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List of famous Puerto Ricans in alphabetical order by last names, where applicable.


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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

Ricardo Alvarez Rivon, creator of "Turey"
Vanesa Littlecrow, comic creator
George Perez, "Marvel" comic book artist
John Rivas, creator of "Bonzzo"
Jose Vega Santana, creator of "Remi, El Clown" (see also Actors and Actress below)

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.