Famous Puerto Rican People

Award-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix is widely regarded as one of the most talented actors of his generation. In his career of four decades, he has starred in numerous films playing characters that have become memorable. These include movies like Gladiator, Joker, Walk the Line and Her. The acclaimed actor is also a social activist, environmentalist, animal rights activist and producer.

Born to lawyer parents, Puerto Rican actor-producer Benicio del Toro had initially taken up a business degree course in university. He later dropped out and joined a New York theater school. Known for his Academy Award-winning role in Traffic, del Toro is also an avid environmental activist.

Roberto Clemente was a Puerto Rican baseball player who represented the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball (MLB). Apart from being a popular player, Clemente was also a great humanitarian whose impact is still being felt in MLB. Since his untimely death at the age of 38, Clemente has been the subject of several documentaries, articles, and books.

Daddy Yankee is a Puerto Rican rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer. He is credited with coining the term Reggaeton. Referred to as the King of Reggaetón, Yankee has been cited as an inspiration by several performers, including Natti Natasha, J Balvin, and Ozuna. Also a noted philanthropist, Yankee donated $100,000 to provide food to 9,000 families affected by Hurricane Maria.

Rita Moreno is an American actress, singer, and dancer. Renowned for her work in film, television, and theater in a career spanning more than seven decades, Rita is among a few elite performers to have received all four major American entertainment awards: Tony, Grammy, Emmy, and an Oscar. Among Rita Moreno’s numerous accolades is the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Luis Miguel is a Mexican singer. Having performed in a wide range of styles like pop and jazz, Miguel is considered the most successful artist in the history of Latin America. One of the best-selling Latin musicians ever, Miguel is credited with popularizing the bolero genre. Thanks to his popularity, he has been referred to as the Latin Frank Sinatra.

Roselyn Sánchez is a Puerto Rican singer, dancer, songwriter, actress, model, producer, and writer. She is best known for playing Elena Delgado in the popular police procedural drama TV series Without a Trace, for which she received the 2008 ALMA Award. Roselyn Sánchez also works with organizations like Fundación de Niños San Jorge, which helps sick children from poor families.

Anuel AA is a Puerto Rican singer and rapper. Regarded as one of the founding fathers and a pioneer of Latin trap music, Anuel AA often incorporates topics like sex and crime in his lyrics. Also one of the most controversial rappers of his generation, Anuel AA has had several legal issues; his debut album was recorded while being incarcerated.

José Ferrer was a Puerto Rican actor and director who established himself in the American theatre and film industry. He received an Academy Award for his performance in Cyrano de Bergerac, becoming the first Hispanic actor and the first Puerto Rican-born actor to win the award. In 1985, he became the first actor to receive the National Medal of Arts.

José Feliciano is a Puerto Rican musician, composer, and singer. He achieved international fame in 1968 after the release of his album Feliciano! Since then, José Feliciano has released more than 50 albums worldwide. Feliciano was made an inductee of the International Latin Music Hall of Fame and the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000 and 2013 respectively.

Puerto Rican reggaeton singer Don Omar, better known as El Ray, or the King of Kings, shot to fame with hits such as Danza Kuduro. Audiences also loved him as Rico Santos in 4 films of the Fast & Furious franchise. His tracks are often based on socio-political themes

Puerto Rican reality star Joseline Hernandez of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta broke down after losing custody of her son to her former boyfriend, Stevie J, in Marriage Boot Camp: Hip Hop Edition. Earlier, the bisexual entertainer had confirmed that her marriage with Stevie had been faked for publicity.

Zuleyka Rivera is a Puerto Rican beauty queen, model, actress, TV host, and dancer. She came into prominence in 2006 when she was crowned Miss Universe in Los Angeles. She made her acting debut the following year, when she appeared in the Mexican telenovela, Dame Chocolate. Zuleyka Rivera has also appeared in popular music videos.

Dayanara Torres is a Puerto Rican beauty queen, model, actress, singer, and writer. She came into prominence in 1993 when she was crowned Miss Universe in Mexico. During and after her reign, Dayanara Torres served as an ambassador for UNICEF; she traveled through Latin America and Asia in support of the organization.

Puerto Rican Latin pop star and actor Chayanne has 7 Top 200 albums and has sold over 30 million albums globally. The Grammy-nominated singer has delivered hits such as Violeta and Te Deseo. He spent his later career in Miami and starred in movies such as Dance with Me.

David Zayas is a Puerto Rican actor known for playing important roles in American TV series like Dexter, Oz, and Gotham. His portrayal of Angel Batista in Dexter earned him a Satellite Award and a nomination for the prestigious Screen Actors Guild Award.

Lymari Nadal is a Puerto Rican actress, scriptwriter, and film producer. She is best known for her portrayal of Eva in the American biographical crime film, American Gangster. In 2011, she wrote and produced her own movie titled America, which was chosen to represent Puerto Rico at the 84th Academy Awards under the Best Foreign Language Film category.

Walter Mercado, or Shanti Ananda, was a Puerto Rican actor, astrologer, and TV personality. Viewers loved his segment Walter y Las Estrellas at the end of Primer Impacto. He later disappeared from the limelight due to a tiff with his manager, Bill Bakula. The Netflix documentary Mucho Mucho Amor talks about his life.