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.

Arts and Literature

 * Alar Kivilo – member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, cinematographer
 * Kristjan Järvi – symphony conductor
 * Neeme Järvi – symphony conductor. Moved to the US in 1981
 * Paavo Järvi – current Music Director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
 * Tõnu Kalam - pianist and symphony conductor
 * Mark Kostabi – artist
 * Paul Kostabi – artist, music producer
 * Louis Kahn – architect, designer of the Salk Institute, Kimbell Art Museum, and others
 * Bill Rebane – film director
 * Ene Riisna is an Estonian-born American award-winning television producer, known for her work on the American news program 20/20.
 * Jerry Saltz (Estonian father) – art critic
 * Helen Tobias-Duesberg – composer
 * Priit Vesilind – author, photojournalist

Science

 * Matti Kaups, Ph.D - professor of geography at the University of Minnesota-Duluth
 * Theodor Kolobow, M.D. - Scientific Inventor Thoracic Surgeon and Section Chief at National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (1962-2007), Inventor of Spiral Lung His invention was patented in January 1970 as an “Artificial Organ for Membrane Dialysis of Biological Fluids” and has been in production in various applications for over 40 years. In the 1970s, he improved flow across membranes in the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator (ECMO)
 * August Komendant – Professor of Architecture at University of Pennsylvania (1959–74), Structural Engineer for Louis Kahn
 * Toivo U. Raun, Ph.D – Historian the author of Estonia and the Estonians
 * Jaak Panksepp, neuroscientist and psychobiologist
 * Mare Taagepera Ph.D – Senior Lecturer Emeritus, Chemistry School of Physical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, University of Tartu Estonia. Honorary Member of the Estonian Chemical Society
 * Rein Taagepera Ph.D – Research Professor, Political science, University of California, Irvine; Professor Emeritus, University of Tartu, Estonia
 * Alar Toomre, Jüri Toomre – astronomers and mathematicians
 * Lauri Vaska – chemist
 * Eeric Truumees, MD - Spine Surgeon, researcher, and educator.

Entertainment

 * Erika Eleniak – Playboy Playmate and actress
 * Greg Ginn – guitarist of Black Flag
 * Mena Suvari – actress (Estonian father)
 * Miliza Korjus – singer, actress
 * Johann Urb – actor and former model
 * Maire Aunaste – TV show host, lived sometime in USA

Sports

 * Jaan Ehlvest – chess player
 * Michael Roos – football player
 * Margus Hunt – football player
 * John Roosma - Basketball Hall of Famer
 * Ralph Tamm—football player

Business

 * Steve Jurvetson – Draper Fisher Jurvetson businessman

Politics

 * Michael Josselson – the secretary general for the Congress for Cultural Freedom
 * Jaan Laaman – leftist activist, prisoner
 * Samuel H. Shapiro – governor of Illinois.
 * Edmund S. Valtman – political cartoonist

Military

 * Aleksander Einseln – former Commander-in-chief of the Estonian army (dual U.S. and Estonian citizenship)
 * Tiiu Kera - retired United States Air Force (USAF) major general.