List of Cuban Americans
Appearance
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This is a list of famous Cuban Americans. This list contains both naturalized Cuban-born Americans and naturally-born Americans of Cuban-descent.
Lists of Americans |
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By US state |
By ethnicity |
Business
- Alex Aguila, co-founder of Alienware
- Raul Alarcon, president and CEO of the Spanish Broadcasting System
- Ralph Alvarez, president and COO of McDonald's
- Armando Codina, CEO of the Codina Group
- George Feldenkreis, CEO of Perry Ellis International
- Robert C. Goizueta, former CEO of the Coca-Cola Company
- Nelson Gonzalez, co-founder of Alienware
- Carlos Gutierrez, former CEO of Kellogg Company
- Alvaro de Molina, Chief Financial Officer of Bank of America Corporation
- George Reyes, Chief Financial Officer of Google
- Gregorio Reyes, co-founded Sunward Technologies; Silicon Valley legend
- Felix Sabates, entrepreneur, philanthropist, holds ownership in NASCAR, Charlotte Bobcats and New Orleans Hornets
- Alberto Vilar, philanthropist, former CEO of Amerindo Investment Advisers
Education
- George J. Borjas, noted economist, Harvard University
- Dr. Modesto A. Maidique, president of Florida International University
- Dr. Elsa A. Murano, Vice Chancellor and Dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University
- Dr. Eduardo Padron, president of Miami Dade College
- Alejandro Portes, prominent sociologist, Princeton University
Entertainment
Actors
- Desi Arnaz, actor (I Love Lucy)
- Desi Arnaz Jr., actor
- Lucie Arnaz, actress
- Nelson Ascencio, comedian (Madtv)
- Steven Bauer, actor (Scarface)
- Bobby Cannavale, actor (Third Watch, Will & Grace)
- Nestor Carbonell, actor (Suddenly Susan)
- Matt Cedeño, actor and model
- Eddie Cibrian, actor (Vanished, Invasion)
- Valerie Cruz, actress (Nip/Tuck)
- Rosario Dawson, actress(Rent, Kids)
- Kamar de los Reyes, soap opera actor (One Life to Live)
- Cameron Diaz, actress (There's Something About Mary, Charlie's Angels), host of MTV's Trippin'
- Guillermo Díaz, actor (films Half Baked, Party Girl)
- Marieh Delfino, actress
- Majandra Delfino, actress (Roswell)
- Mel Ferrer, actor
- Daisy Fuentes, model and television personality (MTV's House of Style, Miss Universe co-host)
- David Fumero, soap opera actor (One Life to Live)
- Gene Gabriel, actor (Numb3rs, Law & Order: Criminal Intent)
- David Gallagher actor, 7th Heaven [1]
- Melissa Gallo (1982 - ) television actress, One Life to Live [2]
- Andy Garcia, Academy Award-nominated actor (The Godfather), (Ocean's Eleven, Oceans Twelve)
- Joanna García (1979 - ) film and television actress (Reba) [3]
- Jorge Garcia, actor (Lost)
- Jsu Garcia, actor
- Nona Gaye, singer and actress (Ali)
- Carlos Gómez, actor
- Eva Mendes, actress (Hitch, 2 Fast 2 Furious)
- Christina Milian, singer and actress (Be Cool)
- Enrique Murciano, actor (Without a Trace)
- Oscar Nuñez, actor (The Office)
- Elizabeth Peña, actress (Rush Hour)
- Danny Pino, actor (Cold Case)
- Ruben Rabasa, actor (The Lost City)
- Mercedes Renard, actress
- Armando Riesco, actor (film Garden State)
- Adam Rodriguez, actor (CSI: Miami)
- Cesar Romero, actor (The Joker on Batman)
- Mercedes Ruehl, Academy Award-winning (The Fisher King) and Tony Award-winning actress
- Saundra Santiago, actress (Miami Vice, The Sopranos)
- Tessie Santiago, actress (Good Morning, Miami)
- Jamie-Lynn Sigler (1981 - ), television actress (The Sopranos) [4]
- Georg Stanford Brown, actor (Roots)
- Gina Torres, actress (The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions)
- Jordi Vilasuso (1981 - ), film/television actor [5]
Directors, Screenwriters & Producers
- Desi Arnaz, producer (I Love Lucy, Star Trek, The Andy Griffith Show, Mission: Impossible, The Untouchables), creator of Desilu studios
- Migdia Chinea Varela, screenwriter, writer (Incredible Hulk, The Facts of Life, Superboy)
- Manny Coto, executive producer (24), writer (24, Star Trek: Enterprise)
- René Echevarria, writer (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Medium) co-creator of The 4400
- Silvio Horta, creator (Ugly Betty), writer (Urban Legends, Jake 2.0, Ugly Betty)
- Brett Ratner, American-born director (Rush Hour, Red Dragon, X-Men 3)
- George Romero, producer/director (Night Of The Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead) creator of the Night Of The Living Dead series of movies
Fashion
- Lazaro Hernandez, fashion designer, co-founder of Proenza Schouler
- Narciso Rodriguez, fashion designer
Musicians
- Francisco Aguabella, Afro-Cuban master percussionist
- Abel Aguilera, international deejay/dance music producer (one half of duo Rosabel)
- Albita, Grammy-winning singer
- B Real, member of rap group Cypress Hill
- Jorge Bolet, classical concert pianist specializing in Lizst (numerous recordings on London label)
- Irene Cara, Oscar and Grammy-winning singer (Flashdance), actress (Fame)
- Willy Chirino, singer
- Ana Cristina, singer
- Johnny Goudie, rock musician
- Celia Cruz, multiple Grammy-winning singer
- Xavier Cugat, celebrated bandleader
- Addys D'Mercedes, singer
- DJ Infamous, first Cuban-American world champion DJ and is now producing hip-hop music
- Don Dinero, rapper
- Jose Echaniz, classical concert pianist, recorded for Westminster records in the 50's
- Emilio Estefan, five-time Grammy-winning producer
- Gloria Estefan, Grammy-winning and Academy Award-nominated singer
- Lola Falana, singer, actress and dancer
- Nona Gaye, singer and actress (Ali)
- Horacio Gutierrez, prize-winning classical concert pianist
- Fat Joe, American-born rapper
- Al Jourgensen, musician
- La Lupe, singer and gay icon
- Nil Lara, rock musician
- Dave Lombardo, drummer
- Raul Malo, lead singer of American country music band, The Mavericks
- Martika, Grammy-nominated singer
- Paul Masvidal, guitarist for metal band Cynic
- JD Natasha, Latin pop musician
- Olivia Longott, rapper
- Pitbull, American-born rapper
- Carlos Ponce, singer and actor
- Chano Pozo, Afro-Cuban, Latin Jazz percussionist, conga player
- Santiago Rodriguez, award-winning classical concert pianist and founder of the Elan CD recording label
- Rudy Sarzo, rock bassist (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Manic Eden, Dio)
- Jon Secada, two-time Grammy-winning singer
- Sen Dog, Cuban rapper member of (Cypress Hill)
- Tico Torres, drummer for Bon Jovi
Reality Television Contestants
- Katrina Campins, contestant on season 1 of The Apprentice
- Rachel Campos, featured on The Real World: San Francisco
- Ivette Corredero, runner-up on Big Brother 6
- Jose "Pepi" Diaz, contestant on season 5 of The Apprentice
- Marlon Fernández, winner of Objetivo Fama (third season)
- Nathan Gonzalez, Survivor: Cook Islands contestant
- Danny Jimenez, Amazing Race all-star contestant
- Lisi Linares, Survivor: Fiji contestant
- Oscar Mendez, Amazing Race all-star contestant
- Chris Nuñez, artist and reality television personality (Miami Ink)
- Melissa Padron, featured on The Real World: Miami
- Veronica Portillo, Playboy model and reality show contestant
- Janu Tornell, Las Vegas dancer and reality show contestant (Survivor)
- Dana Varela, reality show contestant (Big Brother 4)
- Pedro Zamora, AIDS activist, featured on The Real World: San Francisco
Television Personalities
- Laz Alonso, actor and BET personality
- Lily Estefan, co-host of Univision's El Gordo y la Flaca
- Alex Ferrer, television judge (Judge Alex)
- Daisy Fuentes, frm. MTV VJ and host of America's Funniest Home Videos
- Alex Garcia, Food Network personality
- Odalys Garcia, singer, model and television personality
- Vida Guerra, television presenter and model
- Raul De Molina, co-host of Univision's El Gordo y la Flaca
- Maria Lopez, television judge (Judge Maria Lopez)
- Ana Maria Polo, television arbitrator
- Marilyn Milian, television judge (The People's Court)
- Rick Sanchez, CNN anchorman and reporter
- Cristina Saralegui, magazine editor, talk show host (Cristina) and actress
- Bob Vila, television host (This Old House), author and actor (Home Improvement)
Writers
- Mercedes de Acosta, poet, playwright
- Nilo Cruz, playwright, the first Latino to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama
- Carmen Agra Deedy, children's books author
- Paula Fox, author, winner of Hans Christian Andersen Medal, biological grandmother of musician Courtney Love
- Oscar Hijuelos, first Latino to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
- Ricardo Pau-Llosa, poet, pioneer art critic of Latin American art in the US and Europe, and author of short fiction.
- Jorge Reyes, memoirist, short-story writer, poet, children's books
- Jaime Suchlicki, author From Columbus To Castro And Beyond[[1]]
- Piri Thomas, author (memoir Down These Mean Streets)
- Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, writer (The Dirty Girls Social Club)
- Cristina García, author - Dreaming in Cuban, nominated for the National Book Award, 1992
- Juan Gerardo Hernandez, author - Cuban, That's All and More Cuban, That's All, 2003, 2005
Journalists
- Manny Alvarez, medical correspondent Fox News Channel
- Cathy Areu, founder of Catalina magazine
- Liz Balmaseda, columnist Miami Herald
- Barbara Bermudo, anchor Primer Impacto
- Beatriz Canals, anchor WFOR, CBS in Miami
- Myrka Dellanos, former anchor Primer Impacto
- Jose Diaz-Balart, anchor/reporter
- Max Gomez, medical correspondent WNBC, NBC in New York City
- Ambrose E. Gonzales, founder of the The State newspaper in South Carolina
- Dan Le Batard, sportswriter for The Miami Herald
- Antonio Mora, anchor WBBM, CBS in Chicago
- Belkys Nerey, anchor WSVN, Fox in Miami
- Jackie Nespral, anchor WTVJ, NBC in Miami
- Soledad O'Brien, anchor CNN's American Morning
- Mariane Pearl, author, journalist A Mighty Heart
- Maggie Rodriguez[2], anchor Saturday edition of CBS's The Early Show
- Rick Sanchez, anchor, CNN Newsroom
- Enrique Teutelo, anchor/reporter WLTV, Univision Miami
Politics and the Judiciary
United States Ambassadors
- Eduardo Aguirre, United States Ambassador to Spain and Andorra
- Lino Gutierrez, former United States Ambassador to Argentina
- Paul L. Cejas, former United States Ambassador to Belgium
- Mauricio Solaun, former United States Ambassador to Nicaragua
United States Congress
- James Devereux, former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Maryland's 2nd district
- Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Florida's 21st district
- Mario Diaz-Balart, Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Florida's 25th district
- Joseph Marion Hernández, first Hispanic elected to the United States Congress
- Mel Martinez, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, United States Senator (R-Florida), former HUD secretary
- Bob Menendez, United States Senator (D-New Jersey)
- Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Florida's 18th district
- Albio Sires, Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing New Jersey's 13th district
Federal Government
- Nils J. Diaz, former chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Cari M. Dominguez, Chair of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Adolfo A. Franco, Assistant Administrator for USAID[3] Latin America and the Caribbean
- Dr. Emilio T. Gonzalez, Ph.D, director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Carlos Gutierrez, United States Secretary of Commerce
- Eliot A. Jardines, first Assistant Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Open Source
- Mel Martinez, former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- Dr. Elsa A. Murano, Ph.D, former Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety with the United States Department of Agriculture
- Otto Reich, former Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
- John H. Sununu, White House Chief of Staff under President George H. W. Bush
State and Local Government
- Carlos Alvarez, mayor of Miami-Dade County
- Jose O. Arango , former state assemblyman of New Jersey
- Joe Carollo, former mayor of Miami
- Manny Diaz, mayor of Miami
- Zulima Farber, former Attorney General of New Jersey
- Luis A. Ferré, former governor of Puerto Rico
- Bob Martinez, first Hispanic governor (R-FL) in U.S. history
- Raul L. Martinez, former mayor of Hialeah
- Alex Penelas, former mayor (D-FL), Miami-Dade County, FL
- Vincent Prieto, NJ state assemblyman 32nd District
- Marco Rubio, Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (R-Coral Gables)
- Xavier Suarez, former mayor of Miami
- John H. Sununu, former Governor of New Hampshire (R)
World leaders
- Éamon de Valera, 3rd president of Ireland
Judiciary
- Cecilia Altonaga, United States District Court Judge
- Danny Boggs, Chief judge of United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Raoul G. Cantero, III, Florida Supreme Court justice
- Mauricio J. Tamargo, Chairman of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission
- Adalberto Jordan, United States District Court Judge
Athletes
- Gilbert Arenas, American professional basketball player(whose great grandparents are cuban) currently with the NBA's Washington Wizards
- Steve Bellán, also known as Esteban, nicknamed "The Cuban Sylph", the first Cuban and the first Latin American to play professional baseball in the USA from 1869 to 1873
- José Canseco, former MLB player, author (Juiced) and reality show contestant (The Surreal Life)
- Ozzie Canseco, former MLB player
- Eric Eichmann, former US National Team and American professional soccer player (mother is Cuban)
- Mary Joe Fernandez, tennis player
- Raul Ibanez, a player on the Seattle Mariners
- Henry Gutierrez, former US National Team and American professional soccer player
- Orlando Hernandez, baseball player New York Mets
- Minnie Miñoso, former MLB player,
- Pablo Morales, who won a relay gold and two silver medals for the USA swimming Butterfly at the 1984 Summer Olympics
- Orlando Palmeiro, Major League Baseball player
- Rafael Palmeiro, Major League Baseball player<br
- Julio Herrera, Famous Wrestler
- Tony Perez, Hall of Fame Major League Baseball player
- Jorge Posada, current catcher NY Yankees, Winning team for MLB World Series. Father and grandfather are Cuban. (2007)
- Jennifer Rodriguez, inline speed skating world champion (1993) and USA speedskater in the 1998, 2002, and 2006 Winter Olympics, winning two bronze medals in Salt Lake City in 2002
- Alberto Salazar, winner of three consecutive New York City Marathons (1980 - 1982), the Boston Marathon (1982), and a member of the United States' Olympic marathon team (1984)
- Danny Tartabull, MLB player
- Ryan Freel, Cincinnati Reds Outfielder, His mother and maternal grandparents are Cuban.
- Luis Tiant, former MLB player
Science and Technology
- Aida de Acosta, first female to fly a powered aircraft
- Aristides Agramonte, physician, pathologist and bacteriologist
- Luis Walter Alvarez, famed Nobel Prize-winning physicist
- Arturo Dulzaides, influential architect and structural engineer
- Nils J. Diaz, former Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Carlos Finlay, physician and scientist
Misc.
- Mercedes de Acosta, socialite, author, best known for her affairs with Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich
- Fernando Bujones, ballet dancer
- Alina Fernández, radio personality, daughter and critic of Fidel Castro
- Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos, woman at the center of the Carl Tanzler case
- Vanessa Del Rio, American-born porn star
- Inez Garcia, charged with murdering her rapist
- Ambrosio José Gonzales, Colonel in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.
- Ana Mendieta, performance artist, noted feminist
- Erik Menendez, convicted murderer
- Lyle Menendez, convicted murderer
- Perez Hilton, celebrity gossip blogger
- Henry Pollack, radio host of "Havana Rock"
- Charles Rebozo, close friend and confidant of President Richard Nixon; key Watergate figure
Footnotes
- ^ Gallagher - "All-Starz on David Gallagher".
This half Irish, half Cuban actor can dance for six hours straight! "I'm proud to have the Latin hips," he says!
- ^ Gallo - "Melissa Gallo Fan".
(MELISSA GALLO) comes from "a big Cuban family, a lot of whom reside in the New York area"
- ^ Garcia - "Aah Celeb Profile".
Cuban descent actress JOANNA GARCIA
- ^ Sigler - "Celebrity Wonder interview with Jamie-Lynn Sigler".
I'm half-Cuban -- my mother was born in Cuba and came here as a teenager -- so it's got a lot of Latin influence to it. It's pretty poppish. It's kind of more on the J-Lo side of things.
- ^ Vilasuso - "CBS.com Interview with Jordi Vilasuso".
CBS.COM: Now, you're of Cuban descent? JORDI VILASUSO: My parents are from Cuba. I was born in Miami. All of Miami is going to start watching Guiding Light.