# List of Latin Americans

This is a list of notable Latin American people, in alphabetical order within categories.

## Actors

* Wagner Moura (born 1976)
* Fernanda Montenegro (born 1929)
* Norma Aleandro (born 1936)
* Héctor Alterio (born 1929)
* Rafael Amaya (born 1977)
* Imperio Argentina (1906–2003)
* Pedro Armendáriz (1912–1963)
* Carla Baratta (born 1990)
* Adrian Bellani (born 1982)
* Diego Bertie (born 1967)
* Rubén Blades (born 1948)
* Marcela Bovio (born 1979)
* Sônia Braga (born 1950)
* Richard Cabral (born 1984)
* Cantinflas (1911–1993)
* Barbara Carrera (born 1951)
* Grecia Colmenares (born 1962)
* Ricardo Darín (born 1957)
* Colman Domingo (born 1969)
* Dolores del Río (1904–1983)
* Lali Espósito (born 1991)
* María Félix (1914–2002)
* Andrés García (born 1941)
* Andy García (born 1956)
* Danay García (born 1984)
* Gael García Bernal (born 1978)
* Diane Guerrero (born 1986)
* Darío Grandinetti (born 1959)
* Maribel Guardia (born 1959)
* Salma Hayek (born 1966)
* Pedro Infante (1917–1957)
* Oscar Isaac (born 1979)
* Raul Julia (1940–1994)
* Katy Jurado (1924–2002)
* Libertad Lamarque (1908–2000)
* John Leguizamo (born 1964)
* Federico Luppi (1936–2017)
* Santiago Magill (born 1977)
* Christian Meier (born 1970)
* Carmen Miranda (1909–1955)
* Ricardo Montalbán (1920–2009)
* Maria Montez (1912–1951)
* Rita Moreno (born 1931)
* Jorge Negrete (1911–1953)
* Gianella Neyra (born 1977)
* Miguel A. Núñez Jr. (born 1964)
* Edward James Olmos (born 1947)
* Natalia Oreiro (born 1977)
* J.D. Pardo (born 1980)
* Manny Pérez (born 1969)
* Silvia Pinal (born 1931)
* Danny Pino (born 1974)
* Anthony Quinn (1915-2001)
* Dania Ramirez (born 1980)
* Emilio Rivera (born 1961)
* Zoe Saldana (born 1978)
* Catalina Sandino Moreno (born 1981)
* Christian Serratos (born 1990)
* Benicio del Toro (born 1967)
* Christy Turlington (born 1969)
* Lupe Vélez (1908–1944)
* Sofía Vergara (born 1972)
* China Zorrilla (1922–2014)
* Gina Rodriguez (born 1984)
* Isabela Moner (born 2001)

## Artists and designers

    See also List of Latin American artists.
* Aleijadinho (1730 or 1738 – 1814), sculptor
* Julio Abril (1911–1979), sculptor
* Tarsila do Amaral (1886–1973), painter, considered one of the leading modernist artists in Latin America
* Fernando Botero (1932–2023), painter and sculptor
* Adriana Melo, comic book artist, notable for her work on the Star Wars: Empire franchise
* Luis Camnitzer (born 1937), conceptual artist
* Roger Mello (born 1965), children's book illustrator
* José Campeche (1751–1809), painter
* Lygia Clark (1920–1988), painter and sculptor
* Marcela Donoso (born 1961), painter
* Pancho Fierro (1810–1879), illustrator
* Gego (1912–1994), geometric-abstract sculptor
* Paulo Mendes da Rocha (1928–2021), architect
* José Guadalupe Posada (1852–1913), illustrator and cartoonist, printmaker
* Alfredo Jaar (born 1956), installation artist
* Frida Kahlo (1907–1954), realist and symbolist painter
* Ruth Kedar (born 1955), artist and designer
* Guillermo Kuitca (born 1961), painter
* Gabriel Bá and Fabio Moon, comic book artist
* Wifredo Lam (1902–1982), painter
* Roberto Matta (1911–2002), painter
* Abraham Palatnik (1928–2020), abstract artist and inventor
* Ana Mendieta (1948–1985), performance artist
* Lola Mora (1866–1936), sculptor
* Hélio Oiticica (1937–1980), painter and sculptor
* Francisco Oller (1833–1917), impressionist painter
* José Clemente Orozco (1883–1949), mural painter and lithographer
* Candido Portinari (1903–1962), painter
* Benito Quinquela Martín (1890–1977), painter
* Diego Quispe Tito (1611–1681), Cuzco School painter
* Eduardo Kobra (born 1976), graffiti artist
* Armando Reverón (1889–1954), painter
* Diego Rivera (1886–1957), muralist
* Emilio Hector Rodriguez (born 1950), painter and photographer
* Gustavo Ramos (born 1993), artist and oil painter
* José Sabogal (1888–1956), indigenist painter
* David Alfaro Siqueiros (1896–1974), social realist painter and muralist
* Jesús Rafael Soto (1923–2005), kinetic and op artist
* Rufino Tamayo (1899–1991), painter, artist
* Oscar Niemeyer (1907–2012), architect
* Joaquín Torres-García (1874–1949), constructivist painter
* Remedios Varo (1908–1963), surrealist painter
* Constantine Andreou (1917–2007), painter and sculptor

## Fashion

* Gisele Bündchen (born 1980), fashion model
* Francisco Costa (born 1964), designer
* Oscar de la Renta (1932–2014), fashion designer
* Nina García (born 1965), fashion editor
* Hans Stern (1922–2007), jeweler and businessman
* Gabriela Hearst (born 1976), fashion designer
* Alexandre Herchcovitch (born 1971), fashion designer
* Carolina Herrera (born 1939), fashion designer
* Mario Testino (born 1954), fashion photographer
* Alessandra Ambrósio (born 1981), fashion person

## Film directors

* Francisco Antônio de Almeida Júnior (1851–1928), important figure in the development of cinematography
* Alejandro Amenábar (born 1972)
* Alfonso Arau (born 1932)
* Carlos Saldanha (born 1965) animator
* Adolfo Aristarain (born 1943)
* Héctor Babenco (born 1946)
* Luis Buñuel (1900–1983)
* Juan José Campanella (born 1959)
* Román Chalbaud (1931–2023)
* Alfonso Cuarón (born 1961)
* Juan Downey (1940–1993)
* Sara Gómez (1942–1974)
* Guillermo Fantástico González (1945–2020)
* Alejandro González Iñárritu (born 1963)
* Alejandro Jodorowsky (born 1929)
* León Klimovsky (1906–1996)
* Claudia Llosa (born 1976)
* Fernando Meirelles (born 1955)
* Franco de Peña (born 1966)
* Lucía Puenzo (born 1976)
* Arturo Ripstein (born 1943)
* Raúl Ruiz (director) (1941–2011)
* Walter Salles (born 1956)
* Amy Serrano (born 1966)
* Guillermo del Toro (born 1964)

## Leaders and politicians

* José Mujica (born 1935), President of Uruguay
* Leandro N. Alem (1841–1896), politician
* Nayib Bukele (born 1981), President of El Salvador
* Óscar Arias (born 1940), statesman, Nobel Peace Prize
* Francisco de Miranda (1750–1813), Supreme Chief of First Republic of Venezuela
* Antonio Saca (born 1965), President of El Salvador
* Rómulo Betancourt (1908–1981), President of Venezuela
* Simón Bolívar (1783–1830), Libertador in Spanish American wars of independence
* Anastasio Bustamante (1780–1853), President of Mexico
* Plutarco Elías Calles (1877–1945), President of Mexico
* Fidel Castro (1926–2016), Prime Minister, later President of Cuba
* Alfonso García Robles (1911–1991), diplomat and politician, Nobel Peace Prize
* José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia (1766–1840), Supreme Dictator of Paraguay
* Che Guevara (1928–1967), Marxist revolutionary
* Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753–1811), Chief instigator of Mexican War of Independence
* Benito Juárez (1806–1872), President of Mexico
* Juscelino Kubitschek (1902–1976), President of Brazil
* Alberto Lleras Camargo (1906–1990), President of Colombia
* Leopoldo López (born 1971), Mayor of Chacao, Venezuela
* José Martí (1853–1895), leader of Cuban Independence movement
* Rigoberta Menchú (born 1959), activist, Nobel Peace Prize
* Chico Mendes (1944–1988), trade union leader and environmentalist
* Antonio Nariño (1765–1824), political and military leader
* Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (1920–2020), United Nations Secretary-General
* Adolfo Pérez Esquivel (born 1931), activist, Nobel Peace Prize
* Juan Perón (1895–1974), President of Argentina
* Carlos Saavedra Lamas (1878–1959), academic and politician, Nobel Peace Prize
* José de San Martín (1778–1850), Libertador in Spanish American wars of independence
* Augusto César Sandino (1985–1934), guerilla leader and revolutionary
* Pancho Villa (1878–1923), guerrilla leader of the Mexican Revolution
* Emiliano Zapata (1879–1919), guerrilla leader of the Mexican Revolution
* Lula da Silva (born 1945), President of Brazil
* Pedro Albizu Campos (1891–1965), president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
* Evo Morales (born 1959), president of Bolivia

## Monarchs

* Agustin I (1783–1824), independence leader, Emperor of Mexico
* Pope Francis (born 1936), Sovereign of Vatican City State
* Pedro I (1798–1834), independence leader, Emperor of Brazil
* Pedro II (1825–1891), Emperor of Brazil

### Imperial/royal consorts

* Ana María Huarte (1786–1861), Empress consort of Mexico
* Amélie of Leuchtenberg (1812–1834), Empress consort of Brazil
* Carlota of Mexico (1840–1927), Empress consort of Mexico
* Maria Leopoldina of Austria (1797–1826), Empress consort of Brazil
* Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (born 1956), Grand Duchess consort of Luxembourg
* Máxima of the Netherlands (born 1971), Queen consort of the Netherlands
* Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies (1843–1889), Empress consort of Brazil

## Musicians

* Gustavo Assis-Brasil, guitarist; considered a pioneer in the study and development of the hybrid picking technique for guitar
* Miguel del Águila (born 1957), composer
* Alok (DJ) (born 1991), musician, DJ, and record producer, considered one of the best dj in the world
* Michel Camilo (born 1954), pianist and composer
* Simón Díaz (1928–2014), composer, actor and singer
* Gilberto Gil (born 1942), singer and composer, founder of Tropicália
* Chabuca Granda (1920–1983), singer and composer
* Rafael Hernández Marín (1892–1965), composer
* Antônio Carlos Jobim (1927–1994), pianist, singer and composer, widely regarded as one of the most important songwriters of the 20th century
* Agustín Lara (1900–1970), composer
* Ernesto Lecuona (1896–1963), composer, pianist and conductor
* Vinicius de Moraes (1913–1980), singer and composer
* Ástor Piazzolla (1921–1992), tango composer
* Tito Puente (1923–2000), Latin jazz and mambo musician
* Omar Rodríguez-López (born 1975), guitarist
* Rogerio Caetano (born 1977), awarded virtuoso and international reference in 7 string acoustic guitar
* Carlos Santana (born 1947), composer, songwriter and guitarist
* Eloy Casagrande (born 1991) drummer, considered one of the best heavy metal drummers in history
* Lalo Schifrin (born 1932), composer and pianist
* Pedro Suárez-Vértiz (born 1966), pianist, singer and composer
* Caetano Veloso (born 1942), singer and composer, founder of Tropicália
* Lito Vitale (born 1961), composer and performer
* Laurindo Almeida (1917–1995), guitarist and composer in classical, jazz, and Latin music, He and Bud Shank were pioneers in the creation of bossa nova, Almeida was the first guitarist to receive Grammy Awards for both classical and jazz performances
* Atahualpa Yupanqui (1908–1992), folk musician
* Rosa Antonelli, pianist
* Antônio Meneses (born 1957), cellist, he won the first Prize at the International Competition in Munich and in 1982 he was awarded first Prize and gold Medal at the Tchaikowsky Competition in Moscow

### Classical

* Nelson Freire (born 1944–2021), classical pianist
* José Antonio Abreu (born 1939), pianist, conductor and composer
* Miguel del Águila (born 1957), composer
* Claudio Arrau (1903–1991), pianist
* Clara Ricciolini (1822-1869), ballet
* Daniel Barenboim (born 1942), pianist and conductor
* Agustín Barrios (1885–1944), guitarist and composer
* Teresa Carreño (1853–1917), pianist, conductor and composer
* Reynaldo Hahn (1874–1947), music, critic, conductor and composer
* Deborah Colker (born 1960), ballet dancer
* Eduardo Marturet (born 1953), conductor and composer
* Eduardo Mata (1942–1995), conductor and composer
* Juan Orrego Salas (1919–2019, composer
* Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887–1959), composer

#### Opera singers

* Paulo Szot, baritone
* Luigi Alva (born 1927), tenor
* Fabiana Bravo (born 1969), soprano
* Antônio Carlos Gomes (1836–1896), opera composer
* Eduardo Brito (1906–1946), baritone
* José Cura (born 1962), tenor
* Juan Diego Flórez (born 1973), tenor
* Isabel Rubio Ricciolini (1792–1846), opera

### Singers

* Christina Aguilera (born 1980), pop/R&B singer-songwriter and actress
* Álvaro Torres (born 1954), singer-songwriter
* Anitta (born 1993), singer-songwriter, actress, and dancer
* Desi Arnaz (1917–1986), salsa singer
* Rubén Blades (born 1948), salsa singer
* Roberto Carlos (singer) (born 1941), singer-songwriter
* Cazuza (1958–1990), singer-songwriter
* Gustavo Cerati (1959–2014), alternative rock singer-songwriter
* Celia Cruz (1925–2003), salsa singer
* Kat DeLuna (born 1987), singer
* Lali Espósito (born 1991), pop singer-songwriter
* Gloria Estefan (born 1957), singer-songwriter
* José Feliciano (born 1945), singer-songwriter
* Juan Gabriel (1950–2016), ranchera and ballad singer-songwriter
* Charly García (born 1951), rock musician
* Juan Luis Guerra (born 1957), singer-songwriter
* Pedro Infante (1917–1957), singer and actor
* Víctor Jara (1932–1973), singer-songwriter
* Juanes (born 1972), singer-songwriter
* Jennifer Lopez (born 1969), singer-songwriter, dancer, actress, producer
* Jorge Negrete (1911–1953), singer-songwriter
* Fito Páez (born 1961), singer-songwriter, producer and film director
* Prince Royce (born 1989), singer-songwriter
* Santaye, singer-songwriter
* Ivete Sangalo (born 1972), singer-songwriter
* Raul Seixas (1945–1989), composer, singer-songwriter and producer
* Shakira (born 1977), Latin pop singer-songwriter
* Luis Alberto Spinetta (1950–2012), singer-songwriter
* Lynda Thomas (born 1981), alternative rock and eurodance singer-songwriter
* Carlos Vives (born 1961), vallenato singer, composer and actor
* Ricky Martin (born 1971), Latin pop singer-songwriter and actor
* Bad Bunny (born 1994), reggaeton and Latin trap singer-songwriter
* Camila Cabello (born 1997), actor, singer-songwriter

## Philosophers and humanists

* Paulo Freire (1921–1997), philosopher
* Juan Bautista Alberdi (1810–1884), political theorist
* Andrés Bello (1781–1865), humanist, philosopher, educator and philologist
* Leonardo Boff (born 1938), early Liberation theologians
* Mario Bunge (1919–2020), philosopher
* Miguel Antonio Caro (1843–1909), humanist, linguist and politician
* Rufino José Cuervo (1844–1911), philologist and linguist
* Sérgio Buarque de Holanda (1802–1982), writer, journalist and sociologist
* Manuel DeLanda (born 1952), philosopher, professor
* Roberto Mangabeira Unger (born 1947), philosopher
* José Ingenieros (1877–1925), philosopher and sociologist
* Enrique Krauze (born 1947), historian, political and social essayist
* Humberto Maturana (1928–2021), proponent of embodied philosophy
* Ernesto Mayz Vallenilla (1925–2015), humanist, philosopher and educator
* Gilberto de Mello Freyre (1900–1987), sociologist, considered one of the most important sociologists of the 20th century
* Edmundo O'Gorman (1906–1995), philosopher
* Francisco Varela (1946–2001), proponent of embodied philosophy
* José Vasconcelos (1882–1959), thinker, educator and essayist
* Antonio Candido (1918–2017), writer, sociologist

## Science and technology

* Manuel de Abreu (1894–1962), physician, scientist, inventor of abreugraphy(mass radiography of the lungs for screening tuberculosis)
* Luis Agote (1868–1954), physician and researcher
* Ricardo Alegría (1921–2011), physical anthropologist
* Álvaro Alvim (1863–1928), physician, pioneer in radiology and radiotherapy
* Carolina Araujo, mathematician, included in a deck of playing cards featuring notable women mathematicians published by the Association of Women in Mathematics
* Artur Avila (born 1979), Brazilian mathematician; one of the winners of the 2014 Fields Medal, being the first Latin American and lusophone to win such an award.
* Francisco João de Azevedo (1814–1880), inventor, best known for his invention of Typewriter
* José Antonio Balseiro (1919–1962), nuclear physicist
* Gregorio Baro (1928–2012), radiochemist
* Geraldo de Barros (1923–1998), painter and photographer, known for his trailblazing work in experimental abstract photography and modernism
* Ana Bedran-Russo, Professor of Restorative Dentistry and Chair of the Department of General Dental Sciences in Restorative Dentistry at Marquette University School of Dentistry
* Baruj Benacerraf (1920–2011), immunologist, Nobel Prize Medicine
* Martha E. Bernal (1931–2001), psychologist
* Fernando Brandão (born 1983), physicist and computer scientist, He was awarded the 2013 European Quantum Information Young Investigator Award for "his highly appraised achievements in entanglement theory, quantum complexity theory, and quantum many-body physics, which combine dazzling mathematical ability and impressive physical insight", He was awarded the 2020 American Physical Society Rolf Landauer and Charles H. Bennett award for his contributions to entanglement theory
* Vital Brazil (1865–1950), physician, biomedical scientist and immunologist, known for the discovery of the polyvalent anti-ophidic serum used to treat bites of venomous snakes of the Crotalus, Bothrops and Elaps genera, He went on to be also the first to develop anti-scorpion and anti-spider serums.
* David Joseph Bohm (1917–1992), scientist who has been described as one of the most significant
* Francisco José de Caldas (1768–1818), naturalist, mathematician, geographer and inventor
* Fernando Caldeiro (born 1958), NASA astronaut
* Víctor A. Carreño (1911–1967), NASA aerospace engineer
* Nabor Carrillo Flores (1911–1967), nuclear physicist
* Carlos Chagas (1879–1934), physician and scientist
* Franklin Chang Díaz (born 1950), NASA astronaut
* Nitza Margarita Cintrón (born 1950), NASA Chief of Space and Health Care Systems
* Adelmar Faria Coimbra-Filho (1924–2016), biologist, primatologist, pioneer in studies of and conservation of lion tamarins
* Jacinto Convit (1913–2014), medical scientist, discoverer of vaccines
* Newton da Costa (1929–2024), mathematician, logician, and philosopher, recognised for his works in paraconsistent logic
* Luís Cruls(1848–1908), astronomer and geodesist, co-discoverer of the Great Comet of 1882
* Oswaldo Cruz (1872–1917), physician, bacteriologist, epidemiologist
* Johanna Döbereiner (born 1924), agronomist, pioneer in soil biology
* René Favaloro (1923–2000), cardiologist, created the technique for coronary bypass
* Humberto Fernández-Morán (1924–1999), medical research scientist
* Sérgio Henrique Ferreira (1934–2016), physician and pharmacologist, discovered the active principle of a drug for hypertension
* Orlando Figueroa (born 1955), NASA Director for Mars Exploration and for Solar System Division
* Carlos Finlay (1833–1915), medical scientist, researcher
* Hércules Florence (1804–1879), pioneer of photography
* Leopoldo Penna Franca (1959-2012), mathematician, received in 1999 the Gallagher Young Investigator Award for "outstanding accomplishments in computational mechanics, particularly in the published literature, by a researcher 40 years old or younger".He was listed as an ISI Highly Cited Author in Engineering by the ISI Web of Knowledge, Thomson Scientific Company.
* Julio Garavito Armero (1865–1920), astronomer
* Marcelo Gleiser (born 1959), physicist and astronomer. He is currently Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Dartmouth College and was the 2019 recipient of the Templeton Prize.
* Otto Richard Gottlieb (1920–2011), chemist and scientist
* José Goldemberg (born 1928), physicist, university educator, scientific leader and research scientist, He is a leading expert on energy and environment issues
* Guillermo González Camarena (1917–1965), inventor of an early color television system
* Hilário de Gouvêa (1843–1929), ophthalmologist, noted for being the first person to document a case of hereditary cancer, The cause of the recessive familial retinoblastoma he described was later further investigated and resulted in the first reported example of a tumor suppressor gene, RB.
* Juan Gundlach (1810–1896), naturalist, taxonomist
* Bartolomeu de Gusmão(1685–1724), Catholic priest, pioneer of aviation, the inventor of the balloon, became known as the "flying priest"
* Celso Grebogi (born 1947), theoretical physicist who works in the area of chaos theory. He is one among the pioneers in the nonlinear and complex systems and chaos theory
* Salomón Hakim (1922–2011), physician and scientist
* Guillermo Haro (1913–1988), astrophysicist, specialist in observational astronomy
* Bernardo Houssay (1887–1971), physiologist, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
* Miguel de Icaza (born 1972), free software programmer
* Roberto Ierusalimschy (born 1960), computer scientist, known for creating the Lua programming language
* Madeleine M. Joullié (born March 29, 1927) organic chemist, first woman to join the University of Pennsylvania chemistry faculty as well as the first female organic chemist to be appointed to a tenure track position in a major American university, Joullié has received numerous awards, including the 1978 Garvan Medal from the American Chemical Society, in recognition of her accomplishments in teaching and research
* Warwick Estevam Kerr (1922–2018), agricultural engineer, geneticist, entomologist, professor and scientific leader, notable for his discoveries in the genetics and sex determination of bees
* Roberto Landell de Moura (1861–1928), pioneer of telephony and radio
* César Lattes (1924–2005), experimental physicist, one of the discoverers of the pion, a composite subatomic particle made of a quark and an antiquark
* Luis Federico Leloir (1906–1987), biochemist, Nobel Prize in Chemistry
* Maria Carmela Lico (1927–1985), produced important insights on the descending control of nociception by limbic structures, specially the septal nuclei
* Henrique da Rocha Lima (1879–1956), physician, pathologist and infectologist, discovered Rickettsia prowazekii, the pathogen of epidemic typhus
* Domingo Liotta (1924–2022), cardiologist, created first artificial heart
* Rosaly Lopes (born 1957), planetary geologist, volcanologist, author of numerous scientific papers and several books
* Peter Wilhelm Lund (1801–1880), first to describe dozens of species of pre-historic Pleistocene megafauna, including the fabled Saber-toothed cat Smilodon populator. He also made the then ground-breaking discovery that humans co-existed with the long-extinct animal species
* Adolfo Lutz (1855–1940), father of tropical medicine and a pioneer epidemiologist and researcher in infectious diseases
* Humberto Maturana (1928–2021), biologist, co-author of the theory of autopoiesis
* Peter Medawar (1915–1987), biologist and writer, whose works on graft rejection and the discovery of acquired immune tolerance have been fundamental to the medical practice of tissue and organ transplants
* Lia Medeiros, astronomer, notable participation in the black hole photo in 2019
* Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez (born 1942), USSR Space Program cosmonaut
* César Milstein (1927–2002), biochemist, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
* Luis E. Miramontes (1925–2004), chemist, co-inventor of the oral contraceptive
* Mario J. Molina (born 1943), chemist, Nobel Prize in Chemistry
* Salvador Moncada (born 1944), pharmacologist
* Nélio José Nicolai (1940–2017), electrotechnician, inventor of caller ID, theoretical physicist of the 20th century who contributed unorthodox ideas to quantum theory, neuropsychology and the philosophy of mind. Among his many contributions to physics is his causal and deterministic interpretation of quantum theory, now known as De Broglie–Bohm theory.
* Miguel Nicolelis(1961), pioneering work surrounding brain-computer interface
* Hermann Niemeyer (1919–1991), paediatrician and biochemist, pioneer of biochemistry in Chile
* Rodolfo Neri Vela (born 1952), Ph.D, NASA astronaut
* Carlos Nobre (scientist) (born 1951), scientist and meteorologist who is mainly highlighted in global warming-related studies. Nobre spearheaded the multi-disciplinary, multinational Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Experiment in Amazonia, a program noted to have “revolutionized understanding of the Amazon rainforest and its role in the Earth system".
* Carlos I. Noriega (born 1959), NASA astronaut
* Antonia Novello (born 1944), 14th Surgeon General of the United States
* Ruth Sonntag Nussenzweig (1928–2018), immunologist specializing in the development of malaria vaccines
* Diltor Opromolla (1934–2004), physician and dermatologist respected due to his lifetime work with leprosy patients and leprosy research, Among other things, he was the first to introduce rifamycin in the treatment of leprosy, in 1963
* Andreas Pavel, cultural producer and media designer who is generally credited with patenting the personal stereo
* Manuel Elkin Patarroyo (born 1947), pathologist, vaccines specialist
* Carlos Paz de Araújo, scientist and inventor, holds nearly 600 patents in the area of nanotechnology
* Feniosky Peña-Mora (born 1966), engineer and educator
* Sérgio Pereira da Silva Porto (1926–1979), pioneering physicist who became notable for his research in spectroscopy and for the use of laser radiation in medicine
* Felipe Poey (1799–1891), zoologist, specialist in ichthyology
* Marcos Pontes (born 1963), first AEB/NASA astronaut
* Aracely Quispe Neira (born 1982), NASA senior astronautical engineer, professor, researcher
* Silvano Raia, first surgeon to achieve a successful living donor liver transplantation in July 1989
* Eduardo H. Rapoport (1927–2017), ecologist, biogeographer
* L. Rafael Reif (born 1950), engineer, president of MIT
* Andrés Manuel del Río (1764–1849), geologist, chemist
* Maurício Rocha e Silva (1910–1983), physician and pharmacologist, discovered bradykinin, an active cardiovascular peptide
* Helen Rodríguez Trías (1929–2001), pediatrician, early advocate for women's reproductive rights
* Francisco Rubio (astronaut) (born 1975), NASA astronaut
* Oscar Sala (1922–2010), nuclear physicist and important scientific leader
* Roberto Salmeron (1922–2020), electrical engineer and experimental nuclear physicist and an emeritus Research Director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the largest fundamental science agency in Europe
* Wilfredo Santa-Gómez (born 1949), psychiatrist
* José Santana (economist) (born 1962), specialist in technology and development
* Alberto Santos-Dumont (1873–1932), aviation inventor
* Nise da Silveira (1905–1999), psychiatrist and mental health reformer
* Sarah Stewart (cancer researcher) (1905–1976), microbiologist, discovered Polyomavirus
* Klaus von Storch (born 1962), aerospace engineer
* Sérgio Trindade (1940–2020), chemical engineer and researcher, specialist in renewable energies and consultant in sustainable business; coordinating lead author for a chapter of an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, Methodological and Technical Issues in Technology Transfer (2000); the IPCC as an organization won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize as a result of its contributors' work.
* Pablo DT Valenzuela (born 1941), biotechnologist, co-founder of Chiron Corporation and Fundación Ciencias Para la Vida
* Francisco Varela (1946–2001), biologist, co-author of the theory of autopoiesis
* Lydia Villa-Komaroff (born 1947), biologist, early Mexican American PhD in the sciences
* Euryclides de Jesus Zerbini (1912–1993), physician and cardiac surgeon, internationally known for performing the first heart transplantation in Latin America in 1968

## Social scientists

* Celso Monteiro Furtado (1920–2004), economist
* Eugenio María de Hostos (1839–1903), sociologist and educator
* Miguel León-Portilla (1926–2019), cultural anthropologist and historian
* Milton Santos (1926–2001), human geographer and writer
* Hernando de Soto Polar (born 1941), economist
* Julio C. Tello (1880–1947), archeologist
* Lorenz Bruno Puntel (born 1935), philosopher

## Sports
### Athletics to Cycling
#### Athletics

* Daniel Bautista (born 1952), Olympic race walk gold medalist
* Thiago Braz (born 1993), Olympic pole vault gold medalist
* Delfo Cabrera (1919–1981), Olympic marathon gold medalist
* Ernesto Canto (born 1959), race walk Olympic gold medalist and World Champion
* Joaquim Cruz (born 1963), Olympic 800m gold medalist
* Adhemar da Silva (1927–2001), Olympic 2x triple jump gold medalist
* Anier García (born 1976), Olympic 110 m hurdles gold medalist
* Raúl González (racewalker) (born 1952), Olympic gold medalist
* Alberto Juantorena (born 1950), Olympic 2x track gold medalist
* Iván Pedroso (born 1972), Olympic long jump gold medalist and 4x World Champion
* Jefferson Pérez (born 1974), Olympic 2x race walk gold medalist and 4x World Champion
* Dayron Robles (born 1986), Olympic 110 m hurdles gold medalist
* Irving Saladino (born 1983), Olympic gold medalist and World Champion
* Félix Sánchez (born 1977), Olympic 400m hurdles gold medalist and 2x World Champion
* Javier Sotomayor (born 1967), Olympic high jump gold medalist and World Record holder
* Juan Carlos Zabala (1911–1983), Olympic marathon gold medalist

#### Baseball

* Luis Aparicio (born 1934), Major League Baseball (MLB) shortstop, Baseball Hall of Fame
* Miguel Cabrera (born 1983), MLB first baseman
* Yan Gomes (born 1987), Brazilian-American professional baseball catcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB)
* Roberto Clemente (1934–1972), MLB right fielder, Baseball Hall of Fame
* Juan Marichal (born 1937), MLB pitcher, Baseball Hall of Fame
* Dennis Martínez (born 1955), MLB pitcher, first Latino to pitch a perfect game
* Pedro Martínez (born 1971), MLB pitcher, 3x Cy Young Award winner
* Sammy Sosa (born 1968), MLB right fielder, first Latino to hit 500 home runs
* José Reyes (infielder) (born 1983), MLB player
* Fernando Valenzuela (born 1960), MLB pitcher

#### Basketball

* Oscar Schmidt (born 1958)
* Hortência Marcari (born 1959)
* Carlos Arroyo (born 1979), National Basketball Association (NBA) point guard
* Leandro Barbosa (born 1982), NBA Champion
* J. J. Barea (born 1984), NBA Champion
* Manu Ginóbili (born 1977), Olympic gold medalist, NBA 2x Champion
* Al Horford (born 1986), NBA
* Horacio Llamas (born 1973), NBA
* Eduardo Nájera (born 1976), NBA
* Butch Lee (born 1956), NBA Champion

#### Boxing

* Rosendo Álvarez (born 1970), World Champion
* Alexis Argüello (born 1952), World Champion, International Boxing Hall of Fame
* Wilfred Benítez (born 1958), World Champion in 3x weight divisions, International Boxing Hall of Fame
* Jorge Castro (boxer) (born 1967), World Champion
* Julio César Chávez (born 1962), World Champion in 3x weight divisions
* Juan Martin Coggi (born 1961), World Champion
* Carlos Cruz (boxer) (1937–1970), World Champion
* Oscar De La Hoya (born 1972), World Champion in 6x weight divisions
* Carlos De León (1959–2020), World Champion
* Roberto Durán (born 1951), World Champion in 4x weight divisions
* Víctor Galíndez (1948–1980), World Champion
* Wilfredo Gómez (born 1956), World Champion
* Éder Jofre (born 1936), World Champion
* Santos Laciar (born 1959), World Champion
* Raúl Macías (1934–2009), World Champion
* Kina Malpartida (born 1980), World Champion
* Ricardo Mayorga (born 1973), World Champion
* Carlos Monzón (1942–1995), World Champion
* José Luis Ramírez (born 1958), World Champion
* John Ruiz (born 1972), World Champion
* Salvador Sánchez (1959-1982), World Champion
* José Torres (1936–2009), World Champion
* Félix Trinidad (born 1973), World Champion

#### Chess

* Esteban Canal (1896–1981), International Master, honorary International Grandmaster
* José Raúl Capablanca (1888–1942), World Champion, International Grandmaster
* Henrique Costa Mecking (born 1952), Brazilian chess grandmaster

#### Cycling

* Santiago Botero (born 1972), World Time-Trial Champion
* Henrique Avancini (born 1989)

#### Draughts

* Lourival Mendes França (died 2012), world champion in draughts-64,(1993), International grandmaster (GMI) in draughts-64, International master (MI) in International draughts

### Football to Volleyball
#### Football (soccer)

* Pelé (born 1940), co-winner FIFA Player of the 20th Century, Named athlete of the 20th century
* Alfredo Di Stéfano (1926–2014), chosen one of Spain's Golden Anniversary Players
* Diego Maradona (born 1960), co-winner FIFA Player of the 20th Century
* Lionel Messi (born 1987), 6x World Footballer of the Year
* Ronaldo (born 1976)
* Ronaldinho (born 1980)
* Kaká (born 1982)
* Rivaldo (born 1972)
* Romário (born 1966)

#### Handball

* Eduarda Amorim (born 1986)
* Alexandra do Nascimento (born 1981)

#### Golf

* Chi-Chi Rodríguez (born 1935), World Golf Hall of Famer
* Bento Assis 4 x World Champion US Kids Golf

#### Horse racing

* Javier Castellano (born 1977), jockey, 3x U.S. Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey
* Ramon Domínguez (born 1976), jockey, 3x U.S. Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey
* T. J. Pereira (born 1976)

#### Motor sports

* Johnny Cecotto (born 1956), 2x Motorcycle World Champion
* Eric Granado (born 1996), He was the 2017 FIM CEV Moto2 European Championship winner
* Juan Manuel Fangio (1911–1995), 5x Formula One World Champion
* Emerson Fittipaldi (born 1946), 2x Formula One World Champion
* Carlos Lavado (born 1956), 2x Motorcycle World Champion
* Juan Zanelli (1906–1944), Le Mans and European Hill Climb and Formula One race winner
* Juan Pablo Montoya (born 1975), 1x CART Champion, 2x Indianapolis 500 winner, Formula One and NASCAR race winner
* Nelson Piquet (born 1952), 3x Formula One World Champion
* Ayrton Senna (1960–1994), 3x Formula One World Champion

#### Skateboarding

* Bob Burnquist (born 1976), better known as Bob is the most medalist in X Games history, with a total of 30 medals
* Letícia Bufoni (born 1993), considered one of the greatest names in the history of the sport

#### Surfing

* Sofía Mulánovich (born 1983), 3x World Champion, Surfing Hall of Fame
* Phil Rajzman (born 1982), 2x World Champion
* Gabriel Medina (born 1993)
* Ítalo Ferreira (born 1994)
* Filipe Toledo (born 1995)
* Adriano de Souza (born 1987)

#### Tennis

* Maria Bueno (1939–2018), 19x Champion of Grand Slam events, International Tennis Hall of Fame
* Rosemary Casals (born 1948), 12x Champion of Grand Slam events
* Gigi Fernández (born 1964), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event
* Mary Joe Fernández (born 1971), 2x Champion of Grand Slam events, 2 Olympic gold medals
* Gastón Gaudio (born 1978), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event
* Andrés Gómez (born 1960), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event
* Fernando González (born 1980), 2x Olympic medalist
* Gustavo Kuerten (born 1976), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event
* Anita Lizana (1915–1994), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event, first Latin American to be ranked World Number One
* Nicolás Massú (born 1979), 2x Olympic gold medals
* David Nalbandian (born 1982), Tennis Masters Champion
* Alex Olmedo (1936–2020), 3x Champion of Grand Slam events
* Rafael Osuna (1938–1969), 4x Champion of Grand Slam events
* Monica Puig (born 1993), Olympic gold medalist
* Marcelo Ríos (born 1975), first Latín Américan man ranked World Number One in the ATP
* Gabriela Sabatini (born 1970), 2x Champion of Grand Slam events
* Pancho Segura (1921–2017), International Tennis Hall of Fame
* Paola Suárez (born 1976), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event
* Guillermo Vilas (born 1952), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event

#### Volleyball

* Giba (born 1976)
* Fabiana Alvim (born 1976)
* Sérgio Santos (born 1975)
* Fofão (volleyball player) (born 1970)

#### UFC

* Anderson Silva (born 1975)
* José Aldo (born 1986)
* Amanda Nunes (born 1988)
* Cris Cyborg (born 1985)

## Writers

    See also List of Latin American writers (by country).

### A-L

* Paulo Coelho(born 1947), lyricist and novelist
* Juan Ruiz de Alarcón (c. 1581–1639), dramatist
* Isabel Allende (born 1942), best selling novelist
* Arambilet (born 1957), created first Latin American story using computerized linetext/ASCII art
* Julia Alvarez (born 1950), poet, novelist and essayist
* Jorge Amado (1912–2001), modernist writer
* José María Arguedas (1911–1969), novelist
* Roberto Arlt (1900–1942), short-story writer, novelist, and playwright
* Miguel Ángel Asturias (1899–1974), Nobel Prize in Literature
* Mario Benedetti (1920–2009), novelist and poet
* Adolfo Bioy Casares (1914–1999), novelist, Cervantes Prize
* Roberto Bolaño (1953–2003), novelist, Rómulo Gallegos Prize
* Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986), Cervantes Prize
* Giannina Braschi (born 1953), poet, novelist, and essayist
* Alfredo Bryce (born 1939), novelist and short story writer
* Carlos Drummond de Andrade (1902–1987) poet and writer
* Guillermo Cabrera Infante (1929–2005), novelist and essayist, Cervantes Prize
* Alejo Carpentier (1904–1980), novelist and essayist, Cervantes Prize
* Carlos Castaneda (1925–1998), New Age and Shamanism author
* Julio Cortázar (1914–1984), novelist and short story writer
* Juana Inés de la Cruz (1648/1651–1695), poet and dramatist
* Rubén Darío (1867–1916), modernist poet
* Virgilio Dávila (1869–1943), poet
* Julia de Burgos (1914–1953), poet
* João Guimarães Rosa(1908-1967), novelist, considered by many to be the greatest Brazilian writer of the 20th century and a of the greatest of all time
* Jorge Edwards (born 1931), Cervantes Prize
* Laura Esquivel (born 1950), novelist
* Rosario Ferré (1938–2016), poet, novelist, and essayist
* Carlos Fuentes (1928–2012), novelist and essayist, Rómulo Gallegos Prize, Cervantes Prize and Prince of Asturias Award
* Rómulo Gallegos (1884–1969), novelist
* João Cabral de Melo Neto (1920-1999), poet
* Gabriel García Márquez (1928–2014), novelist and journalist, Nobel Prize Laureate
* Nicolás Guillén (1902–1989), poet
* José Hernández (writer) (1834–1886), poet and journalist
* Vicente Huidobro (1893–1948), poet, initiator of Creacionismo movement
* José Lezama Lima (1910–1976), novelist
* Amelia Denis de Icaza (1836–1911), romantic poet
* Clarice Lispector (1925–1977), novelist
* Luis Lloréns Torres (1878–1944), poet
* Luis López Nieves (born 1950), best-selling novelist and tale writer
* Dulce María Loynaz (1902–1997), poet, Cervantes Prize Laureate
* Leopoldo Lugones (1874–1938), poet
* Mário de Andrade (1893–1945), poet, novelist, musicologist, art historian and critic, he was a pioneer of the field of ethnomusicology

### M-Z

* Machado de Assis (1839–1908), realist novelist, poet and short-story writer
* Monteiro Lobato (1882–1948), novelist and short story writer, One of the greatest names in children's literature of all time
* Jorge Majfud (born 1970), novelist and essayist
* José Martí (1853–1895), poet and essayist
* Gregório de Matos (1636–1696), baroque poet
* Leopoldo Minaya (born 1963), Cervantes Cultural Association Award
* Pedro Mir (1913–2000), poet and writer, Poet Laureate of Dominican Republic
* Gabriela Mistral (1889–1957), poet, Nobel Prize
* Augusto Monterroso (1921–2003), short story writer, Prince of Asturias Award
* Manuel Mujica Láinez (1910–1984), novelist, essayist, journalist and short story writer
* Álvaro Mutis (1923–2013), poet, novelist, and essayist, Cervantes Prize, Prince of Asturias Award
* Ana Maria Machado (born 1941), writer, She received the international Hans Christian Andersen Medal in 2000 for her "lasting contribution to children's literature"
* Pablo Neruda (1904–1973), poet, Nobel Prize
* Amado Nervo (1870–1919), modernist poet
* Juan Carlos Onetti (1909–1994), novelist and short-story writer, Cervantes Prize
* Nicanor Parra (1914–2018), anti-poet
* Fernando del Paso (1935–2018), novelist, essayist and poet, Rómulo Gallegos Prize
* Octavio Paz (1914–1998), Cervantes Prize and Nobel Prize
* Sergio Pitol (1933–2018), novelist, short story writer and translator, Cervantes Prize
* Elena Poniatowska (born 1932), novelist
* Manuel Puig (1932–1990), novelist
* Horacio Quiroga (1878–1937), short story writer
* José Eustasio Rivera (1888–1928), poet and novelist
* Augusto Roa Bastos (1917–2005), novelist, Cervantes Prize
* Gonzalo Rojas (born 1917), poet, Cervantes Prize
* Juan Rulfo (1917–1986), novelist, Prince of Asturias Award
* Ernesto Sabato (1911–2011), novelist and essayist, Cervantes Prize
* Jaime Sabines (1926–1999), poet
* Alfonsina Storni (1892–1938), postmodernist poet
* Lygia Fagundes Telles (1923–2022), novelist and short-story writer, Camoens Prize
* Arturo Uslar Pietri (1906–2001), novelist, Prince of Asturias Award
* César Vallejo (1892–1938), poet
* Fernando Vallejo (born 1942), novelist, Rómulo Gallegos Prize
* Mario Vargas Llosa (born 1936), novelist and essayist, Cervantes Prize, Nobel Prize
* Inca Garcilaso de la Vega (1539–1616), first mestizo author in Spanish language
* Xavier Villaurrutia (1903–1950), poet

## Others

* Josué de Castro (1908–1973), physician
* Silvia Renate Sommerlath (born 1943), Queen of Sweden
* Óscar González-Quevedo (1930–2019), parapsychologist
* Egon Albrecht-Lemke (1918–1944), Luftwaffe fighter pilot
* Luigi Cani (born 1970), skydiver
* Ali Lenin Aguilera (born 1967), businessman
* Frei Galvão (1739–1822), saint
* Eike Batista (born 1956), businessman
* José Antonio Bowen (born 1952), jazz musician and college president
* Antonio Divino Moura, meteorologist
* Enrique Gratas (1944–2015), television journalist
* Chico Xavier (1910–2002), philanthropist and spiritist medium
* María Julia Mantilla (born 1983), Miss World 2004
* Graças Foster (born 1953), business person
* Denise Quiñones (born 1980), Miss Universe 2001
* Sebastião Salgado (born 1944), photographer
* Geraldo Rivera (born 1943), television journalist
* Amyr Klink (born 1955), explorer
* Mike Krieger (born 1986), entrepreneur and software engineer who co-founded Instagram
* Ricardo Salinas Pliego (born 1956), businessman
* Alex Kipman (born 1979), engineer
* Carlos Slim (born 1940), businessman and billionaire
* Gérard Moss (1955-2022), pilot
* Alex Atala (born 1968), cook
* Ademar José Gevaerd (1962–2022), ufologist
* Karol Meyer (born 1968), diver
* Maria da Conceição (d. 1798), alleged witch
* Roche Braziliano (1630–1671), pirate
* Eduardo Saverin (born 1982), co-founder of Facebook

## Lists by nationality

* Argentines
* Bolivians
* Brazilians
* Chileans
* Colombians
* Costa Ricans
* Cubans
* Dominicans
* Ecuadorians
* Guatemalans
* Hondurans
* Mexicans
* Nicaraguans
* Panamanians
* Paraguayans
* Peruvians
* Puerto Ricans
* Salvadorans
* Uruguayans
* Venezuelans
* List of people by nationality