Top 20 most important and famous people from Romania

Artist, one of the founders and central figures of the anti-establishment Dada movement

One of the most influential sculptors of XX century and pioneer of modernism

The most famous and influential Romanian poet. He worked as an editor for the newspaper Timpul (The Time), the official newspaper of the Conservative Party

Female writer famous for her works depicting the effects of violence, cruelty and terror of the Socialist Republic of Romania

Playwright, one of the key figures of the French avant-garde theatre in XX century. Author of The Bald Soprano which contributed to the beginnings of the Theatre of the Absurd

Philosopher, his work has been noted for its pervasive philosophical pessimism, style, and aphorisms. His works frequently engaged with issues of suffering, decay, and nihilism

Philosopher of the theory of eternal return. He was a leading interpreter of religious experience, who established key paradigms in religious studies

Holocaust survivor, winner of Nobel Peace Prize in 1986

Ruler of Wallachia who inspired the name of Bram Stoker's literary vampire

Prince of Wallachia considered one of Romania's greatest national heroes. Since the XIX century has been regarded by Romanian nationalists as a symbol of Romanian unity

The first ruler of Romania Principalities, considered one of the founders of the modern Romanian state and a national hero

Marshal, Prime Minister and Conducător during most of World War Two. He was shot by firing squad for war crimes in 1946

Dictator, he was the general secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989 and Communist leader of Romania

Composer, violinist and conductor, the greatest musician in Romanian history

One of the most influential cell biologists ever, winner of Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1974

Physicist winner of Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2014 for the development of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy

Actor of Hollywood's Golden Era, famous for his roles as gangsters in films as Little Caesar and Key Largo

Actor famous for his role as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Female gymnast, 5 times Olympic gold medalist. In 1976, at the age of 14, she was the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10.0 at the Olympic Games

Footballer of 1990s, he played in Barcelona, Real Madrid and Galatasaray