List of Albanian Americans

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

Politics

• Sal Albanese – politician
• Richard Caliguiri – politician
• Joe DioGuardi – Congressman
• Gjevalin Gegaj – member of the board of trustees of the National Albanian American Council (NAAC)
• Mark Gjonaj – assemblyman, New York
• Rexhep Krasniqi – historian, teacher, nationalist, and anti-communist politician and activist
• Konstantina Lukes – former mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts
• Nicholas Scutari – Democratic Party politician

Science and academia

• Carol Folt – biologist and first woman leader of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• William G. Gregory – astronaut
• Laura Mersini-Houghton – cosmologist
• Ferid Murad – medical researcher Nobel laureate
• Arshi Pipa – philosopher, writer, poet and literary critic
• Andrea Shundi – agronomist
• Stavro Skëndi – linguist and historian

Cinema

• Jim Belushi – actor
• John Belushi – actor and film producer
• Robert Belushi – actor
• James Biberi – actor
• Mike Bongiorno – Italian-American television host
• Tracee Chimo – actress
• Eliza Dushku – actress
• Nate Dushku – actor
• Mike Dusi – actor and film producer
• Enver Gjokaj – actor
• Victor Gojcaj – actor
• Agim Kaba – actor and film producer
• Masiela Lusha – actress
• Pjetër Malota – actor
• Andamion Murataj – Albanian film director, producer, and screenwriter
• J. J. Philbin – American producer and screenwriter
• Nickola Shreli – actor and producer
• Klement Tinaj – actor
• Nik Xhelilaj – actor
• Josh Mostel – actor

Arts and entertainment

• Michael Bellusci – musician and drummer
• Olivier Berggruen – art historian and curator; his maternal grandfather is Alessandro Moissi who is of Albanian origin
• Big Body Bes – hip-hop artist
• Anita Bitri – singer
• Njomza – singer
• Bleona – singer
• Action Bronson – hip-hop artist
• Luke Burbank – radio and podcast host
• Drita D'Avanzo – television personality
• Kara DioGuardi – singer/songwriter and television personality
• Tony Dovolani – professional ballroom dancer
• Stan Dragoti – film director, producer, artist
• Kristine Elezaj – singer
• Bosch Fawstin – cartoonist
• Gashi – hip-hop artist
• Jen Selter – Fitness model
• Genta Ismajli – American-Albanian singer, songwriter, and actress
• JMSN – singer/songwriter and producer
• Joe Lala – actor and singer
• Paul Leka – music songwriter and producer
• Lindita – Singer and songwriter
• Ava Max – singer
• Gjon Mili – pioneer photographer
• Burim Myftiu – contemporary photographer
• Thomas Nassi – musician and composer
• Vasiliev Nini – Albanian-born American sculptor
• George Pali – painter
• Steven Parrino – American artist and musician associated with energetic punk nihilism
• Talip Peshkepia – film composer and songwriter
• Regis Philbin – television personality
• Bebe Rexha – singer and songwriter
• Sxip Shirey – American electric-acoustic composer, performer, and storyteller
• Bobbi Starr – pornographic actress
• Aureta Thomollari – Albanian American luxury consultant
• Sislej Xhafa – contemporary artist
• Unikkatil – Albanian American rapper

Literature

• Pema Browne – American abstract artist
• Costa Chekrezi – Albanian patriot, historian, and publicist
• Daniela Gioseffi – poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and performer
• Betim Muço – writer, poet, translator, and seismologist
• Emin Toro – American lawyer
• Ardian Vehbiu – author and translator

Business and civil society

• Anthony Athanas – restaurateur
• Ekrem Bardha – businessman, political activist
• Nicolas Berggruen – businessman
• Mark Gjonaj – businessman, politician
• Florin Krasniqi – businessman, politician
• James J. Schiro – businessman
• Martin Shkreli – businessman
• Ramiz Tafilaj – businessman, political activist
• Olsi Rama – project manager
• Louis V. Mato – American politician and businessman
• Gjevalin Gegaj – American businessman

Media

• Fadil Berisha – photographer
• Emin Kadi – photographer, journalist, art director
• Florina Kaja – singer and reality TV actress, The Bad Girls Club Season 4
• Bill Kovach – journalist and editor
• Donald Lambro – journalist
• Eric Margolis – journalist and editor of the Toronto Sun; mother is Albanian
• Gjekë Marinaj – author and translator
• Gjon Mili – photographer
• Burim Myftiu – photographer
• Tom Perrotta – novelist and screenwriter
• Molly Qerim – moderator, reporter
• George Tames – photographer for The New York Times
• Nick Tosches – journalist, novelist, biographer, and poet
• Nexhmie Zaimi – journalist
• Iliriana Sulkuqi – journalist
• Andrew Kaczynski – journalist, and a political reporter for CNN

Models

• Emina Cunmulaj – model
• Floriana Garo – television presenter and model
• Jasmina Cunmulaj – American model
• Afërdita Dreshaj – model, singer, beauty queen
• Angela Martini – model
• Cindy Marina – model, volleyball player, and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Albania 2019

Science and technology

• Donald Leka – pioneer in cloud computing and creator of the award-winning Glide OS

Sport

• Dilly Duka – MLS soccer player
• Lee Elia – baseball player, coach and manager
• Elizabeta Karabolli – shooting sport
• Elvir Muriqi – professional boxer
• Aaron Palushaj – professional hockey player
• Andy Parrino – baseball player
• Enkelejda Shehu – air pistol shooter
• Jaren Sina – basketball player
• Kristjan Sokoli – NFL player
• Donald Suxho – volleyball
• Andy Varipapa – professional trick bowler
• Joe Albanese – baseball player
• Robert Baggio Kcira – American soccer player
• Šaćir Hot – American soccer player
• Frank Leskaj – American swimmer
• Halil Kanacević – American-born Montenegrin professional basketball player
• Max Rugova – Kosovo Albanian professional footballer
• Sadri Gjonbalaj – retired American soccer player
• Tie Domi – professional ice hockey player
• Dominick Bellizzi – American jockey
• Kristina Maksuti – American-born Albanian professional footballer
• Vera Razburgaj – Albanian football midfielder
• Max Rugova – soccer player

Religion

• Archbishop Nikon of Boston – OCA's Bishop of Diocese of New England, Locum tenens of Diocese of the South, and Archbishop of American Albanian Archdiocese
• Baba Rexheb

Criminals

• John Alite – mobster
• Joseph Ardizzone – mobster
• Ismail Lika – mobster
• Martin Shkreli - convicted of securities fraud
• Sami Osmakac - convicted terrorist

External links

• National Albanian American Council
• Alb-Net.Com – The Albanian Connection
• Albanian Americans – history, the first Albanians in America, significant immigration waves, settlement patterns and notable Albanian Americans