List of people from Champaign, Illinois
The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Champaign, Illinois. For a similar list organized alphabetically by last name, see the category page People from Champaign, Illinois.
Business, science, and engineering
Name | Image | Birth | Death | Known for | Association | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Max Abramovitz | May 23, 1908 | Sep 12, 2004 | Architect | Graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | ||
Scott Anderson | Jun 26, 1913 | Oct 1, 2006 | Physicist | President of the Rotary Club of Champaign (1963 to 1964); founder of the Urban League of Champaign County | ||
Marc Andreessen | ![]() | Jul 9, 1971 | Co-author of Mosaic and founder of Netscape | Graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | ||
John Bardeen | ![]() | May 23, 1908 | Jan 30, 1991 | Electrical engineer and physicist; two time Nobel Prize winner in Physics | Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | |
Steve Chen | ![]() | Aug 18, 1978 | Co-founder of YouTube | Graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | ||
Jawed Karim | ![]() | Jan 1, 1979 | Co-founder of YouTube | Graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | ||
Jimmy John Liautaud | ![]() | Jan 12, 1964 | Jimmy John's Owner, founder, & chairman | |||
Anthony James Leggett | ![]() | Mar 26, 1938 | Physicist; Nobel Prize winner in Physics | Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | ||
W. Dwight Pierce | Nov 16, 1881 | Apr 29, 1967 | Entomologist | Born in Champaign | ||
Jerry Sanders | ![]() | Sep 12, 1936 | Founder and CEO of Advanced Micro Devices | Graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | ||
Lewis Hastings Sarett | Dec 22, 1917 | Nov 29, 1999 | Inventor of synthetic cortisone | Born in Champaign | ||
James Tobin | Mar 5, 1918 | Mar 11, 2002 | Laureate of the Nobel prize in economics (1981) | Born in Champaign | ||
Stephen Wolfram | ![]() | Aug 29, 1959 | Founder of Wolfram Research, makers of Mathematica | Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | ||
Tony Khan | ![]() | Oct 10, 1982 | Founder of All Elite Wrestling | Born in Champaign |
Crime
Name | Image | Birth | Death | Known for | Association | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steven Phillip Kazmierczak | Aug 26, 1980 | Feb 14, 2008 | Perpetrator in the Northern Illinois University shooting | Attended the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | ||
Michael H. Kenyon | Convicted criminal; nicknamed the "Enema Bandit" | Graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | ||||
Karyn Hearn Slover | Sep 27, 1996 | 1996 murder victim |
Media and arts
Name | Image | Birth | Death | Known for | Association | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
David Ayer | Jan 18, 1968 | Filmmaker | Born in Champaign. | [1] | ||
Irving Azoff | Dec 12, 1947 | Music promotion | Attended UIUC. Started Blytham Ltd with Bob Nutt | [2] | ||
Marc Beeson | Dec 20, 1954 | Country music singer and songwriter | Born in Champaign | |||
Tom Bodett | Feb 23, 1955 | Author, voiceover actor, and spokesman | Born in Champaign | |||
Harold Bradley Jr. | ![]() | Oct 13, 1929 | Former American football player and actor, singer, artist, TV host (WCIA Channel 3, WICD Channel 15) and painter. | Lived 19 years in Champaign | ||
Iris Chang | Mar 28, 1968 | Nov 9, 2004 | Author (The Rape of Nanking) | Graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | ||
Amy Chua | ![]() | Oct 26, 1962 | Author (Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother) | Born in Champaign | ||
Jeremih Felton | ![]() | Jul 17, 1987 | R&B singer | Attended the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | ||
Hart D. Fisher | Comic book creator and publisher | Born in Champaign | ||||
Michael Fumento | Journalist and author of The Myth of Heterosexual AIDS | Born in Champaign | ||||
Mike Connolly | 1914 | Nov 19, 1966 | Magazine reporter and Hollywood gossip columnist for The Hollywood Reporter | Attended the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where he was the city editor of the Daily Illini, the independent student-run newspaper, known for his 1937–38 crusade against prostitution in Champaign | ||
Bill Geist | May 10, 1945 | CBS News correspondent and author | Born in Champaign | |||
Nathan Gunn | Nov 26, 1970 | Operatic baritone; one of People magazine's 2008 Sexiest Men Alive | Graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | |||
Steven Hager | May 25, 1951 | Magazine editor | Born in Champaign | |||
Bruce Hall | ![]() | Mar 5, 1953 | Bass guitar player (REO Speedwagon) | Born in Champaign | ||
Stuart Hamm | Feb 8, 1960 | Bass guitar player | Grew up in Champaign | |||
Megyn Kelly | ![]() | Nov 18, 1970 | American journalist, political commentator, and former corporate defense attorney | Born in Champaign | ||
Alison Krauss | ![]() | Jul 23, 1971 | Bluegrass singer | Grew up in Champaign | ||
Christopher Bridges (a.k.a. Ludacris) | ![]() | Sep 11, 1977 | Rapper | Born in Champaign | ||
Marcella Martin | Jun 5, 1916 | Oct 31, 1986 | Actress | Born in Champaign | ||
Jack McDuff | Sep 17, 1926 | Jan 23, 2001 | Jazz musician | Born in Champaign | ||
Jeff Mondak | Mar 26, 1962 | Children's poet and songwriter | Lives in Champaign | |||
David Foster Wallace | ![]() | Feb 21, 1962 | Sep 12, 2008 | Author of Infinite Jest | Lived in Champaign | |
George Will | ![]() | May 4, 1941 | Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author | Born in Champaign | ||
Douglas Wilson | Interior designer and television personality (Trading Spaces) | Graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | ||||
Louise Woodroofe | Jan 28, 1892 | Feb 15, 1996 | Painter and University of Illinois professor | Born and grew up in Champaign, attended University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign |
Bands
Name | Image | Founded | Disbanded | Music | Association | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Beauty Shop | ![]() | 1999 | 2008 | Alt-country band | Formed in Champaign | |
Braid | 1993 | Rock band | Formed in Champaign | |||
Champaign | 1981 | R&B, soft rock group | Formed in Champaign | |||
Headlights | ![]() | 2004 | 2012 | Indie rock band | Formed in Champaign | |
Hostyle Gospel | ![]() | 2003 | Christian hip hop | Formed in Champaign | ||
Hum | 1989 | Alternative rock group | Formed in Champaign | |||
Pacifica Quartet | 1994 | 2008 Grammy-winning string quartet | Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Illinois School of Music, 2003–2012 | |||
Poster Children | 1987 | Rock group | Formed in Champaign | |||
REO Speedwagon | ![]() | 1967 | Rock group | Formed in Champaign | ||
Starcastle | 1969 | 2006 | Rock group | Formed in Champaign |
Politics
Name | Image | Birth | Death | Known for | Association | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kamala Harris | ![]() | Oct 20, 1964 | Vice President of the United States | Lived in Champaign | ||
Mark Kirk | ![]() | Sep 15, 1959 | United States Senator | Born in Champaign | ||
Vashti McCollum | Nov 6, 1912 | Aug 20, 2006 | Plaintiff in the landmark 1948 Supreme Court case McCollum v. Board of Education | Lived and died in Champaign | ||
William B. McKinley | ![]() | Sep 5, 1856 | Dec 7, 1926 | United States Senator, 1912 campaign manager for President William Howard Taft | Lived in Champaign, attended University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | [3] |
Religion
Name | Image | Birth | Death | Known for | Association | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Henry Herman Meyer | Nov 21, 1874 | 1951 | American Methodist Episcopal clergyman and editor | Born in Champaign |
Sports
Name | Image | Birth | Death | Known for | Association | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chantal Bailey | May 28, 1965 | Olympic speed skater | Born in Champaign | ||||
Walter "Boom-Boom" Beck | ![]() | Oct 16, 1904 | May 7, 1987 | Pitcher for six Major League Baseball teams | Lived and died in Champaign | ||
Bonnie Blair | ![]() | Mar 18, 1964 | Speed skater, Olympic gold medalist | Grew up in Champaign | |||
Harold Bradley Jr. | ![]() | Oct 13, 1929 | Apr 13, 2021 | Former American football player and actor, singer, artist, TV host (WCIA Channel 3, WICD Channel 15) and painter. | Lived 19 years in Champaign | ||
Fred Brainard | Feb 17, 1892 | Apr 17, 1959 | Infielder for the New York Giants | Born in Champaign | |||
Don Branson | Jun 2, 1920 | Nov 12, 1966 | Indy-car driver | [citation needed] | |||
Dick Butkus | Dec 9, 1942 | Oct 5, 2023 [4] | Football linebacker for the Fighting Illini | Attended UIUC | |||
Steve Dunn | Apr 18, 1970 | First baseman for the Minnesota Twins | Born in Champaign | ||||
Matt Herges | Apr 1, 1970 | Pitcher for eight Major League Baseball teams | Born in Champaign | ||||
Reggie Hodges | ![]() | Jan 26, 1982 | Punter for the Cleveland Browns | Born in Champaign | |||
Bershawn Jackson | ![]() | May 8, 1983 | Olympic 400M hurdler | Lives in Champaign | |||
Rhaka Khan | ![]() | Dec 25, 1981 | Wrestler with the WWE | Born in Champaign | |||
Jonathan Kuck | ![]() | Mar 14, 1990 | Speed skater and silver medalist in the 2010 Winter Olympics | Attending University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | |||
Don Laz | ![]() | May 17, 1929 | Feb 21, 1996 | Pole vaulter; Olympic silver medalist | [citation needed] | ||
Jeremy Leman | ![]() | Mar 1, 1985 | Linebacker for Illinois Illini and six NFL teams | Born and lives in Champaign | |||
Mikel Leshoure | ![]() | Mar 30, 1990 | Running back for the Detroit Lions | Graduated from Centennial High School in Champaign | |||
Troy Mattes | Aug 26, 1975 | Pitcher for the Montreal Expos | Born in Champaign | ||||
Tyler McGill | Aug 18, 1987 | Swimmer, US Olympic team 2012 | Born in Champaign | ||||
Big Jeff Pfeffer | ![]() | Mar 31, 1882 | Dec 19, 1954 | Pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, Boston Beaneaters/Doves and Boston Rustlers | Born in Champaign | ||
Roy Radebaugh | ![]() | Feb 22, 1881 | Jan 17, 1945 | Pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals | Born in Champaign | ||
Katherine Reutter | ![]() | Jul 30, 1988 | Short track speed skater, Olympic silver medalist | Born in Champaign | |||
Rayvonte Rice | ![]() | Jul 14, 1992 | Starting guard for the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team | Born in Champaign | |||
Bob Richards | ![]() | Feb 20, 1926 | Feb 26, 2023 | Pole vaulter; Olympic gold medalist | |||
Adam Seward | Jun 15, 1982 | Linebacker for the Carolina Panthers | Born in Champaign | ||||
Emily Stevenson | Jul 26, 1925 | Dec 30, 2012 | Backup catcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League | Born in Champaign |
References
- ^ "MEET DAVID AYER: The hard-edged director of 'Suicide Squad'". Business Insider. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ "Irving Azoff/Bob Nutt/Blytham Ltd". stlmusicyesterdays.com. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
- ^ "Twin Cities Traction - Chapter 18". friedman.cs.illinois.edu. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- ^ Williams, Jacob Lev,Ashley R. (2023-10-05). "Dick Butkus, Pro Football Hall of Famer, dies at 80". CNN. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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- List of people from Champaign
- Burnham Athenaeum
- Cattle Bank
- Champaign City Building
- Champaign Public Library
- Construction of Assembly Hall
- First Presbyterian Church
- Illinois Traction Building
- Inman Hotel
- Lincoln Building
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- Stone Arch Bridge
- U.S. Post Office
- Vriner's Confectionery
- Centennial High School
- Champaign Central High School
- Judah Christian School
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- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Boneyard Creek
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- Ebertfest: Roger Ebert's Film Festival
- Illinois Marathon
- JSM Challenger of Champaign–Urbana
- Krannert Art Museum
- Market Place Mall
- Orpheum Children's Science Museum
- Staerkel Planetarium
- State Farm Center
- Virginia Theatre
- UIUC Main Library
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