The Senator Robert F. Wagner Houses, a New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) development in the East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, has been the childhood home or residence of several notable figures in entertainment, culture, and sports.
Below are some of the most prominent people associated with the Wagner Houses, along with brief info on their careers:
- Career: Actor and Producer.
- Brief Info: Born and raised in the Wagner Houses, Alonso is a well-known Hollywood actor.3 He is most famous for his roles in the hit Amazon series The Boys (as Mother’s Milk), the blockbuster film Avatar (as Tsu’tey), and films like Fast & Furious, Detroit, and Jumping the Broom. He often speaks proudly of his East Harlem roots and how growing up in public housing shaped his work ethic.
- Richard “Crazy Legs” Colón (B-Boy/Hip-Hop Pioneer)1
- Career: Breakdancer and President of the Rock Steady Crew.
- Brief Info: A legendary figure in hip-hop history, Crazy Legs spent much of his childhood in the Wagner Houses.123 He is a founding member of the Rock Steady Crew and is credited with inventing or popularizing many of the foundational moves of “breaking” (breakdancing).23 He appeared in seminal films like Wild Style and Flashdance, helping to export hip-hop culture from NYC to the world.
- Career: Rapper and Songwriter.5
- Brief Info: Though born in London, Slick Rick moved to the United States as a child and spent part of his upbringing in the Wagner Houses. Known as “The Ruler,” he is one of the most influential storytellers in hip-hop history. His 1988 debut album, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, is considered a masterpiece, featuring hits like “Children’s Story” and “La Di Da Di.”
- Robert Paul Champagne (Internet Personality)
- Career: Viral Internet Figure.
- Brief Info: Known to many as the “Try It Out Guy,” Champagne became a cult figure in internet culture after his home-recorded videos went viral and were featured extensively on the Your Mom’s House podcast (hosted by comedians Tom Segura and Christina P). He was a long-time resident of Wagner Houses, and his apartment became a well-known location for fans of the show.
- Career: Professional Basketball Player.8
- Brief Info: A standout athlete from the East Harlem community, Edwards grew up in the Wagner Houses before a successful basketball career. He played college ball for Cleveland State and was a first-round NBA draft pick in 1981. He played seven seasons in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers (winning a championship in 1983), Los Angeles Clippers, and Sacramento Kings.
Conflicting Claims
- George Pataki: Some local community sites claim that former New York Governor George Pataki grew up in the Wagner Houses. However, official biographies and Pataki’s own autobiography state he was born and raised on his family’s farm in Peekskill, New York. It is possible he had a brief connection to the development, but it is not considered his primary childhood home.
- Dave East: While the famous rapper Dave East is a proud native of East Harlem and often mentions the neighborhood’s projects in his music, he is more closely associated with the nearby Jefferson Houses and Ravenswood Houses in Queens.
Let me search for more specific information about notable people from Wagner Houses.Let me search more specifically for notable people from Wagner Houses NYCHA development.Based on my search results, I found limited specific information about notable people who came from Wagner Houses in East Harlem. Here’s what I’ve been able to find:
Notable People from Wagner Houses
According to the available information, Laz Alonso, born in 1974, is an American actor and producer1 who came from Wagner Houses. Alonso has had a successful acting career in Hollywood, appearing in numerous films and television shows. He’s perhaps best known for his roles in films like “Avatar” (2009), where he played Tsu’tey, “Fast & Furious” (2009), and “Jumping the Broom” (2011). More recently, he has starred as Mother’s Milk in the popular Amazon Prime series “The Boys.”
There’s also mention of George Pataki, born in 1945, an American politician and former governor of New York State who grew up in Wagner Houses and went on to have a successful political career, serving as governor from 1995 to 20061. However, I should note that this information about Pataki seems unusual, as he is typically documented as having grown up in Peekskill, New York, not in public housing in Manhattan.
About Wagner Houses
Wagner Houses, also known as Triborough Houses, is a public housing development in the East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, administered by the New York City Housing Authority. It consists of fourteen 16-story buildings and eight 7-story buildings, a total of 22 buildings, with 5,290 residents living in 2,162 apartments2. The development was completed on May 31, 1958, and was named after Robert F. Wagner, who served four terms as senator of New York State and sponsor of the 1937 Housing Act2.
While Wagner Houses is located in East Harlem, which has been home to many notable hip-hop artists and cultural figures, the specific information about celebrities and notable people who grew up in this particular NYCHA development is limited in the available sources. East Harlem itself has produced many famous rappers and artists, but most sources don’t specify which particular housing developments they came from.