Famous actor and comedian Bill Murray was born in Wilmette in 1950. Murray began his stand-up career at the famous Second City comedy club in Chicago after being invited to attend the club by his older brother, Brian Murray.

Soon after he joined Second City, Murray was recruited to join “Saturday Night Live” by another famous Illinois comedian, John Belushi. Murray joined “Saturday Night Live” in its second year, making him one of the show’s earliest stars. He worked as a cast member for three seasons from 1977 until 1980.

Murray gained national attention in the 1980s by starring in multiple blockbuster hits, including “Ghostbusters” in 1984, earning him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Comedian or Musical.

Murray currently lives in St. Augustine, Florida, where he owns a restaurant appropriately named Caddyshack.

Learn more:
Bill Murray IMDb Profile
Bill Murray’s complete biography

Today is National Hot Dog Day, celebrating the iconic American summer food. In honor of National Hot Dog Day, several restaurant chains are offering free or reduced-priced hot dogs, including 7-Eleven, Pilot Flying J gas stations and Sonic Drive-Ins.

In the Chicagoland area and looking for a great hot dog? Be sure and stop by Portillo’s for a Chicago-style hot dog. In Springfield? Check out Cozy Dog Drive In, which claims to be the birthplace of the corndog.

Learn more:
Here’s Where To Get A Free Hot Dog On National Hot Dog Day, July 23 – HuffingtonPost.com

Citing a low cost of doing business and high education attainment levels of local residents, Springfield was recently ranked the 16th Best Place for Business and Careers by Forbes.com. The annual study looked at 12 metrics for determining rankings, including job growth, business and living costs, income growth, educational attainment and projected economic growth.

Illinois cities also on the list include Bloomington (47th), Champaign (73rd), Decatur (102nd), Kankakee (105th) and Danville (173rd).

Learn more:
The Best Small Places for Business and Careers – Forbes.com

Robin Williams was born in Chicago’s St. Luke’s Hospital on July 21, 1951.

Although his family hailed from Mississippi, including a grandfather who was a former senator and governor there, Williams attended both elementary school and a portion of junior high in Illinois. His father, a senior automotive executive for the Ford Motor Company, was transferred from Illinois to Michigan in 1963, setting Williams on a path that would eventually lead to California and stardom.

Williams was famous for many characters, including the alien Mork from Ork in the ABC sitcom “Mork and Mindy” and the Genie in the Disney film “Aladdin.”

While known mainly for his comedic talents, Williams was nominated numerous times for his dramatic work, including nominations for Best Actor as the Army disc jockey Adrian Cronauer in “Good Morning, Vietnam” and as English professor John Keating in “Dead Poets Society.” Williams won the Best Supporting Actor Award for his performance as Sean Maguire in “Good Will Hunting.”

Learn more:
To learn more about the life & work of Robin Williams, please visit his website
Click here for a comprehensive list of his works on IMDb

Judy Chicago, born Judith Sylvia Cohen, is a well-respected artist and activist. Her art has been displayed throughout the world, from the U.S. and Canada to Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Chicago’s work reflects feminist activism that transcends the art world. Perhaps her most well-known piece is “The Dinner Party,” an art instillation that consists of 39 table settings, along with 999 names of women who have made a mark on history, drawing attention to often-overlooked women figures. The piece, which was executed between 1974 and 1979, went to 16 exhibitions in six countries. It now resides at the Brooklyn Museum as the centerpiece of the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art.

Chicago legally changed her last name in 1970 as a way of “divesting herself of all names imposed upon her through male social dominance.” Her career has covered five decades, leading to multiple publications and a worldwide following. 

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Want to learn more about Judy Chicago? Visit her website
Judy Chicago Biography