The best fictional Chicagoans from books, TV and film

He's six foot four, he's a gambler and he's the baddest guy in this whole dang town, so look out for that .32 in his pocket.

The heroine of this coming-of-age novel doesn't exactly have the rosiest big-city experiences, but her perseverance and determination to help the members of her community make her an inspiration.

Every big city needs a good pair of buddy cops and these two make hunting a violent drug lord look like good, quirky fun. And while a winter vacation to Key West tempts them to move away, in the end they can't help but stay in Chicago—where they can engage in high-speed car chases on the El tracks.

Named for the cofounder of the Black Panthers, Huey wages his own revolution, one that involves hilariously ranting about modern-day society and black culture, especially if it involves Vivica Fox.

The embarrassment of her husband's infidelity could have crushed Alicia, but instead she seized the opportunity to revitalize her law career. Now she's the founding partner of a new startup law firm and may even be in line to take her hubby's old job as the State's Attorney.

The scrappy Back of the Yards Gallaghers are always great sources of laughter and tears. This tough and clever big brother and sister duo are always prepared to sacrifice what they want for the good of their younger siblings.

Before selling his soul to Mephisto to save his stepfather from cancer, stunt cyclist Johnny Blaze was a kid from Waukegan. Yep, Marvel Comics' flaming skull of vengeance is from the far North Shore. If only Nicolas Cage had laid a thick Chicago accent atop his performance.

These guys aren't the amateur con men who hustle you for money on the train. No, these two manage to rustle up a small army of swindlers to put together a fake off-track betting parlor. Keep your wallets close around these boys.

In the second of Bob Newhart's four eponymous TV shows, the comic legend starred as a Chicago psychologist. Hartley subsequently dreamed an entire second series, Newhart, as revealed in one of television's most famous finales.

He may be an Academy Award–winning multihyphenate now, but it's his turn as County General's lady-killing pediatrician that made George Clooney a household name.