List of Latin Americans

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.

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

Fashion

• BRA Gisele Bündchen (born 1980), fashion model
• ARG Valeria Mazza (born 1972), fashion model
• BRA Francisco Costa (born 1964), designer
• DOM PRI Oscar de la Renta (1932–2014), fashion designer
• COL Nina García (born 1965), fashion editor
• BRAHans Stern (1922–2007), jeweler and businessman
• URU Gabriela Hearst (born 1976), fashion designer
• BRA Alexandre Herchcovitch (born 1971), fashion designer
• VEN Carolina Herrera (born 1939), fashion designer
• PER Mario Testino (born 1954), fashion photographer
• BRA Alessandra Ambrósio (born 1981), fashion person

Film directors

• ARG Andy Muschietti (born 1973)
• BRA Francisco Antônio de Almeida Júnior (1851–1928), important figure in the development of cinematography
• ARG Damian Szifron (born 1975)
• CHL ESP Alejandro Amenábar (born 1972)
• MEX Alfonso Arau (born 1932)
• BRA Carlos Saldanha (born 1965) animator
• ARG Adolfo Aristarain (born 1943)
• ARG BRA Héctor Babenco (born 1946)
• ESP MEX Luis Buñuel (1900–1983)
• ARG Juan José Campanella (born 1959)
• VEN Román Chalbaud (1931–2023)
• MEX Alfonso Cuarón (born 1961)
• CHL Juan Downey (1940–1993)
• ARG Lucrecia Martel (born 1966)
• CUB Sara Gómez (1942–1974)
• ESP VEN Guillermo Fantástico González (1945–2020)
• MEX Alejandro González Iñárritu (born 1963)
• CHL Alejandro Jodorowsky (born 1929)
• ARG León Klimovsky (1906–1996)
• CHL Claudia Llosa (born 1976)
• BRA Fernando Meirelles (born 1955)
• VEN Franco de Peña (born 1966)
• ARG Lucía Puenzo (born 1976)
• MEX Arturo Ripstein (born 1943)
• CHL Raúl Ruiz (director) (1941–2011)
• BRA Walter Salles (born 1956)
• CUB Amy Serrano (born 1966)
• MEX Guillermo del Toro (born 1964)

Leaders and politicians

• URY José Mujica (1935-2025), President of Uruguay
• ARG Leandro N. Alem (1841–1896), politician
• SLV Nayib Bukele (born 1981), President of El Salvador
• CRI Óscar Arias (born 1940), statesman, Nobel Peace Prize
• ARG Cristina Kirchner (born 1953), President of Argentina
• VEN ESP Francisco de Miranda (1750–1813), Supreme Chief of First Republic of Venezuela
• ARG Julio A. Roca (born 1843), President of Argentina
• SLV Antonio Saca (born 1965), President of El Salvador
• VEN Rómulo Betancourt (1908–1981), President of Venezuela
• VEN Simón Bolívar (1783–1830), Libertador in Spanish American wars of independence
• ARG Javier Milei (born 1970), President of Argentina
• MEX Anastasio Bustamante (1780–1853), President of Mexico
• MEX Plutarco Elías Calles (1877–1945), President of Mexico
• CUB Fidel Castro (1926–2016), Prime Minister, later President of Cuba
• MEX Alfonso García Robles (1911–1991), diplomat and politician, Nobel Peace Prize
• PRY José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia (1766–1840), Supreme Dictator of Paraguay
• ARG Che Guevara (1928–1967), Marxist revolutionary
• MEX Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753–1811), Chief instigator of Mexican War of Independence
• MEX Benito Juárez (1806–1872), President of Mexico
• BRA Juscelino Kubitschek (1902–1976), President of Brazil
• COL Alberto Lleras Camargo (1906–1990), President of Colombia
• VEN Leopoldo López (born 1971), Mayor of Chacao, Venezuela
• CUB José Martí (1853–1895), leader of Cuban Independence movement
• ARG Juan Manuel de Rosas (born 1793), Caudillo
• GTM Rigoberta Menchú (born 1959), activist, Nobel Peace Prize
• BRA Chico Mendes (1944–1988), trade union leader and environmentalist
• COL Antonio Nariño (1765–1824), political and military leader
• PER Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (1920–2020), United Nations Secretary-General
• ARG Adolfo Pérez Esquivel (born 1931), activist, Nobel Peace Prize
• ARG Juan Perón (1895–1974), President of Argentina
• ARG Carlos Saavedra Lamas (1878–1959), academic and politician, Nobel Peace Prize
• ARG José de San Martín (1778–1850), Libertador in Spanish American wars of independence
• NIC Augusto César Sandino (1985–1934), guerilla leader and revolutionary
• MEX Pancho Villa (1878–1923), guerrilla leader of the Mexican Revolution
• MEX Emiliano Zapata (1879–1919), guerrilla leader of the Mexican Revolution
• BRA Lula da Silva (born 1945), President of Brazil
• PUR Pedro Albizu Campos (1891–1965), president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party
• BOL Evo Morales (born 1959), president of Bolivia

Monarchs

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

Imperial/royal consorts

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

Musicians

• ARG Carlos Gardel (born 1890), singer, songwriter, composer and actor
• BRA Gustavo Assis-Brasil, guitarist
• URY USA Miguel del Águila (born 1957), composer
• BRA Alok (DJ) (born 1991), musician, DJ, and record producer
• DOM Michel Camilo (born 1954), pianist and composer
• VEN Simón Díaz (1928–2014), composer, actor and singer
• BRA Gilberto Gil (born 1942), singer and composer
• PER Chabuca Granda (1920–1983), singer and composer
• PRI Rafael Hernández Marín (1892–1965), composer
• BRA Antônio Carlos Jobim (1927–1994), pianist, singer and composer
• MEX Agustín Lara (1900–1970), composer
• CUB Ernesto Lecuona (1896–1963), composer, pianist and conductor
• BRA Vinicius de Moraes (1913–1980), singer and composer
• ARG Ástor Piazzolla (1921–1992), tango composer
• PRI Tito Puente (1923–2000), Latin jazz and mambo musician
• PRI Omar Rodríguez-López (born 1975), guitarist
• MEX USA Carlos Santana (born 1947), composer, songwriter and guitarist
• BRA Eloy Casagrande (born 1991), drummer
• ARG Lalo Schifrin (born 1932), composer and pianist
• PER Pedro Suárez-Vértiz (born 1966), pianist, singer and composer
• BRA Caetano Veloso (born 1942), singer and composer
• ARG Lito Vitale (born 1961), composer and performer
• BRA Laurindo Almeida (1917–1995), guitarist and composer in classical
• ARG Atahualpa Yupanqui (1908–1992), folk musician
• ARG Rosa Antonelli, pianist
• BRA 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

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

• BRA Manuel de Abreu (1894–1962), physician and scientist
• BRA Josué de Castro (1908–1973), physician
• BRA Milton Santos (1926–2001), geographer
• BRA Giuseppe Cilento (1923–1994), chemist
• BRA Ivan Izquierdo (1937-2021), scientist
• ARG Juan Martín Maldacena ( born 1968), theoretical physicis
• ARG Julio Navarro (astrophysicist) (born 1962), astrophysicist
• ARG Luis Agote (1868–1954), physician and researcher
• ARG Eugenia Kalnay (1942-2024), meteorologist
• ARG Sandra Díaz (ecologist) (born 1961), ecologist
• PRI Ricardo Alegría (1921–2011), physical anthropologist
• BRA Maurício Peixoto (1921–2019), engineer and mathematician
• ARG Luis Caffarelli (born 1948), mathematician
• ARG Eduardo Arzt (born 1953), molecular biologist
• ARG Ana Belén Elgoyhen (born 1959), scientist
• BRA Álvaro Alvim (1863–1928), physician
• BRA Antonio Divino Moura, meteorologist
• BRA Carolina Araujo, mathematician
• BRA Artur Avila (born 1979), mathematician
• ARG José Antonio Balseiro (1919–1962), nuclear physicist
• ARG Gregorio Baro (1928–2012), radiochemist
• ARG Eduardo D. Sontag (born 1951), mathematician
• BRA Ana Bedran-Russo, clinician and scientist
• ARG Amina Helmi (born 1970), astronomer
• ARG Alberto Pedro Calderón (1920-1998), mathematician
• VEN USA Baruj Benacerraf (1920–2011), immunologist, Nobel Prize Medicine
• MEX USA Martha E. Bernal (1931–2001), psychologist
• BRA Fernando Brandão (born 1983), physicist and computer scientist
• BRA Vital Brazil (1865–1950), physician, biomedical scientist and immunologist
• ARG Jorge E. Galán, microbiologist
• ARG Carlos Eduardo Kenig (born 1953), mathematician
• COL Francisco José de Caldas (1768–1818), naturalist, mathematician, geographer and inventor
• ARG USA Fernando Caldeiro (born 1958), NASA astronaut
• PRI Víctor A. Carreño (1911–1967), NASA aerospace engineer
• MEX Nabor Carrillo Flores (1911–1967), nuclear physicist
• BRA Carlos Chagas (1879–1934), physician and scientist
• CRI USA Franklin Chang Díaz (born 1950), NASA astronaut
• PRI Nitza Margarita Cintrón (born 1950), NASA Chief of Space and Health Care Systems
• BRA Adelmar Faria Coimbra-Filho (1924–2016), biologist, primatologist
• VEN Jacinto Convit (1913–2014), medical scientist, discoverer of vaccines
• BRA Newton da Costa (1929–2024), mathematician, logician, and philosopher
• BRA Luís Cruls (1848–1908), astronomer and geodesist
• ARG Armando J. Parodi (born 1942), glycobiologist
• BRA Oswaldo Cruz (1872–1917), physician, bacteriologist, epidemiologist
• BRA Johanna Döbereiner (born 1924), agronomist
• ARG René Favaloro (1923–2000), cardiologist, created the technique for coronary bypass
• VEN Humberto Fernández-Morán (1924–1999), medical research scientist
• BRA Sérgio Henrique Ferreira (1934–2016), physician and pharmacologist
• PRI Orlando Figueroa (born 1955), NASA Director for Mars Exploration and for Solar System Division
• CUB Carlos Finlay (1833–1915), medical scientist, researcher
• BRA Leopoldo Penna Franca (1959-2012), mathematician
• COL Julio Garavito Armero (1865–1920), astronomer
• BRA Marcelo Gleiser (born 1959), physicist and astronomer
• BRA Otto Richard Gottlieb (1920–2011), chemist and scientist
• BRA José Goldemberg (born 1928), physicist
• MEX Guillermo González Camarena (1917–1965), inventor of an early color television system
• BRA Hilário de Gouvêa (1843–1929), ophthalmologist
• CUB Juan Gundlach (1810–1896), naturalist, taxonomist
• BRA Celso Grebogi (born 1947), theoretical physicist
• COL Salomón Hakim (1922–2011), physician and scientist
• MEX Guillermo Haro (1913–1988), astrophysicist, specialist in observational astronomy
• ARG Bernardo Houssay (1887–1971), physiologist, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
• MEX Miguel de Icaza (born 1972), free software programmer
• BRA Roberto Ierusalimschy (born 1960), computer scientist
• BRA Madeleine M. Joullié (born March 29, 1927) organic chemist
• BRA Warwick Estevam Kerr (1922–2018), agricultural engineer, geneticist, entomologist
• BRA Roberto Landell de Moura (1861–1928), pioneer of telephony and radio
• BRA César Lattes (1924–2005), experimental physicist
• ARG Luis Federico Leloir (1906–1987), biochemist, Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• BRA Maria Carmela Lico (1927–1985), physiologist
• ARG Mariana Weissmann (born 1933), physicist
• BRA Beatriz Barbuy (born 1950), astrophysicist
• BRA Henrique da Rocha Lima (1879–1956), physician, pathologist and infectologist
• ARG Domingo Liotta (1924–2022), cardiologist, created first artificial heart
• BRA Rosaly Lopes (born 1957), planetary geologist, volcanologist
• BRA Peter Wilhelm Lund (1801–1880), paleontologist, zoologist and archeologist
• BRA Adolfo Lutz (1855–1940), epidemiologist
• BRA Lúcia Mendonça Previato (born 1949), biologist
• CHL Humberto Maturana (1928–2021), biologist
• CUB Arnaldo Tamayo Méndez (born 1942), USSR Space Program cosmonaut
• ARG César Milstein (1927–2002), biochemist, Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
• MEX Luis E. Miramontes (1925–2004), chemist, co-inventor of the oral contraceptive
• MEX Mario J. Molina (born 1943), chemist, Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• HND Salvador Moncada (born 1944), pharmacologist
• BRA Nélio José Nicolai (1940–2017), electrotechnician
• BRA Miguel Nicolelis(1961), pioneering work surrounding brain-computer interface
• CHL Hermann Niemeyer (1919–1991), paediatrician and biochemist, pioneer of biochemistry in Chile
• MEX Rodolfo Neri Vela (born 1952), Ph.D, NASA astronaut
• BRA Belita Koiller, Physics
• BRA Carlos Nobre (scientist) (born 1951), scientist and meteorologist
• PER USA Carlos I. Noriega (born 1959), NASA astronaut
• PRI Antonia Novello (born 1944), 14th Surgeon General of the United States
• BRA Ruth Sonntag Nussenzweig (1928–2018), immunologist
• BRA Diltor Opromolla (1934–2004), physician and dermatologist
• COL Manuel Elkin Patarroyo (born 1947), pathologist, vaccines specialist
• BRA Carlos Paz de Araújo, scientist and inventor
• BRA Jacob Palis (1940–2025), mathematician
• DOM Feniosky Peña-Mora (born 1966), engineer and educator
• BRA Sérgio Pereira da Silva Porto (1926–1979), physicist
• CUB Felipe Poey (1799–1891), zoologist, specialist in ichthyology
• PER Aracely Quispe Neira (born 1982), NASA senior astronautical engineer, professor, researcher
• BRA Silvano Raia, surgeon
• ARG Eduardo H. Rapoport (1927–2017), ecologist, biogeographer
• VEN L. Rafael Reif (born 1950), engineer, president of MIT
• ESP MEX Andrés Manuel del Río (1764–1849), geologist, chemist
• BRA Maurício Rocha e Silva (1910–1983), physician and pharmacologist
• PRI USA Helen Rodríguez Trías (1929–2001), pediatrician, early advocate for women's reproductive rights
• ARG Alicia Dickenstein (born 1955) mathematician
• SLV USA Francisco Rubio (astronaut) (born 1975), NASA astronaut
• BRA Oscar Sala (1922–2010), nuclear physicist
• BRA Roberto Salmeron (1922–2020), electrical engineer and experimental nuclear physicist
• PRI Wilfredo Santa-Gómez (born 1949), psychiatrist
• DOM José Santana (economist) (born 1962), specialist in technology and development
• BRA Alberto Santos-Dumont (1873–1932), aviation inventor
• BRA Nise da Silveira (1905–1999), psychiatrist
• MEX USA Sarah Stewart (cancer researcher) (1905–1976), microbiologist, discovered Polyomavirus
• CHL Klaus von Storch (born 1962), aerospace engineer
• BRA Sérgio Trindade (1940–2020), chemical engineer and researcher
• CHL Pablo DT Valenzuela (born 1941), biotechnologist, co-founder of Chiron Corporation and Fundación Ciencias Para la Vida
• CHL Francisco Varela (1946–2001), biologist, co-author of the theory of autopoiesis
• MEX USA Lydia Villa-Komaroff (born 1947), biologist, early Mexican American PhD in the sciences
• BRA 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

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

;Baseball

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

;Basketball

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

;Boxing

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

;Chess

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

;Cycling

• COL Santiago Botero (born 1972), World Time-Trial Champion
• BRA Henrique Avancini (born 1989)

;Draughts

• BRA 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)

• BRA Pelé (born 1940), co-winner FIFA Player of the 20th Century, Named athlete of the 20th century
• ARG Alfredo Di Stéfano (1926–2014), 5x Champions League winner with Real Madrid and 3x Ballon d’Or winner
• ARG Diego Maradona (born 1960), co-winner FIFA Player of the 20th Century
• ARG Lionel Messi (born 1987), 6x World Footballer of the Year
• BRA Ronaldo (born 1976)
• BRA Ronaldinho (born 1980)
• BRA Kaká (born 1982)
• BRA Rivaldo (born 1972)
• BRA Romário (born 1966) ;Handball
• BRA Eduarda Amorim (born 1986)
• BRA Alexandra do Nascimento (born 1981) ;Golf
• PRI Chi-Chi Rodríguez (born 1935), World Golf Hall of Famer
• BRA Bento Assis 4 x World Champion US Kids Golf ;Horse racing
• VEN Javier Castellano (born 1977), jockey, 3x U.S. Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey
• VEN Ramon Domínguez (born 1976), jockey, 3x U.S. Eclipse Award for Outstanding Jockey
• BRA T. J. Pereira (born 1976) ;Motor sports
• VEN Johnny Cecotto (born 1956), 2x Motorcycle World Champion
• BRA Eric Granado (born 1996), He was the 2017 FIM CEV Moto2 European Championship winner
• ARG Juan Manuel Fangio (1911–1995), 5x Formula One World Champion
• BRA Emerson Fittipaldi (born 1946), 2x Formula One World Champion
• VEN Carlos Lavado (born 1956), 2x Motorcycle World Champion
• CHL Juan Zanelli (1906–1944), Le Mans and European Hill Climb and Formula One race winner
• COL Juan Pablo Montoya (born 1975), 1x CART Champion, 2x Indianapolis 500 winner, Formula One and NASCAR race winner
• BRA Nelson Piquet (born 1952), 3x Formula One World Champion
• BRA Ayrton Senna (1960–1994), 3x Formula One World Champion ;Skateboarding
• BRA Bob Burnquist (born 1976), better known as Bob is the most medalist in X Games history, with a total of 30 medals
• BRA Letícia Bufoni (born 1993), considered one of the greatest names in the history of the sport ;Surfing
• PER Sofía Mulánovich (born 1983), 3x World Champion, Surfing Hall of Fame
• BRA Phil Rajzman (born 1982), 2x World Champion
• BRA Gabriel Medina (born 1993)
• BRA Ítalo Ferreira (born 1994)
• BRA Filipe Toledo (born 1995)
• BRA Adriano de Souza (born 1987) ;Tennis
• BRA Maria Bueno (1939–2018), 19x Champion of Grand Slam events, International Tennis Hall of Fame
• SLV Rosemary Casals (born 1948), 12x Champion of Grand Slam events
• PRI Gigi Fernández (born 1964), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event
• DOM USA Mary Joe Fernández (born 1971), 2x Champion of Grand Slam events, 2 Olympic gold medals
• ARG Gastón Gaudio (born 1978), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event
• ECU Andrés Gómez (born 1960), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event
• CHL Fernando González (born 1980), 2x Olympic medalist
• BRA Gustavo Kuerten (born 1976), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event
• CHL Anita Lizana (1915–1994), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event, first Latin American to be ranked World Number One
• CHL Nicolás Massú (born 1979), 2x Olympic gold medals
• ARG David Nalbandian (born 1982), Tennis Masters Champion
• PER USA Alex Olmedo (1936–2020), 3x Champion of Grand Slam events
• MEX Rafael Osuna (1938–1969), 4x Champion of Grand Slam events
• PRI Monica Puig (born 1993), Olympic gold medalist
• CHL Marcelo Ríos (born 1975), first Latín Américan man ranked World Number One in the ATP
• ARG Gabriela Sabatini (born 1970), 2x Champion of Grand Slam events
• ECU USA Pancho Segura (1921–2017), International Tennis Hall of Fame
• ARG Paola Suárez (born 1976), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event
• ARG Guillermo Vilas (born 1952), 1x Champion of Grand Slam event ; Volleyball
• BRA Giba (born 1976)
• BRA Fabiana Alvim (born 1976)
• BRA Sérgio Santos (born 1975)
• BRA Fofão (volleyball player) (born 1970) ; UFC
• BRA Anderson Silva (born 1975)
• BRA José Aldo (born 1986)
• BRA Amanda Nunes (born 1988)
• BRA Cris Cyborg (born 1985)

Writers

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

A-L

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

M-Z

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

Lists by nationality

• ARG Argentines
• BOL Bolivians
• BRA Brazilians
• CHL Chileans
• COL Colombians
• CRI Costa Ricans
• CUB Cubans
• DOM Dominicans
• ECU Ecuadorians
• GTM Guatemalans
• HND Hondurans
• MEX Mexicans
• NIC Nicaraguans
• PAN Panamanians
• PRY Paraguayans
• PER Peruvians
• PRI Puerto Ricans
• SLV Salvadorans
• URY Uruguayans
• VEN Venezuelans
• United Nations List of people by nationality