The 15 Most Famous People Born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin ⋆ SprawlTag.com

Eau Claire has produced notable figures in music, sports, politics, journalism, film, and professional wrestling. The Wisconsin city is especially known today for its strong musical identity. Several people born there went on to national or international careers. This countdown ranks 15 famous people born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

15. Mary Brunner (1943–)

*Brunner became one of Eau Claire’s most notorious native-born figures.*

Few Eau Claire natives became known for reasons as dark as Mary Brunner. Born in the city, she joined Charles Manson’s circle during the 1960s. Brunner was present during the 1969 killing of musician Gary Hinman. Her connection to the Manson case kept her name in accounts of the infamous group.

14. Mike Kappus (1950–)

*Kappus built a respected career representing major blues artists.*

Mike Kappus spent much of his career helping other musicians succeed. Born in Eau Claire, he founded the influential Rosebud Agency in 1976. His clients included John Lee Hooker, Robert Cray, and other prominent musicians. Kappus entered the Blues Hall of Fame in 2014.

13. Stanley Blystone (1894–1956)

*Blystone appeared across an enormous stretch of early Hollywood history.*

Hundreds of movie appearances made Stanley Blystone a familiar face in classic Hollywood. Born in Eau Claire, he usually worked in supporting roles. His credits included Charlie Chaplin’s Modern Times and numerous Three Stooges shorts. Blystone became one of Hollywood’s most prolific character actors.

12. Mary Theisen-Lappen (1990–)

*Theisen-Lappen lifted her way from Wisconsin to the Olympic stage.*

An unusual path eventually carried Mary Theisen-Lappen to the Olympic weightlifting stage. Born in Eau Claire, she became one of America’s leading heavyweight lifters. She earned silver at the 2023 World Weightlifting Championships. Theisen-Lappen then represented the United States at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

11. Howard “Cub” Buck (1892–1966)

*Buck became part of professional football during its earliest decades.*

Long before the NFL became a modern sports giant, Cub Buck was already playing professional football. Born in Eau Claire, he competed during the sport’s formative years. Buck spent several seasons with the Green Bay Packers after earlier playing with Jim Thorpe. He later entered the Packers Hall of Fame.

10. Kim Severson (1961–)

*Severson turned food and cultural reporting into an award-winning journalism career.*

Reporting on food and culture became Kim Severson’s route to national recognition. Born in Eau Claire, she eventually joined The New York Times. Her work earned four James Beard journalism awards. Severson also contributed to reporting recognized with the newspaper’s 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

9. Jake McCabe (1993–)

*McCabe built a long NHL career after starring internationally for Team USA.*

A strong defensive game helped Jake McCabe build staying power in professional hockey. Born in Eau Claire, he developed into an NHL defenseman. McCabe has played for Buffalo, Chicago, and Toronto during his career. He also captained the United States to World Junior Championship gold in 2013.

8. Geoffrey Keezer (1970–)

*Keezer became an internationally respected pianist after an unusually early breakthrough.*

At only 18, Geoffrey Keezer joined Art Blakey’s legendary Jazz Messengers. The Eau Claire-born pianist later performed with major figures across jazz and popular music. His career stretched from clubs and concert halls to acclaimed recordings. Keezer eventually added a Grammy Award to his résumé.

7. Steve Gunderson (1951–)

*Gunderson represented western Wisconsin in Congress for sixteen years.*

Congress became a long-term destination for Steve Gunderson after his early political rise in Wisconsin. Born in Eau Claire, he entered the U.S. House in 1981. Gunderson represented Wisconsin through eight consecutive terms. He remained in Congress until leaving office in 1997.

6. Curt Boettcher (1944–1987)

*Boettcher helped create some of the 1960s’ most ambitious harmony-driven pop.*

Rich vocal harmonies and ambitious studio work defined Curt Boettcher’s musical reputation. Born in Eau Claire, he worked as a singer, songwriter, arranger, and producer. His projects included the Millennium and Sagittarius. Boettcher later became recognized as an important influence on sunshine pop.

5. Peter Anderson (1942–)

*Anderson earned one of Hollywood’s highest honors for technical filmmaking innovation.*

Behind some of Hollywood’s technical advances was Eau Claire native Peter Anderson. He built a career in cinematography, visual effects, and specialized imaging. Anderson worked extensively with 3D and large-format filmmaking. The Academy later honored him with its prestigious Gordon E. Sawyer Award.

4. Roderick Strong (1983–)

*Strong became one of Eau Claire’s most successful professional wrestlers.*

Ring of Honor helped establish Roderick Strong as a major name in professional wrestling. Born in Eau Claire, he eventually captured the promotion’s world championship. Strong later competed prominently in WWE’s NXT brand and All Elite Wrestling. His career has stretched across several major wrestling promotions.

3. Paul Menard (1980–)

*Menard captured one of NASCAR’s signature races at Indianapolis.*

One victory stands above the rest in Paul Menard’s long NASCAR career. The Eau Claire native won the 2011 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis. He competed for years at stock-car racing’s highest level. Menard remained a regular NASCAR Cup Series driver for more than a decade.

2. Brad Radke (1972–)

*Radke became one of the Minnesota Twins’ most dependable pitchers.*

For 12 seasons, Brad Radke was a steady presence in the Minnesota Twins rotation. Born in Eau Claire, he spent his entire MLB career with Minnesota. Radke won 20 games during the 1997 season. He finished with 148 victories and an MLB All-Star selection.

1. Justin Vernon (1981–)

*Vernon carried an Eau Claire-born musical career onto the international stage.*

Eau Claire became closely tied to Justin Vernon’s musical identity as his career expanded internationally. Born in the city, he created the acclaimed Bon Iver project. Bon Iver won Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album. Vernon also became a prominent songwriter, producer, and collaborator across modern music.