DETROIT / A living lexicon / ¼

Famous Detroiters

People who were born here, moved here or built their careers in Detroit: musicians, carmakers, athletes, writers, inventors, civil-rights leaders and a few notorious names. With their dates, their Detroit story and the places where they lived, worked and played, closed ones included.

1,940 famous people
366 Detroit places
17 fields

Hungarian ties 22 Detroiters with Hungarian ties →

5 people

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Film & TV · born 1968Danny Jacobsactor, voice actor, comedianDetroit-born voice of King Julien in The Penguins of Madagascar, who ran the Gem and Century Theatres in downtown Detroit in the early 2000s.Born hereGrew up here

Film & TV · born 1966Walter Emanuel Jonesactor, martial artist, dancer, singerThe original Black Ranger, Zack Taylor, of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, born and raised in Detroit.Born hereGrew up here

Film & TV · 1910–2005Mary Jacksoncharacter actressMilford-born character actress, Miss Emily Baldwin of The Waltons, who stayed close to her Oakland County village and is buried there.Born hereGrew up here

Film & TV · born 1962John Marshall JonesactorDetroit-born actor best known as Floyd Henderson, the widowed father on the sitcom Smart Guy.Born hereGrew up here

Press & broadcasting · 1906–1975James Jewellradio director, producer, actorCorktown-raised WXYZ dramatic director who helped shape The Lone Ranger, chose its William Tell Overture theme and gave Tonto the word 'kemo sabe'.Born hereGrew up here

The lexicon keeps growing. Every entry lists its sources at the bottom. Dates were checked against Wikidata and Wikipedia. The texts are our own. Famous people's places among the sights ↗

Famous Detroiters

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