Notable Alumni of William Paterson University of New Jersey

Joseph D. Pistone 1939–

Former FBI agent who went undercover in the Mafia

Steve Lonegan 1956–

Former mayor of Bogota, New Jersey

Also attended: Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus

Elease Evans 1943–

Former New Jersey General Assembly member

Ian Ziering 1964–

Actor known for Beverly Hills, 90210

Ray Toro 1977–

Lead guitarist of My Chemical Romance

Joey Travolta 1950–

Actor, elder brother of John Travolta

Also attended: Shepherd University

Sibling: Ellen Travolta (Carnegie Mellon University)

Sibling: Margaret Travolta (American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York)

Bill Stewart 1966–

Jazz drummer

Also attended: University of Northern Iowa

Eric Alexander 1968–

Jazz saxophonist, composer and educator

Mark Guiliana 1980–

Drummer and composer who played with David Bowie

Rob Fusari 1976–

Grammy-winning record producer and songwriter

Tom Brislin 1968–

Keyboardist and songwriter for the band Kansas

Carl Allen 1961–

Jazz drummer

Jeremiah Fraites 1986–

Co-founder of The Lumineers

Tyshawn Sorey 1980–

Composer and multi-instrumentalist

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

Bill D'Elia 1953–

American screenwriter, producer, director and actor

Also attended: Ithaca College

Child: Chris D'Elia (New York University)

Steve LaSpina 1954–

Jazz bassist and educator

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

Dana Hall 1969–

Jazz drummer and composer

Also attended: DePaul University, Iowa State University

Richie Adubato 1937–2025

Basketball coach in the NBA and WNBA

Horace Jenkins 1974–

Former NBA basketball player

Clinton Wheeler 1959–2019

Professional basketball point guard

Dick Vitale 1939–

ESPN college basketball broadcaster and former coach

Also attended: University of Detroit Mercy, Seton Hall University

Dana Hall 1969–

Former NFL safety

Also attended: University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Jacques Conceição 1989–

Angolan-Portuguese basketball player

Joe Louis Clark 1938–2020

Educator, subject of the film Lean on Me

Bachelor's degree

Also attended: Seton Hall University

Child: Hazel Clark (University of Florida)

Child: Joetta Clark Diggs (The University of Tennessee-Knoxville)