Famous People Born in Indiana a to z

Chuck Baldwin is a politician, writer, conservative pastor and radio talk show host. He was the Constitution Party's presidential candidate for the 2008 election.

Larry Bird is a retired professional basketball player known for his years with the Boston Celtics and his deceptively nimble skills on the court.

Rebbie Jackson is the eldest child of the famous Jackson musical family and has had a long career as a R&B solo artist.

Ambrose Burnside is best known for his leadership as a general of the Union army in the Civil War, and for originating the fashion of sideburns in the United States.

Hoagy Carmichael was an American songwriter who wrote the standards "Rockin' Chair," "Lazy River," "Stardust" and "Georgia on my Mind."

Actor and cultural icon James Dean starred in East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause and Giant. He was killed in a tragic car accident at age 24.

John Dillinger was an infamous gangster and bank robber during the Great Depression, and was know as "Jackrabbit" and "Public Enemy No. 1."

Mick Foley is a professional wrestler with WWE, Inc. who wrestles under the names Cactus Jack, Dude Love, and Mankind. He wrote a best-selling autobiography.

Vivica Fox is an African-American film and television actress. She got her start in the soap opera Days of Our Lives and is known for her role in the film Soul Food.

Michael Graves is an American postmodernist architect who designed the Indianapolis Art Center and restored the Washington Monument.

Gus Grissom transitioned from successful Air Force test pilot to NASA astronaut, despite a controversial landing in the Liberty Bell 7.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Howard Hawks directed Only Angels Have Wings, Sergeant York, Scarface, Bringing Up Baby and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

U.S. Secretary of State John Hay began his career as Abraham Lincoln’s private secretary, and was later known for promoting an "Open Door" policy in China.

Jimmy Hoffa was became a labor organizer in the 1930s, rising in the Teamsters Union during the next two decades until he reached the office of president.

Jackie Jackson was the oldest member of the group Jackson 5, which included his four brothers Michael, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon Jackson.

The younger sister of Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson is one of the best-selling artists in contemporary history. Her albums include Control and Rhythym Nation.

Jermaine Jackson was a member of the Jackson 5 music group and brother to Michael Jackson.

La Toya Jackson is a singer and entertainer, and is best known as a member of the musical Jackson family. Michael Jackson was her brother.

Marlon Jackson scored platinum records singing with his famous family, including little brother Michael. The Jackson 5 was one of Motown's biggest acts.

Singer-songwriter Michael Jackson's award-winning career as the King of Pop transformed the face of pop music and popular culture. He released the best-selling album in history, Thriller, in 1982. He died unexpectedly in 2009.

Singer and musician Randy Jackson came to fame as a member of the Jacksons, a hit R&B and pop group of the 1970s and '80s.

Musician Tito Jackson was lead guitarist for The Jackson 5 and later the Jacksons. He has since reinvented himself as blues musician.

J.J. Johnson was a 20th century jazz musician and composer regarded as one of the greatest trombonists in history.

Jim Jones was best known as the cult leader of the Peoples Temple who led more than 900 followers in a mass suicide via cyanide-laced punch known as the Jonestown Massacre.

Greg Kinnear, the American actor, nominated for an Academy Award in the film As Good as It Gets, after starting his career on Talk Soup.

Adam Lambert is an American singer best known for his finalist position in the eighth season of American Idol in 2009. His huge vocal range and glam-rocker style made him a standout. Lambert came in second place.

Comedian and late-night talk show host David Letterman is known for his irreverent sense of humor and cynical, mocking style.

Emmy-award winning television and film actress Shelley Long played Diane Chambers on the TV sitcom Cheers and was Carol Brady in The Brady Bunch: The Movie.

Thomas R. Marshall was a governor of Indiana and served as U.S. vice president under Woodrow Wilson.

Film actor. William Marshall was an actor best known for his lead role in the legendary blaxploitation film Blacula.

Scott McNealy co-founded the computer technology company Sun Microsystems, a fervent rival of Windows.

American film star Steve McQueen was one of the most popular and well-paid actors of the 1960s and ‘70s. He starred in films like The Great Escape, Bullit and The Getaway.

A pop sensation in the 1980s, singer-songwriter John Mellencamp has evolved into one of rock’s most enduring acts, and given voice to the small-town experience.

Ryan Murphy is the creator of the popular American television programs Nip/Tuck, Glee, American Horror Story and The New Normal.

Jane Pauley was a correspondent and co-anchor for NBC’s Today. She also started the weekly magazine series Real Life with Jane Pauley, later renamed Dateline.

Sydney Pollack is an Oscar-winning film director, producer and actor. His director credits include Tootsie and Three Days of the Condor.

American journalist Ernie Pyle was one of the most famous war correspondents of World War II. He won a Pulitzer Prize for reporting in 1944.

Founder and lead singer of Guns N' Roses, Axl Rose, is a celebrated but controversial figure in the world of rock.

Singer David Lee Roth has become a legend of rock 'n' roll, as the wild frontman for Van Halen and as a solo artist.

American economist Paul Samuelson is best known as a founder of neo-Keynesian economics and for being the first American to win the Nobel Prize in Economics.

Colonel Sanders is best known for creating a fried chicken recipe that would become the world's fast-food chicken chain, Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Noble Sissle was a pioneering jazz singer, bandleader and composer known for his work on the musical Shuffle Along, among other productions.

Son of a circus clown, Red Skelton was a radio and television comedian and host best known for his emotionally complex routines.

Ted Stevens was a U.S. senator from Alaska, and the longest-serving Republican senator in American history (1968-2009).

Rex Stout was an American crime writer best known as the man who brought the world the fictional New York City detective Nero Wolfe.

Dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp founded the Twyla Tharp Dance Company. Her work for the American Ballet Theatre combined classical and modern styles.

Kurt Vonnegut was an American author best known for the novels Cat's Cradle, Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions.

Harvey Washington Wiley was an American chemist known as the "Father of the FDA." Throughout much of his career, Wiley campaigned for reforms in food manufacturing and in food labeling.

Wilbur Wright is best known for developing the first successful airplane with his brother, Orville.