Famous People

Actors

• Ana Paula Arósio (1975-), actress
• Bruno Campos, actor
• Antônio Fagundes (1949-), actor
• Bruna Lombardi, actress
• Daniel Benzali, actor
• Daniele Suzuki, actress
• Denise Fraga (1965-), actress
• Fernanda Montenegro (1929-), actress
• Fernanda Torres (1965-), actress
• Fábio Assunção (1971-), actor
• Grande Otelo (1915-1993), actor
• José Lewgoy (1920-2003), actor
• Juliana Silveira (1980-), actress and singer
• Lázaro Ramos, actor
• Lima Duarte (1930-), actor
• Malu Mader (1966-), actress
• Carmen Miranda (1909-1955), entertainer
• Marco Nanini (1948-), actor
• Matheus Nachtergaele (1969-), actor
• Murilo Benicio (1972-),actor
• Oscarito, actor
• Regina Duarte (1947-), actress
• Reynaldo Gianecchini (1972-), actor
• Rodrigo Santoro (1975-), actor
• Ronald Golias (1929-2005), actor and comedian
• Seu Jorge (1970-), entertainer
• Sônia Braga (1950-), actress
• Tarcisio Meira (1935-), actor
• Taís Araújo (1978-), actress
• Vera Fischer (1951-), actress
• Xuxa (1963-), actress, singer, TV show host

Architects and Urbanists

• Roberto Burle Marx (1909-1994), architect and landscape designer
• Lúcio Costa (1902-1998), architect and urbanist, creator of Brasília
• Oscar Niemeyer, (1907-), architect of international renown
• Affonso Eduardo Reidy (1909-1964), architect and urban planner, reformer of Rio de Janeiro
• Paulo Mendes da Rocha (born 1928), architect, winner of the 2006 Pritzker Prize

Artists

• Anita Malfatti, painter
• Alfredo Volpi, (1896-1988), painter
• Almeida Junior, (1850-1899), painter
• Antonio Francisco Lisboa "O Aleijadinho" (1738-1814), Baroque sculptor
• Cândido Portinari, (1903-1962), painter
• Emiliano Di Cavalcanti, (1897-1976), painter
• Fernando Gonzales, (b. 1961), cartoonist
• Lasar Segall
• Lina Bo Bardi
• Lygia Clark (1920-1988)
• Mauricio de Sousa, cartoonist
• Moysés Baumstein, holographer, painter, film/video producer (1931-1991)
• Oscar Araripe, painter
• Oswaldo Goeldi, (1895-1961), illustrator and engraver
• Rodrigo Teixeira, (1976-), Visual Effects
• Taiguara, 91945-1996) singer/songwriter
• Tarsila do Amaral, (1886-1973), painter
• Victor Brecheret, (1886-1973), painter
• Victor Meirelles, (1832-1903)

Film Directors

• Alberto Cavalcanti (1897-1982), pioneer film-maker
• Bruno Barreto
• Cacá Diegues
• Eduardo Coutinho
• Fernando Meirelles, director of "Cidade de Deus" (City of God) and "The Constant Gardner"
• Glauber Rocha (1939-1981)
• Hector Babenco
• Joaquim Pedro de Andrade (1932-1988)
• José Mojica Marins (1936-), also known as Coffin Joe, film-maker expert in horror movies.
• Nelson Pereira dos Santos, director of "Rio 40 Graus" and "Rio Zona Norte".
• Ruy Guerra
• Walter Salles, award-studded director of "Central do Brasil" (Central Station)
• Cao Hamburger

Explorers

• Cândido Rondon, famous explorer and engineer
• Orlando Villas Boas (1914-2003), explorer and indigenist
• Amyr Klink, adventurer and navigator, first solo rowing across the South Atlantic
• Sydney Possuelo, (b. 1940), explorer, social activist and Indian expert
• Fashion Designers
• Alexandre Herchcovitch
• Tufi Duek
• Zuleika Angel Jones, also know as Zuzu Angel

Heroes and Historical Figures

• Anita Garibaldi (1807-1849), revolutionary combatant, fought in Brazil and Italy, was married to Giuseppe Garibaldi
• Barão do Amazonas, Admiral of the Navy, war hero, led the decisive Battle of Riachuelo.
• Bento Gonçalves, military commander, led a separatist movement
• Chico Mendes (1944-1988), murdered rural leader and martyr of ecological movements in the Amazon
• Duke of Caxias, military commander, nationalist leader, Father of the Army.
• Frei Caneca (1779-1825), a priest and martyr of the independence, executed
• José Bonifácio, Patriarch of the Independence
• Princess Isabel (1846-1921), Princess Imperial of Brazil, second daughter of Emperor D. Pedro II, signed the abolition of slavery in Brazil
• Luiz Carlos Prestes (1898-1990), leader of the tenente rebellion of "Coluna Prestes", and later a communist leader
• Tiradentes (1746-1792), leader of a failed conspiracy against the Portuguese, executed by hanging
• Tristão de Alencar Araripe, republican leader assassinated by Brazilian Empire forces.
• Vladimir Herzog (1937-1975), Croatian-Brazilian journalist, tortured and murdered by the military dictatorship, became a martyr for the democratic resistance
• Zumbi dos Palmares (1655-1695), African-born leader of a slave revolt, murdered by the Portuguese Crown

Intellectuals and Thinkers

• Benjamin Constant, abolitionist and republican
• Darcy Ribeiro (1922-1997), anthropologist and educator, scientific leader and politician
• Gilberto Freyre (1900-1987), sociologist
• Olavo de Carvalho, philosopher
• Leonardo Boff, friar, theologian, silenced by the Vatican due to his socialist stance
• Milton Santos (1926-2001), geographer, writer and university professor
• Paulo Freire (1921-1997), educator and university professor

Models (Female)

• Gianne Albertoni
• Michelle Alves
• Alessandra Ambrosio
• Ana Beatriz Barros
• Letícia Birkheuer
• Marcelle Bittar
• Gisele Bündchen
• Jeisa Chiminazzo
• Daniella Cicarelli
• Cintia Dicker
• Bruna Erhardt
• Isabeli Fontana
• Izabel Goulart
• Luciana Gimenez
• Ana Hickmann
• Juliana Imai
• Adriana Lima
• Fernanda Lima
• Juliana Martins
• Ana Claudia Michels
• Fernanda Motta
• Raica Oliveira
• Daniella Sarahyba
• Fernanda Tavares
• Caroline Trentini
• Raquel Zimmermann

Models (Male)

• Alvaro Jacomossi
• Bruno Santos
• Evandro Soldati
• Rafael Verga

Music

• Adoniran Barbosa (1912-1982), singer and composer
• Airto Moreira (1941-), musician and composer
• André Matos, singer, frontman of metal bands Angra and Shaman
• Antonio Carlos Jobim (1927-1994), pianist, singer and composer
• Arnaldo Antunes, singer and composer
• Arnaldo Baptista (1948-), singer, musician and composer, former member of Os Mutantes
• Ary Barroso (1903-1964), composer
• Baden Powell (1937-2000), composer and guitar musician
• Bebel Gilberto singer and composer
• Bidu Sayão (1902-1999), Opera singer
• Caetano Veloso (1942-), singer and composer. Founder of the Tropicália movement
• Carla Maffioletti, opera singer
• Carlinhos Brown, singer, musician and composer
• Carmen Monarcha, opera singer
• Cartola, singer and composer
• Cazuza (1958-1990), singer and composer. Former frontman of Barão Vermelho
• Chico Buarque (1944-), singer and composer
• Chico César (1964 -), singer, musician and composer
• Chiquinha Gonzaga (1847-1935), conductor and composer
• Djavan, singer and composer
• Eleazar de Carvalho, conductor
• Elis Regina (1945-1982), singer
• Eloy Fritsch, composer and keyboardist
• Elza Soares, singer, former wife of Garrincha
• Erasmo Carlos, singer and composer
• Fabrizio Moretti (1980-) drummer and artist
• Flora Purim, jazz singer
• Gal Costa (1945-), singer
• Gilberto Gil (1942-), singer and composer. Founder of the Tropicália movement
• Gustavo Assis-Brasil, composer, virtuoso guitar player
• Helena Meireles (1924-2005), musician
• Hermeto Pascoal, musician and composer
• Igor Cavalera, drummer of Sepultura
• Ivan Lins, singer, composer and pianist
• Jacob do Bandolim, composer, virtuoso mandolinist
• João Gilberto, singer and composer
• João Gordo, punk rock bandleader, VJ
• Jorge Ben Jor (1942-), singer, musician and composer
• Kelly Key, pop singer
• Lenine, singer, musician and composer
• Luiz Gonzaga, singer, musician and composer
• Marina Lima, singer and composer
• Luciana Mello, singer
• Marisa Monte, singer and composer
• Ed Motta, singer and composer
• Max Cavalera, frontman of thrash metal band Soulfly and formerly Sepultura
• Milton Nascimento, singer and composer
• Nelson Gonçalves (1919-1998), singer
• Noel Rosa (1910-1937), guitar player, singer and composer
• Jair Oliveira, singer, musician and composer
• Pitty, Rock singer and songwriter
• Pixinguinha (1893-1973), musician and composer
• Rafael Rabello (1962-1995), guitar player and composer
• Maria Rita, singer
• Raul Seixas (1945-1989), singer and composer
• Rita Lee (1947-), singer and composer, former member of Os Mutantes
• Roberto Carlos, singer and composer
• Rogério Duprat, conductor, musician and composer
• Sérgio Dias, singer, musician and composer, former member of Os Mutantes
• Sergio Mendes (1941-), musician
• Taiguara (1945-1996), Singer and Composer
• Tim Maia, singer and composer
• Tom Zé (1936-) singer and composer
• Toquinho, singer and composer
• Vinicius de Moraes, diplomat, poet, singer and composer
• Waldir Azevedo, composer, virtuoso cavaquinho player
• Wanessa Camargo, pop singer
• Zeca Pagodinho, singer and composer

Classic Composers

• Camargo Guarnieri
• Carlos Gomes (1836-1896), classical musician and composer
• Chiquinha Gonzaga
• Egberto Gismonti
• Heitor Villa Lobos (1887-1959), classical musician and composer
• José Maurício Nunes Garcia (1767-1830), classical musician, priest and composer

Sports

• Acelino Freitas (Popó) (1975-), boxer
• Alvaro Alfonso Miranda Neto (1973-), Olympic show jumping bronze medallist
• Amyr Klink, Sailor
• Anderson Varejao (1982-), basketball player
• Ayrton Senna (1960-1994), Formula 1 driver
• Bob Burnquist (1976-), skateboarder
• Cafu (1970-), football player
• Daniele Hypolito, gymnast
• Deco, football player
• Diego Hypolito, gymnast
• Daiane dos Santos, gymnast
• Eder Jofre (1936-), boxer, world champion
• Emerson Fittipaldi (1946-), Formula 1 and Indy Car driver
• Falcão (1953-), football player
• Falcão (1977-), futsal player
• Garrincha (1933-1983), football player
• Giant Silva (1963), Wrestler and MMA fighter
• Gustavo Kuerten (1976-), tennis player
• Henrique Mecking (1952-), chess player
• Hélio Castroneves (1975-) - Indy Car driver
• Hortência (1959-), former basketball player
• Jaime Sunye Neto, chess player.
• Jairzinho (1944-), football player
• Kaká (1982-), football player
• Lars Grael, Olympic sailor and champion
• Maria Bueno, former tennis player
• Mauricio Gugelmin, former Formula One and Champ Car driver
• Nelson Piquet (1952-), former Formula 1 driver
• Nílton Santos (1927-), former football player
• Oscar Schmidt (1958-), former basketball player
• Pelé (1940-), former football player
• Robert Scheidt (1973-), Olympics sailor and champion
• Romário (1966-), football player
• Ronaldo (1976-), football player
• Ronaldinho Gaúcho (1980-), football player
• Royce Gracie, MMA fighter
• Renzo Gracie, MMA fighter
• Hélio Gracie, Father of Gracie Jiu Jitsu
• Rickson Gracie, MMA fighter
• Carlson Gracie, MMA fighter
• Carlos Gracie, MMA fighter
• Crosley Gracie, MMA fighter
• Relson Gracie, MMA fighter
• Rubens Barrichello - Formula 1 driver
• Torben Grael (1960-), Olympic sailor and champion, brother of Lars Grael
• Vanderlei de Lima (1969-), marathoner
• Wanderlei Silva (1976-), MMA fighter
• Zico (1953-), former football player
• Felipe Massa (1981-), Formula 1 driver

Writers and Poets

• Álvares de Azevedo (1831-1852), poet and writer
• Alfredo D'Escragnolle Taunay (1843-1871), writer and historian
• Augusto dos Anjos (1884-1914), poet
• Antônio Gonçalves Dias (1823-1864), poet
• Carlos Drummond de Andrade (1902-1987), poet and writer
• Cecília Meireles (1901-1964), poet
• Clarice Lispector (1925-1977), writer
• Érico Verissimo (1905-1975), writer
• Fernando Sabino (1923-2004), writer
• Ferreira Gullar, writer and poet
• Haroldo de Campos (1929-2003), poet
• Holdemar Menezes (1921-1996) writer
• João Cabral de Melo Neto (1920-1999), poet
• João Guimarães Rosa (1908-1967), writer
• Jorge Amado (1912-2001), writer
• José de Alencar (1829-1877), writer
• Julio Ribeiro, writer
• Luis Fernando Veríssimo (1936-), writer
• Lya Luft (1938-), writer and poet
• Machado de Assis (1839-1908), writer
• Manuel Bandeira (1886-1968), poet
• Maria Clara Machado (1921-2001), playwriter
• Mário de Andrade (1893-1945), writer
• Márcio Souza (1946-), writer
• Menotti del Picchia, critic and writer
• Monteiro Lobato (1882-1948), writer and publisher
• Nelson Rodrigues (1912-1980), journalist and writer
• Olavo Bilac (1865-1918), poet
• Otto Maria Carpeaux (1900-1978), critic
• Oscar Araripe, Poet and painter
• Oswald de Andrade (1890-1954), writer and critic
• Paulo Coelho (1947-), writer
• Sergio Pinheiro Lopes (1953-), writer
• Vinícius de Morais (1913-1980), poet

Science and Technology

• Adib Jatene, heart surgeon
• Adolfo Lutz, physician and pioneer of public health
• Alberto Santos-Dumont, aviator and inventor.
• André Rebouças (1838-1898), pioneer engineer, brother of Antônio Rebouças Filho.
• Aristides Leão, physician and physiologist, discovered Leão's depression, a phenomenon of the nervous tissue
• Carlos Chagas, physician and biomedical scientist, discovered Chagas Disease
• Carlos Chagas Filho, physician and physiologist, former president of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Son of Carlos Chagas
• Celso Furtado, noted economist and ideologue of economy of developing nations
• César Lattes, experimental physicist, co-discoverer of pi meson, a kind of atomic particle
• Eduardo Krieger, physician and physiologist, current president of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences
• Ennio Candotti, physicist and scientific leader
• Euryclides Zerbini, heart surgeon, pioneer of first heart transplant in Brazil
• Evandro Chagas, physician and biomedical scientist specialised in tropical medicine. Son of Carlos Chagas
• Gilberto Freyre (1900-1987), historiographer and sociologist
• Henrique da Rocha Lima,
• Hércules Florence, pioneer of photography
• Jacob Palis, mathematician of international fame
• José Aristodemo Pinotti, physician and gynaecologist, former president of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics
• José Goldemberg, physicist, former Minister of Science & Technology and Dean of the University of São Paulo
• José Leite Lopes, theoretical physicist
• José Reis, biologist, greatest Brazilian science writer
• Manuel de Abreu, physician, inventor of abreugraphy (mass radiography of the lungs for screening tuberculosis)
• Marcelo Gleiser, physicist, writer and professor of physics and astronomy at the Dartmouth College since 1991
• Marcos Pontes, first Brazilian astronaut, Expedition 13
• Mário Schenberg, one of the most noted theoretical physicists in the world
• Maurício Rocha e Silva, physician and pharmacologist, discovered bradykinin, an active cardiovascular peptide
• Mayana Zatz, biologist and geneticist
• Miguel Nicolelis, neuroscientist, one of Scientific American's best scientists of 2004
• Milton Santos (1926-2001), geographer
• Newton da Costa (1929), mathematician and logician, recognised for his works in paraconsistent logic
• Nise da Silveira (1905-1999), psychiatrist and mental health reformer
• Oswaldo Cruz, physician and public health champion, eliminated yellow fever, bubonic plague and smallpox in Rio de Janeiro at the turn of the 20th century
• Paulo Emilio Vanzolini, zoologist and as hobbist, a composer of Brazilian popular music.
• Roberto Landell de Moura, pioneer of telephony
• Santiago Americano Freire(1908-1997), physician and professor of pharmacology, psychiatrist, writer, painter.
• Sérgio Henrique Ferreira, physician and pharmacologist, discovered the active principle of a new drug against hypertension
• Vital Brazil, physician and scientist, discoverer of the antivenom for snakes and other venomous animals
• Warwick Estevam Kerr, geneticist, researcher on the biology and genetics of bees
• Wilson Teixeira Beraldo, co-discoverer of bradykinin