Syracuse University Notable Alumni

Discover the notable alumni of Syracuse University. The list includes people like Joe Biden, Carmelo Anthony, Vera Farmiga, Grace Jones & Megyn Kelly. This list of notable alumni is loosely sorted by popularity and has people from different domains of life, such as media personalities, writers, sportspersons, film & theater personalities and singers etc.
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 1 
Carmelo Anthony
(American Basketball Player and One of the Greatest Scorers in NBA History)
Carmelo Anthony
32
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 29, 1984
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States

A star basketball player currently with Los Angeles Lakers, Carmelo Anthony was first drafted by Denver Nuggets and played eight seasons with them. Amongst the most prolific scorers in the NBA history, he played another seven season with New York Knicks. At the Olympics, Anthony was part of the teams that won  a bronze medal in 2004 and a goldmedal in 2008, 2012, and 2016.

 2 
Jim Brown
(Football Player)
Jim Brown
15
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 17, 1936
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: St. Simons, Georgia, United States
Died: May 18, 2023
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 3 
Lou Reed
(Lead Guitarist, Vocalist & Principal Songwriter of the Rock Band “The Velvet Underground”)
Lou Reed
17
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: March 2, 1942
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: October 27, 2013
Lou Reed redefined the glam rock genre with his album Transformer. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee initially wrote sings for Pickwick Records and performed with the Velvet Underground. He then released 20 solo albums. His parents had made him go through electro-shock therapy to “cure” his bisexuality.
 4 
Vera Farmiga
(Actress)
Vera Farmiga
50
Birthdate: August 6, 1973
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Clifton, New Jersey, United States

Vera Farmiga is a famous American actress and filmmaker. She is widely regarded as one of the most popular scream queens of Hollywood, thanks to her roles in movies like The Conjuring, Annabelle Comes Home, Joshua, and Orphan.

 5 
Dylan O'Brien
(Actor)
Dylan O'Brien
11
Birthdate: August 26, 1991
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New York City, United States
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 6 
Jerry Stiller
(Known for His Role on the Sitcom 'Seinfeld' and the Comedy Series ‘The King of Queens’)
Jerry Stiller
22
Birthdate: June 8, 1927
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New York City, United States
Died: May 11, 2020

Veteran actor Jerry Stiller had an extensive six-decade-long career in the entertainment industry. He began performing comedy with his wife, Anne Meara, in the 1960s and soon started acting in films and TV shows as well. His son, Ben Stiller, is also an actor, and the two had appeared in many films together.

 7 
Shirley Jackson
(American Writer Known Primarily for Her Works of Horror and Mystery)
Shirley Jackson
21
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: December 14, 1916
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Died: September 8, 1965
Shirley Jackson redefined the genres of horror and mystery through her works, which include over 200 short stories and six novels. Her iconic novel The Haunting of Hill House was made into a popular Netflix series and several movies, including the 1963 and 1999 versions of The Haunting
 8 
Peter Falk
(Best Known for His Role as ‘Lieutenant Columbo’ in the TV Series ‘Columbo’)
Peter Falk
15
Birthdate: September 16, 1927
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States
Died: June 23, 2011
Best known for his Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning performance in Columbo, Peter Falk was one of TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Stars of All Time. He also held art exhibitions and loved chess. He suffered from Alzheimer's disease before death. His plight inspired the passage of the Peter Falk's Law.
 9 
Vanessa Williams
26
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: March 18, 1963
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 10 
Suzanne Pleshette
(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Emily Hartley’ in the TV Series ‘The Bob Newhart Show’)
Suzanne Pleshette
16
Birthdate: January 31, 1937
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Brooklyn Heights, New York, United States
Died: January 19, 2008
Suzanne Pleshette is best remembered for her Golden Globe-nominated role in Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. She also appeared as Emily Hartley on The Bob Newhart Show and was nominated for both the Emmy and the Golden Globe for her portrayal of real-life hotelier Leona Helmsley in her biopic.
 11 
Neal McDonough
(Actor)
Neal McDonough
11
Birthdate: February 13, 1966
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Dorchester, Massachusetts, USA
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 12 
L. Frank Baum
(Best Known for His Children's Books Like 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' and its Sequels)
L. Frank Baum
7
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: May 15, 1856
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Chittenango, New York, United States
Died: May 6, 1919

L. Frank Baum was an author remembered for writing children's books including The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which inspired the 1902 Broadway musical and the 1939 live-action film of the same name. His works anticipated the invention of gadgets like TV that would be invented later. In 2013, Baum was made an inductee of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame.

 13 
Marvin Harrison
(American Football Player)
Marvin Harrison
13
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 25, 1972
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 14 
John C McGinley
(Actor and Filmmaker Known for His Role as 'Dr. Perry Cox' in the TV Series ‘Scrubs’)
John C McGinley
6
Birthdate: August 3, 1959
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
John C. McGinley is best known as Perry Cox from Scrubs and as Bob Slydell from Office Space. He has also been part of films such as Two Tickets to Paradise. His son Max’s battle with Down syndrome inspired him to work with organizations that spread awareness about the condition.
 15 
Ernie Davis
(American Football Player Who Was the First African American to Win the Heisman Trophy)
Ernie Davis
19
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 14, 1939
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New Salem-Buffington, Pennsylvania, United States
Died: May 18, 1963
Footballer Ernie Davis was the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. The Syracuse University player was later drafted by the NFL team Cleveland Browns. However, he died of leukemia at 23, without playing a single professional game. His story inspired the movie The Express: The Ernie Davis Story.
 16 
Jake Bongiovi
(Instagram Star as the Son of Singer Jon Bon Jovi)
Jake Bongiovi
1
Listed In: Instagram Stars
Birthdate: May 7, 2002
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: New Jersey, United States
 17 
Peter Weller
(Actor and Director)
Peter Weller
6
Birthdate: June 24, 1947
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Stevens Point, Wisconsin, United States
Peter Weller is best known as Robocop from the film RoboCop and its sequel. He also earned an Academy Award nomination for his 1993 short film Partners. He starred in the series 24, hosted a History Channel show, and voiced Bruce Wayne/Batman in the miniseries The Dark Knight Returns.
 18 
Kate Siegel
(Actress)
Kate Siegel
23
Birthdate: August 9, 1982
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 19 
Joyce Carol Oates
4
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: June 16, 1938
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Lockport, New York, United States
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 20 
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.

 21 
Riki Lindhome
(Actress)
Riki Lindhome
9
Birthdate: March 5, 1979
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Coudersport, Pennsylvania, USA
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 22 
Frank Langella
(Stage and Film Actor)
Frank Langella
9
Birthdate: January 1, 1938
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Bayonne, New Jersey, United States

Frank Langella is an actor most revered in the American theatre industry where he has won four Tony Awards. He then replicated his success in the film and TV industry, appearing in popular movies and TV series. His memoir, Dropped Names, attracted critical appreciation, with some even calling it a celebration of sluttiness as a noble way of life.

 23 
Megyn Kelly
(Journalist and Host of TV Shows 'The Kelly File' and 'American Live')
Megyn Kelly
30
Birthdate: November 18, 1970
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Champaign, Illinois, United States

Megyn Kelly is a well-known American journalist and political commentator. She had a successful career at Fox News and NBC News, where she did reporting and anchored many shows. She quit television and launched her media production company in 2020. She hosts the The Megyn Kelly Show podcast. She has also written an autobiography titled Settle for More.

 24 
Donovan McNabb
(American Football Player)
Donovan McNabb
9
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 25, 1976
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 25 
Ted Koppel
(Broadcast Journalist Best Known as the Anchor for 'Nightline')
Ted Koppel
4
Birthdate: February 8, 1940
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Nelson, Lancashire, England

Ted Koppel is an American broadcast journalist who contributed immensely to the success of the popular late-night television news program Nightline, working as its anchor from 1980 to 2005. Considered one of the most remarkable among the serious-minded interviewers on TV, Ted Koppel has won several prestigious awards, including 42 Emmy Awards and nine Overseas Press Club awards.

 26 
Nick Cassavetes
(Actor & Director)
Nick Cassavetes
9
Birthdate: May 21, 1959
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States

Nicholas Cassavetes, son of actor Gena Rowlands and actor-director John Cassavetes, had initially tried his luck in basketball, but his sports career ended due to an injury. He later appeared in films such as Face/Off and The Astronaut's Wife. He also directed films such as The Notebook.

 27 
Tom Everett Scott
(Actor)
Tom Everett Scott
5
Birthdate: September 7, 1970
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, USA
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 28 
Ina Garten
(Author and Host of the Food Network Show ‘Barefoot Contessa’)
Ina Garten
12
Birthdate: February 2, 1948
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: New York City, United States

Ina Garten is an American author and TV host best known for hosting Food Network's cooking show, Barefoot Contessa. Over the years, Garten has released several best-selling cookbooks, including The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook and Barefoot in Paris: Easy French Food You Can Make at Home.

 29 
Bob Costas
(Sportscaster)
Bob Costas
3
Birthdate: March 22, 1952
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Queens, New York, United States
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 30 
Jim Hutton
(Actor)
Jim Hutton
2
Birthdate: May 31, 1934
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Binghamton, New York, USA
Died: June 2, 1979
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 31 
Jim Boeheim
(Basketball coach, Basketball player)
Jim Boeheim
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 17, 1944
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Lyons, New York, United States
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 32 
Kevin Michael Richardson
(Mostly voiced villainous characters in animation and video games)
Kevin Michael Richardson
3
Birthdate: October 25, 1964
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 33 
Joanna Cassidy
10
Birthdate: August 2, 1945
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Haddonfield, New Jersey, United States
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 34 
Tom Coughlin
(American Former Football Coach and Executive)
Tom Coughlin
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 31, 1946
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Waterloo, New York, United States

In his 28-year coaching career, Tom Coughlin had been the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Giants. In his school days, he excelled in both football and basketball, but completely focused on football during his Syracuse University days. His Jay Fund assists children with leukemia and other cancers.

 35 
Jennifer Meyer
(Jewelry designer)
Jennifer Meyer
5
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: April 23, 1977
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 36 
Betsey Johnson
(Costume designer)
Betsey Johnson
3
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: August 10, 1942
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Wethersfield
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 37 
Joe Biden
(46th President of the United States (Since 2021))
Joe Biden
251
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: November 20, 1942
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States

Joe Biden is the president-elect of the United States and will become the 46th president when he will assume the charge on 20 January 2021. Biden is the oldest person ever elected to the White House. One of the youngest senators in the US history and Delaware’s longest-serving senator, Joe Biden served as the 47th vice president of the United States from 2009 to 2017.

 38 
Beau Biden
(44th Attorney General of Delaware (2007 - 2015) and Son of US President Joe Biden)
Beau Biden
69
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: February 3, 1969
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Wilmington, Delaware, United States
Died: May 30, 2015

A politician and attorney, Beau Biden was the eldest child of politician Joe Biden. As a little boy, he was severely injured in a car accident in which his mother and sister perished. He overcame several challenges to become a successful attorney. However, fate was cruel to him and he died of brain cancer at the age of 46.

 39 
Sam Lloyd
(Actor)
Sam Lloyd
8
Birthdate: November 12, 1963
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Weston, Vermont, USA
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 40 
Al-Waleed bin Talal
(Business magnate)
Al-Waleed bin Talal
37
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: March 7, 1955
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Riyadh
Saudi Arabian businessman and philanthropist Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud is part of the Saudi royal family. Son of The Red Prince Talal bin Abdul-Aziz, he founded the conglomerate Kingdom Holding Company. Named by Time as the Arabian Warren Buffett, he was also arrested for corruption once.
 41 
Heather Dubrow
(Actress)
Heather Dubrow
3
Birthdate: January 5, 1969
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, USA
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 42 
Mike Tirico
(Sports Commentator)
Mike Tirico
7
Birthdate: December 13, 1966
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Whitestone, New York, United States
 43 
Al Davis
(American Football Coach and Executive & Former Owner and General Manager of the ‘Oakland Raiders’ of the NFL)
Al Davis
8
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 4, 1929
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Brockton, Massachusetts, United States
Died: October 8, 2011
Allen Davis was the general manager and owner of the NFL team Oakland Raiders for 39 years. He had also been the Raiders’ head coach. His motto,"Just win, baby," led the Raiders to win three Super Bowl titles. He also hired the first Black NFL head coach.
 44 
Dave Bing
(Basketball player, Politician)
Dave Bing
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 24, 1943
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 45 
Camille Paglia
(Cultural critic)
Camille Paglia
12
Birthdate: April 2, 1947
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Endicott
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 46 
Jerami Grant
(Basketball player)
Jerami Grant
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 12, 1994
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Portland, Oregon, United States
Height: 6'8" (203 cm)
 47 
Mike Rotunda
(American Retired Professional Wrestler)
Mike Rotunda
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 30, 1958
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 48 
Debra Wilson
(Actress)
Debra Wilson
3
Birthdate: April 26, 1962
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: South Ozone Park, New York, United States
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 49 
Jay Harrington
(Actor)
Jay Harrington
1
Birthdate: November 15, 1971
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Massachusetts, USA
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 50 
John Mackey
(American Football Player)
John Mackey
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 24, 1941
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Roosevelt, New York, United States
Died: July 6, 2011
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
Also known as the ‘Syracuse, 'Cuse’, or ‘SU’, Syracuse University is by far one of the most reputed institutions to graduate from. The ‘Methodist Episcopal Church’ laid the foundation of this notable institution in the year 1831 in Lima, New York. It has a beautiful campus that is located in the ‘University Hill’ which is very close to Syracuse, New York. It offers nationally recognized programs and is split into 13 schools and colleges. They also have a very athletic and a competitive sports team and have managed to secure a place in the ‘Eastern College Athletic Conference’. Most of the alumnus of this university are extremely competitive and have made a name for not only themselves but also for the institution they have passed out from. After passing out from this institution they have moved in different fields like sports, entertainment, business etc. You name a field and here you will have alumni of Syracuse University has made a mark for themselves upholding the reputation of the institution they have passed out from. Some of the notable alumni of the ‘Syracuse University’ are, the popular sportscaster, Bob Costas, the famous actress, Vanessa L. Williams or for that matter, the exceptional screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin. These notable alumni of the ‘Syracuse University’ have taken the world by a storm and this is just the begning.