List of Lebanese people

This is a list of prominent Lebanese people, both from Lebanon and from the Lebanese diaspora.

Historical Figures

Lebanese Politicians

See also: Politics of Lebanon

• Michel Aoun - military Prime Minister, general
• Camille Chamoun - President (1952-8), founder of National Liberal Party
• Dany Chamoun - leader of National Liberal Party
• Fuad Chehab - President (1958-64), general
• Émile Eddé - President (1936-41,1943), founder of National Bloc
• Suleiman Franjieh - President (1970-6)
• Samir Geagea - militia leader
• Amine Gemayel - President (1982-8)
• Bashir Gemayel - President-elect (1982), founder of Lebanese Forces
• Pierre Gemayel - founder of Kataeb Party
• Saad Haddad - militia leader
• Rafiq Hariri - Prime Minister, businessman
• Charles Hélou - President (1964-70)
• Elie Hobeika - militia commander, politician
• Elias Hrawi - President (1989-1998)
• Kamal Jumblatt - founder of Progressive Socialist Party
• Walid Jumblatt - leader of Progressive Socialist Party
• Rashid Karami - Prime Minsiter
• Béchara El-Khoury - President (1943-52)
• Émile Lahoud - President (1998-)
• René Moawad - President (1989)
• Saeb Salam - Prime Minister
• Etienne Saqr - founder of Guardians of the Cedars
• Elias Sarkis - President (1976-82)
• Salim El Hoss - Prime Minsiter
• Philippe Takla - Foreign Affaires Minister & Chair of Bank of Lebanon

Foreign Politicians

• Spencer Abraham - US Secretary of Energy (2001-)
• Marie Bashir - Governor of New South Wales, Australia (2001-)
• Abdalá Bucaram - President of Ecuador (1996-1997)
• Jamil Mahuad - President of Ecuador (1998-2000)
• Helen Thomas - the White House Press Corps

Activists

• Bahia Hariri - politician & UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador
• Candy Lightner - founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving
• Charles Malek - co-drafter of Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Ralph Nader - consumer rights activist & US presidential candidate

Cultural Figures

Film, TV & Radio

• Yamila Diaz, model (of Lebanese and Spanish descent)
• Shannon Elizabeth, actress (Lebanese father, of Syrian and Lebanese descent)
• Jamie Farr, actor
• Salma Hayek, actress (Lebanese father)
• Casey Kasem, radio host
• Kathy Najimy, actress & comedienne
• Tom Shadyac, director
• Tony Shalhoub, actor

• Danny Thomas, actor
• Marlo Thomas, actor

Musicians

• Paul Anka, singer
• Al Bowlly, singer (Lebanese mother)
• Clotaire K, rapper, raps in Arabic, French and English
• Dick Dale, surf guitarist (Lebanese father)
• Herbert Khaury (Tiny Tim), singer, ukelele player (Lebanese father)
• Shakira, singer (Lebanese father)
• Gabriel Yared, composer

Writers

• William Peter Blatty - writer, "The Exorcist"
• Kahlil Gibran - poet, "The Prophet"
• Amin Maalouf - writer, Prix Goncourt (1993)
• David Malouf - author (Lebanese father)

Practical Figures

Scientists

• Michael Atiyah - mathematician, Fields Medal (1966), Abel Prize (2004) (Lebanese father)
• Elias J. Corey - chemist, Nobel Prize in Chemistry (1990)
• Peter Medawar - immunologist, Nobel Prize in Medicine (1960) (Lebanese father)

Entrepeneurs

• Carlos Ghosn - CEO of Nissan
• Joseph Maroun Haggar - founder of Haggar Clothing Company
• Sam Hammam - owner of Cardiff City F.C.
• Nicolas Hayek - the 'father of Swatch'
• Jacques Nasser - ex-CEO of Ford Motors
• Edmond Safra - founder of Republic Bank of New York
• Dave Thomas - founder of Wendy's (was adopted by Lebanese parents)

Miscellaneous

• Christa McAuliffe - teacher and astronaut on the Challenger Disaster

See also: List of people by nationality