W
- The Wachowskis, filmmakers, the Matrix trilogy
- Dwyane Wade, NBA Star for the Miami Heat
- Becky Wahlstrom, actress, Joan of Arcadia
- David Foster Wallace, author
- Eric Wallace, politician (Republican), entrepreneur, pastor
- Matt Walsh, actor, writer, comedian, Upright Citizens Brigade, The Hangover
- Kevin Walter, wide receiver for the Houston Texans
- Aaron Montgomery Ward, retail businessman and creator of the mail order catalog
- Muddy Waters, blues musician and songwriter
- Elmo Scott Watson, journalist and university professor
- James D. Watson, molecular biologist, geneticist, zoologist, co-discoverer of the structure of DNA
- Jason Weaver, actor, Smart Guy, Thea
- Alvin M. Weinberg, nuclear physicist
- Robbie Weinhardt, relief pitcher for the Detroit Tigers
- Michael T. Weiss, actor, The Pretender, The Legend of Tarzan, Dark Shadows
- Raquel Welch, actress, author and sex symbol
- Jon Wellner, actor, Henry Andrews on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
- George Wendt, actor, Norm Peterson on the television show Cheers
- John Wentworth, politician (Democrat), U.S. Congressman, Mayor of Chicago and newspaper editor
- Pete Wentz, bass player of Fall Out Boy
- Jayson Werth, outfielder for the Washington Nationals
- Kanye West, rap musician, songwriter, producer
- Haskell Wexler, cinematographer, film producer, director
- Betty White, actress, comedian, The Golden Girls, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Proposal, Hot in Cleveland
- Richard Widmark, actor
- George Will, conservative Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, journalist, ABC news analyst, author
- Frances E. Willard, suffragist and social activist
- Cynda Williams, actress
- Dick Anthony Williams, actor, Homefront, Heart of the City
- Jason Williams, inside linebacker for the Carolina Panthers
- Kyle Williams, wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers
- Robin Williams, actor, comedian, Night at the Museum, Mrs. Doubtfire, Aladdin
- George Wilson, NFL player and coach
- Martez Wilson, linebacker for the New Orleans Saints
- Oprah Winfrey, television host, actress, producer, media magnate and icon
- Samuel Witwer, actor, Davis Bloome on Smallville
- Gary K. Wolf, author of the mystery novel that became the basis for Who Framed Roger Rabbit
- Hillary Wolf, former child actress, judo player, Home Alone, Home Alone 2
- Ross Wolf, relief pitcher for the Houston Astros
- Garrett Wolfe, running back for the Chicago Bears
- Amy Wright, actress
- Frank Lloyd Wright, architect, designer, writer and educator
- Jeremiah Wright, former pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ
- Julian Wright, small forward for the Toronto Raptors
- Alex Wurman, film and TV composer
Read more about this topic: List Of People From Illinois