Famous People from Rhode Island

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

Cyrus Aldrich (1808 - 1871) Was a U.S. Representative from Minnesota. Born in Smithfield, RI (1241)

William Francis Almon (1952 - ) Is a retired American baseball player who played in the major leagues from 1974 through 1988. A utility player, he played first base, second base, shortstop, third base, outfield and designated hitter. He played for the San Diego Padres, Montreal Expos, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Philadelphia Phillies of the National League, and the Chicago White Sox and Oakland A's in the American League. Born in Providence, RI (1583)

Harry Anderson (1952 - ) Actor and magician. He starred in the sit-com Night Court. Born in Newport, RI (509)

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

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

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

Alice Drummond (1929 - ) Is an American actress of stage and television. Born in Pawtucket, RI (1589)

Nelson Ackerman Eddy (1901 - 1967) Was an American singer and movie star who appeared in 19 musical films during the 1930s and 1940s, as well as in opera and on the concert stage, radio, television, and in nightclubs. A classically trained baritone, he is best remembered for the eight films in which he costarred with soprano Jeanette MacDonald. He was one of the first "crossover" stars, a superstar appealing both to shrieking bobby-soxers as well as opera purists, and in his heyday was the highest paid singer in the world. Born in Providence, RI (1590)

Mark Famiglietti (1979 - ) Is an American actor. Born in Providence, RI (924)

Peter Frechette (1956 - ) Is an American film, stage and television actor. Born in Coventry, RI (1591)

Peter Gerety (1940 - ) Is an American actor. Born in Providence, RI (1592)

Spalding Rockwell Gray (1941 - 2004) Was an American actor, playwright, screenwriter, performance artist, and monologuist. He was primarily known for his "trenchant, personal narratives delivered on sparse, unadorned sets with a dry, WASP, quiet mania. Born in Providence, RI (1593)

Bobby (Robert Leo) Hackett (1915 - 1976) Jazz musician who played the trumpet, the cornet, and the guitar; Known for playing with the Glenn Miller Orchestra (1941-1942). Born in Providence, RI (505)

Charles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett (1900 - 1972) Was an National Major League Baseball catcher and manager who played nearly his entire career with the Chicago Cubs. Widely considered to have been the greatest National League catcher in the first half of the 20th century, Hartnett was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955. Born in Woonsocket, RI (1584)

Joseph (Joe, or Joey) Patrick Hassett (1955 - ) Is a retired American basketball player in the NBA. A 6'5" (1.96 m) 180 lb (81.5 kg) guard, he played college basketball at Providence College, where he still shares a record with four other players to score at least 500 points in a season in three consecutive years. He also represented the US in the 1975 Pan American Games in Mexico City. Born in Providence, RI (1585)

Albert David Hedison, Jr. (1927 - ) Is an American film, television, and stage actor. In 1959, when he was cast in the role of Victor Sebastian in the short-lived espionage television series Five Fingers, NBC insisted that he change his name. It was proposed that he use his middle name and he has been known as David Hedison ever since. Born in Providence, RI (1594)

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

Thomas Harper Ince (1882 - 1924) Was an American silent film actor, director, screenwriter and producer of more than 100 films and pioneering studio mogul. Born in Newport, RI (1596)

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

Napoleon (Larry) Lajoie (1874 - 1959) Baseball player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937. Born in Woonsocket, RI (504)

Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890 - 1937) Was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction. Born in Providence, RI (1605)

Eric Lutes (1962 - ) Is an American actor, best known for his role of Del Cassidy on Caroline in the City and as Jake Carlson on So Little Time alongside the Olsen Twins and again with them in Switching Goals. Born in Charleston, RI (1598)

George Macready (1899 - 1973) Was an American stage, film, and television actor. He was often cast in roles as polished villains. Born in Providence, RI (1599)

Ron McLarty (1947 - ) Is an American actor, playwright and author. He began his career in theatre during the early 1970s with one his earliest professional performances being the role of Lucky in Michael Weller's Moonchildren for the play's American premiere at the Arena Stage in Washington D.C. in November 1971. McLarty continued with the production when it moved to Broadway in 1972. Born in Providence, RI (1601)

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

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

Gilbert Stuart (1755 - 1828) Artist that painted the George Washington that appears on the dollar bill. Born in Saunderstown, RI (508)

Meredith Louise Vieira (1953 - ) Is an American journalist, television personality, and game show host. She currently co-hosts NBC's Today and often contributes to Dateline NBC. She is the current host for Who Wants to Be a Millionaire in syndication, replacing Regis Philbin in 2002. She previously co-hosted ABC's daytime talk show The View (from 1997 to 2006). She also hosted Intimate Portrait, a series on Lifetime Television. Born in East Providence, RI (1604)