Rita Moreno, 91, Is an EGOT Legend. Do You Know the Other Hispanic Trailblazers on Our List?

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National Hispanic Heritage Month takes place September 15 through October 15, and it's the perfect time to reflect on people of Hispanic descent who have influenced our society. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, President Lyndon Johnson first recognized Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968. It was later expanded to a month-long period by President Ronald Reagan in 1988.

The date of September 15 is significant in Hispanic history because it marks the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates its independence on the next day, September 16, followed by Chile on September 18.

Of course, the achievements of this diverse group are too numerous to list. But here, in honor of this month's festivities, we look at the fascinating stories of 15 famous Hispanic people in the fields of music, entertainment, politics, and sports.

Related: September Holidays and Observances

Franklin Chang-Díaz, PhD

Dr. Chang-Díaz became the first Hispanic astronaut with NASA in 1980. He's the veteran of seven space flights and logged 1,500 hours in space, according to NASA. Born in Costa Rica, he became a U.S. citizen and attended the University of Connecticut and MIT.

Rick Trevino

Rick Trevino is considered a pioneer in the country music industry after his debut album, Dos Mundos. His self-titled follow-up was certified gold. The Texas native went on to form super group Los Super Seven, and won a Grammy for Best Mexican-American Music Performance at the 1999 awards.

Sonia Sotomayor

In 2009, Sonia Sotomayor became the first Latina to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents, she attended Princeton University and Yale Law School.

Manu Ginóbili

Born in Argentina, Ginóbili was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs. He led the team to four NBA championships and was selected to the all-star team twice. He's credited for changing the game of basketball by perfecting and popularizing the Eurostep. In 2022, he was induced into the basketball hall of fame.

Rita Moreno

Rita Moreno's storied acting career is filled with accolades. In 1961, she became the first Hispanic woman to win an Oscar for her role in West Side Story. She's also one of only 24 people to win the coveted EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony). Most recently, she appeared in Fast X, the latest installment in the Fast & Furious franchise.

Carlos Santana

Born in Mexico in 1947, Santana has become one of the best guitarists of all time. Over his career, he's won 10 Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards. He became the first Hispanic musician inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

Roberto Clemente

In 1973, Roberto Clemente became the first player from Latin America to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. His career highlights include two World Series championships, 15 All-Star appearances, and 12 Golden Glove Awards. He died at age 38 in a plane crash, and the MLB celebrates Roberto Clemente Day each September 15.

Pedro Pascal

The 48-year-old actor is a native of Chile. The three-time Emmy nominee has memorable roles in The Last of Us, The Mandalorian, Game of Thrones, and Narcos.

America Ferrera

America Ferrera's parents immigrated to the U.S. from Honduras. The Emmy-winning actress has starred in Ugly Betty, Superstore, and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Most recently, she stole the show with her powerful monologue in the Barbie movie.

Sara Ramirez

Sara Ramirez is best known for starring as Callie Torres on Grey's Anatomy. With 241 episodes, Callie Torres is the longest-running LGBT character in American television history. Ramirez also won a Tony in 2005 for her role in Spamalot and currently stars on And Just Like That.

Jennifer Lopez

As an actress, singer, and dancer, JLo is a true triple-threat. Her debut album, On the Six, went platinum, and she is one of the "highest paid Latina actresses in the history of Hollywood."

Lin-Manuel Miranda

Forty-three-year-old Miranda is known for creating Hamilton, In the Heights, Moana, and more musicals. He is the recipient of dozens of awards, including a Pulitzer Prize, five Grammys, three Tony Awards, and two Emmys.

Laurie Hernandez

These days Laurie Hernandez, a New Jersey native of Puerto Rican descent, is living a relatively quiet life as an NYU drama student. But in 2016 at the Summer Olympics in Rio, the then-16-year-old was one of the famous Final Five who brought home a team gold for the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team. She also earned a silver on the balance beam, then headed back stateside to become the youngest person ever to win Dancing with the Stars. Now 23, she recently served as an executive producer on the mental health documentary Unconditional (2023) and joined UNICEF as an ambassador this past summer.

Elizabeth Acevedo

The National Book Award winner is making a splash in the publishing world with her powerful prose. Clap When You Land, The Poet X, With the Fire on High, and her newest release, Family Lore, are must-reads.

Johnny Pacheco

If you've ever put on your dance shoes for salsa night, you can thank Johnny Pacheco (1935–2021). Born in the Dominican Republic, he was immersed in music from a young age, learning how to play multiple instruments from his bandleader father. In 1964, Pacheco founded the record label Fania Records, which popularized a style of Cuban dance music that evolved in East Harlem in the mid-20th century. He also gave the music genre its name: salsa, meaning "hot sauce."

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