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Jerry Springer was born on 13 February 1944 in Highgate, London, England, UK. He was a producer and writer, known for Domino (2005), Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) and Ringmaster (1998). He was married to Margaret 'Micki' JoAnn Velten. He died on 27 April 2023 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Dick Cusack was born on 29 August 1925 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for While You Were Sleeping (1995), Eight Men Out (1988) and Chain Reaction (1996). He was married to Ann Paula "Nancy" Carolan. He died on 2 June 2003 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Gene Siskel was an American film critic and journalist for the Chicago Tribune. He partnered with fellow critic Roger Ebert to present a series of television shows which centered on film reviews. Their partnership lasted from 1975 to Siskel's death in 1999. Siskel became famous for his heated arguments with Ebert, as they frequently disagreed on the merits of particular films. Siskel had brain surgery in 1998. He died in 1999, due to complications from the surgery.

In 1946, Siskel was born in Chicago. His parents were Nathan William Siskel and his wife Ida Kalis, first-generation Russian-Jewish immigrants. Both of his parents had died by 1955, when Siskel was 9-years-old. He was primarily raised by his uncle and aunt. Siskel was educated at the Culver Academies, a college preparatory boarding school which was located in Culver, Indiana.

Siskel received his college education at Yale University. He graduated with a degree in philosophy in 1967. He was interested in a writing career, and studied writing under the famous journalist John Hersey (1914-1993). Hershey provided the recommendation which allowed Siskel to be hired by the Chicago Tribune.

Following his college graduation, Siskel joined the United States Army Reserve. He served as a military journalist, and as a public affairs officer for the Defense Information School. In 1969, he was hired by the Chicago Tribune as a journalist. Shortly after, Siskel was appointed as the newspaper's new film critic. He would continue working for this newspaper for 30 years.

In 1975, Siskel and Ebert started presenting a film review show for WTTW, the local Chicago PBS station. The original title for the show was "Opening Soon at a Theater Near You". In 1977, it was renamed to "Sneak Previews". At this point, it became available to the PBS program system. In 1978, the show started airing biweekly on PBS, where it gained a national audience. In 1980, the show started airing weekly on over 180 stations. It reportedly became "the highest rated weekly entertainment series in the history of public broadcasting".

In 1982, Siskel and Ebert were offered a new contract by WTTW. The duo found the contract's terms to be unfavorable to them and they chose to resign instead. They were replaced by new hosts for the show, Neal Gabler and Jeffrey Lyons. Ratings soon declined, and the new hosts were ridiculed in press reviews as inferior to Siskel and Ebert. Meanwhile, Siskel and Ebert were offered their own syndicated television show by Tribune Broadcasting, the parent company of the Chicago Tribune. They took the offer, and became the original hosts of "At the Movies" (1982-1990).

In 1986, Siskel and Ebert were offered a new contract by Buena Vista Entertainment, the television division of the Walt Disney Company. They launched their new show under the title "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies" (1986-1999). At about this time, the Chicago Tribune chose to demote Siskel. He was no longer the newspaper's full-time film critic, but a freelance contract writer. Siskel chose not to protest his demotion, though Ebert publicly criticized the mistreatment of his partner.

In May 1998, Siskel was hospitalized for treatment of a brain tumor. He underwent brain surgery. For weeks, he only participated in his show through comments delivered by phone. When he resumed work at the studio, Siskel seemed to be more lethargic and mellow than usual.

Siskel published his last newspaper review on January 29, 1999. He praised the young actress Rachael Leigh Cook, and commented that he hoped to see her next film. With signs that his health was declining again, Siskel had to seek further medical treatment. On February 3, 1999, he announced that he was taking a leave of absence from his television show. He appeared optimistic that he would be able to recover within a few months. He died on February 20 of the same year, due to complications from his surgery. He was 53-years-old at the time of his death. His funeral was held at the "North Suburban Synagogue Beth El", located in Highland Park, Illinois. Siskel was buried at Westlawn Cemetery, located in Norridge, Illinois.

Following Siskel's death, his television show was renamed to "Roger Ebert & the Movies". A series of guest critics served as temporary replacements for Siskel, until a more permanent solution could be found. In 2000, Siskel was finally replaced by the new host Richard Roeper. Ebert was also diagnosed with cancer in 2002. As Ebert's health declined, the show lost much of its viewership. It was canceled in 2010. Siskel is still fondly recalled by the viewers of his shows, who found that their favorite host was irreplaceable.

Byrne Piven was born on 24 September 1929 in Scranton, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor, known for Being John Malkovich (1999), Very Bad Things (1998) and Miracle on 34th Street (1994). He was married to Joyce Hiller Piven. He died on 18 February 2002 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

I.M. Hobson was born on 11 August 1935 in Clifton, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992), Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) and The Hudsucker Proxy (1994). He died on 29 December 2003 in Evanston, Wyoming, USA.

Jeff Winkless was born on 2 June 1941 in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Look Who's Talking Now (1993), Castle in the Sky (1986) and Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979). He died on 26 June 2006 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Sergio Oliva was born on 4 July 1941 in Guanabacoa, Havana, Cuba. He was an actor, known for Los temibles (1977), O Capitão Bandeira Contra o Dr. Moura Brasil (1971) and Black Power (1975). He was married to Arleen Garrett. He died on 12 November 2012 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Wesley Willis was a truly distinctive one-of-a-kind singer/songwriter who suffered from chronic paranoid schizophrenia. Willis was born on May 31, 1963 in Chicago, Illinois. One in a family of ten children, Wesley's parents separated when he was young and he subsequently grew up in a series of foster homes being primarily raised by two older brothers who went with Wesley from home to home. He was first diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1989. Wesley started writing songs in 1992 and was discovered singing on the streets of Chicago in the early 1990's. Willis was well known for his short, simple, humorous, highly peculiar, and usually profanity-ridden three-chord rants on such topics as music, superheroes, people he knew, and trivial everyday subjects. Wesley became a substantial cult figure in certain alternative rock music circles thanks to both assorted independently recorded albums and various albums done on notable indie rock labels that include Alternative Tentacles, Fuse Records, Typhoid Mary, and Oglio Records. In 1996 Willis was profiled on MTV and signed a major record label contract with American Records. Moreover, Wesley not only fronted his own hard rock group The Wesley Willis Fiasco, but also was a visual artist who produced hundreds of unusual and intricate colored ink pen drawings primarily of Chicago streetscapes and CTA buses. Willis died at age 40 from leukemia on August 21, 2003.

Bob L. Harris was born on 11 October 1922 in Walters, Oklahoma, USA. He was an actor, known for Appaloosa (2008), Pollock (2000) and Calamity Jane (1963). He died on 14 February 2014 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Winifred Harris was born on 17 March 1880 in Kew, Surrey, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Belonging (1922), Night Must Fall (1937) and The Kid from Kokomo (1939). She was married to Capt. Harry Lambart. She died on 18 April 1972 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Jerome Holtzman was born on 11 December 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is known for Ring of Passion (1978), The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame... (2005) and ESPN SportsCentury (1999). He was married to Marilyn Ryan and Marilyn Holztman. He died on 19 July 2008 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Don McNeill was born on 23 December 1907 in Galena, Illinois, USA. He was a producer, known for The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950), Don McNeill's Breakfast Club (1948) and Don McNeil's Dinner Club (1946). He was married to Katherine Mary Bennett. He died on 7 May 1996 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Beverly Ruth Younger was born August 2, 1915 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Her parents were Edward J. Younger (1891-1954) and Margaret Verle Dunham (1891-1975). Beverly's first stage appearance was at the age of four and from the age of six until she left high school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA she had parts with the Bainbridge Players. She decided to stay and performed for the next several years with the Federal Theater and began being featured on radio soap operas. She was also a writer, specializing in comedic monologues. She met actor Lester Burton Podewell (1907-1998) in the Eugene O'Neill play, The Straw, in which they both had roles. They married later that year in 1937. Many of her early monologues were written for his performances, however she wrote many character impersonations for her own one woman shows. For five years she played Matilda Pendleton on radio's Ma Perkins. Following that experience she played Kitty Keene on the radio series by that name. During the 1950's on Stud Terkel's Stud's Place live TV show in Chicago she played Gracie the waitress. Her husband, Lester Podewell, was among the diner's clientele. She died following a lengthy illness on July 24, 1999 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Richard Stolley was born on 3 October 1928 in Pekin, Illinois, USA. He was married to Lise Hilboldt and Anne Shawber. He died on 16 June 2021 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Molly Glynn (6/14/1968 - 9/6/2014) was a well-known Chicago stage actress who also played several roles in film and television, including a recurring role as an ER doctor on the television series Chicago Fire at the time of her death. Born and raised in Hartford, CT to William E. Glynn (Mayor of Hartford, 1961-1965) and Jacquelyn Mullaney Glynn, she was the youngest of five children. She graduated from The Watkinson School and Tufts University, and spoke several languages.

Glynn died on September 6, 2014 from injuries sustained when a tree fell on her while bike riding with her husband, Joe Foust on September 5. They were on the North Branch Trail in Erickson Woods, suburban Chicago, when a sudden storm swept through; wind gusts in the area were over 70 miles per hour (110 km/h). She is survived by two sons from her first marriage to Kristian Hammond.

Pierre Andre was born on 25 November 1899 in Duluth, Saint Louis County, Minnesota, USA. He was an actor, known for My Wild Irish Rose (1947). He died on 21 July 1962 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Hans Wurman was born on 21 January 1922 in Vienna, Austria. He was a composer, known for Bog (1979), The Gift of the Magi (1980) and Non plus ultra (1994). He died on 27 November 2001 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Robert May was born on 27 July 1905 in Indiantown, Illinois, USA. He was a writer, known for Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie (1998), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer & the Island of Misfit Toys (2001). He was married to Virginia and Evelyn. He died on 11 August 1976 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Rachel Stephens was born on 29 October 1930 in Fairfield, Illinois, USA. She was an actress, known for Richie Rich (1994), Desk Set (1957) and Bigger Than Life (1956). She was married to Dennis Sook. She died on 14 December 2018 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Gerrit Dangremond was born in 1947. He was a cinematographer, known for The Negotiator (1998), Courage Under Fire (1996) and Backdraft (1991). He died on 16 December 2021 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Adrienne Kroell was born on 13 December 1892 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She was an actress, known for The Royal Box (1914), Subterfuge (1912) and The Pink Opera Cloak (1913). She died on 2 October 1949 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Andrew M. Costikyan was born on 10 October 1922. He was a cinematographer, known for Bananas (1971), Ski Troop Attack (1960) and Beast from Haunted Cave (1959). He died on 10 October 2012 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Ed Graham Jr. was born on 15 December 1928 in New York, USA. He was a director and producer, known for Linus the Lionhearted (1964), The Shooting of Dan McGrew (1965) and Funny Is Funny (1966). He died on 20 September 2018 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

Noah Korman was born in October 1991. Noah is known for D. Wade Life Unexpected (2020). Noah died on 1 March 2021 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.

American novelist Emerson Hough was born in Newton, IA, in 1857. After graduating from Newton High School in 1875 he attended the University of Iowa, attaining a bachelor's degree in philosophy in 1880. He later studied law and was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1882, which was also the year in which he had his first work published--an article in "Forest and Stream" titled "Far From the Madding Crowd".

Moving to White Oaks, NM, he opened a law practice there and also wrote for the local newspaper, "The Golden Era". He returned to Newton 18 months later due to his mother's illness, where he wrote "The Story of the Outlaw: A Study of the Western Desperado". Among the outlaws and lawmen covered in the book were Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. When Garrett killed Billy in New Mexico, Hough moved back there and struck up a friendship with Garrett.

Hough moved around the country working for various newspapers. In 1899 he was hired as western editor for "Forest and Stream" magazine. The publisher of that publication, George Bird Grinnell, was a noted conservationist--he founded the Audubon Society--and Hough was an enthusiastic adherent of that movement. "Forest and Stream" assigned him to survey Yellowstone Natonal Park in the winter of 1893, providing him with a guide and arranging for a military escort from Fort Yellowstone to accompany them. Hough's survey revealed that, among other things, the park's buffalo herd, which was thought to number close to 1000, was barely 100, mainly due to poaching. Hough's revelations resulted in many eastern newspapers taking up the anti-poaching cause, and in 1894, due largely to Hough's efforts, the US Congress passed a law making poaching in national parks a criminal offense, which up to that time it wasn't. Hough and others also lobbied for the creation of a national park system, and the National Park Service was eventually created in 1916.

Hough had his first novel, "The Mississippi Bubble", published in 1902, which became a best-seller. Many novels followed, all set in the west and fiercely protective of the land and its people, often railing against the moneyed interests that wished to exploit them. To that end he worked on the presidential campaign of Theodore Roosevelt in the 1916 elections. During World War I he served as a captain in the US Army's intelligence service.

He died in Evanston, IL, in 1923, shortly after seeing the premiere of The Covered Wagon (1923), an epic film based on his 1922 best-selling novel of the same name.