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George Ade
Born 2/9/1866 in Kentland, Newton County
Playwright and humorist. His first book, Fables in Slang, was a bestseller that recast old stories in modern language. He also enjoyed tremendous success as a playwright, once having three plays in production on Broadway at the same time. Well-known figures of the day, including two presidents, visited his Hazelden Estate near Brook in Newton County.
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Philip Anderson
Born 12/13/1923 in Indianapolis, Marion County
Nobel laureate in physics.
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David Anspaugh
Born 9/24/1946 in Decatur, Adams County
Film and television director whose credits include Hoosiers, Rudy, Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice, and St. Elsewhere.
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Anne Baxter
Born 5/7/1923 in Michigan City, Laporte County
Actor who appeared in such films as The Magnificent Ambersons [1942], All About Eve [1950], and The Ten Commandments [1956] as well as the TV series Batman.
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Joshua Bell
Born 12/9/1967 in Bloomington, Monroe County
Concert violinist.
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Larry Bird
Born 12/7/1956 in French Lick, Orange County
Basketball player and coach.
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Bill Blass
Born 6/22/1922 in Fort Wayne, Allen County
Fashion designer.
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Frank Borman
Born 3/14/1928 in Gary, Lake County
Astronaut and airline executive.
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Mordecai "Three Fingers" Brown
Born 10/19/1876 in Nyesville, Parke County
Hall of Fame baseball player.
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Ambrose Burnside
Born 5/23/1824 in Liberty, Union County
Civil War general. The term "sideburns" comes from his distinctive appearance.
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Hoagland "Hoagy" Carmichael
Born 11/22/1899 in Bloomington, Monroe County
Composer.
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Jim Davis
Born 7/28/1945 in Marion, Grant County
Cartoonist, creator of Garfield.
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James Dean
Born 2/2/1931 in Marion, Grant County
Actor whose brief career included roles in East of Eden [1955], Rebel Without a Cause [1955] and Giant [1956], which have since earned him a cult-like following. Born in Marion but raised in nearby Fairmount. Killed in a California traffic accident.
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Eugene Debs
Born 11/5/1855 in Terre Haute, Vigo County
Labor leader and Socialist candidate for President.
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John Dillinger
Born 6/22/1903 in Indianapolis, Marion County
Gangster. Born in Indianapolis and raised near Mooresville. Crime spree ended when he was gunned down in Chicago by FBI agents.
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Theodore Dreiser
Born 8/27/1871 in Terre Haute, Vigo County
Writer, best known for his novels Sister Carrie and An American Tragedy.
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William Hayden English
Born 8/27/1822 in Lexington, Scott County
English was a politician, who served as speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives, and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1880, English ran unsuccessfully for Vice President on the Democratic ticket.
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Ray Ewry
Born 10/14/1873 in Lafayette, Tippecanoe County
Track and field athlete, 10-time Olympic gold medalist. Specialized in standing jumps - especially the standing high jump and standing long jump.
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Virgil "Gus" Grissom
Born 4/3/1926 in Mitchell, Lawrence County
Second American in space, Grissom's first flight took place July 21, 1961. Grissom and John Young flew aboard the Gemini III spacecraft on a five hour flight March 23, 1965. He died in a launchpad fire that consumed the capsule of Apollo 1, also killing Ed White and Roger Chaffee.
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James R. Hoffa
Born 2/14/1913 in Brazil, Clay County
Labor leader. Died under mysterious circumstances; his body has never been found and its disposition is the stuff of legend.
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Michael Jackson
Born 8/29/1958 in Gary, Lake County
Singer and songwriter.
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Jim Jones
Born 5/13/1931 in Lynn, Randolph County
Cult leader. His Jonestown settlement in Guyana ended with the largest mass suicide in recent history.
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Don Larsen
Born 8/7/1929 in Michigan City, Laporte County
Baseball pitcher. Best known for pitching a perfect game in the World Series.
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David Letterman
Born 4/12/1947 in Indianapolis, Marion County
Comedian and television personality.
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Carol Lombard
Born 10/6/1908 in Fort Wayne, Allen County
Actor. Best known for her roles in romantic comedies, Lombard died in a plane crash while on a war bond tour during World War Two.
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Thomas Riley Marshall
Born 3/14/1854 in North Manchester, Wabash County
Vice President of the United States under Woodrow Wilson, 1913-1921. Coined the phrase "What this country needs is a really good five-cent cigar".
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Steve McQueen
Born 3/24/1930 in Beech Grove, Marion County
Actor. Best known for his leading roles in action adventure films.
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Sherman Minton
Born 10/20/1890 in Georgetown, Floyd County
The only United State Supreme Court Justice born in Indiana.
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Gene Stratton Porter
Born 8/17/1868 in Wabash County
Writer.
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Ernie Pyle
Born 8/3/1900 in Dana, Vermillion County
Journalist, war correspondent.
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James Whitcomb Riley
Born 10/7/1849 in Greenfield, Hancock County
Poet.
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Paul Anthony Samuelson
Born 5/15/1915 in Gary, Lake County
First American to win the Nobel Prize in Economics.
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Harlan Sanders
Born 9/9/1890 in Henryville, Clark County
Fried chicken entrepreneur.
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Richard "Red" Skelton
Born 7/18/1913 in Vincennes, Knox County
Comedian.
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Wendell Meredith Stanley
Born 8/16/1904 in Ridgeville, Randolph County
Nobel Laureate in Chemistry.
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Twyla Tharp
Born 7/1/1942 in Portland, Jay County
Dancer and choreographer.
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Kurt Vonnegut
Born 11/11/1922 in Indianapolis, Marion County
Writer. Best known for works of science fiction.
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Lewis "Lew" Wallace
Born 4/10/1827 in Brookville, Franklin County
Civil War General; wrote the novel Ben Hur.
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Wendell Willkie
Born 2/18/1892 in Elwood, Madison County
1940 Republican Presidential candidate.
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John Wooden
Born 10/14/1910 in Martinsville, Morgan County
Basketball player and coach.
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Wilbur Wright
Born 4/16/1867 near Millville, Henry County
Pioneering aviator. Along with his brother Orville, co-inventor of the first airplane.
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