List of personalities of the city of Havana
This list includes people born in Havana . It is irrelevant whether you subsequently worked in Havana. The list does not claim to be complete.
sons and daughters of the town
18th century
- Esteban Salas y Castro (1725–1803), composer and church musician
- Francisco Covarrubias (1775–1850), actor, author and dramaturge
- Juan Francisco Manzano (1797–1854), poet and writer
- Felipe Poey (1799–1891), naturalist and writer
19th century
- José Lorenzo Buenaventura Güell y Renté (1818–1884), Cuban-Spanish politician and writer
- Nicolás Ruiz Espadero (1832–1890), pianist and composer
- Carlos Baliño (1848–1926), politician
- José Martí (1853–1895), Cuban national poet
- Carlos Américo Lera (1855–1912), Mexican ambassador
- Fernando Tarrida del Mármol (1861–1915), anarchist author
- Alfredo Zayas y Alfonso (1861–1934), 4th President of Cuba
- Julián del Casal (1863-1893), writer
- Antonio Sánchez de Bustamante y Sirvén (1865–1951), legal scholar
- Manuel Díaz (1874–1929), fencer and Olympic champion in 1904
- Mario García Kohly (1875–1934), Cuban politician and diplomat
- Celso Golmayo Torriente (1879–1924), Cuban-Spanish chess master
- Joaquim Nin i Castellanos (1879–1949), composer and pianist
- Fernando Ortiz Fernández (1881–1969), scientist, politician and lawyer
- Ramón Fonst (1883-1959), fencer
- Manuel Golmayo Torriente (1883–1973), Cuban-Spanish chess master
- Alberto Insúa (1885–1963), Spanish writer
- José Raúl Capablanca (1888–1942), world chess champion
- Gonzalo Roig (1890–1970), composer
- Eliseo Grenet (1893–1950), pianist and composer
- Gonzalo Güell (1895–1985), diplomat and politician
- César Pérez Sentenat (1896–1973), pianist and composer
- Lydia Cabrera (1899–1991), anthropologist and poet
- Carlos Hevia (1900–1964), engineer, politician and President of Cuba for two days (16–18 January 1934)
- Rita Montaner (1900–1958), singer and actress
- Edgar Ralphs (around 1900-1967), German humorist
20th century
1901-1910
- José Miró Cardona (1902–1972), lawyer and politician
- Miguelito García (1902-1993), singer
- Julio Antonio Mella (1903–1929), student leader and co-founder of the Communist Party in Cuba
- Millard Mitchell (1903-1953), actor
- Dulce María Loynaz (1903–1997), poet and member of the Real Academia Española
- Juan Pablo Miranda (1906–1986), flautist and composer
- Raúl Roa García (1907–1982), politician and foreign minister (1959–1976)
- Aureliano Sánchez Arango (1907–1976), Minister of Education under President Carlos Prío in Cuba
- Ramón Guirao (1908–1949), journalist and writer
- Don Barreto (1909–1997), guitarist, singer and band leader
- Kid Chocolate (1910-1988), boxer
- Margarita Lecuona (1910–1981), singer and composer
- José Lezama Lima (1910–1976), poet and essayist
- Panchito Riset (1910–1988), son and bolero singer
- Alfredo Valdés (1910–1988), singer and band leader
1911-1920
- Mario Bauzá (1911–1993), musician
- Howard Lydecker (1911–1969), American film technician specializing in visual effects and special effects
- Bola de Nieve (1911–1971), pianist and singer
- Fernando Azcárate y Freyre de Andrade (1912–1998), Jesuit, auxiliary bishop in Havana
- Erik Norman Kjellesvig-Waering (1912–1979), American arachnologist and paleontologist
- Machito (1912–1984), Latin jazz musician and band leader
- Miguelito Valdés (1912–1978), singer, band leader and actor
- Serafina Núñez (1913–2006), teacher and writer
- Jorge Bolet (1914–1990), pianist
- Graciela Grillo Pérez (1915-2010), jazz singer
- Carmen Herrera (* 1915), American painter of concrete art
- Rogelio Ortega (1915 - after 1983), chess master
- Chano Pozo (1915–1948), singer, dancer and percussionist
- Chino Pozo (1915-1980), percussionist
- Luis Andrés Vargas Gómez (1915–2003), lawyer, economist, diplomat and anti-Castro activist
- Virginia Fleites (1916–1966), composer and music teacher
- Isaac Nicola (1916–1997), guitarist and music teacher
- René Touzet (1916–2003), pianist, composer and band leader
- José Curbelo (1917–2012), American pianist, band leader and manager of Latin Jazz and Latin Pop
- Juan Tuñas (1917–2011), football player
- Enrique Hernández Armenteros (1918–2017), Santería priest
- Argeliers León (1918–1991), musicologist, folklorist and composer
- Israel López (1918–2008), bassist and composer
- Ivan Moffat (1918-2002), British screenwriter
- Oscar Arredondo (1918-2001), paleontologist
- Santiago Álvarez (1919–1998), film director
- Kiko Mendive (1919–2000), actor, choreographer, dancer and singer
- Vicentico Valdés (1919–1996), singer
- Alicia Alonso (1920–2019), prima ballerina, ballet director and choreographer
- Pupi Campo (1920–2011), Cuban percussionist and band leader
- Hilario González (1920–1999), composer, pianist, music teacher and scholar
1921-1930
- Cándido Camero (* 1921), Cuban percussionist
- Frank Emilio Flynn (1921-2001), pianist
- Chico O'Farrill (1921–2001), American musician, arranger and composer of Cuban origin
- Geezil Minerve (1922–1992), jazz musician
- Mongo Santamaría (1922-2003), percussionist
- Alfonsín Quintana (1923-2018), singer
- Rolando Valdés (1923–2015), band leader
- Olga Chorens (* 1924), singer
- Armando Peraza (1924–2014), one of the pioneers of Afro-Cuban music
- Niño Valdés (1924-2001), professional boxer
- Celia Cruz (1925-2003), singer
- Raquel Revuelta (1925-2004), actress
- Aurelio de la Vega (* 1925), American lawyer, music critic and composer of Cuban origin
- Julio García Espinosa (1926–2016), screenwriter, director and cultural functionary
- Enrique San Pedro (1926–1994), Jesuit, Bishop of Brownsville
- Carlos "Patato" Valdés (1926–2007), conga player
- Juan Almeida (1927–2009), revolutionary and politician
- Mario Chanes de Armas (1927-2007), revolutionary
- Eduardo Manet (* 1927), writer
- José Antonio Méndez (1927–1989), guitarist, singer and composer
- Sergio del Valle Jiménez (1927–2007), general and politician
- Tomás Gutiérrez Alea (1928–1996), filmmaker
- Alberto Korda (1928–2001), photographer
- Jacob Latiner (1928-2010), American pianist
- Xiomara Alfaro (1930-2018), singer
- Edmundo Desnoes (* 1930), writer and intellectual
- Armando Hart (1930–2017), revolutionary and politician
- Isidor Latiner (1930–2005), American violinist
- Isidoro Malmierca (1930–2001), journalist and politician
- Omara Portuondo (* 1930), singer
1931-1940
- Roland Alphonso (1931–1998), Jamaican tenor saxophonist
- Luis Santi (* 1931), pianist, singer and band leader
- Julieta Campos (1932–2007), Mexican writer and translator of Cuban origin
- Camilo Cienfuegos (1932–1959), Cuban revolutionary
- Raúl Iglesias (1933–2004), pianist and music teacher
- Orlando López (1933–2009), bassist
- Tomás Milián (1933–2017), actor
- Lisandro Otero (1933–2008), writer, journalist and diplomat
- Manuel Sanguily (* 1933), swimmer and doctor
- Eugenio Arango (1934–2011), percussionist and singer
- Natalia Bolívar (* 1934), writer, anthropologist and ethnologist
- Jorge Camacho (1934–2011), Surrealist painter
- Carmelo Mesa-Lago (* 1934), economist
- Emil R. Unanue (* 1934), Cuban-American pathologist and immunologist
- Marta Valdés (* 1934), singer and composer
- Havana Carbo (1935–2015), Cuban-American jazz singer and pianist
- Gilberto Fernández (1935–2011), Cuban-American clergyman and Roman Catholic auxiliary bishop in Miami
- Eduardo Cabrera (1936–2002), pianist, arranger and band leader
- Carlos Manuel de Céspedes y García Menocal (1936–2014), clergyman, Roman Catholic theologian and writer
- Alfredo Petit Vergel (* 1936), Roman Catholic clergyman and auxiliary bishop in San Cristóbal de la Habana
- Ricardo Alarcón (* 1937), politician
- Ricardo Cabrisas (* 1937), politician
- René Muñoz (1938–2000), actor and screenwriter
- Gina Romand (* 1938), Cuban-Mexican actress and singer
- Leo Brouwer (* 1939), guitarist and composer
- Samuel Farber (* 1939), sociologist in the USA
- Juana Rosa Pita (* 1939), poet, essayist and translator
- John H. Sununu (* 1939), American politician (Republican)
- Miguel Barnet (* 1940), writer and ethnologist
- Pastor Vega (1940-2005), director
1941-1950
- Jesús Díaz (1941–2002), writer and director
- Sergio Oliva (1941-2012), body builder
- Félix Rodríguez (* 1941), CIA agent
- Humberto Solás (1941–2008), director
- Chucho Valdés (* 1941), pianist and composer of Latin and modern jazz
- Carmen Collado López (* 1942), choir director and music teacher
- Juan Formell (1942–2014), musician and band leader
- Eusebio Leal (1942–2020), Havana city historian
- Georg Stanford Brown (* 1943), American actor and television director of Cuban origin
- Norberto Fuentes (* 1943), journalist
- Sara Gómez (1943–1974), film director and screenwriter
- Tania León (* 1943), composer, conductor and music teacher
- Manuel Hilario de Céspedes y García Menocal (* 1944), Roman Catholic Bishop of Matanzas
- Fernando Pérez (* 1944), director
- Fulgencia Romay (* 1944), track and field athlete
- Octavio Cisneros (* 1945), Roman Catholic auxiliary bishop in Brooklyn
- Carlos Malcolm (* 1945), composer and pianist
- Pablo Montes (1945-2008), sprinter
- Otto Reich (* 1945), American politician and diplomat
- Martha Beatriz Roque (* 1945), economist and human rights activist
- Michael Aris (1946–1999), British historian and Tibetologist
- Sergio Barroso (* 1946), Cuban-Canadian composer and music teacher
- César Pedroso (* 1946), pianist
- Frank Quinn (* 1946), American mathematician
- Aldo Arencibia (* 1947), racing cyclist
- Yleana Bautista (* 1947), pianist and music teacher
- Rosalina Berazaín Iturralde (* 1947), botanist
- Juan Padrón (1947-2020), animation film director
- Tomás Regalado (* 1947), American politician (Republican) and Mayor of Miami
- Mirta Yáñez (* 1947), writer
- Alfred de Zayas (* 1947), American international lawyer, historian, non-fiction author and UN official
- Adalberto Álvarez (* 1948), pianist, arranger and band leader of the group Son 14 (1978–1982) and Adalberto Álvarez y su Son (since 1984)
- Daniel Díaz Torres (1948–2013), film director
- José Luis Quintana (* 1948), percussionist
- Paquito D'Rivera (* 1948), jazz musician
- Ana Mendieta (1948–1985), Cuban-American artist
- Tulio Peramo Cabrera (* 1948), composer, singer and music teacher
- Sergio Vitier (1948–2016), composer
- Fidel Castro Díaz-Balart (1949–2018), nuclear physicist
- George J. Borjas (* 1950), American economist and professor of economics and social policy at Harvard University
1951-1960
- Carlos Cardet (* 1951), racing cyclist
- Carlos Lage Dávila (* 1951), pediatrician and politician
- Marlene Elejarde (1951–1989), sprinter
- Lucía Huergo (1951–2015), composer, music producer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist
- María Felicia Pérez (* 1951), choir director and music teacher
- Carlos del Puerto (* 1951), jazz musician and university lecturer
- Armando Rodríguez Ruidíaz (* 1951), musician, composer and university professor
- Haroldo Dilla Alfonso (* 1952), historian and sociologist
- Joaquín La Habana (* 1952), singer, dancer and travesty artist
- Oswaldo Payá (1952–2012), member of the opposition
- Tony Plana (born 1952), Cuban-American actor
- Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (* 1952), American politician (Republican Party)
- Ignacio Berroa (* 1953), American Latin and jazz drummer and percussionist
- Manuel Aurelio Cruz (* 1953), Roman Catholic clergyman and auxiliary bishop in Newark
- Hilario Durán (* 1953), Cuban-Canadian musician, arranger, composer and band leader
- Carlos Gutierrez (* 1953), chairman of the board of directors and supervisory board of the Kellogg Company
- Daniel Ponce (1953–2013), percussionist and drummer
- Roberto Urbay (* 1953), pianist and music teacher
- Alejandro Casañas (* 1954), hurdle sprinter
- Manny Diaz (born 1954), Mayor of Miami, Florida
- Lincoln Diaz-Balart (* 1954), American politician and lawyer
- Alfredo de la Fé (* 1954), violin player
- Orlando Jacinto García (* 1954), American composer and music teacher
- Juan de Marcos González (* 1954), singer, arranger and producer
- Hans Jürgen Herrmann (* 1954), German physicist
- José María Vitier (* 1954), pianist and composer
- Ricardo Brey (* 1955), concept artist, sculptor, installation artist and draftsman
- Jorge López (* 1955), composer
- Myriam Márquez (* approx. 1955), American journalist
- Leonardo Padura (* 1955), writer
- Aldo Rodríguez (* 1955), guitarist, composer and music teacher
- Steven Bauer (born 1956), American actor
- Ruth Behar (* 1956), Cuban-American anthropologist, poet and writer
- Andy García (born 1956), actor
- María Teresa Mestre (* 1956), Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
- Daína Chaviano (* 1957), writer
- Gloria Estefan (born 1957), singer
- Fernando Isern (* 1958), Roman Catholic Bishop of Pueblo
- Al Jourgensen (* 1958), singer, guitarist, keyboardist, music producer and songwriter
- Carlos del Junco (* 1958), Canadian harmonica player of Cuban origin
- Ernán López-Nussa (* 1958), jazz pianist and composer
- Bárbaro Marín (born 1959), actor
- José Carlos Somoza (* 1959), Spanish writer
- Zoé Valdés (* 1959), writer
- Waldemar Font (* 1960), boxer
- Aleida Guevara (* 1960), pediatrician and politician
1961-1970
- Rogelio J. Pineiro (born 1961), writer
- Cecilia Samartin (* 1961), writer
- Jon Secada (* 1961), American singer and songwriter of Cuban origin
- Mariela Castro (* 1962), educator
- Issac Delgado (* 1962), salsa musician
- Franky Gee (1962-2005), American singer and rapper
- Lucrecia (* 1962), actress and singer
- Lázaro Martínez (* 1962), sprinter
- Guillermo Gonzalez (* 1963), astrophysicist
- Horacio "El Negro" Hernández (* 1963), drummer and percussionist
- Maritza Martén (* 1963), discus thrower and Olympic champion in 1992
- Jorge Pardo (born 1963), artist
- Gonzalo Rubalcaba (* 1963), jazz pianist
- Roberto Santamaria (* 1963), jazz musician and percussionist
- Beatriz Valdés (* 1963), actress
- Carlos Varela (* 1963), singer and songwriter
- José Canseco (born 1964), baseball player
- Jorge Luis González (* 1964), heavyweight boxer
- Roger Miret (* 1964), American singer, guitarist and bassist of Cuban origin
- Joaquín Clerch (* 1965), guitarist
- Sen Dog (born 1965), rapper
- Dave Lombardo (* 1965), drummer for the thrash metal band Slayer
- Roberto Moya (1965-2020), discus thrower
- Felipe Pérez Roque (* 1965), politician and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cuba from 1999 to 2009
- Alexis Bosch (* 1966), jazz musician and composer
- Daisy Fuentes (* 1966), American presenter, actress and model
- François-Michel Lambert (* 1966), French politician
- Oscar García Pérez (* 1966), foil fencer and two-time world champion
- Ángel Santiesteban Prats (* 1966), writer
- Orlando Valle (* 1966), flautist, composer, arranger and band leader
- Julio Barreto (* 1967), drummer
- Carlos Garaicoa (* 1967), artist and photographer
- Lilia Izquierdo (* 1967), national volleyball player
- Juan Miguel Rodríguez (* 1967), marksman
- Voltaire (* 1967), musician
- Iván Abreu Camacho (* 1968), boxer
- Gorki Águila (* 1968), punk rock musician and dissident
- Tania Bruguera (* 1968), artist
- Magaly Carvajal (* 1968), Cuban and Spanish national volleyball player
- Niurka Montalvo (* 1968), Spanish athlete of Cuban origin
- Aliuska López (* 1969), Spanish hurdler of Cuban origin
- José Miguel Sánchez (* 1969), writer
- Regla Bell (* 1970), national volleyball player
- Manuel Bobadilla (* 1970), football player
- Wendy Guerra (* 1970), writer
- Laura de la Uz (* 1970), theater, cinema and television actress
1971-1980
- Guillermo Calzadilla (* 1971), visual artist
- Elvis Gregory (* 1971), fencer
- Arturo Miranda (* 1971), Cuban-Canadian water diver
- Orlando Luis Pardo (* 1971), writer, blogger, photojournalist
- Carlos Pérez (* 1971), Cuban and Hungarian handball player
- Leticia Spormann (* 1971), singer
- Rolando Tucker (* 1971), fencer
- Yamilé Aldama (* 1972), British triple jumper of Cuban origin
- Roberto Carcassés (* 1972), jazz musician and composer
- Iván Pedroso (* 1972), long jumper
- Ioamnet Quintero (* 1972), high jumper
- Maikro Romero (* 1972), boxer and Olympic champion in 1996
- Carlos Acosta (* 1973), ballet dancer and choreographer
- Juan Carlos Gómez (* 1973), heavyweight boxer
- Tamara Larrea (* 1973), beach volleyball player
- Pedrito Martínez (* 1973), percussionist and singer
- Vida Guerra (* 1974), model
- Cuban Link (* 1974), American rapper of Cuban origin
- Roberto Fonseca (* 1975), pianist, composer and arranger
- Carlitos del Puerto (* 1975), jazz musician
- Yoani Sánchez (* 1975), blogger critical of the regime
- Regla Torres (* 1975), national volleyball player
- Iván Domínguez (* 1976), racing cyclist
- Freddy Mayola (born 1977), sprinter
- Alberto Delgado (* 1978), football player
- Joan Lino Martínez (* 1978), Spanish long jumper of Cuban origin
- Roberto Monzón (* 1978), wrestler
- Alexis Rodríguez Valera (* 1978), wrestler
- Zulia Calatayud (* 1979), middle distance runner
- Erick Fornaris (* 1979), water diver
- Rey Ángel Martínez (born 1980), football player
- Odlanier Solís (* 1980), boxer
- Frank Travieso (* 1980), racing cyclist
- Mayra Verónica (* 1980), American model and singer
1981-1990
- Omar Almeida Quintana (* 1981), chess master
- Lázaro Alfonso Prats (* 1981), football player
- Rocky Romero (born 1982), wrestler
- Claudia Cadelo (* 1983), blogger critical of the regime
- Niala Collazo Hidalgo-Gato (* 1983), chess player
- Leinier Domínguez (* 1983), chess master
- Harold López-Nussa (* 1983), jazz pianist and composer
- Anay Tejeda (* 1983), hurdler
- Fabian Almazan (* 1984), pianist and composer
- Danay García (born 1984), actress
- Yampier Hernández (* 1984), boxer
- Ahmed López (* 1984), track cyclist
- Mayra Andrade (* 1985), Cape Verdean singer
- Alfredo Rodríguez (* 1985), jazz musician
- Danay Suárez (* 1985), rapper and R&B singer
- Robert Alfonso (* 1986), boxer
- Lázaro Borges (* 1986), pole vaulter
- Nancy Carrillo (* 1986), volleyball player
- William Collazo (* 1986), sprinter
- Ariadna Sintes (* 1986), Cuban-Spanish actress
- Rafael Capote (* 1987), Qatari-Cuban handball player
- Yasmani Copello (* 1987), Turkish athlete
- Andy González (* 1987), middle distance runner
- Ana de Armas (* 1988), actress
- Alfredo Quintana Bravo (* 1988), handball goalkeeper
- Osleni Guerrero (* 1989), badminton player
- Glenhis Hernández (* 1990), Taekwondoin
1991-2000
- Nidia Muñoz (* 1991), Taekwondoin
- Camila Cabello (* 1997), American pop singer
- Cristian Nápoles (* 1998), triple jumper
Other important personalities for the city of Havana
- Hermann Dietrich Upmann (1816–1894), founder of the H. Upmann cigar brand and the H. Upmann & Co. bank
- Theodore Garbade (1873–1961), banker, president of the Cuban Cigar Manufacturers Association
- Alejo Carpentier (1904–1980), Cuban-French writer
- Fidel Castro (1926 / 27–2016), revolutionary and politician