List of Dominican Americans

This article is about Americans of Dominican Republic descent. For Americans with ancestry from the Commonwealth of Dominica, see Dominican Americans (Dominica).

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

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Actors

Maria Montez

Carlos Pena Jr.

Michelle Rodriguez

Aimee Carrero

• 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 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

Prince Royce

Karina Pasian

Nicky Jam

• 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
• 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
• Kay Flock – rapper of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent
• Notti Osama – child rapper of Dominican descent
• DD Osama – child rapper
• Sugarhill Ddot – child rapper

Models

• 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

Felix Sanchez

Alex Rodriguez

Dante Rosario

• 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

Thomas Perez

Adriano Espaillat

• 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
• 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)^[44]
• Guillermo Linares – former member of the New York State Assembly^[45]
• 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^[46]
• 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)^[47]
• Julissa Reynoso Pantaleón – United States Ambassador to Spain and Andorra^[48]
• Ydanis Rodríguez – former member of the New York City Council
• Pierina Sanchez – member of the New York City Council^[49]
• Angel Taveras – former mayor of Providence, Rhode Island (of Dominican descent, first Hispanic mayor of the city)^[50]

Artists

• 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

Portrait of Francisco Moncion, in Sebastian

• Julia Alvarez – poet, novelist, and essayist^[51]
• Josefina Baez – storyteller, writer, performer, theater director, educator^[52][53][54]
• 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^[55]
• 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

Ed Boon

Christina Mendez

Danielle Polanco

• Ed Boon – Chicagan co-creator and creative director of the acclaimed Mortal Kombat video games^[56][57]
• 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^[58] 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^[59]
• 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^[60]
• Ramona M. Valdez (1984–2005) – U.S. Marine

In fiction

• Luis Lopez – protagonist of the video game Grand 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
• Renee Montoya - character from DC Comics, detective for the Gotham City Police Department
• Carla Espinosa - main character of medical drama series Scrubs; a registered nurse
• Yunior de Las Casas - protagonist of author Junot Díaz's many novels

See also

• United States portal
• Dominican Republic portal
• Lists portal

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