Famous People from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding Broward County area have produced and attracted a remarkable range of talented people. From Grammy-winning musicians to NFL legends and Hollywood actors, these are some of the most notable figures connected to the Fort Lauderdale community.
Marilyn Manson
Born Brian Hugh Warner, the rock musician grew up in Fort Lauderdale and attended Broward Community College before forming his controversial and commercially successful band. He attended South Broward High School in Hollywood, just south of Fort Lauderdale, and cut his teeth performing at local South Florida venues in the late 1980s.
Vanilla Ice
Robert Matthew Van Winkle, better known as Vanilla Ice, grew up in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area. His 1990 hit "Ice Ice Baby" was the first hip-hop single to top the Billboard Hot 100. He has remained a South Florida resident and turned to house flipping and real estate, hosting a home renovation show filmed in the area.
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande was born in Boca Raton, just north of Fort Lauderdale in the greater Broward and Palm Beach area. She grew up performing in the Fort Lauderdale Children's Theater and the Little Palm Theatre for Young People before breaking out as Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeon show "Victorious." She has gone on to become one of the best-selling music artists in the world.
Kevin Garnett
NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett moved to Fort Lauderdale as a teenager and attended Mauldin High School in South Carolina before transferring. He was named Mr. Basketball for South Carolina but spent formative years in the Fort Lauderdale area and has maintained ties to the community.
Willis McGahee
Willis McGahee grew up in Miami but played football at the University of Miami and has deep ties to the Fort Lauderdale and Broward County area. The NFL running back played for the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, and Cleveland Browns across an 11-year career.
Dan Marino
While Dan Marino is originally from Pittsburgh, he spent his entire 17-year NFL career with the Miami Dolphins and became deeply tied to the Fort Lauderdale and South Florida community. His foundation, the Dan Marino Foundation, is based in the area and focuses on supporting people with autism and other developmental disabilities.
David Cassidy
The 1970s teen idol best known for "The Partridge Family" spent his later years living in Fort Lauderdale. Cassidy was a fixture in the local community until his passing in 2017 at a Fort Lauderdale hospital.
Kelsey Grammer
The Emmy-winning actor known for playing Frasier Crane spent part of his youth in the Fort Lauderdale area, attending Pine Crest School. He later went on to one of the longest-running roles in television history across both "Cheers" and "Frasier."
Flo Rida
Tramar Lacel Dillard, known professionally as Flo Rida, grew up in Carol City in Miami-Dade County but has strong ties to the Broward County and Fort Lauderdale music scene. His stage name is a direct reference to the state. Hits like "Low" and "Right Round" made him one of the best-selling music artists worldwide.
Trick Daddy
Rapper Maurice Samuel Young, known as Trick Daddy, is a product of the greater Miami and Fort Lauderdale hip-hop scene. He helped put South Florida rap on the national map in the early 2000s and continues to be a major cultural figure in the region.
Fort Lauderdale: A Community Worth Calling Home
The people on this list reflect the diversity and energy that make Fort Lauderdale such a dynamic place to live, work, and visit. The same community spirit extends to how we take care of each other. At Emergency Dentist of Fort Lauderdale, our team is proud to serve this community with urgent dental care 7 days a week. If you or a family member need emergency dental treatment, call (954) 807-1840 to schedule a same-day appointment.
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