List of Albanian Americans

Main article: 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 ^[1]
• 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 ^[2]
• Mira Murati – engineer, former CTO of OpenAI, founder of Thinking Machines Lab
• Arshi Pipa – philosopher, writer, poet, literary critic ^[3]
• Andrea Shundi – agronomist
• Stavro Skëndi – linguist, historian ^[4]

Cinema

Jim Belushi is an actor and comedian, known for starring in the television sitcom According to Jim , which aired for 8 seasons.

Eliza Dushku is a former actress known for her roles in several television series.

• Jim Belushi – actor
• John Belushi – actor, film producer
• Robert Belushi – actor
• James Biberi – actor
• Robert De Niro — 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
• Mitchel Musso – voice actor, singer-songwriter, musician
• Tracee Chimo Pallero – television, film and Broadway actress
• J. J. Philbin – producer, screenwriter
• Nickola Shreli – actor, producer
• Nik Xhelilaj – actor

Arts and entertainment

Musicians

Bebe Rexha is a singer and Grammy Award-winning songwriter.

Action Bronson is a hip-hop artist and former television presenter.

Regis Philbin was a television presenter, comedian and singer.

Jimmy Kimmel is a television host, comedian, writer and producer.

Bobbi Starr is a former adult film actress who won the AVN Award for Female Performer of the Year in 2012.

Tony Dovolani is a professional ballroom dancer known for his involvement in the television series Dancing with the Stars .

• 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

• Breanne Benson – 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
• Jimmy Kimmel – comedian, talk show host ^[5]
• Joe Lala – actor, singer
• Vasiliev Nini – sculptor
• George Pali – painter
• Regis Philbin – television host
• Jen Selter – fitness model
• Bobbi Starr – pornographic actress
• Aureta Thomollari – luxury consultant
• Sislej Xhafa – artist

Literature

• Etel Adnan – poet, essayist, visual artist ^[6]
• 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 ^[7]
• Ardian Vehbiu – author, translator

Business and civil society

Martin Shkreli is a former hedge funds manager and business executive whose company Turing Pharmaceuticals was widely criticized for raising the price of the antiparasitic drug Daraprim.

• 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

Molly Qerim is co-host of ESPN's morning talk show First Take .

• Andrew Kaczynski – journalist, political reporter for CNN ^{[8] [9]}
• Bill Kovach – journalist, editor
• Donald Lambro – journalist ^[10]
• Eric Margolis – journalist, editor of the Toronto Sun ; mother is Albanian ^[11]
• 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 ^[12]

Modeling

Emina Cunmulaj is a former supermodel who served as a telecast judge for the 72nd Miss USA pageant.

• 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
• Šaćir Hot – soccer player
• Halil Kanacević – basketball player
• Elizabeta Karabolli – shooting sport
• Robert Baggio Kcira – soccer player
• Frank Leskaj – swimmer
• Kristina Maksuti – soccer player ^[13]
• Elvir Muriqi – professional boxer
• Aaron Palushaj – professional hockey player
• Andy Parrino – baseball player
• Vera Razburgaj – soccer player ^[14]
• 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

References

1. Susan Araki Vergnani (2002). "Albanian Merchants Add Verve to Bronx's "Little Italy"". Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Archived from the original on May 15, 2006.
2. "Ferid Murad: Albanian-American Nobel Prize Winner". frosina.org. August 6, 2004. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011.
3. Elsie, Robert. "Arshi Pipa". Robert Elsie. Archived from the original on December 1, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2012. Writer and scholar, Arshi Pipa (1920–1997) ..studied philosophy...published... poetry
4. Kondi, Rafaela; Prifti, Peter (September 22, 2000). "The Teaching of Albanian at Columbia University by Peter Prifti, Rafaela Kondi". East European Quarterly. 34 (3): 381. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011.
5. "Dua Lipa on Pregnancy Rumors, Grammy Nominations & Being Superstitious". Youtube. January 19, 2021. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022.
6. Colby, Georgina (2019). Reading Experimental Writing. Edinburgh, Scotland: Edinburgh University Press. p. 15. ISBN   9781474440400.
7. John Crace (February 21, 2009). "Tom Perrotta interview". Guardian. London. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
8. "Twitter". mobile.twitter.com. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
9. "Andrew Kaczynski To Arbëreshë in the Coming Times". June 12, 2020.
10. "Albanian Americans". Everyculture.com. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
11. "Robert Elsie: Albanian Literature in Translation". Albanianliterature.com. December 15, 2010. Retrieved February 15, 2011.
12. Binder, David (February 24, 1994). "George Tames, Photographer, Dies at 75". The New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
13. "Women World Cup Qualifiers Europe 2017/2018 » Teams (Albania)". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
14. "Vera Razburgaj - Women's Soccer". Oakland University Athletics. Retrieved May 15, 2020.