Notable Alumni of California State University-Los Angeles

Maxine Waters 1938–

US Representative from California

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1970

Spouse: Sid Williams (Southern University and A&M College)

Judy Chu 1953–

U.S. Representative from California

Also attended: Alliant International University, University of California-Los Angeles

Lou Leon Guerrero 1950–

Ninth governor of Guam, first woman in the role

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Lucille Roybal-Allard 1941–

Former U.S. representative from California

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1965

Father: Edward Ross Roybal (Southwestern Law School)

Diane Watson 1933–

Former US Representative from California

Master of Science · Class of 1967

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, Claremont Graduate University, Los Angeles City College

Juanita Millender-McDonald 1938–2007

US Representative from California

Master of Arts · Class of 1988

Also attended: Los Angeles Harbor College, University of Redlands, University of Southern California

Joe Baca 1947–

Former US Representative from California

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1971

Also attended: Barstow Community College

Elton Gallegly 1944–

Former Republican U.S. representative from California

Attended until 1962

Julian C. Dixon 1934–2000

California congressman and House Ethics Committee chair

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1962

Also attended: Southwestern Law School

Wendy Carrillo 1980–

California State Assembly member and journalist

Aileen Hernandez 1926–2017

Civil rights activist and NOW president

Also attended: Howard University

Esteban Edward Torres 1930–2022

US Representative from California

Attended until 1963

Also attended: East Los Angeles College, American University, University of Maryland, Baltimore

Syed Naveed Qamar 1955–

Pakistani politician and member of the National Assembly

Donald Sterling 1934–

Former owner of the Los Angeles Clippers

Also attended: Southwestern Law School

Isaac Larian 1954–

Founder and CEO of MGA Entertainment

Samuel T. Durrance 1943–2023

Scientist and Space Shuttle payload specialist

Also attended: University of Colorado Boulder

Adriana Christian Ocampo Uria 1955–

Planetary geologist and former NASA science program manager

Paul Cameron 1939–

Psychologist known for claims about homosexuality

Also attended: Azusa Pacific University, University of Colorado Boulder

Walter E. Williams 1936–2020

Economist, columnist and George Mason University professor

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1965

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Lixia Zhang 1951–

Computer science professor at UCLA

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Leana Wen 1983–

Physician, former Baltimore health commissioner

Also attended: Washington University in St Louis

Helen Hunt 1963–

Actress with an Academy Award and four Emmys

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Spouse: Hank Azaria (Tufts University, American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York)

Carlos Mencia 1967–

Honduran-American stand-up comedian

Tommy Lister Jr. 1958–2020

Actor and professional wrestler

Also attended: Long Beach City College, Palomar College

Edward James Olmos 1947–

Actor known for Blade Runner and Battlestar Galactica

Also attended: California State University--Fresno, California State University-Sacramento, East Los Angeles College

Spouse: Lymari Nadal (Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce)

Octavia E. Butler 1947–2006

Science fiction author and MacArthur Fellow

Also attended: Pasadena City College

Robert Vaughn 1932–2016

Actor best known as secret agent Napoleon Solo

Also attended: Los Angeles City College, University of Southern California, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Alfonso Ribeiro 1971–

Actor known as Carlton in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Also attended: New York Film Academy

Cliff DeYoung 1945–

Actor and musician

Attended until 1968

Billy Barty 1924–2000

American actor and activist

Also attended: Los Angeles City College

Telma Hopkins 1948–

Actress and singer, member of Tony Orlando and Dawn

Sho Kosugi 1948–

Japanese actor and martial artist, often playing ninjas

Martin Milner 1931–2015

Actor, starred in Route 66 and Adam-12

Also attended: California State University-Northridge, University of Southern California

Joseph Wambaugh 1937–2025

Writer known for accounts of police work

Master of Arts

Also attended: Chaffey College

Barry Gordon 1948–

Actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild

Lorin Morgan-Richards 1975–

Author, illustrator and songwriter

Also attended: Cuyahoga Community College District

Richard Paul 1940–1998

Television and film actor

Also attended: University of Arizona, Claremont McKenna College

Cheryl Tiegs 1947–

Model, called America's first supermodel

Spouse: Peter Beard (Yale University)

Chris Bunch 1943–2005

Science fiction, fantasy and television writer

Ramona Young 1998–

Actress known for Man Seeking Woman

Paul Sand 1935–

Actor and comedian

Charles Gordone 1925–1995

Playwright, first African American Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles City College, Columbia University in the City of New York

Michael Blodgett 1939–2007

Actor, novelist and screenwriter

Also attended: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Scott Shaw 1958–

Author, martial artist and filmmaker

Also attended: California State University-Dominguez Hills, California State University-Northridge

Camille Billops 1933–2019

Sculptor, filmmaker, printmaker and educator

Also attended: CUNY--City College

Senga Nengudi 1943–

Visual artist and curator

Billie Jean King 1943–

Former world No. 1 tennis player

Spouse: Larry King (California State University-Los Angeles)

Mal Whitfield 1924–2015

Runner, Olympic 800 metres champion

Also attended: Ohio State University-Main Campus

Child: Fredricka Whitfield (Howard University)

Frank Zane 1942–

Retired professional bodybuilder and author

Bachelor of Science · Secondary education, Psychology · Class of 1977

Also attended: California State University--San Bernardino, Wilkes University

Sandra Farmer-Patrick 1962–

400m hurdler, 1992 Olympic silver medalist

Sherri Howard 1962–

Sprinter who competed mainly in the 400 metres

Sibling: Denean Howard (California State University-Los Angeles)

Denean Howard 1964–

Athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres

Sibling: Sherri Howard (California State University-Los Angeles)

Carole Caldwell Graebner 1943–2008

Tennis player

Spouse: Clark Graebner (Northwestern University)

Diane Williams 1960–

Retired world-class sprinter

Martín Vásquez 1963–

Soccer coach who played for both US and Mexico

Jacqueline Pusey 1959–

Former Jamaican track sprinter

Jairo Aquino 1990–

American soccer player in the Gibraltar Premier Division

Also attended: Mt San Antonio College

Amber Rayne 1984–2016

American adult film actress

Jaime Escalante 1930–2010

Calculus teacher, subject of Stand and Deliver

Attended until 1973

Also attended: Pasadena City College

Alexander Salazar 1949–

Former auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles

Also attended: East Los Angeles College, St John's Seminary