Law · 1857–1938Clarence Darrowdefense attorneyFamed Chicago defense lawyer who came to Detroit in 1925 to defend Dr. Ossian Sweet and ten others, winning a landmark civil rights case.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.
- 664 famous people
- 66 Detroit places
- 13 fields
Field
Connection
Born in
A–Z (family name)
24 people
Clear filtersLaw · 1857–1938Clarence Darrowdefense attorneyFamed Chicago defense lawyer who came to Detroit in 1925 to defend Dr. Ossian Sweet and ten others, winning a landmark civil rights case.
Literature · 1940–2015Wayne Dyerself-help author, motivational speaker, psychologistBest-selling self-help author of Your Erroneous Zones who spent part of his childhood in an east-side Detroit orphanage and earned three degrees at Wayne State.
Visual art · 1924–2013Arthur C. Dantoart critic, philosopher, professorInfluential philosopher of art and longtime critic for The Nation who grew up in Detroit and studied art and history at Wayne University.
Auto industry · 1925–2005John DeLoreanautomotive engineer and executive, founder of DeLorean Motor CompanyDetroit-born GM maverick who created the Pontiac GTO, ran Chevrolet, then built the stainless-steel DeLorean made famous by Back to the Future.
Auto industry · 1861–1947William C. Durantfounder of General Motors, co-founder of ChevroletFlint carriage king who founded General Motors, co-founded Chevrolet in Detroit and ordered the giant GM headquarters on West Grand Boulevard.
Politics · 1926–2019John Dingellpolitician, lawyerDearborn Democrat who represented Detroit and its western and Downriver suburbs for 59 years, the longest tenure in the history of Congress.
Visual art · 1821–1872Robert S. Duncansonlandscape and portrait painterThe first internationally known African American painter; he grew up in Monroe, Michigan, painted portraits in Detroit in the 1840s and died here in 1872.
Music · 1941–2022Lamont Doziersongwriter, record producer, singerThe Dozier of Holland–Dozier–Holland, the Detroit songwriting team that wrote and produced dozens of Motown hits for the Supremes, Four Tops and Martha and the Vandellas.
Auto industry · 1868–1920Horace Dodgemachinist, automobile manufacturer, co-founder of Dodge BrothersThe engineering half of the Dodge Brothers, who supplied Ford's first engines, built Dodge Main in Hamtramck and helped create Orchestra Hall.
Auto industry · 1864–1920John Dodgemachinist, automobile manufacturer, co-founder of Dodge BrothersThe business mind of the Dodge Brothers, who turned a Detroit machine shop into one of America's biggest automakers.
Music · 1927–2024Barbara Danefolk, blues and jazz singer, guitarist, record producer, activistDetroit-born singer whom critic Leonard Feather called Bessie Smith in stereo; she started out singing at Detroit factory gates and union halls.
Music · born 1974Shaggy 2 Doperapper, DJ, record label co-founderThe second half of Insane Clown Posse, a metro Detroit native who co-founded Psychopathic Records and the Juggalo subculture.
Music · born 1989Kash Dollrapper, actressDetroit rapper who built a following in local clubs, signed with Republic Records and scored with “Ice Me Out” before moving into acting.
Music · born 199442 DuggrapperEast-side Detroit rapper who signed with Yo Gotti and Lil Baby and scored a top-ten hit with “We Paid” in 2020.
Music · born 1978Dwelesinger, rapper, songwriter, producerWest-side Detroit neo-soul singer discovered by Slum Village and J Dilla, known for his vocals on Kanye West's "Flashing Lights" and "Power".The lexicon keeps growing. Every entry lists its sources at the bottom. Dates were checked against Wikidata and Wikipedia. The texts are our own.