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 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

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

• Gregory Kunde (born 1954), operatic tenor
• Yea Big, musician ^[1]

Politics and law

• George Ryan (born 1934), 39th governor of Illinois^[2]
• 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^[3]
• 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.^[4]

Science and art

• George Grey Barnard (1863-1938), sculptor, was raised in Kankakee
• Vernon W. Hughes (1921-2003), physicist, was born in Kankakee

Sports

• Tyjuan Hagler (born 1981), NFL linebacker and Super Bowl (XLI) champion ^[5]
• Scott Meents (born 1964), NBA player, born in Kankakee
• Ted Petersen (born 1955), NFL offensive lineman^[6]
• Billy Petrick (born 1984), MLB pitcher^[7]
• 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^[8]
• Harv Schmidt (born 1935), college basketball coach
• Jack Sikma (born 1955), NBA player from 1976-91, born in Kankakee
• Jimmy Smith (born 1960), NFL running back^[9]
• Lorenzo Smith III (born 1978), Olympic bobsledder
• Bruce Vaughan (born 1956), professional golfer^[10]
• Terry Wells (born 1963), MLB pitcher^[11]

Other

• Lemuel Milk (1820-1893), landowner, businessman, lived and died in Kankakee
• John Moisant (1868-1910), aviation pioneer, born in Kankakee

References

1. "Yea Big". mtv.com. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
2. "Illinois Governor George H. Ryan". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
3. "Illinois Governor Lennington Small". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
4. 'Illinois Blue Book 2005-2006, Biographical Sketch of Rick Winkel, pg. 118
5. "Tyjuan Hagler". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
6. "Ted Petersen". Pro-Football-Reference.Com. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
7. "Billy Petrick Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
8. "Mike Russow". UFC. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
9. "Jimmy Smith". NFL Enterprises LLC. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
10. "Bruce Vaughan". PGA Tour. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
11. "Terry Wells Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved October 30, 2012.