The Bronx, a borough of New York City, has long been known for its decent and rich history. Like any other city in the world, the Bronx has produced so many well-known famous people from the Bronx known worldwide. Some have died, while others are still alive and making history with their names. The Bronx has produced famous people from a variety of fields, including politicians, athletes, actors and actresses, and musicians. Some celebrities have become iconic figures whom the rest of the world looks up to as role models.
In this blog, we will look at 15 famous people and celebrities from the Bronx who have made a permanent mark in their respective fields and continue to inspire generations.
1. Richard Alba
Occupation: Sociologist and professor.
Connection to the Bronx:
Richard is a Distinguished Professor of Sociology at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. Richard Alba has a close connection to the Bronx because of his research on immigration, race, and ethnicity in cities. He looks at how these things affect how people interact and live together. The Bronx, being very diverse and important in New York City's history, is a great place for his studies. His studies focus on how immigrants fit in, the different cultures, and how fair things are in the city, all of which are big deals in the Bronx because of its many immigrant groups and the mix of people who live there. He served as President of the Sociological Research Association from 2012 to 2013. Richard has received the American Sociological Association’s International Migration Section’s Distinguished Career Award and the Eastern Sociological Association’s Merit Award.
2. George Carlin
Occupation: Stand-up comedian, actor, author, and social critic.
Connection to the Bronx:
George Carlin was born in New York City but grew up in the Bronx. He went to school there and started his career as a comedian by telling jokes while he lived there. The Bronx and the city itself were big parts of his comedy. He was regarded as one of the most important and influential stand-up comedians of all time. He was well-known for his dark humour and reflections on politics, the English language, psychology, religion, and taboo subjects.
3. Christopher Aponte
Occupation: American classical ballet dancer.
Connection to the Bronx:
Christopher was a talented classical ballet dancer from the Bronx. He received a scholarship to attend the National Academy of Ballet after studying at the High School of Performing Arts. Afterwards, he was accepted into Harkness Ballet School's trainee program on a scholarship and made his debut performance at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park. Aponte went on to become a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre, the New York City Ballet, the Boston Ballet, and the Alvin Ailey Company. He also served as the artistic director of the Spokane Ballet and has choreographed over 40 ballets. So, if you want to pursue your career in dance as a profession and looking for places in the Bronx, then must consider Spokane Ballet Studio. The story of Christopher's journey serves as a testament to your dancing career.
4. Robert Abrams
Occupation: American attorney and politician.
Connection to the Bronx:
The Bronx has been lucky to have a strong leader named Robert Abrams. He's a lawyer and politician who served as New York's attorney general from 1979 to 1993. He was also nominated by the Democratic Party to run for the U.S. Senate in 1992. He was re-elected three more times. While serving in this role, he received many awards and honours. He also became the president of a group called the National Association of Attorneys General and received a special award for being an outstanding Attorney General.
5. Floyd Mayweather Sr.
Occupation: Boxer
Connection to the Bronx:
Floyd Mayweather Sr. was a famous boxer and trainer from the Bronx. He used to box professionally in the 1970s and 1980s. He was famous for his defensive skills and smart boxing tactics. Mayweather Sr. has a record of 28 wins, 6 losses, and 1 draw in his boxing career, with 18 wins by knockout. He won the 1977 U.S. Championship Tournament by defeating Miguel Barreto. Mayweather Sr. is also the father and former coach of Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is also a well-known boxer.
6. Margaret Bailes
Occupation: Athlete.
Connection to the Bronx:
Even though sports are mostly seen as a male-dominated field, some women have excelled and achieved great success. Margaret Bailes is a talented athlete from the Bronx. She's a sprinter from the United States who competed in the 100 and 200 meters races. Bailes represented the United States in the 4 x 100-meter relay at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, where she won a gold medal along with her teammates. Bailes set high school records in Oregon for the 100 meters and 200 meters while attending Churchill High School in Eugene in 1968. In recognition of her achievements, she was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.
7. Cardi B
Occupation: Rapper, singer, songwriter, and actress.
Connection to the Bronx:
Cardi B has a strong connection to the Bronx, as she was born and raised there. She often talks about her Bronx upbringing in her music and interviews. Growing up in the Bronx influenced her music style, personality, and overall identity as an artist. Cardi B frequently references what is the bronx known for, its culture, slang, and experiences in her songs, highlighting the impact her hometown has had on her career and success. Cardi B is the most likely the best female rapper in America. She rose to prominence as an Instagram and Vine influencer. From 2015 to early 2017, she was a regular cast member on the VH1 reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York, which depicted the pursuit of her music dreams, and she gained additional recognition with the release of her two mixtapes.
8. Kerry Washington
Occupation: Actress
Connection the Bronx:
Kerry Washington is a famous American actress who became well-known for her role as Olivia Pope in the TV show Scandal from 2012 to 2018. She was nominated for Emmy and Golden Globe awards for her acting. Time magazine also included her in its list of the most influential people in 2014. Forbes ranked her as the eighth highest-paid TV actress in 2018. She was born in the Bronx and spent her early years there before moving to other places during her childhood. Despite moving away, Washington has often spoken about her Bronx roots and how they shaped her as a person and as an actress. Her upbringing in the Bronx influences her work and advocacy, especially in addressing issues related to diversity, representation, and social justice in the entertainment industry.
9. Tony Curtis
Occupation: Actor
Connection to the Bronx:
Tony was an American actor born in the Bronx. He had a successful career that lasted over sixty years. In his career, he has done more than a hundred amazing movies in various genres. Tony was most famous in the 1950s and early 1960s. He later appeared on television as well. One of Tony's great successes came from his role in the 1957 movie "Sweet Smell of Success". This role helped Tony gain recognition as a serious actor. He was honoured with an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. He also acted in two comedies, and appeared in the historical drama "Spartacus."
10. Stacey Dash
Occupation: Actress, politician
Connection to the Bronx:
Dash was born in the Bronx, and is of African-American and Mexican descent. She is an actress from the United States. Dash became famous for her role as Dionne Marie Davenport in the 1995 movie "Clueless" and its TV series. On TV, Dash has been on shows like "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Single Ladies," and the reality show "Celebrity Circus.” Besides acting, Dash has been involved in politics, especially during Barack Obama's and Donald Trump's administrations.
11. Rita Moreno
Occupation: Actress and singer
Connection to the Bronx:
Rita Moreno was born in Humacao, Puerto Rico, and moved to New York City with her mother at a young age. Moreno spent much of her childhood and early adulthood in The Bronx, specifically in the South Bronx neighbourhood. Rita Moreno went to a school in Manhattan where she learned singing, dancing, and acting. She became famous in the 1950s and was one of the first Latina actresses to be popular in Hollywood. Her big role was as Anita in the movie "West Side Story" in 1961, and she won an Oscar for it. Throughout her career, Moreno has been a big supporter of having different kinds of people represented in movies and shows. Because of her work and her connection to The Bronx, she's loved by many people, especially in the Latino community and in entertainment.
12. Jennifer Lopez
Occupation: Actress, singer, and dancer
Connection to the Bronx:
Jennifer Lynn Affleck (J.Lo) is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Jennifer Lopez is from The Bronx in New York City. She was born there in 1969 and lived there when she was young. Her family is Puerto Rican, and growing up in The Bronx influenced her a lot. She loved dancing and performing, which she started doing in school. She's known for her music, acting, and being on TV, and she's proud of what to sees in the Bronx. She supports programs that help kids, especially those who need extra help. Her connection to The Bronx is a big part of who she is, and it's important to her to give back to her community. Lopez is widely regarded as the most influential Latin entertainer of all time, having broken down ethnic barriers in the entertainment industry. She is the only female entertainer to have a number-one album and film in the United States at the same time.
13. Fat Joe
Occupation: Musician, Actor
Connection to the Bronx:
Fat Joe is a big music star from The Bronx. He started his music career in a group called Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.) and then made his label called Terror Squad. He signed other famous artists like Big Pun, Remy Ma, and DJ Khaled. Besides music, Fat Joe has been in movies like Scary Movie 3 and Happy Feet. He was also in Spike Lee's show on Netflix called She's Gotta Have It. In 2018, he started hosting a podcast called Coca Vision on Tidal, where he talks about music, friends, and pop culture with different guests.
14. Gene Weingarten
Occupation: Journalist and author
Connection the Bronx:
Gene Weingarten, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, was born in New York City but grew up in the South Bronx, which influenced his early life and experiences. Weingarten is well-known for his work which is both serious and humorous. Weingarten received the Ernie Pyle Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists in 2014.
15. Nancy Savoca
Occupation: Filmmaker
Connection to the Bronx:
Nancy Savoca is a filmmaker known for making low-budget movies. She grew up in The Bronx in New York City, and this influenced the stories she tells in her movies. Her films often talk about things like who we are, how families work, and where we come from. This is because she learned a lot about these topics while seeing things to do in bronx NY. Savoca is good at creating characters in her movies that feel real and easy to understand, and she does this by thinking about her own experiences in The Bronx. One of her famous movies is called "True Love," which won a big prize at a festival in 1989. Nancy Savoca's time growing up in The Bronx has made a big impact on the stories she tells in her movies and the way she shows them to us.
