The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Waukegan, Illinois. For a similar list organized alphabetically by last name, see the category page People from Waukegan, Illinois.
Artists and performers
Harrison Bankhead, jazz double bassist
Jack Benny, comedian, actor, iconic radio and television personality
Landis Blair, artist (The Hunting Accident, From Here to Eternity.) David Clennon, actor (Thirtysomething) J. Campbell Cory, cartoonist Steve DiGiorgio, musician Greg Drasler, artist Lee England Jr., violinist, composer, producer, singer Neil Flynn, actor (Scrubs, The Middle) Jon Michael Hill, actor (Detroit 1-8-7, Superior Donuts) Jason Kao Hwang, violinist and composer Mickey Kuhn, film actor of 1930s-1950s Norm Magnusson, artist, actor Justin Mentell, actor Joshua Mallett, musician Lori Peters, musician and former drummer of Skillet (band) Jerry Orbach, actor (Law & Order, Dirty Dancing) Adam Pearce ("Scrap Iron"), professional wrestler for Ring of Honor and the National Wrestling Alliance and producer for World Wrestling Entertainment. Bryan W. Simon, film and stage director, Along for the Ride, I'm No Dummy, Jay Johnson: The Two & Only!, Stage Two Theatre Company Marvin Smith, drummer on The Tonight Show Greg and Colin Strause, directors and visual effects supervisors of Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem and Skyline Brian Van Holt, actor
Journalism and writing
Diane Ackerman, author and naturalist
Jim Bittermann, senior correspondent for CNN
Eleanor Taylor Bland, crime fiction author
Ray Bradbury, author, iconic science-fiction writer, wrote about 1920's Waukegan as "Green Town" in many of his novels and short stories James Grippando, New York Times best-selling novelist Isadore Gilbert Jeffery (1840-1919), poet, lyricist Ward Just, writer Kim Stanley Robinson, science-fiction writer; born in Waukegan in 1952
Criminal justice
Juan Rivera, wrongfully convicted of the 1992 murder of Holly Staker in Waukegan
Alton Coleman, serial killer
Politicians and law
Jack E. Bairstow, Illinois legislator
Reuben W. Coon, Illinois state senator
Robert E. Coulson, Illinois legislator, lawyer, and mayor of Waukegan
Elisha P. Ferry, first mayor of Waukegan, first governor of state of Washington
Vic Kohring, Alaska legislator
Thomas J. Moran, Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court
Kim Olson, military officer and political candidate
Charles E. Redman, United States ambassador to Sweden and Germany
Sports
Baseball
Gary Bennett, catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Jarvis Brown, outfielder for the Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles Johnny Dickshot, outfielder for with Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Giants and Chicago White Sox Eric Eckenstahler, pitcher for the Detroit Tigers Jay Hook, pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets (winning pitcher in the first ever victory for the New York Mets) Bill Krueger, pitcher for eight MLB teams Jerry Kutzler, pitcher for the Chicago White Sox Doc Oberlander, pitcher for the Cleveland Blues Bob O'Farrell, catcher for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and New York Giants, World Series champion, National League MVP and manager Ed Sedar, first base coach for the Milwaukee Brewers Scott Stahoviak, first baseman for the Minnesota Twins Jigger Statz, outfielder for the Chicago Cubs, New York Giants, Boston Red Sox and Brooklyn Robins Brian Traxler, first baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers Renae Youngberg, third basewoman in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Basketball
Shawn Marion, small and power forward for the Phoenix Suns, Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, and Dallas Mavericks Billy McKinney, retired professional basketball player and former radio broadcaster Jerome Whitehead, center and power forward for several NBA teams
Football
Otto Graham, award-winning quarterback for the Cleveland Browns
Brian Schwenke current offensive lineman for the New England Patriots, born in Waukegan Michael Turner, running back for the Atlanta Falcons Mike Wagner, safety with the Pittsburgh Steelers; four time Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)
Motorsports
John Morton, Champion Trans Am Series driver
Ted Musgrave, American former stock car racing driver
Other
Rick Bay, served as head wrestling coach for Michigan (1970–74), and was later a college athletic director and professional sports executive