20 FAMOUS PEOPLE with CROATIAN HERITAGE! Actors, athletes, musicians, politicians & more!

Although Croatia is quite a small country with a population of less than 4 million, the number of people living abroad with Croatian heritage is very large! We've come up with a list of 20 well known people that all have Croatian roots! Did you know they were all Croatian? I certainly didn't!
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[@dorisskopac1809]

Ja sam slovenka i hrvatica ali sam se rodila i živim u Italiji. Jako sam ponosna na moje domovine, jer iako su male, su lijepe zemlje. Ponosna i na svoju kulturu, jer mislim da hrvatska kultura je jako dobra. Ponosna sam da iz moje zemlje dolaze pjevači kao Oliver Dragojević, košarkaš Dražen Petrović, nogometaš Luka Modrić još drugi glasbeni i sporstki talenti. 🇭🇷🔥🔥

[@zem6217]

So: to become a world-famous Croat, you must first emigrate. The exception is Sarah, who emigrated to Croatia and became a global KZbinr. Exellent choice!

[@RoyalCroatianTours]

Hehe funny comment! 😆🥰

[@M.C.1603]

We have moore famous Croat who are here in Croatia,it will be interesting if Sarah make video like that....if you look only sport we are one of the first in the World.....not to mention what Croat Nikola Tesla give to this World,but that's another story.....hehe,have a good day

[@mladen7419future]

😂🤣😂🙃🙃😂🙃🤣🙃🤣🙃😉

[@zem6217]

@@M.C.1603 Tesla: I don't think Serbs will agree, ha ha

[@M.C.1603]

@@zem6217 agree or not,mother was Croatian and he was born and lived in Croatia,father was Serbian lived in Croatia.

[@manuelazuzic8969]

Dražen Petrović was a famous Croatian basketball player who also played for the NBA

[@perplexed2031]

Is there anything that you don't know about Croatia! I am in awe and surptised AND THANKFUL how much you have researched and shared with all about Croatia. You are really amazing. Thank you so much.

[@RoyalCroatianTours]

Aww thanks for your sweet words!! 🥰

[@charlieranger4598]

Well first another famous person of canadian descent: Sarah, a canadian expat living in Croatia in Zagreb. She's the ambassador of hearts for Croatia in all categories. She's in my personal hall of fame for people who are supporting Hrvatska more than any other non-Croat. We love you! 🥰 You're never out of ideas, you're great! :)

[@lucijan7922]

Hvala Hrvatskoj nevjesti i čitavoj obitelji na ovako lijepom videu!

[@XadaXo]

Stana Katic is a Canadian-American actress and producer born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Her father is from Vrlika, Croatia, and her mother is from the surrounding area of Sinj, Croatia. Walter Parazaider is best known for being a founding member of the rock band Chicago. He plays a wide variety of wind instruments, including saxophone, flute, and clarinet. Born in Maywood, Illinois with Croatian heritage, Tony Butala was the lead singer of the vocal group The Lettermen, Butala was born in Sharon, Pennsylvania and is of Croatian descent. David Paich , the American-born musician, songwriter, singer, and record producer is best known as the co-founder, principal songwriter, keyboardist, and occasional singer of the famous rock band Toto. Paich wrote or co-wrote much of Toto’s original material, including the band’s three most popular songs: “Hold the Line”, “Rosanna” and “Africa”. With Toto, David’s father was the son of Croatian parents. David’s mother had English, German, and Scottish, roots. Yogi Lonich guitarist is a former Buckcherry, The Wallflowers and Fuel member, California born and raised artist with Croatian roots. Even though he has been awarded a prestigious Grammy nomination for "Best Hard Rock Band" and a Kerrang award for "Best Hard Rock Performance" with Buckcherry, he still says he got lucky to live in the right place at the right time.

[@riobabic8960]

I grew up in George Chuvalos neighborhood in the west end of Toronto and would see him all the time shopping or buying fish and chips ! My father knew his father and my father said George’s father was the strongest man he ever knew !

[@AngelGoodwitch]

Thank you, Sarah, for putting all of this together! How fun!

[@kenandjoker4857]

Croatian Pepole best people in the World and the nicest 🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷🇭🇷💯🤝🏻

[@tekbraca]

Rudy Perpich- Legendary governor of Minnesota. Croatian Prpić from Krivi Put.

[@petarbarisic224]

@royalcroatiantours Gabriela Spanic, a famous venezuelan telenovela star also has a croatian roots, i think her grandfather emigrated to Venezuela. Greetings from 🇧🇦

[@Harahvaiti]

Yes, she has Šibenik roots, but this video mostly covers North American Croats while those in South America left even deeper trace on Chile and Argentina.

[@martinacatinelli]

Gosh, didn't realise that Buble was of Croatian heritage nor for so many other names that others have added ie. Tony Robinson. Really interesting to hear. xxx

[@abpast5319]

My best frend is buble original nickname from trogir

[@kocostamatis3080]

You mean Tony Robbins, born as Mahavorić...Croatian on both sides. 🇭🇷❤🇭🇷

[@cherrypiefreak]

Branko Lustig a Croatian film producer best known for winning Academy Awards for Best Picture for Schindler's List and Gladiator

[@oliva1745]

True. But he wasnt immigrant. She is talking about croatians who were born elsewhere, and raised out of Croatia, but who have their roots from Croatia.☺️

[@Antonio_Serdar]

And also, he is Jewish, not of Croatian ethnicity, makes no sense. He is like the opposite of what she is talking about. She is talking about Croatian people born in other countries, not about other nationalities born in Croatia Lol.

[@markomarkovic2477]

He's a jew haha

[@robertbauer3419]

@@Antonio_Serdar I see we have a "progressive" Croatian meathead here. Child... Branko Lustig is more Croatian than your Bosnian "Catholic" dumbass will ever be. And so is any other Croatian who happens to be of Jewsih faith or origin, but chose to live here and choose Croatia as his/her country. If we had only quarter as many "Jews" as we have Vatican-Loving Hercegovanaca in our country, we would easily be the richest country in the EU instead of some small insignificant corrupt-as-hell Balkan armpit.

[@Kurusha1]

Sarah, I celebrate your enthusiasm and love for such a wonderful-beutiful country, I have been several times. I am a proud Mexican-Canadian and almost Croatian as my (Mom's) family is from an Slovenian Village almost in the Croatian border. Love your chanel Kudos to you. Greetings from Calgary🤗😘

[@Matej99236]

You have in USA military history from WW2 two medal of honor legendary private ....Thanks for this video ...♥️

[@martinisabroad7535]

Hvala za video. Jako dobro objašnjeno i mislim da imate materijala i za Part 2. Cheers i uspješnu Novu 2022! 😄

[@vedranzulin6532]

The following people might also be added to the list ( ;) ): Werner Herzog (born Stipetich in Munich), Mark Russinovich (CTO @ Microsoft Azure), David Diehl (his mother is Croatian and his father German), Scott Bakula (aka Cpt. Jonathan Archer @ Enterprise), Jenna Elfman (actress; nee Butala), George Mateljan (the diet guy), Joe Morgan (OK, not the most fortunate example :) ), Kevin McHale (NBA - Boston Celtics), Gary Gabelich (set the speed record in 1970.), Victor Grinich (one of the Silicon Valley founders), Rick Rossovich ("Top Gun" / actor), Tony Robbins (life coach), Lorde (Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor), Johnny Mercer (Capitol Records), Danny Vranes (Supersonics / 76ers), Elvis Grbac (NFL), Mark Bosnich (Australia / Chelsea F.C., Man. Utd.), Mark Viduka (Australia / Leeds Utd., Celtic etc.), Fredi Bobic (VfB Stuttgart / Hertha BSC), Marc-Édouard Vlasic (NHL); eventually also Mirjana Spoljaric Egger (a Swiss diplomat and the 1st female president of the ICRC in Geneva; she was born in Zagreb though), Sarah Milkovich and Marina Brozovic (both NASA; the latter was born in Split), Jacob Jake Matijevic (also NASA - rovers) and many, many more. ;)

[@susannegoldpaint1353]

That was great! So very interesting and entertaining.

[@RoyalCroatianTours]

Thanks Susanne! :)

[@speckofdust2804]

You forgot also: Dennis John Kucinich, US representative and Governor from Ohio Blase Joseph Cupich, Cardinal, Archbishop of Chicago Antonio Andronico Luksic, Chilean businessman And many more...

[@silvanavujic7933]

En . France il y a Josiane BASLASKO (BALASKOVIC) ACTRICE TRES POPULAIRE TROUPE DU SPLENDID

[@jurejuric1439]

Ivan Gašparovič: Slovak politician and former president of Slovakia, of Croatian origin. He is the first Slovak president to be elected twice to the post, which he held from 15 June 2004 to 15 June 2014, His father emigrated to Slovakia from Croatia at the end of the First World War. Ivan Vučetić: He established his own fingerprint classification system called iconophalangometry. (Fingerprint methods used to determine who committed the crime), he was born in Hvar, where he lived and worked until 1884, when he emigrated to Argentina at the age of 26. Jenna Elfman ( actress ) She was born Jennifer Mary Butala in Los Angeles, the daughter of Sue Grace, a housewife, and Richard Wayne Butala, a Croat by birth. Her grandfather emigrated from the Karlovac area to America in the middle of the last century. Jenna achieved great popularity thanks to the Dharma & Greg series This came to my mind quickly.... there are still a lot of them.. 😀✌

[@MultiMeraklija]

Miljenko "Mike" Matijević, American singer and founded of american hard rock / glam metal band called Steelheart. He was born in Zagreb, but his parents emigrated to the USA in the 60's

[@pellevanlig245]

Chile ;) ?

[@jorgeeusebio8738]

Any particular reason why lots of immigrants come from karlovac

[@jurejuric1439]

@@jorgeeusebio8738 very interesting question, I guess some sociologist could answer that, unfortunately not me.... 🤷‍♂️

[@pellevanlig245]

You have some great names from South America too. For example late Thomas ‘Trinche’ Carlovich. A football legend from Rosario, Argentina.

[@jozogaric6121]

Bravo…👏👏⚽️

[@scottmcclean2566]

Ahhhh..... the Ali vs Chuvalo fight, after the fight Chuvalo was asked if he would fight Ali again, George said "No problem, when?" When asked if George would get a re-match Ali said no. A few years later in an interview, the reason Ali refused a rematch was because he had never gone the distance in any fight before or since, and Chuvalo hit him (Ali) harder than any other fighter he faced and wasn't keen to end his career due to injury. Man, ALL of Canada especially in Toronto, was bursting with Pride because the greatest boxer dared not to fight this beast of a man, again. Heroic!!!!❤❤❤👍🙏💪

[@banitsaboy144]

Joe sakic is a hockey legend!now the president of the avalanche!

[@ravendame7]

Nick Saban definitely needs to be on this list! He is a legend in Alabama and unsurprisingly, bestie with Bill Belicheck.

[@daniiiiij6695]

Love this, thank you! Who also comes to mind are: Anna Chlumsky, Jenna Elfman, Diane Wiest... Have a great weekend 😊

[@magdalenkam4874]

Wonderful Video, as always! I am always reading up about celebrities cultural backgrounds, it’s so fun! Love your videos, always makes me feel pure bliss 🤗

[@oliva1745]

Eric Bana. I just have to mention his role as Hector in Troy!☺️ Awesome actor.

[@markosuman7212]

Nisam ni znao da ima tako puno poznati Hrvata. Bravo za hrvatsku nevistu

[@PlanetMars2030]

Steve Bacic is a Canadian actor with Croatian Linage. Born in Lisičić, Croatia, and raised Windsor, Ontario. Goran Višnjić, is a Croatian-American actor who starred alongside George Clooney, and Anthony Edwards in the tv show ER as Luka Kovač. Višnjić was born in Šibenik, SR Croatia, and resides Los Angeles, California. Vanna White (Wheel of Fortune), John Cena, Jenna Elfman (Looney Tunes Back In Action), and author Werner Herzog (the villain in Jack Reacher) all have Croatian roots just to name a few.

[@lydiarusso1878]

This was really interesting. I hope you do a part 2.

[@AntuntunNo1]

This video is fantastic.Excelent work .

[@tihomir7]

David Paich American composer and producer, owner of 6 Grammys and one Emmy award, co-founder of famous band Toto, writer of famous hits Africa, Rossanna, Hold the Line etc. Born in LA but his grandfather was from Split.

[@MrVladaF]

Tihomir Preradović: Takodje i David Pajić, narodni heroj, po zanimanju bravar, rodjen 1911. u selu Agići kod Bosanskog Novog. Istaknuti član KPJ, ubijen u Beogradu oktobra 1941. od strane nemačke policije. Znači, nebitno šta je bio po nacionalnosti.

[@tihomir7]

@@MrVladaF ovdje je riječ o svjetski poznatim Hrvatima koji nisu rođeni ovdje i emigrirali, nego su rođeni vani i imaju hrvatske korjene. Tako da David Pajić čije se ulice u Beogradu sjećam ne spada u ovu temu, bez obzira na nacionalnost. I da je Hrvat ne bi spadao pod temu ovog videa

[@MrVladaF]

@@tihomir7 Naravno, samo sam se našalio.

[@domagojb4797]

Sarah and family...thanks for everything. You have a great and very inspiring videos. Its such a joy to watch and find out something new. This video is really touching my heart. I am proud to be croatian. God bless Croatia.

[@nelausmel]

and also an actress - Stana Katic is a Canadian-American actress and producer. She played Kate Beckett on the ABC television romantic crime series Castle (2009-2016) and Agent Emily Byrne in the thriller series Absentia (2017-2020)

[@deansusec8745]

Stana is Serbian.

[@margaretebrandstaetter6115]

Another Croatian is Shark Tank star and entrepreneur Robert Herjavec. His family emigrated to Canada in 1970.

[@MrCROBosanceros]

Yes, Robert Herijavec's father is from Varaždin and mother is from village Zbjeg near Slavonski Brod.

[@moooobkityy]

Yes good catch

[@Niko_Soldo]

Thank you for representing my country with such grace in your every video. You do it better than most Croatian people. Btw on my top list of priorities is to visit Canada. I find it beautiful...🙂

[@ChrisInOsaka]

In round 2 must include motivational speaker and author Tony Robbins (born Anthony J. Mahavoric).

[@RoyalCroatianTours]

Oh interesting! Didn't know about his roots!

[@joskotrlaja9502]

Mario Puratić is a Croatian-born American inventor who made major advances in fishing technology. The puretic power block revolutionized the fishing industry in such a way that FAO stated that no single invention has contributed more to the success of purse seine net hauling than extensive line of Power Blocks. In 1972 Canada issued a five-dollar bill with a salmon seiner on the reverse. In 1975, Mario Puratić was proclaimed the inventor of the year in the United States and also one among America's most famous 100 inventors of the 20th century.

[@jaskobut9335]

A few Australian Croats that made their mark internationaly Mark Viduka - soccer Mark Bosnich - soccer Simon Katich - cricket Andrew Bogut - basketball Charles Bilich - artist Ralph Sarich - engineer inventor

[@Tom_OB]

Ivan Milat - serial killer

[@jaskobut9335]

@@Tom_OB Frank Vitkovic

[@karenmaree63]

Many AFL players Croatian decent

[@ivancosic5451]

@@vm6756 he is Serbian I think

[@zlatkosalom756]

Josip Skoko-Australian soccer player

[@johnmarin9369]

Great job as always with the videos 👍. For Round 2, Game show host Gene Rayburn of "Match Game" was actually born "Eugene Peter Jeljenic" to Croatian born parents.

[@simoniggle3913]

Famous to me: My great grandmother was from Ribnik, Croatia. She talked about a river nearby. Can you please visit and show us? I loved her so much! She died at 102 and used to make cheese strudel. (in Ohio /U.S.)

[@zagrepcanin82]

So why dont you come visit us yourself?and stay of course....you are one of us

[@simoniggle3913]

@@zagrepcanin82 Thank You! I would love to visit Croatia someday--see Ribnik and other places. There are Croatian-American people in Ohio, where I live.

[@charlieranger4598]

You're welcome!

[@ajvhan]

River Kupa

[@simoniggle3913]

@@ajvhan YES! That was it. I remember hearing about the Kupa river! She spoke very little English, but my grandfather and great aunts interpreted from Croatian.

[@dubyvk6986]

You forgot a ex president of Argentina: Néstor Carlos Kirchner Jr.

[@powderskier5547]

I can think of so many more famous people of all sorts with Croatian roots, really enjoyed this and hopefully you can do another 20, part2

[@gm9884]

Let's not forget Diego Armando Maradona...his great grandfather was from Korcula, his mother's name was Dalma (after Dalmacija), just as his daughter's name

[@Oluja-mb2no]

Let us mention some more famous people with croatian roots who fall into the sport category, more precisely : rugby 🏉 . Just to name a few, Frano Botica, Justin Tipuric, Anthony Boric, Wayne Pivac, Dan Luger

[@goranmufic4032]

American football player John Dietz!

[@mariotudor6735]

Red Bull founder Didi Mateschitz is Croatian from Austria. His croatian surname is Matešić. In Austria there is a very old Croatian minority dating back from the 16th or 17th century and recognized as a national minority with all legal rights. They have their villages in Burgenland region (Gradišće in Croatian) and they gave one Austrian chancellor (Sinowatz) and various austrian ministers and politicians like Norbert Daraboš , Andreas Berlakovich etc Plenty of Austrian football players are from Burgenland Croatian background : Andreas Iwanschitz (Ivanšić), Florian Grillitsch (Grilić) etc etc

[@JeanBernard]

Christian Keglevits...Resetarich brothers...Barbara Karlich...

[@melindajugovic7783]

Very interesting thanks for sharing

[@PinayGio]

Than you for this infos coz its nice to see positive things like this topic and how in life through work people can achive a lot and I am proud to be Croat also coz of all this people you have mention in video. Happy new year :).

[@goranfuduric9736]

Ja se javljam iz srca sa svjeta na kom zivimo a volimo se

[@mladen7419future]

I didn't know many people had Croatian roots, you forgot to mention David Diehl. Well done.....

[@RoyalCroatianTours]

Thanks Mladen! And good suggestion for round 2 :)

[@jozobrkic4900]

Bravo sara, naročito me se dojmio prilog o Georgu chuvalu(jure chuvalo), koji je imao 72 borbe i 63 je dobio nokautom. Jedinu koju je izgubio je od alija na bodove, koju su tada proglasili u najmanju ruku nerijesenom, suci su dali pobjedu puno poznatijem aliju. Mama mu je iz grljevica iznad ljubuskog. 2009 je posjetio ljubuški.

[@jimreed8576]

these videos keep making me smile ^^

[@2B.production]

You are a better promoter of Croatian culture then those in Croatia be paid for it! 👍 & I'm ✍

[@Stalk3r27]

Awesome video.Thank you so much for doing this. I never knew that all of them have Croatian roots.

[@TaylorAvant14]

Such a fun video! I love cultural and celebrity trivia 😊

[@RoyalCroatianTours]

Thanks Taylor! 🥰 ♥️

[@fidemclam]

Odličan video... jako informativno.

[@antejerkovich4660]

please dont forget about Sir George Fistonic of Villa Maria Wines in New Zealand, his father was born on Hvar in the village Zastrazisce and is the only person I know of with Croatian Heritage to be knighted.......you also could make episode of all the AFL players in Australia with Croatian Heritage...... love the chanel and keep up the great work

[@tonyher1773]

Well done for the excellent video!! For the record, another name: Francisco José Orlich Bolmarcich, the former PRESIDENT of Costa Rica - has Croatian roots from the islands of Krk and Cres.

[@Harahvaiti]

Orlić is definitely surname from island of Krk.

[@srdjanorlic2582]

Ja sam orlic I nisam hrvat,orlici su iz hercegovine i crne gore. gacko regija. 1640 napadom turaka odlaze u Budvu 1brat ostaje a dva austrija naseljava u krajnu I daje im zemlju bez poreza,ali pod obavezom da brane granicu.stevan orlic general uskoka je odbranio bec od turaka.pleme vodi poreklo od vuk-a orle-ta crnogorac-a,njegov sin je pale orlovic.

[@kocostamatis3080]

@@srdjanorlic2582 to što "nisi" Hrvati ni po čemu ne znači da prezime Orlić nije Hrvatsko.

[@TennisMusic]

I had no idea that Ibrahimovic's mother is actually Croatian, I thought his parents are both from Bosnia.

[@RoyalCroatianTours]

😊

[@S.Huskic]

@@kinidiosodlosios6892 by which constitution?

[@Tom_OB]

@@kinidiosodlosios6892 🙈🙉

[@ZvonimirVZ]

Ibrahimovic's mother is from the village of Škabrnja, Zadar County.

[@ZvonimirVZ]

@@kinidiosodlosios6892 You are right, Croats are one of the three nations which are constitutive of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other two beiing Serbs and Bosniaks. The provisions on constitutive nations are fundamental for the mere existance of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and are enshrined in the Dayton Peace Accords, ending the war in 1995.

[@croatiansensation1554]

Nice vid. A few more very well known....Nick Saban the legendary Alabama coach....and Nole Djokovic's maternal grandparents are Croatian from Vinkovci. Diego Maradona's grandmother is Croatian too.

[@danijels1458]

Ajd konacno da se netko sjetio. Iz Slavonskog Broda mu je mama.

[@aleksandarj.8369]

Novak Djokovic from Croatia , what a joke :) Bane Jelacic then has Serbian roots

[@danijels1458]

@@aleksandarj.8369 Guglaj odakle je gospodja Djokovic

[@kocostamatis3080]

@@aleksandarj.8369 a otac mu pola Crnogorac i pola Srbin

[@markofied]

Pete Carroll head coach of the Seattle Seahawks is Croatian on his mother’s side from Šibenik, Nick Saban head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, arguably one of the best head coaches in College Football history is Croatian, his ancestry is from Gospić.

[@ivanspahic752]

Sara,molim te napravi video o Draženu Petroviću,Hvala unaprijed.

[@ToMbA_La_BoMbA]

Evo "malo" o sportu/ Hrvatima koji su ostavili trag u SAD-u i Kanadi. Pete Carroll (NFL coach in Seattleu) i Bill Belichick (NFL coach in New England Patriots) both have roots from Dubrovnik. Joseph Steven Šakić (hr: Joe Šakić; Burnaby, Britanska Kolumbija, 7. srpnja 1969.) umirovljeni je kanadski profesionalni hokejaš na ledu. Igrao je na poziciji centra, a cjelokupnu profesionalnu karijeru proveo je u NHL-u igrajući za franšizu Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche. Bio je vođa momčadi Nordiquesa od 1992. godine, odnosno Avalanchea od 1995. godine. Čak je u 13 navrata nastupao u All-Star susretima, a zajedno s Patrickom Royem, Peterom Forsbergom i Adamom Footeom vodio je momčad do dvaju naslova NHL prvaka 1996. i 2001. godine. Osvajao je u više navrata MVP trofeje, a 2002. godine predvodio je Kanadu do zlatne olimpijske medalje u Salt Lake Cityju. Statistički je među najboljim NHL napadačima svih vremena: osmi je na vječnoj NHL-listi po poenima (1.641), 11. po asistencijama (1.016) i 14. po golovima (625). Svoju bogatu karijeru je zaključio 2009. godine te je budući član hokejaške Kuće slavnih. Otac; Marijan Majka; Slavica. Podrijetlom iz Imotskog. Stipe Miočić (Euclid, Ohio, 19. kolovoza 1982.),[1] američki je borac mješovitih borilačkih vještina hrvatskog podrijetla, najveći teškaš u UFC-u svih vremena.[2] Od 15. svibnja 2016. godine je prvak teške kategorije UFC-a.[3] Na službenom vaganju uoči borbe izjavio je "Borim se za Cleveland i moju Hrvatsku".[3] Postao je 20. siječnja 2018. godine prvi UFC prvak u teškoj kategoriji koji je naslov obranio 3 puta i time postao najuspjesniji teškaš u povijesti MMA. O hrvatskim korijenima Zlatana Ibrahimovića i Novaka Đokovića (obojica po majčinoj strani) sve se već zna, kao i o Nikoli Karabatiću čiji je otac iz Vrsina kraj Trogira. No, znate li da je najbolji košarkaš prve polovice 20. stoljeća bio Hrvat? Znate li da hrvatske korijene imaju i osmerostruki NBA prvak, šesterostruki Super Bowl pobjednik, šesterostruki osvajač hokejaškog Stanley Cupa, UFC prvaci, čovjek koji je skinuo rekord bejzbolske legende Babea Rutha? A hrvatski boksači borili su se sa Sugar Ray Robinsonom, Jack LaMottom, Muhammedom Alijem i Joeom Frazierom… Najveća košarkaška zvijezda prve polovice 20. stoljeća bio je američki Hrvat George Mikan. Sa svojim Minneapolis Lakersima osvojio je pet titula NBA prvaka u sedam sezona. Visok 208 cm, bio je toliko dominantan krajem 40-ih i početkom 50-ih godina da su zbog njega mijenjana košarkaška pravila. Zbog američkog Hrvata Mikana uvedeno je pravilo silazne putanje, proširen je reket i uvedeno je vremensko ograničenje napada na 24 sekunde! Gledajući iz današnje perspektive, sve su to ključna košarkaška pravila. Georgeov djed Juraj Mikan rođen je u mjestu Vivodina nedaleko od Ozlja te je početkom 20. stoljeća kao i mnogi drugi “trbuhom za kruhom” otišao u SAD, točnije u Pennsylvaniju. Ondje je dobio sina koji je poslije oženio Litavku, a plod tog braka bilo je troje djece, uključujući Georgea. Inače, George je kršten u hrvatskoj katoličkoj crkvi u SAD-u, pohađao je hrvatsku katoličku školu te cijeli život bio ponosan na hrvatske korijene. George je zbog čudesnih dosega 1959. izabran u Košarkašku kuću slavnih, a 1997. i u 50 najboljih košarkaša u povijesti. Kolika je zvijezda bio, govori činjenica da je tijekom gostovanja Lakersa u New Yorku na ogromnom panou ispred Madison Square Gardena pisalo “Knicksi protiv Mikana”. Zvali su ga Mr. Basketball. Sličan uspjeh, izbor u Kuću slavnih te izbor u TOP 50 igrača u povijesti, pošao je za rukom i dvojici legendarnih igrača Boston Celticsa. Prvi je John Havlicek. Sin Čeha i majke Hrvatice (Amande Turkalj) bio je ponajbolji NBA igrač 70-ih. S Celticsima je osvojio čak osam NBA titula, a i dan-danas je s 26.395 koševa vodeći strijelac najtrofejnije NBA momčadi. NBA naslove Hrvati su osvajali i kao treneri, jedan od njih je Rudy Tomjanovich. Osvojio je dvije NBA titule s Houston Rocketsima, a predvodio je i SAD do olimpijskog zlata. Još više uspjeha od Tomjanovicha imao je Gregg Popovich. Ovaj legendarni trener rođen je u Indi-ani, otac mu je bio Srbin, a majka Hrvatica. U 21 sezoni na klupi San Antonio Spursa osvojio je pet titula NBA prvaka. Uz to, aktualni je izbornik reprezentacije SAD-a. Ponajveći borac hrvatskog podrijetla sigurno je George Chuvalo, sin Stipana Čuvala i Katiće Čordić, Hrvata iz okolice Ljubuškog. Chuvalo je bio peterostruki boksački prvak Kanade u teškoj kategoriji. Kažu da je imao najjaču bradu u povijesti boksa, a uostalom nikad u svojoj karijeri nije bio nokautiran, iako se borio protiv najvećih: Muhammada Alija, Joea Fraziera, Georgea Foremana i Floyda Pattersona. Chuvalo se borio s Alijem za titulu svjetskog prvaka u teškoj kategoriji. Ali je dobio borbu na bodove i poslije meča izjavio: “Chuvalo je najčvršći momak protiv kojeg sam ikad boksao.” Jedan od najvećih bejzbolaša 60-ih godina prošlog stoljeća bio je Roger Maris, pogađate - Hrvat. Sin je hrvatskih doseljenika Rudija Marasa i Korine Perković. Maris je bio jedan od najboljih udarača u MLB povijesti. Osvojio je tri titule prvaka (dvije s Yankeesima i jednu sa St. Louis Cardinalsima), osvojio je dva MVP naslova, a slavan je postao kad je 1961. upisao 61 “home run”. Time je oborio 34 godine star rekord legendarnog Babea Rutha, a njegov rekord trajao je čitavih 37 godina kad ga je oborio Mark McGwire. Hrvati su bili uspješni i u sjevernoameričkim hokeju (nakon Joea Šakića) kada su Sjedinjene Američke države 1980. u Lake Placidu osvojile zlatnu olimpijsku medalju, a ta je utakmica postala poznata kao “Miracle on Ice” (čudo na ledu), jedan od glavnih igrača SAD-a bio je Mark Pavelich (Pavelić, porijeklom iz Like). Mark je u pobjedi nad SSSR-om u finalu upisao dvije asistencije. Poslije je odigrao sedam NHL sezona, a u knjige rekorda ušao je 1983. kad je postao prvi Amerikanac koji je na jednoj NHL utakmici postigao pet golova. Malo o politici. Nedavno je u Čileu izabran novi predsjednik. Gabriel Borić, koji je hrvatskog podrijetla. I nakon ovog 'referata' idem pogledati video! Pozdrav svima!

[@kocostamatis3080]

Bilichic family is from Draganić (Karlovac) on both sides.

[@rudolfhorvat57]

I would add Nick Saban (short of Nicola Šaban), former and well known coach of NFL Miami Dolphins team. His parents come from Lika county.

[@lilynola6341]

Lovely, thank you for that!

[@edensmith552]

Thank you very much for these FACTS, much appreciated 🙏

[@S.Huskic]

How could you forget Gabriela Spanic from the mexican telenovela ”La Usurpadora” 😃

[@ivanamulovic1774]

I ehas thinking the same thing. She is Spanish telnovela actor.

[@zagrepcanin82]

Otimacica hahahahaha

[@petarsron]

Education is key....Bless you Sarah

[@antun9874]

Puratićevo vitlo ili Puretic Power block ( Kako je njegovo prezime u Americi iskrivljeno, u uporabi je mnogo češći naziv Puretić) je vitlo za izvlačenje ribarskih mreža. U prvoj verziji (s pogonom pomoću brodskog vitla i beskonačnog užeta) izumljeno je 1954. godine, te usavršeno i opremljeno hidrauličkim pogonom, patentirano, te priznato po američkom udruženju izumitelja i inovatora “Association for the Advancement of Invention and Innovation” početkom sedamdesetih godina dvadesetog stoljeća.

[@antefranulovic8543]

slika tog vitla je na kanadskoj novčanici

[@mariocolic7999]

Great video ! Svaka čast 🙂

[@CrvenkapicaIVZNG]

Thanks for another interesting and entertaining post. Who I miss with the actors is "Magnum". With real name Tom Selleck or Croatian Tomislav Selekovic. In my youth, almost every blonde here in Germany raved about "Magnum".

[@munzekonzarupe]

Your wish or you have some data to support your statement? As far as I know his name is Thomas William Selleck. Some rumors are that he has distant German decent, some that he has Serbian roots, some Slovak or Rusyn, but none proved.

[@gmxzorro]

I would have thought of Branko Lustig under the heading Film. The first Croatian to win an Oscar. As a producer for Steven Spielberg's "Schindler’s List" and 15 years later for the film "Gladiator". Taj Hrvat sa svjetskom slavom ne bi smio ostati nespomenut. Branko Lustig rođen je u Osijeku kao i ja. Samo ja živim u Njemačkoj više od 50 godina , na moju sramotu moram priznati da ti Sarah govoriš barem sto puta bolje hrvatski od mene. sreće i zdravlja u novoj godini

[@Ono_Rourke]

yes, branko lustig was definitely worth mentioning

[@robertoabelovic8553]

Pa ljudi, slušate li vi uopće što se govori u videu?! Pa zar vam nije razvidno da je ovo popis onih KOJI NISU ROĐENI U HRVATSKOJ!!!

[@gmxzorro]

@@robertoabelovic8553 Da, vjerojatno ste u pravu. Moj KZbin automatski prevodi ono što je napisano na njemački, tako da rečenica ima drugačije značenje ili je pogrešno shvaćena. sad sam i ja shvatio ali vrlo zanimljiv YT-post

[@Ante_Knezevic]

​@@gmxzorroAli opet, Lustig je zidov i Lustig nije Hrvatsko prezime. Svako dobro brate

[@JeanBernard]

You forgot a lot of important people ! The most famous are Frank Mahovlich ( "The Big M" ), former canadian NHL Superstar, the musicians Marty Paich and his son David Paich ( founding member of the rock-band "Toto" ), Walter Parasaider ( founding member of the jazz-rock band "Chicago"), Werner Herzog ( german film director, born as Werner Stipetić ), Fred Sinovac - former austrian chancellor, Barbara Karlich - austrian tv-moderator, the Resetarich brothers - austrian Artists, Ivan Gašparovič- former slovakian president, Nick Saban - NFL coach, Rick Rossovich - US actor...and many more

[@banitsaboy144]

Great video!but you forgot about the Big M the great and nhl hall of famer frank mahovlich!one of the greatest toronto maple leafs of all time!

[@clarel3447]

Nathan buzolic from the vampire diaries. He’s an Australian Croatian ☺️ Now lives in the US I think xx

[@xoxxmx4569]

great! keep going

[@RoyalCroatianTours]

Thank you!!

[@davidrocky9259]

not bad... not bad... you worked hard to do your homework but you missed to mention greatest of all born in Croatia NIKOLA TESLA love your positive energy

[@frizzybizz8590]

Love this chanel

[@ivanfrangugic8355]

Jarrod Radnich is an amezing american- croatian pianist. He played with piano guys!

[@GoShaCkall]

Well done

[@morskijez7771]

Hvala puno sada znam vise nego prije

[@xxxxxJAYMILLZxxxxxxx]

You did your research lady!!!

[@samson8428]

za mene ti si prava Hrvatica jer govoris i dises mnogo vise hrvatski nego ovi poznati , Love Samson&co.

[@celticbalkan2219]

Mark Begich an American politician Mile Jedinak an Australian former professional footballer

[@mikasadaiki702]

Naveli ste suvremenike, a možda bi trebalo spomenuti poznate ljude znanstvenike koji su živjeli i djelovali u 19. i 20. stoljeću.

[@solda1498]

Da tribala je spomenit teslu pa da joj se u komentarima svadjaju budsle

[@mikasadaiki702]

@@solda1498 Faust Vrančić, Marin Soljačić, Benedikt kotruljević, Slavoljub Penkala i drugi.

[@ivanvrtaric4631]

To je za neki drugi video. Ovaj je za ljude koji imaju hrvatsko podrijetlo, ali nisu sami rođeni i/ili odrasli u Hrvatskoj.

[@katjam4565]

You are amazing ❤

[@mariotudor6735]

Australian football Internationals Mark Viduka, Ned Zelic are Croatian too. And many many more . Very Big Croatian Diaspora Down Under

[@ivanhrastovcak8951]

Nemoj zaboraviti velikog Željka Kalca :P

[@twobrainsproduction4149]

Roger Maris the croatian Baseball Legend. 61 Single-Season Home Runs in year 1961

[@zlatkosalom756]

For Basketball, you forgot Andrew Bogut! He is Australian with Croatian origins. He used to play for Milwakee Bucks (i think).

[@peterprandel4669]

yes and after that he joined the Golden State Warriors and won the NBA title..

[@lucapiacun9054]

i would love to add some more from the southern hemisphere; Maradona el trinche alison wonderland mark bosnich mark viduka our diaspora in nz goes back generations as well. my paternal grandfather moved here when he was five to dig kauri gum up in north land. many croatians inter mixed with māori - māori referred to them as tarara, which is onomatopoeic for what they thought the mainly Chakavian dialect sounded like. after the kauri gum dried up, many moved into other industries, chiefly wine. many vineyards bear croatian names, seljaks, nobilos, etc

[@sinisabosanac]

Odličan video. Šteta što niste stavili znanstvenike.

[@mijomalcic1728]

Katie Pavlich,Jenna Elfman,Judah Friedlander,Werner Herzog,Mark Begich

[@mijomalcic1728]

Steve Bacic,Emily Matesic

[@dragicastosic5156]

Thank you Malkovich is from my area I mean his roots I am from karlovac and i know Vivodina so nice to know ❤️💜

[@marijanmadunic3046]

Great!

[@goranelez9956]

Interesting. Didn't know Joe M had Cro roots.

[@roki456]

David Paich from band Toto, author of Africa :)

[@JeanBernard]

Also - US politicians Mark Sokollich, Mike Bilandich, Rudi Perpich, Dennis Kuchinic...

[@TheBronzika]

For sure we must not forget David Paich from Toto and his father Marty Paich famous US pianist/composer!

[@debilamp1486]

Also Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap, Battlestar Gallactica)

[@ivanvrtaric4631]

Star Trek: Enterprise, NCIS: New Orleans

[@TheLonely77]

Those twin brothers from movie Slapshot with Paul Newman, Rick Rosovich from Top Gun, Denise Richards, Jenna Elfman, Ivan Vuchetic who solved first murder using fingerprints, David Diehl from NY Giants, Vanna White, Pat Miletich, Stana Katic, Teresa Scanlan former miss of Usa few years ago, Nikola Karabatic, Novak Djokovic, ... I think it's time for a second part. And you can make a video about famouse croatian inventions. Like parachute, tie...

[@robertoabelovic8553]

Sve OK, osim što ti moraš "skinuti s popisa" Đokovića, kao i autorica Ibrahimovića Jer nijedan ni drugi se ne osjećaju Hrvatima, a ovdje se radi o ljudima KOJI ISTIČU SVOJE HRVATSKO PORIJEKLO, a ne radi se samo o genima... O takvima bi se mogao napraviti neki drugi video... Čak je i Karabatić izvan ove priče jer on sam kaže da je Francuz JugoslOvenskog porijekla... Otac oficir JNA oženjen Srpkinjom s dna kace. Ne trebamo svojatati one koji sami to ne žele. Nismo mi kao Srbi ili Bošnjaci...

[@TheLonely77]

@@robertoabelovic8553 ne, ovdje se radi o ljudima kojima su preci Hrvati. Trecina ovih sto su nabrojani u videu nikad nije bilo u Hrvatskoj niti su isticali svoje porijeklo.

[@robertoabelovic8553]

@@TheLonely77 ja ne znam koji od nabrojanih NISU istakli da imaju hrvatsko porijeklo Navedi koji su, ako znaš . A ako ih ima, onda ih treba izbaciti iz videa po istoj matrici kao i Ibrahimovića i Đokovića.