Sheepshead Bay is best known for its classic charm, waterfront, seafood and a surprising number of celebrities. From sports icons to politicians, these names have left their mark far beyond neighborhood lines. Here are seven celebrities who once called Sheepshead Bay home.
Larry David
The co-creator of “Seinfeld” and star of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Larry David moved to Sheepshead Bay from Brighton Beach at the age of eight. He lived there in a crowded co-op apartment surrounded by relatives. He described his upbringing in New York Magazine, saying he frequented Neptune Lanes and did “everything” in Coney Island. David even revisited his old home after 50 years in a 60 Minutes feature.
Judge Judy Sheindlin
Before becoming the globally recognized no-nonsense judge, Judith “Judy” Sheindlin grew up in Sheepshead Bay in a German-Russian-Jewish household. She graduated from James Madison High School in Midwood and went on to study government at American University and at New York Law School. In a Wall Street Journal article, she talks fondly of Brooklyn: “We’re a tribe and understand each other. I don’t have to speak in whole sentences. Half of what we communicate is done with facial expressions, like the ‘Are you for real?’ look.
Senator Chuck Schumer
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer still talks about his upbringing in Sheepshead Bay. The eldest of three children, he also attended James Madison High School, where he was valedictorian. His father owned a small extermination business, a story Schumer often shares as a reminder of “the difficulties faced by middle-class New Yorkers who work hard to create a better life for their families.”
Michelle Tractenberg
Actress Michelle Trachtenberg, remembered for her roles in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Gossip Girl” and “Harriet the Spy,” also called Sheepshead Bay home. She attended I.S. 98 The Bay Academy before her family relocated to Los Angeles when she was 12. A child star who grew into a respected actress, she tragically passed away in Manhattan in February 2025 at just 39 years old.
Vince Lombardi
Sheepshead Bay also gave birth to one of football’s greatest leaders — Vince Lombardi. The former head coach of the Green Bay Packers grew up on E. 14th St. His father, Enrico “Harry,” owned a barbershop, and his brother owned a butcher shop in the Meatpacking District. Lombardi and his family were parishioners of St. Mark’s Church, where he was an altar boy. Today, the Super Bowl trophy is named the Vince Lombardi Trophy in his honor.
Louis Gossett Jr.
The late Louis Gossett Jr. was born in 1936 in Sheepshead Bay. He was an Emmy and Golden Globe award winner and the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “An Officer and a Gentleman” in 1983. His career in the spotlight spanned more than sixty years, marked by films such as “A Raisin in the Sun” and the “Iron Eagle” series. Gossett Jr. passed away in 2024 at 87 years old.
Buddy Rich
Jazz drumming legend Bernard “Buddy” Rich got his start in the neighborhood. Considered one of the most influential drummers of all time, he was born to vaudevillian parents. Rich was on the road with his parents as early as two years old, and was a travelling performer in big bands until he died in 1987.
