Bits of SJ: Famous New Jerseyans

Did you know that no other state has as dense a system of highways and railroads as New Jersey. There are more than 34,000 miles of highways and roads to cruise along in New Jersey. This includes 148 miles of the New Jersey Turnpike and 173 miles of the Garden State Parkway.

Did you also know that New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the country? As a result, a lot of famous people were born here. Here is a list of some of the state’s more famous sons and daughters:

William (Bud) Abbott (1895 - 1974): Comedian made famous in the popular team Abbott and Costello with routines such as “Who’s on First;” born in Asbury Park.

Charles Addams (1912 - 1988): Cartoonist that created The Addams Family; born in Westfield.

Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin (1930 - ): First astronaut to leave a spacecraft and walk in space, he later became the second person to walk on the moon; born in Montclair.

Judy Blume (1938 - ): Fiction writer for youth with well-known books such as Superfudge and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing; born in Elizabeth.

Joseph Campbell (1817 - 1900): Founder of the Campbell Soup Company; born in Camden County.

Grover Cleveland (1837 - 1908): The 22nd and 24th President of the United States; born in Caldwell.

Lou Costello (1906 - 1959): Comedian made famous in the popular team Abbott and Costello with routines such as “Who’s on First;” born in Paterson.

Stephen Crane (1871 - 1900): Author most famous for The Red Badge of Courage; born in Newark.

Bruce Springsteen (1949 - ): Singer made famous with album Born in the U.S.A.; born in Asbury Park.

Whitney Houston (1963 - ): Popular singer and actor that was the first to sell 10 million copies of her first two albums; born in Newark.

Jerry Lewis (1926 - ): Popular comedian during the 1950s and 1960s famous for The Nutty Professor and hosting the Jerry Lewis Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy; born in Newark.

Jack Nicholson (1937 - ): Actor and Academy Award winner for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest made famous in Chinatown and The Shining; born in Neptune.

Paul Robeson (1898 - 1976): The first black all-American football player, famous singer and actor; born in Princeton.

Paul Simon (1941 - ): Popular singer in the 1960s made famous with songs like “Mrs. Robinson;” born in Newark.

Frank Sinatra (1915 - 1998): Actor and Singer starting in the 1940s; born in Hoboken.

John Travolta (1954 - ): Actor made famous in Grease and Saturday Night Fever; born in Englewood.

Aaron Burr (1756 - 1836): Vice President of the United States under Thomas Jefferson, born in Newark.

Jon Bon Jovi (born John Francis Bongiovi): (1962 - ) Musician, born in Perth Amboy.

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Author: C. Cohen