List of entertainers who have lived in or near Chicago
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The following is a list of entertainers (not including athletes) who have lived in or near Chicago.
Notable actors and TV personalities[edit]
- Claude Akins (attended Northwestern University)
- Joan Allen (grew up in Rochelle, Illinois, worked with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company)
- Morey Amsterdam (born and raised in Chicago)
- Gillian Anderson (born in Chicago but raised in UK and Michigan, attended DePaul University)
- Kevin Anderson (attended DePaul University)
- Ann-Margret (grew up in Fox Lake and Wilmette, Illinois)
- Alan Arkin (a founding member of The Second City)
- Patricia Arquette (born in Chicago)
- Edward Asner (attended University of Chicago)
- Barbara Bain (born and raised in Chicago, attended University of Illinois)
- Adam Baldwin (grew up in Winnetka, Illinois)
- Jennifer Beals (grew up on south side of Chicago)
- Warren Beatty (attended Northwestern University)
- Ralph Bellamy (attended New Trier High School)
- James Belushi (aka Jim Belushi, grew up in Wheaton, Illinois)
- John Belushi (grew up in Wheaton, Illinois)
- Richard Benjamin (attended Northwestern University)
- Jack Benny (grew up in Waukegan, Illinois)
- Tom Berenger (attended Rich East High School)
- Shelley Berman (born in Chicago, worked with Compass Players)
- Ken Berry (grew up in Moline, Illinois)
- Craig Bierko (attended Northwestern University)
- Karen Black (grew up in Park Ridge, Illinois)
- Tempestt Bledsoe (born in Chicago)
- Michael Boatman (attended Thornton Township High School)
- Tom Bosley (attended DePaul University)
- Bruce Boxleitner (grew up in Mount Prospect, Illinois)
- Lara Flynn Boyle (attended Chicago Academy of Arts)
- Peter Boyle (Second City alum)
- Zach Braff (attended Northwestern University)
- Andre Braugher (attended St. Ignatius Prep)
- Avery Brooks (grew up in Gary, Indiana, attended Northwestern University)
- Philip Brooks, also known as CM Punk, a professional wrestler
- Dick Butkus (attended Chicago Vocational High School)
- Frank Caliendo (born in Chicago but raised in Wisconsin)
- Billy Campbell (played rugby for Chicago Lions)
- Steve Carell (Second City alum)
- Dan Castellaneta (attended Oak Park and River Forest High School, Second City alum)
- Kyle Chandler (lived in Chicago as a boy)
- Anna Chlumsky (attended Walther Lutheran High School, University of Chicago)
- David Clennon (born in Waukegan, Illinois)
- Stephen Colbert (Second City alum)
- Gary Cole (attended Rolling Meadows High School)
- Nat King Cole (grew up in Chicago)
- Robert Conrad (attended Northwestern University)
- Sam Cooke (grew up in Chicago)
- Cindy Crawford (grew up in DeKalb, Illinois, attended Northwestern University)
- Jane Curtin (attended Northwestern University)
- Joan Cusack (grew up in Evanston, Illinois)
- John Cusack (grew up in Evanston, Illinois)
- Bill Daily (attended Lane Tech and Goodman School of Drama)
- William Daniels (attended Northwestern University)
- Bruce Dern (attended New Trier High School)
- Zooey Deschanel (briefly attended Northwestern University)
- Andy Dick (grew up in Joliet, Illinois)
- Melinda Dillon (attended Hyde Park High School)
- Walt Disney (born Tripp Avenue in Chicago's Hermosa community area)
- Rachel Dratch (Second City alum)
- Tom Dreesen (grew up in Harvey, Illinois)
- Alex Dreier (Chicago television journalist, TV and film actor)
- Dennis Dugan (grew up in Wheaton, Illinois)
- Michael Clarke Duncan (grew up in Chicago)
- Kevin Dunn (grew up in Chicago)
- Nora Dunn (grew up in Chicago)
- Christine Ebersole (attended New Trier High School)
- Kathryn Erbe (worked with Steppenwolf Theatre Company)
- Leslie Erganian (born in Oak Park, grew up in Palatine, attended William Fremd High School)
- Dennis Farina (former Chicago police officer)
- Chris Farley (lived in the John Hancock Center)
- Tina Fey (Second City alum)
- Calista Flockhart (born in Freeport, Illinois)
- Neil Flynn (born on South Side of Chicago, lived in Waukegan)
- Jennifer Crystal Foley (attended Northwestern University)
- Miss Foozie
- Harrison Ford (attended Maine East High School)
- Bob Fosse (born in Chicago)
- Redd Foxx (born in Chicago)
- Dennis Franz (grew up in Maywood, Illinois)
- Johnny Galecki (grew up in Oak Park, Illinois)
- Mason Gamble (attended Oak Park and River Forest High School)
- Jeff Garlin (grew up in Chicago, was once roommates with Conan O'Brien in Chicago)
- Ana Gasteyer (attended Northwestern University)
- Mitzi Gaynor (born in Chicago)
- Jason Gedrick (born in Chicago)
- Jami Gertz (attended Maine East High School)
- Marla Gibbs (attended Wendell Phillips Academy High School)
- Arlene Golonka (attended Goodman School of Drama)
- Judy Greer (attended DePaul University)
- Kathy Griffin (grew up in Oak Park, Illinois)
- Mary Gross (Second City alum)
- Michael Gross (grew up on North Side)
- Bryant Gumbel (attended De La Salle Institute)
- Mamie Gummer (attended Northwestern University)
- Molly Hagan (attended Northwestern University)
- Jean Hagen (attended Northwestern University)
- Barbara Hale (grew up in DeKalb, Illinois, attended Chicago Academy of Fine Arts)
- Brad Hall (attended Northwestern University)
- Daryl Hannah (grew up in Long Grove, Illinois)
- Jessica Harper (attended North Shore Country Day School)
- Barbara Harris (born in Evanston, Second City alum)
- Steve Harris (attended St. Joseph High School, Northern Illinois University)
- David Hasselhoff (attended Lyons Township High School)
- Reggie Hayes (grew up in Chicago)
- Sean Hayes (grew up in Glen Ellyn, Illinois)
- Glenne Headly (worked with Steppenwolf Theatre Company)
- Marg Helgenberger (attended Northwestern University)
- Marilu Henner (grew up in Chicago, attended University of Chicago)
- Charlton Heston (born in Evanston and grew up in Wilmette, Illinois)
- Celeste Holm (attended University of Chicago)
- Terrence Howard (born in Chicago)
- Jennifer Hudson (born and raised in Chicago, attended Dunbar High School)
- Rock Hudson (grew up in Winnetka, Illinois)
- Bonnie Hunt (Second City alum, grew up in Chicago)
- Linda Hunt (attended Goodman School of Drama)
- Jeffrey Hunter (attended Northwestern University)
- Martha Hyer (attended Northwestern University)
- Laura Innes (attended Northwestern University, worked in Chicago theater)
- Richard Jenkins (born and raised in DeKalb, Illinois)
- Jennifer Jones (attended Northwestern University)
- Jenny Jones (taped her TV show in Chicago)
- Alex Karras (born and raised in Gary, Indiana)
- Stacy Keach (attended Northwestern University)
- Richard Kiley (attended Mt. Carmel High School, Loyola University)
- Richard Kind (Second City alum)
- Terry Kinney (co-founder of Steppenwolf)
- Robert Klein (Second City alum)
- Harvey Korman (born in Chicago, attended Goodman School of Drama)
- Karyn Kupcinet (daughter of Chicago columnist Irv Kupcinet)
- Cloris Leachman (attended Northwestern University)
- John Lehr (attended Northwestern University)
- Tracy Letts (worked with Steppenwolf Theatre Company)
- Shelley Long (Second City alum)
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus (attended Northwestern University, was improv performer at ETC on Howard Street)
- Jane Lynch (grew up in Dolton, Illinois)
- Paul Lynde (attended Northwestern University)
- Bernie Mac (grew up in Chicago, attended Chicago Vocational High School)
- Fred MacMurray (born in Chicago)
- Amy Madigan (grew up in Chicago)
- Michael Madsen (grew up in Evanston)
- Virginia Madsen (attended New Trier High School)
- John Mahoney (lived in Chicago and Oak Park, Illinois)
- Karl Malden (born in Chicago, raised in Gary, Indiana, graduate of Chicago Art Institute)
- John Malkovich (co-founded the Steppenwolf Theatre Company)
- Dorothy Malone (born in Chicago)
- Joe Mantegna (born in Chicago, grew up in Cicero, Illinois, worked with the Organic Theatre Company in Chicago)
- Kenneth Mars (born in Chicago, attended Northwestern University)
- Garry Marshall (attended Northwestern University)
- Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (born in Lombard, Illinois, raised in Oak Park)
- Greg Mathis (aka Judge Mathis, whose TV show is taped in Chicago)
- Marlee Matlin (attended high school in Arlington Heights, Illinois)
- Elaine May (attended University of Chicago)
- Chi McBride (born and raised in Chicago)
- Jenny McCarthy (born in Evergreen Park, Illinois, attended Mother McAuley)
- Melissa McCarthy (grew up in Plainfield, Illinois, attended Joliet Catholic)
- Frances McDormand (born in Chicago)
- Elizabeth McGovern (born in Evanston, Illinois)
- Tim Meadows (Second City alum)
- Ralph Meeker (attended Northwestern University)
- Laurie Metcalf (began her career as a cast member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company)
- Seth Meyers (attended Northwestern University)
- Donna Mills (attended Taft High School)
- Cindy Morgan (born in Chicago, attended Northern Illinois University)
- Jennifer Morrison (raised in Arlington Heights, Illinois, attended Loyola University)
- Martin Mull (born in Chicago)
- Megan Mullally (worked in Chicago theater after leaving Northwestern University)
- Dermot Mulroney (attended Northwestern University)
- Bill Murray (grew up in Wilmette, Illinois)
- Brian Doyle-Murray (grew up in Wilmette, Illinois)
- Ajay Naidu (grew up in Evanston, Illinois)
- Patricia Neal (attended Northwestern University)
- Lois Nettleton (born in Oak Park, Illinois)
- Bob Newhart (grew up in Oak Park, Illinois, attended Loyola University)
- Marisol Nichols (grew up in Naperville, Illinois)
- Mike Nichols (attended University of Chicago)
- Kim Novak (born in Chicago, attended Farragut High School)
- Conan O'Brien (lived in Wrigleyville in the summer of 1988)
- Bob Odenkirk (grew up in Naperville, Illinois)
- Donald O'Connor (born in Chicago, raised in downstate Danville)
- Kevin J. O'Connor (attended Goodman School of Drama)
- Chris O'Donnell (grew up in Winnetka, Illinois)
- Nick Offerman (grew up in Minooka, Illinois)
- Gail O'Grady (attended Wheaton North High School)
- James Olson (attended Northwestern University)
- Jerry Orbach (attended Waukegan High School)
- David Otunga (professional wrestler, grew up in Elgin, Illinois)
- Geraldine Page (attended Goodman School of Drama)
- Betsy Palmer (born in East Chicago, Indiana, graduate of DePaul University)
- Larry Parks (attended Joliet Central High School)
- Mandy Patinkin (grew up in Chicago)
- Adam Pearce (aka "Scrap Iron" Pearce, pro wrestler; grew up in Waukegan, trained in Chicago)
- Michael Pena (attended Hubbard High School)
- Elizabeth Perkins (attended Goodman School of Drama)
- William Petersen (grew up in Evanston, Illinois)
- Jeremy Piven (grew up in Evanston, Illinois)
- Amy Poehler (worked with Tina Fey in Chicago, still with Upright Citizens Brigade, which moved to New York in 1996)
- Paula Prentiss (attended Northwestern University)
- Ray Pritchett actor, born and raised in Chicago
- Aidan Quinn (grew up in Chicago and Rockford, Illinois)
- Charlotte Rae (attended Northwestern University)
- Harold Ramis (grew up in Chicago, attended Senn High School)
- Tony Randall (attended Northwestern University)
- Nancy Davis Reagan (attended The Latin School of Chicago)
- Ronald Reagan (grew up in Dixon, Illinois)
- Robert Reed (born in Highland Park, Illinois)
- Daphne Maxwell Reid (attended Northwestern University)
- John C. Reilly (attended Brother Rice High School, DePaul University)
- Denise Richards (grew up in Downers Grove, Illinois)
- Andy Richter (grew up in Yorkville, Illinois; worked with several improv groups in Chicago)
- Joan Rivers (performed briefly with Second City)
- Craig Robinson (attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School)
- Jason Robards (born in Chicago)
- Freddy Rodriguez (attended Lincoln Park High School)
- Michael Rooker (attended Goodman School of Drama)
- Jeri Ryan (attended Northwestern University)
- Robert Ryan (born in Chicago)
- Susan Saint James (attended academy in Lake Forest, Illinois)
- Pat Sajak (grew up in Chicago, attended Farragut High School)
- Fred Savage (lived in Glencoe, Illinois)
- Randy Savage (grew up in Downers Grove, Illinois)
- David Schwimmer (co-founded the Lookingglass Theatre Company)
- Amy Sedaris (Second City alum)
- Michael Shannon (attended New Trier High School)
- Casey Siemaszko (grew up in Chicago)
- Nina Siemaszko (grew up in Chicago)
- Gary Sinise (grew up in Highland Park, Illinois, co-founded Steppenwolf Theatre Company)
- Carrie Snodgress (attended Maine East High School)
- Jerry Springer (attended Northwestern University, TV show is taped in Chicago)
- Fisher Stevens (born in Chicago)
- Michael Stoyanov (Second City alum)
- Gloria Swanson (attended Hawthorne Scholastic Academy)
- Mr. T (grew up in Robert Taylor Homes, attended Dunbar High, later lived in Lake Forest, Illinois)
- Lili Taylor (attended New Trier High School, DePaul University)
- Lynne Thigpen (grew up in Joliet, Illinois)
- Robert Townsend (born in Chicago, studied at Second City)
- Robin Tunney (grew up in Orland Park, Illinois)
Dick van Dyke - Danville
- Vince Vaughn (grew up in Buffalo Grove and Lake Forest, Illinois)
- Ken Wahl (attended Bremen High School)
- Ted Wass (attended Goodman School of Drama)
- Melora Walters (attended Lake Forest Academy)
- Sam Wanamaker (attended Goodman School of Drama)
- Dinah Washington (grew up in Chicago)
- Fritz Weaver (attended University of Chicago)
- Stephnie Weir (Second City alum)
- Michael T. Weiss (grew up in Northbrook, Illinois)
- Raquel Welch (born in Chicago)
- Orson Welles (lived in Highland Park, Illinois, attended school in Woodstock, Illinois)
- George Wendt (grew up in Chicago)
- Richard Widmark (attended Lake Forest College)
- Fred Willard (Second City alum)
- Kimberly Williams-Paisley (attended Northwestern University)
- Fred Williamson (grew up in Gary, Indiana, attended Northwestern University)
- Rainn Wilson (attended New Trier High School)
- Oprah Winfrey (lives in Chicago and Santa Barbara County, California; owns property in Maui, Hawaii)
- Robert Young (born in Chicago)
- Billy Zane (born in Chicago)
- Adrian Zmed (born and raised in Chicago)
- Louis Zorich (born in Chicago, attended Roosevelt University)
Notable musicians[edit]
- Kevin Cronin, (born in Evanston, Illinois)
- Peven Everett
- Emma Abbott, noted opera singer[1]
- Muhal Richard Abrams
- Gene Ammons
- Anastacia (grew up in Chicago and New York)
- Fred Anderson
- Emilie Autumn ([violinist] moved to Chicago)
- Chuck Berry
- Andrew Bird (Multi-instrumentalist, splits time between Elizabeth and Chicago)
- Michael Bloomfield
- Billy Corgan (raised in Elk Grove Village, IL)
- Barry Goldberg
- Benny Goodman
- Bobby Broom
- Ari Brown
- Jerry Butler
- Paul Butterfield
- John Campbell (jazz pianist)
- Neko Case (moved to Chicago from Seattle)
- Josh Caterer
- Gene Chandler
- Jodie Christian
- Freddy Cole
- Nat "King" Cole
- Common, originally Common Sense
- Sam Cooke
- Billy Corgan
- Orbert Davis
- Ron Dewar
- Lee DeWyze (born and raised in Mount Prospect, Illinois-Singer/Songwriter and winner of American Idol, Season 9)
- Bo Diddley
- Willie Dixon
- Kurt Elling
- Lupe Fiasco
- Bud Freeman
- Von Freeman
- Benny Goodman
- Steve Goodman
- Johnny Griffin
- Buddy Guy
- Herbie Hancock
- Donny Hathaway
- Big Walter Horton
- Jennifer Hudson
- Janet Jackson (born & raised for the first 3 years of her life in Gary, Indiana)
- Michael Jackson (entertainer) (born & raised in Gary, Indiana)
- Little Walter Jacobs
- Ahmad Jamal
- Joni James, popular singer, born in Chicago, graduated from Bowen High School, did her first recordings in Chicago in 1952 and 1953, returned to do more sessions there in 1956 and 1957. Sold an estimated 100 million records for the MGM label.
- Henry Johnson
- Adam Jones (grew up in Libertyville, Illinois)
- Clifford Jordan
- Al Jourgensen (moved to Chicago)
- Lucy Kaplansky (grew up in the South Side)
- R. Kelly, (born 1967 in Chicago)
- Chaka Khan
- Gene Krupa
- Major Lance
- Ramsey Lewis
- Ludacris
- Ray Manzarek of The Doors (born and raised on Chicago's southside)
- Steve McCall
- Jimmy McPartland
- Steve Miller
- Nicole Mitchell
- Roscoe Mitchell
- Dawn Xiana Moon (singer-songwriter, born in Singapore, grew up in Michigan, moved to Chicago)
- Tom Morello (grew up in Libertyville, Illinois)
- Ted Nugent (grew up in Arlington Heights, Illinois)
- Liz Phair (grew up in Winnetka, Illinois and lived in Wicker Park)
- Art Porter, Jr.
- Lou Rawls
- Jimmy Reed (Chicago blues musician)
- Lionel Richie (attended high school in Joliet, Illinois)
- Minnie Riperton
- Steve Rodby
- Oed Ronne (guitar player for The Ocean Blue, raised in Elmhurst, Illinois)
- William Russo
- Mavis Staples, gospel singer of The Staple Singers
- Henry Threadgill
- Mel Torme
- Twista
- Eddie Vedder (lived in Evanston, Illinois in his childhood years)
- Jon Walker (born 1985 in Chicago, former bassist of Panic! at the Disco)
- Wilbur Ware
- Muddy Waters (Chicago blues musician)
- Pete Wentz
- Paul Wertico
- Kanye West (grew up in Chicago)
- Maurice White (founder of Earth, Wind & Fire)
- Ed Wilkerson
- Deniece Williams (born & raised in Gary, Indiana)
- John Young (pianist)
- Yung Berg (born 1985 in Chicago, rapper artist)
Notable musical groups[edit]
- REO Speedwagon, (an American rock band formed in 1967)
- Alkaline Trio, punk rock band formed in McHenry, Illinois, in 1996
- The Buckinghams, rock band formed in Chicago in 1966
- Chicago, rock band formed in Chicago (originally as "Chicago Transit Authority") in 1967
- The Cryan' Shames, pop rock band from Hinsdale, Illinois, changed their name from "The Travelers" in 1966
- The Dells, R&B group formed in Harvey, IL (suburban Chicago) in 1952
- Fall Out Boy, rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, that formed in 2001
- The Flock, Chicago-based jazz-rock band that had their first release in 1969
- Homer and Jethro, country music duo, popular from the 1940s through the 1960s on radio and television
- H.P.Lovecraft, formed in Chicago, relocated to Marin County CA after first album
- The Ides of March, rock band from Berwyn, Illinois, formed in 1964 as "The Shon-Dels"
- The Impressions, R&B group formed in Chicago in 1958 as "The Roosters"
- Kaos Rising, a death metal/thrash metal band from 1999-2006.
- Local H, rock band from Chicago
- Marshalln & The Chi-Lites
- Mason Proffit, early country rock band, formed in 1969
- The New Colony Six, formed in 1964
- Ok Go, alternative rock band
- Original Salty Dogs Jazz Band, trad jazz band based in southwest Chicago since the early 1960s
- Plain White T's, pop rock band formed in Villa Park, Illinois, in 1997
- Rise Against, punk rock band formed in Chicago in 1999
- Shadows of Knight, rock band from Mount Prospect, Illinois, formed in 1964 as "The Shadows"
- Siegel-Schwall Band, blues band from Chicago, formed in 1964
- The Smashing Pumpkins, Alt-Rock band from Chicago
- Smoking Popes, punk rock band formed in Lake in the Hills in 1991
- Styx, rock band from Roseland, Chicago, originating in 1961
- Umphrey's McGee, an American progressive rock jam band based in Chicago, formed in 1997.
- Wilco, alternative rock band based in Chicago, formed in 1994
- Young-Holt Unlimited, soul and jazz instrumental musical ensemble from Chicago, formed in 1966
References[edit]
- ↑ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1967. Search this book on
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