Celebrating remarkable people who got their start right here in the Queen City.

Carrie Stevens: Born May 1, 1969 – Buffalo, NY

Born and raised in Buffalo before the world came calling, Carrie Stevens built a career that spanned modeling, acting, and writing. Named Playboy’s Playmate of the Month in June 1997, she went on to appear in hit television shows including Beverly Hills, 90210 and Two and a Half Men, and shared the screen with Mark Wahlberg in Rock Star. She later chronicled her life in the entertainment industry in her memoir Unrated: Revelations of a Rock ‘n’ Roll Centerfold. From Buffalo to Hollywood, she carried the city’s resilience with her every step of the way.

Roswell Park: Born May 4, 1852 – Made His Mark in Buffalo, NY

When Roswell Park arrived in Buffalo in 1883, he brought with him a vision that would change medicine forever. A pioneering surgeon at Buffalo General Hospital, he founded the Gratwick Research Laboratory in 1898 — the first institution in the world devoted exclusively to cancer research, now known as the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. His bold idea of bringing pathologists, chemists, biologists, and surgeons together under one roof set a global standard for cancer care that endures to this day. Buffalo didn’t just adopt Roswell Park — it became his legacy.

John F. Carlson: Born May 5, 1875 – Raised in Buffalo, NY

Born in Sweden and raised in Buffalo, John F. Carlson grew up to become one of the most celebrated American Impressionist painters of his era. Known for his luminous winter landscapes and poetic brushwork, his work was exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago and earned him recognition across the country. He later became director of the Woodstock School of Landscape Painting and founded his own school in 1922, shaping generations of American artists. Buffalo gave him his first canvas; the rest of the world gave him its admiration.

Tim Russert: Born May 7, 1950 – Buffalo, NY

South Buffalo’s most famous son, Tim Russert grew up in a tight-knit Irish Catholic neighborhood where hard work and humility were the family currency. He took those values straight to the top of American journalism — becoming the iconic moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press, where his sharp, deeply researched interviews held politicians accountable for over 16 years. During the 2000 presidential election, he famously distilled the entire race to three words on a whiteboard: “Florida, Florida, Florida.” He never stopped saying “Go Bills,” and Buffalo never stopped claiming him as one of its greatest. A street in South Buffalo now bears his name.