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Famous people · Rockford

Of the 45 famous people born in Rockford, an unusual share are performers

At the top of the list is the American actress Jodi Benson, covered in 41 languages. James Henry Breasted and Steve Cherundolo follow. The largest group, 25, was born between 1920 and 1969. 14 were born in 1970 or later.

#2 best knownJames Henry BreastedWriting & Arts · 1865–1935
+41more
Born here
45
notable people
Best known
Jodi Benson
in 41 Wikipedia languages
First
1865
James Henry Breasted
Youngest
1994
Fred VanVleet
Most common field
Sports
17 people
Also called it home
2
notable residents

What stands out about Rockford’s famous people

★ What stands out · Known for

What Rockford is known for

Performers stand out most, at 3.3 times the usual share.

The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.

Through the years

When Rockford’s famous people were born

The 1960s top the chart, with 13 births in the decade.

Mills & railroadsThe American centuryToday1850190019502000Virgil AblohGordon TullockJames Henry Breasted
SportsFilm, TV & StageWriting & ArtsMusicPolitics & LawFaithScience & MedicineMilitary

Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.

The best known

Born in Rockford

Jodi Benson leads with articles in 41 languages, ahead of James Henry Breasted (40) and Steve Cherundolo (39).

JB#1
Film, TV & Stage

Jodi Benson

born 1961

American actress

41 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
James Henry Breasted#2
Writing & Arts

James Henry Breasted

1865–1935

American archaeologist, Egyptologist and historian

40 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Steve Cherundolo#3
Sports

Steve Cherundolo

born 1979

American soccer player and manager

39 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Everyone

Everyone else born in Rockford

42 more, best known first.

Virgil Abloh

Virgil Abloh

1980–2021

American fashion designer

Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams

born 1979

American singer and actress

Gordon Tullock

Gordon Tullock

1922–2014

American economist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Fred VanVleet

Fred VanVleet

born 1994

American basketball player

John B. Anderson

John B. Anderson

1922–2017

American politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Heather Nauert

Heather Nauert

born 1970

American broadcast journalist and former government official

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
LB

Lorenzo Brown

born 1990

American-born Spanish basketball player

SB

Stewart Brand

born 1938

American writer

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
PG

Piper Gilles

born 1992

American-Canadian ice dancer

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
NL

Natasha Leggero

born 1974

American actress and comedian

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
JM

Joe Mantello

born 1962

American director and actor

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
BK

Bill Kopp

born 1962

American animator

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
LU

Loyal Underwood

1893–1966

American actor

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
SR

Shawn Ryan

born 1966

American screenwriter and television producer

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
EB

Elmer Behnke

1929–2018

American basketball player

JZ

Jinelle Zaugg-Siergiej

born 1986

American ice hockey player and coach

BE

Brian Evans

born 1973

American basketball player

CG

Chad Gallagher

born 1969

American basketball player

RB

Richard Bulliet

born 1940

American historian

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
TM

Tim Maculan

born 1963

American actor

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
A chosen home

Also called Rockford home

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

KE

Kurt Elling

born 1967

American jazz singer and songwriter

MK

Michael Kleen

born 1981

American folklorist

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
The town’s pick

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Next door

Famous people from the towns next door

Of the towns nearby, only New Milford has a name on its list.

From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Rockford 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 (9)