41.8501° N, 87.6499° W

CHICAGO

Most Famous People Born in Chicago, United States

Notable people
7,467
Peak decade
1950s
Median birth year
1940
Most distinctive
Baseball 5.2×

Big shoulders, broad bench. Chicago's notables spread evenly across actors, politicians, and four major-league sports — no inland American city produces more baseball and basketball players — alongside a deep screenwriter and novelist tradition that gave the world Saul Bellow, David Mamet, and Ben Hecht. No single category dominates the way film does in Los Angeles or Wall Street does in New York, and the music economy alone runs from blues and house to first-wave hip-hop.

Through the Decades

One face per decade — the most globally famous figure born in Chicago during each.

Notable Births by Decade

Click a decade to filter the list below. Peak: 1950s with 850 notable births.

What Chicago Is Known For

Click any row to filter the list of people below.

Actor is Chicago's biggest profession — 11% of all notables (813).

Chicago over-indexes on baseball5.2× the global rate.

Chicago under-produces politician — only 0.5× the global rate.

  1. Actor813
  2. Politician469
  3. Football462
  4. Baseball441
  5. Basket398
  6. Music312
  7. Writer220
  8. Singer207
  1. Baseball4415.2×
  2. Basket3984.2×
  3. Screenwriter1283.9×
  4. Novelist963.3×
  5. Music3122.9×
  6. Actor8132.0×
  7. Film1681.8×
  1. Politician4690.5×
  2. Football4620.6×
  3. Painter1160.6×

Profession Mix Over Time

Each band shows a profession family's share of Chicago's notable births by decade. Hover the chart for the breakdown at any decade.

18001850190019502000
  • Sports
  • Film & TV
  • Music
  • Politics & Law
  • Writing
  • Science
  • Other
All7,467
Sort By

7,467 notable people

6601 DIPLOMAT

Jens Westengard

1871 - 1918

Preview
6602 ATHLETE

Nick Corwin

1980 - 1988

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6603 BUSINESS

Harry Gale Nye Jr.

1908 - 1987

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6604 SKATER

Larry Holliday

Born 1964

Preview
6605 ARCHITECT

Robert Bruce Tague

1912 - 1985

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6606 POLITICIAN

Michael R. Zalewski

Born 1956

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6607 FOOTBALL

Richard Buchanan (American football)

Born 1969

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6608 COACH

Ron Ballatore

1941 - 2012

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6609 FOOTBALL

Jim Mooney (American football)

1907 - 1944

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6610 DESIGNER

Wes Gordon

-

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6611 SINGER

Little Ann (singer)

1945 - 2003

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6612 ENGINEER

Frank Brisko

1900 - 1990

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6613 WRITER

JAQ (b-boy)

Born 1974

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6614 LAWYER

Jay Fonseca

Born 1982

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6615 POLITICIAN

Hubert J. Loftus

1924 - 1995

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6616 WRITER

Helen Rosner

-

Preview
6617 FOOTBALL

John Meyer (American football)

1942 - 2020

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6618 PROFESSOR

Ralph Brill

1935 - 2019

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6619 POLITICIAN

Joseph M. Lyons

Born 1951

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6620 POLITICIAN

Jeff Fitzgerald

Born 1966

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6621 INVENTOR

Margaret Wilcox

Born 1830

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6622 ACTOR

Henry Davis (performer)

1886 - 1946

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6623 WRITER

Judith Palache Gregory

1932 - 2017

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6624 MUSIC

Marilyn Middleton Pollock

Born 1947

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6625 RADIO

Harry Harrison (DJ)

1930 - 2020

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6626 MUSIC

Jose Valdes

Born 1957

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6627 RELIGIOUS

Loretta Schafer

1917 - 1998

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6628 MUSIC

Goldhouse

-

Preview
6629 BASEBALL

Art Lopatka

1919 - 2007

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6630 BASKET

Walter Pitchford

Born 1992

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6631 PHILANTHROPIST

Mollie Wilmot

1926 - 2002

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6632 POLITICIAN

Robert Moak

Born 1958

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6633 ACTOR

Jim Hager

1941 - 2008

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6634 BASEBALL

Derek Lee (baseball)

Born 1966

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6635 BASKET

Mick Durham

-

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6636 BASEBALL

Max Fiske

1888 - 1928

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6637 PRODUCER

DJ Fokis

Born 1979

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6638 PLAYWRIGHT

Brandon Cole

-

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6639 BUSINESS

Jorge Canahuati Larach

Born 1956

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6640 POLO

Paul Butler (polo)

1892 - 1981

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6641 SPORT

Val Belmonte

Born 1951

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6642 COMPOSER

Bill Doerrfeld

Born 1964

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6643 CHEF

Ray Lampe

-

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6644 CARVER

H. S. "Andy" Anderson

1893 - 1960

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6645 BASKET

LaVonte Dority

Born 1991

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6646 POLITICIAN

Susan V. John

-

Preview
6647 FOOTBALL

Deac Sanders

Born 1950

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6648 CHOREOGRAPHER

David Dorfman (choreographer)

Born 1956

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6649 MISSING

Roger Bossard

Born 1949

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6650 BASEBALL

Dolores Moore

1932 - 2000

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6651 PHOTOGRAPHER

Jay W. Boersma

Born 1947

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6652 WRITER

Juan Pascoe

Born 1946

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6653 ACADEMIC

DeRionne P. Pollard

-

Preview
6654 ARCHITECT

Henry F. Ludorf

1899 - 1968

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6655 LAWYER

Carlos G. Muñiz

Born 1969

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6656 CHEMIST

William H. Fenical

Born 1941

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6657 SINGER

Anna Christy

-

Preview
6658 POLITICIAN

David H. Moore

Born 1965

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6659 BASEBALL

Frank Smykal

1889 - 1950

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6660 WRITER

Michael Kleen

Born 1981

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6661 JOURNALIST

Tal Kopan

Born 1986

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6662 DESIGNER

Michael Kutza

Born 1942

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6663 PRODUCER

Funkefeller

Born 1981

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6664 FOOTBALL

Chuck Kassel

1903 - 1977

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6665 WRITER

William Swank

Born 1940

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6666 SPORT

John Baxter (American football)

Born 1963

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6667 PROSTITUTE

Jean O'Hara

1913 - 1973

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6668 BASEBALL

Tom Connelly

1897 - 1941

Preview
6669 ARCHITECT

Patricia Saldaña Natke

Born 1964

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6670 JOCKEY

Dick Pike

1924 - 2003

Preview
6671 JAVELIN THROWER

Gunnar Petersson

1915 - 2003

Preview
6672 FOOTBALL

Bill McElwain

1903 - 1996

Preview
6673 BASEBALL

Irv Medlinger

1927 - 1975

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6674 FOOTBALL

Rudy Smeja

1920 - 1982

Preview
6675 BUSINESS

Tim Hunter (CEO)

Born 1968

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6676 FOOTBALL

Johnny Knolla

1919 - 1992

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6677 SWIMMER

Robert Zimmerman (swimmer)

1881 - 1980

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6678 SPRINT

Albert Robinson (athlete)

Born 1964

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6679 TRADE UNION

Richard Cordtz

1921 - 2006

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6680 WRITER

Julie Keith

-

Preview
6681 FOOTBALL

Ray Ulrich

1899 - 1950

Preview
6682 POLITICIAN

Marilyn Reid

Born 1941

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6683 RADIO

Jerry Girard

1932 - 2007

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6684 ARTIST

Alexandra Bell

Born 1983

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6685 FOOTBALL

Bill Gay

1927 - 2008

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6686 PLAYER

Bob Ryland

1920 - 2020

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6687 BUSINESS

Derrius Quarles

Born 1990

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6688 LAWYER

Alexander R. Grant

1925 - 2001

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6689 FOOTBALL

Justin Anderson (running back)

Born 1986

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6690 BASEBALL

Irene Kotowicz

1919 - 2002

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6691 POLITICIAN

Gilbert Villegas

Born 2015

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6692 POLITICIAN

Ken Sorensen

1934 - 2012

Preview
6693 LAWYER

Philip Willis Tone

1923 - 2001

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6694 BASEBALL

Fern Battaglia

1931 - 2001

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6695 SONGWRITER

Mark Hubbard

Born 1966

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6696 WRITER

ArLynn Leiber Presser

Born 1960

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6697 ACTOR

Guy Nardulli

Born 1974

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6698 NEWSCASTER

Tahera Rahman

Born 1990

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6699 BASEBALL

Jim Breton

1891 - 1973

Preview
6700 JOURNALIST

Marc Spiegler

Born 1968

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6701 BODYBUILDER

Sarah Dunlap

Born 1980

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6702 BASEBALL

Charlie Guth

1856 - 1883

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6703 BASEBALL

Chris Pelekoudas

1918 - 1984

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6704 BASEBALL

Dolly Niemiec

1931 - 2018

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6705 POLITICIAN

Torrey C. Brown

1937 - 2014

Preview
6706 BASEBALL

Arthur Allyn Jr.

1913 - 1985

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6707 BROTHER

Hyacinth Gabriel Connon

1911 - 1978

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6708 BUSINESS

Harry Grabiner

1890 - 1948

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6709 WRITER

Mary Moody

1870 - 1963

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6710 SECRETARY

D. Cameron Findlay

Born 1959

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6711 BASEBALL

Scott Lusader

Born 1963

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6712 BASEBALL

John Traffley

1862 - 1900

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6713 BASEBALL

Dave Alston

1846 - 1893

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6714 BASEBALL

Bill Johnson (1910s outfielder)

1892 - 1950

Preview
6715 COMPOSER

Raynard Miner

Born 1946

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6716 ENTREPRENEUR

Scotty Moylan

1916 - 2010

Preview
6717 BASEBALL

Abe Johnson

-

Preview
6718 RUNNER

Daniel Lopez (athlete)

Born 1968

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6719 BASKET

Juozas Jurgėla

1911 - 1961

Preview
6720 BOXER

Jerry Rosenberg (boxer)

Born 1960

Preview
6721 BOXER

Keith Liddell

-

Preview
6722 BASEBALL

Gloria Schweigerdt

1934 - 2014

Preview
6723 BASEBALL

Pauline Pirok

1926 - 2020

Preview
6724 PROGRAMMER

Ann Hardy

Born 1933

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6725 POLITICIAN

W. Raymond Beck

Born 1932

Preview
6726 SONGWRITER

Ramón Ayala (accordion player)

Born 1928

Preview
6727 POLITICIAN

Jason Ervin

Born 2011

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6728 BASEBALL

George Rooks

1863 - 1935

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6729 ILLUSTRATOR

William Schmedtgen

1862 - 1936

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6730 ACTIVIST

Barbara Thoman Curtis

1938 - 2015

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6731 LAWYER

Patricia A. Shiu

Born 1958

Preview
6732 POLITICIAN

Elga L. Jefferies

Born 1946

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6733 BUSINESS

Arthur B. Modine

1885 - 1981

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6734 BASEBALL

John Sullivan (pitcher)

1894 - 1958

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6735 LAWYER

Douglas L. Edmonds

1887 - 1962

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6736 BASEBALL

Otto Jacobs

1889 - 1955

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6737 COACH

Steve Johnson (American football, born 1956)

Born 1956

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6738 LAWYER

Tom Tuohy (attorney)

Born 1957

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6739 MILITAR

Lawrence Heyworth Jr.

1921 - 2003

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6740 MUSIC

Kenny Mann

1927 - 2008

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6741 ACTOR

Jarmila Vacková

1908 - 1971

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6742 EDITOR

Barbara G. Young

-

Preview
6743 BASKET

Chet Giermak

1928 - 2015

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6744 BANK

Ron Grzywinski

Born 1936

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6745 ARTIST

Jim Novak

Died 2018

Preview
6746 FOOTBALL

Chet Winters

Born 1960

Preview
6747 FOOTBALL

Dale Samuels

Born 1931

Preview
6748 FOOTBALL

Rich Coady (center)

Born 1944

Preview
6749 RAPPER

Denizen Kane

-

Preview
6750 BASEBALL

Ed Plank

Born 1952

Preview
6751 EXPLORER

Edde Gleerup

1860 - 1928

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6752 PAINTER

Keariene Muizz

Born 1977

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6753 FLYING ACE

Emile John Lussier

1895 - 1974

Preview
6754 ENGINEER

Hank Magnuski

Born 1944

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6755 SPY

Ernest Floege

1898 - 1996

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6756 AVIATOR

John Spoor Broome

1917 - 2009

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6757 SKATER

Tiffany Sfikas

Born 1977

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6758 BASEBALL

Fred Marolewski

Born 1928

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6759 COMPOSER

Kenn Smith

Born 1962

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6760 ENTERTAINER

Bill Malone (magician)

-

Preview
6761 RADIO

Jimmy Novak

-

Preview
6762 BASKET

Chris Bracey

Born 1980

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6763 MARINE

John Henry Helms

1874 - 1919

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6764 BIOLOGIST

Lloyd M. Kozloff

1923 - 2012

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6765 POLITICIAN

Chris Rabb

-

Preview
6766 FOOTBALL

Guy Murdock

Born 1950

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6767 HANDBALL

Michael Lenard

Born 1955

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6768 SINGER

Yvonne Gage

Born 1959

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6769 BASEBALL

Mike Young (cricket)

Born 1955

Preview
6770 DANCER

Hogan McLaughlin

Born 1989

Preview
6771 BASEBALL

Gene Rye

1906 - 1980

Preview
6772 PSYCHIATRIST

Harvey D. Strassman

1922 - 2011

Preview
6773 PRODUCER

Sax Kari

1920 - 2009

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6774 JUDGE

Larry Kirkwood

Born 1941

Preview
6775 FOOTBALL

John Foley (American football)

Born 1968

Preview
6776 BASEBALL

Herold Juul

1893 - 1942

Preview
6777 BANK

Benjamin N. Maltz

1901 - 1993

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6778 PAINTER

John Himmelfarb

Born 1946

Preview
6779 OFFICER

Gus George Bebas

1914 - 1942

Preview
6780 PSYCHOLOGIST

Alberta Banner Turner

1909 - 2008

Preview
6781 SONGWRITER

Shari Addison

Born 1962

Preview
6782 BASKET

Sidney Port

1911 - 2007

Preview
6783 BRYOLOGIST

Henry Andrew Imshaug

1925 - 2010

Preview
6784 BASEBALL

Tony Tonneman

1881 - 1951

Preview
6785 ADMIRAL

Ed Keats

1915 - 2019

Preview
6786 FOOTBALL

Dunc Annan

1895 - 1981

Preview
6787 AUTHOR

Victor Antonio González

Born 1963

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6788 FOOTBALL

John Moyer (American football)

Born 1975

Preview
6789 DANCER

Libby Komaiko

1949 - 2019

Preview
6790 WRITER

Gene Lancour

Born 1947

Preview
6791 ENGINEER

Betty Lou Bailey

1929 - 2007

Preview
6792 SCULPTOR

Gwen Lux

1908 - 1987

Preview
6793 BASEBALL

Sig Gryska

1914 - 1994

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6794 MUSIC

Jo Ann Garrett

Born 1954

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6795 BASEBALL

Eddie Stack

1887 - 1958

Preview
6796 PRELATE

James Michael Ryan

1912 - 2002

Preview
6797 ACTOR

Carmen Phillips (1937–2002)

1895 - 2002

Preview
6798 MILITAR

Sean Lawler

-

Preview
6799 FOOTBALL

Cesar Zambrano

Born 1984

Preview
6800 RAPPER

Keith James

Born 1987

Preview
6801 BASEBALL

Josephine Lenard

1921 - 2007

Preview
6802 POLITICIAN

Connie L. Johnson

Born 1969

Preview
6803 POLITICIAN

Michael Scott Jr.

Born 2015

Preview
6804 ADMIRAL

Edward C. Waller

Born 1926

Preview
6805 BASKET

Darron Brittman

Born 1962

Preview
6806 BASEBALL

Irene Ruhnke

1920 - 1999

Preview
6807 SONGWRITER

Angela Spivey

Born 1959

Preview
6808 ICHTHYOLOGIST

Gareth Jon Nelson

Born 1937

Preview
6809 POLITICIAN

Richard Bandstra

Born 1950

Preview
6810 LAWYER

Ed Genson

1942 - 2020

Preview
6811 BASEBALL

Art Delaney

1897 - 1970

Preview
6812 FOOTBALL

Joe Windbiel

1897 - 1971

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6813 ARTIST

Sayre Gomez

Born 1982

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6814 ASESIN

Fred Goldman

Born 1940

Preview
6815 BASKET

Andre Smith (Nebraska basketball)

-

Preview
6816 EDUCATION

Rita Walters

1930 - 2020

Preview
6817 WRITER

Andra Medea

Born 1953

Preview
6818 BASEBALL

Charlie Wiedemeyer

1914 - 1979

Preview
6819 ROWER

Christine Campbell (rower)

Born 1964

Preview
6820 FOOTBALL

Derrick Strong

Born 1981

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6821 SINGER

Cedric Ford

Born 1968

Preview
6822 RADIO

Mark Wilson (radio broadcaster)

Born 1960

Preview
6823 JOURNALIST

Beauty Turner

1957 - 2008

Preview
6824 SPORT

Marcus Arnold

Born 1984

Preview
6825 ENTREPRENEUR

Max Samuel Grifenhagen

1861 - 1932

Preview
6826 FOOTBALL

Cuitlahuac Meza

Born 1990

Preview
6827 BUSINESS

Bill Zender

Born 1955

Preview
6828 PHILANTHROPY

Andrew Watson Armour III

1908 - 1991

Preview
6829 LAWYER

Kelly McDowell

1952 - 2017

Preview
6830 BASKET

Jason Price

Born 1978

Preview
6831 BASEBALL

Arlene Kotil

Born 1934

Preview
6832 FOOTBALL

Jim Andreotti

Born 1938

Preview
6833 BASEBALL

John A. Bloomingston

1874 - 1942

Preview
6834 SECRETARY

Georges C. Benjamin

Born 1952

Preview
6835 MUSIC

Gabe Noel

Born 1985

Preview
6836 BUSINESS

Arnold Johnson (industrialist)

1906 - 1960

Preview
6837 POLITICIAN

Jay Kahn

Born 1950

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6838 COMPOSER

Chuckey Charles

Born 1970

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6839 SPORT

Ed Short

1920 - 1984

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6840 LAWYER

Richard A. Devine

Born 1943

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6841 FOOTBALL

Paul Veeder

1885 - 1942

Preview
6842 LAWYER

Isaac Henry Mayer

1864 - 1967

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6843 PLAYER

David Fee

Born 1976

Preview
6844 FOOTBALL

David Petway

Born 1955

Preview
6845 FOOTBALL

Peter Mannos

Born 1954

Preview
6846 WRITER

Ethel Sturges Dummer

1866 - 1954

Preview
6847 BASKET

Devontae Cacok

Born 1996

Preview
6848 BASKET

John Taylor (basketball)

Born 1989

Preview
6849 PHYSIOLOGIST

Hilda Rosene Lund

1897 - 1978

Preview
6850 SPORT

Paddy Ryan (rugby union, born 1990)

Born 1990

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6851 PHYSICIAN

Ronald Davis (physician)

1956 - 2008

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6852 BASEBALL

Otto Bluege

1909 - 1977

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6853 ARMY

Barry Swanson

Born 1950

Preview
6854 BASEBALL

Tom Kane (baseball)

1906 - 1973

Preview
6855 PAINTER

Arthur Lerner

Born 1929

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6856 ACTOR

Jonathan Fraser

Born 1967

Preview
6857 DESIGNER

Rudy Krolopp

Born 1930

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6858 MUSIC

Claude Lawrence

Born 1944

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6859 POLITICIAN

John Mockler (politician)

1941 - 2015

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6860 PROFESSOR

Kevin Karplus

Born 1954

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6861 ALDERMAN

Bernie Hansen

Born 1944

Preview
6862 ATHLETIC

Bernice Robinson (athlete)

Born 1927

Preview
6863 LAWYER

Frank James McGarr

1921 - 2012

Preview
6864 LAWYER

Frederic R. DeYoung

1875 - 1934

Preview
6865 POLITICIAN

Melissa Conyears

-

Preview
6866 PROFESSOR

Joel D. Kopple

Born 1938

Preview
6867 GOLF

Louis N. James

1882 - 1935

Preview
6868 FILM

Mya Baker

-

Preview
6869 SKATER

Augie Hill

Born 1985

Preview
6870 PIANIST

Paul Jordan

Born 1916

Preview
6871 BASEBALL

John Kane (infielder)

1900 - 1956

Preview
6872 ENGINEER

Hugh Daniel

1962 - 2013

Preview
6873 SCULPTOR

Merle Temkin

Born 1937

Preview
6874 BASEBALL

Don Johnson (second baseman)

1911 - 2000

Preview
6875 PSYCHOLOGIST

Marilynn Brewer

Born 1968

Preview
6876 ACTOR

Jeff Glassman

Born 1949

Preview
6877 CHEMIST

Antoinette Rodez Schiesler

1934 - 1996

Preview
6878 WRITER

Lina Trivedi

Born 1973

Preview
6879 PAINTER

Fern Shaffer

Born 1944

Preview
6880 BUSINESS

Jasper Sanfilippo

Died 2020

Preview
6881 ARTIST

Harvey Goldman

Born 1951

Preview
6882 POLITICIAN

Clem Balanoff

Born 1953

Preview
6883 EMPLOYEE

Cheryle Robinson Jackson

Born 1965

Preview
6884 ORGANIST

Maceo Woods

1932 - 2020

Preview
6885 FOOTBALL

Keith Kinderman

1940 - 2018

Preview
6886 FOOTBALL

Andy Rosenband

Born 1981

Preview
6887 SWIMMER

Eleanor Coleman

1905 - 1978

Preview
6888 SPORT

Philip G. Johnson (horseman)

1925 - 2004

Preview
6889 HOCKEY

Patrick Byrne (sledge hockey)

Born 1965

Preview
6890 BASEBALL

Chet Hajduk

1918 - 2006

Preview
6891 SENIOR ANALYST

Fritz Ermarth

Born 1941

Preview
6892 OFFICER

Max Silverstein

1911 - 1942

Preview
6893 FILM

Louis J. Witte

1894 - 1975

Preview
6894 LUTHIER

Carl Fredrick Becker

1919 - 2013

Preview
6895 ACTOR

Sly Smith

Born 1949

Preview
6896 VOCALIST

Patrick Girondi

-

Preview
6897 RACECAR

Percy Ford (racing driver)

1888 - 1962

Preview
6898 OFFICER

Harold D. Shannon

1892 - 1943

Preview
6899 BASEBALL

Bruce Hartford

1892 - 1975

Preview
6900 CINEMATOGRAPHER

Edwin F. Weigle

1889 - 1973

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