American cultural heroes

America has produced a lot of great cultural heroes. Musicians , writers, actors & so on.

I've chosen 3 that I admire. I could choose 33 but that would be greedy

#1 James Cagney. Even when he was the crook, he drew you to him and he was on top of the world
#2 John Lee Hooker. Great Bluesman & storyteller. Told it how it is in the streets, bars & love. House Rent Blues & a lack of money
#3 Norman Rockwell. He saw and drew people in the most ordinary but also the most important situations. Everyday life from baseball to homecomings

Why these ? Cos I feel a closeness to what they were telling me about life as lived by the World & His Wife, Mr & Mrs Joe Public. Good days, bad days

Have you got 3 cultural heroes and why do they rate.