Boston University Notable Alumni

Discover the notable alumni of Boston University. The list includes people like Martin Luther King Jr., Marisa Tomei, Sylvia Plath, Julianne Moore & Jessica Rothe. This list of notable alumni is loosely sorted by popularity and has people from different domains of life, such as film & theater personalities, media personalities, activists, writers and leaders etc.
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 1 
Marisa Tomei
(Actress)
Marisa Tomei
83
Birthdate: December 4, 1964
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States

American actress, Marisa Tomei, gained fame when she starred in the 1992 film My Cousin Vinny. She received an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for the film. She was also appreciated for in the movies In the Bedroom and The Wrestler. What Women Want, Anger Management, The Ides of March, Cyrus, The Big Short and Avengers: Endgame are some of her other notable films.

 2 
Julianne Moore
(Actress and Author Known for Her Films: ‘The Lost World: Jurassic Park’, ‘Boogie Nights’ and ‘Still Alice’)
Julianne Moore
75
Birthdate: December 3, 1960
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Fort Bragg, North Carolina, United States

Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and talented actresses of her generation, Julianne Moore was included in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list in 2015. One of the most decorated actresses, Moore specializes in playing emotionally troubled women. A campaigner for gun control and gay rights, she has also written several children's books.

 3 
Faye Dunaway
(One of the Most Beautiful and Greatest Actresses of Her Generation)
Faye Dunaway
17
Birthdate: January 14, 1941
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Bascom, Florida, United States

Faye Dunaway is an American actress best known for her portrayal of Diana Christensen in the 1976 satirical black comedy-drama film Network, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress. Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and greatest actresses of her generation, Faye Dunaway is also considered a symbol of the New Hollywood.

 4 
Emily Deschanel
(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Dr. Temperance Brennan’ in the TV Series ‘Bones’)
Emily Deschanel
41
Birthdate: October 11, 1976
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Emily Deschanel is best known for her portrayal of Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan in the Fox series Bones. The role earned her multiple award nominations. An ardent supporter of animal rights causes, Emily is vegan. She has also promoted breast-cancer screenings. She is also agnostic, despite her Roman Catholic upbringing.
 5 
Geena Davis
(Actress Known for Her Role in Films: 'The Accidental Tourist', 'Thelma & Louise' and 'The Fly')
Geena Davis
42
Birthdate: January 21, 1956
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Wareham, Massachusetts, United States

An Academy Award-winning actress, Geena Davis is also known for her work to fight gender bias, for which she was presented with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. An ardent archer, who vied for a semifinals spot in the U.S. Olympic archery team for the 2000 Summer Olympics, Geena supports the Women's Sports Foundation among other initiatives that support women.

 6 
Stephanie McMahon
(Retired Professional Wrestler, Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chairwoman of WWE)
Stephanie McMahon
42
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 24, 1976
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut, United States

Stephanie McMahon is an American businesswoman. As the chief brand officer of WWE, McMahon contributes immensely to the development of the entertainment company. Also a popular wrestling personality, she often appears on WWE's SmackDown and Raw brands. She is considered one of the most powerful women in wrestling business around the world.

 7 
Ginnifer Goodwin
43
Birthdate: May 22, 1978
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Ginnifer Goodwin is best known as Snow White from Once Upon a Time and Margene Heffman from Big Love. She also appeared in an award-winning voice role, as Judy Hopps, in the animated movie Zootopia. Max Mara’s 2018 Face of the Future, Goodwin is trained in Shakespearean theater.
 8 
Paul Reubens
(Actor, Comedian & Writer Known for His Role as ‘Pee-wee Herman’ in Film ‘Pee-wee's Big Adventure’)
Paul Reubens
21
Birthdate: August 27, 1952
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Peekskill, New York, United States
Died: July 30, 2023

Comedian Paul Reubens, or Pee-wee, began his career with the troupe The Groundlings. His popular stage show The Pee-wee Herman Show inspired the CBS show Pee-wee’s Playhouse; the movie Pee-wee's Big Adventure; and a Netflix film. His 1991 arrest due to indecent exposure changed his image to a great extent.

 9 
Michael Weatherly
(Best Known For His Portrayal of 'Anthony DiNozzo' on the Hit CBS Series 'NCIS')
Michael Weatherly
11
Birthdate: July 8, 1968
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Michael Weatherly is an American actor, director, and producer. He is best known for portraying Anthony DiNozzo in the TV series NCIS. Michael Weatherly became involved in a controversy in 2019 when actress Eliza Dushku accused him of sexual harassment on the set of the legal drama television series Bull. Dushku was subsequently fired from the series.

 10 
Jason Alexander
(Actor)
Jason Alexander
27
Birthdate: September 23, 1959
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Newark, New Jersey, United States
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 11 
Alicia Witt
(Actress)
Alicia Witt
14
Birthdate: August 21, 1975
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 12 
Alfre Woodard
(Best Known for Her Roles in the Films ‘Annabelle’ and the Remake of ‘The Lion King’)
Alfre Woodard
34
Birthdate: November 8, 1952
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States

Alfre Woodard is an American actress. Considered one of the most accomplished and versatile actresses of her generation, Woodard was named in The New York Times' The 25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century list in 2020. Also a political activist, Woodard is credited with founding Artists for a New South Africa, which aims at advancing equality in South Africa.

 13 
Bill O'Reilly
(Conservative Political Commentator Best Known for Hosting Fox News Channel's ‘The O'Reilly Factor’)
Bill O'Reilly
22
Birthdate: September 10, 1949
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Bill O'Reilly is an American author, journalist, and former TV host. The host of Fox News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly played a major role in the success of Fox News Channel during his time at the channel. He is also credited with founding the No Spin News podcast, which he has been hosting since 2017.

 14 
Zoe Perry
(Film actress)
Zoe Perry
10
Birthdate: September 26, 1983
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 15 
Jenna Marbles
(YouTuber)
Jenna Marbles
23
Listed In: YouTubers
Birthdate: September 15, 1986
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Rochester, New York, United States
Jenna Marbles, famed YouTube star and vlogger, had the 177th-most-subscribed YouTube channel as of November 2020. In June 2020, she announced she would be quitting YouTube indefinitely and apologized for some racist posts. She is the first social-media star to have a Madame Tussauds Museum wax statue in New York. 
 16 
Aaron Sorkin
(Playwright)
Aaron Sorkin
7
Birthdate: June 9, 1961
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States

Aaron Sorkin is an American filmmaker, playwright, and screenwriter. He won the Academy Award for writing the popular film The Social Network. Aaron Sorkin is credited with popularizing his trademark extended monologues and fast-paced dialogue in films. He is also known for using single tracking shots of long duration where multiple characters enter and exit the conversation.

 17 
Jessica Rothe
(Actress)
Jessica Rothe
12
Birthdate: May 28, 1987
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Denver, Colorado, United States
Jessica Rothe is best known for her roles of Paige in the series Mary + Jane and Tree Gelbman in the black comedy film Happy Death Day and its sequel. She has also appeared in the sci-fi series Utopia and in the films La La Land and Forever My Girl
 18 
Michael Chiklis
(Actor)
Michael Chiklis
8
Birthdate: August 30, 1963
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 19 
Shraddha Kapoor
(Actress)
Shraddha Kapoor
18
Birthdate: March 3, 1987
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 20 
Uzo Aduba
(Actress)
Uzo Aduba
23
Birthdate: February 10, 1981
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 21 
Shane McMahon
(American Professional Wrestler, Founder and Executive Chairman of 'Ideanomics')
Shane McMahon
21
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: January 15, 1970
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States
Entrepreneur and wrestler Shane McMahon is the son of WWE CEO Vince McMahon and wrestling performer and politician Linda McMahon. Shane heads Ideanomics as its vice-chairman and is a minority owner of WWE. He was previously the CEO of YOU On Demand. He has won several titles as a wrestler.
 22 
Mariel Hemingway
15
Birthdate: November 22, 1961
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Mill Valley, California, United States
Mariel Hemingway is best known for her Academy Award- and BAFTA-nominated performance in Woody Allen's Manhattan. She also earned Golden Globe nominations for her debut in Lipstick as a teenager and for the series Civil Wars. She practices transcendental meditation and has also hosted a series of yoga videos.
 23 
Paul Michael Glaser
(Actor and Director Known for His Role as ‘Detective Dave Starsky’ in the TV Series ‘Starsky & Hutch’)
Paul Michael Glaser
6
Birthdate: March 25, 1943
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Paul Michael Glaser is best known as Dave Starsky from the series Starsky & Hutch and as Jack Steeper from the series Third Watch. He has also directed films such as Kazaam. He has chaired the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, named after his first wife, who died of AIDS.
 24 
Olympia Dukakis
(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Rose Castorini’ in the Film ‘Moonstruck’)
Olympia Dukakis
21
Birthdate: June 20, 1931
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Lowell, Massachusetts, United States
Died: May 1, 2021
Olympia Dukakis gained recognition for her Obie Award-winning performance in the play Man Equals Man. She was also seen as Rose Castorini in Moonstruck, a role that earned her an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. Fans also loved her in the TV film Lucky Day and the miniseries Sinatra.
 25 
Marc Maron
(Stand-Up Comedian and Actor Best Known for the Podcast ‘WTF with Marc Maron’)
Marc Maron
4
Birthdate: September 27, 1963
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Jersey City, New Jersey, United States
Stand-up comedian Marc Maron has been featured on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Late Show with David Letterman multiple times. He also hosted Never Mind the Buzzcocks and the weekly podcast WTF with Marc Maron. He has also presented his own IFC show, Maron, and published three books.
 26 
Katya Zamolodchikova
(American Drag Queen Known for Her Stint in 'RuPaul's Drag Race')
Katya Zamolodchikova
39
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: May 1, 1982
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Katya Zamolodchikova is the drag persona of Brian Joseph McCook. Katya is a drag queen, actor, author, and comedian. She has participated in RuPaul's Drag Race on Logo TV and has appeared in the web series UNHhhh. Regarded as one of the most powerful drag queens in America, she was named “Drag Royalty” by The Queerties in 2020.

 27 
Hong Chau
(Actress)
Hong Chau
1
Birthdate: December 31, 1969
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Thailand
 28 
Kim Raver
(Best Known for Her Role as 'Dr. Teddy Altman' in the Medical Drama 'Grey's Anatomy')
Kim Raver
6
Birthdate: March 15, 1969
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: New York City, United States
Kim Raver is best known as Dr. Teddy Altman from Grey's Anatomy. She has also appeared as Kim Zambrano in Third Watch, Nico Reilly in Lipstick Jungle, and Audrey Raines in 24. She has also appeared in the film Night at the Museum and voiced Captain Marvel in Marvel Rising.
 29 
Michelle Hurd
(Actress)
Michelle Hurd
9
Birthdate: December 21, 1966
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 30 
Howard Stern
(Best Known for His Radio Show 'The Howard Stern Show')
Howard Stern
31
Birthdate: January 12, 1954
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Jackson Heights, New York, United States

Howard Stern is an American television and radio personality who played a major role in popularizing Transcendental Meditation in the United States. He claimed that the technique cured his mother of depression, helped him quit smoking, and beat obsessive-compulsive disorder. Howard Stern is also a prominent fund raiser for an animal rescue organization called North Shore Animal League America.

 31 
Katie Aselton
(Actress Known for her Roles in 'The League' and 'Legion')
Katie Aselton
5
Birthdate: October 1, 1978
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Milbridge, Maine, United States
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 32 
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
94
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: October 13, 1989
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States
 33 
Peter Scanavino
11
Birthdate: February 29, 1980
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Denver, Colorado, United States

Peter Scanavino is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Det./ADA Dominick Carisi Jr. in the popular crime drama TV series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Before establishing himself as a noteworthy actor, Peter Scanavino worked in the kitchen of Blue Hill restaurant, thanks to his interest in cooking. However, his time in Blue Hill restaurant was brief.

 34 
Rob Mariano
(Television personality)
Rob Mariano
8
Birthdate: December 25, 1975
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 35 
Joshua Safdie
(Known for writing and directing the crime thriller films Good Time)
Joshua Safdie
1
Birthdate: April 3, 1984
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: New York, United States
 36 
Ryan Haddon
(Journalist and News Presenter Known for Her Shows: ‘The Roseanne Show’, ‘Chronicles from California’ and ‘Hollywood Heat’)
Ryan Haddon
2
Birthdate: April 17, 1971
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: United States

Ryan Haddon is a seasoned journalist having worked for various publications and television networks. The daughter of a Vietnamese-Canadian actress, Ryan is popular for her the shows like NewsHour and Good Morning America. Her reporting focused on the entertainment domain. Haddon is married twice, first to actor, Christian Slater, and then to Marc Blucas. She has two children from each marriage.

 37 
Nick Fuentes
(Political commentator, Youtuber)
Nick Fuentes
2
Birthdate: August 18, 1998
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
 38 
Michaela Watkins
(Actress)
Michaela Watkins
1
Birthdate: December 14, 1971
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Syracuse, New York, USA
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 39 
Estelle Parsons
(Actress)
Estelle Parsons
4
Birthdate: November 20, 1927
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Marblehead, Massachusetts, USA
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 40 
John Cazale
106
Birthdate: August 12, 1935
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Revere, Massachusetts, United States
Died: March 12, 1978

John Cazale is best remembered for his memorable performance as Fredo Corleone in two The Godfather films. Fans also loved him in The Deer Hunter, The Conversation, and Dog Day Afternoon. He also performed in Broadway and off-Broadway plays. He met an untimely death at 42, due to lung cancer.

 41 
Dan Avidan
(Musician)
Dan Avidan
7
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: March 14, 1979
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Springfield, New Jersey, United States
 42 
Ike Barinholtz
(Comedian)
Ike Barinholtz
7
Birthdate: February 18, 1977
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 43 
Jeff Ross
(Stand-up comedian)
Jeff Ross
4
Birthdate: September 13, 1965
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey Springfield, New Jersey, U.S.
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 44 
Bill Simmons
(Author, Podcaster)
Bill Simmons
0
Birthdate: September 25, 1969
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Marlborough, Massachusetts, United States
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 45 
Kristine Leahy
3
Birthdate: October 17, 1986
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 46 
Bill Duke
(Actor)
Bill Duke
4
Birthdate: February 26, 1943
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Poughkeepsie, New York, United States
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 47 
Russell Hornsby
2
Birthdate: May 15, 1974
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 48 
Craig Bierko
(Actor)
Craig Bierko
1
Birthdate: August 18, 1964
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Rye Brook, New York, USA
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 49 
Kim Stanley Robinson
(Writer)
Kim Stanley Robinson
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: March 23, 1952
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Waukegan, Illinois, United States
 50 
Jhumpa Lahiri
(American Author Best Known for Her Books: ‘Interpreter of Maladies’ and ‘Unaccustomed Earth’)
Jhumpa Lahiri
40
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: July 11, 1967
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom
Jhumpa Lahiri is an Indian-American author who mainly writes mostly about the experiences faced by East Indian immigrants and also about their practices and traditions. Recipient of several awards, she received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and PEN/Hemingway Award for her first publication, Interpreter of Maladies.
The Boston College is a reputed institution in the beautiful Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, United States. With over 9000 under-graduates and close to 5000 graduates, Boston College is by far one of the most reputed institutions in the world. This institution is a member of the ‘Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities’, being one of the oldest ‘Collegiate Gothic’ in the entire North America. As per the ‘U.S. News & World Report’ the Boston Collage is ranked a whopping 31 among the best national educational institutions. With about 9 schools and colleges, the Boston College offers a bachelor’s degree, master’s degrees, and the prestigious doctoral degrees. This institution has 26 outstanding athletic teams, where the best among the lot are chosen to represent the institution in the field of sports. The ‘Boston College's men's ice hockey’ team is one of the most celebrated hockey teams in the entire North America after winning 5 prestigious national awards. Most of the alumni of this collage have made a big name for themselves and are out on the way to make this world a better and a more competitive place to live in. Some of the famous alumni of this outstanding institution are, the fantastic football player, Doug Flutie and the famous American diplomat, John Kerry or for that matter, the very beautiful actress Amy Poehler. These celebrities have raised the bar of excellence expected for the other student in this institution. They sure are idols worth imitating and emulating.