Famous Harvey Residents

Nina Chanel Abney is an African American artist and painter that was born in Harvey. She explores race, gender, pop culture, homophobia, and politics in her work.

Ivan Albright was a painter and artist from born in Harvey in the year 1897. He is best known for his stylistic paintings including self-portraits, character studies, and still lives. He is also known for being a “Magic Realist” which is a style of painting that incorporated a realistic view of the world blended with magical elements.

Paris Barclay is an American television director, writer, and producer. He is also a two-time Emmy award winner. Barclay is also the first Black director to be nominated by the Television Academy in every narrative dramatic category.

Damarr Brown is an American chef that grew up in Harvey. In 2022 he was named one of the country’s best new chefs by Food & Wine, and in 2023 he was the recipient of the James Beard Foundation’s emerging chef.

Ed Cassidy was born in Harvey and was an American jazz and rock drummer that also was a founding member of the rock group Spirit in 1967.

The Dells were a group of R&B singers that formed in 1953 while attending Thornton Township High School. The members of the group included Michael McGill, Marvin Junior, Verne Allison, Chuck Barksdale, and Johnny Carter. The group performed for 60 years and in 2004 the group was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

Tom Dreesen grew up in Harvey and is an actor and stand-up comedian. He teamed up with Tim Reid and formed the group Tim and Tom, the first biracial stand-up comedy duo in the United States. They would tour around the country together until they went their separate ways in the mid-1970s. Both men would continue to find success, and Dreesen continues to perform today.

Nelsan Ellis was an American actor who grew up in Harvey. He appeared on shows such as True Blood and Elementary, as well as movies such as The Butler and Secretariat. He also won a Satellite Award from the International Press Academy.

Lupe Fiasco is an American rapper, singer, record producer, and music educator. He is best known for his song “The Show Goes On” which is still his highest charting song to this day. Fiasco is also involved in the fashion business, where he runs two clothing lines, and has also designed shoes for Reebok. In 2025, he joined Johns Hopkins University as a Distinguished Visiting Professor for the school’s Bachelor of Music degree program. 

LaRoyce Hawkins is an American actor, stand-up comedian, spoken word artist, and musician that was born in Harvey. Hawkins is best known for his role as Kevin Atwater in the show Chicago P.D., and he also has a regular role in the crossover show Chicago Fire.

Bill Hayes was an American actor and recording artist born in Harvey. He is best known for his character Doug Williams on the show Days of Our Lives.

Kevin Huizenga, born in Harvey, is an American cartoonist. While in high school, Huizenga created the minicomic Supermonster, where his best-known character Glenn Ganges first appeared. Huizenga’s ongoing comic Or Else received Ignatz Award for Outstanding Comic in 2005. 

J. B. Hutto was an American blues musician. While he was not born in Harvey, he spent his later years in life in Harvey, where he died in 1983. Hutto was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame two years after his death. 

Syleena Johnson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter and actress. She received a Grammy nomination for her appearance on Kanye West’s single “All Falls Down” in 2004.

VaShawn Mitchell is an American gospel singer and songwriter born in Harvey. Mitchell produced many Stellar Award-winning songs and projects for Grammy Award winners Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Smokie Norful. 

Keke Palmer, born in Harvey, is an American actress, singer, and television personality. Palmer has received two Primetime Emmy Awards as well as nominations for a Daytime Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Time magazine also included her on its list of most influential people in the world in 2019.

Dandrell Scott is an American actor, comedian, rapper, and voiceover actor. He attended Thornton Township High School, where he competed on the Speech team with fellow actor LaRoyce Hawkins. Scott is best known for his voiceover work with Wendy’s, and their breakfast commercials starting in 2020. Scott has also landed roles in Chicago P.D., Snowfall, and The Chi. 

Newton Thornburg Jr. was an American novelist born in Harvey. He is best known for his 1976 novel Cutter and Bone, which was later adapted into the 1981 film Cutter’s Way.

Nick Vincent, born in Harvey, is an American rock and roll, jazz, and studio drummer, producer, and composer. His work includes soundtracks for television shows and films such as Sideways, Just Go with It, Grown Ups, Desperado, and From Dusk till Dawn.

Mark Weiser, born in Harvey, was a computer scientist and chief technology officer at Xerox PARC. Weiser is considered to be the father of ubiquitous computing, a term he coined in 1988. He ideas have also influenced the world’s leading computer scientists.

Steven Whitehurst, a graduate of Thornton Township High School, is an African American author, poet, and educator. His works include Words from an Unchained Mind and Rodney King and the L.A. Rebellion: Analysis and Commentary by 13 Independent Black Writers. 

Jaboukie Young-White, born in Harvey, is a comedian, actor, writer, and musician. He made his film debut in the black comedy Rough Night, and he received his first leading role in 2021 with the film Dating in New York. He has also had television roles in the shows Awkwafina is Nora from Queens and Only Murderers in the Building.

Danitra Vance, graduate of Thornton Township High School, was a comedian and actress. She was the first Black woman of the primary cast member of Saturday Night Live in 1985. Vance was also one of the first LGBT members of the cast, although she was not out to the public during her lifetime.

Lou Boudreau, born in Harvey, was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in the MLB for 15 seasons, primarily as a shortstop of the Cleveland Indians. He also managed four teams for 15 seasons, including 10 seasons as a player manager. Boudreau was also a radio announcer for the Chicago Cubs.

Jeff Duncan, born in Harvey, is the head baseball coach at Kent State University. Duncan was an outfielder for the New York Mets, but he also played for the San Diego Padres, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Toronto Blue Jays.

John Ely, born in Harvey, was a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He also played for the Houston Astros, the Boston Red Sox, and the Milwaukee Brewers, but these were all for their minor league teams.

Justin Huisman, a Harvey native, was a relief pitcher for the Kansas City Royals. He played for the Royals in 2004.

Garrett Jones, born in Harvey, is a former first basemen and right fielder. He played in the MLB for the Minnesota Twins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Miami Marlins, and the New York Yankees. He retired in 2016.

Eric Knott, born in Harvey, was a former MLB pitcher that played for two seasons. He was a pitcher for both the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Montreal Expos. 

Don Robertson, born in Harvey, was a former MLB player for the Chicago Cubs. He played right fielder, but only played for one season with the Cubs. 

Pete Stanicek, born in Harvey, was a former MLB player for the Baltimore Orioles. He played second base, third base, and left fielder. He also batted as a switch hitter. 

Paul “Dizzy” Trout, a former Harvey resident, was a former MLB player for the Detroit Tigers. He was a pitcher for the Tigers, and he was on the team when they won the 1945 World Series.

Jim Ard, a graduate of Thornton Township High School, was a former NBA player. He played as a forward and center. He played three seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Chicago Bulls, and the Boston Celtics. He is best known for his tenure with the Boston Celtics, and in 1976, Ard was on the team when they won the NBA Championship.

Leon Clark, born in Harvey and a graduate of Thornton Township High School, was a former NBA player. He played the position of center, but while trying to earn a spot on the final roster, Clark transitioned to the position of forward. He was ultimately cut by the Boston Celtics, and he never played a game in the NBA.

Eddy Curry Jr., born in Harvey, was a former NBA player. He played the position of center. He was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 2001, where he would play until 2005. He then would play for the New York Knicks from 2005 to 2010. Curry then played for the Miami Heat from 2011 to 2012, and he was part of the Heat’s 2012 championship team. He would end his NBA career playing for the Dallas Mavericks.

Kevin Duckworth, born in Harvey, was a former NBA player. He played the position of center. He was selected in the 1986 draft by the San Antonio Spurs, but he was traded to the Portland Trailblazers during the 1986 season. He was then traded to the Washington Wizards. In 1995 he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. In 1996 he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, where he would play until the end of his NBA career.

Melvin Ely, born in Harvey and a graduate of Thornton Township High School, was a former power forward and center that played in the NBA. Ely played two seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, but he was then traded to the Charlotte Hornets in 2004. In 2007, Ely was traded to the San Antonio Spurs, and while he did not play during any of the playoff games, he still received a championship ring. He was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, where he played for two seasons. In 2010 he was traded to the Denver Nuggets. After playing for the NBA’s D-League, he would be signed by the New Orleans Pelicans, where he would finish his NBA career.

Ted Albrecht, born in Harvey, is a former NFL player. He played five seasons with the Chicago Bears as an offensive tackle.

Antwaan Randle El, a graduate of Thornton Township High School, was a former wide receiver in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the Steelers 2004 season, they made Randle El their top kickoff returner and punt returner. While with the Steelers, Randle El won his only Super Bowl title during Super Bowl XL. During the 2006 season, Randle El was signed by the Washington Redskins, where he would play for three seasons until he was released in 2010. In March of 2010, Randle El would sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers again, where he would ultimately play until he retired in 2012. 

Barry Gardner, born in Harvey and a graduate of Thornton Township High School, was a former NFL player. He played the position of linebacker, but he also was well known around the league as a solid special teams player. Gardner played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and the New England Patriots.

Jim Smith, born in Harvey, is a former NFL player. He played as a wide receiver and punt returner for the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he won two Super Bowl titles.

Tai Streets, a graduate of Thornton Town Ship High School, is a former NFL player that played the position of wide receiver. Streets played for the San Francisco 49ers for four seasons. In the 2004 NFL season, Streets signed with the Detroit Lions. He would start in twelve of the thirteen games as a Lions player. He would retire from the NFL in 2005.