Biographical Records

Notable People from Wisconsin

1,531 notable figures born in Wisconsin, showing page 1 of 31, ranked by historical prominence.

Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
American architect (1867-1959)
1867 – 1959
print collectorprintsellerdesigner
Orson Welles
Orson Welles
American actor and filmmaker (1915–1985)
1915 – 1985
producermagiciantelevision actor
Gene Wilder
Gene Wilder
American actor (1933–2016)
1933 – 2016
film screenwriterfilm actorproducer
John Bardeen
John Bardeen
American physicist and engineer (1908–1991)
1908 – 1991
university teacherelectrical engineerinventor
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy
American actor (1900–1967)
1900 – 1967
film actorstage actoractor
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
American politician (1908–1957)
1908 – 1957
anti-communistushermilitary officer
Jeffrey Dahmer
Jeffrey Dahmer
American serial killer (1960–1994)
1960 – 1994
serial rapistsoldierconfectioner
Herbert Simon
Herbert Simon
American political scientist, economist, sociologist, and psychologist (1916–2001)
1916 – 2001
social scientistsociologistuniversity teacher
Gena Rowlands
Gena Rowlands
American actress (1930–2024)
1930 – 2024
film actortelevision actorstage actor
George F. Kennan
George F. Kennan
American advisor, diplomat, political scientist and historian (1904-2005)
1904 – 2005
geopolitical analystuniversity teacherpolitical scientist
Les Paul
Les Paul
American jazz guitarist, country guitarist, songwriter and inventor (1915–2009)
1915 – 2009
jazz guitaristbanjoistradio personality
Thorstein Veblen
Thorstein Veblen
American economist and sociologist (1857–1929)
1857 – 1929
social scientistphilosophersociologist
Oliver E. Williamson
Oliver E. Williamson
American economist (1932–2020)
1932 – 2020
university teachereconomist
Thomas A. Steitz
Thomas A. Steitz
American biochemist (1940–2018)
1940 – 2018
crystallographerbiophysicistmolecular biologist
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Laura Ingalls Wilder
American children's writer, diarist, and journalist (1867-1957)
1867 – 1957
autobiographerchildren's writernovelist
Herbert Spencer Gasser
Herbert Spencer Gasser
American physiologist (1888-1963)
1888 – 1963
physiologistuniversity teacherpsychologist
Don Ameche
Don Ameche
American actor (1908–1993)
1908 – 1993
television actorfilm actorfilm director
Clifford D. Simak
Clifford D. Simak
American writer, journalist (1904–1988)
1904 – 1988
prose writerscience fiction writernovelist
Chris Farley
American actor and comedian (1964–1997)
1964 – 1997
dancertelevision actorvoice actor
Nicholas Ray
Nicholas Ray
American film director (1911-1979)
1911 – 1979
directorfilm directorscreenwriter
Seymour Cray
Seymour Cray
Applied mathematician, computer scientist, and electrical engineer (1925–1996)
1925 – 1996
applied mathematicianelectrical engineerengineer
Ed Gein
Ed Gein
American murderer and human trophy collector (1906–1984)
1906 – 1984
artisanserial killer
Al Jarreau
Al Jarreau
American singer (1940–2017)
1940 – 2017
jazz musiciansocial workerpercussionist
Frederick Jackson Turner
Frederick Jackson Turner
American historian (1861-1932)
1861 – 1932
historianwriter
Lawrence Eagleburger
Lawrence Eagleburger
American statesman and diplomat (1930-2011)
1930 – 2011
foreign ministerdiplomatpolitician
Carrie Chapman Catt
Carrie Chapman Catt
American social reformer, suffragist (1859-1947)
1859 – 1947
feministwomen's rights activistsuffragist
Deke Slayton
Deke Slayton
American astronaut (1924–1993)
1924 – 1993
air force officerautobiographermilitary flight engineer
Liberace
Liberace
American pianist (1919–1987)
1919 – 1987
autobiographerfilm actortelevision actor
Walter Bradford Cannon
Walter Bradford Cannon
American physiologist (1871-1945)
1871 – 1945
non-fiction writerphysiologistuniversity teacher
Lewis Hine
Lewis Hine
American sociologist and photographer (1874–1940)
1874 – 1940
sociologistphotojournalistartist
William Rehnquist
William Rehnquist
chief justice of the United States from 1986 to 2005 (1924–2005)
1924 – 2005
historianpoliticianlawyer
King Camp Gillette
King Camp Gillette
American entrepreneur (1855–1932)
1855 – 1932
salespersoninventorentrepreneur
Vernor Vinge
Vernor Vinge
American mathematician, computer scientist, and science fiction writer (1944–2024)
1944 – 2024
science fiction writernovelistuniversity teacher
Joseph Losey
Joseph Losey
American filmmaker and theatre director (1909–1984)
1909 – 1984
film screenwriterproducerdirector
Virginia Satir
Virginia Satir
American psychotherapist & non-fiction author
1916 – 1988
family therapistsocial and health care assistantsocial worker
Aldrich Ames
Aldrich Ames
CIA analyst and Soviet spy (1941–2026)
1941 – 2026
spygovernment agentdouble agent
Roy Chapman Andrews
Roy Chapman Andrews
American explorer, naturalist, and writer (1884–1960)
1884 – 1960
explorerbotanical collectorpaleontologist
Alvin Kraenzlein
Alvin Kraenzlein
American athletics competitor (1876-1928)
1876 – 1928
sprinterathleteathletics competitor
Pontiac
Pontiac
Ottawa Indian leader (1720-1769)
1720 – 1769
politicianwar chieftraditional leader or chief
Ellen Corby
Ellen Corby
American actress (1911-1999)
1911 – 1999
film actortelevision actorstage actor
Nancy Olson
Nancy Olson
American actress
1928
film actortelevision actorstage actor
Woody Herman
Woody Herman
American jazz musician and bandleader (1913–1987)
1913 – 1987
saxophonistjazz musicianrecording artist
Robert M. La Follette
Robert M. La Follette
American progressive politician from Wisconsin (1855–1925)
1855 – 1925
juristgovernorpolitician
Carole Landis
Carole Landis
American actress (1919–1948)
1919 – 1948
film actordancerstage actor
Archie Hahn
Archie Hahn
German-American athlete
1880 – 1955
athletics competitorbasketball coachsprinter
Jim Abrahams
Jim Abrahams
American movie director and writer (1944–2024)
1944 – 2024
film screenwriterdirectorfilm producer
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Ella Wheeler Wilcox
American author and poet (1850–1919)
1850 – 1919
poetwriter
Helene Madison
Helene Madison
American swimmer
1913 – 1970
swimmer
Gaylord Nelson
Gaylord Nelson
American politician (1916–2005)
1916 – 2005
environmentalistjuristgovernor
Charles Dierkop
Charles Dierkop
American actor
1936 – 2024
television actorcomediansinger
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