# List of Dominican Americans

This is a list of notable Dominican Americans, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants.
To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Dominican American or must have references showing they are Dominican American and are notable.

## Actors

* Juan Fernández de Alarcon – Dominican actor
* Rose Abdoo – American actress and comedian. She is of Dominican and Lebanese descent (Gilmore Girls, That's So Raven).
* Tina Aumont (1946–2006) – actress
* Lourdes Benedicto – actress of Filipino/Dominican Republic descent
* Elvis Nolasco – American actor of Dominican descent, American Crime
* Vladimir Caamaño – Dominican-American actor and stand-up comedian
* Rafael Campos – Dominican born, American raised actor
* Francis Capra – actor of Dominican and Italian descent
* Aimee Carrero – Dominican born actress
* Hosea Chanchez – also credited as Hosea, actor (For Your Love)
* Jackie Cruz – Dominican-American actress
* Angel Curiel – Dominican-American actor, FX's Pose
* Rhenzy Feliz – American actor of Dominican descent, Marvel's Runaways
* Jason Genao – American actor of Dominican descent, Netflix's On My Block
* Rick Gonzalez – actor of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent; known as Timo Cruz in the film Coach Carter, and as Ben Gonzalez on the television series Reaper
* Wilson Jermaine Heredia – actor known for his portrayal of Angel Dumott Schunard in the Broadway musical Rent; parents are Dominicans
* Jharrel Jerome – Emmy Award-winning actor born to a Dominican mother and Haitian father; he is the first Afro-Latino to win an Emmy and the first Dominican to have been nominated.
* Jorge Lendeborg Jr. – Dominican born actor, with supporting credits in Love, Simon, Alita: Battle Angel, and the male lead in Bumblebee
* Selenis Leyva – American actress of Cuban and Dominican descent (Orange Is the New Black, Diary of a Future President).
* Judy Marte – Dominican-American actress and producer
* Mirtha Michelle – American actress of Dominican descent
* Anthony Mendez – Dominican-American voice actor
* Carlos de la Mota – Dominican actor
* Patricia Mota – American actress and film producer, of Dominican descent
* Maria Montez (1912–1951) – Dominican-born motion picture actress
* Miguel A. Núñez, Jr. – actor (The Return of the Living Dead, Life and a leading role in Juwanna Mann); of Dominican and Puerto Rican parents
* Karen Olivo – stage and television actress; of Puerto Rican, Native American, Dominican and Chinese descent
* Alex Paez – American actor of Dominican descent
* Carlos PenaVega – film and TV actor, singer-songwriter, dancer and television show host; father is of Spanish and Venezuelan descent, mother is of Dominican descent
* Manny Pérez – Dominican actor
* Dascha Polanco – Dominican-American actress, Netflix's Orange is the New Black
* Dania Ramírez – Dominican-born American TV and film actress (Entourage, Heroes and The Sopranos)
* Silvestre Rasuk – actor of Dominican descent
* Victor Rasuk – actor, Dominican parents
* Monica Raymund – stage performer and actress (Chicago Fire and Lie to Me); her mother is from the Dominican Republic
* Alisa Reyes – actress (All That); of Dominican, Irish, Italian and Caribbean Indian descent
* Judy Reyes – actress (Scrubs)
* Aida Rodriguez – comedian, actress, producer and writer, of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent
* Michelle Rodríguez – actress known for her role as Ana Lucia Cortez in the television series Lost; her father is Puerto Rican and mother is Dominican
* Nelson de la Rosa (1968–2006) – one of the shortest men of the 20th and 21st centuries; actor from the Dominican Republic; lived and died in Rhode Island
* Zoe Saldana – American actress of Dominican, Haitian and Puerto Rican descent
* Merlin Santana (1976–2002) – television and film actor; of Dominican descent
* Shannon Tavarez (1999–2010) – child actress; of African American and Dominican descent
* Julian Scott Urena – actor; immigrated with his family to New York City while in grade school
* Denise Vasi – fashion model and soap opera actress
* James Victor – Dominican-born American actor (Viva Valdez, Zorro)
* Tristan Wilds – actor (The Wire and 90210); of African American (father) and African-American, Irish, and Dominican (mother) descent

## Singers and musicians

* 40 Cal. – rapper, member of Harlem-based hip-hop group The Diplomats
* Jhené Aiko – singer-songwriter; her mother is of Spanish, Dominican and Japanese descent
* Antonio Fresco – American DJ of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent
* AraabMuzik – hip hop record producer, of Dominican and Guatemalan descent
* Arcángel – singer-songwriter, rapper and actor; parents are Dominicans
* AZ – American rapper
* Bryan Bautista – singer and contestant from NBC's The Voice season 9; of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent
* Carlos & Alejandra – Latin music group focusing on the genre of bachata
* Cardi B – Dominican American Grammy winner Best Rap Album rapper who made number one on Billboard Hot 100 due to her popular single Bodak Yellow
* Michel Camilo – Grammy Award winner Dominican born jazz pianist and composer
* Damirón – pianist and composer
* Casandra Damirón – Dominican singer and dancer
* Natti Natasha – singer-songwriter born in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.
* DaniLeigh – Dominican American singer
* Yasmin Deliz – singer-songwriter, model and actress of Dominican and Colombian and Venezuelan heritage; Dominican father, Colombian and Venezuelan mother
* Kat DeLuna – Dominican American pop singer
* Euro – Dominican born American raised rapper signed to Lil Wayne's record label Young Money Entertainment
* Fabolous – rapper of Dominican and African American descent
* Fuego – Dominican-American merengue singer-songwriter, composer
* Fulanito – Dominican-American musical group
* Ivan Barias – Grammy nominated music producer and songwriter
* Leslie Grace – Dominican-American singer-songwriter and actress debuting in the film adaptation of In The Heights
* Mila J – singer, rapper, dancer; Jhené Aiko's sister
* Jumz – rapper
* Magic Juan – Dominican American merengue hip hop artist who is considered the "Godfather" of the merengue hip-hop genre when he created it as the lead vocalist for Proyecto Uno in the 1990s before becoming a solo artist after 2001
* Johnny Marines – member of the Latin American group Aventura
* Melanie Martinez – singer-songwriter
* Ralph Mercado (1941–2009) – promoter of Latin American music who established a network of businesses; of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent
* Chep Nuñez (1964–1990) – Dominican born American raised music producer, editor, and mixer
* Karina Pasian – Grammy Award-nominated recording artist and pianist; of Dominican and Armenian descent
* Prince Royce – singer-songwriter and record producer; of Dominican descent
* Lizette Santana – recording artist, singer-songwriter, musician, record producer and actress
* Roger Sanchez – house music DJ
* Juelz Santana – rapper, producer, actor and member of group Dipset; of African American and Dominican descent; at age twelve started duo Draft Pick, which was signed to Priority Records
* Lenny Santos – former member of the bachata group Aventura
* Max Santos – bass player of the bachata group Aventura
* Romeo Santos – singer, featured composer and former lead singer of the Bachata group Aventura; of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent
* Ice Spice – rapper
* Giselle Tavera – Dominican born, American raised singer
* Michael Tavera – American composer of Dominican descent best known for his animation scores
* Jamila Velazquez – American singer and actress of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent
* JR Writer – American rapper
* Ugly God – SoundCloud rapper of Dominican and African-American descent

## Models

* Julissa Bermudez – model and former television host on 106 & Park
* Susie Castillo – former beauty queen who held the Miss USA title and competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe pageants; of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent
* Adriana Diaz – beauty queen from New York City who has competed in the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants
* Sessilee Lopez – American model; of Dominican and Portuguese descent
* Erica Mena – hip hop model and television personality on Love & Hip Hop
* Christina Mendez – plus-size model from New York City
* Alexis Skyy – television personality and hip hop model of Dominican and Jamaican descent

## Sport

* Felipe Alou – former Dominican-American outfielder and manager in Major League Baseball
* Jesús Alou – former Dominican-American outfielder in Major League Baseball
* Matty Alou – former Dominican-American outfielder in Major League Baseball
* Moisés Alou – former Dominican-American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 17 seasons in the National League
* Pedro Alvarez – Dominican born, American raised professional baseball third baseman with the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball
* Trevor Ariza – American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association
* Ronnie Belliard – retired Major League Baseball second baseman, of Dominican descent
* Julio Borbon – Major League Baseball center fielder for the Texas Rangers
* Luis Castillo – defensive end for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League
* Stalin Colinet – former defensive tackle/defensive end in the NFL
* Manny Delcarmen – former professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees organization; has been called "The Pride of Hyde Park"
* Mary Joe Fernández – former professional tennis player
* Luis García – MLB infielder born in New York City
* Fernando Guerrero – Dominican boxer living in the US since a child
* Al Horford – Dominican professional basketball player
* Mark Jackson – retired professional basketball player and former head coach of the Golden State Warriors; father is Dominican
* Neil Magny – mixed martial artist; competes in the Welterweight division of the UFC
* Pedro Martínez – Dominican-American professional baseball player
* Sammy Mejia – Dominican American professional basketball player
* Diomedes Olivo – Dominican American retired Major League Baseball player
* David Ortiz – Dominican-American professional baseball player with the Boston Red Sox
* Plácido Polanco – Dominican born Major League Baseball player, plays for the Philadelphia Phillies and has also played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers; in 2008, he became a naturalized American citizen
* Albert Pujols – Dominican-American professional baseball first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball
* Hanley Ramírez – professional baseball shortstop and first baseman for the Boston Red Sox, Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Cleveland Indians
* Manny Ramirez – professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter; currently a free agent; Dominican born, American raised
* Tutan Reyes – free agent football guard in the NFL
* Alex Rodriguez – former professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball; parents are Dominican
* Gilberto Rondón – retired Major League Baseball pitcher
* Dante Rosario – father is Dominican, mother is from the US
* Eddie Sanchez – mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter; of Mexican and Dominican descent
* Félix Sánchez – track and field athlete who specializes in the 400 meter hurdles; of Dominican parents
* Carlos Santana − professional baseball first baseman and catcher for the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies
* Pedro Sosa – football offensive tackle for the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League
* Sammy Sosa – Dominican former professional baseball right fielder; played with four Major League Baseball teams over his career, which spanned from 1989–2007
* Karl-Anthony Towns – Dominican-American professional basketball player with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who selected him first overall in the 2015 NBA draft; African American father, Dominican mother
* Charlie Villanueva – Dominican-American professional basketball player with the Detroit Pistons

## Politicians

* Shaun Abreu – member of the New York City Council
* Marisol Alcantara – former member of the New York State Senate
* Daisy Baez – former member of the Florida House of Representatives
* Alex Blanco – former mayor of Passaic, New Jersey
* Dennis Bradley – member of the Connecticut State Senate
* Fernando Cabrera – former member of the New York City Council
* Nelson Castro – former member of the New York State Assembly
* Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez – former Secretary of State of New York
* Marcos Devers – member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
* Carmen De La Rosa – member of the New York City Council
* Grace Diaz – member of the from Rhode Island House of Representatives and former acting chair of the Rhode Island Democratic Party
* Adriano Espaillat – member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 13th congressional district
* Rafael Espinal – former member of the New York City Council and New York State Assembly
* Antonio Felipe – member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
* Julissa Ferreras – member of the New York City Council
* William Lantigua – former Mayor of Lawrence, Massachusetts (born and raised in the Dominican Republic)
* Guillermo Linares – former member of the New York State Assembly
* Miguel Martinez – former New York City Council member from Council District 10 in Upper Manhattan, New York City
* Juana Matias – former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
* Joseline Peña-Melnyk – member of the Maryland House of Delegates
* Cesar A. Perales – former Secretary of State of New York
* Thomas Perez – former Democratic National Committee Chairman and United States Attorney General; 2022 Maryland gubernatorial candidate (parents are Dominicans)
* Julissa Reynoso Pantaleón – United States Ambassador to Spain and Andorra
* Ydanis Rodríguez – former member of the New York City Council
* Pierina Sanchez – member of the New York City Council
* Angel Taveras – former mayor of Providence, Rhode Island (of Dominican descent, first Hispanic mayor of the city)

### Artists

* Clara Ledesma (1924–1999) – painter from the Dominican Republic; lived last years of her life in New York
* Tania Marmolejo (born 1975) – painter from the Dominican Republic; Dominican born, American naturalized
* Olivia Peguero (born 1963) – Dominican Republic painter, known for documenting the landscapes of the undeveloped Dominican countryside and the Arte Libros Foundation

### Writers

* Julia Alvarez – poet, novelist, and essayist
* Josefina Baez – storyteller, writer, performer, theater director, educator
* Fernando Cabrera – National Poetry and Literary Essay Prize winner
* Angie Cruz – novelist
* Junot Díaz – writer, creative writing professor at MIT, and fiction editor at Boston Review; Dominican born, American naturalized
* Rhina Espaillat – bilingual Dominican-born, American raised poet
* Daisy Cocco De Filippis – writer and educator
* Ana-Maurine Lara – novelist, poet and black feminist scholar
* Nelly Rosario – novelist and creative writing instructor in the MFA Program at Texas State University in San Marcos

## Other personalities

* Ed Boon – Chicagan co-creator and creative director of the acclaimed Mortal Kombat video games
* Rolando Acosta – Dominican associate justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department
* Santi Deoleo – Dominican born radio producer, personality, and fashion designer also known as "Krazy Kulo"
* Rudy Duthil – advertising executive of Cuban and Dominican descent
* Benny Medina – American musician producer to Dominican parents.
* Christina Mendez – New York City-based plus-size model and entertainment personality
* The Kid Mero – comedian
* Francisco Moncion – Dominican born ballet dancer, choreographer and charter member of the New York City Ballet
* Providencia Paredes – personal assistant to the First Lady of the US Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
* Jose Pimentel – also known as Muhammad Yusuf; Dominican born naturalized US citizen arrested on November 20, 2011 by the New York City Police Department for allegedly plotting to bomb New York City
* Danielle Polanco – dancer and choreographer; Dominican-Puerto Rican American
* Óscar de la Renta – Dominican born fashion designer
* Julissa Reynoso – New York City attorney born in the Dominican Republic; American Ambassador to Uruguay since 2012
* Rosanna Tavarez – entertainment reporter and television presenter
* Jessy Terrero – Dominican film and music video director
* Carmen Wong Ulrich – television and online journalist; personal finance expert at CNBC
* Ramona M. Valdez (1984–2005) – U.S. Marine

### In fiction

* Luis Lopez – protagonist of the video gameGrand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony, 2009 DLC for Grand Theft Auto IV; first Dominican protagonist of a video game
* Luz Noceda – protagonist of The Owl House; first bisexual lead character and first lead character in a lesbian relationship on a Disney Channel show