diff --git a/packages/ra-ui-materialui/src/list/datatable/DataTable.spec.tsx b/packages/ra-ui-materialui/src/list/datatable/DataTable.spec.tsx
index 5572a40afc1..2eadc6c78b5 100644
--- a/packages/ra-ui-materialui/src/list/datatable/DataTable.spec.tsx
+++ b/packages/ra-ui-materialui/src/list/datatable/DataTable.spec.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import {
     ExpandSingle,
     IsRowExpandable,
     IsRowSelectable,
+    NonPrimitiveData,
 } from './DataTable.stories';
 
 describe('DataTable', () => {
@@ -34,6 +35,17 @@ describe('DataTable', () => {
         screen.getByText('Author');
         screen.getByText('Year');
     });
+    it('should render non React primitive data without crashing', async () => {
+        render(<NonPrimitiveData />);
+        await waitFor(() => {
+            expect(screen.getAllByRole('row')).toHaveLength(6);
+        });
+        screen.getByText('War and Peace');
+        screen.getByText('Pride and Prejudice');
+        screen.getByText('The Picture of Dorian Gray');
+        screen.getByText('Le Petit Prince');
+        screen.getByText('The Alchemist');
+    });
     describe('Sorting', () => {
         it('should show the default sort column with the default sort order', async () => {
             render(<Basic />);
diff --git a/packages/ra-ui-materialui/src/list/datatable/DataTable.stories.tsx b/packages/ra-ui-materialui/src/list/datatable/DataTable.stories.tsx
index a3e4c612bbc..a29b24d00b4 100644
--- a/packages/ra-ui-materialui/src/list/datatable/DataTable.stories.tsx
+++ b/packages/ra-ui-materialui/src/list/datatable/DataTable.stories.tsx
@@ -57,43 +57,43 @@ const data = {
         {
             id: 1,
             title: 'War and Peace',
-            author: 'Leo Tolstoy',
+            author: { name: 'Leo Tolstoy' },
             year: 1869,
         },
         {
             id: 2,
             title: 'Pride and Prejudice',
-            author: 'Jane Austen',
+            author: { name: 'Jane Austen' },
             year: 1813,
         },
         {
             id: 3,
             title: 'The Picture of Dorian Gray',
-            author: 'Oscar Wilde',
+            author: { name: 'Oscar Wilde' },
             year: 1890,
         },
         {
             id: 4,
             title: 'Le Petit Prince',
-            author: 'Antoine de Saint-Exupéry',
+            author: { name: 'Antoine de Saint-Exupéry' },
             year: 1943,
         },
         {
             id: 5,
             title: 'The Alchemist',
-            author: 'Paulo Coelho',
+            author: { name: 'Paulo Coelho' },
             year: 1988,
         },
         {
             id: 6,
             title: 'Madame Bovary',
-            author: 'Gustave Flaubert',
+            author: { name: 'Gustave Flaubert' },
             year: 1857,
         },
         {
             id: 7,
             title: 'The Lord of the Rings',
-            author: 'J. R. R. Tolkien',
+            author: { name: 'J. R. R. Tolkien' },
             year: 1954,
         },
     ],
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ export const Basic = () => (
         <DataTable>
             <DataTable.Col source="id" />
             <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-            <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+            <DataTable.Col label="Author" source="author.name" />
             <DataTable.Col source="year" />
         </DataTable>
     </Wrapper>
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ export const Columns = () => (
                 render={record => record.title.toUpperCase()}
             />
             <DataTable.Col
-                source="author"
+                source="author.name"
                 sx={{
                     color: 'darkgray',
                     '&.MuiTableCell-body': { fontStyle: 'italic' },
@@ -185,14 +185,14 @@ export const Empty = () => (
             <DataTable data={[]} total={0}>
                 <DataTable.Col source="id" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-                <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+                <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="year" />
             </DataTable>
             <h1>Custom</h1>
             <DataTable data={[]} total={0} empty={<CustomEmpty />}>
                 <DataTable.Col source="id" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-                <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+                <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="year" />
             </DataTable>
         </Box>
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ export const Hover = () => (
         <DataTable hover={false}>
             <DataTable.Col source="id" />
             <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-            <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+            <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
             <DataTable.Col source="year" />
         </DataTable>
     </Wrapper>
@@ -217,14 +217,14 @@ export const Size = () => (
             <DataTable>
                 <DataTable.Col source="id" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-                <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+                <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="year" />
             </DataTable>
             <h1>Medium</h1>
             <DataTable size="medium">
                 <DataTable.Col source="id" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-                <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+                <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="year" />
             </DataTable>
         </Box>
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ export const SX = () => (
         >
             <DataTable.Col source="id" />
             <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-            <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+            <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
             <DataTable.Col source="year" />
         </DataTable>
     </Wrapper>
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ export const RowSx = () => (
         >
             <DataTable.Col source="id" />
             <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-            <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+            <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
             <DataTable.Col source="year" />
         </DataTable>
     </Wrapper>
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ export const StyledComponent = () => (
         <StyledDataTable>
             <DataTable.Col source="id" />
             <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-            <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+            <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
             <DataTable.Col source="year" />
         </StyledDataTable>
     </Wrapper>
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ export const ColumnStyles = () => (
             >
                 <DataTable.Col source="id" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-                <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+                <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="year" />
             </DataTable>
             <h1>Cells only</h1>
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ export const ColumnStyles = () => (
             >
                 <DataTable.Col source="id" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-                <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+                <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="year" />
             </DataTable>
             <h1>Hidden column on small screens</h1>
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ export const ColumnStyles = () => (
             >
                 <DataTable.Col source="id" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-                <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+                <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="year" />
             </DataTable>
         </Box>
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ export const ErrorInFetch = () => (
                 <DataTable>
                     <DataTable.Col source="id" />
                     <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-                    <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+                    <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
                     <DataTable.Col source="year" />
                 </DataTable>
             </ResourceContextProvider>
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ export const RowClickFalse = () => (
         <DataTable rowClick={false}>
             <DataTable.Col source="id" />
             <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-            <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+            <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
             <DataTable.Col source="year" />
         </DataTable>
     </Wrapper>
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ const ExpandPanel = () => {
     const book = useRecordContext();
     return (
         <Box data-testid="ExpandPanel" p={2}>
-            <i>{book?.title}</i>, by {book?.author} ({book?.year})
+            <i>{book?.title}</i>, by {book?.author.name} ({book?.year})
         </Box>
     );
 };
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ export const Expand = () => (
         <DataTable expand={<ExpandPanel />}>
             <DataTable.Col source="id" />
             <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-            <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+            <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
             <DataTable.Col source="year" />
         </DataTable>
     </Wrapper>
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ export const ExpandSingle = () => (
         <DataTable expand={<ExpandPanel />} expandSingle>
             <DataTable.Col source="id" />
             <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-            <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+            <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
             <DataTable.Col source="year" />
         </DataTable>
     </Wrapper>
@@ -452,14 +452,14 @@ export const IsRowExpandable = () => (
                 <SimpleShowLayout>
                     <TextField source="id" />
                     <TextField source="title" />
-                    <TextField source="author" />
+                    <TextField source="author.name" />
                     <TextField source="year" />
                 </SimpleShowLayout>
             }
         >
             <DataTable.Col source="id" />
             <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-            <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+            <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
             <DataTable.Col source="year" />
         </DataTable>
     </Wrapper>
@@ -479,28 +479,28 @@ export const BulkActionButtons = () => (
             <DataTable>
                 <DataTable.Col source="id" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-                <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+                <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="year" />
             </DataTable>
             <h1>Disabled</h1>
             <DataTable bulkActionButtons={false}>
                 <DataTable.Col source="id" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-                <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+                <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="year" />
             </DataTable>
             <h1>Custom</h1>
             <DataTable bulkActionButtons={<CustomBulkActionButtons />}>
                 <DataTable.Col source="id" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-                <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+                <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="year" />
             </DataTable>
             <h1>Unselectable Rows</h1>
             <DataTable isRowSelectable={record => record.id % 2 === 0}>
                 <DataTable.Col source="id" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-                <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+                <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
                 <DataTable.Col source="year" />
             </DataTable>
         </Box>
@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ export const SelectAllButton = ({
                     <DataTable>
                         <DataTable.Col source="id" />
                         <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-                        <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+                        <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
                         <DataTable.Col source="year" />
                     </DataTable>
                 </>
@@ -537,7 +537,7 @@ export const SelectAllButton = ({
                     >
                         <DataTable.Col source="id" />
                         <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-                        <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+                        <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
                         <DataTable.Col source="year" />
                     </DataTable>
                 </>
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ export const SelectAllButton = ({
                     >
                         <DataTable.Col source="id" />
                         <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-                        <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+                        <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
                         <DataTable.Col source="year" />
                     </DataTable>
                 </>
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ export const IsRowSelectable = () => (
         <DataTable isRowSelectable={record => Boolean(record.id % 2)}>
             <DataTable.Col source="id" />
             <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-            <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+            <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
             <DataTable.Col source="year" />
         </DataTable>
     </Wrapper>
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@ export const Body = () => (
         <DataTable body={MyDataTableBody}>
             <DataTable.Col source="id" />
             <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-            <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+            <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
             <DataTable.Col source="year" />
         </DataTable>
     </Wrapper>
@@ -639,7 +639,7 @@ export const Head = () => (
         <DataTable head={MyDataTableHead}>
             <DataTable.Col source="id" />
             <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-            <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+            <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
             <DataTable.Col source="year" />
         </DataTable>
     </Wrapper>
@@ -767,7 +767,7 @@ export const FullApp = ({
                         >
                             <DataTable.Col source="id" />
                             <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-                            <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+                            <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
                             <DataTable.Col source="year" />
                         </DataTable>
                     </List>
@@ -861,7 +861,7 @@ export const AccessControl = ({
                         <DataTable key={allowedAction}>
                             <DataTable.Col source="id" />
                             <DataTable.Col source="title" />
-                            <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+                            <DataTable.Col source="author.name" />
                             <DataTable.Col source="year" />
                         </DataTable>
                     </List>
@@ -885,3 +885,14 @@ AccessControl.argTypes = {
         control: { type: 'select' },
     },
 };
+
+export const NonPrimitiveData = () => (
+    <Wrapper i18nProvider={polyglotI18nProvider(() => defaultMessages, 'en')}>
+        <DataTable>
+            <DataTable.Col source="id" />
+            <DataTable.Col source="title" />
+            <DataTable.Col source="author" />
+            <DataTable.Col source="year" />
+        </DataTable>
+    </Wrapper>
+);
diff --git a/packages/ra-ui-materialui/src/list/datatable/DataTableCell.tsx b/packages/ra-ui-materialui/src/list/datatable/DataTableCell.tsx
index 1dab0aa0448..106effda83c 100644
--- a/packages/ra-ui-materialui/src/list/datatable/DataTableCell.tsx
+++ b/packages/ra-ui-materialui/src/list/datatable/DataTableCell.tsx
@@ -49,6 +49,8 @@ export const DataTableCell = React.memo(
                 ...(cellSx && record ? cellSx(record) : {}),
                 ...sx,
             } as SxProps;
+
+            const fieldValue = get(record, source!);
             return (
                 <TableCellStyled
                     ref={ref}
@@ -65,7 +67,9 @@ export const DataTableCell = React.memo(
                             ? record && render(record)
                             : field
                               ? React.createElement(field, { source })
-                              : get(record, source!))}
+                              : fieldValue != null
+                                ? fieldValue.toString()
+                                : null)}
                 </TableCellStyled>
             );
         }