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Top 10 Famous People from Idaho

The Gem State is famed for its potato production and plenty of rare minerals discovered in different parts of the State. Additionally, Idaho hosts the longest floating boardwalk in the world. The walkway is located in Coeur d’Alene and is about 3,300 feet long and 12 feet wide.

Besides potatoes, minerals, and boardwalk, this state is also celebrated as the home of famous personalities. The likes of actors Aaron Paul and comedian Dan Cummins. Other headline individuals are Olympic gold medalist Picabo Street, artist Lillian Disney and many more.

Here are the Top 10 Famous People from Idaho.

1. Lillian Disney

Lillian Disney at Schiphol Airport in 1951 by Carel L. de Vogel from

She was an ink artist and wife to Walt Disney. She was born in Spalding, Idaho on February 15, 1899. Lillian attended high school in Lapwai and went to college in Lewiston.

Moreover, she moved to southern California in 1923. Hence had the chance to work at Walt Disney Animation Studios. That is where she met her husband and they got married on July 13, 1925.

Her creative work in film as an ink artist was seen in 1928鈥檚 animated film Plane Crazy. The film was directed by her husband Walt. Furthermore, she is credited for naming the character Mickey Mouse. She suggested the name to her husband while on a train trip from New York to California in 1928.

Her husband had the idea of the name “Mortimer Mouse”. When Walt showed Lillian the drawing of the cartoon mouse and proposed the name he had in mind, she thought it sounded depressing. Hence she gave the name Mickey Mouse.

In her honor, she received an induction into the Disney Legends in 2003. Walt also named a locomotive “Lilly Belle” in her honor on the Walt Disney World Railroad. The couple was together until the demise of Walt on December 15, 1966. They had two daughters, Diane Marie Disney and Sharon Mae Disney, their adopted child.

Afterward, she was married to John L. Truyens in 1969 until he died in 1981. Lillian died of a stroke on December 15, 1997, at the age of 98 years.

Walt Disney Fun Facts

2. Aaron Paul

Aaron Paul in 2012 by Gage Skidmore from

Paul was born in Emmett, Idaho on August 27, 1979. He went to Centennial High School in Boise, Idaho, and graduated in 1997.

After graduation, he left Idaho for Los Angeles. In January 2000 the actor appeared on an episode of The Price Is Right game show aired on CBS. In the same year, he appeared in the film Whatever It Takes and was featured in many more films in later years.

Aaron鈥檚 recurring role as Scott Quittman on HBO鈥檚 television series Big Love increased his popularity. The drama series ran from 2006 to 2011.

He is also acclaimed for his role in the Breaking Bad television series that aired from 2008鈥�2013 on AMC. He played Jesse Pinkman in the series. His other notable parts were in films like Need for Speed (2014), Central Intelligence (2016), and more.

His role in Breaking Bad earned him many awards. Such as Primetime Emmy Award, Satellite Award, and the Critics Choice Television Award. Subsequently, he reprised his role on Netflix鈥檚 El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie in 2019 and the series Better Call Saul. He appeared in the final season of this 2022 spin-off series(Better Call Saul).

3. Picabo Street

She was born on 3 April 1971 in Triumph, Idaho. She grew up on a small farm in Triumph which was her opportunity to learn skiing and racing. In 1989 when Street was 17 years, she joined the U.S. Ski Team.

In 1992, she began competing in downhill and super G speed events in World Cup competitions. In 1993 she won a silver medal at the World Championships held in Japan. In the 1994 Winter Olympics, she was awarded a silver medal. After which, a Sun Valley run called “Plaza” was named after her. It was changed to “Picabo’s Street.鈥�

On top of that, Street won the World Cup downhill title in 1995 and 1996. She also won a gold medal at the 1996 World Championships in Spain.

In late 1996, she took a break due to injuries and returned to competitions in 2000. During the 2002 Winter Olympics in Utah, she took part in the downhill race. But finished in sixteenth place. Hence retired from international competitions.

4. William Agee

Portrait of William Agee by Grateful from

He was born on January 5, 1938, in Boise, Idaho. He was a celebrated business executive. He attended Meridian High School and graduated in 1956. He proceeded to the University of Idaho. At the same time, he worked at Albertson’s in the accounting department.

Over and above that, he was hired at Boise Cascade in his mid-twenties. In 1969 when he was 31 years, he became the company鈥檚, Chief Financial Officer. In 1971 he rose to the position of Senior Vice President of Boise. He served in that capacity until May 1972.

In 1976, he joined the Bendix Corporation as chief executive officer (CEO). Starting in 1988, he became CEO of Morrison-Knudsen. It was a civil engineering and construction company.

Agee was issued six honorary doctorate degrees. He also sat on boards of various Fortune 500 corporations like Equitable Life and Dow Jones. He died of respiratory complications on December 20, 2017, aged 79 years.

Best Tourist Attractions in Boise, Idaho

5. Martha Raddatz

Martha Raddatz by United States Naval Forces Central Command from

She was born in Idaho Falls on February 14, 1953. She went to the University of Utah. Her noteworthy journalism roles began at WCVB-TV. She served as a chief correspondent at this ABC News Boston affiliate. This was before 1993. From 1993 she worked for National Public Radio, covering the Pentagon until 1998.

Her long tenure on ABC News began in 1999. She started as the State Department correspondent for the network. In May 2003, she was elevated to the position of senior national security correspondent.

In November 2008, Raddatz was appointed ABC’s Senior Foreign Affairs Correspondent. She holds the position to date. To add on, Raddatz also served as a White House correspondent during the last term of the George W. Bush administration.

She was the moderator of the Vice-Presidential debate between Paul Ryan and Joe Biden. The debate took place on October 11, 2012, at Centre College in Danville.

Furthermore, she was a co-moderator alongside Anderson Cooper during the 2016 second presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. It was held at Washington University in St. Louis.

6. Harmon Killebrew

He was born on June 29, 1936, in Payette, Idaho. When growing up, he played baseball at Walter Johnson Memorial Field. He was nicknamed “The Killer” because of his contradicting demeanor off-field. He had a quiet personality off-field yet an aggressive plate presence. Hence his 鈥淜iller鈥� nickname.

In his professional baseball career, he was a first baseman, third baseman, and left fielder. Further, Harmon was an acclaimed power hitter. His career spanned over two decades. Most of which he spent in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Minnesota Twins.

Killebrew is remembered as one of the greatest home run hitters in MLB history. For instance, in the 1960鈥檚 he hit 40 home runs in a season, eight times. At retirement, he was considered second to Babe Ruth in American League home runs.

After retirement from 1976 to 1988, he was a broadcaster for several baseball teams. At some point, he served as the Oakland Athletics hitting instructor. In 1984, he received an induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. He died on 17 May 2011.

7. Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin by Gage Skidmore from

Palin was born in Sandpoint, Idaho on February 11, 1964. Her family moved to Alaska when she was a child. She attended Wasilla High School. She majored in journalism at the university. Thus received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho in May 1987.

Her early career roles were in sports journalism. She worked for KTUU-TV and KTVA-TV as well as Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman newspaper.

Over and above that, she has served in the political space. In 1992 she was elected to the Wasilla city council. In 1996 she became mayor of Wasilla. In 2003 she lost the Alaska lieutenant gubernatorial seat. Hence was appointed to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.

In 2006 she became the ninth governor of Alaska. She held the position until her resignation in 2009. Her highest state office quest was the vice presidential seat. She was the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee alongside John McCain.

Over the years she has taken part in political commentary, written her memoir Going Rogue, and tried vying for political positions.

Discover Sarah Palin’s Interesting Facts.

8. William Borah

This outspoken Republican Senator was born on June 29, 1865, in Illinois. He went to Tom’s Prairie School and in 1885 enrolled at the University of Kansas for Law studies. He passed his bar examination in September 1887. In 1889 he was appointed as the city attorney by the mayor of Lyons.

In October 1890 Borah moved to Idaho. He was elected to the Senate in 1907 where he served until his death on January 19, 1940. He was vocal and is saluted as one of the progressive insurgents who challenged the policies of President William Howard Taft. To continue his legacy, the state of Idaho presented his statute to the National Statuary Hall Collection in 1947.

9. Billie Bird

She was an actress and comedian who starred on-screen during the 1980 and 1990s. She was born on February 28, 1908, in Pocatello, Idaho. Billie appeared in films such as Sixteen Candles (1984), the 1987s Police Academy 4, Home Alone (1990), Jury Duty (1995), and more.

Additionally, she was featured on several television series like Happy Days, and Who’s the Boss? as well as Knots Landing. She was also a regular cast of the sitcom It Takes Two.

She was made an honorary member of the Green Berets to honor her achievements. She succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease on November 27, 2002, at the age of 94 years.

10. Josh Ritter

Josh Ritter performing at Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul by Andy Witchger from

Ritter was born in Moscow, Idaho on October 21, 1976. He is a musician, singer cum songwriter. His passion for music was sparked by the song Girl from the North Country by Bob Dylan.

He schooled at Moscow High School and graduated in 1995. He proceeded to Oberlin College in Ohio and pursued a music-related program.

He recorded his first self-titled album when he was 21 years. His second album was, Golden Age of Radio. Josh has since released many records including the 2020s See Here, I Have Built You a Mansion.

Furthermore, the artist performs and records with the Royal City Band. He doubles as an author and in 2011 published the novel Bright’s Passage. He was on Paste magazine鈥檚 listing of “100 Greatest Living Songwriters” in 2006.

See the 100 Most Popular Songs of All Time.

Here are extra famous personalities from Idaho.

Noah Le Gros

The American actor was born on October 19, 1999, in Idaho Falls. He is famed for his role as Cowhand Colton on the television series, 1883.

His other key role was on the tv series The Get Down. He played the character Thor in this series that ran from 2016-2017. Noah has appeared in movies such as Depraved, A Score to Settle, and The Beach House. All were filmed in 2019.

Dan Cummins

He is prominent for his stand-up comedy. He was born on May 17, 1977. He grew up in Riggins, Idaho most of his life. One of his celebrated works includes his comedy album Revenge is Near. After its release, Punchline Magazine ranked it among the top 10 comedy CDs of 2009.