Famous People From Indiana & Celebs Born In Indiana.

Indiana is a state which is situated in the Midwestern and Great Lakes regions of the North America. It is the 38th largest state by area and is often popularly called “The Hoosier State”, after the Hoosier Hill. Currently a diverse set of indigenous people occupy the state, it is known for the historic Native Americans who occupied it for thousands of years. It hence derived its name from the Indians who inhabited it, literally translating to ‘land of Indians’. With Indianapolis as its capital, Indiana is home to numerous major sports teams. Indiana is responsible for producing many irreplaceable stars that were born and brought up in the state. Musical stars such as Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Adam Lambert and Axl Rose were all born in the state of Indiana. Famous personalities such as James Dean, author John Green and television host David Letterman, are also some examples of famous individuals who hail from Indiana. You will be surprised to know all the other esteemed celebrities who are from Indiana.

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Michael Jackson

(One of the Most Significant Cultural Figures of the 20th Century Popularly Known as the 'King of Pop')

Birthdate: August 29, 1958

Sun Sign: Virgo

Died: June 25, 2009

The King of Pop and an international superstar, Michael Jackson was a musical entertainer whose work – both with Jackson 5 and solo – won accolades and hearts worldwide. Equally popular were his unique dance moves that created sensation and shaped future dance styles. Amongst the most successful entertainers of all time, Jackson was later accused of child molestation.

Brendan Fraser

(Best Known for His Role as 'Rick O'Connell' in 'The Mummy' Film Trilogy)

Birthdate: December 3, 1968

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Brendan Fraser is the quintessential comical action hero of Hollywood. As a result of the stunts performed by him in movies, he has had to undergo many surgeries, including a laminectomy and partial knee replacement. He is also a successful amateur photographer and serves on the board of directors for a non-profit humanitarian organization called FilmAid International.

Birthdate: May 16, 1966

Sun Sign: Taurus

A member of the prominent Jackson family, Janet Jackson is a singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. Popularly known for her innovative and socially conscious songs, she was considered a sex icon in her youth. Beginning her career as a teenager, she went on to become one of the world's best-selling music artists of all time.

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James Dean

(American Actor Who is Remembered as a Cultural Icon of Teenage Disillusionment and Social Estrangement)

Birthdate: February 8, 1931

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Died: September 30, 1955

Best remembered for his role in the film, Rebel Without a Cause, actor James Dean was a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment. Despite having a difficult childhood, he was an exceptional student. He began acting as a young man and was quite successful. Sadly, he was killed in a car crash at the young age of 24.

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Larry Bird

(One of the Greatest Basketball Players of All Time)

Birthdate: December 7, 1956

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Considered one of the greatest basketball players ever, Larry Bird was part of the Dream Team that won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics. A Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, Bird helped his team Boston Celtics win three NBA championships. In 2018, MSN Sports named him the greatest Boston Celtics playerever.

Colonel Sanders

(Founder of the Fast Food Chicken Restaurant ‘Kentucky Fried Chicken’ (KFC))

Birthdate: September 9, 1890

Sun Sign: Virgo

Died: December 16, 1980

Colonel Sanders is the man who revolutionized the American fast food industry by founding the restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Establishing a style trademark by wearing a white suit and black string tie, Sanders went on to become a symbol of the KFC brand. Such is the popularity of the brand, the symbol is recognized all over the world.

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Axl Rose

(Lead Vocalist and Lyricist of the Hard Rock Band 'Guns N' Roses')

Birthdate: February 6, 1962

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer W. Axl Rose, being true to his rebel spirit, fled to Los Angeles on a bus at 17, before he co-founded the legendary hard rock band Guns N' Roses. Working as the lead vocalist/lyricist of the band, he soon became a global sex symbol.

David Letterman

(Television Host and Producer Best Known for His Long-Running Talk Show ‘Late Show with David Letterman’)

Birthdate: April 12, 1947

Sun Sign: Aries

Starting off as a radio weatherman, David Letterman has come a long way. He has been the longest-serving American late-night talk-show host and ranked 45th on TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time list. He later dabbled in production, with hit sitcoms such as Everybody Loves Raymond.

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Kurt Vonnegut

(Writer Known For His Satirical and Darkly Humorous Novels)

Birthdate: November 11, 1922

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Died: April 11, 2007

Science-fiction author Kurt Vonnegut is best remembered for the novel Slaughterhouse-Five, which became a New York Times bestseller. The Hugo Award-winner had also fought against the Germans in World War II and expressed his anti-war and atheist views through his works, which also include short stories, plays, and autobiographical works.

Carole Lombard

(American Actress Who was Known for Her Off-Beat Roles in Screwball Comedies)

Birthdate: October 6, 1908

Sun Sign: Libra

Died: January 16, 1942

Carole Lombard was part of hits such as No Man of Her Own, To Be or Not to Be, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith, before dying in a plane crash at 33. She had redefined the screwball comedy genre. She was married to Hollywood legends William Powell and Clark Gable.

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David Lee Roth

(Singer, Musician)

Birthdate: October 10, 1954

Sun Sign: Libra

David Lee Roth is an American rock singer, songwriter, musician, and former radio personality. Renowned for his energetic stage persona, Roth was a long-time member of the popular hard rock band Van Halen where he served as the lead singer. In 2007, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Florence Henderson

(American Actress)

Birthdate: February 14, 1934

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Died: November 24, 2016

Height: 5'3" (160 cm)

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Birthdate: March 24, 1930

Sun Sign: Aries

Died: November 7, 1980

Dubbed the King of Cool, Steve McQueen was an American actor known for his antihero persona. He was one of the most bankable stars during the 1960s and 1970s. Renowned for performing many of his own stunts, McQueen remains a popular star. In the 2019 film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Steve McQueen was played by Damian Lewis.

Birthdate: March 7, 1974

Sun Sign: Pisces

Actress Jenna Fischer is best known for her role in the NBC sitcom, The Office, for which she received an Emmy nomination. She was interested in performing from a young age and studied theater in college. Entering the entertainment industry in the late 1990s, she struggled for a while before making a name for herself as an actress.

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Jim Gaffigan

(Stand-up comedian)

Birthdate: July 7, 1966

Sun Sign: Cancer

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

Birthdate: December 29, 1996

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Dylan Minnette is an American actor best known for playing Clay Jensen in the TV series 13 Reasons Why. Apart from being an actor, Minnette is also a musician who sings and plays the guitar for the alternative rock band Wallows. As part of Wallows, Minnette performed at a concert called Summer Meltdown to create awareness about autism in 2010.

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Birthdate: December 15, 1949

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

A well-known actor, singer, songwriter, producer, and director, Don Johnson is a man of many talents. Also a powerboat enthusiast, he competed at the 1988 Offshore World Cup, which was organized by the American Power Boat Association, and became the world champion.

John Mellencamp

(Singer-Songwriter Best Known for His singles ‘Jack & Diane’, ‘Hurts So Good’ and ‘Crumblin' Down’)

Birthdate: October 7, 1951

Sun Sign: Libra

John Mellencamp, also known as Johnny Cougar and John Cougar, has earned 13 Grammy nominations, winning one. He co-founded Farm Aid and helped raise funds for farmers through concerts. With 22 Top 40 hits in his kitty, he has also held painting exhibitions and acted in and directed movies.

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Birthdate: June 16, 1959

Sun Sign: Gemini

Died: April 8, 2014

WWF legend James Hellwig was better known as The Ultimate Warrior and the Dingo Warrior and won the WWF Heavyweight Championship once and the Intercontinental Championship twice. Following his retirement, he became a public speaker. Shortly before his death, he was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame.

Shelley Long

(Actress, Singer and Comedian Best Known for Her Role as ‘Diane Chambers’ in the TV Series ‘Cheers’)

Birthdate: August 23, 1949

Sun Sign: Virgo

Shelley Long is best known for her Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning performance as Diane Chambers in the NBC sitcom Cheers. She later reprised the role in Frasier. Fans also loved her in films such as Irreconcilable Differences and Hello Again, and as DeDe Pritchett in the series Modern Family.

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Mick Mars

(Guitarist and Co-Founder of the Heavy Metal Band 'Mötley Crüe')

Birthdate: May 4, 1951

Sun Sign: Taurus

Mick Mars gained fame as the guitarist for the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe and came to be known for his aggressive style of playing the instrument. He has also written songs for bands such as Crashdïet. He has suffered from ankylosing spondylitis since his teenage years.

Adam Lambert

(Singer-Songwriter Known for His Dynamic Vocal Performances)

Birthdate: January 29, 1982

Sun Sign: Aquarius

American singer-songwriter and actor, Adam Lambert, serves as an inspiration to the LGBTQ community; he became the first openly gay musician to top the U.S. Billboard 200 charts with the release of his second studio album Trespassing. Also a well-known philanthropist, Adam Lambert helps raise money for various charitable causes.

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Vivica A. Fox

(Actress)

Birthdate: July 30, 1964

Sun Sign: Leo

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Birthdate: August 24, 1977

Sun Sign: Virgo

John Green soared to fame with his bestselling novel The Fault in Our Stars, which was turned into a movie. His other notable works include the novels Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska. Also a prominent YouTuber, he manages the channel Vlogbrothers and has co-founded the educational channel Crash Course.

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Birthdate: April 3, 1926

Sun Sign: Aries

Died: January 27, 1967

Gus Grissom was the second U.S. astronaut to fly into space. The Distinguished Flying Cross-winner had fought in World War II and the Korean War before being part of Mercury-Redstone 4 and Project Gemini. He died during a pre-launch test of the Apollo 1 mission, along with two colleagues.

Mick Foley

(Considered as One of the Greatest Wrestlers in WWE History)

Birthdate: June 7, 1965

Sun Sign: Gemini

Mick Foley is an American author, actor, and retired professional wrestler. Widely considered one of the greatest WWE wrestlers of all time, Foley played an important role in popularizing WWE's Attitude Era during the late-1990s. Also a well-known humanitarian, Foley's philanthropic work is centered around children; he often participates in Make-a-Wish Foundation events and makes surprise visits to children’s hospitals.

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Dean Norris

(Actor)

Birthdate: April 8, 1963

Sun Sign: Aries

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Shawn Kemp

(Basketball player)

Birthdate: November 26, 1969

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Height: 6'10" (208 cm)

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Dick York

(Best Known for His Role ‘Darrin Stephens’ on the ABC Sitcom ‘Bewitched’)

Birthdate: September 4, 1928

Sun Sign: Virgo

Died: February 20, 1992

Actor Dick York is best remembered for his role as Darrin Stephens in the ABC fantasy sitcom Bewitched. He began his career as a teenager by starring in a radio show. He became immensely popular as a radio actor and ventured into films and TV shows as well. In his later years, he founded a charity to help the homeless.

Greg Kinnear

(Actor)

Birthdate: June 17, 1963

Sun Sign: Gemini

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

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Anne Baxter

(American Actress Who Starred in Hollywood Films, Broadway Productions and TV Series)

Birthdate: May 7, 1923

Sun Sign: Taurus

Died: December 12, 1985

Anne Baxter is best remembered for her Academy Award- and Golden Globe-winning performance as Sophie MacDonald in The Razor's Edge. Her other notable projects were the film All About Eve and the series The Name of the Game. She also actively participated in Republican campaigns.

Randy Jackson

(Singer-songwriter)

Birthdate: October 31, 1961

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

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Mike Epps

(Known for His Roles in Films ‘Next Friday’,’ The Hangover’ and 'The Hangover Part III')

Birthdate: November 18, 1970

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Stand-up comedian, actor, and film producer, Mike Epps, is a man with multiple talents. He began his career performing stand-up comedy and branched out into acting soon after. As an actor, he gained fame for playing Day-Day Jones in the film Next Friday and its sequels. He is a controversial person and has been accused of assaulting a fellow comedian.

Birthdate: August 11, 1965

Sun Sign: Leo

Embeth Davidtz is a South-African American actress known for playing important roles in popular movies, such as Schindler's List and Fracture. She also serves as an inspiration to those fighting against cancer as she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, for which she had to undergo a mastectomy.

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Terry Funk

(Retired American Professional Wrestler, Disc Jockey, and Actor)

Birthdate: June 30, 1944

Sun Sign: Cancer

Died: August 23, 2023

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

Birthdate: December 6, 1971

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Died: April 8, 1990

Ryan White became an icon for HIV/AIDS patients in the 1980s, when he was not allowed to return to school after an AIDS diagnosis. He was apparently infected with the virus during a blood treatment for haemophilia. His case led to the passage of the Ryan White CARE Act.

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Birthdate: November 23, 1961

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Entrepreneur John H. Schnatter, also known as Papa John, established Papa John's Pizza in the 1980s, using the money he got after selling his car. He resigned as the CEO of his company in 2018, following a controversy regarding his comments about protests by NFL players.

Birthdate: June 9, 1891

Sun Sign: Gemini

Died: October 15, 1964

Singer-songwriter Cole Porter is best known for his work in the Tony-winning musical, Kiss Me, Kate and for his hit tracks Night and Day, Got You Under My Skin, and You're the Top. He also composed for movies. His marriage to Linda Lee Thomas was a cover for his homosexuality.

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Jermaine Jackson

(Singer-songwriter)

Birthdate: December 11, 1954

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Height: 6'1" (185 cm)

Birthdate: July 18, 1913

Sun Sign: Cancer

Died: September 17, 1997

Red Skelton is best remembered as the host of The Red Skelton Show. Apart from films and TV, he had also performed in vaudeville, casinos, and nightclubs. He was also a skilled painter and specialized in paintings of clowns, which earned him more than his acting projects.

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Sydney Pollack

(Film Director and Producer Best Known for His Movie 'Out of Africa')

Birthdate: July 1, 1934

Sun Sign: Cancer

Died: May 26, 2008

Sydney Pollack is best remembered for his Academy Award-winning direction in the film Out of Africa and was also nominated for the same award for They Shoot Horses, Don't They? and Tootsie. He also acted in films such as Eyes Wide Shut and series such as Will & Grace.

Birthdate: January 28, 1949

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Basketball coach Gregg Popovich currently serves as the head coach and president of the NBA team San Antonio Spurs. Known as Coach Pop, the three-time NBA Coach of the Year has scored the most wins NBA wins, leading the Spurs to 22 season wins, including five NBA titles.

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Kennedy Montgomery

(Political Commentator and the Host of 'Kennedy' on the ‘Fox Business Network’)

Birthdate: September 8, 1972

Sun Sign: Virgo

Political commentator and host Lisa Kennedy Montgomery, began her career as MTV VJ “Kennedy” on the alternative rock shows 120 Minutes and Alternative Nation. She has authored two books and has also hosted Fox network shows such as Kennedy and Outnumbered. She has also been a panelist on The Five.

Birthdate: October 15, 1953

Sun Sign: Libra

Tito Jackson is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is one of the members of the famed Jackson family, which has produced popular musicians, including Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. An original member of the popular pop band, The Jackson 5, Tito Jackson reached the peak of his success in the 1960s and 1970s.

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Birthdate: May 23, 1910

Sun Sign: Gemini

Died: November 22, 1986

Scatman Crothers was an American musician and actor. Also a prolific voice-over actor, Crothers contributed immensely to the success of several animated TV series, such as Harlem Globetrotters, The Transformers, and Hong Kong Phooey. For his contribution to the American TV and film industry, Scatman Crothers was awarded a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.