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59 notable alumni U.S. News #262

Notable Alumni of Central Michigan University

Notable alumni of Central Michigan University include Tim Allen (Actor and comedian), Jeff Daniels (Actor, musician and playwright) and Terry O'Quinn (Actor, Emmy winner for Lost).

College data and admissions

Alumni list

Politics and law

Science and academia

  • Helen Murray Free 1923–2021

    Chemist known for self-testing systems for diabetes

    Master of Arts · Management studies · Class of 1978

    Also attended: College of Wooster

  • C. W. Thornthwaite 1899–1963

    Geographer and climatologist, devised Thornthwaite climate classification

    Also attended: University of California-Berkeley

Arts and media

  • Tim Allen 1953–

    Actor and comedian

    Also attended: Western Michigan University

  • Jeff Daniels 1955–

    Actor, musician and playwright

    Also attended: Eastern Michigan University

  • Terry O'Quinn 1952–

    Actor, Emmy winner for Lost

    Also attended: University of Iowa

  • Dennis Frederiksen 1951–2014

    Rock singer, former lead vocalist of Toto

  • Larry Joe Campbell 1970–

    Actor known for According to Jim

    Also attended: Wayne State University

  • John Grogan 1957–

    Journalist and author of Marley & Me

    Also attended: Ohio State University-Main Campus

  • DDG 1997–

    Rapper, YouTuber and streamer

  • Angeline Boulley 1966–

    Ojibwe author of Firekeeper's Daughter

    Master in Public Administration · Class of 2001

  • Lori Nelson Spielman 1961–

    Bestselling author of The Life List

    Bachelor's degree

    Also attended: Michigan State University

  • Ty Williams 1966–

    Film and television actor

  • Andrew Dost 1983–

    Musician, former member of the band Fun

  • Harold Cronk 1974–

    Director and producer of Christian films

  • Paul Carey 1928–2016

    Sportscaster, Michigan Sports Hall of Fame member

    Also attended: Michigan State University

  • Tom Root 1973–

    Writer, producer and voice actor on Robot Chicken

  • Dick Enberg 1935–2017

    Sportscaster for NBC, CBS and ESPN

    Spouse: Jeri Taylor (California State University-Northridge)

Sports

  • Chris Kaman 1982–

    Former professional basketball center

  • Tony Ferguson 1984–

    Mixed martial artist, former interim UFC lightweight champion

    Attended until 2003

    Also attended: Grand Valley State University, Muskegon Community College

  • Dan Majerle 1965–

    Former NBA player with the Phoenix Suns

  • George Steele 1937–2017

    Professional wrestler, actor and teacher

    Also attended: Michigan State University

  • Alex Rose 1991–

    Samoan discus thrower; 2025 World Championships bronze medallist

  • Nate Huffman 1975–2015

    Basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv

    Also attended: Lansing Community College

  • Dan Roundfield 1953–2012

    Former professional basketball power forward and center

  • Ólína Guðbjörg Viðarsdóttir 1982–

    Icelandic former women's football defender

    Also attended: University of Richmond

  • Hunter Hale 1997–

    Basketball player for Pallacanestro Varese

  • Giordan Watson 1985–

    Professional basketball point guard

  • David DiLeo 1997–

    Professional basketball player

    Spouse: Megan DiLeo (University of Iowa)

  • Maddie Pogarch 1997–

    Professional soccer left back

  • Joe Staley 1984–

    Former San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle

  • John Geddert 1957–2021

    Gymnastics coach of the 2012 U.S. Olympic women's team

  • Chase Simon 1989–

    Retired professional basketball player

    Also attended: University of Detroit Mercy

  • Curt Young 1960–

    Former MLB pitcher and pitching coach

  • Ben Kelso 1949–

    Former Detroit Pistons shooting guard

  • Dietrich Enns 1991–

    Professional baseball pitcher

  • Tom Tresh 1938–2008

    MLB infielder and outfielder for the Yankees

  • Ben Poquette 1955–

    American former NBA basketball player

  • Luke Goedeke 1998–

    NFL offensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Kevin Tapani 1964–

    Former Major League Baseball pitcher

Other fields

  • Terry Nichols 1955–

    Convicted conspirator in the Oklahoma City bombing

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 Central Michigan University (people who attended both).