<!-- NOTICE * * * NOTICE * * * NOTICE * * * * * * * * * * * *NOTICE * * * NOTICE * * * NOTICE

• Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here. This establishes notability.

• The article must mention how they are associated with the community, whether born, raised, or residing.

• The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited.

• Alphabetical by last name, please.

• All others will be deleted without further explanation.

END OF NOTICE * * * * * * * * * * * * END OF NOTICE * * * * * * * * * * * *END OF NOTICE -->

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), Survivor: Ghost Island 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 Survivor
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Marcus Aurelius Root (1808–1888), leading daguerreotypist and author
  • Betsy Ross (1752–1836), sewed first American flag known as the Betsy Ross flag
  • 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
  • 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
  • Paul Arizin (1928–2006), professional basketball player, Camden Bullets and Philadelphia Warriors
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.