The list of people from Detroit includes those who were born, have lived, or worked in Detroit, Michigan, and in Metro Detroit.
Activists Octavia Williams Bates Viola Liuzzo Gin'nnah Muhammad Rosa Parks Betty Shabazz Jalonne White-Newsome Malcolm X
Artists and designers
Architects Charles N. Agree C. Howard Crane Joseph Nathaniel French Francis E. Griffin Nathan Johnson Beverly Hannah Jones Albert Kahn Roger Margerum Wirt C. Rowland Bernard C. Wetzel Donald F. White Minoru Yamasaki
Ceramists Horace Caulkins Tom Lollar Diana Pancioli Mary Chase Perry Stratton
Dancers Lottie "The Body" Graves
Fashion designers Tracy Reese Anna Sui John Varvatos
Painters Larry D. Alexander Ian Hornak Charles McGee Allie McGhee Gari Melchers Eric Millikin Niagara Carl Owens John Mix Stanley Carol Wald
Photographers Bill Schwab Irakly Shanidze Taro Yamasaki
Sculptors Marshall Fredericks Mike Kelley Julius T. Melchers Carl Milles Corrado Parducci Matt Paweski Richard Ritter Carlo Romanelli Edward Wagner
Textile and interior designers Carole Harris Ruth Adler Schnee
Astronauts Gregory Jarvis
Business, industry, academics, and labor
Steve Ballmer Elissa P. Benedek William E. Boeing George Gough Booth Bonnie Brennan Eli Broad Roy D. Chapin Roy D. Chapin Jr. Nina Clifford Bertrand Curtis Spitzley William Davidson Louis-Césaire Dagneau Douville de Quindre John DeLorean Horace Elgin Dodge John Francis Dodge Shel Dorf George Doundoulakis William C. Durant William R. Farrand Mark Fields Charles T. Fisher Alfred Ford Edsel Ford Edsel Ford II Henry Ford Henry Ford II William Clay Ford Jr. William Clay Ford Sr. Charles Lang Freer Dan Gilbert Elizabeth L. Gleicher Les Gold Berry Gordy Edgar Gott Tyree Guyton Arthur Hayes Frank J. Hecker Jimmy Hoffa Flora Hommel Joseph L. Hudson Christopher Ilitch Denise Ilitch Marian Ilitch Mike Ilitch Peter Karmanos Jr. Sebastian S. Kresge Henry M. Leland Charles Lindbergh Michael J. Malik Sr. Alex Manoogian Oscar F. Mayer Elijah McCoy Manuel "Matty" Moroun Alan Mulally David Overton Francis Palms Roger Penske Walter Pitts Heinz Prechter David Preston Ashley Qualls Walter Reuther Stephen M. Ross Jeffrey Sachs James E. Scripps Robert J. Shiller DePrice Taylor, community relations executive for the Kansas City Current and civic leader Art Van Elslander James Vernor Robert J. Vlasic Hiram Walker B. Joseph White Kate Williams Ralph Wilson Mark Zbikowski
Clergy and religion Solanus Casey C. L. Franklin Lucien Greaves Elijah Muhammad Wallace Fard Muhammad Jack Van Impe
Government and politics
Albert M. Bielawski (1867–1942), member of the Michigan House of Representatives James Blanchard (born 1942), U.S. representative for Michigan and governor of Michigan Suzanne Bonamici (born 1954), U.S. representative for Oregon Sonny Bono (1935–1998), U.S. representative for California Walter B. Brady, member of the Michigan House of Representatives Cora Brown (1914–1972), first African American woman elected to a state senate who was a member of the Michigan Senate Henry Billings Brown (1836–1913), justice of the Supreme Court Vern Buchanan (born 1951), U.S. representative for Florida Ella Bully-Cummings (born 1958), chief of the Detroit Police Ralph Bunche (1904–1971), Nobel Peace Prize winner and diplomat Mickey Cafagna (1943–2009), mayor of Poway, California Walter H. Campbell (1876–1944), member of the Minnesota House of Representatives Ben Carson (born 1951), secretary of Housing and Urban Development Lewis Cass (1782–1866), secretary of state and U.S. senator for Michigan Roy D. Chapin (1880–1936), secretary of Commerce J. Michelle Childs (born 1966), federal judge John Conyers (1929–2019), U.S. representative for Michigan Leon Czolgosz (1873–1901), anarchist who assassinated president William McKinley Francis X. Desnoyers (1813–1868), mayor of Green Bay, Wisconsin and member of the Wisconsin State Assembly Thomas E. Dewey (1902–1971), governor of New York Debbie Dingell (born 1953), U.S. representative for Michigan John Dingell (1926–2019), U.S. representative for Michigan John Dingell Sr. (1894–1955), U.S. representative for Michigan Gershwin A. Drain (born 1949), federal judge Keith Ellison (born 1963), U.S. representative for Minnesota and attorney general of Minnesota Jack Faxon (1936–2020), member of the Michigan Senate William Webb Ferguson (1857–1910), member of the Michigan House of Representatives Moses W. Field (1828–1889), U.S. representative for Michigan Burley Follett (1806–1877), mayor of Green Bay, Wisconsin Michael Fougere (born 1956), mayor of Regina, Saskatchewan Nathan Goodell (1798–1883), mayor of Green Bay, Wisconsin Reneé Hall (born 1971), police chief of the Dallas Police Department Albert Hammond (1883–1968), member of the Wisconsin State Assembly'Wisconsin Blue Book 1950,' Biographical Sketch of Albert Hammons, pg. 57 Tom Hayden (1939–2016), member of the California State Senate Robert J. Huber (1922–2001), U.S. representative for Michigan Tupac A. Hunter (born 1973), member of the Michigan Senate Jon A. Husted (born 1967), U.S. senator for Ohio Marilyn Jean Kelly (born 1938), chief justice of the Michigan Supreme Court Kwame Kilpatrick (born 1970), mayor of Detroit T. John Lesinski (1925–1996), member of the Michigan House of Representatives Carl Levin (1934–2021), U.S. senator for Michigan Henry W. Lord (1821–1891), U.S. representative for Michigan Alfred Lucking (1856–1929), U.S. representative for Michigan Eileen McNulty (born 1952), Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue John N. Mitchell (1913–1988), United States attorney general Frank Murphy (1890–1949), governor of Michigan and Supreme Court justice Simon J. Murphy Jr. (1851–1926), mayor of Green Bay, Wisconsin John Stoughton Newberry (1826–1887), U.S. representative for Michigan Casmer P. Ogonowski (1923–2012), member of the Michigan House of Representatives Dorothy Comstock Riley (1924–2004), judge of the Michigan Supreme Court Mitt Romney (born 1947), U.S. senator for Utah and governor of Massachusetts Henry Hastings Sibley (1811–1891), governor of Minnesota Shri Thanedar (born 1955), U.S. representative for Michigan Rashida Tlaib (born 1976), U.S. representative for Michigan Augustus B. Woodward (1774–1827), judge of Michigan Territory and Florida Territory Coleman Young (1918–1997), mayor of Detroit
Military Emma Didlake Charles Keller John Kemp Mizner Joseph P. Sanger
Movie, radio, television, and journalism
Nicole Alexander Byron Allen Tim Allen Maureen Anderman Curtis Armstrong Lucille Ball Joan Barry Josh Becker Kristen Bell Mary L. Bell Jim Bellows Elizabeth Berkley Mike Binder Selma Blair Bill Bonds Jerry Bruckheimer Ellen Burstyn Dean Cain Bruce Campbell Bill Carruthers Seymour Cassel Jessica Cauffiel Carol Christensen Art Clokey Francis Ford Coppola Roger Corman Dave Coulier Wally Cox Nicole Curtis Vondie Curtis-Hall Pam Dawber Jude Demorest Ryan Destiny Doris Dowling Wayne Dyer Dana Elcar Sherilyn Fenn Audrey Ferris Jeremy David Fisher Dann Florek Fred Foy Max Gail Sara Ganim Cyndy Garvey Marla Gibbs Robin Givhan Reagan Gomez-Preston Chuck Goudie Gael Greene Judy Greer David Alan Grier Karl Haas Norman Hackett Kirsten Haglund Chris Hansen Elisabeth Harnois Julie Harris Butch Hartman Charlie Hill Jemele Hill Ellen Hollman Telma Hopkins Royce Howes Ernie Hudson Hughes brothers (Albert and Allen Hughes) John Hughes Tom Hulce Kim Hunter Darren James Al Jean Ken Jeong Gus Johnson Walter Emanuel Jones Ella Joyce Casey Kasem Andrew Keenan-Bolger Celia Keenan-Bolger Maggie Keenan-Bolger Brian Kelly David Patrick Kelly Carrie Keranen Keegan-Michael Key Richard Kiel Michael Kinsley Jana Kramer Neil LaBute Ray Lane Piper Laurie Misty Lee Joan Leslie Lashonda Lester James Lipton Brandi Love Loni Love Robert Mac Lee Majors Dick Martin Greg Mathis Karen McDougal Antoine McKay Ed McMahon Tim Meadows S. Epatha Merkerson Nicki Micheaux Ivana Miličević Martin Milner David Robert Mitchell Kenya Moore Naima Mora Harry Morgan Michael Moriarty Bob Murawski Tariq Nasheed Vincenzo Natali Denise Nicholas George Noory Rob Paulsen George Peppard Gilda Radner Sam Raimi Ted Raimi David Ramsey Joyce Randolph Amber Rayne Diona Reasonover Della Reese Gene Reynolds Sam Richardson Tim Robinson Fred Roggin Bruce Joel Rubin Michelle Ruff Roz Ryan Pat St. John Soupy Sales Chris Savino George C. Scott Tom Selleck Dax Shepard Serena Shim Sicily Stirling Silliphant J. K. Simmons Donnie Simpson Tom Sizemore Tom Skerritt Nick Sousanis David Spade Elaine Stritch Geoff Stults George Stults William Talman Danny Thomas Marlo Thomas Lily Tomlin Courtney B. Vance Jordan Vogt-Roberts Robert Wagner Cynthia Watros Peter Werbe Billy West Rachelle Wilkos Robin Williams John Witherspoon Max Wright H.M. Wynant Lucky Yates Steven Yeun
Musicians, bands and composers
2 Sins 42 Dugg Aaliyah Geri Allen Almighty Dreadnaughtz The Amboy Dukes Anybody Killa Dorothy Ashby Juan Atkins Bad Meets Evil Anita Baker Florence Ballard Hank Ballard Ortheia Barnes Max Bendix Theodore Bendix Brendan Benson Big Herk Big Sean Bizarre The Black Dahlia Murder Blaze Ya Dead Homie Bliss 66 Blue Stahli Brainstorm Broadzilla Roy Brooks Danny Brown Kenny Burrell Donald Byrd Robert Byrne Carl Carlton Ron Carter Emilio Castillo Celldweller Cha Cha Champtown Cherrelle The Clark Sisters George Clinton Anita Cochran Alice Coltrane The Contours Alice Cooper Marshall Crenshaw D12 Dark Lotus DeBarge Warren Defever Dej Loaf Ken Delo Johnny Desmond Destroy All Monsters The Detroit Cobras Marcella Detroit David DiChiera The Dirtbombs Vinnie Dombroski Lamont Dozier The Dramatics Dwele Dennis Edwards Jango Edwards Electric Six Eminem Enchantment Esham Maria Ewing Factory 81 Abdul Fakir Henry Fambrough Fatt Father Shamari Fears Tommy Flanagan The Floaters Sean Forbes The Four Tops Aretha Franklin Erma Franklin Paul Franklin Glenn Frey Curtis Fuller The Funk Brothers Gallery Kenny Garrett Marvin Gaye Nicci Gilbert The Go King Gordy Gore Gore Girls The Gories Josh Gracin Troy Gregory Tee Grizzley Jeff Gutt Fred Hammond Roland Hanna The Hard Lessons Barry Harris Louis Hayes Joe Henderson Michael Henderson Dallas Hodge Cha Cha Hogan Brian Holland Edward Holland Jr. Major Holley House of Krazees Hush I Prevail I See Stars Insane Clown Posse J Dilla Milt Jackson Oliver Jackson Herb Jeffries JMSN Little Willie John Marv Johnson The Jones Girls JR JR Jumpsteady Ray Kamalay Kash Doll Kem Kid Rock Kina Nahru Lampkin Bettye LaVette Yusef Lateef Hugh Lawson Laura Lee Legz Diamond Lizzo Joseph LoDuca Lene Lovich Madonna Teairra Marí Martha and the Vandellas The Marvelettes Derrick May MC5 Thema "Tayma Loren" McKinney Tomo Miličević Jeff Mills The Miracles Guy Mitchell Jack Montrose Moodymann Motown Rage Alicia Myers Negative Approach Ted Nugent Norman O'Connor Bobby Ogdin One Way The Originals Ray Parker Jr. Parliament-Funkadelic Theo Parrish Daniel Passino Freda Payne Scherrie Payne Lawrence Payton Peekaboo Dave Pike Terry Pollard Iggy Pop Porcelain Black Mike Posner Proof Psychopathic Rydas Mike Quatro Suzi Quatro The Raconteurs Rare Earth Martha Reeves Karriem Riggins Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise Smokey Robinson Rockwell Sixto Rodriguez The Romantics Rosetta Pebble Frank Rosolino Diana Ross Royce Da 5'9" Rucka Rucka Ali Mitch Ryder Kevin Saunderson Search the City Bob Seger James Royce Shannon Slum Village Chad Smith Brian Southall JD Souther The Spinners Sponge Edwin Starr Sufjan Stevens