10 Icons Who Were Born in Indiana
Every state has bragging rights about something, whether it be in the world of sports, literature, or entertainment. Some states are better than others in those categories, but they all have something in common...each of the 50 states as at least ONE famous native son or daughter.
Some states have longer lists than others, and some--like Indiana--can not only claim notoriety but also icon status. Among many others, here is a select group of icons from the worlds of sports, literature, and entertainment that are or were native Hoosiers.
Larry Bird
The NBA legend from French Lick has three championship rings; was twice-named the NBA finals MVP--in 1984 and 1986; and, at the time of his retirement in 1992, held or shared 27 Boston Celtics records. He was also enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. I could go on, but this story isn't just about Larry Bird. So before we move on, let's take a look at the ultimate Bird "mixtape."
Florence Henderson
In 1969, Florence Henderson brought to life, arguably, the most popular "TV mom" in entertainment history. Honestly, if "Name a famous TV mom" was a Family Feud question, Carol Brady would probably be the number one answer. Of course, the classic sitcom wasn't the only part of the Dale native's resume, but it was certainly the most impactful, and Henderson embraced the notoriety from that role for the rest of her days; she passed away in 2016.
Cole Porter
The legendary songwriter and composer of countless Hollywood film and Broadway musical scores was a native of Peru IN. Many of his compositions are American standards like "I've Got You Under My Skin," "You're the Top," and "Begin the Beguine." Porter passed away in 1964.
David Letterman
I'm a longtime Letterman fan, since his early days doing that ill-fated and ill-advised morning show. Just as the late night icon and his contemporaries like Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Maher have always cited Johnny Carson as their biggest inspiration, newer hosts like Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers tip their hats to the Indianapolis native. The tribute paid to David Letterman at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012 by his de facto "progeny" was hilarious.
Colonel Harland Sanders
One of the most "Kentuckian" humans who ever lived was even born in the Bluegrass State. Despite the fact that the colonel's KFC empire began in Corbin KY, the man himself was born in Henryville IN in 1890. Still, however, the chicken has ALWAYS been "finger-lickin' good."
James Dean
Oh, what might have been. I cannot come up with another actor--male or female--who ONLY did three movies yet became one of the biggest icons in Hollywood history. That's the kind of impact James Dean had on American cinema. No one had seen anyone quite like him--perhaps Marlon Brando, but Dean was still a bit more "raw"--before the 1955's East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause. Eden landed Dean his first Oscar nomination with the second to follow a year later for 1956's Giant. Sadly, James Dean never lived to see the releases of Rebel or Giant; he died in an automobile accident on September 30th, 1955. To date, he is the only actor to receive two posthumous Oscar nominations. James Dean, a native of Marion, is laid to rest at Park Cemetery in Fairmount IN.
Hoagy Carmichael
Born in 1899 in Bloomington, Hoagy Carmichael essentially began his music career on the campus of Indiana University when he formed his own small jazz band in 1920. A mere seven years later--on Halloween--he would record his immortal composition "Stardust." Timeless classics like "Georgia on My Mind" and "Heart and Soul," among others, would follow. A renaissance man, Carmichael was also an actor and a lawyer. He died of a heart attack in 1981.
John Wooden
He's one of the greatest hoops coaches who ever lived. And I was actually surprised to learn that the man who guided the UCLA Bruins to 10 National Championships--including an unequalled SEVEN in a row from 1967 through 1973--was actually born in Indiana in the tiny township of Hall. Then again, the Hoosier State absolutely loves its basketball, so I shouldn't have been THAT surprised. With Larry Bird on this list, I'm guessing there might be something in the water in Indiana.
Red Skelton
This legendary entertainer from Vincennes seemingly did it all--pantomime (famously), vaudeville, burlesque, movies, nightclubs, and radio and TV shows from 1937 through 1971. He was also known for creating a litany of characters he'd portray in his shows, with Clem Kadiddlehopper being, perhaps, his most famous. Red Skelton passed away in 1997 due to complications from pneumonia. He was 84.
John Mellencamp
The Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Famer from Seymour is one of my all-time favorites. And there's little I can say that you don't already know, but I do have this tidbit that I find fascinating. The second singles from his massively successful albums American Fool, Uh-Huh, Scarecrow, and Lonesome Jubilee were all hits and were all about growing up in Seymour. Those songs, respectively, are "Jack and Diane," "Pink Houses," "Small Town," and "Cherry Bomb." It's something I didn't even notice until that last one came out. To my knowledge, he's never made mention of it, so I have no idea if it was deliberate or not. But it's a fun fact I enjoy, just like all of his wonderful music.
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Obviously, this is hardly a comprehensive list of Indiana A-listers, so do yourself a favor when you need to kill time. Do a search of all the famous people from your state; it might be a rabbit hole worth revisiting.
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Gallery Credit: Stacker