List of people from Windsor, Ontario

D

• George Dadamo (born 1953), former MPP (1990–1995)
• John Damien (1933-1986), racing steward whose wrongful dismissal lawsuit, after being fired in 1975 for being gay, led to the inclusion of sexual orientation in the Ontario Human Rights Code in 1986
• Scott D'Amore (born 1974), professional wrestler, manager and booker
• Ken Daneyko (born 1964), former NHL player
• Jaime D (born 1976), also known as Sirelda, former professional wrestler
• Edward Dawson (1907–1998), Olympic silver medalist in basketball (1936)
• Alexander Deans (born 1997), inventor, artist, and public speaker
• Andy Delmore (born 1976), former NHL player
• Johnny Devine (born 1974), professional wrestler
• Roman De Angelis (born 2001), professional racing driver in the IMSA SportsCar Championship
• Drew Dilkens (born 1972), present mayor of Windsor
• Michael DiPietro (born 1999), NHL player
• Jesse Divnich, industry personality and analyst, video games (from LaSalle)
• Roxi DLite (born 1983), burlesque performer
• Tie Domi (born 1969), former NHL player (from Belle River)
• Charles Drake (1920–1998), CC, Canadian neurosurgeon known for his work on treating aneurysms
• Dwight Duncan (born 1959), former Finance Minister of Ontario

E

• Murray Eaves (born 1960), former NHL player
• Aaron Ekblad (born 1996), NHL player
• Hoda ElMaraghy (born 1945), CM, first woman to serve as dean of engineering at a Canadian university
• Ernie Eves (born 1946), premier of Ontario from 2002-2003

F

• Christine Fellows (born 1968), musician
• Ron Fellows (born 1959), former NASCAR driver
• Colm Feore (born 1958), OC, actor
• Bob Ferguson (1931–2014), sports journalist and writer
• John Ferguson, Sr. (1938–2007), former NHL player and executive
• Katie Findlay (born 1990), actress
• Cam Fowler (born 1991), NHL player
• Gino Fracas (1930–2009), CFL player and long-time coach of Windsor Lancers football
• Eddie Francis (born 1974), former mayor of Windsor
• Ron Friest (born 1958), former NHL player

G

• Frances M. Gage (1924–2013), sculptor
• Marty Gervais (born 1946), poet and publisher
• Barbara Gowdy (born 1950), CM, novelist
• Mary Henrietta Graham (1857 or 1858–1890), first black woman to be admitted to, as well as to graduate from, the University of Michigan
• Tommy Grant (1935–2011), CFL player and member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
• Herb Gray (1931–2014), CC, former Liberal Member of Parliament and former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada
• Tony Gray, comic book illustrator

H

• Mary Jo Haddad (born 1957), CM, former President and CEO of The Hospital for Sick Children, first female Chancellor at the University of Windsor
• Richie Hawtin (born 1970), techno musician
• Frank Hayden, OC, professor and pioneer of the Special Olympics
• George Hester (1902–1951), Olympic athlete
• Ken Hodge Jr. (born 1966), former NHL player
• David H. Hubel (1926–2013), research scientist and Nobel Prize winner
• Garth Hudson (1937–2025), CM, organist and keyboardist for Canadian rock group The Band
• Michael D. Hurst (born 1950), former mayor of Windsor, Justice of the Peace

I

J

• Dan Jancevski (born 1981), former NHL player
• Alaric Jackson (born 1998), current NFL player
• Gordie Johnson (born 1964), guitarist and vocalist of Big Sugar
• Jennifer E. Jones was the first women to lead Rotary International in 2022.
• Spider Jones (born 1946), former boxer
• Ed Jovanovski (born 1976), former NHL player
• Jeon So-mi (birthname Ennik Somi Douma) (born 2001), South Korean singer

K

• Zack Kassian (born 1991), former NHL player
• Jerry Kauric (born 1963), former NFL and CFL player
• Rick Kehoe (born 1951), former NHL player and coach
• Ruth Kerr (1916–1974), athlete, 1932 Summer Olympics, at age 16; first Windsor-born person to represent Canada in Olympics
• Tim Kerr (born 1960), former NHL player
• Malcolm Knight, Vice Chairman of Deutsche Bank and former General Manager of Bank for International Settlements
• Robert Knuckle (born 1935), historian, bestselling author, actor and playwright
• Killer Kowalski (1926–2008), WWE Hall of Famer, professional wrestler and trainer
• Tomasz Kucharzewski (1968–2008), martial artist

L

• Mathew Charles Lamb (1948–1976), spree killer acquitted on grounds of insanity, later killed in action while fighting for the Rhodesian Security Forces
• Thomas W. LaSorda (born 1954), former CEO of Chrysler Canada Group
• Karen Lawrence (born 1951), writer
• Mike Lazaridis (born 1961), OC, CEO of Research in Motion, inventor of the BlackBerry
• Lou Lefaive (1928–2002), Canadian sports administrator and civil servant
• Ken Lewenza, Sr. (born 1954), former head of the Canadian Auto Workers
• Marion Lewis (1925–2025), OC, Canadian medical researcher known for her work on the Rh factor
• Aaron Lowe (born 1974), former pairs figure skater with Megan Wing
• Budd Lynch (1917–2012), announcer for the Detroit Red Wings

M

• Sir Archibald Macdonell (1864–1941), decorated Canadian police officer and soldier
• Angus MacInnes (born 1947), actor
• Alistair MacLeod (1936–2014), OC, novelist, short story writer, and academic
• Marco Marsan (born 1957), author
• Jeff Martin (born 1969), guitarist and lead vocalist of The Tea Party
• Matt Martin (born 1989), NHL player for the New York Islanders
• Paul Martin (born 1938), Liberal former Prime Minister of Canada
• Paul Martin Sr. (1903–1992), longtime federal cabinet minister; father of the former PM
• Sheila Martin (born 1943), wife of former Prime Minister Paul Martin
• Medo Martinello (born 1935), former NLA lacrosse player, NLL Quebec Caribous and MILL Detroit Turbos lacrosse coach, IHL and NCAA hockey referee
• Brian Masse (born 1968), politician
• Kylie Masse (born 1996), swimmer, two-time Olympic medalist and World Champion in 100 m backstroke
• Brandon McBride (born 1994), Olympian, 800m runner, Canadian National Record Holder
• Sean McCann (1935–2019), actor
• Howard McCurdy (1932–2018), the New Democratic Party's first African-Canadian Member of Parliament
• Gordon Morton McGregor (1873-1922), a Canadian businessman who founded the Ford Motor Company of Canada in 1904
• Irving "Toots" Meretsky (1912–2006), Olympic silver medalist in basketball (1936)
• Steve Moore (born 1978), former NHL player
• Eugene McNamara (1930–2016), poet, novelist, University of Windsor English Professor Emeritus
• Eddie Mio (born 1954), former NHL player
• Noelle Montcalm (born 1988), Olympic hurdler
• Mychal Mulder (born 1994), NBA player
• Sandy Munro (born 1949), automotive engineer

N

• Stanley Nantais (1913–2004), Olympic silver medalist in basketball (1936)
• Isabelle Nélisse (born 2003), actress
• Sophie Nélisse (born 2000), actress in movies including The Book Thief
• Dan Newman (born 1952), former NHL player

O

• Joseph "Gerry" Ouellette (1934–1975), Olympic gold medalist in Men's shooting

P

• Mark Paré (born 1957), former NHL linesman
• Alton C. Parker (1907–1989), CM, first black Canadian police detective
• Christina Pazsitzky (born 1976), Canadian-American comedian
• Richard Peddie (born 1947), former president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment
• Maryse Perreault (born 1964), former short track speed skater
• Ed Philion (born 1970), former NFL and CFL player
• David Phillips (born 1944), climatologist
• Jacqueline Pillon (born 1977), actress
• Casey Plett (born 1987), writer
• Oliver Platt (born 1960), television and film actor
• Lloyd Pollock (1909–1993), president of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association
• Barry Potomski (1972–2011), former NHL player
• Cathy Priestner (born 1956), speed skater, 1976 Winter Olympics, silver medalist in 500-metre event
• Valerie Pringle (born 1953), CM, journalist & TV Host
• Bob Probert (1965–2010), former NHL player
• Sandra Pupatello (born 1962), politician
• Matt Puempel (born 1993), former NHL player

Q

• Joel Quenneville (born 1958), former NHL player and former NHL head coach of 4 teams. 3x Stanley Cup winner.

R

• Rob Raco (born 1989), actor, musician
• Amanda Reason (born 1993), Olympic swimmer, former world record holder
• J. Paul Reddam (born 1955), academic, businessman, racehorse owner
• Mark Renaud (born 1959), former NHL player
• Brett Romberg (born 1979), former NFL player
• Ernestine Russell (born 1938), first female Olympic gymnast, 1956 Melbourne Summer games
• Warren Rychel (born 1967), former NHL player

S

• Lionel Sanders (born 1988), triathlete
• Cid Samson (born 1943), former MP
• Dave Schreiber (born 1944), NHL play-by-play man
• Erika Schmutz (born 1973), paralympic athlete (wheelchair rugby)
• Jack Scott (1936–2019), rockabilly singer
• Tyler Scott (born 1985), former CFL player
• Kim Shaw (born 1984), actress
• Dakoda Shepley (born 1994), NFL player, minor acting role as Omega Red in Deadpool 2., and stunt and body double in Game Over, Man!
• Larry Shreve (born 1941), National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) professional wrestler known as Abdullah the Butcher (WWE Hall of Famer)
• Joe Siddall (born 1967), former MLB baseball player
• Al Siegel owner of Elmwood Casino and Windsor Raceway
• Bob Simpson (1930–2007), former CFL player
• Thomas Joseph Simpson (1921–2017), one of the 114 Canadians to receive the Distinguished Service Medal for World War II service.
• Jimmy Skinner (1917–2007), former NHL coach and executive
• Art Skov (1928–2009), former NHL referee
• Glen Skov (1931–2013), former NHL player
• Brad Smith (born 1958), former NHL player, nicknamed "Motor City Smitty"
• D. J. Smith (born 1977), former NHL player, current head coach of the Ottawa Senators
• Brad Snyder (born 1976), Olympic athlete 1996, 2000, 2004
• David Sobolov (born 1964), voice actor and director
• Gino Sovran (1924—2016), Canadian professional basketball player
• Skip Spence (1946–1999), composer, multi-instrumentalist, member of Jefferson Airplane, Moby Grape
• William W. Spencer (1921–2007), Emmy award winning cinematographer
• Niki Spiridakos (born 1975), actress
• The Reverend J O L Spracklin (1886–?), Methodist minister who killed an illicit trader in alcohol in 1920, later tried and acquitted
• Dave Steen (born 1959), CM, decathlete, Olympic bronze medal winner
• Marta Stępień (born 1994), Miss Universe Canada 2018
• Alek Stojanov (born 1973), former NHL player
• John Swainson (1925–1994), Governor of Michigan 1961–1963
• Mark Suzor (born 1956), former NHL player

T

• Tamia (born 1975), R&B singer
• Chris Taylor, lawyer, Global President of eOne Music
• Fred Thomas (1923–1981), multi-sport athlete (baseball, basketball, football)
• Shirley Thomson (1930–2010), CC, civil servant
• Ray Timgren (1928–1999), former NHL player
• Daryl Townsend (born 1985), CFL player
• Keegan Connor Tracy (born 1971), actress
• David Tremblay (born 1987), freestyle wrestler, 2012 Olympian
• Tim Trimper (born 1958), former NHL player
• William Troy (1827–1905), abolitionist and preacher
• John Tucker (born 1964), former NHL player
• Shania Twain, OC (born 1965), country singer

U

• John Upham (born 1940), former MLB player

V

• Daniel Victor (born 1979), singer, songwriter, producer of Neverending White Lights
• André Viger (1952–2006), OC, multi-time Paralympic athlete and medalist
• Christian Vincent (born 1980), actor, dancer, choreographer
• Tessa Virtue (born 1989), CM, ice dancer, Olympic gold medallist and World Champion with her partner Scott Moir
• Harold Vokes (1908–1998), malacologist and paleontologist

W

• Danielle Wade (born 1992) Broadway actor
• Hiram Walker (1816–1899), founder of distillery
• Aaron Ward (born 1973), former NHL player, now hockey analyst for TSN
• Felix Watts (1892–1966), inventor
• Kyle Wellwood (born 1983), former NHL player
• Solomon White (1836–1911), lawyer and politician
• Petey Williams (born 1981), professional wrestler
• Robert S. C. Williams, CM, humanitarian
• Tom Williams (born 1951), former NHL player
• Kortney Wilson (born 1979), professional house-flipper and musician
• Luke Willson (born 1990), former NFL player
• Ron Wilson (born 1955), former NHL player and coach
• Ryan Wilson (born 1987), former NHL player
• Megan Wing (born 1975), former pairs figure skater with Aaron Lowe
• Jacqueline MacInnes Wood (born 1987), actress

X

Y

Z

• Alexander Zonjic (born 1951), jazz musician

References