List of people from Danville, Illinois

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

Arts and culture

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Susan Wittig Albert Jan 2, 1940 Fiction and non-fiction writer Lived in Danville and area, 1946–1963; attended Lincoln, Garfield, DHS
Morris Ankrum Aug 28, 1896 Sep 2, 1964 Actor Born in Danville [1]
Irving Azoff Dec 13, 1947 Music and movie producer, chairman of Live Nation Entertainment and Ticketmaster Attended school in Danville
Todd E. Creason May 26, 1967 Fiction and non-fiction writer
Joshua Ferris Nov 7, 1974 Novelist, author of Then We Came to the End Born in Danville
Gene Hackman Jan 30, 1930 Feb. 2025 Academy Award–winning actor Raised in Danville[2]
Brett Haley Aug 17, 1983 Film director Born in Danville
Ned Luke Oct 4, 1958 Film, TV, and video game actor Born in Danville [3]
Helen Morgan Aug 2, 1900 Oct 9, 1941 Stage and screen star, subject of The Helen Morgan Story Born in Danville
Donald O'Connor Aug 28, 1925 Sep 27, 2003 Film star and dancer Grew up in Danville
Bobby Short Sep 15, 1924 Mar 21, 2005 Cabaret singer, TV and film star, and recording artist Born in Danville
Matthew Stover Jan 29, 1962 Author [4]
Dick Van Dyke Dec 13, 1925 Film, TV, and stage star Raised in Danville
Jerry Van Dyke Jul 27, 1931 Jan 5, 2018 Film, TV, and stage star Born and raised in Danville
Kelly Jean Van Dyke Jun 5, 1958 Nov 17, 1991 TV and adult film star Born in Danville
Helen Wells 1910 1986 Author of Nurse Cherry Ames books, volumes 1-7 and 17-27

Military

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Kenneth D. Bailey Oct 21, 1910 Sep 26, 1942 Medal of Honor recipient Lived in Danville
William T. Wood June 19, 1854 December 18, 1943 U.S. Army brigadier general Lived in Danville[5][6]

Politics

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Joseph Gurney Cannon May 7, 1836 Nov 12, 1926 Speaker of the US House of Representatives (1903–1911) Resided and died in Danville [7]
John Thomas Scopes Aug 3, 1900 Oct 21, 1970 Teacher who went to trial for teaching evolution in a public school, in defiance of Tennessee's Butler Act, in the famous 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial. Lived in Danville as a teenager. [8]
Rickey Williams Jr. 1977/1978 First African-American mayor of Danville Raised in Danville [9]

Space

Name Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Joseph R. Tanner Jan 21, 1950 Astronaut Born in Danville

Sports

Name Cameron Lee Image Birth Death Known for Association Reference
Jason Anderson Jun 9, 1979 Pitcher for the New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, and New York Yankees Born in Danville [10]
Zeke Bratkowski Oct 20, 1931 Nov 11, 2019 Quarterback and coach for seven National Football League teams Born in Danville
Keon Clark Apr 16, 1975 Power forward for the six National Basketball Association teams Born in Danville
Bert Daniels Oct 31, 1882 Jun 6, 1958 Outfielder for the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds Born in Danville
Jack Doan Jun 12, 1972 Wrestling referee with the World Wrestling Entertainment Lives in Danville
Ben Howard Jan 15, 1979 Pitcher for the San Diego Padres and Florida Marlins Born in Danville
Jim Marshall May 25, 1931 Second baseman and manager for seven Major League Baseball teams Born in Danville
Al Myers Oct 22, 1863 Dec 24, 1927 Second baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Quakers, Kansas City Cowboys and Washington Nationals. Born in Danville
Curtis Redden Feb 8, 1881 Jan 16, 1919 All-Western football player and coach; died in World War I Born in Danville
Sterling Slaughter Nov 18, 1941 Pitcher for the Chicago Cubs Born in Danville
Stephanie White Jun 20, 1977 Purdue and WNBA player, Vanderbilt coach Born in Danville
Robin Yount Sep 16, 1955 Hall of Fame center fielder and shortstop for the Milwaukee Brewers Born in Danville [11]

References

  1. ^ "Morris Ankrum". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  2. ^ "In appreciation: In Gene Hackman, from Danville, the exquisite loneliness of the long-distance actor". Chicago Tribune. February 27, 2025. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
  3. ^ "Ned Luke". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  4. ^ "Star Wars Novelist Keeps The Force at Heart". Kentucky New Era. June 13, 2005. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  5. ^ Davis, Henry Blaine Jr. (1998). Generals In Khaki. Raleigh, NC: Pentland Press. p. 392. ISBN 978-1-5719-7088-6 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "County News: Vermilion County". The Paxton Record. Paxton, IL. May 22, 1873. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "CANNON, Joseph Gurney, (1836 - 1926)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  8. ^ "About Danville High School". Danville High School. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  9. ^ Bailey, Jennifer (April 3, 2019). "Residents elect Williams as mayor". Commercial News. Williams, 41, and the other elected officials who won Tuesday night will be sworn in on May 7
  10. ^ "Jason Anderson Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  11. ^ "Robin Yount Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
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