McGill University

Discover the notable alumni of McGill University. The list includes people like Christopher Plummer, Mackenzie Davis, Burt Bacharach, Cameron Mathison & Jessalyn Gilsig. This list of notable alumni is loosely sorted by popularity and has people from different domains of life, such as film & theater personalities, musicians etc.
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 1 
Jordan Peterson
(Canadian Clinical Psychologist and Author)
Jordan Peterson
120
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: June 12, 1962
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Edmonton, Canada

Canadian clinical psychologist, writer and YouTuber, Jordan Peterson became internationally known in the 2010s for his views on cultural and political issues. He propogates his views and ideas primarily through YouTube and podcasts. He has shared many videos and podcasts that have received millions of views.

 2 
Zbigniew Brzezinski
(9th United States National Security Advisor)
Zbigniew Brzezinski
13
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: March 28, 1928
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Warsaw, Poland
Died: May 26, 2017
Polish-American diplomat Zbigniew Brzezinski had been a counselor to President Lyndon B. Johnson and the National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter. He believed in the realist school of international relations. He also taught foreign policy and was seen in programs such as The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer.
 3 
Rachelle Lefevre
(Actress known for her portrayal of the vampire Victoria in the Twilight Saga)
Rachelle Lefevre
12
Birthdate: February 1, 1979
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Montreal, Canada
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 4 
Julie Payette
(29th Governor General of Canada Who Served from 2017 to 2021)
Julie Payette
22
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: October 20, 1963
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Canadian engineer and astronaut Julie Payette has been the Governor General of Canada from 2017 to 2021. She was initially a research scientist and then joined the Canadian Space Agency, eventually completing two spaceflights. Payette resigned as governor general after a workplace review accused her of workplace harassment.
 5 
Charles Krauthammer
(Political Columnist Who Won the Pulitzer Prize in 1987 for his columns in 'The Washington Post')
Charles Krauthammer
11
Birthdate: March 13, 1950
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: June 21, 2018

Best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning column in The Washington Post, Fox News commentator and political expert Charles Krauthammer was also a qualified psychiatrist. He was rendered paralyzed from the waist down at 22, after an accident while studying medicine at Harvard, but completed his degree nevertheless.

 6 
Mackenzie Davis
(Canadian Actress Known for Her Films: ‘Smashed’, ‘Breathe In’, ‘The F Word’ and ‘That Awkward Moment’)
Mackenzie Davis
37
Birthdate: April 1, 1987
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada

Mackenzie Davis is a Canadian actress who made headlines after being cast in the popular science-fiction film Terminator: Dark Fate. In the film, she played a super soldier from the future. Mackenzie Davis serves as an inspiration to many young aspiring actors and actresses from Canada.

 7 
James Naismith
(The Inventor of the Game of 'Basketball')
James Naismith
12
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: November 6, 1861
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Almonte, Mississippi Mills, Canada
Died: November 28, 1939
Canadian-American physician and coach James Naismith is considered as the inventor of basketball. He authored the first basksetball rule book and established the University of Kansas basketball team. He served as the Kansas Jayhawks athletic director and coach, and trained legends such as Adolph Rupp and Dean Smith.
 8 
Laurie Holden
(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Andrea’ in the TV Series ‘The Walking Dead’)
Laurie Holden
5
Birthdate: December 17, 1969
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States

Laurie Holden is an American-Canadian model, actress, and producer. She is best known for her portrayal of Andrea in the popular horror television series The Walking Dead, for which she received the 2012 Satellite Award and 2013 Saturn Award. Also known for her human rights activism and charity work, Laurie Holden works closely with organizations that campaign against human trafficking.

 9 
Mia Kirshner
(Actress)
Mia Kirshner
17
Birthdate: January 25, 1975
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 10 
Steven Pinker
(Cognitive Psychologist and Advocate of Evolutionary Psychology and the Computational Theory of Mind)
Steven Pinker
8
Birthdate: September 18, 1954
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Montreal, Canada

Steven Pinker is a Canadian-American linguist, cognitive psychologist, and popular science author. He is also a supporter of the computational theory of mind and evolutionary psychology. His works have earned him awards from organizations like the National Academy of Sciences, the American Psychological Association, and the American Humanist Association. In 2013, he was named in Prospect magazine's World Thinkers list.

 11 
Jessalyn Gilsig
10
Birthdate: November 30, 1971
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Montreal, Canada
Canadian actor Jessalyn Gilsig is best known as Lauren Davis from Boston Public and Gina Russo from Nip/Tuck. Fans also loved her as Terri Schuester in Glee and as Siggy Haraldson in Vikings. She has also played prominent roles in movies such as The Stepfather and Spree.
 12 
Hume Cronyn
(Canadian-American Actor and Writer)
Hume Cronyn
6
Birthdate: July 18, 1911
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: London, Canada
Died: June 15, 2003

Born to a politician father and a brewery heiress mother, actor Hume Cronyn, initially showed promise as a boxer. He teamed up with Alfred Hitchcock for films such as Shadow of a Doubt. The film The Seventh Cross, set in Nazi Germany, earned him an Academy Award nomination.

 13 
Wilfrid Laurier
(7th Prime Minister of Canada (1896 -1911))
Wilfrid Laurier
2
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: November 20, 1841
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Saint-Lin-Laurentides, Canada
Died: February 17, 1919

Wilfrid Laurier was a Canadian politician who served as the seventh prime minister of Canada; he was in office from 1896 to 1911. Counted amongst the country's greatest statesmen, he envisioned Canada as a “land of individual liberty and decentralized federalism.” He was placed first on Maclean's historical ranking of Canadian prime ministers in 2011.

 14 
Samantha Bee
(Comedienne, Actress, Writer and Television Host)
Samantha Bee
4
Birthdate: October 25, 1969
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada

Samantha Bee is a Canadian-American political commentator, television host, comedienne, producer, and writer. Bee achieved international recognition for her 12-year tenure as a correspondent on the late-night talk and satirical news program The Daily Show. In 2017, she was named in Time magazine's 100 most influential people in the world list. In 2017, she also won a Primetime Emmy Award.

 15 
Cameron Mathison
(Actor and Television Host Known for His Role as ‘Ryan Lavery’ in TV Series ‘All My Children’)
Cameron Mathison
6
Birthdate: August 25, 1969
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Sarnia, Canada

Canadian-American actor and TV host, Cameron Mathison, is best known for playing the role of Ryan Lavery in the soap opera All My Children. A professionally qualified civil engineer, he changed his field of work and ventured into acting. Even though he has appeared in a couple of films, he works primarily in the TV industry. 

 16 
Sophie Grégoire
(Former TV Host & Wife of 23rd Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau)
Sophie Grégoire
12
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: April 24, 1975
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Montreal, Canada
Former TV host Sophie Grégoire is better known as the wife of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. She has now immersed herself in philanthropy and public speaking. She has been associated with WE Charity and works for women and children. She has also been eTalk's Quebec correspondent.
 17 
Régine Chassagne
(Canadian Rock Singer, Musician and Founding Member of the Indie Rock Band 'Arcade Fire')
Régine Chassagne
2
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: August 19, 1976
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Montreal, Canada

Régine Chassagne is a Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She is a founding member of the indie rock band Arcade Fire. She began her career as a jazz performer and met fellow musician Win Butler, with whom she started Arcade Fire. The couple got married and continue to perform together. She is a shareholder in the music streaming service company Tidal

 18 
Edgar Bronfman Sr.
(Businessman)
Edgar Bronfman Sr.
1
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: June 20, 1929
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Montreal, Canada
Died: December 21, 2013

Edgar Bronfman Sr. was a Canadian-American entrepreneur best remembered for his role as president, treasurer, and CEO for the popular multinational conglomerate, Seagram. Bronfman was also a philanthropist who helped organizations like Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. In 1999, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

 19 
Moshe Safdie
(Architect, urban designer, educator, theorist, and author who designed Habitat 67, a model housing complex and landmark in Montreal)
Moshe Safdie
0
Listed In: Architects
Birthdate: July 14, 1938
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Haifa, Israel

Moshe Safdie is an architect, educator, urban planner, author, and theorist. He is best known for designing Jewel Changi Airport, Marina Bay Sands, and Habitat 67. Widely regarded as a thought leader, Safdie's work has inspired generations of architects all around the world. 

 20 
Gad Saad
(Canadian Professor and Youtuber Known for Applying Evolutionary Psychology to Marketing and Consumer Behaviour)
Gad Saad
2
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: October 13, 1964
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon

Lebanese-Canadian evolutionary-psychologist Gad Saad is best-known for applying evolutionary-psychology to marketing and consumer behaviour. He is a professor of marketing at Concordia University, an advisory fellow for the Centre for Inquiry Canada, and the Concordia University Research Chairman in Evolutionary Behavioural Sciences and Darwinian Consumption. He hosts the YouTube channel The Saad Truth and writes a blog for Psychology Today.

 21 
Cas Anvar
(Actor known for roles as Dr Singh in The Tournament, Alex Kamal in The Expanse)
Cas Anvar
1
Birthdate: March 15, 1966
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Regina, Canada
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 22 
Claire Saffitz
(Chef Who Was a Contributing Editor at Bon Appétit Magazine)
Claire Saffitz
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: September 16, 1986
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
 23 
Justin Trudeau
(23rd Prime Minister of Canada)
Justin Trudeau
94
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: December 25, 1971
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Ottawa, Canada

Justin Trudeau is one of the most popular and good-looking Canadian politicians of all time. His good looks have made women and men go weak in their knees. After becoming the second-youngest prime minister of Canada, Justin went on to become one of the most liked politicians around the world.

 24 
David Berry
(Actor)
David Berry
1
Birthdate: January 18, 1984
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 25 
Rufus Wainwright
(Opera Singer & Son of Musicians Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle)
Rufus Wainwright
6
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: July 22, 1973
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Rhinebeck, New York, United States

Rufus Wainwright is an American-Canadian composer, singer, and songwriter. In 1998, Wainwright was recognized as the Best New Artist by Rolling Stone magazine. Over the years, he has received several awards like Juno Awards and GLAAD Media Awards. He has also received nominations for prestigious awards like the Grammys and BRIT Awards.

 26 
Frances Oldham Kelsey
(Canadian-American Pharmacologist Known for Preventing 'Thalidomide' From Being Marketed in the United States)
Frances Oldham Kelsey
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: July 24, 1914
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Cobble Hill, British Columbia, Canada
Died: August 7, 2015

As part of the FDA, Frances Oldham Kelsey prevented thalidomide from being allowed in the US drug market as a painkiller, as she was unsure of its impact. Her concerns were proved right when the drug caused birth defects in European children. She was subsequently awarded by the US president.

 27 
Colin Ferguson
(Actor, Director)
Colin Ferguson
0
Birthdate: July 22, 1972
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 28 
Claire Elise Boucher
(Pop Singer-Songwriter Known for Her Album 'Visions')
Claire Elise Boucher
42
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: March 17, 1988
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada

Claire Elise Boucher is a musician whose music incorporates elements of various genres like electronic, hip-hop, and R&B, which reflects her hard-partying and volatile lifestyle; she once tried sailing down the Mississippi River in a houseboat built by her and a friend before the boat was impounded. Open about her drug use in the past, Boucher now advocates against hard drugs.

 29 
Jack Layton
(Canadian Politician and Former Leader of the New Democratic Party)
Jack Layton
2
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: July 18, 1950
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Died: August 22, 2011

Canadian politician John Layton was Member of the Canadian Parliament for Toronto—Danforth from 2004 till his death in 2011. He served as Leader of the New Democratic Party from January 2003 till his death and led the party to garner increased support in each election, in particular during the 2011 election following which Layton became Leader of the Opposition.   

 30 
Jade Raymond
(Canadian Video Game Creator Best Known for Helping Create the 'Assassin’s Creed' and 'Watch Dogs' Franchises)
Jade Raymond
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: August 28, 1975
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Montreal, Canada

Canadian video-game creator and former Ubisoft executive Jade Raymond is best known for creating the Assassin’s Creed game franchise. Also known for her Watch Dogs games, she has announced the creation of a Montreal-based personal studio, Haven Studios. She has previously worked with Google’s Stadia Games streaming service.

 31 
Suroosh Alvi
(Canadian Journalist, Filmmaker and Co-Founder of the Media Brand 'Vice Media')
Suroosh Alvi
0
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: March 26, 1969
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Toronto, Canada

Suroosh Alvi is a Canadian filmmaker and journalist of Pakistani origin. He is credited with co-founding a digital media and broadcasting company called Vice Media which is currently operating in over 50 countries. As a filmmaker, Suroosh Alvi has produced documentaries that deal with controversial issues, such as the Iraq War and the rise of global terrorism.

 32 
Gail Simmons
(Canadian-American Cookbook Author and Food Writer)
Gail Simmons
3
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: May 19, 1976
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 33 
Alessandro Juliani
(Canadian Singer and Actor)
Alessandro Juliani
0
Birthdate: July 6, 1975
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 34 
George Genereux
(Sport shooter)
George Genereux
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 1, 1935
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Died: April 10, 1989
 35 
Willard Boyle
(Canadian Physicist)
Willard Boyle
0
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: August 19, 1924
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Amherst, Canada
Died: May 7, 2011

Willard Boyle revolutionized physics with the invention of the charge-coupled device (CCD), which also earned him, and his co-inventor George E. Smith, a Nobel Prize. During his time at Bellcomm, he was associated with the Apollo space program. Both he and Smith worked for Bell Laboratories, too.

 36 
Chilly Gonzales
(Musical Polymath Known for His Rap Albums and Collaborations With Musicians 'Feist' and 'Drake')
Chilly Gonzales
1
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: March 20, 1972
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Montreal, Canada

Chilly Gonzales is the stage name of Jason Charles Beck, a Canadian musician, songwriter, and producer. A versatile personality, he works in a range of musical genres, including rap, pop, and classical music. He embarked on a career in music as a young man and established himself in the field within a few years. He is a Grammy Award winner. 

 37 
Mike Babcock
(Canadian Former Ice Hockey Coach)
Mike Babcock
2
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: April 29, 1963
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Manitouwadge, Ontario, Canada
 38 
Douglas Coupland
(Canadian Novelist, Designer and Visual Artist)
Douglas Coupland
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: December 30, 1961
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: CFB Baden–Soellingen, Germany

Douglas Coupland is a Canadian novelist and artist who popularized the term “Generation X” mentioned in his international bestseller Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture. He has published several novels, collections of short stories, and works of non-fiction. His art is frequently exhibited at the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art. 

 39 
Athena Karkanis
(Actress)
Athena Karkanis
2
Birthdate: May 16, 1981
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 40 
Evan Goldberg
(Screenwriter, Producer, Comedian, and Director)
Evan Goldberg
3
Birthdate: September 15, 1982
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada

Evan Goldberg is a Canadian screenwriter, comedian, and film and TV producer, and director.  He attended Point Grey Secondary School, where he befriended future actor Seth Rogen. The two men often collaborate and have worked together on projects, such as Superbad, Pineapple Express, and This Is the End. They won a Canadian Comedy Award for Superbad. 

 

 41 
Dick Pound
(Canadian Swimming Champion, First President of the World Anti-doping Agency & Vice President of the International Olympic Committee)
Dick Pound
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 22, 1942
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: St. Catharines, Canada
 42 
Michael Latifi
(Owner, Chairman and CEO of Sofina Foods Inc.)
Michael Latifi
1
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: 1962
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Imperial State of Iran
 43 
Autumn Phillips
(Peter Phillips' ex-wife, Actress)
Autumn Phillips
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: May 3, 1978
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Montreal, Canada
 44 
Gerald Butts
(Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of Canada from 2015 to 2019)
Gerald Butts
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: July 8, 1971
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Glace Bay, Canada
 45 
Alexandre Trudeau
(Canadian Journalist, Author and Second Son of Canada's Former Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau)
Alexandre Trudeau
11
Birthdate: December 25, 1973
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa

The brother of former Canadian PM Pierre Trudeau and the brother of the current PM Justin Trudeau, Alexandre Trudeau is a documentary filmmaker and journalist who has covered events from Baghdad to the Balkans. He is also the author of Barbarian Lost, his reflection on his experiences in China.

 46 
Daliso Chaponda
(Comedian)
Daliso Chaponda
0
Birthdate: November 29, 1979
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Zambia
 47 
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
(Canadian Football Guard)
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 11, 1991
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 48 
Sam Roberts
(Rock singer-songwriter)
Sam Roberts
0
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: October 2, 1974
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Westmount, Quebec, Canada
 49 
Paul Desmarais
(Financier)
Paul Desmarais
2
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: January 4, 1927
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Greater Sudbury, Canada
Died: October 8, 2013
 50 
Simcha Jacobovici
(Three-time Emmy winner for Outstanding Investigative Journalism)
Simcha Jacobovici
0
Birthdate: April 4, 1953
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Petah Tikva, Israel