List of Northwestern University alumni
The following is a list of notable alumni who attended Northwestern University
Academia
Selected Northwestern Alumni
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- Madeleine Wing Adler (B.A. 1962), President, West Chester University
- Robert J. Alpern (B.A. 1972), Dean, Yale School of Medicine
- Elijah Anderson (Ph.D. 1976), William K. Lanman, Jr. Professor of Sociology, Yale University
- Sally Blount-Lyon (Ph.D. 1992), Dean, NYU Stern School of Business Undergraduate College
- Clinton Bristow, Jr. (B.A. 1971), former President, Alcorn State University
- Lawrence Bryan (Ph.D. 1973), President, MacMurray College
- Johnnetta B. Cole (M.A. 1959, Ph.D. 1967), President Emerita, Spelman College; President, Bennett College
- Juan Cole (B.A. 1975), Professor of Modern Middle East and South Asian History, University of Michigan
- James Hal Cone (M.A. 1963, Ph.D. 1965), Charles A. Briggs Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
- Mitchell Duneier, Professor of Sociology, Princeton University
- Troy Duster (B.A. 1957, Ph.D. 1962), Professor of Sociology, New York University and University of California, Berkeley
- Lee Edelman (B.A.), Fletcher Professor of English Literature, Tufts University
- Fred D. Fagg, Jr., former President, University of Southern California
- Jonathan Freedman (B.A. 1977), Professor of English and American Studies, University of Michigan
- Susan Fuhrman (B.A. 1965, M.A. 1966), President, Teachers College, Columbia University
- Simon Gikandi (Ph.D., 1986), Professor of English, Princeton University
- Barry Glassner (B.S. 1974), Executive Vice Provost & Professor of Sociology, University of Southern California
- Cynthia Herrup (B.S.J. 1972, Ph.D. 1982), Professor of History and Law, University of Southern California
- Rosanna Hertz (M.A. 1977, Ph.D. 1983), Luella LaMer Professor of Sociology and Women's Studies, Wellesley College
- Michael J. Hopkins (B.A. 1979, Ph.D. 1984), Professor of Mathematics, Harvard University
- Louis Kaplow (B.A. 1977), Finn M.W. Caspersen and Household International Professor of Law and Economics, Harvard University
- Jonathan D. Katz (Ph.D. 1996), former head of Larry Kramer Initiative for Lesbian and Gay Studies, Yale University
- Dale Knobel (Ph.D. 1976), President, Denison University
- Nirmalya Kumar (Ph.D. 1991), Co-Director, Aditya Birla India Centre; Director, Centre for Marketing; Faculty Director, Executive Education, London Business School
- Glenn Loury (B.A. 1972), Merton P. Stoltz Professor of the Social Sciences, Brown University
- John Malmstad (B.A. 1963), Samuel Hazzard Cross Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures, Harvard University
- Susan E. Mayer (Ph.D. 1986), Dean, Harris School of Public Policy Studies, University of Chicago
- Mark Crispin Miller (B.A. 1971), Professor, New York University
- George Nemhauser (Ph.D. 1961), A. Russell Chandler lll Chair and Institute Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology
- J. Dennis O'Connor (Ph.D. 1968), former Chancellor, University of Pittsburgh
- Charles Payne (Ph.D. 1976), Frank P. Hixon Distinguished Service Professor in the School of Social Service Administration, University of Chicago
- Andrew Postlewaite (Ph.D. 1974), Harry P. Kamen Professor of Economics and Professor of Finance, University of Pennsylvania
- V. Kasturi Rangan (Ph.D. 1983), Malcolm P. McNair Professor of Marketing & Director of Research, Harvard Business School
- Thomas S. Robertson (M.A., Ph.D. 1966), Dean, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
- Rebecca Sherrick (Ph.D. 1980), President, Aurora University
- James Schmotter (Ph.D. 1973), President, Western Connecticut State University
- John B. Simpson (Ph.D. 1973), President, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
- David J. Skorton (B.A. 1970, M.D. 1974), President, Cornell University
- Graham Spanier (Ph.D. 1973), President, Pennsylvania State University
- Barbara Maria Stafford (B.A. 1964, M.A. 1966), William B. Ogden Distinguished Service Professor of Art History, University of Chicago
- Roger Taylor (J.D. 1971), President, Knox College
- Stephan Thernstrom (B.A. 1956), Winthrop Professor of History, Harvard University
- Glen L. Urban (Ph.D. 1966), Dean Emeritus of MIT Sloan School of Management
- Penny Von Eschen (B.A. 1982), professor of history and American culture, University of Michigan
Arts/Entertainment (Theatre, TV and Film)
- Mara Brock Akil (B.A. 1992), creator and executive producer of Girlfriends and The Game, former supervising producer of The Jamie Foxx Show
- Claude Akins (B.S. 1949), actor (Inherit the Wind, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo)
- Ann-Margret (Olsson) (Class of 1963, never graduated), Academy Award-nominated actress (Tommy, Carnal Knowledge)
- Sharif Atkins (B.S. 1999), actor (ER)
- Jayne Atkinson (B.S. 1981), Tony Award-nominated actress (Enchanted April, The Rainmaker); currently portrays Karen Hayes on 24
- Jane Badler (B.S. 1976), actress (V)
- Bonnie Bartlett (B.S. 1950), Emmy Award-winning actress (St. Elsewhere, Twins, Ghosts of Mississippi)
- Warren Beatty (Class of 1959, never graduated), Academy Award-winning actor/writer/director (Bonnie and Clyde, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Shampoo, Reds)
- Lee Phillip Bell (B.A. 1950) Emmy Award-winning co-creator of The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful
- Rob Benedict (B.S. 1993), actor (Threshold, Felicity)
- Richard Benjamin (B.S. 1960), actor (Catch-22, Deconstructing Harry); director (Mermaids, Racing with the Moon)
- Edgar Bergen (attended, did not graduate), Academy Award-winning actor and ventriloquist (Charlie McCarthy)
- Greg Berlanti (B.S. 1994), screenwriter and producer (Dawson's Creek); creator of Everwood and Jack & Bobby; writer/director of Broken Hearts Club
- Eric Bernt (B.S. 1986), screenwriter (Surviving the Game, Virtuosity, Romeo Must Die)
- Craig Bierko (B.S. 1986), actor (Cinderella Man, The Thirteenth Floor); Tony Award-nominee (The Music Man)
- Karen Black (attended, never graduated), Academy Award-nominated actress (Easy Rider, Five Easy Pieces)
- Jeff Blumenkrantz (B.S. 1986), Tony Award-nominated musical theatre composer/lyricist (Urban Cowboy)
- Robert Borden (B.S. 1989), executive producer/writer (George Lopez)
- Zach Braff (B.S. 1997), Emmy Award-nominated actor (Scrubs); writer/director (Garden State)
- Cary Brothers (B.S. 1995), Grammy-nominated musician (Garden State)
- Clancy Brown (B.S. 1981), actor (Highlander, The Shawshank Redemption)
- Charles Busch (B.S. 1976), Tony Award-nominated playwright (The Tale of the Allergist's Wife)
- Frank Buxton (B.S. 1951), actor/writer/director
- Bruno Campos (B.S. 1995), actor (Nip/Tuck)
- Adam Chase (B.S. 1990), Emmy Award-nominated writer/executive producer (Friends)
- Josh Chetwynd, UK based baseball analyst and former player
- Janet Choi, cast member of The Real World: Seattle
- Cindy Chupack (B.S. 1987), Emmy Award-winning executive producer and writer (Sex and the City, Everybody Loves Raymond)
- Stephen Colbert (B.S. 1987), Emmy Award-winning comedian (The Colbert Report, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart)
- Jack Clay, acting teacher/director/actor
- Claire Coffee, actress (General Hospital)
- Kate Collins, actress (All My Children)
- Robert Conrad (B.S. 1955), actor (The Wild Wild West, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Hawaiian Eye)
- Steven Conrad (B.A. 1991), screenwriter (The Pursuit of Happyness, The Weather Man)
- Cindy Crawford (attended, never graduated), model
- Jane Curtin (attended, never graduated), original cast member of Saturday Night Live; Emmy Award-nominated actress (Kate & Allie, 3rd Rock from the Sun)
- Stephanie D'Abruzzo (B.S. 1993), Tony Award-nominated actress and puppeteer (Avenue Q)
- William Daniels (B.S. 1950), Emmy Award-winning actor (St. Elsewhere, Boy Meets World); former president of the Screen Actors Guild
- Zooey Deschanel (attended, never graduated), actress (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Elf, Almost Famous, Winter Passing)
- Lydia R. Diamond (B.S. 1992), playwright
- Matt Doherty (B.S. 1999), actor (So I Married an Axe Murderer, The Mighty Ducks films)
- Teddy Dunn (B.S. 2003), actor (Veronica Mars)
- Nancy Dussault (B.A. 1957), actress (Too Close for Comfort); two-time Tony Award nominee (Do Re Mi, Bajour)
- Gregg Edelman (B.S. 1980), Tony Award-nominated actor (City of Angels, Into the Woods)
- Jennie Eisenhower (B.S. 2000), actress; granddaughter of Richard Nixon and the great-granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower
- Mary Frann (B.S. 1965), actress (Newhart, Days of our Lives)
- Temi Epstein (B.S. 1996), child actress (North and South)
- Joe Flynn, actor (McHale's Navy)
- Penny Fuller (B.S. 1959), Emmy Award-winning actress (The Elephant Man); Tony Award nominee (The Dinner Party)
- Gerald Freedman (B.S. 1949, M.A. 1950), theatre director (The Gay Life, The Robber Bridegroom, The Grand Tour)
- David T. Friendly (B.S. 1978), Academy Award-nominated producer (Little Miss Sunshine)
- George Furth B.S. 1955), Tony Award-winning playwright (Company); actor (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid)
- Aimee Garcia (B.S. 2000), actress (George Lopez)
- Daniele Gaither (B.S. 1993), actress, comic (MADtv)
- Barbara Gaines (B.S. 1968), founder and artistic director of the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
- Frank Galati (B.A. 1965), Tony Award-winning director (The Grapes of Wrath) , Academy Award-nominated screenwriter (The Accidental Tourist)
- Ana Gasteyer (B.S. 1989), actress (Mean Girls, Wicked); former cast member of Saturday Night Live
- Ileen Getz (B.S. 1985), actress (3rd Rock from the Sun)
- Zach Gilford (B.S. 2004), actor (Friday Night Lights)
- Eric Gilliland (B.S. 1984), writer/producer (Rosanne, My Boys)
- Ira Glass (attended, never graduated), radio and TV personality
- Virginia Graham (M.S.J.), former daytime TV talk show host
- Michael Greif (B.S. 1981), Tony Award-nominated director of Rent and Grey Gardens
- Mamie Gummer, actress (Evening), daughter of Meryl Streep
- Anna Gunn (B.S. 1990), actress (Deadwood)
- Kathryn Hahn, (B.S. 1995), actress (Crossing Jordan)
- Brad Hall (B.S. 1990), former cast member of (Saturday Night Live); creator of (The Single Guy, Watching Ellie)
- Samantha Harris (B.S. 1996), Emmy Award-nominated co-host of Dancing with the Stars
- Bill Hayes (M.M. 1949), Daytime Emmy Award-nominated actor (Days of our Lives)
- Heather Headley (B.S. 1997), Tony Award-winning actress and singer (Aida, The Lion King); Grammy Award-nominated R&B vocalist
- Kyle T. Heffner, actor Flashdance
- Marg Helgenberger (B.S. 1982), Emmy Award-winning actress (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, China Beach, Erin Brockovich)
- Charlton Heston (B.S. 1945), Academy Award-winning actor (Ben-Hur), National Rifle Association President
- Michael Hitchcock (B.S. 1980), writer (MADTv); actor (Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show)
- Ron Holgate (B.S. 1959), Tony Award-winning actor (1776, The Grand Tour)
- David Hollander (B.S. 1990), creator, screenwriter, and executive producer of The Guardian
- David Horowitz (M.S. 1961), former host of Fight Back! With David Horowitz
- Jeffrey Hunter (B.A. 1949), actor (The Searchers, The Last Hurrah, King of Kings, The Longest Day)
- Lew Hunter (M.S. 1956), Emmy Award-nominated screenwriter (Fallen Angel); Chairman Emeritus and Professor of Screenwriting, UCLA School of Theater Film and Television
- Ron Husmann (B.S. 1959), Tony Award-nominated actor (Tenderloin)
- Martha Hyer (B.S. 1945), Academy Award-nominated actress (Some Came Running, Houseboat, The Sons of Katie Elder, Bikini Beach)
- Rex Ingram, actor (Cabin in the Sky, The Thief of Baghdad, Sahara, Green Pastures)
- Laura Innes (B.S. 1979), Emmy Award-nominated actress (ER); Emmy Award-nominated director (The West Wing)
- Robin Irwin, noted Broadway actress ("Titanic (musical)"), and ("Dance of the Vampires") She currently teaches at New York University
- David Ives (B.A. 1971), playwright, (All in the Timing)
- Brian d'Arcy James (B.S. 1990), Tony Award-nominated actor (Sweet Smell of Success: The Musical)
- Tim Johnson (B.A. 1983), director (Antz, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas)
- Jennifer Jones, Academy Award-winning actress (The Song of Bernadette, Since You Went Away, Love Letters, Duel in the Sun, Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing)
- Spencer Kayden (B.S. 1990), former cast member of MADTv; Tony Award-nominee for Urinetown
- James Keach (B.S. 1970), actor (The Long Riders); producer (Walk the Line); director (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman)
- Stacy Keach, Sr. (B.S. 1935), actor (Get Smart); director (Tales of the Texas Rangers)
- Clinton Kelly (M.S. 1993), co-host of (What Not to Wear)
- Richard Kind (B.S. 1978), actor (Mad About You, Spin City)
- Richard Kline (M.A. 1967), actor (Three's Company)
- Robert Knepper (attended, never graduated), actor (Prison Break, Hostage, Carnivàle)
- Gary Kroeger (B.S. 1981), former cast member of (Saturday Night Live)
- Roger Kumble (B.S. 1988), writer/director (Cruel Intentions)
- Jeff Kurland (B.S. 1975), Academy Award-nominated costume designer (Bullets Over Broadway, Ocean's Eleven, Collateral)
- Clyde Kusatsu (B.S. 1970), actor (All American Girl, In the Line of Fire)
- Mark Lamos (B.S. 1969), Tony Award-winning former artistic director of the Hartford Stage
- Sherry Lansing (B.S. 1966), former CEO of Paramount Pictures; Academy Award-nominated producer (Fatal Attraction); 2007 recipient of the The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
- Martha Lavey (B.S. 1979, M.A. 1986, Ph.D. 1994), Tony Award-winning artistic director of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company
- Gautam Bahadur (attended, never graduated)
- Britt Leach, actor (Weird Science)
- Cloris Leachman (B.S. 1948), Academy Award-winning and Emmy Award-winning actress (The Last Picture Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Spanglish)
- Harry J. Lennix (B.S. 1986), actor (The Matrix Reloaded, The Matrix Revolutions, Commander in Chief, Ray)
- Richard J. Lewis (B.A. 1982), Emmy Award-nominated director/producer (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
- Herschell Gordon Lewis, filmmaker
- John Logan (B.S. 1983), Academy Award-nominated screenwriter (The Aviator, Gladiator, The Last Samurai)
- Laura Linney (attended for a year then transferred), actress (The Truman Show)
- Shelley Long (Class of 1971, never graduated), Emmy Award-winning actress (Cheers, The Money Pit, Irreconcilable Differences)
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Class of 1982, never graduated), Emmy Award-winning actress (Seinfeld, The New Adventures of Old Christine); former cast member of Saturday Night Live
- Paul Lynde (B.S. 1948), actor (Hollywood Squares, Bewitched, Bye Bye Birdie)
- J.P. Manoux (B.S. 1991), actor (ER, Phil of the Future, The Emperor's New School)
- Stephanie March (B.S. 1996), actress (Law & Order: SVU, Conviction)
- Michael Markowitz B.S. 1983), Emmy Award-nominated writer and producer (Duckman, Becker)
- Garry Marshall (B.S. 1956), creator of Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, and Mork & Mindy; director (Pretty Woman, Beaches, The Princess Diaries)
- Marshall W. Mason (B.S. 1961), Tony Award-nominated director (Fifth of July, As Is)
- Daphne Maxwell Reid (B.A. 1970), actress (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
- Jacquelyn Mayer (B.S. 1964), former Miss America
- Laverne McKinnon (B.S. 1987), Senior Executive Vice President of Drama Series Development, CBS Broadcasting, Inc.
- Ralph Meeker (B.S. 1943), actor (Kiss Me Deadly, Paths of Glory, Picnic, The St. Valentine's Day Massacre, The Anderson Tapes)
- Susan Messing (B.S. 1986), performer, teacher, and director at The Second City, ImprovOlympic, and the Annoyance Theatre
- Josh Meyers (B.S. 1998), actor (MADtv, That '70s Show)
- Seth Meyers (B.S. 1996), cast member of Saturday Night Live; co-anchor of Weekend Update; winner of the third Celebrity Poker Showdown
- Terri Minsky (B.S. 1980), creator/writer/executive producer of Lizzie McGuire, Less Than Perfect, and The Geena Davis Show
- John Cameron Mitchell (B.S. 1985), writer/actor/director (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), executive producer (Tarnation)
- Andrew Moskos (B.A. 1990), co-founder of Boom Chicago in Amsterdam
- Karen Moncrieff (B.S. 1986), Miss Illinois 1985; writer and director of The Dead Girl and Blue Car
- Jason Moore (B.S. 1993), Tony Award-nominated director (Avenue Q)
- Robert E. Mulholland (B.S.J. 1955, M.S.J. 1956), former President and C.O.O., NBC
- Megan Mullally (Class of 1981, never graduated), Emmy Award-winning actress (Will and Grace)
- Dermot Mulroney (B.S. 1985), actor (About Schmidt, My Best Friend's Wedding, The Family Stone)
- John Musker (B.A. 1975), writer/producer/director (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Hercules)
- Tony Musante, actor (Toma, As the World Turns) *Margaret Nagle, screenwriter (Emmy Award Winning "Warm Springs")
- Patricia Neal (B.S. 1947), Academy Award-winning and Tony Award-winning actress (A Face In The Crowd, Hud, Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Subject Was Roses)
- Tom Neal, actor (Detour, Jungle Girl)
- George Newbern (B.S. 1986), actor (Father of the Bride (1991), Father of the Bride Part II, Justice League Unlimited)
- Jamie Ray Newman (B.S. 2000), actress (Veronica Mars, Stargate Atlantis)
- Peter Newman (B.S. 1975), producer (The Squid and the Whale)
- Agnes Nixon (B.S. 1944), Emmy Award-winning writer/producer (All My Children, One Life to Live, Another World, As the World Turns, Loving)
- Bruce Norris (B.S. 1982), actor (A Civil Action); playwright, Steppenwolf Theatre Company
- Denis O'Hare (B.S. 1984), Tony Award-winning actor (Take Me Out, Sweet Charity, Assassins)
- Dana Olsen (B.S. 1980), screenwriter ( George of the Jungle, The 'Burbs)
- James Olson (B.S. 1952), actor (Rachel, Rachel, The Andromeda Strain, Ragtime, Commando)
- Jerry Orbach (Class of 1956, never graduated), Tony Award-winning and Emmy Award-nominated actor (Law & Order, Promises, Promises, Dirty Dancing)
- Mary Beth Peil (B.S. 1962), Tony Award-nominated actress (The King and I, Dawson's Creek)
- Michael Pellerin (B.S. 1987), DVD producer, The Lord of the Rings film trilogy
- Jeff Pinkner, screenwriter (Lost
- Michael Prywes, (B.S. 1996), writer and director of Returning Mickey Stern
- Paula Prentiss (B.S. 1959), Emmy Award-nominated actress (Where the Boys Are, The Parallax View, In Harm's Way, The World of Henry Orient)
- Jenny Powers (B.S. 2003), Miss Illinois 2000; Broadway actress (Little Women)
- John Quaintance (B.S. 1993), writer, (Joey, Aquamarine, Material Girls)
- John Qualen, actor (The Grapes of Wrath, The Searchers, Casablanca, The High and the Mighty)
- Maeve Quinlan (attended, never graduated), actress (South of Nowhere, Ken Park, The Bold and the Beautiful)
- Lily Rabe, actress (No Reservations, Steel Magnolias)
- Charlotte Rae (B.S. 1948), Emmy Award-nominated and Tony Award-nominated actress (The Facts of Life, Diff'rent Strokes, Queen of the Stardust Ballroom)
- Tony Randall (Class of 1941, never graduated), Emmy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated actor (The Odd Couple, Mr. Peepers, Inherit the Wind)
- Robert Reed (B.S. 1954), Emmy Award-nominated actor (The Brady Bunch, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, Roots)
- Keith Reddin (B.S. 1978), playwright
- Marcia Rodd (B.S. 1960), Tony Award-nominated actress (Little Murders, Shelter)
- Tony Roberts (B.S. 1961), Tony Award-nominated actor (Annie Hall, Serpico, Play It Again, Sam)
- Jeri Ryan (B.S. 1991), actress (Boston Public, Star Trek: Voyager, Shark)
- Ethan Sandler (B.S. 1995), actor (Crossing Jordan)
- David Schwimmer (B.S. 1988), Emmy Award-nominated actor (Friends, Band of Brothers, Madagascar)
- Yuki Shimoda (Yukio Shimoda, B.A. in Accounting 1950's), Emmy Award-nominated actor, University of Chicago Compass Players "Second City", Japanese American nisei actor of the silver screen, stage and television, co-star of the Tony Award winning Broadway play, Auntie Mame with fellow Northwestern graduate Robert Reed
- Katherine Shindle (B.S. 1999), Miss America 1998, actress (Capote)
- Candace Smith (J.D. 2002), Miss Ohio USA 2003; actress (Beerfest)
- Jerry Springer (J.D. 1968), host of The Jerry Springer Show; former mayor of Cincinnati
- Florence Stanley, actress (My Two Dads, Atlantis: The Lost Empire)
- McLean Stevenson (B.S. 1952), Emmy Award-nominated actor (M*A*S*H, The Doris Day Show); guest host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
- Peter Strauss (B.S. 1969), Emmy Award-winning actor (Rich Man, Poor Man, Masada, Soldier Blue, The Secret of NIMH)
- Nicole Sullivan (B.S. 1991), original cast member of MADtv; actress (The King of Queens); winner of the inaugural Celebrity Poker Showdown
- Hope Summers, actress (The Andy Griffith Show)
- Inga Swenson (B.S. 1953), actress (The Miracle Worker, Benson)
- Leigh Taylor-Young (attended, never graduated), Emmy Award-winning actress (Soylent Green, Picket Fences, I Love You, Alice B. Toklas)
- Chuti Tiu (B.A. 1991), Miss Illinois 1994; actress (Desire)
- Deborah Tranelli (B.S. 1977), actress (Dallas)
- Robert Trebor, actor (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Raise Your Voice)
- Jason Tyne, resident playwright and director, Rising Sun Performance Company
- Ira Ungerleider (B.S. 1990), Emmy Award-nominated producer/writer (Friends)
- Tom Virtue (B.S. 1979), actor (Even Stevens, Read It and Weep)
- Billie Lou Watt (B.S. 1945), actress (Search for Tomorrow, Astro Boy)
- Michael Weston (B.S.), actor (The Last Kiss, Coyote Ugly, Six Feet Under)
- Kimberly Williams (B.S. 1993), actress (Father of the Bride, Father of the Bride Part II, According to Jim)
- Fred Williamson (B.S. 1960), actor (MASH, Three the Hard Way, Black Caesar, Starsky & Hutch); former professional defensive back who played in Super Bowl I
- Edward D. Wood, Jr., filmmaker
- Mary Zimmerman (B.S. 1982, M.A. 1985, Ph.D. 1994), Tony Award-winning director/writer (Metamorphoses); librettist (Galileo Galilei)
Business
- Arthur Andersen (B.B.A. 1917), founder of Arthur Andersen LLP
- Teruaki Aoki (Ph.D. 1970), Senior Executive Vice President, Sony
- James L. Allen (B.S. 1929), founder of Booz Allen Hamilton
- Edwin G. Booz (B.S. 1914), founder of Booz Allen Hamilton
- Lisa Caputo (M.S. 1987), Chairman and CEO, Citigroup Women and Company
- Sue Castorino (B.S. 1975), founder and President of The Speaking Specialists
- Nicholas Chabraja (B.A. 1964), Chairman and CEO, General Dynamics
- Douglas Conant (B.A. 1973, MBA 1975), President and CEO, Campbell Soup Company
- Terri Dial (B.A. 1971), former CEO of Wells Fargo Bank
- D. Cameron Findlay (B.A. 1982), Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Aon Corporation
- Christopher Galvin (B.A. 1973), former Chairman and CEO of Motorola
- Elbert Henry Gary (J.D. 1868), co-founder of the United States Steel Corporation
- Hugh Hefner (attended for semester of graduate sociology courses), founder of Playboy Enterprises, Inc.
- John H. Johnson (attended, never graduated), founder of the Johnson Publishing Company (Ebony and Jet magazines)
- Joseph Levy Jr. (B.B.A. 1947), Chairman of Levy Venture Management
- Jeffrey McClelland (B.S. 1980), former COO, US Airways
- Blythe McGarvie, director of Accenture, Viacom, and the Pepsi Bottling Group
- John Meriwether (B.S. 1969), founder of Long-Term Capital Management
- David R. Nissen (B.A. 1973), President and CEO, GE Consumer Finance
- Morgan E. O'Brien (J.D. 1969), founder of Nextel Communications, Inc.
- William A. Osborn (B.A. 1969), Chairman and CEO, Northern Trust Corporation
- Peter George Peterson (B.S. 1947), former Chairman and CEO of Lehman Brothers; co-founder of the Blackstone Group (*also listed under Politics, Government, and Public Policy)
- Christine Poon (B.A. 1973), Vice Chairman and Worldwide Chairman of Medicines & Nutritionals, Johnson & Johnson
- Pat Ryan (B.A. 1959), founder and Executive Chairman of Aon Corporation
- Paul Sagan (B.S. 1981), President and CEO, Akamai Technologies
- Gordon Segal (B.B.A. 1960), co-founder and CEO, Crate and Barrel
- Judith A. Sprieser (B.A. 1974), former CFO of Sara Lee
- Alfred Steele (B.A. 1923), former CEO of Pepsi-Cola
- Russ M. Strobel (B.A. 1974), CEO, Nicor
- Jeanette Sarkisian Wagner (B.S. 1951), Vice Chairman, Estee Lauder
- Robert Wayman (B.S. 1967), former CFO and EVP, Hewlett-Packard
- William A. Woodburn (M.S. 1975), President and CEO, GE Infrastructure
For notable M.B.A. alumni see the Kellogg School of Management
Journalism
- J.A. Adande, ESPN contributor, Around the Horn; former Los Angeles Times sports columnist
- Jabari Asim, columnist, Washington Post
- Steve Bell (M.S. 1963), former correspondent for ABC News
- Amalie Benjamin, sports columnist, Boston Globe
- Ira Berkow (M.S. 1964), sports columnist, The New York Times
- Kevin Blackistone (B.S. 1981), ESPN contributor, Around the Horn; Dallas Morning News sports columnist
- David Boardman (B.S. 1979) executive editor, The Seattle Times
- Steve Bogira, columnist, Chicago Reader
- Christine Brennan (B.S. 1980, M.S. 1981), sports columnist, USA Today
- Elizabeth Brenner (B.S. 1976), publisher, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- Elisabeth Bumiller, former White House Correspondent, The New York Times
- Ben Burns (B.S. 1934), founding editor of Ebony and Jet
- David Chalian, deputy political director, ABC News
- Pauline W. Chen, author of Final Exam: A Surgeon's Reflections on Mortality (Knopf)
- Carina Chocano, film critic for the Los Angeles Times
- Amanda Congdon (B.S. 2003), former hostess of Rocketboom
- Rance Crain (B.S. 1960), president and editor-in-chief, Crain Communications Inc.
- Mort Crim (M.S. 1963), former broadcast journalist
- Lester Crystal (B.S. 1956, M.S. 1957), executive producer, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
- Benoit Denizet-Lewis, contributor to the New York Times Magazine and author of the forthcoming book America Anonymous
- Gregg Easterbrook, author and journalist
- Leo Ebersole, writer, Chicago Tribune RedEye
- Rich Eisen, NFL Network anchor
- Fred Eychaner (B.S. 1966), founder of Newsweb Corporation
- Linda Foley (B.S. 1977) president, The Newspaper Guild
- Jack Fuller (B.S. 1968), former publisher of the Chicago Tribune and president of the Tribune Company
- Georgie Anne Geyer, journalist
- Lauren Green, religion correspondent for Fox News Channel
- Mike Greenberg ESPN Sportscenter Host, Co-Host of Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio
- Richard Harris (B.S. 1976), senior producer, Nightline
- Kwame Holman (M.S. 1982), correspondent, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
- Stephen Hunter, Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic for the Washington Post and novelist
- Michael Isikoff, investigative journalist for Newsweek magazine
- Jeff Jarvis, creator of Entertainment Weekly, columnist, professor at CUNY Journalism program
- Clara Jeffery, editor-in-chief, Mother Jones Magazine
- Sherry Jones (M.S. 1971), senior producer, Frontline
- Walter Kerr, Broadway theater critic, playwright, and author
- Rikki Klieman, Court TV anchor and legal analyst
- Michelle Kosinski, correspondent, NBC News
- Irv Kupcinet, former Chicago Sun-Times columnist
- Katherine Lanpher, writer and radio personality, author of Leap Days
- Nicole Lapin, anchor, CNN Pipeline
- Robert R. McCormick, former owner of the Chicago Tribune
- Steve McGonigle, The Dallas Morning News writer and investigative reporter
- Brent Musburger, sports announcer, ABC
- Rachel Nichols, ESPN and Washington Post reporter
- John Palmer, former news correspondent for NBC News
- Barry Petersen, foreign correspondent, CBS News
- Daniel H. Pink, contributing editor at Wired
- Neal Pollack, novelist, essayist, and humor writer.
- Steven Reddicliffe (B.S. 1975), former editor-in-chief, TV Guide; current television editor for The New York Times
- Kathy Reichs, best-selling novelist and forensic anthropologist.
- Jacque Reid , television and radio personality, former lead anchor for the BET nightly news
- Dave Revsine, sportscaster, ESPN
- Darren Rovell, CNBC Sports Business Reporter
- Daniel Rubin, metro columnist,"The Philadelphia Inquirer"
- Jamie Samuelsen, radio personality (WDFN)
- Anatole Shub, journalist for Washington Post and New York Times, author*
- Jane Skinner, host of Fox News Live
- David Sirota, author of Hostile Takeover and political strategist
- Evan Smith, Editor in Chief of Texas Monthly
- Margaret Sullivan, Editor, The Buffalo News
- Lynn Sweet, Washington, D.C., bureau chief and columnist, Chicago Sun-Times
- Sander Vanocur, journalist
- Julia Wallace (B.S. 1978), editor, The Atlanta Journal Constitution
- Alan Weisman, (B.A., M.A.), journalist and author of 2007's acclaimed The World Without Us
- Gary Weiss, journalist
- Michael Wilbon, ESPN analyst (Pardon the Interruption) and Washington Post sports columnist
For more notable alumni visit the Medill School of Journalism's Hall of Achievement: http://www.medill.northwestern.edu/alumni/honors/ For additional notable Medill School of Journalism Ballers, go to www.medill.northwestern.edu/medillpimps/
Law
- Simeon R. Acoba, Jr. (J.D. 1969), Justice, Hawaii Supreme Court
- Randy Barnett (B.A. 1974), Carmack Waterhouse Professor of Law, Georgetown University
- William Duane Benton (B.A. 1972), Federal Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- Richard Ben-Veniste (L.L.M. 1968), former Watergate counsel and 9/11 Commission member
- Raoul Berger (J.D. 1935), former Charles Warren Senior Fellow in American Legal History, Harvard Law School
- Vincent Blasi (B.A. 1964), Corliss Lamont Professor of Civil Liberties, Columbia University Law School; James Madison Distinguished Professor of Law, University of Virginia Law School
- David Boies (B.S. 1964), counsel, Bush v. Gore; founding partner, Boies, Schiller & Flexner
- Erwin Chemerinsky (B.S. 1975), Alston & Bird Professor of Law and Professor of Political Science, Duke University School of Law
- G. Marcus Cole (J.D. 1993), Professor of Law, Helen L. Crocker Faculty Scholar, and Associate Dean for Curriculum, Stanford Law School
- Carl E. Douglas, Lawyer, O.J. Simpson trial
- Arthur Goldberg (B.S.L. 1929, J.S.D. 1930), former Justice, U.S. Supreme Court
- Douglas Kmiec (B.A. 1973), Professor of Constitutional Law and Caruso Family Chair in Constitutional Law, Pepperdine University School of Law
- Lawrence C. Marshall (J.D. 1985), Professor of Law, David and Stephanie Mills Director of Clinical Education, and Associate Dean for Public Interest and Clinical Education, Stanford Law School
- Lyman Ray Patterson, former Pope F. Brock Professor of Professional Responsibility, University of Georgia School of Law
- John Paul Stevens (J.D. 1947), Justice, U.S. Supreme Court
- Seymour Simon (B.S. 1935), former Justice, Illinois Supreme Court
- Loren Smith (B.A. 1966, J.D. 1969), Federal Judge, United States Court of Federal Claims
- Richard Tallman, Justice, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- Jonathan Turley, J.B. and Maurice Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law, The George Washington University Law School
Medicine, Science and Technology
- H. Peter Anvin, Linux kernel hacker
- David Applebaum, Israeli physician
- Andy Carvin, founding editor and former coordinator of the Digital Divide Network
- Alston Scott Householder (B.A. 1925), mathematician
- Cheddi Jagan, dentist/Guyanese president
- Charles H. Mayo, doctor (Mayo Clinic)
- Robert F. Furchgott, Ph.D., 1940, Nobel Prize in Physiology/Medicine (1998)
- Marc Kirschner (B.A. 1966), founding chair of the Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School
- Nirav A. Shah, MD, (B.S. 1999, GME 2008), Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Richard Skrenta, creator of the first computer virus, Elk Cloner
- Joseph Staten, writer and director of the Halo video games
- Sam Treiman, former theoretical physicist and professor of physics at Princeton University
- Jacques Vallee (Ph.D. 1967), computer scientist, astronomer and UFO researcher
- Edward Weiler (B.A. 1971, M.S. 1973, Ph.D. 1976), director, Goddard Space Flight Center
- Daniel Hale Williams, first person to perform open heart surgery
- Kermit E Krantz, (B.S. 1945, M.S. 1947, M.D. 1948) Distinguished University Professor of Medicine University of Kansas. Among others, developed the Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz (MMK) and invented the expandable tampon. Namesake of the Arey/Krantz Museum of Anatomy at the Feinberg School of Medicine.
Music, Literature and the Arts
- Steve Albini, recording engineer, musician
- Jack Anderson, dance critic, The New York Times
- Marie Arana, editor of Washington Post Book World, author of National Book Award-finalist American Chica and the novel Cellophane
- Ernst Bacon, composer
- Saul Bellow (B.A. 1937), Nobel Prize-winning novelist
- Andrew Bird (B.M. 1995), singer-songwriter
- Chris Bliss, juggler
- Anthony Bozza, music journalist, author of Whatever You Say I Am: The Life and Times of Eminem and Tommyland.
- Grace Bumbry, mezzo-soprano
- Robert Olen Butler, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist
- William Butler (B.A. 2005), member of indie rock band Arcade Fire
- Dan Chaon, author of You Remind Me of Me and Among the Missing
- Julia Davids, founding member and Artistic Director of the Canadian Chamber Choir
- Cynthia Dobrinski, handbell composer and clinician
- Ivan Doig, novelist
- Tananarive Due, novelist and journalist, The Living Blood
- Andy Duncan, former member of OK Go
- Mary Dunleavy, soprano
- Wilma Dykeman, writer
- Timothy Ferris, science author
- William R. Ferris (M.A. 1965), former chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities
- Kyle Gann, composer, microtonalist
- Chester Gould, cartoonist
- Shari Goldhagen, author
- James Green (B.A. 1966), author
- Ayun Halliday, columnist and author of No Touch Monkey!
- Amir Hamed, Uruguayan writer
- Howard Hanson, composer
- Aleksandar Hemon, author and MacArthur Fellow, Nowhere Man, The Question of Bruno
- Sheldon Harnick, lyricist
- Brigid Hughes, former editor-in-chief of The Paris Review and editor-in-chief of A Public Space
- Myron Hunt, architect
- Brendan Kelly, member of the The Lawrence Arms
- Ardis Krainik (B.S. 1951), former General Manager of the Lyric Opera of Chicago
- Jay Krush, tubist
- William Lava, composer
- George R.R. Martin, author
- Sherrill Milnes, baritone
- Robert McHenry, encyclopedist and author
- Audrey Niffenegger, novelist and artist; author of The Time Traveller's Wife
- Tawni O'Dell, novelist, Sister Mine, Coal Run, Back Roads
- Karen A. Page, writer
- Marge Piercy, novelist and poet
- Neal Pollack, satirical author and journalist
- Steve Rodby, jazz bassist
- Ned Rorem, composer
- Tina Rosenberg, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist
- Karen Russell, author of St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves
- David Sanborn, saxophonist
- Joseph Schwantner, composer
- Sidney Sheldon, author (never graduated)
- Jon Solomon, DJ / record label owner
- Warren Spector, game designer
- Michael Sprinker, late literary theorist
- Frederick Swann, organist and President of the American Guild of Organists
- Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, composer
- Augusta Read Thomas, composer
- Trevanian, author
- Kathy Reichs, author
- Thomas Tyra, musician
- Walter Wager, author
- Nike Wagner, author
- Margaret Walker (B.A. 1935), poet and author
- Doug Wamble (M.M. 1997), musician and composer
- Joshua Weiner, poet, author of The World's Room
- Paul Winter, musician
- Rachael Yamagata (B.S. 1997), musician
Politics, Government, and Public Policy
- Jonathan Addleton (B.S. 1979), USAID mission director
- Michael Bakalis (B.A. 1959, M.A. 1962, Ph.D. 1966), former Deputy Secretary of Education in the US Department of Education
- George Ball, former Undersecretary of State
- Judy Biggert, Republican congresswoman
- Rod Blagojevich, Governor of Illinois
- Judy Baar Topinka, former State Treasurer of Illinois; Republican Gubernatorial candidate, 2006 election
- William Jennings Bryan, three-time Democratic presidential nominee
- Dale Bumpers (J.D. 1951), former U.S. Senator and Governor of Arkansas
- John A. Cade (M.B.A. 1954), former Maryland State Senator
- Francis H. Case, former U.S. Senator
- Salem Chalabi, ex-General Director of the Iraqi Special Tribunal
- Wendy Chamberlin (B.S. 1970), former U.S. ambassador to Pakistan; former assistant administrator, USAID Bureau for Asia and the Near East
- Cardiss Collins, former U.S. Representative from Illinois
- James L. Connaughton, Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality
- Steven M. Cook, Former Warrenville Park District Commissioner, Natural Areas Commissioner, Investment Banker
- Dan Cronin, Current Illinois State Senator
- Nathan Daschle, executive director, Democratic Governors Association, son of Tom Daschle
- Karen DeCrow (B.S. 1959), former President of the National Organization for Women
- Rahm Emanuel, former aide to Bill Clinton and Democratic congressman
- Scott Feeney (B.A. 1987), country director, office of the Secretary of Defense
- Al From, founder and current CEO of the Democratic Leadership Council
- Chrissy Gephardt, prominent LGBT-rights political advocate, daughter of Dick Gephardt
- Dick Gephardt, former House Democratic leader
- Barbara Gittings, American LGBT activist
- Wendy Lee Gramm, former head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission
- Robert Hanssen, former FBI agent who engaged in spying for the Soviet Union and Russia against the United States
- Loy W. Henderson (B.A. 1915), former United States Foreign Service Officer
- Earl Dewitt Hutto, former United States Representative from Florida
- Jim Kolbe, former U.S. Representative from Arizona, served 11 terms
- Scott L. Klug (M.S.J. 1976), former U.S. Representative from Wisconsin
- Liz Krueger (B.A.), New York State Senator
- Dan Lipinski (B.S. 1988), U.S. Representative from Illinois
- Frank Orren Lowden, former Governor of Illinois
- Edwin M. Martin, former United States Foreign Service Officer
- Catherine Waugh McCulloch, suffragist
- George McGovern, South Dakota Senator and 1972 Democratic candidate for president
- Eduardo Mondlane, Revolutionary leader of Mozambique
- Newton Minow, former director of the Federal Communications Commission
- Dawn Clark Netsch (B.A. 1948), politician
- Phyllis Oakley (B.A. 1956), former assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research, the State Department
- George M. O'Brien (B.A. 1939), former U.S. Representative from Illinois
- Glenn Pearce-Oroz (B.A. 1991), senior USAID urban and municipal development officer, Honduras
- Peter George Peterson, former chairman of the Council On Foreign Relations, United States Secretary of Commerce (*also listed under Business)
- John Edward Porter (B.S. and B.A 1957), former U.S. Representative from Illinois
- J. Leonard Reinsch, former White House Press Secretary
- Mel Sembler (B.S. 1952), former U.S. ambassador to Italy
- Adlai Stevenson, Illinois governor and two-time Democratic presidential nominee
- Mike Synar (M.A. 1974), former United States Representative from Oklahoma
- James R. Thompson, former Governor of Illinois
- Daniel Walker, former Governor of Illinois
- Harold Washington, first black Chicago mayor
- Lois Weisberg (B.S. 1946), Commissioner, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs
- Richard E. Wiley (B.S. 1955, J.D.), former Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission
Sports
- Mike Adamle, football player and sportscaster
- Katrina Adams, tennis player
- Darnell Autry, football player and actor
- Brett Basanez, football player
- D'Wayne Bates, football player
- Harold Blackmon, former football player, Seattle Seahawks
- Ron Burton, former football player, New England Patriots
- Luis Castillo, San Diego Chargers football player
- Barry Cofield, New York Giants Defensive Lineman
- Audra Cohen, 2007 NCAA Women's Tennis Singles Champion (never graduated)
- Javiar Collins, football player, Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns
- Paul Dana, former race car driver in the Indy Racing League
- Jerry Doggett, former broadcaster for the Los Angeles Dodgers
- Luke Donald, golfer
- John L. "Paddy" Driscoll, football player
- Eddie Einhorn (J.D. 1960), Vice Chairman of the Chicago White Sox
- Evan Eschmeyer, former basketball player
- Pat Fitzgerald, former 2-time All-American football player, current Northwestern head football coach
- Barry Gardner, professional football player
- Joe Girardi, former baseball player and current New York Yankees manager
- Grant Golden, tennis player
- Jim Golliday, track
- Otto Graham, professional football player
- Seymour Greenberg, tennis player
- Glen Grunwald (J.D. 1984), Senior Vice President for Basketball Operations of the New York Knicks
- JA Happ, baseball player
- Napoleon Harris, football player, Oakland Raiders and Minnesota Vikings
- Noah Herron, football player, Green Bay Packers
- Mike Huff, former baseball player
- Ronald Joseph, figure skater and long jumper
- Kenesaw Mountain Landis (J.D. 1891), first Commissioner of Baseball
- Nathan William Linkon, basketball coach, Infosys
- Mark Loretta, baseball player
- Todd Martin, tennis player
- Daryl Morey (B.S. 1996), general manager of the Houston Rockets
- Matt O'Dwyer, football player
- Ted Phillips, Chicago Bears President and CEO
- Jerry Reinsdorf (J.D. 1960), owner of the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago White Sox
- Marty Riessen, tennis player
- Annette Rogers, sprinter
- Anucha Browne Sanders (B.S. 1985), former Senior Vice President, Marketing and Business Operations, New York Knickerbockers
- Rick Sund, General Manager, Seattle Supersonics
- Steve Tasker, football player, sports announcer, Buffalo Bills
- Rick Telander, sportswriter
- Debi Thomas, figure skater
Other
- Patti Davis (attended, never graduated), daughter of Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis Reagan
- Jade Smalls, Miss Illinois 1999 and concert pianist
- Kelly O'Donnell, White House correspondent for NBC News, class of 1987 from the School of Education and Social Policy (SESP).
- Crispin Sanchez, (Ph.D. in education), advocate for education and athletics among Mexican Americans in South Texas
- Rick Telander, sportswriter and author of "Heaven is a Playground"
References
- "People affiliated with Northwestern University". NNDB. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
- "Notable Northwestern Alumni". Northwestern University. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
- "Northwestern Magazine". Northwestern University. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
- "Northwestern Alumni Exhibit". Northwestern University Library. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
- "Award Winning Medillians". Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
- "Medill Hall of Achievement". Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
- "People affiliated with Northwestern University". IMDB. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
- "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress". Retrieved 2007-06-12.