Notable Alumni of California State University-Long Beach

Dana Rohrabacher 1947–

Former U.S. representative from California

Bachelor of Arts · Class of 1969

Also attended: Los Angeles Harbor College, University of Southern California

Robert Garcia 1977–

US Representative, former mayor of Long Beach

Doctor of Education, Bachelor of Arts · Class of 2010

Also attended: University of Southern California

Palmer Luckey 1992–

Founder of Oculus VR, co-founder of Anduril

Peter Moore 1955–

Former president of Sega of America and Xbox executive

Chang Kuo-wei 1970–

Founder and chairman of Starlux Airlines

Also attended: University of Southern California

Neil Campbell 1946–2004

Biologist, author of Campbell Biology

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-Riverside

Najat Saliba 1966–

Lebanese analytical chemist and professor at AUB

Master of Science · Class of 1994

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, University of Southern California

Mark Norell 1957–2025

Vertebrate paleontologist at American Museum of Natural History

Also attended: Yale University

Steven Spielberg 1946–

Film director and producer

Attended until 2002

Spouse: Kate Capshaw (University of Missouri-Columbia)

Father: Arnold Spielberg (University of Cincinnati-Main Campus)

Richard Bach 1936–

Writer of flight-related fiction and non-fiction

Spouse: Leslie Parrish (University of the Arts)

Steve Martin 1945–

Comedian, actor, musician, and writer

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, Santa Ana College

James Lafferty 1985–

Actor known for One Tree Hill

Chris Carter 1956–

American television and film producer, director and writer

Stan Winston 1946–2008

Special effects artist, four-time Oscar winner

Also attended: University of Virginia-Main Campus

Joe Johnston 1950–

Film director of Jumanji

Also attended: University of Southern California

Clarence Gilyard 1955–2022

Actor and educator

Also attended: California State University-Dominguez Hills, United States Air Force Academy, Sterling College

Wendi McLendon-Covey 1969–

Actress known for The Goldbergs

Also attended: Golden West College, Long Beach City College

Basil Poledouris 1945–2006

Film composer of Conan the Barbarian and RoboCop

Also attended: University of Southern California

Child: Zoë Poledouris (Bennington College)

David Twohy 1955–

Director and screenwriter of The Chronicles of Riddick

Richard Carpenter 1946–

Musician, half of the duo the Carpenters

Patrick Fabian 1964–

Actor known as Howard Hamlin in Better Call Saul

Also attended: The Pennsylvania State University

Jessica Williams 1989–

Actress and comedian, Daily Show correspondent

Justin Baldoni 1984–

Actor and director of It Ends with Us

John Patitucci 1959–

Jazz bassist and composer

Also attended: San Francisco State University

Maitland Ward 1977–

Actress and model, formerly of The Bold and the Beautiful

Also attended: New York University

Agnes de Mille 1905–1993

Dancer and choreographer

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Father: William Churchill deMille (Columbia University in the City of New York)

Daniel Curtis Lee 1991–

Actor and rapper, known for Ned's Declassified

Cristina Vee 1987–

Voice actress and singer

Attended until 2007

Tim Minear 1963–

Screenwriter, director and American Horror Story executive producer

Linda Woolverton 1952–

Screenwriter of Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Also attended: California State University-Fullerton

Mark Steven Johnson 1964–

American filmmaker

Betye Saar 1926–2026

Artist known for assemblage

Master of Fine Arts · Visual art education · Class of 1962

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles, Pasadena City College

Child: Lezley Saar (California State University-Northridge, San Francisco State University)

Child: Alison Saar (Otis College of Art and Design, Scripps College)

Dave Alvin 1955–

Singer-songwriter, guitarist and Blasters founding member

Jennifer Yuh Nelson 1972–

Director of Kung Fu Panda 2 and 3

John Dykstra 1947–

Special effects artist, three-time Academy Award winner

John Bettis 1946–

American lyricist whose songs sold over 250 million records

Jae Park 1992–

Singer, former member of Day6

Melissa Fahn 1967–

Voice actress

Manny Montana 1983–

Actor known for Rio in Good Girls

Journalism

J. F. Lawton 1960–

Screenwriter and director of Pretty Woman

The Undertaker 1965–

Professional wrestler with WWE

Also attended: Texas Wesleyan University

Spouse: Michelle McCool (Florida State University)

George Gervin 1952–

Former ABA and NBA player nicknamed "the Iceman"

Attended until 1970

Also attended: Eastern Michigan University

Sibling: Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (Eastern Michigan University)

Sibling: Derrick Gervin (University of Texas-San Antonio)

Misty May-Treanor 1977–

Beach volleyball player; three-time Olympic gold medalist

Pat McCormick 1930–2023

Diver, two-time Olympic double gold medalist

Also attended: Long Beach City College

Child: Kelly McCormick (Ohio State University-Main Campus)

Dwight Stones 1953–

High jumper, two-time Olympic bronze medalist

Also attended: University of California-Los Angeles

Evan Longoria 1985–

Former MLB third baseman

Also attended: Rio Hondo College

James Ennis 1990–

Professional basketball player

Craig Hodges 1960–

Former NBA player and coach

Gary Ilman 1943–2014

Two-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer

Cindy Brown 1965–

Former women's basketball player, 1988 Olympic champion

Mark O'Meara 1957–

Professional golfer

Troy Tulowitzki 1984–

Former MLB shortstop, mainly with the Rockies

Tank Abbott 1965–

Mixed martial artist and professional wrestler

Jason Giambi 1971–

MLB first baseman and designated hitter

Ed Ratleff 1950–

Former Houston Rockets player

John Rambo 1943–2022

High jumper, 1964 Olympic bronze medalist

Tayyiba Haneef-Park 1979–

Volleyball player at the 2004 Olympics

Torey Defalco 1997–

Volleyball player, 2024 Olympic bronze medalist

Scott Touzinsky 1982–

U.S. national team volleyball player and coach

Randy Steven Kraft 1945–

Serial killer known as the Scorecard Killer

Also attended: Claremont McKenna College

Erin Gruwell 1969–

Teacher behind The Freedom Writers Diary

Also attended: University of California-Irvine