List of Romani people

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

Activists

• Alba Flores – Spanish actress
• 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
• Joe Machine, English painter
• La Chunga, Spanish painter
• Tracy Emin, English artists

Athletes

Boxers

• Billy Joe Saunders – English^[1]
• Randolph Turpin – English
• Dick Turpin – English
• Johnny Frankham - English
• Dorel Simion – Romanian^[2]
• Faustino Reyes – Spanish^[3]
• Ivailo Marinov – Bulgarian^[4]
• Marian Simion – Romanian^[2]
• Samuel Carmona Heredia – Spanish
• Serafim Todorov – Bulgarian^[5]
• Zoltan Lunka – Hungarian^[6]
• Johann Wilhelm Trollmann, German sinti boxer, Thought to have invented and popularized the dancing style of boxing which was popularized later on after his death by Muhammad Ali, born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.
• Jakob Bamberger, Sinti boxer. During Bamberger's boxing career, which began in 1933, he would set foot in the ring over four hundred times. In 1936, he was selected for the Olympic boxing team, but was excluded from competition when the team was purged of "non-Aryans".[1] On 15 April 1938, he lost the championship match to Nikolaus Obermauer and became German Vice Champion in the Flyweight class. In 1939, he was runner-up at the European Championship in Dublin.[2] In 1940, he was third in his class at the championship in Königsberg.[3]

Kickboxers

• Nieky Holzken – Dutch
• Václav Sivák – Czech

Professional Wrestlers

• Gigi Dolin – American

Footballers

• André-Pierre Gignac – French^[7]
• Artur Quaresma – Portuguese
• Bănel Nicoliță – Romanian^[8]
• Carlos Martins – Portuguese^[9]
• Carlos Muñoz Cobo – Spanish^[10]
• Christos Patsatzoglou – Greek^[11]
• Dani Güiza – Spanish^[12]
• Dejan Savićević – Montenegrin^[9]
• Diego Rodríguez – Spanish^[9]
• Dragoslav Šekularac – Serbian^[9]
• Freddy Eastwood – Welsh^[13]
• Georgi Ivanov - Gonzo – Bulgarian^[9]
• Gigi Meroni – Italian^[14]
• Giorgos Giakoumakis – Greek
• István Pisont – Hungarian^[15]
• János Farkas – Hungarian^[16]
• Jesús Navas – Spanish^[17]
• Jordan Galtier – French
• José Antonio Reyes – Spanish^[18]
• José Mari – Spanish^[9]
• Lazaros Christodoulopoulos – Greek^[19]
• Marius Lăcătuș – Romanian^[9]
• Milan Baroš – Czech^[9]
• Mykola Morozyuk – Ukrainian^[9]
• Lobo Carrasco – Spanish^[9]
• Rab Howell – English^[20]
• Ricardo Quaresma – Portuguese^[21]
• Telmo Zarra – Spanish^[9]
• Nacho Novo – Spanish^[9]
• Tony Vairelles – French^[22]
• Zvonimir Boban – Croatian^[9]

Hockey players

• Dominik Lakatoš – Czech^[23]

Cinema and theater

• Hiba Abouk – Spanish actress
• Sandro de América – Argentine 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^[24]
• Lyalya Chyornaya – Russian actress
• Jan Cina – Czech actor^[25]
• Joaquín Cortés – Spanish ballet and flamenco dancer
• 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

Musicians

• 100 Kila – Bulgarian rapper^[26]
• "Falete" Rafael Ojeda Rojas – Spanish singer
• "Rayito" Antonio Rayo – Spanish guitarist, singer and composer. Father Gitano (Iberian Kalo) and mother Japanese
• 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 legend. His father is Romanichal.^[27]
• Antonio Flores (1961–1995) – Spanish singer-songwriter and actor
• 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^[28]
• Christian Escoudé – French jazz guitarist
• Connect-R – Romanian singer
• Damian Drăghici – Romanian musician
• Dani Mocanu – Romanian manele singer
• 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 Redzepova (1943–2016) – Macedonian singer and songwriter
• Eugene Hütz – Ukrainian singer, guitarist, DJ and actor
• Fanfare Ciocărlia (formed 1996) – Romanian brass band
• Félix Lajkó (born 1974) – Hungarian-Serbian violinist and composer (part Romani)
• Florin Salam – Romanian singer
• Georges Cziffra (1921–1994) – Hungarian virtuoso pianist
• Gigi Radics – Hungarian singer
• Haris Džinović (born 1951) – Bosnian folk singer
• Harri Stojka – Austrian jazz guitarist
• 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
• Joy Olasunmibo Ogunmakin – Ayọ (stage name), German singer
• 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
• 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 Neacşu ("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 Cinka (1711–1772) – Hungarian violinist, born in Kingdom of Hungary in modern Slovakia
• Paulus Schafer (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
• 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
• Sasha Kolpakov (born 1943) – Russian guitarist
• Selim Sesler – Turkish virtuoso
• Sinan Sakić – Serbian singer
• Sofi Marinova – Bulgarian singer
• Sotis Volanis – Greek pop folk singer
• Stochelo Rosenberg (born 19 February 1968) – Gypsy jazz guitarist who leads the Rosenberg Trio
• Taisto Tammi – Finland
• 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
• Marija Šerifović, Serbian singer and only serbian singer to win the Eurovision 2007
• Marianne Rosenberg, Well known german and luxembourgish singer, well known for her number 1 albums and entries into the eurovision.
• Drafi Deutscher, Well known german singer, has been awarded a golden record and has had songs in the billboard 100.
• Sido (rapper), Former rapper, well known for popularizing the aggro line of music in germany in the 90s.
• Häns'che Weiss, famous for his G*psy jazz style. Won the Deutscher Schallplattenpreis.
• 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.
• Ayo (singer), A sinti and yoruba singer. Won European Border Breakers Awards 2008[58]

Globes de Cristal Award, Best Female Singer 2014[59] Grand Prize for SACEM repertoire abroad

Politicians

• Ágnes Osztolykán – Hungarian politician
• Carlos Miguel – Portuguese minister and mayor
• Flórián Farkas – Hungarian politician
• Idália Serrão – Portuguese secretary of state and MP
• Juan de Dios Ramírez Heredia – Spanish MEP
• Juscelino Kubitschek – 21st President of Brazil
• 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

• Michael Costello – American fashion designer^[29]
• Duško Kostić – Croatian academic
• Hristo Kyuchukov – German linguist
• Ceferino Giménez Malla – Spanish beatified Roman Catholic catechist
• Timofey Prokofiev – Soviet marine infantryman, Hero of the Soviet Union
• Rodney Smith – English evangelist
• Alfie Best – British businessman
• Mystic Meg – English astrologer
• Róisín Mullins – Irish television presenter
• Francisco Rivera Ordóñez – Spanish bullfighter

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
• Veijo Baltzar – Finnish
• Hedina Tahirović-Sijerčić – Bosnian
• Usin Kerim – Bulgarian
• Vita Sackville-West – English

References

1. "Here Come the Gypsies: Who is Billy Joe Saunders?". HELLO!. 21 April 2021.
2. Romilor, Partida. "Asociaţia Partida Romilor Pro-Europa şi Asociaţia de Box Club Simion au organizat Cupa Simion la box – 2015 | Asociatia Partida Romilor Pro-Europa".
3. "Billy Joe Saunders aspira a ser el primer gitano campeón olímpico - Marca.com". www.marca.com.
4. "Шампионът по бокс Ивайло Маринов отказва $ 1 млн., за да се боксира за Турция". 3 December 2013.
5. "Скромен Рома прайд утре". Fakti.bg - Да извадим фактите наяве.
6. "Elnök-képviselőt választottak a romák". www.e-nepujsag.ro. 5 September 2011.
7. Auclair, Philippe (2 June 2016). "André-Pierre Gignac: the 'exotic' France forward who proved everyone wrong". the Guardian.
8. Rigaux, Marianne. "Banel Nicolita, le Rom du foot francais - Les Inrocks".
9. Kassimeris, Christos (2009). Anti-Racism in European Football: Fair Play for All. p. 78. ISBN 9780739126110.
10. "La Generalitat inicia el primer curso de romaní para formar a futuros profesores". La Vanguardia. 19 March 2008.
11. Muarem, Ramuš (25 July 2019). "Romani people in Greece". RomaTimes.News.
12. ""El Gitano", incómodo - Fútbol - ABC Color". www.abc.com.py.
13. "Freddy Eastwood: Let me stay in my gipsy home". Echo.
14. "Cult Heroes and Club Icons: The life and death of football's 1st rockstar, Gigi Meroni". theScore.com.
15. hírlap, Magyar. "Jöhet a második király Pisontéktól". www.magyarhirlap.hu.
16. "Azért fociznak, hogy ne legyenek éhesek – A Magyar Cigány Labdarúgó Válogatott és a nemzetközi siker". 168.hu.
17. McKeegan, Alice (22 August 2013). "City wing ace Jesus Navas finds real home from home as brother signs for Bury". Manchester Evening News.
18. Hunter, Graham (11 April 2012). "Jose Antonio Reyes breaks down barriers to prove he still has magic". www.standard.co.uk.
19. "Αυτοί είναι οι 15 τσιγγάνοι που έγιναν διάσημοι στην Ελλάδα (ΦΩΤΟ)" (in Greek).
20. "Gipsy by birth". 5 October 1899.
21. Carmichael, Charlie (26 June 2018). "Ricardo Quaresma and the storied journey of an enigmatic prodigy".
22. "tony goal elvis du ballon rond". www.estrepublicain.fr. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
23. "Romský hokejista Lakatoš: Pro všechny je hrdina, tohle mu lidé vzkazují!". Expres.cz. 2 January 2016.
24. "Was Charlie Chaplin a Gypsy?". the Guardian. 17 February 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
25. Gálová, Adéla (22 February 2017). "Jan Cina: Being Romani is a normal part of my identity, but more important is what I know how to do". Romea.cz. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
26. "Явор Янакиев-100 кила: Като дете си мечтаех за топла храна и имах лилава тениска, която перях всеки ден" (in Bulgarian).
27. Watts, Derek; Eric Clapton (2008). Country boy: a biography of Albert Lee. McFarland. pp. 4–10, 14, 17. ISBN 978-0-7864-3658-3.
28. "Romany girl Cher Lloyd has the X Factor". ROMEA.
29. "Michael Costello Equates Fashion Week Appearance with Homecoming". Palm Springs Life.