Lists of Italian Americans
This is a list of notable Italian Americans .
Anarchists
Architects
Artists
Comic artists, cartoonists, illustrators
Brian Azzarello - comic book writer
Joseph Barbera (1911–2006) - animator, cartoon artist, storyboard artist, director, producer, and co-founder, together with William Hanna, of Hanna-Barbera
Timothy D. Bellavia (born 1971) - children's illustrator, author and founder of the We Are All The Same Inside - Sage doll-making workshop
Ivan Brunetti (born 1967) - cartoonist and comics author
Joe Pesci - Italian American actor and musician
John Buscema (1927–2002) - comic-book artist and one of the mainstays of Marvel Comics during its 1960s and 1970s ascendancy into an industry leader and its subsequent expansion to a major pop culture conglomerate
Greg Capullo (born 1962) - comic book artist
Anthony Flamini (born 1978) - comic book writer
Frank Frazetta (1928–2010) - one of the world's most influential fantasy and science fiction artists
Dick Giordano (1932–2010) - comic book artist and editor
Frank Giacoia (1925–1989) - comic book artist
Carmine Infantino (1925–2013) - comic book artist and editor who was a major force in the Silver Age of Comic Books
Walter Lantz (1900–1994) - cartoonist and animator, founded the Walter Lantz Studio, created Woody Woodpecker
Bob Montana (1920–1975) - comic strip artist who created the characters that launched Archie comics
Joe Orlando (1927–1998) - illustrator, writer, editor and cartoonist
Jimmy Palmiotti - writer and artist of various comics, games and film
Leo Politi (1908–1996) - artist and author who wrote and illustrated some 20 children's books
Don Rico (1912–1985) - comic book writer-artist, paperback novelist, screenwriter and wood engraver; co-created the Marvel Comics character Black Widow with Stan Lee
John Romita Jr. (born 1956) - comic artist best known for his extensive work for Marvel Comics from the 1970s to the 2010s
John Romita, Sr. (born 1930) - comic book artist known for his work on Marvel Comics' The Amazing Spider-Man
Don Rosa (born 1951) - comic book artist for Disney comics
Eric Stefani (born 1967) - pop musician, former Simpsons animator, and Grammy-nominated composer and writer
Jim Valentino (born 1952) - writer, penciler and editor of comic books
Gerard Way (born 1977) - comic book writer; frontman of the American rock band My Chemical Romance
Digital artists and illustrators
Ashley Biden (born 1981) - founder of the fashion company Livelihood, daughter of Joe and Jill Biden
Louise Fili (born 1951) - graphic designer, 2014 American Institute of Graphic Arts Medalist[ 1]
Fred Marcellino (1939–2001) - illustrator
Painters
Photographers
Sculptors
Business
Criminals
Entertainers
Actors
Food
Inventors
Anthony Adducci (1937–2006) - pioneer of the medical device industry in Minnesota; best known for founding Guidant Corp. precursor Cardiac Pacemakers, inc., now part of Boston Scientific, the company that manufactured the world's first lithium battery-powered artificial pacemaker[ 2]
Giuseppe Mario Bellanca - designer of the first monoplane in the United States with an enclosed cabin
Enea Bossi
Lorenzo Del Riccio - inventor of fotofinish camera
Daniel DiLorenzo - medical device entrepreneur and physician-scientist. He is the inventor of several technologies for the treatment of neurological disease
Federico Faggin (born 1941) - physicist, engineer, inventor and entrepreneur; best known for designing the first commercial microprocessor, the Intel 4004
Gerard J. Foschini
The Jacuzzi family - developed the deep well water pump that led to the famous whirlpool bath
Antonio Meucci (1808–1889) - credited by the Congress of the United States with the invention of the telephone
Antonio Pasin (1897–1990) - inventor of the Radio Flyer stamped steel toy wagoni
Sam Porcello (1935–2012) - food scientist who worked at Nabisco on the modern Oreo cookie in particular, was the inventor of the white Oreo cookie creme-filling. His work earned him the nickname, "Mr. Oreo."
Lorenzo Ponza - inventor of the modern baseball pitching machine
Francis Rogallo - engineer at NASA , designed the Rogallo wing , which found its greatest success in hang gliders and kites
Andrea Rossi (born 1950) - entrepreneur who claims to have invented the cold fusion device E-Cat
Andrew Toti
Andrew Viterbi (born 1935) - engineer, billionaire, cofounder of Qualcomm , inventor of the Viterbi algorithm
Frank Zamboni - inventor of the modern ice resurfacer
Jurists
Judges
Lawyers
Melissa Anelli - resident of Staten Island , journalist at Staten Island Advance and webmaster of The Leaky Cauldron
Charly Arnolt - sports journalist (ESPN , OutKick , WWE )
Carlo Barsotti - emigrated from Italy to New York City in 1872. In 1879, he founded the Il Progresso Italo-Americano newspaper in New York City
Maria Bartiromo - financial journalist and television host
Joe Benigno - WFAN sports radio personality
David Brancaccio - journalist
Harry Caray (1914–1998) - born Harry Christopher Carabina, sports broadcaster, did play-by-play for the St. Louis Cardinals , Chicago White Sox , and most famously the Chicago Cubs ; Cubs win! Cubs win!
Tucker Carlson - television host and conservative political commentator
Matt Casamassina - video game journalist working for IGN
Danny Casolaro - freelance journalist
Igor Cassini - journalist
Chris Cimino - co-host of Today in New York on WNBC , the NBC affiliate in New York City
Kellyanne Conway - president and CEO of The Polling Company Inc./Woman Trend, and has been a political commentator on CNN , Fox News , and Fox Business
Anthony Cumia - "Anthony" of the Opie and Anthony show
Chris Cuomo - television journalist anchor at NewsNation
Rick Francona - NBC military analyst
Gaeton Fonzi - investigative ress journalist
Anthony Fantano - music critic and founder of The Needle Drop, a music related video blog
Al Giordano - political commentator, and former anti-nuclear and environmental activist
Michael Gargiulo - co-host of Today in New York on WNBC , the NBC affiliate in New York City
John Iadarola - progressive political commentator for The Young Turks
Megyn Kelly - Fox News Channel political commentator and former corporate defense attorney
Michael Knowles - conservative political commentator and author
Charlotte Laws - author, columnist, political commentator, former politician, animal rights advocate, anti-revenge porn activist (known as the "Erin Brockovich of revenge porn")
Steve Lopez - journalist; a columnist for the Los Angeles Times since 2001; the son of Spanish and Italian immigrants
Rob Marciano - journalist and meteorologist
Ann Nocenti - journalist, writer and editor, known for her work on comic books and magazines
Alexandra Pelosi - journalist, documentary filmmaker, and writer; daughter of Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi
Dana Perino - political commentator and author who served as the 26th White House Press Secretary , serving under President
Generoso Pope Jr. (1927–1988) - founder of the National Enquirer
Tony Rizzo - sports anchor with WJW-TV , the Fox affiliate in Cleveland
Allison Rosati - WMAQ-TV nightly anchor, maternal Italian ancestry
Rick Santelli (born 1956) - editor for the CNBC Business News network
Peter Santenello (born 1977) - videomaker, traveler, and entrepreneur who produces videos about travel and human stories
Lauren Scala - co-host of Today in New York on WNBC , the NBC affiliate in New York City
Elaine Sciolino - Paris bureau chief of The New York Times
Karley Sciortino - writer, television host, and producer
Carla Sinclair - editor-in-chief at Craft magazine for O'Reilly Media
Military
Sgt. John Basilone - USMC , Medal of Honor recipient of World War II
Major John Belli - Quartermaster General of the U.S. Army 1792–1794
Corporal Anthony Casamento - USMC , Medal of Honor recipient of World War II
Christopher G. Cavoli - commander of United States European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe
Lieutenant General Peter W. Chiarelli
Lieutenant General Joseph P. DiSalvo - Military Deputy Commander of United States Southern Command
General Curtis Scaparrotti , Commander of United States European Command
Col. Luigi Palma di Cesnola - Civil War Union Cavalry officer, and Medal of Honor recipient
Lt Col Rick Francona - U S Air Force officer
Major Don Gentile (Dominic Salvatore Gentile) (1920–1951) - US Air Force officer
Bancroft Gherardi - rear admiral of the US Navy, who served during the Mexican–American War and the American Civil War. The first Italian-American admiral in the US Navy.
Edmund P. Giambastiani - Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Giovanni Martini - trumpeter; only member of Custer's army to leave the site of the Battle of the Little Big Horn alive
General Raymond T. Odierno - incumbent Chief of Staff of the United States Army
Peter Pace - USMC , Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Antonio Pierro - lived to be one of the oldest surviving veterans of World War I
Joseph L. Romano
William B. Taliaferro - Confederate general, of Anglo-Italian descent. Though his ancestors came from England to the colonies, his Taliaferro ancestors were originally from Italy.
Vito Trause - World War II prisoner of war
Walter Schirra - naval officer and aviator, aeronautical engineer, test pilot, and one of the original seven astronauts chosen for Project Mercury
Maj. Gen. Francis D. Vavala - Adjutant General, Delaware Army National Guard
Humbert Roque Versace - United States Army officer and POW in Vietnam
Gen. Anthony Zinni - USMC , former Commander in Chief of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)
Politicians
Founding Fathers of the United States
Members of Congress
Joseph P. Addabboo - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 5th , 6th , and 7th congressional districts (1961–1986)
Hugh J. Addonizio - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New Jersey's 11th congressional district (1949–1962)
Mark Amodei - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Nevada's 2nd congressional district (2011–present)
Victor Anfuso - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 8th congressional district (1951–1953, 1955–1963)
John Baldacci - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Maine's 2nd congressional district (2003–2011)
Lou Barletta - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 11th congressional district (2011–2019)
John Barrasso - United States Senator from Wyoming (2007–present)
Mario Biaggi - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 10th , 19th , and 24th congressional districts (1969–1988)
Kerry Bentivolio - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Michigan's 11th congressional district (2013–2015)
Suzanne Bonamici - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Oregon's 1st congressional district (2012–present)
Sonny Bono - Member of the United States House of Representatives for California's 44th congressional district (1995–1998)
Bob Brady - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district (1998–2019)
Ann Marie Buerkle - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 25th congressional district (2011–2013)
Louis Capozzoli - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 13th congressional district (1941–1945)
Mike Capuano - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Massachusetts's 7th and 8th congressional districts (1999–2019)
Peter A. Cavicchia - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New Jersey's 9th and 11th congressional districts (1931–1937)
David Cicilline - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district (2011–2023)
Silvio O. Conte - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Massachusetts's 1st congressional district (1959–1991)
Louis Capozzoli - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 13th congressional district (1941–1945)
Bruce F. Caputo - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 23rd congressional district (1977–1979)
David Cicilline - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Rhode Island's 1st congressional district (2011–2023)
Catherine Cortez Masto - United States Senator from Nevada (2017–present)
Albert W. Cretella - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Connecticut's 3rd congressional district (1953–1959)
Ted Cruz - United States Senator for Texas (2013–present); of mixed Cuban, Irish, and Italian descent
Emilio Q. Daddario - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Connecticut's 1st congressional district (1959–1971)
Thomas L. J. D'Alesandro, Jr. - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Maryland's 3rd congressional district (1939–47); father of U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi
Al D'Amato - United States Senator from New York (1981–1999)
Dennis DeConcini - United States Senator from Arizona (1977–1995)
Peter DeFazio - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Oregon's 4th congressional district (1987–2023)
Diana DeGette - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Colorado's 1st congressional district (1997–present)
Rosa DeLauro - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Connecticut's 3rd congressional district (1991-present)
Chris Deluzio - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 17th congressional district (2023–present)
Ron DeSantis - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Florida's 6th congressional district (2013–2018)
Joe DioGuardi - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 20th congressional district (1985–1989)
Pete Domenici - United States Senator from New Mexico (1973–2009)
George Anthony Dondero - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Michigan's 17th and 19th congressional districts (1933–1957)
Mike Doyle - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 14th and 18th congressional districts (1995–2022)
John Ensign - United States Senator from Nevada (2001–2011), Member of the United States House of Representatives for Nevada's 1st congressional district (1995–1999)
Vic Fazio - Member of the United States House of Representatives for California's 3rd and 4th congressional district (1979–1999)
Geraldine Ferraro - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 9th congressional district (1979–1985); Democratic nominee for vice president in the 1984 presidential election
Mike Ferguson - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New Jersey's 7th congressional district (2001–2009)
James Florio - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New Jersey's 1st congressional district (1975–1990)
Vito Fossella - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 13th congressional district (1997–2009)
Virginia Foxx - Member of the United States House of Representatives for North Carolina's 5th congressional district (2005–present)
Dan Frisa - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 4th congressional district (1995–1997)
Foster Furcolo - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district (1949–1952)
Andrew Garbarino - Member of the United States House of Representatives New York's 2nd congressional district (2021-present)
Robert Giaimo - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Connecticut's 3rd congressional district (1959–1981)
Greg Gianforte - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Montana's at-large congressional district (2017–2021)
Ellla T. Grasso - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Connecticut's 6th congressional district (1971–1975)
Michael Grimm - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 11th and 13th congressional districts (2011–2015)
Felix Grucci - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 1st congressional district (2001–2003)
Frank Guarini - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New Jersey's 14th congressional district (1979–1993)
Melissa Hart - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district (2001–2007)
John LaFalce - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 29th , 32nd , and 39th congressional districts (1975–2003)
Fiorello La Guardia - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 14th and 20th congressional districts (1917–1919, 1923–1933)
Nick Lampson - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Texas's 9th and 22nd congressional districts (1997–2005, 2007–2009)
Mary Landrieu - United States Senator from Louisiana (1997–2015)
James Joseph Lanzetta - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 20th congressional district (1933–1935; 1937–1939)
Rick Lazio - Member of the United States House of Representatives or New York's 2nd congressional district (1993–2001)
Patrick Leahy - United States Senator from Vermont (1975–2023)
Frank LoBiondo - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New Jersey's 2nd congressional district (1995–2019)
Dan Maffei - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 24th and 25th congressional districts (2009–2011, 2013–2015)
Joe Manchin - United States Senator from West Virginia (2010–2025)
Don Manzullo - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Illinois's 16th congressional district (1993–2013)
Joseph J. Maraziti - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New Jersey's 13th congressional district (1973–1975)
Vito Marcantonio - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 18th and 29th congressional districts (1935–1937, 1939–1951)
Tom Marino - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 10th and 12th congressional districts (2011–2019)
Frank Mascara - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 20th congressional district (1995–2003)
Romano Mazzoli - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Kentucky's 3rd congressional district (1971–1995)
Kevin McCarthy - Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (2023, House member for California's 20th , 22nd , and 23rd congressional districts from 2007–2023)
Dan Mica - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Florida's 11th and 14th congressional districts (1979–1989)
John Mica - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Florida's 7th congressional district (1993–2017)
Guy Molinari - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 14th and 17th congressional districts (1981–1989)
Susan Molinari - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 13th and 14th congressional districts (1990–1997)
Albert P. Morano - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Connecticut's 4th congressional district (1951–1959)
Connie Morella - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Maryland's 8th congressional district (1987–2003)
John Murtha - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district (1974–2010)
Steven Palazzo - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Mississippi's 4th congressional district (2011–2023)
Frank Pallone - Member of the United States House of representatives for New Jersey's 3rd and 6th congressional districts (1988–present)
Jimmy Panetta - Member of the United States House of Representatives for California's 19th and 20th congressional districts (2017–present)
Leon Panetta - Member of the United States House of Representatives for California's 16th and 17th congressional districts (1977–1993, 1993)
Bill Pascrell - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New Jersey's 8th and 9th congressional districts (1997–2024)
John Pastore - U.S. Senator from Rhode Island (1950–1976)
Nancy Pelosi - Speaker of the United States House of Representatives (2007–2011, 2019–2023, House member since 1987)
Mike Pompeo - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Kansas's 4th congressional district (2011–2017)
Jim Renacci - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Ohio's 16th congressional district (2011–2019)
Rick Renzi - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Arizona's 1st congressional district (2003–2009)
Peter W. Rodino - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New Jersey's 10th congressional district (1949–1989)
Teno Roncalio - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Wyoming's at-large congressional district (1965–1967, 1971–1978)
Marge Roukema - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New Jersey's 5th and 7th congressional districts (1981–2003)
Michael Rulli - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Ohio's 6th congressional district (2024–present)
Marty Russo - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Illinois's 3rd congressional district (1975–1993)
Tim Ryan - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Ohio's 13th and 17th congressional districts (2003–2023)
Rick Santorum - U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania (2001–2007), Member of the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 18th congressional district (1995–2007)
Steve Scalise - United States House of Representatives minority whip and representative for Louisiana's 1st congressional district (2008–present)
Francis B. Spinola - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 10th congressional district (1887–1891)
Darren Soto - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Florida's 9th congressional district (2017–present)
Elise Stefanik - Chair of the House Republican Conference (2021–2025), Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 21st congressional district (2015–present)
Tom Suozzi - Member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 3rd congressional district (2017–2023, 2024–present)
Tom Tancredo - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Colorado's 6th congressional district (1999–2009)
Mike Thompson - Member of the United States House of Representatives for California's 1st , 4th , and 5th congressional districts (1999–present)
Pat Tiberi - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Ohio's 12th congressional district (2001–2018)
Robert Torricelli - United States Senator from New Jersey (1997–2003), member of the United States House of Representatives for New Jersey's 9th congressional district (1983–1997)
James Traficant - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Ohio's 17th congressional district (1985–2002)
Bruce Vento - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Minnesota's 4th congressional district (1977–2000)
Dave Weldon - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Florida's 15th congressional district (1995–2009)
Brad Wenstrup - Member of the United States House of Representatives for Ohio's 2nd congressional district (2013–2025)
Minister
Diplomats
Frank Carlucci - U.S. Ambassador to Portugal , 1975–1978
Peter F. Secchia - U.S. Ambassador to Italy , 1989–1993
John J. Maresca - U.S. Ambassador, United States Delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, 1992–1994
Geraldine Ferraro - U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights , 1993–1996
Joseph R. Paolino Jr. - U.S. Ambassador to Malta , 1994–1996
Dick Celeste - U.S. Ambassador to India , 1997–2001
Thomas M. Foglietta - U.S. Ambassador to Italy, 1997–2001
Paul Cellucci - U.S. Ambassador to Canada , 2001–2005
Paul A. Trivelli - U.S. Ambassador to Nicaragua , 2005–2008
Joseph A. Mussomeli - U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines ; Ambassador to Cambodia , 2005–2008;
Ronald P. Spogli - U.S. Ambassador to Italy and first U.S. Ambassador to San Marino , 2005–2009
Peter Cianchette - U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica , 2008–2009
Luigi R. Einaudi - acting Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS)
Francis J. Ricciardone, Jr. - U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines and Palau , 2002–2005; Ambassador to Egypt , 2005–2008; and Deputy Ambassador to Afghanistan , 2009–2010
Linda S. Taglialatela - U.S. Ambassador to Barbados , the Eastern Caribbean and the OECS, 2016–2023
Claire A. Pierangelo - U.S. Ambassador to Madagascar and Comoros since 2022
Hugh Addonizio (1914–1981) - Mayor of Newark, New Jersey , 1962–1970
Joseph Alioto (1916–1998) - Mayor of San Francisco , 1968–1976
Lou Barletta (born 1956) - Mayor of Hazleton, Pennsylvania , 2000–2010
Sonny Bono (1935–1998) - Mayor of Palm Springs, California , 1988–1992
Luigi Boria (born 1958) - Mayor of Doral, Florida , 2012–2016
Richard Caliguiri (1931–1988) - Mayor of Pittsburgh , 1978–1988
Sam Caligiuri (born 1966) - Mayor of Waterbury, Connecticut , 2001–2002
Mike Capuano (born 1952) - Mayor of Somerville, Massachusetts , 1990–1999
Anthony J. Celebrezze (1910–1998) - Mayor of Cleveland ,1953–1962
Vincent Cianci, Jr (1941–2016) - Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island , 1975–1984 and 1991–2002
David Cicilline (born 1961) - Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, 2003–2011; Jewish mother
Anthony R. Cucci (1922–2015) - Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey , 1985–1989
Thomas L. J. D'Alesandro, Jr. (1903–1987) - Mayor of Baltimore , 1947–1959
Bill de Blasio (born 1961) - Mayor of New York City , 2014–2022
John DeStefano, Jr. (born 1955) - Mayor of New Haven, Connecticut , 1994–2014
Biagio DiLieto (1922–1999) - Mayor of New Haven, Connecticut, 1980–1989
Michael DiSalle (1908–1981), Mayor of Toledo, Ohio , 1948–1950
Frank Fasi (1920–2010) - Mayor of Honolulu , 1969–1981 and 1984–1994
Garry Furnari (born 1954) - Mayor of Nutley, New Jersey , 1996–2003
Thomas Gangemi (1903–1976) - Mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, 1961–1963
Eric Garcetti (born 1971) - Mayor of Los Angeles , 2013–2022
Philip Giordano (born 1963) - Mayor of Waterbury , Connecticut, 1995–2001 when was arrested for municipal corruption and convicted of sex offender.
Rudolph Giuliani (born 1944) - Mayor of New York City , 1994–2001[ 3]
Dick A. Greco (born 1933) - Mayor of Tampa, Florida , 1967–1974 and 1995–2003
Reed Gusciora (born 1960) - Mayor of Trenton, New Jersey , since 2018
Pam Iorio (born 1959) - Mayor of Tampa, Florida, 2003–2011
Vincent R. Impellitteri (1900–1987) - Mayor of New York City, 1950–1953
Fiorello La Guardia (1882–1947) - Mayor of New York City, 1934–1945; both parents Italian-born; father lapsed Catholic; mother Jewish
Mitch Landrieu (born 1960) - Mayor of New Orleans , 2010–2018
John J. Lombardi (born 1952) - Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, 2002–2003
Robert Maestri (1899–1974) - Mayor of New Orleans, 1936–1946
Anthony M. Masiello (born 1947) - Mayor of Buffalo, New York , 1994–2005
Thomas Menino (1942–2014) - Mayor of Boston , 1993–2014
George Moscone (1929–1978) - Mayor of San Francisco, 1976–1978
Philip Noel (born 1931) - Mayor of Warwick, Rhode Island , 1967–1973
Charles Panici (1930–2017) - Mayor of Chicago Heights, Illinois , 1975–1991
Joseph R. Paolino Jr. (born 1955) - Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, 1984–1991
Bill Pascrell (1937–2024) - Mayor of Paterson, New Jersey , 1990–1997
George Pataki (born 1945) - Mayor of Peekskill, New York , 1981–1984
Jim Renacci (born 1958) - Mayor of Wadsworth, Ohio , 2004–2008
Frank Rizzo (1920–1991) - Mayor of Philadelphia , 1972–1980
Angelo Rossi (1878–1948) - Mayor of San Francisco, 1931–1944
Anthony Russo (1946–2021) - Mayor of Hoboken, New Jersey , 1993–2001
Victor Schiro (1904–1992) - Mayor of New Orleans, 1961–1970
Frank A. Sedita (1907–1975) - Mayor of Buffalo, New York, 1958–1961, 1966–1973
Tom Suozzi (born 1962) - Mayor of Glen Cove, New York , 1994–2001
Louis J. Tullio (1916–1990) - Mayor of Erie, Pennsylvania , 1966–1989
Ralph A. Villani (1901–1974) - Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, 1949–1953
Other
Sal Albanese (born 1949) - New York City Councilor , 1983–1998
Joe Arpaio (born 1932) - Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona , 1993–2017
Alessandra Biaggi (born 1986) - New York State Senator , 2019–2022
Jill Biden (born 1951) - First lady of the United States from 2021 to 2025 and wife of former President Joe Biden . She was previously the second lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017.
Francesca Braggiotti (1902–1998) - First Lady of Connecticut , 1951–1955
Anthony R. Bucco (1938–2019) - Co-Majority Leader of the New Jersey Senate , 2002–2004
Barbara Buono (born 1953) - Majority Leader of the New Jersey Senate, 2010–2012
Frank Carlucci (1930–2018) - U.S. National Security Advisor , 1986–1987
Anthony J. Celebrezze (1910–1998) - Senior Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1980–1998, Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit , 1965–1980
Anthony J. Celebrezze Jr. (1941–2003) - Ohio Attorney General , 1983–1991
Dick Celeste (born 1937) - Lieutenant Governor of Ohio , 1975–1979
Paul Cellucci (1991–1999) - Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts , 1991–1999
Frank Ciccone (born 947) - Majority Leader of the Rhode Island Senate, 2025–present
Andrew Cuomo (born 1957) - Attorney General of New York, 2007–2010
John DeSimone (born 1960) - Majority Leader of the Rhode Island House of Representatives , 2014–2017
Donald DiFrancesco (born 1944) - President of the New Jersey Senate, 1992–2002
Paul D'Ortona (1903–1992) - Democratic politician from Philadelphia who served as President of Philadelphia's City Council.
Michael Eakin (1948–2025) - Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Michael Fedele (born 1955) - Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut , 2007–2011
Vito Fossella (born 1965) - Borough President of Staten Island , 2022–present, New York City Councilor, 1994–1997
Attilio R. Frassinelli (1907–1976) - Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut, 1967–1971
Anthony Gaeta (1927–1988) - Borough President of Staten Island, 1977–1984
James F. Gennaro (born 1957) - New York City Councilman, 2002–2013, 2021–present
Eric Gioia (born 1973) - New York City Councilman, 2002–2009
Andrew Giuliani (born 1986) - Special Assistant to the President and associate director of the Office of Public Liaison for President Donald Trump
Vincent R. Impellitteri (1900–1987) - President of the New York City Council, 1946–1950
Ralph J. Lamberti (1934–2025) - Borough President of Staten Island, 1984–1989
Frederick C. Langone (1921–2001) - President of the Boston City Council , 1966, member of the Boston City Council, 1961, 1964–1971, 1973–1983
Andrew Lanza (born 1964) - New York City Councilman, 2002–2006
Adam Laxalt (born 1978) - Nevada Attorney General , 2015–2019
Sebastian Leone (1924–2016) - Borough President of Brooklyn , 1970–1976
Nick Licata (born 1947) - President of the Seattle City Council , 2006–2008, Seattle City Councilman, 1998–2016)
Joseph P. Merlino (1922–1998) - President of the New Jersey Senate, 1978–1982
Jim Messina (born 1969) - political adviser, White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations under President Barack Obama , 2009–2011
Guy Molinari (1928–2018) - Borough President of Staten Island, 1990–2001
Susan Molinari (1986–1990) - New York City Councilwoman
Daniel Mongiardo (born 1960) - Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky , 2007–2011
Peter Navarro (born 1949) - economist, Senior Counselor to the President for Trade and Manufacturing , 2025–present, Director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy and the senior counselor for trade and manufacturing , 2017–2021, Director of the National Trade Council, 2017[ 4]
Russell M. Nigro (born 1946) - Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, 1996–2006
John A. Notte Jr. (1909–1983) - Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island , 1959–1961
Frank Olivo (born 1953) - Chicago City Alderman , 1994–2011
Carmen A. Orechio (1926–2018) - President of the New Jersey Senate, 1982–1986
John Pastore (1907–2000) - Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island, 1945
Ferdinand Pecora (1882–1971) - Justice of the New York Supreme Court , 1935–1950
Mike Pellicciotti (born 1978) - Washington State Treasurer , 2021–present, Washington State Senator , 2017–2021
Dana Perino (born 1972) - White House Press Secretary , 2007–2009, White House Deputy Press Secretary , 2005–2007
Charles Poletti (1902–2002) - Lieutenant Governor of New York , 1939–1942, Justice of the New York Supreme Court, 1937–1938
Serafino Romualdi (1900-1967) - writer, labor unionist and anti-fascist activist. He was an official with United States unions and anti-communist labor federations in their work in Central and South America.
Dominick J. Ruggerio (1948–2025) - President of the Rhode Island Senate , 2017–2025, Majority Leader of the Rhode Island Senate, 2009–2017
Anthony Scaramucci (born 1964) - White House Communications Director , 2017
Curtis Sliwa (born 1954) - founder of the Guardian Angels , Republican nominee for New York City Mayor in 2021 and 2025
Al Smith (1873–1944) - Speaker of the New York State Assembly
Peter Vallone Sr. (born 1934) - Speaker of the New York City Council
Prelates
Cardinals
Popes
Scientists
Academics
Sports
Writers
Kim Addonizio - poet and novelist
Vince Aletti (born 1945)- writer, curator, and photography critic
Maria Arena Bell - novelist, television and freelance writer
Paul Attanasio - screenwriter
Ken Auletta - writer/journalist and media critic for The New Yorker
David Baldacci (born 1960) - best-selling novelist; a distant cousin of John Baldacci , former governor of Maine
Andrew Berardini - art critic and fiction writer
Greg Berlanti - television writer and producer
Giannina Braschi - poet and novelist
Leo Buscaglia (1924–1998) - author and motivational speaker
Christopher Castellani - novelist
Nick Cafardo (1956–2019) - sportswriter
Duane Capizzi - screenwriter
Lorenzo Carcaterra - novelist and screenwriter
Christopher Carosa (born 1960) - author, journalist, and investment adviser
John Ciardi - poet and etymologist
Diablo Cody - screenwriter, producer, author, journalist, memoirist, stripper and exotic dancer
Bob Colacello - writer
Gregory Corso - poet
Wendy Corsi Staub - novelist
John Corvino - philosopher
Lorenzo Da Ponte - poet, writer, librettist
William L. DeAndrea - mystery writer
Keith R. A. DeCandido
Frank De Felitta - author
Don DeLillo (born 1936) - author
Guy Anthony De Marco - author
Tomie dePaola - author
Louise DeSalvo - writer, editor, professor, and lecturer
Pietro Di Donato - writer
Janine di Giovanni - author, journalist and war correspondent
John Fante - novelist and screenwriter
Lawrence Ferlinghetti - poet, essayist and painter
David Franzoni - screenwriter of Gladiator and King Arthur
John Fusco - novelist (Paradise Salvage) and screenwriter of Young Guns, Hidalgo, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
Paul Gallico - Italian father
Daniela Gioseffi (born 1941) - poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, performer, social justice activist
Arturo Giovannitti - poet, political activist
Barbara Grizzuti Harrison (1934–2002) - writer
Evan Hunter - aka Ed MacBain, born Salvatore Lombino
Philip Lamantia
Teresa de Lauretis
Luis Marden - born Annibale Luis Paragallo, writer for National Geographic
Fulvio Melia - author of several popular science books, including The Black Hole at the Center of Our Galaxy
Charles Messina - writer/director of the play Mercury: The Afterlife and Times of a Rock God , the film Merging , and co-author the book My Father, My Don
Henry Samuel Morais - writer, rabbi
Diana Ossana - Academy Award-winning screenwriter
Camille Paglia - post-feminist literary and cultural critic
Christopher Paolini - writer. he is best known for The Inheritance Cycle
Michael Parenti
P.M. Pasinetti - novelist, playwright, journalist, professor
Mario Pei
Tom Perrotta - novelist and screenwriter best known for the novels Election (1998) and Little Children (2004)[ 6] [ 7] [ 8] [ 9]
Nicholas Pileggi (born 1933) - writer, producer and screenwriter. He wrote the non-fiction book Wiseguy and co-wrote the screenplay for Goodfellas
Joseph D. Pistone
Diane di Prima - poet of the Beat generation
Mario Puzo (1920–1999) - writer/screenwriter and best-selling author of The Godfather
Marco Rafalà - first-generation descendant of immigrants from Melilli , Sicily. He is the author of the novel, How Fires End , a work of historical fiction set in World War II Sicily and 1980s America .
Terry Rossio - screenwriter
Shane Salerno - screenwriter
R.A. Salvatore (born 1959) - born Robert Anthony Salvatore, science fiction and fantasy author, best known for his Forgotten Realms and Star Wars novels
Leslie Scalapino - poet
Piero Scaruffi - poet, historian, scientist
Dom (Domenico) Serafini - TV trade magazine editor
Michelangelo Signorile - journalist, columnist, talk radio host and gay activist
Michael Smerconish - radio host and television presenter, newspaper columnist, author, and lawyer
Gay Talese
Adriana Trigiani
Jessica Valenti - blogger and feminist writer
Mark Valenti - screenwriter[ 10]
Tom Verducci - sportswriter
Luisa Weiss - food writer
Rebecca Zanetti - bestselling author of paranormal romance, contemporary romance, and romantic suspense
Italian Americans who were first in their field of achievement
Italian Americans not otherwise categorized
Emile Ardolino - dancer and choreographer
Donald P. Bellisario - director, former civil uniform service
Elizabeth Anne Bisceglia - American murderer; father was of Italian ancestry
Marella Agnelli - furniture designer
Luigi Antonini - labor leader
Chris Avellone - video game designer
Frances Xavier Cabrini - Catholic religious sister, first U.S. citizen to be canonized a saint by the Catholic Church
Alyssa Campanella - fashion blogger, model, and beauty pageant titleholder
Oleg Cassini - Russian-Italian-American fashion designer
Andrew Cunanan - mass murderer; mother is of Italian background
Charli D'Amelio - TikTok personality
Dixie D'Amelio - TikTok personality
Emily DiDonato - model of Italian, Irish, and Native American ancestry[ 11]
Ralph DiGia - pacifist and social justice activist
Tabitha D'umo - choreographer and creative director
Angelo Dundee - trainer of several boxing champions
Elizabeth Edwards - born Anania, wife of John Edwards, former U.S. Senator from North Carolina
Anthony Fantano - music critic and internet personality of Sicilian descent
Vincenzo Ferdinandi - fashion stylist
Vanessa Hessler - model and actress[ 12]
Ernest Ingenito - mass shooter
Olivia Jade - social media celebrity and YouTuber
Stacy London - stylist and fashion consultant
Luigi Mangione - a suspect in the killing of Brian Thompson , the CEO of United Healthcare
Jay Manuel - make-up artist
Sabato Morais - rabbi leader of Mikveh Israel Synagogue, pioneer of Italian Jewish Studies in America, and founder of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City
Bruno Pauletto - physiologist, shot putter, businessman, coach, author
Bucky Pizzarelli - jazz guitarist. He was the father of guitarist John Pizzarelli and double bassist Martin Pizzarelli .
Mike Pompeo - politician, former Central Intelligence Agency director and 70th United States Secretary of State
Charles Ponzi (1882–1949) - one of the greatest swindlers in American history; inventor of the Ponzi scheme
Carrie Prejean - model, author, former Miss California USA 2009 and Miss USA 2009 first runner-up[ 13]
Angela Carlozzi Rossi - executive secretary of the Italian Welfare League
John Scarne - born Orlando Carmelo Scarnecchia, gambling expert and sleight-of-hand card performer
Mary Schiavo - former Inspector General of the United States Department of Transportation
Michael Schiavo - ex-husband of Terri Schiavo , the woman whose comatose state and subsequent court case garnered much media attention
Christian Siriano - fashion designer from New York
Milton Sirotta - at age nine coined the term googol
Michael Smerconish - CNN journalist
Carmela Teoli - 14-year-old mill worker whose Congressional testimony helped end the 1912 Lawrence textile strike
Jack Valenti - of Sicilian heritage, president of the Motion Picture Association of America from 1966 to 2007
Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann - fashion model, and socialite[ 14]
Louis Zamperini - athlete and army officer who was a Prisoner of war[ 15]
See also
References
^ Danzico, Elizabeth. "AIGA: Louise Fili" . aiga.org . American Institute of Graphic Arts. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2014 . Fili, who grew up in an Italian-American household in New Jersey, remembers carving letterforms into the wall above her bed at age three or four: Even then, she simply loved making letters.
^ "Pioneers of the Medical Device Industry" . Minnesota Historical Society.
^ [1] "A grandson of Italian immigrants".
^ Navarro, Peter (May 14, 1998). "Peter Navarro runs for Congress and tells all" . San Diego Reader . Retrieved May 5, 2025 .
^ Pope Leo XIV grew up in Dolton, Illinois, studied and taught in Chicago area
^ Crace, John (February 21, 2009). "A life in writing: Tom Perrotta" . The Guardian . Retrieved September 29, 2013 . He was born in 1961 in Newark, where he spent his entire childhood. His father was an Italian immigrant postal worker, his mother an Albanian-Italian – "that made her a second-class Italian" – secretary.
^ Rich, Motoko. "A Writer's Search for the Sex in Abstinence" , The New York Times , 2007-10-14. Retrieved on 2007-10-20.
^ Fiamma, Florinda (March 1, 2012). "Tom Perrotta at the end of real life in the new novel of a cult author" . L'Uomo Vogue . Retrieved September 29, 2013 . My paternal grandparents were Italian immigrants from a village near Avellino. I grew up hearing them and my dad talk Italian. My mother's relatives were Albanians, but they, too, lived in Italy before emigrating to the States.
^ Shanahan, Mark. "Adaptation: Tom Perrotta is growing accustomed to seeing his books on the big screen" , The Boston Globe , 2006-10-18. Retrieved on 2007-07-04.
^ "Mark Valenti" . IMDb . Retrieved May 18, 2018 .
^ Wohlrab, Spencer (February 17, 2012). "Maybelline's New Face: Emily DiDonato" . Stylecaster.com. Retrieved February 21, 2012 .
^ Henderson, Susan. "Vanessa Hessler" . www.mymovies.it . Retrieved October 29, 2020 .
^ "Miss California USA: Official Website / Celebrating the Beauty of California" . Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved November 19, 2009 .
^ "Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann lancome - Fashion" . Archived from the original on April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014 .
^ "Louis Zamperini - Movie, Athlete & WWII" . Biography . October 2, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2025 .