Yale University Notable Alumni

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Discover the notable alumni of Yale University. The list includes people like George H. W. Bush, Jennifer Connelly, James Franco, Liev Schreiber & Hillary Clinton. This list of notable alumni is loosely sorted by popularity and has people from different domains of life, such as writers, intellectuals & academics, miscellaneous, media personalities and film & theater personalities etc.
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 1 
Jodie Foster
(Actress & Director)
Jodie Foster
74
Birthdate: November 19, 1962
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 2 
Edward Norton
(Actor and Filmmaker Known for His Film ‘Primal Fear’)
Edward Norton
37
Birthdate: August 18, 1969
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 3 
Frances McDormand
(Actress and Producer Best Known for Her Films: ‘Fargo’ and ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’)
Frances McDormand
32
Birthdate: June 23, 1957
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Gibson City, Illinois, United States
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 4 
Anderson Cooper
(Journalist & Anchor of CNN Show 'Anderson Cooper 360°')
Anderson Cooper
48
Birthdate: June 3, 1967
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 5 
James Franco
(One of the Most Versatile Actors of His Generation, Known for His Films: '127' and 'James Dean')
James Franco
87
Birthdate: April 19, 1978
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Palo Alto, California, United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 6 
Jennifer Connelly
(Best Known for Her Role in the Films: 'A Beautiful Mind' and 'Little Children')
Jennifer Connelly
59
Birthdate: December 12, 1970
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Cairo, New York, United States
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 7 
Bill Clinton
(42nd President of the United States)
Bill Clinton
117
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: August 19, 1946
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Hope, Arkansas, United States
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 8 
Lupita Nyong'o
(Named One of Africa’s “50 Most Powerful Women” by Forbes in 2020)
Lupita Nyong'o
60
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: March 1, 1983
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 9 
Ben Carson
(U.S. Secretary of Housing & Urban Development (2017 – 2021))
Ben Carson
85
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: September 18, 1951
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 10 
Liev Schreiber
(Actor & Producer)
Liev Schreiber
22
Birthdate: October 4, 1967
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: San Francisco, California, United States
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 11 
Ron DeSantis
(46th Governor of Florida )
Ron DeSantis
203
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: September 14, 1978
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida, United States
 12 
Angela Bassett
(Known for Her Portrayal of Singer Tina Turner in the Biopic 'What's Love Got to Do with It')
Angela Bassett
36
Birthdate: August 16, 1958
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 13 
Grace Hopper
(Computer Scientist, Mathematician and One of the First Programmers of the ‘Harvard Mark I’ Computer)
Grace Hopper
11
Listed In: Scientists
Birthdate: December 9, 1906
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: January 1, 1992
 14 
Claire Danes
(Known for Her Performance in TV Series 'Homeland')
Claire Danes
22
Birthdate: April 12, 1979
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York, United States
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 15 
Elia Kazan
(One of the Most Honored and Influential Directors in Broadway and Hollywood History)
Elia Kazan
5
Birthdate: September 7, 1909
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Fener, Turkey
Died: September 28, 2003
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 16 
George W. Bush
(43rd President of the United States)
George W. Bush
75
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: July 6, 1946
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 17 
Nathan Chen
(American Figure skater)
Nathan Chen
7
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 5, 1999
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
 18 
Kathryn Hahn
(Best Known for Her Role as 'Lily Lebowski' in the NBC Crime Drama Series 'Crossing Jordan')
Kathryn Hahn
32
Birthdate: July 23, 1973
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Westchester, Illinois, United States
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 19 
Ronan Farrow
(Journalist, Lawyer and Human Rights Activist)
Ronan Farrow
21
Birthdate: December 19, 1987
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 20 
William Howard Taft
(27th President of the United States)
William Howard Taft
30
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: September 15, 1857
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Died: March 8, 1930
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 21 
David Duchovny
(Best Known for Playing FBI Agent 'Fox Mulder' on the TV Series ‘The X-Files’)
David Duchovny
12
Birthdate: August 7, 1960
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 22 
Jennifer Beals
(Actress and Former Teen Model)
Jennifer Beals
15
Birthdate: December 19, 1963
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
 23 
Jordana Brewster
(Best Known for Her Role of 'Mia Toretto' in the Action Film Franchise 'The Fast and the Furious')
Jordana Brewster
9
Birthdate: April 26, 1980
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Panama City, Panama
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 24 
Paul Giamatti
(Actor and Film Producer)
Paul Giamatti
26
Birthdate: June 6, 1967
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 25 
Mark Rothko
(American Painter Known or His Abstract Expressionism and Color Field Paintings)
Mark Rothko
7
Birthdate: September 25, 1903
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Daugavpils, Latvia
Died: February 25, 1970
 26 
Sonia Sotomayor
(Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States )
Sonia Sotomayor
33
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: June 5, 1954
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bronx, New York, United States
 27 
Bob Woodward
(Journalist)
Bob Woodward
5
Birthdate: March 26, 1943
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Geneva, Illinois, United States
 28 
Tony Shalhoub
(best known for playing Adrian Monk in the USA Network television series Monk)
Tony Shalhoub
17
Birthdate: October 9, 1953
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 29 
Vincent Price
7
Birthdate: May 27, 1911
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Died: October 25, 1993
 30 
Sam Waterston
(Best Known for His Iconic Role as ‘Jack McCoy’ on the NBC TV Series “Law & Order”)
Sam Waterston
7
Birthdate: November 15, 1940
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 31 
Sanaa Lathan
(Actress and Voice Actress Known for Her Films: ‘The Best Man’, ‘Love & Basketball’ and ‘Disappearing Acts’)
Sanaa Lathan
18
Birthdate: September 19, 1971
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 32 
Tom Wolfe
(American author)
Tom Wolfe
6
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: March 2, 1931
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Richmond, Virginia, United States
Died: March 14, 2018
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 33 
John Turturro
(Actor, director who received early critical recognition with the independent film Five Corners (1987))
John Turturro
6
Birthdate: February 28, 1957
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 34 
Zoe Kazan
(American Actress Known for Her Role in the TV Series 'Olive Kitteridge')
Zoe Kazan
18
Birthdate: September 9, 1983
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Height: 5'4" (163 cm)
 35 
Phil LaMarr
(Actor, Comedian who was one of the original featured cast members on the sketch comedy television series Mad TV)
Phil LaMarr
4
Birthdate: January 24, 1967
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 36 
Jonathan Majors
(Best Known for His Role as ‘Atticus Freeman’ in the TV Series ‘Lovecraft Country’)
Jonathan Majors
25
Birthdate: September 7, 1989
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Lompoc, California, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 37 
Lance Reddick
(American Actor and Musician Best Known for His Role as ‘Cedric Daniels’ in the TV Series ‘The Wire’)
Lance Reddick
23
Birthdate: June 7, 1962
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Died: March 17, 2023
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 38 
Chris Noth
(American Actor Known for His Role as Detective Mike Logan in the TV Series ‘Law & Order')
Chris Noth
18
Birthdate: November 13, 1954
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 39 
Brian Tyree Henry
(Actor)
Brian Tyree Henry
11
Birthdate: March 31, 1982
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Fayetteville, North Carolina Fayetteville, North Carolina, U.S.
Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
 40 
David Hyde Pierce
(Best Known for Starring as Psychiatrist 'Dr. Niles Crane' on the NBC Sitcom 'Frasier')
David Hyde Pierce
7
Birthdate: April 3, 1959
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Saratoga Springs, New York, United States
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 41 
Jonathan Edwards
(Preacher, Theologian, Philosopher)
Jonathan Edwards
3
Birthdate: October 5, 1703
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: East Windsor, Connecticut, United States
Died: March 22, 1758
 42 
Eli Whitney
(American inventor)
Eli Whitney
4
Birthdate: December 8, 1765
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Westborough
Died: January 8, 1825
 43 
Patricia Clarkson
(Actress)
Patricia Clarkson
16
Birthdate: December 29, 1959
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 44 
Ernie Hudson
(Actor)
Ernie Hudson
7
Birthdate: December 17, 1945
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 45 
Peter Hermann
(Actor)
Peter Hermann
3
Birthdate: August 15, 1967
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: New York City, U.S.
Height: 6'5" (196 cm)
 46 
Tom Steyer
(Founder of the Popular Investment Firm 'Farallon Capital')
Tom Steyer
17
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: June 27, 1957
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: New York City, New York
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 47 
Stacy Keach
7
Birthdate: June 2, 1941
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Savannah, Georgia, United States
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 48 
Harry Hamlin
(Actor)
Harry Hamlin
7
Birthdate: October 30, 1951
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Pasadena, California, United States
Height: 5'11" (180 cm)
 49 
Ron Livingston
(Actor)
Ron Livingston
7
Birthdate: June 5, 1967
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 50 
Kellie Martin
(Actress)
Kellie Martin
12
Birthdate: October 16, 1975
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Riverside, California, United States
Height: 5'2" (157 cm)
The Yale University, situated in the United States, is one of the most reputed educational institutions in the world, which has been attracting students from several countries every year. It is believed that the name of the university has been derived from Elihu Yale, a governor of the East India Company, known for his generosity. He apparently donated a lot to the university and the name Yale was the institution’s way of paying tribute to the late governor. The infrastructure of the university is simply outstanding. The dining hall and the library, in particular, deserve a special mention. The remarkable Goth architecture and the breathtaking campus might remind you of the ‘Hogwarts’ school from the ‘Harry Potter’ movie franchise. Several noteworthy public figures were once students of this remarkable institution. Democrat leader Hillary Clinton is an alumnus of the notable Yale University and apparently visits her alma mater quite often. Her husband Bill Clinton, who was the 42nd President of the United States, known for his outstanding leadership skills, had studied here too. Former American President George W Bush, Academy Award winning actress Meryl Streep and noted journalist Anderson Cooper are a few other famous personalities among Yale’s alumni. The university is also notable for producing several students who went on to become a part of the American intelligence agency ‘CIA’. In addition, there are several rumors of this university being a hotbed for creepy secret societies. Here is a list of notable Yale alumni who have made a mark in various spheres of life and inspired others to follow suit!