List of Polish Americans

This is an incomplete list of notable Polish Americans.

List

Arts and Entertainment

Actors

• Nick Adams (1931 - 1968) film actor^[2]
• Grant Aleksander (1959 - ) film and daytime actor Guiding Light
• Stanley Andrews (1891 - 1969) Radio and TV actor
• Carroll Baker (1931 - ) film actress and author
• Christine Baranski (1952 - ) film, theater and television actress^[3]
• Kristen Bell (1980 - ) film/television actress (Veronica Mars)
• Maria Bello (1967 - ) Academy Award-nominated actress^[4]
• Carlos Bernard TV actor (24)
• Lisa Boyle (1968 - ) actress and model^[5]
• Elzbieta Czyzewska (1938 - ) Polish-born award winning Theater, Film and TV actress. ^[6]
• Dagmara Dominczyk (1976 - ) Polish-born actress ^[7]
• Marika Dominczyk (1980 - ) Polish-born television actress
• George Dzundza (1945 - ) TV & film actor
• Alice Greczyn (1986 - ) Actress
• Gilda Gray (1901 - 1959) actress and dancer^[8]
• Marilu Henner (1952 - ) television actress, (Taxi) and health book author ^[9]
• John Hodiak (1914 - 1955) Film Actor
• Scarlett Johansson (1984 - ) actress, (Lost in Translation)
• Jane Kaczmarek (1955 - ) film and television actress (Malcolm in the Middle)^[10]
• Nina Kaczorowski (1975 - ) actress, stunt woman, model and dancer
• Ted Knight (1923 - 1986) Emmy award winning film and television actor (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Too Close For Comfort (TV series))^[11]
• Linda Kozlowski (1958 - ) Actress (Crocodile Dundee)
• Jane Krakowski (1968 - ) TV, theater & film actress (Ally McBeal)
• John Krasinski (1979 - ) TV and film actor (The Office)^[12]
• Carole Landis (1919 - 1948) Film actress
• Joe Lando (1961 - ) TV and film actor (Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman) ^[13]
• Tea Leoni (1966 - ) Film and TV Actress ^[14]
• Eric Mabius (1971 - ) TV and film actor (Ugly Betty, The Crow) ^[15]
• Rose Marie (1923 - ) TV and film actress, (The Dick Van Dyke Show) ^[16]
• Ross Martin (1920 - 1981) Polish-born TV and film actor (Wild Wild West)^[17]
• Helena Modjeska (1840 - 1909) Polish-born actress who specialized in Shakespearean roles^[18]
• Pola Negri (1894 - 1987) Polish film actress who achieved notoriety as a femme fatale in silent films between 1910s and 1930s^[19]
• Jerry O'Connell (1974 - ) TV and Film Actor ^[20][21]
• Jerry Orbach (1935 - 2004) Tony Award winner, theater, TV and film actor ( TV Series Law & Order, film Dirty Dancing)^[22]
• Joanna Pacula (1957 - ) Polish-born actress^[23]
• Jared Padalecki (1982 - ) TV actor - (Gilmore Girls and Supernatural)^[24]
• Adrianne Palicki (1983 - ) TV actress
• Stefanie Powers (1942 - ) Stage, TV, film actress and singer^[25][26]
• Beata Pozniak (1960 - ) Polish-born actress, film director, painter, fashion model and activist who is now based out of the United States (Babylon 5, JFK (film))^[27]
• Robert Prosky (1930 - ) Character and TV actor (Hill Street Blues)^[28]
• Maggie Q, actor and model
• John Ratzenberger (1947 - ) TV actor (Cheers)
• John Rubinstein (1945 - ) TV and film actor ^[29]
• Chloë Sevigny (1974 - ) Film actress and model ^[30]
• Casey Siemaszko (1961 - ) Film/television actor^[31][32]
• Nina Siemaszko (1970 - ) Film/television actress^[33]
• Olga Sosnovska (1972 - ) Polish-born TV and soap opera actress (All My Children)^[34]
• Gloria Swanson (1899 - 1983) Film actress (Sunset Boulevard)^[35]
• Loretta Swit (1937 - ) Stage and television actress, (MASH)^[36]
• Keith Szarabajka (1952 - ) TV and film actor
• Eric Szmanda (1975 - ) TV actor (CSI)^[37]
• Tom Tyler (1903 - 1954) Film actor (Adventures of Captain Marvel)^[38]
• Michael Vartan (1968 - ) Film and television actor^[39]
• Paul Wesley(1982 - ) Film and television
• Jean Wallace (1923-1990) Film actress
• Pia Zadora (1954 - ) actress and singer^[40]

Architecture

• Daniel Libeskind (1946 - ) Polish-born renowned architect ^[41]

Arts

• Richard Anuszkiewicz (1930 - ) op art painter, sculptor, and printmaker^[42]
• Joseph Bakos (aka Jozef Bakos) (1891-1977) Southwestern artist ^[43]
• Władysław T. Benda (1873 - 1948) painter/illustrator^[44]
• Hedwig Gorski (1949 - ) performance poet and an avant-garde artist^[45]
• Tamara de Lempicka (1898 - 1980) art deco artist^[46]
• Jan Lorenc (1954 - ) photographer and designer^[47]
• Jozef Mazur (1897 - 1970) painter & stained glass artist
• Rafał Olbiński (1945 - ) artist^[48]
• Ed Paschke (1939 - 2004) artist^[49]
• Miroslaw Rogala (1954 - ) video artist^[50]
• Theodore Roszak (1907 - 1981) sculptor^[51]
• David Seymour (1911-1956) Polish-born Photographer & Photojournalist
• Julian Stanczak (1928 - ) painter^[52]
• Stanislaw Szukalski (1893 - 1987) painter, sculptor and pseudoscientific historian
• Arthur Szyk (1894 - 1951) political cartoonist^[53]
• Jack Tworkov (1900 - 1982) painter^[54]
• Max Weber (artist) (1881 - 1961) Polish-born Expressionist painter ^[55]
• Krzysztof Wodiczko (1943 - ) artist^[56]
• Michael Zabrocki (1959 - ) Catholic Recording Artist]]^[57]
• Korczak Ziolkowski (1908 - 1982) sculptor of Crazy Horse Memorial^[58]

Filmmakers

• Andrzej Bartkowiak (1950 - ) cinematographer, director and actor^[59]
• Richard Boleslawski (1889 - 1937) Director (The Painted Veil)
• Tad Danielewski (1921 - 1993) director/producer^[60]
• Samuel Goldwyn (1882 - 1974) well-known Hollywood motion picture producer and founding contributor of several motion picture studios^[61]
• Janusz Kamiński (1959 - ) two time Oscar winning cinematographer and film director who has photographed all of Steven Spielberg's movies since 1993's Schindler's List^[62]
• Martin Kunert - writer/director (Campfire Tales, MTV's Fear, Voices of Iraq}
• Rudolph Maté (1898 - 1964) accomplished cinematographer and film director^[63]
• Alan J. Pakula (1928 - 1998) producer, writer and director (Sophie's Choice)
• Andrzej Sekula (1954 - ) cinematographer and film director^[64]
• J. Michael Straczynski (1954 - ) writer/producer (Babylon 5 franchise)
• Gore Verbinski (1964 - ) Director (Pirates of the Caribbean (all 3 films), The Mexican, The Ring)
• Wachowski Brothers: Filmakers/Directors Larry Wachowski (1965 - ) and Andy Wachowski (1967 - ), The Matrix, V for Vendetta ^[65]
• Albert Warner (1883 - 1967) one of the founders of Warner Bros. Studios^[66]
• Harry Warner (1881 - 1958) one of the founders of Warner Bros. and a major contributor to the development of the film industry^[67]
• Jack Warner (1892 - 1978) president and driving force behind the highly successful development of Warner Brothers Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California^[68]
• Sam Warner (1887 - 1927) co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Warner Brothers film company^[69]
• Billy Wilder (1906 - 2002) journalist, screenwriter, film director, and producer whose career spanned more than 50 years and 60 films^[70]
• Dariusz Wolski Polish born cinematographer, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Crow, A Perfect Murder, Crimson Tide^[71]

Journalism

• Mika Brzezinski (1967 - ) NBC and MSNBC News Journalist and Commentator
• Rita Cosby (1964 - ) MSNBC Anchor and Journalist ^[72]
• Laura Ingraham (1964 - ) conservative political TV commentator/radio show host/author
• Max Kolonko TV personality and News Correspondent, Author, Producer, [73]
• Michelle Kosinski (1974 - ) NBC News Correspondent
• Miroslawa Kruszewska (1950 - ) freelance conservative journalist, Author, Poet
• Jim Miklaszewski - chief Pentagon correspondent for NBC News^[74]
• Mike Royko (1932 - 1997) long-running newspaper columnist in Chicago, Illinois

Literature

• Mark Z. Danielewski (1966 - ) author of two novels.
• Stuart Dybek (1942 - ) poet, writer and author of five books^[75]
• Hedwig Gorski (1949 - ) performance poet and an avant-garde artist^[76]
• Jerzy Kosiński (1933 - 1991) English-language novelist
• Czesław Miłosz (1911 - 2004) Nobel prize winning poet, prose writer, essayist and translator^[77]
• Andrew Nagorski (1947 - ) Non-fiction/fiction author and award winning senior editor of Newsweek magazine ^[78]
• Michael Alfred Peszke (1932 - ) psychiatrist and historian of the Polish Armed Forces in World War II^[79]
• Terese Pencak Schwartz (1947 - ) writer, speaker and publicist most well known as the producer of the website www.holocaustforgotten.com ^[80], website dedicated to the non-Jewish victims of the Holocaust of World War II.
• Diane Wakoski (1937-) poet and essayist in residence at Michigan State University [81]
• Maia Wojciechowska (1927 - 2002) writer of children's books^[82]
• Leo Yankevich (1961 - ) critic, editor, poet and translator associated with The New Formalist movement^[83]
• Adam Zamoyski (1949 - ) historian and a member of the Zamoyski ancient Polish nobility family^[84]
• George Zebrowski (1945 - ) science fiction author^[85]
• Roger Zelazny (1937 - 1995) writer of fantasy and science fiction short stories and novels
• Aleksandra Ziółkowska Boehm (1949 - ) historical author

Models

• Michelle Buswell (1983 - ) Model
• Erica Campbell - model/adult model ^[86]
• Anna Chudoba – model/reality TV star^[87]
• Janice Dickinson (1955 - ) self-proclaimed first supermodel, fashion photographer, actress, author and an agent^[88][89]
• Diane Klimaszewski (1971 - ) model and one half of the Coors Light Twins with sister Elaine^[90]
• Elaine Klimaszewski (1971 - ) model and one half of the Coors Light Twins with sister Diane^[91]
• Joanna Krupa (1981 - ) model and actress^[92]
• Izabella Miko (1981 - ) model, dancer and actress ^[93]
• Jordan Monroe (1986 - ) Playboy model ^[94]
• Beth Ostrosky (1972 - ) model and fiance of Howard Stern^[95]

Music

• Michael Anthony (1954 - ) bassist for the band Van Halen
• Jerry Augustyniak (1958 - )drummer for the band 10,000 Maniacs
• Pat Benatar (1953 - ) rock singer who had numerous hits during the 1980s ("Heartbreaker", "I Need A Lover", "You Better Run")^[96]
• Eddie Blazonczyk - polka musician^[97]
• Isis Gee (1972 - ) pop singer, songwriter, and composer
• Peter Cetera (1944 - ) singer/songwriter & bass player for the band Chicago^[98]
• Leonard Chess - co-founder of Chess Records
• Phil Chess - co-founder of Chess Records
• Dick Dale (1937 - ) pioneer of surf rock and one of the most influential guitarists of the early 1960s, experimented with reverb and made use of custom made Fender amplifiers
• Ann Danielewski (1968 - ) also known as Poe, one of several female singer-songwriters to first hit the modern rock charts in the mid-1990s
• Henry Doktorski (1956 - ) Concert Accordionist, Pianist, Composer & Conductor
• Adam Dutkiewicz (1977 - ) Guitarist for Killswitch Engage
• Urszula Dudziak (1943 - ) jazz singer^[99]
• Rik Fox - bass/guitar player for heavy metal bands Steeler, Sin and W.A.S.P., Renaissance Faire organizer^[100]
• Paul Gilbert (1966 - ) guitarist for Mr. Big and Racer X^[101]
• Lawrence Gwozdz (1953 - ) saxophone player^[102]
• Józef Hofmann (1876 - 1957) pianist/composer
• Mieczyslaw Horzowski (1892 - 1993) Polish born Pianist^[103]
• Bobby Jarzombek (1963 - ) drummer for Halford^[104]
• Ron Jarzombek – guitarist of Watchtower
• Jan A. P. Kaczmarek (1953 - ) Academy Award winning composer^[105]
• Jan Kiepura (1902 - 1966) tenor^[106]
• Greg Kihn (1950 - ) pop musician, frontman for Greg Kihn Band
• Pee Wee King (1914 - 2000) country-western singer/songwriter The Tennessee Waltz^[107]
• Miliza Korjus (1909 - 1980) Polish-born opera singer and actress
• Adam Kowalczyk Guitar player for the band Live
• Ed Kowalczyk (1971 - ) Lead singer of the band Live
• Gene Krupa (1909 - 1973) big band/jazz drummer^[108]
• Dan Kubinski - singer of seminal hardcore punk band Die Kreuzen
• Liberace (1919 - 1987) charismatic and flamboyant American entertainer^[109]
• Adam Makowicz (1940 - ) jazz pianist/composer^[110]
• Ray Manzarek (1939 - ) The Doors keyboardist and co-founder ^[111]
• Marilyn Mazur (1955 - ) percussionist/composer/singer/pianist/bandleader
• Paul Mazurkiewicz - drummer for Cannibal Corpse^[112]
• Robert Muczynski (1929 - ) composer
• Karen O (1978 - ) "Yeah Yeah Yeahs" singer^[113]
• Ken Peplowski (1959 - ) jazz clarinet/saxophonist^[114]
• Adolph Poczatek (1911 - 1982) Performer / Founder, The Polka Aces Band 1957^[115]
• Gene Pitney (1940 - 2006) singer and songwriter ^[116]
• Bogdan Raczynski - braindance artist^[117]
• Frederic Rzewski (1938 - ) composer/pianist^[118]
• Johnny Rzeznik (1965 - ) guitarist/vocalist of Goo Goo Dolls^[119]
• Richie Sambora (1959 - ) Bon Jovi guitarist^[120]
• Matt Skiba (1976 - ) Lead singer and guitarist for Alkaline Trio
• Ruth Slenczynska (1925 - ) pianist
• Zygmunt Stojowski (1870 - 1946) pianist/composer^[121]
• Leopold Stokowski (1882 - 1977) conductor/composer
• Roman Totenberg Polish born violinist
• Michał Urbaniak (1943 - ) jazz musician^[122]
• Bobby Vinton (1935 - ) pop singer^[123]
• Henryk Wars (1902 - 1977) composer^[124]
• Jack White singer/guitarist for The White Stripes
• Franciszek Zachara (1898 - 1966) composer & pianist

TV

• Elizabeth Hasselbeck (1977 - ) Co-host of The View and contestant on Survivor
• Jenny Jones (1946 - ) talk show host who hosted The Jenny Jones Show from 1991 to 2002^[125]
• Richard "Mach" Machowicz - host of Discovery Channel's Future Weapons, former Navy SEAL
• Charlie O'Connell (1975 - ) Reality and TV actor (The Bachelor)
• Janelle Pierzina (1980 - ) contestant on the sixth and All-Star seasons of the American version of the CBS reality show Big Brother ^[126]
• Anthony Radziwill (1959 - 1999) television executive/filmmaker^[127]
• Pat Sajak (1946 - ) host of the popular and long-running television game show Wheel of Fortune^[128]
• Edyta Sliwinska (1982 - ) Ballroom Dancer and Champion featured on Dancing With The Stars [129]
• Steve Wilkos (1964 - ) Talk Show Host

Other

• Lelord Kordel (1904 - 2001) nutritionst and author of books on healthy living
• Caroline Myss - Author, Speaker & Healing Intuitive

Business

• Max Factor, Sr Polish born Cosmetics Company founder
• Leo Gerstenzang - inventor of Q-Tips^[130]
• Tom Kalinske - former president and CEO of Sega of America
• Frank Piasecki - founder of Piasecki Helicopter Company, inventor of dual-rotor helicopters
• Barbara Piasecka Johnson (1937 - ) humanitarian, art collector and one of the richest women in the world^[131][132]
• Helena Rubenstein Polish-born Cosmetics company founder
• Martha Stewart (1941 - ) business magnate, author, editor, former stock broker, model, and homemaking advocate^[133]
• Bob Stupak (1942 - ) founder of the Vegas World casino and the Stratosphere tower
• Jack Tramiel (1928 - )Founder of Commodore, President & CEO of Atari ^[134]
• Sanford I. Weill (1933 - ) billionaire, banker, philanthropist, CEO and Chairman of Citigroup ^[135]
• Steve Wozniak (1950 - ) co-founder of Apple, philanthropist ^[136]
• Christian Brevoort Zabriskie (1864 – 1936) vice president of Pacific Coast Borax Company, for whom Zabriskie Point in Death Valley is named

Explorers

• John Scolvus (15th century) John of Kolno, semi-legendary sailor, possibly the first Pole in America

Military

• Gabby Gabreski (1919 - 2002) fighter ace in World War II, and again in Korea^[137]
• Jan Karski (1914 - 2000) Polish World War II resistance fighter and scholar^[138]
• Tadeusz Kościuszko (1746 - 1817) Polish and Lithuanian national hero, general and a leader of 1794 uprising (which bears his name) against the Russian Empire^[139]
• Włodzimierz Krzyżanowski (1824 - 1887) Polish military leader and a Union general in the American Civil War^[140]
• Donald J. Kutyna (1933 - ) general, commander in chief of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Space Command from 1990 to 1992, and commander of Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado from 1987 to 1990
• Kazimierz Pułaski - (1746 – 1779) Polish soldier and politician who has been called "the father of American cavalry." From 1777 until his death, Pułaski fought in the American Revolutionary War for the independence of the United States.
• Edward L. Rowny (1917-) U.S. Army General and ambassador Chief U.S. Negotiator for Arms Control, born in Baltimore, MD
• John Shalikashvili (1936 - ) U.S. Army general and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, born in Warsaw, Poland and emigrated to U.S. as a teenager. Became the first draftee to rise to rank of General and first JCS Chairman after General Colin Powell.
• Matt Urban (1919 - 1995) U. S. Army officer, per Guinness Book of World Records the most decorated U. S. serviceman^[141]
• Frank P. Witek (1921 - 1944) U.S. Marine and Medal of Honor Recipient^[142]

Politics

• A. Bruce Bielaski director of the Bureau of Investigation (now the Federal Bureau of Investigation)
• Jackie Biskupski - politician and Businesswoman from Utah
• Zbigniew Brzezinski (1928 - ) political scientist, geostrategist, and statesman^[143]
• Susan Bysiewicz (1961 - ) Secretary of State, Connecticut
• John D. Cherry (1951 - ) Lt. Governor, Michigan
• Andrew R. Ciesla (1953 - ) State Senator, New Jersey, Republican
• Ed Derwinski (1926 - ) former U.S. Secretary of Veteran Affairs
• John Dingell (1926 - ) Democratic Representative from Michigan, Dean (longest-serving member) of the House of Representatives
• Thaddeus J. Dulski (1915 - 1988) U.S. House of Respresentatives, N.Y.
• John A. Gronouski (1919 - 1996) Postmaster General & ambassador
• Chuck Hagel Senator, Nebraska ^[144]
• Kyle Janek (1958 - ) State senator, Texas, Republican
• Leon Jaworski (1905 - 1982) special prosecutor during the Watergate Scandal
• Paul E. Kanjorski (1937 - ) Pennsylvania Congressman, Democrat
• Marcy Kaptur (1946 - ) U.S. Representative for the Ninth Congressional District of Ohio, Democrat
• Jerry Kleczka (1943 - ) Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1985 to 2005, representing the Fourth Congressional District of Wisconsin
• Ted Kulongoski (1940 - ) Governor of Oregon, Democrat
• Raymond Lesniak (1946 - ) State senator, New Jersey, Democrat
• Bill Lipinski (1937 - ) Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 2005, representing the 3rd District of Illinois
• Dan Lipinski (1966 - ) member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the District of Illinois
• George D. Maziarz (1953 - ) Republican state senator from New York's 62nd district
• Barbara Mikulski (1936 - ) member of the Democratic Party, United States Senator representing the State of Maryland^[145]
• Frank Murkowski (1933 - ) politician and former Governor of Alaska, Republican
• Lisa Murkowski (1957 - ) junior United States Senator from Alaska, first U.S. Senator who was born in Alaska and Alaska's first female senator
• Edmund Muskie (1914 - 1996) Democratic politician from Maine, served as Governor of Maine, a U.S. Senator, as U.S. Secretary of State, and ran as a candidate for Vice President of the United States
• Marian P. Opala (1921 - ) Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice
• Tim Pawlenty (1960 - ) Governor of Minnesota, Republican
• Ed Pawlowski - Mayor of Allentown, Pennsylvania
• Gene Pelowski (1952 - ) Representative in the Minnesota State Legislature for District 31A and a teacher at Winona Senior High School in Winona, Minnesota
• Wladyslaw Pleszczynski - conservative editor and writer
• Adam Przeworski (1940 - ) professor of Political Science^[146]
• Roman Pucinski (1919 - 2002) House of Representatives, Illinois
• Dan Rostenkowski (1928 - ) served in the U.S. Congress as a U.S. Representative for Illinois from 1959 to 1995
• Richard Trumka - leader in the American labor movement
• Alexander Vershbow - United States Ambassador to South Korea
• Aldona Wos - United States Ambassador to Estonia until early December of 2006
• Marion Zioncheck (1901 - 1936) served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1933 until his death in 1936, Democrat

Religion

• Paul Gregory Bootkoski (1940 - ) Bishop of Metuchen
• Fabian Bruskewitz (1935 - ) Bishop of Lincoln, Nebraska
• Walter Ciszek (1904 - 1984) Jesuit priest held by the Soviet Union for 23 years, between 1941 and 1963^[147]
• Józef Dąbrowski (1842 - 1903) Catholic priest^[148]
• William Dembski (1960 - ) a prominent proponent of intelligent design
• Edward U. Kmiec (1936 - ) Bishop of Buffalo, New York
• John Cardinal Krol (1910 - 1996) Archbishop of Philadelphia^[149]
• Jerome Edward Listecki (1949 - ) Bishop of La Crosse
• Adam Maida (1930 - ) Archbishop of Detroit, Michigan^[150]
• David Miscavige (1960 - ) Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center (RTC), a corporation that controls the trademarked names and symbols of Dianetics and Scientology, and controls the copyrighted teachings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard^[151]
• Edmund Cardinal Szoka (1927 - ) former president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and Governor of Vatican City^[152]
• Thomas Gerard Wenski (1950 - ) Bishop of Orlando, FL
• David Allen Zubik (1949 - ) 11th Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin

Science

• Henryk Arctowski (1871 - 1958) scientist, oceanographer and Antarctica's explorer^[153]
• Paul Baran (1926 - ) one of the developers of packet-switched networks along with Donald Davies and Leonard Kleinrock
• Mieczysław G. Bekker (1905 - 1989) engineer and scientist^[154]
• Karol J. Bobko (1937 - ) former NASA astronaut^[155]
• Elonka Dunin (1958 - ) game developer, writer, and amateur cryptographer who maintains a website dedicated to the Kryptos sculpture/cipher located at the CIA's headquarters^[156]
• Stanley Dunin (1936 - ) aerospace engineer/mathematician^[157]
• Richard Phillips Feynman (1918 - 1988) Physicist, 1965 Nobel Prize in Physics^[158]
• Casimir Funk (1884 - 1967) biochemist, generally credited with the first formulation of the concept of Vitamins in 1912^[159]
• Walter Golaski (1913 - 1996) Mechanical-Bio-Medical Engineer^[160]
• Roald Hoffmann (1937 - ) chemist & writer, Nobel Prize winner (1981)^[161]
• Hilary Koprowski (1916 - ) virologist and immunologist^[162]
• Alfred Korzybski (1879 - 1950) probably best-remembered for developing the theory of general semantics^[163]
• Stephanie Kwolek (1923 - ) inventor nylon and kevlar^[164]
• Ralph Modjeski (1861 - 1940) engineer & bridge builder^[165]
• Jan Moor-Jankowski (1924 - 2005) primatologist and a fighter for Polish independence against Nazi Germany^[166]
• Albert Abraham Michelson (1852 – 1931) Polish-born American physicist. Awarded the Nobel Prize in physics (1907) for work done on the measurement of the speed of light. He is also the first American to receive the Nobel in the sciences.
• Bohdan Paczyński (1940 - ) astronomer, leading scientist in theory of the evolution of stars^[167]
• Scott E. Parazynski (1961 - ) NASA astronaut^[168]
• James A. Pawelczyk (1960 - ) astronaut, Associate Professor of Physiology and Kinesiology at Penn State^[169]
• Frank Piasecki (1919 - ) aviation engineer, developed vertical lift aircraft
• Isidor Isaac Rabi (1898 – 1988) Born in Rymanów, Galicia (Poland) emigrated to the U.S. in 1899. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics (1944) for work on molecular-beam magnetic-resonance detection method.
• Albert Sabin Polish born medical scientist, discovered oral vaccine for Polio
• Andrew W. Schally (1926 - ) endocrinologist and Nobel Prize winner in 1977 in Medicine for research work^[170]
• Tadeusz Sendzimir (1894 - 1989) engineer and inventor of international renown with 120 patents in mining and metallurgy, 73 of which were awarded to him in the United States^[171]
• Alfred Tarski (1902 - 1983) mathematician, philosopher^[172]
• Stanisław Ulam (1909 - 1984) mathematician who participated in the Manhattan Project and proposed the Teller – Ulam design of thermonuclear weapons^[173]
• Frank Wilczek (1951 - ) physicist, Nobel Prize 2004^[174]
• Aleksander Wolszczan (1946 - ) astronomer, discoverer of the first extrasolar planets and pulsar planets^[175]
• Maria Zakrzewska (1829 - 1902) pioneering female doctor in the United States^[176]
• Florian Znaniecki (1882 - 1958) sociologist/philosopher^[177]
• Antoni Zygmund (1900 - 1992) mathematician, "Trigonometric Series"^[178]

Sports

• See also National Polish-American Hall of Fame

Baseball

• Joe Borowski Cleveland Indians Closing Pitcher
• Stan Coveleski (1889 - 1984) Major League Baseball player during the 1910s and 1920s^[179]
• Moe Drabowsky (1935 - 2006) right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball^[180]
• Steve Gromek (1920 - 2002) pitcher in Major League Baseball^[181]
• Mark Grudzielanek (1970 - ) second baseman in Major League Baseball, plays for the Kansas City Royals^[182]
• Ray Jablonski (1926 - 1985) third baseman in Major League Baseball with an 8-year career from 1953 to 1960^[183]
• Ted Kluszewski (1924-1988) Major League First Basemen ^[184]
• Whitey Kurowski (1918-1999) third baseman in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the St. Louis Cardinals (1941-49)
• Tony Kubek (1936 - ) baseball player and television broadcaster^[185]
• Eddie Lopat (1918 - 1992) Major League Baseball pitcher
• Stan Lopata (1925 - ) Major League Baseball player^[186]
• Greg Luzinski (1950 - ) former left fielder in Major League Baseball
• Bill Mazeroski (1936 - ) former Major League baseball player^[187]
• Barney McCosky (1917 - 1996) center fielder/left fielder in Major League Baseball^[188]
• Doug Mientkiewicz (1974 - ) first baseman for the New York Yankees^[189]
• Stan Musial (1920 - ) former player in Major League Baseball who played 22 seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1941 to 1963^[190]
• Joe Niekro (1944 - 2006) starting pitcher in Major League Baseball, younger brother of Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of first baseman Lance Niekro^[191]
• Phil Niekro (1939 - ) former pitcher in Major League Baseball and member of the Baseball Hall of Fame^[192]
• Freddie Patek (1944 - ) Major League Baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, and California Angels^[193]
• Tom Paciorek (1946 - ) Major League outfielder and first baseman for 18 seasons between 1970 and 1987^[194]
• Ron Perranoski (1936- ) Major League Pitcher ^[195]
• A.J. Pierzynski White Sox
• Johnny Podres (1932 - ) Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher
• Jack Quinn (1883-1946)Major League Pitcher ^[196]
• Ron Reed (1942 - ) Major League pitcher ^[197]
• Al Simmons (1902 - 1956) player in Major League Baseball over three decades^[198]
• Moose Skowron (1930 - ) Major League Baseball player, primarily a first baseman^[199]
• Frank Tanana (1953 - ) former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball^[200]
• Alan Trammell (1958 - ) baseball shortstop of the Detroit Tigers from 1977 to 1996^[201]
• Carl Yastrzemski (1939 - ) Major League Baseball player^[202]
• Richie Zisk (1949 - ) Major League Baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, Texas Rangers, and Seattle Mariners from 1971 to 1983^[203]

Basketball

• Carol Blazejowski (1956 - ) women's collegiate and professional basketball player
• Vince Boryla (1927 - ) pro basketball player, coach, and executive
• Mike Gminski (1959 - ) former college and professional basketball player
• Tom Gola (1933 - ) one of Philadelphia's most famous basketball players^[204]
• Bobby Hurley (1971 - ) Duke and NCA Basketball Player ^[205]
• Mike Krzyzewski (1947 - ) head coach of the Duke University men's basketball team
• Mitch Kupchak (1954 - ) former professional basketball player and current general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers since the 2000-2001 season after Jerry West moved to the Memphis Grizzlies organization
• Bob Kurland (1924 - ) 7-foot basketball center
• Red Mihalik(1916 -) NCAA & Olympic Official/Referee ^[206]
• Eric Piatkowski (1970 - ) National Basketball Association player with the Phoenix Suns
• Joe Proski (1940- ) First trainer of Phoenix Suns, Inducted into Phoenix Ring of Fame 2001
• Joel Przybilla (1979 - ) professional basketball player in the NBA
• Kelly Tripucka (1959 - ) National Basketball Association player for the Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, and Charlotte Hornets from 1981 to 1991
• Steve Wojciechowski (1976 - ) assistant coach of the Duke University men's basketball team

Bowling

• Eddie Lubanski - considered one of the greatest bowlers of all time, in the Guinness book of World Records

Boxing

• Bobby Czyz (1962 - ) boxer^[207]
• Andrzej Gołota (1968 - ) professional boxer from Poland who has been involved in many controversial fights^[208]
• Stanley Ketchel (1886 - 1910) boxer who became one of the greatest world middleweight champions^[209]
• Stanley Poreda (1909 - 1983) Jersey City boxer considered a top heavyweight contender in the early 1930s^[210]
• Teddy Yarosz (1910-1974) NBA Middleweight Boxing Champion ^[211]
• Tony Zale (1913 - 1997) Two-time Middleweight World Champion Boxer

Figure skating

• Tara Lipinski (1982 - ) Olympic Gold Medalist figure skater and celebrity
• Janet Lynn (1953 - ) figure skater and Olympic bronze medalist^[212]
• Zsa Zsa Riordan (1990 - ) figure skater^[213]

Football

• Danny Abramowicz (1945 - ) wide receiver in the National Football League who played for the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers
• Pete Banaszak (1944 - ) college and professional football player
• Steve Bartkowski (1952 - ) former National Football League quarterback
• Zeke Bratkowski (1931 - ) All-American quarterback at the University of Georgia in 1952 and 1953
• Brad Cieslak (1982 - ) American football tight end in the NFL who currently plays for the Buffalo Bills.
• Lou Creekmur (1927 - ) NFL left offensive tackle/guard for the Detroit Lions from 1951-59
• Mike Ditka (1939 - ) former NFL player, television commentator, and coach
• Frank Gatski (1919 - 2005) football player
• Jim Grabowski (1944 - ) football player and broadcaster
• Stephen Gostkowski (1984 - ) Placekicker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League.
• Jack Ham (1948 - ) former football linebacker who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers
• Leon Hart (1928 - 2002) football tight end and defensive end
• Sebastian Janikowski (1978-) Kicker for the Oakland Raiders
• Vic Janowicz (1930 - 1996) played halfback for Ohio State University
• Ron Jaworski (1951 - ) former football player, NFL analyst on ESPN
• Mike Kenn (1956 - ) Former Offensive Tackle for Atlanta Falcons ^[214]
• Joe Klecko (1953 - ) defensive end
• Frank Kush (1929 - ) football coach who most prominently served as head coach at Arizona State University for more than two decades
• Joe Kowalewski (1982 - ) Tight end for the New York Jets.
• Ted Kwalick (1947 - ) former football tight end in the NFL and World Football League
• Chris Liwienski (1975 - ) American football offensive guard who currently plays for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League.
• Johnny Lujack (1925 - ) former football quarterback for the University of Notre Dame and the Chicago Bears
• Ted Marchibroda (1931 - ) former football quarterback and head coach in the National Football League
• Dan Marino former Quarterback for the Miami Dolphins
• Lou Michaels Former Pro Defensive Linemen; 1958-1971 with Colts, Steelers, Rams, and Packers ^[215]
• Walt Michaels (1929 - ) former football player and coach, remembered for his six-year tenure as head coach of the New York Jets from 1977-1982
• Dick Modzelewski (1931 - ) Former College & Pro Football Player: Redskins, Steelers, Giants & Browns. Coach for Cleveland Browns. College football Hall of Fame. ^[216]
• Mike Munchak (1960 - ) Former Pro Offense with the Houston Oilers; Pro Football Hall of Fame ^[217]
• Gene Mruczkowski (1980 - ) American football offensive lineman for the New England Patriots of the National Football League.
• Bill Osmanski (1915-1996) College & Pro Football Hall of Fame, Former player with Chicago Bears. ^[218]
• Jason Pociask (1983 - ) football tight end for the New York Jets.
• Paul Posluszny (1984 - ) Linebacker drafted by the Buffalo Bills
• Bill Romanowski (1966 - ) former football player for the San Francisco 49ers, and Oakland Raiders
• Mark Stepnoski one of NFL's top linemen with the Dallas cowboys ^[219]
• Hank Stram (1923 - 2005) Head Coach, Kansas City Chiefs
• Frank Tripucka (1927 - )Former Quarterback for the Broncos, Cardinals and Lions ^[220]
• Steve Wisniewski Former Pro-bowler, offensive guard with the Oakland Raiders ^[221]
• Alex Wojciechowicz (1915 - 1992) former offensive lineman and linebacker for the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles
• Frank Dancewicz
• Don Majkowski
• Mike Tomczak

Golf

• Billy Burke (1902 - 1972) prominent golfer of the 1930s
• Betsy King (1955 - ) professional golfer^[222]
• Bob Toski (1926 - ) golf player and teacher
• Al Watrous (1899-1983) PGA Champion ^[223]

Hockey

• Ed Olczyk (1966 - ) former head coach for the National Hockey League Pittsburgh Penguins and former center for Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins^[224]
• Krzysztof Oliwa (1973 - ) Has played with the Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Calgary Flames, Columbus Blue Jackets, Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils in the NHL.
• Mike Komisarek (1982 - ) He currently plays as a defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League.
• Brian Rafalski (1973 - ) Defenseman for the Detroit Red Wings.
• Pete Stemkowski (1943 - ) former player in the National Hockey League^[225]
• James Wisniewski (1984 - ) Defenseman for the Chicago Blackhawks
• Wayne Gretzky
• Mariusz Czerkawski

Olympic athletes

• Mark Gorski (1960 - ) Track Cyclist - Gold medal
• Bob Gutowski (1935-1960) Pole Vaulter, won silver at 1956 Summer Olympics ^[226]
• Norbert Schemansky (1924 - ) Gold, Silver and Bronze Olympic Metalist in Weightlifting ^[227]
• Stanisława Walasiewicz (a.k.a Stella Walsh) (1911 - 1980) athlete and Olympic champion

Soccer

• Danny Szetela (1987 - ) soccer player for the Columbus Crew of the MLS.
• Wojtek Krakowiak (1976 - ) soccer player, most recently played for the Tampa Bay Mutiny of Major League Soccer.

Wrestling

• Ole Anderson (1942 -) original member of the famed Four Horsemen
• Chris Mordetsky (1983 -) professional wrestler
• Ivan Putski (1941 -) Polish-born American Professional Wrestler and Champion ^[228]
• Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (1950 -) WWE Hall of Famer
• Johnny Valentine (1928 - 2001) professional wrestling legend
• Rob Van Dam (1970 - ) professional wrestler
• Stanislaus Zbyszko (1879 - 1967) professional wrestler popular in the United States during the 1920s

Other Sports

• Jane "Peaches" Bartkowicz (1949 - ) one of the top woman tennis players from the United States in the 1960s^[229]
• Arthur Dake (1910-2000) Grand Master Chess Player
• Ed Korfanty - fencing master, U.S. National Women's saber coach, Olympic saber coach, and a former Men's Veteran's Saber World Champion^[230]
• Alan Kulwicki (1954-1993) - Auto Racing Champion ^[231]
• Edmund Nash (1909-2006) chess master
• Billy Packer (1940 - ) sportscaster for CBS Sports

Other

• George Adamski (1891 - 1965) one of the first people to publicly claim to have seen and photographed UFOs^[232]
• Leon Czolgosz ( 1873 – 1901) the assassin of U.S. President William McKinley
• Theodore Kaczynski ( 1942 - ) the Unabomber
• Alvin Karpis (1907 – 1979) associate of Ma Barker gang, Alcatraz prisoner
• Richard "Iceman" Kuklinski (1935 – 2006) notorious hitman, claimed to have killed 100 people
• Curtis Sliwa (1954 - ) Guardian Angels founder^[233]
• Wilfrid Michael Voynich (1865 - 1930) antiquarian and bibliophile, and the eponym of the Voynich manuscript^[234]
• Hymie Weiss (born Earl Wojciechowski) (1897 - 1926), a famous Chicago gangster (he was not Jewish despite the Jewish-sounding nickname)
• Bugs Moran - Chicago gangster
• Warren Winiarski (1928 - ) winemaker, stag leap winery^[235]
• John Wojnowski (1943 - ) protester^[236]