Famous People from Connecticut

Ethan Allan (1738 - 1789) American Revolutionary soldier. Born in Litchfield, CT (69)

Benedict Arnold (1741 - 1801) A captain of the Colonial Army turned British spy. He is famous for burning down the town of New London; since then, his name has meant "traitor;". Born in Norwich, CT (66)

Horace Austin (1831 - 1905) Was an American politician. He served as the sixth Governor of Minnesota from January 9, 1870 to January 7, 1874. Born in Canterbury, CT (1225)

Abraham Baldwin (1754 - 1807) Was an American politician, Patriot, and Founding Father from the U.S. state of Georgia. Baldwin was a Georgia representative in the Continental Congress and served in the United States House of Representatives and Senate after the adoption of the Constitution. Born in Guilford, CT (1189)

Phineas T. Barnum (1810 - 1891) One founder of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. Born in Bethel, CT (67)

Roger Bart (1962 - ) Is an American actor. Born in Norwalk, CT (904)

Graham S. Beckel (1949 - ) Is an American character actor. He is known for his prolific guest appearances on television but has had prominent roles in several major films as well. Born in Old Lyme, CT (906)

Edward James Begley, Sr. (1901 - 1970) Was an American actor. Born in Hartford, CT (907)

Richard Jay Belzer (1944 - ) Is an American stand-up comedian, writer, and actor, perhaps best known for his work as Sgt. John Munch on Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Born in Bridgeport, CT (908)

Ernest Borgnine (1917 - ) Is an American actor of television and the big screen. His career has spanned over five decades. Born in Hamden, CT (912)

Jesse Bradford (1979 - ) Is an American actor. Born in Norwalk, CT (913)

Amy Frederica Brenneman (1964 - ) Is a Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated American actress, perhaps best known for her roles in the television series NYPD Blue, Judging Amy and Private Practice. Born in New London, CT (914)

John Brown (1800 - 1859) Infamous abolitionist during the Civil War. Born in Torrington, CT (185)

George W. Bush (1946 - ) 43rd U.S. President and 47th governor of Texas; grew up in Midland and Houston. Born in New Haven, CT (551)

Glenn Close (1947 - ) Is an American actress. She has been nominated five times for an Oscar, and has won three Tonys, an Obie, three Emmys, two Golden Globes, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Born in Greenwich, CT (917)

Samuel Colt (1814 - 1862) Inventor and founder of the Colt firearm company. Born in Hartford, CT (71)

Bob Crane (1928 - 1978) Was an American disc jockey and actor, best known for his performance as Colonel Robert E. Hogan in the television sitcom Hogan's Heroes from 1965 to 1971. Born in Waterbury, CT (918)

Lauren Anne D'Ambruoso (1978 - ) Is an American film and television actress, best known for portraying the character Claire Fisher on the HBO drama Six Feet Under. Born in New Haven, CT (900)

Julius Dassin (1911 - 2008) Was an American film director. He was a subject of the Hollywood blacklist in the McCarthy era, and subsequently moved to France where he revived his career. Born in Middletown, CT (919)

Brian Mannion Dennehy (1938 - ) Is an American actor of film, stage and screen. Born in Bridgeport, CT (920)

George Ralph DiCenzo (1940 - ) Is an American character actor and once associate producer for Dark Shadows. Born in New Haven, CT (921)

Abby Elliott (1987 - ) Is an American actress and comedienne who is currently a cast member on Saturday Night Live. She is the third generation of her family to have been featured on the show. Born in Wilton, CT (922)

Linda Evans (1942 - ) Is an American actress known primarily for her roles on television. Born in Hartford, CT (923)

Will Friedle (1976 - ) Born William Alan Friedle, Is an American actor and comedian. Born in Hartford, CT (925)

Paul Fusco (1953 - ) Is an American puppeteer, voice-over artist and character actor who is best known as the voice, creator, and puppeteer of ALF. Born in New Haven, CT (926)

Charles Goodyear (1800 - 1860) Inventor of vulcanized rubber. Born in New Haven, CT (77)

Ella Grasso (1919 - 1981) The first woman to be elected governor of a state. Born in Hartford County, CT (79)

Nathan Hale (1755 - 1776) A martyr soldier of the American Revolution. Born in Coventry, CT (72)

Katharine Hepburn (1907 - 2003) Famous actress who won four Academy Awards for best actress. Born in Hartford, CT (73)

Naughton James (1945 - ) Is an American Tony Award-winning theater, film and television actor. Born in Middletown, CT (934)

Mary Kies (1752 - 1837) The first woman to receive a US patent, received on May 15th, 1809 for a method of weaving straw with silk; from South Killingly. Born in , CT (74)

William Atherton Knight (1947 - ) Is an American film, stage and television actor. Born in Orange, CT (902)

Eriq Ki La Salle (1962 - ) Is an American actor and director, known for his portrayals of Darryl in the 1988 comedy film Coming to America and Dr. Peter Benton on the NBC drama series ER. Born in Hartford, CT (930)

Hope Elise Ross Lange (1933 - 2003) Was an American stage, film, and television actress. Born in Redding, CT (929)

Christopher Allen Lloyd (1938 - ) Is an American actor. He is widely known for his iconic portrayals of characters such as Emmett "Doc" Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy, Born in Stamford, CT (932)

Justin Jacob Long (1978 - ) Is an American film and television actor, Born in Fairfield, CT (931)

Robert Mitchum (1917 - 1997) was an American film actor, author, composer and singer. Mitchum is largely remembered for his starring roles in several major works of the film noir style, and is considered a forerunner of the anti-heroes prevalent in film during the 1950s and 1960s. Born in Bridgeport, CT (933)

Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. (1908 - 1972) Congressman. Born in New Haven, CT (78)

Meg Ryan (1961 - ) Born Margaret Mary Emily Hyra Is an American Actress. Born in Fairfield, CT (803)

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811 - 1896) Abolitionist and humanitarian; author of Uncle Tom's Cabin; lived in Brunswick. Born in Litchfield, CT (233)

Noah Webster (1758 - 1843) Author of the first dictionary published in 1807; from West Hartford. Born in Hartford, CT (76)

Eleazar Wheelock (1711 - 1779) Founded Dartmouth College in 1769 in the city of Hanover, he also served as the first president. Born in Windham, CT (367)

Madeline Rose Zima (1985 - ) Is an American actress. Born in New Haven, CT (938)