List of Albanians

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This is a list of historical and living Albanians (ethnic Albanian people or people of full or partial Albanian ancestry) who are famous or notable, sorted by occupation and name.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

Arts

Literature

Writers

A–G

H–L

M–S

T–Z

Journalists

Folklorists

Novelists

Poets

Screenwriters

Translators

Music

Composers

Palokë Kurti (1858–1920)
Prenkë Jakova (1917–1969)
Lorenc Antoni (1909–1991)
Prenkë Jakova (1917–1969)
Nikolla Zoraqi (1921–1991)
Neço Muko (1899–1934)
Mustafa Krantja (born 1921)
Rexho Mulliqi (1923–1982)
Simon Gjoni (1925–1991)
Tonin Harapi (1925–1991)
Tish Daija (1926–2004)
Çesk Zadeja (1927–1997)
Avni Mula (born 1928)
Feim Ibrahimi (1935–1997)
Akil Mark Koci (born 1936)
Esat Rizvanolli (born 1936)
Limoz Dizdari (born 1942)
Lejla Agolli (born 1950)
Aleksandër Peçi (born 1951)
David Tukiçi (born 1956)
Thomas Simaku (born 1958)
Vasil Tole (born 1963)

Pianists

Edlira Dedja

Singers

Action Bronson (born 1984) – American rapper from Flushing, Queens, New York
Bleona – singer and entertainer; dubbed the "Madonna of Albania" by New York City's Daily News
Miriam Cani – Germany
Ledina Çelo – Albania and Europe
Colos (born 1981 in Prizren, Kosovo) – Albanian rapper living in Germany; artist of Mellow Vibes Records; resides in Berlin
Elhaida Dani – Italy
Aferdita Dreshaj – pop singer
Kristine Elezaj – United States
G4SHI – ethnic Albanian rapper and singer; originally from Kosovo; has had success with collaborations with more established artists such as French Montana and Nipsey Hussle; in 2011, released his debut album Last of a Rare Breed under Concrete Music Group
Adrian Gaxha – Albanian singer from Macedonia
Elvana Gjata – Albanian singer; often referred to as The Albanian Diva
Kasem Hallulli – pop and traditional singer
Agim Hushi – soprano
Ermonela Jaho – Italy soprano
Leonora Jakupi – Kosovo-Albanian singer
JMSN – American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer, mixer, videographer and designer; of Albanian origin
Elsa Lila – Italy
Vesa Luma – pop singer
Mc Kresha – Kosovar-Albanian rapper
Inva Mula (born 1963) – opera lyric soprano and actress
Patrick Nuo – Swiss singer, songwriter and model; born to a Kosovo-Albanian father
Rita Ora (born 1990) – British singer-songwriter and actress; in 2012, released her debut album, Ora which debuted at number one in the United Kingdom; of Albanian parents from Kosovo
Anna Oxa – Italy
Kristaq Paspali (1928–2001) opera lyric tenor
Saimir Pirgu – opera lyric tenor and actor
Fitnete Rexha – serenade and folk singer
Anjeza Shahini – Europe
Parashqevi Simaku – pop and folk singer
Alban Skënderaj
Dren Abazi
Unikkatil – Albanian entertainer, rapper, and record producer from The Bronx, New York
Alketa Vejsiu – singer and television presenter
Gjyste Vulaj – pop and other genres
Dafina Zeqiri – Kosovar-Albanian singer and dancer

Performing arts

Actors

Film and television directors

Dhimitër Anagnosti – film director
Faruk Begolli – actor and director
Besnik Bisha – actor and film director
Kujtim Çashku – film director and screenwriter
Arian Çuliqi – television director and television script writer
Gëzim Erebara – film director, screenwriter, translator and cinematography historian of the second half of the 20th century
Kujtim Gjonaj – screenwriter, director of documentary films and cartoons; producer and publisher
Hysen Hakani – film director and screenwriter
Xhanfize Keko – film director
Saimir Kumbaro – film director
Ibrahim Muçaj – film director
Andamion Murataj – film director, producer and screenwriter
Dhimitër Orgocka – film and stage actor; director
Agim Qirjaqi – actor and television director
Llazi Sërbo – film and stage actor; director
Gjergj Xhuvani – film director, producer and screenwriter

Models and beauty pageant participants

Erbi Ago (born 1990) – model and actor
Sadina Alla – model; crowned Miss Universe Albania 2007
Diana Avdiu – model; Miss Universe 2012 Photogenic and top 16
Yllka Berisha – beauty queen
Ledina Çelo – model and singer
Claudia Conserva – Chilean actress, model and television presenter; of Italian-Albanian (Arbëreshë) descent
Emina Cunmulaj – Albanian-American high-fashion model in the United States
Marigona Dragusha (also known as Gona Dragusha) (born 1990) – model; pageant titleholder from Kosovo; placed as second runner-up at the Miss Universe 2009 pageant
Afërdita Dreshaj – singer and model; crowned Miss Universe Kosovo 2011; represented the Republic of Kosovo in Miss Universe 2011 (top 16)
Adrola Dushi – Miss Universe Albania 2012
Sara Gjoni – model and beauty pageant contestant
Egla Harxhi – beauty queen
Eralda Hitaj – model and beauty pageant contestant
Adelina Ismajli – model and singer
Denisa Kola – model and beauty queen
Sidorela Kola – beauty queen
Anisa Kospiri – model; represented Albania at Miss Universe 2002 and made it to the top ten
Zana Krasniqi (born 1988) – model and beauty queen; Miss Universe and placed in the top 10 (6th place) of the Miss Universe 2008
Angela Martini – Albanian model in the United States; top six at Miss Universe 2010
Matilda Mecini – beauty queen and model; has modeled for fashion designers in Albania, England, France, Italy and the United States
Venera Mustafa – beauty queen
Gentiana Ramadani – beauty queen
Hygerta Sako – model; a semifinalist at Miss Europe 1996
Valbona Selimllari – beauty pageant model; crowned as Mrs Globe of 1999 among all other girls representing their countries world wide
Mirjeta Shala – beauty queen
Rudina Suti – model
Agnesa Vuthaj – model and beauty pageant winner
Hasna Xhukiçi (born 1988) – fashion model and beauty queen; placed as one of the top-15 semifinalists (11th place) Miss Universe 2009
Monika Zguro – beauty queen

Dancers and choreographers

Tony Dovolani – instructor and judge; based in New York City, New York, United States
Esdalin Gorani – ballet dancer, stage dancer and choreographer
Tringa Hysa – dancer, ballerina
Kledi Kadiu – dancer, actor, television personality and author
Altin Kaftira – former danseur with the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Angelin Preljocaj – French dancer and choreographer of Albanian origin
Ferbent Shehu – dancer and choreographer

Television personalities

Hana Cakuli (born 1989) – singer; from Montenegro
Claudia Conserva (born 1974) – Chilean actress, model and television presenter; of Italian-Albanian (Arbëreshë) descent
Benet Kaci (born 1978) – Kosovan television personality; from Kosovo
Florina Kaja (born 1982) – American reality-television participant, singer and actress
Alketa Vejsiu (born 1982) – singer, television personality, producer and radio presenter
Mike Adam (formerly Prolifik) (born 1985) – American television personality and radio presenter; of Albanian descent

Visual arts

Architects

Onufri – was an Orthodox icon painter and Archpriest of Elbasan
David Selenica – painter of the late 17th and the early 18th century
Andrea Aleksi – architect, painter and sculptor
Qemal Butka – architect, painter, politician and postage stamps engraver
Enver Faja – architect and diplomat
Kolë Idromeno – painter, sculptor, photographer, architect and engineer
Architect Kasemi – master of Ottoman classical architecture
Pilo Keri – architect
Spiro Koleka – civil engineer, army official and communist politician
Hasan Masurica – architect, scientist, engineer and inventor
Mimar Sinan – architect

Curators

Adela Demetja

Painters, cartoonists, illustrators

Sadri Ahmeti – painter
Engjëll Berisha – painter
Sabri Berkel – painter
Abdurrahim Buza – painter
Masar Caka – painter
Vittore Carpaccio – artist of icons and frescoes
Xhovalin Delia – painter, publicist and film director
Abidin Dino – painter
Ali Dino – cartoonist
Parid Dule – painter and karate instructor or trainer of martial arts
Tahir Emra – painter
Abdullah Gërguri – artist in restoration and conservation of icons and frescoes
Helidon Gjergji – contemporary artist
Ervin Hatibi – poet, essayist and painter
Fatmir Haxhiu – painter
Agim Kadillari
Omer Kaleshi – painter
Ibrahim Kodra – painter and writer
Zef Kolombi – painter
Hysni Krasniqi – painter and graphic artist
Andrea Kushi – painter
Gazmend Leka – painter, artistic director and scholar
Nimon Lokaj
Ndoc Martini – painter
Pjetër Marubi – Italian-born painter and photographer
Agathangjel Mbrica – artist and goldsmith
Toni Milaqi – contemporary artist (painter, draughtsman)
Vangjush Mio – painter
Arben Morina – painter
Aziz Nimani
Onufri (16th-century) – painter; known for his Byzantine-style icons
George Pali – painter, contemporary visual artist
Edi Rama – painter, basketballer, leader of Socialist Party of Albania and Prime Minister of Albania
Ramadan Ramadani – painter
Chatin Sarachi – painter and politician
David Selenica – painter
Zef Shoshi – painter
Saimir Strati – multi-media artist and painter
Agim Sulaj – painter, illustrator and cartoonist
Arthur Tashko
Esat Valla – painter
Eltjon Valle – painter
Shaqir Veseli – multi-media artist and painter
Florian Vika
Ilia Xhokaxhi – painter, scenic designer, and costume designer
Agim Zajmi – painter
Lendita Zeqiraj – painter and film director
Athanas Zografi
Kostandin Zografi – painter

Photographers

Fadil Berisha – official photographer for Miss Universe, Miss USA and Rolex
Emin Kadi – fashion photographer, journalist, art director and magazine publisher
Gegë Marubi (1907–1984)
Kel Marubi (1870–1940)
Pietro Marubi (1834–1903)
Gjon Mili (1904–1984)
Burim Myftiu (born 1961)
Kristo Shuli (1858–1938)
George Tames (1919–1994) – first-generation Albanian American

Sculptors

Dhimiter Çani (1904–1990)
Agim Çavdarbasha (1944–1999)
Sadik Kaceli (1914–2000)
Kristina Koljaka (1916–2005)
Genc Mulliqi (born 1966)
Vasiliev Nini (born 1954)
Janaq Paço (1914–1991)
Kristaq Rama (1932–1998)
Murat Toptani (1867–1918)
Sislej Xhafa
Nexhmedin Zajmi (1916–1991)

Albanians (born after 1900)

Melihate Ajeti (1935–2005) – actress
Faruk Begolli (1944–2007) – former actor
John Belushi (1949–1982) – American actor of Albanian origin
Bekim Fehmiu (1936–2010) – former actor and the first Eastern European actor to star in Hollywood during the Cold War
Simon Gjoni (1925–1991) – composer
Adem Jashari (1955–1998) – one of the founders of the Kosovo Liberation Army
Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, known as Mother Teresa (1910–1997)^[1]^[2] – Nobel Peace Prize winner and beatified nun
Ibrahim Rugova (1944–2006) – President of Kosovo from 1993 to 2006
Cesk Zadeja (1927–1997) – composer; "The Father of Albanian music"

Kastrioti family

Skanderbeg (1405–1468) – 15th-century Albanian lord; "Hero of Christianism"; initiated and organized the League of Lezhë, which proclaimed him Chief of the League of the Albanian people
Pal Kastrioti – noble man in Albania of the 14th century; around 1383 he is attested as the ruler of two villages (Sina and Lower Gardi); father was a kephale of Kanina which belonged to the Principality of Valona;[dubious – discuss]; according to Gjon Muzaka Pal had three sons: Konstantin, Alexius and Gjon Kastrioti who was Skanderbeg's father
Gjon Kastrioti (fl. 1407-1437) – Scanderbeg's father
Gjon Kastrioti II – Count of Soleto; son of George Kastrioti
Hamza Kastrioti – nephew of Scanderbeg

Monarchs

Others

Lejla Agolli (born 1950) – composer
Joseph J. DioGuardi (born 1940) – American certified public accountant and a Republican politician; his family traces its roots to the Arbëreshë people
Kara DioGuardi (born 1970) – American contemporanean composer of Albanian descent
Stan Dragoti (born 1932) – American film director; work includes the comedies Mr. Mom (1983) and Love at First Bite (1979)
Victor Gojcaj (born 1983) – American actor of Albanian descent
Mark Gjonaj – American politician
Donald Lambro (born 1940) – American journalist; chief political correspondent of The Washington Times; columnist nationally syndicated by United Feature Syndicate
Azem Maksutaj (born 1975) – retired Kosovar Albanian-Swiss kickboxer and karateka; World Muaythai Council Heavyweight Muay Thai World Champion
Laura Mersini-Houghton – theoretical physicist-cosmologist and a professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Avni Mula (born 1928) – composer and father of Albanian opera soprano Inva Mula (born 1963)
Ferid Murad (father surname: Murat Ejupi) (born 1936) – American scientist of Albanian descent; co-recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine; honorary member of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo
Angelin Preljocaj – French dancer of Albanian descent; choreographer of contemporary dance
Igli Tare (born 1973) – former football striker; technical area coordinator of S.S. Lazio sports club
Shaban Trstena (born 1965) – former freestyle wrestler; first Albanian Olympic gold medalist

Astronauts

William G. Gregory

Historians

Scientists

Ferid Murad – scientist

Sportspeople

Basketball players

Ermal Kuqo (born 1980) – player for the Turkish team Anadolu Efes
Blerim Mazregu (born 1981) – ethnic Albanian; Kosovan professional basketball player
Vildan Mitku (born 1983) – player for the Tigers Tübingen in the Basketball Bundesliga

Football players

Ansi Agolli (born 1982)
Adrian Aliaj (born 1976)
Renato Arapi (born 1986)
Kosovare Asllani (born 1989)
Fatmire Bajramaj (born 1988)
Valon Behrami (born 1985)
Besart Berisha (born 1985)
Etrit Berisha (born 1989)
Shergo Biran (born 1979)
Erjon Bogdani (born 1977)
Ervin Bulku (born 1981)
Lorik Cana (born 1983)
Edgar Çani (born 1989)
Debatik Curri (born 1984)
Armend Dallku (born 1983)
Blerim Džemaili (born 1986)
Jahmir Hyka (born 1988)
Gzim Istrefi (born 1991)
Adnan Januzaj (born 1995)
Salvator Kacaj (born 1967)
Uliks Kotrri (born 1975)
Burim Kukeli (born 1984)
Altin Lala (born 1975)
Gilman Lika (born 1987)
Andi Lila (born 1986)
Sabjen Lilaj (born 1989)
Mërgim Mavraj (born 1986)
Alban Meha (born 1986)
Admir Mehmedi (born 1991)
Agon Mehmeti (born 1989)
Tefik Osmani (born 1985)
Renaldo Rama (born 1990)
Odise Roshi (born 1991)
Altin Rraklli (born 1970)
Armando Sadiku (born 1991)
Hamdi Salihi (born 1984)
Fatjon Sefa (born 1984)
Andis Shala (born 1988
Xherdan Shaqiri (born 1991)
Orges Shehi (born 1977)
Ervin Skela (born 1976)
Samir Ujkani (born 1988)
Franc Veliu (born 1988)
Emiljano Vila (born 1988)
Granit Xhaka (born 1992)

Martial artists

Xhavit Bajrami – boxer and kickboxer
Ilir Latifi – MMA Fighter
Shemsi Beqiri – kickboxer
Elis Guri – wrestler
Besim Kabashi – kickboxer
Majlinda Kelmendi – judoka
Luan Krasniqi – boxer
Rustemi Kreshnik – kickboxer
Eder Kurti – boxer
Mirdi Limani – kickboxer
Azem Maksutaj – kickboxer
Pjetër Malota – taekwondo and Birmingham martial arts
Elvir Muriqi – boxer
Kreshnik Qato – boxer
Agron Preteni – kickboxer
Sahit Prizreni – wrestler
Aziz Salihu – boxer
Nuri Seferi – boxer
Naim Terbunja – boxer
Shkelqim Troplini – wrestler
Valdrin Vatnikaj – kickboxer

Swimmers

Volleyball players

Chess players

Aldo Zadrima (born 1948) – former national champion

Historical figures

Sedefkar Mehmed Agha (1540–1617)
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881–1938) – known as Atatürk ("father of the Turks"); Turkish statesman and founder and first president of the Republic^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]
Ballaban Badera – commander of Ottoman Empire
Marin Barleti – historian and Catholic priest; considered the first Albanian historian, especially because of his biography on Skanderbeg, translated in many languages in the 16th to the 18th centuries
Bekim Berisha
Bardhok Biba
Isa Boletini
Ibrahim Bushati
Kara Mahmud Bushati (1740–1796)
Mehmed Bushati
Mustafa Bushati
Prek Cali
Dervish Cara – leader of the Albanian Revolt of 1843–1844
Pope Clement XI (Giovanni Francesco Albani) (1649–1721)
Bajram Curri
Ali Demi (1918–1943)
Lekë Dukagjini – prince and member of Dukagjini family; contemporary of Skanderbeg; known for the Kanuni i Lekë Dukagjinit, a code of law instituted in northern Albania
Ali Demi
Pal Engjëlli – Catholic clergyman; Archbishop of Durrës and Cardinal of Albania; in 1462, wrote the first known sentence retrieved so far in the Albanian language
Mehmet Âkif Ersoy (1873–1936) – of Albanian descent
Nezim Frakulla (1680–1760)
Shote Galica
Carl Ritter von Ghega (1802–1860) – designer of the Semmering Railway
George Ghica – founder of Ghica family
Shtjefën Gjeçovi (1873–1929) – Catholic priest, ethnologist and folklorist; known for being the father of Albanians' folklore studies
Luigj Gurakuqi
Ramush Haradinaj (born 1968) – former leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army and former Prime Minister of Kosovo
Adem Jashari
Hamëz Jashari
Branko Kadija
Hamza Kastrioti
Ali Kelmendi
Fatmir Limaj – politician from Kosovo; during the 1998–1999 Kosovo War, was a commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army in the Lapušnik area
Ded Gjo Luli
Misto Mame
Jordan Misja
Iljas Mirahori (1408–1512)
Aleksandër Moisiu (1879–1935) – Austrian stage actor of Albanian descent; first in Europe to interpret characters from August Strindberg, Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov, Luigi Pirandello, and Hugo von Hofmannsthal; in Berlin, was acclaimed for his 1906 performance of Oswald in Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts and in the premiere of Frank Wedekind's Spring Awakening
Bule Naipi
Zahir Pajaziti
Selam Musai
Ahmet Kurt Pasha
Ali Pasha (1740–1822)
Ali Pasha of Gucia (1828–1885)
Edhem Pasha (1851–1909)
Ibrahim Pasha of Berat
Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt (1789–1848)
Kara Murat Pasha
Koca Davud Pasha (14??–1498)
Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed Pasha (1635–1676)
Köprülü Mehmed Pasha (1575–1661)
Lütfi Pasha (1488-1564) – grand vizier of Ottoman Empire
Mahmud Dramali Pasha (1780–1822)
Muhammad Ali of Egypt (1769–1849)
Ismail Qemali (1844–1919) – leader of the Albanian national movement; founder of the modern Albanian state and its first head of state and government
Mustafa Reshiti
Perlat Rexhepi
Ibrahim Rugova
Haxhi Shehreti
Hodo Sokoli (1836–1883)
Mic Sokoli
Qemal Stafa
Hashim Thaçi (born 1968) – Prime Minister of Kosovo; leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo; former political leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army
Karl Topia (1331-1388) – prince of Albania
Pretash Zekaj Ulaj (known as Pretash Zekaj)
Mujo Ulqinaku
Muhamet Xhemajli
Asim Vokshi
Vrana Konti (Count Vrana) (1442–1458) – Skanderbeg's general
Omer Vrioni
Tahir Zemaj

References

↑ Spink, Kathryn (1997). Mother Teresa: A Complete Authorized Biography. New York. HarperCollins, pp.16. ISBN 0-06-250825-3.
↑ Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910–1997)
↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
↑ Mango, Andrew, Ataturk: The Biography of the Founder of Modern Turkey, (Overlook TP, 2002), p. 27.
↑ Lou Giaffo: Albania: Eye of the Balkan Vortex^{[page needed]}
↑ Jackh, Ernest, The Rising Crescent, (Goemaere Press, 2007), p. 31, Turkish mother and Albanian father]
↑ Isaac Frederick Marcosson, Turbulent years, Ayer Publishing, 1969, p. 144.
↑ Richmond, Yale, From Da to Yes: understanding the East Europeans, (Intercultural Press Inc., 1995), 212.

[spink-1] Spink, Kathryn (1997). Mother Teresa: A Complete Authorized Biography. New York. HarperCollins, pp.16. ISBN 0-06-250825-3.

[2] Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910–1997)

[3] Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

[4] Mango, Andrew, Ataturk: The Biography of the Founder of Modern Turkey, (Overlook TP, 2002), p. 27.

[5] Lou Giaffo: Albania: Eye of the Balkan Vortex^{[page needed]}

[books.google.com.tr-6] Jackh, Ernest, The Rising Crescent, (Goemaere Press, 2007), p. 31, Turkish mother and Albanian father]

[p._144-7] Isaac Frederick Marcosson, Turbulent years, Ayer Publishing, 1969, p. 144.

[8] Richmond, Yale, From Da to Yes: understanding the East Europeans, (Intercultural Press Inc., 1995), 212.

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