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Famous people · Champaign

Scientists and doctors stand out among the 47 famous people born in Champaign

Saul Perlmutter, the American astrophysicist and Nobel laureate, is the most widely known, written about in 74 languages. Second and third on the list are James Tobin and Megyn Kelly. The largest group, 29, was born between 1920 and 1969. For every 10,000 residents the town has 5.2, while at least half the towns in Illinois list nobody born there.

#1 best knownSaul PerlmutterScience & Medicine · born 1959
+43more
Born here
47
notable people
Best known
Saul Perlmutter
in 74 Wikipedia languages
First
1864
George W. Myers
Youngest
1993
Lexi Atkins
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.

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.

Saul Perlmutter#1
Science & Medicine

Saul Perlmutter

born 1959

American astrophysicist and Nobel laureate

74 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
James Tobin#2
Science & Medicine

James Tobin

1918–2002

American economist

60 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Megyn Kelly#3
Writing & Arts

Megyn Kelly

born 1970

American journalist

37 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Through the years

When Champaign’s famous people were born

Count by decade and the 1950s come out on top, with 8 births.

Mills & railroadsThe American centuryToday1850190019502000David AyerSaul PerlmutterBob RichardsJames TobinMegyn Kelly
Science & MedicineSportsWriting & ArtsMusicFilm, TV & StagePolitics & LawNotableBusinessMilitary

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.

David Ayer

David Ayer

born 1968

American filmmaker

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Bob Richards

Bob Richards

1926–2023

American athletics competitor, pole vaulter

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Amy Chua

Amy Chua

born 1962

American law professor and writer

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
George Will

George Will

born 1941

American newspaper columnist, journalist, and author

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Ethel Clayton

Ethel Clayton

1882–1966

American actress

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
EB

Eric Bina

born 1964

American computer programmer

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
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

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
JB

John Bargh

born 1955

American social psychologist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
RR

Renato Rosaldo

1941–2026

American anthropologist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
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

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
LS

Lewis Hastings Sarett

1917–1999

American organic chemist and inventor

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
AA

Annisteen Allen

1920–1992

American blues singer

JD

John M. Dawson

1930–2001

American physicist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
PW

Peter Westergaard

1931–2019

American composer

JB

Jay Bonansinga

born 1959

American author

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
HE

Harold Edwards

1936–2020

American mathematician

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
JK

James Kinney

born 1990

American basketball player

A chosen home

Also called Champaign home

Notable people Wikidata lists as living in Champaign, though born elsewhere.

JR

Justin Rhodes

born 1972

American psychologist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
The town’s pick

Who’s the most famous person from Champaign?

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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)