List of Romani people explained

This is a list of notable Romani people and people of Romani descent.

Activists

• Nicolae Gheorghe - Romanian Roma Movement founder
• Pastora Filigrana – Spanish labour lawyer, trade unionist, feminist, columnist, and human rights activist
• Alfonso Mejia-Arias – Mexican musician and politician
• Ceija Stojka – Austrian artist and writer
• Constantin S. Nicolăescu-Plopșor – Romanian historian, archeologist, anthropologist and writer
• Ian Hancock – English linguist
• Vasile Ionescu - Romanian Activist
• Katarina Taikon – Swedish actress and author
• Marcel Courthiade – French linguist
• Milena Hübschmannová – Czech professor
• Paul Polansky – American writer
• Ronald Lee – Canadian writer
• Saša Barbul – Serbian actor and film director

Artists

• Sandra Jayat, French painter, poet and author
• Damian Le Bas, English artist
• Delaine Le Bas, English artist
• Kiba Lumberg, Finnish artist and author
• Joe Machine, English painter
• La Chunga, Spanish painter
• Tracey Emin, English artist
• Antonio Solario, Italian painter^[1]
• Otto Mueller, German painter

Athletes

Boxers

• Billy Joe Saunders – English^[2]
• Johnny Frankham - English
• Dorel Simion – Romanian
• Faustino Reyes – Spanish^[3]
• Ivailo Marinov – Bulgarian^[4]
• Marian Simion – Romanian^[5]
• Samuel Carmona Heredia – Spanish
• Serafim Todorov – Bulgarian^[6]
• Zoltan Lunka – Hungarian^[7]
• Johann Wilhelm Trollmann, German
• Jakob Bamberger, German
• Gary Buckland, Welsh
• Domenico Spada, Italian^[8]
• Michele di Rocco, Italian

Cycling

• Roger De Vlaeminck – Belgian

Kickboxers

• Václav Sivák – Czech

Professional Wrestlers

• Gigi Dolin – American

Footballers

• André-Pierre Gignac – French^[9]
• Andy Delort - mixed French and Algerian
• Bănel Nicoliță – Romanian^[10]
• Carlos Martins – Portuguese
• Carlos Muñoz Cobo – Spanish^[11]
• Christos Patsatzoglou – Greek^[12]
• Dani Güiza – Spanish^[13]
• Dejan Savićević – Montenegrin
• Diego Rodríguez – Spanish
• Dragoslav Šekularac – Serbian^[14]
• Eric Cantona – French^[15]
• Eugen Bari – Slovak^[16]
• Freddy Eastwood – Welsh^[17]
• Georgi Ivanov - Gonzo – Bulgarian^[14]
• Gigi Meroni – Italian^[18]
• Giorgos Giakoumakis – Greek
• István Pisont – Hungarian^[19]
• János Farkas – Hungarian^[20]
• Jesús Navas – Spanish^[21]
• Jordan Galtier – French
• José Antonio Reyes – Spanish^[22]
• Kristián Bari - Slovak
• Lazaros Christodoulopoulos – Greek^[23]
• Marius Lăcătuș – Romanian^[14]
• Milan Baroš – Czech^[14]
• Mykola Morozyuk – Ukrainian^[14]
• Lobo Carrasco – Spanish^[14]
• Petre Marin - Romanian
• Predrag Luka - Serbian
• Rab Howell – English^[24]
• Răzvan Marin - Romanian
• Ricardo Quaresma – Portuguese^[25]
• Téji Savanier – French
• Telmo Zarra – Spanish^[14]
• Nacho Novo – Spanish^[14]
• Tony Vairelles – French^[26]
• Yohan Mollo - French
• Zvonimir Boban – Croatian^[14]

Hockey players

• Dominik Lakatoš – Czech^[27]

Cinema and theater

• Hiba Abouk – Spanish actress
• Sandro de América – Argentine actor
• Saša Barbul – Serbian actor
• Gratiela Brancusi – American-Romanian actress
• Yul Brynner – Russian-American actor and honorary president of the International Romani Union
• Michael Caine – English actor
• Jesús Castro- Spanish actor
• Charlie Chaplin – English comic actor^[28]
• Lyalya Chyornaya – Russian actress
• Jan Cina – Czech actor^[29]
• Joaquín Cortés – Spanish ballet and flamenco dancer
• Billy Drago – American actor
• Alba Flores – Spanish actress
• Tony Gatlif – French film director
• Rita Hayworth – American actress
• Bob Hoskins – English actor
• Manoush – French actress
• Pola Negri – Polish film actress
• Moira Orfei – Italian circus performer
• Blanca Romero – Spanish actress
• Custodia Romero – Spanish flamenco dancer
• Alina Șerban – Romanian actress
• Leonor Teles – Portuguese film director
• Tracey Ullman – British-American actress
• Anneli Sauli – Finnish actress
• Connor Swindells - English actor
• Danny Lee Wynter - British actor
• Virginia Raffaele - Italian actress

Musicians

• 100 Kila – Bulgarian rapper^[30]
• Adam Ant – English singer and musician
• Adrian Minune – Romanian singer
• Aggelopoulos Manolis (1939–1989) – Greek singer and actor
• Albert Lee (born 1943) – London born and raised country rock guitar
• Antonio Flores (1961–1995) – Spanish singer-songwriter and actor
• Ayo – A sinti and yoruba singer.
• Azis - Bulgarian singer
• Biréli Lagrène (born 1966) – French jazz guitarist, violinist and bassist
• Boban Marković – Serbian brass bandleader and trumpet player
• Bódi Guszti – Hungarian musician
• Calle Jularbo – Swedish accordionist
• Camarón de la Isla (1950–1992) – Spanish flamenco singer
• Carlos Montoya (1903–1993) – Spanish flamenco guitarist
• Carmen Amaya – Spanish flamenco dancer
• Cher Lloyd – English singer^[31]
• Christian Escoudé – French jazz guitarist
• Connect-R – Romanian singer
• Damian Drăghici – Romanian musician
• Dani Mocanu – Romanian manele singer
• Drafi Deutscher – German singer, has appeared on Billboard 100
• Denny Laine – British musician (The Moody Blues, Wings)
• Didem – Turkish bellydancer
• Diego el Cigala – Spanish flamenco singer
• Django Reinhardt – Belgian guitarist
• Drafi Deutscher – (1946–2006) German Sinto songwriter, singer and composer
• Džej Ramadanovski (1964–2020) – born in Belgrade (former Yugoslavia), modern Serbian folk singer
• Edyta Górniak (born 1972) – Polish singer
• Elek Bacsik – Hungarian-American jazz guitarist and violinist
• Eleni Vitali – Greek singer and composer
• Esma Redžepova (1943–2016) – Macedonian singer and songwriter
• Eugene Hütz – Ukrainian singer, guitarist, DJ and actor
• Falete (Rafael Ojeda Rojas) – Spanish singer
• Fanfare Ciocărlia (formed 1996) – Romanian brass band
• Félix Lajkó (born 1974) – Hungarian-Serbian violinist and composer (part Romani)
• Florin Salam – Romanian singer
• György Cziffra (1921–1994) – Hungarian virtuoso pianist
• Gigi Radics – Hungarian singer
• Haris Džinović (born 1951) – Bosnian folk singer
• Harri Stojka – Austrian jazz guitarist
• Häns'che Weiss, famous for his Gypsy jazz style. Won the Deutscher Schallplattenpreis.
• Hüsnü Şenlendirici – Turkish musician
• Ion Voicu (1923–1997) – Romanian violinist and orchestral conductor, founder of Bucharest Chamber Orchestra
• Irini Merkouri (born 1981) – Greek pop singer
• Iva Bittová – Czech singer and violinist
• Ivo Papazov (born 1952) – Bulgarian jazz clarinetist
• János Bihari – Hungarian violinist
• Jentina – English rapper
• Jerry Mason – American singer, guitarist
• Jimmy Rosenberg (born 1980) – Dutch swing guitarist
• Joaquín Cortés – Spanish flamenco dancer
• Joe Longthorne (born 1955) – English singer and impressionist
• Joe Zawinul – Austrian jazz keyboardist
• Johnny Răducanu (1931–2011) – Romanian jazz musician
• Kal – Romani world music band from Serbia
• Kibariye – Turkish singer of Romani descent
• Kostas Hatzis – Greek singer-songwriter and musician
• Lolita Flores (1958) – Spanish singer and actress
• Los Niños de Sara – French (Spanish origin, Iberian Kale) rumba and flamenco singers and guitar players
• Manitas de Plata (born 1921) – Spanish guitarist
• Manolis Angelopoulos – Greek singer
• Marianne Rosenberg (born 1955) – German singer-songwriter; daughter of German Gypsy who survived Auschwitz
• Marija Šerifović, Serbian singer and only serbian singer to win the Eurovision 2007
• Mariska Veres – Dutch singer
• Mercedes Bentso – Finnish rapper
• Mónika Lakatos – Hungarian singer
• Montse Cortés – Spanish flamenco singer
• Natalia Jiménez – Spanish singer-songwriter
• Nicole Cherry – Romanian singer
• Nicolae Guță – Romanian manele singer
• Nicolae Neacșu ("Culai") – Lăutar, was the leader of Taraf de Haïdouks
• Nicolas Reyes (born 1958) – Franco-Spanish singer, guitar player; lead singer for the Gipsy Kings, a band made up mostly of members of his extended family
• Nikolai Shishkin – Russian guitarist and singer
• Niña Pastori – Spanish flamenco singer
• Panna Czinka (1711–1772) – Hungarian violinist, born in Kingdom of Hungary in modern Slovakia
• Paulus Schäfer (born 1978) – Dutch jazz guitarist
• Pere Pubill Calaf "Peret" (1935–2014) – Catalan Spanish singer, guitar player and composer
• Pista Dankó – Hungarian composer
• Radoslav Banga – of Czech group Gypsy.cz
• Rafet El Roman – Turkish singer
• Ramón Montoya (1889–1949) – Spanish flamenco guitarist
• Rayito (Antonio Rayo) – Spanish guitarist, singer and composer. Father Gitano (Iberian Kalo) and mother Japanese
• Remedios Amaya – Spanish singer
• Robert Plant (born 1948) – English singer and songwriter (former vocalist of Led Zeppelin). Romanichal mother
• Robi Botos – Hungarian-Canadian jazz pianist
• Romica Puceanu (1928–1996) – Romanian singer (urban Lăutarească music)
• Rosa López (born 1981) – Spanish singer
• Rosario Flores (born 1963) – Spanish singer and actress, Latin Grammy award winner
• Šaban Bajramović – Serbian singer
• Sandu Ciorbă – Romanian singer
• Santino Spinelli – Italian singer and musician
• Sasha Kolpakov (born 1943) – Russian guitarist
• Schnuckenack Reinhardt, Related to virtuoso Belgian guitarist Django Reinhardt. He is accredited with being the pioneer of sinti jazz and music in Germany and directly or indirectly inspired many of the succeeding generation of gypsy jazz players in that country, as well as preserving on record a great many folkloric and gypsy compositions for future generations.
• Selim Sesler – Turkish virtuoso
• Sido – Former rapper, well known for popularizing the aggro line of music in Germany in the 90s.
• Sinan Sakić – Serbian singer
• Sofi Marinova – Bulgarian singer
• Sotis Volanis – Greek pop folk singer
• Stiv Bators – American vocalist
• Stochelo Rosenberg (born 19 February 1968) – Gypsy jazz guitarist who leads the Rosenberg Trio
• Taisto Tammi – Finnish singer
• Taraful Haiducilor – (Taraf de Haïdouks) Romanian band, formed 1989
• Tea Tairović – Serbian singer
• Toni Iordache – Romanian musician
• Tonino Baliardo – Franco-Spanish guitar player; also a member of the Gipsy Kings
• Valentina Ponomaryova (born 1939) – Russian singer
• Věra Bílá – Czech vocalist
• Vicente Escudero – Spanish flamenco dancer
• Viki Gabor - Polish singer
• Wally Tax – Dutch rock singer, of The Outsiders; son of a Dutch father and a Russian Romani mother
• Tzancă Uraganu – Romanian singer
• Žarko Jovanović – Serbian musician
• Yuri Yunakov – Bulgarian musician

Politicians

• Ágnes Osztolykán – Hungarian politician
• Carlos Miguel – Portuguese minister and mayor
• Flórián Farkas – Hungarian politician
• Idália Serrão – Portuguese secretary of state and MP
• Irena Bihariová – Slovak lawyer and politician
• James Farnell – Australian politician
• Juan de Dios Ramírez Heredia – Spanish MEP
• Juscelino Kubitschek – 21st President of Brazil
• Ladislas Lazaro – American politician
• Lívia Járóka – Hungarian MEP
• László Berényi – Hungarian politician
• Nazif Memedi – Croatian politician
• Gogu Rădulescu – Romanian politician
• Srđan Šajn – Serbian politician
• Özcan Purçu – Turkish politician
• Peter Pollák – Slovak politician
• Washington Luís – 13th President of Brazil

Various

• Alfie Best – British businessman
• Ceferino Giménez Malla – Spanish beatified Roman Catholic catechist
• Duško Kostić – Croatian academic
• Francisco Rivera Ordóñez – Spanish bullfighter
• Granny Boswell – Irish wise woman and healer
• GypsyCrusader – American white supremacist internet personality
• Hristo Kyuchukov – German linguist
• Michael Costello – American fashion designer^[32]
• Mystic Meg – English astrologer
• Timofey Prokofiev – Soviet marine infantryman, Hero of the Soviet Union
• Rodney Smith – English evangelist
• Róisín Mullins – Irish television presenter
• Jean Gordon (Scottish Gypsy)
• Mustafa Shibil
• Raymond Buckland
• Gipsy Smith
• George Bramwell Evens
• Jamie Macpherson
• Rafael Gómez Ortega – Spanish bullfighter^[33]
• Petr Torak
• Miranda Vuolasranta
• Philomena Franz
• Zoni Weisz
• Elisabeth Guttenberger
• Margarethe Kraus
• Meeri Koutaniemi – Finnish photographer and journalist

Writers

• Bronisława Wajs – Polish
• Caren Gussoff – American
• Charlie Smith – English
• Constantin S. Nicolăescu-Plopșor – Romanian
• David Morley – English
• Elena Lacková – Slovak
• Kiba Lumberg – Finnish
• Hillary Monahan – American
• Louise Doughty – English
• Mariella Mehr – Swiss
• Oksana Marafioti – American
• Matéo Maximoff – French
• Menyhért Lakatos – Hungarian
• Muharem Serbezovski – Macedonian
• Nina Dudarova – Russian
• Rajko Đurić – Serbian
• Sandra Jayat – French
• Seanan McGuire – American
• Veijo Baltzar – Finnish
• Hedina Tahirović-Sijerčić – Bosnian
• Usin Kerim – Bulgarian
• Vita Sackville-West – English
• Eldra Jarman – Welsh

Notes and References

1. Web site: Catalunya . Museu Virtual del Poble Gitano de . Porras . Mercedes . The Roma in the visual arts . 2024-06-21 . Museu Virtual del Poble Gitano a Catalunya . en-US . 16 May 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240516065002/https://www.museuvirtualgitano.cat/en/art/the-roma-in-the-visual-arts/ . live .
2. Web site: Here Come the Gypsies: Who is Billy Joe Saunders?. 21 April 2021. HELLO!. 12 May 2021. 12 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512134451/https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20210421111579/here-come-the-gypsies-who-is-billy-joe-saunders/. live.
3. Web site: Billy Joe Saunders aspira a ser el primer gitano campeón olímpico - Marca.com. www.marca.com. 12 May 2021. 12 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512062648/https://www.marca.com/jjoo/2008/2008/08/12/boxeo/1218549955.html. live.
4. Web site: Шампионът по бокс Ивайло Маринов отказва $ 1 млн., за да се боксира за Турция. 3 December 2013. 12 May 2021. 6 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220406081642/http://skandalno.net/shampionat-po-boks-ivajlo-marinov-otka-151270/. dead.
5. Web site: Asociaţia Partida Romilor Pro-Europa şi Asociaţia de Box Club Simion au organizat Cupa Simion la box – 2015 | Asociatia Partida Romilor Pro-Europa. Partida. Romilor. 12 May 2021. 12 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512084635/http://www.partidaromilor.ro/asociatia-partida-romilor-pro-europa-si-asociatia-de-box-club-simion-au-organizat-cupa-simion-la-box-2015/. live.
6. Web site: Скромен Рома прайд утре. Fakti.bg - Да извадим фактите наяве.
7. Web site: Elnök-képviselőt választottak a romák. 5 September 2011. www.e-nepujsag.ro. 12 May 2021. 12 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512073836/https://www.e-nepujsag.ro/articles/elnok-kepviselot-valasztottak-romak. live.
8. Web site: Vivaldi . Elisabetta . 2014-04-25 . Domenico "Volcano" Spada: The boxer who fights under the Roma flag . 2024-06-21 . Romea.cz - Everything about Roma in one place . cs.
9. Web site: André-Pierre Gignac: the 'exotic' France forward who proved everyone wrong. Philippe. Auclair. 2 June 2016. the Guardian.
10. Web site: Banel Nicolita, le Rom du foot francais - Les Inrocks. Marianne. Rigaux. 12 May 2021. 12 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512055415/https://www.lesinrocks.com/actu/banel-nicolita-le-rom-du-foot-francais-33102-09-10-2011/. live.
11. Web site: La Generalitat inicia el primer curso de romaní para formar a futuros profesores. 19 March 2008. La Vanguardia. 12 May 2021. 12 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512065116/https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20080319/53445832223/la-generalitat-inicia-el-primer-curso-de-romani-para-formar-a-futuros-profesores.html. live.
12. Web site: Romani people in Greece. Ramuš. Muarem. 25 July 2019. RomaTimes.News. 12 May 2021. 21 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220321204722/https://www.romatimes.news/index.php/en/categories/social/3971-romani-people-in-greece. live.
13. Web site: "El Gitano", incómodo - Fútbol - ABC Color. www.abc.com.py. 12 May 2021. 21 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240621120511/https://www.abc.com.py/deportes/futbol/el-gitano-incomodo-637343.html. live.
14. Book: Kassimeris, Christos. Anti-Racism in European Football: Fair Play for All. 2009. 78. Lexington Books . 9780739126110.
15. Web site: Anti-Roma racism in football – HOPE not hate. 30 April 2024. 17 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240317040239/https://hopenothate.org.uk/2021/08/11/anti-roma-racism-in-football/. live.
16. Web site: Náš najslávnejší rómsky futbalista: Rómskym talentom hovorím, nech si vyberú medzi tréningom a prácou v továrni. Michal. Červený. 24 July 2020. Denník N. 30 April 2024. 25 April 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240425183757/https://dennikn.sk/1979909/nas-najslavnejsi-romsky-futbalista-romskym-talentom-hovorim-nech-si-vyberu-medzi-treningom-a-pracou-v-tovarni/. live.
17. Web site: Freddy Eastwood: Let me stay in my gipsy home. Echo. 18 August 2006. 12 May 2021. 12 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512134458/https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/local_news/886114.freddy-eastwood-let-me-stay-in-my-gipsy-home/. live.
18. Web site: Cult Heroes and Club Icons: The life and death of football's 1st rockstar, Gigi Meroni. theScore.com. 22 April 2016. 12 May 2021. 21 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240621120510/https://www.thescore.com/seri/news/1011649. live.
19. Web site: Jöhet a második király Pisontéktól. Magyar. hírlap. www.magyarhirlap.hu. 12 May 2021. 5 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220405012852/https://www.magyarhirlap.hu/sport/Johet_a_masodik_kiraly_Pisontektol. live.
20. News: Azért fociznak, hogy ne legyenek éhesek – A Magyar Cigány Labdarúgó Válogatott és a nemzetközi siker. 168.hu. 12 May 2021. 12 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512073503/https://168.hu/sport/futball-roma-szegenyseg-magyar-cigany-labdarugo-valogatott-179472. live.
21. Web site: City wing ace Jesus Navas finds real home from home as brother signs for Bury. Alice. McKeegan. 22 August 2013. Manchester Evening News. 16 May 2021. 20 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020191453/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/city-wing-ace-jesus-navas-5765310. live.
22. Web site: Jose Antonio Reyes breaks down barriers to prove he still has magic. Graham. Hunter. 11 April 2012. www.standard.co.uk. 12 May 2021. 12 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512055414/https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/jose-antonio-reyes-breaks-down-barriers-to-prove-he-still-has-magic-touch-6468623.html. live.
23. Web site: Αυτοί είναι οι 15 τσιγγάνοι που έγιναν διάσημοι στην Ελλάδα (ΦΩΤΟ). Greek. 16 September 2023. 7 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231007110831/https://www.eviazoom.gr/2017/05/autoi-einai-oi-15-tsigganoi-pou-eginan-diasimoi-stin-ellada.html?m=1. live.
24. Web site: Gipsy by birth. 5 October 1899. 12 May 2021. 12 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512055416/https://playupliverpool.com/1899/10/05/gipsy-by-birth/. live.
25. Web site: Ricardo Quaresma and the storied journey of an enigmatic prodigy. Charlie. Carmichael. 26 June 2018. 12 May 2021. 12 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512055416/https://thesefootballtimes.co/2018/06/26/ricardo-quaresma-and-the-storied-journey-of-an-enigmatic-prodigy/. live.
26. Web site: tony goal elvis du ballon rond. www.estrepublicain.fr. 24 October 2016. 24 October 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161024152517/http://www.estrepublicain.fr/sport/2011/10/24/tonygoal-elvis-du-ballon-rond. live.
27. Web site: Romský hokejista Lakatoš: Pro všechny je hrdina, tohle mu lidé vzkazují!. 2 January 2016. Expres.cz. 12 May 2021. 12 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512080042/https://www.expres.cz/sport/romsky-hokejista-dominik-lakatos.A160102_084931_dx-sport_mzk. live.
28. Web site: 2011-02-17 . Was Charlie Chaplin a Gypsy? . 2022-03-22 . the Guardian . en . 21 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240621120510/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/feb/17/charlie-chaplin-gypsy-heritage . live .
29. Web site: Jan Cina: Being Romani is a normal part of my identity, but more important is what I know how to do. Romea.cz. Adéla. Gálová. 22 February 2017. 5 January 2023. en. 5 January 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230105154959/https://romea.cz/en/news/czech/jan-cina-being-romani-is-a-normal-part-of-my-identity-but-more-important-is-what-i-know-how-to-do. live.
30. Web site: Явор Янакиев-100 кила: Като дете си мечтаех за топла храна и имах лилава тениска, която перях всеки ден. 16 March 2024. Bulgarian. 8 August 2022. 31 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180131123826/http://www.168chasa.bg/amp/5507526. live.
31. Web site: Romany girl Cher Lloyd has the X Factor . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210927020427/http://www.romea.cz/en/entertainment/romany-girl-cher-lloyd-has-the-x-factor . 27 September 2021 . 28 July 2022 . ROMEA.
32. Web site: Michael Costello Equates Fashion Week Appearance with Homecoming. 7 March 2019. Palm Springs Life. 28 July 2022. 28 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220728103528/https://www.palmspringslife.com/michael-costello-comes-home-to-fashion-week/. live.
33. Book: Dictionary of Gypsy Life and Lore.