Famous actors from Illinois

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July 21, 2022
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Famous actors from Illinois

Admiring and envying the world's biggest stars is easy to do on Instagram. From A-list movie stars and major musicians to pro ball players and comedians who landed their own sitcoms, there's no shortage of evidence of just how good the good life is. They post pictures of themselves with other big shots on rooftop bars, at exclusive clubs, at backstage parties, and at restaurants where regular people can't get a reservation.

But the vast majority of these celebrities were born and raised outside of Hollywood, finding their way to the bright lights and big money of superstardom from obscure beginnings in regular small towns or cities across the country.

Stacker compiled a list of actors that were born in Illinois from IMDb's most popular list. For each actor, we included a movie poster image from a film he is known for (all movie poster images from OMDb). Keep reading to see which favorite actors are from your home state.

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Bill Murray

- Born: Wilmette, Illinois (9/21/1950)
- Known for:
--- Bob Harris in "Lost in Translation" (2003)
--- Herman Blume in "Rushmore" (1998)
--- Mr. Bishop in "Moonrise Kingdom" (2012)

Peter Sarsgaard

- Born: Belleville, Illinois (3/7/1971)
- Known for:
--- Charles 'Chuck' Lane in "Shattered Glass" (2003)
--- Mark in "Garden State" (2004)
--- Clyde Martin in "Kinsey" (2004)

Joey Morgan

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (6/15/1905)
- Died: 11/21/2021
- Known for:
--- Augie Foster in "Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse" (2015)
--- Topher in "Sierra Burgess Is a Loser" (2018)
--- Gordo in "Camp Manna" (2018)

Billy Zane

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (2/24/1966)
- Known for:
--- Cal Hockley in "Titanic" (1997)
--- The Phantom in "The Phantom" (1996)
--- Match in "Back to the Future Part II" (1989)

Robin Williams

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (7/21/1951)
- Died: 8/11/2014
- Known for:
--- Daniel Hillard in "Mrs. Doubtfire" (1993)
--- Adrian Cronauer in "Good Morning, Vietnam" (1987)
--- Sean in "Good Will Hunting" (1997)

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Zach Gilford

- Born: Evanston, Illinois (1/14/1982)
- Known for:
--- Shane in "The Purge: Anarchy" (2014)
--- Matt Saracen in "Friday Night Lights" (2006-2011)
--- Maxwell McKinder in "The Last Winter" (2006)

Harrison Ford

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (7/13/1942)
- Known for:
--- Indy in "Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark" (1981)
--- Dr. Richard Kimble in "The Fugitive" (1993)
--- John Book in "Witness" (1985)

Fisher Stevens

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (11/27/1963)
- Known for:
--- Ben Jabituya in "Short Circuit" (1986)
--- The Plague in "Hackers" (1995)
--- Iggy in "Super Mario Bros." (1993)

Justin Hartley

- Born: Galesburg, Illinois (1/29/1977)
- Known for:
--- Kevin Pearson in "This Is Us" (2016-2022)
--- Oliver Queen in "Smallville" (2006-2011)
--- Patrick Osbourne in "Revenge" (2013-2014)

Paul Adelstein

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (4/29/1969)
- Known for:
--- Wrigley in "Intolerable Cruelty" (2003)
--- Astronaut in "Land of the Lost" (2009)
--- Shelly Cohen in "Imposters" (2017-2018)

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John Cusack

- Born: Evanston, Illinois (6/28/1966)
- Known for:
--- Martin Q. Blank in "Grosse Pointe Blank" (1997)
--- Rob Gordon in "High Fidelity" (2000)
--- Lloyd Dobler in "Say Anything" (1989)

Anthony Rapp

- Born: Joliet, Illinois (10/26/1971)
- Known for:
--- Mark Cohen in "Rent" (2005)
--- Tony in "Dazed and Confused" (1993)
--- Bender in "A Beautiful Mind" (2001)

Nick Offerman

- Born: Joliet, Illinois (6/26/1970)
- Known for:
--- Ron Swanson in "Parks and Recreation" (2009-2015)
--- Dick McDonald in "The Founder" (2016)
--- Karl Weathers in "Fargo" (2015)

Harry Lennix

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (11/16/1964)
- Known for:
--- General Swanwick in "Man of Steel" (2013)
--- Swanwick in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" (2016)
--- Joe Adams in "Ray" (2004)

Dan Byrd

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (11/20/1985)
- Known for:
--- Brandon in "Easy A" (2010)
--- Travis Cobb in "Cougar Town" (2009-2015)
--- Bobby in "The Hills Have Eyes" (2006)

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Brian Doyle-Murray

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (10/31/1945)
- Known for:
--- Lou Loomis in "Caddyshack" (1980)
--- Noah Vanderhoff in "Wayne's World" (1992)
--- Frank Shirley in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" (1989)

Bob Odenkirk

- Born: Naperville, Illinois (10/22/1962)
- Known for:
--- Jimmy McGill in "Better Call Saul" (2015-2022)
--- Hutch Mansell in "Nobody" (2021)
--- Ross Grant in "Nebraska" (2013)

Jake Johnson

- Born: Evanston, Illinois (5/28/1978)
- Known for:
--- Jeff in "Safety Not Guaranteed" (2012)
--- Nick Miller in "New Girl" (2011-2018)
--- Peter B. Parker in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (2018)

Michael Clarke Duncan

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (12/10/1957)
- Died: 9/3/2012
- Known for:
--- John Coffey in "The Green Mile" (1999)
--- Manute in "Sin City" (2005)
--- Bear in "Armageddon" (1998)

Richard Jenkins

- Born: DeKalb, Illinois (5/4/1947)
- Known for:
--- Giles in "The Shape of Water" (2017)
--- Walter in "The Visitor" (2007)
--- Dr. Robert Doback in "Step Brothers" (2008)

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John Malkovich

- Born: Christopher, Illinois (12/9/1953)
- Known for:
--- John Horatio Malkovich in "Being John Malkovich" (1999)
--- Mitch Leary in "In the Line of Fire" (1993)
--- Vicomte de Valmont in "Dangerous Liaisons" (1988)

Daniel Sunjata

- Born: Evanston, Illinois (12/30/1971)
- Known for:
--- Ranger in "One for the Money" (2012)
--- Powers in "Gone" (2012)
--- Captain Jones in "The Dark Knight Rises" (2012)

Mandy Patinkin

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (11/30/1952)
- Known for:
--- Saul Berenson in "Homeland" (2011-2020)
--- Iñigo Montoya in "The Princess Bride" (1987)
--- 88 Keys in "Dick Tracy" (1990)

Gary Cole

- Born: Park Ridge, Illinois (9/20/1956)
- Known for:
--- Reese Bobby in "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" (2006)
--- Bill Owens in "One Hour Photo" (2002)
--- Cotton McKnight in "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" (2004)

Brett Gelman

- Born: Highland Park, Illinois (10/6/1976)
- Known for:
--- Hal in "The Other Guys" (2010)
--- T.V. Director in "A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas" (2011)
--- Isaac in "Lemon" (2017)

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Ryan McPartlin

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (7/3/1975)
- Known for:
--- Devon 'Captain Awesome' Woodcomb in "Chuck" (2007-2012)
--- Patrick McKenna in "L.A.'s Finest" (2019-2020)
--- Matt Johnstone in "Hunter Killer" (2018)

Michael Peña

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (1/13/1976)
- Known for:
--- Paco Hernandez in "American Hustle" (2013)
--- Daniel in "Crash" (2004)
--- Mike Zavala in "End of Watch" (2012)

Chris Klein

- Born: Hinsdale, Illinois (3/14/1979)
- Known for:
--- Oz in "American Pie" (1999)
--- Paul Metzler in "Election" (1999)
--- 2nd Lt. Jack Geoghegan in "We Were Soldiers" (2002)

Colton Dunn

- Born: Normal, Illinois (6/30/1977)
- Known for:
--- Barbershop Man in "Key and Peele" (2012-2015)
--- Garrett in "Superstore" (2015-2021)
--- Vernon in "Hatchet II" (2010)

Adam Baldwin

- Born: Winnetka, Illinois (2/27/1962)
- Known for:
--- Jayne in "Serenity" (2005)
--- Major Mitchell in "Independence Day" (1996)
--- Animal Mother in "Full Metal Jacket" (1987)

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William Petersen

- Born: Evanston, Illinois (2/21/1953)
- Known for:
--- Producer in "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (2000-2015)
--- Will Graham in "Manhunter" (1986)
--- Agent Richard Chance in "To Live and Die in L.A." (1985)

Bruce Dern

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (6/4/1936)
- Known for:
--- Woody Grant in "Nebraska" (2013)
--- General Sandy Smithers in "The Hateful Eight" (2015)
--- Mark Rumsfield in "The 'Burbs" (1989)

Trevor Morgan

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (11/26/1986)
- Known for:
--- Rocky Merrick in "Mean Creek" (2004)
--- Tommy Tammisimo in "The Sixth Sense" (1999)
--- Nathan Martin in "The Patriot" (2000)

Bob Newhart

- Born: Oak Park, Illinois (9/5/1929)
- Known for:
--- Bernard in "The Rescuers" (1977)
--- Papa Elf in "Elf" (2003)
--- Dick Loudon in "Newhart" (1982-1990)

Michael Madsen

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (9/25/1957)
- Known for:
--- Joe Gage in "The Hateful Eight" (2015)
--- Budd in "Kill Bill: Vol. 1" (2003)
--- Preston Lennox in "Species" (1995)

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Ethan Cutkosky

- Born: St. Charles, Illinois (8/19/1999)
- Known for:
--- Carl Gallagher in "Shameless" (2011-2021)
--- Barto in "The Unborn" (2009)
--- Neighborhood Boy in "Conviction" (2010)

Jonathan Sadowski

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (11/23/1979)
- Known for:
--- Paul in "Chernobyl Diaries" (2012)
--- Wade in "Friday the 13th" (2009)
--- Trey in "Live Free or Die Hard" (2007)

John C. Reilly

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (5/24/1965)
- Known for:
--- Amos Hart in "Chicago" (2002)
--- Corpsman Dey in "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014)
--- Oliver Hardy in "Stan & Ollie" (2018)

Fred Savage

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (7/9/1976)
- Known for:
--- Kevin Arnold in "The Wonder Years" (1988-1993)
--- The Grandson in "The Princess Bride" (1987)
--- Louis in "The Boy Who Could Fly" (1986)

Tom Berenger

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (5/31/1949)
- Known for:
--- Browning in "Inception" (2010)
--- Sgt. Barnes in "Platoon" (1986)
--- Sam in "The Big Chill" (1983)

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D. Danny Warhol

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (12/13/1971)
- Known for:
--- Pizza Boy in "Home Alone" (1990)
--- Candy Warhol in "Holy Hollywood" (1999)
--- Pizza Boy in "Home Alone: Deleted Scenes" (2015)

Jim Belushi

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (6/15/1954)
- Known for:
--- Art Ridzik in "Red Heat" (1988)
--- Dooley in "K-9" (1989)
--- Patrick Martin in "Little Shop of Horrors" (1986)

John Francis Daley

- Born: Wheeling, Illinois (7/20/1985)
- Known for:
--- Lance Sweets in "Bones" (2007-2014)
--- Writer in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" (2017)
--- Mitch in "Waiting..." (2005)

Thomas Lennon

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (8/9/1970)
- Known for:
--- Lieutenant Jim Dangle in "Reno 911!" (2003-2020)
--- Writer in "Night at the Museum" (2006)
--- Ned Gold in "17 Again" (2009)

Ike Barinholtz

- Born: Chicago, Illinois (2/18/1977)
- Known for:
--- Griggs in "Suicide Squad" (2016)
--- Wolf in "Disaster Movie" (2008)
--- Morgan Tookers in "The Mindy Project" (2012-2017)

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Chris O'Donnell

- Born: Winnetka, Illinois (6/26/1970)
- Known for:
--- Robin in "Batman & Robin" (1997)
--- Charlie Simms in "Scent of a Woman" (1992)
--- D'Artagnan in "The Three Musketeers" (1993)

Gary Sinise

- Born: Blue Island, Illinois (3/17/1955)
- Known for:
--- Lieutenant Dan Taylor in "Forrest Gump" (1994)
--- Ken Mattingly in "Apollo 13" (1995)
--- George Milton in "Of Mice and Men" (1992)

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