Born here
47
notable people
Best known
Saul Perlmutter
in 74 Wikipedia languages
Most common field
Science & Medicine
12 people
Also called it home
3
notable residents
What stands out about Champaign’s famous people ★ What stands out · Known for What Champaign is known for Compared with the usual town, scientists and doctors are the most over-represented field, at 4.3 times.
Science & Medicine 12 people 26%4.3× usual Sports 10 people 21%below usual Writing & Arts 6 people 13%about usual Music 6 people 13%2.3× usual Film, TV & Stage 4 people 9%about usual Politics & Law 4 people 9%below usual Notable 2 people 4% Business 2 people 4%1.7× usual Military 1 person 2%below usual The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.
The best known Born in Champaign Scientists and doctors take two of the three places.
#1 Science & Medicine Saul Perlmutter born 1959 American astrophysicist and Nobel laureate
#2 Science & Medicine James Tobin 1918–2002 American economist
#3 Writing & Arts Megyn Kelly born 1970 American journalist
Through the years When Champaign’s famous people were born Count by decade and the 1950s come out on top, with 8 births.
Mills & railroads The American century Today 1850 1900 1950 2000 David Ayer Saul Perlmutter Bob Richards James Tobin Megyn Kelly Science & Medicine Sports Writing & Arts Music Film, TV & Stage Politics & Law Notable Business Military
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone Everyone else born in Champaign The rest number 44, with 10 scientists and doctors among them.
All · 44 Politics & Law · 4 Military · 1 Sports · 10 Music · 6 Film, TV & Stage · 4 Writing & Arts · 5 Science & Medicine · 10 Business · 2 Notable · 2
Any time Mills & railroads · 6 The American century · 28 Today · 10
David Ayer born 1968 American filmmaker
Bob Richards 1926–2023 American athletics competitor, pole vaulter
Amy Chua born 1962 American law professor and writer
Mark Kirk born 1959 American politician
George Will born 1941 American newspaper columnist, journalist, and author
Ethel Clayton 1882–1966 American actress
EB Eric Bina born 1964 American computer programmer
JM Jack McDuff 1926–2001 American jazz organist and organ trio bandleader
TM Tyler McGill born 1987 American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, world champion
RY Roger Young born 1942 American television and film director
JB John Bargh born 1955 American social psychologist
RR Renato Rosaldo 1941–2026 American anthropologist
SK Shamit Kachru born 1970 Theoretical physicist, a professor of physics at Stanford University, the Wells Family Director of the Stanford Institute for Theoretical Physics, and the Stanford Physics Department Chair
LS Lewis Hastings Sarett 1917–1999 American organic chemist and inventor
AA Annisteen Allen 1920–1992 American blues singer
JD John M. Dawson 1930–2001 American physicist
PW Peter Westergaard 1931–2019 American composer
JB Jay Bonansinga born 1959 American author
VK Viktor Krauss born 1969 Bassist
DD Debbie Drechsler born 1953 Cartoonist
GL Glenn Love born 1989 American football player
HE Harold Edwards 1936–2020 American mathematician
JB Jacob Bushue born 1992 American soccer player
JK James Kinney born 1990 American basketball player
KF Kathrine S. French 1922–2006 American anthropologist
ZC Zach Clayton born 1988 American football player
BB Benjamin F. Bailar 1934–2017 American politician
BG Bill Geist born 1945 American journalist, author and columnist
CA Clayton Sinnott Adams 1890–1965 American general (b. 1881, d. 1965)
DW David Wilhelm born 1956 American political operative and businessman
FD Francis L. Dale 1921–1993 American businessman
GM George W. Myers 1864–1931 American mathematician
HD Harold Edward Dahl 1909–1956 American pilot
KR Kim Richmond 1940–2024 American musician
KC Kitty Cone 1944–2015 American disability rights activist
MB Marc Beeson born 1954 Country singer and songwriter
SD Steve Dunn born 1970 American baseball player
CD Chris Dyko 1966–2014 American football player
DC Doug Cameron born 1957 American engineer, inventor, and investor
ES Emily Stevenson 1925–2012 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
HB Howie Braun 1912–1996 American basketball player and coach
JL Jeremy Leman born 1985 All-American college football player, professional football player, linebacker
JS John Smolenski born 1973 American historian
LA Lexi Atkins born 1993 American actress, model, and singer
No one matches both filters.
Show all 44 A chosen home Also called Champaign home Notable people Wikidata lists as living in Champaign, though born elsewhere.
Bershawn Jackson born 1983 American hurdler
KK Kent Kinnear born 1966 US tennis player
JR Justin Rhodes born 1972 American psychologist
The town’s pick Who’s the most famous person from Champaign? Pick one and say why. Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
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Did you grow up with someone famous from Champaign? → Who should be on this list but isn’t? → Next door Famous people from the towns next door Of the towns nearby, Champaign City Township lists the most people: 64.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Champaign and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.
Photo credits (11) Saul Perlmutter: Holger Motzkau, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons James Tobin: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Megyn Kelly: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons David Ayer: DoD News Features, CC BY 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons Bob Richards: Associated Press, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Amy Chua: Qalandariyya, CC BY-SA 3.0 , Wikimedia Commons Mark Kirk: United States Senate, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons George Will: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons Ethel Clayton: Bain News Service, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons Bershawn Jackson: Ragnar Singsaas, CC BY-SA 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons Roger Ebert: Sound Opinions, CC BY-SA 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons