Notable Alumni of Compton College

Yuri Kochiyama 1921–2014

Japanese-American civil rights activist

Attended until 1941

Sydney Kamlager-Dove 1972–

U.S. representative for California

Also attended: University of Southern California, Carnegie Mellon University

Billy G. Mills 1929–2026

Los Angeles City Council member and judge

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Pete Rozelle 1926–1996

NFL commissioner from 1960 to 1989

Also attended: University of San Francisco

Snoop Dogg 1971–

Rapper, singer, producer and actor

Child: Cordell Broadus (University of California-Los Angeles)

James Coburn 1928–2002

Actor in Westerns and action films

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

Coolio 1963–2022

Rapper, songwriter and record producer

Matt Dillon 1964–

Actor, star of The Outsiders

William Hanna 1910–2001

Animator, co-creator of Tom and Jerry

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Iva Toguri D'Aquino 1916–2006

WWII radio announcer known as Tokyo Rose

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Wayne Maunder 1937–2018

Actor who starred in three American television series

Also attended: Harvard University

Jayne Cortez 1934–2012

Poet and activist of the Black Arts Movement

Spouse: Melvin Edwards (Los Angeles City College, University of Southern California)

Hisaye Yamamoto 1921–2011

Author of Seventeen Syllables and Other Stories

Bill Anderson 1911–1997

Walt Disney Company producer and board director

Also attended: University of Southern California

Jamaa Fanaka 1942–2012

Filmmaker best known for Penitentiary

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Cecil Fergerson 1931–2013

Art curator and community activist in Los Angeles

Cornelius Johnson 1913–1946

American high jumper

Sim Iness 1930–1996

1952 Olympic discus gold medalist

Also attended: University of Southern California

Ed Sanders 1930–1954

Heavyweight boxer and 1952 Olympic gold medalist

Also attended: Idaho State University

Tex Winter 1922–2018

Basketball coach, innovator of the triangle offense

Also attended: University of Southern California, Oregon State University

Hugh McElhenny 1928–2022

NFL halfback, played for the San Francisco 49ers

Joe Perry 1927–2011

Football fullback for the San Francisco 49ers

Gaston Essengué 1983–

Cameroonian basketball power forward

Also attended: University of Nevada--Las Vegas, Weatherford College

Justin Carter 1987–

Former pro basketball player; played at Creighton

Also attended: Creighton University