List of famous Puerto Ricans in alphabetical
order by last names, where applicable.
Composers, singers, and musicians
- Juan F. Acosta, composer
- Johnny Albino, singer
- Natalie and Nicole Albino, "Nina Sky" hip hop
- Rafael Alers, danza composer,
"first" Puerto Rican to compose a Hollywood musical score
- Marc Anthony, singer
- Chucho Avellanet, singer
- Raymond Ayala, "Daddy Yankee",
rapper
- Lloyd Banks, (Puerto Rican on his
mother's side) rapper in 50 Cent's G-unit
- Ray Barretto, singer, jazz and
salsa musician
- John Benitez, "Jellybean Benitez",
music producer and remixer
- Lucecita Benítez, singer
- Obbie Bermudez,singer
- Big Pun, rapper
- Roy Brown, folklore singer,
composer
- Antonio Caban Vale"El Topo",
folklore singer, composer
- Tego Calderón, reggaeton singer
- Juan Morel Campos, composer of Danzas
- Bobby Capo, singer, composer
- Nydia Caro, singer
- Pablo Casals, (Puerto Rican on his
mother's side), musician
- Kevin Ceballo, salsa singer
- Iris Chacón, singer and vedette
- Chayanne, singer
- Jose Miguel Class, "El Gallito de
Manati", singer
- Elvis Crespo,singer
- Tony Croatto, singer/composer of
Puerto Rican folk songs
- Bobby Cruz,singer
- Willie Colón, singer
- Braulio Dueño Colón, composer of
"Canciones Escolares"
- Cesar Concepcion, singer
- Millie Corretjer,singer
- Rafael Cortijo,singer
- Joe Cuba,bandleader, considered to
be "The Father of the Boogaloo"
- Pedro Ortiz Davila, "Davilita", bolero singer
- Justino Díaz, opera singer
- Dr. Rafael Jose Diaz, "Rafael Jose",
singer and television host
- Carmen Delia Dipini, singer
- Ruben DJ, rapper
- Howie Dorough, singer, member of
the Backstreet Boys
- Johnathan Dwayne, singer, composer
- Rafi Escudero, singer
- Noel Estrada, composer of "En Mi Viejo San Juan"
- Cano Estremera,singer, composer and
poet
- Fat Joe, rapper
- Rene Farrait, former member of "Menudo"
- Cheo Feliciano,singer
- José Feliciano, singer, composed
"Feliz Navidad"
- Ruth Fernandez, singer
- Narciso Figueroa, Danza composer
- Pedro Flores, composer
- Luis Fonsi, singer
- Odilio Gonzalez, singer
- Rafael Hernandez, Composer of
"Preciosa" and "Lamento
Borincano"
- Sophy Hernandez, singer
- Giovanni Hidalgo, percussionist
- Rafael Ithier, founder of "El Gran Combo" orchestra
- La India, singer, known as the
"Princess of Salsa"
- Tito Lara, singer
- Héctor Lavoe, singer
- Raphy Leavitt, composer, director
and founder of "La Selecta"
- Jennifer López, singer and actress
- Johnny Lozada, former member of "Menudo"
- Papo Lucca, Lead Pianist of "La Sonora Ponceña"
- Lunna, singer
- Alicia Keys, singer
- Victor Manuelle, singer
- Ricky Martin, singer former member
of "Menudo"
- Angie Martinez, Radio
personality/rapper
- Ladislao Martinez, "El Maestro Ladis"
- Charlie Masso, former member of
"Menudo"
- Ricky Melendez, former member of
"Menudo"
- Luis Miguel, Puerto Rican-born
singer
- Ismael Miranda, "El Niño Bonito de
la Salsa", singer and composer
- Luis R.Miranda, Danza composer
- Angel Mislan, composer of Danzas
- Jose Luis Monero, singer
- Yolandita Monge, singer
- Andy Montañez, Salsa singer
- Glenn Monroig,composer, singer,
sang the "first" rap song in Spanish
- Gilberto Monroig, bolero singer
- Florencio Morales Ramos, "Ramito",
folklore singer
- Ednita Nazario, singer
- Tito Nieves, singer
- Tommy Olivencia, Salsa singer
- Don Omar reggaeton singer
- Tony Orlando (Puerto Rican on
father's side), singer
- Luis "Perico" Ortiz, musician
- Shalim Ortiz, singer
- Eddie Palmieri, bandleader (won 7
Grammy Awards)
- Charlie Palmieri, pianist,
bandleader
- Antonio Paolí, opera singer, first
person in history to record an entire opera
- Jose Enrique Pedreria, Danza composer
- David Peel, singer, songwriter
- Angel "Cuco" Peña, musician
- Carlos Ponce, singer
- Tito Puente, musician
- Ivy Queen, rapper, known as "The
Queen of Reggaeton"
- Dominigo Quiñones, Salsa singer
- Ismael Quintana, singer
- Jose Ignacio Quinton,
pianist/composer of danzas
- Richie Ray, singer, composer, known
as "The King of Salsa"
- Sylvia Rexach, singer, composer
- Danny Rivera, singer
- Jerry Rivera, singer
- Dr. Graciela Rivera, opera singer
- Ismael Rivera, "El Sonero Mayor",
salsa singer
- Roberto Roena, singer
- Felipe Rodriguez, "La Voz", bolero singer
- Julito Rodriguez, singer
- Pellin Rodriguez, salsa singer
- Tito Rodriguez, singer
- Kelis Rogers, (mother is Puerto
Rican/Chinese), singer and television host
- Tito Rojas, "El Gallo"
- Robby Rosa, former member of "Menudo"
- Willie Rosario, composer,
bandleader
- Felipe Rose, the Indian from The Village People, singer
- Julita Ross, singer of Danzas
- Frankie Ruiz, salsa singer
- Fernando and Nefty Sallaberry,
former members of "Menudo"
- Gilberto Santa Rosa, singer
- Eddie Santiago, singer
- Herman Santiago, singer, composed
song "Why Do Fools Fall In Love"
- Marvin Santiago, singer
- Dr. Zoraida Santiago, singer and
composer
- Daniel Santos, composer, singer of
boleros
- Nino Segarra, singer
- Xavier Serbia, former member of "Menudo"
- Myrta Silva, singer, composer
- Arturo Somohano,composer, Symphony
orchestra conductor
- Michael Stuart, singer
- Olga Tañon, singer, composer, (4 Grammys)
- Manuel Gregorio Tavarez, composer
known as "The Father of the Puerto Rican Danzas"
- Gerardo Teissonniere, classical
pianist and teacher
- Roberto Tirado, Spanish Harlem
vocalist
- Yolanda Vadiz, gospel singer
- Bobby Valentin,musician/bandleader
- Alan Vega, rock singer, of Suicide
- Tony Vega, Salsa singer
- Vico C, rapper
- Wilkins, singer and composer
Cartoonists
Journalists
- Jose Julian Acosta, journalist
- María Celeste Arraras, anchor for
"Al Rojo Vivo"
- Barbara Bermudo, journalist,
co-host of Univisions "Primer Impacto"
- Rafael Bracero, newscaster for "Noticentro 4"
- Enrique Cruz, news anchor for "Noticentro 4"
- Tomas De Jesus Mangual, journalist
for "El Vocero"
- Carmen Dominicci, journalist,
co-host of Univisions "Primer Impacto"
- Manuel Fernandez Juncos, journalist
- Jackie Guerrido, journalist and
meteorologist for Univisions "Despierta America"
- Anibal Gonzalez Irizarry, former
newscaster for "Telenoticias en accion"
- Laura Hernandez, journalist
- Carmen Jovet,Journalist, first
Puerto Rican woman named news anchor in Puerto Rico
- Michele LaFountain, anchor for the
Spanish version of ESPN Sports Center
- Lynda Lopez, anchor for "WCBS" Ch2.
- Luis Francisco Ojeda, journalist,
political critic for "WAPA T.V."
- Geraldo Rivera, journalist
- Edna Schmidt, anchor for
"Telefutura"
- Guillermo José Torres, newscaster
for "Noticentro 4"
- Elizabeth Vargas, "Liz" anchor "ABC
News 20/20"
- Luz Nereida Velez, newscaster for
"Noticentro 4"
Actors, actresses, and comedians
- Kirk Acevedo, actor, (T.V. series
Oz)
- Jose Miguel Agrelot, "Don
Cholito", comedian
- Miguel Angel Alvarez "El Men",
comedian
- Victor Argo, actor (Coyote Ugly)
- Raymond Arrieta, comedian
- Rick Aviles, actor/comedian (Ghost)
- Charlotte Ayanna, actress
- Alba Raquel Barros,
comedian/actress
- Ivonne Belen, documentary director
and producer
- Lucy Boscana, actress, pioneer in
Puerto Rico's television
- Giselle Blondet, actress/TV host
- Norma Candal, comedian
- Irene Cara, singer/actress (Fame)
- Meagan Good, actress
- Mylo Carbia, screenwriter, small
part in (Underworld) the movie
- Jorge Castro, soap opera actor
- Braulio Castillo, soap opera actor
- Braulio Castillo, hijo, soap opera
actor
- Melwin Cedeño, comedian
- Lynette Chico,actress Puerto Rico
T.V.
- Ivonne Coll, actress (The Godfather II)
- Miriam Colon, actress (Scarface)
- Paquito Cordero, TV
producer/comedian
- Mapy Cortes, actress
- Mara Croatto, soap opera actress
- Blanca de Castejon, international
actress
- Henry Darrow, actor,
"Manolito" (TV series The High Chaparral)
- Rosario Dawson, actress (Men In Black,The Rundown)
- Sully Diaz, soap opera actress
- Sammy Davis, Jr. (Puerto Rican on
his mother's side)
- Lydia Echevarria, soap opera
actress
- Hector Elizondo, actor (Pretty Woman, The Princess Diaries)
- Erik Estrada, actor (TV series
CHiPs, Sealab 2021)
- José Ferrer, actor (Cyrano de Bergerac), first
Hispanic actor to win an Academy Award
- Miguel Ferrer, actor (Robocop, The Manchurian Candidate)
- Rick Gonzalez, actor (The Rookie, Coach Carter)
- Luis Guzman, actor
- Lillian Hurst, comedian/actress
(Dharma and Greg)
- Raúl Juliá, actor (Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Addams Family)
- John Leguizamo, actor (Moulin Rouge!, To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie
Newmar) (Puerto Rican on Father's side)
- Adamari Lopez, actress of soap
operas
- Jennifer López, actress (Selena, The Cell)
- Sunshine Logroño, comedian
- Justina Machado, actress (T.V.
series Six Feet Under)
- Eddie Marrero, actor (Navy
Seals: Untold Stories)
- Claribel Medina, actress soap
operas
- John Melendez, "Stuttering John"
("Howard Stern Show" and "The Tonight Show")
- Ari Meyers, actress (TV series
Kate & Allie)
- Karla Michelle, actress Puerto
Rican T.V.
- Eddie Miro, T.V. Host
- Esai Morales, actor (La Bamba)
- Jacobo Morales, actor (Bananas)
- Rita Moreno, actress, winner of an
Oscar, a Tony Award, an Emmy Award and a Grammy Award
- Frankie Muniz, actor (TV series
Malcolm in the Middle) (Puerto
Rican on father's side)
- Rafo Muñiz, comedian
- Tommy Muñiz, T.V. producer/comedian
- Marian Pabon, actress
- Rosie Perez, actress (White Men Can't Jump, Fearless)
- Joaquin Phoenix, actor (Signs, Gladiator) (born in Puerto
Rico)
- Freddie Prinze, comedian/actor (TV
series Chico and the Man) (Puerto
Rican mother)
- Freddie Prinze, Jr., actor (Scooby-Doo) (Puerto Rican
grandmother)
- Carmen Belen Richardson,
comedian/actress
- Chita Rivera, "Broadway Legend", winner of 2 Tony Awards
- Luis Antonio Rivera, "Yoyo Boing"
comedian
- Ramón (Diplo) Rivero, comedian
- Adalberto Rodríguez,
"Machuchal" comedian
- Freddie Rodríquez, actor (T.V.
series Six Feet Under)
- Gladys Rodríguez, comedian/soap
opera actress
- Michelle Rodríquez, actress (The Fast and the Furious)
- Roselyn Sanchez, actress (Rush Hour 2,Chasing Papi)
- Jose Vega Santana, "Remi"
the Clown, (also see: Cartoonists above)
- Jon Seda, actor (Selena)
- Jimmy Smits, actor (TV series L.A. Law; movie Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the
Sith)
- Talisa Soto, actress/model, (Licence to Kill)
- Miguel Ángel Suárez, actor (Stir Crazy, Under Suspicion)
- Gloria Swanson, actress (Sunset Boulevard) (born in San Juan, Puerto Rico)
- Rachel Ticotin, actress (Total Recall, Con Air)
- Benicio del Toro, actor (Traffic), Academy award winner
- Liz Torres, actress (T.V. series
Gilmore Girls)
- Lauren and Loraine Velez,
actress's, (T.V. series "New York Undercover", "Oz")
- Christina Vidal,actress, (TV series
Taina)
- Lisa Vidal, actress (Night in
the City), (TV series ER)
- Luis Vigoreaux, TV host
- Luisito Vigoreaux, TV host
- Sylvia del Villard, actress,
bailarina and choregrapher
- Otilio Warrington,
"Bizcocho" comedian
- Sandra Zaiter, TV host of children
shows
Sports
- Roberto Alomar, baseball player
- Sandy Alomar, Jr., baseball player
- Carmelo Anthony, basketball player,
Denver Nuggets (Puerto Rican on his
mother's side)
- Carlos Arroyo, basketball player,
Detroit Pistons
- Carlos Baerga, baseball player
- Carlos Beltran, baseball player, New York Mets
- Wilfred Benitez, boxer, member of
Boxing Hall of Fame
- Dr. David "Kike" Bernier, fencing,
member of Puerto Rican National Fencing Team
- Hiram Bithorn, baseball player,
first Puerto Rican in Major League Baseball
- Kristina Brandi, tennis player
- Ivan Calderon, baseball player
- Ivan Calderon, boxer
- Fernando J. Canales, swimmer, first
Puerto Rican to reach the final Championships
- Hector 'Macho' Camacho, boxer
- Orlando 'Peruchin' Cepeda, baseball
player, member of Baseball Hall of Fame
- Kermit Cintron, boxer
- Roberto Clemente, baseball player,
member of Baseball Hall of Fame
- Dr. Rebekah Colberg, "The Mother of
Puerto Rican Women's Sports"
- Carlitos Colon, wrestler
- Carly Colon, wrestler
- Angel Cordero Jr., jockey, member
of Jockey Hall of Fame
- Maritza Correia, first black Puerto
Rican woman in U.S. Olympic Swmming Team
- Joe Cortez, boxing referee
- José Miguel Cotto, boxer
- Miguel Cotto, boxer
- Jose "Cheo" Cruz, baseball player
- Christian Dalmau, BSN basketball player
- Raymond Dalmau, basketball player
- Esteban De Jesus, boxer
- Carlos "Sugar" De Leon, first boxer
in history to win cruiserweight title twice
- Carlos Delgado, baseball player, Florida Marlins
- Melissa Del Valle, boxer
- Alfredo Escalera, boxer
- Sixto Escobar, boxer, member of
Boxing Hall of Fame
- Gigi Fernández, tennis player
- Lisa Fernandez, softball, Olympic
gold medalist
- Enrique Figueroa, sailing
- Bold Forbes, thoroughbred champion
- Ruben Gomez, first Puerto Rican to
pitch and win a World Series game.
- Wilfredo Gomez, boxer, member of
Boxing Hall of Fame
- Jorge "Peco" Gonzalez, marathon
runner
- Juan "Igor" Gonzalez, baseball
player
- Ivonne Harrison, track and field
athlete
- Reggie Jackson, baseball player,
member of Baseball Hall of Fame (Puerto Rican on father's side)
- Belinda Laracuente, boxer
- Butch Lee, basketball player, first
Puerto Rican to play in the NBA
- Angelita Lind, track and field
athlete
- Laura Daniela Lloreda, member of Mexican National Volleyball Team
- Javy Lopez, baseball player, Baltimore Orioles
- Mike Lowell, baseball player, Florida Marlins
- Felix Magath, first Puerto Rican
(mother is German) to play in World Cup soccer for Germany
- Edgar Martinez, baseball player
- Alberto Mercado, Olympian boxer,
the only American citizen in the 1980 Olympics
- Jerome Mincy, basketball player
- John John Molina, boxer
- Pedro Montañez, boxer
- Mario "Quijote" Morales, BSN basketball player
- Pedro Morales, wrestler, member of
WWE Hall of Fame
- Jonny Moseley, skier, first Puerto
Rican to belong to the U.S. Ski Team
- Emilio "Millo" Navarro, first
Puerto Rican to play in the "Negro Leagues"
- Luis Olmo, first Puerto Rican to
hit a home run in a World Series
- Carlos Ortiz, boxer, member of
Boxing Hall of Fame
- Jose Ortiz, basketball player
- Luis Ortiz, boxer, first Puerto
Rican to win an Olympic medal in boxing
- Raul Papaleo, Puerto Rican National
Volleyball Team
- Ernesto Pastor, bullfighter
- Victor Pellot, a.k.a. "Vic Power",
baseball player, second black Puerto Rican in Major League Baseball
- Jorge Posada, baseball player, New York Yankees
- Peter John Ramos, basketball player
- Ramon Ramos, basketball player
- German Rieckehoff, former president
of Puerto Rican Olympic Committee
- Ron Rivera, football player, first
Puerto Rican in the National Football League
- Ivan "Pudge" Rodríguez, baseball
player, Detroit Tigers
- Juan "Chi-Chi" Rodríguez, golfer,
member of Golf Hall of Fame
- Ruben Rodríguez, basketball player
- Jose "King" Roman, boxer, first
Puerto Rican to fight for the world heavyweight title
- Edwin "El Chapo" Rosario, boxer
- John Ruíz, first Hispanic
heavyweight boxing champion
- Alex Sanchez, boxer
- Benito Santiago, baseball player
- Daniel Santiago, basketball player
- O.J. Santiago, football player
- Samuel Serrano, boxer
- Julio Toro, basketball coach
- Georgie Torres, holds BSN scoring record
- José "Chegui" Torres, boxer, member
of Boxing Hall of Fame
- Félix "Tito" Trinidad, boxer
- Jesse Vassallo, swimmer, member of
International Swimming Hall of Fame
- Javier Vázquez, baseball player, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Wilfredo Vazquez, boxer
- Savio Vega, WWE wrestler
- Juan Evangelista Venegas, the first
Puerto Rican to win an Olympic medal
- Ada Velez, the first Puerto Rican
female boxer, to win a championship
- Juan "Pachin" Vicens, basketball player
- Mark Watring, equestrian
- Bernie Williams, baseball player,
New York Yankees
Astrologers
Beauty queens and supermodels
- Deborah Carthy-Deu, Miss Universe
1985
- Susie Castillo, Miss USA 2003
(mother is Puerto Rican)
- Marisol Malaret, first Puerto Rican
Miss Universe, 1970
- Wilnelia Merced, Miss World, 1975
- Astrid Munoz, supermodel
- Denise Quiñones, Miss Universe 2001
- Chay Santini, supermodel
- Dayanara Torres, Miss Universe 1993
- Gloria Velez, supermodel
Religion
- Cardinal Luis Aponte Martinez,
first Puerto Rican to become a cardinal
- Father Francisco Ayerra de Santa Maria,
Puerto Rico's first poet
- Bishop Juan Alejo de Arizmendi, first
Puerto Rican to become a bishop
- Rev. Yiye Avila, pentecostal leader
- Rev. Nicky Cruz, former gangster turned
minister
- Sister Maria Dominguez, beatified in 2004 by
Pope John Paul II
- Sor Isolina Ferre, Catholic nun
awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Juanita García Peraza, "Mita",
founder of "Mita" religion
- Roberto Gonzalez Nieves, San Juan
archbishop
- Jorge Raschke, outspoken evangelist
- Carlos Manuel Rodríguez a.k.a.
"St.Charlie", beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2001
- Teofilo Vargas Sein, "Aron", leader
of "Mita" religion
- Father Diego de Torres Vargas, first to
write about the history of Puerto Rico.
Authors, poets, and playwrights
- Abelardo Diaz Alfaro, writer
- Miguel Algarin, poet,writer and
co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe
- Dr.Manuel A. Alonso, poet and author
- Maria Bibiana Benitez, playwright
and Puerto Rico's "first" poetist
- Jose Gautier Benitez, poet
- Tomas Blanco, writer and historian
- Julia de Burgos, poet
- Mayra Calvani, writer
- Nemesio Canales, essayist and poet
- Dr.Cayetano Coll y Toste, historian
and writer
- Jesus Colon, writer, father of "Nuyorican" movement
- Juan Antonio Corretjer, poet
- Dr.Jose Antonio Davila, poet
- Virgilio Davila, poet
- Mayra Santos Febres, poet
- Rosario Ferré, writer
- Dr.Manuel Zeno Gandía, wrote "La
Charca", the first Puerto Rican novel
- Alejandrina Benitez de Gautier,
poet
- Enrique A. Laguerre, writer,
nominated for Nobel Prize in literature
- René Marqués, playwright
- Dr. Concha Melendez, poet, writer
- Manuel Mendez Ballester, writer
- Mercedes Negron Muñoz, "Clara Lair", poet
- Pedro Pietri, poet,playwright,
co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe
- Miguel Piñero, playwright, writer,
co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe
- José Rivera, playwright, first
Puerto Rican nominated for an "Oscar" in "Best Adopted Screenplay" category
- Luis Rafael Sanchez,playwright
- Esmeralda Santiago, author
- Alejandro Tapia y Rivera, writer
and poet, "The Father of Puerto Rican Literature"
- Piri Thomas, writer, poet
- Lola Rodriguez de Tio, poet, wrote
lyrics to the revolutionary "Borinqueña"
- Edwin Torres, "Nuyorican Movement" poet
- Judge Edwin Torres, writer (Carlito's Way), New York
Supreme Court Justice
- Luis Llorens Torres, poet
Artists
Military
- PFC Domingo Arroyo, USMC, first Puerto
Rican and U.S. serviceman to die during the Somalian Civil War
- Vice Admiral, Dr.Richard Carmona, U.S. Surgeon
General under President George W. Bush
- Brigadier General Antonio Rodriguez Balinas, U.S.
Army
- Brigadier General Antonio Valero de Bernabe, fought
alongside Simón Bolívar
- Staff Sgt. Modesto Cartagena, U.S. Army, most
decorated Hispanic in history
- Lieutenant General Pedro Del Valle, U.S. Marine Corps,
first Hispanic three-star Marine general
- SPC Selian A. Diaz, U.S. Army, first
native born Puerto Rican female soldier to die in a war
- 1 Lt. Carmen Durnier, WAC's, one of the
first Puerto Rican women Army officers
- Capt. Miguel Enriquez, Spanish naval
captain, pirate, defeated the British in Vieques
- Major General Luis R. Esteves, U.S. Army,
organized the Puerto Rican National Guard
- Major General Salvador E. Felices, U.S. Air
Force, first Puerto Rican general in the U.S. Air Force
- CWO3 Rose Franco, USMC, first Hispanic
woman Chief Warrant Officer in the Marine Corps
- PFC Fernando Luis Garcia, USMC, first
Puerto Rican awarded the Medal Of Honor
- Major General Orlando Llenza, U.S. Air Force
- PFC Carlos Lozada, U.S. Army, awarded
Medal of Honor
- Mayor General William A. Navas, Jr., U.S. Army,
first Puerto Rican named Assistant Secretary of the Navy
- Admiral Ramon Power y Giralt, Spanish Navy
- Col. Carlos Betances Ramirez, U.S. Army,
first Puerto Rican to command a battalion in the Korean War
- Capt.Antonio de los Reyes Correa,
Spanish Army, defeated the British in Arecibo
- Major Fernando L. Ribas-Dominicci, U.S.
Air Force, perished in Operation El Dorado Canyon
- Rear Admiral Frederick Lois Riefkohl, U.S. Navy
- Capt. Manuel Rivera, USMC, First Puerto
Rican and U.S. servicemen to die in Operation Desert Shield
- Admiral Horacio Rivero, U.S. Navy, first
Hispanic four-star admiral
- Master Sgt. Pedro Rodriguez, U.S. Army, awarded
two Silver Stars in one week
- Captain Euripides Rubio, U.S. Army, awarded
Medal of Honor
- Sp4c Hector Santiago-Colon, U.S. Army,
awarded Medal of Honor
- SPC Frances M. Vega, U.S. Army, first
Puerto Rican female soldier born in the U.S. to die in a war
- 2Lt. Juan Alonso Zayas, Spanish Army,
fought in the Battle of Baler, Phillippines
Taínos
- Agueybana, Taíno chief, "supreme
cacique"
- Agueybana II, brother of Agueybaná
- Arasibo, cacique, area of Arecibo
- Caguax, cacique, area of Caguas
- Hayuya, cacique, area of Jayuya
- Jumacao, cacique, area of Humacao
Politicians
- Carmen E. Arroyo first Puerto Rican
woman elected to any state assembly in the United States
- Herman Badillo, first Puerto Rican
to serve in U.S. Congress
- Joaquín Balaguer, president of
Dominican Republic (Puerto Rican on his mother's side)
- Dr. José Celso Barbosa, "The Father of
Puerto Rico's Statehood Movement"
- Antonio R. Barcelo, founder of the
Puerto Rican Liberal Party
- Angel O. Berrios, mayor of Caguas
- Dr.Ruben Berrios, president of the
Puerto Rican Independence Party
- Dr.Ramon Emeterio Betances, main
leader of the Grito de Lares revolution
- Mariana Bracetti, leader of the Lares Revolutionary Council
- Juan Marí Bras, founder of the
Puerto Rican Socialist Party
- Mathias Bruckman, leader of the Grito de Lares
- Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos, founder of the
Nationalist Party
- Blanca Canales, nationalist who led
the Jayuya revolt
- Roman Baldorioty de Castro, "The
Father of Puerto Rico's Autonomy"
- Oscar Collazo, one of two
nationalists who attempted to assassinate President Harry S. Truman
- Dr. Gilberto Concepcion de Gracia,
founder of the Puerto Rican Independence Party
- Rafael "Churumba" Cordero Santiago,
former mayor of Ponce
- Jose de Diego, "The Father of
Puerto Rico's Independence Movement"
- Dr. Antonio Fernós-Isern, first Puerto
Rican cardiologist and Resident Commissioner.
- Maurice Ferre, former mayor of Miami, Florida
- Fernando Ferrer, Bronx (New York
City) borough president
- Dr. Olga Viscal Garriga, nationalist
- Eugenio Maria de Hostos, (see also
Educators below)
- Santiago Iglesias, labor activist
and Resident Commisioner to Washington
- Tito Kayak, activist
- Lolita Lebron, nationalist
- Olga A. Mendez, first Puerto Rican
New York State Senator
- Ines Mendoza, first lady of Puerto
Rico
- Francisco Ramirez Medina, President
of the Republic of Ruerto Rico (September 28, 1868), during "El Grito de Lares" revolt
- Teodoro Moscoso Jr., architect of
Operation Bootstrap
- Luis Muñoz Rivera, first Puerto
Rican to be Resident Commissioner in Washington,D.C.
- Dr. Antonia Novello, U.S. Surgeon
General under President George Bush, Sr.
- Eddie Perez, Mayor of Hartford,
Connecticut
- Francisco Mariano Quiñones, the
first president of Puerto Rico's Cabinet
- Ramon Luis Rivera, former mayor of
Bayamón.
- Manuel Rojas, leader of the "Grito de Lares"
- Felisa Rincón de Gautier, first
woman to be elected mayor of an American Capital city.
- Segundo Ruiz Belvis, leader of the
Grito de Lares revolt
- Manuela Santiago Collazo, mayor of
Vieques
- Maria de Lourdes Santiago, first
female "PIP" member to be elected into the Puerto Rican Senate
- Jose Serrano, first Puerto Rican
congressman
- Griselio Torresola, one of two
nationalists who attempted to assassinate President Harry S. Truman
- Nydia Velazquez, first Puerto Rican
congresswoman
Governors
- Carlos Romero Barcelo, 5th elected
governor of Puerto Rico
- Sila María Calderón, first female
and 7th elected governor of Puerto Rico
- Rafael Hernández Colón, 4th elected
governor of Puerto Rico
- Luis A. Ferré, 3rd elected governor
of Puerto Rico (see also Industry below)
- Juan Ponce de Leon II, first Puerto
Rican to be temporary governor
- Luis Muñoz Marin, 1st elected
governor of Puerto Rico
- Jesus T. Piñero, first Puerto Rican
to be named Governor by the U.S.
- Dr. Pedro Rosello, 6th elected governor
of Puerto Rico
- Anibal Acevedo Vila, 8th elected
governor of Puerto Rico
- Roberto Sánchez Vilella, 2nd
elected governor of Puerto Rico
Industrialists
- Carlota Alfaro, fashion
- Luis Antonio, fashion
- Luisa Capetillo, labor leader
- Ramiro L. Colon, first
administrator of Cooperativa de Cafeteros de Puerto Rico, Café Rico
(official coffee of the Vatican)
- Noel Colon Martinez, Amigo Supermarkets
- Atilano Cordero Badillo,
Supermercados Grande
- Richard Carrion, Banco Popular
- Oscar de la Renta, fashion designer
(Father was Puerto Rican)
- Fernando Fernandez, "Ron del Barrilito" and "Alcoholado
Santa Ana"
- Luis A. Ferré, San Juan Cement (see
also Governors above)
- Ramon Lopez Irizarry, inventor of
Coco Lopez
- Israel Kopel, founder of Almacenes Pitusa
department stores
- Teodoro Moscoso Sr., founder of "Farmacias
Moscoso" (Moscoso Pharmacy)
- Gildo Massó, founder of Massó
Enterprises and Casa's Massó
- Angel Ramos, founder of Telemundo television network
- Miguel Ruíz, Café Yaucono'
- Juan Serralles, founder of "Don Q" rum
- Vicente Suarez, founder of V. Suarez &
Co., Puerto Rico's largest wholesaler
- Joseph A. Unanue, president and CEO
of Goya Foods, son of founder
- Alfonso Valdez, founder of Cerveceria India
- Salvador Vassallo, founder of
Vassallo Industries Inc. (Industrias Vassallo Inc.), Vassallo Distribution
Center, and Vassallo Molding Corp.
Educators and scientists
- Joseph M. Acaba, educator, first
Puerto Rican astronaut candidate
- Dr. Ricardo Alegria, anthropologist, archaeologist, educator
- Anthony M. Busquets, electronic
engineer, aero-space technologist
- Dr. Victor A. Carreño,inventor, NASA
aero-space engineer, aero-space technologist
- Miguel Alvarez Chico, electronic
engineer, aero-space technologist
- Dr. Nitza Margarita Cintron,scientist,
Chief of NASA's (JSC) Space and Health Care
Systems Office
- Rafael Cordero,educator beatified
in 2004 by Pope John Paul II
- Dr. Orlando Figueroa, mechanical
engineer, Director of Mars Exploration in NASA
- Olga D. Gonzalez, NASA engineer,
Member of Ohio's Women Hall of Fame
- Lucas G. Hortas, aero-space
engineer, aero-space technologist
- Carlos A. Liceaga, electronic
engineer, aero-space technologist
- Debbie Martinez, computer engineer,
aero-space technologist
- Lissette Martinez, electronic
engineer, rocket scientist
- Dr. Concha Melendez, educator, writer
poet
- Ana G. Mendez, educator, founder of
the Ana G. Mendez University System
- Eugenio Maria de Hostos (see also
Politicians above)
- Ana María O'Neill, educator and
women's rights advocate
- Lourdes Pamela Pop,educator
- Dr. Antonia Pantojas, awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Dr. Angel Ramos, Superintendent of the
Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind
- Dr. Pedro Rodriguez, inventor,
mechanical engineer
- Monserrate Roman, scientist,
microbiologist
- Dr. Agustin Stahl, scientist
- Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, pioneer
in black history
- Dr. Felix Soto Toro, electrical
engineer, astronaut applicant
Puppeteers
- Antulio Kobo Santarrosa, "La
Chachara", "La Condesa", "La Comay"
- Filipo Tirado, "Pepe LoCuaz"
Others
- Milivi Adams, young cancer patient
from Vieques
- Miguel Arteta, film/television
director The Good Girl, TV series Six Feet Under
- Clara Benitez, matriarch of the
Benitez boxing family and socialite
- Felipe Birriel, "El Gigante de
Carolina", was the tallest Puerto Rican
- Roberto Cofresí, Puerto Rico's most
famous pirate
- Corea Cotto, infamous outlaw
- Edgardo Diaz, founder of Menudo
- Magali Febles, Beauty Expert
- Antonio García López a/k/a Toño
Bicicleta, famous outlaw
- Juan Manuel García Passalacqua,
politic commentator, lawyer
- José Juan García, "Cheguan",
founder of Hogares Crea
- Victor Manuel Gerena, allegedly
stole $7 million from Wells Fargo
- Alejandro Gonzalez Malave, infamous
undercover policeman
- Alfred D. Herger, T.V. Host
- Maria Elena Holly, widow of rock
legend Buddy Holly
- Isabel la Negra, infamous female
gangster
- Nicole Muniz, murdered teenager,
famous after death
- Jose Padilla, alleged al-Qaeda terrorist
- Silverio Perez, show host
- Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, Leader of "Los Macheteros"
- Jai Rodriguez, of TV show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
- David Sanes, whose death eventually
led to the U.S. military leaving Vieques
- Rolandito Salas, missing child,
became famous after getting lost
- Pedro Toledo, policeman, two times
police superintendent
- Ramona Trinidad Iglesias, was
world's oldest woman
- Tony Tursi, member of the Mafia
- Alani Vasquez, "Lala Vazquez" Host
MTV
- Roberto Vigoreaux, former show
host, senator