List of people from Oak Park, Illinois explained

The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Oak Park, Illinois. For a similar list organized alphabetically by last name, see the category page People from Oak Park, Illinois.

Academics and sciences

• Lee Archambault (b. 1960), astronaut
• A. O. L. Atkin (1925–2008), mathematician
• Dmitri Borgmann (1927–1985), logologist
• Wallace Broecker (1931–2019), geochemist^[1]
• Jeannette Howard Foster (1895–1981), librarian and professor, born in Oak Park^[2]
• Emil Frei (1924–2014), oncologist
• Percy Julian (1899–1975), chemist
• Joseph Kerwin (b. 1932), astronaut
• Edith Merritt McKee (1918–2006), American geologist
• Vera Pless (1931–2020), mathematician^[3]
• Carl Rogers (1902–1987), psychologist, author and researcher
• Bruce Schneier (b. 1963), cryptographer
• John Robert Schrieffer (1931–2019), physicist
• John C. Slater (1900–1976), pioneer in quantum theory
• Susan Subak, environmental scientist and author ^[4]
• Chad Trujillo (b. 1973), astronomer
• Edward Wagenknecht (1900–2004), educator and author

Arts and culture

Architecture

• Thomas H. Beeby, architect
• Marion Mahony Griffin, architect
• Walter Burley Griffin, architect
• E.E. Roberts, architect
• Louis Sauer, architect
• John Van Bergen, architect
• Frank Lloyd Wright, architect and writer

Dance

• Heléne Alexopoulos, ballet dancer
• Doris Humphrey, choreographer and dancer

Illustrating

• Gene Ha, comic book artist
• Chris Ware, cartoonist
• Rick Yager, cartoonist

Painting and sculpture

• Leslie Erganian, painter
• Mary Agnes Yerkes, Impressionist painter

Photography

• Bruce Davidson, photographer
• Esther Henderson, photographer

Writing

• Yashar Ali, journalist
• Jacob M. Appel, author of Einstein's Beach House (lived in Oak Park, 1997–2004)^[5]
• Richard Bach, writer (Jonathan Livingston Seagull)
• Bruce Barton, author of best-selling book The Man Nobody Knows
• Edgar Rice Burroughs, author, creator of Tarzan and John Carter of Mars
• Kenneth Fearing, poet and author (The Big Clock)
• Jane Hamilton, author The Book of Ruth
• Ernest Hemingway, author (For Whom the Bell Tolls, The Old Man and the Sea)
• Leicester Hemingway, writer; younger brother of Ernest Hemingway
• Kara Jackson, poet, musician
• Tymoteusz Karpowicz, poet and playwright
• Agnes Newton Keith, writer
• E. E. Knight, writer
• John Frush Knox, memoirist
• Alex Kotlowitz, journalist and writer
• Steven Levitt, co-author of Freakonomics
• Claire Lombardo, author
• Charles MacArthur, journalist and film-writer
• Caroline Myss, author
• Edith Nash, writer
• Sandra Novack, author
• Jerry Saltz, art critic
• Carol Shields, author
• Charles Simic, fifteenth Poet Laureate of the United States
• Frances Hodges White, children's author
• William Wondriska, children's author and illustrator

Crime

• Armando Fosco, alleged member of the Chicago Outfit^[6]
• Sam Giancana, mafia crime boss
• Tony Spilotro, alleged mafia enforcer

Business

• Allan Cox, author and business leader
• James Dewar, baker; inventor of the Twinkie^[7]
• Donald F. Duncan, Sr., parking meter and Yo-yo manufacturer
• Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald's
• Richard Sears, founder of Sears, catalogue innovator
• Robert Wahl, two-time All-American and former president of Valmont Industries

Media

Acting and comedy

• William Bishop, actor
• Daws Butler, voice artist of animated characters including Yogi Bear, Huckleberry Hound
• Dan Castellaneta, actor and voice of cartoon character Homer Simpson
• Anna Chlumsky, actress (My Girl, Veep)^[8]
• Johnny Galecki, actor (The Big Bang Theory, Roseanne, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation)
• Mason Gamble, actor (Dennis the Menace, Rushmore)
• Kathy Griffin, actress and comedian
• Julie Haydon, actress
• Thomas Lennon, actor and screenwriter
• Ted Levine, actor (The Silence of the Lambs, Monk)
• Deanna Lund, actress (Land of the Giants)
• John Mahoney, actor (Eight Men Out, Frasier, )
• Sally Mansfield, actress (Rocky Jones, Space Ranger)
• Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, actress (Scarface, The Color of Money)
• Amy Morton, actress (Chicago P.D.)
• Lois Nettleton, actress
• Bob Newhart, comedian and actor (The Bob Newhart Show, Newhart)
• Kate Norby, actress (The Devil's Rejects)
• Busy Philipps, actress (Dawson's Creek)
• Cecily Strong, actress, comedian (Saturday Night Live)
• Judy Tenuta, comedian
• Betty White, actress (The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls)^[9]

Directing and producing

• John Avildsen, film director (Rocky, The Karate Kid)
• Steve James, documentary filmmaker^[10]
• David Loughery, film producer (Flashback, Lakeview Terrace)
• George Schaefer, television director (Hallmark Hall of Fame)
• John Sturges, filmmaker (The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape)

Journalism

• Tavi Gevinson, fashion blogger^[11]
• Peter Sagal, host of NPR's Wait Wait… Don't Tell Me!
• Gene Sherman, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter
• Alfred Henry Spink, founder of The Sporting News, lived and died in Oak Park
• Hannah Storm, television personality and sportscaster
• Dorothy Thompson, journalist
• Marjorie Vincent, 1991 Miss America, journalist

Military

• William J. Cullerton, flying ace during World War II, host of Great Outdoors on WGN Radio until 1999^[12]
• Milo Smith Hascall, Union general in the Civil War

Music

• Matt B, singer-songwriter
• Lane Brody, musician
• Jon Deak, bassist and composer with the New York Philharmonic
• Billy "The Kid" Emerson, R&B and rock 'n' roll singer
• Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger of the indie rock band The Fiery Furnaces
• GAWNE, rapper, singer, and songwriter
• Bud Herseth, principal trumpet with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; charter member Trumpet Hall of Fame
• Mia Joy, American indie rock musician
• Ludacris, rapper; attended Emerson Junior High School in Oak Park^[13]
• Marc Okubo, guitarist of heavy metal band Veil of Maya
• Martin Pearlman, classical musician and composer
• Landon Pigg, singer-songwriter
• Felix Wurman, classical cellist and composer^[14]

Politics and law

• Theresa Amato, Nader 2000 and Nader 2004 national presidential campaign manager^[15]
• Henry W. Austin, Illinois state legislator and businessman^[16]
• David Axelrod, political strategist and former White House official
• Ralph H. Barger, Illinois state legislator^[17]
• Bruce Barton, author and advertising pioneer; congressman from New York (1937–1940)
• Redd Griffin, Illinois state legislator (1980–1982)^[18]
• John Frush Knox, clerk to United States Supreme Court Justice James Clark McReynolds; memoirist
• Mary Miller, United States Representative of Illinois's 15th congressional district
• Eric D. Miller, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Dick Murphy, 33rd mayor of San Diego
• Pat Quinn, 41st Governor of Illinois
• Phil Radford, environmental activist; Executive Director of Greenpeace USA; raised in Oak Park^[19]
• Leland Rayson, Illinois state legislator and lawyer^[20]
• Walter J. Reum, Illinois state legislator and lawyer^[21]
• Gerald W. Shea, Illinois state legislator^[22]
• John D. Tomlinson, Minnesota state legislator and businessman^[23]
• Greg Zito, Illinois state legislator^[24]

Religion

• William Eugene Blackstone, 19th-century evangelical Christian and Zionist; lived in Oak Park
• Edward Egan, retired Roman Catholic Cardinal Archbishop of the Diocese of New York [City]
• Louis Francescon, missionary and pioneer of the Italian Pentecostal Movement; lived and died in Oak Park
• Andrew Greeley, Catholic priest and author; born in Oak Park (1928)

Sports

Baseball

• Dick Bertell, catcher for Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants
• Art Bramhall, third baseman for Philadelphia Phillies
• Shirley Danz, outfielder with All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
• Jim Dorsey, pitcher for California Angels and Boston Red Sox
• Tony Fiore, pitcher for Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Minnesota Twins
• Justin Huisman, relief pitcher for Kansas City Royals
• Sean Lawrence, pitcher for Pittsburgh Pirates
• Lee Pfund, pitcher for Brooklyn Dodgers
• Johnny Rigney, pitcher and general manager for the Chicago White Sox
• Brian Schlitter, pitcher for Chicago Cubs
• John Sevcik, catcher for Minnesota Twins
• Ben Shelton, outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates
• Marv Staehle, second baseman for Chicago White Sox, Montréal Expos and Atlanta Braves
• Craig Stimac, catcher for San Diego Padres
• Bill Stoneman, pitcher for California Angels, Chicago Cubs and Montreal Expos, general manager of Angels
• Joe Tinker, Hall of Fame shortstop for Chicago Orphans/Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Chi-Feds/Whales
• Mike York, pitcher for Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians

Basketball

• Ashraf Amaya, forward for the Washington Bullets, Vancouver Grizzlies, and several international teams
• Gabe Levin (born 1994), American-Israeli basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
• Corey Maggette, small forward and shooting guard for five NBA teams
• Jimmy Rodgers, head coach, Minnesota Timberwolves, Boston Celtics
• Iman Shumpert, guard for the 2016 NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers^[25]
• Evan Turner, guard and small forward for the Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Portland Trail Blazers^[26]
• Norm Van Lier, point guard for the Chicago Bulls; sports radio personality

Football

• Andy Frederick, offensive lineman, played for Super Bowl championship teams of Chicago Bears
• Eric Kumerow, linebacker for the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys
• Johnny Lattner, halfback for Notre Dame Fighting Irish football, 1953 Heisman Trophy winner
• Milt McColl, linebacker for San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Raiders
• Mike Shanahan, head coach for the Los Angeles Raiders, Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins; three-time Super Bowl winner
• Marques Sullivan, NFL offensive lineman with the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and New England Patriots
• George Trafton, Hall of Fame center for the Chicago Bears
• Bob Zuppke, head football coach, University of Illinois

Ice hockey

• Joe Corvo, defenseman for several NHL teams

Ice skating

• Emery Lehman (born 1996), Olympic speed skater

Rowing

• Carol Feeney, Olympic rower; silver medalist^[27]

Wrestling

• Ellis Coleman, Olympic wrestler; alumnus of Oak Park and River Forest High School

Cathy Kelley American journalist, television host, model and actress currently signed to WWE, working as a backstage interviewer on the SmackDown brand.

Joseph Ariola (born June 9, 1995) is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the NXT brand under the ring name Tony D'Angelo. He is the leader of The D'Angelo Family stable as "The Don of NXT", and is a former two-time NXT Tag Team Champion and a one-time NXT Heritage Cup champion.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Oral History Transcript — Dr. Wallace Broecker. www.aip.org. American Institute of Physics. 10 June 2014.
2. Web site: Gay and Lesbian Movement aka: LGBT Movement . Alan F. Hickman . www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net . The Central Arkansas Library System . December 31, 2015.
3. Web site: Vera Pless. Chicago Tribune. March 4, 2020. March 5, 2020.
4. Web site: Bridge. Nick. 2019-09-17. How to live a 5-ton life. 2021-08-15. Oak Park. en-US.
5. Phoning Home: Essays, University of South Carolina Press, 2014
6. Web site: Federal Bureau of Investigation files on Ross Prio . 2015-01-20.
7. Web site: Biemer . John . Delicious discovery: Mr. Twinkie slept here . Chicago Tribune . 10 March 2021.
8. News: Anna Chlumsky: Act II, Local child star decides to give acting a grown-up try . Laura . Stuart . January 4, 2005 . February 11, 2021 . . Oak Park, Illinois . October 31, 2021 .
9. Web site: Golden Girls star Betty White dies aged 99 . the Guardian . 31 December 2021 . en . 31 December 2021.
10. News: 'Hoop Dreams' filmmaker producing doc about race, achievement at OPRF . Terry . Dean . Oak Leaves . May 22, 2015 . Chicago Tribune . October 31, 2021 . Filmmaker and Oak Park resident Steve James, who produced 1994's "Hoop Dreams" and 2012's "The Interrupters," .
11. News: Schulman. Michael. The Oracle of Girl World. 10 June 2014. The New York Times. July 29, 2012. July 29, 2012.
12. News: Graydon . Megan . William Cullerton, 1923-2013 WWII pilot, entrepreneur, radio host and well-known outdoorsman championed conservation. . 2013-01-16 . 2013-01-25.
13. News: Anonymous. Ludacris revels in holiday spirit. 3 July 2013. Chicago Tribune. November 9, 2007.
14. Web site: Lotus . Jean . Albuquerque cellists honor late Oak Park native Felix Wurman . Oak Park . November 2014 . Wednesday Journal of Oak Park and River Forrest . 10 March 2021.
15. Web site: Nader in Oak Park . 11 February 2021 .
16. 'Illinois Blue Book 1921-1922,' Biographical Sketch of Henry W. Austin, pg. 156-157
17. 'Illinois Blue Book 1989-1990,' Biographical Sketch of Ralph H. Barger, pg. 82
18. News: Remembering Redd. 2012-11-20. Wednesday Journal. 2012-11-26. Ken Trainor.
19. Web site: . Oak Park and River Forest High School Tradition of Excellence Past Award Recipients . 2013-07-19.
20. 'Illinois Blue Book 1975-1976,' Biographical Sketch of Leland Rayson, pg. 88
21. 'Illinois Blue Book 1961-1962,' Biographical Sketch of Walter J. Reum, pg. 236-237
22. Valiukenas. Barb. Gerald W. Shea. Illinois Issues. Springfield, Illinois. Sangamon State University. 2. 6. 8. June 1976. August 10, 2017.
23. https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=10668 Minnesota Legislators: Past & Present-John D. Tomlinson
24. 'Illinois Blue Book 1989-1990,' Biographical Sketch of Greg Zito, pg. 89
25. News: Just like old times for Turner and Shumpert . Chicago Tribune . Shannon . Ryan . 2010-03-21.
26. Web site: Evan Turner | Philadelphia 76ers . .
27. Web site: Olympedia – Carol Feeney . www.olympedia.org . 31 December 2021.