List of Haitian Americans

This is a list of notable Haitian 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 Haitian American, or have references showing they are Haitian American and are notable.

Academia

 * Claudine Gay, Harvard University's first Black person and second woman to lead the university.
 * Michel DeGraff, tenured professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a founding member of the Haitian Creole Academy
 * Charles L. Reason, the first Black college professor in the United States; mathematician and linguist

Artists

 * John James Audubon, painter
 * Jean-Michel Basquiat, artist
 * Edouard Duval-Carrié, painter and sculptor
 * Vladimir Cybil Charlier, visual artist
 * Paul Gardère, visual artist
 * Jackson Georges, painter, whose works have been on exhibit at the World Trade Art Gallery, the United Nations, and Mehu Gallery
 * Edmonia Lewis, sculptor who gained fame and recognition in the international fine arts world
 * Naudline Pierre (born 1989), painter of Haitian descent, lives in Brooklyn, New York
 * Patrick H. Reason, engraver
 * Sacha Thébaud (1934–2004), a.k.a. "Tebó", artist, sculptor, architect, furniture designer born in Haiti and known for encaustics in international contemporary fine art
 * Didier William, mixed-media painter
 * Ligel Lambert, mixed-media painter and educator

Business

 * Hurby Azor, hip-hop music producer
 * Jean-Claude Brizard, former CEO of Chicago Public Schools
 * Karen Civil, digital marketing strategist, entrepreneur, author; CEO of KarenCivil.com, Live Civil & CMO of Marathon Agency
 * Suzanne de Passe, television, music and film producer; co-chairman of de Passe Jones Entertainment Group
 * Mignon Faget, fine jewelry designer
 * Reggie Fils-Aimé, former president of Nintendo America
 * Ralph Gilles, automobile designer (Chrysler 300)
 * Viter Juste, businessman, community leader and activist
 * Danielle Laraque-Arena, first woman President of the State University of New York Upstate Medical University
 * Monique Péan, fine jewelry designer
 * Harve Pierre, President of Sean "Diddy" Combs' Bad Boy record company
 * James Rosemond, former businessman involved in the rap music industry
 * Mona Scott-Young, CEO of Monami Entertainment
 * Dumarsais Simeus, owner of Simeus Foods
 * Vince Valholla, hip-hop music producer
 * Steven Victor, record executive, artist manager, music publisher, and A&R representative.

Culinary arts

 * Vanessa Cantave, co-founder and executive chef of the catering company Yum Yum

Crime

 * Kendall Francois, serial killer
 * James Rosemond, "Jimmy Henchman", former businessman involved in the rap music industry; convicted drug trafficker
 * Rudy Eugene, "Miami Zombie" He was American of Haitian descent through his immigrant parents
 * Haitian Jack, "Jacques Agnant" A Haitian who had an infamous beef with American rapper Tupac Shakur

Broadcasting

 * Vladimir Duthiers, television news broadcaster
 * Carmelau Monestime, community leader and Haitian Creole radio broadcaster
 * Liliane Pierre-Paul, radio journalist famous for having a political dispute with Haitian Kompa artist turned politician Michel Martelly

Dancers

 * Jean-Léon Destiné, dancer and choreographer
 * Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine, dancer

Films and TV

 * Eric André, actor and comedian (father is Haitian)
 * Nadege August, actress
 * Marlyne Barrett, actress
 * Angelique Bates, actress best known for the Nickelodeon sketch-comedy series All That
 * Garcelle Beauvais, actress, singer, model
 * Michelle Buteau, stand-up comedian, actor
 * Gabriel Casseus, actor
 * Suzanne de Passe, television, music and film producer
 * Alex Désert, actor
 * Gary Dourdan, actor
 * Mike Estime, actor
 * Susan Fales-Hill, television producer, author, screenwriter
 * Abner Genece, award-winning actor
 * Hugues Gentillon, film director, screenwriter, and producer
 * Meta Golding, actress
 * Jamie Hector, actor
 * Nikki M. James, Tony Award-winning actress and singer
 * Kyle Jean-Baptiste, youngest actor and first black American actor to be cast as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables on Broadway
 * Jimmy Jean-Louis, actor
 * Vicky Jeudy, actress
 * Jean-Claude La Marre, television actor, director, and film and writer
 * Jerry Lamothe, screenwriter, director, producer, and actor
 * Sal Masekela, television host, sports commentator, actor, and singer
 * Trina McGee-Davis, actress
 * Moxiie, singer
 * Natalie Paul, actress
 * Sharon Pierre-Louis, actress
 * Josephine Premice, actress
 * Sandra Prosper, actress
 * Lela Rochon, actress
 * Luka Sabbat, actor and model
 * Alisha Wainwright, actress

Media personalities

 * Kai Cenat
 * Sneako

Models

 * Joanne Borgella, fashion model
 * Mama Cax, fashion model, and disabled rights activist
 * Alexandra Cheron, model
 * Daphnée Duplaix, actress, model and former Playboy playmate
 * Tyrone Edmond, fashion model
 * Marjorie Vincent, Miss America 1991

Music

 * Gaelle Adisson, singer
 * Jean Beauvoir, multi-Platinum singer-songwriter, producer
 * Elijah Blake, songwriter and contemporary R&B musician
 * Bibi Bourelly, singer and daughter of Jean-Paul Bourelly
 * Jean-Paul Bourelly, jazz fusion and blues rock guitarist
 * Won-G Bruny, rapper and entrepreneur
 * Capone, rapper
 * Casanova, rapper of Panamanian and Haitian descent
 * Alan Cavé, kompa singer
 * Andrew Cyrille, jazz drummer
 * Jason Derulo, singer-songwriter
 * Flipp Dinero, rapper
 * Sheff G, rapper of Haitian and Trinidadian descent
 * Louis Moreau Gottschalk, composer and pianist
 * Bigga Haitian, reggae musician
 * Hoax, alternative rock band including Frantz N. Cesar of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent
 * Lee Holdridge, multi-award-winning Haitian-born composer and orchestrator
 * Wyclef Jean, Grammy Award-winning Haitian rapper, musician and actor
 * J-Live, rapper, DJ and producer
 * Jacki-O, rapper
 * J. Rosamond Johnson, composer and singer during the Harlem Renaissance
 * David Jude Jolicoeur, also known as "Trugoy the Dove"; rapper from De La Soul
 * Kangol Kid, rapper, UTFO
 * Rich The Kid, rapper
 * DJ Whoo Kid, DJ, producer
 * Steph Lecor, singer
 * Mach-Hommy, rapper
 * Maxwell, Grammy Award-winning singer
 * Leyla McCalla, cellist with the string band Carolina Chocolate Drops
 * Travie McCoy, lead singer of the band Gym Class Heroes
 * Woodson Michel, singer-songwriter, record producer and actor
 * Teri Moïse, singer
 * Michel Mauléart Monton, composer; notable for composing the classic song choucoune (known as "yellow bird" in the English version)
 * Richard Auguste Morse, founder of a mizik rasin band, RAM, named after his initials
 * Jimmy O, rapper
 * Pras, Grammy Award-winning rapper and founded of The Fugees; actor
 * Riva Nyri Précil, singer
 * Qwote, singer
 * Dawn Richard, singer
 * Devyn Rose, singer
 * Daniel Bernard Roumain, composer, musician
 * Saigon, rapper
 * Cécile McLorin Salvant, Grammy Award-winning jazz singer
 * 21 Savage, rapper (paternal grandfather was of a Haitian descent)
 * Melky Sedeck, contemporary R&B duo
 * Smitty, rapper
 * Sol, rapper
 * Vince Staples, rapper
 * Sergio Sylvestre, singer
 * MC Tee, rapper and co-founder of Mantronix
 * Jon Theodore, former drummer of The Mars Volta, current drummer for Queens of the Stone Age
 * Torch, rapper
 * Pastor Troy, rapper
 * Black Violin, musical duo
 * Sha Money XL, producer
 * Tony Yayo, rapper
 * Fridayy, musician
 * Sarina, musician

Basketball

 * Jeff Adrien, undrafted NBA free agent
 * Zach Auguste, undrafted NBA free agent, former Notre Dame basketball player
 * Kervin Bristol, professional basketball player currently playing for the KK Włocławek of the Polish Basketball League
 * Nadine Domond, former professional basketball player
 * Quincy Douby, former Sacramento Kings NBA guard and current Zhejiang Golden Bulls CBA player
 * Mario Elie, former Houston Rockets NBA guard
 * Marie Ferdinand-Harris, first Haitian American WNBA player drafted; former Phoenix Mercury guard
 * Blake Griffin, member of the Los Angeles Clippers after being drafted 1st in the 2009 NBA draft
 * Taylor Griffin, drafted by the Phoenix Suns
 * Nerlens Noel, member of the Philadelphia Sixers after being drafted 6th in the 2013 NBA draft
 * Eniel Polynice, member of the Atleticos de San German in the BSN of Puerto Rico
 * Matisse Thybulle, 20th selection of the 2019 NBA draft.

Boxing

 * Andre Berto, professional boxer, 2004 Haitian Olympian, two-time welterweight champion
 * Fernando Guerrero, Haitian-Dominican-born boxer
 * Erickson Lubin, professional boxer
 * Melissa St. Vil, women's lightweight boxer
 * Patrick Day, professional boxer

Football

 * Mackensie Alexander, current cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings
 * Stanley Arnoux, former linebacker for the New Orleans Saints
 * Cliff Avril, current defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks
 * D'Anthony Batiste, former offensive tackle for the Arizona Cardinals
 * Mackenzy Bernadeau, guard for the Dallas Cowboys
 * Giovani Bernard, current running back for Cincinnati Bengals
 * Yvenson Bernard, former running back for the St. Louis Rams, and Seattle Seahawks
 * Jacques Cesaire, former defensive end for the San Diego Chargers
 * Gosder Cherilus, current offensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 * Jason Chery, free agent wide receiver
 * Stalin Colinet, former defensive end/tackle
 * Antonio Cromartie, current cornerback for the New York Jets
 * Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith, current safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers
 * Marcell Dareus, nose tackle for the Buffalo Bills
 * Louis Delmas, current safety for the Detroit Lions
 * Pierre Desir, current cornerback the Cleveland Browns
 * Marc Dile, former guard/tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 * Jayson DiManche, current outside linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals
 * Leger Douzable, defensive end for the New York Jets
 * Vladimir Ducasse, current offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens
 * Elvis Dumervil, current defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers
 * Dominique Easley, defensive tackle for the New England Patriots
 * Terrence Fede, defensive end for the Miami Dolphins
 * Deondre Francois, collegiate quarterback for the Florida State Seminoles
 * Junior Galette, current linebacker for the Washington Redskins
 * Pierre Garçon, current wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers
 * Ron Girault, former safety
 * Josh Gordon, wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns
 * Stanley Jean-Baptiste, current cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks
 * Ricky Jean-Francois, current defensive tackle for the Washington Redskins
 * Max Jean-Gilles, former offensive guard for the Philadelphia Eagles
 * Lemuel Jeanpierre, guard and center for the Seattle Seahawks
 * Rashad Jeanty, former linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals and current defensive lineman for the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL
 * Jerry Jeudy, wide receiver for the Denver Broncos
 * Carlos Joseph, former offensive tackle for the San Diego Chargers
 * Davin Joseph, current offensive guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 * Frantz Joseph, American Canadian football player
 * Johnathan Joseph, current cornerback for the Houston Texans
 * Karl Joseph, current safety for the Oakland Raiders
 * William Joseph, former defensive tackle for the New York Giants
 * Steve Josue, former linebacker
 * Emmanuel Lamur, current linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings
 * Sammuel Lamur, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and current free agent linebacker
 * Corey Lemonier, defensive linebacker for the New York Jets
 * Corey Liuget, defensive end for the Los Angeles Chargers
 * Henry McDonald, played Rochester Jeffersons from 1911 until 1917; one of the best known black American pro players during the era prior to the formation of the National Football League in 1920
 * Whitney Mercilus, current linebacker for the Houston Texans
 * Sony Michel, running back
 * Vernand Morency, former running back for the Houston Texans (2005–2006) and Green Bay Packers (2006–2007)
 * Steve Octavien, former linebacker for the Cleveland Browns and current linebacker for the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL
 * Olsen Pierre, free agent defensive end
 * Kevin Pierre-Louis, linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks
 * Jason Pierre-Paul, current defensive end for the New York Giants
 * Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, current cornerback for the New York Giants
 * Jonal Saint-Dic, former defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs (2008)
 * Greg Senat, offensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs
 * Pierre Thomas, former running back for the New Orleans Saints
 * Fitzgerald Toussaint, running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers
 * Jonathan Vilma, former linebacker for the New Orleans Saints

Martial artists

 * James Edson Berto, MMA fighter
 * Ovince St. Preux, mixed martial artist; competes in the Light Heavyweight division for the UFC
 * Adler Volmar, judoka
 * Neil Magny, mixed martial artist; competes in the Welterweight division of the UFC

Soccer

 * Jozy Altidore, soccer player for Toronto FC
 * Gilbert Bayonne, soccer player
 * John Boulos, soccer player; is in the US National Soccer Hall of Fame
 * Kimberly Boulos, soccer player
 * Joenal Castma, retired soccer player; played in the US and Poland
 * Dave Cayemitte, soccer player (retired), now businessman
 * Steward Ceus, soccer player
 * Ronil Dufrene, retired soccer player
 * Derrick Etienne, soccer player
 * Pat Fidelia, retired soccer player
 * Joe Gaetjens, member of the 1950 World Cup US National Team
 * Zachary Herivaux, soccer player
 * Andrew Jean-Baptiste, soccer player
 * Stefan Jerome, soccer player
 * Jacques LaDouceur, retired soccer player
 * Jerrod Laventure, soccer player, forward (striker) for Red Bull New York)
 * Benji Michel, soccer player
 * Fafà Picault, soccer player
 * Jerry Saint-Vil, soccer player
 * Brian Sylvestre, soccer player
 * Sébastien Thurière, soccer player

Sprinters and runners

 * Dudley Dorival, Olympic hurdler
 * Wadeline Jonathas, Olympic sprinter
 * Nadine Faustin-Parker, Olympic hurdler who competed for Haiti in the Olympics in Sydney (2000), Athens (2004), and Beijing (2008)
 * Moise Joseph, middle-distance runner; competed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens
 * Barbara Pierre, track and field sprint athlete in the Pan American Games
 * Marlena Wesh, sprinter competing in the 2012 Summer Olympics for Haiti
 * Angie Annelus, sprinter finalist at the 2019 World Athletics Championships

Tennis

 * Ronald Agénor, professional tennis player
 * Victoria Duval, professional tennis player
 * Jennifer Elie, professional tennis player
 * Naomi Osaka, professional tennis player

Other sports

 * Francis Bouillon, professional hockey player
 * Dayana Cadeau, Haitian-born Canadian American professional bodybuilder
 * Shad Gaspard, WWE professional wrestler
 * Haiti Kid, retired WWF professional wrestler; had dwarfism
 * Samyr Lainé, Olympic triple jumper; competed for Haiti at the 2012 Summer Olympics
 * Rodney St. Cloud, professional bodybuilder
 * Touki Toussaint, professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves

Fashion designers

 * Azéde Jean-Pierre
 * Kerby Jean-Raymond, founder of the menswear label, Pyre Moss
 * Fabrice Simon, award-winning artist and fashion designer, best known for his handmade beaded dresses

Historical personalities

 * Jeremiah Hamilton, Wall Street broker noted as "the only black millionaire in New York" about a decade before the American Civil War
 * Jean-Jacob Jeudy, activist, politician and currently a soldier in the United States Army
 * Viter Juste, coined the name "Little Haiti" for the neighborhood in Miami which is a center of the Haitian American community in Florida; considered the father of the community in Miami
 * Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, founder of the city of Chicago
 * Fred Staten, Haitian-born nightclub performer and infamous Voodoo King of New Orleans, known as Chicken Man
 * Charles Terres Weymann, racing pilot; flew for Nieuport during World War I as a test pilot; was awarded the rank of Chevalier of the Legion of Honour

Lawyers

 * Combat Jack, hip hop music attorney and executive
 * Edwin Warren Moïse, lawyer, physician and Confederate States of America
 * Karl Racine, first elected Attorney General of the District of Columbia
 * Mildred Trouillot, lawyer who married Jean-Bertrand Aristide

Literature

 * Yamiche Alcindor, journalist
 * Lylah M. Alphonse, news editor
 * Elsie Augustave, author
 * Dean Baquet, Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist and the executive editor of The New York Times
 * Steve Canal, author
 * Jacqueline Charles, journalist
 * Anne-Christine d'Adesky, journalist and activist
 * Edwidge Danticat, author
 * Donna Denizé, poet and award-winning teacher
 * Joel Dreyfuss, journalist, editor, and writer
 * Roxane Gay, writer
 * Fabrice Guerrier, writer
 * Nathalie Handal, award-winning poet, writer, and playwright
 * Sacha Jenkins, journalist
 * James Weldon Johnson, author, and civil rights activist
 * Peniel E. Joseph, historian
 * Josaphat-Robert Large, writer
 * Dimitry Elias Léger, novelist and essayist
 * Roland Martin, journalist and syndicated columnist
 * Marilene Phipps, poet, painter, and short story writer
 * Alvin Francis Poussaint, author
 * Victor Séjour, writer
 * Luisah Teish, author
 * Gina Athena Ulysse, poet

Science

 * Gerard A. Alphonse, electrical engineer, physicist and research scientist; 2005 president of the United States division of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
 * Louis Gustave De Russy, engineer and U.S. army officer
 * John James Audubon, naturalist
 * Jean Charles Faget, physician
 * Henri Ford, pediatric surgeon
 * Linda Marc, public health researcher
 * David Malebranche, physician working in the field of HIV/AIDS
 * Hermanie Pierre, civil and environmental engineer

Political figures

 * Mack Bernard, member of the Florida House of Representatives
 * Rodneyse Bichotte, first Haitian American elected in New York City, representing 42nd District of the New York State Assembly
 * André Birotte Jr., United States district judge for the United States District Court for the Central District of California
 * Ronald Brise, Florida House of Representatives
 * Eugene Bullard, first black American military pilot
 * Daphne Campbell, Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives
 * Josaphat Celestin, former Mayor of North Miami, Florida, and first Haitian American elected mayor of a sizable U.S. city
 * Auguste Davezac, diplomat who served twice as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands
 * Rodolphe Desdunes, civil rights activist and militiaman involved in the Battle of Liberty Place
 * René Edward De Russy, Brevet Brigadier General in the United States Army
 * Jules DeMun, aristocrat
 * Philippe Derose, North Miami Beach councilman
 * Mathieu Eugene, New York City councilman
 * Phara Souffrant Forrest, New York Assemblywoman-elect and member of the Democratic Socialists of America
 * Linda Dorcena Forry, Massachusetts State Senator
 * M. Rony Francois, public health director of Georgia
 * Patrick Gaspard, Director of the White House Office of Political Affairs (2009–2012), United States Ambassador to South Africa (2013–2016)
 * Richard Howell Gleaves, 55th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
 * Lody Jean, First Haitian-American woman to be appointed to and serve on Florida's 11th Circuit Court
 * Kimberly Jean-Pierre, Member of the New York Assembly from the 11th District
 * Jean Jeudy, New Hampshire State Representative
 * Ruthzee Louijeune, Member of the Boston City Council at-large
 * Jacques Jiha, New York City Commissioner of Finance
 * John Joël Joseph, member of the Senate of Haiti
 * Rita Joseph, member of the New York City Council
 * Smith Joseph, mayor of North Miami
 * Harry LaRosiliere, 38th mayor of Plano, Texas
 * Raymond Lohier, became the first Haitian American to be confirmed (unanimously) by the United States Senate as a Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit in New York
 * Mia Love, first Haitian-American and first black Republican woman in Congress; U.S. House of Representative for Utah's 4th district and former mayor of Saratoga Springs, Utah
 * Farah Louis, member of the New York City Council
 * Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, first Haitian-American Democratic woman in Congress; U.S. House of Representative for Florida's 20th district
 * Rudy Moise, retired Colonel of the United States Air Force, and politician
 * Jean Monestime, first Haitian American to serve on the Miami-Dade County Commission
 * Andre Pierre, former Democratic mayor of North Miami, Florida
 * Pierre-Richard Prosper, ambassador, lawyer, prosecutor and government official
 * Karl Racine, first elected Attorney General of the District of Columbia
 * Joseph Rainey, Republican member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
 * Alonzo J. Ransier, 54th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
 * Kwame Raoul, 42nd Attorney General of Illinois
 * Yolly Roberson, Florida State Representative
 * Marie St. Fleur, former Massachusetts State Representative
 * Michaelle C. Solages, represents the 22nd district in the New York State Assembly
 * Brandon Tatum, former police officer, former/undrafted football player and conservative commentator

Religion

 * John J. Chanche, first Roman Catholic Bishop of Natchez, 1841–1852
 * Mother Mary Lange, foundress of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, Servant of God
 * Mama Lola, Vodou priestess
 * Pierre Toussaint, beatified candidate for sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church

Others

 * Stanley Barbot, radio personality based in New York City
 * Jean-Robert Bellande, professional poker player, reality TV contestant, nightclub owner and promoter
 * Patrick Dorismond, police abuse victim; brother of reggae artist Bigga Haitian
 * Jeff Gardere, talk show host, psychiatrist and author
 * Karine Jean-Pierre, senior advisor and national spokesperson for MoveOn.org
 * Abner Louima, police brutality survivor
 * Frantzdy Pierrot, soccer player for Maccabi Haifa
 * Frantzdy Pierrot, soccer player for Maccabi Haifa