| Name | Image | Birth | Death | Known for | Association | Reference |
|---|
| David Ayer | | | | Filmmaker | Born in Champaign. | [1] |
| Irving Azoff | | | | Music promotion | Attended UIUC. Started Blytham Ltd with Bob Nutt | [2] |
| | | | Country music singer and songwriter | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Author, voiceover actor, and spokesman | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Former American football player and actor, singer, artist, TV host (WCIA Channel 3, WICD Channel 15) and painter. | Lived 19 years in Champaign | |
| | | | Author (The Rape of Nanking) | Graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | |
| | | | Author (Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother) | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | R&B singer | Attended the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | |
| | | | Comic book creator and publisher | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Journalist and author of The Myth of Heterosexual AIDS | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Magazine reporter and Hollywood gossip columnist for The Hollywood Reporter | Attended the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, where he was the city editor of the Daily Illini, the independent student-run newspaper, known for his 1937–38 crusade against prostitution in Champaign | |
| | | | CBS News correspondent and author | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Operatic baritone; one of People magazine's 2008 Sexiest Men Alive | Graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | |
| | | | Magazine editor | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Bass guitar player (REO Speedwagon) | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Bass guitar player | Grew up in Champaign | |
| | | | American journalist, political commentator, and former corporate defense attorney | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Bluegrass singer | Grew up in Champaign | |
| (a.k.a. Ludacris) | | | | Rapper | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Actress | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Jazz musician | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Children's poet and songwriter | Lives in Champaign | |
| | | | Author of Infinite Jest | Lived in Champaign | |
| | | | Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Interior designer and television personality (Trading Spaces) | Graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | |
| Louise Woodroofe | | | | Painter and University of Illinois professor | Born and grew up in Champaign, attended University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | |
|
| Name | Image | Birth | Death | Known for | Association | Reference |
|---|
| | | | Olympic speed skater | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Pitcher for six Major League Baseball teams | Lived and died in Champaign | |
| | | | Speed skater, Olympic gold medalist | Grew up in Champaign | |
| | | Apr 13, 2021 | Former American football player and actor, singer, artist, TV host (WCIA Channel 3, WICD Channel 15) and painter. | Lived 19 years in Champaign | |
| | | | Infielder for the New York Giants | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Indy-car driver | | |
| Dick Butkus | | | [3] | | Football linebacker for the Fighting Illini | Attended UIUC | |
| | | | First baseman for the Minnesota Twins | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Pitcher for eight Major League Baseball teams | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Punter for the Cleveland Browns | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Olympic 400M hurdler | Lives in Champaign | |
| | | | Wrestler with the WWE | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Speed skater and silver medalist in the 2010 Winter Olympics | Attending University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign | |
| | | | Pole vaulter; Olympic silver medalist | | |
| | | | Linebacker for Illinois Illini and six NFL teams | Born and lives in Champaign | |
| | | | Running back for the Detroit Lions | Graduated from Centennial High School in Champaign | |
| | | | Pitcher for the Montreal Expos | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Swimmer, US Olympic team 2012 | Born in Champaign |
| | | | Pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, Boston Beaneaters/Doves and Boston Rustlers | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Short track speed skater, Olympic silver medalist | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Starting guard for the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Pole vaulter; Olympic gold medalist | | |
| - | [4] | | | | Winner of 2019 Boston Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Wheelchair Division | Lives in Champaign, attends Parkland College | |
| | | | Linebacker for the Carolina Panthers | Born in Champaign | |
| | | | Backup catcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League | Born in Champaign | |
|
