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- Wyatt Earp (1848–1929), American gambler, investor, and law enforcement officer
- Christine Ebersole (born 1953), actress, singer, Saturday Night Live, The Cavanaughs, Ryan's Hope
- Roger Ebert (1942–present), Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, film critic and author
- Buddy Ebsen, actor, The Beverly Hillbillies, Barnaby Jones
- Ninian Edwards, politician (Democratic-Republican) and Governor of Illinois
- Dave Eggers, writer, editor, and publisher, author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
- David Eigenberg, actor, Steve Brady on Sex and the City
- Deborah Eisenberg, short story writer, actress
- Brett Eldredge, country music singer
- Larry Ellison, co-founder and chief executive of the Oracle Corporation
- John Ely, starting pitcher for the L.A. Dodgers
- Melvin Ely, center and power forward for the Denver Nuggets
- Rahm Emanuel, Politician (Democrat), former US Congressman, White House Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama
- Larry English, outside linebacker for the San Diego Chargers
- John Erlander, founder of Rockford Union Furniture Company.
- Richard Estes, photorealistic painter
- Fred Evans, defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings
Read more about this topic: List Of People From Illinois