Present on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay, the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was built for some of the most prominent criminals in U.S. history. Back in the day, from 1934 to ’63, it became a symbol of high-security incarceration. The prison was very strict, with harsh rules and complete control, and literally no freedom.

Honestly, the stories about how strict it was are almost as wild as the inmates themselves. Alcatraz’s famous prisoners included some gang leaders, escape artists, and serial murderers. Let’s see who they were.

• Al Capone (Infamous Chicago mob boss)
• George “Machine Gun” Kelly (Kidnapper and bank robber)
• Robert Stroud (“Birdman of Alcatraz”)
• Frank Morris (the Mastermind behind the 1962 escape)
• John Anglin (One of the escapee brothers)
• Clarence Anglin (Escaped with his brother and Morris)

Why Were Alcatraz Prisoners So Famous?

The main reason was that the people sent to Alcatraz were already high-risk. And many were like they had caused problems at other jails before arriving at Alcatraz. Some other reasons are:

• Famous Crimes: Many prisoners at Alcatraz were involved in big crimes like kidnapping, murder, armed robbery, or working with gangs.
• Media Coverage: Every time something happened on that rock, newspapers and radio shows went wild, turning those inmates into legends, whether they deserved it or not.
• Escape Stories: Even though the island was hard to escape from, a few tried. These escape attempts made Alcatraz even more famous.
• Movies and Shows: Films and documentaries kept the stories of these prisoners alive.

These prisoners still get attention today. The stories just refuse to die.

1- Al Capone – The Face of Alcatraz

Al Capone was one of the most famous prisoners at Alcatraz. As the leader of the Chicago Outfit, he ran an empire illegally. He used to make money by alcohol, bribery, and violence during Prohibition.

Federal govt. finally caught him (not for his violent crimes, but for not paying taxes).

When he landed at Alcatraz in August 1934, he was one of the first big shots shipped over. Officials sent him there to snip his connections and to stop getting the advantages that he used to get in other prisons. 

Facts about Capone’s time in Alcatraz:

• Prisoner ID: #85
• Sentence: 11 years in federal prison
• Time at Alcatraz: 1934-1939
• Known for: Losing power inside prison; no longer a leader
• Health decline: Suffered from syphilis, which worsened during his sentence
• Final years: Shifted to Terminal Island in 1939, released in 1940
  

Al Capone at Alcatraz, talk about a fall from grace. He went from running Chicago to rotting away on that cold rock, sick, cut off, pretty much forgotten by the world. Still, he is the most recognized name among all the famous prisoners of Alcatraz. Capone’s the one everyone remembers. 

2- “Machine Gun” Kelly – The Kidnapper Turned Model Prisoner

George “Machine Gun” Kelly earned his nickname from the Thompson submachine gun he frequently used during armed robberies. He really made headlines in 1933 when he snatched oil bigwig Charles Urschel and demanded a $200,000 ransom (a massive sum at the time). 

The FBI tracked him down, just within months, and a court sentenced him to life in prison. They shipped him off to Alcatraz in ’34 because, apparently, nobody wanted to risk him because of his reputation. 

Facts about Machine Gun Kelly at Alcatraz:

• Prisoner ID: #117
• Sentence: Life imprisonment
• Time at Alcatraz: 1934–1951
• Crimes: Bank robbery, kidnapping for ransom
• Behavior: Fantastically cooperative; caused no major incidents
• Nicknames inside prison: “Pop Gun Kelly” (mocking his actual lack of violence)
  

In spite of his dangerous public image, Kelly followed the rules and avoided conflict in Alcatraz. With time, he became one of the most nicely behaved prisoners at Alcatraz. This shows clearly how Alcatraz controlled even the most famous prisoners through discipline and isolation.

3- Robert Stroud – The “Birdman of Alcatraz”

Robert Stroud was known as the “Birdman of Alcatraz,”. He became one of Alcatraz’s most famous prisoners because he changed a lot while in prison.

He landed in prison back in 1909 for manslaughter, then killed a guard in 1916. Which results in solitary confinement for life after that.

Stroud was also famous for studying birds and writing books on bird diseases, but not when he was at Alcatraz. He performed all his avian research during his earlier prison days at Leavenworth Prison. When the government transferred him to Alcatraz in 1942, they banned his bird research. 

Facts about Robert Stroud:

• Prisoner ID: #594
• Sentence: Life imprisonment
• Time at Alcatraz: 1942–1959
• Known for: Bird expert, author of scientific books
• Reality vs. myth: Never kept birds at Alcatraz
• Conditions: Spent 17 years in segregation at Alcatraz
  

Stroud’s got a lot of attention after the release of the 1962 film Birdman of Alcatraz, which painted him as a misunderstood genius. But prison records show he remained a violent and difficult inmate in his time.

4- The Anglin Brothers and Frank Morris – Masters of the Great Escape

Among the most famous prisoners of Alcatraz, Frank Morris and brothers John and Clarence Anglin have their own place. 

They are known for their brave and bold escape from Alcatraz. On the night of June 11, 1962, the three inmates escaped from their cells and faded away into the dark waters of San Francisco Bay. Still unknown.

Guards came to know of the escape the next morning. The men used homemade tools to drill holes in the back walls of their cells. They crawled through an unused hallway, made a raft from stolen raincoats, and slipped into the water.

Facts about the escape:

• Escapees: Frank Morris, John Anglin, Clarence Anglin
• Preparation time: Over 6 months
• Tools used: Spoons, homemade drill, papier-mâché dummy heads
• Discovery: Guards found dummy heads in their beds the next morning
• Status: Officially listed as “missing, presumed drowned.”
• FBI investigation: Ongoing for 17 years; later handed to U.S. Marshals
  

The escape caused a lot of talk and different guesses. Some people think the men drowned, while others believe they got away (who knows?). The story later became the 1979 movie Escape from Alcatraz.

Interested in the whole story of these prisoners? Read our blog on “Who Escaped from Alcatraz? for their interesting life story.

Final Thoughts of Alcatraz’s Most Famous Prisoners

The prisoners at Alcatraz weren’t just regular criminals; they were dangerous and often harsh. Their names helped shape the island’s goosebumps causing reputation as the toughest prison in America.

Here are some short details of the most famous prisoners at Alcatraz:

• Al Capone: Chicago crime boss who lost power and health behind bars.
• “Machine Gun” Kelly: Harsh kidnapper turned into an obedient inmate.
• Robert Stroud: The “Birdman,” known more for myth than his true prison life.
• Frank Morris and the Anglin Brothers: Escape artists behind the prison’s most mysterious story.

Their stories are still on people’s tongues. By force, cunning, or daring escape, these famous Alcatraz prisoners left a stamp on history (no doubt).