List of people from Joliet, Illinois
Encyclopedia
The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Joliet, Illinois
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Joliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
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Authors and academics
- Ann BannonAnn BannonAnn Bannon is an American author who, from 1957 to 1962, wrote six lesbian pulp fiction novels known as The Beebo Brinker Chronicles. The books' enduring popularity and impact on lesbian identity has earned her the title "Queen of Lesbian Pulp Fiction"...
(b. 1932), pulp fiction writer. - John HouboltJohn HouboltJohn Cornelius Houbolt is a retired aerospace engineer. He is generally credited with having effectively promoted the lunar mission mode called Lunar Orbit Rendezvous or LOR. This flight path was first endorsed by Wernher von Braun in June 1961 and was chosen for Apollo program in early 1962...
(b. 1919), retired space engineer, generally credited with having effectively promoted the lunar mission mode. called Lunar Orbit Rendezvous (LOR) - Mort KondrackeMort KondrackeMorton M. Kondracke is an American political commentator and journalist. He gained great visibility via a long stint as a panelist on The McLaughlin Group. Kondracke worked for several leading publications, serving for twenty years as executive editor and columnist for the non-partisan Capitol...
(b. 1939), political commentator and journalist. - Robert NovakRobert NovakRobert David Sanders "Bob" Novak was an American syndicated columnist, journalist, television personality, author, and conservative political commentator. After working for two newspapers before serving for the U.S. Army in the Korean War, he became a reporter for the Associated Press and then for...
(1931–2009), former syndicated columnist, television personality, author, and conservative political commentator. - Edwin Way TealeEdwin Way TealeEdwin Way Teale was an American naturalist, photographer, and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer. Teale's works serve as primary source material documenting environmental conditions across North America from 1930 - 1980...
(1899–1980), naturalist, photographer, and Pulitzer PrizePulitzer PrizeThe Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning author
Business
- John Fremont McCullough (1871‒1963), co-founder of Dairy Queen, opened first store in Joliet in 1940.
- William Cornelius Van HorneWilliam Cornelius Van HorneSir William Cornelius Van Horne, KCMG was a pioneering Canadian railway executive.-Life and career:Born in 1843 in rural Illinois, he moved with his family to Joliet, Illinois when he was eight years old...
(1843–1915), pioneering Canadian railway executive.
Media and arts
- Charlie AdamsCharlie Adams (drummer)Charlie Adams is an American drummer, percussionist, drum engineer, composer, music producer, and film producer. He formed the rock band Chameleon in the 1980s, and was known for his revolving, upside-down drum set. He has been drum lead for Yanni through nine major concert tours...
(b. 1954), drummer for Chameleon and Yanni, spokesman for Autism Society of America. - John BarrowmanJohn BarrowmanJohn Scot Barrowman is a Scottish-American singer, actor, dancer, musical theatre performer and media personality. Born in Glasgow yet growing up in Illinois after his family emigrated to the United States when he was eight years old, Barrowman was encouraged to further his love for music and...
(b. 1967), Scottish singer, actor, dancer, musical performer and media personality. - Nora BayesNora BayesNora Bayes was a popular American singer, comedienne and actress of the early 20th century.-Early life and career:...
(1880–1928), singer, comedienne and actress. - John BeckJohn Beck (actor)John Beck is an American actor. He grew up in Joliet, Illinois. Renowned as a gritty actor with plenty of presence on set, he is ultimately best-known worldwide for playing the role of Mark Graison in Dallas during the mid-1980s, but is also well-known for several other roles in which he...
(b. 1943), actor. - Jodi CarlisleJodi CarlisleJodi Carlisle is an American actress. She appeared in several television and film roles since 1982.-Voice work:Voice actress Jodi Carlisle has been doing voice work for a number of years, beginning on the cartoon series Pac Man in 1982...
(b. 1960), actress. - Jimmy ChamberlinJimmy ChamberlinJimmy Chamberlin is an American drummer, songwriter, and producer. He is best known as the former drummer for the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. After a drug-related incident with touring keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin in 1996, Chamberlin was fired from the band and joined The Last...
(b. 1964), drummer, songwriter and producer, formerly of The Smashing Pumpkins. - Tyler Christopher (b. 1972), actor, best known for his roles on General Hospital.
- Adrianne Curry (b. 1982), model, best known as the first winner of America's Next Top Model.
- Lois DelanderLois DelanderLois Eleanor Delander was Miss America in 1927.Delander, a native of Joliet, Illinois and high school junior, aged 16, won the crown on her parents' twentieth wedding anniversary. The pageant was not held again until 1932. She died near Chicago in 1985.- References :...
(1911–1985), Miss America in 1927. - Andy DickAndy DickAndrew R. "Andy" Dick is an American comedian, actor, musician and television/film producer. His first regular television role was on the short-lived but highly influential Ben Stiller Show. In the mid-1990s, he had a long-running stint on NBC's NewsRadio...
(b. 1965), comedian, actor, musician and television/film producer. - Janina GavankarJanina GavankarJanina Zione Gavankar is an Indian-American actress and musician of mixed Indian and Dutch descent. Gavankar is also trained as a pianist, vocalist, and orchestral percussionist...
(b. 1980), actress and musician. - Kathryn HaysKathryn HaysKathryn Hays is an American actress. She was born in Princeton, Illinois and grew up in Joliet, Illinois.In the 1966-1967 television season, Hays appeared as Elizabeth Reynolds Pride in the NBC western series The Road West, with co-stars Barry Sullivan, Andrew Prine, Kelly Corcoran, and Glenn...
(b. 1933), actress. - Mercedes McCambridgeMercedes McCambridgeCarlotta Mercedes McCambridge was an American actress. Orson Welles called her "the world's greatest living radio actress."-Early life:...
(1916–2004), film and radio actress, won the 1949 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in All the King's Men. - Don MurrayDon Murray (clarinetist)Don Murray was an early jazz clarinet and saxophone player.Don Murray was born in Joliet, Illinois, and attended high school in Chicago. In his teens he made a name for himself as one of the best young jazz clarinetists and saxophonists in the city...
(1904–1929), jazz clarinet and saxophone player. - Ann NesbyAnn NesbyAnn Nesby is an American R&B, gospel, and dance music singer and actress. She is the former lead singer of Sounds of Blackness; a songwriter with credits including hits sung by Patti Labelle and Gladys Knight; plus she co-starred in the 2003 romance musical The Fighting Temptations with Cuba...
(b. 1950), R&B, gospel, and dance music singer/songwriter and actress, former lead singer of Sounds of Blackness. - Larry ParksLarry ParksLarry Parks was an American stage and movie actor. He was born Samuel Klausman Lawrence Parks. His career was virtually ended when he admitted to having once been a member of a Communist party cell, which led to his blacklisting by all Hollywood studios.-Background:Parks grew up in Joliet,...
(1914–1975), former stage and film actor. - Doug PinnickDoug PinnickDoug Pinnick sometimes stylised as dUg Pinnick or simply dUg is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the hard rock/progressive metal band King's X. He has fourteen albums with King's X, four solo albums, and numerous side projects and guest...
(b. 1950), bass guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for King's X. - Adam RappAdam RappAdam Rapp is a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, musician and film director. His play Red Light Winter was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2006.-Early life:...
(b. 1968), novelist, playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker and musician. - Anthony RappAnthony RappAnthony Deane Rapp is an American stage and film actor and singer best known for originating the role of Mark Cohen in the Broadway production of Rent in 1996 and later for reprising the role in the film version and the Broadway Tour of Rent in 2009...
(b. 1971), stage and film actor and singer. - Phyllis Reynolds NaylorPhyllis Reynolds NaylorPhyllis Reynolds Naylor is an American author best known for her children and young adult fiction books. Naylor is best known for her children's-novel trilogy Shiloh , Shiloh Season and Saving Shiloh, all made into movies...
(b. 1933), children's and young adult fiction author. - Lionel RichieLionel RichieLionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
(b. 1949), Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer. - Daniel RuettigerDaniel RuettigerDaniel Eugene "Rudy" Ruettiger is a motivational speaker and former collegiate football player for the University of Notre Dame, who is best known as the inspiration for the motion picture Rudy....
(b. 1948), motivational speaker and former Notre Dame football player, best known as the inspiration for the motion picture Rudy. - Lynne ThigpenLynne ThigpenCherlynne Theresa “Lynne” Thigpen was an American stage and television actress, most famous as "The Chief" in the various Carmen Sandiego television series.-Early life:...
(1948–2003), former Tony Award winning stage and TV actress. - Audrey TotterAudrey TotterAudrey Mary Totter is an American actress and former Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract star of Austrian-Slovene and Swedish descent...
(b. 1918), actress and former MGM contract star. - Vince VielufVince VielufVincent Ernest "Vince" Vieluf is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in Rat Race and the short-lived UPN sitcom Love, Inc....
(b. 1970), actor.
Bands
- Five Pointe OFive pointe oFive Pointe O was a six-piece alternative metal music group from Joliet, Illinois.-Name origin:The meaning of Five Pointe O is as follows. Five represents the fifth element of the earth: everything that comes from within the human mind and soul. Pointe gives the fifth element a sense of direction...
, former six-piece alternative rock music group, active 1999 to 2003. - Height of Roman FashionHeight of Roman FashionHeight of Roman Fashion is an American rock band whose members originally hail from Joliet, Illinois .The group's music is a combination of hard rock and progressive rock but with the underlying sensibility and structure of power pop...
, rock band formed in 2004 that recorded the theme song for InkedInkedInked is a documentary television series about the employees of the Hart & Huntington Tattoo Company in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The series was created by Jeff Bowler in 2005, and was broadcast by the A&E Network...
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Military
- Frank PerconteFrank Perconte-External links:*...
(b. 1917), former non-commissioned officer during World War II with Easy Company, portrayed in the HBO/BBC miniseries Band of Brothers.
Religion
- Lawrence JencoLawrence JencoServite Father Lawrence Martin Jenco, , a native of Joliet, Illinois, was taken hostage in Beirut by five armed men in January 1985, while serving as director of Catholic Relief Services there. He was held for 564 days before being released and allowed to return to the United States. He died in...
(1934–1996), Roman Catholic priest and author, taken hostage in Beirut in January 1985 and held for 564 days. - Roger KafferRoger KafferRoger Louis Kaffer was the American Auxiliary Bishop Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet in Illinois from 1985 until 2002....
(1927–2009), auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet from 1985 until 2002. - Tamara SiudaTamara SiudaTamara L. Siuda is the founder and current head of Kemetic Orthodoxy and the House of Netjer. She is known formally within her faith as Her Holiness, Sekhenet-Ma'at-Ra Setep-en-Ra User Hekatawy I, Nisut-Bity of the Kemetic Orthodox faith and uses the honorific Reverend outside of the faith to...
(b. 1969), founder and current head of Kemetic Orthodoxy and the House of Netjer.
Sports
- Mike AlstottMike AlstottMichael Joseph Alstott , nicknamed "A-Train", is a former American football fullback in the National Football League. He spent his entire 12-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Purdue...
(b. 1973), former NFL football player. - Jesse BarfieldJesse BarfieldJesse Lee Barfield is a former Major League Baseball right fielder who played for the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed. He lived in Tenafly, a suburb of New York City.Barfield was well known for his powerful, accurate throwing arm...
(b. 1959), former Major League Baseball player. - Kevin CameronKevin Cameron (baseball)Kevin John Cameron is a Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently in the San Francisco Giants organization.-Early life:...
(b. 1979), Major League Baseball pitcher. - Kelly DransfeldtKelly DransfeldtKelly Daniel Dransfeldt is a former Major League Baseball shortstop for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox. He is a graduate of Morris Community High School in Morris, Illinois, as an excellent shortstop and infielder...
(b. 1975), former Major League Baseball shortstop. - Mark GrantMark GrantMark Andrew Grant is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher and is the current color commentator for the San Diego Padres' television broadcasts.-Career:...
(b. 1963), former Major League Baseball pitcher. - Larry GuraLarry GuraLawrence Cyril Gura is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball from to . He went to Arizona State University and spent 16 years in the Major Leagues. He played for the Chicago Cubs of the National League, and the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals , both of the American League...
(b. 1947), former Major League Baseball pitcher. - Randall KleckRandall KleckRandall Kleck is an American martial artist and three time world champion. In a martial arts career spanning over 40 years he has been a student, competitor, judge, instructor, and author.-Martial arts competition:...
, martial artist. - Mark LeiterMark LeiterMark Edward Leiter is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who had an 11-year career from -, . Leiter grew up in Toms River, New Jersey.-Career:...
(b. 1963), former Major League Baseball pitcher. - George MikanGeorge MikanGeorge Lawrence Mikan, Jr. , nicknamed Mr. Basketball, was an American professional basketball player for the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League and the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBL, the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball Association...
(1924–2005), nicknamed "Mr. Basketball", was Hall of Fame basketball player, and on NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. - Bill MoranBill Moran (catcher)William L. Moran was a catcher and left fielder in Major League Baseball who played in part of two seasons in the National League.-External links:**...
(1869-1916), 19th century Major League Baseball player (St. Louis BrownsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
/Chicago ColtsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
). - Eric Parker (b. 1979), former NFL football wide receiver.
- Roger PowellRoger Powell (basketball)Roger Powell Jr. is an American former professional basketball player. He played collegiately at the University of Illinois from 2001–2005, after having attended Joliet High School, with a 2001 graduation. Powell played the forward position for his high school and in college...
(b. 1983), professional basketball player. - Ed SpiezioEd SpiezioEdward Wayne Spiezio is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the World Series-winning 1967 St. Louis Cardinals team. He also played for the San Diego Padres and the Chicago White Sox....
b. 1941 former Major League Baseball player. - Bill SudakisBill SudakisWilliam Paul Sudakis was a power-hitting third baseman whom the Dodgers tried at catcher in 1970-1971....
(b. 1946), former Major League Baseball third baseman. - Tom ThayerTom ThayerThomas "Tom" Allen Thayer is a former American-football center/guard. He played in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears and the Miami Dolphins. He won a Super Bowl as a member of the 1985 Chicago Bears...
(b. 1961), former NFL center/guard. - Alando TuckerAlando TuckerAlando Forest Tucker is an American professional basketball player. Tucker played five seasons at The University of Wisconsin–Madison and wore the number 42...
(b. 1984), professional basketball player.