List of Estonian Americans

This is a list of notable Estonian-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 Estonian American or must have references showing they are Estonian American and are notable.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Arts and literature

• Alar Kivilo (born 1953) — member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,^[1] cinematographer^[2]
• Lisa Kivirist (born 1967) — author
• Kristjan Järvi (born 1972) — symphony conductor^[3]
• Neeme Järvi (born 1937) — symphony conductor. Moved to the US in 1981^{[citation needed]}
• Paavo Järvi (born 1962) — current Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra^[4]
• Tõnu Kalam (born 1948) — pianist and symphony conductor^[5]
• Mark Kostabi (born 1960) — artist^[6][7]
• Paul Kostabi (born 1962) — artist, music producer^[8]
• Louis Kahn (1901–1974) — architect, designer of the Salk Institute, Kimbell Art Museum, and others^[9]
• Ilse Lehiste (1922–2010) — linguist and author
• Alexander Nelke (1894–1974) — artist
• Dennis Nurkse (born 1949) — poet
• Raymond Pettibon (born 1957) — artist, designer of the iconic Black Flag (band) bars^[10]
• Bill Rebane (born 1937) — film director^[11]
• Ene Riisna (born 1938) — television producer
• Jerry Saltz (Estonian father) (born 1951) — art critic^[12]
• Helen Tobias-Duesberg (1919–2010) — composer^[13]
• Priit Vesilind (born 1943) — author, photojournalist^[14]
• Kiino Villand (born 1969) — photographer
• Arthur Võõbus (1909–1988) — theologian, orientalist and church historian

Science

• Nicole Aunapu Mann (born 1977) — astronaut and test pilot
• August Komendant (1906–1992) — Professor of Architecture at University of Pennsylvania (1959–74),^[15] Structural Engineer for Louis Kahn^[16]
• Pearn P. Niiler (1937–2010) — oceanographer
• Jaak Panksepp (1943–2017) — neuroscientist and psychobiologist^[17]
• Hillar Rootare (1928–2008) — physical chemist
• Rein Taagepera (born 1933) — Research Professor, Political science, University of California, Irvine; Professor Emeritus, University of Tartu, Estonia^[18][19]
• Riho Terras (1939–2005) — mathematician
• Alar Toomre (born 1937), Jüri Toomre — astronomers and mathematicians^[20][21]
• Karen Uhlenbeck (born 1942) — mathematician and founder of geometric analysis
• Lauri Vaska (1925–2015) — chemist^[22]

Entertainment

• Erika Eleniak (born 1969) — Playboy Playmate and actress^{[citation needed]}
• Greg Ginn (born 1954) — guitarist of Black Flag^[23]
• Miliza Korjus (1905–1980) — coloratura soprano opera singer
• Karolyn Nelke (born 1948) — stage actress
• Mena Suvari (born 1979) — actress (Estonian father)
• Ivan Triesault (1898–1980) — actor^[24][25]
• Johann Urb (born 1977) — actor and former model^[26]

Sports

• Jaan Ehlvest (born 1962) — chess player^[27]
• Margus Hunt (born 1987) — football player^[28]
• Chris Jogis (born 1965) — badminton player
• David Laid (born 1998) — fitness influencer
• Ingrid Neel (born 1998) — tennis player^[29]
• Michael Roos (born 1982) — football player^[30]
• John Roosma (1900–1983) — basketball player
• Sven Salumaa (born 1966) — tennis player
• Warren Cummings Smith (born 1991) — alpine skier^[31]
• Ralph Tamm (born 1966) — football player
• Katie Vesterstein (born 1999) — alpine skier^[32]

Business

• Lachlan Murdoch (born 1971) — CEO of FOX Corporation
• Elisabeth Murdoch (born 1968) — businesswoman
• James Murdoch (born 1972) — businessman
• Steve Jurvetson (born 1967) — Draper Fisher Jurvetson businessman^[33]

Politics

• Michael Josselson (1908–1978) — secretary general for the Congress for Cultural Freedom^[34]
• Jaan Laaman (born 1948) — leftist extremist^[35]
• Samuel H. Shapiro (1907–1987) — governor of Illinois.^{[citation needed]}
• Edmund S. Valtman (1914–2005) — political cartoonist^[36]
• Melissa F. Wells (born 1932) — diplomat and former ambassador

Military

• Aleksander Einseln (1931–2017) — former Commander-in-chief of the Estonian army (dual U.S. and Estonian citizenship)^[37]
• Tiiu Kera (born 1945) — retired United States Air Force (USAF) major general^[38]
• Edward Masso — retired United States Navy Rear Admiral and ambassador to Estonia