University Of Washington Notable Alumni

Discover the notable alumni of University Of Washington. The list includes people like Bruce Lee, Anna Faris, Rainn Wilson, David Foster & Jean Smart. This list of notable alumni is loosely sorted by popularity and has people from different domains of life, such as writers, film & theater personalities, scientists, sportspersons and miscellaneous etc.
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 1 
Bruce Lee
(The Most Influential Martial Artist of All Time)
Bruce Lee
120
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 27, 1940
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Died: July 20, 1973

An iconic actor and martial artist, Bruce Lee, in his short life, gained international fame and developed his own form of martial arts, Jeet Kune Do. In films, he debuted as a child actor and became a huge Hollywood star after the release of his last film Enter the Dragon.

 2 
Anna Faris
(American Actress Who is Known for Her Performances in Comedic Roles)
Anna Faris
56
Birthdate: November 29, 1976
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Baltimore

Actress Anna Faris is known for her comedic roles, especially as the lead in the commercially successful Scary Movie films. Lost in Translation, Brokeback Mountain, Just Friends, The House Bunny, The Dictator, Calgary and Overboard are some of her other notable films. She has also acted in television sitcoms like Friends and Mom. Anna Faris has been featured on the covers of several magazines.

 3 
Barry White
(Singer-songwriter)
Barry White
50
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: September 12, 1944
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Galveston, Texas, United States
Died: July 4, 2003

Barry White was an American musician, composer, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Renowned for his bass-baritone voice, White was one of the most popular vocalists of his generation. Having sold more than 100 million records worldwide, Barry White is counted among the best-selling musicians of all time.

 4 
Rainn Wilson
(Best Known for His Role as 'Dwight Schrute' on the NBC sitcom 'The Office')
Rainn Wilson
42
Birthdate: January 20, 1966
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States

Rainn Wilson is an actor and writer who used his popularity to make his YouTube channel, SoulPancake, a success. Also a climate change advocate, Wilson made a documentary titled The Idiot’s Guide to Climate Change, based on his trip to Greenland. He is known for his charitable works and has adopted a vegan diet since adopting Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs.

 5 
Hope Solo
(Football Goalkeeper)
Hope Solo
42
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 30, 1981
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Richland, Washington, United States
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 6 
David Foster
(Musician who Chaired 'Verve Records' (2012 to 2016))
David Foster
28
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: November 1, 1949
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Victoria, Canada

Canadian musician, composer, and arranger David Foster is a prominent figure in the international music scene and has worked with the likes of  Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Lopez, and Madonna. The winner of 16 Grammy Awards, he has also been nominated for the Academy Awards thrice. He launched the David Foster Foundation to help sick children.

 7 
Joel McHale
(Best Known for His Role as 'Jeff Winger' on the NBC sitcom 'Community')
Joel McHale
16
Birthdate: November 20, 1971
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Rome, Italy

Actor, comedian, and producer Joel McHale is best known for hosting the television series The Soup. He was interested in sports as a young boy but shifted his focus to acting while in college and earned his master's degree in acting. Even though he is more popular as a television actor, he has appeared in many films too.

 8 
Jean Smart
(Actress)
Jean Smart
37
Birthdate: September 13, 1951
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States

Active in the field of entertainment for over 40 years, actress Jean Smart began her career in regional theater. After finding much fame as a stage actress, she started taking up TV and film roles as well. She has given many critically acclaimed performances and is the winner of three Primetime Emmy Awards.

 9 
Kyle MacLachlan
(Best Known as 'Dale Cooper' in the series 'Twin Peaks')
Kyle MacLachlan
10
Birthdate: February 22, 1959
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Yakima, Washington, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 10 
Nate Robinson
(American Former Professional Basketball Player)
Nate Robinson
20
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 31, 1984
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States

Nate Robinson is a former professional basketball player who has played in the NBA for the New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Boston Celtics,  Golden State Warriors, and Chicago Bulls. He went professional in 2005 and became the NBA's first three-time slam dunk champion in 2010. He retired in 2018. He now runs a restaurant in Rainier Beach.

 11 
Nancy Wilson
(Guitarist and Backing Vocalist in the Rock Band 'Heart')
Nancy Wilson
4
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: March 16, 1954
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States

Nancy Wilson is a celebrated musician, singer, songwriter and composer.  A guitar virtuoso from the age of ten, she joined the rock band Heart in early 1970s, releasing numerous albums with them. She released her first solo studio album in 2021.

 12 
Frank Herbert
(Science Fiction Author Best Known for His 1965 Novel 'Dune' & Its Sequels)
Frank Herbert
15
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: October 8, 1920
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Tacoma, Washington, United States
Died: February 11, 1986

American author, newspaper-journalist, book-reviewer, lecturer, photographer, and ecological consultant Franklin Herbert is most noted for his 1965 sci-fi novel Dune and its five sequels. Dune won the Nebula Award and the Hugo Award and spearheaded the Dune franchise. The novel is cited as the best-selling sci-fi novel in history while the series is counted among the classics of the genre.

 13 
Markelle Fultz
(Basketball player)
Markelle Fultz
14
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 29, 1998
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Upper Marlboro, Maryland, United States
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 14 
Amanda Knox
(Wrongful conviction of the murder of Meredith Kercher)
Amanda Knox
36
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: July 9, 1987
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States

Amanda Knox is an American woman who made headlines when she was convicted for the murder of Meredith Kercher in Italy. After spending almost four years in prison, Amanda was definitively acquitted after a new trial that found her not guilty. Her story inspired books and documentaries; Knox's memoir Waiting to Be Heard became popular.

 15 
Patrick Duffy
9
Birthdate: March 17, 1949
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Townsend, Montana

Patrick Duffy is an American actor known for contributing immensely to the success of the popular TV soap opera Dallas where he portrayed the role of Bobby Ewing. Predominantly a TV actor, Duffy became a household name in the USA during the 1970s. A longtime member of Soka Gakkai International, Duffy is credited with popularizing Nichiren Buddhism in the USA.

 16 
Emily Compagno
(Journalist, TV Host)
Emily Compagno
10
Birthdate: November 9, 1979
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Oakland, California, United States
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 17 
Kenny G
(Smooth Jazz Saxophonist and One of the Best-Selling Musicians of All Time)
Kenny G
13
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: June 5, 1956
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States

Kenneth Bruce Gorelick, better known as Kenny G, is a best-selling jazz saxophonist who has sold over 75 million records and even owns a line of saxophones. He is also a certified pilot and a skilled golfer who has participated in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am seven times.

 18 
Bob Sapp
(Mixed Martial Artist, Kickboxer and Professional Wrestler)
Bob Sapp
18
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 22, 1973
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 19 
Garret Dillahunt
(Best Known for His Roles in the Film ‘No Country for Old Men’ and TV Sitcom ‘Raising Hope’)
Garret Dillahunt
7
Birthdate: November 24, 1964
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Castro Valley, California, United States

Garret Dillahunt is best known as Dr. Jody Kimball-Kinney from The Mindy Project and as Burt Chance from Raising Hope. He has also appeared in major roles in Fear the Walking Dead, Hand of God, and Deadwood, and has been part of films such as 12 Years a Slave.

 20 
Dyan Cannon
(First Woman to be nominated for Oscars Both in Front of and Behind the Camera)
Dyan Cannon
21
Birthdate: January 4, 1937
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Tacoma, Washington, United States
Dyan Cannon is best known for her Academy Award-nominated roles in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice and Heaven Can Wait. She has also written, directed, and produced the Academy Award-nominated film Number One. She has appeared in series such as Ally McBeal and Three Sisters, too.
 21 
Richard Karn
(Actor and Game Show Host Known for His Role ‘Al Borland’ in the TV Series ‘Home Improvement’)
Richard Karn
4
Birthdate: February 17, 1956
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States

Richard Karn is an American actor and former game show host. He is known for hosting the popular game show, Family Feud, and for playing Al Borland in the television series Home Improvement. Karn used the popularity, which he achieved through Home Improvement, to author a couple of books on home renovation, such as House Broken and Handy at Home.

 22 
Frances Farmer
(American Actress and Television Hostess)
Frances Farmer
9
Birthdate: September 19, 1913
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States
Died: August 1, 1970
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 23 
Ann Dunham
(American Anthropologist and Mother of Former United States President, Barack Obama)
Ann Dunham
28
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: November 29, 1942
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Wichita, Kansas, United States
Died: November 7, 1995
Ann Dunham was the mother of former U.S. President Barack Obama. She was an economic anthropologist and worked for the betterment of rural Indonesian women. She had met Barack Obama Sr. while studying at the University of Hawaii. She had worked with USAID, the Ford Foundation, and Bank Rakyat Indonesia.
 24 
Rick Steves
(Travel writer)
Rick Steves
4
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: May 10, 1955
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Edmonds, Washington, USA
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 25 
Jeannette Rankin
(Feminist Politician & the First Woman to be Part of the US Congress and Only from Montana)
Jeannette Rankin
10
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: June 11, 1880
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Missoula
Died: May 18, 1973

Jeannette Rankin scripted history as the first female member of the US Congress. A feminist, she was also associated with the women’s suffrage movement. Earlier, the Republican worked as a dressmaker, a furniture designer, and a teacher. She was the only legislator to vote against war after the Pearl Harbor incident.

 26 
Linda Lee Cadwell
(Widow of Bruce Lee & Author of the Bruce Lee Biography 'Bruce Lee: The Man Only I Knew')
Linda Lee Cadwell
10
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: March 21, 1945
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Everett, Washington, United States
Linda Lee Cadwell, former wife of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, is a teacher and author who met Bruce at a Kung Fu workshop in Seattle. Her memoir Bruce Lee: The Man Only I Knew inspired Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. She was a trustee of the Bruce Lee Foundation.
 27 
Tim Lincecum
(Baseball Player)
Tim Lincecum
7
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 15, 1984
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bellevue, Washington, USA
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 28 
Warren Moon
(American Footballer)
Warren Moon
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 18, 1956
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 29 
Brandon Roy
(Basketball player - Shooting guard, Basketball coach)
Brandon Roy
9
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 23, 1984
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States
Height: 6'6" (198 cm)
 30 
Dejounte Murray
(Basketball player)
Dejounte Murray
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 19, 1996
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States
Height: 6'4" (193 cm)
 31 
Matisse Thybulle
(Basketball player)
Matisse Thybulle
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 4, 1997
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Scottsdale, Arizona, United States
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 32 
Dale Chihuly
(Glass Artist)
Dale Chihuly
10
Birthdate: September 20, 1941
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Tacoma, Washington, United States
 33 
Lynn Shelton
(Film director)
Lynn Shelton
3
Birthdate: August 27, 1965
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Oberlin, Ohio, U.S.
Died: May 16, 2020
 34 
Robert Osborne
(Actor, Television actor, Biographer, Film actor, Historian, Journalist, Screenwriter, Cinematographer, Film producer)
Robert Osborne
1
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: May 3, 1932
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Colfax
Died: March 6, 2017

Best known for his over two-decade-long stint as a Turner Classic Movies host, Robert Osborne also gained fame for his penning The Official History of the Academy Awards and the National Film Book Award-winning 50 Golden Years of Oscar. A qualified journalist, he also wrote columns for The Hollywood Reporter.

 35 
Detlef Schrempf
(German-American Former Professional Basketball Player Who Played As a Small Forward / Power Forward)
Detlef Schrempf
5
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 21, 1963
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Leverkusen, Germany

Detlef Schrempf is a German-American former basketball player who played for popular NBA teams like the Dallas Mavericks, Seattle SuperSonics, and Portland Trail Blazers. A three-time NBA All-Star, Schrempf helped the SuperSonics reach the NBA Finals in 1996. Also known for his charitable work, Schrempf formed the Detlef Schrempf Foundation to help local charities.

 36 
Kelsey Plum
(Basketball player)
Kelsey Plum
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 24, 1994
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Poway, California, United States
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 37 
Lois Smith
(Actress)
Lois Smith
2
Birthdate: November 3, 1930
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Topeka, Kansas, United States
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
 38 
Ryan Lewis
(Hip-hop Artist & DJ)
Ryan Lewis
7
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: March 25, 1988
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Spokane, Washington, United States
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 39 
Pamela Reed
(Actress)
Pamela Reed
5
Birthdate: April 2, 1949
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Tacoma, Washington, USA
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 40 
Ann Sothern
(Former actress in the 1949 film, A Letter to Three Wives)
Ann Sothern
8
Birthdate: January 22, 1909
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Valley City, North Dakota, United States
Died: March 15, 2001
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
 41 
Ann Rule
(Author of True Crime Books, Famous for Her Book 'The Stranger Beside Me', About Serial Killer Ted Bundy)
Ann Rule
2
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: October 22, 1931
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Lowell, Michigan, United States
Died: July 26, 2015

True crime author Ann Rule had initially been a policewoman and was also well-versed in criminology and psychology. She first gained attention with her book The Stranger Beside Me, which relates her experiences of working with Ted Bundy, a volunteer at a suicide hotline, who later murdered several women.

 42 
Julia Sweeney
(Actress)
Julia Sweeney
3
Birthdate: October 10, 1959
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Spokane, Washington, United States
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 43 
Christina Chang
(Actress)
Christina Chang
3
Birthdate: June 29, 1971
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Taipei, Taiwan
 44 
Zakir Hussain
(One of the Most Famous Tabla Players in India)
Zakir Hussain
3
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: March 9, 1951
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

Zakir Hussain is an Indian musician, tabla virtuoso, percussionist, composer, and music producer. Widely regarded as one of the greatest tabla players of all time, Hussain has received many prestigious awards in his illustrious career. In 1990, he was honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. In 2002, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award.

 45 
Chuck Close
(Painter)
Chuck Close
9
Birthdate: July 5, 1940
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Monroe, Washington, U.S.
Died: August 19, 2021
 46 
David A. Johnston
(American Volcanologist Who was Caught in the Midst of the Eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980)
David A. Johnston
1
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: December 18, 1949
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: May 18, 1980

David A. Johnston was an American volcanologist who was caught in the midst of the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980. Johnston was killed during the eruption and his body was never found. David A. Johnston's life and career have inspired several documentaries, docudramas, and films.

 47 
Angela Rye
(Political commentator)
Angela Rye
3
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: October 26, 1979
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, U.S.
 48 
Justin Holiday
(Basketball Player)
Justin Holiday
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: April 5, 1989
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Mission Hills, California, United States
Height: 6'6" (198 cm)
 49 
John Ross
(American football player)
John Ross
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 27, 1995
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Long Beach, California, United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 50 
Jim L. Mora
(Coach)
Jim L. Mora
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 19, 1961
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States