Meet the 10 Biggest Movie Stars From Illinois

Illinois is the land of corn, farmland, and the great metropolis of Chicago. Known for its flat expanses and often inhospitable weather, the Prairie State is home to legendary American President Abraham Lincoln. (Can you solve these real “Jeopardy” clues about U.S. presidents?)

It is also the birthplace of many of the biggest movie stars on Earth.

To compile this list of the biggest movie stars from Illinois, 24/7 Tempo consulted a number of sources, including news affiliates as well as databases of famous people such as The Famous People. From there, we cross-checked our list with IMDb to ensure a variety of stars, both male and female, as well as stars with different backgrounds.

Bill Murray

• Hometown: Evanston, Illinois

Born on Sept. 21, 1950, Bill Murray is a comedian and actor. He first rose to fame on “The National Lampoon Radio Hour” before earning a coveted spot on “Saturday Night Live.” Murray’s status was then cemented by a series of hit comedy movies including “Caddyshack,” “Ghostbusters,” and “Groundhog Day.” From there, he established himself as a dramatic actor with roles in films like “Lost in Translation” as well as roles in a majority of Wes Anderson’s films.

Notoriously private and anti-Hollywood, Murray does not have an agent or manager, and only fields offers for movie roles through a personal phone number and voicemail. He has a philanthropic side as well, with a major donation to the Nathalie Salmon House, which provides housing for low-income senior citizens.

Darryl Hannah

• Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

This Chicago-born star is a noted actress and environmental activist. Hannah made her film debut in Brian DePalma’s supernatural horror film “The Fury.” This started a string of high-profile roles in movies such as “Blade Runner,” “Roxanne,” “Wall Street,” and “Steel Magnolias.”

While still known for her acting, including her award-winning performance in “Kill Bill: Vol. 2,” Hannah has taken to extensive support for environmental activism. A member of the World Future Council, she has also been arrested numerous times for taking part in political or environmental protests for the Keystone Oil Pipeline, the South Central Urban Farm, and the West Virginia mountaintop removal.

Robin Williams

• Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

A noted funnyman and award-winning actor, Williams first rose to fame as a standup comedian in the San Francisco Bay Area. After securing a spot on the long-running hit show “Mork & Mindy,” Williams was destined for stardom. (These are the most iconic duos in TV history.)

He went on to star in numerous films including “Jumanji,” “Good Morning Vietnam,” “Mrs. Doubtfire,” and “Good Will Hunting,” for which he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. In fact, Robin Williams starred in so many movies and won so many awards he is considered one of the greatest comedians of all time. His list of accolades include two Primetime Emmy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and five Grammy Awards. Williams died by suicide in August 2014 after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

Betty White

• Hometown: Oak Park, Illinois

Born Betty Marion White, Betty White was a comedian, actor, and producer. She first rose to fame after moving from radio to television, which resulted in an illustrious career spanning nearly seven decades. Not only was she a prominent feature on television game shows, White had recurring roles on a number of hit comedy sketch shows such as “The Carol Burnett Show” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.”

Perhaps best known for her role as Rose Nylund on “The Golden Girls,” White earned numerous awards throughout her long career. These include seven Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, as well as a Grammy Award. White was also a huge advocate for animal welfare, and served as the president emerita of the Morris Animal Foundation as well as Zoo Commissioner for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association.

Harrison Ford

• Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Born on July 13, 1942, Harrison Ford is one of the biggest movie stars from Illinois and one of the top leading men of all time. Ford got his start with side parts in films like “American Graffiti” and “The Conversation.” From there, he starred as Han Solo in the Star Wars series, which catapulted him to fame. Since then, Ford has starred in the Indian Jones film series, as well as in “The Fugitive,” and “Air Force One.”

Ford is also a noted activist. Not only is he vice-chair of Conservation International, Ford has lent his voice for numerous public service messages for EarthShare, a federation of American environmental and conservation charities. His fame has also seen numerous animals, including a species of spider being named for this A-list movie star. (Explore the movies that launched the careers of the biggest Hollywood stars.)

Denise Richards

• Hometown: Downers Grove, Illinois

Denise Richards is an actress and television personality. After breaking into the industry through modeling, Richard starred in a string of hit movies including “Wild Things,” “Starship Troopers,” and “The World is Not Enough.” She has also had an illustrious television career with roles in “Blue Mountain State” as well as long-running soap opera “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

Besides acting, Richards spends a majority of her time involved in philanthropy. She has lent her support to various causes, including the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Feeding America, and the Best Friends Animal Society. In 2011, Richards also wrote a memoir, “The Real Girl Next Door,” which became a New York Times Bestseller.

Charlton Heston

• Hometown: Evanston, Illinois

Born Charlton John Carter, Charlton Heston was a legendary actor and activist. He starred in numerous classics including “Planet of the Apes,” “The Omega Man,” and “Antony and Cleopatra.” His most iconic roles were in “The Ten Commandments” and “Ben Hur,” the latter of which earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor.

Heston, besides being one of the biggest movie stars from Illinois, was also one of the first of the Hollywood elite to speak out against racism as well as lend his support for the Civil Rights Movement. In his later years, Heston became known as an outspoken advocate for conservative causes, particularly, gun rights. This advocacy led to Heston serving as five-time president of the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Jenny McCarthy

• Hometown: Evergreen Park, Illinois

Born Jennifer Ann McCarthy, Jenny McCarthy is an actress, model, and television personality. She first rose to fame as a Playboy model, eventually earning the title of “Playmate of the Year.” From there, McCarthy starred in numerous hit movies including “BASEketball,” “John Tucker Must Die,” and “Scream 3.” She has also starred in numerous television roles including “The View” and “The Masked Singer,” as well as her own show, “The Jenny McCarthy Show.”

In recent years, McCarthy has written several books on parenting as well a becoming a fierce advocate for alternative treatment for autism. This has led to her contemporary status as perhaps the most prominent advocate against vaccines due to their misidentified role in causing the condition.

John Cusack

• Hometown: Evanston, Illinois

John Cusack is an actor, producer, and screenwriter. A product of an acting family, Cusack first came to prominence with roles in “Sixteen Candles,” “Better Off Dead,” and “Say Anything.” He has since gone onto star in leading roles in films like “High Fidelity,” “Con Air,” and “Hot Tub Time Machine.”

In recent years, Cusack has become a prominent anti-war activist. This has taken the form of support for organizations like the Freedom of the Press Foundation and starring in advertisements for political organizations such as MoveOn.org. His sister, Joan Cusack, who was born in New York, is also a noted movie star. (Learn more about Hollywood’s most famous family dynasties.)

Michael Clark Duncan

• Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Born on December 10, 1957, Michael Clark Duncan was an actor and comedian and one of the biggest movie stars from Illinois. He roles to prominence with his breakout role in “The Green Mile,” for which he earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. From there, Duncan starred in various movies, including “Sin City,” “The Whole Nine Yards,” and “Armageddon.”

Known for his deep, baritone voice, Duncan also lent his talents to various voice-acting roles. These include “Kung Fu Panda,” “Brother Bear,” and “Green Lantern.” Unfortunately, Duncan died in September 2012 due to a heart attack at age 54. (Here is a list of 20 movie and TV stars who died far too young.)