Notable Actors and TV Personalities
- Joan Allen (worked with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company)
- Gillian Anderson (born in Chicago but raised in the UK and Michigan, went to college in Chicago)
- Ann-Margret (grew up in Fox Lake and Wilmette, Illinois)
- Alan Arkin (a founding member of The Second City)
- Jennifer Beals
- James Belushi (aka Jim Belushi, grew up in Wheaton, Illinois)
- John Belushi (grew up in Wheaton, Illinois)
- Jack Benny
- Karen Black
- Lara Flynn Boyle
- Philip Brooks, also known as CM Punk, a professional wrestler
- Billy Campbell
- Steve Carell (Second City alum)
- Dan Castellaneta (Second City alum)
- Stephen Colbert (Second City alum)
- Joan Cusack (grew up in Evanston, Illinois)
- John Cusack (grew up in Evanston, Illinois)
- Zooey Deschanel (briefly attended Northwestern University)
- Andy Dick (grew up in Joliet, Illinois)
- Rachel Dratch (Second City alum)
- Michael Clarke Duncan
- Leslie Erganian
- Dennis Farina
- Chris Farley (lived in the John Hancock Center)
- Tina Fey (Second City alum)
- Miss Foozie
- Harrison Ford
- Dennis Franz
- Jeff Garlin (grew up in Chicago, was once roommates with Conan O'Brien in Chicago)
- Jami Gertz
- Kathy Griffin
- Brad Hall
- Daryl Hannah
- Barbara Harris (born in Evanston)
- Reggie Hayes
- Sean Hayes (grew up in Glen Ellyn, Illinois)
- Marilu Henner (grew up in Chicago)
- Charlton Heston (born in Evanston and grew up in Wilmette, Illinois)
- Jennifer Hudson (born and raised in Chicago)
- Rock Hudson (grew up in Winnetka, Illinois)
- Bonnie Hunt (grew up in Chicago)
- Laura Innes (went to Northwestern University, worked in Chicago theater)
- Jenny Jones (taped her TV show in Chicago)
- Michael Jordan
- Karyn Kupcinet (daughter of Chicago columnist Irv Kupcinet)
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus (attended Northwestern University, was an improv performer in Chicago at ETC on Howard Street before moving to New York for Saturday Night Live)
- Bernie Mac (grew up in Chicago)
- Michael Madsen (grew up in Evanston)
- Virginia Madsen (grew up in the north suburbs)
- John Mahoney (settled in Chicago)
- Karl Malden
- John Malkovich (co-founded the Steppenwolf Theatre Company)
- Joe Mantegna (born in Chicago, grew up in Cicero, Illinois, worked with the Organic Theatre Company in Chicago)
- Greg Mathis (aka Judge Mathis, whose TV show is taped in Chicago)
- Marlee Matlin
- Jenny McCarthy (grew up in the South Side)
- Tim Meadows (Second City alum)
- Laurie Metcalf (began her career as a cast member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company)
- Megan Mullally (worked in Chicago theater for six years after dropping out from Northwestern University)
- Bill Murray (grew up in Wilmette, Illinois)
- Brian Doyle-Murray (grew up in Wilmette, Illinois)
- Ajay Naidu (grew up in Evanston, Illinois)
- Bob Newhart
- Conan O'Brien (lived in Wrigleyville in the summer of 1988)
- Chris O'Donnell (grew up in Winnetka, Illinois)
- David Otunga, a professional wrestler
- Adam Pearce (aka "Scrap Iron" Pearce - pro wrestler, grew up in Waukegan, trained in Chicago)
- William Petersen (grew up in Evanston, Illinois)
- Jeremy Piven (grew up in Evanston, Illinois)
- Amy Poehler (worked with Tina Fey in Chicago, still works with the Upright Citizens Brigade, which moved to New York in 1996)
- Ray Pritchett Actor- (Born & Raised Chicago IL.- Actor)
- Harold Ramis (grew up in Chicago)
- John C. Reilly
- Denise Richards (grew up in Downers Grove, Illinois)
- Andy Richter (grew up in Yorkville, Illinois; worked with several improv groups in Chicago)
- Joan Rivers (performed briefly with Second City)
- Michael Rooker
- Pat Sajak (grew up in Chicago)
- Fred Savage (lived in Glencoe, Illinois in his childhood years)
- Randy Savage (grew up in Downers Grove, Illinois)
- David Schwimmer (co-founded the Lookingglass Theatre Company)
- Amy Sedaris (Second City alum)
- Gary Sinise (grew up in Highland Park, Illinois)
- Jerry Springer (part-time resident of Chicago whose TV show is taped in that city)
- Michael Stoyanov (Second City alum)
- Mr. T (grew up in the Robert Taylor Homes and lived in Lake Forest, Illinois)
- Vince Vaughn (grew up in Buffalo Grove and Lake Forest, Illinois)
- Stephnie Weir (Second City alum)
- Michael T. Weiss (grew up in Northbrook, Illinois)
- George Wendt (grew up in Chicago)
- Pete Wentz
- Fred Willard (Second City alum)
- Oprah Winfrey (lives in Chicago and Santa Barbara County, California; owns property in Maui, Hawaii)
- Billy Zane
Read more about this topic: List Of Entertainers Who Have Lived In Or Near Chicago
Famous quotes containing the words notable and/or actors:
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“The motives to actions and the inward turns of mind seem in our opinion more necessary to be known than the actions themselves; and much rather would we choose that our reader should clearly understand what our principal actors think than what they do.”
—Sarah Fielding (1710–1768)