Actors From Illinois

One of the finest comedians of all time, Robin Williams began his career as a stand-up comedian and soon moved to act in television and films. Though widely recognised for his comedic skills, the immensely talented Williams proved his versatility by taking up and successfully performing more serious roles in films like Good Will Hunting and The Fisher King.

With an extensive career spanning six decades, veteran actor Harrison Ford is a major figure in Hollywood. The recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Cecil B. DeMille Award, he is one of the highest-grossing domestic box office stars of all time. Besides acting, he is a licensed pilot of both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.

Charlton Heston was an American actor whose cinematic legacy became the subject of an 11-film retrospective titled Cinematic Atlas: The Triumphs of Charlton Heston. Also a political activist, Charlton Heston was one of the few Hollywood actors to criticize racism in the 1950s and 1960s; he was also a supporter of the Civil Rights Movement.

William Holden is best known for his Academy Award-winning performance in Stalag 17 and his Emmy-winning role in the TV film The Blue Knight. He also appeared in the films Sunset Boulevard and The Bridge on the River Kwai, and on Lux Radio Theatre. He was also a wildlife conservationist.

Famous American actor, Bill Murray, began as a comedic performer and gained fame with the variety show, Saturday Night Live, and movies, Caddyshack and Ghostbusters. Later, his seriocomic roles in movies like Rushmore, Lost in Translation and St. Vincent earned him rave reviews. The actor has also lent his voice to many animation movies like Garfield and The Jungle Book.

Michael Clarke Duncan was one of the most popular actors best known for his portrayal of John Coffey in the fantasy drama film The Green Mile. Apart from acting in films and TV series, he was also featured in several video games, such as SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALs, Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone, and The Suffering: Ties That Bind.

One of the original cast members of the popular TV show Saturday Night Live, John Belushi was known for his great comic skills. Unfortunately, he struggled in his personal life with drug addiction and eventually died of combined drug intoxication at the age of 33. He posthumously received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

John Cusack started his career as a teen actor. He is known for his unconventional choice of films. Grosse Pointe Blank, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, The Raven and The Grifters are some of his notable films. He is also known as an activist and has often taken a strong stand on issues like war, drone usage, civil liberties, press freedom and whistleblowers.

Considered a heartthrob and one of the most popular movie stars of all time, some of Rock Hudson’s successful movies are the Magnificent Obsession, Giant, Written on the Wind, Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back, Come September and Send Me No Flowers. He also acted in television. It was speculated that he was a homosexual. He died due to AIDS-related illness.

John Malkovich is one of those rare actors who despite being highly regarded for his talent has been conspicuously missing from the headlines. From Hercule Poirot to Catholic Pope, Malkovich has portrayed each of his characters with zest and intensity that have earned him two Oscar nominations and a myriad of other prestigious awards.

Bob Odenkirk began his career as an SNL writer but shot to fame only after starring as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and its spin-off, Better Call Saul. He has also been part of critically acclaimed movies such as Nebraska and The Post, and has directed and produced several shows.

American stand-up comedian Bob Newhart is renowned for his slightly stammering delivery style and dry humor for which he was honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2002. Over the years, his comedic style has influenced many comedians. Also an actor, he was ranked 17th on TV Guide's list of 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time.

Nick Offerman, best known for his award-winning performance as Ron Swanson in Parks and Recreation, is also a professional wood craftsman. He has voiced characters in films such as Hotel Transylvania 2 and Ice Age: Collision Course, hosted a Netflix documentary and a reality series, and written three semi-autobiographical books.

Peter Sarsgaard is a versatile American actor known for his work on stage, films, and TV series. A world-renowned actor, Peter is equally good with women and has dated several good-looking women like Dita Von Teese and Shalom Harlow.

American actor and comedian John C. Reilly soared to fame with his role in the war drama Casualties of War and his Academy Award-nominated role in Chicago. A musician, too, he performs with his own band. He was also nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in the play True West.

The younger brother of iconic comedian and actor John Belushi, Jim Belushi followed in his brother's footsteps to become a comedian and actor. He is also a passionate cannabis cultivator and plans to open a cannabis dispensary in Downtown Portland.

As a huge fan of the Second City improv troupe during his growing up days, Jake Johnson aspired to become a comedian. It was this aspiration that made him achieve what he has achieved today as an actor and comedian in the American film industry.

Billy Zane is an American actor best known for portraying Caledon Hockley in the 1997 epic romance film Titanic. He then went on to play a crucial role in the success of films, such as The Believer, which was showcased at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival where it won the Grand Jury Prize.

Garry Shandling was initially a sitcom writer and then performed as a stand-up comedian on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He later soared to fame with his own shows, It's Garry Shandling's Show and the Emmy-winning The Larry Sanders Show. He has also hosted the Grammy and Emmy Awards.

Adam Baldwin is an American actor known for playing important roles in films like Full Metal Jacket and Ordinary People. Also known for his humanitarian efforts, Baldwin supports Ride 2 Recovery, an organization established for the rehabilitation of veterans wounded in wars. Popular on social media, Baldwin is credited with introducing the hashtag #GamerGate with respect to the GamerGate controversy.

Ben Savage is an American actor known for portraying Cory Matthews in Boy Meets World. After starting his career as a child artist, Ben Savage went on to establish himself as a successful adult actor in the TV industry. Also known for displaying his skills on stage, Savage won an Ovation Award for portraying Roddy Stern in the play Unexpected Tenderness.

Kel Mitchell is an American actor, musician, singer, stand-up comedian, and rapper. He is known for his work in TV series like All That and Kenan & Kel. Over the years, Kel Mitchell has also been working towards bettering the lives of black people; he was honored by the Carson Black Chamber for his show, The Back House Party.

Actor and dancer Buddy Ebsen is best remembered for playing Jed Clampett in the CBS television sitcom, The Beverly Hillbillies. In a career spanning seven decades, he appeared in numerous films and TV shows, playing versatile roles. Beginning his career as a dancer, he soon ventured into acting. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.