Riga has produced a number of well-known ballet dancers, chess players, mixed martial artists, chemists, political leaders and several other personalities from other spheres. Our list of famous people from Riga includes Mikhail Baryshnikov, Mikhail Tal, Misha Cirkunov, Wilhelm Ostwald, Laila Freivalds, and many others.

Famous People Born In Riga

Mikhail BaryshnikovMikhail Baryshnikov
27 January 1948, American
Ballet Dancer
Philippe HalsmanPhilippe Halsman
02 May 1906, American
Photographer

Mikhail TalMikhail Tal
09 November 1936, Latvian
Chess Player

Sergei EisensteinSergei Eisenstein
22 January 1898, Russian
Film Director

Misha CirkunovMisha Cirkunov
27 February 1987, Latvian
Mixed Martial Artist

Wilhelm OstwaldWilhelm Ostwald
02 September 1853, German
Chemist
Laila FreivaldsLaila Freivalds
22 June 1942, Swedish
Swedish Politician

Natasha ShneiderNatasha Shneider
22 May 1956, American
Actor, Musician, Pianist

Mariss JansonsMariss Jansons
14 January 1943, Latvian
Conductor
Aron NimzowitschAron Nimzowitsch
07 November 1886, Danish, Latvian, Russian
Danish-Russian chess master

Gil KaneGil Kane
06 April 1926, Latvian, American
Artist
Mischa MaiskyMischa Maisky
10 January 1948, Latvian
Cellist

Artūrs IrbeArtūrs Irbe
02 February 1967, Latvian
Ice hockey player

Alexei ShirovAlexei Shirov
04 July 1972, Latvian
Chess player

Valdis DombrovskisValdis Dombrovskis
05 August 1971, Latvian
Prime Minister

Ernests GulbisErnests Gulbis
30 August 1988, Latvian
Tennis player
Vaira Vīķe-FreibergaVaira Vīķe-Freiberga
01 December 1937, Latvian
President

Elmārs ZemgalisElmārs Zemgalis
09 September 1923, Latvian
Chess player, Non-fiction writer

Vera MukhinaVera Mukhina
01 July 1889, Latvian, Russian
Sculptor

Zemgus GirgensonsZemgus Girgensons
05 January 1994, Latvian
Ice hockey player
Ernst von BergmannErnst von Bergmann
16 December 1836, German, Latvian
Surgeon

Morris HillquitMorris Hillquit
01 August 1869, Latvian, American
Lawyer
Juris HartmanisJuris Hartmanis
05 July 1928, Latvian, American
Computer scientist

Arkady RaikinArkady Raikin
24 October 1911, Latvian, Russian
Comedian

Guntis UlmanisGuntis Ulmanis
1939 AD, Latvian
Politician, President
Ivars GodmanisIvars Godmanis
27 November 1951, Latvian
Former Prime Minister of Latvia

Martins DukursMartins Dukurs
31 March 1984, Latvian
Skeleton Racer
Māris LiepaMāris Liepa
27 July 1936, Russian
Dancer

Walter ZappWalter Zapp
04 September 1905, Swiss, German
Inventor

Aigars KalvītisAigars Kalvītis
27 June 1966, Latvian
Chairman of the Management Board of the Latvijas
Georg August SchweinfurthGeorg August Schweinfurth
29 December 1836, German, Latvian
Botanist

Continue Reading Below
Vīts RimkusVīts Rimkus
21 June 1973, Latvian
Association football player
Mārtiņš KarsumsMārtiņš Karsums
26 February 1986, Latvian
Ice hockey player

Ludmilla ChiriaeffLudmilla Chiriaeff
10 January 1924, Canadian
Dancer

Artūrs KuldaArtūrs Kulda
25 July 1988, Latvian
Ice hockey player

Boris SchapiroBoris Schapiro
22 August 1909, British
Bridge player
Jānis SpruktsJānis Sprukts
31 January 1982, Latvian
Ice hockey player
Līga DekmeijereLīga Dekmeijere
21 May 1983, Latvian
Tennis player

Wolfgang OstwaldWolfgang Ostwald
27 May 1883, German
Chemist

Ainārs KovalsAinārs Kovals
21 November 1981, Latvian
javelin thrower

Mārtiņš LaksaMārtiņš Laksa
26 June 1990, Latvian
Basketball player
Jānis LidmanisJānis Lidmanis
1910 AD, Latvian
association football player, basketball player