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173 notable alumni U.S. News #27

Notable Alumni of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Notable alumni of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill include James K. Polk (11th President of the United States), Michael Jordan (Basketball player who won six NBA titles with Bulls) and Louise Fletcher (Actress; Oscar winner for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest).

College data and admissions

Alumni list

Politics and law

Business

Science and academia

Arts and media

  • Louise Fletcher 1934–2022

    Actress; Oscar winner for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

  • Thomas Wolfe 1900–1938

    Novelist, author of Look Homeward, Angel

    Also attended: Harvard University

  • Andy Griffith 1926–2012

    Actor, comedian, singer and television producer

    Bachelor of Music

  • John Forsythe 1918–2010

    Stage, film and television actor

  • Lawrence Ferlinghetti 1919–2021

    Poet, painter and co-founder of City Lights

    Bachelor of Arts · Journalism

    Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

  • Ken Jeong 1969–

    Actor and comedian in The Hangover films

    Also attended: Duke University

  • Billy Crudup 1968–

    Actor, Tony and Emmy Award winner

    Also attended: New York University

  • Anne Haney 1934–2001

    Character actress in film and television

  • Walker Percy 1916–1990

    Novelist and physician

    Also attended: Columbia University in the City of New York

  • Peyton Reed 1964–

    Film director of the Ant-Man films

  • Jenny Han 1980–

    Author and showrunner of The Summer I Turned Pretty

    Also attended: The New School

  • Nolan North 1970–

    Voice actor and actor

  • R. G. Armstrong 1917–2012

    Character actor and playwright

    Also attended: Samford University

  • Sharon Lawrence 1961–

    Actress who starred in NYPD Blue

  • Lionel Stander 1908–1994

    Actor, founding member of the Screen Actors Guild

  • Reed Diamond 1967–

    American actor

    Also attended: The Juilliard School

  • Lewis Black 1948–

    Stand-up comedian and actor

    Also attended: Yale University, University of Maryland-College Park

  • Nick Searcy 1959–

    Actor known for FX's Justified

    Also attended: University of North Carolina School of the Arts

  • Celia Weston 1951–

    Character actress, Independent Spirit Award nominee

    Also attended: Salem College

  • Jim Rash 1971–

    Actor, comedian and Academy Award-winning screenwriter

  • Jeff Nichols 1978–

    Film director and screenwriter

  • Laurel Holloman 1971–

    Painter and actress

  • Sahar Khalifeh 1941–

    Palestinian writer

    Also attended: University of Iowa

  • Russell Banks 1940–2023

    Novelist and poet

  • Robert Bruce Spencer 1962–

    Anti-Muslim author, founder of Jihad Watch

    Religious studies

  • David Brinkley 1920–2003

    NBC and ABC newscaster

    Also attended: Emory University, Vanderbilt University

    Child: Joel Brinkley (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Sarah Dessen 1970–

    Young adult fiction novelist

    Also attended: Greensboro College

  • Rick Dees 1950–

    Radio personality, known for Disco Duck

  • Paul Green 1894–1981

    Playwright and Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner

    Also attended: Cornell University, Campbell University

    Child: Paul Green (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Charles Frazier 1950–

    Novelist, author of Cold Mountain

    Also attended: Appalachian State University, University of South Carolina-Columbia

  • Mary Pope Osborne 1949–

    Children's author of the Magic Tree House series

  • Armistead Maupin 1944–

    Writer of Tales of the City novels

  • Shelby Foote 1916–2005

    American novelist and historian

    Attended until 1937

  • Bud Shank 1926–2009

    Jazz alto saxophonist and flutist

  • Whit Bissell 1909–1996

    American character actor

  • Michael Piller 1948–2005

    Television producer and writer known for Star Trek

  • Don Payne 1964–2013

    Screenwriter who wrote episodes of The Simpsons

    Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

  • Nikole Hannah-Jones 1976–

    Journalist behind The 1619 Project

    Also attended: University of Notre Dame, University of Notre Dame -

  • Ben Jones 1941–2026

    Actor in The Dukes of Hazzard and former congressman

  • Yang Peiyi 2001–

    Singer of Ode to the Motherland at 2008 Olympics

    Bachelor of Science · Economics · Class of 2025

  • Stuart Scott 1965–2015

    ESPN sportscaster and SportsCenter anchor

    Bachelor of Arts

  • Dan Cortese 1967–

    Actor in Veronica's Closet and What I Like About You

    Bachelor of Arts

  • Eboni K. Williams 1983–

    Attorney and television host

    Bachelor of Arts

    Also attended: Loyola University New Orleans

  • Jack Palance 1919–2006

    Actor known for tough-guy roles in westerns and crime dramas

    Also attended: Stanford University

  • Randolph Scott 1898–1987

    Hollywood film actor known for Westerns

    Also attended: Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

  • Chris Matthews 1945–

    Political commentator, former Hardball host

    Also attended: College of the Holy Cross

    Spouse: Kathleen Matthews (Stanford University)

Sports

  • Michael Jordan 1963–

    Basketball player who won six NBA titles with Bulls

    Bachelor of Arts · Cultural geography · Class of 1986

    Child: Jeffrey Jordan (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

    Child: Marcus Jordan (University of Central Florida)

  • Mia Hamm 1972–

    Soccer forward, 1991 and 1999 Women's World Cup winner

    Attended until 1993

    Spouse: Nomar Garciaparra (Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus)

  • Marion Jones 1975–

    Sprinter who won three golds at 2000 Olympics

    Spouse: C.J. Hunter (The Pennsylvania State University)

    Spouse: Tim Montgomery (Blinn College District)

  • Vince Carter 1977–

    Former NBA player across 22 seasons

  • Rasheed Wallace 1974–

    Former NBA player and basketball coach

  • Alessia Russo 1999–

    England and Arsenal women's footballer

  • Sarina Wiegman 1969–

    Dutch manager of England women's national team

  • James Worthy 1961–

    NBA player, 12 seasons with the Lakers

  • Tobin Heath 1988–

    US women's soccer player, Olympic and World Cup champion

  • Harrison Barnes 1992–

    NBA player for the San Antonio Spurs

  • Danny Green 1987–

    Former professional basketball player

  • Gregg Berhalter 1973–

    Soccer coach and former player

    Child: Sebastian Berhalter (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Bob McAdoo 1951–

    Former professional basketball player and coach

    Also attended: Vincennes University

  • Allen Johnson 1971–

    Hurdler, 1996 Olympic 110m hurdles champion

  • Eddie Pope 1973–

    American soccer defender, mostly with D.C. United

  • Sebastian Berhalter 2001–

    Midfielder for the U.S. national soccer team

    Father: Gregg Berhalter (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Vic Seixas 1923–2024

    American tennis player

  • Rick Fox 1969–

    Three-time NBA champion, actor and businessman

    Communication studies

    Spouse: Vanessa Williams (Syracuse University)

  • Ty Lawson 1987–

    Former NBA point guard, 2009 NCAA champion

  • Raymond Felton 1984–

    Former NBA player for 14 seasons

  • Antawn Jamison 1976–

    Former NBA player with 16 seasons

  • Larry Brown 1940–

    Basketball coach, NCAA and NBA champion

    Sibling: Herb Brown (University of Vermont)

  • Lawrence Taylor 1959–

    Former New York Giants NFL linebacker

  • Jerry Stackhouse 1974–

    Basketball coach and former two-time NBA All-Star

  • Cindy Parlow Cone 1978–

    U.S. Soccer Federation president, two-time Olympic gold medalist

  • Sandi Morris 1992–

    Pole vaulter, 2016 Olympic silver medalist

    Also attended: University of Arkansas

  • Eric Lichaj 1988–

    Former soccer player, played for Aston Villa

  • Emily Fox 1998–

    Soccer right back for Arsenal and US national team

    Attended until 2021

  • Ashlyn Harris 1985–

    US women's national team goalkeeper, World Cup champion

    Spouse: Sophia Bush (University of Southern California)

    Spouse: Ali Krieger (The Pennsylvania State University, The Pennsylvania State University)

  • Marvin Williams 1986–

    Former professional basketball player

  • Shalane Flanagan 1981–

    Olympic medalist and New York City Marathon champion

    Mother: Cheryl Bridges (Indiana State University)

  • Tyler Zeller 1990–

    Former pro basketball player, played at North Carolina

    Sibling: Luke Zeller (University of Notre Dame)

    Sibling: Cody Zeller (Indiana University-Bloomington)

  • Wayne Ellington 1987–

    Former NBA player, Miami Heat development coach

  • Ed Davis 1989–

    Former NBA player, 12 seasons

  • Billy Cunningham 1943–

    Basketball player and 76ers coach

  • Lotte Wubben-Moy 1999–

    Arsenal and England women's national team defender

    Sports science · Attended until 2020

  • Sam Perkins 1961–

    Former NBA player and 1984 Olympic gold medalist

  • Monique Hennagan 1976–

    Sprinter specializing in the 400 metres

  • Allie Long 1987–

    Soccer player, 2019 Women's World Cup champion

    Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University, The Pennsylvania State University

  • Tyler Hansbrough 1985–

    Former NBA player

    Sibling: Ben Hansbrough (Mississippi State University)

  • Allisha Gray 1995–

    WNBA player, 2020 Olympic 3x3 basketball gold medalist

    Attended until 2015

    Also attended: University of South Carolina-Columbia

  • Reggie Bullock 1991–

    Former NBA player with eleven seasons

  • George Karl 1951–

    Professional basketball coach and former Spurs player

    Child: Coby Karl (Boise State University)

  • LaTasha Colander 1976–

    Retired American track and field sprinter

  • John Henson 1990–

    Former NBA player of eight seasons

  • Walter Davis 1954–2023

    Former NBA player, mostly with the Phoenix Suns

  • Carla Overbeck 1968–

    Former US women's soccer captain, Olympic gold medalist

  • Coby White 2000–

    NBA player for the Charlotte Hornets

  • Brad Daugherty 1965–

    Former NBA player for the Cleveland Cavaliers

  • Brendan Haywood 1979–

    NBA center, 2011 champion with Mavericks

  • Cameron Johnson 1996–

    NBA player for the Denver Nuggets

    Also attended: University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

  • Kenny Smith 1965–

    Former NBA player, two-time champion with Rockets

  • Mitch Kupchak 1954–

    Former NBA player and Charlotte Hornets general manager

    Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

  • Brandan Wright 1987–

    Former NBA basketball player

  • Donald Johnson 1968–

    Tennis player, world No. 1 in doubles in 2002

  • James Michael McAdoo 1993–

    Professional basketball player who played for North Carolina

  • Floyd Simmons 1923–2008

    Two-time Olympic decathlon bronze medalist

  • Davis Love III 1964–

    Professional golfer, 1997 PGA Championship winner

  • Roy Williams 1950–

    College basketball coach at North Carolina and Kansas

  • Javonte Williams 2000–

    NFL running back for the Dallas Cowboys

  • Julius Peppers 1980–

    NFL defensive end, 2002 second overall pick

  • Danielle Reyna 1973–

    Former US women's national team soccer player

    Spouse: Claudio Reyna (University of Virginia-Main Campus)

  • Jacob Stallings 1989–

    Former MLB catcher who played for the Pirates

  • Mitchell Trubisky 1994–

    NFL quarterback for the Tennessee Titans

  • Crystal Dunn 1992–

    Former professional soccer player

Other fields

  • John Shelby Spong 1931–2021

    Episcopal Bishop of Newark and writer

    Also attended: Yale University

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 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (people who attended both).