List of people from Boston

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "List of people from Boston" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

This is a list of people who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with the city of Boston, Massachusetts and its surrounding metropolitan statistical area.

• 7L & Esoteric – rap group

• Joel Abbot (1776–1826) – naval officer^[1]
• Amos Abbott (1786–1868) – born in Westford, member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts^[1]
• Austin Abbott (1831–1896) – born in Boston; lawyer, novelist, and academic^[1]
• Benjamin Vaughan Abbott (1830–1890) – born in Boston, lawyer and legal writer^[1]
• Joseph Carter Abbott (1825–1882) – publisher of the Boston Bee^[1]
• Josiah Gardner Abbott (1814–1891) – member of United States House of Representatives^[1]
• Abdul-Malik Abu (born 1995) – basketball player in the Israeli Premier Basketball League
• Edith Achilles (1892–1989) – psychologist
• Abigail Adams (1744–1818) – born in Weymouth, First Lady of the United States^[1]
• Abijah Adams (1754–1816) – born in Boston, journalist, often embroiled in lawsuits against him^[1]
• Charles Francis Adams Sr. (1807–1886) – born in Boston; son of Abigail Adams and John Adams; Congressman; diplomat; writer^[1]
• Edwin Adams (1834–1877) – born in Medford, 19th-century stage actor^[1]
• Eliphalet Adams (1677–1753) – born in Medford, clergyman and missionary^[1]
• Hannah Adams (1755–1831) – born in Medfield, famous Christian writer^[1]
• Henry Adams (1838–1918) – born in Boston, journalist, historian, academic and novelist^[1]
• Jasper Adams (1793–1841) – born in Medway, clergyman and college president^[1]
• Nehemiah Adams (1806–1878) – clergyman and author^[1]
• Sammy Adams – musician^[2]
• Samuel Adams – American Revolution patriot, signer of the Declaration of Independence^[3]
• Aerosmith – band^[4]
• Ben Affleck – Academy Award-winning actor, screenwriter and director, brother of Casey^[5]
• Casey Affleck – Academy Award-winning actor, brother of Ben^[6]
• George Aiken (1830–1876) – born in Boston, actor and playwright^[1]
• Amos T. Akerman (1821–1880) – United States Attorney General, born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire^[1]
• Akrobatik – hip hop artist, member of The Perceptionists^[7]
• Al B. Sure – singer^[8]
• Harriet Ryan Albee (1829–1873) – born and died in Boston; social reformer and philanthropist^[9]
• Mildred Albert (1905–1991) – fashion show producer and radio and television personality
• Louisa May Alcott – 19th-century author of Little Women^[10]
• Horatio Alger Jr. – author^[11]
• Fred Allen – radio comedian^[12]
• Frederick Lewis Allen – writer^[13]
• Joseph Allen (1749–1827) – born in Boston, United States Congressman^[1]
• Nathaniel M. Allen – soldier in Civil War, awarded Congressional Medal of Honor^[14]
• The Almighty RSO – rap group^{[citation needed]}
• John Amaechi – NBA player^[15]
• American Hi-Fi – band^{[citation needed]}
• American Nightmare – hardcore band
• Amerie – R&B artist^{[citation needed]}
• Ed Ames – actor and singer^{[citation needed]}
• Tony Amonte – NHL player^[16]
• Leroy Anderson – composer for Boston Pops Orchestra^[17]
• Mary Antin – author^[18]
• Apollo Sunshine – band^{[citation needed]}
• Thomas Gold Appleton (1812–1884) – writer^[1]
• Isabel Atkin – British–American skier and Olympic medalist for Great Britain^[19]
• Crispus Attucks – American Revolution patriot^[20]
• Red Auerbach – Boston Celtics coach and president, Basketball Hall of Famer^[21]
• John Augustus (1785–1859) – born in Boston, philanthropist and pioneer of probation^[1]
• James Trecothick Austin (1784–1870) – born in Boston, member of Massachusetts General Court and Massachusetts Attorney General^[1]
• Jonathan Loring Austin (1748–1826) – born in Boston; officer in American Revolutionary War; Massachusetts state representative, senator, secretary, and treasurer^[1]

• Bad Rabbits – band^{[citation needed]}
• Arthur Baker – rap DJ, music producer^{[citation needed]}
• Bang Camaro – rock band^{[citation needed]}
• Sasha Banks – WWE wrestler, former WWE Raw Women's Champion, former NXT Women's Champion
• Maria Barrett – US Army Major General; older sister of US Army General Paula Lodi^[22][23]
• Dana Barros – former NBA player^[24]
• Zered Bassett – professional skateboarder^[25]
• Benjamin E. Bates – founder and namesake of Bates College^[26]
• Ruth Batson – civil rights and education activist^[27]
• Susan Batson – actress, author, and producer; daughter of Ruth Batson^{[citation needed]}
• Peter D. Bear – Wisconsin State Senator^[28]
• Bell Biv DeVoe – music group^{[citation needed]}
• Gaston Bell – stage and silent film actor^{[citation needed]}
• Tobin Bell – actor (born in Queens, NY, raised in Weymouth)^{[citation needed]}
• Mark Bellhorn – MLB player^[29]
• Asher Benjamin – architect and author^[30]
• Cora Agnes Benneson – attorney, lecturer, and writer^[31]
• Frank Weston Benson – Impressionist artist^[32]
• Rick Berlin – musician^{[citation needed]}
• Leonard Bernstein – New York Philharmonic conductor, composer and pianist^[33]
• Big D and the Kids Table – band^{[citation needed]}
• Big Shug – rapper^[34]
• Traci Bingham – actress, model^{[citation needed]}
• Mike Birbiglia – comedian^{[citation needed]}
• Molly Birnbaum – writer^[35]
• William Blackstone (also spelled Blaxton) – first European settler
• Arthur Blake – athlete
• Will Blalock – former NBA player for ^[36]
• David Blatt (born 1959) – Israeli-American basketball player and coach (most recently, for the Cleveland Cavaliers)^[37]
• C. L. Blood – physician^[38]
• Matt Bloom – NFL player and professional wrestler, known for his time in WWE^{[citation needed]}
• Michael Bloomberg – former Mayor of New York City^[39]
• Bob and Ray – comedy team^[40]
• Ernie Boch Jr. – president of Boch Enterprises^[41]
• Ray Bolger – actor and dancer, Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz
• Veda Ann Borg – film actress
• Boston – band^{[citation needed]}
• Boys Like Girls – band^{[citation needed]}
• Ron Brace – NFL player, New England Patriots^[42]
• Nathaniel Jeremiah Bradlee – architect^[43]
• William J. Bratton – chief of police for NYPD and LAPD^[44]
• Connie Britton – actress
• John Britton – abortion provider^[45]
• Edward W. Brooke – first African American elected by popular vote to United States Senate^[46]
• Bobby Brown – singer^{[citation needed]}
• Carolyn Brown – dancer, writer, choreographer^{[citation needed]}
• Earle Brown – composer^{[citation needed]}
• Lexie Brown – basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks^[47]
• Sam Brown – comedian from IFC sketch comedy show Whitest Kids U' Know^{[citation needed]}
• Scott Brown – U.S. Senator^[48]
• William B. Broydrick – Wisconsin State Assemblyman^[49]
• Aimee Buchanan (born 1993) – American-born Olympic figure skater for Israel
• Charles Bulfinch – architect who designed Massachusetts State House, original United States Capitol dome and rotunda^[50]
• James "Whitey" Bulger – organized crime boss^{[citation needed]}
• Ephraim Wales Bull – creator of the concord grape ^[51]
• Thomas Burke – sprinter
• Bill Burr – comedian
• Edwin C. Burt – shoemaker^{[citation needed]}
• Bury Your Dead – band^{[citation needed]}
• George H. W. Bush – 41st President of The United States^{[citation needed]}
• Vannevar Bush – scientist^{[citation needed]}

• C60 – band^{[citation needed]}
• Louis C.K. – comedian and actor^{[citation needed]}
• Will Calhoun – drummer for Living Colour (born in NY, lived in Boston)^{[citation needed]}
• Steve Carell – actor and comedian, The Office, The Daily Show, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Despicable Me^{[citation needed]}
• The Cars – band^{[citation needed]}
• Melnea Cass – community and civil rights activist^[52]
• Peggy Cass – actress and TV game show panelist^{[citation needed]}
• John Cazale – actor, The Godfather, The Deer Hunter, Dog Day Afternoon^{[citation needed]}
• John Cena – professional wrestler, known for his time in WWE^{[citation needed]}
• Nicholas Raymond Cerio – founder of Nick Cerio's Kenpo^[53]
• Kevin Chapman – actor^[54]
• Julius Caesar Chappelle – Massachusetts legislator^[55]
• Ken Cheeseman – actor^{[citation needed]}
• Gary Cherone – singer (Extreme and Van Halen)^{[citation needed]}
• Michael Chiklis – actor, The Shield^[56]
• Neil Cicierega – Internet personality, created Potter Puppet Pals^{[citation needed]}
• Lenny Clarke – comedian and actor^{[citation needed]}
• The Click Five – band^{[citation needed]}
• Alex Cobb – baseball pitcher^{[citation needed]}
• John A. Collins – Chief of Chaplains of the U.S. Air Force^[57]
• Misha Collins – actor^{[58][circular reference]}
• Jerry Colonna – entertainer^[59]
• Greg Comella – NFL fullback^[60]
• James Bryant Conant – chemist, 23rd president of Harvard University
• Dane Cook – comedian and actor^[61]
• Calvin Coolidge – 30th President of the United States
• Harriet Abbott Lincoln Coolidge – author, philanthropist, reformer^[62]
• Jennifer Coolidge – actress, American Pie, A Mighty Wind, Legally Blonde^[63]
• Miriam O'Leary Collins – actress^[64]
• John Singleton Copley – artist^[65]
• Chick Corea – Grammy Award-winning jazz musician and composer^{[citation needed]}
• Jeff Corwin – TV personality^{[citation needed]}
• Aisha Cousins (born 1978) – artist/performance art score writer^[66]
• Lynne Cox – professional swimmer^[67]
• Charlie Coyle (born 1992) – hockey player
• Zach Cregger – actor, comedian, star of the IFC sketch comedy series WKUK^{[citation needed]}
• Norm Crosby – comedian^[68]
• Marcia Cross – actress, Desperate Housewives^{[citation needed]}
• James Michael Curley – Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts Governor, and U.S. Representative^[69]
• Jane Curtin – actress and comedian^[70]
• Johnny Curtis – professional wrestler, known for his time in WWE^{[citation needed]}
• Thomas Curtis (1873–1944) – athlete
• Richard Cushing – Archbishop of Boston and Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church^{[citation needed]}
• Susan Webb Cushman (1822–1859) – stage actress^[71]
• Jay Cutler – 4x IFBB Mr. Olympia, bodybuilder

• Joey Daccord – ice hockey goaltender
• Dick Dale – musician^[72]
• Matt Damon – actor and Oscar-winning screenwriter, Good Will Hunting, The Departed, Ocean's Eleven and Bourne Identity series^[73]
• Evan Dando – musician^[74]
• Duncan Daniels – Nigerian-American afropop and afrobeat musician, producer and songwriter
• Bette Davis – Academy Award-winning actress, Dark Victory, Jezebel, All About Eve
• Daniel Davis Jr. – nineteenth century inventor
• Geena Davis – Academy Award-winning actress, The Accidental Tourist
• Henry Dearborn – physician, general, and politician
• Henry Alexander Scammell Dearborn – lawyer, author, statesman, soldier, Mayor of Roxbury; son of Henry Dearborn
• Death Before Dishonor – band
• Patrick DeCoste – musician
• Manny Delcarmen – MLB pitcher
• Becky DelosSantos – Playboy Playmate centerfold, April 1994
• Brad Delp – singer
• Tony DeMarco – boxer, welterweight champion, born 1932 in North End
• Paul Demayo – IFBB professional bodybuilder
• Joseph Dennie – writer
• Joe Derrane (1930–2016) – accordion player
• Michael Dertouzos (1936–2001) – computer scientist
• Albert DeSalvo – serial killer known as "The Boston Strangler"
• Jack DeSena – actor, played Sokka in Avatar: The Last Airbender
• P. T. Deutermann – author
• Diamante – rock singer
• Dinosaur Jr. – band
• Rick DiPietro – NHL goaltender (from Boston suburbs)
• Tony Dize – reggaeton singer
• Ken Doane – professional wrestler, known for his time in WWE
• William P. Doyle – commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission
• The Dresden Dolls – punk cabaret duo
• Robert Drinan – former U.S. Congressman
• Drop Nineteens – band
• Dropkick Murphys – band
• Shem Drowne – America's first weathervane maker
• W. E. B. Du Bois – scholar, professor; first African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard; founder of NAACP
• Joseph Dudley – Colonial Governor of Massachusetts
• Michael Dukakis – Massachusetts governor, US presidential candidate in 1988
• William C. Durant – founder of General Motors
• Adam Duritz – singer-songwriter for Counting Crows (born in Baltimore, lived in Boston)
• Eliza Dushku – actress
• Mary Dyer – martyr

• Ed O.G. – hip hop artist
• Ayo Edebiri – actress
• Ryan Edell (born 1983) – professional baseball player
• Adam Edelman (born 1991) – American-born four-time Israeli National Champion in skeleton event, and Israeli Olympian
• Richard J. Egan – founder and chairman of EMC Corporation
• Charles H. Eglee – television screenwriter
• Jeremy Elbertson – livestreamer, YouTuber, and internet comedian
• Charles C. Eldredge – art historian and educator
• Ralph Waldo Emerson – essayist, lecturer, poet
• Ernie and the Automatics – band
• Mike Eruzione – captain of USA's 1980 Winter Olympics hockey team (from Boston suburbs)
• Julius Erving – Basketball Hall of Famer, UMass, New York Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
• William Eustis – early American statesman, Governor of Massachusetts
• Chris Evans – actor, known for role as "Captain America"
• Patrick Ewing – Basketball Hall of Famer, NCAA champion, center for New York Knicks
• Patrick Ewing Jr. – NBA player, New York Knicks, New Orleans Hornets
• Extreme – band

• Louis Farrakhan – head of Nation of Islam
• Charles Farrell – actor
• Spike Feresten – screenwriter and television personality
• John Ferruggio – led evacuation of Pan Am Flight 93, hijacked in 1970^[75]
• Arthur Fiedler – Boston Pops orchestra conductor
• Charles L. Fletcher – architect and interior designer; owner of Charles Fletcher Design
• Doug Flutie – Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Boston College; AFL, CFL, and NFL player, television commentator
• Robert Bennet Forbes – sea captain, China trader
• Ben Foster – actor (born in Boston)
• Dwight Foster – Massachusetts Attorney General; associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court^[76]
• Jon Foster – actor (born in Boston)
• Toby Fox – composer and video game developer known best for creating Undertale
• Arlene Francis – actress, radio and TV personality (What's My Line?)
• Black Francis – of the band Pixies
• Benjamin Franklin – author, public servant, diplomat, signer of the Declaration of Independence
• Bettina Freeman – opera singer
• Robert Frost – iconic poet

• The G-Clefs – Top 40 soul group
• Tony Gaffney (born 1984) – basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Greg Gagne – MLB player
• Ryan Gallant – professional skateboarder (Plan B Skateboards, DC Shoes)
• Gang Green – band
• Gang Starr – rap group
• Erle Stanley Gardner – lawyer, author, creator of Perry Mason
• Kevin Garnett – retired professional basketball player
• Edmund H. Garrett – prolific 19th- and 20th-century book illustrator and artist
• Althea Garrison – politician and first known transgender member of a state legislature in the United States^[77]
• Peter Gerety – actor
• Elbridge Gerry – signer of Declaration of Independence; Governor of Massachusetts; Vice President of the United States; gave his name to "gerrymandering"
• Kahlil George Gibran – sculptor
• Charles Dana Gibson – illustrator
• Joy Giovanni – professional wrestler, known for her time in WWE
• Paul Michael Glaser – actor and director, Starsky & Hutch
• Tom Glavine – Hall of Fame baseball pitcher for Atlanta Braves
• Sumner Jules Glimcher – professor, author and filmmaker
• Godsmack – band
• Jared Goldberg – Olympic skier
• Duff Goldman – star of Food Network TV show Ace of Cakes (born in Detroit, lived in MA)
• Ezekiel Goldthwait (1710–1782) – prominent in town affairs in the years leading up to the American Revolution
• Benjamin Gould – astronomer
• Robert Goulet – Grammy Award-winning singer and Tony-winning actor (born in Lawrence)
• Paul Graham – hacker, painter, essayist, tech startup guru
• Kaz Grala – NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver, youngest ever to win a NASCAR Touring Series race
• Geoffrey Gray (born 1997) – American-Israeli professional basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Jane Loring Gray – editor
• Ari Graynor – actress
• Clark Gregg – actor
• Justine Greiner – Playboy Playmate centerfold, February 1984
• Mike Grier – NHL player
• Tammy Grimes – actress, singer
• Hattie Tyng Griswold (1842–1909) – author, poet
• Loyd Grossman – author, broadcaster, musician and businessman
• Matt Grzelcyk – NHL player
• Bill Guerin – NHL player
• Louise Gunning – musical actress
• Guru – rapper, member of Gang Starr
• Guster – band
• Jasmine Guy – actress and singer

• Betsy Hager – farmer and blacksmith who produced weapons for the American Revolution
• Marvelous Marvin Hagler – middleweight boxing champion of the world
• Edward Everett Hale – author
• Jack Haley – actor, known as Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz
• Anthony Michael Hall – actor, The Breakfast Club, The Dead Zone
• Marc-André Hamelin – pianist, composer
• John Hancock – statesman, signer of Declaration of Independence
• Noah Hanifin – ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2015
• Kay Hanley – musician
• G Hannelius – actress
• Bob Hansen – MLB player
• Hannah Hanson Kinney – alleged serial killer
• Beth Harrington – filmmaker and musician
• Maggie Hassan – United States Senator and former governor of New Hampshire
• Matt Hasselbeck – NFL quarterback for the Tennessee Titans
• Tim Hasselbeck – NFL quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals
• Juliana Hatfield – musician
• Have Heart – hardcore band
• Kevin Hayes – NHL player
• Roy Haynes – jazz musician
• Heads of State – music group
• Ed Healey – NFL Hall of Fame player for Chicago Bears
• William Hooper – North Carolina signer of United States Declaration of Independence
• Armand Van Helden – DJ
• Andrew Mark Henry – Scholar of religion and YouTuber
• Ed Herlihy – radio and television announcer
• John Michael Higgins – game show TV host/cartoon narrator
• Rich Hill – MLB pitcher
• Karl Hobbs – George Washington University basketball coach
• Oliver Wendell Holmes – physician and author
• Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. – U. S. Supreme Court Justice
• Winslow Homer – artist
• Michelle Hoover – author
• The Hope Conspiracy – hardcore band
• Allen Hoskins – actor
• Joan Imogen Howard – educator
• Christine Hunschofsky – politician

• Dorothy Iannone (1933–2022) – visual artist
• Ice Nine Kills – music group
• Isis – music group

• Shar Jackson – actress
• Jada – pop and R&B singing group signed to UniversalMotown
• Marie Jansen – musical actress^[78]
• Jerma – Twitch streamer, YouTuber
• Martin Johnson – lead singer of Boys Like Girls
• Thomas Johnston – engraver, organ builder, japanner, and heraldic painter
• JoJo – singer, actress
• Julia Jones – actress
• Sam Jones III – actor, Glory Road
• Darin Jordan – NFL player
• Rebecca Richardson Joslin – author, lecturer, benefactor, clubwoman
• Jujubee – drag queen
• Tom Jung – art director, graphic designer, illustrator, storyboard artist

• Madeline Kahn – actress, Blazing Saddles
• Mindy Kaling – actress, The Office
• Alex Karalexis – UFC, WEC fighter
• Karmin – musical group
• Robert Kelly – actor, comedian
• Edward "Ted" Kennedy (1932–2009) – longtime Massachusetts Senator
• John F. Kennedy – Massachusetts Senator and 35th President of the United States
• Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. – ambassador; father of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Edward Kennedy
• Myles Kennedy – singer, songwriter
• Robert F. "Bobby" Kennedy – U.S. Attorney General and New York Senator
• Jack Kerouac – beat poet and writer
• Nancy Kerrigan – Olympic figure skating silver medalist
• John Kerry – U.S. Secretary of State, longtime Massachusetts Senator (1985–2013) and presidential candidate in 2004
• Keytar Bear – keytarist in a bear costume who commonly performs at MBTA stations^[79][80]
• Killswitch Engage – metalcore band
• John King – CNN chief political correspondent^[81]
• Kofi Kingston – professional wrestler, known for his time in WWE (born in Ghana, lived in Boston)
• Jonathan Knight – singer, dancer (New Kids on the Block)
• Jordan Knight – singer, dancer (New Kids on the Block)
• Henry Knox – first U.S. Secretary of War, Founding Father, Senior General in the Continental Army under Washington
• Yitzhak Aharon Korff – Grand Rabbi, diplomat, international consultant
• Lauren Koslow – soap opera actress
• Walter "Killer" Kowalski – professional wrestler, teacher, photographer
• Bob Kraft – owner of the New England Patriots
• John Krasinski – actor (Jim Halpert in NBC's The Office)
• Sol Kumin – businessman, philanthropist and racehorse owner

• Phil Labonte – musician
• PJ Ladd – professional skateboarder
• Liz LaManche – public artist
• Jack Landron – folk singer, songwriter
• Robert Lanza – medical doctor and scientist
• Lewis Howard Latimer – inventor
• Denis Leary – actor, comedian, writer and director
• Matt LeBlanc – actor, Friends
• Dennis Lehane – author
• Jack Lemmon – Academy Award-winning actor, Mister Roberts, Save the Tiger, The Odd Couple, Grumpy Old Men
• Jay Leno – comedian and television personality
• Letters To Cleo – rock band
• Elma Lewis – founder of National Center of Afro-American Artists (including a museum) and Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts
• Gary Russell Libby – art historian, museum director, curator
• Erica Lindbeck – voice actress
• William Linn – defender of the Alamo
• Henry Cabot Lodge – politician
• Paula Lodi – US Army Brigadier General; younger sister of US Army General Maria Barrett^[82]
• Edward Lawrence Logan – military officer, jurist, politician
• Howie Long – NFL player
• Edward "Ted" Kennedy (1932–2009) – longtime Massachusetts Senator
• Amy Lawrence Lowell – Pulitzer Prize-winning poet
• Robert Lowell – poet
• Joyner Lucas – rapper
• Adam Lundquist – radio DJ
• Lyte Funky Ones – pop trio

• Aimee Mann – singer
• Jonathan Mann – HIV/AIDS researcher and World Health Organization administrator; killed on Swissair Flight 111
• Rob Mariano – Survivor contestant
• Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch – rap group
• Pedro Martínez – retired professional baseball player, member of National Baseball Hall of Fame
• Connie Martinson – talk show host
• Mike Matarazzo – professional bodybuilder
• Aaron Maund – Major League soccer player
• Masspike Miles – singer, songwriter, producer, Perfect Gentlemen (Maybach Music Group)
• Cotton Mather – Puritan minister and author
• Jonah Matranga – singer/songwriter
• Greg Mauldin – NHL player, Ottawa Senators
• John Mayer – singer-songwriter (born in Connecticut, lived in Boston)
• Charles Johnson Maynard – naturalist and ornithologist
• Chris McCarron – jockey
• Tommy McCarthy – baseball player^[83]
• John P. McDonough – Chief of Chaplains of U.S. Air Force
• Neal McDonough – actor
• Sean McDonough – sports announcer
• Will McDonough – sportswriter
• Richard McGonagle – voice actor
• Joey McIntyre – singer, dancer, actor (New Kids on the Block)
• Amy Upham Thomson McKean – pianist, songwriter and composer
• Ed McMahon – television personality
• Peter McNeeley – boxer (born in Medfield)
• Michael McShane – actor
• Maria Menounos – actress, journalist, professional wrestler
• Nelson Merced – activist and politician, first Hispanic elected to Massachusetts General Court
• David Merkow – golfer
• The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – band
• Roger Miller – musician
• Wayne Millner – NFL Hall of Famer
• Mission of Burma – band
• Joe Moakley – congressman
• Leo Monahan (1926–2013) – sports journalist^[84]
• William Monahan – screenwriter
• Morphine – band
• Van Morrison – singer, musician, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee in 1993 (born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has lived in Boston for years)
• Robert Morse – actor
• Samuel F. B. Morse – inventor and painter, inventor of electric telegraph and Morse code
• Eddie Mottau – guitarist
• Mr. Lif – hip-hop artist, member of The Perceptionists
• Helen Messinger Murdoch (1862–1956) – photographer; pioneered use of autochromes in travel photography
• Connor Murphy – professional ice hockey player

• Jack Nance (1943–1996) – actor, title character in Eraserhead
• Jason Nash (born 1973) – actor
• Packy Naughton (born 1996) – Major League Baseball pitcher
• William Cooper Nell (1816–1874) – abolitionist
• Betty Jo Nelsen (born 1935) – member of Wisconsin State Assembly
• Victor Folke Nelson (1898–1939) – author, prison reform advocate, and sensational prison escapist
• New Edition – music group
• New Kids on the Block – band
• Nicky Jam (born 1981) – reggaeton singer and songwriter, Latin Grammy winner
• Terry Nihen – Playboy Playmate
• Leonard Nimoy (1931–2015) – actor, known as Mr. Spock from Star Trek
• Zack Norman (1940–2024) – actor, producer, financier
• Edward Norton (born 1969) – actor, American History X, Fight Club, The Italian Job
• B. J. Novak (born 1979) – actor, writer for NBC's The Office (from Newton)
• Christopher Nowinski (born 1978) – professional wrestler, known for his time in WWE

• Bill O'Brien (born 1969) – former head coach of Penn State football and the NFL's Houston Texans
• Conan O'Brien (born 1963) – television personality
• Mike O'Malley (born 1966) – actor
• On Broken Wings – band
• Patrice O'Neal (1969–2011) – actor, comedian
• Thomas "Tip" O'Neill (1912–1994) – U.S. Congressman, Speaker of the House
• David Ortiz (born 1975) – retired professional baseball player
• James Otis Jr. (1725–1783) – patriot

• Robert Treat Paine (1731–1814) – signer of Declaration of Independence
• Amanda Palmer (born 1976) – songwriter and performer
• Evelyn Parnell (1888–1939) – opera singer
• George Patton IV (1923–2004) – U.S. Army general; son of famed World War II General George S. Patton III
• Susan Paul – abolitionist
• John Peck – naval architect and merchant^[85]
• The Perceptionists – rap group
• Joel Perez – actor, singer, and dancer
• Esther Petrack – contestant on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 15
• Paul Pierce (born 1977) – professional basketball player
• John Pigeon – Massachusetts Commissary General during Revolutionary War
• Albert Pike (1809–1891) – C.S. Army general; author, poet, orator, jurist and prominent member of the Freemasons
• John Pinette (1964–2014) – actor and comedian
• The Pixies – band
• Sylvia Plath (1932–1963) – poet and author
• Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) – poet and writer
• Amy Poehler (born 1971) – actress and comedian
• John Pollini (born 1945) – art historian
• Ellen Pompeo (born 1969) – actress
• Poppy (born 1995) (Moriah Rose Pereira) – musician and YouTube personality
• Tom Poti (born 1977) – NHL player, Washington Capitals
• Powerman 5000 – metal band
• Seth Putnam (1968–2011) – musician

• Dionne Quan (born 1978) – voice actress
• John Quinlan (born 1974) – pro wrestler

• Nicole Raczynski (born 1979) – pro wrestler known as Nikki Roxx, and as Roxxi in TNA Wrestling
• Aly Raisman (born 1994) – gymnast and Olympic gold medalist
• Sumner Redstone (1923–2020) – chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Viacom
• Maia Reficco (born 2000) – actress and singer
• Arthur E. Reimer (1882–1969) – two-time presidential candidate of Socialist Labor Party of America
• James Remar (born 1953) – actor, known for roles of Ajax in The Warriors and of Harry Morgan in Dexter
• Lee Remick (1935–1991) – actress, Days of Wine and Roses, Anatomy of a Murder
• Jerry Remy (1952–2021) – MLB player and sportscaster
• Patrick Renna (born 1979) – actor, known for role of Ham in The Sandlot
• Frank Renzulli (born 1958) – writer, actor
• Paul Revere (1735–1818) – silversmith and American Revolution patriot
• Abbie Richards – TikToker
• Ellen Swallow Richards (1842–1911) – "mother" of home economics and sewage treatment
• Jonathan Richman (born 1951) – musician
• Sam Rivers (1923–2011) – jazz musician
• Alex Rocco (1936–2015) – actor, known for role of Moe Greene in The Godfather
• Norman Rockwell (1894–1978) – artist
• Jeremy Roenick (born 1970) – NHL player
• Jereme Rogers (born 1985) – professional skateboarder
• Mitt Romney (born 1947) – 70th Governor of Massachusetts; 2012 U.S. presidential candidate
• Francis Rosa (1920–2012) – sports journalist for The Boston Globe^[86]
• Eli Roth (born 1972) – director, writer, producer, actor
• Lillian Roth (1910–1980) – actress, singer
• John Rowe (1715–1787) – Boston resident merchant and diarist, original developer of Rowes Wharf^[87]
• Nathaniel Ruggles (1761–1819) – U.S. Representative
• Bill Russell (1934–2022) – professional basketball player and coach, NBA champion and Olympic gold medalist
• Blanchard Ryan (born 1967) – actress

• Alicia Sacramone (born 1987) – gymnast, world champion and Olympic silver medalist
• Perry Saturn (born 1966) – pro wrestler
• Richard Scarry (1919–1994) – author, illustrator
• Jeremy Scott (born 1975) – televangelist, nudist, poet
• Edward Seaga (1930–2019) – former Jamaican politician and statesman; his parents returned to Jamaica with him when he was three months old
• Ebenezer Seaver (1763–1844) – U.S. Representative, chairman of Roxbury Board of Selectmen
• Anne Sexton (1928–1974) – poet
• Dan Shaughnessy (born 1953) – Boston Globe sports columnist
• John H. Sherburne (1877–1959) – U.S. Army brigadier general^[88]
• William E. Sheridan (1839–1887) – actor
• Timothy Shriver (born 1959) – Chairman of Special Olympic Committee
• Anthony T. Shtogren (1917–2003) – U.S. Air Force general
• Fatima Siad (born 1986) – fashion model, third place on America's Next Top Model, Cycle 10
• Bill Simmons (born 1969) – sports columnist, "The Sports Guy" on ESPN.com
• Slaine (born 1982) – hip hop artist
• Slapshot – band
• Jenny Slate (born 1982) – actress, comedian, Saturday Night Live cast member
• Emily Goodrich Smith (1830–1903) – newspaper correspondent
• Jean Kennedy Smith (1928–2020) – sister of president John F. Kennedy; former United States Ambassador to Ireland
• Samuel Francis Smith (1808–1895) – composer
• Edward Dexter Sohier – lawyer
• Joseph B. Soloveitchik (1903–1993) – rabbi
• Thankful Southwick (1792–1867) – abolitionist, women's rights activist
• James Spader (born 1960) – actor, Boston Legal, The Blacklist
• Clinton Sparks (born 1975) – hip hop DJ, producer
• Statik Selektah (born 1982) – record producer and DJ
• Special Teamz – rap group
• Billy Squier (born 1950) – rock musician
• Lesley Stahl (born 1941) – television journalist, 60 Minutes
• Staind – band
• Larry Stark (born 1932) – theater critic
• Maurice Starr (born 1953) – musician, producer (New Edition and New Kids on the Block)
• Frederick Stevens (1861–1923) – U.S. Representative from Minnesota^[89]
• Jane Agnes Stewart (1860–1944) — author, editor, and contributor to periodicals
• Sonny Stitt (1924–1982) – jazz saxophonist
• Street Dogs – band
• John J. Sullivan (born 1959) – diplomat
• John L. Sullivan (1858–1918) – first heavyweight champion of gloved boxing
• Louis Sullivan (1856–1924) – architect
• Donna Summer (1948–2012) – singer
• William H. Sumner (1780–1861) – developer of East Boston
• John Sununu (born 1964) – junior U.S. Senator from New Hampshire (born in Boston)
• William H. Swanson – chairman and CEO of Raytheon Company

• Edmund C. Tarbell (1862–1938) – painter
• Lofa Tatupu (born 1982) – NFL linebacker^{[citation needed]}
• James Taylor (born 1948) – folk singer
• Ruth Carol Taylor (born 1931) – first African-American flight attendant in the United States
• That Handsome Devil – band
• John Thomas (1941–2013) – first man to clear 7 feet (2.1 m) in high jump
• Thomas W. Thompson (1766–1821) – United States Representative and United States Senator^[90]
• Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) – iconic poet, novelist
• Uma Thurman (born 1970) – actress, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill
• Maura Tierney (born 1965) – actress
• 'Til Tuesday – band
• Jimmy Tingle (born 1955) – stand-up comedian, actor
• Jane Toppan (1854–1938) – serial killer and nurse
• Eve Torres (born 1984) – professional wrestler
• John Tortorella (born 1958) – NHL coach, head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets
• Touré (born 1971) – writer, TV host
• Eliza Townsend (1788–1854) – poet
• Judy Traub (born 1940) – Minnesota state senator
• Ralph Tresvant (born 1968) – singer
• Kevin Trudeau (born 1963) – author, pocket billiards promoter, salesman
• Jen Trynin (born 1963) – musician
• Jonathan Tucker (born 1982) – actor
• John Tudor (born 1954) – MLB pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals^{[citation needed]}
• Charles Tufts (1781–1876) – founder of Tufts University

• Unearth – band
• Hezekiah Usher (c. 1616–1676) – first bookseller in the 13 colonies

• Sarah Van Patten – ballet dancer
• Steven Van Zandt (born 1950) – musician with Bruce Springsteen band and actor, The Sopranos
• Vanna – band
• Jimmy Vesey (born 1993) – ice hockey player
• Brian Viglione (born 1979) – musician

• Philip Waggenheim (1915–c. 1989) – gangster
• Ashley Wagner (born 1991) – figure skater
• Donnie Wahlberg (born 1969) – actor, singer, producer (New Kids on the Block)
• Mark Wahlberg (born 1971) – actor, rapper, producer, Boogie Nights, The Perfect Storm, The Departed, The Fighter
• David Walker (1796–1830) – abolitionist
• Jimmy Walker (1944–2007) – NBA All-Star
• Mike Wallace (1918–2012) – television journalist
• Marty Walsh (born 1967) – Mayor of Boston
• Barbara Walters (1929–2022) – television journalist
• An Wang (1920–1990) – computer engineer and inventor, co-founder of Wang Laboratories
• Fiske Warren (1862–1938) – paper manufacturer and philanthropist
• Gretchen Osgood Warren (1868–1961) – poet and muse
• Joseph Warren (1741–1775) – founding father and Son of Liberty who died at the Battle of Bunker Hill
• Sam Waterston (born 1940) – actor
• Barrett Wilbert Weed (born 1988) – actress and singer
• Jack Welch (1935–2020) – businessman, CEO of General Electric
• Westbound Train – band
• Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753–1784) – poet and former slave
• Colin White (born 1997) – ice hockey player
• Eli Whitney (1765–1825) – inventor of the cotton gin
• Jermaine Wiggins (born 1975) – NFL player
• Alfred J. Wiggin (1823–1883) – painter and society portraitist
• Tony Williams (1945–1997) – jazz drummer
• Alan Wilson (1943–1970) – singer, guitarist (Canned Heat)
• Oren Elbridge Wilson (1844–1917) – Mayor of Albany, New York, born in Boston^[91]
• Robert Scott Wilson (born 1987) – actor, first male model on The Price Is Right
• Clara Winthrop (1876–1969) – philanthropist, art collector
• Danny Wood (born 1969) – singer (New Kids on the Block)
• Gene Wood (1925–2004) – game show announcer
• George Wood (1858–1924) – baseball player^[83]
• Brian Woods (born 1963) – documentary filmmaker
• Benjamin Edward Woolf (1836–1901) – British-born composer, playwright, journalist for Boston Saturday Evening Gazette and Boston Globe
• Steven Wright (born 1955) – Academy Award-winning comedian, actor and writer

• Malcolm X (1925–1965) – civil rights activist, Muslim minister (lived in Roxbury)

• Donnie Yen (born 1963) – Hong Kong actor, martial artist

• Katya Zamolodchikova (born 1982) – drag queen, actor
• Rob Zombie (born 1965) – musician, director, producer

• Biography portal
• Cities portal
• Massachusetts portal