Anarchists
Arturo Giovannitti (1884-1959) was an union leader and poet, an immigrant from Italy who entered the United States in 1901. He was born in Ripabottoni, Campobasso, Italy. He and Joseph Ettor led the textile mill strikers at Lawrence, Massachusetts in 1912 at which a woman was shot and killed. Giovannitti and Ettor were arrested and imprisoned on the charge of inciting to a riot leading to the loss of life. They were tried and acquitted in November, 1912. At the time of the trial, a 24-hour general strike was called in Lawrence. Their imprisonment attracted nationwide attention and inspired activists who called for the guaranteeing of free speech. Giovanitti wrote Arrows in the Gale, a volume of verse, which was published in 1914.
Nicola Sacco (1891-1927)
Carlo Tresca
Bartolomeo Vanzetti (1888-1927)
[edit] Artists
[edit] Composers and conductors
Angelo Badalamenti (b.1937), music composer. Best known for his movie soundtrack work for surrealist movie director David Lynch.
Suzanne Ciani
Bill Conti
John Corigliano
David Del Tredici
Michael Giacchino
Vittorio Giannini
Donald Martino
Gian-Carlo Menotti
Henry Mancini, (1924-1994), Four-time Academy-Award and 20-time Grammy and Gold Record winner. He is remembered for his classic Moon River from Breakfast at Tiffany's. He also wrote the scores for 80 other movies, including the Pink Panther series.
Alan Silvestri (b.1950), film composer. Known for his numerous collaborations with director Robert Zemeckis.
Tommy Tallarico,(born February 18, 1968) is an accomplished video game music composer.
Frank Ticheli
Harry Warren (1893-1981), born Salvatore Guaragna, wrote more hit songs than anyone in early 20th century America.
[edit] Digital Artists/ Illustrators
Rich DiSilvio (b.1957) Most noted for his surreal and visionary art that has appeared on fantasy and sci-fi book covers, as well as many music CD covers for star performers.
[edit] Painters
Dondi
Frank Stella
Joseph Stella
[edit] Comics artists and cartoonists
Ivan Brunetti (b.1967), cartoonist and comics-author.
Joseph Barbera, born Joseph Roland Barbera ,(March 24, 1911), a Sicilian-American, is an animator, cartoon artist, storyboard artist, director, producer and co-founder, together with William Hanna of Hanna-Barbera (now known as Cartoon Network Studios). The studio produced well-known cartoons such as The Huckleberry Hound Show, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, and Scooby-Doo.
Frank Frazetta, (born February 9, 1928) is one of the world's most influential fantasy and science fiction artists. He is one of the most emulated artists of these genres in the world. Frazetta was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of eight, at the insistence of his school teachers, Frazetta's parents enrolled him in the Brooklyn Academy of Fine Arts. He attended the academy for eight years under the tutelage of Michele Falanga, an award winning Italian fine artist. Falanga was struck by Frazetta's significant talent. Frazetta's abilities flourished under Falanga, who dreamed of sending Frazetta to Europe, at his own expense, to further his studies. Unfortunately, Falanga died suddenly in 1944 and with him, his dream. As the school closed about a year after Falanga's passing, Frazetta was forced to find work to earn a living.
Bill Gallo (b.1922), famed cartoonist and newspaperman for the New York Daily News.
Dick Giordano, born Richard Joseph Giordano (July 20, 1932 - ) is acomic book artist and editor. He was born in Manhattan, New York City, New York. Giordano is probably best-known as an inker, particularly over the pencils of Neal Adams, on an influential late 1960s and early 1970s run at DC Comics that redefined the characters of Batman, Green Lantern and Green Arrow, although he has also pencilled.
Frank Giacoia, (1925-1989) was a comic book artist who sometimes worked under the name Frank Ray and to a lesser extent Phil Zupa and the single moniker Espoia. During the 1960s Silver Age of comic books, Giacoia became best known as Marvel Comics inker, particularly of Captain America stories penciled by the character's co-creator, industry legend Jack Kirby. Giacoia was one of the preeminent inkers for the company, working on virtually every title at one time or another.
Carmine Infantino, (May 24, 1925-) is a comic book artist and editor who was a major force in the Silver Age of Comic Books. He was born in Brooklyn, New York City, New York.
Walter Lantz, (1900-1994), born Walter Lanza, created one of the world's most famous cartoon characters - Woody Woodpecker.
Bob Montana,(October 23, 1920 - January 4, 1975) was a cartoonist who fashioned the characters that launched Archie Comics. Born in Stockton, California, Montana was the son of ex-Ziegfeld girl Roberta Pandolfini Montana and Ray Montana, a top banjo player on the Keith vaudeville circuit. Traveling all 48 states before the age of nine, Montana received his childhood schooling backstage in theater dressing rooms. During his early teen years, he lived in Boston's theater district.
Joe Orlando, (1927-1998), born in Bari, Apulia.
Jimmy Palmiotti, born James Palmiotti, is a writer and artist of various comics. He has extensive inking credits, and is widely regarded as one of the industry's best; he has often inked the work of his friend and collaborator Joe Quesada, notably on Ash (which they co-created, along with Painkiller Jane) and Daredevil (esp. the 'Guardian Devil' arc penned by Kevin Smith). His most recent inking credit was on the current series of Manhunter.
Leo Politi, (1908-1996) born in Fresno but grew up in a village near Milan, Lombardia.
Eric Stefani, animator for the simpsons, founder of pop/ska band No Doubt, brother of lead singer Gwen Stefani
Jim Valentino, aka Valentino (born October 28, 1952 in the Bronx, New York City, New York) is a writer, penciler and editor of comic books. He started his career in the late 1970s creating small press comics. In the late 1980s he began to work for Marvel Comics on their super-hero titles. His most notable work for the company was as writer and artist on the future-set super-hero series Guardians of the Galaxy. He left Marvel in 1992 to co-found Image Comics with Erik Larsen, Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, Todd McFarlane and Marc Silvestri. Valentino originated several projects at Image, which he published through his own "Shadowline" imprint. Unlike at Marvel, where Valentino worked on characters owned by that company, at Image the original "Shadowline" titles were all owned personally by him. Of these the titles the most notable was the super-hero series ShadowHawk, which initially he wrote and drew himself.
[edit] Photographers
Francesco Scavullo
Luis Marden (born Luigi Annibale Paragallo)
John Wallace Ciccarelli Jr. (1976- ) US Navy Photojournalist
[edit] Business
Anthony Sio Riggio President and CEO of Lucky Star Corporation Maryland USA and Liberia
[edit] Chairmen
Richard Belluzzo [29], Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Quantum Corporation, former president and Chief Operating Officer of Microsoft
Carly Fiorina, former chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HP
Richard Grasso, former chairman and CEO of the New York Stock Exchange
Lee Iacocca, former chairman of the Chrysler Corporation
Paul Otellini (born October 12, 1950), Intel Corporation's fifth Chief Executive Officer
Sam Palmisano, chairman and CEO of IBM
Patricia Russo, CEO of Lucent Technologies
[edit] Entrepreneurs
Jerry Colangelo
Pat Croce (b.1954), born Pasquale Croce, entrepreneur, once owner of the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team.
Edward J. De Bartolo, Jr. (b. 1946), billionaire, former owner of the five-time Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers.
Fred De Luca, founder of Subway Sandwich.
Domingo Ghirardelli born in Rapallo, Italy founder of Ghirardelli Chocolate Company.
Tom Golisano (b.1942), billionaire founder of Paychex, owner of the Buffalo Sabres. He ran for Governor of New York in 1994, 1998 and 2002.
Gennaro Lombardi
Lelio "Les" Marino (1935?-2004), entrepreneur
Robert Mondavi, born Robert Gerald Mondavi (born June 18, 1913 in Virginia, Minnesota, is a leading vineyard operator whose technical improvements and marketing strategies brought worldwide recognition for the wines of the Napa Valley in California. Robert Mondavi's parents emigrated from the Marche region of Italy and established a wine making business in the United States. Mondavi grew up in the Minnesota city of Virginia, where he attended Hibbing High School. Mondavi graduated from Stanford University in 1937 with a degree in economics and business administration. He worked with his father after the latter had acquired the Charles Krug Winery, established in 1861 in the Napa Valley. Robert Mondavi's autobiography Harvests of Joy was published in 1998. On December 22, 2004, Constellation Brands acquired the Mondavi vinery for nearly US$1.36 billion.
Tommy Mottola, former head of Sony Music Entertainment until 2003.
Amedeo Obici, founder of the Planters Peanut Company in 1906
Anthony T. Rossi, (1900-1993), was born as Antonio Talamo Rossi in Messina, Sicily. He had the equivalent of a high school education. He emigrated to the United States when he was 21 years old and educated himself to the point that he became an expert mathematician and mechanical engineer. He founded Tropicana Products, a producer of orange juice founded in 1947 in Bradenton, Florida in the United States which grew from 50 employees to over 8,000 in 2004, expanding into multiple product lines and became one of the world's largest producers and marketers of citrus juice.
Jay Sarno
John Ciccarelli (1948- ) (Founder of First Class Metals)
[edit] Finance
Mario Draghi, Former Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs International and a member of the Group's Commitments Committee. Now is Chairman of the "Banca d'Italia".
Amadeo P. Giannini, founder in 1904 of Bank of Italy which later became Bank of America, the largest bank in the United States.
Frank Quattrone
[edit] Publishing
Bob Guccione founder and former publisher of Penthouse Magazine
Leonard Riggio is owner of Barnes & Noble, the largest book retailer in the world. As of January 31, 2004, the company operated 840 stores in 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
Louis Rossetto (b.1949), founder and former publisher of Wired Magazine.
Greg Ruggiero (b.1964), cofounder and editorial director of the Open Media Series, founded in 1991 in Westfield, New Jersey , published by Seven Stories Press from 1997 to 2005, currently published by City Lights Books.
[edit] Criminals
Main article: List of Italian American mobsters
[edit] Entertainers
[edit] Actors
See List of Italian American actors
[edit] Fashion models
Gia Carangi, born Gia Marie Carangi
Danielle Gamba (1982 - ) model/dancer[1]
Raquel Gibson (1985 - ) swimsuit model who was offered Playboy's Playmate of the Month pictorial for November 2005[2]
[edit] Movie directors and producers
Joseph Barbera, director, producer, and co-founder of Hanna-Barbera Movie Studios
Frank Borzage, famed for his mystical romanticism. For his 1927 film, Seventh Heaven he became the first person ever to win the Academy Award for Directing.
Albert R. Broccoli, (1909-1996), the producer of all but one of the first 17 James Bond movies. His ancestors developed and named the popular vegetable in Italy in the 19th century.
Barbara Broccoli
Nicolas Cage, born Nicholas Kim Coppola
Frank Capra (1897-1991), great American fimmaker - It's A Wonderful Life
David Chase (b. 1945), born David DeCesare, creator of The Sopranos
Michael Cimino (b.1939), film director - The Deer Hunter
Danny DeVito
Francis Ford Coppola (b. 1939), movie director
Roman Coppola
Sofia Coppola (b. 1971), movie director and actress, daughter of Italian American director Francis Ford Coppola and English American Eleanor Coppola
Gerard Damiano, director of Deep Throat.
Brian De Palma (born 1940), movie director
Vincent Gallo
Gregory La Cava
Vincente Minnelli (1903-1986), film director, father of Liza Minnelli (Italian on his father's side and French on his mother's)
Martin Scorsese, movie director
Tina Sinatra
Quentin Tarantino, (b.1963), screenwriter, film director and actor - Pulp Fiction (Italian on his father's side)
Stanley Tucci
[edit] Television
Carmine Gotti Agnello (1986 - ) reality TV star[3]
John Gotti Agnello (1987 - ) reality TV star[3]
Frank Gotti Agnello (1990 - ) reality TV star[3]
Alan Alda
Ivan Brunetti
Adam Carolla (Italian on his father's side)
Neil Cavuto
Victoria Gotti
Tony Danza
Gary Dell'Abate
Giuliana DePandi (Host of E! News)
Micky Dolenz ("The Monkees")
Annette Funicello
Hulk Hogan born Terrance Eugenio Bollea
Jimmy Kimmel (Italian on his mother's side)
Matt LeBlanc
Jay Leno (1950 - ) comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show[4]
Alyssa Milano
Kelly Monaco
Rachael Ray---Sicilian mother (maiden name Scuderi) and French father, married Italian-American John Cusimano on September 24, 2005 in Tuscany
Kelly Ripa Part Italian and Irish
Jai Rodriguez (1979 - ) actor and culture guide on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy[5]
Ray Romano
[edit] Musicians
Steve Albini (b.1962), indie rock musician, producer.
Tony Bennett, born Anthony Benedetto
Chris Carrabba, Lead singer of Dashboard Confessional and former lead singer of Further Seems Forever
Freddy Cannon, (b.1940), born Frederick Anthony Picariello, was an American rock and roll singer. He had three top ten hits.
Peter Cetera, bassist and singer for Chicago
Suzette Charles, singer, entertainer, former Miss America[6]
Gary Cherone, former lead singer of Extreme and Van Halen.
Vinnie Colaiuta, drummer famous both in jazz circles for his virtuosity and his stint with Frank Zappa
Warren Cuccurullo, guitarist for Frank Zappa, Missing Persons and Duran Duran
Alan Dale, born Aldo Sigismondi,(July 9, 1926-April 20, 2002) was a singer of traditional popular and rock'n'roll music.
Bobby Darin (1936-1973), born Walden Robert Cassotto, was one of the most popular rock and roll teen idols of the late 1950s.
Joey DeMaio, bassist, main songwriter and one of the founding members of the heavy metal band Manowar.
Ronnie James Dio (b. 1942) heavy metal singer
Al Di Meola, jazz fusion guitarist
Joe Dolce
Micky Dolenz, (Singer/Drummer "The Monkees")
Faith Evans, singer
Joe Farrell, jazz saxophonist, born Joseph Firrantello
John Frusciante, guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Davey Havok, originally born as David Marchand, vocalist for AFI
Jon Bon Jovi (b. 1962), born John Frank Bongiovanni, rock star, actor
Mario Lanza[7]
Joe Long, born Joseph LaBracio, the bass guitarist and vocal arranger for The Four Seasons.
Henry Mancini, composer[8]
Chuck Mangione, composer
Dean Martin - actor/singer[9]
Tom Morello - guitarist for AudioSlave
Chieli Minucci, smooth jazz guitarist
Felix Pappalardi, rock and roll bassist and producer
Art Pepper, jazz musician
Joe Perry (1950 - ) lead guitarist and contributing songwriter for the rock band Aerosmith[10]
John Petrucci, metal guitarist, founding member of Dream Theater
Ruggiero Ricci (b.1918), violin virtuoso
Johnny Rivers, born John Ramistella, early Rock'N Roll singer of many hit records.
Bobby Rydell, born Robert Louis Ridarelli in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, (April 26, 1942) was a "teen idol" in the early days of Rock and Roll.
Richie Sambora, (born Richard Stephen Sambora on July 11, 1959 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey), (nickname:The King of Swing), is an American rock guitarist, singer and song writer who is the lead guitarist for rock band Bon Jovi.
Joe Satriani, guitar virtuoso
John Serry, Sr. (1915 - 2003), born Giovanni Serrapica, concert accordionist, composer, arranger, educator & father of John Serry
Frank Sinatra
Nancy Sinatra
Nikki Sixx, born Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna, rock star (Mötley Crüe)
Bruce Springsteen, rock star, songwriter (Italian on his mother's side)
Gwen Stefani
Joseph Tarsia
Johnny Thunders, born John A. Genzale, rock musician.
Steven Tyler (b. 1951), born Steven Tallarico, rock star, songwriter (Italian on his father's side)
Steve Vai, guitar virtuoso
Steven Van Zandt (1950 - ) musician, songwriter, arranger, record producer, actor, and radio disc jockey (The Sopranos)[11]
Tony Visconti, rock music producer (based in Britain)
Chris Vrenna (b. 1967), producer and drummer
Dean Ween, born Michael Melchiondo, Ween guitarist
Gerard Way (MCR lead singer, Italian maternal side)
Frank Zappa, His father, a Native Italian was of Greek and Lebanese origin. His mother Rose Marie Colimore was of half Italian, 1/4 Sicilian and 1/4 French descent.
Ralph Santolla - Metal guitarist (has a custom Jackson guitar with the Italian flag painted on it
Frank Iero (October 31, 1981- ), born Frank Anthony Thomas Iero; rhythm guitarist for the American "screamo" band, My Chemical Romance.
Mikey Way (September 10 1980- ), born Michael James Way; bass guitarist for the American band from Newark, New Jersey My Chemical romance My Chemical Romace.
See also List of Sicilian-American jazz musicians
[edit] Songwriters
James V. Monaco early American songwriter "You Made Me Love You".
Laura Nyro songwriter (Italian father)
Harry Warren (1893-1981), born Salvatore Guaragna, wrote more hit songs than anyone in early 20th century America
Frank Zappa, born Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was a composer, guitarist, singer and satirist. In his 33-year musical career, Zappa proved to be one of the most prolific musicians ever, releasing over 60 albums during his life. His father, Francis Zappa was born in Partinico, Sicily.
[edit] Singers
Tony Bennett, born Anthony Dominick Benedetto, singer.
Sonny Bono (1935-1998), born Salvatore Phillip Bono, singer, actor, and politician
Lou Christie, born Lugee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco on February 19, 1943 in Glenwillard, Pennsylvania). Already, Christie was frequently, if unfairly, written off by critics as an imitator of Frankie Valli as both men possessed similar falsetto vocals, and the ability to change almost effortlessly between it and their normal registers.
Russ Columbo (1908 - 1934) singer, violinist and actor, perhaps most famous for his signature tune, "You Call It Madness, But I Call It Love", and the legend surrounding his early death[12]
Perry Como (1912-2001), born Pierino Ronald Como
Don Cornell (1919-2004), born Luigi Francisco Varlaro, a popular singer of the 1940s and 1950s.
Jim Croce (1943-1973), born James Joseph Croce.
Rivers Cuomo, born June 13, 1970.
Victor Damiani
Diana DeGarmo (1987 - ) runner-up on American Idol (Season 3)[13]
Johnny Desmond, born Giovanni Alfredo De Simone,(Detroit, Michigan, November 14, 1920-September 6, 1985) was a popular singer.
Tommy DeVito, (born June 19, 1936) is a musician and singer, most well-known as a member and the lead guitarist of the pop group The Four Seasons. He was born in Belleville, New Jersey.
Ani DiFranco (Italian American on her father's side)
Dion DiMucci (b. 1939), better known as Dion.
Jimmy Durante (1893-1980), born James Francis Durante.
Jessicka (born Jessica Fodera in Brooklyn)
Connie Francis (b. 1936), born Concetta Rosemarie Franconero, singer.
Bob Gaudio, (born November 17, 1942) is a singer, songwriter, and record producer from the Bronx, New York. He shot to musical fame at the age of 15 as a member of the Royal Teens when he co-wrote the hit "Short Shorts". For years afterward he seemed destined to be a one-hit wonder until he met Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi, all from Newark, New Jersey, forming the group that became the Four Seasons.
Mikalah Gordon (1988 - ) singer and eleventh-place finalist on the fourth season of American Idol[14]
Francesca Gregorini, (born Countess Francesca McKnight Donatella Romana Gregorini di Savingnano di Romagna in 1968) is a singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of Jewish/Irish American model Barbara Bach and Italian businessman Augusto Gregorini, and stepdaughter of Ringo Starr. Until 2004, she was engaged to actress Portia de Rossi.
Frankie Laine (b. 1913), born Frank Paul LoVecchio, one of the most successful singers in history.
Mario Lanza, (1921-1959), operatic tenor and Hollywood movie star.
Cyndi Lauper (part Italian)[30] "LR: How can you be Italian with a name like Lauper? CL: Lauper's my father's name. He's German and Swiss and my mom's Italian. So I'm German, Swiss and Sicilian. Kinda like cold cuts. [laughs] The German and the Italian in me are always fighting and the Swiss guy in the middle is goin', 'OK, let's talk here. Everybody calm down.' [both laugh]"
Lindsay Lohan - teen idol/pop singer/actress, part Italian[15]
Madonna (b. 1958) (half-Italian, half French-Canadian), born Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone.
Dean Martin (1917-1995), born Dino Paul Crocetti singer & actor
Al Martino, born October 7, 1927 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as Alfred Cini.
Nick Massi, (born Nicholas Macioci, September 19, 1935 - December 24, 2000) was the bass singer for the Four Seasons, born in Newark, New Jersey.
Tim McGraw (b. 1967), country music singer and actor, mother is of Italian descent.
Lou Monte, (1917-1989)
Stacie Orrico (1986 - ) contemporary Christian music/pop singer[16]
Frank Sinatra (1915-1998), Born in Hoboken, became one of the most popular singers in the twentieth century
Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Nancy Sinatra
Gwen Stefani, singer/musician, best known as lead singer of pop/ska band No Doubt (Italian father)
Richard "Richie" Stringini, member of US5
Marc Terenzi (b. 1978), pop star, songwriter
Frankie Valli, (born May 3, 1937 in the Italian First Ward of Newark, New Jersey as Francis Stephen Castelluccio) is best known as lead singer of The Four Seasons, one of the biggest music acts of the 1960s, which continued from then to the 1970s disco scene to the present day.
Timi Yuro, born Rosemarie Timotea Aurro (1940-2004)
Gerard Arthur Way, (born Newark, New Jersey1977- ) Italian mother, frontman and lead singer of My Chemical Romance, songwriter, artist. It's said that he will be releasing his comic book 'The Umbrella Academy' mid-2007
[edit] Stand-up comedians
Janeane Garofalo
Jay Leno (1950 - ) comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show[4]
[edit] Adult movie stars
Jewel De Nyle
Aria Giovanni
Jenna Jameson, born Jennifer Massoli.
Gina La Marca, Penthouse Pet of the Year 1995.
Jasmin St. Claire, of Sicilian descent.
Lilly Thai, of Italian, Filipino, and Hawaiian descent
[edit] Entertainers who can't be categorized
Toni Basil (b.1943), born Antonia Christina Basilotta, dancer, actress, singer
Judy Canova, born Juliette Canova, (November 20, 1913 - died August 5, 1983) was a comedienne, actress, singer, and radio personality.
Fabian (entertainer), (born February 6, 1943 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was a teen idol of the late 1950s and early 1960s. He rose to national prominence after performing several times on American Bandstand. Born Fabiano Anthony Bonaparte, he adopted the stage name Fabian Forte but has always been known by his first name only.
Frank Lentini, born Francesco A. Lentini (1889 - 1966) was born in Siracusa, Sicily into a large family. He was born with three longer legs, two sets of genitals and one rudimentary foot on his third leg. His primary legs also grew into different lengths. At the age of nine, Lentini moved to the United States and entered the sideshow business.
Rosina Ferrara (1861-1934) Model to 19th-century American and Britisth painters, muse of American expatriate artist John Singer Sargent.
[edit] Inventors
Gerard J. Foschini
Domingo Ghirardelli
The Jacuzzi family. This family of seven sons and six daughters came to America in 1907. In 1915, they formed the Jacuzzi Brothers Incorporated, which supplied the American military with propellers. In 1926, they developed the deep well water pump that led to the famous whirlpool bath.
Antonio Meucci, (b.1808), in June 2002, credited by the Congress of the United States with the invention of the telephone, instead of Alexander Graham Bell.
Nick LaRocca (1889-1961), self-proclaimed "inventor of jazz"
Lorenzo Ponza
Charles Ponzi, (1882-1949), one of the greatest swindlers in American history. Inventor of the Ponzi scheme technique.
Francis Rogallo, engineer at NASA, designed the Rogallo wing, which found its greatest success in hang gliders and kites.
Andrew Toti
Dr. Andrew Viterbi (b.1935), billionaire, cofounder of Qualcomm, inventor of the Viterbi algorithm. Was born in Bergamo, Italy to Sephardic Jewish parents and immigrated with them in 1939 to the United States as a refugee
Frank Zamboni
[edit] Jurists
Samuel Alito (b. 1950), Supreme Court Associate Justice.
Vincent Bugliosi (b.1934), successfully prosecuted Charles Manson and is also an expert on the John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy assassinations.
Antonin Scalia (b. 1936), Supreme Court Associate Justice.
John Sirica, judge most famous for presiding over the Watergate hearings.
[edit] Law enforcers
Joe Arpaio, born Joseph M. Arpaio (born June 14, 1932 in Springfield, Massachusetts) is a law enforcement officer, most notably as the Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona. Arpaio was the child of immigrants from Naples, Italy.
Donnie Brasco, undercover FBI agent
Louis Freeh, (born January 6, 1950 in Jersey City, New Jersey) was nominated by U.S. President Bill Clinton to be the Director of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The United States Senate confirmed him on August 6, 1993 and he served as FBI Director from September 1, 1993 until he resigned on June 25, 2001 just short of the official end of his 10-year term.
Rudolph Giuliani Early career was a US Attorney in S.D.N.Y., prosecuting high-profile cases, including Cosa Nostra cases
Frank Serpico
Joe Petrosino, NYCPD Lieutenant in charge of the Italian Squad, an elite corps of Italian-American detectives formed to fight the Mafia.
[edit] Mathematicians
Milton Sirotta, He is known for coining the word googol in 1920 when he was nine years old.
[edit] Media
Maria Bartiromo, financial reporter.
David Brancaccio, journalist.
Harry Caray (1914-1998), born Harry Christopher Carabina, sports broadcaster, did play-by-play for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, and (most famously) the Chicago Cubs. Cubs win! Cubs win!
Danny Casolaro
Anthony Cumia, Anthony of Opie and Anthony show.
Rob Marciano[31], news and weather anchor for the CNN News Group and is based in CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta. He joined CNN in May 2003
Mancow Muller, Chicago morning "shock-jock"
Ann Nocenti is a journalist, writer and editor known for her work on comic books and magazines.
Generoso Pope Jr. (1927-1988) was the founder of The National Enquirer.
Mark Ronchetti is a newscaster on Portland, Oregon's KOIN TV station, which is an affiliate of CBS. Ronchetti is Italian American of Sicilian descent.
[edit] Military
See also: List of Italian American Medal of Honor recipients
Sgt. John Basilone
Major Don Gentile, Dominic Salvatore Gentile (December 6, 1920 - January 28, 1951) was a U S Air Force officer.
Edmund P. Giambastiani, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Antonio Pierro, one of the oldest surviving veterans of World War I.
Gen. Anthony Zinni, former Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)
[edit] Politicians
See List of Italian American politicians by state
[edit] Governors and former governors
John Baldacci, governor of Maine, distant cousin of David Baldacci.
Donald Carcieri, governor of Rhode Island
Argeo Paul Cellucci (b. 1948), former governor of Massachusetts
Jon Corzine, Governor of New Jersey.
Mario Cuomo (b. 1932), former governor of New York
Edward D. DiPrete, former governor of Rhode Island
James Florio, former governor of New Jersey (1990-1994)
Foster Furcolo, former governor of Massachusetts (1957-1961)
Ella T. Grasso (1919-1981), born Ella Rose Tambussi Grasso, first woman to be elected governor of a state Connecticut without succeeding her husband.
Andrew H. Longino, former governor of Mississippi.
Janet Napolitano, governor of Arizona
John Orlando Pastore, former governor of Rhode Island
William Paca, signer of the American Declaration of Independence, member of the Continental Congress, governor of Maryland, Federal District Judge (ancient Italian ancestry)
George Pataki, governor of New York (Italian maternal grandparent)
Al Smith, former governor of New York (1919-1921;1923-1929), born Alfred Emanuele Ferrara, (paternal grandparent from Genoa, Italy)
John A. Volpe, governor of Massachusetts (1961-1963;1965-1969)
[edit] Mayors and former mayors
Joseph Alioto, mayor of San Francisco.
Thomas L. J. D'Alesandro, Jr., mayor of Baltimore (1947-1959)
Anthony Celebrezze mayor of Cleveland, Ohio born in Anzi, Potenza, Italy
Vincent Cianci, Jr, former mayor of Providence, Rhode Island
John DeStefano, Jr. mayor of New Haven, Connecticut
Frank Fasi, born Frank Francis Fasi (August 27, 1920) is a politician best known as the former Mayor of the City & County of Honolulu, Hawaii.
Rudolph Giuliani (b. 1944), Mayor of New York during 9/11
Dick A. Greco , former mayor of Tampa (1967-1974;1995-2003)
Pam Iorio (b. 1959), Mayor of Tampa, Florida since 2003
Vincent R. Impellitteri, (1900-1987) Mayor of New York (1950-1953), born in Isnello, Sicily.
Fiorello LaGuardia (1882-1947), congressman and Mayor of New York (father Italian)
Anthony M. Masiello mayor of Buffalo, New York
Thomas Menino (b.1942), mayor of Boston
Robert Maestri, former mayor of New Orleans (1936-1946)
George Moscone, former mayor of San Francisco
Charles Panici (born 1930) was mayor of Chicago Heights, Illinois from 1975 to 1991. He was born in 1930 in the “Hungry Hill” section of Chicago Heights, a south suburb, which was the home to mainly Italian immigrants in a heavily Italian town.
Frank Rizzo, mayor of Philadelphia
Angelo Rossi, former mayor of San Francisco
Victor Schiro, former mayor of New Orleans (1961-1969)
[edit] Prelates
Francis X. DiLorenzo, (born April 15, 1942) is a priest of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Honolulu in Hawaii. He is currently the twelfth bishop of the Diocese of Richmond in Virginia.
Msgr. Joseph Anthony Ferrario, (March 3, 1926-December 12, 2003) was the third bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu and served from 1982 to 1993.
James Groppi, born James Edmund Groppi, 1930-1985) was a Roman Catholic priest and noted civil rights activist. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Italian immigrant parents.
John Clement Favalora - Archbishop of the Latin Rite Archdiocese of Miami, FL, born in New Orleans, LA.
Joseph Rosati, (1789 - 1843) was a U.S. (Italian-born) Catholic bishop. He served as the first Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Louis between 1826 and 1843.
[edit] Cardinals
Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua, (b. June 17, 1923 at Brooklyn, New York) is an American priest who became an archbishop and cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Pittsburgh and Archbishop of Philadelphia. He was one of eleven children born to immigrant parents.
Justin Francis Rigali, (b. April 19, 1935 in Los Angeles County, California), is an American priest who became an archbishop and cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Archbishop of Philadelphia and has served as the Archbishop of St. Louis. His paternal grandfather was an Italian immigrant.
[edit] Scientists
Eugenio Calabi
Charles DeLisi
Renato Dulbecco
Federico Faggin
Robert Fano (b. 1917), computer scientist
Anthony Fauci is a native of Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Fauci has made seminal contributions to the understanding of how the AIDS virus destroys the body's defenses leading to its susceptibility to deadly infections. In 2003, an Institute for Scientific Information study indicated that in the twenty year period from 1983 to 2002, Dr. Fauci was the 13th most-cited scientist among the 2.5 to 3 million authors in all disciplines throughout the world who published articles in scientific journals during that time frame. Dr. Fauci was the ninth most-cited scientist in the field of immunology in the period from January 1993 to June 30, 2003. He serves on the editorial boards of many scientific journals; as an editor of Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine; and as author, coauthor, or editor of more than 1,000 scientific publications, including several textbooks.
Enrico Fermi (1901-1954), physicist
Robert Gallo
Albert Ghiorso nuclear scientist who helped discover several chemical elements on the periodic table
Riccardo Giacconi
Robert Lanza
Salvador Luria (Italian Sephardic Jewish)
Rita Levi-Montalcini (Italian Sephardic Jewish)
Franco Modigliani (Italian Sephardic Jewish)
William Daniel Phillips
Gian-Carlo Rota
Jack Sarfatti (Italian Sephardic Jewish)
Emilio Segrè (Italian Sephardic Jewish), Nobel-winning physicist and academic
Andrew Viterbi (Italian Sephardic Jewish)
Philip Zimbardo
[edit] Academics
Mario Capecchi at the University of Utah
A. Bartlett Giamatti (1938-1989), academic, Major League Baseball commissioner (Italian father)
Robert Gallucci Dean of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University
Lino Graglia at the University of Texas in Austin
[edit] Sports
See also List of members of the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
[edit] Athletes
Luis Monti, athlete
Mary Lou Retton (b. 1968), Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics (original family name was Rotunda, changed by her grandfather)
[edit] Baseball
Yogi Berra (b.1925), born Lawrence Peter Berra. Former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball. The Hanna-Barbera cartoon character Yogi Bear was named after him.
Craig Biggio (born December 14, 1965 in Smithtown, NY), baseball player
Roy Campanella (1921-1993), Baseball Hall of Fame (Italian father)
Dom DiMaggio {b. 1917), baseball player
Joe DiMaggio (1914-1999), Baseball Hall of Fame Considered the greatest Italian-American athlete ever
Vince DiMaggio (1912-1986), baseball player
Sal Fasano
Carl Furillo, baseball player
John Franco, relief pitcher
Joe Garagiola He grew up in an Italian-American neighborhood in St. Louis known as The Hill. He was a talented athlete, as was his childhood friend and competitor, Yogi Berra. When they were teenagers Garagiola was considered the better baseball prospect by pro scouts, although in his writing Garagiola is always complimentary about Berra's ability.
Jason Giambi
Joe Girardi
Tony Graffanino
Jason Grilli (1976 - ) right-handed pitcher who currently plays for the Detroit Tigers[17]
Tommy Lasorda
Tony La Russa, born Anthony La Russa, Jr. (born October 4, 1944, in Tampa, Florida) is a manager in Major League Baseball, currently with the St. Louis Cardinals. He is ranked third all-time for total number of career wins, trailing only Connie Mack (3,731) and John McGraw (2,763). He is one of only two managers to be named Manager of the Year in both of baseball's major leagues.
Tony Lazzeri
Ernie Lombardi
Paul Lo Duca (1972 - ) catcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the New York Mets[18]
Sal Maglie, born Salvatore Anthony Maglie.
Billy Martin, born Alfred Manuel Martin, a.k.a. Alfred Manuel Pesano, "The Brat," "Billy the Kid," (May 16, 1928 - December 25, 1989), American baseball player and manager, was the manager of the New York Yankees five different times and won three league championships and one World Series as manager. Born and raised in Berkeley, California, Martin was born to a father of Portuguese descent and a mother of Italian ancestry, who separated after Martin was born. Martin was raised by his mother, who doted on her son, frequently calling him "bella," or "beautiful" in Italian. This was the origin of his nickname "Billy."
Lee Mazzilli
Leo Mazzone
Lou Merloni
Don Mossi (b. 1929)
Mike Mussina
Sam Perlozzo
Mike Piazza (b. 1968)
Vic Raschi
Phil Rizzuto (b.1917), born Philip Francis Rizzuto
Mike Scioscia
Joe Torre
Bobby Valentine
Reno Bertoia Born Udine, Italy, utility infielder 1953-62 mostly for Detroit Tigers.
[edit] Basketball
Tom Izzo (b. 1955), basketball coach
Rick Pitino (b. 1952), basketball coach
Jim Valvano (1946-1993), basketball coach and sportscaster
Dick Vitale (b. 1939), basketball coach and sportscaster
[edit] Billiards players
Willie Mosconi, born William Joseph Mosconi (June 27, 1913–September 12, 1993), an American billiards player from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is considered by most who knew him to be one of the best players in the history of the game. Between the years of 1941 and 1956, he won the United States states pool championship eighteen times. He pioneered and regularly employed numerous trickshots, set innumerable records, and helped to popularize the game of billiards as a national recreation activity. Willie Mosconi once ran 526 balls in a row in an exhibition of straight pool, a record that may never be beaten. He continued to dominate pool into the mid 1950s in a manner few have equaled. The Mosconi Cup, an annual pool competition between American and European players, is named in his honor.
[edit] Boxers
Lou Ambers (1913-1995), born Luigi d'Ambrosio, boxer.
Carmen Basilio
Battling Battalino
Tony Canzoneri (1908-1959) boxer[19]
Cus D'Amato (1908 - 1985) boxing manager and trainer, handled the careers of Floyd Patterson, Jose Torres, and (initially) Mike Tyson[20]
Angelo Dundee (b.1923), born Angelo Merena, boxing trainer.
Lou Duva (b.1922), boxing trainer.
Tony Galento
Frankie Genaro
Joey Giardello (b.1930), born Carmine Orlando Tilelli, boxing star during the 1950s and 1960s.
Rocky Graziano
Pete Herman (1896-1973), born Peter Gulotta, was one of the all time great bantamweight world champions.
Harry Jeffra (b. 1914), born Ignacio Guiffo
Rocky Kansas (1895-1954), born Rocco Tozzo, former lightweight champion of the world.
Fidel La Barba
Jake LaMotta, (b.1921), a former boxer whose life is portrayed in the 1980s movie Raging Bull. The "Bronx Bull" was played by Robert DeNiro.
Ray Mancini
Rocky Marciano (1924-1969), boxer, only heavyweight champion to retire undefeated
Joey Maxim (1922-2001), born Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli, boxer, world light heavyweight champion.
Willie Pastrano
Vinny Paz (1962), multiple world champion, born as Vinny Pazienza.
Willie Pep (b.1922), born Gugliemo Papaleo
Mike Rossman (Italian father)
Johnny Wilson (1893-1985), born Giovanni Panica, boxer.
Young Corbett III,born Raffaele Capabianca Giordano (May 27, 1905 in Potenza, Campania, Italy, d. 1993) was the world welterweight boxing champion.
[edit] Figure skaters
Brian Boitano
[edit] Football
Alan Ameche
Mark Bavaro
Joe Bellino
Angelo Bertelli
Tony Boselli
Nick Buoniconti
Gino Cappelletti
John Cappelletti
Jason Fabini
Anthony Fasano
Franco Harris (Italian mother)
Larry Izzo (Italian father) linebacker and special teams captain for the New England Patriots
Lou Little
Vince Lombardi, (1913-1970), legendary football coach.
Dan Marino (b.1961), Hall of Fame quarterback for the Miami Dolphins widely regarded to be the "greatest passer in NFL history"
Joe Montana (b.1956), widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL.
Leo Nomellini
Bill Parcells, football coach
Joe Paterno, legendary football coach for Penn State.
Brian Piccolo
Tony Romo
Greg Schiano
Paul Tagliabue
Vinny Testaverde
Dick Vermeil, football coach
Gino Marchetti
Adam Vinatieri
[edit] Golfers
Mark Calcavecchia
Fred Couples (Father changed family name from Coppola)
Chris DiMarco
Gene Sarazen
Ken Venturi
Phil Mickelson (Mothers side); Served Italian dinner when playing host at the Masters
[edit] Horse racers
Eddie Arcaro, (February 19, 1916–November 4, 1997) was athoroughbred horse-racing jockey. He was born George Edward Arcaro in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Christian Agnew Greek-Italian
[edit] Ice hockey players
Tony Amonte
Tom Barrasso
Luciano Borsato
Frank Caprice
Dino Ciccarelli
Enrico Ciccone
Mike Eruzione
Lou Franceschetti
Brian Gionta
Cammi Granato
Tony Granato
Mike Modano
Jason Spezza
[edit] Race car drivers
Mario Andretti: (b. 1940), auto racing legend
Michael Andretti: 1991 IndyCar champion, son of Mario
John Andretti: NASCAR driver, nephew of Mario
Ralph DePalma (January 23, 1884 – March 31, 1956) was an Italian-American racecar driving champion. Born in Troia, Foggia, Apulia, Italy, DePalma's family emigrated to the United States when he was eight years old. In 1911, DePalma won what today is referred to as the first IndyCar championship racing series that began with the Milwaukee Mile Championship Car Race over a dirt oval in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1912 and again in 1914, DePalma won the Elgin National Trophy at Elgin, Illinois and in 1914 he scored what he called his greatest victory when he beat Barney Oldfield to capture the Vanderbilt Cup in Santa Monica, California.Things got even better that year when he again won his second U.S. national driving championship. The following year he drove to victory at the 1915 Indianapolis 500.
[edit] Skiing
Julia Mancuso (1984 - ) alpine skier; won a gold medal in the Giant Slalom race at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin[21]
[edit] Soccer
Bruce Arena, head FootballFll coach for the United States National Mens Football team.
Patrick Ianni (1985 - ) soccer defensive midfielder, plays for Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer[22]
Pablo Mastroeni
Giuseppe Rossi
[edit] Swimmers
Matt Biondi, born Matthew Nicholas Biondi (October 8, 1965 in Palo Alto) is an Olympic swimmer. He swam in the 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympics, and won seven medals in the 1988 Summer Olympics alone (5 were gold medals). In total he has won eleven Olympics medals (eight gold, two silver and a bronze medal) in three Olympics.
[edit] Tennis players
Jennifer Capriati, professional tennis player
[edit] Wrestlers
Ashley Massaro, current WWE Diva.
John Cena, 3-time WWE Champion, 3-time U.S. Champion. Also a rapper and an actor.
Sal Graziano, former ECW wrestler
Hulk Hogan, born Terry Bollea.
Joey Marella was a professional wrestling referee. He was the son of legendary wrestler Gorilla Monsoon.
Gorilla Monsoon, born Robert Otto Marella.
Lisa Moretti, born Lisa Mary Moretti (November 26, 1961 in Torrance, California), best known by her stage name of Ivory is a professional wrestler most famous as a wrestler and host for World Wrestling Entertainment.
Chuck Palumbo, born Charles Ronald Palumbo is a professional wrestler who has previously performed for the WCW and WWE. Together with Nunzio and Johnny Stamboli, he founded the stable of the F.B.I. (Full Blooded Italians).
Angelo Poffo
Lanny Poffo, known as "Leaping Lanny" or "The Genius", son of Angelo Poffo, brother to Randy Savage.
Paul Roma
Mike Rotundo best known as "Irwin R Schyster", wrestled with the WWF from 1991 to 2004.
Bruno Sammartino, born Bruno Laopardo Franceso Sammartino (October 6, 1936 in Abruzzo, Italy), is a former professional wrestler. As a child he and his family hid in caves from German soldiers during the latter stages of World War II; around 1951 he came to the United States, settling in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "The Italian Strongman" has often been called the "Living Legend" of professional wrestling and is considered one of the greatest performers professional wrestling has ever known.
Peter Senerca former professional wrestler also known as Tazz.
Nunzio, born James Maritato professional wrestler 2-time cruiserweight champion with WWE.
Johnny Stamboli
"Macho Man" Randy Savage, born Randy Poffo
[edit] Writers
David Baldacci, brother of John Baldacci, current governor of Maine
John Ciardi, poet and etymologist
Gregory Corso, poet
Anthony Damiani, philosopher
Don DeLillo, (b.1936), author best known for his novels.
Pietro Di Donato, writer
John Fante, novelist and screenwriter
Lawrence Ferlinghetti, poet
David Franzoni, screenwriter of Gladiator and King Arthur.
Paul Gallico (Italian father)
Nikki Giovanni, poet and author
Arturo Giovannitti poet, political activist
Barbara Grizzuti Harrison (1934-2002), writer
Evan Hunter aka Ed MacBain born Salvatore Lombino
Philip Lamantia
Teresa de Lauretis
Luis Marden, born Annibale Luis Paragallo, writer for National Geographic
Camille Paglia, post-feminist literary and cultural critic
Michael Parenti
Mario Pei
Joseph D. Pistone
Diane di Prima, poet of the Beat generation
Mario Puzo (1920-1999), The Godfather author
Terry Rossio, screenwriter
R.A. Salvatore,(1959), born Robert Anthony Salvatore is a science fiction and fantasy author best known for his Forgotten Realms and Star Wars novels. Has sold over 10.000.000 books.
Piero Scaruffi, poet, historian, scientist
Gay Talese
[edit] Italian Americans who were the first in achieving something
Frank Borzage, for his 1927 film, Seventh Heaven he became the first person ever to win the Academy Award for Directing.
Anthony Celebrezze, (1910-1998), born in Anzi, Potenza, Italy and the first non-native to be appointed to the U.S.Cabinet as Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare under the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations.
Ella T. Grasso (1919-1981), born Ella Rose Tambussi Grasso, first woman to be elected governor of a state Connecticut without succeeding her husband.
Dennis Tito (b.1940), the world's first space tourist. Growing up in Queens, New York, with immigrant parents who truly believed in the American Dream. After his space trip, Tito reflected: "The experience taught me that I could achieve anything if I set my mind to it."
Joe Valachi (1904-1971), the first wiseguy to squeal to the senate about organized crime.
Rudolph Valentino (1895-1926), born Rodolfo Alfonso Rafaello Piero Filiberto Gugliemi di Valentina d'Antoguolla, Hollywood's first sex symbol and the first "Latin Lover"
[edit] Italian Americans who cannot be categorized
Diana Masieri Byfield current spouse of Robert McNamara [32]
Michael Chiarello, (born January 26, 1962 in Red Bluff, California) is an American celebrity chef specializing in Italian-influenced California cuisine. He hosts the cooking shows Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello on the Food Network and hosts NapaStyle on the Fine Living Network. [23]
Giada De Laurentiis (1970 - ) chef, currently host of the Food Network program Everyday Italian
Annette Funicello (born October 22, 1942) was one of Walt Disney's most popular Mouseketeers. Born in Utica, New York, USA to an Italian-American family, she took dancing and music lessons as a child and was discovered by Disney while performing in Swan Lake. Her family moved to southern California when she was an adolescent. She was cast as one of the original "Mouseketeers", and went on to television roles in Zorro and Elfego Baca, and Disney-produced movies such as The Shaggy Dog, Babes in Toyland, The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, and The Monkey's Uncle.
Kitty Genovese, born Catherine Genovese (1935 - March 13, 1964) was a New York City woman who was stabbed to death near her home in the Kew Gardens section of Queens, New York. The circumstances of her murder and the apparent action (or inaction) of her neighbors were sensationalized by a newspaper article published two weeks later and prompted investigation into the psychological phenomenon that became known as the bystander effect or Genovese syndrome.
Rachael Ray, chef/Emmy-winning television personality/author[24]
John Scarne, (1903-1985), born Orlando Carmelo Scarnecchia, a world famous gambling expert and one of the best sleight-of-hand card performers in history.
Mary Schiavo, former Inspector General of the United States Department of Transportation
Michael Schiavo, ex-husband of Terri Schiavo, the woman whose medical condition and subsequent court case garnered much media attention
Jack Valenti, (b.1921), of Sicilian heritage, longtime president of the Motion Picture Association of America (1966-2004).
Robert Venturi, architect