This is a list of Romanian actors, actresses, playwrights, and directors, whether on stage or in film. Most of these people made at least a significant portion of their career in Romanian-language theater, although some are merely of Romanian origin.

A

Mircea Albulescu Iorgu Constantin Albulescu (4 October 1934 – 8 April 2016), known professionally as Mircea Albulescu (), was a Romanian actor, university professor, journalist, poet, writer, and member of the Writers' Union of Romania (''Uniunea Scriitorilor'' ...

Mircea Anca Mircea Anca (; 10 June 1960 – 28 November 2015) was a Romanian film actor and director. He graduated from the I.L. Caragiale Institute of Theatre and Film Arts in 1989 with specialty acting, and in 2003 with specialty theater directing. Anca ...

* Violeta Andrei *

Kristaq Antoniu Kristaq Antoniu (; 25 December 1907 – 17 March 1979), also known as Cristache Antoniu (), was an Albanian-Romanian operetta tenor, baritone, and actor. He was a People's Artist of the People's Republic of Albania. Biography Born in Bucharest ...

Alexandru Arșinel Alexandru Ioan Arșinel (; 4 June 1939 – 29 September 2022) was a Romanian comedian and actor. He was born in Dolhasca, Kingdom of Romania. Arșinel was an ethnic Aromanian. On screen, Arșinel was well-known for his partnership with Stel ...

B

* Marga Barbu (born Butuc), actress *

Leopoldina Bălănuță Leopoldina Bălănuță (; 10 December 1934 – 14 October 1998) was a Romanian actress. Biography She was born in her grandparents' house in Hăulișca, Vrancea County, the daughter of Neculai Bălănuță, a priest, and Sanda. She was a 1958 ...

, actress * Ștefan Bănică, Sr., actor *

Radu Beligan Radu Beligan (; 14 December 1918 – 20 July 2016) was a Romanian actor, director, and essayist, with an activity of over 70 years in theatre, film, television, and radio. On 15 December 2013, confirmed by Guinness World Records, the actor receiv ...

, actor, director *

Ion Besoiu Ion Besoiu (; 11 March 1931 – 18 January 2017) was a Romanian actor. Biography He was born in Sibiu in 1931 and graduated the city's Theater and Music Academy. After making his debut in 1957, he played for 16 years at the Radu Stanca National T ...

, actor * Grigore Vasiliu-Birlic *

Claudiu Bleonț Claudiu Bleonț (; born 27 August 1959) is a Romanian film and theatre actor, comedian, television celebrity, and television presenter at TVR1, for the show ''Duminica în familie''. He is known in Romania not only for acting, but also for his im ...

, actor *

Olga Bucătaru Olga Bucătaru (March 27, 1942, Suceava – April 10, 2020, Bucharest) was a Romanian film and stage actress. She graduated in 1965 from the Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film The I. L. Caragiale National University of Theatre a ...

, film and stage actress *

Tamara Buciuceanu Tamara Buciuceanu-Botez (10 August 1929 – 15 October 2019) was a Romanian stage, screen and television actress, as well a known TV personality. She was one of the most successful Romanian actresses of the 1960s–2000s who worked at Odeon Thea ...

, actress

C

* George Calboreanu, actor, composer *

Șerban Cantacuzino Șerban Cantacuzino (), (1634/1640 – 29 October 1688) was a List of rulers of Wallachia, Prince of Wallachia between 1678 and 1688. Biography Șerban Cantacuzino was a member of the Romanian branch of the Cantacuzino family, Cantacuzino noble ...

, actor *

I.L. Caragiale Ion Luca Caragiale (; According to his birth certificate, published and discussed by Constantin Popescu-Cadem in ''Manuscriptum'', Vol. VIII, Nr. 2, 1977, pp. 179–184 – 9 June 1912), commonly referred to as I. L. Caragiale, was a Romanian p ...

, playwright *

Toma Caragiu Toma Caragiu (; 21 August 1925 – 4 March 1977) was a Romanian theatre, television and film actor. He was born in an Aromanian family from the village of Chroupista (since 1926 renamed Argos Orestiko) in the region of Macedonia in Greece on 21 ...

, actor *

Ion Caramitru An ion () is an atom or molecule with a net electrical charge. The charge of an electron is considered to be negative by convention and this charge is equal and opposite to the charge of a proton, which is considered to be positive by convent ...

, actor *

Florin Călinescu Florin Călinescu (; born 29 April 1956) is a Romanian Green Party (Romania), politician, former leader of the Green Party (Romania), Green Party of Romania (PV), actor, theatre director, and television host. Born in Timișoara, he graduated the ...

, actor *

Liviu Ciulei Liviu Ciulei (; 7 July 1923 – 24 October 2011) was a Romanian theater and film director, film writer, actor, architect, educator, costume and set designer. During a career spanning over 50 years, he was described by ''Newsweek'' as "one of th ...

, director, actor''Theater History'' at the Guthrie Theater site
*

Constantin Codrescu Constantin Codrescu (; 5 September 1931 – 13 November 2022) was a Romanian actor. He appeared in more than thirty films since 1953. Born in Huși, he was raised in northern Bukovina, but had to move to Bucharest after the region was annexed ...

, actor * Roxana Condurache *

Jean Constantin Jean Constantin (; born Constantin Cornel Jean; 21 August 1927 – 26 May 2010) was a well-known Romanian comedian of Greeks in Romania, Greek ethnicity. Constantin was born in Techirghiol, and died in Constanța. Filmography *' (2010) .... A ...

, actor *

Geo Costiniu Geo Costiniu (23 April 1950, Bucharest – 12 November 2013) was a Romanian film actor. Born in Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița (river), Dâmbovița ...

, actor * Octavian Cotescu, actor *

Gheorghe Cozorici Gheorghe Cozorici (; 16 July 1933 – 18 December 1993) was a Romanian film and theatre actor. He appeared in more than thirty films from 1956 to 1989. Born in Arbore, Suceava County, Cozorici graduated in 1956 from the I. L. Caragiale National ...

, actor

D

Iurie Darie Iurie Darie (; 14 March 1929 – 9 November 2012) was a Romanian actor. Biography He was born in Vadul-Rașcov, Soroca County, Kingdom of Romania. He studied at the Academy of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography in Bucharest, graduating in ...

, actor *

Gheorghe Dinică Gheorghe Dinică (; 1 January 1934 – 10 November 2009) was a Romanian actor. Career Dinică showed an early interest in acting, being part of different amateur theater troupes since he was 17. In 1957, he entered The National Institute of Thea ...

, actor *

Mircea Diaconu Mircea Diaconu (; 24 December 1949 – 14 December 2024) was a Romanian actor, writer and politician. First appearing on stage in 1970, and on screen two years later, Diaconu pursued a lengthy career in both formats, working with a series of pro ...

, actor

E

Fory Etterle Fory Etterle (; 24 May 1908–16 September 1983) was a Romanian film actor. Biography Born in Ploiești, he attended the city's Ion Luca Caragiale High School. After taking courses at the Faculty of Law of the University of Bucharest, he studied ...

, actor

F

* Alex Floroiu, actor

G

Vladimir Găitan Vladimir Găitan (; 2 February 1947 – 10 November 2020) was a Romanian actor. Born in Suceava, he studied at the Caragiale Academy of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography, Academy of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography in Bucharest, graduating in ...

, actor *

Luminița Gheorghiu Luminița Gheorghiu (; 1 September 1949 – 4 July 2021) was a Romanian film and stage actress and artistic performer in East Central Europe. She achieved international recognition for her roles in '' The Death of Mr. Lazarescu'' (2006) and '' ...

, actress *

Bunica Gherghina Bereghianu Gherghina, known online by the nickname Bunica Gherghina () is a Romanian TikToker from Teleorman known for videos of her cooking Romanian cuisine. Gherghina was convinced to use TikTok by her granddaughter Catalina. She was initially ...

, TikToker and actress *

Alexandru Giugaru Alexandru Giugaru (; 23 June 1897 – 15 March 1986) was a Romanian stage and film actor. Early life Born in Huși, Fălciu County (present day Vaslui County), Romania, Giugaru began his stage career in 1916 after graduating from school in Cuza ...

, actor

H

Kira Hagi Gheorghe Hagi (; born 5 February 1965) is a Romanian professional football manager and former player, who is currently the owner of Liga I club Farul Constanța. Deployed as an attacking midfielder, Hagi was considered one of the best players in ...

, actress and daughter of famous footballer

Gheorghe Hagi Gheorghe Hagi (; born 5 February 1965) is a Romanian professional football manager and former player, who is currently the owner of Liga I club Farul Constanța. Deployed as an attacking midfielder, Hagi was considered one of the best players in ...

Manuela Hărăbor Manuela Hărăbor (born 2 April 1968) is a Romanian actress. Biography Born in Bucharest, she debuted in 1972 as a 4-years old girl in the film ''Veronica''. She became popular after playing the role of Simina in the film ''The Forest Woman'' ...

, actress *

Emil Hossu Emil Hossu (; 24 November 1941 – 25 January 2012) was a Romanian actor. Hossu was born into a Greek-Catholic family in Ocna Sibiului, Sibiu County and grew up in Cluj. Since his father was a diplomat during the time of Ion Antonescu, his whole ...

, actor *

John Houseman John Houseman (born Jacques Haussmann; September 22, 1902 – October 31, 1988) was a Romanians, Romanian-born British Americans, British-American theatre and film producer, actor, director, and teacher. He became known for his highly publ ...

, actor (born in Romania to a

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

-born

Jew Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, religion, and community are highly inte ...

ish father and an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

mother, made his career in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

as an English-language film and television actor)

I

Aimée Iacobescu Aimée Iacobescu (1 June 1946 – 27 March 2018) was a Romanian actress.

, actress *

Șerban Ionescu Șerban Ionescu (; 23 September 1950 – 21 November 2012) was a Romanian actor, born in Corabia, Olt County.https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0409588 Ionescu was diagnosed with ALS in 2011 and died at Floreasca Emergency Hospital in Bucharest on 2 ...

, actor *

Ștefan Iordache Ștefan Iordache (; 3 February 1941 – 14 September 2008) was a Romanian actor. Born in Calafat, Dolj County, he spent his childhood there before moving to the Rahova neighborhood of Bucharest. He failed being admitted into medical school, wo ...

, actor *

Marcel Iureș Marcel Iureș (; born 2 August 1951) is a Romanian actor. He is one of Romania's most acclaimed stage and film actors. He has acted in films and on stage both in Romania and internationally, and has played at least ten roles on Romanian and Briti ...

, actor

M

Ernest Maftei Ernest Maftei (; 6 March 1920 – 19 October 2006) was a Romanian film actor. He appeared in more than seventy films from 1953 to 2006. Biography Born in Prăjești, Bacău County, he attended high school in Bacău, and, at age 17, he joined the ...

, actor *

Alexandra Maria Lara Alexandra Maria Lara (''née'' Plătăreanu; 12 November 1978) is a Romanian-German actress who has appeared in '' Downfall'' (2004), '' Control'' (2007), '' Youth Without Youth'' (2007), '' The Reader'' (2008), '' Rush'' (2013), and ''Geostor ...

(born Plătăreanu), actress *

Nicolae Massim Nicolae Massim (1909–1981) was a Romanian theater director. A graduate of the School of Liberal Arts and Philosophy of the University of Cluj, Romania, and of the Institute of Theatre and Film Arts (IATC), Bucharest, he made his directorial de ...

, director *

Horațiu Mălăele Horațiu-Valentin Mălăele (born 31 July 1952That is according to , accessed 2016-11-21. ThHorațiu Mălăelepage on the Romanian site cinemagia.ro places his birth one day earlier, on July 31, 1952, and gives the fuller form of his name, ''Horaț ...

, actor *

Ștefan Mihăilescu-Brăila Ștefan Mihăilescu-Brăila (; 3 February 1925 – 19 September 1996) was a Romanian actor. He appeared in more than fifty films from 1959 to 1984. Selected filmography References External links

* 1925 births 1996 deaths Romanian ...

, actor * George Mihăiță, actor *

Matei Millo Matei Millo (; November 24/25, 1814 – September 9, 1896) was a Moldavian, later Romanian stage actor and playwright. Born in Stolniceni-Prăjescu, Iași County, his grandfather was the poet Matei Milu; his parents were Vasile Millo and Zamfira ...

, stage actorNational Theatre in Jassy
/ref> *

Mihaela Mitrache Mihaela Mitrache (aka Mihaela Mitraki; July 8, 1955 – February 18, 2008) was a Romanian movie and theatre actress. Biography Born in Bucharest, she graduated from the I.L. Caragiale Institute of Theatre and Film Arts (IATC) in Bucharest ...

, actress *

Marin Moraru Marin Moraru (; 31 January 1937 – 21 August 2016) was a Romanian stage, film and television actor. He graduated from the Caragiale Academy of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography in 1961. Moraru performed at the Youth Theatre (1961–1964), Com ...

, actor *

Maia Morgenstern Maia Emilia Ninel Morgenstern (; born 1 May 1962) is a Romanian film and stage actress, Gabriela Dumba, ("Pure and simple, Maia Morgenstern", but with a pun, because Simplu is a Romanian musical group with whom she had done a video), ''Gardi ...

Florentina Mosora Florentina Ioana Mosora or Florentina Stan-Mosora (7 January 1940 in Cluj-Napoca, Cluj, Romania – 2 February 1996 in Liège, Belgium) was a Romanian and Belgian Biophysics, biophysicist. In her earlier years, before 1964, she was a film act ...

George Motoi George Motoi (22 January 1936 – 4 March 2015) was a Romanian actor. He appeared in more than thirty films from 1962 to 2005. Selected filmography References External links * 1936 births 2015 deaths Romanian male film actors ...

, actor

N

Jean Negulescu Jean Negulesco (born Ioan Negulescu; – 18 July 1993) was a Romanian Americans, Romanian-American film director and screenwriter.Oliver, Myrna"Jean Negulesco 1900–1993 ''The Los Angeles Times'', 22 July 1993. He first gained notice for his Fi ...

, film director,

Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People and fictional and mythical characters * Oscar (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters named Oscar, Óscar or Oskar * Oscar (footballer, born 1954), Brazilian footballer ...

nominee

O

Draga Olteanu Matei Draga Olteanu Matei (née Olteanu) (; 24 October 1933 – 18 November 2020) was a Romanian actress. She performed in more than thirty films from 1967 to 2006. Born in Bucharest, she studied at the Iulia Hasdeu High School in Lugoj. After mov ...

, actress

P

Sebastian Papaiani Sebastian Papaiani (; 25 August 1936 – 27 September 2016) was a Romanian film and television actor. He was born in Pitești; his father was of Greeks, Greek origin. He graduated from the Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film, T ...

, actor *

Oana Pellea Oana Dariana Pellea (born 29 January 1962) is a Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, ...

, actress *

Irina Petrescu Irina Carmen Petrescu (19 June 1941 – 19 March 2013) was a Romanian film actress. She appeared in 29 films between 1959 and 2010. She won the award for Best Actress at the 6th Moscow International Film Festival for her role in the 1969 fil ...

, actress *

Florin Piersic Florin Piersic (; born 27 January 1936) is a well-known Romanian actor and TV personality. He is particularly known for his leading roles in '' The White Moor'' and the films. He has a reputation, often parodied in popular culture, as a racont ...

, actor *

Adrian Pintea Adrian Virgil Pintea (; 9 October 1954 – 8 June 2007) was a Romanian actor. Career Pintea graduated from the Theatrical and Cinematographical Arts Institute in Bucharest. He appeared in the 2005 Romanian film '' Femeia visurilor'' directed by ...

, actor *

Margareta Pogonat Margareta-Caliopi Pogonat (6 March 1933 – 11 May 2014) was a Romanian theatre and film actress. She was born in Iași. Her father, Alexandru Pogonat, was a journalist and poet who died in 1941 on the Eastern Front; her grandfather, , was a jur ...

, actress *

Elvira Popescu Elvira Popescu (; in French, Elvire Popesco; 10 May 1894 – 11 December 1993) was a Romanian- French stage and film actress and theatre director. During the 1930s and 1940s, she starred in a number of French comedy films. Life and career Popes ...

, actress *

Ion Popescu-Gopo Ion Popescu-Gopo (; 1 May 1923 – 29 November 1989) was a Romanian graphic artist and animator, but also writer, film director, and actor. He was born in Bucharest, Romania. He was a prominent personality in the Romanian cinematography and the ...

, director *

Mitică Popescu Mitică Popescu (; 2 December 1936 – 3 January 2023) was a Romanian actor. Biography Popescu was born in Bucharest on 2 December 1936. He started his studies in the mid-1950s at the Institute of Theatrical and Cinematographic Art, but he was ...

, actor *

Rodica Popescu Bitănescu Mihaela Rodica Popescu Bitănescu (; born 5 August 1938 in Răsuceni, Ilfov County, Romania) is a Romanian Romanian may refer to: *anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Romania **Romanians, an ethnic group **Romanian langua ...

, actress *

Stela Popescu Stela Popescu (21 December 1935 – 23 November 2017) was a Romanian actress and TV personality considered the greatest comedy actress and one of best female actresses of all time in Romania. With Ștefan Bănică and Alexandru Arșinel she was ...

, actress

R

Dem Rădulescu Dem Rădulescu (; 21 September 1931 – 17 September 2000) was a Romanian theatre, film and television actor, and academic. He was also a professor at the Caragiale National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest. Personal life Rădule ...

, actor *

Colea Răutu Colea Răutu (; 18 November 1912 – 13 May 2008) was a Romanian actor, born in Bălți (Russian Empire, now Republic of Moldova).Victor Rebengiuc Victor Rebengiuc (; known in full as Victor-George Rebengiuc; born 10 February 1933) is a Romanian film and stage actor, also known as a civil society activist. Since 1957, he has been a member of the Bulandra Theater company, acting in more t ...

, actor *

Duncan Renaldo Renault Renaldo Duncan (April 23, 1904 – September 3, 1980), better known as Duncan Renaldo, was a Romanian-born American actor best remembered for his portrayal of The Cisco Kid in films and on the 1950–1956 American TV series ''The Cisco Ki ...

, actor (Romanian-born, achieved fame in America as

The Cisco Kid The Cisco Kid is a fictional character found in numerous film, radio, television and comic book series based on the fictional Western character created by O. Henry in his 1907 short story "The Caballero's Way", published in ''Everybody's Maga ...

, a hero to children of the 1950s) * Alexandru Repan, actor * Edward G. Robinson, actor (Romanian-born

, made career in

as an English-language film actor) *

Aristizza Romanescu Aristizza Romanescu (December 24, 1854, Craiova – June 4, 1918, Iași) was a Romanian stage actress, active 1872–1918.George Marcu (coord.), Dicţionarul personalităţilor feminine din România, Editura Meronia, București, 2009. Life In 191 ...

, actress

S

Geo Saizescu Geo Saizescu (14 November 1932 – 23 September 2013) was a Romanian film director, screenwriter, and actor. He appeared in 22 films between 1963 and 2009 and directed 16 films between 1956 and 2012. He was born in Oprișor, Prisăceaua, Me ...

, actor * Alec Secăreanu, actor *

Sebastian Stan Sebastian Stan (born August 13, 1982) is a Romania-born American actor. Known for his work in both blockbuster and independent films, his accolades include a Golden Globe Award and a Silver Bear, in addition to nominations for an Academy A ...

, actor, naturalized American citizen *

Silviu Stănculescu Silviu Stănculescu (; 24 January 1932 – 23 October 1998) was a Romanian stage and screen actor. He appeared in more than forty films from 1960 to 1998. Born in Timișoara, he graduated in 1956 from the I.L. Caragiale Institute of Theatre ...

, actor *

Carmen Stănescu Carmen Stănescu (29 July 1925 – 11 April 2018) was a Romanian stage and film actress. She was born in Bucharest and died in Snagov. Filmography * '' Bădăranii'' (1960) as Felice, Canciano Tartuffola's wife * ''Frații Jderi'' (1974) * '' ...

, actress

T

Constantin Tănase Constantin Tănase (; 5 July 1880 – 29 August 1945) was a Romanian actor and writer for stage, a key figure in the revue style of theater in Romania. Life He was born into a working-class family living in a peasant house in Vaslui, Roma ...

, cabaretist

V

Tora Vasilescu Tora Vasilescu (22 March 1951) is a Romanian actress. She was born in Tulcea and went to local School no. 5, and then went on to High School no. 2. She showed talent for acting since she was young and later studied at the Theater Institute in B ...

, actress *

Grigore Vasiliu Birlic Grigore Vasiliu Birlic (; January 24, 1905 – February 14, 1970) was a Romanian actor who appeared on stage, television and in films. He was best known for comedic roles. Early life Grigore Vasiliu was born on 24 January 1905 into the famil ...

, actor *

Mihai Verbițchi Mihai Verbițchi (born September 27, 1957) is a Romanian stage actor, stage and film actor. He was married to actress Camelia Zorlescu until her death in 2022.Mircea Veroiu Mircea Veroiu (; 29 April 1941 – 26 December 1997) was a Romanian film director and screenwriter A screenwriter (also called scriptwriter, scribe, or scenarist) is a person who practices the craft of writing for visual mass media, k ...

, actor, director, screenwriter *

Dorel Vișan Dorel Vișan (; born 25 June 1937) is a Romanian actor. He has appeared in 65 films since 1974. He was nominated for the award of Best Actor at the 1988 European Film Awards. Vișan was born in Tăușeni, Cluj County. In 1965 he graduated from ...

, actor

W

Johnny Weissmuller Johnny Weissmuller ( ; born Johann Peter Weißmüller, ; June 2, 1904 – January 20, 1984) was a Hungarian-born German American Olympic swimmer, water polo player and actor. He was known for having one of the best competitive-swimming records o ...

, actor (born in what is now

Timișoara Timișoara (, , ; , also or ; ; ; see #Etymology, other names) is the capital city of Timiș County, Banat, and the main economic, social and cultural center in Western Romania. Located on the Bega (Tisza), Bega River, Timișoara is consider ...

, Romania, ethnically

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

, made career in

as an English-language film actor)This interview of his son, taken in Timisoara in 2004 confirms he was born in Romania (as well in his book Tarzan, My Father by Johnny Weissmuller, Jr)

Z

Florin Zamfirescu Florin Zamfirescu (; born 12 April 1949) is a Romanian theatre and film actor and director, and university professor. Zamfirescu was born in Călimănești, Vâlcea County; his grandfather, Gheorghe Zamfirescu, was mayor of the town. He graduate ...

, actor

References

{{Cinema of Romania

Actors An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

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See also

References