The following list includes notable people who were born or have lived in Harvey, Illinois. For a similar list organized alphabetically by last name, see the category page People from Harvey, Illinois.

• Nina Chanel Abney (1982– ), painter
• Ivan Albright (1897–1983), magic realist, painter, and artist
• Paris Barclay (1956– ), two-time Emmy-winning television director and producer^{[citation needed]}
• Michael Boatman (1964–), actor and writer^{[citation needed]}
• Damarr Brown, James Beard Award-winning chef^[1]
• Ed Cassidy (1923–2012), rock and jazz drummer, member of Spirit
• The Dells (1952– ), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singing group started at Thornton High School in Harvey
• Tom Dreesen (1942– ), stand-up comedian
• Nelsan Ellis (1978–2017), actor and playwright
• Lupe Fiasco (1982– ), rapper
• Edward Page Gaston (1868–1956), journalist and temperance activist
• Lucy Page Gaston (1860–1924), anti-tobacco activist
• LaRoyce Hawkins (1988– ), actor, Chicago P.D.
• Bill Hayes (1925–2024), actor and singer
• Kevin Huizenga (1977– ), cartoonist
• J. B. Hutto (1926–1983), musician in Blues Hall of Fame
• Syleena Johnson (1976– ), Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter
• Sharon Lewis (1952– ), blues vocalist
• VaShawn Mitchell (1974– ), gospel singer
• KeKe Palmer (1993– ), Emmy-winning actress and musician
• Dandrell Scott (1984– ), rapper and voiceover actor^[2]
• Willie Taylor (1981– ), singer, member of DAY26
• Newton Thornburg (1929–2011), novelist and screenwriter
• Nick Vincent (1958– ), musician and composer
• Mark Weiser (1952–1999), computer scientist, drummer of Severe Tire Damage
• Steven Whitehurst (1967– ), author
• Jaboukie Young-White (1994– ), stand-up comedian and writer
• Danitra Vance , (1954-1994) died of Breast Cancer, actress and comedian was an alum of SNL attended Thornton High

• Flora Ciarlo (1936– ), member of the Illinois House of Representatives; born in Harvey^[3]
• Frederic R. DeYoung (1875–1934), served as a judge on the Illinois Supreme Court, Superior Court of Cook County, and the original Circuit Court of Cook County, and served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives^[4]
• William E. McVey (1885–1958), member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois's 4th congressional district; while in Congress, he resided at 15616 Lexington Avenue^[5]

• Louis Tylka (1970– ), born in Harvey, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria, Illinois (2022– ), previously coadjutor bishop of Peoria (2020–2022)

• Lou Boudreau (1917–2001), Hall of Fame shortstop for the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox; manager and broadcaster^[6]
• Jeff Duncan (1978– ), outfielder for the New York Mets
• John Ely (1986– ), pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Justin Huisman (1979– ), pitcher for the Kansas City Royals
• Garrett Jones (1981– ), player for the Minnesota Twins and Pittsburgh Pirates
• Eric Knott (1974– ), pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Montreal Expos
• Don Robertson (1930–2014), right fielder for the Chicago Cubs
• Pete Stanicek (1963– ), second baseman and left fielder for the Baltimore Orioles
• Dizzy Trout (1915–1972), pitcher for 1945 World Series champion Detroit Tigers; died in Harvey

• Jim Ard (1948– ), basketball player for Boston Celtics; attended Thornton High in Harvey
• Lloyd Batts (1951– ), basketball player for University of Cincinnati; attended Thornton High in Harvey
• Leon Clark (1943– ), basketball player; attended Thornton High in Harvey
• Eddy Curry (1982– ), center for four NBA teams
• Kevin Duckworth (1964–2008), center for five NBA teams
• Melvin Ely (1978– ), center and power forward for five NBA teams; NBA champion (2007); born in Harvey
• Mustapha Farrakhan, Jr. (1988– ), basketball player; grandson of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan
• Reggie Hamilton (1989– ), basketball player
• Ariel McDonald (1972– ), basketball player; 2000 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP; former Slovenian national player

• Ted Albrecht (1954– ), lineman for Chicago Bears
• Ed Beinor (1917–1991), tackle for 1942 NFL champion Washington Redskins
• Antwaan Randle El (1979– ), wide receiver and punt returner for Super Bowl XL champion Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New England Patriots; attended Thornton High in Harvey
• Barry Gardner (1976– ), linebacker for Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and New England Patriots
• Richard Johnson (1963– ), All-American cornerback at University of Wisconsin–Madison and with Houston Oilers
• Jim Smith (1955– ), wide receiver for Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Raiders; two-time Super Bowl champion
• Tai Streets (1977– ), wide receiver for San Francisco 49ers; attended Thornton High in Harvey

• Dana Schoenfield (1953– ), swimmer, 1972 Olympic silver medalist; born in Harvey