List of people from Kankakee, Illinois

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 .

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

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
• Doodie Lo , rapper
• Eric Swanson, musician
• Munk Julious, musician https://groovefindersworld.wordpress.com/2018/04/02/corey-mccue-aka-munk-julious/

Politics and law

• Benjamin W. Alpiner (1867–1946), Illinois state legislator and mayor of Kankakee
• Louis E. Beckman (1876–1946), Illinois state legislator and mayor of Kankakee
• Louis E. Beckman Jr. (1914–1992), Illinois state legislator; born in Kankakee
• John Benoit (1951–2016), California state legislator, was born in Kankakee.
• Edward McBroom (1925–1990), Illinois state legislator and businessman
• Mary K. O'Brien (born 1965), Illinois state legislator and judge, was born in Kankakee.
• Daniel H. Paddock (1852–1905), Illinois state representative and lawyer, lived in Kankakee.
• 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 Kankakee
• 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.
• 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