Famous People From Indiana

The King of Pop and an international superstar, Michael Jackson was a musical entertainer whose work – both with Jackson 5 and solo – won accolades and hearts worldwide. Equally popular were his unique dance moves that created sensation and shaped future dance styles. Amongst the most successful entertainers of all time, Jackson was later accused of child molestation.  

Brendan Fraser is the quintessential comical action hero of Hollywood. As a result of the stunts performed by him in movies, he has had to undergo many surgeries, including a laminectomy and partial knee replacement. He is also a successful amateur photographer and serves on the board of directors for a non-profit humanitarian organization called FilmAid International.

A member of the prominent Jackson family, Janet Jackson is a singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. Popularly known for her innovative and socially conscious songs, she was considered a sex icon in her youth. Beginning her career as a teenager, she went on to become one of the world's best-selling music artists of all time.

Best remembered for his role in the film, Rebel Without a Cause, actor James Dean was a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment. Despite having a difficult childhood, he was an exceptional student. He began acting as a young man and was quite successful. Sadly, he was killed in a car crash at the young age of 24.

Considered one of the greatest basketball players ever, Larry Bird was part of the Dream Team that won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics. A Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, Bird helped his team Boston Celtics win three NBA championships. In 2018, MSN Sports named him the greatest Boston Celtics player ever.

Colonel Sanders is the man who revolutionized the American fast food industry by founding the restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Establishing a style trademark by wearing a white suit and black string tie, Sanders went on to become a symbol of the KFC brand. Such is the popularity of the brand, the symbol is recognized all over the world.

Starting off as a radio weatherman, David Letterman has come a long way. He has been the longest-serving American late-night talk-show host and ranked 45th on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list. He later dabbled in production, with hit sitcoms such as Everybody Loves Raymond.

Science-fiction author Kurt Vonnegut is best remembered for the novel Slaughterhouse-Five, which became a New York Times bestseller. The Hugo Award-winner had also fought against the Germans in World War II and expressed his anti-war and atheist views through his works, which also include short stories, plays, and autobiographical works.  

David Lee Roth is an American rock singer, songwriter, musician, and former radio personality. Renowned for his energetic stage persona, Roth was a long-time member of the popular hard rock band Van Halen where he served as the lead singer. In 2007, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Carole Lombard was part of hits such as No Man of Her Own, To Be or Not to Be, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, before dying in a plane crash at 33. She had redefined the screwball comedy genre. She was married to Hollywood legends William Powell and Clark Gable. 

Dubbed the King of Cool, Steve McQueen was an American actor known for his antihero persona. He was one of the most bankable stars during the 1960s and 1970s. Renowned for performing many of his own stunts, McQueen remains a popular star. In the 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Steve McQueen was played by Damian Lewis.

Actress Jenna Fischer is best known for her role in the NBC sitcom, The Office, for which she received an Emmy nomination. She was interested in performing from a young age and studied theater in college. Entering the entertainment industry in the late 1990s, she struggled for a while before making a name for herself as an actress. 

Dylan Minnette is an American actor best known for playing Clay Jensen in the TV series 13 Reasons Why. Apart from being an actor, Minnette is also a musician who sings and plays the guitar for the alternative rock band Wallows. As part of Wallows, Minnette performed at a concert called Summer Meltdown to create awareness about autism in 2010. 

A well-known actor, singer, songwriter, producer, and director, Don Johnson is a man of many talents. Also a powerboat enthusiast, he competed at the 1988 Offshore World Cup, which was organized by the American Power Boat Association, and became the world champion.

WWF legend James Hellwig was better known as The Ultimate Warrior and the Dingo Warrior and won the WWF Heavyweight Championship once and the Intercontinental Championship twice. Following his retirement, he became a public speaker. Shortly before his death, he was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame.

John Mellencamp, also known as Johnny Cougar and John Cougar, has earned 13 Grammy nominations, winning one. He co-founded Farm Aid and helped raise funds for farmers through concerts. With 22 Top 40 hits in his kitty, he has also held painting exhibitions and acted in and directed movies.

American singer-songwriter and actor, Adam Lambert, serves as an inspiration to the LGBTQ community; he became the first openly gay musician to top the U.S. Billboard 200 charts with the release of his second studio album Trespassing. Also a well-known philanthropist, Adam Lambert helps raise money for various charitable causes.

Mick Foley is an American author, actor, and retired professional wrestler. Widely considered one of the greatest WWE wrestlers of all time, Foley played an important role in popularizing WWE's Attitude Era during the late-1990s. Also a well-known humanitarian, Foley's philanthropic work is centered around children; he often participates in Make-a-Wish Foundation events and makes surprise visits to children’s hospitals.

Actor Dick York is best remembered for his role as Darrin Stephens in the ABC fantasy sitcom Bewitched. He began his career as a teenager by starring in a radio show. He became immensely popular as a radio actor and ventured into films and TV shows as well. In his later years, he founded a charity to help the homeless.

Anne Baxter is best remembered for her Academy Award- and Golden Globe-winning performance as Sophie MacDonald in The Razor's Edge. Her other notable projects were the film All About Eve and the series The Name of the Game. She also actively participated in Republican campaigns.

Embeth Davidtz is a South-African American actress known for playing important roles in popular movies, such as Schindler's List and Fracture. She also serves as an inspiration to those fighting against cancer as she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, for which she had to undergo a mastectomy.

Stand-up comedian, actor, and film producer, Mike Epps, is a man with multiple talents. He began his career performing stand-up comedy and branched out into acting soon after.  As an actor, he gained fame for playing Day-Day Jones in the film Next Friday and its sequels. He is a controversial person and has been accused of assaulting a fellow comedian.

Basketball coach Gregg Popovich currently serves as the head coach and president of the NBA team San Antonio Spurs. Known as Coach Pop, the three-time NBA Coach of the Year has scored the most wins NBA wins, leading the Spurs to 22 season wins, including five NBA titles.

Entrepreneur John H. Schnatter, also known as Papa John, established Papa John's Pizza in the 1980s, using the money he got after selling his car. He resigned as the CEO of his company in 2018, following a controversy regarding his comments about protests by NFL players.

Ryan White became an icon for HIV/AIDS patients in the 1980s, when he was not allowed to return to school after an AIDS diagnosis. He was apparently infected with the virus during a blood treatment for haemophilia. His case led to the passage of the Ryan White CARE Act.

Red Skelton is best remembered as the host of The Red Skelton Show. Apart from films and TV, he had also performed in vaudeville, casinos, and nightclubs. He was also a skilled painter and specialized in paintings of clowns, which earned him more than his acting projects.

Tito Jackson is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is one of the members of the famed Jackson family, which has produced popular musicians, including Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. An original member of the popular pop band, The Jackson 5, Tito Jackson reached the peak of his success in the 1960s and 1970s.

Scatman Crothers was an American musician and actor. Also a prolific voice-over actor, Crothers contributed immensely to the success of several animated TV series, such as Harlem Globetrotters, The Transformers, and Hong Kong Phooey. For his contribution to the American TV and film industry, Scatman Crothers was awarded a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.