List of people from Wisconsin
This is a list of prominent people from the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Place of birth is in parenthesis.
Military
- Richard Bong (1920–1945), World War II pilot (born in Superior)
- John Bradley (1923–1994), Iwo Jima flag-raiser (born in Antigo)
- Art Fiala (1899–2005), World War I (born in Kewaunee)
- Russell Klika, combat photographer
- Arthur MacArthur, Jr. (1845–1912), Medal of Honor Civil War, "On Wisconsin", father of General Douglas MacArthur (born in Milwaukee)
- Billy Mitchell (1879-1936), U.S. general, aviation (raised in West Allis)
- Marc Mitscher (1887–1947), World War II admiral (born in Hillsboro)
- Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr. (1924-1950), Korean War Medal of Honor recipient (born in Hatfield)
- Lance Sijan (1942-1968), Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient (born in Milwaukee)
- Nathan Farragut Twining (1897-1982), U.S. Air Force general (born in Monroe)
- Hoyt Vandenberg (1899–1954), U.S. Air Force general (born in Milwaukee)
- Charles White Whittlesey (1884–1921), World War I Medal of Honor recipient, leader of the Lost Battalion (born in Florence}
Politicians and activists
- Les Aspin (1938—1995), Congressman and Secretary of Defense (born in Milwaukee)
- Thomas M. Barrett (b. 1953), Congressman and Mayor of Milwaukee (born in Milwaukee)
- John J. Blaine (1875–1934), Governor and U.S. Senator (born in Wingville)
- James Budd (1851–1908), California Governor (born in Janesville)
- Carrie Chapman Catt (1859-1947), feminist (born in Ripon)
- Bernardine Dohrn (b. 1942), activist (born in Milwaukee)
- Michael Dombeck, former Chief of the US Forest Service
- Lawrence Eagleburger, Secretary of State (Milwaukee)
- Russ Feingold, U.S. Senator and co-author of McCain-Feingold Campaign Reform Act (Janesville)
- Selena Fox, Wiccan priestess, religious-rights activist, and founder of Circle Sanctuary and Pagan Spirit Gathering
- Lorena Hickok, friend of Eleanor Roosevelt, helped Harry Hopkins with fact finding missions during the New Deal (East Troy)
- Paul O. Husting, U.S. Senator
- George F. Kennan, diplomat (Milwaukee)
- Herb Kohl, U.S. Senator and sports-franchise owner (Milwaukee)
- Robert M. La Follette, Sr., Congressman, Governor and U.S. Senator (Primrose)
- Robert M. La Follette, Jr., U.S. Senator (Madison)
- Mel Laird, Congressman and Secretary of Defense (Marshfield)
- Irvine Lenroot, U.S. Senator
- Joseph McCarthy, U.S. Senator (Grand Chute)
- Golda Meir, Israeli Prime Minister
- John L. Mitchell, Congressman and U.S. Senator
- Gaylord Nelson, Governor and U.S. Senator (Clear Lake)
- Steve Preston, SBA administrator
- William Proxmire, U.S. Senator
- Joseph V. Quarles, U.S. Senator
- William Rehnquist, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice (Shorewood)
- William A. Richards, Wyoming Governor
- Bart Stupak, Michigan Congressman (Milwaukee)
- Tommy Thompson, Governor, Secretary of Health and Human Services, and 2008 candidate for President (Elroy)
- Thomas J. Walsh,U.S. Senator and main prosecutor in the Teapot Dome Scandal hearings (Two Rivers)
- Frances Willard, suffragist and temperance activist
- Paul Weyrich, commentator
- Alexander Wiley, U.S. Senator
- Frank Zeidler, mayor of Milwaukee, Socialist Party candidate for president in 1976
Entertainment
Film and theatre
- Jim Abrahams, director
- Marc Alaimo, actor
- Don Ameche, actor
- Mark Borchardt, director
- Ellen Corby, actress
- Willem Dafoe, actor
- Chris Farley, actor
- Heather Graham, actress
- Harry Houdini, magician
- Tom Hulce, actor
- Carole Landis, actor
- Joseph Losey, director
- Alfred Lunt, actor
- Fredric March, actor
- John Matuszak, actor and football player
- Pat O'Brien, actor
- Nicholas Ray, director
- Gena Rowlands, actor
- Mark Ruffalo, actor
- Richard Schickel, critic
- Eric Szmanda, actor
- Spencer Tracy, actor
- Judy Tyler, actress
- Bob Uecker, actor and sports commentator
- Peter Weller, actor
- Orson Welles, director
- Shannon Whirry, actress
- Gene Wilder, actor
- David Zucker, director
- Jerry Zucker, director
Television
- Lamont Bentley, actor
- Ellen Corby, actress
- Tyne Daly, actress
- John Fiedler, actor, voice of Piglet
- Deidre Hall, actress
- Joel Hodgson, actor, comedian, creator of Mystery Science Theater 3000
- Gregory Itzin, actor, best known for his role of President Charles Logan on 24
- Jane Kaczmarek, actress
- Kathy Kinney, actress
- Allen Ludden, game show host
- Chris Noth, actor
- Amy Pietz, actor
- Charlotte Rae, actress
- Tony Shalhoub, actor (Green Bay)
- Tom Snyder, talkshow host
- Julie Stoffer, cast member, The Real World: New Orleans, host Electric Playground
- Melinda Stolp, The Real World: Austin cast member
- Eric Szmanda, actor
- Greta Van Susteren, commentator (Appleton)
- Bradley Whitford, actor
- Tom Wopat, actor
Comedians
- Frank Caliendo, comedian
- Chris Farley, comedian (Madison)
- Jackie Mason, comedian (Sheboygan)
- Nick Mortensen, comedian (Green Bay)
Music
- Carl Allen, drummer
- Eric Benét, singer
- Bunny Berigan, musician
- Holly Brook, singer-songwriter
- Felice Bryant, songwriter
- Victor DeLorenzo, musician, drummer for Violent Femmes (1981-1993, 2002-2006)
- Howie Epstein, bassist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
- Gordon Gano, musician, singer for Violent Femmes
- Greg Graffin, singer
- Jerry Harrison, keyboardist and guitarist for Talking Heads
- Woody Herman, musician
- Hildegarde, cabaret singer
- Guy Hoffman, musician, drummer for Violent Femmes (1993-2002, 2006)
- Andy Hurley, drummer for Fall Out Boy
- Al Jarreau, singer
- Pee Wee King, musician
- Liberace, musician
- Jeff Loomis, guitarist for Nevermore (Appleton)
- Rico Love, rapper
- Steve Miller, musician
- Les Paul, musician, inventor
- Jim Pekol, musician
- Jeff Pilson, musician
- Stevie Rachelle, singer for Tuff (Oshkosh)
- Art Paul Schlosser, musician, songwriter, busker (Madison)
- Ben Sidran, jazz pianist
- Clyde Stubblefield, drummer
- Daryl Stuermer, guitarist
- Butch Vig, drummer for Garbage, musician and producer for Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage
- Jane Wiedlin, rhythm guitarist of The Go-Go's
Sports
- Alan Ameche, football player
- Ken Behring, former Seattle Seahawks owner
- Michael Bennett, football player
- Gene Brabender, baseball player
- Tyrone Braxton, football player
- Caron Butler, basketball player
- Jay DeMerit, soccer player
- Travis Diener, basketball player
- Jim Fitzgerald, basketball team owner
- Stan Fox, Indycar driver
- Reece Gaines, basketball player
- Nick Greisen, football player
- Mark Grudzielanek, baseball player
- Tim Gullikson, tennis player
- Tom Gullikson, tennis player
- Devin Harris, basketball player
- Beth Heiden, speedskater and cyclist
- Eric Heiden, athlete
- Phil Hellmuth, professional poker player
- Arnie Herber, football player
- Elroy Hirsch, athlete
- Dan Jansen, speedskater
- Whip Jones, founder Aspen Highlands Skiing
- Bill Kazmaier, powerlifter
- Ken Kennedy, professional wrestler (Two Rivers)
- Matt Kenseth, NASCAR driver
- Todd Kluever, NASCAR driver
- Alvin Kraenzlein, Olympic champion
- Dave Kreig, football player
- Tony Kubek, baseball player
- Harvey Kuenn, baseball player and manager
- Alan Kulwicki, NASCAR driver
- Travis Kvapil, NASCAR driver
- Curly Lambeau, football player and coach
- Little Bastard, midget professional wrestler (Oshkosh)
- D. Wayne Lukas, horse trainer (Antigo)
- John Matuszak, football player
- Chris McIntosh, football player
- Paul Menard, NASCAR driver
- Chris Mihm, basketball player
- Candice Michelle, professional wrestler (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
- Damian Miller, baseball player
- Andy North professional golfer
- Jim Otto, football player
- Andy Pafko, baseball player
- Danica Patrick, Indycar driver
- George Poage, athlete
- Dylan Postl, professional wrestler (Oshkosh, Wisconsin)
- Casey Rabach, football player
- Brad Radke, baseball player
- Andrew Rock, track
- Tony Romo, football player
- Pants Rowland, baseball manager
- Terry Ryan, baseball manager
- Jay Sauter, NASCAR Driver
- Jim Sauter, Former NASCAR Driver
- Johnny Sauter, NASCAR Driver
- Tim Sauter, NASCAR Driver
- Bud Selig, baseball commissioner
- Latrell Sprewell, basketball player
- Aaron Stecker, football player(Ashwaubenon)
- Steve Stricker, golfer
- Mark Tauscher, football player
- Bob Uecker, actor and sports commentator
- Nick Van Exel, basketball player
- Jarrod Washburn, baseball player
- Mike Webster, football player
- Bob Wickman, baseball player
- Dick Trickle, Racecar Driver
- Joe Pavelski, Ice Hockey Player for the San Jose Sharks (Stevens Point, Wisconsin)
Business
- John Cudahy, industrialist
- Michael Cudahy, entrepreneur
- Chris Gardner, (entrepreneur)| subject of movie "The Pursuit of Happyness"
- Ole Evinrude, inventor and entrepreneur
- King C. Gillette, industrialist
- Ken Hendricks, billionaire
- Phil Katz, computer programmer
- Herbert Kohler, business executive
- George Safford Parker, pen inventor
- Herbert Simon, economist and computer scientist
- John Menard, business executive
Jerry Kelly
Art and literature
- Stephen Ambrose, writer
- Carrie Jacobs Bond, songwriter
- Esther Bubley, photojournalist (Phillips)
- Chester Commodore, cartoonist
- August Derleth, writer
- Edna Ferber, writer
- Jack Finney, writer
- Zona Gale, writer
- Hamlin Garland, novelist, biographer, short-story writer and poet
- E. Gary Gygax, novelist and co-creator of "Dungeons & Dragons"
- Jane Hamilton, writer
- Gerda Lerner, Women's Studies, founder of women's history
- Jim Knipfel, writer
- Ron Kovic, writer, Born on the Fourth of July
- Jacquelyn Mitchard, writer
- Jessica Nelson North, writer
- Sterling North, writer
- Georgia O'Keeffe, artist
- George Wilbur Peck, writer, newspaper editor, and politician
- George Pollard, artist
- Ellen Raskin, writer and illustrator
- Carl Rogers, psychologist and founder of "Client-Centered Therapy"
- Clifford D. Simak, writer
- Peter Straub,writer
- John Toland, Pulitzer Prize–winning writer
- Ella Wheeler Wilcox, writer and poet
- John Wilde, artist
- Laura Ingalls Wilder, writer
- Thornton Wilder, writer
- Frank Lloyd Wright, architect
Science and medicine
- Roy Chapman Andrews, naturalist
- John Bardeen, Nobel Prize-winning physicist
- John Henry Comstock, entomologist
- Seymour Cray, computer designer
- Farrington Daniels, pioneer researcher in Solar energy
- Richard Davidson, psychologist, pioneer of affective neuroscience
- Hector DeLuca, Vitamin D metabolism
- Milton Erickson,MD, founding president of the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis, NLP
- Albert Lehninger, biochemist
- Karl Paul Link, discovered warfarin (named it for the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation)
- John Muir, environmentalist
- Harry Steenbock, Vitamin D catalyzed by sunlight, D-fortified milk; rickets cured
- James Thomson, first scientist to isolate human embryonic stem cells
- Thorstein Veblen, sociologist and economist
- Daniel Hale Williams, surgeon
Nobel Laureates
- Joseph Erlanger, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1944
- Herbert Spencer Gasser, B.S. 1910, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1944
- John Bardeen, B.S. 1928 and M.S. 1929, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1956 and 1972
- Edward Lawrie Tatum, B.A. 1931, M.S. 1932, Ph.D. 1935, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1958
- Joshua Lederberg , recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1958
- Stanford Moore, Ph.D 1938, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1972
- John H. van Vleck, A.B. 1920, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1977
- Theodore Schultz, M.S. 1928, Ph.D. 1930, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1979
- Erwin Neher, M.S. 1967, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1991
- Paul Boyer, M.S. 1941, Ph.D. 1943, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1997
- Günter Blobel, Ph.D. 1967, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1999
- Jack Kilby, M.S. 1950, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics for the Integrated Circuit in 2000
- Alan G. MacDiarmid, M.S. 1952, Ph.D. 1953, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2000
Space exploration
- Daniel Brandenstein, astronaut
- Leroy Chiao, astronaut
- Laurel Clark, astronaut (died in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster)
- Mark C. Lee, astronaut
- Jim Lovell, astronaut
- Deke Slayton, astronaut
Notorious & infamous Wisconsinites
- Aldrich Ames, convicted spy
- Steven Avery, convicted of murder after DNA exoneration from rape conviction
- Lawrencia Bembenek, convicted murderer
- Arthur Bremer, would-be assassin of George Wallace
- Jeffrey Dahmer, serial killer
- Jeane Dixon, psychic
- Ed Gein, serial killer
- Charles J. Guiteau, Assassin of 20th President James A. Garfield,lived in Ulao, Wisconsin from 1850-1855
- Eugene Hasenfus, CIA cargo handler
- Kato Kaelin, person of interest, O.J. Simpson criminal trial
- Bridey Murphy, alleged previous life
- Brandon Wilson, murderer
See also
 | This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
