Culture Wikia
Culture Wikia
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This is list of notable Slovene 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 Slovene American or must have references showing they are Slovene American and are notable.

List[]

Entertainment[]

Actors[]

  • David Boreanaz - Actor
  • Ami Dolenz – actor
  • George Dolenz – actor
  • Micky Dolenz – actor, musician (Drummer/Singer of The Monkees)
  • Mira Furlan – actor
  • Frank Gorshin – actor
  • Melissa Joan Hart – actress
  • Joaquin Hoult - actor
  • Željko Ivanek – Emmy Award-winning actor
  • Lana Rhoades - actress
  • Audrey Totter – actress
  • Patrick Warburton – actor (his father is of Slovenian ancestry)

Comedy[]

  • Anthony Jeselnik – comedian

Musicians[]

  • Joaquin Hosfeld - film composer
  • Noah Hosfeld - film composer
  • Karen Kamensek – orchestral and operatic conductor
  • Joey MiskulinGrammy Award-winning musician and record producer
  • Frankie YankovicGrammy Award-winning musician, known as "America's Polka King", popularized Slovenian-style polka
  • "Weird Al" YankovicComedy performer known for his parodies of popular music.

Sports[]

  • Mike AdamleAmerican football player – Northwestern Wildcats and NFL – also a television and radio sports reporter and WWE wrestling announcer
  • Tony Adamle – American football player – Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns (member of 1950 and 1954 NFL Championship teams)
  • Jeff Blatnick – Olympic champion in freestyle wrestling
  • Frank Brimsekice hockey player
  • Luka Dončić - professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks and the Slovenian National Team
  • Bryant Dunston – professional basketball player for the Slovenian national team since he acquired Slovenian citizenship in 2015
  • Bob Golic – American football player (Notre Dame Fighting Irish and NFLCleveland Browns, among other teams) – also an actor Saved by the Bell: The College Years
  • Mike Golic – American football player (Notre Dame Fighting Irish and NFLPhiladelphia Eagles, among other teams) – also ESPN radio personality and host on Mike and Mike in the Morning
  • Randy Gradishar – American football player (Ohio State Buckeyes and Denver Broncos)
  • John Gruden – ice hockey player
  • Eric Heiden – Olympic speed skater, winner of five gold medals at the 1980 Winter Olympics
  • Luke Hochevar – Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Frank Hribar – NFL Washington Redskins
  • Wally Judnichbaseball player
  • Anže Kopitar – ice hockey player Los Angeles Kings, team captain and two-time Stanley Cup winner
  • Joe Kuhel – baseball player and manager
  • Les Kuntar – ice hockey player
  • Trajan Langdonbasketball (NBA and Europe) player
  • Dan Majerle – basketball (NBA) player
  • Ariel McDonald – former basketball player who played for the Slovenian national team in 2001 since he acquired citizenship, 2000 Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP
  • Ken Novak – American football player
  • Anton Peterlin – soccer player
  • Anthony Randolph – basketball (NBA and Europe) player
  • Peter Vidmar – gymnast, U.S. team captain and winner of two gold medals and a silver medal in the 1984 Olympics, was the highest scoring gymnast in U.S. history (with a 9.89 average)
  • Fritzie Zivic – boxer
  • Mark Zupan – athlete, wheelchair rugby team captain
  • David Jankowski - track and field, US Club Cross Country Champion and multiple time Team USA selection

Journalists[]

  • Jim Klobuchar – author and journalist
  • Charles Kuralt – journalist
  • Stefanie Valentic - journalist - Editorial Director, Waste360, Daughter of Slovenian immigrant mother

Academic and scientific[]

  • Richard Carl Fuisz – inventor
  • Rado Lenčeklinguist, ethnologist, cultural historian
  • Jerry Michael Linenger – astronaut
  • Anton MavretičNASA
  • Albert Peterlin – Chief Meteorologist United States Department of Agriculture, Founder Slovenian Genealogy Society International
  • Ronald Sega – astronaut
  • Joseph Velikonja – professor of geography
  • Sunita Williams – astronaut
  • Elizabeth Jeglic - professor of psychology

Military[]

  • Ferdinand J. Chesarek – general
  • Frank Gorenc – general
  • Stanley Gorenc – general
  • John S. LeksonUnited States Army Major General
  • Rudolf Perhinek – captain
  • Ronald Zlatoper – admiral

Politicians[]

  • John BlatnikCongressman United States House of Representatives
  • Joe CimpermanCleveland, Ohio City Councilman and 2008 candidate for the United States House of Representatives
  • Dennis Eckart – public and cultural worker; US Congressman
  • Paul GosarCongressman
  • Tom HarkinUnited States Senator
  • Amy KlobucharUnited States Senator
  • Raymond P. KogovsekCongressman
  • Frank Lausche – Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, United States Senator and Governor of Ohio
  • James OberstarCongressman
  • Philip RuppeCongressman
  • George Voinovich[1][2] – Mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, United States Senator, and Governor of Ohio
  • Cheri Pierson Yecke – politician, academic

Religious[]

  • Friderik Irenej Baraga (Frederic Baraga) – Roman Catholic Bishop and Missionary
  • Elden Francis Curtiss – former Roman Catholic Archbishop of Omaha, Nebraska and former Bishop of Helena, Montana
  • Ignatius MrakRoman Catholic bishop
  • Francis Xavier PierzRoman Catholic bishop

Writers[]

  • Louis Adamič – author
  • Tea Obreht – author
  • Rose Mary Prosen – poet

Others[]

  • Joe Kenda – detective lieutenant and TV producer
  • Santino William Legan - perpetrator of the Gilroy Garlic Festival Shooting
  • Joe Sutter – manager of the design team for the Boeing 747
  • Melania Trump – former First Lady of the United States, wife of 45th U.S. President Donald Trump and fashion model
  • Barron Trump – son of 45th U.S. President Donald Trump and former First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump

References[]

  1. "President Decorates US Senator for Supporting Slovenia". Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
  2. "Weekly Message from Ambassador John Bruton - Ambassador's Weekly Message". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2007.
  • Gobetz, E. 2009. Slovenians made a difference in America and the World. Slovenian American Times, Vol. 1, Issue 7, Pages 1; 15. 23 May 2009.
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