Music · 1902–1988
Son Houseblues singer, slide guitaristDelta blues master who shaped Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters, spent his last years in Detroit and is buried at Mount Hazel Cemetery under a monument paid for by local fans.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.
- 1,949 famous people
- 516 Detroit places
- 14 fields
Hungarian ties 31 Detroiters with Hungarian ties →
Origin and citizenship
Field
Connection
Born in
A–Z (family name)
28 people
Clear filtersMusic · 1902–1988Son Houseblues singer, slide guitaristDelta blues master who shaped Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters, spent his last years in Detroit and is buried at Mount Hazel Cemetery under a monument paid for by local fans.
Science & invention · 1904–2007
Rudolf Arnheimart and film theorist, psychologistGerman-born theorist of art and visual perception, author of Art and Visual Perception, who spent his last three decades in Ann Arbor and taught at the University of Michigan.
Politics · 1907–1995George W. Romneyautomobile executive, governor of MichiganDetroit auto-industry spokesman and American Motors chief who became Michigan's governor (1963–1969) and later U.S. housing secretary.Eddie Tolansprinter, track and field athleteCass Tech-raised sprinter nicknamed the 'Midnight Express' who won double gold in the 100 and 200 meters at the 1932 Olympics, becoming the first Black man to be named the world's fastest human.Ed Gordonathletics competitor, later science teacher1932 Olympic long jump gold medalist who settled in Detroit later in life, earned a delayed college degree at Wayne State University, and taught science there until his death.
Science & invention · 1903–1981Rensis Likertsocial psychologistPsychologist behind the Likert scale and founder of the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research in Ann Arbor.Clarence PinkstonOlympic diver and diving coachTwo-time Olympic diving gold medalist who spent nearly three decades as aquatics director and diving coach at the Detroit Athletic Club, training national and Olympic champions.
Auto industry · 1903–1956Preston Tuckerautomobile entrepreneur and designerLincoln Park–raised car dreamer behind the futuristic Tucker 48, whose story became the 1988 film Tucker: The Man and His Dream.John DeardenCatholic cardinal, Archbishop of DetroitArchbishop of Detroit for 21 years who brought the Second Vatican Council's reforms home and pressed the church to confront racial injustice.
Film & TV · 1903–1954Tom Tylerfilm actor, weightlifterHamtramck-raised B-Western star and screen Captain Marvel, who came home to Hamtramck to die and is buried in Detroit's Mount Olivet Cemetery.Alexander H. SmithmycologistLeading American mushroom expert who spent his entire career at the University of Michigan Herbarium and wrote popular guides to Michigan's mushrooms.
Film & TV · 1900–1988Julanne Johnstonsilent film actress, dancerSilent-screen actress, the princess opposite Douglas Fairbanks in The Thief of Bagdad, who left Hollywood, married and lived out her life in Detroit and Grosse Pointe.
Sports · 1908–1963Horton Smithprofessional golferWinner of the first Masters Tournament in 1934 and again in 1936, who was head professional at the Detroit Golf Club from 1946 until his death.Virgil Exnerautomotive designer, creator of Chrysler's Forward LookAnn Arbor–born designer whose Forward Look gave Chrysler its soaring 1955–1963 tailfin cars and set off a styling race with GM.
Sports · 1903–1993Charlie Gehringerbaseball player, second basemanMichigan-born Hall of Fame second baseman who played his whole 19-year career with the Tigers; his No. 2 is retired and his statue stands at Comerica Park.
Zora Arkus-Duntovautomotive engineer, Corvette chief engineerBelgian-born, Russian-raised engineer who came to Detroit in 1953 and turned the Corvette into a genuine performance car.
Larry Aurieice hockey right wingerSmall, tough right winger who played eleven seasons for Detroit's NHL club, won two Stanley Cups and had his No. 6 retired by owner James Norris in 1938.
Business & brands · 1908–2005Max Fisherbusinessman, philanthropist, presidential adviserOil businessman who came to Detroit in 1930, built Aurora Gasoline and Speedway, led the city's Jewish community and civic renewal efforts, and gave his name to the Detroit Symphony's music center.Baba RexhebSufi dervish leader (Bektashi baba)Albanian Bektashi Sufi master who founded the First Albanian Bektashi Tekke in America in Taylor, just outside Detroit, in 1954; his shrine there is visited by pilgrims.Brace Beemerradio actor and announcerWXYZ announcer and the best-known radio voice of the Lone Ranger (1941–1954), who lived on a horse ranch in Oakland County and is buried in Troy.
Visual art · 1908–1998Marshall FrederickssculptorSculptor of The Spirit of Detroit, the city's best-loved statue, who lived and worked in the Birmingham area for more than sixty years.Turkey Stearnesbaseball player, center fielderHall of Fame slugger of the Negro-league Detroit Stars who made Detroit his home for more than fifty years; Hamtramck Stadium's field bears his name.
Architecture & design · 1905–1979Pipsan Saarinen Swansoninterior, textile and industrial designerFinnish-American designer, daughter of Eliel Saarinen, who spent her working life at Cranbrook and in Bloomfield Hills designing interiors, textiles and furniture.Washboard Willieblues washboard player, singer, bandleaderWashboard specialist who led the Super Suds of Rhythm in Detroit bars for three decades and toured Europe with fellow bluesmen in 1973.Earle Graserradio actorDetroit-raised Wayne University graduate who was the voice of the Lone Ranger on WXYZ from 1933 until his death in a Farmington car crash in 1941.Paul McPharlinpuppeteer, puppet maker, historian of puppetryDetroit puppeteer who staged some twenty productions in the city (1928–1937), founded the Marionette Fellowship of Detroit and co-founded the Puppeteers of America.Sunnie Wilsonnightclub and hotel owner, promoterParadise Valley businessman and one of its first unofficial mayors, who ran the giant Forest Club and the Mark Twain Hotel and was Joe Louis's close friend and partner.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 ↗
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