Respected Hispanics

Isabel Allende

Isabel Allende starts every new book on January 8 as a combination of superstition and discipline. Her first novel, The House of the Spirits, began as a letter to her dying grandfather and became an international success after being published in 1982. Allende was born in Peru but fled Chile after the 1973 military coup and is now a Chilean-American author living in California. She founded the Isabel Allende Foundation to support women and children, and in 2014, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Oscar de la Renta

Born in the Dominican Republic, became a naturalized American citizen in 1971, establishing himself as a legendary fashion designer known for elegance, dressing First Ladies (like Jacqueline Kennedy, Hillary Clinton) and celebrities, and creating an iconic global brand known for vibrant silks, ruffles, and luxurious evening wear. He was a prominent figure in the U.S. fashion industry, serving as CFDA President and leaving a legacy of glamour and philanthropy.

Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek, born in Mexico, is a globally recognized actress, director, and producer who moved to Los Angeles in 1991 to pursue Hollywood stardom, facing initial struggles with her accent and acting roles before breaking barriers with films like Desperado (1995) and Frida (2002). She became a U.S. citizen by naturalization in 2013.

Anthony Quinn

Born Manuel Antonio Rodolfo Quinn Oaxaca, he was an award-winning American actor known for his passionate portrayals in over 100 film, television, and stage roles from 1936 to 2002. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor twice. Quinn was known for his earthy, passionate characters that were “marked by a brutal and elemental virility. Quinn became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1947 and was recognized for his groundbreaking achievements as the first Mexican American to win an Academy Award. He left a lasting legacy in the entertainment industry.

Osiris Hoil

Osiris Hoil is the CEO and cofounder of District Taco, a popular fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain. Originally from the town of Tekax in Yucatán, Mexico, Hoil grew up on a small farm, selling newspapers, flowers, and popsicles on the street to help provide income for his family. At the age of 17, he came to the United States in search of opportunity, where he began working as a dishwasher in a restaurant. While there, he taught himself English and developed the work ethic that would drive his future success. Now, as CEO and co-founder of District Taco, he was honored as a 2024 Outstanding American by Choice at our naturalization ceremony with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Ramon Tallaj, MD

He is a board-certified internist with 41 years of experience in medicine. He graduated from Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena (Unphu), Escuela De Medicina, Magna Cum Laude in the Dominican Republic. He completed a residency at St Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City. In 2015, he founded SOMOS Community Care (“We Are” in Spanish), a culturally competent physician-led network of 2,500 healthcare providers serving over 1 million Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries in New York City’s immigrant communities.

Desi Arnaz

Desi Arnaz (1917-1986) was a Cuban-American actor, musician, producer, and bandleader, famous as Ricky Ricardo on I Love Lucy, which he co-created with wife Lucille Ball, revolutionizing TV with pioneering techniques like the three-camera setup and live studio audience, building the powerful Desilu Productions, and leaving a legacy as a television innovator and cultural figure despite personal struggles. Born in Santiago, Cuba, his family fled to Miami after the Cuban Revolution, leaving him penniless but resilient. He started in music, leading a Latin band that launched the conga craze, before moving to Broadway and Hollywood. Met and married Lucille Ball in 1940; they formed Desilu Productions to create I Love Lucy (1951-1957)

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