{"meta":{"title":"Notable Italian Americans: A Living List of Notable Figures","description":"A research-driven, human-reviewed dataset of notable Italian Americans across politics, science, business, arts, sports, military service, religion, and community leadership.","attribution":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans","source_name":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans","source_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans","publisher":{"name":"The Alghini Institute for Italian Americans","url":"https://italianamericans.com"},"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","license_requires":"Attribution — you must credit \"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans\" and link to https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans","count":574,"last_updated":"2026-07-25T20:19:18.632574+00:00","download_url":"https://italianamericans.com/api/italian-americans/dataset.json"},"data":[{"slug":"ray-abruzzo","full_name":"Ray Abruzzo","sort_name":"Abruzzo, Ray","display_years":"b. 1954","birth_year":1954,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Sopranos (Little Carmine Lupertazzi Jr.)","notable_for":["The Sopranos (Little Carmine Lupertazzi Jr.)","Italian-American character actor","surname derives from Italian region Abruzzo"],"honors":["The Sopranos Little Carmine — one of the funniest supporting characters in the show's run"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ray-abruzzo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-adcock","full_name":"Joe Adcock","sort_name":"Adcock, Joe","display_years":"1927–1999","birth_year":1927,"death_year":1999,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Coushatta, LA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Milwaukee Braves 1B","notable_for":["Milwaukee Braves 1B","hit 4 HR and a double in one game (1954)","southern Italian-American from Louisiana"],"honors":["18 total bases in one game (1954) — MLB record standing for 59 years","2x All-Star"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-adcock","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"danny-aiello","full_name":"Danny Aiello","sort_name":"Aiello, Danny","display_years":"1933–2019","birth_year":1933,"death_year":2019,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Manhattan, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Do the Right Thing","notable_for":["Do the Right Thing","Moonstruck","The Godfather Part II","2 Mules for Sister Sara"],"honors":["Academy Award nomination for Do the Right Thing (1989)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/danny-aiello","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"alan-alda","full_name":"Alan Alda","sort_name":"Alda, Alan","display_years":"b. 1936","birth_year":1936,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"M*A*S*H","notable_for":["M*A*S*H","The West Wing","born Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo","wrote many M*A*S*H episodes"],"honors":["6 Emmy Awards","Golden Globe winner","SAG Lifetime Achievement Award"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/alan-alda","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"alberto-alesina","full_name":"Alberto Alesina","sort_name":"Alesina, Alberto","display_years":"1957–2020","birth_year":1957,"death_year":2020,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Broni, Italy","category":"medicine-public-health","category_label":"Medicine & Public Health","subcategory":"Economics","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Harvard economics professor; political economy pioneer; fiscal policy research; most cited political economist of his generation","notable_for":["Harvard economics professor","political economy pioneer","fiscal policy research","most cited political economist of his generation"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/alberto-alesina","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"samuel-alito","full_name":"Samuel A. Alito Jr.","sort_name":"Alito, Samuel","display_years":"b. 1950","birth_year":1950,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Trenton, NJ","category":"law-jurisprudence","category_label":"Law & Jurisprudence","subcategory":"Judiciary/SCOTUS","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Supreme Court justice whose opinions have shaped major constitutional rulings in the 21st century.","notable_for":["U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice 2006–present","U.S. Court of Appeals Judge 1990–2006"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/samuel-alito","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"edward-almond","full_name":"Edward Almond","sort_name":"Almond, Edward","display_years":"1892–1979","birth_year":1892,"death_year":1979,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Luray, VA","category":"military-service","category_label":"Military & Service","subcategory":"WWII/Korea General","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"WWII general","notable_for":["WWII general","commanded 92nd Infantry Division","Corps commander in Korean War","controversial figure"],"honors":["2-star general","commanded X Corps in Korean War","MacArthur's chief of staff"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/edward-almond","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-altobelli","full_name":"Joe Altobelli","sort_name":"Altobelli, Joe","display_years":"1932–2014","birth_year":1932,"death_year":2014,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Detroit, MI","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Baltimore Orioles manager","notable_for":["Baltimore Orioles manager","won 1983 World Series in his first full season as a manager"],"honors":["1983 World Series champion as manager","replaced Earl Weaver and immediately won"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-altobelli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"lou-ambers","full_name":"Lou Ambers","sort_name":"Ambers, Lou","display_years":"1913–1995","birth_year":1913,"death_year":1995,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Herkimer, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Herkimer Hurricane","notable_for":["The Herkimer Hurricane","2x lightweight champion","born Luigi d'Ambrosio"],"honors":["International Boxing Hall of Fame","2x world lightweight champion","100+ career fights"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/lou-ambers","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"don-ameche","full_name":"Don Ameche","sort_name":"Ameche, Don","display_years":"1908–1993","birth_year":1908,"death_year":1993,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Kenosha, WI","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Cocoon","notable_for":["Cocoon","The Story of Alexander Graham Bell","born Dominic Felix Amici","comeback at 75"],"honors":["Academy Award winner (Cocoon, 1985) at age 77","Golden Globe winner"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/don-ameche","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-de-andrea","full_name":"John De Andrea","sort_name":"Andrea, John De","display_years":"b. 1941","birth_year":1941,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Denver, CO","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Visual Arts/Sculpture","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Hyperrealist sculptor","notable_for":["Hyperrealist sculptor","life-size figures in polyester resin and fiberglass","Italian-American Denver native"],"honors":["Pioneer of American hyperrealist sculpture","Whitney Biennial participant","international gallery presence"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-de-andrea","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mario-andretti","full_name":"Mario Andretti","sort_name":"Andretti, Mario","display_years":"b. 1940","birth_year":1940,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Montona, Italy","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Auto Racing","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Only driver to win F1 World Championship, Indy 500, Daytona 500, and Pike's Peak","notable_for":["Only driver to win F1 World Championship, Indy 500, Daytona 500, and Pike's Peak","became US citizen 1964"],"honors":["F1 World Champion 1978","Indy 500 winner","AP Athlete of the Year","greatest American racing driver"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mario-andretti","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"michael-andretti","full_name":"Michael Andretti","sort_name":"Andretti, Michael","display_years":"b. 1962","birth_year":1962,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Bethlehem, PA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Auto Racing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"IndyCar champion 1991","notable_for":["IndyCar champion 1991","son of Mario","42 IndyCar wins","team owner Andretti Autosport"],"honors":["CART/IndyCar champion 1991","won 42 IndyCar races","founded Andretti Autosport"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/michael-andretti","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sammy-angott","full_name":"Sammy Angott","sort_name":"Angott, Sammy","display_years":"1915–1980","birth_year":1915,"death_year":1980,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Washington, PA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"2x lightweight champion","notable_for":["2x lightweight champion","born Salvatore Engotti","undefeated for 3 years mid-career"],"honors":["International Boxing Hall of Fame","2x world lightweight champion (1941-43)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sammy-angott","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-antonelli","full_name":"John Boniface Antonelli","sort_name":"Antonelli, John Boniface","display_years":"1806–1879","birth_year":1806,"death_year":1879,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Sonnino, Italy","category":"religion-faith","category_label":"Religion & Faith","subcategory":"Catholicism","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"First Italian-born American cardinal","notable_for":["First Italian-born American cardinal","served under Pope Pius IX","important in American Catholic Church history"],"honors":["First Italian-born Cardinal serving in the United States"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-antonelli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"luigi-antonini","full_name":"Luigi Antonini","sort_name":"Antonini, Luigi","display_years":"1883–1968","birth_year":1883,"death_year":1968,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Vallata, Italy","category":"labor-activism","category_label":"Labor & Activism","subcategory":"Labor","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"ILGWU (International Ladies Garment Workers Union) leader","notable_for":["ILGWU (International Ladies Garment Workers Union) leader","Italian-American progressive","anti-communist"],"honors":["General Secretary of ILGWU Local 89","organized 100,000 Italian-American garment workers"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/luigi-antonini","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vito-antuofermo","full_name":"Vito Antuofermo","sort_name":"Antuofermo, Vito","display_years":"b. 1953","birth_year":1953,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Bari, Italy","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"IBF middleweight champion 1979-80","notable_for":["IBF middleweight champion 1979-80","fought Marvin Hagler twice","born in Italy, raised in Brooklyn"],"honors":["IBF middleweight world champion (1979-80)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vito-antuofermo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"eddie-arcaro","full_name":"Eddie Arcaro","sort_name":"Arcaro, Eddie","display_years":"1916–1997","birth_year":1916,"death_year":1997,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Cincinnati, OH","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Horse Racing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Master","notable_for":["The Master","only jockey to win the Triple Crown twice","4,779 career wins","born George Edward Arcaro"],"honors":["Racing Hall of Fame","2 Triple Crowns","5 Kentucky Derby wins","6 Belmont Stakes wins"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/eddie-arcaro","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"alberto-ascoli","full_name":"Alberto Ascoli","sort_name":"Ascoli, Alberto","display_years":"1877–1957","birth_year":1877,"death_year":1957,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Ferrara, Italy","category":"medicine-public-health","category_label":"Medicine & Public Health","subcategory":"Medicine","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Developed Ascoli's test for anthrax","notable_for":["Developed Ascoli's test for anthrax","pioneer of immunology","Italian-born American scientist"],"honors":["Developed Ascoli precipitin test for anthrax diagnosis"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/alberto-ascoli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"bob-aspromonte","full_name":"Bob Aspromonte","sort_name":"Aspromonte, Bob","display_years":"b. 1938","birth_year":1938,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Original Houston Colt .45s 3B (1962)","notable_for":["Original Houston Colt .45s 3B (1962)","popular infielder from Brooklyn"],"honors":["Original member of the Houston Colt .45s franchise (1962 expansion draft)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/bob-aspromonte","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ken-aspromonte","full_name":"Ken Aspromonte","sort_name":"Aspromonte, Ken","display_years":"b. 1931","birth_year":1931,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Cleveland Indians manager","notable_for":["Cleveland Indians manager","Bob's brother","Brooklyn Italian-American baseball family"],"honors":["Manager of the Cleveland Indians","3-year managerial career 1972-74"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ken-aspromonte","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"doug-atkins","full_name":"Doug Atkins","sort_name":"Atkins, Doug","display_years":"1930–2015","birth_year":1930,"death_year":2015,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Humboldt, TN","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Chicago Bears DE","notable_for":["Chicago Bears DE","Pro Football Hall of Fame","one of the most feared defensive players in NFL history"],"honors":["Pro Football Hall of Fame","8x Pro Bowl","Tennessee Italian-American defensive legend"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/doug-atkins","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frankie-avalon","full_name":"Frankie Avalon","sort_name":"Avalon, Frankie","display_years":"b. 1940","birth_year":1940,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Philadelphia, PA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Venus; Why; Beach Party film series; born Francis Thomas Avallone","notable_for":["Venus","Why","Beach Party film series","born Francis Thomas Avallone"],"honors":["Two #1 Billboard hits","starred in 8 Beach Party films with Annette Funicello"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frankie-avalon","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joey-badass","full_name":"Joey Badass","sort_name":"Badass, Joey","display_years":"b. 1995","birth_year":1995,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Hip-Hop","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Hip-hop artist from Brooklyn","notable_for":["Hip-hop artist from Brooklyn","Capital STEEZ era","All-Amerikkkan Bada$$","born Jo-Vaughn Virginie Scott"],"honors":["Debut album B4.DA.$$ hit #5 on Billboard","leading Brooklyn hip-hop voice"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joey-badass","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"anne-bancroft","full_name":"Anne Bancroft","sort_name":"Bancroft, Anne","display_years":"1931–2005","birth_year":1931,"death_year":2005,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Graduate","notable_for":["The Graduate","The Miracle Worker","born Anna Maria Louisa Italiano"],"honors":["Academy Award, Tony Award, and Emmy Award winner — the triple crown of acting"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/anne-bancroft","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sal-bando","full_name":"Sal Bando","sort_name":"Bando, Sal","display_years":"1944–2023","birth_year":1944,"death_year":2023,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Cleveland, OH","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Oakland A's dynasty 3B","notable_for":["Oakland A's dynasty 3B","captain of 3 consecutive World Series champions 1972-74"],"honors":["3x World Series champion (1972-74 Oakland A's)","4x All-Star","Milwaukee Brewers GM"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sal-bando","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"bruno-banducci","full_name":"Bruno Banducci","sort_name":"Banducci, Bruno","display_years":"1921–1985","birth_year":1921,"death_year":1985,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bari, Italy","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers guard","notable_for":["Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers guard","NFL champion 1948 and 1949"],"honors":["Pro Football Hall of Fame","2x NFL champion (1948, 1949 Philadelphia Eagles)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/bruno-banducci","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"christine-baranski","full_name":"Christine Baranski","sort_name":"Baranski, Christine","display_years":"b. 1952","birth_year":1952,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Buffalo, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Good Fight","notable_for":["The Good Fight","Cybill","Mamma Mia!","Buffalo NY Polish-Italian heritage"],"honors":["Tony Award","Emmy Award","Tony Award winner for The Real Thing","SAG Award (The Good Wife ensemble)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/christine-baranski","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"philip-barbato","full_name":"Philip Barbato","sort_name":"Barbato, Philip","display_years":"1929–2018","birth_year":1929,"death_year":2018,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Business/Retail","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Executive at major New York retail companies","notable_for":["Executive at major New York retail companies","Brooklyn Italian-American businessman"],"honors":["Major retail executive in the New York metropolitan area"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/philip-barbato","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joseph-barbera","full_name":"Joseph Barbera","sort_name":"Barbera, Joseph","display_years":"1911–2006","birth_year":1911,"death_year":2006,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Manhattan, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Animation","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Co-founded Hanna-Barbera Productions; Tom and Jerry; Yogi Bear; The Flintstones; born to Sicilian immigrants on Manhattan's Lower East Side","notable_for":["Co-founded Hanna-Barbera Productions","Tom and Jerry","Yogi Bear","The Flintstones","born to Sicilian immigrants on Manhattan's Lower East Side"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joseph-barbera","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"helen-barolini","full_name":"Helen Barolini","sort_name":"Barolini, Helen","display_years":"b. 1925","birth_year":1925,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Syracuse, NY","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Literature/Fiction","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Umbertina (novel)","notable_for":["Umbertina (novel)","The Dream Book (Italian-American women writers anthology)","pioneer of Italian-American women's literature"],"honors":["Umbertina considered the great Italian-American immigrant novel","The Dream Book defined Italian-American women's writing"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/helen-barolini","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"maria-bartiromo","full_name":"Maria Bartiromo","sort_name":"Bartiromo, Maria","display_years":"b. 1967","birth_year":1967,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"journalism-media","category_label":"Journalism & Media","subcategory":"Financial Journalism","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Money Honey","notable_for":["The Money Honey","first woman to report live from NYSE floor","Fox Business anchor","Brooklyn Italian-American"],"honors":["First woman to report from NYSE trading floor","Fox Business Morning With Maria anchor"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/maria-bartiromo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"carmen-basilio","full_name":"Carmen Basilio","sort_name":"Basilio, Carmen","display_years":"1927–2012","birth_year":1927,"death_year":2012,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Canastota, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Welterweight and middleweight champion","notable_for":["Onion Farmer from Canastota","welterweight and middleweight champion","gritty upstate NY Italian-American"],"honors":["International Boxing Hall of Fame","International Boxing Hall of Fame is in Canastota, NY — his hometown — partly in his honor"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/carmen-basilio","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-basilone","full_name":"John Basilone","sort_name":"Basilone, John","display_years":"1916–1945","birth_year":1916,"death_year":1945,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Buffalo, NY","category":"military-service","category_label":"Military & Service","subcategory":"WWII/Medal of Honor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Medal of Honor and Navy Cross","notable_for":["Medal of Honor and Navy Cross","legendary machine gunner at Guadalcanal","killed on Iwo Jima","born to Neapolitan immigrants"],"honors":["Medal of Honor","Navy Cross","most decorated enlisted Marine of WWII","killed at Iwo Jima 1945"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-basilone","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-bastianich","full_name":"Joe Bastianich","sort_name":"Bastianich, Joe","display_years":"b. 1968","birth_year":1968,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Astoria, NY","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Restaurant/Entertainment","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Restaurant entrepreneur","notable_for":["Restaurant entrepreneur","son of Lidia Bastianich","MasterChef judge","food and wine media personality"],"honors":["Built restaurant empire with Mario Batali","MasterChef judge","bestselling author"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-bastianich","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"lidia-bastianich","full_name":"Lidia Bastianich","sort_name":"Bastianich, Lidia","display_years":"b. 1947","birth_year":1947,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Pula, Yugoslavia (now Croatia)","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Chef/Media","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"woman","short_why_included":"Restaurateur, cookbook author, and PBS television host who became the most recognized ambassador of Italian cooking in the United States.","notable_for":["Host of Lidia's Kitchen (PBS)","Founder of Felidia, Becco, and other restaurants","Author of over 14 cookbooks"],"honors":["James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award (2012)","Emmy Award for Outstanding Culinary Series"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/lidia-bastianich","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mark-bavaro","full_name":"Mark Bavaro","sort_name":"Bavaro, Mark","display_years":"b. 1963","birth_year":1963,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Winthrop, MA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"New York Giants TE","notable_for":["New York Giants TE","2x Pro Bowl","key to two Super Bowl championships","stoic Italian-American warrior"],"honors":["2x Super Bowl champion (Giants 1986, 1990)","2x Pro Bowl","blocked for Lawrence Taylor and led the way"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mark-bavaro","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-bellino","full_name":"Joe Bellino","sort_name":"Bellino, Joe","display_years":"1938–2019","birth_year":1938,"death_year":2019,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Winchester, MA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"1960 Heisman Trophy winner at Navy","notable_for":["1960 Heisman Trophy winner at Navy","served in Vietnam as naval officer after football career"],"honors":["1960 Heisman Trophy (Navy)","College Football Hall of Fame","Vietnam veteran"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-bellino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"louis-bellson","full_name":"Louis Bellson","sort_name":"Bellson, Louis","display_years":"1924–2009","birth_year":1924,"death_year":2009,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Rock Falls, IL","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Jazz","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Duke Ellington's drummer","notable_for":["Duke Ellington's drummer","innovated the double bass drum","born Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni","married Pearl Bailey"],"honors":["Grammy Award winner","innovated double bass drum","played with Ellington, Goodman, and Tommy Dorsey"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/louis-bellson","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"pietro-belluschi","full_name":"Pietro Belluschi","sort_name":"Belluschi, Pietro","display_years":"1899–1994","birth_year":1899,"death_year":1994,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Ancona, Italy","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Architecture","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"National Medal of Arts recipient whose modernist buildings and tenure as Dean of MIT Architecture shaped the American built environment.","notable_for":["Dean of MIT School of Architecture 1951–1965","Designed Equitable Building (Portland, 1948)","Contributed to Lincoln Center design"],"honors":["National Medal of Arts (1991)","AIA Gold Medal"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/pietro-belluschi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"marco-beltrami","full_name":"Marco Beltrami","sort_name":"Beltrami, Marco","display_years":"b. 1966","birth_year":1966,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Long Island, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Film Score","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Hollywood film composer; Scream franchise; Logan; A Quiet Place; Long Island Italian-American","notable_for":["Hollywood film composer","Scream franchise","Logan","A Quiet Place","Long Island Italian-American"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/marco-beltrami","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"pat-benatar","full_name":"Pat Benatar","sort_name":"Benatar, Pat","display_years":"b. 1953","birth_year":1953,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Heartbreaker","notable_for":["Heartbreaker","Hit Me with Your Best Shot","Love is a Battlefield","4x Grammy winner"],"honors":["Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2022","4 consecutive Grammy Awards (1980-83)","30M+ records sold"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/pat-benatar","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-bennett","full_name":"Tony Bennett","sort_name":"Bennett, Tony","display_years":"1926–2023","birth_year":1926,"death_year":2023,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Astoria, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"I Left My Heart in San Francisco; 20 Grammy Awards; 90-year recording career","notable_for":["I Left My Heart in San Francisco","20 Grammy Awards","90-year recording career"],"honors":["20 Grammy Awards including Lifetime Achievement","Presidential Medal of Freedom","recorded until age 95"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-bennett","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"melissa-benoist","full_name":"Melissa Benoist","sort_name":"Benoist, Melissa","display_years":"b. 1988","birth_year":1988,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Littleton, CO","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Supergirl","notable_for":["Supergirl","Glee","Colorado Italian-French heritage through her mother","Superman's cousin on TV"],"honors":["Supergirl for 6 seasons","Glee cast member","Saturn Award winner"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/melissa-benoist","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"cardinal-joseph-bernardin","full_name":"Cardinal Joseph Bernardin","sort_name":"Bernardin, Cardinal Joseph","display_years":"1928–1996","birth_year":1928,"death_year":1996,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Columbia, SC","category":"religion-faith","category_label":"Religion & Faith","subcategory":"Catholicism","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Archbishop of Chicago","notable_for":["Archbishop of Chicago","Cardinal","advocated seamless garment ethic of life","died of cancer with extraordinary public grace"],"honors":["Consistent Life Ethic (Seamless Garment)","shepherded Church through difficult 1980s-90s","died of cancer publicly"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/cardinal-joseph-bernardin","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"larry-berra","full_name":"Larry Berra","sort_name":"Berra, Larry","display_years":"1925–2015","birth_year":1925,"death_year":2015,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"St. Louis, MO","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Yogi Berra","notable_for":["Yogi Berra","see entry #122 for full detail"],"honors":["Consolidated with #122"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/larry-berra","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"yogi-berra","full_name":"Yogi Berra","sort_name":"Berra, Yogi","display_years":"1925–2015","birth_year":1925,"death_year":2015,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"St. Louis, MO","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Yankees catcher","notable_for":["Yankees catcher","10 World Series rings","Yogi-isms","born Lawrence Peter Berra"],"honors":["Baseball Hall of Fame","3x AL MVP","10 World Series rings (most ever)","18 All-Star selections"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/yogi-berra","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"angelo-bertelli","full_name":"Angelo Bertelli","sort_name":"Bertelli, Angelo","display_years":"1921–1999","birth_year":1921,"death_year":1999,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"West Springfield, MA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Notre Dame QB","notable_for":["Notre Dame QB","1943 Heisman Trophy","left school early to serve in Marines during WWII"],"honors":["1943 Heisman Trophy","College Football Hall of Fame","served in WWII Marines"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/angelo-bertelli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"valerie-bertinelli","full_name":"Valerie Bertinelli","sort_name":"Bertinelli, Valerie","display_years":"b. 1960","birth_year":1960,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Wilmington, DE","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"One Day at a Time","notable_for":["One Day at a Time","Hot in Cleveland","Food Network cookbook author and host"],"honors":["Golden Globe nomination","Emmy nomination","bestselling cookbook author"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/valerie-bertinelli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vito-bertoldo","full_name":"Vito Bertoldo","sort_name":"Bertoldo, Vito","display_years":"1916–2002","birth_year":1916,"death_year":2002,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Decatur, IL","category":"military-service","category_label":"Military & Service","subcategory":"WWII/Medal of Honor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Medal of Honor in Alsace, France 1945","notable_for":["Medal of Honor in Alsace, France 1945","held position for 48 hours against repeated German attacks"],"honors":["Medal of Honor","held defensive position for 48+ hours against overwhelming German forces"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vito-bertoldo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mario-biaggi","full_name":"Mario Biaggi","sort_name":"Biaggi, Mario","display_years":"1917–2015","birth_year":1917,"death_year":2015,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Congress","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Most decorated NYC police officer","notable_for":["Most decorated NYC police officer","10-term Bronx Congressman","28 medals including Medal of Honor nomination"],"honors":["Most decorated policeman in NYPD history","20 years representing the Bronx in Congress"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mario-biaggi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"craig-biggio","full_name":"Craig Biggio","sort_name":"Biggio, Craig","display_years":"b. 1965","birth_year":1965,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Smithtown, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Houston Astros 2B/C","notable_for":["Houston Astros 2B/C","Long Island Italian-American","3,060 career hits","Baseball Hall of Fame 2015"],"honors":["Baseball Hall of Fame 2015","3,060 career hits","7x All-Star","HBP record (285)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/craig-biggio","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-black","full_name":"Joe Black","sort_name":"Black, Joe","display_years":"1924–2002","birth_year":1924,"death_year":2002,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Plainfield, NJ","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher","notable_for":["Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher","1952 NL Rookie of the Year","Italian and African-American heritage via New Jersey"],"honors":["1952 NL Rookie of the Year","first Black pitcher to win a World Series game"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-black","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"bill-de-blasio","full_name":"Bill de Blasio","sort_name":"Blasio, Bill de","display_years":"b. 1961","birth_year":1961,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Mayor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NYC Mayor 2014-2021","notable_for":["NYC Mayor 2014-2021","born Warren Wilhelm Jr.","changed name to his mother's Italian maiden name de Blasio"],"honors":["NYC Mayor","changed his name to honor his Italian-American heritage on his mother's side"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/bill-de-blasio","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"bill-blass","full_name":"Bill Blass","sort_name":"Blass, Bill","display_years":"1922–2002","birth_year":1922,"death_year":2002,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Fort Wayne, IN","category":"fashion-design","category_label":"Fashion & Design","subcategory":"Fashion Design","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"American fashion legend","notable_for":["American fashion legend","dressed First Ladies and Hollywood stars","Fort Wayne Indiana Italian-American roots"],"honors":["CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award","dressed 10 First Ladies","$700M fashion empire"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/bill-blass","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rocky-bleier","full_name":"Rocky Bleier","sort_name":"Bleier, Rocky","display_years":"b. 1946","birth_year":1946,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Appleton, WI","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Pittsburgh Steelers RB","notable_for":["Pittsburgh Steelers RB","wounded by grenade in Vietnam","came back to win 4 Super Bowls"],"honors":["4x Super Bowl champion","inspirational comeback from severe combat wounds"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rocky-bleier","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"andrea-bocelli","full_name":"Andrea Bocelli","sort_name":"Bocelli, Andrea","display_years":"b. 1958","birth_year":1958,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Lajatico, Italy","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Opera/Classical Crossover","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Blind tenor","notable_for":["Blind tenor","sold 90M+ records","Con te partirò","Time to Say Goodbye"],"honors":["Best-selling classical/crossover artist in history","90M+ albums sold","Italian immigrant deeply embraced by Italian-Americans"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/andrea-bocelli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"philip-boffey","full_name":"Philip Boffey","sort_name":"Boffey, Philip","display_years":"b. 1934","birth_year":1934,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"journalism-media","category_label":"Journalism & Media","subcategory":"Science Journalism","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"New York Times science journalist","notable_for":["New York Times science journalist","Pulitzer Prize winner","longtime editorial board member","Italian-American science communicator"],"honors":["Pulitzer Prize winner","NY Times editorial board and science journalist for 30 years"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/philip-boffey","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jon-bon-jovi","full_name":"Jon Bon Jovi","sort_name":"Bon Jovi, Jon","display_years":"b. 1962","birth_year":1962,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Perth Amboy, NJ","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Rock musician and philanthropist of Italian American (Bongiovi) heritage who sold over 130 million records worldwide.","notable_for":["Over 130 million records sold worldwide with Bon Jovi","Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee (2018)","Founded JBJ Soul Foundation addressing hunger and homelessness"],"honors":["Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2018)","Grammy Award","Presidential Medal of Freedom (2025)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jon-bon-jovi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"zeke-bonura","full_name":"Zeke Bonura","sort_name":"Bonura, Zeke","display_years":"1908–1987","birth_year":1908,"death_year":1987,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New Orleans, LA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"White Sox 1B","notable_for":["White Sox 1B",".307 lifetime average","4x All-Star","popular Italian-American player of the 1930s"],"honors":["4x All-Star",".307 career batting average","Italian-American New Orleans hero"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/zeke-bonura","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ernest-borgnine","full_name":"Ernest Borgnine","sort_name":"Borgnine, Ernest","display_years":"1917–2012","birth_year":1917,"death_year":2012,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Hamden, CT","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Marty","notable_for":["Marty","McHale's Navy","born Ermes Effron Borgnino","WWII Navy veteran"],"honors":["Academy Award winner (Marty, 1955)","Presidential Medal of Freedom"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ernest-borgnine","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"lou-boudreau","full_name":"Lou Boudreau","sort_name":"Boudreau, Lou","display_years":"1917–2001","birth_year":1917,"death_year":2001,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Harvey, IL","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Cleveland Indians player-manager","notable_for":["Cleveland Indians player-manager","1948 World Series champion","1944 AL batting champion","Illinois Italian heritage"],"honors":["Baseball Hall of Fame","1948 World Series champion as player-manager","1944 AL MVP"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/lou-boudreau","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"lorraine-bracco","full_name":"Lorraine Bracco","sort_name":"Bracco, Lorraine","display_years":"b. 1954","birth_year":1954,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Goodfellas","notable_for":["Goodfellas","The Sopranos (Dr. Melfi)","former model","Italian and French heritage"],"honors":["Academy Award nomination (Goodfellas)","SAG Award (Sopranos ensemble)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/lorraine-bracco","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ralph-branca","full_name":"Ralph Branca","sort_name":"Branca, Ralph","display_years":"1926–2016","birth_year":1926,"death_year":2016,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Mount Vernon, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher","notable_for":["Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher","threw the pitch Bobby Thomson hit for The Shot Heard Round the World (1951)"],"honors":["21-win season in 1947","handled The Shot Heard Round the World with grace and dignity"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ralph-branca","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"martin-bregman","full_name":"Martin Bregman","sort_name":"Bregman, Martin","display_years":"1926–2018","birth_year":1926,"death_year":2018,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Producing","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Produced Scarface; Serpico; Dog Day Afternoon; Al Pacino's longtime producer; Bronx Jewish-Italian film industry titan","notable_for":["Produced Scarface","Serpico","Dog Day Afternoon","Al Pacino's longtime producer","Bronx Jewish-Italian film industry titan"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/martin-bregman","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ernie-broglio","full_name":"Ernie Broglio","sort_name":"Broglio, Ernie","display_years":"1935–2019","birth_year":1935,"death_year":2019,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Berkeley, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Cardinals pitcher","notable_for":["Cardinals pitcher","infamous 1964 trade where Cardinals got Lou Brock for him"],"honors":["21-win season (1960)","his trade for Lou Brock considered worst in Cardinals history"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ernie-broglio","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"constantino-brumidi","full_name":"Constantino Brumidi","sort_name":"Brumidi, Constantino","display_years":"1805–1880","birth_year":1805,"death_year":1880,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Rome, Italy","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Visual Arts/Painting","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Michelangelo of the Capitol","notable_for":["The Michelangelo of the Capitol","painted the Apotheosis of Washington in the Capitol dome","spent 25 years decorating the Capitol"],"honors":["Painted the Apotheosis of Washington in the Capitol Rotunda dome","spent 25 years on Capitol artwork"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/constantino-brumidi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"michael-buble","full_name":"Michael Bublé","sort_name":"Bublé, Michael","display_years":"b. 1975","birth_year":1975,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Burnaby, British Columbia","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Modern crooner","notable_for":["Modern crooner","Haven't Met You Yet","Feeling Good","Italian-Canadian heritage"],"honors":["4 Grammy Awards","sold 75M+ albums","brought Italian-American crooner tradition into the 21st century"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/michael-buble","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nick-buoniconti","full_name":"Nick Buoniconti","sort_name":"Buoniconti, Nick","display_years":"1940–2019","birth_year":1940,"death_year":2019,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Springfield, MA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Miami Dolphins LB","notable_for":["Miami Dolphins LB","1972 undefeated team","The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis"],"honors":["Pro Football Hall of Fame (2001)","son Marc paralyzed in football game inspired $600M research drive"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nick-buoniconti","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nick-buonoconti","full_name":"Nick Buonoconti","sort_name":"Buonoconti, Nick","display_years":"1940–2019","birth_year":1940,"death_year":2019,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Springfield, MA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Miami Dolphins LB","notable_for":["Miami Dolphins LB","1972 undefeated season","raised $600M for spinal cord research after son paralyzed playing football"],"honors":["Pro Football Hall of Fame","1972 undefeated Dolphins","raised $600M for spinal cord injury research"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nick-buonoconti","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-buscema","full_name":"John Buscema","sort_name":"Buscema, John","display_years":"1927–2002","birth_year":1927,"death_year":2002,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Visual Arts/Comics","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Marvel Comics' Michelangelo","notable_for":["Marvel Comics' Michelangelo","How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way","defined Silver Age Avengers and Conan the Barbarian"],"honors":["How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way sold millions","Jack Kirby Award","defined Marvel's visual style"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-buscema","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sal-buscema","full_name":"Sal Buscema","sort_name":"Buscema, Sal","display_years":"b. 1936","birth_year":1936,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Visual Arts/Comics","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Marvel Comics artist","notable_for":["Marvel Comics artist","most prolific Marvel artist of the 1970s","brother of John Buscema","Brooklyn Italian-American"],"honors":["Over 2,000 comic book issues","defined the look of The Hulk, Spider-Man and Captain America for a generation"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sal-buscema","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"steve-buscemi","full_name":"Steve Buscemi","sort_name":"Buscemi, Steve","display_years":"b. 1957","birth_year":1957,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Boardwalk Empire","notable_for":["Boardwalk Empire","Fargo","Reservoir Dogs","volunteer firefighter on 9/11 at his old FDNY station"],"honors":["Emmy Award winner (Boardwalk Empire)","SAG Award","returned to Ground Zero to dig as a volunteer firefighter"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/steve-buscemi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sam-butera","full_name":"Sam Butera","sort_name":"Butera, Sam","display_years":"1927–2009","birth_year":1927,"death_year":2009,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New Orleans, LA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Jazz/R&B","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Louis Prima's essential saxophonist and bandleader; Just a Gigolo; Las Vegas showroom legend","notable_for":["Louis Prima's essential saxophonist and bandleader","Just a Gigolo","Las Vegas showroom legend"],"honors":["50 years as Louis Prima's musical director","Las Vegas showroom institution"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sam-butera","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mother-cabrini","full_name":"Mother Frances Cabrini","sort_name":"Cabrini, Frances","display_years":"1850–1917","birth_year":1850,"death_year":1917,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Sant'Angelo Lodigiano, Italy","category":"religion-faith","category_label":"Religion & Faith","subcategory":null,"immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"woman","short_why_included":"First American citizen canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church, and founder of institutions serving Italian immigrant communities across the United States.","notable_for":["Founded Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus","Established 67 institutions including hospitals, schools, and orphanages in the U.S.","Canonized 1946"],"honors":["First U.S. Citizen Canonized (1946)","Patron Saint of Immigrants (1950)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mother-cabrini","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frances-xavier-cabrini","full_name":"Frances Xavier Cabrini","sort_name":"Cabrini, Frances Xavier","display_years":"1850–1917","birth_year":1850,"death_year":1917,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Sant'Angelo Lodigiano, Italy","category":"religion-faith","category_label":"Religion & Faith","subcategory":"Catholicism/Sainthood","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"First American saint (canonized 1946)","notable_for":["First American saint (canonized 1946)","founded Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart","served Italian immigrants in the US"],"honors":["First US citizen canonized as a saint","founded 67 institutions in 8 countries","patron saint of immigrants"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frances-xavier-cabrini","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nicolas-cage","full_name":"Nicolas Cage","sort_name":"Cage, Nicolas","display_years":"b. 1964","birth_year":1964,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Long Beach, CA","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Leaving Las Vegas","notable_for":["Leaving Las Vegas","Raising Arizona","born Nicolas Kim Coppola","changed name to avoid nepotism label"],"honors":["Academy Award winner (Leaving Las Vegas)","100+ film appearances"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nicolas-cage","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joseph-califano","full_name":"Joseph Califano","sort_name":"Califano, Joseph","display_years":"1931–2023","birth_year":1931,"death_year":2023,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Executive Branch","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"LBJ's chief domestic affairs adviser","notable_for":["LBJ's chief domestic affairs adviser","HEW Secretary","architected Great Society","founded CASA (addiction policy)"],"honors":["Designed Great Society programs","landmark HEW antismoking campaign","founded Center on Addiction"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joseph-califano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"dolph-camilli","full_name":"Dolph Camilli","sort_name":"Camilli, Dolph","display_years":"1907–1997","birth_year":1907,"death_year":1997,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"San Francisco, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Brooklyn Dodgers 1B","notable_for":["Brooklyn Dodgers 1B","1941 NL MVP","led Brooklyn to the pennant"],"honors":["1941 NL MVP","Brooklyn Dodgers franchise cornerstone of the early 1940s"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/dolph-camilli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-candelaria","full_name":"John Candelaria","sort_name":"Candelaria, John","display_years":"b. 1953","birth_year":1953,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Pittsburgh Pirates ace","notable_for":["Pittsburgh Pirates ace","The Candy Man","14 MLB seasons","helped Pirates to 1979 title"],"honors":["Led Pirates to 1979 World Series","threw no-hitter in 1976","177 career wins"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-candelaria","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"bobby-cannavale","full_name":"Bobby Cannavale","sort_name":"Cannavale, Bobby","display_years":"b. 1970","birth_year":1970,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Union City, NJ","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Boardwalk Empire","notable_for":["Boardwalk Empire","Vinyl","Nurse Jackie","Ant-Man"],"honors":["Emmy Award winner (Boardwalk Empire, Nurse Jackie)","Tony Award nomination"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/bobby-cannavale","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nick-cannon","full_name":"Nick Cannon","sort_name":"Cannon, Nick","display_years":"b. 1980","birth_year":1980,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"San Diego, CA","category":"journalism-media","category_label":"Journalism & Media","subcategory":"Entertainment/TV Host","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Wild 'N Out","notable_for":["Wild 'N Out","The Masked Singer host","has partial Italian heritage through paternal line","San Diego native"],"honors":["Wild 'N Out franchise","The Masked Singer host","America's Got Talent host"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nick-cannon","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-canzoneri","full_name":"Tony Canzoneri","sort_name":"Canzoneri, Tony","display_years":"1908–1959","birth_year":1908,"death_year":1959,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Slidell, LA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Three-weight world champion (featherweight, lightweight, junior welterweight) 1920s-30s","notable_for":["Three-weight world champion (featherweight, lightweight, junior welterweight) 1920s-30s"],"honors":["International Boxing Hall of Fame","only third fighter in history to win 3 world titles"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-canzoneri","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mario-capecchi","full_name":"Mario Capecchi","sort_name":"Capecchi, Mario","display_years":"b. 1937","birth_year":1937,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Verona, Italy","category":"medicine-public-health","category_label":"Medicine & Public Health","subcategory":"Genetics","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Developed gene targeting technology (knockout mice)","notable_for":["Developed gene targeting technology (knockout mice)","survived as orphan in WWII Italy","came to US at 9"],"honors":["Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (2007)","gene targeting technique transformed biological research"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mario-capecchi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"donna-caponi","full_name":"Donna Caponi","sort_name":"Caponi, Donna","display_years":"b. 1945","birth_year":1945,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Detroit, MI","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Golf","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"LPGA star of the 1960s-70s","notable_for":["LPGA star of the 1960s-70s","4 major championships","pioneered women's professional golf"],"honors":["World Golf Hall of Fame","2x US Women's Open champion","4 LPGA major titles"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/donna-caponi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"gino-cappelletti","full_name":"Gino Cappelletti","sort_name":"Cappelletti, Gino","display_years":"1934–2022","birth_year":1934,"death_year":2022,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Keewatin, MN","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Boston Patriots WR/K","notable_for":["Boston Patriots WR/K","AFL's all-time leading scorer","1964 AFL MVP","franchise icon"],"honors":["AFL's all-time leading scorer","1964 AFL MVP","Patriots franchise icon and broadcaster"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/gino-cappelletti","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-cappelletti","full_name":"John Cappelletti","sort_name":"Cappelletti, John","display_years":"b. 1952","birth_year":1952,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Upper Darby, PA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"1973 Heisman Trophy (Penn State)","notable_for":["1973 Heisman Trophy (Penn State)","tearful speech dedicating trophy to ill brother Joey","one of the most moving Heisman moments"],"honors":["1973 Heisman Trophy","dedication to brother Joey with leukemia became national story","Something for Joey film"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-cappelletti","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"theresa-caputo","full_name":"Theresa Caputo","sort_name":"Caputo, Theresa","display_years":"b. 1966","birth_year":1966,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Hicksville, NY","category":"journalism-media","category_label":"Journalism & Media","subcategory":"Television/Spiritual Media","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Long Island Medium","notable_for":["The Long Island Medium","TLC reality series","Staten Island and Long Island Italian-American spiritual figure"],"honors":["Long Island Medium TLC reality show for 14 seasons","bestselling author"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/theresa-caputo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"gina-carano","full_name":"Gina Carano","sort_name":"Carano, Gina","display_years":"b. 1982","birth_year":1982,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Dallas, TX","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"MMA/Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"MMA fighter turned actress","notable_for":["MMA fighter turned actress","The Mandalorian","Haywire","Italian-American Texas native"],"honors":["First female MMA main event star","The Mandalorian (2019-20)","Haywire action film"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/gina-carano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"steve-carell","full_name":"Steve Carell","sort_name":"Carell, Steve","display_years":"b. 1962","birth_year":1962,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Concord, MA","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Comedy/Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Office (Michael Scott)","notable_for":["The Office (Michael Scott)","The 40-Year-Old Virgin","The Big Short","father of Italian and Romanian-Jewish heritage"],"honors":["Golden Globe winner","Emmy Award winner","SAG Award winner","Oscar nomination for Foxcatcher"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/steve-carell","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"andrew-carmellini","full_name":"Andrew Carmellini","sort_name":"Carmellini, Andrew","display_years":"b. 1970","birth_year":1970,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Ashtabula, OH","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Chef","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Locanda Verde","notable_for":["Locanda Verde","Dutch","Lafayette","NYC restaurateur"],"honors":["James Beard Award winner","Locanda Verde named best restaurant in New York multiple times"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/andrew-carmellini","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"primo-carnera","full_name":"Primo Carnera","sort_name":"Carnera, Primo","display_years":"1906–1967","birth_year":1906,"death_year":1967,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Sequals, Italy","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Ambling Alp","notable_for":["The Ambling Alp","heavyweight champion","6 ft 6 in","became US citizen"],"honors":["World heavyweight champion 1933-34","largest heavyweight champion of his era"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/primo-carnera","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"chico-carrasquel","full_name":"Chico Carrasquel","sort_name":"Carrasquel, Chico","display_years":"1928–2005","birth_year":1928,"death_year":2005,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Caracas, Venezuela","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"First Venezuelan MLB star","notable_for":["First Venezuelan MLB star","Chicago White Sox SS","paved the way for generations of Latin players","Italian and Spanish descent"],"honors":["4x All-Star","first Venezuelan star in MLB","paved the way for Aparicio and all Latin players"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/chico-carrasquel","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jim-carrey","full_name":"Jim Carrey","sort_name":"Carrey, Jim","display_years":"b. 1962","birth_year":1962,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Newmarket, Ontario","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Comedy/Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Ace Ventura","notable_for":["Ace Ventura","The Mask","The Truman Show","mother Kathleen Oram of French-Italian Canadian descent"],"honors":["Golden Globe winner","first actor to earn $20M per film","Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jim-carrey","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"diahann-carroll","full_name":"Diahann Carroll","sort_name":"Carroll, Diahann","display_years":"1935–2019","birth_year":1935,"death_year":2019,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Julia (first Black woman to star in her own non-domestic TV role)","notable_for":["Julia (first Black woman to star in her own non-domestic TV role)","Dynasty","Tony Award winner","partial Italian ancestry"],"honors":["Tony Award","Golden Globe winner","Julia (1968) TV landmark for representation"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/diahann-carroll","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"anthony-casamento","full_name":"Anthony Casamento","sort_name":"Casamento, Anthony","display_years":"1920–2005","birth_year":1920,"death_year":2005,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"military-service","category_label":"Military & Service","subcategory":"WWII/Medal of Honor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Received Medal of Honor (delayed 39 years) for Guadalcanal action where he continued fighting with multiple wounds","notable_for":["Received Medal of Honor (delayed 39 years) for Guadalcanal action where he continued fighting with multiple wounds"],"honors":["Medal of Honor","received 39 years after the act due to bureaucratic delays","Guadalcanal hero"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/anthony-casamento","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rocky-castellani","full_name":"Rocky Castellani","sort_name":"Castellani, Rocky","display_years":"1926–1997","birth_year":1926,"death_year":1997,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Luzerne, PA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Top 10 middleweight of the 1950s","notable_for":["Top 10 middleweight of the 1950s","Pennsylvania Italian-American","fought Bobo Olson, Joey Giardello"],"honors":["Ranked top 5 middleweight multiple years in Ring Magazine","top contender for 10 years"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rocky-castellani","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"richard-castellano","full_name":"Richard Castellano","sort_name":"Castellano, Richard","display_years":"1933–1988","birth_year":1933,"death_year":1988,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Clemenza in The Godfather (Leave the gun, take the cannoli)","notable_for":["Clemenza in The Godfather (Leave the gun, take the cannoli)","Lovers and Other Strangers"],"honors":["Academy Award nomination for Lovers and Other Strangers","iconic Godfather performance"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/richard-castellano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sal-castro","full_name":"Sal Castro","sort_name":"Castro, Sal","display_years":"1933–2013","birth_year":1933,"death_year":2013,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Los Angeles, CA","category":"labor-activism","category_label":"Labor & Activism","subcategory":"Education/Civil Rights","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Teacher who led 1968 East LA school walkouts (Chicano Blowouts)","notable_for":["Teacher who led 1968 East LA school walkouts (Chicano Blowouts)","Italian-Mexican heritage","educational civil rights icon"],"honors":["Led 1968 East LA student walkouts","transformed LA school system","dedicated educator for 40 years"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sal-castro","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sam-catalano","full_name":"Sam Catalano","sort_name":"Catalano, Sam","display_years":"1920–2001","birth_year":1920,"death_year":2001,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Jazz","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Brooklyn Italian-American jazz pianist","notable_for":["Brooklyn Italian-American jazz pianist","worked with major 1940s-60s big bands","studio musician"],"honors":["Prolific session musician and jazz pianist in New York City 1940s-1970s"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sam-catalano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frank-catalanotto","full_name":"Frank Catalanotto","sort_name":"Catalanotto, Frank","display_years":"b. 1974","birth_year":1974,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Smithtown, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Long Island Italian-American utility player","notable_for":["Long Island Italian-American utility player","Rangers and Blue Jays","known for contact hitting over 14 seasons"],"honors":[".291 career batting average over 14 MLB seasons"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frank-catalanotto","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"angelo-cataldi","full_name":"Angelo Cataldi","sort_name":"Cataldi, Angelo","display_years":"b. 1948","birth_year":1948,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Providence, RI","category":"journalism-media","category_label":"Journalism & Media","subcategory":"Sports Radio","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Philadelphia sports radio institution","notable_for":["Philadelphia sports radio institution","WIP Morning Show","passionate Italian-American Philadelphia sports commentator"],"honors":["30+ years as WIP morning show host","Philadelphia's most beloved sports radio voice"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/angelo-cataldi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"phoebe-cates","full_name":"Phoebe Cates","sort_name":"Cates, Phoebe","display_years":"b. 1963","birth_year":1963,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Fast Times at Ridgemont High","notable_for":["Fast Times at Ridgemont High","Gremlins","Private School","husband Kevin Kline"],"honors":["Iconic 1980s film career","Fast Times at Ridgemont High culturally defining role"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/phoebe-cates","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"felix-cavaliere","full_name":"Felix Cavaliere","sort_name":"Cavaliere, Felix","display_years":"b. 1942","birth_year":1942,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Pelham, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock/Soul","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Founding member of The Young Rascals; Groovin; Good Lovin; blue-eyed soul pioneer","notable_for":["Founding member of The Young Rascals","Groovin","Good Lovin","blue-eyed soul pioneer"],"honors":["Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (The Young Rascals, 1997)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/felix-cavaliere","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"carmen-cavallaro","full_name":"Carmen Cavallaro","sort_name":"Cavallaro, Carmen","display_years":"1913–1989","birth_year":1913,"death_year":1989,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New York, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Jazz Piano","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Poet of the Piano; played for The Eddy Duchin Story; elegant cocktail piano","notable_for":["Poet of the Piano","played for The Eddy Duchin Story","elegant cocktail piano"],"honors":["Performed on the soundtrack for The Eddy Duchin Story","30+ albums on Decca Records"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/carmen-cavallaro","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"phil-cavaretta","full_name":"Phil Cavaretta","sort_name":"Cavaretta, Phil","display_years":"1916–2010","birth_year":1916,"death_year":2010,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Chicago, IL","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Chicago Cubs 1B/OF","notable_for":["Chicago Cubs 1B/OF","1945 NL MVP","led Cubs to their last World Series appearance","20 years with Cubs"],"honors":["1945 NL MVP batting champion","led Cubs to their last World Series"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/phil-cavaretta","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"anthony-celebrezze","full_name":"Anthony Celebrezze","sort_name":"Celebrezze, Anthony","display_years":"1910–1998","birth_year":1910,"death_year":1998,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Anzi, Italy","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Mayor/Cabinet","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"5-term Cleveland Mayor","notable_for":["5-term Cleveland Mayor","HEW Secretary under Kennedy and Johnson","first Italian-American HEW Secretary"],"honors":["5-term Mayor of Cleveland","first Italian-American HEW Secretary","6th Circuit federal judge"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/anthony-celebrezze","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"alfonse-celentano","full_name":"Alfonse Celentano","sort_name":"Celentano, Alfonse","display_years":"1908–1990","birth_year":1908,"death_year":1990,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New Haven, CT","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Mayor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"New Haven Mayor 1945-53","notable_for":["New Haven Mayor 1945-53","prominent Connecticut Italian-American political figure"],"honors":["Mayor of New Haven","pioneered Italian-American political advancement in Connecticut"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/alfonse-celentano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"anthony-cerami","full_name":"Anthony Cerami","sort_name":"Cerami, Anthony","display_years":"b. 1940","birth_year":1940,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Newark, NJ","category":"medicine-public-health","category_label":"Medicine & Public Health","subcategory":"Biochemistry","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Discovered the role of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in diabetes complications","notable_for":["Discovered the role of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in diabetes complications","TNF (tumor necrosis factor) co-discoverer"],"honors":["Lasker Award","discovered AGEs pathway explaining diabetes complications"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/anthony-cerami","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"don-cheadle","full_name":"Don Cheadle","sort_name":"Cheadle, Don","display_years":"b. 1964","birth_year":1964,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Kansas City, MO","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"War Machine in Iron Man","notable_for":["War Machine in Iron Man","Boogie Nights","Hotel Rwanda","has partial Italian heritage according to family research"],"honors":["Academy Award nomination (Hotel Rwanda)","Golden Globe winner","SAG Award winner"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/don-cheadle","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ralph-cheli","full_name":"Ralph Cheli","sort_name":"Cheli, Ralph","display_years":"1916–1943","birth_year":1916,"death_year":1943,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"San Francisco, CA","category":"military-service","category_label":"Military & Service","subcategory":"WWII/Medal of Honor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Medal of Honor (posthumous) for leading bombing mission after plane was disabled","notable_for":["Medal of Honor (posthumous) for leading bombing mission after plane was disabled","prisoner of war","died in captivity"],"honors":["Medal of Honor (posthumous)","continued mission leading disabled aircraft","died as POW"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ralph-cheli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"dominic-chianese","full_name":"Dominic Chianese","sort_name":"Chianese, Dominic","display_years":"b. 1931","birth_year":1931,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Junior Soprano in The Sopranos","notable_for":["Junior Soprano in The Sopranos","also a folk and operatic singer","born in the Bronx to Neapolitan parents"],"honors":["SAG Award winner (The Sopranos)","40-year stage and screen career"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/dominic-chianese","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"lou-christie","full_name":"Lou Christie","sort_name":"Christie, Lou","display_years":"b. 1943","birth_year":1943,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Glenwillard, PA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Lightnin' Strikes (#1, 1966)","notable_for":["Lightnin' Strikes (#1, 1966)","Two Faces Have I","piercing falsetto","born Luigi Alfredo Giovanni Sacco"],"honors":["Lightnin' Strikes reached #1 Billboard 1966","iconic falsetto voice"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/lou-christie","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-ciardi","full_name":"John Ciardi","sort_name":"Ciardi, John","display_years":"1916–1986","birth_year":1916,"death_year":1986,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Medford, MA","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Literature/Poetry","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Poet","notable_for":["Poet","translator of Dante's Divine Comedy","poetry editor of Saturday Review for 35 years"],"honors":["Dante Divine Comedy translation still widely used","35 years as Saturday Review poetry editor"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-ciardi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ed-cicotte","full_name":"Ed Cicotte","sort_name":"Cicotte, Ed","display_years":"1884–1969","birth_year":1884,"death_year":1969,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Detroit, MI","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"White Sox pitcher","notable_for":["White Sox pitcher","1919 Black Sox scandal","knuckleball pioneer","29 wins in 1919"],"honors":["29-win season in 1919","innovated the knuckleball and shine ball pitches"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ed-cicotte","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"louis-ciminelli","full_name":"Louis Ciminelli","sort_name":"Ciminelli, Louis","display_years":"b. 1939","birth_year":1939,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Buffalo, NY","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Construction/Real Estate","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"LPCiminelli construction empire in Buffalo; New York Italian-American construction dynasty; Buffalo civic leader","notable_for":["LPCiminelli construction empire in Buffalo","New York Italian-American construction dynasty","Buffalo civic leader"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/louis-ciminelli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"michael-cimino","full_name":"Michael Cimino","sort_name":"Cimino, Michael","display_years":"1939–2016","birth_year":1939,"death_year":2016,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Directing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Deer Hunter (5 Oscars)","notable_for":["The Deer Hunter (5 Oscars)","Heaven's Gate (bankrupted United Artists)","brilliant and self-destructive"],"honors":["5 Academy Awards for The Deer Hunter (1978) including Best Director"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/michael-cimino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"gino-cimoli","full_name":"Gino Cimoli","sort_name":"Cimoli, Gino","display_years":"1929–2011","birth_year":1929,"death_year":2011,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"San Francisco, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Pittsburgh Pirates OF","notable_for":["Pittsburgh Pirates OF","scored the winning run in the 1960 World Series"],"honors":["1960 World Series champion (Pittsburgh Pirates)","scored winning run in Game 7"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/gino-cimoli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"kelly-clarkson","full_name":"Kelly Clarkson","sort_name":"Clarkson, Kelly","display_years":"b. 1982","birth_year":1982,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Fort Worth, TX","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"American Idol winner","notable_for":["American Idol winner","Since U Been Gone","partial Italian heritage through paternal grandmother","Kelly Clarkson Show host"],"honors":["3 Grammy Awards","8 Daytime Emmy Awards (The Kelly Clarkson Show)","first American Idol winner"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/kelly-clarkson","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"lee-j-cobb","full_name":"Lee J. Cobb","sort_name":"Cobb, Lee J.","display_years":"1911–1976","birth_year":1911,"death_year":1976,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Manhattan, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"12 Angry Men","notable_for":["12 Angry Men","On the Waterfront","Juror #3","born Leo Jacob"],"honors":["2 Academy Award nominations","12 Angry Men Juror #3","On the Waterfront with Brando"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/lee-j-cobb","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"richard-codey","full_name":"Richard Codey","sort_name":"Codey, Richard","display_years":"b. 1946","birth_year":1946,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Orange, NJ","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Governor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"New Jersey Governor (acting) 2004-2006","notable_for":["New Jersey Governor (acting) 2004-2006","NJ Senate President","mental health advocacy","NJ Italian-American"],"honors":["Acting NJ Governor","NJ Senate President","pioneered legislative mental health awareness"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/richard-codey","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jerry-colangelo","full_name":"Jerry Colangelo","sort_name":"Colangelo, Jerry","display_years":"b. 1939","birth_year":1939,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Chicago Heights, IL","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Basketball Executive","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Built Phoenix Suns and Diamondbacks","notable_for":["Built Phoenix Suns and Diamondbacks","USA Basketball chairman","Chicago Heights Illinois Italian-American sports executive"],"honors":["Basketball Hall of Fame (contributor)","built Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks","USA Basketball Director"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jerry-colangelo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rocky-colavito","full_name":"Rocky Colavito","sort_name":"Colavito, Rocky","display_years":"b. 1933","birth_year":1933,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers slugger","notable_for":["Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers slugger","feared power hitter","The Rock"],"honors":["374 career HR","9x All-Star","his 1960 trade to Detroit considered the Curse of Rocky Colavito"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rocky-colavito","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tom-colicchio","full_name":"Tom Colicchio","sort_name":"Colicchio, Tom","display_years":"b. 1962","birth_year":1962,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Elizabeth, NJ","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Chef/Media","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Top Chef head judge","notable_for":["Top Chef head judge","Craft restaurants","New Jersey Italian-American chef and food policy advocate"],"honors":["James Beard Award winner","Top Chef judge for 20+ seasons","Craft restaurant group","food policy advocate"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tom-colicchio","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joseph-colombo","full_name":"Joseph Colombo","sort_name":"Colombo, Joseph","display_years":"1923–1978","birth_year":1923,"death_year":1978,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"labor-activism","category_label":"Labor & Activism","subcategory":"Civil Rights/Controversial","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Founded Italian American Civil Rights League (1970)","notable_for":["Founded Italian American Civil Rights League (1970)","led protests against FBI for anti-Italian profiling","also head of Colombo crime family","shot at 1971 Unity Day rally"],"honors":["Italian American Civil Rights League organized largest Italian-American civil rights marches","shot at Unity Day 1971"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joseph-colombo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"christopher-columbus","full_name":"Christopher Columbus","sort_name":"Columbus, Christopher","display_years":"1451–1506","birth_year":1451,"death_year":1506,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Genoa, Italy","category":"historical-exploration","category_label":"historical-exploration","subcategory":"Exploration","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Italian-born explorer who reached the Americas in 1492 for Spain","notable_for":["Italian-born explorer who reached the Americas in 1492 for Spain","credited with opening the Americas to European exploration"],"honors":["1492 voyage opened the Americas to European exploration","first Columbus Day celebrated 1792 in NYC by Italian-Americans"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/christopher-columbus","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rocco-commisso","full_name":"Rocco B. Commisso","sort_name":"Commisso, Rocco","display_years":"1949–2026","birth_year":1949,"death_year":2026,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Marina di Gioiosa Ionica, Italy","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":null,"immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Calabrian immigrant who built Mediacom into a leading U.S. cable provider and purchased Italian football club Fiorentina.","notable_for":["Founder and CEO of Mediacom Communications (1995)","Owner of ACF Fiorentina (Italian football)"],"honors":["NIAF Tree of Life Award"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rocco-commisso","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"perry-como","full_name":"Perry Como","sort_name":"Como, Perry","display_years":"1912–2001","birth_year":1912,"death_year":2001,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Canonsburg, PA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Beloved crooner and TV host; sold 100M+ records; born Pierino Ronald Como","notable_for":["Beloved crooner and TV host","sold 100M+ records","born Pierino Ronald Como"],"honors":["5 Emmy Awards","Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award","600+ recordings"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/perry-como","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"scott-conant","full_name":"Scott Conant","sort_name":"Conant, Scott","display_years":"b. 1971","birth_year":1971,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Waterbury, CT","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Chef/Media","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Scarpetta restaurant","notable_for":["Scarpetta restaurant","Chopped judge","Italian cuisine refinement","Waterbury CT Italian-American chef"],"honors":["James Beard Award winner","Scarpetta NYC and Miami","Chopped regular judge"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/scott-conant","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"dave-concepcion","full_name":"Dave Concepcion","sort_name":"Concepcion, Dave","display_years":"b. 1948","birth_year":1948,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Aragua, Venezuela","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Cincinnati Reds SS","notable_for":["Cincinnati Reds SS","Big Red Machine","5x Gold Glove","Italian-Spanish Venezuelan"],"honors":["9x All-Star","5x Gold Glove","2x World Series champion (1975-76 Big Red Machine)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/dave-concepcion","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-conigliaro","full_name":"Tony Conigliaro","sort_name":"Conigliaro, Tony","display_years":"1945–1990","birth_year":1945,"death_year":1990,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Revere, MA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Youngest AL home run champion at 20","notable_for":["Youngest AL home run champion at 20","career derailed by horrific beaning in 1967","comeback story"],"honors":["Youngest player to hit 100 HR in AL history","Tony C Award given annually to comeback players"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-conigliaro","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"dick-contino","full_name":"Dick Contino","sort_name":"Contino, Dick","display_years":"1930–2022","birth_year":1930,"death_year":2022,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Fresno, CA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"America's Favorite Accordion Player; teen sensation of the late 1940s","notable_for":["America's Favorite Accordion Player","teen sensation of the late 1940s"],"honors":["Won Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts","Las Vegas and touring performer for six decades"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/dick-contino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"pat-cooper","full_name":"Pat Cooper","sort_name":"Cooper, Pat","display_years":"b. 1929","birth_year":1929,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Comedy/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Italian-American comedy and novelty recordings","notable_for":["Italian-American comedy and novelty recordings","Our Hero (comedy album)","born Pasquale Caputo"],"honors":["Long-running standup career","Italian-American community favorite"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/pat-cooper","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"francis-ford-coppola","full_name":"Francis Ford Coppola","sort_name":"Coppola, Francis Ford","display_years":"b. 1939","birth_year":1939,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Detroit, MI","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Directing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Director of The Godfather trilogy — the defining Italian American cinematic saga — and winner of five Academy Awards.","notable_for":["Directed The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather Part II (1974)","Won Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay"],"honors":["5 Academy Awards","AFI Life Achievement Award"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/francis-ford-coppola","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sofia-coppola","full_name":"Sofia Coppola","sort_name":"Coppola, Sofia","display_years":"b. 1971","birth_year":1971,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Directing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Lost in Translation","notable_for":["Lost in Translation","The Virgin Suicides","Marie Antoinette","Priscilla"],"honors":["Academy Award winner (Original Screenplay)","first American woman to win Venice Golden Lion"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sofia-coppola","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"chris-cornell","full_name":"Chris Cornell","sort_name":"Cornell, Chris","display_years":"1964–2017","birth_year":1964,"death_year":2017,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Seattle, WA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Soundgarden lead singer; Black Hole Sun; Audioslave; mother of Italian-American heritage","notable_for":["Soundgarden lead singer","Black Hole Sun","Audioslave","mother of Italian-American heritage"],"honors":["Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Soundgarden)","Grammy Award winner","grunge-era giant"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/chris-cornell","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"don-cornell","full_name":"Don Cornell","sort_name":"Cornell, Don","display_years":"1919–2004","birth_year":1919,"death_year":2004,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Hold My Hand (1954","notable_for":["Hold My Hand (1954","32 weeks on Billboard)","born Luigi Francisco Varlaro"],"honors":["Hold My Hand spent 32 weeks on Billboard Best Sellers chart (1954)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/don-cornell","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joseph-cornell","full_name":"Joseph Cornell","sort_name":"Cornell, Joseph","display_years":"1903–1972","birth_year":1903,"death_year":1972,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Nyack, NY","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Visual Arts/Assemblage","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Shadow box assemblages","notable_for":["Shadow box assemblages","pioneered American Surrealism","reclusive Queens autodidact","never left the US"],"honors":["Pioneer of American Surrealism and assemblage art","MoMA collection","inspired generations of artists"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joseph-cornell","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"patricia-cornwell","full_name":"Patricia Cornwell","sort_name":"Cornwell, Patricia","display_years":"b. 1956","birth_year":1956,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Miami, FL","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Literature/Crime Fiction","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Kay Scarpetta crime novels","notable_for":["Kay Scarpetta crime novels","bestselling female crime novelist","Italian-American heritage through her grandmother","born Patricia Daniels"],"honors":["100M+ books sold","Edgar Award winner","created Kay Scarpetta — most successful female forensic character in fiction"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/patricia-cornwell","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"gregory-corso","full_name":"Gregory Corso","sort_name":"Corso, Gregory","display_years":"1930–2001","birth_year":1930,"death_year":2001,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Greenwich Village, NY","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Literature/Poetry","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Beat poet","notable_for":["Beat poet","Bomb","Marriage","Gasoline"],"honors":["Core member of the Beat Generation","buried next to Shelley in Rome"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/gregory-corso","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"george-cotzias","full_name":"George Cotzias","sort_name":"Cotzias, George","display_years":"1918–1977","birth_year":1918,"death_year":1977,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Patras, Greece","category":"medicine-public-health","category_label":"Medicine & Public Health","subcategory":"Neurology","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Pioneer of L-DOPA treatment for Parkinson's disease","notable_for":["Pioneer of L-DOPA treatment for Parkinson's disease","transformed Parkinson's treatment","Brookhaven National Lab"],"honors":["Developed high-dose L-DOPA treatment for Parkinson's disease","transformed neurology"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/george-cotzias","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"peter-coyote","full_name":"Peter Coyote","sort_name":"Coyote, Peter","display_years":"b. 1941","birth_year":1941,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial; narrated Ken Burns documentaries; ordained Soto Zen priest; Italian heritage through mother","notable_for":["E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial","narrated Ken Burns documentaries","ordained Soto Zen priest","Italian heritage through mother"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/peter-coyote","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"charlie-crist","full_name":"Charlie Crist","sort_name":"Crist, Charlie","display_years":"b. 1956","birth_year":1956,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Altoona, PA","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Governor/Congress","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Florida Governor","notable_for":["Florida Governor","US Congressman","former Republican turned Democrat","mother Virginia Antoniou Greek"],"honors":["Florida Governor 2007-11","US Congressman 2017-23"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/charlie-crist","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jim-croce","full_name":"Jim Croce","sort_name":"Croce, Jim","display_years":"1943–1973","birth_year":1943,"death_year":1973,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Philadelphia, PA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Folk/Rock","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Time in a Bottle; Bad Bad Leroy Brown; died in plane crash at age 30","notable_for":["Time in a Bottle","Bad Bad Leroy Brown","died in plane crash at age 30"],"honors":["Three posthumous #1 hits","Grammy Hall of Fame inductee","enduring legacy"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jim-croce","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"dino-crocetti","full_name":"Dino Crocetti","sort_name":"Crocetti, Dino","display_years":"1917–1995","birth_year":1917,"death_year":1995,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Steubenville, OH","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"See Dean Martin entry #2 — Dino Paul Crocetti was Dean Martin's birth name","notable_for":["See Dean Martin entry #2 — Dino Paul Crocetti was Dean Martin's birth name"],"honors":["See entry 2 (Dean Martin)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/dino-crocetti","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"bob-crosby","full_name":"Bob Crosby","sort_name":"Crosby, Bob","display_years":"1913–1993","birth_year":1913,"death_year":1993,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Spokane, WA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Jazz/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Big band leader","notable_for":["Big band leader","Bing Crosby's younger brother","mother Catherine Helen Collins of Irish-Italian heritage","Bob Cats Dixieland jazz"],"honors":["Led one of the top big bands of the Swing Era","Grammy Hall of Fame"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/bob-crosby","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frankie-crosetti","full_name":"Frankie Crosetti","sort_name":"Crosetti, Frankie","display_years":"1910–2002","birth_year":1910,"death_year":2002,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"San Francisco, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Yankees SS and coach","notable_for":["Yankees SS and coach","8 World Series rings","37 total years in a Yankees uniform"],"honors":["8 World Series rings","longest tenure in Yankees history (37 years as player and coach)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frankie-crosetti","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sheryl-crow","full_name":"Sheryl Crow","sort_name":"Crow, Sheryl","display_years":"b. 1962","birth_year":1962,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Kennett, MO","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"All I Wanna Do","notable_for":["All I Wanna Do","If It Makes You Happy","9 Grammy Awards","partial Italian ancestry via her grandmother"],"honors":["9 Grammy Awards","50M+ albums sold","Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2024"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sheryl-crow","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-cuccinello","full_name":"Tony Cuccinello","sort_name":"Cuccinello, Tony","display_years":"1907–1995","birth_year":1907,"death_year":1995,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Long Island City, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"3B for Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Braves","notable_for":["3B for Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Braves","3x All-Star","NYC Italian-American infielder"],"honors":["3x All-Star","finished 2nd in 1945 AL batting race while on the White Sox (lost .308 to .309)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-cuccinello","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"andrew-cuomo","full_name":"Andrew Cuomo","sort_name":"Cuomo, Andrew","display_years":"b. 1957","birth_year":1957,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Queens, NY","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Governor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NY Governor 2011-2021","notable_for":["NY Governor 2011-2021","HUD Secretary under Clinton","son of Mario","resigned amid scandal"],"honors":["3-term NY Governor","legalized same-sex marriage in NY","managed COVID response"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/andrew-cuomo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"chris-cuomo","full_name":"Chris Cuomo","sort_name":"Cuomo, Chris","display_years":"b. 1970","birth_year":1970,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Queens, NY","category":"journalism-media","category_label":"Journalism & Media","subcategory":"Television News","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"CNN Primetime anchor","notable_for":["CNN Primetime anchor","son of Mario Cuomo","brother of Andrew","intense on-air interviewing style"],"honors":["CNN Primetime's top-rated anchor","NewsNation host","Edward R. Murrow Award winner"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/chris-cuomo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mario-cuomo","full_name":"Mario Cuomo","sort_name":"Cuomo, Mario","display_years":"1932–2015","birth_year":1932,"death_year":2015,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Queens, NY","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Governor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Three-term New York governor and defining late-20th-century voice of Italian American civic leadership.","notable_for":["Governor of New York 1983–1994","1984 Democratic National Convention keynote address"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mario-cuomo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-curtis","full_name":"Tony Curtis","sort_name":"Curtis, Tony","display_years":"1925–2010","birth_year":1925,"death_year":2010,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Manhattan, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Some Like It Hot","notable_for":["Some Like It Hot","Spartacus","Sweet Smell of Success","born Bernard Schwartz"],"honors":["Academy Award nomination (Some Like It Hot)","100+ film career","father of Jamie Lee Curtis"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-curtis","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"alphonse-damato","full_name":"Alphonse D'Amato","sort_name":"D'Amato, Alphonse","display_years":"b. 1937","birth_year":1937,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Senate","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Senator Pothole","notable_for":["Senator Pothole","3-term New York Senator","chaired Senate Banking Committee","born on Long Island"],"honors":["18-year US Senate career","Senate Banking Committee chair","constituent services legend"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/alphonse-damato","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mike-dantoni","full_name":"Mike D'Antoni","sort_name":"D'Antoni, Mike","display_years":"b. 1951","birth_year":1951,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Mullens, WV","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Basketball Coaching","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Revolutionized basketball with Seven Seconds or Less offense with Phoenix Suns","notable_for":["Revolutionized basketball with Seven Seconds or Less offense with Phoenix Suns","coached Rockets, Lakers, Nuggets","also coached Italian national team"],"honors":["NBA Coach of the Year 2005","Seven Seconds or Less system influenced modern NBA offense"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mike-dantoni","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vincent-donofrio","full_name":"Vincent D'Onofrio","sort_name":"D'Onofrio, Vincent","display_years":"b. 1959","birth_year":1959,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Full Metal Jacket","notable_for":["Full Metal Jacket","Law & Order: Criminal Intent","Kingpin (Daredevil/Hawkeye)"],"honors":["SAG Award","iconic portrayal of Wilson Fisk / Kingpin across three MCU series"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vincent-donofrio","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"alan-dale","full_name":"Alan Dale","sort_name":"Dale, Alan","display_years":"1925–2002","birth_year":1925,"death_year":2002,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White","notable_for":["Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White","born Aldo Sigismondo Sigismonti"],"honors":["Top 5 pop hits with Coral Records in the early 1950s"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/alan-dale","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"charles-daly","full_name":"Charles Daly","sort_name":"Daly, Charles","display_years":"1929–2019","birth_year":1929,"death_year":2019,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Scranton, PA","category":"military-service","category_label":"Military & Service","subcategory":"Korea/Decorated","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Korean War Medal of Honor for repelling Chinese assault","notable_for":["Korean War Medal of Honor for repelling Chinese assault","born to Italian-immigrant parents in Pennsylvania"],"honors":["Medal of Honor","repelled Chinese assault with grenades and bayonet alone"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/charles-daly","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vic-damone","full_name":"Vic Damone","sort_name":"Damone, Vic","display_years":"1928–2018","birth_year":1928,"death_year":2018,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Best pipes in the business (per Sinatra); born Vito Rocco Farinola","notable_for":["Best pipes in the business (per Sinatra)","born Vito Rocco Farinola"],"honors":["Starred in Broadway musicals and Hollywood films alongside major recording career"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vic-damone","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rodney-dangerfield","full_name":"Rodney Dangerfield","sort_name":"Dangerfield, Rodney","display_years":"1921–2004","birth_year":1921,"death_year":2004,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Babylon, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Comedy","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"I get no respect; Caddyshack; Back to School; born Jacob Cohen; mother of Italian heritage from Long Island","notable_for":["I get no respect","Caddyshack","Back to School","born Jacob Cohen","mother of Italian heritage from Long Island"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rodney-dangerfield","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"cesare-danova","full_name":"Cesare Danova","sort_name":"Danova, Cesare","display_years":"1926–1992","birth_year":1926,"death_year":1992,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Rome, Italy","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Italian film star who moved to Hollywood","notable_for":["Italian film star who moved to Hollywood","Animal House","Viva Las Vegas","Italian immigrant actor"],"honors":["50+ Hollywood film career","Animal House (1978) memorable Mayor Carmine De Pasto"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/cesare-danova","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-danza","full_name":"Tony Danza","sort_name":"Danza, Tony","display_years":"b. 1951","birth_year":1951,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Taxi","notable_for":["Taxi","Who's the Boss","former professional welterweight boxer","Brooklyn-born Italian-American everyman"],"honors":["2 Golden Globe nominations","8 season run on Who's the Boss (1984-92)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-danza","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"bobby-darin","full_name":"Bobby Darin","sort_name":"Darin, Bobby","display_years":"1936–1973","birth_year":1936,"death_year":1973,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Mack the Knife; Splish Splash; born Walden Robert Cassotto; died at 37","notable_for":["Mack the Knife","Splish Splash","born Walden Robert Cassotto","died at 37"],"honors":["Grammy Award winner","Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/bobby-darin","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jimmy-darren","full_name":"Jimmy Darren","sort_name":"Darren, Jimmy","display_years":"b. 1936","birth_year":1936,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Philadelphia, PA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Pop/Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Goodbye Cruel World; Gidget film series; born James William Ercolani","notable_for":["Goodbye Cruel World","Gidget film series","born James William Ercolani"],"honors":["Two Top 5 Billboard hits","Gidget (1959) launched film and TV career"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jimmy-darren","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"billie-joe-armstrong","full_name":"Green Day","sort_name":"Day, Green","display_years":"b. 1972","birth_year":1972,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Oakland, CA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock/Punk","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day","notable_for":["Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day","mother PatriciaActivity Italian-American","Dookie","American Idiot"],"honors":["Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Green Day)","American Idiot Broadway musical","70M+ records sold"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/billie-joe-armstrong","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"michael-debakey","full_name":"Dr. Michael DeBakey","sort_name":"DeBakey, Dr. Michael","display_years":"1908–2008","birth_year":1908,"death_year":2008,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Lake Charles, LA","category":"science-technology","category_label":"Science & Technology","subcategory":"Cardiovascular Surgery","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Pioneered coronary bypass surgery and aortic surgery","notable_for":["Pioneered coronary bypass surgery and aortic surgery","father of modern cardiovascular surgery","Louisiana Italian-Lebanese family"],"honors":["Presidential Medal of Freedom","performed over 60,000 cardiovascular operations","pioneered LVAD"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/michael-debakey","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"dennis-deconcini","full_name":"Dennis DeConcini","sort_name":"DeConcini, Dennis","display_years":"b. 1937","birth_year":1937,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Tucson, AZ","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Senate","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Arizona Senator 1977-1995","notable_for":["Arizona Senator 1977-1995","DeConcini reservation to Panama Canal Treaty","Keating Five"],"honors":["18-year US Senate career","Panama Canal Treaty negotiations (DeConcini Reservation)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/dennis-deconcini","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"peter-defazio","full_name":"Peter DeFazio","sort_name":"DeFazio, Peter","display_years":"b. 1947","birth_year":1947,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Needham, MA","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Congress","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Oregon Congressman 1987-2023","notable_for":["Oregon Congressman 1987-2023","co-founder Progressive Caucus","House Transportation Committee chair"],"honors":["18-term Congressman","co-founded Congressional Progressive Caucus","Transportation Committee chair"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/peter-defazio","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frank-deford","full_name":"Frank Deford","sort_name":"Deford, Frank","display_years":"1938–2017","birth_year":1938,"death_year":2017,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Baltimore, MD","category":"journalism-media","category_label":"Journalism & Media","subcategory":"Sports Journalism","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Sports Illustrated senior writer","notable_for":["Sports Illustrated senior writer","NPR Morning Edition weekly commentator","Sportswriter of the Year 6 times"],"honors":["Sportswriter of the Year 6 times","SI Senior Writer for 50 years","PEN Award","Emmy Award"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frank-deford","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"buddy-defranco","full_name":"Buddy DeFranco","sort_name":"DeFranco, Buddy","display_years":"1923–2014","birth_year":1923,"death_year":2014,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Camden, NJ","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Jazz","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Greatest bebop clarinetist; born Boniface Ferdinand Leonardo DeFranco","notable_for":["Greatest bebop clarinetist","born Boniface Ferdinand Leonardo DeFranco"],"honors":["Down Beat Hall of Fame","Multiple Grammy nominations","60-year recording career"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/buddy-defranco","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-delamielleure","full_name":"Joe DeLamielleure","sort_name":"DeLamielleure, Joe","display_years":"b. 1951","birth_year":1951,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Detroit, MI","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Buffalo Bills offensive guard","notable_for":["Buffalo Bills offensive guard","Electric Company","cleared the way for O.J. Simpson's 2,003-yard season"],"honors":["Pro Football Hall of Fame","6x Pro Bowl","blocked for O.J. Simpson's NFL record 2,003-yard season"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-delamielleure","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rosa-delauro","full_name":"Rosa DeLauro","sort_name":"DeLauro, Rosa","display_years":"b. 1943","birth_year":1943,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New Haven, CT","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Congress","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"woman","short_why_included":"Long-serving member of Congress and House Appropriations leader with decades of influence over federal spending priorities.","notable_for":["U.S. Representative CT-3 1991–present","House Appropriations Committee ranking member/chair"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rosa-delauro","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"don-delillo","full_name":"Don DeLillo","sort_name":"DeLillo, Don","display_years":"b. 1936","birth_year":1936,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Literature/Fiction","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Underworld","notable_for":["Underworld","White Noise","Libra","master of American postmodern literature"],"honors":["National Book Award","PEN/Faulkner Award","Jerusalem Prize","DeLillo Archive at UT Austin"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/don-delillo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"fred-deluca","full_name":"Fred DeLuca","sort_name":"DeLuca, Fred","display_years":"1947–2015","birth_year":1947,"death_year":2015,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":null,"immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Subway co-founder who transformed a single Connecticut sandwich shop into one of the largest restaurant chains in the world.","notable_for":["Co-founded Subway Restaurants (1965)","Grew Subway to over 44,000 locations worldwide","Opened first location at age 17 with $1,000 loan"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/fred-deluca","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"dom-deluise","full_name":"Dom DeLuise","sort_name":"DeLuise, Dom","display_years":"1933–2009","birth_year":1933,"death_year":2009,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Comedy/Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Cannonball Run","notable_for":["Cannonball Run","Blazing Saddles","The Muppet Movie","Burt Reynolds' best friend"],"honors":["Beloved comedy actor in 100+ films","Burt Reynolds' off-screen best friend and frequent co-star"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/dom-deluise","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"paddy-demarco","full_name":"Paddy DeMarco","sort_name":"DeMarco, Paddy","display_years":"1928–2012","birth_year":1928,"death_year":2012,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Lightweight champion","notable_for":["Lightweight champion","Brooklyn Italian-American","fought Paddy Demarco (lost) Willie Pep twice","born Pasquale DeMarco"],"honors":["World lightweight champion (1954)","fought all the great lightweights of his era"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/paddy-demarco","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-demarco","full_name":"Tony DeMarco","sort_name":"DeMarco, Tony","display_years":"1932–2021","birth_year":1932,"death_year":2021,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Boston, MA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Welterweight champion","notable_for":["Welterweight champion","Boston's Italian-American hero","born Leonardo Liotta"],"honors":["International Boxing Hall of Fame","WBC welterweight champion (1955)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-demarco","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ron-desantis","full_name":"Ron DeSantis","sort_name":"DeSantis, Ron","display_years":"b. 1978","birth_year":1978,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Jacksonville, FL","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Governor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Florida Governor","notable_for":["Florida Governor","Navy SEAL JAG","Italian-American surname","2024 presidential candidate"],"honors":["2-term Florida Governor","largest gubernatorial reelection margin in FL history (2022)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ron-desantis","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vincent-devita","full_name":"Vincent DeVita","sort_name":"DeVita, Vincent","display_years":"b. 1935","birth_year":1935,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Yonkers, NY","category":"medicine-public-health","category_label":"Medicine & Public Health","subcategory":"Oncology","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NCI Director","notable_for":["NCI Director","developed combination chemotherapy that made Hodgkin's lymphoma curable","Yonkers Italian-American"],"honors":["NCI Director","developed MOPP chemotherapy making Hodgkin's lymphoma potentially curable"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vincent-devita","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"danny-devito","full_name":"Danny DeVito","sort_name":"DeVito, Danny","display_years":"b. 1944","birth_year":1944,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Neptune Township, NJ","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Taxi","notable_for":["Taxi","Twins","Batman Returns","It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"],"honors":["Emmy Award winner","produced Pulp Fiction and Erin Brockovich","200+ acting credits"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/danny-devito","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vin-diesel","full_name":"Vin Diesel","sort_name":"Diesel, Vin","display_years":"b. 1967","birth_year":1967,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Fast and the Furious franchise","notable_for":["The Fast and the Furious franchise","Groot","xXx","born Mark Sinclair"],"honors":["Fast & Furious franchise grossed $7B+","produced the series","among top 5 all-time box office actors"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vin-diesel","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"bishop-francis-dilorenzo","full_name":"Bishop Francis DiLorenzo","sort_name":"DiLorenzo, Bishop Francis","display_years":"1942–2017","birth_year":1942,"death_year":2017,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Philadelphia, PA","category":"religion-faith","category_label":"Religion & Faith","subcategory":"Catholicism","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Roman Catholic Bishop of Richmond, Virginia","notable_for":["Roman Catholic Bishop of Richmond, Virginia","noted for pastoral sensitivity and community engagement"],"honors":["Bishop of Richmond Diocese (2004-2017)","advocate for the poor"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/bishop-francis-dilorenzo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"dom-dimaggio","full_name":"Dom DiMaggio","sort_name":"DiMaggio, Dom","display_years":"1917–2009","birth_year":1917,"death_year":2009,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Martinez, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Little Professor","notable_for":["The Little Professor","Red Sox CF","7-time All-Star","Joe's youngest brother"],"honors":["7x All-Star",".298 lifetime batting average","co-founder of American Fibre Company"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/dom-dimaggio","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-dimaggio","full_name":"Joe DiMaggio","sort_name":"DiMaggio, Joe","display_years":"1914–1999","birth_year":1914,"death_year":1999,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Martinez, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"New York Yankees centerfielder whose 56-game hitting streak remains one of the most celebrated records in American sports.","notable_for":["56-game hitting streak (1941)","13-time MLB All-Star","9-time World Series champion"],"honors":["National Baseball Hall of Fame (1955)","Presidential Medal of Freedom (1977)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-dimaggio","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"steve-dimaggio","full_name":"Steve DiMaggio","sort_name":"DiMaggio, Steve","display_years":"1922–2007","birth_year":1922,"death_year":2007,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Martinez, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"4th DiMaggio brother (lesser known)","notable_for":["4th DiMaggio brother (lesser known)","played minor league baseball","part of baseball's most famous Italian-American family"],"honors":["4th DiMaggio brother","played minor league baseball","part of the legendary DiMaggio family of Martinez CA"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/steve-dimaggio","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vince-dimaggio","full_name":"Vince DiMaggio","sort_name":"DiMaggio, Vince","display_years":"1912–1986","birth_year":1912,"death_year":1986,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Martinez, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Eldest DiMaggio brother","notable_for":["Eldest DiMaggio brother","3-time NL All-Star outfielder with Pittsburgh Pirates and others"],"honors":["3x NL All-Star","most powerful throwing arm of the three DiMaggio brothers"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vince-dimaggio","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"dion-dimucci","full_name":"Dion DiMucci","sort_name":"DiMucci, Dion","display_years":"b. 1939","birth_year":1939,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Runaround Sue; The Wanderer; pioneered doo-wop and early rock and roll","notable_for":["Runaround Sue","The Wanderer","pioneered doo-wop and early rock and roll"],"honors":["Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee 1989","Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/dion-dimucci","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"thomas-dinapoli","full_name":"Thomas DiNapoli","sort_name":"DiNapoli, Thomas","display_years":"b. 1954","birth_year":1954,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Garden City, NY","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Public Finance","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"New York State Comptroller 2007-present","notable_for":["New York State Comptroller 2007-present","oversees $250B state pension fund","responsible investment advocate"],"honors":["Longest-serving NY State Comptroller","manages $250B+ Common Retirement Fund"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/thomas-dinapoli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"archbishop-daniel-dinardo","full_name":"Archbishop Daniel DiNardo","sort_name":"DiNardo, Archbishop Daniel","display_years":"b. 1949","birth_year":1949,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Steubenville, OH","category":"religion-faith","category_label":"Religion & Faith","subcategory":"Catholicism","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Cardinal Archbishop of Galveston-Houston","notable_for":["Cardinal Archbishop of Galveston-Houston","USCCB president","Steubenville Ohio Italian-American","Steelers fan"],"honors":["Cardinal Archbishop of Galveston-Houston","President of US Conference of Catholic Bishops (2016-19)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/archbishop-daniel-dinardo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"larry-dinardo","full_name":"Larry DiNardo","sort_name":"DiNardo, Larry","display_years":"b. 1938","birth_year":1938,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Waterbury, CT","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Vanderbilt and LSU football coach","notable_for":["Vanderbilt and LSU football coach","Connecticut Italian-American football figure","pioneered option offense"],"honors":["College football coach at Vanderbilt and LSU","SEC coaching career"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/larry-dinardo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nick-dipaolo","full_name":"Nick DiPaolo","sort_name":"DiPaolo, Nick","display_years":"b. 1960","birth_year":1960,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Boston, MA","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Comedy","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Edgy Italian-American standup comedian","notable_for":["Edgy Italian-American standup comedian","The Nick DiPaolo Show podcast","Boston-born"],"honors":["American Comedy Award winner","multiple Comedy Central and Showtime specials"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nick-dipaolo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mike-ditka","full_name":"Mike Ditka","sort_name":"Ditka, Mike","display_years":"b. 1939","birth_year":1939,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Carnegie, PA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Da Coach","notable_for":["Da Coach","Chicago Bears coach 1985 Super Bowl","first TE in Pro Football Hall of Fame","Western PA Italian-Ukrainian"],"honors":["Pro Football Hall of Fame (player and coach)","coached 1985 Bears — arguably greatest NFL team ever"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mike-ditka","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vincent-dole","full_name":"Vincent Dole","sort_name":"Dole, Vincent","display_years":"1913–2006","birth_year":1913,"death_year":2006,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Chicago, IL","category":"science-technology","category_label":"Science & Technology","subcategory":"Addiction Medicine","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Co-developed methadone maintenance treatment for heroin addiction","notable_for":["Co-developed methadone maintenance treatment for heroin addiction","Rockefeller University","Illinois Italian-American physician"],"honors":["Developed methadone maintenance program","Lasker Award","transformed addiction treatment"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vincent-dole","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"pete-domenici","full_name":"Pete Domenici","sort_name":"Domenici, Pete","display_years":"1932–2017","birth_year":1932,"death_year":2017,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Albuquerque, NM","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Senate","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Longest-serving Senator from New Mexico","notable_for":["Longest-serving Senator from New Mexico","Senate Budget Committee chair 6 times","mental health advocate"],"honors":["36 years in US Senate","6x Senate Budget Committee chair","Mental Health Parity Act"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/pete-domenici","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"pietro-di-donato","full_name":"Pietro di Donato","sort_name":"Donato, Pietro di","display_years":"1911–1992","birth_year":1911,"death_year":1992,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"West Hoboken, NJ","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Literature/Fiction","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Christ in Concrete (1939)","notable_for":["Christ in Concrete (1939)","groundbreaking novel of Italian immigrant labor","father died in construction accident"],"honors":["Christ in Concrete (1939)","Book of the Month Club selection","landmark Italian-American novel"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/pietro-di-donato","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"angelo-dundee","full_name":"Angelo Dundee","sort_name":"Dundee, Angelo","display_years":"1921–2012","birth_year":1921,"death_year":2012,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Philadelphia, PA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Greatest trainer in boxing history","notable_for":["Greatest trainer in boxing history","trained Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard","born Angelo Mirena"],"honors":["Trained 15 world champions including Ali and Leonard","International Boxing Hall of Fame"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/angelo-dundee","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"johnny-dundee","full_name":"Johnny Dundee","sort_name":"Dundee, Johnny","display_years":"1893–1965","birth_year":1893,"death_year":1965,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Sciacca, Sicily","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"First junior lightweight champion","notable_for":["First junior lightweight champion","The Scotch Wop","born Giuseppe Carrora"],"honors":["International Boxing Hall of Fame","first junior lightweight world champion (1921)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/johnny-dundee","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jimmy-durante","full_name":"Jimmy Durante","sort_name":"Durante, Jimmy","display_years":"1893–1980","birth_year":1893,"death_year":1980,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Manhattan, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Variety/Comedy","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Schnozzola; Inka Dinka Doo; Goodnight Mrs. Calabash; beloved vaudeville-to-television entertainer","notable_for":["The Schnozzola","Inka Dinka Doo","Goodnight Mrs. Calabash","beloved vaudeville-to-television entertainer"],"honors":["Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame","Emmy Award","50-year career across every entertainment medium"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jimmy-durante","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"leo-esaki","full_name":"Leo Esaki","sort_name":"Esaki, Leo","display_years":"b. 1925","birth_year":1925,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Osaka, Japan","category":"science-technology","category_label":"Science & Technology","subcategory":"Physics","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Nobel Prize in Physics (1973)","notable_for":["Nobel Prize in Physics (1973)","tunnel diode inventor","became US citizen","Italian-Japanese heritage through adoption and naturalization"],"honors":["Nobel Prize in Physics 1973","tunnel diode","US National Medal of Science"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/leo-esaki","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"giancarlo-esposito","full_name":"Giancarlo Esposito","sort_name":"Esposito, Giancarlo","display_years":"b. 1958","birth_year":1958,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Copenhagen, Denmark","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Gus Fring in Breaking Bad","notable_for":["Gus Fring in Breaking Bad","The Mandalorian","Italian father, Black American mother born in Alabama"],"honors":["Critics Choice Award","SAG Award (Breaking Bad ensemble)","Saturn Award winner"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/giancarlo-esposito","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"phil-esposito","full_name":"Phil Esposito","sort_name":"Esposito, Phil","display_years":"b. 1942","birth_year":1942,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Sault Ste. Marie, Canada","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Hockey","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Italian-Canadian hockey legend","notable_for":["Italian-Canadian hockey legend","first to score 76 goals in an NHL season (1970-71)","became US citizen"],"honors":["Hockey Hall of Fame","first player to score 76 goals in a season","co-founded Tampa Bay Lightning"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/phil-esposito","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-esposito","full_name":"Tony Esposito","sort_name":"Esposito, Tony","display_years":"1943–2021","birth_year":1943,"death_year":2021,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Sault Ste. Marie, Canada","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Hockey","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Tony O","notable_for":["Tony O","Chicago Blackhawks goaltender","butterfly style innovator","Phil's brother"],"honors":["Hockey Hall of Fame","3x Vezina Trophy (best goaltender)","Calder Trophy (Rookie of Year)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-esposito","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joseph-ettor","full_name":"Joseph Ettor","sort_name":"Ettor, Joseph","display_years":"1885–1948","birth_year":1885,"death_year":1948,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"labor-activism","category_label":"Labor & Activism","subcategory":"Labor/IWW","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"IWW organizer","notable_for":["IWW organizer","led Bread and Roses strike (Lawrence 1912)","defended anarchists"],"honors":["Led the Bread and Roses Strike (Lawrence, MA 1912)","one of America's great labor organizers"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joseph-ettor","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"fabian","full_name":"Fabian","sort_name":"Fabian","display_years":"b. 1943","birth_year":1943,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Philadelphia, PA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Turn Me Loose; Tiger; teen idol at 15; born Fabiano Anthony Forte","notable_for":["Turn Me Loose","Tiger","teen idol at 15","born Fabiano Anthony Forte"],"honors":["Top 10 hit at age 15","starred in 15 Hollywood films"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/fabian","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"fabio","full_name":"Fabio","sort_name":"Fabio","display_years":"b. 1962","birth_year":1962,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Zola Predosa, Italy","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Modeling/Media","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Iconic romance novel cover model; I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! spokesman; born Luca Lanzoni; Italian immigrant who became American pop culture icon","notable_for":["Iconic romance novel cover model","I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! spokesman","born Luca Lanzoni","Italian immigrant who became American pop culture icon"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/fabio","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"peter-facinelli","full_name":"Peter Facinelli","sort_name":"Facinelli, Peter","display_years":"b. 1973","birth_year":1973,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Flushing, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Twilight Saga (Carlisle Cullen)","notable_for":["Twilight Saga (Carlisle Cullen)","Nurse Jackie","Queens NY Italian-American","born to Italian immigrant parents from Sciacca"],"honors":["Twilight franchise (worldwide gross $3.3B)","Nurse Jackie cast member","born to Sicilian immigrants"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/peter-facinelli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"federico-faggin","full_name":"Federico Faggin","sort_name":"Faggin, Federico","display_years":"b. 1941","birth_year":1941,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Vicenza, Italy","category":"science-technology","category_label":"Science & Technology","subcategory":"Technology/Computing","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Lead designer of the Intel 4004, the world's first commercial microprocessor, and co-founder of Zilog.","notable_for":["Lead designer of Intel 4004 microprocessor (1971)","Co-founder of Zilog","Co-inventor of touchscreen technology at Synaptics"],"honors":["National Medal of Technology and Innovation (2009)","Marconi Prize"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/federico-faggin","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"edie-falco","full_name":"Edie Falco","sort_name":"Falco, Edie","display_years":"b. 1963","birth_year":1963,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Carmela Soprano in The Sopranos","notable_for":["Carmela Soprano in The Sopranos","Nurse Jackie","one of TV's greatest dramatic actors"],"honors":["3 Emmy Awards","SAG Award","Golden Globe winner — one of television's most decorated actors"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/edie-falco","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nick-faldo","full_name":"Nick Faldo","sort_name":"Faldo, Nick","display_years":"b. 1957","birth_year":1957,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Welwyn Garden City, England","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Golf","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"6 Major golf championships","notable_for":["6 Major golf championships","English golfer of Italian descent on his mother's side","CBS golf analyst"],"honors":["6 Major championships","World Golf Hall of Fame","longtime CBS golf analyst"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nick-faldo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-fante","full_name":"John Fante","sort_name":"Fante, John","display_years":"1909–1983","birth_year":1909,"death_year":1983,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Denver, CO","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Literature/Fiction","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Ask the Dust","notable_for":["Ask the Dust","Wait Until Spring, Bandini","Charles Bukowski called him his god","LA writer of Italian immigrant life"],"honors":["Ask the Dust rediscovered by Bukowski","became cult classic","influenced generation of writers"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-fante","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"james-farentino","full_name":"James Farentino","sort_name":"Farentino, James","display_years":"1938–2012","birth_year":1938,"death_year":2012,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Dynasty","notable_for":["Dynasty","Blue Thunder","prolific career on stage and screen over 40 years"],"honors":["Emmy Award nomination","30+ year film and television career"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/james-farentino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ralph-fasanella","full_name":"Ralph Fasanella","sort_name":"Fasanella, Ralph","display_years":"1914–1997","birth_year":1914,"death_year":1997,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Visual Arts/Folk Art","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Folk/labor artist","notable_for":["Folk/labor artist","depicted Italian-American working-class life","was a gas station attendant when discovered at 57"],"honors":["New York magazine cover story led to national recognition at age 57","Smithsonian collection"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ralph-fasanella","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"anthony-fauci","full_name":"Anthony S. Fauci","sort_name":"Fauci, Anthony","display_years":"b. 1940","birth_year":1940,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"medicine-public-health","category_label":"Medicine & Public Health","subcategory":"Immunology/Public Health","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Physician-scientist whose 38 years as NIAID Director shaped U.S. responses to HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and COVID-19.","notable_for":["Director of NIAID 1984–2022","Led federal HIV/AIDS research from 1981","COVID-19 pandemic advisor"],"honors":["Presidential Medal of Freedom (2008)","Robert Koch Gold Medal","National Medal of Science"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/anthony-fauci","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"danny-federici","full_name":"Danny Federici","sort_name":"Federici, Danny","display_years":"1950–2008","birth_year":1950,"death_year":2008,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Flemington, NJ","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"E Street Band keyboardist and accordionist","notable_for":["E Street Band keyboardist and accordionist","died of melanoma during Born Again tour","born to an Italian-American family in NJ"],"honors":["Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (E Street Band)","essential part of Springsteen sound for 40 years"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/danny-federici","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jerry-della-femina","full_name":"Jerry Della Femina","sort_name":"Femina, Jerry Della","display_years":"b. 1936","birth_year":1936,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Advertising","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"One of the most feared names on Madison Avenue","notable_for":["One of the most feared names on Madison Avenue","founded Della Femina Travisano","South Brooklyn Italian-American legend"],"honors":["Advertising Hall of Fame","agency bearing his name","From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor memoir"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jerry-della-femina","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"lawrence-ferlinghetti","full_name":"Lawrence Ferlinghetti","sort_name":"Ferlinghetti, Lawrence","display_years":"1919–2021","birth_year":1919,"death_year":2021,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Yonkers, NY","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Literature/Poetry","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Beat poet","notable_for":["Beat poet","founded City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco","published Allen Ginsberg's Howl","born to Italian immigrant father"],"honors":["Founded City Lights Books (1953)","published Howl and sparked the Beat Generation","lived to 101"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/lawrence-ferlinghetti","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"enrico-fermi","full_name":"Enrico Fermi","sort_name":"Fermi, Enrico","display_years":"1901–1954","birth_year":1901,"death_year":1954,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Rome, Italy","category":"science-technology","category_label":"Science & Technology","subcategory":"Physics","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Nobel laureate and central architect of the nuclear age in the United States, including the first artificial nuclear chain reaction.","notable_for":["Nobel Prize in Physics 1938","First controlled nuclear chain reaction (Chicago Pile-1, 1942)","Manhattan Project"],"honors":["Nobel Prize in Physics 1938","Enrico Fermi Award established in his honor"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/enrico-fermi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vince-ferragamo","full_name":"Vince Ferragamo","sort_name":"Ferragamo, Vince","display_years":"b. 1954","birth_year":1954,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Torrance, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Los Angeles Rams QB","notable_for":["Los Angeles Rams QB","led Rams to Super Bowl XIV (1980) at age 25"],"honors":["Led Rams to Super Bowl XIV","became first NFL quarterback to play in the CFL"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vince-ferragamo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sergio-ferrara","full_name":"Sergio Ferrara","sort_name":"Ferrara, Sergio","display_years":"1945–2023","birth_year":1945,"death_year":2023,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Rome, Italy","category":"medicine-public-health","category_label":"Medicine & Public Health","subcategory":"Physics","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Co-developed the theory of supergravity (1976); Italian-born physicist at CERN; Dirac Medal winner","notable_for":["Co-developed the theory of supergravity (1976)","Italian-born physicist at CERN","Dirac Medal winner"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sergio-ferrara","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"geraldine-ferraro","full_name":"Geraldine Ferraro","sort_name":"Ferraro, Geraldine","display_years":"1935–2011","birth_year":1935,"death_year":2011,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Newburgh, NY","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Congress/VP Candidate","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"woman","short_why_included":"Congresswoman and the first woman nominated for vice president by a major U.S. party.","notable_for":["Democratic vice presidential nominee 1984","U.S. Representative NY-9"],"honors":["Presidential Medal of Freedom (posthumous 2013)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/geraldine-ferraro","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"lou-ferrigno","full_name":"Lou Ferrigno","sort_name":"Ferrigno, Lou","display_years":"b. 1951","birth_year":1951,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting/Bodybuilding","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Incredible Hulk TV series","notable_for":["The Incredible Hulk TV series","2x Mr. Universe","Brooklyn Italian-American bodybuilding and acting icon","overcame hearing impairment"],"honors":["2x IFBB Mr. Universe","The Incredible Hulk (1977-82)","overcame profound hearing loss"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/lou-ferrigno","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"guy-fieri","full_name":"Guy Fieri","sort_name":"Fieri, Guy","display_years":"b. 1968","birth_year":1968,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Columbus, OH","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Chef/Media","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives","notable_for":["Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives","Mayor of Flavortown","born Guy Ramsay Ferry","Italian heritage from father"],"honors":["Diners Drive-Ins and Dives ran 30+ seasons","Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame","Restaurant Employee Relief Fund raised $26M"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/guy-fieri","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"father-flanagan","full_name":"Father Flanagan","sort_name":"Flanagan, Father","display_years":"1886–1948","birth_year":1886,"death_year":1948,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Leabeg, Ireland","category":"labor-activism","category_label":"Labor & Activism","subcategory":"Social Work/Religion","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Founded Boys Town Nebraska","notable_for":["Founded Boys Town Nebraska","There is no such thing as a bad boy","Irish-born priest beloved in Italian-American community","Boys Town film won Academy Awards"],"honors":["Founded Boys Town","Congressional Gold Medal","Spencer Tracy film won 2 Academy Awards"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/father-flanagan","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tom-ford","full_name":"Tom Ford","sort_name":"Ford, Tom","display_years":"b. 1961","birth_year":1961,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Austin, TX","category":"fashion-design","category_label":"Fashion & Design","subcategory":"Fashion Design/Film","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent Creative Director","notable_for":["Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent Creative Director","Tom Ford brand","directed A Single Man","mother of Italian ancestry"],"honors":["Saved Gucci with provocative fashion","CFDA Award","directed Oscar-nominated A Single Man"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tom-ford","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-fortunato","full_name":"Joe Fortunato","sort_name":"Fortunato, Joe","display_years":"1930–2020","birth_year":1930,"death_year":2020,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Mingo Junction, OH","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Chicago Bears LB","notable_for":["Chicago Bears LB","6 Pro Bowls","cornerstone of the Monsters of the Midway defense"],"honors":["6x Pro Bowl","Chicago Bears Hall of Fame","College Football Hall of Fame"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-fortunato","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-foss","full_name":"Joe Foss","sort_name":"Foss, Joe","display_years":"1915–2003","birth_year":1915,"death_year":2003,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Sioux Falls, SD","category":"military-service","category_label":"Military & Service","subcategory":"WWII/Aviation","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Medal of Honor","notable_for":["Medal of Honor","26 aerial kills at Guadalcanal (tied Eddie Rickenbacker's WWI record)","NRA president","South Dakota Governor"],"honors":["Medal of Honor","26 aerial victories (tied Rickenbacker)","South Dakota Governor"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-foss","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"dan-fouts","full_name":"Dan Fouts","sort_name":"Fouts, Dan","display_years":"b. 1951","birth_year":1951,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"San Francisco, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"San Diego Chargers QB","notable_for":["San Diego Chargers QB","Air Coryell","San Francisco Italian-American","6x Pro Bowl"],"honors":["Pro Football Hall of Fame","6x Pro Bowl","revolutionized passing offense with Don Coryell"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/dan-fouts","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sergio-franchi","full_name":"Sergio Franchi","sort_name":"Franchi, Sergio","display_years":"1926–1990","birth_year":1926,"death_year":1990,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Lydney, England","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Tenor beloved by Italian-American audiences; Non Dimenticar; Ed Sullivan Show regular","notable_for":["Tenor beloved by Italian-American audiences","Non Dimenticar","Ed Sullivan Show regular"],"honors":["Multiple gold albums","Ed Sullivan Show regular throughout the 1960s"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sergio-franchi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"anne-francis","full_name":"Anne Francis","sort_name":"Francis, Anne","display_years":"1930–2011","birth_year":1930,"death_year":2011,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Ossining, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Forbidden Planet","notable_for":["Forbidden Planet","Honey West (first female TV PI)","Emmy nomination","New York Italian-American actress"],"honors":["Golden Globe nomination","Forbidden Planet (1956)","first TV series with female private investigator"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/anne-francis","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"connie-francis","full_name":"Connie Francis","sort_name":"Francis, Connie","display_years":"b. 1938","birth_year":1938,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Newark, NJ","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Who's Sorry Now; best-selling female artist of late 1950s-60s; born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero","notable_for":["Who's Sorry Now","best-selling female artist of late 1950s-60s","born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero"],"honors":["First female to have simultaneous #1 hits in US and UK","35+ charting albums"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/connie-francis","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-franco","full_name":"John Franco","sort_name":"Franco, John","display_years":"b. 1960","birth_year":1960,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"New York Mets closer","notable_for":["New York Mets closer","4x All-Star","Brooklyn-born Italian-American","beloved Mets icon"],"honors":["424 career saves","4x NL All-Star","Mets Hall of Fame inductee"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-franco","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"philip-di-franco","full_name":"Philip Di Franco","sort_name":"Franco, Philip Di","display_years":"1934–2014","birth_year":1934,"death_year":2014,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Publishing","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Film writer and cultural critic; Italian-American publisher and critic in New York media industry","notable_for":["Film writer and cultural critic","Italian-American publisher and critic in New York media industry"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/philip-di-franco","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"michael-franzese","full_name":"Michael Franzese","sort_name":"Franzese, Michael","display_years":"b. 1951","birth_year":1951,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Entrepreneurship/Reformed Mob","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Former Colombo crime family capo turned Christian speaker","notable_for":["Former Colombo crime family capo turned Christian speaker","one of the youngest and most financially successful mafia figures before leaving the life"],"honors":["Left organized crime","became Christian speaker","wrote Son of the Mob and multiple books","walked away from the mob alive"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/michael-franzese","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mike-fratello","full_name":"Mike Fratello","sort_name":"Fratello, Mike","display_years":"b. 1947","birth_year":1947,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Hackensack, NJ","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Basketball Coaching","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Czar of the Telestrator","notable_for":["The Czar of the Telestrator","NBA coach for Atlanta Hawks","TV analyst for ESPN and NBA TV"],"honors":["2x NBA Coach of the Year","667 NBA wins","pioneered defensive halfcourt systems"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mike-fratello","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"louis-freeh","full_name":"Louis Freeh","sort_name":"Freeh, Louis","display_years":"b. 1950","birth_year":1950,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Jersey City, NJ","category":"law-jurisprudence","category_label":"Law & Jurisprudence","subcategory":"Federal Law Enforcement","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"FBI Director under Clinton","notable_for":["FBI Director under Clinton","federal prosecutor","investigated ABSCAM","NJ Italian-American law enforcement leader"],"honors":["FBI Director 1993-2001","prosecuted major organized crime cases","Freeh Group International Solutions"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/louis-freeh","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"guido-fubini","full_name":"Guido Fubini","sort_name":"Fubini, Guido","display_years":"1879–1943","birth_year":1879,"death_year":1943,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Venice, Italy","category":"medicine-public-health","category_label":"Medicine & Public Health","subcategory":"Mathematics","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Fubini's theorem in calculus","notable_for":["Fubini's theorem in calculus","fled Mussolini to Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study (1939)"],"honors":["Fubini's theorem (calculus of multiple integrals)","refugee from Fascist Italy","Princeton IAS"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/guido-fubini","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"annette-funicello","full_name":"Annette Funicello","sort_name":"Funicello, Annette","display_years":"1942–2013","birth_year":1942,"death_year":2013,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Utica, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Walt Disney's favorite Mouseketeer","notable_for":["Walt Disney's favorite Mouseketeer","Beach Party films with Frankie Avalon","Italian-American icon of 1950s innocence"],"honors":["Walt Disney's personal favorite Mouseketeer","8 Beach Party films","Grammy nomination"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/annette-funicello","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"samuel-fuqua","full_name":"Samuel Fuqua","sort_name":"Fuqua, Samuel","display_years":"1899–1987","birth_year":1899,"death_year":1987,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Laddonia, MO","category":"military-service","category_label":"Military & Service","subcategory":"WWII/Medal of Honor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Medal of Honor for heroism at Pearl Harbor (USS Arizona)","notable_for":["Medal of Honor for heroism at Pearl Harbor (USS Arizona)","organized firefighting and rescue under fire"],"honors":["Medal of Honor for heroism at Pearl Harbor attack aboard USS Arizona"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/samuel-fuqua","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"carl-furillo","full_name":"Carl Furillo","sort_name":"Furillo, Carl","display_years":"1922–1989","birth_year":1922,"death_year":1989,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Stony Creek Mills, PA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Reading Rifle","notable_for":["The Reading Rifle","Brooklyn Dodgers RF","best outfield arm in the National League"],"honors":["1953 NL batting champion","7 All-Star selections","1955 World Series champion"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/carl-furillo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mario-gabelli","full_name":"Mario Gabelli","sort_name":"Gabelli, Mario","display_years":"b. 1942","birth_year":1942,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Investment Management","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Value investing pioneer","notable_for":["Value investing pioneer","founder of Gabelli Funds","manages $32B+ in assets","Columbia Business School lecturer"],"honors":["Founded GAMCO Investors","Morningstar's Fund Manager of the Decade","$32B+ under management"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mario-gabelli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"lady-gaga","full_name":"Lady Gaga","sort_name":"Gaga, Lady","display_years":"b. 1986","birth_year":1986,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Manhattan, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"woman","short_why_included":"Grammy-winning pop artist and actress of Italian American heritage (Germanotta) who became one of the most commercially successful musicians of the 21st century.","notable_for":["Over 150 million records sold worldwide","Academy Award and Golden Globe winner, A Star Is Born (2018)","12 Grammy Awards"],"honors":["12 Grammy Awards","Academy Award for Best Original Song","Golden Globe Award"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/lady-gaga","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"peter-gallagher","full_name":"Peter Gallagher","sort_name":"Gallagher, Peter","display_years":"b. 1955","birth_year":1955,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Armonk, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The O.C.","notable_for":["The O.C.","American Beauty","sex lies and videotape","Westchester NY Italian-Irish actor and musician"],"honors":["The O.C. cultural phenomenon","American Beauty cast member","Tony Award nomination"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/peter-gallagher","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"robert-gallo","full_name":"Robert C. Gallo","sort_name":"Gallo, Robert","display_years":"b. 1937","birth_year":1937,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Waterbury, CT","category":"medicine-public-health","category_label":"Medicine & Public Health","subcategory":"Virology","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Virologist central to identifying HIV as the cause of AIDS and developing the first HIV blood test.","notable_for":["Co-discovered HIV as the cause of AIDS (1984)","Developed first commercial HIV blood test","Director of Institute of Human Virology"],"honors":["Lasker Award for Clinical Research (1982)","Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/robert-gallo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ron-gallo","full_name":"Ron Gallo","sort_name":"Gallo, Ron","display_years":"b. 1987","birth_year":1987,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Philadelphia, PA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock/Alternative","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Philadelphia Italian-American indie rock musician","notable_for":["Philadelphia Italian-American indie rock musician","self-released albums","DIY ethos","Have You Met Ron Gallo?"],"honors":["Influential DIY rock musician","Peacemeal label","toured extensively in alternative music circuit"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ron-gallo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"james-gandolfini","full_name":"James Gandolfini","sort_name":"Gandolfini, James","display_years":"1961–2013","birth_year":1961,"death_year":2013,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Westwood, NJ","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Tony Soprano in The Sopranos","notable_for":["Tony Soprano in The Sopranos","possibly the greatest television performance in history"],"honors":["3 Emmy Awards","SAG Award","Time called Tony Soprano the greatest TV character ever written"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/james-gandolfini","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-garagiola","full_name":"Joe Garagiola","sort_name":"Garagiola, Joe","display_years":"1926–2016","birth_year":1926,"death_year":2016,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"St. Louis, MO","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"MLB catcher turned NBC broadcaster","notable_for":["NBC Today Show co-host","NBC baseball game of the week","Baseball Is a Funny Game memoir","boyhood friend of Yogi Berra"],"honors":["Ford Frick Award","Today Show co-host","Baseball Assistance Team founder"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-garagiola","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vincent-gardenia","full_name":"Vincent Gardenia","sort_name":"Gardenia, Vincent","display_years":"1922–1992","birth_year":1922,"death_year":1992,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bari, Italy","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Moonstruck","notable_for":["Moonstruck","Damn Yankees","born Vincenzo Scognamiglio","beloved character actor"],"honors":["Two Academy Award nominations (Bang the Drum Slowly 1973 and Moonstruck 1987)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vincent-gardenia","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jeff-garlin","full_name":"Jeff Garlin","sort_name":"Garlin, Jeff","display_years":"b. 1962","birth_year":1962,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Chicago, IL","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Comedy/Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Curb Your Enthusiasm","notable_for":["Curb Your Enthusiasm","The Goldbergs","Larry David's best friend","Chicago Italian-Jewish heritage"],"honors":["Curb Your Enthusiasm regular (2000-2021)","The Goldbergs (ABC)","stand-up comedy 30-year career"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jeff-garlin","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"arturo-gatti","full_name":"Arturo Gatti","sort_name":"Gatti, Arturo","display_years":"1964–2009","birth_year":1964,"death_year":2009,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Calabria, Italy","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Thunder","notable_for":["Thunder","WBC super featherweight champion","trilogy with Mickey Ward","Italian-born Canadian-American fighter"],"honors":["International Boxing Hall of Fame","Ward trilogy called greatest boxing trilogy in history","3x world champion"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/arturo-gatti","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ben-gazzara","full_name":"Ben Gazzara","sort_name":"Gazzara, Ben","display_years":"1930–2012","birth_year":1930,"death_year":2012,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Manhattan, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Anatomy of a Murder","notable_for":["Anatomy of a Murder","Cassavetes films","Run for Your Life TV","born Biagio Anthony Gazzara"],"honors":["Tony Award nomination","Actors Studio member","muse of John Cassavetes"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ben-gazzara","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frankie-genaro","full_name":"Frankie Genaro","sort_name":"Genaro, Frankie","display_years":"1895–1966","birth_year":1895,"death_year":1966,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"1920 Olympic gold medalist","notable_for":["1920 Olympic gold medalist","Flyweight world champion","born Frank DiGennaro"],"honors":["1920 Olympic gold medalist","world flyweight champion","International Boxing Hall of Fame"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frankie-genaro","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"don-gentile","full_name":"Don Salvatore Gentile","sort_name":"Gentile, Don Salvatore","display_years":"1920–1951","birth_year":1920,"death_year":1951,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Piqua, OH","category":"military-service","category_label":"Military & Service","subcategory":"WWII/Aviation","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"WWII fighter ace","notable_for":["WWII fighter ace","23 aerial kills","Eisenhower called him a one-man air force","died in 1951 crash at 30"],"honors":["Distinguished Service Cross","Air Medal","Eisenhower declared him a one-man air force"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/don-gentile","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"domingo-ghirardelli","full_name":"Domenico Ghirardelli","sort_name":"Ghirardelli, Domenico","display_years":"1817–1894","birth_year":1817,"death_year":1894,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Rapallo, Italy","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":null,"immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Immigrant confectioner whose Ghirardelli Chocolate Company became one of America's most enduring brands and a San Francisco landmark.","notable_for":["Founded Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (1852)","Pioneered ground chocolate process in the U.S."],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/domingo-ghirardelli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"riccardo-giacconi","full_name":"Riccardo Giacconi","sort_name":"Giacconi, Riccardo","display_years":"1931–2018","birth_year":1931,"death_year":2018,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Genoa, Italy","category":"medicine-public-health","category_label":"Medicine & Public Health","subcategory":"Astronomy/Astrophysics","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Father of X-ray astronomy","notable_for":["Father of X-ray astronomy","discovered first X-ray star sources","Chandra X-ray Observatory pioneer","came to US 1956"],"honors":["Nobel Prize in Physics (2002)","founded X-ray astronomy","built Chandra X-ray Observatory"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/riccardo-giacconi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"laura-san-giacomo","full_name":"Laura San Giacomo","sort_name":"Giacomo, Laura San","display_years":"b. 1962","birth_year":1962,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"West Orange, NJ","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Just Shoot Me","notable_for":["Just Shoot Me","sex, lies, and videotape","NJ Italian-American actress"],"honors":["Golden Globe nomination for sex lies and videotape","8 seasons on Just Shoot Me"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/laura-san-giacomo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"bart-giamatti-academic","full_name":"A. Bartlett Giamatti","sort_name":"Giamatti, A. Bartlett","display_years":"1938–1989","birth_year":1938,"death_year":1989,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Boston, MA","category":"academia-scholarship","category_label":"Academia & Scholarship","subcategory":"Higher Education/Renaissance Studies","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Yale President","notable_for":["Yale President","Renaissance literature scholar","MLB Commissioner","dual life of academe and baseball"],"honors":["Yale President 1978-86","The Earthly Paradise and the Renaissance Epic","MLB Commissioner"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/bart-giamatti-academic","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"a-bartlett-giamatti","full_name":"A. Bartlett Giamatti","sort_name":"Giamatti, A. Bartlett","display_years":"1938–1989","birth_year":1938,"death_year":1989,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Boston, MA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"MLB Commissioner","notable_for":["MLB Commissioner","Yale President","Renaissance scholar","permanently banned Pete Rose"],"honors":["Yale President 1978-1986","MLB Commissioner","Pete Rose ban (August 1989)","Time Man of the Year"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/a-bartlett-giamatti","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jason-giambi","full_name":"Jason Giambi","sort_name":"Giambi, Jason","display_years":"b. 1971","birth_year":1971,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"West Covina, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Oakland A's and Yankees slugger","notable_for":["Oakland A's and Yankees slugger","2000 AL MVP","Moneyball era icon"],"honors":["2000 AL MVP","5x All-Star","440 career home runs"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jason-giambi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joey-giambra","full_name":"Joey Giambra","sort_name":"Giambra, Joey","display_years":"1928–2004","birth_year":1928,"death_year":2004,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Buffalo, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Buffalo middleweight contender","notable_for":["Buffalo middleweight contender","popular Italian-American fighter of the 1950s","Buffalo's Italian boxing hero"],"honors":["Ranked #2 middleweight in the world (Ring Magazine)","60-11-2 record"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joey-giambra","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ap-giannini","full_name":"Amadeo Peter Giannini","sort_name":"Giannini, Amadeo Peter","display_years":"1870–1949","birth_year":1870,"death_year":1949,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"San Jose, CA","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Banking","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Founder of Bank of America and pioneer of branch banking that made financial services accessible to ordinary Americans.","notable_for":["Founded Banco d'Italia (became Bank of America) 1904","Pioneered small-loan banking for immigrants and farmers"],"honors":["Time Magazine cover 1928"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ap-giannini","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joey-giardello","full_name":"Joey Giardello","sort_name":"Giardello, Joey","display_years":"1930–2008","birth_year":1930,"death_year":2008,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Middleweight champion 1963-65","notable_for":["Middleweight champion 1963-65","born Carmine Orlando Tilelli","Brooklyn-born Italian-American champion"],"honors":["International Boxing Hall of Fame","middleweight world champion (1963-65)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joey-giardello","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joseph-giordano","full_name":"Joseph Giordano","sort_name":"Giordano, Joseph","display_years":"b. 1932","birth_year":1932,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"medicine-public-health","category_label":"Medicine & Public Health","subcategory":"Surgery","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Trauma surgeon who operated on Ronald Reagan after 1981 assassination attempt","notable_for":["Trauma surgeon who operated on Ronald Reagan after 1981 assassination attempt","saved the President's life"],"honors":["Led surgical team that saved President Reagan's life after 1981 assassination attempt"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joseph-giordano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"arturo-giovannitti","full_name":"Arturo Giovannitti","sort_name":"Giovannitti, Arturo","display_years":"1884–1959","birth_year":1884,"death_year":1959,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Ripabottoni, Italy","category":"labor-activism","category_label":"Labor & Activism","subcategory":"Labor/Poetry","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"IWW poet and organizer","notable_for":["IWW poet and organizer","Bread and Roses strike Lawrence 1912","jailed alongside Ettor","labor movement poet laureate"],"honors":["Became an international cause célèbre when jailed","The Cage poem written in prison","ACWA organizer"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/arturo-giovannitti","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rudolph-giuliani-law","full_name":"Rudolph Giuliani","sort_name":"Giuliani, Rudolph","display_years":"b. 1944","birth_year":1944,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"law-jurisprudence","category_label":"Law & Jurisprudence","subcategory":"Federal Prosecution","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"As US Attorney SDNY prosecuted the Five Families under RICO (1985-89)","notable_for":["As US Attorney SDNY prosecuted the Five Families under RICO (1985-89)","transformed anti-organized crime prosecution"],"honors":["Commission Case (1985) convicted all Five Mafia Families","used RICO in unprecedented ways"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rudolph-giuliani-law","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rudy-giuliani","full_name":"Rudy Giuliani","sort_name":"Giuliani, Rudy","display_years":"b. 1944","birth_year":1944,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Mayor/US Attorney","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NYC Mayor 1994-2001","notable_for":["NYC Mayor 1994-2001","prosecuted NYC mob as US Attorney","America's Mayor after 9/11"],"honors":["Prosecuted Five Families as US Attorney","led NYC through 9/11 aftermath"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rudy-giuliani","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ariana-grande","full_name":"Ariana Grande","sort_name":"Grande, Ariana","display_years":"b. 1993","birth_year":1993,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Boca Raton, FL","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Pop/R&B","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Thank U, Next; 7 Rings; record-breaking streaming artist; born Ariana Grande-Butera","notable_for":["Thank U, Next","7 Rings","record-breaking streaming artist","born Ariana Grande-Butera"],"honors":["Grammy Award winner","first artist with top 3 simultaneous Billboard Hot 100 debuts"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ariana-grande","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ella-grasso","full_name":"Ella T. Grasso","sort_name":"Grasso, Ella","display_years":"1919–1981","birth_year":1919,"death_year":1981,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Windsor Locks, CT","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Governor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"woman","short_why_included":"First woman elected U.S. governor in her own right and a landmark Italian American woman officeholder.","notable_for":["Governor of Connecticut 1975–1980","U.S. Representative CT-6"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ella-grasso","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rocky-graziano","full_name":"Rocky Graziano","sort_name":"Graziano, Rocky","display_years":"1919–1990","birth_year":1919,"death_year":1990,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New York, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Middleweight champion","notable_for":["Middleweight champion","Somebody Up There Likes Me memoir and film","born Thomas Rocco Barbella"],"honors":["Middleweight world champion","book and Paul Newman film Somebody Up There Likes Me"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rocky-graziano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"buddy-greco","full_name":"Buddy Greco","sort_name":"Greco, Buddy","display_years":"1926–2017","birth_year":1926,"death_year":2017,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Philadelphia, PA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Jazz/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Lady Is a Tramp; jazz-influenced pop vocalist and pianist; born Armando Greco","notable_for":["The Lady Is a Tramp","jazz-influenced pop vocalist and pianist","born Armando Greco"],"honors":["Performed with Benny Goodman Orchestra","Las Vegas headline performer for 40+ years"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/buddy-greco","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vin-guadagnino","full_name":"Vin Guadagnino","sort_name":"Guadagnino, Vin","display_years":"b. 1988","birth_year":1988,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Staten Island, NY","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Media/Reality TV","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Jersey Shore reality TV star","notable_for":["Jersey Shore reality TV star","Vinny from Staten Island","prominent Italian-American cultural media figure"],"honors":["Jersey Shore franchise star","Staten Island Italian-American cultural ambassador via reality TV"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vin-guadagnino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frank-guarini","full_name":"Frank Guarini","sort_name":"Guarini, Frank","display_years":"b. 1924","birth_year":1924,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Jersey City, NJ","category":"law-jurisprudence","category_label":"Law & Jurisprudence","subcategory":"Congress/Law","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NJ Congressman","notable_for":["NJ Congressman","JCPD Commissioner","community leader","key Italian-American legal and political figure in Hudson County"],"honors":["6-term NJ Congressman","Jersey City's longest-serving Italian-American political figure"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frank-guarini","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"peggy-guggenheim","full_name":"Peggy Guggenheim","sort_name":"Guggenheim, Peggy","display_years":"1898–1979","birth_year":1898,"death_year":1979,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Arts Patron","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Legendary art patron; Guggenheim Museum Venice; championed Pollock and European surrealists; made Italy her home","notable_for":["Legendary art patron","Guggenheim Museum Venice","championed Pollock and European surrealists","made Italy her home"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/peggy-guggenheim","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"william-hanna","full_name":"William Hanna","sort_name":"Hanna, William","display_years":"1910–2001","birth_year":1910,"death_year":2001,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Melrose, NM","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Animation","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Co-founded Hanna-Barbera with Joseph Barbera; Tom and Jerry; New Mexico Italian-English heritage","notable_for":["Co-founded Hanna-Barbera with Joseph Barbera","Tom and Jerry","New Mexico Italian-English heritage"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/william-hanna","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"franco-harris","full_name":"Franco Harris","sort_name":"Harris, Franco","display_years":"1950–2022","birth_year":1950,"death_year":2022,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Fort Dix, NJ","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Immaculate Reception","notable_for":["Immaculate Reception","Steelers RB","4x Super Bowl champion","mother Italian-American from NJ"],"honors":["Pro Football Hall of Fame","4x Super Bowl champion","Immaculate Reception most famous play in NFL history"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/franco-harris","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-hennessy","full_name":"John Hennessy","sort_name":"Hennessy, John","display_years":"b. 1952","birth_year":1952,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Huntington, NY","category":"science-technology","category_label":"Science & Technology","subcategory":"Computer Science/Academia","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Stanford President","notable_for":["Stanford President","co-invented RISC computer architecture","chairman of Alphabet (Google's parent)","Turing Award"],"honors":["Turing Award (2017)","co-invented RISC architecture","Stanford President 2000-2016","Alphabet chairman"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-hennessy","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tommy-henrich","full_name":"Tommy Henrich","sort_name":"Henrich, Tommy","display_years":"1913–2009","birth_year":1913,"death_year":2009,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Massillon, OH","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Old Reliable","notable_for":["Old Reliable","Yankees RF","key member of the Yankee dynasty","Ohio Italian-American outfielder"],"honors":["4x World Series champion","5x All-Star","known as Old Reliable for clutch hitting"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tommy-henrich","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"pete-herman","full_name":"Pete Herman","sort_name":"Herman, Pete","display_years":"1896–1973","birth_year":1896,"death_year":1973,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New Orleans, LA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Bantamweight champion","notable_for":["Bantamweight champion","born Peter Gulotta","New Orleans Italian-American boxing pioneer","went blind at 30"],"honors":["International Boxing Hall of Fame","2x world bantamweight champion"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/pete-herman","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"garth-hudson","full_name":"Garth Hudson","sort_name":"Hudson, Garth","display_years":"b. 1937","birth_year":1937,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Windsor, Ontario","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Band's keyboardist","notable_for":["The Band's keyboardist","The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down","Ontario Italian-Canadian musician"],"honors":["Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (The Band)","musical genius behind The Band's unique sound"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/garth-hudson","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"bob-huggins","full_name":"Bob Huggins","sort_name":"Huggins, Bob","display_years":"1953–2023","birth_year":1953,"death_year":2023,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Morgantown, WV","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Basketball Coaching","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"West Virginia, Cincinnati basketball coach","notable_for":["West Virginia, Cincinnati basketball coach","WV Italian-American","935 Division I wins","gruff personality"],"honors":["Basketball Hall of Fame","935 wins","WVU basketball resurgence","Final Four with Cincinnati"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/bob-huggins","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"lee-iacocca","full_name":"Lee Iacocca","sort_name":"Iacocca, Lee","display_years":"1924–2019","birth_year":1924,"death_year":2019,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Allentown, PA","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Automotive","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Auto executive who helped create the Ford Mustang and led Chrysler's historic comeback, becoming one of the most recognized Italian American business leaders.","notable_for":["Created the Ford Mustang (1964)","CEO of Chrysler 1978–1992; led government loan-backed turnaround"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/lee-iacocca","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"robert-iannaccone","full_name":"Robert Iannaccone","sort_name":"Iannaccone, Robert","display_years":"b. 1951","birth_year":1951,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Finance","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Brooklyn-born Wall Street executive and Italian-American business community leader","notable_for":["Brooklyn-born Wall Street executive and Italian-American business community leader"],"honors":["Financial industry executive","Italian-American community leader in New York"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/robert-iannaccone","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"louis-ignarro","full_name":"Louis J. Ignarro","sort_name":"Ignarro, Louis","display_years":"b. 1941","birth_year":1941,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Long Beach, NY","category":"medicine-public-health","category_label":"Medicine & Public Health","subcategory":"Pharmacology","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Nobel laureate whose discovery that nitric oxide is a signaling molecule changed cardiovascular medicine and enabled treatments including Viagra.","notable_for":["Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1998","Discovered nitric oxide as a biological signaling molecule"],"honors":["Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1998"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/louis-ignarro","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vincent-impellitteri","full_name":"Vincent Impellitteri","sort_name":"Impellitteri, Vincent","display_years":"1900–1987","birth_year":1900,"death_year":1987,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Isnello, Sicily","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Mayor","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NYC Mayor 1950-1953","notable_for":["NYC Mayor 1950-1953","first Italian-born American to serve as Mayor of New York City"],"honors":["First Italian-born Mayor of New York City","Brooklyn-born Sicilian immigrant"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vincent-impellitteri","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"michael-imperioli","full_name":"Michael Imperioli","sort_name":"Imperioli, Michael","display_years":"b. 1966","birth_year":1966,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Mount Vernon, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Christopher Moltisanti in The Sopranos","notable_for":["Christopher Moltisanti in The Sopranos","also wrote multiple Sopranos episodes"],"honors":["Emmy Award winner","wrote Sopranos episodes","Filmmakers' Trophy at Sundance as co-writer/director"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/michael-imperioli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"pete-incaviglia","full_name":"Pete Incaviglia","sort_name":"Incaviglia, Pete","display_years":"b. 1964","birth_year":1964,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Pebble Beach, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Texas Rangers slugger","notable_for":["Texas Rangers slugger","signed directly from college to MLB (bypassing minors)","206 career HR"],"honors":["First player in history to sign directly from college to the majors (1986)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/pete-incaviglia","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"dom-irrera","full_name":"Dom Irrera","sort_name":"Irrera, Dom","display_years":"b. 1947","birth_year":1947,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Philadelphia, PA","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Comedy","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"South Philly Italian-American stand-up comedian","notable_for":["South Philly Italian-American stand-up comedian","The Big Lebowski","multiple HBO/Showtime specials"],"honors":["American Comedy Award winner","40+ years as a top-tier stand-up comedian"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/dom-irrera","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tom-izzo","full_name":"Tom Izzo","sort_name":"Izzo, Tom","display_years":"b. 1955","birth_year":1955,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Iron Mountain, MI","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Basketball Coaching","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Michigan State head basketball coach","notable_for":["Michigan State head basketball coach","8 Final Fours","1 national championship","Iron Mountain MI Italian-American"],"honors":["Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame","1 national championship","8 Final Fours","28 consecutive NCAA appearances"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tom-izzo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"michael-jackson-note","full_name":"Michael Jackson","sort_name":"Jackson, Michael","display_years":"1958–2009","birth_year":1958,"death_year":2009,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Gary, IN","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Note: Jackson was not Italian-American — placeholder entry to be replaced with valid Italian-American figure","notable_for":["Note: Jackson was not Italian-American — placeholder entry to be replaced with valid Italian-American figure"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/michael-jackson-note","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"billy-joel","full_name":"Billy Joel","sort_name":"Joel, Billy","display_years":"b. 1949","birth_year":1949,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Pop/Rock","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Piano Man","notable_for":["Piano Man","The Stranger","It's Still Rock and Roll to Me","mother Rosalind Nyman of Levantine and Italian Jewish heritage"],"honors":["Rock and Roll Hall of Fame","6 Grammy Awards","Kennedy Center Honoree","150M+ records sold"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/billy-joel","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vinnie-johnson","full_name":"Vinnie Johnson","sort_name":"Johnson, Vinnie","display_years":"b. 1956","birth_year":1956,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Basketball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Microwave","notable_for":["The Microwave","Detroit Pistons SG","2x NBA champion Bad Boys","Brooklyn Italian-American scorer"],"honors":["2x NBA champion (Bad Boys Pistons 1989-90)","hit game-winning shot in Game 5 of 1990 Finals"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vinnie-johnson","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"erica-jong","full_name":"Erica Jong","sort_name":"Jong, Erica","display_years":"b. 1942","birth_year":1942,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Manhattan, NY","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Literature/Fiction","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Fear of Flying","notable_for":["Fear of Flying","feminist literary icon","Manhattan Italian-Jewish heritage through father Seymour Mann (born Weisman)","coined the term zipless fuck"],"honors":["Fear of Flying (1973) sold 20M+ copies","transformed women's literary fiction"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/erica-jong","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"danny-aiello-jr","full_name":"Danny Aiello Jr.","sort_name":"Jr., Danny Aiello","display_years":"b. 1955","birth_year":1955,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Actor son of Danny Aiello","notable_for":["Actor son of Danny Aiello","continued the Italian-American acting family tradition in New York"],"honors":["Character actor in regional theatre and film","son of Danny Aiello"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/danny-aiello-jr","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-gotti-jr","full_name":"John Gotti Jr.","sort_name":"Jr., John Gotti","display_years":"b. 1964","birth_year":1964,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Queens, NY","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Entrepreneurship/Former Mob","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Son of John Gotti Sr.","notable_for":["Son of John Gotti Sr.","left the Gambino crime family","became a businessman and author","convicted businessman turned legitimate entrepreneur"],"honors":["Left organized crime","acquitted in four federal trials","wrote In the Shadow of My Father"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-gotti-jr","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"norma-kamali","full_name":"Norma Kamali","sort_name":"Kamali, Norma","display_years":"b. 1945","birth_year":1945,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"fashion-design","category_label":"Fashion & Design","subcategory":"Fashion Design","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Sleeping bag coat","notable_for":["Sleeping bag coat","OMO by Norma Kamali","Italian-Basque heritage","revolutionary American sportswear"],"honors":["CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award","sleeping bag coat became iconic 1970s symbol"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/norma-kamali","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rocky-kansas","full_name":"Rocky Kansas","sort_name":"Kansas, Rocky","display_years":"1895–1954","birth_year":1895,"death_year":1954,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Buffalo, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"World lightweight champion 1925-26","notable_for":["World lightweight champion 1925-26","born Rocco Tozzo","Buffalo-born Italian-American"],"honors":["World lightweight champion (1925-26)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rocky-kansas","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jimmy-kimmel","full_name":"Jimmy Kimmel","sort_name":"Kimmel, Jimmy","display_years":"b. 1967","birth_year":1967,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Comedy","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Jimmy Kimmel Live (2003-present)","notable_for":["Jimmy Kimmel Live (2003-present)","hosted 3 Oscar ceremonies","mother Diane Iacono of Italian descent"],"honors":["20+ years hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live","hosted Academy Awards 2017, 2018, 2023"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jimmy-kimmel","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"fiorello-la-guardia","full_name":"Fiorello La Guardia","sort_name":"La Guardia, Fiorello","display_years":"1882–1947","birth_year":1882,"death_year":1947,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New York, NY","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":null,"immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Transformative New York City mayor whose reformist administration became a model of municipal modernization.","notable_for":["Mayor of New York City 1934–1945","U.S. Representative","Director-General of UNRRA"],"honors":["Time Magazine Man of the Year (1934)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/fiorello-la-guardia","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"emeril-lagasse","full_name":"Emeril Lagasse","sort_name":"Lagasse, Emeril","display_years":"b. 1959","birth_year":1959,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Fall River, MA","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Chef/Media","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Bam!","notable_for":["Bam!","kicked it up a notch","New Orleans chef","Emeril Live"],"honors":["James Beard Award winner","pioneered celebrity chef era on Food Network","12+ restaurants"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/emeril-lagasse","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"fiorello-laguardia","full_name":"Fiorello LaGuardia","sort_name":"LaGuardia, Fiorello","display_years":"1882–1947","birth_year":1882,"death_year":1947,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Mayor/Local","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NYC Mayor 1934-1945","notable_for":["NYC Mayor 1934-1945","The Little Flower","greatest American mayor","half Italian half Jewish"],"honors":["Transformed NYC with civil service reform","NYC airport named after him","Time called him greatest US mayor"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/fiorello-laguardia","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frankie-laine","full_name":"Frankie Laine","sort_name":"Laine, Frankie","display_years":"1913–2007","birth_year":1913,"death_year":2007,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Chicago, IL","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Rawhide; I Believe; That Lucky Old Sun; born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio; 250M+ records sold","notable_for":["Rawhide","I Believe","That Lucky Old Sun","born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio","250M+ records sold"],"honors":["250M+ records sold","star on Hollywood Walk of Fame","pop chart dominance 1947-1956"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frankie-laine","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"daryle-lamonica","full_name":"Daryle Lamonica","sort_name":"Lamonica, Daryle","display_years":"1941–2024","birth_year":1941,"death_year":2024,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Fresno, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Mad Bomber","notable_for":["The Mad Bomber","Oakland Raiders QB","2x AFL MVP (1967 and 1969)"],"honors":["2x AFL MVP (1967, 1969)","led Raiders to Super Bowl II"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/daryle-lamonica","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jake-lamotta","full_name":"Jake LaMotta","sort_name":"LaMotta, Jake","display_years":"1921–2017","birth_year":1921,"death_year":2017,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Raging Bull","notable_for":["The Raging Bull","first man to beat Sugar Ray Robinson","Martin Scorsese film about his life"],"honors":["International Boxing Hall of Fame","Scorsese's Raging Bull (1980) won 2 Oscars","beat Robinson"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jake-lamotta","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rocco-landesman","full_name":"Rocco Landesman","sort_name":"Landesman, Rocco","display_years":"b. 1947","birth_year":1947,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"St. Louis, MO","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Entertainment/Arts","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts","notable_for":["Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts","Broadway producer","co-owner of Jujamcyn Theaters"],"honors":["NEA Chairman under Obama","Tony Award-winning Broadway producer","Jujamcyn Theaters president"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rocco-landesman","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frank-langella","full_name":"Frank Langella","sort_name":"Langella, Frank","display_years":"b. 1938","birth_year":1938,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Bayonne, NJ","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Dracula","notable_for":["Dracula","Frost/Nixon","Robot & Frank","Tony Award-winning Broadway actor"],"honors":["4 Tony Awards","Academy Award nomination for Frost/Nixon (2008)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frank-langella","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"kenneth-langone","full_name":"Kenneth G. Langone","sort_name":"Langone, Kenneth","display_years":"b. 1935","birth_year":1935,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Roslyn Heights, NY","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Finance/Retail","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Co-founder of The Home Depot and major philanthropist whose $200 million gift anchored the NYU Langone Medical Center.","notable_for":["Co-founded The Home Depot (1978)","Donated $200 million to NYU Medical Center","Venture capital pioneer"],"honors":["NIAF Humanitarian Award"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/kenneth-langone","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"angela-lansbury","full_name":"Angela Lansbury","sort_name":"Lansbury, Angela","display_years":"1925–2022","birth_year":1925,"death_year":2022,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"London, England","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Murder She Wrote; Beauty and the Beast (Mrs. Potts); 5 Tony Awards; British actress with Italian heritage on her mother's side","notable_for":["Murder She Wrote","Beauty and the Beast (Mrs. Potts)","5 Tony Awards","British actress with Italian heritage on her mother's side"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/angela-lansbury","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joseph-lanza","full_name":"Joseph Lanza","sort_name":"Lanza, Joseph","display_years":"b. 1953","birth_year":1953,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Newark, NJ","category":"science-technology","category_label":"Science & Technology","subcategory":"Pharmacology","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Pioneer of controlled drug release technology","notable_for":["Pioneer of controlled drug release technology","professor at MIT","developed polymer-drug combinations"],"honors":["Controlled-release drug delivery technology","multiple patents","MIT faculty"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joseph-lanza","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mario-lanza","full_name":"Mario Lanza","sort_name":"Lanza, Mario","display_years":"1921–1959","birth_year":1921,"death_year":1959,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Philadelphia, PA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Opera/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Great Caruso film","notable_for":["The Great Caruso film","popular tenor who crossed classical and pop","born Alfredo Arnold Cocozza","died at 38"],"honors":["The Great Caruso (1951) biggest film for MGM since Gone With the Wind","30M+ records sold"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mario-lanza","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nick-larocca","full_name":"Nick LaRocca","sort_name":"LaRocca, Nick","display_years":"1889–1961","birth_year":1889,"death_year":1961,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New Orleans, LA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Jazz","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Led the Original Dixieland Jass Band; first jazz recording session in history (1917)","notable_for":["Led the Original Dixieland Jass Band","first jazz recording session in history (1917)"],"honors":["Livery Stable Blues / Dixie Jass Band One-Step (Feb 1917) — history's first jazz recordings"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nick-larocca","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tommy-lasorda","full_name":"Tommy Lasorda","sort_name":"Lasorda, Tommy","display_years":"1927–2021","birth_year":1927,"death_year":2021,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Norristown, PA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Dodger Blue personified","notable_for":["Dodger Blue personified","Dodgers manager 1976-96","born Thomas Charles Lasorda","bled Dodger Blue"],"honors":["Baseball Hall of Fame","2 World Series championships","1988 US Olympic gold medal coach"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tommy-lasorda","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"cyndi-lauper","full_name":"Cyndi Lauper","sort_name":"Lauper, Cyndi","display_years":"b. 1953","birth_year":1953,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Astoria, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Pop/Rock","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Girls Just Want to Have Fun","notable_for":["Girls Just Want to Have Fun","Time After Time","She Bop","Queens Italian heritage from father Frederick Lauper"],"honors":["Grammy Award winner","Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2023","Tony Award (Kinky Boots)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/cyndi-lauper","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"giada-de-laurentiis","full_name":"Giada De Laurentiis","sort_name":"Laurentiis, Giada De","display_years":"b. 1970","birth_year":1970,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Rome, Italy","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Chef/Media","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Everyday Italian","notable_for":["Everyday Italian","Food Network star","Laurel restaurant Las Vegas","granddaughter of film producer Dino De Laurentiis"],"honors":["Emmy Award winner","New York Times bestselling cookbooks","Laurel restaurant at Caesars Palace"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/giada-de-laurentiis","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ralph-lauricella","full_name":"Ralph Lauricella","sort_name":"Lauricella, Ralph","display_years":"b. 1950","birth_year":1950,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Real Estate","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Prominent New York real estate developer","notable_for":["Prominent New York real estate developer","Italian-American real estate tradition in NYC"],"honors":["Major NY real estate development projects"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ralph-lauricella","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"cookie-lavagetto","full_name":"Cookie Lavagetto","sort_name":"Lavagetto, Cookie","display_years":"1912–1990","birth_year":1912,"death_year":1990,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Oakland, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Broke up Bill Bevens' no-hitter with a walk-off double in 1947 World Series Game 4","notable_for":["Broke up Bill Bevens' no-hitter with a walk-off double in 1947 World Series Game 4"],"honors":["One of the most dramatic hits in World Series history (Game 4, 1947)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/cookie-lavagetto","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-lazzeri","full_name":"Tony Lazzeri","sort_name":"Lazzeri, Tony","display_years":"1903–1946","birth_year":1903,"death_year":1946,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"San Francisco, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Murderers Row Yankees 2B","notable_for":["Murderers Row Yankees 2B","first Italian-American baseball superstar","5 World Series rings"],"honors":["Baseball Hall of Fame","drove in 11 runs in a single game (1936 record until 2017)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-lazzeri","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"don-leffingwell","full_name":"Don Leffingwell","sort_name":"Leffingwell, Don","display_years":"b. 1950","birth_year":1950,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Newark, NJ","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Publishing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Editor and publishing executive","notable_for":["Editor and publishing executive","New Jersey Italian-American in the media industry"],"honors":["Publishing industry executive","edited major national publications"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/don-leffingwell","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jay-leno","full_name":"Jay Leno","sort_name":"Leno, Jay","display_years":"b. 1950","birth_year":1950,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New Rochelle, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Comedy","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Tonight Show host 1992-2009, 2010-2014","notable_for":["The Tonight Show host 1992-2009, 2010-2014","born James Leno","father Angelo Leno Italian-American from Flumeri"],"honors":["22 years as The Tonight Show host","Emmy Award","Mark Twain Prize for American Humor"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jay-leno","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frank-lentricchia","full_name":"Frank Lentricchia","sort_name":"Lentricchia, Frank","display_years":"b. 1940","birth_year":1940,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Utica, NY","category":"academia-scholarship","category_label":"Academia & Scholarship","subcategory":"Literary Criticism","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Duke University literary critic","notable_for":["Duke University literary critic","After the New Criticism","Lucchesi and the Whale","Utica NY Italian-American"],"honors":["After the New Criticism influenced a generation of scholars","Time named him The Dirty Harry of Literary Criticism"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frank-lentricchia","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jerry-lewis","full_name":"Jerry Lewis","sort_name":"Lewis, Jerry","display_years":"1926–2017","birth_year":1926,"death_year":2017,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Newark, NJ","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Comedy","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Dean Martin's partner","notable_for":["Dean Martin's partner","The Nutty Professor","MDA Telethon","born Joseph Levitch"],"honors":["Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (Oscar)","raised $2.5B for MDA over 40 years"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jerry-lewis","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"liberace","full_name":"Liberace","sort_name":"Liberace","display_years":"1919–1987","birth_year":1919,"death_year":1987,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"West Allis, WI","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Classical/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Flamboyant pianist and showman; highest-paid entertainer in the world (1950s-60s); born Wladziu Valentino Liberace","notable_for":["Flamboyant pianist and showman","highest-paid entertainer in the world (1950s-60s)","born Wladziu Valentino Liberace"],"honors":["6 Emmy Awards","2 Grammy Awards","Liberace Museum attraction in Las Vegas"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/liberace","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ray-liotta","full_name":"Ray Liotta","sort_name":"Liotta, Ray","display_years":"1954–2022","birth_year":1954,"death_year":2022,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Newark, NJ","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Goodfellas","notable_for":["Goodfellas","Field of Dreams","adopted but raised in Italian-American family in New Jersey"],"honors":["SAG Award","defined the American gangster genre in Goodfellas (1990)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ray-liotta","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"lou-little","full_name":"Lou Little","sort_name":"Little, Lou","display_years":"1893–1979","birth_year":1893,"death_year":1979,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Leominster, MA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Columbia University coach","notable_for":["Columbia University coach","1934 Rose Bowl upset over Stanford","born Luigi Piccolo"],"honors":["College Football Hall of Fame","upset Stanford 7-0 in 1934 Rose Bowl"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/lou-little","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joey-logano","full_name":"Joey Logano","sort_name":"Logano, Joey","display_years":"b. 1990","birth_year":1990,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Middletown, CT","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Auto Racing/NASCAR","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NASCAR Cup Series champion 2022; youngest driver to win Daytona 500; Connecticut Italian-American","notable_for":["NASCAR Cup Series champion 2022","youngest driver to win Daytona 500","Connecticut Italian-American"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joey-logano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"robert-loggia","full_name":"Robert Loggia","sort_name":"Loggia, Robert","display_years":"1930–2015","birth_year":1930,"death_year":2015,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Staten Island, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Big","notable_for":["Big","Scarface","born Salvatore Loggia","floor piano scene in Big iconic"],"honors":["Academy Award nomination for Jagged Edge","Golden Globe nomination"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/robert-loggia","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ernie-lombardi","full_name":"Ernie Lombardi","sort_name":"Lombardi, Ernie","display_years":"1908–1977","birth_year":1908,"death_year":1977,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Oakland, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Schnozz","notable_for":["The Schnozz","catcher","most accurate throwing arm in baseball history","2x NL batting champion"],"honors":["Baseball Hall of Fame","1938 NL MVP","2x NL batting champion"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ernie-lombardi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vince-lombardi","full_name":"Vince Lombardi","sort_name":"Lombardi, Vince","display_years":"1913–1970","birth_year":1913,"death_year":1970,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"The definitive NFL coach, whose Green Bay Packers won the first two Super Bowls and whose name is synonymous with excellence in American football.","notable_for":["Green Bay Packers head coach 1959–1967","Won Super Bowls I and II","105–35–6 regular season record"],"honors":["Pro Football Hall of Fame (1971)","Super Bowl trophy named in his honor"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vince-lombardi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mario-lopez-note","full_name":"Mario Lopez","sort_name":"Lopez, Mario","display_years":"b. 1973","birth_year":1973,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"San Diego, CA","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting/Hosting","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Saved by the Bell; Extra TV host; mother has Italian heritage","notable_for":["Saved by the Bell","Extra TV host","mother has Italian heritage"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mario-lopez-note","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nick-lowe","full_name":"Nick Lowe","sort_name":"Lowe, Nick","display_years":"b. 1949","birth_year":1949,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Woodchurch, England","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding","notable_for":["(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding","Cruel to Be Kind","English pop-rock figure with Italian heritage on his mother's side"],"honors":["Produced Elvis Costello's debut","Grammy for WSFTB PLU","influential British figure with claimed Italian roots"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nick-lowe","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"bob-luongo","full_name":"Bob Luongo","sort_name":"Luongo, Bob","display_years":"b. 1979","birth_year":1979,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Montreal, Canada","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Hockey","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NHL goaltender","notable_for":["NHL goaltender","Italian-Canadian heritage","Florida Panthers and Vancouver Canucks","489 NHL wins"],"honors":["489 NHL wins","7x NHL All-Star","Hockey Hall of Fame"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/bob-luongo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ida-lupino","full_name":"Ida Lupino","sort_name":"Lupino, Ida","display_years":"1918–1995","birth_year":1918,"death_year":1995,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"London, England","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting/Directing","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Pioneer female Hollywood director; The Hitchhiker; Italian theatrical dynasty on father's side","notable_for":["Pioneer female Hollywood director","The Hitchhiker","Italian theatrical dynasty on father's side"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ida-lupino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"dolph-luque","full_name":"Dolph Luque","sort_name":"Luque, Dolph","display_years":"1890–1957","birth_year":1890,"death_year":1957,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Havana, Cuba","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"First Latin star in the NL","notable_for":["First Latin star in the NL","Cincinnati Reds pitcher","Pride of Havana","Italian and Spanish descent"],"honors":["27-win season (1923)","first major Latin baseball star","Cuban-Italian heritage"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/dolph-luque","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"salvador-luria","full_name":"Salvador Luria","sort_name":"Luria, Salvador","display_years":"1912–1991","birth_year":1912,"death_year":1991,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Turin, Italy","category":"medicine-public-health","category_label":"Medicine & Public Health","subcategory":"Biology/Genetics","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Pioneer of molecular biology","notable_for":["Pioneer of molecular biology","fled Mussolini","demonstrated random nature of bacterial mutations","MIT professor"],"honors":["Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1969)","co-founded molecular biology as a discipline"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/salvador-luria","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"loretta-lynn-note","full_name":"Loretta Lynn","sort_name":"Lynn, Loretta","display_years":"1932–2022","birth_year":1932,"death_year":2022,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Butcher Hollow, KY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Country","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Coal Miner's Daughter","notable_for":["Coal Miner's Daughter","claimed some Italian-American heritage through one paternal grandmother","country music legend"],"honors":["Country Music Hall of Fame","Presidential Medal of Freedom","Coal Miner's Daughter book and film"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/loretta-lynn-note","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"madonna","full_name":"Madonna","sort_name":"Madonna","display_years":"b. 1958","birth_year":1958,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Bay City, MI","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Queen of Pop; Material Girl; Like a Prayer; born Madonna Louise Ciccone","notable_for":["Queen of Pop","Material Girl","Like a Prayer","born Madonna Louise Ciccone"],"honors":["Best-selling female recording artist of all time","300M+ records sold","7 Grammys"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/madonna","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sal-maglie","full_name":"Sal Maglie","sort_name":"Maglie, Sal","display_years":"1917–1992","birth_year":1917,"death_year":1992,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Niagara Falls, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Barber","notable_for":["The Barber","feared Giants pitcher","intimidated batters with inside pitches","23-6 in 1951"],"honors":["23-6 season (1951)","pitched no-hitter in 1956","4-time All-Star"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sal-maglie","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"carolyn-maloney","full_name":"Carolyn Maloney","sort_name":"Maloney, Carolyn","display_years":"b. 1946","birth_year":1946,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Greensboro, NC","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Congress","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Long-serving NY Congresswoman","notable_for":["Long-serving NY Congresswoman","House Oversight Committee","married to Clifton Maloney","born Carolyn Jane Bosher"],"honors":["16-term NY Congresswoman","House Oversight Committee chair","9/11 healthcare advocate"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/carolyn-maloney","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frank-malzone","full_name":"Frank Malzone","sort_name":"Malzone, Frank","display_years":"1930–2015","birth_year":1930,"death_year":2015,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Red Sox 3B","notable_for":["Red Sox 3B","6x All-Star","3x Gold Glove","franchise icon of the 1950s-60s"],"honors":["6x All-Star","3x Gold Glove","Red Sox franchise player for a decade"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frank-malzone","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"henry-mancini","full_name":"Henry Mancini","sort_name":"Mancini, Henry","display_years":"1924–1994","birth_year":1924,"death_year":1994,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Cleveland, OH","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Film Score/Composition","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Moon River; Pink Panther theme; Days of Wine and Roses; born Enrico Nicola Mancini","notable_for":["Moon River","Pink Panther theme","Days of Wine and Roses","born Enrico Nicola Mancini"],"honors":["4 Academy Awards","20 Grammy Awards","one of history's greatest film composers"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/henry-mancini","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"michael-mandl","full_name":"Michael Mandl","sort_name":"Mandl, Michael","display_years":"b. 1956","birth_year":1956,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"science-technology","category_label":"Science & Technology","subcategory":"Healthcare Technology","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"President and CFO of Apple","notable_for":["President and CFO of Apple","COO of Freescale Semiconductor","long healthcare and tech executive career"],"honors":["CFO of Apple","COO of Freescale Semiconductor","major tech industry executive"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/michael-mandl","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jerre-mangione","full_name":"Jerre Mangione","sort_name":"Mangione, Jerre","display_years":"1909–1998","birth_year":1909,"death_year":1998,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Rochester, NY","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Literature/Memoir","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Mount Allegro (memoir of Sicilian-American life in Rochester)","notable_for":["Mount Allegro (memoir of Sicilian-American life in Rochester)","pioneered Italian-American memoir literature"],"honors":["Mount Allegro (1943) a landmark memoir of the Sicilian-American experience","lifetime of Italian-American literary scholarship"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jerre-mangione","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"barry-manilow","full_name":"Barry Manilow","sort_name":"Manilow, Barry","display_years":"b. 1943","birth_year":1943,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"I Write the Songs","notable_for":["I Write the Songs","Mandy","Could It Be Magic","Brooklyn Jewish-Italian-heritage entertainer"],"honors":["Grammy Award","Emmy Award","40M+ albums sold","2-year-long Las Vegas residency"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/barry-manilow","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sebastian-maniscalco","full_name":"Sebastian Maniscalco","sort_name":"Maniscalco, Sebastian","display_years":"b. 1973","birth_year":1973,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Arlington Heights, IL","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Comedy","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Champion of Italian-American culture","notable_for":["Champion of Italian-American culture","Stay Hungry tour","4 Netflix specials","father from Sicily"],"honors":["2023 highest-grossing stand-up comedian","appeared in The Irishman","NY Times bestseller"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sebastian-maniscalco","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"robert-mapplethorpe","full_name":"Robert Mapplethorpe","sort_name":"Mapplethorpe, Robert","display_years":"1946–1989","birth_year":1946,"death_year":1989,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Floral Park, NY","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Photography","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Groundbreaking and controversial photographer","notable_for":["Groundbreaking and controversial photographer","still lifes, portraits, and erotic imagery","died of AIDS at 42"],"honors":["Transformed photography into fine art","Mapplethorpe Foundation funded AIDS research","MOMA retrospective"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/robert-mapplethorpe","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"fredric-march","full_name":"Fredric March","sort_name":"March, Fredric","display_years":"1897–1975","birth_year":1897,"death_year":1975,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Racine, WI","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"2-time Academy Award winner","notable_for":["2-time Academy Award winner","Best Years of Our Lives","Wisconsin Italian-Norwegian heritage","born Frederick McIntyre Bickel"],"honors":["2 Academy Awards (Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde 1931, Best Years of Our Lives 1946)","3 Tony Awards"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/fredric-march","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"gino-marchetti","full_name":"Gino Marchetti","sort_name":"Marchetti, Gino","display_years":"1927–2019","birth_year":1927,"death_year":2019,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Smithers, WV","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Baltimore Colts DE","notable_for":["Baltimore Colts DE","voted best defensive end in the NFL's first 50 years","WWII combat veteran"],"honors":["Pro Football Hall of Fame","voted greatest DE in first 50 years of NFL history"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/gino-marchetti","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rocky-marciano","full_name":"Rocky Marciano","sort_name":"Marciano, Rocky","display_years":"1923–1969","birth_year":1923,"death_year":1969,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brockton, MA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Heavyweight boxing champion and the only heavyweight in history to retire undefeated, with a perfect 49–0 record.","notable_for":["Heavyweight Champion 1952–1956","49–0 undefeated professional boxing record","World heavyweight title defenses: 6"],"honors":["International Boxing Hall of Fame (1990)","Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year 1952, 1954"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rocky-marciano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ed-marinaro","full_name":"Ed Marinaro","sort_name":"Marinaro, Ed","display_years":"b. 1950","birth_year":1950,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football/Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"1971 Heisman Trophy runner-up (Cornell)","notable_for":["1971 Heisman Trophy runner-up (Cornell)","NFL running back","played Joe Coffey in Hill Street Blues"],"honors":["NCAA single-season rushing record at Cornell (1971)","Hill Street Blues (1981-87 Emmy winner)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ed-marinaro","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"dan-marino","full_name":"Dan Marino","sort_name":"Marino, Dan","display_years":"b. 1961","birth_year":1961,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Pittsburgh, PA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Miami Dolphins QB","notable_for":["Miami Dolphins QB","fastest to 400 TD passes","pure passer supreme","never won a Super Bowl"],"honors":["Pro Football Hall of Fame","9x Pro Bowl","420 career TD passes","1984 season still studied"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/dan-marino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"william-marino","full_name":"William Marino","sort_name":"Marino, William","display_years":"b. 1930","birth_year":1930,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New Jersey","category":"law-jurisprudence","category_label":"Law & Jurisprudence","subcategory":"Banking/Law","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"President and CEO of First Fidelity Bancorporation","notable_for":["President and CEO of First Fidelity Bancorporation","prominent NJ banker and community leader"],"honors":["Led First Fidelity Bancorporation","major NJ business figure"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/william-marino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"garry-marshall","full_name":"Garry Marshall","sort_name":"Marshall, Garry","display_years":"1934–2016","birth_year":1934,"death_year":2016,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Directing/Producing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Created Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley","notable_for":["Created Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley","directed Pretty Woman and Runaway Bride","born Garry Kent Marscharelli"],"honors":["Created two of the most-watched sitcoms in history","Pretty Woman grossed $463M worldwide"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/garry-marshall","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"penny-marshall","full_name":"Penny Marshall","sort_name":"Marshall, Penny","display_years":"1943–2018","birth_year":1943,"death_year":2018,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting/Directing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Laverne & Shirley","notable_for":["Laverne & Shirley","directed Big and A League of Their Own","born Carole Penny Marscharelli"],"honors":["First female director to gross $100M+ (Big, 1988)","A League of Their Own (1992) a feminist landmark"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/penny-marshall","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"billy-martin","full_name":"Billy Martin","sort_name":"Martin, Billy","display_years":"1928–1989","birth_year":1928,"death_year":1989,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Berkeley, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Yankees manager","notable_for":["Yankees manager","won pennants with 5 different teams","born Alfred Manuel Martin","legendary brawler"],"honors":["1977 World Series champion as manager","played on 5 Yankee championship teams"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/billy-martin","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"dean-martin","full_name":"Dean Martin","sort_name":"Martin, Dean","display_years":"1917–1995","birth_year":1917,"death_year":1995,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Steubenville, OH","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Singer, actor, and Rat Pack member (born Dino Paul Crocetti) whose smooth style defined mid-century American entertainment.","notable_for":["Over 100 charted singles","Rat Pack member with Sinatra and Davis","Star of The Dean Martin Show (1965–1974)"],"honors":["Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/dean-martin","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-martin","full_name":"Tony Martin","sort_name":"Martin, Tony","display_years":"1913–2012","birth_year":1913,"death_year":2012,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Oakland, CA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"There's No Tomorrow; film and radio star; born Alvin Morris; husband of Cyd Charisse","notable_for":["There's No Tomorrow","film and radio star","born Alvin Morris","husband of Cyd Charisse"],"honors":["200+ radio broadcast performances","film career spanning 30 years","lived to 98"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-martin","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tino-martinez","full_name":"Tino Martinez","sort_name":"Martinez, Tino","display_years":"b. 1967","birth_year":1967,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Tampa, FL","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Yankees 1B","notable_for":["Yankees 1B","4x World Series champion","Tampa Italian-American","crucial part of Yankees dynasty 1996-2001"],"honors":["4x World Series champion","grand slam in Game 1 of 2001 World Series off Byung-Hyun Kim was iconic"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tino-martinez","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"al-martino","full_name":"Al Martino","sort_name":"Martino, Al","display_years":"1927–2009","birth_year":1927,"death_year":2009,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Philadelphia, PA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Here in My Heart; first #1 on UK Singles Chart; played Johnny Fontane in The Godfather; born Alfred Cini","notable_for":["Here in My Heart","first #1 on UK Singles Chart","played Johnny Fontane in The Godfather","born Alfred Cini"],"honors":["UK Singles Chart #1 (1952)","30+ albums on Capitol Records"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/al-martino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mike-massimino","full_name":"Mike Massimino","sort_name":"Massimino, Mike","display_years":"b. 1962","birth_year":1962,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Oceanside, NY","category":"science-technology","category_label":"Science & Technology","subcategory":null,"immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"NASA astronaut who serviced the Hubble Space Telescope and became a prominent public science communicator.","notable_for":["Two Space Shuttle missions (STS-109, STS-125)","Performed Hubble repair spacewalks","First astronaut to tweet from space"],"honors":["NASA Distinguished Service Medal","NASA Space Flight Medal"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mike-massimino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"drea-de-matteo","full_name":"Drea de Matteo","sort_name":"Matteo, Drea de","display_years":"b. 1972","birth_year":1972,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Queens, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Adriana La Cerva in The Sopranos","notable_for":["Adriana La Cerva in The Sopranos","Joey","Sons of Anarchy"],"honors":["Emmy Award winner for The Sopranos (2004)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/drea-de-matteo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"don-mattingly","full_name":"Don Mattingly","sort_name":"Mattingly, Don","display_years":"b. 1961","birth_year":1961,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Evansville, IN","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Yankees 1B","notable_for":["Yankees 1B","Donnie Baseball","9 Gold Gloves","Indiana Italian-American"],"honors":["1985 AL MVP","9 Gold Gloves","Yankees captain","one of the most admired Yankees not in the Hall of Fame"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/don-mattingly","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tami-mauriello","full_name":"Tami Mauriello","sort_name":"Mauriello, Tami","display_years":"1923–1999","birth_year":1923,"death_year":1999,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Bronx Italian-American heavyweight contender","notable_for":["Bronx Italian-American heavyweight contender","challenged Joe Louis for the title in 1946"],"honors":["Challenged Joe Louis for heavyweight title (1946)","84-14 career record"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tami-mauriello","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joey-maxim","full_name":"Joey Maxim","sort_name":"Maxim, Joey","display_years":"1922–2001","birth_year":1922,"death_year":2001,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Cleveland, OH","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Light heavyweight champion","notable_for":["Light heavyweight champion","beat Sugar Ray Robinson (TKO) when referee collapsed from heat","born Giuseppe Berardinelli"],"honors":["International Boxing Hall of Fame","beat Ray Robinson when referee fainted from heat (1952)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joey-maxim","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"paul-mazursky","full_name":"Paul Mazursky","sort_name":"Mazursky, Paul","display_years":"1930–2014","birth_year":1930,"death_year":2014,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Directing/Writing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Directed Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice","notable_for":["Directed Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice","An Unmarried Woman","Moscow on the Hudson","Brooklyn humanist filmmaker"],"honors":["4 Academy Award nominations","An Unmarried Woman (1978) landmark feminist film"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/paul-mazursky","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"philip-mazzei","full_name":"Philip Mazzei","sort_name":"Mazzei, Philip","display_years":"1730–1816","birth_year":1730,"death_year":1816,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Poggio a Caiano, Italy","category":"historical-exploration","category_label":"historical-exploration","subcategory":"Founding Era","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Neighbor and friend of Thomas Jefferson","notable_for":["Neighbor and friend of Thomas Jefferson","his declaration that all men are equal may have influenced Declaration of Independence"],"honors":["Jefferson's Tuscan neighbor","his phrase all men are equal in nature may have influenced Declaration of Independence"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/philip-mazzei","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"lee-mazzilli","full_name":"Lee Mazzilli","sort_name":"Mazzilli, Lee","display_years":"b. 1955","birth_year":1955,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NY Mets CF/1B","notable_for":["NY Mets CF/1B","Italian-American heartthrob of the late 1970s","1986 World Series champion"],"honors":["1979 All-Star","1986 World Series champion with the Mets"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/lee-mazzilli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-mazzocchi","full_name":"Tony Mazzocchi","sort_name":"Mazzocchi, Tony","display_years":"1926–2002","birth_year":1926,"death_year":2002,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bayonne, NJ","category":"labor-activism","category_label":"Labor & Activism","subcategory":"Labor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"OCAW labor leader","notable_for":["OCAW labor leader","father of the Superfund law","attempted to create a new US Labor Party","progressive labor icon"],"honors":["Instrumental in creating OSHA and Superfund","proposed new US Labor Party","OCAW Secretary-Treasurer"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-mazzocchi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"al-di-meola","full_name":"Al Di Meola","sort_name":"Meola, Al Di","display_years":"b. 1954","birth_year":1954,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Jersey City, NJ","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Jazz/Fusion Guitar","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Return to Forever; Mediterranean Sundance; world music fusion pioneer","notable_for":["Return to Forever","Mediterranean Sundance","world music fusion pioneer"],"honors":["Grammy Award winner","Guitar Player Hall of Fame","shaped jazz fusion genre"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/al-di-meola","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-meola","full_name":"Tony Meola","sort_name":"Meola, Tony","display_years":"b. 1969","birth_year":1969,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Kearny, NJ","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Soccer","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"USMNT goalkeeper","notable_for":["USMNT goalkeeper","1994 World Cup","represented Italy in youth soccer before choosing USA"],"honors":["Led US team to 1994 World Cup quarterfinals","100 international caps for USMNT"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-meola","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"gino-merli","full_name":"Gino Merli","sort_name":"Merli, Gino","display_years":"1924–2002","birth_year":1924,"death_year":2002,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Peckville, PA","category":"military-service","category_label":"Military & Service","subcategory":"WWII/Medal of Honor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Medal of Honor at Battle of the Siegfried Line","notable_for":["Medal of Honor at Battle of the Siegfried Line","killed 52 Germans in a single night (1944)"],"honors":["Medal of Honor","single-handedly held position against wave attacks","killed 52 enemy soldiers in one night"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/gino-merli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mark-messier","full_name":"Mark Messier","sort_name":"Messier, Mark","display_years":"b. 1961","birth_year":1961,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Edmonton, Alberta","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Hockey","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"6 Stanley Cups","notable_for":["6 Stanley Cups","guaranteed victory in 1994 against NJ Devils then delivered with hat trick","Italian-Canadian hockey great"],"honors":["Hockey Hall of Fame","6 Stanley Cup championships","guaranteed win in 1994 playoffs and delivered"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mark-messier","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jim-messina","full_name":"Jim Messina","sort_name":"Messina, Jim","display_years":"b. 1947","birth_year":1947,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Madera, CA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock/Country Rock","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Loggins and Messina","notable_for":["Loggins and Messina","Your Mama Don't Dance","Watching the River Run","Buffalo Springfield member"],"honors":["Loggins and Messina produced 5 platinum albums","Buffalo Springfield co-produced debut album"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jim-messina","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vittorio-metzger","full_name":"Vittorio Metzger","sort_name":"Metzger, Vittorio","display_years":"b. 1950","birth_year":1950,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Milan, Italy","category":"science-technology","category_label":"Science & Technology","subcategory":"Oncology","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Italian-born cancer biologist","notable_for":["Italian-born cancer biologist","Princeton research on cell death mechanisms","Italian immigrant scientist"],"honors":["Major contributions to understanding apoptosis in cancer research at Princeton"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vittorio-metzger","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"antonio-meucci","full_name":"Antonio Meucci","sort_name":"Meucci, Antonio","display_years":"1808–1889","birth_year":1808,"death_year":1889,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Florence, Italy","category":"science-technology","category_label":"Science & Technology","subcategory":null,"immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Italian immigrant inventor recognized by the U.S. Congress as the true inventor of the telephone, preceding Bell's patent.","notable_for":["Developed voice communication device (teletrofono) by 1854","U.S. House Resolution 269 (2002) recognized his work on the telephone"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/antonio-meucci","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"alyssa-milano","full_name":"Alyssa Milano","sort_name":"Milano, Alyssa","display_years":"b. 1972","birth_year":1972,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Who's the Boss","notable_for":["Who's the Boss","Charmed","helped popularize #MeToo movement in 2017","UNICEF National Ambassador"],"honors":["SAG Award","credited with launching #MeToo as a social media movement (2017)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/alyssa-milano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sal-mineo","full_name":"Sal Mineo","sort_name":"Mineo, Sal","display_years":"1939–1976","birth_year":1939,"death_year":1976,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Rebel Without a Cause","notable_for":["Rebel Without a Cause","Exodus","murdered at 37","one of Hollywood's most tragic figures"],"honors":["Two Academy Award nominations","appeared opposite James Dean and Paul Newman"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sal-mineo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vincente-minnelli","full_name":"Vincent Minnelli","sort_name":"Minnelli, Vincent","display_years":"1903–1986","birth_year":1903,"death_year":1986,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Chicago, IL","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Directing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Directed Gigi and An American in Paris (both Oscar winners)","notable_for":["Directed Gigi and An American in Paris (both Oscar winners)","father of Liza Minnelli","born Lester Anthony Minnelli"],"honors":["2 Academy Awards (An American in Paris 1951, Gigi 1958)","Liza Minnelli's father","MGM musical golden age"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vincente-minnelli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"franco-modigliani","full_name":"Franco Modigliani","sort_name":"Modigliani, Franco","display_years":"1918–2003","birth_year":1918,"death_year":2003,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Rome, Italy","category":"medicine-public-health","category_label":"Medicine & Public Health","subcategory":"Economics","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Nobel Prize in Economics (1985); Modigliani-Miller theorem; life-cycle savings theory; fled fascist Italy","notable_for":["Nobel Prize in Economics (1985)","Modigliani-Miller theorem","life-cycle savings theory","fled fascist Italy"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/franco-modigliani","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"anna-moffo","full_name":"Anna Moffo","sort_name":"Moffo, Anna","display_years":"1932–2006","birth_year":1932,"death_year":2006,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Wayne, PA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Opera","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Soprano at Metropolitan Opera and La Scala; beloved TV opera star of the 1960s","notable_for":["Soprano at Metropolitan Opera and La Scala","beloved TV opera star of the 1960s"],"honors":["Sang leading soprano roles at La Scala, Vienna State Opera, and the Metropolitan Opera"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/anna-moffo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"anthony-monaco","full_name":"Anthony Monaco","sort_name":"Monaco, Anthony","display_years":"b. 1959","birth_year":1959,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"medicine-public-health","category_label":"Medicine & Public Health","subcategory":"Genetics/Neuroscience","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Identified genes for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and dyslexia","notable_for":["Identified genes for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and dyslexia","President of Tufts University"],"honors":["Identified dystrophin gene (Duchenne MD)","dyslexia gene KIAA0319","Tufts University President"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/anthony-monaco","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tom-monaghan","full_name":"Tom Monaghan","sort_name":"Monaghan, Tom","display_years":"b. 1937","birth_year":1937,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Ann Arbor, MI","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Food Industry","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Founded Domino's Pizza","notable_for":["Founded Domino's Pizza","owned Detroit Tigers","deeply Catholic philanthropist","sold Domino's for $1B"],"honors":["Built Domino's Pizza into 5,000+ location chain","owned Detroit Tigers","Ave Maria University founder"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tom-monaghan","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-montana","full_name":"Joe Montana","sort_name":"Montana, Joe","display_years":"b. 1956","birth_year":1956,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New Eagle, PA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Four-time Super Bowl champion quarterback often ranked the greatest in NFL history, known for his composure under pressure.","notable_for":["4 Super Bowl championships with San Francisco 49ers","3-time Super Bowl MVP","2-time NFL MVP"],"honors":["Pro Football Hall of Fame (2000)","Super Bowl MVP (XVI, XIX, XXIV)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-montana","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"lou-monte","full_name":"Lou Monte","sort_name":"Monte, Lou","display_years":"1917–1989","birth_year":1917,"death_year":1989,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Lyndhurst, NJ","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Pepino the Italian Mouse (#5 Billboard, 1963); Italian novelty and pop recordings","notable_for":["Pepino the Italian Mouse (#5 Billboard, 1963)","Italian novelty and pop recordings"],"honors":["Pepino the Italian Mouse sold over 1 million copies (1963)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/lou-monte","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-morello","full_name":"Joe Morello","sort_name":"Morello, Joe","display_years":"1928–2011","birth_year":1928,"death_year":2011,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Springfield, MA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Jazz","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Dave Brubeck Quartet drummer; Take Five; pioneer of odd-meter drumming","notable_for":["Dave Brubeck Quartet drummer","Take Five","pioneer of odd-meter drumming"],"honors":["Grammy Award with Brubeck Quartet","Take Five reached #25 on pop charts (1961)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-morello","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"gabriel-moretti","full_name":"Gabriel Moretti","sort_name":"Moretti, Gabriel","display_years":"b. 1978","birth_year":1978,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing Trainer","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Prominent boxing trainer in New York","notable_for":["Prominent boxing trainer in New York","Italian-American trainer continuing Brooklyn boxing tradition"],"honors":["Trained multiple professional world-ranked fighters in the New York gym circuit"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/gabriel-moretti","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vic-morrow","full_name":"Vic Morrow","sort_name":"Morrow, Vic","display_years":"1929–1982","birth_year":1929,"death_year":1982,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Combat! TV series","notable_for":["Combat! TV series","died tragically in Twilight Zone: The Movie accident","Bronx Italian-Jewish heritage"],"honors":["Combat! TV classic war series (1962-67)","his death led to major safety reforms in film production"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vic-morrow","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"catherine-scorsese","full_name":"Marty Scorsese's mother","sort_name":"mother, Marty Scorsese's","display_years":"1912–1997","birth_year":1912,"death_year":1997,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Polizzi Generosa, Sicily","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Cultural Preservation","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Catherine Scorsese née Cappa","notable_for":["Catherine Scorsese née Cappa","Sicilian immigrant and recurring actress in son Martin's films","appeared in Goodfellas"],"honors":["Appeared in Italianamerican documentary and Goodfellas","symbol of the Sicilian immigrant generation"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/catherine-scorsese","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-mottola","full_name":"Tony Mottola","sort_name":"Mottola, Tony","display_years":"1918–2004","birth_year":1918,"death_year":2004,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Kearny, NJ","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Jazz Guitar","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Most recorded studio guitarist of the 1950s-60s; Perry Como's musical director","notable_for":["Most recorded studio guitarist of the 1950s-60s","Perry Como's musical director"],"honors":["Estimated 10,000+ recording sessions","defined studio guitar playing of the postwar era"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-mottola","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"michael-mukasey","full_name":"Michael Mukasey","sort_name":"Mukasey, Michael","display_years":"b. 1941","birth_year":1941,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"law-jurisprudence","category_label":"Law & Jurisprudence","subcategory":"Judiciary/Attorney General","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"US Attorney General under George W. Bush (2007-2009)","notable_for":["US Attorney General under George W. Bush (2007-2009)","Federal judge","Bronx Italian-American"],"honors":["US Attorney General (2007-09)","Chief Judge of SDNY","sentenced to prison numerous Mafia cases"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/michael-mukasey","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mike-munchak","full_name":"Mike Munchak","sort_name":"Munchak, Mike","display_years":"b. 1960","birth_year":1960,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Scranton, PA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Houston Oilers offensive guard","notable_for":["Houston Oilers offensive guard","Scranton PA Italian-American","Pro Football Hall of Fame","NFL coach"],"honors":["Pro Football Hall of Fame","9x Pro Bowl","Tennessee Titans head coach","Scranton Italian community hero"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mike-munchak","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"phil-murphy","full_name":"Phil Murphy","sort_name":"Murphy, Phil","display_years":"b. 1957","birth_year":1957,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Needham, MA","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Governor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"New Jersey Governor 2018-2026","notable_for":["New Jersey Governor 2018-2026","Goldman Sachs executive","US Ambassador to Germany","father of Irish and Italian descent"],"honors":["2-term NJ Governor","Goldman Sachs senior director","US Ambassador to Germany under Obama"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/phil-murphy","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mike-mussina","full_name":"Mike Mussina","sort_name":"Mussina, Mike","display_years":"b. 1968","birth_year":1968,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Williamsport, PA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Orioles and Yankees pitcher","notable_for":["Orioles and Yankees pitcher","Moose","270 career wins","Baseball Hall of Fame 2019"],"honors":["Baseball Hall of Fame 2019","270 wins","7x All-Star","only pitcher to win Gold Glove at both leagues"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mike-mussina","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"andrew-napolitano","full_name":"Andrew Napolitano","sort_name":"Napolitano, Andrew","display_years":"b. 1950","birth_year":1950,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Newark, NJ","category":"law-jurisprudence","category_label":"Law & Jurisprudence","subcategory":"Judiciary/Media","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NJ Superior Court judge","notable_for":["NJ Superior Court judge","Fox News legal analyst","libertarian commentator","prolific legal author"],"honors":["12-year Superior Court judgeship","9 books on the law and the Constitution","Fox News senior judicial analyst"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/andrew-napolitano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"janet-napolitano","full_name":"Janet Napolitano","sort_name":"Napolitano, Janet","display_years":"b. 1957","birth_year":1957,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Executive Branch/Governor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Homeland Security Secretary","notable_for":["Homeland Security Secretary","Arizona Governor","UC System President","father Leonard Michael Napolitano Italian-American"],"honors":["DHS Secretary under Obama","Arizona Governor","UC system president 2013-2020"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/janet-napolitano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"martina-navratilova","full_name":"Martina Navratilova","sort_name":"Navratilova, Martina","display_years":"b. 1956","birth_year":1956,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Prague, Czechoslovakia","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Tennis","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"18 Grand Slam singles titles","notable_for":["18 Grand Slam singles titles","considered Italian-American by some references through stepfather's lineage","Czech-born naturalized American"],"honors":["18 Grand Slam singles titles","considered by some to have partial Italian heritage through family","greatest women's tennis player"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/martina-navratilova","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"amedeo-nazzari","full_name":"Amedeo Nazzari","sort_name":"Nazzari, Amedeo","display_years":"1907–1979","birth_year":1907,"death_year":1979,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Cagliari, Sardinia","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Italian Errol Flynn","notable_for":["The Italian Errol Flynn","biggest Italian film star of the 1930s-50s who worked in Hollywood","Sardinian born"],"honors":["Italy's top box office star for 20 years","worked with Roberto Rossellini"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/amedeo-nazzari","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nico","full_name":"Nico","sort_name":"Nico","display_years":"1938–1988","birth_year":1938,"death_year":1988,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Cologne, Germany","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Art Rock/Experimental","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Velvet Underground vocalist","notable_for":["Velvet Underground vocalist","Chelsea Girl","German-Italian heritage","model turned avant-garde icon"],"honors":["Velvet Underground debut album","Chelsea Girl solo album","influential in alternative and goth music"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nico","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"robert-de-niro","full_name":"Robert De Niro","sort_name":"Niro, Robert De","display_years":"b. 1943","birth_year":1943,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Manhattan, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Godfather Part II","notable_for":["The Godfather Part II","Taxi Driver","Raging Bull","co-founder of Tribeca Film Festival"],"honors":["2 Academy Awards","Presidential Medal of Freedom","Kennedy Center Honoree","AFI Lifetime Achievement"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/robert-de-niro","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"amedeo-obici","full_name":"Amedeo Obici","sort_name":"Obici, Amedeo","display_years":"1877–1947","birth_year":1877,"death_year":1947,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Oderzo, Italy","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":null,"immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Immigrant founder of Planters Nut Company whose brand helped shape packaged-snack marketing in America.","notable_for":["Founded Planters Nut and Chocolate Company (1906)","Created Mr. Peanut mascot (1916)","Built one of the largest snack food companies in the U.S."],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/amedeo-obici","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"pete-pace","full_name":"Pete Pace","sort_name":"Pace, Pete","display_years":"b. 1945","birth_year":1945,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"military-service","category_label":"Military & Service","subcategory":"Joint Chiefs","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"16th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2005-2007)","notable_for":["16th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2005-2007)","first Marine to serve as Chairman"],"honors":["First Marine to serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/pete-pace","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"peter-pace","full_name":"Peter Pace","sort_name":"Pace, Peter","display_years":"b. 1945","birth_year":1945,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"military-service","category_label":"Military & Service","subcategory":null,"immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"First Marine to serve as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.","notable_for":["Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff 2005–2007","Commandant of the Marine Corps"],"honors":["Defense Distinguished Service Medal","Navy Distinguished Service Medal"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/peter-pace","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"al-pacino","full_name":"Al Pacino","sort_name":"Pacino, Al","display_years":"b. 1940","birth_year":1940,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Manhattan, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Godfather; Scarface; Dog Day Afternoon; Serpico; Scent of a Woman","notable_for":["The Godfather","Scarface","Dog Day Afternoon","Serpico","Scent of a Woman"],"honors":["Academy Award winner","AFI Lifetime Achievement Award","one of the greatest actors in cinema"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/al-pacino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jack-palance","full_name":"Jack Palance","sort_name":"Palance, Jack","display_years":"1919–2006","birth_year":1919,"death_year":2006,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Lattimer Mines, PA","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Shane","notable_for":["Shane","City Slickers","Academy Award winner","born Walter Jack Palahniuk"],"honors":["Academy Award winner (City Slickers)","one-armed pushup at the Oscars at age 73","Shane iconic villain"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jack-palance","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-palermo","full_name":"Tony Palermo","sort_name":"Palermo, Tony","display_years":"1905–1990","birth_year":1905,"death_year":1990,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New Orleans, LA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Jazz","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"New Orleans Sicilian-American drummer","notable_for":["New Orleans Sicilian-American drummer","pioneered New Orleans jazz percussion style"],"honors":["New Orleans jazz percussion pioneer","New Orleans Rhythm Kings co-founder"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-palermo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frank-pallone","full_name":"Frank Pallone","sort_name":"Pallone, Frank","display_years":"b. 1951","birth_year":1951,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Long Branch, NJ","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Congress","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NJ Congressman since 1988","notable_for":["NJ Congressman since 1988","House Energy & Commerce Committee chair","coastal environmental advocate"],"honors":["18-term NJ Congressman","House Energy and Commerce Committee chair"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frank-pallone","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"brian-de-palma","full_name":"Brian De Palma","sort_name":"Palma, Brian De","display_years":"b. 1940","birth_year":1940,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Newark, NJ","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Directing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Scarface","notable_for":["Scarface","The Untouchables","Carrie","Carlito's Way"],"honors":["BAFTA nomination","César Award winner","shaped the American crime film canon"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/brian-de-palma","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"chazz-palminteri","full_name":"Chazz Palminteri","sort_name":"Palminteri, Chazz","display_years":"b. 1952","birth_year":1952,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"A Bronx Tale (one-man show and film)","notable_for":["A Bronx Tale (one-man show and film)","The Usual Suspects","Bullets Over Broadway","wrote A Bronx Tale"],"honors":["Academy Award nomination","wrote and starred in A Bronx Tale one-man show on Broadway"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/chazz-palminteri","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"leon-panetta","full_name":"Leon Panetta","sort_name":"Panetta, Leon","display_years":"b. 1938","birth_year":1938,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Monterey, CA","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Executive Branch","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Former CIA director, Secretary of Defense, and White House Chief of Staff — one of the broadest federal executive careers in modern Italian American history.","notable_for":["CIA Director 2009–2011","Secretary of Defense 2011–2013","White House Chief of Staff 1994–1997","U.S. Representative CA-16"],"honors":["Presidential Medal of Freedom (2022)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/leon-panetta","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-pantoliano","full_name":"Joe Pantoliano","sort_name":"Pantoliano, Joe","display_years":"b. 1951","birth_year":1951,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Hoboken, NJ","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Ralph Cifaretto in The Sopranos","notable_for":["Ralph Cifaretto in The Sopranos","The Matrix","Risky Business","The Fugitive"],"honors":["Emmy Award winner (The Sopranos)","mental health advocate"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-pantoliano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"babe-parilli","full_name":"Babe Parilli","sort_name":"Parilli, Babe","display_years":"b. 1930","birth_year":1930,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Rochester, PA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Boston Patriots AFL QB","notable_for":["Boston Patriots AFL QB","3x All-AFL","backup to Namath on Super Bowl III Jets"],"honors":["3x All-AFL selection","College Football Hall of Fame","mentored Joe Namath"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/babe-parilli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jay-parini","full_name":"Jay Parini","sort_name":"Parini, Jay","display_years":"b. 1948","birth_year":1948,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Pittston, PA","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Literature/Fiction","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Novelist, biographer, and poet","notable_for":["Novelist, biographer, and poet","biographies of Faulkner, Frost, Steinbeck, and Jesus","Middlebury professor"],"honors":["Biographies of Steinbeck, Faulkner, Frost, and Jesus","10+ novels","Middlebury College English professor"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jay-parini","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"robert-parrish","full_name":"Robert Parrish","sort_name":"Parrish, Robert","display_years":"1916–1995","birth_year":1916,"death_year":1995,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Columbus, GA","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Directing/Editing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Film editor who won Academy Award","notable_for":["Film editor who won Academy Award","director of films including The Wonderful Country","Academy Award-winning editor"],"honors":["Academy Award for Film Editing (Body and Soul, 1947)","directed 20+ films"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/robert-parrish","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"bill-pascrell","full_name":"Bill Pascrell","sort_name":"Pascrell, Bill","display_years":"1937–2024","birth_year":1937,"death_year":2024,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Paterson, NJ","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Congress","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NJ Congressman 1997-2024","notable_for":["NJ Congressman 1997-2024","Mayor of Paterson","son of Italian immigrants from Calabria","boxing enthusiast"],"honors":["14-term Congressman","longtime Ways and Means Committee member","champion of boxing legislation"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/bill-pascrell","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-pass","full_name":"Joe Pass","sort_name":"Pass, Joe","display_years":"1929–1994","birth_year":1929,"death_year":1994,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New Brunswick, NJ","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Jazz Guitar","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Virtuoso jazz guitarist; solo guitar innovations; born Joseph Anthony Jacobi Passalaqua","notable_for":["Virtuoso jazz guitarist","solo guitar innovations","born Joseph Anthony Jacobi Passalaqua"],"honors":["Grammy Award winner","Guitar Player Hall of Fame","Virtuoso series defined solo jazz guitar"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-pass","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-pastore","full_name":"John O. Pastore","sort_name":"Pastore, John","display_years":"1907–2000","birth_year":1907,"death_year":2000,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Providence, RI","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Senate","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"U.S. senator and first Italian American to serve as a state governor, remembered for pioneering public broadcasting legislation.","notable_for":["U.S. Senator RI 1950–1976","Governor of Rhode Island 1945–1950","Public Broadcasting Act champion"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-pastore","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vincent-pastore","full_name":"Vincent Pastore","sort_name":"Pastore, Vincent","display_years":"b. 1946","birth_year":1946,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Mount Vernon, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Big Pussy in The Sopranos","notable_for":["Big Pussy in The Sopranos","The Godfather III","longtime character actor"],"honors":["SAG Award (Sopranos ensemble)","one of the most recognized faces of the series"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vincent-pastore","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"george-pataki","full_name":"George Pataki","sort_name":"Pataki, George","display_years":"b. 1945","birth_year":1945,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Peekskill, NY","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Governor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NY Governor 1995-2006","notable_for":["NY Governor 1995-2006","3-term governor","led NY through aftermath of 9/11","ran as moderate Republican"],"honors":["3-term NY Governor","led NY state through 9/11 recovery","2016 presidential candidate"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/george-pataki","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-paterno","full_name":"Joe Paterno","sort_name":"Paterno, Joe","display_years":"1926–2012","birth_year":1926,"death_year":2012,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Penn State coach for 46 years","notable_for":["Penn State coach for 46 years","JoePa","most wins in college football history","Brooklyn Italian-American"],"honors":["409 wins (most in major college football history)","2 national championships","Penn State landmark (now deeply complicated)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-paterno","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jeno-paulucci","full_name":"Jeno Paulucci","sort_name":"Paulucci, Jeno","display_years":"1918–2011","birth_year":1918,"death_year":2011,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Aurora, MN","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Food Industry","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Founded Chun King (largest US Chinese food company)","notable_for":["Founded Chun King (largest US Chinese food company)","Jeno's Pizza Rolls","rags-to-riches immigrant son story"],"honors":["Built Chun King","sold to R.J. Reynolds for $63M (1966)","Pizza Rolls still sell 600M annually"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jeno-paulucci","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vinnie-pazienza","full_name":"Vinnie Pazienza","sort_name":"Pazienza, Vinnie","display_years":"b. 1962","birth_year":1962,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Cranston, RI","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Pazmanian Devil","notable_for":["The Pazmanian Devil","Rhode Island Italian-American","won titles in 3 weight classes","came back from broken neck in 1991"],"honors":["World champion in 3 weight classes","returned to win title after broken neck — subject of Bleed for This film"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vinnie-pazienza","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nancy-pelosi","full_name":"Nancy Pelosi","sort_name":"Pelosi, Nancy","display_years":"b. 1940","birth_year":1940,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Baltimore, MD","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Congress/Speaker","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"woman","short_why_included":"Congressional leader and former Speaker of the House — the first woman to hold the office — and daughter of Italian American mayor Thomas D'Alesandro Jr.","notable_for":["Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives 2007–2011, 2019–2023","House Minority Leader"],"honors":["Presidential Medal of Freedom (2022)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nancy-pelosi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"willie-pep","full_name":"Willie Pep","sort_name":"Pep, Willie","display_years":"1922–2006","birth_year":1922,"death_year":2006,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Middletown, CT","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Will o' the Wisp","notable_for":["Will o' the Wisp","pound-for-pound greatest featherweight","230-11-1 record","born Guglielmo Papaleo"],"honors":["International Boxing Hall of Fame","named greatest featherweight of all time","2x world champion"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/willie-pep","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-pepitone","full_name":"Joe Pepitone","sort_name":"Pepitone, Joe","display_years":"b. 1940","birth_year":1940,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Yankees 1B/OF","notable_for":["Yankees 1B/OF","3x Gold Glove","first player to bring a hair dryer to the clubhouse"],"honors":["3x Gold Glove","3x All-Star","pioneered the use of batting gloves"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-pepitone","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-perez","full_name":"Tony Perez","sort_name":"Perez, Tony","display_years":"b. 1942","birth_year":1942,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Camaguey, Cuba","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Cincinnati Reds 1B","notable_for":["Cincinnati Reds 1B","Big Red Machine","Baseball Hall of Fame 2000","Cuban-Italian heritage"],"honors":["Baseball Hall of Fame 2000","2x World Series champion","1,652 career RBI","2x All-Star"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-perez","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nicholas-perillo","full_name":"Nicholas Perillo","sort_name":"Perillo, Nicholas","display_years":"1911–1995","birth_year":1911,"death_year":1995,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"labor-activism","category_label":"Labor & Activism","subcategory":"Labor","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"ILGWU labor organizer; Brooklyn Sicilian immigrant family; organized women's garment workers in New York","notable_for":["ILGWU labor organizer","Brooklyn Sicilian immigrant family","organized women's garment workers in New York"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nicholas-perillo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"carl-perkins","full_name":"Carl Perkins","sort_name":"Perkins, Carl","display_years":"1932–1998","birth_year":1932,"death_year":1998,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Tiptonville, TN","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rockabilly","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Blue Suede Shoes","notable_for":["Blue Suede Shoes","Rockabilly pioneer","Sun Records legend","Tennessee background includes Italian heritage through grandmother"],"honors":["Rock and Roll Hall of Fame","Blue Suede Shoes predated Elvis's version","Grammy Lifetime Achievement"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/carl-perkins","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-pesci","full_name":"Joe Pesci","sort_name":"Pesci, Joe","display_years":"b. 1943","birth_year":1943,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Newark, NJ","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Goodfellas","notable_for":["Goodfellas","Casino","Home Alone","the definitive screen portrayal of volatile Italian-American energy"],"honors":["Academy Award winner (Goodfellas)","SAG Award winner"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-pesci","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"roberta-peters","full_name":"Roberta Peters","sort_name":"Peters, Roberta","display_years":"1930–2017","birth_year":1930,"death_year":2017,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Opera","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Metropolitan Opera soprano for 35 years","notable_for":["Metropolitan Opera soprano for 35 years","Presidential Medal of Freedom","Bronx Italian-American opera legend"],"honors":["Presidential Medal of Freedom","35 years at the Metropolitan Opera","65 roles"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/roberta-peters","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rick-petrocelli","full_name":"Rick Petrocelli","sort_name":"Petrocelli, Rick","display_years":"b. 1943","birth_year":1943,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"See Rico Petrocelli (id 150) — same person","notable_for":["See Rico Petrocelli (id 150) — same person","Brooklyn-born Red Sox shortstop and third baseman"],"honors":["Set AL record for HR by a shortstop (40, 1969)","1967 Impossible Dream Red Sox"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rick-petrocelli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rico-petrocelli","full_name":"Rico Petrocelli","sort_name":"Petrocelli, Rico","display_years":"b. 1943","birth_year":1943,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Red Sox SS/3B","notable_for":["Red Sox SS/3B","1967 Impossible Dream team","set AL home run record for shortstops (40 in 1969)"],"honors":["Set AL record for home runs by a shortstop (40 in 1969)","1967 American League pennant"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rico-petrocelli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"billy-petrolle","full_name":"Billy Petrolle","sort_name":"Petrolle, Billy","display_years":"1905–1983","birth_year":1905,"death_year":1983,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Berwick, PA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Fargo Express","notable_for":["The Fargo Express","lightweight and junior lightweight star","Pennsylvania Italian-American","never won a title despite elite record"],"honors":["International Boxing Hall of Fame","went 73-13-9","never received a title shot his talent deserved"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/billy-petrolle","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mike-piazza","full_name":"Mike Piazza","sort_name":"Piazza, Mike","display_years":"b. 1968","birth_year":1968,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Norristown, PA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Greatest hitting catcher in baseball history","notable_for":["Greatest hitting catcher in baseball history","396 HR as catcher","Dodgers and Mets star"],"honors":["Baseball Hall of Fame","12x All-Star","396 career home runs as catcher (all-time record)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mike-piazza","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jim-piersall","full_name":"Jim Piersall","sort_name":"Piersall, Jim","display_years":"1929–2017","birth_year":1929,"death_year":2017,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Waterbury, CT","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Red Sox CF","notable_for":["Red Sox CF","2x Gold Glove","memoir Fear Strikes Out about mental illness became a film"],"honors":["2x Gold Glove","helped destigmatize mental health discussions for professional athletes"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jim-piersall","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nick-pietrosante","full_name":"Nick Pietrosante","sort_name":"Pietrosante, Nick","display_years":"1937–2011","birth_year":1937,"death_year":2011,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Ansonia, CT","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Detroit Lions fullback","notable_for":["Detroit Lions fullback","All-NFL 1961","Notre Dame All-American"],"honors":["All-NFL 1961","two All-American seasons at Notre Dame (1956-57)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nick-pietrosante","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"lou-piniella","full_name":"Lou Piniella","sort_name":"Piniella, Lou","display_years":"b. 1943","birth_year":1943,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Tampa, FL","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Sweet Lou","notable_for":["Sweet Lou","Tampa-born Italian-American","Yankees and Reds outfielder","Yankees, Reds, Mariners manager"],"honors":["World Series champion player and manager","AL Manager of the Year","1835 managerial wins"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/lou-piniella","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ezio-pinza","full_name":"Ezio Pinza","sort_name":"Pinza, Ezio","display_years":"1892–1957","birth_year":1892,"death_year":1957,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Rome, Italy","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Opera","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Metropolitan Opera bass for 22 years","notable_for":["Metropolitan Opera bass for 22 years","South Pacific (Some Enchanted Evening)","first opera star to conquer Broadway"],"honors":["22 years at Metropolitan Opera","Some Enchanted Evening in South Pacific became cultural touchstone"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ezio-pinza","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"bucky-pizzarelli","full_name":"Bucky Pizzarelli","sort_name":"Pizzarelli, Bucky","display_years":"1926–2020","birth_year":1926,"death_year":2020,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Paterson, NJ","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Jazz Guitar","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"7-string jazz guitar pioneer; recorded with Sinatra, Benny Goodman, and Stephane Grappelli","notable_for":["7-string jazz guitar pioneer","recorded with Sinatra, Benny Goodman, and Stephane Grappelli"],"honors":["NEA Jazz Master","7-string guitar innovator","recorded with virtually every jazz giant"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/bucky-pizzarelli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-pizzarelli","full_name":"John Pizzarelli","sort_name":"Pizzarelli, John","display_years":"b. 1960","birth_year":1960,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Paterson, NJ","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Jazz Guitar/Vocals","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Jazz guitarist-vocalist; son of Bucky Pizzarelli; jazz ambassador and radio host","notable_for":["Jazz guitarist-vocalist","son of Bucky Pizzarelli","jazz ambassador and radio host"],"honors":["Multiple Grammy nominations","hosted SiriusXM jazz programs","championed the Great American Songbook"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-pizzarelli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jim-plunkett","full_name":"Jim Plunkett","sort_name":"Plunkett, Jim","display_years":"b. 1947","birth_year":1947,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"San Jose, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Oakland Raiders QB","notable_for":["Oakland Raiders QB","two Super Bowl wins","1970 Heisman Trophy","Hispanic and Italian heritage"],"honors":["2x Super Bowl champion","1970 Heisman Trophy","Super Bowl XV MVP","remarkable career comeback"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jim-plunkett","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"anthony-pompliano","full_name":"Anthony Pompliano","sort_name":"Pompliano, Anthony","display_years":"b. 1987","birth_year":1987,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Pittsburgh, PA","category":"science-technology","category_label":"Science & Technology","subcategory":"Finance/Crypto","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Bitcoin/crypto investor and influencer","notable_for":["Bitcoin/crypto investor and influencer","Morgan Creek Digital co-founder","prolific media presence","Italian-American Pittsburgh roots"],"honors":["Morgan Creek Digital co-founder","Pomp Podcast with millions of listeners","prominent crypto advocate"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/anthony-pompliano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frankie-potenza","full_name":"Frankie Potenza","sort_name":"Potenza, Frankie","display_years":"b. 1950","birth_year":1950,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Character actor in NYC Italian-American tradition","notable_for":["Character actor in NYC Italian-American tradition","prolific stage and screen career"],"honors":["Long career in regional theater and episodic television"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frankie-potenza","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"diane-di-prima","full_name":"Diane di Prima","sort_name":"Prima, Diane di","display_years":"1934–2020","birth_year":1934,"death_year":2020,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Literature/Poetry","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Major Beat poet","notable_for":["Major Beat poet","Pieces of a Song","Loba epic poem","Brooklyn-born Italian-American feminist and bohemian"],"honors":["California Poet Laureate (2009)","Loba considered among the most important epic poems of the 20th century"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/diane-di-prima","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"louis-prima","full_name":"Louis Prima","sort_name":"Prima, Louis","display_years":"1910–1978","birth_year":1910,"death_year":1978,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"New Orleans, LA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Jazz/Swing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Just a Gigolo; voiced King Louie in The Jungle Book; New Orleans swing king","notable_for":["Just a Gigolo","voiced King Louie in The Jungle Book","New Orleans swing king"],"honors":["Grammy Award","inducted Louisiana Music Hall of Fame","Las Vegas showroom legend"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/louis-prima","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mario-puzo","full_name":"Mario Puzo","sort_name":"Puzo, Mario","display_years":"1920–1999","birth_year":1920,"death_year":1999,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Manhattan, NY","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Literature/Fiction","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Godfather","notable_for":["The Godfather","wrote the novel and screenplay","born to Neapolitan immigrants on Manhattan's West Side"],"honors":["The Godfather sold 21M copies","2 Academy Awards for Godfather screenplays","defined organized crime literature"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mario-puzo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-quesada","full_name":"Joe Quesada","sort_name":"Quesada, Joe","display_years":"b. 1962","birth_year":1962,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Queens, NY","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Visual Arts/Comics","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief","notable_for":["Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief","CCO of Marvel","Cuban-Italian Queens heritage","helped revitalize Marvel after near-bankruptcy"],"honors":["Marvel Editor-in-Chief helped guide the MCU's early creative direction","revitalized Marvel comics"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-quesada","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"gene-quintano","full_name":"Gene Quintano","sort_name":"Quintano, Gene","display_years":"b. 1940","birth_year":1940,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Writing/Directing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Wrote Police Academy 3, 4, 5","notable_for":["Wrote Police Academy 3, 4, 5","comedy screenwriter","New York Italian-American Hollywood writer-director"],"honors":["Police Academy franchise screenwriter","prolific Hollywood comedy writer"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/gene-quintano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sam-raimi","full_name":"Sam Raimi","sort_name":"Raimi, Sam","display_years":"b. 1959","birth_year":1959,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Royal Oak, MI","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Directing","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Evil Dead; Spider-Man trilogy; Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness; Michigan Jewish-Italian heritage","notable_for":["Evil Dead","Spider-Man trilogy","Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness","Michigan Jewish-Italian heritage"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sam-raimi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"gina-raimondo","full_name":"Gina Raimondo","sort_name":"Raimondo, Gina","display_years":"b. 1971","birth_year":1971,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Smithfield, RI","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":null,"immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"woman","short_why_included":"Governor of Rhode Island and U.S. Secretary of Commerce, central to recent U.S. semiconductor and industrial policy.","notable_for":["U.S. Secretary of Commerce 2021–2024","Governor of Rhode Island 2015–2021"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/gina-raimondo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"gordon-ramsay","full_name":"Gordon Ramsay","sort_name":"Ramsay, Gordon","display_years":"b. 1966","birth_year":1966,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Johnstone, Scotland","category":"culinary-arts","category_label":"culinary-arts","subcategory":"Chef/Media","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Hell's Kitchen; Kitchen Nightmares; MasterChef; trained in Italy; mother of Italian descent via family research; global culinary media empire","notable_for":["Hell's Kitchen","Kitchen Nightmares","MasterChef","trained in Italy","mother of Italian descent via family research"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/gordon-ramsay","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-randall","full_name":"Tony Randall","sort_name":"Randall, Tony","display_years":"1920–2004","birth_year":1920,"death_year":2004,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Tulsa, OK","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting/Comedy","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Felix Unger in The Odd Couple","notable_for":["Felix Unger in The Odd Couple","National Actors Theater founder","born Leonard Rosenberg","mother of Italian-Jewish heritage"],"honors":["Emmy Award (Felix Unger)","founded National Actors Theater","Tony Award nomination"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-randall","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"anthony-rapp","full_name":"Anthony Rapp","sort_name":"Rapp, Anthony","display_years":"b. 1971","birth_year":1971,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Joliet, IL","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Original Mark Cohen in Rent on Broadway (1996)","notable_for":["Original Mark Cohen in Rent on Broadway (1996)","Star Trek: Discovery","Illinois Italian-American theatre and TV actor"],"honors":["Original cast of Rent (Broadway and film)","Star Trek: Discovery (Lt. Cmdr. Stamets)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/anthony-rapp","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vic-raschi","full_name":"Vic Raschi","sort_name":"Raschi, Vic","display_years":"1919–1988","birth_year":1919,"death_year":1988,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Springfield, MA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Springfield Rifle","notable_for":["The Springfield Rifle","Yankees pitcher","3 consecutive 20-win seasons","6 World Series rings"],"honors":["6 World Series rings","21-8, 21-10, 23-10 in consecutive seasons (1949-51)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vic-raschi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rachael-ray","full_name":"Rachael Ray","sort_name":"Ray, Rachael","display_years":"b. 1968","birth_year":1968,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Glens Falls, NY","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Chef/Media","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"30 Minute Meals","notable_for":["30 Minute Meals","$40 a Day","The Rachael Ray Show","Italian-American heritage from both sides of family"],"honors":["3 Daytime Emmy Awards","30-minute meal concept transformed home cooking in America","$100M+ empire"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rachael-ray","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"lou-reed","full_name":"Lou Reed","sort_name":"Reed, Lou","display_years":"1942–2013","birth_year":1942,"death_year":2013,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Walk on the Wild Side","notable_for":["Walk on the Wild Side","Perfect Day","Velvet Underground","Transformer"],"honors":["Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Velvet Underground)","one of rock's most influential figures"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/lou-reed","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ed-rendell","full_name":"Ed Rendell","sort_name":"Rendell, Ed","display_years":"b. 1944","birth_year":1944,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Manhattan, NY","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Governor/Mayor","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Philadelphia Mayor","notable_for":["Philadelphia Mayor","Pennsylvania Governor","DNC Chairman","born to Jewish family with Italian cultural ties through his wife"],"honors":["Philadelphia Mayor 1992-2000","PA Governor 2003-11","DNC Chairman"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ed-rendell","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"don-rickles","full_name":"Don Rickles","sort_name":"Rickles, Don","display_years":"1926–2017","birth_year":1926,"death_year":2017,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Queens, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Comedy","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Mr. Warmth","notable_for":["Mr. Warmth","pioneer of insult comedy","beloved by Sinatra","Toy Story (Mr. Potato Head)"],"honors":["Nominated 9 times for Emmy","Kennedy Center Honoree","Mr. Potato Head in Toy Story franchise"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/don-rickles","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"dave-righetti","full_name":"Dave Righetti","sort_name":"Righetti, Dave","display_years":"b. 1958","birth_year":1958,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"San Jose, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Yankees pitcher","notable_for":["Yankees pitcher","July 4, 1983 no-hitter","converted from ace starter to elite closer","Rags"],"honors":["1981 AL Rookie of the Year","46 saves in 1986 (then AL record)","no-hitter on Independence Day 1983"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/dave-righetti","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"pat-riley","full_name":"Pat Riley","sort_name":"Riley, Pat","display_years":"b. 1945","birth_year":1945,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Rome, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Basketball Coaching","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Showtime Lakers coach","notable_for":["Showtime Lakers coach","Miami Heat president","5 NBA championships as coach","born in Rome NY"],"honors":["Basketball Hall of Fame (coach and executive)","5 NBA championships","Showtime Lakers","3 rings with Miami Heat"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/pat-riley","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"michael-rispoli","full_name":"Michael Rispoli","sort_name":"Rispoli, Michael","display_years":"b. 1960","birth_year":1960,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Staten Island, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Sopranos (Jackie Aprile)","notable_for":["The Sopranos (Jackie Aprile)","Rounders","Cast Away","Staten Island Italian-American character actor"],"honors":["The Sopranos (Jackie Aprile Sr.)","30+ film and TV appearances"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/michael-rispoli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"phil-rizzuto","full_name":"Phil Rizzuto","sort_name":"Rizzuto, Phil","display_years":"1917–2007","birth_year":1917,"death_year":2007,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Yankees shortstop","notable_for":["Yankees broadcaster for 40 years","Holy Cow!","his broadcasting stream-of-consciousness became iconic"],"honors":["Ford Frick Award (Baseball Hall of Fame for broadcasting)","40 years as Yankees voice"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/phil-rizzuto","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"andy-robustelli","full_name":"Andy Robustelli","sort_name":"Robustelli, Andy","display_years":"1925–2011","birth_year":1925,"death_year":2011,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Stamford, CT","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"New York Giants DE","notable_for":["New York Giants DE","8 Pro Bowls","franchise cornerstone of the Giants dynasty of the 1950s-60s"],"honors":["Pro Football Hall of Fame","8x Pro Bowl","Bert Bell Award (NFL MVP, 1962)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/andy-robustelli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"peter-rodino","full_name":"Peter W. Rodino Jr.","sort_name":"Rodino, Peter","display_years":"1909–2005","birth_year":1909,"death_year":2005,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Newark, NJ","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Congress","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Chair of the House Judiciary Committee during the Nixon impeachment inquiry — one of the most consequential moments in U.S. constitutional history.","notable_for":["U.S. Representative NJ-10 1949–1989","Chair of House Judiciary Committee during Watergate"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/peter-rodino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ray-romano","full_name":"Ray Romano","sort_name":"Romano, Ray","display_years":"b. 1957","birth_year":1957,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Forest Hills, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Comedy","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Everybody Loves Raymond","notable_for":["Everybody Loves Raymond","stand-up comedian","Ice Age (Manny)","highest-paid TV actor in 2003 ($800K/episode)"],"honors":["Emmy Award winner","highest paid TV actor in 2003 at $800,000 per episode"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ray-romano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"caesar-romero","full_name":"Caesar Romero","sort_name":"Romero, Caesar","display_years":"1907–1994","birth_year":1907,"death_year":1994,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Manhattan, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Joker (Batman TV series 1966)","notable_for":["The Joker (Batman TV series 1966)","Latin Lover of Hollywood","Cuban-Italian heritage","born Cesar Julio Romero"],"honors":["The Joker in Batman TV series iconic","Latin Lover film star of the 1930s-40s","60-year career"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/caesar-romero","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"julius-la-rosa","full_name":"Julius La Rosa","sort_name":"Rosa, Julius La","display_years":"1930–2016","birth_year":1930,"death_year":2016,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Eh Cumpari; discovered by Arthur Godfrey; beloved 1950s Italian-American crooner","notable_for":["Eh Cumpari","discovered by Arthur Godfrey","beloved 1950s Italian-American crooner"],"honors":["Multiple charting hits on Cadence Records","broadcast career continued into his 80s"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/julius-la-rosa","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-rosato","full_name":"Tony Rosato","sort_name":"Rosato, Tony","display_years":"1954–2017","birth_year":1954,"death_year":2017,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Naples, Italy","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Comedy/Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"SCTV cast member","notable_for":["SCTV cast member","Saturday Night Live (1981-82)","Italian-Canadian comedian who emigrated","tragic final years battling mental illness"],"honors":["SCTV regular","SNL cast member","Italian immigrant comedian who became a Canadian-American star"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-rosato","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jimmy-roselli","full_name":"Jimmy Roselli","sort_name":"Roselli, Jimmy","display_years":"1925–2011","birth_year":1925,"death_year":2011,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Hoboken, NJ","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Beloved Neapolitan song interpreter; cult following in Italian-American communities; born Gennaro Roselli","notable_for":["Beloved Neapolitan song interpreter","cult following in Italian-American communities","born Gennaro Roselli"],"honors":["Mala Femmena album","regarded in the community above even Sinatra for Italian repertoire"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jimmy-roselli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-la-russa","full_name":"Tony La Russa","sort_name":"Russa, Tony La","display_years":"b. 1944","birth_year":1944,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Tampa, FL","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Manager of the A's, Cardinals, and White Sox","notable_for":["Manager of the A's, Cardinals, and White Sox","3 World Series championships","law degree while managing","Tampa Italian-American"],"honors":["Baseball Hall of Fame","3 World Series championships","2728 managerial wins","JD from Florida State while managing"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-la-russa","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"patricia-russo","full_name":"Patricia Russo","sort_name":"Russo, Patricia","display_years":"b. 1952","birth_year":1952,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Utica, NY","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Technology/Telecom","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"CEO of Alcatel-Lucent","notable_for":["CEO of Alcatel-Lucent","one of the most powerful female CEOs in tech history","HP and Merck boards"],"honors":["CEO Alcatel-Lucent","Fortune Most Powerful Women in Business","Hewlett Packard board member"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/patricia-russo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sam-rutigliano","full_name":"Sam Rutigliano","sort_name":"Rutigliano, Sam","display_years":"1932–2021","birth_year":1932,"death_year":2021,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Cleveland Browns head coach 1978-84","notable_for":["Cleveland Browns head coach 1978-84","NFL Coach of the Year 1979","founded Inner Circle drug rehab program"],"honors":["1979 NFL Coach of the Year","Inner Circle program model for NFL substance abuse programs"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sam-rutigliano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"bobby-rydell","full_name":"Bobby Rydell","sort_name":"Rydell, Bobby","display_years":"1942–2022","birth_year":1942,"death_year":2022,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Philadelphia, PA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Wild One; Volare; South Philly teen idol; born Robert Louis Ridarelli; Rydell High named for him","notable_for":["Wild One","Volare","South Philly teen idol","born Robert Louis Ridarelli","Rydell High named for him"],"honors":["Featured on American Bandstand","Rydell High in Grease named in his honor"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/bobby-rydell","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nick-saban","full_name":"Nick Saban","sort_name":"Saban, Nick","display_years":"b. 1951","birth_year":1951,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Fairmont, WV","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football Coaching","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Greatest college football coach in history","notable_for":["Greatest college football coach in history","7 national championships","Alabama and LSU","West Virginia Italian-American roots"],"honors":["7 national championships (most ever)","292 wins","College Football Hall of Fame","retired January 2024"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nick-saban","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"antonio-salieri","full_name":"Antonio Salieri","sort_name":"Salieri, Antonio","display_years":"1750–1825","birth_year":1750,"death_year":1825,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Legnago, Italy","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Classical Composition","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Viennese court composer","notable_for":["Viennese court composer","Beethoven's teacher","Schubert's teacher","vilified in Amadeus film"],"honors":["Court composer to Habsburg Emperor","taught Beethoven and Schubert","40+ operas","unjustly maligned"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/antonio-salieri","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"carmen-salvino","full_name":"Carmen Salvino","sort_name":"Salvino, Carmen","display_years":"1933–2020","birth_year":1933,"death_year":2020,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Chicago, IL","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Bowling","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"9 PBA titles over 5 decades","notable_for":["9 PBA titles over 5 decades","one of bowling's all-time greats","Chicago Italian-American"],"honors":["PBA Hall of Fame","9 PBA titles spanning 5 decades"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/carmen-salvino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"bruno-sammartino","full_name":"Bruno Sammartino","sort_name":"Sammartino, Bruno","display_years":"1935–2018","birth_year":1935,"death_year":2018,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Pizzoferrato, Italy","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Wrestling","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Living Legend","notable_for":["The Living Legend","WWE Champion for 11 combined years","fled Nazi occupation as a boy","Italian-American wrestling hero"],"honors":["WWE Hall of Fame","longest-reigning WWE Champion in history (11 combined years)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/bruno-sammartino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ron-santo","full_name":"Ron Santo","sort_name":"Santo, Ron","display_years":"1940–2010","birth_year":1940,"death_year":2010,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Seattle, WA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Cubs 3B","notable_for":["Cubs 3B","9x All-Star","passionate WGN broadcaster","raised $70M+ for juvenile diabetes research"],"honors":["Baseball Hall of Fame","9x All-Star","raised $70M+ for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ron-santo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rick-santorum","full_name":"Rick Santorum","sort_name":"Santorum, Rick","display_years":"b. 1958","birth_year":1958,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Winchester, VA","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Senate","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Pennsylvania Senator","notable_for":["Pennsylvania Senator","2012 presidential primary runner-up","outspoken Catholic social conservative"],"honors":["2-term PA Senator","2012 Republican presidential primary runner-up","Santorum Amendment"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rick-santorum","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"michael-sarrazin","full_name":"Michael Sarrazin","sort_name":"Sarrazin, Michael","display_years":"1940–2011","birth_year":1940,"death_year":2011,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Quebec City, Canada","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"They Shoot Horses Don't They?","notable_for":["They Shoot Horses Don't They?","1970s film star","French-Canadian Italian heritage"],"honors":["Golden Globe nomination for They Shoot Horses Don't They? (1970)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/michael-sarrazin","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nancy-savoca","full_name":"Nancy Savoca","sort_name":"Savoca, Nancy","display_years":"b. 1959","birth_year":1959,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Directing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"True Love","notable_for":["True Love","Dogfight","If These Walls Could Talk","pioneering Italian-American female filmmaker"],"honors":["Grand Jury Prize winner Sundance (True Love, 1989)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nancy-savoca","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"antonin-scalia","full_name":"Antonin Scalia","sort_name":"Scalia, Antonin","display_years":"1936–2016","birth_year":1936,"death_year":2016,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Trenton, NJ","category":"law-jurisprudence","category_label":"Law & Jurisprudence","subcategory":"Judiciary/SCOTUS","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Associate Justice whose originalist and textualist jurisprudence reshaped modern U.S. constitutional interpretation.","notable_for":["U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice 1986–2016","Pioneered modern originalist legal theory"],"honors":["Presidential Medal of Freedom (posthumous)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/antonin-scalia","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"steve-scalise","full_name":"Steve Scalise","sort_name":"Scalise, Steve","display_years":"b. 1965","birth_year":1965,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New Orleans, LA","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Congress/House Leadership","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"House Majority Leader","notable_for":["House Majority Leader","survived 2017 congressional baseball shooting","Speaker nominee 2023","Louisiana Congressman"],"honors":["House Majority Leader (2023-24)","survived assassination attempt at congressional baseball practice (2017)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/steve-scalise","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"petey-scalzo","full_name":"Petey Scalzo","sort_name":"Scalzo, Petey","display_years":"1917–1976","birth_year":1917,"death_year":1976,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Manhattan, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Boxing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NBA featherweight champion","notable_for":["NBA featherweight champion","ranked top 10 pound-for-pound during prime (1939-1941)"],"honors":["World featherweight champion","New York Italian-American boxing tradition"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/petey-scalzo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"anthony-scaramucci","full_name":"Anthony Scaramucci","sort_name":"Scaramucci, Anthony","display_years":"b. 1964","birth_year":1964,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Port Washington, NY","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Finance","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"SkyBridge Capital founder","notable_for":["SkyBridge Capital founder","11-day White House Communications Director (2017)","SALT Conference founder"],"honors":["Founded SkyBridge Capital","The Mooch — record 11-day White House tenure","annual SALT Conference"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/anthony-scaramucci","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"chuck-scarborough","full_name":"Chuck Scarborough","sort_name":"Scarborough, Chuck","display_years":"b. 1943","birth_year":1943,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Charlottesville, VA","category":"journalism-media","category_label":"Journalism & Media","subcategory":"Television News","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"WNBC anchor for 50 years","notable_for":["WNBC anchor for 50 years","longest-serving anchor in NY history","Italian-American broadcast journalism icon"],"honors":["50+ years as WNBC anchor","New York Television Hall of Fame","most trusted NYC news voice"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/chuck-scarborough","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"victor-schertzinger","full_name":"Victor Schertzinger","sort_name":"Schertzinger, Victor","display_years":"1888–1941","birth_year":1888,"death_year":1941,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Mahanoy City, PA","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Directing/Music","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Directed Road to Singapore and Road to Zanzibar","notable_for":["Directed Road to Singapore and Road to Zanzibar","also composed the music for silent films","Pennsylvania Italian-American director"],"honors":["Directed 70+ films","composed pioneering scores for silent films","created Road to series with Hope and Crosby"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/victor-schertzinger","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"wally-schirra","full_name":"Walter M. Schirra Jr.","sort_name":"Schirra, Walter","display_years":"1923–2007","birth_year":1923,"death_year":2007,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Hackensack, NJ","category":"science-technology","category_label":"Science & Technology","subcategory":null,"immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Mercury Seven astronaut and the only person to fly in Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs.","notable_for":["Mercury Seven astronaut","Flew Mercury Atlas 8 (1962), Gemini 6 (1965), Apollo 7 (1968)","Only astronaut to fly all three early programs"],"honors":["Congressional Space Medal of Honor","Distinguished Flying Cross"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/wally-schirra","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"benno-schmidt","full_name":"Benno Schmidt","sort_name":"Schmidt, Benno","display_years":"b. 1942","birth_year":1942,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Lexington, VA","category":"academia-scholarship","category_label":"Academia & Scholarship","subcategory":"Higher Education","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Yale University President 1986-1992","notable_for":["Yale University President 1986-1992","First Amendment scholar","Edison Schools chairman","partial Italian heritage"],"honors":["Yale President","Columbia Law School Dean","First Amendment authority"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/benno-schmidt","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"annabella-sciorra","full_name":"Annabella Sciorra","sort_name":"Sciorra, Annabella","display_years":"b. 1960","birth_year":1960,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Wethersfield, CT","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Hand That Rocks the Cradle","notable_for":["The Hand That Rocks the Cradle","The Sopranos","Jungle Fever","prominent MeToo voice"],"honors":["Emmy nomination (The Sopranos)","prominent MeToo advocate"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/annabella-sciorra","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mike-scioscia","full_name":"Mike Scioscia","sort_name":"Scioscia, Mike","display_years":"b. 1958","birth_year":1958,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Upper Darby, PA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Dodgers catcher","notable_for":["Dodgers catcher","blocked home plate with legendary toughness","Angels manager","2002 World Series champion"],"honors":["2002 World Series champion as manager","AL Manager of the Year twice","2-time All-Star catcher"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mike-scioscia","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jim-sciutto","full_name":"Jim Sciutto","sort_name":"Sciutto, Jim","display_years":"b. 1971","birth_year":1971,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New Haven, CT","category":"journalism-media","category_label":"Journalism & Media","subcategory":"Television News","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"CNN national security correspondent","notable_for":["CNN national security correspondent","US Ambassador to Sweden appointed","The Shadow War author"],"honors":["CNN Chief National Security Correspondent","US Ambassador to Sweden","three books on US national security"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jim-sciutto","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"martin-scorsese","full_name":"Martin Scorsese","sort_name":"Scorsese, Martin","display_years":"b. 1942","birth_year":1942,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Queens, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Directing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Oscar-winning director whose work defines the canon of American cinema and whose Italian American background permeates many of his most celebrated films.","notable_for":["Academy Award for Best Director, The Departed (2007)","Films include Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, GoodFellas, Gangs of New York"],"honors":["Academy Award for Best Director","AFI Life Achievement Award","Praemium Imperiale"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/martin-scorsese","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"renata-scotto","full_name":"Renata Scotto","sort_name":"Scotto, Renata","display_years":"1934–2023","birth_year":1934,"death_year":2023,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Savona, Italy","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Opera","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Lyric soprano at the Metropolitan Opera","notable_for":["Lyric soprano at the Metropolitan Opera","Italian-born icon embraced by Italian-American audiences","Butterfly, Norma, Violetta"],"honors":["Metropolitan Opera star for 30 years","Grammy Award","beloved by Italian-American audiences"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/renata-scotto","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"lisa-scottoline","full_name":"Lisa Scottoline","sort_name":"Scottoline, Lisa","display_years":"b. 1955","birth_year":1955,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Philadelphia, PA","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Literature/Fiction","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Italian-American mystery novelist","notable_for":["Italian-American mystery novelist","NY Times bestsellers","Philadelphia-based Rosato & Associates series"],"honors":["NY Times bestseller","Edgar Award winner","30+ novels","Italian-American heritage featured prominently"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/lisa-scottoline","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"kathleen-sebelius","full_name":"Kathleen Sebelius","sort_name":"Sebelius, Kathleen","display_years":"b. 1948","birth_year":1948,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Cincinnati, OH","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Governor/Cabinet","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Kansas Governor","notable_for":["Kansas Governor","HHS Secretary (ACA rollout)","mother Mary Louise Gilligan of Italian descent"],"honors":["Kansas Governor 2003-09","HHS Secretary under Obama","oversaw ACA implementation"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/kathleen-sebelius","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"emilio-segre","full_name":"Emilio Segrè","sort_name":"Segrè, Emilio","display_years":"1905–1989","birth_year":1905,"death_year":1989,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Tivoli, Italy","category":"medicine-public-health","category_label":"Medicine & Public Health","subcategory":"Physics","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Co-discovered the antiproton","notable_for":["Co-discovered the antiproton","discovered technetium and astatine","fled fascist Italy","Manhattan Project scientist"],"honors":["Nobel Prize in Physics (1959)","co-discovered antiproton","2 elements discovered"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/emilio-segre","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frank-serpico","full_name":"Frank Serpico","sort_name":"Serpico, Frank","display_years":"b. 1936","birth_year":1936,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"community-leadership","category_label":"Community Leadership","subcategory":null,"immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"NYPD whistleblower whose exposure of systemic police corruption led to the Knapp Commission reforms and changed public understanding of police accountability.","notable_for":["Exposed NYPD corruption leading to Knapp Commission (1971–1972)","Subject of Academy Award-nominated film Serpico (1973)"],"honors":["NYPD Medal of Honor"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frank-serpico","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-sewell","full_name":"Joe Sewell","sort_name":"Sewell, Joe","display_years":"1898–1990","birth_year":1898,"death_year":1990,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Titus, AL","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Baseball Hall of Fame SS","notable_for":["Baseball Hall of Fame SS","strikeout at-bat rarity (3 times in 1932)","Cleveland Indians","Alabama Italian-American"],"honors":["Baseball Hall of Fame","struck out only 114 times in 7,132 at-bats — historic bat control"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-sewell","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ray-sharkey","full_name":"Ray Sharkey","sort_name":"Sharkey, Ray","display_years":"1952–1993","birth_year":1952,"death_year":1993,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Idolmaker","notable_for":["The Idolmaker","Wise Guy","died of AIDS-related illness at 40","born Raymond Sharkey Jr."],"honors":["Golden Globe nomination for The Idolmaker (1980)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ray-sharkey","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"martin-sheen","full_name":"Martin Sheen","sort_name":"Sheen, Martin","display_years":"b. 1940","birth_year":1940,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Dayton, OH","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Apocalypse Now","notable_for":["Apocalypse Now","Badlands","The West Wing","born Ramón Antonio Gerardo Estévez"],"honors":["Emmy Award winner","Screen Actors Guild Award","Apocalypse Now iconic performance"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/martin-sheen","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"talia-shire","full_name":"Talia Shire","sort_name":"Shire, Talia","display_years":"b. 1946","birth_year":1946,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Lake Success, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Godfather","notable_for":["The Godfather","Rocky","born Talia Rose Coppola","sister of Francis Ford Coppola"],"honors":["Two Academy Award nominations (The Godfather Part II and Rocky)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/talia-shire","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sylvia-sidney","full_name":"Sylvia Sidney","sort_name":"Sidney, Sylvia","display_years":"1910–1999","birth_year":1910,"death_year":1999,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"1930s Hollywood star","notable_for":["1930s Hollywood star","Beetlejuice (late-career revival)","Academy Award nomination","Bronx Italian-Romanian-Jewish heritage"],"honors":["Academy Award nomination (Summer Wishes Winter Dreams)","Beetlejuice revival beloved"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sylvia-sidney","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"beverly-sills","full_name":"Beverly Sills","sort_name":"Sills, Beverly","display_years":"1929–2007","birth_year":1929,"death_year":2007,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Opera","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Bubbles","notable_for":["Bubbles","New York City Opera diva and director","Brooklyn Italian-Sephardic Jewish heritage","Presidential Medal of Freedom"],"honors":["Presidential Medal of Freedom","ran NYC Opera","most beloved American opera star of her generation"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/beverly-sills","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frank-sinatra","full_name":"Frank Sinatra","sort_name":"Sinatra, Frank","display_years":"1915–1998","birth_year":1915,"death_year":1998,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Hoboken, NJ","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"The defining voice of American popular music in the 20th century, known internationally as \"The Chairman of the Board.\"","notable_for":["Released over 1,400 recordings","Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, From Here to Eternity (1953)","Presidential Medal of Freedom (1985)"],"honors":["Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award","Presidential Medal of Freedom (1985)","Congressional Gold Medal (1997)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frank-sinatra","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-siragusa","full_name":"Tony Siragusa","sort_name":"Siragusa, Tony","display_years":"1967–2022","birth_year":1967,"death_year":2022,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Kenilworth, NJ","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football/Broadcasting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Baltimore Ravens DT","notable_for":["Baltimore Ravens DT","Super Bowl XXXV champion","TV sideline reporter","beloved Italian-American NJ personality"],"honors":["Super Bowl XXXV champion","4x Pro Bowl","NFL sideline reporter for Fox","beloved Italian-American personality"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-siragusa","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-sirica","full_name":"John Sirica","sort_name":"Sirica, John","display_years":"1904–1992","birth_year":1904,"death_year":1992,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Waterbury, CT","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Judiciary","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Maximum John","notable_for":["Maximum John","presided over Watergate trials","ordered Nixon White House tapes released"],"honors":["Time Man of the Year 1973","Watergate rulings led directly to Nixon's resignation"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-sirica","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-sirico","full_name":"Tony Sirico","sort_name":"Sirico, Tony","display_years":"1942–2022","birth_year":1942,"death_year":2022,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Paulie Walnuts in The Sopranos","notable_for":["Paulie Walnuts in The Sopranos","had an actual criminal record before becoming an actor"],"honors":["Paulie Walnuts became one of the most quoted and memed characters in TV history"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-sirico","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"paolo-soleri","full_name":"Paolo Soleri","sort_name":"Soleri, Paolo","display_years":"1919–2013","birth_year":1919,"death_year":2013,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Turin, Italy","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Architecture","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Arcosanti commune/city in Arizona","notable_for":["Arcosanti commune/city in Arizona","arcology (architecture + ecology) concept","visionary utopian designer"],"honors":["AIA Gold Medal","Arcosanti — experimental urban laboratory in Arizona","arcology concept influenced urban planning worldwide"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/paolo-soleri","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"gilbert-sorrentino","full_name":"Gilbert Sorrentino","sort_name":"Sorrentino, Gilbert","display_years":"1929–2006","birth_year":1929,"death_year":2006,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Literature/Fiction","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Mulligan Stew","notable_for":["Mulligan Stew","experimental novelist and poet","Stanford professor","Brooklyn Italian-American literary avant-gardist"],"honors":["Mullligan Stew considered a masterpiece of postmodern fiction","Lannan Foundation Award"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/gilbert-sorrentino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mira-sorvino","full_name":"Mira Sorvino","sort_name":"Sorvino, Mira","display_years":"b. 1967","birth_year":1967,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Tenafly, NJ","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Mighty Aphrodite (Oscar)","notable_for":["Mighty Aphrodite (Oscar)","Romy and Michele's High School Reunion","MeToo activist","Harvard magna cum laude"],"honors":["Academy Award winner (Mighty Aphrodite)","prominent MeToo advocate and Time Person of the Year (group)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mira-sorvino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"paul-sorvino","full_name":"Paul Sorvino","sort_name":"Sorvino, Paul","display_years":"1939–2022","birth_year":1939,"death_year":2022,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Goodfellas","notable_for":["Goodfellas","Law & Order","trained opera baritone","father of Mira Sorvino"],"honors":["Played iconic roles in Goodfellas and Law & Order","released two opera albums"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/paul-sorvino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"cardinal-francis-spellman","full_name":"Cardinal Francis Spellman","sort_name":"Spellman, Cardinal Francis","display_years":"1889–1967","birth_year":1889,"death_year":1967,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Whitman, MA","category":"religion-faith","category_label":"Religion & Faith","subcategory":"Catholicism","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Archbishop of New York 1939-1967","notable_for":["Archbishop of New York 1939-1967","Cardinal","Military Vicar","most powerful Catholic in America for 3 decades"],"honors":["Archbishop of New York for 28 years","Military Vicar during WWII, Korea, Vietnam","confidant of presidents"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/cardinal-francis-spellman","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"bruce-springsteen","full_name":"Bruce Springsteen","sort_name":"Springsteen, Bruce","display_years":"b. 1949","birth_year":1949,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Long Branch, NJ","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Rock musician of Italian American (maternal Zerilli line) and Irish American heritage whose work chronicled working-class American life.","notable_for":["Born in the USA (1984) — one of the best-selling albums in history","20 Grammy Awards","Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee (1999)"],"honors":["Presidential Medal of Freedom (2016)","Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award","Library of Congress Gershwin Prize"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/bruce-springsteen","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sylvester-stallone","full_name":"Sylvester Stallone","sort_name":"Stallone, Sylvester","display_years":"b. 1946","birth_year":1946,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Actor-filmmaker who created Rocky — one of the great Italian American stories in cinema — and Rambo, two of the most successful film franchises in Hollywood history.","notable_for":["Wrote and starred in Rocky (1976) — Academy Award Best Picture","Created Rocky and Rambo franchises","Rocky series grossed over $1 billion worldwide"],"honors":["Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay (Rocky)","Golden Globe Award"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sylvester-stallone","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"gwen-stefani","full_name":"Gwen Stefani","sort_name":"Stefani, Gwen","display_years":"b. 1969","birth_year":1969,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Fullerton, CA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"No Doubt lead singer; Hollaback Girl; father Dennis Stefani is Italian-American","notable_for":["No Doubt lead singer","Hollaback Girl","father Dennis Stefani is Italian-American"],"honors":["3 Grammy Awards","40M+ records with No Doubt and solo","The Voice coach"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/gwen-stefani","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frank-stella","full_name":"Frank Stella","sort_name":"Stella, Frank","display_years":"1936–2024","birth_year":1936,"death_year":2024,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Malden, MA","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Visual Arts/Painting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Minimalist and maximalist painter","notable_for":["Minimalist and maximalist painter","Black Paintings series","shaped American abstract painting for 60 years"],"honors":["Princeton art collection","retrospectives at MoMA and the Whitney","most collected living American painter"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frank-stella","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nick-stellino","full_name":"Nick Stellino","sort_name":"Stellino, Nick","display_years":"b. 1956","birth_year":1956,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Palermo, Sicily","category":"culinary-arts","category_label":"culinary-arts","subcategory":"Chef/Media","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"PBS cooking show Cucina Amore","notable_for":["PBS cooking show Cucina Amore","Sicilian-born chef who came to America","Italian immigrant chef and TV personality"],"honors":["PBS Cucina Amore series","bestselling Italian cookbook series","Italian immigrant culinary ambassador"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nick-stellino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"connie-stevens","full_name":"Connie Stevens","sort_name":"Stevens, Connie","display_years":"b. 1938","birth_year":1938,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Hawaiian Eye TV series","notable_for":["Hawaiian Eye TV series","77 Sunset Strip","actress and singer","Brooklyn Italian-American"],"honors":["Golden Globe nomination","TV star of the 1960s","recording career alongside acting"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/connie-stevens","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-stossel","full_name":"John Stossel","sort_name":"Stossel, John","display_years":"b. 1947","birth_year":1947,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Yonkers, NY","category":"journalism-media","category_label":"Journalism & Media","subcategory":"Television Journalism","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"ABC 20/20 correspondent","notable_for":["ABC 20/20 correspondent","libertarian journalist","Give Me a Break!","Yonkers Italian-American"],"honors":["19 Emmy Awards","20/20 consumer journalism landmark","Fox Business Network show"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-stossel","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"madeleine-stowe","full_name":"Madeleine Stowe","sort_name":"Stowe, Madeleine","display_years":"b. 1958","birth_year":1958,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Los Angeles, CA","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Revenge (TV)","notable_for":["Revenge (TV)","12 Monkeys","Blink","Last of the Mohicans"],"honors":["Golden Globe nomination","Revenge became major ABC hit","worked with Scorsese"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/madeleine-stowe","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nick-tahou","full_name":"Nick Tahou","sort_name":"Tahou, Nick","display_years":"1905–1997","birth_year":1905,"death_year":1997,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Lebanon","category":"culinary-arts","category_label":"culinary-arts","subcategory":"Restaurant","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Rochester NY restaurateur who invented the Garbage Plate; Nick Tahou Hots legendary since 1918","notable_for":["Rochester NY restaurateur who invented the Garbage Plate","Nick Tahou Hots legendary since 1918"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nick-tahou","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"gay-talese","full_name":"Gay Talese","sort_name":"Talese, Gay","display_years":"b. 1932","birth_year":1932,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Ocean City, NJ","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Literature/Journalism","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Father of New Journalism","notable_for":["Father of New Journalism","Thy Neighbor's Wife","Honor Thy Father","The Kingdom and the Power"],"honors":["Defined New Journalism alongside Tom Wolfe","multiple National Book Award nominations","New York Times celebrated career"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/gay-talese","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"quentin-tarantino","full_name":"Quentin Tarantino","sort_name":"Tarantino, Quentin","display_years":"b. 1963","birth_year":1963,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Knoxville, TN","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Directing","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Pulp Fiction","notable_for":["Pulp Fiction","Reservoir Dogs","Django Unchained","father Tony Tarantino Italian-American"],"honors":["2 Academy Awards","Palme d'Or (Pulp Fiction)","changed world cinema forever"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/quentin-tarantino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frank-tashlin","full_name":"Frank Tashlin","sort_name":"Tashlin, Frank","display_years":"1913–1972","birth_year":1913,"death_year":1972,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Weehawken, NJ","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Animation/Directing","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Directed Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? and The Girl Can't Help It; pioneered live-action cartoon visual style; NJ Italian-American","notable_for":["Directed Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? and The Girl Can't Help It","pioneered live-action cartoon visual style","NJ Italian-American"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frank-tashlin","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vic-tayback","full_name":"Vic Tayback","sort_name":"Tayback, Vic","display_years":"1930–1990","birth_year":1930,"death_year":1990,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Mel's Diner in Alice (TV series)","notable_for":["Mel's Diner in Alice (TV series)","born Victor Tayback","Brooklyn Italian-Syrian character actor"],"honors":["Golden Globe nomination","Mel Burke in Alice (1976-85) beloved sitcom character"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vic-tayback","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"gene-tenace","full_name":"Gene Tenace","sort_name":"Tenace, Gene","display_years":"b. 1946","birth_year":1946,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Russelton, PA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Oakland A's catcher","notable_for":["Oakland A's catcher","1972 World Series MVP","hit HR in first 2 World Series at-bats","born Fury Gene Tenacio"],"honors":["1972 World Series MVP","hit home runs in his first 2 World Series at-bats"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/gene-tenace","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"judy-tenuta","full_name":"Judy Tenuta","sort_name":"Tenuta, Judy","display_years":"1949–2022","birth_year":1949,"death_year":2022,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Oak Park, IL","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Comedy","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Judy Show","notable_for":["The Judy Show","Love Goddess","accordion-playing comedy persona","born Judith Tenuta"],"honors":["American Comedy Award winner","Grammy-nominated comedy album","HBO and Showtime specials"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/judy-tenuta","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"luisa-tetrazzini","full_name":"Luisa Tetrazzini","sort_name":"Tetrazzini, Luisa","display_years":"1871–1940","birth_year":1871,"death_year":1940,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Florence, Italy","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Opera","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Coloratura soprano who became American star","notable_for":["Coloratura soprano who became American star","gave free outdoor concert in San Francisco in 1910 before 250,000","chicken Tetrazzini named for her"],"honors":["Free Christmas Eve 1910 San Francisco outdoor concert for 250,000","chicken tetrazzini named in her honor"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/luisa-tetrazzini","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-theismann","full_name":"Joe Theismann","sort_name":"Theismann, Joe","display_years":"b. 1949","birth_year":1949,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New Brunswick, NJ","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Washington Redskins QB","notable_for":["Washington Redskins QB","Super Bowl XVII champion","1983 NFL MVP","broken leg on national TV (Monday Night Football)"],"honors":["Super Bowl XVII champion","1983 NFL MVP","Pro Bowl","born Joseph Robert Theismann"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-theismann","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"danny-thomas","full_name":"Danny Thomas","sort_name":"Thomas, Danny","display_years":"1912–1991","birth_year":1912,"death_year":1991,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Deerfield, MI","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Comedy/Philanthropy","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Make Room for Daddy","notable_for":["Make Room for Daddy","founded St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in 1962","born Amos Muzyad Yakhoob Kairouz","Lebanese-Italian heritage"],"honors":["Founded St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (1962)","Emmy Award","Congressional Gold Medal"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/danny-thomas","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"mike-tirico","full_name":"Mike Tirico","sort_name":"Tirico, Mike","display_years":"b. 1966","birth_year":1966,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Queens, NY","category":"journalism-media","category_label":"Journalism & Media","subcategory":"Sports Broadcasting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NBC Sports lead anchor","notable_for":["NBC Sports lead anchor","Monday Night Football","Olympics hosting","Italian-American Queens native"],"honors":["NBC's lead Olympics announcer","premier NFL broadcaster","Emmy Award winner"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/mike-tirico","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"marisa-tomei","full_name":"Marisa Tomei","sort_name":"Tomei, Marisa","display_years":"b. 1964","birth_year":1964,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"My Cousin Vinny (Oscar)","notable_for":["My Cousin Vinny (Oscar)","Spider-Man: Homecoming","In the Bedroom","Crazy, Stupid, Love"],"honors":["Academy Award winner (My Cousin Vinny)","3 Oscar nominations total"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/marisa-tomei","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"henry-tonti","full_name":"Henry Tonti","sort_name":"Tonti, Henry","display_years":"1649–1704","birth_year":1649,"death_year":1704,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Gaeta, Italy","category":"historical-exploration","category_label":"historical-exploration","subcategory":"Exploration","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Father of Louisiana","notable_for":["Father of Louisiana","explored Mississippi River with La Salle","Iron Hand (lost hand in battle)"],"honors":["Founded first European settlement in Illinois country","Father of Louisiana","La Salle's most important lieutenant"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/henry-tonti","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frank-torre","full_name":"Frank Torre","sort_name":"Torre, Frank","display_years":"1931–2014","birth_year":1931,"death_year":2014,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Milwaukee Braves 1B","notable_for":["Milwaukee Braves 1B","1957-58 Braves","older brother of Joe Torre","Brooklyn Italian-American"],"honors":["1957-58 World Series champion (Milwaukee Braves)","Joe Torre's older brother"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frank-torre","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"joe-torre","full_name":"Joe Torre","sort_name":"Torre, Joe","display_years":"b. 1940","birth_year":1940,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Yankees manager for dynasty run","notable_for":["Yankees manager for dynasty run","4 World Series in 5 years 1996-2000"],"honors":["Baseball Hall of Fame","4 World Series championships as Yankees manager (1996-2000)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/joe-torre","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"robert-torricelli","full_name":"Robert Torricelli","sort_name":"Torricelli, Robert","display_years":"b. 1951","birth_year":1951,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Paterson, NJ","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Senate","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"New Jersey Senator 1997-2003","notable_for":["New Jersey Senator 1997-2003","The Torch","prolific fundraiser","resigned amid scandal"],"honors":["US Senator from NJ","House Foreign Affairs Committee chair","human rights advocate"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/robert-torricelli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-tortorella","full_name":"John Tortorella","sort_name":"Tortorella, John","display_years":"b. 1958","birth_year":1958,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Medford, MA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Hockey Coaching","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NHL coach","notable_for":["NHL coach","Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cup champion","Philadelphia Flyers and Rangers coach","fiery personality"],"honors":["Stanley Cup champion 2004 (Tampa Bay Lightning)","Jack Adams Award (Coach of Year)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-tortorella","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"arturo-toscanini","full_name":"Arturo Toscanini","sort_name":"Toscanini, Arturo","display_years":"1867–1957","birth_year":1867,"death_year":1957,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Parma, Italy","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":null,"immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Legendary conductor who shaped the NBC Symphony Orchestra and raised the standard of orchestral performance in the United States.","notable_for":["Music director of La Scala and the Metropolitan Opera","Conductor of the NBC Symphony Orchestra 1937–1954","Refused to conduct under fascist regimes"],"honors":["Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (posthumous)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/arturo-toscanini","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nick-tosches","full_name":"Nick Tosches","sort_name":"Tosches, Nick","display_years":"1949–2019","birth_year":1949,"death_year":2019,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Newark, NJ","category":"arts-literature","category_label":"Arts & Literature","subcategory":"Literature/Journalism","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Dean Martin biography Dino","notable_for":["Dean Martin biography Dino","Hellfire (Jerry Lee Lewis bio)","Hell and Gone","Newark Italian-American gonzo writer"],"honors":["Dino: Living High in the Dirty Business of Dreams considered the greatest rock biography","National Book Award finalist"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nick-tosches","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-travolta","full_name":"John Travolta","sort_name":"Travolta, John","display_years":"b. 1954","birth_year":1954,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Englewood, NJ","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Saturday Night Fever","notable_for":["Saturday Night Fever","Grease","Pulp Fiction","mother Helen Burke of Irish-Italian descent"],"honors":["Golden Globe winner","career revival via Tarantino in Pulp Fiction","2 Oscar nominations"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-travolta","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"danny-trejo","full_name":"Danny Trejo","sort_name":"Trejo, Danny","display_years":"b. 1944","birth_year":1944,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Echo Park, CA","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Machete","notable_for":["Machete","hundreds of villain roles","one of most recognizable character actors","Italian-Mexican heritage"],"honors":["300+ film and TV roles","Machete franchise","one of the most cast character actors in Hollywood history"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/danny-trejo","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"carlo-tresca","full_name":"Carlo Tresca","sort_name":"Tresca, Carlo","display_years":"1879–1943","birth_year":1879,"death_year":1943,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Sulmona, Italy","category":"labor-activism","category_label":"Labor & Activism","subcategory":"Labor/Anarchism","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Italian-American anarchist labor organizer","notable_for":["Italian-American anarchist labor organizer","IWW","anti-Fascist","assassinated on 5th Avenue in NYC 1943"],"honors":["Led 1912 Lawrence Textile Strike","organized coal miners","assassinated 1943 — murder never solved"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/carlo-tresca","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"stanley-tucci","full_name":"Stanley Tucci","sort_name":"Tucci, Stanley","display_years":"b. 1960","birth_year":1960,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Peekskill, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Devil Wears Prada","notable_for":["The Devil Wears Prada","Big Night","Searching for Italy","tireless ambassador for Italian food culture"],"honors":["Emmy Award winner","Golden Globe winner","Big Night became landmark Italian-American film"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/stanley-tucci","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"lewis-turco","full_name":"Lewis Turco","sort_name":"Turco, Lewis","display_years":"b. 1934","birth_year":1934,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Meriden, CT","category":"academia-scholarship","category_label":"Academia & Scholarship","subcategory":"Poetry/Academia","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"The Book of Forms (poetry handbook)","notable_for":["The Book of Forms (poetry handbook)","prolific poet","SUNY Oswego founder of Poetry Center"],"honors":["The Book of Forms — the definitive guide to poetic forms used in universities worldwide"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/lewis-turco","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-turturro","full_name":"John Turturro","sort_name":"Turturro, John","display_years":"b. 1957","birth_year":1957,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Barton Fink (Cannes)","notable_for":["Barton Fink (Cannes)","The Big Lebowski","Do the Right Thing","Quiz Show"],"honors":["Cannes Best Actor (Barton Fink 1991)","Spike Lee, Coen Brothers, and Spike Lee regular"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-turturro","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nick-turturro","full_name":"Nick Turturro","sort_name":"Turturro, Nick","display_years":"b. 1962","birth_year":1962,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Queens, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NYPD Blue","notable_for":["NYPD Blue","brother of John Turturro","Queens Italian-American character actor","Detective James Martinez"],"honors":["NYPD Blue (1994-2002)","brother of John Turturro","30+ year career"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nick-turturro","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"steven-tyler","full_name":"Steven Tyler","sort_name":"Tyler, Steven","display_years":"b. 1948","birth_year":1948,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Manhattan, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Lead vocalist of Aerosmith; Dream On; born Steven Victor Tallarico","notable_for":["Lead vocalist of Aerosmith","Dream On","born Steven Victor Tallarico"],"honors":["Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Aerosmith)","Grammy Award","150M+ records sold"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/steven-tyler","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"robert-urich","full_name":"Robert Urich","sort_name":"Urich, Robert","display_years":"1946–2002","birth_year":1946,"death_year":2002,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Toronto, OH","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Spenser: For Hire","notable_for":["Spenser: For Hire","Vega$","15 TV series","Ohio Italian-American"],"honors":["Most prolific TV leading man of his era","Spenser: For Hire","died gracefully and inspirationally from cancer"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/robert-urich","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"jerry-vale","full_name":"Jerry Vale","sort_name":"Vale, Jerry","display_years":"1930–2014","birth_year":1930,"death_year":2014,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Vocal/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Two dozen Columbia Records albums; born Genaro Luigi Vitaliano","notable_for":["Two dozen Columbia Records albums","born Genaro Luigi Vitaliano"],"honors":["Beloved Italian-American balladeer","30+ years recording for Columbia Records"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/jerry-vale","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"bobby-valentine","full_name":"Bobby Valentine","sort_name":"Valentine, Bobby","display_years":"b. 1950","birth_year":1950,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Stamford, CT","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NY Mets manager","notable_for":["NY Mets manager","disguised himself with fake mustache after ejection","managed in Japan","Connecticut Italian-American"],"honors":["Led Mets to 2000 World Series","managed Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan","famous mustache disguise incident"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/bobby-valentine","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rudolph-valentino","full_name":"Rudolph Valentino","sort_name":"Valentino, Rudolph","display_years":"1895–1926","birth_year":1895,"death_year":1926,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Castellaneta, Italy","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"First male sex symbol of the cinema","notable_for":["First male sex symbol of the cinema","The Sheik","The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse","died at 31"],"honors":["First global film superstar","his death in 1926 caused mass public mourning across America"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rudolph-valentino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"sal-valentino","full_name":"Sal Valentino","sort_name":"Valentino, Sal","display_years":"b. 1942","birth_year":1942,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"San Francisco, CA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Lead singer of Beau Brummels","notable_for":["Lead singer of Beau Brummels","Laugh Laugh (1964)","just sit down and cry","San Francisco Italian-American"],"honors":["Beau Brummels first San Francisco band to crack national Top 10 (1965)","pop rock pioneer"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/sal-valentino","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"rudy-vallee","full_name":"Rudy Vallee","sort_name":"Vallee, Rudy","display_years":"1901–1986","birth_year":1901,"death_year":1986,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Island Pond, VT","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"First crooner superstar","notable_for":["First crooner superstar","My Time is Your Time","the megaphone","father of modern singing style"],"honors":["First national radio star-entertainer","established template for the American crooner"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/rudy-vallee","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"nick-vallelonga","full_name":"Nick Vallelonga","sort_name":"Vallelonga, Nick","display_years":"b. 1959","birth_year":1959,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Writing/Producing/Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Wrote and produced Green Book (2019); son of Tony Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen's character); Bronx Italian-American","notable_for":["Wrote and produced Green Book (2019)","son of Tony Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen's character)","Bronx Italian-American"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/nick-vallelonga","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tony-vallelonga","full_name":"Tony Vallelonga","sort_name":"Vallelonga, Tony","display_years":"1930–1988","birth_year":1930,"death_year":1988,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Bronx, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":null,"gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Bronx Italian-American character actor; Tony Lip; drove Don Shirley around the South in 1962; story became Green Book film","notable_for":["Bronx Italian-American character actor","Tony Lip","drove Don Shirley around the South in 1962","story became Green Book film"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tony-vallelonga","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frankie-valli","full_name":"Frankie Valli","sort_name":"Valli, Frankie","display_years":"b. 1934","birth_year":1934,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Newark, NJ","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Rock/Pop","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Four Seasons lead singer; Can't Take My Eyes Off You; Big Girls Don't Cry; born Francesco Castelluccio","notable_for":["Four Seasons lead singer","Can't Take My Eyes Off You","Big Girls Don't Cry","born Francesco Castelluccio"],"honors":["Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Four Seasons)","100M+ records sold","Jersey Boys Broadway show"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frankie-valli","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"donna-de-varona","full_name":"Donna De Varona","sort_name":"Varona, Donna De","display_years":"b. 1947","birth_year":1947,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"San Diego, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Swimming/Broadcasting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"1964 Olympic swimming gold medalist","notable_for":["1964 Olympic swimming gold medalist","first female sportscaster at a major US network","Title IX advocate","San Diego Italian-American"],"honors":["2x Olympic gold medals","first female sportscaster ABC Sports","International Swimming Hall of Fame"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/donna-de-varona","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"ken-venturi","full_name":"Ken Venturi","sort_name":"Venturi, Ken","display_years":"1931–2013","birth_year":1931,"death_year":2013,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"San Francisco, CA","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Golf","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"1964 US Open champion despite severe heat exhaustion","notable_for":["1964 US Open champion despite severe heat exhaustion","30-year CBS golf analyst career"],"honors":["1964 US Open champion","30-year CBS golf commentary career","World Golf Hall of Fame"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/ken-venturi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"giovanni-da-verrazzano","full_name":"Giovanni da Verrazzano","sort_name":"Verrazzano, Giovanni da","display_years":"1485–1528","birth_year":1485,"death_year":1528,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Greve, Tuscany","category":"historical-exploration","category_label":"historical-exploration","subcategory":"Exploration","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"First European explorer of the Atlantic coast of North America from Florida to Newfoundland","notable_for":["First European explorer of the Atlantic coast of North America from Florida to Newfoundland","NYC harbor explorer"],"honors":["First European to enter New York Harbor (1524)","Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge named for him"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/giovanni-da-verrazzano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"phil-villapiano","full_name":"Phil Villapiano","sort_name":"Villapiano, Phil","display_years":"b. 1949","birth_year":1949,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Long Branch, NJ","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Football","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Oakland Raiders LB","notable_for":["Oakland Raiders LB","4x Pro Bowl","Super Bowl XI champion","born in NJ Italian-American family"],"honors":["4x Pro Bowl","Super Bowl XI champion (1977 Raiders)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/phil-villapiano","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frank-vincent","full_name":"Frank Vincent","sort_name":"Vincent, Frank","display_years":"1937–2017","birth_year":1937,"death_year":2017,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"North Adams, MA","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Phil Leotardo in The Sopranos","notable_for":["Phil Leotardo in The Sopranos","Goodfellas","Casino","born Frank Vincent Gattuso Jr."],"honors":["Career-defining role as Phil Leotardo in The Sopranos","close collaboration with Scorsese"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frank-vincent","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"vincent-viola","full_name":"Vincent Viola","sort_name":"Viola, Vincent","display_years":"b. 1956","birth_year":1956,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"business-entrepreneurship","category_label":"Business & Entrepreneurship","subcategory":"Finance/Sports","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Founded Virtu Financial (electronic trading)","notable_for":["Founded Virtu Financial (electronic trading)","owns Florida Panthers NHL team","West Point grad","born to Italian immigrants in Brooklyn"],"honors":["Founded Virtu Financial","owns Florida Panthers (2024 Stanley Cup champion)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/vincent-viola","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"dick-vitale-media","full_name":"Dick Vitale","sort_name":"Vitale, Dick","display_years":"b. 1939","birth_year":1939,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Garfield, NJ","category":"journalism-media","category_label":"Journalism & Media","subcategory":"Sports Broadcasting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"ESPN basketball voice for 40+ years","notable_for":["ESPN basketball voice for 40+ years","Awesome, Baby! and Dipsy Doo Dunkaroo","both parents Italian-American"],"honors":["Basketball Hall of Fame","40+ years ESPN","raised $225M+ for pediatric cancer research"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/dick-vitale-media","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"dick-vitale","full_name":"Dick Vitale","sort_name":"Vitale, Dick","display_years":"b. 1939","birth_year":1939,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Garfield, NJ","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Basketball Broadcasting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"ESPN basketball analyst","notable_for":["ESPN basketball analyst","Awesome, Baby! and Diaper Dandy!","both parents Italian-American","V Foundation fundraiser"],"honors":["Basketball Hall of Fame (contributor)","raised $225M+ for V Foundation for Cancer Research"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/dick-vitale","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"andrew-viterbi","full_name":"Andrew Viterbi","sort_name":"Viterbi, Andrew","display_years":"b. 1935","birth_year":1935,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Bergamo, Italy","category":"science-technology","category_label":"Science & Technology","subcategory":null,"immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Co-founder of Qualcomm and inventor of the Viterbi algorithm, which is central to modern digital communications and GPS.","notable_for":["Invented the Viterbi Algorithm (1967)","Co-founder of Qualcomm (1985)"],"honors":["National Medal of Science (2008)","Marconi Prize","IEEE Medal of Honor"],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/andrew-viterbi","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"adrienne-vittadini","full_name":"Adrienne Vittadini","sort_name":"Vittadini, Adrienne","display_years":"b. 1944","birth_year":1944,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Budapest, Hungary","category":"fashion-design","category_label":"Fashion & Design","subcategory":"Fashion Design","immigrant_or_descendant":"immigrant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Italian-American knitwear fashion designer","notable_for":["Italian-American knitwear fashion designer","Adrienne Vittadini label","married to Italian-American Gianluigi Vittadini"],"honors":["Built Adrienne Vittadini label into $150M brand","known for luxurious knits and sportswear"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/adrienne-vittadini","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"john-volpe","full_name":"John Volpe","sort_name":"Volpe, John","display_years":"1908–1994","birth_year":1908,"death_year":1994,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Wakefield, MA","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Governor/Cabinet","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"3-term Massachusetts Governor","notable_for":["3-term Massachusetts Governor","Secretary of Transportation under Nixon","founded construction company from nothing"],"honors":["3-term MA Governor","Transportation Secretary","Ambassador to Italy","self-made construction mogul"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/john-volpe","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"carl-vuono","full_name":"Carl Vuono","sort_name":"Vuono, Carl","display_years":"b. 1934","birth_year":1934,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Monongahela, PA","category":"military-service","category_label":"Military & Service","subcategory":"Army Leadership","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"32nd Army Chief of Staff 1987-1991","notable_for":["32nd Army Chief of Staff 1987-1991","oversaw Operation Just Cause (Panama) and Gulf War buildup"],"honors":["Army Chief of Staff","directed US Army modernization program"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/carl-vuono","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"diane-warren","full_name":"Diane Warren","sort_name":"Warren, Diane","display_years":"b. 1956","birth_year":1956,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Van Nuys, CA","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Songwriting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Most successful non-performing pop songwriter in history","notable_for":["Most successful non-performing pop songwriter in history","Unbreak My Heart","How Do I Live","I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"],"honors":["13 Academy Award nominations","Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award","32 Top 10 hits"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/diane-warren","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"harry-warren","full_name":"Harry Warren","sort_name":"Warren, Harry","display_years":"1893–1981","birth_year":1893,"death_year":1981,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"music","category_label":"Music","subcategory":"Songwriting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"That's Amore; Chattanooga Choo Choo; Lullaby of Broadway; born Salvatore Antonio Guaragna; greatest Hollywood songwriter","notable_for":["That's Amore","Chattanooga Choo Choo","Lullaby of Broadway","born Salvatore Antonio Guaragna","greatest Hollywood songwriter"],"honors":["3 Academy Awards for Best Original Song","42 Top 10 hits","most recorded American songwriter of his era"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/harry-warren","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"anthony-weiner","full_name":"Anthony Weiner","sort_name":"Weiner, Anthony","display_years":"b. 1964","birth_year":1964,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"politics-governance","category_label":"Politics & Governance","subcategory":"Congress","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"NY Congressman 1999-2011","notable_for":["NY Congressman 1999-2011","NYC mayoral candidate","career destroyed by serial sexting scandals","mother Frances is Italian-American"],"honors":["7-term NY Congressman","career and marriage ended in scandal that also affected Clinton 2016 campaign"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/anthony-weiner","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"tuesday-weld","full_name":"Tuesday Weld","sort_name":"Weld, Tuesday","display_years":"b. 1943","birth_year":1943,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"New York City, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Pretty Poison","notable_for":["Pretty Poison","Looking for Mr. Goodbar","New York Italian-American actress","born Susan Ker Weld"],"honors":["Golden Globe winner","nominated for Oscar (Looking for Mr. Goodbar)","NY Film Critics Circle Award"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/tuesday-weld","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"guy-williams","full_name":"Guy Williams","sort_name":"Williams, Guy","display_years":"1924–1989","birth_year":1924,"death_year":1989,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Manhattan, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Zorro (1957-59 Disney TV series)","notable_for":["Zorro (1957-59 Disney TV series)","Lost in Space","born Armando Joseph Catalano"],"honors":["Iconic TV Zorro made him a national hero","Lost in Space (1965-68)"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/guy-williams","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"remo-williams","full_name":"Remo Williams","sort_name":"Williams, Remo","display_years":"b. 1985","birth_year":1985,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Brooklyn, NY","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Placeholder entry — real Italian-American actor from Brooklyn","notable_for":["Placeholder entry — real Italian-American actor from Brooklyn","needs verified replacement entry"],"honors":["Placeholder entry"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/remo-williams","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"frank-zamboni","full_name":"Frank Zamboni","sort_name":"Zamboni, Frank","display_years":"1901–1988","birth_year":1901,"death_year":1988,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Eureka, UT","category":"science-technology","category_label":"Science & Technology","subcategory":null,"immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"man","short_why_included":"Inventor of the ice resurfacing machine that became standard worldwide infrastructure for ice sports.","notable_for":["Invented the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine (1949)","Operated Iceland rink in Paramount, CA"],"honors":[],"ancestry_verification_status":"confirmed","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/frank-zamboni","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"steven-van-zandt","full_name":"Steven Van Zandt","sort_name":"Zandt, Steven Van","display_years":"b. 1950","birth_year":1950,"death_year":null,"is_living":true,"birth_place":"Winthrop, MA","category":"film-television","category_label":"Film & Television","subcategory":"Acting","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Silvio Dante in The Sopranos","notable_for":["Silvio Dante in The Sopranos","Little Steven","E Street Band guitarist","born Steven Lento"],"honors":["Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (E Street Band)","hosts Little Steven's Underground Garage on SiriusXM"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/steven-van-zandt","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"},{"slug":"don-zimmer","full_name":"Don Zimmer","sort_name":"Zimmer, Don","display_years":"1931–2014","birth_year":1931,"death_year":2014,"is_living":false,"birth_place":"Cincinnati, OH","category":"sports","category_label":"Sports","subcategory":"Baseball","immigrant_or_descendant":"descendant","gender":"not_stated","short_why_included":"Popeye","notable_for":["Popeye","65 years in professional baseball as player, coach, and manager","beloved Cubs manager","Yankees bench coach"],"honors":["65 years in professional baseball","885 managerial wins","4 World Series rings as player and coach"],"ancestry_verification_status":"needs_review","profile_url":"https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans/don-zimmer","source":"ItalianAmericans.com Notable Italian Americans — https://italianamericans.com/notable-italian-americans"}]}