Published: July 18, 2008 02:30 pm            

CELEBRITIES: These locals leave WNY talkin' proud

There’s just something about seeing a local person doing well that makes a Western New Yorker’s back a bit straighter and head a bit higher.

Like few other places, the Niagara Frontier takes pride in its own. Heck, that loyalty is so deep that local football fans could even find a silver lining when the Dallas Cowboys beat the Bills twice in the Super Bowl in the 1990s (Youngstown’s Daryl Johnston was the fullback for America’s Team back then).

With that in mind, here are some of the most notable people whose roots trace back to Western New York. Note that this list is not 100 percent comprehensive, puts a premium on Niagara County residents whenever possible and focuses only on those who are still living.

Lights, camera, action

CHRISTINE BARANSKI: Perhaps the only good part of the film version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” this Buffalo native also appeared in the underrated “Addams Family Values” and “Bowfinger.” She now appears in the film version of “Mamma Mia!” and has appeared in the musicals “Sweeney Todd” and “Mame.”

NICK BAKAY: There isn’t much this Buffalo native hasn’t done in the entertainment world. He was the voice of Salem the cat on “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” and has performed in guest roles on “Seinfeld” and “The King of Queens,” for which he also served as a producer. He’s also written numerous columns for ESPN the Magazine and for the sketch show “In Living Color,” and he’s now a producer for Fox’s “ ’Til Death.”

TOM CALDERONE: Now the executive vice president of VH1, this Buffalo State College graduate honed his skills on campus and WGR 550. Before taking his current job in 2005, he worked at MTV in that network’s music and talent programming department.

DON CRIQUI: The voice of Notre Dame football radio broadcasts grew up in Kenmore, where he graduated from St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute. The 40-year broadcasting veteran also does games for CBS and has worked for NBC and ESPN covering all types of sports, including tennis, golf and the Summer Olympics.

DIANE ENGLISH: This Nardin Academy graduate created the TV series “Murphy Brown,” for which she won an Emmy. She’s now working on a remake of the film “The Women,” which is due out later this year.

TOM FONTANA: One of television’s most accomplished writers, this Buffalo native is the mind behind the prison drama “Oz” and wrote for “St. Elsewhere,” “Homicide: Life on the Streets” and “The Bedford Diaries.” The Canisius High School graduate started at Studio Arena Theater and has taught at several universities including his alma mater, the University at Buffalo.

JESSE L. MARTIN: Before taking the role of Tom Collins in the original Broadway production of “Rent,” this Virginia transplant attended the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. He appeared in numerous stage shows nationwide before landing the Broadway role, but he’s best known for his lengthy stint as Detective Ed Green on “Law & Order,” which lasted from 1998-2008. After reprising the role of Collins for the feature film of “Rent,” he’s working on a film biography about Marvin Gaye.

DAVID MILCH: This Buffalo native worked on “Hill Street Blues” before creating “NYPD Blue” and producing “Deadwood.” He’s now working on another HBO drama, “Last of the Ninth,” about the New York Police Department in the 1970s.

He shoots,

he scores

JIMMY ARIAS: This Grand Island native was at one time the fifth-ranked men’s tennis player in the world. He won the 1982 French Open Mixed Doubles title in 1982 with Andrea Jaeger and is now an ESPN tennis commentator.

TED BARRETT: This veteran MLB umpire spent most of his youth in North Tonawanda. A full-time major league ump since 1999, he worked the 2007 World Series and All-Star Game.

RICK CASSATA: An all-league pitcher and shortstop for Tonawanda High School, Cassata was best at football, where he quarterbacked the 1963 Warriors squad to a perfect season. He went on to enjoy success at Syracuse University and in the Canadian Football League, where he won a Grey Cup championship in 1973 with the Ottawa Rough Riders.

OREL HERSHISER: This Buffalo native won 204 big league games, but he’s best known for his record-breaking 1988 season, during which he won 23 games and pitched a record 59 straight scoreless innings while helping the Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series. He does commentary work now for ESPN.

TOMMY HICKS: Although his career 18-12-3 record may not be very impressive, this Lockport native did earn a shot at Bob Foster’s WBC light heavyweight title in 1971 (a fight he lost by TKO in eight rounds). He went on to a longtime teaching career at several schools, including Newfane Middle School.

DARYL JOHNSTON: “The Moose” excelled at football on every level, having been a star fullback at Lewiston-Porter High School, Syracuse University and in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys. The Lancers retired his No. 34 in 2006, and Johnston works as a commentator for NFL broadcasts on Fox.

PATRICK KANE: This south Buffalo product made a splash in his first NHL season in 2007-08. The No. 1 draft pick by the Chicago Blackhawks last summer, Kane won the Calder Trophy last month as the league’s top rookie. Kane is one member of a wave of young NHL players from the area, including Brooks Orpik of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Patrick Kaleta of the Buffalo Sabres and Nick Foligno of the Ottawa Senators, as well as Sanborn goalie Thomas McCollum, who was drafted last month by the Detroit Red Wings.

CHRISTIAN LAETTNER: An original Dream Teamer in 1992, this Angola native and Nichols High School product is the holder of many NCAA basketball records. His NBA career was less notable than his time at Duke University, although Laettner did last 13 years in the league. He now co-owns a North Carolina development company and has a stake in the soccer team D.C. United.

BOB LANIER: This Bennett High School product was a No. 1 pick by the Detroit Pistons in 1970 and averaged more than 20 points per game in 14 NBA seasons. He’s in the Basketball Hall of Fame and had his number retired by the Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks.

RICK MANNING: Born and raised in Niagara Falls, Manning spent 13 seasons in the major leagues with the Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers, winning a Gold Glove in 1976. He remains in baseball as an Indians broadcaster.

JIM MCNALLY: This All-Western New York selection in 1960 with Kenmore West High School was a two-way star lineman for the Blue Devils. He enjoyed a lengthy coaching career, which started in Buffalo for UB and ended here with the Bills as an offensive line coach from 2004-07.

Sweet, sweet music

ANI DIFRANCO: This Buffalo native and folk legend is founder of Righteous Babe Records, which is headquartered in the Queen City. The longtime songstress is on tour and has another album in the works.

GARY BAKER: Hailing from Ransomville, this performer/writer co-composed “I Swear,” which was a top single on the country charts (sung by John Michael Montgomery) and pop charts (sung by All-4-One) in the 1990s. He’s also worked with The Backstreet Boys, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes and Nick Lachey. He lives in Alabama.

GOO GOO DOLLS: The pride of Buffalo, Johnny Rzeznik and Robby Takac have been the backbone of this rock band for more than 20 years. Performers of the hits “Iris,” “Slide” and “Long Way Down,” the band just released the song “Real,” which is said to be part of the band’s forthcoming studio album.

GREEN JELLY: This heavy metal group from Kenmore is pretty much known for its lone hit, “The Three Little Pigs,” which came off the Gold album “Cereal Killer.” After moving to Hollywood, the band became a jumping-off point for Danny Carey and Maynard James Keenan of Tool.

ANTONIO LOTEMPIO: This Niagara Falls native, also known as Nino Tempo, has performed on the clarinet and saxophone on Benny Goodman’s TV show and with Bobby Darin and John Lennon. He recorded a No. 1 single with his sister Carol (stage name April Stevens) in 1963, “Deep Purple,” which won a Grammy. He also was in “The Glenn Miller Story.”

RON ROCCO: This Lockport drumming legend was a member of Black Sheep, the Rochester band that counted Lou Gramm among its members in the 1970s. While Gramm went on to fame with Foreigner, Rocco has recorded with the likes of Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big) and toured with Kiss, ZZ Top and Hall & Oates. He’s also performed in numerous local groups, including Ron Rocco’s 9 Lives, and is a member of the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.

Additional research by Anthony Custode Jr. and Alyssa Harpst.



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