The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Wilmette, Illinois. For a similar list organized alphabetically by last name, see the category page People from Wilmette, Illinois.
Academics and scientists
Name |
Image |
Birth |
Death |
Known for |
Association |
Reference |
Ezekiel Emanuel |
|
1957 |
|
Oncologist; developer of The Medical Directive: health policy adviser to the federal government |
|
|
Roger Myerson |
|
March 29, 1951 |
|
2007 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics co-winner |
|
[1] |
Acting and modeling
Name |
Image |
Birth |
Death |
Known for |
Association |
Reference |
Ralph Bellamy |
|
June 17, 1904 |
November 29, 1991 |
Academy Award-nominated actor |
Grew up in Wilmette |
[2][3][4] |
Beck Bennett |
|
October 1, 1984 |
|
Actor, Saturday Night Live cast member |
Born in Wilmette |
|
Neal Brennan |
|
October 19, 1973 |
|
Comedian, writer, director, producer, actor |
Lived in Wilmette as a child between 1978 and 1986 |
[5] |
Brian Doyle-Murray |
|
October 31, 1945 |
|
Actor |
Grew up in Wilmette |
|
Charlton Heston |
|
October 4, 1923 |
April 5, 2008 |
Academy Award-winning actor |
Born in Wilmette |
[4][6] |
Seana Kofoed |
|
August 13, 1970 |
|
Actress |
Born in Wilmette |
|
Virginia Madsen |
|
September 11, 1961 |
|
Academy Award-nominated actress |
|
[7][8][7][8] |
Crystal McCahill |
|
December 18, 1983 |
|
Model; Playboy Playmate of the Month |
|
[9] |
Bill Murray |
|
September 21, 1950 |
|
Emmy-winning and Academy Award-nominated actor and comedian. Recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. |
Grew up in Wilmette |
|
Joel Murray |
|
April 17, 1963 |
|
Actor |
Born in Wilmette |
|
Hugh O'Brian |
|
April 19, 1925 |
September 5, 2016 |
Emmy-nominated and Golden Globe-winning actor |
Lived in Wilmette |
[4][10] |
Ann-Margret Olsson |
|
April 28, 1941 |
|
Actress and entertainer, winner of five Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy Award, nominated for two Academy Awards, two Grammys and a SAG Award |
Lived in Wilmette |
[4] |
Kevin Quinn |
|
May 21, 1997 |
|
Actor |
Grew up in Wilmette |
[11] |
Frazier Thomas |
|
June 13, 1918 |
April 3, 1985 |
Chicago children's television personality, best known for Garfield Goose and Friends |
Lived in Wilmette |
[4] |
Nico Tortorella |
|
July 30, 1988 |
|
Model and actor |
Born in Wilmette |
[12][13] |
Rainn Wilson |
|
January 20, 1966 |
|
Emmy-nominated and SAG Award-winning actor; best known for role as Dwight Schrute on The Office. |
|
[7] |
Business
Name |
Image |
Birth |
Death |
Known for |
Association |
Reference |
Dennis H. Chookaszian |
|
September 19, 1943 |
|
Former Chairman and CEO, mPower Advisors; former chairman and CEO, CNA Insurance |
Lives in Wilmette |
[17] |
James Crown |
|
June 25, 1953 |
|
Businessman, son of Lester Crown and brother of Susan Crown, president of Henry Crown and Company, director of JPMorgan Chase, General Dynamics and Sara Lee Corporation, managing partner of Aspen Skiing Company |
Grew up in Wilmette |
[18] |
Lester Crown |
|
June 7, 1925 |
|
Billionaire businessman, son of industrialist Henry Crown, father of James and Susan Crown |
Lives in Wilmette |
[17][19][20] |
Susan Crown |
|
1958 |
|
Businesswoman, daughter of Lester Crown and sister of James Crown, chairman and founder of Susan Crown Exchange (SCE), chairman and CEO of Owl Creek Partners, chairman of Crown Family Philanthropies and partner of Henry Crown & Co., executive at Illinois Tool Works, board member of Northern Trust Corporation, vice-chair of Rush University Medical Center, former Fellow of Yale Corporation and board member of Baxter International |
Grew up in Wilmette |
[18] |
Ari Emanuel |
|
March 29, 1961 |
|
Co-founder of Endeavor Talent Agency |
Grew up in Wilmette |
|
Christie Hefner |
|
November 8, 1952 |
|
Former CEO of Playboy, daughter of Hugh Hefner |
Born in Wilmette |
[4][7] |
James L. Kraft |
|
December 11, 1874 |
February 16, 1953 |
Founder of Kraft Foods Inc |
Lived in Wilmette |
[21] |
Cary Kochman |
|
April 1965 |
|
Co-Head of Global Mergers and Acquisitions Group at Citigroup, Head of Chicago Citi office |
Lives in Wilmette |
[22] |
Tony Rezko |
|
1955 |
|
Restaurateur, political fundraiser convicted of fraud |
Lived in Wilmette |
[23] |
Laura Ricketts |
|
December 15, 1967 |
|
Co-owner of Chicago Cubs; board member of Lambda Legal and Housing Opportunities for Women organization; daughter of TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts |
Lives in Wilmette |
[24][25] |
Thomas S. Ricketts |
|
May 23, 1963 |
|
Co-owner and Chairman of Chicago Cubs; CEO of Incapital; Director of TD Ameritrade Holding Company; son of TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts |
Lives in Wilmette |
[17][24][25] |
Penelope Trunk |
|
December 10, 1966 |
|
Businesswoman, blogger, writer |
Grew up in Wilmette |
|
Chefs
Name |
Image |
Birth |
Death |
Known for |
Association |
Reference |
Charlie Trotter |
|
September 8, 1959 |
November 5, 2013 |
Chef and restaurant-owner |
Born in Wilmette |
[4][26] |
Sports
Name |
Image |
Birth |
Death |
Known for |
Association |
Reference |
Jack Brickhouse |
|
January 24, 1917 |
August 6, 1998 |
Sportscaster for the Chicago Cubs |
Lived in Wilmette |
[4][36] |
Grant Golden |
|
August 21, 1929 |
|
Tennis player |
Born in Wilmette |
[37] |
Barry Horowitz |
|
March 24, 1960 |
|
Wrestler with WWE |
|
|
Jamie Schroeder |
|
September 9, 1981 |
|
Olympic rower |
|
[38] |
Mike Huff |
|
August 11, 1963 |
|
Major League Baseball player |
Grew up in Wilmette |
[39] |
Bob Skelton |
|
June 25, 1903 |
June 25, 1977 |
Gold medalist Olympic swimmer |
Born in Wilmette |
|
Charlie Tilson |
|
December 22, 1992 |
|
Major League Baseball player |
Born in Wilmette |
|
Alexander K. Whybrow
(a.k.a. Larry Sweeney) |
|
February 18, 1981 |
April 11, 2011 |
Wrestler and manager |
|
|
Tommy Wingels |
|
April 12, 1988 |
|
Center in National Hockey League |
Grew up in Wilmette |
[40] |
Writing and journalism
Name |
Image |
Birth |
Death |
Known for |
Association |
Reference |
Julia Allison |
|
February 28, 1981 |
|
Columnist |
Born in Wilmette |
|
Mal Bellairs |
|
November 9, 1919 |
July 12, 2010 |
Radio personality |
Lived in Wilmette |
[41] |
Robert Casey |
|
March 14, 1890 |
December 5, 1962 |
Newspaper journalist |
Lived in Wilmette |
[42] |
Jamie Gilson |
|
July 4, 1933 |
|
Author |
Lives in Wilmette |
|
Edward Gorey |
|
February 22, 1925 |
April 15, 2000 |
Writer/ illustrator |
Grew up in Wilmette |
[4] |
Chester Gould |
|
November 20, 1900 |
May 11, 1985 |
Cartoonist; creator of Dick Tracy |
Lived in Wilmette |
[4][43][44][45] |
Blair Kamin |
|
|
|
Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic for Chicago Tribune |
Lives in Wilmette |
[17][46] |
Linda MacLennan |
|
May 25, 1956 |
|
Television news anchor and reporter (longtime personality on WBBM-TV) |
Lives in Wilmette |
[17] |
Brant Miller |
|
February 8, 1950 |
|
Chief meteorologist at WMAQ-TV |
Lives in Wilmette |
[17] |
Marianne Murciano |
|
|
|
Co-hosted Fox Thing in the Morning on WFLD |
Lives in Wilmette |
[17] |
Jonathan Nolan |
|
|
|
British-American author and screenwriter |
|
|
Dana Olsen |
|
|
|
Screenwriter |
Lives in Wilmette |
|
Ian Punnett |
|
March 3, 1960 |
|
Radio broadcaster |
Born in Wilmette |
|
Bob Sirott |
|
August 9, 1949 |
|
Radio broadcaster on WLS-AM, television news anchor |
Lives in Wilmette |
[17] |
Clark Weber |
|
1930 or 1931 |
|
Radio broadcaster |
Lives in Wilmette |
[17][47] |
Donovan Webster |
|
January 13, 1959 |
|
Best-selling and award-winning journalist, author, film-maker, and humanitarian |
Grew up in Wilmette |
|
Paul O. Zelinsky |
|
1953 |
|
Best-selling children's author/illustrator |
Grew up in Wilmette |
[48] |
References
- ↑ Leavitt, Irv (October 18, 2007). "Nobel Prize winner stays on task". Wilmette Life. Pioneer Press/Sun-Times Media Group.
- ↑ "Ralph Bellamy Dies; Veteran Actor Won Fame for F.D.R. Role". www.latimes.com. Los Angeles Times. November 30, 1991. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
Back in the Chicago suburb of Wilmette, he was expelled from high school in his senior year for smoking under the stage.
- ↑ Cohen, George (November 30, 1967). "TV Today: Went from New Trier High School to Role in Chautauqua Play". www.chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Ingram, Bruce (June 27, 2016). "Get on board for trolley tour of Wilmette celebrity homes". www.chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
- ↑ "Neal Brennan talks about his influences, writing race-sensitive material and the state of contemporary comedy". IFC.com. November 30, 2011. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
- ↑ Heston, Charlton: In The Arena, Simon & Schuster, 1995.
ISBN 0-684-80394-1.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Matt Pais (2008-08-20). "Wilson's local roots". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
- 1 2 Smith-Sloman, Christy (March 2014). "Wilmette, Illinois Hometown Charm Close to the Windy City". www.chicagocooperator.com. Chicago Cooperator. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
A number of high profile personalities hail from Wilmette including Chicago’s current mayor Rahm Emanuel, Oscar-nominated actress Virginia Madsen, actor Rainn Wilson, musician Pete Wentz and Playboy CEO Christie Hefner. Its hometown charm might just make you want to call it your hometown too.
- ↑ "Playboy's Crystal McCahill: Miss May goes to court on DUI charge". Chicago Tribune. 2009-03-20. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
- ↑ Jacoby, John (September 12, 2016). "A Word From The (Former) President: Hall of Fame (Hugh O'Brian)". www.wilmettebeacon.com. Wilmette Beacon (22nd Century Media). Retrieved June 5, 2017.
Former Wilmette resident Hugh O’Brian, who died on Sept. 5, was a man whose philanthropic achievements arguably outshine his stellar acting career. He’s best known for playing the title role in the popular ABC-TV series, “The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp” (1955 to 1961).
- ↑ Sotonoff, Jamie; Gire, Dann (January 19, 2016). "For Disney star from Wilmette, business comes first in showbiz". Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, Illinois. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
- ↑ "Nico Tortorella". imdb. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
- ↑ Curt Wagner (2013-02-17). "Nico Tortorella is killing it in 'The Following". redeye Chicago. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
- ↑ Fawcett, Adrienne (March 25, 2016). "Lecture: Jens Jensen". www.jwcdaily.com. JWC Media. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
Jens Jensen, who lived in Wilmette for many years
- ↑ Castle, George (February 2, 2012). "The Great Depression Doomed Wilmette's Most Eccentric Mansion". patch.com. Patch. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
- ↑ Black, Lisa (August 18, 2005). "For trip back in time, road pavers pick brick". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
Chicago architect Carol Ross Barney, who specializes in modern design and prefers sleek lines and shapes, lives on another block of Linden that has been restored to brick.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Skolnik, Lisa (April 1, 2010). "Neighborhood Tour: Wilmette". www.michiganavemag.com. Michigan Avenue Magazine. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
NEIGHBORS Cheryl Berman, Blair Kamin, Dennis Chookaszian, Hamilton Chang, Todd Ricketts, Tom Ricketts, Lester Crown, Brant Miller, Susan Noyes, Jennifer Woolford, Mark Falanga, Joanie Bayhack, Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano, Meredith and Jonathan Sinclair, Linda MacLennan
- 1 2 Noyes, Susan B. (December 13, 2013). "The Power of Business: Lester Crown Prioritizes Philanthropy". www.makeitbetter.net. Make It Better. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
while raising seven children in Wilmette with his wife, Renee.
- ↑ Kusel, Robert F. (2017). "'Defiant Requiem'". www.chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
Renee and Lester Crown of Wilmette
- ↑ "Crown family". www.forbes.com. Forbes. n.d. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
- ↑ "James L. Kraft in the 1940 Census". www.archives.com. archives.com. n.d. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
- ↑ "Rahm Emanuel: The Unreformed, Reformer, Part One". stoneformayor.com. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
Kochman, Cary Wilmette, IL
- ↑ Rodkin, Dennis (September 27, 2010). "Citadel Executive Is the New Owner of Rezko's Former Home". Chicago Magazine. Chicago: Tribune Publishing. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
The 30-room Wilmette mansion where the now-imprisoned political wheeler-dealer Tony Rezko
- 1 2 3 Rodkin, Dennis (February 23, 2016). "Cubs chairman building home on Wilmette lakefront". Chicago Business. Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts is building a home on Wilmette's lakefront less than a mile north of the one his sister Laura built a few years ago. Ricketts and his wife, Cecelia, have owned a home in Wilmette since at least 1997, according to the Cook County Recorder of Deeds. They are behind a venture that bought a site on Michigan Avenue in Wilmette for $7 million in August 2013, according to people familiar with the property. Through a family spokesman, Tom Ricketts declined to comment. He became the chairman of the Cubs after a family group, including Tom, Todd and Laura Ricketts, bought the team in 2009. He is also CEO of a Chicago investment bank Incapital, which he founded in 1999.............Slightly south of the site, on Sheridan Road in Wilmette, Laura Ricketts and her wife, Brooke Skinner, live in a mansion built on a lakefront parcel near the Bahai'i Temple that Laura bought in 2010 for $6.5 million.
- 1 2 3 Rodkin, Dennis (May 23, 2012). "Laura Ricketts Plans New Mansion on Wilmette Lakefront". Chicago Magazine. Chicago. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
Laura Ricketts, a co-owner of the Chicago Cubs, and her partner, Heidi Grathouse, have filed plans with the Village of Wilmette for a new mansion to be built on the 1.2-acre lakefront site they bought two years ago.......Two Ricketts brothers, Tom and Todd, live within six blocks of the lakefront site in Wilmette; their homes are at opposite ends of the same block, though neither is more than one-third the size of what their sister has on the boards.
- ↑ Grimes, William (November 5, 2013). "Charlie Trotter Dies at 54; Chef Made Chicago a Must". The New York Times.
- ↑ Fulks, Robbie (February 22, 2011). "robbie and nora on the north shore-a". robbiefulks.com. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
- ↑ Kaufman, Gil (May 17, 2016). "Sinead O'Connor Pens Vicious Open Letter to Ex Husband". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
That same day, O'Connor reportedly left the Wilmette area on a bicycle and could not be found as of Monday morning, at which point an unidentified caller contacted police about her well-being. A music industry source told the Chicago Tribune that O'Connor had been living in Wilmette since late February, performing at a few low-key local shows.
- ↑ "Singer Sinead O'Connor found safe, according to Wilmette police". Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune. May 16, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
Rebecca Cain, who lives on an east Wilmette block in the area where O'Connor reportedly was staying, said Monday afternoon that she didn't know how long the singer had been living nearby but that she had occasionally seen O'Connor out walking. A music industry source who asked not to be named said O'Connor has been living in Wilmette since at least late February. She last performed in the area March 4 at Metro with Sons of the Silent Age in a David Bowie tribute concert, singing "Sorrow" and "Life on Mars" to the accompaniment of a Chicago band.
- ↑ "Index of articles". Wilmette Life. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
- ↑ Delacoma, Wynne (July 11, 2001). "Wilmette native builds a career of note". www.hightbeam.com. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
- ↑ O'Donnell, Nora (December 14, 2010). "The Life and Work of Street Photographer Vivian Maier". www.chicagomag.com. Chicago Magazine. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
From 1989 to 1993, Maier cared for the disabled daughter of Federico Bayleander in his Wilmette home
- ↑ Johnson, Eliana; Nussbaum, Matthew (November 24, 2016). "Chicago Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts likely deputy commerce secretary". politico.com. Politico. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ↑ https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/803997374016167936
- ↑ "Director of the National Security Agency: Who Is Michael Rogers?". www.allgov.com. allgov.com. May 5, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
Rogers, 54, was born in Chicago and grew up in the suburb of Wilmette
- ↑ Pick, Grant (August 14, 2013). "The Other Brickhouse". www.chicagoreader.com. Chicago Reader. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
By the early 1950s Jack was on television, his reputation growing, and the family had moved to Wilmette
- ↑
- ↑ "08.30.04". CNN.
- ↑ "Meet Mike Huff, Wilmette native and retired White Sox outfielder". www.wilmette.com. Village of Wilmette. 2017. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
- ↑ Dorfman, Daniel I. (May 27, 2013). "Wilmette's Tommy Wingels Reflects On NHL Debut". www.patch.com. Patch Media. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
Hockey player Tommy Wingels, who grew up in Wilmette
- ↑ Eldeib, Duaa (July 13, 2010). "Chicago radio personality Mal Bellairs". www.chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
In 1969, Mr. Bellairs left WBBM and his Wilmette home and moved his family to Woodstock
- ↑ "Robert Casey, Newsman and Author, Dies". www.archives.chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. December 5, 1962. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
Robert J. Casey, noted Chicago newspaperman and author, died yesterday in St. Francis hospital, Evanston. Mr. Casey, who lived at 934 Linden av., Wilmette
- ↑ Pietrzyk, Richard (n.d.). "Wilmette House". www.dicktracymuseum.com. Dick Tracy Museum. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
the house in Wilmette where Gould started his married life and his classic detective was created.
- ↑ Jacoby, John (November 5, 2016). "Local Hall of Fame: Chester Gould". www.wilmettebeacon.com. Beacon Press. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
- ↑ Gould O'Connell, Jean (2007). Chester Gould: A Daughter's Biography of the Creator of Dick Tracy. McFarland.
- ↑ Sweet, David (March 13, 2015). "Critic Builds a Pulitzer-Worthy Career". jwcdaily.com. JWC Daily. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
Over squash bisque and a good-sized hamburger, the Wilmette resident talks about
- ↑ Zorn, Eric (March 25, 1997). "Walker Stepping On Club's Toes In Age-bias Protest". www.chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
Radio Advertising Consultants President Clark Weber, himself a Wilmette senior,
- ↑ "Paul Zelinsky". www.paulzelinsky.com. Paul Zelinsky. n.d. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
Paul O. Zelinsky grew up in Wilmette, Illinois
- ↑ Schechter, Harold (1994). Depraved: The Definitive True Story of H. H. Holmes, Whose Grotesque Crimes Shattered Turn-of-the-Century Chicago. New York City, New York, U.S.: Pocket Books. ISBN 9780671025441.
OCLC 607738864, 223220639.