List of Latin Americans
Appearance
This is a list of notable Latin American people, in alphabetical order within categories.
Actors
- Wagner Moura (born 1976)
- Fernanda Montenegro (born 1929)
- Norma Aleandro (born 1936)
- Héctor Alterio (born 1929)
- Rafael Amaya (born 1977)
- Imperio Argentina (1906–2003)
- Pedro Armendáriz (1912–1963)
- Carla Baratta (born 1990)
- Adrian Bellani (born 1982)
- Diego Bertie (born 1967)
- Rubén Blades (born 1948)
- Marcela Bovio (born 1979)
- Sônia Braga (born 1950)
- Richard Cabral (born 1984)
- Cantinflas (1911–1993)
- Barbara Carrera (born 1951)
- Grecia Colmenares (born 1962)
- Ricardo Darín (born 1957)
- Colman Domingo (born 1969)
- Dolores del Río (1904–1983)
- Lali Espósito (born 1991)
- María Félix (1914–2002)
- Andrés García (born 1941)
- Andy García (born 1956)
- Danay García (born 1984)
- Gael García Bernal (born 1978)
- Diane Guerrero (born 1986)
- Darío Grandinetti (born 1959)
- Maribel Guardia (born 1959)
- Salma Hayek (born 1966)
- Pedro Infante (1917–1957)
- Oscar Isaac (born 1979)
- Raul Julia (1940–1994)
- Katy Jurado (1924–2002)
- Libertad Lamarque (1908–2000)
- John Leguizamo (born 1964)
- Federico Luppi (1936–2017)
- Santiago Magill (born 1977)
- Christian Meier (born 1970)
- Carmen Miranda (1909–1955)
- Ricardo Montalbán (1920–2009)
- Maria Montez (1912–1951)
- Rita Moreno (born 1931)
- Jorge Negrete (1911–1953)
- Gianella Neyra (born 1977)
- Miguel A. Núñez Jr. (born 1964)
- Edward James Olmos (born 1947)
- Natalia Oreiro (born 1977)
- J.D. Pardo (born 1980)
- Manny Pérez (born 1969)
- Silvia Pinal (born 1931)
- Danny Pino (born 1974)
- Anthony Quinn (1915-2001)
- Dania Ramirez (born 1980)
- Emilio Rivera (born 1961)
- Zoe Saldana (born 1978)
- Catalina Sandino Moreno (born 1981)
- Christian Serratos (born 1990)
- Benicio del Toro (born 1967)
- Christy Turlington (born 1969)
- Lupe Vélez (1908–1944)
- Sofía Vergara (born 1972)
- China Zorrilla (1922–2014)
- Gina Rodriguez (born 1984)
- Isabela Moner (born 2001)
Artists and designers
- See also List of Latin American artists.
Aleijadinho (1730 or 1738 – 1814), sculptor
Julio Abril (1911–1979), sculptor
Tarsila do Amaral (1886–1973), painter, considered one of the leading modernist artists in Latin America
Fernando Botero (1932–2023), painter and sculptor
Adriana Melo, comic book artist, notable for her work on the Star Wars: Empire franchise
Luis Camnitzer (born 1937), conceptual artist
Roger Mello (born 1965), children's book illustrator
José Campeche (1751–1809), painter
Lygia Clark (1920–1988), painter and sculptor
Marcela Donoso (born 1961), painter
Pancho Fierro (1810–1879), illustrator
Gego (1912–1994), geometric-abstract sculptor
Paulo Mendes da Rocha (1928–2021), architect
José Guadalupe Posada (1852–1913), illustrator and cartoonist, printmaker
Alfredo Jaar (born 1956), installation artist
Frida Kahlo (1907–1954), realist and symbolist painter
Ruth Kedar (born 1955), artist and designer
Guillermo Kuitca (born 1961), painter
Gabriel Bá and Fabio Moon, comic book artist
Wifredo Lam (1902–1982), painter
Roberto Matta (1911–2002), painter
Abraham Palatnik (1928–2020), abstract artist and inventor
Ana Mendieta (1948–1985), performance artist
Lola Mora (1866–1936), sculptor
Hélio Oiticica (1937–1980), painter and sculptor
Francisco Oller (1833–1917), impressionist painter
José Clemente Orozco (1883–1949), mural painter and lithographer
Candido Portinari (1903–1962), painter
Benito Quinquela Martín (1890–1977), painter
Diego Quispe Tito (1611–1681), Cuzco School painter
Eduardo Kobra (born 1976), graffiti artist
Armando Reverón (1889–1954), painter
Diego Rivera (1886–1957), muralist
Emilio Hector Rodriguez (born 1950), painter and photographer
Gustavo Ramos (born 1993), artist and oil painter
José Sabogal (1888–1956), indigenist painter
David Alfaro Siqueiros (1896–1974), social realist painter and muralist
Jesús Rafael Soto (1923–2005), kinetic and op artist
Rufino Tamayo (1899–1991), painter, artist
Oscar Niemeyer (1907–2012), architect
Joaquín Torres-García (1874–1949), constructivist painter
Remedios Varo (1908–1963), surrealist painter
Constantine Andreou (1917–2007), painter and sculptor
Fashion
Gisele Bündchen (born 1980), fashion model
Francisco Costa (born 1964), designer
Oscar de la Renta (1932–2014), fashion designer
Nina García (born 1965), fashion editor
Hans Stern (1922–2007), jeweler and businessman
Gabriela Hearst (born 1976), fashion designer
Alexandre Herchcovitch (born 1971), fashion designer
Carolina Herrera (born 1939), fashion designer
Mario Testino (born 1954), fashion photographer
Alessandra Ambrósio (born 1981), fashion person
Film directors
Francisco Antônio de Almeida Júnior (1851–1928), important figure in the development of cinematography
Alejandro Amenábar (born 1972)
Alfonso Arau (born 1932)
Carlos Saldanha (born 1965) animator
Adolfo Aristarain (born 1943)
Héctor Babenco (born 1946)
Luis Buñuel (1900–1983)
Juan José Campanella (born 1959)
Román Chalbaud (1931–2023)
Alfonso Cuarón (born 1961)
Juan Downey (1940–1993)
Sara Gómez (1942–1974)
Guillermo Fantástico González (1945–2020)
Alejandro González Iñárritu (born 1963)
Alejandro Jodorowsky (born 1929)
León Klimovsky (1906–1996)
Claudia Llosa (born 1976)
Fernando Meirelles (born 1955)
Franco de Peña (born 1966)
Lucía Puenzo (born 1976)
Arturo Ripstein (born 1943)
Raúl Ruiz (director) (1941–2011)
Walter Salles (born 1956)
Amy Serrano (born 1966)
Guillermo del Toro (born 1964)
Leaders and politicians
José Mujica (born 1935), President of Uruguay
Leandro N. Alem (1841–1896), politician
Nayib Bukele (born 1981), President of El Salvador
Óscar Arias (born 1940), statesman, Nobel Peace Prize
Francisco de Miranda (1750–1813), Supreme Chief of First Republic of Venezuela
Antonio Saca (born 1965), President of El Salvador
Rómulo Betancourt (1908–1981), President of Venezuela
Simón Bolívar (1783–1830), Libertador in Spanish American wars of independence
Anastasio Bustamante (1780–1853), President of Mexico
Plutarco Elías Calles (1877–1945), President of Mexico
Fidel Castro (1926–2016), Prime Minister, later President of Cuba
Alfonso García Robles (1911–1991), diplomat and politician, Nobel Peace Prize
José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia (1766–1840), Supreme Dictator of Paraguay
Che Guevara (1928–1967), Marxist revolutionary
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753–1811), Chief instigator of Mexican War of Independence
Benito Juárez (1806–1872), President of Mexico
Juscelino Kubitschek (1902–1976), President of Brazil
Alberto Lleras Camargo (1906–1990), President of Colombia
Leopoldo López (born 1971), Mayor of Chacao, Venezuela
José Martí (1853–1895), leader of Cuban Independence movement
Rigoberta Menchú (born 1959), activist, Nobel Peace Prize
Chico Mendes (1944–1988), trade union leader and environmentalist
Antonio Nariño (1765–1824), political and military leader
Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (1920–2020), United Nations Secretary-General
Adolfo Pérez Esquivel (born 1931), activist, Nobel Peace Prize
Juan Perón (1895–1974), President of Argentina
Carlos Saavedra Lamas (1878–1959), academic and politician, Nobel Peace Prize
José de San Martín (1778–1850), Libertador in Spanish American wars of independence
Augusto César Sandino (1985–1934), guerilla leader and revolutionary
Pancho Villa (1878–1923), guerrilla leader of the Mexican Revolution
Emiliano Zapata (1879–1919), guerrilla leader of the Mexican Revolution
Lula da Silva (born 1945), President of Brazil
Pedro Albizu Campos (1891–1965), president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
Evo Morales (born 1959), president of Bolivia
Monarchs
Agustin I (1783–1824), independence leader, Emperor of Mexico
Pope Francis (born 1936), Sovereign of Vatican City State
Pedro I (1798–1834), independence leader, Emperor of Brazil
Pedro II (1825–1891), Emperor of Brazil
Imperial/royal consorts
Ana María Huarte (1786–1861), Empress consort of Mexico
Amélie of Leuchtenberg (1812–1834), Empress consort of Brazil
Carlota of Mexico (1840–1927), Empress consort of Mexico
Maria Leopoldina of Austria (1797–1826), Empress consort of Brazil
Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (born 1956), Grand Duchess consort of Luxembourg
Máxima of the Netherlands (born 1971), Queen consort of the Netherlands
Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies (1843–1889), Empress consort of Brazil
Musicians
Gustavo Assis-Brasil, guitarist; considered a pioneer in the study and development of the hybrid picking technique for guitar
Miguel del Águila (born 1957), composer
Alok (DJ) (born 1991), musician, DJ, and record producer, considered one of the best dj in the world
Michel Camilo (born 1954), pianist and composer
Simón Díaz (1928–2014), composer, actor and singer
Gilberto Gil (born 1942), singer and composer, founder of Tropicália
Chabuca Granda (1920–1983), singer and composer
Rafael Hernández Marín (1892–1965), composer
Antônio Carlos Jobim (1927–1994), pianist, singer and composer, widely regarded as one of the most important songwriters of the 20th century
Agustín Lara (1900–1970), composer
Ernesto Lecuona (1896–1963), composer, pianist and conductor
Vinicius de Moraes (1913–1980), singer and composer
Ástor Piazzolla (1921–1992), tango composer
Tito Puente (1923–2000), Latin jazz and mambo musician
Omar Rodríguez-López (born 1975), guitarist
Rogerio Caetano (born 1977), awarded virtuoso and international reference in 7 string acoustic guitar
Carlos Santana (born 1947), composer, songwriter and guitarist
Eloy Casagrande (born 1991) drummer, considered one of the best heavy metal drummers in history
Lalo Schifrin (born 1932), composer and pianist
Pedro Suárez-Vértiz (born 1966), pianist, singer and composer
Caetano Veloso (born 1942), singer and composer, founder of Tropicália
Lito Vitale (born 1961), composer and performer
Laurindo Almeida (1917–1995), guitarist and composer in classical, jazz, and Latin music, He and Bud Shank were pioneers in the creation of bossa nova, Almeida was the first guitarist to receive Grammy Awards for both classical and jazz performances
Atahualpa Yupanqui (1908–1992), folk musician
Rosa Antonelli, pianist
Antônio Meneses (born 1957), cellist, he won the first Prize at the International Competition in Munich and in 1982 he was awarded first Prize and gold Medal at the Tchaikowsky Competition in Moscow
Classical
- Nelson Freire (born 1944–2021), classical pianist
- José Antonio Abreu (born 1939), pianist, conductor and composer
- Miguel del Águila (born 1957), composer
- Claudio Arrau (1903–1991), pianist
- Clara Ricciolini (1822-1869), ballet
- Daniel Barenboim (born 1942), pianist and conductor
- Agustín Barrios (1885–1944), guitarist and composer
- Teresa Carreño (1853–1917), pianist, conductor and composer
- Reynaldo Hahn (1874–1947), music, critic, conductor and composer
- Deborah Colker (born 1960), ballet dancer
- Eduardo Marturet (born 1953), conductor and composer
- Eduardo Mata (1942–1995), conductor and composer
- Juan Orrego Salas (1919–2019, composer
- Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887–1959), composer
- Opera singers
- Paulo Szot, baritone
- Luigi Alva (born 1927), tenor
- Fabiana Bravo (born 1969), soprano
- Antônio Carlos Gomes (1836–1896), opera composer
- Eduardo Brito (1906–1946), baritone
- José Cura (born 1962), tenor
- Juan Diego Flórez (born 1973), tenor
- Isabel Rubio Ricciolini (1792–1846), opera
Singers
Christina Aguilera (born 1980), pop/R&B singer-songwriter and actress
Álvaro Torres (born 1954), singer-songwriter
Anitta (born 1993), singer-songwriter, actress, and dancer
Desi Arnaz (1917–1986), salsa singer
Rubén Blades (born 1948), salsa singer
Roberto Carlos (singer) (born 1941), singer-songwriter
Cazuza (1958–1990), singer-songwriter
Gustavo Cerati (1959–2014), alternative rock singer-songwriter
Celia Cruz (1925–2003), salsa singer
Kat DeLuna (born 1987), singer
Lali Espósito (born 1991), pop singer-songwriter
Gloria Estefan (born 1957), singer-songwriter
José Feliciano (born 1945), singer-songwriter
Juan Gabriel (1950–2016), ranchera and ballad singer-songwriter
Charly García (born 1951), rock musician
Juan Luis Guerra (born 1957), singer-songwriter
Pedro Infante (1917–1957), singer and actor
Víctor Jara (1932–1973), singer-songwriter
Juanes (born 1972), singer-songwriter
Jennifer Lopez (born 1969), singer-songwriter, dancer, actress, producer
Jorge Negrete (1911–1953), singer-songwriter
Fito Páez (born 1961), singer-songwriter, producer and film director
Prince Royce (born 1989), singer-songwriter
Santaye, singer-songwriter
Ivete Sangalo (born 1972), singer-songwriter
Raul Seixas (1945–1989), composer, singer-songwriter and producer
Shakira (born 1977), Latin pop singer-songwriter
Luis Alberto Spinetta (1950–2012), singer-songwriter
Lynda Thomas (born 1981), alternative rock and eurodance singer-songwriter
Carlos Vives (born 1961), vallenato singer, composer and actor
Ricky Martin (born 1971), Latin pop singer-songwriter and actor
Bad Bunny (born 1994), reggaeton and Latin trap singer-songwriter
Camila Cabello (born 1997), actor, singer-songwriter
Philosophers and humanists
- Paulo Freire (1921–1997), philosopher
- Juan Bautista Alberdi (1810–1884), political theorist
- Andrés Bello (1781–1865), humanist, philosopher, educator and philologist
- Leonardo Boff (born 1938), early Liberation theologians
- Mario Bunge (1919–2020), philosopher
- Miguel Antonio Caro (1843–1909), humanist, linguist and politician
- Rufino José Cuervo (1844–1911), philologist and linguist
- Sérgio Buarque de Holanda (1802–1982), writer, journalist and sociologist
- Manuel DeLanda (born 1952), philosopher, professor
- Roberto Mangabeira Unger (born 1947), philosopher
- José Ingenieros (1877–1925), philosopher and sociologist
- Enrique Krauze (born 1947), historian, political and social essayist
- Humberto Maturana (1928–2021), proponent of embodied philosophy
- Ernesto Mayz Vallenilla (1925–2015), humanist, philosopher and educator
- Gilberto de Mello Freyre (1900–1987), sociologist, considered one of the most important sociologists of the 20th century
- Edmundo O'Gorman (1906–1995), philosopher
- Francisco Varela (1946–2001), proponent of embodied philosophy
- José Vasconcelos (1882–1959), thinker, educator and essayist
- Antonio Candido (1918–2017), writer, sociologist
Science and technology
Manuel de Abreu (1894–1962), physician, scientist, inventor of abreugraphy(mass radiography of the lungs for screening tuberculosis)
Luis Agote (1868–1954), physician and researcher
Ricardo Alegría (1921–2011), physical anthropologist
Álvaro Alvim (1863–1928), physician, pioneer in radiology and radiotherapy
Carolina Araujo, mathematician, included in a deck of playing cards featuring notable women mathematicians published by the Association of Women in Mathematics
Artur Avila (born 1979), Brazilian mathematician; one of the winners of the 2014 Fields Medal, being the first Latin American and lusophone to win such an award.
Francisco João de Azevedo (1814–1880), inventor, best known for his invention of Typewriter
José Antonio Balseiro (1919–1962), nuclear physicist
Gregorio Baro (1928–2012), radiochemist
Geraldo de Barros (1923–1998), painter and photographer, known for his trailblazing work in experimental abstract photography and modernism
Ana Bedran-Russo, Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Chair of the Department of General Dental Sciences in Restorative Dentistry at Marquette University School of Dentistry
Baruj Benacerraf (1920–2011), immunologist, Nobel Prize Medicine
Martha E. Bernal (1931–2001), psychologist
Fernando Brandão (born 1983), physicist and computer scientist, He was awarded the 2013 European Quantum Information Young Investigator Award for "his highly appraised achievements in entanglement theory, quantum complexity theory, and quantum many-body physics, which combine dazzling mathematical ability and impressive physical insight", He was awarded the 2020 American Physical Society Rolf Landauer and Charles H. Bennett award for his contributions to entanglement theory
Vital Brazil (1865–1950), physician, biomedical scientist and immunologist, known for the discovery of the polyvalent anti-ophidic serum used to treat bites of venomous snakes of the Crotalus, Bothrops and Elaps genera, He went on to be also the first to develop anti-scorpion and anti-spider serums.
David Joseph Bohm (1917–1992), scientist who has been described as one of the most significant
Francisco José de Caldas (1768–1818), naturalist, mathematician, geographer and inventor
Fernando Caldeiro (born 1958), NASA astronaut
Víctor A. Carreño (1911–1967), NASA aerospace engineer
Nabor Carrillo Flores (1911–1967), nuclear physicist
Carlos Chagas (1879–1934), physician and scientist
Franklin Chang Díaz (born 1950), NASA astronaut
Nitza Margarita Cintrón (born 1950), NASA Chief of Space and Health Care Systems
Adelmar Faria Coimbra-Filho (1924–2016), biologist, primatologist, pioneer in studies of and conservation of lion tamarins
Jacinto Convit (1913–2014), medical scientist, discoverer of vaccines
Newton da Costa (1929–2024), mathematician, logician, and philosopher, recognised for his works in paraconsistent logic
Luís Cruls(1848–1908), astronomer and geodesist, co-discoverer of the Great Comet of 1882
Oswaldo Cruz (1872–1917), physician, bacteriologist, epidemiologist
Johanna Döbereiner (born 1924), agronomist, pioneer in soil biology
René Favaloro (1923–2000), cardiologist, created the technique for coronary bypass
Humberto Fernández-Morán (1924–1999), medical research scientist
Sérgio Henrique Ferreira (1934–2016), physician and pharmacologist, discovered the active principle of a drug for hypertension
Orlando Figueroa (born 1955), NASA Director for Mars Exploration and for Solar System Division
Carlos Finlay (1833–1915), medical scientist, researcher
Hércules Florence (1804–1879), pioneer of photography
Leopoldo Penna Franca (1959-2012), mathematician, received in 1999 the Gallagher Young Investigator Award for "outstanding accomplishments in computational mechanics, particularly in the published literature, by a researcher 40 years old or younger".He was listed as an ISI Highly Cited Author in Engineering by the ISI Web of Knowledge, Thomson Scientific Company.
Julio Garavito Armero (1865–1920), astronomer
Marcelo Gleiser (born 1959), physicist and astronomer. He is currently Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Dartmouth College and was the 2019 recipient of the Templeton Prize.
Otto Richard Gottlieb (1920–2011), chemist and scientist
José Goldemberg (born 1928), physicist, university educator, scientific leader and research scientist, He is a leading expert on energy and environment issues
Guillermo González Camarena (1917–1965), inventor of an early color television system
Hilário de Gouvêa (1843–1929), ophthalmologist, noted for being the first person to document a case of hereditary cancer, The cause of the recessive familial retinoblastoma he described was later further investigated and resulted in the first reported example of a tumor suppressor gene, RB.
Juan Gundlach (1810–1896), naturalist, taxonomist
Bartolomeu de Gusmão(1685–1724), Catholic priest, pioneer of aviation, the inventor of the balloon, became known as the "flying priest"
Celso Grebogi (born 1947), theoretical physicist who works in the area of chaos theory. He is one among the pioneers in the nonlinear and complex systems and chaos theory
Salomón Hakim (1922–2011), physician and scientist
Guillermo Haro (1913–1988), astrophysicist, specialist in observational astronomy
Bernardo Houssay (1887–1971), physiologist, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Miguel de Icaza (born 1972), free software programmer
Roberto Ierusalimschy (born 1960), computer scientist, known for creating the Lua programming language
Madeleine M. Joullié (born March 29, 1927) organic chemist, first woman to join the University of Pennsylvania chemistry faculty as well as the first female organic chemist to be appointed to a tenure track position in a major American university, Joullié has received numerous awards, including the 1978 Garvan Medal from the American Chemical Society, in recognition of her accomplishments in teaching and research
Warwick Estevam Kerr (1922–2018), agricultural engineer, geneticist, entomologist, professor and scientific leader, notable for his discoveries in the genetics and sex determination of bees
Roberto Landell de Moura (1861–1928), pioneer of telephony and radio
César Lattes (1924–2005), experimental physicist, one of the discoverers of the pion, a composite subatomic particle made of a quark and an antiquark
Luis Federico Leloir (1906–1987), biochemist, Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Maria Carmela Lico (1927–1985), produced important insights on the descending control of nociception by limbic structures, specially the septal nuclei
Henrique da Rocha Lima (1879–1956), physician, pathologist and infectologist, discovered Rickettsia prowazekii, the pathogen of epidemic typhus
Domingo Liotta (1924–2022), cardiologist, created first artificial heart
Rosaly Lopes (born 1957), planetary geologist, volcanologist, author of numerous scientific papers and several books
Peter Wilhelm Lund (1801–1880), first to describe dozens of species of pre-historic Pleistocene megafauna, including the fabled Saber-toothed cat Smilodon populator. He also made the then ground-breaking discovery that humans co-existed with the long-extinct animal species
Adolfo Lutz (1855–1940), father of tropical medicine and a pioneer epidemiologist and researcher in infectious diseases
Humberto Maturana (1928–2021), biologist, co-author of the theory of autopoiesis
Peter Medawar (1915–1987), biologist and writer, whose works on graft rejection and the discovery of acquired immune tolerance have been fundamental to the medical practice of tissue and organ transplants
Lia Medeiros, astronomer, notable participation in the black hole photo in 2019
Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez (born 1942), USSR Space Program cosmonaut
César Milstein (1927–2002), biochemist, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Luis E. Miramontes (1925–2004), chemist, co-inventor of the oral contraceptive
Mario J. Molina (born 1943), chemist, Nobel Prize in Chemistry
Salvador Moncada (born 1944), pharmacologist
Nélio José Nicolai (1940–2017), electrotechnician, inventor of caller ID, theoretical physicist of the 20th century who contributed unorthodox ideas to quantum theory, neuropsychology and the philosophy of mind. Among his many contributions to physics is his causal and deterministic interpretation of quantum theory, now known as De Broglie–Bohm theory.
Miguel Nicolelis(1961), pioneering work surrounding brain-computer interface
Hermann Niemeyer (1919–1991), paediatrician and biochemist, pioneer of biochemistry in Chile
Rodolfo Neri Vela (born 1952), Ph.D, NASA astronaut
Carlos Nobre (scientist) (born 1951), scientist and meteorologist who is mainly highlighted in global warming-related studies. Nobre spearheaded the multi-disciplinary, multinational Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia, a program noted to have “revolutionized understanding of the Amazon rainforest and its role in the Earth system".
Carlos I. Noriega (born 1959), NASA astronaut
Antonia Novello (born 1944), 14th Surgeon General of the United States
Ruth Sonntag Nussenzweig (1928–2018), immunologist specializing in the development of malaria vaccines
Diltor Opromolla (1934–2004), physician and dermatologist respected due to his lifetime work with leprosy patients and leprosy research, Among other things, he was the first to introduce rifamycin in the treatment of leprosy, in 1963
Andreas Pavel, cultural producer and media designer who is generally credited with patenting the personal stereo
Manuel Elkin Patarroyo (born 1947), pathologist, vaccines specialist
Carlos Paz de Araújo, scientist and inventor, holds nearly 600 patents in the area of nanotechnology
Feniosky Peña-Mora (born 1966), engineer and educator
Sérgio Pereira da Silva Porto (1926–1979), pioneering physicist who became notable for his research in spectroscopy and for the use of laser radiation in medicine
Felipe Poey (1799–1891), zoologist, specialist in ichthyology
Marcos Pontes (born 1963), first AEB/NASA astronaut
Aracely Quispe Neira (born 1982), NASA senior astronautical engineer, professor, researcher
Silvano Raia, first surgeon to achieve a successful living donor liver transplantation in July 1989
Eduardo H. Rapoport (1927–2017), ecologist, biogeographer
L. Rafael Reif (born 1950), engineer, president of MIT
Andrés Manuel del Río (1764–1849), geologist, chemist
Maurício Rocha e Silva (1910–1983), physician and pharmacologist, discovered bradykinin, an active cardiovascular peptide
Helen Rodríguez Trías (1929–2001), pediatrician, early advocate for women's reproductive rights
Francisco Rubio (astronaut) (born 1975), NASA astronaut
Oscar Sala (1922–2010), nuclear physicist and important scientific leader
Roberto Salmeron (1922–2020), electrical engineer and experimental nuclear physicist and an emeritus Research Director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the largest fundamental science agency in Europe
Wilfredo Santa-Gómez (born 1949), psychiatrist
José Santana (economist) (born 1962), specialist in technology and development
Alberto Santos-Dumont (1873–1932), aviation inventor
Nise da Silveira (1905–1999), psychiatrist and mental health reformer
Sarah Stewart (cancer researcher) (1905–1976), microbiologist, discovered Polyomavirus
Klaus von Storch (born 1962), aerospace engineer
Sérgio Trindade (1940–2020), chemical engineer and researcher, specialist in renewable energies and consultant in sustainable business; coordinating lead author for a chapter of an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, Methodological and Technical Issues in Technology Transfer (2000); the IPCC as an organization won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize as a result of its contributors' work.
Pablo DT Valenzuela (born 1941), biotechnologist, co-founder of Chiron Corporation and Fundación Ciencias Para la Vida
Francisco Varela (1946–2001), biologist, co-author of the theory of autopoiesis
Lydia Villa-Komaroff (born 1947), biologist, early Mexican American PhD in the sciences
Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini (1912–1993), physician and cardiac surgeon, internationally known for performing the first heart transplantation in Latin America in 1968
Social scientists
- Celso Monteiro Furtado (1920–2004), economist
- Eugenio María de Hostos (1839–1903), sociologist and educator
- Miguel León-Portilla (1926–2019), cultural anthropologist and historian
- Milton Santos (1926–2001), human geographer and writer
- Hernando de Soto Polar (born 1941), economist
- Julio C. Tello (1880–1947), archeologist
- Lorenz Bruno Puntel (born 1935), philosopher
Sports
Athletics to Cycling
- Athletics
Daniel Bautista (born 1952), Olympic race walk gold medalist
Thiago Braz (born 1993), Olympic pole vault gold medalist
Delfo Cabrera (1919–1981), Olympic marathon gold medalist
Ernesto Canto (born 1959), race walk Olympic gold medalist and World Champion
Joaquim Cruz (born 1963), Olympic 800m gold medalist
Adhemar da Silva (1927–2001), Olympic 2x triple jump gold medalist
Anier García (born 1976), Olympic 110 m hurdles gold medalist
Raúl González (racewalker) (born 1952), Olympic gold medalist
Alberto Juantorena (born 1950), Olympic 2x track gold medalist
Iván Pedroso (born 1972), Olympic long jump gold medalist and 4x World Champion
Jefferson Pérez (born 1974), Olympic 2x race walk gold medalist and 4x World Champion
Dayron Robles (born 1986), Olympic 110 m hurdles gold medalist
Irving Saladino (born 1983), Olympic gold medalist and World Champion
Félix Sánchez (born 1977), Olympic 400m hurdles gold medalist and 2x World Champion
Javier Sotomayor (born 1967), Olympic high jump gold medalist and World Record holder
Juan Carlos Zabala (1911–1983), Olympic marathon gold medalist
- Baseball
Luis Aparicio (born 1934), Major League Baseball (MLB) shortstop, Baseball Hall of Fame
Miguel Cabrera (born 1983), MLB first baseman
Yan Gomes (born 1987), Brazilian-American professional baseball catcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB)
Roberto Clemente (1934–1972), MLB right fielder, Baseball Hall of Fame
Juan Marichal (born 1937), MLB pitcher, Baseball Hall of Fame
Dennis Martínez (born 1955), MLB pitcher, first Latino to pitch a perfect game
Pedro Martínez (born 1971), MLB pitcher, 3x Cy Young Award winner
Sammy Sosa (born 1968), MLB right fielder, first Latino to hit 500 home runs
José Reyes (infielder) (born 1983), MLB player
Fernando Valenzuela (born 1960), MLB pitcher
- Basketball
Oscar Schmidt (born 1958)
Hortência Marcari (born 1959)
Carlos Arroyo (born 1979), National Basketball Association (NBA) point guard
Leandro Barbosa (born 1982), NBA Champion
J. J. Barea (born 1984), NBA Champion
Manu Ginóbili (born 1977), Olympic gold medalist, NBA 2x Champion
Al Horford (born 1986), NBA
Horacio Llamas (born 1973), NBA
Eduardo Nájera (born 1976), NBA
Butch Lee (born 1956), NBA Champion
- Boxing
Rosendo Álvarez (born 1970), World Champion
Alexis Argüello (born 1952), World Champion, International Boxing Hall of Fame
Wilfred Benítez (born 1958), World Champion in 3x weight divisions, International Boxing Hall of Fame
Jorge Castro (boxer) (born 1967), World Champion
Julio César Chávez (born 1962), World Champion in 3x weight divisions
Juan Martin Coggi (born 1961), World Champion
Carlos Cruz (boxer) (1937–1970), World Champion
Oscar De La Hoya (born 1972), World Champion in 6x weight divisions
Carlos De León (1959–2020), World Champion
Roberto Durán (born 1951), World Champion in 4x weight divisions
Víctor Galíndez (1948–1980), World Champion
Wilfredo Gómez (born 1956), World Champion
Éder Jofre (born 1936), World Champion
Santos Laciar (born 1959), World Champion
Raúl Macías (1934–2009), World Champion
Kina Malpartida (born 1980), World Champion
Ricardo Mayorga (born 1973), World Champion
Carlos Monzón (1942–1995), World Champion
José Luis Ramírez (born 1958), World Champion
John Ruiz (born 1972), World Champion
José Torres (1936–2009), World Champion
Félix Trinidad (born 1973), World Champion
- Chess
Esteban Canal (1896–1981), International Master, honorary International Grandmaster
José Raúl Capablanca (1888–1942), World Champion, International Grandmaster
Henrique Costa Mecking (born 1952), Brazilian chess grandmaster
- Cycling
Santiago Botero (born 1972), World Time-Trial Champion
Henrique Avancini (born 1989)
- Draughts
Lourival Mendes França (died 2012), world champion in draughts-64,(1993), International grandmaster (GMI) in draughts-64, International master (MI) in International draughts
Football to Volleyball
- Football (soccer)
Pelé (born 1940), co-winner FIFA Player of the 20th Century, Named athlete of the 20th century
Alfredo Di Stéfano (1926–2014), chosen one of Spain's Golden Anniversary Players
Diego Maradona (born 1960), co-winner FIFA Player of the 20th Century
Lionel Messi (born 1987), 6x World Footballer of the Year
Ronaldo (born 1976)
Ronaldinho (born 1980)
Kaká (born 1982)
Rivaldo (born 1972)
Romário (born 1966)
- Handball
Eduarda Amorim (born 1986)
Alexandra do Nascimento (born 1981)
- Golf
Chi-Chi Rodríguez (born 1935), World Golf Hall of Famer
Bento Assis 4 x World Champion US Kids Golf
- Horse racing
Javier Castellano (born 1977), jockey, 3x U.S. Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey
Ramon Domínguez (born 1976), jockey, 3x U.S. Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey
T. J. Pereira (born 1976)
- Motor sports
Johnny Cecotto (born 1956), 2x Motorcycle World Champion
Eric Granado (born 1996), He was the 2017 FIM CEV Moto2 European Championship winner
Juan Manuel Fangio (1911–1995), 5x Formula One World Champion
Emerson Fittipaldi (born 1946), 2x Formula One World Champion
Carlos Lavado (born 1956), 2x Motorcycle World Champion
Juan Zanelli (1906–1944), Le Mans and European Hill Climb and Formula One race winner
Juan Pablo Montoya (born 1975), 1x CART Champion, 2x Indianapolis 500 winner, Formula One and NASCAR race winner
Nelson Piquet (born 1952), 3x Formula One World Champion
Ayrton Senna (1960–1994), 3x Formula One World Champion
- Skateboarding
Bob Burnquist (born 1976), better known as Bob is the most medalist in X Games history, with a total of 30 medals
Letícia Bufoni (born 1993), considered one of the greatest names in the history of the sport
- Surfing
Sofía Mulánovich (born 1983), 3x World Champion, Surfing Hall of Fame
Phil Rajzman (born 1982), 2x World Champion
Gabriel Medina (born 1993)
Ítalo Ferreira (born 1994)
Filipe Toledo (born 1995)
Adriano de Souza (born 1987)
- Tennis
Maria Bueno (1939–2018), 19x Champion of Grand Slam events, International Tennis Hall of Fame
Rosemary Casals (born 1948), 12x Champion of Grand Slam events
Gigi Fernández (born 1964), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event
Mary Joe Fernández (born 1971), 2x Champion of Grand Slam events, 2 Olympic gold medals
Gastón Gaudio (born 1978), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event
Andrés Gómez (born 1960), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event
Fernando González (born 1980), 2x Olympic medalist
Gustavo Kuerten (born 1976), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event
Anita Lizana (1915–1994), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event, first Latin American to be ranked World Number One
Nicolás Massú (born 1979), 2x Olympic gold medals
David Nalbandian (born 1982), Tennis Masters Champion
Alex Olmedo (1936–2020), 3x Champion of Grand Slam events
Rafael Osuna (1938–1969), 4x Champion of Grand Slam events
Monica Puig (born 1993), Olympic gold medalist
Marcelo Ríos (born 1975), first Latín Américan man ranked World Number One in the ATP
Gabriela Sabatini (born 1970), 2x Champion of Grand Slam events
Pancho Segura (1921–2017), International Tennis Hall of Fame
Paola Suárez (born 1976), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event
Guillermo Vilas (born 1952), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event
- Volleyball
Giba (born 1976)
Fabiana Alvim (born 1976)
Sérgio Santos (born 1975)
Fofão (volleyball player) (born 1970)
- UFC
Anderson Silva (born 1975)
José Aldo (born 1986)
Amanda Nunes (born 1988)
Cris Cyborg (born 1985)
Writers
- See also List of Latin American writers (by country).
A-L
Paulo Coelho(born 1947), lyricist and novelist
Juan Ruiz de Alarcón (c. 1581–1639), dramatist
Isabel Allende (born 1942), best selling novelist
Arambilet (born 1957), created first Latin American story using computerized linetext/ASCII art
Julia Alvarez (born 1950), poet, novelist and essayist
Jorge Amado (1912–2001), modernist writer
José María Arguedas (1911–1969), novelist
Roberto Arlt (1900–1942), short-story writer, novelist, and playwright
Miguel Ángel Asturias (1899–1974), Nobel Prize in Literature
Mario Benedetti (1920–2009), novelist and poet
Adolfo Bioy Casares (1914–1999), novelist, Cervantes Prize
Roberto Bolaño (1953–2003), novelist, Rómulo Gallegos Prize
Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986), Cervantes Prize
Giannina Braschi (born 1953), poet, novelist, and essayist
Alfredo Bryce (born 1939), novelist and short story writer
Carlos Drummond de Andrade (1902–1987) poet and writer
Guillermo Cabrera Infante (1929–2005), novelist and essayist, Cervantes Prize
Alejo Carpentier (1904–1980), novelist and essayist, Cervantes Prize
Carlos Castaneda (1925–1998), New Age and Shamanism author
Julio Cortázar (1914–1984), novelist and short story writer
Juana Inés de la Cruz (1648/1651–1695), poet and dramatist
Rubén Darío (1867–1916), modernist poet
Virgilio Dávila (1869–1943), poet
Julia de Burgos (1914–1953), poet
João Guimarães Rosa(1908-1967), novelist, considered by many to be the greatest Brazilian writer of the 20th century and a of the greatest of all time
Jorge Edwards (born 1931), Cervantes Prize
Laura Esquivel (born 1950), novelist
Rosario Ferré (1938–2016), poet, novelist, and essayist
Carlos Fuentes (1928–2012), novelist and essayist, Rómulo Gallegos Prize, Cervantes Prize and Prince of Asturias Award
Rómulo Gallegos (1884–1969), novelist
João Cabral de Melo Neto (1920-1999), poet
Gabriel García Márquez (1928–2014), novelist and journalist, Nobel Prize Laureate
Nicolás Guillén (1902–1989), poet
José Hernández (writer) (1834–1886), poet and journalist
Vicente Huidobro (1893–1948), poet, initiator of Creacionismo movement
José Lezama Lima (1910–1976), novelist
Amelia Denis de Icaza (1836–1911), romantic poet
Clarice Lispector (1925–1977), novelist
Luis Lloréns Torres (1878–1944), poet
Luis López Nieves (born 1950), best-selling novelist and tale writer
Dulce María Loynaz (1902–1997), poet, Cervantes Prize Laureate
Leopoldo Lugones (1874–1938), poet
Mário de Andrade (1893–1945), poet, novelist, musicologist, art historian and critic, he was a pioneer of the field of ethnomusicology
M-Z
Machado de Assis (1839–1908), realist novelist, poet and short-story writer
Monteiro Lobato (1882–1948), novelist and short story writer, One of the greatest names in children's literature of all time
Jorge Majfud (born 1970), novelist and essayist
José Martí (1853–1895), poet and essayist
Gregório de Matos (1636–1696), baroque poet
Leopoldo Minaya (born 1963), Cervantes Cultural Association Award
Pedro Mir (1913–2000), poet and writer, Poet Laureate of Dominican Republic
Gabriela Mistral (1889–1957), poet, Nobel Prize
Augusto Monterroso (1921–2003), short story writer, Prince of Asturias Award
Manuel Mujica Láinez (1910–1984), novelist, essayist, journalist and short story writer
Álvaro Mutis (1923–2013), poet, novelist, and essayist, Cervantes Prize, Prince of Asturias Award
Ana Maria Machado (born 1941), writer, She received the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 2000 for her "lasting contribution to children's literature"
Pablo Neruda (1904–1973), poet, Nobel Prize
Amado Nervo (1870–1919), modernist poet
Juan Carlos Onetti (1909–1994), novelist and short-story writer, Cervantes Prize
Nicanor Parra (1914–2018), anti-poet
Fernando del Paso (1935–2018), novelist, essayist and poet, Rómulo Gallegos Prize
Octavio Paz (1914–1998), Cervantes Prize and Nobel Prize
Sergio Pitol (1933–2018), novelist, short story writer and translator, Cervantes Prize
Elena Poniatowska (born 1932), novelist
Manuel Puig (1932–1990), novelist
Horacio Quiroga (1878–1937), short story writer
José Eustasio Rivera (1888–1928), poet and novelist
Augusto Roa Bastos (1917–2005), novelist, Cervantes Prize
Gonzalo Rojas (born 1917), poet, Cervantes Prize
Juan Rulfo (1917–1986), novelist, Prince of Asturias Award
Ernesto Sabato (1911–2011), novelist and essayist, Cervantes Prize
Jaime Sabines (1926–1999), poet
Alfonsina Storni (1892–1938), postmodernist poet
Lygia Fagundes Telles (1923–2022), novelist and short-story writer, Camoens Prize
Arturo Uslar Pietri (1906–2001), novelist, Prince of Asturias Award
César Vallejo (1892–1938), poet
Fernando Vallejo (born 1942), novelist, Rómulo Gallegos Prize
Mario Vargas Llosa (born 1936), novelist and essayist, Cervantes Prize, Nobel Prize
Inca Garcilaso de la Vega (1539–1616), first mestizo author in Spanish language
Xavier Villaurrutia (1903–1950), poet
Others
- Josué de Castro (1908–1973), physician
- Silvia Renate Sommerlath (born 1943), Queen of Sweden
- Óscar González-Quevedo (1930–2019), parapsychologist
- Egon Albrecht-Lemke (1918–1944), Luftwaffe fighter pilot
- Luigi Cani (born 1970), skydiver
- Ali Lenin Aguilera (born 1967), businessman
- Frei Galvão (1739–1822), saint
- Eike Batista (born 1956), businessman
- José Antonio Bowen (born 1952), jazz musician and college president
- Antonio Divino Moura, meteorologist
- Enrique Gratas (1944–2015), television journalist
- Chico Xavier (1910–2002), philanthropist and spiritist medium
- María Julia Mantilla (born 1983), Miss World 2004
- Graças Foster (born 1953), business person
- Denise Quiñones (born 1980), Miss Universe 2001
- Sebastião Salgado (born 1944), photographer
- Geraldo Rivera (born 1943), television journalist
- Amyr Klink (born 1955), explorer
- Mike Krieger (born 1986), entrepreneur and software engineer who co-founded Instagram
- Ricardo Salinas Pliego (born 1956), businessman
- Alex Kipman (born 1979), engineer
- Carlos Slim (born 1940), businessman and billionaire
- Gérard Moss (1955-2022), pilot
- Alex Atala (born 1968), cook
- Ademar José Gevaerd (1962–2022), ufologist
- Karol Meyer (born 1968), diver
- Maria da Conceição (d. 1798), alleged witch
- Roche Braziliano (1630–1671), pirate
- Eduardo Saverin (born 1982), co-founder of Facebook