• Upton Birnie Jr. (1877–1957), US Army major general, raised and educated in Philadelphia
• Albert Blithe (1923–1967), U.S. Army paratrooper featured in Band of Brothers
• Louis H. Carpenter (1839–1916), Brigadier General, Medal of Honor recipient and veteran, Civil War, American Indian War, and Spanish–American War
• George F. Good Jr. (1901–1991), U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant general, commanded Marine defense battalions during World War II
• William Guarnere (1923–2014), U.S. Army staff sergeant featured in Band of Brothers
• Alexander Haig (1924–2010), U.S. military officer, diplomat, U.S. Secretary of State
• Edward Heffron (1923–2013), U.S. Army Private featured in Band of Brothers
• Washington Hood (1808–1840), captain, U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers
• Joseph Howell Jr. (1750–1798), major, Paymaster-General of the United States Army
• John Lawson (1837–1919), U.S. Navy sailor and Medal of Honor recipient
• George B. McClellan (1826–1885), Union Army general and presidential candidate
• H. R. McMaster (born 1962), major general and presidential chief of staff
• John J. McVeigh (1921–1944), Medal of Honor recipient for actions during Battle for Brest
• George Gordon Meade (1815–1872), Union army general and victor at the Battle of Gettysburg
• Charles Miller (1862–1928), resident of Bridesburg, US Army officer who served as Commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College
• Thomas H. Neill (1826–1885), Union Army general
• John C. Pemberton (1814–1881), Commander of Confederate defenders at Siege of Vicksburg
• Charles Sutherland (1831–1895), Surgeon General of U.S. Army
• Jack Thayer (1894–1945), World War I veteran, railway businessman, and Titanic survivor.
• Franklin W. Ward (1870–1938), Adjutant General of New York

Music

• Andrew Adgate (1762–1793), musician, founder of music schools, and choir director
• Al Alberts (1922–2009), singer, The Four Aces
• Alex G (born 1993), singer-songwriter
• Marian Anderson (1897–1993), opera singer and contralto
• Frankie Avalon (born 1940), singer and actor
• Baauer (born 1989), DJ and producer
• Rachel Bagby, author, composer, singer, and composer
• Bahamadia (born 1966), rapper
• Pearl Bailey (1918–1990), singer, dancer, and actress
• Charli Baltimore (born 1974), hip hop artist
• Samuel Barber (1910–1981), composer, pianist, conductor, baritone, music educator, and composer
• All members of Grayscale, rock band
• Len Barry (1942–2020), recording star, vocalist, songwriter, lyricist, record producer, author, and poet
• Toni Basil (born 1943), singer, "Mickey"
• Eric Bazilian (born 1953), singer and musician, co-founder of The Hooters
• Diane Meredith Belcher (born 1960), concert organist, teacher, and church musician
• Steve Berlin (born 1955), keyboardist and saxophone player, Los Lobos
• Emile Berliner (1851–1929), inventor of the flat disc record, the gramophone, founder of Victor Talking Machine Company, and Gramophone Company
• Frankie Beverly (1946–2024, R&B singer and musician, founder and lead singer of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
• Charlie Biddle (1926–2003), jazz bassist
• Bilal (born 1979), neo-soul singer and musician
• Cindy Birdsong (born 1939), founding member, Labelle, and replacement member, Diana Ross & the Supremes
• Joe Bonsall (born 1948), country music singer and member of The Oak Ridge Boys
• Dante Bucci (1980–2014), handpan musician
• Lil Dicky (born 1988), rapper
• Solomon Burke (1940–2010), R&B singer
• Uri Caine (born 1956), composer, arranger, and jazz pianist
• Cassidy (born 1982), rapper
• Sarah Chang (born 1980), child prodigy violinist with major orchestras
• Chubby Checker (born 1941), singer
• Stanley Clarke (born 1951), bassist
• Alice Cohen (born 1958), singer and songwriter known as Alice Desoto
• John Coltrane (1926–1967), jazz saxophonist
• Norman Connors (born 1947), singer
• Tommy Conwell (born 1962), guitarist, songwriter, and performer
• Cool C (born 1969), rapper
• Jim Croce (1943–1973), singer
• Dalex (born 1990), singer
• James Darren (1936–2024), singer and actor
• Rick DeJesus (born 1983), lead singer, Adelitas Way
• James DePreist (1936–2013), orchestra conductor
• Dieselboy (born 1972), drum and bass DJ and producer
• Fred Diodati, lead singer, The Four Aces
• Diplo (born 1978), DJ and producer
• Bill Doggett (1916–1996), jazz and R&B organist and pianist
• Gail Ann Dorsey (born 1962), bassist
• Charles Earland (1941–1999), organist
• Nathan East (born 1955), jazz, R&B, rock bass player, and vocalist
• Kevin Eubanks (born 1957), jazz guitarist
• Robin Eubanks (born 1955), jazz trombonist
• Duane Eubanks (born 1969), jazz trumpeter
• Eve (born 1978), rapper and actress
• Fabian (born 1943), singer and actor
• Nick Falcon (born 1968), guitarist, composer, lyricist, and singer
• Sheila Ferguson (born 1947), singer, The Three Degrees
• Wilhelmenia Fernandez (born 1949), opera singer and soprano
• Rachelle Ferrell (born 1961), jazz vocalist
• Eddie Fisher (1928–2010), singer and actor
• Sam Fogarino (born 1968), rock music drummer, Interpol
• Freeway (born 1978), rapper
• Kenny Gamble (born 1943), producer and co-founder, Philadelphia International Records
• Melody Gardot (born 1985), jazz singer
• Stan Getz (1927–1991), jazz saxophonist
• Benny Golson (1929–2024), jazz saxophonist
• Charlie Gracie (1936–2022), rock singer
• Gogi Grant (1924–2016), singer, "The Wayward Wind"
• Anthony Green (born 1982), singer, Saosin and Circa Survive
• Vivian Green (born 1979), R&B singer
• Daryl Hall (born 1946), singer and half of Hall & Oates duo
• Joseph Hallman (born 1979), composer, arranger, singer, and producer
• Rufus Harley (1936–2006), jazz musician and first jazz musician to use Great Highland bagpipe as primary instrument
• Robert Hazard (1948–2008), new wave musician and composer
• Albert Heath (born 1935), jazz drummer
• Jimmy Heath (1926–2020), jazz saxophonist
• Percy Heath (1923–2005), jazz bassist
• Leon Huff (born 1942), producer and co-founder, Philadelphia International Records
• Phyllis Hyman (1949–1995), R&B and jazz vocalist
• DJ Jazzy Jeff (born 1965), hip-hop DJ, neo-soul producer, and half DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince duo
• Joan Jett (born 1958), rock musician
• Philly Joe Jones (1923–1985), jazz drummer
• Kitty Kallen (1921–2016), pop singer
• Jason Karaban, singer and songwriter
• Tom Keifer (born 1961), glam metal vocalist, Cinderella
• Keith (born 1949), singer who wrote "98.6"
• Bill Kenny (1914–1978), singer
• Khia (born 1977), rapper
• King Britt (born 1968), house DJ and producer
• Kurupt (born 1972), rapper
• Patti LaBelle (born 1944), R&B & soul singer and actress
• Mario Lanza (1921–1959), operatic singer
• Lil Uzi Vert (born 1995), rapper and hip hop artist
• Lynda Laurence (born 1949), part of Stevie Wonder's backup group The Third Generation and part of The Supremes
• Amos Lee (born 1977), folk and blues singer
• Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes (1971–2002), member, TLC
• Monie Love (born 1970), rapper and radio personality
• Leonard MacClain (1899–1967), theatre organist
• Al Martino (1927–2009), singer and actor, Johnny Fontane in The Godfather
• Pat Martino (1944–2021), jazz guitarist
• Barbara Mason (born 1947), R&B singer and composer
• Christian McBride (born 1972), jazz bassist
• Marian Anderson (1897–1993), gospel singer
• Marshmello (born 1992), DJ and producer
• Meek Mill (born 1987), rapper
• Lizzy McAlpine (born 1999), singer and songwriter
• Ms. Jade (born 1979), hip hop artist
• Lee Morgan (1938–1972), jazz trumpeter and composer
• James Mtume (1946–2022), R&B and jazz musician and founder of Mtume
• Musiq Soulchild (born 1977), R&B and neo-soul singer
• James E. Myers (1919–2001), songwriter, actor, and co-writer of "Rock Around the Clock"
• Marc Nelson (born 1971), R&B singer, Boyz II Men and Az Yet
• Lobo Nocho (1919–1997), jazz singer
• John Oates (born 1948), singer and half of Hall & Oates duo
• Maurie Orodenker (1908–1993), journalist, music critic, and advertising agency executive who coined the term "rock and roll"
• Hugh Panaro (born 1964), tenor singer, Broadway and opera
• Billy Paul (1934–2016), Grammy Award-winning soul singer
• Vinnie Paz (born 1977), rapper, founder of Jedi Mind Tricks and Army of the Pharaohs
• Peedi Peedi (born 1977), rapper
• Teddy Pendergrass (1950–2010), R&B singer, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
• Christina Perri (born 1986), singer
• Vincent Persichetti (1915–1987), composer and music educator
• Pink (born 1979), R&B and rock music singer
• Fayette Pinkney (1948–2009), singer, The Three Degrees
• Trudy Pitts (1932–2010), jazz keyboardist
• Princess Superstar (born 1971), hip hop performer
• Questlove (born 1971), drummer, producer, DJ, writer, journalist, and photographer
• Sun Ra (1914–1993), jazz pianist and band leader
• Danny Rapp (1941–1983), singer, Danny & the Juniors
• Joe Renzetti, guitarist and Oscar Award winner
• Res, R&B singer
• RJD2 (born 1976), producer
• Paul Robeson (1898–1976), singer, activist, attorney, and All-American collegiate athlete
• PnB Rock (1991–2022), rapper
• Jack Rose (1971–2009), guitarist
• Todd Rundgren (born 1948), musician, singer, songwriter, and producer
• Bobby Rydell (born 1942–2022), singer and actor
• Santigold (born 1976), punk singer
• John Sebastian (1914–1980), classical harmonica player and composer
• Danny Sembello (1963–2015), R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist
• Michael Sembello (born 1954), R&B singer, guitarist, keyboardist, and songwriter
• Schoolly D (born 1962), rapper
• Jill Scott (born 1972), R&B and neo-soul singer
• Shirley Scott (1934–2002), organist
• Musiq Soulchild (born 1977), R&B and neo-soul singer
• Dee Dee Sharp (born 1945), singer and actress
• Gene Shay (1935–2020), folk music musician
• Oscar Shumsky (1917–2000), violinist and conductor
• Beanie Sigel (born 1974), rapper
• Bunny Sigler (1941–2017), R&B singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer
• Steady B (born 1969), rapper
• Jazmine Sullivan (born 1987), R&B and soul singer-songwriter, 2-time Grammy award winner, and 2-time BET Award-winner
• Taylor Swift (born 1989), singer-songwriter, 14-time Grammy award winner, 2023 Apple Music Artist of the year
• William Takacs (born 1973), trumpet player
• Tammi Terrell (1945–1970), soul, R&B, and Motown singer
• Russell Thompkins Jr. (born 1951), soul and R&B singer
• Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter (born 1973), lead MC and co-founder, The Roots
• Robbie Tronco, DJ
• Ira Tucker (1925–2008), lead singer, The Dixie Hummingbirds
• McCoy Tyner (1938–2020), jazz pianist and composer, John Coltrane quartet
• Charlie Ventura (born 1916), tenor saxophonist and band leader
• Kurt Vile (born 1980), guitarist and vocalist
• Lee Ving (born 1950), singer and songwriter, frontman of hardcore punk band Fear
• Johannes von Trapp (born 1939), singer and member of Trapp Family
• Evan Sewell Wallace (1982–2017), singer, songwriter, and rapper known as "E-Dubble"
• Clara Ward (1924–1973), gospel singer
• Grover Washington Jr. (1943–1999), jazz saxophonist and founder of smooth jazz genre
• Crystal Waters (born 1961), dance and house music singer
• Ethel Waters (1896–1977), blues singer and actress
• André Watts (1946–2023), pianist
• Tierra Whack (born 1995), rapper and singer
• Pamela Williams (born 1963), jazz saxophonist
• Josh Wink (born 1970), DJ and electronic music producer
• Emily Yacina, singer-songwriter
• Karen Young (1951–1991), disco singer

Sports

• Chris Achuff (born 1975), defensive line coach, Syracuse University
• John Abadie (1854–1905), professional baseball player, Brooklyn Atlantics and Philadelphia Athletics
• Cal Abrams (1924–1997), professional baseball player, Baltimore Orioles, Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and Pittsburgh Pirates
• Chris Albright (born 1979), soccer player who represented the United States national team
• Dick Allen (1942–2020), professional baseball player, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and St. Louis Cardinals, National League Rookie of the Year, and seven-time All-Star
• Anthony Allison (born 1987), soccer player
• Doug Allison (1846–1916), first professional baseball player ever to use a baseball glove
• Eddie Alvarez (born 1984), mixed martial artist, ONE Championship, UFC Lightweight Champion
• Rubén Amaro Jr. (born 1965), professional baseball player, general manager, and coach
• Dan Antoniuk (born 1981), soccer player
• Paul Arizin (1928–2006), professional basketball player, Camden Bullets and
• Matt Bahr (born 1956), professional football and soccer player
• Walter Bahr (1927–2018), soccer player, manager, and National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee
• Deion Barnes (born 1993), professional football player, Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets
• Barry Barto (born 1950), soccer player and coach
• Reds Bassman (1913–2010), professional football player, Philadelphia Eagles
• Bert Bell (1895–1959), founder of Philadelphia Eagles football team and former NFL commissioner
• Erwin Bergdoll (1890–1965), former auto racer and draft dodger; brother of Grover Bergdoll
• Barney Berlinger (1908–2002), 1928 Summer Olympics decathlete
• Mohini Bhardwaj (born 1978), 2004 Summer Olympics gymnast
• Tyrell Biggs (born 1960), boxer, 1984 Summer Olympics gold medalist
• Audrey Bleiler (1933–1975), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player, South Bend Blue Sox
• Chaim Bloom (born 1983), Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer
• Tony Bono (born 1963), soccer player
• Thomas Brennan (1922–2003), professional hockey player, Boston Bruins
• Charles Brewer (born 1969), boxer and IBF super middleweight champion
• Derek Bryant (born 1971), former heavyweight boxer
• Kobe Bryant (1978–2020), professional basketball player and five-time NBA Finals champion
• Michael Brooks (1958–2016), professional basketball player
• Roy Campanella (1921–1993), professional baseball player, three-time National League Most Valuable Player
• Abdul Carter (born 2003), professional football player
• Wilt Chamberlain (1936–1999), professional basketball player and two-time NBA champion
• Gene Chyzowych (1935–2014), soccer player and coach
• Ben Clime (1891–1973), professional football player
• Randall "Tex" Cobb (born 1950), boxer and actor
• Tim Cooney (born 1990), professional baseball player
• Don Cohan (1930–2018), 1972 Olympic bronze medalist, sailing
• Brian Cohen (born 1976), professional boxer
• Julia Cohen (born 1989), professional tennis player
• Steve Coleman (born 1950), professional football player
• Bobby Convey (born 1983), soccer player who represented the United States national team
• Tyrone Crawley (1958–2021), boxer
• Fran Crippen (1984–2010), professional swimmer
• Maddy Crippen (born 1980), swimmer in 2000 Olympics
• Ray Culp (born 1941), Phillies right-handed pitcher and runner-up to Dick Allen for National League Rookie of the Year
• Steve Cunningham (born 1976), boxer and cruiserweight champion
• Brandon Davies (born 1991), American-born Ugandan professional basketball player
• Matthew "Super" DeLisi (born 2000), esports player
• Ollie Dobbins (born 1941), football player
• Buster Drayton (born 1952), boxer and light middleweight (super welterweight) champion
• Jon Drummond (born 1968), track and field athlete, 1996 and 2000 Olympic medalist
• Dave Dunaway (1945–2001), professional football player
• Angelo Dundee (1921–2012), boxing trainer
• Fred Dunlap (1859–1902), professional baseball player
• John Edelman (born 1935), professional baseball player
• Gary Emanuel (born 1958), defensive line coach, Atlanta Falcons
• Julius Erving (born 1950), Philadelphia 76ers 11-time All-Star, 2-time NBA champion, two-time ABA champion, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member
• Jahri Evans (born 1983), professional football player
• Paul Felder (born 1984), mixed martial artist with UFC and Cage Fury Fighting Championships
• D'or Fischer (born 1981), Israeli-American basketball player, Israeli National League
• Craig Fitzgerald, professional football coach
• Joe Flacco (born 1985), professional football player
• Francine Fournier (born 1972), professional wrestling valet, Extreme Championship Wrestling
• Joe Frazier (1944–2011), boxer, 1964 Olympic gold medalist and former world heavyweight champion
• Marvis Frazier (born 1960), boxer
• Harry Fritz (1890–1974), baseball player
• Jim "Sandman" Fullington (born 1963), professional wrestler, Extreme Championship Wrestling and WWE
• Mark Gerban (born 1979), first world champion rower, Palestine
• Eddie George (born 1973), professional football player and Heisman Trophy winner
• Kerry Getz (born 1975), professional skateboarder
• Joey Giardello (1930–2008), professional boxer and middleweight champion
• Tom Gola (1933–2014), professional basketball player, La Salle University men's basketball head coach, and Philadelphia mayoral candidate
• Brent Grimes (born 1983), professional football player
• Randy Grossman (born 1952), professional football player and four-time Super Bowl Champion
• Mark Gubicza (born 1962), professional baseball player
• Drew Gulak (born 1987), professional wrestler
• Matt Guokas (born 1944), professional basketball player and coach
• Brendan Hansen (born 1981), Olympic swimmer
• Eric Harding (born 1972), boxer
• Marvin Harrison (born 1972), professional football player
• Kirk Hershey (1918–1979), professional football player
• Bill Holland (1907–1984), 1949 Indianapolis 500 winner and three-time second-place finisher
• Bernard Hopkins (born 1965), boxer and world middleweight champion
• Demetrius Hopkins (born 1980), boxer
• Allen Iverson (born 1975), Philadelphia 76ers professional basketball player, 11-time All-Star, NBA MVP, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member
• Michael Iaconelli (born 1972), professional bass angler and winner of 2003 Bassmaster Classic
• Reggie Jackson (born 1946), Hall of Fame baseball player
• Judith Jamison (born 1943), dancer; choreographer, and artistic director, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
• Joe Judge (born 1981), professional football head coach, New York Giants
• Gabe Kapler (born 1976), professional baseball player and manager
• John B. Kelly Sr. (1889–1960), triple Olympic gold medal winner, rowing
• John B. Kelly Jr. (1927–1985), champion rower
• Florian Kempf (born 1956), football player
• Matt Kilroy (1866–1940), professional baseball player
• Sam Kimber (1854–1925), professional baseball player
• Bart King (1873–1965), cricket bowler
• Darnell Kittrell (born 1975), professional wrestler
• Kenny Koplove (born 1993), baseball player
• Mike Koplove (born 1976), professional baseball pitcher
• Julian Krinsky, tennis player
• Rick Lackman (1910–1990), professional football player
• Dave LaCrosse (born 1955), professional player
• Sonny Liston (c.1930–c. 1970), boxer and world heavyweight champion
• Tommy Loughran (1902–1982), boxer and light heavyweight champion
• Harry Luff (1856–1916), Major League Baseball player
• John Macionis (1916–2012), Olympic swimmer, 1936 silver medalist
• Brooke Makler (1951–2010), Olympic fencer
• Paul Makler Jr. (born 1946), Olympic fencer
• Paul Makler Sr. (1920–2022), Olympic fencer
• Donovan McNabb (born 1976), professional football player, Philadelphia Eagles
• Dick McBride (1847–1916), baseball player and manager
• John McDermott (1891–1971), professional golfer
• Benny McLaughlin (1928–2012), professional soccer player and member, U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame
• Jake Metz (born 1991), football player
• Levi Meyerle (1849–1921), professional baseball player
• Nate Miller (born 1963), boxer and cruiserweight champion
• Alvin Mitchell (born 1943), football player
• Tony Morgano (1913–1984), boxer
• Willie Mosconi (1913–1993), professional billiards player
• Matthew Saad Muhammad (1954–2014), boxer and light heavyweight champion
• Browning Nagle (born 1968), professional football player
• Jim O'Brien (born 1952), NBA coach
• Vince Papale (born 1946), professional football player, inspiration for the movie Invincible
• Kyle Pitts (born 2000), professional football player, Atlanta Falcons
• Mike Powell (born 1963), track and field athlete, 1988 and 1992 Olympic silver medalist and current long jump world record holder
• Zahir Raheem (born 1976), boxer and 1996 Olympian
• Jack Ramsay (1925–2014), basketball coach, Saint Joseph's College men's team, NBA coach, general manager, television commentator, and Hall of Famer
• Merrill Reese (born 1942), Philadelphia Eagles radio broadcaster
• David Reid (born 1973), boxer, 1996 Olympic gold medalist, light middleweight
• Stevie Richards (born 1971), professional wrestler, Extreme Championship Wrestling and WWE
• Robin Roberts (1926–2010), Phillies right-handed pitcher, Cy Young Award recipient, and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
• Ivan Robinson (born 1971), boxer
• Allen Rosenberg (1931–2013), rower and rowing coach
• Mike Schmidt (born 1949), Phillies Golden Glove third baseman and member of Baseball Hall of Fame
• Vic Seixas (1923–2024), tennis player
• Kirk Shelmerdine (born 1958), NASCAR driver and crew chief
• Ed Sheridan (born 1957), retired professional soccer player
• Steve Slaton (born 1986), NFL player
• Gunboat Smith (1887–1974), boxer turned actor and boxing referee
• Frank Spellman (1922–2017), Olympic champion weightlifter
• David Starr (born 1991), professional wrestler
• John Sterling (1865–1908), professional baseball player
• Harry Stovey (1856–1937), professional baseball player
• Joe Sugden (1870–1959), professional baseball player
• Cavan Sullivan (born 2009), professional soccer player; youngest person to appear in a league match for a major professional league in the United States
• Quinn Sullivan (born 2004), professional soccer player
• Eric Tangradi (born 1989), professional hockey player
• Meldrick Taylor (born 1966), boxer, 1984 Olympic gold medalist, welterweight and junior welterweight champion
• Aaron Torres (born 1978), boxer and contestant on The Contender 2
• Najai Turpin (1981–2005), boxer and contestant on The Contender
• Harp Vaughan (1903–1978), professional football player
• Iosif Vitebskiy (born 1938), Soviet/Ukrainian Olympic medalist and world champion fencer and fencing coach
• John Waerig (born 1976), professional football player
• Steve Wagner (born 1967), Olympic field hockey player
• Bobby "Boogaloo" Watts (born 1949), boxer
• Charles Way (born 1972), professional football player
• Maia Weintraub (born 2002), national champion and Olympic foil fencer
• Reece Whitley (born 2000), swimmer and former Sports Illustrated Kid of the Year
• Erik Williams (born 1968), professional football player, Dallas Cowboys
• Ike Williams (1923–1994), boxer and lightweight champion
• Joe Williams (born 1942), former football player
• Stevie Williams (born 1979), professional skateboarder
• Brad Wanamaker (born 1989), professional basketball player, Boston Celtics
• Ned Williamson (1857–1894), professional baseball player
• George Winslow (born 1963), professional football player
• Jimmy Young (1948–2005), boxer

Philadelphia native basketball players

• Ryan Arcidiacono (born 1994), professional basketball player, New York Knicks
• Gene Banks (born 1959), professional basketball player, Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs
• Mike Bantom (born 1951), professional basketball player, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, and Seattle Seahawks
• Joe "Jellybean" Bryant (1954–2024), professional basketball player, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, and San Diego Clippers
• Kobe Bryant (1978–2020), professional basketball player, Los Angeles Lakers
• Rasual Butler (1979–2018), professional basketball player
• Tony Carr (born 1997), basketball player in the Israeli Premier Basketball League
• Fred Carter (born 1945), NBA
• Wilt Chamberlain (1936–1999), professional basketball player
• Dionte Christmas (born 1986), NBA
• Bryan Cohen (born 1989), American-Israeli, Israel Basketball Premier League
• Mardy Collins (born 1984), NBA
• Dallas Comegys (born 1964), NBA
• Mark Davis (born 1960), NBL (Australia) – Adelaide 36ers
• Wayne Ellington (born 1987), NBA
• Tyreke Evans (born 1989), NBA
• D'or Fischer (born 1981), American-Israeli
• Eddie Griffin (1982–2007), professional basketball player
• Gerald Henderson Jr. (born 1987), NBA
• Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (born 1995), professional basketball player
• De'Andre Hunter (born 1997), current NBA player for the Atlanta Hawks
• Marc Jackson (born 1975), NBA
• Amile Jefferson (born 1993), NBA G League
• Wali Jones (born 1942), NBA
• Bo Kimble (born 1966), NBA
• Red Klotz (1920–2014), American Basketball League basketball player
• Betnijah Laney (born 1993), WNBA
• Howard Lassoff (1955–2013), American-Israeli basketball player
• Ryan Lexer (born 1976), American-Israeli former basketball player, Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Kyle Lowry (born 1986), NBA
• Aaron McKie (born 1972), NBA
• Cuttino Mobley (born 1975), NBA
• Earl Monroe (born 1944), NBA
• Marcus Morris (born 1989), NBA
• Markieff Morris (born 1989), NBA
• Ronald "Flip" Murray (born 1979), NBA
• Jameer Nelson (born 1982), NBA
• Aaron Owens (born 1974),
• Red Rosan (1911–1976), American Basketball League professional basketball player
• Malik Rose (born 1974), NBA
• John Salmons (born 1979), NBA
• Art Spector (1920–1987), professional basketball player
• Dawn Staley (born 1970), WNBA
• Dion Waiters (born 1991), NBA
• Rasheed Wallace (born 1974), NBA
• Hakim Warrick (born 1982), NBA
• Mike Watkins (born 1995), professional basketball player, Antwerp Giants in the BNXT League
• Maurice Watson (born 1993), Maccabi Rishon LeZion of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Maalik Wayns (born 1991), NBA
• Alvin Williams (born 1974), NBA
• Khalif Wyatt (born 1991), NBA G League
• Reggie Redding (born 1988) Professional Basketball Player / G League Coach

Other

• Richard Allen (1760–1831), African Methodist Episcopal Church bishop and abolitionist
• Gloria Allred (born 1941), women's rights attorney
• Hart O. Berg (1865–1941), engineer and businessman
• Anna Pierce Hobbs Bixby (c. 1810–c. 1870), midwife, frontier doctor, dentist, herbologist, and scientist who discovered the cause of milk sickness
• Guion Bluford (born 1942), astronaut and first African-American in space
• Frank Erdman Boston (1890–1960), physician
• Stanley Branche (1933–1992), civil rights activist and Philadelphia night club owner
• William E. Carter (1875–1945), a survivor of the RMS Titanic
• Pete Conrad (1930–1999), astronaut, the third man to walk on the Moon with Apollo 12
• Percy Crawford (1902–1960), clergyman and religious broadcaster
• Wilbur Davenport (1920–2003), engineer and scientist
• Steve DeAngelo (born 1958), social activist
• Anthony F. DePalma (1904–2005), orthopedic surgeon and medical school professor
• Katherine Drexel (1858–1955), Roman Catholic saint
• William Duane (1872–1935), a former physicist
• Daniel Faulkner (1955–1981), Philadelphia police officer killed in the line of duty; Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of his murder
• Christopher Ferguson (born 1961), astronaut
• Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde (born 1961), Philadelphia municipal court judge and boxer
• Barbara Harris (1930–2020), Anglican Communion bishop
• Paul B. Higginbotham (born 1954), judge, Wisconsin Court of Appeals
• Gino Jennings (born 1963), religious leader
• Umar Johnson (born 1974), Afrocentrist psychologist and activist
• Ruth Malcomson (1906–1988), Miss America
• James Martin (born 1960), Jesuit priest, writer, and commentator on modern Catholicism
• Seamus McCaffrey (born 1950), justice, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and presiding judge, "Eagles Court"
• Carol McCain (c. 1938), ex-wife of U.S. presidential candidate John McCain
• Silas Weir Mitchell (1829–1914), physician, scientist, novelist, and poet considered "father of neurology"
• Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (?–1986), Sufi mystic
• Clarence Charles Newcomer (1923–2005), U.S. district judge, U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• John Joseph O'Connor (1920–2000), Roman Catholic cardinal and archbishop, Archdiocese of New York
• George A. Palmer (1895–1981), clergyman and religious broadcaster
• David L. Reich (born 1960), academic anesthesiologist, professor, Mount Sinai Hospital president
• Marjorie Rendell (born 1947), judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and First Lady of Pennsylvania
• Amber Rose (born 1983), model and actress
• Charles Sanna (1917–2019), Swiss Miss creator, director
• Samuel Gilbert Scott (c. 1813–1841), daredevil
• Lester Shubin (1925–2009), inventor, Kevlar bulletproof vest
• Nancy Spungen (1958–1978), girlfriend of Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious
• Marian Thayer (1872–1944), socialite and survivor of the Titanic
• Marion Turner Stubbs (1910–1994), founder of Jack and Jill of America
• Kee Taylor (living), hair stylist, business executive, and YouTuber
• Michael Tollin, film producer
• Floyd W. Tomkins (1850–1932), Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia rector
• Walter E. Williams (1936–2020), economist, commentator, and academic
• Jeremiah Wright (born 1941), pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ
• Joshua Wurman (born 1960), meteorologist and VORTEX2 leader

References

References are on the article pages if not listed here.

External links