Cuban celebrities are a big part of what makes Cuban culture so great. They’re some of the best actors, singers, and entertainers worldwide. And since there are so many Cuban celebrities, we’ve compiled a list of 50 for your use. They’re listed in order of their prominence.
1. Fidel Castro
| Name | Fidel Castro |
| Date of Birth | August 13, 1926 |
| Died | November 25, 2016 |
| Place of Birth | Birán, Oriente |
| Occupation | Revolutionary and politician |
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, a Cuban revolutionary and politician born on August 13, 1926, and passed away on November 25, 2016, led Cuba from 1959 to 2008, serving as president from 1976 to 2008. Marxist-Leninist and Cuban patriot by ideology, From 1961 to 2011, he also served as the Communist Party of Cuba’s first secretary. State socialist reforms were introduced throughout society, business and industry were nationalized, and Cuba became a one-party communist state during his presidency.
2. Andy García
| Name | Andy García |
| Date of Birth | April 12, 1956 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Actor, Director and Musician |
| Education | Florida International University |
Andy García is the stage name of Andrés Arturo Garcia Menéndez, an American actor, director, and singer born in Cuba on April 12, 1956. Alongside Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, and Robert De Niro, he made his acting debut in Brian De Palma’s The Untouchables (1987). He performed in movies like Stand and Deliver (1988) and Internal Affairs (1990). Alongside Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, and Eli Wallach, he then played Vincent Mancini in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part III (1990). In 2005, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and received a Latin Grammy for his performance.
3. Christina Milian
| Name | Christina Milian |
| Date of Birth | September 26, 1981 |
| Place of Birth | Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Occupation | Actress and singer |
Christina Milian is the stage name of Christine Marie Flores, an American actress, and singer born on September 26, 1981. Milian, who is of Afro-Cuban ancestry, was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. M Don Flores and Carmen Milian are her parents. At 19, she agreed to a deal with Murder Inc. Records. The singles “AM to PM” and “When You Look at Me,” included on Milian’s self-titled debut album, peaked in the top three of the U.K. Singles Chart and the Top 40 of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, respectively, in 2001. It’s About Time, Milian’s second studio album, featured her first significant American hit, “Dip It Low,” which peaked at number five on the U.S. Billboard chart and was released in 2004. The second single off the album was “Whatever U Want.” Both singles appeared on the U.K. chart’s Top 10 list.
4. Gloria Estefan
| Name | Gloria Estefan |
| Date of Birth | September 1, 1957 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Singer, actress, and businesswoman |
| Years active | 1975–present |
Gloria Estefan, a Cuban-American singer, actress, and businesswoman, was born on September 1, 1957. Estefan has won seven Grammy Awards, is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and is one of VH1 and Billboard’s list of the Top 100 artists of all time. With more than 75 million albums sold worldwide, Gloria Estefan is one of the best-selling female singers of all time and the second-best-selling female Latin artist in history. Estefan, a contralto, began her career as the lead vocalist of Miami Latin Boys, later known as Miami Sound Machine.
5. Yoel Romero
| Name | Yoel Romero |
| Date of Birth | April 30, 1977 |
| Place of Birth | Pinar del Río, Cuba |
| Occupation | mixed martial artist and former freestyle wrestler |
| Years active | 2009–present (MMA)1997–2005, 2007 (freestyle wrestling) |
Yoel Romero Palacio, On April 30, 1977, a professional mixed martial artist from Cuba and former freestyle wrestler was born. He currently fights for Bellator MMA in the Light Heavyweight division. Romero previously competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the Middleweight division and was a four-time contender for the Middleweight Championship. At 85 kilograms, Romero competed in freestyle wrestling. He won the 1999 World Championship (five World Championship medals), the 2000 Olympics (silver), three World Cup titles (six medals), the 2003 Pan American Games gold medal (bronze in ’99), and five Pan American titles. He is currently ranked #4 in the Bellator Light Heavyweight Rankings as of September 27, 2022.
6. Joey Diaz
| Name | Joey Diaz |
| Date of Birth | February 19, 1963 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Stand-up comedian, actor, and podcaster |
| Years active | 1991–present |
Joey “CoCo” Diaz, born José Antonio Diaz on February 19, 1963, is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and podcaster. After dedicating himself to stand-up comedy in the Denver and Seattle areas in 1991, Diaz moved to Los Angeles in 1995 and started acting. In addition to other films and television shows, he was cast in My Name Is Earl, The Longest Yard, Spider-Man 2, Grudge Match, and The Many Saints of Newark.
7. Mario Cimarro
| Name | Mario Cimarro |
| Date of Birth | June 1, 1971 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1992-present |
Actor Mario Antonio Cimarro Paz was born in Cuba on June 1, 1971. In 1995’s Acapulco, cuerpo y alma, he made his big-screen debut. He produced the Romeo and Julieta theatrical seasons in 1996. In the Colombian television series Pasión de Gavilanes, which aired from 2003 to 2004, he played the lead role alongside Natasha Klauss, Michel Brown, Juan Alfonso Baptista, Danna Garcia, and Paola Rey. He repeatedly appeared in Jesus Cristo de Nazaret and Necessary Roughness on the USA Network between 2011 and 2013.
8. Eddie Cibrian
| Name | Eddie Cibrian |
| Date of Birth | June 16, 1973 |
| Place of Birth | Burbank, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1993–present |
Edward Carl Cibrian was born in the United States on June 16, 1973 although his parents are both from Cuba. He is most recognized for his appearances as Cole Deschanel and Jimmy Doherty on Sunset Beach and Third Watch, respectively.
Matt Clark in The Young and the Restless, Russell Varon in Invasion, Jesse Cardoza in CSI: Miami, and Eddie Valetik in Take Two are among his other significant television performances. But I’m a Cheerleader and The Best Man Holiday are two of his most recognizable flicks.
9. César Évora
| Name | César Évora |
| Date of Birth | November 4, 1959 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1982-present |
César Évora Daz was born in Havana, Cuba, on November 4, 1959. He is a Cuban actor. Before relocating to Mexico in the early 1990s, Évora appeared in more than ten films in Cuba. In 1993 and 1994, he became well-known for his supporting parts in the landmark films Corazón Salvaje and Agujetas de hue rosa. In the 1995 film Si Dios Me Quita La Vida, Évora received his first starring role opposite Daniela Romo. Évora starring roles in Luz Clarita, Gente Bien, and especially El Privilegio de Amar made him one of the most popular leading men in the industry.
10. Yvette Prieto
Yvette Prieto via caknowledge
| Name | Yvette Prieto |
| Date of Birth | March 26, 1978 |
| Place of Birth | Cuba |
| Occupation | Model |
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) |
Yvette Prieto, was born in Cuba on March 26, 1978 and grew up in Miami. She is an American model. She has modeled for designer Alexander Wang and portrayed herself in the documentary Cuba: An Island Apart. Julio Iglesias Jr. was Yvette’s boyfriend in the early 2000s. She also worked for her parent’s company, at a hospital, and in real estate, in addition to modeling.
11. Ernesto Daranas
Ernesto Daranas via wikipedia via wikipedia
| Name | Ernesto Daranas |
| Date of Birth | December 7, 1961 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Filmmaker, Screenwriter |
| Years active | 1999–2000 |
Ernesto Daranas Serrano, a Cuban filmmaker, was born on December 7, 1961. The three feature-length films of Daranas were nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film due to their unprecedented success in Cuba. Daranas was nominated for a Latin Grammy for Best Long Form Music Video and was awarded the King of Spain Award. His filmography includes Sergio & Sergei (2017), starring Ron Perlman, and Behavior, widely regarded as the best Cuban film of the twenty-first century.
12. William Levy
| Name | William Levy |
| Date of Birth | August 29, 1980 |
| Place of Birth | Cojímar, Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Actor and former model |
| Years active | 2003–present |
William Gutiérrez-Levy was born in Cojimar, Cuba, on August 29, 1980, and is a Cuban-American actor and former model. Levy was a model for Next Models and appeared on two Telemundo reality television programs: Isla de la Tentación and Protagonistas de Novela 2. In 2005, he performed La Nena Tiene Tumbao at the Centro de Bellas Artes in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Venevision International production Olvidarte Jamás marked his debut on Univision’s Spanish-language channel. After Mi Vida Eres Tu, he appeared in Acorralada.
13. Carlos Acosta
| Name | Carlos Acosta |
| Date of Birth | 2 June 1973 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Ballet director and retired dancer |
| Years active | 1998 |
Carlos Yunior Acosta Quesada was born on June 2, 1973. He is a Cuban-British ballet director and retired dancer who serves as the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s artistic leader. He performed with the English National Ballet, National Ballet of Cuba, Houston Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre, among others. From 1998 through 2015, he was a permanent member of The Royal Ballet. In 2003, he was moved to the position of significant guest artist, which decreased his responsibilities and allowed him to focus on an expanding schedule of worldwide guest appearances and tours. In November 2015, after 17 years at The Royal Ballet, he danced his final performance in Carmen, which he choreographed and performed in.
14. Aroldis Chapman
| Name | Aroldis Chapman |
| Date of Birth | February 28, 1988 |
| Place of Birth | Holguín Province, Cuba |
| Occupation | Professional baseball relief pitcher |
| Years active | 2010 |
Albertn Aroldis Chapman de la Cruz was born on February 28, 1988 in Havana, Cuba. He is a free-agent bullpen pitcher in the MLB. He has participated in MLB games for the Cincinnati Reds, the New York Yankees, the Chicago Cubs, and the Cuban National Series for the Holguin team. Chapman bats and throws left-handedly, earning him the monikers “Cuban Missile” and “Cuban Flame Thrower.” Chapman threw domestically and internationally for Holguin and the Cuban national team. In 2010, he signed a contract with the Cincinnati Reds, emigrating from Cuba in 2009. That season was Chapman’s MLB debut. From 2012 to 2015, he was selected to four consecutive National League All-Star teams. In addition, he won the MLB Delivery Man of the Month Award for July 2012 as the best reliever.
15. Jose Canseco
| Name | Jose Canseco |
| Date of Birth | July 2, 1964 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder and designated hitter |
| Years active | 1982 |
José Canseco Capas Jr. on July 2, 1964, was born. He is a Cuban-American former Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder and designated hitter. His nicknames include Parkway Jose, Mr. 40-40, and El Canonero Cubano (The Cuban Cannon). He made a name for himself as one of the most powerful power hitters in the game while playing with the Oakland Athletics. He was a six-time All-Star and won the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards in 1986 and 1988, respectively. With the Oakland Athletics (1989) and the New York Yankees, Canseco won two World Series.
16. Oscar Nunez
| Name | Oscar Nunez |
| Date of Birth | November 18, 1958 |
| Place of Birth | Colón, Matanzas, Cuba |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian |
| Years active | 2000–present |
Oscar Nunez, sometimes known as Oscar Nuez, is a Cuban-American actor born November 18, 1958. Oscar Martinez, the Dunder Mifflin accountant, is his most recognizable role from The Office on NBC.
He was a member of The Groundlings before being cast as a regular on The Office. In 2007, he co-created and co-starred in the Comedy Central series Halfway Home, and in 2014, he co-starred in the short-lived USA Network sitcom Benched. He has appeared in several State Farm advertisements since 2018.
17. Daisy Fuentes
| Name | Daisy Fuentes |
| Date of Birth | November 17, 1966 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Actress, comedian, model, television host and former weather presenter |
| Years active | 1988–present |
On November 17, 1966, Daisy Fuentes was born in Havana, Cuba, and is a Cuban-American actress, comedian, model, television personality, and former weathercaster. Fuentes broke barriers as MTV’s first Latina VJ (signed simultaneously to MTV and MTV Latin America) and Revlon’s first Latina spokesperson with a worldwide contract. Daisy Fuentes Style Pro, an all-natural hair care line, was launched in March 2009 to mass retailers as her debut in the haircare market. Daisy Fuentes Pilates, her Wii fitness game, was published in August 2009.
18. Luis Ortiz
| Name | Luis Ortiz |
| Date of Birth | March 29, 1979 |
| Place of Birth | Camagüey, Cuba |
| Occupation | Professional boxer |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
Born on March 29, 1979, Luis Ortiz. He is a professional boxer from Cuba. From 2015 to 2016, he held the WBA interim heavyweight title; in 2018 and 2019, he made two challenges for the WBC title. He won a silver medal as an amateur at the 2005 Boxing World Cup. He earned the nickname “King Kong” due to his formidable punching power and counterpunching abilities. The Ring magazine and the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board rank him as the eighth-best active heavyweight worldwide as of November 2021.
19. Vida Guerra
| Name | Vida Guerra |
| Date of Birth | March 19, 1974 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | model and actress |
| Years active | 2002 |
Vida Guerra is an American glamor model and actress born in Cuba on March 19, 1974. Her first notable appearance was in the December 2002 issue of the U.S. edition of FHM magazine; since then, she has modeled for numerous other men’s magazines. In December 2002, Guerra appeared in a lingerie spread for FHM, her first national exposure. Subsequently, the magazine reported that following the article’s publication, nearly one-third of all reader correspondence requested additional photos of her. In 2004, she became “FHM’s Model of the Year” after being requested for additional photo shoots.
20. Mayra Verónica
| Name | Mayra Verónica |
| Date of Birth | August 20, 1980 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Singer, model, actress, and television personality |
| Years active | 2004 |
Mayra Verónica Aruca Rodrguez, an American singer, model, actress, and television personality, were born on August 20, 1980. She is well-recognized for her Spanish-language television appearances. Verónica’s appearance on Univision’s Don Francisco Presenta drew the attention of the U.S. edition of FHM magazine. After being featured in FHM, she was featured in its 2004 calendar and went on to work for other magazines. She has appeared on numerous Spanish-language television programs, as well as in music videos and television advertisements.
21. Yasiel Puig
| Name | Yasiel Puig |
| Date of Birth | December 7, 1990 |
| Place of Birth | Cienfuegos, Cuba |
| Occupation | professional baseball |
| Years active | 2012 |
Yasiel Puig Valdés was born in Cuba on December 7, 1990. He now plays right field for the Kiwoom Heroes of the KBO League. In Major League Baseball, he has represented the Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, and Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB). Veteran Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully gave him the moniker “The Wild Horse.”
In 2008, Puig won a bronze medal with the Cuban national baseball team in the World Junior Baseball Championship.
22. Miguel Díaz-Canel
| Name | Miguel Díaz-Canel |
| Date of Birth | 20 April 1960 |
| Place of Birth | Municipality of Placetas, Province of Las Villas, (Cuba) |
| Occupation | politician and engineer |
| Education | University of Las Villas |
Miguel Mario Daz-Canel y Bermdez was born on 20 April 1960. He is a Cuban politician and engineer who has served as the first secretary of the Cuban Communist Party since 2021 and as president of Cuba since 2019. Daz-Canel replaces Fidel and Ral Castro in all capacities, making him the first Cuban leader since the revolution who is not a Castro. Daz-leadership Canel thus reflects a non-dynastic mode of succession for the party and the state and the end of Castro’s rule in Cuba.
23. Raul Castro
| Name | Raul Castro |
| Date of Birth | 3 June 1931 |
| Place of Birth | Birán, Cuba |
| Occupation | Politician and general |
| Awards | Hero of the Republic of CubaOrder of Prince Yaroslav the Wise |
Raúl Modesto Castro Ruz was born on 3 June 1931. She was the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from 2011 to 2021. She is a retired politician and military officer from Cuba, following his brother Fidel Castro in the highest post in the one-party communist state. From 1959 to 2008, Castro, one of the military commanders of the Cuban Revolution, served as minister of the armed forces. His ministerial tenure made him the armed forces minister with the longest tenure. From 1965 until 2021, Castro was also a member of the Communist Party of Cuba’s Politburo, the top decision-making body.
24. Ana María Polo
| Name | Ana María Polo |
| Date of Birth | 11 April 1959 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | television arbitrator |
| Years active | 2001–present |
Ana Mara Cristina Polo González was born on 11 April 1959. She is a Cuban-American arbitrator for the television programs Caso Cerrado and Ana Polo Rules.
Ana, born in Havana, Cuba, moved with her family to Puerto Rico when she was two years old. She also sang with the chorus of Jubilee, which Pope Paul VI invited to sing at St. Peter’s Basilica as part of the 1975 Holy Year celebrations. She is currently the arbitrator on the Telemundo program Caso Cerrado, which airs at various times throughout the day, and she has even performed the theme song.
25. Cristina Saralegui
| Name | Cristina Saralegui |
| Date of Birth | January 29, 1948 |
| Place of Birth | Miramar, Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | journalist, television personality, actress and talk show host |
| Years active | 1973–present |
Cristina Mariá Saralegui de Ávila was born in Miramar, Havana, Cuba, on January 29, 1948. She is an American journalist, television personality, actress, and host of the Spanish-language chat program El show de Cristina. Before pursuing a career in television, she spent ten years as the editor-in-chief of the Spanish-language version of the magazine Cosmopolitan, distributed throughout Latin America.
26. Danys Báez
| Name | Danys Báez |
| Date of Birth | September 10, 1977 |
| Place of Birth | Pinar del Río, Cuba |
| Occupation | Ex-professional baseball |
| Years active | May 13, 2001 |
Danys Báez González was born on September 10, 1977. He is an ex-professional baseball pitcher of Cuban and American descent. Báez was a Major League Baseball (MLB) player with the Cleveland Indians, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Atlanta Braves, the Baltimore Orioles, and the Philadelphia Phillies. On February 27, 2012, Baez announced his retirement from baseball.
27. Yoenis Céspedes
| Name | Yoenis Céspedes |
| Date of Birth | October 18, 1985 |
| Place of Birth | Campechuela, Granma Province, Cuba |
| Occupation | professional baseball outfielder. |
| Years active | March 28, 2012 |
Yoenis Céspedes Milanés was born on October 18, 1985, also known by his nickname “La Potencia” (The Power); he is a Cuban-born professional baseball outfielder. On March 28, 2012, he made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Oakland Athletics. He has also played for the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, and New York Mets. Early in his career, he was predominantly a left fielder, but on the Mets, he played both left and center field. A right-handed hitter and fielder, he measures 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) in height and weighs 220 pounds.
28. David Fumero
| Name | David Fumero |
| Date of Birth | December 29, 1972 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Actor and Former fashion model |
| Years active | 1997–present |
Joseph Sentielo-Fumero, the father of David Fumero, was born in Havana, Cuba, on December 29, 1972. He is an actor of Cuban descent and a former fashion model. Fumero is primarily recognized for his portrayal as Christian Vega on One Life to Live. Fumero married his One Life to Live co-star Melissa Fumero (née Gallo), who portrayed Adriana Cramer, on December 9, 2007. Together, they have two sons, one born in March 2016 and the other in February 2020.
29. Yuriorkis Gamboa
| Name | Yuriorkis Gamboa |
| Date of Birth | December 23, 1981 |
| Place of Birth | Guantánamo, Cuba |
| Occupation | professional boxer |
| Height | 5 ft 5+1⁄2 in (166 cm) |
Yuriorkis Gamboa Toledano was born on December 23, 1981, and is a professional boxer from Cuba. He held the WBA and IBF featherweight belts between 2009 and 2011 and the WBA interim titles in both the super featherweight and lightweight divisions. He achieved amateur success by winning a gold medal in the flyweight division at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a bronze medal in the featherweight division at the 2005 World Championships. Gamboa made his professional boxing debut on April 27, 2007, against Alexan Manvelyan in Hamburg, Germany. He trained with technical specialist Manny Masson for his pro debut and his next seven bouts.
30. Randy Arozarena
| Name | Randy Arozarena |
| Date of Birth | February 28, 1995 |
| Place of Birth | Pinar del Río, Cuba |
| Occupation | professional baseball outfielder |
| Years active | August 14, 2019 |
Randy Arozarena González was born on February 28, 1995. He is a Cuban-Mexican Major League Baseball outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays (MLB). He formerly played for the St. Louis Cardinals. With ten home runs in a postseason game in 2020, Arozarena set a new MLB record. In the 2020 American League Championship Series, he hit four home runs against the Houston Astros, earning MVP honors. He was named A.L. Rookie of the Year the following season.
31. Iván Pedroso
| Name | Iván Pedroso |
| Date of Birth | December 17, 1972 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Track and field athlete |
| Years active | July 1990 |
Iván Lázaro Pedroso Soler was born on December 17, 1972, in Havana, Cuba, and is a retired track and field athlete specializing in the long jump. He is currently the coach of Nelson Évora, Yulimar Rojas, and Ana Peleteiro. In July of 1990, at 17, Pedroso made his first jump of over eight meters. Despite facing stiff competition from Carl Lewis, Mike Powell, and others in the early 1990s, he won multiple gold medals in international events.
32. Jon Secada
| Name | Jon Secada |
| Date of Birth | October 4, 1961 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1991–present |
Juan Francisco Secada Ramrez, better known by his stage name Jon Secada, was born in Cuba on October 4, 1961. He is one of the most well-known Latin music artists, having won two Grammy Awards and sold 15 million C.D.s. His music combines funk, soul, pop, and Latin percussion. Secada has written songs for Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, and Gloria Estefan. He has recorded duets with Jim Brickman, Olivia Newton-John, and Frank Sinatra and toured with Luciano Pavarotti.
33. Maykel Galindo
| Name | Maykel Galindo |
| Date of Birth | January 28, 1981 |
| Place of Birth | Villa Clara, Cuba |
| Occupation | professional footballer |
| Years active | 2001 |
Maykel Galindo Castaeda was born in Villa Clara on January 28, 1981. She is a former professional footballer from Cuba. A rising star in the Cuban national team’s youth ranks, he made his debut against Guatemala in January 2002. Galindo was subsequently named to the senior team for the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which was to be played in the United States. He has accumulated 35 caps and scored 12 goals. He played for his country in three FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and three CONCACAF Gold Cup finals.
34. Al Jourgensen
| Name | Al Jourgensen |
| Date of Birth | October 9, 1958 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | singer, musician and music producer |
| Years active | 1978–present |
Alain David Jourgensen is a Cuban-American singer, guitarist, and music producer. He was born Alejandro Ramrez Casas on October 9, 1958. His musical career spans four decades, and he has close ties to the independent record company Wax Trax! Records. Being the vocalist and lyricist for the industrial metal band Ministry is his most well-known position, which he started in 1981 and is the only consistent member. He was the principal musician for several Ministry-related ventures, including Revolting Cocks, Lard, Buck Satan, and the 666 Shooters. He is considered to of the key figures in industrial music, having influenced several other groups and performers in alternative and industrial-related acts.
35. Tony Plana
| Name | Tony Plana |
| Date of Birth | April 19, 1952 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Actor and director |
| Years active | 1974-present |
The Cuban-American actor and director José Antonio Plana was born on April 19, 1952. He is well-known for portraying Betty Suarez’s father, Ignacio Suarez, on the ABC television show Ugly Betty and for voicing Manuel “Manny” Calavera in the video game Grim Fandango. Plana is well-known for his roles in feature films and on television, but he is also recognized for his acting and directing abilities on the stage. He has created and directed several Shakespeare productions for minority audiences. He is active in the Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and New York City theater communities, including leading appearances on Broadway and at New York’s Public Theater.
36. Guillermo Rigondeaux
| Name | Guillermo Rigondeaux |
| Date of Birth | September 30, 1980 |
| Place of Birth | Santiago de Cuba, Cuba |
| Occupation | Professional boxer |
| Years active | 2000 |
Guillermo Rigondeaux Ortiz was born on September 30, 1980, and is a professional boxer from Cuba. He held the unified WBA (Super), WBO, and Ring magazine super bantamweight titles from 2013 to 2017 and the WBA (Regular) bantamweight titles from 2020 to 2021. In 2017, he also once competed for the WBO junior lightweight belt. In the bantamweight division, Rigondeaux won two consecutive gold medals in the Summer Olympics in 2000 and 2004. He has one of the best amateur records of all time.
37. Danay García
| Name | Danay García |
| Date of Birth | July 5, 1984 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Actress, model |
| Years active | 2006–present |
Danay Aguilar Garca was born in Cuba on July 5, 1984. She is an actor and model. She is best known for playing Sofa Lugo on the Fox drama series Prison Break (2007–2009), and Luciana Galvez in the AMC horror drama series Fear the Walking Dead (2016–present). In a Havana theater performance of Maria Antonia by Eugenio Hernandez Espinosa, she played her first role for the audience at 17. Garcia began studying English with professors and dialect coaches in the United States.
38. Yasmani Grandal
| Name | Yasmani Grandal |
| Date of Birth | November 8, 1988 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Professional baseball catcher |
| Years active | June 2, 2012 |
Yasmani Grandal, born in Havana, Cuba, on November 8, 1988, is an American professional baseball catcher for the Major League Baseball Chicago White Sox (MLB). He once played for the San Diego Padres, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Milwaukee Brewers in Major League Baseball. Grandal has been an MLB All-Star twice. The Cincinnati Reds chose Grandal with the twelfth overall pick in the first round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. On August 16, 2010, he signed a four-year, $3.2 million contract with the Reds and was added to their 40-man roster. 2010 marked his debut as a professional baseball player with the Arizona League Reds. He got eight hits and four walks in 28 at-bats
39. Konnan
| Name | Konnan |
| Date of Birth | January 6, 1964 |
| Place of Birth | Santiago de Cuba Province, Cuba |
| Occupation | professional wrestling personality |
| Billed weight | 113 kg (249 lb) |
Charles Ashenoff, better known by his ring name as Konnan, born Carlos Santiago Espada Moises on January 6, 1964. He is a professional wrestling personality, manager, and former professional wrestler. He is presently contracted with Major League Wrestling (MLW) and Impact Wrestling. In Impact, he managed The Latin American Xchange (LAX) and now serves as a creative team member. During his nearly 30-year career, He has competed for independent and important promotions in Mexico and the United States, holding fifteen title belts.
40. Lili Estefan
| Name | Lili Estefan |
| Date of Birth | March 20, 1967 |
| Place of Birth | Santiago de Cuba, Cuba |
| Occupation | model and television presenter |
| Spouse | Lorenzo Luaces |
Liliana Del Carmen Estefan was born on March 20, 1967. He is a Cuban-American model and television host, best known as the co-anchor of the Univision program El Gordo y la Flaca. Estefan became prominent in 1986 when Univision engaged her as a model for the television program Sábado Gigante. She rapidly became the audience’s and Don Francisco’s favorite performer. Numerous times, Estefan appeared on Francisco’s program Don Francisco Presenta. Estefan joined her aunt Gloria Estefan and paternal cousin Emily as co-hosts of Red Table Conversation: The Estefans, a spin-off of the Facebook Watch talk show Red Table Talk, in 2020.
41. Erislandy Lara
| Name | Erislandy Lara |
| Date of Birth | April 11, 1983 |
| Place of Birth | Guantanamo, Cuba |
| Occupation | Professional boxer |
| Awards | a gold medal in the welterweight division at the 2005 World Championships |
Erislandy Lara Santoya was born on April 11, 1983. He is a professional Cuban-American boxer. Since 2021, he has held the WBA (Regular) middleweight championship. Between 2014 and 2021, he held various versions (Regular and Super) of the WBA light middleweight title and the IBO light middleweight title twice between 2015 and 2021. As of May 2022, BoxRec ranks Lara as the fifth-best active middleweight in the world.
42. Frank Sanchez
| Name | Frank Sanchez |
| Date of Birth | July 18, 1992 |
| Place of Birth | Guantanamo, Cuba |
| Occupation | professional boxer |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
Frank Sánchez Faure was born on July 18, 1992. He is a Cuban professional boxer who has held the NABO heavyweight championship since 2019 and the WBC Continental Americas heavyweight championship since 2020. On September 22, 2017, Sánchez made his professional debut at the Mel Ott Recreation Center in Gretna, Louisiana, where he won a first-round technical knockout (TKO) against Justin Thornton. On May 4, 2018, he faced Lamont Capers for the first time after winning his first six bouts via knockout.
43. Steven Bauer
| Name | Steven Bauer |
| Date of Birth | December 2, 1956 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1977–present |
Steven Bauer was born on December 2, 1956, as Esteban Ernesto Echevarria Samson. He is an American actor of Cuban descent. Bauer began his career on PBS, portraying Joe Pea, the son of Cuban immigrants, on Qué Pasa, USA? (1977–1980). He is arguably best known for his performance as the Cuban drug kingpin Manolo “Manny” Ribera in the 1983 crime film Scarface, where he co-starred with Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer. In Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad, he portrayed Eladio Fuente, the boss of a drug gang, and in Ray Donovan, he portrayed Avi Rudin, a retired Mossad agent (2013–2020).
44. Rudy Sarzo
| Name | Rudy Sarzo |
| Date of Birth | November 18, 1950 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Hard rock/heavy metal bassist |
| Years active | 1975–present |
Rodolfo Maximiliano Sarzo Lavieille Grande Ruiz Payret y Chaumont is a Cuban-American hard rock/heavy metal bassist born on November 18, 1950. His collaborations with Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, and Whitesnake are among the most well-known. Still, he has also performed with other notable heavy metal and hard rock bands, such as Manic Eden, Dio, Blue Oyster Cult, Geoff Tate’s Queensryche, Devil City Angels, and The Guess Who. He rejoined Quiet Riot in 2021 but has agreed to complete the remainder of his tour with The Guess Who until a replacement is found.
45. María Conchita Alonso
| Name | María Conchita Alonso |
| Date of Birth | June 29, 1957 |
| Place of Birth | Cienfuegos, Cuba |
| Occupation | Singer, actress and former beauty queen |
| Years active | 1971–present |
María Concepción Alonso Bustillo, better known as Mara Conchita Alonso, was born on June 29, 1957. She is a singer, actress, and former beauty queen.
She has participated in film and television productions and was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Leading Actress for her performance in Caught in 1996. She has achieved multiple gold and platinum records as a singer and has been nominated for three Grammys. Alonso was the first Latina actress born outside of the United States to star in a Broadway musical.
46. Desmond Child
| Name | Desmond Child |
| Date of Birth | October 28, 1953 |
| Place of Birth | Gainesville, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation | songwriter and producer |
| Years active | 1975–present |
John Charles Barrett, professionally known as Desmond Child, was born on October 28, 1953. He is an American songwriter and producer. In 2008, he was admitted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 1975, Child formed the R&B-influenced pop-rock band Desmond Child & Rouge with singers Myriam Valle, Maria Vidal, and Diana Grasselli and hired musicians. “Our Love is Insane” peaked at No. 51 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Last of an Ancient Breed” was used on the 1979 soundtrack for The Warriors.
47. William Levy
| Name | William Levy |
| Date of Birth | August 29, 1980 |
| Place of Birth | Cojímar, Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Actor and former model |
| Years active | 2003–present |
William Gutiérrez-Levy was born in Cojimar, Cuba, on August 29, 1980, and is a Cuban-American actor and former model. Levy was a model for Next Models and appeared on two Telemundo reality television programs: Isla de la Tentación and Protagonistas de Novela 2. In 2005, he performed La Nena Tiene Tumbao at the Centro de Bellas Artes in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The Venevision International production Olvidarte Jamás marked his debut on Univision’s Spanish-language channel. After Mi Vida Eres Tu, he appeared in Acorralada. In 2008, he appeared in Viviana Cordero’s Retazos de Vida, his debut film.
48. Malena Burke
| Name | Malena Burke |
| Date of Birth | September 15, 1958 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1966 |
Malena Burke was born on September 15, 1958, in Havana, Cuba, and currently resides in Miami. She began her musical education at several art institutions at the age of eight and received certificates in violin, guitar, and musical composition from the Amadeo Roldan Conservatory. Her singing career was a happy accident. Malena received her initial proposal to perform at the Casino Parisien’s anniversary at the Hotel Nacional de Cuba, the most prestigious hotel in Havana. She agreed and performed beside her mother, the great Cuban vocalist Elena Burke, for the first time.
49. Lena Burke
| Name | Lena Burke |
| Date of Birth | February 18, 1978 |
| Place of Birth | Havana, Cuba |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 2005–present |
Lena Burke, sometimes known as Lena Pérez or simply Lena, was born in Havana, Cuba, on February 18, 1978. She is a singer-songwriter. As a child, Burke learned to play the guitar and classical piano. Burke began her career by providing background vocals on albums by Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesia, Jennifer Lopez, Thala, Jaci Velasquez, Chayanne, and Alejandro Sanz. Sanz introduced Burke to label execs who signed her. Her debut single, “Tu Corazón,” a duet with Sanz, was nominated for Song of the Year at the Latin Grammys. In 2008, her second album, La Mala, was published.
50. Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
| Name | Lourdes Gurriel Jr. |
| Date of Birth | October 10, 1993 |
| Place of Birth | Sancti Spíritus, Cuba |
| Occupation | Professional baseball left fielder |
| Years active | April 20, 2018 |
Lourdes Yunielki Gurriel Castillo Jr. was born on October 10, 1993, and is a Cuban Major League Baseball left fielder for the Toronto Blue Jays. Before fleeing Cuba, he played for Sancti Sprites and the Industriales of the Cuban National Series. Following his defection, Gurriel was regarded as one of the best international prospects. In 2010, at age 16, Gurriel made his debut in the Cuban National Series with Sancti Sprites. Gurriel batted.200 in 15 at-bats over 16 games as a pinch-hitter. The following year, Gurriel appeared in 55 games and hit.226 with three home runs and 16 RBIs. Gurriel batted 253 in 67 games for the Sancti Sprites in his final season, driving in 32 runs and hitting four home runs.