List of people from the Dominican Republic

This is a list of famous Dominicans from the Dominican Republic and of Dominican ancestry as well a list of Dominican people whom have made a significant contribution to society or are extremely notable via artistic, charitable, financial or notorious means.

This is not a list of people from Dominica nor members of the Dominican Order. The list covers notable individuals who have garnered some recognition via artistic, cultural, historical, notorious, and other methods.

Please see discussion page for important information

Dominican Republic

(In Detail)

Authors

• Julia Alvarez
• Arambilet
• Aída Cartagena Portalatín
• Hilma Contreras
• Junot Diaz
• Virgilio Diaz Grullon
• Fabio Fiallo
• Pedro Henríquez Ureña
• Guillermo Linares
• Leopoldo Minaya
• Pedro Mir
• Samuel Nina Ortiz
• Salomé Ureña
• Otilio Vigil Díaz

Beauty Queens

• Mariasela Alvarez, Miss World 1982
• Susie Castillo, Miss USA 2003 and former MTV VJ
• Claudia Cruz, former beauty queen, actress
• Marianne Cruz, Miss Dominican Republic 2008
• Denny Mendez, Miss Italy 1996
• Ruth Ocumárez, Miss Dominican Republic 2001, actress/television host
• Mia Taveras, Miss Dominican Republic former beauty queen, actress
• Amelia Vega, Miss Universe 2003, actress/model

Historical Figures

• Francisco del Rosario Sánchez, one of the founding fathers of the Dominican Republic.
• Juan Pablo Duarte, one of the founding fathers of the Dominican Republic.
• Pedro Florentino, hero of the Battle of Jacuba in the War of Independence from Haiti.
• Máximo Gómez, military commander of Cuban Independence campaign of Dominican origin.
• Ramón Matías Mella, one of the founding fathers of the Dominican Republic.
• The Mirabal sisters , political dissidents
• Charlemagne Péralte, Haitian nationalist leader who opposed the U.S. Invasion

Motion Picture & Television Personalities

• Nancy Alvarez, psychologist/television talk show host
• Yancy Arias, actor
• Tina Aumont, French actress (daughter of Maria Montez)
• Lourdes Benedicto,actress
• Freddy Beras-Goyco comedian/television host/producer (cousin of Charytin)
• Julissa Bermudez, television personality (BET)
• Monica Boyar, actress/singer
• Carlos Camara, actor
• Rafael Campos, actor (film Blackboard Jungle)
• Charytin, actress/singer/television host
• Tony Dandrades, television journalist/host
• Nelson de la Rosa, actor/comedian
• Andres Garcia, actor
• Rick Gonzalez, actor
• Altagracia Guzman, actress (films Raising Victor Vargas and I Heart Huckabees) (aunt of Jessy Terrero and Ulysses Terrero)
• Wilson Jermaine Heredia, actor (Angel from the film Rent)
• Rafael Jose, actor/television personality (Dominican father)
• Arthur Lithgow, actor (born in Dominican Republic)
• Luis Lopez, actor (film Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights)
• Yorlin Madera, actor (television series One Life To Live)
• Judy Marte, actress
• Agliberto Meléndez, film director
• Maria Montez actress
• Omahyra Mota, actress/model
• Patricia Mota, actress (sister of Omahrya Mota)
• Miguel A. Nuñez actor
• Manny Perez, actor (films Party Monster and El Cantante)
• Dania Ramirez, actress (television show Heroes)
• Silvestre Rasuk, actor (film Raising Victor Vargas)
• Victor Rasuk, actor (film Raising Victor Vargas)
• Alisa Reyes,actress
• Judy Reyes, actress (television show Scrubs)
• Alfonso Ribeiro actor/dancer/director (television show,Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air)
• Birmania Rios, television personality (television show Despierta America)
• Michelle Rodriguez, actress (Dominican mother)
• Julio Sabala, comedian/celebrity impersonator
• Zoë Saldaña, actress
• Merlin Santana, actor
• Rosanna Tavarez, actress/singer (group Eden's Crush)
• Celines Toribio ,actress
• Jessy Terrero music video/motion picture director (film Soul Plane)
• Ulysses Terrero, actor/casting director (brother of Jessy Terrero)
• Ludo Vika, actress/comedienne
• Sandra Zaiter, television personality in Puerto Rico

Notable and Newsworthy Personalities

• Felix Acosta-Nunez, journalist
• Sully Bonnelly, fashion designer
• Victor A. Carreño, NASA aerospace engineer
• Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, First Lady of the Dominican Republic
• Oscar de la Renta, famous fashion designer
• Magali Febles, owner of the Miss Dominican Republic and Miss Puerto Rico pageant franchises
• Sixto Nolasco, entertainment correspondent
• Providencia Paredes, assistant/confidante to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
• Ilka Tanya Payan, actress, AIDS/HIV activist
• Pedro Saúl Pérez, activist for Dominican rights in Puerto Rico
• Camille Pissarro, French painter (Dominican mother)
• Santiago Luis Polanco Rodríguez, notorious drug dealer
• Porfirio Rubirosa, famous playboy
• Miguel Suero, notorious New York City drug dealer
• Ramfis Trujillo, general and son of dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo
• Héctor Valdez Albizu, economist

Prominent Political Figures (past)

• Buenaventura Báez Méndez, former president
• Joaquín Balaguer Ricardo, constitutional president 1960-62, 1966-78, 1986-96.
• Ramón Emeterio Betances, Puerto Rican nationalist (father born in Dominican Republic)
• Salvador Jorge Blanco, 41st constitutional president 1982-1986.
• Juan Bosch y Gaviño, former president
• Francisco Alberto Caamaño Deñó, former president
• Maximiliano Gómez, revolutionary political leader
• Antonio Guzmán Fernández, former president
• Gregorio Luperón former president
• José Francisco Peña Gómez, mayor of Santo Domingo (1982-1986)
• Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, dictator 1930-1961
• José Antonio (Pepillo) Salcedo, first constitutional president after the Restoration of the Dominican Republic.
• Jose Santana, former government minister
• Pedro Santana Familias, first constitutional president (1844).
• Gregorio Urbano Gilbert, guerrilla leader

For a complete list, please refer to List of Presidents of the Dominican Republic

Prominent Political Figures (present)

• Salvador Jorge Blanco, former president, author
• Marcos Devers, first Dominican-American to execute the role of mayor in the United States, former acting mayor and councilman of Lawrence, Massachusetts
• Grace Diaz, Rhode Island House of Representatives (first Dominican-American female to be elected to a state legislature in the United States)
• Adriano Espaillat, New York State Assemblyman (first Dominican-American to be elected to a State House in the United States)
• Leonel Fernández Reyna - 52nd and 54th Constitutional president 1996-2000, 2004-present
• Julio Guridy, Allentown, Pennsylvania councilman
• William Lantigua, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
• Guillermo Linares, first Dominican-American elected in the United States, former New York City councilman
• Miguel Luna, Councilman for city of Providence, Rhode Island
• Miguel Martinez, New York City councilman
• Hipólito Mejía, 53rd Constitutional president 2000-2004.
• Milagros Ortíz Bosch, first female Vice President of the country
• Joseline Peña-Melnyk, member of the Maryland General Assembly
• Juan Pichardo, Rhode Island State Senator (first Dominican-American to be elected State Senator in the United States)
• Diana Reyna, New York City councilwoman (first Dominican-American woman elected in the United States)
• Tilo Rivas, Union County, New Jersey Commissioner of Public Affairs and Hudson County, New Jersey politician
• Rigo Rodriguez, Paterson, New Jersey councilman
• Roman Rodriguez, Rockland County, New York politician
• Manuel Segura, Trenton, New Jersey councilman
• Luis Leon Tejada, Councilman for city of Providence, Rhode Island
• Vivian Viloria-Fisher, Suffolk County politician (first Dominican-American woman elected in New York State)

Singers and Musicians

• Hector Acosta (aka El Torito), Bachata/Merengue singer
• Manny Albam, jazz musician
• José Alberto (aka El Canario), Salsa singer
• Anaís, pop singer
• Andy Andy, Bachata singer
• Aventura, Bachata Group
• AZ, Rapper
• Eddie Baez, International deejay/dance music producer
• Alberto Beltran, singer
• Big Mato rap/reggaeton artist
• Alex Bueno, Merengue/Bachata singer
• Nini Caffaro, singer
• Michel Camilo, jazz pianist
• Angela Carrasco singer
• Cassidy, rapper (Dominican mother)
• Angel Clivillés, singer/lead member of The Cover Girls (half Dominican)
• Conjunto Quisqueya, 1970s merengue big band
• Coro, freestyle singer/actor
• Daniel Cruz Sánchez, singer/songwriter
• Domenic Marte, (aka "Domenic M"), Bachata singer (half Dominican)
• El Jeffrey, Merengue singer
• Fabolous, rapper
• Zacarias Ferreira, Bachata singer
• Fulanito, Merengue/Hip Hop group
• Gio, Latin pop singer
• Juan Luis Guerra, Merengue/Bachata/Salsa singer
• Eddy Herrera, Merengue singer
• Ilegales, Merenhouse group
• Nicky Jam, Reggaeton artist
• Jossie Esteban y La Patrulla 15, Merengue group
• Ju-Ju, rapper
• Kid Creole,rapper (Dominican father)
• Krisspy, merengue singer
• La Banda Gorda, Merengue group
• Las Chicas Del Can, merengue group
• Los Hermanos Rosario, merengue group
• Los Toros Band, Merengue/Bachata group
• Kat De Luna hip-hop singer
• Luny Tunes reggaeton producers/artists
• Mamajuana merengue/bachata group
• Elvis Martinez, merengue singer
• Joselito Mateo, merengue singer
• Kinito Mendez merengue singer
• Don Miguelo, reggaeton artist
• Monchy y Alexandra, Bachata duo
• Noztra reggaeton artist
• Papi Sanchez, merengue/hip hop/reggaeton artist
• Pavel Nunez, rock musician/composer
• Anthony Ocana composer/guitarist
• OG Black reggaeton artist
• Ramon Orlando, merengue singer (son of Cuco Valoy)
• Oro Solido, merengue group
• Shalim Ortiz, singer/actor (son of Charytin)
• Johnny Pacheco, salsa singer/producer/bandleader
• Karina Pasian R&B/pop singer
• Chichi Peralta, singer, bandleader,percussionist
• Rubby Perez, Merengue singer
• Proyecto Uno merengue rap group
• Milly Quezada, singer, (dubbed "Queen of Merengue")
• Fausto Rey, singer/composer
• Frank Reyes, Bachata singer
• Anthony Ríos, singer/composer
• Bienvenido Rodriguez, Bachata singer
• Raulin Rodriguez, Bachata singer
• Tito Rodriguez, Singer (Dominican father)
• Toño Rosario Merengue singer
• Raulin Rosendo, Salsa singer
• Roger Sanchez, international deejay/ dance music producer
• Juelz Santana, rapper
• Antony Santos Bachata Singer
• Yoskar Sarante, Bachata singer
• Luis Segura singer
• Mickey Taveras, singer
• Tiffany Tavarez artist
• Toque Profundo, Rock Band
• Triple Seis, rapper
• Cuco Valoy, Merengue singer/bandleader
• Carmelina Vargas Latin pop singer
• Luis Vargas, Bachata singer
• Sergio Vargas Merengue singer
• Wilfrido Vargas Merengue singer
• Johnny Ventura Merengue singer
• Andrea "Andrea-Michelle" Vega singer (dominican father)
• Joe Veras, Bachata singer
• Fernando Villalona, singer
• J. R. Writer rapper
• Xtreme, Bachata group
• Nevaless. rapper *E$KAMOPIMPrapper (Dominican mother)

Sports

• Antonio Alfonseca, baseball player
• Carlos Almanzar, baseball player
• Danny Almonte scandal-plagued Little Leaguer
• Felipe Alou, baseball manager and player
• Jesús Alou, baseball player
• Matty Alou, baseball player
• Moisés Alou, baseball player
• Joaquín Andújar, baseball player
• Greg Aquino, baseball player
• Joaquin Arias, baseball player
• Julio Astacio, baseball player
• Miguel Batista, baseball player
• Tony Batista, baseball player
• Danny Bautista, baseball player
• Denny Bautista, baseball player
• George Bell, baseball player
• Ronnie Belliard, baseball player
• Francis Beltran, baseball player
• Adrián Beltré, baseball player
• Engel Beltre, baseball player
• Esteban Beltre, baseball player
• Armando Benitez, baseball player
• Joaquin Benoit, baseball player
• Angel Berroa, baseball player
• Wilson Betemit, baseball player
• Tony Blanco, baseball player
• Yhency Brazoban, baseball player
• Juan Brito, baseball player
• Daniel Cabrera, baseball player
• Francisco Cabrera, baseball player, hero of the 1992 NLCS for the Atlanta Braves
• Melky Cabrera, baseball player
• Robinson Canó, baseball player
• Fausto Carmona, baseball player
• Bernie Castro, baseball player
• Fabio Castro, baseball player
• Alberto Castillo, baseball Player
• Luis Castillo, football Player
• Luis Castillo, baseball Player
• Jesus Colome, baseball player
• Roman Colon, baseball player
• Bartolo Colón, baseball player
• Francisco Cordero, baseball player
• Carlos Cruz (1937-1970), world boxing champion
• Deivi Cruz, baseball player
• Leo Cruz, world boxing champion (brother of Carlos Cruz)
• Octavio Dotel, baseball player
• Edwin Encarnacion, baseball player
• Juan Encarnacion, baseball player
• Edward Vinicio Espinal, soccer player
• Pedro Feliz, baseball player
• Bartolome Fortunato, baseball player
• Rafael Furcal, baseball player
• Mary Joe Fernández, tennis player
• Julio Franco, baseball player
• Francisco Garcia, basketball player NBA
• Jerry Gil, baseball player
• Carlos Gomez, baseball player
• Vladimir Guerrero, baseball player
• Jose Guillen, baseball player
• Cristian Guzman, baseball player
• Freddy Guzmán, baseball player
• Joan Guzman, boxer
• Felix Heredia, baseball player
• Relámpago Hernández, pro-wrestler
• Runelvys Hernandez, baseball player
• Al Horford, basketball player
• Tito Horford, basketball player
• Mark Jackson,basketball player (Dominican mother)
• Stan Javier, baseball player
• D Angelo Jimenez, baseball player
• Luis Ernesto José, boxer
• Jose Lima, baseball player
• Francisco Liriano, baseball player
• Pedro Liriano, baseball player
• Genaro De León, tennis player
• Mendy Lopez, baseball player
• Felipe López, NBA basketball player
• Julio Lugo, baseball player
• Ruddy Lugo, baseball player
• Hector Luna, baseball player
• Henry Mateo, baseball player
• Julio Mateo, baseball player
• Juan Marichal, baseball player
• Damaso Marte, baseball player
• Pedro Martínez, Cy Young Award winning baseball player
• Victor Martinez, professional bodybuilder
• Sammy Mejia, basketball player
• Eleoncio Mercedes, 1985 World boxing champion
• Jose Mesa, baseball player
• Omar Minaya, General Manager for the New York Mets
• Raúl Mondesí, baseball player
• Juan Morillo, baseball player
• Agustin Montero, baseball player
• Abraham Nunez, baseball player
• Jose Offerman, baseball player
• Miguel Olivo, baseball player
• David Ortiz, baseball player
• Ramon Ortiz, baseball player
• Pablo Ozuna, baseball player
• Rafael Palmiero, baseball player
• Ronny Paulino, baseball player
• Carlos Pena, baseball player
• Tony Peña, baseball player
• Wily Mo Pena, baseball player
• Jhonny Peralta, baseball player
• Antonio Perez, baseball player
• Melido Perez, baseball player
• Neifi Perez, baseball player
• Odalis Perez, baseball player
• Rafael Perez, baseball player
• Timo Pérez, baseball player
• Plácido Polanco, baseball player
• Albert Pujols, baseball player
• Aramis Ramirez, baseball player
• Hanley Ramirez baseball player
• Manny Ramírez, baseball player
• José Reyes, baseball player
• Fernando Rodney, baseball player
• Alex Rodriguez, baseball player
• Felix Rodriguez, baseball player
• Henry Rodriguez, baseball player
• Duaner Sanchez, baseball player
• Victor Santos, baseball player
• Alfonso Soriano, baseball player
• Edgar Sosa, basketball player
• Sammy Sosa, baseball player
• Jorge Sosa, baseball player
• Félix Sánchez, Olympic gold medal winning hurdler
• Humberto A.Sanchez, baseball player
• Ervin Ramon Santana, baseball player
• Julian Tavarez, baseball player
• Willy Taveras, baseball player
• Miguel Tejada, baseball player
• Robinson Tejeda, baseball player
• Luis Terrero, baseball player
• Salomon Torres, baseball player
• Juan Uribe, baseball player
• Wilson Valdez, baseball player
• Jose Valverde, baseball player
• Claudio Vargas, baseball player
• Jack Veneno, professional wrestler
• Rafael Veras, runner
• Charlie Villanueva, NBA basketball player
• Jose Vizcaino, baseball player
• Luis Vizcaino, baseball player
• Hector Wagner, baseball player