Chileans are known for their sense of humor, fun-loving nature, and love for music and dance. They are also famous for their prudence and wisdom. Chile was under Spanish colonial rule from mid-16th century to early 19th century until Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme together with José de San Martín, freed Chile from Spanish rule. Hard working and determined, Chileans began rebuilding their nation and Chile is today one of South America's most stable and prosperous nations. The country’s population is made up of people from varied backgrounds, the influence of which is reflected in their diverse cultures.
Arturo Vidal(Chilean footballer)
22 May 1987
Alejandro Jodorowsky(Writer, Film director, Actor, Playwright, Screenwriter, Film editor, Science fiction writer)
17 February 1929
Tom Araya(Singer, Songwriter)
06 June 1961
Michelle Bachelet(Politician, Surgeon, Epidemiologist)
29 September 1951
Víctor Jara(Teacher, theater director, poet, singer-songwriter and political activist)
28 September 1932
José de San Martín(soldier, politician)
25 February 1778
Roberto Bolaño(Writer, Poet, Journalist, Literary critic)
28 April 1953
Iván Zamorano(Football striker)
18 January 1967
Marcelo Salas(Footballer)
24 December 1974
Marcelo Ríos(Tennis player)
26 December 1975
Mauricio Isla(Chilean footballer)
12 June 1988
Fernando González(Tennis player)
29 July 1980
Miguel Serrano(Diplomat, Writer)
10 September 1917
Nicolás Massú(Chilean tennis player)
10 October 1979
Patricio Aylwin(Former President of Chile)
26 November 1918
Beto Cuevas(Singer, Songwriter)
12 September 1967
Eduardo Frei Montalva(Chilean Political leader)
16 January 1911
David Pizarro(Footballer)
11 September 1979
Orlando Letelier(Politician, Diplomat)
13 April 1932
Ricardo Lagos(Lawyer, Economist, Politician, Professor, Diplomat)
02 March 1938
Chris Watson(Politician, Trade unionist)
09 April 1867
Ariel Dorfman(screenwriter, writer, playwright, journalist)
06 June 1942
Mark González(Footballer)
10 July 1984
Andrés Bello(Poet, Legislator, Philosopher, Educator, Philologist, Diplomat, Politician, Translator, Writer)
29 November 1781
Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle(Civil engineer, Politician)
24 June 1942
Alfredo Jaar(Artist, Painter, Architect)
05 February 1956
Miiko Albornoz(Association football player)
30 November 1990
Isabel Allende Bussi18 January 1945
Sergio Badilla Castillo(Poet)
30 November 1947
Hugo Gunckel Lüer(Pharmacist)
10 August 1901
The nation’s folk music was revived in the mid 20th century by composers like Raul de Ramon, Margot Loyola, Luis Aguirre Pinto, and Violeta Parra. Chileans call their country país de poetas — country of poets—and for good reason. The nation has produced writers like Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda who received the Nobel Prize for Literature. Chileans have also made their mark in the fields of cinema and sports. Manuel Plaza Reyes, Luis Vicentini and Estanislao Loayza are among the great sportsmen born in the nation. Read on to discover about the life and works of famous Chileans.
