Famous People Born In Santiago

Cote de Pablo is a Chilean-American singer and actress. She is best known for playing Ziva David in the popular action police procedural TV series NCIS. After co-hosting episodes of a Latin-American talk show titled Control, at the age of 15, Cote de Pablo went on to establish herself as a successful actress and musician.

Nicole Polizzi took the entertainment industry by storm when she appeared in MTV reality series Jersey Shore. Distinguished as Snooki, she became a household name over the years with her acrobatic moves on the dance floor and bellwether hairstyle. She also starred in Snooki & Jwoww and Jersey Shore: Family Vacation. 

Chilean president Sebastian Pinera not only boasts of a Harvard doctoral degree but is also a successful businessman, having introduced credit cards to the Chilean public through his company Bancard. His Fundación Futuro works for causes such as energy and water conservation. He is married to his neighbor Cecilia Morel.

A vagabond who roamed around countries such as Chile, Mexico, and France, author Roberto Bolaño eventually settled in Spain, where he spent his days working odd jobs, such as garbage collection and dishwashing, and wrote at night. He is remembered for his Rómulo Gallegos Prize-winning novel The Savage Detectives.

Legendary Chilean painter Roberto Matta is remembered as a significant figure of the abstract expressionist and surrealist art of the 20th century. The Praemium Imperiale-winning artist had initially studied architecture in Santiago and had then worked for Le Corbusier in Paris. His inscape works were influenced by Freud’s psychoanalysis.

Isabel Allende Bussi is a Chilean politician best known for her service as the President of the Chilean Senate from 2014 to 2015. She was the first woman to serve as the president of the Senate in Chilean history. An important and influential member of the Socialist Party, Isabel Allende is currently serving as Senator for Valparaíso.

Chilean politician Michelle Bachelet serves as 7th United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. She became the first female politician in Chilean history who was elected as the country’s President and the first elected female leader in South America. She served as the 33rd and 35th President of Chile and held several other prominent positions during her expansive political career.

Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle served as the President of Chile from 1994 to 2000. Under his presidency, poverty in Chile decreased and improvements were made in education and health sectors. An important politician, Frei also served as the President of the Senate of Chile from 2006 to 2008.

Alejandro Amenabar is a Spanish-Chilean music composer, screenwriter, and film director. An influential and respected personality in the Spanish film industry, Amenabar has won nine Goya Awards and two European Film Awards among many other prestigious awards. 

Ricardo Lagos is a Chilean lawyer and politician who served as the President of Chile from 2000 to 2006. He openly denounced Dictator Augusto Pinochet on live television in 1988. He also served as the Minister of Education from 1990 to 1992.

Chilean diplomat and Nazi sympathizer Miguel Serrano was also an occultist who practiced kundalini yoga and studied Hinduism. He later became one of the most prominent authors of esoteric Hitlerism, claiming that the Aryan race had originated from extra-terrestrial entities. He was also the Chilean ambassador to countries such as Yugoslavia and India.

Chilean statesman Diego Portales was one of the most important political figures of the 19th century and is remembered for creating the Constitution of 1833. As a minister of foreign affairs and war, he started a war with the Peru-Bolivia alliance to counter trade competition but was eventually assassinated by rebellious forces.

Eduardo Frei Montalva was a Chilean politician who served as the President of Chile from 1964 to 1970. An important and influential politician, Frei also served as the President of the Senate of Chile from 1973 to 1973. Apart from his political career, Eduardo Frei Montalva was also known for his teaching career in Columbia University.

Chilean diplomat and author Jorge Edwards created ripples with his autobiography Persona non grata, which reflected his experiences as the Chilean ambassador to Cuba. His works earned him the Cervantes Prize and the Chilean National Prize. He has also been the Chilean ambassador to France.

José Miguel Carrera was a Chilean general and an important member of the famous Carrera family. The most prominent leader of the War of Independence in Chile, Carrera is widely regarded as a co-founder of independent Chile. Today, he is counted among the Fathers of the Nation in Chile. José Miguel Carrera is also credited with ending slavery in Chile.

Chilean poet Vicente Huidobro pioneered the avant-garde literary movement known as Creacionismo. His ideas on poetry were formed by his collaborations with poets from France and Spain. He also contributed to the movement Ultraísmo in Spain. He is best known for his masterpieces such as Altazor.

Chilean author José Donoso is remembered for his contribution to the Latin American new novel. He soared to fame with his novels such as Coronation and Hell Has No Limits and often used dark humor, social satire, and surrealism. He also taught at various institutes and lived in exile during Augusto Pinochet’s rule.

The son of Chilean president Manuel Montt Torres, Pedro Montt grew up to follow in his father’s footsteps and be a National Party leader and later became Chile’s president. His strict military reforms resulted in the Santa María School massacre. He also contributed to the growth of nitrate and copper production.