5 Famous People You Didn’t Know Were From Monmouth County NJ

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Famous people live their lives in the public eye, but you might be surprised how many of them started out life right around the corner from where you live. After all, we’re all from somewhere, aren’t we?

 

Even though they may live in luxurious mansions in New York City or Los Angeles now, many stars and celebrities actually have pretty humble beginnings. Here are a few people you may not know were actually born and raised in Monmouth County NJ.

 

Bruce Springsteen

 

Sure, he is one of the most famous people on earth and it is pretty well-known that he is from New Jersey. However, you might not know that he is from Monmouth County. Bruce started his career playing gigs in Asbury Park and rose to fame soon thereafter. He has stuck true to his Jersey roots and regularly comes back for surprise concerts or drops by local bars to sit in with up and comers. 

 

Knowshon Moreno

 

Probably best known for his time as a running back for the Georgia Bulldogs, Knowshon Moreno grew up in Middletown New Jersey in Monmouth County. He is one of the greatest football players in New Jersey history, holding the record as the all-time leading scorer for the state and the second most rushing yards all-time. 

 

His high school achievements led him to the University of Georgia, where he continues to thrive, leading to him getting drafted 12th overall by the Denver Broncos in 2009. He spent the next 5 seasons with the Broncos and one further year with the Miami Dolphins. In total, he rushed for over 3,000 years and 38 total touchdowns in his NFL career.

 

Danny DeVito

 

With a career spanning over 5 decades, DeVito is well known for many different roles. Born and raised in Neptune NJ in Monmouth County NJ, DeVito began his career on the stage, before moving to films in 1975 with One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. 

 

This pivotal role got him a part on the series Taxi, which served as a catapult for future success. DeVito continued to act in films for much of his career, before returning to television in 2006 as Frank Reynolds on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He has also acted as an educator, including a role for autism therapy in Monmouth County NJ.

 

Lloyd Braun

 

As a titular character on the hit sitcom Seinfeld, Lloyd Braun was a very popular character. He provided terrible advice for Mayor Dinkens and was also a love interest for Elaine. As the child nemesis of George, Lloyd was a recurring character that went on to have a nervous breakdown and a friendship with Kramer.

 

Japhy Ryder

 

Well-known as a friend of Jack Kerouac, Japhy was actually born and raised in Monmouth County NJ. It is where he cemented his love of the woods and Buddhism, as well as his interest in Native American culture. Much of his poetry and writings feature musings about New Jersey. After migrating to the West Coast, Ryder went on to become a pivotal figure in the Beat Movement. He would go on to travel around the world, learning much about Eastern cultures and brining this information back to the United States.