Famous People Born In Riga

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 1 
Mikhail Baryshnikov
(One of the Greatest Ballet Dancers of the 20th Century)
Mikhail Baryshnikov
19
Listed In: Dancers
Birthdate: January 27, 1948
Sun Sign: Aquarius

Latvian-born Russian-American dancer and choreographer Mikhail Baryshnikov was a prominent male classical dancer of the 1970s and 1980s. Born in Latvian SSR, he moved to America where he joined the New York City Ballet. Within years, he became one of the most widely recognized contemporary ballet dancers in the world. He is also a dramatic actor.

 2 
Mikhail Tal
(Soviet-Latvian Chess Player Who Became the Youngest World Chess Champion at the age of 23)
Mikhail Tal
18
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 9, 1936
Sun Sign: Scorpio
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.

 3 
Martins Licis
(Latvian-American Strongman)
Martins Licis
7
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 28, 1990
Sun Sign: Libra
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 4 
Elīna Garanča
(Soprano)
Elīna Garanča
7
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: September 16, 1976
Sun Sign: Virgo
 5 
Mariss Jansons
(Conductor)
Mariss Jansons
4
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: January 14, 1943
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Died: November 30, 2019
 6 
Jeļena Ostapenko
(Latvian Professional Tennis Player)
Jeļena Ostapenko
11
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 8, 1997
Sun Sign: Gemini
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 7 
Wilhelm Ostwald
1
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: September 2, 1853
Sun Sign: Virgo
Died: April 4, 1932

Wilhelm Ostwald was a Baltic German philosopher and chemist who is credited with co-founding the field of physical chemistry. A polymath, Ostwald made significant contributions to philosophy, art, and politics, especially after his retirement from academic life. His contributions to the fields of reaction velocities, chemical equilibria, and catalysis earned him the 1909 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

 8 
Cynthia Lynn
(Actress)
Cynthia Lynn
3
Birthdate: April 2, 1936
Sun Sign: Aries
Died: March 10, 2014
 9 
Philippe Halsman
(Photographer)
Philippe Halsman
0
Listed In: Photographers
Birthdate: May 2, 1906
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: June 25, 1979
 10 
Elya Baskin
(Actor)
Elya Baskin
2
Birthdate: August 11, 1950
Sun Sign: Leo
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 11 
Ernests Gulbis
(Latvian Professional Tennis Player)
Ernests Gulbis
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 30, 1988
Sun Sign: Virgo
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 12 
Mairis Briedis
(Boxer)
Mairis Briedis
9
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 13, 1985
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 13 
Natasha Shneider
(Actor, Musician, Pianist)
Natasha Shneider
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: May 22, 1956
Sun Sign: Gemini
Died: July 2, 2008
 14 
Andris Biedriņš
(Basketball player)
Andris Biedriņš
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 2, 1986
Sun Sign: Aries
Height: 7'0" (213 cm)
 15 
Martins Dukurs
(Latvian Skeleton Racer)
Martins Dukurs
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 31, 1984
Sun Sign: Aries
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 16 
Mischa Maisky
(Cellist)
Mischa Maisky
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: January 10, 1948
Sun Sign: Capricorn
 17 
Gidon Kremer
(Violinist)
Gidon Kremer
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: February 27, 1947
Sun Sign: Pisces
 18 
Artūrs Irbe
(Latvian Professional Ice Hockey Coach and Former Goaltender)
Artūrs Irbe
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 2, 1967
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 19 
Juris Hartmanis
(Computer scientist)
Juris Hartmanis
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: July 5, 1928
Sun Sign: Cancer
 20 
Tania Russof
(Latvian Pornographic Film Actor)
Tania Russof
7
Birthdate: July 6, 1974
Sun Sign: Cancer
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 21 
Aminata Savadogo
(Singer)
Aminata Savadogo
3
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: January 9, 1993
Sun Sign: Capricorn
 22 
Gil Kane
(Artist)
Gil Kane
1
Birthdate: April 6, 1926
Sun Sign: Aries
Died: January 31, 2000
 23 
Zemgus Girgensons
(Latvian Professional Ice Hockey Centre)
Zemgus Girgensons
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 5, 1994
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 24 
Arkadij Naiditsch
(Azerbaijani Chess Player)
Arkadij Naiditsch
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 25, 1985
Sun Sign: Scorpio
 25 
Anžejs Pasečņiks
(Basketball player)
Anžejs Pasečņiks
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 20, 1995
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Height: 7'2" (218 cm)
 26 
Aron Nimzowitsch
(Danish Chess Player)
Aron Nimzowitsch
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 7, 1886
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Died: March 16, 1935

Latvian-born Aron Nimzowitsch escaped to Berlin and then to Copenhagen to avoid being drafted into the army during the Russian Revolution. He is best known for his cult classic book My System, which promotes the Hypermodern school of chess. In spite of repeated attempts, he failed to secure a world title.

 27 
Indra Devi
(Teacher)
Indra Devi
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: May 12, 1899
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: April 25, 2002
 28 
Elmārs Zemgalis
(Latvian-American Chess Master and Mathematics Professor at Highline College)
Elmārs Zemgalis
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: September 9, 1923
Sun Sign: Virgo
Died: December 8, 2014
 29 
Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga
(Politician)
Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga
4
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: December 1, 1937
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
 30 
Misha Cirkunov
(Latvian-Canadian Professional Mixed Martial Artist)
Misha Cirkunov
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 27, 1987
Sun Sign: Pisces

In school, Latvian-Canadian MMA fighter Misha Cirkunov excelled in many sports, such as swimming, judo, and basketball. After an unsuccessful stint as a gym owner, he chose mixed martial arts as a career option. The UFC fighter currently ranks 12th in the MMA light heavyweight rankings.

 31 
Agata Muceniece
(Actress)
Agata Muceniece
2
Birthdate: March 1, 1989
Sun Sign: Pisces
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 32 
Vija Celmins
(Known for Painting, Graphic art, Printmaking)
Vija Celmins
0
Birthdate: October 25, 1938
Sun Sign: Scorpio
 33 
Konstantin Gluhov
(Latvian Heavyweight Kickboxer and Mixed Martial Artist)
Konstantin Gluhov
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 17, 1980
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 34 
Alexei Shirov
(Latvian and Spanish Chess Player)
Alexei Shirov
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 4, 1972
Sun Sign: Cancer
 35 
Vera Mukhina
(Russian Painter and Sculptor)
Vera Mukhina
0
Birthdate: July 1, 1889
Sun Sign: Cancer
Died: October 6, 1953

Considered the most popular female Soviet sculptor, Vera Mukhina earned the nickname of the queen of Soviet sculpture. After a plastic surgery following a sledging accident as a young girl, she focused on studying sculpting. The five-time Stalin Prize winner is remembered for her works such as Peasant Woman.

 36 
Maria Skobtsova
(Poet)
Maria Skobtsova
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: December 20, 1891
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Died: March 31, 1945
 37 
Anatoly Solovyov
(Cosmonaut)
Anatoly Solovyov
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: January 16, 1948
Sun Sign: Capricorn
 38 
Ginta Lapina
(Model)
Ginta Lapina
1
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: June 30, 1989
Sun Sign: Cancer
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 39 
Ernst von Bergmann
(German Surgeon Who was the First Physician to Introduce Heat Sterilisation of Surgical Instruments)
Ernst von Bergmann
1
Listed In: Physicians
Birthdate: December 16, 1836
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Died: March 25, 1907

Ernst von Bergmann was a Baltic German surgeon, known for being the first physician to introduce heat sterilization of surgical instruments. He is credited to be a pioneer of aseptic surgery. He also served as a medical officer in the Austro-Prussian War (1866) and the Franco-Prussian War. He wrote a classic treatise on head injuries, among other medical works. 

 40 
Arkady Raikin
(Soviet Humorist, Stand-up Comedian and Director)
Arkady Raikin
2
Birthdate: October 24, 1911
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Died: December 17, 1987

Soviet stand-up comedian, actor, and director Arkady Raikin remains one of the most revered Soviet humorists of the 20th century. Starting his career with state theaters and variety shows, he later established his own theater in Leningrad. He also founded the Satyricon Theater in Moscow and was made a Hero of Socialist Labor.

 41 
Marija Naumova
(Singer)
Marija Naumova
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: June 23, 1973
Sun Sign: Cancer
 42 
Ainars Bagatskis
(Basketball player)
Ainars Bagatskis
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 29, 1967
Sun Sign: Aries
Height: 6'6" (198 cm)
 43 
Valdis Dombrovskis
(Prime Minister)
Valdis Dombrovskis
3
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: August 5, 1971
Sun Sign: Leo
 44 
John Konrads
(Australian Swimmer Who Won a Gold Medal at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome)
John Konrads
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 21, 1942
Sun Sign: Gemini
Died: April 25, 2021

John Konrads was an Australian swimmer best remembered for winning a gold medal at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. At the same Olympics, he also won two bronze medals for Australia. John Konrads set 26 individual world records over the course of his swimming career. In 1985, he was made an inductee of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

 45 
Marina Rebeka
(Opera singer)
Marina Rebeka
0
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: September 10, 1980
Sun Sign: Virgo
 46 
Ričards Bolotņiks
(Boxer)
Ričards Bolotņiks
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 24, 1990
Sun Sign: Aries
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 47 
Jeļena Prokopčuka
(Latvian Long-Distance Runner)
Jeļena Prokopčuka
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 21, 1976
Sun Sign: Virgo
 48 
Guntis Ulmanis
(Politician, President)
Guntis Ulmanis
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 1939 AD
 49 
Ksenija Sidorova
(Accordionist)
Ksenija Sidorova
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: May 18, 1988
Sun Sign: Taurus
 50 
Alexander Petersson
(Icelandic Retired Handball Player Who Played as a Right Back)
Alexander Petersson
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 2, 1980
Sun Sign: Cancer

Alexander Petersson is a Latvian-born Icelandic retired handball player who represented the Icelandic men's national team from 2005 to 2021. In 2008, he helped his national team win the silver medal at the Summer Olympics in Beijing. In 2010, Alexander Petersson was part of the team that won the bronze medal at the European Championship in Austria.