This is a list of notable people from Puerto Rico which includes people who were born in Puerto Rico (Borinquen) and people who are of full or partial Puerto Rican descent. Puerto Rican citizens are included, as the government of Puerto Rico has been issuing "Certificates of Puerto Rican Citizenship" to anyone born in Puerto Rico or to anyone born outside of Puerto Rico with at least one parent who was born in Puerto Rico since 2007. Also included in the list are some long-term continental American and other residents or immigrants of other ethnic heritages who have made Puerto Rico their home and consider themselves to be Puerto Ricans.
The list is divided into categories and, in some cases, sub-categories, which best describe the field for which the subject is most noted. Some categories such as "Actors, actresses, comedians and directors" are relative since a subject who is a comedian may also be an actor or director. In some cases a subject may be notable in more than one field, such as Luis A. Ferré, who is notable both as a former governor and as an industrialist. However, the custom is to place the subject's name under the category for which the subject is most noted.
Actors, actresses, comedians and directors
A
Kirk Acevedo (born 1971) José Miguel Agrelot (1927–2004), a.k.a. "Don Cholito", comedian Jorge Alberti (born 1977), actor Miguel Angel Alvarez (1928–2011), actor and comedian Joe Elvis Alway (born 1969), Nuyorican actor, dancer, playwright, director, nonprofit founder La La Anthony (born 1982), actress, MTV VJ Marc Anthony (born 1968), singer and actor Víctor Argo (1934–2004), actor Adria Arjona (born 1992), actress Raymond Arrieta (born 1965), comedian and television host Miguel Arteta (born 1965), film/television director Robert Avellanet (born 1975), singer, actor, songwriter and producer Rick Avilés (1952–1995), actor and comedian Amanda Ayala (born 1997), singer
B
Ivonne Belén (born 1955), documentary director and producer Eddie Blazquez (1974), musician, author and director Giselle Blondet (born 1966), actress and television host Diego Boneta (born 1990), actor, singer-songwriter (Puerto Rican grandfather) Desmin Borges, actor Lucy Boscana (1915–2001), television and theatrical actress Bad Bunny (born 1994), rapper, singer and actor
C
Norma Candal (1930–2006), actress and comedian Ernesto Caro (born 1994), real estate agent and investor, founder of Caromar Group Irene Cara (1959–2022), actress and singer (Puerto Rican father) Awilda Carbia (1938–2009), actress and comedianAwilda Carbia obituary , elnuevodia.com; accessed April 4, 2016. Raulito Carbonell (born 1951), actor and comedian Braulio Castillo (1933–2015), actor Braulio Castillo, hijo (born 1958), actor David Castro (born 1996), actor (Puerto Rican father) Raquel Castro (born 1994), actress (Puerto Rican father)26th Annual Young Artist Awards – Nominations/Special Awards: Raquel Castro , youngartistawards.org; accessed April 4, 2016. Melwin Cedeño (born 1964), comedian Iris Chacón (born 1950), singer and dancer Abdiel Colberg (born 1957), film director and television producer Ivonne Coll (born 1947), actress Liza Colón-Zayas (born 1972), actress and playwright Míriam Colón (1936–2017), actress and founder of the Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre Paquito Cordero (1932–2009), comedian and television producer Kevin Corrigan (born 1969), actor Mapita Cortés (1939–2006), actress Mapy Cortés (1910–1998), actress Luis Antonio Cosme, actor, singer, musician, writer and cook Auliʻi Cravalho (born 2000), actress and singer Mara Croatto (born 1969), actress Ismael Cruz Córdova (born 1987), actor"Sesame Street Announces New Latino Character 'Mando' played By Ismael Cruz Córdova", HuffingtonPost.com, May 10, 2013; accessed April 4, 2016. Monique Gabriela Curnen (born 1970), film and television actress
D
Daddy Yankee (born 1977), musician, rapper, singer, entrepreneur Dagmar (born 1955), actress, singer and television host Henry Darrow (1933–2021), actor Raúl Dávila (1931–2006), actor Sammy Davis Jr. (1925–1990), singer, dancer, actor, comedian, film producer and television director (Puerto Rican mother) Rosario Dawson (born 1979), actress Blanca de Castejón (1906–1969), actress Kamar de los Reyes (1967–2023), actor Joey Dedio (born 1963), actor, writer, producerA Surprise at the Door, Joey Dedio Stars as 'Tio Papi', nytimes.com, September 6, 2013; accessed April 4, 2016.New York's International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival set to kick off Nov. 13, nydailynews.com; accessed April 4, 2016. Benicio del Toro (born 1967), Academy Award-winning actor Sylvia del Villard (1928–1990), actress, choreographer and dancer Idalis DeLeón (born 1969), actress, former MTV VJ, singer (Seduction) Michael DeLorenzo (born 1959), actor Alba Nydia Díaz (born 1955), actress Melonie Díaz (born 1984), actress"Melodie Diaz", Paper, September 11, 2009.
E
Lydia Echevarría (born 1931), actress (convicted for her role in the death of producer Luis Vigoreaux) Héctor Elizondo (born 1936), actor Nashali Enchautegui (born 1970), actor,singer,dancer Richard Esteras (born 1968), actor (Puerto Rican father) Erik Estrada (born 1949), actor
F
Antonio Fargas (born 1946), actor José Ferrer (1912–1992), first Hispanic actor to win an Academy Award Miguel Ferrer (1955–2017), actor Luz Odilia Font (1929–2022), actress
G
Gloria Garayúa (born 1978), actress Julián Gil (born 1970), television and film actor, model Joyce Giraud (born 1975), actress, former Miss Puerto Rico Universe titleholder Reagan Gómez-Preston (born 1980), actress Rick González (born 1979), actor Meagan Good (born 1981), actress Javier Grillo Marxuach (born 1969), television and film producer Luis Guzmán (born 1956), actor Luis Roberto Guzmán (born 1973), television and film actor
H
Juano Hernández (1896–1970), actor Jon Huertas (born 1976), actor; played Brad Alcerro in Sabrina the Teenage Witch Lillian Hurst (born 1943), comedian, actress (television series Dharma and Greg)
I Ironmouse, VTuber Vincent Irizarry, actor (Puerto Rican father)
J Jeremy de León (born 2004) Athlete (Puerto Rican Father) Shar Jackson (born 1976), actress/singer (Puerto Rican father) Raul Julia (1940–1995), actor Victoria Justice (born 1993), singer, television actress (Victorious) (Puerto Rican mother) Luis Jiménez (born 1970) Radio personality creator of El Vacilon de la Manana NYC, Film actor, Voice over talent and voice actor
L
Eva LaRue (born 1966), actress Steve Lemme (born 1968), actor and comedian (Puerto Rican mother) Sunshine Logroño (born 1951), comedian Adamari López (born 1971), actress Jennifer López (born 1969), singer, actress, and dancer Priscilla López (born 1948), actress, singer, and dancer Juan Luis (1940–2011), 3rd Governor and Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands
M
Justina Machado (born 1972), actress Tere Marichal (born 1956), actress, writer, Maria Chuzema Eddie Marrero (born 1962), actor, singer Gregori J. Martin (born 1978) director, writer, producer Ricky Martin (born 1971), singer, actor Tony Martínez (1920–2002), actor, singer, and bandleader; played Pepino Garcia in The Real McCoys television series Alexis Mateo (born 1979), female impersonator, reality television personality Claribel Medina (born 1959), actress Maritza Medina (born 1967), actress Von Marie Mendez (born 1950), actress and businesswoman Walter Mercado (1932–2019), astrologer, dancer, telenovela actor, writer Jorge Merced (born 1965), theatre actor and directorLa Fountain-Stokes, Lawrence. "Entre boleros, travestismos y migraciones translocales: Manuel Ramos Otero, Jorge Merced y El bolero fue mi ruina del Teatro Pregones del Bronx." Revista Iberoamericana 71.212 (July–September 2005): pp. 887–907. Ángela Meyer (born 1947), actress, comedian and producer Ari Meyers (born 1969), actress Elsa Miranda (1922–2007), vocalist, actress who was featured internationally on the Viva America radio program Lin-Manuel Miranda (born 1980), actor, composer, rapper and writer, best known for creating and starring in the Broadway musicals Hamilton and In the Heights; has won a Pulitzer Prize, two Grammys, an Emmy, a MacArthur "Genius" Award, and three Tony awards René Monclova (born 1965), actor and comedian Mario Montez (1935–2013), female impersonator; actor; member of Warhol superstars Esaí Morales (born 1962), actor Jacobo Morales (born 1934), comedian, director, and actor Alicia Moreda (1912–1983), actress, comedian Rita Moreno (born 1931), actress, first Hispanic woman to win the following four major awards: an Oscar, a Tony Award, an Emmy Award and a Grammy Award Frankie Muñiz (born 1985), actor (Puerto Rican father) Rafo Muñiz (born 1956), comedian and producer Tommy Muñiz (1922–2009), television producer, comedian
N
Frances Negrón Muntaner (born 1966), filmmaker, writer, and scholarRodríguez-Matos, Carlos. "Frances Negrón-Muntaner" In David William Foster, ed., Latin American Writers on Gay and Lesbian Themes (Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1994): pp. 288–90; Micaela Nevárez (born 1972), actress; first Puerto Rican to win a Goya Award Amaury Nolasco (born 1970), actor Christian Navarro (born 1991), actor
O
Luis Oliva (born 1951), actor, comedian and mime Tony Oliver (born 1958), voice actor Karen Olivo (born 1976), actress (Puerto Rican father); winner of 2009 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress Elín Ortiz (1934–2016), actor, television producer Shalim Ortiz (born 1979), singer and actor (Puerto Rican father)Shalim Ortiz Jaina Lee Ortiz (born 1986), actress and dancer
P
Marian Pabón (born 1957), actress, singer and comedian Antonio Pantojas (1948–2017), drag queen Lana Parrilla (born 1977), actress (Puerto Rican father) Rosie Pérez (born 1964), actress Joaquin Phoenix (born 1974), actor Aubrey Plaza (born 1984), actress (Puerto Rican father) Freddie Prinze (1954–1977), comedian, actor (Puerto Rican mother) Freddie Prinze Jr. (born 1976), actor (Puerto Rican grandmother)
Q Ivy Queen (born 1972), singer, lyricist, rapper, musician, fashion icon; one of the early founders and creators of the reggaeton style Adolfo Quiñones (1955–2020), actor, dancer, choreographer
R
Carmen Belén Richardson (1930–2012), comedian/actress Armando Riesco (born 1977), actor Michelle Rios (born 1965), actress and singer Osvaldo Ríos (born 1960), actor and singer Chita Rivera (1933–2024), actress, singer and dancer; winner of two Tony Awards José Rivera (born 1955), playwright; first Puerto Rican nominated for an Oscar in "Best Adapted Screenplay" category Luis Antonio Rivera (1930–2023), a.k.a. "Yoyo Boing", comedian Marquita Rivera (1922–2002), first Puerto Rican actress to appear in a major Hollywood motion picture Naya Rivera (1987–2020), actressIs 'Glee' Star Naya Rivera Singing Love Songs to Costar Mark Salling? from Latina, March 19, 2010. (Puerto Rican father) Ramón Rivero (1909–1956), also known as "Diplo", comedian; organized the world's first known Walk-A-Thon in 1953 Adalberto Rodríguez (1934–1995), a.k.a. "Machuchal", comedian Adam Rodríguez (born 1975), actor Freddy Rodríguez (born 1975), actor Gina Rodríguez (born 1984), actress Gladys Rodríguez (born 1943), comedian, actress Jai Rodríguez (born 1979), television personality (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) Michelle Rodriguez (born 1978), actress Marta Romero (1928–2013), actress and singer Robi "Draco" Rosa (born 1970), singer Johanna Rosaly (born 1948), actress
S
Zoe Saldaña (born 1978), actress (Puerto Rican mother) Olga San Juan (1927–2009), film actress and dancer Jaime Sánchez (born 1938), actor (musical West Side Story, film The Wild Bunch) Roselyn Sánchez (born 1973), actress Esther Sandoval (1927–2006), actress Jon Seda (born 1970), actor Jimmy Smits (born 1955), actor (Puerto Rican mother) Luis F. Soto, director