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 Saldaña (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)
Leonora Duran (born in 2011)
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
- Valeria Mazza (born 1972), 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
- Andy Muschietti (born 1973)
- Francisco Antônio de Almeida Júnior (1851–1928), important figure in the development of cinematography
- Damian Szifron (born 1975)
- 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)
- Lucrecia Martel (born 1966)
- 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 (1935-2025), 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
- Cristina Kirchner (born 1953), President of Argentina
- Francisco de Miranda (1750–1813), Supreme Chief of First Republic of Venezuela
- Julio A. Roca (born 1843), President of Argentina
- 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
- Javier Milei (born 1970), President of Argentina
- 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
- Juan Manuel de Rosas (born 1793), Caudillo
- 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
- Carlos Gardel (born 1890), singer, songwriter, composer and actor
- Gustavo Assis-Brasil, guitarist
- Miguel del Águila (born 1957), composer
- Alok (DJ) (born 1991), musician, DJ, and record producer
- Michel Camilo (born 1954), pianist and composer
- Simón Díaz (1928–2014), composer, actor and singer
- Gilberto Gil (born 1942), singer and composer
- Chabuca Granda (1920–1983), singer and composer
- Rafael Hernández Marín (1892–1965), composer
- Antônio Carlos Jobim (1927–1994), pianist, singer and composer
- 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
- Carlos Santana (born 1947), composer, songwriter and guitarist
- Eloy Casagrande (born 1991), drummer
- Lalo Schifrin (born 1932), composer and pianist
- Pedro Suárez-Vértiz (born 1966), pianist, singer and composer
- Caetano Veloso (born 1942), singer and composer
- Lito Vitale (born 1961), composer and performer
- Laurindo Almeida (1917–1995), guitarist and composer in classical
- Atahualpa Yupanqui (1908–1992), folk musician
- Rosa Antonelli, pianist
- Antônio Meneses (born 1957), cellist
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 (1927–2025), 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 and scientist
- Josué de Castro (1908–1973), physician
- Milton Santos (1926–2001), geographer
- Giuseppe Cilento (1923–1994), chemist
- Ivan Izquierdo (1937-2021), scientist
- Juan Martín Maldacena (born 1968), theoretical physicis
- Julio Navarro (astrophysicist) (born 1962), astrophysicist
- Luis Agote (1868–1954), physician and researcher
- Eugenia Kalnay (1942-2024), meteorologist
- Sandra Díaz (ecologist) (born 1961), ecologist
- Ricardo Alegría (1921–2011), physical anthropologist
- Maurício Peixoto (1921–2019), engineer and mathematician
- Luis Caffarelli (born 1948), mathematician
- Eduardo Arzt (born 1953), molecular biologist
- Ana Belén Elgoyhen (born 1959), scientist
- Álvaro Alvim (1863–1928), physician
- Antonio Divino Moura, meteorologist
- Carolina Araujo, mathematician
- Artur Avila (born 1979), mathematician
- José Antonio Balseiro (1919–1962), nuclear physicist
- Gregorio Baro (1928–2012), radiochemist
- Eduardo D. Sontag (born 1951), mathematician
- Ana Bedran-Russo, clinician and scientist
- Amina Helmi (born 1970), astronomer
- Alberto Pedro Calderón (1920-1998), mathematician
- Baruj Benacerraf (1920–2011), immunologist, Nobel Prize Medicine
- Martha E. Bernal (1931–2001), psychologist
- Fernando Brandão (born 1983), physicist and computer scientist
- Vital Brazil (1865–1950), physician, biomedical scientist and immunologist
- Jorge E. Galán, microbiologist
- Carlos Eduardo Kenig (born 1953), mathematician
- 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
- Jacinto Convit (1913–2014), medical scientist, discoverer of vaccines
- Newton da Costa (1929–2024), mathematician, logician, and philosopher
- Luís Cruls (1848–1908), astronomer and geodesist
- Armando J. Parodi (born 1942), glycobiologist
- Oswaldo Cruz (1872–1917), physician, bacteriologist, epidemiologist
- Johanna Döbereiner (born 1924), agronomist
- 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
- Orlando Figueroa (born 1955), NASA Director for Mars Exploration and for Solar System Division
- Carlos Finlay (1833–1915), medical scientist, researcher
- Leopoldo Penna Franca (1959-2012), mathematician
- Julio Garavito Armero (1865–1920), astronomer
- Marcelo Gleiser (born 1959), physicist and astronomer
- Otto Richard Gottlieb (1920–2011), chemist and scientist
- José Goldemberg (born 1928), physicist
- Guillermo González Camarena (1917–1965), inventor of an early color television system
- Hilário de Gouvêa (1843–1929), ophthalmologist
- Juan Gundlach (1810–1896), naturalist, taxonomist
- Celso Grebogi (born 1947), theoretical physicist
- 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
- Madeleine M. Joullié (born March 29, 1927) organic chemist
- Warwick Estevam Kerr (1922–2018), agricultural engineer, geneticist, entomologist
- Roberto Landell de Moura (1861–1928), pioneer of telephony and radio
- César Lattes (1924–2005), experimental physicist
- Luis Federico Leloir (1906–1987), biochemist, Nobel Prize in Chemistry
- Maria Carmela Lico (1927–1985), physiologist
- Mariana Weissmann (born 1933), physicist
- Beatriz Barbuy (born 1950), astrophysicist
- Henrique da Rocha Lima (1879–1956), physician, pathologist and infectologist
- Domingo Liotta (1924–2022), cardiologist, created first artificial heart
- Rosaly Lopes (born 1957), planetary geologist, volcanologist
- Peter Wilhelm Lund (1801–1880), paleontologist, zoologist and archeologist
- Adolfo Lutz (1855–1940), epidemiologist
- Lúcia Mendonça Previato (born 1949), biologist
- Humberto Maturana (1928–2021), biologist
- 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
- 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
- Belita Koiller, Physics
- Carlos Nobre (scientist) (born 1951), scientist and meteorologist
- Carlos I. Noriega (born 1959), NASA astronaut
- Antonia Novello (born 1944), 14th Surgeon General of the United States
- Ruth Sonntag Nussenzweig (1928–2018), immunologist
- Diltor Opromolla (1934–2004), physician and dermatologist
- Manuel Elkin Patarroyo (born 1947), pathologist, vaccines specialist
- Carlos Paz de Araújo, scientist and inventor
- Jacob Palis (1940–2025), mathematician
- Feniosky Peña-Mora (born 1966), engineer and educator
- Sérgio Pereira da Silva Porto (1926–1979), physicist
- Felipe Poey (1799–1891), zoologist, specialist in ichthyology
- Aracely Quispe Neira (born 1982), NASA senior astronautical engineer, professor, researcher
- Silvano Raia, surgeon
- 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
- Helen Rodríguez Trías (1929–2001), pediatrician, early advocate for women's reproductive rights
- Alicia Dickenstein (born 1955) mathematician
- Francisco Rubio (astronaut) (born 1975), NASA astronaut
- Oscar Sala (1922–2010), nuclear physicist
- Roberto Salmeron (1922–2020), electrical engineer and experimental nuclear physicist
- 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
- Sarah Stewart (cancer researcher) (1905–1976), microbiologist, discovered Polyomavirus
- Klaus von Storch (born 1962), aerospace engineer
- Sérgio Trindade (1940–2020), chemical engineer and researcher
- 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
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), 5x Champions League winner with Real Madrid and 3x Ballon d’Or winner
- 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
- Alejandra Pizarnik (born 1936), poet
- 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
- 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
- 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