List of Estonian Americans

This is a list of notable Estonian-Americans, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants.

To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Estonian American or must have references showing they are Estonian American and are notable.

Arts and literature

 * Alar Kivilo (born 1953) — member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, cinematographer
 * Lisa Kivirist (born 1967) — author
 * Kristjan Järvi (born 1972) — symphony conductor
 * Neeme Järvi (born 1937) — symphony conductor. Moved to the US in 1981
 * Paavo Järvi (born 1962) — current Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
 * Tõnu Kalam (born 1948) — pianist and symphony conductor
 * Mark Kostabi (born 1960) — artist
 * Paul Kostabi (born 1962) — artist, music producer
 * Louis Kahn (1901–1974) — architect, designer of the Salk Institute, Kimbell Art Museum, and others
 * Ilse Lehiste (1922–2010) — linguist and author
 * Alexander Nelke (1894–1974) — artist
 * Dennis Nurkse (born 1949) — poet
 * Raymond Pettibon (born 1957) — artist, designer of the iconic Black Flag (band) bars
 * Bill Rebane (born 1937) — film director
 * Ene Riisna (born 1938) — television producer
 * Jerry Saltz (Estonian father) (born 1951) — art critic
 * Helen Tobias-Duesberg (1919–2010) — composer
 * Priit Vesilind (born 1943) — author, photojournalist
 * Kiino Villand (born 1969) — photographer
 * Arthur Võõbus (1909–1988) — theologian, orientalist and church historian

Science

 * Nicole Aunapu Mann (born 1977) — astronaut and test pilot
 * August Komendant (1906–1992) — Professor of Architecture at University of Pennsylvania (1959–74), Structural Engineer for Louis Kahn
 * Pearn P. Niiler (1937–2010) — oceanographer
 * Jaak Panksepp (1943–2017) — neuroscientist and psychobiologist
 * Hillar Rootare (1928–2008) — physical chemist
 * Rein Taagepera (born 1933) — Research Professor, Political science, University of California, Irvine; Professor Emeritus, University of Tartu, Estonia
 * Riho Terras (1939–2005) — mathematician
 * Alar Toomre (born 1937), Jüri Toomre — astronomers and mathematicians
 * Karen Uhlenbeck (born 1942) — mathematician and founder of geometric analysis
 * Lauri Vaska (1925–2015) — chemist

Entertainment

 * Erika Eleniak (born 1969) — Playboy Playmate and actress
 * Greg Ginn (born 1954) — guitarist of Black Flag
 * Miliza Korjus (1905–1980) — coloratura soprano opera singer
 * Karolyn Nelke (born 1948) — stage actress
 * Mena Suvari (born 1979) — actress (Estonian father)
 * Ivan Triesault (1898–1980) — actor
 * Johann Urb (born 1977) — actor and former model

Sports

 * Jaan Ehlvest (born 1962) — chess player
 * Margus Hunt (born 1987) — football player
 * Chris Jogis (born 1965) — badminton player
 * Ingrid Neel (born 1998) — tennis player
 * Michael Roos (born 1982) — football player
 * John Roosma (1900–1983) — basketball player
 * Sven Salumaa (born 1966) — tennis player
 * Warren Cummings Smith (born 1991) — alpine skier
 * Ralph Tamm (born 1966) — football player
 * Katie Vesterstein (born 1999) — alpine skier

Business

 * Elisabeth Murdoch (born 1968) — businesswoman
 * James Murdoch (born 1972) — businessman
 * Steve Jurvetson (born 1967) — Draper Fisher Jurvetson businessman

Politics

 * Michael Josselson (1908–1978) — secretary general for the Congress for Cultural Freedom
 * Jaan Laaman (born 1948) — leftist extremist
 * Samuel H. Shapiro (1907–1987) — governor of Illinois.
 * Edmund S. Valtman (1914–2005) — political cartoonist
 * Melissa F. Wells (born 1932) — diplomat and former ambassador

Military

 * Aleksander Einseln (1931–2017) — former Commander-in-chief of the Estonian army (dual U.S. and Estonian citizenship)
 * Tiiu Kera (born 1945) — retired United States Air Force (USAF) major general
 * Edward Masso — retired United States Navy Rear Admiral and ambassador to Estonia