List of people from Aurora, Illinois

The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Aurora, Illinois. For a similar list organized alphabetically by last name, see the category page People from Aurora, Illinois.

Arts and culture

Acting and modeling

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Barrowman, JohnJohn Barrowman Mar 11, 1967 Actor and singer
Donley, KimberlyKimberly Donley Dec 15, 1965 Adult model and actress Born in Aurora
Evans, AndreaAndrea Evans Jun 18, 1957 Emmy-nominated actress Born in Aurora
Katic, StanaStana Katic Apr 26, 1978 Actress, co-star of ABC's Castle
Linington, ElizabethElizabeth Linington Mar 11, 1921 Apr 5, 1988 Prolific novelist Born in Aurora
Van Lear, Phillip EdwardPhillip Edward Van Lear Actor Born in Aurora

Directing

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
McGuinn, JimJim McGuinn Feb 13, 1966 Radio program director Born in Aurora
Scheuring, PaulPaul Scheuring Nov 20, 1968 Screenwriter and director Born in Aurora

Fine arts

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Ford, Ruth VanSickleRuth VanSickle Ford Aug 8, 1897 Apr 18, 1989 Owner of the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts Grew up in Aurora

Journalism

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Drury, JohnJohn Drury Jan 4, 1927 Nov 25, 2007 Longtime Chicago news anchorman Raised in Aurora [1]
Shilts, RandyRandy Shilts Aug 8, 1951 Feb 17, 1994 Pioneering gay journalist and author

Music

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Greene, GeneGene Greene

(a.k.a. The Ragtime King)

 Jun 9, 1857 Apr 5, 1930 Entertainer, singer and composer Born in Aurora
Griffin, Kenneth W.Kenneth W. Griffin Dec 28, 1909 Mar 11, 1956 Organist Lived in Aurora and is buried there
Johnston, DaveDave Johnston Banjoist and singer for the Yonder Mountain String Band
Olson, JeffJeff Olson Jul 14, 1962 Musician Raised in Aurora and taught music there
Powell, MaudMaud Powell Aug 22, 1867 Jan 8, 1920 Violinist Began violin and piano lessons in Aurora in 1874 [2]
Thomas, CarlCarl Thomas Jun 15, 1972 R&B singer Attended East Aurora High School
White, RayRay White Soul vocalist and rock and blues guitarist; member of Frank Zappa's touring ensembles

Writing and illustrating

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Peeler, NicoleNicole Peeler 1978 Novelist Born in Aurora
Cussler, CliveClive Cussler Jul 15, 1931 Adventure novelist and marine archaeologist Born in Aurora
Herrera, M. MiriamM. Miriam Herrera Author and poet Raised in Aurora
Jones, ThomThom Jones Jan 26, 1945 Short story writer Raised in Aurora
O'Donnell, MabelMabel O'Donnell 1890 1985 Wrote the Alice and Jerry basal reader series Attended East Aurora High School
Parrington, Vernon LouisVernon Louis Parrington Aug 3, 1871 Jun 16, 1929 Pulitzer Prize-winning historian; college football coach Born in Aurora

Business and administrative

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Compton, JamesJames Compton Apr 7, 1939 Former president and CEO of the Chicago Urban League Born in Aurora
Skilling, JeffreyJeffrey Skilling Nov 25, 1953 Former CEO of Enron Corporation Attended West Aurora High School

Crime

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Murray, EdnaEdna Murray 1898 1966 Depression-era outlaw

Military

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Monroe, James H.James H. Monroe Oct 17, 1944 Feb 16, 1967 Combat medic in the Vietnam War and recipient of the Medal of Honor Born in Aurora
Truemper, Walter E.Walter E. Truemper Oct 31, 1918 Feb 20, 1944 Member of the US Army Air Forces in World War II and recipient of the Medal of Honor Born in Aurora
Weber, Lester W.Lester W. Weber Jul 30, 1948 Feb 23, 1969 US Marine and recipient of the Medal of Honor for heroism in Vietnam Born in Aurora

Politics and law

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Catlin, Sr., MarkMark Catlin, Sr. Nov 12, 1882 May 16, 1956 State legislator Wisconsin; head football coach at University of Iowa Born in Aurora
Coleman, Thomas E.Thomas E. Coleman Feb 23, 1893 Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin Born in Aurora
Copley, Ira CliftonIra Clifton Copley Oct 25, 1864 Nov 1, 1947 US congressman and founder of Copley Press Lived and died in Aurora
Deuchler, SuzanneSuzanne Deuchler Jul 21, 1929 Illinois state congresswoman
Dietrich, Charles HenryCharles Henry Dietrich Nov 26, 1853 Apr 10, 1924 US senator from and 11th governor of Nebraska Born in Aurora
Garman, Rita B.Rita B. Garman Nov 19, 1943 Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois Born in Aurora
Hastert, DennisDennis Hastert Jan 2, 1942 Speaker of the US House of Representatives Born in Aurora
Johnson, Phillip E.Phillip E. Johnson Jun 18, 1940 Retired law professor and author Born in Aurora
Lauzen, ChrisChris Lauzen Dec 30, 1952 Illinois state senator Born in Aurora
LaVia, Linda ChapaLinda Chapa LaVia Aug 16, 1966 Illinois state congressman Born in Aurora
Lindner, Patricia ReidPatricia Reid Lindner Nov 29, 1939 Illinois state congressman Born in Aurora
Long, Lewis M.Lewis M. Long Jun 22, 1883 Sep 9, 1957 US congressman
Mahoney, TimTim Mahoney Aug 16, 1956 US congressman from Florida Born in Aurora
Palmer, Scott B.Scott B. Palmer Nov 22, 1950 Former Chief of Staff to US congressman Dennis Hastert
Pritchard, Robert W.Robert W. Pritchard Mar 31, 1945 Illinois state congressman Born in Aurora
Reid, Charlotte ThompsonCharlotte Thompson Reid Sep 27, 1913 Jan 25, 2007 US congresswoman Lived and died in Aurora
Reid, Frank R.Frank R. Reid Apr 18, 1879 Jan 25, 1945 US congressman Born in Aurora
Solfisburg, RoyRoy Solfisburg 1912 1991 Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court Born in Aurora
Weisner, TomTom Weisner 1949 Mayor of Aurora

Religion

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Popp, NathanielNathaniel Popp Jun 12, 1940 Archbishop of the Orthodox Church in America's Romanian Episcopate Born in Aurora
Puscas, Vasile LouisVasile Louis Puscas Sep 13, 1915 Oct 3, 2009 Bishop emeritus of the Romanian Catholic Eparchy of St George's in Canton Born in Aurora
Raţiu, AlexanderAlexander Raţiu May 4, 1916 Jul 25, 2002 Romanian Greek-Catholic priest, political prisoner, and author Lived and died in Aurora

Science

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Gale, HenryHenry Gale Sep 12, 1874 Nov 16, 1942 Astrophysicist and author Born in Aurora
Hall, Frank HavenFrank Haven Hall Feb 9, 1841 1911 Inventor of the Hall Braille Writer and other Braille printing devices Lived and died in Aurora
Phillips, James F.James F. Phillips Nov 20, 1930 Oct 3, 2001 Environmental activist Born in Aurora
Skilling, TomTom Skilling Feb 20, 1952 Chicago Tribune and WGN-TV meteorologist Born in Aurora
Sloan, Martha E.Martha E. Sloan 1939 Electrical engineer, the first female president of the IEEE Born in Aurora
Tilman, G. DavidG. David Tilman Jul 22, 1949 Ecologist and college professor Born in Aurora

Sports

Baseball

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Becker, RichRich Becker Feb 1, 1972 Outfielder for several Major League Baseball teams Born in Aurora
Bowden, MichaelMichael Bowden Sep 9, 1986 Pitcher for the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs Attended Waubonsie Valley High School
Grant, MarkMark Grant Oct 24, 1963 Pitcher for six Major League Baseball teams Born in Aurora
Johnson, BobBob Johnson Apr 25, 1943 Pitcher for five Major League Baseball teams Born in Aurora
Jungels, KenKen Jungels Jun 23, 1916 Sep 9, 1975 Pitcher for the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates
Kipper, BobBob Kipper Jul 8, 1964 Relief pitcher for the California Angels, Pittsburgh Pirates and Minnesota Twins Born in Aurora
Ramos, MarioMario Ramos Oct 19, 1977 Pitcher for the Texas Rangers Born in Aurora
Reninger, JimJim Reninger Mar 7, 1915 Aug 23, 1993 Pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics Born in Aurora

Basketball

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Battle, KennyKenny Battle Oct 10, 1964 Small forward for several National Basketball Association teams Born in Aurora
Boatright, RyanRyan Boatright Dec 27, 1992 Point guard for Brooklyn Nets Born in Aurora
Carney, BobBob Carney Aug 3, 1932 Nov 9, 2011 Shooting guard for the Minneapolis Lakers Born in Aurora
Lavoy, BobBob Lavoy June 29, 1926 Dec 18, 2010 NBA player of early 1950s Born in Aurora
Platt, JimJim Platt Mar 1, 1952 Assistant coach for Army Black Knights men's basketball team Born in Aurora
Taylor, BillyBilly Taylor Jun 12, 1973 Head men's basketball coach at Ball State University Valedictorian at West Aurora High School

Bodybuilding

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Abshire, JenniferJennifer Abshire November 20, 1977 Professional bodybuilder

Drivers

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Z, BobbyBobby Z Sep 6, 1964 Monster truck driver

Football

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Apsit, MargerMarger Apsit Jun 5, 1909 Dec 22, 1988 Running back for four National Football League teams Born in Aurora
Becker, KurtKurt Becker Dec 22, 1958 Guard for the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams; Super Bowl XX Champion Born in Aurora
Beebe, DonDon Beebe Dec 18, 1964 Wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, and Green Bay Packers; Super Bowl XXXI champion Born in Aurora
Childress, BradBrad Childress Jun 27, 1956 Head coach of the Minnesota Vikings Born in Aurora
English, LarryLarry English Jan 22, 1986 Linebacker for the San Diego Chargers Born in Aurora
Galloway, RalphRalph Galloway Aug 27, 1946 Guard in the Canadian Football League 1969–79 Born in Aurora
Gustafson, AndyAndy Gustafson Apr 3, 1903 Jan 7, 1979 Head coach in the College Football Hall of Fame Born in Aurora
Horstmann, RoyRoy Horstmann Dec 6, 1910 Jan 23, 1998 Running back for the Boston Redskins and Chicago Cardinals Born in Aurora
Krakoski, JoeJoe Krakoski Nov 11, 1962 Linebacker for the Washington Redskins Born in Aurora
Melvin, RandyRandy Melvin Apr 3, 1959 Defensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns Born in Aurora
Sabados, AndyAndy Sabados Nov 24, 1916 July 5, 2004 Guard for the Chicago Cardinals Born in Aurora
Thompson, SteveSteve Thompson Jun 24, 1965 Defensive tackle for the Washington Redskins Born in Aurora

Golf

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Small, MikeMike Small Mar 4, 1966 Golfer with the PGA Tour Born in Aurora

Gymnastics

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Li, AnnaAnna Li Sep 4, 1988 Artistic gymnast; member of the US National Team; an alternate at the Summer 2012 London Olympics Graduated from Waubonsie Valley High School; lives in Aurora

Sports-related professionals

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Davis, Zachary TaylorZachary Taylor Davis May 26, 1872 Dec 16, 1946 Architect of Old Comiskey Park (1910), Wrigley Field (1914) Born in Aurora
Hearn, ChickChick Hearn Nov 27, 1916 Aug 5, 2002 Sportscaster for the Los Angeles Lakers Born in Aurora

Soccer

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Kirk, QuavasQuavas Kirk Apr 13, 1988 Full back for the Los Angeles Galaxy and D.C. United Born in Aurora

Track and field

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Petranoff, TomTom Petranoff Apr 8, 1958 World record javelin thrower Born in Aurora

References

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