List of Albanian Americans

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

Politics

• Sal Albanese – politician
• B. Bix Aliu – diplomat
• Richard Caliguiri – former mayor of Pittsburgh
• Joe DioGuardi – congressman
• Mark Gjonaj – assemblyman
• Rexhep Krasniqi – historian, teacher, nationalist, anti-communist politician, activist
• Konstantina Lukes – former mayor of Worcester, Massachusetts
• Victor Schiro – former mayor of New Orleans
• Nicholas Scutari – politician
• Ardian Zika – politician

Science and academia

• Carol Folt – biologist
• William G. Gregory – astronaut
• Wilson Kokalari – aerospace engineer
• Laura Mersini-Houghton – cosmologist
• Ferid Murad – medical researcher, Nobel laureate
• Mira Murati – engineer, former CTO of OpenAI, founder of Thinking Machines Lab
• Arshi Pipa – philosopher, writer, poet, literary critic
• Andrea Shundi – agronomist
• Stavro Skëndi – linguist, historian

Cinema

• Jim Belushi – actor
• John Belushi – actor, film producer
• Robert Belushi – actor
• James Biberi – actor
• Danny DeVito – actor
• Lucy DeVito – actress
• Fatmir Doga – director, producer, writer, actor
• Eliza Dushku – actress
• Nate Dushku – actor
• Mike Dusi – actor, film producer
• Stan Dragoti – film director, producer, artist
• Enver Gjokaj – actor
• Victor Gojcaj – actor
• Agim Kaba – actor, film producer
• Masiela Lusha – actress
• Pjetër Malota – actor
• Andamion Murataj – film director, producer, screenwriter
• Tracee Chimo Pallero – television, film and Broadway actress
• J. J. Philbin – producer, screenwriter
• Nickola Shreli – actor, producer
• Nik Xhelilaj – actor
• Jake Abel – actor and producer

Arts and entertainment

Musicians

• Melinda Ademi – rapper
• Michael Bellusci – musician, drummer
• Big Body Bes – hip-hop artist
• Anita Bitri – singer
• Bleona – singer
• Action Bronson – hip-hop artist
• Kara DioGuardi – songwriter, television personality
• Kristine Elezaj – singer
• Gashi – rapper
• Anxhelina Hadërgjonaj – singer, fashion blogger, influencer
• Genta Ismajli – singer-songwriter, actress
• JMSN – singer-songwriter, producer
• Florina Kaja – singer, reality TV actress
• Paul Leka – songwriter, producer
• Ava Max – singer
• Thomas Nassi – musician, composer
• Enisa Nikaj – singer-songwriter, model
• Njomza – singer
• Steven Parrino – artist, musician associated with energetic punk nihilism
• Talip Peshkepia – film composer, songwriter
• Bebe Rexha – singer-songwriter
• Albert Stanaj – singer-songwriter
• Unikkatil – rapper

Artists

• – pornographic actress
• Olivier Berggruen – art historian, curator; his maternal grandfather is Alessandro Moissi who is of Albanian origin
• Pema Browne – abstract artist
• Drita D'Avanzo – television personality
• Tony Dovolani – professional ballroom dancer
• Bosch Fawstin – cartoonist
• Vasiliev Nini – sculptor
• George Pali – painter
• Regis Philbin – television host
• Bobbi Starr – pornographic actress
• Aureta Thomollari – luxury consultant
• Sislej Xhafa – artist
• Niko Pepaj - actor

Literature

• Etel Adnan – poet, essayist, visual artist
• Costa Chekrezi – historian, publicist
• Daniela Gioseffi – poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, performer
• Gjekë Marinaj – author, translator
• Betim Muço – writer, poet, translator, seismologist
• Tom Perrotta – novelist, screenwriter
• Ardian Vehbiu – author, translator

Business and civil society

• Anthony Athanas – restaurateur
• Ekrem Bardha – businessman, political activist
• Nicolas Berggruen – businessman
• Florin Krasniqi – businessman, politician
• Louis V. Mato – American politician and businessman
• James J. Schiro – businessman
• Martin Shkreli – businessman
• Ramiz Tafilaj – businessman, political activist
• Emin Toro – court judge
• Rexh Xhakli – businessman, political activist and philanthropist

Media

• Andrew Kaczynski – journalist, political reporter for CNN
• Bill Kovach – journalist, editor
• Donald Lambro – journalist
• Eric Margolis – journalist, editor of the Toronto Sun; mother is Albanian
• Molly Qerim – moderator, reporter
• Iliriana Sulkuqi – journalist
• Nick Tosches – journalist, novelist, biographer, poet
• Nexhmie Zaimi – journalist

Photography

• Fadil Berisha – photographer
• Emin Kadi – photographer, art director
• Gjon Mili – photographer for Life Magazine
• Burim Myftiu – photographer
• George Tames – photographer for The New York Times

Modeling

• Emina Cunmulaj – model
• Afërdita Dreshaj – model, singer, beauty queen
• Floriana Garo – television presenter, model
• Cindy Marina – television presenter, model, former volleyball player
• Angela Martini – model

Sports

• Joe Albanese – baseball player
• Dominick Bellizzi – jockey
• Dilly Duka – soccer player
• Lee Elia – baseball player, coach, manager
• Sadri Gjonbalaj – soccer player
• Å aćir Hot – soccer player
• Halil Kanacević – basketball player
• Elizabeta Karabolli – shooting sport
• Robert Baggio Kcira – soccer player
• Frank Leskaj – swimmer
• Kristina Maksuti – soccer player
• Elvir Muriqi – professional boxer
• Aaron Palushaj – professional hockey player
• Andy Parrino – baseball player
• Vera Razburgaj – soccer player
• Max Rugova – soccer player
• Enkelejda Shehu – air pistol shooter
• Jaren Sina – basketball player
• Kristjan Sokoli – football player
• Donald Suxho – volleyball
• Andy Varipapa – professional trick bowler

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

Others

• Joseph Ardizzone – mobster
• Zulfi Hoxha – terrorist
• Ismail Lika – mobster
• Zef Mustafa – mobster
• Sami Osmakac – convicted terrorist
• Nicolo Schiro – mobster
• John Alite – former mobster, author, youth motivational speaker and former associate of the Gambino crime family

References