The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Kankakee, Illinois. For a similar list organized alphabetically by last name, see the category page People from Kankakee, Illinois.
Film, television, and theater
Jordan Black (born 1970), actor David Bruce (1914–1976), actor Bryan Dattilo (born 1971), actor Kristin Dattilo (born 1970), actress Merna Kennedy (1908–1944), actress Fred MacMurray (1908–1991), actor, star of more than 100 films and TV series My Three Sons Nancy Snyder (born 1949), actress Randy Spears (born 1961), actor Kara Zediker, actress Rico Ross, actor
Literature and media
Jill De Vries (born 1953), Playboy Playmate, October 1975 Harold Gray (1894–1968), creator of Little Orphan Annie Paul Hendrickson (born 1944), author Genevieve Lipsett (1885–1935), journalist and suffragist
Military Thomas V. Draude (born 1940), decorated U.S. Marine officer Harry Stella (1916–1997), decorated U.S. Army colonel
Music
Yea Big, musician Gregory Kunde (born 1954), operatic tenor Cora Decker Sargent (1868-1944), composer
Politics and law Benjamin W. Alpiner (1867–1946), Illinois state legislator and mayor of Kankakee'Illinois Blue Book 2945-2946,' zbiogrphicsl zsketch of Ben. W. Alpiner, pg. 222-223 Louis E. Beckman (1876–1946), Illinois state legislator and mayor of Kankakee'Illinois Blue Book 1945-1946,' Biographical sketch of Louis E. Beckman, pg. 222 Louis E. Beckman Jr. (1914–1992), Illinois state legislator; born in Kankakee'Illinois Blue Book 1957-1958,' Biographical of Louis Beckman, pg. 284 John Benoit (1951–2016), California state legislator, was born in Kankakee.'Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit dies at 64,' The Press Enterprise, Jeff Horstman, December 26, 2016 Edward McBroom (1925–1990), Illinois state legislator and businessman'Illinois Blue Book 1981-1982,' Biographical Sketch of Edward McBroom, pg. 155 Mary K. O'Brien (born 1965), Illinois state legislator and judge, was born in Kankakee.Illinois General Assembly-Mark K. O'Brien Daniel H. Paddock (1852–1905), Illinois state representative and lawyer, lived in Kankakee.'Souvenir of the Legislature of the State of Illinois of 189,' J.L. Pickering-editor, Illinois State Journal Press, Springfield, Illinois: 1893, Biographical Sketch of Daniel H. Paddock, pg. 81 George Ryan (1934-2025), 39th governor of Illinois Samuel H. Shapiro (1907–1987), 34th governor of Illinois, practiced law in Kankakee and died there at age 79 Lennington Small (1862–1936), 26th governor of Illinois Chastity Wells-Armstrong (born 1971/1972), first African-American to serve as mayor of Kankakee Hamilton K. Wheeler (August 5, 1848 – July 19, 1918) was an Illinois State Senator and U.S. Representative from KankakeeHamilton K. Wheeler Herman W. Snow (1836–1914), U.S. representative, Civil War captain, lived and died in Kankakee. Rick Winkel (born 1956), Illinois state legislator, was born in Kankakee.'Illinois Blue Book 2005-2006, Biographical Sketch of Rick Winkel, pg. 118 Adam Kinzinger (born 1978), United States House member from 2011 to 2023 and Lieutenant Colonel (United States) in the Air National Guard, was born in Kankakee.
Science and art George Grey Barnard (1863–1938), sculptor, raised in Kankakee Vernon W. Hughes (1921–2003), physicist, born in Kankakee
Sports
Rube Foster (1879–1930), baseball Hall of Famer, died in Kankakee Tyjuan Hagler (born 1981), NFL linebacker and Super Bowl (XLI) champion Scott Meents (born 1964), NBA player, born in Kankakee Ted Petersen (born 1955), NFL offensive lineman Billy Petrick (born 1984), MLB pitcher Tom Prince (born 1964), MLB catcher, born in Kankakee Joie Ray (1894–1978), three-time Olympian, bronze medalist, born in Kankakee Mike Russow (born 1976), UFC mixed martial artist Harv Schmidt (1935–2020), college basketball coach Jack Sikma (born 1955), Hall of Fame NBA player from 1976–91, born in Kankakee Jimmy Smith (born 1960), NFL running back Lorenzo Smith III (born 1978), Olympic bobsledder Bruce Vaughan (born 1956), professional golfer Jonathan Ward (born 1997), NFL running back Terry Wells (born 1963), MLB pitcher
Other Lemuel Milk (1820–1893), landowner, businessman, lived and died in Kankakee John Moisant (1868–1910), aviation pioneer, born in Kankakee
References