Famous Hispanics in the U.S.

Actors

Rita Hayworth - famous in films of the 40's. She was especially renowned for her dancing with Fred Astaire.

Rita Moreno - (originally Rosa Dolores Alverio) - She is the first woman to win all four: an Academy Award, a Tony Award, an Emmy (2 actual), and a Grammy.

Anthony Quinn - crossed into the U.S. via a coal wagon through the Río Grande. He has won two Oscars and starred in several dozen movies.

Martin Sheen - (originally Ramón Estevez) - He has acted on Broadway, television and the big screen, and his four children are now following in his footsteps.

Astronauts

Ellen Ochoa - first Hispanic woman astronaut. She was an engineer and a pilot who wanted to be a role model for Hispanic girls, so they wouldn't set their sights too low.

Athletes

Roberto Clemente - baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates (after the Dodgers wouldn't let him play in the major league due to the color of his skin). He had 3000 hits, and won two World Series along with four batting championships.

Nancy Lopez - Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) golfer and youngest woman inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame. She has won over 39 tournaments and 2 million dollars.

Lee Trevino - Professional Golf Association (PGA) golfer. He has a wry sense of humor and keen sense of competition. He has also been honored for giving back to others as the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year.

Fashion Designers

Oscar de la Renta - designer of modern fashion. His popular designs range from blue jeans to evening wear, with price tags also ranging accordingly.

Finance

Katherine Ortega - the 38th U.S. Treasurer. She was the tenth woman to ever fill this office. A love of math and a banking background paved the way for such a position.

Medical Field

Antonia Novello - the 1st woman U.S. Surgeon General. She was also the first Hispanic to hold this honor. She has both a degree in medicine and a masters in Public Health.

Musicians

Joan Baez - a singer and songwriter of both Mexican and Scottish heritage. Through her music she tries to give voice to those whose voices are seldom heard, so the message of peace across cultures may be promoted.

Gloria Estéfan - a singer/dancer in the band Miami Sound Machine with her husband Emilio. Her family fled Cuba when she was 14 months old, and she has been singing since she was only three.

José Feliciano - a singer and songwriter who also happens to be blind. He was playing the guitar at 9 years of age. His best known song is Feliz Navidad.

Tito Puente - congo drum player. He is a member of the band Mambo Kings.

Linda Ronstadt - a singer and songwriter. Her big start was listening to her father sing on local radio stations in Tucson, AZ. Eventually she went on to record about 50 albums. She sings mainly in English as she did not learn Spanish at home.

Richie Valens - (originally Richard Valenzuela) - At 17 he became famous for the best known version of the traditional folk song La Bamba. Unfortunately, his career was cut short that same year due to a plane crash near a concert site in IA.

The Old West

Josefa Jaramillo Carson - Kit Carson's wife. She guarded his body for 3 days following his death during an ongoing attack on their cabin.

Politicians/Political Activists

Casimiro Barela - a Colorado state senator for over 40 years. He also helped write the Constitution of Colorado. The town of Barela, Colorado is named after him as well.

César Chavez - a migrant worker who made a difference. He organized the National Farm Workers Association to fight for better pay and working conditions of the migrant working population.

Federico Peña - mayor of Denver, Colorado at 36 years of age. He is a lawyer who also has a love of sports. He played 11 of them in high school and started the Colorado Rockies. In Washington, D.C. he then served as Secretary of Transportation.

Television Commentators

Giselle Fernandez - a newscaster with CBS. She started as a reporter in such cities as Chicago and Los Angeles, but her job has taken her around the world.

Elizabeth Vargas - a newscaster with NBC. She is famous for working on the Today Show and with Tom Brokaw on the Nightly News.