List of Venezuelans

Famous or notable Venezuelans include:

Architecture

Alejandro Chataing, known as "Cipriano Castro's architect".
Carlos Raúl Villanueva (1900–1975), builder of the Ciudad Universitaria de Caracas.

Artists

Gabriel Bracho (1915–1995)
Carlos Cruz-Díez (born 1923)
Mariano Díaz (born 1929)
Marisol Escobar (1930-2016)
Alirio Palacios (1938-2015)
Gego (Gertrude Goldschmidt; 1912–1994)
Yucef Merhi (born 1977)
Arturo Michelena (1863–1898)
Alejandro Otero (1921–1990)
Mercedes Pardo (1921-2005)
Armando Reverón (1889–1954)
Cristóbal Rojas (1857–1890)
Jesús Rafael Soto (1923–2005)
Martín Tovar y Tovar (1827–1902)
Patricia van Dalen (born 1955)
Beatriz Helena Ramos (born 1971)
Cornelis Zitman (1926–2016)

Authors

A–C

José Antonio de Armas Chitty, historian and poet
Rafael Arráiz Lucca, historian and poet
Alberto Arvelo Torrealba, poet
José Balza, writer
Alberto Barrera Tyszka, writer
Andrés Bello, educator and humanist
Andrés Eloy Blanco, poet
Eduardo Blanco, novelist and poet
Mario Briceño Iragorry (1897–1958), writer and historian
Manuel Caballero, historian and journalist
Rafael Cadenas, poet
Juan Carlos Chirinos, writer

D–M

Manuel Díaz Rodríguez, novelist and journalist
Tulio Febres Cordero, writer
Rómulo Gallegos, writer
Julio Garmendia, writer and journalist
Salvador Garmendia, novelist and story teller
Adriano González León, poet and writer
Francisco Herrera Luque (1927–1991), writer
Eduardo López Bustamante, journalist and poet
Francisco Massiani, writer
Domingo Maza Zavala, journalist and economist
Juan Carlos Méndez Guédez, writer
Guillermo Meneses (1911–1978), writer and journalist
Eugenio Montejo (1938–2008), poet
Guillermo Morón, historian and writer

N–P

Moisés Naím, writer
Fabricio Ojeda, journalist and writer
Juan Oropeza, writer
Edgar C. Otálvora, journalist and writer
Miguel Otero Silva, writer
Teresa de la Parra, writer
Juan Antonio Pérez Bonalde, poet
Mariano Picón Salas, writer
José Rafael Pocaterra, writer

S–Z

Tomás Straka, historian
José Antonio Ramos Sucre, poet
Oscar Sambrano Urdaneta, writer and literary critic
Pedro Sotillo, writer and journalist
Alfredo Toro Hardy, writer and diplomat
Arturo Uslar Pietri, historian and writer
Slavko Zupcic, writer
Humberto Tejera, poet, journalist, writer

Beauty queens

The following Venezuelans won a beauty title in the Big Four international beauty pageants: Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Miss Earth;^[1]^[2]^[3] the four major international beauty pageants for women.^[4]^[5]

A–H

Consuelo Adler, Miss International 1997
Jacqueline Aguilera, Miss World 1995, Top Model of the World 1995
Goizeder Azúa, Miss International and Miss Mesoamérica 2003
Alexandra Braun, Miss Earth 2005
Susana Duijm, Miss World 1955
Stefanía Fernández, Miss Universe 2009
Daniela di Giacomo, Miss International 2006
Marelisa Gibson, Miss Venezuela 2009
Alyz Henrich, Miss Earth 2013
Astrid Carolina Herrera, Miss World 1984

I–M

O–R

Bárbara Palacios, Miss Universe and Miss South America 1986

S–Y

Irene Sáez, Miss Universe and Miss South America 1981
Ivian Sarcos, Miss World 2011
Maritza Sayalero, Miss Universe 1979
Nina Sicilia, Miss International 1985
Vivian Urdaneta, Miss International 2000

Business and law

Gustavo Cisneros, Venezuelan-born media mogul. He is among the world's richest men according to Forbes magazine, which estimates his fortune at $6 billion.
Manuel Antonio Matos, banker and caudillo
Lorenzo Mendoza, oversees one of Venezuela's largest private companies, $6 billion (sales) Empresas Polar.
Eugenio Mendoza (1906–1979), Venezuelan business tycoon who made important contributions in the modernization of the country during the 20th Century.
Henry Lord Boulton, Venezuelan aviator, entrepreneur, owner, and former owner of many businesses such as Casas Boulton, Avensa/Servivensa among others.
Ali Lenin Aguilera, Venezuelan lawyer, entrepreneur.
Carolina Herrera, fashion designer and entrepreneur who founded her eponymous company in 1980.
Rostislav Ordovsky-Tanaevsky Blanco, entrepreneur, president of Rostik Group in Russia.
William H. Phelps, Jr., ornithologist and founder of Radio Caracas Televisión
William H. Phelps, ornithologist and founder of Radio Caracas Radio
Carlos Eduardo Stolk (1912-1995), founding member of the United Nations, Chairman of the Board and President of Empresas Polar.

Cartoonists

Engineering

Cristina Amon, Dean, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto
José González-Lander, engineer, head engineer for the Metro de Caracas (1993-2000)
Alfredo Jahn, engineer and naturalist
L. Rafael Reif, engineer, President of MIT

Entertainment

A–D

María Conchita Alonso, Cuban-born Venezuelan raised actress and singer
Marco Aponte, actor and linguist
Juan A. Baptista, actor
José Bardina, Spain-born Venezuelan actor
Marina Baura, Spain-born Venezuelan actress
Amador Bendayán, actor and entertainer
Alexandra Braun, model
Jacques Braunstein, Rumanian-born Venezuelan radio host
Santiago Cabrera, actor
Camila Canabal, television hostess
Fernando Carrillo, actor
Grecia Colmenares, Venezuelan-born Argentine actress
Francisco José Cróquer, sportscaster and poetic declaimer
Guillermo Dávila, actor and singer
Miguel de León, actor
Oscar D'León, singer and bandleader
Majandra Delfino, actress
Marieh Delfino, actress
Chiquinquirá Delgado, actress and model
Christina Dieckmann, actress and model

E–P

Eva Ekvall, television hostess
Gaby Espino, actress
Maria Gabriela de Faría, actress
Lele Pons, internet personality and actress
Lupita Ferrer, actress
Sandro Finoglio, actor, model
Catherine Fulop, actress, television host
Viviana Gibelli, Polish-born Venezuelan television host
Joselo, actor and comedian
Cynthia Lander, beauty pageant contestant
Jean Paul Leroux, actor
Esperanza Magaz, Cuban-born Venezuelan actress
Andrea Matthies Bornhorst, model
Rosmeri Marval, actress, model and singer
Mayra Alejandra, television and film actress
Keidy Moreno, model
Lila Morillo, actress, singer
Carlos Olivier, actor
Alejandro Otero, actor, model
Renny Ottolina, television host and producer
Enrique Palacios, model
Vanessa Pose, actress
Marianne Puglia, model

R–S

Édgar Ramírez, film actor and television producer
Veruska Ramírez, model
Benjamín Rausseo (a.k.a. Er Conde del Guácharo), comedian
Maricarmen Regueiro, actress
Gustavo Rodríguez, film, stage and television actor
José Luis Rodríguez (a.k.a. El Puma), singer and actor
Mariangel Ruiz, actress and model
Juan Carlos Salazar, singer, musician, composer
Sabrina Salvador, television host
Luis José Santander, actor
Enrique Sapene, actor and television producer
Daniel Sarcos, television host
Marger Sealey, singer
Eduardo Serrano, actor
Sonya Smith, American-born Venezuelan actress
Verónica Schneider, actress and model
Gabriela Spanic, actress
Natalia Streignard, Spanish-born Venezuelan actress
Francys Sudnicka, model
Juana Sujo, Argentinian-born actress and theatrical educator

T–Z

Carolina Tejera, actress, model
Coraima Torres, actress
Orlando Urdaneta, actor
Wilmer Valderrama, actor, television host
Angélica Vale, actress
Dominika van Santen, model
Patricia Velásquez, actress, model
Rita Verreos, beauty pageant contestant
Doris Wells, actress
Oscar Yanes, journalist, writer

Filmmakers

Elizabeth Avellán (born 1960)
Román Chalbaud (born 1931)
Clemente de la Cerda (1935–1984)
Solveig Hoogesteijn (born 1946)
Jonathan Jakubowicz (born 1978)
Marcel Rasquin (born 1975)
Luis Armando Roche (born 1938)
Mariana Rondon, (born 1966)
Fina Torres (born 1951)

Historical

Simón Bolívar (1783–1830), Wars of Independence leader, military commander, Father of the Nation.
José Tomás Boves (1782–1814), Wars of Independence leader, military caudillo.
Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi (1799–1866), heroine from the Venezuelan War of Independence
Pedro Camejo (better known as Negro Primero, or The First Black) (1790–1821), lieutenant at the Venezuelan war of independence.
Agostino Codazzi (1793–1859), Italian born, military officer, cartographer, former governor of Barinas.
Francisco de Miranda (1750–1816), Wars of Independence leader, veteran of the U.S. and French revolutions.
Antonio José de Sucre (1795–1830), Wars of Independence leader, Grand Marshal of Ayacucho, president of Bolivia (1826–1828), president of Peru
Juan José Flores (1800–1864), founder of Ecuador and its first President.
Santiago Mariño (1788–1854), hero in the Venezuelan War of Independence, and important leader of Venezuela's eastern.
Cristóbal Mendoza (1772–1829), considered to be the first President of Venezuela.
José Gregorio Monagas (1795–1858), hero of the Venezuelan War of Independence, and former president.
José Tadeo Monagas (1784–1868), hero of the Venezuelan War of Independence, and former president.
Mariano Montilla (1782–1851), Major General of the Army of Venezuela in the Venezuelan War of Independence.
José Antonio Páez (1790–1873), Wars of Independence leader, former President.
José Félix Ribas (1775–1815), leader and hero of the Venezuelan War of Independence.
Juan Germán Roscio (1763–1821), lawyer and politician, main editor of the Venezuelan Declaration of Independence and chief architect of the Venezuelan Constitution of 1811.
Rafael Urdaneta (1788–1845), hero of the Latin American wars of independence.
Fernando Adames Torres (1837–1910) General of the Army during the Revolution of Coro, Senator representing Lara State and Chief of Staff.
Fermin Toro (1807–1865), politician, diplomat, writer, minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs, president of the 1858 National Convention.

Mass media

Arístides Bastidas, science journalism
Nelson Bocaranda, political journalist and broadcaster
Carlos Capriles Ayala, journalist and historian
Miguel Ángel Capriles Ayala, journalist and editor
María Teresa Castillo, journalist and cultural entrepreneur
José Agustín Catalá, journalist and author
Luis Chataing, radio host and humorist
Simón Alberto Consalvi, journalist, author and politician
Milena Gimón, sports journalist
Roberto Giusti, political journalist and broadcaster
Laureano Márquez, Spanish-born Venezuelan journalist and humorist
Aníbal Nazoa, journalist and writer
Aquiles Nazoa, journalist, writer and humorist
Jorge Olavarría, political journalist and historian
Rafael Poleo, political journalist and editor
Abelardo Raidi, sports journalist and broadcaster
Lil Rodríguez, cultural journalist
Oscar Yanes, journalist and writer
Daniel Rios Mendoza, political journalist

Medicine

Baruj Benacerraf, Venezuelan-born American, Nobel Prize of Medicine in 1980.
Jacinto Convit, medic and scientist, known for developing a vaccine to fight leprosy and his studies to cure different types of cancer.
Francisco De Venanzi, Venezuelan doctor, scientist, scholar, and rector of the Central University of Venezuela.
José Del Vecchio, pioneered both sports medicine and youth baseball development.
Humberto Fernández Morán, researcher and founder of the Venezuelan Institute for Neurological and Brain Studies, who developed the diamond scalpel.
José Gregorio Hernández, physician and religious figure (Catholic religion).
Tobías Lasser, botanist, founder of the Botanic Garden of Caracas.
Marcel Roche, physician and educator.
José María Vargas, modernized the Medicine studies in Venezuela in the second half of the 19th century.

Mountaineers

José Antonio Delgado, first person to summit five eight-thousanders.

Musicians

A–B

Adrenalina Caribe, Caribbean music group
Abraham Abreu, harpsichordist and pianist
Aldo Abreu, Medieval-Baroque recorder executant
José Antonio Abreu, classical musician and founder of El Sistema
Vinicio Adames, choral group conductor
Francisco de Paula Aguirre, composer
Ricardo Aguirre, singer, songwriter
Luis Alfonzo Larrain, bandleader, arranger, composer
Los Amigos Invisibles, funk music band
Diana Arismendi, composer

Fulgencio Aquino, Venezuelan harp player, composer
Reynaldo Armas, singer, songwriter
The Asbestos, rock music band
Devendra Banhart, American-Venezuelan singer, songwriter
Huáscar Barradas, flautist, composer
Édgar Bastidas, lyric tenor
Carlos Baute, pop singer
Beatriz Bilbao, composer
Hugo Blanco, Venezuelan harp player, songwriter
Modesta Bor, composer, choir conductor.
Soledad Bravo, singer
Benjamín Brea, Spanish-born Venezuelan musician
Vytas Brenner, keyboardist, songwriter
Humberto Bruni Lamanna, classical guitarist
Andréa Burns, American-born Venezuelan singer

C–D

Calle Ciega, reggaeton band
Candy 66, rock band
Benito Canónico, composer
Los Cañoneros, Caraquenian traditional genres group
Los Cuñaos, traditional eight-part vocal group
Renato Capriles, bandleader and composer
Caramelos de Cianuro, rock band
Ramon Carranza, saxophonist, instructor
El Carrao de Palmarito (Juan de los Santos Contreras), folk singer
Teresa Carreño, 19th century pianist
Evencio Castellanos, classical pianist
Mirla Castellanos, pop singer
José Catire Carpio, folk singer
Inocente Carreño, classical composer, conductor
Rubén Cedeño, lyric singer
María Teresa Chacín, folk singer
Los Chamos, pop group
Ilan Chester, pop singer, songwriter
Chino & Nacho, reggaeton duet
Collegium Musicum de Caracas, classical music group
Vidal Colmenares, joropo singer
Sylvia Constantinidis, Venezuelan-born American classical pianist, composer, conductor, also a multimedia artist, writer, music educator.
Guillermo Dávila, pop singer
Desorden Público, ska band
Franco De Vita, pop singer, songwriter
Alirio Díaz, classical guitarist
Simón Díaz, folk singer, songwriter
Dimensión Latina, salsa band
Oscar D'León, salsa singer
Rubén Domínguez, lyric tenor
Gustavo Dudamel, classical conductor

E–J

Ensamble Gurrufío, folk instrumental group
Antonio Estévez, classical composer
Flor Roffé de Estévez, was a composer, writer, and professor of Venezuelan music
Pedro Eustache, classical flute player
Heraclio Fernández, pianist, composer
Ignacio Figueredo, Venezuelan harp player
Billo Frómeta, Dominican-born Venezuelan bandleader, songwriter, arranger
Otilio Galíndez, folk and pop composer
Hernán Gamboa, Venezuelan cuatro player
Gran Coquivacoa, Venezuelan gaita group
Guaco, pop and salsa band
Pedro Elías Gutiérrez, composer, conductor
Reynaldo Hahn, Venezuelan-born French classical composer
Lorenzo Herrera, folk and pop singer, songwriter
Enrique Hidalgo, folk and pop songwriter
Cheo Hurtado, Venezuelan cuatro player
Gualberto Ibarreto, folk and pop singer
Jorge Isaac, Medieval-Baroque recorder executant
Adina Izarra, composer
Jeremías, British-born Venezuelan pop singer, songwriter
Guillermo Jiménez Leal, Venezuelan cuatro player, singer, songwriter
Porfirio Jiménez, Dominican-born Venezuelan bandleader, arranger, songwriter

K–N

Luis Laguna, musician, songwriter
José Ángel Lamas, classical composer
Antonio Lauro, composer, guitarist
Anselmo López, Venezuelan bandola performer
Ángel Custodio Loyola, folk singer
Natalia Luis-Bassa, classical conductor
Pablo Manavello, Italian-born Venezuelan rock guitarist
Mango, salsa music group
Maracaibo 15, Venezuelan gaita group
Floria Márquez, bolero singer
Henry Martínez, songwriter
Mayré Martínez, pop singer, songwriter
Eduardo Marturet, classical conductor
Francisco Mata, folk singer, songwriter
Laudelino Mejías, composer
Los Melódicos, dance band
Conny Méndez, composer, singer, writer
Armando Molero, singer, songwriter
Moisés Moleiro, classical composer
Silvano Monasterios, jazz pianist, composer
Ricardo Montaner, singer, songwriter
Gabriela Montero, pianist
José Ángel Montero, opera composer
Morella Muñoz, lyric mezzo-soprano
Alberto Naranjo, arranger, conductor
Graciela Naranjo, bolero singer, film actress

O–R

Orquesta Sinfónica Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho, symphony orchestra
Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar, symphony orchestra
Orquesta Sinfónica Venezuela, symphony orchestra
Victor Guillermo Ramos Rangel
Francisco Pacheco, folk singer
Eneas Perdomo, joropo singer, songwriter
Iván Pérez Rossi, Venezuelan cuatro player, singer, composer
Allan Phillips, pop songwriter, producer
Juan Bautista Plaza, classical composer
Alí Primera, singer, songwriter
Pancho Prin, folk singer, songwriter
Edward Pulgar, classical violinist, conductor
Ana María Raga, choral group conductor, composer, pianist
Luis Felipe Ramón y Rivera, composer, performer, investigator, writer
Victor Ramos Rangel, classical composer, bassoon player
Rudy Regalado, Latin-jazz and pop bandleader, percussionist
Fredy Reyna, Venezuelan cuatro player
Aldemaro Romero
Rodrigo Riera, classical guitarist
Rafael Rincón González, singer, songwriter
Pedro Antonio Ríos Reyna, classical violinist
María Rivas, jazz-pop singer, songwriter
Luis Mariano Rivera, Venezuelan cuatro player, songwriter
Aldemaro Romero, classical and pop composer, conductor, bandleader
Alfredo Rugeles, composer, conductor
Otmaro Ruíz, jazz and pop pianist, arranger, composer

S–Z

Alfredo Sadel, lyric tenor, pop singer, songwriter
Rodolfo Saglimbeni, classical conductor
Juan Carlos Salazar, Venezuelan cuatro player, singer, songwriter
Magdalena Sánchez, joropo singer
Anthony Sandoval, pop-rock singer, songwriter
Chucho Sanoja, bandleader, arranger, pianist, songwriter
José Enrique Sarabia, songwriter
Ángel Sauce, classical composer, violinist, conductor
Serenata Guayanesa, folk vocal and instrumental quartet
Eduardo Serrano, songwriter, arranger, conductor, performer
Vicente Emilio Sojo, classical composer, conductor, musicologist, educator
Henry Stephen, pop singer
Mario Suárez, pop-folk singer
Juan Vicente Torrealba
Los Terrícolas, pop-rock vocal and instrumental group
Ricardo Teruel, composer
Ender Thomas, pop singer, songwriter
Todosantos, indie Latin-rock band
Juan Vicente Torrealba, Venezuelan harp player, composer
El Trabuco Venezolano, Latin-jazz salsa big band
Lilia Vera, folk singer
Verona, rock vocal and instrumental group
Voz Veis, pop vocal sextet
Gerry Weil, Austrian-born Venezuelan jazz pianist
ZAPATO 3, rock music vocal and instrumental group

Politicians

Rómulo Betancourt (1908–1981), former president, founder of Democratic Action
Jóvito Villalba (1908–1981), founder of URD.
Rómulo Betancourt
Douglas Bravo (born 1923), former guerrilla leader, politician
Rafael Caldera (1916–2009), former president (1969–1974 and 1994–1999), founder of Copei
Pedro Carmona (born 1941), former Head of Fedecámaras, former president (2002)
Cipriano Castro (1858–1924), former president (1899–1908)
Hugo Chávez (1954–2013), former president (1999–2013)
Juan Crisóstomo Falcón (1820–1870), former president
Rómulo Gallegos (1884–1969), former president, minister of education, congressman, mayor of Caracas, and writer.
Juan Vicente Gómez (1857–1935), former president (1908–1935).
Juan Vicente Gómez
Antonio Guzmán Blanco (1829–1899), former president
Wolfgang Larrazábal (1911–2003), military officer, former president (1958–1959)
Eleazar López Contreras (1883–1973), General, former president
Isaías Medina Angarita (1897–1953), military officer, former president
Marcos Pérez Jiménez (1914–2001), military officer, former president
Fabricio Ojeda (1929–1966), former guerrilla fighter, congressman, journalist
Jacinta Parejo de Crespo (1845–1914), former First Lady of Venezuela for two terms
Carlos Andrés Pérez (1922–2010), former president (1974–1979) and (1989–1993)
Teodoro Petkoff (born 1932), former guerrilla fighter and cabinet minister, journalist
José Vicente Rangel (born 1929), journalist, politician
Alí Rodríguez Araque (born 1937), diplomat, cabinet minister
Ali Lenin Aguilera (born 1967), youngest Venezuelan congressperson and businessman
Irene Sáez (born 1961), former mayor of Chacao and governor of Nueva Esparta, Miss Universe 1981 winner
Juan Manuel Sucre Figarella (1925–1996), General, businessman.
Leopoldo Sucre Figarella (1926–1996), Engineer, politician.
Ramón José Velásquez (born 1916), former president, historian, journalist,
Alirio Ugarte Pelayo (1923–1967), lawyer, politician.
Pompeyo Márquez (born 1922), politician, former minister
Nicolas Maduro Actually mister President of Venezuela

Science

Baruj Benacerraf, winner of the Nobel Prize for Medicine
Manuel Blum, winner of the Turing Award
Humberto Fernández Morán, inventor of the diamond scalpel, winner of the John Scott Medal
Carlota Perez, technology scholar and economist
William H. Phelps, ornithologist and founder of Radio Caracas Radio
Aldemaro Romero Jr. (born 1951), scientist, communicator, advocate of liberal arts education

Sports

Baseball

See also:

List of players from Venezuela in Major League Baseball

Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

Basketball

Bodybuilding

Boxing

Bowling

Amleto Monacelli

Cross-country skiing

Cycling

Fencing

Horse racing

Motorcycle racing

Rugby

Serge Blanco

Soccer

Sports car racing

Swimming

Tennis

References

^ Vietnam, News (2008-10-08). "Những scandal của Miss World". Vietnam Express. Retrieved 2015-11-09. {{cite news}}: |first= has generic name (help)
^ Ibrahim, Lynda (2013-09-13). "The misses and missuses of the world". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
^ Lowe, Aya (2016-01-25). "Philippines' Miss Universe returns home, ignites dreams". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
^ Jun, Kwanwoo (2003-12-03). "Lost in Storm's Debris: A Beauty Pageant". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2015-11-09.
^ Kenya, News (2011-07-15). "Beauty with scandals". Standard Digital News. Retrieved 2015-11-09. {{cite news}}: |first= has generic name (help)

[1] Vietnam, News (2008-10-08). "Những scandal của Miss World". Vietnam Express. Retrieved 2015-11-09. {{cite news}}: |first= has generic name (help)

[2] Ibrahim, Lynda (2013-09-13). "The misses and missuses of the world". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 2015-11-09.

[3] Lowe, Aya (2016-01-25). "Philippines' Miss Universe returns home, ignites dreams". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 2016-01-25.

[wallstreet-debris-4] Jun, Kwanwoo (2003-12-03). "Lost in Storm's Debris: A Beauty Pageant". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2015-11-09.

[5] Kenya, News (2011-07-15). "Beauty with scandals". Standard Digital News. Retrieved 2015-11-09. {{cite news}}: |first= has generic name (help)

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