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The man who built the House of Mouse has been declared the top entertainer in Illinois history. Voters in the Illinois Top 200 project put Walt Disney at No. 1, followed by comedians Bob Newhart, Jack Benny and Richard Pryor.

The list of top Illinois entertainers also includes Oprah Winfrey and behind-the-scenes figures in sports, music, movies and prime time television.

The Top 200 project lets Illinoisans vote every two weeks on the state's most inspiring leaders, greatest inventions, top businesses and much more. By the state's bicentennial on Dec. 3, voters will have chosen 10 favorites in 20 different categories — the Illinois Top 200.

Voting in the next category, top scientists, is underway at www.IllinoisTop200.com. The nominees include physicist Enrico Fermi, astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, geneticist James Watson and chemist Allene Jeanes.

Here are the top 10 Illinois entertainers chosen in online voting:

• Walt Disney — Disney was born in Chicago, drew cartoons at McKinley High School and studied at what is now the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He helped create the American animation industry and, later, the theme park business. As a film producer, he holds the record for most Academy Awards, with 22 wins and 59 nominations.