#1Famous people · Detroit
Performers stand out among the 28 famous people born in Detroit
Most widely known is Francis Ford Coppola, the American filmmaker, with articles in 102 languages. Behind the leader come Charles Lindbergh and Diana Ross. 21 of them were born between 1920 and 1969, more than in any other period. Births since 1970 account for 3 of the names.
Born here
28
notable people
Best known
Francis Ford Coppola
in 102 Wikipedia languages
First
1881
William Boeing
Youngest
1988
Lizzo
Most common field
Film, TV & Stage
13 people
Also called it home
8
notable residents
What stands out about Detroit’s famous people
★ What stands out · The best known
Born in Detroit
The three are covered in 102, 89 and 86 languages: Francis Ford Coppola, Charles Lindbergh and Diana Ross.
#1
#2Military
Charles Lindbergh
1902–1974American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist
89 Wikipedia languagesRead more ↗
#3Known for
What Detroit is known for
Detroit has 4.9× the usual share of performers.
The usual town: the share across everyone born in the towns gathered so far. Tap a field to see its people.
Through the years
When Detroit’s famous people were born
The 1930s saw the most births of any decade: 7.
Film, TV & StageMusicScience & MedicineMilitaryBusinessPolitics & LawWriting & Arts
Each dot is a person, stacked by the decade they were born.
Everyone
Everyone else born in Detroit
25 more, from 1881 to 1988.
Steve Ballmer
born 1956American businessman, former chief executive officer of Microsoft
BusinessWikipedia ↗
Ralph Bunche
1904–1971Diplomat, educator, civil rights activist and the first African American Nobel Peace Prize winner
Politics & LawWikipedia ↗
Ben Carson
born 1951Neurosurgeon and former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Writing & ArtsWikipedia ↗
No one matches both filters.
A chosen home
Also called Detroit home
Notable people Wikidata lists as living in Detroit, though born elsewhere.
Shelton Brooks
1886–1975Canadian-born African American composer of popular music and jazz
MusicWikipedia ↗
The town’s pick
Town Square →Who’s the most famous person from Detroit?
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Next door
Famous people from the towns next door
8 towns around it have someone on record.
From Wikidata and Wikipedia: people whose birthplace is Detroit and whose English Wikipedia article agrees, ranked by how many Wikipedia languages cover each person. People known mainly for crimes, and adult performers, aren’t listed. “The usual town” = everyone born in the towns gathered so far.
Photo credits (28)
- Francis Ford Coppola: The White House, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Charles Lindbergh: Harris & Ewing, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Diana Ross: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alice Cooper: Ross Halfin, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Steve Ballmer: Martin Olsson (username 'mnemo' on en/sv wikipedia and commons, [email protected])., CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ralph Bunche: U.S. Information Agency., CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Richard Kiel: dejahthoris from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Lily Tomlin: U.S. Department of State, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Robert J. Shiller: Robert_Shiller_-_World_Economic_Forum_Annual_Meeting_2012.jpg: World Economic Forum from Cologny, Switzerland derivative work: César, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Piper Laurie: Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Casey Kasem: Alan Light, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Glenn Frey: Steve Alexander, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jack White: Erin Mc, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Xzibit: svenwerk, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Roger Corman: Angela George, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kim Hunter: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Robert Wagner: ABC Television, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- William Boeing: Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ben Carson: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Paul Milgrom: Eva Meyersson Milgrom, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Rosa Parks: John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Aretha Franklin: Atlantic Records (Life time: Published before 1978 without a copyright notice), Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Joyce Carol Oates: Per A.J. Andersson, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Doug Weight: Dan4th Nicholas, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Nick Nicholson: Wanda, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jordan Oesterle: Connormah, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Antonio Cipriano: HM2021, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- James Damman: Public domain, Wikimedia Commons