Northwestern University Notable Alumni

Zooey Deschanel is an American actress known for her deadpan roles in successful comedy films, such as The Good Girl, Elf, Failure to Launch, Yes Man and 500 Days of Summer. She also acted in the popular sitcom New Girl. She is also a singer and songwriter and plays keyboards, percussion, banjo, and ukulele. Zooey is a co-founder of the female-focused website, HelloGiggles.

Charlton Heston was an American actor whose cinematic legacy became the subject of an 11-film retrospective titled Cinematic Atlas: The Triumphs of Charlton Heston. Also a political activist, Charlton Heston was one of the few Hollywood actors to criticize racism in the 1950s and 1960s; he was also a supporter of the Civil Rights Movement.

David Schwimmer is best known for portraying the role of Ross Geller in the hugely popular and successful American television series, Friends, which ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004. He has also worked in films like Kissing a Fool, Apt Pupil, Picking up the Pieces and The Iceman.

Swedish-American actress and singer Ann-Margret was initially described as a female version of Elvis Presley due to her vibrant contralto voice. The winner of five Golden Globe Awards, Ann-Margret had a major impact as an actress throughout the 1960s. Her affair with Elvis Presley was depicted in the 2005 miniseries Elvis in which she is portrayed by Rose McGowan.

Stephen Colbert is an American actor, comedian, political commentator, and television host. Over the years, Stephen Colbert has influenced popular comedians, such as James Corden, Billy Eichner, Mindy Kaling, Jordan Klepper, and Hasan Minhaj. He has been twice named on Time magazine's list of 100 Most Influential People.

As the founder of Playboy magazine, Hugh Hefner changed the way people viewed nudity. Known for his enviable lifestyle, he resided in luxury mansions along with his Playboy Playmates. Also a well-known philanthropist, Hefner made significant donations to various causes. He also supported freedom of expression and sexual liberation.

American actor Zachary Braff made his mark in the entertainment industry with the long running television series Scrubs and later with Alex, Inc. As a director and scriptwriter, his first movie Garden State was critically acclaimed and won numerous awards including a Grammy. The popular actor has done theatres and also voiced for many commercials and Disney animations like Chicken Little.

Cloris Leachman is an actress and comedian. One of the most decorated American actresses of all time, Cloris Leachman has won several prestigious awards in an illustrious career spanning more than seven decades; she is the most awarded actress in the history of Emmy Awards, along with Julia Louis-Dreyfus. She has also received an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award.

One of the most acclaimed and celebrated American filmmakers of all time, Warren Beatty has received 15 Oscar nominations as actor, producer, director, and screenwriter. He has also been involved in politics as a supporter of the Democratic Party; he played an important role in organizing fundraising for George McGovern's presidential campaign. He is also known for his Casanova image.

Dermot Mulroney is an American actor best known for his work in the Western, romantic comedy, and drama films. Also an acclaimed cellist, Mulroney has played the cello in movies like Star Trek Into Darkness and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. Also known for his looks, he was named in People magazine's Sexiest Men of the Year list in 2005.

Lawyer Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln, served as the U.S. Secretary of War from 1881 to 1885 and as the U.S. minister to the U.K. from 1889 to 1893. He had served in the Civil War, too, and had also been the president of the Pullman Car Company. 

English-born American television presenter, actor, politician, and musician Jerry Springer is a multifaceted man. A qualified lawyer, he shifted to politics from law as a young man. After a few years, he moved to journalism and found considerable success. As a TV presenter, he is best known for the tabloid talk show, The Jerry Springer Show. 

Best known for his villainous roles, American actor Clancy Brown is the son of renowned publisher and politician Clarence J. "Bud" Brown Jr. He soared to fame with his performance as Captain Byron Hadley in The Shawshank Redemption. He also voiced Mr. Krabs in the Nickelodeon animated series Spongebob Squarepants.

Maude Apatow is an American actress. The daughter of actress Leslie Mann and filmmaker Judd Apatow, Maude Apatow followed in the footsteps of her parents to establish a career in Hollywood. Also a popular social media personality, Apatow's Twitter account was named by Time magazine as one of the Best Twitter Feeds of 2013.

Kimberly Williams-Paisley is an American actress best known for her starring role in the 1991 comedy film Father of the Bride and its 1995 sequel. Also known for her skills as a writer and filmmaker, Kimberly Williams-Paisley made the critically acclaimed 2006 short film Shade, which won several awards.

Garry Marshall was an American screenwriter, actor, and filmmaker. He is credited with creating the popular television series Happy Days and its several spin-offs. He is also credited with co-creating other TV series like Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy. Makin' It, a 1979 sitcom starring David Naughton, was also co-created by Garry Marshall.

Paul Lynde was an American comedian, actor, game show panelist, and voice artist. Lynde was much-loved and admired by his peers and often featured in lists, such as the most-liked TV stars. Throughout his life, Lynde was rumored to be homosexual and was popular among the homosexual community. In 2020, it was revealed that Lynde's biopic was in the making.

Nicolle Wallace has been Jeb Bush's press secretary, the White House communications director under George W. Bush, and John McCain’s senior political advisor. She has also hosted Deadline: White House and The View, and written three political novels, including Eighteen Acres. A self-proclaimed “non-practicing Republican,” she supports same-sex marriage.

Aimee Garcia is an American writer and actress best known for her portrayal of television roles, such as Yvonne Sanchez in Vegas, Veronica Palmero in George Lopez's eponymous sitcom, and Jamie Batista in Dexter. Her performance in Dexter was honored with a Special Achievement in Television award at the 2013 American Latino Media Arts Award.

Marg Helgenberger is best known for her Emmy-winning role as K.C. Koloski in the ABC series China Beach. Fans also loved her as Siobhan Ryan in the soap Ryan's Hope and as Catherine Willows in the series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. She is also associated with a breast-cancer-related philanthropic venture.

Noah Wyle is an American actor best known for playing John Carter in the popular medical drama television series ER, for which he received nominations for five Primetime Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards. Also known for his philanthropic activities and political advocacy, Wyle works closely with organizations like Doctors of the World and World Wide Fund for Nature.

Richard Kind is an American actor who has played important roles in TV series like Mad About You, Spin City, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Also known for his voice acting skills, Kind has voiced prominent characters in popular animation films, such as A Bug's Life, Cars, Toy Story 3, Cars 2, and Inside Out.

Comedian McLean Stevenson is best remembered for his Golden Globe-winning and Emmy-nominated role of Henry Blake in the series M*A*S*H. He also appeared on Match Game and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and gained fame as Larry Alder in Hello, Larry. He also appeared in Condo and Dirty Dancing.

A multifaceted personality, Karen Black was an actress, screenwriter, singer, and songwriter. In the 1970s, she appeared in many major studio and independent films, mostly playing eccentric and unconventional characters. She became known as a figure of New Hollywood. Her career spanned five decades and she continued working until shortly before her death.

Ron Reagan is an American political commentator and former radio host. Unlike his father Ronald Reagan, who was a Republican from 1962, Ron Reagan is a Democrat with liberal views; he has been politically active since 1989. He has also hosted shows, such as The Ron Reagan Show, Saturday Night Live, and Record Breakers.