New York Famous People Trivia

1. Arguably the most important New Yorker of the 19th Century, this man was responsible for the development of the street grid plan of the city, as well as the creation of the Erie Canal. What is this famous New Yorker's name?

From Quiz Famous New Yorkers

Answer: DeWitt Clinton

Clinton's heroics didn't end there. He also pushed for free education for the poor.

From Quiz Famous Faces of Buffalo, NY

Answer: Lucille Ball

She was the first woman to own her own film studio. The "TV Guide" picked her as the greatest TV star of all time.

From Quiz Famous People from the Southern Tier of NY

Answer: Glenn Hammond Curtis

Before becoming interested in aviation, Curtis built motorcycles. In 1907 he was the "Fastest Man in the World" when he travelled at the speed of 136.36 mph on a V8 motorcycle.

From Quiz Famous Long Islanders Part II

Answer: Jerry Seinfeld

Jerry Seinfeld and his wife bought Billy Joel's old house in the Hamptons. They also live in New York City.

From Quiz Famous People From Long Island

Answer: Billy Joel & Joel & Billie Joel

Billy from the South Shore to the North Shore. He sold his old mansion to Jerry Seinfeld (and his bride) for millions!

From Quiz King of Most Trades

Answer: Most number of jumping jacks

Furman has held records in all of these events but the jumping jacks was his first entry. The previous record was 20,088 and Furman absolutely smashed this with 27,000 in a time of six hours and forty-five minutes. There are many variations of this record with punters trying to achieve the most jumping jacks in 30 or 60 seconds, most jumping jacks while on fire or most people doing jumping jacks at one time. Whilst this list is not definitive, it lends itself to the records being televised and able to be watched by millions - and let's face it, who really wants to watch someone spend nearly seven hours straight dong jumping jacks?

From Quiz They Came From New York

Answer: George Eastman

The Eastman Kodak company was founded in 1892, and popularized the use of roll film. Interestingly, Kodak was devised by Eastman and his mother using an anagrams set, and means absolutely nothing. Eastman just knew he wanted another word for his company that began with a K and ended with a K! Not only did Eastman patent roll film, he also developed the first camera to be made specifically for roll film. The manufacture of an affordable camera and aggressive advertising quickly made Eastman Kodak a household name. It is estimated that in 1975 Eastman Kodak had 90% of photographic film sales in the United States but by the late 1990's, company sales began to decline, mostly because of the transition to digital photography.

From Quiz Famous New Yorkers

Answer: Theodore Roosevelt

Teddy Roosevelt often recollected that sad day in his writings. In fact, there is a photo of Lincoln's procession passing by his birthplace. Children are perched at an upper floor window, and one of the children is, reputedly, Teddy!

From Quiz Famous Faces of Buffalo, NY

Answer: Millard Fillmore

A bookworm who found the White House devoid of books, Millard Fillmore initiated the White House library. ESPN anchor Neil Everett often makes references to Millard Fillmore while hosting "Sportscenter".

From Quiz Famous People from the Southern Tier of NY

Answer: Ernie Davis

Tragically Davis never played in the NFL. He was struck down by leukemia and died in 1963.

From Quiz Famous Long Islanders Part II

Answer: Mariah Carey

Mariah was often picked on because of her bi-racial background (unfortunately intolerance exists everywhere). She has developed a reputation for being quite nasty, even to her fans.

From Quiz Famous People From Long Island

Answer: Massapequa and Merrick

Amy lived in Merrick.

From Quiz King of Most Trades

Answer: Australia

Furman had already set records in forty different countries at this stage. 2003 saw him breaking the record for the fastest mile run while hula hooping. This record was set at Uluru, also known as the Ayer's Rock, in central Australia. With this, Furman also met his personal goal of breaking a record on every continent.

From Quiz Famous New Yorkers

Answer: Robert Moses

Moses was a valuable asset to LaGuardia during the Depression, as he paved the way, literally, for the traffic and parks needs of the city. But as he accumulated more power to himself, Moses became--in his own mind--the real leader of the city. By LaGuardia's last years, the two had taken to cursing each other in public.

From Quiz Famous Faces of Buffalo, NY

Answer: Goo Goo Dolls

The Goo Goo Dolls' song "Broadway" was written about Buffalo, John and Robby's hometown.

From Quiz Famous People From Long Island

Answer: The Baldwin brothers

Massapequa must have great water! Jerry Seinfeld and Steve Guttenberg are also from this town.

From Quiz Famous New Yorkers

Answer: Dorothy Parker

Dorothy Parker, along with several other cultural critics and writers, formed The Algonquin Roundtable, at the Algonquin Hotel. One of her most famous comments was, "You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think!"

From Quiz Famous Faces of Buffalo, NY

Answer: Brian McKnight

He is a multi-instrumentalist and can play nine instruments: piano, lead guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, French horn and trumpet.

From Quiz Famous Long Islanders Part II

Answer: Jackson Pollock

Many of Pollock's paintings hang in MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) in New York City. They are large canvases that look like paint was dripped all over them (and sometimes he did just that). I love his work, each time you see it it looks just a little bit different.

From Quiz Famous People From Long Island

Answer: Debbie Gibson

Taylor Dayne is also from Long Island, she lived in Freeport. Interesting side note, Debbie now likes to be called Deborah.

From Quiz Famous Faces of Buffalo, NY

Answer: Rick James

Rick James was born in Buffalo. One of his former houses can be found in Orchard Park, NY.

From Quiz Famous Long Islanders Part II

Answer: Theodore Roosevelt

Teddy's home is now a National landmark. If you're ever on Long Island, take the time to visit his home. You won't be disappointed.

From Quiz Famous People From Long Island

Answer: Eddie Murphy & Murphy

Eddie often recalls his Long Island roots in interviews even though he now lives on the opposite coast.

From Quiz King of Most Trades

Answer: Samurai sword

The goal of the record was to cut the maximum apples mid-air within one minute, using a Samurai sword. In 2012, Furman managed to cut 29 apples in 60 seconds. He broke his own earlier record of 27 apples with this feat.

From Quiz Famous Faces of Buffalo, NY

Answer: Buffalo Bob Smith

Beloved pioneer TV kids' show host, Buffalo Bob Smith was the co-creator and host of TV's "Howdy Doody" for almost its entire thirteen-year run.

From Quiz Famous People from the Southern Tier of NY

Answer: Tommy Hilfiger

The second of nine children, he used to have a store in Elmira called "The Peoples Place".

From Quiz Famous Long Islanders Part II

Answer: Craig Biggio & Biggio

Biggio was the catcher. They moved him to second base to protect him physically and hopefully prolong his career.

From Quiz King of Most Trades

Answer: Using his nose

Unbelievable as it may sound, in 2007, Furman set the record for the least time taken to push an orange for a mile using only his nose. This task took him 22 minutes and 47 seconds. It was another case of Furman beating his own previous record - a time of 24 minutes and 36 seconds.

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Last Updated Nov 29 2025 5:50 AM

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