This is a list of well known Brazilians, ordered alphabetically within categories:
Actors
- Ana Paula Arósio (1975-), actress
- Antônio Fagundes (1949-), actor
- Bibi Ferreira, actress
- Bruna Lombardi, actress
- Daniel Benzali, actor
- Daniele Suzuki, actress
- Cacilda Becker (1921-1969), 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
- José Wilker (1945-), actor
- Lima Duarte (1930-), actor
- Malu Mader (1966-), actress
- Carmen Miranda (1909-1955), entertainer
- Marco Nanini (1948-), actor
- Maria Fernanda , actress
- Marilia Gabriela (1948-), actress and journalist
- Marilia Pera (1943-), actress
- Matheus Nachtergaele (1969-), actor
- Miguel Falabela (1957-), actor
- Oscarito, actor
- Paulo Autran (1922-), actor
- Paulo Satinho (1979-), actor and comedian
- Procópio Ferreira (1898-1979), actor and theatrical director
- Regina Duarte (1947-), actress
- Reynaldo Gianecchini (1972-), actor
- Rodrigo Santoro (1975-), actor
- Ronald Golias (1929-2005), actor and comedian
- Selton Melo (1972-), actor
- Seu Jorge (1970-), entertainer
- Silvia Pfeifer (1958-), actress
- Sônia Braga (1950-), actress
- Tarcisio Meira (1935-), actor
- Taís Araújo (1978-), actress
- Vera Fischer (1951-), actress
- Xuxa (1963-), actress
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
- Ruy Ohtake, architect
- 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
- João Batista Vilanova Artigas (1915-1985), architect
Artists
Main article: List of Brazilian artists
- Anita Malfatti, painter
- Alfredo Volpi, (1896-1988), painter
- Almeida Junior, (1850-1899), painter
- Antonio Francisco Lisboa "O Aleijadinho" (1738-1814), Baroque sculptor
- Arnaldo Angeli Filho, (b. 1956), cartoonist
- Cândido Portinari, (1903-1962), painter
- Carlos Gomes Lacerda, (b.1964), painter, computer animation
- Emiliano Di Cavalcanti, (1897-1976), painter
- Fernando Gonzales, (b. 1961), cartoonist
- Frans Krajcberg, (b. 1921)
- Glauco, (b. 1957), cartoonist
- Guto Lacaz, painter
- Hélio Oiticica, (1937-1980), painter
- Iberê Camargo (1914-1994), painter
- Laerte Coutinho, (b. 1951), cartoonist
- Lygia Clark (1920-1988)
- Lygia Pape (1924-2004)
- Manabu Mabe (1924-1997)
- Mario Gruber (b. 1927)
- Mauricio de Sousa, cartoonist
- Oscar Araripe, painter
- Oswaldo Goeldi, (1895-1961), illustrator and engraver
- Raul Bopp, painter
- Silvia Matheus, (b. 1955), electronic musician and composer
- Tarsila do Amaral, (1886-1973), painter
- Victor Brecheret, (1886-1973), painter
- Vitor Meireles de Lima, (1832-1903)
Diplomats
Main article: List of Brazilian diplomats
Film directors
Main article: List of Brazilian film directors
Explorers and discoverers
''Main article:
List of Brazilian Explorers
Foreigners who explored or discovered in Brazil
Fashion Designers
Heroes and historical figures
- Anita Garibaldi (1807-1849), the Brazilian wife of Giuseppe Garibaldi, the Father of Modern Italy.
- Bento Gonçalves, Southern politician
- Bárbara de Alencar, Brazilian mother of Independence and Republic.
- Chico Mendes (1944-1988), murdered rural leader and martyr of ecological movements in the Amazon
- Frei Caneca (1779-1825), a priest, martyr of the independence, executed by hanging
- Luis Gonzaga Pinto da Gama (1830-1882), abolitionist leader
- Maria Quitéria (1792-1853), martyr of the fight for independence
- Padre Feijó, leader of the independence
- Princess Isabel (Isabel Christina de Bragança, 1846-1921), Princess Imperial of Brazil, second daughter of Emperor D. Pedro II, signed the abolition of slavery in Brazil
- Tiradentes (Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, 1746-1792), leader of a failed conspiracy against the Portuguese, executed by hanging
- Tristão de Alencar Araripe, Equador Confederation leader, murdered.
- Zumbi dos Palmares (1655-1695), African-Brazilian leader of a slave revolt, murdered
Intellectuals and thinkers
- Anísio Teixeira (1900-1971), educator
- Benjamin Sodré
- Benjamin Constant, abolitionist and republican
- Caio Prado Jr. (1907-1990), writer, publisher and sociologist
- Dalmo de Abreu Dallari, jurist and university professor
- Darcy Ribeiro (1922-1997), anthropologist and educator, scientific leader and politician
- Francisco José de Oliveira Vianna (1883-1951)
- Fernando de Azevedo (1894-1974)
- Florestan Fernandes (1920-1995), sociologist
- Gilberto Freyre (1900-1987), sociologist
- Heráclito Sobral Pinto (1893-1991), jurist and civil rights activist
- José do Patrocínio, liberal abolitionist and republican
- Nisia Floresta Augusta (1810-1885), early feminist
- 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
- Raymundo Faoro (1925-2003), jurist
Models
See also: Category:Brazilian models
Female
Male
Monarchs
Main article: List of Brazilian monarchs
Music
Main article: List of Brazilians in music
- Adoniran Barbosa (1912-1982), singer and composer
- Airto Moreira (1941-), musician and composer
- Almir Sater, singer and composer
- André Matos, singer, frontman of metal bands Angra and Shaaman
- 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
- 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
- Dudu Nobre,sambist
- Eleazar de Carvalho, conductor
- Elis Regina (1945-1982), singer
- Eloy Fritsch, composer and keyboardst
- Elza Soares, singer, former wife of Garrincha
- Erasmo Carlos, singer and composer
- Ernesto Nazareh, composer
- Fabrizio Moretti (1980-) drummer and artist
- Fernando Cutait, singer/guitarrist and producer
- Flávio Venturini, piano/keyboard player, singer and composer
- Flora Purim, jazz singer
- Frank Solari, virtuoso guitar player and composer
- Frejat, singer, guitarrist and composer. frontman of Barão Vermelho
- Gal Costa (1945-), singer
- Gilberto Gil (1942-), singer and composer. Founder of the Tropicália movement
- Guilherme Arantes, pianist, singer and composer
- 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
- Lenine, singer, musician and composer
- Luiz Gonzaga, singer, musician and composer
- Marina Lima, singer and composer
- Marisa Monte, 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
- Oswaldo Vecchione, singer, musician and songwriter, founder member of rock band Made in Brazil
- Pixinguinha (1893-1973), musician and composer
- Rafael Rabello (1962-1995), guitar player and composer
- Raul Seixas (1945-1989), singer and composer
- Renato Russo, singer and composer, frontman of Legião Urbana
- Renato Teixeira, Brazilian country 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
- Tim Maia, singer and composer
- Tom Zé (1936-) singer and composer
- Toquinho, singer and composer
- Vinicius de Moraes, diplomat, singer and composer
- Waldir Azevedo, composer, virtuoso cavaquinho player
- Zeca Pagodinho, singer and composer
Classic composers
Politicians
See also: List of Brazilian presidents
- Aécio Neves, governor of Minas Gerais, grandson of former president Tancredo Neves.
- André Franco Montoro, senator and governor of the state of São Paulo
- Adhemar de Barros, governor of the state of São Paulo
- Carlos Lacerda (1914-1977), mayor and governor of Rio de Janeiro
- Cesar Maia, mayor of Rio de Janeiro.
- Ciro Gomes, mayor of Fortaleza, governor of Ceará, presidential candidate and minister
- Ernesto Geisel, general and president during the military regime, started the political liberalization
- Esperidião Amin, senator and governor of Santa Catarina
- Eurico Gaspar Dutra, marshall of the Army, was appointed president by the Congress, succeeding the dictator Getúlio Vargas in 1945.
- Fernando Collor de Mello, mayor, governor of Alagoas and impeached president in 1992
- Fernando Henrique Cardoso (1931-), sociologist and university professor, senator, minister and twice president
- Geraldo Alckmin, ex-mayor of Pindamonhangaba, vice-governor and ex-governor of São Paulo
- Getúlio Vargas (1883-1954), senator and twice president, was also a dictator, killed himself in 1954
- Golbery de Couto e Silva, early conspirator of the military coup against Goulart, and powerful political figure behind the office of the president under Ernesto Geisel
- José Bonifácio de Andrade e Silva, regent of the empire, politician, hero of the independence
- José Sarney (1930-), governor of Maranhão and senator, vice-president of Tancredo Neves, took office of president when the later died suddenly
- Júlio Prestes, governor of the state of São Paulo and defeated presidential candidate
- Juscelino Kubitschek (1902-1976), mayor, governor of Minas Gerais, senator and president
- Jânio Quadros, mayor and governor of São Paulo, president (renounced 1962)
- João Goulart, vice-president of Jânio Quadros, president (deposed by a military coup in 1964)
- Lauro Sodré
- Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (1946-), known as "Lula", labor activist and politician, current president.
- Mário Covas, mayor and governor of the state of São Paulo, senator and federal representative
- Marta Suplicy, Federal representative and mayor of São Paulo
- Paulo Maluf, twice mayor of and governor of São Paulo, defeated presidential candidate
- Tancredo Neves (1910-1985), several times federal representative and senator, elected president by the Congress in 1985, being the first civil president after the military ruled, but died before taking charge.
Religious leaders
Reporters and TV hosts
Sports
Main article: List of Brazilians in sport
- Acelino Freitas (Popó) (1975-), boxer
- Ademar Ferreira da Silva (1927-2001), Olympics champion, triple jump
- Amyr Klink, Sailor
- Ayrton Senna (1960-1994), Formula 1 driver
- Bob Burnquist (1976-), skateboarder
- Cafu (1970-), football player
- Daniele Hypolito, gymnast
- Daniel Coloneze de Pinho, sailor and national champion
- Deco, Anderson Luiz de Sousa (born August 27, 1977 in São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil) is a professional footballer widely known as Deco (pron. IPA: *). He plays internationally for Portugal.
- 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
- Garrincha (1933-1983), football player
- Giant Silva (1963), Wrestler and MMA fighter.
- Gustavo Kuerten (1976-), tennis player
- Hélio Castroneves (1975-) - Indy Car driver
- Hortência (1959-), former basketball player
- Jade Barbosa, gymnast
- Jairzinho (1944-), football player
- João (do Pulo) Carlos de Oliveira (1954-1999), athlete triple jumper, Olympics champion
- Jr. Brasil, Jiu-Jitsu, Capoeira & Judo Instructor
- Lars Grael, Olympic sailor and champion
- Luisa Parente, gymnast
- Maria Bueno, former tennis player
- Mosiah Rodrigues, gymnast
- Nelson Piquet (1952-), former Formula 1 driver
- Nílton Santos (1927-), former football player
- Oscar Schmidt (1958-), former basketball player
- Paula, former basketball player
- Pelé (1940-), former football player
- Peter Tanscheit, Olympic sailor and champion
- Rafael Coloneze de Pinho, sailor and chairman of ABCL
- Renê Carmo Kreutz Weber (1960-), former football player and for some time, until presently (2005) a soccer trainer in Brazil and other countries
- 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
- Rodrigo Gracie, MMA fighter
- Rubens Barrichello - Formula 1 driver
- Torben Grael (1960-), Olympic sailor and champion, brother of Lars Grael
- Vanderlei de Lima (1969-), marathoner
- Victor Penalber (1990-), Judo player
- Zico (1953-), former football player
- Felipe Massa (1981-), Formula 1 driver
Writers and Poets
Main article: List of Brazilian writers
- Álvares de Azevedo (1831-1852), poet and writer
- Alfredo D'Escragnolle Taunay (1843-1871), writer and historian
- Alfredo Dias Gomes (1922-1999), playwriter
- 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-), poet
- Holdemar Menezes (1921-1996) writer
- João Cabral de Melo Neto (1920-1999), poet
- João Guimarães Rosa (1908-1967), writer
- João Pedro Jorge, writer and poet
- 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
- Oduvaldo Vianna Filho (1936-1974), playwriter
- Olavo Bilac (1865-1918), poet
- Otto Maria Carpeaux (1900-1978), critic
- Otto Lara Rezende, writer, critic and journalist
- Oscar Araripe, Poet and painter
- Oswald de Andrade (1890-1954), writer and critic
- Paulo Coelho (1947-), writer
- Patrícia Galvão ("Pagu"), wife of Oswald de Andrade
- Plínio Marcos (1935-1999), playwriter
- Raquel de Queiroz, writer
- Sergio Pinheiro Lopes (1953-), writer
- Vinícius de Morais (1913-1980), poet
Science and technology
Main article: List of Brazilian scientists
- Adib Jatene, heart surgeon
- Adolfo Lutz, physician and pioneer of public health
- Alberto Santos-Dumont, aviator and inventor.
- Antônio Rebouças Filho, pioneer engineer and urbanist
- 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
- Aurélio Buarque de Hollanda, historiographer and linguist
- 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 meson-pi, a kind of atomic particle
- Carlos Nemer, architect and urban designer, civil engineer, finance specialist
- 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
- Florestan Fernandes (1920-1995), father of Brazilian sociology
- Gilberto Freyre (1900-1987), historiographer and sociologist
- Henrique da Rocha Lima,
- Hércules Florence, pioneer of photography
- Isaias Raw, physician, biochemist and scientific leader
- Ivan Izquierdo, physician and neuroscientist, discovered neural mechanisms of memory
- Jacob Palis, mathematician of international fame
- Jorge Stolfi, computer scientist, nowadays professor at UNICAMP
- Johanna Döbereiner (1924-2000), biologist of international fame, discoverer of the nitrogen fixation role of soil bacteria
- José Aristodemo Pinotti, physician and gynecologist, former president of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
- José Goldemberg, physicist, former Minister of Science & Technology and Dean of the University of São Paulo
- José Leite Lopes, theoretical physicist
- José Lutzenberger (1926-2002), ecologist and zoologist
- José Reis, biologist, greatest Brazilian science writer
- Luiz Hildebrando Pereira da Silva, physician, infectologist and immunologist
- 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
- Paulo Nogueira Neto, ecologist, zoologist and scientific leader
- Roberto Landell de Moura, pioneer of telephony
- Rogério César de Cerqueira Leite, physicist and scientific leader and writer
- Sérgio Henrique Ferreira, physician and pharmacologist, discovered the active principle of a new drug against hypertension
- Sonia Ambrosio de Nelson, journalist and sociologist.
- 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
Foreign scientists and engineers who lived in Brazil
- Carl August Wilhelm Schwacke, German botanist
- Charles Frederick Hartt, Canadian-American geologist and paleontologist
- Claude Lévi-Strauss, French anthropologist
- Daniele Mundici, Italian mathematician
- Émil Goeldi, Swiss naturalist
- Emmanuel Liais, French astronomer and naturalist
- Erasmo Recami, Italian physicist
- Friedrich Sellow, German botanist
- Fritz Müller, German naturalist
- Fritz Köberle, Austrian physician and pathologist
- Giorgio Mortara, Italian Demographer and Statistician
- Grigori Ivanovitch Langsdorff, German/Russian naturalist
- Giuseppe Occhialini, Italian physicist
- Gleb Wataghin, Ukrainian/Italian physicist
- Helmut Sick, German zoologist
- Hermann von Ihering, German naturalist
- Louis Couty, French physiologist and pharmacologist
- Lucien Lison, Belgian anatomist
- Ludwig Riedel, German botanist
- Miguel Rolando Covian, Argentinian physiologist
- Orville Adalbert Derby, American geologist
- Richard Feynman, American physicist
- David Bohm American physicist
- Luigi Fantappiè Italian mathematician
Others
- Iruan Ergui Wu, Taiwanese-Brazilian boy, focus of an international scandal
See also
List of people by nationality | List of Brazilian Jews
Lists of people by nationality | Brazilian people
Liste bedeutender Brasilianer | ブラジル人の一覧 | Lista de brasileiros