# List of people from Kankakee, Illinois

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

## Film, television, and theater

* Jordan Black (born 1970), actor
* David Bruce (1914–1976), actor
* Bryan Dattilo (born 1971), actor
* Kristin Dattilo (born 1970), actress
* Merna Kennedy (1908–1944), actress
* Fred MacMurray (1908–1991), actor, star of more than 100 films and TV series My Three Sons
* Nancy Snyder (born 1949), actress
* Randy Spears (born 1961), actor
* Kara Zediker, actress
* Rico Ross, actor

## Literature and media

* Jill De Vries (born 1953), Playboy Playmate, October 1975
* Harold Gray (1894–1968), creator of Little Orphan Annie
* Paul Hendrickson (born 1944), author

## Military

* Thomas V. Draude (born 1940), decorated U.S. Marine officer
* Harry Stella (1916–1997), decorated U.S. Army colonel

## Music

* Yea Big, musician
* Gregory Kunde (born 1954), operatic tenor
* Cora Decker Sargent (1868-1944), composer
* Doodie Lo , rapper
* Eric Swanson, musician
* Munk Julious, musician https://groovefindersworld.wordpress.com/2018/04/02/corey-mccue-aka-munk-julious/ https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/g/11ckkxnhm0&hl=en-US&q=Munk+Julious&kgs=85d4dc0dd2dc1711&shndl=17&shem=ssim&source=sh/x/kp/osrp/m5/1

## Politics and law

* Benjamin W. Alpiner (1867–1946), Illinois state legislator and mayor of Kankakee
* Louis E. Beckman (1876–1946), Illinois state legislator and mayor of Kankakee
* Louis E. Beckman Jr. (1914–1992), Illinois state legislator; born in Kankakee
* John Benoit (1951–2016), California state legislator, was born in Kankakee.
* Edward McBroom (1925–1990), Illinois state legislator and businessman
* Mary K. O'Brien (born 1965), Illinois state legislator and judge, was born in Kankakee.
* Daniel H. Paddock (1852–1905), Illinois state representative and lawyer, lived in Kankakee.
* George Ryan (born 1934), 39th governor of Illinois
* Samuel H. Shapiro (1907–1987), 34th Governor of Illinois, practiced law in Kankakee and died there at age 79
* Lennington Small (1862–1936), 26th governor of Illinois
* Chastity Wells-Armstrong (born 1971/1972), first African-American to serve as mayor of Kankakee
* Hamilton K. Wheeler (August 5, 1848 – July 19, 1918) was an Illinois State Senator and U.S. Representative from Kankakee
* Herman W. Snow (1836–1914), U.S. representative, Civil War captain, lived and died in Kankakee.
* Rick Winkel (born 1956), Illinois state legislator, was born in Kankakee.
* Adam Kinzinger (born 1978), United States House member from 2011 to 2023 and Lieutenant Colonel (United States) in the Air National Guard, was born in Kankakee.

## Science and art

* George Grey Barnard (1863–1938), sculptor, raised in Kankakee
* Vernon W. Hughes (1921–2003), physicist, born in Kankakee

## Sports

* Rube Foster (1879–1930), baseball Hall of Famer, died in Kankakee
* Tyjuan Hagler (born 1981), NFL linebacker and Super Bowl (XLI) champion
* Scott Meents (born 1964), NBA player, born in Kankakee
* Ted Petersen (born 1955), NFL offensive lineman
* Billy Petrick (born 1984), MLB pitcher
* Tom Prince (born 1964), MLB catcher, born in Kankakee
* Joie Ray (1894–1978), three-time Olympian, bronze medalist, born in Kankakee
* Mike Russow (born 1976), UFC mixed martial artist
* Harv Schmidt (1935–2020), college basketball coach
* Jack Sikma (born 1955), Hall of Fame NBA player from 1976–91, born in Kankakee
* Jimmy Smith (born 1960), NFL running back
* Lorenzo Smith III (born 1978), Olympic bobsledder
* Bruce Vaughan (born 1956), professional golfer
* Jonathan Ward (born 1997), NFL running back
* Terry Wells (born 1963), MLB pitcher

## Other

* Lemuel Milk (1820–1893), landowner, businessman, lived and died in Kankakee
* John Moisant (1868–1910), aviation pioneer, born in Kankakee