21 Most Famous Illinoisans That Will Inspire You To Achieve More

Every so often, some people achieve such great heights that not just their name, but even their place of birth is remembered about them.

Located at a distance of 796 mi (1,281 km) from New York City as well as North Carolina, along the Mississippi River, Chicago is the biggest city in Illinois.

The state is home to famous personalities who have achieved great feats at the United Nations, in the Olympic Games, in the Civil War as well as during World War I or World War II.

The state of Illinois, in the US, whose capital city is Springfield, has given the world some of its most prominent and renowned figures. Let's dig deeper into their lives and their contributions.

Located in the United States’ mid-western region, Illinois is well-known for many things, including having America’s largest tower, the Sears Tower; and for generating the highest amount of nuclear energy in America. This is also where McDonald’s was first built, in Des Plaines, to be more specific.

Moreover, Illinois became the first state to endorse and validate the United State’s 13th Amendment for abolishing slavery, in the year 1865. Here is something for you Twinkies lovers: the snack was first devised in the year 1930 at River Forest, Illinois.

Also sometimes called the Prairie State, Illinois is home to plenty of famous personalities in almost all fields, be it some of the world’s great leaders or sportspersons.

Other prominent names include from Nashville, William E. Borah (public official); from Chicago, Dorothy Hamill (ice skater); from Chicago, George E. Hale (astronomer); from Chicago, Thunder Chris Chelios (assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder); from Cullom, Jack Benny (comedian); from Chicago, Black Hawk Sauk (Indian chief); from Chicago, John Gunther (author); from Chicago, John Dos Passos (author); from Chicago, James T. Farrell (author), from Chicago, William S. Paley (broadcasting executive); and from Chicago, Robert A. Millikan (physicist).

Without further ado, let's dwell in the world of Illinoisans. Afterward, also check out facts on famous gates and famous girls in history.

Famous Leaders From Illinois

Here are names of some of the most famous leaders from Illinois.

Abraham Lincoln: The 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was a revolutionary leader and American lawyer from Sinking Spring Farm, Hodgenville, Kentucky, and was closely associated with the state of Illinois. Among his most stellar revolutions were leading the country during the American Civil War, prohibiting slavery, and also streamlining the nation’s economy.

He also served in the Black Hawk War.

Further, Lincoln achieved this even when he had no professional education as he was self-educated; he learned from traveling teachers.

Other than being the president, Abraham Lincoln also held other offices including being a representative of the seventh state of Illinois in the US House of Representatives and being a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from Sangamon County.

Lincoln, in the year 1832, served as a volunteer in the Black Hawk War but he did not face any combat.

Illinois is called ‘the Land of Lincoln’ because Lincoln resided in the state for 31 years. His home and his tomb in Springfield are open to visitors. Lincoln’s love for Illinois was immense; to quote him, 'Illinois surpasses every other spot of equal extent upon the face of the globe in fertility of soil…'.

Stephen Arnold Douglas: Born in Vermont, Stephen or Senator Stephen (1813-1861) was a well-known American politician and lawyer from Illinois. He held the office of Illinois US Senator from March 4, 1847–June 3, 1861.

He was also a nominee for the Democratic Party for the 1860 presidential election. He was a member of the US House of Representatives from Illinois’s fifth district. Among these offices, he also held the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois.

Senator Stephen played a momentous role in advocating for popular sovereignty and was known by his nickname of ‘Little Giant’ for he was short in height but brought strong opinions to the table in politics.

William Jennings Bryan: Born in Illinois, William (1860-1925) is most famously known for his role as the 41st United States Secretary of State. Further, he also ran for presidential elections three times: 1896, 1900, and 1908, as a part of the Democratic Party. Jennings served as the member of the US House of Representatives in Nebraska’s 1st District.

A famed orator and secretary under President Woodrow Wilson, he was known by several nicknames including Boy Orator of the Platte, The Fundamentalist Pope, The Great Commoner, and The Silver Knight of the West.

George Rogers Clark: Born in Albemarle, Colony of Virginia, George Rogers (1752-1818), served as a Brigadier General from the Illinois Regiment, Virginia State Forces Unit. He is most famously known for his work in Kaskaskia (1778) and Vincennes (1779) during the Illinois Campaign.

Other notable names include from Chicago, President Barack Obama; and from Chicago, Hillary Clinton (wife of President Bill Clinton and First Lady elected to the United States Senate).

Famous Illinoisans In Sports

Mentioned below are names of the most famous Illinoisans in sports.

Dwayne Wade: Born in Chicago, Illinois, Dwayne Wade (1982-Present) needs no introduction for basketball fans but for the rest of us, he is a former professional basketball player who played for the Miami Heat for 16 years. He is a multi NBA Championship winner and has won the NBA All-Star games 13 times.

Dwayne has claimed his seat on the All-NBA Team eight times and on the All-Defensive Team three times.

In the year 2006, he was also considered the NBA Finals MVP. He is known as his generation’s most spirited and is among the best guards in the game.

Richard Marvin Butkus: Born in 1942, Chicago, Illinois, Richard Butkus played football for the Chicago Bears, where his career spanned from 1965-1973, as a linebacker. He is also a sports commentator and an actor.

During the whole duration of playing football, he was asked to come to a total of eight Super Bowls, an all-star game for the National Football League. Richard was also bestowed upon the All-Pro six times and was also recognized as the National Football League's Defensive Player of the Year.

Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee: Born in 1962 in Illinois, Jacqueline is among Illinois' famous people. A track and field heptathlete, she has won several Olympic medals, including three gold, one silver, and two bronze.

Jacqueline is a renowned personality, so much so that, a bi-monthly sports magazine, Sports Illustrated for Women, declared Jacqueline the Greatest Female Athlete of All Time. She is also among athletes who overcame asthma. That’s not it for our wonder women: she is also an advocate for the rights of women and equality of racially discriminated people.

Famous Authors From Illinois

Here are some of the most famous authors from Illinois.

Ray Bradbury: Born in Waukegan, Illinois, Ray Bradbury (1920-2012) was an eminent author and screenwriter. His work was diverse and yet shared one same quality: all of his writing was legendary; he was the 20th century's most distinguished writer.

Among his best novels was ‘Fahrenheit 451’ published in 1953. Additionally, he also wrote short stories, and The Martian Chronicles (1950) and The Illustrated Man (1951), were the greatest among them all.

He was the recipient of many prominent awards. NASA named the place where NASA's curiosity rover landed as ‘Bradbury Landing’ on Mars; further, Columbia College Chicago also bestowed an Honorary Doctorate upon him.

Sandra Cisneros: Born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1954, Sandra made her way into an elite club after the publication of her book 'The House on Mango Street' (1983). Her book of short stories titled, ‘Women Hollering Creek and Other Stories',  published in 1991, also elevated her popularity.

Her work depicts cultural hybridity and she takes up issues about inequality in her texts. Sandra has received numerous awards.

Paul Findley: Born in Jacksonville, Illinois, Paul Findley (1921-2019), was great at both writing and in the political field. As a politician, Paul held the office of State Representative from Illinois' 20th district.

He is among Illinois’ famous people. He co-authored a book titled, 'War Powers Act' published in 1973. Findley stood with the advent of civil rights and against America’s move to go to war in Vietnam.

Famous Singers From Illinois

Mentioned below are names of famous singers from Illinois.

Juice WRLD: Born in Chicago, Illinois, Jared Anthony Higgins (1998-2019), his birth name, was a famed rapper and singer. He played a significant role in the evolution and expansion of emo-rap and mumble rap.

The reason he took the name Juice is because of the 1992 movie 'Juice'. The song that brought him to the forefront is ‘Lucid Dreams’, a single that was released in the year 2018 and stood at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

Among the many awards and nominations that he received are the American Music Award for Favorite Male Artist - Hip-Hop in 2020, the Billboard Music Award for Top New Artist in 2019, and the iHeartRadio Music Award for ‘Death Race for Love' in the category of Best Hip-Hop Album in 2020. Jared died in 2019.

Quincy Delight Jones Jr.: Born in 1933 in Chicago, Illinois, Quincy Jones remains a celebrated music composer and musician. He made history when he and his colleague Bob Russell came to be known as the first African-Americans to have been nominated for the Academy Award for their song ‘The Eyes of Love' in the category of Best Original Song.

Also a record producer, Jones was responsible for the production of three Michael Jackson albums: 'Off the Wall' (1979), 'Thriller' (1982), and 'Bad' (1987).

Further, by being the director of music and conductor in 1971 for the Academy Awards, he was the first African-American to achieve this feat.

Additionally, he was the first African-American to receive the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ (APMAS) award titled the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. His song, 'We Are the World', was produced to raise funds for people affected by famine in Ethiopia.

He was nominated for an astounding 80 Grammy nominations, won 28 Grammys, and won the prestigious Grammy Living Legend Award in the year 1992.

Eddie Vedder: Born in Evanston, Illinois, in the year 1964, Eddie is admired for his baritone vocals. He came to be recognized on a wide scale as the lead vocalist and also a guitarist for Pearl Jam, a rock band.

'Rolling Stone', an American monthly magazine, brought to light the poll results that they undertook, revealing that Eddie Vedder was in the seventh spot in the category of Best Lead Singers of All Time. He was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

Famous Dancers From Illinois

Here are some top dancers from Illinois who have made their mark in the world.

Bob Fosse: Born in Chicago, Illinois, Bob Fosse (1927-1987) was a well-known dancer and choreographer. Some of the most famous musical works that he choreographed include 'The Pajama Game' (1954), 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' (1961), 'Sweet Charity' (1966), and 'Pippin' (1972).

He is the only one who has received the three most prestigious awards in the world in a single year. In 1973, he won an Oscar, an Emmy and a Tony.

Not only that, Bob Fosse’s art form was so incredible that he was nominated four times for Academy Awards. He won the Best Director award for his creativity in 'Cabaret'.

Harriet 'Quicksand' Browne: Born in Chicago, Illinois, Harriet Browne (1932-1997) began to be widely admired for her amazing skills in tap dancing and choreography. Browne’s extraordinary innovation in sand dancing earned her widespread recognition.

She was part of the band of Cabell 'Cab' Calloway in the mid-20th century. She taught dance at several places including the Bronx Dancing Theater.

Further, the International Women in Jazz called her one of the 'great dancing ladies of Harlem'. The American Tap Dance Foundation's International Tap Dance Hall of Fame contains Browne’s name as well.

Ann Carlson: Born in Park Ridge, Illinois, Ann Carlson was born in the year 1954 and is popular as a dancer and choreographer. Her performances shed light on some social issues.

In her career, she has been to plenty of places throughout the US. Among her many awards are the New York Dance and Performance Award, conferred to her in the year 1998, and the American Dance Festival Award which was given to her in the year 1988.

Famous Actors From Illinois

Here are some of the most famous actors from Illinois.

Robin McLaurin Williams: Born in Chicago, Illinois, Robin Williams (1951-2014) was an acclaimed and worldwide famous actor and comedian from America. The American sitcom ‘Mork & Mindy’ brought Williams to fame.

His movies where he played the lead role became blockbusters, and are still among the industry's best movies.

Some of these movies include 'The World According to Garp' (1982), 'Moscow on the Hudson' (1984), 'Good Morning, Vietnam' (1987), 'Dead Poets Society' (1989), 'The Fisher King' (1991), 'Patch Adams' (1998), 'One Hour Photo' (2002), 'World's Greatest Dad' (2009), 'Aladdin' (1992), 'Mrs. Doubtfire' (1993), 'Jumanji' (1995), 'The Birdcage' (1996), and 'Good Will Hunting' (1997), among others.

He has been nominated for multiple Academy Awards and won the Best Supporting Actor for 'Good Will Hunting' (1997). Further, the Primetime Emmy Awards were bestowed upon him two times; he also received six Golden Globe Awards. Additionally, Williams was awarded Screen Actors Guild Awards and a total of five Grammy Awards. He was, indeed, among Illinois famous people.

Michael Clarke Duncan: Born in Chicago, Illinois, Michael Duncan (1957-2012) made a breakthrough with his outstanding performance in the film 'The Green Mile' (1999).

Another movie that was successful and is watched around the world includes 'Daredevil' (2003), wherein he depicted the role of Kingpin. He had a role in 'Spider-Man: The New Animated Series' (2003).

For giving an outstanding performance in 'The Green Mile', Duncan was nominated in the category of Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards and also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture.

Melissa Ann McCarthy: Born in Plainfield, Illinois, Melissa McCarthy (1970) is prominent as an actor, producer, and comedian. She first gained widespread popularity with her role as Sookie St. James on the comedy-television TV Series, 'Gilmore Girls' (2000-2007).

Several honors have been bestowed upon her such as two Primetime Emmy Awards; she was also nominated for Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards, both two times.

The New York Times gave her the 22nd position among the 25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century. McCarthy is also a writer and fashion designer.

Other notable Illinoisans include the following: from Chicago, Clyde W. Tombaugh (astronomer); from Chicago, Homer Z. Martin (inventor); from DeKalb, Richard J. Daley (mayor); from Quincy, Arnold O. Beckman (inventor); from Geneva, John Chancellor (TV commentator); and from Oak Park, John M. Harlan (jurist).

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 21 most famous Illinoisians that will inspire you to achieve more then why not take a look at awe-spiring facts about planet Mercury or 17 famous gates around the world.