Latvian

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Find out more about the greatest Latvians, including Misha Cirkunov, Mikhail Tal, Paul Walden, Ernests Gulbis and Mischa Maisky.
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 1 
Mikhail Tal
(Soviet-Latvian Chess Player Who Became the Youngest World Chess Champion at the age of 23)
Mikhail Tal
14
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 9, 1936
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
Died: June 28, 1992

Mikhail Tal was a Soviet Latvian chess player. Widely regarded as one of the best attacking players and a creative genius, Tal was renowned for his unpredictability and improvisation. He was also known as the magician from Riga for his daring, combinatorial playing style. Since 2006, the Mikhail Tal Memorial has been annually held in Moscow to honor Tal's memory.

 2 
Kristaps Porzingis
(Latvian Professional Basketball Player)
Kristaps Porzingis
11
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 2, 1995
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Liepāja, Latvia

Kristaps Porzingis is a Latvian basketball player who currently plays professional basketball at the National Basketball Association (NBA) where he represents the Dallas Mavericks. Standing at 7’3, Porziņģis is one of the tallest players active in the NBA. Also an important player for his Latvian national team, Kristaps Porzingis won the Latvian Rising Star of the Year award in 2015.

 3 
Elīna Garanča
(Soprano)
Elīna Garanča
6
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: September 16, 1976
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 4 
Jeļena Ostapenko
(Latvian Professional Tennis Player)
Jeļena Ostapenko
8
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 8, 1997
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 5 
Cynthia Lynn
(Actress)
Cynthia Lynn
2
Birthdate: April 2, 1936
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
Died: March 10, 2014
 6 
Mairis Briedis
(Boxer)
Mairis Briedis
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 13, 1985
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 7 
Mariss Jansons
(Conductor)
Mariss Jansons
4
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: January 14, 1943
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
Died: November 30, 2019
 8 
Ernests Gulbis
(Latvian Professional Tennis Player)
Ernests Gulbis
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 30, 1988
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 9 
Elya Baskin
(Actor)
Elya Baskin
1
Birthdate: August 11, 1950
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 10 
Martins Licis
(Latvian-American Strongman)
Martins Licis
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 28, 1990
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 11 
Rodions Kurucs
(Basketball player)
Rodions Kurucs
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 5, 1998
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Cēsis, Latvia
 12 
Ksenia Solo
(Actress)
Ksenia Solo
3
Birthdate: October 8, 1987
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Latvian SSR, USSR [now Latvia]
 13 
Tania Russof
(Latvian Pornographic Film Actor)
Tania Russof
4
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: July 6, 1974
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union
 14 
Anastasija Sevastova
(Latvian Professional Tennis Player)
Anastasija Sevastova
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 13, 1990
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Liepāja, Latvia
 15 
Kārlis Ulmanis
(4th President of Latvia)
Kārlis Ulmanis
2
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: September 4, 1877
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Bērze, Latvia
Died: September 20, 1942
 16 
Dāvis Bertāns
(Basketball player)
Dāvis Bertāns
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 12, 1992
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Valmiera, Latvia
 17 
Artūrs Irbe
(Latvian Professional Ice Hockey Coach and Former Goaltender)
Artūrs Irbe
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 2, 1967
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 18 
Deniss Vasiļjevs
(Figure skater)
Deniss Vasiļjevs
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 9, 1999
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Daugavpils, Latvia
 19 
Gidon Kremer
(Violinist)
Gidon Kremer
0
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: February 27, 1947
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 20 
Aminata Savadogo
(Singer)
Aminata Savadogo
3
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: January 9, 1993
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 21 
Andris Biedriņš
(Basketball player)
Andris Biedriņš
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 2, 1986
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 22 
Uljana Semjonova
(Basketball player)
Uljana Semjonova
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 9, 1952
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Zarasai, Lithuania
 23 
Laima Vaikule
(Actress)
Laima Vaikule
1
Birthdate: March 31, 1954
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Cēsis, Latvia
 24 
Zemgus Girgensons
(Latvian Professional Ice Hockey Centre)
Zemgus Girgensons
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 5, 1994
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 25 
Jānis Timma
(Basketball player)
Jānis Timma
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 2, 1992
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Krāslava, Latvia
 26 
Martins Dukurs
(Latvian Skeleton Racer)
Martins Dukurs
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 31, 1984
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 27 
Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga
(Politician)
Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga
4
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: December 1, 1937
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 28 
Gil Kane
(Artist)
Gil Kane
1
Birthdate: April 6, 1926
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
Died: January 31, 2000
 29 
Māris Verpakovskis
(Latvian Retired Professional Footballer Who Played as a Striker)
Māris Verpakovskis
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 15, 1979
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Liepāja, Latvia
 30 
Anžejs Pasečņiks
(Basketball player)
Anžejs Pasečņiks
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 20, 1995
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 31 
Jānis Strēlnieks
(Basketball player)
Jānis Strēlnieks
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 1, 1989
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Talsi, Latvia
 32 
Ernst Johann von Biron
(Duke)
Ernst Johann von Biron
0
Birthdate: November 23, 1690
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Kalnciems, Latvia
Died: December 28, 1772
 33 
Dairis Bertāns
(Basketball player)
Dairis Bertāns
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 9, 1989
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Valmiera, Latvia
 34 
Maria Skobtsova
(Poet)
Maria Skobtsova
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: December 20, 1891
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Riga, Russian Empire (now Latvia)
Died: March 31, 1945
 35 
Justs Sirmais
(Singer)
Justs Sirmais
1
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: February 6, 1995
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Ķekava, Latvia
 36 
Renārs Kaupers
(Singer)
Renārs Kaupers
0
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: September 1, 1974
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Jelgava, Latvia
 37 
Alexei Shirov
(Latvian and Spanish Chess Player)
Alexei Shirov
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 4, 1972
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 38 
Agata Muceniece
(Actress)
Agata Muceniece
2
Birthdate: March 1, 1989
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 39 
Elmārs Zemgalis
(Latvian-American Chess Master and Mathematics Professor at Highline College)
Elmārs Zemgalis
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 9, 1923
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
Died: December 8, 2014
 40 
Rolands Šmits
(Basketball player)
Rolands Šmits
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 25, 1995
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Valmiera, Latvia
 41 
Konstantin Gluhov
(Latvian Heavyweight Kickboxer and Mixed Martial Artist)
Konstantin Gluhov
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 17, 1980
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 42 
Artūrs Kurucs
(Basketball player)
Artūrs Kurucs
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 19, 2000
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Cēsis, Latvia
 43 
Samanta Tīna
(Singer)
Samanta Tīna
3
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: March 31, 1989
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Tukums, Latvia
 44 
Jānis Porziņģis
(Basketball player)
Jānis Porziņģis
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 13, 1982
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Liepāja, Latvia
 45 
Juris Hartmanis
(Computer scientist)
Juris Hartmanis
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: July 5, 1928
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 46 
Kristine Opolais
(Singer)
Kristine Opolais
0
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: November 12, 1979
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Rēzekne, Latvia
 47 
Arkadij Naiditsch
(Azerbaijani Chess Player)
Arkadij Naiditsch
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 25, 1985
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 48 
Ginta Lapina
(Model)
Ginta Lapina
1
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: June 30, 1989
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Riga, Latvia
 49 
Rebeka Koha
(Weightlifter)
Rebeka Koha
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 19, 1998
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Ventspils, Latvia
 50 
Oleg Znarok
(Latvian Professional Ice Hockey Centre and Coach)
Oleg Znarok
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 2, 1963
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Ust'-Katav, Russia