Famous Peruvian Men

Henry Ian Cusick is a Peruvian-Scottish actor and television director. He is best known for playing Desmond David Hume in the popular ABC television series Lost. Henry Ian Cusick received a nomination at the Primetime Emmy Awards for his portrayal of Desmond Hume.

Atahualpa was the last Inca Emperor. He reigned for a short time between 1532 and 1533 before the Spanish conquest ended his reign. The Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro captured Atahualpa and killed him after a while. Even though many brave warriors led the Inca resistance against the invading Spaniards, they could not stop the empire from disintegrating.

Túpac Amaru II  was the leader of a large Andean uprising against the Spanish in Peru. His wife was also a revolutionary and played a key role in the uprising. They were both captured, tortured, and put to death by the Spaniards. Following his death, he became known as a mythical figure in the Peruvian struggle for independence. 

Martin de Porres was a Peruvian lay brother of the Dominican Order. He was beatified in 1837 by Pope Gregory XVI. He lived an austere life and often went hungry. He abstained from meat and was said to be able to communicate with animals. He is the patron saint of mixed-race people and those who seek racial harmony. 

Alberto Fujimori is a Peruvian politician who served as the President of Peru from 1990 to 2000. He is a controversial figure accused of several charges of human rights abuses and corruption. He has also been proclaimed guilty of murder, causing bodily harm, and kidnapping. In 2009, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Ollanta Humala is a Peruvian politician whose presidency, which lasted from 2011 to 2016, was marred by several corruption scandals. Originally regarded as a left-wing nationalist and socialist, Humala founded the Peruvian Nationalist Party. Despite leading the party to success, Ollanta Humala eventually lost his popularity and was arrested in 2017 on corruption charges.

Christian Meier is a Peruvian singer and actor. Over the course of his acting career, Meier has achieved popularity in Latin America and in the Spanish speaking world. As a musician, Christian Meier achieved fame after forming an alternative-rock band named Arena Hash, where he performed as a keyboardist and occasional singer during the 1980s and 1990s.

Former prime minister of Peru, Javier Pérez de Cuéllar had also been the country’s foreign relations minister and the Peruvian ambassador to many countries, such as France and Switzerland. He had also served the UN as its secretary-general. A former Club of Madrid member, he led the Union for Peru party.

Gustavo Gutiérrez is a Peruvian Catholic theologian, philosopher, and Dominican priest. A respected theologian, Gutiérrez has served as a visiting professor in many prestigious universities in Europe and North America. Gustavo Gutiérrez has also taught at the Harvard University, the University of Michigan, the University of Cambridge, and the University of California, Berkeley among other schools.

The Inca Empire’s 3rd Sapa Inca, Huayna Capac was the son of Topa Inca. Though he didn’t have to face any major battles initially, he grew up to be an efficient emperor who inspected the administration of all his empire’s regions. He was responsible for the improvement of roadways and built many temples too.

A prominent figure of Inca mythology, Manco Capac was apparently the founder of the Inca Empire, and thus, the first Sapa Inca, and its first governor. Said to be the son of Sun god Inti and Moon goddess Mama Quilla, he, according to legends, established the Inca capital Cuzco.

Well-known Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto heads the Institute for Liberty and Democracy as its president. Named to Time 100 in 2004, he has also won countless awards, such as The Economist Innovation Award in 2006. He is known for his pioneering work in areas such as the informal economy and property rights.

Former chief of Peru’s National Intelligence Service, Vladimiro Montesinos was later dragged into a bribery controversy. He was recorded bribing a congressman to make him join the pro-Fujimori camp. He was also accused of having received bribes to protect drug traffickers. He is a cousin of convicted terrorist Óscar Ramírez Durand.

The 58th president of Peru, Juan Velasco Alvarado came to power after ousting former president Fernando Belaúnde in a coup d'état. He had previously been the commander-in-chief of the Peruvian army. He was removed by another coup and succeeded by Francisco Morales Bermúdez.

Peruvian-Venezuelan actor Jorge Aravena is best known for his roles in telenovelas and soaps, such as Girasoles Para Lucia and La Revancha. He began his acting career at age 10, when he moved from Peru to Venezuela with his parents. His first major break was in the telenovela La loba herida in 1992.

Huáscar reigned as the Sapa Inca or Emperor of the famed Inca Empire from 1527 to 1532. Huáscar lost his father Huayna Capac and his older brother Ninan Cuyochi to smallpox before ascending the throne of the Inca Empire. He was later defeated by his brother Atahualpa, who reigned as the last Inca Emperor.

Inca Garcilaso de la Vega was a Peruvian chronicler and writer. Vega, who spent most of his life in Spain, is remembered for his chronicles of Inca culture, history, and society. His work became popular in Europe, where it was widely read, making Inca Garcilaso de la Vega the first author from the Americas to enter the western literary world.

Miguel Grau Seminario was a Peruvian naval officer best remembered for his role in the Battle of Angamos, which was part of the War of the Pacific. Nicknamed Gentleman of the Seas, Miguel Grau Seminario is also remembered for his chivalrous and kind treatment of defeated enemies.

Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala was a Quechua nobleman best remembered for chronicling and criticizing the Spanish for their ill treatment of the indigenous people of the Andes after the Spanish invasion. Among Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala’s most famous work is Nueva corónica y buen gobierno, an illustrated chronicle completed around 1615. 

Valentín Paniagua was a Peruvian politician and lawyer. He is best remembered for his service as the President of Peru from 22 November 2000 to 28 July 2001. An influential politician, Valentín Paniagua also served as the Minister of Education from April 1984 to October 1984. From 1965 to 1966, he was the Minister of Justice and Worship in Peru.

Tupac Inca Yupanqui was the tenth Sapa Inca of the Inca Empire and the fifth of the Hanan dynasty. He was the son of Pachacuti and belonged to the Qhapaq panaca. He began his military career as the head of his father’s Inca army and succeeded to the throne upon his father’s death. His wife was his sister Mama Ocllo. 

Francisco Morales Bermúdez was a Peruvian general and politician. He served as the President of Peru from 29 August 1975 to 28 July 1980. A prominent political leader, Morales Bermúdez also served as the Prime Minister of Peru in 1975. From 1969 to 1974, Francisco Morales Bermúdez served as the Minister of Economy and Finance.

Pedro Pablo Kuczynski is a Peruvian politician, economist, and public administrator. He is best known for his service as the President of Peru from 2016 to 2018. From 2005 to 2006, Kuczynski served as the Prime Minister of Peru. Pedro Pablo Kuczynski also served as the Minister of Economy and Finance on two occasions between 2001 and 2005.

Peruvian actor and singer Diego Bertie was known for his roles in telenovelas. He was also part of the Peruvian band Imágenes. He died in an accidental fall from his 14th-floor apartment at age 54. He is remembered for his role as Adolfo in the movie Los Andes no creen en Dios.

Salvador del Solar is a Peruvian politician, actor, and director. He is best known for his service as the Prime Minister of Peru from 11 March 2019 to 30 September 2019. He also served as the Minister of Culture from 5 December 2016 to 9 January 2018. Salvador del Solar is also known for appearing in popular movies like Coraje.

Alan García went down in history as the only member of the Peruvian Aprista Party to serve as the president of Peru. Nicknamed Peru’s JFK, he was also the youngest president of his country and served two terms. He committed suicide before he could be arrested for the Odebrecht scandal.

Ricardo Palma was a Peruvian author, scholar, librarian, and politician. He became interested in politics as a young man and held several political positions. He began writing seriously following the birth of his first son, for whom he used to write fantastic tales. He went on to pursue a literary career and published various articles and books. 

Peruvian singer-songwriter Pedro Suárez-Vértiz is best known as a co-founder of the rock band Arena Hash. Inspired by bands such as the Beatles, the communication sciences graduate consciously chose a music career. He suffers from ADHD, which has had a significant impact on his singing ability.