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59 notable alumni

Notable Alumni of Western Kentucky University

Notable alumni of Western Kentucky University include John Carpenter (Filmmaker and composer, master of horror), Sue Grafton (Detective novelist, author of the alphabet series) and Michael Rosenbaum (Actor known as Lex Luthor on Smallville).

College data and admissions

Alumni list

Politics and law

Business

  • Duncan Hines 1880–1959

    Food critic whose name became a food brand

  • Brad M. Kelley 1956–

    Founder of Commonwealth Brands, major landowner

Science and academia

  • Terrence W. Wilcutt 1949–

    NASA astronaut, four Space Shuttle missions

  • Harry B. Gray 1935–

    Chemist, Beckman Professor at Caltech

    Bachelor of Science · Class of 1957

    Also attended: Northwestern University

  • Fred Iltis 1923–2008

    Entomologist who studied mosquitoes

    Also attended: University of California-Davis

Arts and media

  • John Carpenter 1948–

    Filmmaker and composer, master of horror

    Also attended: University of Southern California

    Spouse: Adrienne Barbeau (Foothill College)

  • Sue Grafton 1940–2017

    Detective novelist, author of the alphabet series

    Also attended: University of Louisville

    Father: Cornelius Warren Grafton (Presbyterian College)

  • Michael Rosenbaum 1972–

    Actor known as Lex Luthor on Smallville

  • Charles Napier 1936–2011

    Film and television actor

  • Matt Long 1980–

    Actor known for Manifest

  • Billy Vaughn 1919–1991

    Orchestra leader and multi-instrumentalist

  • Becky Ann Baker 1953–

    Actress known for Girls

    Spouse: Dylan Baker (Yale University, Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus)

  • Leo Burmester 1944–2007

    American stage and screen actor

  • Larry Elmore 1948–

    Fantasy artist known for Dungeons & Dragons illustrations

  • Mike Longo 1937–2020

    Jazz pianist and composer

  • Andrew Stahl 1952–

    Actor

  • Chris Knight 1960–

    Singer-songwriter from Kentucky

  • Clint Ford 1976–

    Actor, screenwriter and novelist

  • Saeed Jones 1985–

    Poet, author of Prelude to Bruise

  • Gregg Hale 1966–

    Film producer of The Blair Witch Project

    Also attended: Valencia College

  • Beegie Adair 1937–2022

    Jazz pianist and bandleader

  • Stephen Cochran 1979–

    Country music singer and songwriter

  • Cheryl Diaz Meyer 1968–

    Photojournalist, Pulitzer Prize winner for Breaking News Photography

    Also attended: University of Minnesota-Duluth

  • Derek Wilson 1982–

    Actor in The Boys and Gen V

    Also attended: New York University

  • Will Hoge 1972–

    Country singer-songwriter from Nashville

Sports

  • Courtney Lee 1985–

    Former professional basketball player

  • Jeremy Evans 1987–

    Former basketball player drafted by Utah Jazz in 2010

  • Claire Donahue 1989–

    Competitive swimmer, butterfly specialist

  • Filip Videnov 1980–

    Bulgarian retired professional basketball player

  • Kenny Perry 1960–

    Professional golfer with 14 PGA Tour wins

  • A. J. Slaughter 1987–

    American-born naturalized Polish basketball player

  • Gavin Smellie 1986–

    Canadian sprinter and two-time Olympian

  • Charles Bassey 2000–

    Nigerian NBA basketball player

  • Dalano Banton 1999–

    Canadian professional basketball player

  • Tyrone Brazelton 1986–

    Former pro basketball player, assistant coach

  • Sergio Kerusch 1989–

    Professional basketball player

  • Larissa Franklin 1993–

    Canadian Olympic softball player

    Also attended: Purdue University Fort Wayne

  • Darel Carrier 1940–

    Former professional basketball player

  • Jim McDaniels 1948–2017

    Basketball player, 1971 ABA draft first pick

  • Tolu Smith 2000–

    NBA player for the Detroit Pistons

  • Clem Haskins 1943–

    Former pro basketball player and college coach

  • Japeth Aguilar 1985–

    Filipino professional basketball player

  • Darnell Mee 1971–

    American-Australian former professional basketball player

  • Ignacio Guerra 1987–

    Chilean javelin thrower and national record holder

  • Jordan Swing 1990–

    Professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA G League

From Wikidata “educated at” records (including people who attended without graduating), ordered by the number of Wikipedia language editions. Degrees and years follow Wikidata and are left out where it has none.

Alumni network

Colleges that share the most alumni with Western Kentucky University (people who attended both).