List of people from Philadelphia
The following is a list of notable people presently or previously associated with the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
Academia
- Joseph Addison Alexander, clergyman and biblical scholar
- E. Digby Baltzell, sociologist, author, and professor at the University of Pennsylvania
- Ellen Bass, professor, poet, and author
- Leon Bass, educator and Benjamin Franklin High School principal
- Aaron Beck, psychiatrist, inventor of cognitive therapy, and Penn School of Medicine professor
- Algernon Sydney Biddle, lawyer and Penn Law School professor
- Ray Birdwhistell, anthropologist, University of Pennsylvania professor, and inventor of kinesics
- Atherton Blight, lawyer, businessperson, author, diarist, philanthropist, and Art Club of Philadelphia founding member
- Alfred Bloom, linguist, professor, and Swarthmore College president
- Francis Bohlen, Penn Law School professor
- Derek Bok, lawyer, Harvard Law School dean, and former Harvard University president
- Lisa Bowleg, George Washington University social psychology professor
- Ruby Chappelle Boyd, librarian
- David D. Burns, psychiatrist, author, Penn School of Medicine psychiatry professor
- Noam Chomsky, linguist, Far-left political activist, anarchist, and professor
- Gordon Clark, Christian theologian and professor
- Leda Cosmides, psychologist, helped develop evolutionary psychology field
- Philip D. Curtin, Africa historian on Atlantic slave trade
- Steven Drizin, lawyer and professor
- Drew Gilpin Faust, historian, University of Pennsylvania administrator, and Harvard University president
- R. Buckminster Fuller, architect, systems theorist, author, University of Pennsylvania design professor
- Andrew Gelman, Columbia University professor, statistics and political science
- Gaylord P. Harnwell, University of Pennsylvania professor and president
- Earl G. Harrison, Penn Law School dean and former INS commissioner
- Marc Lamont Hill, professor, journalist, activist, and BET News correspondent
- Agnes Irwin, Agnes Irwin School founder and first dean of Radcliffe College
- Martin M. Kaplan, virologist and public health official
- Seymour S. Kety, neuroscientist and schizophrenia researcher
- Lawrence Klein, economist, Nobel laureate, University of Pennsylvania economics professor
- C. Everett Koop, U.S. Surgeon General
- Byard Lancaster, avant-garde jazz saxophonist and flutist
- Alain LeRoy Locke, writer, philosopher, educator, and first African-American Rhodes Scholar
- Kenneth Margerison, historian
- Margaret Mead, cultural anthropologist and author
- William Augustus Muhlenberg, considered "father of parochial schools"
- John Pittenger, lawyer, academic, and former Pennsylvania House of Representatives member
- Philip Rieff, sociologist, cultural critic, and University of Pennsylvania professor
- Vera Rubin, astronomer, cosmologist, professor at Georgetown University, and research fellow at the Carnegie Institution for Science
- Louis B. Schwartz, University of Pennsylvania Law School law professor
- Dora Adele Shoemaker, educator, writer
- Jacob Soll, historian and MacArthur Fellow
- Lawrence H. Summers, economist, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and Harvard University president
- George Thayer, American political writer
- Howard M. Temin, Nobel Prize co-laureate in physiology or medicine
- Cornelius Van Til, Christian theologian, professor, originator of modern presuppositional apologetics
- Lawrence Venuti, translation theorist and translation historian
- Andrew Weil, celebrity doctor and alternative medicine advocate
- Gayraud Wilmore, writer, historian, ethicist, educator, and theologian
- Walter E. Williams, economist, commentator, and academic
- Harris Wofford, Peace Corps director, Bryn Mawr College president, U.S. senator appointee
- Bernard Wolfman, University of Pennsylvania Law School law professor and dean
- Josh Wurman, meteorologist on ''Storm Chasers''
Art and architecture
- Julian Abele, architect who contributed to the design of over 400 buildings
- Robb Armstrong, African-American cartoonist, creator of Jump Start
- Edmund Bacon, urban planner, architect, educator, and author
- Bill Bamberger, documentary photographer and photojournalist
- Albert C. Barnes, creator of the Barnes Collection of Art and Argyrol inventor
- Mary Enoch Elizabeth Baxter, multimedia artist and activist
- Cecilia Beaux, portrait painter
- William Bell, photographer
- Alexander Calder, sculptor
- Alexander Milne Calder, sculptor
- Alexander Stirling Calder, sculptor
- John Carlin, painter
- Mary Cassatt, impressionist painter and printmaker
- Florence Van Leer Earle Coates, poet
- Robert Crumb, underground comics artist, writer
- Heather Dewey-Hagborg, information artist and bio-hacker
- Marley Dias, activist and writer
- Thomas Eakins, realist painter, photographer, sculptor, Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts professor
- Frank Heyling Furness, architect who designed over 600 buildings
- Sonia Gechtoff, abstract expressionist painter
- William W. Gilchrist Jr., impressionist painter
- Ginger Gilmour, sculptor and first wife of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour
- Phoebe Gloeckner, cartoonist, illustrator, painter, novelist
- Elizabeth Shippen Green, children's books illustrator
- Hal Hirshorn, painter and photographer
- Donelson Hoopes, art historian
- Ian Hornak, draughtsman, painter, and printmaker
- Amy Ignatow, illustrator, cartoonist, and author
- Louis Kahn, architect
- Bil Keane, cartoonist, The Family Circus
- Walt Kelly, cartoonist, Pogo
- Henry P. McIlhenny, art and antique connoisseur, philanthropist, curator, and Philadelphia Museum of Art chairman
- John Moran, photographer and artist
- Alice Neel, painter
- Albert Newsam, born deaf and former artist
- Linda Nochlin, feminist art historian and Bryn Mawr College professor
- Martin Nodell, comic book artist and creator of the original Green Lantern
- Charles Willson Peale, artist and progenitor of the Peale family of American artists
- Edmund R. Purves, architect
- William H. Rau, photographer]
- Seymour Remenick, artist
- Elizabeth Wentworth Roberts, painter and founder of Concord Art Association
- Judith Schermer, artist and writer
- Carolee Schneemann, visual experimental artist on sexuality and gender
- Mary B. Schuenemann, painter
- Denise Scott Brown, architect, planner, writer, and educator
- Sarai Sherman, painter and sculptor
- Grover Simcox, illustrator, naturalist, and polymath
- Jessie Wilcox Smith, illustrator
- Willi Smith, fashion designer
- Zoe Strauss, photographer
- William Strickland, architect and civil engineer
- Thomas Sully, portrait painter of national political leaders
- Henry Ossawa Tanner, one of the first African-American painters
- Daniel Traub, photographer and filmmaker
- Horace Trumbauer, architect
- Robert Venturi, architect
- Thomas Ustick Walter, architect and American Institute of Architects co-founder and president
- Andrew Wyeth, visual artist
- Jamie Wyeth, painter
- N.C. Wyeth, artist and illustrator
- Lily Yeh, artist
Business
- Frank Baldino Jr., pharmacologist, scientist, and Cephalon co-founder
- John C. Bogle, investor, money manager, and Vanguard founder
- Amar Bose, founder and chairman, Bose
- David L. Cohen, senior executive vice president and chief lobbyist for Comcast, chief of staff to Philadelphia mayor, U.S. ambassador to Canada nominee
- Pat Croce, entrepreneur, Philadelphia 76ers executive and part-owner, author, and television personality
- George Dashnau, advertising executive who started first mail order delivery service to supply human skulls
- Charles Henry Davis, businessperson, civil engineer, philanthropist; founded World Peace Movement
- Warren Lyford DeLano, advocate for increased open sourcing and PyMol creator
- George H. Earle Jr., attorney
- Maria Anna Fisher, African-American baker, entrepreneur, and philanthropist
- Kenneth Frazier, Merck & Co. chief executive officer
- A. O. Granger, industrialist and soldier
- Albert M. Greenfield, local realty magnate, philanthropist, and political activist
- Solomon R. Guggenheim, Yukon Gold Company founder and philanthropist who established Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- Richard Hayne, Urban Outfitters founder and chief executive officer
- Michael Johns, healthcare executive and former White House presidential speechwriter
- Eldridge R. Johnson, Victor Talking Machine Company founder
- Tom Knox, UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania chief executive officer and former Philadelphia mayoral candidate
- John Leamy, Spanish Empire trade pioneer
- J. Howard Marshall, oil businessman, Koch, Inc. stakeholder, husband of Anna Nicole Smith
- George Meade, merchant
- Richard W. Meade, merchant and art collector
- Samuel Meeker, merchant
- Jim Murray, Ronald McDonald House Charities co-founder and former Philadelphia Eagles general manager
- Joel Myers, AccuWeather founder and executive chairman
- Pat Olivieri, founder of Pat's King of Steaks and reputed creator of the cheesesteak
- William S. Paley, CBS chief executive
- Randal Pinkett, entrepreneur and The Apprentice 4 winner
- Felix Rappaport, Foxwoods Resort and Casino chief executive officer
- Lynda Resnick, co-owner of Roll International, which owns POM Wonderful, FIJI Water, and Teleflora
- Brian L. Roberts, Comcast Corporation chairman and chief executive officer
- Michael G. Rubin, Kynetic founder and chief executive officer, Philadelphia 76ers part owner, and GSI Commerce founder and former chief executive officer
- Stephen A. Schwarzman, The Blackstone Group founder and chief executive officer
- Ed Snider, Comcast Spectacor chairman
- Justus Strawbridge, department store founder
- Brian Tierney, The Philadelphia Inquirer publisher
- John Wanamaker, department store founder
- Walter E. Williams, economist, commentator, and academic
- James Hood Wright, banker, financier, and corporate director, associate of J. P. Morgan and Thomas Edison
- William Wrigley Jr., Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company founder
Criminals
- Sydney Biddle Barrows, escort service proprietor known as "The Mayflower Madam"
- Grover Bergdoll, draft dodger and escaped convict; brother of Erwin Bergdoll
- Joseph Breslin, serial killer
- Antuan Bronshtein, convicted murderer, reputed Russian Mafia associate
- Angelo Bruno, Philadelphia crime family boss
- Juan Covington, serial killer
- Legs Diamond, nemesis of mobster Dutch Schultz known as the "clay pigeon of the underworld"
- Ira Einhorn, environmental and anti-war activist, convicted murderer, and speaker at first Earth Day event in Philadelphia
- Mary Jane Fonder, convicted murderer of Rhonda Smith
- Keith Gibson, convicted serial killer
- Kermit Gosnell, convicted of 21 felony counts of illegal late-term abortion
- Harrison Graham, serial killer
- Gary Heidnik, convicted murderer
- Philip Leonetti, underboss of Philadelphia crime family and government informant
- Nicodemo Scarfo, mafioso and head of Scarfo crime family
Film, television, and theater
A–K
- Joe Augustyn, writer and producer
- Kevin Bacon, actor and half of The Bacon Brothers
- Jim Bailey, singer, film, television, and stage actor
- Chuck Barris, actor, composer, writer, director, producer, and game show host
- Ethel Barrymore, actress
- John Barrymore, actor
- Lionel Barrymore, actor, Mr. Potter in Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life
- Eddie Barth, actor and voiceover artist
- Jules Bass, director and composer
- Laurie Beechman, Broadway singer and actress
- Willam Belli, actor, drag queen, model, and recording artist
- Maria Bello, actress and writer
- Ed Bernard, actor
- John Biddle, yachting cinematographer and lecturer
- Edward Binns, actor
- Joey Bishop, entertainer
- Danny Bonaduce, actor
- David Boreanaz, actor
- Jim Boyd, actor
- Peter Boyle, actor
- El Brendel, vaudeville comedian and actor
- David Brenner, stand-up comedian, actor, and author
- Richard Brooks, screenwriter, film director, novelist, and film producer
- Quinta Brunson, actor, creator of Abbott Elementary
- Matt Bush, actor, Adventureland
- Eugene Byrd, actor
- Michael Callan, actor
- Gia Marie Carangi, supermodel
- Joan Carroll, coloratura soprano
- Dick Clark, host, American Bandstand and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve, game show host, and producer
- Bessie Clayton, Broadway, vaudeville, and burlesque specialty dancer and choreographer
- Imogene Coca, actress and comedian
- Nathan Cook, actor
- Bradley Cooper, actor
- Catherine Corcoran, actress
- Bill Cosby, comedian, actor, and author
- David Crane, writer and producer
- Broderick Crawford, actor
- Susan Webb Cushman, stage actress
- Blythe Danner, actress
- Mildred Davis, actress
- Bruce Davison, actor
- John de Lancie, actor
- Francis De Sales, actor
- Kim Delaney, actress
- Kat Dennings, actress
- Curly Joe DeRita, comedian, actor, and member of The Three Stooges
- John Doman, actor, The Wire
- Mike Douglas, singer and television talk show host
- Gary Dourdan, actor
- Rel Dowdell, filmmaker
- Ja'net Dubois, actress and singer
- Cheryl Dunye, director, writer, and producer
- Kevin Eubanks, musician and leader of The Tonight Show Band
- Lola Falana, dancer and actress
- Norman Fell, actor
- Tina Fey, actress and comedian
- W. C. Fields, actor and comedian
- Mademoiselle Fifi, dancer
- Larry Fine, comedian, actor, and member of The Three Stooges
- Linda Fiorentino, actress
- Kate Flannery, actress
- Jeremy Gable, playwright and game designer
- John Gallaudet, actor
- Ralph Garman, actor and radio personality
- Janet Gaynor, actress
- Richard Gere, actor
- Todd Glass, comedian
- Adam F. Goldberg, television and film producer
- Robert X. Golphin, actor and filmmaker
- Kate Gosselin, reality television personality, Jon and Kate Plus Eight
- Bruce Graham, playwright
- Seth Green, actor
- Chief Halftown, children's television personality
- Grayson Hall, television, film, and stage actress
- Charles Hallahan, television, film, and stage actor
- Veronica Hamel, actress and model
- Rachel Harlow, actress, nightclub hostess, and socialite
- Kevin Hart, comedian and actor
- Rodney Harvey, actor
- Sherman Hemsley, actor
- Emmaline Henry, actress, I Dream of Jeannie
- Marc Lamont Hill, television host
- Tigre Hill, producer and director
- Paul Hipp, actor, musician, and producer
- Billie Holiday, singer
- Wendell Holland, Survivor: Ghost Island winner
- Kevin Hooks, actor and director
- Abby Huntsman, co-host of The View
- Mark Indelicato, actor, singer
- Abbi Jacobson, actress, comedian, and co-creator of Broad City
- Barry Jenner, actor
- Aleeza Ben Shalom, matchmaker, relationship coach, and author
- Clark Johnson, actor and director
- Nicole Kassell, director and writer
- George Kelly, playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor
- Grace Kelly, actress and Princess of Monaco
- Michael Kelly, actor
- Irvin Kershner, director, The Empire Strikes Back
- Taylor Kinney, actor, Vampire Diaries and Chicago Fire
- Jack Klugman, actor, The Odd Couple, Quincy, M.E., and ''You Again?''
L-Z
- Patti LaBelle, R&B and soul musician, actress, and entrepreneur
- Michael Landon, actor, producer, and director
- Mario Lanza, singer and actor
- Stan Lathan, film producer, television producer, and director
- Andrew Lawrence, actor
- Joey Lawrence, actor
- Matthew Lawrence, actor
- Raw Leiba, actor, stuntman, and sports model
- Aaron Levinson, producer, musician
- Brooke Lewis, actress, producer and television personality
- Shari Lewis, children's television personality
- Gene London, artist and local children's television personality
- Lisa Lopes, rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and dancer
- Donja R. Love, playwright
- Sidney Lumet, film director
- David Lynch, film director
- Jeanette MacDonald, actress and singer
- Stephen Macht, actor
- Abby Mann, film writer and producer
- Melanie Mayron, actress
- Adam Mazer, writer and Emmy winner
- Bob McAllister, children's television personality
- Andrea McArdle, singer, actress, Broadway's original Annie
- Joan McCracken, dancer and actress
- Paul McCrane, actor and musician
- Rob McElhenney, actor and creator of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
- Andrew Repasky McElhinney, film director, writer, Museum of Modern Art artist
- Adam McKay, director and writer
- David Mirkin, writer and director
- Silas Weir Mitchell, actor
- Katherine Moennig, actress
- Kelly Monaco, model and actress
- George W. Munroe, actor famous for female impersonation
- Natalie Nevins, singer, The Lawrence Welk Show
- J. J. North, actress
- Clifford Odets, playwright, director, and screenwriter
- Leslie Odom Jr., actor and singer
- Ana Ortiz, actress, Hilda Suarez on Ugly Betty
- Daphne Oz, author, television host on The Chew
- Holly Robinson Peete, actress
- Lisa Peluso, actress, Saturday Night Fever
- Gervase Peterson, contestant, original season of Survivor
- Teddy Pendergrass, R&B and soul musician, lead singer for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
- Robert Picardo, actor
- S. Henry Pincus, actor, impresario, and inventor
- Noam Pitlik, actor, television director, and producer
- Jack Polito, animator
- Jon Polito, actor, Miller's Crossing
- Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Oscar-winning actress
- Joe Renzetti, musician, Oscar-winning film composer, The Buddy Holly Story
- Adele Ritchie, singer
- Matt Robinson, Sesame Street actor
- James Rolfe, creator and star of Angry Video Game Nerd internet series and film director
- Lisa Roma, operatic soprano and music educator
- J. D. Roth, actor and game show host
- Bob Saget, actor, comedian, and game show host
- Mathew St. Patrick, actor
- Diane Salinger, actress
- Camillia Sanes, actress, The Shield
- Jessica Savitch, local and national news broadcaster, NBC
- Bill Scott, voice actor, voice of Bullwinkle J. Moose, Mr. Peabody, and Dudley Do-Right
- Vivienne Segal, actress
- Susan Seidelman, film director, television director, Desperately Seeking Susan and Sex and the City
- Howard Merrill Shelley, playwright
- Craig Shoemaker, stand-up comedian and film and television producer
- Sonya Smith, queen of telenovela, actress
- Jimmy Shubert, stand-up comedian
- M. Night Shyamalan, film director, The Sixth Sense and Signs
- Penny Singleton, radio, film, and voice actress
- Jack Thomas Smith, horror filmmaker
- Toukie Smith, model and actress
- Will Smith, actor, hip-hop recording artist, half of the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, record producer, four time Grammy-winner
- David Smyrl, actor and television writer, Sesame Street
- Harry Snodgrass, sound designer, supervisor, and editor, Alien 3, Napoleon Dynamite, Hot Shots! Part Deux, Robin Hood Men in Tights
- Tom Snyder, news and entertainment personality, NBC
- Sally Starr, children's television personality
- Joey Stefano, dancer, actor, and gay porn star
- Parker Stevenson, actor
- Charles Stone III, film director and creator of Budweiser's "Whassup?" advertising campaign
- Holland Taylor, actress
- Teller, magician and half of Penn & Teller
- Frank Tinney, vaudeville comedian
- Paul F. Tompkins, actor and comedian
- Jean Vander Pyl, actress, voice of Wilma Flintstone and Rosie the Robot Maid
- Tom Verica, actor
- Nancy Walker, actress and director
- Brendan Walter, actor, director, and guitarist
- Jeff Ward, actor
- Wee Willie Webber, local radio and television personality
- John Sylvester White, television actor
- Karen Malina White, actress
- Nafessa Williams, actress
- Kenya D. Williamson, actress and screenwriter
- Thomas F. Wilson, actor and stand-up comic
- Danny Woodburn, actor and comedian
- Ed Wynn, actor and comedian, Uncle Albert in Walt Disney's Mary Poppins
- John Zacherle, actor, producer, and television horror host
Government and politics
- Leon Abbett, New Jersey governor
- Lynne Abraham, Philadelphia district attorney
- William Allen, Philadelphia mayor
- Chris Bartlett, LGBT activist
- Raj Bhakta, congressional candidate and contestant, The Apprentice Season 2
- Brendan Boyle, U.S. representative for Pennsylvania
- Michael J. Bradley, U.S. representative for Pennsylvania
- Winfield S. Braddock, Wisconsin State Assembly member
- Bob Brady, member, U.S. House of Representatives, Philadelphia mayoral candidate, NBC Universal and Independence Blue Cross lobbyist
- Raymond J. Broderick, U.S. federal judge
- William T. Cahill, New Jersey governor
- Ashton Carter, physicist, Harvard University professor, and U.S. Secretary of Defense
- Mike Chitwood, sheriff of Volusia County, Florida
- Augusta Clark, librarian, politician, lawyer, and second African-American woman to serve on Philadelphia City Council
- Joseph S. Clark, Philadelphia mayor and U.S. senator
- Mark B. Cohen, member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Democratic leader of Pennsylvania House, and chairman, House Labor Relations Committee
- Henry Conner, member, Wisconsin State Senate
- George M. Dallas, U.S. vice president
- Richardson Dilworth, attorney, Philadelphia district attorney, and Philadelphia mayor
- Dwight Evans, U.S. representative for Pennsylvania
- George H. Earle Sr., founder of the Republican Party, abolitionist, and lawyer who represented fugitive slaves
- Chaka Fattah, member, U.S. House of Representatives and former Philadelphia mayoral candidate
- Douglas J. Feith, undersecretary of Defense and Iraq policy adviser
- Tom Feeney, Florida politician
- Brian Fitzpatrick, U.S. representative for Pennsylvania
- James Forten, African-American businessman, abolitionist leader, and sailmaker
- Benjamin Franklin, Founding Father, polymath, writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, political philosopher
- Shirley Franklin, Atlanta major
- Mifflin Wistar Gibbs, lawyer, judge, diplomat, and banker
- Benjamin Goldman, political advisor
- W. Wilson Goode, Philadelphia mayor
- W. Wilson Goode Jr., Philadelphia City Council at-large member
- Oscar Goodman, attorney and former Las Vegas mayor
- James P. Gourley, Pennsylvania House of Representatives member
- William H. Gray, Baptist minister, U.S. House of Representatives member, and former United Negro College Fund president
- William J. Green III, Philadelphia mayor and U.S. House of Representatives member
- Morgan Griffith, U.S. representative for Virginia
- Simon Guggenheim, U.S. senator and philanthropist
- Alexander Haig, U.S. Secretary of State and White House Chief of Staff
- Richard Helms, Central Intelligence Agency director
- Charles W. Heyl, businessman, fire chief, and politician
- Michael Johns, White House presidential speechwriter
- Ro Khanna, U.S. representative from California
- Joseph L. Kun, judge, Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
- George Landenberger, American Samoa governor
- Frank J. Larkin, U.S. Senate sergeant at arms
- John J. McCloy, Chase Manhattan Bank and Ford Foundation chairman, assistant U.S. Secretary of War during World War II, and Allies' high commissioner of Germany
- Robert F. McDonnell, Virginia governor
- Katie McGinty, U.S. Senate nominee, chair, Council on Environmental Quality, and former chief of staff to Pennsylvania governor Tom Wolf
- J. Whyatt Mondesire, president, NAACP Philadelphia chapter
- Cecil B. Moore, Philadelphia city council member and civil rights activist
- Patrick Murphy, member, U.S. House of Representatives
- Benjamin Netanyahu, current prime minister of Israel
- Robert N.C. Nix Sr., member, U.S. House of Representatives
- Michael A. Nutter, Philadelphia mayor and member, Philadelphia City Council
- Dennis M. O'Brien, member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Pennsylvania House of Representatives speaker
- Tony J. Payton Jr., member, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Boies Penrose, U.S. senator and party boss
- Harriet Forten Purvis, abolitionist leader
- Charles H. Ramsey, Philadelphia police commissioner
- Samuel J. Randall, U.S. House of Representatives member and Speaker of the House
- Ed Rendell, Pennsylvania governor, Philadelphia mayor, and Philadelphia district attorney
- Frank Rizzo, Philadelphia mayor and police commissioner
- John Robbins, U.S. House of Representatives member
- Lisa Blunt Rochester, U.S. senator for Delaware
- Deborah Ross, U.S. representative for North Carolina
- Allyson Schwartz, member, U.S. House of Representatives
- Keith Self, U.S. representative for Texas
- Thomas Smith, Indiana Supreme Court justice, Pennsylvania General Assembly member, and writer
- Arlen Specter, U.S. senator and Philadelphia district attorney
- Ben Stahl, labor leader and activist
- John F. Street, Philadelphia mayor
- Milton Street, entrepreneur, Pennsylvania state legislator, and Philadelphia City Council candidate
- Norman Sussman, Wisconsin state senator
- Joel Barlow Sutherland, member, U.S. House of Representatives
- Al Taubenberger, Philadelphia mayoral candidate
- John Timoney, Philadelphia police commissioner and Miami police chief
- Gregory Tony, Sheriff of Broward County, Florida
- C. Delores Tucker, civil rights activist and Pennsylvania Secretary of State
- Anna C. Verna, Philadelphia City Council member and president
- Charles A. Waters, Pennsylvania auditor general, state treasurer, and president judge of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas
- R. Seth Williams, Philadelphia district attorney
- Fernando Wood, mayor of New York
Historical figures
- David Hayes Agnew, surgeon and teacher
- Robert Aitken, publisher of first Bible in North America
- Louisa May Alcott, novelist
- Andrew Allen, delegate to Continental Congress
- Harrison Allen, anatomist and physician
- Joseph Anderson, United States senator
- Henry Graham Ashmead, historian of Delaware County, Pennsylvania
- Mary Stevens Beall, historian, writer, librarian
- Charles John Biddle, U.S. House of Representatives member
- Edward Biddle, Founding Father, soldier, lawyer, statesman, and delegate to Continental Congress
- Francis Biddle, U.S. solicitor general, U.S. attorney general, and Nuremberg trials principal judge
- Nicholas Biddle, financier and Second Bank of the United States president
- Nicholas Biddle, Continental Navy original captain
- Richard Biddle, U.S. House of Representatives member
- John C. Bowers, entrepreneur, organist, and vestryman, and founding member of first Grand United Order of Odd Fellows
- Thomas Bowers, concert artist
- Ed Bradley, CBS News radio journalist and television journalist
- Henry "Box" Brown, abolitionist who escaped to freedom by arranging to have himself mailed in crate to abolitionists in Philadelphia
- William C. Bullitt, Jr., diplomat who conducted special mission to negotiate with Vladimir Lenin on behalf of the Paris Peace Conference; first U.S. ambassador to Soviet Union; U.S. ambassador to France during World War II
- Hetty Burr, abolitionist and clubwoman
- John Pierre Burr, abolitionist and community leader. He was an illegitimate child of Aaron Burr
- Bebe Moore Campbell, author, journalist, and teacher
- Samuel Carpenter, first Pennsylvania treasurer and deputy governor to William Penn
- Octavius Valentine Catto, educator, civil rights activist, and baseball player
- Emilie Davis, writer who kept American Civil War diary
- Emma V. Day, missionary to Liberia
- Marguerite de Angeli, author and illustrator
- Branson DeCou, photographer and traveler
- Sarah Jane Corson Downs, president, New Jersey Woman's Christian Temperance Union
- Benjamin Franklin, American Founding Father and polymath
- Harriet Schneider French, physician and temperance movement activist
- Henry George, political economist and author, inspired economic philosophy known as Georgism
- T. Adelaide Goodno, social reformer
- Charlotte Forten Grimké, abolitionist, poet, and educator
- Benjamin Guggenheim, businessman who died aboard the RMS Titanic
- Andrew Harris, abolitionist and minister; first African-American to graduate from the University of Vermont
- John von Sonnentag de Havilland, American officer of arms in England
- A. Leon Higginbotham Jr., Kerner Commission commissioner, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit judge, and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient
- Antonija Höffern, Slovenian noblewoman and educator, first Slovenian woman to immigrate to the United States
- John A. Hostetler, author, educator, and Amish and Hutterite scholar
- Rebecca Jones, Quaker minister and educator
- Grace Kelly, princess of Monaco and actress
- George Lippard, novelist, journalist, playwright, social activist, and labor organizer
- Alain LeRoy Locke, writer, Harlem Renaissance figure, and first African-American Rhodes Scholar
- Henry C. McCook, entomologist, clergyman, author, and Philadelphia city flag designer
- Joseph McKenna, U.S. Supreme Court associate justice, U.S. attorney general, and U.S. House of Representatives member
- Thomas Mifflin, Continental Army major general, fifth president of U.S. Congress, first Pennsylvania governor, and Founding Father
- Anna Balmer Myers, author
- Robert N. C. Nix Jr., chief justice, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
- Mrs. A. M. Palmer, clubwoman and civic leader
- Anne Parrish, Quaker philanthropist
- George W. Pepper, attorney and U.S. senator
- William Pepper, Free Library of Philadelphia founder and University of Pennsylvania provost
- Henry L. Phillips, African-American social reformer and Episcopal priest; born in Jamaica
- Philip Syng Physick, physician known as the "father of American surgery"
- Charles Burleigh Purvis, physician, co-founder of Howard University Medical School, and the first black physician to attend a sitting president
- Marcus Aurelius Root, leading daguerreotypist and author
- Betsy Ross, sewed first American flag known as the Betsy Ross flag
- Benjamin Rush, physician, politician, social reformer, humanitarian, educator, and Founding Father who signed the Declaration of Independence
- Nikola Rušinović, Independent State of Croatia's unofficial envoy to the Holy See during World War II
- Peggy Shippen, to American Revolution traitor Benedict Arnold and highest-paid spy in the American Revolution
- Leon Sullivan, Baptist minister and social activist
- Manuel Torres, first Colombian ambassador to the U.S.
- Thomas Truxton, naval officer who rose to commodore
- Frank J. Webb, novelist, poet, essayist, and writer
Media and literature
- Isaac Ashmead, printer who served in the War of 1812
- Isaac Asimov, science fiction author
- Tony Auth, editorial cartoonist and Pulitzer Prize and Herblock Prize winner
- Doug Banks, nationally syndicated morning radio host
- Leslie Esdaile Banks, author
- Donald Barthelme, author
- Stan and Jan Berenstain, children's writing and illustration couple
- Evelyn Berckman, author
- Ben Bova, science fiction author
- Mary D. R. Boyd, children's book author
- Ed Bradley, journalist, 60 Minutes
- Tony Bruno, sports radio talk show host
- Maxwell Struthers Burt, novelist, poet, and author
- Nathaniel Burt, novelist, poet, composer, and author
- Francesca Anna Canfield, linguist and writer
- Angelo Cataldi, sports radio host
- Renee Chenault-Fattah, WCAU-TV news anchor and wife of U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah
- Mary M. Cohen, social economist, journalist, belletrist, and educator
- Fritz Coleman, KNBC chief meteorologist
- Michael Connelly, author
- Benjamin De Casseres, journalist, critic, essayist, and poet
- Joseph Dennie, essaysist, The Lay Preacher, and The Port Folio founding editor
- Pete Dexter, journalist, novelist, and National Book Award-winner
- Catharine H. Esling, hymn writer and poet
- John Facenda, broadcaster and sports announcer
- Courtney Friel, KTLA-TV news anchor and reporter
- Charles Fuller, playwright, Pulitzer Prize for Drama recipient, and Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play winner
- Jim Gardner, WPVI-TV news anchor
- Mike Golic, ESPN radio and television personality, Philadelphia Eagles professional football player
- David Goodis, author
- Terry Gross, radio host and co-executive producer, Fresh Air
- John Harvey, radio and television personality
- Evalena Fryer Hedley, journalist, editor, and author
- James Fallows, author and journalist
- Aries Keck, author and radio reporter
- Suzy Kolber, television sportscaster
- Andrea Kremer, television sportscaster
- Bob Lassiter, left-wing radio host
- Mark Levin, lawyer, author, and radio personality
- Rachel Levin, YouTuber, and beauty guru
- Jonathan Maberry, suspense author, anthology editor, comic book writer, magazine feature writer, playwright, content creator, writing teacher and lecturer
- Michelle Malkin, political commentator
- Chris Matthews, NBC and MSNBC journalist and talk show host
- Edith May, writer and poet
- Brian McDonough, medical editor, author, and physician
- Jim McKay, ABC sports journalist
- Chris McKendry, ESPN SportsCenter anchor
- Larry Mendte, KYW-TV news anchor
- James A. Michener, author
- Aubertine Woodward Moore, musician, writer, musical critic, translator, and lecturer
- Frances Trego Montgomery, children's book writer
- Christopher Morley, novelist, short-story writer, and poet
- Wesley Morris, film critic and podcast host
- Thom Nickels, author and journalist
- Joe Queenan, author and humorist
- Matthew Quick, author, The Silver Linings Playbook
- Edgar Allan Poe, novelist and short-story writer
- Chaim Potok, novelist and author, The Chosen and The Promise
- Richard P. Powell, novelist
- Beasley Reece, KYW-TV sports journalist and former professional football player, Philadelphia Eagles
- Dave Roberts, WPVI-TV meteorologist and former co-host, AM Philadelphia
- Lisa Scottoline, author and attorney
- Peter Shellem, Patriot News journalist who obtained release of five wrongfully convicted innocent people
- Vai Sikahema, WCAU-TV sports journalist and former professional football player, Philadelphia Eagles
- Michael Smerconish, WPHT-AM radio talk show host, Philadelphia Daily News columnist, and MSNBC political analyst
- Anna Bustill Smith, author, genealogist, and suffragist
- Stephen A. Smith, ESPN radio and television personality, Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist
- Arthur R. G. Solmssen, attorney and novelist
- Louise Stockton, author, journalist, club organizer
- Kristie Lu Stout, journalist
- Duane Swierczynski, author and former Philadelphia City Paper editor
- Jake Tapper, author, journalist
- Omar Tyree, author
- Jeannette Walworth, novelist and journalist
- Ukee Washington, KYW-TV news anchor
- Jesse Watters, political commentator and author
- Jennifer Weiner, author
- Kristen Welker, television journalist and NBC News White House correspondent
- William Wharton, author, Birdy
- Walt Whitman, poet, essayist, and journalist
Military figures
- Henry Harley "Hap" Arnold, U.S. Army general, Air Force general, and World War I hero known as "father of the U.S. Air Force"
- Upton Birnie Jr., US Army major general, raised and educated in Philadelphia
- Albert Blithe, U.S. Army paratrooper featured in Band of Brothers
- Louis H. Carpenter, Brigadier General, Medal of Honor recipient and veteran, Civil War, American Indian War, and Spanish–American War
- George F. Good Jr., U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant general, commanded Marine defense battalions during World War II
- William Guarnere, U.S. Army staff sergeant featured in Band of Brothers
- Alexander Haig, U.S. military officer, diplomat, U.S. Secretary of State
- Edward Heffron, U.S. Army Private featured in Band of Brothers
- Washington Hood, captain, U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers
- Joseph Howell Jr., major, Paymaster-General of the United States Army
- John Lawson, U.S. Navy sailor and Medal of Honor recipient
- George B. McClellan, Union Army general and presidential candidate
- H. R. McMaster, major general and presidential chief of staff
- John J. McVeigh, Medal of Honor recipient for actions during Battle for Brest
- George Gordon Meade, Union army general and victor at the Battle of Gettysburg
- Charles Miller, resident of Bridesburg, US Army officer who served as Commandant of the United States Army Command and General Staff College
- Thomas H. Neill, Union Army general
- John C. Pemberton, Commander of Confederate defenders at Siege of Vicksburg
- Charles Sutherland, Surgeon General of U.S. Army
- Franklin W. Ward, Adjutant General of New York
Music
- Andrew Adgate, musician, founder of music schools, and choir director
- Al Alberts, singer, The Four Aces
- Alex G, singer-songwriter
- Marian Anderson, opera singer and contralto
- Frankie Avalon, singer and actor
- Baauer, DJ and producer
- Rachel Bagby, author, composer, singer, and composer
- Bahamadia, rapper
- Pearl Bailey, singer, dancer, and actress
- Charli Baltimore, hip hop artist
- Samuel Barber, composer, pianist, conductor, baritone, music educator, and composer
- All members of Grayscale, rock band
- Len Barry, recording star, vocalist, songwriter, lyricist, record producer, author, and poet
- Toni Basil, singer, "Mickey"
- Eric Bazilian, singer and musician, co-founder of The Hooters
- Diane Meredith Belcher, concert organist, teacher, and church musician
- Steve Berlin, keyboardist and saxophone player, Los Lobos
- Emile Berliner, inventor of the flat disc record, the gramophone, founder of Victor Talking Machine Company, and Gramophone Company
- Frankie Beverly, jazz bassist
- Bilal, neo-soul singer and musician
- Cindy Birdsong, founding member, Labelle, and replacement member, Diana Ross & the Supremes
- Joe Bonsall, country music singer and member of The Oak Ridge Boys
- Dante Bucci, handpan musician
- Lil Dicky, rapper
- Solomon Burke, R&B singer
- Uri Caine, composer, arranger, and jazz pianist
- Cassidy, rapper
- Sarah Chang, child prodigy violinist with major orchestras
- Chubby Checker, singer
- Stanley Clarke, bassist
- Alice Cohen, singer and songwriter known as Alice Desoto
- John Coltrane, jazz saxophonist
- Norman Connors, singer
- Tommy Conwell, guitarist, songwriter, and performer
- Cool C, rapper
- Jim Croce, singer
- Dalex, singer
- James Darren, singer and actor
- Rick DeJesus, lead singer, Adelitas Way
- James DePreist, orchestra conductor
- Dieselboy, drum and bass DJ and producer
- Fred Diodati, lead singer, The Four Aces
- Diplo, DJ and producer
- Bill Doggett, jazz and R&B organist and pianist
- Gail Ann Dorsey, bassist
- Charles Earland, organist
- Nathan East, jazz, R&B, rock bass player, and vocalist
- Kevin Eubanks, jazz guitarist
- Robin Eubanks, jazz trombonist
- Duane Eubanks, jazz trumpeter
- Eve, rapper and actress
- Fabian, singer and actor
- Nick Falcon, guitarist, composer, lyricist, and singer
- Sheila Ferguson, singer, The Three Degrees
- Wilhelmenia Fernandez, opera singer and soprano
- Rachelle Ferrell, jazz vocalist
- Eddie Fisher, singer and actor
- Sam Fogarino, rock music drummer, Interpol
- Freeway, rapper
- Kenny Gamble, producer and co-founder, Philadelphia International Records
- Melody Gardot, jazz singer
- Stan Getz, jazz saxophonist
- Benny Golson, jazz saxophonist
- Charlie Gracie, rock singer
- Gogi Grant, singer, "The Wayward Wind"
- Anthony Green, singer, Saosin and Circa Survive
- Vivian Green, R&B singer
- Daryl Hall, singer and half of Hall & Oates duo
- Joseph Hallman, composer, arranger, singer, and producer
- Rufus Harley, jazz musician and first jazz musician to use Great Highland bagpipe as primary instrument
- Robert Hazard, new wave musician and composer
- Albert Heath, jazz drummer
- Jimmy Heath, jazz saxophonist
- Percy Heath, jazz bassist
- Leon Huff, producer and co-founder, Philadelphia International Records
- Phyllis Hyman, R&B and jazz vocalist
- DJ Jazzy Jeff, hip-hop DJ, neo-soul producer, and half DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince duo
- Joan Jett, rock musician
- Philly Joe Jones, jazz drummer
- Kitty Kallen, pop singer
- Jason Karaban, singer and songwriter
- Tom Keifer, glam metal vocalist, Cinderella
- Keith, singer who wrote "98.6"
- Bill Kenny, singer
- Khia, rapper
- King Britt, house DJ and producer
- Kurupt, rapper
- Patti LaBelle, R&B & soul singer and actress
- Mario Lanza, operatic singer
- Lil Uzi Vert, rapper and hip hop artist
- Lynda Laurence, part of Stevie Wonder's backup group The Third Generation and part of The Supremes
- Amos Lee, folk and blues singer
- Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, member, TLC
- Monie Love, rapper and radio personality
- Leonard MacClain, theatre organist
- Al Martino, singer and actor, Johnny Fontane in The Godfather
- Pat Martino, jazz guitarist
- Barbara Mason, R&B singer and composer
- Christian McBride, jazz bassist
- Marian Anderson, gospel singer
- Marshmello, DJ and producer
- Meek Mill, rapper
- Lizzy McAlpine, singer and songwriter
- Ms. Jade, hip hop artist
- Lee Morgan, jazz trumpeter and composer
- James Mtume, R&B and jazz musician and founder of Mtume
- Musiq Soulchild, R&B and neo-soul singer
- James E. Myers, songwriter, actor, and co-writer of "Rock Around the Clock"
- Marc Nelson, R&B singer, Boyz II Men and Az Yet
- Lobo Nocho, jazz singer
- John Oates, singer and half of Hall & Oates duo
- Maurie Orodenker, journalist, music critic, and advertising agency executive who coined the term "rock and roll"
- Hugh Panaro, tenor singer, Broadway and opera
- Billy Paul, Grammy Award-winning soul singer
- Vinnie Paz, rapper, founder of Jedi Mind Tricks and Army of the Pharaohs
- Peedi Peedi, rapper
- Teddy Pendergrass, R&B singer, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
- Christina Perri, singer
- Vincent Persichetti, composer and music educator
- Pink, R&B and rock music singer
- Fayette Pinkney, singer, The Three Degrees
- Trudy Pitts, jazz keyboardist
- Princess Superstar, hip hop performer
- Questlove, drummer, producer, DJ, writer, journalist, and photographer
- Sun Ra, jazz pianist and band leader
- Danny Rapp, singer, Danny & the Juniors
- Joe Renzetti, guitarist and Oscar Award winner
- Res, R&B singer
- RJD2, producer
- Paul Robeson, singer, activist, attorney, and All-American collegiate athlete
- PnB Rock, rapper
- Jack Rose, guitarist
- Todd Rundgren, musician, singer, songwriter, and producer
- Bobby Rydell, singer and actor
- Santigold, punk singer
- John Sebastian, classical harmonica player and composer
- Danny Sembello, R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist
- Michael Sembello, R&B singer, guitarist, keyboardist, and songwriter
- Schoolly D, rapper
- Jill Scott, R&B and neo-soul singer
- Shirley Scott, organist
- Musiq Soulchild, R&B and neo-soul singer
- Dee Dee Sharp, singer and actress
- Gene Shay, folk music musician
- Oscar Shumsky, violinist and conductor
- Beanie Sigel, rapper
- Bunny Sigler, R&B singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer
- Steady B, rapper
- Jazmine Sullivan, R&B and soul singer-songwriter, 2-time Grammy award winner, and 2-time BET Award-winner
- Taylor Swift, singer-songwriter, 14-time Grammy award winner, 2023 Apple Music Artist of the year
- William Takacs, trumpet player
- Tammi Terrell, soul, R&B, and Motown singer
- Russell Thompkins Jr., soul and R&B singer
- Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter, lead MC and co-founder, The Roots
- Robbie Tronco, DJ
- Ira Tucker, lead singer, The Dixie Hummingbirds
- McCoy Tyner, jazz pianist and composer, John Coltrane quartet
- Charlie Ventura, tenor saxophonist and band leader
- Kurt Vile, guitarist and vocalist
- Lee Ving, singer and songwriter, frontman of hardcore punk band Fear
- Johannes von Trapp, singer and member of Trapp Family
- Evan Sewell Wallace, singer, songwriter, and rapper known as "E-Dubble"
- Clara Ward, gospel singer
- Grover Washington Jr., jazz saxophonist and founder of smooth jazz genre
- Crystal Waters, dance and house music singer
- Ethel Waters, blues singer and actress
- André Watts, pianist
- Tierra Whack, rapper and singer
- Pamela Williams, jazz saxophonist
- Josh Wink, DJ and electronic music producer
- Emily Yacina, singer-songwriter
- Karen Young, disco singer
Sports
- Chris Achuff, defensive line coach, Syracuse University
- John Abadie, professional baseball player, Brooklyn Atlantics and Philadelphia Athletics
- Cal Abrams, professional baseball player, Baltimore Orioles, Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and Pittsburgh Pirates
- Chris Albright, soccer player who represented the United States national team
- Dick Allen, professional baseball player, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and St. Louis Cardinals, National League Rookie of the Year, and seven-time [Major League Baseball Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game|All-Star]
- Anthony Allison, soccer player
- Doug Allison, first professional baseball player ever to use a baseball glove
- Eddie Alvarez, mixed martial artist, ONE Championship, UFC Lightweight Champion
- Rubén Amaro Jr., professional baseball player, general manager, and coach
- Dan Antoniuk, soccer player
- Paul Arizin, professional basketball player, Camden Bullets and Philadelphia Warriors
- Matt Bahr, professional football and soccer player
- Walter Bahr, soccer player, manager, and National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee
- Deion Barnes, professional football player, Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets
- Barry Barto, soccer player and coach
- Reds Bassman, professional football player, Philadelphia Eagles
- Bert Bell, founder of Philadelphia Eagles football team and former NFL commissioner
- Erwin Bergdoll, former auto racer and draft dodger; brother of Grover Bergdoll
- Barney Berlinger, 1928 Summer Olympics decathlete
- Mohini Bhardwaj, 2004 Summer Olympics gymnast
- Tyrell Biggs, boxer, 1984 Summer Olympics gold medalist
- Audrey Bleiler, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player, South Bend Blue Sox
- Chaim Bloom, Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer
- Tony Bono, soccer player
- Thomas Brennan, professional hockey player, Boston Bruins
- Charles Brewer, boxer and IBF super middleweight champion
- Derek Bryant, former heavyweight boxer
- Kobe Bryant, professional basketball player and five-time NBA Finals champion
- Michael Brooks, professional basketball player
- Roy Campanella, professional baseball player, three-time National League Most Valuable Player
- Abdul Carter, professional football player
- Wilt Chamberlain, professional basketball player and two-time NBA champion
- Gene Chyzowych, soccer player and coach
- Ben Clime, professional football player
- Randall "Tex" Cobb, boxer and actor
- Tim Cooney, professional baseball player
- Don Cohan, 1972 Olympic bronze medalist, sailing
- Brian Cohen, professional boxer
- Julia Cohen, professional tennis player
- Steve Coleman, professional football player
- Bobby Convey, soccer player who represented the United States national team
- Tyrone Crawley, boxer
- Fran Crippen, professional swimmer
- Maddy Crippen, swimmer in 2000 Olympics
- Ray Culp, Phillies right-handed pitcher and runner-up to Dick Allen for National League Rookie of the Year
- Steve Cunningham, boxer and cruiserweight champion
- Brandon Davies, American-born Ugandan professional basketball player
- Matthew "Super" DeLisi, esports player
- Ollie Dobbins, football player
- Buster Drayton, boxer and light middleweight champion
- Jon Drummond, track and field athlete, 1996 and 2000 Olympic medalist
- Dave Dunaway, professional football player
- Angelo Dundee, boxing trainer
- Fred Dunlap, professional baseball player
- John Edelman, professional baseball player
- Gary Emanuel, defensive line coach, Atlanta Falcons
- Julius Erving, Philadelphia 76ers 11-time All-Star, 2-time NBA champion, two-time ABA champion, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member
- Jahri Evans, professional football player
- Paul Felder, mixed martial artist with UFC and Cage Fury Fighting Championships
- D'or Fischer, Israeli-American basketball player, Israeli National League
- Craig Fitzgerald, professional football coach
- Joe Flacco, professional football player
- Francine Fournier, professional wrestling valet, Extreme Championship Wrestling
- Joe Frazier, boxer, 1964 Olympic gold medalist and former world heavyweight champion
- Marvis Frazier, boxer
- Harry Fritz, baseball player
- Jim "Sandman" Fullington, professional wrestler, Extreme Championship Wrestling and WWE
- Mark Gerban, first world champion rower, Palestine
- Eddie George, professional football player and Heisman Trophy winner
- Kerry Getz, professional skateboarder
- Joey Giardello, professional boxer and middleweight champion
- Tom Gola, professional basketball player, La Salle University men's basketball head coach, and Philadelphia mayoral candidate
- Brent Grimes, professional football player
- Randy Grossman, professional football player and four-time Super Bowl Champion
- Mark Gubicza, professional baseball player
- Drew Gulak, professional wrestler
- Matt Guokas, professional basketball player and coach
- Brendan Hansen, Olympic swimmer
- Eric Harding, boxer
- Marvin Harrison, professional football player
- Kirk Hershey, professional football player
- Bill Holland, 1949 Indianapolis 500 winner and three-time second-place finisher
- Bernard Hopkins, boxer and world middleweight champion
- Demetrius Hopkins, boxer
- Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers professional basketball player, 11-time All-Star, NBA MVP, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member
- Michael Iaconelli, professional bass angler and winner of 2003 Bassmaster Classic
- Reggie Jackson, Hall of Fame baseball player
- Judith Jamison, dancer; choreographer, and artistic director, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
- Joe Judge, professional football head coach, New York Giants
- Gabe Kapler, professional baseball player and manager
- John B. Kelly Sr., triple Olympic gold medal winner, rowing
- John B. Kelly Jr., champion rower
- Florian Kempf, football player
- Matt Kilroy, professional baseball player
- Sam Kimber, professional baseball player
- Bart King, cricket bowler
- Darnell Kittrell, professional wrestler
- Kenny Koplove, baseball player
- Mike Koplove, professional baseball pitcher
- Julian Krinsky, tennis player
- Rick Lackman, professional football player
- Dave LaCrosse, professional player
- Sonny Liston, boxer and world heavyweight champion
- Tommy Loughran, boxer and light heavyweight champion
- Harry Luff, Major League Baseball player
- John Macionis, Olympic swimmer, 1936 silver medalist
- Brooke Makler, Olympic fencer
- Paul Makler Jr., Olympic fencer
- Paul Makler Sr., Olympic fencer
- Donovan McNabb, professional football player, Philadelphia Eagles
- Dick McBride, baseball player and manager
- John McDermott, professional golfer
- Benny McLaughlin, professional soccer player and member, U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame
- Jake Metz, football player
- Levi Meyerle, professional baseball player
- Nate Miller, boxer and cruiserweight champion
- Alvin Mitchell, football player
- Tony Morgano, boxer
- Willie Mosconi, professional billiards player
- Matthew Saad Muhammad, boxer and light heavyweight champion
- Browning Nagle, professional football player
- Jim O'Brien, NBA coach
- Vince Papale, professional football player, inspiration for the movie Invincible
- Kyle Pitts, professional football player, Atlanta Falcons
- Mike Powell, track and field athlete, 1988 and 1992 Olympic silver medalist and current long jump world record holder
- Zahir Raheem, boxer and 1996 Olympian
- Jack Ramsay, basketball coach, Saint Joseph's College men's team, NBA coach, general manager, television commentator, and Hall of Famer
- Merrill Reese, Philadelphia Eagles radio broadcaster
- David Reid, boxer, 1996 Olympic gold medalist, light middleweight
- Stevie Richards, professional wrestler, Extreme Championship Wrestling and WWE
- Robin Roberts, Phillies right-handed pitcher, Cy Young Award recipient, and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame
- Ivan Robinson, boxer
- Allen Rosenberg, rower and rowing coach
- Mike Schmidt, Phillies Golden Glove third baseman and member of Baseball Hall of Fame
- Vic Seixas, tennis player
- Kirk Shelmerdine, NASCAR driver and crew chief
- Ed Sheridan, retired professional soccer player
- Steve Slaton, NFL player
- Gunboat Smith, boxer turned actor and boxing referee
- Frank Spellman, Olympic champion weightlifter
- David Starr, professional wrestler
- John Sterling, professional baseball player
- Harry Stovey, professional baseball player
- Joe Sugden, professional baseball player
- Cavan Sullivan, professional soccer player; youngest person to appear in a league match for a major professional league in the United States
- Quinn Sullivan, professional soccer player
- Eric Tangradi, professional hockey player
- Meldrick Taylor, boxer, 1984 Olympic gold medalist, welterweight and junior welterweight champion
- Aaron Torres, boxer and contestant on The Contender 2
- Najai Turpin, boxer and contestant on The Contender
- Harp Vaughan, professional football player
- Iosif Vitebskiy, Soviet/Ukrainian Olympic medalist and world champion fencer and fencing coach
- John Waerig, professional football player
- Steve Wagner, Olympic field hockey player
- Bobby "Boogaloo" Watts, boxer
- Charles Way, professional football player
- Maia Weintraub, national champion and Olympic foil fencer
- Reece Whitley, swimmer and former Sports Illustrated Kid of the Year
- Erik Williams, professional football player, Dallas Cowboys
- Ike Williams, boxer and lightweight champion
- Joe Williams, former football player
- Stevie Williams, professional skateboarder
- Brad Wanamaker, professional basketball player, Boston Celtics
- Ned Williamson, professional baseball player
- George Winslow, professional football player
- Jimmy Young, boxer
Philadelphia native basketball players
- Ryan Arcidiacono, professional basketball player, New York Knicks
- Gene Banks, professional basketball player, Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs
- Mike Bantom, professional basketball player, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, and Seattle Seahawks
- Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, professional basketball player, Houston Rockets, Philadelphia 76ers, and San Diego Clippers
- Kobe Bryant, professional basketball player, Los Angeles Lakers
- Rasual Butler, professional basketball player
- Tony Carr, basketball player in the Israeli Premier Basketball League
- Fred Carter, NBA
- Wilt Chamberlain, professional basketball player
- Dionte Christmas, NBA
- Bryan Cohen, American-Israeli, Israel Basketball Premier League
- Mardy Collins, NBA
- Dallas Comegys, NBA
- Mark Davis, NBL (Australia) – Adelaide 36ers
- Wayne Ellington, NBA
- Tyreke Evans, NBA
- D'or Fischer, American-Israeli
- Eddie Griffin, professional basketball player
- Gerald Henderson Jr., NBA
- Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, professional basketball player
- De'Andre Hunter, current NBA player for the Atlanta Hawks
- Marc Jackson, NBA
- Amile Jefferson, NBA G League
- Wali Jones, NBA
- Bo Kimble, NBA
- Red Klotz, American Basketball League basketball player
- Betnijah Laney, WNBA
- Howard Lassoff, American-Israeli basketball player
- Ryan Lexer, American-Israeli former basketball player, Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Kyle Lowry, NBA
- Aaron McKie, NBA
- Cuttino Mobley, NBA
- Earl Monroe, NBA
- Marcus Morris, NBA
- Markieff Morris, NBA
- Ronald "Flip" Murray, NBA
- Jameer Nelson, NBA
- Aaron Owens,
- Red Rosan, American Basketball League professional basketball player
- Malik Rose, NBA
- John Salmons, NBA
- Art Spector, professional basketball player
- Dawn Staley, WNBA
- Dion Waiters, NBA
- Rasheed Wallace, NBA
- Hakim Warrick, NBA
- Mike Watkins, professional basketball player, Antwerp Giants in the BNXT League
- Maurice Watson, Maccabi Rishon LeZion of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Maalik Wayns, NBA
- Alvin Williams, NBA
- Khalif Wyatt, NBA G League
Other
- Richard Allen, African Methodist Episcopal Church bishop and abolitionist
- Gloria Allred, women's rights attorney
- Hart O. Berg, engineer and businessman
- Anna Pierce Hobbs Bixby, midwife, frontier doctor, dentist, herbologist, and scientist who discovered the cause of milk sickness
- Guion Bluford, astronaut and first African-American in space
- Frank Erdman Boston, physician
- Stanley Branche, civil rights activist and Philadelphia night club owner
- William E. Carter, a survivor of the RMS Titanic
- Pete Conrad, astronaut, the third man to walk on the Moon with Apollo 12
- Percy Crawford, clergyman and religious broadcaster
- Wilbur Davenport, engineer and scientist
- Steve DeAngelo, social activist
- Anthony F. DePalma, orthopedic surgeon and medical school professor
- Katherine Drexel, Roman Catholic saint
- William Duane, a former physicist
- Daniel Faulkner, Philadelphia police officer killed in the line of duty; Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of his murder
- Christopher Ferguson, astronaut
- Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde, Philadelphia municipal court judge and boxer
- Barbara Harris, Anglican Communion bishop
- Paul B. Higginbotham, judge, Wisconsin Court of Appeals
- Gino Jennings, religious leader
- Umar Johnson, Afrocentrist psychologist and activist
- Ruth Malcomson, Miss America
- James Martin, Jesuit priest, writer, and commentator on modern Catholicism
- Seamus McCaffrey, justice, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and presiding judge, "Eagles Court"
- Carol McCain, ex-wife of U.S. presidential candidate John McCain
- Silas Weir Mitchell, physician, scientist, novelist, and poet considered "father of neurology"
- Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, Sufi mystic
- Clarence Charles Newcomer, U.S. district judge, U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- John Joseph O'Connor, Roman Catholic cardinal and archbishop, Archdiocese of New York
- George A. Palmer, clergyman and religious broadcaster
- David L. Reich, academic anesthesiologist, professor, Mount Sinai Hospital president
- Marjorie Rendell, judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and First Lady of Pennsylvania
- Amber Rose, model and actress
- Charles Sanna, Swiss Miss creator, director
- Samuel Gilbert Scott, daredevil
- Lester Shubin, inventor, Kevlar bulletproof vest
- Nancy Spungen, girlfriend of Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious
- Marion Turner Stubbs, founder of Jack and Jill of America
- Kee Taylor, hair stylist, business executive, and YouTuber
- Michael Tollin, film producer
- Floyd W. Tomkins, Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia rector
- Walter E. Williams, economist, commentator, and academic
- Jeremiah Wright, pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ
- Joshua Wurman, meteorologist and VORTEX2 leader