# List of people from Park Forest, Illinois

The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Park Forest, Illinois. For a similar list organized alphabetically by last name, see the category page People from Park Forest, Illinois. Sheila McGann

## Academics and authors

| Name | Birth | Death | Known for | Association |
| Eugene Izzi | Mar 23, 1953 | Dec 7, 1996 | Crime writer | |
| David Mamet | Nov 30, 1947 | | Author, playwright, screenwriter, and film director; Pulitzer Prize winner | |
| Jeff Mariotte | | | Author and editor | Born in Park Forest |
| Kathy Reichs | Mar 26, 1950 | | Professor of Anthropology, University of North Carolina, Charlotte; forensic anthropologist and crime novelist | |
| Stephen Shames | 1947 | | Photographer, artist, and author | |
| Charles J. Shields | Dec 2, 1951 | | Author | |

## Acting

| Name | Birth | Death | Known for | Association |
| Tom Berenger | May 31, 1949 | | Actor known for such films as Platoon, Major League and The Big Chill | Alumnus of Rich East HS |
| Etel Billig | Dec 16, 1932 | Mar 28, 2012 | Actress and drama faculty at Prairie State College; co-founded the Illinois Theatre Center | |
| Aree Davis | Feb 19, 1991 | | Actress (The Haunted Mansion) | Born in Park Forest |

## Business

| Name | Image | Birth | Death | Known for | Association | Reference |
| Bruce Pavitt | | Mar 7, 1959 | | Founder of Sub Pop record label | | |
| Howard Putnam | | Aug 21, 1937 | | CEO of Southwest Airlines and Braniff International Airways | | |

## Journalism

| Name | Image | Birth | Death | Known for | Association | Reference |
| Chris Bury | | Dec 10, 1953 | | Journalist with ABC Nightline; Emmy Award winner | | |

## Music

| Name | Birth | Death | Known for | Association |
| Janna Allen | May 12, 1957 | Aug 25, 1993 | Songwriter | |
| Bruce Bromberg | Oct 31, 1941 | Dec 27, 2021 | Record producer | |
| Felix da Housecat | Aug 25, 1971 | | DJ and record producer | Alumnus of Rich East HS |
| David Liebe Hart | Apr 19, 1957 | | Musician and performance artist; cast member of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! | Born in Park Forest |
| Arthur W. ("Art") Hodes | Nov 14, 1904 | Mar 4, 1993 | Ukraine-born jazz pianist, writer, and educator | |
| Susan Kempter | | | Violinist, author and String Pedagogy Director, University of New Mexico | |
| Berry Oakley | Apr 4, 1948 | Nov 11, 1972 | Bassist and founding member of The Allman Brothers Band | |
| Tom Spahn | Jul 30, 1955 | | Emmy Award-winning composer, musician, recording engineer, producer | |
| Kim Thayil | Sep 4, 1960 | | Guitarist for rock group Soundgarden | |
| Dawn Upshaw | Jul 17, 1960 | | Soprano singer | |
| Hiro Yamamoto | Apr 13, 1961 | | Bassist, singer-songwriter, co-founder of Soundgarden | |

## Politics and law

| Name | Birth | Death | Known for |
| Jim Edgar | Jul 22, 1946 | | 38th Governor of Illinois |
| Philip Klutznick | Jul 9, 1907 | Aug 14, 1999 | US ambassador to the United Nations; U.S. Secretary of Commerce; Chicago Bulls franchise President; President of World Jewish Congress |
| Ann Rest | Apr 24, 1942 | | State senator from Minnesota |

## Sports

| Name | Birth | Known for | Association |
| Steve Fisher | Mar 24, 1945 | Head basketball coach at San Diego State University and University of Michigan (1989 NCAA champions) | Began coaching at Rich East HS, Park Forest |
| Craig Hodges | Jun 27, 1960 | Shooting guard for four NBA teams; two-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls (1991-1992) | Alumnus of Rich East HS |
| Chuck Martin | Jun 8, 1968 | Football head coach, Miami of Ohio; former offensive coordinator for Notre Dame | Born in Park Forest |
| Larry McCarren | Nov 9, 1951 | Pro Bowl center for the Green Bay Packers (1973–1984); sports commentator | Alumnus of Rich East HS |
| Pete Stanicek | Apr 16, 1963 | Second baseman and left fielder for the Baltimore Orioles | Alumnus of Rich East HS |
| Steve Stanicek | Jun 19, 1961 | Designated hitter for the Milwaukee Brewers | Alumnus of Rich East HS |