Famous Clevelanders

Famous Clevelanders

Media, Movies & Music

Steven Adler Former drummer of Guns and Roses.

Catherine Bach Known for her role as Daisy Duke in the television series The Dukes of Hazard.

Vanessa Bayer Actress and comedian, best known for being a cast member on Saturday Night Live

Halle Berry This Academy and Emmy Award winning actress has appeared in many blockbusters including Monster’s Ball. She is one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood and is also a spokeswoman for Revlon.

Drew Carey Starred in his own TV sitcom, the Drew Carey Show, as well as the improv comedy show Who’s Line Is It Anyway? He is currently the host of the popular TV game show, The Price Is Right.

Tracy Chapman Singer songwriter best known for her hits “Fast Car’ and “Give Me One Reason” She is a four time Grammy award winner.

Photo Information: Top left to right: Wes Craven; Vanessa Bayer; Dean Martin; Chrissie Hynde; Screamin J Hawkins; Tom Hanks; John D Rockefeller

Tim Conway Starred as Charles Parker in the 1960’s comedy series McHale’s Navy and later went on to become a prominent part of the cast of the Carol Burnett Show.

Wes Craven Director of some of the most memorable horror films of all time including Nightmare On Elm Street and the Scream series.

Phil Donahue Creator and host of the groundbreaking Phil Donahue Show. He began his career at KYW radio and TV here in Cleveland.

Alan Freed Famous disc jockey who coined the phrase “Rock n Roll” and one of the first radio hosts to include original songs by African American artists on his program. Freed called his show on Cleveland’s WJW “The Moondog House” and he organized the very first rock concerts and called it “The Moondog Coronation Ball.”

Arsenio Hall He hosted his own Arsenio Hall Show from 1989 through 1994 and is having a new talk show beginnings In 2013. In 2012 he won Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice.

Margaret Hamilton Actress who played the witch in The Wizard of Oz.

Tom Hanks Actor, producer, writer and director, Hanks began his acting career in Cleveland with the Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival in the late 1970’s.

Steve Harvey An American comedian, television host, producer, radio personality, actor, and author.

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins Best known for his hit “I Put A Spell On You”, he was one of the earliest shock rock performers.

Hal Holbrook His performances as Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain are legendary. He also starred in many popular motion pictures including: The Firm, Into The Wild and All The President’s Men.

Bob Hope Vaudeville, Broadway, radio and motion picture star. He is fondly remembered for his series of USO shows that he organized for US soldiers beginning in 1941 and continuing through the Persian Gulf War in 1991.

Chrissie Hynde Leader of the edgy and original rock band the Pretenders, Hynde redefined the female rocker with her unique style. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Pretenders in 2005. She is also a vegan and animal rights activist.

Dean Martin Singer and actor who landed his first gig in 1940 at Cleveland’s (now closed) Hollenden Hotel.

Henry Mancini Composed the themes to the Pink Panther and the Peter Gunn theme as well as Moon River. He was also a seasoned orchestral conductor.

Paul Newman An award winning actor, he also co-founded Newman’s Own, a food manufacturing company that donates all post tax profits to charity. Newman was also a successful auto racing team owner.

Mehmet Oz Known as Dr. Oz his rise to fame was a result of his many appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster Created the comic book superhero, Superman, in 1933.

Michael Symon A James Beard award winning chef and Iron Chef television personality. He can be seen regularly on the Food Network.

Joe Walsh Member of the James Gang and the Eagles. He has also had a very successful solo career. He spent a considerable amount of time playing in various bands in the Cleveland area while attending Kent State University.

Bobby Womack Lead singer of the Valentinos and Sam Cooke’s guitarist, Womack has also penned some major hits including It’s All Over Now, made famous by the Rolling Stones.

Sports

Bob Feller One of the best right handed pitchers in baseball history. Entered the major leagues at the age of 17 and pitched 18 seasons with the Cleveland Indians.

Jesse Owens Olympic sprinter and long jumper. He won four gold medals at the Munich Olympics in 1936.

Don Shula Coached the Miami Dolphins to the NFL’s only perfect season in 1972. His career continued and he became one of the winningest coaches in NFL history.

George Steinbrenner III Owned the New York Yankees for 37 years leading them to seven World Series titles and eleven pennants. Prior to owning the Yankees, he was a successful shipping magnate in Cleveland.

Cy Young Compiled 511 wins as a Major League Baseball pitcher, which is a record that still holds. One year after his death in 1955, the Cy Young Award was created to honor the previous season’s best pitcher. He also pitched three no hitters.

Innovators and Historical Figures

James A. Garfield 20 th President of the United States. His term only lasted 200 days as he was assassinated in July 1881.

John D. Rockefeller America industrialist and philanthropist. He founded the Standard Oil Company in 1870 and became the first American worth more than a billion dollars. He is also the founder of the University of Chicago and Rockefeller University.