The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Peoria, Illinois.
For a similar list organized alphabetically by last name, see the category page People from Peoria, Illinois.
Authors and academics
Caroline Brown Bourland, college professor Dorothy Cannell, mystery author Philip José Farmer, science fiction and fantasy author Betty Friedan, feminist author (The Feminine Mystique) Kendall Gott, author and historian Joseph C. Hafele, physicist John Grier Hibben, President of Princeton University Kate Klise, children's book author David P. Schmitt, Personality psychologist who taught at Bradley University for 22 years Dan Simmons, author (Hyperion Cantos series) Morris Kleiner, economist and professor
Business, engineering, and medicine
Bruce Borland, golf course designer for Jack Nicklaus; died in a 1999 plane crash with Hall of Famer Payne Stewart John Coleman, meteorologist and weatherman; founder of The Weather Channel Thomas D. Duane, Ophthalmologist who first described valsalva retinopathy in 1972. Joseph B. Greenhut, Inventor George D. Sax, entrepreneur; credited with the innovation of drive-through banking
Media and arts
Bill Ballance, radio host Mark Staff Brandl, artist Adam Tod Brown, comedian and podcaster Will Burkart, comedian Charles Correll, performer (Amos and Andy radio show) Mariclare Costello, actress Lee Garmes, cinematographer Harry Harrison, radio host, disc jockey Teck Holmes, actor, rapper, former Direct Effect host; The Real World: Hawaii cast member Tom Irwin, actor; founding member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company Jim and Marian Jordan, radio performers (Fibber McGee and Molly) Sam Kinison, comedian and actor Tami Lane, makeup artist; Academy Award winner for The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Camryn Manheim, actress Kathryn McGuire, actress James Millhollin, character actor; born in Peoria David Ogden Stiers, actor (Major Charles Emerson Winchester III on M*A*S*H) Angie Ostaszewski, a TikToker who promotes relocating to Peoria. Richard Pryor, comedian and actor Cynthia Stone, actress and wife of Jack Lemmon Sander Vanocur, television news journalist Marty Wombacher, writer, photojournalist, blogger
Music
Jon Daker, singer and star of the early viral YouTube video "My Name is Jon Daker" Dan Fogelberg, musician Jerry Hadley, opera tenor Bruce Johnston, member of the Beach Boys; born in Peoria, then adopted and moved to Chicago and Los Angeles Julia H. Johnston, Christian songwriter who composed Grace Greater Than All Our Sin Tim Kelley, recipient of Key To The City of Peoria; Grammy Award-winning record producer; half of the production duo Tim & Bob Cristy Lane, singer Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane, lead singer for Spanky and Our Gang; replaced Cass Elliot in The Mamas & the Papas Abbie Parker, member of the contemporary Christian music band I Am They Gary Richrath, guitarist from REO Speedwagon; raised in East Peoria Bob Robinson, recipient of Key To The City of Peoria; Grammy Award-winning record producer; half of the production duo Tim & Bob Bart Shatto, featured vocalist with Trans-Siberian Orchestra Fred Stobaugh, 96-year-old widower; wrote a love letter that became the viral video "Oh Sweet Lorraine" Greg X. Volz, lead singer of Christian rock band Petra Richard A. Whiting, composer Mike Somerville, lead guitarist, songwriter for rock band Head East Emile Ghantous, record producer and songwriter
Bands
The Forecast, indie rock band Minsk, metal band Mudvayne, metal band Planes Mistaken for Stars, punk and hardcore band
Philanthropists and activists
Lydia Moss Bradley, Philanthropist, Bank President, and founder of Bradley University Howard Brown, founder of the National Gay Task Force Mark Clark, Black Panther; killed in infamous Chicago police raid in 1969 Janet Glavin, Make-A-Wish Illinois Susan G. Komen, namesake of Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Military
General Wayne A. Downing, US Special Operations Commander and Joint Special Operations Commander; 75th Ranger Regiment General John M. Shalikashvili, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Edward W. Snedeker, decorated Marine General Frank Wead, US Navy aviator turned screenwriter; early promoter of US Naval aviation
Politics and law
Prescott E. Bloom, Illinois state senator'Illinois Blue Book 1985-1986,' Biographical Sketch of Prescott E. Bloom, pg. 110 Nancy Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure; Chief of Protocol of the United States; U.S. Ambassador to Hungary Jefferson R. Boulware, Illinois state representative and lawyer'Illinois Blue Book 1903-1904,' Biographical Sketch of Jefferson R. Boulware, pg. 365 Nikki Budzinski, U.S. representative for Illinois Robert L. Burhans, Illinois state legislator and lawyer'Illinois Blue Book 1963-1964,' Biographical Sketch of Robert L. Burhans, pg. 290-291 John Edward Cassidy, Illinois Attorney General Joseph E. Daily, Chief Justice of Illinois Supreme Court William L. Eagleton, US diplomat Sherman W. Eckley, legislator and businessman'Illinois Blue Book 1927-1928, Biographical Sketch of Sherman W. Eckley, pg. 246 Susan Fargo, Massachusetts state senator'Public Officials of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 2009-2010,' William F. Welch/Steven T. James-editors, Biographical Sketch of Susan C. Fargo, pg. 52 Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll, controversial orator; Illinois Attorney General Garrett D. Kinney, state treasurer Raja Krishnamoorthi, Representative of Illinois's 8th congressional district Darin LaHood, U.S. representative for Illinois Ray LaHood, Representative of Illinois's 18th congressional district; Secretary of Transportation under President Obama James B. McCoy, Wisconsin state legislator Robert H. Michel, longest-serving Republican leader of U.S. House of Representatives Robert Dale Morgan, US federal judge and mayor of Peoria Norman H. Purple, Illinois Supreme Court justice and lawyer Don Saltsman, state legislator'Illinois Blue Book 1995–1996,' Biographical Sketch of Donald L. Saltsman, pg. 109 Aaron Schock, former US Congressman Robert Scholes, state legislator and lawyer Fred J. Schraeder, Illinois state legislator and businessman'Illinois Blue Book 1981-1982,' Biographical Sketch of Fred J. Schraeder, pg. 162 Daniel R. Sheen, Illinois state legislator and lawyer'Illinois Blue Book 1905-1906,' Biographical Sketch of Daniel R. Sheen, pg. 270-271 Helen J. Stewart, first Postmaaster of Las Vegas, Nevada David Sills, former mayor of Irvine, California and son-in-law to President Ronald Reagan Hudson R. Sours, Illinois state legislator Clyde E. Stone, Chief Justice of Illinois Supreme Court Fred J. Tuerk, Illinois state legislator'Illinois Blue Book 1988-1989,' Biographical sketch of Fred J. Tuerk, pg. 110 Hubert W. Woodruff, Illinois state legislator and lawyer'Illinois Blue Book 1959-1960, Biographical Sketch of Hubert W, Woodruff, pg. 174-175
Religion
Gerald Thomas Bergan, clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church Rabbi David Hirsch, Rosh Yeshiva of Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary, an affiliate of Yeshiva University Kent Hovind, Christian creationist; convicted of 58 federal counts involving money fraud Julia H. Johnston, Christian songwriter who composed Grace Greater Than All Our Sin William Lane Craig, Christian apologist and philosopher Henry J. Messing, rabbi Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, bishop of Rochester and host of The Catholic Hour on radio and Life is Worth Living
Sports
Baseball
Amy Irene Applegren, pitcher and infielder in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Charlie Bartson, pitcher for Chicago Pirates Harry Bay, outfielder for Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Bronchos/Naps Lynn Brenton, pitcher for Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds Ben Caffyn, outfielder for Cleveland Naps Mike Donlin, outfielder for several Major League Baseball teams Dan Dugdale, catcher for Kansas City Cowboys and Washington Senators Elizabeth Farrow, pitcher in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Harry Frazee, owner of Boston Red Sox who traded Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees Norwood Gibson, pitcher for Boston Americans Tom Gilles, pitcher for Toronto Blue Jays June Gilmore, outfielder in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League Joe Girardi, MLB catcher and manager of New York Yankees, 3-time World Series champion, raised in East Peoria Irene Kerwin, catcher in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, born in Peoria, member of three Halls of Fame Esther Lyman, catcher in All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, born in Peoria Chris Mabeus, pitcher for Milwaukee Brewers Zach McAllister, pitcher for Cleveland Indians, raised in Chillicothe, Illinois Zach Monroe, pitcher for New York Yankees Darby O'Brien, outfielder for New York Metropolitans and Brooklyn Bridegrooms/Grooms; born in Peoria Leo Schrall, baseball head coach at Bradley University Allyn Stout, pitcher for St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, New York Giants, and Boston Braves; born in Peoria Lee Thomas, All-Star player for six MLB teams, general manager of Philadelphia Phillies; born in Peoria Jim Thome, first baseman for Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians and other teams; born and raised in Peoria Walter Thornton, outfielder and pitcher for Chicago Cubs Bill Tuttle, center fielder for three MLB teams; born and raised in Cramer, 18 miles west of Peoria Pete Vonachen, owner of Peoria Chiefs minor league club; born and raised in Peoria George Whiteman, outfielder for Boston Americans, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox; World Series champion (1918); born in Peoria Ben Zobrist, 2nd baseman for Chicago Cubs, World Series Champion (2016), voted MVP; born in Peoria
Basketball
Acie Earl, power forward selected by Boston Celtics with 19th overall pick in 1993 NBA draft Ray Giacoletti, head coach, University of Utah, Drake, Eastern Washington, North Dakota State AJ Guyton, point guard selected by Chicago Bulls with 32nd overall pick in 2000 NBA draft Charlotte Lewis, 1976 Olympic silver medalist, ISU sports Hall of Fame Shaun Livingston, guard for NBA champion Golden State Warriors, 4th overall pick in 2004 NBA draft Sergio McClain, NBA D-League forward for Asheville Altitude and University of Illinois Carla McGhee, basketball forward, gold medalist at 1996 Summer Olympics Howard Nathan, point guard for Atlanta Hawks Brian Randle, power forward for University of Illinois and Euroleague team Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. Jamar Smith, guard for Euroleague team Limoges CSP J. R. Koch, professional basketball player Dick Versace, head coach for Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers; NBA executive; head coach for Bradley University basketball in Peoria Frank Williams, point guard for University of Illinois, 25th overall pick in 2002 NBA draft
Football
Darryl Ashmore, offensive tackle for Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins; cousin of Carla McGhee Dick Jauron, NFL defensive back, head coach for Buffalo Bills and Chicago Bears Sherrick McManis, cornerback for Chicago Bears Jeff Monken, football head coach for Army Tim Simpson, offensive guard for Pittsburgh Steelers; raised in East Peoria Mike Zimmer, head coach for Minnesota Vikings Kendrick Green, offensive guard for Illinois and current center for the Pittsburgh Steelers Eddie Sutter, NFL Linebacker, played for Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and Atlanta Falcons, Went to Richwoods Highschool.
Sports media
Jack Brickhouse, broadcaster; radio-TV announcer of the Chicago Cubs Ralph Lawler, broadcaster; radio-TV announcer of the Los Angeles Clippers Jack Quinlan, broadcaster, radio announcer of the Chicago Cubs Lyall Smith, sports columnist, editor and PR director of the Detroit Lions, alumnus of Bradley University