Biographical Records

Notable People from Illinois

6,022 notable figures born in Illinois, showing page 4 of 121, ranked by historical prominence.

Harvey Korman
Harvey Korman
American actor and comedian (1927–2008)
1927 – 2008
producerfilm actortelevision actor
Howard Keel
Howard Keel
American actor and singer (1919–2004)
1919 – 2004
recording artistfilm actortelevision actor
Robert Todd Lincoln
Robert Todd Lincoln
Union Army officer, U.S. ambassador, and Secretary of War (1843–1926)
1843 – 1926
diplomatjuristpolitician
Fulton J. Sheen
Fulton J. Sheen
American catholic bishop and television presenter (1895–1979)
1895 – 1979
Catholic theologianradio personalitytelevision presenter
David Soul
David Soul
American-British actor (1943–2024)
1943 – 2024
directorstage actortelevision director
Edward Weston
Edward Weston
American photographer (1886–1958)
1886 – 1958
diaristphotographer
Frank Knight
American economist (1885-1972)
1885 – 1972
sociologistuniversity teachereconomist
Lincoln Ellsworth
Lincoln Ellsworth
American explorer (1880–1951)
1880 – 1951
explorerpolar exploreraircraft pilot
Barbara Hale
Barbara Hale
American actress (1922–2017)
1922 – 2017
film actortelevision actoractor
Lorraine Hansberry
Lorraine Hansberry
African-American playwright and author (1930-1965)
1930 – 1965
activisttheatre directorplaywright
Kathryn Joosten
Kathryn Joosten
American actress (1939–2012)
1939 – 2012
film actortelevision actornurse
Buddy Ebsen
Buddy Ebsen
American actor and dancer (1908-2003)
1908 – 2003
film actortelevision actordancer
Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa
American drummer, composer, and bandleader (1909-1973)
1909 – 1973
jazz musicianbandleaderdrummer
Gene Deitch
Gene Deitch
American illustrator, animator and film director (1924-2020)
1924 – 2020
directorfilm directorfilm producer
Robert Hanssen
Robert Hanssen
FBI agent who spied for Soviet and Russian intelligence services (1944–2023)
1944 – 2023
government agentspydouble agent
Gregg Toland
Gregg Toland
American cinematographer (1904–1948)
1904 – 1948
film directorcinematographer
Edward Reilly Stettinius, Jr.
Edward Reilly Stettinius, Jr.
American diplomat, ran Lend Lease (1900-1949)
1900 – 1949
diplomatbusinesspersonpolitician
J. Allen Hynek
J. Allen Hynek
American astronomer (1910–1986)
1910 – 1986
ufologistuniversity teacherastrophysicist
Marshall Sahlins
Marshall Sahlins
American anthropologist (1930-2021)
1930 – 2021
anthropologistuniversity teacher
Robert Z. Leonard
Robert Z. Leonard
American film director (1889-1968)
1889 – 1968
film screenwriterfilm actorfilm producer
Gene Siskel
Gene Siskel
American film critic (1946–1999)
1946 – 1999
film criticjournalisttelevision presenter
Nelsan Ellis
Nelsan Ellis
American actor (1977–2017)
1977 – 2017
film actortelevision actorfilm producer
Preston Sturges
Preston Sturges
American film director and screenwriter (1898-1959)
1898 – 1959
film screenwriterautobiographerdirector
Seth Barnes Nicholson
Seth Barnes Nicholson
American astronomer (1891–1963)
1891 – 1963
astronomer
Edward Gorey
Edward Gorey
American writer, artist, and illustrator (1925–2000)
1925 – 2000
theatre designercaricaturistpuppeteer
John Agar
John Agar
American actor (1921-2002)
1921 – 2002
film actortelevision actoractor
Bob Richards
Bob Richards
American athletics competitor, pole vaulter (1926–2023)
1926 – 2023
athletics competitorpole vaulterathlete
King Von
King Von
American rapper (1994–2020)
1994 – 2020
rappersongwritersinger
Alice Bradley Sheldon
Alice Bradley Sheldon
American science fiction writer (1915–1987)
1915 – 1987
intelligence analystscience fiction writernovelist
Nella Larsen
Nella Larsen
American novelist, librarian, nurse (1891–1964)
1891 – 1964
short story writernovelistfolklorist
Betty Robinson
Betty Robinson
athletics competitor (1911-1999)
1911 – 1999
athletics competitorsprinterathlete
Carol Shields
American/Canadian author
1935 – 2003
short story writernovelistuniversity teacher
Francis George
Francis George
Catholic cardinal (1937–2015)
1937 – 2015
regular priesttheologianCatholic bishop
Minnie Riperton
Minnie Riperton
American singer (1947–1979)
1947 – 1979
recording artistmusiciansinger-songwriter
Stephen E. Ambrose
Stephen E. Ambrose
American historian and writer (1936–2002)
1936 – 2002
essayistbiographeruniversity teacher
James Edward Keeler
James Edward Keeler
American astronomer (1857–1900)
1857 – 1900
astrophysicistphysicistastronomer
Robert Young
Robert Young
American actor (1907–1998)
1907 – 1998
film actortelevision actorstage actor
Frankie Laine
Frankie Laine
American pop singer, songwriter, and actor (1913–2007)
1913 – 2007
recording artistjazz musicianmusician
Agnes Ayres
Agnes Ayres
American actress (1892–1940)
1892 – 1940
film actoractor
Barbara Harris
American actress (1935–2018)
1935 – 2018
film actortelevision actorstage actor
Marcheline Bertrand
American actress and producer (1950-2007)
1950 – 2007
film actortelevision actorfilm producer
Robert Conrad
Robert Conrad
American actor (1935–2020)
1935 – 2020
film actortelevision actorfilm director
Katherine Dunham
Katherine Dunham
American dancer, choreographer, songwriter, actress and activist (1909/1912–2006)
1909 – 2006
music educatoractivistfilm actor
Blanche Sweet
Blanche Sweet
American actress (1896–1986)
1896 – 1986
film actortelevision actorstage actor
Fred Hampton
Fred Hampton
African-American activist (1948-1969)
1948 – 1969
activistsocial activisthuman rights defender
Jean Hagen
Jean Hagen
American actress (1923–1977)
1923 – 1977
film actortelevision actorstage actor
Eliot Ness
Eliot Ness
American Prohibition agent (1903-1957)
1903 – 1957
criminologistpolice officerjurist
Richard Kiley
Richard Kiley
American actor (1922-1999)
1922 – 1999
film actortelevision actormusical theatre actor
Alison Lurie
American novelist and academic (1926-2020)
1926 – 2020
essayistnovelistuniversity teacher
Yvonne Craig
Yvonne Craig
American actress (1937–2015)
1937 – 2015
television actordancerfilm actor
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