List of people from Elgin, Illinois

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

Authors and academics

 * E.C. "Mike" Alft, historian, author, and former mayor of Elgin
 * Nina Burleigh, journalist and author
 * Paul Flory, chemist; Nobel Prize winner (1974)
 * Lloyd Hall, chemist
 * Donella Meadows, environmentalist
 * Jessica Mink, astronomer; co-discover of the rings around the planet Uranus
 * John Platt, computer scientist
 * Tom Shales, journalist; Pulitzer Prize winner (1988)
 * Carleton Washburne, educator; author
 * Dwight Smith Young, physicist with the Manhattan Project

Business and invention

 * Max Adler, vice-president of Sears & Roebuck; benefactor of Adler Planetarium
 * Lawrence B. Hamlin, Hamlin's Wizard Oil purveyor
 * Lysander Hamlin, co-originator with John Austen Hamlin of Hamlin's Wizard Oil
 * Earl "Madman" Muntz, marketer, car stereo and 4-track cartridge pioneer
 * James Roche, chairman of General Motors
 * James P. Liautaud, industrialist, inventor and business theorist

Media and arts

 * Dan Andriano, musician
 * BarlowGirl, Christian rock band
 * Joe Becker, musician
 * Bruce Boxleitner, actor
 * Josh Caterer, songwriter, musician, singer
 * Daniel de Marbelle, songwriter who wrote When They Ring Those Golden Bells
 * Citizen Way, Christian rock band
 * Jim Gaffigan, comedian, actor, and author
 * Mitzi Gaynor, actress and entertainer, lived in Elgin
 * George Hamlin, opera singer and son of John Austin Hamlin
 * John Austin Hamlin, magician
 * Matt Hoffman, contestant on Big Brother 12
 * Charles Ingalls, father of Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House on the Prairie); spent part of his childhood in the nearby Campton Township
 * Laurence Kaptain, recording artist; Dean at the College of Music and Dramatic Arts, Louisiana State University
 * William LeBaron, playwright and movie producer
 * Kevin Martin, musician
 * Norman Mayell, musician (Sopwith Camel, Blue Cheer, Norman Greenbaum)
 * Paleo, born David Strackany, folk singer-songwriter
 * Jane Peterson, painter and artist
 * John Qualen, actor
 * Courtney Reed, stage actress, original Princess Jasmine in Aladdin on Broadway
 * Marie Sidenius Zendt, singer

Military

 * Harry Chamberlin, U.S. Army brigadier general and Olympic medalist in equestrian events

Politics and law

 * Ray Barnhart, Texas State Representative
 * Robert L. Bergman (1948-2013), Illinois State Representative
 * DeGoy B. Ellis (1876-1949), Illinois state representative and lawyer
 * Thomas W. Ferry (1843-1845) Acting Vice President, US Senator
 * Peter Fitzgerald, US senator (R-IL)
 * Barbara Giolitto, Illinois State Representative
 * Adam Neylon, Wisconsin legislator
 * Jeanette Ward, member of the Wyoming House of Representatives. She lived in Elgin until moving to Casper, Wyoming in 2021.

Sports

 * Charlene Barnett (1928-1979), baseball player
 * Ko Chandetka (born 1971), bodybuilder
 * Earl Britton (1903-1973), football player
 * Bethany Goldsmith (1927-2004), baseball player
 * Harry Hanson (1896-1966), baseball player
 * Hunkey Hines (1867-1928), baseball player
 * Tony Kaufmann (1900-1982), baseball player
 * Scott Kellar (born 1963), football player
 * Ed McDonough (1886-1926), baseball player
 * Lou North (1891-1974), baseball player
 * Brian Oldfield (born 1945), Olympic shot putter
 * David Otunga (born 1980) wrestler
 * Erwin Renfer (1891-1957), baseball player
 * Flynn Robinson (born 1941), basketball player
 * Rick Short (born 1972), baseball player
 * Roger Smithberg (born 1966), baseball player
 * Ray Whipple (1893-1973), football player