List of Croatian Americans

This is a list of notable Croatian Americans, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants.

To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Croatian American or must have references showing they are Croatian American and are notable.

Academics

• Ivo Banac - historian and professor at Yale University
• Mladen Bestvina - mathematician
• Jaksa Cvitanic - professor of mathematical finance
• William Feller - mathematician
• Gordana Matic - mathematician
• Emil M. Mrak - food scientist, microbiologist and former chancellor of the University of California, Davis
• Drazen Prelec - mathematician
• Pasko Rakic - neuroscientist
• David Sanjek - professor of music
• Marin Soljačić - professor of physics at MIT
• Henry Suzzallo - president of the University of Washington
• Victor Wickerhauser - mathematician

Artists

• Mirko Ilic - graphic designer and comics artist
• Ivan Meštrović - sculptor and professor at Syracuse and Notre Dame
• Anton Perich - filmmaker, photographer and video artist
• Michael Trcic - sculptor and special effects artist
• Maksimiljan (Makso) Vanka - painter
• Matthew Yuricich - Academy Award-nominated special effects artist
• Richard Yuricich - three-time Academy Award-nominated special effects artist

Entertainers

Actors

• George Birimisa - playwright, actor, editor, director
• Anna Chlumsky - actress^[1]
• Dario Deak - actor
• Jenna Elfman - television and movie actress (of part Croatian descent)
• Cary Elwes - movie actor (maternal grandmother of Croatian-Jewish and Serbian descent)
• Judah Friedlander - actor and comedian (mother of Croatian descent)
• Mira Furlan - television and film actress
• Jay Grdina - pornographic film actor, ex-husband of former porn star Jenna Jameson
• Gloria Grey - actress and director
• Thomas Horn - child actor (mother is Croatian)
• Michael Klesic - actor^[2]
• Laura La Plante - silent screen actress
• John Malkovich - actor (father of Croatian descent)^[3]
• Joe Manganiello - actor (mother of Croatian descent)
• Mark Matkevich - actor
• Ivana Miličević - actress
• John Miljan - actor
• Patrick Muldoon - actor (mother of Croatian descent)
• PhilliMAK - Actor, singer, model, music producer (Father of Croatian Descent)
• Lorenzo Music - actor, voice actor, writer, television producer and musician
• Rick Rossovich - actor (father of Croatian descent)^[4]
• Mia Slavenska - prima ballerina of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet
• Goran Višnjić - actor

Musicians

• Nenad Bach - recording artist, composer, performer, producer and peace activist
• Tony Butala - co-founder and member of the singing group The Lettermen^[5]
• Jim Korthe (1970-2010) - singer for 3rd Strike and Dimestore Hoods, drummer for Phantasm
• Stephen Kovacevich - pianist and conductor
• Katrina Leskanich - singer
• Zeljko Marasovich - composer of classical and film music
• Miljenko Matijevic - musician^[6]
• Johnny Mercer - songwriter and singer^[7]
• Helen Merrill - jazz singer
• Zinka Milanov - singer, Metropolitan Opera
• Tomo Miličević - guitarist for 30 Seconds to Mars
• Paul Mirkovich - musical director of NBC's talent competition The Voice
• Guy Mitchell - singer and actor
• Krist Novoselic - bassist for Nirvana
• David Paich - composer, producer and Toto keyboardist
• Walter Parazaider - founding member and saxophone player for Chicago
• Tristan Perich - contemporary composer and sound artist
• Plavka - singer, born Plavka Lonich
• Paul Salamunovich - chorale conductor
• Louis Svečenski - violinist
• Milka Ternina - soprano opera singer with the Metropolitan Opera

Screenwriters, directors, and producers

• Christina Cindrich - television producer and actress
• Allan Francovich - film producer and director
• Mike Frankovich - film producer
• Branko Lustig - movie producer, two-time Academy Award winner^[8]
• Marty Pasetta - television producer and director

Youtubers

• Justine Ezarik - vlogger, author and Apple Inc. enthusiast (a.k.a. iJustine)

Inventors and engineers

• Victor Grinich - member of the "traitorous eight" who founded Silicon Valley
• Brian Krzanich - CEO of Intel
• Anthony Francis Lucas - oil explorer; inventor; organized with Pattillo Higgins the drilling of an oil well near Beaumont, Texas that became known as Spindletop, which led to the widespread exploitation of oil and the start of the petroleum age
• Anthony Maglica - inventor, owner and founder of Mag Instrument Inc.^[9]
• Jacob Matijevic, Ph.D - NASA engineer, posthumously, NASA named a hill on Mars after him
• Boris Miksic - Cortec Corporation owner and founder
• Andrija Puharich - medical and parapsychological researcher, medical inventor
• Mario Puratić - inventor of the fishing Puretic power block
• George M. Skurla - aeronautical engineer for the Apollo program, Director of Operations at the Kennedy Space Center, former president of the Grumman Corporation
• Nicholas Sulentic - industrialist, creator of Sears Craftsman tool boxes, chests and cabinets

Military personnel

• Sylvester Antolak - US Army Sergeant, recipient of the Medal of Honor
• Paul William Bucha - US Army Captain, recipient of the Medal of Honor; highly decorated American Vietnam War veteran; foreign policy adviser to Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign
• Louis Cukela - recipient of the Medal of Honor
• Albert A. Francovich - Navy Cross recipient
• Rade Grbitch - US Navy, recipient of the Medal of Honor
• Ron Kovic - US Marine Corps, Vietnam War veteran; peace activist
• Leonard Matlovich - US Air Force, recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star; Vietnam War veteran and first publicly gay person to appear on TIME magazine's cover
• Michael J. Novosel - US Army Chief Warrant Officer, recipient of the Medal Of Honor; veteran of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War
• Ivan L. Slavich, Jr. - United States Army colonel
• Peter Tomich (Petar Herceg 'Tonić') - US Navy Chief Watertender, WWII recipient of the Medal of Honor
• John J. Tominac - US Army First Lieutenant, recipient of the Medal of Honor
• Albert Vadas - US Navy, recipient of the Medal of Honor
• Donald W. Wolf - Navy Cross recipient

Politicians

• Michael D. Antonovich - Los Angeles County Supervisor, 5th District, nine 4 year terms from 1980 to 2016, the second most in county history; former California State Assemblyman for six years, Republican
• Mark Begich - U.S. Senator from Alaska; former Mayor of Anchorage^[10]
• Nick Begich - Alaska Congressman^[11]
• Michael Anthony Bilandic - Illinois politician who served as the mayor of Chicago^[12]
• John Bonacic - New York State Senator
• John Cherberg - politician, football coach, teacher and television executive
• Renee Ellmers -^[13] U.S. Representative for North Carolina's 2nd congressional district
• Frank Ivancie - former mayor of Portland, Oregon
• John Kasich - Congressman;^[8] Ohio Governor (2011- )
• Dennis Kucinich - former Mayor of Cleveland, US Congressman from Ohio, and 2004 Democratic Presidential candidate^[14]
• Tony P. Mardesich - Washington politician
• August P. Mardesich - Washington State Senator
• Mary Matalin - political commentator and former assistant to President George W. Bush
• George W. Milias - politician of California
• Rose Perica Mofford - 18th Governor of Arizona
• Tony Peraica - politician, Republican
• Rudy Perpich - former Governor of Minnesota; Lieutenant Governor; Senator^[15]
• George Radanovich - former Congressman, wine maker^[16]
• Mark Sokolich - Mayor of Fort Lee, New Jersey
• Michael A. Stepovich - last governor of the Alaska Territory 1957-58; Republican
• Rudy Svorinich - politician, Republican
• Vincent Thomas - Democratic Party politician from California, namesake of the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro
• Andy Vidak - politician
• Emil Mrkonic - former politician in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Democrat
• Carmen Trutanich - politician

Scientists

• Lada Adamic - network scientist
• Milislav Demerec - geneticist
• Daniel Gajski - computer scientist
• Terry Jonathan Hart - former astronaut
• Hedvig Hricak - radiologist
• Egon Matijevic - chemist
• Paul L. Modrich - biochemist, 2015 Nobel Prize Winner
• Steven Z. Pavletic - NIH medical doctor, cancer researcher
• Stephen Polyak - neuroanatomist
• Mark Russinovich - Microsoft technical fellow
• Vincent Sarich - chemist, anthropologist^[17]
• Marin Soljacic - Ph.D professor of physics, electrical engineer at MIT; inventor
• James Spudich - biochemist

Sportspersons

• John Abramovic - former basketball player
• Mario Ancic – in legal department of the NBA; former professional tennis player, once ranked No. 7 in the world
• Marijon Ancich – football coach in California
• Johnny Babich - former baseball player
• Gary Beban – former NFL player, 1967 Heisman Trophy winner
• Bill Belichick – NFL football head coach; four-time Super Bowl winner^[18][19]
• Steve Belichick – football player
• Pete Bercich – former NFL player and coach with the Minnesota Vikings; currently the color commentator on KFAN radio
• Nick Burley, born Nicholas Barovich – bare-knuckle boxer, Heavyweight Champion of the Yukon Territory in 1902^[20]
• Jack Carlson – former NHL player
• Jeff Carlson - former IHL/WHA player, one of the Hanson Brothers in Slapshot
• Steve Carlson - former NHL player, one of the Hanson brothers in Slapshot
• Pete Carroll - Super Bowl-winning coach, Seattle Seahawks; former USC football coach
• Tom Cecic - soccer player
• Ann Cindric - All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
• Ralph Cindrich - former NFL player
• Fred Couples - golfer (Croatian mother)
• David Diehl - former football player and offensive lineman in the National Football League
• Duje Dukan - NBA basketball player
• Bill Fralic - former professional American football offensive guard
• Gary Gabelich - former land speed record holder at 630.388 miles per hour; the record lasted from 1970 to 1983
• Mike Golic - former NFL defensive lineman; co-host of ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning
• Elvis Grbac - former NFL quarterback
• Bobby Grich - former MLB baseball player
• Tom Haller - former MLB baseball player
• John Havlicek - NBA Hall of Fame (Croatian mother Amanda Turkal, originally spelled "Turkalj")
• Frankie Hejduk - US National Soccer Team player and member of the Columbus Crew
• Les Horvath - 1944 Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback
• Al Jurisich - former MLB baseball player
• John Jurkovic - former NFL player
• Mirko Jurkovic - former football player
• Mike Karakas - NHL hockey player
• David Kopay - first professional athlete (American football) to be openly gay
• Joe Kuharich - former football player
• Larry Kuharich - former football coach
• Toni Kukoc - former NBA player
• Curtis Leskanic - baseball player^[21]
• Mickey Lolich - baseball player
• Tony Mandarich - NFL offensive player
• Marv Marinovich - retired American football offensive guard and sports trainer
• Todd Marinovich - former American and Canadian football quarterback
• Roger Maris - baseball player
• Dino Mattessich - former Maryland lacrosse coach, current UConn Sr. Assoc. Athletic Director
• Kevin McHale - former NBA player
• Catfish Metkovich - Major League Baseball player
• Joe Mihaljevic - former soccer player
• Ed Mikan - former NBA player
• George Mikan – former NBA player
• Pat Miletich - martial artist^[22]
• Stipe Miocic - mixed martial artist
• Rob Ninkovich - NFL player
• Jim Obradovich - former NFL player
• Erv Palica - former MLB pitcher
• Mark Pavelich - retired professional ice hockey player; member of the 1980 gold medal-winning USA "Miracle on Ice" team at the Winter Olympics
• George Perpich - former football player
• Johnny Pesky - former baseball player and announcer
• Dan Plesac – baseball player^[21]
• Gregg Popovich – NBA coach and five-time NBA champion
• Ed Puskarich - former soccer player
• Ante Razov – US soccer player
• John Robic - Kentucky Basketball assistant coach
• Lou Saban – football coach
• Nick Saban – five-time National Champion NCAA football coach^[18][19]
• Vladimir Sabich - skier
• Frank Sinkwich - Heisman trophy winner
• Joe Stydahar - former NFL player
• Joey Terdoslavich - Major League Baseball player
• John Tomac – cyclist
• Rudy Tomjanovich - basketball player and coach^[23]
• Auggie Vidovich II - driver in the NASCAR Busch Series
• Bill Vinovich - NFL official
• Danny Vranes (Vranješ) - professional basketball player (NBA);^[24] NBA All-Defensive Second Team 1985
• Christian Yelich - MLB player
• Fritzie Zivic - "Croat Comet", world boxing champion (welterweight)^[25]
• Mike Zordich - former NFL player
• Chris Zorich - former NFL player

Writers

• Courtney Angela Brkic - anthropologist, writer
• Michael Cunningham - author
• Richard Kauzlarich - diplomat, writer, and intelligence analyst^[26]
• Nicholas Kulish - author and journalist
• Josip Marohnić - published the first book of Croatian poetry in America, Amerikanke
• Ottessa Moshfegh - writer
• Josip Novakovich - writer^[27]
• Jason Smilovic - writer, executive producer

Others

• Blase J. Cupich - Catholic Cardinal of Chicago
• Edward J. Damich - former judge and professor
• John Owen Dominis - last Hawaiian royalty, by marriage to Hawaiian Queen Lydia Kamekaha Kapaaka in 1862
• Mike Grgich - winemaker; 1976 winner at the Judgement of Paris for the Best White Wine in the world; inducted into the Vintner's Hall of Fame in 2008
• Noma Gurich - judge serving as a Justice on the Oklahoma Supreme Court
• Bill Kurtis - television journalist and producer^[28]
• Michael Lah - cartoonist
• Louis Lucas - winemaker
• Amber Mariano - reality TV contestant and winner, Survivor: All-Stars^[29]
• Capricia Penavic Marshall - worked in the Clinton and Obama White House administrations
• Zinka Milanov - Metropolitan Opera coloratura
• Joe "Pegleg" Morgan - high-ranking Mexican Mafia carnal
• Steve Nelson, born Stjepan Mesaros - Spanish Civil War veteran and Communist Party leader who was jailed in Pittsburgh in the 1950s (Croatian of Hungarian extraction)
• Katie Pavlich - journalist
• Kevin Radich - sports reporter
• Bill Rancic - entrepreneur; husband of E! News' Giuliana DePandi
• Gene Rayburn - radio and television personality^[30]
• Tony Robbins - motivational speaker and author
• Teresa Scanlan - Miss America 2011^[31][32]
• Miroslav Volf - Protestant theologian
• Vanna White - television personality and co-host of the game show Wheel of Fortune^[33]

References