42.3301° N, 83.0462° W

DETROIT

Most Famous People Born in Detroit, United States

Notable people
3,099
Peak decade
1950s
Median birth year
1949
Most distinctive
Basket 4.6×

Motown, and everything Motown taught the rest of American music. Detroit's distinctive shelves run to basketball, baseball, hockey, and a music industry — singers, producers, novelists — that reads like the statistical fingerprint of a postwar Black working-class city that built a national sound and kept rebuilding one. Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Jack White, and Eminem all grew up inside a few miles of each other.

Through the Decades

One face per decade — the most globally famous figure born in Detroit during each.

Notable Births by Decade

Click a decade to filter the list below. Peak: 1950s with 458 notable births.

What Detroit Is Known For

Click any row to filter the list of people below.

Football is Detroit's biggest profession — 9% of all notables (290).

Detroit over-indexes on basket4.6× the global rate.

Detroit under-produces politician — only 0.6× the global rate.

  1. Football290
  2. Actor242
  3. Politician227
  4. Basket179
  5. Music158
  6. Baseball157
  7. Singer156
  8. Hockey117
  1. Basket1794.6×
  2. Baseball1574.5×
  3. Music1583.6×
  4. Producer313.5×
  5. Hockey1173.2×
  6. Novelist383.1×
  7. Boxer332.7×
  8. Singer1562.4×
  1. Politician2270.6×
  2. Writer660.7×

Profession Mix Over Time

Each band shows a profession family's share of Detroit's notable births by decade. Hover the chart for the breakdown at any decade.

175018001850190019502000
  • Sports
  • Music
  • Film & TV
  • Politics & Law
  • Writing
  • Science
  • Other
All3,099
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3,099 notable people

2401 SPORT

Ken Kal

Born 1957

Preview
2402 FOOTBALL

Rod Jones (offensive lineman)

Born 1974

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2403 ROWER

Kristine Karlson

Born 1963

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2404 POLITICIAN

Cheryl Hardcastle

Born 1961

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2405 PLAYER

Angela McGinnis

Born 1986

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2406 POLITICIAN

John F. Kelly (Michigan politician)

1949 - 2018

Preview
2407 ACTOR

Gloria Manon

1939 - 2018

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2408 BASEBALL

Eric Raich

Born 1951

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2409 FOOTBALL

Whit Tucker

-

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2410 PHOTOGRAPHER

Bill Schwab

Born 1959

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2411 GOLF

Bob Panasik

Born 1941

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2412 JOURNALIST

Williams Haynes

1886 - 1970

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2413 BASKET

Michael Gardener

Born 1981

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2414 ACTOR

Janet De Nardis

Born 1978

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2415 BASEBALL

Connie Wisniewski

1922 - 1995

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2416 HOCKEY

Peter Aubry

Born 1977

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2417 LAWYER

Denise Ilitch

Born 1955

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2418 BASKET

Kevin Melson

Born 1978

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2419 ACTOR

Michael Spellman

Born 1978

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2420 FOOTBALL

Lonnie Sanders

Born 1941

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2421 HOCKEY

Jack Jackson (ice hockey)

1925 - 2015

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2422 FOOTBALL

John Idzik Jr.

Born 1961

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2423 COMPOSER

Jake Bass

Born 1989

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2424 BUSINESS

Douglas G. Bergeron

Born 1960

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2425 POLITICIAN

Alberta Tinsley-Talabi

Born 1954

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2426 FOOTBALL

Bruce Maher

1937 - 2018

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2427 JOURNALIST

Lou Gordon (journalist)

1917 - 1977

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2428 EDUCADO

Gerardo Whelan

1927 - 2003

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2429 ATHLETIC

Allen Tolmich

1917 - 2012

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2430 LAWYER

Clark Durant

Born 1949

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2431 FOOTBALL

Doug Collins (Canadian football)

Born 1946

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2432 WRITER

Jon Winokur

Born 1947

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2433 HOCKEY

Sharon Creelman

Born 1964

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2434 HOCKEY

Harry Young

Born 1989

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2435 BASEBALL

Chuck Templeton (baseball)

1932 - 1997

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2436 SINGER

Timmy Shaw

1938 - 1984

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2437 WRESTLER

Colin Daynes

Born 1974

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2438 BASEBALL

George Williams (infielder)

1939 - 2009

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2439 POLITICIAN

Vivian Watts

Born 1940

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2440 CREATOR

Bryan Kest

Born 1964

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2441 FOOTBALL

Marlion Jackson

Born 1977

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2442 BASKET

Ryvon Covile

Born 1984

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2443 LAWYER

Elizabeth L. Gleicher

Born 1954

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2444 FOOTBALL

Jimmy Walker (footballer, born 1925)

Born 1925

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2445 FOOTBALL

Travis Roy (soccer)

Born 1974

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2446 LAWYER

Barbara McQuade

Born 1964

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2447 DESIGNER

Aaron Draplin

-

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2448 BASEBALL

Gary Taylor (baseball)

Born 1945

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2449 BASKET

Tom Domako

Born 1966

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2450 OFFICER

John D. Johnson

-

Preview
2451 POLITICIAN

John J. Considine

Born 1948

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2452 FOOTBALL

Tom Dickinson (American football)

1897 - 1999

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2453 PODCASTER

Norm Augustinus

-

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2454 FOOTBALL

Tom Saidock

1930 - 2014

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2455 OCEANOGRAPHER

Susan Avery

Born 1950

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2456 VIOLIN

Jorja Fleezanis

Born 1952

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2457 PLAYER

Ankush Mandavia

Born 1987

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2458 PLAYER

Edward Raymond Drakich

Born 1962

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2459 CARTOONIST

Stanley Berneche

Born 1947

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2460 ACTOR

Maggie Keenan-Bolger

Born 1983

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2461 BASEBALL

Vern Freiburger

1923 - 1990

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2462 GYMNAST

Wendy Hilliard

Born 1960

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2463 FOOTBALL

Skip McClendon

Born 1964

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2464 MUSIC

Paul Metzke

-

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2465 MUSIC

Greg Hopkins

Born 1946

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2466 JOURNALIST

Pat Harvey

-

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2467 FOOTBALL

Bob Clasby

Born 1960

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2468 FOOTBALL

Tommy Grant (Canadian football)

1935 - 2011

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2469 MILITAR

Fred W. Stockham

1881 - 1918

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2470 BOXER

Darrell Chambers

Born 1961

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2471 REPUBLICAN

Bill Bullard Jr.

Born 1943

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2472 LAWYER

Daniel Arshack

Born 1956

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2473 PHYSICIST

David R. Inglis

1905 - 1995

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2474 SURGEON

Estelle Ramey

1917 - 2006

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2475 LAWYER

Stewart Albert Newblatt

Born 1927

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2476 FOOTBALL

Willis Marshall

Born 1975

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2477 GENETICIST

Maria Ragland Davis

1959 - 2010

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2478 PHYSICIAN

Joseph W. Eschbach

1933 - 2007

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2479 ACADEMIC

Frederick Newberry

Born 1941

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2480 POLITICIAN

George Darany

Born 1956

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2481 SHOW

Tony Ortiz

-

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2482 REFEREE

Art Skov

1928 - 2009

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2483 ILLUSTRATOR

Greg Hildebrandt

Born 1939

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2484 POLITICIAN

Sandy Rummel

Born 1942

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2485 POTTER

John Glick

1938 - 2017

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2486 PHOTOGRAPHER

Joan Roth

Born 1942

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2487 HUSBAND

Jean Baptiste Beaubien

1787 - 1863

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2488 DIPLOMAT

Riina Ruth Kionka

Born 1960

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2489 MANAGEMENT

Maurice Schweitzer

Born 1967

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2490 ANNOUNCER

Michael Reghi

Born 1953

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2491 BASKET

Ozell Wells

Born 1977

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2492 PHILANTHROPIST

Lisette Denison Forth

1786 - 1866

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2493 BASKET

Perry Watson

Born 1950

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2494 WRITER

Glenn Barr

Born 1900

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2495 HOCKEY

Jerry Badiuk

Born 1954

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2496 POLITICIAN

Julie Plawecki

1961 - 2016

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2497 POLITICIAN

Brittney Miller

Born 1974

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2498 SPORT

Sam Nover

1942 - 2018

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2499 DRUMMER

Robert Crenshaw

-

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2500 OFFICER

John L. Piotrowski

Born 1934

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2501 EXECUTIVE

Tom Athans

Born 1961

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2502 SPORT

Alex Moyer

Born 1963

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2503 MATHEMATICIAN

George Minty

1929 - 1986

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2504 PSYCHOLOGIST

Byron Rourke

Born 1939

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2505 MUSIC

Patrick Brennan

Born 1954

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2506 FOOTBALL

Mike Weber (American football)

Born 1997

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2507 REPUBLICAN

Andrew Richner

Born 1961

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2508 SINGER

Steve Farmer (musician)

1948 - 2020

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2509 PAINTER

John Mlacak

1936 - 2014

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2510 LAWYER

Virgil C. Smith

Born 1947

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2511 ACTOR

Edward C. Gillow

Born 1948

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2512 SPORT

Stacey Allaster

Born 1963

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2513 FOOTBALL

Rick Byas

Born 1950

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2514 POLITICIAN

Garlin Gilchrist

Born 1982

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2515 BUSINESS

Mandell Berman

1917 - 2016

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2516 FOOTBALL

Clarence Chapman

Born 1953

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2517 FATHER

John A. Powell

Born 1947

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2518 BASEBALL

Tex Wisterzil

1888 - 1964

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2519 HOCKEY

Dan Newman (ice hockey)

Born 1952

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2520 ROWER

Heather Hattin

Born 1961

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2521 SINGER

Sylvester Potts

1938 - 2017

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2522 BASKET

Willie Mitchell (basketball)

Born 1975

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2523 SINGER

TaQuita Thorns

Born 1986

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2524 ACTOR

Patricia English

1931 - 2016

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2525 POLITICIAN

Mike Sullivan (Canadian politician)

Born 1952

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2526 POLITICIAN

Dennis Olshove

Born 1950

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2527 MUSIC

Ray McKinney

1931 - 2004

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2528 FILM

Jeremy David Fisher

Born 1974

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2529 SINGER

Gloria Williams

1942 - 2000

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2530 POLITICIAN

Drew Dilkens

Born 1972

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2531 FOOTBALL

Jonathan Orr

Born 1983

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2532 DESIGNER

Julie Chaiken

Born 1967

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2533 SKATER

Lee Harris (figure skater)

Born 1981

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2534 SPORT

George Blaha

Born 1945

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2535 POLITICIAN

Marsha Cheeks

Born 1956

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2536 COMEDIAN

Chris Denson (innovator)

Born 1976

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2537 WRITER

Pamela Mahoney Tsigdinos

Born 1963

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2538 BASEBALL

Joe Lafata

1921 - 2004

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2539 FOOTBALL

John Baker (defensive lineman, born 1942)

Born 1942

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2540 OFFICER

Paul L. Williams (general)

1894 - 1968

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2541 FOOTBALL

Howie Auer

1908 - 1985

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2542 WRESTLER

Jim Hazewinkel

Born 1944

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2543 FOOTBALL

Tyre Glasper

Born 1987

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2544 FOOTBALL

Michael Carter (Canadian football)

Born 1986

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2545 SPORT

Tony Jones (basketball)

-

Preview
2546 FOOTBALL

Mike Varty

Born 1952

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2547 BASKET

Andre Harris (basket-ball)

Born 1985

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2548 LAWYER

Harvey Thomas Strosberg

Born 1944

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2549 SONGWRITER

Keith Staten

Born 1964

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2550 POLITICIAN

Mickey Cafagna

1943 - 2009

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2551 POLITICIAN

George Dadamo

Born 1953

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2552 BASEBALL

Bill Roman

Born 1938

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2553 JOURNALIST

Gregory Dickow

Born 1964

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2554 HOCKEY

Jim Niekamp

Born 1946

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2555 HOCKEY

Ray Timgren

1928 - 1999

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2556 POLITICIAN

Jennifer Haase

Born 1974

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2557 BOXER

JaRico O'Quinn

Born 1995

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2558 JAZZ

David McMurray

Born 1958

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2559 PHYSICIST

Arthur F. Turner

1906 - 1996

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2560 POLITICIAN

Robert Kozaren

1934 - 2007

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2561 DIPLOMAT

Michael Dougall Bell

1943 - 2017

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2562 CYCLIST

Fred Ottevaire

Born 1913

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2563 FOOTBALL

Javin Hunter

Born 1980

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2564 ACTOR

Marian Javits

1925 - 2017

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2565 DESIGNER

Kevan Hall

-

Preview
2566 PRIEST

Adefunmi

1928 - 2005

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2567 SINGER

Elijah "EJ" Johnson

Born 1998

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2568 FOOTBALL

Isaiah Gardner

Born 1985

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2569 POLITICIAN

Raymond Ducharme Morand

1887 - 1952

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2570 BASKET

Dion Harris (basketball)

Born 1985

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2571 FOOTBALL

Ken Woodard

Born 1960

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2572 ENTREPRENEUR

Randall Kaplan

Born 1968

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2573 HOCKEY

Keith Kokkola

Born 1949

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2574 WISSENSCHAFTLER

Bud LaLonde

1933 - 2017

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2575 FOOTBALL

Leo J. Keena

1878 - 1967

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2576 PHOTOGRAPHER

Darryl Sivad

-

Preview
2577 PIANIST

Charles Eubanks

Born 1948

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2578 GOLF

Ed Humenik

Born 1959

Preview
2579 FOOTBALL

Jerry Planutis

Born 1930

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2580 HOCKEY

Mike Stone (ice hockey)

Born 1972

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2581 HOCKEY

Jason Saal

Born 1975

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2582 SPORT

Gary Ware

Born 1983

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2583 DRUMMER

Randy Guss

Born 1967

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2584 SPORT

Tim Banks

Born 1971

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2585 FOOTBALL

D. Bryant

Born 1980

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2586 BASEBALL

Joe Stephenson

1921 - 2001

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2587 COMPOSER

Rodger Penzabene

1944 - 1967

Preview
2588 SINGER

Hubert Johnson (musician)

1941 - 1981

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2589 HOCKEY

Mike Brown (ice hockey, born 1957)

Born 1957

Preview
2590 POLITICIAN

André Robichaud

Born 1937

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2591 BASEBALL

Jerry Davie

Born 1933

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2592 POLITICIAN

Arthur Reaume

1906 - 1981

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2593 WRITER

Alexander Malec

1929 - 2014

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2594 PIANIST

Richard Harper

Born 1949

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2595 POLITICIAN

Tenisha Yancey (politician)

Born 1976

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2596 FOOTBALL

Brian Bulcke

Born 1987

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2597 BASEBALL

Charlie Krause

1873 - 1948

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2598 PRODUCER

Roy Somlyo

1925 - 2009

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2599 FOOTBALL

Daryl Townsend

Born 1985

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2600 ACTOR

Niki Spiridakos

Born 1975

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2601 POLITICIAN

Margaret Carpenter

Born 1950

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2602 FILM

John Quigley (producer)

-

Preview
2603 HOCKEY

Brian Glenwright

1949 - 2006

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2604 RAPPER

Earlly Mac

-

Preview
2605 SINGER

Britt Quentin

Born 1973

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2606 DIPLOMAT

Cynthia Efird

Born 1950

Preview
2607 FOOTBALL

Ted Collins (Canadian football)

Born 1943

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2608 ATHLETIC

John Owen (athlete)

1861 - 1924

Preview
2609 POLITICIAN

Anthony G. Forlini

Born 1962

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2610 BASKET

Ernie Zeigler

Born 1966

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2611 BASEBALL

Henry Yaik

1864 - 1935

Preview
2612 ACTOR

Chuck Stubbs

1926 - 2003

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2613 MUSIC

Leon del Muerte

Born 1977

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2614 FOOTBALL

Dan Comiskey

Born 1973

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2615 FOOTBALL

Gino Fracas

1930 - 2009

Preview
2616 FOOTBALL

Butch Brandau

1899 - 1987

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2617 BASEBALL

Betty Tucker

1924 - 2012

Preview
2618 POLITICIAN

Wayne Lessard

Born 1956

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2619 SINGER

Étienne (Canadian musician)

Born 1971

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2620 BASEBALL

Al Buckenberger

1862 - 1917

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2621 SINGER

Jerome T. Youngman

Born 1951

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2622 PHYSICIAN

Anne Brooks

Born 1938

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2623 FILM

Stuart Galbraith IV

Born 1965

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2624 PUBLISHER

Jerome H. Remick

1867 - 1931

Preview
2625 FOOTBALL

Walter Spencer (Canadian football)

Born 1978

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2626 BASEBALL

Frank Okrie

1896 - 1959

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2627 FOOTBALL

Jim Pietrzak

Born 1953

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2628 BUSINESS

Edgar Gott

1887 - 1947

Preview
2629 PHYSICIST

George Doundoulakis

1921 - 2007

Preview
2630 FOOTBALL

Birtie Maher

1892 - 1980

Preview
2631 REGENT

Vera Burridge Baits

1892 - 1963

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2632 GOLF

Ahmad Bateman

Born 1961

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2633 POLITICIAN

Ron Knight (politician)

Born 1932

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2634 HOCKEY

Pat Donnelly (ice hockey, born 1953)

Born 1953

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2635 FOOTBALL

Tony Kimbrough

Born 1964

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2636 FOOTBALL

Markus Curry

Born 1981

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2637 PHILANTHROPIST

Glorya Kaufman

-

Preview
2638 FOOTBALL

Marcelle Bruce

Born 1971

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2639 BUSINESS

Bill Pulte

1932 - 2018

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2640 BASEBALL

Shorty Gallagher

1872 - 1924

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2641 ARTIST

Jason Yates

Born 1972

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2642 DIVER

Barbara Gilders

Born 1938

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2643 PERFORMER

Paul T. Entrekin

Born 1954

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2644 ANIMATOR

Aaron Simpson (producer)

Born 1971

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2645 SPORT

Fred Toettcher

Born 1975

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2646 POLITICIAN

William Griesinger

1895 - 1978

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2647 COMEDIAN

Gene Taylor (TV and radio personality)

1947 - 2001

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2648 FOOTBALL

Justin Detter

Born 1982

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2649 HOCKEY

Joe DeMitchell

Born 1964

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2650 ENGINEER

William P. Sommers

1933 - 2007

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2651 FOOTBALL

Anna Sieloff

Born 1992

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2652 SPORT

Brad Galli

Born 1989

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2653 REPORTER

Paul Berry (television)

Born 1944

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2654 POLITICIAN

Jack Johnson (Canadian politician)

1930 - 2009

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2655 FOOTBALL

Cliff McCrath

Born 1936

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2656 PRESENTER

Ed Allen (TV host)

Born 1929

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2657 FOOTBALL

Otis Floyd

Born 1976

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2658 LAWYER

Jack Guttenberg

Born 1951

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2659 LAWYER

Ernest Aloysius O'Brien

1880 - 1948

Preview
2660 FOOTBALL

Valdez Showers

Born 1993

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2661 SPY

Robert Thompson (spy)

Born 1935

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2662 MISSING

Etta Wriedt

1859 - 1942

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2663 ACTOR

Roberts Gannaway

-

Preview
2664 MILITAR

Ian Fishback

-

Preview
2665 JOURNALIST

Penelope Jean Hayes

Born 1973

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2666 FOOTBALL

Gene Hamlin

Born 1946

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2667 PRODUCER

Rioux (musician)

Born 1990

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2668 ASTRONAUT

Livingston L. Holder Jr.

Born 1956

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2669 COMPOSER

Melissa Greener

-

Preview
2670 BASEBALL

Brad Springer

1904 - 1970

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2671 FOOTBALL

Ray Truant

1930 - 2018

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2672 RADIO

Cara Carriveau

Born 1966

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2673 BASEBALL

Walter Briggs Jr.

1912 - 1970

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2674 BASEBALL

Mike Paul

Born 1945

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2675 MUSIC

Christopher "Deep" Henderson

Born 1973

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2676 MUSIC

Margaret Bell-Byars

Born 1962

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2677 BUSINESS

Thomas G. Ayers

1915 - 2007

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2678 BASEBALL

Jul Kustus

1882 - 1916

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2679 HISTORIAN

Michael Brooks (historian and journalist)

Born 1964

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2680 POLITICIAN

Curtis Hertel

1953 - 2016

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2681 ARTIST

Elizabeth Crawford (painter)

Born 1959

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2682 COACH

Dave Dunn (American football)

Born 1965

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2683 ACADEMIC

Ronald Modras

1937 - 2018

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2684 OFFICER

Winton W. Marshall

1919 - 2015

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2685 FOOTBALL

Paul Rudzinski

Born 1956

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2686 HISTORIAN

Marsha Miro

Born 1974

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2687 ENTREPRENEUR

Michael Kolowich

Born 1952

Preview
2688 BASEBALL

Mary Carey (baseball)

1925 - 1977

Preview
2689 ARCHITECT

Hugh M. Kaptur

Born 1931

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2690 BOXER

Kara Ro

Born 1975

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2691 FOOTBALL

John Metras

1941 - 2020

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2692 BASEBALL

Ben Guiney

1858 - 1930

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2693 HOCKEY

Ken Leiter

Born 1961

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2694 BOWLER

George Branham III

Born 1962

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2695 BASEBALL

George Lerchen

1922 - 2014

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2696 BUSINESS

Shel Bachrach

Born 1944

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2697 MISSING

Ari Schwartz

-

Preview
2698 FOOTBALL

Dick Suderman

1939 - 1972

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2699 ACTOR

Ilse von Glatz

1958 - 2014

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2700 FILM

Mike Stanley (filmmaker)

Born 1963

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