Inducted into the Michigan Walk of Fame on May 25, 2006, Jeff Daniels is an actor, director, and writer. Daniels's career took off when he won a 1982 OBIE Award for his performance in the one-man, off-Broadway play "Johnny Got His Gun."  Known for his varied movie roles, Daniels easily shifts from the comedic to the dramatic in both starring and supporting performances in low-budget, independent films and Hollywood blockbusters.

Remaining Michigan based, in 1991 Daniels created the Purple Rose Theatre Company, after his 1985 film the Purple Rose of Cairo, in his hometown Chelsea. A number of the theatre's productions have been nominated for national awards. He established Purple Rose Films in 1999, producing films in Michigan. Both the theatre and film company have created new opportunities for Midwestern artists.  To critical acclaim Daniels continues to act in film and theater roles.