Famous U.S. Immigrants
Famous immigrants who made their way to the United States — and then to the top of their profession — are the embodiment of the American dream. Follow the careers of Albert Einstein, Charlize Theron, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nikola Tesla and dozens of other U.S. immigrants who made it big in America.
People In This Group
Chow Yun-Fat
Chow Yun-Fat was named "The Coolest Actor in the World," by the Los Angeles Times in 1995. He starred in the Chinese action film 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.'
M. Night Shyamalan
M. Night Shyamalan is a filmmaker and screenwriter known for focusing on supernatural plots. He is best known for directing 'The Sixth Sense,' which was released in 1999 to wide acclaim, including six Academy Award nominations.
Elaine L. Chao
Elaine L. Chao became the first Asian-American woman to serve in a Cabinet-level position when George W. Bush appointed her Secretary of Labor in 2001.
Pramila Jayapal
Pramila Jayapal is congresswoman representing Washington since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, she became the first Indian-American woman to serve in the House of Representatives.
Siegfried Fischbacher
Siegfried Fischbacher was one-half of the performing duo Siegfried and Roy.
Haing S. Ngor
Actor Haing S. Ngor endured persecution and numerous atrocities under the Khmer Rouge before moving to the U.S. and starring in 'The Killing Fields.'
Rupert Murdoch
Media magnate Rupert Murdoch is the founder and head of News Corporation, a global media conglomerate. He created Fox Broadcasting Company in 1986.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger first gained fame as a bodybuilder, using that as a launching point to become a huge Hollywood star and, later, the governor of California.
Helena Rubinstein
Helena Rubinstein was a Polish entrepreneur best known for her global cosmetics empire.
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman is an Oscar-winning, Israeli American actress known for her role in films such as 'Black Swan,' 'Jackie,' 'Thor' and the 'Star Wars' franchise.
Stokely Carmichael
Stokely Carmichael was a Trinidadian American civil rights activist known for leading the SNCC and the Black Panther Party in the 1960s.
Bob Marley
Jamaican singer, musician and songwriter Bob Marley served as a world ambassador for reggae music and sold more than 20 million records throughout his career.
Alex Trebek
Alex Trebek served as the host of 'Jeopardy!,' one of the most popular game shows in television history, for more than 30 years.
Christiane Amanpour
London-born broadcast journalist Christiane Amanpour has covered some of the world's most newsworthy events for CNN, ABC and CBS.
Gloria Estefan
Cuban-American superstar Gloria Estefan fronted the band Miami Sound Machine. Songs like "Conga" and "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" topped the charts in the 1980s and 1990s and became pop classics.
Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe was a Nigerian novelist and author of 'Things Fall Apart,' a work that in part led to his being called the 'patriarch of the African novel.'
Joni Mitchell
Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, responsible for hits such as 'Both Sides Now' and 'Big Yellow Taxi,' is widely considered 1960s and '70s folk royalty.
Neil Young
Neil Young is one of the most influential songwriters and guitarists of his generation, known for recording such favorites as "Old Man," "Harvest Moon" and "Heart of Gold."
Yul Brynner
Yul Brynner was an actor known for his roles in 'The King and I,' 'The Ten Commandments' and 'The Magnificent Seven.'
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was one of the most prolific and popular songwriters of the 20th century, counting among his many hits "White Christmas" and "Cheek to Cheek."
Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz was a Cuban American singer, best known as one of the most popular salsa performers of all time, recording 23 gold albums.