University Of Michigan Notable Alumni

Discover the notable alumni of University Of Michigan. The list includes people like Gerald Ford, Ann Coulter, Kate Upton, James Earl Jones & Lucy Liu. This list of notable alumni is loosely sorted by popularity and has people from different domains of life, such as scientists, intellectuals & academics, media personalities, miscellaneous and writers etc.
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 1 
Tom Brady
(One of the Greatest American Football Quarterbacks of All-Time With Majority of Quarterback Records to His Credit.)
Tom Brady
169
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 3, 1977
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: San Mateo, California, United States

A record six-time Super Bowl champion, Tom Brady is regarded by many as the greatest quarterback ever. At the age of 41, he became the oldest quarterback to win a Super Bowl in NFL history. Thanks to his good looks, he has also appeared in some television programs and commercial campaigns.

 2 
James Earl Jones
(One of the Greatest Actors in American History)
James Earl Jones
55
Birthdate: January 17, 1931
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Arkabutla, Mississippi, United States

A veteran actor with a career spanning more than seven decades, James Earl Jones has been described as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors. He initially aspired to be a doctor but fate had other plans for him. He began his career as a stage actor and soon joined films as well.

 3 
Larry Page
(Co-founder of Google)
Larry Page
70
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: March 26, 1973
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Lansing, Michigan, United States

Larry Page is an American Internet entrepreneur and computer scientist. As one of the co-founders of the multinational technology company Google, Larry Page effectively changed the way the world functions today as Google is a synonym for a search engine in many parts of the world. Unsurprisingly, he became a billionaire after co-founding Google.

 4 
Derek Jeter
(American Former Professional Baseball Shortstop and Executive)
Derek Jeter
35
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 26, 1974
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Pequannock Township, New Jersey, United States

Derek Jeter is an American former baseball player whose popularity had made him one of the most marketed sportsmen of his generation during his playing career. Since 2017, he has been playing a key role as part owner and the chief executive officer of the Miami Marlins. Also a well-known philanthropist, Jeter created a charitable organization called Turn 2 Foundation.

 5 
Kate Upton
(Actress, Cover Model for Famous Magazines, and Model for Vanity Fair's 100th Anniversary Issue)
Kate Upton
56
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: June 10, 1992
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: St. Joseph, Michigan, United States
Model/actor Kate Upton is the great-granddaughter of Whirlpool co-founder Frederick Upton. She was a national-level equestrian earlier and had also won three APHA Reserve Championships. She shot to fame with her photos in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2011. She has also appeared in films such as The Layover.
 6 
Arthur Miller
(Playwright Best Known for His Plays “All My Sons,” “Death of a Salesman” and “The Crucible”)
Arthur Miller
16
Birthdate: October 17, 1915
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York City, United States
Died: February 10, 2005

Arthur Miller was an American essayist and playwright. Miller is credited with creating popular plays, such as Death of a Salesman, which is widely regarded as one of the best American plays of the 20th century. Thanks to his illustrious career, which spanned more than 70 years, Arthur Miller is regarded as one of the 20th century's greatest dramatists.

 7 
Iggy Pop
(Vocalist and Lyricist of Proto-Punk Band 'The Stooges')
Iggy Pop
42
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: April 21, 1947
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Muskegon, Michigan, United States

Iggy Pop is an American singer-songwriter, actor, musician, and record producer. Nicknamed the Godfather of Punk, Iggy Pop was an important member of the proto-punk band Iggy and the Stooges. One of the first singers to perform stage-dive, Pop is credited with popularizing the activity. A culture icon, Iggy Pop has had a major influence on musicians of various genres.

 8 
Charles Woodson
(Football player)
Charles Woodson
18
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 7, 1976
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Fremont, Ohio, United States
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 9 
Chris Webber
(Basketball player Power Forward, Businessperson)
Chris Webber
19
Birthdate: March 1, 1973
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Height: 6'10" (208 cm)
 10 
Lucy Liu
(Famous for Her Role in TV Series 'Ally McBeal' and Two 'Charlie's Angels' films.)
Lucy Liu
27
Birthdate: December 2, 1968
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Jackson Heights, New York, United States

American actress, Lucy Liu, shot to fame with television series Ally McBeal and later proved her acting skills with films like Charlie's Angels, Kill Bill, Volume 1, Shanghai Noon and television series Elementary and Southland. Intelligent and multitalented, she has voiced animated films, turned producer/director, made her Broadway debut and last but not the least, is also a visual artist.

 11 
Jonas Salk
(Medical researcher)
Jonas Salk
8
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: October 28, 1914
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: June 23, 1995

If the world is successful in its fight against polio, the credit goes to American virologist Jonas Salk who developed a vaccine for the disease. Described as a “miracle worker”, his concerns for humanity were reflected in the fact that he did not claim a patent for the vaccine. He founded the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, based in California.

 12 
Scott Steiner
(Professional Wrestler)
Scott Steiner
8
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 29, 1962
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Bay City, Michigan, United States
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 13 
Claude Shannon
(Mathematician, Engineer & Cryptographer Known as a 'Father of Information Theory')
Claude Shannon
7
Listed In: Engineers
Birthdate: April 30, 1916
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Petoskey, Michigan, United States
Died: February 24, 2001

Claude Shannon was an electrical engineer, mathematician, and cryptographer. He is credited with publishing the article A Mathematical Theory of Communication which gave rise to the field of information theory. Hence, Shannon is considered the father of information theory. He is also credited with founding digital circuit design theory. During World War II, he contributed to the field of cryptanalysis.

 14 
John DeLorean
(Engineer Known for His Work at 'General Motors' & Founder of the 'DeLorean Motor Company')
John DeLorean
18
Birthdate: January 6, 1925
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died: March 19, 2005

John DeLorean was an American inventor and engineer. Highly regarded for his work at General Motors, John DeLorean was an influential figure in the US automobile industry. He is credited with founding the popular American automobile manufacturer, The DeLorean Motor Company. DeLorean’s life inspired a couple of documentary films, including Framing John DeLorean where he was played by Alec Baldwin.

 15 
Jalen Rose
(Basketball player)
Jalen Rose
14
Birthdate: January 30, 1973
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Height: 6'8" (203 cm)
 16 
Dave Coulier
(Best Known for His Role 'Joey Gladstone' on the ABC Sitcom 'Full House')
Dave Coulier
9
Birthdate: September 21, 1959
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: St. Clair Shores, Michigan, United States

Dave Coulier is an American actor, voice actor, stand-up comedian, impressionist, and television host. He is known for portraying Joey Gladstone in the popular sitcom Full House. Also a private pilot, Coulier owns a B35 Bonanza. He also likes ice hockey and takes part in charity events organized by the Detroit Red Wings.

 17 
Darren Criss
(Known for His Role on The TV Series 'Glee')
Darren Criss
26
Birthdate: February 5, 1987
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States

Darren Criss is a popular American actor and singer-songwriter. Darren Criss is also known as the founder of a musical theater company called StarKid Productions and the co-founder of a music festival called Elsie Fest. Also known for his charity work, Darren Criss has performed at many charity benefits and is a supporter of LGBT rights and The Trevor Project.

 18 
Jordan Poole
(Basketball player)
Jordan Poole
14
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 19, 1999
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 19 
Sanjay Gupta
(American Neurosurgeon and Medical Reporter)
Sanjay Gupta
7
Listed In: Physicians
Birthdate: October 23, 1969
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Novi, Michigan, United States

Born to Indian-origin parents in the U.S., Sanjay Gupta is an acclaimed neurosurgeon and medical writer. He has also had a successful stint as a medical reporter for CNN, covering medical issues at wars and disasters. He has played himself in the movie Contagion and is a skilled accordion player.

 20 
Charlie Munger
(Investor, Businessman and Vice Chairman of ‘Berkshire Hathaway’)
Charlie Munger
13
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: January 1, 1924
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Died: November 28, 2023

Charlie Munger is an American businessman, investor, architectural designer, and former real estate attorney. Over the years, he has played an important role as the vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. A well-known philanthropist, Charlie Munger has donated millions of dollars to universities and schools.

 21 
Mike Wallace
(Journalist, TV Presenter, Host)
Mike Wallace
13
Birthdate: May 9, 1918
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Brookline, Massachusetts, United States
Died: April 7, 2012

A popular American journalist and media personality, Mike Wallace is credited with bringing important information to the household of several Americans during his illustrious career that spanned nearly 70 years; he interviewed prominent personalities like Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, Ayn Rand, and Salvador Dalí among others. His life and career inspired several films and he was portrayed by popular actors.

 22 
Clarence Darrow
7
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: April 18, 1857
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Kinsman Township
Died: March 13, 1938
 23 
Margo Martindale
(Actress)
Margo Martindale
12
Birthdate: July 18, 1951
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Jacksonville, Texas, USA
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 24 
Ari Melber
(American Attorney, Chief Legal Correspondent for 'MSNBC' and Host of the News Show 'The Beat with Ari Melber')
Ari Melber
20
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: March 31, 1980
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States
Attorney Ari Melber has gained fame as a journalist on NBC News. MSNBC's Emmy-nominated show The Beat with Ari Melber has garnered an immense viewership on YouTube, too, and is now the most-watched liberal show online. Melber also won an Emmy for his coverage of the Supreme Court on MSNBC.
 25 
Lawrence Kasdan
(Screenwriter)
Lawrence Kasdan
4
Birthdate: January 14, 1949
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Miami, Florida, USA
 26 
Lin Shaye
(Best Known for Her Role as ‘Elise Rainier’ in the ‘Insidious' Film Series)
Lin Shaye
4
Birthdate: October 12, 1943
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Veteran actress, Lin Shaye, has been active in the entertainment industry since the early 1970s. She developed a love for acting as a young child and studied acting at the University of Michigan. Beginning her career with small roles in plays, she eventually branched out into films as well. She is considered a formidable character actress.  

 27 
Brandi Rhodes
(American Professional Wrestler)
Brandi Rhodes
9
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 23, 1983
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Canton, Michigan, United States
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 28 
Jack Kevorkian
(American pathologist)
Jack Kevorkian
18
Listed In: Physicians
Birthdate: May 26, 1928
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Pontiac, Michigan, U.S.
Died: June 3, 2011

Jack Kevorkian was a pathologist who believed that euthanasia or mercy killing of terminally ill patients was necessary. He later claimed to have helped 130 patients die and earned the nickname “Dr. Death.” He was later convicted of murder for his role in the voluntary euthanasia of a patient.

 29 
Reg E. Cathey
7
Birthdate: August 18, 1958
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Huntsville, Alabama, United States
Died: February 9, 2018
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 30 
Wayne Dyer
(Self-Help Author and Motivational Speaker)
Wayne Dyer
9
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: May 10, 1940
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Detroit
Died: August 29, 2015
 31 
Ann B. Davis
(Actress)
Ann B. Davis
4
Birthdate: May 3, 1926
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Schenectady, New York, United States
Died: June 1, 2014
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 32 
Jamal Crawford
(Basketball player)
Jamal Crawford
10
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 20, 1980
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 33 
Juwan Howard
(Basketball Players)
Juwan Howard
11
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 7, 1973
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Height: 6'9" (206 cm)
 34 
Jabrill Peppers
(American Football player)
Jabrill Peppers
7
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 4, 1995
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: East Orange, New Jersey, United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 35 
Christine Lahti
(Actress and Filmmaker)
Christine Lahti
12
Birthdate: April 4, 1950
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Birmingham, Michigan, United States
With an acclaimed television, stage and film career spanning over four decades, Christine Lahti bagged in her first Academy Award nomination for her performance in Swing Shift and took the statue home for her directorial debut, Lieberman in Love. For her role in Chicago Hope, she earned a Golden Globe Award and a Primetime Emmy Award.
 36 
Desmond Howard
(American Former Professional Football Wide Receiver)
Desmond Howard
11
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 15, 1970
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 37 
Meryl Davis
(Former Competitive American Ice Dancer and Figure Skater)
Meryl Davis
2
Listed In: Dancers
Birthdate: January 1, 1987
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Royal Oak, Michigan, United States
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 38 
Duncan Robinson
(Basketball player)
Duncan Robinson
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 22, 1994
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: York, Maine, United States
Height: 6'7" (201 cm)
 39 
Chad Henne
(American football player)
Chad Henne
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 2, 1985
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, United States
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 40 
Chris Van Allsburg
10
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: June 18, 1949
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States
 41 
Tom Harmon
(American Football Players)
Tom Harmon
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 28, 1919
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Rensselaer, Indiana, USA
Died: March 15, 1990
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 42 
Margaret Hamilton
(American Computer Scientist, Systems Engineer, and Business Owner)
Margaret Hamilton
4
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: August 17, 1936
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Paoli, Indiana, United States

Credited with coining the term software engineering, computer scientist and systems engineer, Margaret Heafield Hamilton served as the Director of the Software Engineering Division of the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory, overseeing the development of the on-board flight software for NASA's Apollo program.  A prolific writer, she is also the founder of two software companies; Higher Order Software and Hamilton Technologies.

 43 
Rick Bayless
(American Chef and Restaurateur)
Rick Bayless
6
Listed In: Food Experts
Birthdate: November 23, 1953
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
 44 
Strother Martin
8
Birthdate: March 26, 1919
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Kokomo, Indiana, United States
Died: August 1, 1980
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 45 
Tim Hardaway Jr.
(Basketball player)
Tim Hardaway Jr.
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 16, 1992
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Alameda, California
Height: 6'6" (198 cm)
 46 
Barry Larkin
(Baseball player)
Barry Larkin
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 28, 1964
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 47 
Stephen M. Ross
(Businessman)
Stephen M. Ross
3
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: May 10, 1940
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
 48 
Larry Elder
(Radio Host)
Larry Elder
13
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: April 27, 1952
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
 49 
Denise Nicholas
11
Birthdate: July 12, 1944
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 50 
Jason Whitlock
(Journalist)
Jason Whitlock
7
Birthdate: April 27, 1967
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
University of Michigan or U-M is a public research university situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The state’s oldest university U-M, was founded in 1817 and ever since its inception, it has lived up to its name by being regarded as one of the notable universities of the United States of America. The 781 acres of the incredible campus sprawls across the city, giving its students opportunities like never before by growing to currently include 19 schools and colleges. By giving emphasis to unity in diversity, the university thrives due to its diversity programs such as the ‘Equity & Inclusion Strategic Plan’. Today, the student body comprises of individuals from more than 100 countries. The faculties in U-M who are 3131 in number are renowned to be one of the best panels of scholars, researchers and professors who have made a mark in their respective fields of study. The University of Michigan offers over 200 undergraduate, 90 masters and 100 professional doctorate courses in various areas of study such as Arts & Science, Business, Engineering, Law and so much more. With one of the largest alumni body strength internationally, University of Michigan proudly boasts a remarkable list of alumni’s who’ve soared to great heights in various disciplines of life. Some of its significant alumni’s include Gerald Ford, Larry Page, Stephen Cook and Lucy Liu, all excelling in different areas of expertise. Here is a list of some esteemed celebrities who have attended the University of Michigan.