List of people from Sicily

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sicily is the largest region in Italy in terms of area, with a population of over five million and has contributed many famous names to all walks of life. Geographically, it is the largest and most populated island in the Mediterranean Sea.

This list includes notable natives of Sicily and its predecessor states, as well as those who were born elsewhere but spent a large part of their active life in Sicily. People of Sicilian heritage and descent are in a separate section of this article. The Sicilian-Americans have a specific list.

Rulers, monarchs and warriors

Hermocrates, Syracusan general during the Peloponnesian War.

The Siculo-Norman Roger II, first king of Sicily. Crowned in the Palermo Cathedral in 1130, he founded a kingdom lasted 686 years.

Phalaris (died 555 or 554 BC), tyrant of Akragas
Theron (c. 535–472 BC), tyrant of Akragas
Diocles of Syracuse (5th century BC), legislator and military leader
Gelo (died 478 BC), tyrant of Gela and Syracuse
Hiero I (died 467 or 466), tyrant of Gela and Syracuse
Ducetius (died 440 BC), king of the Sicels
Dionysius I (432 – 367 BC), tyrant of Syracuse
Dion (408 – 354 BC), tyrant of Syracuse, friend of Plato
Hermocrates (died 407 BC), Syracusan general
Charondas (4th century), lawgiver
Dionysius II (397 – 343 BC), tyrant of Syracuse
Timoleon (411 – 337 BC), tyrant of Syracuse
Agathocles (361 – 289 BC), tyrant of Syracuse
Hicetas of Leontini (died 338 BC), tyrant of Leontini
Hiero II (c. 308–c. 215 BC), tyrant of Syracuse
Antander (4th century BC–3rd century BC), strategos
Epicydes (3rd century BC), tyrant of Syracuse
Lanassa (3rd century BC), queen consort of Epirus and Macedon
Hieronymus, (231–214 BC), tyrant of Syracuse
Euphemius (9th century AD), admiral
al-Hasan al-Kalbi (r. 948 – 964 AD), founder of the Emirate of Sicily
Jawhar al-Siqilli (966–992), general of the Fatimid Caliphate
Roger I^[1] (1031–1101), founder of the County of Sicily
Felicia (1078–1102), queen consort of Hungary
Roger II^[2] (1095–1154), king of Sicily
William I (1131–1166), king of Sicily
William II (1155–1189), king of Sicily
Tancred (1138–1194), king of Sicily
William III (1186–1198), king of Sicily
Constance I (1154–1198), queen of Sicily, Holy Roman Empress
Frederick II^[3] (1194–1250), king of Sicily, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry VII (1211–1242), king of Sicily and Germany
Manfred^[4] (1232–1266), king of Sicily
Constance II (1249–1302), queen consort of Aragon and Sicily
Frederick III^[5] (1272–1337), king of Sicily
Peter II (1304–1342), king of Sicily
Constance (1305–1344), queen consort of Jerusalem and Cyprus and Armenia
Eleanor (1325–1375), queen consort of Aragon
Louis (1338–1355), king of Sicily
Frederick IV (1341–1377), king of Sicily
Maria (1363–1401), queen of Sicily
Costanza Chiaramonte (1377–1423), queen consort of Naples
Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies (1806–1878), queen of Spain
Ferdinand II (1810–1859), king of the Two Sicilies
Louise of Orléans (1812–1850), queen consort of Leopold I of Belgium

Religious figures

Saint Agatha, painting of Francesco Guarino (1637), Museo di Capodimonte, Naples.

Saint Rosalie Interceding for the Plague–Stricken of Palermo, painting of Anthony van Dyck (1624), Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

Pantaenus (died 200 AD), theologian, saint
Agatha of Catania (231–251 AD), martyr and saint
Lucy of Syracuse (283–304 AD), martyr and saint
Saint Vitus (c. 290–c. 303 AD), martyr and saint
Euplius (died 304 AD), martyr and saint
Bassianus of Lodi (c. 320– c. 409), bishop and saint
Mamilian of Palermo (died 460), bishop and saint
Olivia of Palermo (448–463), martyr and saint
Pope Agatho (575–681), Pope from 678 to his death, saint
Pope Leo II (611–683), Pope from 682 to his death, saint
Pope Sergius I (650–701), Pope from 687 to his death, saint
Pope Stephen III (723–772), Pope from 768 to his death
Methodios I (788/800–847), Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and saint
Leo Luke of Corleone (815–915), monk and saint
Joseph the Hymnographer (816–886), monk and saint
Elias of Enna (822 or 823–903), monk and saint
Vitalis of Castronovo (900–994), monk and abbot
Symeon of Trier (980/990–1035), monk and saint
Filarete of Calabria (c. 1020–1070), monk and saint
John Theristus (1049–1129), monk and saint
Rosalia of Palermo (1130–1166), hermit and saint
Albert of Trapani (1240–1307), friar and saint
Agostino Novello (1240–1309), Augustinian friar, scholar and blessed
Nicolò de' Tudeschi "Panormitanus", (1386–1445), canonist, pseudocardinal
Pietro Geremia (1399–1452), Dominican preacher and blessed
Eustochia Smeralda Calafato (1434–1485), Franciscan hermitess and saint
Luigi Rabatà (1443–1490), Carmelite priest and blessed
Benedict the Moor (1526–1589), friar and saint
Giordano Ansaloni (1598–1634), Dominican missionary and saint
Bernard of Corleone (1605–1667), friar and saint
Prospero Intorcetta (1626–1696), Jesuit missionary
Giuseppe Maria Tomasi (1649–1713), Theatine priest, cardinal and saint
Giovanni Battista Sidotti (1668–1714), priest, missionary
Felix of Nicosia (1715–1787), Capuchin friar and saint
Giacomo Cusmano (1834–1888), priest and blessed
Mariano Rampolla (1843–1913), cardinal secretary of state
Annibale Maria di Francia (1851–1927), priest and saint
Carolina Santocanale (1852–1923), nun and blessed
Maria Crocifissa Curcio (1877–1957), Carmelite nun and blessed
Gabriele Allegra (1907–1976), Franciscan missionary, translator and blessed
Giuseppina Suriano (1915–1950), Catholic activist and blessed
Salvatore Pappalardo (1918–2006), archbishop and cardinal
Francesco Spoto (1924–1964), priest, missionary and blessed
Pino Puglisi (1937–1993), priest and blessed

Philosophers and scientists

Archimedes of Syracuse, mathematician, physicist, engineer, astronomer, and inventor. Portrait by Giuseppe Nogari (18th century), Pushkin Museum, Moscow.

Ettore Majorana, theoretical physicist who worked on neutrino masses; the Majorana equation and Majorana fermions are named after him.

Empedocles (c. 490–430 BC), scientist and philosopher
Acron (5th century BC), physician
Gorgias (c. 483–375 BC), philosopher
Hicetas (c. 400–c. 335 BC), philosopher
Monimus (c. 399–300 BC), philosopher
Menecrates of Syracuse (4th century BC), physician
Euhemerus (c. 330–250 a.C.), philosopher
Dicaearchus (c. 350–c. 285 BC), philosopher, cartographer, geographer, mathematician
Archimedes (c. 287 – 212 BC), engineer and mathematician
Ibn Zafar (1104–1170), philosopher and polymath
Giovanni Aurispa (1376–1459), anthropologist
Francesco Maurolico (1494–1575), mathematician
Giovanni Filippo Ingrassia (1510–1580), physician, anatomist
Giovanni Battista Hodierna (1597–1660), astronomer
Paolo Boccone (1633–1704), botanist
Tommaso Campailla (1668–1740), philosopher, doctor, poet
Francesco Paolo Cantelli (1875–1966), mathematician
Orso Mario Corbino (1876–1937), physicist
Leonardo Ximenes (1716–1786), mathematician, engineer, astronomer, geographer
Bernardino da Ucria (1739–1796), botanist
Giuseppe Piazzi (1746–1826), astronomer, discovered the minor planet Ceres
Niccolò Cacciatore (1780–1841), astronomer
Vincenzo Tineo (1791–1856), botanist
Gioacchino Ventura di Raulica (1792–1861), philosopher
Filippo Parlatore (1816–1877), botanist
Stanislao Cannizzaro (1826–1910), chemist
Giuseppe Seguenza (1833–1889), naturalist, geologist
Giuseppe Sergi (1841–1936), anthropologist
Gaetano Mosca (1858–1941), political scientist
Silvio Micali (born 1954), computer scientists and Turing award recipient
Gaspare Mignosi (1875–1951), mathematician
Gaetano Fichera (1922–1996), mathematician
Giuseppe Lauricella (1867–1913), mathematician
Giovanni Gentile (1875–1944), philosopher
José Ingenieros (1877–1925), physician, pharmacist, philosopher
Michele Cipolla (1880–1947), mathematician
Mauro Picone (1885–1977), mathematician
Giuseppe Oddo (1865–1954), chemist
Emanuele Paternò (1847–1935), chemist
Giuseppe Mario Bellanca (1886–1960), aviation inventor
Giovanni Sansone (1888–1979), mathematician
David J. Impastato (1903–1986), neuropsychiatrist
Giuseppe Gabrielli (1903–1987), aeronautics engineer
Michele Parrinello (born 1945), physicist
Antonino Lo Surdo (1880–1949), physicist
Ettore Majorana (1906–1997), physicist
Quirino Majorana (1871–1957), physicist
Manlio Sgalambro (1924–2014), philosopher, poet
Antonino Zichichi (born 1929), physicist
Luca Parmitano (born 1976), engineer and astronaut
Vito Latora (born 1971), physicist
Flavia Sparacino (born 1966)
Napoleone Ferrara (born 1956)

Poets, writers and journalists

Jacopo da Lentini, senior poet of the Sicilian School, credited with the invention of the sonnet.

Luigi Pirandello, dramatist, novelist and poet; he was awarded the 1934 Nobel Prize in Literature for "his almost magical power to turn psychological analysis into good theatre."

Epicharmus of Kos (c. 524–c. 435 BC), comic poet, dramatist, philosopher
Antiochus of Syracuse (5th century BC), historian
Corax of Syracuse (5th century BC), rhetorician
Sophron (5th century BC), writer of mimes
Lysias (c. 445–c. 380 BC), logographer, jurist
Philistus (c. 432–356 BC), historian
Carcinus (c. 420–360 BC), dramatist
Archestratus (4th century BC), poet
Timaeus (c. 345–250 BC), historian
Rhinthon (c. 323–285 BC), dramatist
Theocritus (c. 310–250 BC), poet
Diodorus Siculus (c. 90–30 BC), historian
Julius Firmicus Maternus (4th century AD), writer, astrologer
Ibn al-Qatta (1041–1121), philologist and lexicographer
Ibn Hamdis (1056–1133), poet
Al-Mazari (1061–1141), eminent jurist from Mazara del Vallo
Eugenius of Palermo (c. 1130–1202), translator
Cielo d'Alcamo (13th century), poet
Nina Siciliana (13th century), poet
Stefano Protonotaro da Messina (13th century), poet
Giacomo da Lentini (1210–1260), poet
Guido Delle Colonne (1215–1290), poet
Antonio Beccadelli (1394–1471), poet, historian
Pietro Ranzano (1428–1492), historian
Lucio Marineo (1444–1533), humanist, historian
Giovanni Luca Barberi (1452–1520), historian
Cataldo Parisio (1455–1517), humanist
Tommaso Fazello (1498–1570), historian
Nicoletta Pasquale (16th century), poet
Antonio Veneziano (1543–1593), poet
Sebastiano Bagolino (1562–1604), poet, scholar
Pietro Fullone (1600–1670), poet
Filadelfo Mugnos (1607–1675), historian, genealogist, poet
Giuseppe Artale (1632–1679), poet
Giovanni Meli (1740–1815), poet
Domenico Tempio (1750–1821), poet
Michele Amari (1806–1889), historian, orientalist, politician
Gabriele Dara (1826–1885), Arbëreshë poet, politician
Luigi Capuana (1839–1915), writer
Giovanni Verga (1840–1922), novelist
Giuseppe Pitrè (1841–1916), historian
Mario Rapisardi (1844–1912), poet
Napoleone Colajanni (1847–1921), writer, journalist, politician
Pietro Gori (1865–1911), journalist, poet
Luigi Pirandello (1867–1936), dramatist, Nobel laureate
Nino Martoglio (1870–1921), writer, dramatist
Maria Messina (1887–1944), writer of short fiction, novelist
Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa (1896–1957), writer, poet
Ignazio Buttitta (1899–1997), poet
Salvatore Quasimodo (1901–1968), poet, Nobel laureate
Ercole Patti (1903–1976), writer
Vitaliano Brancati (1907–1954), writer
Elio Vittorini (1908–1966), writer
Helle Busacca (1915–1996), poet
Gesualdo Bufalino (1920–1996), writer
Leonardo Sciascia (1921–1989), writer, politician
Angelo Maria Ripellino (1923–1978), translator, poet
Vince Colletta (1923–1991), comic book artist, art director
Andrea Camilleri (1925–2019), novelist
Giuseppe Fava (1925–1984), writer and dramatist
Mario Francese (1925–1979), journalist
Maria Costa (1926–2016), poet
Candido Cannavò (1930–2009) sports journalist
Santi Visalli (born 1932), photojournalist
Vincenzo Consolo (1933–2012), novelist
Dacia Maraini (born 1936), novelist
Gaetano Cipolla (born 1937), Sicilian-to-English translator, author, publisher of the journal Arba Sicula
Emma Baeri (born 1942), feminist historian, political scientist
Peppino Impastato (1948–1978), journalist, political activist
Marcello Sorgi (born 1955), writer, journalist
Lara Cardella (born 1969), novelist
Alessandro D'Avenia (born 1977), writer
Melissa Panarello (born 1985), novelist

Painters, sculptors and architects

Antonello da Messina, painter, active during the Italian Renaissance; Giorgio Vasari credited him with the introduction of oil painting into Italy.

Ernesto Basile, architect, exponent of modernisme and Liberty style, known especially for the projects of the Teatro Massimo of Palermo and the Palazzo Montecitorio in Rome.

Antonello da Messina (1430–1479), painter
Riccardo Quartararo (1443–1506), painter
Girolamo Alibrandi (1470–1524), painter
Antonello Gagini (1478–1536), sculptor
Giacomo del Duca (1520–1604), sculptor, architect
Tommaso Laureti (1530–1602), painter
Natale Masuccio (1561–1619), Jesuit architect
Mariano Smiriglio (1561–1636), architect, painter
Mario Minniti (1577–1640), painter
Alonzo Rodriguez (1578–1648), painter
Antonio Barbalonga (1600–1649), painter
Pietro Novelli (1603–1647), painter
Giovanni Quagliata (1603–1673), painter
Onofrio Gabrielli (1619–1706), painter
Agostino Scilla (1629–1700), painter
Angelo Italia (1628–1700), Jesuit architect
Filippo Tancredi (1655–1722), painter
Gaetano Giulio Zumbo (1656–1701), sculptor
Filippo Juvarra (1678–1736), architect
Rosario Gagliardi (1698–1762), architect
Giovanni Battista Vaccarini (1702–1768), architect
Pietro Novelli (1603–1647), painter
Giacomo Serpotta (1656–1732), sculptor
Olivio Sòzzi (1696–1765), painter
Giovanni Antonio Medrano (1703–1760), architect
Giuseppe Vasi (1710–1782), engraver, architect
Vincenzo Sinatra (1720–1765), architect
Francesco Sabatini (1722–1797), architect
Giuseppe Venanzio Marvuglia (1729–1814), architect
Mariano Rossi (1731–1807), painter
Giuseppe Velazquez (1750–1827), painter
Giuseppe Cammarano (1766–1850), painter
Michele Rapisardi (1822–1886), painter
Giovan Battista Filippo Basile (1825–1891), architect
Francesco Lojacono (1838–1915), painter
Vitaliano Poselli (1838–1918), architect
Vincenzo Ragusa (1841–1927), sculptor
Ettore Ximenes (1855–1926), sculptor
Ernesto Basile (1857–1932), architect
Mario Rutelli (1859–1941), sculptor
Giorgio de Chirico (1888–1978), painter
Francisco Salamone (1897–1959), architect
Giuseppe Migneco (1908–1997), painter
Renato Guttuso (1912–1987), painter
Emilio Greco (1913–1995), sculptor,
Topazia Alliata (1913–2015), painter, art curator
Salvatore Fiume (1915–1997), painter, sculptor, architect
Pietro Consagra (1920–2005), sculptor
Bruno Caruso (1927–2018), painter, illustrator, graphic designer
Gaetano Tranchino (born 1938), painter
Arturo Di Modica (born 1941), sculptor
Manfredi Beninati (born 1970), visual artist
Antonino Cardillo (born 1975), architect

Musicians

Vincenzo Bellini, opera composer who was known for his long-flowing melodic lines for which he was named "the Swan of Catania"; some of his works such as La sonnambula, made him one of the most famous composers of his time in Italy and Europe.

Carmen Consoli, singer-songwriter. Described as "a remarkable combination of rocker and intellectual".

Sigismondo d'India (1582–1629), composer
Alessandro Scarlatti (1660–1725), composer
Emanuele d'Astorga (1680–1757), composer
Pietro Antonio Coppola (1793–1876), composer, conductor
Giovanni Pacini (1796–1867), composer
Mario Aspa (1797–1868), composer
Vincenzo Bellini (1801–1835), opera composer
Errico Petrella (1813–1877), opera composer
Antonino Gandolfo Brancaleone (1820–1888), composer
Achille Campisiano (1837–1908), pianist, composer
Roberto Stagno (1840–1897), tenor
Mario Sammarco (1868–1930), baritone
Giuseppe Anselmi (1876–1929), tenor
Vincent Rose (1880–1944), violinist, pianist, composer
Gino Marinuzzi (1882–1945), composer, conductor
Ignacio Corsini (1891–1967), folklore and tango musician
Santa Biondo (1892–1989), soprano
Salvatore Allegra (1898–1993), composer
Franco Ferrara (1911–1985), conductor
Corrado Galzio (1919–2020), musician and piano player
Giuseppe Di Stefano (1921–2008), operatic tenor
Rosa Balistreri (1927–1990), singer
Roberto Pregadio (1928–2010), composer, conductor, TV personality
Pippo Caruso (1935–2018), composer, conductor
Tony Cucchiara (1937–2018), singer, composer
Umberto Balsamo (born 1942), singer-songwriter
Salvatore Adamo (born 1943), singer
Nico dei Gabbiani (1944–2012), singer
Aldo Stellita (1944–1998), composer, musician, member of Matia Bazar
Franco Battiato (1945–2021), musician, filmmaker
Gianni Bella (born 1945), singer-songwriter, composer
Cristiano Malgioglio (born 1945), singer-songwriter, composer
Salvatore Sciarrino (born 1947), composer
Christian (1949–2025), singer
Frédéric François (born 1950), singer
Giuni Russo (1951–2004), singer-songwriter
Marcella Bella (born 1952), singer
Vincenzo Spampinato (born 1953), singer-songwriter
Luca Madonia (born 1957), singer-songwriter
Fabio Biondi (born 1961), violinist
Giovanni Sollima (born 1962), composer, cellist
Lucia Aliberti (born 1963), operatic soprano
Rosario Di Bella (born 1963), singer-songwriter
Mario Venuti (born 1963), singer-songwriter, producer
Marcello Giordani (1963–2019), tenor
Gerardina Trovato (born 1967), singer
Salvatore Di Vittorio (born 1967), composer
Francesca Alotta (born 1968), singer
Roy Paci (born 1969), trumpeter, singer-songwriter
Jeffrey Jey (born 1970), singer-songwriter, member of Eiffel 65
Paolo Buonvino (born 1970), composer, conductor, music arranger
Mario Biondi (born 1971), singer
Jenny B (born 1972), singer
Santi Pulvirenti (born 1973), composer
Filippa Giordano (born 1974), singer
Carmen Consoli (born 1974), singer-songwriter
Misstress Barbara (born 1975), DJ, singer-songwriter
Antonino Fogliani (born 1976), conductor
Desirée Rancatore (born 1977), soprano
Vincenzo Luvineri (born 1977) rapper AKA Vinnie Paz
Silvia Salemi (born 1978), singer-songwriter
Marracash (born 1979), rapper
Giusy Ferreri (born 1979), singer
Romina Arena (born 1980), singer
Oriana Civile (born 1980), singer and ethnomusicologist
Dimartino (born 1982), singer-songwriter
Colapesce (born 1983), singer-songwriter
Dario Mangiaracina (born 1985), musician, member of La Rappresentante di Lista
Levante (born 1987), singer-songwriter
Cristina Scuccia (born 1988), singer
Francesco Cafiso (born 1989), jazz saxophonist
Giovanni Caccamo (born 1990), singer-songwriter
Deborah Iurato (born 1991), singer
Piero Barone (born 1993), singer, member of Il Volo
Lorenzo Fragola (born 1995), singer
La Bionda, composers, record producers

Actors, directors and producers

Frank Capra, Sicilian-born American film director, producer and writer who became the creative force behind some of the major award-winning films of the 1930s and 1940s.

Maria Grazia Cucinotta, actress who has featured in many films and television series since 1990, and internationally known for her role in the Italian film Il Postino.

Pipina Bonasera (1838–1927), stage actress
Angelo Musco (1872–1937), actor
Ernesto Almirante (1877–1964), actor
Febo Mari (1884–1939), actor, director
Mimi Aguglia (1884–1970), actress
Henry Armetta (1888–1945), actor
Pina Menichelli (1890–1984), actress
Sol Polito (1892–1960), cinematographer
Frank Puglia (1892–1975), actor
Piero Carnabuci (1893–1958), actor
Frank Capra (1897–1991), actor, director
Rosina Anselmi (1880–1965), actress
Turi Pandolfini (1883–1962), actor
Michele Abruzzo (1904–1996), actor
Rocco D'Assunta (1904–1970), actor
Salvo Randone (1906–1991), actor
Pino Mercanti (1911–1986), director, screenwriter
Gino Buzzanca (1912–1985), actor
Ignazio Balsamo (1912–1994), actor
Saro Urzì (1913–1979), actor
Clara Auteri (1918–2018), actress
Mario Landi (1920–1992), director
Turi Ferro (1921–2001), actor
Adolfo Celi (1922–1986), actor
Tano Cimarosa (1922–2008), actor
Ciccio Ingrassia (1922–2003), actor, director
Turi Vasile (1922–2009), producer, director
Vittorio De Seta (1923–2011), director
Nino Terzo (1923–2005), actor
Carlo Sposito (1924–1984), actor
Roberto Mauri (1924–2018), actor, director
Goliarda Sapienza (1924–1996), actress, writer
Carla Calò (1926–2019), actress
Franco Franchi (1928–1992), actor
Massimo Mollica (1929–2013), actor, theatre director
Luigi Vannucchi (1930–1978), actor
Franco Indovina (1932–1972), director, screenwriter
Michele Lupo (1932–1989), director
Pino Caruso (1934–2019), actor, author, TV personality
Tuccio Musumeci (born 1934), actor
Aldo Puglisi (1935–2024), actor
Robert Hundar (1935–2008), actor
Daniela Rocca (1937–1995), actress, model
Biagio Pelligra (born 1937), actor
Lando Buzzanca (1938–2022), actor
Michele Gammino (born 1941), actor
Elio Zamuto (born 1941), actor
Aurora Quattrocchi (born 1943), actress
Luigi Maria Burruano (1945–2017), actor
Leo Gullotta (born 1946), actor
Beppe Cino (born 1947), director
Carla Cassola (born 1947), actress
Franco Diogene (1947–2005), actor
Nino Frassica (born 1950), actor
Jerry Calà (born 1951), actor, comedian
Andrea Tidona (born 1951), actor
Antonio Catania (born 1952), actor
Lucia Sardo (born 1952), actress
Frank Sivero (born 1952), actor
Riccardo Schicchi (1953–2012), director, producer
Tony Sperandeo (born 1953), actor
Giuseppe Tornatore (born 1956), director
Aurelio Grimaldi (born 1957), director
Donatella Maiorca (born 1957), director
Aldo Baglio (born 1958), actor, comedian
Franco Maresco (born 1958), director
Roberto Andò (born 1959), director
Jo Prestia (born 1960), actor
Anna Kanakis (born 1962), model, actress
Daniele Ciprì (born 1962), director
Ninni Bruschetta (born 1962), actor, director
Enrico Lo Verso (born 1964), actor
Vincenzo Amato (born 1966), actor
Luigi Lo Cascio (born 1967), actor
Francesco Benigno (born 1967), actor
Emma Dante (born 1967), director, playwright, actress
Giuseppe Fiorello (born 1969), actor
Maria Grazia Cucinotta (born 1969), actress
Dario Bandiera (born 1970), actor, comedian
Donatella Finocchiaro (born 1970), actress
Teresa Mannino (born 1970), actress, comedian, TV personality
Ficarra e Picone (born 1971), actors, comedians
Lorenzo Crespi (born 1971), actor
Luca Guadagnino (born 1971), director
Pif (born 1972), actor, director
Gaetano Bruno (born 1973), actor
Guido Caprino (born 1973), actor
Costanza Quatriglio (born 1973), director
Paolo Briguglia (born 1974), actor
Loredana Cannata (born 1975), actress
Claudio Gioè (born 1975), actor
Barbara Tabita (born 1975), actress
Tiziana Lodato (born 1976), actress
Corrado Fortuna (born 1978), actor, director
Laura Torrisi (born 1979), actress
Nicole Grimaudo (born 1980), actress
Isabella Ragonese (born 1981), actress
Stefania Spampinato (born 1982), actress, director, dancer
Francesco Scianna (born 1982), actor
Margareth Madè (born 1982), actress
Valeria Bilello (born 1982), actress, model
Angelo Duro (born 1982), actor, comedian
Francesca Chillemi (born 1985), actress, model
Miriam Leone (born 1985), actress, model, TV personality
Tea Falco (born 1986), actress
Dario Aita (born 1987), actor
Giusy Buscemi (born 1993), actress, model
Selene Caramazza (born 1993), actress

Politicians, civil servants and military personnel

Sergio Mattarella politician, judge and current President of Italy.

Vittorio Emanuele Orlando, 23rd Prime Minister of Italy who led Italy to victory during World War I and whose political leadership and military reforms and appointments enabled Italy to defeat Austria-Hungary. He was known as "Premier of Victory."

Abu al-Qasim ibn Hammud (c. 1130), qā’id or senior official
Leopoldo de Gregorio, Marquess of Squillace (1699–1785), statesman
Federico Carlo Gravina (1756–1806), admiral of Spain
Francesco Paolo Di Blasi (1753/1755–1795), jurist, revolutionary
Carlo Cottone (1756–1829), politician
Ruggero Settimo (1776–1863), politician
Giuseppe La Farina (1815–1863), politician
Giuseppe Natoli (1815–1867), politician
Francesco Crispi (1819–1901), politician, 11th Prime Minister of Italy
Emanuele Notarbartolo (1834–1893), politician
Antonio Starabba, Marquess of Rudinì (1839–1908), politician, 12th Prime Minister of Italy
Antonino Paternò Castello, Marquess of San Giuliano (1852–1914), diplomat and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Vittorio Emanuele Orlando (1860–1952), politician, 23rd Prime Minister of Italy
Pietro Lanza di Scalea (1863–1938), politician
Luigi Sturzo (1871–1959), politician
Guido Jung (1876–1949), banker, politician
Andrea Finocchiaro Aprile (1878–1964), politician
Gaspare Ambrosini (1886–1986), judge, politician
Luigi Rizzo (1887–1951), admiral
Gaetano Martino (1900–1967), politician
Vincent R. Impellitteri (1900–1987), politician, mayor of New York City
Mario Scelba (1901–1991), politician
Filippo Anfuso (1901–1963), diplomat, politician
Ugo La Malfa (1903–1979), politician
Giorgio La Pira (1904–1977), politician
Giuseppe Alessi (1905–2009), politician
Antonio Canepa (1908–1945), politician, revolutionary
Franco Restivo (1911–1976), politician
Placido Rizzotto (1914–1948), trade union leader
Antonino Caponnetto (1920–2002), judge
Cesare Terranova (1921–1979), judge, politician
Rocco Chinnici (1925–1983), judge
Pio La Torre (1927–1982), politician
Boris Giuliano (1930–1979), policeman
Piersanti Mattarella (1935–1980), politician
Giovanni Falcone (1939–1992), judge
Paolo Borsellino (1940–1992), judge
Sergio Mattarella (born 1941), judge, politician, current president of Italy
Antonio Martino (born 1942), politician
Pietro Grasso (born 1945), judge, politician
Ninni Cassarà (1947–1985), policeman
Ignazio La Russa (born 1947), politician
Leoluca Orlando (born 1947), politician
Renato Schifani (born 1950), politician
Rosario Livatino (1952–1990), judge
Anna Finocchiaro (born 1955), politician
Giulia Bongiorno (born 1966), politician, lawyer
Angelino Alfano (born 1970), politician
Alfonso Bonafede (born 1976), politician

Sports figures

Salvatore Schillaci, 1990 World Cup Golden Boot as the leading goalscorer. He received the Golden Ball as player of the tournament. He also placed second in the 1990 Ballon d'Or.

Vincenzo Nibali, road bicycle racer. He is one of seven cyclists who have won all three of cycling's Grand Tours in their career – having won the 2010 Vuelta a España, the 2013 and 2016 Giro d'Italia, and the 2014 Tour de France.

Paolo Boi (1528–1598), chess player
Pietro Speciale (1876–1945), fencer, gold medal in the team foil at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics
Giovanni Canova (1880–1960), fencer (gold medal at the 1920 Summer Olympics)
Francesco Calì (1882–1949), footballer
Johnny Dundee (1893–1965), boxer
Francesco Gargano (1899–1975), fencer and the first Sicilian to win a gold medal at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics
Giovanni Corrieri (1920–2017), road bicycle racer
Concetto Lo Bello (1924–1991), football referee
Enzo Maiorca (1931–2016), free diver
Guido Messina (1931–2020), road bicycle racer (gold medal with the Italian team at the 1952 Summer Olympics)
Nino Vaccarella (born 1933), racecar driver
Franco Scoglio (1941–2005), football manager
Giuseppe Furino (born 1946), footballer
Tullio Lanese (born 1947), football referee
Pietro Anastasi (1948–2020), footballer
Giovanni Scalzo (born 1959), fencer (gold medal in the team sabre event at the 1984 Summer Olympics)
Salvatore Antibo (born 1962), runner
Pasquale Marino (born 1962), footballer, football manager
Michelangelo Rampulla (born 1962), footballer, football manager
Alessandro Campagna (water polo) (born 1963), water polo player and coach
Salvatore Schillaci (1964–2024), footballer
Maurizio Randazzo (born 1964), fencer (gold medal in the team épée events at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics)
Alessandro Melli (born 1969), footballer
Annarita Sidoti (1969–2015), race walker
Massimo Taibi (born 1970), footballer
Andrea Lo Cicero (born 1976), rugby union player
Valerio Vermiglio (born 1976), volleyball player
Francesco Coco (born 1977), footballer
Paolo Tiralongo (born 1977), road bicycle racer
Giuseppe Gibilisco (born 1979), pole vaulter
Silvia Bosurgi (born 1979), water polo player (gold medal with the Women's National Team at the 2004 Summer Olympics)
Giuseppe Mascara (born 1979), footballer
Giovanni Visconti^[6] (born 1983), road bicycle racer
Vincenzo Nibali (born 1984), road bicycle racer
Tony Cairoli (born 1985), eight-time Grand Prix motocross world champion
Luca Marin (born 1986), medley swimmer
Damiano Caruso (born 1987), road bicycle racer
Giorgio Avola (born 1989), fencer (gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the men's team foil event)
Mario Balotelli (born 1990), footballer
Daniele Garozzo (born 1992), foil fencer (gold medal in the Men's Individual Foil at the 2016 Summer Olympics)
Marco Cecchinato (born 1992), tennis player
Miriam Sylla (born 1995), volleyball player

Criminals

Others

Alessandro Cagliostro, adventurer and self-styled magician. He became a glamorous figure associated with the royal courts of Europe where he pursued various occult arts, including psychic healing, alchemy, and scrying.

Phrygillus (5th century BC), medallist and engraver of precious stones
Eunus (died 132 BC), leader of the slave uprising in the First Servile War
Dina and Clarenza (13th century), heroines during the Sicilian Vespers
Manfredi Chiaramonte (died 1391), nobleman
Aaron Abualrabi (1400–1450), Jewish scholar, cabalist, and astrologer
Laura Lanza, Baroness of Carini (1529–1563), noblewoman
Juan Dominguez Palermo (c.1560–1635), conquistador
Procopio Cutò (1651–1727), chef
Giovanna Bonanno (1713–1789), alleged witch and poisoner
Count Alessandro di Cagliostro (1743–1795), traveller, occultist
Lucia Migliaccio (1770–1826), second wife of the king Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies
Pietro Bachi (1787–1853), professor
Giuseppa Bolognara Calcagno (1826–1884), freedom fighter
Joseph Whitaker (1850–1936), ornithologist, archaeologist and sportsman
Maria Paternò Arezzo (1869–1908), noblewoman, philanthropist
Ignazio Florio Jr. (1869–1957), entrepreneur
Franca Florio (1873–1950), noblewoman, socialite
Vincenzo Florio (1883–1959), entrepreneur and founder of the Targa Florio race
Frank Lentini (1884/1889–1966), showman
Josephine Terranova (1889–1981), accused murderer
Fulco di Verdura (1898–1978), jeweller
Nunzio Filogamo (1902–2002), television and radio presenter
Bernard Castro (1904–1991), inventor
Nicolò Carosio (1907–1984), sport journalist
Raimondo Lanza di Trabia^[7] (1915–1954), soldier, diplomat, sportsman
Rosalia Lombardo (1918–1920), known as the Sleeping Beauty
Renzo Barbera (1920–2002), businessman and sportsman
Salvatore Giuliano (1922–1950), bandit
Danilo Dolci (1924–1997), social activist, sociologist
Enzo Sellerio (1924–2012), photographer, publisher, and collector
Libero Grassi (1924–1991), manufacturer and antimafia activist
Paolo Giaccone (1929–1982) professor, forensic pathologist and Mafia's victim
Nuccio Costa (1925–1991), television presenter
Pino Zac (1930–1985), illustrator
Letizia Battaglia (1935–2022), photographer and photojournalist
Pippo Baudo (1936–2025), television presenter
Giuseppe Coco (1936–2012), illustrator
Lino Saputo (born 1937), businessman
Ferdinando Scianna (born 1943), photographer
Giucas Casella (born 1949), illusionist, hypnotist
Michele Cucuzza (born 1955), television presenter
Domenico Dolce (born 1958), fashion designer
Rosario Fiorello (born 1960), singer, television personality
Pietro Scalia (born 1960), film editor
Angelo d'Arrigo (1961–2006), aviator
Fabrizio Corona (born 1974), photographer, actor, television personality
Eleonora Abbagnato (born 1978), ballet dancer, model
TVBoy (born 1980), neo-pop street artist
Eva Riccobono (born 1983), model
La Diamond (born 1987), drag queen, winner of Drag Race Italia (season two)
Diletta Leotta (born 1991), television personality
Aura Eternal (born 1998), drag queen, finalist of Drag Race Italia (season two)

Notable people of Sicilian descent by birthplace

Europe

Italy:

Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino (1602–1661), cardinal and Chief minister of France
Domenico Scarlatti (1685–1757), composer
Luigi Almirante (1884–1963), actor
Giorgio de Chirico (1888–1978), painter
Totò (1898–1967), actor
Julius Evola (1898–1974), political philosopher, esotericist, painter
Giuseppe Giovanni Lanza del Vasto (1901–1981), philosopher, poet, artist
Pietro Ingrao (1915–2015), politician
Enrico Maria Salerno (1926–1994), actor
Emanuele Severino (1929–2020), philosopher
Bartolomeo Sorge (1929–2020), Jesuit
Paolo Villaggio (1932–2017), actor
Sophia Loren (born 1934), actress
Nicola Cabibbo (born 1935), physicist
Bettino Craxi (1934–2000), politician, former Prime Minister of Italy
Giuliano Amato (born 1938), politician, former Prime Minister of Italy
Giorgio La Malfa (born 1939), politician
Dario Argento (born 1940), film director
Vincenzo Cerami (born 1940), screenwriter, novelist and poet
Gabriele Lavia (born 1942), actor, director
Toto Cutugno (1943–2023), singer-songwriter
Beppe Grillo (born 1948), actor and politician
Gaetano Scirea (1953–1989), footballer
Francesco Rutelli (born 1954), Mayor of Rome
Michele Serra (born 1954), writer and journalist
Ignazio Marino (born 1955), Mayor of Rome
Salvatore Bagni (born 1956), footballer
Adolfo Urso (born 1957), politician
Sergio Scariolo (born 1961), basketball coach
Amadeus (born 1962), TV presenter
Antonio Albanese (born 1964), actor
Paolo Virzì (born 1964), film director, writer, producer
Lorenza Indovina (born 1966), actress
Max Gazzè (born 1967), singer-songwriter
Gianluigi Lentini (born 1969), footballer
Stefan Schwoch (born 1969), footballer
Anna Valle (born 1975), actress, model
Massimo Oddo (born 1976), footballer
Giorgia Meloni (born 1977), politician
Luca Argentero (born 1978), actor
Sebastian Giovinco (born 1987), footballer
Vito Mannone (born 1988), footballer
Roberto Gagliardini (born 1994), footballer

Enzo Scifo (born 1966), footballer, football manager
Lara Fabian (born 1970), singer
Silvio Proto (born 1983), footballer

Jean-Paul Belmondo (born 1933), actor
Roberto Alagna (born 1963), tenor
Carmelo Micciche (born 1963), footballer
Jean Alesi (born 1964), Formula One driver
Nathalie Cardone (born 1967), actress, singer
Alexandre del Valle (born 1968), writer, professor, columnist
Calogero (born 1971), singer
Fabio Quartararo (born 1999), motorcycle racer

Ralph Giordano (1923–2014), writer
Lou Bega (born 1975), singer
Vincenzo Grifo (born 1993), footballer

Spain:

Adelina Patti (1843–1919), opera singer

Switzerland:

Sébastien Buemi (1988), Formula One driver

United Kingdom:

Gia Scala (1934–1972), actress
Tony Iommi (born 1948), guitarist
Vincent Riotta (born 1959), actor
Ronnie O'Sullivan (born 1975), professional snooker player
Luke Pasqualino (born 1990), actor
Nico Mirallegro (born 1991), actor
Alessia Russo (born 1999), footballer

Africa

Edwige Fenech (born 1948), actress

Libya:

Claudio Gentile (born 1953), footballer, football manager

Sandra Milo (born 1933), actress
Claudia Cardinale (born 1938), actress
Claude Bartolone (born 1951), politician, former President of the National Assembly of France

America

Salvador Mazza (1886–1946), physician, epidemiologist
Argentina Brunetti (1907–2005), actress
René Favaloro (1923–2000), cardiac surgeon
Duilio Marzio (1923–2013), actor
Alfredo Di Stéfano (1926–2014), footballer, football manager
Carlos Bilardo (born 1939), footballer, football manager
Alfio Basile (born 1943), footballer, football manager
Ricardo Bochini (born 1954), footballer
Martín Palermo (born 1973), footballer
Gabriel Heinze (born 1978), footballer
Martín Castrogiovanni (born 1981), rugby union player
Florencia Bertotti (born 1983), actress, singer
Javier Mascherano (born 1984), footballer
Federico Fazio (born 1987), footballer
Leonel Vangioni (born 1987), footballer

Ayrton Senna (1960–1994), Formula One driver

Yvonne De Carlo (1987–2007), actress, dancer, singer
Joey Saputo (born 1964), businessman, sportsman
Michael Cammalleri (born 1982), ice hockey player
Carmelina Moscato (born 1984), soccer player
Michael Cera (born 1994), actor, musician

United States:

List of Sicilian-Americans

Valeria Solarino (born 1978), actress
Jefferson Savarino (born 1996), footballer

Australia

Tina Arena (born 1967), singer-songwriter
Natalie Imbruglia (born 1975), singer, actress
The Veronicas (born 1984), singers
Daniel Ricciardo (born 1989), Formula One driver

Footnotes

See also

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