Irving Ashby (1920–1987) jazz guitarist

Ruth Batson (1921–2003), civil rights and education activist

Susan Batson, actress, daughter of Ruth Batson

Ricky Bell, Member of R&B group New Edition formed in Boston in 1978

Michael Bivins, Member of R&B group New Edition formed in Boston in 1978

Nathaniel Jeremiah Bradlee (1829–1888), architect

Edward Brooke, U.S. senator, first African American elected to Senate in the 20th century

Bobby Brown, Member of R&B group New Edition formed in Boston in 1978

Alan Dawson (1929–1996), famous jazz drummer and percussion teacher, grew up in Roxbury

Henry Dearborn (1751–1829), physician, general, U.S. representative, U.S. Secretary of War

Henry Alexander Scammell Dearborn (1783–1851), U.S. representative, mayor of Roxbury, son of Henry Dearborn.

Ronnie DeVoe, Member of R&B group New Edition formed in Boston in 1978

Joseph Dudley (1647–1720), colonial governor of Massachusetts, son of Thomas Dudley

Thomas Dudley (1576–1653), colonial governor of Massachusetts

Ed O.G., hip hop artist, founder of Da Bulldogs, named an album after Roxbury.

John Eliot (1604–1690), minister, Bible translator, founder of Roxbury Latin School

Gustavus Esselen (1888–1952), chemist, born in Roxbury

William Eustis (1753–1825), governor of Massachusetts, owner of Shirley-Eustis House in Roxbury

Louis Farrakhan, Nation of Islam leader, activist, raised in Roxbury

Mark Frechette (1947–1975), film actor, Zabriskie Point

The G-Clefs, Top 40 Soul Group

William Lloyd Garrison (1805–1879), journalist, abolitionist, lived in Roxbury last 15 years of his life

Charles Dana Gibson (1867–1944), illustrator

Samuel Griswold Goodrich (1793–1860), author, state legislator

Guru (1961–2010), rapper, member/founder of Gang Starr

Edward Everett Hale (1822–1909), author, reformer, Unitarian clergyman

Roy Haynes (born 1925), jazz drummer and bandleader

Elma Lewis (1921–2004), arts educator, founder of the National Center of Afro-American Artists (NCAAA)

Nelson Merced, state legislator, Latino activist

Shabazz Napier, NBA player

Patrice O'Neal (1969–2011), comedian, actor.

Louis Prang (1824–1909), printer, lithographer and publisher

William Pynchon (1590–1662), founder of Roxbury and Springfield, Massachusetts

Sylvester H. Roper (1823–1896), inventor

Nathaniel Ruggles (1761–1819), U.S. representative.

Byron Rushing, state legislator, activist

Kenneth Kamal Scott, singer, dancer, actor, nephew of Irving Ashby.

Ebenezer Seaver (1763–1844), U.S. representative.

William Shirley (1694–1771), colonial governor of Massachusetts, built Shirley-Eustis House in Roxbury

Aafia Siddiqui, neuroscientist, , Roxbury resident 1995-2001

Ebenezer Stevens (1751–1823), American Revolution activist, officer

Sonny Stitt (1924–1982), jazz saxophonist

John L. Sullivan (1858–1918), boxing heavyweight champion, born in Roxbury

Donna Summer (1948–2012), R&B Star, "Queen of Disco"

Increase Sumner (1746–1799), governor of Massachusetts

Ralph Tresvant, Member of R&B group New Edition formed in Boston in 1978

Darius Walker, CNN Vice President and New York bureau chief, lived in Roxbury for several years as a youth

Jimmy Walker (1944–2007), professional basketball guard

Joseph Warren (1741–1775), physician, Revolutionary major general

Tony Williams (1945–1997), famous jazz drummer, grew up in Roxbury

Malcolm X (1925–1965), Nation of Islam minister and activist, founder of the Organization of Afro-American Unity, spent formative years in Roxbury.