Notable Alumni of CUNY City College

Henry Kissinger 1923–2023

Former U.S. Secretary of State and national security advisor

Accounting · Attended until 1943

Also attended: Harvard University

Spouse: Nancy Kissinger (Harvard University, Mount Holyoke College)

Colin Powell 1937–2021

65th U.S. Secretary of State and Army general

Also attended: George Washington University

Spouse: Alma Powell (Fisk University)

Child: Michael Kevin Powell (Georgetown University, College of William and Mary)

Ben Ferencz 1920–2023

Lawyer, chief prosecutor at Einsatzgruppen trial

Attended until 1940

Also attended: Harvard University

Ed Koch 1924–2013

Mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989

Bachelor of Arts

Also attended: New York University

Daniel Patrick Moynihan 1927–2003

US senator from New York and UN ambassador

Attended until 1943

Also attended: Tufts University

Henry Morgenthau 1856–1946

US ambassador to the Ottoman Empire during World War I

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Child: Henry Morgenthau Jr. (Cornell University)

George Friedman 1949–

Geopolitical analyst and author

Also attended: Cornell University

A. Philip Randolph 1889–1979

Civil rights activist and labor unionist

Felix Frankfurter 1882–1965

Former Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court

Also attended: Harvard University

Daniel Goldin 1940–

9th Administrator of NASA

Robert Ferdinand Wagner 1877–1953

Democratic US Senator from New York

Attended until 1898

Also attended: New York Law School

Child: Robert Ferdinand Wagner Jr. (Yale University, Harvard University)

Abraham Beame 1906–2001

Mayor of New York City from 1974 to 1977

Also attended: CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

Jay Lovestone 1897–1990

Communist Party USA leader turned anti-communist activist

Dolores Alexander 1931–2008

Feminist activist, former executive director of NOW

Philippos Sachinidis 1963–

Greek politician and economist

Peter J. Brennan 1918–1996

Former U.S. Secretary of Labor

James Aloysius O'Gorman 1860–1943

U.S. Senator from New York and judge

Also attended: New York University

Allen Weinstein 1937–2015

Historian and co-founder of National Endowment for Democracy

Also attended: Yale University

Bernard Mannes Baruch 1870–1965

Financier, chaired the War Industries Board in WWI

Sheldon Adelson 1933–2021

Founder of Las Vegas Sands Corporation

Spouse: Miriam Adelson (The Rockefeller University)

Russell Simmons 1957–

Co-founder of Def Jam Recordings

Sibling: Danny Simmons (Long Island University, New York University)

Irving Kahn 1905–2015

Value investor and philanthropist

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Sibling: Helen Reichert (Cornell University, Teachers College at Columbia University)

Bisila Bokoko 1974–

Businesswoman, founder and CEO of BBES

Abraham Maslow 1908–1970

Psychologist who created the hierarchy of needs

Also attended: Cornell University, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Jonas Salk 1914–1995

Virologist who developed an early polio vaccine

Also attended: University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, New York University

Arno Allan Penzias 1933–2024

Radio astronomer, 1978 Nobel Prize in Physics laureate

Bachelor of Science

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Leon M. Lederman 1922–2018

Physicist, 1988 Nobel laureate in Physics

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Julian Seymour Schwinger 1918–1994

Theoretical physicist, 1965 Nobel Prize in Physics laureate

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Kenneth Arrow 1921–2017

Economist, 1972 Nobel laureate in Economics

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Robert Hofstadter 1915–1990

Physicist, 1961 Nobel Prize in Physics laureate

Also attended: Princeton University

Child: Douglas Hofstadter (University of Oregon, Stanford University)

Robert Aumann 1930–

Israeli-American mathematician and Nobel laureate

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rabbi Jacob Joseph School

Arthur Kornberg 1918–2007

Biochemist, 1959 Nobel laureate in Medicine

Also attended: New York University, University of Rochester

Child: Roger D. Kornberg (Harvard University, Stanford University)

Child: Thomas B. Kornberg (Columbia University in the City of New York)

Herman Hollerith 1860–1929

Inventor of the punched card tabulating machine

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Herbert A. Hauptman 1917–2011

Mathematician and Nobel laureate

Also attended: Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland-College Park, Columbia University in the City of New York

Jerome Karle 1918–2013

Physical chemist, 1985 Nobel Chemistry laureate

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

Spouse: Isabella Karle (University of Michigan-Ann Arbor)

Julius Axelrod 1912–2004

Biochemist and 1970 Nobel Prize winner

Also attended: George Washington University, New York University

John O'Keefe 1939–

Neuroscientist, 2014 Nobel laureate

Albert Ellis 1913–2007

Psychologist, founder of REBT

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College, Teachers College at Columbia University

Lewis Mumford 1895–1990

Historian, sociologist and urban studies scholar

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

Leonard Susskind 1940–

Stanford theoretical physicist

Also attended: Cornell University

Leon Festinger 1919–1989

Social psychologist who originated cognitive dissonance theory

Bachelor of Science · Psychology · Class of 1939

Also attended: University of Iowa

Daniel Bell 1919–2011

Sociologist and Harvard professor, post-industrialism scholar

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Child: David A. Bell (Harvard University, Princeton University)

Jesse Douglas 1897–1965

Mathematician and Fields Medalist

Attended until 1916

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Bob Kahn 1938–

Internet pioneer who co-proposed TCP and IP

Bachelor's degree · Electrical engineering · Class of 1960

Also attended: Princeton University

Solomon Asch 1907–1996

Polish-born pioneer of social psychology

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Seymour Martin Lipset 1922–2006

Sociologist and political scientist

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Leonard Kleinrock 1934–

Computer scientist and Internet pioneer, UCLA professor

Bachelor of Electrical Engineering · Class of 1957

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Michael Parenti 1933–2026

American political scientist, historian and cultural critic

Bachelor of Arts

Also attended: Yale University, Brown University

Child: Christian Parenti (The New School)

Deborah Lipstadt 1947–

Holocaust historian and diplomat

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1969

Also attended: Brandeis University

Mitchell Feigenbaum 1944–2019

Mathematical physicist, discovered Feigenbaum constants

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

David Wechsler 1896–1981

Psychologist who developed the Wechsler intelligence scales

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Richard E. Bellman 1920–1984

Applied mathematician who introduced dynamic programming

Attended until 1938

Also attended: Johns Hopkins University, Princeton University, CUNY Brooklyn College

Edward Kasner 1878–1955

Mathematician who introduced the term googol

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1896

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Ernest Nagel 1901–1985

Philosopher of science

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Emil Leon Post 1897–1954

Logician and mathematician known for computability theory

Attended until 1917

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Cleveland Abbe 1838–1916

Meteorologist and advocate of time zones

Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts · Class of 1860

Child: Cleveland Abbe, Jr. (Johns Hopkins University, Harvard University)

Child: Truman Abbe (Harvard University, Columbia University in the City of New York)

Frederick Irving Herzberg 1923–2000

Psychologist who introduced the motivator–hygiene theory

Also attended: University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Allen J. Bard 1933–2024

Electrochemist, professor at UT Austin

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1955

Also attended: Harvard University

Gregory Chaitin 1947–

Mathematician and computer scientist, founder of algorithmic information theory

Martin Davis 1928–2023

Mathematician known for Hilbert's tenth problem work

Attended until 1948

Also attended: Princeton University

Sidney Hook 1902–1989

Pragmatist philosopher and critic of totalitarianism

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Mario Runco Jr. 1952–

Former Navy officer and NASA astronaut

George Washington Goethals 1858–1928

Army officer who oversaw Panama Canal construction

Civil engineering · Attended until 1876

Also attended: The United States Military Academy at West Point

David Finkelstein 1929–2016

Physics professor at Georgia Tech

Also attended: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Thelma Estrin 1924–2014

Computer scientist and biomedical engineering pioneer

Also attended: Stevens Institute of Technology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Spouse: Gerald Estrin (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Child: Deborah Estrin (University of California-Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Frank Press 1924–2020

Geophysicist, former president of National Academy of Sciences

Bachelor of Science · Class of 1944

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Paul Radin 1883–1959

Polish-born American cultural anthropologist

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Stanley Kubrick 1928–1999

Filmmaker and photographer

Spouse: Ruth Sobotka (Carnegie Mellon University)

Henry Miller 1891–1980

Novelist, short story writer and essayist

Mario Puzo 1920–1999

Author of The Godfather, novelist and screenwriter

Also attended: New York University

Tony Curtis 1925–2010

Actor who appeared in over 100 films

Also attended: The New School

Spouse: Janet Leigh (University of the Pacific)

Child: Jamie Lee Curtis (University of the Pacific)

Upton Sinclair 1878–1968

Author, muckraker and 1934 California gubernatorial nominee

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Eli Wallach 1915–2014

American film, television and stage actor

Master of Education

Also attended: Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater, The University of Texas at Austin

Spouse: Anne Jackson (Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater)

Richard Schiff 1955–

Actor, played Toby Ziegler on The West Wing

Spouse: Sheila Kelley (New York University)

Edward G. Robinson 1893–1973

Romanian-American actor known for gangster roles

Also attended: American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York

Alfred Stieglitz 1864–1946

Photographer and modern art promoter

Spouse: Georgia O'Keeffe (School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Harvard University)

Child: Katherine Stieglitz (Smith College)

Bernard Malamud 1914–1986

Novelist and short story writer

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Luis Gómez 1956–

Puerto Rican actor

Also attended: American University

Barry Manilow 1943–

Singer, songwriter and record producer

Also attended: The Juilliard School

Ira Gershwin 1896–1983

Lyricist who collaborated with brother George Gershwin

Barnett Newman 1905–1970

Abstract Expressionist and color field painter

Zero Mostel 1915–1977

Actor and comedian

Also attended: New York University

Child: Josh Mostel (Brandeis University)

Judd Hirsch 1935–

Actor known for Taxi and Numb3rs

Also attended: American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York

Héctor Elizondo 1936–

Character actor known for Chicago Hope

Samuel R. Delany 1942–

Science fiction author and literary critic

Also attended: University of Massachusetts-Amherst, University at Buffalo

Spouse: Marilyn Hacker (New York University)

Paddy Chayefsky 1923–1981

Playwright and screenwriter, three-time Oscar winner

Also attended: Fordham University

Cyril M. Kornbluth 1923–1958

Science fiction author

Also attended: University of Chicago

Sam Jaffe 1891–1984

Actor, star of Gunga Din

Spouse: Bettye Ackerman (Columbia College)

William Klein 1926–2022

American-French photographer and filmmaker

Paul Goodman 1911–1972

Writer and public intellectual

Also attended: University of Chicago

Jackie Mason 1928–2021

Stand-up comedian and actor

Also attended: Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem of America

Irving Kristol 1920–2009

Journalist, writer and magazine founder

Spouse: Gertrude Himmelfarb (University of Chicago, CUNY Brooklyn College)

Child: Bill Kristol (Harvard University)

Mark Duplass 1976–

Actor and filmmaker

Also attended: The University of Texas at Austin

Spouse: Katie Aselton (Boston University, American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York)

Sibling: Jay Duplass (The University of Texas at Austin)

Faith Ringgold 1930–2024

Artist and author known for narrative quilts

Master of Arts · Class of 1959

Child: Michele Wallace (Howard University, CUNY--City College)

Oscar Hijuelos 1951–2013

Novelist of Cuban descent

Also attended: CUNY Lehman College

Brock Peters 1922–2005

Actor in To Kill a Mockingbird

Also attended: University of Chicago

Dick Miller 1928–2019

Character actor in more than 180 films

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

Larry Cohen 1936–2019

Film director, producer and screenwriter

John Marley 1907–1984

Actor nominated for an Oscar for Love Story

Walter Mosley 1952–

Novelist known for crime fiction

Also attended: Goddard College

Norman Spinrad 1940–

Science fiction author and critic

David Brian 1914–1993

Film and television actor, Golden Globe nominee

Len Lesser 1922–2011

Actor, played Uncle Leo on Seinfeld

David Margulies 1937–2016

Actor known as the mayor in Ghostbusters

Abraham Polonsky 1910–1999

Film director and screenwriter

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Yip Harburg 1896–1981

Lyricist who wrote all the songs for The Wizard of Oz

Wendy Wasserstein 1950–2006

Playwright and Cornell University professor-at-large

Also attended: Yale University, Mount Holyoke College

Sibling: Bruce Wasserstein (Harvard University, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor)

Butterfly McQueen 1911–1995

Actress known for Gone with the Wind

Hal Linden 1931–

Stage and screen actor and musician

Also attended: CUNY Queens College

Norman Dello Joio 1913–2008

Composer and Pulitzer Prize winner

Also attended: Yale University, The Juilliard School

William Gibson 1914–2008

Playwright, author of The Miracle Worker

Jean Toomer 1894–1967

Poet and novelist, author of Cane

Also attended: University of Chicago

Henry Roth 1906–1995

Novelist, author of Call It Sleep

Wally Cox 1924–1973

Actor, starred in Mister Peepers

Albert S. Ruddy 1930–2024

Producer of The Godfather and Million Dollar Baby

Chemical engineering

Also attended: University of Southern California

Ross Martin 1920–1981

Actor known for The Wild Wild West

Also attended: George Washington University

J. Edward Bromberg 1903–1951

Hungarian-born American stage and film actor

Ernest Lehman 1915–2005

Screenwriter with six Academy Award nominations

Jeff Barry 1938–

Pop songwriter, singer and record producer

Spouse: Ellie Greenwich (Hofstra University)

Julie Bovasso 1930–1991

Actress of stage, screen and television, and playwright

Attended until 1951

Michael Kidd 1915–2007

Film and stage choreographer

Boaz Yakin 1966–

Screenwriter and director of Remember the Titans

Also attended: New York University

Robert Walden 1943–

Actor

Ned Glass 1906–1984

Character actor in West Side Story

Joanna Cole 1944–2020

Children's author of the Magic School Bus series

Radley Metzger 1929–2017

Filmmaker and distributor known for artistic erotic films

Rosalind Cash 1938–1995

Actress known for The Omega Man

Toni Cade Bambara 1939–1995

Author, activist and documentary filmmaker

Master of Arts · Class of 1964

Also attended: CUNY Queens College

Albert Wolsky 1930–2026

Costume designer, two-time Academy Award winner

Edward Eliscu 1902–1998

Lyricist, playwright and film songwriter

Alphonse Mouzon 1948–2016

Jazz fusion drummer and composer

A. M. Rosenthal 1922–2006

Executive editor of The New York Times 1977–1986

Child: Andrew Rosenthal (University of Denver)

Joey Adams 1911–1999

Comedian and newspaper columnist

Sidney Salkow 1911–2000

Film director and screenwriter

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

Marvin Kalb 1930–

Journalist, founding director of Shorenstein Center

Also attended: Harvard University

Gail Carson Levine 1947–

Young adult author of Ella Enchanted

Ervin Drake 1919–2015

Songwriter

Dorothy Uhnak 1930–2006

Novelist and former police officer

Also attended: CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Camille Billops 1933–2019

Sculptor, filmmaker, printmaker and educator

Also attended: California State University-Los Angeles

Bright Sheng 1955–

Chinese-American composer, conductor and pianist

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Lu Yen 1930–2008

Taiwanese composer

Also attended: The New School, University of Pennsylvania

William Lombardy 1937–2017

Chess grandmaster and former Catholic priest

Red Holzman 1920–1998

Basketball player and New York Knicks head coach

Henry Wittenberg 1918–2010

Olympic champion freestyle wrestler

Also attended: Teachers College at Columbia University

Albert Axelrod 1921–2004

Foil fencer and 1960 Olympic bronze medalist

Maurice Ashley 1966–

Chess grandmaster, author and commentator

Reuben Fine 1914–1993

Chess player and psychologist

Also attended: University of Southern California

Assata Shakur 1947–2025

Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army member

Mordecai Kaplan 1881–1983

Rabbi who founded Reconstructionist Judaism

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York, Jewish Theological Seminary of America

George Koval 1913–2006

Soviet intelligence officer who infiltrated the Manhattan Project

Also attended: University of Iowa

James Francis McIntyre 1886–1979

Catholic cardinal and Archbishop of Los Angeles

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Julius Rosenberg 1918–1953

Engineer executed for spying for the Soviet Union

Child: Michael Meeropol (Swarthmore College, University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Child: Robert Meeropol (University of Michigan-Ann Arbor)