List of people from the Basque Country
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This is a list of famous Basque people. It includes people born or resident in the Basque Country and people born elsewhere with significant Basque ancestry.
Artists
Carlos Alazraqui, Television actor
Isabel Allende, writer.
Jean Anouilh, dramatist- Joe Ansolabehere, animation screenwriter and producer
- Imanol Arias, actor
Montxo Armendáriz, filmmaker.-
Pedro Armendáriz, actor - Bernardo Atxaga, writer
- Juanma Bajo Ulloa, filmmaker
- Pío Baroja, writer
Earl W. Bascom, artist/sculptor, actor- Frank Bidart, poet
- Samuel Esparza, painter, artist
- Léon Bonnat, painter from Bayonne.
- Eduardo Chillida, sculptor
- Chumy Chúmez, cartoonist
- Ramona Tompkins, artist
- Juana Inés de la Cruz, Mexican poet
- Marie Darrieussecq, writer
- René Echevarria, television writer and producer.
- Liza Echeverría, Mexican actress and model
Hector Elizondo, Puerto Rican actor- Luisito Escauriaga (Escauriaza), storyboard artist
- María Félix, Mexican actress
- Galen Gering, Movie actor
- Agustín Ibarrola, painter
- Álex de la Iglesia, filmmaker
- Alejandro González Iñárritu, film director.
- Alfredo Landa, actor. Born in Pamplona and raised in San Sebastian.
- Mariasun Landa, writer
- Robert Laxalt, writer
John Leguizamo(leguizamon), actor and film producer.- Maitena, Argentinian cartoonist of Basque-Polish descent.
Boris Izaguirre Venezuelan-Spanish scriptwriter, journalist, writer and showman.- Jesús Mari Lazkano, painter
- Patricia Manterola, Mexican singer,actress ,model
- Julio Medem, filmmaker
- Jorge Oteiza, sculptor
- Julia Otxoa, poet
- Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, sculptor, architect.Peace Nobel Prize.
Jorge Perugorría, Cuban actor- Frederic Remington, artist-sculptor
- Cristina Saralegui, journalist ,television host
- Frank J. Urioste, film editor
Benjamin Urrutia, writer- Jenaro de Urrutia Olaran, painter
- Matilde Urrutia, wife of Pablo Neruda
- Ignacio Zuloaga, painter
- Jorge Oteiza, sculptor
- Francisco Javier Sáenz de Oiza, architect from Navarre.
- Roberto Matta Echaurren, Painter
- Rafael Moneo, architect from Navarre.
- Paco Rabanne, fashion designer.
- Cristobal Balenciaga, fashion designer.
History related
- Doroteo Arango (Pancho Villa) Mexican revolutionary
- Earl W. Bascom, rodeo history
- Antonio Fernandez Saenz, lawyer and human-rights defender
- Dominique-Joseph Garat, writer and politician
- Martin Guerre, French peasant object of a bizarre case of identity theft
- Che Guevara, Argentinian revolutionary
Agustin Lizarraga, Melchor Arteaga, Toribio Recarte,.: discovery of machu picchu (world's 7 wonders)- Étienne de Silhouette, French Controller-General of Finances under Louis XV.
- Zenón de Somodevilla y Bengoechea, Marquis of Ensenada Prime Minister of Spain
- Juan de Urbieta
Journalists
- Manuel Aznar Zubigaray, Nationalist journalist turned Francoist diplomat
- Cristina Saralegui, Cuban television journalist
Musicians
- Juan de Anchieta, composer
- Juanes (Juan Esteban Aristizábal), singer and songwriter
- Juan Crisóstomo Arriaga, composer
- Manu Chao, French-born singer and political activist of Galician and Basque origin
- Placido Domingo, singer. Basque mother from Getaria.
- Mikel Erentxun and/or Diego Vasallo : (Duncan Dhu,..)
- Aita Donostia, composer
- Francisco Escudero, composer
- Tomas Garbizu, composer
- Julián Gayarre, singer from Navarre
- Jesús Guridi, composer
- Alberto Iglesias, composer. Twice nominated for Oscar.
-
Paco Ibáñez, Spanish singer. His mother is Basque. - Sebastian de Yradier y Salaverri, composer
- Jose Iturbi, composer, conductor, and pianist.
- Imanol Larzabal, singer
-
Carlos Jean Arriaga, singer and DJ. His mother is Basque. - Mikel Laboa, singer and songwriter
- The group La Oreja de Van Gogh with/or Amaia Montero
- Luis Mariano, singer
- The group Mocedades
- Fermin Muguruza, singer and songwriter
- Javier Maria de Munibe Idiaquez, composer
- Nemesio Otaño, composer
Enrique Ortiz de Landázuri Izardui (aka Enrique Bunbury)
Roland Orzabal, musician (Tears for Fears)- Maurice Ravel, composer
- Domingo Samuido, from Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs
- Pablo Sarasate, composer.
- Pablo Sorozábal, composer
- Álex Ubago, singer
Jaime Urrutia, singer.- Jorge Urrutia, Chilean composer
- Jose Maria Usandizaga, composer
- {flagicon|Basque Country}} Nicanor Zabaleta, musician
Business people
- Pedro Altube 'Palo Alto', Californian businessman.
- Dominique Amestoy, founder of the Farmers and Merchants Bank
- Jose María Aristrain, steel industries.
- John Arrillaga. Real State businessman in Silicon Valley and philanthropist .
- Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala, Owner of Grupo Modelo Brewery, Richest woman in Mexico
- Hilario Arbelaitz, world famous cook, main cook of the Restaurant Zuberoa
- Karlos Arguiñano, cook and entertainer
- José María Arizmendiarrieta, founder of the Mondragón cooperatives.
- Juan María Arzak, cook. Michelin stars winner.
- John Ascuaga, founder of John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino Resort, Sparks, Nevada
- Emilio Azcarraga Vidaurreta, Televisa founder.
- Martin Berasategui, cook. Michelin stars winner.
- François Cabarrus, adventurer and Spanish financier from Bayonne, father of Madame Tallien
- José Ramón Cengotitabengoa, president Society of Basque Studies in America
- John A. Elorriaga, former U.S.Bank's Chairman and CEO, president of the U.S. Bancorp
- Robert F. Erburu, former Chairman, president and CEO of the Times Mirror company
- Roberto Goizueta, Cuban Exile, Former president,Chairman and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company
- Jose María Korta ,businessmen association leader. Victim of terrorism.
- Jacques Laffitte, banker and politician
- Miguel Leonis, 'king of calabasas'. Leonis Adobe.
- José Ignacio López de Arriortúa, automotive industry
- Sir Ramón de la Sota, shipping businessman. 'Euskalduna' founder.
- Pedro Subijana, cook. Michelin stars winner.
Zobel de Ayala family, real estate, banking, and telecommunications
Narcisa Tamborindeguy, businesswoman & socialite- Richard G. Navarro - Former President of AAA (American Automobile Association) Idaho.
- Joseph A. Unanue, Businessman, Goya Foods.
Clergy
- Saint Miguel Aozaraza
- Pedro Arrupe, general of the Society of Jesus.
- Martín de Azpilicueta. Navarrese
- Earl W. Bascom, Mormon Bishop
- Saint Valentín de Berrio-Ochoa
- Ignacio Ellacuría, theologian.
- Roger Cardinal Etchegaray
- Michel Garicoïts, roman catholic saint.
- Saint Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia
- Saint Martin Loinaz
- Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus
- Francisco de Vitoria, jurist and theologian
- Saint Francis Xavier. Patron of Navarre and evangelizer of Asia.
- Miguel Zugastegui
- Friar Juan de Zumárraga
- José Maria de Zalvidea
Explorers and conquistadors
- Lope de Aguirre
- Pascual de Andagoya
- Juan Bautista de Anza I
Juan Bautista de Anza- Domingo de Bonechea
- Cosme Damián de Churruca y Elorza
- Juan Sebastián de Elcano
- Catalina de Erauso
- Alonso de Ercilla
- Juan de Esquivel
- Martin Ruiz de Gamboa
- Juan de Garay
- Francisco de Garay
- Martin de Goiti
- Bruno de Heceta
- Martin de Hoyarçabal
- Diego de Ibarra
- Francisco de Ibarra
- Domingo Martinez de Irala
- Miguel López de Legazpi
- Martín Ignacio de Loyola
- Juan Ortiz de Zarate
- Cristobal de Oñate
- Juan de Oñate
- Martín García Óñez de Loyola
- Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa. Basque mother.
- Jedediah Smith
- Juan de Tolosa
- Andrés de Urdaneta, conqueror of the Philippines with Legazpi
- Martin de Ursua
- Pedro de Ursua
- Pedro de Zarate
- Some of the Basque clergymen can be included in this explorers' chapter.
Politics
- Abd-ar-Rahman III, Caliph of Cordoba (his mother and paternal grandmother were Basques).
- Abd al-Rahman Sanchuelo, son Hisham II
- Michèle Alliot-Marie, French minister and mayor of Saint-Jean-de-Luz
- José Antonio Aguirre (politician), leader of Basque Nationalist Party during 1930s
- Jerry Apodaca, former Governor of New Mexico.
- Sabino Arana, founder of the Basque Nationalist Party.
- José Antonio Ardanza Garro Former Basque President
- Xabier Arzalluz, PNV leader.
- Jose Joaquin de Arrillaga, California Governor
- Rodrigo Soriano Barroeta Aldamar , politician, diplomat and writer
- Fernando Belaúnde, twice President of Peru
- David H. Bieter, mayor of Boise, Idaho
- Miguel Ángel Blanco Victim of terrorism
- Simón Bolívar, South American revolutionary whose family came from Bolibar, Biscay.
Juan María Bordaberry, President of Uruguay- Bryant B. Brooks, governor of Wyoming
- Fernando Buesa, Socialist member of the Basque Government
- René Cassin, jurist and judge from Bayonne, recipient of the 1968 Nobel Peace Prize
- Michel Camdessus, from Bayonne, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 1997 to 2000.
- Pete T. Cenarrusa, secretary of State of Idaho
- Luis Echeverría, president of Mexico
- Peter Echeverria, lawyer and former president of 'American Board Of Trial Advocates'.
- Pete Ernaut, state assemblyman, Nevada
- Manuel Fraga Iribarne, Spanish politician.
- Carlos Garaikoetxea, Former Basque President
- John Garamendi, Lt. Governor of California
- Emilio Garrastazu Medici, president of Brazil
- Che Guevara, revolutionary
- Hisham II, caliph of Cordoba
- Juan José Ibarretxe, Current Basque President
- Dolores Ibárruri, Pasionaria, Communist leader from Gallarta
- Ignace-Michel-Louis-Antoine d'Irumberry de Salaberry, politician
- Agustín de Iturbide, Emperor of Mexico
- José de Iturrigaray,viceroy of New Spain.
- Octaviano Ambrosio Larrazolo(Larrasolo), former governor of New Mexico.
- Paul Laxalt, Governor of Nevada and US Senator for Nevada
- Jesús María de Leizaola Sánchez Former Basque President
- Jaime Mayor Oreja Former Interior Minister, leader of the PP in the European Parliament
- Telesforo de Monzón, founder of Ertzaina regional police and Herri Batasuna party
- Martín de Mujica y Buitrón, gobernor of Chile from 1646 to 1649
- Arnaldo Otegi, former leader Batasuna party
- José F. Ozámiz, Philippine senator from Misamis Occidental
- Ron Parraguirre, Nevada Supreme Court Justice
- Eva Peron, Argentine first lady
- Ramón Rubial Cavia, Spanish Socialist leader
- File:BanderaGranColombia.png Rafael Urdaneta, last president of the Republic of Great Colombia
- Roberto Urdaneta, President of Colombia
- Álvaro Uribe Vélez, current President of Colombia.
Carlos Luis de Urrutia, governor of Santo Domingo
Francisco Jose Urrutia, Panamanian diplomat and statesman- Manuel Urrutia, President of Cuba
- Ben Ysursa, Secretary of State of Idaho
- Idoia Zenarrutzabeitia, Basque Vice-President
-
Máxima Zorreguieta, Argentinian wife of the heir of the Dutch throne - Tomás de Zumalacárregui, Carlist general
- Don Diego de Gardoqui, diplomat
See also Iñigo Arista, Kings of Navarre
Sports
- Javier Aguirre, football coach and former footballer
- Luis Arconada, footballer
- Xabi Alonso, footballer
- Amezola, olympic gold medal.Paris 1900.
- Mikel Arteta, footballer
- Rodolfo Arruabarrena, el Vasco, footballer
- Adolfo "Tito" Antuñano, 1967 world champion slalom waterskier
- Earl W. Bascom, rodeo, Hall of Fame
- Txiki Beguiristain, footballer
- Joseba Beloki, cyclist
- Alberto Berasategui, tennis player
- Josune Bereziartu, Best rock climber woman in the world.
- Serge Blanco, rugby player (Basque mother)
- Jean Borotra, tennis player .Olympic medal Paris 1924.
- Jorge Burruchaga, footballer. World cup winner.
- Juan Curuchet, cyclist, olympic gold medal Beijing 2008
- Didier Deschamps, footballer
- Anthony Dupuis, professional tennis player from Bayonne.
- Pierre Etchebaster, real tennis
- Jean Etcheberry, rugby player , olympic medal 1924.
- Pierre Etchegaray, olympic gold medal.Paris 1900.
Marco Etcheverry, Bolivian footballer- Joseba Etxeberria, footballer
- Xabier Fernandez Gaztañaga, sayling 49er ;Olympic gold in 2004 & Olympic silver in 2008.
- José Eulogio Gárate, footballer
- Andoni Goikoetxea, the Butcher of Bilbao footballer
- Sergio Goycochea, footballer
- Imanol Harinordoquy, rugby player
- Miguel Indurain, Navarrese cyclist. Olympic gold medal Atlanta 1996.
- Alberto Iñurrategi, mountaineer
- José Ángel Iribar, footballer
- José Luis Korta, rowing recordman.
- Luis María Lasúrtegui Berridi , rowing olympic medal.1984.
- Marino Lejarreta, cyclist. Vuelta España winner.
- Bixente Lizarazu, footballer. World Cup winner.
- Iker Martínez de Lizarduy , sailing 49er ; Olympic gold in 2004 & Olympic silver in 2008.
- Iban Mayo, cyclist
- Leire Olaberria, cyclist.Olympic medal Beijing 2008.
- Abraham Olano, cyclist.Olympic medal Atlanta 1996.
- Juanito Oiarzabal, mountaineer. World record holder.
- Julio Olarticoechea, footballer. World cup winner.
- José María Olazábal, golfer and winner of the The Masters Tournament
- Javier Otxoa Palacios, cyclist
- Iñaki Perurena, stone-lifting recordman .
- Miguel de la Quadra Salcedo, athlete, journalist and adventurer.
- Julián Retegi, Pelota player
- Joane Somarriba, cyclist
- Jose Luis de Ugarte, brave solo-circumnavigator
- Iñaki Urdangarín, His Excellency The Duke of Palma de Mallorca, Olympic Mens's Handball Bronze Medalist
- Patricio Urrutia, World Cup footballer
- José Ibar Urtain, boxer
- Ismael Urzaiz, footballer
- Patxi Usobiaga, rock climbing world champion
- Paulino Uzcudun, boxer
- Pichichi, footballer
- Ted Williams, Former Major League Baseball Player
- Telmo Zarraonaindía, also known as "Zarra", footballer
- Andoni Zubizarreta, footballer
Note: Footballer = Soccer football player
- Jeret Peterson, Mallea Family Olympic Skiier & World Cup Champion.
Note: Olympic Winter Sports - Freestyle Skiing
Astronauts
- Léopold Eyharts, ESA astronaut, first Basque in space.
Scientists
- Jesus Altuna, archaezoologist ,paleontologist
- Telesforo Aranzadi, scientist
- José Miguel de Barandiaran, anthropologist, paleontologist and Catholic priest
- Florence Bascom, geologist
- Antoine-Thomson d'Abbadie, explorer, anthropologist, linguist and astronomer
- Louis Daguerre, inventor of photography
- Armand David, priest/zoologist/botanist, first European to discover the Giant Panda
- José de Echegaray, mathematician
- Pedro Miguel Echenique, scientist
- Fausto Elhúyar and José Elhuyar, first to isolate wolfram/tungsten.
- Pierre Hérigone, mathematician and astronomer.
- Nicolas Louis de Lacaille
Writers
- Ignacio Aldecoa
- Gabriel Aresti
- Bernardo Atxaga
- Pedro Agerre Axular
- José de Arteche
- Resurreción María de Azkue
- Pío Baroja
- Alexandre Dumas fils (Basque mother)
- Salvador Elizondo
- Lucía Etxebarria. Born in Valencia to Basque parents.
- José de Echegaray Eizaguirre. Literature Nobel Prize 1904.
- Bernard Etxepare
- Juan Pablo Fusi, historian
- Esteban de Garibay,16th C. Historian
- Jon Juaristi
- Robert Laxalt
- Joanes Leizarraga
- Xabier Lizardi
- Jose Manterola
- José Carlos Mariátegui
- Gabriela Mistral. Lucila Godoy Alcayaga. Literature nobel prize.
- Koldo Mitxelena, linguist
- Juan Antonio Mogel
- Arnauld de Oihenart
- Nikolas Ormaetxea Orixe
- Ramiro Pinilla
- Joseba Sarrionandia
- Alfonso Sastre
- José Ignacio Tellechea Idígoras. Historian, Theologian
- Miguel de Unamuno
- Kirmen Uribe
- Estepan Urkiaga Lauaxeta
- Ignacio Jose Urrutia, Cuban historian
- Agustin Xaho
Philosophers
- Frédéric Bastiat, classical liberal author and political economist
- John Etchemendy , Stanford University's provost.
- Castor Narvarte
- Javier Sádaba
- Fernando Savater
- Miguel de Unamuno, also listed as writer.
- Xavier Zubiri
Patrons of the Arts
- Juan Antonio de Urrutia y Arana, Mexican patron of the arts.
- Pedro Viteri , philanthropist
- Rodrigo Mercado de Zuazola , bishop. Founded in 1540 the 'University of Sancti Spiritus' known as 'University of Oñate'.
Military
- José de Armendáriz
- Eugene W. Biscailuz, Sheriff - Los Angeles county - .Founded 'California Highway Patrol'.
- Cosme Damián de Churruca y Elorza
- Catalina de Erauso
- Antonio de Gaztañeta
- Jean Isidore Harispe
- Juan de Lezcano
- Blas de Lezo ,defeated British Navy in Cartagena Indias. Largest naval engagement before D-day
Henning von Ondarza, German general and NATO commander- Martín García Óñez de Loyola
- Charles de Salaberry
