Famous Guatemalan People

Described by Vanity Fair magazine as the best dang actor of his generation, Oscar Isaac specializes in playing biblical and real-life characters. Also an accomplished guitarist and singer, Isaac has made his presence felt on films, TV, and theatre. Widely regarded as a sex symbol, he was also named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list.

Nobel Peace Prize-winning Guatemalan activist is known for her fight for the rights of indigenous people and women. Her entire family was accused of participating in guerrilla activities, brutalized, and killed by the Guatemalan army. She has been a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and founded the first Guatemalan indigenous political party.

Miguel Ãngel Asturias was a Guatemalan poet-diplomat, journalist, playwright, and novelist. He played a significant role in spreading the importance of indigenous cultures. In 1966, he was honored with the International Lenin Peace Prize. In 1967, he became only the second Latin American author to win the prestigious Nobel Prize for Literature.

Former president of Guatemala Otto Pérez Molina supported the legalization of drugs. The Patriotic Party founder member had also been part of the Guatemalan army during the 30-year civil war in the country and retired as a brigadier general, after a long stint smeared with allegations of human rights violations.

Efraín Ríos Montt was a Guatemalan politician and military officer. From 1982 to 1983, he served as the 26th president of Guatemala. His brief tenure as the de facto president was one of the bloodiest periods during the then-ongoing Guatemalan Civil War. In 2013, he was sentenced to 80 years in prison for crimes against humanity and genocide.