Meryl Streep, the late Lesley Gore and Kevin Smith will be inducted into The New Jersey Hall of Fame this year.
Meryl Streep, Kevin Smith, Paul Rudd and the late Lesley Gore will be among the 2024 inductees of The New Jersey Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be a pre-taped television special filmed at The New Jersey Hall of Fame Entertainment & Learning Center at the American Dream mall in East Rutherford, and other Hall of Fame satellite exhibitions. It will debut Nov. 13 on Fox 5 My9 and social media.
Streep, Rudd and Gore have previously been selected for induction but are being formally inducted this year.
Here is the list, along with the Hall of Fame’s descriptions. One asterisk (*) denotes those being honored posthumously. Two asterisks (**) denote previously named inductees who are being formally inducted this year.
PERFORMING ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Lesley Gore**,*
Tenafly
“Singer-songwriter known for top-chart hits including ‘You Don’t Own Me’ and ‘It’s My Party,’ she received an Academy Award nomination for ‘Out Here On My Own’ from the movie FAME and three Grammy Award nominations.”
Warren Littlefield
Montclair
“NBC Entertainment president who oversaw the groundbreaking ‘Must See TV’ lineup, including ‘Seinfeld’.”
Paul Rudd**
Passaic
“Actor who has been nominated for a Golden Globe, two SAG Awards, and won a Critics’ Choice Award.”
Kevin Smith
Red Bank
“Director, producer, writer, and actor who helmed the Jersey-based comedy Clerks.”
Meryl Streep**
Bernardsville
“Actress who has won three Academy Awards, eight Golden Globes, is a Kennedy Center Honoree, and received a Presidential Medal of Freedom.”
ARTS & LETTERS
Gay Talese
Ocean City
“Journalist for The New York Times and Esquire magazine, a pioneer who pushed the boundaries of traditional journalism.”
EDUCATION & SCIENCE
Elizabeth Coleman White*
Whitesbog
“Botanist who developed the nation’s first cultivated blueberry.”
John Forbes Nash*, **
Princeton
“Genius mathematician who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for Economics.”
Avi Wigderson
Princeton
“Computer scientist, mathematician, and Turing Award winner, known for his groundbreaking insights in computer science.”
ENTERPRISE
George Cooney
Bogota
“Chairman emeritus of EUE/Screen Gems Ltd, a visionary who built industry-leading entertainment service businesses for over 50 years catering to Madison Avenue and Hollywood.”
Peter Cancro
Point Pleasant
“Founder of Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc., entrepreneur, businessman and philanthropist.”
Donald Katz
Newark
“Founder of Audible, Inc., award-winning journalist, and author.”
PUBLIC SERVICE
Father Edwin D. Leahy
Newark
“Benedictine monk and Catholic priest, headmaster of St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark.”
Geraldine Thompson
Lincroft
“Social reform pioneer and founder of VNA Health Group who earned the nickname ‘First Lady of New Jersey’ due to her philanthropic and social service activities.”
SPORTS
Dick Button
Englewood
“Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist in figure skating, five consecutive gold medals from the World Championships, and an Emmy Award-winning former TV Sport Commentator.”
Tim Howard
New Brunswick
“Former goalkeeper for the United States Men’s National Team, regarded as one of the greatest American players of all time.”
Ron Johnson*
Madison
“All-American running back and captain at the University of Michigan, twice earned All-Pro honors with the New York Giants, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and served as chairman of the National Football Foundation.”
Phil Simms
Franklin Lakes
“Former New York Giants quarterback, Super Bowl MVP, and sports analyst.”
These 18 inductees were chosen from among 50 nominees. Among those nominated but not selected were singer-songwriter Phoebe Snow, dancer and choreographer Savion Glover, comedian and pundit Bill Maher, film director Thom Zimny, writers John McPhee and Janet Evanovich, CNN host Dana Bash, Super Bowl-winning Giants head coach Bill Parcells, sex researcher Alfred Kinsey, and guitar maker and inventor Phil Petillo.
For information on the hall, visit NJHOF.org.
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