Northwestern University Notable Alumni

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Discover the notable alumni of Northwestern University. The list includes people like Zooey Deschanel, David Schwimmer, Meghan Markle, Julia Louis-Dreyfus & Ann-Margret. 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, leaders, writers and musicians etc.
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 1 
Pharrell Williams
(Lead Vocalist of the of the Hip Hop Band ‘N.E.R.D’)
Pharrell Williams
32
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: April 5, 1973
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 2 
George R. R. Martin
(Author of Epic Fantasy Novels 'A Song of Ice and Fire')
George R. R. Martin
17
Birthdate: September 20, 1948
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Bayonne, New Jersey, United States
 3 
Cindy Crawford
(One of the Most Popular Supermodels During the 1980s and 1990s and a Ubiquitous Presence on Magazine Covers)
Cindy Crawford
26
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: February 20, 1966
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: DeKalb, Illinois, United States
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 4 
Meghan Markle
(The Duchess of Sussex)
Meghan Markle
173
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: August 4, 1981
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 5 
Zooey Deschanel
(Known for Her Deadpan Roles in Comedy Films)
Zooey Deschanel
64
Birthdate: January 17, 1980
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
 6 
Charlton Heston
(Actor and Political Activist )
Charlton Heston
33
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: October 4, 1923
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Evanston, Illinois, United States
Died: April 5, 2008
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 7 
David Schwimmer
(Famous for Portraying 'Ross Geller' in the Sitcom 'Friends')
David Schwimmer
55
Birthdate: November 2, 1966
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Flushing, New York, United States
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 8 
Stephen Colbert
(Host of the Satirical Comedy Central Show 'The Colbert Report')
Stephen Colbert
42
Birthdate: May 13, 1964
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 9 
Kathryn Hahn
(Best Known for Her Role as 'Lily Lebowski' in the NBC Crime Drama Series 'Crossing Jordan')
Kathryn Hahn
31
Birthdate: July 23, 1973
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Westchester, Illinois, United States
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 10 
Ann-Margret
(Actress & Singer)
Ann-Margret
33
Birthdate: April 28, 1941
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Valsjöbyn, Sweden
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 11 
Hugh Hefner
(Founder of 'Playboy' Magazine)
Hugh Hefner
61
Birthdate: April 9, 1926
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: September 27, 2017
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 12 
Zach Braff
(Actor and Filmmaker Best Known for His Role as ‘J.D.’ in TV Series ‘Scrubs’)
Zach Braff
27
Birthdate: April 6, 1975
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: South Orange, New Jersey, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 13 
Cloris Leachman
(Actress and Comedienne Known for Role as ‘Phyllis Lindstrom’ in the TV Sitcom ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’)
Cloris Leachman
10
Birthdate: April 30, 1926
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Died: January 27, 2021
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 14 
Dermot Mulroney
(American Actor Who is Known for His Roles in Romantic Comedy, Western, and Drama Films)
Dermot Mulroney
10
Birthdate: October 31, 1963
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 15 
Jeri Ryan
(Actress)
Jeri Ryan
14
Birthdate: February 22, 1968
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Munich, Germany
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 16 
Robert Todd Lincoln
(35th United States Secretary of War & Son of Abraham Lincoln)
Robert Todd Lincoln
12
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: August 1, 1843
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Springfield, Illinois, United States
Died: July 25, 1926
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 17 
Warren Beatty
(Only Perosn to be Nominated at the Oscars Twice for Acting, Directing, Writing and Producing his Movies 'Heaven Can Wait' and 'Reds')
Warren Beatty
17
Birthdate: March 30, 1937
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 18 
Melissa Hart
(First Celebrity to Win the $1 Million Top Prize on TV Game Show 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune')
Melissa Hart
11
Birthdate: April 18, 1976
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Smithtown, New York, United States
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
 19 
Kristen Schaal
(Actress, Known for Her Voice Roles on “Bob's Burgers” and “Mabel Pines” on Disney's “Gravity Falls”)
Kristen Schaal
28
Birthdate: January 24, 1978
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Longmont, Colorado, United States
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 20 
Maude Apatow
(American Actress Best Known for Her Role as ‘Lexi Howard’ in the TV Series ‘Euphoria’)
Maude Apatow
20
Birthdate: December 15, 1997
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Los Banos, California, United States
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 21 
Clancy Brown
(Known for His Negative Roles)
Clancy Brown
17
Birthdate: January 5, 1959
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Urbana, Ohio, United States
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 22 
Seth Meyers
(Host of 'Late Night with Seth Meyers' and Former Cast Member of 'Saturday Night Live;)
Seth Meyers
18
Birthdate: December 28, 1973
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Evanston, Illinois, United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 23 
Shelley Long
(Actress, Singer and Comedian Best Known for Her Role as ‘Diane Chambers’ in the TV Series ‘Cheers’)
Shelley Long
35
Birthdate: August 23, 1949
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 24 
Megan Mullally
(Actress and Comedian Best Known for Her Role as ‘Karen Walker’ on the NBC Sitcom ‘Will & Grace’)
Megan Mullally
14
Birthdate: November 12, 1958
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 25 
Jennifer Jones
10
Birthdate: March 2, 1919
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died: December 17, 2009
 26 
Kimberly Williams Paisley
(Actress Known for Her Co-Starring Roles)
Kimberly Williams Paisley
10
Birthdate: September 14, 1971
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Rye, New York, United States
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 27 
Billy Eichner
(Comedian, Actor)
Billy Eichner
6
Birthdate: September 18, 1978
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 28 
Garry Marshall
(Screenwriter, Actor, Film Director & Producer)
Garry Marshall
5
Birthdate: November 13, 1934
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States
Died: July 19, 2016
 29 
Robert Reed
(Actor)
Robert Reed
13
Birthdate: October 19, 1932
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Highland Park, Illinois, United States
Died: May 12, 1992
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 30 
Robert Conrad
(Actor)
Robert Conrad
5
Birthdate: March 1, 1935
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 31 
Zoe Perry
(Film actress)
Zoe Perry
8
Birthdate: September 26, 1983
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 32 
Jerry Springer
(Broadcaster, 56th Mayor of Cincinnati)
Jerry Springer
20
Birthdate: February 13, 1944
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Highgate, London, England
 33 
Mamie Gummer
(Actress)
Mamie Gummer
2
Birthdate: August 3, 1983
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 34 
Paul Lynde
(Comedian and Actor Known for His Role as ‘Uncle Arthur’ in the TV Series ‘Bewitched’)
Paul Lynde
8
Birthdate: June 13, 1926
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Mount Vernon, Ohio, United States
Died: January 10, 1982
 35 
Nicolle Wallace
(American Television Host and Former White House Communications Director (2005 - 2006))
Nicolle Wallace
16
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: February 4, 1972
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Orange County, California, United States
 36 
Patricia Neal
(A major star of the 1950s and 60s, she was the recipient of an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and two British Academy Film Awards)
Patricia Neal
8
Birthdate: January 20, 1926
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Packard, Kentucky, United States
Died: August 8, 2010
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 37 
Aimee Garcia
(Actress and Writer)
Aimee Garcia
14
Birthdate: November 28, 1978
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 38 
Robert Loggia
(Actor and Director)
Robert Loggia
10
Birthdate: January 3, 1930
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Staten Island, New York, United States
Died: December 4, 2015
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 39 
William Daniels
(Actor)
William Daniels
3
Birthdate: March 31, 1927
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 40 
Anna Gunn
(Actress)
Anna Gunn
14
Birthdate: August 11, 1968
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 41 
Nigel Ng
(Comedian)
Nigel Ng
8
Birthdate: March 15, 1991
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
 42 
Marg Helgenberger
(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Catherine Willows’ in the TV Series ‘CSI: Crime Scene Investigation’)
Marg Helgenberger
13
Birthdate: November 16, 1958
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Fremont, Nebraska, United States
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 43 
Noah Wyle
(Best Known for His Role as ‘John Carter’ in the TV Series ‘ER’)
Noah Wyle
6
Birthdate: June 4, 1971
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 44 
Karen Black
(American Actress, Screenwriter and Singer)
Karen Black
5
Birthdate: July 1, 1939
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Park Ridge, Illinois, United States
Died: August 8, 2013
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 45 
Richard Kind
(Actor and Comedian Known for His Role as ‘Dr. Mark Devanow’ in the TV Series ‘Mad About You’)
Richard Kind
3
Birthdate: November 22, 1956
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Trenton, New Jersey, United States
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 46 
McLean Stevenson
(Best Known for His Role as ‘Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake’ in the TV Series ‘M*A*S*H’)
McLean Stevenson
11
Birthdate: November 14, 1927
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Normal, Illinois, United States
Died: February 15, 1996
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 47 
Robert Knepper
(Actor)
Robert Knepper
5
Birthdate: July 8, 1959
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Fremont, Ohio, United States
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 48 
Saul Bellow
(Writer)
Saul Bellow
2
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: June 10, 1915
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Lachine, Montreal, Canada
Died: April 5, 2005
 49 
Jeffrey Hunter
(Actor Known for His 1965 Role as 'Captain Christopher Pike' in the Original Pilot Episode of 'Star Trek')
Jeffrey Hunter
4
Birthdate: November 25, 1926
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Died: May 27, 1969
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 50 
Otto Graham
(American Football Player)
Otto Graham
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 6, 1921
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Waukegan, Illinois, USA
Died: December 17, 2003
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
Northwestern University or NU is a private research university based out of Evanston, Illinois. The university has branched out to touch more lives with its quality education, with its branches in Chicago, San Francisco and Doha. The university traces its foundation back to the mid 1800’s and has striven to attain its current position of having the tenth largest university endowment in the United States of America. Being on the sustainable side, Northwestern University was also listed as one of the top 10 universities in the country purchasing renewable power, as per the Green Power Partnership in 2009. The university offers way over 2100 bachelor’s degrees, 3000 master’s degrees, 500 doctoral degrees and 400 professional degrees in several areas of study. Selection process and admissions are characterized as “most selective” as per the U.S. News & World Report, with an elite group of handpicked students who make the cut every year. With the student body comprising of 21,000 students from over 100 countries, the university is a mix of diverse cultures, which perfectly blend to provide an ideal learning environment. The notable board of faculty includes an esteemed list of individuals who have gone to accomplish great things in their areas of study. Some of its prominent alumni include David Schwimmer, Stephen Colbert, Julia-Louis-Dreyfus, Saul Bellow and so on. Presenting to you, a detailed list of outstanding achievers born out of Northwestern University.