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Top 10 Famous People From Gary, Indiana

Indiana is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is known for having vast farmlands and the peak state for high school basketball. However, Indiana is famous for being the home of numerous stars that have changed the world for dramatic arts. Indiana is known to also be the origin story of the famous Jackson family whose talent attracted fans worldwide.

Even if most of the Hollywood stars weren’t born in Indiana, most of them have decided to reside there. Here are the 10 famous people who come from Indiana.

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1. Michael Jackson

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Michael was born on August 29, 1958. He was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist known as the King of Pop. He has been listed as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Numerous artists have shared that their influence was Michael’s stage and video performances. 

His most popularized dance moves include the moonwalk as well as the robot. Michael made his public debut in 1964 with his older brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, and Marlon and was a member of the Jackson 5. His solo career began in 1971 but his first album, Off the Wall, came out in 1979.

Overall, Michael has been labeled as one of the best-selling music artists with estimated sales of over 400 million records worldwide. In total, 13 of his songs were on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the first to have a top-ten single in the Billboard Hot 100 in five decades.

2. The Jackson 5

Also known as the Jacksons are an American pop brand that is composed of members of the Jackson family. The group comprised Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael. They were managed by their father Joe Jackson. In 1969, they made their debut with four consecutive number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100. On the same chart, they achieved sixteen Top-40 singles.

The group has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and they were all honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as the Jacksons. In 1997, the Jackson 5 were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2021, the Jackson family got official 2300 Jackson Street highway signage. They were placed on local roads that lead to the Jackson family home.

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3. Janet Jackson

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Damita Jo Jackson was born on May 16, 1996. She is an American singer, actress, songwriter, and dancer. She is noted for being the catalyst in the growth of MTV. Janet made her debut at the MGM Grand. In 1982, she became a pop icon when she signed a recording contract with A&M Records.

Janet has been labeled as one of the world’s best-selling music artists because of selling over 100 million records. Her achievements include five Grammy Awards, eleven American Music Awards, eight Guinness World Records, eleven Billboard Music Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 2023, she announced her first tour in four years to celebrate 50 years in entertainment. Aside from the Together Again tour, she has given her fans hope for new music.

4. Deniece Williams

Also known as June Deniece Chandler is an American singer described as one of the great soul voices. With four Grammy and twelve nominations, she is known for the songs Silly, It’s Gonna Take a Miracle, Free, and Too Much, Too Little, Too Late.

Deniece made her debut in 1976 with her first album This is Niecy which rose to number. 3 and number. 33 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and Billboard 200 charts respectively. Since her debut, she has released numerous songs that have been received well by her fans.

In 2020, Deniece released a new single When You Love Somebody. The following year she released the EP Gemini.

5. Fred Williamson

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Famously known as the Hammer is an American actor and former professional American football defensive back. He mainly played in the American Football League. He finished his eight-season pro football career with a history of 36 pass interceptions in 104 games.

6. Alex Karras

He was an American football player, sportscaster, actor, and professional wrestler who was born on July 15, 1935. Alex was a four-time Pro Bowl player with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. In 1957, he signed as a professional wrestler and earned $25,000 during the six-month off-season. 

In 1972, he hosted the local weekly football program called The Alex Karras Football Show. The following year, he made several cameo appearances on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. Aside from his appearance in television shows, he also starred in some films including Victor/Victoria, and Against All Odds.

In 2020, he was added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a Centennial Member.

7. Frank Borman

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Fredrick Borman II was born on March 14, 1928. He is a retired United States Air Force colonel, NASA astronaut, aeronautical engineer, and businessman. He was the commander of Apollo 8 and with his crewmates, Jim Lovell and William Anders were the first of 24 humans to do so. He was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

Over the course of his life, he has received numerous accolades including the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement, the Society of Experimental Test Pilots James H. Doolittle Award, the Tony Jannus Award, and the NASA Ambassador of Exploration Award.

7. Alex Karras

He was an American football player, sportscaster, actor, and professional wrestler who was born on July 15, 1935. Alex was a four-time Pro Bowl player with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. In 1957, he signed as a professional wrestler and earned $25,000 during the six-month off-season. 

In 1972, he hosted the local weekly football program called The Alex Karras Football Show. The following year, he made several cameo appearances on Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In. Aside from his appearance in television shows, he also starred in some films including Victor/Victoria, and Against All Odds.

In 2020, he was added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a Centennial Member.

8. La Toya Jackson

She is an American singer and television personality born on May 29, 1956. She gained recognition on her family’s television series The Jacksons between 1976 and 1977. In the 1980s and 1990s, she saw success as a solo artist under numerous record labels like Sony Music, and RCA.

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9. Joseph Stiglitz

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Joseph was born on February 9, 1943, he is an American public policy analyst, a New Keynesian economist, and a full professor at Columbia University. In 1979 he received the John Bates Clark Medal and later received the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2000.

In 2020, Joseph published a report that pointed out the quantitative easing policy which was implemented by the US after the 2008 financial crisis. He wrote the report alongside Hamid Rashid who is the chief of Global Economic Monitoring at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Joseph has over 40 honorary doctorates and has been the recipient of the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement, the Gerald Loeb Awards, and the Legion of Honor.

10. Avery Brooks

Best known for his television role as Captain Sisko on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, actor, director, singer, and narrator Avery was born on October 2, 1948. His performances in numerous films have earned him three NAACP Image Awards, a nomination for a Saturn Award, and the William Shakespeare Award for Classical Theatre. He was also inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Theatre.

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