Chicago Top Actors

1. Robin Williams

Robin McLaurin Williams was born on Saturday, July 21st, 1951, in Chicago, Illinois, a great-great-grandson of Mississippi Governor and Senator, Anselm J. McLaurin. His mother, Laurie McLaurin (née Janin), was a former model from Mississippi, and his father, Robert Fitzgerald Williams, was a Ford ...

2. Bernie Mac

Actor | The Bernie Mac Show

Bernard Jeffrey McCollough was born in 1957 in Chicago, the son of Mary McCullough and Jeffery Harrison. He grew up in the city, in a rougher neighborhood than most others, with a large family living under one roof. This situation provided him with a great insight into his comedy, as his family, ...

3. Mr. T

Actor | Rocky III

Mr. T was born Laurence Tureaud on 21 May 1952, in the rough south side ghetto of Chicago. He is the second to youngest of twelve children (he has four sisters and seven brothers) and grew up in the housing projects. His father, Nathaniel Tureaud, left when Laurence was 5, and his mother raised the...

4. Aries Spears

Actor | Jerry Maguire

Chicago native Aries Spears discovered his comedic abilities at the young age of 14, when he started doing his own comedy routine around his hometown. By the age of 17, he landed a part in the movie Home of Angels (1995), starring Abe Vigoda, Sherman Hemsley and Joe Frazier. Spears' additional film...

5. John C. Reilly

Actor | Chicago

Character actor, dramatic leading man, or hilarious comic foil? With an astonishing range of roles already under his belt, John C. Reilly has played an eclectic host of rich characters to great effect over the years, from seedy ne'er-do-wells, to lovable, good-natured schlepps.

The fifth of six ...

6. Chi McBride

Actor | Gone in Sixty Seconds

Chi McBride was born on September 23, 1961 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Gone in 60 Seconds (2000), I, Robot (2004) and The Terminal (2004). He is married to Julissa Marquez. They have one child.

7. Sherri Shepherd

Actress | Precious

Sherri Evonne Shepherd was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. When she was 11, her family moved to the suburb Hoffman Estates. Her father, Lawrence, was a food service manager at Sambos Restaurant and a church deacon, and her mother, LaVerne, cleaned homes.

Sherri started her stand-up career in ...

8. Common

Actor | John Wick: Chapter 2

First known as a rapper who became one of the more prominent voices in hip-hop's new millennium renaissance, Common later transitioned into acting. He was born in Chicago, and is the son of educator Dr. Mahalia Ann Hines and Lonnie Lynn, an ABA basketball player turned youth counselor.

On October 6,...

9. Michael Clarke Duncan

Actor | The Green Mile

Michael Clarke Duncan was born on December 10, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois. Raised on Chicago's South Side by his single mother, Jean, a house cleaner, Duncan grew up resisting drugs and alcohol, instead concentrating on school. He wanted to play football in high school, but his mother wouldn't let ...

10. Jennifer Morrison

Actress | House M.D.

Jennifer Marie Morrison was born in Chicago, Illinois, the oldest child of teachers David and Judy Morrison. She was raised in Arlington Heights, IL, with a younger sister and brother. She attended the same school her parents taught at, Prospect High School. As a child, she did some work as a model...

11. Bonnie Hunt

Actress | Jumanji

Bonnie Lynn Hunt is an American actress and comedienne who is known for her work in Rain Man, Beethoven, Jumanji, Jerry Maguire, The Green Mile and Cheaper by the Dozen. She voiced in the Disney films A Bug's Life, Zootopia, Monsters, Inc, Toy Story 3 and Cars. She was married to John Murphy but ...

12. Larenz Tate

Actor | Crash

Larenz Tate was born on the west side of Chicago to Larry and Peggy Tate, the youngest of three brothers. His brothers are actors Larron Tate and Lahmard J. Tate. In 1984, Larenz and his family moved to California. It was while living in California that Larenz's parents got him and his brothers ...

13. Virginia Madsen

Actress | Sideways

One of the hottest stars of the mid-1980s, Virginia Madsen has since played a variety of roles that have cemented her reputation as a fantastic actress who can adapt to any part.

Virginia was born in Chicago, Illinois, and belongs to an acting family -- with her brother, Michael Madsen, also an ...

14. Gillian Anderson

Actress | The X Files

Gillian Anderson was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Rosemary Alyce (Lane), a computer analyst, and Homer Edward Anderson III, who owned a film post-production company. Gillian started her career as a member of an amateur actor group while at high school. In 1987, her love of the theatre took her to ...

15. Michael Madsen

Actor | Reservoir Dogs

Michael Madsen is an enigmatic force in the entertainment industry, widely regarded as one of the most intense and compelling actors of our time. With an electrifying presence both on and off the screen, Madsen has captivated audiences worldwide with his mesmerizing performances, making an ...

16. Billy Zane

Actor | Titanic

William George Zane, better known as Billy Zane, was born on February 24, 1966 in Chicago, Illinois, to Thalia (Colovos) and William Zane, both of Greek ancestry. His parents were amateur actors and managed a medical technical school. Billy has an older sister, actress and singer Lisa Zane. Billy ...

17. Kel Mitchell

Actor | Good Burger

Acting Career - Hailing from the Windy City, Kel Mitchell began his acting career at the young age of 12 with the ETA Creative Arts Foundation. Young Kel wowed audiences with his on-stage performances in Chicago theatrical productions such as "Kasimu & the Coconut Palm" and "Dirt." But it was his ...

18. Joe Mantegna

Actor | The Godfather Part III

Joe Mantegna is an American actor who has made over 200 film and TV appearances. He is also a producer, writer, and director, and is probably best known for his role as Joey Zasa in the Francis Ford Coppola epic The Godfather Part III (1990), in which he stars alongside Al Pacino and Andy Garcia.

...

19. Daryl Hannah

Actress | Wall Street

Daryl Christine Hannah was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She is the daughter of Susan Jeanne (Metzger), a schoolteacher and later a producer, and Donald Christian Hannah, who owned a tugboat/barge company. Her stepfather was music journalist/promoter Jerrold Wexler. Her siblings are Page ...

20. Terrence Howard

Actor | Crash

Terrence Howard was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Anita Jeanine Williams (née Hawkins) and Tyrone Howard. He was raised in Cleveland, Ohio. His love for acting came naturally, through summers spent with his great-grandmother, New York stage actress Minnie Gentry. He later began his acting career ...

21. Robert Townsend

Producer | Hollywood Shuffle

Robert Townsend transcends any medium he touches whether he's performing stand up, acting, writing, directing, producing, or running a television network. A Chicago native, Townsend is often referred to as one of the "Godfathers" of the Independent Film World." With over 30 years in the business, ...

22. Tempestt Bledsoe

Actress | The Cosby Show

Tempestt Bledsoe was born on August 1, 1973 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for The Cosby Show (1984), ParaNorman (2012) and N-Secure (2010).

23. Robin Tunney

Actress | The Craft

Robin Tunney studied acting at the Chicago Academy for the Arts, spending her summer performing in such plays as "Bus Stop" and "Agnes of God". She moved to Los Angeles at the age of eighteen and shortly landed roles in such television shows as Life Goes On (1989), Class of '96 (1993) (recurring), ...

24. Lou Rawls

Soundtrack | Payback

Rawls was born on 1st December 1933 in Chicago, Illinois. His father abandoned his family and Lou was raised by his grandmother. His first meeting with music was when he was seven years old, in a Baptist church choir. He was mostly influenced by the Chicago Regal theatre where he had the ...

25. T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh

Actress | The Cool Crystal Show

A performer since childhood, performer, writer, producer and director T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh (Ta-Kee-ah Kristle Kee-Mah) studied theater, dance, voice, and pantomime in high school, then turned down a business scholarship to complete her studies at Florida A&M University with a degree in Theatre, ...

26. Salli Richardson-Whitfield

Actress | Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid

Salli Richardson-Whitfield is a 30-year industry veteran. She has been featured in 20+ major motion pictures and has starred opposite a number of Hollywood's top actors, including Samuel L. Jackson in 'The Great White Hype', Denzel Washington in 'Antwone Fisher', and Will Smith in 'I Am Legend'. On...

27. Jennifer Hudson

Soundtrack | Dreamgirls

Jennifer Kate Hudson was born on September 12, 1981 in Chicago, Illinois to Darnell Donerson (née Hudson) & Samuel Simpson. She is an Academy Award-winning actress, Grammy Award-winning recording artist and best-selling author. This bright, beautiful and booming-voiced talent is a perfect example ...

28. Steve Harris

Actor | The Practice

Steve Harris is the son of John, a bus driver, and Mattie, a housewife, who stressed his and younger brother, Sherwin's education over his love for football. Steve attended St. Joseph High in Westchester, Illinois, a private school known for developing star athletes such as basketball star Isiah ...

29. Da Brat

Soundtrack | Wasabi

Da Brat was born on April 14, 1974 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Wasabi (2001), Bad Boys (1995) and Big Momma's House (2000). She has been married to Jesseca Dupart since 2022.

30. Clifton Davis

Actor | Madam Secretary

Clifton Davis was born on October 4, 1945, in Chicago. His career spans forty years. He is a minister and songwriter as well as an actor. He performed as a student at Pine Forge Academy in Pennsylvania (from which he graduated in 1963) as a singer and as an orator, and those performances accustomed...

31. Terrence 'T.C.' Carson

Actor | Final Destination 2

T.C. Carson was born and raised in Chicago. He was always encouraged by his family to pursue his dream of becoming a professional performer. He started by performing in many plays and musicals such as "The Wiz", "Dreamgirls" and "Ain't Misbehavin". His stage work earned him awards and credit.

32. Cory Hardrict

Actor | American Sniper

Cory Hardrict was born on November 9, 1979 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for American Sniper (2014), Brotherly Love (2015) and November Criminals (2017). He was previously married to Tia Mowry.

33. Marla Gibbs

Actress | The Jeffersons

Armed with an acid dry wit and a full arsenal of sarcasm and sass, African-American character comedienne Marla Gibbs showed up on 1970s television with a bang in middle age (44). Landing the feisty maid role on the popular ground-breaking CBS sitcom The Jeffersons (1975), eventually led to her very...

34. Harry Lennix

Actor | Man of Steel

Harry Lennix is an accomplished film, television, and stage actor. His recent credits include Warner Bros.' "Man of Steel", The CW's "Emily Owens, M.D.", Fox's "Dollhouse," HBO's "Little Britain," as well as the critically acclaimed series "24" as Walid Al-Rezani.

Harry Joseph Lennix III was born ...

35. LisaRaye McCoy

Actress | The Players Club

LisaRaye McCoy-Misick was born September 23, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. She is of African American and Native American descent and is proud of her heritage. She later attended Eastern Illinois University but she never really took the idea of a career in acting seriously until persuaded by an ...

36. Beverly Todd

Actress | Lean on Me

Iconic actress Beverly Todd has distinguished herself on Broadway, the London stage, television and film. A People's Choice Award winner and a four-time nominee of the prestigious NAACP Image Award, Ms. Todd's work dates back to the 1970s in film roles opposite her mentor Sidney Poitier in The Lost...

37. Ella Joyce

Actress | Set It Off

Ella Joyce was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Set It Off (1996), Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor (2013) and Bubba Ho-Tep (2002). She has been married to Dan Martin since June 22, 1989.

38. Michael Peña

Actor | American Hustle

Michael Peña was born and raised in Chicago, to Nicolasa, a social worker, and Eleuterio Peña, who worked at a button factory. His parents were originally from Mexico. After graduating from high school, he went to an open casting call for the Peter Bogdanovich feature To Sir, with Love II (1996), ...

39. Craig Robinson

Actor | This Is the End

Craig Robinson is an African-American actor, singer, musician and comedian who is known for portraying Darryl Philbin from The Office, LeVar Brown from The Cleveland Show, Doug Judy from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Cookie from Shrek Forever After, himself from This Is The End, and Nick Webber-Agnew from ...

40. Antwon Tanner

Actor | Coach Carter

Antwon Tanner was born on April 14, 1975 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and director, known for Coach Carter (2005), Never Die Alone (2004) and Chase (2010).

41. Rondell Sheridan

Actor | Cory in the House

Rondell Sheridan was born on August 15, 1958 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Cory in the House (2007), That's So Raven (2003) and Another Assembly (2014).

42. Wood Harris

Actor | Remember the Titans

Harris was born Sherwin David Harris in Chicago, Illinois, to John and Mattie Harris. However, he works under his nickname, "Wood". Attended New York University Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School. Has performed in many films and various stage productions including plays by August Wilson, ...

43. Jason Weaver

Actor | The Jacksons: An American Dream

Born on July 18, 1979 in Chicago, Illinois, Jason Weaver has always been surrounded by the world of entertainment. His mother Kitty Haywood, a legendary studio singer, was a staple in his young life and encouraged his pursuit of singing as well as acting. In being surrounded by the some of the best...

44. Ali LeRoi

Writer | Everybody Hates Chris

Ali LeRoi was born on February 12, 1962 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is a writer and producer, known for Everybody Hates Chris (2005), The Obituary of Tunde Johnson (2019) and Head of State (2003).

45. Jesse Williams

Actor | The Cabin in the Woods

Jesse Wesley Williams born August 5, 1981 is a former high school teacher and activist turned actor/director. He's best known for his role as Dr. Jackson Avery on the ABC Television series Grey's Anatomy and his advocacy for the disenfranchised, highlighted by his internationally resonant ...

46. Gloria Foster

Actress | The Matrix Reloaded

Gloria Foster will always be best known for her performance as The Oracle in The Matrix (1999) and The Matrix Reloaded (2003), but the actress's career spanned four decades on the stage and screen.

Born on November 15, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois, Foster was put in the custody of her grandparents and ...

47. Mel Jackson

Actor | Abduction of Jesse Bookman

Mel Jackson was born on October 13, 1970 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Abduction of Jesse Bookman (2008), Clinic (2023) and Little Richard (2000).

48. Drew Sidora

Actress | Step Up

Drew Sidora was born on May 1, 1985 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Step Up (2006), Wild Hogs (2007) and White Chicks (2004). She has been married to Ralph Pittman since August 21, 2014. They have two children.

49. Janet Hubert

Self | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Reunion

Janet Louise Hubert was born in Chicago, IL. She is best known for playing the sassy, witty, outgoing, protective mom on the hit TV sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1990).

Janet Hubert spent most of her childhood growing up in Momence, IL. That changed when she won a scholarship to Julliard ...

50. Ike Barinholtz

Actor | Suicide Squad

Isaac "Ike" Barinholtz, born February 18, 1977, is an American actor, comedian, voice actor and writer, known as a cast member on Mad TV (1995), from 2002-2007, and for his roles on The Mindy Project (2012) and Eastbound & Down (2009). He spent two years in Amsterdam with the famed comedy ...

51. Darryl M. Bell

Actor | A Different World

Darryl M. Bell was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 10, 1963. It wasn't long after graduating from Syracuse University that he was cast as smooth-talking schemer Ron Johnson on A Different World (1987). Bell had a supporting role in Spike Lee's School Daze (1988) alongside Jasmine Guy and Kadeem ...

52. Maestro Harrell

Actor | The Wire

Maestro Harrell was born on July 29, 1991 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor, known for The Wire (2002), Fear the Walking Dead (2015) and Teen Titans GO! To the Movies (2018).

53. DeRay Davis

Actor | 21 Jump Street

Born and raised on the south side of Chicago, comedian-turned-actor DeRay Davis can most recently be "scene" starring opposite Taraji P. Henson's "Cookie Lyons" as her go-to hitman/cousin "Jermel" in seasons 1 and 2 of the Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, creative collaboration, Empire on the FOX ...

54. Reggie Hayes

Transportation_department | Halloween Kills

Reggie Hayes is known for Halloween Kills (2021), Scream (2022) and Tammy (2014).

55. Kellita Smith

Actress | The Bernie Mac Show

Kellita Smith was born January 15, 1969 as Kellita A. Smith in Chicago, Illinois. She is an actress who has appeared on House Party 3 (1994), The Bernie Mac Show (2001-2006), Sister, Sister (1994-1999), Moesha (1996-2001), In Living Color (1990-1994), Living Single (1993-1998), and The First Family...

56. Mazin Elsadig

Actor | Four in the Morning

Mazin Elsadig was born on September 2, 1987 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Four in the Morning (2016), Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001) and We Are Disorderly (2015).

57. Michael Colyar

Actor | The Princess and the Frog

A native of Chicago, Michael Colyar made his mark as "The King of Venice Beach." For nine years, he performed five shows a day, leaving a positive imprint on the crowd with his thought-provoking humor. As his hard work begun paying off and with his comedic star on the rise, he was honored by the ...

58. Adele Givens

Actress | The Players Club

Adele Givens was born in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is known for The Players Club (1998), Beauty Shop (2005) and Martin (1992).

59. Greg Hollimon

Actor | The Fugitive

Greg Hollimon was born on May 2, 1956 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor, known for The Fugitive (1993), Strangers with Candy (1999) and Strangers with Candy (2005).

60. Corey Holcomb

Actor | The Wedding Ringer

Corey Holcomb is known for The Wedding Ringer (2015), Dance Flick (2009) and Aries Spears: Hollywood, Look I'm Smiling (2011). He is married to Maya Colcomb. They have three children.

61. Big Boy

Actor | Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo

Big Boy was born in 1969 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is a producer and actor, known for Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999), Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) and The Longest Yard (2005).

62. Ricco Ross

Actor | Aliens

Ricco Ross ~ Award-winning actor, writer & producer and CEO of "Can You Dig It". Ricco lives in LA and is a second term SAG/AFTRA board member. He was born in Chicago and has five brothers & five sisters. From age 7 to 13, he lived in what Oprah stated was the poorest town in the US: Pembroke, ...

63. T.K. Richardson

Actor | Snowfall

T.K. Richardson was born on October 30, 1988 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Snowfall (2017), S.W.A.T. (2017) and 9-1-1: Lone Star (2020).

64. Lamorne Morris

Actor | New Girl

Lamorne Morris is an American actor, comedian and television personality. He is best known for playing Winston in the Fox sitcom New Girl. As a game show host, he hosted the Cartoon Network game show BrainRush. He also worked for BET in the past. He is Originally from Chicago, before wanting to ...

65. Deon Cole

Actor | Black·ish

Deon Cole was born on January 9, 1972 in Roseland, Cook County, Chicago, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Black-ish (2014), The Harder They Fall (2021) and Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016).

66. Zuri Salahuddin

Actress | Sherman's Showcase

Zuri Salahuddin is known for Sherman's Showcase (2019), South Side (2019) and The Sound of Shadows (2015).

67. Edward Williams III

Actor | Tobias: Dark Hallway

Edward Williams III Is a talented actor, singer/rapper and comedian from Chicago by way of San Diego, CA who is best known for his current and ongoing recurring role in the HBO Max comedy series South Side. E3 began his career in his early teens by doing skits in his local church, which then lead ...

68. Jeremih

Soundtrack | American Honey

Jeremih was born on July 17, 1987 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is a music artist and actor, known for American Honey (2016), The Fate of the Furious (2017) and Uncut Gems (2019).

69. Kris D. Lofton

Actor | Power Book IV: Force

Lofton is born from mother, Angela Lofton and father Willie Lofton and also has one sister, Kristan Lofton. At the tender age of 8, he wrote his first song, recorded it and passed it out at school to all his friends in the lunch room and gym. With his talent quickly taking the notice of others, ...

70. Barton Fitzpatrick

Actor | Everything Is Both

Barton Fitzpatrick was born in 1995 on the west side of Chicago. The actor turned singer rose to prominence after portraying Chicago street captain Reg Taylor on the critically acclaimed Showtime Series "The Chi." His other television credits include Dick Wolfe's "Chicago PD" "Chicago Justice" "...

71. Echo Kellum

Actor | Arrow

Echo Kellum was born on August 29, 1982 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor and director, known for Arrow (2012), DC's Legends of Tomorrow (2016) and Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023).

72. Maurice Dumas

Writer | La révoltée

Maurice Dumas is known for La révoltée (1920).

73. Maurice Demus

Actor | Monster

Maurice Demus is known for Monster (2022), Chicago P.D. (2014) and Chicago Med (2015).

74. Giorgio Johnson

Actor | Blackboard Jungle

Giorgio "Gio" Johnson was born and raised on Chicago's south side. Gio is a man of many talents he has been in several plays, and film projects. Most Notably his Guest Star appearance on "Chicago Fire" His talent doesn't stop with acting, he is also a host of the Web Series "The Kick Back".

He is ...