Famous People

Chris Van Allsburg (1949 - ) Writer of children's books who won Caldecott Awards for drawings in The Polar Express and Jumanji. Born in Grand Rapids, MI (276)

Seger Bob (1945 - ) An American singer who enjoyed a great deal of national success between 1976 and 1987. Born in Detroit, MI (715)

William Boeing (1881 - 1956) Aircraft manufacturer who founded the Boeing Aircraft company; lived in Seattle. Born in Detroit, MI (622)

Ralph Bunche (1904 - 1971) American political scientist and diplomat who won the Nobel Peace Prize for his mediation in Palestine; He also received the Medal of Freedom from President Lyndon Johnson. Born in Detroit, MI (395)

Ellen Burstyn (1932 - ) The first woman to win both the Tony Award and the Academy Award in the same year. Born in Detroit, MI (704)

Roger Chaffee (1935 - 1957) Chaffee was an astronaut in the Apollo program; however, he was killed in the Apollo 1 fire at Cape Canaveral. He also was officially recognized for his service during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Born in Grand Rapids, MI (722)

Madonna Louise Ciccone (1958 - ) Singer with hit singles "Material Girl," and "Vogue." She has also acted in such movies as A League of Their Own, and Evita. Born in Bay City, MI (265)

Francis Coppola (1939 - ) A five-time Academy Award winning film director. Coppola's best known work is the Godfather trilogy. Born in Detroit, MI (705)

James Oliver Curwood (1878 - 1927) After travelling to the Canadian Northwest, Curwood wrote several wilderness adventure stories inspired by his visit there. These works include "Son of the Forests," and "Nomads of the North." Born in Owosso, MI (723)

Thomas Dewey (1902 - 1971) Dewey was the Republican nominee for President in both 1944 and 1948. In 1948, the polls showed him holding such a large lead that the newspapers printed the headline "Dewey Wins!" However, Truman won the election. Born in Owosso, MI (706)

Edna Ferber (1885 - 1968) An American author. Ferbers works inspired several musicals including "Show Boat" and "Cimarron." She also won the Pulitzer Prize for her book "So Big." Born in Kalamazoo, MI (707)

Henry Ford (1863 - 1947) Founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903; he is also known as the father of modern assembly lines in mass production. Born in Greenfield Township, MI (268)

Daniel Gerber (1873 - 1952) Developed canned baby food in 1927 after a pediatrician suggested straining foods for his young daughter. Born in Douglas, MI (269)

Julie Harris (1925 - ) Harris is an American actress who has won five Tony Awards and three Emmy Awards. Harris is also a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame. Born in Grosse Pointe, MI (708)

William Hewlett (1913 - 2001) Hewlett helped to co-found the Hewlett-Packard company in 1939. Born in Ann Arbor, MI (709)

Earvin "Magic" Johnson (1959 - ) Basketball star that led the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA titles in the 1980s; retired in 1991 after announcing he had the AIDS virus and now works to educate people about the disease. Born in Lansing, MI (273)

Julie Krone (1963 - ) The first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race. Born in Benton Harbor, MI (710)

Charles Lindbergh (1902 - 1974) An American pilot who became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Born in Detroit, MI (274)

John Mitchell (1913 - 1988) The first US Attorney General to ever be convicted of illegal activities and imprisoned. He was a member of CREEP (Committee to Re-elect the President) and was involved in the Watergate scandal. Born in Detroit, MI (711)

Gilda Radner (1946 - 1989) Radner won an Emmy Award, and became well known for her role on Saturday Night Live. Born in Detroit, MI (712)

Della Reese (1931 - ) Reese became known as a Jazz singer before appearing on several television shows. She also went on to star in "Touched by an Angel." Born in Detroit, MI (713)

Diana Ross (1944 - ) The first female music artist to have six number one songs as a soloist. She also was the lead singer of "The Supremes." Born in Detroit, MI (714)

Tom Selleck (1945 - ) A Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning American actor. Selleck is best known for his starring role in the television show "Magnum P.I." Born in Detroit, MI (716)

David Spade (2000 - ) Comedian/actor;Raised in Scottsdale. Born in Birmingham, MI (24)

Judkins Stevland "Stevie Wonder" (1950 - ) Stevie Wonder has won 25 Grammy Awards and an Acadamy Award for his singing. He also has over thirty top ten hits. Born in Saginaw, MI (721)

Potter Stewart (1915 - 1985) Stewart was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1958 by President Eisenhower. Stewart was known for using a constructionist interpretation of the Constitution. Born in Jackson, MI (717)

Danny Thomas (1912 - 1991) Thomas starred in the 1952 remake of "The Jazz Singer." Thomas also helped to produce several television shows including "The Andy Griffith Show," and "The Dick Van Dyke Show." Born in Deerfield, MI (719)

Mary Jean "Lily" Tomlin (1939 - ) As an actress, Tomlin won six Emmys, two Tony awards, and a Grammy Award. Among other roles, Tomlin voiced Ms. Frizzle in the television series "The Magic School Bus." Born in Detroit, MI (718)

Margaret Whiting (1924 - ) A singer of popular American music during the 1940s and 1950s. Some of her hits included "Baby It's Cold Outside," "Blind Date," and "All Through the Day." Born in Detroit, MI (720)