Notable Alumni of Northwestern University

Nancy Reagan 1921–2016

First Lady of the United States, 1981 to 1989

Also attended: Smith College

Spouse: Ronald Reagan (Eureka College)

Child: Ron Reagan (University of Southern California, Northwestern University)

Alexander De Croo 1975–

Former Prime Minister of Belgium, UNDP Administrator

Father: Herman De Croo (University of Chicago)

Adlai Stevenson II 1900–1965

Illinois governor and UN ambassador

Also attended: Illinois State University, Harvard University, Princeton University

Father: Lewis Stevenson (Illinois State University)

Child: Adlai Stevenson III (Harvard University)

Daniel Noboa 1987–

President of Ecuador

Master's degree · Business management · Class of 2019

Also attended: George Washington University, Harvard University, New York University

William Jennings Bryan 1860–1925

Three-time Democratic presidential nominee

Also attended: Illinois College

Child: Ruth Bryan Owen (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)

Sibling: Charles W. Bryan (University of Chicago, Illinois College)

Ingvar Carlsson 1934–

Former Prime Minister of Sweden

George McGovern 1922–2012

Former US Senator from South Dakota

Master of Arts, Doctor of Philosophy · Class of 1953

Also attended: Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Dakota Wesleyan University, Northwest University

Rahm Emanuel 1959–

Politician, diplomat and former US representative

Master of Arts · Class of 1985

Also attended: Sarah Lawrence College, Northwest University

Sibling: Ari Emanuel (Macalester College)

Sibling: Ezekiel Emanuel (Amherst College, Harvard University)

Rod Blagojevich 1956–

40th governor of Illinois

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1979

Also attended: Pepperdine University

Spouse: Patricia Blagojevich (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Cheddi Jagan 1918–1997

Former President of Guyana and dentist

Also attended: Howard University

Spouse: Janet Jagan (University of Detroit Mercy, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor)

JB Pritzker 1965–

43rd governor of Illinois, businessman

Juris Doctor · Class of 1993

Also attended: Duke University, Northwest University

Father: Donald Pritzker (University of Chicago, Harvard University)

Sibling: Penny Pritzker (Harvard University, Stanford University)

Robert Todd Lincoln 1843–1926

Former Secretary of War, eldest son of Abraham Lincoln

Bachelor of Laws · Class of 1866

Also attended: University of Chicago, Harvard University

John Paul Stevens 1920–2019

Former Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court

Juris Doctor · Class of 1947

Also attended: University of Chicago

John Hoeven 1957–

U.S. senator from North Dakota, former governor

Master of Business Administration · Class of 1981

Also attended: Dartmouth College, Minot State University, Northwest University

Pramila Jayapal 1965–

U.S. representative from Washington's 7th district

Master of Business Administration · Class of 1990

Also attended: Georgetown University, Northwest University

Eduardo Chivambo Mondlane 1920–1969

Founder of Mozambique's FRELIMO

Also attended: Harvard University, Oberlin College

Spouse: Janet Mondlane (Northwestern University)

Ali Babacan 1967–

Turkish politician, founder of the DEVA Party

Charlie Baker 1956–

NCAA president and former Massachusetts governor

Also attended: Harvard University, Northwest University

Father: Charles D. Baker (Harvard University)

Pat Quinn 1948–

41st Governor of Illinois

Also attended: Georgetown University

Dennis Daugaard 1953–

32nd Governor of South Dakota

Juris Doctor · Class of 1978

Also attended: University of South Dakota

Claudia López Hernández 1970–

Colombian politician and former senator

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Amos Sawyer 1945–2022

Former interim president of Liberia

Marilyn Quayle 1949–

Lawyer, novelist and Second Lady 1989–1993

Also attended: Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis, Purdue University-Main Campus

Spouse: Dan Quayle (DePauw University, Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis)

Child: Ben Quayle (Duke University, Vanderbilt University)

Dale Bumpers 1925–2016

Governor of Arkansas and U.S. senator

Attended until 1951

Also attended: University of Arkansas

Spouse: Betty Bumpers (School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Iowa State University)

Lisa Franchetti 1964–

First woman to lead the U.S. Navy

Bachelor of Science · Journalism

Arthur Goldberg 1908–1990

Labor Secretary and Supreme Court justice

Juris Doctor, Bachelor of Science · Class of 1930

Also attended: DePaul University

Florence Kelley 1859–1932

Social reformer for minimum wage and eight-hour days

Also attended: Cornell University

Emile Chih-jen Sheng 1968–

Taiwanese political scientist and former cultural affairs minister

Tung Hsiang-lung 1952–

Retired Taiwanese admiral and computer scientist

Huang Teh-fu 1954–

Taiwanese political scientist and former legislator

Kuo Nan-hung 1936–2023

Taiwanese engineer and politician

Hugh Hefner 1926–2017

Founder of Playboy magazine

Also attended: School of the Art Institute of Chicago, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Northwest University

Spouse: Crystal Harris (San Diego State University)

Child: Cooper Hefner (Chapman University)

Ginni Rometty 1957–

IBM's first female CEO

Bachelor's degree · Computer science, Electrical engineering

Gwynne Shotwell 1963–

President and COO of SpaceX

Master of Science, Bachelor of Science · Applied mathematics, Mechanical engineering · Class of 1988

Leonid Radvinsky 1982–2026

Billionaire and majority owner of OnlyFans

Roshni Nadar 1982–

Chairperson of HCL Technologies

Bachelor of Arts, Master of Business Administration · Communication

Will Shu 1979–

Co-founder and CEO of Deliveroo

Bachelor's degree · Class of 2001

Also attended: University of Pennsylvania

Wen Yunsong 1953–

Businessman, CEO of Unihub Global Networks

Joey Wat 1971–

CEO of Yum China

Master of Business Administration

Jerry Reinsdorf 1936–

Owner of the Chicago Bulls and White Sox

Also attended: George Washington University, Northwest University

Andrew Fastow 1961–

Former chief financial officer of Enron

Also attended: Tufts University, Northwest University

Val Logsdon Fitch 1923–2015

Nuclear physicist, 1980 Nobel Prize in Physics laureate

Also attended: Chadron State College, Columbia University in the City of New York

George Stigler 1911–1991

Economist, 1982 Nobel laureate, Chicago school

Also attended: University of Chicago, University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Child: Stephen Stigler (University of California-Berkeley)

Robert F. Furchgott 1916–2009

Nobel Prize-winning biochemist

Doctor of Philosophy

Also attended: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of South Carolina-Columbia

Joseph Greenberg 1915–2001

Linguist known for typology and language classification

Also attended: Yale University, Columbia University in the City of New York

Peter Howitt 1946–

Canadian economist and Brown University professor emeritus

Doctor of Philosophy

Virginia Satir 1916–1988

Psychotherapist known as Mother of Family Therapy

Also attended: University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee

Michael Barratt 1959–

NASA astronaut and physician

Also attended: Wright State University-Main Campus, University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Joseph P. Kerwin 1932–

NASA astronaut and Skylab 2 science pilot

Also attended: College of the Holy Cross

Charles W. Morris 1901–1979

Philosopher and semiotician

Also attended: University of Chicago, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Charles David Keeling 1928–2005

Scientist behind the Keeling Curve

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Child: Ralph Keeling (Yale University, Harvard University)

Jacques Vallée 1939–

Computer scientist, venture capitalist and ufologist

Also attended: The University of Texas at Austin

Thomas E. Starzl 1926–2017

Surgeon who performed the first human liver transplants

Also attended: Westminster College, The University of Texas at Austin

Carl O. Sauer 1889–1975

Geographer and UC Berkeley professor

Also attended: University of Chicago

Tingye Li 1931–2012

Chinese-American scientist, pioneer of lightwave communication

Lin Qiaozhi 1901–1983

Obstetrician at Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Zhihong Xia 1960–

Chinese-American mathematician

Ida Kahn 1873–1930

Physician who ran hospitals in China with Mary Stone

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

He Jiahong 1953–

Law professor at Renmin University, writer

Doctorate

Chang Hsin-kang 1940–

Former president of City University of Hong Kong

Also attended: Stanford University

Carl Chang 1952–

Professor of computer science at Iowa State University

Robert Malone 1960–

Physician and biochemist known for early mRNA research

Also attended: University of California-Davis, University of California-San Diego, Harvard University

Saul Bellow 1915–2005

Writer and 1976 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate

Sociology, Anthropology · Attended until 1937

Also attended: University of Chicago, Northwest University, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Spouse: Alexandra Bellow (Yale University)

George R. R. Martin 1948–

Author of A Song of Ice and Fire

Bachelor's degree, Master's degree · Journalism

Charlton Heston 1923–2008

Hollywood actor and political activist

Also attended: Northwest University

Spouse: Lydia Clarke (Northwestern University)

Warren Beatty 1937–

Actor, filmmaker and Academy Award winner

Attended until 1955

Also attended: Northwest University

Spouse: Annette Bening (San Diego Mesa College, San Francisco State University)

Child: Ella Beatty (The Juilliard School)

Zooey Deschanel 1980–

Actress and singer

Also attended: Northwest University

Spouse: Ben Gibbard (Western Washington University)

Father: Caleb Deschanel (University of Southern California, Johns Hopkins University)

Cindy Crawford 1966–

Supermodel and actress

Chemical engineering

Also attended: Northwest University

Spouse: Richard Gere (University of Massachusetts-Amherst)

Spouse: Rande Gerber (University of Arizona)

Garry Marshall 1934–2016

Screenwriter, director, producer and actor

Also attended: Northwest University

Sibling: Penny Marshall (University of New Mexico-Main Campus)

Patricia Neal 1926–2010

Actress, Academy Award winner for Hud

Also attended: Northwest University

Child: Ophelia Dahl (Wellesley College)

David Schwimmer 1966–

Actor, known as Ross in Friends

Also attended: Northwest University

Sidney Sheldon 1917–2007

Writer and screenwriter, won an Oscar in 1948

Jennifer Jones 1919–2009

Film actress

Also attended: American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York, Northwest University

Spouse: Norton Simon (University of California-Berkeley)

Spouse: Robert Walker (American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York)

Pharrell Williams 1973–

Record producer, singer and fashion designer

Also attended: Northwest University

Jim Jarmusch 1953–

Independent film director and screenwriter

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York, New York University

Stephen Colbert 1964–

Comedian and host of CBS The Late Show

Also attended: Hampden-Sydney College, Northwest University

Laura Linney 1964–

Actress, four-time Primetime Emmy winner

Also attended: The Juilliard School, Brown University, Northwest University

Father: Romulus Linney (Yale University, Oberlin College)

Cloris Leachman 1926–2021

Actress and comedian, Academy Award winner

Also attended: Illinois State University, Northwest University

Spouse: George Englund (University of California-Los Angeles)

Zach Braff 1975–

Actor and filmmaker

Also attended: Northwest University

Sibling: Jessica Kirson (University of Maryland-College Park, New York University)

Ann-Margret 1941–

Actress, dancer and singer

Also attended: Northwest University

Spouse: Roger Smith (University of Arizona)

Julia Louis-Dreyfus 1961–

Actress, comedian and producer

Also attended: Northwest University

Spouse: Brad Hall (Northwestern University)

Father: Gérard Louis-Dreyfus (Duke University)

Karen Black 1939–2013

Actress, screenwriter and singer

Spouse: L. M. Kit Carson (University of Dallas)

Child: Hunter Carson (Wesleyan University)

Richard Kind 1956–

American actor and comedian

Also attended: Northwest University

Dermot Mulroney 1963–

American actor and musician

Also attended: Northwest University

Spouse: Catherine Keener (Wheaton College (MA))

Jerry Springer 1944–2023

Host of The Jerry Springer Show

Juris Doctor · Class of 1968

Also attended: Tulane University of Louisiana, Northwest University

Veronica Roth 1988–

Author of the Divergent trilogy

Also attended: Northwest University

Clancy Brown 1959–

Actor and voice actor

Father: Bud Brown (Harvard University, Duke University)

Anna Gunn 1968–

Actress in Breaking Bad, two-time Emmy winner

Jeri Ryan 1968–

Actress known as Seven of Nine in Star Trek

Bachelor of Fine Arts · Theatre

Also attended: Northwest University

Spouse: Jack Ryan (Harvard University, Dartmouth College)

Gillian Flynn 1971–

Author of Gone Girl

Also attended: University of Kansas

Noah Wyle 1971–

Actor, television director and producer

Robert Loggia 1930–2015

Actor, Oscar nominee for Jagged Edge

Also attended: University of Missouri-Columbia, Wagner College

Kristen Schaal 1978–

Actress and comedian, voice of Louise in Bob's Burgers

Also attended: Northwest University

Robert Knepper 1959–

Actor known for T-Bag in Prison Break

Marg Helgenberger 1958–

Actress known for television drama roles

Also attended: University of Nebraska at Kearney, Northwest University

Spouse: Alan Rosenberg (Yale University, Case Western Reserve University)

Seth Meyers 1973–

Host of NBC's Late Night with Seth Meyers

Also attended: Northwest University

Sibling: Josh Meyers (Northwestern University, Northwest University)

Megan Mullally 1958–

Actress, Karen Walker in Will & Grace

Also attended: Northwest University

Spouse: Nick Offerman (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Lily Rabe 1982–

Actress in American Horror Story

Father: David Rabe (Villanova University)

Mother: Jill Clayburgh (Sarah Lawrence College)

Shelley Long 1949–

Actress known as Diane Chambers on Cheers

Also attended: Northwest University

Jerry Orbach 1935–2004

Actor and singer, Broadway musical leading man

Also attended: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Northwest University

Child: Chris Orbach (New York University)

Tony Randall 1920–2004

Actor, comedian and singer

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York, Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater, Northwest University

James Foley 1973–2014

American journalist and video reporter

Also attended: University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Marquette University

Maude Apatow 1997–

Actress, known for HBO's Euphoria

Also attended: Northwest University

Father: Judd Apatow (University of Southern California)

Mamie Gummer 1983–

Actress, star of Emily Owens, M.D

Spouse: Benjamin Walker (The Juilliard School)

Father: Don Gummer (Yale University, Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis)

Denis O'Hare 1962–

Actor known for True Blood and Dallas Buyers Club

Also attended: Northwest University

Jeffrey Hunter 1926–1969

Actor and producer in The Searchers

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Spouse: Emily McLaughlin (Middlebury College)

Spouse: Barbara Rush (University of California-Santa Barbara)

Richard Benjamin 1938–

American actor and film director

Spouse: Paula Prentiss (Northwestern University, Northwest University)

Kathy Reichs 1948–

Crime writer and forensic anthropologist

Master's degree, Doctorate · Class of 1975

Also attended: American University

Audrey Niffenegger 1963–

Writer and artist, author of The Time Traveler's Wife

Also attended: School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Anne Dudek 1975–

Actress known for White Chicks

Peter Strauss 1947–

Actor and Emmy winner

Also attended: Northwest University

Steve Albini 1962–2024

Musician and audio engineer

Martha Hyer 1924–2014

Actress nominated for Best Supporting Actress Oscar

Greta Lee 1983–

Actress in Russian Doll and The Morning Show

Fred Williamson 1938–

Former AFL defensive back turned actor and filmmaker

David Sanborn 1945–2024

Alto saxophonist blending jazz, pop and R&B

Also attended: University of Iowa

William Daniels 1927–

Actor, played George Feeny in Boy Meets World

Spouse: Bonnie Bartlett (Northwestern University)

Paula Prentiss 1938–

Actress known for Where the Boys Are

Also attended: Northwest University

Spouse: Richard Benjamin (Northwestern University)

Britt Lower 1985–

Actress known for Severance

Kimberly Williams-Paisley 1971–

Actress, known for Father of the Bride

Spouse: Brad Paisley (Belmont University)

Sibling: Ashley Williams (Boston University)

Craig Bierko 1964–

American actor and singer

Also attended: Boston University

Tom Holland 1943–

Filmmaker, director of Fright Night and Child's Play

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

Nicole Sullivan 1970–

Actress and comedian, MADtv and King of Queens

Also attended: Northwest University

Tony Musante 1936–2013

Actor known for the TV series Toma

Also attended: Oberlin College, Ohio University-Main Campus

Aimee Garcia 1978–

Actress known for Lucifer and Dexter

John Musker 1953–

Disney animation director of The Little Mermaid and Moana

Attended until 1974

Also attended: California Institute of the Arts

Edgar Bergen 1903–1978

Ventriloquist, comedian, actor and radio performer

Child: Candice Bergen (University of Pennsylvania)

Aleksandar Hemon 1964–

Bosnian-American novelist and essayist

Harry Lennix 1964–

Actor on screen and stage

Greg Berlanti 1972–

American television writer and producer

Attended until 1994

Spouse: Robbie Rogers (University of Maryland-College Park)

Laura Innes 1957–

Actress known for ER, and TV director

John Cameron Mitchell 1963–

Actor and director of Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Jayne Atkinson 1959–

British-American actress known for 24

Also attended: Yale University

Spouse: Michel Gill (Tufts University, The Juilliard School)

L. Scott Caldwell 1950–

Actress in The Fugitive and Lost

Kerry Bishé 1984–

Actress known for Halt and Catch Fire and Argo

Bonnie Bartlett 1929–

Actress best known for television roles

Spouse: William Daniels (Northwestern University)

Natalie Wynn 1988–

Left-wing YouTuber behind ContraPoints

Philosophy

Also attended: Georgetown University, Northwest University

Jaime Ray Newman 1978–

Actress in Veronica Mars and General Hospital

Also attended: Boston University

Michael Weston 1973–

Actor known for House and Six Feet Under

Father: John Rubinstein (University of California-Los Angeles)

Jane Badler 1953–

Actress and singer known for sci-fi series V

Ana Gasteyer 1967–

Actress and comedian, former Saturday Night Live cast member

Billy Eichner 1978–

Comedian, actor, creator of Billy on the Street

Also attended: Northwest University

Charlotte Rae 1926–2018

Actress known for The Facts of Life

Also attended: Northwest University

Zoe Perry 1983–

Actress, daughter of Laurie Metcalf and Jeff Perry

Also attended: Boston University

Father: Jeff Perry (Illinois State University)

Mother: Laurie Metcalf (Illinois State University)

John Logan 1961–

Playwright and screenwriter of Gladiator

Robin Lord Taylor 1978–

Actor known for playing Oswald Cobblepot in Gotham

Teddy Dunn 1980–

Actor known for Veronica Mars

Also attended: Boston College

Howard Hanson 1896–1981

Composer, conductor and Eastman School director

Also attended: Midland University

Ralph Meeker 1920–1988

Film, stage and television actor

Herschell Gordon Lewis 1926–2016

Filmmaker who created the splatter horror subgenre

Also attended: Roosevelt University, Mississippi State University

Bruno Campos 1973–

Brazilian lawyer and former actor

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Northwest University

Ned Rorem 1923–2022

Composer best known for art songs

Also attended: University of Chicago, The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music

Kuldip Nayar 1923–2018

Indian journalist and former High Commissioner to the UK

Julie Plec 1972–

Co-creator of The Vampire Diaries

Katherine MacGregor 1925–2018

Actress, played Harriet Oleson in Little House on the Prairie

Also attended: Northwest University

Spouse: Bert Remsen (Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater)

Robert Reed 1932–1992

Actor known as Mike Brady in The Brady Bunch

Also attended: Northwest University

Claude Akins 1926–1994

Actor known for Sheriff Lobo on B.J. and the Bear

Also attended: Northwest University

Brian d'Arcy James 1968–

Broadway actor, starred in Shrek the Musical

Also attended: Northwest University

McLean Stevenson 1927–1996

American actor and comedian

Bachelor's degree

Also attended: American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Northwest University

Marina Squerciati 1984–

Actress known for Chicago P.D

Also attended: Northwest University

Paul Lynde 1926–1982

Comedian and actor, known for Bewitched

Also attended: Northwest University

Josh Meyers 1976–

American actor and comedian

Also attended: Northwest University

Sibling: Seth Meyers (Northwestern University, Northwest University)

Ira Glass 1959–

Host and producer of This American Life

Also attended: Brown University, Northwest University

Chet Hanks 1990–

Actor and musician, son of Tom Hanks

Also attended: Northwest University

Father: Tom Hanks (California State University-Sacramento, Chabot College)

Sibling: Colin Hanks (Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University)

Nicolle Wallace 1972–

Television political commentator, author and news anchor

Master of Arts

Also attended: University of California-Berkeley, Northwest University

Spouse: Mark Wallace (University of Miami)

Spouse: Michael S. Schmidt (Lafayette College)

Rich Eisen 1969–

NFL Network host and sportscaster

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Northwest University

Lisa Desjardins 1972–

PBS NewsHour political correspondent

Also attended: College of William and Mary, Northwest University

Clinton Kelly 1969–

TV personality, author and Emmy winner

Also attended: Boston College, Northwest University

America Ferrera 1984–

Actress, Emmy and Golden Globe winner

Also attended: University of Southern California, American University, Northwest University

Spouse: Ryan Piers Williams (The University of Texas at Austin)

Betty Robinson 1911–1999

First Olympic women's 100 metres champion

Todd Martin 1970–

Former tennis player, Australian and US Open finalist

Matt Grevers 1985–

Swimmer and Olympic gold medalist

Annette Rogers 1913–2006

Sprinter and two-time Olympic relay gold medalist

Norman Ross 1896–1953

Swimmer, three-time 1920 Olympic gold medalist

Also attended: Stanford University

Marty Riessen 1941–

Former professional tennis player

Sybil Bauer 1903–1927

Swimmer and 1924 Olympic 100m backstroke champion

Federico Burdisso 2001–

Italian swimmer and Olympic bronze medallist

Debi Thomas 1967–

Figure skater, 1986 World champion and surgeon

Doctor of Medicine · Class of 1997

Also attended: University of Arkansas, Stanford University

William Porter 1926–2000

1948 Olympic 110m hurdles gold medalist

Also attended: Western Michigan University

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex 1981–

Duchess of Sussex, former actress

Bachelor's degree · Theatre, International studies · Class of 2003

Also attended: Northwest University

Spouse: Trevor Engelson (University of Southern California)

Mother: Doria Ragland (University of Southern California)

Robert Hanssen 1944–2023

FBI agent who spied for Soviet and Russian intelligence

Master of Business Administration · Class of 1971

Also attended: Knox College

Liu-Wang Liming 1896–1970

Feminist and publisher of Women's Voice

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York, Teachers College at Columbia University

Spouse: Herman Chan-En Liu (University of Chicago, Teachers College at Columbia University)