# List of Albanian Americans

This is a list of notable Albanian Americans, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants.

## Politics

* Sal Albanese – politician
* B. Bix Aliu – diplomat
* Richard Caliguiri – former mayor of Pittsburgh
* Joe DioGuardi – congressman
* Mark Gjonaj – assemblyman
* Rexhep Krasniqi – historian, teacher, nationalist, anti-communist politician, activist
* Konstantina Lukes – former mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts
* Victor Schiro – former mayor of New Orleans
* Nicholas Scutari – politician
* Ardian Zika – politician

## Science and academia

* Carol Folt – biologist
* William G. Gregory – astronaut
* Wilson Kokalari – aerospace engineer
* Laura Mersini-Houghton – cosmologist
* Ferid Murad – medical researcher, Nobel laureate
* Mira Murati – engineer, former CTO of OpenAI
* Arshi Pipa – philosopher, writer, poet, literary critic
* Stavro Skëndi – linguist, historian
* Andrea Shundi – agronomist

## Cinema

* Jim Belushi – actor
* John Belushi – actor, film producer
* Robert Belushi – actor
* James Biberi – actor
* Danny DeVito – actor
* Lucy DeVito – actress
* Eliza Dushku – actress
* Nate Dushku – actor
* Mike Dusi – actor, film producer
* Stan Dragoti – film director, producer, artist
* Enver Gjokaj – actor
* Victor Gojcaj – actor
* Agim Kaba – actor, film producer
* Masiela Lusha – actress
* Pjetër Malota – actor
* Andamion Murataj – film director, producer, screenwriter
* Mitchel Musso – voice actor, singer-songwriter, musician
* Tracee Chimo Pallero – actress
* J. J. Philbin – producer, screenwriter
* Nickola Shreli – actor, producer
* Nik Xhelilaj – actor

## Arts and entertainment
### Musicians

* Melinda Ademi – rapper
* DJ Ashba — guitarist, former member of Guns-N-Roses
* Genti Bejko – director, actor, producer
* Michael Bellusci – musician, drummer
* Big Body Bes – hip-hop artist
* Anita Bitri – singer
* Bleona – singer
* Action Bronson – hip-hop artist
* Kara DioGuardi – songwriter, television personality
* Kristine Elezaj – singer
* Gashi – rapper
* Anxhelina Hadërgjonaj – singer, fashion blogger, influencer
* Genta Ismajli – singer-songwriter, actress
* JMSN – singer-songwriter, producer
* Florina Kaja – singer, reality TV actress
* Paul Leka – songwriter, producer
* Ava Max – singer
* Thomas Nassi – musician, composer
* Enisa Nikaj – singer-songwriter, model
* Njomza – singer
* Steven Parrino – artist, musician associated with energetic punk nihilism
* Talip Peshkepia – film composer, songwriter
* Bebe Rexha – singer-songwriter
* Sxip Shirey – electric-acoustic composer, performer, storyteller
* Unikkatil – rapper

### Artists

* Olivier Berggruen – art historian, curator; his maternal grandfather is Alessandro Moissi who is of Albanian origin
* Pema Browne – abstract artist
* Amber Brkich – reality show contestant, 3 time player on Survivor (Seasons 2, 8, 40.) Winner of Survivor: All Stars.
* Luke Burbank – radio, podcast host
* Drita D'Avanzo – television personality
* Tony Dovolani – professional ballroom dancer
* Bosch Fawstin – cartoonist
* Jen Selter – fitness model
* Joe Lala – actor, singer
* Jimmy Kimmel – comedian, talk show host
* Vasiliev Nini – sculptor
* Tracee Chimo Pallero – television, film and Broadway actress
* George Pali – painter
* Regis Philbin – television host
* Bobbi Starr – pornographic actress
* Breanne Benson – pornographic actress
* Aureta Thomollari – luxury consultant
* Sislej Xhafa – artist

## Literature

* Etel Adnan – poet, essayist, visual artist
* Costa Chekrezi – historian, publicist
* Daniela Gioseffi – poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, performer
* Gjekë Marinaj – author, translator
* Betim Muço – writer, poet, translator, seismologist
* Tom Perrotta – novelist, screenwriter
* Ardian Vehbiu – author, translator

## Business and civil society

* Anthony Athanas – restaurateur
* Ekrem Bardha – businessman, political activist
* Nicolas Berggruen – businessman
* Florin Krasniqi – businessman, politician
* James J. Schiro – businessman
* Martin Shkreli – businessman
* Ramiz Tafilaj – businessman, political activist
* Louis V. Mato – American politician and businessman
* Rexh Xhakli – businessman, political activist and philanthropist
* Emin Toro – court judge

## Media

* Bill Kovach – journalist, editor
* Donald Lambro – journalist
* Eric Margolis – journalist, editor of the Toronto Sun; mother is Albanian
* Molly Qerim – moderator, reporter
* Nick Tosches – journalist, novelist, biographer, poet
* Nexhmie Zaimi – journalist
* Iliriana Sulkuqi – journalist
* Andrew Kaczynski – journalist, political reporter for CNN

## Photography

* Fadil Berisha – photographer
* Emin Kadi – photographer, art director
* Gjon Mili – photographer for Life Magazine
* Burim Myftiu – photographer
* George Tames – photographer for The New York Times

## Modeling

* Emina Cunmulaj – model
* Floriana Garo – television presenter, model
* Afërdita Dreshaj – model, singer, beauty queen
* Angela Martini – model
* Cindy Marina – model, volleyball player

## Sports

* Dilly Duka – soccer player
* Lee Elia – baseball player, coach, manager
* Elizabeta Karabolli – shooting sport
* Elvir Muriqi – professional boxer
* Aaron Palushaj – professional hockey player
* Andy Parrino – baseball player
* Enkelejda Shehu – air pistol shooter
* Jaren Sina – basketball player
* Kristjan Sokoli – football player
* Donald Suxho – volleyball
* Andy Varipapa – professional trick bowler
* Joe Albanese – baseball player
* Robert Baggio Kcira – soccer player
* Šaćir Hot – soccer player
* Frank Leskaj – swimmer
* Halil Kanacević – basketball player
* Max Rugova – soccer player
* Sadri Gjonbalaj – soccer player
* Dominick Bellizzi – jockey
* Kristina Maksuti – soccer player
* Vera Razburgaj – soccer player

## Religion

* Archbishop Nikon of Boston – OCA's Bishop of Diocese of New England, Locum tenens of Diocese of the South, and Archbishop of American Albanian Archdiocese
* Baba Rexheb

## Organized crime

* John Alite – mobster
* Joseph Ardizzone – mobster
* Ismail Lika – mobster
* Zef Mustafa – mobster
* Nicolo Schiro – mobster
* Martin Shkreli – convicted of securities fraud
* Sami Osmakac – convicted terrorist
* Zulfi Hoxha – terrorist