- Maurice Hinchey, United States Congressman.
- Michelle Hinchey, Member of the New York State Senate for the 46th District.
- Joe Sinnott, Marvel Comics artist, Sinnott illustrated the Treasure Chest educational comic book series.
- Roger Donlon, first Medal of Honor recipient of the Vietnam War, and the first Green Beret to receive the award. The municipal building on Partition Street in Saugerties was renamed the Captain Roger H. C. Donlon Auditorium. (native, now resides in Kansas)
- Jimmy Fallon, host of NBC's Tonight Show since 2014, grew up in Saugerties from age two (born in Sunset Park, Brooklyn).
- The Band resided in a house known as 'Big Pink' in West Saugerties while recording The Basement Tapes (with Bob Dylan) in 1967. Their debut album, Music From Big Pink was recorded in New York City and Los Angeles.
- Augusta Savage, (1892–1962) Female, African-American sculptor associated with the Harlem Renaissance (resident)
- Jay Ungar and Molly Mason, American folk musicians and composers (residents)
- Ian Flanigan, musician, 3rd place finalist on season 19 of NBC's The Voice (native)
- Tom Hallion, Major League Baseball umpire (native and resident)
- John Thorn, author, columnist, and baseball historian (resident)
- Dennis Bermudez, American mixed martial artist (native)
- Linda Montano Performance artist (native)
- Jeremiah Russell (1786–1867) U.S. Representative from New York.
- Robert M. Place , American artist and Tarot scholar (resident)
- Adam Adamowicz (1968–2012), video game concept artist, worked on Fallour 3 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim at Bethesda Softworks.
- Frank Hannigan, (1931–2014) Former Executive Director of the United States Golf Association (native and resident)
- John Henson (1965–2014) Muppets performer and son of Jim Henson
- Dorothy Frooks, (1896–1997) author
- Anton Myrer, (1922–1996) United States Marine Corps veteran, author of war novel Once An Eagle (resident)
- Paricia Schartle Myrer (1923–2010) editor, literary agent, publishing executive, former principal at McIntosh & Otis literary agency (resident)
- Margaret E. Winslow (1836–1936), activist, editor, author
- Gilbert R. Spalding (1812–1880), showman and circus owner, lived and died here
- Irving Fisher (1867–1947), economist
- K. Leroy Irvis (1919-2006), African-American politician in Pennsylvania
- Raven Berzal, attorney and writer.
