List of Dominican Americans (Dominican Republic)

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

To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Dominican American or must have references showing they are Dominican American and are notable.

List

Actors

Zoe Saldaña

Maria Montez

Carlos Pena Jr.

Michelle Rodriguez

• Juan Fernández de Alarcon – Dominican actor
• Tina Aumont (1946–2006) – actress
• Lourdes Benedicto – actress of Filipino/Dominican Republic descent
• Rafael Campos – Dominican born, American raised actor^[1]
• Francis Capra – actor of Dominican and Italian descent
• Aimee Carrero – Dominican born actress
• Hosea Chanchez – also credited as Hosea, actor (For Your Love)
• Jackie Cruz – Dominican-American actress
• Rick Gonzalez – actor of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent;^[2] known as Timo Cruz in the film Coach Carter, and as Ben Gonzalez on the television series Reaper
• Wilson Jermaine Heredia – actor known for his portrayal of Angel Dumott Schunard in the Broadway musical Rent; parents are Dominicans^[3][4]
• Wolf Hudson – Dominican-American male pornographic actor, director and street dancer
• Crystal Knight – erotic actress and exotic dancer of Cuban and Dominican heritage^[5]
• Selenis Leyva – Cuban-Dominican-American actress
• Judy Marte – Dominican-American actress and producer
• Anthony Mendez – American voice-over actor (Jane the Virgin); of Dominican parents^[6]
• Mirtha Michelle – American actress of Dominican descent
• Carlos de la Mota – Dominican actor^[7]
• Patricia Mota – American actress and film producer, of Dominican descent
• Maria Montez (1912–1951) – Dominican-born motion picture actress
• Miguel A. Núñez, Jr. – actor (The Return of the Living Dead, Life and a leading role in Juwanna Mann); of Dominican and Puerto Rican parents^[8]
• Karen Olivo – stage and television actress; of Puerto Rican, Native American, Dominican and Chinese descent
• Alex Paez – American actor of Dominican descent
• Carlos PenaVega – film and TV actor, singer-songwriter, dancer and television show host; father is of Spanish and Venezuelan descent, mother is of Dominican descent^[9]
• Manny Pérez – Dominican actor
• Dascha Polanco – Dominican-American actress, Orange is the New Black
• Dania Ramírez – Dominican TV and film actress (Entourage, Heroes and The Sopranos)
• Silvestre Rasuk – actor of Dominican descent^[10]
• Victor Rasuk – actor, Dominican parents^[11]
• Monica Raymund – stage performer and actress (Chicago Fire and Lie to Me); her mother is from the Dominican Republic^[12]
• Alisa Reyes – actress (All That); of Dominican, Irish, Italian and Caribbean Indian descent
• Judy Reyes – actress (Scrubs)
• Aida Rodriguez – comedian, actress, producer and writer, of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent^[13]
• Michelle Rodríguez – actress known for her role as Ana Lucia Cortez in the television series Lost; her father is Puerto Rican and mother is Dominican^[14]
• Nelson de la Rosa (1968–2006) – one of the shortest men of the 20th and 21st centuries; actor from the Dominican Republic; lived and died in Rhode Island^[15]
• Zoe Saldana – American actress of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent^[16]
• Merlin Santana (1976–2002) – television and film actor; of Dominican descent^[17]
• Ebonie Smith – Puerto Rican-born former child actress (The Jeffersons); of African American and Dominican descent
• Shannon Tavarez (1999–2010) – child actress; of African American and Dominican descent^[18]
• Julian Scott Urena – actor; immigrated with his family to New York City while in grade school
• Denise Vasi – fashion model and soap opera actress
• James Victor – Dominican-born American actor (Viva Valdez, Zorro)^[19]
• Tristan Wilds – actor (The Wire and 90210); of African American (father) and African-American, Irish, and Dominican (mother) descent^[20][21]

Singers and musicians

Prince Royce

Karina Pasian

Nicky Jam

• 40 Cal. – rapper, member of Harlem-based hip-hop group The Diplomats
• Jhené Aiko – singer–songwriter; of Japanese, Spanish, Dominican, and African American descent
• AraabMuzik – hip hop record producer, of Dominican and Guatemalan descent^[22]
• Arcángel – singer-songwriter, rapper and actor; parents are Dominicans^[23]
• AZ – American rapper
• Bryan Bautista – singer and contestant from NBC's The Voice season 9; of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent
• Carlos & Alejandra – Latin music group focusing on the genre of bachata
• Michel Camilo – Grammy Award winner Dominican born jazz pianist and composer
• Yasmin Deliz – singer-songwriter, model and actress of Dominican and Colombian and Venezuelan heritage; Dominican father, Colombian and Venezuelan mother
• Kat DeLuna – Dominican American pop singer
• Fabolous – rapper of Dominican and African American descent^[24][25]
• Fuego – Dominican-American merengue singer-songwriter, composer
• Fulanito – Dominican-American musical group
• Irv Gotti – hip hop and R&B record producer
• Mila J – singer, rapper, dancer; Jhené Aiko's sister
• Jumz – rapper
• Magic Juan – merengue hip hop artist; Dominican parents^[26]
• DJ Dana Lu – American DJ, record producer; of Dominican American descent^[27]
• Johnny Marines – member of the Latin American group Aventura
• Ralph Mercado (1941–2009) – promoter of Latin American music who established a network of businesses; of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent^[28]
• Chep Nuñez (1964–1990) – Dominican born American raised music producer, editor, and mixer^[29]
• Karina Pasian – Grammy Award-nominated recording artist and pianist; of Dominican and Armenian descent^[30][31]
• Prince Royce – singer-songwriter and record producer; of Dominican descent^[32]
• Karen Rodriguez – American singer; placed twelfth on the tenth season of American Idol; of Dominican and Peruvian descent
• Lizette Santana – recording artist, singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and actress
• Roger Sanchez – house music DJ
• Juelz Santana – rapper, producer, actor and member of group Dipset; of African American and Dominican descent; at age twelve started duo Draft Pick, which was signed to Priority Records^[33]
• Lenny Santos – former member of the bachata group Aventura
• Max Santos – bass player of the bachata group Aventura
• Romeo Santos – singer, featured composer and former lead singer of the Bachata group Aventura; of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent^[34]
• Trina – rapper, songwriter and model; father is of Dominican origin^[35][36]
• Triple Seis (formerly of Terror Squad) – rapper
• JR Writer – American rapper

Models

• Susie Castillo – former beauty queen who held the Miss USA title and competed in the Miss Teen USA and Miss Universe pageants; of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent^[37]
• Adriana Diaz – beauty queen from New York City who has competed in the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants
• Claudette Lali – Dominican-American former model and wardrobe stylist turned actress
• Sessilee Lopez – American model; of Dominican and Portuguese descent^[38]
• Christina Mendez – plus-size model from New York City

Sport

Felix Sanchez

Alex Rodriguez

Dante Rosario

• Moisés Alou – former Dominican-American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 17 seasons in the National League
• Pedro Alvarez – Dominican born, American raised^[39] professional baseball third baseman with the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball
• Trevor Ariza – American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association
• Ronnie Belliard – retired Major League Baseball second baseman, of Dominican descent
• Julio Borbon – Major League Baseball center fielder for the Texas Rangers
• Luis Castillo – defensive end for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League
• Stalin Colinet – former defensive tackle/defensive end in the NFL
• Manny Delcarmen – professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees organization; has been called "The Pride of Hyde Park"
• Mary Joe Fernández – former professional tennis player
• Fernando Guerrero – Dominican boxer living in the US since a child^[40]
• Al Horford – Dominican professional basketball player; center and power forward for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA
• Mark Jackson – retired professional basketball player and the current head coach of the Golden State Warriors; father is Dominican
• Pedro Martinez – Dominican-American professional baseball player
• Sammy Mejia – Dominican American professional basketball player
• David Ortiz – Dominican-American professional baseball player with the Boston Red Sox
• Plácido Polanco – Dominican born Major League Baseball player, plays for the Philadelphia Phillies and has also played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers; in 2008, he became a naturalized American citizen
• Albert Pujols – Dominican-American professional baseball first baseman for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Major League Baseball
• Manny Ramirez – professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter; currently a free agent; Dominican born, American raised^[41]
• Tutan Reyes – free agent football guard in the NFL
• Alex Rodriguez – professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball; parents are Dominican^[42]
• Dante Rosario – father is Dominican, mother is from the US
• Eddie Sanchez – mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter; of Mexican and Dominican descent
• Félix Sánchez – track and field athlete who specializes in the 400 meter hurdles; of Dominican parents^[43]
• Pedro Sosa – football offensive tackle for the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League
• Sammy Sosa – Dominican former professional baseball right fielder; played with four Major League Baseball teams over his career, which spanned from 1989–2007
• Karl-Anthony Towns – Dominican-American professional basketball player with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who selected him first overall in the 2015 NBA draft; African American father, Dominican mother
• Charlie Villanueva – Dominican-American professional basketball player with the Detroit Pistons

Politicians

Thomas Perez

Adriano Espaillat

• Alex Blanco – politician, mayor of Passaic, New Jersey
• Fernando Cabrera – New York City Council member
• Nelson Castro – politician from the state of New York
• Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez – 65th Secretary of State of New York, serving in the Cabinet of Governor David Paterson
• Marcos Devers – member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives^[44]
• Grace Diaz – politician, Democratic State Representative from Rhode Island representing District 11 in the city of Providence, Rhode Island
• Adriano Espaillat – member of the New York State Senate
• Rafael Espinal – politician who won the open 54th district seat in the New York State Assembly in a special election held on September 13, 2011
• Julissa Ferreras – Democratic member of the New York City Council
• William Lantigua – politician in Massachusetts, Dominican born and raised^[45]
• Guillermo Linares – Dominican Democratic member of the New York State Assembly^[46]
• Miguel Martinez – former New York City Council member from Council District 10 in Upper Manhattan in New York City
• Joseline Peña-Melnyk – politician, represents District 21 in the Maryland House of Delegates
• Cesar A. Perales – Secretary of State of New York currently serving in the Cabinet of Governor Andrew Cuomo
• Thomas Perez – Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, US Secretary of Labor-designate; parents are Dominicans^[47]
• Ydanis Rodríguez – currently a Democratic New York City Council member from the borough of Manhattan
• Angel Taveras – lawyer and mayor of Providence, Rhode Island; of Dominican descent; first Hispanic mayor of the city^[48]
• Carmen J Piñeyro - is the only Dominican elected official in Long Island. She is currently a Democratic Trustee in the Village of Freeport, New York.

Artists (painters, sculptors, architects)

• Clara Ledesma (1924–1999) – painter from the Dominican Republic; lived last years of her life in New York
• Tania Marmolejo (1975) – painter from the Dominican Republic; Dominican born, American naturalized
• Persio Minier – Dominican painter residing in the US since 1970 ^[49]
• Olivia Peguero (1963) – Dominican Republic painter, known for documenting the landscapes of the undeveloped Dominican countryside and the Arte Libros Foundation
• Freddy Rodríguez – Dominican painter residing in the US since 1963^[50]
• Hector Urena – Dominican painter residing in the US since 1980 ^[49]

Writers

• Julia Alvarez – poet, novelist, and essayist^[51]
• Ana Arelys Cruz Cabrera – poet and writer; wrote lyrics and melody of the "Anthem to the Fathers - Himno a los Padres"
• Fernando Cabrera – National Poetry and Literary Essay Prize Winner
• Angie Cruz – novelist
• Junot Díaz – writer, creative writing professor at MIT, and fiction editor at Boston Review; Dominican born, American naturalized^[52]
• Rhina Espaillat – bilingual Dominican-born, American raised poet
• Daisy Cocco De Filippis – writer and educator
• Ana-Maurine Lara - novelist, poet and black feminist scholar
• Nelly Rosario – novelist and creative writing instructor in the MFA Program at Texas State University in San Marcos
• Silvio Torres Saillant – theorist and educator at Syracuse University; founder of the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute at City College

Other personalities

Christina Mendez

Danielle Polanco

• Rolando Acosta – Dominican associate justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department
• Orlando Alba – Professor of Hispanic Linguistics at Brigham Young University
• Santi Deoleo – Dominican born radio producer, personality, and fashion designer also known as "Krazy Kulo"
• Rudy Duthil – advertising executive of Cuban and Dominican descent
• Jamie Guzman – Dominican-born architect, blogger and creator of The Pompomist
• The Kid Mero – comedian
• Christina Mendez – New York City-based plus-size model and entertainment personality
• Providencia Paredes – personal assistant to the First Lady of the US Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
• Jose Pimentel – also known as Muhammad Yusuf; Dominican born naturalized US citizen^[53] arrested on November 20, 2011 by the New York City Police Department for allegedly plotting to bomb New York City
• Danielle Polanco – dancer and choreographer; Dominican-Puerto Rican American
• Óscar de la Renta – Dominican born fashion designer
• Julissa Reynoso – New York City attorney born in the Dominican Republic; American Ambassador to Uruguay since 2012 ^[54]
• Rosanna Tavarez – entertainment reporter and television presenter
• Jessy Terrero – Dominican film and music video director
• Carmen Wong Ulrich – television and online journalist; personal finance expert at CNBC^[55]
• Miguel A. Vasquez – educator; US Marine and Army paratrooper; one of three brothers who served jointly in the 82d Airborne Division
• Ramona M. Valdez (1984–2005) – U.S. Marine

See also

• Dominican American
• Dominican people
• List of people from the Dominican Republic

References