Oak Park, Illinois, might be known as a quiet Chicago suburb, but don’t let the tree-lined streets and historic homes fool you. This village has shaped some of the biggest names in literature, television, architecture, and beyond.
From The Old Man and the Sea author and Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway to The Simpsons voice actor Dan Castellaneta (a.k.a. Homer Simpson himself), the Village of Oak Park has long been a backdrop for famous people whose work left a mark far beyond the Midwest. Add to that Frank Lloyd Wright, whose Prairie-style architecture reshaped American design, and Ray Kroc, the entrepreneur who turned a small burger stand into the global powerhouse we now know as McDonald’s.
It doesn’t stop there. This community has given rise to award-winning journalists, Grammy Award-winning artists, Primetime Emmy Awards nominees, and stars of the big and small screen—from The Golden Girls icon Betty White, to comedian and actress Kathy Griffin, to modern fashion voice Tavi Gevinson. And yes, the list also includes NBA and NFL athletes, short-story authors, and sitcom legends, all of whom once called Oak Park home.
Read on to explore the most famous people from Oak Park and then come visit to walk the same streets they once did, from Oak Park and River Forest High School to Hemingway’s childhood home. This isn’t just local history. It’s American history.
For a village just outside a major city, Oak Park has produced a remarkable number of well-known names across art, literature, sports, and entertainment. So what makes this place different?
Part of it is geography—close enough to Chicago to tap into its cultural energy, but just far enough away to carve out its own creative identity. Oak Park has long been a community that values education, civic engagement, and the arts. Organizations like the Oak Park Art League, founded in 1921, helped establish the village as a haven for artists, while local schools like Oak Park and River Forest High School have strong reputations in music, theater, and writing.
The community is also surrounded by colleges and universities with nationally regarded programs in journalism, fine arts, and performance. And with public architecture tours, active local theaters, and museums around every corner, creativity here isn’t just encouraged—it’s part of daily life.
That kind of environment has a way of shaping people. Whether you’re a future novelist, NBA star, or comedic actor, Oak Park offers space to dream and the support to follow through.
Even beyond its famous residents, Oak Park has earned screen time of its own:
Backdraft – Rehm Pool
In the 1991 action thriller Backdraft, director Ron Howard staged a pivotal scene at Rehm Pool (515 Garfield Street). The deep well of the pool was used to film a dramatic elevator shaft sequence, adding Oak Park’s local scenery to this high-stakes firefighter drama.
Home Alone + A Wedding – Grace Episcopal Church
While Home Alone is known for its North Shore setting, the interior church scenes—like Kevin hiding in a nativity scene—were actually filmed inside Grace Episcopal Church (924 Lake Street, Oak Park). The same church also appeared in Robert Altman’s A Wedding, where the film’s chaotic nuptial scenes brought satirical comedy to this local landmark.
Rookie of the Year – Neighborhood Locations
Oak Park served as a backdrop for scenes in Rookie of the Year, the beloved 1993 baseball film. Henry and his friends can be seen running past shops along Oak Park Avenue, and one scene of him catching a ball “in the ivy at Wrigley” was actually shot in an alley between 812 and 814 North Avenue. The fictional doctor’s office was filmed at 129 North Oak Park Avenue, blending real Oak Park streets with the film’s whimsical sports fantasy.
Frank Lloyd Wright Documentaries & The Bear
Documentaries about Frank Lloyd Wright frequently feature Unity Temple and the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, two of the most iconic structures in Oak Park. These architectural landmarks have also made it into pop culture—most recently featured in a scene from the hit series The Bear, where Carmy tours the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio.
Sure Oak Park produces culture, but it also shows up on screen, too.
So, who are Oak Park's famous residents? Let's get into it! And unless otherwise noted, all of the great photography came from our friends at the Oak Park River Forest Museum.
Amy Morton
A powerhouse on stage and screen, Amy Morton is an acclaimed American actor and director who grew up in Oak Park. She’s known for her Tony-nominated roles in August: Osage County and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, as well as her longtime role on the television series Chicago P.D.. Morton also spent years with Steppenwolf Theatre in nearby Chicago, cementing her as a force in the world of serious theater.
Betty White
Before she became a television icon, Betty White was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1922. Although her family moved to Los Angeles when she was young, Oak Park claims her as one of its own. Best known for her Emmy-winning role in The Golden Girls, White’s career spanned over 70 years, making her a beloved figure in American entertainment. Her sharp wit, comedic timing, and undeniable charm left a lasting legacy.
Image Credit:
Photo courtesy of Wednesday Journal of Oak Park.
Bob Newhart
Legendary comedian and sitcom star Bob Newhart was born in Oak Park in 1929. Known for his dry delivery and signature stammer, he rose to fame with The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart, both wildly successful television series. He’s earned multiple Primetime Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award, and remains a towering figure in American comedy.
Image Credit:
Photo by Jim Wallace (Smithsonian Institution) – Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
Busy Philipps
Born Elizabeth Jean Philipps in Oak Park in 1979, Busy Philipps became a breakout star in the late ’90s with her role in Freaks and Geeks. She went on to star in hit television series like Dawson’s Creek, Cougar Town, and ER, and later hosted her own talk show. Known for her vibrant personality and candid take on celebrity life, she’s also a vocal advocate for women’s rights and mental health awareness.
Photo Credit:
Photo by Martyna Borkowski (via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0).
Dan Castellaneta
If the voice of Homer Simpson rings a bell, thank Oak Park native Dan Castellaneta. The actor and comedian graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School before going on to win multiple Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on The Simpsons.
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Before Tarzan swung through the jungle or John Carter explored Mars, author Edgar Rice Burroughs walked the streets of Oak Park. The prolific short-story and science fiction writer lived in the village while penning some of the most iconic characters in American pulp literature.
Ernest Hemingway
No list of Oak Park legends is complete without Ernest Hemingway. Born and raised in the village, the Nobel Prize- and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Old Man and the Sea once described Oak Park as a place of “broad lawns and narrow minds.” Still, the early influences of his Illinois upbringing can be found in his direct, spare prose. Today, you can visit the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum to walk where this literary giant once lived.
Frank Lloyd Wright
Although not born in Oak Park, Frank Lloyd Wright spent two formative decades here, designing some of his most iconic early works and establishing his Home and Studio on Chicago Avenue. The village is home to the world’s largest concentration of Wright-designed buildings, including Unity Temple and the famous Prairie-style homes that helped define American architecture. Today, his legacy is deeply intertwined with Oak Park’s identity.
Photo Credit:
Photo from the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
© Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. franklloydwright.org
Iman Shumpert
Iman Shumpert, NBA champion and Dancing With the Stars winner, is known for his athleticism, creativity, and charisma—on and off the court. A graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School, he remains a standout figure in both professional sports and pop culture, bringing bold energy to everything he does.
The Famous Oak Park "Johns"
John Mahoney
Although born in England, actor John Mahoney spent many years living in Oak Park and considered it home. Best known for his role as Martin Crane on the hit sitcom Frasier, Mahoney was a longtime member of Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company and appeared in films like Moonstruck and Say Anything. His deep ties to the local arts scene made him a beloved figure both on and off screen.
John Sturges
Born in Oak Park, director John Sturges helped define 20th-century American cinema. His work on classics like The Great Escape and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral earned him a reputation as a master of the action film. His storytelling continues to influence filmmakers in Los Angeles, New York, and beyond.
Johnny Galecki
Actor Johnny Galecki grew up in Oak Park after being born in Belgium to American parents. He gained early fame on Roseanne before becoming a household name as Leonard Hofstadter on the long-running sitcom The Big Bang Theory. Known for his comedic timing and down-to-earth charm, Galecki’s Hollywood success is rooted in Midwest beginnings.
Lois Nettleton
A veteran American actor of both stage and screen, Lois Nettleton was born in Oak Park and went on to earn acclaim in Broadway productions and major television series. Her career spanned decades and included multiple award-winning performances.
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Raised in Oak Park and a 1976 graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio made her film debut in Scarface and earned an Oscar nomination for The Color of Money. Her film credits include The Abyss, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and The Perfect Storm, alongside notable TV roles in Without a Trace and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. A Tony-nominated stage actor, she’s also appeared in acclaimed Shakespeare productions and Broadway musicals.
Percy Julian
Trailblazing chemist Dr. Percy Julian made life-changing contributions to medicine, including the mass production of synthetic cortisone, progesterone, and physostigmine. His innovations helped make treatments for arthritis, glaucoma, and hormone deficiencies more affordable and accessible. Despite facing intense racial discrimination throughout his career, Julian built a successful pharmaceutical company and became a civil rights advocate.
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Ray Kroc
The entrepreneur who made McDonald's a household name, Ray Kroc was born in Oak Park in 1902. Though the original McDonald’s was located in San Bernardino, California, Kroc’s first franchise was opened in Des Plaines, Illinois—just miles from Oak Park.
Tavi Gevinson
A writer, editor, and actor who became a media darling in her teens, Tavi Gevinson started out blogging from her bedroom in Oak Park while attending Oak Park and River Forest High School. Known for her thoughtful commentary and indie edge, she’s since made waves in New York's literary and theater scenes.
Thomas Lennon
Thomas Lennon, the quick-witted actor behind Reno 911!’s Lt. Dangle, grew up in Oak Park before launching a decades-long career in comedy, writing, and television. He’s co-written blockbuster screenplays, voiced animated characters, and popped up in everything from cult comedies to mainstream hits. Whether in short shorts or behind the scenes, Lennon has become a fixture in Hollywood’s comedy scene.
For even more famous Oak Parker's, check out this incredible list from the Oak Park River Forest Museum.
See Where It All Began
Ready to walk in the footsteps of legends? Plan your day in Oak Park, Illinois, and explore the places that inspired some of the most iconic figures in literature, entertainment, and architecture.
Visit the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum to see where the Nobel Prize winner’s story began.
Tour Unity Temple, one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most celebrated works and a crown jewel of American design.
Or, stroll through the Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District, packed with more than two dozen Wright-designed homes and structures.
Browse indie stores, sip coffee at local cafés, or catch a show—there’s always something to discover in this iconic Chicago suburb.
Don’t forget to check the Explore Oak Park And Beyond Events Calendar for upcoming walking tours and local celebrations that shine a spotlight on Oak Park’s rich cultural heritage. Whether you're a history buff, architecture lover, or pop culture fan, the village of Oak Park offers an unforgettable experience.