Famous Cincinnatians - Cincinnati Articles
Sports Figures
Eddie Arcara (1916-1997)
American Thoroughbred Hall of Fame jockey. He won more races than any other jockey in history and won the US Triple Crown twice.
Brent Celek
Former tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles. Celek played for the University of Cincinnati before being drafted by the Eagles in 2007. He is also known for excessive celebrating after a touchdown imitating the infamous Captain Morgan mascot.
Garrett Celek
The only undrafted rookie to make the 53-man roster of the San Francisco 49ers, he was formerly a tight end with the team and was with them in their Super Bowl XLVII appearance in 2013.
Ezzard Charles (1921-1975)
Nicknamed “The Cincinnati Cobra” he began his amateur boxing career as a teenager. Charles is the city’s only World Heavyweight Boxing Champion.
Dave Cowens
Born across the Ohio River in Newport, KY, Dave was an all star center for the Boston Celtics from 1970-1980.
Ken Griffey Jr.
Played for the Cincinnati Reds from 2000-2008. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest home run hitters and defensive players to ever play Major League Baseball. His dad, Ken Griffey, was a member of the Big Red Machine that won back to back World Series victories in 1975-1976.
Barry Larkin
Played his entire 19 season career with the Cincinnati Reds. Barry was raised in the Silverton neighborhood of Cincinnati. One of baseball’s greatest shortstops, he was elected into the MLB Hall of Fame in 2012.
Oscar Robertson
Played for the Cincinnati Royals NBA franchise from 1960-1970 and later for the Milwaukee Bucks. He was a 12 time all star and the only player in NBA history to average a triple double for the entire season.
Pete Rose
“Charlie Hustle” was born in Cincinnati and played for the Reds from 1963-1978. After a stint with the Philadelphia Phillies, he returned to Cincinnati in 1986 to finish his career and later manage the team.
Roger Staubach
A successful businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and Hall of Fame quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. He was born in Cincinnati’s Silverton neighborhood and attended Purcell Marian High School.
Don Zimmer
Born and raised in Cincinnati, he was a member of the 1955 World Champion Brooklyn Dodgers alongside Jackie Robinson. He later managed several major league teams, including a term as Joe Torre’s assistant on several world champion Yankee teams.
Historical Figures
Neil Armstrong (1930-2012)
The first man to walk on the moon, Armstrong taught at the Department of Aerospace Engineering for the University of Cincinnati from 1971-1979.
Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885)
The 18th President of the United States was born in nearby Point Pleasant, OH before leading the Union army to victory in the Civil War.
Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901)
The 23rd President of the United States was born in nearby North Bend, OH. He attended Farmer’s College and Miami University and worked at the Cincinnati law office of Storer and Gwynne.
Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896)
Authored the provocative and celebrated novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1852. She moved to Cincinnati at the age of 21 and wrote more than 20 books in her lifetime.
William Howard Taft (1857-1930)
The 27th President of the United States was born in Cincinnati and attended Woodward High School. After serving as President he served as the 10th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Media, Movies & Music
George Clooney
Before becoming the star he is today, George attended Northern Kentucky University and the University of Cincinnati.
Nick Clooney
Nick is the brother of Rosemary Clooney and the father of actor George Clooney. He has been a news anchor, journalist and game show host.
Rosemary Clooney (1928-2002)
This singer and actress who came to prominence in the 1950’s was born in nearby Maysville, KY and began her career on WLW. She co-starred with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye in the classic movie White Christmas. She is well known as George Clooney’s aunt!
Bootsy Collins
Funk bassist Bootsy rose to fame with James Brown in the 1960’s and then as a member of Parliament-Funkadelic in the 1970’s
Doris Day
Her career started as a big band singer in 1939, but she went on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
Peter Frampton
This English born guitar innovator moved to the eastern suburbs of Cincinnati in 2000.
Nick Lachey
A member of the boy band 98 Degrees, he was also an entertainer at local theme park Kings Island in the mid-90’s and attended the Cincinnati School for Creative and Performing Arts.
Ruth Lyons (1905-1988)
Hosted her own radio and television show The 50/50 Club in the 1950’s. She started the Ruth Lyon’s Christmas Fund in 1939. This fund still provides Cincinnati area hospitalized children with toys during the holidays.
Syd Nathan (1904-1968)
Founder of legendary King Records in 1943. James Brown, blues greats Freddy King and John Lee Hooker as well as Hank Ballard and the Midnighters recorded here for this label. The label’s former headquarters at 1540 Brewster Ave. is still standing and features an historical marker from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Recently known for her role in the hit movies and series Sex In The City. She lived with her family here in Cincinnati and attended the School for Creative and Performing Arts.
Roy Rogers (1911-1998)
Roy worked in a shoe factory while living here in the 1920’s.
Steven Spielberg
Born in Cincinnati in 1946, he has directed and/or produced some of the biggest grossing films in movie history.
Jerry Springer
He was Mayor of Cincinnati before becoming the news anchor on WLWT Channel 5. He became host of the Jerry Springer Show in 1991.
Ted Turner
Turner founded CNN the Cable News Network, the first 24 hour news channel as well as TNT.
Andy Williams (1927-2012)
Began his singing career performing on WLW radio in 1938 with his three older brothers as part of the Williams Brother Quartet.
