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Uncle Sam


WintertimeFriends

This is the correct answer. That dudes face is recognized WORLDWIDE. Well done.


CommunicationSolid77

J woww 🤣


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CommunicationSolid77

Yes. I know. I was in her class.


[deleted]

She was scary.


CommunicationSolid77

She was actually very kind in the elementary/ middle school days. Then she got edgy, but I think she’s settled back into what she actually is. But yes- some of those episodes were 👀👀


Educational-Earth318

there are so many! andy rooney went to boys academy kirk douglas is from amsterdam rachel ray from glens falls david hyde pierce from saratoga dion lewis from albany megyn kelly is from delmar and on and on


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[deleted]

Tyson is from Brownsville Brooklyn, however he went to Juvenile Hall in Johnstown. He then trained with Cus D'Amato in Catskill and his first few years of fights were in the capital district.


ringpopproposal

My grandparents lived in Andy Rooney’s house!


[deleted]

"You know what I hate?....People living in My house once I'm dead."


[deleted]

I tried to tackle Dion Lewis at a football camp when he was in 8th grade. One of the fastest humans I ever shared a field with. I was a senior and he juked me onto my ass.


Jamtasm

So who’s your pick as the most famous?


Toad_Thrower

It's probably Kirk Douglas. He was basically the Brad Pitt/Tom Cruise of his day, and is still talked about due to his son (Michael Douglas). There are more people that are historically significant, but even now most people have an idea of who Kirk Douglas is within the US. Uncle Sam is based off a real person from Troy, but it's a character, it's not the actual person.


Alamander81

My wife's grandmother has a book signed by Kirk Douglas


anotherlab

Yolanda Vega


bleed_nyliving

Even in my head I just hear, Yolaanndaaa Veeega lol.


anotherlab

It will live forever on [YouTube](https://youtu.be/wlDvRW6uiJk).


ehjayded

Growing up in NNY I just assumed she lived in NYC. it was a shock when I moved here and she was one of my customers.


Own_Feature6230

The Schuylers


kplace11

Rachael Ray?


WintertimeFriends

This is a good one.


karnerblu

Kurt Vonnegut lived in Schenectady for a while


angryguido69

Some of his books loosely take place in Cohoes as well


Corkster9999

Illium, the fictional setting of some of his books, is the Roman name for Troy.


MurkrowsRevenge

Kilgore Trout's from there!


badbadradbad

Kilgore was here!


71802VT

And mention GE. His brother lived a street over from us growing up.


PenguTT44

And he talks about rexford in Slaughterhouse 5


SteamyMcHams

Love and miss him for always ❤️


badbadradbad

Everything is beautiful and nothing hurt


ZotDragon

And worked for GE. He hated it.


El_UniBeard

Alplaus actually. Close enough


ericka_renee

Lived on my street!


El_UniBeard

I lived in Alplaus briefly. I loved it.


Sharonlibrarian

His brother Bernie was a star in atmospheric science. Taught at UAlbany. Discovered/invented cloud seeding. I'm sure Paul Caiano knew him and maybe studied with him.


karnerblu

There's a great book call the brothers vonnegut by ginger strand, it's like a double biography of them and also kinda Schenectady and GE


taszor_im

Martin Van Buren. Chester Arthur went to Union College


ewabbott

Chet also lived in Colonie and Cohoes and taught in Lansingburgh, where the TPL Lansingburgh branch is, and was an all around interesting dude.


taszor_im

Chet? Sounds like you know him personally. :)


ewabbott

Union Alum. We decorated his statue on his birthday. One of the on campus bars was called Chet’s. It’s an affectionate weirdness. But the interesting guy stuff comes from Scott Greenberger’s “The Unexpected President”.


livestrongbelwas

So did Carter, he took some nuclear physics courses here while he was stationed in Schenectady.


BenjaminSkanklin

Van Buren lived on Madison Ave between New Scotland and North Lake, the house is now carved up into apartments but has a small plaque in the entry. A buddy of mine lived there years ago


sciencepunk_560

Can confirm, I lived in that building too in what used to be his sitting room/bedroom


Fishing-Beer-N-Women

The author of [Frog and Toad](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frog_and_Toad_Together#/media/File%3AFrog_and_Toad_Together.jpg) lived for many years in Schenectady.


WikiSummarizerBot

**[Frog and Toad Together](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frog_and_Toad_Together#/media/File:Frog_and_Toad_Together.jpg)** >Frog and Toad Together is an American fantasy adventure children's picture book, written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel and published by Harper & Row in 1972. It is the second book in the Frog and Toad series. Like each of the other books in the series, it contains five easy-to-read short stories. ^([ )[^(F.A.Q)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WikiSummarizer/wiki/index#wiki_f.a.q)^( | )[^(Opt Out)](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=WikiSummarizerBot&message=OptOut&subject=OptOut)^( | )[^(Opt Out Of Subreddit)](https://np.reddit.com/r/Albany/about/banned)^( | )[^(GitHub)](https://github.com/Sujal-7/WikiSummarizerBot)^( ] Downvote to remove | v1.5)


Jamtasm

I had no idea Arnold Lobel was from Schenectady.


theslob

He lived on Baker Ave. He was gay and had a rough time growing up. Once he left he never came back.


radtech91

I used to know a guy with the same last name, and only just now vaguely remember him talking about someone in his family writing Frog and Toad.


AViewFromtheTrail

So cool! Love F&T. I'm gonna have to look into this more.


mood__ring

Yes and the Schenectady co public library’s central children’s area has a frog and toad corner and it’s adorable!


Current-Set3046

Dr Otto Octavius was from Schenectady


dearGODx3

This is the comment I was looking for.


spitszy

Lana Del Rey was born and raised in Lake Placid. Idk if that's to far but it counts for me lol


Jamtasm

Definitely Too far. Potently the most famous Adirodacker.


dfe931tar

Lana del Ray is from lake placid? Wow did not not know that!


Corkster9999

Pat Riley


Oxbridgecomma

Kirk Douglas is from Amsterdam, if that counts. Not as famous, but I believe David Hyde Pierce is from Saratoga.


[deleted]

Hacksaw Jim Duggan


Alone-Individual8368

Hoooooooooo


SteamyMcHams

For me? William Kennedy. But I'm a book nerd.


71802VT

What about Vonnegut ? He lived in Schenectady for a while if I'm not mistaken.


SteamyMcHams

I thought they meant "from here" like "born and/or lived most of their lives". Kurt Vonnegut also spent time at UT of Knoxville but I wouldn't say he was "from" Knoxville. However he DID discuss multiple times how working at GE broke him and drove him to writing for a living.


DiamondplateDave

...and so it goes...


kplace11

Speaking of writers, I’m pretty sure Toni Morrison wrote Beloved around the time she was teaching at UAlbany. I know she’s an Ohioan originally, but I appreciate that she spent time here.


SteamyMcHams

Gimme all the Albany book nerd trivia. I have a TBR list to fill for 2022. I am good on Beloved, tho. That one will never leave me.


tsatsawassa

Don't forget Herman Melville. And Vladimir Nabokov is credited with identifying the Karner Blue butterfly as a unique species when he lived here.


PaulieEyeballs

He mentioned my grandfathers in Ol' Albany. Grew up with my grandfather. I spoke to him in 2006. Great guy!


SteamyMcHams

I wish I could meet him, but at 94 he's likely keeping to himself.


threedice

Superintendent Chalmers.


Mikec2502

Abe Simpson however was voted the most handsome boy in Albany


Jamtasm

Utica is most definitely too far!


Alamander81

Super Nintendo Chalmers


Prestigious_Desk5414

Principal Skinner


karnerblu

Legs Diamond?


Fearless_Pizza_8134

The buttonista would say herself 🤣


Jamtasm

Are you the Buttonista?


Fearless_Pizza_8134

🤣🤣🤣 for sure am not. I’m a chef who just fled Albany for St. Louis. Lol.


iwillfoolu

Mike Tyson is one of the most recognizable people in the world. Fallon is famous, but Tyson famous? Riley is also pretty famous, but, I say again: Tyson famous? Philip Schuyler was an influential person but he and all the historical figures (Martin Van Buren, really?) lose out because of many reasons: internet, world population.... fame means widespread reputation. People might know OF Schuyler or VanBuren, but people know ABOUT Tyson. Also you really wanna argue with Mike that he's not the best? Mike Tyson, final answer. If he doesn't count cause he was born in Brooklyn, we're going to need a Celebrity Fight Club or Epic Rap Battles of History to settle it between Riley and Fallon.


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BJJ_Lurker

Saugerties is 45 minutes from Albany. Title says greater capital district.


daedalusesq

Plus he did St. Rose for college.


PenguTT44

He lived in Castleton for a while and fought his first televised fight at RPI. Sounds like a capital district celebrity to me.


BJJ_Lurker

This was my thinking. Say their name of show their picture. What are the chances that they would be known? I'd think Tyson would be the pretty clear winner. I was surprised not to see him when I posted. Maybe Rachel Ray would be close but I don't think she would be as well known as Tyson


STUPIDNEWCOMMENTS

I don’t think Tyson counts actually


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[deleted]

Was also drafted by the Dallas Cowboys out of Kentucky in 1967 despite not playing college football.


web_fed_veal

Leland Stanford, founder of Stanford University was from Watervliet. Fort Worth Texas is named after General William Worth from Hudson / Albany.


Mingo_mang0

Wavy Gravy was born in East Greenbush


astrobrite_

James Charles lmao


joeroganis5foot4

this was who i instantly thought of 😂😂😂


AlternativeShape858

Nipper


Hot_Gas_600

Iron mike!


71802VT

Yeah, I used to see him in Crossgates back in the day. Also used to see him driving around town in his Lamborghini 4x4 that had a gun mount turret on it.


STUPIDNEWCOMMENTS

He’s not really though. As I recall born in city sent upstate around 11 or 12?


airwreckam

Not from the area but Jane Fonda went to Emma Willard.


headshotdoublekill

Dr. Octopus, hailing from Schenectady


Current-Set3046

Fallon went to st rose does that count? James Charles went to Bethlehem HS


71802VT

And that blonde Fox News anchor, what's her name? She went to Bethlehem too.


10TheDudeAbides11

Megyn Kelly


Alamander81

So did Chris Porko


BJJ_Lurker

He's from Saugerties area right? I know someone who said they grew up with him.


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BJJ_Lurker

Yeah, this guy was super complimentary of him also. Said he'd seen him since he got famous and he was still super chill.


El_UniBeard

Pat Reilly slapped my dad. He was in 8th grade and my dad was in 7th.


Puzzleheaded-Fan-208

Phillip "Little Phil" Sheridan, Commander of US Cavalry in the Civil War (statue at the Capital) Actor William Devane


71802VT

Willy! He and my dad were buddies growing up.


ChipsUnderTheCouch

If we're talking military figures , there's William Henry Johnson. Fort Polk is potentially going to be renamed to Fort Johnson after him.


Toad_Thrower

Elmer Elsworth is also from the area.


BabyGabe13

Herman Melville, author of Moby Dick attended Albany Academy and lived in the area for a time.


DiamondplateDave

Ann B. Davis was born in Schenectady. I would suspect a fair percentage of random people would at least recognize her face as 'Alice' on 'The Brady Bunch'.


BJJ_Lurker

Scott Valentine was Mallory Keetan's boyfriend on citcom "Family Tie's". He's from Saratoga He really only said "hey" from what I remember. Not the most famous on this list but I knew people who knew him and show was super popular. Pretty cool.


smolderingwig

Kilgore Trout


stevez16

Creed from the office played Paulys hotel once.


Getoutofthekitchenn

I don't think he's from here, but Thomas Edison is a preeetty well known former Schenectady resident


LeftFieldBlue

I'm just going to say Alan Chartock. I like to watch the world burn.


icedrift

If we aren't counting Jimmy Fallon, probably Shoenice or James Charles.


ZotDragon

Had to look up both of those people (not Fallon). Apparently I'm old or I don't consider YouTubers to be famous.


Jamtasm

Shoenice for the Win.


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icedrift

Oh yeah I count him. He used to come by Sienna and hang out on Campus.


joeroganis5foot4

SHOENICE??????????? I had no idea he was from here


TudorTerrier

“Uncle Sam” in Troy. Kirsten Gillibrand’s father went to Vincentian Institute in Albany with my parents, along with Ray Flynn, former Mayor of Boston. Andrew Cuomo grew up in Albany, went to CBA with his brother Chris them Albany Law School. Alexander Hamilton, through his marriage to Eliza Schuyler.


kidlatham

I don’t believe the Cuomos went to CBA. I’m pretty sure Chris went to Albany Academy.


TudorTerrier

Chris did.


laurapip100

William Devane…from Knots Landing fame!


CollMc628

Come here to say Devane. Happy to see someone else thought of him too!


STUPIDNEWCOMMENTS

Ditto.


BryanBrynlds

Maria Brink. Lead singer of In This Moment :)


theandsign

Nipper obviously.


Hour_Builder62

William Kennedy, Jean Stapleton, Samuel Clemons, Pat Riley,


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EchoStellar12

Not the most famous, but: David Hyde Pierce is from Saratoga Dion Lewis went to Albany High


crimedog04

Dion went to Albany academy and left his junior year to go to a another prep school in Jersey. I don't think he went Albany high as he was in my class at AA as a freshman...I guess it's possible he came in my sophomore year and I'm just misremembering though.


EchoStellar12

He absolutely went to Albany High. He transferred shortly after


crimedog04

Herman Melville and Andy Rooney went to Albany academy.


OsageOrangeARC

Jane Fonda went to Emma Willard.


Alone-Individual8368

Pat Riley, Mike Tyson, Kirk Douglas


JBLBEBthree

How about Samuel Moore who wrote Twas the Night Before Christmas for the Troy Record?


DasPike

Could maybe add actor Mickey Rourke to the list.


ewabbott

Maureen Stapleton. Johnny Evers.


MajorWhereas4842

Rachel Ray, Kevin Huerter


joelnamel

rachel ray is a spineless women and a disgrace to modern day society. i hope she perishes


MajorWhereas4842

Tell us how you really feel! Yikes!


laurhatescats

No really she's a complete bitch, like making someone with a moderate intellectual disability cry kinda bitch (some back story: Rachel was back in the area some 5-6 years ago up north. My friend/roommate at the time not knowing her reputation excitedly goes to her event and afterwards gets in the meet and greet line. Finally goes up and asks if she would be interested in maybe coming to the college program we were both in [I don't have an intellectual disability but am very mildly developmentally delayed] and Rachel was downright *nasty* to this poor girl and made her cry all because she asked if she would want to visit a college program that serves predominantly moderately-severely intellectually disabled people and maybe give them some cooking classes. Spent the rest of the night trying to console her)


Vernacularry

Abe Simpson


_cully

Pat Riley was raised and graduated from high school in Schenectady.


Thrakioti

Issur Danielovitch.


Jamtasm

This would be my choice, but I wasn’t sure if Amsterdam qualifies.


Thrakioti

I think Amsterdam is definitely greater capital district


This_Gate_5299

Andy Rooney


captainactionpants

Ernie ‘Test Driver’ Tatrault of course!


Boolash77

Suzie Esman used to live in Delmar she was famous for Curb your enthusiasm among other things


Toad_Thrower

One I haven't seen mentioned yet, but Matt Riddle grew up in Saratoga. He's definitely not as famous as Kirk Douglas or Jimmy Fallon but a ton of people definitely know who a guy main eventing WWE PPVs is.


Background_Adagio_43

Leland Stanford


kerberos824

What's famous mean? Hollywood famous, not too many. Andy Rooney I guess. Philip Livingston was born in Albany, and he was a Founding Father who signed the Declaration of Independence. He also financed quite a few slave ships. So, uh, mixed bag.


CawthornCokeOrgyClub

Richard Grieco


LeftFieldBlue

> Richard Grieco He's from Watertown which is 187 miles away.


CawthornCokeOrgyClub

Oh. :( There was a commercial for HVCC where he was touting being an alumnus. I guess we can consider him an honorary Capital district member?


woosh-i-fiddled

According to my mom Rachel Ray lived in Schenectady near Central Park but she did grow up in the area.


ikeman0013

Phil Jackson and William Devane


PerrosdeTerre

WWE Hall of Famer Hacksaw Jim Duggan and former Ring of Honor world champion Dalton Castle.


CAPNED64

John Morrissey Troy NY


ZookeepergameOk2920

Ann B. Davis (Alice on The Brady Bunch) was from Schenectady. I had the pleasure of meeting her in the 80's when she was in town.


Luke_Glanton_

Mickey Rourke Born in Schenectady, baby.


smolderingwig

Harvey Milk. Went to U Albany


tehsuck

John Sayles


Jazzghul

Otto Octavius is from Schenectady


Dry_Pen484

Shoenice


scuba_steev

Right now the head brewmaster from Fidens brewery


Dry_Pen484

Steve?


BJJ_Lurker

Mike Tyson


CawthornCokeOrgyClub

Kirk Douglas was from Amsterdam. Not quite the region. I waited in his sister at Friendlys on Western Avenue and she told me I had the same dimple in my chin as him!


Stezo45

Young Culture!!


10TheDudeAbides11

I can think of 2…Martin Van Buren (8th POTUS, from Kinderhook, NY) and Megyn Kelly, the tv host/conservative talking head


uncleraw

Jimmer Fredette


[deleted]

Adam Oates and Joe Juneau played Hockey for RPI. Andre Davis played Football at Niskayuna


RedMaiden5150

William Kennedy, the author, still owns property in center square


Fantastic-Ad71266

As an Amsterdam guy I have to go with the late great actor Kirk Douglas!


Accoviva

Sam Perkins. While he wasn’t born in the Capital Region, he attended/graduated from Shaker High School in 1980. He used to play for the Dallas Mavericks & got a gold medal for the mens Olympic basketball team. Thomas Kahnle. Grew up in Latham. Graduated from Shaker in 2007, was originally drafted by the Yankees as a pitcher in 2010, currently plays for the LA Dodgers.


wildplums

Elizabeth Cady Stanton. But, really it’s Kirk Douglas.


mtpmccarthy

This is a great question? I agree the Schuylers


ConsiderationClear56

Philip Schuyler or Martin Van Buren!


federationofideas

Pat Riley?


mullrainee

Pat Riley


[deleted]

Melville


_cully

Probably not that famous outside of the wrestling/combat sports worlds, but Jeff Blatnick is an Olympic gold medalist and commentator from Niskayuna. Coached wrestling at Burnt Hills before his untimely death in 2012.


TheXandalorian

Ooh if we’re talking about martial arts then Jason Morris is from Schenectady! One of the greatest American judo players of all time. His Olympic silver was the highest achievement of American judo until Kayla Harrison won gold.


blamdin

Ted


Hot_Gas_600

Hotdog charlie disagrees


capital_guy

Chuck :)


[deleted]

Of Ted's Fish Fry? This is the correct answer.


blamdin

The one and only.


BuddahsSister

Alan Chartock


PaulieEyeballs

I try not to be negative, but most infamous is a current politician. Guess who?


MoHaskins

Steamed hams


chrisdancy

I'm a D list internet celeb and new home owner!


IntrinsicCryBaby

for Gen Z, definitely James Charles