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Famous people · Urbana

Scientists and doctors stand out among the 51 famous people born in Urbana

Articles in 100 languages make the American film critic and author Roger Ebert the best known. Between 1920 and 1969, 34 were born, the most of any period. Births span 1878 to 1994, from Clyde Mathews to Emily Blue. 11 of them were born since 1970.

#1 best knownRoger EbertFilm, TV & Stage · 1942–2013
+47more
Born here
51
notable people
Best known
Roger Ebert
in 100 Wikipedia languages
First
1878
Clyde Mathews
Youngest
1994
Emily Blue
Most common field
Science & Medicine
12 people
Also called it home
3
notable residents

What stands out about Urbana’s famous people

★ What stands out · The best known

Born in Urbana

The three are covered in 100, 57 and 49 languages: Roger Ebert, Robert W. Holley and Lars Peter Hansen.

Roger Ebert#1
Film, TV & Stage

Roger Ebert

1942–2013

American film critic and author

100 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Robert W. Holley#2
Science & Medicine

Robert W. Holley

1922–1993

American biochemist

57 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Lars Peter Hansen#3
Science & Medicine

Lars Peter Hansen

born 1952

American economist

49 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
Known for

What Urbana is known for

The field furthest above the usual share is scientists and doctors, at 4 times.

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 Urbana’s famous people were born

No decade has more births than the 1950s, at 13.

Mills & railroadsThe American centuryToday190019502000Lars Peter HansenRobert W. HolleyNina PaleyJennie GarthRoger Ebert
Science & MedicineWriting & ArtsSportsMusicFilm, TV & StagePolitics & LawNotableBusinessMilitaryFaith

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

Everyone

Everyone else born in Urbana

48 more names, born between 1878 and 1994.

Jennie Garth

Jennie Garth

born 1972

American actress

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
Nina Paley

Nina Paley

born 1968

US animator, cartoonist and free culture activist

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Tom Harrell

Tom Harrell

born 1946

American composer, arranger, jazz trumpeter and flugelhornist

Zena Cardman

Zena Cardman

born 1987

American geobiologist and NASA astronaut

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
José Graziano da Silva

José Graziano da Silva

born 1949

Brazilian politician

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
BM

Bill Mulliken

1939–2014

American swimmer, Olympic gold medalist

Linda Sue Park

Linda Sue Park

born 1960

American author

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
AZ

August Zirner

born 1956

Austrian American actor

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
EB

Emily Blue

born 1994

American singer-songwriter

Karl Rubin

Karl Rubin

born 1956

American mathematician

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Ward Churchill

Ward Churchill

1947–2026

Political activist

Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Deborah Blum

Deborah Blum

born 1954

American journalist

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
AL

Andrew E. Lange

1957–2010

American physicist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
Theodore Gray

Theodore Gray

born 1964

American science writer

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
EF

Eugie Foster

1971–2014

American writer

Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
Larry Allen Abshier

Larry Allen Abshier

1943–1983

US soldier who defected to North Korea

Virginia Sale

Virginia Sale

1899–1992

American actress

Film, TV & StageWikipedia ↗
A chosen home

Also called Urbana home

Born elsewhere, they lived here: 3 in all, led by Edwin G. Krebs.

EK

Edwin G. Krebs

1918–2009

American biochemist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
HG

Herbert S. Gutowsky

1919–2000

American physical chemist

Science & MedicineWikipedia ↗
The town’s pick

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Next door

Famous people from the towns next door

Close by, the fullest list is Champaign City Township’s, at 64 names.

From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Urbana 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 (21)