List of people from Naperville, Illinois

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

Authors and academics

• Andrea Beaty, author
• Emily Giffin, author
• Louise Huffman, teacher and educator on US Antarctic programs ^[1]
• Fazlur Rahman Malik, author, scholar
• Paul Sereno, paleontologist
• Luis Alberto Urrea, author
• Jasmine Warga, children's and young adult author
• May Theilgaard Watts, naturalist and author; led efforts to establish the Illinois Prairie Path

Media and arts

• Dave Allen, actor
• Trevor Wallace, Comedian and Content Creator
• Andrew Baggarly, baseball journalist
• Dave Bickler, singer for Survivor
• Paul Brittain, actor and comedian
• Steve Cochran, radio talk personality, WGN-AM; lives in Naperville
• David Eigenberg, actor
• Gina Glocksen, American Idol finalist
• Adrian Holovaty, journalist and web developer; creator of Django web framework
• James Holzhauer, Jeopardy all-time record-holder for one-day winnings ^[2]
• P. J. Hyett (born 1982/83), software developer, and co-founder of GitHub ^{[ citation needed ]}
• Harry Kalas, sportscaster, voice of Philadelphia Phillies from 1971 to 2009
• Alan Krashesky, news anchor, WLS-TV
• Dick Locher, editorial writer and Dick Tracy cartoonist
• Gary Miller, sportscaster
• Marisol Nichols, actress, mostly known for her role as Hermione Lodge on Riverdale
• Matthew Prozialeck Musician, blues harmonica player, recording artist, music producer
• Bill Odenkirk, comedy writer, The Simpsons ^[3]
• Bob Odenkirk, actor, comedian, writer, director, producer, star of Better Call Saul ^[3]
• Danielle Panabaker, actress most notable for her role as Dr. Caitlin Snow on The Flash . She spent her teenage years in Naperville. ^[4]
• Kay Panabaker, child actress ( Phil of the Future , No Ordinary Family ). She was raised in Naperville. ^[4]
• Chris Redd, cast member on Saturday Night Live ^[5]
• Alene Robertson, musical theatre actress, winner of nine Joseph Jefferson Awards and 2014 Sarah Siddons Award ^[6]
• Andrew Santino, Actor, comedian, and podcaster
• Hillary Scott, pornographic actress
• Jim Sonefeld, drummer for Hootie and the Blowfish
• Kim Spencer, founder of the WorldLink direct broadcast satellite channel, producer of Space Bridge live TV broadcasts simultaneously connecting audiences and presenters on multiple continents
• Darling Squire, dancer and choreographer
• Doug Walker, web reviewer, Nostalgia Critic ^[7]
• Paula Zahn, newscaster and television personality

Politics

• Mary Lou Cowlishaw, politician
• S. Fitzgerald Haney, U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica
• Dick Locher, syndicated cartoonist ^[8]
• Joseph Naper, shipbuilder, businessman, politician, settler, founder of Naperville
• A. George Pradel, longest-serving mayor in city's history
• J. Glenn Schneider, educator and politician
• Robert Zoellick, retired president of World Bank
• Lauren Underwood, politician

Sports

Prize Fighting

• Curtis Blaydes, UFC fighter
• Jordan Johnson, RFA World Champ, UFC fighter
• Steve Kozola, MMA fighter

Baseball

• Nick Solak, MLB player
• Ryan Bukvich, MLB player
• Bert Haas, MLB player
• Jerry Hairston Jr., MLB player
• Ian Krol, MLB player
• Nicky Lopez, MLB player
• Collin McHugh, MLB player

Basketball

Anthony Parker with the Cavaliers

• John Clawson, forward for University of Michigan and ABA champion Oakland Oaks; Olympic gold medalist 1968 Olympics
• Drew Crawford (born 1990), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League ^[9]
• Porter Moser, head coach for University of Oklahoma men's basketball
• Anthony Parker, shooting guard and small forward for Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers; 2004 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP; current general manager of NBA G League's Lakeland Magic.
• Candace Parker, forward for University of Tennessee and WNBA champions Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky; two-time league MVP; two-time Olympic gold medalist

Football

• Jayden Reed wide receiver
• Matt LaCosse tight end
• Cameron Brate, tight end
• Chris Brown, running back
• Owen Daniels, tight end
• Justin McCareins, wide receiver
• Babatunde Oshinowo, defensive lineman
• Sean Payton, head coach

Gymnastics

• Bridgette Caquatto, gymnast on U.S national team World silver medalist
• Mackenzie Caquatto, gymnast on U.S national team
• Nia Dennis, gymnast on U.S. national team

Ice skating

• Evan Lysacek, figure skater; Olympic gold medalist (2010), 2-time national champion

E-Biking

• John Doyle

Soccer

• Aidan Liu, defender for Vejle BK
• Brittany Bock, defender for WPS franchise Western New York Flash
• Vanessa DiBernardo, midfielder for Chicago Red Stars
• Megan Oyster, defender for Reign FC
• Casey Short, defender for Chicago Red Stars and U.S. national women's team

Track and field

• Chris Derrick, distance runner at Stanford, held junior record in 5000m
• Tom Petranoff, javelin thrower, former world record holder, Olympian

Swimming

• Kevin Cordes, Olympic gold medalist in 4x100-meter medley relay, American record holder in 100- and 200-meter breaststroke (short course), as well as 100- and 200-yard breaststroke.

Volleyball

• Jordyn Poulter, Olympic gold medalist for the United States national indoor volleyball team & professional volleyball player.

Mountain Climbing

• Lucy Westlake, youngest American Woman to summit Mount Everest. ^[10]

References

1. "Empowering Educators at the School of Ice". antarcticsun.usap.gov. Antarctic Sun. 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
2. Baker, Sue (April 9, 2019). "Naperville native sets new 'Jeopardy!' record for 1-day winnings with $110,914; 4-day streak continues". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
3. Parsi, Novid (March 17, 2010). "Bad boy". Time Out Chicago. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
4. "Danielle Panabaker Super Star". Chicago Sun-Times . November 14, 2014. Archived from the original on November 17, 2014. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
5. Hegarty, Erin (September 27, 2017). "New 'SNL' cast member attended Naperville schools". Chicago Tribune.
6. "You are being redirected..." www.positivelynaperville.com. March 23, 2012.
7. Spirrison, Brad (July 7, 2009). "Naperville man finds way to make Web pay". Naperville Sun. Retrieved December 10, 2010.
8. Wilson, Marie (August 7, 2017). "Naperville, art world mourn loss of 'Dick Tracy' cartoonist Dick Locher". Daily Herald. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
9. "Drew Crawford". Scout.com. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
10. "Naperville's Lucy Westlake climbs into record books as the youngest U.S. female to summit Everest". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 13, 2022.