Celebrating remarkable people who got their start right here in the Queen City. Laurette Spang: Born May 16, 1951
From Buffalo to the Stars
Born in Buffalo and shaped by a love of the arts from an early age, Laurette Spang earned a scholarship to the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts and launched a television career that spanned decades. She is best remembered as Cassiopeia in the original Battlestar Galactica — a role that made her an enduring icon of science fiction television.
A Versatile Career
Beyond the stars of Battlestar Galactica, Spang proved her range across beloved American TV series including Lou Grant, Magnum P.I., The Dukes of Hazzard, Fantasy Island, and The Love Boat. Her warmth, charisma, and professionalism made her a welcome presence on screen in any genre. Buffalo can be proud to call her one of its brightest exports to Hollywood.
Alfred Southwick: Born May 18, 1826
Dentist, Engineer & Inventor
Few figures in Buffalo history are as complex as Alfred P. Southwick. A former steamboat engineer who reinvented himself as a prominent dentist and professor at the University of Buffalo’s School of Dental Medicine, Southwick embodied the restless ingenuity that defined 19th-century Buffalo. His mechanical mind and medical training combined in ways that would have an outsized impact on American history.
A Controversial Legacy
In 1881, after witnessing a man die almost instantly upon touching a live electric generator, Southwick began advocating for electricity as a more humane alternative to hanging in capital punishment. Drawing on his familiarity with the dental chair, he conceived the electric chair — an invention born from a genuine desire to reduce suffering, however controversial its legacy has since become. He is buried at Buffalo’s Forest Lawn Cemetery, his name forever woven into the city’s history of innovation.
William Fargo: Born May 20, 1818
Building American Commerce
William Fargo moved to Buffalo in 1843 as a freight agent and quickly became one of the most consequential businessmen in American history. He co-founded American Express in 1850 and Wells Fargo & Co. in 1852 alongside Henry Wells — two institutions whose names still dominate American financial life nearly two centuries later. His vision helped build the infrastructure that connected a rapidly expanding nation from coast to coast.
Mayor, Civic Leader & Buffalo Icon
Fargo served as Buffalo’s 27th mayor from 1862 to 1866, guiding the city through the Civil War era with steady leadership and a commitment to growth. He paid part of his employees’ salaries while they served in the military — a remarkable act of civic generosity. Fargo Avenue, the Fargo Quadrangle at the University at
Buffalo, and even Fargo, North Dakota, bear his name. He rests at Forest Lawn Cemetery, a fitting home for one of Buffalo’s greatest builders.
Johann Carlo: Born May 21, 1957
From Buffalo to Broadway
Buffalo-born Johann Carlo made her Broadway debut in 1983 in the critically acclaimed Plenty and returned to the stage in 1991 in La Bête, establishing herself as a formidable presence in American theater. Her early television work included a memorable turn as Dixie the cabbie on Pee-wee’s Playhouse, where her comedic timing and vibrant energy made her an audience favorite.
A Career Defined by Iconic Roles
Carlo’s most celebrated television work came in prestige drama — playing Bonnie DiCaprio on The Sopranos and Teresina Capone on Boardwalk Empire, two of the most acclaimed series in television history. Her ability to inhabit complex characters in richly drawn period worlds set her apart as a performer of genuine depth. For Buffalo, she remains a source of creative pride and a shining example of what the city’s artistic spirit can produce.