Famous Venezuelans in History - On This Day

1750-03-28 Francisco de Miranda, Venezuelan freedom fighter, born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 1816)

1760-04-12 Juan Manuel Olivares, Venezuelan composer, born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 1797)

1775-08-02 José Ángel Lamas, Venezuelan chirimía player, bassoonist, and composer (Popule Meus), born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 1814)

1778-07-11 Juan Lovera, Venezuelan artist, born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 1841)

1780-03-10 Juan José Landaeta, Venezuelan composer, born in Caracas, Venezuela, (d. 1814)

1782-07-06 Luis Brión, Curacao military officer who fought in the Venezuelan War of Independence, born in Plantage Rozentak, Curaçao (d. 1821)

1783-07-24 Simón Bolívar, Venezuelan political and military leader (freed 6 Latin American republics from Spanish rule), born in Caracas (d. 1830)

1796-03-10 José María Vargas, Venezuelan doctor, botanist and 2nd President of Venezuela (1835-36), born in La Guaira, Venezuela (d. 1854)

1853-12-22 Teresa Carreño, Venezuelan classical pianist, soprano, composer, and conductor, born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 1917)

1874-08-09 Reynaldo Hahn, Venezuelan-French singer, composer, conductor, and music critic, born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 1947)

1887-12-08 Vicente Emilio Sojo, Venezuelan composer, born in Guatire, Miranda state, Venezuela (d. 1974)

1889-10-05 Teresa de la Parra, Venezuelan writer (Memorias de Mamá Blanca), born in Paris (d. 1936)

1896-08-02 Lorenzo Herrera, Venezuelan singer and composer, born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 1960)

1898-07-19 Juan Bautista Plaza, Venezuelan composer, born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 1965)

1899-11-20 Juan Vicente Lecuna, Venezuelan diplomat and composer, born in Valencia, Venezuela (d. 1954)

1900-03-23 José Antonio Calcaño, Venezuelan composer (De Profundis), music critic, and diplomat, born in Caracus, Venezuela (d. 1978)

1906-05-16 Arturo Uslar Pietri, Venezuelan writer, historian and politician (Lanzas Coloradas), born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 2001)

1908-02-22 Romulo Betancourt, President of Venezuela (Acción Democrática: 1945-48, 1959-64) known as "The Father of Venezuelan Democracy", born in Guatire, Venezuela (d. 1981)

1908-06-16 Alfredo Boulton, Venezuelan art critic, photographer, and art historian, born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 1995)

1910-12-07 Edmundo Ros, Trinidadian-Venezuelan musician and arranger, born in Port of Spain, Trinidad (d. 2011)

1913-08-23 Luis Felipe Ramón y Rivera, Venezuelan musician and composer, born in San Cristóbal, Táchira, Venezuela (d. 1993)

1915-05-03 Evencio Castellanos, Venezuelan pianist, and composer, born in Cúa, Miranda state, Venezuela (d. 1984)

1916-01-03 Antonio Estévez, Venezuelan composer and conductor (Cantata Criolla), born in Calabozo, Guárico, Venezuela (d. 1988)

1919-12-28 Inocente Carreño, Venezuelan composer (Margariteña), and pedagogue (Prudencio Esáa, 1970-90), born in Isla Margarita, Venezuela (d. 2016)

1920-10-29 Baruj Benacerraf, Venezuelan-American immunologist (Nobel 1980 - discovery of genes that regulate immune responses and of the role that some of these genes play in autoimmune diseases), born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 2011)

1921-07-17 Acquanetta [Mildred Davenport], American actress nicknamed "The Venezuelan Volcano" (Tarzan & Leopard Woman), born in Newberry, South Carolina (d. 2004)

1923-11-12 Alirio Díaz, Venezuelan guitarist, composer, and musicologist, born in Caserio La Candelaria, Venezuela (d. 2016)

1924-02-18 Humberto Fernández Morán, Venezuelan scientist (d. 1999)

1925-06-01 Dilia Díaz Cisneros, Venezuelan teacher and poet, born in El Hatillo, Venezuela (d. 2017)

1928-01-23 Chico Carrasquel, Venezuelan baseball player, born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 2005)

1928-03-12 Aldemaro Romero, Venezuelan pianist, composer, arranger, and orchestral conductor, born in Valencia, Venezuela (d. 2007)

1929-02-06 Oscar Sambrano Urdaneta, Venezuelan writer, born in Boconó, Venezuela (d. 2011)

1930-05-22 Marisol (Maria Sol) Escobar, Venezuelan sculptor, born in Paris, France (d. 2016)

1934-04-29 Luis Aparicio, Venezuelan Baseball HOF shortstop (13 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1966 Chicago White Sox; AL Rookie of the Year 1956; 9 × Gold Glove Award), born in Maracaibo, Venezuela

1937-07-17 Jose Ignacio Cabrujas, Venezuelan playwright and writer 'Maestro of the Telenovelas', born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 1995)

1938-06-14 Gustavo Ávila, Venezuelan jockey (Kentucky Derby/Preakness 1971), born in Caracas, Venezuela

1939-05-07 José Antonio Abreu, Venezuelan conductor, pianist and teacher (El Sistema), born in Valera, Venezuela (d. 2018)

1939-07-31 Vic Davalillo, Venezuelan baseball outfielder (MLB All Star 1965, Gold Glove 1964 Cleveland Indians; World Series 1971, 73 Pittsburgh Pirates), born in Cabimas, Venezuela (d. 2023)

1941-09-14 Alberto Naranjo, Venezuelan jazz drummer, composer and arranger, born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 2020)

1943-01-14 Jose Luis Rodriguez, Venezuelan singer (Dueño de Nada), born in Caracas, Venezuela

1943-01-26 César Gutiérrez, Venezuelan baseball shortstop (hit 7-for-7 in single game without making an out 1970, Detroit Tigers), born in Coro, Venezuela (d. 2005)

1943-07-11 Oscar D'León, Venezuelan salsa bassist, born in Caracas, Venezuela

1945-04-13 Carlos Giménez, Argentine-Venezuelan stage director and arts promoter (co-founder of International Theater Festival of Caracas, 1971), born in Rosario, Argentina (d. 1993)

1945-06-21 Luis Mendoza, Venezuelan soccer midfielder (15 caps; Deportivo Galicia, Deportivo Italia), born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 2024)

1945-09-20 Francisco Rodríguez, Venezuelan boxer (Olympic gold men's light flyweight 1968), born in Cumaná, Venezuela (d. 2024)

1946-09-18 Benjamín Brea, Spanish-Venezuelan jazz saxophonist, arranger, and teacher, born in Galicia, Spain (d. 2014)

1948-06-17 Dave Concepción, Venezuelan baseball all star shortstop (Cincinnati Reds), born in Ocumare de la Costa, Venezuela

1949-10-12 Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, Venezuelan international terrorist, born in Michelena, Venezuela

1950-12-25 Manny Trillo, Venezuelan MLB baseball second baseman. 1973-89 (4 × MLB All-Star; World Series Champion 1980; 3 × Gold Glove; Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago, and 5 other teams ), born in Caripito, Venezuela

1953-03-23 Bo Diaz, Venezuelan baseball player (d. 1990)

1954-01-23 Franco De Vita, Venezuelan spanish singer (Extranjero), born in Caracas, Venezuela

1955-07-02 Andrew Divoff, Venezuelan actor, know for "The Blacklist", born in San Tomé, Venezuela

1955-07-03 Jesse Corti, Venezuelan-American stage and screen character actor, born in Venezuela

1957-04-26 Rosa Briceño, Venezuelan conductor, and educator, born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 2018)

1957-06-29 María Conchita Alonso, Venezuelan actress (Moscow on the Hudson), born in Cienfuegos, Cuba

1959-08-18 Pedro Eustache, Venezuelan folk, classical, world music, and session flutist, reed player, woodwind player, composer, and instrument maker, born in Caracas, Venezuela

1961-06-18 Andrés Galarraga, Venezuelan baseball infielder (5 × MLB All-Star; Gold Glove Award 1989, 90; NL batting champion 1993 Colorado Rockies, Montreal Expos), born in Caracas, Venezuela

1961-12-13 Irene Sáez, Venezuelan beauty queen crowned Miss Universe 1981 and politician, born in Chacao, Miranda, Venezuela

1962-02-19 Alvaro Espinoza, Venezuelan baseball shortstop (NY Yanks, NY Mets)

1962-11-23 Nicolás Maduro, Venezuelan politician, President of Venezuela (2013-present), born in Caracas, Venezuela

1962-12-07 Grecia Colmenares, Venezuelan actress (Estefanía), born in Valencia, Venezuela

1962-12-08 Rodolfo Saglimbeni, Venezuelan conductor (Municipal Symphony Orchestra of Caracas, 2003-present), born in Barquisimeto, Venezuela

1963-12-09 Bárbara Palacios, Venezuelan TV host and Miss Universe (1986), born in Madrid, Spain

1964-01-06 Rafael Vidal, Venezuelan athlete, born in Caracas, Venezuela (d. 2005)

1964-01-20 Ozzie Guillén, Venezuelan baseball shortstop and manager (3-time MLB All Star; Chicago White Sox), born in Ocumare del Tuy, Venezuela

1965-05-13 José Antonio Delgado, Venezuelan mountain climber (d. 2006)

1966-01-03 Luis Sojo, Venezuelan MLB infielder (World Series 1996, 1998–2000; Seattle Mariners, NY Yankees), born in Petare, Edo Miranda, Venezuela

1966-01-06 Fernando Carrillo, Venezuelan actor, born in Caracas, Venezuela

1966-08-31 Zdenko Morović, Venezuelan soccer midfielder (5 caps; Deportivo Italia, CS Marítimo, Caracas FC), born in Rijeka, Croatia (d. 2024)

1966-12-14 Carl Herrera, Trinidadian-born Venezuelan NBA forward, 1991-99 (San Antonio Spurs, and 2 other teams), born in Trinidad and Tobago

1967-04-24 Omar Vizquel, Venezuelan shortstop (Seattle Mariners, Indians), born in Caracas

1967-10-08 Ivonne Reyes, Venezuelan actress, born in Valencia, Venezuela

1967-10-15 Carlos García, Venezuelan baseball infielder (Pittsburgh Pirates), born in Táchira State, Venezuela

1968-03-04 Giovanni Carrara, Venezuelan baseball player

1968-05-04 Eddie Pérez, Venezuelan baseball catcher (World Series 1995, 2021 [coach]; NLCS MVP 1999; Atlanta Braves), born in Ciudad Ojeda, Venezuela

1969-12-09 Ramon Garcia, Venezuelan pitcher (Milwaukee Brewers), born in Guanare, Venezuela

1970-05-10 Gabriela Montero, Venezuelan-American pianist, born in Caracas, Venezuala

1970-08-01 José Luis Dolgetta, Venezuelan soccer forward (20 caps; Carabobo FC), born in Valencia, Venezuela (d. 2023)

1970-09-09 Natalia Streignard, Venezuelan actress, born in Madrid, Spain

1970-09-29 Nicolas Pereira, Venezuelan tennis player, born in Salto Uruguay

1971-05-18 Rich Garces, Venezuelan MLB pitcher (Boston Red Sox), born in Maracay Venezuela

1971-05-31 Troy Malave, Venezuelan outfielder (Boston Red Sox), born in Cumana, Venezuela

1971-08-29 Henry Blanco, Venezuelan baseball player, born in Caracas, Venezuela

1972-04-23 Sonya Smith, Venezuelan-American actress (Cara Sucia), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1974-01-28 Magglio Ordóñez, Venezuelan baseball outfielder (6 × MLB All-Star; AL batting champion 2007 Detroit Tigers; Chicago WS), born in Caracas, Venezuela

1974-02-15 Ugueth Urbina, Venezuelan pitcher (Montreal Expos), born in Caracas, Venezuela

1974-03-11 Bobby Abreu, Venezuelan MLB baseball outfielder, 1996-2014, 2X All-Star (Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and four other teams), born in Turmero, Aragua, Venezuela

1974-05-17 Wiki González, Venezuelan baseball player

1974-05-24 Maria Alejandra Vento, Venezuelan tennis star (1995 Futures-Braz), born in Caracas

1974-08-16 Roger Cedeno, Venezuelan outfielder (LA Dodgers), born in Valencia, Venezuela

1975-04-29 Rafael Betancourt, Venezuelan MLB player, born in Cumaná, Venezuela

1975-08-06 Victor Zambrano, Venezuelan baseball player

1975-09-30 Carlos Guillén, Venezuelan baseball shortstop (3-time MLB All Star; Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers), born in Maracay, Aragua

1976-03-09 Thor Halvorssen, Venezuelan human rights activist, born in Venezuela

1976-05-20 Ramón Hernández, Venezuelan baseball player

1976-06-10 Freddy García, Venezuelan baseball player, born in Caracas, Venezuela

1976-09-09 Juan A. Baptista, Venezuelan actor, born in Caracas, Venezuela

1976-12-06 Alicia Machado, Venezuelan-American actress, winner of Miss Universe 1996 and Donald Trump critic, born in Maracay, Venezuela

1977-02-08 Yucef Merhi, Venezuelan artist, poet and computer programmer (Poetic Clock; Quetzalcoatl 2.0.1.2.), born in Caracas, Venezuela

1977-03-25 Édgar Ramírez, Venezuelan actor (Carlos), born in San Cristóbal, Venezuela

1977-10-12 Javier Toyo, Venezuelan football goalkeeper (Venezuela national football team), born in Caracas, Venezuela

1977-10-23 Javier Castellano, Venezuelan jockey (Kentucky Derby & Belmont Stakes 2023; Preakness Stakes 2006, 17; Breeders' Cup Classic 2004), born in Maracaibo, Venezuela

1978-04-29 Tony Armas, Jr., Venezuelan baseball player

1978-05-05 Santiago Cabrera, Venezuelan-Chilean-British actor (Isaac Mendez - Heroes), born in Caracas, Venezuela

1978-07-07 Leonardo Morales, Venezuelan soccer goalkeeper (26 caps; Carabobo, Zulia), born in El Tigre, Venezuela

1978-09-06 Alex Escobar, Venezuelan baseball player, born in Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela

1978-12-23 Víctor Martínez, Venezuelan baseball player, born in Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela

1979-01-07 Mariangel Ruiz, Venezuelan actress and model, born in San Juan de los Morros, Venezuela

1979-01-23 Juan Rincón, Venezuelan baseball player, born in Maracaibo, Venezuela

1979-03-13 Johan Santana, Venezuelan baseball pitcher (4 × MLB All-Star; AL Cy Young 2004, 06; Triple Crown 2006; Gold Glove 2007; no-hitter 2012; Minnesota Twins, NY Mets), born in Tovar Municipality, Mérida, Venezuela

1980-02-10 César Izturis, Venezuelan baseball player, born in Barquisimeto, Venezuela

1980-02-15 Domingo Hindoyan, Armenian-Venezuelan conductor (Polish National Radio Symphony, 2021-present), born in Caracas, Venezuela

1980-02-23 Rafael Payare, Venezuelan conductor (San Diego Symphony, 2019-present), born in Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela

1980-04-22 Carlos Hernández, Venezuelan baseball player

1981-01-26 Gustavo Dudamel, Venezuelan Spanish conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic), born in Barquisimeto, Venezuela

1981-06-01 Carlos Zambrano, Venezuelan baseball pitcher (MLB All Star 2004, 06, 08; NL wins leader 2006; no-hitter 2008), born in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela

1981-12-03 Edwin Valero, Venezuelan boxer (undefeated world champion WBA super featherweight 2006-08; WBC lightweight 2009-10), born in Bolero Alto, Mérida, Venezuela (d. 2010)

1982-01-07 Francisco Rodriguez, Venezuelan baseball player, born in Caracas, Venezuela

1982-01-15 Armando Galarraga, Venezuelan baseball player, born in Cumaná, Venezuela

1983-04-18 Miguel Cabrera, Venezuelan baseball player, born in Maracay, Venezuela

1983-04-19 Alberto Callaspo, Venezuelan baseball player (Kansas City Royals), born in Maracay, Venezuela

1983-07-28 Juan Guaidó, Venezuelan politician recognized by 54 countries as the President of Venezuela but disputed with Nicolás Maduro, born in La Guaira, Vargas

1984-02-09 Dioner Navarro, Venezuelan baseball player

1984-05-10 Edward Mujica. Venezuelan baseball player

1984-07-11 Yorman Bazardo, Venezuelan MLB player (Detroit Tigers), born in Maracay, Venezuela

1985-03-19 Ernesto Viso, Venezuelan racing driver

1985-11-13 Asdrúbal Cabrera, Venezuelan baseball player

1986-04-08 Félix Hernández, Venezuelan MLB baseball player (Seattle Mariners), born in Valencia

1990-05-06 José Altuve, Venezuelan professional baseball second baseman (Houston Astros), born in Maracay, Venezuela

1990-11-17 Elías Díaz, Venezuelan baseball catcher (MVP MLB All Star Game 2023 Colorado Rockies; Pittsburgh Pirates), born in Maracaibo, Venezuela

1995-10-21 Yulimar Rojas, Venezuelan athlete (Olympic gold triple jump 2020 WR 15.67m), born in Caracas, Venezuela

1996-06-25 Lele Pons, Venezuelan-American internet personality (Vine, YouTube), born in Caracas, Venezuela

List of Venezuelan People