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156 notable alumni U.S. News #116

Notable Alumni of University of Oregon

Notable alumni of University of Oregon include Walter Houser Brattain (Physicist who co-invented the point-contact transistor), Douglas Engelbart (Inventor of the computer mouse; HCI pioneer) and Ken Kesey (Novelist and countercultural figure).

College data and admissions

Alumni list

Politics and law

Business

Science and academia

Arts and media

  • Ken Kesey 1935–2001

    Novelist and countercultural figure

    Also attended: Stanford University

  • Chuck Palahniuk 1962–

    Novelist

  • David Ogden Stiers 1942–2018

    Actor and conductor

    Also attended: The Juilliard School

  • Sam Elliott 1944–

    Actor known for his deep voice

    Also attended: Clark College

    Spouse: Katharine Ross (Diablo Valley College)

  • James Ivory 1928–

    Film director, screenwriter and producer

    Also attended: University of Southern California

  • Ty Burrell 1967–

    Actor known as Phil Dunphy in Modern Family

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

  • Lindsay Wagner 1949–

    Actress known for The Bionic Woman

    Also attended: Mt Hood Community College

    Spouse: Michael Brandon (American Academy of Dramatic Arts-New York)

  • Christopher Judge 1964–

    Actor known for Teal'c in Stargate SG-1

  • Daniel Wu 1974–

    Hong Kong-American actor, director and producer

  • Louise Bryant 1885–1936

    Journalist and feminist activist

    Also attended: University of Nevada-Reno

    Spouse: John Reed (Harvard University)

    Spouse: William Christian Bullitt, Jr. (Yale University, Harvard University)

  • Kaitlin Olson 1975–

    Actress in It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

  • Joe Sacco 1960–

    Cartoonist and comics journalism pioneer

    Journalism

  • Gordon Scott 1926–2007

    Actor who played Tarzan in five films

  • Stephen J. Cannell 1941–2010

    Television producer, writer and novelist

    Bachelor of Science · Journalism

  • Ann Curry 1956–

    Journalist who reported from war zones and disasters

  • Howard Hesseman 1940–2022

    Actor known for WKRP in Cincinnati and Head of the Class

  • Clifton James 1920–2017

    Actor, played Sheriff Pepper in Bond films

  • Don Simpson 1943–1996

    Film producer and screenwriter

  • Edgar Buchanan 1903–1979

    Film and television actor

  • Ralph Towner 1940–2026

    Multi-instrumentalist and composer

  • Paula Gunn Allen 1939–2008

    Poet, literary critic and novelist

    Master of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1968

    Also attended: University of New Mexico-Main Campus

  • James Read 1953–

    Actor in North and South and Charmed

    Also attended: Pepperdine University

  • Gayle Forman 1970–

    Young adult author of If I Stay

  • Samina Ali 1969–

    Indian-born author and Muslim women's rights activist

    Also attended: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

  • Marissa Neitling 1984–

    Actress known for The Last Ship

    Also attended: Yale University

  • Donald Cook 1901–1961

    Stage and film actor in The Public Enemy

  • Felicitas Hoppe 1960–

    German writer, 2012 Georg Büchner Prize winner

  • Michael Franks 1944–

    Singer and songwriter

    Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

  • Rob Simonsen 1978–

    Film composer and conductor

    Also attended: Portland State University, Southern Oregon University

  • Marc Laidlaw 1960–

    Writer who worked on Half-Life at Valve

  • Kat Bjelland 1963–

    Lead singer of Babes in Toyland

  • Trey Gunn 1960–

    Musician in King Crimson from 1994 to 2003

  • Barry Lopez 1945–2020

    Essayist, nature writer and fiction writer

    Also attended: University of Notre Dame, New York University

  • Susan Ruttan 1948–

    Actress known for L.A. Law

    Also attended: University of California-Santa Cruz

  • Peter Hollens 1982–

    A cappella singer, songwriter and producer

  • Dennis Gassner 1948–

    Production designer of Skyfall and Blade Runner 2049

  • Kathrine Taylor 1904–1997

    Writer, author of Address Unknown

  • Don Pedro Colley 1938–2017

    Actor in The Dukes of Hazzard

  • Ben Masters 1947–2023

    Actor best known as Julian Crane in Passions

  • Li Ang 1952–

    Taiwanese feminist writer

  • Olga Broumas 1949–

    Greek poet and Brandeis poet-in-residence

    Master of Fine Arts · Creative writing · Class of 1973

    Also attended: University of Pennsylvania

  • Ernest Haycox 1899–1950

    American writer of Western fiction

    Also attended: Reed College

  • Watermelon Slim 1949–

    Blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player

    Also attended: Oklahoma State University-Main Campus, Middlebury College

  • Randy Shilts 1951–1994

    Journalist and author at the San Francisco Chronicle

  • Glen Moore 1941–

    Jazz bassist

  • Joe Hutshing 2000–

    Film editor, frequent collaborator of Oliver Stone

  • Chang-Rae Lee 1965–

    Korean-American novelist and Stanford creative writing professor

    Also attended: Yale University

  • Colin Meloy 1974–

    Frontman of indie folk band the Decemberists

    Spouse: Carson Ellis (The University of Montana)

  • Dmae Roberts

    Taiwanese-American radio producer, writer and playwright

  • Lars Larson 1959–

    Conservative talk radio host in Portland

    Attended until 1979

  • Sylvia Li-chun Lin

    Taiwanese translator who co-translated novels with Howard Goldblatt

    Also attended: University of California-Berkeley, St John's University (NY)

Sports

  • Ashton Eaton 1988–

    Two-time Olympic decathlon champion

    Spouse: Brianne Theisen-Eaton (University of Oregon)

  • Brianne Theisen-Eaton 1988–

    Canadian heptathlete, 2016 Olympic bronze medalist

    Spouse: Ashton Eaton (University of Oregon)

  • Otis Davis 1932–2024

    Sprinter, two-time gold medalist at 1960 Olympics

  • Joaquim Cruz 1963–

    Brazilian runner, 1984 Olympic 800 metres champion

  • Cole Hocker 2001–

    Runner, 2024 Olympic 1500 m champion

  • Dillon Brooks 1996–

    Canadian NBA player for the Phoenix Suns

  • Aaron Brooks 1985–

    Basketball player, 26th pick in 2007 NBA draft

  • Phyllis Francis 1992–

    Sprinter, 2017 world champion in the 400 metres

  • Galen Rupp 1986–

    Distance runner, four-time Olympian

  • Matthew Centrowitz 1989–

    Middle-distance runner specializing in the 1500 metres

    Father: Matt Centrowitz (University of Oregon)

  • Mac Wilkins 1950–

    American discus thrower

  • Sabrina Ionescu 1997–

    WNBA player for the New York Liberty

    Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts · Class of 2020

  • English Gardner 1992–

    Sprinter specializing in the 100-meter dash

  • Jessica Hull 1996–

    Australian runner, 2024 Olympic 1500 m silver medallist

  • Steve Prefontaine 1951–1975

    Long-distance runner, 1972 Olympian

  • Raevyn Rogers 1996–

    Middle-distance runner, 2020 Olympic 800m bronze medalist

  • Luke Ridnour 1981–

    Former NBA player

  • Jodie Taylor 1986–

    English former professional footballer and striker

  • Jorinde van Klinken 2000–

    Dutch shot put and discus thrower

    Also attended: Arizona State University-Tempe, Oregon State University, Thunderbird School of Global Management

  • John Madden 1936–2021

    Former Oakland Raiders coach and sports commentator

    Also attended: College of San Mateo, Grays Harbor College

  • Payton Pritchard 1998–

    Basketball player for the Boston Celtics

  • Jenna Prandini 1992–

    Sprinter, two-time Olympian

  • Jim Loscutoff 1930–2015

    Boston Celtics NBA player

  • Lisa Martin 1960–

    Australian marathoner, 1988 Olympic silver medalist

  • Bol Bol 1999–

    South Sudanese-American professional basketball player

    Father: Manute Bol (University of Bridgeport, Case Western Reserve University)

  • Tyler Dorsey 1996–

    Basketball player for Olympiacos

    Attended until 2017

  • Harry Jerome 1940–1982

    Canadian sprinter, 1964 Olympic bronze medalist

  • Chris Boucher 1993–

    Saint Lucian-Canadian professional basketball player

    Also attended: New Mexico Junior College

  • Chael Sonnen 1977–

    Retired MMA fighter and sports commentator

    Bachelor of Science · Sociology · Class of 2001

    Also attended: Brigham Young University-Provo

  • Mack Robinson 1914–2000

    Sprinter, 1936 Olympic 200m silver medallist

    Physical education · Attended until 1941

    Also attended: Pasadena City College

    Sibling: Jackie Robinson (University of California-Los Angeles, Pasadena City College)

  • Janice Tjen 2002–

    Indonesian professional tennis player

    Also attended: Pepperdine University

  • Sharifa Davronova 2006–

    Uzbek triple jumper

  • Terrell Brandon 1970–

    Former NBA player

  • Keshia Baker 1988–

    Track athlete, 2012 Olympic 4×400m relay gold medalist

  • Bill Dellinger 1934–2025

    Middle-distance runner and 1964 Olympic bronze medalist

    Bachelor's degree, Master's degree · Education · Class of 1962

  • Martin Hawkins 1888–1959

    1912 Olympic bronze medalist in 110 m hurdles

  • Nikki Hiltz 1994–

    Middle-distance runner, American mile record holder

    Also attended: University of Arkansas

  • Troy Brown Jr. 1999–

    Professional basketball player

  • Daniel Kelly 1883–1920

    Long jumper and sprinter

  • Ariana Washington 1996–

    Sprinter and 2017 World Championships relay gold medalist

  • Ralph Hill 1908–1994

    Runner, 1932 Olympic 5000m silver medalist

  • Jordan Bell 1995–

    Professional basketball player

  • Alexi Pappas 1990–

    Greek-American runner, filmmaker and actor

    Also attended: Dartmouth College

  • Wyndham Clark 1993–

    Professional golfer, two-time U.S. Open champion

  • Carolyn Wood 1945–

    Swimmer, Olympic champion and former world record-holder

  • Devon Allen 1994–

    Olympic hurdler and football wide receiver

  • Marcus Mariota 1993–

    NFL quarterback and 2014 Heisman Trophy winner

  • Fred Jones 1979–

    Basketball player, 2004 NBA Slam Dunk champion

  • Klaudia Kazimierska 2001–

    Polish middle-distance runner, national 1500 m record holder

  • Laurenne Ross 1988–

    Former World Cup alpine ski racer

  • Satou Sabally 1998–

    Basketball player for the New York Liberty

    Bachelor of Arts · Class of 2020

  • Alberto Salazar 1958–

    Cuban-born distance runner and track coach

  • Malik Hairston 1987–

    Former professional basketball player

  • Greg Ballard 1955–2016

    Former NBA player and assistant coach

    Bachelor of Science · Public affairs, Special Investigations Officer (The Netherlands)

  • Dan Fouts 1951–

    Former San Diego Chargers quarterback and commentator

Other fields

  • Ann Bancroft 1955–

    Explorer; first woman to finish Arctic and Antarctic expeditions

  • Carol Queen 1957–

    Feminist author, editor and sexologist

  • Aisha Al-Mana 1948–

    Saudi feminist activist and hospital director

    Also attended: Arizona State University-Tempe, University of Arizona

  • Donald Malarkey 1921–2017

    WWII paratrooper portrayed in Band of Brothers

  • Kenneth Bae 1968–

    American missionary imprisoned in North Korea

    Also attended: Covenant Theological Seminary

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 Oregon (people who attended both).