Six Degrees of Pittsburgh Connection

It is comforting to be a Pittsburgher because Pittsburgh is like a proud and partial parent.  They will celebrate you and all your accomplishments as if they were their own and herald your connection to Pittsburgh to the world at even the slightest provocation.

In fact, Pittsburgh and its reporters are ever vigilant in finding that Pittsburgh connection of celebrities.  Whole articles have been written about it. 

I enjoy that Pittsburgh is so supportive of its native sons and daughters, and appreciate that they welcome them back to town and support them so rigorously.  We are not very discriminating about the Pittsburgh-connected celebs that we celebrate – we embrace the criminals and reality show contestant winners along with the award-winning actors, authors and musicians.

However, I think it is time that we face the fact here that local reporters have perhaps become a little overzealous in seeking the Pittsburgh connection of famous folks.  For instance, a recent article jumped the shark of finding celebrity connections to Pittsburgh when they said that Mickey Dolenz (of The Monkees) has a Pittsburgh connection because as a 10-year-old child star his first concert was at Kennywood.  No.  I am very sorry, but performing in Pittsburgh does not a “Pittsburgh connection” make.

In an effort to stop the madness, I thought I would develop a helpful primer on degrees of Pittsburgh connection to act as a guideline for those dogged pursuers of celebrity Pittsburgh connections:

1)      Born, raised or spent part of their formative years in the 10-county Pittsburgh region (i.e. Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington or Westmoreland County).  A PITTSBURGH CONNECTION!

This is the most pure Pittsburgh connection that there is.  Many bona-fide celebrities fall into this category.  August Wilson, Andy Warhol, Lenora Nemetz, Jeff Goldblum, Michael Keaton (who introduced the word “jagoff” to a national audience on The David Letterman Show)  and recent Tony award winners Christian Borle and Billy Porter (both of whom thanked Pittsburgh in their acceptance speeches) all qualify. 

Perhaps the best Pittsburgh celebrity in this category is the one-and-only Fred Rogers, a Latrobe native who made his fame as beloved and revered child television host, Mr. Rogers.   He achieved his national celebrity while remaining in Pittsburgh.  He is a local hero.

2)      Lived here as an adult. – ALSO A PITTSBURGH CONNECTION

While few seek Pittsburgh as a life destination independent of some precipitating event (“I think I want to live in Pittsburgh, so I’ll move there and then find a job”), many attend school here or find a job that brings them here and then “get their foot stuck in the door” and stay around.  Pittsburgh, for all its quirkiness, has an off-beat charm that just sometimes grows on newcomers. So, yes, if a celebrity lived here for a time as an adult, it counts. 

3)      Attended a secondary educational institution in Pittsburgh, then left. KIND OF COUNTS AS A TENUOUS PITTSBURGH CONNECTION.

Okay, so they attended college, maybe Carnegie Mellon’s drama program or Point Park’s performing arts program, in Pittsburgh. They lived here, formed relationships, and ate at the O.  They might even come back now and then to visit old college pals or for an alumni event or to attend a football game.   Saying that they are a Pittsburgher is a bit of an overstatement, but identifying them as a “Carnegie Mellon graduate” is certainly acceptable.  However, when you cite a reality show contestant as having a Pittsburgh connection because they attended nursing school in New Castle, you have crossed the line.

4)      Had a relative who lived in Pittsburgh who they sometimes visited. NOT REALLY A PITTSBURGH CONNECTION

Visiting Grandma or Aunt Mary or cousin Nettie who lived in Highland Park for the holidays or even a week in the summer does not count as having a Pittsburgh connection.

5)      Visited while on tour, filmed a movie here, or stopped in town to see the Andy Warhol Museum. NOT A PITTSBURGH CONNECTION.

I have visited Niagara Falls 6 times, and no one has ever accused me of having a Niagara Falls connection or having a dual-citizenship with Canada.  Visitors do not count!

6)      Rode a bus through town, changed flights at Pittsburgh International Airport, or drove past the Pittsburgh exit of the Turnpike. -  DON’T EVEN TRY IT.