List of Filipino Americans

This is a list of Filipino Americans, who are famous, have made significant contributions to the American culture, politics, and society. Also includes those with notable mentions in the American media.

To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Filipino American or must have references showing they are Filipino American and are notable.

List

Arts and letters

Education

• Jose B. Cruz, Jr. – Distinguished Professor of Engineering at the Ohio State University.
• Sharon Delmendo – St. John Fisher College Professor of English; author of "The Star Entangled Banner"; researches the unique anthropological, cultural and political entanglements that have arisen as a result of the colonial relationship between the U.S. and the Philippines; youngest person in the history of her institution to attain the rank of full professor.

History

• Dorothy Cordova – Activist, professor, Co-founder of the Filipino American National Historical Society.
• Fred Cordova – Author of "Filipinos: Forgotten Asian Americans"; co-founder of the Filipino American National Historical Society.

Labor

• Philip Vera Cruz – co-founder of the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, which later merged with the National Farm Workers Association to become the United Farm Workers; vice-president of the United Farm Workers

Literature

• Alfredo Alcala – Filipino comic book artist.
• Peter Bacho, author of the American Book Award winning novel Cebu
• Lynda Barry – mestiza cartoonist, most known for Ernie Pook's Comeek and Marlys, published in Salon.com and other independent papers; she created the prototype for what would become the cartoon hit series, The Simpsons
• Carlos Bulosan – author, "America Is In the Heart."
• Regie Cabico – notable slam poet and performer.
• Ernie Chan – comic book artist/inker for Marvel Comics and DC Comics.
• Dianne de Las Casas – author and award-winning storyteller
• Melissa de la Cruz – author of teen lit series Au Pairs, The Ashleys and Blue Bloods
• Tony De Zuniga – co-creator of Jonah Hex
• Don Figueroa - comic book artist for IDW Publishing and Dreamwave Entertainment, working on various Transformers titles.
• Rafael Kayanan – comic book artist and master level instructor in Sayoc Kali.
• Nick Manabat – creator of Cybernary, comic book artist for Wildstorm Productions
• Kenn Navarro – animator of cartoon Happy Tree Friends
• Aimee Nezhukumatathil – award-winning poet and professor
• Han Ong – playwright and author; recipient of MacArthur Foundation "genius" grant.
• Whilce Portacio – created Bishop of the X-Men, co-founder of Image Comics.
• Randy Romero – Writer
• Eileen Tabios – poet.
• Romeo Tanghal – comic book artist.
• Alex Tizon – Pulitzer Prize Winner.
• Jose Garcia Villa – poet, writer, generationalist; pre-Beat Generation influence.

Journalism

• Veronica De La Cruz – CNN News Anchor
• George Estrada – Humboldt State University professor of journalism; author of "I Have Tasted the Sweet Mangoes of Cebu"; former reporter with Oakland Tribune and Associated Press; columnist with the Philippine Times of Las Vegas.
• Chabeli Iglesias – journalist (Filipina mother)
• Kristine Johnson – anchor for WCBS-TV New York
• Claire Leka – former CNN Business Reporter (half Filipino half German Irish)
• Elita Loresca, meteorologist KNBC (NBC) in Los Angeles
• Michelle Malkin – Fox News Reporter and Best-selling author
• Maria Quiban – Weather meteorologist & news anchor for KTTV/KCOP-TV in Los Angeles
• Hazel Sanchez – correspondent, reporter/anchor for WCBS-TV New York
• Mona Lisa Yuchengco – founder of Filipinas magazine.
• Cher Calvin – News Anchor for KTLA/CW.

Theater

• Jessica Hagedorn – playwright/author (Mango Tango, "Dream Jungle", "The Gangster of Love", Dogeaters)
• Jose Llana – broadway actor, Drama Desk Award Winner.
• Lea Salonga – Broadway actress, Olivier Award winner.

Business

• Diosdado Banatao – Silicon Valley engineer and businessman
• Caterina Fake – Cofounder, Flickr.com, acquired by Yahoo! Inc.
• Josie Natori – founder, The Natori Company
• Loida Nicolas-Lewis – chairman and CEO of TLC Beatrice International Holdings, Inc.
• Peter Valdes – Co-founder, Tivoli Systems Inc. (an IBM Company).

Culinary Arts

• Cristeta Comerford – first woman executive chef at the White House. She worked as an assistant chef for 10 years. After a ten-month search, she was appointed by First Lady Laura Bush on August 14, 2005.

Health Science

• Maria P. P. Root – Psychologist.
• Mariano Yogore (1921–2006) - Professor and head of Institute of Public Health.

Politics

• Peter Aduja – State Legislature, Hawaii.
• Christopher Cabaldon – Mayor of West Sacramento, California, born in 1965.
• Benjamin J. Cayetano – First Filipino-American governor in the U.S., Hawaii.
• Jose Esteves – Mayor of Milpitas, California since 2002; served as a member of the City Council from 1998 to 2002.
• Bobby Scott – U.S. Congressman.
• Michele J. Sison – US ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

Religion

• Oscar A. Solis‎ – First Filipino American Roman Catholic bishop in the United States.

Entertainment

Television and Film

• Jo Koy - Stand-up comedy
• Kaye Abad - Actress
• Gerald Anderson- Actor
• Alley Baggett – model, actress.
• Kimee Balmilero – member of the American version of Hi-5, a children's musical group
• Dante Basco – actor, director, producer.
• Darion Basco – actor, director, producer.
• Buzz Belmondo – Comedian, Actor, Writer, Baywatch, Out Of This World.
• Joy Bisco – Filipino American actress
• Q. Allan Brocka – director, producer, actor, best known for directing the film Eating Out and its sequel.
• Eileen Boylan – actress (South of Nowhere, General Hospital).
• Cher Calvin – actress, news anchor, KTLA Morning News. Miss New York,1st runner up
• Eugene F. Castillo – conductor, born in Hollywood, CA, is now the Music Director of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Cultural Center of the Philippines.
• Tia Carrere – actress
• Phoebe Cates – actress.
• T.V. Carpio – actress.
• Charles Klapow – choreographer (High School Musical, 2, 3, The Ice Tour & The Cheetah Girls 2)
• Pia Clemente – The first Filipino to be nominated for a competitive Academy Award for the live action short, "Our Time Is Up". (2004)
• Emy Coligado – actress, (Piama, Francis' wife, Malcolm in the Middle).
• Michael Copon – actor, (Blue Ranger in Power Rangers Time Force) star in Bring it on, in it to win it.
• Annie Cruz – adult film star.
• Ronnie del Carmen – story supervisor, Finding Nemo; storyboard artist, Batman: The Animated Series
• Louie del Carmen – story artist, Dreamworks Animation; storyboard artist, Disney Kim Possible, Nickelodeon Invader Zim (2001), The Mighty B! (2008)
• Dean Devlin – screenwriter and producer of many films including, Independence Day, Godzilla and Stargate, also occasional actor
• Mar Elepano– filmmaker, production supervisor of the John C. Hench Lab, Division of Animation and Digital Arts, USC School of Cinematic Arts
• Joel de la Fuente – actor.
• Irish Fullerton – actress, singer.
• Ava Fabian – actress, model.
• Von Flores – actor
• Dan Gabriel – comedian, host of Asian Street Comedy.
• Christine Gambito – comedian going by the nickname of "HappySlip", she contributes to the video site YouTube.
• Melissa Howard – actress-comedienne, MTV Real World New Orleans cast.
• Stella Hudgens – actress
• Vanessa Anne Hudgens - actress, singer, television star (High School Musical).
• Tessa Keller, model and reality tv actor on Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County
• Abigail Kintanar – actress, host, reality show vixen. VH1's CelebReality Star "Red Oyster"[1]of "Flavor of Love," VH1's "Charm School" Alternate, VH1’s Big in '06 Awards, TFC's "Pinagmulan," TFC's "Speak-Out," NBC's "Identity" and "Joey."
• Kevin Kleinberg –actor, (Blue Ranger in Power Rangers Time Force;).
• Lalaine – TV star, Lizzie McGuire..
• Liza Lapira – actress, Film and TV.
• Sharon Leal – actress, Boston Public, Dreamgirls (film), Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?
• Danny Lee – actor.
• Reggie Lee – Prison Break actor (Season 2), played Bill Kim.
• Kaylani Lei – adult film star
• Matthew Libatique – Cinematographer, credits includes Requiem For A Dream, The Fountain, Inside Man and Iron Man
• Cris Judd – actor, choreographer.
• Tiffany Limos – actress
• Natassia Malthe – actress, model.
• Camille Mana – actress, One on One, as Lisa Sanchez.
• Alec Mapa – openly gay actor and comedian Adam Benet on UPN's.
• Sabrine Maui – adult film star.
• Sean Michael (1988–) film/television actor (Akeelah and the Bee)
• Madison Michele – actress and television host, host of Animal Planet's King of the Jungle.
• Vanessa Minnillo American television personality; model,VJ MTV's TRL Total Request Live.
• Mimi Miyagi (née Melody Damayo)–adult film star, candidate for Governor of Nevada.
• Paolo Montalban – actor, model, starred as Kung Lao in Mortal Kombat: Conquest.
• Rex Navarrete – comedian, voice actor in Myx channel's cartoon "The Nutshack"
• Jaclyn Ngan – actress Freedom Writers.
• Nia Peeples – actress
• Lou Diamond Phillips – actor, La Bamba.
• Victoria Principal – actress, Dallas.
• Victoria Recaño – correspondent The Insider, actress CSI: Miami.
• Ernie Reyes Jr. – actor, martial artist.
• Jelynn Rodriguez – "Drop" cast
• Rome Romanne – actor, model, choreographer and former Mr. Earth Pageant winner
• Rob Schneider – Saturday Night Live performer, actor, comedian (Jewish father, half-Filipina mother); "Mom's family had the better food; Dad's family had the better jokes."
• Shannyn Sossamon – actress, 40 Days and 40 Nights, A Knight's Tale.
• Charmane Star – adult film star
• Air Tabigue – stand-up comedian
• Anna Maria Perez de Tagle – actress (Ashley from Hannah Montana) and Star Search contestant; granddaughter of the Filipina singer, Sylvia La Torre.
• Lily Thai – adult film star.
• Chuti Tiu – actress, Desire, 24, Dragnet, Beautiful,The Specials.
• Tamlyn Tomita – actress, The Joy Luck Club and The Karate Kid, Part II.
• Reno Ursal – actor, entrepreneur.
• Van Partible – creator/director/writer of cartoon series Johnny Bravo.
• Hervé Villechaize – actor (Tattoo from Fantasy Island).

Reality Show

• Ruthie Alcaide – house mate on MTV's The Real World: Hawaii.
• Mig Ayesa – runner-up in Rock Star: INXS
• Cheryl Burke –professional dancer, participant in Dancing with the Stars
• Michelle "Mochi" Camaya; dancer, participant in Step It Up and Dance.
• Ryan Conferido – contestant on So You Think You Can Dance
• Jenascia Chakos – America's Next Top Model cycle 2 contestant.
• Mark Dacascos – actor, martial artist, Iron Chef: America host.
• Chris Gatdula – dance member of the JabbaWockeeZ and contestant of America's Best Dance Crew on MTV (Season 1).
• Charmaine Hunt – contestant on The Apprentice season 5
• Sam Khurana – contestant (Team Geniuses) on Treasure Hunters. Half-Indian and half-Filipino]
• Melody Lacayanga – contestant on So You Think You Can Dance
• Melinda Lira – American Idol contestant (season 4).
• Guji Lorenzana – alternative rock, pop rock solo artist, American Idol contestant (Season 3)
• Ramiele Malubay – American Idol contestant (Season 7).
• Sandra McCoy – actress, former contestant in Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll.
• Asia Nitollano – Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll winner; daughter of Joe Bataan.
• Jose Penala – American Idol contestant (season 5).
• Rynan Paguio – dance member of the JabbaWockeeZ and contestant of America's Best Dance Crew on MTV (Season 1).
• Jordan Segundo – singer, American Idol semi-finalist (Season 2).
• Josie Smith-Malave – contestant on the show Top Chef contestant (Season 2).
• A.J. Tabaldo – American Idol contestant (season 6).
• Dale Talde – Top Chef contestant (Season 4).
• Phil Tayag – dance member of the JabbaWockeeZ and contestant of America's Best Dance Crew on MTV (Season 1).
• Chuti Tiu – America's Junior Miss (first non-Caucasian winner)
• Jasmine Trias – American Idol contestant (Season 3).
• Camile Velasco – American Idol contestant (Season 3).

Music

• Ruthie Alcaide – MTV Real World Hawaii cast
• James Baluyut - lead guitarist for the rock band +/- and once played with older brother Richard for Versus.
• Richard Baluyut - lead singer for band Versus
• Allan Pineda a.k.a. Apl.de.ap – hip hop musician, member of The Black Eyed Peas. (African American father, Filipina mother)
• Cassie – Casandra Ventura (born August 26, 1986 in New London, Connecticut), professionally known as Cassie, is an American R&B and pop singer, model, and actress.
• Joe Bataan – Latin soul legend.
• Mutya Buena singer, former sugababes member. sang the hit song "REAL GIRL'
• Blue Scholars – Geologic of the Seattle hip hop group.
• Amapola Cabase (aka AMAPOLA) – Singer, Musician, Author of Fiction novels: "Coming Home" (Winner of 3 Book Awards), "Promising Skies", host of "Amapola Presents Show" longest running locally produced magazine variety show in San Francisco, Ca. Channel 20 KEMO-TV from 1996 to 1981.
• Billy Crawford – recording artist, singer.
• Jenn Cuneta – singer, sung Come Rain, Come Shine
• Death Angel – Thrash Metal band.
• Revik Delfin – singer, performer, "Jack Killed Jill".
• Leah Dizon – model, singer, actress, and TV personality in Japan.
• Bobby Enriquez – "The Wild Man," prodigious Jazz Pianist
• Kate Earl – singer, songwriter.
• Jocelyn Enriquez – techno and house singer
• Jerome Fontamillas – Switchfoot guitarist and keyboardist
• Kirk Hammett – lead guitarist for Metallica (Filipina mother)
• Chad Hugo – music producer and musician; one-half of The Neptunes.
• Enrique Iglesias – singer, international pop star.
• Julio Iglesias Jr – singer, international pop star.
• Jaya
• Carlo Gimenez lead guitarist of the Meg & Dia Band.
• Rachael Lampa – Christian singer.
• Arian Leviste: Filipino-American electronic music artist, record producer and DJ
• Neal McCoy – country music singer.
• Robert Menard – musician, keyboards in popular band Teen Wolf.
• Maile Misajon – singer of Eden's Crush.
• Vanessa Minnillo – Miss Teen USA 1998, MTV personality
• Sophia Montecarlo – singer, model, a "Born Diva", grand finalist.
• Native Guns – Bambu and Kiwi of the LA hip hop group.
• Dustin Perfetto – rapper, audio engineer best known for his song "I Gott Grapes".
• Arnel Pineda – newest lead singer of American rock band, Journey.
• Amber Rowley – singer.
• The Speaks Rock band consisting Filipino Americans
• Nicole Scherzinger – lead singer for the Pussycat Dolls. (Filipino father, Russian/Hawaiian mother)
• Joey Santiago – lead guitarist of the Pixies, credited by Kurt Cobain as influential to his music, albums include the classic Surfer Rosa and Doolittle. Later formed a band The Martinis with his wife.
• Jonny Santos – Former Singer of the band Spineshank; current singer/guitarist of the band Silent Civilian (half-filipino)
• Jade Villalon – singer, actress.
• My American Heart – Rock band.

Disc Jockeys

• Mix Master Mike – Beastie Boys DJ, founding member of the Invisibl Skratch Piklz; winner of 1992 and 1993 DMC World DJ Championships (Rocksteady DJ's) and winner of the 1992 New Music Seminar/Supermen Inc. DJ Battle for World Supremacy
• DJ Babu – DJ of the World Famous Beat Junkies & member of the Hip Hop Group Dilated Peoples. Hails from Oxnard, CA.
• DJ Qbert – SF Bay Area Hip-Hop DJ and pioneering Turntablist. Founding member of the Invisibl Skratch Piklz; winner of 1991 (solo) 1992 (Rocksteady DJ's), 1993, (Dreamteam) DMC World DJ Championships. Has featured in the movie Hang the DJ. Appears in the documentary film Modulations and the documentary Scratch.
• DJ RIDDLER (Rich Pangilinan) – DJ at WKTU in New York, Sirius Satellite Radio, record producer, remixer and member of the group MYNT
• D-Styles – Released the worlds first all-scratched full length Album, a member of hip hop group Third Sight he was also once a part of the influential Invisibl Skratch Piklz.

Fashion

• Anna Bayle – Supermodel, maker of Anna Bayle cosmetics
• Francine Dee – glamour model
• Raquel Gibson – swimsuit model, Playboy's Playmate of the Month for November 2005
• Luana Lani – model
• Christine Mendoza – model
• Monique Lhuillier – Hollywood Fashion Designer
• Josie Natori – Hollywood fashion designer
• Charo Ronquillo – Supermodel
• Leeann Tweeden – model, television personality

Pageant

• Sonya Balmores– Miss Hawaii Teen USA 2004.
• Angela Perez Baraquio – Miss America 2001.
• Steffiana De La Cruz (née Stephanie Anna Zantua) – professional model
• Andrea Jumapao – first Filipino American to participate (on a national level in the United States) in the Miss USA-World 1976 competition held in Boston, MA as Miss Oregon.
• Robyn Watkins – Miss Oklahoma USA 2006

Sports

Baseball

• Chris Aguila – Florida Marlins baseball player (Filipino father).
• Benny Agbayani – New York Mets, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals baseball player.
• Bobby Balcena – Cincinnati Reds baseball player.
• Bobby Chouinard – Baltimore Orioles baseball player.
• Tim Lincecum – San Francisco Giants baseball player (Filipino Grandfather)

Basketball

• Gabe Norwood – former NCAA guard, George Mason Patriots.
• Erik Spoelstra – Miami Heat head coach (Filipino mother)

Football

• Eugene Amano – NFL offensive guard/center, Tennessee Titans.
• Tedy Lacap Bruschi – NFL All-Pro linebacker, New England Patriots.
• Roman Gabriel – former NFL quarterback, Los Angeles Rams.
• Chris Rix – former quarterback, Florida State Seminoles (Filipino mother).

Figure Skating

• Tai Babilonia – Olympic figure skater (African American mother; Filipino and Hopi-Indian father)

Golf

• Jennifer Rosales

Contact Sports/Martial Arts

• Glenn Donaire – Nonito Donaire's older brother, also a boxer in the flyweight and junior flyweight classes.
• Nonito Donaire – Current IBF & IBO World Flyweight (112 lbs.) Champion.
• Dan Inosanto – Head of Bruce Lee's JKD, Head of Lacoste / Inosanto FMA .
• Brandon Vera – UFC Fighter (nicknamed Brandon "the Truth" Vera; Filipino American father, Italian American mother).
• Brian Viloria – US Olympic boxer, former WBC light-flyweight champion.

Poker

• Noli Francisco
• Toto Leonidas

Skateboarding

• Willy Santos – a professional skateboarder.

Soccer

• Natasha Kai – American soccer player and member of the United States women's national soccer team.
• Tiffany Roberts – American soccer player and former member of the United States Women's National Soccer Team (Filipino mother). [2]

Softball

• Toni Mascarenas –American softball player and former member of the United States Women's National Softball Team (Filipino father).

Tennis

• Cecil Mamiit
• Lilia Osterloh

Water Sports

• Megan Abubo – multiple times world champion surfer (father born in the Philippines).
• Natalie Coughlin – Olympic swimmer, gold medalist.
• Victoria Manalo Draves – diver who was first woman to win two gold medals in springboard diving at the 1948 Olympics in London.
• Sunny Garcia – surfing world champion, surfing legend.
• Malia Jones – surfing model, People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People.

Wrestlers

• David Bautista – WWE performer going by the name of "Batista" on the WWE Friday Night SmackDown! brand. (Filipino father, Greek mother)
• Benny Cuntapay – also known by his ring alias B-Boy. Performer in CZW or Combat Zone Wrestling
• Scott Lost. Performer in PWG, or Pro Wrestling Guerilla
• T. J. Perkins – also known by his ring aliases Pinoy Boy and Puma.

Military

• Jose Calugas – Captain, U.S. Army. Medal of Honor Recipient, World War II
• Rudolph Davila – First Lieutenant, U.S. Army. Medal of Honor Recipient, World War II
• Oscar Hilman – Brigadier General, U.S. Army, retired.
• Eleanor Mariano – First Filipino-American to reach the rank of Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy, retired. White House physician.
• José B. Nísperos – First Asian-American Medal of Honor Recipient
• Edward Soriano – Lieutenant General U.S. Army, retired.
• Ramon S. Subejano – Private First Class, U.S. Army. World War II Silver Star recipient.
• Antonio Taguba – Major General of U.S. Army, retired. Author of the Taguba Report.
• Telesforo Trinidad – Fireman Second Class, U.S. Navy. First and only Asian-American naval recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Other

• Andrew Cunanan – Filipino-American gay spree killer during the mid-1990s; murdered several of his lovers including the Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace.
• Christina Marie Williams – (1985–1998) murdered child.
• Leandro Aragoncillo – former FBI intelligence analyst and retired Gunnery Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps who was charged with espionage and leaking classified information against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

See also

• Filipino people
• Fil-Am
• Kababayan

External Links

1. Famous Kababayans