New Jersey Hall of Fame Announces 2024 Inductees

NEWARK, NJ – On the heels of opening its new location at American Dream, the New Jersey Hall of Fame (NJHOF) has announced its next class of inductees. The list of 18 honorees includes actress Meryl Streep, actor Paul Rudd, Jersey Mike’s Subs founder Peter Cancro, former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms, and singer-songwriter Lesley Gore.

The inductees will be celebrated at the 16th Annual New Jersey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. This year, the ceremony will be a pre-taped television special, filmed at the 10,000-square-foot NJHOF at American Dream and other satellite exhibits. The special will air starting November 13 on Fox 5 My9 and on social media. Additionally, dozens of public events will take place throughout the year on inductees' birthdays, beginning as early as this summer.

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“The 2024 class of inductees illustrates the New Jersey ethic of hard work, determination, and grit,” said Jon F. Hanson, Chairman of the NJHOF. “We are thrilled to celebrate the contributions of these 18 individuals so future generations can learn about their journeys.”

The New Jersey Hall of Fame Class of 2024 includes:

Arts & Letters

• Gay Talese (Ocean City): Journalist for The New York Times and Esquire magazine, known for pushing the boundaries of traditional journalism.

Education & Science

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• Elizabeth Coleman White (Whitesbog): Botanist who developed the nation’s first cultivated blueberry.
• John Forbes Nash (Princeton): Mathematician and Nobel Peace Prize winner for Economics.
• Avi Wigderson (Princeton): Computer scientist, mathematician, and Turing Award winner.

Enterprise

• George Cooney (Bogota): Chairman emeritus of EUE/Screen Gems Ltd.
• Peter Cancro (Point Pleasant): Founder of Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, Inc.
• Donald Katz (Newark): Founder of Audible, Inc.

Performing Arts & Entertainment

• Lesley Gore (Tenafly): Singer-songwriter known for hits including "You Don't Own Me" and “It’s My Party.”
• Warren Littlefield (Montclair): Former NBC Entertainment president.
• Paul Rudd (Passaic): Actor nominated for a Golden Globe, two SAG Awards, and winner of a Critics’ Choice Award.
• Kevin Smith (Red Bank): Director, producer, writer, and actor known for Clerks .
• Meryl Streep (Bernardsville): Actress with three Academy Awards and eight Golden Globes.

Public Service

• Father Edwin D. Leahy (Newark): Benedictine monk and headmaster of St. Benedict’s Prep.
• Geraldine Thompson (Lincroft): Social reform pioneer and founder of VNA Health Group.

Sports

• Dick Button (Englewood): Two-time Olympic gold medalist in figure skating.
• Tim Howard (New Brunswick): Former goalkeeper for the U.S. Men’s National Team.
• Ron Johnson (Madison): All-American running back and College Football Hall of Fame inductee.
• Phil Simms (Franklin Lakes): Former New York Giants quarterback and Super Bowl MVP.

*Note: Some honorees are being recognized posthumously.

The 18 inductees were chosen from 50 nominees through a public vote. The Hall of Fame reserves the right to announce additional inductees at a later date.

Since its inception in 2008, the NJHOF has honored more than 230 notable individuals and groups. The Hall of Fame's mission is to present impactful role models to schoolchildren, showing that they can strive for excellence. For more information, visit NJHOF.org .

About the New Jersey Hall of Fame

The New Jersey Hall of Fame honors citizens who have made significant contributions to society, the state of New Jersey, and the world. Since 2008, the NJHOF has recognized more than 230 individuals and groups. In June 2024, the NJHOF opened the nation’s first state-of-the-art Entertainment and Learning Center at American Dream. The NJHOF is supported by many sponsors, including Hackensack Meridian Health. For more information, visit NJHOF.org .

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