List of Lithuanians

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of Lithuanians, both people of Lithuanian descent and people with the birthplace or citizenship of Lithuania.

In a case when a person was born in the territory of former Grand Duchy of Lithuania and not in the territory of modern Lithuania, only persons, who named themselves Lithuanians or were strictly connected to Lithuania in other way, are included.

Arts[]

Architecture and sculpture[]

Laurynas Gucevičius, considered to be the first professional Lithuanian architect
Main article: List of Lithuanian architects

Literature[]

First Lithuanian book The Simple Words of Catechism published in 1547 by Martynas Mažvydas
Portrait of Salomėja Nėris, one of the best known Lithuanian female writers
Main article: List of Lithuanian authors
  • Jurgis Baltrušaitis (1873–1944), poet and diplomat, the first Symbolist poet
  • Antanas Baranauskas (1835–1902), priest and poet, author of The Pine Groove of Anykščiai (Lithuanian: Anykščių šilelis)
  • Adam Mickiewicz (1798–1855), Polish-Lithuanian-Belorussian[1] poet, dramatist, essayist, publicist, translator and political activist.
  • Kazys Binkis (1893–1942), poet and playwright, leader of Lithuanian Futurism movement
  • Bernardas Brazdžionis (1907–2002), influential romantic poet
  • Petras Cvirka (1909–1947), short story writer and pro-Communist activist
  • Kristijonas Donelaitis (1714–1780), Lithuanian Lutheran pastor and poet, author of The Seasons (Lithuanian: Metai)
  • Juozas Glinskis (1933–), writer, playwright, pioneer of Lithuanian "theatre of cruelty"
  • Leah Goldberg (1911–70), Israeli poet
  • Romualdas Granauskas (1939–), writer about the identity crisis during the Soviet times
  • Juozas Grušas (1901–1986), one of the most productive writers and playwrights under the Soviet rule
  • (1992–), patriotic poet, famous for "Matrica"
  • Jurga Ivanauskaitė (1961–2007), the best known modern female writer
  • Vincas Kudirka (1858–1899), writer and poet, author of the national anthem of Lithuania
  • Vytautas V. Landsbergis (1962–) (lt:Vytautas V. Landsbergis), writer, published many children's books
  • Maironis (real name Jonas Mačiulis, 1862–1932), priest and poet, best known patriotic poet
  • Justinas Marcinkevičius (1930–2011), one of the most prominent poets during the Soviet rule
  • Marcelijus Martinaitis (1936–2013) (lt:Marcelijus Martinaitis), writer famous for The Ballads of Kukutis, a mock-epic
  • Martynas Mažvydas (1510–1563), author of the first book in Lithuanian language
  • Icchokas Meras (1934–2014), Lithuanian-Jewish writer about the Holocaust
  • Vincas Krėvė-Mickevičius (1882–1954), writer and playwright, author of major interwar plays
  • Oskaras Milašius (1877–1939), French-Lithuanian writer and diplomat
  • Vincas Mykolaitis-Putinas (1893–1967), writer and poet, one of the best known Symbolist poets, author of the novel In the Shadows of the Altars (Lithuanian: Altorių šešėly)
  • Salomėja Nėris (real name Salomėja Bačinskaitė-Bučienė, 1904–1945), the best known female poet during the interwar period
  • (1919–) (lt:Alfonsas Nyka-Niliūnas), poet, living in the United States
  • Henrikas Radauskas (1910–1970), poet, one of the major figures of Lithuanian literature in exile
  • Šatrijos Ragana (real name Marija Pečkauskaitė, 1877–1930), female writer
  • Balys Sruoga (1896–1947), writer, poet, playwright, author of the novel The Forest of Gods (Lithuanian: Dievų miškas) about his experience in the Stutthof concentration camp
  • Antanas Strazdas (1760–1833), priest and poet, signed in Polish as Antoni Drozdowski, the best known work was Pulkim ant Keliu (Let Us Fall on Our Knees) and the poem The Thrush
  • Antanas Škėma (1911–1961), writer in exile, author of surrealistic novel The White Cloth (Lithuanian: Balta drobulė)
  • Yemima Tchernovitz-Avidar (1909–1998), Israeli author
  • Judita Vaičiūnaitė (1937–2001) (lt:Judita Vaičiūnaitė), modern female poet exploring urban settings
  • Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas (real name Juozas Tumas, 1869–1933), writer
  • Indrė Valantinaitė (1984–), poet
  • Tomas Venclova (1937–), poet, political activist
  • Antanas Vienuolis (real name Žukauskas 1882–1957), writer, a major figure in Lithuanian prose
  • Vydūnas (real name Vilius Storostas, 1868–1953), Lithuanian writer and philosopher, leader of Lithuanian cultural movement in the Lithuania Minor at the beginning of the 20th century
  • Jonas Zdanys (1950–), poet and translator
  • Žemaitė (real name Julija Beniuševičiūtė-Žymantienė, 1845–1921), one of the best known female writers

Theater and cinema[]

See also: List of Lithuanian actors

Ballet and Dance[]

  • Eglė Špokaitė (1971–), soloist of Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre (1989–2011). Actress, art director.
  • Michael Styler (198-), Profession Information Technology manager at Republic Services
  • Edita Daniūtė (1979–), Professional Ballroom Dancer and World DanceSport Champion.
  • Iveta Lukosiute (1980–), Professional Ballroom Dancer and World 10 Dance Champion.

Music[]

Soprano vocalist Violeta Urmanavičiūtė-Urmana
Pop singer Violeta Riaubiškytė
See also: List of Lithuanian singers
  • Linas Adomaitis (1976–), pop singer, participant in the Eurovision Song Contest
  • Osvaldas Balakauskas (1937–), ambassador and classical composer
  • Algirdas Budrys (1939–), clarinetist
  • Alanas Chošnau (1974–), singer, member of former music group
  • (1976–) (lt:Egidijus Dragūnas), leader of , one of the first hip hop bands in Lithuania
  • Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875–1911), painter and composer
  • Balys Dvarionas (1904–1972), composer, conductor, pianist, professor
  • Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla (1986–), conductor, music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
  • Gintarė Jautakaitė, pop artist, signed with EMI and SONY Music Entertainment in 1998
  • Gintaras Januševičius (1985–), internationally acclaimed pianist
  • Algirdas Kaušpėdas, architect and lead singer of Antis
  • Nomeda Kazlaus, opera singer (dramatic soprano) appearing internationally
  • Vytautas Kernagis (1951–2008), one of the most popular bards
  • Anthony Kiedis (1962–), U.S. singer, songwriter and rapper, best known for being a founding member and lead vocalist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
  • Algis Kizys (1960–), long-time bass player of post-punk, no-wave band Swans
  • Irma Kliauzaitė, pianist
  • Petras Kunca (1942–), violinist
  • Monika Linkytė (1992–), pop singer
  • Andrius Mamontovas (1967–), rock singer, co-founder of Foje and LT United
  • Marijonas Mikutavičius (1971–), singer, author of Trys Milijonai, the unofficial sports anthem in Lithuania
  • (1886–1938) (lt:Vincas Niekus), composer
  • Virgilijus Noreika (1935–), one of the most successful opera singers (tenor)
  • Mykolas Kleopas Oginskis (1765–1833), one of the best composer of the late 18th century
  • Kipras Petrauskas (1885–1968) (lt:Kipras Petrauskas), popular early opera singer (tenor)
  • Pink (singer) - pop, pop-rock, R&B singer, songwriter, dancer, producer
  • Stasys Povilaitis (1947–2015), one of the popular singers during the Soviet period
  • Violeta Riaubiškytė (1974–), pop singer, TV show host
  • Mindaugas Rojus, opera singer (tenor / baritone)
  • Česlovas Sasnauskas (1867–1916), composer
  • (1975–) (lt:Rasa Serra) (real name Rasa Veretenčevienė), singer (Traditional folk A cappella, jazz, POP).
  • (1944–) (lt:Audronė Gaižiūnienė-Simonaitytė), one of the more popular female opera singers (soprano)
  • (1953–) (lt:Virgis Stakėnas), singer of country-folk music
  • (1903–1987) (lt:Antanas Šabaniauskas), singer (tenor)
  • Jurga Šeduikytė (1980–), art rock musician, won the Best Female Act and the Best Album of 2005 in the Lithuanian Bravo Awards and the Best Baltic Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2007
  • Jonas Švedas (1908–1971), composer
  • (1953–), composer, singer and songwriter.
  • Violeta Urmanavičiūtė-Urmana, opera singer (soprano-mezzo-soprano) appearing internationally

Painters and graphic artists[]

See also: List of Lithuanian artists

Politics[]

President Valdas Adamkus (right) chatting with Vice President Dick Cheney (left)
See also: List of Lithuanian rulers
  • Mindaugas (1200–1263), first king of Lithuania (1236–1263)
  • Gediminas (1275–1345), king of Lithuania (1316–1341)
  • Algirdas (1296–1377), co-ruler (together with Kęstutis) of Lithuania (1345–1377)
  • Kęstutis (1297–1382), co-ruler (together with Algirdas) of Lithuania (1342–1382)
  • Vytautas (1350–1430), ruler of Lithuania(1392–1430 together with Jogaila)
  • Jogaila (1362–1434), ruler of Lithuania (1377–1434, from 1392 to 1430 together with Vytautas), the king of Poland (1386–1434)
  • Jonušas Radvila (1612–1655), field hetman of Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1654–1655)
  • Dalia Grybauskaitė (1956–), 8th President of Lithuania (2009-2019)
  • Valdas Adamkus (1926–), President of Lithuania till 2009
  • Magdalena Avietėnaitė (1892–1984), journalist, diplomat and a public figure
  • Jonas Basanavičius (1851–1927), "father" of the Act of Independence of 1918
  • Algirdas Brazauskas (1932–2010), former First secretary of Central Committee of Communist Party of Lithuanian SSR, the former president of Lithuania after 1990, and former Prime Minister of Lithuania
  • Joe Fine (1895–1969), mayor of Marquette, Michigan 1964–1965
  • Kazys Grinius (1866–1950), politician, third President of Lithuania
  • Ramūnas Karbauskis (1969–), businessman, politician and philanthropist
  • Mykolas Krupavičius (1885–1970), priest behind the land reform in interwar Lithuania
  • Vytautas Landsbergis (1932–), politician, professor, leader of Sąjūdis, the independence movement, former speaker of Seimas, member of European Parliament
  • Stasys Lozoraitis (1898–1983), diplomat and leader of Lithuanian government in exile (1940–1983)
  • Stasys Lozoraitis (junior) (1924–1994), politician, diplomat, succeeded his father as leader of Lithuanian government in exile (1987–1991)
  • Antanas Merkys (1888–1955), the last Prime Minister of interwar Lithuania
  • Rolandas Paksas (1956–), former President, removed from the office after impeachment
  • Justas Paleckis (1899–1980), journalist and politician, puppet Prime Minister after Soviet occupation
  • Kazimiera Prunskienė (1943–), first female Prime Minister
  • Mykolas Sleževičius (1882–1939), three time Prime Minister, organized Lithuanian Armed Forces
  • Antanas Smetona (1874–1944), first President (1919) and authoritarian leader (1926–1941)
  • Antanas Sniečkus (1903–1974), First Secretary of the Lithuanian Communist Party (1940–1974)
  • Aleksandras Stulginskis (1885–1969), President of Lithuania in the interwar period
  • (1928–) (lt:Antanas Terleckas), political activist
  • Juozas Urbšys (1896–1991), last Foreign Minister of interwar Lithuania
  • Gediminas Vagnorius (1957–), Prime Minister behind vagnorkės, the temporary currency
  • Augustinas Voldemaras (1883–1942), Prime Minister to Antanas Smetona
  • Artūras Zuokas (1968–), recurring mayor of Vilnius city municipality
  • Gitanas Nausėda (1964-), current President of Lithuania.

Military[]

  • Antanas Gustaitis (1898–1941), Lithuanian Air Force, commander-in-chief, general, engineer, military aircraft designer (ANBO series)
  • Romualdas Marcinkus (1907–1944), only Lithuanian pilot to serve in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War
  • Povilas Plechavičius (1890–1973)
  • Rimantas Stankevičius (1944–1990), Lithuanian cosmonaut who test flew Soviet space shuttle Buran and its test vehicles
  • Jonas Žemaitis, Lithuanian Partisan leader during second Soviet occupation, recognized as a fourth president of Lithuania

Science[]

Marija Gimbutienė, an archeologist

Mathematics[]

Jonas Kubilius

Economy[]

Sports[]

Virgilijus Alekna is the most successful Lithuanian discus thrower
Main article: List of Lithuanian sportspeople

Basketball[]

Žydrūnas Ilgauskas

Cyclists[]

Football[]

Hockey[]

  • Darius Kasparaitis – former NHL player
  • Aleksey Nikiforov – professional coach and mentor
  • – current USHL player with Chicago Steel
  • Dainius Zubrus – former NHL player

Tennis[]

  • Ričardas Berankis – professional tennis player
  • Vitas Gerulaitis – professional tennis player in the '70s & '80s; Won the Australian Open in 1978; Twice runner-up to Bjorn Borg
  • Daniel Prenn (1904–1991) - Vilnius-born German, Polish, and British world-top-ten tennis player

Track and field[]

  • Virgilijus Alekna – 2-time Olympic, 2-time World and 1-time European champion in discus throwing
  • Austra Skujytė – Olympic medalist at women's heptathlon

Various[]

Religion[]

Roman Catholicism[]

Father spent over 20 years in Soviet prison camps

Eastern Orthodoxy[]

Judaism[]

  • Vilna Gaon
  • Chaim Volozhin
  • Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler
  • Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz
  • Nissim Karelitz

Other[]

  • Tadas Blinda – Lithuanian Robin Hood
  • Steponas Darius – pilot
  • Ignotas Domeika – Chilean geologist, mineralogist and educator
  • Stasys Girėnas – pilot
  • Josifas Grigulevičius, also known as Григулевич Иосиф Ромуальдович (1913–1988) – famous Soviet intelligence agent in West Europe and Latin America, later historian of Catholic Church and Latin America (corresponding member of Academy of Sciences of USSR)
  • Juste Juozapaityte – model and pageant title holder
  • Jurgis Kairys – aerobatic pilot, FAI World Grand Prix of Aviation champion, famous of flight under 10 bridges in Vilnius. He also flew inverted under a bridge in Kaunas
  • Romas Kalanta – high school student known for his public self-immolation protesting Soviet regime in Lithuania
  • Abba Kovner (1918–1987) – poet, writer, and partisan leader
  • Benediktas Mikulis – Lithuanian freedom fighter
  • Antanas Mockus (1952–) – Lithuano-Colombian mathematician, philosopher, and politician. Mayor of the city of Bogotá D.C. in two mandates (1995-1997 and 2001-2003).
  • Vytautas Putna, also known as ru:Путна, Витовт Казимирович (1893–1937) – comcor (general lieutenant) of Red Army, Soviet military diplomat
  • – television news reporter at News 12 Long Island/Radio news reporter at 1010 WINS in New York City
  • Jokūbas Smuškevičius, also known as Yakov Smushkevich, Смушкевич Яков Владимирович (1902–1941) – general lieutenant of Soviet Army, Commander-in Chief of Soviet Air Force, twice Hero of Soviet Union
  • Aleksandras Štromas (also referred as Alexander Shtromas) (1931–1999) – professor of Bradford University, dissident
  • Jeronimas Uborevičius also known as ru:Уборевич, Иероним Петрович or Ieronim Uborevich (1896–1937) – comandarm 1st rank (General of the Army) of the Red Army, commander of Armament of Red Army, later commander of military district
  • Feliksas Vaitkus – sixth pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic
  • Edita Vilkevičiūtė – model
  • – Editor of the Dorchester (MA) Reporter[2]
  • Shanina Shaik – model who is maternally of Lithuanian-Australian descent

Fictional[]

  • Lithuania – also known by his human name as Toris Laurinates is the representation of the country in the anime/manga Hetalia
  • Hannibal Lecter – fictional cannibalistic genius appearing in four novels by author Thomas Harris and their film adaptations
  • Marko Ramius (nicknamed the Vilnius Schoolmaster) – fictional captain of the submarine Red October in the novel The Hunt for Red October by Tom Clancy. Portrayed by Sean Connery in the 1990 film version
  • Jurgis Rudkus – the protagonist of Upton Sinclair's novel The Jungle

Notable international people of Lithuanian descent[]

  • Tim Abromaitis – NCAA basketball player
  • Giorgio Amendola (1907–1980) – Italian prominent politician; mother was Lithuanian
  • Saul Anuzis (1959–) – Chairman of the Michigan Republican State Committee (2005–present)
  • Rick Barry – Hall of Fame basketball player
  • Aras Baskauskas – winner of Survivor: Panama; of Lithuanian descent, holding Lithuanian and American citizenship
  • Bernard Berenson – American art historian specializing in the Renaissance, born in Butrimonys (Alytus district, Lithuania)
  • Kevin Bieksa – Canadian hockey player
  • Sydney Brenner – biologist, winner of 2002 Nobel Prize in Physiology
  • Robert Briscoe – Lord Mayor of Dublin – The original family name in Lithuania is believed have been Cherrick[3]
  • Charles Bronson – actor, born to Lithuanian emigrants
  • Matt Busby – Scottish football manager
  • Dick Butkus – NFL Hall of Fame linebacker
  • Abraham Cahan (1860–1951) – Lithuanian-born American socialist activist, editor and journalist of socialist and Jewish periodicals (including The Jewish Daily Forward), and author of a number of fiction pieces concerning Yiddish life in New York
  • Romain Gary (Roman Kacew) (1914–1980) – Lithuanian born naturalized French diplomat, novelist, film director, World War II aviator. He is the only author to have won the Prix Goncourt twice (under his own name and under a pseudonym)
  • Leonard Cohen (1934–2016) – singer-songwriter, poet, novelist, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee
  • Dick Durbin Illinois senator – mother was Lithuanian
  • Bob Dylan – American folk/rock musician
  • Brian Epstein – former Beatles manager; paternal grandparents are Lithuanian Jews
  • Brandon Flowers (1981–) – vocalist, and keyboardist of the Las Vegas-based rock band The Killers. Is under both Scottish and Lithuanian ancestry
  • Genie Francis – American actress; mother is of Lithuanian descent
  • Philip Glass (1937–) – composer (grandchild of Lithuanian Jewish migrants)
  • Emma Goldman – anarchist, feminist, activist aka 'Red Emma', Lithuania-born anarchist known for her writings and speeches
  • Nadine Gordimer – novelist and writer, winner of the 1991 Nobel Prize in literature and 1974 Booker Prize
  • Albin Gurklis – Lithuanian-American priest, mathematician
  • Laurence Harvey – Lithuanian-born actor who achieved fame in British and American films
  • Jascha Heifetz (1901–1987) – Lithuanian-born famous violinist
  • Ann Jillian (1950–) – American television actress and breast cancer activist, born to immigrant parents
  • Phill Jupitus – British comedian, family emigrated from Lithuania in 1917
  • Joe Jurevicius – American football (NFL) wide receiver
  • Natas Kaupas – professional Skateboarder
  • Anthony Kiedis (1962–) – frontman and vocalist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers (paternal grandfather of Lithuanian descent)
  • – also known as Spider or Blackie Dammett (father of Lithuanian descent), father of Anthony Kiedis
  • Stanley Kunitz – noted American poet, mother was Lithuanian
  • James Laurinaitis – NFL linebacker for the St. Louis Rams
  • David Lee – physicist, winner of Nobel Prize in 1996 for physics
  • Ruta Lee (1936–) born Ruta Kilmonis (Kilmonytė) – Canadian and American cinema and television actress
  • Emmanuel Levinas – Lithuanian-born French philosopher and Talmudic commentator
  • Jacques Lipchitz – Lithuanian-born cubist sculptor
  • Billy McNeill – Scottish soccer legend, Lithuanian mother
  • Hermann Minkowski – Lithuanian-born German mathematician, one of Einstein's teachers
  • Antanas Mockus – Colombian mathematician, philosopher, and politician. Former mayor of Bogotá
  • Simonas Morkūnas (1902–1997) – priest, Lithuanian-American humanitarian
  • Alecia Beth Moore – Pink – performer
  • Ed Palubinskas – former basketball player
  • Sean Penn – American actor; father was of mixed Russian and Lithuanian descent
  • Vlado Perlemuter – French pianist, born in Kaunas
  • Maury Povich – paternal grandparents emigrated from Lithuania
  • Johnny Ramensky – legendary Scottish criminal and folk hero
  • Andy Rautins – Canadian professional basketball player, son of Leo
  • Leo Rautins – Canadian basketball player, former national team coach, broadcaster
  • John C. Reilly – American actor. Mother is of Lithuanian descent
  • Phil Rudd (real name Phillip Hugh Norman Witschke Rudzevecuis) – drummer of band AC/DC
  • Vyto Ruginis – American actor, son of Lithuanian immigrants
  • Jack Sharkey – American heavyweight boxing champion
  • William Shatner – Canadian actor, who played Captain James T. Kirk, (one of the most iconic characters in American cultural history) on Star Trek, Grandson of Lithuanian Immigrants.[4]
  • Joanna Shimkus – actress born in Canada to Lithuanian emigres
  • John Shimkus – Illinois politician
  • Jerry Siegel (1914–1996) – co-creator of Superman. Son of Lithuanian Jewish immigrants
  • Antanas Sileika – Canadian author
  • Elijah ben Solomon known as the Vilna Gaon – Lithuanian-born talmudist, halachist, kabbalist, and one of the foremost leaders of non-hasidic Jewry of the past few centuries
  • Nik Stauskas – current NBA club Philadelphia 76ers player
  • Annis Stukus – Canadian sports personality
  • Jason Sudeikis – US actor and comedian, member of Saturday Night Live cast (paternal grandfather of Lithuanian descent)
  • Olegas Truchanas (1923–1972) – Lithuanian-born Australian conservationist and nature photographer
  • Johnny Unitas – Football player with the Baltimore Colts, member of NFL Hall of Fame, parents were Lithuanian
  • Eddie Waitkus – baseball player
  • Uriel Weinreich (1926–1967) – Lithuanian-born linguist at Columbia University
  • Mariel Zagunis – Olympic (USA) sabre fencing champion, gold medals in 2004 and 2008
  • Robert Zemeckis – American film director
  • Annette Zilinskas – original bassist with the early Bangles
  • William Zorach (1887–1966) – Lithuanian-born American sculptor, painter, printmaker and writer
  • Robert Z'Dar – American actor
  • - Lithuanian actor known for playing ‘Sihtric’ in The Last Kingdom

See also[]

References[]

  • Šilbajoris, Rimvydas (2002). A Short History of Lithuanian Literature. Vilnius: Baltos lankos. ISBN 9955-429-76-3.
  • Vasiliauskas, Valdas (27 December 1999). "Šimtas įtakingiausių Lietuvos žmonių nuo 1900 iki 2000 (A Hundred of the Most Influential Lithuanians from 1900 to 2000)". Extra (in Lithuanian). 49 (62): 8–9. Archived from the original on 26 August 2006. Retrieved 23 December 2006.
  1. ^ As corresponds to current geo-cultural divisions; by historical standards he would be considered a representative of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth or the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. See Snyder, Timothy (2002). The reconstruction of nations : Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, 1569-1999. New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 28–29. ISBN 978-0-300-12841-3. OCLC 182530832.
  2. ^ http://www.dotnews.com/users/gintautas-dumcius
  3. ^ JewishGen Discussion Group SigLists
  4. ^ Shatner, William; Fisher, David (2016). Leonard: My Fifty-Year Friendship with a Remarkable Man. Thomas Dunne Books, St Martins Press, 175 Fifth Avenue New York, N.Y. 10010. pp. 3, 7. ISBN 978-1-250-08331-9 – via Hardcover Edition Book.
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