Indiana Famous People

Famous Americans: History and Biographies

Links to histories and biographies of the famous people of Indiana. Many famous people of Indiana have made significant contributions to the history of our nation and the state of Indiana. These famous Americans, famous entertainers, famous players, famous scientist, famous singers, famous statesmen, famous women, heroes, great explorers, and others Indiana famous Americans have all made Indiana their home. This list includes Indiana historical figures, celebrities and those individuals of Indiana who have influenced the lives of others.

Famous People from Indiana

Anne Baxter (1923 - 1985) Famous actress; born in Michigan City.
Larry Bird (1956 - ) Basketball Hall of Famer who led the Boston Celtics to three NBA championships (1981, 1984, 1986); born in West Baden
William Ralph "Bill" Blass (June 22, 1922 - June 12, 2002) was an American fashion designer, born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was the recipient of many fashion awards, including seven Coty Awards and the Fashion Institute of Technology's Lifetime Achievement Award (1999).
Jim Davis (1945 - ) Creator of Garfield; born in Marion.
James Dean (1931 - 1955) Famous actor for movies like Rebel Without a Cause; born in Marion.
Benjamin Harrison (1833 - 1901) 23rd President of the United States; lived in Indianapolis, where he practiced law.
Michael Jackson (1958 - ) Singer and songwriter famous for songs such as Thriller and Beat It; born in Gary.
David Letterman (1947- ) Comedian late night talk show host; born in Indianapolis.
John Cougar Mellencamp (1951 - ) singer, songwriter; born in Seymour.
Cole Porter Born in Peru, Indiana, Cole Porter was one of America's most prolific writers of Broadway musicals. Porter wrote both lyrics and melodies for shows like Anything Goes, Kiss Me Kate, and High Society. During the 1930s, his most productive decade, seven of his musicals were playing simultaneously on Broadway.
Margaret Jane Pauley (born October 31, 1950), better known as Jane Pauley, is an American television anchor and journalist, and has been involved in news reporting since 1975. She is best known for her 13-year tenure on NBC's Today program, followed by 12 years as co-host of Dateline NBC, and for her public acknowledgements of her struggle with bipolar disorder. Pauley competed in debate and public speaking tournaments through the Indiana High School Forensic Association while enrolled at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis. Pauley graduated from Warren Central High School in 1968.
Ernest Taylor Pyle, born in Dana, Indiana, was a journalist and war correspondent best known for his work during World War II. Pyle offered a foxhole view of the life of the average soldier through a column that reached millions of Americans in 400 daily and 300 weekly newspapers. Traveling with a group of infantrymen, the reporter was killed by a sniper's machine-gun bullet in le Shima, a small island west of Okinawa.
James Whitcomb Riley One of the most beloved poets in American history, James Whitcomb Riley was born in Greenfield, Indiana. He achieved popularity as "The Hoosier Poet" through his use of Indiana dialect, humor, and realistic portrayal of Midwestern life. Some of his best-known poems include "Little Orphant Annie," "The Raggedy Man," and "When the Frost is on the Punkin."
Booth Tarkington was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is best known for a series of realistic novels about life in the Midwest including The Gentleman from Indiana, and two Pulitzer Prize winners, The Magnificent Ambersons, and Alice Adams. He also wrote numerous plays, short stories, and essays.
Kurt Vonnegut (1922 - ) Well-known author of books such as Slaughterhouse Five; born in Indianapolis.
Wilbur Wright (1867 - 1912) & Orville Wright (1871-1948) Brothers who invented the first airplane; born in Indiana and Dayton respectively.

More Famous People of Indiana

Find more more Indiana famous people below. You may not even realize many of these famous people were born in Indiana or notable associated with Indiana, including actors, actresses, explorers, historical figures, inventors, musicians, novelists, professional athletes, important politicians, singers, sport stars and more.

George Ade humorist, Kentland
Leon Ames actor, Portland
Hoagy Carmichael songwriter, Bloomington
Eugene V. Debs Socialist leader, Terre Haute
Theodore Dreiser writer, Terre Haute
Bernard F. Gimbel merchant, Vincennes
Virgil Grissom astronaut, Mitchell
Alfred Bertram Guthrie author, Bedford
Phil Harris actor, band leader, Linton
John Milton Hay statesman, Salem
James R. Hoffa labor leader, Brazil
Buck Jones actor, Vincennes
Eli Lilly pharmaceuticals, Indianapolis
Carole Lombard actress, Fort Wayne
Shelley Long actress, Fort Wayne
Marjorie Main actress, Acton
James McCracken tenor, Gary
Joaquin Miller poet, Liberty
Andrew J. Moyer inventor, Star City
Paul Osborn playwright, Evansville
J. Danforth Quayle vice president, Indianapolis
Ned Rorem composer, Richmond
Red Skelton comedian, Vincennes
Rex Stout mystery writer, Noblesville
Twyla Tharp dancer, choreographer, Portland
Forrest Tucker actor, Plainfield
Harold C. Urey physicist, Walkerton
Jessamyn West author, North Vernon
Wendell Willkie lawyer, Elwood
Willis Van Devanter Supreme Court justice, Marion

US Famous People

Learn history through the biographies of the famous people from your state.