- Aric Almirola, current NASCAR driver
- Carlos Alvarez,former college football player for the University of Florida, known as “The Cuban Comet”.
- Robert Andino, infielder for the Baltimore Orioles
- Gilbert Arenas, professional basketball player with the Washington Wizards
- Javier Arenas, cornerback and punt returner for the Alabama Crimson Tide
- J. P. Arencibia, current catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays
- René Arocha, former MLB pitcher
- Rolando Arrojo, former MLB pitcher
- Bronson Arroyo, starting pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds and member of World Champion 2004 Boston Red Sox (Cuban father)
- Alex Avila, current catcher for the Detroit Tigers
- Danys Báez, relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies
- Yan Barthelemí, Cuban Professional Boxer
- Steve Bellán, baseball player and pioneer
- Yuniesky Betancourt, current shortstop for the Milwaukee Brewers
- Lazaro Bueno, Martial Arts Master Hokuto Shinken
- Bert Campaneris, former MLB All-Star shortstop
- Barbaro Canizares, current first baseman
- José Canseco, former MLB All-Star outfielder and DH, author (Juiced) and reality show contestant (The Surreal Life)
- Ozzie Canseco, former MLB outfielder
- Rene Capo, former Olympic judoka.
- José Cardenal, former MLB outfielder and coach and current MLB executive
- Dr. John Carlos, Olympic track and field medalist, Professional football player, founding member of the Olympic Project for Human Rights (Cuban mother) [1]
- Joel Casamayor, Cuban Professional Boxer
- Elieser Castillo, Cuban Professional Boxer
- Eliseo Castillo, Cuban Professional Boxer
- Aroldis Chapman, pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds MLB organization
- Vinnie Chulk, relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants
- José Contreras, pitcher with the Chicago White Sox, won World Series in 2005
- Mike Cuellar, former MLB All-Star pitcher
- Orestes Destrade, former MLB first baseman and current broadcaster
- Eric Eichmann, former US National Team and American professional soccer player (Cuban mother)
- Yunel Escobar, current shortstop for the Toronto Blue Jays
- Alex Fernandez, former pitcher for the Florida Marlins
- Osvaldo Fernandez, former MLB pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds
- Tony Fossas, former MLB relief pitcher
- Tito Fuentes, former MLB second baseman
- Mary Joe Fernandez, tennis player
- Ryan Freel, outfielder for the Chicago Cubs (Cuban mother)
- Yuriorkis Gamboa, “El Ciclón de Guantanamo”, Professional Boxer
- Danny Garcia, former MLB outfielder Kansas City Royals
- Preston Gómez, former MLB infielder and manager
- Anthony Gonzalez, WR Atlanta Falcons National Football League
- Joaquin Gonzalez, Offensive Line, Indianapolis Colts National Football League
- Luis Gonzalez, outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks
- Gio Gonzalez, current MLB pitcher for the Oakland Athletics
- Henry Gutierrez, former US National Team and American professional soccer player
- Ricky Gutiérrez, former shortstop
- James “Chico” Hernandez, of Wheaties fame, US Sombo Wrestling Champion, World Cup Silver and 3 time British silver medalist [2]
- Liván Hernández, starting pitcher for the New York Mets
- Orlando Hernández, half-brother of Liván, starting pitcher for New York Mets
- Julio Herrera, professional wrestler
- Eric Hosmer, first baseman for Kansas City Royals
- Raúl Ibáñez, outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies
- Jon Jay, right-fielder for the St Louis Cardinals
- Doug Logan, Chief Executive Officer of USA Track & Field (USATF), the national governing body for track and field, long distance running, and race walking.
- Neil Lomax, former quarterback, St Louis Cardinals.
- Hector Lombard, Mixed Martial Artist, Judo competitor at 2000 Sydney Olympics.
- Brook Lopez, current NBA player for the New Jersey Nets, (Cuban father)
- Robin Lopez, current NBA player for the Phoenix Suns, (Cuban father)
- Mickey Lopez, former second baseman.
- Mike Lowell, Third baseman for the Boston Red Sox
- Frank Martin, Current head men’s basketball coach at Kansas State
- Frank Mir, Mixed Martial Artist and former UFC Heavyweight Champion
- Al Montoya, current goalkeeper in National Hockey League
- Minnie Miñoso, former MLB All-Star outfielder
- Pablo Morales, Olympic swimmer
- Kendry Morales, current first baseman for the Los Angeles Angels
- Sergio Oliva, Former 3-time Mr. Olympia. Only bodybuilder to have ever beaten Arnold Schwarzenegger in a Mr. Olympia competition.
- Tony Oliva, former MLB All-Star outfielder
- Rey Ordóñez, former shortstop, New York Mets
- Henry Owens, relief pitcher for the Florida Marlins
- Orlando Palmeiro, professional baseball player
- Rafael Palmeiro, former MLB All-Star first baseman and member of the 3,000 Hit and 500 Home Run clubs
- Brayan Peña, current catcher for the Kansas City Royals
- Tony Pérez, National Baseball Hall of Fame infielder
- Eduardo Pérez, former first baseman
- Jorge Posada, catcher for the New York Yankees (Cuban father)
- Alexei Ramírez, current outfielder/infielder for the Chicago White Sox
- Guillermo Rigondeaux, Cuban Professional Boxer
- Amy Rodriguez, frontline for U.S Women’s Soccer Team
- Jennifer Rodriguez, Olympic medal-winning speed skater
- Sean Rodriguez, second baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays
- Alex Sanchez, former outfielder
- Alberto Salazar, runner and marathon winner
- David Segui, former first baseman
- Odlanier Solís, Cuban Professional Boxer
- Danny Tartabull, former MLB All-Star outfielder
- Gaby Sanchez, current First baseman of the Florida Marlins
- Luis Tiant, former MLB All-Star pitcher
- Danny Valencia, current third baseman for the Minnesota Twins
- Joe Houston, current place kicker for the USC Football, Player Profile [13]
Business
- Alex Aguila,[3] co-founder of Alienware
- Raúl Alarcón, president and CEO of the Spanish Broadcasting System
- Cesar L. Alvarez, CEO of Greenberg Traurig
- Ralph Alvarez,[4] president and COO of McDonald’s
- Bacardi Family,[5] owners of Bacardi Rums, Grey Goose, Martini & Rossi and Dewar’s
- Paul L. Cejas, CEO of PLC Investments, Inc.
- Armando Codina, CEO of the Codina Group
- Alfonso Fanjul,[6] sugar baron
- Jose Fanjul,[6] sugar baron
- Raul J. Fernandez, co-owner of the NBA Washington Wizards, NHL Washington Capitals and WNBA Washington Mystics
- Ralph de la Vega, President and CEO of AT&T Mobility
- Jorge A. del Calvo, Partner and Board Member of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
- Armando J. Olivera, President and CEO. Florida Power & Light Company,[7]
- Jorge Figueredo,[8] Senior Vice President of Dow Jones
- Robert C. Goizueta,[9] former CEO of the Coca-Cola Company
- Efraim Grinberg, CEO of Movado watches
- Gedalio Grinberg, founder and former CEO of Movado watches
- Nelson Gonzalez,[3] co-founder of Alienware
- Carlos Gutierrez,[10] former CEO of Kellogg Company
- Jorge Mas Canosa, CEO of MasTech, political activist, former head of Cuban-American National Foundation
- Alvaro de Molina,[11] Chief Financial Officer of Bank of America Corporation
- Antonio Luis Navarro, former vice president of W. R. Grace and Company
- Jorge M. Perez,[12] real estate developer, CEO of the Related Group
- Joe Quesada,[13] editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics
- George Reyes,[14] Chief Financial Officer of Google
- Gregorio Reyes, co-founded Sunward Technologies; Silicon Valley legend
- Felix Sabates, entrepreneur, philanthropist, holds ownership in NASCAR, Charlotte Bobcats and New Orleans Hornets
- Alberto Vilar, investor and philanthropist.
- Ryan Lochte, US olympic swimmer and gold medalist
- Ric Perez Ricardo (Ric) Perez, President of Operations, Westinghouse Electric Company
Education
- Dr. Ruth Behar, anthropologist, poet, and filmmaker, first Latina recipient of a MacArthur award, University of Michigan
- Dr. George J. Borjas, Robert W. Scrivner Professor of Economics and Social Policy, Harvard University
- Dr. Miguel A. De La Torre, prolific author on Hispanic religiosity, Iliff School of Theology
- Dr. Jorge I. Dominguez, Antonio Madero Professor of Mexican and Latin American Politics and Economics, Chairman of the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, Harvard University
- Dr. Roberto González Echevarría, Sterling Professor of Hispanic and Comparative Literature, Yale University
- Dr. Jorge J. E. Gracia, Samuel P. Capen Chair in Philosophy, University at Buffalo
- Dr. Modesto A. Maidique, President of Florida International University
- Dr. Elsa A. Murano, President of Texas A&M University
- Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón, President of Miami Dade College
- Dr. Alejandro Portes, Professor of Sociology, Director of the Center for Migration and Development, Princeton University
- Dr. Gregory Rabassa, Renowned Literary Translator and Distinguished Professor in the Department of Languages and Literatures at Queens College, City University of New York and in the Ph.D. Program in Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Literatures of the Graduate School and University Center of the CUNY Graduate Center
- Dr. Ernest Sosa, Board of Governors Professor of Philosophy, Rutgers University
- Dr. Carlos M. N. Eire, T. Lawrason Riggs Proffesor of History and Religious Studies at Yale University. His memoir of the Cuban Revolution, Waiting for Snow in Havana, (Free Press, 2003) won the National Book Award for non-fiction in 2003
Entertainment
Actors
- Laz Alonso, actor
- Desi Arnaz, actor (I Love Lucy)
- Desi Arnaz Jr., actor
- Lucie Arnaz, actress
- Nelson Ascencio, comedian (MADtv)
- Steven Bauer, actor (Scarface, ¿Qué Pasa, USA?, credited as Rocky Echevarría)
- María Canals Barrera, voice actress
- Bobby Cannavale, actor (Third Watch, Will & Grace)
- Irene Cara, actress (Flashdance)
- Nestor Carbonell, actor (Suddenly Susan, Lost, The Dark Knight, The Lost City)
- Jencarlos Canela, actor (Mas sabe el diablo)
- Matt Cedeño, actor and model
- Eddie Cibrian, actor (Vanished, Invasion)
- Damien Crosse, actor in gay porn
- Valerie Cruz, actress (Nip/Tuck)
- Rosario Dawson, actress (Rent, Kids)
- Kamar de los Reyes, soap opera actor (One Life to Live)
- Guillermo Díaz, actor (films Half Baked, Party Girl)
- Emiliano Díez, actor (The George Lopez Show)
- Cameron Diaz, Actress, former model
- Majandra Delfino, actress (Roswell)
- Marieh Delfino, actress
- Raúl Esparza, actor
- Romina Espinosa, actress (JONAS, Wild Child (2008 film))
- Mel Ferrer, actor
- Daisy Fuentes, model and television personality (MTV’s House of Style)
- David Fumero, soap opera actor (One Life to Live)
- Gene Gabriel, actor (Numb3rs, Law & Order: Criminal Intent)
- David Gallagher actor, 7th Heaven[15]
- Melissa Gallo, television actress, One Life to Live[16]
- Andy García, Academy Award-nominated actor (The Godfather Part III, Ocean’s Eleven, Oceans Twelve, The Lost City)
- Joanna García, film and television actress (Reba)[17]
- Jorge Garcia, actor (Lost)
- Jsu Garcia, actor
- Nona Gaye, singer and actress (Ali)
- Carlos Gómez, actor
- Marga Gomez, comedienne/playwright
- David Lago, actor
- Carlos Leon actor (film The Woodsman)
- William Levy actor
- Faizon Love, actor,
- Ana Margarita Martínez-Casado, actress (El Super, ¿Qué Pasa, USA?)
- Eva Mendes, actress (Hitch, 2 Fast 2 Furious)
- Christina Milian, singer and actress (Be Cool)
- Enrique Murciano, actor (Without a Trace)
- Oscar Nuñez, actor (The Office)
- Luis Oquendo, actor (film Guaguasi, ¿Qué Pasa, USA?)
- Elizabeth Peña, actress (Rush Hour)
- Danny Pino, actor (Cold Case)
- Tony Plana, actor (Ugly Betty)
- Carlos Ponce, actor/singer
- Jorge Pupo, actor/narrator
- Armando Riesco, actor (film Garden State)
- Adam Rodríguez, actor (CSI: Miami)
- Génesis Rodríguez, actress (Dona Barbara, Dame Chocolate and Prisionera).
- Cesar Romero, actor (The Joker on Batman (1960s TV series), Ocean’s Eleven (1960 film), Week-End in Havana)
- Mercedes Ruehl, Academy Award-winning (The Fisher King) and Tony Award-winning actress
- Caitlin Sanchez, actress (Dora The Explorer)
- Marco Sanchez, actor
- Saundra Santiago, actress (Miami Vice, The Sopranos)
- Tessie Santiago, actress (Queen of Swords), (Good Morning, Miami)
- Annabella Sciorra, actress (The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, The Sopranos)
- Jamie-Lynn Sigler, actress (The Sopranos)
- Georg Stanford Brown, actor (Roots)
- Gina Torres, actress (The Matrix sequels, Firefly and Serenity)
- Jordi Vilasuso, actor (Guiding Light)
- Odette Yustman, actress (Cloverfield)
- Bella Thorne, actress (Shake It Up!). Cuban, Irish, and Italian.
- Adam Irigoyen, actor ( Shake It Up!).
Cartoonists
Directors, screenwriters and producers
- Desi Arnaz, musician, actor and producer, co-star of I Love Lucy and co-founder of Desilu Productions
- Migdia Chinea, screenwriter, The Incredible Hulk, director, producer, Anonymous (Street Meat)
- Manny Coto, executive producer (24), writer (24, Star Trek: Enterprise)
- René Echevarria, writer (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Medium) co-creator of The 4400
- Andy García, director (The Lost City)
- Silvio Horta, creator and writer (Ugly Betty), writer (Urban Legends, Jake 2.0)
- Roberto Orci, executive producer (Star Trek, The Proposal) and writer (Transformers, Eagle Eye, Star Trek)
- Brett Ratner, director (Rush Hour, Red Dragon, X-Men: The Last Stand)
- George A. Romero, producer/director (Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead) creator of the Living Dead film series
Graphic designers
Fashion
Magicians
Musicians
- Francisco Aguabella, Afro-Cuban master percussionist
- Albita, Grammy-winning singer
- Mellow Man Ace, Godfather of Latin Hip Hop
- B Real, member of rap group Cypress Hill
- Mario Bauza, trumpeter, saxophonist, composer, arranger, bandleader and Afro-Cuban Jazz pioneer
- Jorge Bolet, classical concert pianist specializing in Liszt
- Elizabeth Caballero, lyric soprano
- Irene Cara, Oscar and Grammy-winning singer (Flashdance), actress (Fame)
- Willy Chirino, singer
- Ana Cristina, singer, songwriter, actress, Miss South Florida USA 2011
- Celia Cruz, multiple Grammy-winning singer
- Xavier Cugat, celebrated bandleader
- Addys D’Mercedes, singer
- Paquito D’Rivera, Grammy-winning saxophonist
- The DeCastro Sisters, female singing group
- Don Dinero, rapper
- Emilio Estefan, five-time Grammy-winning producer
- Gloria Estefan, Grammy-winning and Academy Award-nominated singer
- Lola Falana, singer, actress and dancer
- Johnny Goudie, rock musician
- Olga Guillot, singer
- Horacio Gutiérrez, prize-winning classical concert pianist
- Al Jourgensen, frontman of Ministry
- La Lupe, singer and gay icon
- Nil Lara, rock musician
- Lissette, singer/actress (wife of Willy Chirino)
- Dave Lombardo, drummer of Slayer
- Cachao López, composer, musician of Cuban mambo
- Raúl Malo, lead singer of American country music band, The Mavericks
- Niurka Marcos, singer
- Martika, Grammy-nominated singer/actress (film Annie ; television series Kids Incorporated )
- Paul Masvidal, guitarist for metal band Cynic
- Syesha Mercado, singer
- Roger Miret, singer for Agnostic Front
- Jorge Moreno, Grammy award winning singer / writer and TV producer
- JD Natasha, Latin pop musician
- Juan Croucier, rock bassist (Ratt, Dokken, Quiet Riot)
- Olivia Longott, rapper
- P-Star, rapper, actress
- Pitbull, American-born rapper
- Christopher Rojas, Cuban American-born composer and record producer
- Ángel, Cuban American-born rapper
- Rudy Pérez, Cuban composer and music producer.[18]
- Chano Pozo, Afro-Cuban, Latin Jazz percussionist, conga player
- Marco Rizo, pianist, composer, I Love Lucy
- Rey Ruiz, singer
- Arturo Sandoval, jazz trumpeter and pianist
- Rudy Sarzo, rock bassist (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Manic Eden, Dio)
- Jon Secada, two-time Grammy-winning singer
- Sen Dog, Cuban rapper member of (Cypress Hill)
- Tico Torres, drummer of Bon Jovi, singer
- Mayra Verónica, singer, model, television personality
- Ras Juan Perez International Cuban Reggae star, member/founder of Reggae group Arawak Jah [Orlando, FL, USA]
- Mongo Santamaría, Latin jazz musician Grammy winner
- Horacio Hernandez, Percussionist Jazz Grammy winner
- Voltaire, Dark cabaret musician.
Reality television contestants
- Rachel Campos, featured on The Real World: San Francisco
- Jose “Pepi” Diaz, contestant on season 5 of The Apprentice
- Marlon Fernández, winner of Objetivo Fama (third season)
- Ashley Massaro, Survivor: China contestant, WWE Diva, Playboy Model & Cover Girl
- Syesha Mercado, American Idol contestant
- Chris Núñez, artist and reality television personality (Miami Ink)
- Melissa Padrón, featured on The Real World: Miami
- Veronica Portillo, Playboy model and Road Rules contestant
- Janu Tornell, Vegas showgirl and reality show contestant (Survivor)
- Pedro Zamora, AIDS activist, featured on The Real World: San Francisco
- Jeanine Mason, Winner of Season 5 of So You Think You Can Dance
- Robert Roman, contestant on “Big Brother 4: The X Factor
Television personalities
- Ariana Barouk, Beauty Queen, Television Host/Presenter, Actress, Model (Ogags)
- Raúl De Molina, co-host of Univision’s El Gordo y la Flaca
- Lily Estefan, co-host of Univision’s El Gordo y la Flaca
- Alex Ferrer, television judge (Judge Alex)
- Alex Garcia, Food Network personality
- Odalys García, singer, model and television personality
- Vida Guerra, television presenter and model
- Maria Lopez, television judge (Judge Maria Lopez)
- Marilyn Milian, television judge (The People’s Court)
- Ana María Polo, television arbitrator
- Rick Sanchez, former CNN anchorman and reporter
- Hildi Santo-Tomas, designer, host of TLC network show Trading Spaces
- Cristina Saralegui, magazine editor, talk show host (Cristina) and actress
- Bob Vila, author/television host (This Old House)
- Ninoska Pérez Castellón, “Ultima Palabra”, GenTV, Radio Mambi, En Caliente daily radio show.
- Eduardo bellido de luna,”MIAMITEVE”, Gent tv , radio caracol1260 m “al filo de la medianoche show
Writers
- Mercedes de Acosta, poet, playwright
- Reynaldo Arenas, poet, author
- Nilo Cruz, playwright, the first Latino to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama
- Carmen Agra Deedy, children’s books author
- Carlos Eire, writer, won the 2003 National Book Award in Nonfiction
- Frank Fernández, anarchist, author of exile-related themes
- Roberto G. Fernández, novelist
- María Irene Fornés, playwright
- Paula Fox, author, winner of Hans Christian Andersen Medal, biological grandmother of musician Courtney Love
- Cristina García, novelist
- Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, mystery novelist and descendant of Cuban independence patriot Francisco Vicente Aguilera[19]
- Oscar Hijuelos, first Hispanic to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction
- Ana Menéndez, author (books In Cuba I Was a German Shepherd and Loving Che)
- Anaïs Nin, author[20]
- Achy Obejas, novelist
- Alex Abella, mystery/crime novelist, non-fiction writer, and journalist
- Jorge Reyes, memoirist, short-story writer, poet, children’s books
- Antonio Sacre, children’s books, playwright
- Cecilia Samartin, novelist, (books “Broken Paradise”, “Tarnished Beauty”, “Vigil”), www.ceciliasamartin.com
- Virgil Suárez, novelist
- Piri Thomas, author (memoir Down These Mean Streets)
- Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, writer (The Dirty Girls Social Club)
- Armando Valladares, writer (“Against All Hope: A Memoir of Life in Castro’s Gulag”)
Journalists
- Manny Alvarez, medical correspondent Fox News Channel
- Cathy Areu, founder of Catalina magazine
- Liz Balmaseda, columnist Miami Herald
- Barbara Bermudo, anchor Primer Impacto
- Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, a business news General Assignment Reporter for CNBC television.
- Myrka Dellanos, former anchor Primer Impacto
- José Díaz-Balart, anchor/reporter
- Jackie Figueroa, anchor, reporter and host of Acción Hispana
- Max Gomez, medical correspondent WNBC, NBC in New York City
- Pedro Gomez (sports reporter), ESPN reporter and Barry Bonds’ bete-noire, etc…
- Ambrose E. Gonzales, co-founder of The State newspaper in South Carolina and author of several books in Gullah language
- Narciso Gener Gonzales, co-founder of The State newspaper in South Carolina
- Dan Le Batard, sportswriter for The Miami Herald
- Antonio Mora, anchor WFOR in Miami
- Belkys Nerey, anchor WSVN, Fox in Miami
- Jackie Nespral, anchor WTVJ, NBC in Miami
- Soledad O’Brien, CNN anchor
- Mirta Ojito, Pulitzer Prize winner
- Rafael Pineda, anchor WXTV in New York
- Ellie Rodriguez, anchor WSVN in Miami
- Maggie Rodriguez, co-anchor of CBS‘s The Early Show
- Rick Sanchez, anchor
- Mari Rodriguez Ichaso, filmmaker, columnist, journalist Vanidades, Harper’s Bazaar en Espanol, Travel & Leisure en Espanol
- Jessica Aguirre, anchor KNTV NBC 11 News San Francisco, CA
Politics and the judiciary
United States ambassadors
Cabinet members
United States House of Representatives
- James Devereux, former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Maryland’s 2nd district
- Lincoln Díaz-Balart, Republican former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 21st district
- Mario Diaz-Balart, Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 25th district
- Joseph Marion Hernández, first Hispanic elected to the United States Congress
- Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 18th district
- Albio Sires, Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing New Jersey’s 13th district
- David Rivera, Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 25th district
2008 Congressional candidates
2010 Senate candidates
United States Senate
Federal government
- Al Cardenas, Washington, D.C. lobbyist
- Alex Castellanos, Republican media consultant; senior advisor to 2008 Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney
- Nils J. Diaz, former chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Cari M. Dominguez, Chair of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- Rudy Fernandez, Special Assistant to President George W. Bush in the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affair and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Governmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Transportation
- Emilio T. Gonzalez, Ph.D, director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Eliot A. Jardines, first Assistant Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Open Source
- Otto Reich, former Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs
- Mauricio J. Tamargo, 14th Chairman of the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission
- Mel Martinez, fmr. Chairman of the Republican National Committee
Local government
- Carlos Alvarez, mayor of Miami-Dade County
- Joe Carollo, former mayor of Miami
- Manny Diaz, mayor of Miami
- Raul L. Martinez, former mayor of Hialeah
- Carlos Mayans, mayor of Wichita, Kansas
- Alex Penelas, former mayor (D-FL), Miami-Dade County, Florida
- Xavier Suarez, former mayor of Miami
- Silverio Vega, mayor of West New York, New Jersey
- Tomas Regalado, mayor of Miami
- Julio Robaina, mayor of City of Hialeah
- Rosario Kennedy, former commissioner and vice-mayor of Miami
State government
U.S. Commonwealth government
Judiciary
United States Armed Forces
- Adolfo Fernández Cavada, Captain in the Union Army during the American Civil War who later served as Commander-in-Chief of the Cinco Villas during Cuba’s Ten Year War.
- Ambrosio José Gonzales, Colonel in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.
- Erneido Oliva. Major General. Former deputy commander of the D.C. National Guard.
- Federico Fernández Cavada, Colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War and later Commander-in-Chief of all the Cuban forces during Cuba’s Ten Year War.
- Félix Rodríguez, U.S. Army Helicopter Pilot ,Former CIA officer known for his involvement in the Bay of Pigs Invasion, his involvement in the capture and interrogation of terrorist Che Guevara.
- Julius Peter Garesché, Lieutenant Colonel in the Union Army who served as Chief of Staff, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel to Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans.
- Lola Sánchez, Confederate spy during the American Civil War. She played an instrumental role in the Confederate victory in the “Battle of Horse Landing”.[21]
- Loreta Janeta Velazquez a.k.a. “Lieutenant Harry Buford”, Velazquez was a Cuban born woman who masqueraded as a male Confederate soldier during the Civil War.
World leaders
Science and technology
Visual arts
- Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada, artist
- Jose Acosta Hernandez, artist
- José Bernal, artist
- Humberto Castro, painter
- Félix González-Torres, artist
- Ana Mendieta, artist
- Mercedes de Acosta, socialite, author, best known for her affairs with Greta Garbo, Marlene Dietrich
- Fernando Bujones, ballet dancer
- Jose Manuel Carreño, award winning ballet dancer, American Ballet Theatre.
- Alberto Cutié, priest and television host, EWTN also daily talk show on Telemundo Network.
- Alina Fernández, radio personality, daughter and critic of Fidel Castro
- Joe Garcia, 2008 Democratic congressional candidate
- Rita de Acosta Lydig, “the woman most scenic in America”.
- Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos, woman at the center of the Carl Tanzler case
- Ana Mendieta, performance artist, noted feminist
- Javier Peres, contemporary art dealer
- Henry Pollack, radio host of “Havana Rock”
- Charles “Bebe” Rebozo, close friend and confidant of President Richard Nixon; key Watergate scandal figure
- Maria Consuelo Iznaga Clement, wife of George Montagu, 8th Duke of Manchester
- Dr. Carlos A. Rosende, M.D., a specialist in diabetic retinopathy and general ophthalmology, who was appointed chairman of the department of ophthalmology at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio[22]
- Maria Teresa Mestre, Wife of Luxembourg’s constitutional monarch – Grand Duke Henri. Her title is Grand Duchess
Art and entertainment
Actors
- Ana Margarita Martínez-Casado, actress and singer
- Andy García, actor
- César Évora, actor
- Daisy Fuentes, actress
- Desi Arnaz, actor
- Emiliano Díez, actor
- Romina Espinosa, actress
- Enrique Molina, actor
- Faizon Love, actor and comedian
- Francisco Gattorno, actor
- Julio Oscar Mechoso, actor
- Luis Oquendo, actor
- Manela Bustamante, actress
- María Conchita Alonso, actress
- Mario Ernesto Sánchez, actor and founder of Teatro Avante
- Renny Arozarena, actor
- Steven Bauer, actor
- Velia Martínez, actress and singer
- William Levy, actor
Artists, photographers and fashion designers
- Agustin Cárdenas, sculptor
- Alberto Korda, photographer
- Alexandre Arrechea, painter, sculptor
- Amelia Peláez, painter
- Carlos Enriquez, painter
- Fidelio Ponce de León, painter
- Humberto Jesús Castro García, painter
- José Bernal, painter
- José Vilalta Saavedra, sculptor
- Juan José Sicre, sculptor
- Juan T. Vazquez Martin, painter
- Mario Perez, painter
- Pedro Álvarez Castelló, painter
- Raúl Corrales, photographer
- Raúl Martínez, pop artist, painter
- Rene Mederos, poster artist and graphic designer
- René Portocarrero, painter
- Tomas Sanchez, painter
- Victor Manuel, painter
- Waldo Diaz-Balart, painter
- Wifredo Lam, painter
Authors and poets
- Antonio Benitez-Rojo author.
- Daína Chaviano, author.
- Carilda Oliver Labra, poet.
- Dulce María Loynaz, author.
- Edmundo Desnoes, author.
- Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda, author, poet.
- Gilda Antonia Guillen, writer, poet, political activist.
- Guillermo Cabrera Infante, author.
- Heberto Padilla, poet.
- Héctor Zumbado, writer, journalist, humorist, critic.
- José Ignacio Rivero, author and journalist.
- Antonio Rodríguez Salvador, poet, author
- José Lezama Lima, author, poet.
- José María Heredia y Campuzano, poet.
- José Martí, author, poet, journalist.
- Julián del Casal, 19th century poet.
- Leonardo Padura Fuentes, novelist, journalist.
- Mariano Brull, author.
- Nancy Morejón, author.
- Jose Gomez-Sicre, art critic and author.
- Nicolás Guillén, poet.
- Norberto Fuentes, author.
- Pedro Juan Gutiérrez, author, poet, painter.
- Pedro Luis Boitel, poet.
- Raúl Rivero, poet and journalist.
- Reinaldo Arenas, author.
- Severo Sarduy, poet.
- Virgilio Piñera, author, playwright, poet, short-story writer and essayist.
- Zoé Valdés, author.
Composers
- Alejandro García Caturla, symphonic composer
- Antonio María Romeu, composer
- Arsenio Rodríguez developer of the rumba
- Didier Hernández, singer composer
- Ernesto Lecuona, often regarded as the greatest Cuban composer
- Esteban Salas y Castro, 18th century Cuban baroque composer
- Gonzalo Roig, often regarded as one of the greatest composers of Cuba, “Quiere me mucho”/ Cecilia Valdez
- Ignacio Cervantes, Chopinesque piano composer
- José White Lafitte, violinist and composer
- Leo Brouwer, guitarist and composer
- Yalil Guerra, composer
- Amadeo Roldán, composer and violinist
- Dámaso Pérez Prado, developer of the mambo
- Armando Rodriguez-Gonzalez, composer
- Antonio Rodríguez Ferrer, composer
- René Touzet, composer, bandleader and pianist
Musicians
- Aida Diestro, pianist, arranger
- Albita, singer
- Alfredo de la Fé, musician
- Adalberto Álvarez, pianist, director, composer
- Ana Cristina, singer, actress, composer
- Ángel Reyes, violinist
- Armando Peraza, percussionist
- Arturo Sandoval, trumpeter
- Arsenio Rodríguez, composer
- Benny Moré, singer, songwriter, conductor, arranger
- Bola de Nieve, singer, pianist
- Cándido Fabré, musician, songwriter, singer
- Carlos Manuel Pruneda, singer
- Carlos Varela, singer, songwriter
- Celia Cruz, singer
- Celina González, singer-songwriter
- Cesar “Pupy” Pedroso, pianist, musician
- Christina Milian, singer
- Chucho Valdés, pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger.
- Compay Segundo, musician, songwriter
- Conchita Espinosa, pianist, teacher
- Cuban Link, rapper
- Cubanito 20.02, hip-hop band
- Daniel René, singer, songwriter, producer
- Dave Lombardo, drummer
- David Calzado, musician
- Didier Hernández, singer, songwriter
- Don Dinero, rapper
- Elena Burke, singer
- El Medico, timba musician
- Eliades Ochoa, guitarist and singer
- Emilio Estefan producer, composer
- Ernesto Lecuona, pianist, composer
- Esther Borja, singer
- Eusebio Delfín, singer
- Francisco Aguabella, percussionist
- German Nogueira Gomez, songwriter, composer, producer
- Gloria Estefan, singer, composer
- Gonzalo Rubalcaba, pianist
- Guillermo Portabales, singer, songwriter
- Horacio Gutiérrez, concert pianist
- Hubert de Blanck, pianist, composer
- Ignacio Piñeiro, composer
- Ibrahim Ferrer, musician
- Issac Delgado, singer
- Jorge Bolet, concert pianist
- Juan Croucier, bassist
- Juan Formell, composer
- Juan de Marcos González, musician
- La Lupe, singer
- Lena, singer
- Lissette, singer
- Malena Burke, singer
- Manuel Barrueco, classical guitarist
- María Teresa Vera, composer, guitarist, singer
- Mayra Verónica, singer
- Miguel Matamoros, singer, composer
- Moisés Valle, musician
- Moisés Simons, composer
- Mongo Santamaría, jazz musician
- Moraima Secada, singer
- Nelson Martinez, baritone
- Ñico Saquito, composer, singer
- Olga Guillot, singer
- Omara Portuondo, singer
- Orlando “Cachaito” López, bassist
- Pablo Milanés, singer, songwriter
- Pío Leyva, singer
- Pitbull, rapper
- Raul Paz, singer
- Rey Ruiz, singer
- Rita Montaner, singer
- Roberto Faz, singer, conductor
- Rubén González, pianist
- Rudy Sarzo, rock bassist
- Sen Dog, rapper
- Silvio Rodríguez, singer, songwriter
- Tico Torres, drummer, percussionist
- Willy Chirino, singer, songwriter
- Voltaire (musician), musician
- Xavier Cugat, musician
- Yalil Guerra, producer, musician, composer
- Yotuel Romero, rapper
- Harold Lopez Nussa, jazz pianist
Film directors
Journalists
Dancers
- Alicia Alonso, Prima Ballerina Assoluta, director of the Cuban National Ballet (Ballet Nacional de Cuba)
- Carlos Acosta, dancer
- Fernando Bujones, dancer
- Jose Manuel Carreño – American Ballet Theater principal dancer
- Lydia Diaz Cruz, prima ballerina
- Miguel Campaneria, ballet dancer, currently artistic director of the National Ballet Theater of Puerto Rico
- Vida Guerra, video dancer
- Yat-Sen Chang, principal dancer, English National Ballet
Other entertainment
- Alvarez Guedes, comedian and author
- Ana María Polo, television personality and lawyer
- A Pair of Nuts: The Comedy Duo comedians and actors
- Cachita, television personality
- Cristina Saralegui, magazine editor, talk show host (Cristina) and actress
- Vida Guerra, model/actress
- Lili Estefan, television personality and former model
- Martita, television personality
- Mauricio Zeilic, television personality
- Mayra Verónica, model
- Nelson Ascencio, comedian (Madtv)
- Pedro Zamora, AIDS activist, featured on The Real World: San Francisco
- Raúl De Molina, television personality
- Raúl Musibay, Food Network chef and author
- Rosaura Andreu, children’s television entertainer
- Sissi, model
Sport
Baseball
- Adolfo Luque, Cincinnati Reds
- Alex Fernandez, Chicago White Sox, Florida Marlins
- Alex Sánchez
- Ariel Pestano, Cuba national baseball team
- Ariel Prieto, Oakland Athletics
- Aurelio Monteagudo, Kansas City Athletics
- Barbaro Canizares, Atlanta Braves
- Barbaro Garbey, Detroit Tigers
- Bert Campaneris, Kansas City Athletics
- Brayan Peña, Atlanta Braves
- Cristóbal Torriente, Negro Leagues – Baseball Hall of Fame
- Danys Báez, Baltimore Orioles
- Diego Seguí, Kansas City Athletics
- Eli Marrero, New York Mets
- Esteban Bellán, first Latin American professional baseball player to play in the United States
- Germán Mesa, trainer for the Cuban national baseball team
- Jack Calvo, Washington Senators
- José Canseco, Oakland Athletics
- José Cardenal, San Francisco Giants
- José Contreras, Chicago White Sox
- José Méndez, Kansas City Monarchs – Baseball Hall of Fame
- José Rodríguez, New York Giants
- José Tartabull, Kansas City Athletics
- Kendry Morales, Los Angeles Angels
- Liván Hernández, Arizona Diamondbacks
- Luis Tiant, Cleveland Indians
- Martín Dihigo, Negro Leagues – Baseball Hall of Fame
- Mike Cuellar, Cincinnati Reds
- Minnie Miñoso, Chicago White Sox
- Octavio “Cookie” Rojas, Cincinnati Reds
- Omar Linares, Pinar del Río Vegueros, Cuban national baseball team
- Orestes Destrade, New York Yankees, ESPN on-air personality
- Orlando Hernández, New York Mets
- Ozzie Canseco, Oakland Athletics
- Pedro Ramos, Washington Senators
- Preston Gómez, Washington Senators
- Rafael Palmeiro, Baltimore Orioles
- Ray Noble, New York Giants
- René Arocha, St. Louis Cardinals
- René Monteagudo, Washington Senators
- Rey Ordóñez, New York Mets
- Roberto “Bobby” Estalella, Washington Senators
- Rolando Arrojo, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
- Sandy Amorós, Brooklyn Dodgers
- Tony Fossas, Texas Rangers
- Tony González, Cincinnati Reds
- Tony Oliva, Minnesota Twins
- Tony Pérez, Cincinnati Reds
- Tony Taylor, Chicago Cubs
- Yuniesky Betancourt, Kansas City Royals
- Zoilo Versalles, Minnesota Twins, first Latin American Major League MVP in 1965.
- Alexei Ramírez, Chicago White Sox
- Yunel Escobar, Atlanta Braves
Boxing
- Adolfo Horta, Featherweight Olympic boxer
- Ariel Hernández, Middleweight Olympic boxer
- Armando Martínez, light middle-weight olympic boxer
- Benny Paret, boxer
- Eliseo Castillo, boxer
- Félix Savón, olympic boxer
- Florentino Fernández, boxer
- Guillermo Rigondeaux Ortiz, amateur boxer
- Joel Casamayor, boxer
- Jorge Rubio, boxing trainer
- José Nápoles, boxer
- Kid Charol, boxer
- Kid Chocolate, boxer
- Kid Gavilan, boxer
- Lorenzo Aragon Armenteros olympic welterweight boxer
- Luis Manuel Rodríguez, boxer
- Mario César Kindelán Mesa, Olympic gold medal winning boxer
- Raúl González, boxer
- Roberto Balado, Olympic Super Heavyweight boxer
- Sugar Ramos, world champion boxer
- Teófilo Stevenson, amateur boxer
- Yan Bartelemí Light Flyweight gold gold medal winning boxer
- Yanqui Díaz, boxer
- Yudel Johnson Cedeno Light-Welterweight Olympic Boxer
- Yuriorkis Gamboa Flyweight olympic gold medal winning boxer
Athletes
- Alberto Juantorena, track
- Aliecer Urrutia, triple jump
- Ana Fidelia Quirot 800m
- Anier García, hurdler
- Dayron Robles, hurdling athlete
- Emeterio González, javelin thrower.
- Héctor Herrera, sprinter
- Ioamnet Quintero, high jumper
- Iván García, sprinter
- Iván Pedroso, long jump
- Javier Sotomayor, track and field record setter
- Joel Isasi, sprinter
- Joel Lamela, sprinter
- Jorge Aguilera, sprinter
- Lázaro Martínez, sprinter
- Luis Alberto Pérez-Rionda, sprinter
- Osleidys Menéndez, javelin
- Roberto Hernández (athlete)
- Roberto Moya, discus throw
- Víctor Moya, high jumper
- Yargelis Savigne, jump
- Yipsi Moreno, hammer thrower
- Yoandri Betanzos, triple jump
- Yoel García, triple jumper
- Yoel Hernández hurdler
- Yudelkis Fernández long jumper.
- Yunaika Crawford, hammer thrower
- Yuniel Hernández, hurdler
Swimming
Other
- Deborah Andollo, Holds world-records in Free Diving.
- Alberto Delgado, soccer
- Ivan Dominguez, two time gold medalist in the Pan American Games and Cuban national champion in cycling
- José Raúl Capablanca, chess world champion, grandmaster considered “the Mozart of Chess”
- Héctor Socorro, footballer
- Ibrahim Rojas, flatwater canoer
- Juan Corzo, chess
- Juan Tuñas, former Cuban footballer
- Lázaro Bruzón, chess grandmaster
- Rafael A. Lecuona, gymnast
- Rey Ángel Martínez, soccer
- Tomás Fernández, footballer in the 1938 world cup
- Yanelis Yuliet Labrada Diaz, Olympic silver medallist in Taekwondo
- Maykel Galindo, soccer
- Jorge Sánchez Salgado, volleyball player
Politics
Current
- Abelardo Colomé Ibarra vice president of the Council of State of Cuba
- Alfonso Fraga-Perez, diplomat, Secretary General of the Organization of Solidarity of the People of Asia, Africa & Latin America (OSPAAAL), former Head of Cuban Interests Section
- Carlos Lage Dávila former executive Secretary of the Council of Ministers of Cuba
- Felipe Pérez Roque former Cuban government minister
- Fidel Castro, previous Cuban President
- José Luis Rodríguez García Cuban government minister
- José Ramón Balaguer Cabrera, current Minister for Health in Cuba
- Juan Almeida Bosque third ranking member of the Cuban Council of State
- Luis Posada Carriles Cuban paramilitary leader, accused terrorist
- Mariela Castro, director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education and daughter of Raul Castro
- Oscar Elías Biscet, physician and dissident and founder of the Lawton Foundation, currently jailed.
- Oswaldo Payá, Founder of Proyecto Varela.
- Raúl Castro, current President of the Council of State of Cuba
- Liaena Hernandez Martínez, youngest member of the Cuban National Assembly
- Roberto Fernández Retamar President of the Casa de las Américas
- Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada President of the Cuban National Assembly
- Rosa Elena Simeón Negrín former Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment.
Historical
- Abel Santamaría Cuban Revolutionary
- Alcibiades Hidalgo former ambassador to the U.N.
- Ana Betancourt first to campaign for equal rights for Cuban women, in 1868 during the Ten Years’ War
- Andrés Rivero Agüero, Cuba’s prime minister from March 1957 to March 1958
- Anselmo Alliegro, Acting President of Cuba for one day (1–2 January 1959) after the departure of General Fulgencio Batista from the country.
- Antonio Guiteras, politician and revolutionary.
- Antonio Maceo, revolutionary, military strategist
- Armando Hart Dávalos politician and Communist leader.
- Camilo Cienfuegos Cuban Revolutionary.
- Carlos Hevia, provisional president of Cuba 1934.
- Carlos Manuel Piedra Acting President of Cuba for one day (2 January 1959) after the departure of General Fulgencio Batista from the country.
- Carlos Prio Socarras, former President of Cuba.
- Celia Sánchez Cuban Revolutionary and Secretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
- Eduardo Chibás, Cuban politician who used radio to broadcast his political views against Batista’s government to the public.
- Federico Laredo Brú, President of Cuba from 1936 to 1940
- Fernando Tarrida del Mármol, Cuban anarchist.
- Fabio Grobart, Communist leader.
- Fulgencio Batista, former Cuban President.
- Frank País, 20th century revolutionary.
- Gerardo Machado, Cuban president 1920-33
- Gustavo Arcos, Cuban Revolutionary later became an imprisoned dissident .
- Huber Matos, Cuban Revolutionary
- Ignacio Agramonte, 19th century Cuban revolutionary
- José Miró Cardona, President of Cuba in 1959
- José Martí, Poet, Philosopher, Politician, Writer, Revolutionary
- Juan Carlos Robinson Agramonte, former member of the Cuban politburo and First Secretary of the Provincial Committee of the Cuban Communist Party in Santiago de Cuba.
- Julio Antonio Mella founder of the original Cuban Communist Party
- Manuel Piñeiro, First head of the Cuban General Intelligence Directorate
- Manuel Urrutia Lleó, provisional Cuban President January to July 1959.
- Miguel Mariano Gómez, President of Cuba for seven months in 1936.
- Paul Lafargue, Cuban-born French Communist and son-in-law to Karl Marx.
- Rafael Diaz-Balart, Cuban politician and majority leader during presidency of Batista
- Ramón Grau, Cuban president for two terms 1933, 1940-44.
- Saturnino and Mariano Lora Brothers and 19th century revolutionaries
- Vilma Espín Guillois, President of the Cuban Federation of Women, wife of Raúl Castro.
- Virgilio Paz Romero, anti Castro paramilitary
Religion
Royalty and nobility
Military
- Adolfo Fernández Cavada, Captain in the Union Army during the American Civil War who later served as Commander-in-Chief of the Cinco Villas during Cuba’s Ten Year War.
- Alberto Bayo y Giroud, a Cuban military leader of the defeated left-wing Loyalists in the Spanish Civil War.
- Antonio Maceo Grajales, Second-in-command of the Cuban army of independence
- Arnaldo Ochoa, Cuban General
- Calixto García, Cuban soldier in the Ten Years’ War
- Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, Cuban General in the war of independence against the Spanish
- Emilio Mola Vidal (June 9, 1887 – June 3, 1937) was a Nationalist commander during the Spanish Civil War (1936–39). He is best known for coining the phrase “fifth column.”
- Federico Fernández Cavada, Colonel in the Union Army during the American Civil War and later Commander-in-Chief of all the Cuban forces during Cuba’s Ten Year War.
- Jesús Sosa Blanco, captain in the Cuban army under Fulgencio Batista.
- José Braulio Alemán, Cuban general in the Spanish-American War.
- José Miguel Gómez, Cuban General in the war of independence against the Spanish
- Julius Peter Garesché, Lieutenant Colonel in the Union Army who served as Chief of Staff, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel to Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans.
- Lola Sánchez, Confederate spy during the American Civil War. She played an instrumental role in the Confederate victory in the “Battle of Horse Landing”.[1]
- Loreta Janeta Velazquez a.k.a. “Lieutenant Harry Buford”, Velazquez was a Cuban born woman who masqueraded as a male Confederate soldier during the Civil War.
- Manuel Artime, leader of the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961.
- Máximo Gómez, 19th century leader of Cuban forces in the wars of independence
- Pedro Luis Diaz Lanz, Chief Air Force Commander and member of Operation 40
- Víctor Dreke, Communist leader and a General in the Revolutionary Armed Forces.
- Tomás Diez Acosta, revolutionary soldier and historian
Science
Other categories
- Sebastian Arcos Bergnes Human rights activist
- Ramón Castro, older brother of Fidel and Raúl Castro
- Mirta Diaz-Balart, Fidel Castro’s first wife
- Delfín Fernández, High ranking in government, defected to Spain
- Gregorio Fuentes, Cuban nautical captain
- Elián González, boy who came to the US, leading to a custody battle between his American family and his father in Cuba
- Jose Miguel Battle, Sr. Former Godfather of the Cuban Mafia
- Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón, educator and college president
- Ignacio José Urrutia, Historian born in 1730
- Nitza Villapol, Cuban chef
