List of Famous people born in New York, United States of America
Phil Spector
Harvey Phillip Spector was an American record producer, musician, and songwriter known for his innovative recording practices and entrepreneurship in the 1960s, followed decades later by his trial and conviction for murder in the 2000s. Spector developed the Wall of Sound, a music production formula he described as a Wagnerian approach to rock and roll. He is regarded as one of the most influential figures in pop music history and as the first auteur of the music industry for the unprecedented control he had over every phase of the recording process. In 2009, after spending three decades in semi-retirement, he was convicted for the 2003 murder of the actress Lana Clarkson and sentenced to 19 years to life in prison.
Deborah Feldman
Deborah Feldman is an American-born German writer living in Berlin, Germany. Her 2012 autobiography, Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots, tells the story of her escape from an ultra-Orthodox community in Brooklyn, New York, and was the basis of the 2020 Netflix miniseries Unorthodox.
Steven Mnuchin
Steven Terner Mnuchin is an American investment banker and film producer who served as the 77th United States secretary of the treasury as part of the Cabinet of Donald Trump from 2017 to 2021. Previously, Mnuchin had been a hedge fund manager and investor.
Michelle Trachtenberg
Michelle Christine Trachtenberg is an American actress and model. She played Jennifer in EuroTrip (2004), Nona Mecklenberg in The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1994–1996), Dawn Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2000–2003), Harriet M. Welsch in Harriet the Spy (1996), and Georgina Sparks in Gossip Girl (2007–2012).
William Barr
William Pelham "Bill" Barr is an American attorney who served as the 77th and 85th United States Attorney General, in the administrations of Presidents George H. W. Bush and Donald Trump.
Justin Gatlin
Justin Gatlin is an American sprinter who specializes in the 100 and 200 metres events. He is a 5-time Olympic medalist and a 12-time World Championship medalist. He is the 2004 Olympic Champion in the 100 metres, the 2005 and 2017 100 metres World Champion, and the 2005 World champion in the 200 metres. Gatlin is a two-time 60 metres World Champion in 2003 and 2012, and the 2019 4 x 100 metres World Champion. Gatlin was banned from competing between 2006 and 2010 by USADA for failing a drugs test, testing positive for testosterone.
John Walsh
John Edward Walsh Jr. is an American television personality, criminal investigator, victim rights advocate, and the host/creator of America's Most Wanted. He is known for his anti-crime activism, with which he became involved following the murder of his son, Adam, in 1981; in 2008, the late serial killer Ottis Toole was officially named as Adam's killer. He was part-owner of the now defunct Museum of Crime & Punishment in Washington, D.C. He also anchors an investigative documentary series, The Hunt with John Walsh, which debuted on CNN in 2014.
George Pérez
George Pérez is a retired American comic book artist and writer, whose titles include The Avengers, Teen Titans, and Wonder Woman. Writer Peter David has named Pérez his favorite artistic collaborator.
Al Franken
Alan Stuart Franken is an American comedian, former politician, media personality, and author who served as a United States senator from Minnesota from 2009 to 2018. He became well known in the 1970s and 1980s as a staff writer and performer on the television comedy show Saturday Night Live. After decades as a comedic actor and writer, he became a prominent liberal political activist, hosting The Al Franken Show on Air America Radio.
Michael Cohen
Michael Dean Cohen is an American disbarred lawyer who served as an attorney for U.S. president Donald Trump from 2006 to 2018. Cohen was a vice-president of the Trump Organization, and the personal counsel to Trump, and was often described by media as Trump's "fixer". He served as co-president of Trump Entertainment and was a board member of the Eric Trump Foundation, a children's health charity. From 2017 to 2018, Cohen was deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee.