This is a list of notable individuals who come from the state of Illinois, a state within the larger United States of America.
A Aa–Ag
Emma Abbott (1850–91), opera soprano; born and raised in Illinois until age 16; funeral held in Illinois, but interred in Massachusetts Margaret Abbott (1878–1955), first modern-era Olympic United States female champion; lived during her teens and learned her Olympic sport of golf in Illinois Robert Sengstacke Abbott (1868–1940), African-American lawyer, newspaper publisher and editor; studied law and had his newspaper career in Chicago Jessica Abel (born 1969), comic book writer and artist; born and educated in Illinois Gertrude Abercrombie (1909–77), surrealist painter; lived most of her life in Chicago and known for her association with the city David Abidor (born 1992), soccer player Max Abramovitz (1908–2004), architect; born and college-educated in Illinois Ben Abruzzo (1930–85), balloonist; born and college-educated in Illinois Tony Accardo (1906–1992), organized crime figure; born and lived entire life in Chicago metropolitan area Barbara Acklin (1943–98), singer; came to Illinois aged five and resided there until her death Ron Acks (1944–2023), NFL linebacker 1968–76; born, attended high school and college in IllinoisRon Acks . pro-football-reference.com _____ _____ Valdas Adamkus (born 1926), president of Lithuania 1998–2009; lived in Illinois for a number of years after emigrating to the United States from Lithuania, getting a college degree and entering Chicago politics Mike Adamle, NFL and Northwestern running back, TV personality Berle Adams (1917–2009), founder of Mercury Records; born and lived first 30 years in Illinois Franklin P. Adams (1881–1960), writer, member of Algonquin Round Table; described as "a native of Chicago", found fame and lived most of his life in New York John Hicks Adams (1820–78), gunslinger, Wild West lawman; born and attended college in Illinois Katrina Adams (born 1968), president of United States Tennis Association; born and educated in Illinois Robert McCormick Adams Jr., anthropologist, secretary of Smithsonian Institution Brett Adcock (born 1986), founder of Figure AI, a robotics company Jane Addams, social worker, teacher, Nobel Peace Prize recipient George Ade, author and cartoonist (born in Indiana) Paul Adelstein, actor, Prison Break, Private Practice Victor Adeyanju, NFL defensive end 2006–10 Dankmar Adler, architect (born in Germany) David Adler, architect (born in Wisconsin) Lou Adler, music producer in Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Max Adler, founder of Adler Planetarium Scott Adsit, actor, writer, improvisational comedian, 30 Rock, Big Hero 6 John Agar, actor, Sands of Iwo Jima, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, husband of Shirley Temple Alex Agase, football player for Cleveland Browns; head coach of Northwestern, Purdue Lou Agase, football player for Illinois, coach of CFL's Toronto Argonauts Milton Ager, composer, "Ain't She Sweet", "Happy Days Are Here Again" Benjamin Agosto, ice dancer, 2006 Turin Olympics silver medalist Mark Aguirre, forward for DePaul, NBA's Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons; top pick of 1981 NBA draft
Ah–Am
Gene Ahern, cartoonist Joe Aiello, organized crime figure (born in Sicily) Joseph Aiuppa, organized crime figure Stan Albeck, basketball head coach, Bradley, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls Abraham Adrian Albert, mathematician Eddie Albert, Oscar-nominated actor, Green Acres, Switch, Oklahoma!, Roman Holiday, The Heartbreak Kid, The Longest Yard Frankie Albert, quarterback and head coach for San Francisco 49ers, College Football Hall of Famer Bruce Alberts, biochemist, original author of Molecular Biology of the Cell Steve Albini, musician, producer Ted Albrecht, offensive tackle for Purdue and Chicago Bears Ivan Albright, painter James L. Alcorn, governor and U.S. senator of Mississippi Jody Alderson, swimmer, 1952 Olympic bronze medalist Dorothy Aldis, children's author J. Frank Aldrich, 19th-century U.S. representative (born in Wisconsin) Gus Alex, organized crime figure Dan Alexander, football player, 2000 Alamo Bowl MVP Houston Alexander, mixed martial artist Linsey Alexander, blues musician (born in Mississippi) Lorez Alexandria, jazz and gospel singer Nelson Algren, author, The Man with the Golden Arm, A Walk on the Wild Side (born in Michigan) Rita Ali, mayor of Peoria Saul Alinsky, founder of modern community organizing and writer Paul Alivisatos, president, University of Chicago Brian Allard, MLB pitcher 1979–81 Jeff Allen, NFL offensive guard 2012–19 Joan Allen, Oscar-nominated actress, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Contender, The Upside of Anger, Nixon, Face/Off Karen Allen, actress, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Animal House, Scrooged Leo E. Allen, 14-term U.S. representative Leslie Allen, auto racer, ninth in 1930 Indianapolis 500 Rex Allen Jr., country singer, narrator of film Me, Myself and Irene Ronnie Allen, professional pool player Sandy Allen, tallest U.S. woman Steve Allen, TV personality, actor, author, songwriter, first host of The Tonight Show (born in New York) Tony Allen, NBA forward 2004–18, member of 2008 champion Boston Celtics William J. Allen, judge, U.S. representative (born in Tennessee) Justin Allgaier, auto racer, 2008 ARCA RE/MAX Series champion Fran Allison, radio-TV personality, Kukla, Fran and Ollie (born in Iowa) Luther Allison, blues musician (born in Arkansas) Samuel Allison, prominent physicist who worked on Manhattan Project Arthur Allyn Jr., co-owner of Chicago White Sox in 1960s John Allyn, owner of White Sox 1961–75 Alfred S. Alschuler, architect Mike Alstott, fullback for Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1996–2007, Super Bowl XXXVII champion Jonathan Alter, journalist and author Michael J. Alter, real estate developer, owner of WNBA's Chicago Sky John Peter Altgeld, governor of Illinois 1893–97 (born in Germany) Dave Altizer, MLB infielder 1906–11 Scott Altman, astronaut, four Space Shuttle missions John Altschuler, screenwriter, Blades of Glory, Silicon Valley Anita Alvarez, Cook County state's attorney 2008–16 John Alvin, actor, The Beast with Five Fingers, Objective, Burma! Stephen E. Ambrose, author, historian, Band of Brothers Kiran Amegadjie, lineman for Yale, third-round pick in 2024 NFL draft The American Breed, band, "Bend Me, Shape Me" A.A. Ames, four-term mayor of Minneapolis Edward Ames, founder, McKendree University (born in Ohio) Julia A. Ames, 19th-century journalist Knowlton Ames, college football player and coach Rosemary Ames, actress, Our Little Girl, Pursued Warren Amling, Ohio State athlete in College Football Hall of Fame Albert Ammons, jazz musician Gene Ammons, jazz musician Morey Amsterdam, actor and comedian, The Dick Van Dyke Show
An–Ar
Merry Anders, actress, The Dalton Girls, Hear Me Good, Tickle Me Arthur E. Andersen, founder of accounting firm Alexandria Anderson, NCAA champion sprinter Andree Anderson, ice dancer, member of Figure Skating Hall of Fame Craig Anderson, NHL goaltender 2002–23 Gillian Anderson, Emmy Award-winning actress, The X-Files, The House of Mirth, Bleak House, Hannibal J. J. Anderson, forward for Bradley and Utah Jazz John Anderson, actor, Ride the High Country, Psycho John B. Anderson, politician, U.S. representative 1961–81, U.S. presidential candidate Ken Anderson, NFL quarterback 1971–86, four-time Pro Bowl selection Kevin Anderson, actor, Sleeping with the Enemy, Miles from Home, Hoffa Kurt Anderson, football player and coach Laurie Anderson, performance artist and musician Les Anderson, auto racer, 11th in 1947 Indy 500 Margaret C. Anderson, editor and publisher (born in Indiana) Nick Anderson, NBA and Illinois guard, first Orlando Magic draft pick Peggy Anderson, author and journalist Philip Warren Anderson, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Ray Anderson, musician Robert Orville Anderson, founder of ARCO oil company Sherwood Anderson, novelist (born in Ohio) Walter Stratton Anderson, naval vice admiral, battleship commander Fern Andra, circus performer, actress, director Emil Andres, auto racer, drove in nine Indianapolis 500s Bruce Andrews, poet Stanley Andrews, actor, Death Valley Days Ethel Percy Andrus, founder of AARP Elmer Angsman, running back for Notre Dame, Chicago Cardinals John Ankerberg, Christian evangelist, TV presenter Morris Ankrum, actor Ann-Margret, Oscar-nominated actress, Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas, Carnal Knowledge, The Cincinnati Kid, Tommy (born in Sweden) Beulah Annan, inspiration for "Roxie Hart" in play and film Chicago Moses Annenberg, newspaper publisher (born in Prussia) Frank Annunzio, politician (Democrat), 13-term U.S. representative Cap Anson, Hall of Fame infielder for Chicago White Stockings (born in Iowa) Bessie Anthony, golfer, U.S. Women's Amateur champion Luis Aparicio, Hall of Fame infielder for Chicago White Sox (born in Venezuela) Clarence Applegran, basketball coach, Kentucky 1924–25 Amy Applegren, pro baseball player Arthur I. Appleton, businessman, thoroughbred owner Luke Appling, Hall of Fame infielder for White Sox (born in North Carolina) Lee Archambault, astronaut Jim Ardis, mayor of Peoria 2005–21 Robert Ardrey, playwright and screenwriter, Khartoum, The Three Musketeers Leslie C. Arends, politician (Republican), U.S. representative 1943–74, majority and minority whip Mark Arie, two gold medals in shooting at 1920 Olympics Hub Arkush, publisher of Pro Football Weekly Alice Arlen, screenwriter, Silkwood, Alamo Bay Andrew Watson Armour III, meat-packing executive, philanthropist Philip Danforth Armour, businessman, founder of Armour and Company (born in New York) Terron Armstead, NFL offensive lineman Matthew John Armstrong, actor, Heroes Otis Armstrong, running back for Denver Broncos 1973–80 Scot Armstrong, screenwriter, Old School, Starsky & Hutch Billy Arnold, auto racer, won 1930 Indianapolis 500 Billy Boy Arnold, blues musician Isaac N. Arnold, U.S. representative, author (born in New York) Cliff Arquette, comedian and actor (born in Ohio) Lewis Arquette, actor, Sherlock Hound, Camp Candy, The Waltons Patricia Arquette, Oscar and Emmy-winning actress, Boyhood, Medium, True Romance, CSI: Cyber Gerry Arrigo, MLB pitcher 1961–70
As–Az
Jon Asamoah, NFL offensive lineman 2010–15 Diandra Asbaty, bowler Tom Ashbrook, NPR personality John Ashcroft, politician (Republican), U.S. attorney general 2001–05, Missouri senator and governor Darryl Ashmore, NFL tackle 1992–2002 James N. Ashmore, basketball coach, North Carolina, Iowa, Washington State, DePauw Ed Asner, Emmy-winning actor, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Up, Elf (born in Missouri) Mary Astor, Oscar-winning actress, The Maltese Falcon, Dodsworth, Meet Me in St. Louis, The Great Lie Joe Astroth, MLB catcher 1945–56 Ira Aten, lawman, Texas Ranger Doug Atkins, defensive end for Chicago Bears 1955–66, Hall of Fame (born in Tennessee) Smith D. Atkins, editor, Civil War colonel (born in New York) Edith Atwater, actress, True Grit, Family Plot, The Body Snatcher Richard and Florence Atwater, co-authors of Mr. Popper's Penguins Steve Atwater, NFL safety 1989–99, twice Super Bowl champion with Denver Broncos James T. Aubrey Jr., television executive, president of CBS David Auburn, playwright, Proof Jean M. Auel, author, The Clan of the Cave Bear James Augustine, center for Illinois' 2005 NCAA basketball runners-up Jeff Austin, mandolinist, singer Lovie Austin, jazz musician (born in Tennessee) Jason Avant, NFL wide receiver Charles Avery, silent film actor, Keystone Cops Sewell Avery, chairman of Montgomery Ward, first president of Museum of Science and Industry (born in Michigan) John Avildsen, Oscar-winning film director, Rocky, Save the Tiger, Lean on Me, The Karate Kid David Axelrod, political advisor to Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, author, TV commentator Brendon Ayanbadejo, NFL linebacker 1999–2012 Marion Aye, silent-film actress