Famous People from Greater Cleveland

Halle Berry (born August 14, 1966) - Actress/producer, appeared in “Jungle Fever,” “Bullworth,” and “Die Another Day.” She won a Golden Globe, Emmy, SAG, and NAACP Image Award for “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.” She is the first African-American actress to win the Oscar, winning it for best actress in “Monster’s Ball.”

Jim Brown (born February 17, 1936) - NFL Hall of Famer, arguably the best running back in the history of football.

Drew Carey (born May 23, 1958) - Creator/producer and star of ABC TV’s “The Drew Carey Show.”

Dorothy Dandridge (born November 9, 1922) - Actress, first African-American woman to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

Phil Donahue (born December 21, 1935) - Talk show host, winner of 19 Daytime Emmy awards.

Alan Freed (born December 15, 1922) - D.J. who coined the phrase “Rock ‘n’ Roll.”

James Garfield (born November 19, 1831) - Civil War general, 20^th President of the U.S. See Garfield Memorial at Cleveland's Lakeview Cemetery.

Arsenio Hall (born February 12, 1955) - Comedian/actor, first African-American host of a national televised late-night talk show.

Patricia Heaton (born March 4, 1958) - Actress on CBS’s “Everybody Loves Raymond,” honored with consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

John Heisman (born October 23, 1869) - Football innovator, eponym for the Heisman Trophy. 

Bob Hope (born May 29, 1903) - Actor/comedian, winner of 5 Special and Honorary Oscars.
 
Sammy Kaye (born March 13, 1910) - Band leader, had more than 100 hit records from 1937-1953 and helped a generation get through World War II.

Henry Mancini (born April 16, 1924) - Composer of “Moon River,” “The Pink Panther,” and many other memorable melodies. Winner of 20 Grammy Awards and 4 Oscars.

Garrett Morgan (born March 4, 1877) - Inventor of the traffic light.

Toni Morrison (born February 18, 1931) - Winner of 1993 Nobel Prize for literature.

Eliot Ness (born April 19, 1903) - Cleveland Safety Director, leader of a legendary team of law enforcement agents nicknamed "The Untouchables."

Paul Newman (born January 26, 1925) - Actor, director, race car driver, and Oscar winner for Best Actor in “The Color of Money.”

The O’Jays (Eddie Levert and Walter Williams) - Popular R&B group with hits “Back Stabbers,” “Love Train,” and “Use ta be My Girl.” Both grew up in Canton.

Jesse Owens (born September 12, 1913) - Track and field athlete, winner of four Olympic gold medals

Judith Resnick (born April 5, 1949) - Engineer and NASA astronaut who died on the space shuttle Challenger.

John D. Rockefeller (born July 8, 1839) – Founder of Standard Oil, mega-billionaire. Forest Hills Park is site of his former home.

Tim Russert (born May 7, 1950) - Former host of Meet the Press, graduate of John Carroll University '72 and Cleveland- Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University '75.  

Don Shula (born January 4, 1930) - NFL coach, only coach of a NFL perfect season, Miami Dolphins.

Jerry Siegel (born October 17, 1914) and Joe Shuster (born July 10, 1914) - Creators of Superman.

George Steinbrenner (born July 4, 1930) - Owner of the New York Yankees for 37 years.

George Stephanopoulis (born February 10, 1961) - Former presidential advisor, ABC newsman.

Molly Shannon (born September 15, 1965) - Actress/cast member on NBC’s Saturday Night Live, created Mary Katherine Gallagher character.

Carl Stokes (born June 21, 1927) - First African-American mayor of a major U.S. city.

Michael Symon (born September 19, 1969) - Iron chef and James Beard award winner.

Joe Walsh (born November 20, 1947) - Hall of Fame singer, songwriter, guitarist. Member of the “James Gang” and the “Eagles.” 

 

Greater Cleveland Fun Facts and Firsts

U.S. newspaper for African-Americans (The Aliened American) – William Howard Day – 1853

Free home delivery of mail and first mailman’s uniform – Joseph Briggs – 1862

Electric streetlight and electric streetcar – Charles F. Brush – 1879

Indoor shopping center – The Arcade – 1890

Cleveland Public Library’s open-shelf plan – William Howard Brett – 1890

Padded bicycle seat – Arthur Lovett Garford – 1892

Whole-body scanner and x-ray machine – Dayton C. Miller (Case School of Applied Science) – 1896

Modern golf ball – Cobuern Haskell, Joseph Mitchell, Bertram Work – 1899

Cleveland Indians – Charter team of MLB’s American League – 1901

American-made standard gasoline automobile – 1898 and first American Diesel engine – 1913 – Alexander Winton

LifeSavers candy – Created by Cleveland chocolate maker Clarence Crane – 1912

Ongoing forum for free speech – The City Club of Cleveland – 1912

African-American Cultural Center – Karamu House – 1915

Gas Mask – Garret A. Morgan – 1916

Automatic windshield wiper – Fred and William H. Folberth – 1921

Shaker Square – 2nd oldest outdoor shopping center in the country – 1925

Municipal airport – Cleveland Hopkins International Airport – 1925 and air-traffic control tower – 1927

Superman – Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster – 1933

Health museum – The Health Museum of Cleveland – 1936

The phrase “Rock ‘n’ Roll” – Alan Freed – 1955

U.S. college to admit students regardless of race, sex, creed or color – Oberlin College
 
Public housing – Earnest Bohn – 1960s

African-American mayor of a major city – Carl Stokes – 1965

Rapid-transit rail service from airport to downtown – Greater Cleveland Rapid Transit Authority – 1968

The first NFL “Monday Night Football” game – Played at Cleveland Municipal Stadium with the Cleveland Browns winning over the New York Jets, 31-21 – 1970

The first city to be awarded five All-American City Awards – 1949, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1994