Hillary Rodham Clinton. This United States Senator and First Lady was born in Chicago, Illinois. She later attended Wessesley College and Yale Law School. She has been a success even without her famous husband, Bill Clinton. Even before becoming the First Lady or Senator this notable figure was making a difference in other people lives. This woman can move a nation, and is to me the most notable person from Chicago.
Dorothy Hamill. Figure-Skater. Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1956. Dorothy Stuart Hamill, is the 1976 Olympic champion. She was the United States Champion from 1974-1976. She developed her own shating move; a camel spin that turns into a sit spin. It became known as the “Hamill camel.” Even her hairstyle from that time period started a fad and soon people all over the world were copying her bobbed hairstyle. She was been largely successful winning silver in 1975, taking home gold metals.
James and John Belushi. Actor brothers who were born in Chicago, Illinois. John was born in 1949 and died in 1982. He was an extremely loved comedian and actor who appeared in shows like Saturday Night Live, National Lampoon’s Animal House, and The Blues Brothers. He died in Los Angeles, California. While his younger brother James was born in 1954. James is still an active and successful actor in both film and television. Most recently, he appeared in the television series, According To Jim. James has been in so many films and appearances including The Fury, Trading Places, Only The Lonely, About Last Night, Once Upon A Crime, Curly Sue, Mr. Destiny, Taking Care of Business, Little Shop of Horrors, Gang Related, retroactive, Babes in Toyland, The Wild, and so many others. He has been married at least three times and has three children from the married unions.
Charlton Heston. He was born on October 4, 1923 (my birthday, but 1977 for me), in Illinois. This great actor and legend died in Beverly Hills, California on the 5th of April in 2008. He was active from 1941-2003, as an extremely successful actor. He is known for having played heroic roles such as Moses in The Ten Commandments. He was also in Planet of the Apes and Ben-Hur, where he won the Academy Award for best actor. He was also an active supporter of the Civil Rights Movement and was president of the National Rifle Association from 1998-2003. He also served in the United States Army Air Forces. He was a B-25 radio operator and gunner stationed in the Alaskan Aleutian Islands, where he rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. His first professional movie was in 1950, in a film called Dark City. His breathrough didn’t arrive until Cecile B. DeMille cast him for The Greatest Show On Earth. He was an icon, Veteran, and movie legend – to forver be remembered.
Billy Corgan. He is the famous lead-singer of The Smasking Pumpkins. He was born in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. He is a successful musician, songwriter, producer, and author. He is can play guitar, bass, keyboards, and sings vocals. He was born William Patrick Corgan, Jr., March 17, 1967. He has been active is the entertainment industry since 1985. He has been a huge success without a doubt.
Patti Smith. This singer, songwriter, and poet was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1946. She inspired a generation and has no doubt made her mark on the world. She does vocals, plays guitar, and clarinet, and has been active in the music industry since 1972 to present day. You can find more about her at her web site at www.pattismith.net . She is also called the “Godmother of Punk”. Her unladylike language is said to have defied the disco era. In 2007, Patti Smith was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Pete Wentz. The Fall Out Boy was born in Wilmette, Illinois in 1979. His given name at birth was Peter Lewis Kingston Wentz III. He has been famous for the band he plays in. He plays bass, guitar, and keyboards. Fall Out Boy is also Chicago based. Recently he has become an entrepreneur and host of the MTV program, FNMTV. He also has written books and has his own company called Clandestine Industries. He also distributes books, clothing, and other merchandise. Not to mention he came out with his own bass, appeared on television shows like One Tree Hill, and has his own production company and bar, called Angels & Kings. He and Ashley Simpson recently had their first child together, they named him Bronx Wentz. He has been active in the music industry since 1992, to present day. You can find more about him at http://www.falloutboyrock.com and his fellow Fall Out Boys.
Kanye West. He is a rapper, producer, singer, poet, and songwriter. His early days started after being born in Chicago, Illinois, June 8, 1977. He sings vocals, plays keyboards, percussion, sampler, and auto-tune. His debut album, The College Dropout in 2004, his second album Late-Registration in 2005, and third album Graduation in 2007. His fourth album 808s & Heartbreak was released in 2008. He has been largely successful in his career already. He also runs his own record label called GOOD Music. In May of 2008, he was crowned the Hottest MC In The Game, by MTV. This star will continue to shine, no doubt.
Disturbed. This American Nu-Metal Band has sold over 10 million albums worldwide. They’ve also had three consecutive number ones in a row, and were nominated for a Grammy Award. They have become one of the most successful rock bands on years. They have been active in the music industry since 1996, and are still currently one of the biggest bands out there. Members of Disturbed include Dav id Draiman, Dan Donegan, John Moyer, and Mike Wengren. Steve “Fuzz” Kmak is a former Disturbed member. To get “Down With The Sickness” and see more Disturbed news go to www.disturbed1.com .
There are so many other notable and extremely famous people from Chicago. Including Charlton Heston, Carl Sandburg, Sidney Sheldon, Harvey Korman, Robin Williams, Bernie Mac, William H. Macy, Jeremy Piven, Pat Sajak, Vince Vaughn, Raquel Welch, Oprah, Al Capone, Hugh Hefner, Larry Hoover, Micheal Gross, Adam Baldwin, Tom Bosley, Tina Fey, Jon Favreau, Billy Zane, Mr. T, Bob Newhart, Charles Dickinson, Helen Flanders Dunbar, James Cronin, Gwendolyn Brooks, Micheal Crichton, Mortimer Adler, Terrence Howard, Jennifer Huson, Gillian Anderson, and Jack Benny.
There have been notables from every single path in life – all that came from Chicago. Chicago folks include important notables in many careers including authors, saints, musicians, actresses, architects, educators, ballet dancers, criminals, serial killers, bank robbers, broadcasters, journalists, explorers, cultural figures, outlaws, scientists, athletes, senators, presidential candidates, alderman, governors, civil rights activists, Supreme Court justice, economists, politicians, and even First Ladies. There are many other individual careers and walks of like that Chicago notables are famous for. This is the short list because there are way too many notables to actually include here.
