Notable Alumni of Hofstra University

Anutin Charnvirakul 1966–

32nd Prime Minister of Thailand

Bachelor of Engineering · Engineering · Class of 1989

Steve Witkoff 1957–

U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, real estate investor

Bachelor of Arts, Juris Doctor · Class of 1983

David Paterson 1954–

55th Governor of New York

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Spouse: Michelle Paige Paterson (Syracuse University)

Father: Basil A. Paterson (St John's University (NY))

Norm Coleman 1949–

Politician, attorney and lobbyist

Bachelor of Arts

Also attended: University of Iowa, Brooklyn Law School

Maryanne Trump Barry 1937–2023

US federal judge, sister of Donald Trump

Juris Doctor

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

Sibling: Donald J. Trump (Fordham University, University of Pennsylvania)

Sibling: Robert Trump (Boston University)

Pamela Geller 1958–

Far-right political activist and blogger

Ron Kovic 1946–

Anti-war activist and author of Born on the Fourth of July

Andrew Garbarino 1984–

U.S. representative for New York's 2nd district

Also attended: George Washington University

Tom MacArthur 1960–

Former U.S. Representative from New Jersey

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1982

Nick LaLota 1978–

U.S. Representative from New York, Republican

Juris Doctor, Master of Business Administration · Class of 2012

Also attended: United States Naval Academy

Hun Mani 1982–

Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia

Anthony D'Esposito 1982–

Former U.S. Representative, Labor Department Inspector General

Bernard Madoff 1938–2021

Mastermind of largest Ponzi scheme, ex-Nasdaq chairman

Bachelor of Arts · Political science

Also attended: The University of Alabama, Brooklyn Law School

Spouse: Ruth Madoff (CUNY Queens College, New York University)

Avi Arad 1948–

Film producer and founder of Marvel Studios

Charles Kushner 1954–

Real estate developer and US ambassador to France

Also attended: New York University

Sibling: Murray Kushner (University of Pennsylvania)

Francis Ford Coppola 1939–

Filmmaker and leading New Hollywood figure

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Spouse: Eleanor Coppola (University of California-Los Angeles)

Father: Carmine Coppola (The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music)

Christopher Walken 1943–

Actor and Academy Award winner

James Caan 1940–2022

Actor, Sonny Corleone in The Godfather

Also attended: Michigan State University, Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theater

Rosemarie DeWitt 1971–

Actress

Spouse: Ron Livingston (Yale University)

Madeline Kahn 1942–1999

Comedic actress and singer

Joe Morton 1947–

Actor

Robert Davi 1951–

Actor, singer and filmmaker

Margaret Colin 1958–

Actress known for Independence Day and Gossip Girl

Spouse: Justin Deas (College of William and Mary)

Marilyn French 1929–2009

Feminist author of The Women's Room

Also attended: Harvard University

Susan Sullivan 1942–

Actress in Castle and Dharma & Greg

Lainie Kazan 1942–

Actress and singer

Mike Starr 1950–

Character actor often playing mobsters and police

Olivia 1981–

R&B singer associated with G-Unit

Also attended: Five Towns College

Carol Alt 1960–

Model and actress

Ellie Greenwich 1940–2009

Pop singer, songwriter and record producer

Spouse: Jeff Barry (CUNY--City College)

Peter Friedman 1949–

American stage, film and television actor

Also attended: Hampshire College

Spouse: Joan Allen (Eastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University)

Nelson DeMille 1943–2024

Suspense novelist, author of The General's Daughter

Meredith Eaton 1974–

Actress known for Family Law and MacGyver

Also attended: Adelphi University

Kevin Shinick 1969–

Writer, producer and Emmy winner

Christine Belford 1949–

Former television and film actress

Adam Green 1975–

Actor and filmmaker known for horror and comedy films

Godfrey Cambridge 1933–1976

Stand-up comedian and actor

Tom McGowan 1959–

Stage, television and film actor

Also attended: Yale University

Jean Butler 1971–

Dancer who originated the female lead in Riverdance

Philip Rosenthal 1960–

Creator of Everybody Loves Raymond

Spouse: Monica Horan (Hofstra University)

Elizabeth Dennehy 1960–

Television and film actress

Father: Brian Dennehy (Yale University, Columbia University in the City of New York)

August Coppola 1934–2009

Academic, author and film executive

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, Occidental College

Father: Carmine Coppola (The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music)

Child: Christopher Coppola (University of Redlands)

Craig Zadan 1949–2018

Producer of Chicago and Hairspray

Kira Kazantsev 1991–

Miss America 2015

Chris Weidman 1984–

Former UFC Middleweight Champion

Master's degree, Bachelor's degree · Physical education, Psychology · Class of 2009

Also attended: Nassau Community College

Jon Cooper 1967–

Head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning

Also attended: Thomas M Cooley Law School

Charles Jenkins 1989–

Basketball player drafted by the Warriors in 2011

Speedy Claxton 1978–

Hofstra men's basketball head coach and former NBA player

Amy Turner 1991–

English former footballer and defender

Leah Galton 1994–

English women's footballer and forward

Diane Caldwell 1988–

Irish women's international footballer, defender

Kenny Adeleke 1983–

Nigerian-American professional basketball player

Also attended: University of Hartford

Lizanne Murphy 1984–

Canadian professional basketball player

Errol McFarlane 1977–

Trinidadian former forward footballer

Also attended: Nassau Community College

Rick Apodaca 1980–

Puerto Rican basketball player

Norman Richardson 1977–

Former NBA player and basketball coach

Shante Evans 1991–

US-born Slovenian women's basketball player

Jay Hieron 1976–

Mixed martial artist and final IFL welterweight champion

Also attended: Nassau Community College

Namira Salim

Pakistani polar explorer, astronaut and artist

Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

Michael Franzese 1951–

Former Colombo crime family caporegime, speaker and writer