Contents

List of Dominican Americans

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[edit]

Actors[edit]

• Juan Fernández de Alarcon – Dominican actor
• Rose Abdoo – American actress and comedian. She is of Dominican and Lebanese descent (Gilmore Girls, That's So Raven).
• Tina Aumont (1946–2006) – actress
• Lourdes Benedicto – actress of Filipino/Dominican Republic descent
• Elvis Nolasco – American actor of Dominican descent, American Crime
• Vladimir Caamaño – Dominican-American actor and stand-up comedian
• 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
• Angel Curiel – Dominican-American actor, FX's Pose
• Rhenzy Feliz – American actor of Dominican descent, Marvel's Runaways
• Jason Genao – American actor of Dominican descent, Netflix's On My Block
• 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]
• Jharrel Jerome – Emmy Award-winning actor born to a Dominican mother and Haitian father; he is the first Afro-Latino to win an Emmy and the first Dominican to have been nominated.
• Jorge Lendeborg Jr. – Dominican born actor, with supporting credits in Love, Simon, Alita: Battle Angel, and the male lead in Bumblebee
• Selenis Leyva – American actress of Cuban and Dominican descent (Orange Is the New Black, Diary of a Future President).^[5]
• Judy Marte – Dominican-American actress and producer
• Mirtha Michelle – American actress of Dominican descent
• Anthony Mendez – Dominican-American voice actor^[6]
• 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, Netflix's Orange is the New Black
• Dania Ramírez – Dominican-born American 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, Haitian and Puerto Rican descent^[16]
• Merlin Santana (1976–2002) – television and film actor; of Dominican descent^[17]
• Shannon Tavarez (1999–2010) – child actress; of African American and Dominican descent^{[citation needed]}
• 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)^[18]
• Tristan Wilds – actor (The Wire and 90210); of African American (father) and African-American, Irish, and Dominican (mother) descent^[19][20]

Singers and musicians[edit]

• 40 Cal. – rapper, member of Harlem-based hip-hop group The Diplomats
• Jhené Aiko – singer-songwriter; her mother is of Spanish, Dominican and Japanese descent
• Antonio Fresco – American DJ of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent
• AraabMuzik – hip hop record producer, of Dominican and Guatemalan descent^[21]
• Arcángel – singer-songwriter, rapper and actor; parents are Dominicans^[22]
• 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
• Cardi B – Dominican American Grammy winner Best Rap Album rapper who made number one on Billboard Hot 100 due to her popular single Bodak Yellow
• Michel Camilo – Grammy Award winner Dominican born jazz pianist and composer
• Damirón – pianist and composer
• Casandra Damirón – Dominican singer and dancer
• Natti Natasha – singer-songwriter born in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.
• DaniLeigh – Dominican American singer
• 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
• Euro – Dominican born American raised rapper signed to Lil Wayne's record label Young Money Entertainment
• Fabolous – rapper of Dominican and African American descent^[23][24]
• Fuego – Dominican-American merengue singer-songwriter, composer
• Fulanito – Dominican-American musical group
• Irv Gotti – hip hop and R&B record producer
• Ivan Barias – Grammy nominated music producer and songwriter
• Leslie Grace – Dominican-American singer-songwriter and actress debuting in the film adaptation of In The Heights
• Mila J – singer, rapper, dancer; Jhené Aiko's sister
• Jumz – rapper
• Magic Juan – Dominican American merengue hip hop artist who is considered the "Godfather" of the merengue hip-hop genre when he created it as the lead vocalist for Proyecto Uno in the 1990s before becoming a solo artist after 2001^[25]
• Johnny Marines – member of the Latin American group Aventura
• Melanie Martinez – singer-songwriter
• Ralph Mercado (1941–2009) – promoter of Latin American music who established a network of businesses; of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent^[26]
• Chep Nuñez (1964–1990) – Dominican born American raised music producer, editor, and mixer^[27]
• Karina Pasian – Grammy Award-nominated recording artist and pianist; of Dominican and Armenian descent^[28][29]
• Prince Royce – singer-songwriter and record producer; of Dominican descent^[30]
• 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^[31]
• 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^[32]
• Ice Spice – rapper
• Giselle Tavera – Dominican born, American raised singer
• Michael Tavera – American composer of Dominican descent best known for his animation scores
• Jamila Velazquez – American singer and actress of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent
• JR Writer – American rapper
• Ugly God – SoundCloud rapper of Dominican and African-American descent

Models[edit]

• Julissa Bermudez – model and former television host on 106 & Park
• 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^[33]
• Adriana Diaz – beauty queen from New York City who has competed in the Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants
• Sessilee Lopez – American model; of Dominican and Portuguese descent^[34]
• Erica Mena – hip hop model and television personality on Love & Hip Hop
• Christina Mendez – plus-size model from New York City
• Alexis Skyy – television personality and hip hop model of Dominican and Jamaican descent

Sport[edit]

• Felipe Alou – former Dominican-American outfielder and manager in Major League Baseball
• Jesús Alou – former Dominican-American outfielder in Major League Baseball
• Matty Alou – former Dominican-American outfielder in Major League Baseball
• 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^[35] 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 – former professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees organization; has been called "The Pride of Hyde Park"
• Mary Joe Fernández – former professional tennis player
• Luis García – MLB infielder born in New York City
• Fernando Guerrero – Dominican boxer living in the US since a child^[36]
• Al Horford – Dominican professional basketball player
• Mark Jackson – retired professional basketball player and former head coach of the Golden State Warriors; father is Dominican
• Neil Magny – mixed martial artist; competes in the Welterweight division of the UFC^[37]
• Pedro Martínez – Dominican-American professional baseball player
• Sammy Mejia – Dominican American professional basketball player
• Diomedes Olivo – Dominican American retired Major League Baseball 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 St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball
• Hanley Ramírez – professional baseball shortstop and first baseman for the Boston Red Sox, Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Cleveland Indians^[38]
• Manny Ramirez – professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter; currently a free agent; Dominican born, American raised^[39]
• Tutan Reyes – free agent football guard in the NFL
• Alex Rodriguez – former professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball; parents are Dominican^[40]
• Gilberto Rondón – retired Major League Baseball pitcher
• 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^[41]
• Carlos Santana − professional baseball first baseman and catcher for the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies^[38]
• 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[edit]

• Shaun Abreu – member of the New York City Council^[42]
• Marisol Alcantara – former member of the New York State Senate
• Daisy Baez – former member of the Florida House of Representatives
• Alex Blanco – former mayor of Passaic, New Jersey
• Dennis Bradley – member of the Connecticut State Senate^[43]
• Fernando Cabrera – former member of the New York City Council
• Nelson Castro – former member of the New York State Assembly
• Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez – former Secretary of State of New York
• Marcos Devers – member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives^[44]
• Carmen De La Rosa – member of the New York City Council
• Grace Diaz – member of the from Rhode Island House of Representatives and former acting chair of the Rhode Island Democratic Party
• Adriano Espaillat – member of the United States House of Representatives for New York's 13th congressional district
• Rafael Espinal – former member of the New York City Council and New York State Assembly
• Antonio Felipe – member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
• Julissa Ferreras – member of the New York City Council
• William Lantigua – former Mayor of Lawrence, Massachusetts (born and raised in the Dominican Republic)^[45]
• Guillermo Linares – former member of the New York State Assembly^[46]
• Miguel Martinez – former New York City Council member from Council District 10 in Upper Manhattan, New York City
• Juana Matias – former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives^[47]
• Joseline Peña-Melnyk – member of the Maryland House of Delegates
• Cesar A. Perales – former Secretary of State of New York
• Thomas Perez – former Democratic National Committee Chairman and United States Attorney General; 2022 Maryland gubernatorial candidate (parents are Dominicans)^[48]
• Julissa Reynoso Pantaleón – United States Ambassador to Spain and Andorra^[49]
• Ydanis Rodríguez – former member of the New York City Council
• Pierina Sanchez – member of the New York City Council^[50]
• Angel Taveras – former mayor of Providence, Rhode Island (of Dominican descent, first Hispanic mayor of the city)^[51]

Artists[edit]

• Clara Ledesma (1924–1999) – painter from the Dominican Republic; lived last years of her life in New York
• Tania Marmolejo (born 1975) – painter from the Dominican Republic; Dominican born, American naturalized
• Olivia Peguero (born 1963) – Dominican Republic painter, known for documenting the landscapes of the undeveloped Dominican countryside and the Arte Libros Foundation

Writers[edit]

• Julia Alvarez – poet, novelist, and essayist^[52]
• Josefina Baez – storyteller, writer, performer, theater director, educator^[53][54][55]
• 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^[56]
• 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

Other personalities[edit]

• Ed Boon – Chicagan co-creator and creative director of the acclaimed Mortal Kombat video games^[57][58]
• Rolando Acosta – Dominican associate justice of the New York Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, First Judicial Department
• Santi Deoleo – Dominican born radio producer, personality, and fashion designer also known as "Krazy Kulo"
• Rudy Duthil – advertising executive of Cuban and Dominican descent
• Benny Medina – American musician producer to Dominican parents.
• Christina Mendez – New York City-based plus-size model and entertainment personality
• The Kid Mero – comedian
• Francisco Moncion – Dominican born ballet dancer, choreographer and charter member of the New York City Ballet
• 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^[59] 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^[60]
• 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^[61]
• Ramona M. Valdez (1984–2005) – U.S. Marine

In fiction[edit]

• Luis Lopez – protagonist of the video gameGrand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony, 2009 DLC for Grand Theft Auto IV; first Dominican protagonist of a video game
• Luz Noceda – protagonist of The Owl House; first bisexual lead character and first lead character in a lesbian relationship on a Disney Channel show

See also[edit]

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

References[edit]

Bibliography

• Day, Frances A. (2003), Latina and Latino Voices in Literature: Lives and Works (Updated and expanded ed.), New York: Greenwood Press, ISBN 978-0-313-32394-2