The tiny Baltic country of Lithuania has more charms than you can actually count on your both hands. Rightly touted as one of Europe’s best kept secrets, this country rarely ever bags any headlines. Regardless of its low-profile existence, Lithuania has managed to wow the world in unthinkable ways. This relatively small country, despite its puny population, has won laurels in diverse domains. Science, arts, sports, politics — no matter which field it is, Lithuanians have conquered it all and how! Considered largely as national heroes by the denizens of the country, these noted men have inspired generation of other men towards greatness. These are the men who have many streets, institutions, and banknotes dedicated after them. Basketball player Arvydas Sabonis, avant-garde filmmaker Jonas Mekas, greatest Lithuanian poet and prosaist Vincas Mykolaitis Putinas, famous Lithuanian artist, musician and painter Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis , two times president of Republic of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus are just some classic examples of Lithuania’s greatness. Explore the biographies of famous Lithuanian men through their timeline, trivia, and interesting facts captured below.
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1
Domantas Sabonis(Basketball player)
Birthdate: May 3, 1996
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Portland, Oregon, United States
Height: 6'11" (211 cm)
2
Arvydas Sabonis(Basketball Player, center who was a two-time Mr. Europa Player of the Year and 6-time Euroscar Player of the Year)
Birthdate: December 19, 1964
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Kaunas, Lithuania
Height: 7'3" (221 cm)
Birthdate: October 1, 1928
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Joniškis
Died: November 25, 1973
Born in Lithuania, Laurence Harvey spent his childhood in South Africa, before moving to Britain. He dropped his original name, Larry Skikne, while making his film debut with House of Darkness. Known for his portrayal of intriguing and complex characters, he also won hearts with his baritone voice.
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Jonas Valanciunas(Basketball player)
Birthdate: May 6, 1992
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Utena, Lithuania
Height: 7'0" (213 cm)
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Šarūnas Jasikevičius(Basketball player)
Birthdate: March 5, 1976
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Kaunas, Lithuania
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
6
Žydrūnas Savickas(Lithuanian Powerlifter and Professional Strongman)
Birthdate: July 15, 1975
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Biržai, Lithuania
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
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Sarunas Marciulionis(Basketball player)
Birthdate: June 13, 1964
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
8
Stephen Báthory(King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania (1576 - 1586))
Birthdate: September 27, 1533
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Șimleu Silvaniei, Romania
Died: December 12, 1586
Stephen Báthory reigned as the King of Poland from 1 May 1576 to 12 December 1586. A member of the Báthory noble family of Hungary, Stephen ruled Transylvania during the 1570s before becoming the third elected king of Poland. Stephen Báthory is counted among the most successful kings in the history of Poland.
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Žydrūnas Ilgauskas(Basketball player)
Birthdate: June 5, 1975
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Kaunas, Russian
Height: 7'3" (221 cm)
10
Vytautas(Grand Duke of Lithuania (1392 - 1430))
Birthdate: 1350 AD
Birthplace: Senieji Trakai, Lithuania
Died: October 27, 1430
Vytautas, also called Vytautas the Great, was the Grand Duke of Lithuania. Vytautas consolidated the possessions of his country and aided in building a national consciousness. Revered as a national hero, Vytautas was considered a significant figure during the 19th century Lithuanian National Revival. The Vytautas Magnus University founded in 1922 during the Polish–Lithuanian War was named after him.
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Mindaugas(King of Lithuania (1253 - 1263))
Birthdate: 1203 AD
Died: 1263 AD
Mindaugas reigned as the King of Lithuania from 1253 to 1263. His reign was marked by numerous state-building accomplishments. Although not much is documented about his life and reign, Mindaugas is generally regarded as the founder of the Lithuanian state. He is also remembered as the only crowned Lithuanian king.
12
Mindaugas Kuzminskas(Basketball player)
Birthdate: October 19, 1989
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Vilnius, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
Height: 6'9" (206 cm)
13
Gediminas(Grand Duke of Lithuania (1316 - 1341))
Birthdate: 1275 AD
Birthplace: Vilnius, Lithuania
Died: November 30, 1341
Gediminas was a Lithuanian leader who served as the Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1316 until his death in 1341. Counted among the most important political figures in early Lithuanian history, Gediminas is credited with building the capital of Lithuania, Vilnius. He is also credited with founding a dynasty that eventually ruled other European countries like Hungary, Poland, and Bohemia.
Birthdate: August 10, 1874
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Taujėnai
Died: January 9, 1944
The first president of Lithuania, Antanas Smetona was drawn into the revolutionary movements of his country soon after finishing law school. A major political figure of his country during the two World Wars, he came to power for a second time after launching a coup in 1926.
15
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis(Lithuanian Composer and Painter)
Birthdate: September 22, 1875
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Senoji Varėna, Lithuania
Died: April 10, 1911
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis was a Lithuanian composer, painter, and writer. Widely regarded as a pioneer of abstract art in Europe, Čiurlionis contributed immensely to art nouveau and symbolism. Today, many of his paintings are preserved at the M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum in Lithuania. Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis also had a major influence on modern Lithuanian culture.
16
Augustus III of Poland(King)
Birthdate: October 17, 1696
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Dresden, Germany
Died: October 5, 1763
17
Linas Kleiza(Basketball player)
Birthdate: January 3, 1985
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
Height: 6'8" (203 cm)
18
Algirdas(Ruler of Medieval Lithuania)
Birthdate: 1296 AD
Birthplace: Vilnius, Lithuania
Died: April 30, 1377
19
Mantas Kalnietis(Basketball player)
Birthdate: September 6, 1986
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
Birthdate: November 3, 1926
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Kaunas, Lithuania
Former Lithuanian president Valdas Adamkus had fought against the Soviet army during World War II. After fleeing to Germany, he studied in Munich and then migrated to the U.S., where he earned a civil engineering degree. Among his many accolades are honorary doctorates from countless foreign universities.
21
Jonas Maciulis(Basketball player)
Birthdate: February 10, 1985
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
Height: 6'6" (198 cm)
22
Arturas Karnisovas(Basketball player)
Birthdate: April 27, 1971
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Klaipėda, Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
Height: 6'8" (203 cm)
23
Paulius Jankunas(Basketball player)
Birthdate: April 29, 1984
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kaunas, Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic Lithuanian SSR, Soviet Union
Height: 6'9" (206 cm)
24
Marius Grigonis(Basketball player)
Birthdate: April 26, 1994
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kaunas, Lithuania
Height: 6'6" (198 cm)
25
Vytautas Lalas(Lithuanian Professional Strongman)
Birthdate: July 21, 1982
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Mažeikiai, Lithuania
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
26
Arturas Gudaitis(Basketball player)
Birthdate: June 19, 1993
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Klaipėda, Lithuania
Height: 6'10" (208 cm)
27
Arnoldas Kulboka(Basketball player)
Birthdate: January 4, 1998
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Marijampolė, Lithuania
Height: 6'10" (208 cm)
28
George Mikell(Lithuanian-Australian Writer and Actor)
Birthdate: April 4, 1929
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Bildeniai, Lithuania
Died: May 12, 2020
George Mikell was a Lithuanian-Australian writer and actor. He is best known for playing important roles in popular films like The Guns of Navarone and The Great Escape. Over the course of his career, he also played numerous leading roles in theatre. After retiring as an actor, George Mikell wrote many short stories and two film scripts.
29
Kęstutis(Ruler)
Birthdate: 1297 AD
Birthplace: Senieji Trakai, Lithuania
Died: August 15, 1382
30
Virgilijus Alekna(Lithuanian Retired Discus Thrower Who Won Gold Medals at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games)
Birthdate: February 13, 1972
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Terpeikiai, Lithuania
Virgilijus Alekna is a Lithuanian retired discus thrower who won gold medals at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. A two-time world champion, Alekna also won the 2006 European Championship. Virgilijus Alekna was named Lithuanian Sportsman of the Year on four occasions. In 2017, he was honored with the prestigious European Athletics Lifetime Achievement Award.
31
Darius Songaila(Basketball player)
Birthdate: February 14, 1978
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Marijampolė, Lithuania
Height: 6'9" (206 cm)
32
Ricardas Berankis(Tennis player)
Birthdate: June 21, 1990
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Vilnius, Lithuania
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
33
Pyotr Wrangel(Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of South Russia (April 1920 - November 1920))
Birthdate: August 27, 1878
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Zarasai, Lithuania
Died: April 25, 1928
Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangel was a Russian military officer who served in the Imperial Russian Army. He played an important role during the Russian Civil War, serving as the commanding general of the White Army during the later stages of the war. He lost the war and left Russia, becoming one of the most important exiled White émigrés of South Russia.
34
Eimantas Stanionis(Boxer)
Birthdate: August 17, 1994
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Kaunas, Lithuania
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
35
Egidijus Kavaliauskas(Boxer)
Birthdate: June 29, 1988
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Kaunas, Lithuania
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
36
George Maciunas(Lithuanian-American Artist)
Birthdate: November 8, 1931
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Kaunas, Lithuania
Died: May 9, 1978
Born to an architect father in Lithuania, George Maciunas later fled with his family to avoid the Red Army, moving first to Germany and then to the U.S. He was one of the co-founders of the Fluxus movement of artists and architects and also restored many of SoHo’s dilapidated buildings.
Birthdate: June 10, 1956
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Telšiai
Rolandas Paksas is a Lithuanian politician who served as the president of Lithuania from 2003 to 2004. Prior to this, he was the prime minister of Lithuania for two non-consecutive terms. A civil engineer by qualification, he founded a construction company, Restako, prior to joining politics. His political career has been shrouded in controversies.
38
Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki(Ruler)
Birthdate: July 31, 1640
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Bilyi Kamin', Ukraine
Died: November 10, 1673
39
Marius Zaromskis(Mixed martial artist)
Birthdate: July 30, 1980
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Šiauliai, Lithuania
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
40
Rokas Jokubaitis(Basketball player)
Birthdate: November 19, 2000
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Mažeikiai, Lithuania
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
41
Donatas Banionis(Soviet and Lithuanian Actor and Theatre Director)
Birthdate: April 28, 1924
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kaunas, Lithuania
Died: September 4, 2014
Donatas Banionis was a Soviet and Lithuanian actor and theatre director. He is best remembered for playing Kris Kelvin in the 1972 film, Solaris. Apart from his film roles, Banionis was also known for his career as a stage actor. Vladimir Putin once said that Donatas Banionis' role in the film Dead Season inspired him to join the KGB.
42
Vytautas Landsbergis(Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania (1990 - 1992))
Birthdate: October 18, 1932
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Kaunas
Vytautas Landsbergis is a Lithuanian politician and writer. He is best known for his service as the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Lithuania from 1990 to 1992. Apart from writing books on politics, Vytautas Landsbergis has also written several books on music.
43
Renaldas Seibutis(Basketball player)
Birthdate: July 23, 1985
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Palanga, Lithuania
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
44
Edgaras Ulanovas(Basketball player)
Birthdate: January 7, 1992
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kaunas, Lithuania
Height: 6'6" (198 cm)
45
Ramūnas Šiškauskas(Basketball player)
Birthdate: September 10, 1978
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Kaišiadorys, Lithuania
Height: 6'6" (198 cm)
46
Robertas Javtokas(Basketball player)
Birthdate: March 20, 1980
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Šiauliai, Lithuania
Height: 6'11" (211 cm)
47
Fedor Černych(Footballer striker, winger or midfielder)
Birthdate: May 21, 1991
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Moscow, Russia
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
48
Deividas Sirvydis(Basketball player)
Birthdate: June 10, 2000
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Vilnius, Lithuania
Height: 6'8" (203 cm)
49
Donny Montell(Lithuanian Singer and Songwriter)
Birthdate: October 22, 1987
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Vilnius, Lithuania
Lithuanian singer-songwriter Donny Montell developed interest in music as a child. Inspired by his father, a drummer of Plackartas hard-rock group, as also by artists like Michael Jackson, Donny began performing publicly at age six. He became the Grand Prix winner of International Festival of Arts Slavianski Bazaar, and represented Lithuania at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 and 2016.
50
Artūras Milaknis(Basketball player)
Birthdate: June 16, 1986
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Kaunas, Lithuania
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
